I can have a more meaningful and productive discussion with a Trump supporter, than it appears I can have with you.
That's sad. You already lost the left some ~1000 seats in Federal and State level governance. What, you want to try to lose the rest? Keep insulting them. Keep calling them names.
Seriously, go ahead. I'm going to be fine and I have Canadian citizenship to fall back on.
The worst part is that you posted your post while feeling egotistical, right, and important.
We're not on the same side, actually. I'm on the American left. You don't even know what left means.
Fuck no. He can piss himself, on command, and can still strip an M1 down - without actually looking. No, really, he can piss himself on command - or without command. He deserves some privacy so I'll skip mentioning his name. He's big on pissing his pants. But, he can strip an M1 down and put it back together. He's also grouchy - all the time.
I am the American left. I haven't associated with the liberals or progressives, for quite a while. I'd like to apologize for their behavior, not that it will help.
This doesn't mean I side with the right. It does mean I understand their confusion. My side is full of hypocrites and liars. Your side is too, but I am doing the important step of admitting the guilt on my side.
I am sorry for the identity politics. I am sorry that they tried to force views on you, by means of curtailing your speech. No, really... I am going to say the worst of it. I'm sorry that some of the people who spoke, on your side's behalf, we're cut down for being racists. I am even sorry if they were curtailed AND they were racists.
I am not kidding. I'm sorry that they shouted down racists and told them that they weren't allowed to speak. I don't believe you are actually racist. You might be, we won't know because you've been told you can't tell us.
I am the left. We have a lot in common. Tell your friends that we still exist.
And, because I know people like to willfully ignore what I said... I will repeat it.
Was it worth it, really?
And lest the right try to argue, I served for eight years. I really, really want to know if they felt it was worth it, but more specifically I want to know after the sentencing.
I dislike Trump. I sure as hell didn't vote for him.
Imma let you in on a secret. I don't wish him any malice and I hope he is an effective president. I am as far left as you can get, while still being rational. I don't even hate Trump. I am more disgusted with the media, and the sycophants, than I am with Trump.
If you're on the right, I am sorry for what they do in my name. I am the real American left.
Sorry for their behavior. Please don't blame me. At the root level, you and I want the same things, probably.
I am just having fun with this thread. Shall I talk about Nepal?
Because of the way their visas work, it doesn't cost a whole lot to go to Nepal. By the way, Nepal has a bunch of crazy import and export restrictions. They WILL examine your electronic devices for messages, including those that are considered subservient and are posted online or by email.
Keep in mind, I love Nepal. I have been there twice, once for an extended visit.
Now, the longer your in Nepal, the more it will cost you. If you want to climb K2, or Everest, you're going to want financial aid. It gets worse, if you want to interact with locals beyond the Sherpa. Plan on $250/day, if you want permission to film and visit remote villages.
I don't have a problem, but it's vital to know this, I think. I had a visa application in. I'm a secular Buddhist and can pay any fees they ask. They had a pretty good earthquake. Seriously, it was pretty good. I think I posted about it here, on Slashdot.
I tried to send them money. I was denied. I tried to get them to speed up my visa process. I was denied. I tried to send money ahead, as they require you to put some back into the local communities if you're on a tourist visa. I was denied. I tried to pay for a second and third visa. I was denied. I tried to send the agency some money, I was told not to because it would cause problems.
Eventually, I got to go back for a week and was pretty much limited to going to the specific monastery and only that. I could do no outreach and could not go to the city to help. I am a secular Buddhist. Previously, I'd gone to Nepal every couple of years. I haven't been back since 2015.
The second to last time, we went and bought some horses. We traveled for a bit. It was like an extra $250/day, after paying the bribes. I love Nepal, and I love the people. However, it isn't all people see, to think it is. If you want an example, go look at the rules and costs, just to climb Everest. And no, no, they aren't going to come rescue you or retrieve your body.
For fuck's sake... You make me side with republicans. No. Not one thing you said is backed up with evidence. Nothing, really. There is some supposition and that is it.
The sad reality is that most of the shit thrown at Trump is unfounded idiocy.
I say this as lefty McLeftyPerson. The progressives, and the liberals, have gone straight to retarded. They have gone so retarded that I'd be embarrassed to associate myself with them. Now, when you idiots lose more elections, call me. It seems it's gonna take more losses before you figure it out,
Again, I am the left. Go ahead and fight and argue with me, I'm not scared. Let's see how many more slots the left can lose. But no, it is surely someone else's fault.
Fuck me. I tried hard to agree with you. I was willing to ignore the pedo bit. Then, you did the 'her brand' of hate speech.
No... I don't even agree with the premise of hate speech. Sorry, I am a lefty that still supports rights such as the freedom of speech. Hell, I even support it for non-Americans... But, when you called it her own brand, you lost me.
To be fair, the American left lost me a while ago. However, I want you to understand why. Do you get it, or do I need to spell it put for you? Just in case you're curious, I am the American left. Youre going to be sad when the right keeps winning, probably. I wonder how long it will be before you figure out why. I can only do my part, while you retard our growth.
Can you do me a small favor? Maybe it's big, I don't know. Could you tell me what that has to do with today? See, I am as left as ever lefted. I have no idea how that applies to today. Please school me.
I need to write up an essay and direct donations to their nearest ACLU - and somehow claim that the ACLU is doing "god's work."
Trivially related: I get some interesting responses when I show that the ACLU has, time and time again, defended the 2nd Amendment.
I shouldn't have to add this, but I don't believe in God, so I don't believe in "God's work." Sadly, Slashdot has changed a bit and I am feeling obligated to point that out.
I want to be mean. However, I don't have it in me. Well, I do - but I'm not 100% sure you're wrong. I am 100% sure that you're wrong, if your're looking at animal mutilation as a source of data.
First, I'm going to say this...
I respect you for having the courage to put that out there. No, I am not kidding.
Second, I like to pretend that I'm not, but I am kinda the exact definition of scientist. I smashed data together and predicted throughput for traffic. I'd later go on and model pedestrian traffic.
I'd ask that you'd not hold that against me. I am, at the core, a Ph.D. which, really, means I'm a philosopher of doctoring. Yup, I'm a doctoring fool. My degree is in Applied Mathematics. It's kinda easy to verify this claim. I kinda suck at hiding and pretending to be someone else.
Now... Well, now you know that.
Are you sure you want to keep up that line of argument? I should tell you that I've actually given [redacted]. I do not discount alien visitation, interaction, or observations, by default. I may have even spoken on the probabilities of life existing outside of this solar system. [Redacted.]
There's no credible evidence that livestock mutilation is done by an extraterrestrial source. Do you get that? No credible evidence exists to support the hypothesis that it is caused by an extraterrestrial source. Please don't read into my statement more than what I have written. I am not saying it is impossible. I am saying that no credible evidence exists to support it. And, trust me, I look.
As a mathematician, I have spoken at [redacted] and will say that it is my opinion that aliens exist. I will go even further and say that I'm pretty fucking convinced that intelligent aliens exist. Where I draw the line is in saying that they've interacted with humans. I am willing to say that the probability of aliens existing, intelligent lifeforms, is as close to 1:1 as one could hope. I am unwilling to assign my name to any beliefs beyond that.
Right? I'm almost 100% certain that there are still base-specific rules (not regulations, there's a difference) that apply to RC aircraft - including planes, helicopters, and rockets. I know, beyond all reasonable doubt - as in I recollect the changes, that they enacted rules, per the OOD, or higher, that prohibited us from continued use of the devices while on base.
And that was the end of our fun. Except, I believe the rules ONLY applied over certain areas and that we were still okay for anywhere but things like the parade deck.
Again, it's been a very, very long time. Given the military, specifically the USMC, I can absolutely assure you that someone wrote these rules down. As such, I am positive that a FOIA/request would get the details.
Here, I am bored and this is some evidence. This was a young me and the pic isn't that good - but it will do.
I should do a better job and scan it, but I'm only trying to prove a point.;-)
In short, we went and got a remote controlled airplane. In fact, we went and got three or four. I'm not sure the total, as some weren't built the whole way. We then smashed them into each other, the buildings, and the ground. We even set them on fire and used them to set other things on fire.
Anyone who says there was some specific organization to prevent this behavior, that was able to prevent this behavior, is a dirty rotten liar. Seriously, they are liars. They're horrible liars, even.
This doesn't negate their point. It doesn't mean that I think everyone should do the stupid crap we did. No, it just means they're horrible liars. I'm not even sure why they'd bother to lie, when I can pretty easily disprove them.
1) Few people are technically traitors. For example, even if Trump is guilty of EVERYTHING people claim, he is not technically a traitor. 2) I'm pretty sure you're insane. It's okay, some of my best friends are insane. She didn't release a damned thing of interest/value.
You're welcome to make a whole bunch of assumptions about my beliefs and voting habits. In fact, I encourage you to do so.
Again, I remind you, I'm as left as a lefty ever lefted. I'm left enough to make a European blush. I'm the guy who insists we can afford/demand/earn single payer health care. Not only that, I'm the guy who actually pays taxes and says he should pay more in taxes than he does. Hell, I do pay more in taxes than I own - technically and only technically. And only 'cause I'm kinda lazy. Also, I get away with claiming that 'cause you can donate to the US government, by means of taxation. In my case, I sold my business. On my way out, I donated to NASA. Yup. You can donate to NASA. You can't earmark it, and it has to go to the general funds, but you can donate to NASA. I have done so, putting my money where my mouth is.
I dislike Trump. I shouldn't have to say that, but I do. I don't just dislike him, I honestly feel the world would be better off without him. I'm a secular Buddhist, I hope you can understand what that means to me. I don't hate Trump. I hate very few people. I don't want him to die, but I'm not so stupid as to think that death is not the legitimate answer to some problems.
Seriously, I dislike Trump a great deal - to the point where I'm willing to engage in introspection and evaluate my belief system. I dislike him that much.
That said...
I haven't done the math but I'm gonna guess that some 90% of anti-Trump headlines were false, in some way. I'd even say the first three paragraphs, of all the articles I've read, are false in 60% of the way. It may be higher.
For example, they've got this current leak. Some chick leaked an NSA document that says that someone in Russia, not necessarily a government official, sent spear-phishing emails to just about 100 election officials. None were successful, by the way. They didn't attack (in this memo) voting machines. They didn't succeed. They just sent phishing emails, like you see every day at work. Depending on where you work, that's fewer than you see every day.
That's it. That's all the leaked document revealed. There's no more to it. There's no smoking gun and there's no revealing the US government doing something bad.
I dislike Trump, but there's no smoking gun here. Hell, there weren't any smoking guns revealed in Comey's testimony. I know, I listened to all of it - on NRP and live. I was disappointed, and contacted them to let them know, that they had a commentator who tried to spin things that weren't said. "Well, what he meant was..." Only, he'd come back a few minutes later and make the NPR lady sound like she was on drugs.
Keep in mind, I really dislike Trump. I really don't want him as the president - but he is.
Meh, fuck it... I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say. I guess, examine the sources you look at and trust.
At one point, there were a bunch of people angry that Comey didn't get fired. A few months later, they were right pissed that he did get fired. Also, he got fired for different reasons than everyone was projecting. It's tough to say this, 'cause I hate Trump. But, I'll say the same thing I said for Obama... Back off and let's see what he actually does before we get irate. I'm pretty sure he'll give you a reason to be pissed.
We should mandate that AND that they have to wear a jersey that supports their favorite professional sports team. It's okay, even if it's bowling. They gotta wear that shit, or we're gonna kick them out of the galaxy.
I don't know. You might think that I'd be the most knowledgeable person about firearms. I'm not.
I have two classed firearms. As I mentioned in another post, I have an M-14 and a Chinese made AK-47. It gets confusing because the Chinese sold that model to the Vietnamese and the model was called the M-60. It's really just an AK-47 and isn't even very well made.
That said, I'm not an encyclopedia of firearm knowledge. I'm betting that you're more right than I, 99% of the time - should we have to argue firearms. There's a ton that I don't know - and I'm not even going to pretend I know. Some people are encyclopedic in their knowledge - and I'm pretty impressed.
Now, I want to share this with you...
The Thompson Sub-machine Gun fires the.45 and, if you're pretty comfortable, you can actually watch the rounds leave the barrel. There's a lot of muzzle rise, but, it's one of the most wonderful things you'll ever witness.
Seriously, it's beautiful. I've seen the rounds go down-range from a BAR. That's just as nice. You can really watch them... However, I digress...
I had the chance to buy one for $7500 and it came with two of the "stick" magazines and three (or four?) of the drum magazines with all but one being 50 rounds and the smallest one being 25 rounds - if I recall correctly. It also came with a bunch of other things, including the cardboard box and oil paper that it came in. There was also a bunch of brass, caps and lead, if I wanted to reload. However, there was a bunch of.45 ACP (I think?) to go with it.
I could have bought it for $7500. I turned that down - not once, but several times. He even had a "hard case" that was shaped a bit like you'd see the trombone (musical instrument) shaped like. And, I turned that down... I didn't just turn it down once - I turned it down even after firing it.
It's at this point that I'd like to remind you that I'm an idiot. I absolutely can afford that. I am an idiot for not doing so. It's too late to say that I'd love to have that put aside for my collection/future generations.
If I want to be pedantic, both weapons (I'm pretty sure) also qualify for the title of "assault rifle."
To keep it simple, and short, I have an M-14 and a Chinese made AK-47, made in 1968. I have posted pics of both. Depending on which definitions they're using, they are either "assault weapons" or "assault rifles."
The only time they (usually) get taken out is when I take them to a "machine-gun shoot." It used to be open to the public, but insurance kinda stopped that. We still hold it and all proceeds go to the DAV. We no longer invite the public, via radio ads. Those who know, and want to show up, do show up. We still donate about the same amount. We just no longer open it up to the public, so to speak.
(It's held down in Starks, as our home in Emden has dried up.)
And yeah, it's pretty much the only time either of mine come out. I also bring two M1s and our favorite shooter is a guy we have to "steal" from the VA. He's 92 and was in WWII, in the Pacific. One, or more, of us will go to the Geriatrics Unit and claim we're family. We sign him out for the day and he gets an M1 to play with - sometimes he gets several and, more than once, we've asked him to repair one.
I'm pretty sure this makes me a horrible person. So, I'd like to apologize for shooting up your children. I'd like to say sorry for encouraging your mentally ill to buy firearms. I'm also sorry that I can't be there to defend everyone. You might ask why I do the above, and why I invest in that - and it does cost some money - and the only answer I can give you was that I served in the Marines - pictures available on request.
(I've been away for a bit, so I'm okay with proving myself again. Picture available if you want. Or just trust me, I've got no reason to lie to you - impressing you means nothing to me.)
I'm not sure how you read my post and figured out I'd assumed it was sent on purpose.
In fact, I'm pretty sure it's not valuable data, at all, with regards to sentient alien species. I have no idea how you went from one to the other. In fact, I'm kinda confused and thinking maybe I wrote the exact opposite of what I meant.
Umm.., I admit it's simple math and extrapolation, but the odds of that signal being sent by a sentient being are pretty low. Are you gonna argue that the odds of it being sent by a sentient being are greater than it being sent by a natural source or improper instrumentation? I could be wrong, but I think we're all kinda in agreement about the source of noise, as to the most probably reasons. *shrugs* You can be right, however. I'm not scared.
Slashdot Mirror
What do you think I will do?
Image of moderate importance.
Now, which side do you think I'm on?
I can have a more meaningful and productive discussion with a Trump supporter, than it appears I can have with you.
That's sad. You already lost the left some ~1000 seats in Federal and State level governance. What, you want to try to lose the rest? Keep insulting them. Keep calling them names.
Seriously, go ahead. I'm going to be fine and I have Canadian citizenship to fall back on.
The worst part is that you posted your post while feeling egotistical, right, and important.
We're not on the same side, actually. I'm on the American left. You don't even know what left means.
I agree. I was countering the OP's point that there was some mysterious group who forbade us. Nah... We were hellions.
Fuck no. He can piss himself, on command, and can still strip an M1 down - without actually looking. No, really, he can piss himself on command - or without command. He deserves some privacy so I'll skip mentioning his name. He's big on pissing his pants. But, he can strip an M1 down and put it back together. He's also grouchy - all the time.
I am the American left. I haven't associated with the liberals or progressives, for quite a while. I'd like to apologize for their behavior, not that it will help.
This doesn't mean I side with the right. It does mean I understand their confusion. My side is full of hypocrites and liars. Your side is too, but I am doing the important step of admitting the guilt on my side.
I am sorry for the identity politics. I am sorry that they tried to force views on you, by means of curtailing your speech. No, really... I am going to say the worst of it. I'm sorry that some of the people who spoke, on your side's behalf, we're cut down for being racists. I am even sorry if they were curtailed AND they were racists.
I am not kidding. I'm sorry that they shouted down racists and told them that they weren't allowed to speak. I don't believe you are actually racist. You might be, we won't know because you've been told you can't tell us.
I am the left. We have a lot in common. Tell your friends that we still exist.
My question is, was it worth it?
And, because I know people like to willfully ignore what I said... I will repeat it.
Was it worth it, really?
And lest the right try to argue, I served for eight years. I really, really want to know if they felt it was worth it, but more specifically I want to know after the sentencing.
If they remain anonymous, they don't get the associated fame/infamy. What good is a trophy, if it doesn't have your name on it?
Huh... Thanks.
I dislike Trump. I sure as hell didn't vote for him.
Imma let you in on a secret. I don't wish him any malice and I hope he is an effective president. I am as far left as you can get, while still being rational. I don't even hate Trump. I am more disgusted with the media, and the sycophants, than I am with Trump.
If you're on the right, I am sorry for what they do in my name. I am the real American left.
Sorry for their behavior. Please don't blame me. At the root level, you and I want the same things, probably.
I am just having fun with this thread. Shall I talk about Nepal?
Because of the way their visas work, it doesn't cost a whole lot to go to Nepal. By the way, Nepal has a bunch of crazy import and export restrictions. They WILL examine your electronic devices for messages, including those that are considered subservient and are posted online or by email.
Keep in mind, I love Nepal. I have been there twice, once for an extended visit.
Now, the longer your in Nepal, the more it will cost you. If you want to climb K2, or Everest, you're going to want financial aid. It gets worse, if you want to interact with locals beyond the Sherpa. Plan on $250/day, if you want permission to film and visit remote villages.
I don't have a problem, but it's vital to know this, I think. I had a visa application in. I'm a secular Buddhist and can pay any fees they ask. They had a pretty good earthquake. Seriously, it was pretty good. I think I posted about it here, on Slashdot.
I tried to send them money. I was denied. I tried to get them to speed up my visa process. I was denied. I tried to send money ahead, as they require you to put some back into the local communities if you're on a tourist visa. I was denied. I tried to pay for a second and third visa. I was denied. I tried to send the agency some money, I was told not to because it would cause problems.
Eventually, I got to go back for a week and was pretty much limited to going to the specific monastery and only that. I could do no outreach and could not go to the city to help. I am a secular Buddhist. Previously, I'd gone to Nepal every couple of years. I haven't been back since 2015.
The second to last time, we went and bought some horses. We traveled for a bit. It was like an extra $250/day, after paying the bribes. I love Nepal, and I love the people. However, it isn't all people see, to think it is. If you want an example, go look at the rules and costs, just to climb Everest. And no, no, they aren't going to come rescue you or retrieve your body.
For fuck's sake... You make me side with republicans. No. Not one thing you said is backed up with evidence. Nothing, really. There is some supposition and that is it.
The sad reality is that most of the shit thrown at Trump is unfounded idiocy.
I say this as lefty McLeftyPerson. The progressives, and the liberals, have gone straight to retarded. They have gone so retarded that I'd be embarrassed to associate myself with them. Now, when you idiots lose more elections, call me. It seems it's gonna take more losses before you figure it out,
Again, I am the left. Go ahead and fight and argue with me, I'm not scared. Let's see how many more slots the left can lose. But no, it is surely someone else's fault.
Fuck me. I tried hard to agree with you. I was willing to ignore the pedo bit. Then, you did the 'her brand' of hate speech.
No... I don't even agree with the premise of hate speech. Sorry, I am a lefty that still supports rights such as the freedom of speech. Hell, I even support it for non-Americans... But, when you called it her own brand, you lost me.
To be fair, the American left lost me a while ago. However, I want you to understand why. Do you get it, or do I need to spell it put for you? Just in case you're curious, I am the American left. Youre going to be sad when the right keeps winning, probably. I wonder how long it will be before you figure out why. I can only do my part, while you retard our growth.
I should probably abandon thread.
What has that got to do with the now? I'm willing to listen. In fact, I must. I am really fucking confused.
Can you do me a small favor? Maybe it's big, I don't know. Could you tell me what that has to do with today? See, I am as left as ever lefted. I have no idea how that applies to today. Please school me.
I need to write up an essay and direct donations to their nearest ACLU - and somehow claim that the ACLU is doing "god's work."
Trivially related: I get some interesting responses when I show that the ACLU has, time and time again, defended the 2nd Amendment.
I shouldn't have to add this, but I don't believe in God, so I don't believe in "God's work." Sadly, Slashdot has changed a bit and I am feeling obligated to point that out.
Huh...
I want to be mean. However, I don't have it in me. Well, I do - but I'm not 100% sure you're wrong. I am 100% sure that you're wrong, if your're looking at animal mutilation as a source of data.
First, I'm going to say this...
I respect you for having the courage to put that out there. No, I am not kidding.
Second, I like to pretend that I'm not, but I am kinda the exact definition of scientist. I smashed data together and predicted throughput for traffic. I'd later go on and model pedestrian traffic.
I'd ask that you'd not hold that against me. I am, at the core, a Ph.D. which, really, means I'm a philosopher of doctoring. Yup, I'm a doctoring fool. My degree is in Applied Mathematics. It's kinda easy to verify this claim. I kinda suck at hiding and pretending to be someone else.
Now... Well, now you know that.
Are you sure you want to keep up that line of argument? I should tell you that I've actually given [redacted]. I do not discount alien visitation, interaction, or observations, by default. I may have even spoken on the probabilities of life existing outside of this solar system. [Redacted.]
There's no credible evidence that livestock mutilation is done by an extraterrestrial source. Do you get that? No credible evidence exists to support the hypothesis that it is caused by an extraterrestrial source. Please don't read into my statement more than what I have written. I am not saying it is impossible. I am saying that no credible evidence exists to support it. And, trust me, I look.
As a mathematician, I have spoken at [redacted] and will say that it is my opinion that aliens exist. I will go even further and say that I'm pretty fucking convinced that intelligent aliens exist. Where I draw the line is in saying that they've interacted with humans. I am willing to say that the probability of aliens existing, intelligent lifeforms, is as close to 1:1 as one could hope. I am unwilling to assign my name to any beliefs beyond that.
Me too, and I'm not a god. We're fucked.
Right? I'm almost 100% certain that there are still base-specific rules (not regulations, there's a difference) that apply to RC aircraft - including planes, helicopters, and rockets. I know, beyond all reasonable doubt - as in I recollect the changes, that they enacted rules, per the OOD, or higher, that prohibited us from continued use of the devices while on base.
And that was the end of our fun. Except, I believe the rules ONLY applied over certain areas and that we were still okay for anywhere but things like the parade deck.
Again, it's been a very, very long time. Given the military, specifically the USMC, I can absolutely assure you that someone wrote these rules down. As such, I am positive that a FOIA/request would get the details.
Here, I am bored and this is some evidence. This was a young me and the pic isn't that good - but it will do.
Pic.
I should do a better job and scan it, but I'm only trying to prove a point. ;-)
In short, we went and got a remote controlled airplane. In fact, we went and got three or four. I'm not sure the total, as some weren't built the whole way. We then smashed them into each other, the buildings, and the ground. We even set them on fire and used them to set other things on fire.
Anyone who says there was some specific organization to prevent this behavior, that was able to prevent this behavior, is a dirty rotten liar. Seriously, they are liars. They're horrible liars, even.
This doesn't negate their point. It doesn't mean that I think everyone should do the stupid crap we did. No, it just means they're horrible liars. I'm not even sure why they'd bother to lie, when I can pretty easily disprove them.
I miss drugs. I really do.
1) Few people are technically traitors. For example, even if Trump is guilty of EVERYTHING people claim, he is not technically a traitor.
2) I'm pretty sure you're insane. It's okay, some of my best friends are insane. She didn't release a damned thing of interest/value.
You're welcome to make a whole bunch of assumptions about my beliefs and voting habits. In fact, I encourage you to do so.
Again, I remind you, I'm as left as a lefty ever lefted. I'm left enough to make a European blush. I'm the guy who insists we can afford/demand/earn single payer health care. Not only that, I'm the guy who actually pays taxes and says he should pay more in taxes than he does. Hell, I do pay more in taxes than I own - technically and only technically. And only 'cause I'm kinda lazy. Also, I get away with claiming that 'cause you can donate to the US government, by means of taxation. In my case, I sold my business. On my way out, I donated to NASA. Yup. You can donate to NASA. You can't earmark it, and it has to go to the general funds, but you can donate to NASA. I have done so, putting my money where my mouth is.
I dislike Trump. I shouldn't have to say that, but I do. I don't just dislike him, I honestly feel the world would be better off without him. I'm a secular Buddhist, I hope you can understand what that means to me. I don't hate Trump. I hate very few people. I don't want him to die, but I'm not so stupid as to think that death is not the legitimate answer to some problems.
Seriously, I dislike Trump a great deal - to the point where I'm willing to engage in introspection and evaluate my belief system. I dislike him that much.
That said...
I haven't done the math but I'm gonna guess that some 90% of anti-Trump headlines were false, in some way. I'd even say the first three paragraphs, of all the articles I've read, are false in 60% of the way. It may be higher.
For example, they've got this current leak. Some chick leaked an NSA document that says that someone in Russia, not necessarily a government official, sent spear-phishing emails to just about 100 election officials. None were successful, by the way. They didn't attack (in this memo) voting machines. They didn't succeed. They just sent phishing emails, like you see every day at work. Depending on where you work, that's fewer than you see every day.
That's it. That's all the leaked document revealed. There's no more to it. There's no smoking gun and there's no revealing the US government doing something bad.
I dislike Trump, but there's no smoking gun here. Hell, there weren't any smoking guns revealed in Comey's testimony. I know, I listened to all of it - on NRP and live. I was disappointed, and contacted them to let them know, that they had a commentator who tried to spin things that weren't said. "Well, what he meant was..." Only, he'd come back a few minutes later and make the NPR lady sound like she was on drugs.
Keep in mind, I really dislike Trump. I really don't want him as the president - but he is.
Meh, fuck it... I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say. I guess, examine the sources you look at and trust.
At one point, there were a bunch of people angry that Comey didn't get fired. A few months later, they were right pissed that he did get fired. Also, he got fired for different reasons than everyone was projecting. It's tough to say this, 'cause I hate Trump. But, I'll say the same thing I said for Obama... Back off and let's see what he actually does before we get irate. I'm pretty sure he'll give you a reason to be pissed.
Ha! I agree!
We should mandate that AND that they have to wear a jersey that supports their favorite professional sports team. It's okay, even if it's bowling. They gotta wear that shit, or we're gonna kick them out of the galaxy.
I don't know. You might think that I'd be the most knowledgeable person about firearms. I'm not.
I have two classed firearms. As I mentioned in another post, I have an M-14 and a Chinese made AK-47. It gets confusing because the Chinese sold that model to the Vietnamese and the model was called the M-60. It's really just an AK-47 and isn't even very well made.
That said, I'm not an encyclopedia of firearm knowledge. I'm betting that you're more right than I, 99% of the time - should we have to argue firearms. There's a ton that I don't know - and I'm not even going to pretend I know. Some people are encyclopedic in their knowledge - and I'm pretty impressed.
Now, I want to share this with you...
The Thompson Sub-machine Gun fires the .45 and, if you're pretty comfortable, you can actually watch the rounds leave the barrel. There's a lot of muzzle rise, but, it's one of the most wonderful things you'll ever witness.
Seriously, it's beautiful. I've seen the rounds go down-range from a BAR. That's just as nice. You can really watch them... However, I digress...
I had the chance to buy one for $7500 and it came with two of the "stick" magazines and three (or four?) of the drum magazines with all but one being 50 rounds and the smallest one being 25 rounds - if I recall correctly. It also came with a bunch of other things, including the cardboard box and oil paper that it came in. There was also a bunch of brass, caps and lead, if I wanted to reload. However, there was a bunch of .45 ACP (I think?) to go with it.
I could have bought it for $7500. I turned that down - not once, but several times. He even had a "hard case" that was shaped a bit like you'd see the trombone (musical instrument) shaped like. And, I turned that down... I didn't just turn it down once - I turned it down even after firing it.
It's at this point that I'd like to remind you that I'm an idiot. I absolutely can afford that. I am an idiot for not doing so. It's too late to say that I'd love to have that put aside for my collection/future generations.
If I want to be pedantic, both weapons (I'm pretty sure) also qualify for the title of "assault rifle."
To keep it simple, and short, I have an M-14 and a Chinese made AK-47, made in 1968. I have posted pics of both. Depending on which definitions they're using, they are either "assault weapons" or "assault rifles."
The only time they (usually) get taken out is when I take them to a "machine-gun shoot." It used to be open to the public, but insurance kinda stopped that. We still hold it and all proceeds go to the DAV. We no longer invite the public, via radio ads. Those who know, and want to show up, do show up. We still donate about the same amount. We just no longer open it up to the public, so to speak.
(It's held down in Starks, as our home in Emden has dried up.)
And yeah, it's pretty much the only time either of mine come out. I also bring two M1s and our favorite shooter is a guy we have to "steal" from the VA. He's 92 and was in WWII, in the Pacific. One, or more, of us will go to the Geriatrics Unit and claim we're family. We sign him out for the day and he gets an M1 to play with - sometimes he gets several and, more than once, we've asked him to repair one.
I'm pretty sure this makes me a horrible person. So, I'd like to apologize for shooting up your children. I'd like to say sorry for encouraging your mentally ill to buy firearms. I'm also sorry that I can't be there to defend everyone. You might ask why I do the above, and why I invest in that - and it does cost some money - and the only answer I can give you was that I served in the Marines - pictures available on request.
(I've been away for a bit, so I'm okay with proving myself again. Picture available if you want. Or just trust me, I've got no reason to lie to you - impressing you means nothing to me.)
Nice. Thanks. I can only go by what they've reported. I've even read a few sources.
I'm not sure how you read my post and figured out I'd assumed it was sent on purpose.
In fact, I'm pretty sure it's not valuable data, at all, with regards to sentient alien species. I have no idea how you went from one to the other. In fact, I'm kinda confused and thinking maybe I wrote the exact opposite of what I meant.
Umm.., I admit it's simple math and extrapolation, but the odds of that signal being sent by a sentient being are pretty low. Are you gonna argue that the odds of it being sent by a sentient being are greater than it being sent by a natural source or improper instrumentation? I could be wrong, but I think we're all kinda in agreement about the source of noise, as to the most probably reasons. *shrugs* You can be right, however. I'm not scared.