Guard Dog

He's hopelessly addicted to FO4. That has slowed him up

Well, the memo will be released tomorrow. It's a funny thing. These are the possibilities as I see it: The information in the memo is completely true and the FBI was abusing it's position and trying to affect the election. And that is why they are objecting The information in the memo is completely true and the FBI was abusing it's position but not tying to affect the election. But they are worried methods and sources may be compromised. The memo is not completely true but paints the FBI in a bad light to undermine other investigations that rely on FBI sources and data Any of the previous three with the memo being altered to be not completely true Any of the first three with the memo being altered to be false Everything is the memo was mostly false and it's all just a cynical political attempt to undermine the FBI for stated reasons. I could easily believe any one of these is the truth. The problem is, every last player in this sad little skit is a goddamed liar without a shred of integrity or credibility. So no matter which of these actually IS true I'll never know and wouldn't believe any one who does know. I can absolutely buy the FBI abusing it's authority to help Hillary. I can absolutely believe the Republicans are throwing the FBI under the bus for political reasons. I can absolutely believe the whole thing is made up and none of it's true. It's a funny situation really.

I heard on a podcast Patrick Rothfuss 3rd book in the Kingkiler series won't be out this year. I wonder it both he and GRRM have become victims of their own success? Or at least their productivity has. When they were an unknown college professor and out of work screen writer (respectively) and it was just them, a computer, and a story they wanted tell. Now they have money, a huge following, and pressure measuring in the gigabars to complete what people are calling "the greatest fantasy stories of all time". That would have to get to you. It wouldn't surprise me if entire chapters have been written that are really good, but they keep revising them anyway because they won't ever be "good enough" for the "greatest fantasy stories of all time".

Here is another fine example of government looking out for us. A bill in California will fine servers in restaurants $1k and six months in jail for offering customers a plastic straw. Do you know anyone working as a waiter or waitress who can afford $1000 fine and six months in the can? http://reason.com/blog/2018/01/25/california-bill-would-criminalize-restau

Like the NSA concerns you? NSA? Not in the slightest, I trust institutions like the NSA, CIA and FBI on most matters. This GOP memo is a deliberate attempt to misrepresent information and the FBI has publicly criticized the GOP move, unusual for them Disagree completely. I have less than zero trust in armed federal agents with unlimited power executing vague warrants granted by secret courts. We are one or two short steps away from having an agency that "makes people disappear". It's come to this because we the people were not vigilant. By supporting things like the Patriot Act, FISA, and the dozen or so other programs that made them what they have become we've climbed the gallows, tied the knot, and handed them the rope. Some folks comfort themselves by thinking the government is only using this power to protect them from "bad guys". But sooner or later might decide the "bad guy" is YOU. I don't know the details of this memo. But there is evidence there were abuses of surveillance and even an attempt to play Kingmaker. I can't think of a single good reason why that should not be exposed if true.

Sad to hear Oscar Gamble passed away today. He was only 68.

But is it normal for people to clap and cheer over literally every comment a president makes...I cant recall if thats normal to other State of the Unions I have seen? I wasn't kidding when I called it political theater. That isn't new. It's been that way as long as I can remember. The first one of those I remember watching was Gerald Ford in '75. He's obligated to nothing he said in that speech. And if he was a Democrat and said essentially the same things the Dems would be cheering and Republicans stone faced. It's a farce.

Oh for God's sake. Can we all just agree that if something that has nothing to do with neo-nazis happens to look a little like something some neo-nazis MIGHT wear it coincidental, unintentional, and nothing to get in a huff over? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/world/europe/norway-skiing-knitting-nazis.html

I was very pleased by what I saw last night. Very pleased indeed. The folks I like were cheering the and rest were sitting on their hands grinding their teeth. It was definitely compelling TV. It was very exciting. Matheson, Dadonov, Yandle, and Huberdeau all scored goals. Harri Sateri stopped 32 shots and got his first NHL win in goal and the Panthers beat the Islanders 4-1.

Meh, it's a farce. Political theater. The Panthers are playing the Islanders tonight. I'm much more interested in that. I'll read what he said later.

Yep. The Red Sox used to be the Americans, the Cubs were both the Orphans and White Stockings and the White Sox used to be the St. Paul Saints. Baseball if great for history and tradition. But I don't really see those as inextricably tied to a logo. That's why the tradition argument falls flat with me. But at the same time I'm 100% against forcing them to change it. But since they did this on their own, good for them .

Some people on another board I frequent (dedicated solely to baseball) are in a real twist over this Chief Wahoo thing. Branding and logo changes. It didn't use to look like this. In the 40's & 50's it was much worse. And they were not always the Indians. Before that they were the Naps, before that the Spiders, before that the Clippers, and even before that the Forest Citys (pre-1900 semi pro). The Orioles used to be the Browns, the Rangers used to be the Senators, the Brewers used to be the Pilots. The Dodgers used to be the Robins and before thet they were the Superbas. The Yankees were once the Orioles! In Baltimore. The Devil left St. Pete, the Marlins used to be in Florida and the Angels used to be the California Angels (which NEVER made sense). In the minors the Peoria Chiefs wen from this: To this: Branding and teams change all the time. They didn't change the name (which WOULD be caving to PC since "Indians" is a generic term that describes no one) so don't get in a huff about it.

I didn't know that. That is pretty cool.

Now reading this: And this:

The joys of government work. And being the low man on the totem pole.

If I went on vacation for a week it would probably be three days before I was even missed!

This is a pretty good (if biased, it's Deadspin after all) article about the '87 NFL Strike. I remember that pretty clearly but had forgotten some of the details. I'm going to have to check out the book the article is based on. https://deadspin.com/the-1987-nfl-players-strike-created-the-modern-nfl-1819152183

Out of the Park Developments has announced the latest version of their outstanding Baseball management sim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-2mRthJ5Zc I've bought this every year since OOTP 8. I'm in again this year

As usual the doings on First St. are more interesting than what's happening on Pennsylvania Ave : http://reason.com/blog/2018/01/24/supreme-courts-big-public-sector-union-c For my part, all associations should be voluntary. Compelling Union membership and payments for that is very mafia like if you ask me. My career (when I wasn't self employed) has been mostly professional/management so I've never had to deal with being robbed.... I mean paying Union dues. But I've always told myself I'd never work somewhere where membership in anything is compulsory.

Draining the swamp. I guess Shrek lived in the swamp:

Ive given up trying to figure them out. My new policy on Muslims (and everyone else) I leave them alone they leave me alone.

I believe that was one of three separate influences.

Heck we've had something for that for a long time now:

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/01/25/germany-mohammed-name-rapidly-rising-popularity/ Might explain Mr. Wagner's unexpected conversion.