brickhistory

Even Hamilton says it's boring. Does that qualify (no pun intended) as "legit critique?"

Didn't know until today that the riots occurring in proximity to BLM protests are being conducted by white supremists. I am told that by many sources in the media and by many representatives of one major political party. I am glad they are so informative.

Two sides to every story and the truth somewhere in there as well. Yet, the manbun brigade didn't need to wait for the truth regarding the black guy shot to kick off the Kenosha games. So, only one side gets held to the truth standard?

The kid shouldn't have been there. Neither should the rioters. Neither is in the right. However, the kid didn't start the fight or riots. The kid will undoubtedly face firearms charges, as well as the murder charges he currently has. The numerous videos available show him being chased, repeatedly. They show him being attacked after he tripped. Skateboarder guy was wailing away on him with the board and trying to take the weapon. That, too, is on video. The video prior to him tripping records shot(s) that aren't from the kid's rifle. The "hand's up" guy with the pistol then pointed it at the kid and tried to take the weapon. He is also on video at the hospital acknowledging that he "wished I'd emptied the whole magazine into him." Self-defense will most likely beat the murder charges, but the underage firearm thing and across state lines (if true) are gonna be a problem for him. I don't know him. But no 17 year old should have to deal with taking other lives, fearing for his own, and being stupid. The rioters knew better. But they largely haven't been held to account. I believe the masses are about tired of that. My comment, as dark as it was, related to the kid's ability to take out threats to him. I don't feel regret for that notice nor the term I'm using for the antifa rioters/anarchists. They aren't seeking "social justice" or a better America. They are seeking the end of America. I have no respect for that view nor those that hold it. Therefore, derision is one way I deal with it. I also noted that both sides are armed and it's not a game any more. But it's human nature to say "enough's enough." Two-way violence is only going to increase. I don't rejoice in that, but I certainly understand it. How many months have the good guys had to endure the destruction of cities and towns? Eventually, the good guys fight back.

My regrets that the 17 yr old in Kenosha will have to deal with the aftermath, but from a getting it done aspect, he took out three skinnies, two permanently, while retreating/getting beaten. All three "peaceful protesters" have violent felony records. And at least one of them was armed. Both sides are playing that game now. Not a game anymore.

Now Nancy Pelosi is saying that Biden shouldn't debate Trump. Wonder why?

So "2' on all of the advice above from your post to now. That said, wife originally carried a S&W .38. She got an airweight for it's lightness but that made it a sumbitch to shoot and thus she wouldn't. After about 20 rounds, I too was done with it. At that time, I carried an XDS .45 and loved it. Small, thin, made a big hole in the target. However, we both switched to carrying a S&W Shield in 9mm for outside the home use. For her, it's a manageable recoil in a fairly light platform. For me, it's a case of if we both carry the same model, she can use mine and I can use hers (sts) should that necessity arise. Ability to swap magazines too. I put night sights on both. Inside the house, it's a scattering of other 9mm platforms in convenient places.

A follow-up, but related questions for those on the opposite side of the view: Are you ok with the Clinton server/e-mail investigation complete with the 8-10 TS/SCI, SAP/STO e-mails? Are you ok with the use of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate an opponent for political reasons? Would you be ok if the party that used those agencies in such a manner? I would and am not. If one side does it and gets away with it - the deliberate and intentional use of federal resources, law enforcement techniques, and intelligence sources and methods - to investigate and/or hinder the policies of that oppostion, then any look at history will show that such will simply increase. If there are no consequences to misdeeds, then why not do it? As I wrote in a previous post, unmaskings of Americans, wildly overused by the Obama Administration, are at an industrial scale under the current one. It is that use of instruments of federal power against Americans, much more than the political back and forth, that interests me on this issue. One rule of law or not. If not, then you and I need to ensure we get to be on the winning side because it's gonna suck to be on the losing one. And elections won't matter then.

Fox is the new NBC. Do try to keep up. So, for my edification, and others, what does it say? Is my boiled down version suitable for a thread post wrong? If so, how?

You'd have to ask Trump about his personnel choices. As I understand it, the Senate report documents the facts of attempted, possibly successful, influence on the 2016 election with Russia favoring Trump and China favoring Clinton. That the report is not about the investigations into the Trump campaign and administration but rather about foreign attempts on our election systems. Which, by the way, occurred under Obama's watch and he, literally, did nothing. That said, my on-going concern with the Russiagate/Obamagate thing is the strong possibility that one administration actively used the instruments of US power - mainly federal law enforcemet and intel community - to spy on and delay/obstruct/interfere with the actions of, another succeeding administration. If that's true, it's really bad. As in end of the Republic bad. Political shenanigans are one thing, but when rank and file worker bees choose sides and use their offices/powers to aid/abet that use, I fear that. Against me, against you, against anyone. And if it's happened already, it's very likely to happen again, and worse, unless there are public consequences against those that did so. Certainly, I hope to see Brennan (admitted former Communist, not a wild accusation, but historical fact. Not to mention that he literally spied on the Senate, lied to them under oath, then got caught out, and the then-Democrat led Senate did nothing...) led away in cuffs. Same for some other high-profile folks involved. But if Clinesmith, Vindmann, et al, feel like they can take on political leadership they don't happen to like, then it's all moot and we become who can gain/hold power by means that I don't get a vote about. I fear it is too late, but I am hoping that if there are fairly severe consequences, that others in the future won't be so quick to say, "Sure, I'll do that."

Meanwhile, in Obamagate news: On Friday, former CIA Director Brennan was interviewed for eight (8) hours by the Durham investigation of how/why the whole thing went down. There are several notes to ponder: 1. An attorney for Brennan not present at the interview and not using any direct quotes from Brennan states "he's not a target" and that Brennan questioned the intent of the investigation as a political witchhunt. There was no such statement, or any for that matter, by the Durham investigators. No leaks either. I seem to remember one or two when it was Trump under the microscope... 2. The interview was conducted at CIA HQ in Langley vs main DOJ in downtown DC. That makes the jurisdiction for any potential crimes resulting from this interview, i.e., lying to federal officials, a matter for the Eastern District Court of Virginia instead of the DC District Court. One jurisdiction is historically much more lenient regarding senior federal officials being indicted and/or convicted than the other.

Just a nose pressed against the glass outsider looking in, but, that was fcuking awesome. Well done!

Well done. I remembered that episode watched, probably repeatedly as a kid growing up on afternoon reruns. And while it is an analogy, I wasn't necessarily going for the WMD type of unmanned weapons. I inarticulately tried to bring up the "if it's all 'droid warfare - air/land/sea/space - would political leaders really hesitate as much as they might, in Western societies anyway, regarding meat-servo casualties? Dunno. Does the escalation ramp become "He destroyed so many of my droids that I have to go nuclear" instead of "Xi just killed a carrier and now I've got no choice?" Either way, Lt Data will not be refilling the popcorn machine, I'm betting... edited to add: The summer drink of choice in the brick household this season is lime rum/coconut rum/fresh squeezed lime/some sparkling lime flavored water. Repeat as necessary until it doesn't matter. Like about now...

As Lt Data and his companions come on board, many things will become more efficient for Big Blue. Of course, finding snackos will be come harder and harder. As will filling the ranks of human leadership. Imagine the perfect world where only shiny pennies are brought in to command legions of AI systems. Cuts down on Tricare/retirement costs as well. Win/win for Big Blue and Pentagon. If it's just 'things' getting blown up, will anyone care anymore? Will war become a more or less viable option?

"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor." "Shovel-ready jobs."

Did not know about the different steering rack for Monaco. Makes sense, however. As to "legit"critiques of the sport, I failed to get the memo that anyone else was responsible for my opinion. Nice gig providing an approved viewpoint for everyone if you can get it, I guess. And my view must be so outlandish that Liberty, you know the new-ish owners of F1, have determined that to keep the sport healthy and competitive, thus profitable, that the massive spending by one, maybe two teams, and the rest there for pretty show, isn't sustainable. Thus the new regs and spending caps forthcoming.

And if it didn't have the dildo poking out the back, it'd be an F-15-ish silhoutte.(sp?) Kinda, sorta, but generic enough. Of course, if this was intentional, it's terrible. I just know how government, including ours, works. And would put money down that there's an unintentional goof in the pixels that either were sent or translated by the manufacturer (unless, of course, it was a Chinese company, then full marks to them for taking the effective shot at Uncle Sam and bad on us for not catching it before distro). As to the rest of your comparison and asking if I'd be ok, there's an Anglo-Saxon phrase that fits. But I don't think you really meant your question as trying to impugn my respect for our Service's fallen and our Nation's honor.

That gutsy bastard is willing to take that risk for 'Merica. In fact, the entire DNC is.

Ammo? No.

*cough = ballot harvesting - cough* It's pretty easy to see the narrative being crafted: Trump loses due to mail-in voting and it's "see the system worked." Trump wins, no matter the methods used to cast ballots and it's "That bastard cheated." Cue the riots... Hope folks got their ammo earlier because it's either nearly non-existent now or sky-high prices to obtain any

This struck a chord, but had to check to ensure before I wrote anything: If you think the Spanish track was small, wait until you see the Monaco race happen, hopefully next year.. Cancelled this year due to 'rona, it is amazing to me that they still conduct a Gran Prix in the absurdly narrow lanes and tight corners with the current wide cars. Although the race itself tends to be boring, IMO, another cars in single file parade since there's almost nowhere to pass, the mere challenge of the course is neat to watch as there's literally inches on some corners for the drivers to get to the apex of a corner and make the next one. Mistakes are common here. That there aren't more is a testament to the precision these guys bring while go amazingly fast. Qualifying is usually the best part due to the need for good starting position because of above reasons. But that's also where the mistakes usually happen as well. Edited to add: Not to mention the course runs along the harbor so the number of gazillionaire yachts and accompanying world class honeys on display is pretty James Bond-cool.

*Cliff Claven voice to ON: As a former reserve USAF historian, official unit emblems/patches cannot display specific MWS (there are historical, and approved exceptions from WWI/WWII). The no specific aircraft rule is why we have the goofy triangular thingie on various badges, i.e., ABM badge and wings, et al, and on various squadron patches. Most likely, this isn't/wasn't designed with specific silhouttes of a Flanker, just either a bad drawing sent to the manufacturer by the unit originator and/or a bad production of said design. Is this really what we have to worry about today in "What's wrong with the Air Force?"

Meh. Still, cool to spend a few hours watching fighters on fat tires go stupid fast.

I defer to those who have such experience...

A. He's not "my boy." I think Stone is a loathsome human being. B. You really aren't very good at this. Roger Stone arrest raid conveniently covered by CNN.  A full-up tactical team to take down a old man.  Nice...