Is Ted Cruz Satan? Discuss.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Adder

Nope, crack could also be and was associated in popular perception with scary black people and dangerous urban areas, which is a narrative that sells.



We've had this conversation before, and while I don't think it's entirely a coincidence, I don't think it is really as big a factor as is often asserted.



You mean it happened largely in communities who are subject to significantly less attention from our criminal justice system than those most directly associated with crack.

Crack was around. It's just that back then, it was called "freebasing" so as to make it clear this wasn't like the trash that was all addicted to it and shit.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

http://nypost.com/2010/08/05/rudy-gi...ng-at-sephora/

I missed that this happened 5 years ago. But it still made my day.

TM

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

Both true, but neither really relevant to the point I was making: that we, as a species, have no faith in each other and we don't play well together as a group. No matter what binds us.

I will try to find a Terry Pratchett quote that makes your point. I'm sure there is one.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

I will try to find a Terry Pratchett quote that makes your point. I'm sure there is one.

More on the topic of edge-of-the-line language and the resulting punishment (although, in this case Clarkson was punished for punching a producer--it was the last straw for the many borderline quips he likes to make).

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/18/op...773522000&_r=0

TM

[Adder]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

More on the topic of edge-of-the-line language and the resulting punishment (although, in this case Clarkson was punished for punching a producer--it was the last straw for the many borderline quips he likes to make).

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/18/op...773522000&_r=0

TM

He's an ass, but as that writer noted, it's partially schtick and it would be a shame to lose the show over it.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

http://nypost.com/2010/08/05/rudy-gi...ng-at-sephora/

I missed that this happened 5 years ago. But it still made my day.

TM

I feel for the kid. He strikes me as a serious asshole of a father.

[Hank Chinaski]

ISIS problem solved.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/...ource=facebook

[Hank Chinaski]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/...nce-in-arabic/

this is stooopid- at an art show I saw a painting where the artist had painted an American flag then printed the pledge in arabic over it- it was powerful and the most not-un-american thing I could imagine. I suppose there is little leeway anymore for thoughtful expression?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/...nce-in-arabic/

this is stooopid- at an art show I saw a painting where the artist had painted an American flag then printed the pledge in arabic over it- it was powerful and the most not-un-american thing I could imagine. I suppose there is little leeway anymore for thoughtful expression?

Not to be Mr. Obvious, but anyone who has a problem with that is intolerant.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Not to be Mr. Obvious, but anyone who has a problem with that is intolerant.

Well, I assume the person reading the pledge in arabic is arab? Hard to have a problem with that, even if one believes the islamic world in general is a challenge to peace. the reader is saying I'm American before I'm muslim.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/...nce-in-arabic/

this is stooopid- at an art show I saw a painting where the artist had painted an American flag then printed the pledge in arabic over it- it was powerful and the most not-un-american thing I could imagine. I suppose there is little leeway anymore for thoughtful expression?

Stupid indeed. On so many levels, from not appreciating what America is to not realizing how much we, militarily and strategically, need Arabic speakers. Why do these people hate America?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

ISIS problem solved.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/...ource=facebook

If that's a way of setting up a UN mandate for intervention, it might help.

At some point, we'll need boots on the ground that aren't either Kurdish, Iraqi, or a pro-Iranian non-state force like Hezbollah. I'm not sure I like an outcome, for example, that gives a big chunk of Syria to Hezbollah after Isis is defeated, but by withholding boots that is what we're going to get.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

This is a very intelligent interview with Petraeus on Iraq, even though my conclusions on what we need to do are very different than his. I think the whole situation underlines the need to deal with Iran diplomatically, and to accept that Iraq will end up breaking up in some way.

For 5000 years, Persia and Iran have mostly been the home of a series of big, unified, long-lived states with enormous sway in the larger area, while the area that is now Iraq has been a fragmented borderland that could only be unified for relatively brief periods. There are reasons. We have to deal with it.

More broadly, we're witnessing the demise of Sykes Picot, one of the worst exercises in colonial geography ever. It is going to be very painful.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/...nce-in-arabic/

this is stooopid- at an art show I saw a painting where the artist had painted an American flag then printed the pledge in arabic over it- it was powerful and the most not-un-american thing I could imagine. I suppose there is little leeway anymore for thoughtful expression?

Given how small-minded and simple people in this country are, how do you lead off with Arabic? Start with French, ease into Spanish, then jump to Arabic.

TM

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

If that's a way of setting up a UN mandate for intervention, it might help.

At some point, we'll need boots on the ground that aren't either Kurdish, Iraqi, or a pro-Iranian non-state force like Hezbollah. I'm not sure I like an outcome, for example, that gives a big chunk of Syria to Hezbollah after Isis is defeated, but by withholding boots that is what we're going to get.

And putting boots there will meaningfully change that outcome? For how long?