Re: Thanks for the Recommendation
 

Bangkok Airways is better than every regional carrier in this country.

TM

Re: Thanks for the Recommendation
 

Lucrative, as well, if you get the right sort of insurance-covered disaster near your offices. There's a firm in Philly that transformed from a small insurance defense shop into a national full service provider on the back of huge subrogation recoveries following a massive disaster in the city in the 80s.

But contracts are easier. The he said she said elements and investigation of events gets really complicated. I've always found it funny that lawyers get paid a premium to handle contract issues. Reading and enforcing (or advising on risk of violating) agreements is easy. You got the paper, you got the law that might govern it. The variables are limited. In cases regarding physical events, the variables are endless, and nobody can ever say, "Your version of facts is immaterial. The agreement is integrated." Every bullshitter gets to offer his theory and all must be assessed on credibility.

"That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

She's jaded, and she's way off to compare hack sites to actual news, but some of the comments in this (most notably those about degraded standards and journalists-as-activists) are highly satisfying: https://www.mediaite.com/online/cbss...ional-suicide/

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

I love the "career suicide" in the headline, as if truly stupid people haven't gotten rich spouting conservative bs on tv.

And the media isn't "liberal." It's insider. Just watch how they react to medicare for all and the green new deal with concerns about deficits and how we will pay for it.

I also do not get how people on the right have accepted that absolute trash and racism like Breitbart is "conservative." Especially after spending decades saying that sort of things wasn't.

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

She's 47, been a journalist for 30 years, and has a pretty solid resume (save some scandal where she was alleged, dishonestly, with trying to shade a Benghazi story).

I totally think it's nuts to even suggest right wing hack sites are news organizations of any kind. There, she's way off the reservation.

But when she says, "Look, 85% of journalists are registered Democrats... That's just a fact," she makes a solid point. There's a bent in the profession. And that bent is responsible for a lot of the right wing behavior we see today. It's an action/reaction/action/reaction cycle that needs to be broken. And when she says, "Things are largely grey, and not black and white, and the public should be told that," (paraphrasing) she prescribes the cure.

A world in which for eight years, Fox never once said anything positive about Obama, and now for two years, almost all of cable and national news says nothing but negative things about Trump is - objectively - not a media which is reflecting reality.* It's a competition of advocates.

_______
* I'm not suggesting equivalence. Trump is an embarrassing mess. But the angle of almost every story on the guy in the Times or WaPo is to shred him, to make sure you know the author hates him, and you should too, and then report on whatever he did. It's childish. As childish as he is. He deserves it. And media deserves him. We deserve a better media, and a better President.

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

Just so you know, the cool, PC kids are not using this phrase anymore. I think the objection is minimizing the genocide done to native people or something.

She does? First, is that true? Second, if it's true, does it matter, especially if they are centrist, corporatist democrats? Does it make any difference if they are employed by a giant corporation?

I will concede that the overwhelming bulk of journalist are "socially liberal." Do we really need more viewpoints on those questions? Isn't it enough that major news organizations go out of their way to give space (Douthat, et al) to opposing opinions? And if the editorial page is intentionally "balanced" then do we really get more "opinions" (her concern) by having "news" outlets that intentionally skew their facts to be "conservative" (by which we really mean racist)?

Trump's coverage is negative because he is an embarrassing mess. You're suggesting that the media should cover that up?

Or is this where you go find a completely accurate statement and say it's some awful and unnecessary dig?

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

Lara Logan is a fucking hack who should have been fired from 60 Minutes for her made-up reporting on Benghazi. And this article about how Trump is covered is horseshit. The fact that the press treats his constant ego-driven, idiotic actions like any other Administration (and the "left-leaning" press consistently reports on what he does like he's a normal human being) is ridiculous.

The fucking news is a joke, but in the opposite way. Both sides are given a voice, except one side fights with selective facts and the other side fights against all facts.

Fucking Lara Logan. FOH. https://www.newsweek.com/lara-logans-mystery-man-162631

TM

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

Is there a time when a phrase becomes okay, despite nasty origins? Like I was reading a Facebook fight about a bakery that has a "crack cake." The wounds are still too new, and the destruction too great.

I am not troubled by the usage (crack whatever) but also was not impacted at all by the problem.

We had a similar local reaction when a Mailbox type company opened and called itself "Going Postal." I can walk to the Royal Oak Post Office, it is a very specific, very localized harm, but real.

Anyhoo, it's weird how we turn bad into pretty phrases (though the reservation one was likely grounded in prejudice at the start).

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

It’s all subjective. The phrase I used here you can pretty much get away with using anywhere. No one even really knows what it means anymore.

I’ve heard “three dollar bill“ and “mental” are slurs. Seems a bit ludicrous.

I think almost every sane person knows what sayings one can use and what sayings they cannot.

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

I don't know. I just try not to say things that I've heard people say are offensive. Sebby's and the crack cake don't personally offend me, but I'll listen about them.

The post office one is in bad taste.

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

There are few native people in most places. There are audiences here who would object, but probably not so much on the coast.

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

You bastards probably still use the term “paddy wagon,” don’t you?

http://jake.umwblogs.org/files/2009/03/irish-large.jpg

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

Well, we are coming up on the yearly celebration of Irish boorishness and embarrassment.

(Thankfully, my drinking genes are from Eastern Europe/Western Russia. I tend to stay flat and civilized in my cups.)

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

Naming a business that way is dumb. But bad taste is the fount of some of the greatest humor in history. Ollie’s Eric Clapton joke of last week is a great example. It just... works.

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

That is true, but all things being equal, I will fly them over almost any American carrier, particularly over a Spirit, Allegiant or Frontier. I love the boarding process and speed, and they send me free drink tickets.

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

I just did Via Canada Rail from Vancouver to Jasper, Alberta. It was nice. Observation cars, real meals in the dining cars, and interesting people you meet in a a convivial situation.

Re: Thanks for the Recommendation
 

Some iInsurance coverage, not bad faith though. Litigation between two large rational companies. No little old ladies. Few discovery disputes. Infrequent depositions. Let's just get right to summary judgment motions once the policies, claim files, and (sometimes) underwriting files have been exchange. Let's argue the law as applied to the facts.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

I am wonking, but have you thought about how emojis can be used in court and opinions?> https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/18/1...case-reference

Re: Thanks for the Recommendation
 

Cozen O'Connor. Know them well.

Not quite lucrative for us, but not bad for 40 hrs/week.

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

Those three are terrible, but I'll deal with a super cheap Frontier flight if it's short (because I'm cheap and not fat - their seats are tiny). I flew Interjet from SF to Cancun last month. More legroom than any domestic carrier and free drinks in coach.

Re: Thanks for the Recommendation
 

I did a lot more of that at my old firm (and mostly enjoyed it).

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

People are getting over the bad taste- Google shows 300,000,000 some hits for both "off the reservation" and "going postal." "Crack cake" gets 100,000,000.

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

My great grandfather came from County Cork, so I claim the privilege of my people.

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

Do you just hang out in the observation car most of the day when you're not eating?

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

I would be interested to know what you thought of Banff and Jasper. Apart from the touristiness, I think those places are the most beautiful I've ever seen -- just fucking spectacular, but I haven't seen as much of the world as you have.

Re: "That's not journalism. That's horseshit."
 

If you've an Irish sounding name, you may have experienced another unwanted privilege: The assumption you're cool with bigoted commentary.

Idk why the Irish are assumed to have an Archie Bunker gene, but it seems to be a thing. Just last week, someone said to me, "Well, I don't want to be Jewish about the negotiation." I pretended I did not hear it, but had a seriously hard time not bursting out in laughter and saying, "WTF?"

I've had people say to me at bars, "Well, there's good [insert minority] and then there's [insert slur for minority]." Since Trump's been in office, it's happened even more. That I've Colin Farrell's complexion doesn't mean I'm cool with nasty, tribal talk.

These same folks often assume one is religious, as well. And to get back to the point, a lot of them are Irish. Irish males. I think there's club of Backward Irish to which, thankfully, a mutt like me was not invited from birth.

I don't care that your kids met the Pope. I don't like Jameson. And I don't want to hear about how the country's going to pot or grandma disowned a cousin for moving in with a Muslim boyfriend. And stop having so many damn kids! You're fucking up the environment for the rest of us.

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

And sleeping, pretty much, although that was partly because the drink guy's cubby was in that car too. If it is full, you are supposed to limit yourself to two hours, but it never was.

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

Both are stunning, as is the 230 km Icefields parkway that separates the two towns. I was constantly smapping pics at each new vista. My only regrets in not going during summer was that there were fewer daylight hours and no bears.

https://icefieldsparkway.com/highlig...er-discoveries

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

Bangkok. Interesting. Seedy. Food is good but don’t be surprised if you shit your pants a night. Not sure I’d go back. Went to a custom tailor who made two suits that are inexpensive and great but being that I checked them in as baggage, and am going back to US and flight is going on a 4 hour delay not sure I’ll see them.

Went to visit Chiang Mai which was decent but once you’ve seen 30 temples....

Did a bit more interesting wildlife rescue in Chiang Rai which was the highlight of the trip. Trip was a freebie (prize). Not sure idve paid even for a mileage run.

And non US carriers suck dick. Every fucking one of them.

Re: Northam, Warren, Fairfax...
 

Yeah, you pretty much point your camera anywhere and it's a stunning photo. I have visited in summer and winter and can't really decide about whether it's prettier in either season, but you're right about the shorter daylight being a drawback. Not the bears, tho -- I had enough of bears growing up. Glad you liked it.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

thanks, I'm there for meetings, but they'll take us around to some of the nicer restaurants, temples, etc., and I'll have a bit of time to wander. Increasingly, though, I'm thinking that if I have a half day to just hang in a cafe or tea house in the sun by a river while all the people who annoy me each day are sound asleep half way around the world, I'll be happy.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

Coolest moment for me- the temples are all also schools- young men go live at them around 12 or 13. We were at the temple with the golden buddha (fun backstory of how it was found*) and it is as cool as the last 5 temples- but I hear a thump, thump, thump- I wander back into the residential area, and there was an outdoor basketball court. 10 teens are running a full court. One looks at me and asks, "5 on 5?" It was the only English I heard.

I assumed a Buddhist b-ball game would be an endless series of passes- I mean they reject the personal accumulation of stuff- right? But these guys were the biggest bunch of ball hogs I've ever seen. It was so bad that my passes, especially early, bounced off their heads- passes were not an option to look for at all.


*so when the Mongols or the huns or whoever were coming through the priests covered their golden buddha in plaster to hide it. They were all killed, but the plaster buddha left alone. For hundreds of years it stood as a mundane old buddha. then, some priest rammed a cart into it and a chunk of the plaster fell away- revealing the gold. Some clumsy assed priest, probably dogged as an idiot his whole life, finally benefitted from his clumsiness.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

We did a full day tour with a guide that was way worth it. A lot of explaining as to the history of all the monuments in architecture. A lot of explaining as to the history of all of the monuments and architecture


I can pass on the deets when home.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

oh, also, DO NOT BRING A DURIAN into your hotel room!!!! They reek.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

Not correct. Some of the Asian airlines like Cathay Pacific are nice, and the Middle Eastern ones like Ethiad and Emirates, although the alcohol rules ban be weird during Ramadan.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

more than nice. And it’s executive lounges are beyond anything I’ve seen.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

Oops.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

Qatar has a good rep but when shit goes wrong it's a nightmare. After a 7 hour flight BKK-DOH, our DOH-JFK was delayed a total of 9 hours. They basically told us "the plane is delayed, we'll make another announcement in an hour." No explanation, nothing If you try to dig, there'll be a nice beheading in your future.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

I'm a history junky, so I love that stuff. Thanks.

Re: Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same
 

I actually like flying some of the "local color" airlines. The flights from Boston to Lisbon on Air Portugal are a gathering of folks from the old country, everyone going back to see friends and family and speaking Portuguese. They've got a charm to them.

This time I'm flying Eastern China Air. I'll report back.