321 responses to “Sandbox – 25feb17”

1. 

   Russ

   26 February 2017

   Miserable 21st Century
   You may have sensed that the economy was in far more trouble than the press and the political hacks were willing to admit. Nicholas Eberstadt, an economist agrees and provides the numbers to make his case for Our Miserable 21st Century
   From work to income to health to social mobility, the year 2000 marked the beginning of what has become a distressing era for the United States
   It turns out that the year 2000 marks a grim historical milestone of sorts for our nation. For whatever reasons, the Great American Escalator, which had lifted successive generations of Americans to ever higher standards of living and levels of social well-being, broke down around then—and broke down very badly.
   The warning lights have been flashing, and the klaxons sounding, for more than a decade and a half. But our pundits and prognosticators and professors and policymakers, ensconced as they generally are deep within the bubble, were for the most part too distant from the distress of the general population to see or hear it. (So much for the vaunted “information era” and “big-data revolution.”) Now that those signals are no longer possible to ignore, it is high time for experts and intellectuals to reacquaint themselves with the country in which they live and to begin the task of describing what has befallen the country in which we have lived since the dawn of the new century.
   https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/our-miserable-21st-century/

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2. 

   Russ

   26 February 2017

   It is about time!
   The journal Nature is going to begin requiring reproducibility in submitted papers
   What about all those published papers in which the science could not be reproduced. Where is the list of un-reproduced scientific papers? So far, I do not know of any scientists that was able to reproduce the Mann Hockey Stick Paper.
   From the Journal of Irreproducible Science – over 2/3s of researchers say they are unable to replicate study results
   Looks like Nature is about to shrink by 2/3rds
   https://wattsupwiththat.com/2017/02/25/the-journal-nature-is-going-to-begin-requiring-reproducibility-in-submitted-papers/

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3. 

   Russ

   26 February 2017

   Nice summary of our current political environment by Fox News’s Tucker Carlson
   “Look, it’s really simple,” Carlson says. “The SAT 50 years ago pulled a lot of smart people out of every little town in America and funneled them into a small number of elite institutions, where they married each other, had kids, and moved to an even smaller number of elite neighborhoods. We created the most effective meritocracy ever.”
   “But the problem with the meritocracy,” he continues, is that it “leeches all the empathy out of your society … The second you think that all your good fortune is a product of your virtue, you become highly judgmental, lacking empathy, totally without self-awareness, arrogant, stupid—I mean all the stuff that our ruling class is.”
   Tucker gets it!!

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4. 

   fish

   26 February 2017

   Guess she didn’t want it bad enough……..
   http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/25/rachel-dolezal-is-nearly-homeless-on-food-stamps/

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5. 

   fish

   26 February 2017

   Fabulous guerilla street theater……
   http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-street-artist-targets-oscars-mocking-posters-hollywood-highland-979443

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6. 

   Todd Juvinall

   26 February 2017

   Read in the SacBee today that South Africa is having a massive problem with illegal immigrants. And there are protests. Seems the crime rate is way up. And the lack of jobs is tremendous. 30% unemployment. So now a new political party is forming to deal with the influx of illegals. Of course the basis of the story is how it compares to Trump. They call these black citizens in South Africa “xenophobes” and worse. In our country that “journalist” would never write the story for fear of being called racist. So there you have it. Blacks in South Africa are the equal of Trump and those who oppose unfettered illegal immigration. I bet the media’s heads are exploding!
   You cannot make this stuff up!

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7. 

   Bill Tozer

   26 February 2017

   We have a serious problem with addiction. Where it started is uncertain, but the damage is certain indeed. Not an Oscar fan, but awareness is important. Somebody needs to speak up.
   https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CP6e9wzSbpU

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8. 

   jon smith

   26 February 2017

   I was at the Shot Show last month and it seemed numbers have been on the decline every year over the past 4 shows. The show used to be primarily a hunting and sport shooting event, but anymore it is a tactical weapons exposition. Hardly any elk, goose or duck calling and Mossy Oak has been largely replaced with urban camo. Human silhouettes far out numbered game animals. The aim of shooting sports has changed drastically in the last decade. To each his own, but I find the declining interest in outdoor sports and recreation to be quite troubling.

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9. 

   Todd Juvinall

   26 February 2017

   SacBee page 5E for Russ and Watts. You need to read the grant whores pleas for money. My response to the email of one of the writers.
   “After reading this fantasy I am contacting my representatives to ask your ilk be defunded. You are really not in the real world! The Oroville dam being used by you to make a point about global warming is ridiculous. And your denial of the amount of snow-pack is breathtaking. We have received a lot of rain but we also did in the fifties, 80’s and 1997. This is normal. But you need more grant money so you make these wild claims. The aquifers in the valley are getting a huge dose of water. The reservoirs are full so we can grow our crops and you urban types can fill your pools and wash your Prius.
   The article was simply a plea for more grant money and you people jinn up fears through your “modeling” that is totally bogus. Shame on you. Hopefully Pruitt will cut you all off your drug money.

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10. 

    George Rebane

    26 February 2017

    jons 1034am – Good points. My analysis concludes that shooting ‘sports’ are declining because every year there are more hoops to jump through to be able to hunt, and less land on which to hunt. On the other hand the 2nd Amend reasons for our guns are steadily increasing as news of terrorism, gratuitous crime, and growing Leviathan is daily drummed into us from the news. (After all Obama was the world’s best gun salesman ever.)

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11. 

    jon smith

    26 February 2017

    Gun ownership is on a steady decline, yet gun owners possess more guns than ever. Reportedly the average owner has about seven guns which seems like a reasonable number to me. What doesn’t seem reasonable, using the gun ownership drivers you identify, and that I agree with, why does gun ownership jump from zero to seven? It would SEEM that the average Joe wanting a piece to fend for the wife and kids would have a gun or two, rather than an arsenal. Hunters and sporting shooters have a need (okay, a strong excuse in my case) for a range of weapon profiles, but home defense needs are pretty straight forward and singular in purpose. My gut would tell me that the demise of hunting would decrease the average number of weapons per household, but the rage-filled media would drive numbers of individual gun owners upward. Not truly understanding what I am seeing here.

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12. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    What those numbers do not capture are all the grey market, gun show, passed down in the family and person to person sales. Additionally they do not capture or even estimate how many are in the hands of criminals. Think stolen from homes and gun shop lootings as well as self manufactured from parts. The fed data only captures a slice of the pie.
    Then you have the ammunition issue in CA, lots of folks bulk purchasing out of state now because they want to stay off the books. Just like reloading supplies will be big this year just because people don’t want to be on the gubments lists. 😉

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13. 

    Walt

    26 February 2017

    Gun ownership down you say? Now how many of those were law abiding citizens, that were MADE criminals by the government, just because of a law change? You never hear about these changes until you wind up in cuffs, and in front of a judge and hear, “ignorance of the law is no excuse”. Who checks what the law is before heading out the door? You just about need to these days.

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14. 

    Walt

    26 February 2017

    George. Was there anything worth buying at the show? I’m still looking for a nice .45 to add to my armory. My other “need” is a Saga 410.(OH the melon vaporizer that is when fed slugs.)

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15. 

    jon smith

    26 February 2017

    Walt 12:15. Gun ownership is up, but there are reportedly more guns in fewer hands. Invisible guns is of course the wildcard, but DOJ claims they know roughly how many unreported guns are in circulation. I can only surmise they have some calculation based on arrests and reports of stolen guns??

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16. 

    Bob Hobert

    26 February 2017

    Just went to a gun show here in Tucson. Huge – perhaps 80 vendors. The S&W 40 I bought in CA but is no longer available in CA was on sale here for $180 less. I bought an ammo box full of reloads for a very decent price. I asked the salesman where they came from – MilWal in Grass Valley! I asked if I could get the same deal in Grass Valley. No – not in California he said. Jon 12:39 – I doubt the feds can ever know how many people have how many guns. Most of mine are grandfathered – like from my father and grandfather. California cannot possibly enforce their existing laws, even as the left dreams up new ones.

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17. 

    Paul Emery

    26 February 2017

    Hey guys
    I’m in the market for a tank for my neighborhood association to engage in regional self defense. Also a couple of flame throwers and 20 land mines. Any tips on where we could get a good deal?

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18. 

    Paul Emery

    26 February 2017

    This is the first in a series I’m going go call:
    GOD BLESS AMERICA
    U.S. immigration authorities are barring entry to a 21-year-old Syrian cinematographer who worked on a harrowing film about his nation’s civil war, “The White Helmets,” which has been nominated for an Academy Award….
    Khateeb was scheduled to arrive Saturday in Los Angeles on a Turkish Airlines flight departing from Istanbul. But his plans have been upended after U.S. officials reported finding “derogatory information” regarding Khateeb….
    The White Helmets,” a 40-minute Netflix documentary, has been nominated for the Oscar for documentary short….
    The film focuses on the rescue workers who risk their lives to save Syrians affected by civil war. Many of the group’s members have been killed by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s air forces. The group also was nominated for last year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
    “The White Helmets” includes emblematic scenes of the deadly 6-year-old conflict: people digging through destroyed homes looking for survivors, at constant risk of “double tap” attacks that target first responders after they’ve arrived at the scene of a strike.
    http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-syrian-who-worked-on-oscar-nominated-1487998888-htmlstory.html

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19. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    You couldn’t pass the background check to get a license poor ol’ PE @ 133.
    Poor ol’ pollhead PE @ 154, its good to hear that homeland is actively doing its job. Are we supposed to say; aww since the limousine liberals want to give a flavor of the month nomination to someone who couldn’t pass the background check, just let him in?
    First in a series I’m going to call’ You didn’t write that newsman so how is that part of ‘your’ series? 😉

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20. 

    Paul Emery

    26 February 2017

    Gosh Don, I’m being converted to your side that we need arms to defend ourselves par force against whatever and you poke fun at me. My feelings are hurt.

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21. 

    George Rebane

    26 February 2017

    Walt 1223pm – No.
    jons 1139am – Not sure what you mean by “why does gun ownership jump from zero to seven?”. Can you explain?
    russ 553am – Thanks for that corroborating post. Astute RR readers were alerted to track the phoney recovery some time ago.
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2014/06/the-recovery-rigmarole.html

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22. 

    jon smith

    26 February 2017

    GR 2:53 Poor phrasing, but seven seems like an awful lot of guns for the “average” owner. For all of the people who own a single gun or maybe two, it means that a great many owners must have dozens, or many dozens of firearms to bring the average to seven.

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23. 

    BradC

    26 February 2017

    Paul, depending on your needs, you might find what you are looking for here,
    http://www.armyjeeps.net/armor1.htm

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24. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    Well poor ol’ PE you can borrow a cup of C4 anytime, we could have our neighborhood watch tank come by if you need it now and then. Flamethrowers in a pine forest are not a good thing. Get yourself a good ma deuce and all will be well, except the rounds are pricey so singles and short bursts are a must. 😉

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25. 

    George Rebane

    26 February 2017

    jons 302pm – from your comments, I presume you are not a shooter (or gun owner?). Shooters own different guns for the same reason that music lovers own different CDs, etc, that fountain pen fanciers have a whole set of different pens, pipe smokers have different pipes (and tobaccos), car lovers have several cars, … . Shooting a variety of guns (actions, calibers, vintage models, …) is a lot of fun. Add to that the camaraderie of gun aficionados and you have a very active and rewarding affinity group.

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26. 

    fish

    26 February 2017

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 26 February 2017 at 01:33 PM
    Tank huh…..? You tall enough to operate the pedals Punchy?
    If you’re serious though you might want to chat with Keachie…..some of the entries on his blog were…to be quite frank a little disturbing and hinted at this level of paranoia.
    He might know a guy…..

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27. 

    Walt

    26 February 2017

    By jon’s average, I’m “well” above. Just like golf, each “club” has it’s special uses.
    Now shotgun golf is a diff. cat all it’s own.

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28. 

    Paul Emery

    26 February 2017

    Thanks Brad. Can anybody help me in understanding what demilitarized means. I’m concerned about my 2nd amendment rights. I’m new to this so ai need a little help from those of you with experience.
    Don, my “series” can be anything I make it. 1st Amendment basics.

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29. 

    Paul Emery

    26 February 2017

    For your reading pleasure:
    Out of 18 polls Trump only comes out ahead in 2 with one tie. Looking grim for the Trumpster.
    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/

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30. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    Looks like poor ol’ PE is not going to try to defend the guy who couldn’t get a visa for failing his background check. Pity. 😉

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31. 

    Bill Tozer

    26 February 2017

    This is a no brainer, unless you need it explained to ya over and over again. Or, just get lazy and blame the evil corporate money grubbing yellow bellied 1%ers. Blaming others is easier and less painful than blaming yourself, I reckon.
    http://reason.com/blog/2017/02/22/with-sales-depressed-by-soda-tax-philly

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32. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    Right on cue the good ol’ pollhead PE gets his fix that gets ignored @ 325.
    How can it be yours if you didn’t write it @ 320 poor ol’ PE? 😉

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33. 

    Bill Tozer

    26 February 2017

    “When California implemented the Dream Act, it cut its own throat. Undocumented and nonresident students became eligible for literally millions of dollars in state financial aid. The costs of the program are expected to reach $88.6 Billion in fiscal year 2017-2018, according to Campus Reform.”
    https://unclesamsmisguidedchildren.com/cali-gov-jerry-brown-phases-out-middle-class-scholarships-increases-funds-illegals/

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34. 

    Bill Tozer

    26 February 2017

    https://www.facebook.com/RowdyConservatives/photos/a.217983685002343.55586.217926015008110/1035071346626902/?type=3&theater

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35. 

    Walt

    26 February 2017

    Paul. “demilitarized” means “safe to sell to Progressives”. If it’s a rifle or pistol, the frame has been cut with a torch, for instance.

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36. 

    BradC

    26 February 2017

    Paul, demilitarized means to become mellow…

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37. 

    jon smith

    26 February 2017

    GR 3:13- I am a lifelong shooter and have a number of long guns for specific hunting purposes (.300, .308, .223, a couple of 22’s and three shotguns) and several handguns for plinking and home protection. I must admit to being stunned by the idea the the “average” gun owner has seven guns. I know many, many people who have weapons and most have one or maybe two guns, primarily for defense.

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38. 

    George Rebane

    26 February 2017

    jons 404pm – From the count of your guns, haven’t you answered your own question? Or do you consider yourself some kind outlier in gun ownership?

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39. 

    Bill Tozer

    26 February 2017

    Interesting bio and connections of the lame stream media.
    http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/howie_carr/2017/02/carr_keep_giving_the_fakers_hell_donald

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40. 

    fish

    26 February 2017

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 26 February 2017 at 03:25 PM
    ….still President Punchy.

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41. 

    Scott Obermuller

    26 February 2017

    from jon: “I must admit to being stunned by the idea the the “average” gun owner has seven guns.”
    Why are you stunned? George isn’t. And I imagine that most of the conservatives that post here are not stunned. My grandfather had a collection of over 100 firearms. No, I don’t have them, they ended up being the property of my mother and she wanted them sold. One amusing point is that I notice the more ‘liberal’ side here seems to assume only the man in the family needs a fire arm. Almost every male I know who possesses firearms is wed to a woman who owns one or more guns.
    And I would say that the govt claiming they have a good idea of the number non-registered guns is just a silly guess. It’s not verifiable anyway, so they can claim anything they want.
    I’ll confess that I’m mystified by the fascination that lefties have with fire arms. They seem to be completely unable to separate the 2 different ideas of gun ownership and the problem of illegal violence in society. There appears to be some kind of magical difference in how a person is murdered. Shot to death? OH, MY GOD! Throat slit open? Meh.
    Tossed in front of the metro? Hey – it’s the big city – stuff happens.
    Hard to have a rational discussion about fire arms, but we can try.

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42. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    Good point Scott, not just the moms, I know families were the teens have their own stuff. Think of a family with three competitive sons, each son has at least a pistol and rifle, shotgun of their own. We all know how well our teen boys shared, right? So your rack up a lot of individual units but the guns show up as moms and dads, not the kids. The fed numbers on guns are like the massaged unemployment rate, interesting but less relevant than they would have us believe. 😉

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43. 

    Russ

    26 February 2017

    Growing up my two brothers and I each had a rifle, we earned those guns shoveling driveways in the 52-53 winter and treasured them. Unfortunately, they were stolen from the rifle rack in my brother’s pickup. However, he was more upset about the dog they also stole than the rifles and the packaged deer meat he was bringing home from the meat processing plant.

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44. 

    Todd Juvinall

    26 February 2017

    I say Paul Emery should obtain at least a bazooka. And then he can taste the ire pf the ATF. He was a reserve airman if I recall, he should already have all the connections for that tank.

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45. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    MRAP’s for everyone! 😉

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46. 

    Russ

    26 February 2017

    The truth is out there, it just takes some time to shake off the political correctness!
    Swedish policeman blames migrants for the majority of country’s rapes and shootings and accuses politicians of ‘turning a blind eye.’ “Prosecutors launched an inquiry, suggesting he had incited racial hatred, but later dropped the charges. Now Springare has told The Sunday Times: ‘The highest and most extreme violence – rapes and shooting – is dominated by criminal immigrants.’”

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47. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    Hey Russ, what rifles did you and your brother have back in 52′? 😉

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48. 

    ScenesFromTheApocalypse

    26 February 2017

    re: JS @ 11:39
    “that I agree with, why does gun ownership jump from zero to seven? ”
    Because people go from non-owners to being hobbyists.
    On another note, it appears that beheadings are becoming more popular with the French public over time.
    https://i.imgur.com/I69eWCH.png

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49. 

    Russ

    26 February 2017

    Don@07:46 PM
    Two 30-40 Krags and one Winchester Model 1892 lever action .25-20, loved that gun. My dad had a .308, Russian bolt action that had been “sporterized”. Family guns included a .410 single barrel shotgun and a double barrel 20 gauge shotgun for quail and pheasant hunting. .22 pump action for rattlesnakes and “Praire Chickens”.

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50. 

    Don Bessee

    26 February 2017

    That sounds like a fun mix Russ. 😉

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