Rebane's Ruminations
March 2024
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[Happy Saint Paddy’s Day!  Putin won this Sunday’s election in Russia, giving him another six years (at least) in power with a mandate to insure the resurgence of the Russian Empire.  He will now be the longest ruling Russian leader.  The west trembles.  gjr]

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129 responses to “Sandbox – 17mar24”

  1. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Trump said he was worth Billions of dollars. I guess that’s another Trump lie.
    “My Financial Statements were extremely ‘undervalued,’ as opposed to ‘overvalued,’ which totally disproves and nullifies the New York State Attorney General’s politically biased and motivated…Fake Lawsuit against me,” the former president wrote.
    “In other words, I am worth Billions of Dollars more than is shown on my very Conservative Financial Statements, THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE A.G.,” he added. “WITCH HUNT!!!”
    “Former President Donald Trump can’t find an insurance company to underwrite his bond to cover the massive judgment against him in the New York attorney general’s civil fraud case, his lawyers told a New York appeals court.
    Trump’s attorneys said he has approached 30 underwriters to back the bond, which is due by the end of this month.
    “The amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million, and very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude,” Trump’s lawyers wrote. (Trump himself was ordered to pay $454 million; the $464 million includes the disgorgement for his adult sons Don Jr. and Eric.)
    An insurance broker, Gary Giulietti, who testified for Trump during the civil fraud trial, signed an affidavit stating that securing a bond in the full amount “is a practical impossibility.”
    https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-rants-hes-worth-billions-more-documents-show-1852689

    Like

  2. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    Posted by: psul Emery | 18 March 2024 at 09:45 PM
    Trump said he was worth Billions of dollars. I guess that’s another Trump lie.

    Put yourself in his position Punch…..you find yourself in a bit of trouble because you’ve challenged the current political orthodoxy (I know this would never happen….Green Libertarianism™ is just something to spout off about in your local watering holes so the rubes up from Sausalito for the day will buy you cocktails) and you find yourself out of pocket…..an illegal Venezuelan has walked off with the guitar case so ready access to “money” isn’t an option. Your only choice is to borrow against “psul Emery Music”. You think ….”well I’ve been flogging Leonard Cohen pretty hard recently, ‘psul Emery Music’ must be worth a cool million dollars”! The bank counters with an offer of $11.83 and they want collateral to boot (and that’s assuming they’ll spot you the money to begin with…..I have no doubt there have been whispers to the effect, “That’s a nice bank you have there….be a shame if anything was to happen to it!” behind the scenes)! You can take the cool $12.00 and continue to fight the good fight in a crooked arena or you can sell “psul Emery Music” at fire sale prices and continue to fight the good fight with less money in a crooked arena!
    Those are pretty much his options.
    ….and hey….thanks in advance for agreeing with me.

    Like

  3. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    This is interesting….

    Chatbots more likely to choose death penalty if think defendant is Black…

    I guess a chatbot couldn’t be blamed if it was inundated with images from Gemini AI of the brothers in full Sturmtruppen regalia and came to this conclusion!
    The Asian Vikings….hah….they’re just Mongolians….they all look alike to the flabby, blue haired, neck bearded, sexually confused, women of Google!
    https://metro.co.uk/2024/03/18/ai-chatbots-covertly-racist-african-american-english-speakers-20484584/
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/02/23/TELEMMGLPICT000367735745_17087130671100_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.jpeg?imwidth=1280

    Like

  4. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    Young Americans know that the Pride of Scranton has vaporized their futures! Not alone of course but he served as the “Potted Plant” of the senate for 50 years so he gets extra opprobrium heaped on that empty noggin of his!

    CHANGE: Young Americans Lose Hope — and Turn Against Biden.

    But hey….there is always money to be made in getting the pronouns correct (he/she)!
    https://stevecortes.substack.com/p/young-americans-lose-hope-and-turn

    Like

  5. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    fish ole
    Do you feel like standing up in support of the college students that Trump ripped off in Trump University?
    “Lawyers eventually filed three separate lawsuits from 2010 to 2013 against Trump University for, among other claims, “deceptive practices.”3 Donald Trump has agreed to pay a $25 million settlement to the people who attended Trump University in 2007, 2008, 2009, or 2010.4
    Lawyers eventually filed three separate lawsuits from 2010 to 2013 against Trump University for, among other claims, “deceptive practices.”3 Donald Trump has agreed to pay a $25 million settlement to the people who attended Trump University in 2007, 2008, 2009, or 2010.4
    https://www.americanprogress.org/article/trump-university-look-enduring-education-scandal/

    Like

  6. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    Do you feel like standing up in support of the college students that Trump ripped off in Trump University?
    What does that have to do with your earlier statement?
    PS: You’re slacking C-Lyin…..scenes is expecting a “BLOODBATH” comment from you and dammit so am I?

    Like

  7. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    fishbrain
    You mentioned it not me. Trump threatens a “bloodbath” if he’s not elected. He’s repeated it over and over. How low can you go supporting someone like Trump.

    Like

  8. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    “You mentioned it not me. Trump threatens a “bloodbath” if he’s not elected. He’s repeated it over and over. How low can you go supporting someone like Trump.
    It’s not your best work…..I guess it’ll have to do! C/C-…..with substantial room for improvement!

    Like

  9. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Thanks for repeating my post fish. You always come through.

    Like

  10. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “Trump threatens a “bloodbath” if he’s not elected”
    No, he hasn’t.

    Like

  11. Scott O Avatar

    Paul 9:09 – “He’s repeated it over and over.”
    There’s the Psul Emery we know and love!

    Like

  12. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Genghis Trump is gonna unleash his hordes?
    Or a sea of red ink will swamp the Chinese auto plants in Mexico?
    Punch is a moron.

    Like

  13. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “Do you feel like standing up in support of the college students that Trump ripped off in Trump University?”
    Those weren’t “college students”, Punch.

    Like

  14. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    They went to Trump University Gregory so that makes them students. What would you call them and what is a “student ” by your definition? They are referred to as “students” by legal professionals involved with the case. Here’s an example:
    “As the founder of the failed Trump University, President Trump knows well how some shady for-profit colleges and universities award useless degrees and prey on STUDENTS’ and taxpayer’s money,” said Attorney General Becerra. “If Secretary DeVos and the Trump Administration won’t protect STUDENTS, then I will. No STUDENT should have to worry about predatory schools destroying his or her future. These new rules would help to protect them.”
    https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-if-trump-won%E2%80%99t-protect-students-unscrupulous-profit

    Like

  15. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    from livemint.com
    “Even though sealioning is classified as trolling, sealioners aren’t your typical troll. They aren’t anonymous users and they approach you politely which can be confusing. “It is a sophisticated way of manipulating a discussion,” says Mrudula V, a lawyer who also experienced sealioning during the Clubhouse phase last year. “The trolls think they are lawyers conducting a cross-examination,” she says. “But justice isn’t the end goal of these trolls. They only want to distract and exhaust you into giving up the argument.””
    The only winning move is not to play.

    Like

  16. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “Despite its name, the organization was not an accredited university or college. It conducted three- and five-day seminars (often called “retreats”) and used high-pressure tactics to sell them to its customers.[4] It did not confer college credit, grant degrees, or grade its students.[5]”
    -the wiki
    Not a college. Star struck folk looking for an edge in NYC real estate dealings.

    Like

  17. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Gregory
    thats your defination Gregory
    They were referred to as students by the California AG at the time. This is the defination of “student” by Websters Dictionary:
    “scholar, learner especially : one who attends a school.”
    https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=websters+defination+student

    Like

  18. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    What’s a “defination”?
    There were no “scholars” attending Trump U.

    Like

  19. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    A sweet little story I saw on Twitter:
    “NEW: Biden’s Justice Department shatters historical precedent imprisoning Trump Trade Advisor Peter Navarro for contempt of Congress, destroying a 250-year tradition of honoring executive privilege.
    Obama’s DOJ didn’t prosecute Eric Holder and Lois Lerner following contempt referrals after they invoked executive privilege.
    Bush’s DOJ didn’t prosecute Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers following contempt referrals after they invoked executive privilege.
    The Justice Department hasn’t prosecuted executive officials who were instructed by the president to invoke executive privilege until now.
    The last time anyone was sentenced for contempt of Congress was in 1948.
    Navarro, a Harvard-educated economist known for his efforts to restore American manufacturing, will serve four months in prison.
    He will turn 75 in July behind bars as a martyr of the regime.
    NAVARRO: “When I walk into that prison today, the justice system will have done a crippling blow to the constitution’s separation of judicial powers and executive privilege.””

    Like

  20. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?

    Like

  21. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    lmfao. Get a load of this guy.
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/18/lindsey-graham-visiting-kyiv-urges-ukraine-pass-mobilization-law/
    ““I would hope that those eligible to serve in the Ukrainian military would join. I can’t believe it’s at 27,” he told reporters Monday. “You’re in a fight for your life, so you should be serving — not at 25 or 27.”
    “We need more people in the line,” he said.”

    Like

  22. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Gosh Gregory thanks for correcting me. You are always right and also so intelligent. So I have a few guitar “students” which according to you is incorrect. I would like to use the right word to describe them and you know the answer so what should it be? Guitar ??????

    Like

  23. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Scenes
    Navarro was charged and found guilty of contempt after he refused to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
    Should he have been allowed to do that?

    Like

  24. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    psul emery: “So I have a few guitar “students” which according to you is incorrect. ”
    You’d better hope that the Trump University plaintiffs don’t hear about it.

    Like

  25. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    So, these so-called “students” of yours attend “Punchy U”?
    The people who threw money at Trump U were not enrolled in a bona fide college or university. Caveat emptor.
    General Becerra rode to the rescue, but mostly to heap scorn on Trump. It was political.

    Like

  26. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    Navarro was charged and found guilty of contempt after he refused to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
    Should he have been allowed to do that?

    Why not? Prominent members of previous Democrat administrations ignored congressional subpoenas. They weren’t imprisoned.

    Like

  27. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “Navarro was charged and found guilty of contempt after he refused to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.”
    Except there wasn’t an attack on the Capitol. After three or four hours, business resumed.

    Like

  28. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?
    Punch?

    Like

  29. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    ” Why not? Prominent members of previous Democrat administrations ignored congressional subpoenas. They weren’t imprisoned.”
    It is likely that wall has been breached. If Biden (or a stand-in to be determined) loses, and there is a GOP majority in the house and senate, there will likely be a testing.
    Is that only for GOP like Navarro, or will that also be for Dems in the future?

    Like

  30. fish ole’ Avatar
    fish ole’

    Posted by: Gregory | 19 March 2024 at 03:29 PM
    Is that only for GOP like Navarro, or will that also be for Dems in the future?

    I think the dems feel pretty safe….too many milquetoast, bow tie wearing, Marquis of Queensbury rules following types in the GOP.

    Like

  31. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    Now this is quite a surprise.
    “Google’s Woke AI Wasn’t a Mistake. We Know. We Were There.”
    https://www.thefp.com/p/ex-google-employees-woke-gemini-culture-broken
    courtesy of Drudge Report:
    “Arizona county faces ‘homelessness on steroids’ as migrant shelter funds run out”
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ar-BB1k6k3f
    What cracked me up was that that county (Pima) got around 50k ‘immigrants’ in December alone. Total population of the county is around 1M. Simple math (carry the two, put down some fingers, purse the lips), sez that’s around 5% of the county…in one month.

    Like

  32. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    huh. This should be interesting.
    “Judge demands social media sites prove they didn’t help radicalize mass shooter”
    https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/19/social_media_sites_headed_to/
    While it seems sketchy to me to force someone to prove they didn’t do something, it’s an interesting problem.
    I would think that something like 4chan, as it lets people say any old thing without algorithmic steering, would be the most innocent. I’ll bet that isn’t they way this goes though.
    In the long run, I expect that social media will just be more heavily monitored, heavily censored, non-anonymous, all at the beck and call of the folks steering the bureaucracy. Currently that’s Woke people, but there’s no reason for that not to change over time. The Universal Surveillance State is bound to continue to widen and entrench.

    Like

  33. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    Just reading a bunch of articles on Trump’s financial woes…
    https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-claims-might-be-forced-sell-assets-fire-sale-prices-satisfy-bond-civil-fraud-case/story?id=108273406
    https://www.npr.org/2024/03/19/1239524037/heres-what-happens-if-trump-cant-pay-his-454-million-bond
    https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/19/business/trumps-new-york-properties-may-be-on-the-chopping-block-soon/index.html
    etc. A quick googling will do ya on this one.
    …and was considering the utter genius of this tactic. I mean, hats off to the ruling class folks that thought through this whole lawfare deal. The results should be interesting regardless of the election. Either The State destroys Orange Man, and shows the ugliness of How Things Really Work, or the Tangerine Tornado will go to Revenge Tour 2025 with more vigor than is humanly possible.
    Amazing times.

    Like

  34. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    A8:
    Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

    Like

  35. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Gregory once again demonstrates he a solid Trump supporter and probably sends him money for legal expenses since he repeatedly claims that Trump has been wronged by the legal system. He is a fake Libertarian for sure.

    Like

  36. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    Posted by: psul “Make mine a double….these folks are buying” Emery | 19 March 2024 at 08:23 PM
    He is a fake Libertarian for sure.

    Pot meet kettle……

    Like

  37. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Punch needs more donkeys to blow.

    Like

  38. Scott O Avatar

    re Paul 8:23 – We are all aware of how stupid you are, Paul. You really don’t need to try to convince us any further.
    But – it is your right to be-clown yourself as oft as you might wish…

    Like

  39. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    I’d like to thank the Academy……….

    STORMY DANIELS TERRIFIED TRUMP WOULD HAVE HER KILLED

    Just what is it Punch that makes you girls so dramatic….?

    Like

  40. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    According to a tweet by Mike Sington, a retired executive at NBCUniversal:
    “BARON TRUMP TURNS 18 TODAY, HE’S FAIR GAME NOW.”
    So I need a bit of clarification here. Does that mean that the local news director can mindlessly attack him? or does that mean that gay men can sidle on up to him?
    You just have to love modern times and modern people.

    Like

  41. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Gregory 9:20: Spoken as a true Trumper and fake Libertarian.

    Like

  42. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    Posted by: psul Emery | 20 March 2024 at 08:09 AM
    “How bout another round….so I can really get deeply into the philosophy of Green Libertarianism™?

    Like

  43. fish ole' Avatar
    fish ole’

    Posted by: scenes | 20 March 2024 at 07:56 AM
    So I need a bit of clarification here. Does that mean that the local news director can mindlessly attack him? or does that mean that gay men can sidle on up to him?

    From the looks of Mr. Sington it’s clearly Option 2.

    Like

  44. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Punch, Libertarians actually like and pay homage to the Bill of Rights.
    “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
    You, on the other hand, love blowing donkeys.

    Like

  45. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    It appears RFK Jr. may be running as a LIB… if that’s so, I’ll probably be voting for him despite his lack of Libertarian bona fides. Not much of a chance of him getting any Electors from California unless Trump sweeps the other 49 states.

    Like

  46. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    “It appears RFK Jr. may be running as a LIB”
    In California? It probably requires a couple of hundred thousand signatures, but maybe he’ll get there. Gotta steer clear of Lincoln convertibles of course.
    I like the idea, he seems like a decent man. Of course, in the 1:1,000,000 chance he wins, he’d be met with the same entrenched bureaucracy that Trump was. Constant leaks, secret deals, non-enforcement of directives, but it would be fun to watch.
    An amazing election. Either President Potato wins, and we keep going on with transgender politics, FBINSACIA, neocon foreign policy, Saint Floyd, the whole DEI apparatus becomes more entrenched. or Orange Man gets the nod, what with nation riots, burning of shopping centers, screeching at the heavens. Either one is a shitshow.
    You could argue that anyone who is an urban property owner should pray for Team Blue, at least until they get the building sold to become an Immigrant Center.

    Like

  47. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    The Libertarian Party has ballot status in all 50 states… all RFK needs is to be selected by the party.

    Like

  48. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    re: Gregory@1:41PM

    Didn’t know that. I’ll look up CA election law someday.

    and now for something completely different, oooh, I like this chart.
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Welfare_trap.png

    Like

  49. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Didn’t use to and apparently, some states dropped after 2020. But it isn’t at all like it was in the early days when the LP was forever fund raising and taking the bastards in DC and Sac to court.

    Like