tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.comments2023-10-29T06:41:23.910-07:00Halfway ThereZenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comBlogger5996125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-31257732624982587142017-03-31T19:49:26.201-07:002017-03-31T19:49:26.201-07:00A relative? Probably—in the sense that all people ...A relative? Probably—in the sense that all people of Azorean descent have to be cousins of one degree or another. But not a close relative.Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-27520622208904947002017-03-31T09:59:47.491-07:002017-03-31T09:59:47.491-07:00So, as far as I can tell, Nast was shut out of the...So, as far as I can tell, Nast was shut out of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. <br /><br />How will he ever recover? Ed Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10056539160596825210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-43958593090330971052017-03-30T12:24:20.585-07:002017-03-30T12:24:20.585-07:00Hey, Zeno - Is Nunes a relative?Hey, Zeno - Is Nunes a relative?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-64921577905610932202017-03-30T11:59:40.027-07:002017-03-30T11:59:40.027-07:00Teela Brown isn't _that_ lucky. After all, she...Teela Brown isn't _that_ lucky. After all, she's a character in a Larry Niven story! Paradoctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04821968120388981470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-51761622230453508342017-02-27T09:15:26.034-08:002017-02-27T09:15:26.034-08:00He was willing to leave that job in 1995 because a...He was willing to leave that job in 1995 because at that point he didn't need it due to success with dilbert.<br /><br />But the reverse discrimination he was referring to was earlier on in his career which caused him to switch jobs. This was before dilbertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-38170734415186474662017-01-27T11:49:46.793-08:002017-01-27T11:49:46.793-08:00Kathleen's famous older brother(!) just now ma...Kathleen's famous older brother(!) just now made this same point on "Science Friday" re Pete Wilson's demagogic bigotry.Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-21065311582163197372017-01-05T07:25:38.974-08:002017-01-05T07:25:38.974-08:00Interesting comparison, Zeno, and somewhat encoura...Interesting comparison, Zeno, and somewhat encouraging given the political status in California today. And yet, the insane swing of the pendulum of national elections still leaves me beyond dumbfounded. I wonder how a national elected office can swing from a GW Bush to a BH Obama and then to a DJ Trump? It defies the laws of physics... which of course was your opening sentence. Nonetheless, your tale shines a tiny ray of hope onto a looming disaster.Gene O'Pedianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-6999267826416228592016-10-07T13:51:45.415-07:002016-10-07T13:51:45.415-07:00A referent is indeed what is referred to, but in s...A referent is indeed what is referred to, but in semantics and semiotics, it's specifically the thing behind the word (i.e. the thing to which the word – usually a substantive – as symbol refers, in a symbolic "reference" relationship):<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Referent<br /><br />Mark's definition of "referent" is a little unclear, so perhaps we can give him the benefit of the doubt.<br /><br />In any event, the broader definition of "thing to which something else refers" is certainly not incorrect, and so your own use of "referent" is neither wrong nor a reversal of the semantics and semiotics usage.<br /><br />Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-46912437730605212442016-08-30T02:31:50.883-07:002016-08-30T02:31:50.883-07:00And now we have the Trumpettes and GOPers claiming...And now we have the Trumpettes and GOPers claiming all the polls are wrong, and that they have a grand chance for a landslide victory over Hillary Clinton.<br /><br />What is it about being behind that just completely robs campaigns of math, statistics and reasoning skills? Ed Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10056539160596825210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-56190210050373935442016-07-01T09:48:02.887-07:002016-07-01T09:48:02.887-07:00The commentator ignores the obvious: Both candidat...The commentator ignores the obvious: Both candidates were legally qualified to run, and won their primary elections.Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-50518134741989821812016-06-14T07:31:17.077-07:002016-06-14T07:31:17.077-07:00I don't know, with a cool, considered, and rea...I don't know, with a cool, considered, and realistic perspective like yours, it's hard to get inflamed and excited about the election. Conspiracy theories are a lot more fun.Gene O'Pedianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-25965783680858044912016-05-31T09:11:34.043-07:002016-05-31T09:11:34.043-07:00Brown continues to enjoy high support levels among...Brown continues to enjoy high support levels among California voters, so his endorsement is considered a plus. Probably not a big one, though. Still, it helps Clinton stem the efforts of the Sanders campaign to depict their candidate as closing fast. One recent poll has Sanders only two points behind, but other recent polls give Clinton a big margin. Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-69298216714932820612016-05-31T08:42:59.835-07:002016-05-31T08:42:59.835-07:00I hear that Jerry Brown just endorsed Hillary. How...I hear that Jerry Brown just endorsed Hillary. How much, if at all, do you think that will influence the California primary outcome?Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-2765105508581756992016-05-14T14:41:09.956-07:002016-05-14T14:41:09.956-07:00What if they use incendiary rounds?What if they use incendiary rounds?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03639445454370696616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-79884182811850716882016-04-17T08:19:59.635-07:002016-04-17T08:19:59.635-07:00The New York Times tally actually has Sanders at 1...The <i>New York Times</i> tally actually has Sanders at 1087, not 1296. In any case, the numbers vary depending on source. For example, Politico's delegate tracker currently says Clinton has 1758, Sanders has 1076, 158 are uncommitted, and 1931 remain to be chosen. That totals up to 4923, suggesting that a majority would be 2462 rather than widely published 2383. I presume conflicting reports and delegate waffling may have something to do with the ambiguities, which should diminish with time. The bottom line, however, remains the same: Bernie's supporters (some of them, anyway) are embracing completely bogus math. The numbers do <i>not</i> favor him.Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-30056696062781825262016-04-16T07:56:25.414-07:002016-04-16T07:56:25.414-07:00If Clinton has 1776, Sanders has 1296 and there ar...If Clinton has 1776, Sanders has 1296 and there are 1959 still to be decided (a total of 5031), how can 2383 be enough to win?Ciarannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-58059819327244185762016-04-15T21:24:37.728-07:002016-04-15T21:24:37.728-07:00This "momentum" jazz is an election-year...This "momentum" jazz is an election-year perennial, but highly unreliable. I think Sanders is stressing it because he has no better argument. The numbers are leaning strongly against him.Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-79768409384211376102016-04-15T20:52:35.671-07:002016-04-15T20:52:35.671-07:00MATH GUY!!!! I can't do the math you can do, b...MATH GUY!!!! I can't do the math you can do, but I can do percentages and read polls. Sanders is counting on a "momentum" based on states that Clinton didn't fight for because she knew he was going to win them. All she has to do is tie him from here on out and she wins the pledged delegates. She has an advantage in larger states. so she can lose a few smaller ones. An overall tie puts her ahead of him... and it isn't cheating if the party chooses her over him because she actually supports the party while he's having a tantrum in the corner. Improbable Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00388199130147075176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-90345502410152745752016-03-01T10:30:33.828-08:002016-03-01T10:30:33.828-08:00My aunt was brutally murdered by this so called &q...My aunt was brutally murdered by this so called "devout catholic" piece of shit, he was so catholic that he was on drugs and got her daughter on that shit too. my aunt worked two jobs including cleaning other peoples homes after her regular 9-5 to support that spoiled ungrateful daughter of hers who wanted nothing but modeling schools and designer clothes. when u plan to murder your own mother for money you deserve to rot in hell, i can't wait for the day that they put that fool to death. she on the other hand is living out free with children and a husband, I hope she is haunted by the fact she let that piece of shit in the house to murder her mother and that when she looks at her children she wonders if one day they will do the same to her. unless you were FAMILY who knew what my aunt joyce was going through on a daily basis with her child and how she was trying to protect her child from this piece of shit "man" like any mother would do, then you know NOTHING about what really went on besides his bullshit sob story from behind bars. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-72868921770038068452016-01-05T05:27:55.982-08:002016-01-05T05:27:55.982-08:00Now the Trump campaign is fobbing off video of peo...Now the Trump campaign is fobbing off video of people rushing from Morocco into Spain as migrants racing across the border from Mexico the the US:<br />https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/04/donald-trumps-new-ad-warns-of-immigrants-crossing-the-border-in-africa<br /><br />Their justification, upon being caught in a lie, is that this is what could happen at our southern border (never mind that there are already walls on the Morocco-Spain border). Truthiness, indeed!Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-26831542029713650682015-12-30T09:35:39.820-08:002015-12-30T09:35:39.820-08:00If we're wondering just how post we are in ter...If we're wondering just how post we are in terms of truthiness, need I mention Lance Armstrong? The 2000 election? The war in Iraq? Enron? Yes, the truth has become irrelevant, or maybe it's become simply relative to whoever wants to create a truth.<br /><br />Oh, and how about Bill Cosby? Yeah, if it turns out this American icon is the dastardly fiend so many claim he is, well, I'm ready to hang up on this century.Gene O'Pedianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-20676272155536619422015-12-29T08:50:51.299-08:002015-12-29T08:50:51.299-08:00I don't know that this is a new phenomenon (th...I don't know that this is a new phenomenon (though the current Repubs and their fans seem to be pushing the envelope. Harper & Co. were doing it a bit, too, shortly before we turfed them from office back in October). A few years ago I was arguing with a local guy who'd "invented" a perpetual motion machine. When I pointed out that his claims violated fundamental physical laws, he replied "Well that's my opinion, and I'm entitled to my opinion!"Steve Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06022832831084750602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-86686239727985644042015-12-29T04:15:19.796-08:002015-12-29T04:15:19.796-08:00Erratum: Pulitzer Prize winner.Erratum: Pulitzer Prize winner.Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-88744376532853627242015-12-29T04:14:47.765-08:002015-12-29T04:14:47.765-08:00Presumably she won't recognize PolitiFact as a...Presumably she won't recognize PolitiFact as a reliable source, being that they're a Pulitzer Prize, but...<br />http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/feb/20/facebook-posts/did-george-washington-offer-support-individual-gun<br /><br />"...We contacted Edward Lengel, editor in chief of the Papers of George Washington project at the University of Virginia. He said 'there is no evidence that Washington ever wrote or said these words, or any like them.' Lengel cautioned that it’s impossible to prove a negative, but he added that he’s ; as certain as he can be' that the quote did not originate from George Washington...<br /><br />"The closest statement [that PoltiFactTexas] could find was one Washington made in his first State of the Union address on Jan. 8, 1790: 'A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined...'<br /><br />"The academic consensus is that Washington was referring to a trained militia to defend the new nation, rather than anticipating citizens seeking to head off perceived governmental tyranny..."Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-22978208621446578042015-12-28T23:13:21.237-08:002015-12-28T23:13:21.237-08:00Would she feel the same if she were on the receivi...Would she feel the same if she were on the receiving end of such a falsehood?Kathienoreply@blogger.com