The “holidays” bore me. They take up more than 1/6th of our modern American life. I like the idea of Jesus’ birth, and the three kings, and even Santa Claus and snow and Christmas trees. But I need something more. I need an analogy or a metaphor or a concept of something bigger to counter this cunning, vapid consumerism.
For me, the holidays are a reminder of 1944 and the Battle of the Bulge. When we as a nation thought we knew it all, thought our technology and our intuition were better than everybody else’s… and then in a flash we committed THE most incredible intelligence failure in history and were surrounded by not one, but two SS Panzer Corps. Merry X-mas.
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December 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Bif
JR maybe next year you should just bail, go the Belgium, and wander in the snow of the Ardennes, by yourself. It might do you some good, and you wouldn’t miss anything here.
December 17, 2011 at 6:47 pm
dave
December 17, 2011 at 6:50 pm
dave
I need an analogy or a metaphor or a concept of something bigger to counter this cunning, vapid consumerism.
compost
December 17, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Bif
More awsome people.
December 17, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Dr. Doom
i’m personally on a mission to save thousands, perhaps millions of human lives from the advent of natural disasters. if successful, they’ll probably give me a prize. we really need to save moron human lives, don’tcha think?
hey, it’s a living.
December 17, 2011 at 8:23 pm
Dr. Doom
hey, at least the troops are home from Iraqnam for christmas this year. next year, they’ll be looking for jobs along with the rest of the 25 million or so unemployed.
“i’ll be home for christ-mas, you can count on that……boo boo boo booo boo boo boo”
December 18, 2011 at 8:04 am
Nudge
Bif, that snowmobile fail is first-rate. How much did those two posers pay for their moment of youtube fame?
On the plus side, though, they would have had to go down the mountain one way or the other, and the way they did it was pretty funny.
Doom, I’ve always thought that the best way to save the human race from itself would be to wait until some conquest-bent superior-tech aliens appear on the scene, somehow get into the position of being in charge of their efforts on the surface, then use the powers of your benevolent global dictatorship to disincentivize extravagant fossil fuel use. Unfortunately the aliens are either slow to arrive or reluctant to reveal themselves.
December 20, 2011 at 11:40 am
Situation
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/business/global/japan-picks-lockheed-fighter.html?hp
December 20, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Bif
Good catch Situation. That F35 is more popular than Jesus these days. We better hurry up with the sinthetic oil program because the forces of good are acquiring thousands of these things. I want mine equipped with Stuka tank-buster cannons and Bose speakers.
December 20, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Bif
I still think the hottest jet out there is the FA-18E. Go Navy.
December 20, 2011 at 8:03 pm
GB
Shoot, I can probably run faster than that potato launcher.
December 21, 2011 at 12:10 am
theroachman
The Japaness are being snockered. The F35 is a long term bust.
December 21, 2011 at 2:39 am
Dr. Doom
in WWII, the germans had a kill ratio of about 11 to 1 on the eastern front (the real war was fought there). the russians/soviets had a kill ratio of only about 2 to 1, or less. who won?
so much for advanced training, experience and technological firepower.
December 21, 2011 at 2:51 am
Dr. Doom
this Japan-US F-35 deal reminds me of another cold war turkey the US sold to then West Germany: the F-104. the stubby wing jet was plenty fast, but it kept developing engine problems that left a lot of brave luftwaffe pilots plowed into the soil of der fatherland.
December 21, 2011 at 2:59 am
Dr. Doom
Lockheed F-104 Star Fighter:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachments/f2/255830d1265595622-match-watch-plane-f104.gif
aka “The Widowmaker”
December 21, 2011 at 4:34 am
Bif
Venezuelan Nativity Features Chavez with Baby Jesus
http://www.firstpost.com/world/venezuelan-nativity-features-chavez-with-baby-jesus-155115.html
December 21, 2011 at 11:51 am
uncle remus
“The big question is why are drone pilots, guys that fly robots remotely from a computer terminal, going to a very expensive year of [Air Force UPT (undergraduate pilot training)]?”
“[T]he best example of the type of expertise required is Blizzard’s Starcraft, a scifi tactical management game that has amazing multiplayer tactical balance/dynamism.”
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2011/12/drone-bonjwas.html
December 21, 2011 at 11:54 am
uncle remus
Chavezmas?
December 21, 2011 at 11:58 am
uncle remus
“Flying a desk” will take on a whole new meaning.
December 21, 2011 at 12:32 pm
uncle remus
This of course has broader implications when taken in the context of the nullification of the US Constitution.
http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/fbi-undercover-investigators-animal-enterprise-terrorism-act/5440/
December 21, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Dr. Doom
Good old al Jazeera, when you want to know what’s really going down:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/12/2011121874651469307.html
Class warfare. snake eating its tail on a resource constrained planet. we need Robin Hood and his Merrymen back.
December 21, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Bif
FYI, I would make a good merry man. Keep me posted.
December 22, 2011 at 11:08 am
uncle remus
From Art Cashin via Zero Hedge:
‘Tis three days before Christmas
and at each brokerage house
The only thing stirring
was the click of a mouse
Down on the Exchange
the tape inches along
Brokers bargained and traded
as they hummed an old song
The Fed struggled and struggled
but few jobs did we see
Despite lots of projections
there was no QE3
The space shuttle ended
and Borders shut down
Alec Baldwin, with an iPhone
behaved like a clown
Prince William took Kate
to be his fair bride
And Lohan took a necklace
she then couldn’t hide
Kim Kardashian married
(it lasted ten weeks)
And in this year’s hot movie
we hear – nobody speaks
We had hacking and fracking
Angry Birds filled our screens
And vampires did love scenes
who knows what that means
Spider Man finally opened
Harry Potter matured
Hurricanes brought great flooding
but we somehow endured
There was Sheen, there was Weiner
they brought little to cheer
But it’s Christmastime, Alice
and Santa is near
So stop looking backwards
have a cup of good cheer
And kiss you a loved one
raise your hopes for next year
And amidst all the trading
Christmas themes we will heed
And share our good fortune
with families in need
And tomorrow they’ll pause
as we wait on the bell
To sing a tradition
a song for old “Nell”
Don’t let this year’s problems
impede Christmas Cheer
Resolve to be happy
throughout the New Year
And resist ye Grinch feelings
let joy never stop
Put the bad at the bottom
keep the good on the top
So count up your blessings
along with you worth
You’re still living here
in the best place on earth
And think ye of wonders
that light children’s eyes
And hope Santa will bring you
that Christmas surprise
So play ye a carol
by Mario Lanza
Unless you are waiting
to celebrate Kwanzaa
Hanukkah’s just beginning
But Ramadan’s gone
Different folks, different holidays
yet each spirit lives on
Whatever your feast is
we hope you all still
Find yourself just surrounded
by folks of goodwill
Friday, as the bell rings
hark to your heart’s call
And as Santa would shout
Merry Christmas to All!
December 22, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Dr. Doom
Bif,
Still looking for Robin. Will keep you posted on any positions opening.
Doom
December 22, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Dr. Doom
hey dave, santa’s been working on your christmas present:
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/scientists_develop_highly_contagious_and_deadly_flu_virus_20111130/
your prayers have been answered!
December 22, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Dr. Doom
i bet the bird flu is what really killed the dinosaurs! no comet/asteroid impact necessary.
December 22, 2011 at 6:53 pm
dave
your prayers have been answered!
i’m here only to do god’s work, we all are.
December 22, 2011 at 6:55 pm
dave
…weather we ackowledge that or not.
December 22, 2011 at 7:05 pm
dave
http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2012/01/prisoners-of-style-201201.print
i’d take the argument one step furthet and that we don’t even live in a culture, perse; but that we live in a idustrially mediated web of financial transactions.
December 22, 2011 at 9:51 pm
theroachman
My hair is a lot shorter then in 1992 and I reserve the right to dress grungy
December 23, 2011 at 4:18 am
Dr.Doom
notice the “crude” appearance of a correlation between american men’s cool fashion trend and the global crude oil production curve. we have been on a fashion plateau since 1992 to 2012, after a steep runup. the article gives few data points and missed 1942, 1962, 1982, 2002, etc.
December 23, 2011 at 4:23 am
GB
I’ve been known to exhibit great fashion sense while out ice fishing.
December 23, 2011 at 6:20 am
dave
future flashlights.
http://www.oldandinteresting.com/rushlights.aspx
December 23, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Dr.Doom
dave, here’s some lights to add to your christmas stocking:
http://www.fleshlight.com/build-your-own/?link=281&gclid=CMbgnqD3mK0CFcYbQgodMjbImQ&ad=3191468774
December 24, 2011 at 9:20 am
dave
yeah, they need to make an asshole simulator. i guess.
December 24, 2011 at 9:52 am
dave
http://i.imgur.com/lGMjR.jpg
a bunch of my favorite things, all in one picture.
December 24, 2011 at 10:05 am
dave
http://www.packgoat.com/
December 24, 2011 at 11:17 am
uncle remus
For whomever is minding the ZK controls…
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/creating-contingency-plan-risk-bloggers
December 24, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Dr. Doom
as if we didn’t need further proof of the dangers of flying the F-104 Starfighter:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-santa-display-20111223,0,4264541.story
December 24, 2011 at 2:00 pm
dave
December 24, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Dr. Doom
my personal fav fighter remains the F-101 Voodoo:
http://modelkitsreview.com/?p=699
i had this Revell model kit when it came out in the ’50s. It cost $1.00. that is how i first got a sense of the “worth” of fiat money. so, if something cost say $14, to me that was 14 Revell model airplane kits, and everthing scaled to that. of course, those were silver certificates, so that was expensive dollar money.
anyway, i saw a Voodoo up close at an air museum a few years back. it was amazingly huge. the model gave little sense of scale.
anything officially named “voodoo” is by definition cool.
December 25, 2011 at 1:00 am
theroachman
here is the f101 at my local musium
http://www.wingsmuseum.org/f-101_44.asp