From Pine View Farm

July, 2017 archive

Divining Rod 0

In a remarkable and perceptive post, Josh Marshall struggles with Donald Trump’s fatal attraction. A snippet:

What is difficult to understand, what requires some explanation is the way Trump is able to destroy those around him. Not once or twice but again and again, repeatedly, in a pattern so consistent that it becomes more inexplicable over time as new victims appear insensible to the unmistakeable pattern they have seen unfold along with us.

This may be unremarkable with the toadies and acolytes. But Trump is able to take people of some apparent substance and attainment and destroy them as well. The key though is that he doesn’t destroy them. In his orbit, under some kind of spell, he makes them destroy themselves. It is always a self-destruction. He’s like a black hole. But for this there’s no ready explanation. Because what is the power? The force?

Follow the link for his answer.

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Kate for Windows 0

The KDE Project has released a Windows version of the Kate text editor, my favorite GUI text editor for Linux. If you aren’t sure what a “text editor” is, think Notepad. Then envision Notepad on steroids.

Kate is capable of tabbed editing; can hold multiple documents open and under development simultaneously; can be configured to use various mark-up languages, such as HTML and various Assembler and scripting languages; and much more.

Kate Editor

Click for a larger, slightly different image.

Follow the link above to try Kate for Windows.

H/T to SMLR for this news.

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Worst Amendment 0

Title:  Rat the President.  Man:


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QOTD 0

R. Crumb:

Violence begets violence, and then you get leaders who are violent men. And you don’t want that.

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Examples 0

Man holding newspaper with


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Health Care: Follow the Money 0

It leads right to health care CEOs.

Transcript.

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Empty Jesters, Reprise 0

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The Enronning of America 0

Thom talks to Jesse Eisinger, author of The Chickenshit Club, on how justice fails to prosecute executives in this riveting two part interview.

Part One:

Part Two:

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The Follower 0

Solomon Jones marvels at the obtuseness of John McCain.

McCain, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, had a tumor removed at the Mayo Clinic, thanks to the taxpayers who provide his salary and pay for the health-care benefits he receives as a U.S. senator. Just 11 days after that surgery, McCain traveled from Arizona to Washington to snatch health care from the very people whose taxes saved his life.

Dick Polman has more.

Read it.

Aside:

I find it puzzling that John McCain has managed to keep a reputation (at least among the media) for being a mavericky statesman, as for the past two decades his record is one of toeing the Republican Party line.

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Empty Jesters 0

Donald Trump as king sitting in gilded throne holding smart phone as new

Via Job’s Anger.

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The Gang that Couldn’t Vote Straight 0

Josh Marshall.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Leave politeness about your path.

A girl was accidentally shot in the shoulder by a friend at Brooke Mill Apartments in Ridgeland, Jasper County Sheriffs Office reports and officials said.

(snip)

Malphrus said the teens discovered a 9mm Springfield Armory XDS semi-automatic handgun inside a nightstand drawer.

One girl was in the bathroom when the gun went off in another room, Malphrus said. He said the bullet went through the bathroom door and hit the victim in the shoulder.

Had there been more guns lying about, no doubt this would not have happened. At least, I suspect that is what the NRA would say, as “more guns” is always their solution.

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QOTD 0

Xun Kuang:

The petty man is eager to make boasts, yet desires that others should believe in him. He enthusiastically engages in deception, yet wants others to have affection for him. He conducts himself like an animal, yet wants others to think well of him.

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Wasp 0

wasp on flower

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“Baby, You Know You Wanted It” 0

In the Des Moines Register, Rekha Basu questions Betsy DeVos’s campaign to make campus rape great again.

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Hunting Deer 0

No, not that kind of hunting deer. This deer is doing the hunting.

The hunt is on for a deer that has been attacking locals in the popular tourist spot of France’s south west Dordogne region.

(snip)

The deer’s unusual behaviour could be attributed to a plant local to the area – fleur de Bourdaine – which can produce the effect of drugs and alcohol in animals, explained president of the local hunting association in Augignac René Mandon, who was given the go ahead to hunt the deer on Monday.

Or, he added, it could simply be the effects of the animal being in heat.

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Don’t Bother Reaching Out to the Unreachable 0

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The Court Is in Sessions 0

If the facts don’t agree with your prejudices, just make stuff up.

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Application 0

Applicant:  I have no experience in that area but still want the position.  Boss:  This isn't the White House.


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Lance Dotson offers some thoughts.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Show off your politeness.

Comments from a 911 caller indicate that the fatal shooting of a woman at a southwestern Ohio hotel happened by accident while a man was showing her a gun.

The story goes on to say that, in this case, the politeness was fatal.

The stupid.

It burns.

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