Hermanos! The devil has built a robot!

Numero Cinco ,'The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco'


Natter 63: Life after PuppyCam  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Laura - Jan 16, 2009 5:16:47 am PST #1544 of 30000
Our wings are not tired.

was, however, sort of horrified to see someone quoted in the NYT just now criticizing the pilot for choosing the Hudson and not trying to make it to a runway

I have to believe things would have been much worse if he tried for a runway. I was wondering how many people fought to get their laptops off the plane.

How awful and sad for your friend Chris and his loved ones, Calli.


Tom Scola - Jan 16, 2009 5:17:40 am PST #1545 of 30000
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.

The NYT reports that the pilot was glider certified: [link]


JZ - Jan 16, 2009 5:24:28 am PST #1546 of 30000
See? I gave everybody here an opportunity to tell me what a bad person I am and nobody did, because I fuckin' rule.

Oh, Calli, that's horrifying. I can't even imagine how you would cope with the grief from something both completely malicious and completely random. And Chris sounds like he was such a very good man. I'm just so sorry.


Fred Pete - Jan 16, 2009 6:06:38 am PST #1547 of 30000
Ann, that's a ferret.

I'm not a lawyer but doesn't Murder 1 need to prove intent and premeditation?

It's been almost 25 years (that long? how?) since I took Criminal Law, but my memory is

Murder 1 = premeditation
Murder 2 = recklessness, depraved indifference to life (e.g., shaking a baby)
Manslaughter = negligence


Gudanov - Jan 16, 2009 6:16:21 am PST #1548 of 30000
Coding and Sleeping

Did anyone listen to Bush's last address?

As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation.

First, you didn't before? Second, you've already said except Sunday, but I suppose Sundays don't count. Third, apparently natural disasters don't count as a threat.

Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored al Qaeda and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school.

Sure it has, things are going just peachy there.

Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of America to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend of the United States.

Yeah, democracy at gunpoint. Never mind the huge loss of life. We've also created a new friend of Iran as well. I'm also pretty skeptical about how democratic Iraq will actually be.

America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil. This is a tribute to those who toil day and night to keep us safe -- law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, homeland security and diplomatic personnel, and the men and women of the United States armed forces.

True. Clinton could of said the same thing, and worldwide terrorism has increased, but it is true. Bush gets points for that. OTOH, one can point out that the dots were there to connect and prevent 9/11, but perhaps that is only in hindsight. Dunno.

So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, human rights and human dignity.

With some very notable exceptions.

providing AIDS medicine to bring dying patients back to life, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria.

His best achievement. I'll give him credit there.

For eight years, we have also strived to expand opportunity and hope here at home.

And achieved the worst economic situation since the great depression.

You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.

What a stupid line. Seriously.

I wonder if any TVs were taken out by shoes during the address.


Typo Boy - Jan 16, 2009 6:25:43 am PST #1549 of 30000
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.

Cali, I'm so sorry. And I'm that what I thought was a general question pinged a personal experience like that.


Jesse - Jan 16, 2009 6:26:57 am PST #1550 of 30000
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.

Yeah, that was the quote I kept hearing this morning. Yes, I can acknowledge that you held the office of president. Seriously, WTF, dude.


Steph L. - Jan 16, 2009 6:30:42 am PST #1551 of 30000
I look more rad than Lutheranism

I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.

I think there are scores of former New Orleans residents who would disagree on that point, you incompetent smirking chimp.

Man. Four more days. Well, 4 days and 30 minutes. I can hardly stand the wait.


Shir - Jan 16, 2009 6:32:03 am PST #1552 of 30000
"And that's why God Almighty gave us fire insurance and the public defender".

Happy belated birthday, msbelle (and possibly others I've missed by skipping)!


lisah - Jan 16, 2009 6:33:03 am PST #1553 of 30000
Punishingly Intricate

Wow, Calli, what a terrible story.

I'm slowly acclimating to winter again after 4 daysish in Florida. It's amazing how quickly you get used to above freezing temperatures. I shocked myself and actually finished the Disney Marathon I went there to attempt. Turns out being kinda bullheaded can overcome not training enough! Pictures here:

[link]

And recovery wasn't really that bad. LOTS of time spent in a hot tub really helped. Plus pina coladas.