why does it look like The More You Know logo is crashing back to earth
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Omen-ous 2025?
Folks, uh, this is your captain speaking… it appears that Elon Musk's rocket just blew up directly above us. The FAA has asked me to inform you that if a chunk does take us out, you will have died for a worthy cause: allowing unlovable dweebs to believe colonizing Mars is a real, worthwhile goal
— e.w. niedermeyer (@niedermeyer.io) January 16, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This is extremely dangerous
— Eric Roesch, Rude Law Dog (@esghound.com) January 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Gosh, did they not have enough masculinity to keep it up?
— Michele Miller Galli (@mgalli.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I’d be laughing louder if Elon wasn’t getting tax payer money for his ego projects. Oh, and F Elon.
— njcnlr.bsky.social (@njcnlr.bsky.social) January 17, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Gretchen
Ordinary people who fly drones near flight paths or shine lasers at commercial airliners are subject to felony prosecutions. Elon, not so much.
mrmoshpotato
Well past time to stop giving this idiot US taxpayer dollars.
And Amber Ruffin is right.
NotMax
Too soon?
;)
moonbat
But, but, but they told me private industry will ALWAYS out perform government agency workers!
The only thing that would make this more comic/tragic is if (F)Elon rushed the launch because he felt like he needed a little positive PR juice going into the inauguration.
columbusqueen
Fuck Elon and his incompetent BS.
satby
Nothing much will happen until his vanity rockets take out an airliner.
MagdaInBlack
@moonbat: Explosions do not augur well for the inauguration…and presidency.
Baud
@satby:
Probably nothing will happen even if they do.
“The disassembly was rapid and unscheduled.”
Baud
@MagdaInBlack:
I don’t think we need to rely on augury to predict that the presidency will be a dumpster fire.
MagdaInBlack
@Baud: You are so right. I was just having a little pre-caffeine fun with words.
NotMax
My understanding is that debris rained on Haiti.
Sue him for reckless endangerment.
Baud
@NotMax:
Ugh. Like they don’t have enough problems.
Jackie
@mrmoshpotato:
And Amber Ruffin is right.
So, so good! :D
Geminid
The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced the Gaza ceasefire is set to take effect tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. GMT. That’s 8:30 a.m. in Gaza and Israel; 1:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Baud
@Geminid:
Hope it sticks.
Geminid
Presidents on the move: Iranian President Pezeshkian is visiting Moscow, while French President Macron is visiting Beirut.
NotMax
@Geminid
Moscow I can envision but hard pressed to figure what might be depicted inside a souvenir snow globe of Beirut.
//
NotoriousJRT
@Gretchen: But I did notice that “F Elon” describes him suvccinctly as well as being a wish for a happy turn of events.
NotoriousJRT
@Baud: A dumpster fire careening thru an oil slick and eventually launching into a massive manure pile. And that’s before things get even worse.
eclare
@mrmoshpotato:
That is awesome. Why did we give him citizenship?
mapanghimagsik
I’ve been a bit fascinated by this: https://satellitetracker3d.com/
There’s also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome where you have so much debris in space you can’t get into orbit. Theoretical, but it kind of makes sense. Its probably a lot of stuff.
It was a problem even before billionaires made it much, much worse.
Geminid
@Baud: From what I’ve read, the first 42-day phase should come off ok. The 42-day Phase Two is more problematic. Some critical issues have yet to be resolved; negotiations on them are supposed to commence on Day 16 of Phase One.
Israel is required to finish its withdrawel by the end of the second phase as well as free a set number of prisoners. Hamas is required to return all remainig living hostages as well as the remains of deceased ones. But there still small and large blanks to fill in.
One of the smaller ones is who exactly are the prisoners to be released. Israel is allowed veto power over Hamas’s list, but it’s limited and that was an issue that hung up negotiations Thursday night.
The biggest unresolved issue is: who will have security and civil authority over Gaza going forward? That’s not very clear right now.
The basic framework with its 42-day phases was proposed by the Qataris when this long process began eleven months ago, and it has been the basis of the negotiations ever since. The idea was to get the fighting stopped first, and then resolve the toughest issues.
TBone
Today is the first time I am disappointed with Heather Cox Richardson in her decision to describe the E.R.A. 28th Amendment as a “belief” of President Biden instead of taking the initiative to describe it as a proclamation. That gives more sway to an unelected librarian than it does to our still current President. It obeys in advance. Pish tosh.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tpxXDILZHs
Betty
@NotMax: It looks like one of these mishaps is likely to end in tragedy. Do the billionaires care?
Baud
@Geminid:
I think the big question is how much influence the oil states have over Trump.
TBone
@MagdaInBlack: I like the connotation that word conveys. I once found a discarded auger left in the woods by a well driller. I saved it. It’s for boring holes like MAGA. Threaded shank, rotating shaft.
Chris Johnson
Elon needs to be bullied into riding the first manned flight. With Trump as co-pilot.
The reason this would work is, the people who’re using them as proxies for real power hate them anyway, and since it’s largely Russia, they would adore the chaos ensuing after a massive glorious ‘tragedy’ like that. Maybe they can order their proxies aboard the test flight at gunpoint. ‘where are your billions now, tovarish?’
And chaos WOULD ensue, and it’d be more shittification that would suck, but by God it might be worth it.
Princess
@Geminid: I feel like Ben Gvir wouldn’t have voted for it if Netanyahu hadn’t promised it would be a dead letter after the first stage with Trump’s blessing. I read an allusion to something like that in one of the press reports — that Ben Gvir signed on after a private conversation with Netanyahu relating promises from Trump.
TBone
@Chris Johnson: By God, you are right! As usual.
Baud
@Princess:
Trunk is unreliable and doesn’t feel the need to keep his promises. So who knows? If the Arab states buy enough of his crypto, he might press Natanyahu to keep the peace.
Geminid
@Baud: The Gulf States, and maybe Jordan as well. A photo of Melania Trump dining with the Queen of Jordan yesterday has circulated widely.
mapanghimagsik
@Geminid:
Just complicated enough for things to go wrong, and people to forget the terms. Then Bibi says they broke the ceasefire and goes back in.
Its enough time for people to give Orangymandias credit and then for it all to go to shit while other shit shows push it off the front page.
Tangerine isn’t cunning enough, but I bet Bibi is.
tobie
What is the obsession with Mars? Turn the earth into wasteland and then retreat to a gated community on another planet? Too bad you won’t be able to do anything outdoors.
Geminid
@Princess: Itamar Ben-Gvir and his partner Belezel Smotrich were two of the eight cabinet ministers who voted against the agreement yesterday. Twenty four voted in favor.
Netanyahu’s assurances that fighting would resume after Phase One were enough to keep Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from pulling their parties out of Netanyahu’s coalition, at least for now.
karen gail
Reading the interviews with maga people who are angry that they won’t get to see inauguration in person, people who came from middle US to DC only to be told it will be inside. It is enough to make a person giddy; not only will there be the “smallest crowd ever” but so many spent hard earned money to find only choice is chance to see live streaming at sports stadium.
Best choice ever for orange one to start out; it seems to be turning some of his worshippers off. One can only hope they go from worship to hate quickly.
Baud
@karen gail:
I’m glad they’re unhappy, but I’ve stopped anticipating any weakening of their loyalty.
rikyrah
Good Morning Everyone 😊 😊 😊
rikyrah
@Baud:
Let them have wasted their money.
Good
Baud
@rikyrah:
Good morning.
TBone
@karen gail: I just saw a post where workers were setting up all the folding chairs on the Mall, rows and rows and rows of chairs…it could have been a proper MAGA head smashing melee with all those empty chairs but I guess they were quickly removed.
TBone
Weather forecast: uppity
kalakal
I’m hoping most people watch something else on TV, perfection would be if he came 15th in the ratings, close behind a test card
Geminid
@TBone: Those melees might still happen at the sports stadium. Or in the parking lot; those might be some salty tailgate parties.
At least alcohol consumption will be prohibited.
prostratedragon
“Moving Through Time”
Geminid
@TBone: Snow on Sunday? Aw shit. I haven’t been out my driveway for twelve days. I’m pretty sure I can get down it, but there’s a tough, steep curve coming back up.
I live a hundred miles Southwest of DC, so I looked up the weather and sure enough, we’re gonna get the snow. My friend Debbie came by in her 4wd truck Monday and took me shopping, so I’ll be ok. I just wanna see the bright lights of Stanardsville again.
sab
@Geminid: I have gone out with my snow shovel every day and shovelled gently. My driveway is very steep but also very short.
I am 70 so husband is opposed to this activity. But driveways are like housework. You have to keep up with the cleaning or it gets away from you.
SnowRain mixture today then falling subzero tonight. I think it will get away from me this time.
MagdaInBlack
@TBone: Here in Chicago-land we just get to have the below zero wind chill til Weds. No snow predicted at this time.
evodevo
@NotMax: Lebanon was part of the French mandate after WW1
JMG
Suburban Boston to get 5-10 inches of snow Sunday night, followed by a temperature drop to near zero by Tuesday morning. We have a shortish driveway but also a plow service. Even using the snowblower was killing my back, we sprang for the service a couple years ago.
evodevo
@Geminid: Yep…same here…steep graveled drive under a layer of ice – a neighbor (bless him) scraped it last weekend and we made it out to the grocery for the first time since the Big Storm. Now it’s raining on the ice, and a couple inches (or more!) snow forecast for tonite and tomorrow, + 0 temps. Country living FTW!
Booger
@Geminid: But how ya gonna keep em down on the farm (after they’ve seen Stanardsville?)
NotMax
@evodevo
Well aware of that.
It was the word “visiting” in the original comment which set me off into being snarky.
;)
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Geminid: Iran is supposed to be in sorry shape – there is the threat of war between Iran and Pakistan, and the Iranians have a natural gas shortage this winter.
kalakal
@NotMax: Lebanon is gorgeous. We went on holidays a lot there when I was a kid.
NotMax
@kalakal
Closest I’ve been is the bologna. Oh, and sometimes whip up an untra-garlicky toum.
:)
Anyway
Yep, Beirut was the Paris of the Levant. And Lebanese food is super-yummy.
Anyway
For reals?! I’d have serious cabin fever…
I am okay with the snow tomorrow just need to make sure i get my hike in before it starts. Don’t have ProfB’s newfangled electrical machine and will be using old-fashioned shovel to clear out the driveway after the storm.
Geminid
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: Two Iranian judges were shot to death yesterday in Tehran. They were called “Supreme Court” judges but they had two different circuits so that may be more like a New York Supreme Court judge.
The attacker was said to be a member of the judicial security forces. He killed himself. No word on motive, but Iran executed over 1000 prisoners last year and one of the judges was nicknamed “Hangman.”
I’ve read about the natural gas shortages. The regime blames them on Israeli sabotage and Western sanctions, but they also keep bragging about their awesome missile arsenals and continue to upgrade their uranium enrichment facilities.
They’ve put the imterests of their citizens second to their decades-long proxie war against Israel. They want to believe this will engage the peoples’ religious zeal. Now their vaunted Axis of Resistance is a shambles and a lot of Iranians are interested in Zoroastrianism.
That was their religion before Islam, which was imposed by the sword. Some anti-regime Iranians argue that Islam is a foreign ideology from the Arabian Peninsula, while Zorastrianism is a superior monotheistic religion that is Persian. Nowruz, their Spring festival, is still celebrated. The Islamic Republic knew better than to try suppressing it.
karen gail
Was just thinking about the last time Rotunda was used, Carter’s funeral; Trump using it for inauguration? Can’t make up mind if it is a sign about our country or a hope that he will be back soon in coffin.
I am hoping for Karma bus rolling over him and his worshipping billionaires.
TONYG
@satby: Even then, Elon will get away with it.
stinger
@Baud:
I’m sure they’ll find a way to blame Nancy, Hillary, and Michelle.
TBone
GEMIND Wow, thank you for that educational information. Your comments give me much to chew over.
My futzing with keyboard permissions to defeat AI has made this thing unusable at times. It hates me back!
lowtechcyclist
@tobie:
It’s incomprehensible to me. There’s really no way we can fuck up Earth to make it as uninhabitable as Mars. Global warming, nuclear war, habitat destruction – after any or all of the above, Earth would still support human life, though that life would totally suck. Mars won’t.
dnfree
@TBone: I think the ERA is dead, not just mostly dead, regardless of whatever Biden says. For one thing, just the simple reference to “sex” opens the door to attacks and debate over how it relates to gender, which wasn’t a question when it was written. The question about states that did “backsies” on their approvals has never been resolved and the question of whether approvals after the deadline that was set has never been resolved. The archivist is just recognizing reality. The presidency has no role in amendment approval.
lowtechcyclist
@Geminid:
I just had to see this again. :D
TBone
@dnfree: you’re always entitled to your own opinions. I’m not here to change your mind, that’s your job.
apocalipstick
@dnfree:
Thank you for pointing out the obvious. Your analysis is spot-on.