Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: Bob In PA on May 25, 2021, 12:33:25 PM
kat: Good one. The truth will come out. I don't know what it might be, but IMO this is a matter of great significance to all of humanity... so IMO we must persevere until there are definitive answers.  Bob

Yes it is, but for now we just have to wait for real answers, stop slinging mud around, and find out the truth.

I thought Covid and its origins were a diabolical plot cooked up by Fauci and aided by CNN to cover up for China so they could rake in billions on PPE and ratings for CNN. In fact, it might have been Dr. Evil who unleashed the virus on the world  using the not to be trusted Chinese as his own cover. Where is Austin Powers to solve this crime???

Quote from: Bob In PA on May 25, 2021, 10:04:30 AM
kat: I agree. Sadly, I don't see what you and I are hoping for on the immediate horizon.  Too many people (Iran, for one) have much to gain IMO by not allow the situation to be resolved).  Bob

I agree that it won't happen tomorrow or probably for years. But someone has to step up on both sides. The Israeli PM can't even form a government. His way has been bad from the get go. While Hamas can only promote martyrdom. And Abbas is ancient and ineffective, controlled by Hamas. New leaders on both sides please with new ideas.

Quote from: umassgrad on May 25, 2021, 06:49:37 AM
We can demonize the entire Palestinian population and call them Hamas or led by the Iranians which isn't true. If you want to wipe that population off the face of the earth because of your dislike of Muslims that is your choice but please don't forget the many Christians living in Palestine. Here's a good article from Christianity today about this issue. https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/august/palestinian-christians-survey-israel-emigration-one-state.html

The concerns of the Palestinian Christians surveyed bear this out.

About 8 in 10 worry about attacks from Jewish settlers and being driven from their homes (83%). About 7 in 10 worry about Israeli annexation (67%). And about 6 in 10 believe Israel

Quote from: LennG on May 24, 2021, 09:32:58 PM
My all-time favorite Clint movie is 'The Outlaw Josie Wales. Gosh, if I see it on, anytime, I just keep watching it
Second, as most have already mentioned is Unforgiven--Me, a sucker for a good western and this is like dying and going to that special place in heaven. Without a doubt, one of the top 3 westerns of all time.
Third, I would also say The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. True, it was a spaghetti western, but unlike the first two, here was a real story and Clint was able to act, instead of just puffing that silly cigarette and shooting 50 people per movie.

Surprised no one mentioned the Dirty Harry series.

Dirty Harry was a classic of its time. But that's what it was, of the time. The other movies you mentioned are timeless.

Unforgiven is a masterpiece. Clear number one.
Outlaw Josey Wales
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly directed by Sergio Leone.

"Nobody won the 11-day Israel-Gaza battle, but 230 dead Palestinians and 12 dead Israelis clearly lost."

I agree and no one will ever win as long as shots are fired or missiles exploded. Israel is a sovereign nation. It has the right to defend its borders. On the other hand, the "Palestine problem" will never disappear by dropping bombs on buildings. They are not going anywhere. They will never be obliterated. So what do do? How can this end? Only by real leaders coming together and finding solutions. And solutions mean compromise. Israel right now has a Trump-like leader who can't govern. Palestine's leader is almost 90 and has little influence. Both sides need better leadership and then....maybe something can get done.

Both Bibi and Hamas want to cling to power. The way to do that is to keep dividing. We saw that here not too long ago. Both are deterrents to peace. I feel bad for the citizens of both sides. They are innocent bystanders in a power grab.

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 15, 2021, 07:12:31 AM
Here is a Harvard Epidemiologist with a different take than the other article I posted


https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1393090966928637952.html

I respect the scientists, but these epidemiologists are risk-averse in general. We cannot let them make policy. They can offer their advice and then so many other factors need to be taken into consideration when policy is made. We have other risks and dangers that are the collateral damage from restrictions to prevent the disease. All must be taken into account. We will never get to 100 percent vaccinations. Nor will we ever get to a full mask restriction. We have to move on sensibly. The world needs to move forward  with common sense. Not hysteria on both sides.

Quote from: squibber on May 14, 2021, 09:49:49 AM
There clearly are Evangelical leaders that mix politics and religion. Franklin Graham is the poster child for it. Just follow his Facebook page for a few weeks. He called Democrats and liberals anti-God socialists. He spoke against liberal policies and he worked to strip equal protections for gays and transgender. He also mirrored his comments to what Trump was saying. When Trump was running for President and was talking about a Muslim ban, Franklin was fanning the flames of fear and hatred against Muslims.

There is a danger in mixing politics with religion. I read a study that found in this environment, when political beliefs are at odds with someone

I will continue to wear the mask in stores and on trains and in closed places (with the exception of visits with others who are double vaxxed). Outside I don't wear a mask anymore (maybe if I'm in a mob I would). I didn't wear one last summer. I think the data is pretty clear that the chances of getting Covid outdoors without a mask are very very slim. There are other dangers to worry about.

Quote from: jimmyz on May 12, 2021, 03:48:34 PM
Trump was the hate magnet that exposed the media for its obvious bias.  You dont have to like Trump to see that.

The media bias swings both ways, my friend. Just turn on Fox or Newsmax these days and you'll see plenty of hate magnets.

Quote from: jimmyz on May 12, 2021, 04:44:01 PM
CDC says 10% of transmissions occurred outdoors. 

Bull$h!t.  More like 0%

https://news.yahoo.com/cdc-exaggerating-risk-outdoor-covid-135958591.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANzBm8VD46i45aV_BYln8yhQSdk4CISwv3p69ixd2ivMz3FU0sSfPcKDLlzIVOgMhJlurfdMPDPmK1hAB7xnUgJsTkk09vS2rISuLTygxSSZ0pNdFessRPNlukHejXxihoVf_gvKDMAaPwMooVWJsxrv-YitXf2ZsD64OYjT-USI


Amazing how a naturally occurring virus managed to be transmitted from a wild animal to a human, but only indoors.  What are the odds?  CDC says 10%.

I'm not sure it was zero percent, Jimmy, but it was very very low. I agree. The media and the CDC never balanced Covid. Fear was mongered. But part of the problem was the denier in chief who made it even worse and made mask-wearing seem as if it made his followers weak. Seriously, such a sacrifice. It was all about common sense from the get go. Masks indoors. Avoid large crowds outdoors. Do that and you would be good.

Bob and I are having a discussion here. Though he did insult me for watching too much TV. I won't behead him for that. We are adults. We can handle our disagreements.

Quote from: Bob In PA on May 08, 2021, 09:28:05 AM
Rich: OK, in the interest of avoiding further deliberation on THAT, I'll address the original post. 

There was a time the Republican party stood up for democracy. No more.  This is just political pap.  Meaningless.  Both sides say the same about each other EVERY DAY. 

They are a clear minority in terms of numbers and that has them in a panic mode.  In case you don't know, the Democrats are also a minority. Numbers of independents grow daily.  There is no majority party.

So they align themselves with a man who is a habitual liar and abandon their core principles. This also applies to Joe Biden.  If you can't see how or why, then you are a lost cause, a victim of the mainstream media.

And now they are trying to limit voting access....  They ARE trying to limit voting access... by dead people, non-citizens, people who vote more than once, and anyone else not entitled to vote.

It is apparent, they no longer believe in democracy. Sad and a very danger to the future of our country.  More pap.  Meaningless. You watch too much TV.

Bob

Bob, you are smooth. Were/are you a salesman? Because you do know how to try to sell. No matter if what you are selling his junk.

Limiting voting rights because of bogus allegations spread by propaganda media like Fox and Newmax that dead people are voting is absurd. You know very well why they are limiting access to voting for many. Don't even go there, Bob. You are "watching too much TV."

When is the last time a Republican won the popular vote to the White House. Almost 20 years now. And the gap is growing. Independents are closer aligned to democrats thanks to the silly social wars the Republicans continue to press proving they are a thing of the past.

Did I miss something. Joe Biden lied about an election? He led his followers to storm the U.S. Capital. Guess I missed that.

When you try to limit democracy; when you care more about allegiance to a man than to principles, you are going against what the founders envisioned about America. Sad but true. Thankfully I don't have to watch much TV, at least political, these days with the lunatic tweets stifled.