Home » Open thread 12/6/23

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Open thread 12/6/23 — 31 Comments

  1. Does Israel think that the rest of the hostages are dead? Is that why they are flooding the tunnels? The hostages that have been released did say they were kept in the tunnel system.
    Israel told the US to STF up and let us do our job.
    Why hasn’t the US Navy unloaded on the Rebels in Yemen? We do have the USS Eisenhower there.

  2. Metaphorical story of the day:
    “Biden-favored EV bus maker Proterra goes bust and leaves a trail of broken and irreparable buses”—
    https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/energy/bankrupt-biden-favored-proterra-leaves-trail-broken-buses-cant-be-repaired
    …with echoes of Obama’s favorite “Green” companies being subsidized to the tune of…
    https://tinyurl.com/59zmc3by

    (Remember Reagan’s “Nine most terrifying words in the English language”?
    Well…in the spirit of the current administration, we’re down-sizing ’em to TWO:
    “Biden-favored”….)

  3. now as chris rock put in another context, ‘I understand’ why the Houthi’s do what they do, see 1934, when half of the Northern provinces of South Arabia, were taken by the minions of Ibn Saud, under the leadership of Nawaf Obaid’s grandfather

    none of the three nets really put the hearing anywhere near their front page,

    just more bubble wrap, about 1st world problems,

  4. obaid inspired a twist in my novel, as both he and paula broadwell, were both at kings college in the interval of the affair with petraeus,

  5. SHIREHOME, I think IDF feel they’ve done what they could in getting some of the hostages back. The remaining male hostages and the women, who have almost certainly been sexually brutalized, aren’t going to be released alive, in my opinion. Flooding the tunnel system is the most efficient way to force the Hamas vermin above ground where they can be dealt with.

  6. Did I miss it, or is tunnel-flooding a done deal? Link please?

    I know they’ve been contemplating it but…

  7. Rufus T. Firefly, the line you quoted is attributed to Frederick II. Supposedly he said it when certain of his regiments were wavering in their attack at the Battle of Kolin 1757. In English it would be “Dogs! Do you want to live forever?”

    There is a very similar battle cry recorded in the histories of the USMC. At the Battle of Belleau Wood 1918 a US Marine Sergeant called out to his troops: “Come on you sons-of-bitches! Do you want to live forever?”

    At first glance this two exhortations are almost identical. But if one looks more closely there is a difference: King Frederick was demanding that his soldiers die at his command. That Marine sergeant stood up and led the way; calling to his Marines to follow him. A critical difference: the words may have sounded the same but the actions made all the difference in the world.

  8. By the way, the IDF is now discovering tunnels as well as bomb factories in Arab places in Judea and Samaria, so . . . what’s next?

  9. Over thirty years ago, we lived on Horsehead Bay, near Gig Harbor, WA. We did some kayaking on the bay in those days. We were almost always entertained by seals popping up near our kayaks and playfully swimming around while occasionally barking at us. It was a lot of fun. Added interest to our paddling excursions. Whether they were being playful or protesting our presence, we never knew.

    The seals often spent some time resting on our dock, so it was obvious they had no fear of humans.

  10. J.J., my ocean kayaking is all on the Atlantic coast, far from any seals, sea lions or walrus, but I often encounter dolphin (porpoise?). They seem to enjoy getting close and are naturally curious. It’s always very rewarding and magical when I am fortunate enough to encounter them up close.

  11. John F. MacMichael,

    Regarding King Frederick II, I heard the tale told that he was leading his men when he shouted the phrase; so a “Come on!” was implied by his actions. Is that not accurate? (I’m not picking a fight. I honestly do not know.)

  12. Rufus T. – “It’s always very rewarding and magical when I am fortunate enough to encounter them up close.”

    Yep. Nature is a great balm for the spirit. A balm that we need more than ever these days.

    I’m no longer kayaking or doing much else outdoors, but my memories help to soothe my mind while society seems to be having a nervous breakdown.

  13. Rufus T. Firefly, I could be wrong (and how often do you hear that on the Internet, hmmm?). However, the accounts of that incident that I have read describe Frederick as commanding his soldiers not leading from the front. To be fair to the king he was actually on the battlefield in a way that modern commanders of comparable rank seldom are. Nevertheless, I hear a distinct difference in the two commands. One says “Obey!”; the other “Follow me!”.

  14. Rufus, Whites have been known to investigate kayaks. ( We are not supposed to call them Great Whites anymore, as calling them Great Whites implies they are great, because they are white. Yet the Great Hammerhead, and Great Blue sharks remain great.)

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