-
It's that time of year again - our ISP is asking for money. If you have some spare change, please click the Donate link... Thanks!
- About Us
- Search
- Need Help?
- Donate
- Login/Register
Latest Entries
Actions Menu
Blog Roll
- 4F Facebook Page
- Turn Up The Night with Kenny Pick
- Stephanie Miller Show
- The Tim Corrimal Show
- The Rachel Maddow Show
- Angry Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
- Thom Hartmann Program
- Turnips! Fans of Turn Up the Night Facebook Page
- Snopes.com
- Factcheck.org
- Official White House Page, if you must.
- The Brad Blog / Green News Report
- The Poorly Written Political Blog (Joe Santorsa)
It's a Conspiracy!
Author: BobR
Date: 2011-01-07 12:03:00
On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the moon. I remember watching it on TV as a child with my father, my parents letting me stay up late to watch such a historic event. I was mesmorized.
Except - it didn't really happen. It was all faked, done with sets on a soundstage. We know this is true because someone knows someone that says they worked on the set and were sworn to secrecy, blah blah blah.
Welcome to the world of conspiracy theories.
What makes a conspiracy theory? It usually requires covert government operation with just enough variables to make it plausible, especially in cases where there is evidence that doesn't quite seem to fit. It usually involves something with great emotional impact, like the JFK assassination, the moon landing, the Christian religion, 9/11, controversial government legislation... there's always some shadowy group, and anyone that offers a rational explanation is either "in on it" or being duped by those that are in on it.
These "shadow groups" through the centuries have worn many labels, including the Freemasons, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Bilderbergers, CIA black ops, etc. It's always the people in power or the people that control the money (which in turn essentially makes them the people in power as well).
The conspiracy theory can be appealing. I've watched "Loose Change", the 9/11 documentary, and it provides some interesting information (such as the apparent controlled demolition of WTC7 and the lack of a plane in the "wreckage" of Shanksville, PA). The problem comes, however, when plausible explanations for some phenomena are pushed aside in favor of less plausible explanations that better fit the narrative. Are those thermite explosions popping out of WTC1 & 2, or could it just be the structure popping and blowing out through the outer shell? Which seems more plausible? Which fits the narrative? For 9/11, there are certainly some aspects that don't fit the "official" narrative and invite further investigation, but the idea that it was all engineered by the government is too far-fetched for me to swallow, especially considering what a clusterfuck they made of the Middle East (oh they screwed all that up on purpose to make themselves LOOK inept, it's all part of the plot...
)
My whole working life has revolved around troubleshooting problems. Whether it's troubleshooting electronics, buggy software, or ghosts in a complex online application system, my job has always been to locate and fix the problem. How do I do that? I systematically eliminate possible causes. Once all possible causes have been proven to not be the problem, what is left has to be the problem. The trick of course is to eliminate as many potential causes as possible as quickly as possible. It often takes a holistic approach, looking at the whole system and how it all works together, and not just focusing on small parts.
Conspiracy theories always seem to go the opposite way. When there are multiple possibilities, rather than see which makes the most sense, and how each one works within the context of the whole, they take the desired outcome, and pick the possibility that works for that outcome, brushing aside all other possibilities and explanations as "what they WANT you to believe". It's bad science. Imagine a medical researcher ignoring evidence that didn't fit with the outcome they were trying to prove. Would you want to swallow THAT medicine?
It's a no-win situation trying to explain this. The theory-proponents think the non-believers are sheeple being duped by shadow groups. The non-believers think the theory-proponents are barking at clouds. There are always areas that might be a little gray, and I tend to reserve judgement until there's more evidence (which might never happen). This irritates both sides.
What precipitated this little rant is the recent apparent spate of animal deaths. It's being reported as a "phenomenon", which seems excessive, considering that National Geographic says this kind of thing happens all the time, for various non-related reasons. Nonetheless, some of the theories I've read online include secret chemical weapons testing (likely started by this ridiculous bit of bad writing), chemical residue from the BP oil spill, the HARP project, the End Times, etc.
None of those explain why only certain species are affected and only in certain areas. Starlings are known to fly in tight flocks and if they flew too close to a professional fireworks display, the percussion from a mortar explosion could certainly stun them to the point they fell from the sky to suffer blunt trauma upon hitting the ground. Some marine deaths are being blamed on unusually cold water (a predicted result of global warming), which seems a lot more plausible than any other theory I've heard, especially since it was the explanation for why it happened last year. What? You didn't hear about it last year? That's likely because it didn't happen at the same time as a flock of starlings getting stunned when they flew through an exploding mortar shell. Of course - we didn't have the media (or various bloggers) trying to find the Next Big Story.
It's human nature to try to draw connections between events that seem to have something in common (like animals dying en masse). We do so at our intellectual peril, because trying to create an explanation that ties them together forces us to ignore (or outright mistrust) more plausible explanations that disprove the conclusion that we've already reached. Paranoia is a vicious spiral.
Evidence first - then conclusion, and when new evidence disproves the conclusion (or casts it in a bad light), then all evidence must be re-examined in totality. That is the only way to the real truth.
Otherwise, we will fall victim to the Conspiracy Theory. Just check Snopes.com - it's full of them, crafted out of flimsy evidence, breathlessly spread with wanton ignorance of the facts, then cast aside to rust alongside the information highway.
Except - it didn't really happen. It was all faked, done with sets on a soundstage. We know this is true because someone knows someone that says they worked on the set and were sworn to secrecy, blah blah blah.
Welcome to the world of conspiracy theories.
What makes a conspiracy theory? It usually requires covert government operation with just enough variables to make it plausible, especially in cases where there is evidence that doesn't quite seem to fit. It usually involves something with great emotional impact, like the JFK assassination, the moon landing, the Christian religion, 9/11, controversial government legislation... there's always some shadowy group, and anyone that offers a rational explanation is either "in on it" or being duped by those that are in on it.
These "shadow groups" through the centuries have worn many labels, including the Freemasons, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Bilderbergers, CIA black ops, etc. It's always the people in power or the people that control the money (which in turn essentially makes them the people in power as well).
The conspiracy theory can be appealing. I've watched "Loose Change", the 9/11 documentary, and it provides some interesting information (such as the apparent controlled demolition of WTC7 and the lack of a plane in the "wreckage" of Shanksville, PA). The problem comes, however, when plausible explanations for some phenomena are pushed aside in favor of less plausible explanations that better fit the narrative. Are those thermite explosions popping out of WTC1 & 2, or could it just be the structure popping and blowing out through the outer shell? Which seems more plausible? Which fits the narrative? For 9/11, there are certainly some aspects that don't fit the "official" narrative and invite further investigation, but the idea that it was all engineered by the government is too far-fetched for me to swallow, especially considering what a clusterfuck they made of the Middle East (oh they screwed all that up on purpose to make themselves LOOK inept, it's all part of the plot...
)My whole working life has revolved around troubleshooting problems. Whether it's troubleshooting electronics, buggy software, or ghosts in a complex online application system, my job has always been to locate and fix the problem. How do I do that? I systematically eliminate possible causes. Once all possible causes have been proven to not be the problem, what is left has to be the problem. The trick of course is to eliminate as many potential causes as possible as quickly as possible. It often takes a holistic approach, looking at the whole system and how it all works together, and not just focusing on small parts.
Conspiracy theories always seem to go the opposite way. When there are multiple possibilities, rather than see which makes the most sense, and how each one works within the context of the whole, they take the desired outcome, and pick the possibility that works for that outcome, brushing aside all other possibilities and explanations as "what they WANT you to believe". It's bad science. Imagine a medical researcher ignoring evidence that didn't fit with the outcome they were trying to prove. Would you want to swallow THAT medicine?
It's a no-win situation trying to explain this. The theory-proponents think the non-believers are sheeple being duped by shadow groups. The non-believers think the theory-proponents are barking at clouds. There are always areas that might be a little gray, and I tend to reserve judgement until there's more evidence (which might never happen). This irritates both sides.
What precipitated this little rant is the recent apparent spate of animal deaths. It's being reported as a "phenomenon", which seems excessive, considering that National Geographic says this kind of thing happens all the time, for various non-related reasons. Nonetheless, some of the theories I've read online include secret chemical weapons testing (likely started by this ridiculous bit of bad writing), chemical residue from the BP oil spill, the HARP project, the End Times, etc.
None of those explain why only certain species are affected and only in certain areas. Starlings are known to fly in tight flocks and if they flew too close to a professional fireworks display, the percussion from a mortar explosion could certainly stun them to the point they fell from the sky to suffer blunt trauma upon hitting the ground. Some marine deaths are being blamed on unusually cold water (a predicted result of global warming), which seems a lot more plausible than any other theory I've heard, especially since it was the explanation for why it happened last year. What? You didn't hear about it last year? That's likely because it didn't happen at the same time as a flock of starlings getting stunned when they flew through an exploding mortar shell. Of course - we didn't have the media (or various bloggers) trying to find the Next Big Story.
It's human nature to try to draw connections between events that seem to have something in common (like animals dying en masse). We do so at our intellectual peril, because trying to create an explanation that ties them together forces us to ignore (or outright mistrust) more plausible explanations that disprove the conclusion that we've already reached. Paranoia is a vicious spiral.
Evidence first - then conclusion, and when new evidence disproves the conclusion (or casts it in a bad light), then all evidence must be re-examined in totality. That is the only way to the real truth.
Otherwise, we will fall victim to the Conspiracy Theory. Just check Snopes.com - it's full of them, crafted out of flimsy evidence, breathlessly spread with wanton ignorance of the facts, then cast aside to rust alongside the information highway.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
velveeta jones on 01/07/2011 13:20:32
velveeta jones on 01/07/2011 13:20:32
BobR! How dare you come in and throw salt on the fire?! The birds and fish died unexpectedly in Arkansas due to the illuminati and the WTO mass orgy of secret Mirco-wave weapon's testing during the lunar eclipse!
Also, while I liked "Loose Change" I don't trust it due to the error it makes and the director doesn't fix the error in the 2nd or 3rd cut. (The movie claims a B52 flew into the Empire State building. It was not a B52, they were not invented when the plane flew into the ESB).
Also, while I liked "Loose Change" I don't trust it due to the error it makes and the director doesn't fix the error in the 2nd or 3rd cut. (The movie claims a B52 flew into the Empire State building. It was not a B52, they were not invented when the plane flew into the ESB).
Comment by 
Raine on 01/07/2011 13:40:46
Raine on 01/07/2011 13:40:46
I'm sorry - I 'm gonna have to disagree with you. Obama is a kenyan born Muslin.
good morning! happy Friday!
good morning! happy Friday!
Comment by 
TriSec on 01/07/2011 13:41:02
TriSec on 01/07/2011 13:41:02
Morning, comrades.
It's a conspiracy that I'm surrounded by a sea of coughs this morning. Honestly, go home!
(I'll just wait over here in the lounge for Mondo to smell this and come in and argue JFK with me. Of course, we all know Acting Governor Jane Swift (R-MA) was in on 9-11 and took the fall for it.)
It's a conspiracy that I'm surrounded by a sea of coughs this morning. Honestly, go home!
(I'll just wait over here in the lounge for Mondo to smell this and come in and argue JFK with me. Of course, we all know Acting Governor Jane Swift (R-MA) was in on 9-11 and took the fall for it.)
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 13:42:58
I liked loose change as well.
I take them with a grain of enriched salt.
I am more inclined to think that mother earth is telling us we may have reached a terrible tipping point.
Raine on 01/07/2011 13:42:58
Quote by velveeta jones:
BobR! How dare you come in and throw salt on the fire?! The birds and fish died unexpectedly in Arkansas due to the illuminati and the WTO mass orgy of secret Mirco-wave weapon's testing during the lunar eclipse!
Also, while I liked "Loose Change" I don't trust it due to the error it makes and the director doesn't fix the error in the 2nd or 3rd cut. (The movie claims a B52 flew into the Empire State building. It was not a B52, they were not invented when the plane flew into the ESB).
I take them with a grain of enriched salt.
I am more inclined to think that mother earth is telling us we may have reached a terrible tipping point.
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 14:15:23
Raine on 01/07/2011 14:15:23
Comment by 
BobR on 01/07/2011 14:25:23
why?
BobR on 01/07/2011 14:25:23
Quote by Raine:
why?
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 14:26:36
Momma mentioned this on the show. Chris sounds totally disgusted... 
Raine on 01/07/2011 14:26:36
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
why?
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 14:27:54
Raine on 01/07/2011 14:27:54
Here we go.
the song ditch was inevitable....
the song ditch was inevitable....
Comment by 
clintster on 01/07/2011 14:31:46
clintster on 01/07/2011 14:31:46
Mornin' all,
Welp, I'm home today. Great blog, Bobber! It's amazing just how attached some people get to conspiracy theories. I once worked with a guy who was convinced the Ebola virus was a government plan to create "the new AIDS". And this was one of his saner theories.
Welp, I'm home today. Great blog, Bobber! It's amazing just how attached some people get to conspiracy theories. I once worked with a guy who was convinced the Ebola virus was a government plan to create "the new AIDS". And this was one of his saner theories.
Comment by clintster on 01/07/2011 14:36:06
clintster on 01/07/2011 14:36:06
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 14:38:18
Raine on 01/07/2011 14:38:18
Quote by clintster:
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 14:52:13
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 14:52:13
"Evidence first - then conclusion, and when new evidence disproves the conclusion (or casts it in a bad light), then all evidence must be re-examined in totality. That is the only way to the real truth."
Like overwhelming mountain of evidence that Oswald acted alone? Specifically the medical evidence. Just sayin...
Oh about World Trade 7 I think the people in that building would have noticed the work of the demolition crew weakening key load bearing members and wiring the building with explosives to bring the building down. Just sayin...
But using critical thinking skills isn't much in demand these days.
Like overwhelming mountain of evidence that Oswald acted alone? Specifically the medical evidence. Just sayin...
Oh about World Trade 7 I think the people in that building would have noticed the work of the demolition crew weakening key load bearing members and wiring the building with explosives to bring the building down. Just sayin...
But using critical thinking skills isn't much in demand these days.
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 14:57:39
All the forensic medical evidence supports a head shot from the rear. Not that back and to the left grassy knoll horse shit. You do realize that a shooter on the grassy knoll would have have had to be over EIGHT FEET TALL for the non-existent shot from the grassy knoll. You would think people might have noticed a giant or a normal sized man standing on box or ladder don't you think.
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 14:57:39
Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades.
It's a conspiracy that I'm surrounded by a sea of coughs this morning. Honestly, go home!
(I'll just wait over here in the lounge for Mondo to smell this and come in and argue JFK with me. Of course, we all know Acting Governor Jane Swift (R-MA) was in on 9-11 and took the fall for it.)
All the forensic medical evidence supports a head shot from the rear. Not that back and to the left grassy knoll horse shit. You do realize that a shooter on the grassy knoll would have have had to be over EIGHT FEET TALL for the non-existent shot from the grassy knoll. You would think people might have noticed a giant or a normal sized man standing on box or ladder don't you think.
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 14:58:32
:whispers: Fnorde!
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 14:58:32
Quote by velveeta jones:
BobR! How dare you come in and throw salt on the fire?! The birds and fish died unexpectedly in Arkansas due to the illuminati and the WTO mass orgy of secret Mirco-wave weapon's testing during the lunar eclipse!
Also, while I liked "Loose Change" I don't trust it due to the error it makes and the director doesn't fix the error in the 2nd or 3rd cut. (The movie claims a B52 flew into the Empire State building. It was not a B52, they were not invented when the plane flew into the ESB).
:whispers: Fnorde!
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 15:00:21
Well played Clintster!
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 15:00:21
Quote by clintster:
Well played Clintster!
Comment by 
Scoopster on 01/07/2011 15:06:07
Scoopster on 01/07/2011 15:06:07
Morning all & Happy Fridee! 
Hey, I was one of the (seemingly) few people who's been thinking all these bird/fish/animal kills were being caused by a combo or climate change and oil spill pollution & chemicals. And unlike the other conspiracy goobers who just jumped on the bandwagon, I gave logical reasoning behind it! I'm not discounting the fact that yes, this does happen due to other factors like concussive goodies made by man, or just as a part of nature (whales beaching themselves in numbers.. happens all the time and we have no idea why!).. And I was also expecting testing for oil/chemicals in the dead animals to reveal if this was the case.
It just seemed like all of these events were happening randomly all around the world within a very short window of time, which made me think that it was more than just coincidence and more than just nature. Then again, in this day and age when a topic can get picked up by the internet and viralized within a few hours I suppose that it's just being noticed more now, giving the appearance of phenomena.
Hey, I was one of the (seemingly) few people who's been thinking all these bird/fish/animal kills were being caused by a combo or climate change and oil spill pollution & chemicals. And unlike the other conspiracy goobers who just jumped on the bandwagon, I gave logical reasoning behind it! I'm not discounting the fact that yes, this does happen due to other factors like concussive goodies made by man, or just as a part of nature (whales beaching themselves in numbers.. happens all the time and we have no idea why!).. And I was also expecting testing for oil/chemicals in the dead animals to reveal if this was the case.
It just seemed like all of these events were happening randomly all around the world within a very short window of time, which made me think that it was more than just coincidence and more than just nature. Then again, in this day and age when a topic can get picked up by the internet and viralized within a few hours I suppose that it's just being noticed more now, giving the appearance of phenomena.
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 15:09:48
How close are they to Chernobyl?
Or would that be a - *gasp* - Conspiracy Theory???
BobR on 01/07/2011 15:09:48
Quote by Raine:
poor baby.
Fixed link.
How close are they to Chernobyl?
Or would that be a - *gasp* - Conspiracy Theory???
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 15:19:10
Raine on 01/07/2011 15:19:10
Must get back to the zoo, this weekend:
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 15:21:19
well yes - that's the point of the NatGeo link. This sort of thing happens all the time, but all it takes is for someone to try to make a connection, and suddenly everyone is looking for more examples and drawing more connections where they don't really exist.
BobR on 01/07/2011 15:21:19
Quote by Scoopster:
Morning all & Happy Fridee!
Hey, I was one of the (seemingly) few people who's been thinking all these bird/fish/animal kills were being caused by a combo or climate change and oil spill pollution & chemicals. And unlike the other conspiracy goobers who just jumped on the bandwagon, I gave logical reasoning behind it! I'm not discounting the fact that yes, this does happen due to other factors like concussive goodies made by man, or just as a part of nature (whales beaching themselves in numbers.. happens all the time and we have no idea why!).. And I was also expecting testing for oil/chemicals in the dead animals to reveal if this was the case.
It just seemed like all of these events were happening randomly all around the world within a very short window of time, which made me think that it was more than just coincidence and more than just nature. Then again, in this day and age when a topic can get picked up by the internet and viralized within a few hours I suppose that it's just being noticed more now, giving the appearance of phenomena.
well yes - that's the point of the NatGeo link. This sort of thing happens all the time, but all it takes is for someone to try to make a connection, and suddenly everyone is looking for more examples and drawing more connections where they don't really exist.
Comment by velveeta jones on 01/07/2011 15:22:26
Couldn't the shooter have dug a hole? Sorta like they do with actors working on the set of movies with Stalone and Tom Cruise?
:D
velveeta jones on 01/07/2011 15:22:26
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades.
It's a conspiracy that I'm surrounded by a sea of coughs this morning. Honestly, go home!
(I'll just wait over here in the lounge for Mondo to smell this and come in and argue JFK with me. Of course, we all know Acting Governor Jane Swift (R-MA) was in on 9-11 and took the fall for it.)
All the forensic medical evidence supports a head shot from the rear. Not that back and to the left grassy knoll horse shit. You do realize that a shooter on the grassy knoll would have have had to be over EIGHT FEET TALL for the non-existent shot from the grassy knoll. You would think people might have noticed a giant or a normal sized man standing on box or ladder don't you think.
Couldn't the shooter have dug a hole? Sorta like they do with actors working on the set of movies with Stalone and Tom Cruise?
:D
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 15:23:22
You know, Scoop, this is, imo -- a fair and reasonable approach.
There are people out there that are thinking that Iran and Russia and all sorts of other bizzare things are behind this.
The man who was found in that Delaware landfill was definatly acting strangely -- I saw the video, but until we know more, it seems like he may have had a stroke, perhaps he had some brain related event -- I just don't know. I'm not ready to make the leap that these things are tied together.
I don;t dismiss conspiracy theories at the starting gate, I just try to research them -- the same way I do regarding political stories and other news events.
It's too easy to believe the world is one big conspiracy -- it actually negates the real ones out there -- Things like CoIntel which have proved to be factual things.
Raine on 01/07/2011 15:23:22
Quote by Scoopster:
Morning all & Happy Fridee!
Hey, I was one of the (seemingly) few people who's been thinking all these bird/fish/animal kills were being caused by a combo or climate change and oil spill pollution & chemicals. And unlike the other conspiracy goobers who just jumped on the bandwagon, I gave logical reasoning behind it! I'm not discounting the fact that yes, this does happen due to other factors like concussive goodies made by man, or just as a part of nature (whales beaching themselves in numbers.. happens all the time and we have no idea why!).. And I was also expecting testing for oil/chemicals in the dead animals to reveal if this was the case.
It just seemed like all of these events were happening randomly all around the world within a very short window of time, which made me think that it was more than just coincidence and more than just nature. Then again, in this day and age when a topic can get picked up by the internet and viralized within a few hours I suppose that it's just being noticed more now, giving the appearance of phenomena.
There are people out there that are thinking that Iran and Russia and all sorts of other bizzare things are behind this.
The man who was found in that Delaware landfill was definatly acting strangely -- I saw the video, but until we know more, it seems like he may have had a stroke, perhaps he had some brain related event -- I just don't know. I'm not ready to make the leap that these things are tied together.
I don;t dismiss conspiracy theories at the starting gate, I just try to research them -- the same way I do regarding political stories and other news events.
It's too easy to believe the world is one big conspiracy -- it actually negates the real ones out there -- Things like CoIntel which have proved to be factual things.
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 15:26:22
MUST you poke Mondo with a stick? 
Raine on 01/07/2011 15:26:22
Quote by velveeta jones:Couldn't the shooter have dug a hole? Sorta like they do with actors working on the set of movies with Stalone and Tom Cruise?
:D
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 15:37:58
Raine on 01/07/2011 15:37:58
apropos of todays blog... From the Smithsonian magazine. Cosmic Errors
Bat-men on the Moon? Here are five of science history's most bizarre hoaxes and delusions
Bat-men on the Moon? Here are five of science history's most bizarre hoaxes and delusions
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 15:43:09
TriSec on 01/07/2011 15:43:09
I believe the gentleman from Jacksonville and I agreed to disagree on this matter long ago.
I still have my doubts about the magic bullet.
I still have my doubts about the magic bullet.
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 15:44:29
TriSec on 01/07/2011 15:44:29
Say now, what if the Cardiff Giant was the shooter?
Comment by clintster on 01/07/2011 15:47:27
I personally think it was a Predator. The fact that no one saw him clinched it for me.
clintster on 01/07/2011 15:47:27
Quote by TriSec:
Say now, what if the Cardiff Giant was the shooter?
I personally think it was a Predator. The fact that no one saw him clinched it for me.
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 15:59:01
Raine on 01/07/2011 15:59:01
Comment by Scoopster on 01/07/2011 16:00:38
Scoopster on 01/07/2011 16:00:38
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:00:46
When you assume that Connolly is sitting directly in front of Kennedy at the same height and facing forward yes, that is an issue. However when you look at the evidence both photographic and physical the Single bullet makes sense.
Connolly was sitting in a jump seat in the Lincoln. The jump seats are lower and about 12" in from the exterior of the car. Connolly was sitting at an angle. When angle of trajectory is based on the actual evidence, not the a priori assumption that there had to to be a second gunman, the seven wounds caused by a full metal jacketed 6.5mm round with an initial muzzle velocity of about 2100 fps makes perfect sense. So, no there was no looping, twisting pausing in mid-air or ducking or diving to do what it did.
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:00:46
Quote by TriSec:
I believe the gentleman from Jacksonville and I agreed to disagree on this matter long ago.
I still have my doubts about the magic bullet.
When you assume that Connolly is sitting directly in front of Kennedy at the same height and facing forward yes, that is an issue. However when you look at the evidence both photographic and physical the Single bullet makes sense.
Connolly was sitting in a jump seat in the Lincoln. The jump seats are lower and about 12" in from the exterior of the car. Connolly was sitting at an angle. When angle of trajectory is based on the actual evidence, not the a priori assumption that there had to to be a second gunman, the seven wounds caused by a full metal jacketed 6.5mm round with an initial muzzle velocity of about 2100 fps makes perfect sense. So, no there was no looping, twisting pausing in mid-air or ducking or diving to do what it did.
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:02:49
:perfectly straight face: There was no sign of any digging behind the fence on the grassy knoll.
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:02:49
Quote by velveeta jones:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades.
It's a conspiracy that I'm surrounded by a sea of coughs this morning. Honestly, go home!
(I'll just wait over here in the lounge for Mondo to smell this and come in and argue JFK with me. Of course, we all know Acting Governor Jane Swift (R-MA) was in on 9-11 and took the fall for it.)
All the forensic medical evidence supports a head shot from the rear. Not that back and to the left grassy knoll horse shit. You do realize that a shooter on the grassy knoll would have have had to be over EIGHT FEET TALL for the non-existent shot from the grassy knoll. You would think people might have noticed a giant or a normal sized man standing on box or ladder don't you think.
Couldn't the shooter have dug a hole? Sorta like they do with actors working on the set of movies with Stalone and Tom Cruise?
:D
:perfectly straight face: There was no sign of any digging behind the fence on the grassy knoll.
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:05:30
Sorry Raine, Tri dangled the delicious looking bait of JFK assassination in front of me. I reacted like a cat would to catnip.
(Am I mixing metaphors here? Maybe, they are both animal teasing related)
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:05:30
Quote by Raine:
Sorry Raine, Tri dangled the delicious looking bait of JFK assassination in front of me. I reacted like a cat would to catnip.
(Am I mixing metaphors here? Maybe, they are both animal teasing related)
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:07:51
Sqweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Clouded leopard cub. Isn't that the cutest thing evah???
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 16:07:51
Quote by Raine:
Must get back to the zoo, this weekend:
Sqweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Clouded leopard cub. Isn't that the cutest thing evah???
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 16:09:40
Raine on 01/07/2011 16:09:40
I love music ditches! It's been a long time since the show went into one.
Comment by Scoopster on 01/07/2011 16:09:55
Scoopster on 01/07/2011 16:09:55
Amagad kittehz! 
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 16:14:45
Raine on 01/07/2011 16:14:45
the leopard pups are about a year old now, but the magnificent 7 (as the lions cubs are referred to) made their first public appearance on December 30. I want to see them this weekend.
I blame this ALL on John Fugelsang. he posted this.
I blame this ALL on John Fugelsang. he posted this.
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 16:16:15
Raine on 01/07/2011 16:16:15
Quote by Scoopster:
Amagad kittehz!
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 16:26:18
TriSec on 01/07/2011 16:26:18
Come on, Bob wrote this blog *knowing* we'd put it in the ditch.
It's a setup.
For what is not exactly clear yet, but I expect that all things will be revealed at the proper time.
flees bricks -->
It's a setup.
For what is not exactly clear yet, but I expect that all things will be revealed at the proper time.
flees bricks -->
Comment by clintster on 01/07/2011 16:33:32
clintster on 01/07/2011 16:33:32
Sitting here with Ian listening to the show... we just heard Glenn Beck railing about scientists "lying to us" about global warming. Ian turned to me and said "Scientists don't lie to us about global warming. Why did he say that?"
I said, "Because that man is kinda cuckoo."
I said, "Because that man is kinda cuckoo."
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 16:40:35
:talks into collar: He's onto us!! Send in the ninjas!!
BobR on 01/07/2011 16:40:35
Quote by TriSec:
Come on, Bob wrote this blog *knowing* we'd put it in the ditch.
It's a setup.
For what is not exactly clear yet, but I expect that all things will be revealed at the proper time.
flees bricks -->
:talks into collar: He's onto us!! Send in the ninjas!!
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 16:45:45
RW Jerry.
Raine on 01/07/2011 16:45:45
RW Jerry.
Comment by Scoopster on 01/07/2011 16:46:52
Scoopster on 01/07/2011 16:46:52
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 16:47:08
Raine on 01/07/2011 16:47:08
20 dollars and 10 cents. At least he is a man of his word.
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 16:48:33
Well played, sirs! ::;golf swing:::: (heyoo and something like that.... )
Raine on 01/07/2011 16:48:33
Quote by BobR:Quote by TriSec:
Come on, Bob wrote this blog *knowing* we'd put it in the ditch.
It's a setup.
For what is not exactly clear yet, but I expect that all things will be revealed at the proper time.
flees bricks -->
:talks into collar: He's onto us!! Send in the ninjas!!
Well played, sirs! ::;golf swing:::: (heyoo and something like that.... )
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 16:57:29
Raine on 01/07/2011 16:57:29
I have been seeing and reading this punching hippies meme. I find it to be disingenuous. Let me translate it as I see it:
Obama is not giving hippies what they want, and they feel like they are being beat up on.
Someone needs to tell me what the new definition of a hippy is. It seams like we may be having a re-definition of the hippy.
Obama is not giving hippies what they want, and they feel like they are being beat up on.
Someone needs to tell me what the new definition of a hippy is. It seams like we may be having a re-definition of the hippy.
Comment by 
livingonli on 01/07/2011 17:38:20
livingonli on 01/07/2011 17:38:20
Good day everyone. I actually spent the last hour repairing vandalism to the Cablevsion channel line-up page on Wikipedia.
Comment by Scoopster on 01/07/2011 17:58:38
Scoopster on 01/07/2011 17:58:38
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 18:14:22
TriSec on 01/07/2011 18:14:22
Oh, Scoop....I heard on NECN that the new RI legislature's first act was a law requiring every city or state office to only call their holiday decorations "Christmas Trees"?
No word on what the penalty would be for calling it a "holiday tree". (Who does that, anyway...except for the ficticious constructs of Fux gnus?)
No word on what the penalty would be for calling it a "holiday tree". (Who does that, anyway...except for the ficticious constructs of Fux gnus?)
Comment by clintster on 01/07/2011 18:21:50
Shhhh... it's their "Tiger rock" law.
clintster on 01/07/2011 18:21:50
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, Scoop....I heard on NECN that the new RI legislature's first act was a law requiring every city or state office to only call their holiday decorations "Christmas Trees"?
No word on what the penalty would be for calling it a "holiday tree". (Who does that, anyway...except for the ficticious constructs of Fux gnus?)
Shhhh... it's their "Tiger rock" law.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 01/07/2011 18:22:48
wickedpam on 01/07/2011 18:22:48
Afternoon
Pothole, flat tire, flat donut - nough said
Pothole, flat tire, flat donut - nough said
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 18:23:55
TriSec on 01/07/2011 18:23:55
Looking at the ol' radar....has NYC ceased to exist yet?
Comment by velveeta jones on 01/07/2011 18:28:29
Well of course not, "they" doctored the pictures of the car driving into the hole. Geez, do I have to do all the heavy lifting around 'yere?
velveeta jones on 01/07/2011 18:28:29
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by velveeta jones:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades.
It's a conspiracy that I'm surrounded by a sea of coughs this morning. Honestly, go home!
(I'll just wait over here in the lounge for Mondo to smell this and come in and argue JFK with me. Of course, we all know Acting Governor Jane Swift (R-MA) was in on 9-11 and took the fall for it.)
All the forensic medical evidence supports a head shot from the rear. Not that back and to the left grassy knoll horse shit. You do realize that a shooter on the grassy knoll would have have had to be over EIGHT FEET TALL for the non-existent shot from the grassy knoll. You would think people might have noticed a giant or a normal sized man standing on box or ladder don't you think.
Couldn't the shooter have dug a hole? Sorta like they do with actors working on the set of movies with Stalone and Tom Cruise?
:D
:perfectly straight face: There was no sign of any digging behind the fence on the grassy knoll.
Well of course not, "they" doctored the pictures of the car driving into the hole. Geez, do I have to do all the heavy lifting around 'yere?
Comment by livingonli on 01/07/2011 18:28:59
Still standing at the moment. Weather Channel's only saying 1-3 inches now. The problem is the snow on the ground from the last storm.
livingonli on 01/07/2011 18:28:59
Quote by TriSec:
Looking at the ol' radar....has NYC ceased to exist yet?
Still standing at the moment. Weather Channel's only saying 1-3 inches now. The problem is the snow on the ground from the last storm.
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 18:40:51
TriSec on 01/07/2011 18:40:51
RRRRRGh!
I think I just gimped a tag....sorry Velveeta, there was a comment there, I swear!
(OK, that makes it an official conspiracy; the moderators censor the comments!)
I think I just gimped a tag....sorry Velveeta, there was a comment there, I swear!
(OK, that makes it an official conspiracy; the moderators censor the comments!)
Comment by Scoopster on 01/07/2011 18:49:37
Hmm.. I hadn't heard about that. I think I would've by now heh..
I did hear that the marriage equality law is gonna be reintroduced tho, and there's no more loser Gov Carcieri to stand in the way!! 
Scoopster on 01/07/2011 18:49:37
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, Scoop....I heard on NECN that the new RI legislature's first act was a law requiring every city or state office to only call their holiday decorations "Christmas Trees"?
No word on what the penalty would be for calling it a "holiday tree". (Who does that, anyway...except for the fictitious constructs of Fux gnus?)
Hmm.. I hadn't heard about that. I think I would've by now heh..
I did hear that the marriage equality law is gonna be reintroduced tho, and there's no more loser Gov Carcieri to stand in the way!!
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 18:56:48
BobR on 01/07/2011 18:56:48
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, Scoop....I heard on NECN that the new RI legislature's first act was a law requiring every city or state office to only call their holiday decorations "Christmas Trees"?
No word on what the penalty would be for calling it a "holiday tree". (Who does that, anyway...except for the ficticious constructs of Fux gnus?)
What else would you call a cone-shaped pine tree with lights, balls, and other decorations? A Hannukah tree??
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 18:57:25
aw, that sux
BobR on 01/07/2011 18:57:25
Quote by wickedpam:
Afternoon
Pothole, flat tire, flat donut - nough said
aw, that sux
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 19:01:08
wow - douchebags. Surely they know none of this will likely get past the Senate, and any that do will not have a veto-proof majority.
Also - do all of these reduce the deficit? Oh that's right - they exempted the Republican-sponsored bills from that requirement.
BobR on 01/07/2011 19:01:08
Quote by Scoopster:
Yep.. Priorities!
Honestly, they needed 7 different bills to attempt the same bullshit move?
wow - douchebags. Surely they know none of this will likely get past the Senate, and any that do will not have a veto-proof majority.
Also - do all of these reduce the deficit? Oh that's right - they exempted the Republican-sponsored bills from that requirement.
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 19:04:02
That Tiger Rock snippet works for the example in today's blog of the animal deaths:
1) Birds died mysteriously
2) There's a military base nearby
3) They must have died due to military testing!
BobR on 01/07/2011 19:04:02
Quote by clintster:Quote by TriSec:
Oh, Scoop....I heard on NECN that the new RI legislature's first act was a law requiring every city or state office to only call their holiday decorations "Christmas Trees"?
No word on what the penalty would be for calling it a "holiday tree". (Who does that, anyway...except for the ficticious constructs of Fux gnus?)
Shhhh... it's their "Tiger rock" law.
That Tiger Rock snippet works for the example in today's blog of the animal deaths:
1) Birds died mysteriously
2) There's a military base nearby
3) They must have died due to military testing!
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:05:15
:scans blog upon return from lunch date, breaks into a huge wise-ass grin:
Why Raine hippy is and always be and adjective used to describe a woman who is large in the hips. Using it in a sentence, "Wow Phyllis is looking very hippy these days isn't she Marion."
A hippie is a member of the youth subculture that came to prominence in the mid to late 1960s. Must being identified with the Summer of Love.
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:05:15
Quote by Raine:
I have been seeing and reading this punching hippies meme. I find it to be disingenuous. Let me translate it as I see it:
Obama is not giving hippies what they want, and they feel like they are being beat up on.
Someone needs to tell me what the new definition of a hippy is. It seams like we may be having a re-definition of the hippy.
:scans blog upon return from lunch date, breaks into a huge wise-ass grin:
Why Raine hippy is and always be and adjective used to describe a woman who is large in the hips. Using it in a sentence, "Wow Phyllis is looking very hippy these days isn't she Marion."
A hippie is a member of the youth subculture that came to prominence in the mid to late 1960s. Must being identified with the Summer of Love.
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 19:09:07
TriSec on 01/07/2011 19:09:07
' ' ' ' ' '' ' '' '' <--- throws random apostrophe's just to annoy Mondo.
Comment by wickedpam on 01/07/2011 19:12:00
thanks
its all fixed now, thank God it wasn't snowing to top it off
wickedpam on 01/07/2011 19:12:00
Quote by BobR:Quote by wickedpam:
Afternoon
Pothole, flat tire, flat donut - nough said
aw, that sux
thanks
its all fixed now, thank God it wasn't snowing to top it off
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 19:13:49
TriSec on 01/07/2011 19:13:49
Ya know, back in the day I always used to listen to "Digitally Imported" on Friday afternoons. Think Ima gonna dial that up.
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 19:15:49
I assume with that last sentence, you meant "Most"?... Either way - it's an incomplete and awkwardly written sentence.
BobR on 01/07/2011 19:15:49
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
I have been seeing and reading this punching hippies meme. I find it to be disingenuous. Let me translate it as I see it:
Obama is not giving hippies what they want, and they feel like they are being beat up on.
Someone needs to tell me what the new definition of a hippy is. It seams like we may be having a re-definition of the hippy.
:scans blog upon return from lunch date, breaks into a huge wise-ass grin:
Why Raine hippy is and always be and adjective used to describe a woman who is large in the hips. Using it in a sentence, "Wow Phyllis is looking very hippy these days isn't she Marion."
A hippie is a member of the youth subculture that came to prominence in the mid to late 1960s. Must being identified with the Summer of Love.
I assume with that last sentence, you meant "Most"?... Either way - it's an incomplete and awkwardly written sentence.
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 19:16:38
Their you go again...
BobR on 01/07/2011 19:16:38
Quote by TriSec:
' ' ' ' ' '' ' '' '' <--- throws random apostrophe's just to annoy Mondo.
Their you go again...
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:18:26
You know I used to work with/for Ron Brownstein many years ago. He and his lovely ex-wife Nina Easton (that is a name that the Boston contingent should recognize).
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:18:26
You know I used to work with/for Ron Brownstein many years ago. He and his lovely ex-wife Nina Easton (that is a name that the Boston contingent should recognize).
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:22:46
:Mondo ignores the obvious bait: Watches "Viet Nam: A Television History. Part 8, Cambodia and Laos." Nixon has just announced theinvaision incursion into Cambodia. Yep that worked out so well, didn't it?
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:22:46
Quote by BobR:Quote by TriSec:
' ' ' ' ' '' ' '' '' <--- throws random apostrophe's just to annoy Mondo.
Their you go again...
:Mondo ignores the obvious bait: Watches "Viet Nam: A Television History. Part 8, Cambodia and Laos." Nixon has just announced the
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:25:38
:eye roll, gum crack: Whatever.
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:25:38
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
I have been seeing and reading this punching hippies meme. I find it to be disingenuous. Let me translate it as I see it:
Obama is not giving hippies what they want, and they feel like they are being beat up on.
Someone needs to tell me what the new definition of a hippy is. It seams like we may be having a re-definition of the hippy.
:scans blog upon return from lunch date, breaks into a huge wise-ass grin:
Why Raine hippy is and always be and adjective used to describe a woman who is large in the hips. Using it in a sentence, "Wow Phyllis is looking very hippy these days isn't she Marion."
A hippie is a member of the youth subculture that came to prominence in the mid to late 1960s. Must being identified with the Summer of Love.
I assume with that last sentence, you meant "Most"?... Either way - it's an incomplete and awkwardly written sentence.
:eye roll, gum crack: Whatever.
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:27:15
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:27:15
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
I have been seeing and reading this punching hippies meme. I find it to be disingenuous. Let me translate it as I see it:
Obama is not giving hippies what they want, and they feel like they are being beat up on.
Someone needs to tell me what the new definition of a hippy is. It seams like we may be having a re-definition of the hippy.
:scans blog upon return from lunch date, breaks into a huge wise-ass grin:
Why Raine hippy is and always be and adjective used to describe a woman who is large in the hips. Using it in a sentence, "Wow Phyllis is looking very hippy these days isn't she, Marion."
A hippie is a member of the youth subculture that came to prominence in the mid to late 1960s. Mostly they are identified with the Summer of Love.
I assume with that last sentence, you meant "Most"?... Either way - it's an incomplete and awkwardly written sentence.
Comment by Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:28:34
:channels the character Bunk Moreland from "The Wire": Happy now, bitch? :grin:
Mondobubba on 01/07/2011 19:28:34
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
I have been seeing and reading this punching hippies meme. I find it to be disingenuous. Let me translate it as I see it:
Obama is not giving hippies what they want, and they feel like they are being beat up on.
Someone needs to tell me what the new definition of a hippy is. It seams like we may be having a re-definition of the hippy.
:scans blog upon return from lunch date, breaks into a huge wise-ass grin:
Why Raine hippy is and always be and adjective used to describe a woman who is large in the hips. Using it in a sentence, "Wow Phyllis is looking very hippy these days isn't she, Marion."
A hippie is a member of the youth subculture that came to prominence in the mid to late 1960s. Mostly they are identified with the Summer of Love.
I assume with that last sentence, you meant "Most"?... Either way - it's an incomplete and awkwardly written sentence.
:channels the character Bunk Moreland from "The Wire": Happy now, bitch? :grin:
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 19:47:43
TriSec on 01/07/2011 19:47:43
How totally random...listening to a live techno stream on DI, and midway through the set they're blasting a K5LA into the crowd.
I think I like it!
I think I like it!
Comment by clintster on 01/07/2011 20:07:27
clintster on 01/07/2011 20:07:27
It's Fridee... bounce with me!
Comment by BobR on 01/07/2011 20:26:21
more reporting about how mass animal deaths happen all the time
BobR on 01/07/2011 20:26:21
Quote by BobR:Quote by Scoopster:
Morning all & Happy Fridee!
Hey, I was one of the (seemingly) few people who's been thinking all these bird/fish/animal kills were being caused by a combo or climate change and oil spill pollution & chemicals. And unlike the other conspiracy goobers who just jumped on the bandwagon, I gave logical reasoning behind it! I'm not discounting the fact that yes, this does happen due to other factors like concussive goodies made by man, or just as a part of nature (whales beaching themselves in numbers.. happens all the time and we have no idea why!).. And I was also expecting testing for oil/chemicals in the dead animals to reveal if this was the case.
It just seemed like all of these events were happening randomly all around the world within a very short window of time, which made me think that it was more than just coincidence and more than just nature. Then again, in this day and age when a topic can get picked up by the internet and viralized within a few hours I suppose that it's just being noticed more now, giving the appearance of phenomena.
well yes - that's the point of the NatGeo link. This sort of thing happens all the time, but all it takes is for someone to try to make a connection, and suddenly everyone is looking for more examples and drawing more connections where they don't really exist.
more reporting about how mass animal deaths happen all the time
Comment by TriSec on 01/07/2011 20:45:49
TriSec on 01/07/2011 20:45:49
I'm a Red Sox fan; I know how Karma works.
Which is why I've refrained from posting anything along these lines.
However, with 10 minutes to go on my 88th calendar day at the new job, I'm confident that I will be back Monday for day 91.
New hire probation is 90 days - I'VE MADE IT!!!
Which is why I've refrained from posting anything along these lines.
However, with 10 minutes to go on my 88th calendar day at the new job, I'm confident that I will be back Monday for day 91.
New hire probation is 90 days - I'VE MADE IT!!!
Comment by Raine on 01/07/2011 21:34:50
Raine on 01/07/2011 21:34:50
Quote by TriSec:
I'm a Red Sox fan; I know how Karma works.
Which is why I've refrained from posting anything along these lines.
However, with 10 minutes to go on my 88th calendar day at the new job, I'm confident that I will be back Monday for day 91.
New hire probation is 90 days - I'VE MADE IT!!!