brickhistory

Enjoyed today's F1 powerboat race.

Didn't even phrase it in the form of a question? C'mon, man!

Recounts likely, so it ain't over. If Biden wins, it's vindication. If Trump wins, it's shenanigans. Have i got that about right? Oh, and fcuk Pierre Delecto...epitomy of the GOP and why Trump arose.

So who's on the schedule for the cash flights to Tehran?

I, too, picked Trump to take 300+ electoral college votes, so I, too, was wrong. Pity that... Still some drama to play out and the witch isn't dead yet, so we'll see how it goes. GOP retains the Senate, adds a fair number in the House. Enough to probably cause Pelosi to not be elected Speaker of the House next term since her party wants someone other than thousand year olds running things. But, and this a biggie for me, the best thing of this year's election cycle has been that it wasn't Hillary running for re-election. And with that, I'm reasonably content. v/r, another hilfuck Texan

Obama isn't (directly) on the ballot...

So I put this here vs starting another thread that likely wouldn't be that long. Sean Connery died today, aged 90. The best James Bond ever. So suck it, Trebek!

Can I get that 1/2 decaf, please?

Well, it would be Trump's considerable bulk as a target vs. shaky Joe's cognitive ability - "No, Joe, you don't lick it, you point it..." As an amusing real-world aside, Biden introduced Harris' husband as her "wife."

Rather depends on who he shot and why.

And then there were 9...

My vague distaste for Hamilton is probably more for Mercedes absolute dominance for the past several years. Can't blame 'em, beat the competition then keep 'em down is a good strategy. But makes for unexciting racing. But Hamilton's story is exactly what I want in a driver, one who advances on ability, not a big sponsor/daddy's checking account. So, I can't have it both ways. Good on him for earning his Mercedes seat and using it ruthlessly to achieve his success.

This is up there with "you know, the thing!!" He's confusing Trump with Bush and his wife, multiple times, is side-mouthing "Trump." On a funnier note:

It's been a full day so no spoilers by now: Very interesting start to the race - Bottas took and should've been able to keep the lead. Hamilton just is better, managed his car and tires better. I wish it wasn't that way, but Bottas' had multiple opportunities today and in the past and isn't getting it done at the same level as Hamilton. Sainz out front was spectacular but short-lived unfortunately. The Kimi run was also pretty spectacular, I agree. Would've loved to see him stay up front in the points. A very good drive by Gasly. Not so much for Albon, who is not helping himself keep a job. That is entirely in his hands (sts) and he's not getting it done either. On him... Then the race turned back into cars on parade. Well done to Hamilton for the win and congratulations on reaching the record. Hard to argue with stats.

Looking forward to tomorrow's race. This rarely used Portuguese track is pretty cool with all the elevation changes. Yes, I saw the documentary dealt with the drivers with sponsorships. Brute force, hot chicks, and money rule the world. Natural ability is a distant fourth, so no podium there... See what I did? 😎

I read that some Russian gazillionaire with a driver son is going to partner with Haas with the son getting one of the seats a la Stroll at Racing Point. At first, regarding Stroll and, potentially, this guy, I was irritated because daddy bought him the seat. But then realized/read that many drivers have big money sponsors behind them that provide money to the team in exchange for their boy getting the drive. It being a parent simply cuts out the middle man. I'd like it to be based on ability only, but that ain't the way the world works, so I sit back and watch the cars and turn off the outrage machine.

Haas let both its drivers go for next year. Adios, human torpedo Grosjean. It was fun to watch which one of you would show up on any given Sunday.

Clapper/Brennan, et al, are not exactly unbiased observers. It is amusing how so many Trump-related stories have relied on anonymous sources - Steele Dossier/leaked tax returns/supposed disparaging of US war dead, etc, etc, etc - is perfectly valid and doesn't require confirmation even though on the record actors often times have refuted the allegations. Here, a physical laptop was dropped off by Hunter Biden for repair. There is a published work order receipt with Biden's signature on that work order. He failed to pick it up. His attorney, when this started to become a thing, called the shop to demand the laptop. For an unpaid $85, rocket scienctist Hunter opened up this whole can of stupidity. Which had already been subpeonaed by the FBI for a grand jury investigation. Those are on the record facts. Written and attested to by photographic evidence, FBI statements, court filings. The emails on that laptop, on the record verified by at least some of the to/from addressees, reveal a lot about Hunter Biden's means of wealth. Selling his name is an old tradition and not illegal. Where the questions arise are did anyone in the government, to include Joe, do illegal things for that money or the promise of more money? I hope that folks here can be intellectually honest to admit that A) if the name Trump were associated with any of these shenanigans, you'd be calling for more investigative journalism and B) that the same media that relied, literally for years, on anonymous sources that by definition can't verify anything, ran with the stories/issues above incessantly. Even back to the now infamous Dan Rather fakes of W. Bush's Guard letters for which Rather lost his job. Unverified but ran with the story anyway. Now they are not a thing unless the "right" news sources say it's a thing. Aided and abetted by Facebook and Twitter. It is completely an editorial decision to go with a story or not, so if the media accepted as the "only" acceptable media doesn't run it, it is dishonest at the least, but totally their call. For Facebook and Twitter, that is also an editorial decision. Not one of a neutral provider. In 2017, a PRC company deposited $5 million into a Delaware-based LLC listing it as an interest free loan. Which spent the next 12 months depositing that money directly into Hunter's account.

From a variety of venues but let's just go with "anonymous sources." I understand those are all the rage and most folks are good with them...

An interesting day yesterday. I learned (no thanks to Facebook or Twitter which continue to either slow or completely block any info on this.): - That the now infamous Hunter laptop - public because he left it there and didn't pay an $85 repair bill - was subpoenaed for a grand jury by an FBI agent who specializes in child porn cases. - That Guiliani turned over to Delaware police photos of underage girls from the laptop. True, it is unknown to me if those images are of the gross, illegal kind. - Emails to/from Hunter about inappropriate situations regarding underage girls. - That a former business associate of Hunter's was removed from the general population of the prison he was incarcerated in yesterday. Same guy who is, apparently, providing information about Hunter and others regarding some Indian casino tax scam. The one where two of the three partners went to jail, but only Hunter wasn't charged. - That the pictures of Joe and Hunter with Kazakh business partners of Hunter's puts paid to the Joe claim "of I knew nothing of his business dealings." As did the numerous Air Force Two accompanied trips. As well as the numerous pay-offs to "The Big Guy." - That Joe Biden considers Poland and Hungary as "totalitarian regimes." As a double hypothetical, if Biden wins, does he immediately pardon Hunter or wait until his last day as other Presidents did before helping out family? It's certainly legal to do so, but I wonder if Kamala would like that? I admit I'm not contributing to the healthcare in America theme running, but I also try not to tilt at windmills. It has never ended well either in fiction or in real life.

Mecca for ALTRV's is the Central Altitude Reservation Function (CARF) - the gurus who actually do the work. https://www.fly.faa.gov/carf/ Link only has an e-mail and it's been way too long for me to have a phone number for them. Next best bet would be finding the phone number for the National Air Traffic Services Cell (NATSC - a DoD (USAF actually) office co-located in the FAA's ATC Command Center and shares offices with CARF. Sorry, don't have current phone numbers.

Biden's "kid" is a 50-something year old grown ass man. I believe he's a grandparent for Christ's sake... But those arguing against his being included in the mud fest sure seem ok with anyone with a last name of Trump being slimed, including a teenager because they are related to "bad orange man" so it's ok to do so. That said, although there are some other financial shenanigans Hunter is likely to see prison time over (look for an Indian casino thing along with one business partner in jail, the other just had his sentence confirmed after appeal), cashing in on a famous last name is not likely one of them. Where the criminal acts come in is with whatever federal officials aided/abetted/contributed/were part of a conspiracy as part of that cashing in. "You got six hours to fire the prosecutor or you aren't getting the billion dollars" isn't a good look as part of that. Neither is using Air Force 2 as your calling card to score personal financial success. The veracity of the laptop and contents have been more than proven to include, released today, a physical receipt left at the repair shop and signed by Hunter. Biden is now officially hiding in his basement since yesterday. For "debate prep." That sure is convenient that the press isn't hounding him over this scandal and letting him prepare. I'm sure they'd give Trump the same courtesy. Not to mention the deletion of foreign policy as a topic as agreed to previously by both candidates and has been historically precedented in these debates. Wonder why that deletion? Finally, and the big takeaway from Hunter-gate, is the deliberate squelching of a major news story by supposedly "neutral" IT providers. By taking their stance, both Facebook and Twitter have declared themselves as publishers. I hope the FCC and/or Congress act accordingly. edited to add: Talking head lawyer Jeffrey Tobin of way too many liberal outlets and impeachment cheerleader was "given time off to deal with personal issues" after being caught spanking his monkey on a business zoom call. Oh, and our deficit is now 3.1 trillion this year. What could possibly go wrong?

One begins to understand the street respect Corn Pop paid to Joe...

You're doing it wrong According to noted self-defense expert, Uncle Joe, that if the firing of your shotgun in the air doesn't ward off an attackerrr, all you have to do is shot him/her/it in the leg. That center-mass thing is all wrong. I think someone should notify the Geneva Convention that we can now maim as it's more "peaceful." That's the kind of bold, inspired thinking I believe we all have been searching for.

Another NY Post news story today about Hunter Biden's shenanigans and again Twitter outright blocks it, bans those that try to comment on it/share it, etc. To include the WH Press Secretary, the GOP Senate's account, as well as numerous others. Because the information came from a "leak." (Actually, the laptop was abandoned at a repair place and never picked up. Became the owner's per law). But the leaking, as just one example, of Trump's taxes was fair game. It's good to have wingmen.