It’s time to dispense with the hateful rhetoric of the National Fire Association (NFA) and to finally have a national discussion about fire violence. Heck, it’s time to ban fire. Ban it before something else like this happens.
Ten people including a baby have died in a fire at an eight-storey building in south-western Paris, officials say.
More than 30 people – including six firefighters – were injured. One person is in a serious condition.
Fifty people were evacuated by ladders from the blaze in the upmarket 16th arrondissement.
Investigators believe the fire – one of the most deadly in the French capital in years – was possibly started deliberately.
A woman detained earlier by police is no longer being questioned and, after undergoing medical and behavioural tests, has been admitted to the psychiatric infirmary of the Paris police, media reports quote the Paris prosecutor as saying.
The line about the crazy woman is bull. The fire did this. Fire control works. That’s why they haven’t had a fire in Atlantis for over 4,000 years.
A Fleeting Glimpse of Some Few Affairs National, the End of January 2019
Wow! Time does fly when you’re trying to out-curmudgeon Robert D. Raiford (RIP). It’s funny – gathering the news sometimes interferes with reporting the news. So it’s been lately. The past CFF piece or two have been filed from the road.
In an effort to get “the real story,” I recently embarked on a multi-day, multi-city odyssey and fact-finding extravaganza. All for you. Well, actually I only made it to one city, Washington. The TPC corporate G650 lost her starboard engine on final approach to the District of Corruption. That made for a harrowing landing at Reagan and, I assume, for some serious expenses for MB. The other day, when I decided it was time to jet, I couldn’t. (Note: stiffing an Uber or two and a little hitchhiking will eventually get one home).
First, an apology: I meant to file a satirical, fictional pseudo-examination of the Covington Catholic hate hoax. That, sadly, must wait for another day. However, the factual matter will serve as a kick-off on this rapid-fire review:
Das Grinsen Der Weiss Leistung (Alternatively, “The Smirk Felt Round the Shit-lib-o-sphere”)
The Associated Press released their survey of the top news stories of 2018. These are items selected by editors around the country and not necessarily the favorites of the people. However, I suspect, given the monopoly press, that they are the stories most heavily sold (like any manufactured good) to the people. A look:
1. The Parkland Shooting – A tragedy but hardly the most important thing in the country. Another of a decreasing number of mass shootings, another failed attempt to ban guns, another exposure of government corruption.
2. Russia, Russia, Russia – Fake news personified. Too much to do about absolutely nothing. Worn, tired, and dying.
3. Pound Me Too – Beyond exposing that Hollywood is run by and for lowlifes, this only pacifies wimps and furthers male-bashing and anti-Americanism.
4. More “Mass” Shootings – More hype, fewer facts. We’re not giving up the guns, sorry.
5. The Elections – All problems are solved now! Spare me, please…
6. Immigration – This should have been the number one issue and it should have been titled, “The Ongoing Invasion.” This is the story that has most changed the character of the country (for the worse) and is only getting worse by the day. At this late point, The Wall would only be a start.
7. Brett and Beaker – The fakest of fake news for the dumbest of humans. Why hasn’t anyone been indicted yet?
8. CA Fires – A story to be sure. But a top ten?
9. “Climate Change” – Like gun grabbing, this attempt at mass market communism just isn’t gaining traction. Ice. Age. Comes.
10. Khashoggi Murder – I doubt one in fifty Americans even know this happened.
Stupid items, selected by stupid editors, in a fat and stupid country. How about these issues:
The Invasion
The murder of 700,000 children
The brewing depression
The coming wars
The existing and failed foreign adventures
The observably declining physical health
The falling IQs
The social morals on life support
The embracing of mental illness as “normal,” “better” even
The death of public education
The rise of the machines
The completely unreported blinding of the CIA last fall and the war in the deep state.
So last week THEY told us that “Q” is a fiction, a crazed conspiracy theory that no one believes. Uh, but everyone still hates even though it’s not real or, at worst, is just some anonymous and untrustworthy Dept. of Energy hack…
“Q” is supposedly a high-ranking official in the Energy Department with a high-level security clearance. “Q,” the theory goes, is working for Trump and against the supposed “deep state.”
…
It is possible, of course, that opinions might look different outside of Florida. But nevertheless, we suspect that these basic findings would hold. In short, the QAnon movement appears neither well-known nor well-liked by Floridians in either party. Those who support QAnon most strongly are people for whom conspiracies lurk behind every corner.
See, it’s totally not real. Only a lurking nut in Florida would believe it.
THIS, on the other hand – this completely anonymous and utterly unverifiable and as self-congratulatory as it is self-defeating stuff is really really REAL. (Would the NYT every lie??)
So real they need a virtual reality disclaimer and a call for inquiries.
The Times today is taking the rare step of publishing an anonymous Op-Ed essay. We have done so at the request of the author, a senior official in the Trump administration whose identity is known to us and whose job would be jeopardized by its disclosure. We believe publishing this essay anonymously is the only way to deliver an important perspective to our readers. We invite you to submit a question about the essay or our vetting process here.
I almost asked if they were accepting other short works of fiction but I’m not in the habit of commenting on other people’s blogs. Sorry, Slim.
Now, as for real journalism … the One and Only Alex Jones! Live today from Mordor. You simply must watch the videos. On his First Amendment quest, AJ successfully hammered home the importance of free speech, the free press, and the proper redress of grievances. All in hilarious fashion!
And, in a somewhat related article, the WSJ editorial staff reminds the “free and independent” media that they might want to actually act free and independent:
“Journalists who don’t like what the president has said about the press might want to start behaving like objective reporters instead of liberal political activists.”
The call went out from the Boston Globe. 350 newspapers and outlets across the fruity plain have answered.
Nearly 350 news organizations are set to publish editorials on Thursday pushing back against Donald Trump’s attacks on the media and defending freedom of the press.
The publications are participating in a push organized by the Boston Globe to run coordinated editorials denouncing what the paper called a “dirty war against the free press”.
As of Wednesday morning, 343 publications had pledged to participate, said Marjorie Pritchard, the Globe’s deputy managing editor overseeing the opinion page.
The Guardian has also joined the effort and has published an editorial alongside outlets around the United States.
I’ve only read part of one (and they all promise to be different). The one I looked at was from the Chicago Tribune – written by a dog…
“I do not usually pay attention to human politics,” Zoe wrote by “dictating” to Huppke. “I prefer more pleasant things like sniffing my friends’ butts or rolling on a dead bird in the backyard or eating things that will make me throw up.”
Zoe adds that Trump is “not being a good boy” by using “dog” to attack political opponents, and that it makes her “want to growl” at him.
“I think you are calling people dogs because you think that makes them less than human,” she writes. “My human says that’s something that ‘fascists’ do. I don’t know what that means, but it makes me think you are not being a good boy.”
The letter asked Trump to stop referring to humans as dogs and to “start realizing that humans and dogs are both great and deserve respect and lots and lots of Milk-Bones.”
And Fido there probably presents the best the mainstream media can offer. “Fascists” sounds like “racists” and “Nazis.” They literally cannot come up with anything new. And can you imagine the fallout if Trump offered Omarosa a Milk-Bone!?
They, all of them, miss the point. I set the record straight in today’s TPC column, which I assume is coming along any hour now… More then. I’ll run that here, then. And I’ll be liking the main post on Facebook (about all I do there). And I’m forwarding my piece to the White House.
On the Facebook front, if you’re still there, you’re there at your own risk. Do you even know what Zuck knows about you? You can find out. And, if you’re with the press, FB has issued you an ultimatum: join or die. I wonder if they’ll at least offer Milk-Bones…
Something from the recent news caught my wayward eye.
You’ve no doubt heard about the tragically deranged man in Seattle who managed to steal the Q400 and do loops, with a fighter escort, before ending it all on a remote island.
In one news story I saw something suspicious: “Once the cockpit is entered, no keys are required to start the aircraft. Instead, a series of switches and levers must be pulled in a particular sequence to unlock the controls.”
“Switches and levers” sounds a lot like this from another recently attempted ariel joyride: “An affidavit says Scott told Texarkana police, who responded to reports of a man seen jumping an airport fence, that he didn’t think there was much more to flying than pushing buttons and pulling levers.”
I’m not a licensed pilot but I have taken flight lessons and I have flown small planes before. Believe it or not, this sequence of buttons and levers really is all it takes to fly – a very complicated sequence, one requiring constant attention and application of skill. It’s a level of skill completely beyond most people. The average American can barely drive a car. A plane is outside the question.
That’s why the dope in TX had no chance of getting his aircraft off the ground. And, it makes the guy in Seattle’s performance all the more amazing.
What I’m saying is that this should be a non-issue. But something warns me it’s on someone’s radar. The WSJ warns of “cracks in airport security.” I feel or sense the opportunity of more needless government intrusion. Perhaps this is something for the general aviators among you to keep an eye on. One more chance to stamp out freedom? Or a crazy coincidence?
The Tampa Sports Authority announced that it is banning smoking at Raymond James Stadium, starting immediately.
The authority says a smoke-free environment will make the fan experience more enjoyable.
“The need for this healthier environment was evident from fan feedback, national trends, and feedback from our tenants such as the Buccaneers and USF,” said Eric Hart, Tampa Sports Authority CEO.
It is not going over well with everyone.
“I like to smoke cigars,” Harold McCall told FOX 13. “I think [the ban] is terrible.”
There were designated smoking areas which have now been eliminated. Smokers have to finish puffing before going inside. If you leave to smoke, you’re not going to be allowed back in.
This is your Sports Authority. This is your Sports Authority on communism.
One doesn’t have to worry about getting back in if one never enters in the first place.* Davidoff invites fans to watch games in the comfy confines of their shop, located conveniently south of RJS. (From FB):
I invite people to watch the game from our beautiful Davidoff Tampa store which is right around the corner from the stadium. Cigars smokers are welcomed with open arms…nanny state folks stay out!
Patrons (of the store) have weighed in. The most appropriate comment is, “F them!” That’s really the only response. Now, I understand the marketing angle of luring in the fans with the big screens. But, philosophically and not just as a screen hater, why bother having the foolishness anywhere near the happy smokers? Why support the enemy in any way? They ban you. So you ban them.
That’s the sentiment of today’s PNW:
Are they going to ban firing the ship’s cannon? That would make children “safe” from smoke and guns! Davidoff, Tampa, FB.
*PS: The last (and final) time I was at Sanford Stadium, I tried to smoke a cigar OUTSIDE and away from everyone. I was told I could not. I left. And I have no plans of ever returning. F them too.
At least five people were killed and several others were “gravely injured” in a shooting Thursday afternoon at the Capital Gazette in Anne Arundel County, authorities said.
A shooter is in custody, police said. Police would not name the suspect or say what type of weapon was used.
Anne Arundel County Police initially confirmed about 3:15 p.m. that they were responding to an “active shooter” at 888 Bestgate Road, where the newspaper’s offices are located. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the scene.
The Capital Gazette is owned by The Baltimore Sun.
This story by a Sun reporter (obviously) though run at the Gazette site. Few details at this point. I’ve heard it was a shotgun; nothing about the shooter. These things tend to change. It’s bad enough it happened at all, driven home for me the more as an attack on the media.
None of anti-GC quips today. Just this: Most of you know by now that, sarcasm aside, I never blame these things on violent video games. Yet, there is a tangential relationship in this case, at least as it was first reported to me. I took a snapshot of the Gazette story including the displayed video ad. Take a look:
Demon-eyed freak levels gun at the camera on a story about a real freak leveling a gun at a paper. “Learn more.” More coincidence than bad taste surely. And interesting.
PERRIN LOVETT 
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