All the stuff in WaPo came out at the time of his confirmation hearing. However, because it was unknown until the week after the hearing, the Dems were unable to get enough Reps on their side to oppose him. Trump, of course, didn’t care about the corruption and probably liked it because he clearly believes the end justifies the means, and he liked the end.

Yes, those colours from Venice have been -not very subtly- enhanced, there is no doubt there,
And I cannot believe these hooks are obsidian, at least not traditionally worked obsidian, too.

I first found out about cats and snakes on WEIT too with another very funny video of a series of cats freaking out to things like cucumbers.

I don’t know for sure if those particular hooks are carved by hand, but even these days many still tend to do them by hand to maintain the integrity of the process. The only ones I’ve seen actually in the midst of being carved were being done with a machine though. Obviously the main reason for making them these days is the tourist market, and they’d be too expensive otherwise.

I first learned about cats’ Herpetophobia on WEIT with (iirc) a cucumber or something that looked snake-like. I know the kitteh here is freaked, but I couldn’t help laughing. Maybe it thinks the lizards are toys, but can’t grok it when they become animated.

No surprise that the Turpin’s were motivated by their loving jebus. The contrivance that is religion has destroyed many lives…always has, always will.

Are those Maori obsidian fish hooks carved by hand? They look too perfect, but I’ve seen enough amazing hand-carved items to believe it.

Venice is one of the coolest cities I’ve visited…give it at least two full days if you make it there. It is very colorful, but the photo above has been enhanced by (I think) saturation.

Thanks for reminding us so frequently of your pettiness and ignorance; not that we’ll soon forget. This comment is meant for j.a.m. and d.j.t.

There’s so much wrong there I don’t even know where to start. It’s called Gish Galloping, and you engage in it frequently. If you want to try proper analysis, how about setting up your own website? You write on mine almost as much as I do. Of course, then you’d have to use your real name if you want to be taken seriously.

If you have a valid reason for hiding behind a pseudonym, let me know privately. I never reveal such information. Otherwise, honesty would be appreciated.

L

An Australian commentator looks at the accomplishments of MAGA Year One and notes, “The visceral and often irrational disdain for Donald Trump displayed by otherwise seemingly high-functioning adults is beyond easy explanation…

“The mainstream media has given him virtually zero credit for any of this. Transparently, the political/media class accused Trump of taking the world to the brink of nuclear war by standing up to Kim, then wrote him out of the script when North Korea turned up for its first talks with South Korea in more than two years. They have ignored the defeat of Islamic State in Iraq as diligently as they averted their eyes from Obama’s red lines in Syria. Trump’s critics fall for his rhetorical tricks, delivering his messages for him. His Mexican wall is more a difference of building materials and language than of border security policy. Yet the exaggerated opposition gives him clear differentiation on a strong issue. Likewise, knee-jerk media defensiveness confirms his claim of partisanship. When serious journalists say Trump threatens freedom of the press because he accuses media of “fake news” and bias, they simply demonstrate their antipathy.”

https://news22741224.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/trumps-first-year-truth-gets-lost-in-hysteria/