Off Topic Thread 3.0

I find it amazing that America basically couldn't handle an Obama presidency so they immediately elected his polar opposite:

Black : White
Constitutional Scholar : Purchased Education
Middle Class upbringing : Born into wealth
Family Man : Serial adulterer, three marriages
Class : Gold all the things
Dignity : Blameless
Championed Healthcare : Doesn't know what Healthcare is

It's really like a low budget comedy where two people trade places but I can't see this one having a happy ending where everyone learns something.

The media will keep reporting because it's profitable for them to do so. Sometimes they go overboard (Rachel Maddow) but I think it's worth it to keep saying just how unacceptable this is. The real litmus test is if America turns their back on this hate rhetoric over the next two election cycles. If they aren't capable of that then the country has real problems moving forward as it's incredibly divided over there now.

It's just a total **** show. I hope it ends up just being a few years entertainment but lets not forget the US has enough power to destroy the world 100 times over and this asshat sits at the top. It's only funny because nothing really serious has happened yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOqKnInZovI

DGRulz wrote: »

Most recently the whole Twitter rant JK Rowling went on about him not shaking hands with a kid in a wheel chair.

What?

JK Rowling isn't the media. She's a woman with a Twitter account (admittedly with a very large reach).

thomond2006

Bazzo

DGRulz wrote: »

Most recently the whole Twitter rant JK Rowling went on about him not shaking hands with a kid in a wheel chair.

I hadn't heard about this but I've had a quick Google there and flicking through several pages of the search it doesn't look like any major publications even covered the story except to say Rowling was mistaken. The (Irish) independent and metro.co.uk are the only ones I recognise that actually lead with it and both are absolute rags.

He spent the majority of an hour bull****ting on about how dishonest the media was on their coverage of his response to Charlottesville and then read an altered version of his response to prove it, it's completely surreal.

MSNBC's response "Well clearly there is nothing worth listening to in there" and CNN's "That was a total eclipse of the facts" are as measured and fair (and even more so) as he deserves.

DGRulz wrote: »

Most recently the whole Twitter rant JK Rowling went on about him not shaking hands with a kid in a wheel chair.

JK Rowling isn't the press though. He's not attacking JK Rowling, he's attacking mainstream media for reporting on what he's doing.

DGRulz

Most recently the whole Twitter rant JK Rowling went on about him not shaking hands with a kid in a wheel chair.

DGRulz wrote: »

While I agree with a lot of this, he's such an easy target to hit but when they make up stuff and present the story in their own light all they end up doing is proving his point and make him look better to him supporters

What have the press made up though? (Like it's not exactly needed) and sadly heavy spin is a given in America, outside PBS all channels are privately owned and hire according to the company's viewpoint

DGRulz

Bazzo wrote: »

The idea that the media are any worse to him than he deserves is bollox to be honest. They jump on everything he says because he's the ****ing president of the United States. EVERY president ever has been subject to exactly the same scrutiny.

While I agree with a lot of this, he's such an easy target to hit but when they make up stuff and present the story in their own light all they end up doing is proving his point and make him look better to him supporters

Teferi

Erik Shin wrote: »

It's a closed shop, to suggest there is any transparency is stupid in the extreme.

Full athlete test history here.

The UFC isn't clean but it's making an honest effort. The entire fight game is murky in any case but MMA is no more dirty than any of the others. I think the UFC should be commended for its efforts with USADA.

DGRulz

I'm not saying this season of GoT hasnt felt rushed at times but I think its important to remember that stories in different places have never happened in parallel and the whole thing

north of the wall

happens over the course of a few days and part of the reason theres less filler this season compared to previous seasons is that the writers are basically working of cliff notes of a story the actual writer cant seem to finish. When this whole thing started GRRM had agreed to have The Winds of Winter finished and a large enough outline of A Dream of Spring done. D&D signed up to adapt a series of books not the important plot points of a series of books. From where I stand they're done a pretty decent job a few weird bits of dialog aside.

Besides ...

did we really want to end the Genry's still rowing joke only to start a Genry's still running one :P

dregin

Ah, you're right. People are just spoilering like mad without tags. NEVERMIND!

Podge_irl

Buer wrote: »

I might be alone in this but I thought the dialogue in the final scene was extremely cringeworthy. The whole "Dany" and "My queen" thing. Jesus.

Ned Stark is spinning in his grave, Snow. Now stop trying to ride your auntie.

Nope, I thought it was absolutely appalling. They evidently have an endgame in mine (dragon incest) but calling it's handling cack-handed would be generous.

Ah well - I mostly just want to see how it all ends. I've given up on the books ever coming out to be honest.

Bazzo wrote: »

He read back his entire response to the Charlottesville debacle line by line but left out all the controversial bits, unloaded on both Arizona republican senators, threatened a government shutdown if his wall isn't built and all but promised to pardon the sheriff who refused to carry out the court's orders in his immigration ban.

It probably underlines what a joke the situation is that I don't see any of those as being anything out of the ordinary whatsoever for him.

Bazzo

Buer wrote: »

Did he? I thought that was fairly mundane by his standards. It was the typical performance that he delivered during his election campaign. He went on a rant against the media and threw in a few barbs at his opponents whilst whipping up some excitement on his wall and immigration. Nothing really new.

To be honest, I find the left leaning elements of the media are actually weakening their position by absolutely pouncing on any public appearance by Trump at this point. They're overblowing things which is diluting the impact of real failings when they occur.

It's also far from helpful when the protestors are getting into violent clashes with law enforcement. That's gold for Trump and will just strengthen his comments on there being issues on both sides of the political divide.

He read back his entire response to the Charlottesville debacle line by line but left out all the controversial bits, unloaded on both Arizona republican senators, threatened a government shutdown if his wall isn't built and all but promised to pardon the sheriff who refused to carry out the court's orders in his immigration ban.

The idea that the media are any worse to him than he deserves is bollox to be honest. They jump on everything he says because he's the ****ing president of the United States. EVERY president ever has been subject to exactly the same scrutiny.

Bazzo wrote: »

Jesus, Trump fairly went off the deep end last night.

Did he? I thought that was fairly mundane by his standards. It was the typical performance that he delivered during his election campaign. He went on a rant against the media and threw in a few barbs at his opponents whilst whipping up some excitement on his wall and immigration. Nothing really new.

To be honest, I find the left leaning elements of the media are actually weakening their position by absolutely pouncing on any public appearance by Trump at this point. They're overblowing things which is diluting the impact of real failings when they occur.

It's also far from helpful when the protestors are getting into violent clashes with law enforcement. That's gold for Trump and will just strengthen his comments on there being issues on both sides of the political divide.

sydthebeat wrote: »

hes a dangerous dangerous ba$tard !!

he is putting a (not very subtle) target into every journalist out there in an attempt to control them by fear.
he is causing serious friction within his own country between the left and right, one death can already be directly attributed to this friction.

if the republicans have a disastrous midterms in 2018 we could see him gone soon after... but not before then i fear

Don't get me wrong he's a menace and the way he acts is deplorable. His divide and conquer tactics are causing more damage every day.

sydthebeat

connemara man wrote: »

He's the gift that keeps on giving

hes a dangerous dangerous ba$tard !!

he is putting a (not very subtle) target into every journalist out there in an attempt to control them by fear.
he is causing serious friction within his own country between the left and right, one death can already be directly attributed to this friction.

if the republicans have a disastrous midterms in 2018 we could see him gone soon after... but not before then i fear

Bazzo wrote: »

Jesus, Trump fairly went off the deep end last night.

He's the gift that keeps on giving

Bazzo

Jesus, Trump fairly went off the deep end last night.

Podge_irl wrote: »

Aye, I'm far too engaged in the storyline at this point and very much want to see where it goes but by god it's getting a lot dumber this season.

I might be alone in this but I thought the dialogue in the final scene was extremely cringeworthy. The whole "Dany" and "My queen" thing. Jesus.

Ned Stark is spinning in his grave, Snow. Now stop trying to ride your auntie.

Podge_irl

Aye, I'm far too engaged in the storyline at this point and very much want to see where it goes but by god it's getting a lot dumber this season.

molloyjh wrote: »

Def think it's very rushed this season. And I'm not sure what's going on with Sansa and Arya. None of the major characters are in any real danger st this stage either. Plenty of plot armour going around.

It's really taking away from the season, to be honest. They're obviously under serious pressure to get it out there and wrapped up. Gendry sprinting back over mountains in freezing temperatures, a raven sent to Dragonstone and yer wan flying up on her dragon...all done in the space of time it took some water to freeze in sub-zero temperatures. Wasn't surprised to see one of the show's directors admit in an interview that the timelines are pushing the limits for the show.

I'm enjoying the season as it's action packed and it's the culmination of 6 years of story lines to date but, for me, if the opening couple of seasons were of this standard in terms of dialogue and plot, the show never would have become the success it did.

Erik Shin wrote: »

It's a closed shop, to suggest there is any transparency is stupid in the extreme.
Jones was banned because he nearly killed someone, drugs bans are incidental...
How are they getting on with WADA?

What are you on about? Closed shop?

How are they getting on with WADA? Well WADA, through USADA, control absolutely all of their drug testing and bans, making them far more transparent and compliant than any other sport I follow. So I'd imagine they have a pretty good relationship with WADA now, compared to rugby anyway.

Erik Shin

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It means you haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about! "Bans are irrelevant" - you're the one who brought them up! :pac:

The testing is not done by "MMA". In fact there is no such organisation as "MMA". The testing is all done by USADA and the bans are decided by state athletic commissions and USADA.

If it was rotten to the core they wouldn't be testing and banning their biggest stars, would they? They'd take the approach our beloved field sports take and just never test or ban anyone. There's very little logic to what you're saying here.

It's a closed shop, to suggest there is any transparency is stupid in the extreme.
Jones was banned because he nearly killed someone, drugs bans are incidental...
How are they getting on with WADA?

Erik Shin wrote: »

What does that even mean? MMA is rotten...bans are irrelevant....

It means you haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about! "Bans are irrelevant" - you're the one who brought them up! :pac:

The testing is not done by "MMA". In fact there is no such organisation as "MMA". The testing is all done by USADA and the bans are decided by state athletic commissions and USADA.

If it was rotten to the core they wouldn't be testing and banning their biggest stars, would they? They'd take the approach our beloved field sports take and just never test or ban anyone. There's very little logic to what you're saying here.

Erik Shin

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Once again, MMA has nothing to do with the bans whatsoever.

What does that even mean? MMA is rotten...bans are irrelevant....

Erik Shin wrote: »

Nah, MMA is rotten to the core, 2 month ban

Once again, MMA has nothing to do with the bans whatsoever.

Erik Shin

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Jon Jones failed another drug test supposedly!

Surely the end of him if true.

Nah, MMA is rotten to the core, 2 month ban