Sunday Overnight Open Thread (11/5/23)

Quote I

After seven years of Trumpian showboating, it was refreshing to hear a Republican speak for the GOP’s long-held limited-government principles. Typical of Pence, however, his comments come late in the game. The party already made its choice, but at least he left a forward-looking blueprint for Republicans once the populist fever breaks. The Orange County Register - Opinion Section

Quote II

“The ideas that came through Athens, Rome, London, Paris, and Philadelphia are what make life good for most people in free societies today. That the individuals have value, and even the powers that be must submit to the rule of law,” Bill Maher

Quote III

"What is interesting about Hamas is that the rate of growth of the tunnels, not only in size but also in purpose, complemented the development of the organization’s operational concept. It began with the smuggling of goods, progressed to the smuggling of weapons, and later evolved into attack tunnels." Prof. Joel Roskin, a geomorphologist and geologist at Bar-Ilan University's geography and environment department

Witty comments. Great socks. Intelligent views. Just another week at The ONT comments section.

I've been away from the outside world for a few days. Researching the news I see that Israel is kicking ass and scratching out names.

All communications and internet services have been cut yet again within the Gaza Strip at the same time as Israel has intensified bombardments.

Reports coming from the territory describe attacks beyond imagination in the last few hours.

The Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel warned: ‘The main routes that were previously reconnected (were) cut off again from the Israeli side.’

Minutes later, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said it has lost contact with all its ambulance and hospital teams in Gaza.

The natural evolution of business is you have to keep moving or they will throw dirt over you. Shitty expensive products made by shitty people, a pandemic and streaming has AMC Theaters in financial peril.

....... However, it's not just retail chains dealing with the issues. AMC Theaters, America's largest movie theater chain, is also fighting off bankruptcy.

According to Investor Place, the company has lost over $700 million in the past year, since, with the increase in popularity of streaming services during and after the pandemic, moviegoers haven't been heading to theaters as often as they once did. AMC CEO Adam Aron is aware of the difficulties they're facing. In a recent earnings call he stated, "We've had to adjust our strategy because the movie theater industry has come back slowly, and so our strategy has become survive, then thrive. We have had to take the steps to make sure this company survives. And not all companies in our industry can say that."

Among the steps they've taken has been selling off stock to raise cash, but if people continue to not go out to see movies, AMC won't be able to stay afloat. To understand how bad things have gotten, between 2009 and 2018, the box office numbers were around $10 to $12 billion. Last year, it was $7.3 billion and it seems to only be a little better in 2023. Aron has confidence in the future though. He stated, "I've already said in 2024, 2025, it's going to look pretty bright. But if we were to run out of cash before we get to 2024 or 2025, that would be a disaster. And that's a disaster that I simply will do everything in my power to make sure that this company avoids."

I will be honest with you. I couldn't handle 14:35 of Chris Christie. If you can and document this amazing feat, you will win earn a 1 Year Laminated Cardboard AoS Membership.

Schadenfreude: Chris Christie Brutally Heckled at Florida Freedom Summit

Chris “Kristy Kreme” Christie has absolutely no chance of becoming president. He didn’t when he announced; he doesn’t now; and he never will. He knew it then just as he knows it now. But he has a job to do: attack-dogging Trump on behalf of the donors who prop up his sad exercise in narcissism.

Americans are done with this class of politician — a pure, reprehensible donor creation with nothing to offer but the same standard focus-grouped talking points developed by sad hacks like doughball Frank Luntz that GOP candidates have been offering for decades.

The real world is different than the faculty lounge and the backrooms where political whores congregate? California's carbon-dioxide emissions increase in 2022, despite having some of the most ambitious reduction targets in the country.

Emissions from 2021 to 2022 increased from 384 million tons to 386 million tons, according to preliminary data from the California Air Resources Board.

The state’s 2022 plan for achieving carbon neutrality calls for emissions reductions of 48% below 1990 levels by 2030.

To reach the goal, the state will need to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by approximately 16 million tons a year, according to CARB

A young adult who works from home. Has a profitable business and didn't need a SBA loan. There is just one problem. Guess? Genius Award Winner.

Connecticut Man Arrested for Operating $8.5M Mushroom Business Out of Home

If you’re looking for psychedelic mushrooms, well, Connecticut was apparently your state for a little bit. More specifically, you allegedly could find all you needed and more in the home of one man who lives in Burlington, Conn.

What's going on with these highly educated people? None of the following shit ever happened on Gilligan's Island. Perverts on Ice: OIG Inspectors Sent to McMurdo Station in Antarctica, to Tackle Its Culture of Rape and Sexual Assault

Down at the White Continent, it’s every woman for herself.

McMurdo Station is a United States Antarctic research station on the south tip of Ross Island, on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica.

‘Mac-Town’, as the station people call it, is a cluster of buildings hugging the frozen shore, operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Grizzly bears and valu-rite do not mix well. Now if only I could take care of my squirrel issue this way.

Drunk Grizzlies Keep Getting Hit By Trains In Montana
Since 1980, 63 grizzlies have been hit by trains and killed along a section of railroad near Glacier National Park. Many died because they got drunk on fermented grain spilled from railcars and couldn’t move fast enough to outrun the trains.

On this day: November 5, 2005 - Link Wray
Guitarist Link Wray died aged 76. Wray was credited with inventing 'fuzz' guitar after punching a hole in a speaker giving him a distorted guitar sound. Famous for his 1958 US No.16 single 'Rumble' which was banned on several radio stations, on the grounds that it glorified juvenile delinquency. A rare feat for a song with no lyrics. via thisdayinmusic.com

Born on this day: November 5, 1911 - Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain. He and his wife Dale Evans, his golden palomino, Trigger, and his German Shepherd dog, Bullet, were featured in more than 100 movies & The Roy Rogers Show. The show ran on radio for 9 years before moving to TV from 1951 - 1957. He scored 8 US Top 40 country hits. Rogers died of congestive heart failure on July 6, 1998. via thisdayinmusic.com

These folks won't be millionaires. But, they feel like it. Tonight's Feel Good Story of The Day

Texas ice cream store employs those with disabilities in effort to boost customer service industry
Founder and CEO Tom Landis opened Howdy Homemade to make a difference — and prove a point
Howdy Homemade Ice Cream is putting a twist on the typical local dessert shop by employing those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).

The Texas-born idea came from founder and CEO Tom Landis, who told Fox News Digital about the company and why he’s so passionate about helping others.

The first shop opened in Dallas, Texas, after the 54-year-old father of two said he found a passion for helping those with disabilities.


Top 10 commenters:
1 [530 comments] 'Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden' [74.37 posts/day]
2 [517 comments] 'andycanuck (krqg6)'
3 [488 comments] 'Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)'
4 [420 comments] 'Skip'
5 [377 comments] 'TheJamesMadison, watching some more Best Pictures'
6 [363 comments] 'Tom Servo'
7 [323 comments] 'runner'
8 [320 comments] 'garrett'
9 [302 comments] 'Bulgaroctonus'
10 [300 comments] 'Ciampino - you telling me what and where I may?'

Top 10 sockpuppeteers:
1 [283 names] 'Ciampino - you telling me what and where I may?' [39.71 unique names/day]
2 [56 names] 'Just Wondering '
3 [54 names] 'But probably won't '
4 [53 names] 'Count de Monet'
5 [44 names] 'I'm not interested in more war on terror talk. We don't actually make war on anything but our own ri'
6 [43 names] '18-1'
7 [37 names] 'Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden'
8 [36 names] 'Moron Analyst'
9 [34 names] 'None of the destruction of universities is unintentional.'
10 [34 names] 'The Hon. Christopher Wray'

Tonight's ONT has been brought to you by Time Change Woes.

Notice: Posted with permission by the Ace Media Empire & AceCorp, LLC. Photos may or may not have been altered. No hamsters injured in the production of this ONT.

posted by Misanthropic Humanitarian at 10:00 PM

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