A.M. Links: Docs Want Birth Control Pills Without Prescriptions, Cybersecurity Directive is Super-Secret, Hostess Still Doomed
-
A national group of obstetricians and gynecologists says birth control pills should be sold over the counter, no prescription required. Of course, the government would have to get out of the way.
- What's in President Obama's recently released cybersecurity policy directive? In response to a freedom of information request, the National Security Agency says … it ain't telling, cuz the document is classified. You should feel more secure already.
- Space is getting cluttered, so scientists have developed an "aerobrake" device to push unwanted orbital junk into the atmosphere where it will burn up. Yes, but can you attach it to your in-laws?
- The Chinese premier has essentially laid claim to all of the South China Sea which should make things interesting for a few years.
- Hostess couldn't cut a deal with its buggest union, so it's back to a planned demise for the maker of Twinkies (and cupcakes — let's have a little love for the cupcakes).
- Unemployment is down in most states, and it doesn't appear to be all TSA hires and political consultants.
- Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies say they shot Jose de la Trinidad when he reached for his waistband. Witnesses say that would have been challenging with his hands up in the air. His family wants an FBI probe.
Have a news tip for us? Send it to: 24_7@reason.com
The updated Reason app for Apple and Android now includes Reason 24/7!
Don't forget to sign up for Reason's daily AM/PM updates for more content.
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
You should feel more secure already.
He can secure his policy, then feel better than he can secure our cyber.
Good News: Cop Fired
Bad news: Cop reinstated
FTA: The officer involved in the beating, Brett Russell, subsequently lost his job before the council on appeal overruled the decision to fire him by Police Chief Lewis Morris. The council required Russell to serve a 30-day suspension without pay as a condition for his return.
Russell also had to complete and anger management program and receive remedial training in use of force, pressure point control and verbal judo.
Yes, departments are being forced to rehire and send violent officers to anger management programs now.
This is just propaganda to make the Bretts of the world look bad! By which I mean, I don't think his mama named him that. I'm sure he's a violent asshole.
I bet he's actually one of those "Brent"'s I've been hearing a lot of bad things about recently.
Or worse, one of those Rhett scoundrels!
Oh dear Lord. I hate those fucks.
WTF is 'verbal judo'?
IIRC, it's newspeak for actually talking down a situation rather than escalating it by tapping on your holstered gun or pulling on your rubber gloves as you tell a suspect your fists are about to fuck him up, which is referred to as "verbal karate".
..'it's newspeak for actually talking down a situation rather than escalating it..'
IOW, doing what a cop is supposed to do, I imagine. Only someone receiving a government paycheck would come up with such a phrase.
Leopards don't change their spots. Once a violent thug, always a violent thug.
Oklahoma obviously has an inferior police union. The guy didn't even get three strikes, much less the usual twelve.
How are they suppose to attract the right kind of sociopaths to enforce public subservience to the political class with policies of accountability like that? Sounds like anarchy, man.
Either they genuinely didn't like the infamy this brought their little town or Officer Qualls is a Grade A asshole and they've been looking for a reason to shitcan him. Considering he ticketed the family even though he "didn't see the boy urinate in the yard," I'm guessing the latter.
From hovering over the link, I thought the story was going to be that the guy got fired for urinating in public, which would have been a surprise.
The bad news is that the site seems to be the one that caused Opera to crash. 🙁
Unemployment is down in most states, and it doesn't appear to be all TSA hires and political consultants.
Proving America made the right choice in Obama.
Yeah, well, the salaried employees on my job haven't had a pay raise in three years so I'm calling bullshit. Is being a whiny ass a prerequisite for landing a public sector job?
Only if it comes with a degree in women's studies or social work.
To be fair, Wal-Mart's looking for people willing to come in on Thursday.
Federal Workers to Congress: Leave Us Out of Deficit Deal
http://nationaljournal.com/con.....l-20121120
aww.... poor little fellers.
What a load of utter bullshit. There have been no salary reductions or RIFs, so WTF are they complaining about?
According to the coalition, federal employees have funded $60 billion in budget savings in 2011 and 2012 as a result of their ongoing pay freeze and an additional $28 billion in savings will be derived from the freeze extension through March 2013.
They are "contributing" by not taking! The selflessness of these over educated DMV clerks.
Truely, I weep for their sacrifices.
And the stupid thing behind that argument is that they can still get automatic step increases, which will raise their salary. But don't expect them to calcuate how much would have been saved if THAT had been frozen, too.
Somebody on another forum just mentioned they've been fired, effective December 21. One of the board members crowed that he's got pretty good job security as a policeman.
And the people on that board wonder why I consistently bad-mouth the pigs.
who have dedicated their lives to public service
Right, I'm sure the reason government workers took their jobs was because they thought they were doing good for society.
That whole schtick lost its credibility when working for the feds became a high-security, high-pay, high-benefits deal.
They're "dedicating their lives" to taking in more than they could in the private sector. Heroes, one and all.
I grew up in what was then a far-DC suburb (Columbia.) We were snobbish assholes. Funny thing was, back then, you knew a guy's dad worked for the government if he drove a Plymouth K-Car. The dads with real jobs had Hondas at least.
Now, the government folks all have Acuras, BMWs or Priuses.
..'it is time our nation's leaders found other ways to reduce the deficit than continually taking from those who have dedicated their lives to public service.'
Heroes, all!
"No other group has been asked to financially contribute the way they have, and it is time our nation's leaders found other ways to reduce the deficit than continually taking from those who have dedicated their lives to public service."
This kind of arrogance is just one reason why public sector workers get bad-mouthed so often (in addition to watching porn on the job)--because very few of them seem to realize or understand that without a strong private sector creating real capital, their jobs will eventually cease to exist.
But I guess we can hardly expect these people to understand that their entire livelihood is based on the contributions of others, and that money doesn't come from elves and unicorns.
without a strong private sector creating real capital, their jobs will eventually cease to exist.
^^this^^ was meant as satire, right?
No satire--a public sector worker's job doesn't exist without taxes being paid by the private sector. If your economy has been propped entirely by debt--and the record shows that our national GDP has actually been in the negatives when you take away all the deficit spending over the last ten years--eventually those jobs are going to be eliminated through the sheer weight of debt obligation and bureaucratic bloat overtaking the private sector's ability to support the public sector infrastructure.
If Birth Control goes OTC, you cant buy them with an HSA any more.
Well, unless an exception is made in the HSA law.
Fucking doctor's guild. How dare the lumpenproles think they can spend their health savings without consulting a doctor! Fuck those guys with a rusty chainsaw.
This one isnt the guild's fault.
Until ACA passed, HSA money could be spent on OTC medication.
Who do you think got that little gem stuck in the ACA?
And this will be the one OTC mandated to be covered under insurance drugs benefits without a script. Thanks Fluke!
Insulin already is. So this will be the 2nd one.
Whoever was trying to get rid of HSAs.
I didn't realize that had changed. Abominable.
TSA won't let you board a plane with them.
Red on Red in Newark: SEIU led protesters storm city council meeting, get pepper-sprayed as Mayor Booker puts his person in empty council slot.
Booker seems like a less deranged Democrat than most, the sort interested in keeping the golden goose healthy. In NJ, that's about as good as you can get.
Lindsay Lohan is still a piece of trash!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs.....-Dick.html
She looks awful. She's only 26 and she honestly looks like someone twice her age (not to mention she doesn't look a damn thing like Liz Taylor). She has that bloated face thing going on (and she isn't fat; her legs are actually pretty shapely):
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs.....guise.html
Even sadder is how good she looked at 18 (yeah, 18, lets go with that).
At least she hasn't tatted out like trashy whores tend to do.
Like this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs.....cture.html
"Insert Tab A Into Slot B"
Two months after popping out a baby, she looks great.
http://cdn.wwtdd.com/wp-conten.....eening.jpg
Two months after popping out a baby, she looks great.
I posted that on yesterday's MLs.
I thought we had a deal, sarc. I get Megan posts, you get Kate Middleton ones for now on.
like your mom?
Yeah, her face is starting to look like a Portrait in Dorian Grey.
She looks better in the Leno interview. I've seen worse, done worse, but, yeah, in the first set, she looks like an aging escort who has stayed in the business a decade too long.
Whose putting her on their death list for next year? Any takers?
The deadpool odds are weighed too heavily against her given she is a cokehead, and their death rate is greatly exaggerated by sensationalism. You wont bank much. Put down Selena Gomez if you really want a chance of cleaning up. They hide Miss Perfect's dirty shit better than any other starlet.
Gomez? Covering as the Beaver's beard for how long? She's earned whatever she's doing and a free pass for it.
I'd expect Demi Lovato to eat the peach before either Gomez or Lohan. Still, addicts can survive a hell of a long time before their behavior finally does them in. Whitney Houston was strung out for roughly 20 years before her lifestyle finally caught up with her.
That's the problem. The ones you expect to croak, everyone expects to croak, and that thins out your winnings. Bank on a delicate little flower like Gomez. She has the constitution of Len Bias.
Liz Taylor at 52 wasn't particularly good-looking.
Liz Taylor at 22 wasn't particularly good-looking either...
I don't know what's worse. That this kid needs a therapy pig, or that the city wants to take it away.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....amily.html
Yes.
That the city wants to take it away. Easy call.
Twinkie has a very calming effect on him. It mellows him out, it calms him down.
Ken Salazar should have a therapy pig.
+ one press credential
Ken Salazar should have a therapy pig.
I have some therapy pig every Sunday, especially during football season. Genrally it's in the form of some smoked babyback ribs. It definitely mellows me out, calms me down.
I usually have my "breakfast of champions" every Saturday - a plate of bacon, two cups of bourbon infused coffee, and a buttered roll. The only way it gets better is if I get a morning BJ for making the coffee.
Sorry, totally forgot what was being discussed.
"Therapy Pig, Therapy Pig. Does whatever a Therapy Pig does."
It just needs a spider touting its worth.
+1 web
Not surprisingly, some very pissed-off members of Congress want to know why DNI James Clapper is now directly contradicting testimony he personally gave them mere days ago in classified hearings.
The number of lies and liars surrounding Benghazi seems to be growing by the day.
Clapper spokesman Shawn Turner said ... that the intelligence community was solely responsible for "substantive" changes to the talking points
Why is it so bleeping difficult to name *a person* who made the change under question? Congress should give "the intelligence community" about 30 minutes to cough him up.
Why is it so bleeping difficult to name *a person* who made the change under question?
I guess I am a cynic, but I am pretty sure I know exactly why names aren't being named.
Congress should give "the intelligence community" about 30 minutes to cough him up.
Well, Clapper has already demonstrated a willingness to fall on his sword for The Cause, so I don't think that is going to happen.
Clap on. Clap off.
I must be equally cynical.
It's hilarious. Everyone is lying and lying about their lies no one gives a shit.
and so the Republic swirls down the drain.
Indeed.
"The Roman Republic fell, not because of the ambition of Caesar or Augustus, but because it had already long ceased to be in any real sense a republic at all. When the sturdy Roman plebeian, who lived by his own labor, who voted without reward according to his own convictions, and who with his fellows formed in war the terrible Roman legion, had been changed into an idle creature who craved nothing in life save the gratification of a thirst for vapid excitement, who was fed by the state, and directly or indirectly sold his vote to the highest bidder, then the end of the republic was at hand, and nothing could save it. The laws were the same as they had been, but the people behind the laws had changed, and so the laws counted for nothing."
- Theodore Roosevelt
As I said yesterday, DNI = Do Not Investigate.
"The number of lies and liars surrounding Benghazi seems to be growing by the day."
Maybe we can get Al Franken to write a book?
17 euphemisms for sex from the 1800s
http://theweek.com/article/ind.....-the-1800s
highlights:
FTA:
Gives a new meaning to the phrase "degree in underwater basket weaving".
Burger King delivers in NYC! For now...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-York.html
Elmo is a creepy kid toucher? Who knew?
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/20.....h-resigns/
Everyone, about a week ago.
Got a beer question for you. Are there any advantages or dangers to fermenting an ale at the bottom end of the temperature range? I've got one happily bubbling away at 58, but don't want to screw anything up.
No, it will just ferment slower.
Maybe a little less "ale fruitiness". Is 58 ambient or inside temp? Cause fermentation temp will be higher than ambient, so low 60s isnt a problem at all.
I would worry a bit about the yeast stalling out, but it depends on the strain.
On the other hand, I would never ferment a hefeweizen that low, as it would be all clove and miss out on the banana esters. I tend to go high with hefes for the first 72 hours or so, to emphasize the banana.
In defense of robc's comment, I have heard him speak of his banana-love and it's many different applications on several occasions here.
and miss out on the banana esters
I would be happy if I never met a banana ester again.
If that's a Sanford and Son joke, I'm calling it RAAAAAAAAAAACIST!!!!!11!!11!!
When ales ferment in the 70 plus degree range they develop a taste that is really like banana. I suppose if you like banana that's a good thing, but it makes me want to barf.
I suppose if you like banana that's a good thing, but it makes me want to barf.
In most beers its a failure, but in hefeweizens its a positive attribute. Hefeweizen and clove are the balancing flavors the hefeweizen yeast gives off. At low Ts, you can go clove heavy, at high Ts, banana bombs, there is a nice balance point in between.
I lean towards banana bombs.
I lean towards banana bombs.
To each their own.
I'm not old enough to get Sanford and Son jokes.
It was Carmen Miranda that had the bananas, not Esther Williams.
...and I said "banana ester, I hardly know her"!
No, it will just ferment slower.
That's fine.
Maybe a little less "ale fruitiness".
That's what I was hoping for. The one I've currently got on tap is very "aley" to the point where I can't drink more than a couple at a time.
Is 58 ambient or inside temp?
Inside. All my fermentors have a fermometer.
I would worry a bit about the yeast stalling out, but it depends on the strain.
I put two packets of Safale US-05 and it's going strong. I figured I'd bring it upstairs from the basement this weekend to finish up in the mid 60s.
Thanks.
The one I've currently got on tap is very "aley" to the point where I can't drink more than a couple at a time.
I would have thought that if you drank more than a coupe at a time, you'd pass out drunk.
Couple pitchers maybe.
Depends on the strain of yeast. Most strains you shouldn't have a problem, but you might not fully ferment out. Your final gravity might be higher than you're looking for. Keep an eye on the krausen. If it seems lower than normal, I would recommend bringing the fermenter into a warmer room for a day or two.
robc is completely right about losing some of the yeast flavors. On the other hands, some styles can go for a bit of a "cleaner" taste.
Best ale I ever made took nearly two months to ferment at a low temp. It was just barely turning over, but holy crap was the wait worth it. Rich, clean, strong, almost a barley wine.
I ain't getting no barley wine off this one. SG was only 1.030. It's going to be a mild session ale.
Ive got a barley wine going into the keg today.
Its been waiting about 6 months.
I always referred to the 90s toy as "Fondle Me Elmo".
We went with "Tickle Me Homo".
China plans to build world's tallest building in just 90 days!
http://gizmodo.com/5962070/chi.....st-90-days
And it will stand for 91!
I dunno. The same company built a 30 story hotel in 15 days and it's still in perfect working order. It's like all modular and stuff.
I was going to say, building they're good at. Safety, not so much.
You know who else built a tower?
The good burghers of Babel?
CN?
Sears?
dang you!
I REFUSE to call it the "Willis" Tower - I don't care how much they paid for it!
What'chu talkin' bout, Willis?
Donald Trump?
Wait, there is a "Trump Tower" somewhere?
Sears?
PWNED!
Gustave Eiffel?
The Devil?
Paul Newman?
Your mom?
SAURON YOU PIKERS!
What, no love for Saruman?
Saruman didn't build Orthanc. That was the work of the ancient N?menor.
+1000 Nerd Points
Wow. I should have consulted the Encyclopedia of Arda first.
Viewers of this classic H&R jpeg?
Sauron?
Damn.
Every kid that ever got a box of Lego's?
A box of Lego's what?
Some guy in Pisa?
The Chinese premier has essentially laid claim to all of the South China Sea...
Haven't their watery borders always been creeping out beyond the standard 12 nautical miles?
Not so much creeping as "leaping". I think they will be sending ships to Hawaii soon to enforce their new maritime boarders.
One. Rusty. Aircraft carrier.
And they still have the Phillipines, Malayasia, Vietnam and others nervous. I suppose even one guy with a rusty pair of scissors can be dangerous if he is that psycho and wild-eyed.
The Other of the Two Chinas is also nervous.
For now. Given the Chinese propensity for reverse engineering and building stuff without regard for the safety of the workers, I wouldn't be surprised if One. Rusty. Aircraft Carrier. became their USS Langley.
I'd say it's a real problem for Koreans and Japanese. Too bad, so sad.
Oh wait, we have to fight their wars for them.
Athiests sue to stop kids from seeing plain of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" at a local church. Really? Don't you have better things to do?
http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/20.....at-church/
No, of course not. It's beyond ironic that those people in that group call themselves Free Thinkers.
I'm a member of the "Freethinker" group in question, and yes, I hate the term. It's too smug by half for me.
That said, I agree with them on this issue. A trip to a church to see religious material has no place in elementary school. There is no "War on Christmas" here, as the play will still be performed. There are two weekend performances that parents can take their children to.
I have no issues with religion being taught as an academic subject under the "This is what some people believe" moniker, but get real, this is fucking Arkansas. Expecting religious impartiality from public schools is like expecting political impartiality from a Michael Moore speech.
I have no issues with religion being taught as an academic subject under the "This is what some people believe" moniker, but get real, this is fucking Arkansas.
Exactly.
There are differing opinions on the matter.
Organized crime is alive and well in Japan.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....g-off.html
It's alive and well here too.
Jenkins: Twinkies?A Defense
The real battle at the snack maker is union vs. union.
http://online.wsj.com/article/.....on_LEADTop
I thought everyone was being asked to make exactly the same concessions, so I'm not clear how the bakers making the same concessions as the teamsters is propping up the teamsters.
Whatever. As long as the unions lose, I'm happy.
Good news for the guy in our Pick 'Em league who goes by Graham Gano's Avengers.
The Carolina Panthers made yet another change at kicker.
The Panthers on Tuesday waived the slumping Justin Medlock and replaced him with Graham Gano.
Good news for everyone besides you: Eli is off the bye for the rest of the season!
Green Bay hands Eli his ass on sunday.
Damn it, you're picking against Eli this week? Now I'm going to have to change my pick.
Green Bay hands Eli his ass on sunday.
Yeah it's going to be ugly, I think. Green Bay is on the upswing, and New York, not so much. Green Bay's schedule looks fairly light the rest of the regular season, with the possible exception of @Chicago on December 16th.
You mean the Chicago whose only win against a team with a winning record was when they beat the Colts and their rookie QB in Week 1?
Or the Chicago that absolutely got their asses whipped playing San Francisco (which admittedly is looking quite good this year)?
I mean, seriously, I can't remember the last time I saw an NFL team manhandled like that.
Texans v. Packers this year was pretty close. And I say that as a Houston fan.
When you're perfect, you don't need luck.
I bow before your awesome skills. Although, had the Panthers had Gano last sunday, we'd be tied. And if a bullfrog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass when he hopped.
Yeah, but if my WiFi hadn't shit the bed the week before at 4:30 on a Thursday, I would have gotten my Colts pick in and I'd be up by 2.
The correct form is "shat."
Oh, yeah, it's the kicker that's the problem, says the worthless, strategy-less coach, and the overrated quarterback.
I called that game perfectly Sunday. They were up by eleven with six minutes to go when my bro called. I didn't give him the chance to say it first, I just blurted, 'they'll find a way to fuck this up. They always do.' instead of 'hello.'
Eh. They were playing the Bucs. Three good wins doesn't erase a lifetime of bitter disappointments. I figure Tampa Bay is just setting me up to shit the bed in a more epic and painful to their fans way.
Six minutes to go, your Bucs looked angry to a man, like they wanted to kill someone. The Panthers were all smiles and ready to cut a cake in the locker room. The difference in attitude is palpable. You have a good team that under performs there. Panthers have talent out the yang-yang, but they are lazy with notable exceptions. I hate to see Greg Olson and Brian LeFell wasted on this coach and this quarterback. Both could be doing spectacular, future hall of fame playing, with a Brady.
Though this is the first game of the season where the defense collapsed worse than the offense, with the possible exception of the Giants game. It hurts for me to even think of that one.
Maybe having your defense hit everyone all the time, even on victory formations is paying benefits, but nobody can fold up and quit on a season quicker than the Bucs, historically.
WE WILL HAVE OUR REVENGE!
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/.....ities.html
Soros buying gold despite calling it the "ultimate asset bubble" while crude oil is falling in price. $221 million is not much for him though.
He knows there won't be inflation here. Interesting.
So either he plans on starting a massive sell-off at peak prices, or he's hedging his inflation bets, or he's wrong. All are interesting options.
Gold is really a hedge against currency instability/failure.
For the all-time bond/currency vigilante to suddenly take out this kind of hedge is . . . interesting.
He's so heavily invested in the nations of Europe not completely fucking up, he stands to lose his ass in total if he doesn't have a sizable hedge bet. Soros is older than sheep rape but he doesn't plan on dying anytime soon.
Latest Steve Smith sighting. Way up north, this time.
Doesn't look very RAPESQUATCH-y?
STEVE SMITH chose a different destiny;thus going against the DESTINY put upon him by his ancestors (being a mad, raping Sasquatch)
STEVE SMITH NOW WOODSMAN THAT MAKEZ JOKEZ.
Red Green.
I'm a man and I can change...
if I have to...
I guess.
I'm assuming ACOG switched gears on OTC birth control b/c they can't bill an office visit anymore? Or at least collect a copayment. I suppose it will be coded as a wellness and/or preventive visit and paid less?
13 camels on way to beauty contest killed by truck
http://www.emirates247.com/new.....8-1.483584
..." the lovely Ann Veal singing "We Three Kings" with a camel toe!"
You owe me half a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffe - the clean up is on me, because that was so funny.
Sure thing.
CIA closes its Climate Change Office.
I guess they decided to focus on their core mission. Right? Wait. Stop laughing.
You'd think they'd outsource their business line of providing weapons to dangerous criminal organizations to the real experts at the ATF.
...so scientists have developed an "aerobrake" device to push unwanted orbital junk into the atmosphere where it will burn up.
I guess I'm never going to get to see actual space lasers blowing shit up in my lifetime if this is the best they can do.
I'm confused how this is news. Burning stuff up in the atmosphere isn't a new idea. Most satellites are required to save a certain amount of fuel to push it down into the atmosphere at the end of its life.
Obama: The Worst Keynesian Ever
http://www.forbes.com/sites/br.....sian-ever/
Forbes columnist provides insight into the demented and sick conservative mind:
In Election 2012's Aftermath, Biblical Christians Will Become Increasingly Marginalized
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bi.....ginalized/
thanks for the completely unrelated comment.
That is what it does, and it won't ever stop!
KILLDOZER!
Forbes has gone full retard. That is the relation.
Then it helps to make some inferences beyond the little voices in your head. And layout some general argumentative points instead of just throwing shit against the wall. And you wonder why no one takes you seriously here.
I love how this troll shows up to reinforce its stupid, and is largely ignored by the commentariat.
also see:
http://www.nizkor.org/features.....rring.html
In Election 2012's Aftermath, Biblical Christians Will Become Increasingly Marginalized
I certainly hope so.
First, why do we give a fuck about Republicans?
Second, you're a buttplug.
You mean rates aren't revenues, and the easiest way to increase revenues in the long-run is to encourage growth? Whodathunkit?
Soon they'll probably be telling us that "raise taxes in the middle of a global depression" was Chapter 1 of Keynes' seminal work.
They've gone full cargo cult retard.
With thinking like:
The economy was great in the 90s and taxes were higher - so raising taxes will make the economy stronger.
Yes, they are that dumb.
Well, the economy is based on how much of your money the government can spend, amirite?
So I went to visit and support my friend in San Francisco over the weekend during his presentation at the American Anthropology Association's annual meeting (he presented on the depopulation of rural Japan, if anyone is curious). While there, I got to experience firsthand the liberal "city on a hill" that is Berkeley, where they think that by putting up a few signs at the city limits of the roads leading in, all nuclear fallout will be stopped by a sign (why didn't Fukushima think of that!?).
While there, I got to visit with my uncle as well. He is pretty liberal, but at least admits that Obamacare is really nothing more than a huge godsend for the insurance companies. Of course, this means he wants to move to a single-payer system instead.
There were some things we found common ground on, such as ending corporate welfare and rolling back the imperialistic military our country has. However, when he asked me to explain my libertarianism I think he was trying to catch me off guard on something, and I now realize personally how frustrating it can be to explain a system of non-force and increased individual freedom to someone like Tony.
(continued)
His arguments seemed to stem from the fact that our country is one of white male privilege, and if I tried to state that I don't see that as being the case, I was told it was because I am a white male who grew up privileged. My thought is: how can this perception that white males live the exclusively privileged life ever change if society is constantly being told that white males live an exclusively privileged life?
It's extremely frustrating to have a message of freedom continually twisted as being one that can only benefit white males, when in fact it is government policies that have been manipulated in such a way over the years to create that very perception.
I once tried to use my White Male Privilege at the grocery store and they told me to get back to the end of the line.
That was one of my replies. If I'm a privileged white male, I sure haven't seen the effects of it for the first 25 years of my life.
He responded that I have the benefit of not having to think about race on a daily basis, to which I said that I do have to think about it constantly, because every other word is now some sort of dog whistle or code word for racism, sexism, homophobia, or any number of other identity politics bullshit. That being said, I generally don't give a shit if what I say offends people, but it doesn't mean I don't have to think about it.
every other word is now some sort of dog whistle or code word for racism, sexism, homophobia, or any number of other identity politics bullshit.
However, it can be (self-)amusing to convert *everything* into an identity politics double entendre.
"Mind if I 'open the door' for you"?
"Mind if I 'open the door' for you"?
The mere fact that you opened the door for her is considered sexist. And don't even think of pulling out the chair for her to sit.
What if I pull out the chair far enough for her to fall on her butt?
He responded that I have the benefit of not having to think about race on a daily basis,
That level of racist self hatred is impervious to logical arguments. You might as well be arguing with a Christian about Jesus.
Your ass-hat of an uncle should talk to Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell about white privilege. Those guys are living mind bombs for liberals. It's too bad they seem to have neo-con-ish "defense" leanings.
His arguments seemed to stem from the fact that our country is one of white male privilege, and if I tried to state that I don't see that as being the case, I was told it was because I am a white male who grew up privileged.
Did you point out how easy it was for him to say this from the liberal whiteopia that he lives in?
Honestly, any white liberal that snarks about "privilege" should be forced to live in one of the "vibrant" ghettos they fetishize for about five-ten years.
Have you guys ever seen the "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backback" essay? (It's freely available on the googles, but as PDFs, and I often get kicked back as spam when I link to a PDF so I'm not linking.) It lists a bunch of things that, allegedly, because you have white privilege you will probably have taken for granted your whole life. But a ton of it is about class, geography, etc. Shit like, "If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live" or "I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me" or "I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to 'the person in charge,' I will be facing a person
of my race."
There are some genuinely race-based things on the list too, but when I first read it I was just like "oh, so white people are all alike, how on earth did I miss that?"
"should be forced to live in one of the "vibrant" ghettos they fetishize for about five-ten years."
25 years here and yes, it changes one's perceptions about race.
I'm sorry you confuse race with class.
Bullshit.
I've talked to other liberals who realize that Obamacare was, among other things, a massive kickback to big insurance companies (corporations!) that they hate, and who prefer single payer. Of course they would never vote for a Green Party candidate or whatever because that might help the Republican candidate. So basically, Democrats can implement policies liberals hate without fear of losing their votes.
Many Obama supporters like the market approach rather than Single-Payer. Obama is a centrist and proved it by adopting Heritage's Romneycare model.
hahahhahahahaa!
"Obama is a centrist"
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
I think Liberals continually shoot themselves in the foot because they are all about pussy-footing compromise. They have "principles," (if stealing, and murder in the name of "fairness" are principles) but they sell those principles out if they think they can inch gradually toward their paradise of destroyed industry, incarcerated "rich" people, enslaved doctors, mountains of dead "once-polluting" bodies, and "humanitarian" war. Granted the "Conservatives" compromise as well, but the only reason Obamacare got rammed through the prolapsed asshole of this country is because it looked more like a cucumber (Handout to fucking insurance companies) and less like the pineapple (Single-Payer) these disingenuous cunts preferred.
Jesus...I "need" to stop using sarcastic quote marks.
Well, it does take a spectacular dumbass to shoot yourself in the foot again...and again...and again...
Wait, since when do people think this law helps insurance companies? It puts a cap on the amount insurance companies can spend on non-direct payments to doctors, it taxes admin costs, it dictates what kinds of plans the companies can offer, it forces them to rate everyone the same and requires them to cover pre-existing conditions. The mandatory purchase doesn't really make up for that.
it forces them to rate everyone the same and requires them to cover pre-existing conditions.
It increases the amount of people on insurance rolls with the mandate, and as you just stated it forces everyone to be rated the same. QED, everyone's rates go up instead of just those who have pre-existing conditions, whatever the fuck that catch-all phrase means exactly.
Yes, but premiums have to be no more than 85% (I think, at first) of what they spend on actual medical procedures. If they don't spend that much it goes back to the customer, as I understand it. So it's not like they'll be rolling in new profits. It's the admin costs that make sure members and doctors are in the systems correctly, doctors get paid correctly, and help the companies avoid waste and fraud. It's why companies spend more on admin costs than HMS, but more than make up for that by cutting waste and fraud. That keeps overall insurance prices down. Now they're being taxed on admin costs. Can't have a government competitor doing it better.
Or... they spend the same or more on admin, jack up the med spending to get to the 85 percent and costs go through the roof. Insurance and health costs rise even more rapidly, employers drop coverage, people forced into national healthcare plan. Liberal mission accomplished. Got it?
One more addendum:
On the flight out from Orlando (which probably has the worst security lines in the country) I lucked out and got to go through a basic metal detector before going to the terminal. On the way back from San Francisco, they only had the scanners, so I opted for the pat down. I don't care how "non-invasive" the scanners are supposed to be, there was a reason I ate hot wings and indian curry the night before and by God I was going to see it through.
Did the TSA groper's eyes water and bulge out?
Well he was behind me at the time, so I didn't see the instant reaction, but he did have to pause for a moment to collect himself I think.
I hope you scarred his lungs but good.
I now feel it's my duty to opt out of the scanners for one simple reason: I want to show everyone in the airport EXACTLY what our government thinks freedom looks like.
Unfortunately, I don't think it's having the impact I would hope for.
That's what I do. Especially since I'm a petite young woman and extremely nonthreatening to look at.
But I too fear it's not having the sought effect.
If they're nuclear-free, don't they have to get rid of all nuclei, which by extension means getting rid of all atoms?
Subjecting people to a vacuum is non-intrusive?
A vast moral difference
http://bostonglobe.com/opinion.....story.html
In my opinion, Israel is insane if they don't tell Hillary to just go **** off and wipe out Hamas forever. But it's their country and their people; if they're content to have this war go on for eternity, that's their business.
The way Hamas is embedded in Gaza, wiping them out is tantamount to genocide. I mean, I suppose you could flatten every single building in Gaza and drive the people into the sea. But I don't think the Israelis want to do that.
Ted, there are some people in Israel who would very much like to commit genocide against the Palestinian people. Fortunately (for the Palestinians), that wouldn't look very good and would cause them some even bigger problems.
Blood libel! That's awesome Tonio! Do the JOOZ also want to grind the bones of Palestinian children to make flour to bake their matzos?
One could argue that the Gazans brought it on themselves by elected Hamas as their government.
Yes, all Israel really wants is to do what it takes for the rocket attacks to stop and to be allowed to live in peace.
But you can't engage in diplomacy with people who are certifiably insane. I think the people of Gaza are complete psychopaths with a death wish who are simply never going to stop with these crazy attacks until they're wiped out for good.
But as I said, if Israel is content to be engaged in an endless war, that's on them.
I would rather not be held responsible for something I had nothing to do with.
Nobody is firing rockets into the United States. But if they were, you can be certain that we would do whatever it took to put a stop to it for good.
Life is unfair and tough sometimes. Not everyone in Germany in the thirties and early forties was a Nazi either.
No, instead the U.S. is droning Pakistan, Yemen, and a half dozen other countries in the middle east. Therefore, if a country decided to retaliate against us, I would not want to be held accountable when I have clearly stood against my government's imperialistic actions.
Just because the shoe's on the other foot--Israel being much stronger than Palestine--doesn't mean that all Palestinians should be held accountable for the shitty government. That was my point.
All of Mike M.'s blood has left his brain and is gorging his war boner. Trying to make a rational point to him will not work.
But as I said, if Israel is content to be engaged in an endless war, that's on them.
Israel doesn't want to be responsible for starting a full-blown shooting war in the Mideast, which is why these half-measures like airstrikes take place. The minute they put actual boots on the ground in Gaza, Egypt and Iran would immediately escalate the conflict, the US would have to get involved since we're essentially an occupying force in the region, and things would go to shit really quickly.
A full-scale war in the mideast would lead to a lot of serious policy discussion here as to why we are supporting them, and Israel for damn sure doesn't want that explored in depth because the risk of losing US succor is too great in that case.
The way Hamas is embedded in Gaza, wiping them out is tantamount to genocide.
Wait, Palestinians are an ethnic group now?
I didn't even think they were a country, just a bunch of rejected/displaced Egyptians, Jordanians, and the like.
Clinton: I've got my checkbook out. What's it gonna take to get you stop shooting?
Yep, that's pretty much what it is, Tim. Or if not money access to more advanced US weapons systems.
Study: A Gene Predicts What Time of Day You Will Die
http://www.theatlantic.com/hea.....ie/265371/
I shall die only after my servant has delivered the scones and tea.
Lord H,
A question on surround sound systems. Are there any good wireless ones out there? The wife wants one but it has to be wireless due to the config of our house.
Sorry, I know nuthink about surround or theater systems - I'm an old-school 2-channel guy.
You still have to get power to the speakers, or spend a fortune on batteries.
Hide the wires behind your base shoe or quarter round, or mount the rear speakers in or on the ceiling.
If your space is in the middle of a warehouse with 27-foot ceilings, go rug shopping and hide it under that.
Power is no big deal as we have electrical near where we want the speakers. TV is mounted on the wall and our ceilings are approx 20' at the peak. I am more concerned about getting the signal to the speakers than powering them. Also, the wife hates rugs.
Is the TV doing the surround sound processing, or do you have a separate receiver for that?
If you can get into wall, I used in-wall speakers (like these) to great effect at one house. They're very wife friendly as you can get the grill to match the wall color.
I've not seen wireless speakers that were worth much--either the speakers were junk, or prone to interference--but I haven't really looked at them in many years. Like Humungus, I've gone two-channel myself.
We were looking for a complete system, but didn't want to run wires all over the place. I am thinking the best bet may be to mount speakers to the wall next to the TV. We don't watch a lot (sports mainly), but when we do we like to hear it.
Thanks for the replys.
powered speakers obviously. There are some high-end models out there: KEF, Quad, etc.
Also, consider a speaker bar that attaches to the bottom of the TV. These give surround-like sound without the hassle of a bunch of speakers.
Thanks, I will look into it.
There are tons of ways to run wires without seeing them all over the place. That is your best bet.
Some home theatre systems come with wireless rear speakers; Sony makes one such system and it sounds decent (not audiophile quality, but nice enough for casual movie watching). Rocketfish and other vendors make wireless rear speakers compatible with most home theatre systems.
The usual RF speakers will have hiss, low quality, etc. There's a new wireless digital technology out there (KLEER?) that is, well, crystal clear; I just got some headphones that use it, and it works great. Don't know if anyone is using it in speakers yet, but that would be the first thing I would look for.
Yes, the newer wireless speaker systems by Rocketfish use digital radio. Don't know if this technology has been implemented by Sony (et als) for their wireless home theatre systems.
Bailey needs to respond to this, he should be able to look this up for himself.
Quite so, my good man. And make sure they do not neglect to polish your monocle and walking stick.
This just in...Cheerleaders are still hot!
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/ph.....p-week-11/
Two of those Texans and a side of Dallas please.
"I'll have the lot"
now, now - no reason to be greedy, you libertarian monster!
Only if you're a 16 year old kid at one of the schools they teach at later.
Thank you for that lovely link.
The District said Monday that hundreds of city workers took nearly $2 million in fraudulent unemployment benefits, a scandal that roiled the D.C. government earlier this year and prompted widespread firings and criminal charges.
Lisa Mallory, the director of the D.C. Department of Employment Services, told the D.C. Council that her agency had detected $1.9 million in overpayments to District workers who collected unemployment benefits while on the city's payroll.
"This probe continues to be ongoing," said Mallory, who has credited access to a specialized database for the initial detection of the fraud.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/.....KziAeTAe8A
Now if they could just come up with a computer program to see if any of these workers actually accomplished any useful work while being paid by the taxpayer.
I suspect that the appropriate punishment would be to take back the payroll rather than the un-employment, since I doubt anyone got anything for the payroll payments
I now realize personally how frustrating it can be to explain a system of non-force and increased individual freedom to someone like Tony.
Unfortunately, it boils down to an attempt to get someone to disavow what amount to religious beliefs. It's not likely to happen through polite, rational dissuasion.
You can't reason someone out a position they didn't arrive at through reason.
Newark, NJ police reach settlement in case where they handcuffed and arrested a teen for videoing an incident in 2010. Of course, none of the officers were personally held responsible for their criminal actions.
Is this the closest thing to justice we can hope for in this day and age?
thanks for the completely unrelated comment.
"Christfags. Why did it have to be Christfags?"
Cop orders nurse to draw blood against suspect's will without a court order. Nurse refuses and is handcuffed right there in the ER. She is released after Sheriff's Officers arive. Oddly enough, the cuffs weren't removed from her and immediately placed on the officer that illegally arrested her.
The officer in question is currently on paid suspension, or as the rest of America would call it, "vacation".
The cop was only following procedures.
darn that procedure. darn that rule of law. if only cops followed what Ted S. thought was right, all would be groovy.
DIAF, asshole.
Dunphy, "only following procedures" is basically a restatement of "just following orders." That bullshit didn't walk at Nuremburg and doesn't cut it here either. Sure you can have all the procedures, laws and lawful orders you want but murder (etc) are still wrong. "HTH!
you can't call that vacation! only a bigorati would call it that
it's NOT punishment, and it's not supposed to be, yet idiots keep conflating it with same.
if and when he is punished, he will be suspended w.o pay. admin leave w/pay is not punishment. nobody claims it is, yet the morons act like the cop is "gettign away" with something when he is put on admin leave. if and when the investigation is completed, THEN the decision is made as to whether he should be suspended and.or fired and GENRELLY speaking, they will wait until after prosecution decision are made as well due the necessity of a chinese wall between civil and criminal since civil can compel testimony, criminal can't.
darn that pesky rule of law. an accusation was made, ergo the cop is guilty and should not have due process.
That pesky rule of law? The Sheriff's Deputies should have arrested him on the spot for false imprisonment of the nurse, assault and false arrest among other things.
You speak of the rule of law as it should be applied equally, but when these other officers showed up and witnessed a crime in progress, they did nothing to the perpetrator of that crime. And as far as the investigation into the incident, there's no way it should have taken more than a few minutes. This "admin leave" is nothing more than a vacation since all that was necessary was for the investigators on the scene to take the statements from the witnesses to the crime (all of the people in the ER) and write down what they saw with their own eyes when they came upon the scene ( a nurse falsely arrested, imprisoned and assaulted with no PC) and they could have locked him up pending arraignment...you know, the same as they would have done if the crime was perpetrated by a "civilian".
Sorry, asshole. This was no "accusation." The Sheriff's deputies rolled upon a crime in progress that had plenty of witnesses and plenty of evidence they were able to see with their own eyes (like the cuffed and arrested victim). An arrest on the scene was in order and they decided to punt because they protect their own.
Even money says this criminal never sees the inside of a courtroom.
No, it (paid leave) is not punishment; it's actually a reward. What we're upset about is that this sort of behavior is being rewarded.
Now, before you get all whiny and hand-wringy, I'm not suggesting that these people be summarily punished, but rather that they be suspended without pay until the disciplinary procedures are followed. If they are found blameless then they get back pay.
A completely reasonable solution. Trouble is, police unions/politicians are busy 69ing each other while the putative 'public' is forced to watch.
Ewwww....
Rule of law doesn't apply when its your employer issuing a punishment.
The nurse is soon going to be able to afford a nice city-paid vacation as well.
And providing medical treatment without consent (or a court order) is assault. So the nurse had the choice of assaulting a citizen and having to defend herself against any resulting criminal and civil actions, or being handcuffed.
Nice.
I didn't realize this was a new story. This exact same thing happened at some hospital a few years ago, but I never heard the outcome. And FTA the suspect was later released by a magistrate for lack of probable cause IOW the clusterfuck created by the officer spoiled any possible evidence.
Found it
http://m.upi.com/story/UPI-74821337627711/
The officer claimed that a letter written by the DA constituted a legal basis that any nurse should follow an officers order for a blood draw. The judge in the civil suit found that idea absurd.
That DA should be disbarred if he agreed with this.
The cop should be jailed.
The nurse should be awarded a considerable sum from their public pension funds.
And thanks for the link. I hadn't seen that story.
What happens when you and your buddies put on masks, troll around town looking for victims and then jump someone and beat the shit out of them?
Depends on what your job is.
Don't even THINK of posting the Police One commentary on that one... I want to retain an appetite for tomorrow.
It's a good thing the man they jumped and beat up wasn't packing or he would have been charged with murder of a cop.
Of course, none of the officers were personally held responsible for their criminal actions.
Is this the closest thing to justice we can hope for in this day and age?
We cannot afford to surrender in the WAR ON KOPZ!
Holding officers personally responsible for their actions under color of authority is just like standing them up in front of a firing squad.
What happens when you and your buddies put on masks, troll around town looking for victims and then jump someone and beat the shit out of them?
What do you suppose would happen if one of their intended victims pulled out his legal firearm and shot one or more of them dead?
About 2 years ago (maybe) local radio (DC101) was taking calls from crime victims during their morning rush. and call after call was lamenting the fact that nothing could be done. until some dude from Richmond called and said that he and his wife were attacked in a park and it ended when and he shot and killed one of the attackers. the reactions were great. ranging from stunned silence to applause.
How dare he exercise his "right" to self-defense. Teh horror.
There has been a "serial groper" in the news lately. He's been mainly operating around the Springfield Mall. Anyhoo, not a single goddamn person - no cops, no media, no "man on the street" - none of them has said "women learn how to use a gun and arm themselves". All of the advice is "don't walk alone" and "be aware of your surroundings".
You're more likely to find news reports of Americans fighting off attackers in the foreign press than domestic.
It's sad, really.
The story has gotten heavy press coverage locally - but none of the victims fought off the groper. They all just let themselves be victimized, then called cops. Women in this country have been well-trained to be compliant for everyone.
this has prompted my sister-in-law to look into a handgun permit. but she works in DC -- so it's a hassle. she's just stopped jogging four mile run.
but none of the victims fought off the groper.
Are you sure? It is entirely possible that people have, but the press ignored it.
There is a narrative to maintain, you know. And defending yourself is not part of it.
I suppose it's possible that someone let him have it, but at this point it's basically boob-grabbing and hasn't yet escalated to a full-on Legitimate Rape-Rape, so there's not much to actually "fight". But the fact that he has been able to escape capture after a dozen or so assaults, even when police show up quickly to the scene, says to me no one has either tried or managed to make foot-to-testicle contact yet.
You can be sure as shit that if anyone has fought back that the cops told the press to can it, lest it encourage more people to fight back on their own without depending upon the police.
except it wouldn't be "the cops". most line cops (iow real street cops) support self defense. it would be the appointed mouthpiece for the administraton, who of course are buttboys for the mayor
in many agencies (mine is an exception), line officers are prohibited from even TALKING to the press. they want their palace guard representatives espousing their narrative, which is often anti-self defense, especially in a liberal haven like SF
So a uniformed spokesperson for the Fairfax PD is not a cop? I'll note that.
most line cops (iow real street cops) support self defense.
Street cops aren't the ones giving speeches to the press about how dangerous it is to fight back, and it's best to give them your money or let them grope you or do whatever they say, rather than risk escalating the situation by fighting back. I've seen police chiefs give the speech on the news a hundred times.
Citation needed.
Can't you fucking read?
In Turkey in the 50's - given the very homophobic culture - there were gay men who would engage in frottage on buses with unwilling victims. In rush hour, they would board a crowded bus, squirm their way up against an object of desire, and rub their lower human horn against him and feign ignorance if confronted.
So my dad's best friend and he were riding a bus together, and it gets more and more crowded. In the press, they were separated by about a meter.
So suddenly, my dad's friend announces in a loud voice, "I have a pin in my pocket!". A minute or so passes followed by a very loud scream. The bus driver slams on the brakes, and the jeering passengers passed a man - hunched over, clutching his manhood and blinking through tear filled eyes - down the gauntlet to the front of the bus and ejected him unceremoniously out the front door.
Good times.
I always found the homophobic culture and the love and adoration of Bulent Ersoy to be very interesting. I mean, what's up with that?
The problem is the Turkish concept of masculinity.
Just as some species of antelope have horns that are ridiculously overdeveloped for purposes of sexual display and are thus incapable of being used to fight of predators, Turkish masculinity is hyperfocused on never appearing weak or unmanly.
If a gay guy finds a man attractive, people might question his manliness. If a man has a gay son, people might question his manliness etc.
With that being said, Turkish men are also expected to be really sentimental and affectionate. Men hold hands, kiss each other on the cheek and show a great deal of emotion. Obviously, you can get away with that if you're not gay, but if you are possibly gay and are deriving erotic pleasure from manly displays of affection, it could detract from the masculinity of your friends.
So Turkish men are really sentimental softies as long as they are certain you know they are 100% not into guys.
Turkish dudes are such softies that they tell you they love you within 2 minutes of meeting you! 😛
Also, if such an incident occurred and nobody reported it, we wouldn't know. Presumably the SG wouldn't report this for fear of being charged with all those other gropings. And any woman with enough balls and presence to fight back probably knows the futility (and legal exposure) of going to the police with this.
fortunately, in some jurisdictions, women are armed and not afraid to use their firearms
Sure, just not in any jurisdictions with a high degree of violent crime. In those jursidictions it is prohibitively difficult to get a conceal/carry, if not 'illegal', despite the foresight of the Founders to include the phrase 'shall not be infringed' in the Second Amendment.
Sure, just not in any jurisdictions with a high degree of violent crime.
Chicago ladies represent!
Not true in Minneapolis. C/C is easy to get here. Many of my neighbors carry. The gangs know this, so they mostly just fuck with each other.
i was interviewed along with my wife outside the Clarendon metro a few years back by local TV on "safety on the metro" -- she said something about being aware of your surroundings, and I said "learn to shoot."
you can guess what aired and what did not. i'd like to think more people say it, but it just doesn't air.
France to Google: Bring it on. France says they would win in a court contest with Google over taxes.
http://www.france24.com/en/201.....over-taxes
French Government asserts that French Government will decide in favor of French Government in court case concerning billions of dollars for French Government. More on this as it develops!
Amazing how the sovereign entities which own the courts tend to prevail in these cases.
federal employees have funded $60 billion in budget savings in 2011 and 2012 as a result of their ongoing pay freeze and an additional $28 billion in savings will be derived from the freeze extension through March 2013.
Once again, we see Not Increasing is the same as Draconian Cuts!
Oh, the HORROR. How do these poor downtrodden serfs manage to survive?
Tell me again? which of these nations is communist?
http://www.sovereignman.com/ta.....nist-9924/
(via Zero Hedge)
The Baltics seem to have really embraced freedom after they were released from the bonds of the USSR. Estonia and Lithuania are on my list of escape/retirement options. Though I do find the lack of mountains disturbing.
I think someone should introduce legislation preventing the Hostess bakers' union member from collecting unemployment benefits.
My understanding is that you don't get unemployment benefits for quitting. You get unemployment benefits if you lose your job unwillingly.
Since those union members voted to strike during a bankruptcy--and voted to refuse a package that would have kept them employed--I don't see how they can say they lost their jobs unwillingly.
They weren't laid off--they quit!
You can say that not all of them voted to strike, some of them voted against striking, and I suppose that's true. On the other hand, anybody that joined the union did willingly choose to bargain collectively, and if you decide to bargain collectively, then why should anybody consider your own individual choices on the matter?
So long as we're talking about a right-to-work state, those union members from the unions who voted to strike have no right to collect unemployment.
I think someone should introduce legislation preventing the Hostess bakers' union member anyone from collecting unemployment benefits.
FIFY... Careful! A couple more infractions and you'll have to surrender your monocle and decoder ring!
the INSTRUCTIONS for form 1040 shatter the record books at 178,096 words? over four times the entirety of Estonia's tax code.
Estonia is obviously a third world nation, with no clear understanding of the importance of the rule of lawyers.
Without a mechanism and incentive for repeal, legislation is cumulative. The logical conclusion of reacting to bad legislation with more bad legislation is a totalitarian state.
Give them time.
Screw Twinkies and screw cupcakes. The only snack cake worth mention is Sno Balls. Delicious, delicious Sno Balls.
I'll bet you like the blue ones.
Actually, being a RACISSSSSST libertarian fuckface, I like the white ones best.
I never really understood Sno Balls. Coconut is bad enough, but then you put it on top of a wad of marshmallow stuck to a stale cookie. It's creepy.
Same could be said of Ke$ha.
It's creepily delicious
Screw you. Hostess Orange cupcakes are teh awesum.
Funny bones. Nothing more needs to be said.
You know, I want to say how much I like the Fruit Pies but I fear the response from the commentariat.
Word is light, brother.
Warm apple pie...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCAOKR1jpp0
Have we all forgotten the Hostess Fruit Pies and Pudding Pies? Those were clearly the best things they made. Coming in at around 500 calories a piece, the numbers back me up.
I love the fruit pies. Also, the orange cupcakes with lemon icing are excellent.
Fruit Pies, like the foil wrapped Ding-Dongs, aren't what they used to be.
Back in the day, the crust on a fruit pie was light and flakey and probably contained animal fat rendered from pandas and whale blubber.
Now days, it just ain't the same. The crust reminds me of cookies made without butter.
KK, the term "snow ball" has another meaning, of which I presume you're unaware. Word to the wise, Dude.
I'm very much aware of what a snowball is. Never found a dude who was too keen on doing it, though (not that I've asked, and i's not something that is all that titillating to me)
Yeah, I've never figured out the attraction of that, either.
The problem with cabs in SF is that there are too many of them, so the drivers are starving (according to the drivers).
So why would someone pay $150K for the privilege of driving one?
http://www.sfgate.com/default/.....055492.php
none of the victims fought off the groper.
It seems to me an icepick would be an appropriate response, but what do I know?
Who said their is no such thing as a free lunch?
Not General Bosco "The Terminator" Ntaganda
Ntaganda told child soldiers: When you're a soldier, you get a woman for free. Everything is free.
The UN is upset he is about to topple the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Why? if you'd just exchange "woman" for "child" in that second sentence, it would be the essence of the Blue Hats.
Nurses in SF make ~$110K/annum, including bene's :
http://swz.salary.com/salarywi.....tyou=false
So they're on strike, claiming it's 'for their patients':
http://www.sfgate.com/default/.....054954.php
"The strike, the seventh by CNA since September 2011, came as union leaders and hospital officials remained at odds over health benefits, sick leave and other issues."
Sounds right to me...
OK, this guy might win the award for slimiest cop in the nation. He could be charged with child porn, has already been convicted of what would have been B&E for you or me, and got caught taking hookers to bars and watching porn while on the job at the station house.
Yet somehow his department is merely talking about getting rid of him when he had a 17 year old strip naked while he hosed her down and photographed her naked body with his cellphone camera.
(PoliceOne commentators actually come down hard on the guy for a change)
PoliceOne story on number of officers killed in the line of duty last year. Oddly enough, there is no mention of the number of people killed by LEO's every year, which dwarfs their 72.
Comments are predictable, so enter at your own risk. But here's a taste in case you were still on the fence:
That`s 72 too many.. please be on guard guys and girls,,,, and do unto others before they can do to you..........
fortunately, in some jurisdictions, women are armed and not afraid to use their firearms
Unless there is a noble and selfless Officer of the LAWZ within a mile radius, then that woman must be "neutralized" in the interest of OFFICER SAFETY.
Too late, Brooksie. I believe dunphy has already moved on to post long pro-Washington State diatribes in yesterday's threads.
Good. I'm sick of that baboon and his incomprehensible shit-flinging.
Hey, remember that child preacher from Egypt and his lovely little song about killing all the Americans and Jews?
He's back, and apparently he thinks jihad is a video game where you can get a 1-up to fight again!
And people wonder whether childhood religious indoctrination can be harmful...
I decided to uncork one of my precious bottles of pre-9/11 Barboursville Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (1998 to be exact). But I wonder how well this will pair with Sno Balls?
re: Twinkies =
The best headline I've ever read (in a financial journal, no less):
Twinkie Dies in the Wreck of Innocence
That's fucking poetry right there.
oh. the link =
http://www.thestreet.com/story.....en=GOOGLEN
In Godfrey Reggio's 1982 art film Koyaanisqatsi, a Twinkie factory's packaging line serves as one of Reggio's potent symbols of the human species struggling toward self-alienation.
A worker tends to a mechanical stream of Twinkies to a near-robotic Philip Glass musical accompaniment. The worker herself seems part robot. She is the genius biological form of homo sapiens sapiens, dressed in a hair net and serving as a hopeless slave to a technology that produces ... Twinkies.