A World Without Chavez, TSA Fights Off Privatization, Record the Police in Illinois: P.M. Links

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  • Turn your head and cough up your civil liberties

    Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is clinging to life, and U.S. leadership is considering whether his death might help improve relations with the country. Sean Penn just isn't enough. In the meantime, the nation's Supreme Court approved delaying Chavez's inauguration.

  • TSA workers are very happy the Sacramento Board of Supervisors has rescinded a plan to privatize screening at Sacramento International Airport.
  • Vice President Joe Biden's gun control busywork will give the media plenty of opportunities for sound bites with him saying the government must take "immediate action" and planning various meetings with various interests.
  • It is officially no longer illegal to record cops in Illinois. The Supreme Court refused to take up the case, which leaves the last ruling (that the law violated the First Amendment) standing.
  • A German firm is developing a laser that can take down drones. They better hurry before President Obama runs out of guys on his kill list.
  • Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may give her testimony on the Benghazi Consulate attacks on Jan. 22.

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Scott Shackford is an associate editor at Reason.

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  1. It is officially no longer illegal to record cops in Illinois.

    Although I still wouldn’t try it in Chicago.

  2. A Serious Man

    Video: Japanese man invents quick-draw holster for the iPhone.

  3. Episiarch

    Vice President Joe Biden’s gun control busywork will give the media plenty of opportunities for sound bites with him saying the government must take “immediate action” and planning various meetings with various interests.

    Joe managed to get all their BAN BONERS nice and hard again. But how long can they keep it up?

    1. Seek medical attention immediately for BAN BONERS lasting longer than four hours.

      1. Episiarch

        Joe Biden: human Viagra…for statists.

        1. Biden giving people a hard-on? Now that’s creepy.

        2. Anonymous Coward

          I wouldn’t do him the courtesy of comparing him to the greatest pharmcological discovery since penicillin.

          Joe Biden is more of a fluffer.

          1. Episiarch

            Yes, much better analogy.

            Joe “The Fluffer” Biden

  4. Vice President Joe Biden’s gun control busywork will give the media plenty of opportunities for sound bites…

    Putting Biden on something means you’re not serious about it.

    1. Drake

      As long as you have a Beretta like Joe, you are okay.

      http://thelibertarianrepublic……a-problem/

      1. It’s not hypocrisy if you never really believed any of the policies you espoused.

  5. A Serious Man

    The Atlantic: Hollywood ain’t liberal, it’s actually conservative, nay, libertarian even!.

    In short, movies tend to focus on the individual and not the collective, is what the author argues.

    1. Caleb Turberville

      Rock and Roll is a profoundly individualistic and rebellous artform, yet it doesn’t prevent lefties lik Lennon and Morello from being dominant personalities within its ranks.

      1. crazyfingers

        John Lennon certainly seems to have been libertarian leaning to me, or at least not a brain dead leftist. Just look at the lyrics to “Revolution”.

        1. Um, “Imagine”?

          1. crazyfingers

            True but I doubt he meant it. It seems more like just a cash-in than a statement of his true beliefs. I mean, the guy had a climate controlled room just for his fur coats in his Manhattan penthouse.

            1. Zeb

              And it’s called “imagine”.

          2. Whahappan?

            I seem to recall him being somewhat embarrassed by the lyrics later in life.

          3. Copernicus

            Every time I hear:
            “imagine no possessions, I WONDER IF YOU CAN”… I barf.

            No John, I wonder if YOU can.

        2. Caleb Turberville

          “Revolution” is a great rock song that expresses an interesting skepticism of worldwide communist revolution. But Lennon isn’t so much denying the need for a socialist utopia but advocating for a “peaceful” revolution instead.

          Still, the lyrics do kick Chairman Mao in the ass, so I still love the song.

          1. Caleb Turberville

            It’s sorta like George Orwell. Lennon was smart enough to see the “violent” revolutionaries for the evil scum they were (are?), but he was too hippie-dippy stupid to realize the evil of socialism in whatever the case.

            1. crazyfingers

              Yeah, I’ve got a friend like that. He realizes the current system is a disaster but he’s too much of an idealist to see that it is the result of human nature and that will never, ever change.

      2. Caleb Turberville

        George Harrison, Teabagger?

        1. Xenocles

          “Don’t tax you; don’t tax me;
          Tax that fellow behind the tree.”

    2. I remember after the Republican convention reading some idiot movie blogger ridiculing Eastwood and going on about how Million Dollar Baby didn’t address structural inequality.

      Movie critics skew left, I think, because there doesn’t seem to be any correlation between writing ability and actual success. After all, the man who wrote the screenplay for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls went on to become one of America’s most popular movie critics.

      1. is that the guy w/o a lower jaw?

      2. It’s weird how some lefties are now all anti-Eastwood. That’s like hating Elvis or the Duke.

        1. Eastwood is actually an old fashioned liberal Republican (not a conservative).

          1. I tend to agree. Heck, his speech at the convention was consistent with that viewpoint.

        2. Ska

          I may hate the Clash’s politics, but I can never hate London Calling.

        3. Caleb Turberville

          Mystic River just floors me. Only Eastwood could elevate Sean Penn to Oscar-winning status.

          1. Penn was merely OK in ‘All the King’s Men’ but since it is my favorite modern American novel I suspect I expected too much.

            1. Why they needed to remake the Broderick Crawford classic is beyond me.

    3. MJGreen

      This guy is free to write an engaging movie that gets the audience to sympathize with a ‘collective’ rather than individuals. See how people respond when, say, one prole we’ve been following is suddenly replaced by another prole.

      1. Heedless

        The Soviets tried this with ‘Socialist Realism.’

        It’s why all meaningful art out of the Warsaw pact was produced by dissidents.

        1. Spoonman.

          And they decided that since Shostakovitch had talent, he must not be producing the people’s music, I guess.

  6. Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may give her testimony on the Benghazi Consulate attacks on Jan. 22.

    As long as she doesn’t come down with another case of the vapors.

  7. Warty

    This gun hysteria is encouraging all sorts of statists to take the mask off, isn’t it? I am enjoying watching them tell me more about themselves than they meant to.

    Building software into guns need not affect gun owners’ desire to protect their homes. Trigger control software could be relaxed when the gun is at home or in a car, while other safety features stay on to prevent accidental discharges. Guns used by the police would be exempt from such controls.
    Finally, guns should be designed to broadcast their location when they are loaded. Police could see if high-powered assault weapons are entering or getting close to a public place. Gun owners, too, could choose to broadcast their guns’ locations publicly to increase deterrent effect.

    1. Episiarch

      I think you already knew they were fucking cretin-level stupid. What new did you learn?

      1. Warty

        I learned that what they want above all else is to be tightly controlled by an Orwellian surveillance state. Freedom is slavery.

        1. Episiarch

          You already knew that too. I think what you meant to say was that you’re amused that they are letting the mask slip so blatantly.

          Don’t worry, I can translate your grunts and whistles pretty well.

          “She only speaks French, Roy. She doesn’t speak imbecile.”

          1. Warty

            What I meant to say is that you’d better come to my house to collect your mom. She’s beginning to attract rats.

          2. Brett L

            “I’m sorry your mom blew up, Epi.”

    2. Guns don’t kill people, the malware downloaded into the gun’s operating system kills people!

    3. Brett L

      I don’t understand why the cops’ guns don’t have trigger control software. Why not? Seems like they need the negligent discharge protection at least as much. And can we fix it so trigger locks out when dogs weigh less than 50 lbs?

      1. Warty

        All of your wingnut concerns are addressed in the comments.

        nex Arwyn ? 5 hours ago ?
        Guns are already VERY far from being completely reliable and are no where close to 100%. I agree that officers do not need these devices as they are very well trained. For the public, if the gun happens to fail while using it for defensive purposes, then that is the risk that the gun owner has to bear, not the public. It is not the non-gun owner’s responsibility to take on the risk of gun ownership.
        3 4 ?Reply?Share ?

        1. Well trained? Seriously, can we stop pretending that government officials are better than other people at anything beyond scamming us our of money and liberty?

        2. Cytotoxic

          WOW.

        3. Brett L

          It is not the non-gun owner’s responsibility to take on the risk of gun ownership.

          What? This person is wasting our common oxygen?

        4. Anonymous Coward

          I agree that officers do not need these devices as they are very well trained.

          LOL WUT?

          1. Warty

            This guy claims to be in software. I have a great deal of knowledge of how stupid, lazy, and incompetent most programmers are, so I believe him.

            1. Ah – he’s “in software” – I guess that means he knows that GPS signals carry with them builtin errors (for which the military and others can compensate) which would make the idea of a location device capable of knowing, with a high deal of accuracy, whether my gun is near a wall or 100 feet to the other side (in the middle of the public street), impossible.

        5. Brandon

          Wow, he even included the obligatory cop-fellating. No wonder you never see cop shooting stories on CNN. Their audience of dozens wouldn’t stand for it.

        6. VG Zaytsev

          I agree that officers do not need these devices as they are very well trained.

          Oh for chrisstsake, another fucking retard.

      2. I have a cunning plan. To reduce police misconduct with firearms, we should implement an electronic system so that when a cop pulls a trigger, it sends a signal to a judge, who evaluates the situation. If the judge concurs that the target needs shooting, he issues a “may shoot” warrant, which releases the bullet for discharge. All over the cellphone network.

    4. Finally, guns should be designed to broadcast their location when they are loaded. Police could see if high-powered assault weapons are entering or getting close to a public place. Gun owners, too, could choose to broadcast their guns’ locations publicly to increase deterrent effect.

      This sounds kind of familiar to me…something about…Fast & Furious perhaps? HAHAHAHHAHAHAA retarded

      1. Drake

        Still sounds like Total Recall to me. Or maybe Serenity.

      2. BigT

        They are doing this to the students! (also see below)

        A Texan student who refused to wear a badge with a radio tag that tracked her movements has lost a federal court appeal against her school’s ID policy.

        The radio chips track attendance, which in turn helps secure school funding.

        But Andrea Hernandez, 15, stopped wearing the badge on religious grounds, saying it was the “mark of the beast”.

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20957587

      3. Enough About Palin

        “Gun owners, too, could choose to broadcast their guns’ locations publicly to increase deterrent effect.”

        Sop virtual open (and loaded) carry then?

        1. Enough About Palin

          Sop = So

    5. 15 years ago when a lot of European countries still had international broadcasting on short-wave, I heard a report from Belgium from some idiot who suggested all cars should have mandatory computerized speed governors, which would receive radio signals that would max out the speed at the speed limit.

      I wrote in suggesting that I couldn’t wait to see hackers force the speed governors have the cars to 100 mph in school zones, and not be able to do more than stalling speed on the roads to the vacation resorts.

    6. Rasilio

      ROTFL

      Now combine this technology with hackers and Swatting. Before you know it half the Cell phones in the country are broadcasting that they are fully loaded assault weapons, all at the same time.

      1. gaijin

        It would be like the scene in Aliens when the detector showed a massive cloud of aliens all moving in on the humans…only in this case, cops at a donut shop could have every cell holding citizen look like they were surrounding them with weapons.

    7. SIV

      Gun owners, too, could choose to broadcast their guns’ locations publicly to increase deterrent effect.

      If only there was a way to carry a gun so that other people would know you are armed…

    8. bmp1701

      How does one “build” software into a gun? You pull the trigger, the hammer is released, the hammer hits the pin, and BOOM. Now they want to add some little electronic widget? Time to invest in a metal shop.

      [i]Guns used by the police would be exempt from such controls.[/i]
      Aww. And here I was thinking your little electronic firing permission slip could be programmed not to allow you to shoot if the gun detects that the dog latched to your ankle weighs less than 15 pounds.

      1. Mad Scientist

        Failure to replace the batteries in your gun’s bluetooth transmitter will be punishable by death!

  8. gaijin

    A German firm is developing a laser that can take down drones. They better hurry before President Obama runs out of guys on his kill list.

    Pakistan has 175M people…assuming half are male, O has plenty of drone fodder to exhaust.

    1. You forgot to include the children in your calculations.

      1. gaijin

        But drones don’t kill children…they only kill unripened terrorists.

        1. Raven Nation

          Drones don’t kill children, people kill children. Umm, I mean of course, OTHER people. Not our president or the previous president. No, generic, unspecified people.

          1. Andrew S.

            No, the previous President killed lots of children and was evil because of it. The current president tries his hardest not to kill children, but any children killed are really the fault of their parents/the terrorists/foreign governments/etc. Certainly not the fault of dear leader.

            1. Raven Nation

              + Bush did it.

    2. That’s gotta be close to a million weddings a year!

    3. Aresen

      Not to mention there are 300,000,000 potential American targets.

      Just gotta get his legal department to write the memo.

  9. Brett L

    We have to release the dogs to eat the pythons and iguanas.

    Sadly, it’s not uncommon for dog owners to release their pets in the Florida Everglades. Dog lover and rescuer Amy Roman goes there regularly ? to save them.

    1. The monkeys will freeze to death in the winter.

  10. A German firm is developing a laser that can take down drones.

    Please tell me that laser is going to be mounted on a shark with Hitler’s brain.

    1. Episiarch

      Of course you would Godwin the thread. OF COURSE.

      1. “Everybody’s always in favor of saving Hitler’s brain, but when you put it in the body of a great white shark – oooh, suddenly you’ve gone too far!”

        1. Episiarch

          Up yours, FoE! Up wherever your species traditionally crams things!

    2. Archduke Pantsfan

      You know who else was mounted with Hitler’s brain?

      1. gaijin

        Eva Braun?

      2. The way you phrased that, I feel like I should guess Eva.

    3. AlmightyJB

      “Please tell me that laser is going to be mounted on a shark with Hitler’s brain.”

      Now that’s must see TV.

      1. AlmightyJB

        That addition would even make the Jersey Shore worth watching.

  11. Brett L

    This dude is like a fucking cat.

    CANONSBURG, Pa. –

    State police say a man twice tried to kill himself on Interstate 79 in southwestern Pennsylvania before going to work.

    1. db

      Jeez.

    2. hamilton

      That first sentence totally confused me till I RTFA. I was thinking “Why’d he go to work afterwards? Was he, like, ‘Oh, well, screw it, better shower and head on in, we’ll give it a try tomorrow?'”

  12. Caleb Turberville

    What’s scary is I don’t know if Biden was just “going rogue” and opened his mouth and said something stupid that could hurt his boss, or if the administration actually gave him the green light to express such an idea.

    It seems like political suicide for the administration, but I actually believe they are quite capable of being so arrogant.

    1. They appear to use him to launch trial balloons on various stupid ideas.

    2. Cytotoxic

      This government can’t kill itself. It can get anyway with any failure. Much like Brett’s abovelinked dude, it’s like a fucking cat.

    3. If you’re going to float a policy idea, have Joe blurt it out. Plausible deniability.

    4. Brett L

      He’s actually a stupidity sink. The administration actually becomes more competent while Joe’s talking off-script in front of a microphone.

      1. No, I don’t think that’s working.

        1. Brett L

          I said “more competent” not “achieved competence”.

          1. No, still not seeing it.

      2. Episiarch

        He’s more of a stupidity singularity.

        1. Where the stupidity is so intense that bright cannot escape.

          1. Episiarch

            Exactly, ProL. I wonder where his event horizon begins? Don’t get too close!

            1. That’s a good question. To be on the safe side, I’m going to go on vacation whenever he visits Tampa.

      3. That’s actually a very funny concept in Jasper Fforde’s latest Thursday Next book.

        1. Rhywun

          Never heard of him or the books but the Welsh name intrigued me so I had to look. Looks interesting – I’ll check these out.

    5. I actually believe they are quite capable of being so arrogant.

      It’s because no one has ever held any of them accountable for anything.

  13. Matrix

    Oath keeping sheriffs provied sharp contrast to oath breaking general

    Keep up the good work, boys.

    1. Cytotoxic

      Oh God I never thought the day would come when cops would be better than soldiers.

      1. Matrix

        well, tbt, most service members are very pro-gun rights and probably consider the general a jackass.

      2. Drake

        Generals aren’t soldiers – they are politicians who bootlicked their way to the top.

        Actual Soldiers and Marines never make it past Colonel.

  14. Restoras

    They better hurry before President Obama runs out of guys on his kill list

    .

    HA! Doin’ right ain’t got no end, Shackford! Don’t you know how the process works??

    1. Drake

      Damn Redlegs!

  15. Brett L

    Nobody makes Cooperstown. Thank goodness. It was all a bad dream.

    1. Brandon

      Bullshit. The baseball writers threw a hissy fit instead of inducting the only two Astros besides Nolan Ryan who actually deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

    2. thom

      Jack Morris belongs in the HOF Goddammit.

  16. I missed out on the fun this A.M. that the Beckerhead now considers himself Libertarian instead of conservative whilst comparing himself to Penn Gillette.

    Who will follow him now? Mike Huckabee? Rick Santorum?

    1. Cytotoxic

      More outrageously: you!

    2. John

      Says the fuckhead who sucks Obama’s cock every day of the week.

      1. Red Tony is a Glenn Beck fan. No surprise there.

        1. John

          Because calling our resident retarded sock puppet out for sucking Obama’s cock says that I am a Beck fan.

          How do you breath dipshit? You are just profoundly stupid. But you make up for it by being a demented fascist.

          1. You’re always wrong, Red Tony. You live in the GOP anti-reality bubble full-time. Like when you were sure Romney would easily win this past election.

            Will you apologize for being stupid? For letting the GOP fuck you up the ass for your entire slinky life?

            1. John

              When you will apologize for entire pathetic existence you little freak. You barely even qualify as a human being.

            2. John

              How many times have you come on here claiming Obama is really pro guns? You are such a lying sack of puss. It is just grotesque and frankly makes me a bit sick.

              1. Obama won’t do a fucking thing about guns past a more comprehensive background check or something similar.

                He is a pol and is playing to the Newtown tragedy the way craven pols do.

                And he did expand gun rights twice.

                Remember Fast/Furious? Obama is a gun-selling freak!

                1. T

                  And he did expand gun rights twice.

                  ?

                  1. Carry with permit now allowed in 1) national parks and 2) Amtrak holds.

                    Obama signed both.

                    1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                      #2 is false, carry is not allowed on Amtrak trains. And Bush exec-ordered #1 so it’s not much of a change.

                    2. Copernicus

                      And butthead disappears in 3, 2, 1,…

    3. Restoras

      We’ve had enough of sockpuppets today, so fuck off and die.

    4. People can say whatever they want; that doesn’t make it true.

      I mean, the previous poster could say he’s intelligent.

  17. Matrix

    Juicers get snubbed

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha *gasp* hahahahahahahahahahaha

    1. Rasilio

      Damn and here I thought we were talking about a new edition of Rifts for a minute

      1. Rabban

        I thought the same thing.

  18. Caleb Turberville

    http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/0…..er_default

    Eric Rudolph is writing a book. I’m anti-death penalty, but I have to ask why hasn’t Georgia and Alabama killed this guy already?

    1. He is a hero in conservative GA/AL circles.

      1. JEP

        Being from Alabama, and growing up in conservative circles, I can safely say you’re full of shit.

        1. I am from Georgia, pal. Still live here.

          I know these Warriors for Jesus freaks. Militant Aborto-Freaks.

          They hate my rationalist free-thinking (Reason Motto) ass.

          But they don’t know that. So I listen to them and hear their bullshit first hand. White privilege, you know.

          1. JEP

            I’m not your pal, friend!

          2. John

            Rudolph is an atheist. You are such a lying pathetic piece of shit. You come on here to spread that horseshit so you can jerk off over the fantasy that your enemies are violent.

            1. He is one of your type, Red Tony.

              Rebutting claims that his anti-government views were shaped by racism, his family or involvement in the extreme fundamentalist Christian Identity movement, Rudolph called himself a Roman Catholic at war over abortion.

              “Because I believe that abortion is murder, I also believe that force is justified … in an attempt to stop it,” he wrote, “whether these agents of the government are armed or otherwise they are legitimate targets in the war to end this holocaust.”

              http://legacy.utsandiego.com/n…..dolph.html

          3. JEP

            Not to mention: “Conservative GA/AL circles” != “Warriors for Jesus freaks.Militant Aborto-Freaks”

            Nice try at marginalizing half the political spectrum.

          4. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

            I’ll trust my experience with conservative southerners over the ranting of an allegedly Georgian buttplug.

    2. Caleb Turberville

      Never mind. Apparently the nature of his crimes and the fact that he fleed across state lines falls under federal jurisdiction. It was probably easier to seek the death penalty for McVeigh, but I’d say the only difference between the two was a Ryder truck.

      1. Caleb Turberville

        *fled

  19. generic Brand

    My new position consists of checking Clerks of Court dockets in Florida to make sure our law firm’s motions were successfully filed so that I can set a hearing on it… all day, every day. AND I’VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER SINCE I STARTED WITH THIS COMPANY TWO YEARS AGO!

    16 months of checking over client’s loan modification documents for errors had me begging to move to the mail room, reception, anywhere there was an opening.

    I just wanted to share that. On to nickel beer night at Friendly Confines in 3 hours!

    1. Brett L

      That sort of job is not for me, but I’m glad you’re happier.

      1. generic Brand

        I think additional duties will come in due time, but for me it was a godsend to get out of the mitigation department and away from the hundreds of clients who are too stupid to send us bank statements and tax returns and therefore (in my opinion) do not deserve a loan modification, despite the injustices they feel they received at the hands of a contractual loan agreement with the bank.

  20. db

    Cross posted from an earlier thread:

    A few years ago I read They Thought They Were Free, an account of how regular Germans became inured to violent rhetoric vilifying minority populations, eventually even becoming complicit in the Holocaust. The more hatred I see against libertarians, and the apparent overwhelming tendency of the media to label people who think differently as “extremist,” the more I wonder whether we are on a recoverable path. I’m interested in stories of people who have fled totalitarian states in the incipient stages of their formation, and what were their decision points and red flags. If anyone has links to such accounts or books, please post them here.

    1. John

      It is a very easy step to take. What happened to the Germans is once they crossed the line and started killing people, they couldn’t go back because to do so meant facing their crimes.

    2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

      Germany didn’t have the tradition of respect for minorities that the US has.

      1. db

        Thanks, buddy. I needed a laugh.

        1. Whahappan?

          Although the US has treated various minorities terribly, we’re still better than most of the world in that regard.

  21. Anonymous Coward

    More of that tasty gun-grabbing stupid you’ve come to love

    Giffords and Kelly: Fighting gun violence

    Until now, the gun lobby’s political contributions, advertising and lobbying have dwarfed spending from anti-gun violence groups. No longer. With Americans for Responsible Solutions engaging millions of people about ways to reduce gun violence and funding political activity nationwide, legislators will no longer have reason to fear the gun lobby. Other efforts such as improving mental health care and opposing illegal guns are essential, but as gun owners and survivors of gun violence, we have a unique message for Americans.

    We have experienced too much death and hurt to remain idle. Our response to the Newtown massacre must consist of more than regret, sorrow and condolence. The children of Sandy Hook Elementary School and all victims of gun violence deserve fellow citizens and leaders who have the will to prevent gun violence in the future.

    Wave the bloody shirt! WAVE IT!

    1. John

      This calls for someone to make a completely stupid and pointless act. And we are just the broads to do it.

      1. gaijin

        who are the broads? I thought it was Mark Kelly…a dude.

        1. John

          Didn’t realize that.

        2. Anonymous Coward

          His head is kind of shaped like a tit so…close enough?

    2. Warty

      We’re going to see a triumph of Gabby’s will, are we now?

      1. Enough About Palin

        I saw hew “interviewed” on TV last night. I put interviewed in parens because she doesn’t really answer the questions. Someone else does and then they look at her and she says, “Right.” And then they pop a treat into her mouth. She’s a prop.

        1. Red Rocks Rockin

          So it was similar to DWS and her husband propping her up long enough to put the final “yes” vote on the debt ceiling increase last year?

      2. Killazontherun

        Much like Gandalf the Grey became Gandalf the White, Gabrielle became Gabby.

    3. spending from anti-gun violence groups.

      There are a lot of anti-gun “violence groups” out there.

    4. Gun violence kills more than 30,000 Americans annually.

      Where the hell did she get that number?

      1. Xenocles

        Let’s just say you need to wash your hands after using the figure.

      2. Heedless

        Aren’t 18,000 of those suicides?

        1. Yes.

          Details:

          They likely got the info from the CDC:

          Homicides make up less than 17K of the total (again CDC here).

          Suicides make up more than 18K of the total (CDC report here).

          Assume the remaining few are “accidents”.

          FWIW – I still disagree that the CDC (D=Disease) should study “gun violence” as a disease… but the numbers are likely as good as they can be.

          1. thom

            And how many of those 17K homicides occur in cities with already strict gun control laws?

        2. Total gun deaths, over 31K here

  22. Balko must be having a positive effect on huffpo.

    3 troubling ways the TSA punishes those that opt out.

    1. If you opt out, you could be forced to wait — and possibly miss your flight. But it’s not just the length of the wait, it’s also the place. Passengers are sometimes herded to a secure holding area, which functions like a penalty box in a hockey game. You can see who is in it, and by being in it, you’re assumed to have done something wrong. It’s embarrassing, and the TSA agents keeping you in the box know it.

      I guess this probably is embarrassing to some people, but it’s not remotely embarrassing to me. Going through the scanner is much worse on that front.

      1. Episiarch

        I’ve opted out every time they tried to put me through the scanner and I never got penalty-boxed, just asked to step aside.

        1. I think I’ve only been penalty-boxed once or twice in dozens of times of getting the patdown, and those were only when the wait was very long and they were tired of me standing around. It seems like they always have you stand in a really stupid place, right next to the guy telling people to go through the scanner, which makes other people think you’re waiting to go through it and then wait behind you.

          1. Episiarch

            I’ve had to wait a few minutes off to the side once or twice but nothing like that. I always go through SeaTac, though, and all my destination airports are always small, like Bradley or Maui. So that helps especially on the way back.

            1. Yeah, a little different at ORD. I don’t think I’ve flown to or from a small airport since they instituted the scanners anywhere, but a protip for anyone going to NYC from DC, Boston, or here in Chi: take the Delta Shuttle. Even before the scanners, you got a nice tiny terminal all to yourself at LGA, and now it’s the fastest security to get through you can imagine.

              1. Old Man With Candy

                Try it at Milwaukee. The drive is worth it to avoid ORD. Last two times I traveled, they just ran me though a metal detector when I opted out.

              2. Mad Scientist

                The airport in Santa Barbara is like that. You can park within a 3 minute walk of the terminal, security takes about as long and they didn’t have any porno-scanners last time I was there, the parking is cheap, and there’s a cool little outdoor area on the runway side where you can watch the planes coming and going right in front of you. I live about equidistant from LAX and Santa Barbara, and I’ll happily take a commuter flight from SB to LAX to catch a connection just to avoid the parking/security clusterfuck at LAX.

                1. edcoast

                  Great little airport. Love it. But do they still not have any potties outside security? (Haven’t been in a while)

                  1. edcoast

                    I meant “inside” security.

        2. I almost always get penalty-boxed. One time they just sent me through the metal detector instead, which I thought was weird and probably against procedure.

          1. One time they just sent me through the metal detector instead, which I thought was weird and probably against procedure.

            For years, they did that at IAH as long as I was wearing a suit. It quit working last year, so now I just rock a Scotte Vest.

        3. db

          At PIT, they have little boxes in between the lines that they put me in every time I opt out (whicb is always). They have even referred to it as “the Pen” on occasion.

          1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

            I really don’t understand the opt-out. The pat down is way more intrusive.

            Please tell me you’re not conspiracy theorizing about the terahertz radiation causing cancer or something.

            1. db

              I know it’s not the same situation, but I’ve always wondered why people kneel at the edge of the ditch full of bodies instead of standing.

            2. I can’t speak for db, of course, but I do it because it prevents TSA from hiding their invasion of my privacy behind closed doors. It serves the state’s interest to hide what it’s really doing.

              1. db

                I also feel as nicole does.

                1. I can’t speak for db, of course, but I do it because it prevents TSA from hiding their invasion of my privacy behind closed doors. It serves the state’s interest to hide what it’s really doing.

                  As do I.

                  In fact, I mean to make a t-shirt that reads “This what “freedom” looks like” specifically for the purpose of making a political statement as well as letting the agent know exactly what I feel about what he’s doing.

              2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                The people who see you volunteering to be patted down are almost certainly not going to see it that way. So I don’t see the point. Sending a message to an audience that doesn’t care is pretty futile.

                1. db

                  You are far too much of a fatalist.

                2. Episiarch

                  Or you could do it for my reason: to say “fuck you” and make them grope me. Because I don’t give a shit, but they probably do.

                  1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                    You don’t give a shit about being groped by a man? I mean, OK if that’s true, but I find it dubious.

                    1. db

                      I don’t give a shit about it sexually, but as a matter of principle, I don’t want to be groped unwillingly by anyone. I’m with nicole: the searches should be as blatant and intrusive and public as possible. They know what they are doing is wrong–treating everyone as criminals in a vain attempt at stopping a miniscule few attempts at terrosism. I want them to have to face that knowledge.

                      Plus, I love my junk and enjoy it when other people get a chance to experience its grandeur.

                    2. Episiarch

                      I’m not really concerned what you find dubious, Tulpy-Poo.

                3. Of course they are going to see it that way–they are going to have to watch someone get patted down, they are going to have to watch someone stick her hands in my pants or up my skirt, instead of putting it out of sight and out of mind. They might not be reading my mind, but the point is only in forcing them to see it.

                  Besides, “intrusive” is not the only relevant factor. Personally, I’d say the pat down and the scan are comparably intrusive, but the scan is far more humiliating. I’ve had to do it twice when I’ve been too late for my flight to risk the patdown wait, and both times I cried, because I find it much more upsetting to stand alone in a box with my hands up than to stand around while someone violates my rights in full public view.

                  1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                    I guess I don’t have the same visceral reaction to my abstract rights being violated.

                    Most people in line know that you volunteered to be patted down if you’re in the box, btw.

                    1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                      By “abstract rights” I’m specifying that this isn’t a right to life, right to property, right to bodily integrity, or even freedom from search issue. Because you’re being searched anyway. The violation is, to a large extent, all in your head.

                    2. Because you’re being searched anyway. The violation is, to a large extent, all in your head.

                      Well, the violation is that I’m being searched, which isn’t in my head. I don’t see any reason to assist the state in hiding that violation, especially when I find the specific way in which they hide it more upsetting than the alternative.

                      I know they know I volunteered to be patted down. When I referred to a box, I referred to the scanner (except much earlier when we were talking about a “penalty box”). The point is: what’s happening to me is happening to them too. They don’t want to see it, because it’s easier to pretend it’s not happening. But it’s happening, it’s partly their fault, and I hope it makes them uncomfortable to see someone get molested–because that’s what they’d be seeing happen to everyone if other people didn’t let the state hide it with a fancy machine.

                    3. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                      Sorry, I just don’t think it’s the same level of violation. Not all searches are equally violating. Particularly when no human ever sees the image from the terahertz scanner.

                4. The people who see you volunteering to be patted down are almost certainly not going to see it that way. So I don’t see the point. Sending a message to an audience that doesn’t care is pretty futile.

                  The basic idea is that if enough people opt out, it cripples security and they have to go back to only doing stuff that’s actually effective. They purposely shut down the machines at IAH on planned opt-out days to prevent this very thing. Do I think there will ever be enough to stop it entirely? No. But I’m not gonna stop trying. I also vote libertarian.

                  1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                    I guess this is where I part ways with the dogmatists. If something is unpleasant and futile, I don’t do it as I see no value in abstract principle itself. If you do, ok, it’s your life. But characterizing everyone else as submissive sheep for not doing so isn’t going to win you any friends outside the dogmatists.

                    1. But characterizing everyone else as submissive sheep for not doing so isn’t going to win you any friends outside the dogmatists.

                      Which I did where, exactly?

            3. thom

              I find the governments obsession with scanning me to be creepy. I find the pat-down to be less creepy. Being patted down for weapons is a time-honored tradition. Being routinely scanned by government machines is a new phenomenon that should be discouraged.

      2. I guess this probably is embarrassing to some people, but it’s not remotely embarrassing to me. Going through the scanner is much worse on that front.

        Agreed. I just find the movement inconvenient. When given the option, I always get the search in front of the line, and smirk at the agent when he touches my balls. Once I asked the guy why he wasn’t a garbageman. Same benefits, and he could keep his dignity.

        1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

          So you value the opportunity to antagonize a captive audience who is just doing their job and probably doesn’t want to be doing the patdown in the first place. This says more about you than it says about the TSA.

          1. Heroic Mulatto

            So you value the opportunity to antagonize a captive audience who is just doing their job and probably doesn’t want to be doing the patdown in the first place. This says more about you than it says about the TSA

            It says he could make a lot of money, as that’s basically Michael Moore’s schtick (e.g. Roger and Me).

          2. So you value the opportunity to antagonize a captive audience who is just doing their job and probably doesn’t want to be doing the patdown in the first place. This says more about you than it says about the TSA.

            Seriously? If they don’t like it, quit. There are plenty of jobs where they can’t find enough people to do the work so the institution closes. Why would this be different?

          3. Generic Stranger

            So you value the opportunity to antagonize a captive audience who is just doing their job and probably doesn’t want to be doing the patdown in the first place. This says more about you than it says about the TSA.

            You know who else were just doing their jobs?

            I have absolutely no pity for TSA agents. They understood the job when they signed up for it, and they should all be harassed unmercifully until they either quit or kill themselves.

    2. Heroic Mulatto

      The TSA likes to talk about the “haves” — the elite-level frequent fliers, the soldiers in uniform, the crewmembers, who can now almost always bypass the scanners, the shoe-removal and the pat-downs, and get to the gate quickly. It’s received a lot of positive coverage from an unskeptical mainstream media about those programs.

      Wait, wait, wait…this still happens in a post-Nidal Hassan world?

  23. $park?

    See, Bloomberg was right!

    Previous studies have found that drinking sweetened beverages was associated with a higher prevalence of depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental distress. But this study was the first prospective study, meaning it followed people over a number of years.

    From 1995 to 1996, consumption of drinks such as soda, tea, fruit punch and coffee was evaluated in 263,925 adults. About 10 years later, researchers asked the participants whether they had been diagnosed with depression since the year 2000. A total of 11,311 people said yes.

    1. Jerry on the road

      The study involved 263,925 people between the ages of 50 and 71 at enrollment. People who drank more than four cans or cups per day of soda were 30 percent more likely to develop depression than those who drank no soda. People who drank four cups of coffee per day were about 10 percent less likely to develop depression than those who drank no coffee.

  24. BigT

    A Texan student who refused to wear a badge with a radio tag that tracked her movements has lost a federal court appeal against her school’s ID policy.

    The radio chips track attendance, which in turn helps secure school funding.

    But Andrea Hernandez, 15, stopped wearing the badge on religious grounds, saying it was the “mark of the beast”.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20957587

    Can 1984 be far away??

    1. Anonymous Coward

      What could anyone possibly need with a semi-automatic weapon freedom?

    2. The correct solution is to tattoo all of the children with their ID numbers. On the forearm.

    3. Bizarrely, the Daily Mail has more and better info:

      But U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled on Tuesday that since school officials agreed to remove the RFID-chip, her religious beliefs were no longer be violated, even if administrators made her wear the regular ID badge.
      ‘The accommodation offered by the district is not only reasonable it removes plaintiff’s religious objection from legal scrutiny all together,’ Garcia wrote.

      1. My religion forbids me from being oppressed by the state or from paying more than 10% of my income in total taxation.

        1. You joke, but in the aftermath of the Amish Social Security debacle, the govt promulgated a new law that essentially allowed members only of recognized religions that existed at the time of the lawsuit to religiously opt out of social security.

          Which really is a pity…

          1. That is just so unconstitutional it kills me. Government routinely determines in its day-to-day business what a “bona fide religion” is. The IRS does it, the SSA does, the Selective Service (nominally speaking) does it…it drives me crazy.

            1. generic Brand

              Me too, as a Christian to boot! Freedom of religion means no recognition one way or the other. I think charitable or non-profit organizations should be tax-exempt, but it doesn’t have to be affiliated with a religion.

              (SLD that everyone should be tax-exempt)

          2. That’s bullshit. The government has no business defining or interpreting my religious beliefs.

            1. The best thing to come out of SCOTUS on this subject (even though it was used in an anti-drug case, natch) is from Scalia in the decision Employment Division v. Smith, where “neutral law(s) of general applicability” are constitutional.

              If only SCOTUS would apply it across the board.

  25. $park?

    And since you won’t be drinking any more soda, might as well give up the meat too.

    Animal foods, especially red meat, are among the largest sources of saturated fats in our diet. Eliminating meat?beef, pork, lamb, poultry?one day a week can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease and some cancers.

    What’s more, “cutting down on meat encourages people to eat more vegetables,” says Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, in New York City. Adding a serving of produce to your diet each day (say, ? cup of melon or broccoli) may lower your risk of heart disease by 4 percent and your risk of stroke by 6 percent.

    1. Warty

      TEAM CONTROL has nothing but your well-being in its heart.

      1. Episiarch

        It’s fucking relentless. They just never, ever stop. It’s sickening.

      2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

        I don’t see any calls for coercion in that article.

    2. gaijin

      I’d guess most people would substitute carbohydrates for the meat they suggest eliminating…bring on the diebeetus!

  26. $park?

    But we were promised this would NEVER happen.

    A Nebraska Wendy’s franchise is slashing employee hours so the owners do not have to pay for health benefits for their workers under ObamaCare’s requirements.

    WOWT reports about 100 workers in non-management positions at 11 Omaha-area Wendy’s will have their hours cut to 28 a week.

    1. John

      If you like your coverage you can keep it sparky.

    2. Alack

      I saw some proggie friends complaining about this on Facebook, saying that corporations were revolting since Obama got re-elected. Apparently, arguing that it’s a foreseeable consequence of PPACA (regardless of the desirability of such a law) makes you a gay-hating, woman-oppressing Republican.

      1. John

        It always comes down to the wreckers ruining everything.

  27. Woman finds a video of her boyfriend banging some chicks on his cellphone. PO’ed, she posts the video on the Internet to humiliate him.

    But the chicks were 17 years old and now she faces felony charges!

    Sex tape revenge backfires on Burnsville woman

    Henry-Heagle has only a petty misdemeanor for drug paraphernalia on her record; however, prosecutors slapped her with two felonies for dissemination and possession of pornographic work involving minors. Henry-Heagle told investigators she uploaded to sex video from her boyfriend’s phone onto a social media site because she was angry.

    “With the new technology, there is no time to cool off,” says Kingrey.

    Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/st…..z2HW9JA3ZU

    Yep… it’s all tht technology’s fault, not the absurd law…

    1. I guess she should’ve just shot him. A jury might’ve let her walk for that.

      1. If there are any jilted women on the jury, she would probably walk for this too, if she chooses to go to trial.

        1. What, for child porn? I can only imagine what evidence the jury won’t be allowed to hear.

    2. Anonymous Coward

      She DERPed when she should have turned left.

      Happens often. But there is life after child pornography. Just ask Traci Lords.

    3. Episiarch

      Why did she think that would embarrass him?!?

      1. Dude, she’s from Florida – who knows how she arrived at 2 + 2 = 7, OK?

        1. Brett L

          I mean, apparently his nickname is “Snake”, so I’m guessing his mama doesn’t think he’s a choir boy.

      2. Cause there were 3 guys, 2 girls and the guys were family.

        1. Episiarch

          Filming a porno is embarrassing?

          1. It is when you’re going family style.

            1. Episiarch

              It’s not like they were blowing each other.

              1. Hey, I’m not saying it wasn’t a life-affirming, family-bonding experience, I’m just saying you might be a little more embarrassed to have video of you banging a skank with your brothers than one of you just banging a skank.

    4. generic Brand

      ORLANDOOOOOO!!! Fuck Lake Eola.

      Seriously, how does this city attract so much crazy? Maybe it’s me….. (insert horrified face)

  28. A Serious Man

    The White House finally responds to one of its petitions, says Piers Morgan has free speech rights.

    Well he is a useful idiot.

    1. Jerry on the road

      “He’s British, how can he have any constitutional rights?”

  29. Dayman beer. For those times when you’re out of glue.

    1. Episiarch

      Mac: I mean the first half of that song was kind of cool, but what’s with the second half?

      Charlie: It’s about the Night Man, like you know, like filling me up and I become him — I become the spirit of the Night Man.

      Mac: But it sounds like a song where a man breaks into your house and rapes you.

      1. “You gotta pay the troll toll, if you want this boy’s hole.”

        1. Episiarch

          “Stop, stop, stop. All right, not bad, good rhythm, love the enthusiasm. I feel like you’re saying ‘boy’s hole’, and it’s clearly ‘soul’. And I know, Artemis, you did write ‘soul’, right?”

    2. Jordan

      It’s no Wolf Cola.

  30. RyanXXX

    So the other day I saw someone posted a comment mildy supportive of Hagel’s nomination and you guys jumped all over him. The fuck? As far as establishment picks go, he is one of the better options, but you guys were foaming at the mouth like Bill Kristol’s rottweilers. Is it just because he is being nominated by Black Jesus? Cytotoxic and John I get, since they are both Israel-lovers and Cyto loves war. But the rest of you….

    1. John

      So being anti homosexual okay with Libertarians? Does being a craven opportunist on the Iraq war, as in voting for it but then turning against it when it got hard, make it okay to object to the appointment of an ambassador because of the ambassador’s open, aggressively gay orientation could be an inhibiting factor that would prevent him from representing America in an effective manner?

      1. Turning against the Iraq War is the correct position. It doesn’t matter when or how one came to it – that’s just definitionally an ad hominem.

        1. John

          I think it was the wrong position. But we are not judging the validity of being for or against the Iraq war. We are judging Hegal as a person. The fact that he turned against the Iraq war because he is a piece of shit politician who would turn on anything if he thought it would help him says nothing about which position on the Iraq war is right. But it says everything about what kind of a person Hagal is.

          Ad hominem is a fallacy when used to judge the position. But it is totally okay and in fact perfectly appropriate when used to actually judge the person which is what we are doing here.

          1. Except you have offered no evidence that the turn was a result of political opportunism.

            1. John

              Yes I do. He supported it when it was popular and turned against it once it wasn’t. And he also was against the surge and called it “the biggest blunder in history” which turned out to be totally wrong.

              What do you think Hagal just happened to turn against the war at just the time when polls showed the public had? It was just a coincidence? Since when do big government Senators get the benefit of the doubt?

              1. That isn’t proof, counselor. That’s mere conjecture.

                1. John

                  It is called circumstantial evidence. We can’t read his heart but we can guess.

                  Are you really going to tell me a Senator gets the benefit of the doubt? Get over the Iraq war. Just because Hegal decided to agree without about it once he thought it would get him some votes, doesn’t make Hagel a good guy.

                  1. Shifts of opinion happen in individuals all the time. The Iraq War was popular until it wasn’t. So what?

                2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                  That isn’t proof, counselor. That’s mere conjecture.

                  I don’t remember Randian displaying this level of skepticism toward the accusations that Mitt Romney was a flip-flopper.

              2. RyanXXX

                The surge being a blunder is a matter of opinion. Even if it achieved its military objectives, you could argue it was a colossal waste of resources, was immoral, etc.

                1. Cytotoxic

                  The surge worked. You could say it wasn’t worth it, but it achieved the objectives.

                  1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                    The desired events happened, but that doesn’t mean the surge achieved the objectives. You have to prove that the events wouldn’t have happened anyway without the surge.

                    1. VG Zaytsev

                      And that the “objectives” were worth achieving in the first place, or that they will last for any period of time.

        2. John

          In short Randian, I am not saying the Iraq war was right. I am saying Hagel is a piece of shit.

          1. VG Zaytsev

            But you haven’t provided any evidence that Hagel is a piece of shit, let alone a bigger piece of shit than anyone else that Obama would nominate.

        3. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

          And Randian again demonstrates he doesn’t know what an ad hominem is.

        4. VG Zaytsev

          Turning against the Iraq War is the correct position. It doesn’t matter when or how one came to it – that’s just definitionally an ad hominem.

          WOW

          The Cosmo gets it right.

          Better get him another drink ASAP! 🙂

      2. RyanXXX

        The target of his anti-gay remark has moved on and accepted the apology. Yet you are draping the cloak of Gay Pride and Neocons are mounting a crusade over it? Smells fishy. People forget how much progress the Gay Rights movement has made in the last decade – 1998 was a different time as far as public attitudes. And how the fuck are his views on flamers relevant to the job he’s being nominated for?

        His sin was supporting the war in the first place, not turning against it. No one’s claiming he’s a Paulian non-interventionist. I’ll take a craven who sees the light over a demented bloodthirsty maniac like McCain, Graham, or Lieberman any day

        1. John

          Take it up with that great Neo Con Barney Frank, who came out against Hegel over the remark.

          And what makes you think Hagel won’t change his position again once he thinks it is in his advantage to do so? Hagal is a piece of shit. The fact that he once cravenly took a position you agree with doesn’t make him anything else.

          1. Take it up with that great Neo Con Barney Frank, who came out against Hegel over the remark.

            Frank withdrew that criticism.

            Conservatives criticizing Hagel for anti-gay remarks is too fucking rich for words. He won’t march lockstep on unnecessary wars and supporting Israel 100% of the Time On Everything, and the neocons such as yourself are out for blood.

            You guys are patently ridiculous.

            1. John

              He was also against repealing DADT. And so what if conservatives are hypocrites? That has nothing to do with whether Libertarians should support someone who is clearly an anti-gay bigot.

              1. I don’t engage in identity politics.

            2. John

              You are rediculous Randian. You totally ignore his positions on gays because why? Doesn’t that make you every bit as big of a hypocrite?

              Libertarians of a certain stripe are so stunted and intellectually damaged by the Iraq war that they will sell out any principle to support someone who agrees with them about the war even if the agreement is a craven political move.

              Why should Libertarians give a shit about Hagal?

              1. RyanXXX

                We don’t really give a shit (I don’t, at least). I don’t think he will drastically change policy. But as far as realistic nominees go, he isn’t close to the worst, and I could see him acting as the “cooler head” in the room. So I was surprised by the reaction of some on this board

              2. VG Zaytsev

                You are rediculous Randian. You totally ignore his positions on gays because why?

                Why should I give a shit if he said something mean about teh gays 15 fucking years ago?

                Is he being nominated for the Czarina of Gays? No, then who gives a fuck what he thinks about that.

                He’ll be a voice for rational cuts to DOD and that is a big fucking deal.

                PS: All you neo-con cocksuckers can fuck off and go back to be the fucking Marxist stooges that you are.

                Fuck You!!

            3. RyanXXX

              Yea, the few Gays who are actually making an issue out of this are acting as useful idiots for the likes of Kristol, AIPAC, McCain, etc. (countdown till I’m accused of being Hitler in 3,2…..)

              Of course Hagel is a piece of shit. He is a politician. But the fact that many of his colleagues didn’t like him is a point in his favor, as is his opposition to war with Iran, sucking Israel’s dick, etc.

              1. Yeah, John’s use of the Rainbow Card is pretty egregious. Sorry, John, but your Reverand Al act isn’t getting me worked up today.

                1. T

                  Fuck Hagel for voting for the Patriot Act and its extensions and successors. He may be more reasonable on one war, but he’s a proponent of the ever expanding national security state. DIAF, Chuckles.

                  1. Cytotoxic

                    I’m loving the projection from Randian and RyanXXX here with their accusations that John is just posturing so he can lash out at Hagel over nothing. This may be true, but it’s obvious that Randian and Ryan are suppressing their own libertarian criticisms of Hagel because they just want to stick it to those damn NEOCONS.

                    Hagel deserves to defenestrated for basically asking Israel to commit suicide in its war with Hezbollah in 2006. He actually thought Israel was being too mean when tragically the opposite was true. Fuck Hagel.

                    Good article on what a douche Hagel is:

                    http://online.wsj.com/article/…..02846.html

                    1. I don’t think you know what the word projection means. Not that I am surprised.

                    2. RyanXXX

                      The War Street Journal has zero cred on anything foreign policy or national security related.

                    3. VG Zaytsev

                      This may be true, but it’s obvious that Randian and Ryan are suppressing their own libertarian criticisms of Hagel because they just want to stick it to those damn NEOCONS.

                      Yeah well, everytime you fuck a neo-con up the ass, an angel gets his wings.

                      Fuck all you neo-con assholes.

                      You’re everthing that’s fucking this country up.

                    4. Francisco d Anconia

                      Well, maybe half.

                  2. RyanXXX

                    OK, T, that is a legit criticism and one I share. It makes sense from a libertarian perspective, also, unlike the weird fixation on anti-gay remarks and the desire to endlessly kneel to Tel Aviv.

                    1. Cytotoxic

                      No one is talking about kneeling to TA. Just supporting Israel. All good libertarians must support Israel in its struggle against the savages.

                      The WSJ’s article isn’t even about FP or NS, which is the WSJ is pretty terrible on. The article is about Hagel.

                    2. RyanXXX

                      “All good libertarians must support Israel in its struggle against the savages.”

                      Thanks Mrs. Bachmann. Or are you Mr. Hagee?

                      I don’t give a shit about Israel. It’s the only “democracy” in the region? Well, I am not a democracy advocate. It’s the Jewish homeland? I am not a Jew, and don’t support a FP based on religious BS. They share our “values”? Whose, specifically?

                      That said, I don’t care about the Palestinians/Arabs either. Let both “savages” kill each other. Oh, but Israel will lose? Maybe they shouldn’t have fucking moved to a place that would guarantee a conflict with a much more numerous people, then. They could have had Madagascar or something, but NOOOOOOOO.

                    3. T

                      I’m sure I could go dig around in Hagel’s senate record and find more objectionable stuff (I’ll take ag subsidies for $100, Alex!) but it galls me when he’s described as ‘libertarian-leaning’. Really? Somebody who gave a rat’s ass aboput liberty would have voted against the Patriot Act. Anybody with a spine would have demanded time to read it.

                    4. Heroic Mulatto

                      and the desire to endlessly kneel to Tel Aviv.

                      Jooz…Jooz….JOOZZZ!!!!!!!

                    5. RyanXXX

                      See, I knew someone like you would show up, HM. Yes, the Jews, Evangelicals, and war profiteers who lobby for our government to intervene in affairs that don’t concern us and support a state that earns us hatred are a problem. The many Jews who don’t, aren’t.

                      But all you can think is Arabs…Arabs….SAVAGES!!!

                    6. Heroic Mulatto

                      See, I knew someone like you would show up, HM.

                      What is that supposed to mean, pray tell? I could guess, but then I would deprive you of another opportunity to display your dishonesty and stupidity.

                      But all you can think is Arabs…Arabs….SAVAGES!!!

                      When did I ever say that I believe Arabs are savages, you mendacious twat? I’d take what you have to say about Israel and foreign policy with a bit more gravity when you get as worked up about the Burmese launching bombing runs against the Kachin people, or the Laotian government engaging in a campagin of war rape and murder against Hmong people to this very day, or the Bhutanese government’s policy of religious and ethnic discrimination against ethnic Nepalese?

                      Until then, I remain firm in my belief that your (vastly unwarranted) sense of righteous indignation is curiously narrow and specific.

                    7. RyanXXX

                      It isn’t righteous indignation at the Israeli’s actions. Not surprising that you can’t understand what you read. It’s indignation at AMERICAN pols and lobbyists who keep us involved in the shit over there. My interest is positively related to the amount of aid/involvement America has

                    8. Heroic Mulatto

                      Not surprising that you can’t understand what you read. It’s indignation at AMERICAN pols and lobbyists who keep us involved in the shit over there.

                      You fucking moron! Did you just miss Obama’s glad-handing trip to Burma, of which the bombing just happened to start afterwards? I realize you couldn’t find Kachin State on a map, as you’re just learning to read without moving your lips, but you might want to read up on the DEA’s involvement with the so called “narco-terrorism” of the Kachin Independence Army, Shan State Army and the Wa State Army. And I know an ignorant motherfucker like you has no clue who this guy was, much less his connection to the United States.

                      My interest is positively related to the amount of aid/involvement America has

                      Pakistan gets more aid than Israel? Where’s your frothing at the mouth over the ‘Pakistan Lobby,’ Mr. Trisomy?

                    9. RyanXXX

                      “Pakistan gets more aid than Israel? Where’s your frothing at the mouth over the ‘Pakistan Lobby,’ Mr. Trisomy?”

                      1. Pakistan, and all those other countries, are not the source of controversy over Hagel, which is what we are discussing fucktard.

                      2. This just isn’t true. Are you counting the cost of military operations or something? Israel received roughly 3 billion last year, Pakistan 2 billion

                    10. Heroic Mulatto

                      1. Pakistan, and all those other countries, are not the source of controversy over Hagel, which is what we are discussing fucktard.

                      That’s is what you were discussing. I pointed out that you were riding your Lockean hobby-horse like a single, slightly over-weight, middle-aged woman on a Sybian, and then you got all pissy at being revealed as a sanctimonious ignoramus.

                      Are you counting the cost of military operations or something?

                      Yes, I was including the cost of military assistance and aid. What of it? You’re the one who brought up military interventionism.

                      And for the record, I believe the United States shouldn’t intervene in any conflicts that do not directly threaten the United States itself and I don’t believe that our government should be giving any countries foreign aid. Unlike you, I can make a principled argument for that without frothing at the mouth about how the Zionist JOOZ-Lizard People Did 9/11 and sacrificed Whitney Houston in an Illuminati ritual!!!!

                    11. RyanXXX

                      So we agree on policy then, but you chose to imply I was anti-Semitic for holding the same position you do, and then kept digging. Got it.

                    12. Heroic Mulatto

                      and the desire to endlessly kneel to Tel Aviv*.

                      And just what were you “implying” when you wrote the above?

                      You’ll find some variant of that phrase in almost every anti-Semitic screed since 1948. Curious that.

                      *And whether you like it or not, the capital of Israel is Jerusalem.

                    13. RyanXXX

                      And by “someone like you”, I meant an idiot who accuses those he disagrees with of anti-semitism. Not what you’re implying, but that was obvious. You really got a thing for race, dontcha?

                    14. Heroic Mulatto

                      And by “someone like you”, I meant an idiot who accuses those he disagrees with of anti-semitism [sic].

                      ]

                      Projection! Thy name is Ryan Klinefelter Syndrome! You’re the idiot who is accusing those who don’t share your naive and ignorant views as being “Islamophobic/Anti-Arab.”

                      Not what you’re implying, but that was obvious.

                      That sentence has no meaning. Don’t use words you don’t understand.

                      You really got a thing for race, dontcha?

                      What “race” are Jews again? Or was that just your pea-brain’s a last ditch attempt to insult me by going for the lowest common denominator?

    2. sticks

      His support or rather his ‘need for a national discussion” on the draft puts him in the fuck off slaver category. But that is just me.

      1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

        That too.

        Calling Hagel “libertarian” for opposing the Iraq war AFTER it had already become horrendously unpopular is weak sauce.

      2. RyanXXX

        Fair enough.

  31. Brett L

    Mrs. Suderman rises up to defend her libertarian man.

    So perhaps it’s useful to offer the perspective of someone who’s observed the species in its native habitat. Unlike Friedman (and I presume, Frum), I have dated a bunch of libertarian guys . . . and a bunch of liberal guys . . . and a few social conservatives for good measure. And I’m here to report that libertarians make terrific relationship material.

    1. Apatheist ?_??

      Dot D
      8 hours ago
      I question the premise a bit. I can only speak anecdotally from my part of the real world, but most of the women I come in contact with in my urban southern area lean liberal (but then so do most of the men), but the rest are at least somewhat libertarian if they care about politics at all. I do think the male libertarians tend to be more rabid and outspoken (but then men tend towards the end of the bell curve).

      I know I (as a libertarian) don’t discuss politics that much–and I prefer not to post a bunch of political crap on my facebook– so many people would not identify me as a libertarian. I read libertarian blogs like Hit and Run religiously, but I never comment there. So I guess I’d say libertarian women exist, they just don’t flaunt it.

      Then again, maybe it’s a “female” need to get along with people as well – I know that most random women I come across will be liberal, and many of these may not have the knowledge of what libertarianism is, and equate it with “conservative”, so I don’t generally come of the closet on politics 🙂

      PS: I married a libertarian guy and I highly recommend them!

      Come join us in the cesspool! Most people here don’t bite.

      1. SIV

        . I read libertarian blogs like Hit and Run religiously, but I never comment there.

        I blame Ken Shultz.

        1. RyanXXX

          She was probably a CUNT!!!! anyway, right? Ken? Bueller?

      2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

        rather?

    2. Enough About Palin

      Shorter Mrs. Suderman

      “I was quite the whore back in the day.”

    3. Libertarians are also surprisingly good at romantic surprises. They are usually what Adam Smith called a “Man of System”: they love sitting around by the hour, constructing elaborate systems for solving every problem. Which means that they do a smash-up job of planning that extra special, over-the-top anniversary or birthday extravaganza. Virtually all of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten have come from libertarian guys.

      Well now she’s just raising the expectations of the few libertarian women they are to absurd levels.

      1. T

        My wife would argue this point vociferously and at length with Mrs. Suderman.

      2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

        That’s odd. I’ve always based my relationships with women on the invisible hand, particularly in crowded elevators.

        1. So, a different kind of romantic surprise.

    4. Brandon

      David Frum called libertarians immature? David Frum? The guy who wants the government to be not only his surrogate parent, but his kids’ surrogate parent? That Frum?

      1. I know, that was so rich!

  32. A Serious Man

    Labradoodle with mane scares Norfolk, VA residents into thinking there was a lion on the loose.

    1. Brandon

      Awesome.

  33. Alack

    I’m getting to the end of my current reading list, and in need of some suggestions. Anyone have recommendations for recent books on politics, economics, history, etc? Recent fiction would also be appreciated, but most novels don’t really hold my interest.

    1. Episiarch

      Any Lysander Spooner. And if you have a Kindle, he’s free on Amazon.

      1. Alack

        I have Constitution of No Authority, but that’s it. Is there any particular work you’d recommend reading next?

        1. Episiarch

          Essay on the Trial by Jury

          1. Alack

            Added! My previous experience with Spooner was a shallow, passing familiarity engendered by Strike the Root, so more context is always handy. Gracias, se?or.

    2. Dunphy (the real one)

      it’s not recent, but a conflict of vision by thomas sowell is a must read

      and also godel, escher bach by hofstadter (sp?) is a great mix of art, math, music, etc. yea, it works

      1. Alack

        Conflict of Visions was fantastic, and surprisingly even-handed. Always interesting to have a new paradigm for political theory. The Hofstadter one sounds really interesting; added to the list!

    3. Just because he doesn’t get enough mention, Eric Hoffer.

      1. Alack

        Heard of the author, but never the book. Many thanks!

    4. John

      I just completed this book.

      http://www.amazon.com/Plantage…..antagenets

      Great popular history.

      And on that theme, I am currently reading this

      http://www.amazon.com/When-Chr…..kay+penman

      I don’t normally read historical fiction, but this woman can write. I love this book.

      1. Alack

        The lack of an eReader version of the Pantagenet book is disappointing, but I’ll be sure to check for it at my local libraries. The novel looks interesting as well, but I think I’d read the other book first for some context. Thanks!

        1. John

          The Plantagenet book is brand new. So there might be an e reader version soon.

      2. Apatheist ?_??

        I’m bookmarking those for later, one of my favorite periods of history (7 years of limey school must have indoctrinated me). Currently playing through that period in Crusader Kings 2.

    5. RyanXXX

      I’m reading “Warriors of God: Saladin and Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade” right now, and it’s pretty good. Had no idea Richard was gay

      1. Alack

        Every major historical figure was gay, according to some writer or another. I always find it odd when historians try to reinterpret a person’s life from the assumption that the subject was homosexual, as though homosexuals must necessarily have different mindsets just because of their orientation. It’d almost seem demeaning if it weren’t for the hilarious fan-fictions that can arise.

        But! Yes! ADDED TO THE LIST!

        1. RyanXXX

          Agree about the gay theories swirling around every historical figure, but with Richard its actually true. He was boning the King of France before they became rivals during the Crusade

          1. Alack

            Like the Bowie and Jagger of the medieval period!

          2. He had an illegitimate child, so I don’t know if labels are appropriate here.

            1. RyanXXX

              I’m guessing he laid back and thought of England

            2. Alack

              Well, maybe I’m just heteronormative or whatn’t, but boning the King of France seems less gay than getting boned by the King of France. Maybe the dude just liked sex and saw that bro-mosexual king-fucking was a good diplomatic move?

              1. Yeah, but you know I don’t call vegetarians who once ate meat omnivores or carnivores, you know.

              2. RyanXXX

                It doesn’t say who was on top, Alack. But judging from their personalities, I’d put money on Richard. Philip was constantly in his shadow, and preferred court diplomacy over warfare, whereas Richard basically lived to smash skulls.

          3. I don’t know that it’s actually been proved beyond any doubt, but it seems likely that he played reindeer games with men on several occasions.

          4. NeonCat

            The Crusade was just a gay-cation that got out of hand?

            1. RyanXXX

              Is there any other kind?

        2. Episiarch

          Read Albert Goldman’s John Lennon biography for a very entertaining example of what you just described. It’s a fun read, but certain parts are obviously more a fantasy for Goldman than anything else.

        3. I’ve noticed that before. It’s not limited to gayification. Everybody wants to rewrite the past to suit their modern sensibilities and/or biases.

      2. Virginian

        Don’t believe everything you read.

    6. RyanXXX

      Also, Game of Thrones.

      1. Alack

        The problem with that series for me is that it is so nearly-historical, with the politics and background and such, that I’d rather devote the time to reading about actual events or people. Dense books are fine, but I prefer the density to be connected to reality.

        1. RyanXXX

          Fair enough, but the advantage over real history is that you can get into the characters’ heads, understand their relationships, etc. much more intimately than you can even from the most immersive pop history. And there are some moments that count among the most shocking and gut-wrenching of any novels I’ve read. Can I ask how far you got before giving it up?

          1. Episiarch

            I literally did a double take at the Red Wedding, and actually went back a page or two and read it again to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong. When a book can do that to you, it’s good.

            1. RyanXXX

              “Jaime Lannister sends his regards.”

              I can’t wait for that scene this coming season.

          2. Alack

            Very good points. I believe I gave up halfway through the first book or so. Honestly, I might just watch the series and then follow up with the books to trick my brain into accepting the density. That’s what I did for Lord of the Rings, and it turned into a quite enjoyable experience.

          3. Red Rocks Rockin

            I stopped after Storm of Swords and decided to wait until the last book. “And then a bunch of stuff happened” will be a good enough bridge for me.

            1. RyanXXX

              Yea, the following two definitely don’t quite measure up. Still quite good, but not incredible like the first 3. Martin spread the story too wide.

              That said, the arc in the North involving “Reek” is some of the best writing in the whole series, and the darkest. I recommend you get A Dance with Dragons and just read those chapters.

    7. It’s a few years old now, but my boyfriend is reading this right now and it sounds incredibly interesting, on both the history and economics fronts.

      1. Alack

        That looks downright fascinating! The 3 years-old is new to me; most of my reading is from early-to-mid 1900s.

        1. Yeah, that’s new to me also. I should say that when I say it “sounds” interesting, I mean because he’s been telling me all about it as he goes.

          1. Alack

            I do the same thing to my girlfriend as I read. She’s been learning political theory and economics through osmosis during long car rides and commercial breaks.

      2. RyanXXX

        That’s awesome, I had actually never heard of that. The more you learn about the Natives, the more the Lefty tree-hugging archetype gets smashed to bits.

        1. T

          If you’re interested in the Comanche, you might also check out Empire of the Summer Moon. It’s on my list, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.

          1. I was just going to add, that’s the one my bf read before The Comanche Empire. He liked that but seems to think this one is better–both more informative and more scholarly.

          2. RyanXXX

            Thanks. I’ll do a coin flip over which one to read.

    8. NeonCat

      If you like two-fisted metaphysical fiction, Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim books can’t be beat. Member of a magic circle gets sent to Hell by the rest of them, becomes a gladiator, escapes and starts hunting down the people who sent him there. It’s up to four books now and I’ve enjoyed all of them.

      1. Alack

        That sounds pretty groovy. Kindle edition of the first one’s only 99 cents, too! Thank you kindly!

        1. NeonCat

          You’re welcome. I read it after it was recommended by Cory Doctorow, back when I used to visit Boing-Boing. God knows I can’t stand his politics (and I’m sure he wouldn’t care for mine) but he sure could find some good books to read.

    9. Brandon

      Read Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States. That book’ll knock you on your ass.

    10. Bloodfeud

    11. BigT

      The Swerve. How the World Became Modern.

      By Stephen Greenblatt

  34. A Serious Man

    Pennsylvania man attempted suicide twice during his commute to work, but gave up after failing both times and ended up at work anyway.

    1. Brett L

      What the hell? Do you people not even read my work? That’s two tonight. I’m a real person, and I demand acknowledgement.

      1. I deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don’t have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?

  35. Dunphy (the real one)

    trooper arrests and cites miami cop for driving offense in his police car (120 mph on freeway)

    http://blutube.policeone.com/p…..arked-car/

    1. Man, you are really late to the game on this one. We’ve been mocking the reactions on policeone to this for like a year. Trooper Watts, right?

      1. Dunphy (the real one)

        i see it is an old video. first time i’ve seen it though.

        recently, one of the local police from a neighboring agency was cited for reckless for doing something similar.

        i get a take home cruiser, but i would rather be late than be cited.arrested for reckless for doing something idiotic like that.

        120 is absolutely ridiculous. imo, that’s a solid 2 week suspension assuming first offense, as well as the criminal charge

        1. 120 is absolutely ridiculous. imo, that’s a solid 2 week suspension assuming first offense, as well as the criminal charge

          He had done it about a hundred times. Most of them documented. After going to her superiors, then his superiors months ago with no effect, she just finally lost it and did her job. And the vast majority of Policeone want’s her crucified for it.

          1. Dunphy (the real one)

            most cops i have spoken to about the incident support her actions

            police one is no more representative of cops than the die in a fire dunphy nimrods on reason.com are representative of libertarians.

            1. Virginian

              Blatant fucking lies.

              I don’t know if Dunphy or Tony does that better.

              1. Dunphy (the real one)

                rubbish. i would have lasted about 10 minutes in law enforcement if i had to work with people who are like the commenters on police one. #1 it’s the internet, so you are already dealing with distorted hyberbolic personalities due to the medium

                and #2 real cops , with rare exception, are like that.

                i deal with real cops every day. break bread with them, converse with them, work with them, make life and death decisions with them.

                if it makes you feel better to laff at the “cops” at police one, knock yourself out. i do the same.

                if you think yer average beat cop is represented by same, you are ridiculously uninformed

                again, just like i don’t assume the average libertarian wants me to die in a fire. these are funhouse mirror distortions

                1. T

                  just like i don’t assume the average libertarian wants me to die in a fire

                  Only the ones that know you, I’m sure.

                2. again, just like i don’t assume the average libertarian wants me to die in a fire. these are funhouse mirror distortions

                  You only get that from a few commenters here. 95% of policeone is like that. And I don’t know about Virginian, but I spent many of my summers growing up at the court-house. It’s amazing what people will say when they don’t notice the kid in the corner. Very similar to sarcasmic’s stories.

                  1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                    You only get that from a few commenters here.

                    Yet it took all of three minutes for one of them to post.

                    1. Yet it took all of three minutes for one of them to post.

                      Where?

                  2. Dunphy (the real one)

                    it’s also a well known syndrome common to cops, ER docs and nurses, military warriors, etc. it’s called gallow humour and EXAGGERATION and distortion are part and parcel when you are dealing with it.

                    we joke about shit like that all the time. say things about “scumbags” and stuff that isn’t really true and if it were true WOULD make us horrible persons, except it’s not

                    anybody who has worked in a career like an ER doc or nurse or cop knows what I am talking about. gallows humor.

                    heck, if you quoted some of the things I have said to my coworkers when I thought we were alone it would make me look like a terrible, use of force abusing rogue cop. it’s 100% distorted from how I actually am

                    and this is hardly some fly by night dunphy theory. it is extremely well documented in psychological literature

                    “The ego refuses to be distressed by the provocations of reality, to let itself be compelled to suffer. It insists that it cannot be affected by the traumas of the external world; it shows, in fact, that such traumas are no more than occasions for it to gain pleasure.” Sigmund Freud

                    1. Almanian.

                      God, the derp is endless with you, derpfee.

                      Stay golden, Phony Boy!

                    2. Dunphy (the real one)

                      perfect contentless reply. let the adults discuss, you troll away

                    3. Dunphy (the real one)

                      example: one of my coworkers was charged with assault recently (he was acquitted). this is a very smart guy – two master degrees and extremely reserved in use of force. he’s also an exceptionally strong strength athlete. he’s a powerlifter but I won’t hold that against him.

                      anyway during the incident, he was quoted as saying words to the effect of “I didn’t hit the guy; if I did he’d b going straight to the hospital unconscious, no way he’d be walking like he is”

                      and of course that was mentioned at trial, but I can tell you this is a guy that woul NEVER use excessive force, and is extremely reserved and professional. but it’s gallows humor. another cop testified against him using that quote.

                      this is a man who is one of the most compassionate people I ever met, but if you heard him talk sometimes, you’d think he was a marauding Robocop beating the shit out of people left and right, and prior to this “assault” he had barely ANY use of force incidents, and no excessive ones, despite many high risk felony arrests, et.

                      it’s a perfect example of the syndrome.

                    4. we joke about shit like that all the time. say things about “scumbags” and stuff that isn’t really true and if it were true WOULD make us horrible persons, except it’s not

                      If so many of my experiences with cops didn’t include them acting exactly like they were talking, I might actually buy this. For those of you out there who haven’t had any run-ins yet, take this with a grain of salt, and never trust that the officer is your friend without a decent amount of evidence.

                3. Virginian

                  Blah blah blah

                  Look man, do you really not get it? Anonymity shows the true self. I’m a sarcastic asshole in real life, but I take it up to 11 on the Internet.

                  Those PoliceOne commenters? They’re the same fucking cops you talk to who agree with you, because they know that’s what they’re supposed to say. But give them anonymity, then you will find who they truly are. Which is honestly, a bunch of thugs. Sorry, it’s a simple fact. The pay is good, but the hours suck. Cops do it for the glory, for the pension, but a lot do it because it lets them hit people with clubs and if they’re lucky, kill someone and never spend a day in jail.

                  Teachers like kids. Lawyers like to argue. Chefs like to cook. Musicians like to play their instrument. People in general do something they like, or at least tolerate.

                  1. So all those times I’ve been called a scumbag and beaten with batons, the cops were just exercising gallows humor.

                    That’s makes things wayyyy better.

                    Glad I could bring a little sunshine to the lives of the heroes in blue!

                    1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                      Dude, I’m going to the Washington County gun show this weekend. My first show. I’m pumped.

                    2. Sweet.

                      Shows are awesome.

                      I used to go in the nineties with my dad. Back then, the militia thing was big, so you’d have all these camo’d out mofos walking around talking about revolution. Now that I think of it, you’ll probably have a similar experience this weekend.

                      —————-

                      Holy shit, it’s only 40 mins from my house (and only 5 clams to get in!), I might head down. Probably won’t buy anything, as prices will be high.

                    3. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                      I’ll probably hit Ace Sporting Goods while there. I’ve heard good things but never bothered to make a trip. Of course I’m sure they’ll be packed too.

                    4. Do you need cash at a gun show (you think they take credit/debit)?

                      Like I said, I haven’t been to one since I was a kid.

                    5. Episiarch

                      Most of the better tables will have a way of processing credit cards, usually a swiper hooked up to their mobile phone, but take cash because they almost always have a lower cash price and a separate, higher credit price.

                      You’re making me want to go to the one in Monroe this weekend, damn it. But it’s going to be an overpriced madhouse.

                    6. Yeah, I figured I might get a deal if I have cash in hand. Hopefully I don’t catch the fever and pay way more for something than I should.

                    7. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                      Some dealers probably do, others not. As crowded as it’s likely to be, I’m a little worried about bringing cash too.

                    8. Just don’t buy a handgun, PICS is taking hours, I hear.

                    9. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                      Didn’t we talk about this yesterday? If it’s an FFL they have to do PICS on long guns too.

                    10. Not everybody at gunshows are FFL, a good bit are “private sellers” *winks*.

                    11. Sernylan

                      “Dude, I’m going to the Washington County gun show this weekend”

                      Be ready to see slight variations of the exact same shit, on many different tables. When I go to a gun show I prefer to go on the last day, and to look for specific types of guns and/or accessories….just my $0.02

                      (the political rhetoric, and sense of community ought to be intense, considering the political climate…and ginned up outrage on the MSM)

          2. And the vast majority of Policeone want’s her crucified for it.

            Want’s???

    2. Proof that there is at least one “honest cop” in the US.

      “I will believe in the concept of ‘honest cop’ the day I see a policeman pulled over for speeding”- me

      … Hobbit

  36. Chinese Web censor lectures ungrateful Chinese citizens not respecting his dunphy like protection of their Internet freedoms:

    The strategy on deletion and distribution. Please think about this: You guys keep posting messages like machines, and the micro-blog secretaries keep deleting them. If we don’t delete messages one by one and suspend accounts, we could have saved more time and energy. We could have served better as the running dog. You can see the messages before they are deleted, right? You still have your account functioning, right? You are all experienced netizens, you know that the technology allows us to delete messages in a second. Please think carefully on this.

    Unsurprisingly his account had disappeared, and he probably is enjoying his own tea session while waiting for a pink slip.

    1. Dunphy (the real one)

      troll-o-meter:. 01

    2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

      We could have served better as the running dog.

      Is this a “do not want!” type phrase?

  37. Jordan

    There’s a predator drone toy available at Amazon, and the page is filled with hilarious reviews denigrating the assassin-in-chief:

    This is the best toy ever. Finally, I can pretend that I’m a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize!
    It’s like I’m sitting right there in the White House with my very own kill list!

    I bought this for my son and he spent countless, blissful hours simulating massacres of weddings, funerals, and other family gatherings of brown skinned foreigners! He even realized that if he circled the drone back around on the first responders, his effective kill rate soared! Neat-o!

    Educationally, this toy can’t be beat – inculcating a predilection for indiscriminate, imperialist violence against non-combatants from oppressed and marginalized communities is precisely in accordance with truly “American values!”

    U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

    Buy two and play “Double-tap the first responders” (as in real life)…

    1. Brett L

      Fucking priceless.

    2. Anonymous Coward

      Guns will be banned, but child killing drones will continue to fly!,

      I thought this would be a good toy simply out of necessity. Guns, which good people use to defend themselves, will soon be harder and harder to buy, unless you are a criminal(or rich with armed guards). So I said to myself, “self, what can I get my son for Christmas, that wont soon be banned, and thus create a stigma on any related toys?”. The answer? Drones!!!

      They are used to kill innocent children all of the time. The President even approves of them, and he got a Nobel Peace Prize!! Perfect! I can buy my son a drone toy without fear of him having a politically incorrect toy, even though they kill more kids than guns do. It’s ok because the government says it is! Thank you Mr. Prez and thank you drones and drone toys; my son can be a “good” murderer!

      By the power vested in me, and with the blessings of the Noodly One, his Holy Marinara be praised, I declare you threadwinner.

    3. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

      Get them quick because they’re going to be deleted, just like the hilarious post-9/11 reviews of The Pet Goat.

      1. RyanXXX

        http://www.cracked.com/article…..views.html

        If you enjoy sarcastic, mocking reviews of Amazon products, read this article

    4. Almanian.

      My fave – I like the “Civil Liberties Not Included” and “Side Effects”. Thanks, Jordan!

      Obama Drone! Obama Drone!, January 8,

      Everybody in the hood will soon have their own drone ! And Obama’s giving ’em away for FREE!

      From the demi-god responsible for such classic hits as “Section 1021 (b) of the 2012 NDAA”, “HR347” and “Do You Know The Way To Guantanamo Bay” comes this exciting new destructor of “associated forces” !

      A MUST have for the budding little fascist in your home !

      Civil Liberties Not Included. Must Be purchased separately with our “Citizens United” box set

      Side effects may include : Loss of Habeous Corpus , Indefinite Detention Without Evidence or Legal Counsel, Suspension of The 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments , FEMA camp relocation, and in most cases, Death involving innocent civilians.

  38. Dunphy (the real one)

    don;t try to grab an officer’s gun (approx. 3/4 of the time a person takes a cops gun, he will use it against the officer. guy is lucky cops didn’t use deadly force, but only used batons)
    http://blutube.policeone.com/v…..f-parolee/

  39. The Late P Brooks

    Until now, the gun lobby’s political contributions, advertising and lobbying have dwarfed spending from anti-gun violence groups. No longer.

    Sounds like a scam, to me.

  40. Matrix

    Experiencing today’s technology after 25 years in prison

    I’m sure it would be pretty confusing.

    1. A Serious Man

      BROOKS WAS HERE

      1. Almanian.

        -1 living person

  41. GILMORE

    Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may give her testimony on the Benghazi Consulate attacks on Jan. 22.

    Hope there’s still room under the bus, Hils.

    1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

      The same day as Feinstein & Co. offer their gun bills. So the media will have an excuse to bury it.

      1. RyanXXX

        You and your whacky conspiracy theories.

  42. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

    Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez is clinging to life, and U.S. leadership is considering whether his death might help improve relations with the country.

    Obama’s reelection certainly would help improve relations.

    1. RyanXXX

      That whole “two terms” thing is so outdated, like the rest of that scrap of paper…what’s it called again?

      1. Almanian.

        The Kama Sutra? No?

        1. RyanXXX

          The Elder Scrolls maybe? Yea, that sounds right.

          1. Whahappan?

            The Protocols of the Elder Scrolls?

  43. RyanXXX

    For history buffs, here is the only known audio of Hitler speaking normally (not a speech, rally, etc.)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClR9tcpKZec

    He discusses logistical problems, how he underestimated the Soviets, what he thought of Molotov, how useless Italy was, etc. Very informative

    1. Thanks, Ryan, that’s very interesting.

    2. I saw this the other day. It was weird listening to Hitler and him not acting the sweaty, screaming psychopath.

      1. RyanXXX

        He seems like a guy you could share a beer with, ya know? He’s got my vote

        1. Red Rocks Rockin

          He really does seem like he cares about our problems.

  44. Coates misses the point. Yet again.

    There’s a telling moment in this Piers Morgan interview with Alex Jones, wherein Jones challenges Morgan to a boxing match. Jones is one of the authors of a petition to deport Piers Morgan. He also commands a fairly large talk radio audiences, and began the interview by angrily warning Morgan that any move toward gun control would open the doors to “1776.”

    Nevertheless, I think the fact that Jones responds to a disagreement over government policy by telling his interlocutor “well how ’bout we take this outside” is illustrative. Jones spends much of the interview ranting about the evils of government use of force, without much attention to the kind of individual violence with which he threatened Morgan. More accurately, Jones believes that the only answer to such violence is more — presumably defensive — violence, though his pose makes him a poor advocate for such a position.

    One argument, and perhaps the greatest argument, for civil society is that we do not settle actual policy questions by asking, in Chris Rock mode, “Yes, but can you kick my ass?” That way lies the path to government by ogres, or chaos, or all against all, or all against them, or all against me. There must be a better way.

  45. Today I was at school and not having anything to do, decided to read some mainstream press articles. It’s how I kill time when I don’t have anything due.

    So, I started perusing some gun control articles and their comments sections. I have to say that what I read was really alarming.

    I didn’t feel in danger or anything, but the nature of the comments led me to think that the left has really gone mad over guns (and everything else). There were threats and calls to violence against gun owners that would make Kaul blush.

    Coupled with the calls to violence against gun owners and suspending the constitution were the sort of insults you read of in history when one group tries to dehumanize another group whilst rationalizing their murder. Not only that, but gun owners were painted as paranoid because they say the left wants to take their guns and suspend the constitution, i.e. exactly what these people were calling for and more.

    On the gun owners side, the only comfort offered is that cops and military are pro-second and wouldn’t carry out orders to disarm American citizens. Even if you do believe that to be true, those in power would just relieve those that wouldn’t of duty, and hire slackjawed, sociopathic lefties more than willing to kill Americans.

    I think if this shit doesn’t get buried soon, we may be looking at some violence. I don’t mean revolution type violence, but Ruby Ridge type; weekly.

    1. db

      This is why I am asking the questions about “when did those who lest Nazi Germany (and Europe) in time, decide to do so, and why?”

      1. Exactly.

        When we look back at history, things seem so obvious. At the time, though, events happened gradually and it’s almost impossible to know when you’ve reached the point of no return.

        Not to be a hyperbolic Godwinner, but I don’t want to look back years from now at this point in time, and think that the tyranny that follows could have been averted.

        1. db

          Don’t know why, but I just started watching the video linked in your handle above. Yikes.

          1. That was a long time ago, I am totally reformed now.

            Okay, okay, I’ll sometimes go warlordin’ in my underoos, but only on the weekend and only if I’m just way stressed out. But that is IT.

            1. db

              I hope that’s not really you. The story about how he got a woman to jokingly give her daughter to him in marriage so he could sacrifice her to a demon is very hard to listen to. He claims he had to perform a human sacrifice monthly to maintain favor with a demon? Yikes.

          2. db

            Interesting: That is why I know: It is only the Will of a Man that the Devil uses to stand. Once you take your Will from him,he have no Power!

            This is very similar to the idea of going Galt.

  46. db

    Grey Ghost pointed this article out to me earlier. Thanks, it was a very good read.

    2. During the first year of Hitler’s rule most of us thought that he would disappear from the stage now that he had been given responsibilities. We had no doubt that he would fail, just as those before him had failed, and that would be the end of him and his histrionics.

    9. Before the open panic started, reaching the decision to emigrate was still an individual process; some arrived at it earlier, others later. People who were still employed or in business probably tarried longer than those without means. But aside from this factor, individuals have different thresholds, even with regard to acting and reacting in the face of grave danger. Once the decision had been made, the urgency grew quickly, and the feeling was: the sooner the better. But at that time there was, connected to the willingness to emigrate, still the consideration of where to go and how to build a new future there.

    1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

      The problem for Americans in 2012 is where the hell do you go. There really isn’t anyplace in the developed world with anything approaching the level of gun rights we have here. Switzerland is brought up a lot, but you can’t carry a firearm there unless you’re going to militia service, and they make you account for all the ammo you get.

      1. db

        If I have to live in a country with severely limited gun rights, I’d rather live in one in which I wasn’t explicitly unwelcome and made to feel oppressed. When your neighbors and countrymen reject you, why stay with them and work for them and help them?

        1. db

          I’m not just talking about gun rights here either. Our country is sliding down the rankings of economic freedom, education, and economic success. The best part of this place for me right now is being able to enjoy my shooting hobbies without undue interference. If that goes away, I might as well move somewhere else with nicer weather and better economic prospects.

      2. Somalia, of course.

        1. I bet it’d be easy to set up a freetown in ol’ somalia.

          10,000 armed americans with cash to spend, and drug tourists flocking from all points of the globe…

          Somalia could be the place to go.

          1. db

            FreeStaters can’t get 10,000 to move to NH, and we’re going to pick up and build a freetown compound in Somalia? uhhh, I don’t know…

            1. Heroic Mulatto

              Yeah, but NH is cold.

              1. db

                It’s also right next to a bunch of Massholes, so Somalia’s got that going for it.

                1. “FRIENDS, COME TO BEAUTIFUL SOMALIA!*”

                  *no massholes, please

                  1. db

                    I wonder how tolerant Somalis would be to me starting up a microbrewery in LiberFreiBurg.

                2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

                  It’s also right next to a bunch of Massholes, so Somalia’s got that going for it.

                  Ethiopians are the Massholes of the Eastern Hemisphere.

                  And don’t even get me started on Obama’s countrymen to the south.

              2. Mad Scientist

                I’d sign up with the FSP if only it weren’t New Hampshire, where I’ll freeze my ass off in the winter and be eaten alive by mosquitoes in the summer.

                1. ‘d sign up with the FSP if only it weren’t New Hampshire, where I’ll freeze my ass off in the winter and be eaten alive by mosquitoes in the summer.

                  I have come to a similar conclusion. ^^^THIS^^^^

                2. Heroic Mulatto

                  Mosquitoes? Nah.
                  Black flies? Yes.

    2. If President Roosevelt had deliberately convened it as a political measure to demonstrate to his constituency in the U.S. that the state of the economy, especially the unemployment situation, did not permit the immigration of any more Jews, he could not have chosen a more effective means.

      What a fucking prick, Roosevelt was.

      How is he a fucking hero? Oh that’s right, the left values economic redistribution by force as their motive power and goal; any morality is considered expendable in that goal.

      1. In A Country Squire in the White House Thomas Flynn argues that Roosevelt, a scion of an aristocratic old-money family with large land-holdings, sought to put upstart nouveau riche businessmen in their place and restore the power of the old-money ivy-leaguers.

        Having noted the enthusiasm with which aristocrats adopted socialism as a way of getting back at liberalism for depriving them of their privileges I think there is something to be said for the idea.

        1. In A Country Squire in the White House Thomas Flynn argues that Roosevelt, a scion of an aristocratic old-money family with large land-holdings, sought to put upstart nouveau riche businessmen in their place and restore the power of the old-money ivy-leaguers.

          I’ll have to check that out.

          I’ve come to nearly the same conclusion from what history I have read of the era. Same thing with John Maynard Keynes.

  47. Heroic Mulatto

    The contest for Best Mug Shot of the Year is off to an early start with this paragon of crazy….

    1. db

      That guy looks like he’s having a lot of fun…

  48. Time for more “Fark comments on a Reason article.

    A sample:

    Rev.K
    2013-01-09 11:02:32 AM
    Yes, a Republican president can start two unfunded wars and then cook the books so that the actual spending doesn’t show on his budgets, but a Democrat president must be held to inflation plus growth.

    F*ck yourselves.

    And another:

    What truth?

    That the imbeciles at Reason are totally fine with trillions of unfunded Republican debt and then clutch their pearls when Obama raises the lowest tax rates in history?

    1. They must get their talking points from the Shrike Newsletter.

    2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

      I don’t have any alcohol in my apartment, man. Why you gotta do this to me?

      1. I don’t have any alcohol in my apartment, man. Why you gotta do this to me?

        Just pretend I’m a TSA agent. Then you’ll be fine with it.

        1. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

          Remember that I’m the one who avoids having the government rubber shoved in my crack.

          1. Then I hope you never have prostate problems after the age of 65. Besides, if you weren’t so damn submissive, you’d know that they only brush the balls and stay well away from the crack.

            1. db

              It’s really a tease. You get all built up for this big event, and they barely tickle your sack. What a letdown. I had blueballs all the way to Shanghai.

            2. Tulpa (LAOL-PA)

              Uh, dude? When you refuse any search, period, at the airport, you’ll have standing to call me submissive. Submitting to a more intrusive search is not resistance.

              1. Uh, dude? When you refuse any search, period, at the airport, you’ll have standing to call me submissive.

                I’m not allowed to call you submissive based on the massive amount of comments you make advocating submission to authority? I have to jump through some hoop you just invented in order to tell the truth?

                Submitting to a more intrusive search is not resistance.

                It is when the intention is to gum up the works. That’s like saying going galt isn’t resistance. After all, they were just running away.

                Besides, you know that I treat them like sex workers and make insulting comments. You know this because you just scolded me for it.

                Tell me, do you actually wag your finger at the screen when you read back what you type?

  49. waaminn

    That dude seems to know what day of the week it is. Wow.

    http://www.BigAnon.tk

  50. Francisco d Anconia

    So Doc. It’s 11 PM MST and I’m flippin through the channels and there’s this movie on HBO…

    It stars Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, Patrick Stewart, Sean Young and Sting.

    Something about Spice, something something…

    Ever seen it?

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