A.M. Links: Obama Administration Memo on Assassinating Americans Leaked, Over 50 Countries Involved in CIA Torture Program, Oregon Baker Being Investigated After Refusing to Make Wedding Cake for Gay Couple, Chadian Troops Enter Mali

• The Obama administration's memo on the assassination of American citizens has been leaked. You can be targeted if you are a "senior operational leader" of Al Qaeda or an "associated force" (whatever that means). According to the memo there does not need to be any actual intelligence that suggests targeted Americans are involved in a plot to attack the U.S. Read the whole document here. 

• Civil rights lawyers are working on prohibiting the NYPD from spying on Muslim communities without any evidence that those being spied on have any connection to terrorism or any other illegal activity. 

• A new report from the Open Society Justice Initiative links more than 50 countries to the CIA's torture program. 

• An Oregon baker is being investigated after refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. 

• Soldiers from Chad have entered the Malian town of Kidal, the last town under rebel control in northern Mali. 

• The potential legalization of gay marriage is splitting the British Conservative Party. There are rumors that Prime Minister David Cameron could soon face a leadership challenge, with some Conservatives saying that he has abandoned conservative principles. 

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

An Oregon baker is being investigated after refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

FIND ANOTHER BAKER.

[Longtorso]

KILL THAT BAKER WITH A DRONE!!!

[DJF]

In the name of freedom we went from the government stopping people from associating to making them associate.

[Longtorso]

You used a word that began with 'ass'. I see what you did there.

[a better weapon]

Speaking of 'ass,' lets say prostitution becomes legal, I don't see how this statute wouldn't apply to the rendering of sex services too.

Guy - "I'm looking for a good time."
Prostitute - "Sorry, I don't do guys."
Guy - "Oh realllly? OFFICER!"

[AlmightyJB]

I predict that you are going to see preachers that won't perform gay marraige vows be disallowed to perform any marraige vows and/or their churches will lose tax exempt status. That may be a ways off but it will eventually happen.

[Way Of The Crane]

FIND ANOTHER BAKER.

THIS^

Why would anyone want to force someone who doesn't like them to make or serve them food. Do they really want to eat a cake baked by someone who hates homosexuals?

[Night Elf Mohawk]

"Sorry about that. You'd be surprised how much ground habanero looks like ground cinnamon."

[mad libertarian guy]

Do they really want to eat a cake baked by someone who hates homosexuals?

It's not about "wanting" anything other than forcing the baker to publicly recognize their union. The cake is a symbol, not of marriage, but of their will to force other people to do what they want.

[robc]

^^THIS^^

Its also why the LP hasnt made any significant progess in the gay community despite being, in theory, the party most friendly to gays.

[Drax the Destroyer]

It's also why the semi-standard freedom approach to marriage (GET THE FUCKING STATE OUT OF THE INSTITUTION ALTOGETHER) has little to no traction in liberal circles. They want their goodies goddammit, and they want to force "conservative" homophobes to pay for them. And they wonder why there is so much push-back. Same thing goes for "reproductive rights".

[John]

I am still waiting for all of these goodies you get from the government for being married. All I have ever gotten was taking it up the ass on taxes.

Why the idiotic idea that the government provides goodies to married people needs to fucking die a painful death.

[Rich]

Calm down, John.

Tax reform is just around the corner.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Wouldn't know. I've been told by older married people their taxes "improved" and various other money-saving schemes became legally available to them once they jumped off the cliff. If that ain't true, it makes the demands of certain people even more irrational and vengeful.

Regardless the point stands: GET THE STATE OUT OF THE MARRIAGE BUSINESS.

[Chris Mallory]

Having kids improves your taxes. Young marrieds, both working, no kids, get bent over and violated.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Well, I get personal exemptions for them as dependents.

[Raston Bot]

Kids are $3500 deduction per, and you get another $5000 in FSA for dependent care or $3000 in dependent care deductions which is only $600 in credit (child care tax credit?).

[Bobarian]

"told by older married people their taxes "improved" and various other money-saving schemes became legally available to them"

I'm gonna let you in on the secret-

As an 'older married people' I tell people this just so they can share my pain, because I'm a fucking sadist.

[mad libertarian guy]

Legal proxy rights in hospital situations. Insurance. I know my taxes are lower when filing married together than married separate.

Don't act like they don't exist, John. The incentives are there.

[mad libertarian guy]

I know my taxes are lower when filing married together than married separate.

Or when I and my wife were unmarried yet still, for all intents and purposes, cohabiting in such a way as to be bonded together.

[R C Dean]

Assuming you both have decent jobs, you will generally pay the least taxes if you are not married. I don't think there's any question that filing married (whether jointly or separately)results in a higher tax bill most of the time.

Legal proxy rights in hospitals and healthcare are best arranged using a healthcare power of attorney, which is generally better than relying on the default surrogate rights of spouses.

Insurance, of course, is a private matter, and is not necessarily dependent on state recognition of marriage.

The only benefit I see from state recognition of marriage has to do with inheritance.

[robc]

The only benefit I see from state recognition of marriage has to do with inheritance.

Also, Social Security Benefits.

[nicole]

Don't forget immigration, guys.

[Pro Libertate]

Most of the powers that spouses get through marriage can be replicated or improved upon by other means, usually contractual.

[robc]

Most of the powers that spouses get through marriage can be replicated or improved upon by other means, usually contractual.

Yep.

Except public recognition and SS benefits.

[T]

Except public recognition

If you walk around and say "Bob and I are married" is anybody who's not a bigger asshole than even me going to look at you and say "No, you're not"? Are those people out there? I ask because I honestly don't know. In my world, if you introduce yourself as married, voila!, the world accepts that you're married.

[robc]

If you walk around and say "Bob and I are married" is anybody who's not a bigger asshole than even me going to look at you and say "No, you're not"?

Depending on how assholey Im feeling that day, I might.

If its a male-female, I wont. If its a gay couple, I probably roll my eyes when they arent looking, but if Im already riled up (say they are liberals or conservatives and we have already gotten into it over some other issue), I might say "No, youre not."

But Im probably a bigger asshole than you. At least on that day.

[Proprietist]

And immigration.

[Ska]

@ RC Dean - marriage also allows for certain gift tax schemes, and for estate tax purposes try passing your estate to your unmarried live in SO.

Tax implications aside - forcing someone that hates you to make you food is a really bad idea. And you're going to pay for it anyway. Do you tell your guests "yeah we totally made those homophobes sell us our wedding cake!" WTF. Your guests are mostly going to think a) wow, dick move; b) I'll be having a canoli.

[Stormy Dragon]

Legal proxy rights in hospitals and healthcare are best arranged using a healthcare power of attorney, which is generally better than relying on the default surrogate rights of spouses.

Ha ha ha! Yeah, try leaving most of your estate to someone not legally recognized as a member of your family and watch how "generally better than relying on the default surrogate rights of spouses" it is when your family challenges the will in court.

[R C Dean]

Stormy, I'm talking about hospital and healthcare rights, and you're talking about estate taxes.

These are two different things. Try to focus.

[Stormy Dragon]

Same issue holds in hospital and healthcare rights. If you assign power of attourney to someone who's not your lawyer or a legally recognized family member, it will often go unenforced by the courts if your family challenges it.

This isn't even specifically a gay marriage thing, more a general problem with judges putting their personal conceptions of how things should be done over the law.

[Fist of Etiquette]

There's always the most powerful benefit to marriage recognition of all: marriage-license-as-cultural-acceptance. I get the feeling that's bigger here at a libertarian publication than it should be.

[Chris Mallory]

Because Married filing separate only gives you half of the MFJ deduction. Single beats MFS.

[John]

I know my taxes are lower when filing married together than married separate.

But still higher than they would be if you filed single. You pay to be married.

Legal proxy rights in hospital situations

Another idiotic myth. Get a medical power of attorney. If anything, you have less freedom while married because it makes it harder to grant such rights to other people.

Insurance.

Obamacare aside, insurance is not a government benefit.

[lap83]

"You pay to be married."
Exactly, like Thomas Sowell says it's more of a restriction on rights than a right.

[DesigNate]

Where are you doing taxes man? Just a cursory glance of the 2012 tax tables shows that if I filed single my tax liability is higher than if my wife and I file jointly.

[Sevo]

mad libertarian guy| 2.5.13 @ 9:32AM |#
"Don't act like they don't exist, John. The incentives are there."

John hopes repeating a lie often enough might get someone to believe it.

[Zeb]

Tax free benefits from work for your spouse is the only benefit I see. And my wife doesn't make much money, so my tax rate is not worse anyway. But that's all I see for "goodies".

I think that the people who want to force homophobes to make wedding cakes for gay couples really are motivated by a misguided desire for equality. They think that the only way to make people think the "right" way is by force of law (and that it is good to force people to think the right way). These are the same people who think that without the CRA, every business would still be segregated by race.

[XTSee]

John
I am still waiting for all of these goodies you get from the government for being married.

It's not about the "goodies." It's about being different and trying to force Americans to pretend that you're not different. The desire to become a member of "accepted" society (through force, if necessary) is stronger than the need to tie up a few loose civil rights ends (survivor benefits, divorce perks). Not that the civil rights angle is not without merit. Why should gays be excluded from contractual law and its protections?

[Stormy Dragon]

It's also why the semi-standard freedom approach to marriage (GET THE FUCKING STATE OUT OF THE INSTITUTION ALTOGETHER) has little to no traction in liberal circles.

That should be the ultimate goal, but since that's not currently obtainable, what do we do in the meantime? If someone ran for president saying that we should ultimately be trying to get rid of the income tax entirely, so in the meantime it didn't matter how high the rate is, would he get lots of libertarian support, or would they vote for the guy who wants to cut rates right now?

[mad libertarian guy]

Its also why the LP hasnt made any significant progess in the gay community despite being, in theory, the party most friendly to gays.

Yep. They want gays, like everyone else, to live and let live. Fuck who you want, while allowing people who disagree to disagree. Unfortunately, Team BLUE has convinced the gay community that only the use of force via government to enact a particular agenda is good enough.

The irony is thick, however, in seeing a group cognitively dissonant enough to want to be able to freely associate with whom they choose trying to force others in their associations.

[sarcasmic]

It's not about "wanting" anything other than forcing the baker to publicly recognize their union.

That's all it has ever been about.

As I said before, I supported SSM when I thought it was about acting without interference.

I dropped my support when I realized it was about suing people.

[Brett L]

They may not hate them, just think (rightly or wrongly) that gay marriage is wrong.

[Way Of The Crane]

So you trust him to NOT spit in your cake?

[Rich]

A good baker *always* puts a bit of himself into his work.

[LTC(ret) John]

Yikes.

[Bobarian]

It looks like lemom cake, but does it taste like lemon cake?

You go first...

[lap83]

I agree. Many gay marriage advocates don't get that you can condemn someone's behavior without condemning them as a person. That could have to do with the fact that many gay people seem to have a hard time of identifying themselves as more than just sexual beings.

[Stormy Dragon]

Many gay marriage advocates don't get that you can condemn someone's behavior without condemning them as a person.

And many Christians don't get that calling people all kinds of vulgar epithets doesn't become unoffensive if you claim you're not really condemning them afterwards.

[wareagle]

and the folks directing a similar string of epithets at either teh Christians or others who believe in traditional marriage? Reflexively calling people bigots and homophobes is not an argument. The epithet train runs in both directions; doesn't make either right, it just is.

[Stormy Dragon]

You're missing my point. I'm not complaining about the epithets per se, but the "we're not condemning you, just your actions" BS. If you call me an abomination that's going to hell for defying God's will, you are condemning me. At least be man enough to stand behind what you say.

[iggy]

Except that I rarely see Christians call gay people abominations that are going to hell for defying God's will. I've honestly never known a single Christian who talked that way.

You're far more anti-Christian than the average Christian is anti-gay, Stormy.

[Stormy Dragon]

Well, then consider yourself lucky because I have. In fact it's part of why I'm no longer a Christian myself.

Now maybe I've just been exposed to a rather unrepresentative sample of Christians, but when Santorum can come in second on the Republican primary running on a platform comparing gays to child molesters, I don't think that's the case. Likewise I'm betting the two block line to get into Chick-Fil-A on "Celebrate homophobia" day was all composed of Christians who would never talk that way.

[crashland]

The baker was a jerk by saying "they were abominations to the Lord." He should have been more tactful and Christ like.

Loving the sinner and hating the sin with a response like "God loves you and I love you but I'm sorry, my beliefs won't allow me to support your lifestyle by making your wedding cake. Stop by when you need a birthday cake and I'll happily make it for free."

You can devoutly religious without being an asshole. In fact being loving and Christ like is the only viable path to changing hearts.

[Auric Demonocles]

"Double baco-cheesecake. It's for a homo"

[geneparmesano]

Cake Ramrod

[R C Dean]

Why would anyone want to force someone who doesn't like them to make or serve them food.

Because they can. Because they want to force everyone to validate and approve their private arrangements.

[Don Mynack]

Just bake them the cake after putting your dick in the batter, just like everybody else does.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

I don't want another baker. I want this baker to be forced to do what I want.

[db]

SERVICE!

[Drake]

That's not chocolate!

[JW]

Yeah, I'm guessing they never learned the rules of the 3 people not to fuck with.

[Eduard van Haalen]

The other two being the butcher and the candlestick maker?

[JW]

After I posted, I tried remembering the rule, but could only recall 2:

The guy who makes your food
The guy who fixes your car

[Rich]

"Statutes don't get to overcome constitutional protections, so if somebody had a religious-based reason for wanting not to trade with somebody, I think you have a really interesting test case for whether or not a statute like this can apply."

"It's OK to keep my hijab on inside this bank, right? RIGHT?!"

[Zeb]

My religion requires me to wear a black balaclava at all times and to shout incoherently whenever I enter a building.

[MJGreen]

What about a "fuck you, that's why" reason for wanting not to trade with somebody?

[Christina]

What annoys me about this particular issue is that the baker thinks the Oregon statute is trumped by his 1st Amendment rights. While that is true, it would be another case of the government deciding that no discrimination is valid unless its rooted in some sky-daddy mythology. What if they guy is atheist but just hates lesbians because he was married to one? Is that less valid than saying, "your relationship is an abomination to the Lord?"

Maybe, just maybe, people should be able to trade freely and those of us not involved in the transactions should BUTT OUT!

[Gadianton]

When I was a kid, stores used to have a sign at the door: "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."

Funny how you don't see those anymore.

[SIV]

Who could have seen this coming?
Talk about your "unintended consequences"!

[SIV]

GAY MARRIAGE +iPhones = NET GAIN IN FREEDOM. America has never been freer than it is right now.

[Ted S.]

Is there an app for cruising?

[Kaptious Kristen]

Several.

[Way Of The Crane]

Come clean KK. Which ones do you use?

[Kaptious Kristen]

All of 'em! Sheesh!

(a gay friend of mine showed me one in action. He had gotten a random rest area blow job on his way to the house where we were hanging out. Can't remember which one. Maybe Grindr?)

[nicole]

Kristen, I'm glad I'm not the only one with friends like this.

[Kaptious Kristen]

It's entertaining, that's for sure!

[Ted S.]

So you and Nicole are cruising for each other? Or did I misinterpret your comments?

[Way Of The Crane]

No seriously... what are the names... I'm taking notes.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Just gave you one! I can't say as I keep any others on the tip of my tongue. As it were.

[Way Of The Crane]

Just gave you one! I can't say as I keep any others on the tip of my tongue.

I see what you did there.

[Chris Mallory]

Don't forget food trucks. Cosmotarians love their food trucks.

[JW]

Drink!

[SIV]

They should hire food trucks to cater their gay weddings. Only licensed, inspected, government-approved food trucks because that's the way they roll.

[gaijin]

Butchers and candlesticks makers...you are on notice!

[Ted S.]

Butchers

I see what you did there.

[sarcasmic]

Respect mah authoritah!
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/W.....91991.html

[robc]

I didnt have a problem with the contempt sentence until I saw the bit on the "bye bye" "adios" exchange.

She was just speaking to the judge in his native tongue, what was the problem?

[Virginian]

Ughh the comments.

Sometimes I think there is hope, then I realize that 80% or more of the people in this country love licking the boots of their masters.

I just wish they'd find a BDSM club instead of hiring cops and judges and other parasites.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Yeah, I can't really decide what to think here.

I think the judge has a little Cartman in him. I also think this chick pushed and pushed.

I think the chick had something coming, but it was a drug case.

I guess, bottom line, I can't get too worked up about what happened to her other than that 30 days was a bit much.

[Chris Mallory]

Judges need to be stripped of most "contempt" authority. The court room does not belong to them, it belongs to the tax payers. The judge works for us. If I want to tell him to what I think of him, he should sit there and take it or find an honest job.

[robc]

I dont know about that.

I wanted judges to start throwing foreclosure lawyers in jail for contempt for showing up without the proper chain of ownership paperwork.

30 days per case seems about right to me.

Really, its the same as this, giving a big middle finger to the justice system.

[sarcasmic]

Chicago mother loses all four children to violent guns.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....z2Jw2rvyBx
Now if only Chicago had laws to control violent guns, this would never have happened.

[Longtorso]

Chicago murders top Afghanistan death toll

[generic Brand]

It's a war going on outside, we ain't safe from
I feel the pain in my city wherever I go
314 soldiers died in Iraq
509 died in Chicago

[Zeb]

509 soldiers died in Chicago? That seems odd.

I'm thinking that the 314 only includes Americans.

[Drax the Destroyer]

I don't think I am supposed to find that funny. But I do.

[mad libertarian guy]

What? A war zone filled to the brim with guns (almost exclusively comprised of those evil assault rifles - real ones) and crazies having a lower death toll from gun violence than a city with some of the strictest gun restrictions in the country?

It's not funny. It's sad that the terminally libertarded can't do the short bus math in that equation.

[Drax the Destroyer]

The "new" meme they trot out now like a painted whore is that "Well......ummm...the gun violence is so bad because...well...the surrounding counties and states don't have similar policies ... allowing people FROM OUT OF TOWN to sneak in and ruin our utopia! Yeah that's it! THAT'S THE REASON!"

Nothing but a full ban will satisfy this pieces of shit.

[mad libertarian guy]

They should just build a wall. I'd be happy to stay the fuck away from Chicago in exchange for them to stop blaming me for their fucking problems.

[Zeb]

Just turn Chicago into the whole country's prison (sorry Chicago residents). Build a big wall around it and put all the bad guys in there and let them do what they want to each other.

[Brett L]

Escape from Chicago!

[Kaptious Kristen]

That's been the argument in DC for ages. "Those evil Virginians let anyone have guns!"

[Virginian]

Yeah we do. The legislature is in session (spit) and the VCDL and the NRA just finished off the last gun control bill.

Progtards were mad bro. Also Bobby Mac put a tax on hybrids, and progtards are butthurt. Even though it makes perfect sense, because we need to maintain TEH ROADZ!! and the hybrid drivers aren't paying their fair share in gas taxes.

[Zeb]

"the hybrid drivers aren't paying their fair share in gas taxes."

Unless they've modified them to plug in, they are still getting all the energy to propel the car from taxed gasoline. Though I suppose they are heavier and so do more damage to the roads than a regular car with similar mileage.

[Virginian]

Though I suppose they are heavier and so do more damage to the roads than a regular car with similar mileage.

Exactly. It's fun because I get to use the pious leftist tone and say "Look, roads are important, and we have taxes to pay for them. It's important that the taxes are fair. This is about fairness, we can't have free riders on the government infrastructure."

[Rich]

the gun violence is so bad because...well...the surrounding counties and states don't have similar policies

*Not just* the surrounding counties and states -- it's fucking *Virginia*!

/Bloomberg

[gaijin]

It's interesting that Aurora, Illinois, 50 miles west of chicago, second largest city in Illinois, no gun restrictions, had exactly zero gun deaths last year.

[Rich]

RACIST!

[Restoras]

They can do the math, that's the problem. The math tells them they are outgunned in a situation where the consent to govern is withdrawn. Solution? Get the guns out of the hands of the people that scare you most.

[fish]

DON'T MOVE CITIZEN: WAIT FOR THE NICE MEN TO COME GET YOU AND TAKE YOU AWAY IN THE GOVERNMENT VEHICLE.

(that's what you get for cracking the code)

[nicole]

'I feel stressed out. I can't eat, I can't sleep, it's killing me,' Chambers told WBEZ during an appearance on 'Afternoon Shift' last week, saying that no one from the city reached out to her following her family's latest tragedy.

I have to say that's pathetic. In other news, if Ms. Chambers' home is burglarized at all in future she has likely by now gotten the message not to bother calling the police, because they won't be responding to such pedestrian issues here anymore. We actually have bus stop ads now that say, "Shots fired? 911. Car hotwired? 311."

[Rich]

We actually have bus stop ads now that say, "Shots fired? 911. Car hotwired? 311."

What do we do if we think we overhear someone mention something about a gun?

Is *that* 911? 1-800-DHS-TIPS?

[LTC(ret) John]

Both, citizen. SEE IT, HEAR IT, REPORT IT!

[sarcasmic]

This story brings new meaning to being screwed by the IRS.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....z2Jw2rvyBx

[Way Of The Crane]

She offered HIM sex in exchange for a break on HIS tax audit? She must have been a dog.

[mr lizard]

Hmmmmm. I wonder if he had a legit tax dodge or was she just gaming the system to make it look like she had by the short hairs. And if so, how much are we talking here? Cuz this team player has sacrificed for noble causes before. Throw money and jail time on the table and I start getting a lot less picky.

[sarcasmic]

Kate Moss is a lush? OMG!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs.....z2Jw2rvyBx

[Restoras]

This is why male gingers should be tossed off a cliff at birth.

[Ted S.]

Somebody out there finds that a fetish.

(It's a corollary of Rule 34: No matter what you can think of when it comes to sex, there's going to be somebody who's fetishized and commoditized it.)

[Longtorso]

Ted Nugent: 'Full of crap' Piers Morgan needs to leave gun owners 'the hell alone' [VIDEO]

[Restoras]

Black Sox? I got your Black Sox right here, soccer fans.

[John]

800 games. That is just astounding.

[RBS]

Soccer seems like an easy sport to fix. I mean, who could tell the difference?

[John]

Since no one ever scores, how do you ensure anyone covers the spread?

[robc]

Clearly someone hasnt watched Everton this year.

They had 16 consecutive matches in the premier league in which BOTH teams scored at least one goal.

The beat Swansea City 3-0 in late September and then tied Swansea 0-0 in mid January. In between, no 0s on the scoreboard.

[RBS]

Do they have a spread? I just assumed it was all pick em.

[John]

I think they set odds, the way the do in baseball. You can't have pickem because that would be too easy to bet.

[RBS]

Makes sense. I can honestly say this is the first time in my life I've ever thought about soccer and gambling at the same time.

[Timon 19]

When you consider that close to half the shirt sponsors in England are betting houses (online, mostly) and many more across Europe, I'm not sure where you get that other than you have no imagination at all.

That's leaving aside that in some venues, the electronic adboard around the perimeter of the pitch show continuously updated odds on the result of the match being played right there at the moment.

[Auric Demonocles]

When you consider that close to half the shirt sponsors in England are betting houses (online, mostly) and many more across Europe, I'm not sure where you get that other than you have no imagination at all.

Or no interest in a kid's game.

[Timon 19]

And yet there are comments.

[robc]

Europe is much more accepting of betting on sports than US Leagues.

The NFL tries to pretend it doesnt exist.

I think in most soccer stadiums, you can find the bookies concession and get a bet down while at the game. Apparently a popular one is the first goal scorer prop bet.

[robc]

It is odds, with 3 bets, Team A, Team B or Draw.

[Ted S.]

And now, on to the pools news.

The dividend forecast is low.

[Zeb]

I think that there is also a lot of betting on things that happen in the game. Red cards and stuff like that. WHich is even easier to rig than the outcome of the game.

[Timon 19]

Who scores, first throw in (there was a huge scandal some years ago with this sort of bet as the primary), first free kick, number of corners, etc. etc.

Then there were the Asian betting syndicates going around England sabotaging floodlights to try to force a result (a match can be abandoned with the result at the time standing if it reaches halftime).

[Timon 19]

Try harder, guys. Geez.

[DJF]

I think they should give them bigger goals. They might actually score more then once in a game.

[gaijin]

10 men on the field might be more effective.

[Spartacus]

Corner kick = 1 point
Goal = 5 points

It will never happen but I think it would make things a lot more interesting.

[Bobarian]

How about 11 men on the field, 6 points for a goal that you run in with an opportunity to score 1 or 2 additional points based on running or kicking it in.

A goal that you kick in would be worth say... 3 points?

Maybe the players could wear protective gear andstop advances of the ball by tackling people?

I think that would make soccer more interesting...

[AZ]

I know you're joking, but here's the grain of truth that makes it funny: one of the games, a goalie for some little side was paid to surrender 3+ goals to Liverpool; despite this, Liverpool couldn't get shots on target and only scored 1.

[Timon 19]

Methinks the betting syndicate needs some lessons in the game. Usually, the goalkeeper really isn't the one most responsible for keeping the ball out. He's just the last one with any say in it, normally. Someone probably should have told his defense, too.

[Drake]

Who can even stay awake through a whole game?

[robc]

Tennis may be even worse.

Low level, early round tennis matches in unimportant tournaments regularly get surprising amounts of money bet on them.

[John]

There was a scandal a few years ago involving the Russian mafia for fixing matches a few years ago. It mysteriously disappeared. Tennis is probably the most fixed sport. Worse than boxing.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

The scandal involved Novak Djokovic. The number one ranked male tennis player in the world. Pro tennis is rigged.

[generic Brand]

Worse than boxing.

I refuse to believe that after Pacquiao lost to Bradley last year. Sure, Pacquiao got his shit stomped in by Marquez, but he clearly won against Bradley and the Mayweather-Cotto fight was a lot closer than the scorecards said.

Boxing is a joke. I pray UFC doesn't head that way.

[John]

I pray UFC doesn't head that way.

Just a matter of time. All of the dynamics are there, money, athletes who start with nothing and have short careers, betting, a subjective sport than can be easily manipulated or thrown.

[AZ]

I think this is one of those rare situations where centralized control is actually a good thing and may limit corruption.

The UFC's legitimacy is probably a bigger ongoing asset to the organization than any one fighter, so their incentives better align with protecting against corruption than a loose network of promoters attached closely to specific fighters.

[Don Mynack]

Just like many of the sharps in Vegas make most of their money on small college basketball games. Games are easy to fix, and/or they know more about that particular game than the house does.

[db]

Wow. They might be rolling around holding both knees for a while.

[Way Of The Crane]

An Oregon baker is being investigated after refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

Was it an erotic cake?

[generic Brand]

I saw this story being reported on CBN (a news program on Good Life network... don't ask), and I couldn't help but think "what if instead of saying they don't make cakes for gay weddings they just said they don't make cakes for blonde people, or some other characteristic besides outright orientation or race?"

"I'm sorry, we only make cakes for natural brunettes."

[Way Of The Crane]

Living in Oregon, the baker had to have seen this coming.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Is hair color a protected characteristic?

[geneparmesano]

Man on man lemon meringue?

[Restoras]

A fascinating de-construction of Saruman. Sarcasmic, can you interrupt your perpetual internet perusal for beautiful women of svelte stature to weigh in?

[Restoras]

Dang, SF'ed the link...
http://www.blackgate.com/2012/.....refighter/

[robc]

Interesting, as Im finally forcing my way thru The Simarillion. I just got Thingol killed off, so Im almost done.

[RBS]

It took me forever to finish. I was reading about 3 pages a day on the weekends.

[Tim]

Everybody dies, everything gets wrecked and then the Valar declare victory and go home. A lot like Iraq.

[AuH2O]

Dude, dominatrix's... dominatricies... dominatrixes?... anyway, women in that profession- WAY less time consuming, and you sometimes get a happy ending out of it.

[John]

I saw that. I love the line about how Saruman planed to change the culture of the Sauron organization from within.

[Tim]

It's Dilbert the Great.

[LTC(ret) John]

WINNING!

[sarcasmic]

Interesting.

As I read it, the moral of the story is not so much that power corrupts, but that the corrupt are attracted to power.

[Tim]

I think the idea that Mordor was heading for ISO 9000 compliance was stretching a bit...

[Fist of Etiquette]

Civil rights lawyers are working on prohibiting the NYPD from spying on Muslim communities without any evidence...

Gawd. You complain when they overtly hassle minorities with stop and frisk, you complain when they secretly hassle minorities with secret surveillance. MAKE UP YOUR MINDS.

[LTC(ret) John]

They have a 4th Amendment fetish. Poor fools, haven't heard that Amendment was smothered with its own pillow some years ago.

[Fist of Etiquette]

A new report from the Open Society Justice Initiative links more than 50 countries to the CIA's torture program.

See? Everybody's doing it.

[Longtorso]

Civil rights lawyers are working on prohibiting the NYPD from spying on Muslim communities without any evidence...

We can still kill them with drone strikes and no due process first tho, right?

[mad libertarian guy]

We can still kill them with drone strikes and no due process first tho, right?

Of course. Don't be silly.

[Rich]

Only if they present an imaminent threat.

[db]

Top Men mullah these decisions over very carefully.

[Rich]

Jihad me at "Top Men".

[db]

Once they decide you're a threat, you can't sheikh 'em.

[gaijin]

even when you have them koran-ered they won't surrender though.

[$park?]

The next activity that will be banned from schools.

Authorities in Southern California say a boy and a girl had fingers torn off during a game of tug-of-war at their high school.

[Restoras]

Where they using Chinese finger cuffs made of titanium and John Deere tractors?

[Rich]

I suppose they inserted their fingers inside the strands to get a better grip.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

It was working too! Right up to the point their fingers were severed from their hands.

[Ted S.]

Anybody got that on Youtube?

[Longtorso]

Choice Quotes From Michel Houellebecq
... It's a fact, I mused to myself, that in societies like ours sex truly represents a second system of differentiation, completely independent of money; and as a system of differentiation it functions just as mercilessly. The effects of these two systems are, furthermore, strictly equivalent. Just like unrestrained economic liberalism, and for similar reasons, sexual liberalism produces phenomena of absolute pauperization. Some men make love every day; others five or six times in their life, or never. Some make love with dozens of women, others with none. It's what's known as " the law of the market". In an economic system where unfair dismissal is prohibited, every person more or less manages to find their place. In a sexual system where adultery is prohibited, every person more or less manages to find their bed mate. In a totally liberal economic system certain people accumulate considerable fortunes; others stagnate in unemployment and misery. In a totally liberal sexual system certain people have a varied and exciting erotic life; others are reduced to masturbation and solitude????

[WTF]

If we spread it around, we'll all be better of!

[Way Of The Crane]

If we spread it around, we'll all be better of!

That's not how equality works. Everyone who is getting laid more often must start adding saltpeter (potassium nitrate) to their diets in order to ensure that they can't have more sex than your creepy neighbor. Penis reductions for anyone larger than Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi.

Come to think of it, didn't Vonnegut do a story on this?

[Kaptious Kristen]

No, no, they'll just force women to have sex with men they find unattractive. For every hot guy you sleep with, you're required to fuck 2 uggos. Everyone wins!

[Brett L]

As long as the guys don't get that. I'd need a LOT of viagra and a sensory deprivation helmet to take my turn in the Jezzie commentariat.

[Kaptious Kristen]

The article is about how some men never get to have sex, so clearly the rule of sleeping with 2 uggos for every hot guy only applies to women. All men are entitled to sex! Gimmie gimmie!

[mad libertarian guy]

The article is about how some men never get to have sex

That's because of the inherent possibilities of people having sex. A guy, even a decent looking one can go in any given bar and never have a shot with any woman there. ANY woman, even a truly ugly one, can go in to any bar and have their pick of any number of sexual partners.

In short, men have to work hard, and they can still come up short. Woman can fuck whenever they want.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Poor little dears.

[Ted S.]

If I'm going to be forced to pay for your (that's the generic you) birth control, I want to get some sex in return.

[Way Of The Crane]

No, no, they'll just force women to have sex with men they find unattractive. For every hot guy you sleep with, you're required to fuck 2 uggos. Everyone wins!

Are talking just plain vanilla, or does that include the weird shit to?

[mr lizard]

This subsidy only covers 2.5 minutes of oral, 3 basic positions, and 4 ass smacks. And choke holds but only in Florida, DC, Utah, and Vermont.

[Jerry on the boat]

I would think that sexual differentiation is even higher in Islamic or communist countries.

[Jerry on the boat]

Danish Islam critic survives assassination attempt.

[RBS]

"two men wearing ski masks were seen jumping over the wall to the zoo into the hippopotamus enclosure."

Good luck with that.

[db]

Seriously.

[$park?]

The perfect mixture of EPIDEMIC!, TEH CHILDRENZ!, and GET OFF MY LAWN!

Distractions, however, are temporary, and the truth is eternal. Watch for an epidemic of depression and suicidality, not to mention homicidality, as the real self-loathing and hatred of others that lies beneath all this narcissism rises to the surface. I see it happening and, no doubt, many of you do, too.

We had better get a plan together to combat this greatest epidemic as it takes shape. Because it will dwarf the toll of any epidemic we have ever known. And it will be the hardest to defeat. Because, by the time we see the scope and destructiveness of this enemy clearly, we will also realize, as the saying goes, that it is us.

[Slammer]

What Ablow hard

[AuH2O]

What is their proof of narcissism? Is the fact that, compared to the generation that came out of the Great Depression, this one is chugging a few less government dicks?

I mean, probably not a statistically significant amount or anything, but still.

[Stormy Dragon]

"I'm enraged by the fact young people are all focussed on the their own lives instead of doing what I tell them to do! THEY must be narcissists!"

[Eduard van Haalen]

Yes, let's cure their narcissism by telling them that their problems are the most important problems ever, with earth-shaking implications.

[Restoras]

More competition for the US Treasury and Federal Reserve?

[Rich]

SFed.

[Restoras]

Dang it!
http://www.amazonappstoredev.c.....coins.html

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Batting .1000, Restoras. Keep it up!

[Restoras]

I got the first two right! Batting .500!

[AuH2O]

Coach dares to insult her majesty, the first lady. Pearls clutched.

Will it never end?

The head football coach at an Alabama high school was caught on tape slurring the First Lady of the United States ? you know, the woman MARRIED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ? and, for good measure, "queers". Lovely.

...

"Fat butt Michelle Obama. Look at her. She looks like she weighs 185 or 190. She's overweight," Grisham's racist ass said about the body of a woman 100,000 times more powerful than he'll ever be.

...

[ Please note: Pic chosen because the FLOTUS is clearly all, "Are you mad? Because I'm not mad," and the POTUS is all, "The lady asked, ARE YOU MAD?" Also, it's just the best.]

RESPECT HER AUTHORITAY!

Also, I know it will be one of the comments... but I just don't see the Wookie thing. I mean, unless its somehow more supposed to be about how she's Obama's copilot, but that's an insult to Han and Chewie.

[John]

Pointing out Michelle's ginormous ass is RACIST. Adopting a patronizing attitude and pretending she is glamorous in the same way ESPN puts downs kids who hit three point shots on sports center is "enlightened".

[Way Of The Crane]

Monkey bars are racist.

There, I've said it.

[Rich]

"African American bars"?

It truly is a confusing world.

[Spoonman.]

How is saying she's unattractive racist? Or is there another comment elided?

Regardless, I don't see why so many people care about her appearance, both the insults and the platitudes. She looks normal.

[RBS]

Only black chicks have big asses Spoonman, didn't you know? So, racist.

[RBS]

As for the platitudes, it's part of the whole cult thing surrounding the Obamas. Progtards just love worshiping them like royalty.

[John]

Not just progtards. A lot of people always wanted to vote for a black man for President.

[RBS]

True.

[Zeb]

And a lot of people want to have a royal family.

[Zeb]

Yeah, it's stupid. She is an OK looking middle aged mom who seems to be in decent shape. If it weren't for the expression on her face, she'd be moderately attractive.

[KDN]

Regardless, I don't see why so many people care about her appearance, both the insults and the platitudes. She looks normal.

Come on now. Try and tell me she doesn't look like this guy in drag. I agree though, she's a 50 year old lady of average looks and above average masculinity (which balances out her somewhat effeminate husband). Let's not try to pretend otherwise.

[crashland]

The first lady certainly has a bigger dick than that pussy she married.

[Slammer]

"It's no longer safe to spew hate publicly"

Or what?

[generic Brand]

Was this your own words?

Also, I know it will be one of the comments... but I just don't see the Wookie thing. I mean, unless its somehow more supposed to be about how she's Obama's copilot, but that's an insult to Han and Chewie.

And the answer is a bit insulting to Wookiees, but she has a very prognathic face and her hair is so full and long that it is very similar to Chewbacca's groomed mane. At least that's how I've always seen it.

Plus she looks like she could definitely rip the arms off a translator droid.

[AuH2O]

Yeah, the last bit was from me. Block quote fail

[nicole]

RESPECT HER AUTHORITAY!

Um, have they ever actually seen "South Park"? Because, like Michelle Obama, Cartman doesn't have any actual authority. He's just a douchebag who thinks he does.

[db]

Wait, Michelle Obama has power? I though she was the wife of a democratically elected official.

[Restoras]

I though she was the wife of a democratically elected official private, ordinary citizen temporarily chosen to act as chief executive.

He, and she, ain't king, emperor, pharoh or whatever. Don't like the abuse from the hoi polloi? Don't run for office, or encourage your spouse to do same. First and foremost, all of these people deserve our scorn and mockery until proven otherwise.

[db]

Bingo.

[Zeb]

And if you don't want people to make fun of your wife and children, don't use them as props.

[VG Zaytsev]

Grisham's racist ass said about the body of a woman 100,000 times more powerful than he'll ever be.

The mask slips.

[db]

That's what struck me the most about the comment.

[AuH2O]

Yeah.

I mean, who knew Jezebel was full of Dragon Ball Z fans?

[Jordan]

Michelle's about as powerful as Krillin.

[KDN]

Wouldn't that make her super powerful for a human? Sure he always dies, but at least he has the stones to stay and fight unlike that pedophile Tien.

[bostonaod]

playing a lot of Tropico 4 recently (the latest expansion with labor camps is quite useful), and they pop up some great political quotes during the load screens. one of my favorites, appropriate here is:

"Liberal: a power worshipper without power" - G. Orwell

[BoscoH]

It's only racist when you pull the Chewbacca card. Let. The Wookie. Win.

[Warty]

Authority worshipers are strange people.

SaraA and 6 more Reply
If Michelle Obama weighs 190 lbs, I'm verging on obese.

Uh-huh.

[Restoras]

Put. Down. The. Fork.

[JW]

Verging?

[Warty]

On the verge.

10...9...8...

[R C Dean]

a woman 100,000 times more powerful than he'll ever be

How many divisions does the First Lady have?

[Lord Humungus]

Stalin was a brutal bastard, but he did have a way with words - considering the gangster he was.

[LTC(ret) John]

A squad of Secret Service?

[Matrix]

Fearless Felix went faster than originally thought

1.25 times the speed of sound.

[JW]

Not to take away any of Felix's accomplishment, but after listening to him whine and mewl during the lead up and the accent, I wouldn't call him exactly fearless.

Don't get me wrong, he still wins the ultimate badass award for jumping out at 24 miles up, but his behavior before the jump went beyond mere prudence.

[Brett L]

Fuck that. Anyone who can take that first step, no matter how much his ass puckers, gets my fearless-enough award.

[John]

http://bostonherald.com/news_o.....z_hot_seat

Bad news for Carmen Ortiz. I suspect other US attorneys are going to turn on her for fucking up this great system they had where they could do anything they wanted and never have to worry about oversight. Looks like someone needs to be thrown to the wolves to get the heat off.

[Way Of The Crane]

So no one's asking her why her office routinely steals private property from hard working Americans?

[mad libertarian guy]

Why would they do that? There's nothing to be gained for a journalist questioning the motives of theft by the state.

[AuH2O]

You will never guess who wrote it:

Here's the odd thing about most human beings. We all have our Inner Authoritarian. The Inner Authoritarian is like the ambitious understudy of the human psyche. It knows ? and it burns, because it knows ? that it can play the role of You in the human drama better than you can. It believes it is smarter. It is more moral. It is just better at being You than you are, and it's damned sure better at being You than They are at being them. It just needs ? a chance. If given the opportunity it would (metaphorically) push you into the orchestra pit, or down the fire escape next to the stage door.

The problem is that, if you give the Inner Authoritarian a chance at the lead role, you will find it is singularly ill-suited for the job. It is too rigid. It is lousy at the kind of improv theater of which human interaction is made. It is the SWAT team of the id. All it knows how to do is kick down doors and chew the scenery. It is in no way nuanced. Put it center stage, and it makes Russell Crowe's Javert look like Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie.

Unfortunately, too many institutions unleash the Inner Authoritarian in too many people these days.

[John]

Unfortunately, too many institutions

Notice he avoids the word "government". The inner authoritarian only comes out in "institutions" like evil corporations and the NCAA. It magically disappears in government.

Yes, Pierce really is that stupid.

[Drax the Destroyer]

"The Government isn't some alien spaceship that landed on us. It is us!"

-Some disingenuous dickbag

[R C Dean]

Well, if you say that during your pubsec union meeting, you'd be right.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

We didn't land on planet Earth. Planet Earth landed on us.

[Rich]

What fun! I'll take a guess, then check the link.

Ima say ... Nathan Lane.

[Rich]

Damn it! 8-(

[Ted S.]

My first guess was Amanda Marcotte. 😐

[MJGreen]

I don't... I don't understand any of that. Has he actually said anything in those 3 paragraphs?

[John]

http://www.rollcall.com/news/r.....?pos=hbtxt

Obama looms large, as in a large anchor, on Dem efforts to retain the Senate in 2014.

[DJF]

I would be happier about the Democrats losing the Senate if I did not know that this would mean the Republicans would win it. Can't they both lose?

[Andrew S.]

Did you ever read Tom Clancy's Debt of Honor? With a kamikaze plane hitting congress during the State of the Union address killing everyone inside? Is it wrong that I find myself hoping for that scenario on occasion?

[oh crap, shouldn't have said that. I'm going to get drone struck now, aren't I?]

[John]

It would certainly open up American politics.

[$park?]

Is it wrong that I find myself hoping for that scenario on occasion?

Yes.

[Andrew S.]

Wrong that I find myself hoping for that scenario at all, or that I only hope for it on occasion?

[$park?]

Wrong to hope for it ever. As loathsome as the object of hatred can be, it still surprises me when members of a group which, in theory, operates on the non-aggression principle call for the death of those whom they disagree with.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

And if those with whom they disagree are also aggressing against them every fucking day?

[$park?]

And if those with whom they disagree are also aggressing against them every fucking day?

If you're into disproportionate response, then carry on. Are you alright with killing a guy who steals your TV?

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Are you alright with killing a guy who steals your TV?

If he's in the midst of taking it, yeah, I'm fine with it.

[$park?]

If he's in the midst of taking it, yeah, I'm fine with it.

Then you and I just belong to different groups. I don't see death as an appropriate response to theft.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Yeah, and I don't see burglary of a habitation as just "theft." If he's in the midst of taking my TV, he broke into my home. If I'm there to know about it, he's put my life at risk.

[$park?]

If I'm there to know about it, he's put my life at risk.

An unarmed man that smashes your window, grabs your TV, and starts running away is putting your life at risk. OK, that's your call but I'll never agree.

If you believe that the government is forcefully extracting money from you by theft then why aren't you part of an armed rebellion trying to stop them? It's fine to kill someone who is robbing you after all.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

If a man can get my 73" or 55" or old-ass 35" tube TV through a window and run off with it, I'd probably just watch in amazement.

You can come up with asinine hypotheticals that have nothing at all to do with the facts of my particular situation all you want, but I don't make my decisions based on your hypotheticals. In order to steal one of my TVs, the guy has to break through a door and get at least 30 feet into my house. If a guy breaks through one of my doors, and I'm home, he's probably not going to get close to a TV and, again, I'm fine with shooting someone who does so.

[$park?]

In order to steal one of my TVs, the guy has to break through a door and get at least 30 feet into my house. If a guy breaks through one of my doors, and I'm home, he's probably not going to get close to a TV and, again, I'm fine with shooting someone who does so.

You're right, you don't have to live by my hypothetical situations. You know the layout of your house better than I do. So a guy breaks into your house while you're home and attempts to steal some things. You catch him and shoot him dead. Nice work, I'm sure there was no other way to stop him.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Judged by 12 than carried by 6, etc.

[$park?]

Judged by 12 than carried by 6, etc.

This is why I'm not a Libertarian.

[T]

We all have our moral failings, Sparky. Just because I want certain people to die horrible deaths doesn't mean I'm willing to do anything to help them along.

[$park?]

Just because I want certain people to die horrible deaths doesn't mean I'm willing to do anything to help them along.

And I get that. I'm not trying to claim any kind of moral high ground here.

[JW]

I'll say this: if the Capitol or the White House start the day off as a smoking crater, sometime in the future, I won't shed a fucking tear.

[Stormy Dragon]

I would. There's a lot of beautiful paintings and sculptures in those buildings!

[fish]

[oh crap, shouldn't have said that. I'm going to get drone struck now, aren't I?]

Well if you are why not go hang out in areas where lots of congressmen and senators congregate.

[LTC(ret) John]

Maybe join the Congressional Page program?

[AuH2O]

Video Game Characters as Pokemon

Gotta catch 'em all!*

*Note: This slogan is embroiled in a legal dispute between Nintendo of America, LLC and Warty, with the later party claiming that he invented the slogan as a way to describe his predilection for contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

[sloopyinca]

When is a rape not a rape? When you're a Macon County, GA cop.

[Matrix]

What you probably don't know about real ninjas

Still
Ninjas Pirates

[Matrix]

ugh...

Ninjas are better than pirates

[Zeb]

I'm pretty sure I know almost nothing about real Ninjas.

[Stormy Dragon]

Typical Time reporting. Ninja day is March 19, as far away as you can get from Talk Like a Pirate Day on Septermber 19.

[John]

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2.....s-are.html

Elementary aged boys found to be smarter than elementary aged girls. They get lower grades because their teachers screw them over. This is a serious study and seems to be actual scientific proof of rampant sexism in our schools. But since it is boys getting fucked, it will be welcomed as a good thing by feminists.

[sloopyinca]

So, if you're a Culpeper, VA cop and you murder someone in cold blood, you get three years. And if you're a Memphis, TN cop and you get caught trying to buy drugs so you can sell them to willing people, you get seven years.

I guess the lesson here, if there are any wannabee cops reading H&R, is to be a cop in Culpeper, VA instead of Memphis, TN.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Or the lesson is to kill people rather than sell drugs.

[VG Zaytsev]

The Culpepper cop is white.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Ahhhh VA. Keep making us proud you cowed symbiote clinging to the gangrenous nutsack that is D.C. Usually, I only levy this ire towards NOVA, but I think Culpeper falls far enough southwest to start spreading the hate around. Fuck.

[Virginian]

This isn't FedGov parasite NoVA, this is small town "THE COPS WOULDN'T LIE THEY ARE HERE TO PROTECT US" NoVA.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Unfortuantely, I know about a dozen people who drive to DC from Culpeper everyday to "work" their GS "jobs". I honestly think they would be happier just staying in town and working at the Lowes or Home Depot (Think they have one or both...can't remember). I like the town, that's why this story makes me reach for "my" Ambien.

[NoVAHockey]

was the VA case the one where a family member of the officer was caught altering records? or was that something else?

[sloopyinca]

It sure was. Funny, they scheduled her trial for after his, even though the outcome could have a significant impact on how his went.

[Not a Libertarian]

The Obama administration's memo on the assassination of American citizens has been leaked.

Is this so "old hat" that it passes by generally unremarked upon in the comments?

[sloopyinca]

I have to link this story, because the picture says it all.

Correctional Officer faces five felonies for drug smuggling and trafficking into prison.

[RBS]

That's just mean...

[Rich]

Respect mah ... Ah, HAHA (gasp) HAA ...

He also identified inmate Vincent Price, aka "The Fly" ,... as the intended recipient of the contraband

[Ted S.]

Price wasn't the Fly; that was David Hedison.

[AuH2O]

Women, the reason the patriarchy is still holding you back is because of our sleeper agent, Danica Patrick

After Janet Guthrie became famous, she starred in an ad for Havoline Oil. After Danica Patrick became famous, she starred in a series of stupid, sexist ads for a Web-hosting company.The fastest woman in the history of Indy car racing?again, an absurdly dangerous sport requiring rapid reflexes and superior strategizing?became a (shudder)"Go Daddy Girl."

...

Offensive commercials are everywhere, and there's only so much outrage to go around. But people are right to be pissed at Danica Patrick. She squandered the good will of a multitude of fans who wanted to see a woman win at what used to be a man's game. Guthrie and the other woman drivers pushed one of the most sexist subcultures to respect women or get the hell out of the way while they pass you on the backstretch, and Patrick undermines it all. She's become a harmless, hair-flipping mascot for another subculture, technology services, that still suffers from rampant sexism.

Patrick recently left Indy car racing to compete in NASCAR. Good luck and good riddance.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Guthrie isn't has hot as Danica, so therefore she's better. Nevermind that she's not actually as successful in racing as Danica. She's better 'cause she's uglier.

[John]

What passes for "feminism" is mostly homely women punishing more attractive women for having power the homely ones don't have.

[nicole]

I don't get it. What could ever be more awesome than kicking ass and taking names? Where "taking names" means "showing people some T&A."

[RBS]

Maybe people don't respect her because she's never actually accomplished anything on the track? Despite ESPN's best efforts to make avoiding a DNF something special.

[mad libertarian guy]

Maybe people don't respect her because she's never actually accomplished anything on the track?

THIS.

[Ted S.]

I remember several years ago coming across a "Breaking News" graphic on ESPNEWS which said (I'm paraphraing) "Danica Patrick has best finish ever [2nd]".

So she had never won a race and is getting more attention from all the people who actually won?

And let's be honest, a lot of the "fans" are people who don't care about racing, but want to be able to show how progressive they are rooting against the male drivers and suggesting that anybody who doesn't root for Patrick is only doing so because she's a woman.

(Full disclosure: I'm to the point that I don't care about racing sports at all.)

[Restoras]

Are there enough pearl necklaces in the world to provide for all the clutching going on these days?

[Night Elf Mohawk]

She squandered the good will of a multitude of fans who wanted to see a woman win at what used to be a man's game.

Used to be?

[generic Brand]

My first thought was "Janet who?"

[SIV]

Not knocking Janet Guthrie or Danica Patrick but there are actually women in motorsports who won races and championships competing head-to-head with men.

[MJGreen]

Feminism is the philosophy which boldly asserts that women are not slaves to men, but slaves to other women.

[GozWa]

I thought Danica won an Indy race in Japan

[sloopyinca]

What to do if you're a pederast and can't find victims? I guess you become a cop that tracks predators.

Bonus points (I guess) for getting away with it for years, getting a two month vacation out of it and filing for retirement as the net closes around you.

That's right. Nicole, Col John and the rest of the Illinois taxpayers are gonna pay the retirement of a person that used their office to have sex with little boys.

[sloopyinca]

FTA: State's Attorney Mike Nerheim confirmed authorities are looking into the allegations against White. The investigation started prior to when he took office, he added.

"This is an active investigation," Nerheim said.

He said he could not comment on the investigation.

How come they can never comment on the investigation when it involves one of their own, but they can splatter every detail of a case on the news (even if they're not completely true) when it's a peasant?

[Virginian]

How come they can never comment on the investigation when it involves one of their own, but they can splatter every detail of a case on the news (even if they're not completely true) when it's a peasant?

______

*raises hand*

Ummm...because fuck you, that's why?

[sloopyinca]

Give that man a Kewpie Doll!

[AuH2O]

gonna pay the retirement of a person that used their office to have sex with little boys.

I coulda sworn that they gave Gacy the chair.

[mad libertarian guy]

That's right. Nicole, Col John and the rest of the Illinois taxpayers are gonna pay the retirement of a person that used their office to have sex with little boys.

You know that if this wasn't the case, we'd be just like Somalia.

[The Late P Brooks]

Patrick recently left Indy car racing to compete in NASCAR. Good luck and good riddance.

Better.

-------

there's only so much outrage to go around.

Which is why I don't give a shit about your little melodrama.

[Warty]

Good thing India has gun control.

[SIV]

The good people of India should take justice into their own hands if the state won't protect them and punish the perpetrators. Then Shikha Dalmia can write a column condemning them.

[db]

A little commentary on the leaked IPCC AR5.

Not exactly new news, but commentary is making it into more venues.

[Not a Libertarian]

The Oregon Baker story would seem straight forward: Gay and Lesbian couples, don't go to a marriage "bigot" to bake to your wedding cake.

But there was a recent court case of wedding photographer who had refused to take the photos of a lesbian couple's ceremony. The photographers lost the case where the court found that the photographer was a "public accommodation".

This seems an astonishing outcome (and I say this as a gay man) wherein an individual would have been made to pay damages for not providing an otherwise widely available service, that would supposedly violate a "core belief".

However, change the situation from a lesbian couple to a mixed-race couple or have the Baker be bigoted towards Mexicans. Refusing to provide a service to a group member protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is clearly prohibited, no?

[John]

That is the rub, are gays a "protected class"? if they are, then the CRA would cover it. If they are not, then no. I can refuse service for all sorts of stupid reasons. I don't like your clothes, you root for the wrong NFL team, whatever as long as I don't refuse service because you are a member of a protected class.

The question is do we want to make gays a member of a protected class. I say no.

[sarcasmic]

Already amended Maine's Constitution to make gays a protected class. At the time they laughed away those who said that it was a precursor to redefining marriage. The very next year they put redefining marriage to the voters. It failed. They tried again. It failed. Finally they won.

But making gays a protected class was never about gay marriage. The slippery slope argument is a fallacy.

[John]

It is really about suing people as you say. And about making objecting to homosexuality effectively illegal. It is effectively illegal in this country to be racist. If I say something racist at my job, my boss is obligated to fire me or face losing a law suit. If you are openly racist in this country, you can't work or own a business. Making homosexuality a protected class would do the same to anyone who objected to homosexuality. That has always been the goal.

[sarcasmic]

Thoughtcrime is death.

[Emmerson Biggins]

No, the question is whether the whole public accommodation is a bunch of horse shit.

The answer is, "yes it is".

[sarcasmic]

This seems an astonishing outcome

Why do you find it to be astonishing?

The goal from the very beginning was to sue people.

Sure it wasn't the stated goal, but it was the goal nonetheless.

[Romulus Augustus]

How can we boycott and shun the bigoted businesses if we can't identify them?
Please, Mr. Baker, put a sign in your window "no gays served." Or let us know that your lesbian bar won't hire straight help before we go to the trouble of trying to apply.

[John]

These things have a way of working themselves out. We intervened in the case of race relations because the situation was so bad and had gone on for so long. But in the case of gays, gays are hardly an underclass. They tend to be better educated and wealthier than the average. In 1964, you could look at black American and say that yes they really were an underclass and that justified the feds doing something. I am not saying that justification was correct. But it was a justification. There is no such justification for gays.

[sarcasmic]

We intervened in the case of race relations because the situation was so bad and had gone on for so long.

You do realize that much of the discrimination existed because it was mandated by law, don't you?

The reason there were laws mandating discrimination is that businesses would not have done it voluntarily.

Markets tend to be colorblind.

Title ii of the CRA was not necessary.

[John]

I am fully aware of the debate over the CRA. But that wasn't my point. My point was that whatever the justifications for passing the CRA in 1964, they were much more numerous than the justification for extending it to gays today.

[sarcasmic]

That is a valid point.

[sarcasmic]

I would like to see Title ii of the Civil Rights Act repealed.

Allow the racists to identify themselves, and let the free market punish them.

[robc]

Guess why I oppose certain sections of the CRA?

[$park?]

and I say this as a gay man

As a gay man, do you find yourself wishing that people would have to accept you as you are or are you fine with the fact that some people never will?

[Not a Libertarian]

I am not as thick skinned as some of the people here, but I wouldn't want a law to enforce civility towards me.

[$park?]

Then congratulations, you seem to understand what freedom means. Unfortunately, that's a pretty small group to belong to.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Refusing to provide a service to a group member protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is clearly prohibited, no?

If you aren't a "public accommodation?

[Jordan]

Is it prohibited? Probably. Should it be? Nope.

[DJF]

"""Civil Rights Act of 1964 is clearly prohibited""'

Which shows how crazy government is, in the name of ending government laws that stop people associating, they made laws which required people to associate.

[John]

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/2.....ion-spiral

Argentina freezes food prices. Next step, starvation.

[sarcasmic]

Come on! That could never happen! Price controls are not intended to cause starvation! How dare you insult the intentions of these wise Top. Men. !?!

[John]

Just because that is what happened every other single time it has been tried, doesn't mean this time won't be different. My mistake.

[sarcasmic]

"The first lesson of economics is scarcity: there is never enough of anything to fully satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics."
--Thomas Sowell

[XTSee]

that is what happened every other single time it has been tried

The U.S. had food rations (price controls) during WWII. The nation starved. You can look it up.

[sarcasmic]

There were shortages in the US during WWII. New cookbooks were written specifically to deal with the shortages. Look it up.

Price controls always cause shortages. When the shortages get really bad you have starvation.

[Rich]

Economics in One Lesson in real life.

[Warty]

Well. This calls for some Argentinian TV.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Puhleeze.

[Kaptious Kristen]

(errr...NSFW, probably)

[Warty]

I can't find it now, but a few years ago, someone here posted a video from an Argenine late-night show that was nothing but a hot chick stripping naked and giving audience members lapdances. I hate our shitty prude TV.

[Shun Yu]

Just because. From Russia (not really) with Love.

I'll be Back

[Brett L]

Texas City breathes sigh of relief now that BP has sold their petrochem plant to Marathon. Had a friend who did documentation remediation on contract for them after their accident down there. It was a cluster-fuck.

BP Plc (NYSE: BP) said Friday it has completed the sale of its Texas City refinery and other assets to Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC).

The approximately $2.4 billion deal, which was announced in October, includes about $600 million in cash, $1.1 billion in inventory and a $700 million provision to be paid out during the next six years. Houston Business Journal named the sale a Deal of the Year for 2012.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Houston Business Journal named the sale a Deal of the Year for 2012.

No shit. Despite what BP says about "refocusing", this seems odd. Are they getting out of oil, and focusing on natural gas? Or are they expecting some more lawsuits and need cash? It seems a little hinky.

[Brett L]

Yes and yes. They're essentially moving to exit the US, as best I can tell. Their class action settlement was $7.8B -- about 3x what they'll recoup from this sale. And they are on the hook for up to another $20B in fines. It doesn't take a genius CEO to decide its time to GTFO of the American market, when you just lost the equivalent of 5-20 years profit in that market.

[AuH2O]

House of Cards open thread

SPOILERS TO EPISODE 1 END, AND BBC TRILOGY

-So, Zoe looks like she'll be more of a journalist and less of an audience surrogate/investingating underwood than Matty was. Still interested to see how much of Matty's blatant Elecktra complex they transpose, because that show made no bones about the fact that she wanted to fuck Francis because he reminded her of her dad.

-So, they are rolling the major character of Roger (coked up poltical consultant) and the minor character of the MP who was yelled at in the first episode as a show of his duties as whip into one. Not sure I like this, as it was much easier to believe that Francis was keeping Roger at arms length, not ever being connected with him. It would seem vastly more suspicious to kill a sitting Congressman with some bad coke as well.

-So, 13 hours instead of the original 4. I don't mind this if done right. Firstly, we can get some background on Frank. Francis never really had a background, he had an archetype, and it is one revealed in the first series when we see him shooting birds at his estate. The only additional detail we ever really get is that he killed a kid in Cyprus. Also, it will give his wife something to do other than "be in the country" or "bang head of security"

Cont...

[AuH2O]

-I like the choice to mirror the British shows topicality and make the President a Democrat. It also will be nice to see a Hollywood production where a Democratic politician is the villain, even though House of Cards is so cynical at its core it is kind of apolitical.

-The newsroom scenes all look like Zodiac, and there is WAY too much teal and orange.

-I wish they had olded up Spacey a bit, because in the original, Francis is clearly more of a Patrician. Spacey is old, but not "Wow, Matty is essentially banging her grandfather"

-So, the wife's charity plot... I have no idea how they tie that into him becoming president, but interesting...

-Will there be a sequel series? I can't think of a figure in the US you can turf out comparable to a king. The only two avenues that make sense would be a repeal of the 22nd amendment... or turf out the Pope
somehow.

Anyway, that's all I got.

[The Late P Brooks]

Nice. They're breathlessly "dissecting" the DoJ complaint against Standard and Poor's.

Like anybody who isn't an idiot believes the ratings agencies. Barofsky says it's an extortion scheme (on the part of the government). "This will never see the inside of a courtroom."

Makes ya proud.

[John]

Who is Barofsky? And isn't it just an extortion scheme to keep them from rightfully downgrading the US government?

[sloopyinca]

Do you need a good rageboner today? Is your blood pressure in need of a bump? I've got just the thing! Enjoy reading the comments here.

Example (emphasis mine):
Posted by GKV225 on Monday, February 04, 2013 08:27 PM Pacific Report Abuse
Another crap article making the PO the bad guy! "The night he opend fire on Travis McNeil". Put all the facts out there. I would like to know what actions McNeil took to provoke this situation. Not only was the PO victimized by McNeil now he gets victimized by the system. I hope the next article we read about this PO is how he fought and got his job back!

You got that? McNeil "victimized" the police officer that shot him dead while he sat unarmed in his car.

The rest of the comments don't get much better.

[sloopyinca]

Another one: Posted by tim0222 on Monday, February 04, 2013 08:30 PM Pacific Report Abuse
I'm grateful to work for an agency that realizes a shooting can only be judged from the viewpoint of the officer using the information he had at the time of the incident. Second guessing after they have information the officer did not is bullshit.

You hear that, proles? As long as the officer felt a certain way at the time, he's free to use any level of force he deems necessary.

These are real cops, patrolling our streets in pursuit of justice victims.

[sarcasmic]

Well, yeah. It is better that a knight kill a peasant than second guess themselves. I mean, what's a peasant's life compared to that of a knight? It's just a peasant. Who cares?

[John]

They are never responsible for anything. Name one other job where you can fuck up and kill an innocent person and not at least be fired? But then they all want to be treated as these noble public servants. The want all of the power and all of the benefits with none of the responsibilities.

[sloopyinca]

I swear, this is why I question the mental faculties of anybody that calls me out for posting these stories. Yeah, I may get tiresome to some people on here and for that I am sorry. But this needs to be pointed out every single day, lest we forget how fucking horrible our criminal justice system has become and how the double-standard has nearly created a caste system whereby police can act with impunity and "civilians" must bow and scrape lest they offend one of them.

Many of you on here understand what I am doing and why. And yes, it can get tiresome seeing the same type of things happen over and over and over and over again. But if we don't keep repeating it and bitching about it, it will never even have a chance to get better.

Also, I've been accused recently of "stalking" dunphy and driving away a good cop that can help us. I'll repeat now that I don't think anyone that laughs at a murder by police officers of an innocent man answering his own door armed at 1:30 am to cops that don't identify themselves is worthy of taking seriously. Nor do I think a cop that claims to have involved himself in a criminal conspiracy to collect evidence so he can bust a kid for selling drugs is "one of us." He's also routinely defended the double-standard and professional courtesy, and says cops shouldn't be made to obey laws unless they have been specifically trained on the laws. Well, fuck that shit.

[sarcasmic]

Dude, the double-standard has always existed, and it will always exist.

Police must be the last word in violence, or they lose their power. A policeman must use violence on any peasant who doesn't show sufficient respect, or else the peasantry will learn that they can get away with disrespecting the police. Before you know it the peasants, who outnumber the police, will intervene when they see police abuse, and then government ceases to have the last word in violence. Since having the last word in violence is how government derives its power, the police must be allowed to abuse the peasantry at will.

That's just how government works.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Poor widdle Dunphy was run off? Awwwww. Sweet, innocent, sensitive widdle Dunphy.

[Restoras]

Keep up the good work is all I have to say, Sloop.

[sloopyinca]

Yet another:
Posted by joe319 on Tuesday, February 05, 2013 06:16 AM Pacific Report Abuse
bobbyd0933 - what's going on behind the scenes is that the Chief is being a political stooge. Miami is under the DOJ microscope for having too many police involved shootings. You know the DOJ, they are the very people who are experts in policing but would piss their pants if the found themselves patrolling the streets on Miami, Oakland, Detroit etc.

Ironically, the amount of police involved shootings greatly declined when John Timoney became their chief, providing better training and tasers. He resigned rather than get fired by the incoming mayor. Frankly I was shocked that an Irishman would last as long in a city dominated in population and politics by Hispanics, mainly Cubans.

Not sure if this genius realizes the FBI and ATF are part of the DOJ?

[Night Elf Mohawk]

You know the DOJ, they are the very people who are experts in policing but would piss their pants if the found themselves patrolling the streets on Miami, Oakland, Detroit etc.

Whereas shooting everything that moves to make sure they go home at night isn't a form of pissing their pants.

[sarcasmic]

Police piss lead.

[Dunphy (the real one)]

which is patently absurd when you consider how incredibly rarely police use deadly force.

[Andrew S.]

Also note how the single commenter who dares to question (i) the shooting, and (ii) the comments, is treated.

[The Late P Brooks]

Was it a "criminal conspiracy"? Who the fuck knows?

Is telling people Charmin toilet paper is "squeezably soft" a criminal deception?

[Mesteve]

DOJ file civil case against S&P for Ratings

No crimes were committed but the Feds have to find someway to get their money back from their failed investments.

I don't buy S&P's defense that their opinions are protected by the 1st Amendment since you still have to take responsibility for what you do say. But their opinion are just that; opinions. Every other investor in the world has to assume the risk of their own investments regardless of anyone else opinion.

[Kaptious Kristen]

The people with whom I interviewed in VT last week say I should be "hearing form them soon". *continuous swallowing so as not to puke with excitement and terror*

[$park?]

Excitement that you might have a new job? Terror that it will be in VT?

[Kaptious Kristen]

And vice versa

[Restoras]

China continues to buy gold. Lots and lots of it. Nothing to worry about, though, I'm sure.

[The Late P Brooks]

Neil Barofsky- "previously the Special United States Treasury Department Inspector General to oversee the Troubled Assets Relief Program from 2009 until his resignation in February 2011" (wiki).

It's all S&P's fault! Pay no attention to that Fed Chairman behind the curtain!

[robc]

Philly sueing Yuengling

[db]

How does a Pottsville-based beer company that doesn't have a brewery or a plant in Philadelphia come to owe millions in business-income and -receipts taxes to the city?

That was my first reaction too.

[robc]

I think that is everyone's reaction.

The answer is, of course:

Fuck you, thats why.

[db]

I'm guessing it may have something to do with serving Yuengling at sports arenas if the company owns or promotes the retailers.

[Not a Libertarian]

Exactly why are gay men and women so relatively resistant to classical liberal ideas?

Or more precisely why is the gay community so generally politically "progressive"?

I guess it is as simple as modern liberals welcome gays, support gay rights, therefore gays become social-liberals.

But there is nothing in performing fellatio that makes one "statist" (to use your terminology)?

Even in terms of politicians and party politics,there should be a number of disaffected gay Republicans who 'defect' to the Libertarians but it seems that the majority of disaffected gay GOPers go left rather libertarian.

It may seem like concern trolling but it would seem to me that the prime candidate for high office for the Libertarian party should be a black Lesbian. Does such a person exist in academia somewhere?

[sarcasmic]

I know several gays who are not liberals.
They generally keep their political views to themselves because they will be met with outright hostility, similar to how liberals treat black Republicans.

"We've done so much for you! How can you not support us! We did it for you! You fucking traitor! Lick the boots that keep you down! Fuck you!"

That's what tolerance means.

[Ken Shultz]

"Exactly why are gay men and women so relatively resistant to classical liberal ideas?"

I think it's because classically liberal ideas are (correctly or incorrectly) often associated in people's heads with conservatism--and gay people associate conservatism with hostility to gay people.

So, I guess the next questions are: 1) why are conservatives so hostile to gay people, and 2) why don't classically liberal people make clearer distinctions between themselves and conservatives?

[The Late P Brooks]

an agency that realizes a shooting can only be judged from the viewpoint of the officer using the information he had at the time of the incident.

"No matter how preposterous or inconsistent with the facts your story may be, we'll swallow it hook line and sinker, and back you all the way."

Yup. No perverse incentives here.

Move along.

[Auric Demonocles]

If it wasn't a shooting where your hand was forced (e.g. anytime you interject yourself into the situation), I am willing to judge it based on whatever the actual facts turn out to be. If you didn't have enough information at the time to correctly deduce the facts, then wait until you do (or accept the risk that you might be wrong).

[The Late P Brooks]

Holder's having a news conference this morning. Maybe he'll apologize to the American people, and resign.

[The Late P Brooks]

McNeil "victimized" the police officer that shot him dead while he sat unarmed in his car.

That poor cop wanted a big fish, and all he got was some nobody; no drugs, no guns, no nothing. Just a worthless civilian corpse.

If that's not victimization, what is?

[Sevo]

"Here's a great way to buff up California's reputation as a place to do business: Have the state, quite out of the blue, hit local entrepreneurs with four years of back taxes.
...
[CA is] not only eliminating a 20-year-old capital gains tax break provision, but it would be dunning up to 2,500 business owners and investors for tax payments, plus interest, going back to 2008."

Hey, how's moonbeam gonna balance that budget if these guys don't pay their fair share?
http://www.sfgate.com/business.....250174.php

[The Late P Brooks]

I've been accused recently of "stalking" dunphy and driving away a good cop that can help us.

Not just a "cop" mind you. A LIBERTARIAN COP.

Because right there on Page One of the Libertarian Handbook, it says, "True libertarians believe in the Precautionary Principle, and locking people in cages for their own good, or in an attempt to eliminate a vanishingly small hazard, makes for a Free Society."

Also, the King and His Men are above the Law.

The people who whine about how mean we are to that odious scumbag can all just fuck off.

[Auric Demonocles]

Don't forget that page one also says that government employees have a right to that job.

Page two is about proper grammar, which as we all know, forgoes capitalization and requires unexplained acronyms.

[The Late P Brooks]

[CA is] not only eliminating a 20-year-old capital gains tax break provision, but it would be dunning up to 2,500 business owners and investors for tax payments, plus interest, going back to 2008."

This is why we cannot allow some moldy old piece of paper to handcuff our noble political leaders. Retroactively altering the tax code is smart and innovative governance. Only a crazy person could ever claim otherwise.

[Sevo]

Next year, they won't waste time with altering the laws or paperwork.
A guy will show up at your front door with a gun and a note reading "give me all your money".

[The Late P Brooks]

Poor widdle Dunphy was run off?

Sadly, no.

He owes it to us to show us the error of our sinful anarchic ways, by coming here to speak truth to power.

*That one never fails to crack me up.

[Auric Demonocles]

I know I feel mighty powerful.

[Warty]

I found the greatest video ever. Poor ole Lyle Alzado. WAR WITH THE WEIGHTS

[The Late P Brooks]

If you didn't have enough information at the time to correctly deduce the facts, then wait until you do (or accept the risk that you might be wrong).

CRAZY TALK!!!11!11

[Fatty Bolger]

Meet America's youngest female billionaire: Secretive 30-year-old 'Burger Princess' behind In-N-Out Burger who has been married three times and drag-races for fun

She's better looking than your typical billionaire. But what amazes me is that you can still become a billionaire selling hamburgers. What a country!

[Auric Demonocles]

Sadly, you can't become a billionaire by reposting from yesterday's PM Links.

[Fatty Bolger]

Eh, I was busy and missed them. Some of have to PRETEND to WORK around here!

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Married three times by 30 and surely with an air-tight prenup... no thanks.

[R C Dean]

Weren't sure where you were going when I got to "air-tight." Whew.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

I thought "impregnable" was even better but didn't feel like changing it.

[Matrix]

In-N-Out is overrated. I don't understand why people in some areas are desparate to have one. I ate there a few times while in Cali for a couple of months. Was it bad? No. But it certainly wasn't anything to write home about.

[Matrix]

Want some from your wife? Don't share chores

I keep getting conflicting information. Some sites say do those things to get your woman to put out. Now this one comes along and says no. Maybe those articles that tell us to are just women tricking us to do their work for them!

I see what you're doing!

[Dunphy (the real one)]

"The only benefit I see from state recognition of marriage has to do with inheritance"

if you confess something to your wife, she can't be compelled to testify against you. this is not true for domestic partners and other couples short of marriage.

the spousal privilege against incrimination is a big one, often glossed over.