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A.M. Links: Alleged ISIS Capitol Hill Plot 'Aspirational Not Operational,' Catholic Church Condemns 'Marxist' Venezuelan Government, Earth May Not Have Been Formed of Meteors

Ed Krayewski | 1.15.2015 9:00 AM

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  • Meteor on dinosaurs
    Donald Davis via NASA

    Authorities in Ohio say they arrested an alleged ISIS sympathizer who they say was planning an attack on the U.S. Capitol, but the Department of Justice says the alleged plan was "aspirational and not operational" and that no one was in danger. Meanwhile, the Secret Service is removing four assistant directors from their posts while two more have announced their retirement, considered a significant bureaucratic shake up for White House security.

  • President Obama is expected to order federal agencies to extend paid leave for employees after the birth or adoption of a child, and wants private companies to do the same. He also wants Congress to spend $2 billion to get states to mandate more paid sick days.
  • Some Democrats and Republicans in Congress are pushing for the U.S. to be more involved in the campaign against Boko Haram in West Africa.
  • NPR reports from a Muslim-majority suburb north of Paris where some students consider their religion above French law and some residents believe the hostage-taking and shooting at the Kosher supermarket last week was staged.
  • Catholic Church authorities in Venezuela condemned the government for "imposing a socialist Marxist or communist political-economic system" on the people.
  • The Earth may not have been formed by meteors, a simulation by researchers at MIT suggests. 

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NEXT: Robert Poole on How to Pay for New Highways

Ed Krayewski is a former associate editor at Reason.

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  1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    The Earth may not have been formed by meteors, a simulation by researchers at MIT suggests.

    It really was God?

    1. Brett L   10 years ago

      Asteroids

      1. gaijin   10 years ago

        Asteroids...from Uranus

        1. Adans smith   10 years ago

          magnets

          1. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

            Little green ghouls.

          2. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

            how do they work?

        2. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

          My Dad had asteroids so bad, he couldn't sit down for a week.

      2. Zeb   10 years ago

        Yeah, asteroids. Meteors are the things you see in the sky at night, not the objects out in space.

    2. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

      Hello.

      "The Earth may not have been formed by meteors, a simulation by researchers at MIT suggests."

      Hot liquid mag-MA?

      1. sarcasmic   10 years ago
    3. Tonio   10 years ago

      Ha! Epic trolling, Fist.

    4. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      Je suis Fist.

      1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

        Vous souhaitez qu'il ?tait si.

        1. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

          Da heck is 'qu'il etait si'?

          1. Ted S.   10 years ago

            I think he meant "soit" instead of "?tait", but I don't know if that's syntactically correct.

            1. Ted S.   10 years ago

              My French isn't good enough to figure out what should be in place of "si": "comme ceci"? I don't think that's right at all.

              1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

                Don't blame me, blame my translator.

          2. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

            The coffee hasn't kicked in, but if I remember correctly, the counterfactual is expressed with the imperfect and the conditional, no?

            1. Ted S.   10 years ago

              I believe it's the subjunctive you want.

              1. Zeb   10 years ago

                If I recall correctly from 100 years ago, French uses the imperfect and not the subjunctive as HM says. Spanish, which I know much better, uses the subjunctive.

              2. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

                If Fist meant "You wish (that) you were", then, yes the subjunctive is called for.

                My statement was more about where the "si", which usually signals counterfactual, came from in his noggin.

                1. Geoff Nathan   10 years ago

                  It actually depends on the day of the week and the phases of the moon.

                2. Zeb   10 years ago

                  Yes, I was thinking counter-factual conditional statements as well.

            2. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

              The only thing I remember from French class was the teacher... she was so hot - in an 80s kind of way.

    5. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

      He might now have formed the earth that way, but it is how Pro Lib and I will end it.

      1. Pro Libertate   10 years ago

        Threaten to end it. You keep forgetting that part.

        1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

          Threats don't work if you let them know you're bluffing.

          1. hamilton   10 years ago

            Which one of you gets to be Maud' Dib?

            1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

              Prol' Dib.

    6. Zeb   10 years ago

      No, just different asteroids.

      I'm sure it is very interesting if you study how planets form.

  2. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    Authorities in Ohio say they arrested an alleged ISIS sympathizer who they say was planning an attack on the U.S. Capitol...

    In celebration of Ohio State's win.

    1. Bee Tagger   10 years ago

      more like the U.S. Couchitol

    2. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

      Thank God the brave Columbus PD pepper sprayed him before he could go off.

      1. Citizen Nothing   10 years ago

        Columbus cops now saying they were caught off guard by celebrations. Yeah. Who would have ever thought?

        1. Citizen Nothing   10 years ago

          Oh -- and they used ALL their pepper spray. It was probably going to expire soon anyway, so they were just showing fiscal prudence.

          1. Timon 19   10 years ago

            I don't remember them outright lying this much. Is this a new development since 2002?

            I haven't checked the commemorative issue page lately. How are sales?

  3. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Clinton Aides Prefer to Face Off Against Romney

    "Clinton advisers said Romney has proven he lacks the ability to relate to voters and comes across as out of touch."

    Said former White House aide Tommy Vietor: "I would like to run against Mitt Romney in every election forever."

    1. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

      Yes. Because Hilary is soooo in touch.

      What, with having been poor and all.

      Jesus. These people.

      1. Ted S.   10 years ago

        If the media were forced to pick between Hillary and Mitt, they'd be telling us it's time for a president with a vulva.

      2. BardMetal   10 years ago

        It's going to be hilarious watching Hillary try to relate to everyday Americans. I wonder if she'll try using an accent again?

        1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

          Which one?

          "Faux New Yawker"?

          "Fake Folksy?"

          "Phony Southerner"?

          "Wait, I really grew up in a Chicago suburb"?

          1. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

            Soon she's gonna claim she's 1/32 Cherokee.

            Didn't seem to hurt the faux-populist, what's her name? L'il High Cheek Bones?

        2. Enough About Palin   10 years ago

          "I ain't no wise tarred."

    2. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

      ""I would like to run against Mitt Romney in every election forever.""

      That's golden.

      1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        I thought the plan was to run against George Bush again.

    3. Injun, as in from India   10 years ago

      Hillary vs Romney would be a truly epic "Sh1t Burger vs. Turd sandwich" election.

      "I dodged sniper bullets in Bosnia."
      "I am more progressive than Ted Kennedy."
      "We were dead broke when we left the White House."
      "I am severely conservative."

      That's all I can recall, but I'm sure there are tons of other vomit-inducing quotes from both of them.

      1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        It takes a village idiot.

        1. Geoff Nathan   10 years ago

          +1

  4. Just a thought not a sermon   10 years ago

    17) Today the Washington Post ran an article on the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at UVa that was falsely accused by Rolling Stone of raping that chick. These guys have been living in hotel rooms because they felt unsafe in their house. Can you imagine what their friends and families must have thought after the allegations? My guess is that probably a lot of people these guys were friends with assumed at first the allegations must have been true?after all, they were in a fraternity! I was in a fraternity in college and have heard a lot of uninformed comments about that?" You don't seem like the kind of guy that would be in a frat" (said in a disapproving way)?and so on. I remember also how proud we were of our house?well, the Phi Kappa Psi house is a historical building, built in 1920, that's been repeatedly vandalized in recent weeks. It really made the point for me that Rolling Stone's made-up article was in no way victimless. I wonder how many guys in colleges have had their lives ruined from similar false accusations, but it's never come to light because there wasn't a national spotlight on the story.

    1. Roger the Shrubber   10 years ago

      JTNS 17 - So he posteth, so it be known.

    2. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      Fraternities are just a way for privileged, white men to get together to throw rape parties and determine the best ways to keep women and minorities down. Doy.

    3. Illocust   10 years ago

      Links messed up.

    4. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

      Frats are for douches. (But that doesn't mean they are guilty of every rape someone accuses them of.)

  5. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    He also wants Congress to spend $2 billion to get states to mandate more paid sick days.

    Because there's gonna be no doctors to see them soon.

    1. Bardas Phocas   10 years ago

      Just go home and die.

      1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

        I don't think I deserved that. I was only making a joke.

        1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

          Bard prescribes harsh medicine!

          1. Bardas Phocas   10 years ago

            If you want a real doctor - move to mexico.

            1. wareagle   10 years ago

              and I hear Costa Rica has a good many available. True story: on a recent flight, the on-board magazine was full of ads in the Carribean - Bahamas, Bermuda, etc. - seeking doctors.

    2. Steve G   10 years ago

      extended leave for adoptions? Okay, births I get. The healing, the breastfeeding, etc, but adoptions is sorta pushing it. Bond w/ your new baby after work when you relieve the au pair..you know, like regular folk

      1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

        Look at the expanded paid leave vacation for government employees this way: considering their productivity and benefit to society it's just a truth in advertising thing.

      2. Injun, as in from India   10 years ago

        It is futile to get in to the specifics of birth vs adoption.

        The preliminary argument is whether the government can mandate something like that in the first place, and I think not.

        1. Injun, as in from India   10 years ago

          ^not for the private sector

      3. Steve G   10 years ago

        Just to be clear, I was saying "I get" the argument at least, not that I agree with it.

  6. Just a thought not a sermon   10 years ago

    OK, I don't mind not having the first comment, but how does FoE get in two comments before anybody else?

    1. Bee Tagger   10 years ago

      I used to think it was meteors.

    2. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

      He had an extra coffee this morning and is really energized.

    3. gaijin   10 years ago

      Time travel?

    4. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

      Laziness on everyone else's part?

    5. Tonio   10 years ago

      It's one of the mysteries of H&R. And everyone knows you don't question the mysteries.

      1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

        -1 Leonard Nemoy

        http://www.amazon.com/Search-C.....B008X8VM1W

      2. Mokers   10 years ago

        I'm waiting for the History channel to explain how it was aliens.

    6. Steve G   10 years ago

      ball bearings

      1. Ska   10 years ago

        It's all ball bearing nowadays.

        1. Steve G   10 years ago

          I'm gonna need some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads too

    7. Elspeth Flashman   10 years ago

      He has more opposable digits?

      1. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

        He has more digits?

        1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

          I'm all analog.

  7. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    There's Poop on the Moon

    I know what you're thinking: That makes total sense. That's super gross! But it makes total sense. The Apollo missions brought back a total of 842 pounds of moon rocks, dust, and core samples on six separate missions between 1969 and 1972. That amounts to who knows how many pounds of poop?not to mention the other excrement as well as boring old stuff like tools, golf balls, photographs, cameras, a gold-plated telescope and random symbolic objects. You can get a peek at the manifests that show what the astronauts abandoned in this video:

    Moon rocks.

    1. Rich   10 years ago

      "The Captain's Log."

      1. Scruffy Nerfherder   10 years ago

        Winner

        1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

          Seconded.

          1. Rich   10 years ago

            Thanks, guys, but it's just an old Star Trek joke.

            1. Scruffy Nerfherder   10 years ago

              You think we didn't know that? I had the ST theme running thru my head as I pictured it. That's what made it funny.

              1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

                And repeated in Silent Bob and Jay Strike Back yes?

              2. Rich   10 years ago

                You think we didn't know that?

                You think I didn't know that? Poor attempt at additional humor. I should have left well enough alone.

                *** strokes tribble ***

            2. sarcasmic   10 years ago

              dork

      2. gaijin   10 years ago

        hah!

    2. Brett L   10 years ago

      Given that nearly every poop is a petri dish, is alien poop the most likely scenario for life on Earth?

      1. BardMetal   10 years ago

        Like an alien landed on a planet that just cooled because he really had to take a shit?

        1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

          When you gotta go, you gotta go.

        2. DontShootMe   10 years ago

          "Dad, I really gotta go!"
          "Can't you hold it, 3 more star systems then we're home?"
          "No Dad, I gotta go now!!"
          "Ok, that planet is pretty close, and it's pretty new, so it's getting hit all the time with asteroids, so, nobody'll notice..."

        3. Brett L   10 years ago

          Good point. Maybe they just dumped it in passing like blue ice from a 747

          1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

            "Blue Meteor"

          2. Ted S.   10 years ago

            Blue ice
            Baby's got blue ice
            Like a deep blue sea
            On a blue blue day

  8. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    NPR reports from a Muslim-majority suburb north of Paris where some students consider their religion above French law...

    Uh-oh. That's not going to help.

    1. Rich   10 years ago

      Really. Everyone knows it's our religion of free speech that's above French law.

      1. RG   10 years ago

        If you had to pick a religion, liberty would probably be a good one.

        1. Rich   10 years ago

          Right on. And practice The Silver Rule.

    2. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

      No FUCKING KIDDING some think this.

    3. BardMetal   10 years ago

      Looks like France has really benefited from open borders. Now the bizarre pathologies of the middle east are now a permament part of French society. Yay diversity!

      1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

        Isn't the French Muslim immigrant population largely from former French colonies? I'd blame their empire seeking over their supposed open borders.

        1. Free Society   10 years ago

          The "check your privilege" argument, classic Bo. Yes the spate of gang rapes, terrorist attacks and self-inflicted ghettoization is because of imperialism many moons ago.

          1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

            No, I'm saying the composition of their immigrant population has less to do with laissez faire open borders and more to do with active government meddling.

            1. Free Society   10 years ago

              Yes meddling like saying "You are not allowed to choose whom you interact with. And when you interact, we'll prosecute you if you insult that person's retarded beliefs."

              Open borders without the ability of society as a whole to reject cultural norms of immigrant groups, is basically colonialism.

        2. BardMetal   10 years ago

          Of course you would, anything to protect your deeply held faith in open borders.

          1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

            Deeply held libertarian faith in the NAP you mean. Yeah, it's kind if a 'thing' with libertarians.

            1. l0b0t   10 years ago

              And our resident pedantic troll, a full-bore Whig/Progressive with slight utilitarian tendencies is still claiming to be a libertarian. Stay gold, Pony Bo.

              1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                Please square immigration restrictions with the NAP then.

                I'll wait.

                1. l0b0t   10 years ago

                  Property rights and criminal trespass laws are in no way whatsoever violations of your precious axiom. Colonization/invasion by unwanted hordes of barbarians is a violation of your precious axiom. You (re immigration) are being disingenuous or ignorant. Which one is it, squire?

                  1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                    And how do criminal trespass and property laws figure? People want to rent and sell land to immigrants and have them work and consume on their land and property. You'll use force to stop them? Step off, slaver.

                    1. l0b0t   10 years ago

                      "You'll use force to stop them?"

                      Yes (full disclosure, I am not a libertarian).

                    2. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      No fooling?

                    3. RG   10 years ago

                      And if those immigrants start voting for blasphemy and hate speech laws aggressing on your rights to free speech, whats the solution? The NAP has been violated and you've been left with little recourse.

                    4. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      And what if allowing gun sales leads to takeover by authoritarian militias! Let's ban those sales.

                      Rights are not trumped by utilitarian concerns.

                2. Homple   10 years ago

                  This could be an interesting discussion. To start, how do you define "aggression" as it pertains to the NAP?

              2. Jordan   10 years ago

                This sort of defensiveness gets pretty tiresome. Not everyone comes here for an echo chamber. Can you produce a quote from Bo that is not in accord with the NAP?

            2. BardMetal   10 years ago

              In Bo's world the Nazis could have gotten their Lebenraum by simply moving their population into Poland and colonizing it that way. If they started terrorizing the native population, expressed openly their desire to colonize and conquer Poland, would Bo have stopped them? Nope because NAP. Keep more of them coming in.

              Bo you argue like a bot that has had the NAP programmed into him. Unfortunately the world is a bit more complicated then that.

              1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                The NAP is not a suicide pact!

                Thus says most slavers.

                1. BardMetal   10 years ago

                  Notice Bo doesn't argue against what I said, but instead resorts to some stupid bumper sticker slogan.

                  You can't argue without contradicting yourself, because you know the scenario I described is possible with your bizarre interpretation of the NAP, and yet you don't like the end result.

                  You're like a bot that had a logical paradox thrown at it, and now you can't respond.

                  1. Jordan   10 years ago

                    That scenario may be possible but is incredibly remote. It's also possible that someone will murder a bunch of kindergartners with an AR-15. Should they be banned?

                    Furthermore, what's bizarre about interpreting the NAP as forbidding you from preventing me from associating with whoever I want?

                  2. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                    One who Godwins so quickly might want to hold back on calling people bots. I'm pointing out that many proposed restrictions on fundamental liberties start out with 'but allowing that freedom will be teh suicides!

                    Once you start invoking potential utilitarian concerns to trump liberty rights, where do you stop?

                    1. l0b0t   10 years ago

                      Since when is trespass a "liberty right"?

                    2. Jordan   10 years ago

                      Since when is trespass a "liberty right"?

                      Oh good lord. Not this again. Moving across an imaginary state-created line is not trespassing. Nor is walking on public property. Nobody's talking about forcing private property owners to allow people to cross.

                    3. l0b0t   10 years ago

                      Are you seriously claiming that there is no private property being crossed during immigration? This might surprise many in my family who have been living on the same land in (what is now, for the moment) South Texas for almost 500 years.

                    4. Jordan   10 years ago

                      Are you seriously claiming that there is no private property being crossed during immigration?

                      I'm claiming it is possible for private property owners to allow people to cross their land. It is also possible to cross into a country without crossing private property.

                    5. Zeb   10 years ago

                      Are you seriously claiming that there is no private property being crossed during immigration?

                      This is one of the worst, dumbest arguments against more open immigration. You have the right to keep anyone you want off of your land. But only your land. It has zero to do with immigration in general. Your right to exclude people from your land applies to US citizens in exactly the same way it does to immigrants.

                    6. Jordan   10 years ago

                      This is one of the worst, dumbest arguments against more open immigration.

                      Seriously. I don't know how it continues to show up in every immigration discussion.

                    7. RG   10 years ago

                      In the current framework, public land is government land, and paid for and owned by the people (hold your snickering). Therefore, people do think they can blcok people from trespassing. Open borders is a lot more feasible if there were no public land.

                    8. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      That trespassing on private property is due ore to immigration restrictions than anything else.

                  3. Enough About Palin   10 years ago

                    This site would be a hell of a lot better if all y'all didn't engage him.

              2. Jordan   10 years ago

                Unfortunately the world is a bit more complicated then that.

                Do you not realize how Tonyesque that sounds?

                1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                  Different Teams but same mentality.

                2. BardMetal   10 years ago

                  Do you realise how irrelevant that is?

                  1. MWG   10 years ago

                    So you make the same tonyesque arguments against free trade and the 2 amendment.

                    "FREEDOM... it's complicated."

              3. Brian D   10 years ago

                In Bo's world the Nazis could have gotten their Lebenraum by simply moving their population into Poland and colonizing it that way. If they started terrorizing the native population, expressed openly their desire to colonize and conquer Poland, would Bo have stopped them? Nope because NAP. Keep more of them coming in.

                I would posit that 'terrorizing the native population' and trying to 'conquer' a country (as opposed to, say, waning to find a job and live somewhere that drug cartels aren't chopping people's heads off) violate the NAP, and therefore force can be used to stop such behavior.

                Dolt.

              4. Zeb   10 years ago

                In Bo's world the Nazis could have gotten their Lebenraum by simply moving their population into Poland and colonizing it that way.

                That is the biggest load of shit I have read all week.

            3. Roger the Shrubber   10 years ago

              Bo - perhaps it's a utilitarian argument but can one argue from evidence and example that Muslim immigration into western cultures has proved disastrous, inevitably resulting in frightening violations of the NAP by the Muslim immigrant population? And that comparing these NAP violations with the violations represented by an immigration policy that restricts immigration, one can make a valid argument that a restrictive immigration policy is the better alternative?

              1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                Similar things were said about Catholic Irish immigrants. It's a hypothetical often proven untrue, I'm not going to sacrifice rights for that.

                1. Roger the Shrubber   10 years ago

                  Similar things were said about Catholic Irish immigrants. It's a hypothetical often proven untrue, I'm not going to sacrifice rights for that.

                  My argument is not hypothetical, as your's. Mine is based on evidence by example.

              2. Zeb   10 years ago

                Nothing wrong with making that argument. But BardMetal seems to want to assume that that is the principled, pro-liberty position when that simply is not the case.

              3. Roger the Shrubber   10 years ago

                I see that you've already answered my argument above

                The NAP is not a suicide pact!
                Thus says most slavers.

                You sound more like a slave to the NAP than a slaver. If an invading force was at the boarder, threatening to behead all non-believers and impose their will through violations of the NAP, you argue that the principled position is to invite them into the country because to refuse is a violation of your most cherished principle, the NAP.

                1. Free Society   10 years ago

                  Defense is not a violation of the NAP. It's not the Non Violence Principle, it's the Non Aggression Principle

                  1. Roger the Shrubber   10 years ago

                    Agreed. Yet Bo seems to argue that any proactive defense is a NAP violation because the aggressor has done nothing, yet. And that threats of violence are not violations of the NAP.

          2. Zeb   10 years ago

            Oh, for fuck's sake. You can argue that open borders are bad for whatever reason, but it is just fucking stupid to act like it is the pure liberty position. Closed/restricted borders is the utilitarian answer. Open borders is the principled one. Maybe it is not practical in the current world climate, but that is a completely utilitarian argument.

            Bo is also correct that the makeup of France's immigrant population has a lot to do with their colonial history. That is just a fact, not a commentary on the merits of colonialism and not blaming the victim.

            1. RG   10 years ago

              It is not a pure liberty position, it's realizing that the world is as it is, not as we wish it to be. And through that lens, it may make some sense to prioritize some rights over others.

              When people don't value rights (murder, theft, etc), we take theirs away (prison). One can consider that a utiliatarian argument as well.

              1. MWG   10 years ago

                I think you need to read Zeb's comment again. As he said, you're making an utilitarian argument.

                1. RG   10 years ago

                  I did, and I may be. But we do the same when we remove the rights of a criminal, because they infringed on the rights of someone else.

              2. Jordan   10 years ago

                Rights don't conflict, so there is no prioritization necessary.

                1. RG   10 years ago

                  Then explain blasphemy and hate speech laws (the right to not be offended) and the right to free speech.

                  1. Jordan   10 years ago

                    The right not to be offended is not a right. Positive rights are not rights.

                    1. RG   10 years ago

                      I'd agree with that, but unfortunately the ultimate arbiter of rights, governments, don't always see it that way.

                      In light of the fact that positive rights do in fact exist, we'd be btter off focusing on removing them before opening borders. This may be a utilitarian argument, but its rooted in the world we live in.

              3. Zeb   10 years ago

                Sure, make that argument. But the person making that argument needs to make the case that it is worth the trade-off of rights. Illegal immigrants aren't in general violating anyone's rights, so it's a bit different from murder or theft.

                1. RG   10 years ago

                  In general. But if they enroll in welfare programs or vote for blasphemy laws, are they?

                  Point being, it may be principled to favor open borders, but they don't work nearly as well when you have welfare programs and a government in which you can potentially vote against free speech.

                2. RG   10 years ago

                  The right to open borders is mostly theoretical. I'm not sure how many countries have open border policies.

                  The right to free speech, however limited and precarious, does exist.

        3. Tonio   10 years ago

          Isn't the French Muslim immigrant population largely from former French colonies?

          Yes.

          1. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

            The Swedes have the same problem the French have. Immigrant population not assimilating. Is their problem due to imperialism as well? How about Denmark? Same issue, same cause and effect?

            No. Generous social welfare programs that impede assimilation combined with cultures - both native and immigrant - slow to adapt and adopt.

            Milton Friedman was so right on immigration and social welfare programs. Can't have both.

            1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

              I think each country has it's own unique history, policies and geography creating different immigration situations.

              1. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                Not really. Each is having a hard time integrating immigrant populations. Higher levels of violence, unemployment and dependency on the state among the immigrants and ghettoization. Also, native populations becoming more hostile - not less. And some religious and cultural alienation thrown in.

                All pretty similar. Balkanization to follow.

                1. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                  And, my first point, it's not primarily about imperialism stands.

                  1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                    "And, my first point, it's not primarily about imperialism stands."

                    I'm not sure about that. It seems to effect country of origin for immigration, no? And does Sweden and Denmark have comparable amounts of immigration to countries like England and France, who let in a lot of people based on old colonial ties?

                    1. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                      Sweden has the highest level of immigration in Europe.

                    2. l0b0t   10 years ago

                      I was going to lambaste Bo above for being so pig-ignorant about French history, the concept of pied-noire and Paper French, and the ruinous industrial labor decisions made by the 4th Republic in the mid-20th century. Then I saw him question claims of Scandinavian immigration rates and realized Bo knows fuck all about Europe, period. Go back to the quadrangle, Bo; I'm sure the student union has some sort of "divest from Israel" rally that will be much more your speed.

                2. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                  What about Singapore? Lots of Muslim immigration there.

                  1. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                    And a near authoritarian state enforcing behavior codes? So immigration is good when the state uses coercive laws to control behavior?

                    And, exactly when and how did Singapore engage in colonialism of Muslim populations?

                    1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      Singapores immigration, like US, is largely a function of geography. I don't claim ever country's immigration is a function of past imperialism.

                      I just pointed to them as a nation with lots of immigrants , many Muslim, and seem to lack a lot of these problems . That suggests to me there's not something inherent in Muslim immigration at fault (I'm not suggesting you claim that btw).

                    2. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                      I don't necessarily think it's a characteristic of Muslims - necessarily, but it could be.

                      As a group they are large and have a common religious identity. When their host countries fail at assimilation and they feel alienated then sympathy for Islam and other Muslims is predictable.

                      Your original point that imperialism probably played a significant part in why Muslims in France are alienated is weak - very weak.

                      Just admit it and move on already.

                    3. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      Your original point that imperialism probably played a significant part in why Muslims in France are alienated is weak

                      I never made that point, take another look

                    4. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                      Me: Your original point that imperialism probably played a significant part in why Muslims in France are alienated is weak

                      You: I never made that point, take another look

                      You:

                      Isn't the French Muslim immigrant population largely from former French colonies? I'd blame their empire seeking over their supposed open borders.

                      Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're saying rather than blaming France's immigration policy, you'd blame their past colonialism for the lack of assimilation among some of their immigrants? You qualify it with "supposed open border" but it stands as a critique, nonetheless.

                      You're wrong - let it go.

                    5. Rhywun   10 years ago

                      Singapore was created as a sort of Chinese warehouse on the already Muslim mainland. In other words, the Chinese are the immigrants, not the other way around. I might also add that Malaysian Muslims are somewhat different from those in the Middle East. They do agitate for backward policies like sharia but as far as I know that aren't blowing shit up or funding others to do it.

                  2. wareagle   10 years ago

                    What about Singapore?

                    all Singapore does is prove Friedman's point that one can have economic freedom without the political variety, much like Hong Kong. Europe at least pretends to have political freedom along with economic.

              2. wareagle   10 years ago

                And yet, Bo, the same scenario keeps playing out: the immigrants refuse to assimilate, the Muslims in particular seem willing to use force to get their way, the natives are forced to subsidize a lot of things through the welfare state.

                1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                  They seem to be doing fine in Singapore, and for the most part here.

                  1. wareagle   10 years ago

                    does Singapore have the same welfare state that Europe and the US do? And, by the way, try breaking laws there and see how well that works. Wasn't that long ago that the American kid got a caning for graffiti.

                    1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      I'm opposed to the welfare state

                    2. wareagle   10 years ago

                      I'm opposed to the welfare state

                      so what? A lot of folks here are opposed to open borders, mostly because of the welfare state. You can't have it both ways. Singapore seems the lone example here to have figured it out.

                    3. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      Opposing the welfare state and supporting open borders spring from the se place for me

                  2. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                    They seem to be doing fine in Singapore, and for the most part here.

                    Again, Bo, Singapore is an authoritarian state with a strict behavior code enforced by law.

                    So, again, you're saying Muslim immigration is good as long as their behavior is controlled by the violence of the state? Your use of Singapore as an example of Muslim integration suggests you're okay with this. Very strange for a libertarian.

                    1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                      Singapore is in some areas more free than we are.

                2. Jordan   10 years ago

                  Most immigrants I see have no trouble assimilating.

              3. Free Society   10 years ago

                I think each country has it's own unique history, policies and geography creating different immigration situations.

                What's the unique history of Norway whereby the overwhelming majority of rapes are Muslims raping native Norwegian girls? (they don't wear hijabs you see) When Muslim rapists are questioned, almost all of them claim that in their culture a women dressed like that deserves to be raped and that he thought she wanted it.

                In the Netherlands and Scandanavia blonde women will tell you that North African and Middle Eastern men are constantly threatening them with rape because the color of their hair implies that they're slutty. I'm wondering, how in the fuck are those awful cultural norms are the fault of long-dead Europeans?

                1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                  What I said above was that the composition of immigration in France was largely determined by past colonial ties. Of course the culture of origin matters in what you're talking about.

            2. Zeb   10 years ago

              Is their problem due to imperialism as well?

              The same problem might have different causes in different places. It is a simple, factual observation that the specific makeup of France's immigrant population has a lot to do with their colonial history.
              This doesn't have to be a value judgement about colonialism. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of Bo's point was that even if they had more closed borders, there would still be a lot of Algerians in France because Algeria was a French colony.

              1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                This

              2. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

                Bo made a value judgement about the effects of colonialism (see above). I asked him to support it. That is all.

              3. Rhywun   10 years ago

                All this does raise the question for me about why e.g. Sweden has Muslim immigrants at all. It's pretty obvious why France is full of Algerians, England is full of Pakistanis, etc. Germany imported a lot of Turks for factory work. What's Sweden's excuse?

            3. Tonio   10 years ago

              Sweden and Denmark weren't colonial powers in Africa or South- and South-East asia, but they invited all those immigrants in.

              I don't know if France has a favorable immigration policy toward ex-colonials, or if it's just the proximity of their former North African colonies.

    4. Tonio   10 years ago

      Many deeply religious in the US also consider their religious beliefs to be above the law.

      1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

        And act thusly?

      2. BardMetal   10 years ago

        Those crazy Christians and their beheadings and suicide bombings, the whole American bible belt is a warzone of baptist militias. Oh wait a second I my mistake I must had them confused with a different religion.

        1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

          And as shown yesterday islamic terrorist acts are a small fraction of terrorist acts committed in Europe.

          1. BardMetal   10 years ago

            All those Basque suicide bombings, and beheadings... oh wait I have them confused with a different group.

            1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

              Well there are a lot more acts of separatist violence

          2. Illocust   10 years ago

            And as was shown yesterday not all terrorist acts are created equal.

            1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

              It was suggested, not shown.

              1. Illocust   10 years ago

                You believe a blown up empty mosque is equal to twelve people murdered? In the values rankings life is generally worth more than property.

                1. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

                  They're not the same, but both are acts of violence in contravention of rights.

                  1. wareagle   10 years ago

                    and as Buckley used to say, an idiot might conflate a man who pushes little old ladies into the path of traffic and one who pushes little old ladies out of harm's way as guys who push little old ladies. Yet, they are markedly different.

        2. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

          In fairness, I don't think that was the question. I think many deeply religious people do, in fact, want the government stopping people from gay marrying. While you're right that there's not much in the way of violence on that front, technically that is people believing their faith is higher than the law.

          1. RG   10 years ago

            This is why, when thinking about immigration policy, maybe letting in deep religious people isn't the best idea.

            1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

              Take a hike, Buddhists!

              1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

                Good advice. I shall seek enlightenment on a long journey.... thank you for your kindness!

              2. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

                Ok...just let me get out of the Lotus position...*grunts*....I think I'm stuck.

              3. RG   10 years ago

                OK, deeply religious people who are hostile to basic ideas like freedom of speech.

                I don't really care if we let em in or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if a sizable subsection doesn't assimilate and are actively hostile to our values.

                1. Free Society   10 years ago

                  This is why, when thinking about immigration policy, maybe letting in deep religious people isn't the best idea.

                  Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified
                  http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                  1. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                    Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are under 30 are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified
                    http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                    From your link:

                    About a quarter (26%) of younger U.S. Muslims say suicide bombing can at least rarely be justified, 17 percentage points higher than the proportion of Muslims ages 30 and older (9%) who share that view

                    1. Free Society   10 years ago

                      Yeah. And the younger the Muslim, the more likely that he/she is to be a holder of extremist religious views.

                    2. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      Yeah. And the younger the Muslim, the more likely that he/she is to be a holder of extremist religious views.

                      Maybe, but that doesn't show in your cite.

                    3. Free Society   10 years ago

                      Maybe, but that doesn't show in your cite.

                      Yes it does. You yourself highlighted that the most extreme viewpoints were more prevalent in younger Muslims. Have some more stats to deny;

                      26% of younger Muslims in America believe suicide bombings are justified.
                      35% of young Muslims in Britain believe suicide bombings are justified (24% overall).
                      42% of young Muslims in France believe suicide bombings are justified (35% overall).
                      22% of young Muslims in Germany believe suicide bombings are justified.(13% overall).
                      29% of young Muslims in Spain believe suicide bombings are justified.(25% overall).
                      http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                    4. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      Yes it does. You yourself highlighted that the most extreme viewpoints were more prevalent in younger Muslims

                      Then show me from you cite where it says what you claim it says.

                      Free Society|1.15.15 @ 9:41AM|#|?|filternamelinkcustom

                      This is why, when thinking about immigration policy, maybe letting in deep religious people isn't the best idea.
                      Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified

                      Now you are now saying it is age, which is what I pointed out. Something that your additional stats show as well. If you want to imply that younger age equals greater religious identy, please show that in your cite.

                    5. Free Society   10 years ago

                      First off, you're quoting what someone else said and attributed it to me. Secondly, the stats I posted directly show the differences between age groups. Open at least one of your eye balls.

                    6. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      First off, you're quoting what someone else said and attributed it to me.

                      So you are saying there is more than one Free Society on this comment board? Because I copied and pasted your post. Again, I agree with you on the age groups. But that is not the statement you made, I post again:

                      Free Society|1.15.15 @ 9:41AM|#|?|filternamelinkcustom

                      This is why, when thinking about immigration policy, maybe letting in deep religious people isn't the best idea.
                      Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified
                      http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                      Bolded mine.

                      If you want to say the age group matters, then good, but if you wish to continue making that statement that identy with their religion, then prove it from the cite, or get a different cite. It has nothing to do with opening eyes, it has to do with you not seeming to understand what you read.

                    7. Free Society   10 years ago

                      This is why, when thinking about immigration policy, maybe letting in deep religious people isn't the best idea.
                      Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified

                      The part in bold I did not write, but you quoted me as having written it, twice now.

                      If you want to say the age group matters, then good, but if you wish to continue making that statement that identy with their religion, then prove it from the cite, or get a different cite. It has nothing to do with opening eyes, it has to do with you not seeming to understand what you read.

                      I did. The source literally differentiates age. In my detail within the link itself and in the excerpt that I pasted. But since you need someone to hold your hand through the reading process I'll post again with age differentiation in bold so you can't possibly miss it.

                      35% of young Muslims in Britain believe suicide bombings are justified (24% overall).

                      35% among young Muslims vs 24% overall means that older age groups are less extreme in their views. In fact the very page that my link takes you to, has a table that breaks down the findings among different age groups right at the top of the page. You can't miss it, unless your eyes are closed. So yeah, open your fucking eyeballs before you waste anymore of anyone's time.

                    8. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      Who wrote it then? It is under your name. One more time, I agree with the age grouping. I have read the report, all of it, and it does indeed say that under 30 is 3x as likely to think that suicide bombings can be justified as the over 30 age group.

                      My question again, is who wrote what I copied, as it has your name in it. Are you saying that how strong people identify with their religion doesn't have anything to do with it. So why don't you just admit that you were called on your bullshit and own up to it. We all make mistakes, but anyone can see just by looking at this thread that you wrote it; or you claim someone hijacked your account. I may be wasting time as you say, but at least I can read. What a dumb fuck you are.

                    9. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      By the way, I didn't say you wrote the bolded part in you last statement, I said you wrote this part, and only this part:

                      Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified
                      http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                      That is the part that I am saying is bullshit.

                    10. Free Society   10 years ago

                      That is the part that I am saying is bullshit.

                      And you went ahead and included someone else's text that I was quoting, along with my actual words. Take a look if you can manage it.

                    11. Free Society   10 years ago

                      Who wrote it then? It is under your name.

                      For a guy who's using HTML quote brackets himself, it's surprising you don't know that quote brackets around a block of text means that it's a quote of what someone else wrote. Clearly I was quoting someone else. Look again

                      I have read the report, all of it

                      All 102 pages of it. Nicely done speed reader. If you remember on page 60 there was a big fucking table showing different age groups.

                      My question again, is who wrote what I copied, as it has your name in it. Are you saying that how strong people identify with their religion doesn't have anything to do with it.

                      The person I was quoting wrote the first sentence you attributed to me. Once again, use your fucking eyeballs.

                      Are you saying that how strong people identify with their religion doesn't have anything to do with it.

                      I don't know how you could possibly think that. Oh wait, it's because you don't actually read what you're responding to.

                      So why don't you just admit that you were called on your bullshit and own up to it.We all make mistakes, but anyone can see just by looking at this thread that you wrote it

                      Which bullshit? You haven't made a coherent statement about what I wrote. Don't blame me because you're a jackoff who can't read.

                    12. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      For a guy who's using HTML quote brackets himself, it's surprising you don't know that quote brackets around a block of text means that it's a quote of what someone else wrote. Clearly I was quoting someone else. Look again

                      Nope, I was responding to the part below the HTML quote brackets, unless you just erred in closing them.

                      All 102 pages of it. Nicely done speed reader. If you remember on page 60 there was a big fucking table showing different age groups.

                      Not the first time you have posted it.

                      The person I was quoting wrote the first sentence you attributed to me. Once again, use your fucking eyeballs.

                      Again, not talking about the first sentence, I am talking about the second sentence. Is that one yours?

                      Which bullshit? You haven't made a coherent statement about what I wrote. Don't blame me because you're a jackoff who can't read.

                      This bullshit:

                      Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified
                      http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                      Is it yours? If not, then my apologies, if it is, it is bullshit.

                    13. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      Johnny Bravo|1.15.15 @ 10:01AM|#|?|filternamelinkcustom

                      Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are under 30 are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified
                      http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                      From your link:

                      About a quarter (26%) of younger U.S. Muslims say suicide bombing can at least rarely be justified, 17 percentage points higher than the proportion of Muslims ages 30 and older (9%) who share that view

                      My original post in this thread. Show me where I attributed the first sentence to you. Talk about a jackoff you can't read.

                    14. Free Society   10 years ago

                      Nope, I was responding to the part below the HTML quote brackets, unless you just erred in closing them.

                      And you nonetheless included somone else's text in quote that you attributed to me. That's an objective fact that I've already hyperlinked to so you wouldn't have to use any precious few brain cells to see which post exactly you did that in.

                      Again, not talking about the first sentence, I am talking about the second sentence. Is that one yours?

                      Then don't quote me having said if that's not included. And yes obvious I wrote the bit about strong religious beliefs being correlated extremist views on suicide bombing.

                      Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified
                      http://pewresearch.org/assets/.....df#page=60

                      This is mine, but you added another piece of text above it when you quoted which is what I'm talking about. Do you understand? Can you follow that now? Derpidy derpidy der?

                      That same link contains lots of information about the differences in opinion between younger (under 30) and older (over 30) Muslims. It's there in the link that I've posted and repeatedly explained to you several times. I don't know how I could retard proof this for anymore than I already. Have a good one.

                    15. Johnny Bravo   10 years ago

                      Free Society,

                      Thanks for the conversation, it's been fun. And I mean that honestly, as you've brightened my day. Have a good rest of the day.

                    16. Free Society   10 years ago

                      Free Society,

                      Thanks for the conversation, it's been fun. And I mean that honestly, as you've brightened my day. Have a good rest of the day.

                      I'm being sincere when I say, fuck you Troll.

                2. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

                  What about deeply irreligious people who are hostile to basic ideas like freedom of speech? I hear a great many of them exist in places like the People's Republic of China, Cuba, and Cambridge, Mass.

                  1. RG   10 years ago

                    They're a problem, too.

                    Open borders work great, until you realize that governments really don't care much about an old piece of paper with our rights on it, and the newly arrived may vote to take advantage of that.

                    Plus, I'm not sure that we really need more people with the oppressed/victimhood/white male privilege mentality.

                  2. Free Society   10 years ago

                    What about deeply irreligious people who are hostile to basic ideas like freedom of speech? I hear a great many of them exist in places like the People's Republic of China, Cuba, and Cambridge, Mass.

                    I don't think it's so much a matter of religiosity as it is a matter of rationality. Deeply religious people are by definition less rational and I don't mean that as an insult.

                    So whether it's a deeply religious Christian/Muslim/Jew or a deeply fanatical communist or fascist, I would think the levels of barbarity are similar. Though I'd love to see some polling on the prevalence of extremist views of self-described commmunists etc.

                    1. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

                      I don't think it's so much a matter of religiosity as it is a matter of rationality.

                      That's my point. RG was mixing up his dependent and independent variables.

                    2. RG   10 years ago

                      Is there a correlation between the irrational and the religious?

                    3. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

                      Was that a question to FS or to me? In any case, I do agree with FS when he wrote, "Deeply religious people are by definition less rational and I don't mean that as an insult," in that authentic, spiritual belief deals with an attempt at direct, gnostic experience with something greater than oneself. An experience which is, by definition, mystic, intuitive, unquantifiable and ineffable. This automatically places it outside the bounds of reason.

                      So yes, I'd say Pearson's r is greater than 0.01 on that one.

                    4. wadair   10 years ago

                      Good description. Religious faith also deals with the non-rational unconscious, more than the rational conscious psyche. Where many people find problems with religion is when they take it literally--try to make it scientific, for example.

                3. Jerryskids   10 years ago

                  I wouldn't be surprised if a sizable subsection doesn't assimilate and are actively hostile to our values.

                  Two of the major subsections who don't subscribe to American values are called 'Democrats' and 'Republicans'. The most American of values is "Leave me the hell alone and mind your own goddamn business" and that's the last thing either one of those two groups wants to do.

          2. Homple   10 years ago

            From Fist: "While you're right that there's not much in the way of violence on that front, technically that is people believing their faith is higher than the law."

            Quite so, but I must say that many libertarians also think their beliefs are above the law but don't get violent about it.

            Not that there's anything wrong with that.

          3. Azathoth!!   10 years ago

            I think many deeply religious people do, in fact, want the government to maintain the status quo with regards to gay marriage.

            FTFY

            A subtle, but important, distinction.

      3. Free Society   10 years ago

        And yet, the world isn't plagued by Christian extremism quite the same way that it is plagued by regular ole Islam.

        1. Tonio   10 years ago

          Not at the moment, no.

          1. Free Society   10 years ago

            When a culture discards barbaric cultural norms from it's past, it requires a very strong destructive force for that culture to revert back. Quite simply western cultures have moved on from the sort of barbarism still in full swing in most Islamic countries. So yes, 'not at the moment' has been the case for no less than a few hundred years now.

            1. RG   10 years ago

              This. The culture seems to change the religion and not vice versa.

              1. Free Society   10 years ago

                It's a give and take to be sure. Some religions may be able to enhance a society's morality when that society are cannibals or practitioners of human sacrifice. Secularism is an even better civilizing force, but more applicable to relatively modern societies than it would be for fire worshippers et cetera.

                Compared to some sub-sharan African cultures where parents hire a shaman to ritualistically castrate little boys, Islam is much more civilized. But Islam as compared to secular western culture is an anachronism.

                1. RG   10 years ago

                  Because in those cases, the religion synchs with basic respect for others rights.

              2. wadair   10 years ago

                The culture seems to change the religion and not vice versa.

                Actually they do change each other. Notice the parallels between the development of protestantism and the industrial revolution--for example. When people began to read (scripture and other works) for themselves rather than kowtowing to authority, they found a different christianity and began to learn and develop on their own. Religion is not exclusive to culture--it is the moral code of a culture.

            2. Mock-star   10 years ago

              My part of the world is "plagued" by Christian extremists who refuse to assimilate. But I dont really mind the Mennonites and Amish that much. Theyre pretty low key.

    5. Ted S.   10 years ago

      Environmental protesters think they should be above the law, too.

    6. Free Society   10 years ago

      Remember Ken's sage wisdom; Islam has nothing to do with any of this.

      1. BardMetal   10 years ago

        Islam is like the bad guy from the Harry Potter series. He who shall not be named.

    7. Injun, as in from India   10 years ago

      It is high time the world stops pretending that Islam is not at war against all infidels.

      The infidel tent is broad and consists of secularists, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and includes just about every country. Islamofascists may be waging war against one subset now, but they will open new fronts whether or not they are aggressed upon first.

      1. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

        Listen, Injun, the Pattani insurgency in Southern Thailand is directly tied to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (Jimmy Carter told me so) and I double-dog dare to you argue otherwise!!!!

      2. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

        Think it sucks to be an infidel, being an apostate is really hard on one's self esteem.

      3. CatoTheElder   10 years ago

        It's also high time to recognize that Islam is not monolithic.

        In particular, it is the Wahhabi sect of Sunni Islam that is literally at war against all infidels.

        Sure, the Dar Al-Islam is at war with the Dar al-Harb, but for most Muslims this war is figurative rather than literal. Well, except for Israel ... and any other society that becomes vulnerable to Islamic dominance.

        1. Injun, as in from India   10 years ago

          What about Shia belligerence? That is something you can't ignore.

          Frankly, I find only Ahmadiyas to be trustworthy (although the rest of Islam considers them to be infidels), and to some extent, Sufis.

  9. sarcasmic   10 years ago

    Moment drone smashes to pieces after its auto-takeoff fails and hurls the $3,000 device straight into a garage door

    A brand new camera drone designed to capture amazing 4K footage from the sky suffered a major malfunction for owner Mark Taylor
    The $2,900 drone smashed into his garage while on auto-takeoff, which is meant to send the device up in the air
    The device ended up smashing into pieces

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-door.html

    1. Tonio   10 years ago

      Those things are the worst combination of fragile and expensive.

  10. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    1980s pop star Rick Springfield faces injury lawsuit in Syracuse

    The singer known for his 1981 hit "Jessie's Girl" is being sued by a 45-year-old woman who says she suffered serious injuries when Springfield fell into the crowd during a 2004 concert at the state fair outside Syracuse.

    Vicki Calcagno of Liverpool says Springfield's buttocks hit her in the head, causing lasting injuries.

    1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

      "Never go ass to mouth head!"

      1. gaijin   10 years ago

        OT: Swiss...I see your nom de plume reflects the latest crazyness in SNB land.

        1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

          I am anticipating...interesting times. If the dollar holds up vs CHF, I may be only slightly discomfited. If not, I shall be investing in bulk whisky and ibuprofen futures here at work.

          1. Ted S.   10 years ago

            They shouldn't have tied the currency to the Euro.

            1. Brett L   10 years ago

              I'm sure they thought the PIIGs were going to be ejected like everyone else back then.

            2. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

              That 1.20 target was....unrealistic.

    2. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

      I wish I had Jessie's Lawyer!

      1. SugarFree   10 years ago

        Where can I file a brief like that?

        1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

          *narrows gaze at Rufus and SF*

          1. SugarFree   10 years ago

            I played along with the discovery phase.

          2. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

            INT. Court.

            Springfield (singing with air guitar): I want, I want Jessie's lawyer...

            Judge: Will the defense shut their client up?

            Defense lawyer: Rick quit it.

            Springfield: Where can I find a brief case like that?

    3. Ted S.   10 years ago

      This case is still going?

  11. sarcasmic   10 years ago

    Mystery of 132-year-old Winchester rifle found propped up against a tree in Nevada national park

    Weapon was found leaning against juniper tree in Nevada's Grand Basin
    Discovery made by archaeologists carrying out survey in the national park
    Winchester rifle, made in 1882, had a rusted barrel and its base was buried
    Experts do not yet know how long the unloaded gun had been undisturbed

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-park.html

    1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

      Jimmy Stewart put it there.

    2. Jerryskids   10 years ago

      Experts do not yet know how long the unloaded gun had been undisturbed.

      Are the Brits so far removed from self-defense that they have forgotten that all guns are loaded?

  12. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Fisherman In Nova Scotia Find Weird-Looking Creatures

    Fishermen off the cost of Nova Scotia have been pulling up weird-looking creatures along with their lobster traps and scientists want to hear from those who are snagging them.

    The marine animals, called salps, are a barrel-shaped, planktonic tunicate. It moves by contracting, thus pumping water through its gelatinous body. This is also used for locomotion, and salp jet propulsion is one of the most efficient in the animal kingdom. The salp strains the pumped water through its internal feeding filters, feeding on phytoplankton.

    1. Notorious G.K.C.   10 years ago

      They're unimaginable beings from a non-Euclidian dimension, and they're pissed at what the fishermen have been doing to them.

      No biggie, though, humanity had a good run.

      1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

        *rummages around for Elder Sign*

      2. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

        *rummages around for Elder Sign*

        1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

          couldn't find it the first time?

          1. SugarFree   10 years ago

            No, the Elder Sign trapped him in a recursive loop of degenerate time. Read a book sometime, asshole.

            1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

              Nice way to ruin my day, shitlord.

              1. SugarFree   10 years ago

                It's not my fault you don't know how to science.

                1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

                  *frantically waves for help*

                  1. Azathoth!!   10 years ago

                    Oh, knock it off. Sit, and enjoy the piping.

    2. Jerryskids   10 years ago

      Without checking the link, the appearance of these strange creatures in a strange place is even more proof of global warming, right?

  13. sarcasmic   10 years ago

    PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: It must be love! Megan Fox shows off racy bikini line tattoo tribute to husband Brian Austin Green as she hits the beach in minuscule two-piece

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs.....Green.html

    dang

  14. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    Catholic Church authorities in Venezuela condemned the government for "imposing a socialist Marxist or communist political-economic system" on the people.

    Because it's making those systems look bad.

    1. Ted S.   10 years ago

      It's going to be interesting to see if there's any conflict between the Church in Venezuela and the Vatican.

      1. Free Society   10 years ago

        Any Catholic libertarian will tell you, there's no Marxists in the Vatican.

        1. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

          This former altar boy won't.

    2. Bo Cara Esq.   10 years ago

      The Church probably just wants their cut of the action

    3. Suthenboy   10 years ago

      Thats rich coming from a church with a commie pope.

  15. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Russia to Dip Into Wealth Fund as Ruble Crisis Pressures Economy

    Russia will unseal its $88 billion Reserve Fund and use it to acquire rubles, the government's latest effort to stem the country's worst currency crisis in almost 17 years and limit its effects on the ailing economy.

    "Together with the central bank, we are selling a part of our foreign-currency reserves," Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in Moscow today. "We'll get rubles and place them in deposits for banks, giving liquidity to the economy."

    Russian officials are running out of options to stem the ruble's plunge as oil prices below $50 a barrel and sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine push the country to the brink of recession. Policy makers have already raised interest rates by the most since 1998 and introduced a 1 trillion-ruble ($15 billion) bank recapitalization plan.

    1. OldMexican   10 years ago

      Russia will unseal its $88 billion Reserve Fund and use it to acquire rubles, the government's latest effort to stem the country's worst currency crisis in almost 17 years and limit its effects on the ailing economy.

      Buying back rubles with overvalued dollars makes sense in that it injects liquidity into the economy without resorting to money printing.

      Smart move. I see what you did there, Putin.

  16. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

    "Meanwhile, the Secret Service is removing four assistant directors from their posts while two more have announced their retirement, considered a significant bureaucratic shake up for White House security."

    Which poor shlep who was demoted get to play hero in this movie?

  17. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    It begins: IRS launches International Data Exchange service

    Yesterday, the IRS announced the International Data Exchange Service.

    If you've not heard of it, it's is an outgrowth of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), which requires every single bank in the world to get in bed with IRS to share information about customers.

    1. Rich   10 years ago

      WTF? I thought Koskinen claimed Congress had clobbered the IRS budget!

      1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

        Only the part that pays for customer service.

      2. Mokers   10 years ago

        IRS Customer Service Takes A Hit

        Taxpayers who need help are not getting it, and tax compliance is likely to suffer over the longer term

        Or his bosses could just max tax law less complicated, but where is the fun in that?

    2. Scruffy Nerfherder   10 years ago

      Glad all my money is tied up in pet rocks. Harder to trace.

      1. Doghouse Riley Jr.   10 years ago

        Sure, until you wake up one day and a SWAT team from the US Geological Survey has your place surrounded.

  18. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    The $456,000 Afghan Training Center that 'Disintegrated' Within Four Months

    The dry fire range designed to replicate a typical Afghan village and used to conduct simulated police search and clearance exercises.

    Within 4 months of completion, the DFR's buildings began to disintegrate. These "melting" buildings were the direct result of the construction contractor, Qesmatullah Nasrat Construction Company, failing to adhere to contractual requirements and using substandard bricks and other building materials. Unfortunately, this problem was compounded by poor oversight on the part of the responsible U.S. government officials.

    1. Doctor Whom   10 years ago

      So we really are remaking Afghanistan in our own image.

      1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

        See how advanced their government contractors are!

    2. Ted S.   10 years ago

      I'm surprised it didn't take less than four months for the buildings to start disintegrating.

  19. Doctor Whom   10 years ago

    Meanwhile, the Secret Service is removing four assistant directors from their posts while two more have announced their retirement, considered a significant bureaucratic shake up for White House security.

    Phony scandal! Bush! Obstructionist House Republicans!

  20. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    The ugly truth about sexual assault: More men admit to it if you don't call it rape
    A researcher tells Salon about the startling data on men's ideas about sexual assault -- and how to change them

    Basically what we found was the men who said they would rape, that they had intentions to rape, they seemed to be more overtly hostile towards women. More angry, suspicious of women's motives. But those men who said they have an intention to use force to have sexual intercourse but then said no to rape, they seem to be more motivated by the macho personality, hypermasculine idea.

    Also, the opposite or inverse of the construct of hostility. We termed that as benevolent sexism, meaning that those are men that still have attitudes that are sexist, but they are not overtly hostile. Rather, when we talk about benevolent sexism we are talking about this concept, for example, that men might think that women shouldn't change the oil in their car. That's not hostile ? it's actually a nice thing to change a woman's oil. But it still has a sexist component to it that believes that women shouldn't get their hands dirty or women shouldn't work with cars.

    1. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

      This is why all sex should be considered rape.

    2. Irish   10 years ago

      Is this based on that study that interviewed 73 people, was published in a politicized journal with dubious scientific merit, and contained literally dozens of factual inaccuracies?

      Man, progs are really going to beat this dead horse, aren't they?

      1. Coeus   10 years ago

        It was also a rate on a 1-5 scale likelihood of doing it if there was no possibility of negative repercussions. Everything that wasn't a 1 was counted as a yes. Interestingly, they didn't ask about any other crimes.

    3. RBS   10 years ago

      suspicious of women's motives

      I call that good advice.

      1. Irish   10 years ago

        The best part is that this is a study of 73 people, so its results are scientifically meaningless.

        As a result, they have actually proven nothing but are getting lots of play in the left-wing press because the lies they're telling fit the narrative.

        1. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

          73 people who got 'extra credit' for completing the survey.

          Which means these were some kind of self selected population, probably guys who signed up for a women studies course, because it's hard to get laid in North Dakota.

          1. Enough About Palin   10 years ago

            "it's hard to get laid in North Dakota."

            No it's not.

    4. EDG reppin' LBC   10 years ago

      Rather, when we talk about benevolent sexism we are talking about this concept, for example, that men might think that women shouldn't change the oil in their car.

      Here is a list of things I do so my wife doesn't have to bother with it:
      Pump Gas, get car serviced, get car washed, take out garbage, buy groceries, clean dishes, clean kitchen, clean bathroom, clean house, carry luggage, change lightbulbs, do laundry, kill insects, fix household items, carry heavy things, reach for high things, run errands, etc.

      I thought I did these things because I love my wife and I want her to live a simple and carefree life and her free time can be spent on herself instead of on life's monotonies. Turns out, I'm sexist.

      1. RBS   10 years ago

        Same here, I guess I'll just stop so my wife can experience some equality. "What? Oh, you can take a nap after you wash the fucking dishes and sweep the goddamn floor."

      2. SugarFree   10 years ago

        Tomorrow they will run an article about how men don't help out around the house and the circle of manufactured outrage will be complete.

        1. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

          That circle was completed a long time ago, this is just another lap on a well worn course.

  21. Ted S.   10 years ago

    Jurassic Park, Australia:

    DNA Extracted from Extinct Giant Kangaroos

    More than 40,000 years ago giant kangaroos roamed across Australia. Now, long after their extinction, scientists have managed to extract DNA from their remains. The DNA has allowed scientists to work out how the animals relate to modern day kangaroos and wallabies. Previously scientists trying to work out the evolutionary relationships of the animals have had to rely on information from bones.

    1. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

      You just know they are going to reintroduce them and Australia will get even more dangerous.

      1. DontShootMe   10 years ago

        Admit it, watching a giant Kangaroo flatten downtown Sydney would be a lot more fun that watching Godzilla trample Tokyo yet again.

        1. Notorious G.K.C.   10 years ago

          Don't worry, Jimmy Carter's giant rabbit will save the day.

          1. OldMexican   10 years ago

            Is it related to Jimmy Stewart's giant rabbit?

            1. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

              Send in the Rabbot!

  22. Rich   10 years ago

    It was a one-mile walk home from a Silver Spring park on Georgia Avenue on a Saturday afternoon. But what the parents saw as a moment of independence for their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, they say authorities viewed much differently.

    Usually, their mother said, the children carry a laminated card with parent contact information that says: "I am not lost. I am a free-range kid." The kids didn't have the card that day.

    Somehow, I doubt that card carries much weight with the "authorities".

    1. Tonio   10 years ago

      This is the family who Lenore Skenazy has been writing about here recently.

      1. DontShootMe   10 years ago

        Nowhere in any of those stories does it mention this family as having hired a lawyer. Are they nuts? The State will probably squash them into paste regardless, but they might as well put up a fight.

        1. RBS   10 years ago

          Hiring a lawyer is evidence of guilt.

  23. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Why porn is exploding in the Middle East
    Data reveal six of the top eight porn-searching countries are Muslim states. It's not as surprising as it sounds

    Porn is being made and watched in the Middle East, and millions more are watching it around the planet. In fact, some of the world's top porn consumers come out of the Middle East. According to data released by Google, six of the top eight porn-searching countries are Muslim states. Pakistan tops the list at number one, followed by Egypt at number two. Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Turkey come in at numbers four, five, seven and eight, respectively. Pakistan leads the way in porn searches for animals like pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats and snakes.

    According to research put out by PornMD, the terms "creamy squirt," "blowjob" and even "Kendra Wilkinson" (Hugh Hefner's former girlfriend) appear on the top 10 most-searched terms coming out of countries like Iraq, Syria and Iran. The word "Arab" is the number-one searched porn term in Egypt, Iran and Syria. Some get a little creepier. "Pain" lands at Iraq's fourth most-searched term, while "father daughter" and "brother sister" come in at numbers four and five for Syria. Both the words "mother" and "mom" appear on Egypt's top 10 list.

    1. Scruffy Nerfherder   10 years ago

      What is it with the incest porn? Is there a cultural aspect to it? It's not like they all grew up in Alabama.

      1. SugarFree   10 years ago

        Maybe it's because all the other women they see in a day are covered up. The first fantasies we have often last the longest.

        1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

          Chances are, the first vagina you ever had contact with was your mother's.

          (I'm tempted to add that many of us could say the same thing about the second vagina we ever had contact with, but that would be juvenile of me.)

      2. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

        What is it with the incest porn? Is there a cultural aspect to it?

        Well, what women can many of them see until they're engaged to be married?

      3. Rasilio   10 years ago

        I don't know about in middle eastern countries but in India there are some old folk beliefs that have mothers basically peforming oral sex on their young sons and as a result mother - Son is a huge fetish over there

    2. SugarFree   10 years ago

      "Creamy squirt" reminds me high school. Good times...

      1. Crusty Juggler   10 years ago

        That was my high school nickname as well! Twinsies!

        1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

          WTF. They called me Queef.

          1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

            captain?

    3. Rich   10 years ago

      "Kendra Wilkinson"?

      Sheesh, why not Barbara Eden?

    4. Pathogen   10 years ago

      Viagra..

    5. Ted S.   10 years ago

      Why porn is exploding in the Middle East

      It's the suicide bomber porn.

  24. Bardas Phocas   10 years ago

    How bad is it in Venuzela?
    Their answer to endless lines for basic goods? Ban Lines!
    http://news.yahoo.com/nighttim.....43051.html

    Reminds me of the Soviet joke when a complainer in a line is warned by an enforcer "'Look old man you know you can't talk like this. Just think, a few years ago you would have been shot for saying these things.' The old man trudges home. His wife seeing him empty-handed says 'Run out of meat again have they?' He says: 'It's worse than that, they've run out of bullets.'

    1. Illocust   10 years ago

      You know, someone should make a history book with the dark jokes of the era peppered throughout. I think it would help the concepts of what went down stick in peoples heads better. Who knows we might even learn something from our past.

      1. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

        I seem to remember a US History book that peppered political/editorial cartoons from the era into the lessons.

        Those type of cartoons often are slanted one way, but still interesting.

  25. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

    That Muslims believe in conspiracies should surprise no one here but did anyone read the comments in the link to NPR? Seems even NPR progs are kinda starting to get the picture.

  26. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Europe's Leading Rabbi: Jews Must Begin Carrying Guns

    One of Europe's most prominent Jewish organizations is petitioning the European Union to pass new legislation that would permit Jewish community members to carry guns "for the essential protection of their communities," according to a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

    The European Jewish Association (EJA), which represents Jewish communities across Europe, says that gun license laws must be altered following a string of deadly attacks on Jews in France and other European countries, where anti-Semitism has been growing at an alarming rate.

    1. Tonio   10 years ago

      Good luck with that, Rabbi.

    2. BardMetal   10 years ago

      If only they had been carrying guns decades ago...

      1. hamilton   10 years ago

        Yeah, I am sort of surprised after all the Jews have been through that they haven't kinda figured this out and implemented it as a matter of policy, like the Mormons requiring a secure food supply and all that.

        1. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

          the Jews have been through that they haven't kinda figured this out and implemented it as a matter of policy

          They did. It's called the "Israeli Defense Forces".

    3. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

      Margolin said that he is currently in negotiations with EU leaders to relax certain gun restrictions, though some remain hesitant to do so.

      The only way you could increase the understatement in that sentence is to translate it into Yiddish.

      1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        Maybe if Margolin had a gun they wouldn't be quite so hesitant.

    4. Matrix   10 years ago

      JPFO has a European branch?

    5. Irish   10 years ago

      But only Jews. The rest of you Europeans can go fuck yourselves.

  27. The Late P Brooks   10 years ago

    Also, the opposite or inverse of the construct of hostility. We termed that as benevolent sexism, meaning that those are men that still have attitudes that are sexist, but they are not overtly hostile.

    Gibberish in, gibberish out.

    These people are cognitively impaired.

    1. Rich   10 years ago

      We termed that as benevolent sexism, meaning that those are men that still have attitudes that are sexist, but they are not overtly hostile.

      ExCUSE me. That should be *benign* sexism.

    2. Illocust   10 years ago

      A.K.A. feminism? I mean they are the ones that tend to think of women as being to weak to do anything without the guiding hand of a feminist top woman.

      1. Notorious G.K.C.   10 years ago

        Oh, thank you *so much* for that image.

        1. Illocust   10 years ago

          Oh God! I didn't mean it that way, and now that image is stuck in my head.

      2. RBS   10 years ago

        the guiding hand of a feminist top woman.

        I'll... be in my bunk?

  28. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Poll: Only 1 in 4 buy Team Obama's claim unemployment improving

    Americans are in general agreement that the nation's economy is improving, but not their own personal situation, a depressing reality that the administration can't shake the country out of no matter what it does.

    A big reason: They just don't believe the president and his team's boasting about the economy, with 52 percent in a new poll believing that there are more people unemployed than the president says.

    The latest Economist/YouGov poll found that the "positive assessment has yet to become part of most Americans daily conversations about the economy. And Americans are far more likely to credit themselves and American business ? and not the president or Congress ? for whatever economic improvement there has been."

    1. Pathogen   10 years ago

      A big reason: They just don't believe the president and his team's boasting about the economy, with 52 percent in a new poll believing that there are more people unemployed than the president says.

      This means that 52% of Americans are obviously unrepentant racists, bent on seeing our president fail...

    2. Ted S.   10 years ago

      What are the other three in four going to do about it?

    3. Irish   10 years ago

      The latest Economist/YouGov poll found that the "positive assessment has yet to become part of most Americans daily conversations about the economy. And Americans are far more likely to credit themselves and American business ? and not the president or Congress ? for whatever economic improvement there has been."

      This brings a tear to my eye. There may be hope yet!

    4. CatoTheElder   10 years ago

      most Americans daily conversations about the economy

      Most Americans seldom have a conversation about the economy.

      The acquaintances of the writer might, but he's clearly out of touch.

  29. The Late P Brooks   10 years ago

    One of Europe's most prominent Jewish organizations is petitioning the European Union to pass new legislation that would permit Jewish community members to carry guns "for the essential protection of their communities,"

    What are the odds they favor relaxed gun laws for everybody?

    1. Rich   10 years ago

      Jew get your carry permit?

      /Woody Allen

    2. Tonio   10 years ago

      I suspect that you'd see a lot of conversions...

    3. Pathogen   10 years ago

      Gold advantage? members only..

    4. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

      The JFPO is much closer to the GOA than the NRA, I'll tell you that.

  30. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    George Soros funds Ferguson protests, hopes to spur civil action
    Liberal billionaire gave at least $33 million in one year to groups that emboldened activists

    There's a solitary man at the financial center of the Ferguson protest movement. No, it's not victim Michael Brown or Officer Darren Wilson. It's not even the Rev. Al Sharpton, despite his ubiquitous campaign on TV and the streets.

    Rather, it's liberal billionaire George Soros, who has built a business empire that dominates across the ocean in Europe while forging a political machine powered by nonprofit foundations that impacts American politics and policy, not unlike what he did with MoveOn.org.

    Mr. Soros spurred the Ferguson protest movement through years of funding and mobilizing groups across the U.S., according to interviews with key players and financial records reviewed by The Washington Times.

    1. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

      Koch made him do it.

    2. Bardas Phocas   10 years ago

      Plutocrats funding opposition to our Glorious Leader!

    3. Jordan   10 years ago

      I thought money in politics was evil?

    4. John   10 years ago

      Isn't funding riots and civil insurrection treason? I mean seriously. If some Muslim or Libertarian were funding groups for the single purpose of creating riots and civil unrest, they would most certainly be indicted for treason or more likely terrorism charges.

  31. Jordan   10 years ago

    Handcuffed teen hailed a hero after he saved cop's life - when officer collapsed with a heart attack while booking him into jail

    Surprised the cops didn't beat the shit out of him on instinct.

    1. Tonio   10 years ago

      And while the temptation to not act was presumably strong, I also wouldn't want to be a suspect, handcuffed or not, anywhere near a dead cop.

    2. Rufus J. Firefly   10 years ago

      When I saw this last night that's the first thing that went through my mind.

      Cop lying on the floor. Black kid in the area. Do the math.

      But they were quite restrained and even professional looks like.

      1. Andrew S.   10 years ago

        Oh good. I thought I was a terrible person for thinking that. Glad I wasn't the only one, and glad the cops were professional for once.

    3. sarcasmic   10 years ago

      I posted that in yesterday's lynx.

      If I was in that kid's place I would have done what the cop would have done had the situation been reversed: nothing.

      1. Brett L   10 years ago

        Kid probably knows he'd be up for a murder rap if the cop died while he stood there.

  32. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    23 Hollywood Moms With Same Sperm Donor and One Crazy Vacation

    When Violet was a toddler, Fain took her to a music class, where "two women walked in with two boys about Violet's age," she says. One of the boys looked familiar. Fain went home and checked her Facebook group comprising 15 families who had conceived with her same open donor. (Open donation, in which the donor's info can be released on the child's 18th birthday, is a growing trend.) She recalls: "There they were," just a mile and a half away.

    Now they all have dinner every Sunday. "They're my family," says Fain. In September, the Facebook group rented a vacation house. "Talk about crazy ? there were 12 2-year-olds," says Fain, who adds: "It's one of those things that feels incredibly bizarre for half an hour. Then it feels totally normal."

    1. mr lizard   10 years ago

      For once I'm glad to see others enjoying the fruits of my labor

  33. The Late P Brooks   10 years ago

    Mr. Soros spurred the Ferguson protest movement through years of funding and mobilizing groups across the U.S., according to interviews with key players and financial records reviewed by The Washington Times.

    The Washington Times is like the Salon of right wing crankism.

  34. SugarFree   10 years ago

    Those darn white men are at it again!

    2015 Oscar Nominations Snub Basically Everybody Who Isn't a White Dude

    1. Notorious G.K.C.   10 years ago

      So they're saying Hollywood is dominated by a particular ethnic group? That's original.

    2. Bardas Phocas   10 years ago

      White Men rule!
      Really, they do.

    3. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

      The real problem is they snubbed good movies.

      1. Notorious G.K.C.   10 years ago

        Which ones?

      2. sarcasmic   10 years ago

        There were good movies?

        1. RBS   10 years ago

          How to Train Your Dragon 2 was pretty good.

          /Guy with a toddler.

          1. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

            The Lego movies deserves a nomination for Best Picture and Best Actor.

            1. RBS   10 years ago

              Also good movies.

        2. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

          Point taken. It must be hard to pick 'best' when there isn't any good.

    4. John   10 years ago

      Since the Hollywood and by extension the academy voters are 90% or more Progressive in their political views, is it fair to say that Progressives have a racism problem?

    5. Free Society   10 years ago

      The comments on that Jezebel post are just amazing. Those people are just flagrantly racist and sexist, but they direct their ire towards the only group that it's acceptable to racist and sexist against. Good for them for "punching up."

      Heaven forbid that the ethnic group that founded and built the movie industry and is the majority of the population at large, would be so bold as to get awards for their work.

      1. John   10 years ago

        Maybe the reason why there are fewer women and minorities up for these awards is because women and minority filmmakers have been ghettoized into making race movies and various other political polemics? Perhaps if they would worry about being good film makers and less about being "a women filmmaker" or a "minority filmmaker" they would do better.

        1. Free Society   10 years ago

          Yeah if Spike Lee could make a movie where at least the whites in it are not foaming at the mouth with a desire to lynch everything darker than a paper bag, then I would be willing to consider giving him some credit as a filmmaker. Not that I would, he reeks of amateur.

          If women and minority groups are so keen to take their rightful place in the pantheon of great film-making, maybe they should get off their high horse and stop pushing the perpetual victim narrative in all of their works.

          1. John   10 years ago

            Spike Lee is a really good example of what I am talking about. Lee is actually a very skilled filmmaker. His problem is that he has wasted his considerable talent and skill making race baiting polemics rather than trying to make good movies. It is hard enough to make a good movie under any circumstances. When you limit yourself to making only movies that score a particular set of political points, your chances of making a good are close to zero.

            1. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

              Lee is actually a very skilled filmmaker

              We're going to have to disagree here. We're talking about the man who brought us Girl 6. Spike Lee makes Tyler Perry look like Orson Wells.

              1. John   10 years ago

                Not true. Those movies sucked because they were horribly written. They actually were very skillfully made. The problem was the scripts not the actual film making.

                Lee is to race films what George Lucas is to science fiction. Lucas is one hell of a director and film maker. What Lucas can't do is write dialog and story. As bad as the last three Star Wars movies were, they contained some really great direction and visual effects. That couldn't save them from their horrible scripts and stories. The same is true of Spike Lee's movies.

            2. Free Society   10 years ago

              Lee is actually a very skilled filmmaker.

              Not sure about that. Ever see his WW2 film (took place in Italy)? It's amateur hour stretched to full feature length.

          2. Irish   10 years ago

            Do the Right Thing and 25th Hour are both great movies.

            And let's not forget the modern classic, Jungle Fever.

            1. Irish   10 years ago

              Also, don't talk shit about Inside Man.

              1. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

                I can only conclude that currently you're rolling on some Agile Cyborg-grade shit.

                1. Irish   10 years ago

                  Anyone who can't appreciate Do the Right Thing is dead to me.

            2. John   10 years ago

              The 25th Hour is a very good movie. But that movie was based on a novel. Spike Lee largely kept his grimy paws off of the novel and shot the movie pretty close to how the novel went. And sure enough, it turned out to be a good movie.

              1. Heroic Mulatto   10 years ago

                Spike Lee largely kept his grimy paws off of the novel and shot the movie pretty close to how the novel went. And sure enough, it turned out to be a good movie.

                I was going to mention that about Malcolm X as well. The point being that when he doesn't have a paint-by-numbers book to work with, he stumbles.

                1. John   10 years ago

                  That is because when he has a paint by numbers story, he can't screw with it by inserting his politics. He is a good film maker who lets his political obsessions ruin his work.

            3. Free Society   10 years ago

              Do the Right Thing

              This movie has been lifted to grandeur for it's moral teaching. A moral teaching which is as convoluted as it is immoral. But hey I'm white and as Spike Lee famously quipped, that's why I don't understand the moral message.

        2. RBS   10 years ago

          This, I can't imagine the voters (or however they do this), despite being progressives, actually want to be beaten over the head with this stuff for two hours.

  35. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    Don't Buy the 'Charlie Hebdo' Survivor Issue on eBay

    This morning, a bunch of eBay sellers picked up copies to sell online, keen to cash in on any supporters of both free speech and print media who don't happen to live in France. And strangely, as more and more copies fly from newsstands?and as the publishers announced they would print a further 2 million copies?the price for the magazine online continues to climb.

    So far, the highest bid for a Charlie Hebo survivor issue was over $152,000. Yes, that is probably a fake bid, but dozens of other offers are topping $3,000. The sellers are, quite simply, cashing in on a tragedy. Most of the people buying Charlie Hebdo today, or bidding insane sums on eBay for a "piece of history" (as one seller I contacted described it), have probably never bought?or even thought about buying?the magazine before.

    1. RBS   10 years ago

      I'd be more worried about getting some else instead of a copy of the magazine.

    2. sarcasmic   10 years ago

      It is rare for something intended to be collectible to keep its value. In ten years people will be lucky to give those things away.

    3. mr lizard   10 years ago

      I would pay up to $300 for a copy. It would live on my wall, maybe hang a loaded rifle under it.

  36. The Late P Brooks   10 years ago

    The sellers are, quite simply, cashing in on a tragedy.

    "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people."

  37. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

    It's just fucking snow
    http://youtu.be/GbkOwoZLey0

    1. Pope Jimbo   10 years ago

      When I was in the Marines stationed in Memphis we had a hard frost and the grass was white.

      We had a couple of rubes from Miami who had never seen snow before who went out and were taking pictures of themselves in it because they thought that was snow.

      1. Brett L   10 years ago

        At FSU you could tell the Miami kids because they'd have Michelen Man jackets on when temps hit the mid 40s.

    2. Timon 19   10 years ago

      That guy must have been trippin' balls.

      "Oh, looook at that snooow! Snoooooooow!"

      /ridiculous Irish "oooo"

  38. Ken Shultz   10 years ago

    "Some Democrats and Republicans in Congress are pushing for the U.S. to be more involved in the campaign against Boko Haram in West Africa."

    I think it's of vital importance that the United States gets deeply embroiled in a centuries old ethnic and religious dispute in Nigeria--because I'm so deeply afraid of Muslims, it's turned me into a fucking idiot.

    And anyone who isn't as scared and stupid as I am is capitulating to the caliphate!

    1. Jordan   10 years ago

      But Western intervention in Africa has such a great track record!

      1. Ken Shultz   10 years ago

        Especially in Nigeria!

        Some of this must be about the British imperialists drawing stupid borders, too.

        "The site of many former kingdoms and empires, the modern political state of Nigeria has its origins in the British colonization of the region during the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries; it emerged from the combination of two neighboring British protectorates: the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate."

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria

        The Muslim north had been raiding the Animist south for slaves for centuries before the British showed up to "fix" things.

        They weren't even in the same country until World War I, when the British were drawing their stupid lines in the Middle East, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and North Africa, too.

        It should be remembered that the British originally used stamping out the slave trade at its source as an excuse for Colonialism in Africa, generally, and in Nigeria specifically.

        Congress' intentions are good, too, I'm sure! But I bet the people of southern Nigeria, who know their own history, are a hell of a lot more skeptical of "help" from the outside.

  39. SugarFree   10 years ago

    Florida schools bow to Satanic coloring book and cancel Bible distribution event

    A Florida school district abandoned its plans to allow Christian groups to hand out Bibles after atheist groups threatened to distribute other controversial materials.

    Orange County Public Schools had planned to allow outside religious groups to take part in Friday's observance of Religious Freedom Day by giving Bibles to students who wished to take them.

    But they placed those plans on hold after the Satanic Temple and Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) said they would hand out pamphlets and coloring books promoting non-belief, reported WFTV-TV.

    The Satanic Temple intended to distribute the "Satanic Children's Big Book of Activities" to students, while the FFRF planned to give them pamphlets describing the Bible as "An X-Rated Book."

    The school board decided to review its policy about materials made available for students after the groups announced their plans.

    Atheist materials had previously been permitted, but the board changed its plans after the Satanic Temple asked to include its activity book.

    1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

      All Hail Satan!

      1. tarran   10 years ago

        +1 Woodland critters' Christmas

    2. John   10 years ago

      This is a good lesson for religious people. The answer is full school choice and an end to public schools. Christians need to get it through their skulls that they are never going to control the public schools and trying to do so is a fools errand. The answer is school choice and the freedom for everyone to go to their own schools free from bureaucratic control.

      1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

        But, but, but school choice would mean tax dollars going to religious schools!

        Separation of church and state!

        Aaaaaaauuuuugggghhhhh!

        1. John   10 years ago

          They always say that but I assume people use their social security checks and disability and government retirement checks to send their kids and grand kids to religious schools. They don't seem to be too bothered by that tax money going to religious schools.

          1. SugarFree   10 years ago

            social security checks and disability and government retirement checks

            That's my money, you young varmit. It's been in a lockbox waiting for me!

            1. John   10 years ago

              Sure it is. But so is the property taxes people pay to support the schools.

              1. SugarFree   10 years ago

                I was just making a joke about how people view entitlements and transfer payments as their money, not "tax payer" money. It's a troublesome disconnect that has been fed by the government.

        2. CatoTheElder   10 years ago

          Separation of school and state is far, far more important.

          Their merger is much more dangerous to liberty.

      2. SugarFree   10 years ago

        Yup. But I think the conceptual problem is the school tax double hit you take when you have to pay for private education without vouchers. And no one has seemed to have longterm success against the teacher's unions. It's hard to see politically viable way to end the cartel.

        1. John   10 years ago

          If Christians in this country would finally give up and demand vouchers, the Unions wouldn't stand a chance.

          The Christian right started as a local movement in the 1970s trying to take control of local school boards. Here we are 40 years later and things are worse than they ever were. They should stop worrying about school boards and start worrying about getting their money back so they can go to the schools of their choosing.

          1. SugarFree   10 years ago

            I think many of the view it as an evangelical mission. Yes, they want the schools to educate their children on Christian precepts, but they also want everyone else's children educated that way as well.

            Look at the decades long struggle to cram creationism into public schools. That's not for the benefit of their children, who learn it at both church and home.

            1. John   10 years ago

              I agree. I was thinking about the Bobby Jindal thread working out this morning. Think about the life of Jesus as told and believed by Christians. The Jews had the Romans kill him. Why? Because he claimed to be their king. Okay, remember, the guy was going around the country performing all kinds of miracles including raising the dead. He was the incarnation of God on earth. He was by definition the most terrifying and awe inspiring human being ever to walk the earth.

              I don't know about you, but if some guy started traveling around America claiming to be the king of the Americans and doing the things Jesus did, I would give him strong consideration for the job. Yet the Jews didn't, even though they had been waiting for just such a person for over a thousand years.

              Why? Because Jesus wouldn't give them the political solution they wanted by throwing out the Romans and giving them their nice little country. He didn't care about that, he came to fix their relationship with God.

              Given that long story, it seems to me that any believing Christian ought to think politics and government action is the work of the devil. And the extent to which they soil themselves with such, it should be to limit government and keep it from doing evil and interfering with the real work of saving souls. Of course, few of them seem to understand this and are constantly seduced by the idea of using government to do good.

              1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

                If more people understood that government's only tool is violence, and then asked themselves "Is this worth committing violence?" before advocating that something be done by government, the world would be a much happier place.

                1. John   10 years ago

                  That too sarcasmic. Is it right to use violence to force people to do the right thing? And the answer from a Christian perspective is clearly no. That of course never stops people of all political persuasions from using Christianity as an excuse to oppress the living hell out of people.

                  1. SugarFree   10 years ago

                    That of course never stops people of all political persuasions from using Christianity as an excuse to oppress the living hell out of people.

                    Because, just like left vs. right is a distraction, so is religious vs. different religious vs. non-religious is also a distraction. Statists gonna state and no matter what they profess to believe, the desire to control people will over-ride ain the end.

                    1. SugarFree   10 years ago

                      Yikes, word crash.

                      Because, just like left vs. right is a distraction, so is religious vs. different religious vs. non-religious is also a distraction.

                    2. sarcasmic   10 years ago

                      Statists gonna state and no matter what they profess to believe, the desire to control people will over-ride ain the end.

                      "Political tags ? such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth ? are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort."

                      ?Heinlein

                    3. John   10 years ago

                      Yes Sugar Free.

                      Religion is no different than any other ideology. People can and will use any excuse to rationalize forcing other people to do what they want. Whether you want people who frequent hooker thrown in prison because you think they are sinning and destroying marriages or because you think they are evil tools of the patriarchy destroying and exploiting women really doesn't matter, since the results are the same in either case.

              2. EDG reppin' LBC   10 years ago

                That's all well and good, but gays, drugs, and abortions!!!!

                1. John   10 years ago

                  LBC,

                  Abortion has nothing to do with religion. You can conclude life begins at conception or shortly after no matter what your religious views or lack thereof. And once you do that, then you are just protecting human life from harm.

                  As far as gays and such go, yeah, throwing gays in prison for sodomy will not help them.

                  1. SugarFree   10 years ago

                    While you can arrive at an anti-abortion stance without religion, it doesn't seem to me that is how the bulk of the people against it in America did so. For many people it remains a religious issue. Or at least a culture war issue with religious underpinnings. (i.e. the "wrong" people are for it, therefore I'm against it.)

        2. Lady Bertrum   10 years ago

          Indiana did a state wide voucher program under Daniels. I wonder how that's progressing..........

          Off to google.

    3. Brett L   10 years ago

      FL has been remarkably good abut enforcing the 1A as written, which is basically that the state accepts all religions as equally valid, and anything that State run institutions allow for one religion it must allow for any religion.

  40. John   10 years ago

    http://dailycaller.com/2015/01.....-accounts/

    Now we know what the Chocolate Nixon meant when he said he was "pursuing gun control by other means". Gun shop had its bank account canceled and got on tape the credit union explaining that the Justice Department forced them to do it. It is another "operation choke point" thing.

    Put this with the feds war on cash and you see how they want things to work. You get rid of cash transactions and then you control the banks such that anyone you don't like can't get a bank account and thus can't do business. You can dispense with all of this silly business of passing laws. Only people the Justice Department approves of are allowed to make legal transactions.

    1. Ken Shultz   10 years ago

      "You get rid of cash transactions and then you control the banks such that anyone you don't like can't get a bank account and thus can't do business."

      At some point, shit starts getting creepy:

      16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

      17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

      ----Revelation 13:16-17, KJV

      Barack Obama may not be the Beast of Revelation 13, but sometimes he looks just like him!

      1. sarcasmic   10 years ago

        The future's uncertain and the end is always near.

        1. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

          The future is bright!

        2. Swiss Servator, CHF w00t!   10 years ago

          Pah!

          *crams in a mouthful of melange*

  41. bassjoe   10 years ago

    Apparently, it's just okay to be arrested for merely having aspirations those in power may disagree with these days. Good to know.

    1. Andrew S.   10 years ago

      Actually, that's been going on since forever. It's only lately that it's more visible.

  42. tarran   10 years ago

    Support a higher minimum wage? You are advocating for the state to hurt the low-skilled.

    In the context discussed above, we find that minimum wage increases significantly reduced the employment of low-skilled workers. By the second year following the $7.25 minimum's implementation, we estimate that targeted workers' employment rates had fallen by 6 percentage points (8%) more in 'bound' states than in 'unbound' states.

    A human face to the stats. Jeffrey Tucker talks about the disaster that the increased minimum wage had on a retarded friend.

    1. OldMexican   10 years ago

      Yet the little red Marxians will tell you that raising the minimum wage has not translated to the job losses that the economists have been talking about for decades, and they have the evidence to back this up: you just have to visit the Center for American Progress' website for the stats.

    2. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

      My friend's economics thesis was basically about how an increase in Vermont's minimum wage had fucked the minority population.

    3. sarcasmic   10 years ago

      Look. Everyone deserves a living wage. If they can't earn one, then they're better off on welfare. At least that way they get enough to live on. You see, everyone is entitled to basic rights, which include food, shelter, clothing, transportation, cable, internet, smart phones, computers, flat screen televisions, and don't forget health care. Those are basic rights. Don't forget it.

      1. Jerryskids   10 years ago

        "Freedom from want" is one of the Four Freedoms, isn't it? Notice, they said 'want' and not 'need'. Needs is a pretty short list - wants is infinite.

        (Actually, 'wants' can be reduced to just a one item list - 'more'. But if you accept that greed is defined as 'no matter what you've got, you want more', well then, you have a hard time explaining why companies like Microsoft and Apple are greedy for wanting to hang on to the tens of billions which is all they've got whereas the government isn't greedy for wanting those tens of billions in addition to the trillions they already have.)

  43. Paul.   10 years ago

    President Obama is expected to order federal agencies to extend paid leave for employees after the birth or adoption of a child, and wants private companies to do the same. He also wants Congress to spend $2 billion to get states to mandate more paid sick days.

    That's it, Obama, keep paying people to not work. I mean really, the future of the nation depends on it.

  44. Pope Jimbo   10 years ago

    http://www.myfoxtwincities.com.....protesters

    A public meeting of organizers held on December 17 was attended by plain-clothed Bloomington officers, the complaint says.

    And then there was this gem:

    "Officers observed many families with children who appeared visibly frightened and upset by the protesters," the complaint adds.

    By the way the cops claimed that they were spit on, but it was from one of the upper decks, so I don't think it is accurate to say that they were spit on by the protesters. More likely it was just a good American who expressed himself appropriately.

  45. Ken Shultz   10 years ago

    "NPR reports from a Muslim-majority suburb north of Paris where some students consider their religion above French law and some residents believe the hostage-taking and shooting at the Kosher supermarket last week was staged."

    I grew up in a church full of people who thought that God's law is far above any law made by man, and that if we were ever forced to choose between God's law and the government, we should do what's right.

    Check out this guy:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss

    He was the first conscientious objector to win the Medal of Honor.

    When you see all the danger he was willing to put himself in for his country, and that his loyalty to God was even higher than that, I think it's a foregone conclusion that he'd have rather gone to prison than violate his religious convictions.

    People who think their allegiance to God is more important than their allegiance to the government don't scare me. You know what's scary?

    People like Tony who think there is no higher authority than the government! Those are the people we should be worried about.

    1. Lord Humungus   10 years ago

      Amazing story there about Mr. Doss.

    2. Bobarian (Mr. Xtreme)   10 years ago

      Not for nothing, but Alvin York was initially a conscientious objector. His status was denied by the Army, though.

    3. ant1sthenes   10 years ago

      "People who think their allegiance to God is more important than their allegiance to the government don't scare me."

      Is their God the "love thy neighbor" type, or the "slaughter the unbelievers" type? It seems relevant to their scariness.

  46. mary.jweber   10 years ago

    my classmate's sister-in-law makes $82 every hour on the computer . She has been without work for nine months but last month her paycheck was $15360 just working on the computer for a few hours. read the article...........
    ????? http://www.cashbuzz80.com

  47. Sevo   10 years ago

    Government-caused problem with easy solution, #(infinity)

    "Austria moves to ensure Hitler's house isn't turned into shrine"
    [...]
    "Among prospective buyers over the past few years was a Russian parliamentarian who threatened to raze it - a plan doomed to fail as the Renaissance-era building is under historical protection."
    http://www.cbsnews.com/news/au.....to-shrine/

    I'd say a Micky D's would look just great there and you could call it a Modern Renaissance memorial for all I care.

  48. The Late P Brooks   10 years ago

    In the context discussed above, we find that minimum wage increases significantly reduced the employment of low-skilled workers. By the second year following the $7.25 minimum's implementation, we estimate that targeted workers' employment rates had fallen by 6 percentage points (8%) more in 'bound' states than in 'unbound' states.

    "Let them eat cake."

    1. Sevo   10 years ago

      Link?

      1. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

        The previous comment he quoted had it. Duh. You've been here long enough to know about Brooksies' crusade.

  49. Coeus   10 years ago

    Apparently 2015 is the year that popular feminist bloggers don't just let the mask drop, they kick it across the room.

    There Was a Rape on Broad City, and It Was Hilarious

    A few minutes into Wednesday night's season two premiere of Comedy Central's Broad City?starring comedy duo Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer as the wacky, winkingly fictionalized BFFs "Abbi" and "Ilana"?Abbi rapes a guy. It's summer in New York, and when Abbi finally gets her date Stacy (played by guest star Seth Rogen) to stop cooking fajitas over a hot stove and have sweaty sex with her, he passes out from the heat with her on top?and she keeps going until she's finished. The next day, when Abbi recounts the episode to Ilana, she informs Abbi that she's totally a rapist, then riffs on the idea?"You know, I've never been to this neighborhood before, but I'm not scared because I'm with a stone cold rapist"?until she circles around to a justification: "Hey, it's OK. It's reverse rapism. You are raping rape culture. Yes!"

  50. nancyrgill   10 years ago

    my classmate's aunt makes $66 /hr on the internet . She has been without a job for seven months but last month her payment was $18218 just working on the internet for a few hours. check it out.....
    ????? http://www.netpay20.com

  51. rosie.rwilliams   10 years ago

    my co-worker's mom makes $75 every hour on the laptop . She has been fired from work for ten months but last month her paycheck was $13904 just working on the laptop for a few hours. use this link...........
    ????? http://www.netcash50.com

  52. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

    I don't really get it anyway. Why do I get less time off because I didn't have a kid? Can I get 3 weeks of paid leave after I buy a new sports car?

    If you have a kid, use your vacation time for that.

  53. Warren's Strapon   10 years ago

    President Obama is expected to order federal agencies to extend paid leave for employees after the birth or adoption of a child, and wants private companies to do the same to create a wedge issue for Democrats in 2016.

    Fixed.

  54. Zeb   10 years ago

    I think the point is that births actually make it impossible for the mother to work, at least for a little while.

    But I agree. No more mandates. There is already a mandate for unpaid leave for new parents.

  55. Zeb   10 years ago

    That really bugs me too. It is basically a mandate for employers to give better benefits to people who have kids. A similar thing happens with health insurance. People who are married or have kids generally get more from that benefit. Even if you have to pay for dependent insurance, you get a pretty good deal with a large group plan and usually some subsidy. Of course, federal tax policy has a lot to do with this.

  56. wareagle   10 years ago

    at what point do companies start using things like being of child-bearing age or having small children as reasons to NOT hire? Won't do it publicly, of course, because that invites lawsuits. But I do remember hiring folks who would walk female candidates to their cars after the interview, usually looking to see if there was a kiddie seat strapped in.

  57. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

    The part that actually bugs me is when someone with kids tries to complain that they don't get to "use" their vacation time. Sure, you don't go on a 3 week tour of Europe like I do, but you still took every Thursday off for the entire summer to play with your son.

  58. John   10 years ago

    I hold Congress just as responsible. Why the hell hasn't this entire operation been prohibited from receiving funding? Congress could stop this in a moment. Just put a rider on the DOJ appropriations bill. Granted, the Dems controlled the Senate. So maybe that was impossible. But it isn't now. There needs to be hearings on this and various crap weasels at DOJ need to be put under oath about it. And DOJ's funding needs to be cut such that they no longer are able to do this.

  59. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

    If you're into big masculine shoulders, sure.

  60. Zeb   10 years ago

    That is another big problem that people want to ignore. Such policies can only have a negative impact on the job prospects for women of childbearing age. Throw in some ill-conceived equal pay laws and who would hire a woman if there were an alternative?

  61. Zeb   10 years ago

    That's pretty ridiculous. It's as if people think that having kids should in no way require them to change their lifestyles. And it is their employers job to enable that.

    How about this? If you can't afford it or are unwilling to make the sacrifices required, don't have kids.

  62. Rhywun   10 years ago

    "I have to go home early to pick up my kids from school. Have fun working two more hours than me two or three days a week."

    Hear that one all the time.

  63. Pope Jimbo   10 years ago

    The genius is that the same thing can be used to close down bank accounts for pr0n folk too. The GOP loves them some of that.

    No way the statists of either party is going to willingly give up such a wonderful tool

  64. CatoTheElder   10 years ago

    Neither party is disinterested in walking back any regulation. They both have interests.

    However, the GOP is fairly uninterested in walking back any regulation that doesn't have a gaggle of lobbyists.

    Fortunately, the NRA is fairly assertive.

  65. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

    Well, obviously it's evil to pay someone less when she can take 3 extra paid months off than the other candidate...

  66. John   10 years ago

    Porn folk, abortion clinics, community organizers and such. In some ways, it would almost be better if the GOP did nothing and then used that power to absolutely fuck a bunch of people the Democrats like once they were in the White House. Killing it now doesn't really teach the Democrats any kind of lesson other than "we need to take the Congress back from the evil Republicans." Using the power to cause real pain for them and their supporters might actually get them to decide giving the government that power at all is a very bad idea.

    It is probably wishful thinking I know. But it might work. And one thing is for sure, the Democrats will never change as long as this shit never gets used against them.

  67. Azathoth!!   10 years ago

    It HAS been used against prOn--but not by the GOP.

  68. Auric Demonocles   10 years ago

    The only thing in that commerical that looks 80s is the non-blue Pepsi can.

  69. John   10 years ago

    Tundra,

    I wouldn't be surprised if Obama is doing this to the weed clinics. It is not like he has called the DEA off.

  70. Gadianton   10 years ago

    A little Round-Up, and you can forget about that weed.

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