Pope Comes to Town, Selfies More Dangerous Than Sharks, 'Happy Birthday' Song in Public Domain: A.M. Links

• 

  Dreamstime

  The latest developments in Hillary Clinton's email saga.

• Hillary opposes the Keystone pipeline.
• The Pope's big day is here.
• Bernie Sanders will join strikers who want a $15 minimum wage.
• The U.S. military turns a blind eye to the serial sexual abuse of young boys in Afghanistan.
• Before you get your new robot, you have to agree not to have sex with it.
• The "Happy Birthday" song has finally been liberated.
• More selfie deaths than shark attack deaths.
• And the answers to yesterday's impromptu Reason staff trivia question: Stephanie Slade, Nick Gillespie, and me. (Edit: Elizabeth Nolan Brown, too!)

New at Reason.com:

Brickbat: Say What? By Charles Oliver

Government is Here to Help

If by help it means "make itself indispensable." By John Stossel

Rand Paul and 10 Heedless Hawks

The Kentucky senator offers a desperately needed alternative to the GOP's mindless militarism. By Jacob Sullum

Two Liberalisms

The eternal tension between rationalism and pluralism. By Roderick T. Long

Comments

[Lord Humungus]

early linkage

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Hello.

/disoriented.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Bernie Sanders will join strikers who want a $15 minimum wage.

It should be the only wage. There are too many wage choices out there.

[Rich]

*** pumps fist *** *** shouts enthusiastically ***

Yes! A living wage for *everyone*!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

'I'm a 41 year-old single mother of four kids by way of three fathers. You can't live by my bad choices on $10 an hour!'

[Free Society]

No one should be forced to pay for their bad decisions. I thought this was America!

[Sapient Mulch]

OCCUPY EQUAL OUTCOMES!!!1111!!

[WTF]

Nobody needs virtually infinite choices of compensation for their labor.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

I'm all for Bernie getting $15 an hour!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Hillary opposes the Keystone pipeline.

On account of property rights?

[Juvenile Bluster]

On account of "Dammit, I'm desperate, lets say something the Dem base wants to hear"

[expat]

ding ding ding ... we have a winner!!!

[Drake]

On account of Russians paying her and Bill way more than Canadians.

[WTF]

On account of Gaia and teh feelz. Let's not mention that there are currently thousands of miles of oil pipeline already in use in the U.S.

[Trump-o-Matic 5000]

Jeebus, I thought we resolved the Keystone thing like three years ago?

How does Hillbot feel about the Henry Louis Gates controversy or Bush's choking on a pretzel?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

If we're bringing up old news...

What does she think about her Hubby getting blown in the Oval Office by a chunky intern who was nearly the same age as his daughter?

Answer: What difference, at this point, does it make?

[gaijin]

What does she think about her Hubby getting blown in the Oval Office...

"You Have The Right To Be Heard, You Have The Right To Be Believed"
-Hillary Clinton on Sexual Assault 'Victims' Sept 2015

Paula Jones and Kathleen Wiley agree!

[WTF]

I guess Hillary believes Juanita Broaddrick, then.

[Antilles]

I guess Hillary believes Juanita Broaddrick, then.

Hillary's always believed her. She just doesn't care.

[PM]

Everyone has a 'microbial cloud'

Everyone is surrounded by a unique "cloud" of millions of their own bacteria, according to scientists at the University of Oregon in the US.

Walk through someone else's cloud, and it will "rain" bacteria on your skin and be breathed into your lungs.

The study on 11 people, published in the journal PeerJ, showed it was possible to identify people from their microbial miasma.

One microbiologist said the findings were simply "gross".

[Medical Physics Guy]

This young man approves.

[BigT]

Charles Schulz had deep insight into the human condition. Lucy pulls that football away every time!

[Rich]

One microbiologist said the findings were simply "gross".

A true professional would have said "icky".

[WTF]

eeeeew

[UnCivilServant]

One microbiologist said the findings were simply "gross".

It is clearly harmless, as we've persisted this way for millions of years.

When will this supposed scientist admit we're just a big ole pile of single-celled organisms pretending to be one creature. Everyone is a society unto themselves.

[BigT]

Everyone is a society unto themselves.

Then society really does have rights! Hmmmmmm......

[Swiss Servator]

*sprays Lysol at Big T*

[Lord at War]

You exist to propagate your gut bacteria...

[Illocust]

Cool, is there an advantage to sharing microbial clouds? Could we up peoples skin health or immune system by putting them in close contact with people who have healthy microbial clouds?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

STEVE SMITH CLOUD CAUSE TEMPORARY PARALYSIS, FUGUE STATE, AND ANAL BLEEDING, BUT GOOD FOR COMPLEXION.

[Citizen X]

(STEVE SMITH DISCLAIMER: MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR ALL COMPLEXIONS.)

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Walk through someone else's cloud, and it will "rain" bacteria on your skin and be breathed into your lungs.

What is it you thought you were breathing when you smelled a fart on the bus?

[Zeb]

Not that.

[Lord at War]

What is it you thought you were breathing when you smelled a fart on the bus?

The red dress woman's panties?

+1 Matrix

[Zeb]

Didn't we already know this?

Absolutely everything has bacteria all over it. Perhaps it's time to stop thinking of bacteria as "gross" since they are everywhere and probably necessary to all complex life. Aren't there more bacterial cells in a person's body than there are their own cells?

[Clich? Bandit]

excluding water, I believe foreign dna weighs more than your own dna. I think that was the metric i heard on a Mike Rowe show.

[Free Society]

Aren't there more bacterial cells in a person's body than there are their own cells?

I don't see how that could possibly be true.

[Zeb]

Many bacteria cells are really small. It's surprising, but doesn't seem obviously wrong. I think it's legit, a quick search finds a bunch of apparently trustworthy articles.
http://www.scientificamerican......uman-ones/

[Free Society]

I begrudgingly yield to facts. But I will need you to get off my lawn, you damn kids with your skate boards and your microbial clouds.

[GILMORE?]

HOWARD HUGHES WAS RIGHT!

(typed with a disinfected pointer from within my plastic bubble)

[Lord Humungus]

Naked clown activists issue apology to Palestinians after protesting at wall separating Israel with West Bank

Members of the group Pallasos en Rebedia, which translates to Clowns in Rebellion, bared all in solidarity with people living in the occupied territories.

However, after the group published the images on Facebook, they suffered a backlash from Palestinians and supporters of their plight over their unusual campaign tactics, according to The Local.

Some Facebook users commented "shame on them" while others asked if the nudity was necessary and said they should consider that the Muslim community in Palestinian territories may have "different principles".

[WTF]

Sheldon Richman?

[PM]

I see no difference between naked clowns and Adam Lanza.

[WTF]

Nice

[Swiss Servator]

Juggalos of the Levant?

[Charles Easterly]

Nice.

[Citizen X]

I would watch that documentary.

[Lee G]

Stupid assholes don't even bother to understand the culture of those they are supporting. No surprise there.

[Fist of Etiquette]

More selfie deaths than shark attack deaths.

I look forward to Selfie Week on the Discovery Channel.

[gaijin]

We need a law requiring selfie locks on phones...for the children

[WTF]

No selfie stick sales to anyone under 21 years of age! And a background check!

[Once More Into the Hopper]

Is a selfie stick that thing that goes up?

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Selfie Week on the Discovery Channel.

Brought to you by The Darwin Awards.

[PM]

Here's The Sexy Donald Trump Costume You Never Wanted

Tired of being a sexy cat or a sexy Santa? Well, you're in luck. For just $69.95, you can now snag the " Donna T. Rumpshaker" costume. The company peddling the costume never outwardly says that it's a sexy Donald Trump costume... but the flowing, golden Trump-esque wig accompanied by the "Making America Great Again" hat accessorizing the outfit suggests otherwise.

[BigT]

Making America Grate Again.

For sure.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

NOT sexy.

[gaijin]

The Pope's big day is here.
Is this the day where he opposes defunding planned parenthood?

[Rich]

Perhaps he'll enlighten The American People about how disrespectful and hurtful the expression "the Pope's nose" is.

[BigT]

Wouldn't the Pope's big day be the day he had to sit in this chair?

For a good reason.

[Charles Easterly]

"He has two balls, and they are well hung."

I can imagine that refrain being used around here a few times, perhaps even once in the Alt-Text by one of the braver contributors.

Thanks for the interesting article, BigT, and may the spirit of Pope Joan bless you.

[Lord Humungus]

Woman crashes car after spotting spider

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Chad Hill says Angela Kipp was backing the car out of her driveway in Syracuse on Friday afternoon when she saw the spider and leaped out while the car was in reverse.

Her son in the back seat climbed into the driver's seat and tried to step on the brake. He instead hit the gas pedal, sending the vehicle into a school bus. He was taken to a hospital with minor head injuries. No children were on the bus. Its driver wasn't injured.

Hill said Monday that Kipp likely won't be charged.

[PM]

Too slow, Jack

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

John Cleese wrote the script for that, right?

[R C Dean]

How is that not reckless driving?

[Scarecrow & WoodChipper Repair]

s/less/full

[Rasilio]

Because she was no longer driving when the accident took place 😉

[Fist of Etiquette]

Stephanie Slade, Nick Gillespie, and me.

I claim two out of three.

[gaijin]

You are Stephanie Slade?

[Raven Nation]

Je suis Charlie Hebdo Stephanie Slade.

[LynchPin1477]

A devil's threesome? Or you just going for Nick and Robby? NTTAWT

[darius404]

No need. Stephanie Slade and ENB, please.

[LynchPin1477]

Would

[PM]

Peta sues to give copyright for 'monkey selfies' to macaque who snapped them

A macaque monkey who took now-famous selfie photographs should be declared the copyright owner of the photos, rather than the nature photographer who positioned the camera, animal-rights activists contend in a novel lawsuit filed Tuesday.

The suit was filed in federal court in San Francisco by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). It seeks a court order allowing Peta to administer all proceeds from the photos for the benefit of the monkey, which it identified as six-year-old Naruto, and other crested macaques living in a reserve on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Mighty white of 'em.

[Swiss Servator]

If no Rule 11 sanctions, the CFCP might as well be scrapped.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

The phrase 'snapped macaque' makes me wince.

[Rich]

'Okay, great, I will go through them again,'?" Clinton said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation." "And we provided all of them."

With all due respect, Hillary, if you provided "all of them", why was there a need to "go through them"?

[PM]

Man who took 35 viagra pills in an hour ends up in hospital with five-day erection

Daniel Medforth, from Withernsea in East Yorkshire took the pills while at a friend's house over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The 36-year-old was taken ill and then later confessed to his wife what he had done.

She then called an ambulance where he was taken for 36 hours to be examined by a medical professional.

He told The Sun: "I ended up feeling sick, dizzy and hallucinating, everything I saw was green. I had a massive erection that would not go away."

After spending two days in hospital, Mr Medforth was later discharged and was forced to spend the rest of his time in bed.

He said: "'It wasn't a permanent erection but every time I brushed against something for five days it sprang into life and it was no use to me.

[Medical Physics Guy]

Dose response curve FTW

[Rich]

"it was no use to me."

You snooze, you lose.

[straffinrun]

In Japan, including absentee ballots, we have 5 day erections, too.

[PBR Streetgang]

Ashamed to admit I laughed at this.

[Rich]

I raughed.

[OldMexican]

Re: strattinrun,

In Japan, including absentee ballots, we have 5 day erections, too.

How would you know that, with the mandatory pixelation?

[straffinrun]

That isn't mosaic. Japanese genitals really look like that. I blame Fukushima.

[darius404]

"Discharged"? I hope that was intentional.

[The Late P Brooks]

"Soave" you say? Sounds like a Papist.

[gaijin]

Pape Culture

[Swiss Servator]

*rises to applaud*

[Mazakon]

Before you get your new robot, you have to agree not to have sex with it.

Yeah, they're gonna do that anyway.

[Florida Man]

Ths robots are rented/leased so I think it is fair to put restrictions in the contract.

[straffinrun]

Unless you're Hillary. She'll wipe it clean.

[Florida Man]

Eww!

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Like a Server, you mean?

[Mickey Rat]

Yes, but the phrase "pissing into the wind" comes to mind about how enforcable that will be.

[Florida Man]

If you damage the robot I think you could be sued in civil court.

[Citizen X]

I have a sudden urge to listen to Joe's Garage.

"Don't get no jizz up on the sofa, sofa"

[Zeb]

This is the part that I found most puzzling: "Throws spotlight on the growing concern over rights for robots"

Isn't the whole fucking point of robots that they don't have rights and you can make them do whatever you want?

[Florida Man]

It literally means slave.

[Zeb]

Or serf or labor.

As someone who works in robotics, I find the popular perception of robots kind of amusing. The android AI kind of stuff is pretty interesting, but I don't see a lot of utility in it in the short term.

[Florida Man]

Do you enjoy working in Robotics? It's what I wanted to do in HS, but I didn't know how to get into it.

[Zeb]

It treats me well enough. Pretty interesting tech manufacturing/engineering sort of thing.

I just sort of fell into it starting in high school because I had a neighbor involved in a small company doing robots for research and education, so I got in on the ground floor, so to speak. At this point it would be fairly easy for a competent engineer to find a job in robotics.

[Florida Man]

I went into healthcare because I'm an idiot. I can't complain though.

[Florida Man]

Also, I hope we get human looking robots so we can bring back gladiators and I can finally hunt "people".

[Lord Humungus]

waht?

Ta-Nehisi Coates to pen year-long narrative arc for Marvel's "Black Panther" comic in 2017

Ta-Nehisi Coates' year keeps getting better. In addition to writing a book, "Between the World and Me," that's been universally praised by everyone who isn't a blinkered, hidebound fool, the New York Times' George Gene Gustines reports that the life-long comics fan is writing a year-long narrative arc for "Black Panther" which will begin publication in 2017.

"I don't experience the stuff I write about as weighty," he said, referring to the possibility that for those who believe him to be the heir to James Baldwin, writing for a comic book would be beneath his talents. "I feel a strong need to express something. The writing usually lifts the weight. I expect to be doing the same thing for Marvel."

The arc will be called "A Nation Under Our Feet," and will involve a violent uprising by a superhuman terrorist group known as "The People" in Black Panther's home county of Wakanda.

[Just say Nikki]

for those who believe him to be the heir to James Baldwin, writing for a comic book would be beneath his talents

He's not, and it's not.

[Crusty Juggler]

This.

Someday someone is going to have to explain Coates' appeal to me.

[Swiss Servator]

He lets SWPL types feel good when they nod along to his word salad offerings?

[Free Society]

He dislikes white people and their vast conspiracy against black people. And he makes a case for this world-view that really resonates with dumbfucks and stupid people who pretend to be smart and worldly.

[UnCivilServant]

In other news - sales of "Black Panther" hit all time lows in 2017.

[KDN]

The first issue in the arc will set records, and Marvel will cancel the book due to poor sales 15 months later.

[Illocust]

Marvel and DC are trying desperately to court SJWs. They are tired of constantly be on the bad end of the controversy. DC seems to be realizing that their buying power doesn't match their mouths and that they can't actually be satisfied (see batgirl variant cover controversy), but Marvel's done pretty well with that market.

[Lord Humungus]

My wife and I were discussing comic books yesterday - oh the fun we have - and when I was a kid I thoroughly enjoyed Marvel over DC. I mean Spiderman had issues unlike Batman or Superman. Peter Parker had his Aunt May (who was always about to die), the death of Uncle Ben, the girl he couldn't get, was bullied, and had to juggle his personal life with being a superhero. It certainly spoke to me better than the DC world.

[Illocust]

It's been pretty much the opposite since I started reading. Batman and his cohorts (excluding batgirl who now exists solely to mollify the tumblr crowd) have issues. They lose love ones, bad things happen to them, and they are constantly growing and facing new challenges. If you ever want to get back into comics, I highly recommend the Batman Reborn arc (Bruce gets lost in time and Dick Grayson has to take over as Batman).

[Lord Humungus]

Things have changed a lot since the 70s - I enjoyed the Dark Knight series.

[Notorious UGCC]

"I mean Spiderman had issues unlike Batman or Superman."

Yes, exactly.

You'd think *Batman* would be the one with the issues, but maybe all that money cancelled that out for him?

[Notorious UGCC]

Oh, so I see it didn't.

[UnCivilServant]

Maybe they should learn from the gaming Industry. Games pimped by SJWs bomb for lack of sales and those that tweak the SJWs noses have been bought for the sole purpose of pissing off the busybodies.

[Illocust]

Small market makes it harder for them to pull it off. Games are in practically every household. SJWs can scream and cry all they want, but they can't force friends to stop recommending good games to each other. Comics are much more of a niche market. They have to rely on gatekeepers to get their word out a lot more than games, and the SJW gatekeepers are only willing to let the stuff they approve of through.

[UnCivilServant]

What gatekeepers?

In the segment of the market I am familiar with the 'gatekeepers' are Diamond Distributing and the shop keeper. Diamond doesn't do censoring as far as I can tell, and the guy running the games/comic shop doesn't strike me as the kind who does so.

The shelves and the release list behind the counter are more important for telling us what's out/what's coming soon than any screeching eel on the internet.

[Illocust]

Gatekeepers to people who aren't already fans. Industry needs to bring in new people to replace the ones that die or quit reading due to life, but unlike games there isn't really a heavy informal network that connects to new people. You may discuss comics with your friends, but you don't get on at six to play with them like you do with COD.

I know. I've been personally trying to bring some friends into the comic book fold. Loaning them trades and omnibuses from my collection. Figuring out what they like and making suggestions. Some like my parents used to read them heavily when they were young and some just really like that type of fiction, but it is incredibly hard to move them towards the point where they will buy and keep up with their own comic habits.

[UnCivilServant]

Even in the circumstance you postulate, pandering to the SJW crowd won't help sales, because the attention gets drawn to the pandering and the reaction of the potential customer is "Ugh, PC Shit" and they won't buy.

[Illocust]

Actually, I agree with you there. The pandering doesn't work. The comic industry is really just fucked.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

This^^

The only thing that works to sell comics is good art and good stories.

At one time, I used to spend hundreds on comics every month. In the 90's the comic industry started doing all these gimmicks and bull-shit and some artists were doing self indulgent knock offs under independent labels.

One day I came home with two weeksworth of all the comics I was reading at the time, and had spent $95 on.

I read through that stack; and at the end of it, just put down the last one and said to myself " meh..? [ponders for a moment] Hundred bucks for meh!?! Fuck those guys!"

I haven't bought a comic since.

[Lord at War]

One day I came home with two weeksworth of all the comics I was reading at the time, and had spent $95 on.

Ridiculous... I do "Sci-Fi". I can buy used for 1/2 cover price, and get 1/4 cover price back when I want to trade it for another.

(Don't ask about the 2000+ books I have now!)

[Lee G]

universally praised by everyone who isn't a blinkered, hidebound fool

We'll ad hominem those guys before they even open their mouths

[Red Rocks Rockin]

In this serial, Black Panther is a sensitive, bookish prince who gets the shit kicked out of him by the bigger, stronger Wakandans during his childhood. After he grows up, he blames the shit-kickings on Tony Stark and Captain America.

[PM]

Viet Cong Are Changing Their Name

Earlier this year, a Viet Cong show was canceled due to response over the band's "offensive" name. The band subsequently released a statement saying, "We never intended for our name to be provocative or hurtful." Today, the band have announced that they will change their name.

The band released a statement explaining that after many conversations with "members of the Vietnamese community" about their name, they've decided to chance their name. "Through this dialogue and hearing about what the name means to so many people, we have decided we will be changing the name of our band."

[Rich]

"Put your hands together for ... VICTOR CHARLIE!!"

[Florida Man]

Nice

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

The Slanty-Eyed Tunnel Rats.

[Karl Hungus]

New name: Man in The Black Pajamas

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

This is not Nam, Karl, there are rules.

[Free Society]

I'd lose my shit if after their contrition and apology, they came back with a new name like The Gooks.

[Karl Hungus]

I'd lose my shit if after their contrition and apology, they came back with a new name like The Gooks.

Or, Gooks in The Wire. Either way, I'd buy every album they put out, regardless of how bad their music may be.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

The Zipperheads.

[GILMORE?]

""Gooks in The Wire.""

I always thought the expression was "Dinks in the Wire"

I am also fond of the term "zipperheads", though i have no idea what's supposed to be offensive about it.

In related news, I convinced someone that "Pinoy" was a great insult to Filipinos, then flipped and explained how it was just a common term. They were confused until i pointed out that "words are only "slurs" if you believe them to be or intend them to be".

[Lord Humungus]

The Jeb Bush "retarded" controversy is everything wrong with gaffe journalism

Here is the full quote, as reported by TPM, in context:

"We should not have a multicultural society," Bush said. "When you create pockets of isolation, and in some cases, the assimilation process has been retarded, it's wrong. It limits people's aspirations."

I shouldn't have to say this, but in this context the word "retarded" has nothing to do with developmental disability. Here's the definition of the verb "retard," per the Oxford Dictionaries, and example of its use in a sentence:

Delay or hold back in terms of progress, development, or accomplishment; his progress was retarded by his limp

[Medical Physics Guy]

This much I would say about Trump. He managed to stay bulletproof to gaffe journalism. I hope it spreads.

[PM]

Bush was also on record supporting niggardly annual immigration caps.

[WTF]

Um, I think you mean "African-Americandly" caps.

[Free Society]

ha

[Illocust]

Wow, the worst part of that article is the quote from the activist. He's genuinely trying to argue that retarded is so offensive and potent of an insult that all other meaning of the word should cease to be used. What the ever living fuck people. Most retarded people wouldn't even make the connection between the playground insult and themselves if their parents didn't spell it out for them. Leave kids with their petty insults and grow up already.

[Just say Nikki]

Jeet Heer isn't an activist. He's a dipshit Canadian who writes for The New Republic.

[Zaytsev]

He's probably been called retarded every day for years.

[Shirley Knott]

My brother works as a school psychologist in a distributed school system in one of the western states that's not CA. He was required to use the phrase 'cognitively delayed' when describing the results of tests administered to a woman's son. She broke down in tears and thanked him because she had been so afraid her boy was retarded. Brother had to break it to her that the names have been changed to protect the overly sensitive.
This did not serve to ameliorate her hurt, indeed, it compounded it.
How very helpful of the PC linguistic police.
Brother's boss and associated administrators were not concerned, were, indeed, dismissive. After all, she was poor, Native American, and not influential or "important".

[Just say Nikki]

I shouldn't have to say this, but in this context the word "retarded" has nothing to do with developmental disability.

Not that I think Jeb! did anything wrong, but this is...retarded. I mean, why do you think we call retarded people retarded? Because they have...slow development?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

People don't make this distinction. Because...they're retarded.

I have a doctor in my hockey pool who went off on an SJW rant about my having used 'retard' in a joke a couple of years back. Since then, he's remained an insufferable and presumptuous prick with anyone who dares uses a word he considers to be bad.

I've gone from liking the guy to outright loathing him.

[Free Society]

Tell him all about "you people" whenever you see him.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I'm currently embroiled in another controversy with the jerk off.

[Citizen X]

Remind him that there's plenty of 'tards out there living kickass lives.

[Free Society]

The worst thing about orphans with Down Syndrome, their hands are too fat to fix the machines in monocle factories.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

You play hockey in a pool? That's retarded.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Also, you should have offered to explain the joke to him, since he was too sloooowww to get it.

[RFID]

Its time to pull out the SJW playbook on that one: just take offense to everything he says. Does he use the word "he" or "him" in reference to someone he doesnt know? That's a microaggression: he doesnt know what gender that person identifies as and what xir preferred pronouns are.

National flags are also offensive, think of the oppression they mean to certain indigenous groups or whatever. Just make shit up like that, its what the sjw's do.

[Lord at War]

I have a doctor in my hockey pool who went off on an SJW rant about my having used 'retard' in a joke a couple of years back. Since then, he's remained an insufferable and presumptuous prick with anyone who dares uses a word he considers to be bad.

I missed the "pool" word, and wondered why he hadn't been "Probert-ed" yet. (BTW, that should be a word!)

[LynchPin1477]

Anyone have a favorite site for purchasing ammo?

For recreational shooting purposes (just in case Preet Bharara was wondering).

[Florida Man]

Bulk ammo

[Florida Man]

http://www.bulkammo.com

[UnCivilServant]

I think the unSAFE act outlawed online ammo purchaces in New York.

[LynchPin1477]

Luckily, West Virginia is not New York

[UnCivilServant]

Not lucky for me - I'm still in New York.

[postalmarksman]

http://www.ammospy.net/ammo/handgun

[Zeb]

Sportsman's Guide often has some good deals on some things.

[CJR]

http://www.sgammo.com and http://www.targetsportsusa.com have been good for me.

[Drake]

http://www.grafs.com

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/

[LynchPin1477]

Thanks for not agreeing at all guys. Does anyone really need 8 different online ammo dealers, anyway?

[Lord Humungus]

Enjoy it while it lasts, Mr. Trump: The GOP power brokers who'll decide when the show is over
The Koch brothers haven't spent the last 30 years consolidating their power just to let an unanointed candidate win

With Walker's implosion, the Kochs aren't looking especially tiresome in this week's news cycle. That said, Trump should make sure to enjoy this moment while it lasts. Because when the Kochs ? the GOP's true power brokers ? decide it's time to put an end to this show, Trump's bubble is likely to burst faster than he (or, in this case, the Kochs) can say, "You're fired." For all of Trump's bluster, Charles and David Koch are the alpha dogs of the Republican Party. And the only thing more implausible than Trump's hair is the notion that he can beat them at their own game.

As I detail in my new book, "Killing the Messenger," the Koch brothers have spent the last 30 years (and hundreds of millions of dollars) consolidating their control over our political system via what Charles has called a "vertically and horizontally integrated" strategy ? in his words, the Kochs have their hands in everything "from idea creation to policy development to education to grassroots organization to lobbying to litigation to political action."

[Juvenile Bluster]

Is there anything in the world Salon doesn't blame on the Koch Brothers (or libertarians as a whole)?

[Certified Public Asshat]

One of them should run, just to clear up some shit.

Of course, Salon would not believe them.

[Zaytsev]

The basterds even tricked poor Hillary into buying one of their email servers.

[Clich? Bandit]

I wish the Kochs were in charge...cause the Republicans we have mostly suck.

[AceDroman]

Thinking the same thing

[KDN]

Why, no wonder it's a libertarian moment! A LP party elder has totally taken over the Republican party!

I look forward to the GOP's wholesale advocacy of open borders, drug legalization, and gay rights.

[Swiss Servator]

*ahem*

That is "Mexicans, ass-sex and pot"!

[An Innocent Man]

Bernie Sanders has said the Kochs support open borders because they want cheap labor for corporations. Sanders, it should be noted, opposes immigration for the most part.

[LynchPin1477]

I'd like to see a list of candidates that the Koch's have supported and the election results. One weighted by money would also be interesting.

Because I suspect that actual facts would not support the notion that "Charles and David Koch are the alpha dogs of the Republican Party".

I also wonder how many people on staff at Salon could pick either Koch out of a lineup. Would they just pick whoever has horns and a pointy tail?

[Zaytsev]

I seem to recall article from lefties before this all started that the Kochs were supporting Walker 100%.

How'd that work out?

[WTF]

I actually heard an idiot on the radio yesterday claim that Walker was instructed to drop out by the Koch brothers in order to start consolidating the field to support an anti-Trump candidate.

[Zeb]

Sounds like a move that everyone who doesn't like Trump could get behind.

[The Elite Elite]

Well, for being in total control of the Republican Party, the Kochs sure have been driving the candidates away from their libertarian values. Guess they're doing it wrong. Or, and call me crazy but I think this is the real case, all these idiots that go on about the EVIL KOCH BROTHERS ARE BEHIND EVERYTHING WRONG are full of shit and are morons.

[Pan Zagloba]

As I detail in my new book, "Killing the Messenger," the Koch brothers have spent the last 30 years (and hundreds of millions of dollars) consolidating their control over our political system

...and while I admit Killing the Messenger isn't the greatest name, Protocols of Elders of Zion was already taken.
Jesus Christ, Salon.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

in his words, the Kochs have their hands in everything "from idea creation to policy development to education to grassroots organization to lobbying to litigation to political action."

My God, it's like they're politically active! How dare they!

You have to love how the reality-based, science-loving commentators will dismiss any evidence that doesn't jive with the Koch/Citizens United conspiracy. An outsider is doing well or a rich person loses an election? That just means we haven't seen the Kochs really flex their muscle yet!

[Lord Humungus]

Ex-Peanut Exec Gets 28 Years Prison For Deadly Salmonella Poisonings

The former Peanut Corporation of America owner had remained publicly silent in 2009 after authorities traced salmonella blamed for killing nine people and sickening 714 to his plant in rural southwest Georgia. He refused to testify when called before a congressional hearing, and likewise never took the witness stand during the criminal trial that led to his conviction in U.S. District Court a year ago.

A judge Monday sentenced 61-year-old Parnell to 28 years in prison. It's the harshest criminal penalty ever for a U.S. producer in a food-borne illness case and a span his attorneys say might as well be a life sentence. It came down after Parnell, in a shaky voice, spoke to those he had harmed.

[Raven Nation]

S-fed the link

[Lord Humungus]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/n.....sentencing

[PM]

Read about that the other day. While I can't muster any sympathy for the guy considering the outbreak led to deaths, it seems slightly amiss that he's serving more time for fraud than a lot of people get for 2nd degree murder. The plant QA manager who was actually the on-the-ground person responsible for making sure shit like that doesn't happen only got 5 years.

[gaijin]

for killing nine people

Wonder what sentence the GM execs will get for the Chevy Cobalt deaths?

[Rich]

And the VW execs for the air pollution deaths?

[WTF]

It's okay when government cronies do it!

[Raven Nation]

it seems slightly amiss that he's serving more time for fraud than a lot of people get for 2nd degree murder

True. Although I'm guessing that the judge was really sentencing him for the deaths. I haven't read details beyond what LH linked to but, on the QA manager I wonder if (i) it was a plea bargain and/or (ii) there was evidence that he pressured her to sign off on the reports?

[PM]

The article I read was a short summary and didn't get into the specifics with the plant manager (and besides of which, you're not meant to actually read the articles). There was another executive that also got time as well, IIRC.

[Free Society]

The plant QA manager

but he didn't make work harder for Top Men.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Nine deaths?

Shit, environmentalists and politicians who support their whacked out ideas kill far more than that!

[Elizabeth Nolan Brown]

I went to 10 years of Catholic school and I don't get listed, Robby?

[Florida Man]

Sneaking in to bang hot Catholic boys doesn't count.

[straffinrun]

That's how you become a bishop.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Maybe it was a girls-only Catholic school.

[Certified Public Asshat]

Even better.

[Florida Man]

*faints from sudden loss of blood to brain*

[Swiss Servator]

"brain"

Yeah. Right.

[Swiss Servator]

You should have said "rush of blood to secondary brain"...

[Florida Man]

I'm not going to take you by the hand and walk you through the jokes Swiss!!!

[Lord Humungus]

My little man is more important than anything else!

*sits on helmet before going into helicopter assault on North Vietnamese village*

[Charles Easterly]

How can you shoot women or children?

[PM]

Easy, you just don't lead 'em as much.

[PM]

Pics or shens

(TIWTANFL)

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

Hah, I knew it. I guessed Rico, Gillespie and yourself. I think us lapsed Catholics can spot one another in the wild. Those years in a Catholic school stick to us.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

You know that Irish is gonna stalk you now? He has a thing for catholic girls who go by their initials.

[Citizen X]

Did anyone else notice that ENB briefly gave us an entire second set of A.M. Links?

Today is a good day. Maybe.

[Charles Easterly]

A giant plant ate them before I took notice.

[Elizabeth Nolan Brown]

Shhhh. Nobody was supposed to have seen that...

[gaijin]

Shhhh. Nobody was supposed to have seen that...

God saw that...you know what is required now.

[Florida Man]

*hands paddle to Gaijin*

[WTF]

Go on.....

[Granny Weatherwax]

I liked yours better.

[Citizen X]

MEMORY HOLED!

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

7:01

[Lord Humungus]

Volkswagen chief faces grilling by board over diesel scandal

A source close to the company said a five-member executive committee was grilling Winterkorn at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, and was likely to make a recommendation on his future ahead of a full board meeting on Friday.

Volkswagen is under huge pressure to act, with its shares down more than a third in value since the crisis broke. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for it to move "as quickly as possible" to restore confidence in a company held up for generations as a paragon of German engineering excellence.

But the board is in a tricky situation, with the 68-year-old CEO showing no sign of resigning after a hitherto highly successful eight year reign, in which the company doubled its sales and almost tripled its profits.

VW? Paragon of excellence?

[Rich]

grilling Winterkorn

Gonna pop.

[gaijin]

^xclnt

[Swiss Servator]

Were he a Japanese exec, I would expect seppuku.

[Mickey Rat]

Germans order their underlings to defend to the. last man before ending it all in an underground bunker.

[TwB]

Sure, except for their electrical systems and oil leaks on the W-8 engines.

[Florida Man]

My wife had a Jetta when I first met her. I hated working on that car. Nothing was simple or accessible.

[Lord Humungus]

My wife (then GF) had a '84 Rabbit - electrical issues, struts that went bad six months after being replaced - first gear bushings went bad so you could only start off in second gear, and the front hood popped up while she was going down the highway.

A few years later she was driving a '81 Malibu wagon (rusty project car that I bought her). That American POS was 100x more reliable than the VW.

[Charles Easterly]

"Nothing was simple or accessible."

That reminds me of a girl I dated for a while. She owned an old Dodge/Plymouth Colt.

[The Shrubber's Woodchipper]

You're reminded of the girl or her car?

[Florida Man]

Right, this ^.

[Charles Easterly]

Yes.

[Zeb]

They got overconfident. VWs are supposed to be somewhat shitty, but easy to work on.

[Florida Man]

My dad and I rebuilt a 73 beetle after an engine fire with nothing but simple hand tools. Changing a head light in 2001 Jetta was more trouble.

[Charles Easterly]

FM,

I had a similar experience helping a friend and his neighbor rebuild an old Beetle's engine many years ago. Finding parts was the hardest part of the entire effort.

Almost everything I needed to do for the Dodge/Plymouth Colt I mentioned above was tedious and very time consuming. If it had been my car I would have sold it after the first repair (replacing the starter) when I experienced how the engine compartment was badly arranged.

[Florida Man]

There was a VW specialty shop in Jacksonville that made it easy to get parts, plus this was in 95' so it was a little closer to the manufactured year.

[PBR Streetgang]

You know what other German leader was dishonest about how his gas was being used...

[Swiss Servator]

Ferdinand von Zeppelin?

[straffinrun]

Baron Von Dutchoven?

[Mr Lizard]

Rommel?...

[Pan Zagloba]

Erihc von Falkenhayn?
"Yes, shells filled with gas are forbidden by treaty we signed. But we are pumping the gas from canisters, not dropping shells!"

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Baron von Zyklon?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Ze Red Skull?

[Mindyourbusiness]

Baron Munchausen?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Fine. They dicked around. Fine them and move on. I don't agree with pushing them to the brink of bankruptcy with the threat of $16 billion in fines that will only lead to a refiling of the company while hurting jobs.

All over emissions control?

Bah.

Yeah. I've had Volks in my family since the 80s. While we like them a lot and generally had good experiences over that time, excellence might be a strong word.

[The Late P Brooks]

"Between the World and Me," that's been universally praised by everyone who isn't a blinkered, hidebound fool

"Fool" as defined by anybody who has no need to be seen kissing Nahisi's ass.

[Lord Humungus]

FBI Said to Recover Personal E-Mails From Hillary Clinton Server

The FBI has recovered personal and work-related e-mails from the private computer server used by Hillary Clinton during her time as secretary of state, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's success at salvaging personal e-mails that Clinton said had been deleted raises the possibility that the Democratic presidential candidate's correspondence eventually could become public. The disclosure of such e-mails would likely fan the controversy over Clinton's use of a private e-mail system for official business.

Magnets - how do the fucking work?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

'Sometimes I feel like I should squirt KY in Obama's eye. LoL!'

[WTF]

I can't believe they would actually be that incompetent. It must be a server that they populated with what they were okay being found, and then "wiped" it ineffectively. Then they can say "see? even the recovered emails from the wiped server aren't incriminating!"

[Rich]

The Clinton Foundation must be running out of hush money.

[tarran]

I think they are that incompetent.

Look at Clinton the past few months. She is a trainwreck. Every few months, her handlers announce a new public persona for her, and it falls flat.

I think what has happened is that she has mentally collapsed, and the people who had accreeted around her hoping to ride her coattails to power now are trying to keep the trainwreck moving forward hoping nobody will notice.

My guess is that these people know that they either win the presidency or lose it all. Most of the alternative candidates they could latch on to despise them, and they would have to start over at the bottom of the pecking order.

I suspect Clinton kept the server's administration very close to her chest, with no more than 1 or 2 confidantes knowing what was going on. And, to ensure that the guys maintaining the server didn't fuck her over, she made sure that the people doing the work were really, really loyal to her and had no other options... meaning that there is an excellent chance that the people running the thing were tyros.

Everything was going well until some civil servant realized clintonemail.com existed.... and then the shit hit the fan. I suspect that it's not Obama fucking her over; I think that Kerry has decided to slowly kill her for whatever reason.

[WTF]

Yeah, I guess so. But if even I, no computer expert, know how to easily destroy all info from a hard drive so that it's not recoverable, how do the people around Clinton not know it? Maybe they just assumed they would never be subject to a computer forensics expert going into their server.

[Clich? Bandit]

Blue Dress.

In deep politics NO ONE is altruistically acting. Everyone has a jaded view of the world and takes steps to cover. This goes for the "Best Friend" who took video of you that one night while drinking with strippers. That staffer who is the son of a big donor that has ambitions all his own. That pork belly server company owned by your cousin's third wife. They all leverage wherever they can. Mos Eisly was less a hive of scum and villainy.

The Kennedys were very good at one thing, they inspired true loyalty. They may have used fear but they more effectively used favor. The Clintons are not Kennedys.

[Rasilio]

Actually it is much harder than you think to completely wipe a hard drive so that none of it is recoverable but the drive still functions. A simple magnet won't do it.

It is easy to utterly destroy the drive so that none of it is recoverable but wiping it is actually pretty hard and requires specialized hardware and software

[Red Rocks Rockin]

I think what has happened is that she has mentally collapsed, and the people who had accreeted around her hoping to ride her coattails to power now are trying to keep the trainwreck moving forward hoping nobody will notice.

This seems to be the case. She can't even manage the answer the simplest softball question without going off on a rambling, unrelated tangent in a canned, stiff, shrill manner.

I mean, my god, if you can't list three words that describe you, which is a first-grade-level vocabulary exercise, how the hell can you make complex decisions on matters of national security?

It lends a lot more credence to the rumors that Hillary is a physical and mental wreck from strokes, as well as the fact that she's such a pathological liar that she's no longer intellectually capable of properly answering a direct, simple question.

[GILMORE?]

"I suspect Clinton kept the server's administration very close to her chest, with no more than 1 or 2 confidantes knowing what was going on.

And, to ensure that the guys maintaining the server didn't fuck her over, she made sure that the people doing the work were really, really loyal to her and had no other options"

I think this is mostly accurate, based on what's known. Firstly, most of her email correspondence was with her closest aides.

It appears that the system was for "someone to email her aides", then they would confer with the Hillinator, and get back to that someone with the summary. There were very few people corresponding directly with HRC, and there were tons of memos from others being passed up to her by her assistants.

re: the administrators... well #1 (the "taking the fifth" guy) was a family friend, and #2 had close political connections as well, recommended by Gov Hickenlooper, run by a big D party donor.

[R C Dean]

I'd be willing to bet the NSA has all the emails, and has the whole time, and this is just a cover story to hide the true source of the emails.

[Lord Humungus]

Another 1 percent white privilege: The invisible advantage we need to discuss now
We're finally talking about stressed, toxic work worlds, but in a way that benefits wealthy, traditional families

But despite these trends, the nuclear family is still favored with the most esteemed cultural visibility, still seen as "normal," "good" and ideal. Divorce is generally seen as failure, cohabitating and raising kids without being married invites the assumption that there is a barrier to marriage, single-parents?especially teenagers, poor people, and/or people of color?are shamed for their "moral failing," and if you're an adult older than 35, single, and childfree, everyone from your friends to your bus driver is wondering when you're going to "settle down." If your family arrangement includes more than two adults, people who are not biological or adoptive parents raising kids, people who aren't related to you, or any other number of configurations, then you're invisible.

It's time we recognize this for what it is, and name it: nuclear family privilege.

*head explodes*

[TwB]

If you keep reading Salon, your head will probably explode.

[Charles Easterly]

Yes - I'm beginning to be concerned for LH. He must read quite a bit of these sorts of things and this latest quote could have done permanent damage.

[Lord Humungus]

Don't worry, the metal mask protects me. The bondage gear? Not so much.

[BigT]

Someone has to take up the slack while Derpetologist is off protecting us from ISIS.

[Rich]

Meanwhile, schools engage in Father's Day celebrations even though 25 percent of children are raised in homes without their fathers.

Oh, the humanity!

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

The bigger problem is that these schools are apparently still in session in late June.

[PM]

I'd venture to guess that divorce and... novel living arrangements are actually probably more common among the 1% than the proles. Most people can't afford the luxury of multiple wives, mistresses, illegitimate children, etc.

[The Shrubber's Woodchipper]

Yet another reason to check your privilege.

[Just say Nikki]

Yeah, divorce is not more common among wealthier people.

[PM]

Looks like there's not much in the way of data on the marriage habits of the fabulously wealthy

So what do national census statistics have to say about divorce among the highest income brackets or among those that the average person would consider to be independently wealthy. Well, strictly speaking there are no statistics of this kind collected by government agencies. Census polls in the G8 nations typically do not calculate household incomes above $250-300,000 per year and while that is enough income to make anyone comfortable it does not indicate accrued wealth. So how do we get our answer? Well, by looking the other way so-to-speak. Do the poor divorce more often? The answer seems to be ? sort of?

[PM]

The numbers tell us that if you fall into the lowest income brackets you are more likely to separate, but less likely to divorce. Why? Because they are too poor to afford divorce! That beggars belief, but according to a study conducted by Ohio State University in 2012 many couples remain legally separated for up to 10 years before being able to afford divorce proceedings; especially when children were involved. But here other factors step in to muddy the waters and thwarting a direct answer to the question wealth as an predictor of marital bliss. Contributing factors that swell divorce numbers among the poor include issues of health, addiction and lifestyle problems, so while money is an unbalanced factor, it is not the only one by half.

[Just say Nikki]

So...poor people are more likely to live in non-nuclear family situations.

You may have heard they're also more likely to end up single parents to begin with.

[PM]

So...poor people are more likely to live in non-nuclear family situations.

There's not really a basis for comparison because the scope of the relevant study cited was limited to the poor.

[Just say Nikki]

Okay. We'll all pretend poor people get married and live in nuclear families at higher rates than higher-income people.

[PM]

Better yet, you can continue pretending that's what I actually said and see if you can get that stick lodged any further up your ass.

[PM]

(Protip: the 1% is a very small subset of "higher-income people")

(Extra Protip: if you're really this assblasted about a throwaway comment regarding the famously dysfunctional tabloid-fodder family lives of many of society's blue bloods, you could always, you know, actually cite something that proves whatever point it is that you're trying to make)

[Lee G]

Coming soon:

non-criminal behavior privilege
diligent privilege
good choice-making privilege

[Swiss Servator]

LH, I warned ye - did you not consult Derpetologist on your far too frequent visits to Derpistan?!

*mourns*

[Free Society]

Warning: If your head stays exploded longer than four hours, please consult with your derpetologist to see if Salon is right for you.

[Certified Public Asshat]

Making good decisions places one's self, and family in a better position to succeed.

I guess that is privilege.

[Just say Nikki]

Why is it a "good decision" to have children?

[PM]

CPA's post didn't say it was a good decision to have children.

[Certified Public Asshat]

Yeah, I didn't think I suggested that.

[Just say Nikki]

Then what are the good decisions that are described in the OP as privileged?

[Certified Public Asshat]

My point was success is driven based on the many decisions people make in life. I am not sure why I am defending this.

[Free Society]

Because Nikki is nothing if not a nitpicky and pedantic.

[PM]

Then what are the good decisions that are described in the OP as privileged?

I know it's cliche not to read the articles, but Jesus fuck.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

I know it's cliche not to read the articles, but Jesus fuck

Bear in mind that Nikki had a limpout recently over people not reading the article on James Deen's brave struggle to shame white female porn stars into doing interracial scenes.

[Florida Man]

So someone will cry on your death bed?

[Certified Public Asshat]

One day my son will mow the lawn for 5-6 years before I am forced to do it myself again once he moves out.

[Florida Man]

Don't worry, he's not an adult until he's 27, so you'll get plenty of mowing.

[Just say Nikki]

Or celebrate.

[Lee G]

Just as good

[OldMexican]

It's time we recognize this for what it is, and name it: nuclear family privilege.

Next: Bike riders' privilege.

Because, why not? Right?

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

and if you're an adult older than 35, single, and childfree, everyone from your friends to your bus driver is wondering when you're going to "settle down."

WTF???

[Red Rocks Rockin]

More likely they're either thinking "Mom's basement dweller" or "lucky bastard that gets to keep all his money."

[The Late P Brooks]

Anyone have a favorite site for purchasing ammo?

I just go to Walmart.
Speaking of which, I have actually managed to pick up a couple hundred rounds of .22lr lately.

[Drake]

I was in Dicks a few weeks ago gearing up the kids for fall sports and noticed they had bricks at a reasonable price. Immediately bought one.

[bendover]

Concerning the current FBI investigation of classified info on Hillary's private server - If "Joe Clinton" had done this, we'd be reading about his pending trial for breaking the law.

I believe that once Biden officially enters the race, the FBI and the Justice Department will either indict or quietly ask that Hilliary resign from the race for "health reasons."

[Mazakon]

Study: Only way to be less racist is to accuse others of racism

A study out of Denver's Diversity Symposium has found the only way for people to extinguish racism in their own souls is to become experts at identifying racism in others.

Dr. Wilder, a researcher of racial and cultural statistics gave an interview recently where he informed reporters of his findings.

"Everyone has some form of prejudice. That is simply human nature. But I'm confident in saying that my dedicated group of researchers have found a way in which we can all vanquish those racist impulses that each of us are infected with.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

You are all fucken racist pigs!

I win!

[PM]

So mindlessly accusing everyone around you of being racism is more often than not simple projection? Well I'll be damned...

[Illocust]

Isn't this a bit how witch, blasphemy, or wreckers and kulaks trials worked? The only way to lessen your punishment was to accuse others?

[tarran]

Pretty much.

At their core, humans remain simple primates.

[Charles Easterly]

*throws half-eaten piece of fruit at tarran*

[tarran]

*craps in his hand and starts hurling feces at chuck*

[straffinrun]

Hey Tarran! There's a wasp on your neck!

[WTF]

*points and shrieks at Charles and tarran*

[Lee G]

*grabs leg bone, starts swinging wildly*

[Florida Man]

*wheels in giant monolith*

[Charles Easterly]

*runs forward and uses tarran's finger paint to draw Alt-Text on black stone that hums*

[Don'tTreadOnMeChipper]

*nails other male monkey's bitches while they fight*

[DJF]

Dr. Racist Wilder, a racist researcher of racial racial, and racial cultural statistics gave an racist interview where he racist informed the racist reporter of his racist finding.

How many non-racist points to I win?

[Warty]

The site. It's not real.

[WTF]

Poe's law, I guess.

[OldMexican]

A study out of Denver's Diversity Symposium has found the only way for people to extinguish racism in their own souls is to become experts at identifying racism in others.

The way one could become a good Communist back in the good old days of Soviet terror was by ratting on your less-than-fully-convinced neighbors.

I don't see a difference.

[lap83]

Jill Holland who is the coordinator of "Rainbow Voices", a bi-monthly publication covering race issues in Denver had this to add. "Racism isn't this hot potato that you toss in others laps which magically cures you of your calamity. Taking responsibility for ones own thoughts and deeds would be the route I would assume would be the most effective. In this day and age however, it's not surprising that others might be encouraged by professionals to pass the buck and blame others in order to emancipate yourself from any given responsibility. It's ridiculous, but so is the world we live in, obviously."

What is this "taking responsibility" you speak of?

[Lord Humungus]

Hundreds of full-time New York City workers are homeless

I cry every night thinking this isn't really happening, but it is," Torres, 45, told The Post.

He made a plea to Mayor Bill de Blasio: "Please help us."

Torres earns $33,662 a year but says it's not enough to find four walls and a roof to call his own in a city where, according to StreetEasy, the median rent is $2,690 a month.

So he has spent the past four months living out of his beat-up 2001 Chevy Blazer with tinted windows. He has two small bags of belongings to his name.

"Everyone's like, 'Take a shower and wash your clothes!' They don't know what is going on. It hurts a lot. I work for the city. I never thought this would happen to me," he said.

[Juvenile Bluster]

We need to bring back old-style boarding houses. Tiny room and a common shower. Work out better than the "affordable housing" stuff we have now.

But seriously, he can't live in one of the outer boroughs and take the subway? Why does he have to live in Manhattan?

[WTF]

Why does he have to live in Manhattan?

Because it's a human right to live wherever you want, whether or not you can afford it!

[Crusty Juggler]

He could live in the Bronx (where the commute by subway would be around an hour) in a decent neighborhood and almost make rent earning that wage. If he had a roommate, he definitely could.

[WTF]

Yeah, but who wants to live in the Bronx? I mean, he could also live much more cheaply in New Jersey and have an easy commute by train.

[Just say Nikki]

Give me a break. I've been friends with people who made that kind of money and lived in New York. Get a roommate, problem solved.

[straffinrun]

Two people living in a Blazer? Sounds worse.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Think of the "microbial cloud".

Ew.

[Illocust]

YMCA membership for showering. Laundromat for clothes (pretty sure a lot of run down apartment buildings have to do this anyways). Put what you would be paying in rent into a savings fund for buying your own place. Couple years down the road buy your own place.

[Just say Nikki]

The buying his own place part is probably going to remain out of reach until he moves. Far.

[Rasilio]

Put what you would be paying in rent into a savings fund for buying your own place moving the fuck out of that hellhole

FTFY

[OldMexican]

I cry every night thinking this isn't really happening, but it is," Torres, 45, told The Post.

He cries rivers for us.

Good chap.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Tears.

Sweet and Salty.

[Certified Public Asshat]

It's a grueling job, says the veteran Parks Department maintenance worker, but also a welcome escape from the uncertainty of living on the streets as one of the city's more than 300 full-time workers who are homeless.

Why that's .0036% of NYC's population!

[lap83]

I live in the richest county in my state and the average rent is still less than $800 a month.
I imagine most states are like that. Is NYC so great that it's worth living out of your car when 99% of the rest of the country would be affordable at the same wage? I don't get it.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

I started my current job making about that much. I still found a pretty nice apartment, with no roommates, while making pretty egregious loan payments every month.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

Though I did need my father as guarantor, as most owners require you to make 40x the monthly rent. Still, find someone on craigslist that needs to rent a room, and there's no problem. Just shower before you meet them. And tell them this sob story to seal the deal.

Also, pretty pretty pretty

[The Shrubber's Woodchipper]

I'm back on Reasonable now that it's working again. In comment You Tube links are not working as before. Do others have the same problem?

[Raven Nation]

Robby, no love for Yogi Berra?

[Juvenile Bluster]

He's still around, according to the AP. They say that Yogi Bear died.

[Raven Nation]

Ahh, the AP. The Washington Generals of the media world.

(apologies to Homer Simpson).

[gaijin]

Berra's wife, who had asked him how and where he wanted to be buried, reportedly told his wife "Surprise me".

[gaijin]

regrammered: "Berra, whose wife...."

[B.P.]

Grammer?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

He played Side Show Bob, right?

[Lord Humungus]

Migrants are disguising themselves as Syrians to enter Europe

Moving among the tens of thousands of Syrian war refugees passing through the train stations of Europe are many who are neither Syrian nor refugees, but hoping to blend into the mass migration and find a back door to the West.

There are well-dressed Iranians speaking Farsi who insist they are members of the persecuted Yazidis of Iraq. There are Indians who don't speak Arabic but say they are from Damascus. There are Pakistanis, Albanians, Egyptians, Kosovars, Somalis and Tunisians from countries with plenty of poverty and violence, but no war.

It should come as no surprise that many migrants seem to be pretending they are someone else. The prize, after all, is the possibility of benefits, residency and work in Europe.

What's the prize for second place? Two nights in Europe?

[Illocust]

Second prize is coming back tomorrow when someone else is on duty and trying again.

[PM]

One night in Bangkok.

[Raven Nation]

and the world's your oyster.

[Lee G]

Thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it

[Granny Weatherwax]

one town's very like another when your head's down over your pieces brother

[Suellington]

Can't be too careful with your company.

[Pan Zagloba]

This article has a lovely graph showing where the "refugees" are coming from.

Syria is #1, followed by Kosovo (the fuck? you won your war, assholes), Afghanistan, then Albania (double the fuck?).
Man, I thought EU would blow up on economy, but I'll take it blowing up on barbarian invasions. Will have nice symmetry with Roman empire.

[The Late P Brooks]

the Koch brothers have spent the last 30 years (and hundreds of millions of dollars) consolidating their control over our political system via what Charles has called a "vertically and horizontally integrated" strategy ? in his words, the Kochs have their hands in everything "from idea creation to policy development to education to grassroots organization to lobbying to litigation to political action."

As opposed to what the Democrats/liberals/progressives have been doing for decades.
How dare they attempt to put their ideas out there?
How dare they attempt to influence public policy according to their own vision of optimal national policy?

[Derpetologist]

Spot the Not: hazing deaths

1. killed in a car accident. Sleep deprivation stemming from hazing rituals was considered to be a contributing factor. At the time of his death, he was wearing a Playboy bunny costume and driving to get signatures of alumni as part of the pledging requirements

2. died after a ritual involving eating small plates of spaghetti followed with large quantities of wine. Other fraternity members placed him in a bathtub after he lost control of his bowels, unaware that this was a sign of impending death. His BAC was 0.48 at the time of death.

3. was forced to drink large amounts of water and do calisthenics in a basement flooded with raw sewage with fans blowing on him. He died from water intoxication. The ritual dated back 20 years at the fraternity.

4. was electrocuted during an initiation ritual in which he was forced to wear wet pajamas and crawl through two bedsprings that had been charged with electric current by connecting them to city lighting wires through a rheostat.

5. was killed during a scavenger hunt as part of a hazing event. He was attempting to collect a letter that was under a railroad tie. He was hit by a train and killed.

6. died of hypothermia after being left to roam the woods wearing only a toga made from a bedsheet and a Burger King paper crown. Before being stranded, he had been ordered to drink a large amount of liquor.

[Florida Man]

5

[WTF]

4

[Juvenile Bluster]

Cinque.

[Derpetologist]

6 is the Not. Here is wiki's list of US hazing deaths:

behold

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Yeah #6 is what Reason does with their interns (nee orphans) when they're done with em.

[Idle Hands]

ABORTION!!!!

Los Angeles (AFP) - A social media campaign launched by three US activists to denounce the stigma surrounding abortion has gone viral as women have shared their experiences, though pro-life campaigners have hit back.

The hashtag "#ShoutYourAbortion" was started on Twitter over the weekend after the US House of Representatives voted to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest women's health care ser vices provider, as Republicans pushed for a probe of the organization.

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison said they began the campaign in a bid to encourage women to reclaim the conversation about abortion.

Twitter must be terrible.

[OldMexican]

Los Angeles (AFP) - A social media campaign launched by three US activists to denounce the stigma surrounding abortion

#ProudOfOurKilling

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

#TooDumb4BirthControl

[Free Society]

There just shouldn't be a stigma surrounding the murder of babies by irresponsible mothers.

[Citizen X]

I understand that getting an abortion might be necessary sometimes, or might other times be the best out of a list of very bad options. I cannot comprehend being proud of it, though.

[BigT]

It ain't over 'til it's over.

He didn't say half the things he said.

[Lord Humungus]

Hooker wants Planned Parenthood, cucumbers out of sex education

Planned Parenthood and any other organization "that provides abortion or abortion counseling" would be prohibited from teaching sex education in Michigan schools, per a bill introduced by state Rep. Tom Hooker, R-Byron Township.

The former teacher also wants to prevent schools from letting students practice using contraceptive devices such as condoms.

"It's illegal to hand out condoms to young people as they exit the class, but what they're doing is they're handing out the condoms in class. They're practicing on a cucumber or something similar, familiarizing themselves with the use, and then Planned Parenthood conveniently tells them they can get the devices at Planned Parenthood clinics and how easy it is to get them without the knowledge of parents," said Hooker, a third-term representative.

[PM]

Talk about a clickbait headline.

[Lord Humungus]

Hooker's a damn good cop!

[Lee G]

Get yer' barf bags for the fawning comments.

It really is profound and unsettling hero worship that rivals the veneration so common in authoritarian regimes.

Awesome!

Glad the President of the US got to meet another powerful leader just like himself! Can you imagine how wonderful it was for him and his family to meet the Pope albeit a progressive one.

This current President Obama is a hero for a lot of Americans!

[tarran]

I now know that I've been flinging feces in the wrong direction...

[PM]

Impossible. There is no wrong direction in which to fling feces.

[Derpetologist]

Many people have a desire to worship someone, be they popes, celebrities, or politicians. Why is that? I guess once you're an adult and your parents aren't special anymore, you transfer the admiration onto someone else.

[Lee G]

I don't know why people do that. It's one thing to admire someone who has accomplished something, so I get the Obama worship. But they elevate his entire family in the process and treat them like royalty that they personally know. It's disturbing.

I was thinking that everybody in the crowd had BIG smiles on their faces --

just like an Obama crowd!!!

I just wish Joe could have had a moment more with him, he's such a devout Catholic and going through such a rough time.

But I was glued to the TV and was so moved and excited -- tears in my eyes! Caught me by surprise.

Thanks for posting this, and has been posted, the girls are gorgeous -- look out, Mom and Dad!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

That's as bad as raping little boys.

[OldMexican]

Before you get your new robot, you have to agree not to have sex with it.

"Good! I'll let it have sex with me, then!"

Bernie Sanders will join strikers who want a $15 minimum wage.

For a Socialist who disdains consumerism so much, he sure wants people to engage a lot in it!

(Who said Marxians are supposed to be logically consistent?)

[Lord Humungus]

So... way OT here:

I have an old high-school friend who ended up being a junky for a very long time. He is one hell of a smart guy. Both of his parents are teachers, and he went to U of Michigan for two years before dropping out to fully support his drug habit. He has some great stories from those years of living in the underbelly of the beast.

Anyway - flash forward many years and he's off the smack, doesn't smoke weed, or even drink. But he's a mental mess - and I'm not blaming the drugs here - but it seems to run in his family. I believe his drug habit was more self-medication than anything else. He is now 47, living in a small condo - in the same building as his retired parents: unemployed, on disability, only making money by selling off bits of his massive stereo/record collection.

He's suffering from major anxiety and depression - to the point where he no longer leaves his condo. He rarely calls me, but will sometimes answer an email. He always promises to come over and hang out, but then ditches me. I'm trying to be the best friend I can to him - it is taxing - but don't know what I can do to get him out of his shell. In his own words "It certainly is not that I don't WANT to be social, but I just have this inescapable urge to hide out. Not even use the computer. I feel like Brian Wilson during the 15 years he stayed in his bedroom (minus the latent genius for writing pop songs),"

Any thoughts?

[Lee G]

You'll have to go to him.

[Lee G]

More specifically, you'll have to facilitate his venturing out of his hole. Maybe you'll be able to help him find an outside activity that interests him enough that he'll want to come out on his own. I find most people like that have forgotten what they're missing.

[Lord Humungus]

Trust me - I've tried, offering to pick him to go out on a road trip. Or even something smaller like hitting one of the local music stores. But something always comes up, or he won't answer his phone. I honestly don't understand how he can live the life he does - I couldn't take it. He and I do hang out - sporadically - and he opens up with great, interesting conversation.

[OldMexican]

In his own words "It certainly is not that I don't WANT to be social, but I just have this inescapable urge to hide out.

Fear is the mind killer.

Urges are nothing. The mind is everything. Once he understands that, he will open up.

[Free Society]

Channeling Ken Shultz on an immigration thread.

[Illocust]

Medication. Seriously, recommend he talk to someone who can prescribe him meds for the depression and anxiety. I have depression, and going on a serotonin uptake has made a night and day difference in the quality of my life. He's already in his 40's. Any character building that could be done from learning to deal with his problems has already been done. Now's the time to take the easy route and enjoy life.

[Careless]

And anti-psychotics. Frequently useful for the really screwed up depressed people.

[Just say Nikki]

Why do you want him to go out when he doesn't want to go out?

[Florida Man]

Sounds like he wants to, but can't.

[straffinrun]

My Mom has worked as a alcohol and drug counselor for over 40 years. My dad was an engineer for Cray Research. Their approaches to addicts couldn't have been more night and day. For the counselor, understanding the root cause of the addiction was everything. For the engineer, we'd talk about this stuff over dinner, everything was about stopping certain types of behavior and replacing them with healthier activities. One of my brothers had a rough patch with binge drinking and my mom freaked out. She went over all the possible causes of his anxiety that could be linked to a childhood event. Dad just went over to his house every morning at 6:00 am and took him to breakfast. That stopped the binge drinking.

[lap83]

That reminds me of The Power of Habit, very interesting book

[straffinrun]

Basically Aristotle.

[The Late P Brooks]

It lends a lot more credence to the rumors that Hillary is a physical and mental wreck from strokes, as well as the fact that she's such a pathological liar that she's no longer intellectually capable of properly answering a direct, simple question.

If I could convince myself this was all just an elaborate scheme to put Bill back in the Oval Office, using Hillary as a ventriloquist's dummy, I'd feel better.

[Pan Zagloba]

Weekend at Bernie's presidency? Would make a good movie!

[Ryan the Sea Lion]

Gillespie I take it must be one of those Paolo Pasolini type Catholics. Or maybe simply a New Jersey style one: I'm for the eucharist because fuck you!

[The Late P Brooks]

I'll just come right out and admit it.
I look back at the Clinton Presidency (imperfect as it may have been) as the Good Old Days.
Sixteen years of cretinous buffoonery is enough.

[Drake]

That's how I look at the 80's. The 90's is when our current rot first became visible.

[Lord Humungus]

I'm loyal - to the point of stupidity - with my friends, especially those ones that were your comrades in the confusing morass of childhood. That, and he was one of the more interesting characters in the boring (and very religious/conservative) town I grew up in.

And it is weird - he has been over to my house many times and we'll talk 'n' talk about the old days, music, cars, girls - and he seems happy & normal.

But then he just disappears from life.