Supreme Court Won't Spare Richard Glossip, Fiscal Shutdown Likelihood Fizzles, NCAA Schools Can't Pay Athletes: P.M. Links

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• The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to spare Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma man set to be executed today despite strong evidence suggesting he's innocent. (Read more about Glossip's story here.) 
• Congress is allegedly making progress on avoiding fiscal shutdown, after the Senate passed a continuing resolution Wednesday morning to fund the government next fiscal year at this one's levels. The House is expected to pass a short-term spending bill ahead of the midnight deadline Wednesday evening. 
• The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling allowing NCAA member schools to pay student athletes up to $5,000 per year. 
• Kim Kardashian told Ellen Degeneres Wednesday that her husband Kanye West is "serious" about running for president in 2020. 
• The next Republican presidential debate, set to air on CNBC on October 28, may feature fewer candidates than the previous two debates have.
• New York magazine wonders what happened to Rand Paul? 

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

...after the Senate passed a a continuing resolution Wednesday morning to fund the government at this year's levels.

THEY'RE CUTTING SPENDING????

[Mr Lizard]

SQLRS gone nutty?...

[wareagle]

yes, by DC standards, because they have stopped the rate of growth in spending. A lower rate of growth or static spending = cuts.

[Mr Lizard]

So Somalia?...

[wareagle]

The road to, no doubt. Or is it 'the roadz to.....'?

[Pan Zagloba]

Anyone want to grab me an AKS-74 and an RPG-7? I promise not to shoot down any Black Hawks...

[Pope Jimbo]

The Wild were just about to send you all the weapons you asked for and then you had to keep making promises.

Now you are SOL.

[Pan Zagloba]

But there are no Black Hawks in Canada!

Unless Chicago fans come up for a game? Those are fair target, right?

[Pope Jimbo]

It isn't the fans that the Wild are worried about.

If you are willing to take out the actual Black Hawks, get back to the Wild. God knows that they haven't been able to take them out for years.

[Pan Zagloba]

Canucks share in your pain, sir. RPGs are about the only thing they have left.

[Enough About Woodchippers]

The WSJ has a piece today (behind a pay wall) that says as a percent of GDP, spending under the Republicans has decreased year after year.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Hello.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to spare Richard Glossip,"

If really innocent. For shame.

[B.P.]

Alright, this is crap. I finally get the first comment in PM Links, and the judges shoot it down the memory hole. For a moment I thought I'd accomplished something in 2015.

[The Tone Police]

Fist has secret powers, man, I'm telling you.

[Pope Jimbo]

Since when is being willing to blow the moderators a "secret" power?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Being able to tell time, to think awesome thoughts quickly and to type fast are not my own powers.

[Enough About Woodchippers]

Being able to tell time suck dick, to think awesome thoughts lick quickly and to type swallow fast are not my own only powers.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

You still have three months.

[This Machine]

Alright, this is crap. I finally get the first comment in PM Links, and the judges shoot it down the memory hole. For a moment I thought I'd accomplished something in 2015.

Uh, you're wrong, duder. I had the first comment on the 4:30 Lynx.

*leans in to whisper*

And no one can prove me wrong...

[Fist of Etiquette]

I saw it too, but unfortunately it's not canon. Which is actually fortunate, because it was a lame "First" followed with the timidity of a question mark. B.P., you can do better.

[B.P.]

You'd be surprised at how ineffective I can be.

[Charles Easterly]

You aimed for mediocrity and scored lower?

Ever consider running for public office?

[jesse.in.mb]

The next Republican presidential debate, set to air on CNBC on October 28, may feature less candidates than the previous two debates have.

NO. MORE. MORE CANDIDATES. And then just talk about Trump the whole time.

*masturbates furiously*

[Ted S.]

When isn't Jesse masturbating furiously?

[Medical Physics Guy]

When he clicks on Sarcasmic links

[jesse.in.mb]

Wait, aren't those all adolescent boys?

*takes hand out of 55 gallon drum of lube, backs away from computer*

[Crusty Juggler]

At least it was your hand.

[Pathogen]

Without the "mysterious stranger" perk, he had to use his own hand. He'll level up soon, and then..

[jesse.in.mb]

Huh? No. I preserve my hands-of-glory in lubricant. You haven't cum until you've rubbed one out with the pickled left hand of a hanged man CJ. Haven't. Lived.

[Tejicano]

..because a hanged man is so close to a hung man? I'm not sure I follow... or want to.

[Florida Man]

I don't like to masterbate with lube. I like the rough embrace I get from a welding glove.

[jesse.in.mb]

*makes note: probably likes toothy blowjobs*

[Florida Man]

I called it "getting some chipped beef".

[Pathogen]

Needs to be rubbed across an oxidized boat hull, and/or insulation.. candy ass..

[Mrs. Lemuel Struthers]

When thinking about homeless Tom Hardy, apparently.

Go figure.

[Pope Jimbo]

When he speeds up to masturbating at ludicrous speed?

[Juan Segway, Sidewalk Avenger]

He can't stop, he has to slow down first.

And he's not gonna.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The next Republican presidential debate, set to air on CNBC on October 28, may feature less candidates than the previous two debates have.

Fewer.

[kinnath]

and my post on this disappeared magically.

[Fist of Etiquette]

ENB changed it, making us all look like FOOLS.

[Pathogen]

And you fools fell right into her trap.. diabolical..

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

This is why Stannis deserved the throne.

[kinnath]

+4 fewer fingernails to clean

[jesse.in.mb]

Shut up, dude, you'll trigger Warty.

[Tonio]

I don't think Warty can be triggered. Summoned or invoked.

[Tejicano]

Conjured?

[grrizzly]

Yes, what's going on with fewer? Is it on its way out like whom?

[Pathogen]

fewer?.. That's not okay..

[Warty]

Maybe she meant lesser.

[Pan Zagloba]

I think she's trolling Nikki.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Kim Kardashian told Ellen Degeneres-

Stop right there.

[jesse.in.mb]

Kim Kardashian told Ellen Degeneres-

Stop right there.

FTFY

[wareagle]

seriously. Who let the intern be in charge of Da Lynx?

[Certified Public Asshat]

When President West is being sworn in, what will you say then?

[RBS]

"Do you like fishsticks?"

[Juan Segway, Sidewalk Avenger]

Our first gay fish president. I can finally be proud of this country.

[Medical Physics Guy]

I want to see Democratic debates in 2020 that are the Bizarro version of the Repub debates in 2016, with Kanye playing Trump, Ron Wyden playing Ron Paul....let's see here...maybe Dianne Feinstein playing John Kasich? Al Sharpton playing Mike Huckabee?

[Mr Lizard]

I detect a disturbance in the Comentariot

[GILMORE?]

...as if 8 or so comments in the previous thread had cried out... only to be swallowed by a giant squirrel

[RBS]

I think most of them are trapped in that terrorist immigration thread.

[Jerryskids]

Look assole, even if a majority of the comments are trapped and a majority of the trapped comments are trapped in the terrorist immigration thread the best you can say is a plurality of the comments are trapped in the terrorist immigration thread. And I have it on good authority that only 28% of the trapped comments are male comments between 15 and 20 minutes old.

[Tonio]

[Stands and claps.]

[Illocust]

Nice, very nice.

[DEG]

majority of the trapped comments are trapped in the terrorist immigration thread

It sounds like I missed a shit show.

[Florida Man]

Do you ever really miss a shit show?

[DEG]

Depending on the shit show and how much alcohol I've consumed, a shit show can be fun to watch from a distance.

[Riven]

Well, it's not like it's going anywhere.

[Florida Man]

Don't listen to her DEG! You're better than this. Just walk away.

[Riven]

Aww... C'mon! Look at this face! Would this face lie to you?

[Florida Man]

The image of dark helmet as king Rolland just popped into my mind.

[DEG]

Well, I'm at home now and cracked open a beer.

[JWatts]

Excellent

[Illocust]

But but but, Nikki and Riven are denying that humans have instincts. How can I concentrate on PM links when someone is wrong on the internet?

[Riven]

Wrong? Like 28% being a majority kind of wrong or...?

[waffles]

I have a plurality of wrongness.

[Riven]

Would you say you have a... plethora... of wrongness?

[Charles Easterly]

Nice.

[Just say Nikki]

I'm pretty sure I affirmed that people have instincts. Shitty ones.

[Los Doyers]

If you can prove you're real, I'd like to take you out for drinks and roofies.

[Sapient Mulch]

Sure! I'll have the drinks, you can have the roofies and I'll introduce you to Warty.

[This Machine]

How can I concentrate on PM links when someone is wrong on the internet?

Wrong? On the internet? This cannot stand! Such injustices must be righted with fire and vitriolic discourse! Civil discussion is for the weak-willed and pathetic!

[Florida Man]

Now this machine is a good man, an honest man, but quite frankly, I agree with everything he just said.

[Charles Easterly]

Florida Man,

There are times when you are correct, and there are times when you are incorrect, and one day I hope to be here when you are.

[This Machine]

And I say, your three-cent killer boa constrictor tax doesn't go too far enough!

[Florida Man]

I say your 3 cent killer boa tax doesn't go too far enough!

[Fist of Etiquette]

...allowing NCAA member schools to pay student athletes up to $5,000 per year.

Pffft. I make more than that.

[CatoTheChipper]

They should make a living wage. You know, at least $15 per hour.

[Unreconstructed (Sans Flag)]

Per hour of actual, clock-moving, on-field playing time? $5000 should more than cover that!

[This Machine]

The next Republican presidential debate, set to air on CNBC on October 28, may feature less candidates than the previous two debates have.

New York magazine wonders what happened to Rand Paul?

The next Republican presidential debate, set to air on CNBC on October 28, may feature less candidates than the previous two debates have.

Duplicated links, duplicated bullet points. Maybe now they'll begin the systematic extermination of the server squirrels.

[Ted S.]

I put this down to ENB's incompetence.

[This Machine]

Oh, so the writers get an edit button but the proles in the commentariat get jack. I see how it is.

[Ted S.]

Wah wah wah. :p

[Mr Lizard]

I wouldn't call it an edit button so much as a giant text eating SQLR

[Pan Zagloba]

Oh go back to Daily Kos, Commie Kid! Edit Buttons are for closers!

[This Machine]

RISE, COMMENTERS, AND OVERTHROW THE EDITORS! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR...

Wait, is there anything to lose? There's no blink tags, or edit buttons, or anything. There really aren't any "chains," either, though. Hmm. Now I don't know what to be mad about.

[Pan Zagloba]

Squirrels!

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR SQUIRRELS, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN BUT YOUR EDIT BUTTON!

Battle cry for the ages.

[CatoTheChipper]

They eliminate one candidate with each debate kind of like a reality show. Each GOP debate should end with Trump identifying the loser and saying, "You're fired!"

[Juice]

*fewer

[GILMORE?]

"Kim Kardashian told Ellen Degeneres Wednesday that her husband Kanye West is "serious""

Did she make the scare quotes with her fingers, and give a 'knowing look'?

[jesse.in.mb]

Does Kanye-bot have a "serious" setting?

[Just say Nikki]

...does he have a "not serious" setting?

[wareagle]

not serious is the default setting.

[Just say Nikki]

I don't think he thinks that.

[wareagle]

and that means lulz across the fruited plain.

[Antilles]

Kinda hope it happens because then Kim Kardashian would be the first First Lady to have a sex tape.

[RBS]

first First Lady to have a sex tape.

That you know of.

[Antilles]

Considering some of the First Ladies in my lifetime, I likely suppressed that possibility.

[Just say Nikki]

But the bar would be kind of lowered if Trump won first and his wife became the first First Lady with published nudes.

[Suthenboy]

It is so ridiculous that it probably will happen.

[Medical Physics Guy]

It's so boring it barely counts as a sex tape. Americans need a first lady with a proper sex tape.

[RBS]

Like Pamela Anderson.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

That broke my adolescent heart.

[Antilles]

Agreed. Most celebrity sex tapes are boring and/or poorly recorded. Why don't they just end the charade and have one shot professionally?

[Pan Zagloba]

If he hires Stone & Parker to run his campaign, it will be the most glorious thing in US history.

[Anomalous]

Vote or Die.

[Mr Lizard]

I counted 5 comments deep on the 4:30 PM links.

[Tonio]

Derpbook quote of the day: "Your demand for statistical proof is racist."

I thought that you all were kidding about someone being dumb enough to say that plainly. We are doomed.

[wareagle]

never underestimate the drive for peak retard, Tonio.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

That comment is racist.

[RBS]

This comment is racist.

[Juvenile Bluster]

I guess this is the real PM Links.

Yesterday I get home from work and my wife sends my six year old daughter over to me. Apparently I left the latest issue of Reason out where the kid can find it, and my daughter dutifully read the cover headline out to me ("The War on Sex Trafficking is the New War on Drugs").

My wife was a bit peeved. I'm happy that she's advanced enough in reading to be able to read that, and also that I'm indoctrinating a young libertarian. Just so long as this doesn't result in a visit from DCF.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

LIBERTARIAN MOMENT!

[Juvenile Bluster]

I'm confident that in 20 years, there will be at least one libertarian woman!

[Rufus J. Firefly]

My kid will join yours. She's on the right path. I think.

My niece certainly is. She never fails to make me tear up.

[Pope Jimbo]

You guys are nuts for doing this. Growing up is hard enough as a "normal". Now that your female relatives are becoming libertarians, they will be forced to use the boys' bathroom because everyone knows that there are no real female libertarians.

Full disclosure my daughter voted for Ron Paul last cycle in the local caucus, so I've got a weirdo too.

[Tonio]

I'm happy that she's advanced enough in reading to be able to read that...

You taught your wife to read? Next you'll be telling me you allow her to wear shoes.

[Pope Jimbo]

Well she did know enough to send their daughter over to Juv-B because she knows the trouble she'd be in if she left the kitchen...

[RBS]

Ha, yeah, I get some weird looks from my mailman, especially after reason sells my info to other "similar" organizations.

[Just say Nikki]

I always wonder what my mail lady thinks. But we seem to have a good relationship.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

The sexy cover is a good reparation for the issue with a close-up of Kevin Spacey's face.

[Ted S.]

Good for you, and good for the kid.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Did you tell your wife to shut up?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Save that kind of domestic violence for Super Bowl Sunday.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

I said "tell".

[Medical Physics Guy]

I've managed to indoctrinate my 6 year old. The other day he said to my wife, "Mom, what's that thing called that always gets things wrong?" After trying several options, she said "do you mean the government?" and he said "Yeah. The government."

[Antilles]

Don't worry, government-mandated public school will set him straight.

[Robert]

Not on that point. I can practically guarantee his teachers will agree.

It's like in The President's Analyst, where even the owners of stock in the phone co. hate the phone co. People who work in gov't, military or civilian, temporary or permanent, full time or part, local, state, federal, or foreign, any country you can think of, any time in hx, nearly all think the gov't always gets it wrong. They'll tell you so every chance they get.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Seeing my left-wing friends turn on Pope Francis over this Kim Davis meeting is hilarious.

[Cytotoxic]

That they are so quick to eat each other is heartening.

[C. Anacreon]

Please, any of you, provide some quotes from your lefty friends who are freaking out over this. It's been a frustrating day and I could use a good laugh.

[Juvenile Bluster]

I'll take one highlight, because it's been a rough day for me too.

Well, after getting my hopes up that the pope was kinda reasonable for a religious guy, having him go straight to Kim Davis and condone her kinda has me bummed out. Between that and all the other shit going on right now, I think I'm just going to put "Imagine" on loop and check out mentally. Anybody else ever get like that?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I'm so glad God made me the sort of guy who leans libertarian.

[egould310]

"I think I'm just going to put "Imagine" on loop and check out mentally"

Imagine. A song written by a multi-millionaire, married to a multi-billionaire, with an apartment on Central Park West, multiple homes in Los Angeles, London, paris, Tokyo, extolling the virtues of a world with "no possessions". Hey John Lennon, no possessions? You first, asshole.

[Florida Man]

That's why it's called "imagine" and not I don't know... "doing". It's mental masterbation, like a libertarian country.

[Krokko]

One of my (fairly normal) friends posted a comment about it, and one of -her- friends said that they are now considering leaving the Catholic Church. Ha!

[Rhywun]

I think I'm just going to put "Imagine" on loop and check out mentally.

Just wow.

[RBS]

So they no longer Love. This. Pope.?

[Certified Public Asshat]

They thought he wore rainbow underwear.

[kinnath]

It is lovely

[Tonio]

Seeing them embrace him was totally hilarious, this abrupt about-face knocks it out of the park.

[grrizzly]

The pinko-commie Pope turned out not so pinko.

[Tonio]

No, his economics are still bright pink.

[kinnath]

pinko-commies have always been ruthlessly opposed to civil rights and sexual freedom

[defsoad]

Reminds me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg5aVzSDme4

[Cytotoxic]

Immigration Fear Mongers Ignore History

"The influx of German immigrants in the mid-18th century is a perfect example. In 1751, Benjamin Franklin warned his fellow colonists of the impending crisis that would result if German immigration went unchecked. His concerns echo many of those expressed today.+

According to Franklin,"those who come hither are generally of the most ignorant stupid sort of their own nation.? They will soon so outnumber us, that all the advantages we have will not in my opinion be able to preserve our language, and even our government will become precarious."

http://blog.panampost.com/edit.....e-history/

They're never right, and they never learn.

[Mr Lizard]

You know who else didn't care for an influx of Germans?...

[Tonio]

Post WW2 Argentinians?

[The Tone Police]

Millard Fillmore?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Romans.

And then they said fuck it. Let 'em in.

[Just say Nikki]

Basil Fawlty?

[Mrs. Lemuel Struthers]

DON'T MENTION THE WAR!

[Pan Zagloba]

I may have mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.

[grrizzly]

NASA?

[Tonio]

NASA didn't exist until well after Operation Paperclip.

[Pan Zagloba]

"You think I'm joking? Just walk into NASA today and shout 'Heil Hitler.' Oh, they still jump!"

[kV]

The French?

[Pan Zagloba]

Napoleon III?

[Cytotoxic]

My mom's in-laws?

[Anomalous]

Poland?

[Anomalous]

Poland?

[wareagle]

the undocumented, unskilled sneaking in from Latin America and the folks from Syria = Germans who learned English and assimilated.

[The Tone Police]

there's that small-government obsession with "documents" again.

Do you think places like Little Italy and Chinatown et. al. sprung up because of excessive assimilation?

nope.

[C. Anacreon]

Are you supposed to answer your own questions in a post?

nope.

[Sapient Mulch]

Nope.

Are you a precog?

[waffles]

Are you policing the tone police?

Yep.

[wareagle]

and yet, many in Little Italy and Chinatown are naturalized citizens and speak English. Why the belief that only hispanics are incapable of doing likewise?

Ethnic neighborhoods sprung up for obvious reasons and no one has said a word about that straw man. But the residents also knew that doing business beyond the neighborhood would require the ability to communicate.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

And? Are you saying Latin Americans don't bother to learn English? Plenty of immigrated Chinese did not either, which is the point of mentioning Chinatown. It's the next generation that learns. Some of the Chinese immigrants only knew words like "San Francisco" and "cocksucker."

[Mrs. Lemuel Struthers]

Have you been watching Deadwood again?

[Juvenile Bluster]

For a very long time, the first generation older immigrants have failed to learn English, the second generation have learned both English and their native language, and the third generation ends up with less knowledge in their native language.

[wareagle]

I'm saying society goes out of its way to discourage it. Have you heard "press 2 for Mandarin or Catonese" often? No, you haven't. And for some reason, we either don't have or are not troubled by a massive influx of immigrant Chinese. If you want to move someplace, it's up to you to fit into your new surroundings, not the other way around.

[Cytotoxic]

Oh know! A different language option on the telephone will somehow discourage learning English!

[Calidissident]

LMAO you're actually one of those people that gets mad at Spanish language options? Newsflash, people are generally most comfortable speaking their native language, and learning a new language as an adult isn't exactly easy, particularly if we're talking about achieving total fluency. It's nothing evil or malicious.

And in areas with large Chinese populations, there absolutely are Chinese language options at a lot of places. Ask anyone else here that lives in LA, and they will confirm that there's just as much Chinese language signs in ethnically Chinese neighborhoods here as there is Spanish language in Latino neighborhoods (and the same goes for other Asian ethnicities like Koreans).

And in recent years Asian immigration has overtaken Latin American immigration as well.

[wareagle]

I'm not emotional about it but it is counter-productive in the long run. This is a govt-sponsored thing and govt has a long history of providing disincentives to what most of us would consider positive behavior. It's all aimed at one group; seems to me that govt folks believe this one group incapable of doing what all the other groups have done. And if California is your example of how things should work, it may be time to find a different poster child.

[Calidissident]

"I'm not emotional about it but it is counter-productive in the long run. This is a govt-sponsored thing and govt has a long history of providing disincentives to what most of us would consider positive behavior. It's all aimed at one group; seems to me that govt folks believe this one group incapable of doing what all the other groups have done."

The vast majority of linguistic options are provided by private companies. The government does offer some multilingual options (in many instances more than just Spanish) in some areas. Does it make it easier to get by without knowing English? Sure, but it's not like it comes anywhere close to negating the incentive to learn English, and to some extent it's simply a reflection of the fact that not everyone here is going to be able to instantly know how to fluently speak English the moment they step on to our soil. It has nothing to do with thinking one group is incapable of doing what others have done. I don't really see why there's so much fuss about what first generation immigrants do. They've never been the ones primarily driving assimilation. It's their children and grandchildren. And there's no evidence to suggest there's an epidemic of kids growing up in this country not knowing how to speak English.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

I do see directions in Mandarin and Korean and Russian. Yet I don't think the Koreans in NYC are going to avoid learning English.

Mexican-Americans are not going to avoid learning English, or discourage their children from learning it (at our schools that we're paying for rah rah rah), because Verizon tech support offers a Spanish language option.

If you want to move someplace, it's up to you to fit into your new surroundings, not the other way around.

Or you get by as best you can, perhaps forming communities with others that speak your language and finding a way to make it work.

[Calidissident]

"the undocumented, unskilled sneaking in from Latin America and the folks from Syria = Germans who learned English and assimilated."

Every immigrant (from Latin America or otherwise) is undocumented (and unskilled)? You also repeatedly show that you know absolutely nothing about the history of American immigration. Plenty of people complained about Germans not assimilating learning English, and German-speaking communities existed on a large scale into the 20th century. The notion that past immigrants just instantly gave up their culture and assimilated in contrast to today's immigrants who never assimilate is simply false. It's a completely inaccurate tale that is believed by far too many people.

[wareagle]

I see - you make shit up, putting words in my mouth for the express purpose of claiming I don't understand immigration. My parents immigrated back in the 50s, visas and the whole thing, became naturalized citizens. By the way, no one but you said a damn word about anyone giving up their culture; that's part of what makes America interesting. But there is an American culture, too; perhaps you have noticed it. Try again, but without the straw men and misrepresentations.

[Calidissident]

What relevance do your parents have to German immigration in the 1700s? Unless they're 300 years old I don't see any. You contrasted assimilating German immigrants who learned how to speak English with the "undocumented, unskilled Latin Americans" of today who presumably don't learn English or assimilate. My comment was hyperbolic, but the general implications are right there in your post, and this is far from the first time you've made comments along these lines. If you so firmly believe Latin Americans learn English and assimilate far less than past immigrant groups, provide actual evidence (beyond an anecdotal story about your parents) instead of just asserting it to be true.

[Whahappan?]

My great grand-parents on both sides immigrated from eastern Europe around the turn of the last century. None of them learned English well, their kids spoke English as their first language but were fluent in the mother tongue. My Dad spoke some of the old language, though my mother is fluent because she was raised by her grandmother, but English is still her first language. I speak a few words and phrases. Recent immigrants will follow this same pattern, whether from Latin America, Asia, the Middle East or wherever.

[Robert]

Existed, past tense? What about the Penna. Dutch?

There'd be more German speakers in NY if so many hadn't been killed in the Slocum disaster.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I find the German-English friction/rivalry interesting. As a small, isolated example, I forget who said it but a German philosopher said something to the effect of English philosophy being facile.

Not sure if it's the same as the French-Italian rivalry.

[Cytotoxic]

Germany birthed a lot of evil philosophy. Kant, Marx, Engel

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I still don't know what the fuck Hegel was talking about.

[jesse.in.mb]

A friend of mine (philosophy major cum lawyer) and I got into an argument about morality. I accused him of holding Hegelian views and he then shit got real. It was loads of fun.

Important: Fuck Hegel and his stupid mysticism that he pretended wasn't mysticism.

[Juice]

I've been thinking about applying for cum law school.

[Calidissident]

You know who else was a German with an evil philosophy?

[Jerryskids]

The Germans who came over were the ones who pushed for universal (i.e., publicly-funded) education, weren't they? There are lesser ignorant people now than there were then, thanks to the public school system.

[wareagle]

There are lesser ignorant people now than there were then, thanks to the public school system.

well done, sir.

[Pan Zagloba]

Good band name, indeed.

[Jerryskids]

I LEARNED IT FROM YOU, ENB!!!

[creech]

Didn't Franklin suggest, not thirty years later, that German be the official language of the new United States of America?

[Pan Zagloba]

Probably not, because no one did, according to this site

"On January 13, 1795, Congress considered a proposal, not to give German any official status, but merely to print the federal laws in German as well as English. During the debate, a motion to adjourn failed by one vote. The final vote rejecting the translation of federal laws, which took place one month later, is not recorded,"

But looking for it, I was delighted to find the following quote from old Ben:

All Africa is black or tawny. Asia chiefly tawny. America (exclusive of the new Comers) wholly so. And in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted, who with the English, make the principal Body of White People on the Face of the Earth.

Take that, Aryan ?bermenschen! You are as swarty as us Slavic subhumans! And also, you Swedes. As Pierce's father noted on Community, your blood has been thinned by generations of inbreeding with Laplanders, so you may as well be Finns.

[Rhywun]

When I spent a year in Bavaria I was somewhat surprised how dark everyone was. I couldn't decide if it was genetic or because everyone vacations in Spain.

[Juice]

I work with an immigrant in his 50s who immigrated when he was a teenager. He's a fan of Donald Trump and today he was complaining about immigrants. I just looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

[spqr2008]

I would be mad too, if people who arrived after me didn't have to go through the same pain in the ass system to achieve citizenship. It's kind of like how my dad made fun of Ohio's Driver's Licensing test, which is apparently way easier than California's (although it's amazing how much better drivers Ohioans tend to be vs. Californians).

[Robert]

And it was Ben Fuckin' Franklin saying it!

Hmmm...but maybe German immigr'n eventually was checked, so he wasn't proven wrong.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

'Kim Kardashian told Ellen Degeneres Wednesday that her husband Kanye West is "serious" about running for president in 2020.'

Is there a peak race to the bottom?

Can you imagine this insufferable jack ass pulling mics from diplomats and dignitaries?

[wareagle]

given how most diplomats and dignitaries are equally insufferable, this might be a feature.

[Riven]

I'm'a let you finish, but the United States of America has the best _____ policy of all time. ... OF ALL TIME.

[Florida Man]

Free speech?

[Riven]

/mic drop

[Joshua]

Innocent is an awfully strong interpretation of the evidence in the Glossip case. It's plausible though, and I don't think he should have been found guilty.

[Tonio]

But you can't undo an execution. I just don't trust the state with that type of power.

[The Tone Police]

My apologies for those who went through this on the Glossip thread proper, but the State backs all of its actions with death. I agree with Warty's perspective that this is only a difference of degree, not kind. If you don't trust the State to kill, then you really don't trust it to pronounce any criminal punishment or enforce any civil action, because it could always *potentially* be wrong.

[Cytotoxic]

That's a bit of sophistry. The death penalty is a formal punishment. The state killing somebody with violence is a...side effect.

[Cytotoxic]

This. The Reason headline is misleading. Why do they do this?

[The Tone Police]

We have gone from "not overwhelmingly guilty" to "plausibly innocent" to "strongly suggesting he's innocent". It's a bit much.

The man had TWO trials. Most people don't get such opportunity.

[Pan Zagloba]

From what the linked article had, he seemed guilty but no way deserving of death penalty. I believe it shoud be reserved for more henious crimes than simple murder for profit.

[spqr2008]

Especially because most death row inmates get more spent on them than people who spend life in prison due to the appeals and legal process. That's probably my best argument against using the death penalty against all but the most heinous of serial killers. If we want to put them to death using the process as it exists today, the cost better be worth it.

[Cytotoxic]

The TERROR IMMIGRATION thread has over 350 comments. Do I dare wade in? Or is it as Allah-forsaken as yesterday's transgender-TSA thread?

[Juvenile Bluster]

I wouldn't recommend entering without a haz mat suit and a fifth of scotch.

[Ted S.]

Go for it. We'd rather you stay over there than be in the Lynx thread. :p

[Cytotoxic]

Okay I'll stay here then.

[Suthenboy]

Dive in Cytotoxic. It was written just for you.

You, like many of the commentariat, I can agree with on the vast majority of subjects. It puzzles me how you can be so smart about so much and still be so, so wrong on immigration.

[Cytotoxic]

Your side has been wrong about immigration for literally centuries, but I'm so wrong about immigration. Uh-huh.

[Pope Jimbo]

Suthenboy is an indian I mean native american?

Those fuckers would totally agree with you Cyto.

If the people who were around "literally centuries" ago (1815) had listened to you and thrown up a wall and kept out any further immigrants, I think our country would be much different.

WTF? I have to admit that I have a bias because I a) married an immigrant who was so fresh off the boat she actually thought I was a catch and b) work with tons of immigrants on various IT development teams. I guess I'm just not freaked out about immigrants like you are.

[Cytotoxic]

"If the people who were around "literally centuries" ago (1815) had listened to you and thrown up a wall and kept out any further immigrants, I think our country would be much different."

Yes. It would be poorer and sadder.

"I guess I'm just not freaked out about immigrants like you are."

I think you've got the wrong guy.

[Pope Jimbo]

Ooops. Sorry Cyto. I must have gotten things bass ackwards.

[Mrs. Lemuel Struthers]

Hmmmm.

No.

Even when Cytotoxic is right, he's wrong. There's something just not right about that boy.

[Cytotoxic]

No, I'm just right. It's possible that the intensity of my rightness is causing a kind of 'burn-in' effect that makes me look like I'm wrong, but I'm not.

[Mrs. Lemuel Struthers]

Okay, Sweety. But I think you should do some more research on mental illness and having someone declared a ward of the state - probably specific to Canada. That info may come in handy for you some day soon.

[Cytotoxic]

Why? No one in my family is crazy. Except for that one Aunt. We tolerate her.

[wareagle]

so in Canada, apparently, crazy tolerate you.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

That's what they tell you.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Cyto, curious to hear your opinion on the NDP's position on wearing a niqab at citizenship ceremonies and license bureaus and other places that require a photo.

[Cytotoxic]

I think the citizenship ceremony is a silly bit of state worship that shouldn't happen, but ANY legal oath-taking must involve displaying your full exposed face or no joke western legal systems are under attack. This issue is literally the last thing I give a shit about and it's so painful to watch the opposition parties walk right into the most obvious trap ever. Harper may as well have just said on TV 'I don't care it's just a trap for my dumb opponents' because that's how obvious it is. I expected Jr Pretty Face to fall for it but Mulcair is smarter. Or should be. The real winner is Duceppe. The NDP's numbers are going ugly and fast in Quebec and the Niqab may just save the BQ from extinction. Figures.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Yes. They are sinking in Quebec and nationally as well.

[Cytotoxic]

I figured this would happen. There's no 'Nutley moment'. Mulcair could still be PM. If he's the NDP's Harper, then that would be good for the NDP but devastating to the left.

Of course if the Liberals would just put an adult in charge then this wouldn't matter, assuming that ship is still above the ballast line.

[Riven]

There's a cat fight and it's super fun!

[Notorious UGCC]

OK, the summary of the NCAA story is confusing and incomplete.

"The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling allowing NCAA member schools to pay student athletes up to $5,000 per year."

To make it less confusing, and to include more relevant info, say this:

"The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled partly for, and partly against, the NCAA in a dispute with member colleges which want to pay their student athletes.

"Siding with the NCAA, the Ninth Circuit rejected a plan to pay the student athletes up to $5,000 per year. This ruling overturns a decision of a district court.

"At the same time, the Ninth Circuit allowed the colleges to defy the NCAA and pay student athletes' educational expenses."

There - did I get it right?

[Notorious UGCC]

Add an explanatory paragraph that the NCAA wants to prevent colleges from paying student athletes, in the alleged interest of preserving the amateurism of sports.

[Notorious UGCC]

Oh, of course add that "the dispute arises under the Sherman Antitrust Act, which limits conspiracies in restraint of trade."

[wareagle]

the NCAA is sounding a lot like the IOC used to about amateurism. If colleges are selling jerseys with players' names on them, that's a problem. I have no problem with a modest amount of walking around money. It would likely be less than the envelopes of bills often left shoved under players' doors.

[GILMORE?]

Chicago residents flock to Botanical Garden to witness ugly plant that smells unbelievably awful

"A Dirty Diaper mixed with Roadkill" said one... munching on his "Deep Dish" meal-product

[Pope Jimbo]

I've been traveling to Chicago a lot for work recently and what you describe above actually sounds like one of the more pleasant things a guy could take in while in the Windy City.

[Trials and Trippelations]

Have you tried the pizza?

[Pope Jimbo]

Oh no you don't boss. I'm too sharp to fall for that shit. I ain't answering.

[Cytotoxic]

Question & Comment Time with Cytotoxic: regarding the earlier story about the schizo thief who was allowed to die in prison: obviously this is horrible and not how things should work, but how should things work? What should the prison system do with those who are (or seem to be) mentally ill? How to make sure the fakers don't get out? Who should pay for those expensive meds? Who should run and pay for these facilities for the mentally infirm?

Another question: is this story not a case where involuntary commitment is absolutely necessary? I know a lot of libertarians are against IC but I don't know what else to do with broken units that end up stealing or otherwise in a bad way.

[Crusty Juggler]

Question & Comment Time with Cytotoxic

fascr's mute button does come in handy.

[Cytotoxic]

Mute button? Are you hearing colors?

[Tonio]

That's Agile.

[Pan Zagloba]

Or is it Ta-Nehisi Coates? Man can hear, smell and taste colors - as long as they are black or white.

Basically, Michael Jackson this generation didn't want, but that it deserved.

(I was gonna say "our generation" but then realized that technically MJ Prime should count as "my generation music" and got sad).

[Tonio]

You could make a case for IC as long as it was private. Let the family members take the risk.

[Suthenboy]

The root of the problem with mental illness is that most who suffer from it to the point where they end up in contact with the CJ system is that they are dysfunctional. They have no family contact (families burned out and gave up on them) and they have no money (they can't hold a job). They have no resources so people mostly just don't give a shit.

It is a vexing problem and a truly sad situation. If you have a broken leg or a failing kidney people have sympathy. If you have a broken brain they end up hating you and treating you like a piece of garbage.

It is the only area where I think there should be more public resources devoted. Louisiana had a pretty good mental health system but it has mostly been dismantled now.

[Cytotoxic]

I find it hard to reconcile that with the proper function of government. This may just be a job for charity.

[wareagle]

some things wind up in the public sector because there is no other viable way of doing it. This can be for good or for bad. Schools are not a great example but it was done out of sheer volume. Same with roads, cops, courts, and defense; those things could somehow be privatized but how unwieldy would that be? I have no great issue with mental health being state-run with a big large "however" appended to it given the state's history of less than stellar provision of services.

[Suthenboy]

Thus the vexation.

Our state hospitals did a pretty good job of caring for the mentally ill and regularly rated much better than the private hospitals. It was still, like everything government does, a cluster fuck.

I think the main reason was also government. The private hospitals were funded mostly with federal dollars and owned exclusively by state legislators and their cronies.

Charity would be the only other way to go. As I said before, the patients are indigent so they can't pay for treatment. Such charities would not have crippled children to put on posters so they might have a hard time raising even marginally sufficient funds.

[kinnath]

Things are so much better now that dysfunctional people can't be held in sanitariums against their will.

[lap83]

"Question & Comment Time with Cytotoxic"

Do you ask the questions and we comment on them, without answering them? Or do you ask the questions and make the comments, while answers are optional? Or do we question your comments?

[Cytotoxic]

I broach high-quality discussion with thoughtful questions about over-looked subjects. You respond, and I respond, and then you respond...

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Hmmmm. No.

[Cytotoxic]

Yes. Stop being jealous.

[Florida Man]

Who do you think you are? Derpy? Derpy draws a lot of water in this town. You don't draw shit!

[Cytotoxic]

Who the hell is Derpy?

[Aloysious]

"Just when they think they have the answer, I change the question."
-Roddy Piper

[Jerryskids]

First you gotta recognize that the justice system, if you want to maintain the "better 10 guilty men go free than one innocent man go to prison" ideal, is going to be very expensive. If you want to be fair in that way, I think the public defender office at a minimum needs to be as fully funded as the prosecutor's office. That includes funds for investigators and expert witnesses. Get rid of most of the laws that relate to victimless 'crime' and you can lighten the load a good bit. The policing-for-profit shit needs to go, too. Another load lightener would be rehabilitation for those who really need rehabilitation, ass-beatings for those who just need their ass beat. Bring back the stocks and the pillory and have a short, painful, cheap rehab session for those who just need to learn the price of not keeping your hands to yourself. Maybe dial back the idea of the state having a monopoly on the distribution of justice and allow crime victims some measure of reparations if that works out as well. Is spending 6 months in jail going to teach you not to steal my TV any better than me just whacking you a few times with a baseball bat and taking your wallet?

[Jerryskids]

Then you've got some funds and manpower to address the problem of people who don't know no better - either due to mental or psychological problems or bad childhood role models or whatever - give them some help in getting their shit together and taking care of themselves. Beyond that - keep in mind there's an infinite number of problems in the world and we can't solve them all.

But this particular case only had a systemic angle insofar as why was this guy in jail in the first place, they actually had a system to deal with the crazies that involved putting them in isolation cells and keeping a close eye on them and the people charged with keeping a close eye on the guy didn't do their job. There would be another excellent reason to bring back the stocks and the pillory and the general ass-beatings.

[Crusty Juggler]

The down side: Kanye could win because no one is going to give a shit in four years.

The up side: It will get weird. We could sell off a few states and whatever is left of T-Swizzle in a few years to help pay to properly renovate the White House to suit Kanye's style.

[Certified Public Asshat]

Just when you think this went away...

Jeb Bush on Washington Redskins Team Name: 'I Don't Think It Should Change'

"I don't think it should change it," Bush said on the inaugural episode of "The Arena" radio program, set to debut Friday afternoon on Sirius XM's POTUS Channel 124. "But again, I don't think politicians ought to be having any say about that, to be honest with you. I don't find it offensive. Native American tribes generally don't find it offensive."

Bush cited the NCAA's decision to let Florida State University keep its Seminoles nickname in 2005, while Bush was the governor of Florida, in explaining his thinking on the name for Washington's football franchise.

"We had a similar kind of flap with FSU, if you recall, the Seminoles. And the Seminole tribe itself kind of came to the defense of the university and it subsided," he said. "It's a sport, for crying out loud. It's a football team. Washington has a huge fan base -- I'm missing something here, I guess."

[C. Anacreon]

Next Bush said he thought the New Jersey Jumpin' Jigaboos basketball team name was also OK.

[creech]

Let the free market take care of the appropriateness of a sports team's name.

[Mazakon]

Chris Cuomo's interesting take of law:

my focus is law and fact. your's is faith and morality. the law is the national religion not your faith

[Cytotoxic]

I think he's almost admitting there that progressivism is a religion.

[Just say Nikki]

He's not, and I think it's actually a decent comment. The law is the country's shared morality system. So you are only supposed to want things to be law that (you think) (most/all) people in the country agree with as part of their moral system.

[Cytotoxic]

"The law is the country's shared morality system. "

No it isn't. The state is supposed to be solely about protecting individual rights, and the law is just supposed to be operating system to this end.

[Just say Nikki]

The state is supposed to be solely about protecting individual rights, and the law is just supposed to be operating system to this end.

The guys who designed the US state to be that way?why do you think they did that? Do you think it was because they thought "the state should protect individual rights" was...their shared morality?

[Cytotoxic]

It was based on their morality, but it wasn't their 'shared moral system'.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Why is no one talking about the greengrocer's apostrophe?!?!?!?!

[mad.casual]

No it isn't. The state is supposed to be solely about protecting individual rights, and the law is just supposed to be operating system to this end.

Cytotoxic gets one right!

The 'shared morality' crap makes plenty of room for everyone's shitty pet issue(s) and, in barest of truth the only shared morality is that we don't murder each other... mostly.

It doesn't work for private property, why would it work for morals. Nikki, your mask is slipping.

[wareagle]

So you are only supposed to want things to be law that (you think) (most/all) people in the country agree with as part of their moral system.

and clearly, everyone wants the same things to be legal/illegal.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

So you are only supposed to want things to be law that (you think) (most/all) people in the country agree with as part of their moral system.

I have no problem with that if you define immorality as only those things that infringe on the rights of others.

Laws should be moral and only be written to restrict immoral behavior as defined above.

[Cytotoxic]

"I have no problem with that if you define immorality as only those things that infringe on the rights of others."

Of course that's a silly definition of immorality.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

And, of course, you are a silly little man-child.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

BTW, silly little man-child, what's your definition?

I have a hard time coming up with a definition that doesn't involve someone's rights being violated. It is the natural discriminator.

What's your discriminator? Do you make it up as you go? Or is it in an old book? What mommy said?

Drawing the line of morality in the same place I choose to give the government power to protect rights means laws are based in morality. There need be no difference between the two. A clear delineation between right and wrong equating to lawful and unlawful. Why monkey-fuck with it and blur the lines?

[CatoTheChipper]

The law is most definitely NOT the country's shared morality system. It is merely a system of prohibitions and mandates. A free country will have relatively few of these, which will wide latitude for individual action. That is not to say that all individual action that does not violate a prohibition and that complies with all mandates is moral. Pretty much everybody thinks that the individual actions of an adulterous spouse are immoral; very few are campaigning for a law to prosecute such actions as crimes. Cf: Spooner's Vices Are Not Crimes.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Pretty much everybody thinks that the individual actions of an adulterous spouse are immoral;

The only thing making it immoral is the the breach of contract between the married couple. So rights were violated. Contracted rights.

[Cytotoxic]

If there were no contract it would still be immoral. You don't know what these words mean.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Immoral according to whom? Who gets to make the definition? You? Me? Eddie? John?

If no harm is done another, how can an action be immoral?

[Francisco d'Anconia]

If there were no contract it would still be immoral.

So couples who choose to have an open marriage are immoral?

If so, why?

[Notorious UGCC]

Here's the context.

First they tell us that government and religion should be rigidly separated.

Then they say, oh never mind, the government itself should be the object of our worship.

[This Machine]

Well, not the government only, more like the government in addition to. One ear turned towards God, the other towards the Kremlin. What a trifling concession for the faithful to make.

[Pan Zagloba]

Started rereading Red Storm Rising today on the bus, and noticed Clancy using the word vlasti. English needs to create an equivalent for it, and usual translation of "power" doesn't quite do it, nor does "government" or "authority". Would help him explain what it is that we should worship.

[Cytotoxic]

Question & Comment Time with Cytotoxic DOUBLE FEATURE OH MY GOD THE MADNESS: a popular narrative here is that fracking is basically the reason that oil prices collapsed, but that coincides roughly with the end of QE. Some say that it's all monetary. What say the commentariat?

With oil prices low, oil-producing countries are offering very favorable terms to oil corps, which I would surmise will keep production up and, assuming it's not all monetary, prices low. Will this lead a virtuous cycle that lays low 'renewable' energy and despotic petro-states?

[GILMORE?]

Analysis = Best Part of Iran "Deal" is How It Makes a Successful War with Iran More Likely

"... if the United States upholds the deal, Washington would likely have support from a broad, international coalition of allies for military action ? if Tehran decides to break its end of the bargain. The international community would be more inclined to provide military, financial and moral support for strikes if Washington first gives diplomacy a chance...."

footnote = yes, i find this post-hoc rationalization idiotic.

[Cytotoxic]

Wow. Because that broad international coalition was so worthwhile in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[wareagle]

if Tehran decides to break its end of the bargain.
-----

something about foreseeable consequences being intentional comes to mind.

[GILMORE?]

exactamundo

[Rich]

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini

Thought it was Chelsea Clinton at first. What's Federica's second-in-command called? The European Union Wasted Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy?

[Not an Economist]

Laughing .... so .... hard...can...barely...type...

[Pan Zagloba]

Meep meep! 3D Chess!

Man, I miss crazy Andrew Sullivan at times like this.

[Gray Ghost]

"...if the United States upholds the deal, Washington would likely have support from a broad, international coalition of allies for military action ? if Tehran decides to break its end of the bargain. The international community would be more inclined to provide military, financial and moral support for strikes if Washington first gives diplomacy a chance...."

Holy fuck, that's comedy. The U.S. isn't going to get support from Europe or China for economic sanctions after evidence of Iranian cheating, up to and including a successful nuke test. And they think that they'll support military force?!

Excuse me, bartender? I want some of what the bloggers over there are having.

[GILMORE?]

I'm starting to think we're going to need something more like the Multiple-Death-Penalty ...where you are killed, revived, and killed again.

*Bonus for the mugshot, which is EPIC

[RBS]

The robbery netted them $170

[Pope Jimbo]

The rat who informed on them was at the scene but wasn't charged because he tattled.

Sorry, but I don't see how you walk away from something like that scot free.

[C. Anacreon]

Also a great picture in that link of "Pope Francis" -- he looks more like a woman murderer than I'd thought.

[jesse.in.mb]

Speaking of the death penalty, did you see the Gissendaner case?

Gissendaner died at 12:21 a.m. Wednesday. Her last meal was cheese dip with chips, Texas fajita nachos and a diet frosted lemonade, and she was reportedly singing the song "Amazing Grace" as the lethal injection was administered.

I don't think the diet frosted lemonade is going to make a whit of difference to her figure.

[RBS]

Some people claim to prefer diet. I guess they really dig that chemical flavor.

[Pope Jimbo]

What is truly amazing is that she had a husband and a boyfriend. I'm curious as what she could do that would cause guys - who I'm assuming had functioning eyes - to get so into her.

[jesse.in.mb]

meth is a hell of a drug?

[Florida Man]

Yeah it is!
*high five bro*

[waffles]

Perhaps it's because I'm from the generation that was pumped full of ritalin but I don't "get" meth. I'm willing to bet there are many high functioning amphetamine users out there and the fucked up tweakers are just the people who would be fucked up regardless of the meth in their system.

[jesse.in.mb]

I agree although I think the people who are high functioning amphetamine users aren't usually the same people who use meth. I think they're the people who can get a prescription and know what kind of dose makes them more functional, but doesn't fuck them up.

[Pope Jimbo]

Maybe the guys are meth heads, but wouldn't she have lost all that weight if she was on it?

[jesse.in.mb]

Well this is 18 years after all this happened I think. I just suggested meth because I'm a terrible classist and her last meal was nacho cheese and diet frosted lemonade.

[Gray Ghost]

Lewis was spared the death sentence sought by prosecutors after jurors failed to unanimously agree that he should be executed.

Between this and that travesty of a penalty phase for the Batman shooter's trial, why does CO even bother with having a death penalty anymore?

[GILMORE?]

File Under = War is Over

"U.S. and allied special forces in Afghanistan battled insurgents besieging the airport outside the northern city of Kunduz that was captured by the Taliban this week, a coalition spokesman and Afghan official said on Wednesday.

At least five U.S. air strikes have targeted Taliban positions near the city since the fighting broke out on Monday.

Coalition special forces including U.S. troops, while advising Afghan troops operating in the vicinity of the Kunduz airport, "encountered an insurgent threat" at about 1 am on Wednesday, according to a statement from NATO. "

"They are in a non-combat role. That said, they also maintain the right to defend," Tribus said of the coalition forces.

Remember = this last memorial day was the FIRST where we were not engaged in a 'Ground War' ...

[Cytotoxic]

So glad the US and others put so much money and effort into building that government and its army composed largely of illiterates and child-molesters. You can see the value!

[waffles]

Happy Christmas Yoko!

[bacon-magic]

Ok ok ok(Joe Pesci's Goodfellas character voice)
how 'bout we sling feces at Mars to terraform it?
Why are you laughin' at me? Do you think I'm funny? Do I amuse you? I hope so.

[GILMORE?]

Polygamist Utopia Hit By Flash Floods, Wrath of God, Regulatory State

"After at least 12 women and children were killed by flash floods, two of the fathers of the victims made a rare public plea for Utah to leave them alone, laying bare authorities' delicate dance between investigating abuses and alienating the very people they're trying to help in the isolated communities of Hildale and Colorado City on the Utah-Arizona line.

With cameras rolling, the two grief-stricken fathers read statements that pivoted from the loss of their families to what one called "religious genocide" against people who consider notorious, jailed leader Warren Jeffs a prophet of God. Sheldon Black Jr. and Joseph N. Jessop said their families have been evicted from their homes, leaving them scrambling for a place to live "because they will not forsake their religious beliefs.""

If you have trouble following the plot, don't worry = its not you.

[waffles]

I have never felt like such a foreigner in the United States than the time I spent in southern Utah. It really is a different world. Strolling through the small towns I could feel the villagers watching me puff my joint and denounce me as "wicked". Beautiful scenery though. I'd go back.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Because nothing makes any sense. Gov. Mary Fallin has issued a 37 day (seems random) stay of execution for Richard Glossip due to the DOC being so stupid that they ordered the wrong execution drug (potassium acetate versus potassium chloride).

[Cytotoxic]

I was thinking about the ME. Mali, Yemen, Somalia: all places where western and other governments intervened and helped prevent or dislodge and Islamist takeover. It is possible that ISIS's caliphate map would be less fantastical otherwise. Thank God for these smart interventions.

[GILMORE?]

Oh, NOW you notice

Across the World, "Obama Doctrine" Shows Signs of Failure

I'm not sure i agree with the analysis, which fails to note that the problem isn't "lack of committment", but rather the ease with which Obama's policy is to 'partially commit', or to half-heartedly engage... but never disengage or evaluate the merits of the current approach.

Its "doing something" for the purpose of being seen doing something, not to *achieve* anything.

Some necessarily read this as "its a mistake to ever try and achieve anything". It SHOULD be read as more of a "Shit or get off the pot" critique.

[Cytotoxic]

There is no 'Obama Doctrine', unless you count consulting a Magic 8 Ball as a 'doctrine'. Random Foreign Policy Generator. At least Bush had an ethos.

[GILMORE?]

LOL

UN Suddenly Announces "Airstrikes Could Be Dangerous", And International Law Applies

"The U.N. secretary-general says airstrikes by any country in Syria must strictly observe international humanitarian and human rights law.

The spokesman for Ban Ki-moon told reporters Wednesday that all efforts must be made to spare civilians, and reports of civilian deaths must be swiftly investigated'

Strangely, none of this was a concern when the US, UK, France, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, etc, were bombing the shit out of Syria. Shocker.

[Calidissident]

40% of North Carolina Republicans (and 52% of Trump supporters) think Islam should be illegal in the US (with the same number saying it should be legal and 20% undecided - 31% of Trump supporters say it should be legal)

http://www.publicpolicypolling.....well-.html

[waffles]

Like all Islam? Really!?

I could imagine these numbers for people being against Sharia courts. Though Sharia-based adjudicators should be fine. Oh just North Carolina? Yah, makes sense.

[Suthenboy]

"Sharia-based adjudicators should be fine."

No. We have a court system already. In the places where they have allowed this it did not end well.

[RBS]

Yeah, it seems like the Sharia rules of procedure/evidence might not be quite up to the standards (however flawed) of our legal system.

[waffles]

Are you sure? Jews have a similar adjudication system. Secular folks have Judge Judy. This is for civil matters, not criminal.

[Florida Man]

That's sad if true (I doubt it is true).

[GILMORE?]

"40% of North Carolina Republicans (and 52% of Trump supporters) think Islam should be illegal in the US '

This is fucking retarded.

Not the quote, but the fact you're trying to make it seem like its a "republican" thing.

other polls demonizing GOP attitudes found "Only 47% of GOP voters think a Muslim should be president" ONLY?

You can find a minority of people to agree with almost any fucking poll question. The entire point of the results is not to isolate groups and their answer but rather to COMPARE relative to the overall and to other groups. I sincerely doubt you'd get much variance overall.

Also notable in those polls is that Muslims scored better than Athiests and Socialists with ALL voters.

The media has been on this tear of claiming that the GOP has a 'muslim problem'.

Where are the muslim political candidates again? Who the fuck are these people 'defending'? Its all just a PC rhetorical shell game. Pretend to defend some group that the "others" hate. But I fail to see Democratic candidates campaigning alongside Imams and wearing Hijabs.

[Trials and Trippelations]

I got to wonder if poll respondents felt like they were being trolled and responded in kind.

[Calidissident]

The poll only included Republicans (it asked a lot of other questions related to primaries), hence why it only includes Republicans. If that bothers you I don't care. I posted it because it's kind of terrifying that only 40% of voters of a major party in one state firmly believe it should be legal to be Muslim in this country.

[GILMORE?]

Check the polling on the moon landings, 9/11, and creationism if you're so inclined

[Calidissident]

Oh, I'm aware. There are a lot of people that believe really dumb and/or insane shit.

[Trials and Trippelations]

Oh just North Carolina? Yah, makes sense.

Essentially, PPP is trying to portray NC Republicans as ignorant, intolerant hicks, but that does not match up with the reality of current NC demographics. NC has been electing Republicans to federal office since the 1980s, but the state offices have been staunchly Democratic until the 2000s. The 2000s was pretty much an evenly divided legislature. It is only since the 2010 elections that the legislature and later the governor were firmly Republican.
People in rural NC are still largely registered Democratic even though they've been voting for federal Republicans for a while and some recently for state office holding Republicans.

Since the 1980s and especially the 1990s NC has been getting a lot of NY, MA, and OH transplants that fall across the political spectrum, but mostly a touch more liberal. The growth of Research Triangle Park especially in the 1990s has brought a lot of international immigrants especially Asian, which further altered the political landscape.

I say all that to say that the poll is BS. It's a smear. My guess is that a significant number of the "40%" responded to the trolling in kind.

[Pan Zagloba]

If you go into detailed results, there's awesome stuff.

Rand Paul: 50% islam should be legal, 50% islam should be illegal
Santurom: 90% illegal, 10% not sure
Lindsey Graham: 100% legal (100%! I think that means one guy wanted Graham - he did score 0% as first choice)

20% of people who describe themselves as Very Liberal think Islam should be legal. 22% are Undecided. 58% of people who are Very Liberal want it to be illegal!
Very Conservative is 48% for Illegal.
Women - 44% illegal. Men - 38%.
Also, if I'm reading it right, among Democrat voters, Hilary Clinton loses to everyone.
As for where they found Very Liberal people:

Public Policy Polling surveyed 1,268 voters from September 24th to 27th, including 605
Democratic primary voters and 576 Republican primary voters. The margin of error for the
overall survey is +/-2.8%, for the Democratic pr
imary voters it's +/-4.0%, and for the Republican
primary voters it's +/-4.1%

[Pan Zagloba]

Link to results

The Clinton stuff may be that overall she loses to a Repub.

[Calidissident]

The Democratic voters weren't included in the Islam numbers (they should have asked them that question as well).

I don't imagine too many of the 576 Republicans identified as Very Liberal. A lot of them who did may have been trolls.

I'm not trying to say this one poll is any definitive truth about anyone, but I found it noteworthy, and don't find it too hard to think that the real numbers are at least somewhere in the ball park. Even if it's only half that, that's still pretty scary.

[GILMORE?]

"'Im not trying to say this one poll is any definitive truth about anyone'

Its not even significant of anything... because as noted = it shows nothing unless they can demonstrate how the identified group (NC Gop voters) are different from NC 'general people' or NC Dems, or national opinion polls.

the way the poll is presented is meaningless. Its "polling as marketing"

[Calidissident]

I don't see why it has to be compared to Dems or Independents or anyone else to be significant. Even if those percentages were exactly the same for every group, it'd still be noteworthy.

Since you asked, these are national polls, but here are two that indicate that Republicans are significantly more likely to hold negative views of Islam and Muslims compared to Democrats and the general population.

http://www.pewforum.org/2014/0.....us-groups/
http://www.aaiusa.org/reports/.....slims-2014

[Pan Zagloba]

Yes, they should have asked Democrats. Also, provide breakdown in %ages for each category (Very Liberal, Liberal etc) would help. Mostly help me because for some reason I find looking at data broken by category interesting.

[RBS]

War on Cops

In case you are unfamiliar with the area, the Forest Acres police are more like security guards than an actual police force.

[GILMORE?]

My Kingdom for a .22

Government Relocates Hundreds of Prairie Dogs After Law Downgrades Endangered Status

"...Some days, they catch more than 100. After they're caught, the creatures are weighed, tagged and then loaded into the back of a pickup truck for an hour-long drive over hills covered with sage and yellow grasses.

Their new homes are prepared ahead of time: A system of artificial burrows made from irrigation piping and plastic boxes and buried underground.

They've caught about 2,500 animals so far this summer, turning them loose in a series of similar sites.

Still, he said that trapping an animal and moving it is better than the lethal methods that fed-up locals used to employ off-the-books while federal rules held sway. After a year, just 10 to 15 percent of the creatures typically remain at the relocation sites, said Keith Day, a state wildlife biologist who oversees the prairie dog program. Though some leave, many die.

"People have been taking care of their own problems," Day said. "If we can put a prairie dog out on federal land and get a colony out of it, that's better than letting somebody shoot it."

ORLY?

[Suthenboy]

Prairie dogs are endangered? Since when?

[waffles]

Northern NM was lousy with the buggers. Shooting prairie dogs seems like an awful lot of fun. Though they sure are powerful cute. I'm torn up on this one. Though woodchucks are exterminated with extreme prejudice.

[GILMORE?]

"Im torn up on this one."

The irony which i apparently failed to properly highlight is that... even after the hugely expensive and time-wasting effort the government is making trying to "relocate" the prairie dog population... they're still killing more than half in the process.

"fter a year, just 10 to 15 percent of the creatures typically remain at the relocation sites, said Keith Day, a state wildlife biologist who oversees the prairie dog program. Though some leave, many die.

"When you pick an animal up out of its natural setting and you move it to a new location ... you can expect a fairly high mortality rate," Day said"

EGGS, OMELETTES

The point was, that in a sane world, people who didn't like the critters on their property? Would just @#$(*@ shoot them, or pay to get them removed.

Instead, the government intervenes with "Good Intentions", builds the critters a 'safe-space' on federal land... and kills half (or more) of them anyway

If you're just going to end up murdering the fuckers... at least do it in a *sporting fashion*

[Gray Ghost]

Utah prairie dogs are. Or at least, threatened. Who knew?

I had no idea there were more than 1 species of U.S. Prairie dog (AKA "Nature's reactive target") until I opened the link.

[Suthenboy]

I see that. I was worried. I have nailed a few thousand of the non-endangered ones myself. Yes, they are fun to shoot at, or were when I was young and cold-hearted. I can barely bring myself to kill a mouse these days.

The only thing I remember about prairie dogs is that fleas carrying bubonic plague got into the population a couple of decades ago and a few cases pop up in the US now and then. Everyone I have ever talked to who lived around them hate them.

[Kratos]

I knew that this was going to happen
http://www.mytricks.in/