ISIS Claims to Behead Russian Spy, Republican Memo Imagines How to Win With Trump, First Freddie Gray Trial Starts: P.M. Links

• 

  ISIS

  A new video from ISIS depicts the radical Islamist group and would-be state beheading someone they claim was a spy sewnt by Russia to join their organization. They said Russian air strikes had strengthened their resolve, and warned they would retaliate against the country. Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, says the United Kingdom must bomb ISIS to keep the British safe.

• A private memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Ward Baker proposes how senate candidates could emulate Donald Trump to win their own races should Trump be the Republican nominee.
• A mass shooting occured in San Bernardino today.
• The Senate expects to vote to repeal Obamacare again this week.
• Opening statements in the trial of William Porter, one of six Baltimore cops charged in relation to the death in police custody of Freddie Gray, happened today.
• An activist in Michigan faces five years in prison for handing out jury nullification literature.

New at Reason.com:

How to Help on Housing: Reversing policies that restrict housing is far more effective than grants. By A. Barton Hinkle

The Endangered Species Abct Didn't Save the Alligator, Commerce (and the States) Did: Sometimes you have to hunt species to save them. By Zach Weissmueller

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

An activist in Michigan faces five years in prison for handing out jury nullification literature.

The evidence at that trial will be problematic.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Excellent.

[Crusty Juggler]

Yes.

[Tonio]

Well-done, Fist.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Hello.

[perlchpr]

Hilarious, at least.

See judge with petard, hoist upon, one (1).

[Fist of Etiquette]

They may not have thought this through.

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

I would think juror selection might be problematic as well.

[BearOdinson]

"You are only allowed to judge the facts, not the law. However, since both the facts AND the law are not in the State's favor, in this case you have to find the defendant guilty. BECAUSE I SAID SO."

[Fist of Etiquette]

A mass shooting occured in San Bernardino today.

Crisitunity boners abound.

[Juvenile Bluster]

I have no clue what happened, so I'll assume it was done by my worst enemies to advance the causes I hate most.

[waffles]

Exactly this.

[Hyperion]

Aren't guns illegal in Cali?

[Fist of Etiquette]

I imagine even if not, shooting people is.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The Senate expects to vote to repeal Obamacare again this week.

Repealing things isn't in their nature.

[Hyperion]

They had to do something.

[Drake]

The Import-Export Bank is about to be resurrected.

[DEG]

This Saturday, the 5th of December, there is a New England area meet-up. If you're interested, contact either JD (jdkomododragon AT gmail DOT com) or me (dgroves140 AT gmail DOT com) for details.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Can we FaceTime in from the west coast?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Can we send dick pics from KY?

[DEG]

I think some folks might be there that might appreciate it.

[perlchpr]

Nikki?

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Only the worst dickpics for her.

[(??o?)???]????]

Our Nicole is Not The Worst Nicole. Our Nicole only like dick pics that involve woodchippers. Court her at your own peril, gentlemen.

[DEG]

If there are folks interested, they can out themselves.

[DEG]

FaceTime? That sounds like some sort of new fangled technology.

[BearOdinson]

I don't know what this facetimey thing is. But is there a Western Union near there?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Why do you always do this shit when I'm busy?

[Marshall Gill]

Racism, why else?

[Crusty Juggler]

Antisemitism?

[DEG]

I'm trying and failing to come up with a good, snarky response. I will note that I don't remember seeing you respond to my request for possible times and dates.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You think you can hide the details from me with that cryptic, parenthetical contact information but I almost have it decoded.

[waffles]

So what's your favorite Christmas song?

I think mine is "Father Christmas" by The Kinks.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

RBL Posse.

[AlmightyJB]

What exactly is "Bammer" Weed? I don't speak jive.

[Ted S.]

Marijuana from Alabammer.

[Ted S.]

Or its what you find in this woman's garden.

[AlmightyJB]

I'm kind of partial to the other Father Christmas song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPm6CheT6rs

[Crusty Juggler]

"Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues.

[DEG]

Yes.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Wait, that's a Christmas song? I'll positively faint if there's a Christmas song out there with the word "faggot" in it.

[Crusty Juggler]

Fairytale of New York: the story behind the Pogues' classic Christmas anthem

Break out the fainting couch.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I suppose it's tougher than you think rhyming maggot.

[Tonio]

Thank you for that, CJ.

[AlmightyJB]

Is like one half of his mouth sewed together or something?

[Tonio]

Shane is a hardcore drunk.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

The Bing Crosby/David Bowie mash-up of "Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" always gets to me.

Remember seeing the original broadcast as a kid.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

You too? Man, I love that.

[Rod Flash]

Seriously? All I remember about that one is Bing sitting there looking like "How did this happen? Who is this dipshit? I'm going to fire my agent."

[Heroic Mulatto]

The sound of waitresses softly speaking to each other in Chinese.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Ah, Jewish Christmas. Movies and Chinese food.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Only about .2 percent of people are going to get that joke. My wife being one.

[DEG]

"Fairytale of New York" is my favorite, "Mistress for Christmas" by AC/DC is my second favorite.

[Tonio]

"Fairytale of NY"

[Ted S.]

Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses.

[waffles]

Wow, forgot about this one. It's great.

[gaoxiaen]

Alice Cooper's "Halo of Flies".

[Scarecrow & WoodChipper Repair]

Tom Lehrer

[BearOdinson]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DTwLqR071M

No one has come up with this yet??

[lap83]

"Do they know it's Christmas"

JK, I can't pick just one from the Charlie Brown Christmas album. I've listened to that every year since I was little.

[Unreconstructed (Sans Flag)]

"Merry Christmas from the Family", Robert Earl Keen. More drinking than my family at Christmas, but not more dysfunction!

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

A mass shooting Workplace violence occured in San Bernardino today.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Are you implying that a muslim did it?

[lap83]

I blame the gender pay gap

[CatoTheChipper]

I blame global warming, but most progressives blame Bush.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

KKKlimate change!

[Fist of Etiquette]

...senate candidates could emulate Donald Trump to win their own races should Trump be the Republican nominee.

A senate full of Trump impersonators. Drink that notion in, boys.

[perlchpr]

I just threw up in my mouth a lot.

[Scarecrow & WoodChipper Repair]

Elvis impersonators in the House. We are ready!

[Hyperion]

OT: I've just been informed that they've opened impeachment proceeding against Dilma Rousseff in Brazil. I can't confirm for sure it's true, but my source is good.

The people there are making a joke that while Dilma is away in Paris partying with Obama and Merkel, the world didn't get saved, but at least now they may be able to save Brazil.

I wish we could have a similar homecoming party for Obama.

[Cytotoxic]

Rousseff to Face Impeachment in Brazil Congress, Cunha Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/.....eaker-says

Damn Right & Hell Yeah.

[Hyperion]

Yeah, I see it's breaking now:

Impeachment proceedings confirmed

[Cytotoxic]

A big blow for the rule of law. Between that and the elections in Guatemala and Argentina, and the ones coming in Venezuela, I'd say it's morning in Latin America.

[Hyperion]

I'm not ready to declare 'Latin America Spring', but nothing quite makes one's day like a few commies going down all in a row.

[Hyperion]

I also have it on good word that Cunha may be quite the scoundrel himself. It sounds like he has his own scandal issues and that maybe he's decided to take a fall in order to bring Dilma and some others down with him. There's word that he may have some serious shit on Dilma that's going to be the end for her.

[Cytotoxic]

He might not be taking her with him but rather rolling on her in the hope of getting spared/getting mercy.

[John]

If this attack today turns out to be Islamic terrorism and Obama gives anymore speeches like he did in Paris, that just might happen. I know that sounds crazy but I think it might.

[Juvenile Bluster]

There's more of a chance of you having a change of heart and becoming a Bernie Sanders supporter than of that happening.

[Illocust]

Having a quote trying to tie global warming and terror together is going to be nightmarish if this turns out to be terror. Doesn't matter if it's made before or afterwards. The middle won't take kindly to that kind of bullshit.

[Gojira]

A private memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Ward Baker proposes how senate candidates could emulate Donald Trump to win their own races should Trump be the Republican nominee.

Easy pattern to follow. Stop pretending to be such a fucking pussy about everything, and just say what most people are actually thinking, but afraid to say out loud for fear of the PC Police ruining their lives.

It took a bit before I thought he was actually serious, but I've come around on Trump. Extreme times call for extreme measures. I can't wait to have somebody tell all the LGQT!KDH?DGN crowd to fuck right off the next time they want to protest not every individual having a right to their own private bathroom, and to laugh in their face when they define "safe" as meaning, "will never encounter anything I disagree with". Trump is the only one who can deliver.

[waffles]

Today is a pretty bad day.

[Cytotoxic]

10/10

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

Too bad the shit he is thinking and then spews out is mostly dumb and statist. Even if I appreciate him telling assholes to fuck off.

[Cytotoxic]

Psst. Gojira is performing.

[MetalBard]

He may be performing, but he still has a point. He described a lot of Trump's appeal, and the Republicans could learn a lot from it. Stop cowering when the crazies accuse you of bigotry, and tell them to fuck off.

[Cytotoxic]

But that's not Trump's appeal. He's not just telling people to 'fuck off' he's hypnotizing a large mass of retards and racists with meaningless blather and tuffgai posturing.

[RBS]

meaningless blather and tuffgai posturing.

Why, hello there pot.

[Cytotoxic]

Stop projecting.

[Gojira]

I agree, Smilin' Joe. But unfortunately I've recently come to realize that there is no non-statist option. It simply doesn't exist. The only choice you are afforded in this life is, 1) statism that stomps on your balls, or 2) statism that stomps on the balls of people you don't like.

Given that reality, I choose option 2.

[Jerryskids]

Government is just the things we agree to do together. Well, not really. We can choose to shop at Walmart together or eat at McDonald's together or watch The Walking Dead together but you can't actually choose which laws you'll obey together or which taxes you'll pay together or which programs you'll support together. So maybe it's more correct to say government is the things we'll threaten to shoot you in the goddamn head if you don't agree to do together. Unless there's enough of you, then we'll threaten to shoot you in the goddamn head if you support doing the things we would threaten to shoot you in the goddamn head for opposing if there were fewer of you.

[John]

Here is the thing with Turmp. Even if you don't agree with him, he is proving that it is possible to say shit the media deems unacceptable and get away with it. You just have to have balls. That is an example Libertarians will benefit from in the long term since most of the way the major parties deal with libertarian ideas is just to dismiss them as "you can't be serious".

[Cytotoxic]

You only get away with it if you can persuade a giant mass of retards to support you, like Trump or Chavez. Libertarianism appeals to the intelligent people not Trump supporters.

[John]

You kill me sometimes. You really fucking do.

[MetalBard]

He has almost become a parody of himself.

[Cytotoxic]

Funny cuz it's true I guess.

[wareagle]

dismissing people you don't agree with as retards and/or racists. Why it's like stumbling into Salon.

Liberals like to believe they're the grown-ups in the room, too; just ask them and they'll refer to others with same words you're spewing.

[Juice]

So when you hear Trump speak, you don't think, "Hmm, that sounded retarded and kinda racist"? You just think, "I disagree". Or maybe you agree with him, I don't know.

[Cytotoxic]

It's the truth whether you like it or not.

[Smilin' Joe Fission]

I would love for Rand to act more like Trump in this regard. But, he has pussied out so many times lately that I have no faith.

[MetalBard]

Exactly, voters are tired of Republicans that piss themselves every time some lunatic accuses of them of racism or supporting a "war on women"

[perlchpr]

I like the fact that when misspelled like this, it looks a lot like "Turnip".

[Scarecrow & WoodChipper Repair]

You know who else was the only one who could deliver?

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Domino's?

[Crusty Juggler]

A mass shooting occured in San Bernardino today.

Allow me to dust off the old "jump to conclusions" mat: the mass shooting was caused by too much freedom. Freedom is to blame.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Coincidentally, that's why they hate us.

[Cytotoxic]

It is, but it just makes the choice to traget San Bernadino, CA strange.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

"traget"

Is that like a Kanukistani trebuchet?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

A French judge, Marc Trevidic, in charge of all the major Islamic terrorism cases over the last ten years, said a few days before the November attacks in Paris that the situation was "getting worse" and that "radicalized groups" could "carry out attacks resulting in hundreds of deaths." He was quickly transferred to a court in northern France, where he has been assigned to petty crimes and divorce cases.

All the French political leaders know that the situation is out of control, but not one will say so publicly. Not one has asked the government why it took almost three hours for the police to intervene during the attack at the Bataclan Theater, where 89 people were murdered and over 200 wounded.

'New normal' or war...by other means?

http://www.gatestoneinstitute......resistance

[Cytotoxic]

Any credible sources for that?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

The article goes on to describe a different type of 'resistance' taking root in France.

[Tonio]

Shit...

[Bwana]

Hello,

He was transferred because it's not possible to be a judge in charge of antiterrorism more than 10 years under French law. He has to wait 2 years before he can go back to his former job.
Considering the article, there are too many things that aren't just true. (But there are also a lot being true).

[Krombopulos Carl]

Carl's 18 Day's of Star Wars: The Woodchipper Awakens

Day 2: Spanish TV reporter confuses 'Star Wars' symbol for al-Qaida logo

A Spanish TV reporter apologized on Twitter after confusing the Rebel Alliance symbol from Star Wars for an al-Qaida logo.

Jota Abril, a reporter for TVE's morning news program La Manana, was on the show Monday discussing the history of Raqqa, Syria, an Islamic State stronghold targeted by French strikes in the wake of Friday's attacks in Paris.

Abril said Raqqa "was one of the first cities taken in 2013 by terrorist groups, but terrorist groups from al-Qaida," while gesturing to a black symbol above some apparent Arabic writing.

Twitter users were quick to point out that the symbol cited by Abril is the symbol of the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars.

The Local revealed the confusion seems to have stemmed from the logo of a record label. The Rebel Alliance symbol, along with the fake Arabic writing under it, is actually the logo of reggaeton record label Alqaeda Inc.

[Tonio]

OK, revisiting the Clock Boy thing. Turns out Radio Shack has a battery operated clock kit for $14.99. This would have been far more impressive than deconstructing a COTS alarm clock.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

WTF is Radio Shack? Don't they just sell phones?

[Tonio]

Once upon a time they were DIY heaven and the staff were all hardcore electronics geeks. Unfortunately, there's not much profit in selling random LEDs, capacitors, etc.

[BearOdinson]

"Why does Radio Shack ask for your phone number everytime you go there to buy batteries?"

[Tonio]

That was another thing that killed them. Electronics hobbyists tend to be very...private.

[Juice]

You didn't have to give it to them. I always told them no.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You can't blame the kid for thinking there's no way Radio Shack is even still around.

[Tonio]

He could have googled "clock kit."

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Or "fake bomb kit".

Although, that does garner more NSA assistance.

It would also probably get you an undercover FBI agent looking to sell you a real bomb that actually doesn't work.

[The Late P Brooks]

I turned on NBC a couple of minutes ago. Aerial shot of lots of plodders plodding around aimlessly.

The President wants us all to just get along.

[Rich]

lots of plodders plodding around aimlessly.

I have never understood getting *every* fucking "first responder" in the region to go to the scene.

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

Technically they're "second responders".

[Fist of Etiquette]

Apparently you never saw Die Hard with a Vengeance. Or they didn't.

[Tonio]

Well, you never know how many casualties there will be or if a fire will start so it's good to have lots of Fire and EMS on scene.

[Illocust]

Looks like they are doing something, and you couldn't keep them away if you tried. Life as a cop/fire fighter/paramedic is mostly boring sitting around doing nothing. Something big goes down on the radio and everyone shows up for the party.

It's also really dumb from a tactic perspective because this is what allows the second bomb to kill so many people.

[Tonio]

A fact of which Eric Rudolf was well aware.

[Krombopulos Carl]

Especially when the terrorists are going to launch a secondary attack on the first responders. Haven't they learned anything from that one episode of Criminal Minds from like, 20 seasons ago?

[Juvenile Bluster]

You did this, didn't you. With the gun Rick gave you. ALL SO HE COULD PLAY GAMES!

[Krombopulos Carl]

I just love killing!

[Drake]

Lots of fat female cops talking on cell phones. Lots of SWAT guy adjusting slings - as if the shooters are going to return to the scene 3 hours later.

[Marshall Gill]

I have never understood getting *every* fucking "first responder" in the region to go to the scene.

Overtime for unionized pubic employees doesn't create itself.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Rahm's Rule of Every Crisis.

[BearOdinson]

http://www.foxnews.com/science.....cmp=hplnws

Way to go out on a limb.

[BearOdinson]

http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....cmp=hplnws

Superspy and National Security Expert Sandy "Burglar" dead. The National Archives are just a little more secure today.

[Crusty Juggler]

He would shove anything down his pants for the Clintons.

[Tonio]

Eeeeewww!

[Drake]

Damn - I assumed he would be Hillary's SecDef.

[paranoid android]

Well, fellow H-ampersand-R denizens, I'm half an hour away from boarding a flight for a much anticipated vacation in Spain. Anyone been? Suggestions on cool stuff in the Madrid area? This is actually my first time traveling outside the US so I guess I'm a bit nervous, though the gin and tonics I'm downing at the airport bar should help with that.

Wish me luck!

[Tonio]

Well, I've never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it

[gaoxiaen]

It's like Mexico, but without all the Mexican stuff.

[kinnath]

They don't abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can't refuse it

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

"I can't refuse it"

Just like Airport G&T's

[Fist of Etiquette]

You should be nervous. I'm not sure they even speak American there. It's like a whole other country.

[Jerry on the rocks]

El Prado.

[paranoid android]

I probably shouldn't have watched those episodes of Man in the High Castle before getting on a Lufthansa flight. *eyes Krauts suspiciously*

[Ice Nine]

Wish you luck? Nervous? Just go there and have a good time. Talk to people. Ask for help/directions when you need it. Learn to say hello, please, thank you, where is, in Spanish. Use them - or just read your question from your phrasebook. They'll be flattered and will fall all over you and will probably complete the conversation in English.

Do the hop on-hop off bus thing your first day to get oriented then go back to the places you like. I love art museums but don't generally recommend them to others. But The Prado is one of the very best in Europe, so I leave it to you. A day trip down to Toledo is nice. Take warm clothes - Madrid can be cold as hell in December.

[GILMORE?]

I know nothing except that - according to my brother, who lived in Bclna for 2 years - "nightlife" doesn't begin until after midnight. The Spanish party until the sun comes up.

[Certified Public Asshat]

Hamilton Nolan/Gawker writes something not completely terrible:

The Company That's a Bigger Threat to Wall Street Than Occupy

Today, Vanguard has grown so huge that with every passing year it sucks more and more away from higher-priced traditional Wall Street funds, as more and more people sit down and do the math on how much they are paying for a service that amounts to nothing.

Nice, he spends some time praising Vanguard for their excellent low cost funds.

Vanguard, simply by offering less greedy prices for its services, is in effect accomplishing the same thing that a tax on Wall Street that was then refunded to investors as a tax credit would accomplish.

Nevermind, he's still fucking dumb.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

What in the f

Oh, Gawker.

If you dislike Vanguard, you're evil.

[Crusty Juggler]

Has Occupy ever been a threat to Wall Street? I am pretty sure Wall Street managed to ride out that hippie storm.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

They did briefly make it difficult for traders to get their lamb over rice plates at lunch time.

[Krabappel]

I need a trigger warning before I see that insufferable prick's name.

[lafe.long]

New York Democrat Sheldon Silver Found Guilty on Federal Charges of Fraud, Extortion

Hillary Clinton praised Silver as 'stalwart voice on the needs for New Yorkers'

The arrest stemmed from an investigation carried out by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who said that the Silver was proof that the "show-me-the-money culture of Albany has been perpetuated and promoted at the very top of the political food chain."

[Crusty Juggler]

PREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!

When Cuomo unilaterally shut down his own investigation into state corruption, PREETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!! got pissed.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

has been perpetuated and promoted at the very top of the political food chain.

The very top? Like the tippy, tippy, top? Does he mean the presi...

/the remainder of this post is redacted

[Unreconstructed (Sans Flag)]

"Is he talking about me?"
"I think he's talking about me!"

[Cytotoxic]

Cameroon Army kills 100 from Boko Haram, frees 900 hostages

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2.....-hostages/

[perlchpr]

Yay!

[lap83]

Thanks for posting that. It's nice to see some good news.

[lafe.long]

Adult Swim: Network Announces Plan to Launch New Season of 'Samurai Jack' in 2016

Series creator and executive producer Genndy Tartakovsky is back to helm the project, which will premiere on Toonami, Adult Swim's late night programming block.

[Cytotoxic]

PLEASE DON'T SUCK

[Free Market Socialist $park?]

To Heroic Mulatto:

Thanks again for that info you put up last night. I did some poking around at one of my go-to sites today to dig up some more info on qualia.

For reference to anyone who is interested, here's where I generally go as my first stop:

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

The content is well written and very well sourced.

[In League with the Dark Ones]

This came across my FB today but I didn't coverage of it in Reason's archives.

"Yes, the CIA Director Was Part of the JFK Assassination Cover-Up"

The CIA admits to hiding information from the Warren Commission, like that it was reading Oswald's mail, knew that he met with Cuban and Soviet agents in Mexico City before the assassination, CIA Director John McCone knew about the attempts to kill Castro before the hearings and perjured himself when questioned about them by Congress in 1978, that the CIA's withholding of information may have been done at the request of Johnson, and Robert Kennedy, who JFK directed to take charge of anti-Castro plots, felt personally responsible for his brother's death.