Trump Says Clinton 'Lies Like Crazy,' Schools in NH Town Closed After Email Threat, Steve Harvey Crowns Wrong Miss Universe: A.M. Links

• 

  MissUniverse.com

  Donald Trump dismissed Hillary Clinton's claim his comments about Muslims were a recruiting tool for ISIS, saying the former secretary of state "lies like crazy."

• Schools in Nashua, New Hampshire, are closed today after a threat of violence was emailed to a principal.
• One person was killed after a driver in Las Vegas ran over more than thirty pedestrians on the strip.
• More than 90 people are missing after a massive landslide in Shenzhen, China buried dozens of buildings.
• Dozens of people remain missing after a ferry capsized in Indonesia; three people were found dead and 39 of 118 passengers have been rescued.
• An Air France flight from Mauritius to Paris made an emergency landing after a suspicious device was found. The CEO says it was a false alarm.
• Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as the winner of the Miss Univers pageant, not Miss Philippines.
• Sepp Blatter blames the United States for his eight-year ban from FIFA.

New at Reason.com:

• Brickbat: Judgement Call By Charles Oliver
• Want My Blood? Get a Warrant. Drivers should not be punished for balking at warrantless alcohol testing. By Jacob Sullum
• Closing Schools Over Terrorist Threats Creates New Problems Stop the fear: Children are more likely to die in a car crash. By Steve Chapman
• America's Asymmetrical War on Terror The U.S. government and its accomplices are waging actual war. In contrast, terrorists commit crimes. By Sheldon Richman
• Is America's Military Interventionism an Extension of Its Gun Culture? Tyler Cowen makes a fascinating but wanting argument. By Shikha Dalmia
• California Has Plenty of Water—And Too Much Politics California's politicians and regulators are making the drought worse. By Steven Greenhut
• Making the Case for Food Freedom and Free Speech A series of important food lawsuits are fighting unconstitutional restrictions on free speech. By Baylen Linnekin
• The Best and Worst Cities for School Choice What's the best city in America for school choice? By Amelia Hamilton
• Good Stuff Comes from the Bottom Up How culture, economies, technology, and government evolve. By Ronald Bailey
• Harlem's Drug Warriors Was the drug war imposed on black America, or did black America demand it? By Sara Mayeux

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

I say they have another webathon so they can fix commenting. WHO'S WITH ME?

[greasonable]

I updated greasonable..

A couple bug fixes, plus inline vimeo and the ability to read Reason unthreaded.

For unthreaded comments, you do need to refresh the page entirely to switch back and forth. I have a feeling, though, that those who want that won't be switching back and forth. You otherwise get most of the benefits of threading. The parent link will still point to the right comment. It will highlight replies to your comments*.
To enable, in the filters/misc tab, click the "Do Not Thread" checkbox.

Let me know of any issues..

* this is dependent on your current user matching the user of the comment

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Hello.

"One person was killed after a driver in Las Vegas ran over more than thirty pedestrians on the strip."

They never die in the movies.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

They also outrun explosions in movies.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

...while screaming "Noooo!" while kneeling as the camera pans upwards.

[gaijin]

Caitlyn Jenner was in vegas?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Buckle up, buckarooooossss!

[Crusty Juggler]

I had the same thought.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Sepp Blatter blames the United States for his eight-year ban from FIFA.

Because America cares so much about soccer.

[waffles]

I didn't care until I realized we could ruin FIFA for everyone else. USA #1!

[WTF]

America, fuck yeah!

[Brett L]

Once again, a force for good in the world. This may be the best thing the FBI has done since their quasi-legal "kill rather than capture" war on for-profit kidnappers.

[Mickey Rat]

We were supposed to ignore FIFA's rampant corruption.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ignore soccer altogether, I say.

[Timon 19]

You seem unable to.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Do as I say not as I do.

[SIV]

I do think that there have been times on college campuses where I get concerned that the unwillingness to hear other points of view can be as unhealthy on the left as on the right.

Obama steals a page from the Reason style book.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Ivy League Idiots.

SJW Cafeteria Holiday Placemat

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

They're soooo full of shit. The part about Islamophobia/Refugees is absurd. They use Central America as an example but there is a difference between taking in mostly Catholic refugees from the Americas with Muslims from the Middle-East who may or may not be Syrian or refugees because no one seems to fucken know. I do feel there's a tad difference. We see it playing out in Europe.

I just learned that the largest group of the 'refugees' Canada let in are? Armenians. Armenians are (mostly) Christians and basically a merchant people. Oh, soooo compassionate Canada.

[Pat (PM)]

Medical record shows Hitler only had one testicle: media

A medical document shows that Adolf Hitler only had one testicle, German media said on Saturday, suggesting there is some truth after all to a popular British song that says the dictator had "only got one ball".

There has long been speculation that Hitler was missing one testicle, with rumors circulating that he lost the other one during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.

But a medical record from the time when Hitler was put in prison after the failed Munich beer hall putsch in 1923 shows he suffered from "right-side cryptorchidism" - a condition where a testicle fails to descend into the scrotum - media reports said.

You know who else...

[SIV]

Goebbels had no balls at all!

[Bill Dalasio]

Beat me to it.

Did the records show that Goering's were rather awfully small or that Himler was somewhat similar?

[waffles]

Lance Armstrong is a hero! You monster!

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Caitlyn Jenner?

[Swiss Servator]

John Kruk?

[Crusty Juggler]

Canadian superhero Tom Green?

[Just a thought not a sermon]

127) Is global warming a manifestation of puritanism? An inability to live life normally without seeing corruption every way?

The Washington Post this weekend ran an article in the lifestyle section on a new Rockettes holiday show. This is how it started off: "So much feels out of synch with the season. That mid-December weather that was more like spring seemed like yet another ill omen for a stumbling human race."

Note that A) this beginning has nothing to do with the rest of the article; B) it's another little bit of propaganda for global warming; and C) it is literally impossible for a liberal newspaper journalist to enjoy a nice day.

[Tonio]

I don't think the weather/climate responds to either puritanism or mahayana buddhism. Now, whether the hysteria about climate catastrophe is a manifestation of a puritanical mindset...

[Monty Crisco]

"it is literally impossible for a liberal newspaper journalist to enjoy a nice day."

LMFAO...

[Rhywun]

this beginning has nothing to do with the rest of the article

The NY Post headlined their article about the spoiled brats at Oberlin with a reference to Lena Dunham. Something like "You Won't Believe What's Going on at LENA DUNHAM'S Alma Mater!"

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

I think you're on to something. Global Warming is rather eschatological as well as having a focus on original sin. These are not merely themes of Christianity but are archetypal religious memes. They come from our sense of sinfulness and our fear that we will be punished for that sin in a big way.

Further more, the puritanical Northeast still has tougher Sunday laws than the conservative South. There it's no doubt I. my mind that Global Warming is an eschatological religion about the eventual punishment of humankind for its sin against mother Earth. Climate Change devotees are very much like creationists in that the myth, or story system, is most important while the facts serve only to support the myth. Belief comes first. Facts are incidental.

[Mazakon]

One person was killed after a driver in Las Vegas ran over more than thirty pedestrians on the strip.

"If it saves one life."

[waffles]

A woman driving a 1996 Oldsmobile. I wonder what kind of attention this will get since it's not related to Muslims or conservative white males using guns.

[DEG]

Since reason mentioned it, not zero. So, therefore, however close you can get to zero without actually getting to zero.

[Mr Lizard]

I did not realize indirect derp was a limit function...

[DEG]

Derp is unlimited, but attention has a limit of zero.

[DEG]

Shit, I'm wrong. It's getting more attention. It's front and center on CNN.com's page.

[waffles]

She did it with her toddler in the backseat, holy crap. This psychotic episode reminds me of the woman who rammed the gates at the White House.

[DEG]

I predict post-partum depression.

[waffles]

Which is an insane bullshit excuse that excuses women of horrific crimes. As a feminist I think we should give full blame to the perpetrator of the crime regardless of their gender.

[DEG]

"Full blame to the perpetrator of the crime regardless of their gender"? That's crazy talk.

[Number 2]

When will we finally have the political courage to stand up to the female lobby and start a National Dialogue on common-sense woman control? At minimum we should start with mandatory background checks for females and a nationwide ban on assault women.

/sarc

[Lord Rollingpin]

Do you have a newsletter I could subscribe to?

[waffles]

#YESALLWOMEN

That's the hashtag, right?

[Pat (PM)]

Man Steals Butt Plug Because He's 'Embarrassed' To Buy It: Police

Christopher Masters, 33, was arrested Dec. 10 after a manager at a Spencer's Gifts store in Vero Beach, Florida, reported seeing him stick two sex toys down his khaki shorts, according to The Smoking Gun.

The sex toys were described as an "Arouz'd screw butt plug," and an "Arouz'd stroker can," both typically used for masturbation.

The cost of both products: $29.98.

When Masters left the store with his shorts allegedly loaded with toys, store security detained him.

The security staff told police that Masters supposedly admitted that he had enough money to pay for them, but was "too embarrassed to pay for them because they were sex toys," according to the Palm Beach Post.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Reminds me of the scene in Kentucky Fried Movie where the teenager is trying to buy a package of condoms as discretely as possible, only to buy the company's millionth condom and find himself the recipient of a huge party with television cameras putting him on live TV.

[straffinrun]

You will cream in your jeans when you see.....

[MetalBard]

I never understood why buying condoms is considered embarrassing. Seems like it would be far more embarrassing going out at night and buying a pint of ice cream because you live alone with 4 cats, then it would to be buying condoms.

[Pope Jimbo]

Try growing up in a small town where everyone working at the drug store knows your parents, who you are dating and her parents.

[Careless]

You're dating your parents?

[Princess Trigger]

It's a small town.

[Lord Rollingpin]

Comma's, how they work and when to use them.

[Copernicus would chip]

A comma's what?

[Pope Jimbo]

I wish! They were way out of my league and wouldn't give me the time of day. I was such a nerd that they wouldn't even let me sit at their "cool" table for dinner.

[OneOut]

I had a small town buddy who used to always buy a couple of boxes of large size condoms whenever he got is viagra filled.

He was kinda flamboyant about it and made sure a couple of the church ladies in the pharmacy saw his purchases..

[Rhywun]

Seems like it would be far more embarrassing going out at night and buying a pint of ice cream because you live alone with 4 cats

Hey, stop spying on me.

[Lord at War]

That damn NYC lifestyle... lol

[Brett L]

That's Amazon Women in the Moon.

[Suell]

Catholic High School Girls in Trouble

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

When Masters left the store with his shorts allegedly loaded with toys, store security detained him.

Where was Johnson?

[Swiss Servator]

I dunno, but here is my *narrowed gaze*

[Tonio]

[golf clap]

[Lord Rollingpin]

Nicely done sir!

[Restoras]

Well I guess there is one person that hasn't heard of the Internet

[Pat (PM)]

Tennessee animal control lures loose pig using donuts

Tennessee animal control found a creative way to capture an escaped pig: by luring the animal with donuts.

The loose pig made its way to North Germantown Parkway and Cedars Road as local police used donuts to lure the pig to safety.

A photo posted to the Bartlett Police Department's Facebook page shows an animal control officer luring the pig using the sweet doughy treat.

Pigs... donuts. You get it.

[Tonio]

Hitler?

[Free Society]

To catch a pig, we need someone who can think like a pig. If only there were some sort of government agency whose personnel had a reputation for acting like moral or literal pigs.

[BigT]

The hard part was getting the donuts away from the pigs in blue.

[Lord at War]

Lena Dunham not available for comment

[EMD]

You can go crabbing in Maryland with Twizzlers.

[Fist of Etiquette]

One person was killed after a driver in Las Vegas ran over more than thirty pedestrians on the strip.

What stays in drive in Las Vegas...

[Swiss Servator]

*slow clap*

[Bee Tagger]

Sepp Blatter blames the United States for his eight-year ban from FIFA.

A little help getting to a world cup final here and there might smooth things for you, sepp.

[Pat (PM)]

Australia's Tasmania may raise smoking age to 25

The Australian state of Tasmania is considering raising the legal age for buying cigarettes to at least 21 and potentially as high as 25.

If the plan goes ahead it will give Tasmania some of the toughest tobacco laws in the world.

The current legal age to purchase, possess or smoke cigarettes in all Australian states is 18.

Critics have complained the proposed restrictions would be a violation of civil liberties.

[gaijin]

Those devils!

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

What you did there.

I sawr it, Mate.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Why does Tasmania not care about the health of 26-year olds? Maybe they should set the age to buy cigarettes at the point where a person has passed his life expectancy at birth.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

"Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as the winner of the Miss Univers pageant, not Miss Philippines."

The only fair solution is a three-way.

[straffinrun]

Make it Paul Harvey and you got a PPV.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

And now, the rest of the story!

[Pope Jimbo]

I'm having a sad because in our current hyper-offended society, I'm guessing that there won't be as many LBFM jokes as there should be about Miss Philippines.

[Copernicus would chip]

I'll start.
What's 'Little'....

[Heroic Mulatto]

LBFM jokes as there should be about Miss Philippines.

Dat face though. They got this one wrong.

[Rhywun]

"Survey says..."

[Galactic Chipper Cdr Lytton]

Miss Philippines for the steal!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Schools in Nashua, New Hampshire, are closed today after a threat of violence was emailed to a principal.

Turns out it was just a jizz volumizer spam message.

[Careless]

Also, they're on Christmas break...

[greasonable]

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Just what I was thinking.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

"Sepp Blatter blames the United States for his eight-year ban from FIFA."

...And Bush...and the Jews.

[Swiss Servator]

Shriek is Sepp Blatter?!

[Bee Tagger]

threat of violence was emailed to a principal.
ran over more than thirty pedestrians on the strip.
More than 90 people are missing after a massive landslide
Dozens of people remain missing after a ferry capsized

For crying out loud, Ed.

[Pat (PM)]

Court Rules Christian School Has to Hire Married Gay Man

A state court in Massachusetts has ruled that a Catholic preparatory school violated the state's antidiscrimination law when it rescinded a job offer to a man because he was married to another man.

The Court's reasoning was absurd, rejecting the schools' expressive association argument in part because the school was "free" (for now, anyway) to explain that hiring Barrett was merely "involuntary compliance with civil law." [...]

Religiously-affiliated organizations have always sought to hire individuals who either share a commitment to the organization's mission ? or at least don't directly flout the organization's values. What's "expanding" is the LGBT lobby's ambition to use the power of the state to crush dissent. Or, as Reason's Scott Shackleford put it, "Now that government discrimination is largely tamed, gay activists are going after private behavior, using the government as a bludgeon."

So, having been hat tipped in NR, is Scott now obligated to commit seppuku, or does he get off on the technicality that they misspelled his name?

[Tonio]

He was quoted for something he wrote. Hat tips are generally for sending in a link to someone else's work. Sorry they misspelled his name, that's embarrassing (for them).

[Crusty Juggler]

Hey, Shackleton should just be flattered David French knows who he is.

[Careless]

Kind of knows who he is

[Pat (PM)]

I killed the formatting in the original, but they did link back to Reason, and it seemed like a general acknowledgment that he'd brought attention to the issue, but I guess depending on how strictly you use the term it wasn't technically a hat tip. Of course, pointing that out requires a fedora tip 😉

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Just the tip.

[Free Society]

Court Rules Islamic Madrasa Has to Hire Pamela Geller

[Tonio]

Ha. Nice.

[lap83]

Maybe now they'll learn to be like every other employer and hide the fact that they're discriminating.

My favorite thing about the outrage over employment discrimination is the assumption that in every other respect hiring is an objective rational choice. Never mind the fact that you are less likely to be hired if...you're fat, ugly, interviewing on a Monday, don't answer the "what superhero would you be?" question correctly, not the interviewers nephew, etc. Nope. Discrimination against gay people is the one thing keeping the employment world from pure objectivity.

[Akira]

My biggest beef with anti-discrimination laws are that they're completely useless until someone invents a mind-reading device. How can you possibly prove or disprove in court the fact that someone was not hired because of some protected status? As you pointed out, people generally just hire whoever they feel like anyway. In fact, it probably makes a business LESS likely to even grant an interview to minorities since if they don't hire them, they may find themselves the target of a discrimination lawsuit. If you want businesses to hire more of a certain demographic, the thing you definitely don't want to do is bundle it with a bunch of risk.

Unfortunately, I think the proggie solution to this would not be abandon anti-discrimination laws, but rather to put the government in charge of the entire hiring process. They will argue that only the government can be trusted to weigh the credentials and experience without regard to protected status. They'd probably want some giant federal temp service through which everyone must do their hiring - employers would submit requests for workers with certain credentials, and the bureau would send them a worker that ensures the appropriate mixture of race, religion, sexuality, etc. It sounds ridiculous, but if you think like a prog, it's the rational conclusion. Equality of outcome must be enforced at the expense of everything else.

[gaijin]

Hillary was right! Donald Trump is being used by ISIS in recruiting videos!

ISIS Recruiting Video Featuring noted US Personalities

NOTE: By Donald Trump, she actually meant Bill Clinton and Barack Obama among others.

[Illocust]

That's part of what makes the accusation so dumb. It doesn't matter how much you appease, ISIS will frankenedit to get what they need if they have to. Odds are though they can find plenty that their people find abhorrent that you consider moral.

[gaijin]

exactly...part of what 'their people' may find abhorrent starts with the idea that laws are of men. It makes me wonder if there isn't a reasonable discussion to be had around the 'natural law' foundations of much of the west?

[Tonio]

There is, but we really don't want to go there. I know libertarians are all about first principles and moral purity, but I'd rather save that type of discussion until after we get a handle on out-of-control government.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Anybody else notice that our former SoS used "ISIS" and not the Administration only "ISIL"?

Courting that Hasidic vote perhaps?

[MetalBard]

Seems like ISIS hating you would be a good selling point. Who would vote for someone who gets a thumbs up from ISIS?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Hitler?

[Pat (PM)]

This Day in History

1620 - The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

1891 - The first basketball game, invented at Springfield College in Massachusetts by James E. Naismith, was played.

1898 - Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium.

1913 - The first crossword puzzle was printed in the New York World.

1937 - Disney's Snow White, the first feature length color and sound cartoon, premiered.

1970 - Elvis Presley met with president Richard Nixon in the White House.

1988 - A terrorist bomb exploded aboard a Pan Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.

1991 - Eleven of the former Soviet republics form the Commonwealth of Independent States.

1995 - Palestinians took over the control of the city of Bethlehem.

[waffles]

No!!! Not Bethlehem!

I have to go there for Christmas!

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Next target: Scranton?

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

It all started with that Ground Zero Mosque ...

[DEG]

They can have Scranton.

[EMD]

It's Wilkes Barre I can't live without.

[DEG]

1620 - The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

And it was all downhill from there for Massachusetts.

[MetalBard]

"1898 - Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium."

Thank you for mentioning Pierre, seems like so many history books want to make it look like Marie Curie discovered it on her own. Part of the left's attempt to rewrite history to show more independent women.

[Free Society]

She don't need no man!

[robc]

She did out nobel him 2 to 1.

[Pope Jimbo]

How did the King get that belt buckle through security.

[Fist of Etiquette]

...saying the former secretary of state "lies like crazy."

Othering women and mentals.

[gaijin]

"lies like crazy."

Which is why Bill won't stick it there (any more)

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

You say that like it's a new development.

[Monty Crisco]

Holy shit, Steve Harvey is kind of a doofus....

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Holy shit, Steve Harvey is kind of a doofus....

The epitome kind.

[gaijin]

I watched a clip of that. He was very humble and genuinely tried to apologize in a way that did not detract from the event's meaning for the winner and runnerup. Still, he had one job....read a card.

[creech]

The Today show guys were just prattling on about what a good guy Steve is and how he can come back from this error, etc. I bet they showed the same good will to V.P. Dan Quayle who read a cue card correctly when the "tomato-gate uproar" occurred?

[Copernicus would chip]

You say tomato, I say potato.

[lafe.long]

You say tomato tomatoe, I say potato potatoe.

[jjjjj]

In his defense, the card was about as clear as a Florida presidential ballot. Actually, less clear.

[EMD]

But people are talking about Miss Universe for the first time since 1966.

[Bee Tagger]

Donald Trump dismissed Hillary Clinton's claim his comments about Muslims were a recruiting tool for ISIS, saying the former secretary of state "lies like crazy."

My one wish: we can have a presidential debate between Trump and Hillary with neither of them being actual presidential candidates.

[Pat (PM)]

Speaking as someone who has done a fair amount of driving on the strip, I'm absolutely shocked that incidents like this aren't a weekly occurrence.

[Mazakon]

Popehat: Challenged about 1st Amendment, Eric Posner Lies About It

In a more recent post addressing (sort of) his critics, Posner offers this rebuttal:

"The third generic argument is that once one makes an exception to broad protections for freedom of speech, the camel's nose is under the tent, we have stepped onto a slippery slope, etc. These clich?s are as dry as dust and not even true. Courts have constructed countless exceptions to the First Amendment's apparent unconditional protection for speech, including exceptions for defamation, child pornography, copying, fraud, and more?and yet none of these exceptions have expanded to swallow up the rule."

I recognize that "countless" is a figure of speech, and difficult to prove or disprove. But offered to the end of censorship by a law professor, I am comfortable calling it a lie. At a minimum it is dishonest and misleading, part of pro-censorship movement's attempt to make Americans more ignorant about their civil rights.

[Pat (PM)]

Courts have constructed countless exceptions to the First Amendment's apparent unconditional protection for speech, including exceptions for defamation, child pornography, copying, fraud, and more?and yet none of these exceptions have expanded to swallow up the rule."

Certainly not...

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

"There are foes of the First Amendment. And they lie. Watch them. Call them out. Fight them."

I hope Americans do.

There's a disturbing trend of nouveau-socialism going around.

I was talking to someone yesterday who lived in Costa Rica for 10 years for business. He was talking about how socialists in Venezuela operate (having business interests there). The conversation briefly turned to a 'Sanders is far more dangerous than Trump' angle to which someone said 'Sanders wouldn't do have the stuff he says'. The rebuttal was 'would you say the same of Trump? In fact, that argument probably applies to Trump. Sanders, on the other hand, is an old-world left-winger and will do exactly what he says. Be careful.'

Once the socialists came in, he knew it was time to sell his lot and leave. Apparently, so did Intel. Where socialists are they rape. I don't understand why it's so hard for people to grasp.

[Suthenboy]

Theft is the bedrock of socialism. I don't understand why people don't get it either.

[Free Society]

Once the socialists came in, he knew it was time to sell his lot and leave. Apparently, so did Intel. Where socialists are they rape. I don't understand why it's so hard for people to grasp.

I read some article in the NYT or maybe Politico that interviewed a former party member and formerly enthusiastic Chavesta. Apparently standing in line for cheap toilet paper and the abject failure of the state's central planning has led the guy to believe that socialism in Venezuela failed because it's Top Men made mistakes and socialism can still work if they get new Top Men, like him. That irrational devotion to not having to think any harder is why it's so hard for people to grasp.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

And it's in line with the conversations I've had with Frenchmen who 'escaped' France to come here. They just refuse to single out left-wing politics (to the extent they can of course) for their troubles.

They will just vote for the socialists here. And it will continue.

'It can never happen here!'

[Free Society]

He can't deny reality but he also can't disavow socialism because he's got his identity and entire worldview wrapped up in it.

[Akira]

What I don't understand is why most people consider it a laughing matter to be concerned about socialism. As if being opposed to the deadliest political system in recent history is some kind of corny, McCarthyesque, tinfoil hat lunacy.

Maybe when Nazism comes up in conversation, I'll say, "Nazism was a good system that just got the wrong people in charge. I mean, it's not like it's a threat to anyone these days! You sound so goofy when you slander the Nazis... You remind me of George Patton! Hahah!"

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

I always tell people 'Hey, if you don't like freedom of speech, then move to Canada."

[Careless]

Posner is such an asshole

[Crusty Juggler]

I hear Eric Posner puts an opened can of soda back in the refrigerator to save for later.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Sepp Blatter blames the United States for his eight-year ban from FIFA.

I'll take that rep.

Asshole.

[Rhywun]

I hope he takes down the rest of that corrupt organization with him. He seems bitter enough.

[Derpetologist]

So I'm back from Army basic training for xmas break. Here are some things that happened while I was there:

My Army adventure began at 4AM at a hotel in Pennsylvania. I was on planes and buses for the rest of the day. Finally got to Fort Sill around midnight. Then we spent about an hour and a half filling out forms and getting lectures. I called my folks and left a message saying that I had safely arrived at the Fort Sill Spa and Resort. I gained some notoriety for that wisecrack. Then spent about 2 hours standing in lines and getting equipment. When we finally got to our bunks, we were told we had 30 minutes to get ready and get in formation downstairs.
There was much silly-knees-bent-running-around-advancing behavior thereafter.

When we marched to chow, a group of nearly graduated soldiers, marched while singing a cadence. It went:

1, 2, 3, 4!
Shoot!, Move! Communicate, Kill! And if they don't die, you gotta reload, and shoot 'em again!

That was first cool thing that happened.

[Derpetologist]

After chow, I got my haircut. I had shoulder length hair. I told the barber "just a little off the top". I heard some muffled laughter. Bzzzt! Looks good, I said.

My first one-on-one interaction with a drill sgt happened around 9 AM.

"You! What's that shit on your face?"

Stubble, I said. I was tempted to add "what a silly question", but thought better of it. I thought I did a decent job shaving considering I had about 30 seconds and a dull cheapo razor to do it with. They tried to get me a shaving kit, but there were none. So on my military ID card, I have an awesome 5 o'clock shadow. About a dozen sgts yelled at me that day about shaving.

The rest of the day was a lot of waiting around. We finally got to sleep around 8 PM. I had been up for about 40 hours. That day was by far the worst. Spent another week or so at reception battalion and had a nice Thanksgiving dinner.

[waffles]

Thanks Derp. I've always wanted to get some perspective into military from an articulate person like yourself. Keep it up!

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Welcome back

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

When we marched to chow, a group of nearly graduated soldiers, marched while singing a cadence. It went:

1, 2, 3, 4!
Shoot!, Move! Communicate, Kill! And if they don't die, you gotta reload, and shoot 'em again!

That was first cool thing that happened.

Nice to know that we have moved beyond "If I Die in a Combat Zone ..."

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Apologies to gaijin.

[R C Dean]

My personal choice for a marching cadence:

http://www.lspace.org/fandom/s.....ngels.html

Verses are endless, seeing as how you can name just about any body part.

[Monty Crisco]

Ahhhhh, memories!!!

*wipes away tear remembering his own basic training experience, remembers he was miserable the ENTIRE TEN MONTHS, slaps self for being a revisionist imbecile*

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Ten months of BT? You must of been a real screw-up, Pyle.

Did yer momma have any children that lived?

[Monty Crisco]

A blown knee 2/3 of the way through the first time, rehab AT FT LEONARWOOD, and back through a FULL BASIC TRAINING AGAIN.

Yeah, I'm sooooo fucking nostalgic about it....

[Mindyourbusiness]

Yeah, Monty. did my basic at Fort Lost-in-the-Woods. In November. I still have chilblains.

[Tonio]

Congrats, Derpy. Enjoy your holiday.

[DEG]

Welcome back

[Suthenboy]

Good to see you back Derp. Glad things are going well.

Boy, does that bring back memories.

Mid-way through our boot camp we had a brief 2 hr break one evening. They played some really crappy music and everyone got to have two beers. The guys went nuts letting out the steam that had been building from all the repressed behavior. I sat outside the hall with no beer and watched the spectacle, marveling at the behavior. I decided they were just monkeys with no hair. Then along came one of our instructors and asked me why I didn't take part in the silliness. When I told him I had no desire to he asked what was wrong with me.

[Pat (PM)]

Good to hear you made it. I for one have missed Spot the Not in your absence.

[Derpetologist]

The next worst day was the first day of red phase. We had to get up at 2:45 AM, bring all our stuff downstairs, load and unload from buses multiple times, and then do some silly inspection ceremony. Around 3 PM, we got to our red phase barracks. The drill sgts were running around and screaming at everybody. We had to do this ritual of lining up our bags just so and doing pushups when we failed. During one of the iterations, I didn't see anything I could do, so I just stood at attention by my bag to stay out of the way. A drill sgt zoomed in on me and screamed "what are you doing?!" Nothing, I said. "Exactly!" said he. It was a strange conversation.

Later, we had about a minute to sort our stuff and cram what was allowed into our lockers. We got 5 minutes to use on cellphones. A few guys cried from the stress.

We got up at 2:45 AM that day and no sleep until 9:30 that night. Then we got up at 4:30 the next day. Not as bad as the first day, but close. The hardest part of basic training isn't the yelling or the exercise. It's the lack of sleep and boredom from waiting around.

[Swiss Servator]

The hardest part of basic training isn't the yelling or the exercise. It's the lack of sleep and boredom from waiting around.

That will remain an off and on constant in your entire time in the Army, 'tologist.

[sarcasmic]

A coworker of mine recently left the Army. He said that his experience was getting up too early, exercising too much, working too much, exercising some more, then going too bed late. Seven days a week. Didn't sound like fun to me.

[Derpetologist]

I've had more fun in 3 weeks in the Army than the past 5 years in various civilian jobs, which mostly involved sitting by myself with 1 hour of work to do and 8 hours to do it in. At least in the Army I get exercise and fresh air.

[sarcasmic]

Fun is a relative term I guess.

[Suthenboy]

"A few guys cried from the stress."

It is a head game. Pay no attention to the screaming and berating. Just do what they tell you and if you don't get it right do it over until you do.

Somehow I think you will do just fine.

[gaijin]

1, 2, 3, 4!
Shoot!, Move! Communicate, Kill! And if they don't die, you gotta reload, and shoot 'em again!

Careful, your comments might be used in an ISIS recruiting video. 😉

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

They're also pretty triggering. Please stop microaggressing us.

[Derpetologist]

The Army is coed these days. Males and females sleep separately, but do everything else together. Since I am short, I get to march up front with the women. It smells better up there. I was road guard for most of the time at reception battalion. That meant I got to collect the mail and run to put it in the mailbox when we went past it. And so I earned my nickname: Mailman.

Once while being a road guard, I was blocking an intersection so the formation could pass. A bus pulled up about 10 ft away from me and began creeping forward. I kept holding my hand out, but took a step back. When I looked in the driver seat, I saw a drill sgt staring intently at me. I'm not sure whether he was testing me or seriously thinking about running me over. I gained respect for holding my ground.

You're not allowed to be alone. Everywhere you go, you have to take at least one battle buddy who is the same gender as you or 2 of the opposite gender. Apparently this is some kind of sexual assault prevention strategy. It makes for very crowded bathrooms.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

or 2 of the opposite gender

Manage a twa? Hawt!

/Not really... From my recollection of integrated military training, that would be nasty. I recall people not pooping for two weeks and everyone convinced they were putting saltpeter in our food. Stress is a bitch.

[Derpetologist]

Most of the other trainees are there for medical jobs. The rest are split between artillery and military intelligence jobs. Active, Reserve, and National Guard all train together. The Guard guys seem to have a better idea of what to do since they've already done drills in their own units.

During one first aid drills, other soldiers a few miles away were shooting cannons and machine guns. It was cool to have actual battle sounds while we were practicing combat lifesaving.

The day before we left for xmas break, the whole brigade went on a 5k run together. They played heavy metal on loudspeakers to motivate us and there soldiers firing blanks from cannons along the route. It was a lot of fun.

During reception battalion, I accidentally left all my patches behind, so I spent a few days wearing a uniform that had no name, US Army, or US flag patch. This fact was brought to my attention by about 100 people. I told people I was the unknown soldier and I was on a secret mission.

[Swiss Servator]

"The Guard guys seem to have a better idea of what to do.... [you could just stop right there 🙂 ] since they've already done drills in their own units."

[Agammamon]

That sounds similar to my first day. Out the door at 0300 to get to Phoenix by 06, spend all day standing around, get shoved a ticket and pointed to the airport to fly to Orlando, FL for basic, had to go to the USO office to figure out how to get to the RTC, finally hit my rack at 0130 the next day - reveille at 0400.

For a few seconds after I woke up I didn't know where I was or *who* I was.

Wait, they let you go home for Christmas? In *Basic*?

[Derpetologist]

Yes, the Army lets trainees go home for xmas. It's called Holiday Block Leave. As far as I know, only the Army does this. It's nice to great a break in the middle, especially when you are trying to recover from illness like me.

I guess the pressure of training kept me together. I sort of fell apart as soon as I got off post. I've been battling a bad cold for several days now.

[Agammamon]

Hopefully you'll be recovered before returning.

[Not okay]

I believe you get charged leave so you'll start out in the negatives.

[Derpetologist]

Yep. It will take me 6 months to get back to zero. But I'll be in AIT in Monterrey, CA and won't have much time for leave anyway.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

AIT in Monterey, CA

Just about the nicest place in the Army. You'll be living the academic life, immersing yourself in your new language.

Enjoy the hell out of it, and don't screw up by getting in trouble. (it's easy to do, because you get a lot more leash to hang yourself with)

I spent two years down the street at the Naval Post-Grad School.

[Monty Crisco]

"JUST ABOUT" the nicest place in the Army?!?!?!?!
Imma say it is... though I haven't been EVERY place in the Army...

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Fort Story VA ain't too bad, neither. Hawaii seems to be an either love it or hate it place to be (never been there).

[Billy Boogers]

My first duty station was Planet Ord. Arrived there in February right during the Pebble Beach ProAm. Was much nicer than the frozen hell pit that I had just come from at Ft Leonard Wood. It's a nice area, lots to do, staggering around drunk on cannery row, gettn tossed from bars by wild samoans. Or, taking nice leisurely drives up and down PCH or 17 mile drive, go up to Santa Cruz on the north side of the bay. Go camping down in Big Sur. At least when I wasn't being required to do Army "stuff"... 🙂

[BigT]

Monterey! My father spent a few months there in WW2, and my brother was in the language school there during Nam. My brother was in the Army 4 years, never went overseas, and spent most of it as a protocol officer arranging female companionship for visiting Viet officers.

[Derpetologist]

I went to a Wiccan service one Sunday out of curiousity. We learned a bit about wiccan holidays like Beltane and rituals. The group leader said that anybody who claimed to have magic powers should come to the center and demonstrate it to the group. No one came forth. She lost some cool points with me for saying "I don't even own a TV".

I decided to take the bus back home for xmas break to save money. It was a 40 hour nightmare. On the second day of it, a driver arrived an hour late then spent another hour trying to find a Burger King in Rolla, Missouri. He got lost in St Louis for an hour and had to ask the passengers for directions. I had to change buses 4 times and missed 2 connections. Fortunately, my girlfriend drove 2 hrs to pick me up from where I had been stranded.

On the bright side, I met total nutball on the bus. He claimed to have retired from the Marines as a corporal, which seems like a peculiar thing to brag about. He also claimed to have an IQ of 400 and that he invented a cold fusion device that could power a starship. He also asked to borrow my cell phone so he could call his mom. I let him because I felt sorry for him. He was fat, middle-age, and ugly as sin.

My new hobby is riding on buses and talking to crazy people.

[waffles]

You're talking to crazy people right now. But we typically have no way to verify that you are, in fact, on a bus.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

You are either on the bus, or off the bus

[Agammamon]

+ 10 types of people.

[greasonable]

What's the third type?

[greasonable]

I said @09:44:30:

What's the third type?

I know.. "you are the bus"

[Monty Crisco]

Loving this fucking thread right now... THANKS, DERP!!!

[Derpetologist]

You're welcome.

"I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values."

About 50 people thanked me for my service on my way home. I often responded that I've only been in the Army for a few weeks. I told one in response "thanks for paying my salary". She was perplexed by that.

On a side note, in our Warrior Skills manual, there are the 10 Soldier's Rules:

1. Soldiers only fight enemy combatants
2. Soldiers treat humanely all who surrender or are captured
3. Soldiers do not kill or torture detained personnel
4. Soldiers collect and care for the wounded
5. Soldiers do not attack medical personnel, facilities, or equipment
6. Soldiers destroy no more than the mission requires
7. Soldiers treat civilians and noncombatants humanely
8. Soldiers do not steal. Soldiers respect private property and possessions.
9. Soldiers do their best to prevent violations of the Law of War
10. Soldiers report all violations of the Law of War to their superior

Just an FYI for Sheldon Richman

[Pat (PM)]

You know who else had 10 rules and was hated by Sheldon Richman...

[Crusty Juggler]

this is a thread winner.

[Swiss Servator]

Agreed. Shut 'er down, folks.

[bacon-magic]

2nded.
Sheldon Richman is the Adam Lanza of the military.

[Suthenboy]

...aaaand Pat(PM) wins the morning links.

[Derpetologist]

During our UCMJ class, we learned about a recent incident where a lieutenant ordered his men to collect some dead enemy so their fingerprints and retinas could be scanned. When his men reported that there were too many collect, the lieutenant told them to cut off the hands and heads and bring those back. The soldiers ignored his order and reported the incident. The lieutenant was court martialed. There is no penalty for disobeying an illegal order.

We also learned that during WW2, 1/8 of the military was court martialed. 2 millions court martials! Because the punishments were inconsistent, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) was put in place after the war.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Just an FYI for Sheldon Richman

FYI... I got the FY, but is the I for idiot or imbecile?

[EMD]

Who is under the bus?

[Swiss Servator]

Nice.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

I took a 40+ hour bus trip from Nashua, NH, to Gulfport, MS, back in 2005 or so. You meet a lot of fun crazies and crazy crazies on trips like that.

[Tonio]

Apparently wiccans are over-represented in the military vs their numbers in the general population. I've always been interested in how that works out since deeply religious types are also over-represented.

[R C Dean]

I think that religious folks have a belief in being part of something bigger, and having a mission in this earth, which predisposes them to the military.

[Tonio]

Atheists are also over-represented in the military.

[Suthenboy]

"I met total nutball on the bus."

No shit.

[Lord at War]

Dumbasses can't even rhyme anymore...DO NOT feel safer!

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

This week-end we entertained a bunch of friends and family from Europe.

My Lord.

The news isn't good.

At all.

[waffles]

What sort of news? FIFA?

[Pat (PM)]

Didn't you read the first sentence? He had to entertain relatives form Europe.

[waffles]

Well as guests in his home I'm sure he could teach them proper hygiene.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

They loved my sock puppet act.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Yeah. I wish.

'Europa e finita' one gentleman who lives with his American wife in California put it. 'God bless, America. They have to ignore what we've done there. Not copy it.'

[Irish ?s ESB]

It sounds like that guy's Italian and Italy is in worse shape than the rest of Europe.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Not just Italy. Which I find the assertion a tad laughable, Irish.

And I wish you were there.

Italy is in bad shape but so is the ENTIRE continent; including Germany.

[Free Society]

What they need is some more socialism and some more Muslims.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

The Muslim stories were nuts.

Again. Across the continent.

[Free Society]

Yeah my Dutch in-laws who are rather anti-Jew but pro-Muslim have some of the worst horror stories of living around Muslims that you'll never hear outside of a private conversation. In public conversation they'll tell you that Muslims are great because Palestine and Jews are terrible because Israel. Yet paradoxically they've never been robbed, assaulted or carjacked by Jews. (Unless central bankers count! ZING)

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

The stories from the '18ieme' are shocking as well. The really disturbing thing is how the political classes in Europe react to this. It's crazy.

But not just there. Rape cases in Italy are apparently as bad as Scandinavia and worse than France.

[Free Society]

But not just there. Rape cases in Italy are apparently as bad as Scandinavia and worse than France.

So the media is prosecuted whenever they mention the ethnicity or religion of the perpetrators? Or do you mean that Muslims in Italy are raping native Italian women at a rate far out of proportion of their numbers? Or both?

[Hyperion]

What they need is some more socialism and some more Muslims.

They're working on that and Obama is nipping at their heels.

[Free Society]

They're working on that and Obama is nipping at their heels.

"Western Civilization, roasting on an open fire. Obama nipping at your heels...."

[waffles]

This is the perfect storm for Donald Trump's populism. I wish unabashed defense of our culture and heritage could come from someone else, but alas. I don't think Europe is finished. There will be backlash and it is just revving up.

[DEG]

I agree, Europe isn't finished, though I expect things will get very ugly there as Europeans remember their heritage of mass killings.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

When your native populations of major cities are relocating to the countryside to avoid the chaos in the cities; you know it's bad.

It may be laced with some fatalism, but by 'finished' they mean, as they know it.

[Restoras]

Except we have an entire political class dedicated to turning the US into Europe, Part Deux

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

And this they warned against. Don't pander to votes. It's cultural suicide in their view.

[R C Dean]

And Europe has a political class which is apparently indifferent to turning Europe into Lebanon, circa 1980.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

This is what I was getting from them.

Again. Because so much power is in Brussels now it has created a whole new corrupt class that doesn't give a shit what happens in the countries.

[Irish ?s ESB]

They sound like racists

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Such racists they were. They actually were a rather eclectic bunch. A professor of international law at the Sorbonne, a couple of well-traveled and experienced businessmen, a couple of Polish-Italian-Jewish extract from France (academics who have lived in a dozen or so countries. The old man spoke seven languages). Lotsa a intellectual fire power was present. It was interesting to say the least - but depressing.

[Swiss Servator]

Maybe we can get one more blast of worthy immigrants before the old place collapses.

[Free Society]

We don't like immigrant groups that come here and don't use massive amounts of welfare. We like immigrants that can be paid to form an insular underclass and reliably oppose principles of liberty.

[Zeb]

And? Don't leave us hanging.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Just too wide in scope laced with multiple subtleties to get into here.

I wish I could but safe to say, some of their comments, would counter much of what's believed here.

Like, eg, the entire financial reporting schemes are a lie including those of Germany.

All roads lead to corrupted Brussels and everyone is involved. It's nonsense to say one country is worse or better than the other at the moment. They're all sick. And they presented some cold, sobering facts about it.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

And.

While they're aware of America's problems and issues, to the person they all said there is no better place on the planet; though they included Canada in there. I was pleased to hear there was none of this 'they lack culture' crap. They see America for what it is and love it.

A lot of Westerners are migrating into Eastern Europe because the cost of living is cheap. Prague in particular. I don't know if it's true but this is what I was told. They appreciate what Eastern Europe is doing on the immigration front. IE if you let Turkey into the EU, the reality is you bring Syria and Iraq by 'defacto' in.

Again, this is what many Europeans believe; particularly the Greeks vis-vis Turkey.

[Zeb]

Interesting. I have some family in Spain and I worry about what may be coming. They are in a good place financially (and my cousins are US citizens) so they are probably well positioned for whatever comes. But I was there this fall and it's definitely got a different feel than it did maybe 10 years ago. Still a great place, but a lot more tension and politics than I remember.

[Free Society]

But I was there this fall and it's definitely got a different feel than it did maybe 10 years ago. Still a great place, but a lot more tension and politics than I remember.

I would go out on a limb and say that Spain is doing worse than most in Europe, for their employment levels if nothing else.

[Zeb]

Yeah, it's pretty bad. Not Greece bad by a long shot, but bad. There are also still tons of empty subdivisions and other empty buildings and developments left from their real estate bubble.

The Spanish should have just stuck with being the sort of weird, low cost, relaxed place in Europe.

[Free Society]

Possibly the greatest problem facing Europe is the terrible shortage of decent pizza in Italy. Your thoughts?

[bacon-magic]

Deep dish...

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

All roads lead to corrupted Brussels and everyone is involved.

I already learned that from Yes, Minister.

[Irish ?s ESB]

"Donald Trump dismissed Hillary Clinton's claim his comments about Muslims were a recruiting tool for ISIS, saying the former secretary of state "lies like crazy.""

Only Hillary Clinton is enough of a liar to make Donald Trump drop these kinds of truth bombs

[Illocust]

This is why Trump is popular. Any other candidate would have tried something witty that might have made it to one or two friendly magazines. Trump just cut through the bullshit and called a pig a pig. His statements will make it to friendly and non-friendly newspapers alike and put Hillary on the defensive.

[Irish ?s ESB]

Well, not cutting through the bullshit is great when it's actually bullshit, which Hillary's words were. Trump frequently calls bullshit on actual rightful criticism of him being retarded, though

[Roger the Shrubber]

Trump should say 'I'm not campaigning for the ISIS vote. I'll leave it to Hillary to be concerned about how she is perceived by ISIS.'

[Longtorso, Johnny]

'I was gang-raped by ISIS thugs until I blacked out': Yazidi woman held as sex slave for three months breaks down during speech at UN as she begs world leaders to wipe out the Islamist group
21-year-old Yazidi woman described three months of torture as ISIS victim
She was abducted from her home in Iraq by ISIS militants last August
She described being held in a fighter's home, being raped until she fainted
ISIS trades women and children from minority Yazidi people as 'war booty'
UN described ISIS's treatment of the Yazidi people as a possible genocide

[waffles]

The phrasing 'possible genocide' sounds so heartless. There is evil in this world.

[Restoras]

Not to leftists.

[waffles]

All I want for Christmas is for modern feminists to turn their attention to real atrocities against women instead of the demons in their heads.

[Longtorso, Johnny]

Next you'll want Apple to care more about Saudi Arabia beheading gays than they do about Indiana passing laws not recognizing gay marriage.

[Crusty Juggler]

A mutilated clitoris is no match for the male gaze.

[Free Society]

Everyone knows that whites come with a big red guilt button installed in their childhoods, you can push the button and get resources and apologies. Muslims only come with a big red murder button that no one is too eager to push.

[MetalBard]

Um Donald Trump? Republicans? Christians? Conservatives? Unrepentant billionaires? etc etc...

The left just has different people they consider evil. ISIS is just misunderstood, probably just lashing out against evil European colonialism, or something.

[Zeb]

"Christians?"

Why do people keep thinking that there aren't fuck loads of leftist Christians out there?

[Pat (PM)]

Cafeteria Catholics don't count.

But really, they get the impression because the left is vocally and publicly hostile to Christianity in a way that the right isn't, and the most vocal atheists and anti-theists tend to be very solidly left wing.

[Just say Nikki]

According to Pew, 63% of Democrat/lean Democrat respondents in 2014 were Christian.

[MetalBard]

And what percent of people vote Democrat due to ideology vs voting Democrat out of a sense of identity? Basically "I'm (Black, Gay, Poor, Union worker, etc) so therefor I have to vote Democrat?"

[Pat (PM)]

"Democrat" doesn't automatically equate to "the left" either, largely for that reason. I wasn't entirely kidding about the cafeteria Catholics either. Bear in mind that Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden are proud Catholics...

[Just say Nikki]

Two-thirds of the Christians who leaned Democrat or were Democrats were Protestant.

I agree about the left vs. D's, however I do spend an average day on H&R seeing "the left" equated with "progressives" and "Democrats" routinely.

[Pat (PM)]

I didn't really think pointing out that the left tends to be far more accepting of atheism and less religious would be all that controversial. The marketing of political groups on both the left and right depends on it. But FWIW, here's one cite and another.

[Pat (PM)]

Mind you, that isn't to say that there aren't, in fact, a lot of left-wing Christians (like, oh, say, the fucking Pope), merely to point out where the perception comes from. Particularly in the US, where evangelical protestants are the most visible and vocal branch of Christianity and frequently find themselves publicly at odds with the left, often by way of very high profile lawsuits, regarding everything from prayer in schools, to public religious displays, to homeschooling, to anti-discrimination laws.

[Just say Nikki]

Mind you, that isn't to say that there aren't, in fact, a lot of left-wing Christians (like, oh, say, the fucking Pope), merely to point out where the perception comes from.

And I'm just pointing out that it's only a perception. A strong majority of USians to the left of center are Christians. The idea that both sides of the aisle aren't overwhelmed by believers is silly.

[Just say Nikki]

Don't throw your back out moving those goalposts.

[Not okay]

He said the left was hostile to Christianity. It remains true. The goalposts were moved by those that claimed if the democrats have enough Christans they aren't hostile.

[Zeb]

He said the left was hostile to Christianity. It remains true.

As a blanket statement, not really. Many on the left are hostile to conservative Christianity. Some are hostile to Christianity in general. But many are also Christians.

[Zeb]

Except for abortion and birth control, an awful lot of full-on Catholics are pretty leftist (including the Pope. Hard to call him a "cafeteria Catholic"). Then there is the Anglican church and most of the American mainline Protestant denominations.
Yes, the most vocal atheists and religio-bashers tend to be of the left. But there are also tons of sincere left wing Christians out there.

[ant1sthenes]

A man cannot have two masters.

[Atanarjuat]

^yes, you will often hear Christians rant about the materialism of Christmas, and other sideways attacks on capitalism. On the other hand you have the gospel of Dave Ramsey.

[Atanarjuat]

@ant1sthenes

[Zeb]

A man cannot have two masters.

Doesn't stop people from trying.

[Restoras]

You are correct, Metal. I guess what I meant was to leftists, there is no such thing as evil UNLESS you mean Donald Trump? Republicans? Christians? Conservatives? Unrepentant billionaires? etc etc....

And yes, foreign cultures or movements or governments that perpetrate atrocities ARE NOT evil, it is just a different culture or viewpoint that no one else can understand.

The irony is - that viewpoint is totally racist.

[Swiss Servator]

"Never Again" apparently had an expiration date.

I am already retired from the Army and near 50, I don't know if I can do anything, fighting-wise anymore...

[Zeb]

"Never again".

When has there ever not been some attempt at ethnic or religious extermination going on?

[MetalBard]

"Never Again" refers to never again specifically allowing Germans to murder Jews. Everything else is still fair game it seems.

[Restoras]

You are on a roll today!

[Suthenboy]

"I don't know if I can do anything, fighting-wise anymore..."

Like hell Swiss.

Picture Richard Widmark lying in a bed with both pistols pointed at the door. That made an impression on me as a kid.

Die with your boots on and both fists balled up.

[Swiss Servator]

Oh, certainly - here. But deploying to the Yazidi or Kurd areas to fight ISIS....might be past me.

[Zeb]

There is. But that doesn't mean one's assumptions about it will always be correct. Does seem likely to at least be an attempt at genocide (or religiocide if that's a word), though.

[Longtorso, Johnny]

The scheming student who destroyed her tutor's life: Girl who faked terminal cancer is jailed for two years after weaving web of lies which led to teacher losing her home, job and marriage
Elisa Bianco, 22, conned teacher Sally Retallack, 49, and wrecked her life
Student faked cancer and arrived at tutor's home saying she was destitute
College teacher gave up work to nurse Bianco and her marriage fell apart
Tutor took fraudster to hospital every day but she would just sit in a cafe
Mrs Retallack unearthed betrayal after visiting ward but no staff knew her
Judge said: 'You heartlessly manipulated Mrs Retallack's deepest emotions. No sentence will compensate her'

[Agammamon]

Judge said: 'You heartlessly manipulated Mrs Retallack's deepest emotions. No sentence will compensate her'

Oh, I can think of one sentence that would recompense *me* in this sort of situation.

[Longtorso, Johnny]

Judge said: 'You heartlessly manipulated Mrs Retallack's deepest emotions. No sentence will compensate her'

She screwed up, she should have manipulated a man into marrying her. No jail time for that.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Oh, I can think of one sentence that would recompense *me* in this sort of situation.

"Ready. Aim ... "?

[Brett L]

Indentured servitude for the rest of the injured party's life?

[Illocust]

Some people need to feel needed. Looks like Sally was one of those people and Elisa took advantage of it.

[MetalBard]

I don't know if there is a heaven, but when I hear stories like that I hope there is a hell.

[Irish ?s ESB]

Best part about Hillary's ISIS comments is the idea that radical Muslims cares more about Donald Trump talking shit than about US support for Israel or drone attacks.

I'm going to guess US bombing of the noble Ummah factors more prominently in ISIS propaganda than Trump does.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Seriously, someone needs to call her on that idiocy, rather than bickering back and forth about whether or not they actually do use Trump in their propaganda.

[lap83]

Trump summed it up though. She was lying. Of course she doesn't believe that.

[R C Dean]

Turns out ISIS has made recruiting videos featuring prominent Americans, though. Unfortunately for Hillary!, those were Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

This is one gaffe that just keeps on giving.

[Just say Nikki]

Um, blowback isn't real, Irish.

[straffinrun]

You sound like you'd make a horrible babysitter.

[Swiss Servator]

Nonsense! She loves children!

Alleged WC Fields quotes:

1. Children should neither be seen nor heard from -- ever again.

2. I never met a kid I liked.

3. I like children. If they're properly cooked.

4. Madam, there's no such thing as a tough child -- if you parboil them first for seven hours, they always come out tender.

5. They are also very good with mustard.

6. Anyone who hates children and animals can't be all bad.

[cavalier973]

She would be the worst

[Not okay]

That's why still today we are getting bombed by Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Italy, England, and Korea.

[F. Christmas Ape, Jr.]

No one ever has an answer for this.

[Zeb]

That's because it's utterly stupid. Has anyone ever said that blowback must occur at all times in all places and never ends? No. All "blowback" means is that actions have consequences, sometimes unintended. It's not victim blaming and it doesn't imply that the receiver of the blowback necessarily did anything wrong.

Why is this impossible for some people to understand?

[Azathoth!!]

The entire point of calling it 'blowback' is to imply that the person defending themselves from an aggressor somehow is in the wrong.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Oh, blowback is real, alright. Currently, we're experiencing the blowback from Grenada, 1492.

[Swiss Servator]

Whatever happened to blowback for the Mongols knocking Baghdad down?!?!

[Heroic Mulatto]

6/17/2015

[Longtorso, Johnny]

Riot police fire warning shots as THOUSANDS of protesters storm the site of a planned asylum centre for 1,500 migrants in Holland
Demonstrators went on the rampage in town of Geldermalsen last night
They smashed through fence surrounding asylum camp, attacked police
The angry crowd yelled 'No n****** here!' and 'foreign scum keep away'
Town hall left looking like a 'battlefield' and councillors were forced to flee
At least 14 people were arrested, several policemen were injured in melee

...A planned discussion about the imminent arrival of the migrants, staged by the town council, was abandoned in the chaos as the mob outside tried to storm the building. Councillors were forced to flee out of rear exits into police vans....

[MetalBard]

Quick light the Cytotoxic signal!! Someone needs to teach these people the evils of their nativists ways.

[Illocust]

Even if you support taking in migrants, why would you want to put them into a town where there are violent protests about their impending arrival with thousands of participants. Someone is going to get killed if they go ahead with this plan. Move them a town over at a minimum.

[Drake]

The idea of importing millions of foreigners is to destroy the native culture. This is a feature for the socialists.

[MetalBard]

Yes have to get rid of all that terrible tradition that stands in the way of the new socialist utopia.

[Restoras]

Exactly right, Metal.

[Monty Crisco]

Anyone else find it suspicious that they are using the "n-slur" in Germany? Always seemed a uniquely American-fraught slur to me....
Makes me question the veracity of that article...

[Tonio]

What if the same thing happens in that other town?

[Illocust]

I hate calling for bowing to a heckler's veto, but it defeats the point of taking in refugees to only put them in a position that could lead to their harm or death. This isn't like letting Uber continue to operate with the understanding that the taxi cartels are violently protesting. Uber drivers are individual actors who can back out any time. Refugees are essentially wards of the state. Their housing and income is given to them and they go where they are told. The state is responsible for their safety while they are in this position.

[Atanarjuat]

Put them in a big city where their numbers won't be as noticeable?

[Homple]

A million people who have no jobs or marketable skills, can't speak the local language and come from an entirely different and possibly hostile culture will be noticeable wherever you put them.

[Tonio]

And where they can effectively take over entire blocks or neighborhoods and avoid contact with the citizens? At least in the small towns where there numbers aren't that great the neighbors can keep an eye on them, befriend them if they are so inclined and encourage them to assimilate.

[Prof. Mondo]

I do TOO have a refugee! She lives 2 towns over. You wouldn't know her.

[cavalier973]

Is she hot?

[Zeb]

Yeah, the Dutch don't fuck around.

[DEG]

My impression of Dutch cops, from the few days I spent in Amsterdam and reports from Dutch friends, is that if you're not hurting or bothering anyone, the cops tend to pretend they don't see law violations. If you're hurting someone or bothering someone, that's a very different story.

[Restoras]

Unlike the NYPD...

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

The NYPD is usually busy hurting someone or bothering someone, so it's almost the same.

[Zeb]

That's mostly been my experience as well. Though I once got strip searched by Dutch police at the Belgian border (drug dog sniffed some residue of something or other). They were very nice about it all, though (as far as could be expected).
But the Dutch also tend to be pretty serious, no-nonsense people. I think a lot of people, knowing about their famous tolerance, tend to imagine them as a bit more happy-go-lucky. Of course, this is a big generalization.

[Homple]

...A planned discussion about the imminent arrival of the migrants, choral recitation of "Fuck You, That's Why" staged by the town council, was abandoned in the chaos as the mob outside tried to storm the building.

Fixed it.

[Pompey]

So much tolerance!

[Homple]

It's a matter of what you're forced to tolerate.

[R C Dean]

See, I would have thought that this is what blowback looks like.

[Zeb]

I'd say that's fair. Blowback can take many forms. Sometimes it's in other countries that you bomb or invade or otherwise piss people off. Sometimes its from your own citizens.

[Rhywun]

The angry crowd yelled 'No n****** here!'

"neighbors"?
"ninnies"?

[cavalier973]

It's a Dutch slang word that is basically unpronounceable by native English speakers.

[Rhywun]

Nilgh'ri?

[Mr Drew]

"Naggers"

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

More than 90 people are missing after a massive landslide in Shenzhen, China buried dozens of buildings.

I blame Climate Change?

[straffinrun]

Think you may have a real estate bubble when you lose more buildings than people.

[Zeb]

I blame climate.

[Juvenile Bluster]

One person was killed after a driver in Las Vegas ran over more than thirty pedestrians on the strip.

But when those prisoners landed a plane on the Vegas Strip in the Nic Cage documentary "Con Air", nobody died.

[Pope Jimbo]

Ray of Hope Story

For some reason the boys and I were killing time yesterday and we ended up watching Penn & Teller's Bullshit on the tube. We watched the episode on video games because the two knotheads are big gamers.

During the show, they featured Hillary a few times calling video games the tool of the devil and proposing legislation to ban them.

The boys were both appalled. They said they had no idea that she had ever said such stuff and boy was she a stupid asshole for saying shit like that. Later I heard one of them telling his gamer buddies (as they played some game online) about it.

Honestly, I had forgotten about her ban boner too. I sure hope that some GOP candidate would go after her on that too. That would be a great way to get youngsters to turn on her.

[Crusty Juggler]

It would make for a good campaign video, which would make her campaign awkwardly spin/deny her remarks.

[R C Dean]

Hell, you could do the same thing to Hillary that the idiot Repubs never did to )bama, which I still believe would have cost him the election:

Just run news clips, without commentary, of the stupid shit they have said, back-to-back with news clips of them denying they ever said it or saying the complete opposite. There's a never ending supply for Hillary!, just as there was for Obama.

The Repubs, being stupid and weak, will never do such a thing, of course.

[Zeb]

That's a really good idea. So of course they will never do it.

[Free Society]

The Repubs, being stupid and weak, will never do such a thing, of course.

That theory seems to assume that the Republican Party's purpose isn't to just hand Democrats all federal power. Even when Republicans have a supermajority in Congress they're still bending over backwards to appease the Dems, accept all their premises and make concessions that don't need to be made.

[Tonio]

I sure hope that some GOP candidate would go after her on that too.

Highly unlikely since that might offend the GOP socons who are also against teh violins and seitanism of video games. But, a well-timed message by a PAC might cause gamers to think twice about pulling the lever for her.

[sarcasmic]

Shocking video 'captures cops shooting dead an unarmed and handcuffed man, 23, then planting a gun beside him'

Noel Aguilar killed by L.A. deputies Albert Murad and Jose Ruiz in 2014
The 23-year-old had been pulled over while riding his bike in Long Beach
Cellphone footage shows officers grappling with Aguilar on the ground
Deputies then shot the suspect three times in the back while handcuffed
Police say Aguilar had been reaching for one of the deputies' weapons
But family lawyers say footage is 'clear evidence of an execution, a murder'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....ution.html

The department's Internal Affairs Bureau has now completed its investigation into the shooting.

Findings will be presented to the Executive Force Review Committee in January which will decide if the incident breached any laws or police policies.

Both Murad and Ruizi have already returned to field duty.

And nothing else happened...

[Longtorso, Johnny]

"I want to give those cops more power by passing gun control legislation, and make them the only armed people in the country." -- ProgDerp

[R C Dean]

the Executive Force Review Committee in January which will decide if the incident breached any laws

Since when is it up to a cop committee to decide of laws were broken, anyway?

[sarcasmic]

It takes a thug to judge a thug.

[Rhywun]

Police say Aguilar had been reaching for one of the deputies' weapons

It is amazing how often that "happens".

[sarcasmic]

It is especially amazing how often it happens while the person is handcuffed, face down on the ground, with a three hundred pound gorilla on their back.

[robc]

I was listening to econtalk on superforecasting this morning...so thought I would brag about my best h&r forecasts:

1. In 2008, I said if Tarp passed we wouldnt have a real recovery until after 2020. Nailed it. On the other hand, I thought we would have dipped into recession more often.

2. Tim Tebow won a playoff game as QB. Thanks to Baked Penguin for the free beer.

[waffles]

Against the Steelers too. That game as depressing. Last night made up for it though. STEELER NATION runs deep and wide. As a former yinzer I run into fellow fans in every state. It's a shitty place to live and an awesome place to be from.

[DEG]

You're a Yinzer? I thought you were from the Allentown area.

[waffles]

Well, I'm not a true yinzer, simply because no real yinzer would claim to be one. They're kind of like anti-hipsters. I lived in the 'burgh for eight years after growing up in the Lehigh Valley. Now I live in DC with better weather, aka, Sacramento. Don't dox me.

[DEG]

I only dox myself. Folks could probably figure out who I am based on what I've posted about myself here.

"DC with better weather". I like that despite "better weather than DC" being a low bar.

[OneOut]

Go IRON PIGS !!!

[Jake Stone]

Trump Says Clinton 'Lies Like Crazy,'

In other news, scientists today confirmed grass is green.

[Sevo]

So the photo is from the talent competition?

[Irish ?s ESB]

The worst part about Hillary's comments is that, much like the people saying we shouldn't 'provoke' Jihadists by drawing Mohammad, it basically argues that we should change our behavior based on whether or not ISIS likes it.

Trump's Muslim immigration moratorium is either a good or a bad idea. I think it's a bad idea. But it's good or bad on its own merits, not based on whether fucking Jihadist murderers will like it or not.

[Just say Nikki]

Rand is the only person running for president who doesn't want the terrorists to win, basically.

[Hyperion]

WTF? Rand's a libertarian. Of course he wants the terrorists to win.

[Sevo]

"Sepp Blatter blames the United States for his eight-year ban from FIFA."

Some people never learn.
The answer is "Hitler". It's always "Hitler".

[Thymirus]

After watching 'The Force Awakens' a few days ago, I've found myself questioning aspects of the movie in ways most everybody else who's seen it seems to disagree with vehemently. Spoilers follow heavily, so be warned:

1) Because it's so lazily similar in its storyline to 'A New Hope', which I don't begrudge it nearly as much as many other fans do, the extreme simplicity of the plot is detrimental to the experience in every way. Its hollow predictability detracted from my enjoyment, and the excitement I was fully expecting to be awash in never materialized. It's a single, cartoonishly basic, unsurprising thread.

2) The movie explains and showcases the backstories of not a single one of its elements (the up-to-date goings-on prior to the film's events, and after 'Return of the Jedi'). It depicts an interstellar conflict between advanced civilizations in an ancient, infinitely diverse universe of literally limitless storytelling potential, and yet it tells you nothing beyond the microcosm of the immediate chase which constitutes its runtime, despite the dozens of hours you could easily fill simply with background lore. Examples of this are endless.

We hear vague mention of a "Republic", but we are never told anything of it, and the only appearance it ever makes is during the destruction of a nameless planet we only see five seconds of. What were the circumstances of its establishment? Is it the successor of the Rebel Alliance, or another entity altogether?

[Thymirus]

How does the obliteration of a mere handful of planets disable a galactic superpower? And if the activation and use of Starkiller Base didn't disable the Republic, why did it offer no response to a direct, genocidal act of war committed by the First Order? Where were its battlefleets? Millions of inhabited planets, and an assault on a single system is supposed to be crippling?

What's the Resistance? Is it a breakaway faction which took issue with, let's say, a weak, fledgling Republic's inability to combat the First Order (total speculation on my part) and chose to organize in order to wage guerilla warfare against the resurgent Empire?

What is the present state of civilizational affairs in the galaxy? Were the First Order and the Republic engaged in a cold war prior to the reinitiation of open hostilities depicted in the movie? Did the Galactic Civil War of the original trilogy result in a stalemate that led to uneasy truce? Where are the other Jedi Knights Luke Skywalker supposedly trained alongside Kylo Ren before his betrayal? Were they simply slaughtered?

How the fuck does a single, mid-rank officer in the Imperial military possess the ability to deactivate what basically amounts to the primary defense of a fucking planet-gun? Who's Supreme Leader Snoke?

[Thymirus]

Why must military engagements possess a 'Startship Troopers'-esque degree of practical retardation? Where are the tactics? Where are the variant units? Where are the fleets? The lack of realism in this respect really screws combat in movies for me.

[Pat (PM)]

I think the problem you're running into is that you're taking Star Wars orders of magnitude more seriously than the people who created it.

[Thymirus]

Which is a damned shame, if it's true, because the possibilities are endless.

[Crusty Juggler]

What I want to know is how can a few actors from The Raid movies be in the Star Wars movie and not just kick everyone's ass?

[Thymirus]

I haven't seen those yet, but I've found that they're highly recommended in any discussion of action movies. Fun?

[Crusty Juggler]

I loved the first and really liked the second. If you like really violent martial arts/action movies, then they are worth checking out.

[Mr Drew]

The Raid is superb gun and action porn. The Raid 2 I think suffered from having too big a budget, but was still worth watching.

[F. Christmas Ape, Jr.]

Its hollow predictability detracted from my enjoyment

TFA should have seen the Resistance merely disabling the superweapon instead of destroying it. The threat of it going back online and blowing shit up should hang over the next movie, if not the next two. It sucks that these planet-destroying superweapons are apparently pretty damned easy to blow up.

[Thymirus]

I wasn't exaggerating -- it's SLAVISHLY similar to 'A New Hope', to its own demerit. Abrams' lack of effort is unbelievable.

And this also highlights a facet of the movie I really took issue with in the last major battle -- how stupid the battle tactics are.

SPOILER: They manage to destroy Starkiller Base with nothing but a few squadrons of X-Wings. That's it. Forget fleet tactics/dynamics. No capital ships, even.

[waffles]

You see, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away everyone has incredibly short memories and is incredibly stupid. I think it's because that part of the universe was infected with a space parasite called midichlorians. These parasites exist in every sentient being in varying levels and cause total failure of reasoning faculties but sometime result in magic powers.

[DEG]

I shouldn't have read this thread because I haven't seen "The Force Awakens". I decided to wait until after my Christmas travels. I was afraid something like this would happen. Well, I'll still go see the movie. I'll probably hate it, and I've done stupider things in my life.

[tarran]

I shouldn't have read this thread because I haven't seen "The Force Awakens".

I had a different reaction.

I read it and thought to myself "I was right to skip it; it does suck."

[DEG]

I might try and make lemonade from lemons. Give it a MST3K treatment.

[Thymirus]

It's a decent action movie. It just isn't anywhere as good as it very, VERY easily could have been.

Fuck you, Disney.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

In a move that surprises no one, Lindsey Graham has dropped from the race.

[AlmightyJB]

Is he going to fly to Syria and defeat Isis himself?

[Hyperion]

No, he's going to take McCain and Cytotoxic with him. Murika, fuck yeah!

[Roger the Shrubber]

What remaining candidate will pick up the southern gay warmonger vote?

[AlmightyJB]

Clinton?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Clinton already had it wrapped up, which is why Lindsey had such a poor showing?

[Hyperion]

Hard to say. Trump? Trump has been sounding a little non-interventionists though of late and Cruz doesn't seem to carry much of a war boner either. Bush?

[Free Society]

You're not gay if you stay closeted and present yourself as a "proud defender of traditional marriage". Fact.

[Atanarjuat]

Hitler?

[Hyperion]

Has Obama called for a ban on cars yet? Cars are only good for mass murder. No one needs a car.

[Thymirus]

There was a group of British academics who were openly advocating the prohibition of private car ownership a few months ago for the protection of the environment, among other ludicrously fucktarded reasons. If I recall correctly, they were promoting the idea of state-owned vehicles being allocated to groups of people for communal use.

These people were serious. There simply MUST be a hell and a devil, because there MUST be somewhere for these shit-eating totalitarian scumbags to burn for eternity.

[Hyperion]

When you live in a box your entire adult life, you can't imagine what it's like on the outside world. Needing a car to get to work or even to go buy groceries is something these intellectually challenged dimwits can't even conceptualize.

[Thymirus]

They're even less susceptible to the concept of liberty, whereby people own and use vehicles, among thousands of other tools, for enjoyment and convenience, simply because they are free, and free men are at liberty to do as they please.

Slavemaking cocksuckers.

[Atanarjuat]

Or that most of the development of the last century has been car-oriented and people will be stranded in suburbs.

[lap83]

I saw a comment on the dailymail article for this story last night. They attempted to preempt the ban cars argument from conservative by "explaining" that guns are weapons but cars are not. Then concluded by calling for all guns in the country to be confiscated, even out of "cold dead hands of necessary". No mention of what they'd use to ensure the gun owners hands were cold and dead. Run them over with cars, maybe? It's ok because cars aren't weapons.

[lap83]

If, stupid autocorrect

[Gilbert Martin]

So Trump says Hillary lies like crazy.

For once he's correct about something.

Of course that is hardly a new revelation in Hillary's case.

She has been lying like crazy for a VERY long time.

[Hyperion]

If you check the link I posted last night, he also said something else that has some truth to it:

Trump, Hillary Lies

He added, "She may have traveled a lot but she didn't do the job because the entire world blew up around her. So she wasted a lot of time and energy and money and frankly she wasted a lot of lives because her policies were disaster for the world. The Middle East has blown up around her. Her decisions were horrible. and hundreds of thousands of people have been killed because of her faulty decisions

A little hyperbole there, but I've always blamed Hillary in part for the mess in Libya and Syria.

[R C Dean]

I thought this clip on Trump was fascinating, on a number of levels:

http://thehill.com/blogs/in-th.....n-fox-news

The amazing thing is that, with the right accent, he sounds quite lucid and intelligent. Its eerie.

[Heroic Mulatto]

He also sounds evil.

[Atanarjuat]

Has she ever told the truth, I wonder?

[Hyperion]

Not intentionally. And I think when someone is that much of a pathological liar, they start actually believing their own lies and start failing to even be aware of if they are lying or not.

[sarcasmic]

Like cops who, even when presented with video and audio that directly contradicts their statements, insist that what they said was the truth simply because whatever comes out of a cop's mouth is by definition the truth. Even if it is a lie, it's the truth because a cop said it.

[Crusty Juggler]

She definitely lied to Webb Hubbell about being on birth control.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

She will say whatever is most convenient at the time. Sometimes it is the truth and sometimes it is a lie, but she makes no distinction. What matters is that the words coming out of her mouth are politically advantageous at that moment.

[commodious spittoon]

Craziest thing about the AM links? Every one of them is attributable to global warming. True story.

[Hyperion]

They're actually 'causing' global warming. But that's mostly the fault of FOE. When he creates that warp in the time continuum that allows him to always get first post, it sucks el nino farther north and increases it's power. No complaints here, needz moar el nino.

[waffles]

Fine, here you go.

[F. Christmas Ape, Jr.]

U.S. Support of Gay Rights in Africa May Have Done More Harm Than Good

But over time, the growing recognition of and pressure for gay rights in the West led to a reaction in Nigeria. Calling homosexuality "unnatural" and "un-African," Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria, backed an anti-gay bill in 2005 that seemed to be going nowhere.

But as the United States and other Western governments fiercely condemned the bill ? and a similar one in Uganda ? Father Ehusani, Ms. Okafor and others lobbied aggressively in support of it. Lawmakers, reacting to what they felt was egregious interference by the West, rallied behind it. The legislation passed unanimously in 2013, the first bill to do so since the end of military rule in 1999.

In what was considered a major setback to gay rights in Africa, Nigeria's former president, Goodluck Jonathan, signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act into law in January 2014.

In retrospect, Father Ehusani said that Nigeria's law was too punitive and an "overkill." Without the American pressure, he said, "the law would not have come in the form in which it did."

[Crusty Juggler]

This means we need to double our education effort in Africa.

[Irish ?s ESB]

I think that article is bullshit. The law in Nigeria was actually passed after a bunch of evangelical pastors went to Nigeria and railed against gays. A lot of the anti-gay stuff in Africa actually stems from American evangelical ideas spreading to the African Christians, which is the opposite of what the article is claiming.

[Hyperion]

The only hope for the African gays is if the Christians are replaced by the more tolerant Muslims.

[Zeb]

Is there much appreciable difference under a law like they have in Uganda?

I don't think I'm entirely clear on the Muslim rules about male homosexuality. Almost seems like it's sort of OK as long as no one is being too feminine.

[Free Society]

I don't think I'm entirely clear on the Muslim rules about male homosexuality. Almost seems like it's sort of OK as long as no one is being too feminine.

It seems to be the same rules for homosexuality in prison. Apparently it's not gay if you're the pitcher and your catcher is participating involuntarily. The Taliban likes to bang little boys to teach them to be men or something.

[Irish ?s ESB]

"The Taliban likes to bang little boys to teach them to be men or something."

This is wrong. Not to defend the Taliban, but the people engaging in child rape are actually unaffiliated Pashtun tribesmen. The Taliban hated the practice and during the Taliban's rule raping little boys carried the death penalty.

[Heroic Mulatto]

It would be more accurate to say that the Taliban's Wahabist allies, AQ, hated the practice. As the Taliban continue to drift back to their Deobandi roots after the death of OBL and the weakening of AQ, there is evidence that their tolerance for bacha bazi as a cultural practice has increased with high ranking indigenous Taliban warlords partaking.

[Free Society]

This is wrong. Not to defend the Taliban, but the people engaging in child rape are actually unaffiliated Pashtun tribesmen. The Taliban hated the practice and during the Taliban's rule raping little boys carried the death penalty.

Actually one of Osama bin Laden's sons, Omar I believe, who had first hand experience in a Taliban training camp claimed this was a common practice to break the wills and identities of would-be suicide bombers.

[Heroic Mulatto]

The ahadith of Abu Dawood records Muhammad as saying:

The Prophet ('alayhi as-salam) said: If you find anyone doing as Lot's people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.

However, as opposed to calls for holy war, that seems to be a part of the religion that is often ignored. The Ottoman Empire decriminalized homosexuality in 1858, for example. In reality, "don't ask, don't tell" has been the M.O. for the past 1,400 years or so.

[Rhywun]

Calling homosexuality "unnatural" and "un-African,"

I remember China claiming it's a "western" thing too. Some people just don't want to see what's around them.

[Zeb]

This could be wrong too. But I've heard it suggested that gay (as an orientation/lifestyle/identity) is sort of a Western thing. Homosexual activity is, of course, universal across cultures. It also seems fairly likely that people everywhere have had intimate same sex relationships and just kept them more or less quiet depending on cultural demands.

[Rhywun]

Forget all the lifestyle stuff, they were/are claiming the biology of it is Western. That's simply ridiculous.

[lynnjason]

Benefits of medical marijuana

The use of marijuana is associated with the stimulation of appetite and relief from nausea. Marijuana use reduces muscle spasms and relieves eye pressure for glaucoma patients.
text or call ..9199070492 for medical mjj strains

[HenryC]

Clinton lies like a sly fox, whereas Trump says the first thing that comes into his mind, true or not. If they run against each other, pity the Republic.