Remains of American Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Returing to U.S., Cops Meet Protesters at Mall of America, U.K. Probing Why British Muslim Family Denied Entry to U.S. While Trying to Visit Disneyland: P.M. Links

• 

  @KJohnsonKSTP/Twitter

  The remains of six American soldiers killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan are returning to the U.S.

• It's probably safe to start looking at polls now, Stephanie Slade wrote. Donald Trump crushed the latest one.
• Rand Paul celebrates Festivus.
• Officers prevented the entry of Black Lives Matter demonstrators into the Mall of America in Minnesota.
• The prime minister of the United Kingdom said his government would probe the case of a British Muslim family denied entry to the United States while trying to visit Disneyland.
• The president of Italy pardoned a former CIA station chief and another American convicted in connection with the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric as part of an "extraordinary rendition."
• The government in Somalia banned celebrations of Christmas and the New Year.

The full contents of Reason's January 2016 issue is now available here.
For access to our brand new February 2016 issue – as well as full access to all 47 years of Reason archives – subscribe to Reason Digital here.

New at Reason.com:

• "The Real Threat to Free Speech Now is Conformism and Cowardice": Spiked's Brendan O'Neill on free expression, environmentalism as "an apology for poverty" and why he is "a Marxist libertarian." By Nick Gillespie & Amanda Winkler

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Officers prevented the entry of Black Lives Matter demonstrators into the Mall of America in Minnesota.

Clean up on aisle irony.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Hello.

[Crusty Juggler]

It's me. I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

/looks down shyly. Looks up out of the corner of the eye. Looks down again kicking dirt.

You scare me. But sure.

[Crusty Juggler]

They say that time's supposed to heal you, but I ain't done much healing.

[Zunalter]

Hello, can you hear me?

[RAHeinlein]

I don't think Crusty Juggler knows how to quit you...

[DEG]

Though can Crusty put Rufus down for a while?

[Tonio]

Awww look at the coward with the bullhorn hiding behind the pigs in riot gear.

[AlmightyJB]

He's yelling "I am important. Everyone notice how important I am".

[Tonio]

"Respect my authoritay..."

[Riven]

You guys, he's super cereal! Why does no one ever take him cereal?

[Medical Physics Guy]

I'd say "It's Paul Blart!" except those movies looked unwatchable so I never saw them.

[Atanarjuat]

Your instincts have served you well in this case, I assure you.

[Kristen Bids No Trump]

The fact that the word "movies" is plural is the really frightening thing.

[colorblindkid]

They then proceeded to block people from getting to the airport. I thought nothing could piss people off more than keeping them from getting their last minute holiday shopping done. I was wrong. Keeping them from flying home to see their families for Christmas is definitely worse. It's like they're trying to hurt their own cause.

[Ted S.]

And of course they'll argue that the only reason people are mad at them is racism.

[Mad Scientist]

Flying home to see your family for the holiday is white privilege.

[Rockabilly]

White Christmas is white privilege and racist too !!

[Tonio]

You mean the #BLM protesters, right? That's...dumb.

[Hyperion]

I stopped shopping when Amazon said it can't get here by Christmas.

[Pope Jimbo]

I said it in another thread, but I'll repeat it here too.

To really go over the top, BLM should join forces with Critical Mass. Then they could ride bikes up and down the streets and fuck people's commutes up. #CriticalBlackMassMatters.

Two groups who can't seem to figure out that fucking with people who aren't the problem won't win them any friends.

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

Two groups who can't seem to figure out that fucking with people who aren't the problem won't win them any friends.

It works for police and teachers.

[Rhywun]

Don't forget us!

/taxi drivers

[Pathogen]

They have a cunning plan, to alienate and offend the very people they're counting on to force through the irrational and conflicting changes the think they want.. Stickin' it to the man!

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Keep in mind that the death these idiots are protesting was a violent piece of shit who not only was beating the crap out of his girlfriend, but went after the paramedics when they were trying to administer aid to her.

I'm not going to lose any sleep over the death of a woman beater with low impulse control, no matter who shot the asshole.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The government in Somalia banned celebrations of Christmas and the New Year.

The road to irony is paved with good intentions.

[BearOdinson]

"The road..."
I see what you did there

[AlmightyJB]

Government? Now I'm totally disillusioned.

[Unicorn Abattoir]

Why would all those Somali Libertarians let that happen?

[SIV]

They're Somalia's version of cosmos so "War On Christmas".

[Rhywun]

I liked them better without a government.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

I see wh

Forget it.

[commodious spittoon]

You know who else started something he didn't

[Medical Physics Guy]

H

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

I think he finished himself off very well.

[Pope Jimbo]

I hope Target - who has bent over backwards to accommodate Somali immigrant cashiers demands to not have to scan pork products - now makes all of them work Christmas and New Year's Day (with no pay bump) because their home country doesn't celebrate those holidays.

[Hyperion]

I don't see how people, all of whom can be replaced any day by self checkout lanes, have much bargaining power at all, let alone ridiculous demands like that. You don't want to scan pork products? Don't work at a grocery store you fucking morons.

[Pathogen]

No, see.. first they have to scan pork.. Then they have to scan alcohol.. the they'll be forced to scan Satans, or worse.. Jews.. It's a slippery slope..

[Pope Jimbo]

It is a slippery slope. Start with bacon rinds and the next thing you know you are scanning bread that has been baked from the blood of palestinian infants.

[Hyperion]

What about gay wedding cakes, can they scan those? I would think if not that the proggies have a problem with that, right?

[Pathogen]

They'll push them off the roof of the grocery store right after the scan them..

[Pathogen]

To be fair, they use the blood in pudding.. the bones are for bread and Matzah balls. Doesn't matter, as the muslims don't want to scan either..

[Rhywun]

I don't know about Target but a lot of grocery workers are unionized.

[RAHeinlein]

Minnesota...Al Franken voting block...enough said...

[JeremyR]

Self checkout lanes don't work.

A lot of stores have removed them.

[Copernicus would chip]

Self checkout lanes work.
Lots of stores are adding them.

/Debate is fun

[Rhywun]

I've never had a problem with them.

/anecdotes are also fun

[thom]

Self checkout lanes are awesome. The closest Target to me just added them!

[XM]

Islam dunk.

"Only Kwanzaa and Ramadan for you!"

[gaoxiaen]

"This is a matter of faith. The Christmas holiday and its drum beatings have nothing to with Islam."

And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the Noise! Noise! Noise! Noise!
That's one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!

[Swiss Servator]

*narrows gaze*

[Juvenile Bluster]

The government in Somalia banned celebrations of Christmas and the New Year.

Do they allow celebrations of "Federal Holiday" instead?

[Mad Scientist]

Restaurant takes security footage of their robbery and turns it into a commercial.

[tarran]

That had me laughing out loud.... "Mom also wants a taco!"

[AlmightyJB]

That's pretty original:)

[Fist of Etiquette]

The prime minister of the United Kingdom said his government would probe the case of a British Muslim family denied entry to the United States while trying to visit Disneyland.

He can invite Michael Savage over to discuss it.

[BearOdinson]

Or Pam Geller

[AlmightyJB]

Um...'cause they're British. Duh.

[Pan Zagloba]

I believe Gert Wilders is an atheist, so he's free this time of year, too.

[commodious spittoon]

I'm an atheist. Somehow I feel obligated to buy gifts for people. Mostly books. I'll ask to borrow them back in six months and if they're obviously unread I won't ever mention them again.

[cavalier973]

Atheists can't celebrate Christmas, because that would be cultural appropiation.

[AlmightyJB]

I'm atheist but culturally a Christian.

[GILMORE?]

"Officers prevented the entry of Black Lives Matter demonstrators into the Mall of America in Minnesota."

~and so a narrative of oppression was confirmed in a self-fulfilling prophesy

[Tonio]

Yep. The cops gave them exactly what they wanted. This will not end well.

[Medical Physics Guy]

Really? I would say it will end in "who cares", outside of liberal arts colleges and Salon.

[GILMORE?]

I don't know. That was the OWS fade-out. I think BLM will be a catch-all for racial grievance for a while. I think it will definitely have a moment where they have an internal fight over whether the "college radicals" are going to remain point on it... or whether it will become a wider more mainstream thing.

[Crusty Juggler]

From the story:

Black Lives Matter protesters moved their demonstration to the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport this afternoon after they were forced out of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, by a wall of officers.

The protesters caused "significant traffic backups," the airport said on its Twitter account. It also temporarily closed Terminal 2 checkpoints to "prevent protesters from gaining access to secure area.

[Tonio]

Hmmm, I'm wondering if the travelers could reasonably prevail in a lawsuit.

Those people are really doing everything wrong. There has to be some type of public place where they could do this.

[Crusty Juggler]

Protests similar to the airport stunt will result in them being considered of a nuisance than a change agent.

[cavalier973]

The British Muslim family was denied entry because they are British, obviously. I mean, it was the Brits that burnt down our Presidential Mansion, right? You got to watch those pyromaniacal limits closely, you know.

[cavalier973]

*Limeys, not limits

[Crusty Juggler]

For you nerds and/or kinky ladies: Oxygenics? Star Wars? Darth Vader 3-Spray Handheld Showerhead

[Atanarjuat]

Creepiest eyes ever.

[Riven]

Helloooooo

[Crusty Juggler]

Can you hear me? I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be.

[Riven]

I'm aware enough to know this is a new song... but I don't know the words, so I can't play

Well, I can't play this game, anyway...

[Crusty Juggler]

I play with myself all the time, so it is okay.

[DEG]

That's not surprising. "98% of you masturbate. The other 2% are liars."

[AlmightyJB]

You ordered one didn't you Crusty

[Fist of Etiquette]

It's probably safe to start looking at polls now...

Not in my safe space, it isn't.

[AlmightyJB]

The polls might disagree

[paranoid android]

The president of Italy pardoned a former CIA station chief and another American convicted in connection with the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric as part of an "extraordinary rendition."

Next season on Homeland...

[Tonio]

I wonder how much that pardon cost us?

[Brett L]

A little bunga bunga time with a couple of large breasted blondes?

[Tonio]

Would that it were that cheap. I'm thinking something with trade or aid.

[DEG]

Berlusconi is out. The new guy might have different tastes.

[Ted S.]

A hell of a lot more than it cost Obama.

[Tonio]

^This.

[Nativist, Racist & Xenophobe]

It's probably safe to start looking at polls now, Stephanie Slade wrote. Donald Trump crushed the latest one.

I hear the gnashing of cosmotarian teeth, and the lamentations of their same-sex spouses...

[Tonio]

Awww...so much butt hurt.

[BakedPenguin]

Yeah. We don't like his near-fascist candidate. **sniff**

[DEG]

Only real fascists for us.

[Brett L]

The lamentation of those who identify as women... And children.

[BearOdinson]

I think I need help. As time has gone on, I am starting to think that Trump might just get the R nom. If Bernie had a chance it wouldn't bother me so much, because I don't think a hard core socialist like him would get elected so I would vote L or whatever. But I feel that I must do whatever I can to fight Hillary.
I might have to vote for Trump!!! Please, anyone help!

[AlmightyJB]

Gary Johnson.

[Atanarjuat]

^this

[Trouser-Pod (The blowhard)]

Tell them bitches who you voted for!!!

[Mad Scientist]

Voting for someone you DON'T want to win is how we ended up with the mess we have now.

[IndyEleven]

Agree with this ^ but you can always take solace in the fact that the media is a bit more watchdog than lapdog if an R is in the White House.

[Hyperion]

I'm sort of a glass half full guy, through all of the daily nut punches, erosion of our constitutional rights, and the absolute failure of the libertarian moment to appear despite the cosmos constant prognostications about it. I guess I'm trying to say that despite all the signs pointing to everything getting worse, I refuse to become a negative whiner and instead try to think that somehow liberty is going to win. Some day.

The way I see it is that there really is nothing I can do to stop Trump from becoming POTUS. So instead of shitting my pants every day over it, I'll just enjoy his trolling of the media and Hillary and vote for whatever libertarian candidate is running, and enjoy the fact that Hillary will never be president.

[BearOdinson]

I wish I could be as optimistic as you. But I certainly appreciate your attitude!

[Nativist, Racist & Xenophobe]

Oh cut it out! If Rome survived Culigula, we can survive Trump! Jesus, you'd think the world was coming to an end or something. What can he break that isn't already hopelessly broken?

[Hyperion]

The cosmos' easter eggs? I mean 'spring spheres'.

[commodious spittoon]

Right, but the only institution we have batting for us even somewhat is the Supreme Court, and a Court populated primarily by Democrat appointees would end American liberty, full stop.

[Careless]

Yep. I won't vote for whoever it is, but I have to prefer the Republican candidate to Hillary because someone's gonna die in the next 9 years

[BigT]

"a Court populated primarily by Democrat appointees would end American liberty, full stop"

Can you even imagine the slime Hildebeast would add to the Court?

[Hyperion]

The beautiful thing would be if Bernie runs as an independent, dooming the Hildabeast. Although that would also probably mean we have Trump for 4 years. At least the first lady will be good looking for once.

[Domestic Dissident]

Huma Abedin will be the best looking First Lady since Jackie.

[Pathogen]

Too soon!..

[ant1sthenes]

I'm actually warming up to the idea that a Trump presidency might be about the only thing that can force the political elites to work together to reign in the imperial presidency.

[Trouser-Pod (The blowhard)]

1 Tyrant...500 tyrants... Plus, we kinda have that now, and it hasn't been reigned in by anyone.

Hell people lined up to make it happen the last x cycles. Now, others are doing the same (it would seem).

[ant1sthenes]

Just trying to find the silver lining. There's no way in hell I will vote for any of the potential Red or Blue candidates in the general except Paul or Cruz.

[Domestic Dissident]

One can only imagine what the pillow talk between Weigel and Yglesias is like these days. Needless to say, his prediction of Jeb Bush being the republican nominee isn't looking too good.

[Atanarjuat]

Actually, I'm kind of wishing my imagination weren't so vivid, all of a sudden.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Rand Paul celebrates Festivus.

Maybe some feats of campaign strength can help him move up the Festivus Poll.

[Calidissident]

I linked this earlier, but just so more people see it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12.....&referer;=

Bernie's thoughts on the Fed:

"If I were elected president, the foxes would no longer guard the henhouse. To ensure the safety and soundness of our banking system, we need to fundamentally restructure the Fed's governance system to eliminate conflicts of interest. Board members should be nominated by the president and chosen by the Senate. Banking industry executives must no longer be allowed to serve on the Fed's boards and to handpick its members and staff. Board positions should instead include representatives from all walks of life ? including labor, consumers, homeowners, urban residents, farmers and small businesses."

One of the dumbest things I've ever heard. How does anyone take this guy seriously? Between him and Trump (Carson too, but he's faded) this race is a complete shitshow. Not that the rest of the crowd on both sides is much better for the most part.

[Ted S.]

Both sides? Some of us are going to vote third-party.

/sarcasm

[DEG]

How does anyone take this guy seriously?

Someone made a comment a little while ago here on Hit & Run about "vegetable levels of retardation". I'm reminded of that comment and think vegetable levels of retardation might be involved.

[PBR Streetgang]

Vegetable levels of retardation might explain his call to put Farmers on the Fed Reserve Board.

[Hyperion]

We're going back to being an agrarian society. Did Bernie write a book entitled 'Dreams from my father, Pol Pot'?

[The Immaculate Trouser]

He's right. But why stop there? Why not end the oppression of the doctors' cartel and grab Joe Blow off the street to manage healthcare, too? Exciting times of wondering whether your next surgeon will be a receptionist with 2 1/2 years of Bachelors' work in communication, or a Pittsburgh steel mill assembly line worker await!

[Aloysious]

"If I were elected president, the foxes would no longer guard the henhouse....

So he would resign immediately?

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

I could go for some R. Budd Sanders myself.

[Medical Physics Guy]

Board positions should instead include representatives from all walks of life

How about instead, we strip the government's power to tinker with money.

[Mad Scientist]

That's just crazy talk!

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

Board positions should instead include representatives from all walks of life

If Bernie keeps this promise by appointing actual farm animals like hens and foxes to run the Fed, then I will vote for him. If he promises to only appoint human beings, then he's a liar and a fuckup.

[GILMORE?]

"One of the dumbest things I've ever heard. How does anyone take this guy seriously? "

That was posted earlier.

The NYT comments were notable, in that there was a 4/1 ratio of, "HELL YEAH BERNIE!!" to "Are you kidding?"

i.e. he motivates the fringe left, and makes the centrists go, "you're not serious....are you?"

[Calidissident]

Did someone else post it? I posted it in one of the cop threads earlier, I figured I'd repost here so it got more visibility. I'm surprised Reason hasn't run a story on it.

[Tejicano]

It could be that they have been writing just such an article but are having a difficult time keeping it from reading like a leading story in The Onion.

[In League with the Dark Ones]

Board positions should instead include representatives from all walks of life ? including labor, consumers, homeowners, urban residents, farmers and small businesses.

That's how The Coming Corporate State describes fascist business governance?

[In League with the Dark Ones]

Man, my posts are getting delayed!

[In League with the Dark Ones]

Banking industry executives must no longer be allowed to serve on the Fed's boards and to handpick its members and staff. Board positions should instead include representatives from all walks of life ? including labor, consumers, homeowners, urban residents, farmers and small businesses.

Compare this with how Raven Thomson described the British Union of Fascist's vision of a corporate state.

We now turn to the typical Corporation, and see in what manner it is organised and how it will function. There will be represented on the Corporation employers, workers and consumers. Each group will be given equal representation and equal power, and may not be outvoted by the other two.

[In League with the Dark Ones]

Further:

The consumers' representatives cannot be elected like the others, as consumers may very well be scattered broadcast. Actually the nation itself is the ultimate consumer in the case of most products and, therefore, the Government, as representative of the nation, is best fitted to nominate the consumers' representatives. Reputable persons will be chosen to represent the interests of the ultimate consumer, and these will hear the grievances and suggestions of anyone who is affected by the working of the industry in question. In many cases other industries are big consumers, when the Government will appoint representatives to be nominated by the Corporations controlling these industries to watch over their interests.

[Rhywun]

Rand Paul celebrates Festivus.

I can't imagine why voters don't find him endearing.

[AlmightyJB]

I can't either. Seriously.

[Rhywun]

Yeah, but we're not normal people.

[Domestic Dissident]

Unfortunately, I'll never forget that first debate performance. It was so awful, I suspect he may have soured a lot of people on him forever. He wasn't even close to being ready for prime time.

[DEG]

The president of Italy pardoned a former CIA station chief and another American convicted in connection with the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric as part of an "extraordinary rendition."

Hmmm.. the link sends me to reason.com's admin page.

[Ted S.]

You've been extraordinarily rendered.

[Rhywun]

My orphans come out great when I extraordinarily render them.

[AlmightyJB]

Low and slow is the key.

[Riven]

Just use a similar pace as you would when cranking an ice cream machine. They come out perfect every time.

[Sapient Mulch]

Light, extra virgin I'd imagine?

[Rhywun]

The prime minister of the United Kingdom said his government would probe the case of a British Muslim family denied entry to the United States while trying to visit Disneyland.

There's got to be a Rotherham joke in this, amirite?

[Brett L]

Only the Mouse grooms young people at Disney!

[BigT]

Not so fast.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015.....sting.html

[Trouser-Pod (The blowhard)]

"Their communications and desires were outrageous and deviant," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference, according to the Lakeland Ledger.

Hmmm...now, where have we heard that name before?

[GILMORE?]

Someone posted a link to this Freddie de Boer piece earlier today...?

forget who that was...

anyway, he says this (again, in his 300th iteration of the same basic idea) re: His desire to "reform the left" =

"Claims that doing yoga is impermissible cultural appropriation... the assumption that linking to Tweets constitutes violence but harassing and degrading people to the point of suicide is noble activism, filing Title IX claims against people for writing essays in major magazines, allowing your position to become synonymous with attacks on the right to free expression, claiming that you can fight capitalism and the state with hashtags ? this is the behavior of a movement that cannot win. We cannot win that way."

He nevertheless still seems to think that these "bad leftists" are still engaged in his same desire to "Build a Better World"

i.e. ....seeking "economic justice"..."fighting racism and sexism and homophobia", "tearing down brutal injustices", "ending labor exploitation", etc.

He seems to think the only problem of the Left is one of *methods* rather than of fundamental conception.

It never seems to occur to him that the feelgood "justice" claims are all just superficial cover for a leftist desire to CONTROL PEOPLE.

He thinks he represents the most worldly "open minded" part of the Left, when in fact he (like all academics) are the most naive.

[Lord Humungus]

hey, wankers, I'm sure no one has missed me. Of course that is the lot of being Lord of the Wasteland.

[Mad Scientist]

What a puny plea.

[Lord Humungus]

oh and Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, something something Jews and Muslims living together in peace and harmony. May you get everything you want under the Christmas tree, including an asthmatic cat. You crazy bastards!

[Tonio]

Did you go somewhere? [resumes looking at picture magazines]

[Juvenile Bluster]

Who are you again?

[AlmightyJB]

Hi LH. How was prison?

[Lord Humungus]

I became a prison gang leader in only one day. Amazing that.

[BigT]

From tight end to wide receiver in one day?

[Zunalter]

LOL!

[Aloysious]

Did you go back to professional wrestling?

[GILMORE?]

Aloha, did you have Irish with you? he seems to have re-appeared recently.

[Crusty Juggler]

There goes my theory that Lord Humungus is Kurt Russell.

[Seguin, the Mighty Monoclops]

Why did you just walk away...just walk away?

[Bill Dalasio]

I have to disagree with some of the commenters here with regard to the Mall of America story. The cops, in this case, were doing their job. These guys were coming for the express purpose of shutting down a private business during one of its busiest times of the year. The businesses have a right to private property free from trespass for the purpose of impeding legitimate commerce and it is a legitimate function of the police to protect that right.

[Domestic Dissident]

Is "Black Lives Matter" seriously still a thing? I thought that creep exposed himself as a con artist and a charlatan weeks ago.

[Zunalter]

If that were a criteria of existence, precisely 0 leftist action organizations would currently exist.

[SIV]

Reason covers them as a civil liberties org.

[Pope Jimbo]

It gets a bit grey when you consider the MOA regularly tells us locals that we need to give them gobs of taxpayer money because the MOA is really a public treasure of our great state.

Legally we have settled this in Minnesoda. The MOA was ruled to be private property and BLM is technically out of line.

That said, a lot of us tax payers probably have a bit of schadenfreude at the idea of watching the greedy corporate welfare leeches get pantsed by a bunch of clueless protesters. There really is no good guy in this fight.

It also doesn't help that last year and this year the local pigs went overboard with hundreds of cops despite the protests being pretty peaceful (last year at least).

[GILMORE?]

Iran = "You say we break rules?? WE SAY YOU BREAK RULES!! "

Obama's "unprecedented, signature, groundbreaking" Iran "deal" is less than 2 months old and already has diplomatic quality of soggy toilet paper. News Media seems far more interested in Trumps' Yiddish Vocabulary.

[AlmightyJB]

What have we ever done to make Iran ever take us seriously about anything.

[Crusty Juggler]

Someone send a Roosevelt over there to fuck up their government.

[Zunalter]

Obama will be freed up in a few months...

[Tonio]

OK, people, Merry Christmas to all of you that celebrate it in whatever fashion. Also Yule, Hannukah, Festivus, whatever.

[Hyperion]

Bah humbug!

[The Immaculate Trouser]

Some of us are still working off pre-Christide hangovers and are triggered by you chirpily wishing us well, asshole.

But seriously, right back at you.

[DEG]

Merry Christmas!

[DEG]

Hmm... that Merry Christmas! was meant to be in response to Tonio. But given TIT's hangover, it works there too I think.

[BigT]

Make Mary, be happy!

[Mindyourbusiness]

She was always easy, anyhow. Merry Christmas, Chanukah, Winter Solstice or whatever to all you bums. You're all good people (though Tony et. al. get an extra lump of bituminous).

[Lord Humungus]

I've been on hanging around the house, burning the last of those vacation days. And drinking plenty of vodka and ignoring the news. Good times.

[DEG]

Ignoring the news is a good thing. I do that every now and then and feel much better. I should do it more often.

[BearOdinson]

And back to you!! And to all the commentariat!

[Mad Scientist]

No love for Saturnalia!?

[OneOut]

Are you anti Kawanza ?

racist pig

[GILMORE?]

"Give us your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses....As Long as They Have a Wicked Batting Average and/or a ~3.0 ERA"

[Hyperion]

I've come to 2 conclusions here. PM links are only posted when I'm gone to get beer. And FOE never goes to get beer during the time when PM links are posted.

[Copernicus would chip]

FOE is a libertarian. Of course his beer is delivered by orphans.

You have exposed yourself as a fraud.

[Zunalter]

The government in Somalia banned celebrations of Christmas and the New Year.

Man, what a Libertarian Utopia this place is!

[RAHeinlein]

ED: Thank you for using the term "soldiers" versus "troops"

[SIV]

They were Air Force cops.

[GILMORE?]

Texas = Hopes Pregnant Women Die of AIDS Instead of Getting Abortions

[OneOut]

so your headline link is what you garnered out of the article ?

That's interesting

Perhaps Planned Parenthood can make up the shortfall by rasing the prices of baby parts.

They should explore one of the methods discussed on one of the tapes which is to use a different method and to be more careful when extracting the baby's brain so it will bring more money on the used baby parts market.

[Lord Humungus]

listening to some solo John Cale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td5ggufGakU

[cavalier973]

[DEG]

What you did there, I don't see it.

[cavalier973]

It was an amazing post, filled with wit and wisdom, that everyone could have enjoyed reading. I'm too lazy to repost it, unfortunately.

[Lord Humungus]

I would have laughed, I would have cried.
Instead just part of me died.

[GILMORE?]

Al Qaeda Infiltrating America Posing As Carnival Workers

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

I loved the note written in English that says "We don't speak english".

[BearOdinson]

Only two things scare me. And one of them is nuclear war!

[greasonable]

For posterity's sake

[Zunalter]

...I didn't think you could run for President if you weren't a citizen?

[gaoxiaen]

Taking away the jobs of American teenaged boys.

[OneOut]

Over a lunch of chicken marinated in chili flakes and pork chops, "

Who could get mad about being served a lunch of chicken marinated in chili flakes and posrk chops ?

I love chicken marinated in pork chops

[The Immaculate Trouser]

Spain's elections are even more retarded than their Spanish accent/lisp thing:

1st Place: The Christian democrat party representing center-right. Barely

2nd Place: A Socialist Worker's party traditionally representing the center-left. Barely.

3rd Place: A far-left anti-austerity party run by a red-diaper baby with a pony-tail and a PhD in Political Science. Sweet Jesus.

4th Place: A libertarianish/classical liberal party, which unfortunately has as its main issue not letting Catalonia vote for independence. Sort of UKIP-ish on that issue. Yay for the legalized prostitution and marijuana planks, double yay for sane economics. Meh on their main issue of keeping anyone from seceding from Spain.

Positive note: neither the libertarianish nor the far-left parties that won about 45% of the vote between them even existed as national parties before the 2015 election. But mostly a shit result. At least it wasn't as shit as the Brit election.

[Hyperion]

What does libertarian even mean in Eurotardia? I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean what we think it means.

[The Immaculate Trouser]

Lowering corporation tax to 25%, in line with many other European countries.[32]
Lower and harmonise VAT to a rate between 16% and 19%.
Capping the top-rate of income tax at 40%.
Increase R&D spending to 3% of GDP.
Abolish or merge municipalities with a population less than 5,000.
Reducing bureaucracy and red tape.
More transparent party funding.
Crackdown on corruption.
Reform or abolish the Senate.[33]
Earned income tax credit to fight in-work poverty.
"Austrian Backpack" transferable unemployment compensation.[clarification needed]
Devolving training to the citizens from employers associations and trade unions, known to have misused formation funds.
Easing immigration policies to attract talent and investors.
Legalizing prostitution and marijuana

Doesn't look too bad, to be honest.

[Hyperion]

The last 2 are good goals.

Reducing bureaucracy and red tape.
Crackdown on corruption.

Hahahhaaahaaahaa

[BigT]

"Lower and harmonise VAT to a rate between 16% and 19%.
Capping the top-rate of income tax at 40%."

So 59% tax. Fu@k Europe.

[Rhywun]

Viu la Catalunya!

/a fan

[Crusty Juggler]

The Growing Food Fight over the Government's Nutrition Guidelines

Decent summary about how the government injects itself into your life, and then tries to correct it poorly, and then tries again to correct it.

[Rt. Hon. Judge Woodrow Chipper]

You Crusty Jugglered the link.

[Hyperion]

Cruggled the link.

[Riven]

SF'd

[Crusty Juggler]

Couldn't google it yourself you lazy lazies?

[Riven]

I barely have enough energy right now thanks to the Vader showerhead above. So really, you only have yourself to blame.

[Riven]

I was a little concerned when they cited Taubes... and then even more concerned by this

If you've been paying any attention, you've seen the stories about how fat isn't necessarily bad for you, while carbs are the real enemy

Still, interesting article. I like the idea of less government involvement, of course.

[Hyperion]

If you've been paying any attention, you've seen the stories about how fat isn't necessarily bad for you

That's pretty accurate in a simplistic sort of way.

[Riven]

It is. I didn't mean to imply otherwise--it's just that neither fat, nor carbs, no protein are "bad" for you.

Eating too goddamn much is bad for you, regardless of the macro-nutrient content.

[Crusty Juggler]

He goes to great lengths to not make definitive statements as to what is good and what is bad.

These stupid fights matter, even though I would obviously prefer if they did not happen at all.

[GILMORE?]

Polls = Can Produce Any Conclusion You Want, Depending on What Detail You Highlight

[lafe.long]

Texas State Capitol: Freedom From Religion Display Removed After Deemed Inappropriate by Officials

[Texas Governor Greg] Abbott complains that FFRF's Bill of Rights display is "tasteless sarcasm" and that FFRF mocks "our Nation's Judeo-Christian heritage." Ironically, Abbott cited a fake George Washington quote, while claiming the FFRF display "promotes ignorance and falsehood."

The Bill of Rights display features Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington gathered in reverence before the Bill of Rights, overseen by the Statue of Liberty. In addition to the "nativity," the display also features a sign celebrating the Winter Solstice.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that viewpoint discrimination in a public forum violates the First Amendment.

[lafe.long]

Yokeltarians and cosmos heads both asplode.

[GILMORE?]

Both the FFRF group and the Gov are, amazingly, both in the wrong simultaneously.

FFRF, in a maybe-intended ironic twist... has every right to ask for and receive permission for their display, which claims its a temporary celebration of the Winter Solstice... which (arguably) could be defended as a 'seasonal celebration', and is protected under supreme court rulings permitting such temporary displays... and their right to do so is explicitly part of FREEDOM OF RELIGION. By their own rationale, were the rulings to have gone otherwise... their display would have been 'banned'.

They seem to want to have the government in the business of "stripping religion out of speech". Which would have default *barred their protest* which includes religious symbols in it.

The Gov, on the other hand, who wants the display removed *after* it was approved, claims to be doing so because it offends his religious sensibilities... the exact thing courts ruled against

[kbolino]

I don't like the FFRF, but it seems to me that Abbott doth protest too much.

[BearOdinson]

I basically said the same thing below. Only it took m me way too many words!
Well done on your succinct usage of the language!

[GILMORE?]

" it seems to me that Abbott doth protest too much."

Agreed.

He seems to have taken the ACLU-bait by removing the display, giving them an opportunity to sue and make a big fucking issue out of it. Free publicity.

...but i have no doubt almost no one will grasp that if the ACLU/FRFF sues... it would be doing so under claims that their "Anti-Freedom of Religion" display is protected by.... freedom of religion. Heads explode.

[BearOdinson]

That is an interesting point. I am of the belief that religious displays shouldnt be banned on public land as long as there is equal access for different faiths (and indeed for an athiest view point. Of course, the best answer is to limit the amount of "public land".
It always struck me that forcing a removal of ALL religious symbols from govt land is not neutral, but rather pushing atheism. I know them are fightin words round here,
In this case, I believe the best answer is to have left the display up.

[BearOdinson]

So in general, the FFRF folks are generally assholes (and as I have pointed out I am no Christian).
But in this case, I don't see that they were truly "mocking" Christianity (whether or not the State Preservation Board can decide that or not is another question).
I can certainly see that one can make a case that on State land, they shouldn't have religious symbols. But FFS, as long as you are free to choose to participate or not, I just don't see the 1A issue in general against religious displays on public land. However, it does seem that this display should be allowed just as a Christmas Tree, manger scene or menorah.
Just a thought

[Notorious UGCC]

That was actually a cute secular creche with the Founding Fathers.

It was meant as a flip-off to the bleevers, but it seems to me to be in good taste, despite the intent. Did I miss something?

[Notorious UGCC]

"I believe this mocking exhibit was approved in error and the State Preservation Board is under no obligation to support or allow displays intentionally disrespectful to others" - Texas Lieut. Governor

You're always going to offend *someone* - for example, the FFRF people seem offended by portrayals of the Christ Child in a crib.

OK, then, since someone's going to be offended at everything (it's a corollary to Murphy's law), just let the displays be done on a nondiscriminatory basis.

I doubt the FFRF will convince anybody besides themselves.

Now, in the past they've shown some cleverness, as with their atheists in foxholes monument.

[OneOut]

Meanwhile the Sec. of State, of the State of Texas, says that 1000 people a day are moving to Texas.

[OneOut]

I do think that the Gov. kinda shit in his own mess kit as our WWII friends might have said.

There is nothing in that display that a freedom loving Texan should argue with.

The fact that it is a takeoff on the manger scene should be appreciated not attacked in my humble opinion.

The founders gave birth to a nation that allowed Christians and others to grow in their freedom without their next door neighbors (goernment ) telling them what they are and are not allowed to do is a message that should be exaulted by Christians not derided.

[Notorious UGCC]

Let's have some consideration for the Freedom From Religion people - if Christians *aren't* offended, the FFRF will be sorely disappointed.

[OneOut]

The Gov.is by most meaures a pretty good guy even by Libertarian standards.

Here I think he jumped the shark. However since the Texas Governor is in a wheelchair I wonder if SJWs might cut him a little slack.?

He is , after all , in a wheelchair and he should he not be afforded all the accomidations of a handi-capped person ?

I see no reason why the Govennor of Texas should not be extended all the rights and symapathies of any handi capped person

[Notorious UGCC]

From the Somali article, the govt spokesman said, "Christmas is for Christians. Not for Muslims."

Christmas is for Christians? Not according to Cromwell's soldiers.

[Notorious UGCC]

"The prime minister of the United Kingdom said his government would probe the case of a British Muslim family denied entry to the United States while trying to visit Disneyland."

Yo, probe *this!*

They have no U.S. ties, they simply got a tourist visa and then it got revoked.

What human rights issue is at stake here?

They were not deprived of anything, because they were not U.S. citizens or legal residents - they had no right to live in or visit the U.S., so being denied entry doesn't take away anything which belongs to them.

How is this a suitable subject for diplomatic intervention?

[BigT]

Yes, that was a mickey mouse complaint.

[Notorious UGCC]

I see what you did there.

[OneOut]

I see it.

Yes I see it. I bet others do as well.

Good job.

[JeremyR]

Duh, they are muslims.

Don't you know, every time a muslim doesn't get what they want, it's racist?

(Never mind Islam isn't a race..)

[Kristen Bids No Trump]

Wish me luck as I attempt to fly out of DCA at 5pm. At least I was selected for the fucking pre-check.

I'd like to thank my dad for "insisting" I engage in this mad scramble on what amounts to no more than a three-day weekend. Or I could blame his new wife, since we haven't done Christmas as a family in over 20 years.