DEA Spies on Americans' Travel to Seize Cash, Trump Will Debate if Moderator is "Fair," Clinton Violated "Spirit" of Ethics Pledge: A.M. Links

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  shay sowden/Flickr

  The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) refuses to take marijuana off its Schedule I classification as a dangerous narcotic with "a high potential for abuse" and "no currently accepted medical use."

• But the DEA will loosen restrictions, allowing for the possibility of more medical marijuana research, which kind of exposes the hypocrisy of the decision to not reclassify.
• The DEA also reportedly spies on Americans' travel information as a means of seizing huge amounts of cash in order to "feed the monster." The monster, in this case, being the agency's budget.
• Donald Trump says he'll be happy to debate Hillary Clinton if there's a "fair moderator."
• Ethicists say Clinton violated the "spirit" of her pledge to keep State Department business and Clinton Foundation business separate.
• Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demands the U.S. extradite exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan blames for last month's failed coup attempt.
• Laziness is a sign of intelligence, according to scientists at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) refuses to take marijuana off its Schedule I classification...

Obama's not here, man.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

[Private Chipperbot]

Malia hardest hit?

[Rich]

*** applauds while holding breath ***

[Suthenboy]

If only this agency were answerable to some executive official who wasn't a complete shitweasel.

[JWW]

Its shitweazles all the way up!

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

That's a fucking bummer, man.

[Bee Tagger]

The DEA also reportedly spies on Americans' travel information

Just don't narc on my match.com profile that say "I love to travel", guys.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

I can imagine how those dates go. "Let's see, in the past month I've been to Colombia, Jamaica, and Burma..."

[Brett L]

I don't think "Mature male seeking prepubescents for 'mentoring'" is allowed on match.com

[Lee Genes]

The DEA surveillance is separate from the vast and widely-known anti-terrorism apparatus that now surrounds air travel, which is rarely used for routine law enforcement. It has been carried out largely without the airlines' knowledge.

It is a lucrative endeavor, and one that remains largely unknown outside the drug agency. DEA units assigned to patrol 15 of the nation's busiest airports seized more than $209 million in cash from at least 5,200 people over the past decade after concluding the money was linked to drug trafficking, according to Justice Department records. Most of the money was passed on to local police departments that lend officers to assist the drug agency.

And that is how you run an extortion scheme.

[Rufus The Monocled]

The mob is jealous.

The DEA is a scumbag agency if this is what they do. Of course they don't want to remove marijuana as S1. It has nothing to do with justice and health. Instead, it's their CASH COW.

[Anomalous]

The DEA is a scumbag agency if this is what they do.

FTFY.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

211) Progressives are preparing the ground for a tobacco-style assault on US oil companies. Here's an editorial from yesterday's Washington Post, written by Elizabeth Warren and her Rhode Island colleague Sheldon Whitehouse.

It provides the information that the "attorneys general of Massachusetts and New York are investigating whether ExxonMobil violated state laws by knowingly misleading their residents and shareholders about climate change."

Note this line: the investigation concerns "whether [the oil industry] has spent decades deliberately deceiving the public about the harms associated with its product."

A little preview of the fun times ahead with Hillary as president!

[MetalBard]

Gee I can't wait to see the new Truth commercials on TV. Do you think the government will make Exxon pay for anti-oil commercials the same way they made big tobacco pay for anti-smoking commercials?

[mad.casual]

Do you think the government will make Exxon pay for anti-oil commercials the same way they made big tobacco pay for anti-smoking commercials?

I hope it's a consolation to them that the truth.com TV commercials make me want to take up smoking.

[Agent Cooper]

I only like the contract one. It's nicely written and well-shot. And clever. Ineffective, but clever.

[Rhywun]

And just like "big tobacco", "big oil" paying is really *you* paying.

Get ready for $20/gallon gas.

[Brett L]

Yes, its true, the attorneys general of several states conspired to violate the civil rights of numerous people who happen to work in the oil industry. Here's hoping that RICO applies to state governments.

[Free Society]

Here's hoping that RICO applies to state governments.

He'll be here all week folks. Remember to tip your Mexican ass secks prostitute.

[Brett L]

What am I, a leper?

[Free Society]

A funny one at least

[Tonio]

But any investigation into wrongdoing by progs favorite government officials is just a money-wasting witch hunt!!1!

[Tonio]

POSSIBLE wrongdoing, of course.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

That is NOT possible...

[mad.casual]

But any investigation into wrongdoingfeeling by progs favorite government officials is just a money-wasting witch hunt!!1!

Mens rea for me, but not for thee.

[Glide]

Most amusing part:
Congressional investigations and hearings have a unique ability to focus a nation's attention and bring facts of public importance to light. (...) A committee chairman could do little more to protect any person's right to speak freely than to give that person the chance to testify before Congress. We would love to hear what they have to say.

I seem to remember Democrats pretty recently not being such big fans of .

[Glide]

Damn it.

...fans of using congressional investigations to spike political footballs.

[mad.casual]

Not to mention that, since we aren't talking about (e.g.) investigations into steroid use in pro-baseball, this seems awfully callous or tone-deaf, bordering on victim-blaming.

Whaddya need an investigation for? Sometimes, SOS's fuck up, consulates get raided, and Ambassadors get killed. That's just the way things work. I suppose if we were talking about a construction or industrial management situation that lead to the death of a handful of personnel you'd want that investigated too huh?

[Suthenboy]

I wonder if they will be successful dragging the whole 'global warming' scam into court and putting it on trial. With tobacco there was no doubt that the product is harmful, but this is a different story.

[Zeb]

And even if oil is as harmful as they claim, it is still undeniably hugely beneficial. People pretty much know all of the problems with oil (which exist whether or not you buy the climate change hype), but still want it because it is hugely useful and improves everyone's lives.

[Free Society]

If everyone stopped using tobacco within a year, people would be healthier and live longer needing less medical care. If everyone stopped using fossil fuels and petroleum products specifically, people would die by the hundreds of millions or even a couple billion if we deprive the algae bloom populations of the third world countries as well...but those dead people would also need less medical care. So it's a wash.

[JWW]

Yeah, the choice essentially boils down to "use petroleum products" or "live in a cave", this won't end well.

[UnCivilServant]

Laziness is a sign of intelligence, according to scientists at Florida Gulf Coast University.

They meant to release the report in 2010, but couldn't be bothered.

[straffinrun]

This comment is genius.

[WTF]

Nice

[Swiss Servator]

*applause*

[robc]

The three great virtues of the programmer: laziness, impatience, and hubris.

[Brett L]

Its only hubris when you fuck it up.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

"I divide my officers into four classes as follows: The clever, the industrious, the lazy, and the stupid. Each officer always possesses two of these qualities.

Those who are clever and industrious I appoint to the General Staff. Use can under certain circumstances be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy qualifies for the highest leadership posts. He has the requisite nerves and the mental clarity for difficult decisions. But whoever is stupid and industrious must be got rid of, for he is too dangerous."

General Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord 1933

/Probably sounds better in the original german...

[Chipwooder]

Hammerstein was a truly great man. Ludwig Beck gets most of the historical recognition due to his participation in the July 20 plot, but his opposition to Hitler was based on strategy rather than philosophy. Beck simply thought Hitler a fool who recklessly took Germany to war before they were ready. Hammerstein was opposed to every bit of the Nazi philosophy.

[BigT]

Trump - clever and lazy

Hitlery - stupid and industrious

[R C Dean]

I've heard different versions of that going back to the 19th, maybe 18th century. I use it at work all the time.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Might be reposting this; because squirrels...

"I divide my officers into four classes as follows: The clever, the industrious, the lazy, and the stupid. Each officer always possesses two of these qualities.

Those who are clever and industrious I appoint to the General Staff. Use can under certain circumstances be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy qualifies for the highest leadership posts. He has the requisite nerves and the mental clarity for difficult decisions. But whoever is stupid and industrious must be got rid of, for he is too dangerous."

General Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord, 1933

/Probably sounds better in the original german...

[Mickey Rat]

"All great technological progress is made by lazy men trying to find an easier way to do things"

Apologies to original author.

[Brett L]

I don't know, but Heinlein's "The Man Who Was Too Lazy to fail" was a revelation to me.

[Mainer2]

Henry Ford hated farming

[Lord at War]

Heinlein did a great take on this in "Time Enough for Love".

The man who was too lazy to fail.

[Lord at War]

I was too lazy to watch for Brett beating me by 7 hours...

[Lord Humungus]

saw this Tolkien quote today via the Bastiat Institute:

"My political opinions lean more and more to anarchy. The most improper job of any man, even saints, is bossing other men. There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power stations. I hope that, encouraged now as patriotism, may remain a habit."

[UnCivilServant]

...

I Need the output from power stations and factories. I don't want them being blown up to make a political point!

[Libertarian]

If you're blowing up power plants instead of capitol buildings, you're doing anarchy wrong.

[robc]

In Tolkien era England, the government was nationalizing power plants and factories, so they were capitol buildings, in a sense.

[Bill Dalasio]

Then I'd cheer if it werethe power plants' and factories' former owners.

[Tonio]

Tolkein was also an unabashed Luddite. I don't think he had a particularly well-developed political philosophy.

[Princess Trigger]

Yeah, linguists aren't my first choice for political thought.
See Chomsky.

[Suthenboy]

See Lakoff. Brilliant man, vile human being.

[Red Rocks Okey-Dokein]

Lakoff is a classic sophist--someone who makes ridiculous arguments respectable because they sound smart.

[Detroit Linguist]

His linguistic arguments are pretty respectable--much of my work has been influenced by it. His political interpretations not so much. The political parties as mothers and fathers is just silly, and, of course treats the political spectrum as binary, which we libertarians have argued against since we started.
However, since he's also a friend I won't comment on earlier comments.

[OneOut]

Did you just light the Heroic Mullao signal ?

[toolkien]

Well, I've always maintained that Tolkien's Middle Earth writings were extremely Anarcho-Catholic. An amalgamation of voluntary-ism with an extreme religious belief. The Ring was the use Force and Coercion, and those who "rejected the West" and endeavored to control and enslave lost Eru's grace and those who - in their small way - contributed to fighting those who would coerce, voluntarily, were subtly assisted. But, as a part of his world view, he was also an extreme naturalist and was anti-progress. In the end, I am always left with the a strange feeling of freedom wrapped up - ultimately - in an anti-humanist religious cloak. Smash the instruments created out of man's ingenuity to get closer to God. The Devil is in the gears and levers, and God is in the Trees, Bees, and Birds. I think he was the first famous "crunchy conservative".

Gotta like the individualism, at least the appearance of such, but it's hard to get on board with the Ghosts and Faeries (at least "real world" belief in such) and the beliefs that are drawn from them. I guess it's kind of like Ayn Rand - "freedom of the individual! BUT, appreciate art the 'right way' - my way". It takes all kinds, and at least individualism is a key feature, but a wary eye is appropriate. There's Robespierres in them thar woods....

[Overt]

Yes, the entire Elvish race leaves one with the sense that Tolkien saw divinity in the rejection of man's tools and technology. The elves were in all ways superior to men, and their wisdom and oneness with nature was so overplayed as to make elves insufferable to someone like myself who loves the advancement of technology. In many ways, the One Ring is just a piece of ultimate technology that shackles those who would pursue it.

The good news is that the theme of man's progress towards industrialization was merely a thematic backdrop to the real story about the One Ring. It is not crucial to the plot, and so you can gloss over easily (Skipping over Tom Bombadil and the Rape of the Shire will not severely detract from the story line).

I have found that the parable of the One Ring is invaluable in getting people to relate to government excess. The story is full of otherwise "good" and "just" characters seduced by the notion of using the ring for good. While "Power corrupts" has become cliche, many millenials watched the movie while young and can see how even these good characters were ultimately undone by the sway of the ring, no matter how noble their initial cause.

[toolkien]

I don't think the industrialization was a backdrop. The actual manifest results of the "evil" was the industrialization. Sauron (granted who was so powerful he could twist nature itself) and his tower, Saruman and his transformation of Orthanc, all the way down to the Shire at the end. Tolkien has stated he was against allegory, but not applicability, and at nearly every turn, industrialization is demonized, and is pretty much fobbed off as pointless destruction for destruction's sake. Too simplistic and dangerous.

The upshot is, much of our problems we have today is economic. People operate under the impression that goods just materialize out of nowhere. They are taken for granted. One can insert the old saw about the humble pencil, and all the the technology and know-how that goes into them, here. We have sectors of society that are so ignorant that they are trying to destroy the very fountain of their wealth and well being. I have to put Tolkien in one of those sectors. A very close second to the anti-coercion message is the "live simply and build it down and hug a tree and God will provide" message.

It could simply have been the anti-fascist position of runaway "progress" tied in with mindless use of broadcast Force, which I'd be against as well. But Tolkien seems to way overplay the "naturalism" hand in my mind.

[Clich? Bandit]

ehh, I think the sector that doesn't appreciate it may be large but the sector that ACTUALLY produces is the largest and they may just be blind to their own jobs. Watch "How It's Made" on Science channel.

(I love/hate that damn show...you can lose hours if not careful, "one second honey, I want to see how wheel bearings are made.")

Anyway, that show exposes thousands and thousands of jobs, a la "I Pencil", that even someone with our perspective tends to take for granted. And I ain't talkin' bout the people you see doing stuff. How about those factory machines? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS HOW TO FIX/CREATE A BOWLING BALL WEIGHT BALANCING CURING MACHINE? These jobs exist.

So while I agree many may not acknowledge it directly (especially writers) many do have an intuitive understanding of and appreciation for the larger production economy.

For my interpretation of LOTR, and I have stated this before when the movies came out, is really about the vaunting of free will and how man, for all his flaws, is MORE favored by the Valar than Elves. Boromir represents the most basal human characteristics, and Faramir the most enlightened. A simple story about good and evil and the two sides of men. But in the end ONLY Faramir is not tempted by the Ring...FUCK THE MOVIE /breath 10.9.8.... sorry bout that.
The Elves had their time and ceded the world to the imperfect but free willed men. It is almost exactly the story of the angels.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Donald Trump says he'll be happy to debate Hillary Clinton if there's a "fair moderator."

He should be thrilled no matter who moderates. This is the arena in which being himself can only benefit him.

[Injun, as in from India]

Fair?

As in light-skinned?

RACIST!

[Rich]

Nice catch.

[Mainer2]

In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Became the chair of the Federal Reserve
Her name was Janet Yellen.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

He should be thrilled no matter who moderates. This is the arena in which being himself can only benefit him.

Making a show of the process is also right in his wheelhouse, as well.

Free advertising.

[Homple]

It would be fun to watch Trump tear into a moderator pulling a stunt like Too-Much-Candy Crowley's prompting of Obama in the Obama / Romney debate.

[Bee Tagger]

Laziness is a sign of intelligence, according to scientists at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Sounds like some scientists bought stock in Trump hashtags.

[invisible furry hand]

Judge to be investigated after complaints made over her use of c-word in court exchange with racist thug

AsBOs are bullshit, so this guy should never have been charged, and I can understand why he lost his temper in court. But her response is splendid, if not very judicial

[straffinrun]

They couldn't find a picture of the guy wearing his high school graduation garb?

[WTF]

Holy shit, Australia actually arrests and charges people for having ungoodthinkful opinions! And actually convicts and sentences them!

[invisible furry hand]

This is a UK story, so it's technically because he's repeatedly breached Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. ASBOs are crazy because they go wider than icky opinions - if you annoy someone somewhere you can have an ASBO slapped on you. Loud sex that annoys neighbours has led to an ASBO.

Here is the Australian story posted below on icky opinions

[Tonio]

Does Australia have ASBOs yet?

[invisible furry hand]

No, thank Satan. Each state has its own public order offences, which naturally are used in a capricious manner at the whim of some cop. So in NSW public swearing can be a $500 fine. But no ASBOs yet

[Tonio]

Thanks. Good luck.

[Rhywun]

Judge Lynch jailed Hennigan for 18 months for insulting and making racist slurs to a black Caribbean mother in Harlow, Essex.

And the locals are cheering her on.

England is truly lost.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ethicists say Clinton violated the "spirit" of her pledge to keep State Department business and Clinton Foundation business separate.

Depends on what your definition of spirit is.

[Injun, as in from India]

Vodka?

[Agent Cooper]

Bang!

[UnCivilServant]

Distilled alcoholic beverage.

[Drave Robber]

STEVE SMITH DRINK SPIRIT, VIOLATE EVERYTHING ELSE

[Brett L]

I think they mean "letter" of the agreement.

[John]

Sort of like she violated the "Spirit" of the national security laws regarding the handling of classified information. Mortals violate the law. Hillary is above that and lives in the spirit realm.

[DEATFBIRSECIA]

+1 Charm of Corruption.

[Mickey Rat]

"Be careful, it may affect your beauty."

[JWW]

So spirit = letter now?

[Injun, as in from India]

Ethicists say Clinton violated the "spirit" of her pledge to keep State Department business and Clinton Foundation business separate.

What kind of ethicist?

A theoretical ethicist or an experimental ethicisit?

[WTF]

She violated her pledge, period, and engaged in corrupt pay to play. This "violated the spirit" bullshit is just spin.

[Rich]

"The spirit is weak, but the flesh is willing."

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

"...the flesh is spongy and bruised!"

[Rhywun]

+1 snu snu

[Suthenboy]

I am really getting sick of this horseshit. She didn't violate the spirit of any pledge. It isnt a pledge. It's the law and violating it is a felony. There are a zillion former officials in prison for doing less.

She is a goddammed fuckin' felon caught red-handed over and over and her violations are candy coated and she just skates. If she gets into the white house will she still get away with this shit? Being some Senator or SOS is one thing, but the president is under the spotlight all of the time. I am guessing yes, because vagina, first woman blah blah blah. The R's in congress will just keep looking the other way while we go to hell in a hand basket.

The only person worse than an Obumbles voter is a Clinton voter.

[Brett L]

Yes. because of her history, they made her sign an additional ethics pledge, so that the Senate would confirm her, and she violated that along with Federal statutes.

[Injun, as in from India]

She's a crook. It's an open fact. But she's still going to be President, because the only opposition to the Democrats is the GOP, and that party nominated Cheeto Jesus.

We're all going to pay a heavy price for this. The SCOTUS will be lost for 40 years. Mark my words. We may even end up with a 7-2 leftist majority. (or 8-1 if you count PenalTax Roberts as a lefist.)

[JWW]

The problem with this is that when the progressive court erases my natural rights I will not obey...

[Rhywun]

My morning news shows the headlines in all the local papers. The only one that could be bothered to tear themselves away from whatever Trump said the previous day and actually pay attention to Clinton's various felonies is the NY Post. They had a 2-page spread of 10 different pay-to-play schemes she was running.

[Mickey Rat]

Because you need a supermajority in the Senate to convict, and the Democrats will never turn on one of their own.

[R C Dean]

I'm waiting for somebody to ask her if Bill will still be giving $10,000/minute speeches if she wins, and whether the Clinton Foundation will continue to accept donations from people who have business with the federal government.

I'm also waiting for somebody to ask her to publish a complete and current list of donations to the Foundation, including amounts, names, and dates. And to commit to updating it constantly for as long as she is campaigning or in office.

I'm going to be waiting a long time, I fear.

[Lord Humungus]

A New Study Finds That Men Are Weaker Today Than They Were 30 Years Ago

Men today are weaker than they were 30 years ago, research in the Journal of Hand Therapy found.

In the study, men aged 20-34 have lower grip and pinch strength ? which measures how strong your hand and upper extremities are ? than the same aged guys did three decades ago.

In fact, the average grip strength for men ages 25-29 is nearly 12 kilograms lower today than it was before.

Your grip may not seem super important unless you're a competitive arm wrestler, but it actually serves as a good proxy of your overall strength.

[Injun, as in from India]

So what?

Men today can type much faster. That's what matters now.

[Libertarian]

Imagine what our bodies will be like 100 years from now, after decades of trans-human technological progress. We won't be able to lift a pencil. The bright side is that there won't be any pencils to lift.

[Injun, as in from India]

We'll be fitted with exoskeletons controlled via a brain-computer interface of some sort. We will all be He-Man.

[Tonio]

We will diverge into two sub-species: the very fit and the not fit.

[Animal]

Eloi and Morlocks?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Eat or be eaten.

[Libertarian]

After an EMP, body builders will rule the world.

[OneOut]

Just until they run out of juice.

And power lifters, not body builders.

There is a difference.

[SugarFree]

We will diverge into two sub-species: the very fit and the not fit.

Like female college freshmen.

[Injun, as in from India]

Like female college freshmen.

You mean fresh women?

[robc]

The first category is larger in September.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

And get larger as the year goes along?

[Agent Cooper]

We will look like grey aliens, er, human time travelers.

[Certified Public Asshat]

You should see me click a mouse.

[Private Chipperbot]

These euphemisms...

[straffinrun]

I would've guessed grip strength is higher today.

[Lord Humungus]

I see what you did there.

[UnCivilServant]

I looked away so I wouldn't.

[Mike Laursen]

Not when you average it for both hands.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

Hmm, thirty years ago I was 11. I'm much stronger now.

[WTF]

Thirty years ago I was 27. Today I find that even at my age I am much stronger than most guys in their 20s.

[Swiss Servator]

They must have factored Warty out of the study then.

[Lord Humungus]

+1 Bending the curve (of time and space)

[The Last American Hero]

30 years ago my grandfather worked in a shop. The work was hard and you were on your feet all day making parts from raw stock. His counterpart today does the work of 5 men from the 1970's and uses a computer to operate a CNC lathe. At home, the lawnmower wasn't self propelled. My friggin vacuum is self propelled, and I could shell out for a Roomba. The list goes on and on.

[Mike Laursen]

My dad grew up milking cows by hand every morning. He could crush the bones in someone's hand with his handshake.

[Bee Tagger]

Donald Trump says he'll be happy to debate Hillary Clinton if there's a "fair moderator."

Hockey isn't in season right now. Their head of the players association may be available.

[invisible furry hand]

Or she's just been playing with rat pee

Police investigate 'poisoning' of Britain's Gabriella Taylor at Wimbledon as player's mother says she almost died

[Fist of Etiquette]

Laziness is a sign of intelligence, according to scientists at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Only an idiot would work more than absolutely necessary. Not in this heat, with all the alligators everywhere.

[lafe.long]

TLDR.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

ISWYD ...

too tired to finish ...

*Yawn*

Nap time ...

[Lord Humungus]

Everybody out of the pool: French 'burqini' party for Muslim women canceled

Days after organizers in France announced a "burqini" pool party for Muslim women, which triggered backlash and death threats, officials said Tuesday they decided to cancel the event.

canceled
Published August 10, 2016 FoxNews.com
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Days after organizers in France announced a "burqini" pool party for Muslim women, which triggered backlash and death threats, officials said Tuesday they decided to cancel the event.

Michel Amiel, mayor of the French town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau outside Marseille, called off the private event, originally scheduled for mid-September at the Speed Water Park. Last week, Amiel vowed to ban such parties in the future.

Organizers had urged female attendees to wear swimsuits that cover most of their bodies, in accordance with Islamic law, and prohibited men over the age of 10 from attending.

Amiel reportedly told a local radio station Tuesday he intended to "calm the situation" by nixing the event.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Get those burkas or niqabs wet while doing the backstroke, you might as well be waterboarding yourselves!

[Rich]

"Allahu akbar!"

[commodious warned u bucko]

Gesundheit.

[Libertarian]

Native French women lost an opportunity for a civil disobedience protest at this even. They could have attended and wore white cotton burqas with nothing underneath.

[straffinrun]

Burqas made of Charlie Hebdo covers.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

+A whole lot of body hair.

[invisible furry hand]

My hometown really is a socialist paradise

Vilification on the grounds of religion is now illegal and in serious cases could result in a criminal conviction with a fine of up to $7500, under laws passed by the ACT parliament on Thursday.

[Drave Robber]

Start First Church of the Invisible Hand and get everyone vilifying capitalism fined?

[invisible furry hand]

Excellent suggestion! Pope ifh has a certain je ne sais quoi...

[JWW]

Yes!

[Tonio]

Latest Progsplaining about teh Gunz: We couldn't take your gunz even if we wanted to - it would require 2/3rds majorities of the house, senate and states to overturn the 2A. Talk of gun grabbing is a fear tactic designed to appeal to the less educated.

How many things can you find wrong with that statement?

[Injun, as in from India]

Show them this notice that NYC gun owners got:

Confiscation requires 2/3rds majority my a$$

[Libertarian]

Post-Katrina NOLA residents disagree.

[WTF]

Yes, and banning drugs also requires a constitutional amendment, just like alcohol prohibition. These people really are dishonest cunts.

[Cunctator]

I have used this reasoning to get out of jury duty on several drug cases. I tell the judge that, absent a Constitutional Amendment, I don't believe the gov't has the authority to ban drugs. I every case I said I would vote to acquit regardless of the evidence. I also said I believe in jury nullification.

[Tonio]

The statement is primarily dishonest because it mischaracterizes peoples' fears - nobody thinks progs are going to do a full frontal assault (!) on 2A. As we've seen (thanks, Injun) it will be a slow chipping away through regulations, or straight-up illegal seizure (Libertarian).

I'm thinking of using the counter-example of socons chipping away at Roe v Wade with targeted clinic rules - that will especially infuriate progs.

[commodious warned u bucko]

As anybody with an elementary understanding of American law comprehends, one does not need to call an Article V convention in order to effectively remove a provision from the Constitution. If, for example, Donald Trump were to claim tomorrow that the First Amendment did not protect an individual right to speech, how do we imagine that the press corps would react? Do we think that the New York Times's editorial board would nonchalantly say "well, that's fine because he hasn't called for Article V repeal"? Or do we imagine that it would cry ? correctly ? that this was pretty damn worrying given that Trump might be in a position to appoint judges?

[commodious warned u bucko]

Linky.

[Tonio]

The whole "even if we wanted to, we couldn't" is prima facie dishonest. They obviously do want to disarm Americans and are just playing with words about the means.

[Mickey Rat]

May no be the best hypothetical, The NYT is on record as being against free speech, at least for the general public.

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

Yep, the comparison between guns and abortion is clear-cut. A lot of the people who cry about 'minor, common-sense regulation' of guns will faint over talk of such regulation for abortion. Because they know the purpose of that regulation.

[commodious warned u bucko]

No, it shows how recalcitrant and hypocritical the anti-abortion crowd is, and don't you dare try to turn the logic around on them.

[JWW]

But which one has killed more people? Abortion wins by landslide numbers if you give the aborted humans any agency at all....

[Arizona_Guy]

I point that out on occasion when talking about gun laws with prog friends.

"Team Blue and guns are like Team Red and abortion. They can't ban it so they try to make it as inconvenient, difficult and expensive as possible, all while making disingenuous arguments about safety."

I think it's important to point out how anit-gun politicians argue in bad faith.

A co-worker said to me that "BHO has been fine on guns"

I replied that's only because he lacks the votes in congress, and that he praises confiscatory laws like in Australia. So I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt.

I have "left-wing" friends who have guns (it is AZ after all) who act as useful idiots to anit-gun politicians. They think BHO, Hillary, etc really want "reasonable" restrictions.

[Tonio]

Also, insulting your audience by calling them uneducated dupes, while not falsifiable, is a bad move. As I've often said, the progs' arrogance will be their own undoing. They are actually incapable of seeing that anyone rational might have a serious disagreement with them.

[Crusty Juggler]

If Donald Trump cannot capitalize on Hillary Clinton's Second Amendment views then he deserves to lose.

If Gary Johnson cannot capitalize on Hillary Clinton's Second Amendment views, and Donald Trump's awkward support for the Second Amendment, then he deserves to remain irrelevant.

[Red Rocks Okey-Dokein]

It's simply another example of prog goal-post shifting and the self-contradictions of their worldview. Look at Tony whining yesterday that Trump gave the green light for Cletus and Billy-Bob to start using Hillary's head for target practice. Yet, when gun owners make the argument that the 2nd Amendment provides the means for citizens to resist a tyrannical government, the standard prog response is, "You stupid rubes think you can stand up to drones and tanks?"

Progressives want a disarmed citizenry and everyone knows it.

[toolkien]

But it doesn't take jack shit to ban bullets...

[Pay up, Palin's Buttplug!]

I'm sure a prog said something like this 125 years ago?

We couldn't take your guns the right to vote from blacks even if we wanted to - it would require 2/3rds majorities of the house, senate and states to overturn the 2A 14th and 15th Amendments. Talk of gun grabbing black disenfranchisement is a fear tactic designed to appeal to the less educated.

[invisible furry hand]

Are these the nine most over-rated foods?

(no, trendy superfoods are)

[Certified Public Asshat]

9. Bacon
There is no doubt bacon is delicious, if you're into that sort of thing, but to hear some people bang on about it you'd think Jesus was born wrapped in it. None of us are immune to the appeal of marketing but follow the cultural deification of bacon alongside a graph of the money that was able to be made on pork belly commodity markets from the 1960s to the 90s and you might conclude that your love for bacon is driven more by Wall Street wallets than the tastebuds on your tongue.

Ok.

[Libertarian]

Cause and effect. How do they work?

[robc]

Jesus was jewish, so being born wrapped in bacon would have been a bit weird.

[lafe.long]

you'd think Jesus was born wrapped in it.

*jots down product idea: bacon swaddling clothes*

[But Enough About Me]

Well, I've actually had roasted corn-on-the-cob wrapped in crispy bacon (spoiler alert: IT'S AWESOME!), so bacon-flavoured swaddling clothes might actually put some kid on a lifelong track to lovin' bacon.

Which is a good thing.

[Animal]

Bullshit. I've loved bacon since the early 60s, no marketing required - hell, we didn't even have a television until sometime in the mid 70s. (The Old Man is something of a neo-Luddite.)

Everybody loves bacon. It's fucking meat candy. No marketing required.

[Krabappel]

if you're into that sort of thing

I am.

[Certified Public Asshat]

I have been making BLTs all summer long. I am into it as well.

[B.P.]

Yeah. I'm into "delicious" too, which is the "thing" this dipshit is referring to.

[bacon-magic]

Fuck this dude. Bacon overrated indeed. We duel at dawn!

[WTF]

He rips on chocolate cake, then in a linked article he lists it as one of the 10 dishes you should be able to cook by the time you're 30.

[Chip Woodier]

No chocolate cake and no bacon? Hang this commie sonofabitch!

[OneOut]

I like bacon chocolate cake.

[KDN]

7. Every 'famous' sandwich

This man is clearly an antisemite.

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

Disagree about sandwiches. A Reuben or pastrami on rye from Katz's (or comparable joint) really is that good.

And bacon probably is too hip, but it is fucking great. It just doesn't need to be put into every dish.

[Krabappel]

I fucking love reuben and pastrami on rye sandwiches. With sauerkraut and spicy mustard.

[Juice]

They're good, just not $22 per sandwich good.

[Krabappel]

I know we've hashed this out before but brisket is almost always mediocre garbage. Pork BBQ or gtfo. Sorry, Texas.

[Juice]

Guess you haven't had good brisket then. It's easy to fuck up. When it's done correctly it's fucking awesome. Pork bbq is harder to fuck up.

[But Enough About Me]

^ God's own truth.

The first time I had properly-done Texas brisket, I damn near creamed my jeans. Every brisket I've ever had since then has been compared to that, usually unfavourably. Yet I don't have either the equipment or commitment to trying to make it myself.

[Brett L]

Here you go. If you have a crockpot and an oven, you can buy this and be off to heaven for less than $50.

[But Enough About Me]

D00d. I totally owe you one for this. It's a sous vide controller for us poor bastards who can't afford the whole freakin' machine.

You're my hero...

Oh wait. Amazon refuses to ship this item to Canada. Must be some form of "munition" or something.

[Krabappel]

Also, 'cool tacos'? I don't know what a cool taco is but a delicious taco is one with a good tortilla and delicious meet and vegetables inside of it. Fuck you, tacos are awesome. >_

[Bee Tagger]

Ethicists say Clinton violated the "spirit" of her pledge to keep State Department business and Clinton Foundation business separate.

It's hard to accept declarations like this from people who see nothing wrong with calling themselves "ethicists."

[Libertarian]

"The DEA also reportedly spies on Americans' travel information as a means of seizing huge amounts of cash"

http://www.economicpolicyjourn.....-cash.html
There is apparently a loophole that allows this to be done.

In 2011, amid a crackdown on international money laundering, the U.S. Treasury Department tried to close a loophole that authorities said allows drug cartels to move bulk cash across borders on gift and other prepaid cards, reports Reuters.

[Rich]

"I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter involving specific parties in which The William J. Clinton Foundation (or the Clinton Global Initiative) is a party or represents a party, unless I am first authorized to participate," Clinton wrote in a Jan. 5, 2009, letter to State Department Designated Agency Ethics Official James H. Thesis.

"I will, however, empower my underlings to so participate on my behalf. And, of course, as Secretary of State I can authorize myself to participate."

[Injun, as in from India]

Clintonese translation: "Depends on what the meaning of the word "participate" is."

[Rich]

I might have gone with "substantially", but yours is more in the Clinton spirit.

[Doctor Whom]

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) refuses to take marijuana off its Schedule I classification as a dangerous narcotic with "a high potential for abuse" and "no currently accepted medical use."

Curse you, obstructionist Teathuglikkkans!

But the DEA will loosen restrictions, allowing for the possibility of more medical marijuana research, which kind of exposes the hypocrisy of the decision to not reclassify.

Praise be unto the Obamessiah (swt)!

[Lord Humungus]

A single tear coursed its way down Warty's cheek. He touched the droplet with a finger, wondering what it was.

Why crying after sex is nothing to be ashamed of - and may in fact be a compliment

Even if you pride yourself on your stiff upper lip above all else, there's probably a situation or stimulus which will elicit a little cry.

There's no shame in it, plus crying can be amazingly cathartic - psychic tears (triggered by an emotional response) do in fact contain a painkiller.

And we can just about cry in response to anything: Films, songs, stories, puppies - even sex .

Yes, someone having a post-coital sob fest in your arms may seem like an ego-bruiser, but it's not necessarily because it was a sub-par experience.

[Injun, as in from India]

So every April 15 when we cry after filing taxes, that's a compliment to the IRS for f***ing us?

[Just a thought not a sermon]

This, paired with the article above about declining strength in men, makes me less hopeful for the continuation of Western civilization.

[IndyEleven]

Whenever I'm fearful for western civilization, I look at the major presidential candidates, things like the DEA article, Kelo, and the Kardashians and I think: fuck it, nothing of value will be lost anyway.

[straffinrun]

Ooooh, I just cried in your arms tonight. Must've been f***ing you red.

[Brett L]

STEVE SMITH HAVE MANY POST-COITAL CRIERS.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

STEVE SMITH CRY TEARS DURING SEX... FROM TIP OF PENIS.

[Bee Tagger]

its Schedule I classification as a dangerous narcotic with "a high potential for abuse"

"Toke it from us, it has a high potential for abuse."

[Swiss Servator]

*gaze, narrowed, 1 each*

[Fist of Etiquette]

The monster, in this case, being the agency's budget.

There is an even bigger monster hiding in the shadows ready to pounce on our precious, innocent children, and its name is Puff the Magic Dragon!

[Lord Humungus]

Italy Proposes Jailing 'Reckless' Vegan Parents

Parents who feed kids a vegan diet would be criminals under a crazy new law proposed in Italy. The bill, introduced by Elvira Savino, a member of the center-right party Forza Italia, seeks to "stigmatize the reckless and dangerous eating behavior imposed by parents" who make children go vegan. No-meat diets are "inadequate," Savino argues, because they're "lacking essential elements for healthy growth." According to La Repubblica, under this law, raising anyone under the age of 17 on such a diet would be an offense punishable by up to six years in prison.

[UnCivilServant]

I read about this.

I am torn between my hate of Vegans and my distrust of government.

[Tonio]

^This.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Know what?

We have a couple of vegan parents at the center and we do joke it's criminal what they feed their kids. We don't think it's a healthy diet at all. My mother came in and made a beautiful soup from scratch (everyone loves it when Nonna comes in to cook) and they brought in cans of organic soup because some nonsense about pesticides. Canned soup (with more salt content) over fresh soup with ingredients from the garden and De Cecco pastene.

And they also believe in all sorts of quackery.

Still, it's their right and not sure I would ever invite the government to get involved.

[Tonio]

Are their kids vaxxed? Can you even ask that?

[Rufus The Monocled]

No, they are not.

Yes, we can ask. But never underestimate their desire to show they know better than the crowds. 'Did you know vacc has mercury?' WELL, DID YOU?!

It's a dicey game.

[Tonio]

How does that work from a liability standpoint? Are you forced to accept the unvaxxed? If so, does government assume the liability for that?

[Rufus The Monocled]

Like I said, iffy. I can decline if I *want* but it's tricky since someone *can* complain to the minister. In the end, they pose no real danger to vaccinated kids which is our over-arching consideration.

Government assume liability? Oh, Tonio. /tickles T's stomach.

[But Enough About Me]

I think I'm in love with your Nonna.

(And my garden's producing absurd amounts of edibles right now...)

[Agent Cooper]

I blame Big Prosciutto.

[Domestic Dissident]

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demands the U.S. extradite exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan blames for last month's failed coup attempt.

How about you get down on your prayer rug and suck off your camel, you piece of crap.

[Tonio]

Now, DeeDee, what is the life of one man compared to the ongoing friendship of the Turkish government?

[Lord Humungus]

Model Gigi Gorgeous Detained at Dubai Airport for Being Transgender

Gorgeous recounted the incident to TMZ Tuesday, claiming that the immigration officer in Dubai said, "I was told you are transgender. You cannot come into the country."

Gorgeous was born Gregory Allan Lazzarto, but she changed her name to Gigi Loren in 2014 and says that is the name that appears in her updated passport. The YouTube personality also says her passport describes her as female, despite airport police telling TMZ the passport has a male photo and describes her as male.

TMZ adds that the "imitation of women by men" is illegal in Dubai, which is part of the Muslim majority nation the United Arab Emirates.

[Rich]

"imitation of women by men" is illegal in Dubai

Sheesh, how do guys there get in touch with their feminine sides?

[commodious warned u bucko]

Pantyhose under slacks?

[Crusty Juggler]

Go on...

[WTF]

I eagerly await Will Smith's condemnation of this.

[PBR Streetgang]

So now all good thinking celebrities, as well as the NBA will boycott Dubai, right?

[Private Chipperbot]

When will they cancel that soccer tourney?

[Agent Cooper]

It's in Qatar, which is probably the same as UAE.

[Timon 19]

Qatar is much, much less developed and much, much less westernized than the UAE.

[Agent Cooper]

Yes, I meant in terms of their views on transgenders.

[Timon 19]

You mean the Arabian Gulf League?

Probably never.

[MetalBard]

"Laziness is a sign of intelligence, according to scientists at Florida Gulf Coast University."

Great as if fat lazy basement dwelling millennials didn't think they were special enough already...

[Just a thought not a sermon]

In my working life, I've often found that I prefer working with diligent but not-quite-as-bright workers than with intelligent but unmotivated co-workers. And a lot of the biggest losers I've ever known were quite intelligent.

[Lord Humungus]

Immigration Sparks Negative Views From U.S. to Russia in Study

About 45 percent of more than 16,000 people surveyed in 22 nations said immigration has had a negative effect on their country, compared with 20 percent who said it was positive, Ipsos Mori said Thursday in an e-mailed study. In Turkey, Italy, Russia, Hungary, France and Belgium, the proportion with negative views was more than six in 10. Almost half of the people surveyed worldwide said there are too many immigrants in their nation.

The survey exposes the tensions that immigration flows are causing in an increasingly globalized world. Elevated migration levels from within the European Union were a major plank of the successful campaign by Brexit proponents in the U.K.'s recent referendum on EU membership, while countries including Spain and Italy have faced increasing numbers of economic migrants braving treacherous seas to sail from North Africa. Greece grapples with an influx of refugees fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan via Turkey.

[WTF]

ALL IMMIGRANTS ARE ASSETS, YOU XENOPHOBIC YOKELTARIANS!!!11!!!

[Rich]

For the pants-shitters about Trump's "Second Amendment incitement": Remember Hillary's raising the specter of an Obama assassination?

Fuck you hypocritical fucks.

[Rufus The Monocled]

He said, 'inspirational leader' in his response. Moron.

[straffinrun]

Once again they prove why 2A is worth fighting for.

[PBR Streetgang]

Don't forget Kerry's "kill the bird" at 1600 Pa avenue statement.

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

I'm sure Tony appreciates this.

[Lord Humungus]

This is from 2014, but is still interesting - and maybe something fun to troll your liberal friends with.

The Town that Privatized Everything

In 2005, Sandy Springs outsourced almost all functions of the city government (with the exception of police and fire) to a single company, which runs the town. That company is in charge of running all the vital functions of government, from the running the parks, to paving the roads, and even 911 calls!

The town is run very efficiently, with zero backlogs in permit requests. Call the city, and you'll be surprised to find that you actually get a friendly person on the other line! The city has a 24/7 non-automated customer service hotline which fields about 6,000 calls per month. It also has a state of the art traffic system with cameras and a high tech command center.

....

When the project first started, the University of Georgia estimated that the city would need 828 employees. But because the town is managed by a private company, they've cut their workforce down to just 471 people. Besides fire and police, the city only has eight full-time public employees.

Because of this efficiency, Sandy Springs generates huge surpluses. They have no unfunded liabilities.

[Injun, as in from India]

During India's halcyon socialist days, one of the best run cities was Jamshedpur, a private company town run by the Tata group.

Article from 2015 in the NYT: Designing Private Cities, Open to All

As the world urbanizes, we need to experiment with new urban forms and new forms of urban planning, and privately designed and operated cities ? proprietary cities ? like Jamshedpur, India, or Reston, Va., may provide answers.

See the history section on Jamshedpur.

[WTF]

You mean an entity that actually has compete and deliver satisfied customers works better than an entity that has no competition and can just take whatever money it wants?

Shocked, I am.

[0x90]

When the project first started, the University of Georgia estimated that the city would need 828 employees. But because the town is managed by a private company, they've cut their workforce down to just 471 people. Besides fire and police, the city only has eight full-time public employees.

By my math, this means there are now 357 more jobless (and therefore homeless) people in Sandy Springs than there otherwise would have been. Assuming a living wage of $15/hr, that works out to nearly $11 million annually, which is obviously being paid by county, state, and federal governments, given that the city claims to have no unfunded liabilities, itself. That money, having been sucked away from wherever it was created, then goes into Sandy Springs' local economy, so enjoy your libertarian privatized free-market paradise, you bunch of clandestine welfare queens.

[lafe.long]

Vigil held for 14-year-old boy shot and killed by LAPD: 'Justice for Jesse'

Using a bullhorn, organizer Carolyn Vera, 25, addressed the crowd: "As a community here in Boyle Heights, we're here to denounce LAPD's killing of Jesse Romero, in case they can't hear us!"

In an empty lot not far away, a small group of officers stood outside their patrol cars, keeping watch.

[Rich]

Terrified giraffe dies from a PANIC ATTACK after it is caged and loaded on to a truck

Possibly NSFW due to full frontal nudity.

[UnCivilServant]

In a giraffe article?

[Lord Humungus]

giraffe nutsack

[Swiss Servator]

Warty laughs at its inadequacy.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

I saw a giraffe with an erection at a zoo once. It was... impressive.

[SugarFree]

It has to be long for a giraffe to ever get a blowjob.

[(((Renegade)))]

+1 deep throat

[lafe.long]

#SteveFromVirginia: Video May Show Man Who Climbed Trump Tower Explaining His Intentions, Reports Say

In a video posted to YouTube Tuesday, a man who may be the climber asks Donald Trump for a meeting, adding, "Believe me, if my purpose was not significant, I would not risk my life pursuing it."

[Libertarian]

I've got a big special purpose. Believe me.

[KDN]

I saw that on the local news like 4 times yesterday. The kid is creepy, but he might just be an Aspy.

He does exhort America to vote Trump in November, though I can't tell if he's serious.

[Lord Humungus]

Laziness is a sign of intelligence

I don't call it laziness, I call it efficiency.

[UnCivilServant]

My laziness spurs my efforts to achieve efficiency. I want to put in as little effort as possible, so I come up with a way to do the task that does so.

[Libertarian]

I think there are fuzzy lines between laziness, procrastination, and impatience.

[Tom Bombadil]

They're only fuzzy because you're too lazy to open your eyes properly.

/meant to be a compliment, ie., you're a genius.

[Tonio]

^This (UCS)

[Rhywun]

Yup. Which leaves more time for surfing and commenting.

[lafe.long]

Beringia: 1st Humans to Occupy Americas May Not Have Used Land Bridge, Study Says

The study, published Wednesday in Nature, used DNA evidence to show that the Beringia area couldn't support human life until about 2,000 years after the first humans were recorded in North America.

[UnCivilServant]

Gee, it's almost as if the use of small boats to move along the edges of sea ice in search of prey is an old idea.

[lafe.long]

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania: District Attorney Warns of New Drug Causing Large Number of Overdoses

Stefanie Salavantis issued an alert warning of a synthetic opioid, called carfentanil, that has a clinical potency 10,000 times higher than pure heroin. The drug can also be absorbed through the skin.

[Just a thought not a sermon]

And it's appearing first in that notorious drug hotbed, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania! Soon to spread to the rest of the country, no doubt...

[Brett L]

You know, if they would just legalize heroin, these problems would go away.

[Tonio]

Or any opiate, really. But that's just crazy talk.

[Brett L]

Right, but the opiod "epidemic" stems from people buying high-powered narcotics stepped on until they have the potency of (relatively) weak opiates like heroin. If they really wanted people to stop dying, they'd just sell opiates out of the drug store, and people could plan their dosages around a very strict quality controlled product.

[Tonio]

Yep. But we can't have that; people might have fun. Or drive impaired.

[RBS]

Is it also 10 times more addictive than marijuana?

[Lee Genes]

clinical potency 10,000 times higher than pure heroin

Self-limiting behavior

[Tonio]

^This. But then we also get the bonus moral panic about teh poor addickz, and the need to take away more of everyones rights.

[Princess Trigger]

The drug can also be absorbed through the skin...AT Rainbow Parties!

[Libertarian]

"The drug can also be absorbed through the skin."

This fact plus chemtrails would go a long way in explaining the 2016 election cycle.

[Gene]

What a long strange trip it's been.

[Crusty Juggler]

Up to 7 missing after gas explosion, fire in D.C. suburb

Firefighters are searching for as many as seven people missing Thursday after a natural gas explosion and fire leveled an apartment building in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring, Md., fire officials said.

As many as 30 people, including three firefighters, were taken to the hospital, fire officials said. Many of the injuries were sustained by people jumping out of windows, according to Montgomery Count fire chief Scott Goldstein, WJLA-TV reports.

[Tonio]

Will be interesting to see whether any political types lived there...staffers. [dons tinfoil]

[Juice]

Damn, that's really close to me.

[lafe.long]

China power plant blast kills at least 21 -state media

Deadly accidents are relatively common at industrial plants in China, and anger over lax standards is growing after three decades of swift economic growth marred by incidents from mining disasters to factory fires.

[Swiss Servator]

NYT hardest hit?

[Brett L]

Tom Friedman makes an omelette and smiles to himself.

[Cdr Lytton]

All these euphemisms.

[Crusty Juggler]

It was like in the movies': Black inmate who brutally beat church shooter Dylan Roof describes how he set upon gunman - as he relaxes out of jail after supporters paid his $100k bond

His bail was paid using donations after an anti-discrimination group urged people to donate to Stafford by depositing money into his online account.

Now, Stafford has said that he began speaking with Roof regularly to try and understand his motives.

He also described the moment he ran out of his cell and beat Roof while he was in the shower earlier this month, leaving the 21-year-old with bruises as 'like in the movies.'

Stafford said: 'He said something like, 'I thought I killed the girl, the little girl, but they was like she didn't get killed,' and I was like 'No, you didn't get her. She played dead on you from what I heard.'

'That's when I gave him the smart aleck, saying like you so bad but you let that child get off on you.'

The hero we don't need or deserve.

[Crusty Juggler]

It happened after an activist visited him in jail and discovered he had been in jail for 517 days without going to trial on charges, including first-degree assault and battery strong-arm robbery and providing false information to police, the Charleston Post and Courier reports.
Roof was charged after the massacre at the Emanuel AME Church (pictured) last year

[straffinrun]

Yeah, no good guys in that story.

[John]

Hey letting unpopular inmates be beaten and victimized in jail would never get out of hand or anything. Something tells me these guys won't be too happy the day some white biker sets upon a BLM activist while in jail.

[straffinrun]

Spike Lee did the lord's work by sending out Zimmerman's parent's address.

[Rich]

Woman tells police she was RAPED by a Pokemon Go character after she felt an 'assault'... and the virtual reality game detected the creature in her bedroom

"That's ... interesting, lady. Say, did you Pokemon Come?"

[Swiss Servator]

*virtually narrows gaze*

[Just a thought not a sermon]

It's sad that there are no sites on the internet where this woman can post her fantasies, and instead has to inflict them on the police.

[Libertarian]

Those boys in blue have a thankless job, indeed.

[WTF]

Did she say "Pokemon"? She meant "pokey man".

[AlmightyJB]

Well see who's laughing when the baby comes.

[mojoe]

'Your honor, my client Pikachu denies the paternity suit brought against him...

[Tonio]

Regarding the Tuesday Article: Illinois State's Attorney Hired Own Investigators to Conduct Drug Searches and Seizures

The u-haul stop they describe reeks of parallel construction. First they claimed they stopped her because it was suspicious for a woman to be driving a U-Haul truck alone - it's not suspicious and by articulating "woman" they opened themselves up to charges of gender profiling. Then they changed the story to mudflap violation. Then they just happened to find a large quantity of teh drugs. What a lucky turn of events, eh?

[lafe.long]

Military attaches, diplomats flee Turkey's post-coup inquiry

The hunt for fugitive Turkish officers and officials overseas expands from the crackdown at home, where tens of thousands of troops, police, and bureaucrats have been detained, dismissed or investigated for alleged links to the coup, which authorities blame on U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Gulen denies any involvement and has condemned the coup bid. But he says Erdogan is using the purges to shore up his own power in Turkey.

[lafe.long]

Hillary Clinton to Release 2015 Tax Returns, Report Says

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign may release her 2015 tax returns as soon as this Friday, adding to pressure for opponent Donald Trump to do the same, according to a report.

Your move, Don.

[straffinrun]

I'll do you one better. Look. That's my tongue. Now stick yours out.

[Rich]

Clinton's presidential campaign may release her 2015 tax returns as soon as this Friday

They may release them this afternoon, or never. They could have released them as late as a minute ago.

[Libertarian]

I'm reminded of when Hillary said she would release transcripts of her paid "Wall St" speeches, but then quickly backtracked and said that she'd release them when all the other candidates released theirs.

Trump should wave a blank piece of paper in the air the next time he's at the podium and tell Hillary, "okay, now it's your turn."

Who the hell is running Trump's campaign? I could throw darts at a list of Hit and Run commenters and pick the first three hits as speech writers. Trump would be 20 points ahead in a week.

[Free Society]

Who the hell is running Trump's campaign? I could throw darts at a list of Hit and Run commenters and pick the first three hits as speech writers. Trump would be 20 points ahead in a week.

That dart could hit Tony or Cytotoxic, then the stupidity will be too pure even for the Donald to recover from.

[WTF]

Hell, just ask her to open up all the books on a detailed accounting of the Clinton Foundation.

[Crackers Boy]

Trump: "I'll open the books to Trump University if you will open the books to the Clinton Foundation."

Clinton:

Fill in her response as you see fit.

CB

[CatoTheChipper]

The same technique would work for Gary Johnson as well. Maybe even better.

[commodious warned u bucko]

Ethicists say Clinton violated the "spirit" of her pledge to keep State Department business and Clinton Foundation business separate.

"Everything in my power" apparently doesn't include instructing her aides and her slush fund manager not to carry on business for foreign Lebanese billionaires.

[lafe.long]

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange to Be Questioned by Sweden in the Ecuadorian Embassy

Assange is wanted for questioning by Swedish police over alleged sexual offenses stemming from his visit to the country in 2010. He denies all the accusations against him made by two women. In June 2012, he sought shelter in Ecuador's embassy in the British capital and has been holed up there ever since.

[Lord Humungus]

I can imagine the staff at the Ecuador embassy are getting tired of having dinner with Assange.

[Tom Bombadil]

"Laziness is a sign of intelligence, according to scientists at Florida Gulf Coast University."

This study is biased.
There is no lazier place than the Gulf Coast of Florida.

[The Fusionist]

You may be onto something.

It's as if they did a study of government officials and foundation executives, finding that the more grants they approved for dubious social-science research, the more satisfying the officials' and executives' lives will be.

[The Fusionist]

sex lives, specifically.

[Lee Genes]

Do you try to ignore people's skin color and threat them as individuals? You must be a racist.

The lesson was that hard work alone could supposedly erase struggles caused by racial injustice. If Chinese and Japanese Americans could achieve success against all odds, racial inequity no longer truly existed.

"Failures" of economic success by other communities of color, particularly Black, Latinx, and Native American communities, became their fault. Rather than addressing past and present structural barriers, these communities were depicted by the government and mainstream media as simply not working hard enough.

The myth of meritocracy tells us to believe that our success is due solely to our own talent and hard work, but we end up ignoring other factors and outside help that contributes to our achievements.

This myth is linked to the ideology of colorblindness, as people think that colorblindness operates as a way to treat everyone fairly.

We tell ourselves that because we worked hard, we deserve our successes.

Because of "colorblind" ideology, we might dismiss and invalidate people who point towards occurrences of racism as obstacles by saying things like "Stop playing the race card" or "Not everything's about race!"

[Crusty Juggler]

I only see inner skin color.

[Rich]

We're all red on the inside.

[commodious warned u bucko]

Do you try to ignore people's skin color and threat them as individuals?

All of my threats are purely based on the content of character.

[Brett L]

I do threaten them as individuals. Often after they've tried to drive up the turn lane and merge into my lane when I've been waiting through 3-5 light cycles.

[Aloysious]

Author's Note: While this article argues that "colorblindness" as a concept is problematic, colorblindness as a term is also problematic, as it could easily be considered an example of ableist language. I use the term here to describe a specific type of racism and its history.

How cute.

[Libertarian]

I find this offensive. 1 in 12 men but only 1 in 200 women suffer from color blindness. Where are the 5K fundraisers? Where are the irrelevantly-colored ribbons?

[UnCivilServant]

Where are the irrelevantly-colored ribbons?

COLORED RIBBONS?

For a colorblindness awareness!?

They must be some form of grayscale, even though full colorblindness is less common than partial!

Ableist scum!

[Brett L]

We'll make purple ribbons but call them blue.

[lafe.long]

Rather than addressing past and present structural barriers

You mean like failed democratic policies?

[The Fusionist]

I would like the author to provide some citations to people who claim that success is due *solely* to talent and hard work.

I'm sure he could find plenty of people who claim that talent and hard work correlates with success as a general rule, but I'd like to see an actual person (rather than a straw man) who denies the existence of *any* other factor.

[Zeb]

So we need to be racist in order not to be racist. Got it.

The myth of meritocracy tells us to believe that our success is due solely to our own talent and hard work

Yeah, but no one actually believes that. Of course external factor play into it as well.

[lafe.long]

Trump Accuses Obama of Being the 'Founder of ISIS'

Donald Trump is now accusing President Barack Obama of founding the Islamic State group that is wreaking havoc from the Middle East to European cities.

Stand by for another couple of days of Trumpalooza.

[Free Society]

My friend that fought in Fallujah and Ramadi was telling me about a group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq that was trying to build a shadow state back in 2006 or 2007. Not sure anyone can blame Obama for that one.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Well, to be fair, the left and Democrats made/make all sorts of stupid accusations about Bush.

[KDN]

It's smart to try and stick Obama with that tar baby (/racist) even if it can really be traced back to Bush through Iraq. I hope he sticks with this theme to bludgeon Hillary: stupid, ill-thought-out policies have negative consequences, and the Obama administration's (and by extension Hillary's) foreign policy is nothing if not ill-thought-out.

[Brett L]

Eh. For all that I hate Obama's foreign policy, Colin Powell's stupid "Pottery Barn" Doctrine set up all the failures we are experiencing.

[KDN]

Sure enough, but Clintobama learned nothing from that debacle. If we try to achieve a similar objective by giving air support to proxies, are the negative consequences that arise after that objective is achieved supposed to not happen? How does that work?

[Brett L]

Powell, at least, was trying to address a problem with previous American interventions. Wrongly, but he was intelligent and had studied recent history thoroughly. The Obama people don't even have a plan. They just wake up and react to today's news cycle.

[Zeb]

The "Crate and Barrel" doctrine would have been much better. Or maybe Pier 1.

[Eternal Blue Sky]

He did sort of give them weapons to fight Syria. Back when they were "moderate rebels".

[Free Society]

Well he gave weapons to dinky jihadist groups that yielded them up to ISIS as tribute and he gave them to ISIS affiliates either unknowingly or to have plausible deniability and he accidentally gave them to ISIS in the form air dropped supplies being intercepted. I'm not sure there ever were any "moderates" in the insurgency. If there were, somebody killed 'em, probably because there were only a couple dozen of them to begin with.

[Free Society]

Laziness is a sign of intelligence, according to scientists at Florida Gulf Coast University.

The study found that people who think a lot were far less active between Monday to Friday than those who tended to avoid high-level thinking.

There was, however, no difference over the weekend. Researchers were unable to explain why this might be.

Maybe because higher IQ individuals tend have more sedentary jobs and lower IQ people often rely on manual labor for work. Not such a difficult thing to infer.

[AlmightyJB]

Yeah, and even in spare time higher iq people are going to be more attracted to reading or computer learning then to hampster activities.

[Jerryskids]

Life is hard; it's even harder when you're stupid.

[Free Society]

But if you don't know how stupid you are, you'll think it's hard because you're not getting your fair share of the pie (that you didn't contribute to but nevermind),

[Lee Genes]

Compulsory Voting: It's Got What Progs Crave

Compulsory voting isn't the only ways to boost turnout, however. If we want more people to vote, simply holding elections on the weekend would be a seismic shift. But Republicans are opposed to inclusion efforts, as their support of Voter ID laws suggests. The GOP is an increasingly old and white party, and old, white people disproportionately vote. The demographics least likely to vote ? low income Americans, young people, minority groups ? are also the ones most likely to support Democrats. Consequently, Republicans will block any effort to systematically increase turnout.

Whatever the solution, something has to be done. Our process has produced a government with interests separate and apart from those it serves. Money in politics has a lot to do with that, but so does low turnout. The super PACs and the corporate-funded propaganda only work to the extent that people stay home or vote against their interests. A more active and informed citizenry would be utterly transformative. President Obama has praised Australia's compulsory voting scheme, claiming we could reach 70-80 percent voting rates if we adopted similar measures. Perhaps that's too optimistic.

[Libertarian]

"Our process has produced a government with interests separate and apart from those it serves."

And forcing people to vote will fix this how?

[Lee Genes]

This one weird trick will fix government once and for all.

[Free Society]

A more active and informed citizenry would be utterly transformative. President Obama has praised Australia's compulsory voting scheme

Because by simply compelling someone to vote at gun point, they become active and informed.

Fucking Christ progs are stupid. This isn't even good by sophist standards. He's supposed to at least mask the dumbfuck stupidity contained within.

[Zeb]

A more active and informed citizenry would be utterly transformative.

And that could be a good thing. But I think the focus is more on the "active" than on the "informed".

[Tonio]

The progs' constant complaint about this is that poor/minority people (their terms, used interchangeably) are unable to vote because 1) lack of ID, 2) lack of transport and 3) restricted poll hours and being unable to take off to vote. Point 1 is bullshit because they have all fucking year (or four years) to get that ID. If point 2 is really an issue then progs aren't offering enough free rides on election day. Point 3 is somewhat valid, but you can't completely shut down society for an entire day. Also, a lot of the essential services of society are provided by minimum wage employees - you going to shut down nursing homes, daycare, gas stations and hotels so people can vote? Listing hotels because those are indeed essential for people travelling, often on business, who have no other lodging options.

[Zeb]

Seems to me that having the polls open for long enough should do it. If they are open from, say, 5 AM to 10 PM, pretty much everyone should be able to find a time to vote, even if they work an odd shift.

[Tonio]

^This, of course. But as long as there is one poor/minority person unable to vote because they are working a double shift that day...

[invisible furry hand]

We don't just have compulsory voting, we have elections on Saturday, we don't ask for ID, if you are busy / travelling etc you can cast absentee votes or vote early, and there's usually a sausage sizzle, so so we make it easier for people to vote. The compulsory bit is the stick, the rest is the carrot. The result of this wonderful system? An enlightened citizenry that votes for philosopher kings? No, not really. Ill-informed people casting votes for time-servers, egoists, lunatics, and the occasional decent person.

[Rhywun]

I would only approve of compulsory voting if one of the options is "none of the above".

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

I still wouldn't approve of it (you want to fine poor people for not voting??), but I'd be less incensed about it.

[Rhywun]

Yeah, you're right.

[Red Rocks Okey-Dokein]

Point 3 is somewhat valid

Honestly, with write-in ballots it's completely invalid. Someone who's too fucking lazy to fill out a form and stick it in the mailbox isn't going to get off their ass to walk or drive down to the polling place to vote, either.

[Tonio]

I think you mean mail-in ballots. There are a lot of places that restrict use of those on the grounds of preventing fraud.

Write-in is when you vote for someone not listed on the ballot.

[ant1sthenes]

Selection wouldn't have these problems. Ahem.

[straffinrun]

Don't the poor tend to *not* work as much compared to other classes? When I was poor kid, I worked weekends. Can't imagine it's much different today.

[Tonio]

Depends on how you define poor. If you mean people totally supported by the taxpayers then they have unlimited time. If you mean the working poor, then they tend to do the worst jobs with long, odd hours.

[0x90]

So, people who don't care about voting should be made to vote. And this will improve things.

No, the problem is that somewhere in this person's subconscious, they are aware that the government generally rules with the explicit approval of less than 25% of the populace. They'd like to change this.

[Rhywun]

I love how leftists voting in droves to fill the pockets of pubsec workers and other cronies is considered "in their best interest".

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

People are too lazy to vote. You force them to vote or suffer a fine. You expect them to not only spend the time to vote, but to spend a whole lot more time researching?

Goddamn morons.

[Arizona_Guy]

the demographics least likely to vote ? low income Americans, young people, minority groups

According to 538, "the black turnout rate of 66 percent [2012] was 2 points higher than that of whites."

http://projects.fivethirtyeigh.....-election/

[Lord at War]

And when it drops this time because Obama isn't on the ballot, it's because of "ID Laws" and Repub restrictions...

[Arizona_Guy]

Nothing says "Free Country" like being forced to participate in the political process.

Is "consent of the governed" valid when it's under duress?

[Mickey Rat]

"We have that out target demographic is too indolent and apathetic to vote on their own so we must herd them to the polls, like the sheep they are."

[ant1sthenes]

I can see why they would want compulsory voting if they elect utterly unappealing shitbags like Hillary Clinton.

[AlmightyJB]

They always ask what a President would do on his first day. Get rid of DEA, TSA, and BATF would be my answer.

[Lee Genes]

I think I'd start by saying to the Cabinet "You can keep half of these, give me your list by the end of the day"

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies

[Lee Genes]

The Northeast Dairy Compact was established in an effort to restore the authority of the six New England states to set prices for Class 1 fluid milk sold in the region. Recognizing the regional character of the northeast dairy industry, the Compact serves several major functions. These functions include assuring the region of an adequate supply of milk, recognizing the cultural and economic benefits of a viable dairy industry in the region and facilitating the Constitutional rights of individual states to act collectively in order to regulate milk prices..

[Lee Genes]

The National Skill Standards Board was created by The National Skill Standards Act of 1994 (108 Stat 192, 20 U.S.C. 5933)), signed into law by President Clinton on March 31, 1994.
The Board's purpose as stated in the Act is ``to serve as a catalyst in stimulating the development and adoption of a voluntary national system of skill standards and of assessment and certification of attainment of skill standards: (1) That will serve as a cornerstone of the national strategy to enhance workforce skills; (2) that will result in increased productivity, economic growth, and American economic competitiveness; and (3) that can be used consistent with civil rights laws'' by the stakeholders enumerated in the Act: the nation, industries, employers, labor organizations, workers, students, entry-level workers, training providers, educators and government.

[Crusty Juggler]

On my first day as President I would celebrate how I have always celebrated, and that is by inviting my girlfriends over, taking off our shoes, and dancing.

[invisible furry hand]

Have sex in the same cupboard Warren Harding used, and then eat some fancy ice-cream while binge-watching Veep.

[straffinrun]

Even if your Husband is named "Bill"?

[robc]

Drink heavily.

[The Fusionist]

You can do that at home and pretend to be President.

[robc]

By my "football" at home doesnt work.

[The Fusionist]

How do you know the President's football works? It's never been used, has it?

[robc]

Did Truman have a football? I guess not, but whatever proto-football he had worked.

[The Fusionist]

Maybe the football *does* work, but the President has forgotten the password.

[The Fusionist]

"Let's see, was it 'Bombs Away?'

"OK, let me try 'Bombs_Away.'

"That didn't work, maybe it was all in lowercase?

"Wait, I was supposed to include a symbol. Maybe it was 'Bomb$_Away?'

"Crap, that's not it, either..."

[The Fusionist]

I'd have a prepared list of people serving excessive sentences, or convicted under unconstitutional laws, and I'd wield my clemency pen on them all.

[The Fusionist]

Then demand the complete file on Area 51.

ha ha, just kidding about that part

[Tonio]

I suspect that Area 51 is part of the pre-inaguration briefings if only because everyone probably asks about that. I suspect the real answer is underwhelming - ie, it was a psych op, or they did find something but it wasn't very useful. Still would be interesting to know even a negative.

[robc]

I think the stealth technology was developed/tested there. So probably really underwhelming.

My Mom had a cousin who had a "UFO" story from one night out in the middle of nowhere. It hovered before zooming off. When they released the first footage of the stealth bomber, he said "Yup, that was it."

He was a HS science teacher and always assumed it was some secret government project he saw and not an alien spacecraft.

[Tonio]

That, too. Once you have a facility like that (isolation, reputation) you keep using it.

[robc]

I figured I commute one year of sentences per month, going backwards in time (so to use this year, in Jan of 2017 you commute 2017 convictions, in Feb, 2016, in Mar, 2015, etc) but you need time for your staff to make sure the get the right people in the list.

But thats just me.

The Area 51 thing though, that happens after about the sixth beer, so about 2 PM on Jan 20th.

[Tonio]

Get rid of DEA, TSA, and BATF...

Except the executive really can't do that. But the president could order those people to stand down, stay at their desks and do nothing. Not that we'll ever see a president willing to upset the apple cart to that degree.

[Free Society]

I'd drop a Cleveland steamer on FDR's portrait. Then I would use up all of my political capital to either slash taxes drastically and/or hopefully get an amendment passed to rein in the Commerce Clause or strengthen the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 10 Amendments.

I would end the federal occupation of the western states.

Once opposition is too great and I can't pass anymore government limiting laws, I'd abolish every federal agency, federal job or shitbag US Attorney that it was in my power to do so without needing to consult Congress.

Then once the former passengers on the gravy train are stomping their feet and protesting by the tens of thousands outside of my newly fortified White House compound, the Pardons and Commutations will begin.
I will free every single non-violent federal inmate whose crime had no real or potential victim, starting with Ross Ulbricht. I will direct my DoJ to fix the 98% guilty plea rate to something less completely bogus and unjust, I will direct them to fuck off from encroaching on the state's police powers.

And in my final address as President, which will undoubtedly be kept to one term since I wouldn't be reelected, I will express my solidarity with a list of secessionist movements across the country and advocate the disunion of these United States insofar as it would be possible.

[straffinrun]

Don't forget the Fed.

[Free Society]

Oh riiiiiiiight. Those assholes. I'm a terrible hypothetical president.

[Tonio]

There is a lot to be said for symbolic gestures. It is a bully pulpit.

[John]

http://www.theamericanmirror.c.....il-unrest/

Dear Hillary,

"A serious situation has arisen in Albania which needs urgent attention at senior levels of the US government. You may know that an opposition demonstration in Tirana on Friday resulted in the deaths of three people and the destruction of property.

"There are serious concerns about further unrest connected to a counter-demonstration to be organized by the governing party on Wednesday and a follow-up event by the opposition two days later to memorialize the victims.

"The prospect of tens of thousands of people entering the streets in an already inflamed political environment bodes ill for the return of public order and the country's fragile democratic process."

Soros urges the then-Secretary of State to get the international community involved and pressure the Prime Minister to "forestall further demonstrations" and "tone down public pronouncements" as well appointing a senior European official to act as the mediator.

The left wing billionaire also gave Clinton a list of potential nominees to appoint as mediator: Carl Bildt, Martti Ahtisaari and Miroslav Lajcak.

[Trigger Warning]

I guess the neurosurgeons I work with must not be very smart, because they are some of the hardest-working people I've ever met.

[The Fusionist]

Well, it's not rocket science.

[Carl on a cob]

Or perhaps "Laziness is a sign of intelligence" is a different statement than "intelligent people are lazy."

To be fair, someone makes this same fucking mistake every time one of these fucking studies is posted. See also "Study says X is correlated with Y; I am X but not Y and don't know what correlation is, so study is WRONG!!!"

[Trigger Warning]

Is being Carl a sign of being a stupid asshole?

[Carl on a cob]

Aww, looks like I triggered you!

[Trigger Warning]

So yes, then.

[Lord Humungus]

Arianna Huffington to leave the Huffington Post

Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington said on Thursday she would leave the company to focus on running her new venture, health and wellness startup Thrive Global.

"I thought HuffPost would be my last act. But I've decided to step down as HuffPost's editor-in-chief to run my new venture, Thrive Global," she tweeted.

Thrive Global, which will offer services to companies to improve the well-being of their employees, recently closed a Series A funding round ahead of a launch in the fall.

I had the misfortune of hearing Arriana debate Victor Davis Hanson. Her debate "technique" was just terrible. She came off as just barely functional; like she couldn't even count change at a bake sale.

[Brett L]

Isn't this about the third time she's left HuffPo?

[invisible furry hand]

And yet she has made a motzer off getting people to write for free at HuffPo, and wellness services to corporates will probably be a lucrative boondoggle, so she has at least some cunning

[KDN]

As pointed out in the overnight thread, Gawker has created a new troll-bait site satirizing men's interest sites.

Basically, imagine if there were a Gawker for women. Then, imagine a version of that, but for men. That's The Cuck. Welcome. We hope you enjoy yourself, especially if you are in charge of marketing at, say, Diageo.

It's a clever concept for a satire: Red Pill for wannabe betas. I'm 50/50 as to whether it will morph into a serious thing before the Hulkster razes Gawker to the ground.

[Tonio]

They have nothing else to lose at this point, so they are doing those things they've always wanted to.

[John]

So what is the joke? Is it like a PUA site only for self affirmed betas? What exactly does a Gawker site for women only for men mean?

[KDN]

Is it like a PUA site only for self affirmed betas?

That's what it looks like to me.

What exactly does a Gawker site for women only for men mean?

Jezebel, but helmed by men, with articles written by men, and for the types of men whose worldview aligns with Jezebel's.

[John]

Now that I understand it, yeah that could be funny. I hate to support Gawker, but if they did it right, it would be very funny.

[Brett L]

Don't worry, its Gawker, they'll fuck it up. Just like io9, jalopnik and everything else they touch.

[Rhywun]

What exactly does a Gawker site for women only for men mean?

Jezebel for Him

*shudder*

[Rhywun]

ugh read ahead

[Crusty Juggler]

It is a good idea. Sites like these can be pretty funny, like for example reductress.com, a site satirizing feminist articles. However, I highly doubt Gawker has the ability to employ writers who will write anything funny enough to be considered a success.

[Red Rocks Okey-Dokein]

Basically, imagine if there were a Gawker for women.

I thought catering to (lonely, resentful, rainbow-haired, cat-owning) women was the cornerstone of their business model.

[John]

http://nymag.com/daily/intelli.....cuser.html

Another Newsbabe steps forward with sexual harassment allegations against Roger Ailes. Not really big news. I just put up the link to note that my God are Iranian women hot. That woman in the article is nearly 50 and is still smoking hot.

[Brett L]

I hope she takes a huge chunk of money off them for accusing her of violating a non-disparagement agreement by contacting the lawyer of a civil complainant with what she believes to be relevant information.

[Injun, as in from India]

Too bad the mullahs want them behind burqas.

[Wizard with a Woodchipper]

note the color of the eyes. I notice lots of ladies from this region have that particular color. It's beautiful.

[Injun, as in from India]

Compliment her for her beauty while you can.

The radical feminist crazies will have their way soon, and a compliment like that will be considered sexist.

"Shriek!!! Why do you look at her beauty instead of her capability as a news reader?"

[Injun, as in from India]

Complimenting a woman for her beauty will soon be the equivalent of holding a door open for a woman.

Sexist!

[0x90]

"Shriek!!! Why do you look at her beauty instead of her capability as a news reader?"

I have notified the proper authorities regarding this blatant display of news-reader-ism.

[VG Zaytsev]

OMG Ailes asked her to stand up so he could see her legs.

The horror.

[Cdr Lytton]

I had a feeling it was going to be her before I clicked the link. Thanks John. I've been in love with Rudi Bakhtiar since she was on Headline News.

[John]

Me too. She is just stunning.

[commodious warned u bucko]

I just put up the link to note that my God are Iranian women hot.

But check out the lines on that Syrian tank, man.

[Wizard with a Woodchipper]

there are a lot of intelligent kids at Florida Gulf Coast University

[AddictionMyth]

Pot has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. If you are using pot then you should seek professional help immediately.

[The Fusionist]

What if you're not using pot, but simply don't want to lock up those who do in cages?

[Cynical Asshole]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpiqyyCBc4

[Cynical Asshole]

Laziness is a sign of intelligence

In that case I must be on par with Albert Einstein.

[The Fusionist]

Or at least with his cousin Buford Einstein.

Intelligence is relative, after all.

[american socialist]

Let's face it... It's a slow news day. Donald Trump hasn't issued a death threat or said that he'd like to conspire with a foreign intelligence agency. It's only ~11 am est so I guess there's hope. Fingers crossed.

[Tornado16nb]

I'm in need can you help me out with money?

[Tornado16nb]

Seeing how you are a socialist who supports helping others

[Sevo]

Hey, shitstain, still waiting for your alternative to using nukes. You must have one if you object so strongly to their use, right?
You wouldn't be just the random imbecile who gripes about reality, right?
Oh, you're a SOCIALIST! That explains it...

[Sevo]

"Ethicists say Clinton violated the "spirit" of her pledge to keep State Department business and Clinton Foundation business separate."

They're right. If only she hadn't lit the blue light when she ran specials on political access, she would have been fine.

[ant1sthenes]

More like the red light, amirite?

[commodious warned u bucko]

Maybe Clinton's remark about women being the foremost victims of war wasn't entirely wrong. She just had the continent wrong.

Mukwege is a doctor in the country that calls itself "the Democratic Republic of the Congo." (Informally, people say "Congo.") He treats victims of rape, often of gang rape. A gynecologist, he tries to heal them physically and mentally. The second task is harder, but the first is hard enough. His patients range from infants to the elderly.

Congo is one of those countries described as "war-torn." For years, it has been known as "the rape capital of the world." Rape is a weapon of war, maybe the foremost weapon. It is systemic, even normal. Boys are trained to rape as child soldiers. The normality of rape has been transferred into the civilian world. In Congo, boys and men rape, and girls and women are raped. That's the way it is.

[commodious warned u bucko]

For context, this is a man who lives in the hospital where he does his work, and travels only under escort. That's right, the gynecologist who repairs the damage done by rapists is under threat of death from those same rapists.

[ant1sthenes]

"Rape is a weapon of war, maybe the foremost weapon."

So, Europe is at war with Islam?

[But Enough About Me]

No, Islam is at war with Europe.

Europe has yet to reciprocate with belligerence of its own, though that's hopefully gonna change soon...

[mad.casual]

foremost victims
...
Boys are trained to rape as child soldiers.

You all have penises, right? OK, then, no victims to see here. Move along.

[commodious warned u bucko]

I shoehorned in the Clinton quote. It's not a competition. And the doctor does express regret for children being brought up as rapists, which is mighty white (RACIST) of him given his regrettable work.

[Ken Shultz]

"Ethicists say Clinton violated the "spirit" of her pledge to keep State Department business and Clinton Foundation business separate.

Who cares what ethicists say?

The Clinton Foundation has already admitted to the press that they broke the ethics agreement with the Obama Administration--they admitted that . . . it must have been a year ago.

They said it was accidental!

I'll go look for the link.

P.S. Only progressives need an expert to tell them the difference between right and wrong.

[Ken Shultz]

"The Clinton Foundation accepted millions of dollars from seven foreign governments during Hillary Rodham Clinton's tenure as secretary of state, including one donation that violated its ethics agreement with the Obama administration, foundation officials disclosed Wednesday.

Most of the contributions were possible because of exceptions written into the foundation's 2008 agreement, which included limits on foreign-government donations.

The agreement, reached before Clinton's nomination amid concerns that countries could use foundation donations to gain favor with a Clinton-led State Department, allowed governments that had previously donated money to continue making contributions at similar levels.

. . . .

In one instance, foundation officials acknowledged they should have sought approval in 2010 from the State Department ethics office, as required by the agreement for new government donors, before accepting a $500,000 donation from the Algerian government.

"Foreign governments gave millions to foundation while Clinton was at State Dept."
Washington Post
February 25, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/o3b9e53

Maybe progressives are so obtuse that they need elitist ethicists to tell them right from wrong.

Meanwhile, the publicly available documents from the Clinton Foundation acknowledge that the ethics agreement was broken, and Clinton Foundation officials publicly acknowledged to the Washington Post that the ethics agreement was broken--a year and a half ago!

[Sevo]

Ken, did you hear what Trump said this morning?

[Ken Shultz]

Haven't even turned the TV on.

What did he say?

[Ken Shultz]

You mean when he called Obama "The Founder of ISIS"?

[ant1sthenes]

Was it entirely outrageous, so that the media couldn't help but remind us that Trump is running for president?

[invisible furry hand]

He's a chef, so I doubt it. Why do you think he's arguing for less choice? He's just saying they're overrated.

[Crusty Juggler]

The most overrated band ever is The Beatles.

I'll carry you on.

[robc]

Chicago.

Hell, its possible The Beatles are the greatest band ever AND the most overrated at the same time.

[Brett L]

Radiohead.

[(((Renegade)))]

I got into a discussion at dinner last night about the Eagles. I will nominate them- it's remarkably difficult to crank out mediocrity with Joe Walsh present, but their genius was the ability to do so despite that handicap.

[KDN]

I completely agree with both your statements.

[Brett L]

When I find that winning Powerball ticket on the ground, I'm going to self-insure and put six inch stainless steel thick wall pipe filled with concrete front bumpers on an F250. And then I'm going to go around giving assholes new cars by totaling their old ones when they fuck with me.

[toolkien]

I think that's a tough one, and it requires getting a little geeky.

As far as musicians - McCartney was very good, Lennon had some out of the box creativity but wasn't a great musician. Ringo was passable as a drummer. And Harrison was decent. The real genius behind the music was Martin. Overall, it can't be underestimated what the band did to traverse from "I Want to Hold Your Hand" to "I Am The Walrus" in so short a time, and to make it stick. Plenty of people wanted to move the needle, the Beatles succeeded in doing it. Many bands got some degree of fame, splashed into something unique, and the fan base took their $$$ elsewhere. The Beatles retained their fans.

But where things really changed for music in general, was the process and the investment. The Beatles shifted popular music from tossing out some singles and hitting the road and into creating complete album works and making a living without touring. When the suits could see a return on investment on the music itself, they invested in production and equipment. It's no coincidence that 1969/1070 is a sonic watershed between no-mid range and mid range fuller sound. The Beatles/Martin were responsible for bridging three-day session work, and a handful of singles, into multi-month productions/mixing/mastering creating artistic statements.

[The Fusionist]

Maybe, maybe not.

"I went up to this girl, she said, 'hi, my name is Sheena'"

[Injun, as in from India]

Never judge a book by its cover, or a woman by her burqa.

[UnCivilServant]

Until you get a 'surprise'

[The Fusionist]

If you know the rest of the lyrics, you're a weirdo.

[0x90]

That's Funky Cold Mecca, I believe.

[IndyEleven]

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter and also donate to your kickstarter.

[Crusty Juggler]

Very much so.

[IndyEleven]

They're all former DNC staffers?

[mad.casual]

They sound pretty related to me.

*kicks sarcasm detector, dodges errant sparks*

Actually, I'm baffled as to how it's a story other than jogging doesn't, apparently, make women immune to murder. Considering 9 weeks seems pretty arbitrary and the fact that we're talking about three women in Boston, NYC, and Michigan (not to mention two bodies were found at the murder scene while the third appears to have been dumped) it almost smells like someone is laying the groundwork for, or subscribes to, a '1 in 5 women' narrative.

[John]

Let me get geeky in response. Ringo was more than a passible drummer. Time and again his drumming and great sense of style and understatedness lifted Beatles songs up to another level. The best example of this is Here Comes the Sun. Take away Ringo's beat and his fills and it is sounds like a Cat Stevens song. What takes that song from good to great is that it doesn't just have a nice melody and singing, it also has a wonderfully catchy beat. Few songs have both. And the beat is Ringo. There are about two dozen other songs where Ringo did the same sort of thing.

The weak musical link in the Beatles was George. He just wasn't a very good guitarist. Both Paul and John were far superior musicians. Paul played base because John refused and George could barely play guitar. Yeah, George hit his stride as a song writer towards the end of the band, but he was always the junior partner for a reason. Put it this way, when Ringo quit during the White Album sessions, the band begged him to come back. When George quit during the Abbey Road sessions, John's first response was that they could call Eric Clapton.

[John]

The Eagles are not worthy of the hate they receive. They were very good singers and basically domesticated the country rock that the Band was doing. They were not the greatest but they were not as bad as people say. They were good. They are just over played.

The Eagles real sin is what they did to country music. Nearly every kid growing up in a small town in the 1970s and 80s listened to the Eagles. It is hard to explain the cultural influence they had in rural America during that time. That wouldn't be a problem except that a lot of those kids became country musicians and a few of them got famous doing a country version of the Eagles. The Eagles gave us Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and the rest of late 80s and 90s country music that pretty much robbed the genra of its artistic value and everything that made it great. That is not their fault. They didn't mean to do ti, but that is what they did.

[robc]

I love Joe Walsh but find the Eagles as okay at best. So I agree 100% with your comment.

County Fair is one of my favorite songs ever.

[Agent Cooper]

I had a detached retina. I can't deadlift over 50 lbs or it might happen again. So that sucks, so I have to go the lighter/more reps route.

[robc]

My understanding, as someone who doesnt know drumming, is that Ringo played with precision that you can't find easily elsewhere. He wasnt a "creative" drummer, but you dont always need that.

[toolkien]

The jury is out on Ringo, because there's strong hinting that McCartney would come in "after hours" with Martin (et al) and fix drum tracks. Could be moon-landing caliber conspiracy, I don't know, but I tend to believe it. McCartney was the most talented of the bunch, though I tend to like the Lennon genre-expanding stuff the best, even if there wasn't much of it before his contribution level dropped off.

[Juice]

George was the weak link? You don't know WTF you're talking about.

[Chipwooder]

Dude has a manbun. Fuck him and his opinions. Who goes to a limey for food advice, anyway?

[Guy Behind the Guy, Jr.]

Just duct tape the shit out of it before every workout.

[John]

Rob,

Precision is a good way to describe it. And a creative drummer would have been a disaster. You have the greatest song writing team in pop music history who are also next to Elvis probably the most charismatic front men in rock history. A creative drummer would have cocked the entire thing up. Can you imagine some lunatic like Kieth Moon or egotist like Neil Peart or Ginger Baker playing with the Beatles? It would have been a disaster. Ringo was the perfect drummer for that band.

[John]

I would be surprised if some of that didn't go on. But that says more about what a control freak McCartney was than it does about Ringo's drumming. Ringo played and plays drums on his All Star tours and the two times I have seen him sounded exactly like I expected.

And I don't think John's contribution level dropped off. I think a lot of that comes from Paul. I feel bad for Paul in some ways. After Lennon was murdered the public lionized him to such a degree that Paul rightly felt a bit slighted. I think a lot of the "oh John got so whacked on drugs that I became the leader" is Paul putting out revisionist history. Look at the records. How can you say Lennon contribution dropped off on say Magical Mystery Tour when they guy did Strawberry Fields, Baby Your a Rich Man and All You Need is Love? Or Abbey Road where he did She is So Heavy and Come Together?

[commodious warned u bucko]

The killer is in the lede!

[Isaac Bartram]

Calling an Australian a limey is fightin' words. OTOH, who goes to a Ozzie for food advice, either?

i left Australian in 1963 and my recollection of Australian cuisine was vegetables boiled beyond recognition and good meat prepared unimaginatively. I only know that Australian food has improved through reports and one brief visit in the 90s.

Most of the improvements in Australian food were brought in the postwar influx of non-British immigrants who took several years to get established and popularize what were to many Australians utterly alien foods.

[robc]

I will listen to Rush or Cream over the Beatles.

Of course, both Peart and Baker were working with a really talented team too.

Interesting that both of them are primarily know for being in a Trio.

You need more than just a beat when you only have 3 guys.

[robc]

Could you imagine Jamie Muir with the Beatles?

Now Im just giggling.