How have you been?Pretty good. The state of liquor control and poor-to-nonexistent roads/transportation up here is making me think that, yes, not even an unethical corporation could possibly screw things up worse than the state government. But I'm employed, it's a gorgeous summer, and my wife loves the area, so pretty much good things all around. You?
I'm hanging in there. I'm dealing with some pretty heavy family and financial challenges so I haven't been on line much.
I feel like a douche because I haven't contacted HD yet. Have you heard anything from him?
(We should probably move this to PM.)
China announces end date for taking prisoners' organsEh. If I was going to be executed anyway, I'd just as soon have my organs help someone else. If I said "No! They're all mine!" -- that's pretty stupid, because (a) I'd have no further use for them and (b) refusing to help others at no cost to myself "just because I don't wanna" is kind of a dick move. So the reason for not using them would be what, exactly?
(Note that this assumes these prisoners aren't being executed solely for their organs, as opposed to, say, letting them go in a year. But if you're executing people due for release, you've got bigger issues than whether you're using the organs afterwards.)
I'm not inclined to give the PRC the benefit of the doubt.
I wish more people would volunteer organs, and I would like to see a system in the US that permitted donors to be compensated, but compulsory state organ harvesting seems positively dystopian to me.
Soylant Green is people! ;)
I'm not inclined to give the PRC the benefit of the doubt.
You're probably right -- that's maybe not too injudicious a stance, all things considered.
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I like the Swedish system, where the organs are taken from everyone automatically, but people can opt out. It removes apathy from the system, but maintains choice.
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On the whole, it's a lot better than in Larry Niven's "The Defenseless Dead," in which, after running out of prisoners to execute for organs, they notice a lot of people are in cryogenic storage and start thawing them all out for their organs, too...
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Indiana Firefighter Says Police Threatened to Taze Him for Waving at Them
thanks for sharing this. As an avid cyclist, it concerns me. I haven't gotten a ticket for riding on the sidewalk in years upon years but the last time the cops pulled me over it was due to a combination of boredom and profiling. I don't have a hard tine seeing the cops as going overboard in this, especially as a stop sign was involved and they pulled in front of him (always a no-no).
I'm so glad I live in a jurisdiction (Santa Clara Country, California) where cyclists can choose between the sidewalk and the road, and can ride in the road without a bike lane. We have the freedom to go with whatever the local conditions fit best.
As a pedestrian, I want to kill all bicyclists on the sidewalk. I got hit once by a bicycle going something like 30 mph, and have had to leap out of the way on any number of other occasions.
That's the fault of people who don't show down for pedestrians and think they deserve the right of way, not all of use who use the sidewalk. I use it when where I'm going makes staying to the right on the road impractical (a very common situation in my case), and without the sidewalk to use it would be a lot harder and more dangerous to get around. Try to left turn at an intersection, or use the rightmost lane of said intersection, in Cupertino on a bike, and your ass is getting run over. Better to switch to the sidewalk when you get close to the area and cross with the crosswalks. I understand where you are coming from, and I do believe a lot of us cyclists need some safety tips, but sometimes we need that sidewalk.
I prefer to ride in the street. Sidewalk is for emergencies or if I'm about to go home.
Freehold, can I ask which side of the street you ride on? 'Cause riding against traffic is terrifying, but you get in less accidents. (Don't do this at home, kids, it's illegal!)
I like the Swedish system, where the organs are taken from everyone automatically, but people can opt out. It removes apathy from the system, but maintains choice.
I don't think I have an issue with this as long as it's an informed choice.
Freehold, can I ask which side of the street you ride on? 'Cause riding against traffic is terrifying, but you get in less accidents. (Don't do this at home, kids, it's illegal!)
in manhattan, there is no choice but to ride with traffic. Lots of ghost bikes there, but options are limited. In brooklyn I used to ride exclusively against traffic, but nowadays I usually ride with and keep an eye out for opening doors and an ear out for engines. Eventually ill almost end up doored or with a grill up my ass or my left arm ripped off which will have me riding against traffic again. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
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Since 2004, up to 884 innocent civilians, including at least 176 children, have died from US drone strikes in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan. A new report from the Stanford and New York University law schools finds drone use has caused widespread post-tramatic stress disorder and an overall breakdown of functional society in North Waziristan.
Cornel West: Obama’s Response to Trayvon Martin Case Belies Failure to Challenge "New Jim Crow"
My favorite bit of quasi-television from the last couple of months.
A lot for libertarians to disagree with, I know, but stick with it for the Obama denunciations. It's a lot of fun.
Human Rights Lawyer Calls Detention of Greenwald's Partner in the UK a 'Disgrace'From the Edward Snowden thread:
Glenn Greenwald: detaining my partner was a failed attempt at intimidation
Tyrants like to target loved ones because it tends to work.
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Since 2004, up to 884 innocent civilians, including at least 176 children, have died from US drone strikes in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan. A new report from the Stanford and New York University law schools finds drone use has caused widespread post-tramatic stress disorder and an overall breakdown of functional society in North Waziristan.Cornel West: Obama’s Response to Trayvon Martin Case Belies Failure to Challenge "New Jim Crow"
My favorite bit of quasi-television from the last couple of months.
A lot for libertarians to disagree with, I know, but stick with it for the Obama denunciations. It's a lot of fun.
It's refreshing to hear a leftist who isn't a groveling sycophant apologist for the current authoritarian regime even if I disagree with much of what he's saying.
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So, Mrs Gersen was wondering why I suddenly declared solidarity with our Republican governor. I explained he had three major agendas: (1) do SOMETHING about the collapsing road and bridge infrastructure and lack of transportation here; (2) finally end Prohibition in PA and privatize alcohol; (3) some stuff about pensions I didn't really care about. An agreement ratio of two out of three is better than I've ever gotten from any candidate in the past. Granted, he failed on all three, but what the hell.
Also, I was told this weekend that, in this county, it's illegal for anyone to swim anywhere unless there's an official lifeguard on duty. I'm going to fill the bathtub and try to backstroke in it just to spite them.
It's refreshing to hear a leftist who isn't a groveling sycophant apologist for the current authoritarian regime even if I disagree with much of what he's saying.Since 2004, up to 884 innocent civilians, including at least 176 children, have died from US drone strikes in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan. A new report from the Stanford and New York University law schools finds drone use has caused widespread post-tramatic stress disorder and an overall breakdown of functional society in North Waziristan.Cornel West: Obama’s Response to Trayvon Martin Case Belies Failure to Challenge "New Jim Crow"
My favorite bit of quasi-television from the last couple of months.
A lot for libertarians to disagree with, I know, but stick with it for the Obama denunciations. It's a lot of fun.
seriously? Cornell west? You guys do know you're white, right? I think it would go past civil disagreements if the three of your were in a room together, although to be fair to west, he has calmed down over the years.
Rochester Police Shoot Disabled Man’s Dog, Then Arrest Him Twice in the Days After
im a cat person, but something about this stinks. I hope he sues for this, this seems like the worst kind of blockbusting/intimidation.
So, Mrs Gersen was wondering why I suddenly declared solidarity with our Republican governor. I explained he had three major agendas: (1) do SOMETHING about the collapsing road and bridge infrastructure and lack of transportation here; (2) finally end Prohibition in PA and privatize alcohol; (3) some stuff about pensions I didn't really care about. An agreement ratio of two out of three is better than I've ever gotten from any candidate in the past. Granted, he failed on all three, but what the hell.
Also, I was told this weekend that, in this county, it's illegal for anyone to swim anywhere unless there's an official lifeguard on duty. I'm going to fill the bathtub and try to backstroke in it just to spite them.
that's been the law aroundabouts for some time now. Iirc, it spurred backyard pool sales in the 90s.
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seriously? Cornell west? You guys do know you're white, right? I think it would go past civil disagreements if the three of your were in a room together, although to be fair to west, he has calmed down over the years.It's refreshing to hear a leftist who isn't a groveling sycophant apologist for the current authoritarian regime even if I disagree with much of what he's saying.Since 2004, up to 884 innocent civilians, including at least 176 children, have died from US drone strikes in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan. A new report from the Stanford and New York University law schools finds drone use has caused widespread post-tramatic stress disorder and an overall breakdown of functional society in North Waziristan.Cornel West: Obama’s Response to Trayvon Martin Case Belies Failure to Challenge "New Jim Crow"
My favorite bit of quasi-television from the last couple of months.
A lot for libertarians to disagree with, I know, but stick with it for the Obama denunciations. It's a lot of fun.
I disagree with him about a great deal, and I disagree with you and DA on a great deal, but I think it's principled disagreement with the two of you. I disagree with Nader and Kucinich on most issues, but they possess some integrity and intellectual honesty that is all but absent in most of the left and right today.
The Democrats have prostituted virtually all of their credibility on issues like civil liberties, human rights, peace, prison reform, transparency, corporatism, torture, corruption, and a host of other principals.
There are a few liberals here like you guys that I respect, but many of the liberals I interact with here and elsewhere aren't simply wrong on the issues. I think they are morally and intellectually bankrupt, and I have no respect for their bigotry and hypocrisy, and I see no value in engaging them any more.
The GOP has also prostituted what little credibility it had in principals like fiscal restraint, individual liberty, preemptive war, rule of law, restraining government power, and so on.
We are waging a real battle between the authoritarian, war mongering, statists that currently control the GOP establishment and the more libertarian elements of the GOP, and I have to admit that even as cynical as I am I was saddened to witness a constant pattern of amoral, dirty, unethical, and blatantly dishonest behavior on the part of the GOP establishment at every level.
I'm still engaged in the fight on the GOP side, but it is sad and exhausting.
It's tough to have any hope for the country when the vast majority of the Democrat and GOP "leadership" have abandoned intellectual and moral integrity and corporate crony-ism on a staggering scale destroys and distorts free commerce and competition.
I'm green and red.
I'm green and red.
That reminds me. I'm still a registered member of the Green Party of Montana. I really should switch that to California. Then again, it's practically impossible for a third party to get on the ballot, as only the two most popular candidates (determined buy primary voter turnout) in a district can be on the ballot, and write ins are not allowed, so I can't vote for them.
Rochester Police Shoot Disabled Man’s Dog, Then Arrest Him Twice in the Days Afterim a cat person, but something about this stinks. I hope he sues for this, this seems like the worst kind of blockbusting/intimidation.
I'm sad to say that intimidation and terror are usually the point.
I think it's exceedingly rare for heavily armed and armored law enforcers to be in serious danger from the vast majority of dogs. The idea that a large SWAT team assaulting a family home covered in Kevlar, FR clothing, and other protective equipment armed with machine guns, combat shotguns, and grenades must gun down the family's small dog in front of the children to protect themselves is a sad joke, but with some 100+ raids in the US every day this is incredibly common.
Police state anyone?
The I-Team has uncovered video showing a woman claiming a court marshal sexually assaulted her. She was later arrested by that same marshal.
A Harris County jury has found a former Houston Police Department officer guilty of official oppression in the March 2010 beating of Chad Holley, who was 15 years old at the time.
The policy of police obtaining a warrant to draw blood from those merely suspected of being drunk at a DUI checkpoint or a routine traffic stop has been in place for years across many states, but to actually see it in action is disturbing.
SAPD: Man Tasered while attempting to save infant son from a house fire
The infant died from injuries sustained during the blaze.
14 Year Old Boy Manhandled by Miami-Dade Police Thugs at the Beach (for looking at them wrong)
At least they didn't murder the puppy.
Scottsdale pays woman $315K in police strip-search incident
Kim also admitted in interviews with internal-affairs investigators that he had made similar requests of an additional 15 to 20 women. He reportedly asked the women to undress and expose themselves to him.
It kind of seems like more than a few bad apples.
EDIT: Of course if the victims of all of these sexual assaults had the temerity to defend themselves then they get arrested and charged with felonies like assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, and so on in many cases.