Thursday morning links

There is some doubt they can handle 'Paddington' there is sexual innuendo, but at least they dropped the bloody bad language rating.

Does make you wonder though. The students, including Muslim groups, protested they felt threatened by a movie that shows a sniper killing Islamic terrorists. Nice sympathies there children.

#1 JK Brown on 2015-04-09 08:05 (Reply)

"University of Michigan Cancels Showing of American Sniper Due to Student Protest; Shows Paddington Instead"

"Something the snowflakes can handle"

"There is some doubt they can handle 'Paddington' there is sexual innuendo, but at least they dropped the bloody bad language rating."

Indeed. Paddington has a violent bathroom demolition scene too, not to mention that ear-cleaning episode with the toothbrush ("Ew! Gross!").

Great fun for kids and the rest of us but no doubt far too traumatizing for the gentle souls at the University of Michigan.

#1.1 JJM on 2015-04-09 09:44 (Reply)

QUOTE:

University Vice President for Student Life E. Royster Harper called the decision to cancel the Friday night showing a "mistake" in a statement.

"The initial decision to cancel the movie was not consistent with the high value the University of Michigan places on freedom of expression and our respect for the right of students to make their own choices in such matters," Harper said. "The movie will be shown at the originally scheduled time and location."

#1.2 The Poetry of Violence on 2015-04-09 12:57 (Reply)

"SeaWorld Responds To California Drought By Draining Animal Tanks Halfway"

Wait, doesn't sea world have marine animals in those tanks. Is the sea level in California falling?

#2 JK Brown on 2015-04-09 08:07 (Reply)

All right, that'll teach me to click the link before commenting. But still, this is dangerous as someone in California is, right now, organizing a protest of Sea World.

#2.1 JK Brown on 2015-04-09 08:10 (Reply)

I'll add to your link list. Delete them if you feel I'm spamming.

17 Ways To Avoid The Obamacare Tax Penalty, Including Being Beaten By Your Wife
http://www.citizenliberty.com/2015/04/17-ways-to-avoid-obamacare-tax-penalty-including-being-beaten-by-your-wife.html

5 Benefits To Privatizing Police, And How Doing It Before Ended Slavery
http://www.citizenliberty.com/2015/04/private-armies-in-history-fight-jihadists.html

Private Armies In History; A Modern Day Solution For Fighting ISIS and Jihadists
http://www.citizenliberty.com/2015/04/5-benefits-to-privatizing-police-ended-slavery.html

#3 Citizen Liberty (Link) on 2015-04-09 08:28 (Reply)

Here's another one. Now that the FCC has (illegally) grabbed control of the internet through "Net Neutrality," Obamafees are coming to your internet bill:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-broadband-fees-20150409-story.html#page=1

#3.1 Jim on 2015-04-09 14:49 (Reply)

Well, when the Socialist call something right wing, they are talking about Fascism, which is right wing Socialism. It became the habit back in the 1930s when Orwell, and others, considered the Capitalism and it's "right wing" supporter to be dead and gone. So the line were redrawn with real communism furtherest left, Socialism in the middle and Fascism on the Right. Being the Academy and educated individuals, they never adjusted when capitalism brought forth the modern world after necessity lifted the government boot off its neck.

#4 JK Brown on 2015-04-09 09:30 (Reply)

It's a good thing the Killer Whales at Sea World don't know that their handlers at Sea World have taken half of their water while the Gov. Moonbeam makes sure the delta smelt has all it needs.

#5 mudbug on 2015-04-09 09:44 (Reply)

"drug sentencing laws are too harsh"

All sentencing laws are too harsh. The maximum sentence for any crime where it is your intent to release the person back into society should be no more than five years. If the criminal is so bad that they should never be released into society then keep them in jail for life. If you are going to release them someday don't harden them and destroy them by jailing them for 20 years.

Some will disagree saying that some crimes deserve more time. Kinda proves my point that the intent of a long sentence is not about rehabilitation and correction but about revenge and hate. The incarcerated criminal gets that message loud and clear and builds hate towards those who took their revenge on him. Make no mistake, five years in the prison system is real punishment. So what purpose does the other 15 years serve? We should punish and do the best to rehabilitate and release with real help in getting back into society.

#6 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-04-09 09:45 (Reply)

Along that line, I keep reading things like, "Joe Doaks, sentenced in 2013 to 20 years for manslaughter, has been released on parole after serving 16 months".

#6.1 BillH on 2015-04-09 09:57 (Reply)

you've got a strange attitude towards prisoners. usually, the purpose of imprisonment for crime is punishment (California) or "deterrence, incapacitation, just punishment, and rehabilitation" (Federal). whether or not prisoners hate is something they decide on their own.

stop wringing your hands over these convicts.

#6.2 The Poetry of Violence on 2015-04-09 20:02 (Reply)

The problem is that most of them are released into society sooner or later. Would you prefer a rehabilitated ex-con or an angry ex-con?

#6.2.1 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-04-09 21:26 (Reply)

I want a punished ex con, whether that means two days, two years or 20 years. rehabilitation is just not happening. whether or not they're angry is not the point of anything. they're going to be angry because they're all innocent in their eyes.

#6.2.1.1 The Poetry of Violence on 2015-04-09 21:45 (Reply)

Exactly! Rehabilitation is not happening and it should be. Human behavior can be modified. The current system of incarceration intentionally or not modifies the human behavior to create more and worse criminals. The goal should be to make them better citizens. Too many people are given long sentences for minor crimes simply because the prosecutor improves his resume to do so. In jail these minor offenders become hardened criminals. Many/most mandatory sentencing laws with their extremely long prison sentences are about revenge and the political advantage of being seen as tough on crime. Not only should the punishment fit the crime but the punishment should also benefit society. It doesn't benefit society to keep non-violent criminals in jail for 20 years simply because we can.

#6.2.1.1.1 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-04-10 10:31 (Reply)

I believe most sentencing is done according to statutory or regulatory guidelines with a "standard" sentence that is modifiable up or down depending on aggravating or mitigating factors, such as, multiple violations, gun use, acceptance of guilt, restitution. the judge relies on a report recommendations made by a sentencing commission or parole board. prosecutorial discretion doesn't come into play except in how the offenses are charged.

you need to know how the system works before you critique it.

#6.2.1.1.1.1 The Poetry of Violence on 2015-04-10 18:48 (Reply)

You are wrong. Kinda ironic given your last comment.
In too many states there are mandatory sentences, often quite long sentences, that the judge has no discretion on. Even in states without mandatories it is common practice for the DA to charge everything they can think of and make up. Part of this is to force a plea deal and part is because that is how they get points. If you can afford a good lwyer you can get a better deal from the prosecutor (not the judge). There are exceptions, some states give judges a lot more discretion but rarely does any state limit the DA discretion.

#6.2.1.1.1.1.1 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-04-10 20:30 (Reply)

A cigarette smoker blaming asthma on climate change and his followers lap it up. We are too stupid to survive.

#7 b moe on 2015-04-09 09:49 (Reply)

Re: The living Confederacy

The "War of Northern Aggression" was about government overreach (for a moral purpose). This theme fits nicely with the tyranny our government is forcing on us now (for immoral purposes) as well as a potential solution - secession (in form or method or another).

#8 mudbug on 2015-04-09 10:15 (Reply)

The "War of Northern Aggression" was about government overreach (for a moral purpose).
I doubt that many people who have actually read the South Carolina Declaration of Causes of Secession would agree with you.

Disclaimer: I had family on both sides who were killed in the conflict, including a Confederate Colonel whom family lore informs me was the biggest landowner- and also slaveowner- in the county.

#8.1 Gringo on 2015-04-09 14:34 (Reply)

Thanks for the link, Gringo! You're right, at least with respect to South Carolina, that slavery was the prime motivator to secede.

#8.1.1 mudbug on 2015-04-09 16:19 (Reply)

Speaking about "government overreach," consider the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Slave Power was quite happy in abrogating States' Rights when federal power was used in favor of slavery. Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederacy, had the following to say on secession.

QUOTE:

Our new Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition.

Slavery, slavery, slavery. It is often difficult for those of US with slaveowning ancestors to admit that the Civil War was about slavery. In deference to my slaveowning ancestors, I am reminded of a Lincoln quote which approximately said that if those Northerners who condemn Southerners for slavery had been born in the South, they most likely would have thought rather differently.

William Freehling has written a number of good books on the issue of secession. For a quicker summary of his views, consider reading his essay "The Divided South, Democracy's Limitations, and the Causes of the Peculiarly North American Civil War" in Why the Civil War Came. Because I am the product of a North-South marriage, have split my life between North and South, and had family on both sides killed in the Civil War, I have long had an interest in it, and have read quite a bit on the Civil War and its causes.

#8.2 Gringo on 2015-04-09 16:55 (Reply)

Re: The Clintons and pigs

Were I a Secret Service Agent and heard the Clintons call one of us a pig and they were attacked or in danger. I would quickly find something else that is "really important" to do.

#9 mudbug on 2015-04-09 10:21 (Reply)

Why can I not find this surprising? The Clintons, per the Russkis, are nye kulturnyi.

#9.1 Sam L. on 2015-04-09 15:46 (Reply)

Seems to be an instance of the pot calling the kettle black.

#9.2 Chazz on 2015-04-09 16:46 (Reply)

The problem is that they seem to have lost discipline and professionalism over the past years. Police without professionalism are just another gang.

#9.3 jay on 2015-04-09 20:55 (Reply)

Re: Why heads aren't rolling at Rolling Stone

Because to the powers that be at Rolling Stone, nobody really did anything wrong. They all pretty much did what they were supposed to. Of course, there were some unfortunate aspects of how the story was developed and told, but they were basically doing the job they were hired to do.

#10 mudbug on 2015-04-09 10:31 (Reply)

I think you are likely right mudbug. My guess is that this type of story editing is the norm at RS if the story is to fit the narrative.

But I also read that is probably better for RS to keep potential witnesses on the payroll. They are more likely to give more favorable testimony than a fired employee with an axe to grind.

#10.1 feeblemind on 2015-04-09 12:19 (Reply)

"Why Aren't Heads Rolling at Rolling Stone?"

Because if you fire people, they no longer have any incentive to cover up for your mistakes when the lawyers come around asking questions.

#11 RonF on 2015-04-09 13:04 (Reply)

Good point as usual, feeble. I've read that a suit by either UVA or the frat against RS may not succeed. That seems counter intuitive to me. I hope we find out and I hope it costs RS a lot of money defending against those suits.

#12 mudbug on 2015-04-09 13:08 (Reply)

Yes, mudbug, I saw that too, at the Volokh Conspiracy, I think.

I have seen others that seem to think they have a better chance.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. At the very least, if it goes to trial it will result in some very bad PR for RS.

#12.1 feeblemind on 2015-04-09 16:30 (Reply)

Well deserved bad PR!

#12.1.1 mudbug on 2015-04-09 19:24 (Reply)

Best SMALL WATER PUMP

Hi MF:

Need a small gasoline two stage water pump. To use in long garden on gentle slope. Do you folks have any suggest, or preferences? Honda, Husqvarna...what do you like in the under $400 range?
Thank you

#13 Apple Pie on 2015-04-09 13:54 (Reply)

You could go to Harbor Frieght and buy a "fairly good" pump for less than half what a Honda pump would cost. If you can afford a good Honda pump you will not regret it. Watch the oil and change it and the filter as recommended.

#13.1 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-04-10 18:17 (Reply)

Add Comment

Name
Email	(Your e-mail will not show in your comment)
Homepage
In reply to
Comment	By commenting on this site you agree to the site rules listed here. Email addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for email notifications. Quick reference guide: [i] italics [/i], [b] bold [/b], [u] underline [/u], [url] (web address) [/url]. More tips here. Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (word), underscore are made via _word_. E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications. To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly. Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above: BBCode format allowed
	Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry

Maggie's Farm

Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page

Categories

Quicksearch

Links

Blog Administration

RSS Readers

Thursday, April 9. 2015

Thursday morning links