The Black Hole

I swear I just snorted up my breakfast over this story. A Dallas County commissioner is demanding that a colleague apologize for using the term “black hole.” The unhinged official called the phrase racist and insisted on replacing it with… “white hole.”

I guess this means Disney will be accused of racism?

Life in the Chocolate Universe...

Just add a little Milky Way...

[Via Jay S]

"Moral Panic"

The paper goes on to rip apart the media in blowing up these technopanics, often using outright incorrect or made up data, such as the idea that "50,000 sexual predators are online at any given time," a favorite of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The problem is that this number was made up out of nowhere.

And from this, legislation is enacted.

If you've agreed with any of my Chris Hansen posts, you should find this interesting. It discusses the manipulation behind the hysteria, as well as the results.

Not that we've ever seen that from our good friends and government watchdogs, the "Authorized Journalists"

[Via Sam W]

We're the Only Ones Concerned Enough

The Fort Lauderdale police chief says he is concerned about his wife's safety if she remains in jail.

Huh. How many non-"Only Ones" has the chief presided over the incarceration of, and this is the first time he's publicly expressing concern for prisoner safety?

[Via Jeffersonian]

Real Talk in Jersey

A televised debate between noted gun rights attorney/author Evan Nappen and the President of CeaseFire NJ is scheduled to air on Sunday, July 13 at 12:30p.m. on WWOR-TV (Channel 9). The name of the program is Real Talk.

If you live in the area, you might weant to watch or record this. I looked at the My9 website, but couldn't find more detailed info and didn't have the incentive or patience to explore it. If you do see it, let us know how it turned out, and if a link to the debate is ever posted, please share it.

[Via Jeffersonian]

We're the Only Ones Older and Wiser Enough

A Merrillville police officer fired last year has been charged with sexual battery against a 16-year-old girl he pulled over.

Nazi Rolf, your cue:

You are sixteen going on seventeen
Baby, it's time to think
Better beware, be canny and careful
Baby, you're on the brink

You are sixteen going on seventeen
Fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads and roues and cads
Offer you food and wine

Totally unprepared are you to face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you
Of things beyond your ken

You need someone older and wiser
Telling you what to do
I am [36] going on [37]
I'll take care of you

[Via Shermlock Shomes]

Dumb and Dumber

"It's not a dumb rule."

See, the way you deal with this is publicly identify this moron.

Name him.

Give contact information for where he works.

Then publicly shame the stupid, authoritarian SOB. Make ruthless fun of him.

I don't think it would take too many examples.

But I dream. We've named some already, and in far worse cases.

It's getting to where people have no hope for "official" redress. Eat it and like it. Obey or be destroyed.

And there's nothing we can do about it.

Right?

[Via Jeffersonian]

We're the Only Ones S&M Enough

A Central Florida police sergeant has been arrested on suspicion of throwing a female to the ground at a party, pulling her pants down and spanking her with a belt...

And apparently it's not the first time a female has accused him of corporal creepiness.

My question: Were there no men at the party? Who the hell would stand by and watch this happen and not intervene?

Oh, right.

And are there no men in here life? Imagine if she were your daughter or sister. I'd venture she wouldn't be The "Only One" with stripes and welts.

[Via Zachary G]

Raising Cane

Senior centers and retirement communities are looking for new ways to promote exercise in order to stave off physical decline. Older people interested in honing their self-defense skills, meanwhile, are delighted to find that something they already own can be used as a weapon.

I suppose it's better than nothing, and perhaps instilling an instinct to resist may deter some would-be attackers, but really.

We've been through this before.

Yes, of course I'd rather know some fighting tricks than not know them.

Yes, of course I'd rather have a cane than fight bare-handed.

But if an attacker is deadly serious, ain't nothing substitutes for being able to return the sentiment, and that means having a gun.

But I am willing to compromise. Unfortunately, those presuming authority to define "AOWs" will not meet me halfway on this.

This Day in History: July 12

A General Court Martial of the Line to sit at Head Quarters, in Cambridge, to morrow morning at Nine OClock, to try Col. Scammons of the Massachusetts Forces accused of “Backwardness in the execution of his duty, in the late Action upon Bunkers-hill.” The Adjutant of Col. Scammons regiment, to warn all Evidences, and persons concern’d to attend the court.

That piqued my curiosity, so I found this:

On the other side of Charlestown Neck the situation was no better. Colonel Scammons was ordered to lead his regiment across the Neck "to the Hill", but with almost inexcusable stupidity, he marched his men to Cobble Hill, a feeble elevation on the landward side of Charlestown Neck and stayed there, never crossing the Neck to reach Gridley's Redoubt. Meanwhile, at the same spot, Major Scarborough Gridley, Colonel Gridley's older son, was also malingering with his artillery company, refusing to cross the Neck. It was at the very time his father was in desperate need of artillery assistance--and himself loading the last remaining cannon beside the Redoubt.

Then, back at Bunker Hill, there was Colonel Masfield with his regiment, ordered to go to Prescott's aid. With Colonel Scammons, the two colonels, with 700 fresh men with full ammunition pouches, simply sat out the battle watching Major Gridley fire pop shots at the British Symmetry and Glasgow.

The battle was a loss for the Americans, but at a heavy toll for the British. Imagine how emboldened the cause for liberty would have been had these officers acted differently and deployed their resources to tip the scale to victory.