Nuclear Unicorn
Nuclear Unicorn's JournalBlack Violin -- Stereotypes
Found this while listening to chick rock on YouTube. I thought I'd share with the peeps.
Brava, gentlemen. O' Brava
Scrawling 'F**k Your S**tty Town Bitches' On Speeding Ticket Is Free Speech, Judge Finds
-- snip --
On May 4, 2012, Barboza, then 22, was driving through the small, scenic town of Liberty when he was given a speeding ticket.
Clearly sore about the incident, Barboza crossed out "Liberty" on the payment form and replaced it with "Tyranny." He then scrawled the offending phrase across the top, pleaded guilty to speeding and put the form in the mail.
Justice Brian P. Rourke informed Barboza in September of that year that his payment had been rejected and he'd have to make the two-hour trek from Connecticut to appear in court.
There, Rourke lectured Barboza over his use of foul language, before prosecutors from the Sullivan County district attorney's office instructed police officers to arrest Barboza on a charge of aggravated harassment. Barboza was taken to the Liberty police station, where he was booked, fingerprinted and handcuffed to a bench. After being shuffled between courts, he was eventually released when he paid a $200 bail.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/willian-barboza-speeding-ticket-profanity_55f82a22e4b09ecde1d9a8e2?d7u2qpvi
Too many with power don't like having their power questioned, mocked or denigrated. Yet, it's their own conduct that undermines them the most.
China punishes 197 over stock market and Tianjin 'rumours'
Chinese authorities have punished 197 people for spreading rumours online about the recent stock market crash and fatal explosions in Tianjin, according to state news agency Xinhua.
A journalist and stock market officials are among those arrested, Xinhua said. It gave no other details.
...
Separately, the UK's Financial Times says Chinese leaders feel they mishandled their stock market rescue efforts.
The paper, quoting an account of a meeting of senior regulatory officials on Thursday, said the government had decided to abandon attempts to boost the stock market and instead step up efforts to punish people suspected of "destabilising the market".
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34104114
"It's not the paper dragon we built; that is to blame. It's the people who are talking about the fact we built a paper dragon that need to be dealt with!"
Does anybody know the Mandarin word for "face-palm"?
The Vice Lords
Recently I was watching a documentary on street gangs in America (I'm fascinated by the mafia, biker gangs, etc. Don't ask me why 'cuz I don't know.). It covered the history of gangs from the immigrant gangs of the 19th century up to the cartels today.
Along the way it discussed a Chicago gang called the Vice Lords, particularly their leader, Bobby Gore. At first they were a typical gang but along the way they became community organizers and made an astounding, wonderful contribution to their community. Sadly, Gore was later convicted of murder on rather dubious grounds destroying all of the group's good work.
This man and his work should be studied more, I think. I was excited by what I saw. What happened to him was a tragedy on so many levels but there is still so much to learn.
If anyone has anything to recommend, reading-wise, I would appreciate their contribution.
Donald Trump Says He Wants to Raise Taxes on Himself
Republican front-runner Donald Trump began to flesh out his economic vision for America, and it includes raising taxes on the wealthy.
Trump said during a Wednesday interview on Bloomberg's With All Due Respect that he would like to change the tax code.
"I would change it. I would simplify it," Trump told hosts Mark Halperin and John Heilemann from the lobby of Trump Tower on New York's 5th Ave. Specifically, Trump targeted hedge fund profits, which are currently taxed at a lower rate than regular income.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-08-26/donald-trump-says-he-wants-to-raise-taxes-on-himself
This blowhard will say anything to get elected. He is beyond narcissistic, he's a megalomaniac.
US Service Members foil suspected terrorist attack (UPDATED)
Additional details to earlier reports --
A group of unarmed US Marines on board a high-speed train between Amsterdam and Paris foiled a terrorist attack after a gunman opened fire with an assault rifle, wounding three people.
The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire. Fortunately, two US Marines were nearby and overpowered him before he could massacre passengers.
The suspected terrorist had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 300 rounds. He was also carrying a knife.
Unfortunately, one of the Marines was shot and is believed to be in a critical condition.
Keep fighting, Airman.
This next part leaped out at me --
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3206426/U-S-Marines-armed-gunman-onboard-high-speed-train-Amsterdam-Paris.html
UPDATE -- Not Marines as earlier reported.
The guard member, 22-year-old Alek Skarlatos, had wrapped up a tour in Afghanistan in July and was spending a month in Europe with friends, his stepmother Karen Skarlatos told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday night.
He was on the Amsterdam-to-Paris train with a group, including childhood friends Anthony Sadler, a senior at Sacramento State University, and Spencer Stone, a member of the U.S. Air Force, Sadler told the Associated Press.
http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2015/08/oregon_national_guard_member_h.html
Thanks to Warren Demontague for the link.
Taliban Attempt to Ruin US Cookout in Afghanistan
WARNING -- Soldier language'Merica!
What would be the most efficient means of keeping guns away from criminals?
A) Universal background checks at point of sale
B) Firearms owner ID cards that must be surrendered, like a drivers license, if the bearer is adjudicated to have committed a disqualifying offense
C) Both A and B
D) Other
E) Anybody who owns a gun should have people with guns sent after them to put them in a place where they are guarded by other people with guns because guns never solve anything
How much should a FOID/CC license cost?
In this era of nearly instantaneous records checks it's not exactly a time consuming task requiring significant amounts of effort.
Personally, I think it shouldn't cost more than a drivers license, probably less.
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