Overnight Open Thread (6-12-2014)

Quote of the Day

Laycock's wrong is to have taken the position that there may be cases in which individual religious freedom should trump compliance with law - a view that, during Bill Clinton's administration, was considered the liberal position in our politics." It's not enough to hold the right views. It's essential to hold them at the right time.

As Hillary has learned to her dismay. More details at "The pomposity and arrogance of these children (of the corn?) is just amazing"

Quote of the Day II

...Elizabeth Warren isn't an economic expert or a progressive policy crusader. She's a talented populist who sells clever but unserious proposals with a sense of academic sophistication that makes Bostonians feel like they're clapping for someone whose views are an intellectual cut above Ed Schultz's. In the end, they're not. But they definitely are clapping.

Why Do Teachers Complain So Much?

Others Have Noticed That Teachers Think of Themselves as One Step Removed From Coal Mine Workers

And that teacher unions and their members are some of the most ardent supporters of the Left in general.

At National Review, Jason Richwine points out that this martyrdom shtick benefits them in intangible ways, and is the flip side of the disdain with which doctors are increasingly treated in our society.  This got me thinking about the fact that, in every society that socialized its medicine, doctor's status instantly degraded.  This is true whether you're looking at the Soviet Union, Cuba, England, Canada, France, or anywhere else.  This is true even though doctors have the longest education and apprenticeship of any job in America and, once they're working, they truly hold our lives in their hands.  Likewise, in every socialized society, teachers' status improves.  This is true despite the fact that their training places a moderate demand on their time and they don't hold our lives in their hands.

Thinking about it, of course, this socialist inversion makes perfect sense.  Teachers produce the next generation of socialists; doctors cost money by saving the lives of old socialists who no longer contribute to the commune.  The relative values assigned these jobs in a socialist society has nothing to do with their contributions to the individual and everything to do with their contributions to the state.

Government Union Wants 'Duck Dynasty' Fans Fired

For having the temerity to put this bumper sticker on their trucks. Note that we're now at the point that merely showing support for someone who's been accused of insensitivity is considered enough for you to lose your job.

A Tale Of Two Cities And The Homeless

The homeless have become so ubiquitous that they're now being treated like a part of nature that architects and engineers simply design against. Hence the anti-sleeping entryway spikes and raised walkways between buildings.

Venezuela Runs Out of Drinking Water

But at least they have air and heat. For now. Oh and they have no debt - just a few pesky foreign exchange dealings.

Although in May the government began to pay down some of its bills, it still has over $25 billion dollars of debt outstanding to foreign companies that provide its medicine, operate its telephones, and import its food. Remain calm, however. Fervently denying that the temple of Bolivarian Socialism has credit problems, the Economy Vice President stated, "Venezuela doesn't have debt with anyone. What we have are pending foreign-exchange liquidations, which we are reviewing."

Why You Don't Want a State Church - PART XXI

The state can simply order the church to conduct and honor gay marriages. Or whatever else it desires.

The country's parliament voted through the new law on same-sex marriage by a large majority, making it mandatory for all churches to conduct gay marriages.

Denmark's church minister, Manu Sareen, called the vote "historic".

"I think it's very important to give all members of the church the possibility to get married. Today, it's only heterosexual couples."

Under the law, individual priests can refuse to carry out the ceremony, but the local bishop must arrange a replacement for their church.

The far-Right Danish People's Party mounted a strong campaign against the new law, which nonetheless passed with the support of 85 of the country's 111 MPs.

A Recommendation

I think it was an Instapundit or maybe a Cool Tools link that led me to buy Barkeeper's Friend. And yes it's just as awesomely effective as everyone said it was. Thomas Jefferson's 'Assault Rifle'

High-capacity magazine? Check.

Capable of firing 22 aimed shots in a minute? Check.

A military weapon? Check.

Manufactured during the American Revolutionary War? Check.

The Girandoni was 22-shot, magazine-fed, nearly silent .46 caliber repeating rifle issued to elite Austrian troops from 1780-1815. Thomas Jefferson purchased two of these rifles, which he sent west with Lewis and Clark.

Things Man Was Never Meant to Know Part XII

Popular Science: Stop Looking For 'Hardwired' Differences In Male And Female Brains.
Unless as Insty points out they somehow make women better.

4 Offensive Words That Started Out as the Polite Alternative

And one day the terms 'handicapped toilet' and 'african-american' will be simply unutterable in polite company unless you'd like to be known as an insensitive monster.

More modern sensitivity: Organizers of Edinburgh Marathon refuse to publish results 'out of respect' for runners

January Jones: The 90s Were Just as Bad as the 1950s For Women's Rights

Just a reminder that they're called actors and not 'actor-thinkers'.

15 Celebs Who Are Completely Washed Up

I'm not sure I'd write off all of these but I'm pretty sure we won't be seeing any more Steven Seagal action flicks.

The Millenium Falcon Strikes Back

And takes out Harrison Ford, requiring an airlift to a local hospital.

Yahoo group. That is all.

Come on be a smartie and join the yahoo group party! For the children.

And my lo-fi Twitter spew.

Tonight's post brought to you by Fab Four and sons:

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posted by Maetenloch at 10:26 PM

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