Overnight Open Thread (10-28-2015)

Quote of the Day

George Orwell, who railed against his fellow socialists' obsession with vegetarianism in 1937's The Road to Wigan Pier, noting with anger that "One sometimes gets the impression that the mere words 'Socialism' and 'Communism' draw towards them with magnetic force every fruit-juice drinker, nudist, sandal-wearer, sex-maniac, Quaker, 'Nature Cure' quack, pacifist, and feminist in England," wouldn't be much surprised by their hypocrisy after knocking back a few.  Plus ça change.

-- Ed Driscoll on a study showing that a third of vegetarians cheat with meat after a few drinks

Was Hillary Clinton Ever Really Secretary of State?

She had no accomplishments, no State Department computer, and left no paper or email trails. She was our first ghost-American SecState.

Refugees Refuse Beds At Swedish Holiday Resort

Too rural and quiet they said.

More than 30 asylum seekers refused to get off a bus that took them to temporary accommodation at a holiday park on Sunday night because they didn't want to stay in such a rural location, Sweden's Migration Board has told The Local.

Judge Rules That School's Facebook Post Is a Campaign Contribution

Because it spoke positively about a candidate. Further evidence that campaign contributions are ultimately a form of political free speech. And that proponents of campaign finance restriction know this.

So Why Are Federal Prisons Removing All Pork From Their Menus?

The inmates just don't like pork they claim.

The Bureau of Prisons, which is responsible for running 122 federal penitentiaries and feeding their inmates three meals a day, said the decision was based on a survey of prisoners' food preferences:

They just don't like the taste of pork.

"Why keep pushing food that people don't want to eat?" asked Edmond Ross, a spokesman for the prison bureau. "Pork has been the lowest-rated food by inmates for several years," It also apparently got more expensive for the government to buy, although he did not provide specifics.

Sure prison kitchens can probably manage to fuck up pork products to some degree but still. Consider me highly skeptical about this new stealth halal prison cuisine.

Related: Butter - The Secret Ingredient to McDonalds Recovery?

The 20 US Metro Areas With the Highest GDP Growth Rate

Go to Texas young man.

NYU Professor Has a Modest Proposal: Stunt Children's Growth With Hormones to Fight Climate Change

Federalist: If You're Slut-Shaming Bristol Palin, You're Not Actually A Feminist

Eh. After two out-of-wedlock pregnancies with the second one happening while she was giving lectures on abstinence and avoiding teenage pregnancy Bristol really needs to take a big drink of Shut The Fuck Up and focus on her real job: walking the walk and taking care of her kids.

Why the TSA is Worthless and Ruins Everything

Super Hero Dolls - Very Problematic

But why do the new dollies have to look so odd? Why the super-long anorexia-style legs and the thigh-gap? The weeny torsos with no room for innards? The giant or robot-style heads, the big (mainly) blue eyes and formidable eyelashes?

...I had a pram full of animals when I was little, but my auntie insisted that I have a dolly, because I was a girl, and she gave me a cloth one, with moulded cloth face and shiny, pretend hair. But I scribbled all over its blank, spooky face, pulled its hair out, and my mother had to hide it from auntie in the wardrobe. Forever.

Do You Know Who This Man Really Was?

If you said Vigo the Carpathian, you'd be wrong. His real name was Norbert Grupe and he died in 2004 after leading a fascinating life full of ups and downs and essentially playing the role of a wrestling heel in real life. He also could have been a contender.

Most people will only ever know Norbert Grupe as Vigo the Carpathian. But Norbert Grupe-a Nazi soldier's son, boxer, professional wrestler, failed actor, criminal, and miserable human being who was never so happy as when he could make someone hate him-was once a man so beautiful that other men wanted to paint him.

The entire article is worth a read. (thanks to Gabe)

'Star Wars' Tractor Beams Could Be Real

(thanks to MH)

Before "Airplane!" There Were the Airport Movies

To really appreciate Airplane! it helps to know what exactly it was satirizing. These are screenshots from Airport and Airport 1975.

10 Trendy Halloween Costumes For 2015

The Group knows your sins but doesn't care.

Tonight's post brought to you by life choices:

Notice: Posted by implicit permission of AceCorp LLC. Please e-mail overnight open thread tips to maetenloch at gmail. Otherwise do nothing. Current ewok status: Mostly gruntled.

posted by Maetenloch at 11:40 PM

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