Censorship 5 | ***Dave Does the Blog

Unblogged Bits (Tue. 21-Sep-10 1731)

Links (most recent first) that caught my eye, but did not warrant full-blown blog entries ….

“The Money’s Flowing,” But From Where? – But that’s not really money! That’s (corporate) FREE SPEECH! Right?
Voter Suppression Plan Uncovered in Wisconsin – “Trying to win an election by getting fewer people to vote is a desperate move, and far from the spirit of democracy.” Which is why the GOP and the Right keep doing it.
A Reasoned Debate on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: Miranda
In defense of extraneous amendments – The GOP hypocritically criticizing a procedural move they’ve used eleventy-dozen times themselves? Inconceivable!
Matt Kane: When American Exceptionalism Should Be Absolute: Matt Kane
Dr. Susan Corso: Millions Pouring Into Campaigns — Who Does This Benefit?: Dr. Susan Corso
Thundarr the Barbarian: 4-DVD Release of ‘The Complete Series’ Available Next Week…But Online Only – Ookla! Ariel! RIIIIIIDE!
A Challenge To Republicans: Here’s What Reducing The Deficit Through Large Spending Cuts Looks Like – Option 4 for the (GOP) win!
Being Gay in the Military is a “Private Hell” Under DADT – Sorry, folks – tales of personal sadness and love must always be trumped by the Ick Factor in some people’s minds.
With Just 40 Votes, Republicans Block Debate Over Defense Authorization Bill – So the GOP is willing to block the defense authorization bill in the Senate for the first time since 1952, all out of base’s fear of Teh Gayz and the “moderate”s’ outrage at procedure. Nice.
On the Other Hand: Sometimes (Parental) Silence is Golden – I heartily approve, especially if the cowbells are kept home, too.
Joe. My. God.: CALIFORNIA: Beer Sellers Oppose Marijuana Legalization Bill – “Unless the beer distributors in California have suddenly developed a philosophical opposition to the use of intoxicating substances, the motivation behind this contribution is clear.”
New Google transparency tool shows gov requests, blocked traffic – Well done, Google.
Twitter To Serve Targeted Promoted Tweets Based On Who You Follow – I’m willing to put up with some ads (servers don’t pay for themselves, after all) so long as (a) they are clearly ads, (b) their noise doesn’t obstruct the signal.

Unblogged Bits for Thu, 22 Apr 2010, 2:01AM

Links (most recent first) that caught my eye, but did not warrant full-blown blog entries ….

Leonard Nimoy Retiring, Won’t Star in ‘Trek’ Sequel – I’ve very much enjoyed the voice-overs he’s done for Star Trek Online.
Dem. Sen. Carper: Dems should drop areas of disagreement from Wall St. reform bill – So the way to move forward is to let the minority dictate to the majority what should or shouldn’t be in a bill. Um … right.
Price of Ignoring ToS Details: Your Soul – Not at all surprising. What percentage of people (my guess: low single digits) actually read all the EULA information during an installation? (And, no, I don’t, either.)
Facebook Used To Make Partners Delete Your Data After 24 Hrs. No Longer. – I don’t have anything on Facebook that worries me, and I decline to join in any games or applications that want to access my profile. That said, I’d never dream of making it my primary social platform.
Glenn Beck, the IMF, and the “Global V-A-T” “prison” conspiracy | Media Matters for America – The Rodeo Clown meets Global Financial Policy. Hilarity ensues.
Pope Urban Novak II – Right! We must protect the site of the Sermon on the Mount, and act as Blessed Peacemakers by BOMBING THE SNOT OUT OF IRAN! Just like Jesus would do!
Army considers rescinding invitation to evangelist – Yahoo! News – It’s highly inappropriate to invite a speaker to the Pentagon who refers to Islam as “a very evil and wicked religion” — not least of which because (a) Muslims serve in the military, and (b) we have military posted in (and ostensibly in service to the people of) Muslim countries. That’s not censorship — that’s common sense. (Plus: why the hell does the Pentagon have a guest speaker for the National Day of Prayer in the first place?)
Jeffrey Scott Shapiro is on a mission to rehabilitate George W. Bush’s reputation. – By Jordan Michael Smith – Slate Magazine – Money quote of Mr Scott: “Bush is clearly very smart. And you don’t need to be a genius to be president — you need good leadership skills and good instincts.”
Barbershop Ewoks – I love Barbershop. I love Star Wars. I love … well, I appreciate Star Wars Barbershop.

Unblogged Bits for Tue, 20 Apr 2010, 8:01PM

Links (most recent first) that caught my eye, but did not warrant full-blown blog entries ….

Even Lindsey Graham doesn’t deserve this: Steve Benen
This is why we can’t have nice things – The GOP has become so addicted to grandstanding, demagoguery, and lying for “points,” that it’s sickening to watch. Money grafs: “Now would be a terrific time for a real debate. Republicans could — get this — raise legitimate objections to the legislation, and raise concerns that — believe it or not — are entirely sensible. But, no. We can’t have real debates because we’re too busy suffering through idiotic mendacity.”
Public Schools Are Giving Your Kids STDs and Dooming Them To Hell – Wow. Public schools sounds a whole lot more fun than it was when I was growing up.
Texas’ Cruel Push To Prevent Same-Sex Couples From Divorcing – Yeah, “family values.” Right.
Right-Wing Media Distorts Clinton’s Oklahoma City Speech To Claim He Wants To Muzzle Dissent – Y’know, Conservatives used to be all about personal responsibility, and they still are when it comes to cutting welfare benefits and unemployment insurance payouts, and they’re all about the evil influence of others when it comes to rock music and video games. But let someone even suggest that people take a bit of responsibility for the effects their incendiary rhetoric, and those same folks start sounding like they’re being dragged off to the camps …
Maryland Foster Agency Won’t Allow Muslim Mother To Foster A Child – Wow. That has to possibly be the lamest excuse for religious prejudice I’ve heard of in months.
A ride down San Francisco’s Market Street, September 1905… – This is just fascinating, including seeing the mix of vehicles — horse carts for most business purposes, but a lot of private autos for passengers. Cable cars, but also some horse-drawn trolleys. Very few people riding horses alone, and nobody paying much attention to what we’d consider traffic laws.
Modifying Morality In the Lab – Sadly, you have to know that there are people in the military and intelligence realm who are avidly reading this research …
A 4/20 Reminder – Unfortunately, the “War on Drugs” not only has strong institutional protection by folks who profit from it (on both sides of the law), but it’s part and parcel of America’s cultural puritanism — the idea that someone might be idle, might be having “fun” (even self-destructive fun), being too much to bear. Only because alcohol was so wide-spread did Prohibition fail — and its cost in building up organized crime in this country is still with us. I don’t think all illegal drugs should be decriminalized, but the current system squanders so much money and hurts society so badly, there must certainly be a way to recalibrate where the legal/illegal dividing line should be.

Unblogged Bits for Wednesday, 06 May 2009

Links (most recent first) that caught my eye, but did not warrant full-blown blog entries ….

Valerie Tarico: Church-Going and Torture Approval — What’s the Connection?: Valerie Tarico
Majority Of Americans Want Pot Legalized: Zogby Poll: The Huffington Post News Team
Two Series Review – Since we twisted BD’s arm into watching “Avatar,” it’s only fair I share his review of the first two series. As soon as he can get over to the house, we’ll get him S.3.
Cantor Tries, Fails To Offer GOP Health Care Plan On Morning Joe (VIDEO) – “We have top men on it.” “Who?” “Top. Men.”
Fed Inspector General Knows Roughly Nothing About The Fed (VIDEO) – Wow. That’s … um … disturbing.
Sessions: SCOTUS Filibuster Should Be Rare – We will see.
The Straight Dope: Am I imagining or are women’s breasts getting bigger? – Inquiring minds want to know!
Government Still Blocking Information on Secret IP Enforcement Treaty: rebecca
AGs v. Craigslist: Putting the Bully Back Into Bully Pulpit: mattz
Pam’s House Blend:: BREAKING: Maine Gov. Baldacci signs marriage equality bill – Go, Maine, go!
James Dobson’s Hate Crimes Freak-Out – Look! Resusable (legal) code! It’s not a bug, James, it’s a feature!
SPACE.com — Star Trek’s Warp Drive: Not Impossible – Don’t book your flights quite yet. It’s still in the “hey, it might not be impossible” stage.
Your Blog is a Weapon? – See, this is the sort of thing that the Hate Crimes folks are actually (and, in this case, correctly) worried about.
Rampant boobies to reign at Disneyland! – Huh. Never thought of someone doing this (duh), nor that Disney would have folks watching out for it. I give this a month before rampant boobie-flashing forces a change back in policy. Hmmmm. Have they changed this at Walt Disney World, too?
Over The Gray, Bland Rainbow: admin
Update to the Military Proselytizing Story – Well, at least they did something. But, yes, they need do something more.
Mormon GOP Congressman from Utah threatens to prevent D.C.’s new marriage provision from becoming law – Nice support for representative government there, Rep. Chaffetz.
Top 10 Reasons Your Chargeback Will Be Denied [Insiders]: Ben Popken