stupid =/= unconstitutional

Which is good because otherwise I would have some major, major problems.

Ilya Somin has an interesting post up over at The Volokh Conspiracy concerning a First Amendment lawsuit brought by a woman claiming that a public law school failed to hire her due to being a conservative and that this is a violation of her First Amendment rights.  His position is that this is not unconstitutional though it is idiotic.  (I'm paraphrasing a bit)

Without reading the lawsuit due to laziness, I agree with his position.  This is not unconstitutional.  It's stupid,  it's idiotic, it's cutting off your nose to spite your face, it's short sighted, it's moronic in the bad way but it shouldn't be unconstitutional.  I say this as someone who actually lost a job I desperately wanted on ideological grounds. 

There is no question that the deck is stacked against conservatives in academia.  But that doesn't mean that government interaction should occur.  After all, that's the type of interference that conservatives correctly decry.  I will say that there are some twists to this since we're talking about a public university but see re laziness as far as my discussing those ramifications. 

Having said all of that, I will admit that I am sympathetic to the desire to use the rules of the Left against them.  Sometimes the best way to point out how annoying and wrong and misplaced such suits are is to file them.  I am becoming more and more convinced that conservative and libertarian college students should use speech codes and whatnot as a weapon.  Sunlight is the best disinfectant and there's value to getting it on the record that some types of discrimination are perfectly fine.  Sure, we all know that's the case, but there is worth to having an explicit finding. 

I view this as I view sexual orientation employment discrimination - if an organization is so stupid as to cut off an entire group of intelligent, capable people, let them.  It will come back to hurt later on. 

I totally hope she wins though, just to hear the convoluted explanations about how rejecting a person due to her views is actually a win for intellectual freedom.

Posted by: alexthechick at 11:18 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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What A Shock That The Moonbats Can't Get Over Their BDS

In a move that will shock nobody, when not shilling for Obama or attacking The Messiah's critics, the moonbats still can't get over George W Bush. Almost nightly, some show on MSNBC is calling for mass arrests and show trials of former Administration officials, or blaming some problem Obama faces on the former President.

Not surprisingly, Keith Olbermann is on the vanguard for this mental illness, going so far as to claim that some "innocent" dude's time at Club Gitmo caused him to become a terrorist. Never mind that his network's own military and terrorism experts disagreed with him.

Nice to see Olbermann never lets the facts get in the way of his work.

Posted by: eddiebear at 10:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I Love Sushi, But This Is Ridiculous!

Maybe it's just me, but when a tuna market in Japan has to worry about tourists molesting the tuna fish, things might be just a bit weird.

"We understand that the sight of hundreds of frozen tuna looks unique and interesting for foreign tourists," said Yoshiaki Takagi, deputy director of the market. "But they have to understand the Tsukiji market is a professional place, not an amusement park."

One of the more notorious recent cases was that of a tipsy British tourist - caught on tape by a Japanese TV crew - who licked the head of a frozen tuna and patted its gill. Two others, also caught on video, rode around on a cart used by wholesalers. "Get out! Get out!" an irate market official shouted in English.

"Tuna is a very expensive fish," Takagi said. "One tuna can easily cost more than 1 million yen ($11,000). But some tourists touch them and even try to hug them."

Fed up, the market decided to impose the ban.

So, when on Jan. 5, a premium bluefin tuna fetched 9.63 million yen - more than $107,000, the highest price in nearly a decade - no tourists were anywhere in sight. The restriction was lifted on Jan. 19, despite some grumbling from the fishmongers.

The sprawling market dates back to the 16th century, when the military rulers who had just moved Japan's capital to Tokyo - then called Edo - wanted to ensure they had a steady supply of fish.

Posted by: eddiebear at 10:05 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Well, if Al Franken can do it...

It seems that a friend of Blago's had an interesting idea about who he ought to offer Obama's Senate seat to...

"She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way become president," Blagojevich said. "She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators."

Click here to find out who he was talking about, and check under your seat for a surpriiiiiise!

Posted by: Sean M. at 03:13 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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This Much Common Sense Must Not Be Allowed!

Undoubtedly, attempts by the state of New Jersey to require High School Seniors to take basic finance courses is too good to survive the stupidity that is The Government.

The Senate Education Committee approved a pilot program in personal financial education despite concerns about overloading the high school curriculum.

Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Absecon, expressed concerns about adding requirements to the high school curriculum without extending the length of the school day.

The New Jersey Education Association says financial lessons can be incorporated into existing coursework in business, economics, math or home economics.

Overloading the curriculum? I didn't know "Flag Burning 101" took up that much time. I guess Big Brother can't allow the precious snowflakes to learn a thing or two about handling money. That might *gasp* make them think for themselves and not rely upon the Magic Unicorns for everything.

Posted by: eddiebear at 12:49 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Oh, look

Obama baby voodoo dolls.

Posted by: Alice H at 09:11 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Sarah Palin head fakes the Alaska legislature

90% of Alaska's budget is based on the price of a barrel of oil.  Gov. Palin suggested a budget based on oil being $70/barrel.  The Energy Department was predicting that oil would be around $50/barrel.  State legislators, eager to criticize the governor, complained that the budget would cause a huge deficit. 

Imagine their surprise when her actual budget was based on the Energy Department predictions.

Read the whole thing.  It's comedy gold.

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 08:31 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Someone's always got to ruin it for the rest of us

What I want to know is, who complained to the cops about this?

State liquor authorities are investigating a St. Joseph hair salon for men that gives customers a free beer while they wait for a haircut.

Knockouts Haircuts for Men does not have a liquor license, so police referred a complaint to the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Division supervisor Mike Schler confirmed the investigation was under way.

Schler said there are multiple barbershops and salons in Missouri that legally offer free alcohol as part of their amenities, but they have liquor licenses.

You know, I've never really wanted to live in Missouri before, but suddenly, it's looking better.  I've never heard of a salon or barbershop out here in California that lets you get your drink on.

Posted by: Sean M. at 07:55 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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A question, if I may?

Why is it that the oh-so-RINO-y Susan Collins can make the right call on the Geithner nomination, and Orrin Hatch can't?

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 06:29 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Youtube Pope

The Catholic Church has launched their youtube channel, it is currently available in English, Italian, German and Spanish.  For now it seems to just be a place where clips from CTV (the Vatican's television station) are added, but I'm hoping with time they get a little more sophisticated in using youtube and this crazy modern intarwebs thing.  The Church tends to operate at a very leisurely pace, even by European standards, forget American standards, so I'm kind of surprised to see them move in this direction at this pace. 

Looks like they don't have comments, which is just as well, given the average IQ of the youtube commenter.

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 03:33 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Just Remember This The Next Time You Want To Get Drunk And Molest A Raccoon

Bad things are bound to happen.

Alexander Kirilov, 44, was on a drunken weekend with pals when he leapt on the terrified – but toothy – fur ball.

“When I saw the raccoon I thought I’d have some fun,” he told stunned casualty surgeons in Moscow.

Now Russian plastic surgeons are trying to restore his mangled manhood.

“He’s been told they can get things working again but they can’t sew back on what the raccoon bit off," said a pal.

Yep. Sounds like a good time to me.

Posted by: eddiebear at 12:41 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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If Obesity Can Be Caught As If It Were The Flu, What Can We Do To Stop It?

Personally, I think this is a bit silly. But since SCIENTISTS have claimed it to be so, it must be.

As many as one in three obese people may have become overweight after falling victim to the highly infectious cold-like virus, known as AD-36.

It is known to cause coughs, sore throats, diarrhoea and conjunctivitis but has now also been found to make fat cells multiply, leading to weight gain.

The shocking discovery will add to evidence that Britain’s obesity epidemic is not simply down to an unhealthy diet or lack of exercise.

Research suggests a third of UK adults will be grossly overweight within three years, with Britain even predicted to overtake the US as the most obese nation in the world.

The problem already causes 9,000 premature deaths in the UK a year and costs the NHS £1billion.

Many experts already believe that genes can make some people more susceptible to weight gain and now it seems that infections could also hold the key.

Posted by: eddiebear at 11:41 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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I would have something important to say but I just got the vapors

There's an article in (look don't hate me because it's there) the NY Times about credit default swaps about which I would like to have intelligent things to say.  However, I seriously developed the vapors upon reading this:

If you'll excuse me, I need a lie down.  Fifteen freaking trillion.  That's like like FIFTEEN FREAKING TRILLION DOLLARS.  *takes to couch*

Thought and whatnot below.  Oh and I'm putting my final conclusion above the fold because that's what I really think and I don't want it to be missed in the tl;dr.

Ultimately, I will say this.  Each and every person who pays their bills on time and who isn't in over their heads in debt and who attempts to be fiscally responsible should beyond furious about all this.  It most certainly appears that the only ones who are being rewarded are those who were utterly irresponsible.
more...

Posted by: alexthechick at 09:34 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The pot just called the kettle delusional

While grousing about his inclusion on a Forbes' list of the 25 Most Influential Liberals In The U.S. Media, Andi Sullivan writes the following (link goes to Forbes.com, not St. Andrew of the Blessed Heart-Ache, by the way):

Sure, I opposed the McCain-Palin ticket, although I made McCain a close second as my favorite in the primaries [after Ron Paul—ed]. No sane person, in my judgment, could have supported the farcical inclusion of an absurdly under-qualified and delusional crackpot like Palin as a potential president of the United States.

This, from a demented, vag-o-phobic Trig Truther who has spent endless hours smearing Sarah Palin and her innocent children in a quixotic quest to "ask questions" about whether or not she had actually given birth to her own infant son.  Not to mention the fact that he once Questioned the Timingâ„¢ of the announcement that a terror plot had been broken up because of Ned Lamont's Connecticut Senate primary win.  What the fuck business does this douche have contemplating anything about the choices "sane" people might make?

I'd say I hope he dies in a fire, but that's too good for him.

Posted by: Sean M. at 03:57 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I figured out why BHO rescinding the ban on international abortion funding isn't "divisive"

Earlier, the AP noted that President Obama's* first week was totally wicked awesome and full of Change^tm and togetherness.  DrewM was confused about this, noting the multitude of divisive things our Lord and Savior had done in the last week that were not exactly the most post-partisan, including The One allowing funding for international abortions. 

I knew He worked in mysterious ways, but it took our Deciders across the pond to figure it out for us (emphasis mine):

Mr Obama has pledged to end the culture wars on social issues that have riven American politics for a generation and did not allow television cameras to film him signing the executive order reversing the Bush abortion funding ban on aid agencies abroad, in order not to provoke pro-life groups.

See, it's not divisive because he didn't allow himself to be filmed doing it.  If I were more cynical, I would have thought it was to bury it, since He did it without television cameras on a Friday and all.

But wait, there's more!

When he finally did sign the order he issued a statement in a bid to placate abortion critics by promising to "reach out to those on all sides of this issue to achieve the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies." He added: "It is time that we end the politicisation of this issue."

We need to end the politicisation of the issue by leaving our arguments at the door.  You see, Obama needed to reach out "to those on all sides of this issue" by reaching out to his side and telling everyone else to STFU. 

The saddest part?  If McCain had won, I'm pretty sure I would be writing this same post right now, except about Guantanamo, cap and trade, offshore drilling, taxes, the stimulus bill, and/or immigration.

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 12:25 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Jon Stewart's Stay At The Obama Re-Education Camps Must Have Been Short

Yup. He's back to being the same old Stewart.

Two things: One, is Rush Limbaugh molting? (Laughter) Two: Does Bill O'Reilly think Rush Limbaugh hates America? And in case you think Limbaugh's arguably treasonous talk couldn't get any grosser, enjoy.

I think we have seen the "satire" facing us the next four years: not attacking Obama. No. No. No. That must not happen. Instead, we will be fed a daily diet of a live air version of MediaMatters/Kos/Huffpo, where Stewart, Colbert, et al. will merely savage every word out of a conservative mouth.

But I do find it amazing how unified the O-bots are in this attack on Rush. It seems as though they are picking a target, freezing it, personalizing it, and  polarizing it.

Gee. I swear I heard that before. Where? Oh yeah. Here.

Posted by: eddiebear at 10:56 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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You Mean I Can't Molest Squirrels While In Minnesota?

Dammit!

It is also illegal to sleep naked, tease a skunk or cross state lines with a duck on your head.
They may sound absurd, but these are actual laws on the books in Minnesota. Well, mostly.

Strange laws like these are widely circulated around the Internet, said Michelle Timmons, state revisor of statutes, and each must be taken with a grain of salt. Especially the duck one.

“We researched and researched on that one,” Timmons said. “That must be an odd interpretation of (a law) on the books.”

Some antiquated laws claimed to have been found by people simply don’t exist, she said. Others are legitimate, including these from the Winona city code:

- Any cottonwood tree which “sheds its seeds profusely” is a public nuisance.

- It is illegal to trap, kill or molest squirrels in any way.

- No one shall allow the mating of cattle or horses within the city except in a properly enclosed building and out of the public view.

Most of the wackier laws aren’t enforced, of course. In fact, Timmons’ office is responsible for eradicating antiquated laws. The revisor’s office has the power to edit some laws out of existence that require minimal revision, but if a law needs to be repealed, it requires legislative approval, Timmons said. Every year a Revisor’s Bill of miscellaneous statute fixes is submitted to legislators in an omnibus bill.

Posted by: eddiebear at 10:46 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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3-D Pr0n May Sound Cool, But Can I Watch It On My Computer?

Ummm...just askin'.

Shooting on the Chinese-language film 3D Sex And Zen, budgeted at 4 million US dollars, is scheduled for April with producers promising some of the most realistic close-up sex scenes ever.

"Just imagine that you'll be watching it as if you were sitting beside the bed," Stephen Shiu Jnr told the Sunday Morning Post.

"There will be many close-ups. It will look as if the actresses are only a few centimetres from the audience."

Twenty five to 30 per cent of the movie, an update of one of Hong Kong's best known erotic films Sex And Zen, will be sex scenes, Shiu told the newspaper.

A Hong Kong-based special effects company that has worked on major blockbusters including The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D will help produce the 3D images for the sex movie.

Posted by: eddiebear at 10:42 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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Yeah, I'm gonna need more than a spoonful of sugar

In an article about how Barack Obama has been good so far for the D.C. economy (it's titled "A one-man stimulus?"), I found the following, which I'm sure you'll all just love:

Stephen Fuller, director of the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, said that sectors such as hospitality are small fry compared to government itself, which accounts for some 33 percent of the D.C. area economy.

Fortunately, he noted, Obama has got that angle covered, too.

“Having a new administration — and certainly one that will bolster the role of the federal government in the economy — couldn’t have come at a better time,” he said. “It’s pretty good medicine.”

Yeah, and when they start rolling out the Five Year Plans, well, that'll be just peachy.

I'm guessing Mr. Fuller isn't exactly a conservative.

Posted by: Sean M. at 10:32 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Not-so-random question: Upstate NY Edition

Are there any Morons in Upstate NY?  Like, say, in New York's 20th District around Saratoga Springs/Albany? 

I'm trying to decide if I want to do something completely insane by moving up there to help Jim Tedisco's campaign in the special election to replace now-Sen. Gillibrand. 

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 09:07 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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