The world is for thousands a freak show; the images flicker past and vanish; the impressions remain flat and unconnected in the soul. Thus they are easily led by the opinions of others, are content to let their impressions be shuffled and rearranged and evaluated differently. – Johann Von Goethe
As expected, it was kind of a quiet week for links; next week will probably be more of the same. But watch this space for an announcement of a few changes, coming on Friday, January 4th. My two videos this week are both Christmas-themed; the first is an introduction to Mr. Bingle, the “snow fairy” from a department store’s Christmas advertising beloved by generations of New Orleanians (including myself), and the second…well, listen for yourself. The first video was provided by my husband and the second by Franklin Harris (who also provided the last link before the one attached to the video). Every link before the first video was supplied by Radley Balko, and those between the videos by Jesse Walker, the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, Michael Whiteacre, Grace (two links), and Walter Olson, in that order.
- E-book providers will happily tell the government what you’ve bought.
- The only reason this is news is that it’s actually being investigated.
- Two women subjected to body cavity search for littering.
- Headline of the week.
- Where are your papers?
- One of our planets is missing.
- Laws are only for the little people, never the elite.
- US declares a graphic novel a “terrorist operation”.
- 911 operator hangs up on a teenage girl calling about her dying father, then has her arrested for swearing.
- Jailed Los Angeles politician will continue to draw his $200,000 salary.
- 12-year-old girl arrested for accidentally taking a picture of another girl.
Christopher Lee sings heavy metal versions of Christmas songs.
Are you shi-in me? The Feds can see my Kindle library? They can see all this?
So I’m wondering, based on that list – what kind of “profile” the FBI already has on me? You know – from a bastardly devilish perspective – it’s genius for them to target E-Books – because those are the books I don’t really want anyone to see me reading – except for the physical fitness stuff – which I keep in E-Book form just so I have them on my travels.
“Where are you papers?”
I’m visiting family in my hometown. Off the bus less than ten minutes, and with the combined bus/train inter-city hub directly behind me, and a police cruiser rolled up with its lights flashing. The guy got out and demanded my ID. I asked him for grounds and he said, in all seriousness, “It’s a little suspicious to see someone walking around at this time o night with luggage.” It must have been the sex rays from my twitter feed!
I tell myself it can’t get any worse, then I read ” Graphic Novel Declared A Terrorist Operation By US Government, Advance Money Seized “. We know bank fiance both side of a war, why aren’t banks being punished ? It really sucks 12/21/12 didn’t happen, the human race is a lost cause.
Well.
Well.
That’s quite a collection of “nut-punches” as the agitatortots used to say. I’m not sure which one made me the maddest, but there were certainly plenty to choose from.
I will say that if this is the first time the 911 operator has been such a prick, then maybe a suspension without pay and compensation to the family is in order.
I would be curious to know if the Utah trooper will be required to disclose her proclivity for perjury when she’s on the stand testilying for the prosecution or if the judge will rule any such questions out of bounds.
And now we know what the latex gloves are for: to protect the poor patrolman in his or her health because doing an anal vaginal search between two people with the same glove should be considered assault under color of law. And doing it roadside? Sheesh. If Dante were writing today he would need to include a separate circle of health for abuse of power. The appropriate punishment wouldn’t be residing the maw of Satan but rather being subjected to a cavity search by the Dark One himself – without benefit of latex or vaseline – for an eternity. That’s the “ticket!”
I like the Twisted Sister Christmas songs and videos. “Silver Bells” and “Oh, Come all ye Faithful” were hilarious. 🙂
One of our planets is missing? I guess the Daleks are trying to rebuild the Crucible again…
I think I have a solution for the abuse of police power. Since only “ex-policemen” are the only ones who commit these crimes, the obvious solution is to never fire a policeman.
Now that’s a plan!
The Mr. Bingle thing reminds me of this.
The bodyguard getting arrested thing: do you have it from another source, one that I can read w/o vomiting? One that come across a little less like: “Omigod, somebody claiming to be connected to Michael Moore got in trouble! OO, OO, I’M CUMMING!!!”
The twelve year old girl violated school policy and Texas law when she snapped a picture in a locker room. This is the case whether or not getting the pic of the other girl was an accident or not. It would be the case if she had only gotten a pic of herself and her friend, and not the other girl at all. Did the school overreact? Yes, and they are probably required to. Did the cops overreact? Yes, and I hope everything gets thrown out because they didn’t bother to get a warrant. However, the courts have made it clear that kids don’t have any rights which adults need be bothered to recognize, so yeah.
Is this the same Christopher Lee who was in the Hammer films? Who may or may not have called in a stunt-butt when doing the sex scene with a fifteen year old Nastassja Kinski in To the Devil… a Daughter? Kinski, BTW, did not use a body double when it was time for her character’s full frontal nudity. Nope, she did it herself. And people say that teenagers lack a work ethic! Pshaw.
Re: other sources: Naah, link pages are my day off. But you’re welcome to post one if you find it. Alas, lots of story sources reek of partisan filth these days.
And yes, it’s THE Christopher Lee.
Christopher Lee
Very cool. Laura’s a bigger fan than I am, but the man makes a wonderful villain.
Don’t blame you for taking the occasional day off (and even then, only part off, since you DO post the links and have a touch to say about all or most of them).
I’d be lying if I tried to say that I haven’t found stuff just as revolting in tone from “the other side of the aisle,” as they say. Being a bit lefty myself I might have more stomach for it coming from the left, and I’ve seen some from the left which was too nauseating for me. So again it’s a sort pox on both houses.
I’d like to say that I’m sorry if my Christmastime irritability showed up here. Reading over this, I think it may have. I’m usually MORE cheerful at Christmas, not LESS, but I caught myself more than once snapping at Laura for something I’d usually let slide with little or no comment. Don’t know what was wrong with me. Laura was a sweetie and made up for my failings, so we didn’t fight. Thanks, Dahlin’.
Radley Balko just tweeted the original, which was apparently from 2005.