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Category: Government

Government evils — but I repeat myself

Advances in apathy

Published June 18, 2017 11:36 am by Claire

I don’t care. Really, this time. I do. Not. Care. And I hope you don’t, either. I don’t care about the latest earthshattering crisis in Qatar. I don’t care about Qatar. I don’t care if the whole bloody Middle East (with the exception of Israel) devours itself in fire and brimstone. I don’t care what “covfefe” really means. And I don’t care that covfefe was last week’s craze and mentioning it now shows I’m hopelessly out of step with current events. I don’t care if the Russians hacked the 2016 presidential election — any more than I care about who…

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Monday links

Published May 22, 2017 1:08 am by Claire
  • The cannabis entrepreneurs preparing to fight Jeff Sessions’ renewed war on an herb. They think it might be a war of regulation and bureaucracy this time.
  • Kim du Toit muses on bedside guns.
  • Why did we hear so little about Turkish goons — employees of the dictator Erdogan — beating up peaceful American protestors? In America? I’m sure Erdogan’s thugs are just shaking in their jackboots that the U.S. State Department had a very strong and forceful hissy-fit after the fact.
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    • Tuesday links

    Published May 16, 2017 8:16 am by Claire
  • Closer to confirmation: mysteriously murdered DNC staffer Seth Rich was indeed in contact with Wikileaks, and the emails “hacked by Russians” may have instead been leaked by him.
  • Leonardo da Vinci invented an odd musical instrument (on paper). A modern instrument maker has built it. (Use the “cc” option on the video to get English subtitles.)
  • The governmental stupid gets thicker and thicker in California. Now dumb law threatens small, independent booksellers — as if they weren’t already threatened enough. (H/T M)
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    • Weekend links

    Published May 14, 2017 7:44 am by Claire
  • Welcome to the New Soviet Union, comrades — where you can now be paid to inform on the “incorrect” opinions of your peers. (H/T MJR)
  • Scary. The Washington state gov — with the cooperation of the quisling NRA — is attempting to put teeth into firearm background checks. Considering that up to 95% of denials may be in error, this could seriously screw with thousands of innocent people.
  • I know this area of southern Oregon and I get it. The rage, the resistance. The hidden America Our Masters fear but never understand. But never sacrifice your libraries. Bring them back privately if you can. (H/T jc2k in comments)*
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    • Friday links

    Published May 12, 2017 1:51 pm by Claire
  • I haven’t had much to say about the Comey flap. Far as I’m concerned, everybody in power in DC should be fired. But Jim Bovard says the FBI needs booting off its pedestal.
  • Ah yes, the ever-magical drug whisperers on the police force. (H/T jc2k in comments)
  • But alas, some stoners are as dumb as their reputation. Here’s a pair who, it seems, forgot they were no longer in Colorado (Tip o’ hat to ML)
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    • When doing the right thing is a crime

    Published April 26, 2017 7:18 pm by Claire

    There was a time — long ago now — when this theoretical situation would have been an interesting dilemma worth holding a long discussion over: You’re in a position where doing a good deed involves breaking a multitude of laws. What do you do? Back in the day, “breaking a multitude of laws” would likely have meant you were breaking laws against doing harm. So you’d have to balance not only possible penalties of lawbreaking but also the chance of doing bad to one party while trying to do good elsewhere. Now? It’s not even worth talking about. Laws are…

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