Author Archives: Rogier

Long live TV

Published: Wednesday December 28, 2011 6:13pm
By Rogier

A colleague of mine, upon hearing that I am about to give up satellite TV in favor of a Hulu/Netflix solution, congratulated me, but not on my future $90-a-month savings. “Watching less TV is probably a good thing,” he opined, seemingly oblivious to the fact that I had expressed no intention of watching less TV. […]

Posted in entertainment, misconceptions | Tagged , , , , | Comments closed

A Bit of Post-Christmas Divertissement

Published: Monday December 26, 2011 11:55pm
By Rogier

A sketch from That Mitchell & Webb Look. Like a long-missing scene from Monty Python’s The Life of Brian.

Posted in religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

In Defense of Wolf Dogs

Published: Saturday December 24, 2011 1:01am
By Rogier

Poor dog: An illegal wolf-dog hybrid was found roaming wild in a residential neighborhood in Brooklyn, authorities said Thursday. Police found the approximately 3-year-old, 53-pound female wearing a collar and chain near Elton Street and Vandalia Avenue in East New York on Tuesday evening, according to Richard Gentles, spokesperson for New York Animal Care and Control. “She’s […]

Posted in law, U.S. politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Curtains for Ron Paul?

Published: Friday December 23, 2011 4:22am
By Rogier

I have two quotes to present to you. They consist of outright swinery, so make sure you’re sitting down. Number one: If you live in a major city, you’ve probably already heard about the newest threat to your life and limb, and your family: carjacking. It is the hip-hop thing to do among the urban youth […]

Posted in civil liberties, government, U.S. politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

So you’ve been indefinitely detained

Published: Thursday December 22, 2011 8:55pm
By Rogier

Via Tom the Dancing Bug.

Posted in civil liberties, government, law enforcement, police state, security | Comments closed

TSA PSA

Published: Thursday December 22, 2011 4:52pm
By Rogier

Just so you know, the TSA, after duly exercising its considerable powers of judgment,  has decided to ban tiny mason jars with jam. Also, frosted cupcakes. Also, plastic toy hammers. You’re welcome.

Posted in civil liberties, government, police state, security | Comments closed

Thursday Linkavaganza

Published: Thursday December 22, 2011 2:14am
By Rogier

• Jury nullification is a perfectly legal practice for jurors who wish to vote their conscience. But talk about it and, like professor Julian P. Heicklen, you could find yourself the target of an angry, peevish prosecutor. • Here’s an airline pilot who was forced by airport security to give up his five-inch fork — […]

Posted in government, law, police state, protest, religion, security | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Should Prostitution Be Legal?

Published: Thursday December 22, 2011 2:08am
By Rogier

More than half the world’s countries now have legalized or semi-legalized prostitution. The sky appears to have fallen in, let’s see…none of them. As everyone knows, the U.S.A. is not among these more permissive and enlightened nations (a few pockets in Nevada excepted), which puts us squarely in the company of China, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi […]

Posted in free markets, law, law enforcement, nannies | Tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Muslim fundies demand protection from music

Published: Thursday December 22, 2011 1:23am
By Rogier

A kindergarten student in Saint-Michel (Quebec, Canada) will be wearing a noise-reducing headset in class. That’s because her Muslim parents insist their religious beliefs don’t allow the five-year-old girl to listen to music. Music is an integral part of the kindergarten program, but the school authorities say they are glad to carve out an Islamic […]

Posted in nannies, religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Belatedly, on Christopher Hitchens

Published: Wednesday December 21, 2011 11:52pm
By Rogier

One of the late atheist thinker Christopher Hitchens’ sworn enemies, the British proto-socialist George Galloway, comes off like a “neener-neener”-yelling eight-year-old in his remembrance of sorts, in part because of this opening: I hope that the deceased, unbelieving English man of letters Christopher Hitchens has discovered that God is not only great but merciful too. That’s […]

Posted in memorial, religion, U.S. politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

A kiss is just a kiss

Published: Wednesday December 21, 2011 6:28pm
By Rogier

But not this one. The death of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell remains one of the cheeriest pieces of news of the year. It’s easy to forget that, especially for those of us who weren’t directly affected by the policy one way or the other. But what a difference its repeal made to thousands of couples […]

Posted in civil liberties, U.S. politics | Comments closed

Ron Paul: Hell freezes over

Published: Wednesday December 21, 2011 6:04pm
By Rogier

Well well, lookie here: I’m a bit bothered by Ron Paul’s ideas on immigration. I’m more than a bit bothered by the man’s apparent abandonment of his libertarian bona fides when it comes to women’s reproductive rights. I’m bothered as hell by the absolutely scandalous racism in his 20-year-old newsletters, nastiness which he has (to […]

Posted in government, U.S. politics | Comments closed