Vurbal

Let me explain: "America" is the most awesomest scripted drama television show ever created for the Canadian market. (The producers also export it to Europe, Africa and Asia, where it does amazingly well, considering the language barriers.)
 
To support this show, entrepeneurs have built "Americaland" theme parks with duty free shopping at all major Canadian border crossings,further monetising this entertainment experience, which soon spread to newspapers, magazines, comic books, and even the mass book market. 
 
However, the initial "slice of life" broadcasting, such as Leave it to Beaver, The Nightly News, televised high school football (What? I mean, seriously?) and Cal Worthington used car commercials began to pall in, I want to say, the 1960s, and the producers moved on to an "event" format, with "Presidential elections" the fall after the Olympics --I think? Every four years, anyway. 
 
"Presidential elections" featured life-and-death struggles between larger-than-life characters running for "President of the United States," or, possibly, "King of the World." (The writers often blurred the distinction.) As with the Olympics, their popularity soon overwhelmed the original, occasional-event format, and events were spread into the previous year. An alternative, rival concept, the "Off year election," was also successful, because while the stakes were smaller, the personalities were even more outrageous. For example, the comic geniusses who invented "Tip O'Neill" and "Newt Gingrich" got the Nobel Prize for Literature, for example. I think? I don't pay much attention to that stuff. Anyway, they should have. 
 
Eventually, however, the producers got greedy, and began to try the madcap, cast-of-thousands format of "Off year elections" with the high stakes and larger-than-life personalities of "Presidential elections." The critics are, understandably, divided about this. Some see it as the culmination of two generations of first-class entertainment, and look forward to a sequel, perhaps a remake of The Day AFter, or Terminator. Others think that increasing inputs will just lead to declining returns, and that America will soon be cancelled. 
 
We'll see! One thing is for sure, and that is that it'll make for some fun television. (Of course, for the poor, delusional crackpots who think that it is real, it's a world-historical tragedy unfolding in real time, but that's why they should be taking their meds!)

I just received a DNC fund-raising call.
 
A part of their lengthy spiel was that they are raising money to target vulnerable seats held by white male republicans.
 
Me: So, hang on, the seats you are targeting are held by white, male republicans?
 
DNC: That's correct.
 
Me: I'm white and male.
 
DNC: ...
 
Me: Why didn't you just say "republicans?" It might surprise you, but I have no problems with white people or male people...
 
They hung up.

"All will be revealed on the next episode of 'Soap'".

The bass line for Something, by the Beatles. This is, in my opinion, Paul McCartney's masterpiece on bass, and I have put off learning it for years because I knew it would be time consuming. Now I have to learn it, and it's easier than I thought. The trick, it turns out, was avoiding the regular mix of the song and just listening to the bass by itself until everyone else in the house is ready to kill me. By 2 in the afternoon on Saturday I predict my wife will be asking me if I'm done practicing, and pointing out that I've been playing the same half a song for almost 4 hours.
 
And that's what I do for fun...
 

The bass line for Something, by the Beatles. This is, in my opinion, Paul McCartney's masterpiece on bass, and I have put off learning it for years because I knew it would be time consuming. Now I have to learn it, and it's easier than I thought. The trick, it turns out, was avoiding the regular mix of the song and just listening to the bass by itself until everyone else in the house is ready to kill me. By 2 in the afternoon on Saturday I predict my wife will be asking me if I'm done practicing, and pointing out that I've been playing the same half a song for almost 4 hours.
 
And that's what I do for fun...
 

V'Ger? Is that you?

In the back of a Volkswagen?

In the back of a Volkswagen?

Local Police can cause a lot of trouble.   the FEDS can cause VAST trouble.  

As awesome as those sound, I'm a lot more excited about The League Of Women Voters! If it does well enough, maybe they can team up with Rabbi Killerman in Phase 5.

Let's not exaggerate. It's forever minus 1 day. Otherwise it wouldn't meet the limited time requirement in the Constitution.

Another gem from Ken White at Popehat:
 
Cops: We Need Rights More Than You, Citizen

One could make the argument that this incident brings up First Amendment issues, and Playboy has been a source of controversy and a supporter of First Amendment freedoms.  Or one could figure that "Sex Sells" and her Playboy appearance was mentioned by the author to drive up interest in the story.
 
As for her military service--I figure United States military personnel past and present are more likely to respect and even cherish  the flag, having very likely joined up out of a sense of patriotism and desire to protect their country.  (This may even apply to draftees, especially those before the Vietnam era.)  One of the most touted arguments against desecrating the flag is the phrase, "Men and women have fought and died for that flag!" (See footnote)  Manhart herself said that when she saw the protesters trampling the flag she thought of the flag-draped coffins bearing American servicemen, and that in her mind they were trampling on those coffins.  So yes, her military service was relevant to the story, as it was her motivation for interfering with the protest.
 
 
I'm not a fan of flag desecration, but I agree--although it's not the worst thing she could have done.  This story tells about a 2004 incident where a protester at an appearance by Dick Cheney was attacked by a 66-year old former United States Marine.  This was a man exercising his right to petition the Government--the Vice President--for redress of grievances, and he was put in a headlock and his mouth gagged.  The man who did it was very likely applauded for his action ("Way to go, Marine! Semper Fi!") and I imagine that if someone were to tell him to his face that he forsook his oath to uphold the Constitution, that he went back on his word--that someone would likely get attacked himself.
 
Then there are all the American military personnel who participated in the "enhanced interrogation techniques" inflicted upon people suspected of terrorism and insurgency in Iraq, Afganistan and elsewhere in the world, in violation of the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments.  Men and women who swore to uphold and defend the Constitution--to bear true faith and obedience to same--and few, if any, stood up to say that it was wrong, that it should not be done.  They feared the consequences of disobeying their orders, of "letting the terrorists win," and so they dishonored themselves and their nation by allowing these things to happen, and by participating in them.
 
Yes, Ms. Manhart violated her oath--but she is by no means the most egregious offender.
 
(Footnote)
 

And, of course, you can't leave out Springtime For Hitler

And, of course, you can't leave out Springtime For Hitler

While we're looking at videos, here's a very recent one which speaks directly to the issue of resisting arrest.
 

 
And another on the subject of dealing with police.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

The FBI is certainly doing their part to help the locals alienate the public.
 
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150211/08044329986/fbi-says-all-public-records-requests-stingray-documents-must-be-routed-through-it.shtml
 

Was that a no knock warrant? Was it on the wrong address? The Young Derps don't say in the first two or three minutes and I can't get through the rest of it.
 
No knock warrants either need serious accountability or to be completely eliminated in any case.

I went in for my third appointment since having my knee replaced and the doctor is concerned about possible arthrofibrosis. On Monday I'll be going in to have it manipulated.  Basically, that means they'll be knocking me out and wrenching it around to break things lose from any excess scar tissue that might be impeding motion.
 
On the good side, between my drastically increased level of physical activity and the fact I quit smoking when I had surgery, my weight is steadily falling, even as I'm putting muscle back on. Aside from my knee, I haven't felt this good in a decade or more. 

I went in for my third appointment since having my knee replaced and the doctor is concerned about possible arthrofibrosis. On Monday I'll be going in to have it manipulated.  Basically, that means they'll be knocking me out and wrenching it around to break things lose from any excess scar tissue that might be impeding motion.
 
On the good side, between my drastically increased level of physical activity and the fact I quit smoking when I had surgery, my weight is steadily falling, even as I'm putting muscle back on. Aside from my knee, I haven't felt this good in a decade or more. 

I'm certainly looking forward to it.