That's right. North Carolina had an eugenics program which sterilized an estimated 7,600 people between 1929 and 1974, many of them against their will. It was carried out by individuals, nonprofit organizations and the state government that felt that human reproduction should be controlled. Social workers and the like could petition for the court-ordered sterilization of people who had epilepsy, sickness, “feeblemindedness” and other … Read More
2012 Dead Pool
I like this time of year because all the lists come out. The Best of… The Worst of… It goes on and on and on. I tend not to get reflective, myself. Not anymore. I've seen too many years now to think that any given year, either the past or the upcoming one, is going to be dramatically different. Which … Read More
Out Of Touch
Hard to keep a blog going when you are about 24-48 hours behind. Kim Jong Il, is dead. That's huge news. Except I don't know what it means. I mean, it's good, unless North Korea gets more crazy.
RIP Chris Hitchens
I didn't agree with him on many things, particularly his perplexing defense of the Iraqi War, but I liked his style. This, by the way, is one of his finest moments… on the death of Jerry Falwell:
Not Again
Shots fired on Virginia Tech campus. UPDATE: Here’s the latest from Virginia Tech’s website: Suspect remains at large. A police officer has been shot. A potential second victim is reported at the Cage lot. Stay indoors. Secure in place.
RIP Harry Morgan
Best known for being Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H*. Also for playing opposite Jack Webb on TV's Dragnet. Also, he was in my dead pool. He was 96. Full obit here.
Breaking: MJ Doc Found Guilty Of Manslaughter
Breaking. That's involulntary manslaughter, to be accurate.
Disaster Reports We Like To Read
EDIS Number: PW-20111013-32671-USADate / time: 13/10/2011 16:10:18 [UTC]Event: Power OutageArea: North-AmericaCountry: USAState/County: State of ConnecticutLocation: Greenwich Number of Deads: N/ANumber of Injured: N/ANumber of Infected: N/ANumber of Missing: N/ANumber of Affected: 14507 person(s)Number of Evacuated: N/ADamage level: Heavy Description: A squirrel is to blame for the power outage that left half of Greenwich customers in the dark this morning. CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross said there was a problem at the substation in the Cos Cob … Read More
Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment In North Carolina: Looks Bad For Marriage Equality
The first poll on North Carolina's efforts to put a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is out, and it looks bad for equality fans. According to the poll conducted by Public Policy Polling, if the vote were held today, the amendment would pass with 61 percent of the vote and only 34 percent opposing. Even Democrats support the measure (49/44), … Read More
And The Anti-Gay Amendment Passes The NC Senate
Predictably. But North Carolina state senator Doug Berger (D) got in some good words. He compared the state’s proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage to Nazi Germany during this afternoon’s debate. “I believe that if we pass this motion to concur, we are essentially putting a pink triangle into our state constitution,” he warned: BERGER: In Nazi Germany, some of you may not … Read More
With 10.1% Unemployment In North Carolina, The NC Assembly Gets To Work
From the AP: Ten House Democrats voted with nearly all Republicans in favoring of putting on May’s primary ballot a question that would make marriage the only domestic legal union recognized in this state. The bill passed 75-42 — above the 72 needed for any constitutional change — and is now headed for debate Tuesday in the Senate. A similar three-fifths majority … Read More
Supporters of Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment in NC Use Lock And Key To Show How Marriages Are Consummated
House Speaker Pro Tem Dale Folwell (R) held a press yesterday alongside ultra-conservative ministers who argued against civil marriage by maintaining that homosexuality is prohibited in the Bible. One of those ministers, Rev. Johnny Hunter, said that sexual acts between two people of the same gender are “immoral and unnatural.” Using a lock and key, Hunter explained that only heterosexual acts allow … Read More
Teabaggers To The Rescue!
Problem: Texas wildfires! Is It Serious?: The worst in Texas history. The wildfires, which can now be observed from space, move incredibly fast, as this video from the Texas Park & Wildlife people shows: Have these fires been around for a while? Oh yes, this is wildfire season – it's been going on for months. But thank God for … Read More
Marriage Amendment in NC
The elected proponents of bigotry are pushing for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which they hope advances at a special legislative session on September 12. Via Equality NC, we learn that the measure does not have the support of the people: Fifty-six percent (56%) of North Carolina voters oppose or strongly oppose an amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex … Read More
Bachmann Channels WorldNetDaily Craziness
A few days ago, I mocked Joseph Farah, editor and owner of World Net Daily, for his ridiculous stance that God is trying to get our attention by sending an earthquake and a tornado. That's right. God, who could, if he wanted, make the clouds form the words "Yo! Listen up!" decided to get our attention by setting off some … Read More