Social Justice

 The surest way to lose my support is to consider yourself entitled to it.

Tis The Season

Merry Happy Joyous

ChristSolstHanukKwanYule !!!

(Did I miss anyone?)

Memorial Day without a memory

On this day of remembrance for loved ones lost, most reflect on absent individuals and their impact upon our lives.  For me and some others, there is no reflection because a memory was never formed.  I speak of the loss of something never possessed. My father died when I was six months in utero.  I never met the man, have no memory to reflect upon.  This day has always been a day of wonderment for me.  I wonder what he was like.  I wonder what traits I have that were gifted from him.  I wonder what my childhood would have been like had he been a participant.  I wonder who I would be now had my father lived to help mold me.  I wonder these things in contemplation sometimes.  On Memorial Day, it's usually a wonderment with some sadness.  I cannot miss what I never had.  Though perhaps illogical, I reflect on the many times in my life when I had wondered what that moment would have been like if I had a father...or the memory of one.  It's a very subtle difference, but treasure the memories you have AND that you have memories.  On Memorial Day I reflect, not on the memory of a man, but rather on the times in my life when I wished I had a memory to remember.

Wasted Logic

If you find yourself discussing immigration with someone who cannot grasp the concept of being BOTH pro-immigration AND anti-lawbreaking, just walk away. Their argument will be limited to emotional, melodramatic soundbites and absent of logic.

Subtle Racism

So I just read an article about 11 black inventors who changed the world.  Every person profiled in the article was indeed worthy of accolades.  What sticks in my craw is the article's existence in the first place.  I find it inherently racist.  Its very existence suggests that a black person accomplishing something significant is especially noteworthy.  It wasn't a list of notable inventors but rather, even more amazing, they were black inventors...like they somehow defied their own inferiority to succeed.  "This person invented something great and holy smokes they were black!"  I don't think that the author's conscious intent was derogatory, but she had to (at least subconsciously) find these inventors' race worthy of segregating them into a special list.  The author couldn't just recognize and acclaim these people for the amazing things they did, she had to make it a special point that they did it while being black.  To me, that's racist.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/86923/11-african-american-inventors-who-changed-world

Mother Of Arrogance

A theist I'm not, nor religious doctrine do I avow, but wisdom can be found in the damndest places.  Never in my short life have I seen a political climate--for which both parties are proving themselves equally shitty--where this 100+ year old hymn better resonates.

O God of earth and altar,
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches,
From lies of tongue and pen,
From all the easy speeches
That comfort cruel men,
From sale and profanation
Of honour and the sword,
From sleep and from damnation,
Deliver us, good Lord.

-- G. K. Chesterton, 1906, The English Hymnal

Use data not drama

The next whiny liberal who starts preaching minimum wage hikes because it's "not fair" or that so-and-so makes X dollars can go take a tongue dive up a cat's ass!  Life isn't fair and nobody ever promised that it would be. Quit yer friggin' crying.  Now, if you want to discuss the economic impact of the minimum wage relative to the quantifiable cost of living, median housing costs, market prices for essential consumables, etc. I'm more than happy to consider and discuss it because there ARE very good arguments that can be made for a minimum wage increase.  However, playing the melodramatic pity card isn't working for me.  If you want to be a whiny little bitch, I will oppose you for that reason alone.  If you opt for logic and verifiable data to support your claim, I'm all ears...and in this case, I'm actually on your side.

California sucks--but not through a straw

F*ckin' Californians...you just can't make this shit up.  Assembly Bill No. 1884 to be added to the California Health and Safety code 114082: "This bill would prohibit a food facility, as specified, where food may be consumed on the premises from providing single-use plastic straws to consumers unless requested by the consumer."  The punishment for giving you a straw with your Diet Coke that you didn't request?  Misdemeanor crime, up to $1000 fine and 6 months in jail.  With all the economic, criminal, and health problems in California, this is what their legislature is debating.  Environmental awareness is a worthy cause, but prioritizing a debate on unused straw disposal over their $250+ billion debt, public health issues, and crime problems?  Unbelievable.

Prophets of Disaster

Listening to the recent melodramatic, doomsaying politicians attempting to further their agenda through scaremongering brought to mind the lyrics of an Iron Maiden song...

Another prophet of disaster
Who says this ship is lost
Another prophet of disaster
Leaving you to count the cost

Taunting us with visions
Afflicting us with fear
Predicting war for millions
In the hope that one appears

-- Iron Maiden, "Die With Your Boots On" (1986)

Show Me The Idjit

I'm an engineer by trade, specializing in controls & automation.  Almost weekly I'm presented with someone's claim on how to better control a system or piece of equipment.  My immediate response is always, "show me".  Whether it's a new engineering methodology, disease cure, UFO sighting, or current event, the burden of proof is on the claimant.  Trump's knee-jerk reaction to news outlets regarding unflattering or disagreeable claims that it must be "fake news" is immature denial.  Sadly, the proper response to ANYONE making a sensational claim, whether it's the President or John Q. Public, should be "show me".  Much of the evolving witch hunt against Trump involves the media wielding the biggest bullhorn they can muster to shout out anything and everything they can to discredit him.  Sometimes, they are right, and the incident is yet another case of the President's dip-shittery.  However, many of the claims reported by the media are unsubstantiated and cannot be vetted because of the elusive and convenient "anonymous source" bullshit.  Even more sad than Trump's impulsive and unconvincing denials is the ignorant and idiotic blind acceptance by John Q. Public of the media's claims when no proof can be provided.  If I told a typical person that Obama was really a shape-changing lizardman, I wouldn't be believed by anyone unless (1) I could prove it or (2) they wanted to believe it.  Sadly, people nowadays abandon the former in favor of the latter...especially when it comes to Trump and people's desire to believe anything that corroborates their opinion.  Trump IS an idjit, but I'll be damned if I'll gullibly swallow the liberal hearsay and unsubstantiated claims to support my opinion.  There is enough verifiable evidence available without stooping to blind acceptance (by the Trump haters) or blind denial (by Trump's supporters).  Don't believe all the shit you hear or the manipulative memes on Facebook.  I repeat, the burden of proof is on the claimant, on the accuser.  Demand that proof, then judge accordingly.

A Dipshit's Shithole

CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many others all claimed that Trump asked, "Why do we want all these people from shithole countries coming here?"  However, every single news outlet could only cite "anonymous sources briefed on the meeting" or "an unnamed person familiar with the meeting".  Multiple senators who attended the meeting went on record, without hiding behind anonymity, stating that Trump never made the statement.  To me, it sounds EXACTLY like something that Trump WOULD say...mainly because he's a mouthy dipshit.  But, without a single soul willing to go on record with first-hand knowledge about the voracity of the statement, and multiple senators who did go on record that it's a false claim, logic shouldn't allow it be given credence.  Could the senators be lying to cover for Trump?  Of course.  But the claim from someone unwilling to provide evidence or even their identity is even less believable...unless of course you WANT to believe it.  As with any sensational claim, the burden of proof is on the claimant.

Zealots

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. It's the self-righteous zealot who cannot grasp the concept that having the right to do a thing doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

The right to say "no"

Should a Mormon book store be forced to sell the Satanic Bible if a customer requests it?  Should it be a government mandate that a Minister must also perform pagan ceremonial work if a client asks?  Should all surgeons be forced by law to perform late-term abortions if that's the patient's desire?  Should the government force a Jewish carpenter to construct swastika emblazoned furniture if a customer requests it?  Should a law require a conservative Christian baker to make homosexual themed cakes?  The answer to all of these is "no".  There are other bakers, carpenters, surgeons, ministers, and stores that will provide the lawful specialty services you seek.

Inconvenient Constitution

Regarding the Net Neutrality issue, I side with the liberals.  Interesting exercise however: Go out and read the far left Tweets, Facebook posts, and blogs regarding the issue.  Then, whenever they get on their "freedoms" and "rights" rants, substitute any references to the First Amendment with the Second Amendment.  Leave the rest of their sentence intact and quote it back to them.  Suddenly, the principles of freedoms and rights granted by the Constitution don't apply regarding issues unpopular with them.  They wield the Constitution as their cudgel only when it's convenient it seems.

Nancy Dumbass

Wow, Nancy Pelosi really is a stupid bitch.  Not only is it illegal for violent criminals, domestic abusers, and convicted stalkers to own a gun, let alone carry any concealed weapon, there are no Republicans, Democrats, nor Progressives who are advocating that they should.  Liberals like her are why Conservatives dismiss the option of even discussing the issue rationally.