Links. This is what I do while all the goyim are off doing their polytheistic thing (“Oh no, it’s not three gods, it’s like a three in one. You’re a Jew, you wouldn’t understand. And put that hammer and those nails away.”).

There’s a lot of birthdays and historical anniversaries today, but as it was yesterday, one in particular stands out. It is the birthday of Don Marquis, the greatest American poet. A sample of why this is so (and the origin of the handle of one of our most beloved commenters) is here. I guess out of fairness to my deep love of jazz, I should also add that it’s Charlie Christian‘s birthday, he being the father of modern electric guitar. 75 years later, the music still resonates.

OK, enough frivolity, let’s get down to business.

 

In the Department of  TSA Delenda Est, apparently this absolutely useless, unaccountable, unconstitutional, and oppressive agency has been working overtime on new ways to wipe their asses with the 4th amendment. We can thank Bush for this monstrosity, may he burn painfully in Hell, right next to Ron and Nancy.

[U]nder Quiet Skies, thousands of unsuspecting Americans have been subjected to targeted airport and inflight surveillance, carried out by small teams of armed, undercover air marshals, government documents show. The teams document whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a “jump” in their Adam’s apple or a “cold penetrating stare,” among other behaviors, according to the records.

The teams track citizens on domestic flights, to or from dozens of cities big and small — such as Boston and Harrisburg, Pa., Washington, D.C., and Myrtle Beach, S.C. — taking notes on whether travelers use a phone, go to the bathroom, chat with others, or change clothes, according to documents and people within the department.

I have no words. Only the famous Mencken quote.

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

 

In the Department of Brainless Media Whores, we have David Hogg, the Israelis have Ahed Tamimi.

In January, Ahed was indicted for assaulting an officer and an IDF soldier, and for five other incidents in which she threw stones, and attacked and threatened security forces.

The Tamimi family and Palestinian activists are preparing a hero’s welcome for Ahed and her mother in Nabi Saleh. Dozens of family members and supporters are expected to receive the two upon their release at an IDF checkpoint near Tulkarm. Her father, Bassem Tamimi, said on Saturday that several Palestinian groups plan to celebrate the release of his daughter and wife. He said that the two will first head to Ramallah to lay a wreath at Yasser Arafat’s mausoleum in the Palestinian Authority Mukata presidential compound.

Later in the day, Tamimi is scheduled to hold a press conference in the Beduin village of Khan al-Ahmar, near the Jewish settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim.

My predictions: Ameh will soon be on a Team Blue Tour in the US, standing with She Guevara. And Bassem is finally going to get laid again. Win-win.

 

I loved living in Austin. There really was a delightful craziness which I attribute to the presence of a huge university and enough heat to cook people’s brains. And they never, ever disappoint.

The Equity Office also suggests eschewing the name “Austin” altogether, as Stephen F. Austin fought to defend slavery in the Texas Revolution and supported the institution after the state gained its independence from Mexico.

The office also suggests the city reconsider the name of some of Austin’s most recognizable streets, parks and landmarks – including Pease Park, Barton Springs, and Bouldin and Waller creeks – but not before input from Council and the public. The Equity Office says those second-tier suggestions honor figures who weren’t directly tied to the Confederacy, but may represent “segregation, racism, and/or slavery.”

Chance of this actually happening: zero. But a bunch of tax leeches get to justify their jobs and morally preen. Win-win again!

 

Speaking of my former homes, California continues to make me feel good about getting out after spending most of my adult life there.

California’s Supreme Court ruled that employers must pay workers for the time they spend completing off-the-clock tasks, such as locking up after work. A federal law, called the Fair Labor Standards Act, generally allows companies to avoid compensating employees for time spent on duties the law describes as trivial or too difficult to track.

In its majority opinion, the California Supreme Court said the federal rule does not apply in the state when it comes to certain off-the-clock tasks performed by employees. It’s the result of a six-year legal battle between Starbucks and Douglas Troester, a California worker who sued the company for not paying him for closing tasks that he said took four to 10 additional minutes after he clocked out each day. Over the 17 months of Troester’s employment at Starbucks, the unpaid time added up to more than $100, according to court documents.

Shaun Setareh, one of the attorneys who represented Troester, said it amounted to “wage theft.” “It’s basically skimming off of people’s paychecks for the benefit of fattening the wallets of CEOs and stockholders of major corporations,” he said.

No way that this ruling is intended to open up the legal process for abuse and fattening up the wallets of lawyers and straw plaintiffs. That would be cynical. On the bright side, it was Starbucks.

 

More news from one of my former homes:

In November, voters here [in Utah] will consider a ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana and possibly join 30 others states that allow its use. While opponents, including a group of Utah doctors, have characterized Proposition 2 as a clear and dangerous step on the path toward legalizing recreational pot in the state, supporters say the initiative is a move of compassion.

Legalize weed and next thing you know, people might be tempted to try COFFEE. Then you’ll have the horror of Starbucks opening in Provo! Think of the children!

 

I’m on a mission from GOD!

Addressing the congregation at First AME Church, [Maxine] Waters said, “You’ve gotta know that I’m here to do the work that I was sent to do, and as pastor said to me when I came in this morning, ‘When God sends you to do something, you just do it!’” she exclaimed to cheers from the crowd.

Seriously, Moms Mabley was funnier. Maxie could learn a thing or two watching some old clips.

 

Old Guy Music, and this time dedicated to SP. She was actually a top-class trombonist, which always looks funny when played by people smaller than the instrument. And Bill Watrous, who just died a few weeks ago, was her favorite. And damn, I can see why.