Society's Child

NYC NPC official suggests replacing Central Park's male statues with women

RT
Tue, 17 Sep 2019 16:19 UTC

A conspicuously 'woke' New York City official has proposed that male statues inhabiting the metropolis's famed Central Park should be replaced with monuments honoring women. This is a great idea, nobody on Twitter said.

Hank Willis Thomas, a painter who serves on the Public Design Commission, told his fellow commission members that there are five or six male statues in the park that could "easily" be torn down and swapped with tributes to famous women, the New York Post reported.

Elaborating on his idea, Thomas singled out statues of Scottish poet Robert Burns and Christopher Columbus as candidates for reassignment surgery. He argued that there aren't many people who would miss the Burns statue, while Columbus already had a monument in his honor just a "few hundred yards away."

Central Park currently has 23 statues - all male - and Hank's commission has been tasked with rectifying this problem.

Thomas' vision for a new-and-improved Central Park was rejected by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who wants to see new statues erected but opposes removing existing ones.

His bold renovation plan was similarly panned by the Twitterati, who expressed nearly unanimous disgust with the proposal.

A new way to understand America's cultural and political realignment

Richard Tafel
Quillette
Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:58 UTC

Understanding American politics has become increasingly confusing as the old party labels have lost much of their meaning. A simplistic Left vs. Right worldview no longer captures the complexity of what's going on. As the authors of the October 2017 "Pew Survey of American Political Typologies" write, "[I]n a political landscape increasingly fractured by partisanship, the divisions within the Republican and Democratic coalitions may be as important a factor in American politics as the divisions between them."

To understand our politics, we need to understand the cultural values that drive it. The integral cultural map developed by philosopher Ken Wilber identifies nine global cultural value systems including the archaic (survival), tribal (shaman), warrior (warlords and gangs), traditional (fundamentalist faith in God), modern (democracy and capitalism), and postmodern (world-centric pluralism). When combined with Pew's voter typologies, Wilber's cultural levels offer a new map of America's political landscape.

Comment: Mr. Tafel has presented an interesting analysis of the current political climate in the US. It will be fascinating to see if the presidential election results bear him out.

Donetsk village resident says Ukrainian bombings are methodically destroying homes street by street

Eva Bartlett
In Gaza
Tue, 17 Sep 2019 00:00 UTC

Zaitsevo, a village in the north of the Donetsk People's Republic, has been relentlessly shelled by Ukrainian forces/paramilitaries since 2014, and continues to be bombed nearly every day and night.

The population has dropped from 3,500 to 1,600, including 200 children.

I interviewed Irina Dikun, head of the administration of Zaitsevo, who spoke at length on the terror civilians have faced over the years and continue to face with the Ukrainian bombing that erupts nearly every single night, targeting civilian homes and village infrastructure.

"Those who could leave, left. Mostly it's elderly remaining here. None of the ceasefire agreements (24/5) reached here. Not more than 1 or 2 days of ceasefire," she said.

"They are destroying street by street in the town. They take one street and destroy it house by house. Then they turn to another street.

Comment: We'd do well to remember that Kiev's abhorrent non-stop violence towards the peoples of Eastern Ukraine would not be happening had the US not empowered the coup that occurred during the Maidan of 2014.

Studies find no evidence suggesting that assault weapon bans reduce the rates of homicide

Being Classically Liberal
Foundation For Economic Education
Sat, 17 Aug 2019 00:00 UTC

The studies, data, and examination of the available evidence by scholars suggest that assault weapon bans or buybacks will have little if any effect on rates of violent crime and gun violence.

Mass shootings are unconscionable acts of violence and are the most acutely disturbing form of gun violence. In the wake of such tragedies, many gun control advocates lambast gun rights supporters for allowing "weapons of war" onto the streets of America and not supporting "responsible gun reform."

The measures put forth are usually either a ban and/or mandatory buyback of "assault weapons," most of which are more accurately known as semi-automatic rifles. ("Assault weapon" is a vague term that varies state to state and can include common pistols and shotguns depending out other attachable accessories.)

While these initiatives are "common sense" to advocates, if one takes the time to examine the data and evidence, it becomes abundantly clear that gun control in this form will do little to reduce gun violence.

Comment: The real reason elements of the government are pushing for an assault weapon ban can likely be found here:

American Apocalypse Coming: The Deep State's Plot to Destabilize the Nation is Working

Arizona Supreme Court strikes powerful blow in defense of free speech and religious freedom

David French
The National Review
Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:22 UTC

Breanna Koski co-owner of Brush & Nib Studio Arizona Supreme Court January 2019

© Alliance Defending Freedom
Breanna Koski, co-owner of Brush & Nib Studio, at news conference following oral arguments at the Arizona Supreme Court, January 22, 2019.

Free speech and religious liberty are on a winning streak. Last month the Eighth Circuit Court of appeals ruled that Christian wedding photographers could not be compelled to use their artistic talents to help celebrate same-sex weddings. Today, the Arizona Supreme Court reached a similar holding, this time on behalf of Christian calligraphers and painters Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski. The case, brought by my friends and former colleagues at the Alliance Defending Freedom, is similar to multiple other wedding vendor cases. The plaintiffs do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation (they happily serve gay customers). They merely refuse to produce art that advances ideas they find objectionable.

Duka and Koski operate a limited liability company called "Brush & Nib Studios." The company's Operating Agreement declares its beliefs quite clearly — stating that it will not create "custom artwork that communicates ideas or messages . . . that contradict biblical truth, demean others, endorse racism, incite violence, or promote any marriage besides marriage between one man and one woman, such as same-sex marriage." As with all these cases, the core question is whether the custom artwork at issue constitutes constitutionally protected speech (the court was interpreting the Arizona constitution, but applied federal free speech precedents). If so, then the state's demand that the plaintiffs produce art for same-sex marriages constitutes a form of compelled speech, among the most egregious forms of First Amendment violation. Compelled speech violates the fundamental principle that "an individual has autonomy over his or her speech and thus may not be forced to speak a message he or she does not wish to say."

Comment: See also:

'Regulatory guillotine': Russia cuts legal ties with Soviet past by eliminating 20K outdated laws

RT
Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:50 UTC

From banning sofas and soft carpets in offices to seizing property from political emigrants, old Soviet laws have been hampering Russia's development for decades. But now 20,000 outdated acts will finally be made obsolete.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered the so-called 'regulatory guillotine' as a measure against the excessive and ineffective regulation of business. It'll see a massive raft of legislation, signed between 1917 and 1991 in the USSR and Soviet Russia, laid to rest in early 2020.

RT has gathered the most ridiculous Soviet legislation that is, technically at least, still in force in Russia:

The 'regulatory guillotine' will finally legalize sofas and carpets in government offices across Russia. It turns out that, for the past 60 years, they've been put there in violation of the law. A 1958 resolution by the Council of Ministers of RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) banned the use of soft furniture as well as woollen and silk fabrics in the decor of state offices and public facilities, as part of a drive against vanity.

Homeowner shoots and kills 3 masked men in possible 'stand your ground' case

William Mansell
ABC News
Mon, 16 Sep 2019 02:11 UTC

© WSB-TV
Rockdale County Sheriff's vehicles are pictured outside the scene where a homeowner shot and killed three men who were wearing masks early Monday morning on Sept. 16, 2019, in Rockdale County, Ga.

A homeowner in Georgia shot and killed three young masked men at his home early Monday morning, according to Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett.

Authorities have yet to identify the three deceased men, Levett said during a media briefing. The sheriff's office told ABC News it is waiting to release the names of the men until all three families are notified.

The homeowner, who has also not been identified by deputies, was taken to the station for questioning.

"It could be a 'stand your ground' type case, based on the preliminary [information] that we have learned so far," Levett said during the briefing.

Suspected serial killer arrested after 14 years: 'We're pretty sure he would've killed again'

Emily Shapiro
ABC News
Mon, 16 Sep 2019 02:23 UTC

© Palm Beach County Sheriff
Rachel Bey was found strangled to death along a highway in Palm Beach County on March 7, 2016. Authorities announce arrest on Sept. 16. 2019.

A man charged with a Florida woman's murder has been linked through genetic genealogy to the killing of three women from over a decade ago -- leading authorities to believe a serial killer is now "off the streets."

"Had we not done this [arrest], we're pretty sure he would've killed again," Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters Monday.

Robert Hayes, 37, was arrested Sunday and charged with one murder, and remains a suspect in three others from 14 years ago, authorities said.

The case began in 2005 and 2006, when three women -- Laquetta Gunther, Julie Green and Iwana Patton -- were fatally shot in the head in separate incidents, said Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri.

Violence continues as Hong Kong protests escalate to molotovs and water cannons

RT
Sun, 15 Sep 2019 20:39 UTC

© AFP/Nicolas Asfouri
Police use water cannons on protesters outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, China on September 15, 2019.

Anti-government demonstrations got heated in Hong Kong on Sunday, as rowdy protesters attacked government buildings with petrol bombs, while police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Although there were fewer people on the streets compared to previous weekends, the violence seemed to be on the rise in China's semi-autonomous region. The situation became particularly tense outside the Chinese People's Liberation Army base in the city's Admiralty district. Protesters blocked a nearby road and attacked law enforcement with various projectiles.

Whole Foods owner Jeff Bezos (worth $115B) cuts health care coverage for part-time workers

Jenny G. Zang
EATER
Fri, 13 Sep 2019 04:22 UTC

Up to 1,900 workers are losing medical benefits "to better meet the needs" of business

As many as 1,900 Whole Foods workers will soon see their medical and health benefits eliminated, the Amazon-owned grocer confirmed to Business Insider on Thursday. Currently, Whole Foods employees who work at least 20 hours a week are eligible for health care, but starting January of next year, employees will have to work full-time at 30 hours per week in order to get medical benefits.

According to a Whole Foods spokesperson, the supermarket chain is making this change — which the company said will affect just under 2 percent of its 95,000-person workforce — in order "to better meet the needs of our business and create a more equitable and efficient scheduling mode." The spokesperson noted that part-time employees affected by the benefits cuts will receive "resources to find alternative health care coverage options," or can "explore full-time, health care-eligible positions."

The silver lining, apparently: "All Whole Foods Market team members continue to receive employment benefits including a 20% in-store discount." Very cool to know that workers whose medical coverage is cut will still be able to score $4 off a $20 bag of organic goji berries!

Comment: See also:

Speak loudly and carry a big sick.

Robotech

The ship's going down; all resistance is 'fewtile'. They sold the fairytale 911 story....still do....(that had holes big enough to drive a 737...

Fewtile

Dr. RC says no one's talking much about a vaccine caused MCI (myocardial infarction) or stroke etc. Remember the pilots dying? The concern was and...

Rowan Cocoan

Their HELL bent in injecting this SHIT in to everyone and will stop at nothing until their demented goal is achieved. If you lose your job for not...

Winternights3

Someone deport this monstrous POS back to hell, or wherever. Anywhere with a good stockade 😤and his kids too

slbeaudry

Society's Child

NYC NPC official suggests replacing Central Park's male statues with women

A new way to understand America's cultural and political realignment

Donetsk village resident says Ukrainian bombings are methodically destroying homes street by street

Studies find no evidence suggesting that assault weapon bans reduce the rates of homicide

Arizona Supreme Court strikes powerful blow in defense of free speech and religious freedom

'Regulatory guillotine': Russia cuts legal ties with Soviet past by eliminating 20K outdated laws

Homeowner shoots and kills 3 masked men in possible 'stand your ground' case

Suspected serial killer arrested after 14 years: 'We're pretty sure he would've killed again'

Violence continues as Hong Kong protests escalate to molotovs and water cannons

Whole Foods owner Jeff Bezos (worth $115B) cuts health care coverage for part-time workers

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