Bobby Jindal thinks Duck Dynasty star’s job is protected by the First Amendment

Posted on December 20, 2013 by bitemaster

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal recently tweeted “I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment.” Apparently Jindal isn’t aware that the First Amendment protects people (and possibly corporations, which are people, too) from government interference with their speech.

But it’s not all that simple. The Supreme Court has held in some cases that speech rights trump private property rights.

Anyway, Phil Robertson, the Duck Dynasty star, did make some pretty disgusting anti-gay remarks. But if they had been anti-straight would he have been suspended? If they had been anti-straight should he have been suspended?

Looking at it another way, I believe A&E, the Duck Dynasty network, could have legally suspended Robertson for being straight, because heterosexuals are not a protected class. But in many states, they could not suspend him for being gay, because gays are a protected class.

So where does the Bitemaster stand? Frankly, he’s conflicted.

Opinion: ‘Duck Dynasty’ star’s free speech rights weren’t violated – CNN.com.

Temp work is more dangerous than full-time jobs

Posted on December 19, 2013 by bitemaster

A ProPublica analysis of millions of workers’ compensation claims shows that in five states, representing more than a fifth of the U.S. population, temps face a significantly greater risk of getting injured on the job than permanent employees.

Temp Work Isn’t Only Insecure — It’s More Dangerous Too.

The Financial Crisis: Why Have No High-Level Executives Been Prosecuted?

Posted on December 18, 2013 by bitemaster

Here at BITEME.ME, we’ve been wondering why more execs haven’t gone to jail over the financial crisis. Jed S. Rakoff, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, has been wondering, too.

The Financial Crisis: Why Have No High-Level Executives Been Prosecuted? by Jed S. Rakoff | The New York Review of Books.

Cops Asked For Cell Phone Data More Than 1 Million Times Last Year

Posted on December 9, 2013 by bitemaster

“Where you’ve been, whom you’ve talked to and even what you’ve been saying — police can get it all from your cell phone company, and frequently without a warrant. The big wireless carriers received more than 1.1 million requests from law enforcement for customer data in 2012, according to letters to Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) that his office released Monday.”

It’s not a problem unless you have something to hide.

via Cops Asked For Cell Phone Data More Than 1 Million Times Last Year.

Obama wants to give new sovereign powers to corporations

Posted on December 9, 2013 by bitemaster

“One of the most controversial provisions in the [12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade] talks includes new corporate empowerment language insisted upon by the U.S. government, which would allow foreign companies to challenge laws or regulations in a privately run international court. Under World Trade Organization treaties, this political power to contest government law is reserved for sovereign nations. The U.S. has endorsed some corporate political powers in prior trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, but the scope of what laws can be challenged appears to be much broader in TPP negotiations.”

via Obama Faces Backlash Over New Corporate Powers In Secret Trade Deal.

Why Bill Bratton should work on lead paint abatement

Posted on December 6, 2013 by bitemaster

Bill Bratton, who helped Rudy Giuliani take credit for New York City’s crime reduction in the 1990s, is returning to the Police Commissioner’s job under incoming mayor Bill de Blasio. The first thing he should tackle is environmental lead.

According to Cecil Adams (“the only man smarter than the Bitemaster”) and Kevin Drum (a writer for some blog), the rise and fall of crime in the US in the 20th century closely tracks the rise and fall of environmental lead.

Yup, Bratton and Giuliani owe their careers to the lead paint and leaded gasoline bans enacted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Environmental Protection Agency.

The Straight Dope: Does no more lead in gasoline = less violent crime?.

Google plans to use robots to put everybody out of work

Posted on December 5, 2013 by bitemaster

Google is working on robots that will soon replace delivery personnel and factory workers

‘An Oxford University study from last year predicted that 45 percent of U.S. jobs were “at high risk” of being lost to computerized machines. Some of the fields most most vulnerable, according to the researchers, including transportation and production.’

And you’re next.

Google Wants To Build An Army Of Robots To Replace Factory Workers.

Another reason to like Pope Francis

Posted on December 3, 2013 by bitemaster

After Pope Francis released a new Apostolic Exhortation entitled “Evangelli Gaudium” (The Joy of Gospel), calling for church reforms and criticizing certain ideas of capitalism, Rush Limbaugh took to the airwaves to blast the pontiff, saying “It’s sad because this pope makes it very clear he doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to capitalism and socialism and so forth . . . somebody has either written this for him or gotten to him . . . This is just pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the Pope.”

If Rush hates it, it must be good.

via Rush Limbaugh blasts Pope Francis’ latest statement – NY Daily News.

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Monthly Archives: December 2013