What politicians mean by "tax reform"

"March for Science" actually a march for politics

What's the best way for scientists to show that science isn't about politics? By staging a protest that makes science all about politics, of course:

While billing itself as nonpartisan, the March for Science movement, including rallies and marches in more than 600 communities, clearly sees the Trump administration, which has expressed skepticism about man's role in climate change and has eased regulations on coal and oil production, as a threat to science.

Of particular concern to critics is the Trump administration's budget that calls for sizable cuts in funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy's Office of Science.

OK, so this isn't so much a march for science as it is a march against policies that undermine science. If that's the case, then perhaps we will see those gathered calling for politicians to quit ignoring scientific evidence when it comes to biological sex and when human life begins. But I won't hold my breath.

Donald Trump meets the Honeymooners

The perfect cocktails to serve during the Democratic debate

These wonderfully appropriate cocktail recipes are courtesy of Reason.com. Actually, tipping back a few cocktails is probably the best way to make it through tonight's debate.

Bernie Sanders supporter can't see the irony in her Facebook post

To be fair, socialists aren't known for their intellectual consistency.

(via Facebook)

British police: 'Turn in your knife, surrender your life.' Or something like that.

Six years ago, I made note of an interesting story from Great Britain about an "anti-stab" knife invented by industrial designer John Cornock. His line of knives, aptly named New Point, was inspired by a report about the life-threatening knife injuries doctors had to deal with every day.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cornock's potentially life-saving design hasn't caught on fast enough. Last year, police in Lancashire took a more drastic approach, starting an amnesty campaign designed to get Brits to turn in their more lethal, pointy knives.

It's a rather simple concept, much like the gun buyback scams perpetrated here in the U.S. Lancashire's law-abiding residents simply deposit their blades into designated "amnesty bins" conveniently located at various police stations across the county, and knife crime magically disappears.

Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw funded this brilliant program. "No-one should live in fear of knives being used in their community," he said (presumably in a snooty, condescending tone), "and I hope anyone in possession of an offensive weapon will use this opportunity to protect both themselves and those around them, by handing it in."

The amnesty program is still in effect, and the Lancashire Constabulary wants to reassure those who might be afraid of knife-wielding maniacs:

Don't be a victim

If you feel you are in immediate danger from knife crime there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Move away from the situation towards a public place (shop, house, restaurant etc.) as quickly as possible.
• Make as much noise as you can.
• Instead of carrying a knife, carry a personal alarm.
• Don't fight back.

And, above all, don't even think about bringing a gun to a knife fight. This is Great Britain. If you want the right to defend yourself, move to America.

Similar programs have since sprouted up all across the U.K. The result? As of this past July, knife crime has gone up for the first time in four years. A 2% rise in all knife offenses has been reported, along with a 13% rise in assaults with a knife. What a shock.

You've got to hand it to our progressive friends across the Pond. They may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer, but they certainly are a persistent lot.

Satirical video series sums up just about everything you need to know about government

Poor Alexis. All she wants is to live her life and follow her dream, but her overbearing boyfriend, Scott "Gov" Govinski, insists on saving her from herself. Yeah, it's a pretty thinly veiled metaphor, but it's pretty funny. And pretty spot-on. This five-part comedy series is brought to you by the Independent Institute:

Episode 1: An Education in Debt

Episode 2: Protection from Jobs

Episode 3: A Remedy for Healthcare Choices

Episode 4: House Poor

Episode 5: Keeping a Close Eye on Privacy

Shocker! Government plan to reduce obesity doesn't reduce obesity

When Los Angeles city lawmakers passed a zoning ordinance in 2008 limiting the opening of fast food restaurants in an area plagued by high obesity rates, who could have guessed that it would fail? Well, pretty much everyone with an IQ higher than a Big Mac—which might explain why government officials actually thought it would work.

The AP reports:

The research by the Rand Corp. think tank found that obesity rates in South Los Angeles continued to rise after passage of the law.

"It had no meaningful effect," Rand senior economist Roland Sturm said. "There's no evidence that diets have improved more in South LA. Obesity and overweight rates have not fallen."

I'm sure we can expect lawmakers to ask for more funding and propose further restrictions. After all, there isn't a problem in the world that can't be made worse with more bureaucracy.

Scare your kids with the Hillary Clinton action figure

No, this isn't a joke. Creator Jason Feinberg is a fan of Hillary Clinton, and he wants to immortalize her in the form of an action figure that will surely terrify young kids everywhere.


From Feinberg's KickStarter site:

We started with one simple goal; to make Hillary Clinton into an awesome iconic action figure. Basically, we're hoping to kick off some light-hearted excitement about her campaign and the amazingly cool prospect of America getting its first woman president.

After months and months of work, we're all ready to go!

Actually, this four-inch piece of plastic would be less annoying and a much more effective leader than the real thing. If only this version could get on the ballot next year.

The future of the internet under new FCC rules

"Net-neutrality" is here! And this brief video shows us what the internet might look like under the FCC's new regulations:


(via The Tea Party Economist)

Obama's executive action on Saturday Night Live

"Wait a second. Don't you have to go through Congress at some point?"

"Aw, that's adorable! You still think that's how government works."

Man indicted for teaching others how to beat a polygraph test

Every once in a while you run across a news story with so much irony that it actually starts to rust. Like this one:

For at least the second time since 2012, the federal government has brought criminal charges, accusing someone of training people on how to beat a polygraph test.

On Friday, prosecutors announced an indictment against Douglas G. Williams, a 69-year-old man from Norman, Okla., who's accused of coaching people "how to lie and conceal crimes" during federally administered lie-detector tests.

Mr. Williams, who operates a company called Polygraph.com, says the mail fraud and obstruction of justice charges leveled against him are an "attack on his First Amendment rights." The indictment follows the federal prosecution of an Indiana man who received eight months in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to similar charges.

So, they're upset over someone teaching others "how to lie and conceal crimes"? I guess the government really does hate competition.

Groundskeeper Willie on the issue of Scottish independence

(via Tastefully Offensive)

This is what Labor Day should be about

Labor Day should not be about unions or corporatism. It should be about innovative people making their way in the free market. This brief, four-part series from Reason.com on "The Sharing Economy" celebrates just that:

Private toll road solves a major problem for British commuters

Free enterprise tends to be much more reliable than government bureaucracy, and you can usually count the former when the latter breaks down—which happens more often than not. In this case, the solution to a seemingly insurmountable traffic problem was a private toll road:


I would love to see more stories like this.

(via 22 Words)

All potential 2016 presidential candidates polling lower than Darth Vader

Now this is a presidential poll worth noting, and it may very well influence my vote...

Game of Drones

(via BenSwann.com)

Looks like HealthCare.gov is finally working

Car dealership's clever comeback to protest sign

When Subaru of Wichita decided to go ahead with a $1.5 million remodeling and expansion project, it hired a local contractor to handle the job. The contractor bid out the drywall portion of the project to several companies and eventually went with the lowest qualified bid. It just so happened the winning bid was from a local, non-union company. Naturally, that sparked a protest from United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 201. It wasn't pleasant...

Rather than take it lying down, however, the dealership responded with a sign of its own...

...and even provided the protesters with lunch...


You gotta love it!

Click here for more on this story and the facts behind the union shakedown of local businesses.

President Obama wins PolitiFact.com's 'Lie of the Year' contest!

For the last five years, PolitiFact.com has asked readers to vote on what they consider to be "Lie of the Year." The winner for 2013, by a wide margin, was Barack Obama, for his oft-repeated statement, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it."


Congratulations, Mr. President!