Random Nuclear Strikes

TheBeautifulKind’s employer apparently googled her real name, and through “a social media glitch” her anonymous sexblog popped up in the search results. She was then summarily fired.

I hadn’t read her site before becoming aware of this situation today, but you can still glance at her site’s old front page through the magic of Google cache and although tame for the San Francisco Bay Area, I could see a Midwesterner going into apoplectic fits about it. Also, it seems that in St. Louis, Missouri folks are still tight-assed enough to think that somebody’s PRIVATE, ANONYMOUS sexual musings warrant firing them.

It’s as if she wrote an advice column on kink, or published a magazine about it, or even was a successful writer of self-help kink books — all under a pseudonym — and the employer fired her when that fact became known through no fault of the employee, who’d made every effort to keep her two selves private and separated. They may have the legal right (“at-will” employment) but that’s just WRONG.

A magazine article on the firing, with some good background and legal analysis, is here.
Watch yourselves, gunbloggers! There’s a lesson here for you if you choose to learn it. Either work for an employer that won’t care what non-work topics you blog about; live in a state (like California) where this sort of firing is difficult at best for an employer to do, if not impossible; or be prepared every day for the bigots to terminate you.

Yes, I would drive this pre-owned vehicle. Brilliant ad campaign.

Videos which the police record.  Personally, if a video did exist, then it belongs to both the police department and the citizen on the video.  It should be retained until both parties agree to deletion.  Of course, that could get expensive.  Worth thinking about.

Bruce links to an essay on it.  Read it, and keep it in mind the next time someone rails on about CCW laws causing “Blood in the streets” type scenarios.

Pandas rescued post-earthquake seem happy. Click for teh cuteness. A parable involving sad pandas and the government teat is left as an exercise for the reader.

I actually agree with something Obama said.  Granted, it isn’t profound, or anything, but I agree with him, which is new.

“It may make your blood boil. Your mind may not be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship,”

Which is part of the reason I read The Progressive, and I know Phil bravely engages FireDogLake.  Also, it’s always good to see what arguments the other side is dreaming up, so you can test your own positions against them.  Not only does it build good mental debate skills, you may (if you are honest with yourself) find a flaw in your own logic that needs to be addressed.