So today I was hailed down by some politically active Tennessee Democrats. Because I grew up in Bill Haslam's neighborhood and know him and his family, they asked me the BIG QUESTION:
"Is it true he's a Muslim?"
"I heard the real name is Has-salam". Et cetera.
My responses, some voiced, some not:
1. This is America, and that's not an American question.
2. Article IX, Section 2 of the Tennessee Constitution, trash. I don't speak for him, but I expect he might say that he supports that part of the Constitution, too.
3. What difference would it make, religious bigot from the party of diversity and tolerance for people we already like?
4. I suppose even bigoted voters should know the truth. So no, the Haslams are as racially pure as the driven snow, jackass. If you can't tell by looking at that English face, do five minutes of research. The name comes from hazel trees, dufus.
5. They also profess the Christian faith, and actively attend a congregation thereof. My dam long attended the same Church.
6. You are really stupid. Not as stupid as the lawyer who once tried to get a pathologist to say that Novocaine would produce a positive on a test for Cocaine because they were "Both from the CAINE group, aren't they?" (What, like candy cane? Michael Caine?)
7. Actually more evil than stupid, because you are looking for a tool to appeal to and encourage religious bigotry. There are really good reasons why that's not an American question.
(I'm all pi$$y about gossip today.)
Alright, I would like to read a year's worth of the Dalai Lama's personal emails, or check the site visit log for India's Defence Minister.
But my favourite part of this article about a Beijing operated data spy operation has to be the blatant and totally hilarious racism:
one chink in computer security can leave many nations exposed.
True that, as they say. But this ignores other risks.
What if there are crackers in the keyboard?
Feel free to write your own.
UPDATE! It took them ten minutes to scrub the article, replacing "chink" with "gap"- and leaving one for that fourth letter.
(Fifty commenters failed to notice the racist slur. Good example, lefties!)
Tam made this screencap, thanks!
And it's already cited in science, India, and China articles all over the web. Good luck putting all those feathers back, you liars.
I don't like the insult.
I more don't like the double standard about insults, if (name of conservative, business leader, entertainer, or Republican) had said this the NYT would explode with righteous wrath. Self righteous, that is.
"Mr. Imus's slur was the kind of unalloyed racial insult that might not have passed muster on a low-watt AM station in the Jim Crow South."
I most don't like the memory holing of the word. When I went to journo classes, they always told us that the first duty was to truth. That's what makes trained journalists different, isn't it? Absolute commitment to truth?
It's not bad enough that I have to put up with it at every other freeway exit, but to see this sort of thing in France...
So, hunting like crazy. The other day, out with a smaller pack of hounds. Unfortunately, the day was marred by an ugly racial incident.
The meet was at a crossroads, maybe a dozen or so mounted followers and as many vehicles. Hounds were sat waiting.
All looks peaceful in this picture, doesn't it? 
Now I’ve often spoken proudly about the way that visitors are made welcome to hunt. In these days of our insurgency there are going to be some looks and questions if one just appears unannounced, but a bit of conversation and the “Do you know…“ game usually is enough to establish bona fides.
I’ve heard that in some places unknown attendees are sometimes discouraged, or even given rough treatment. And not in the fun way. But these tales never seem to come from actual witnesses, it’s always hearsay or reputation evidence.
Not this time. I was with R., so it was all smiles for me. Then, a visitor showed up unescorted, on foot. Just walking along a country lane minding his own business, not offering any offence.
Living down South, I’m used to seeing every colour all over the place, and don’t really pay attention.
But I was the only celebrator of diversity there. People instantly became tense, and parted so as to avoid contact. The staff and Masters did the opposite, blocking the way and impeding his progress.
You’d have thought it was a Mississippi lunch counter in 1953.
I figured this was just because it was a stranger, but there wasn’t any attempt to converse. Then it got worse, the Master told a couple of the foot people- terriermen, I later found out- to “Kick him down the road.“
He meant it figuratively I’m sure, and no actual kick was offered, but the stranger was grabbed by the neck and hustled- all but dragged, really- past the hounds and across the intersection. He was given a hard shove and a gruff “Get out of here” to speed him on his way.
Again, I’d like to think this was because it was a stranger, or even a monitor. But the Master distinctly said,
“Get that Black SOB out of here.” And he wasn’t the only one who referred to colour, or to possible immigrant status either.
Institutional racism, that’s what it is.
Unfortunately I was so shocked by the events that I didn't think to get my camera out until the whole thing was over. But as we drove away I saw and took this picture of the victim:
Is it just me, or does anyone else think it curious that the first three people Barack Obama had killed were troubled young East African men?
You know, like his father.
