Banned Books Then and Now – Research Blog – Duke University
Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:45 am
With the never-ending news of schools banning books, one has to ask about the history and effectiveness of banned books. Fortunately, the Duke Forever Learning Institute hosted a seminar on the history of banned books in late September and provided examples that showed the ineffectiveness of banned books throughout time.
There was one particular story, however, that caught my eye, and that was the retelling of the history behind a banned book written by a man named Gottschalk.Clare Woods, an associate professor of Classical Studies at Duke, delineated the narrative of Gottschalks life from birth to prisoner.
Gottschalk was born to an aristocratic family around 803 AD and started his academic career when he moved into Fulder, a monastery, to become a monk. However, in 829 AD, Gottschalk left Fulder for reasons based either on the loss of his older brother or the enlightenment he received from the monastery he attended while studying abroad.
Upon leaving Fulder, Gottschalk studied at the monasteries of Corby and then moved to northern Italy after he received his orientation as a priest. Gottschalk was unusual because monks tended not to move around that much, and monks also tended not to speak about their studies on heretical doctrine. Unfortunately for Gottschalk, he ignored the criticisms from other monks and instead grew confident in his studies to the point where he wrote a book about them.
While receiving hate for his ideas from multiple people, one man from Gottschalks past was truly adamant about having Gottschalk punished. This man was named Rabbanis, and he was accused by Gottschalk of coercing Gottschalks earlier career as a monk. From that, and with Gottschalk leaving the Fulder, Rabbanis developed a personal vendetta against Gottschalk.
Gottschalk, the confident man he was, decided to defend himself at a Synod in Mainz, but it proved unsuccessful because he was condemned by the Synod and banned from the Kingdom of Louis. From there on, things did not improve for Gottschalk because, in the following year, he was brought to a second Synod that was attended by King Charles, who was the brother of King Louis the German. By the end of this Synod, Gottschalk was stripped of his priesthood, sentenced to silence, and imprisoned.
However, even with the punishments Gottschalk personally received and his books being burned, his books were still preserved and influential on others.
This influence seen with Gottschalks books after being banned was not an anomaly because that was seen with all banned books throughout history.
Another example was given by Lauren Ginsberg, an associate professor of classical studies, who presented Permussius Cordis, an author who lived under the Roman emperor Tiberius in the 1st century AD.
His story ended in tragedy since his books were included in a mass book burning and he was sentenced to death. However, his book still was able to influence the Roman population due to his daughter Marshas vigilance in keeping her fathers book alive.
While I only provided two examples, this pattern of books withstanding their ban is throughout time, and it is being repeated in the present. Across this country, book banning is back in style. In 2018, there were only 347 books that schools formally challenged, but in 2021 it became 1,500.
While this does put light on our current education system in this country, this is simply a gesture. It does make us think about what children will be learning in schools, but because the books are banned in schools does not mean the information within those books will not reach their target demographic. As seen in history, knowledge always finds a way of spreading, but of course, that is dependent on those who want to expand that knowledge.
At the end of this article, I hope you are reassured that seeing a banned book does not mean it is forever silenced. Instead, I hope that by reading this, you understand that you have all the power to ensure that the words within a book can withstand anything, including time.
Post by Jakaiyah Franklin, Class of 2025
Citation: Freedman, Samuel G. A Display of Banned or Censored Books at a Bookstore Last October. Over a Recent 9 Month Period More than 1,500 Books Have Been Banned in Schools, Most Featuring Nonwhite Protagonists, Dealing with Racism, or Addressing the LGBTQ Experience. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-06-27/book-bans-critical-race-theory-wisconsin. Accessed 10 Oct. 2022.
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Banned Books Then and Now - Research Blog - Duke University
Sotheby’s Asia Week Sales Total $19.5 Million – Antiques And The Arts Weekly – Antiques and the Arts Online
Posted: at 1:45 am
This circa Fourteenth Century Korean large gilt-bronze figure of a bodhisattva achieved enlightenment at $441,000 in the Dharma & Tantra auction.
NEW YORK CITY With a combination of five live and online sales that took place September 20-27, Sothebys Asia Week realized a total of $19,544,742. Kicking off the week on September 20 was Power/Conquest: The Forging of Empires, which achieved a total of $7,090,524. The top price of the sale was $1,083,600, realized for the Yi Yu Gui, Western Zhou dynasty, King Zhao period, probably circa 980 BCE, which easily exceeded its $600/800,000 estimate.
That same day, in Dharma & Tantra, a large gilt-bronze figure of a bodhisattva, Korean, circa Fourteenth Century, sold within estimate for $441,000. It was the top lot in a sale that achieved a total of $2,816,730.The firms semiannual sale of Important Chinese Art on September 21, which made $7,394,562, was led at $756,000 by a superbly carved white jade dragon vase, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, which came in slightly below its $800,000-$1.2 million estimate.
Exceeding expectations, however, was a white-glazed Moon Jar from the Joseon dynasty, late Seventeenth or early Eighteenth Century. It made $403,200 against an estimate of $180/250,000 and was the high water mark in the firms Sublime Beauty: Korean Ceramics from a Private Collection auction on September 22 that brought $1,272,600.
Closing out Asia with an online sale titled China / 5000 Years, a Ming-style blue and white dragon moonflask, Qing dynasty, roared to $47,880, a substantial rise from its $10/15,000 estimate. The sale, which opened September 16, closed September 27 with a total of $970,326.
Prices quoted include the buyers premium as reported by the auction house. For information, http://www.sothebys.com.
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Sotheby's Asia Week Sales Total $19.5 Million - Antiques And The Arts Weekly - Antiques and the Arts Online
Hills You Should Head To The Next Time You Are In Bihar – Outlook India
Posted: at 1:45 am
Do you know that Bihar has many attractions beyond the popular destinations such as Bodhgaya and Nalanda? Yes, you read it right. Bihar, which was once considered the centre of political and cultural power and a haven of learning, has some must-visit hills that will surely impress the traveller in you. Here's a look at five of them.
Rajgir Hills
Located in the Nalanda district, Rajgir is known for its picturesque views and as a historical and religious centre for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. It is surrounded by five hills: Ratnagiri, Vipulachal, Vaibhavagiri, Songiri and Udaygiri. These hills are mainly associated with the life of the Buddha, who is believed to have taught there. The place also has a single-person ropeway that is said to be the oldest in the country. It runs at the top of Ratnagiri Hill and leads to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and the Makhdoom Kund. Earlier this year, a zoo safari, a transparent glass bridge, and a new gondola ropeway were inaugurated to boost tourism at Rajgir.
How to reach: Private and state-run buses connect Rajgir to Patna, Gaya, Nalanda, etc.
Best time to visit: October-March
Bateshwar HillsSituated in the Bhagalpur district, the Bateshwar Hills are located 6km south of the town of Kursela. The main attraction here is the Bateshwarnath Temple, which was constructed in the 7th century, and is now a protected site by the Archaeological Survey of India. Also, since the Ganga flows northward here, the temple is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus.
How to reach: Public transport is available from Kahalgaon, 10km from Bateshwar Hills.
Best time to visit: July-August and October-March
Brahmajuni HillYou can witness some historic caves at the Brahmajuni Hills, where you can explore the alluring carvings engraved on the stone walls. Also, according to legend, this is the place where Buddha delivered his fire sermon to a thousand priests who were his followers and wanted to achieve enlightenment. You will have to climb a thousand stone steps to reach the top of the hill, where you can get a magnificent look at the city of Gaya.
How to reach: Take a public or private ride from the town of Gaya, which is 4km away from Brahmajuni Hill.
Best time to visit: October-March
PragbodhiPragbodhi (meaning before enlightenment) is located around 7km from Bodh Gaya. It is believed that Lord Buddha spent seven years in a cave on this hill before he attained enlightenment. A brief trek to the top of the hill offers spectacular views of the land around and the ruins of a few stupas.
How to reach: You can take a taxi or a cab to Pragbodhi. The trip will take you about one hour.
Best time to visit: October-March
Gurpa Hill
A Buddhist pilgrimage site, Gurpa Hill is located 25km northeast of Bodh Gaya. The mountain is said to be the site where Buddha's disciple Mahakasyapa died while waiting for the future Buddha, Maitreya, to arrive on earth. It is also considered one of the tallest peaks in the Gangetic plains. At the top of the mountain are a stupa and a Buddhist temple.
How to reach: Book a local cab, taxi or bus to get to Gurpa Peak, located 48 Km from the city of Gaya.
Best time to visit: October-March
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Hills You Should Head To The Next Time You Are In Bihar - Outlook India
Elon Musk’s ‘Exploratory Journeys’ And Charts Explaining Benefits Of Psychedelics Over Alcohol – Tesla (N – Benzinga
Posted: at 1:45 am
Elon Musk has been forthcoming about psychedelic drugs and is not shy about discussing them and their benefits. Hes also been supportive of cannabis legalization.
The billionaire shared a chart with a friend,which showedMDMA and psychedelic mushrooms are healthier than alcohol use, according to the friendwho toldThe New York Times.
The Times, reportedThe Insider,then spoke with over 40 people who have spent time with Musk over the past 15 years, many of whom signed non-disclosure agreements or similarin order to attend parties with Musk. The Times also reported that for the past 20 years, Musk has attended nearly every Burning Man festival,usually with his younger brotherKimbal Musk and a friend he met there.
"I have been with him on mild exploratory journeys," said David Marglin, a Bay Area lawyer who met Musk at Burning Man where they struck up a 20-year friendship. "And he appreciates the value of those journeys. Nothing out of control or wild, but it's all night, and there's dancing and revelry."
In the past, theTeslaTSLACEOhas expressed supportfor psychedelics and ketamine. Earlier this year,he was part of aconversation between two Twitter users, one of whom, Netscape co-founderMarc Andreessenreferredto a2016 New York Times featureabout Adderall andwondered whether our present society was caused by social media. I'm wondering whether Adderall plus ubiquitous Google searches have bigger effects.
Musk responded, "I've talked to many more people who were helped by psychedelics & ketamine than SSRIs & amphetamines."
More recently, the billionaire said in aninterview with Full Send Podcastthat he thinks psychedelics can be "pretty helpful" for PTSD and depression. Musk alsonotedhe and the "whole of SpaceX" had been subjected to random drug tests for a year after he appeared on a podcast with Joe Rogan in which he smoked weed.
Musk is far not the only successfultech CEO who has showninterest in psychedelics. Apple founder Steve Jobs also talked aboutmicrodosingpsychedelics drugs, such as LSD or psilocybin mushrooms in order to promote creativity. Jobs also spent time inIndia seeking enlightenment and studying Zen Buddhism.
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Elon Musk's 'Exploratory Journeys' And Charts Explaining Benefits Of Psychedelics Over Alcohol - Tesla (N - Benzinga
All the latest of the BTSC family of Pittsburgh Steelers podcasts – Behind The Steel Curtain
Posted: at 1:45 am
Steelers 2022 is ongoing and we here at BTSC, and our podcast platform, are here with you every step of the way. In the past we have given you the podcasts in individual articles on the BTSC website, but weve decided to go with a Podcast Roundup article which has the latest three podcasts for your enjoyment. The reasoning behind this is to take up less space on the site for the great written content we have at BTSC.
With that being said or typed, enjoy the shows below with a brief description of each show:
Mike Tomlin wont sugarcoat it. I guess we shouldnt either. The Steelers got smashed, and some fans are in very unfamiliar territory. So, BTSC podcast producer Bryan Anthony Davis decided to make no apologies and share his black-and-gold brand of enlightenment. Join BAD preaching his own gospel of the hypocycloids on the new show, BAD Language.
The Steelers lost...again. This time, it was the worst defeat for the franchise in 33 years. So now that that ugly debacle against the Bills is out of the way, and now that the team has dropped to 1-4 to start the 2022 campaign, you get to choose your Steelers narrative for whats wrong and what needs to change moving forward. Join Bryan Anthony Davis, Shannon White and Tony Defeo for this edition of the Steelers Hangover!
Check out the rundown of the show:
The Steelers shuffled off to Buffalo and stumbled back to the Steel City as 38-3 losers. What did it look like stat wise? Thank goodness for the Stat Geek to break it all dahn. This is just one of the topics that will be discussed by Dave Schofield on the Thursday episode of the AM podcast lineup, The Steelers Stat Geek. Join BTSCs Editor as he pulls out the Steelers slide rule and geeks out only like he can.
Check out the rundown of the show:
Be sure to check out this and all episodes on the following platforms:
Apple Users: CLICK HERE
Spotify: CLICK HERE
Google Play: CLICK HERE
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All the latest of the BTSC family of Pittsburgh Steelers podcasts - Behind The Steel Curtain
Today’s Wills and Probate turns 8! – Today’s Wills & Probate
Posted: at 1:45 am
Wills, probate, trusts, tax, estate planning, inheritance, LPAs, regulation, legislation, caselaw
These are not topics you will find covered in your local newspaper and they are seldom found in your national newspaper, either.
But thats not all. Views and opinions on such niche topics, mental health and wellbeing, technological developments affecting the law, industry developments and updates not to mention awards ceremonies.
News on all of the above finds its home at Todays Wills and Probate, and has now done so for eight years.
Eight years or 2,921 days that has seen 5,810 articles distributed in 417 weekly newsletters, the launch of Women in Wills, and four (soon to be five) national award ceremonies along the way for good measure.
It is our absolute privilege to provide the information and enlightenment to practitioners that is so crucial to their practice, and therefore to the clients to whom their service is indispensable.
Yet, this has not been achieved alone.
319 contributors from around the industry including solicitors, barristers, will writers, suppliers, regulators, ombudsmen, representative bodies, and everything in between have taken the time out of their busy schedules to author a guest piece for the site.
Weve been fortunate enough to partner with nearly 50 businesses over the years who have helped to ensure that Todays Wills and Probate remains a free to subscribe publication; some of whom have been with us since pretty much day 1! And with our continued growth, theres no doubting that Todays Wills and Probate is theplace to come to open up a dialogue with our community of wills and probate professionals.
Last but most definitely not least, thousands of practitioners head to their inbox every Friday and read what we have to say about the latest goings on in their industry. Their attention and support has never faded and only continues to grow.
The first article on the site set out a simple aim: To keep wills and probate professionals up to date with everything thats happening within the industry. With plenty of help, were getting there Thank you.
David Opie, Managing Director of Todays Media, publishers of Todays Wills and Probate, said:
I often say to people that writing a daily news publication about an area of law that was enacted in 1837, and remains largely unchanged since, can be challenging.
And when you consider the huge shift toward digitisation, not to mention a global pandemic, the industry has gone through some significant changes over the past 8 years.
And yet I think the biggest changes are yet to come. Yes, they come with risk, but like anything there are opportunities for reward too. And we must embrace that opportunity as an industry.
Rest assured, Todays Wills and Probate will be there every step of the way keeping you update to date with the latest news, innovations and happenings in this fantastic sector. Thank you to everyone for their support over the past eight years, and heres to many more.
Karen Babington, Non-Executive Director of Todays Media and the driving force behind the publications early success said:
Has it really been 8 years since we launched Todays Wills and Probate? I always admired Chris (Harris) when he introduced Todays Conveyancer and developed it to be an independent hub for news, innovation and discussion, quickly becoming the go-to news publication for conveyancers. Thankfully, Chris supported me in my curiosity to launch a legal publication, extending our knowledge of the wills and probate sector and the specialists who work within it.
Its fulfilling that this respected publication has found a safe and respected place within the wills and probate sector, spanning both regulated and unregulated companies. I am lucky enough to have made many long-standing close friends over the eight years, shared many trials, tribulations and laughs which of course is an additional bonus.
Thanks to all of you who, during the eight-year term,have contributed to the publication, supported it financially, and of course to those of you who have subscribed. From TWP, the British Wills and Probate awards and Women in Wills were born with David Opie now firmly at the helm, what will be next?
CTT Group is a proud, long-standing partner of Todays Wills & Probate, and we are delighted to have played a part in supporting TWP from its inception to today, said Andrew Houston, Director of CTT Group, adding:
It has become a keystone for the sector and remains the only publication that spans the broad spectrum of practitioners, including, but not limited to, solicitors, will writers, IFAs and accountants. TWP keeps us all abreast of important news and allows for vital engagement, helping to connect many practitioners across the estate planning industry.
The British Wills and Probate Awards have been an exciting addition to our calendars, creating a genuine focus on best practices and inspiring all across the industry.
It has been a privilege to work with TWP and watch it grow year after year. Heres to many years more!
Michael Edwards, Group Managing Director of Property Solutions Group, enduring supporters of the publication and headline sponsors of the British Wills and Probate Awards, said:
Having been involved with Todays Wills & Probate since their early days, its been great to work with them and support their journey which has seen them become the central point of news, discussion, and celebration for the probate industry.
WillSuite is another long-standing partner of the publication. They said:
WillSuite have been partners of Todays Wills and Probate since our inception back in 2015. Having built revolutionary software for the will writing industry, we recognised the need to shout across the rooftops about it to ensure we could present it to industry professionals far and wide.
Partnering with Todays Wills and Probate allowed us to grow the product into a success and attract a wide customer base. Our partnership continues to be a valuable marketing channel for us, especially with the shift into providing in-person events and conferences over recent years.
The team at WillSuite will be raising a glass to celebrate eight years of Todays Wills and Probate and its drive to not only keep the industry up to date with the latest news, but also the success it has had in bringing together a community of industry professionals.
This year also marks the fifth Annual British Wills and Probate Awards, which WillSuite are proud to be sponsoring.
Nik Harrison-Alway, Group Managing Director, Harrisons Probate Solutions, one of Todays Wills and Probates most recent partners, commented:
As a service provider to the legal sector its vital to keep up to date with the latest events, news, help and advice. Todays Wills and Probate and its subscribers continue to provide important content from across the industry and this meant it was an easy decision to partner with the publication.
Not only do we find the communications informative, but they assist in ensuring we are active as a company in continuing to grow our range of services to help support the sector.
Todays Wills and Probate has also become a valuable tool in helping to promote our company and services and ensure we are able to continue to grow and do what we are best at, which is to support private client solicitors with their probate support needs.
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Today's Wills and Probate turns 8! - Today's Wills & Probate
The Seasons at the Barbican review: exhilarating performance by the Academy of Ancient Music – Evening Standard
Posted: at 1:45 am
Review at a glanceH
aydns The Seasons has always been overshadowed by his other great oratorio, The Creation. Even the composer opined disparagingly that the characters in the latter were angels, whereas in the former they were peasants.
But the celebration of divinity in nature by Haydns progressive, Enlightenment-influenced librettist Baron Van Swieten, is music to the ears of a more sceptical generation such as ours. Less prejudiced by theological concerns, we may more clearly discern the musical virtues of the work.
And they are many, as was confirmed in this exhilarating performance by the Academy of Ancient Music chorus and orchestra under Laurence Cummings, with a skilfully Miltonian pastiche of an English translation by Paul McCreesh. There are at least two choruses that in their cumulative exuberance equal the celebrated The Heavens are Telling in The Creation and an astonishing wealth of mood and word-painting that exceeds even that of Haydns acknowledged masterpiece.
The cockerels raucous call (a squawking oboe) and the hunters gunshot (timpani) attracted sniffy comments from Haydns contemporaries, but to our ears, those and the summer rainstorm effects (the initial patter of rain on pizzicato strings, lightning flashes on flute, thunder on drum) seem delightful. As does the witty portrayal of a bagpipe drone by groaning strings and a glorious sunrise crowned by blazing trumpets. Theres even an anticipation of the Spinning Chorus from Wagners Flying Dutchman, not to be written for another 40 years.
The progress of the seasons was charted in stylishly evocative visuals provided by the Nina Dunn Studio, projected not on a screen but on the rear wall of the Barbican stage, whose wooden panelling provided a suitable backdrop for the bucolic scenes.
Haydn may have been dismissive of his peasants, but he would surely have been delighted by the three in this presentation: Rachel Nicholls and Benjamin Hulett as soprano and tenor soloists, rough in faux-bumpkin attire but gleaming in vocal allure, and Jonathan Lemalu, whose burnished bass-baritone, shot through with amber and gold hues like a seasoned cognac, offered exceptional pleasure on each reappearance.
Theres next to no operatic-style characterisation in The Seasons, but this trio did the best they could, with help from Martin Parr as staging director. Not until Autumn (the third section) do we learn that the names of the young couple are Hannah and Lucas and a frisson of love interest allowed them here to hold hands.
The final season is Winter, which begins in icy gloom but ends in jubilation. The conclusion may be a religious affirmation, but theres more than a touch of Van Swietens Enlightenment idealism. Haydn rose magnificently to the occasion and may even have surprised himself.
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The Seasons at the Barbican review: exhilarating performance by the Academy of Ancient Music - Evening Standard
Corporate Ready Advantages of hiring an outside HR consultant (for small/medium businesses) – Digital Journal
Posted: at 1:44 am
Human resource management is the building block of any successful business. Any business whether it is small or large is incomplete without human resources management. It allows companies to have a better return on talent through assistance with HR outsourcing, recruiting, and strategic planning. Additionally, HR helps to improve a companys bottom line through expert knowledge of how human capital affects the organizations success and assisting decision-making that underlies current staffing assessments and projections for future workforce needs.
Human resource management is very important for any organization through assisting with mitigating compliance and employer liability issues. Through experience with employee relations, HR professionals help to minimize the organizations exposure and liability related to allegations of unfair employment practices through investigations and resolve issues to minimize federal and state discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and other EEO-related lawsuits. HR also works diligently to ensure that organizations comply with federal state employment laws.
HR is essential to help organizations achieve their goals and reinforces the culture therein. A company maintains growth with the help and contribution of its employees, which makes HR management a crucial part of any organization. When HR management is done effectively and correctly, it helps to place new employees according to their skill set so that companys goals can be achieved, and their objectives can be met properly. As it is said in a famous quotation by Zig Ziglar You dont build a business. You build people, then people build the business.
If you are also looking for human resource management for your organization, then Corporate Ready is the perfect fit for you. They will help you manage your employees and provide you with integrated solutions that will help your business to accelerate in the marketplace.
About Corporate Ready
Corporate Ready is a human resource management consulting firm. Its main mission is to provide its clients with integrated human resource solutions that will be able to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers. They work by developing strategic partnerships with their clients that help them to find, hire, develop and retain talent for maximum benefit.
Services provided by Corporate Ready include recruitment, staffing, talent hunt, talent optimization, outplacement services, and workforce development. They also offer human resource consultation, policy drafting, training, and development. Other than that they also help job seekers to write effective resumes, and provide them with career coaching and one on one professional development training.
In short, they offer blended professional development and workforce development solutions through Corporate Ready Institute, eLearning by Corporate Ready (www.corporatereadyinstitute.com). So, if you are a business looking for the perfect human resource management team for your business growth, then give Corporate Ready a go.
Media ContactCompany Name: Corporate Ready Contact Person: Cierrina Rice Email: Send EmailPhone: 256-479-0635Country: United StatesWebsite: https://www.corporateready.net/
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Corporate Ready Advantages of hiring an outside HR consultant (for small/medium businesses) - Digital Journal
Only a Handful of Conservatives Bothered to Phone in Their Fury at Bidens Pot Pardons – Rolling Stone
Posted: at 1:43 am
Republicans have a certain obligation to act as if everything President Biden does is an assault on American values. His sweeping pardons this week of thousands who were jailed for marijuana possession and announcement that the drugs federal classification will be reevaluated are no exception.
But, perhaps because the nation overwhelmingly believes that cannabis should be legal, and the issue doesnt stoke the culture war like matters of race, gender, and sexuality, the right-wing outrage machine had a mostly quiet reaction to these executive orders. Indeed, over the past year or so, several high-profile Republicans have actively pushed similar efforts. In May 2021, Rep. Dave Joyce and Rep. Don Young, of Ohio and Alaska, proposed to take cannabis off the federal list of controlled substances. And last November, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a bill to decriminalize and regulate pot.
The extreme conservatives who did take a stab at condemning Dank Brandon could barely muster a reason to be angry. Sen. Tom Cotton and Newsweeks right-wing opinion editor Josh Hammer both took the line that many of the pardons were going to violent criminals who had pled down from much more serious charges. Neither was able to cite such a case. Ann Coulter, in a short Substack post, simply imagined one.
Meanwhile, the Daily Wire, which has previously run teeth-gnashing coverage on the physical, mental, and emotional problems associated with marijuana, published one straightforward news story on Bidens move toward decriminalization and approximately ten times as much coverage of Tucker Carlson interviewing Kanye West. That outlets editor emeritus, Ben Shapiro, who this year said of weed, The Left really does wish to inoculate us all into submission, did not seem to address the pardons at all.
On Fox News, Laura Ingraham made a very half-hearted slippery slope argument, pointing out that after Oregon legalized pot for recreational use, they also decriminalized possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin, and meth, which is now punishable by a $100 fine. What exactly is being threatened here? Oregon didnt collapse into anarchy. Its a nice place to visit or live, in fact. And the law couldnt have passed without support from some of the states many conservative voters.
Renae Eze, press secretary for Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, tried to sound tough and defiant when addressing whether her boss would pardon state-level marijuana offenses as Biden encouraged. Texas is not in the habit of taking criminal justice advice from the leader of the defund police party and someone who has overseen a criminal justice system run amok with cashless bail and a revolving door for violent criminals, she told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram even though Abbott stated earlier this year that he thinks pot should be decriminalized.
No, it looks like the GOPs heart isnt in this fight, and the best a few mouthpieces can do is cycle through the motions. It makes sense: the partys legislators have already seen the writing on the wall, and their constituents desire for an end to the prohibition of cannabis. Few would find any benefit to standing in the way, and that group of hard-liners is rapidly dwindling. Besides, all Biden has actually done so far is expunge the criminal records of several thousand people no longer behind bars.
If the country continues in this direction, when weed finally becomes legal throughout the U.S., there may be no one left to get mad about it.
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Ann Coulter was a hot thirsty mess over homophobe Blake Masters during the Arizona Senate debate – Queerty
Posted: at 1:43 am
Pro-LGBTQ Sen. Mark Kelly and Republican nutjob Blake Masters squared off in a televised debate hosted by Arizona PBS last night and nobody was more parched by it than Ann Coulter.
The 60-year-old homophobe spent a good chunk of the hour-long debate thirsting over 36-year-old Masters, who has never held public office before and is trailing Kelly in the polls.
Lets have a look
It started with Coulter immediately gushing over how very tall Masters looked on stage:
A few minutes later, she declared him absolutely the best person running for Senate this year:
Of course, she couldnt just watch the debate without taking a moment to complain about the ASL translators:
As things were winding down, she begged everyone to watch the hour-long debate online then told them to skip the parts that didnt feature Masters:
Then this morning, she logged onto Twitter to urge peopleIN ALL CAPS!to watch the replay of the debate on C-Span RIGHT NOW!!:
Seriously, girl, go back to your stable and rehydrate yourself at the water trough.
Masters is a venture capitalist who is BFFs with gay billionaire Peter Thiel. Hes also a homophobic pile of garbage who wants to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the SCOTUS decision establishing a right to same-sex marriage.
Related: That time anti-LGBTQ candidate Blake Masters went to the gay wedding of his biggest financial backer
According to hisivoterguide profile, Masters also believes religious freedom must be protected at all costs and that businesses should be allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ people if being gay violates their moral and/or religious beliefs.
And on his Twitter page, he has vowed to push for a federal version of Floridas Dont Say Gay law, saying tax dollars should not fund radical gender ideology and weird sex instruction for children.
With views like that, its no wonder he left Coulter totally dehydrated after last nights debate. Voters, on the other hand, seem to be a lot less thirsty for the guy. According to the latestFiveThirtyEight average, Masters is trailing Kelly by six points.
Related: Just when we didnt think Ann Coulter could get any dumber, she did this
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