RIP, Ingmar Bergman.
Creeps
Bizarre story in the NYT about pedophiles:
The search for the self-described pedophile in the large-brimmed black hat commences nearly every day here, with findings posted on chat rooms frequented by mothers.
He was spotted at a fair in Santa Clarita. He recently emerged from the Social Security office on Olympic Boulevard. He tapped away on a computer at the library in Mar Vista. Warnings have gone out. Signs have been posted.
And yet unlike convicted sex offenders, who are required to stay away from places that cater to children, in this case the police can do next to nothing, because this man, Jack McClellan, who has had Web sites detailing how and where he likes to troll for children, appears to be doing nothing illegal.
This story is interesting for two reasons. First, why do most pedophiles (the ones outside of the Rectory, that is) look like extras from the set of Deadwood:
Yech. Is this some sort of Darwinian process in which we are able to spot out perverts (for you Creationists- is this God’s way of pointing out perverts)?
The other reason this story is interesting is because a bunch of mothers are going to band together to pressure the CA legislature to do something about this guy. What, I do not know, but it is always interesting to see what kind of assault on our Constititution hysterical moms and craven politicians can launch.
Extra bonus- Eugene Volokh is quoted at the end of the article.
A Contrast
Check the “fact-checking zeal” of the right-wing blogosphere regarding Beauchamp, and compare it to their intrepid coverage regarding Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman.
Discuss.
*** Update ***
Uncle Jimbo at Black Five hoping Beauchamp is physically assaulted:
Well just take a look at this little pissant’s previous literary efforts, and I’ll be honest I would pay good money to knock that freakin’ smirk off his face.
***Your character, or more accurately, your complete lack of it has already been noted and your experiences, being mostly fiction matter little. If any of them happened, you will face punsihment, but as we know telling BS stories is not a crime. As far as writing under your own name, as I noted above JD Johannes had already identified you down to Company (100+ troops) level and you used your first and middle names as your pseudonym you freakin’ pinhead. You were already fronted out and I would assume it was some members of your unit that “politely” invited you to name yourself. You are a disgrace Beauchamp, a wannabe intellectual lacking the brainpower to do much more than embarrass yourself in public. Well Bravo, you have shown yourself to be a back-stabbing petty BS artist. Congratulations on that. Now you need to get busy watching your back, ‘cuz if you think you were disliked and unloved before……Heh.
Being lectured by Uncle Jimbo about intellectual brainpower really has got to sting. We’ll file this under supporting the troops.
*** Update #2 ***
Where in the hell did the notion that I have called for anyone to actually hurt this pissant. You have to stretch my quote pretty far for that and I certainly didn’t mean what you imply.
It is simple common sense that having called the people in his unit complete scum, he would have a need to watch his ass. Odds are he will be removed from the unit just so he doesn’t take a beat down he certainly earned.
Fat drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, Jimbo.
Not only do you cop to wanting to “knock that freakin’ smirk off his face,” you also state that now he has to “watch his ass.”
That is a threat, and not a stretch to interpret it that way, you bloviating scumbag.
The funniest thing in all of this is that there is no way to prove one way or another Beauchamp is lying, but now, even if Beauchamp is lying, he comes out looking better than the asshole armchair commandos attacking him.
** Update #3 ***
Oh no. I will be savaged ‘manana.’
Open Thread
Round up all the jackalopes so they don’t spill over into the other threads.
Open Thread
It pissed me off when Harry woke up at the end and realized he was a chubby punter from Leeds.
Chat about whatever.
Michael Totten In Iraq
Michael Totten is a good guy, and he has traveled to Baghdad to see things for himself. His first installation is here.
I hope he comes home in one piece.
The Force Is Strong With This One
The problem with the Kung Fu Monkey is that he does not post enough, so sometimes almost a week can pass before I catch something he has written that I really enjoy.
Like this, for example.