EPA workers accidentally release a million gallons of mustard-colored mine sludge into the Colorado River. Which really, really doesn't need the hit -- not just because of tourism, but because the river supplies a lot of states with clean drinking water. EPA talking heads have been a bit slow to say what needs to be said, which is: We fouled up. It's unacceptable, and we'll fix it.
Radley Balko bemoans a U.S. District Court decision allowing continued use of drug-sniffing dogs that might only be "barely more accurate than a coin flip." Key finding: drug-sniffing dogs aren't just trained to sniff out drugs, but also to please their handlers, which means they'll sniff out a lot of false positives -- especially when handlers give treats every time dogs signal the presence of drugs, instead of every time they actually find drugs. Read the whole thing, though -- Mr. Balko anticipates and refutes a lot of objections one might have.
Marco Rubio gets asked about his no-exceptions abortion stance, and, like the born swordfighter he is, doubles down. He even says "when asked to make a decision between two very hard circumstances, I personally reached the decision, if I'm going to err, I'm going to err on the side of life." Ah, "to err on the side of life" when the mother's life is in danger? He might actually be as stupid as he seems.
And swordfighting begats more swordfighting: Scott Walker says "medically there's always a better choice than choosing between the life of an unborn baby and the life of the mother." And when pressed on what "better choices" are available, his spokeshack made a long, detailed list of the medical options! Nah, just kidding -- she basically said ZOMG TEH GOVNUR IS 100% PRO-LIFE LEAVE HIM ALOOOOOOOOONE!!!!! Seriously, this will damage him, and eventually saying he really "meant" to say "there has to be a better option," which we all wish for, won't cut it, not when you're running for President.
Finally, Rohnert City, CA police officer pulls gun on a man recording him on his cell phone. The city promptly placed the officer on administrative leave, and hastened to add that "the incident portrayed on the video is not a typical interaction between our public safety officers and the public" -- which may be true, but will be of no comfort to anyone shot dead under such circumstances.
Comments