Blog Smith: Christmas Round-Up

DC Metro randomly inspects passengers' bags.

By a 3-2 vote, Federal telecommunications regulators approved new rules Tuesday that would for the first time give the federal government formal authority to regulate Internet traffic, although how much or for how long remained unclear. The rules would prohibit Internet providers from "unreasonably discriminating" against rivals' Internet traffic or services on wired or wireless networks; you mean, as required in free market capitalist enterprises? The FCC proposal contains language suggesting the agency would try to discourage creation of such high-speed toll lanes; you mean, as if people have a choice in services as is required in free market capitalism?

The net neutrality case for government regulation of the Internet began with Robert McChesney, a University of Illinois communications professor. He stated: "At the moment, the battle over network neutrality is not to completely eliminate the telephone and cable companies," he told the website SocialistProject in 2009. "But the ultimate goal is to get rid of the media capitalists in the phone and cable companies and to divest them from control." In 2008, McChesney wrote in the Marxist journal Monthly Review that "any serious effort to reform the media system would have to necessarily be part of a revolutionary program to overthrow the capitalist system itself." McChesney told John Fund, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal that he is a socialist and said he was "hesitant to say I'm not a Marxist" (i.e., meaning, he is.)

Christmas Sweater Club Punished At High School.

Hans Rosling's 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats - BBC Four, 4:48

William Buckley interviews Huey Newton on Firing Line, 1972, 5:06

Dana Loesch on Spitzer, 8:03

Philly News: "Teacher salaries issue sharpens across region; "You almost have class warfare here," said the president of the school board.

Dad Life, 2:54

'Pedophile guide' author busted on obscenity charges; "Unfortunately, the federal government under this Barack Obama administration does not seem to be up to the task," the Liberty Counsel attorney laments. "Of course it's not surprising, in that this administration looks at sexuality pretty much in completely subjective and relative terms."

British arrest preacher for saying homosexuality a sin; however, a judge ruled that telling a street preacher that it is against the law to affirm the Bible's teaching on homosexuality is costing a team of British police officers some $11,000 – plus legal fees, 1:46.

The U.K.'s Public Order Act includes language that is similar to Obama's "hate crimes" law in the U.S. that he signed more than a year ago in that they ban some statements regarding homosexuality.