I honestly believe that the first guns we should take away are those owned by individuals in militias. Well, aside from those owned illegally.

theatlantic:

Why the ‘Citizen Militia’ Theory Is the Worst Pro-Gun Argument Ever

The history of the postbellum South offers another cautionary story of unregulated and extra-legal political violence. The founders of the Ku Klux Klan purported to be defending the rights of the white community against the tyranny of illegitimate Reconstruction governments, black enfranchisement, and federal military occupation. And for several years, the Klan used this rationale to carry out a gruesome campaign of systematic violence, murder, and political intimidation.

War, particularly civil war, is by its nature violent. Official state armies are not immune from the tendency to inflict unjustified violence on civilians. But in America today, this prospect is far more remote, and far less terrifying, than the notion of armed citizens striking out against a perceived enemy, answering to no authority other than their own individual prejudices and passions.

Read more. [Image: Flickr]

See Also: WHEN BOB COSTAS TRIED TO TALK ABOUT RAP TO JON STEWART

theatlantic:

When Conservatives Try to Talk About Rap

There isn’t anything wrong with lamenting the effect songs like Sex Room might have on teens hearing it at their first dance. But how absurd to reduce rap to Ludacris and Sir Mix-a-Lot. And how impossibly, comically uninformed to assert that the entire genre is bereft of “human feeling.” Did the right learn nothing from its panicked, reductive reaction to Elvis Presley and the Beatles?

Nearly every semi-young person today has a passing familiarity with hip-hop.  

Conservatives who talk that way don’t just forfeit the chance to influence the social norms surrounding the genre. They reinforce the perception that their views are shaped by little more than cartoonish stereotypes. One needn’t dig deep into obscure rap albums to find “human feeling”. Multi-platinum singles will do. Try “December 4th” by Jay Z or “Stan” by Eminem. All across America, kids are listening to rap lyrics that resonate with them more than anything else in their lives, capturing the way they feel about their absent father or the bliss of a long afternoon spent in the park with friends or how parenthood changed their perspective or the effect incarceration has on their community, or just about any other emotional situation people encounter. What do they think when a man capable of meticulously analyzing Hammerstein expends so little effort grappling with the genre that he doesn’t even grant that it has human feeling?   

Read more. [Image: Flickr]

confusedcheerios:

“How was I supposed to know you’re Lactose Intolerant?” “BECAUSE!, I keep shouting it!” The greats get this one 😉

laughingsquid:

Paperman, An Oscar Nominated Walt Disney Animation Studios Short

I loved this short which played before Wreck-It Ralph.

(Source: http://links.laughingsquid.com/)

This amuses me far too much.

Dislike of antivirus companies be damned, this is good.

parislemon:

Great ad.

In terms of new artists I’m looking forward to see live, not at Governor’s Ball, it’s Kitty.

dynamofire:

Kitty Enters the Real World on ‘D.A.I.S.Y. Rage’ – EP Premiere | Rolling Stone

It’s getting harder and harder for people to hate on Kitty, ain’t it.

This is what I’m bringing to the Super Bowl party.

Now I want another lunch.

buzzfeedfood:

STOP BLOWING OUR MINDS