The Wednesday Wetness - Pool Toys!

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Crossing The Streams up on time and under budget.

Election 2020: Adventures in Legoland

Heh!

After taking a day off of cataloging the follies of the 2020 election cycle, my digital bin is stuffed to the gills. For the title subject, lets consider the case of the Jan. 6 protester who, in the DOJ charging documents was accused of having an assemble model of the US Capitol, the implication being that he was using the model (available as a kit) to plan his nefarious plot, that is, wander aimlessly through the Capitol for 13 minutes and leave peacefully. Now it turns out, the DOJ has filed new documents indicating the kit was unassembled and still sitting in the original box. Breitbart, DOJ Retracts Claim of ‘Fully Constructed’ Capitol LEGO Set; LEGO of Riot Suspect ‘in a Box’. Insty, VIA INSTAGRAM, THOUGHTS ON THE LEGO INSURRECTION: Ashe Schow at Da Wire, Botched: More Embarrassing Details Emerge In FBI’s Snag Of Rioter With Lego Set

“Federal investigators seized an unusual piece of evidence from a Pennsylvania man indicted last month for his role in the Capitol riot — a Lego replica of the building he allegedly stormed,” The Daily Beast originally reported. “Robert Morss, 27, is accused of leading fellow rioters in what prosecutors say was ‘one of the most intense and prolonged clashes’ with officers on Jan. 6.”

But in a new court filing, highlighted by Julie Kelly of American Greatness, it is said that the original detention memoranda, which denied bail Morss of Pennsylvania, was inaccurate.

“In original detention memoranda, the undersigned stated that law enforcement found a ‘fully constructed U.S. Capitol Lego set.’ That statement appears to be inaccurate. The Lego set was in a box and not fully constructed at the time of the search,” the new filing says.

So, the DOJ lied in the original charging document? Lift the law license of any DOJ attorney who had anything to do with this document. Just to be sure.  Insty, “LEGO INSURRECTION” CHARGING DOCUMENTS FAIL TO IMPRESS:

Stephen Kruiser, PJ Media, FBI: Narc on Your Loved Ones to Battle 'Homegrown Violent Extremism'

Your agency thought MLK was a domestic terrorist.

Please sit back down. https://t.co/PlHPSUvz5n

— Being Libertarian (@beinlibertarian) July 11, 2021

Kevin Downey at PJ, Feds Spend Millions Building Massive Database on January 6 Riot, None on Antifa. NYT, cited at Hot Hair, Oath Keepers leader sat for FBI questioning against legal advice. Beware of perjury traps. 

Taylor Day at Am Think worries about Nationalizing the Capitol Police. Me too. "Do we really want a nationwide federal police force accountable solely to a small number of legislators, not subject to FOIA and other citizen protections applicable to the executive branch? " No. 

At Red State, Nick Arama is on to the twitter thread by podcaster Darryl Cooper, @MartyrMade that I linked to last time, Tucker Carlson Highlights Must-Read Thread About the Regime vs. Trump

Tucker Carlson Reading @martyrmade's Viral Thread On Why So Many Trump Supporters Have Questions About The 2020 Election & Their Distrust Of The Mainstream Media pic.twitter.com/HY6MECgd3s

— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) July 10, 2021

Althouse, "This makes it postable!"

ET,  Pennsylvania Department of State Tells Counties Not to Allow Outside Access to Voting Systems

Directive comes after state senator initiated forensic investigation into 2020, 2021 elections.  At Am Think, Tom Lifson thinks he sees Definite sign of panic as Pennsylvania acting Secretary of State issues illegal orders to obstruct audit of 2020 election. Sundance at CTH, Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of State and State AG Warn Philadelphia Not To Comply With Senate Authorized Ballot Audit, Senator Mastriano Responds and During Speech President Trump Reveals Letter from Pennsylvania U.S Attorney Detailing Bill Barr Blocking Philadelphia Vote Fraud Investigation

In previous comments attributed to AG Bill Barr, he claimed to have seen no evidence of election fraud. The Atlantic Article cites Bill Barr stating to an AP journalist December 1st 2020: ” To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election,” and then the article covers the fallout with the White House from that AP interview.

However, there’s a big difference between not seeing election fraud and purposefully blocking a United States Attorney Office from investigating allegations of fraud with an institutional motive not to discover or see it.

Also, Joe Biden Heading to Philadelphia July 13th, Will There Be Protests?

Joe Biden is responding to the Pennsylvania Senate likely conducting a forensic audit of Philadelphia ballots by urgently traveling to the city of brotherly love on Tuesday July 13th. Other than the original announcement the White House has not announced any details.

Perhaps it would be remarkable to see several thousands of people in the tri-state area show up to express their voice. It would appear there is plenty of time to organize some grassroots activity.

Then again, perhaps a large scale response from voters is exactly why the White House is keeping the details of the trip quiet.

ET reports the Arizona Senate Conducting New Count of Maricopa County Ballots and Stu Cvrk has some Key Questions While We’re Waiting for the Arizona Audit Report

The questions are obvious:

• Why don’t the certified vote total and the county totals reconcile (a 9,999-vote difference)?
• Where did the ~106K decline in minor party ballots from 2016 to 2020 go?
• How could there be 628,034 more absentee/early votes counted than reportedly received?
• How could there be zero write-in votes in over 3 million total ballots cast in Maricopa County?

NewNeo echos the question  What if the 2020 election audits end up revealing that Trump was actually the winner? Nothing regarding the presidency, but it will justify all of Republicans voting reform efforts (and more) and that's what Democrats are afraid of. Bill Saletan at Slate whines Early Voting Is Secure. So Why Are Republicans Against It? Assuming things not in evidence.

Following the story that Stacy broke the other day, at the Independent Chronical, Houston felon charged with voting twice illegally. Nick Fondacaro at NewsBusters, ABC Whines Texas Prosecuting Dem for Allegedly Casting Illegal Primary Vote, and Althouse read the NYT so you don't need to, "A 62-year-old Texas man who waited hours to cast a ballot in last year’s presidential primary was arrested this week on charges that he had voted illegally." He's facing 2-20 years, but being a Democrat, he'll get a slap on the wrist, I bet. I really don't want to see this guy locked up, but like the Democrats warn the Jan 6 protestors, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time"

At Politico, Top Biden ally pleads with him to scrap filibuster for election reform "Rep. Jim Clyburn said it’s time for the president to embrace more aggressive changes to the Senate rules" which is why, at Am Think, Andrea Widburg thinks Democrats haven’t abandoned the plan to jettison the filibuster. They won't abandon it once it works for them either. 

'Fuzzy Slippers' (I'm betting that's a nom du plume)  at LI asks Why Is Kamala The Last Democrat Still Arguing Against Voter I.D.? "Harris: It’s “almost impossible” for rural Americans to photocopy their i.d."  Insty steps up with the obvious answer, BECAUSE SHE’S VERY VERY DUMB AND VERY VERY EVIL . . . At Da Caller, Kamala Harris Ridiculed For Comment On Why Rural America Has A Hard Time With Voter ID and at Da Fed, Kamala Harris Claims It’s ‘Almost Impossible’ For Rural Americans To Make A Photocopy. I just use my scanner, but the IPad or cell phone work too.

Chuck Sullivan at Am Think maunders on about Trump v. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, et al

Each of the complaints asserts that congressional legislation (47 USC section 230) encouraged the defendants to censor Trump and other class members. The complaints give a history of the statute and assert that it does not give blanket authority to censor what would otherwise be constitutionally protected speech. A Harvard Law Review article is referenced:

As discussed in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Leary, Mary Graw, “The Indecency and Injustice of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act,” Vol. 41, No. 2, pg. 564, 565 (2018) Congress expressly stated that th[is] is the policy of the United States ‘to ensure vigorous enforcement of Federal criminal laws to deter and punish trafficking in obscenity, stalking, and harassment by means of computer.’ That said, Congress appeared to recognize that unlimited tort-based lawsuits would threaten the then-fragile Internet and the ‘freedom of speech in the new and burgeoning Internet medium.’ Although these two goals required some balancing, it was clear from the text and legislative history of § 230 that it was never intended to provide a form of absolute immunity for any and all actions taken by interactive computer services. Section 230 is not ‘a general prohibition of civil liability for web-site operators and other content hosts.’ Rather, Congress sought to provide limited protections for limited actions.

Each of the complaints assert that the defendants willfully participated in joint activity with federal actors to censor Trump and other class members. Specific examples are given of how the defendants refused to publish facts or opinions that contradicted Dr. Anthony Fauci of the CDC including discussions of HCQ and the possible origins of COVID-19 in a lab in Wuhan, China.

Finally, each of the complaints seeks a declaratory judgment that section 230 of the communications decency act is unconstitutional. The complaints assert that Congress is constitutionally prohibited from passing legislation that limits protected speech and cannot pass a statute giving someone else that authority.

Pay attention to these cases. Trump has requested jury trials, class certification, and punitive damages in each of the cases. If any of these cases make it to trial in front of a Florida jury, the defendants could be looking at multibillion dollar judgments along with punitive damages. These cases really are an existential threat to the tech companies if they go to trial.

But Taylor Milliard at Hot Hair also winds on about why Why Texas' social media bills are doomed to fail in the courts. He might be right but I guess only time will tell.

Sundance does a happy dance at Senator Murkowski Tells Alaska Radio She Has Not Decided if She Will Run for Re-election, If She Does She Will Be Crushed Unless She Runs as a Democrat

Beach Report 6/21/21 - Shark Escape

A huge Trumpet Vine bush, with a few other things mixed in swallows a sign by the beach

Long reddish orange tubular flowers make it a classic hummingbird pollinated flower. Surprisingly, it's a native plant.

Although today was mostly cloudy, and a touch windy with the passage of what used to be Tropical Storm Claudette to our south, this photo caught us in one of the few sunny spells. 

A typical beach family catching rays.

Shark attack! Actually, the little boy was desperately trying to catch up to his float toy, which was getting away in the breeze. He was unable to catch up.

Even as the shark went belly up.

But a nice older guy waded out and intercepted it before it got blown too far down the beach.

Almost done!

A terrible day for shark's teeth; between a very high tide, and a good chop, it was hard to find much, but we managed 6 shark's teeth, the usual crab clay and a Tilly bone. 

Sexologist Thrusts for Masturabatory Equality

Hundreds of sex toys doled out to coeds as university hosts ‘Free Vibrator Day’

At a “Free Vibrator Day” event hosted at San Diego State University on Tuesday hundreds of the battery-powered sex toys were distributed to students who had lined up for the complimentary devices.

The event was held in the Pride Suite of SDSU’s Aztec Student Union, with a line of students — mostly females — flanking the side of the building and a student organizer calling out “destigmatize masturbation” to passersby.

Jill McDevitt, also known as “Dr. Jill,” is a San Diego-based sexuality educator with a PhD in human sexuality who coordinated the event with the help of an adult novelty retailer called CalExotics, which supplied the approximately 500 vibrators given away to students. McDevitt also partnered with a student feminist club at SDSU called the Womyn’s Outreach Association to put on the giveaway.

Bright college days, O carefree days that fly, to thee we sing with our vibrators thrusted high!

A flier advertising the event states its intent is to free women from the stigma of masturbation.

“There is a major orgasm gap between the genders,” McDevitt told The College Fix. “There’s a whole emphasis on penile vaginal intercourse being normal, and not only is that really heteronormative, but it also leaves out how most women experience orgasms, most women experience orgasms with clitoral stimulation, and this vibrator will do that.”

It's not like there isn't a stigma against masturbation for both sexes. It's just that men care less about it.

McDevitt said this is an annual event, but it made sense to host it at a university this year, noting she often works with college students.

“I also want to provide people’s first vibrator because a lot of people are going to be getting their first ever vibrator here today, and it becomes a life long relationship with their sexuality and me being a person who can be there for them through that journey, so it just makes sense to work with college students,” she said. . . . 

Is it not discriminatory to not offer free vibrators to male students? How about the other 55 genders?

Is this a an attempt by the vibrator company to get brand loyalty early, like breweries selling cheap beer to fraternities? In any event, I'd advise male SDSU students against dating any of these women. Not so much because they use vibrators, but because they're incipient feminists, and you know how that goes. One bad date, and they report you as a sex criminal, and you get kicked out of school. Stick with the nice town girls, who might be grateful when you improve their prospects.

This week the Wombat has returned, along with "Late NIght With Rule 5 Sunday: Nurse! Nurse!" (gic).

Sexism is Alive and Well in the Public Schools

Kindergarten teacher denies Legos to boys in name of 'gender equity'

A kindergarten teacher in Bainbridge Island, Wash., actively denies her male students the opportunity to play with Lego blocks in order to encourage her female students to play with them.

Karen Keller bars the boys in her class from playing with the colorful blocks, even going so far as to lie to them about their opportunity to play.

"I always tell the boys, 'You're going to have a turn' — and I'm like, 'Yeah, when hell freezes over' in my head," Keller told the Bainbridge Island Review. "I tell them, 'You'll have a turn' because I don't want them to feel bad."

Keller does this because she saw the boys in her class gravitating toward the blocks during their "free choice" play time while the girls flocked to dolls and crayons. Keller's solution was to deny the blocks to the boys, who wanted to play with them, in order to encourage the girls to play with them. The Review article offers no indications about how Keller gets the girls to play with something of which they have no interest.

Legos SCOTUS members hate boys

She could have got the boys to voluntarily drop the Legos, if she'd provided play guns.

 Keller had found research finding that Lego play accelerates development and helps with spatial and math skills. And since Keller believes that gender stereotypes are ingrained into girls at a young age, well, something had to be done.

Lego David Hasselhoff

Of course, currently, the actual "gender gap" between boys and girls in science and math is quite minor:

Overall, boys are ahead of girls in math (by an equivalent of about three months of schooling), about even with girls in science and a year behind girls in reading.

Part of the reason for this more recent disparity is that boys spend less time doing homework and reading books than girls. Another reason is teachers like Keller, who actively hold boys back in order to promote girls.

The OECD also found that teacher assessments favor girls, while anonymous tests allowed boys to do much better.
. . .
As one of my Twitter followers said: "When you have an axe to grind with 5yr old boys, maybe you shouldn't teach kindergarten."

Lego Pam Anderson

The teacher and the school now claim that the discrimination was temporary, and anyway, they didn't discriminate:

Keller claimed she only instituted the "girls only" Lego play for the first month of school to get them interested in the toys. She also said her "hell freezing over" remark was "a casual, off-record aside meant to convey my frustration with the marketing to girls in our society." She said that it was "not appropriate" and "taken out of context." She insisted that every student in her class has access to Legos.

The school district called the Review article "inaccurate" and said the school does not discriminate on the basis of sex.

The teacher should be sentenced to be Greenhorn for a year on the Capt. Keith Colburn's crab boat Wizard. The $1,000,000 fine the school district should pay would be used to offset his loss of income from her lack of productivity.

A Toy Story