– On the Killing of Jordan Davis by Michael Dunn
– I’m looking forward to the Broadway Bikeway
– Here’s hoping Oregon can pass their background checks legislation.
– Just a quick note: When Drinking Liberally is in wandering mode, Darryl is going to post that thread in the morning, and I’ll post an Open Thread in the afternoon. Since you can use either as an open thread* it shouldn’t change conversations here too much.
* Yes, I’m comfortable with the capitalization in this note.
I’m still trying to get my mind around the notion that if you shoot someone and he dies, it can be called attempted murder.
I’m stunned the judicial system in Florida.
It isn’t the judicial system, it’s a Republican statute that gives people like Zimmerman and Dunn a license to kill. A mixed-race jury couldn’t convict Dunn of murder under Florida law even though they clearly believed his conduct was criminal in nature, as shown by his convictions on the other counts. It’s Florida law that’s really on trial in this case, and the MSM understands that.
The world is changing. That scares those who once thought they ruled it.
Typical pay for minor league baseball players is $2,750 to $10,750 per year, plus they get a one-time signing bonus of $2,500 for a six-year contract and $25 per diem for road games.
After six years, they become free agents and can try to negotiate their own salaries.
http://bleacherreport.com/arti.....;hpt=hp_t3
Roger Rabbit Commentary: The lure, of course, is major league salaries and signing bonuses. It’s an “up or out” incentive system: if you don’t land a major league contract after six years, you probably never will, so why keep playing for less than minimum wage. That’s why there’s so many ex-minor league players floating around.
What can get Representatives Steve Israel and Peter King to agree? Both want the Long Island Rail Road to settle with the unions to avert a strike. The LIRR is the busiest commuter rail system in the country. Unlike the 2005 Subway strike, this one will be legal. The Railway Labor Act trumps NY State law on this one. Also, secondary pickets are legal under the RLA, so it could affect the subway, buses, and Amtrak facilities, as well as New Jersey Transit.(The LIRR serves PENN Station)
http://www.masstransitmag.com/.....ert-strike
The Empire Builder has been suffering delays due to oil traffic. It turns out, Amtrak 7/8 is also how many of the oil workers get in and out of the Bakken Shale.
http://www.greatfallstribune.c.....ck_check=1
In Switzerland, the rhetoric is flying fast over a referendum on a fighter jet purchase. With accusations that Sweden, who will build the jets, are trying to influence the vote, and a party who supports the purchase, asking the Swedish government to stay out.
http://www.thelocal.ch/2014021.....ver-gripen
Looks like the Lame duck President of Mexico(they only get one term) is carrying out another of his campaign promises. A $9 Billion investment in passenger and freight rail. They need to do the former, but the two major railway companies have done a good job of rebuilding the freight lines. Kansas City Southern de Mexico started that, their competitor Ferromex followed suit just to keep up. None of the proposed passenger lines go to the border, yet. Texas is studying a line to the Rio Grande valley, though.
http://www.railjournal.com/ind.....hannel=000