I'm a libertarian and I fully support the florist's right to refuse service based on her opposition to gay marriage, and I'd also support her if she refused service to someone who she thought smelled funny, had a crappy haircut or poor taste in footwear.  

I have no opposition to homosexuality morally, and I actually believe that gay people have a right to the benefits of marriage as long as the state is the sole arbiter of those benefits.  But this woman has no more of a right to floral arrangements as I have a right to dine in a "jacket-required" restaurant with a t-shirt and shorts.  Businesses and private citizens should have a right serve or refuse whomever they please.

Freedom means the absence of coercion from the state.  To force this woman to provide a service against her will is involuntary servitude commanded by the state, pure and simple - and that's a far greater injury to freedom than any slight from a florist could ever inflict.

The saddest thing is that of the three photos I saw from the trial, this was the least disturbing, though not by much.

I could have saved you some photoshop work there, EJHill:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1158842/How-dare-tasteless-fashion-left-feeling-like-rock-god.html#axzz2KHya88nL

:)

Great piece, Mark.  A recent Canadian HRT case that you might have missed is pitting two "protected classes" against each other - A lesbian would-be barbershop patron and the Muslim barbers who refused to cut a woman's hair.  It's going to be interesting to see what the outcome is. 

http://www.canadianconstitutionfoundation.ca/article.php/352#.UQgHT1IoHQ8

I worshipped Days of Heaven and Badlands, and even care a great deal for the Thin Red Line.  However I thought the New World was just dull and the Tree of life just didn't work for me either.  I think he exercised enough restraint in the Thin Red Line that the plot, though still relatively threadbare, was still intact.  These later films are just too muddled, though they're beautiful to look at.  Of course, I anticipate I'll be seeing To the Wonder (as well as his two subsequent films) on opening weekend.

Greg, in the review video you linked to at the bottom, you mentioned someone being fined for reading a book with the wrong cover. What incident does that refer to? (don't worry, answering this question will not stop me from ordering your book!)

Gerard Depardieu just peed in the airplane aisle of the welfare state...

1.  I discovered ricochet via Delingpole posting his first podcast on the daily telegraph website, before  I had no idea it existed and was genuinely surprised that I hadn't given the other similarly-minded websites i frequent.  So the first thing that comes to mind is trying to find someway of letting people who would be interested in this kind of thing know that you actually exist - you might be surprised how few do.

2.  Limbaugh and Ingraham charge over 5 bucks a month just to download their already freely available radio broadcasts (and in their case that's just supplementary income - their main $ comes from their shows proper), $5  a month should be the absolute minimum you charge for the wealth of content provided here.

3.  Mostly an extension of #2, but from the moment I joint I thought there was an embarrassment of riches when it came to podcasts, consider possible putting a few more behind the paywall.

4. This is easier said than done, but trying to put the member feed front and center as one of your core features. There's nowhere else where you can find such informed yet non-judgemental discussion about politics.

Such great, thoughtful responses... I love this community!

Yes, static is a better word... There are obviously limits.

James (or anyone else who can answer):

Re: Fuel poverty - by what mechanism do turbines and other "renewables" increase the cost of conventional energy in the UK?  Not doubting - just haven't been able to figure it out.

Also, what is the point of capping HSAs?

I have a question about the employer obligations that are kicking in in 2014 for businesses with 50+ employees.  Does their obligation to "provide" an affordable plan to employees (or face a fine) also necessarily entail them covering all the costs? Or can they pass some or all of the new costs to the employee?

I think it could be argued that Akin and Mourdock went "the whole 9 yards" and not only lost themselves but were a contributing factor in the overall loss.

I can't think of a single instance in Canada where the owner of a legal firearm fired upon (often armed) intruders and was not charged by the RCMP (or at the very least had charges recommended against him).

I am one of those annoying foodies who travels to Seattle frequently for their totally underrated food and drink options.  I wholeheartedly recommend the following restaurants:

Le Pichet (lepichetseattle.com/home/)

Pike Street Fish Fry (www.pikestreetfishfry.net/)

Lecosho (http://lecosho.com/)

Also, there are great lunch options at Salumi, Dick's Drive In, and for a great bar with nice snacks and a great happy hour, The Virginia Inn.

Also, the Experience Music Project is pricey, but if you are a music lover, it's worth it.