Philadelphia

Don’t mess with Texas, and other tales of note

Texas has a Navy!

This is the first installment of Generation Beta, Metro’s roundup of odd n ews, weird news, funny news, and the hilarious freaks who slipped through Darwin’s crack. These are stories that will even make Grandpa chortle.

Don’t Mess With Texas

So here’s a scary one: Thinking the US just isn’t doing enough to protect her borders, Texans are taking matters into their own hands…and they’ve built a navy.
 
Next month the state’s Department of Public Safety is deploying the first fleet of six gunboats.  The boats — with bulletproof plating and six machine guns apiece — will patrol the Rio Grande.
 
The vessels are similar to those used by the US navy for river patrols in Vietnam.  They’ll be used to stop drugs, not people, from coming across the border.
 
Post-Birth Abortions

Many who are pro-life for religious reasons cite the bible…but if you look closely, the bible put all sorts of babies out to pasture to die.  Those with cleft lips, down syndrome…anything that made the baby look “devilish,” that kid was out.  To die. Alone.
 
Thought we were past that in this modern world?  Think again.
 
Two Oxford bioethicists are arguing that “after-birth abortion” – essentially, infanticide – is morally sound.  And should be legal.
 
The two doctors – Alberto Giubilini (University of Milan) and Francesca Minerva (Melbourne University) – say that babies “do not have the same moral status as actual persons.” So yeah, screw it, kill ‘em all!
 
The docs, by the way, think that the post-birth abortion should be legal even in cases where the newborn is not disabled.
 
Props to the Journal of Medical Ethics for taking this on.  I’d not want to be your “Letter to the editor” guy this week.
  
And a final thought.
 
Breaking News: Sometimes, Women Like to Be Tied Up And Called Whores
            
Despite the fact that we have a presidential election coming, Syria is erupting in armed strife, two American NATO officers were killed in Afghanistan and a slew of other actual news stories, the Today show did this morning what Today does best…they spent the morning discussing S&M fetishes.  They were plugging a new book, and so here so will I: it’s called Fifty Shades of Grey, and it’s a sexy domination bodice ripper.  It’s the book I was supposed to write, but a Brit got to it first.

Having said that, I don’t want to spend my morning watching a half dozen mediocre-looking suburban forty-year-olds talk about how much better the sex with their husbands has gotten since they incorporated a few well placed ties and got into dirty talk. But maybe you do? Here’s the video:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 


News
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
National

UPDATE: Internet star 'Kai the Hitchhiker' caught in…

UPDATE 8 p.m.: Union County N.J. officials announced Thursday evening that Philadelphia Police apprehended Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, AKA Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, at the…

Music

One Direction reveals 'edgy' new album and 2014…

No album release date has been set yet, but the tour will begin in 2014

International

Saudi Arabia religious police takes issue with Twitter

While many people in Saudi Arabia may be using Twitter, it doesn't mean some Saudi officials are happy with that.

Local

Join Mayor Nutter for bike to work day

Mayor Michael Nutter will lead a group of bicyclists from Boat House Row, through the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Love Park for National Bike to Work Day.

Entertainment

Comedian Meyers to stay at NBC's 'SNL' ahead…

Seth Meyers to stay at Saturday Night Live until the end of the year he said on Thursday

Entertainment

Comics convention representing black superheroes opens this weekend

There aren't too many black superheroes, judging by the stars of summer blockbusters and the faces seen in mainstream comics. The mission of the annual…

Entertainment

Singer Bob Dylan made honorary member of U.S.…

Singer Bob Dylan was made an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Television

Summer TV Guide: What you'll be watching

What the networks have in store

Auto racing

Report: Dick Trickle, former NASCAR driver, dead of…

Report: Dick Trickle, former NASCAR driver, dead of apparent suicide

MLB

Halladay undergoes surgery, recovery process begins

Roy Halladay had successful shoulder surgery.

NBA

Report: Sixers to interview Rockets' Sampson

Kelvin Sampson to interview with Sixers.

Sports

Union Notebook: Club falls to Galaxy, Fire up…

Union set to host Fire Saturday night.

Career

Volunteer to start your career

Working as a volunteer can make your LinkedIn profile more desirable to employers.

Food

Super smoothies by Julie Morris

Julie Morris, talk smoothies and shares her favorite recipe from her new book "Superfood Smoothies."

Entertainment

4 new things we want to eat right…

Eat these new treats this weekend.

Wellbeing

Today in Medicine: Can nicotine prevent Parkinson's?

Plus: Will there one be a cocaine vaccine?