I’m a sucker for two-tone orange, so I’ll open the bidding at $5,000. I’ll probably go to Hell for finding this amusing. — MC

What are the lessons here? Never knock up a lesbian? No good deed goes unpunished? No. The main lesson is that mathematical logic is missing from this court decision. What if this guy’s sperm had been selected to fertilize one million babies to whom he had no connection? Try collecting child support then. Really! It’s not a joke. Think about it and you’ll be able to expand the concept and understand what’s fair in this case. — MC

Fracking should be an environmentalists’ dream come true. It’s far less destructive and dangerous than conventional methods of oil extraction.

But too many artistic people are caught up in the emotion of environmentalism and see things religiously, rather than logically. Too bad. If you were to compare the anti-communist “blacklist” era of Hollywood to today’s de facto blacklisting of many non-liberals, you might conclude that the present condition is worse. — MC

You had to live then, as I did, to fully understand the influence that this group had — mostly positive and arguably somewhat negative — on worldwide culture, particularly in the United States, Britain, and other Western nations.

We watched and listened as their musical experiments and successes continually changed, reverted sometimes, and changed again. What the Beatles offered that many other groups lacked (with notable exceptions) was intelligence. It wasn’t a manufactured band, invented purely by promoters. It was much deeper. This Telegraph retrospective is well worth your time. — MC

Remember the common signs at restaurant doors from decades ago? You can still find them: “No shirt, no shoes, no service.”

I really don’t have much to say about this story, except — to the greatest extent practical — businesses should be free to make their own rules without fear of government. It also seems a bit awkward charging Jews with human rights violations, although that’s certainly possible. — MC

There is only one major measurement of unemployment. It’s how much of the available workforce isn’t employed. Every other index has the potential to fog and distort. And, in fact, those other measurements are often used precisely for that purpose.

You’ve read that the unemployment rate has fallen to 6.7 percent. It hasn’t. — MC

Too many people still think of Tokyo Rose as a traitor. Actually, there were numerous women who played the part of Tokyo Rose, broadcasting from Japan to American troupes in the Pacific during World War II, with the intent of damaging morale.

The most famous of these was Iva Toguri, an American citizen who died in 2006. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison after the war, serving six. President Gerald Ford pardoned her in 1977, and this fascinating article examines why.

Yes, it’s published online by The Blaze, which is Glenn Beck’s site and leans strangely far right, semi-left on some social issues, libertarian, and religious (not a common mix). But this one is well worth your time and I recommend it. — MC

What’s natural is for private entities to develop upscale transportation to entice wealthy clientele. What’s unnatural is to use federal funding, in the form of stimulus dollars, to target that same clientele. So, I see the issue here. But we might not know the whole story.

And Miami could argue that it’s in the public interest to have high-class trolleys that cater to tourists. If poor people climb aboard in higher-crime areas, that might make wealthier riders uncomfortable enough to abandon the rides. Then the whole concept is unprofitable. So, I see that side, too.

I guess I have no strong opinion on this one, except that the entire stimulus thingy was mostly a waste of money. You stimulate when you leave the money in the hands of the people who earned it. Taking their money and squandering it doesn’t stimulate enough to be worthwhile. In fact, logically, it can’t, despite what new-age, loony economists say. A couple weeks of training with me and I might be able to get them thinking logically. I said might. Their minds could already be damaged beyond repair by the hippie epidemic that spread and exists in mutated form today. Come to think of it, that’s NOT an opinion. But it is marginally off the topic, so let’s move along. — MC

As those few who have followed my efforts to stop poker cheating know, this isn’t the first time chips have been brought into tournaments. Fifteen years or so ago, I publicly revealed that I had been given $100 chips stolen from Los Angeles area Bicycle Casino tournaments.

They were provided as evidence of rigged tournaments by the late Russ Georgiev, an acknowledged cheat I had interviewed on video along with two of his colleagues. Although I disassociated from him when some of his accusations about others were provably wrong, he did give good testimony regarding his own misdeeds.

I eventually turned my evidence over to a former California attorney general who was representing the card clubs (including the Bicycle Casino, which had been victimized), after negotiations with Card Player magazine, acting as an intermediary. But I’m not sure anything ever came of the behind-the-scenes investigation. Maybe I should have persisted. — MC

Some of us are old enough to notice the changes in moral values over the past four decades. And I’m not talking about sex, which really has nothing to do with morality. For me, nothing stands out as much as attitudes toward cheating in school. It doesn’t seem to be the dark blotch on one’s character it once was.

Many college kids think cheating on exams is the moral equivalent of double parking. They just don’t seem to see the horror of the crime — stealing chances at a better future from those who rightly deserve it. Same with cheating at poker. I think a poker partnership, as an example, is about a low as you can sink on the scummy scale. Everyone who sits honestly at a poker table is making an unspoken promise to play in his or her selfish interests, without favoring anyone else. Everyone realizes, by having a secret partner, you can break that simple promise and invisibly steal the money from those who are keeping their word. The honest players are defenseless. And lives are destroyed. Homes lost. And it’s all because some people think cheating at poker isn’t totally terrible.

Similarly, this is a news story about educators who attempted to ruin children’s lives by cheating. But, of course, they’re too self-absorbed to see that. They’ll contend that they were under pressure to have students perform, so they improved grades. But when you elevate one student, you diminish another who didn’t fare as well by comparison. There’s no difference between the cruelty of adults doctoring scores to make deserving kids fail and doctoring scores to make undeserving kids excel. It’s the same crime. But the perpetrators are unlikely to see it. — MC

I know, I’m scared, too. So, you and I need to decide whether to tremble in the shadows, hoping the politically correct police won’t see us — or we need to leap out with guns blazing. Fight or flight? I say fight, because fleeing from this modern madness really hasn’t worked for us, has it?

I don’t know what to think about this actress or this candidate. And it doesn’t make any difference. Did any actress get pressured from the cast of a San Francisco play for supporting Democrat governor Jerry Brown? Silly question. See the problem?

Be strong. Say what you believe. Don’t tailor it to the way you think they want to hear it. They don’t matter right now. There may come a time when they can see truth again. Then they’ll matter. But right now they can’t, so they don’t. Don’t be terrorized and intimidated into staying silent. Both the right and the left will try to make you behave to match their dreams. But your dreams count, too, right? — MC

That both greatness and flaws cannot be documented regarding Martin Luther King is an American tragedy. I still remember the Los Angeles Times doing a front page story on King’s plagiarism when it was first discovered. Apparently, the newspaper got the word — such reporting was out-of-step with liberal media self-censorship. This was decades ago, back when the wave of intense media bias was just being born. It wasn’t quite clear yet to all reporters and editorial staff that journalism had a new purpose.

Yet I’m betting there are still copies of that Times issue floating around. I think it’s important, because it was among the last gasps of real mainstream journalism as we watched it die. I find King’s crusade uplifting. But I also find silencing people from reporting truth appalling. King was magnificent and had many flaws. So, if I seem racist and insensitive to you, good. Question why you think that way. Grow up and be strong. You kids really want to save the planet? Start here. — MC

I remember driving to the local Disney film distributor in Denver to get reels for charity showings at my high school. I even ran the projector.

Strangely, if you’ve used any advanced non-linear video editing software, you’ve probably noticed an option to create 24 frames per second, just like most movies. Why? Doesn’t standard TV have a faster frame rate? Yes, the standard definition rate is 30 fps (actually, 29.97), and other TV frame rates are even higher.

But it was thought that a 24-fps movie created the right mood for escapism, because people were familiar with it. Thus, some software added a movie-mood option to digital production. I’m skeptical of the value of this and doubt that many among most audiences would be disappointed by faster frame rates. Anyway, I’m bringing this up, because I’m wondering how quickly the 24 fps trend will vanish along with film itself.

So, no more scratches flashing on the screen and no more missed change overs when reels are swiched (which has been automated for a long time, anyway), and no more rare waits for broken film to be spliced. In fact, no more film, period. It’s the end of the old magic. But the new magic is better. — MC

As they say, “The wrath of God works in mysterious ways.” Or did I get that wrong? — MC

If you try to comment objectively on this issue, you’re perceived as aligning yourself with a political party.

Well, I’m not aligning; I’m just telling you truth that would be obvious to anyone who isn’t emotional. The Democrats suck on this one. (And, yes, I’ll be telling you when Republicans suck, too.) They talk about “voter suppression” as if that’s a bad thing.

Voter suppression is the entire purpose of policing the vote — keeping those who have no right to vote from polluting outcomes. Note that this doesn’t mean hindering the right people from voting; it means hindering the wrong people from voting. And when they hear those words, many whose brains have been corrupted by political correctness will jump up in unison and cry, “Who are you to say who are the right and wrong voters?” And some might even add, “That sounds racist or sexist or something — I’m not sure, but you shouldn’t have said it.”

Of course, Democrats know that voter ID basically prevents the wrong people from voting illegally. But that prevention works against them. That’s why many of them act immorally and unethically to promote the pollution. And that’s simply how it is. I’m not taking political sides. I’m just weighing in on this important issue. And, so, please tell Judge Bernard L. McGinley (Democrat) that he has just been overruled. — MC

Question: If this had been an exhibit showing historical non-Jewish Arabian roots in the Middle East, would a UN agency yield to an Isreal protest? Would there be one? Just askin’. — MC

The audience could have been 8,500,001, if I’d tuned in. So, I feel partly responsible. — MC

This obviously is a major issue for an establishment with limited seating. But, in defense of the seniors, McDonalds can be a pretty good place to sit and watch younger people relate, sometimes dramatically. Maybe they’re doing research. — MC

I don’t think there should be any such thing as a hate crime. In fact, this relatively recent trend constitutes one of the most hideous assaults on freedom in American history. Why?

It’s because it doesn’t much matter what motivates a crime. A crime can be trivial, moderate, or monstrous. And it remains trivial, moderate, or monstrous, regardless of whether a black perpetrator loved or hated his white victim. Yeah, I know. I said it the reverse of the way you were expecting to emphasize my point.

Now what about hate speech? Let it ring! I want to know who hates whom, who’s biased, and who’s ignorant. Information helps. This is another scary, scary, scary (yep, that’s triple scary) scheme to “study” something. But study isn’t the objective. And free speech is the target. — MC

In the near future, you’ll be able to track this race on the Poker1.com Predict page. My Brain Trust strives to offer the most reliable odds anywhere. — MC

I watched the TV series Sarah Palin’s Alaska a few years ago and seem to remember this guy in at least one of the episodes. While it’s possible the IRS probing is legitimate, you wonder in light of the scandal where the agency targeted right-leaning groups.

The IRS is the most feared government agency in America for many who live ethical lives. And you wonder how it got to be that way. — MC

Out here in the Ozarks, TSA agents are sugary sweet. Visitors are often shocked by the civility when they travel through any of the three local airports to visit me here.

But elsewhere, I’ve encountered the same rudeness referenced in this article. I think it’s a power mentality in big cities. When authority is given to people whose lives are normally lower-tier, some become monsters. Life’s like that.

But I don’t want to see any “be nice” legislation. Too many laws already.
— MC

I see the logic here. If you allow people to be influenced by winter storms, they’ll forget that, up until 15 years ago, the world seemed to be getting slightly warmer. — MC

This story is from The Blaze, which is site of sometimes radical libertarian/Christian zealot (strange mix) Glenn Beck. He formerly had the 5 p.m. Eastern time slot on Fox News, predating The Five. So, it’s understandable if you question the neutrality of the source.

However, do a web search and you’ll find many previous stories of appalling educational situations in and around New York City. Culprits? Not easy to answer, but unions and big government are major factors. — MC

I have mixed emotions here. I believe companies providing Internet access should be able to price their plans and provide service in any ways they choose. Unfortunately, most people are limited as to which providers they can use. And there’s the problem.

If some carriers act in extreme ways by prioritizing access, then the Wild West days of the Internet could be ending. Prediction: This appeals court ruling will itself be appealed and if that appeal loses, new legislation will be hastily applied by public demand. So, don’t worry. — MC

It’s amazing how many people think Fox News is something it isn’t. It’s become more symbolic of liberal anger than anything they actually should be quite so angry about. So, let me tell you exactly where the three major cable networks and three main over-the-air nightly newscasts fit. Here’s your guide…

Fox News: Fox often cheerleads for United States patriotism and for Christianity in ways that seem unfitting for a news outlet. Otherwise, it’s the least biased of the major news sources. Liberal views are well represented, but most opinion shows lean right. The morning shows are mostly conservative in their chatty segments.

CNN: It began as a balanced news network, but faded left in the late 1990s. Then it faded far left. Then further. Sometimes, along the way, it tried to regain some middle ground, but gave up. About five years ago I made a bet that you couldn’t watch CNN for 20 minutes from any random starting point without seeing environmental propaganda. No takers, but I could have won a lot of money. CNN still maintains the best group of foreign correspondents and is often a better source of breaking global stories than Fox.

MSNBC: A joke of a news agency. Far, far left, illogical, emotional, and worth watching sometimes, just for the experience. Not really news, though.

NBC: The half-hour broadcast leans far left, but still seems objective to millions of naïve viewers who expect it to be balanced. Bias is rampant in what they leave out, what they choose to cover, the emphasis they give to chosen stories, and the flavor of stories.

CBS: Ditto (see NBC), but slightly less extreme.

ABC: Ditto (see NBC), but slightly less extreme.

So, is there anywhere to get objective news? Yes, right here, but you won’t get most of it — only stuff I choose. So, look elsewhere. And let me know if you find anything. — MC

I like I. Nelson Rose. He’s fearless in analyzing gambling trends and making incredibly accurate predictions. Over a decade ago, when my Brain Trust was still active, he was a member who helped form my odds on current events and politics.

Rose was the first to decide that online poker within a state — specifically California — would be legal, despite federal law. In fact, we teamed together to promote it in the late 1990s. Ahead of our time, I guess.

Now, Rose predicts that California won’t follow New Jersey and other states into the online poker arena until 2015, at the earliest. In this video, you’ll hear his reasoning. Worth watching. — MC

I’ve fired an AK-47, I think. It might have been an AR-15. Why don’t I know? I would know today, but this was when I first moved to the Ozarks and my real estate agent asked if I brought guns from California.

When I said I hadn’t, he left me two temporarily to see me through my first nights in my forest by the lake. “Is it dangerous here?” I asked. He said, no, it was perfectly safe. “Well, shoot,” I replied, amusing myself with the double meaning.

All I remember is that it was semi-automatic, made much noise, and you could pull the trigger again and again quite quickly. AK-47 or AR-15? The latter is statistically more likely and arguably a better weapon. However, AK-47 seems to stick in my mind, so that’s what I’m saying it was and I’m sticking to it. He also left me with a World War II standard-issue rifle, which I greatly preferred.

The contrast between acceptance of guns here in the Ozarks and the attitude around the Los Angeles area I left is startling. There, most people feared guns. There, some thought it was child abuse if you had a gun in your house. Here, it’s more likely to be considered child abuse if you don’t — you know, not caring about your kids enough to protect them and such.

Me? I’ve kind of melted into the Ozark way of thinking. I have three loaded hand guns within reach of my chair as I type this. Who would have thunk it? — MC