Freedom on the March!

A triumvirate of activist judges rules that purchasing indelible markers is legal. Even in New York:

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the finding as it upheld a decision by U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels to block the city from enforcing a law that would have prevented sales of the spray paint and markers to those between the ages of 18 and 21.

The appeals court also said it was unpersuaded by the city's argument that young artists can have friends, older relatives or an art school purchase spray paint and broad-tipped indelible markers for them or can use unregulated materials such as non-indelible markers.

It's a proud day in America when a judge deems basic art supplies "unregulated materials." 

Brian Doherty was all over the marker ban back in August.

Comments

andy | February 5, 2007, 3:08pm | #

Did I ever mention that I hate this country?

MP | February 5, 2007, 3:13pm | #

Darnit...I was making such good money in the spray paint black market.

smacky | February 5, 2007, 3:18pm | #

I am...utterly confused...by the age range for the proposed ban.

Nevermind, I just saw this line in Brian Dougherty's article:

The ban still applies to New Yorkers under 18.

Is this true? People under the age of 18 can't buy markers in NYC?

tarran | February 5, 2007, 3:19pm | #

You know, I did a back of the envelope aclculation and discovered that global warming is to due to CO2 emissions.

Rather, the temperature rise may be completely explained by the friction of Jefferson and his friends spinning in their graves.

jgray | February 5, 2007, 3:21pm | #

The Penis Mightier!

I mean, the Pen is Mightier!

tarran | February 5, 2007, 3:23pm | #

Dammit - I should have hit preview. :(

the first sentence should have said ... never mind.
Joke's runied. :(

Les | February 5, 2007, 3:29pm | #

There, there, tarran. If it's any consolation, I promise to use your joke at parties and pretend I made it up.

Christopher Monnier | February 5, 2007, 3:30pm | #

Customer: Hi, I'd like to buy a handgun.
Clerk: Sorry, that's illegal. I mean, it's a gun, so, you can understand.

Customer: Sure, sure. Okay, well, then I'd like to fry some chicken tonight so I guess I'll just take some Crisco.
Clerk: Sorry, that has trans fats so it's illegal.

Customer: What!? Why?
Clerk: Trans fats clog arteries, therefore you can't buy stuff with trans fats.

Customer: Fine, fine...can I still buy cigarettes?
Clerk: Sure thing, I'll just need to see some ID.

Customer: Shoot! I left my license at home. Man! Um, I guess I'll just take one of these markers.
Clerk: Sorry, sir, I'd need to see some ID to make sure you're allowed to buy markers.

Customer: (kills himself)
Clerk: I'm sorry, sir, I'm afraid you need a permit for that...

The Plunge | February 5, 2007, 3:44pm | #

That Valentine's Day Special Reason Girl looks like she's begging to get fisted...

Taki's lieutenant | February 5, 2007, 3:44pm | #

TAKI 183

smacky | February 5, 2007, 3:50pm | #

That Valentine's Day Special Reason Girl looks like she's begging to get fisted...


Yes, please! By all means -- someone give her a right hook to her makeup-caked skank jaw.

David | February 5, 2007, 3:52pm | #

OK it was a stupid law I'll admit. But I'm having trouble figuring out why it was an unlawful law. If it's a free speech issue, as the article seemed to suggest ,than why does the ban still apply to juveniles? You can't drink if you are under 21 and you can't smoke or vote under the age of 18. But I've never heard that the first amendment is waved until your 18'th birthday.

I'm not being snarky, I'm honestly confused.

Warren | February 5, 2007, 3:54pm | #

I'm just as confused as David

Richard Shunary | February 5, 2007, 4:01pm | #

"Yes, please! By all means -- someone give her a right hook to her makeup-caked skank jaw."

You don't get out much, do you Smacky?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fisting

mk | February 5, 2007, 4:07pm | #

"Black Market Black Markers" would have been a great name for a punk band.

I. Self. Divine. | February 5, 2007, 4:10pm | #

The Valentines Day girl looks almost exactly like this girl I once tried to hook up with. At first I thought she was perfect. She was hot and she paid for all the beer (keep in mind I lived with 3 other guys). Then I get her back to my house, we all start drinking, and right as I'm starting to think that we're both about drunk enough to think I'm charming, she starts puking...a lot. Ruined night. This exact sequence of events happened twice more. I gave up.

smacky | February 5, 2007, 4:11pm | #

You don't get out much, do you Smacky?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fisting


Actually, I do get out plenty -- I was making a pun.

Maybe you should spend a little less time in your parents' basement looking up bad words in the online dictionaries. Thanks for the, um...colorful...link, though, Richard.

Tim | February 5, 2007, 4:13pm | #

To be fair, I think they are just trying to stem the calligraphy epidemic:

"Last month, Downtown Express first reported that calligrapher Xu Zi was kicked out of Battery Park in mid-December for selling her work alongside other artists, in spite of the fact that a 2001 federal court case had determined that artists do not need permits to sell their work.

Xu Zi’s removal from the park was based on N.Y.P.D. operations order #39, which states that a permit is required for anyone “printing plain letters or characters of any language, e.g. Chinese, Greek, Cyrillic…in a manner that does not convey a message (e.g. simply writing a name at the request of a purchaser).”

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe told Downtown Express last Thursday, “We’re not going to be doing enforcement on calligraphers.” But when asked for specifics on the new policy, Benepe backed off and said they are studying the issue with regard to calligraphers."

Rex Rhino | February 5, 2007, 4:18pm | #

So when can we just finally admit we live in a totalitarian society? It isn't the totalitarianism that bugs me so much anymore, it is that people won't admit it.

sheesh Moose | February 5, 2007, 4:27pm | #

"smacky | February 5, 2007, 3:50pm | #
That Valentine's Day Special Reason Girl looks like she's begging to get fisted...


Yes, please! By all means -- someone give her a right hook to her makeup-caked skank jaw."

yeaaa! hilarious.

Rich - um. take self too seriously much? Or you're new and don't know that the Smacky is a frequent thread winner with foil-like wit! Nice to see you missed it by so much, tho. Glad you weren't the Ion Cannon Gunner - else the first transport would never have gotten away.

Either way, I'm sure you'll explain to us what a Cleveland Steamer, Cincinnati Bow Tie, Oklahoma Jammer, Hot Karl, Dirty (Filthy) Sanchez, Rusty Trombone, Kalamazoo Rider, Tuscaloosa Harmonica, San Jose Plunge, or a Utica Club is.

(Hey Smacky - does the usual observation about this one apply? Lake Effect much?)

Akira MacKenzie | February 5, 2007, 4:59pm | #

The Valentine's Day Girl looks like every other woman to me: One that wouldn't fuck me to save my life.

Warren | February 5, 2007, 5:06pm | #

sheesh Moose,
Admit it, you made up half those phrases.

For the record:
The Reason Valentine's Day is an emaciated waif. As pitiful and unattractive as any Bono photo-op extra.

Kaptain Kirk | February 5, 2007, 5:16pm | #

Freedom in small steps, maybe someday kids will be able to purchase cards and dice in CA again.

andy | February 5, 2007, 6:25pm | #

Akira,

Here's a tip for getting laid, won't guarantee you anything but it'll give you a good start:

Lighten up. And maybe chill on the militant atheism.

Best Regards,
andy

crimethink | February 5, 2007, 6:32pm | #

The appeals court also said it was unpersuaded by the city's argument that young artists can have friends, older relatives or an art school purchase spray paint and broad-tipped indelible markers for them

Err, buying alcohol or tobacco for underage use is a class A misdemeanor in NYS, I'm surprised they didn't make that the case for the spray paint, etc.

VM | February 5, 2007, 6:53pm | #

Warren: awww. you caught me.

andy:

wow. what a dick.

andy = newest dickhead added to the filter. I hope you get jock itch of your uvula.

andy | February 5, 2007, 7:19pm | #

VM,

And may you break your hand whilst beating your abominably homely ladyfriend.

The Wine Commonsewer | February 5, 2007, 7:52pm | #

But can you buy airplane glue?

kevrob | February 5, 2007, 11:59pm | #

A Utica Club is OK, but a Maximus Super really does the job, not to mention a Genny Cream.

Will these idiots who constantly nibble away at the idea that 18-year-olds are adults ever come out and say that they want to roll the age of majority back to 21, take away the vote from the 18-20 crowd, and just be done with it?

They'll want to keep the procedures for trying juveniles as adults, though.

Kevin

Jumbie | February 6, 2007, 3:16am | #

Wait? Kids can't uy cards or dice in CA?

What about all those delightful kids' games I enjoyed when I was young? Crazy Eights? Monopoly? Strip Poker?

andy | February 6, 2007, 5:14am | #

Will these idiots who constantly nibble away at the idea that 18-year-olds are adults ever come out and say that they want to roll the age of majority back to 21, take away the vote from the 18-20 crowd, and just be done with it?

They'll want to keep the procedures for trying juveniles as adults, though.

Don't forget that they'll also want to keep the age of conscription at 18. They want to have their cake and eat it too.

I don't foresee this changing anytime soon. 18-20 year olds don't tend to stick up for themselves very well in age discrimination issues and very few 21+ actually give a shit.

Pro Libertate | February 6, 2007, 9:42am | #

You can have my Sharpie when you pry it from my cold, ink-stained hands.

Troy | February 6, 2007, 9:43am | #

Wow! [/sarcasm] How brave of this judiciary. How radical. That an 18 year old can by a fucking magic marker. Oh, how I glow with pride at the magnitude of freedom our judiciary insures. [/sarcasm].

The Wine Commonsewer | February 6, 2007, 9:43am | #

Dude, he said eat it too