Silly/Odd News Stories from around the World

[Ithekro]

Well after Jar Jar, little Anakin got the most flak of the character in that movie.

[Anh_Minh]

It's not like he wrote or directed the damn movie. He was just a kid.

[SaintessHeart]

New Fire Emblem Will Introduce Same-Sex Marriage

In the Conquest edition of the game, there is a male character that the game's player may have his/her male main character marry after they bond in battle.

Ban the game. Right now.

[HasuMasu]

^

Eh? But then, you wouldn't buy it...

[SeijiSensei]

Why is this news? Square Enix permits same-sex marriages in FF XIV and has for some time now.

http://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-xiv-...-al-1588933399

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

God, why did I scroll down to the comment section it's like a train wreck down there.

[maplehurry]

Originally Posted by Mr Hat and Clogs

God, why did I scroll down to the comment section it's like a train wreck down there.

lol@people going all RL-politics on a mmorpg.

They forget that many male gamers create female character as virtual waifu, and would rather her marry another female character. (ironically, if a male gamer with female character is only allowed to marry a male character, that's also "gay marriage" in a sense). And Also Yuri-fans.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by maplehurry

lol@people going all RL-politics on a mmorpg.

They forget that many male gamers create female character as virtual waifu, and would rather her marry another female character. (ironically, if a male gamer with female character is only allowed to marry a male character, that's also "gay marriage" in a sense). And Also Yuri-fans.

This.

I often create female characters as a motivation to play - think of it as playing my wife, dressing her up, and returning the damage 100x on the tentacle monsters in the world.

[Kotohono]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Why is this news? Square Enix permits same-sex marriages in FF XIV and has for some time now.

Because it's the first time Nintendo has done so as iirc there was some outrage over tomodachi life games not including it.

[Xefi]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

New Fire Emblem Will Introduce Same-Sex Marriage



Ban the game. Right now.

I usually play a girl character and then marry her
to another girl. *incoming yuriness* hell yeah!

got no issue with this whatsoever.

[Chaos2Frozen]

Iowa grants Gun Permits To The Blind

Iowa is granting permits to acquire or carry guns in public to people who are legally or completely blind.

No one questions the legality of the permits. State law does not allow sheriffs to deny an Iowan the right to carry a weapon based on physical ability.

The quandary centers squarely on public safety. Advocates for the disabled and Iowa law enforcement officers disagree over whether it's a good idea for visually disabled Iowans to have weapons.

On one side: People such as Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington, who demonstrated for The Des Moines Register how blind people can be taught to shoot guns. And Jane Hudson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, who says blocking visually impaired people from the right to obtain weapon permits would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. That federal law generally prohibits different treatment based on disabilities

[Ithekro]

I think Gallegher did a route about that happening in Michigan back in the 1980s. Taking blind people hunting. "How do you make a sound that ain't like a rabbit?"

[SaintessHeart]

What is Iowa's criteria for "legally blind"?

[SeijiSensei]

And Jane Hudson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, who says blocking visually impaired people from the right to obtain weapon permits would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. That federal law generally prohibits different treatment based on disabilities.

I knew back when the ADA was passed that we would see troublesome cases like this one where individual rights and public safety intersect.

States are forbidden to discriminate based on disability; from the ADA FAQ:

Q. Does the ADA apply to State and local governments?

A. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities.

State licensing of firearms ownership clearly falls within that definition. However I don't think there are any provisions that require balancing the individual rights of the disabled person with "public safety." The right of the disabled person to be treated equivalently is absolute. There are rules governing "public accommodations" where the ADA expressly permits excluding disabled individuals, "if that individual poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be mitigated by appropriate modifications in the public accommodation's policies or procedures, or by the provision of auxiliary aids."

None of that applies to the right of a blind person to obtain a license for a firearm.

[MrTerrorist]

Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond is jailed

Why Screech why?

[maplehurry]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

None of that applies to the right of a blind person to obtain a license for a firearm.

If only there's a separate license to use firearm on top of the right to own firearm. Similar to the right to own car and actually driving one (by having to pass couple tests).

In practice, I suppose it's also viable to assume the blind people having enough common sense to not fire gun in crowded places etc. The actual danger of it to the public can only be objectively quantified when it's backed up by stats blah blah That's what a judge would say when some people challenge the State if gun is prohibited from blind people.

[GuidoHunter_Toki]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond is jailed

Why Screech why?

Guy couldn't ever seem to get his career going again after Saved by the Bell, fizzled out real fast. His life kind of spiraled down after all that, tis a shame. Heck I remember him trying to cash in on the sex tape market by making his own, lol.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond is jailed

Why Screech why?

That's the curse of actors who played in a sitcom.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by maplehurry

If only there's a separate license to use firearm on top of the right to own firearm. Similar to the right to own car and actually driving one (by having to pass couple tests).

Driving a car doesn't raise constitutional issues the same way firearm ownership does. Most states have no tests to determine whether someone is competent to own a gun. Carry permits are a bit more complex, but again, if a blind person meets all the requirements for a permit, the ADA guarantees she should get one and probably prohibits any restrictions on permits due to disability.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_la...tates_by_state for details.

[maplehurry]

I checked on Florida, and it does say one can be denied carry permit due to disability to handle firearm safely. It's actually more restrictive than I expected. So I guess it's all up to the States then.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divi...y-Requirements