Image of I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore
I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTV: "I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work, or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth. Banks are g...
Violent mother gets full custody
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "A MOTHER found by the Family Court to be violent, untruthful, lacking moral values and responsible for the psychological and emotional abuse of her children has been given custody of them. The...
Image of If women ruled the world
If women ruled the world
editorial posted by in braincrave
Do a search on the web and you'll find all sorts of criteria for what makes an effective leader. People can't even seem to agree on the definition of leadership. As a result, theories abound. But wha...
Image of Innocence? Courts don't care
Innocence? Courts don't care
editorial posted by in braincrave
And the court jesters speak: Yes, we know your client is innocent of sexual abuse and sodomy... don't speak to us about irrelevant ideas like innocence - we don't care. I am physically sick to my sto...
Image of TIL a Kelo v. New London judge regrets his decision
TIL a Kelo v. New London judge regrets his decision
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Richard Palmer is "sorry" for the way he voted in the infamous eminent domain Kelo v. New London case. In that case, the US Supreme Court aff...
Image of Limiting kids' opportunities
Limiting kids' opportunities
editorial posted by in braincrave
The owner of a Connecticut pizzeria, accused of violating state child labor laws by having his kids work in the restaurant, is suing the state on grounds the laws violate his constitutional rights. I...
Image of Options when all else fails
Options when all else fails
editorial posted by in braincrave
Can you think of any other or, at this point, are we out of options? How do you convince and/or reason with people who think civility is no longer an option? What other ways do you suggest to people...
Image of Abolish political parties and add none of the above
Abolish political parties and add none of the above
editorial posted by in braincrave
Jesse Ventura, of wrestling, acting, and conspiracy theory fame, is disgusted with politics. (And anyone who isn't disgusting isn't sane.) So he's come up with some new ideas. What do you think el...
Image of The enemy to slay in a constant state of emergency
The enemy to slay in a constant state of emergency
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul famously said of neocons: The neoconservative ethos, steeped in the teachings of Leo Strauss, cannot abide an America where individuals simply pursue their happy, peaceful, prosperous l...
No way not to consent
editorial posted by in braincrave
Many of you here have often made the claim that you consent to the "social compact" by living where you live, or receiving the benefits from the state that you do. How can you call it consent if ther...
Image of How did they manage?
How did they manage?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Believe it or not, the federal government operated for about 150 years without an income tax. Go figure. FTA: "Imagine opening your newspaper or Web browser and seeing the following headline: "Su...
Image of Politicians are nails - who has a hammer?
Politicians are nails - who has a hammer?
editorial posted by in braincrave
After providing $900 billion in "stimulus" with zero (and some would argue negative) impact on the economy, increasing the national debt by over $2 trillion (in slightly over 1 year, and it continues...
Image of Holidays without Christmas
Holidays without Christmas
editorial posted by in braincrave
In his pamphlet The Law, French economist Frederick Bastiat stated "Since the law organizes justice, the socialists ask why the law should not also organize labor, education, and religion." Bastiat c...
Image of Political prejudices
Political prejudices
editorial posted by in braincrave
Liberals call conservatives names, claiming they are the bane of existence and the cause of all the problems in the world. Conservatives do the same to liberals. The hate spreads. The violence spread...
Image of Vacationing a human right
Vacationing a human right
editorial posted by in braincrave
Is it really so hard to believe? After all, when you support the government stealing your money (though taxes) and giving it to someone else, who are you to object what they decide to spend it on? No...
Image of The central tenet of morality
The central tenet of morality
editorial posted by in braincrave
Let's assume for a moment that morality is a system of values that a group of individuals (i.e., society) must generally follow in order to live. Let's also assume that the closer individuals get to...
Image of Question everything
Question everything
editorial posted by in braincrave
"I believe there are three rules we must teach our children if we have any hope of humanity seeing freedom some day: 1. Question everything. 2. Never accept an answer just because it is presented by...
Image of Science fiction and politics
Science fiction and politics
editorial posted by in braincrave
Science fiction author Robert Heinlein was known as the "the dean of science fiction writers." According to Wikipedia, "he was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of the g...
Image of Pursuing the common good
Pursuing the common good
editorial posted by in braincrave
Although it's impossible to define it with objective standards, the concept of the "common good" is directly linked with "society" and the "majority." Which is better for humanity and should take pre...
Image of The Great Hoax of Equality
The Great Hoax of Equality
editorial posted by in braincrave
History repeats itself. Men have constantly fought and died in the war for equality throughout the centuries. However, not all of them had in mind the same idea of equality when they gave their lives...
Image of Women equal to men?
Women equal to men?
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "The High Court's award of a £215,000 divorce payout to the former wife of a leading barrister - 25 years after the couple split - is a terrible blow to those who rightly believe that women are...
Image of Democracy - FAIL
Democracy - FAIL
editorial posted by in braincrave
Article 21 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the following: (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely ch...
Image of Conspiracy theory cynicism
Conspiracy theory cynicism
editorial posted by in braincrave
We are social beings. As a result, depending on how much you value the opinions of others, what someone says about you can matter. Often, you've likely heard people negatively labeled as fringe cons...
Image of What happened to the "we" in "yes we can?"
What happened to the "we" in "yes we can?"
editorial posted by in braincrave
How we do like to complain about politicians. We vote them into office (well, some don't vote) and expect them to change the world. To reduce war. To make our lives better. To keep their promises. Af...
Politics and religion
editorial posted by in braincrave
Democracy and the 10 commandments: "Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote." DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Mar 29, 2010 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewbl...
Image of Police committing fraud
Police committing fraud
editorial posted by in braincrave
Did you know that politicians in New York City have tried to play-up crime statistics showing that crime was down? It's becoming clear that it appeared as such because the statistics were faked. FTA:...
Image of None of the above
None of the above
editorial posted by in braincrave
In On The Duty of Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau wrote "How does it become a man to behave toward this American government to-day? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with...
Politicians hate middle-class
editorial posted by in braincrave
I won't repeat the statistics, as there are too many. Bring a strong stomach when you read these. Politicians are not your friends. Unless you are in the top 1%, government is hurting you and your ch...
Image of Sabotage of ideas
Sabotage of ideas
editorial posted by in braincrave
Some people have problems understanding new ideas with which they are unfamiliar and so unintentionally misrepresent or summarize those ideas. Perhaps these are innocent errors. However, there are ot...
Image of Desires are not rights
Desires are not rights
editorial posted by in braincrave
All economic goods must be produced by someone. They aren't gifts of nature or something that can be conjured up by waiving a magic wand. Somehow, people have gotten the false idea that it is governm...
Image of Avertible oil catastrophe
Avertible oil catastrophe
editorial posted by in braincrave
The oil catastrophe could have been averted were it not for the US government rejecting the help of people who know what to do in an oil spill and have the equipment for dealing with it. Why didn't t...
Image of American concentration camps - greasing the skids for martial law
American concentration camps - greasing the skids for martial law
editorial posted by in braincrave
No, they aren't Nazi concentration camps. But they are similar (and very similar to when the US government rounded up 120,000 Americans citizens of Japanese descent during WWII, an action with which...
Image of The legitimacy of higher education - do we need more scientists and engineers?
The legitimacy of higher education - do we need more scientists and engineers?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Robert Heinlein once wrote: "Being intelligent is not a felony. But most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor." The number of students going to UK universities is falling. Additionally,...
Image of The legal system is criminal
The legal system is criminal
editorial posted by in braincrave
The Nazis and Joseph Stalin were famous for their show trials, where "guilt" was determined by the authorities before the trial. From the court jester files, we continue to find that the the American...
Image of Shutting down the Internet
Shutting down the Internet
editorial posted by in braincrave
Why is the US government trying to pass a law that creates a "kill switch" to shut down the Internet at its whim? What are they preparing for? What is it that is about to happen? FTA: "A new U.S....
Image of Guilt begone - it was the sun all along
Guilt begone - it was the sun all along
editorial posted by in braincrave
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Al Gore aren't going to be happy. Scientists are messing up their politics. So it turns out that the only thing man-made about global warming is t...
Image of TIL what used to be considered healthy and happy is now considered dangerous
TIL what used to be considered healthy and happy is now considered dangerous
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned from "America's worst mom" that the earliest episodes of Sesame Street are "for adult viewing only" for fear they will give kids dangerous ideas (Sesame Street just couldn't bring its...
Image of Modern marriage - a 2-year commitment with an option to renew
Modern marriage - a 2-year commitment with an option to renew
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's a funny wedding tradition where the married couple eats the top layer of their wedding cake one year later. (How great to finally have the extra space in your freezer, right?) For about half...
Image of Dissent is criminal
Dissent is criminal
editorial posted by in braincrave
It's now official: subversives who think government is corrupt and should be controlled by the people face 10 years in prison and a $25,000 dollar fine if they fail to register with authorities in So...
Ron Paul didn't go far enough - unleash the retirement accounts
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul just came out with a plan to cut $1 trillion from the US's federal budget and severely curtail entitlement programs. According to the "Plan to Restore America," it cuts $1 trillion in spendi...
Image of Politicians lie (yawn)
Politicians lie (yawn)
editorial posted by in braincrave
As the adage goes: How do you know a politician is lying? His lips are moving. On Obama's White House website, he states: "My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of opennes...
Image of Facebook's Gone Rogue
Facebook's Gone Rogue
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "...14 privacy groups filed a unfair-trade complaint with the FTC against Facebook on Wednesday... Facebook thinks that your notions of privacy - meaning your ability to control information abou...
Image of Objective truths and abortion
Objective truths and abortion
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's a new 5-day "morning-after" pill that's been tested for US approval (New 5-Day 'Morning-After' Pill Tested For U.S. Approval). Some people say the choice to abort is moral and use various...
Image of Oath Keepers
Oath Keepers
editorial posted by in braincrave
"Meet the fast-growing "patriot" group that's recruiting soldiers to resist the Obama administration." "But beyond the predictable stereotypes, "the reality is a lot of them are fairly intelligent...
Image of What's worth dying for?
What's worth dying for?
editorial posted by in braincrave
In the movie Braveheart, William Wallace says, "Every man dies, not every man really lives." For thousands of years, people have thought about the values to live for. Aristotle suggest we should live...
Image of Education - a race to the bottom
Education - a race to the bottom
editorial posted by in braincrave
Sometimes you have to wonder if the sole reason that the law requires children go to school is because very few would go if not forced. If schools are intended to give children training as to the wor...
File sharing legal in Spain
editorial posted by in braincrave
Wow - this is a great win (though I expect it will never make it through the appeal process). File-Sharing and Link Sites Declared Legal in Spain FTA: "After early calls to shut down a Spanish...
Image of Action --> Reaction
Action --> Reaction
editorial posted by in braincrave
Newton's Third Law suggests that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Is it morally proper for people to develop into militias to defend themselves and act in defiance of terrori...
Image of "Dead" against copyrights
"Dead" against copyrights
editorial posted by in braincrave
Jerry Garcia is famous for saying "And as far as I'm concerned, it's like I say, drugs are not the problem. Other stuff is the problem." As the lawyers at the RIAA claim that copyright law "isn't wor...
Image of The right to deprive liberty
The right to deprive liberty
editorial posted by in braincrave
Is it ironic that this is published in a UK newspaper? Not so long ago, police used to be called "peace officers." Keeping the peace and initiating violence are contradictions. Wasn't police abuse in...
Image of Divorce - follow the money
Divorce - follow the money
editorial posted by in braincrave
Among the New Year's resolutions made, it's likely that some have resolved to file for divorce this year. As always, the government is only too happy to help. Why? Any question about government start...
Image of Web threatens women and children
Web threatens women and children
editorial posted by in braincrave
Sure, blame it on women and children. FTA: "Every Google web search could be stored for up to two years under a controversial new EU plan that has the backing of more than 300 Euro-MEPs... The dec...
Image of Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism
editorial posted by in braincrave
"For government [of conquered people] consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to, do you harm; which may be done either by making quite...
Image of Are safety and freedom opposites?
Are safety and freedom opposites?
editorial posted by in braincrave
When it comes to protecting civil liberties, it just keeps getting worse. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now testing what it calls Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST). It i...
The lesser of two evils is still wrong
editorial posted by in braincrave
I was recently having a conversation with a friend who was getting on my case because I don't vote in political elections. She likes Ron Paul but ultimately decided to vote for Obama because she knew...
Image of Other people are not your property
Other people are not your property
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul has entered the US presidential race for the third time as a Republican. But he's not really a Republican - he's a Libertarian. Ron Paul, like all Libertarians, is always talking about limit...
Image of Arrested for shooting grass
Arrested for shooting grass
editorial posted by in braincrave
Here's the scenario: there's a gang of thugs outside your house threatening you and your family. Your wife is calling the police while you grab your gun. You fire 4 shots into the grass to scare them...
Image of How stupid are we? Ask Obama
How stupid are we? Ask Obama
editorial posted by in braincrave
Obama has broken many promises. That's par for the course when you're a politician. People know (and sadly accept) that politicians aren't going to do everything they promise. But then there are m...
Image of Net neutrality regulation and liberty
Net neutrality regulation and liberty
editorial posted by in braincrave
Governments love to pander equality and anti-discrimination laws (well, granted - they were for discrimination before they were against it). Their latest villain? The Internet Service Providers (ISP)...
Image of Teaching sex and terrorism to children
Teaching sex and terrorism to children
editorial posted by in braincrave
In 1991, John Taylor Gatto, New York City Teacher of the Year (1989, 1990, and 1991), New York State Teacher of the Year (1991), and author of The Underground History of American Education, wrote the...
Image of Stop feeding the homeless
Stop feeding the homeless
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul has a sign in his office that says "Don't steal. The government hates competition." Did you know that applies to feeding the homeless as well? "Why" indeed. What do you think? FTA: "The N...
Image of Drunk parking
Drunk parking
editorial posted by in braincrave
Drunk parking? How do you go to jail from a DUI (DRIVING under the influence) in a car that WON'T START? Remind me again why the legal system is honorable and fair? I couldn't make this shit up if I...
Image of Cloning - playing God
Cloning - playing God
editorial posted by in braincrave
In 1996, Dolly the sheep made headlines around the world as the first mammal to be successfully cloned. As a result of the experiment, President Clinton ordered research into the legal and ethical is...
Image of How to get decent people to do terrible things - put them in positions of power
How to get decent people to do terrible things - put them in positions of power
editorial posted by in braincrave
Einstein once wrote that "our conscious acts spring from our desires and our fears." Many agree. For example, David Hume suggested in A Treatise of Human Nature that humans are prone to letting emoti...
Image of TIL the 40-hour work week did not originate from unions
TIL the 40-hour work week did not originate from unions
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that, contrary to popular belief, a private business owner who made every pair of military business boots for US soldiers in World War I established the 40-hour work week which becam...
Image of Copyright trolling
Copyright trolling
editorial posted by in braincrave
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin which revolutionized the cotton industry. But he had a hard time profiting from his invention because he tried to charge farmers a huge price (2/5 of their profits...
Image of The involved father - pathological, pain-in-the-ass
The involved father - pathological, pain-in-the-ass
editorial posted by in braincrave
You have never seen a bigger pain in the ass than the father who wants to get involved; he can be repulsive. He wants to meet the kid at three o'clock, take the kid out to dinner during the week, hav...
Thieves free - victim jailed
editorial posted by in braincrave
A week ago, we discussed a court ignoring the proven innocence of a convicted man because he missed a filing deadline. Here we have a case where a victim attempts to protect himself and his property....
Image of Child exploitation
Child exploitation
editorial posted by in braincrave
If we are to believe UNICEF, there are about 158 million children aged 5-14 engaged in child labor, "working in hazardous situations or conditions." Most people give this a scary name like "child ex...
Image of The irony of political agreement
The irony of political agreement
editorial posted by in braincrave
It appears the "natives are getting restless." Liberals were "up in arms" (pun intended) because the organization Oath Keepers is preparing for violent revolt. They blasted Tea Partiers for purported...
Image of Work: the anti-poverty tool
Work: the anti-poverty tool
editorial posted by in braincrave
Which is better for a poor person - to be paid $3.00/hour for working or to be unemployed where the minimum wage law is $6.00/hour? Unions love minimum wage laws, and they spend millions lobbying for...
Image of Private security forces
Private security forces
editorial posted by in braincrave
Insurance companies have been getting a lot of negative press lately, especially when it comes to health care. It seems that, generally, people believe that insurance companies exist primarily for so...
Image of Civil disobedience against the censors
Civil disobedience against the censors
editorial posted by in braincrave
In his famous treatise On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau argued that individuals can promote justice by disobeying the law. History is replete with examples of civil disobedience...
Image of The case against marriage
The case against marriage
editorial posted by in braincrave
Are men and women happier in marriage? Are children better off when parents are married? Do young people want their parent's marriage? Do the benefits of marriage outweigh the risks (i.e., the destru...
Image of No way to rule innocent men
No way to rule innocent men
editorial posted by in braincrave
In Atlas Shrugged, Dr. Floyd Ferris states: "Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? ...We want them broken... We're after power and we mean it... There's no way to rule innocent...
NY to ban salt at restaurants
editorial posted by in braincrave
The New York legislature is trying to pass a bill that would ban restaurants from using salt in food preparations. No, this is not an article from The Onion. No, I am not making this up. Chefs Cal...
Image of The last line of defense when the law is wrong
The last line of defense when the law is wrong
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's a button that some wear on election day. It says "I voted." It's as if voting makes them feel powerful. But the vote they cast typically isn't for a specific law - it's usually for a polit...
Image of Buying and selling sex
Buying and selling sex
editorial posted by in braincrave
Sex sells. Every advertiser knows this. As human beings, it's a natural desire. There is nothing inherently wrong with sex as it leads to the continuation of humanity. Sex can allow someone without o...
Image of Make heroin and cocaine legal
Make heroin and cocaine legal
editorial posted by in braincrave
Randolph Bourne warned us that "war is the health of the state." So how does the state keep healthy? By declaring wars on everything. The war in Afghanistan is a disaster. The war in Iraq is a disast...
Image of The failure of unions and socialism
The failure of unions and socialism
editorial posted by in braincrave
Someone once made a comment that he was 100% supportive of a tyrannical, socialist government as long as he was the only citizen of his country (paraphrased). Throughout the world, and especially in...
Image of Most people don't vote
Most people don't vote
editorial posted by in braincrave
For those of you who refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils, take comfort in knowing that you're in the majority. Politicians are always claiming their wins indicate that "the people have spoken....
Image of Morality, politics, and reason
Morality, politics, and reason
editorial posted by in braincrave
Putting aside the debates as to whether or not social psychology is less rigorous because it is a soft science, or whether or not it is really science at all, how closely do our political choices mir...
Image of TIL Federal Reserve Bank stockholders don't pay taxes
TIL Federal Reserve Bank stockholders don't pay taxes
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that, unlike people or other corporations, Federal reserve bank stockholders don't have to pay federal, state,or local taxes on their annual, fixed dividends of 6% on capital stock (w...
Image of Putting kids to work
Putting kids to work
editorial posted by in braincrave
The economy is in dire straits. Many adults can't find jobs. The government is lying about employment figures. So why would some politician try to repeal an existing law that would bring more people...
Image of Crime makes a comeback
Crime makes a comeback
editorial posted by in braincrave
From the "you can't make this shit up" files... Through one of her villains, Ayn Rand wrote in Atlas Shrugged: "Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? ...We want them broken......
Image of Forcing those with disabilities
Forcing those with disabilities
editorial posted by in braincrave
Should lawyers, doctors, and politicians have the right to physically force a patient to receive medical treatment? Is it morally proper for someone else to force a decision upon you that they think...
Image of The goals of mankind: the state vs. anarchy
The goals of mankind: the state vs. anarchy
editorial posted by in braincrave
As Murray Rothbard put it in his marvelous article The Anatomy of the State, "Some theorists venerate the State as the apotheosis of society; others regard it as an amiable, though often inefficient,...
Nullify this
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "Whether or not you are philosophically inclined toward libertarianism or anarchy, it's hard not to agree that voting for politicians has been an unmitigated disaster if you measure success by l...
Image of Why get married
Why get married
editorial posted by in braincrave
Another one in honor of V-day tomorrow: What is the purpose of getting married anymore? Why can't you just be in a monogamous relationships with someone that you love? Why do you need a piece of ...
Image of Toxins in our food supply are killing bees
Toxins in our food supply are killing bees
editorial posted by in braincrave
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes (aka who watches the watchmen)? Called Colony Collapse Disorder, there is something killing honeybees. They are dying in "huge numbers." Scientists from the US Environ...
Image of Arrested for asking why
Arrested for asking why
editorial posted by in braincrave
Four women, two of them well into middle age, were discussing funeral plans for a friend when an Atlanta police officer told them to move. Three did but one asked "why." In answer to her question, Mi...
Image of Voluntary vs. coercive
Voluntary vs. coercive
editorial posted by in braincrave
"The "private sector" of the economy is, in fact, the voluntary sector; and...the "public sector" is, in fact, the coercive sector." - Henry Hazlitt DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Seco...
Image of Politicians causing problems in politics? Put them on pay-for-performance
Politicians causing problems in politics? Put them on pay-for-performance
editorial posted by in braincrave
In the business world, most workers receive a base salary and then salary increases or bonuses based on performance. Performance can be measured by various factors, including company performance, ind...
Image of Listen to my music - the philosophy of The Trees
Listen to my music - the philosophy of The Trees
editorial posted by in braincrave
Make everyone equal. It is a common battle cry across the centuries. Just look at the current class warfare that Obama is pushing because we are not all equal. (Or, as Orwell famously put it in Anima...
Image of America's leading leftist intellectual is angry
America's leading leftist intellectual is angry
editorial posted by in braincrave
"America's leading leftist intellectual" and MIT professor Noam Chomsky once remarked that "The U.S. is a leading terrorist state, as are its clients." He has said "that there is no War on Terror." H...
Image of The poor don't want charity - they want justice
The poor don't want charity - they want justice
editorial posted by in braincrave
The latest weapon of mass destruction: starvation. The situation is dire. It's the worst drought in Africa in 60 years. The UN is airlifting food to Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. It's estimated th...
Image of Manipulating Americans is easy
Manipulating Americans is easy
editorial posted by in braincrave
You're an idiot. That's right. According to New York spin doctor Sheherazad Jaafari (aka press-aide or press attaché), Americans are easily manipulated. All politicians need to do is admit that th...
Image of Drug prohibition doesn't work
Drug prohibition doesn't work
editorial posted by in braincrave
We know marijuana is "the most widely used illicit substance in the world" (which may be why "arrests are at a near-record high"). We know drug decriminalization works. Yet we still allow the governm...
Image of I want it, but can't afford it
I want it, but can't afford it
editorial posted by in braincrave
In Mel Brooks's very funny History of the World Part I, King Louis XVI is told by his advisor that the people are revolting. The king replies "You said it. They stink on ice." As the UK government...
Image of Apathy - ignorance going through the motions
Apathy - ignorance going through the motions
editorial posted by in braincrave
Considered the third, best-selling poet of all time, Khalil Gibran once said "Desire is half of life; indifference is half of death." Apathy is defined as having a lack of emotion, interest, or conce...