go to Best of the Web Today and look at the piece titled Hating Sarah Palin. It refers to an article in Salon by a first-class freakin' nutcase named Lamott who has such opinions as
I sat outside a 7-Eleven and had a sacramental Dove chocolate bar. Jeez: Here we are again. A man and a woman whose values we loathe and despise -- lying, rageful and incompetent, so dangerous to children and old people, to innocent people in every part of the world -- are being worshiped, exalted by the media, in a position to take a swing at all that is loveliest about this earth and what's left of our precious freedoms.
When I got home from church, I drank a bunch of water to metabolize the Dove bar and called my Jesuit friend, who I know hates these people, too. I asked, "Don't you think God finds these smug egomaniacs morally repellent? Recoils from their smugness as from hot flame?"
And he said, "Absolutely. They are everything He or She hates in a Christian."
If you can stomach it, or desire to see PDS in a fairly pure form displayed by one of the 'elites' who thinks they- using a government run by them, of course- should control your life, you can click on the link at the WSJ site; I'm not linking to it. You can pretty much get it all from this paragraph:
Everything you need to know about how to bear up during these two months is already inside you. Go within: Work on your own emotional acre. Stand still, and hurt, and feel crazy. Then drink a lot of water, pray, meditate, rest. Rest is a spiritual act. Now, I am a reform Christian, so it is permissible for me to secretly believe that God hates this woman, too. I heard God slam down a couple of shooters while she was talking the other night.
'It is permissible for me to secretly believe that God hates this woman'. I tend to have something of Harry Dresden's feelings about God, but in my most dejected moments I have not thought something like that about anyone. That's just plain wrong.
These people really, truly are effing insane.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
I've got just enough time to comment on Biden idiocy and sever PDS
First, Biden. The sorry suckass politician who says if you don't want your taxes raised, you're not patriotic.
Biden claims that wealthier Americans should pay more in taxes because, "It's time to be patriotic . . . time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."
Oh, the injustice of American society!
When exactly did taxation transform into a form of charity? Biden, it seems, has a difficult time differentiating between coercion and generosity. The distinction is simple: When one fails at altruism, he is a louse; when one fails to pay taxes, he ends up in the slammer.
And Biden and HopeyChangey would define 'wealthier' in such a way as to screw everybody who's not actually on welfare. You know, this is the same kind of garbage Bill Clinton tried at one time; it pissed people off then, and it still does. Remember when he said people would have to 'increase their contributions to the IRS'?
Now on to PDS:
Every white woman I know is positively horrified.
Wait, that’s not exactly true. It’s more accurate to say that every thoughtful or liberal or intuitive or open-minded white woman I know worth her vagina monologue and her self-determination and two centuries of nonstop striving for equal rights and sexual freedom and exhaustive patriarchal unshackling is right now openly horrified, appalled at what the addition of shrill PTA hockey-mom Sarah Palin seems to have done for the soggy, comatose McCain campaign — that is, make it not merely remotely interesting and melodramatic, but aggressively hostile to, well, to all intelligent women everywhere.
I'm not going to post any of the crap that came out of Bernhard's sewer.
I WILL, however note the AP reaction to Palin's personal e-mail being hacked:
Yes, he blames the victim.
Because she used a private email account for private business -- like chatting with friends and emailing pictures of her family.
Even by the hacker's account, and AP's, there is no official business hidden in the emails.
So what the fuck are they doing claiming that if she hadn't illegally used private emails to hide state communications, the crime wouldn't have happened?
Those layers of editors and fact-checkers just ain't cutting it, are they?
Biden claims that wealthier Americans should pay more in taxes because, "It's time to be patriotic . . . time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."
Oh, the injustice of American society!
When exactly did taxation transform into a form of charity? Biden, it seems, has a difficult time differentiating between coercion and generosity. The distinction is simple: When one fails at altruism, he is a louse; when one fails to pay taxes, he ends up in the slammer.
And Biden and HopeyChangey would define 'wealthier' in such a way as to screw everybody who's not actually on welfare. You know, this is the same kind of garbage Bill Clinton tried at one time; it pissed people off then, and it still does. Remember when he said people would have to 'increase their contributions to the IRS'?
Now on to PDS:
Every white woman I know is positively horrified.
Wait, that’s not exactly true. It’s more accurate to say that every thoughtful or liberal or intuitive or open-minded white woman I know worth her vagina monologue and her self-determination and two centuries of nonstop striving for equal rights and sexual freedom and exhaustive patriarchal unshackling is right now openly horrified, appalled at what the addition of shrill PTA hockey-mom Sarah Palin seems to have done for the soggy, comatose McCain campaign — that is, make it not merely remotely interesting and melodramatic, but aggressively hostile to, well, to all intelligent women everywhere.
I'm not going to post any of the crap that came out of Bernhard's sewer.
I WILL, however note the AP reaction to Palin's personal e-mail being hacked:
Yes, he blames the victim.
Because she used a private email account for private business -- like chatting with friends and emailing pictures of her family.
Even by the hacker's account, and AP's, there is no official business hidden in the emails.
So what the fuck are they doing claiming that if she hadn't illegally used private emails to hide state communications, the crime wouldn't have happened?
Those layers of editors and fact-checkers just ain't cutting it, are they?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
You know, the Brady Coalition to Ban Guns is so full of crap
they should be stood in the garden to fertilize things.
Just hours after a Brady Center report highlighted the NRA’s repeated and false denials that its bill to gut DC’s gun laws would allow assault rifles on the streets of Washington, the gun lobby has revised the bill to prevent the carrying of assault weapons on DC’s streets.
Damn. WE can revise bills? Can't be true, because if we could the Brady Center would have stroked out in terror and hyperbole a long time ago.
Just hours after a Brady Center report highlighted the NRA’s repeated and false denials that its bill to gut DC’s gun laws would allow assault rifles on the streets of Washington, the gun lobby has revised the bill to prevent the carrying of assault weapons on DC’s streets.
Damn. WE can revise bills? Can't be true, because if we could the Brady Center would have stroked out in terror and hyperbole a long time ago.
But if ATF loses things, we're not supposed to be bothered
whereas if a dealer had this happen, they'd yank his license:
WASHINGTON - The ATF lost 76 weapons and hundreds of laptops over five years, the Justice Department reported Wednesday, blaming carelessness and sloppy record-keeping.
Thirty-five of the missing handguns, rifles, Tasers and other weapons were stolen, as were 50 laptops, the internal audit found. Two of the stolen weapons were used in crimes.
The audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine found "inadequate" oversight of weapons and laptops resulted in "significant rates of losses" at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Isn't it just wonderful?
"It is especially troubling that that ATF's rate of loss for weapons was nearly double that of the FBI and DEA, and that ATF did not even know whether most of its lost, stolen, or missing laptop computers contained sensitive or classified information," he added.
That's downright disturbing. Leastways I think so.
And here's the word from the boss:
In a Sept. 10 letter responding to the audit, ATF acting Director Michael J. Sullivan said his agency "agrees or partially agrees with most of the recommendations."
"We are revising our procedures of reporting losses of weapons or laptops," Sullivan said.
Oh, isn't that just WONDERFUL of him, to 'agree or partially agree'? And to 'revise their procedures'?
The audit looked at ATF's inventory of weapons, laptops, ammunition and explosives between Oct. 1, 2002 and Aug. 31, 2007.
It found that ATF lost three times more weapons each month than it had in a similar 2002 audit by the Treasury Department, which used to oversee the agency. It also lost 50 times as many laptops as reported in the earlier audit.
So they've actually gotten worse?!? Just bloody wonderful.
Bold in the following is mine:
Of the 76 weapons, 35 were reported stolen, 19 lost and 12 missing from inventories, investigators found. Of the 418 missing laptops, 50 were stolen, 8 lost and 274 could not be found during inventory. Another 86 laptops were unaccounted for because ATF had either destroyed or lost documents showing where they were, the audit concluded.
Two weapons reported stolen were used to commit crimes. In one instance, a gun was stolen from an ATF car parked outside the agent's home and later used to shoot through the window of another residence, the audit found. In the other, a stolen ATF gun was taken from a burglary suspect.
Additionally, ATF employees did not report 13 of the 76 lost weapons, or 365 of the 418 missing laptops, to internal affairs as required. ATF officials also did not report much of the lost equipment to the Justice Department.
Investigators could not conclude what was on 398 of 418 missing laptops — except that few were encrypted. That means any sensitive material on the laptops could have been exposed.
You know, if something like this happened in a private company, the people responsible would've been fired. Maybe had criminal charges filed. Anybody think that'll happen here?
WASHINGTON - The ATF lost 76 weapons and hundreds of laptops over five years, the Justice Department reported Wednesday, blaming carelessness and sloppy record-keeping.
Thirty-five of the missing handguns, rifles, Tasers and other weapons were stolen, as were 50 laptops, the internal audit found. Two of the stolen weapons were used in crimes.
The audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine found "inadequate" oversight of weapons and laptops resulted in "significant rates of losses" at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Isn't it just wonderful?
"It is especially troubling that that ATF's rate of loss for weapons was nearly double that of the FBI and DEA, and that ATF did not even know whether most of its lost, stolen, or missing laptop computers contained sensitive or classified information," he added.
That's downright disturbing. Leastways I think so.
And here's the word from the boss:
In a Sept. 10 letter responding to the audit, ATF acting Director Michael J. Sullivan said his agency "agrees or partially agrees with most of the recommendations."
"We are revising our procedures of reporting losses of weapons or laptops," Sullivan said.
Oh, isn't that just WONDERFUL of him, to 'agree or partially agree'? And to 'revise their procedures'?
The audit looked at ATF's inventory of weapons, laptops, ammunition and explosives between Oct. 1, 2002 and Aug. 31, 2007.
It found that ATF lost three times more weapons each month than it had in a similar 2002 audit by the Treasury Department, which used to oversee the agency. It also lost 50 times as many laptops as reported in the earlier audit.
So they've actually gotten worse?!? Just bloody wonderful.
Bold in the following is mine:
Of the 76 weapons, 35 were reported stolen, 19 lost and 12 missing from inventories, investigators found. Of the 418 missing laptops, 50 were stolen, 8 lost and 274 could not be found during inventory. Another 86 laptops were unaccounted for because ATF had either destroyed or lost documents showing where they were, the audit concluded.
Two weapons reported stolen were used to commit crimes. In one instance, a gun was stolen from an ATF car parked outside the agent's home and later used to shoot through the window of another residence, the audit found. In the other, a stolen ATF gun was taken from a burglary suspect.
Additionally, ATF employees did not report 13 of the 76 lost weapons, or 365 of the 418 missing laptops, to internal affairs as required. ATF officials also did not report much of the lost equipment to the Justice Department.
Investigators could not conclude what was on 398 of 418 missing laptops — except that few were encrypted. That means any sensitive material on the laptops could have been exposed.
You know, if something like this happened in a private company, the people responsible would've been fired. Maybe had criminal charges filed. Anybody think that'll happen here?
I spent part of yesterday morning
reclining with a needle in my arm. Yes, it was time. My blood type is somewhat in demand, so the day- sometimes the day before- I’m able to donate again, they call.
What made this time memorable was the lady doing the sticking. Usually I spend the time in the chair with a book; this time spent it talking to her. She’s originally from Uzbekistan, and finally made it here three years ago. ‘Finally’ because she’d decided when she was a kid that she wanted to come here. Happily, her parents encouraged her in her studies and her determination, and here she is, working at the blood bank while working on her third degree(the other two earned back home and in Denmark).
Interesting conversation, both on current activities and past history(mainly hers). From the description, bad as some things about Uzbekistan are, the schools sound like they kick the ass of many, maybe most, public schools here. And, accent and all, she spoke English very properly, very correctly(more so than I do unless I really think about it). I did ask if she’s planning to earn citizenship here: answer was ‘not sure’. One of the bad things back home is the very traditional “I don’t care how many classes you had or how hard you work, I’m home so make me dinner. And get pregnant as soon as possible” attitude still largely prevailing; she was very lucky that her parents encouraged her studies the way they did; here, and she was adamant about this, “There is so much opportunity here!” Accompanied by a fair amount of scorn for people who say this is a terrible place where you can’t get ahead. But her family is back there, and she hasn’t seen them for years, and she wonders if she might be able to help change things.
Two things struck me:
First, that if she stays here, we damn well gain and Uzbekistan loses. And vice versa of course.
Second, she reminded me of that saying that, for the life of me, I can’t remember where I first read it: an American who happened to be born somewhere else(update: credit where due, probably first read that here).
Yes, I told her that. Also that I hope she does decide to become a citizen, as we damn well need people like her. She reminds me of a friend of a friend I met several years ago. This lady and her husband had immigrated from Nigeria and proceeded to succeed: he was managing a restaurant, she’d become a pediatric nurse(damn good one from what my friend said). Strong accent that took nothing away from her English, and two kids obviously smart, inquisitive and well-behaved; the kind of immigrants we WANT.
What made this time memorable was the lady doing the sticking. Usually I spend the time in the chair with a book; this time spent it talking to her. She’s originally from Uzbekistan, and finally made it here three years ago. ‘Finally’ because she’d decided when she was a kid that she wanted to come here. Happily, her parents encouraged her in her studies and her determination, and here she is, working at the blood bank while working on her third degree(the other two earned back home and in Denmark).
Interesting conversation, both on current activities and past history(mainly hers). From the description, bad as some things about Uzbekistan are, the schools sound like they kick the ass of many, maybe most, public schools here. And, accent and all, she spoke English very properly, very correctly(more so than I do unless I really think about it). I did ask if she’s planning to earn citizenship here: answer was ‘not sure’. One of the bad things back home is the very traditional “I don’t care how many classes you had or how hard you work, I’m home so make me dinner. And get pregnant as soon as possible” attitude still largely prevailing; she was very lucky that her parents encouraged her studies the way they did; here, and she was adamant about this, “There is so much opportunity here!” Accompanied by a fair amount of scorn for people who say this is a terrible place where you can’t get ahead. But her family is back there, and she hasn’t seen them for years, and she wonders if she might be able to help change things.
Two things struck me:
First, that if she stays here, we damn well gain and Uzbekistan loses. And vice versa of course.
Second, she reminded me of that saying that, for the life of me, I can’t remember where I first read it: an American who happened to be born somewhere else(update: credit where due, probably first read that here).
Yes, I told her that. Also that I hope she does decide to become a citizen, as we damn well need people like her. She reminds me of a friend of a friend I met several years ago. This lady and her husband had immigrated from Nigeria and proceeded to succeed: he was managing a restaurant, she’d become a pediatric nurse(damn good one from what my friend said). Strong accent that took nothing away from her English, and two kids obviously smart, inquisitive and well-behaved; the kind of immigrants we WANT.
Well, well, well, it seems Rangel had LOTS of lapses
Like this one:
WASHINGTON - Rep. Charles Rangel has been using a House of Representatives parking garage for years as free storage space for his old Mercedes-Benz - a violation of congressional rules and a potential new tax woe for the embattled lawmaker, The Post has learned.
The 1972 silver sedan is registered to Rangel, who is already under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, and is parked in a coveted section of an indoor lot, near elevators that lead to his office.
AND it has a long-expired tag AND no parking sticker.
And has anyone run a dog by to check for any missing persons in the trunk?
WASHINGTON - Rep. Charles Rangel has been using a House of Representatives parking garage for years as free storage space for his old Mercedes-Benz - a violation of congressional rules and a potential new tax woe for the embattled lawmaker, The Post has learned.
The 1972 silver sedan is registered to Rangel, who is already under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, and is parked in a coveted section of an indoor lot, near elevators that lead to his office.
AND it has a long-expired tag AND no parking sticker.
And has anyone run a dog by to check for any missing persons in the trunk?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Screw waiting for a 'Gang of', we need to set up that post
for some senators NOW:
...One question came up repeatedly in the hearing that deserves more of an answer than it got, however: Why, after all the assistance we've given to Iraq over the past five years, was the first major Iraqi oil deal signed with China and not with an American or even a western company? The answer is, in part, because three Democratic senators intervened in Iraqi domestic politics earlier this year to prevent Iraq from signing short-term agreements with Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total, Chevron, and BP.
The Iraqi government was poised to sign no-bid contracts with those firms this summer to help make immediate and needed improvements in Iraq's oil infrastructure. The result would have been significant foreign investment in Iraq, an expansion of Iraqi government revenues, and an increase in the global supply
of oil. One would have thought that leading Democratic senators who claim to be interested in finding other sources of funding to replace American dollars in Iraq, in helping Iraq spend its own money on its own people, and in lowering the price of gasoline for American citizens, would have been all for it. Instead, Senators Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, and Claire McCaskill wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rice asking her "to persuade the GOI [Government of Iraq] to refrain from signing contracts with multinational oil companies until a hydrocarbon law is in effect in Iraq." The Bush administration wisely refused to do so, but the resulting media hooraw in Iraq led to the cancellation of the contracts, and helps to explain why Iraq is doing oil deals instead with China.
Pardon my putting it this way, but God-DAMN these people. I'm so effing sick of these clowns how can never seem to do enough to damage this country to sate their desires.
Link given by BJM in comments. Though I'm so pissed right now it's hard to say 'thanks' for pointing it out.
...One question came up repeatedly in the hearing that deserves more of an answer than it got, however: Why, after all the assistance we've given to Iraq over the past five years, was the first major Iraqi oil deal signed with China and not with an American or even a western company? The answer is, in part, because three Democratic senators intervened in Iraqi domestic politics earlier this year to prevent Iraq from signing short-term agreements with Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total, Chevron, and BP.
The Iraqi government was poised to sign no-bid contracts with those firms this summer to help make immediate and needed improvements in Iraq's oil infrastructure. The result would have been significant foreign investment in Iraq, an expansion of Iraqi government revenues, and an increase in the global supply
of oil. One would have thought that leading Democratic senators who claim to be interested in finding other sources of funding to replace American dollars in Iraq, in helping Iraq spend its own money on its own people, and in lowering the price of gasoline for American citizens, would have been all for it. Instead, Senators Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, and Claire McCaskill wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rice asking her "to persuade the GOI [Government of Iraq] to refrain from signing contracts with multinational oil companies until a hydrocarbon law is in effect in Iraq." The Bush administration wisely refused to do so, but the resulting media hooraw in Iraq led to the cancellation of the contracts, and helps to explain why Iraq is doing oil deals instead with China.
Pardon my putting it this way, but God-DAMN these people. I'm so effing sick of these clowns how can never seem to do enough to damage this country to sate their desires.
Link given by BJM in comments. Though I'm so pissed right now it's hard to say 'thanks' for pointing it out.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
I have to add another 'Law Enforcement' category:
LE While Stupid:
A Labrador-pit bull was shot and killed by police inside a south-central home Friday afternoon inches from where the homeowner was showering.
"I was taking a shower, when all the sudden I heard this loud pop," Deanna Gonzales said. "I jumped out of the shower naked and saw my dog whimpering on the ground."
Officers were responding to a tip that Francisco Aragon, a 28-year-old wanted on felony and misdemeanor charges including escape, was at the Rio Grande Street house, said Colorado Springs Police Sgt. Tim Hogan.
The dog lunged at an officer, biting him on the right wrist, police said.
The dog then retreated and was coming back at the officers when a second officer shot the dog, police said.
"They had permission to be in the house, they did nothing wrong," Hogan said.
So far, sounds not bad, right? Here's the rest:
Gonzales' children let police into the house to look for the fugitive while Gonzales showered, she said.
Her daughter put Gemini, a 2-year-old Labrador-pit bull in the bathroom with her to keep him out of the way, Gonzales said
Police opened the bathroom door and the dog pounced.
Which takes this into the realm of "If the kids put the dog in there, and you knew it, and knew mom was showering, WHY THE HELL DID YOU OPEN THE DOOR?"
But, of course, the officers Did No Wrong:
Hogan said the officer took the necessary steps for self-defense.
"Sometimes that's the only option they have," he said. "It's just one of those things."
Friggin' moron.
A Labrador-pit bull was shot and killed by police inside a south-central home Friday afternoon inches from where the homeowner was showering.
"I was taking a shower, when all the sudden I heard this loud pop," Deanna Gonzales said. "I jumped out of the shower naked and saw my dog whimpering on the ground."
Officers were responding to a tip that Francisco Aragon, a 28-year-old wanted on felony and misdemeanor charges including escape, was at the Rio Grande Street house, said Colorado Springs Police Sgt. Tim Hogan.
The dog lunged at an officer, biting him on the right wrist, police said.
The dog then retreated and was coming back at the officers when a second officer shot the dog, police said.
"They had permission to be in the house, they did nothing wrong," Hogan said.
So far, sounds not bad, right? Here's the rest:
Gonzales' children let police into the house to look for the fugitive while Gonzales showered, she said.
Her daughter put Gemini, a 2-year-old Labrador-pit bull in the bathroom with her to keep him out of the way, Gonzales said
Police opened the bathroom door and the dog pounced.
Which takes this into the realm of "If the kids put the dog in there, and you knew it, and knew mom was showering, WHY THE HELL DID YOU OPEN THE DOOR?"
But, of course, the officers Did No Wrong:
Hogan said the officer took the necessary steps for self-defense.
"Sometimes that's the only option they have," he said. "It's just one of those things."
Friggin' moron.
The next time a bunch of senators come out as the 'Gang of'
we should immediately erect a whipping post in the DC town square.
The bill would open up a tiny little smidgen of space on the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and gas exploration — just enough that Democrats who vote for it can claim to be pro-drilling, neutralizing one of the Republicans’ most energizing issues going into the November elections. But the benefits of the bill’s meager drilling provisions would be negated (and then some) by $30 billion in tax hikes on U.S. oil companies, placing our own domestic producers at an additional disadvantage compared to their overseas competitors. In exchange for very little new supply, these companies would pay higher taxes related to the crucial activities of exploration and refinery-capacity expansion. To nobody’s great surprise, the industry is not eager to accept this trade.
The money raised by taxing U.S. oil companies would go to pay for $84 billion in new spending on dodgy renewable energy projects — mostly tax credits for hybrid cars and research grants for biofuel production. If you want to know how much of an impact this multi-billion-dollar giveaway for special interests is likely to have on gasoline prices, consider this: Since 2005, Congress has passed two energy bills chock full of subsidies for renewable energy, and gas prices have increased nearly $1.50 per gallon.
We just saw that article the other day about the expected energy shortages in Britain due to bullshit like this, and now members of the Stupid Party are again allying with members of the Evil Party to screw us over. Sondra has some contact information, both for the Stupid Party and for the treacherous little snots involved in this.
The bill would open up a tiny little smidgen of space on the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and gas exploration — just enough that Democrats who vote for it can claim to be pro-drilling, neutralizing one of the Republicans’ most energizing issues going into the November elections. But the benefits of the bill’s meager drilling provisions would be negated (and then some) by $30 billion in tax hikes on U.S. oil companies, placing our own domestic producers at an additional disadvantage compared to their overseas competitors. In exchange for very little new supply, these companies would pay higher taxes related to the crucial activities of exploration and refinery-capacity expansion. To nobody’s great surprise, the industry is not eager to accept this trade.
The money raised by taxing U.S. oil companies would go to pay for $84 billion in new spending on dodgy renewable energy projects — mostly tax credits for hybrid cars and research grants for biofuel production. If you want to know how much of an impact this multi-billion-dollar giveaway for special interests is likely to have on gasoline prices, consider this: Since 2005, Congress has passed two energy bills chock full of subsidies for renewable energy, and gas prices have increased nearly $1.50 per gallon.
We just saw that article the other day about the expected energy shortages in Britain due to bullshit like this, and now members of the Stupid Party are again allying with members of the Evil Party to screw us over. Sondra has some contact information, both for the Stupid Party and for the treacherous little snots involved in this.
"Feminists and duck hunters for Palin
...they ought to be."
What this is really all about is that she is the first everyday American in a generation, the first person who is not an Ivy League attorney, not a career Washington insider, not vetted by the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations and the CIA and Ellen Goodman, a person who works her husband’s fishing boat and drives her own car to work and buys her own groceries, to be given a shot at leading this nation.
And that appears to have a certain element of the political power structure terrified.
Why do you suppose that is?
Jeff also takes note of the push in some places for 'lead-free' ammo. I agree that while there're some people truly concerned about lead, the bulk of this is a way of making shooting as expensive and difficult as possible:
...With gun control on the ropes in the judicial arena following this year’s Supreme Court ruling on the 2nd Amendment, some gun control groups are looking for ways to make acquiring ammunition more difficult. Ammunition, they argue, is not protected by the 2nd Amendment. Copper is the main lead alternative in rifle bullets right now, and copper costs a whole lot more than lead. Hunters used to paying $15 for a box of 20 cartridges with lead bullets will easily pay two or three times that amount for copper equivalents.
The non-toxic push could also, in theory, make possession of lead ammunition illegal.
Especially if Obama/Biden make it into the White House, not a doubt in my mind they'll push this.
What this is really all about is that she is the first everyday American in a generation, the first person who is not an Ivy League attorney, not a career Washington insider, not vetted by the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations and the CIA and Ellen Goodman, a person who works her husband’s fishing boat and drives her own car to work and buys her own groceries, to be given a shot at leading this nation.
And that appears to have a certain element of the political power structure terrified.
Why do you suppose that is?
Jeff also takes note of the push in some places for 'lead-free' ammo. I agree that while there're some people truly concerned about lead, the bulk of this is a way of making shooting as expensive and difficult as possible:
...With gun control on the ropes in the judicial arena following this year’s Supreme Court ruling on the 2nd Amendment, some gun control groups are looking for ways to make acquiring ammunition more difficult. Ammunition, they argue, is not protected by the 2nd Amendment. Copper is the main lead alternative in rifle bullets right now, and copper costs a whole lot more than lead. Hunters used to paying $15 for a box of 20 cartridges with lead bullets will easily pay two or three times that amount for copper equivalents.
The non-toxic push could also, in theory, make possession of lead ammunition illegal.
Especially if Obama/Biden make it into the White House, not a doubt in my mind they'll push this.
Does anybody know what the hell this is?
Jammie-Wearing Fool has it in a post on the situation in Europe after Russia's invasion of Georgia.Good post, too.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Apparently, carrying a half-dozen rolls of insulation
around, then up the stairs and into the attic and unrolling & adjusting it isn't friendly to an elbow that was getting a bit better. Who knew?
Dammit.
Yeah, I SHOULD have known better. Problem is, who else is gonna do it? So I'll be taking it very easy on it the next while.
Cruised over to Uncle and found this:
The Brady Campaign can’t win when the truth is told. So, they lie:
The level of dishonesty these people show is just amazing.
Lots of other stuff there, AND a site redesign. Go take a look.
And now, I must go do something constructive. While using my left arm as little as possible. Fun is expected.
Dammit.
Yeah, I SHOULD have known better. Problem is, who else is gonna do it? So I'll be taking it very easy on it the next while.
Cruised over to Uncle and found this:
The Brady Campaign can’t win when the truth is told. So, they lie:
Among other things, it would allow people to carry loaded assault weapons on city streets. Teenagers and children would be allowed to carry assault and sniper rifles, as the bill repeals all age restrictions on the possession of long guns.
.....
Update: From Kaveman: Go to the BC homepage and click the “capitol under fire” image and look at the top of page #5:
Under H.R. 6691, it would even be legal for some terrorists to carry .50 caliber sniper rifles and military-style assault rifles.
The level of dishonesty these people show is just amazing.
Lots of other stuff there, AND a site redesign. Go take a look.
And now, I must go do something constructive. While using my left arm as little as possible. Fun is expected.
This reminds me of something
Way back when, when I was a dispatcher, often worked on shifts with a woman. Twice, when the lady was on the phone, she had the caller finally demand "I want to speak with a man!"
Both times, it was a woman calling.
When your partner says "One moment," puts the phone on hold, slams down the handset and snarls "YOU talk to this bitch!", you know it's gonna be interesting.
Lock up your daughters and beat your wives,
and the UK(United Kaliphate), formerly known as Great Britain, will let you take anger management classes as long as you go to the officially recognized sharia courts.
ISLAMIC law has been officially adopted in Britain, with sharia courts given powers to rule on Muslim civil cases.
The government has quietly sanctioned the powers for sharia judges to rule on cases ranging from divorce and financial disputes to those involving domestic violence.
Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court
...
Politicians and church leaders expressed concerns that this could mark the beginnings of a “parallel legal system” based on sharia for some British Muslims.
Dominic Grieve, the shadow home secretary, said: “If it is true that these tribunals are passing binding decisions in the areas of family and criminal law, I would like to know which courts are enforcing them because I would consider such action unlawful. British law is absolute and must remain so.” .
Considering the radical muslims have been running sharia courts for several years and telling the Brit legal system to piss off, this isn't really a surprise; that doesn't make this any less disgusting.
There are concerns that women who agree to go to tribunal courts are getting worse deals because Islamic law favours men.
Siddiqi said that in a recent inheritance dispute handled by the court in Nuneaton, the estate of a Midlands man was divided between three daughters and two sons.
The judges on the panel gave the sons twice as much as the daughters, in accordance with sharia. Had the family gone to a normal British court, the daughters would have got equal amounts.
In the six cases of domestic violence, Siddiqi said the judges ordered the husbands to take anger management classes and mentoring from community elders. There was no further punishment.
Yeah, that works nicely with the 'equal under the law' idea the Brits have now officially thrown under the double-decker bus.
ISLAMIC law has been officially adopted in Britain, with sharia courts given powers to rule on Muslim civil cases.
The government has quietly sanctioned the powers for sharia judges to rule on cases ranging from divorce and financial disputes to those involving domestic violence.
Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court
...
Politicians and church leaders expressed concerns that this could mark the beginnings of a “parallel legal system” based on sharia for some British Muslims.
Dominic Grieve, the shadow home secretary, said: “If it is true that these tribunals are passing binding decisions in the areas of family and criminal law, I would like to know which courts are enforcing them because I would consider such action unlawful. British law is absolute and must remain so.” .
Considering the radical muslims have been running sharia courts for several years and telling the Brit legal system to piss off, this isn't really a surprise; that doesn't make this any less disgusting.
There are concerns that women who agree to go to tribunal courts are getting worse deals because Islamic law favours men.
Siddiqi said that in a recent inheritance dispute handled by the court in Nuneaton, the estate of a Midlands man was divided between three daughters and two sons.
The judges on the panel gave the sons twice as much as the daughters, in accordance with sharia. Had the family gone to a normal British court, the daughters would have got equal amounts.
In the six cases of domestic violence, Siddiqi said the judges ordered the husbands to take anger management classes and mentoring from community elders. There was no further punishment.
Yeah, that works nicely with the 'equal under the law' idea the Brits have now officially thrown under the double-decker bus.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Not the most constructive of days
Despite actually getting to sleep last night, haven't caught up on what I lost Friday night. About the only constructive thing I did today was run to Home Depot and buy some rolls of fiberglass insulation they've dropped the price on and install it in the attic. And, since today was a lot cooler than the last time I did this(earlier in the day, too) I only half-sweated to death. Need another roll, maybe, but I think the rest I have to cover I may get two or three of the bales of blow-in stuff and throw it around; not enough area to need the blower I don't think, and it'd be easier to do that than cut and fill with roll.
The fun thing I did was take daughter to the range, where she proceeded to place lots of 9mm and .22 holes in targets. Wish we could do this more often, but with such conflicting schedules just doesn't work out often.
Well, I also mowed the back yard, so I guess TWO constructive things today. Mowed the front just before this last rain so it's ok for now.
Speaking of rain, total here from Ike was right at one inch; not bad at all. Lots more further east; Dad says his sister lost power for a time(Arkansas) between rain and wind. We missed this particular batch of nasty.
Well, well, the Random Strikes guy pointed out this article on the power situation in (fG)Britain; it ain't good:
Britain is “quite simply running out of power” and blackouts are almost inevitable within the next few years.
This is the stark warning from the head of an energy think-tank who believes power cuts could be serious enough to spark civil disorder.
Campbell Dunford of the respected Renewable Energy Foundation said: “It’s almost too late to do anything about it. Nothing will stop us having to pay very high prices for power in future.
“If we pull our finger out now we can limit blackouts but it’s going to be pretty grim whatever happens.”
Now, that's just downright nasty sounding. And it getsbetterworse:
The “retirement” of a string of nuclear and coal-fired power stations will see 37 per cent of the UK’s generation disappear by 2015, partly because of EU environmental directives.
An REF report predicts that the neglect of the power infrastructure will lead to a series of grim consequences, particularly electricity and gas price rises as Britain could be held to ransom by such foreign energy producers as Russia.
Blackouts could force the Government to impose electricity rationing, last seen in the Seventies. The REF report says the Government “should prepare itself to intervene with social policy to prevent hardship and maintain order”.
Translation: 'maintain order' means "People are going to be so pissed at this that they may want to visit Parliament with torches and pitchforks. And nooses."
It criticises ministers for focusing too heavily on such untried renewable energy sources as wind and tide power, rather than making sure that secure new power generation was put in place.
The report concludes: “A near fatal preoccupation with politically attractive but marginal forms of renewables seems to have caused a blindness towards the weakening of the UK’s power stations and a dangerous and helpless vulnerability to natural gas.”
Damn. Think about that: losing more than a third of their proven power generation systems to make the EUnuchs happy. It doesn't say they're being shut down for repairs, or rebuiding, they're being 'retired'. Which means the morons who got the green light the other day to destroy coal-fired plants 'because stopping global warming is more important than the law' are forcing this. I wonder how they'll deal with a bunch of people cold and in the dark who decide that hanging enviroweenies is more important than the laws about manslaughter and murder?
Speaking of that court case the other day, that'd be an interesting case: "Your Honor, I hold that keeping the deceased from sticking a knife in me and then raping my wife is a far more important matter than the laws saying I can only use what the prosecutor(that stinking jerk sitting over there) thinks is 'reasonable' force in self-defense."
Oooooh, and here's a bit more on Rep. Rangel(Crooked As A Dog's Broken Hind Leg-NY):
Now, we learn that Rangel is busy taking junkets on lobbyist money without declaring it under the new Congressional ethics rules.
My, my, my.
It is quite telling that the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee doesn't bother paying attention to the rules, including the tax law (which he helps write in his Committee) and the ethics rules. Of course, it's systemic in that other Democrats don't seem to know the rules either.
...
Rangel clearly believes that the rules do not apply to him. Then again, it's not entirely clear whether he has a command of the facts either - as he keeps changing facts and figures to the point where no one quite knows what's going on, including Rep. Pelosi, who claimed a higher figure for the villa than had previously been disclosed. Maybe that's all part of a plan to keep him out of trouble, but it should be reason enough for Pelosi to send him packing as the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
If Pelosi(Equally Crooked-CA) actually meant that 'most honest Congress in history' line, Rangel would be out of that chair already. Not going to hold my breath on that.
Ah, well. To shower, to drink and to bed.
The fun thing I did was take daughter to the range, where she proceeded to place lots of 9mm and .22 holes in targets. Wish we could do this more often, but with such conflicting schedules just doesn't work out often.
Well, I also mowed the back yard, so I guess TWO constructive things today. Mowed the front just before this last rain so it's ok for now.
Speaking of rain, total here from Ike was right at one inch; not bad at all. Lots more further east; Dad says his sister lost power for a time(Arkansas) between rain and wind. We missed this particular batch of nasty.
Well, well, the Random Strikes guy pointed out this article on the power situation in (fG)Britain; it ain't good:
Britain is “quite simply running out of power” and blackouts are almost inevitable within the next few years.
This is the stark warning from the head of an energy think-tank who believes power cuts could be serious enough to spark civil disorder.
Campbell Dunford of the respected Renewable Energy Foundation said: “It’s almost too late to do anything about it. Nothing will stop us having to pay very high prices for power in future.
“If we pull our finger out now we can limit blackouts but it’s going to be pretty grim whatever happens.”
Now, that's just downright nasty sounding. And it gets
The “retirement” of a string of nuclear and coal-fired power stations will see 37 per cent of the UK’s generation disappear by 2015, partly because of EU environmental directives.
An REF report predicts that the neglect of the power infrastructure will lead to a series of grim consequences, particularly electricity and gas price rises as Britain could be held to ransom by such foreign energy producers as Russia.
Blackouts could force the Government to impose electricity rationing, last seen in the Seventies. The REF report says the Government “should prepare itself to intervene with social policy to prevent hardship and maintain order”.
Translation: 'maintain order' means "People are going to be so pissed at this that they may want to visit Parliament with torches and pitchforks. And nooses."
It criticises ministers for focusing too heavily on such untried renewable energy sources as wind and tide power, rather than making sure that secure new power generation was put in place.
The report concludes: “A near fatal preoccupation with politically attractive but marginal forms of renewables seems to have caused a blindness towards the weakening of the UK’s power stations and a dangerous and helpless vulnerability to natural gas.”
Damn. Think about that: losing more than a third of their proven power generation systems to make the EUnuchs happy. It doesn't say they're being shut down for repairs, or rebuiding, they're being 'retired'. Which means the morons who got the green light the other day to destroy coal-fired plants 'because stopping global warming is more important than the law' are forcing this. I wonder how they'll deal with a bunch of people cold and in the dark who decide that hanging enviroweenies is more important than the laws about manslaughter and murder?
Speaking of that court case the other day, that'd be an interesting case: "Your Honor, I hold that keeping the deceased from sticking a knife in me and then raping my wife is a far more important matter than the laws saying I can only use what the prosecutor(that stinking jerk sitting over there) thinks is 'reasonable' force in self-defense."
Oooooh, and here's a bit more on Rep. Rangel(Crooked As A Dog's Broken Hind Leg-NY):
Now, we learn that Rangel is busy taking junkets on lobbyist money without declaring it under the new Congressional ethics rules.
My, my, my.
It is quite telling that the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee doesn't bother paying attention to the rules, including the tax law (which he helps write in his Committee) and the ethics rules. Of course, it's systemic in that other Democrats don't seem to know the rules either.
...
Rangel clearly believes that the rules do not apply to him. Then again, it's not entirely clear whether he has a command of the facts either - as he keeps changing facts and figures to the point where no one quite knows what's going on, including Rep. Pelosi, who claimed a higher figure for the villa than had previously been disclosed. Maybe that's all part of a plan to keep him out of trouble, but it should be reason enough for Pelosi to send him packing as the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
If Pelosi(Equally Crooked-CA) actually meant that 'most honest Congress in history' line, Rangel would be out of that chair already. Not going to hold my breath on that.
Ah, well. To shower, to drink and to bed.
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