Wonderful writer, veteran of WWII, creator of Harry Flashman. Got to thinking about him today, and thought I'd post something I wrote a few years back. First, on the subject of preparedness:
In Royal Flash he's been enticed into a trip and he's packing, when he runs into a quandary over a pair of pistols:
But I pondered about taking them. The truth was, I didn't want to believe that I might need them.
I knew, as I hesitated with those pistols in my hands, that if I took them I should be admitting the possibility of my own sudden death or maiming in whatever lay ahead.
And experience has taught me that, as with all weapons, while you may not often need it, when you do you need it badly.
From Flashman and the Mountain of Light, Flashman is making a list of good and bad points about his situation:
Evil
If I were a praying man, the Almighty would hear from me in no uncertain terms, and much good it would do me.
Good
Being a pagan(attached C of E) with no divine resources, I shall tread uncommon wary and keep my pepperbox handy.
And later, when he’s sneaked out of his quarters in answer to a summons, and finds himself in a tavern in enemy territory:
I’d settle for you alongside this minute, thinks I, as I surveyed the company: villainous two-rupee bravos, painted harpies who should have been perched in trees, a seedy flute-and-tom-tom ban accompanying a couple of gyrating nautches whom you wouldn’t have touched with a long pole, and Sikh brandy fit to corrode a bucket. I’ll never way a word against Boodle’s again, says I to myself; at least there you don’t have to sit with your back to the wall.
He wrote about his and other peoples experiences in WWII(Quartered Safe Out Here, MacAuslan in the Rough, The General Danced at Dawn), all good books. And then, at the end, the Daily Mail published his Last Testament, which included
In the Nineties, a change began to take place. Reviewers and interviewers started describing Flashman (and me) as politically incorrect, which we are, though by no means in the same way.
This is fine by me. Flashman is my bread and butter, and if he wasn't an elitist, racist, sexist swine, I'd be selling bootlaces at street corners instead of being a successful popular writer.
But what I notice with amusement is that many commentators now draw attention to Flashy's (and my) political incorrectness in order to make a point of distancing themselves from it.
It's not that they dislike the books. But where once the non-PC thing could pass unremarked, they now feel they must warn readers that some may find Flashman offensive, and that his views are certainly not those of the interviewer or reviewer, God forbid.
I find the disclaimers alarming. They are almost a knee-jerk reaction and often rather a nervous one, as if the writer were saying: "Look, I'm not a racist or sexist. I hold the right views and I'm in line with modern enlightened thought, honestly."
They won't risk saying anything to which the PC lobby could take exception. And it is this that alarms me - the fear evident in so many sincere and honest folk of being thought out of step.
...
I think little of people who will deny their history because it doesn't present the picture they would like.
My forebears from the Highlands of Scotland were a fairly primitive, treacherous, blood-thirsty bunch and, as Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote, would have been none the worse for washing. Fine, let them be so depicted, if any film maker feels like it; better that than insulting, inaccurate drivel like Braveheart.
...
I loathe all political parties, which I regard as inventions of the devil. My favourite prime minister was Sir Alec Douglas-Home, not because he was on the Right, but because he spent a year in office without, on his own admission, doing a damned thing.
This would not commend him to New Labour, who count all time lost when they're not wrecking the country.
I am deeply concerned for the United Kingdom and its future. I look at the old country as it was in my youth and as it is today and, to use a fine Scots word, I am scunnered.
And the part that probably caused a lot of pants-wetting and outrage, and would have had some idiot threatening him with jail if he weren't dying:
Whether the public can be blamed for letting them pursue their ruinous policies is debatable.
Short of assassination there is little people can do when their political masters have forgotten the true meaning of the democracy of which they are forever prating, are determined to have their own way at all costs and hold public opinion in contempt.
I feel I speak not just for myself but for the huge majority of my generation who think as I do but whose voices are so often lost in the clamour.
We are yesterday's people, the over-the-hill gang. (Yes, the old people - not the senior citizens or the time-challenged, but the old people.) Those of ultra-liberal views may take consolation from this - that my kind won't be around much longer, and then they can get on with wrecking civilisation in peace.
The man could write, and didn't give a damn if someone was outraged or had hurt feelings from his words.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Hopefully the only post I'll do on Trump
I think he started the "I might run" noise just to stir things up; now I think his ego is also involved, and if he gets a chance he just might screw things up the way Perot did and help Obama win another term. Hell, maybe that's what he's planning on, considering his past record of supporting the most far-left/socialist politicians around(including Schumer and Lautenberg).
And, in case you're wondering about his position on the 2nd Amendment,
I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun. With today’s Internet technology we should be able to tell within 72-hours if a potential gun owner has a record.
And, in case you're wondering about his position on the 2nd Amendment,
I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun. With today’s Internet technology we should be able to tell within 72-hours if a potential gun owner has a record.
I'm curious: with al-Assad's forces actually shooting unarmed protesters
and so forth, has anyone heard the UN declaring the world has a 'duty to protect'? Or Obama stating we have to prevent massacres? Oh, there's stuff like this:
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Assad's government must "respect international human rights" and called for an independent probe into the killings, as France urged Syria to launch a "political dialogue without delay."
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called the crackdown "intolerable," and urged Damascus to launch "profound political reforms."
and Obama(for a change) is actually, flatly condemning the killing; but I haven't heard one word of the demanding that we act that got us involved in Libya.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Assad's government must "respect international human rights" and called for an independent probe into the killings, as France urged Syria to launch a "political dialogue without delay."
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called the crackdown "intolerable," and urged Damascus to launch "profound political reforms."
and Obama(for a change) is actually, flatly condemning the killing; but I haven't heard one word of the demanding that we act that got us involved in Libya.
I've got one hell of a headache, but being
First, actual free speech is messy and often upsets somebody; that doesn't mean you get to silence people on the grounds 'there might be trouble'. I realize the problems involved, but we cannot allow the authorities to shut people up because of the Heckler's Veto. Or in this case the Upset Muslim Veto.
Second, next time some clown starts lecturing on how we should give amnesty(by ANY name, including 'pathway out of the shadows' or other bullshit) to illegal aliens, point them to this.
As a side note, a while back I heard a OKC cop say that if it weren't for illegal aliens we'd have maybe half the gang problems we do.
Third: for some of these goat-humpers video of them cutting a head off isn't good enough, they want video of their mass murder.
Last, this is what all those taxes for education in NYEffin'C are paying for:
'How to teach Marxism to the kids in your class without getting caught'. Or maybe 'in trouble'.
Denny got a letter about fixing Congress
that did not involve tar, feathers and a rope. I'm going to borrow it:
I've been saying for years, 'NO retirement system for House, Senate or President: it's supposed to be a position of service, not a career. You want to stay there for decades and want a retirement system, open a IRA. And I VERY much like #8, but I'd make it something like 'no Senator or Rep can take a job that involves lobbying Congress or a contract with the Federal government for a minimum of ten years', or 'ever, you bastards'. In proper amendment language, of course.
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to
become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on
their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the
message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 20111. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when
they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security
system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system,
and Congress participates with the American people.
How long do you think it would take Congress to fix Social Security if this happened? ... GOC
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will
rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
I've got a better idea. They only get a pay raise when the budget is balanced. Deficit spending means no pay raise for the congresscritters. What kind of politicians are they if they can't survive on their already generous salaries and all the money they get in bribes and graft? ... GOC
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same
health care system as the American people.
Wonder what that would do to Obummercare? ... GOC
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.
Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is
an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators,
so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three
days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on.
If not, just delete.
I've been saying for years, 'NO retirement system for House, Senate or President: it's supposed to be a position of service, not a career. You want to stay there for decades and want a retirement system, open a IRA. And I VERY much like #8, but I'd make it something like 'no Senator or Rep can take a job that involves lobbying Congress or a contract with the Federal government for a minimum of ten years', or 'ever, you bastards'. In proper amendment language, of course.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Does anyone else get pissed when some talking head
or 'economics expert' plays "How high will the price of gas have to get to affect people?" Do these morons not realize what it's doing now, or are they playing games so as to not whack on Obama & Co. for this?
Insty pointed to this article which takes notice that prices NOW are causing real problems for people. However,
If gas were to go to $5 a gallon and stay there, some analysts believe, it could erase the steady gains the economy is making and tip the nation back into recession because Americans would sharply curtail their spending elsewhere.
is bullshit: the current prices are erasing any 'gains' and people are ALREADY cutting other spending as well as driving less if they can. If it does get to $5 a gallon nationwide we're screwed, and it doesn't matter how much The Lightworker blames speculators and tells people to buy new cars, it won't help. The only thing that really will is permits to explore and drill being approved, and I think he and his minions would rather see the country crash than do that.
Insty pointed to this article which takes notice that prices NOW are causing real problems for people. However,
If gas were to go to $5 a gallon and stay there, some analysts believe, it could erase the steady gains the economy is making and tip the nation back into recession because Americans would sharply curtail their spending elsewhere.
is bullshit: the current prices are erasing any 'gains' and people are ALREADY cutting other spending as well as driving less if they can. If it does get to $5 a gallon nationwide we're screwed, and it doesn't matter how much The Lightworker blames speculators and tells people to buy new cars, it won't help. The only thing that really will is permits to explore and drill being approved, and I think he and his minions would rather see the country crash than do that.
Anyone who makes excuses for Hamas is either a fool
or a hater of Jews equal to the Hamassholes:
Seraphic Secret learned, early this morning, that Daniel Raphael Viflic, the 16-year-old who was severely wounded by the anti-tank missile fired at an Israeli school bus by Hamas terrorists, died on Sunday. May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
The Hamas attack on the bus was intended to kill as many Jewish children as possible. In fact, Hamas are proud of this murder, labeling young Daniel a “Zionist soldier.”
These worthless shits fired a guided missile at a SCHOOL BUS.
The same people who put rocket launchers and weapons dumps in or next to homes and schools specifically to get civilians killed so they can use the pictures and dance in the blood and blame the nasty JOOOOOOS for it.
I've had people give me hell for calling them Palisimians; blaming the Israelis for all the troubles. They make excuses for things like the murders of Eldad Fogel
age 4, and Yoav Fogel
age 11. And the rest of their family, including their sister Hadas, THREE MONTHS OLD. And the palisimians celebrated these murders, gave out candy.
There are no excuses for these wastes of oxygen, or for those who excuse their actions.
Seraphic Secret learned, early this morning, that Daniel Raphael Viflic, the 16-year-old who was severely wounded by the anti-tank missile fired at an Israeli school bus by Hamas terrorists, died on Sunday. May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
The Hamas attack on the bus was intended to kill as many Jewish children as possible. In fact, Hamas are proud of this murder, labeling young Daniel a “Zionist soldier.”
These worthless shits fired a guided missile at a SCHOOL BUS.
The same people who put rocket launchers and weapons dumps in or next to homes and schools specifically to get civilians killed so they can use the pictures and dance in the blood and blame the nasty JOOOOOOS for it.
I've had people give me hell for calling them Palisimians; blaming the Israelis for all the troubles. They make excuses for things like the murders of Eldad Fogel
age 4, and Yoav Fogel
age 11. And the rest of their family, including their sister Hadas, THREE MONTHS OLD. And the palisimians celebrated these murders, gave out candy.There are no excuses for these wastes of oxygen, or for those who excuse their actions.
Ref the Michigan State Police possibly scanning phones
on routine traffic stops. Insty says
If you consent to a search, however, all bets are off. It’s hard to see why anyone would do so: If you’re a criminal, you’ve got something to hide; and if you’re not a criminal, why would you want to let the police paw through your email?
True enough; the reason people do is they're pressured into it. People, including lots of honest people, are somewhat scared of the cops: they know they can be arrested for pretty much anything if it's a bad one stopping you. They may have the kids in the car, be on the way to a job, may just be short of time and they get
"You realize refusing permission looks suspicious?"
"Sir/Ma'am, I can keep you here until I can get a drug dog to sniff around the car..."
and so on. Someone short of time or intimidated gives in and says "Ok, search." Lots of cops are very good at pressuring and scaring people into giving permission. That's why so many people surrender their 4th Amendment rights to the man with the badge.
And yes, they can make you sit around for a while waiting or a dog, and there's no set time; I asked a lawyer about this once and he said the time 'depends on the circumstances'. Think about that while wondering why people get spooked and surrender.
If you consent to a search, however, all bets are off. It’s hard to see why anyone would do so: If you’re a criminal, you’ve got something to hide; and if you’re not a criminal, why would you want to let the police paw through your email?
True enough; the reason people do is they're pressured into it. People, including lots of honest people, are somewhat scared of the cops: they know they can be arrested for pretty much anything if it's a bad one stopping you. They may have the kids in the car, be on the way to a job, may just be short of time and they get
"You realize refusing permission looks suspicious?"
"Sir/Ma'am, I can keep you here until I can get a drug dog to sniff around the car..."
and so on. Someone short of time or intimidated gives in and says "Ok, search." Lots of cops are very good at pressuring and scaring people into giving permission. That's why so many people surrender their 4th Amendment rights to the man with the badge.
And yes, they can make you sit around for a while waiting or a dog, and there's no set time; I asked a lawyer about this once and he said the time 'depends on the circumstances'. Think about that while wondering why people get spooked and surrender.
Two things on the Gunwalker mess and Mexico wanting to sue
US gunmakers:
First, timing: I missed something in this at first glance. Something big. Mexico hired the law firm back in early November 2010 while the Gunwalker scandal still hadn't come to the surface. Here's an excellent question: Could it all been a part of the plan, just a soliloquy from Act II? Does this demonstrate that Calderon was in it from the beginning? Flood the border with U.S. traceable guns so you can prove the "90%" (or as close as you can get), and then have Calderon file suit to cripple the industry financially and keep the NRA busy, while Melson calls for new emergency restrictions and then put it all to bed with new comprehensive totally encompassing legislation. Now that actually could fit. If you're slightly mistrusting of the governments of Mexico and the United States, that is.
Second, about that law firm:
Found something interesting that may be of interest to Grassley. Apparently one of the partners of that law firm, just so happens to have been appointed by Obama to the Texas Federal bench.
Yep.
http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/07/president-nominates-marina-garcia-marmolejo-for-southern-district-bench.html
President nominates Marina Garcia Marmolejo for Southern District bench
In a press release today from the White House, President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Marina Garcia Marmolejo, a partner in Reid Davisin San Antonio, as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Well, isn't that interesting?
First, timing: I missed something in this at first glance. Something big. Mexico hired the law firm back in early November 2010 while the Gunwalker scandal still hadn't come to the surface. Here's an excellent question: Could it all been a part of the plan, just a soliloquy from Act II? Does this demonstrate that Calderon was in it from the beginning? Flood the border with U.S. traceable guns so you can prove the "90%" (or as close as you can get), and then have Calderon file suit to cripple the industry financially and keep the NRA busy, while Melson calls for new emergency restrictions and then put it all to bed with new comprehensive totally encompassing legislation. Now that actually could fit. If you're slightly mistrusting of the governments of Mexico and the United States, that is.
Second, about that law firm:
Found something interesting that may be of interest to Grassley. Apparently one of the partners of that law firm, just so happens to have been appointed by Obama to the Texas Federal bench.
Yep.
http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/07/president-nominates-marina-garcia-marmolejo-for-southern-district-bench.html
President nominates Marina Garcia Marmolejo for Southern District bench
In a press release today from the White House, President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Marina Garcia Marmolejo, a partner in Reid Davisin San Antonio, as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Well, isn't that interesting?
Taking a look around, oh, where to start?
How about this:
The combination of rising gasoline prices and the steepest increase in the cost of food in a generation is threatening to push the US economy into a recession, according to Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners.
We got OUT of the recession? Really?
If we don't raise the debt ceiling:
"What will happen is that we'd have to stop making payments to our seniors -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. We'd have to stop paying veterans' benefits. We'd have to stop paying all the other payments on all the other things the government does. And then we would risk default on our interest payments."
...
Is any of this true? Will seniors not get their June Social Security checks? Will doctors be stiffed for the health care they provided Medicare patients? Will the Pentagon be unable to buy fuel for missions in Afghanistan? If history is any guide, the answer to all of these questions is "no."
The United States has reached its debt limit three times in the past 30 years and not only did economic Armageddon never materialize, but not a single Social Security check was late.
So why is Geithner saying this(besides being a tax-cheating dirtbag)?
The GAO reports highlights the tremendous discretion Geithner has over how and when the federal government pays what bills. So the only reason June Social Security checks might not go out, as Geithner warned they might not, is if Geithner chose not to send them.
Anyone willing to be that he wouldn't decide to stop SS checks or something similar just to make the situation worse?
The government of Gambia says muslims are hair-triggered nutcases who can't act like civilized people. Not what they wanted to say, but that's what it works out to. They also demonstrate their ignorance of how things work here.
Breakables alert in effect. Remember the name Johnny Sutton? The slimy little bastard federal prosecutor? He's at it again:
This latest prosecution against a U.S. border agent stems from an October 2008 incident near the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, TX where Diaz and several other agents responded to illegal aliens who had crossed the river into Texas with bundles of drugs.
Agents apprehended the aliens and as Diaz was getting ready to put one of the aliens in the truck for transport, he allegedly pulled on his handcuffs, a common law enforcement technique to get suspects to cooperate. It was 1:30 in the morning and Diaz and the other agents were trying to find the drugs brought over by the suspects and determine if any other cartel smugglers were hiding in the bushes nearby. The suspect refused to answer their questions. They eventually found the drugs and all were taken to the station for processing.
Go read.
Near the city of Qom, Iran has a secret plant that is part of its chemical weapons program, according to a secret U.S. cable sent by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which is part of the WikiLeaks documents obtained by Haaretz. Clinton instructed the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to take action against a Chinese company that is involved in the transfer of equipment, know-how and technology to Iran.
Joy, the thought of the Iranian government making lots of chemical weapons.
Ah, the integrity of pacifist principles in Spain; "We won't fight terrorists, but we'll sell weapons to ANYBODY."
Go read why Sarah Hoyt calles him that.
One more thing, it I'll put it in a Post Of Its Own
The combination of rising gasoline prices and the steepest increase in the cost of food in a generation is threatening to push the US economy into a recession, according to Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners.
We got OUT of the recession? Really?
If we don't raise the debt ceiling:
"What will happen is that we'd have to stop making payments to our seniors -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. We'd have to stop paying veterans' benefits. We'd have to stop paying all the other payments on all the other things the government does. And then we would risk default on our interest payments."
...
Is any of this true? Will seniors not get their June Social Security checks? Will doctors be stiffed for the health care they provided Medicare patients? Will the Pentagon be unable to buy fuel for missions in Afghanistan? If history is any guide, the answer to all of these questions is "no."
The United States has reached its debt limit three times in the past 30 years and not only did economic Armageddon never materialize, but not a single Social Security check was late.
So why is Geithner saying this(besides being a tax-cheating dirtbag)?
The GAO reports highlights the tremendous discretion Geithner has over how and when the federal government pays what bills. So the only reason June Social Security checks might not go out, as Geithner warned they might not, is if Geithner chose not to send them.
Anyone willing to be that he wouldn't decide to stop SS checks or something similar just to make the situation worse?
The government of Gambia says muslims are hair-triggered nutcases who can't act like civilized people. Not what they wanted to say, but that's what it works out to. They also demonstrate their ignorance of how things work here.
Breakables alert in effect. Remember the name Johnny Sutton? The slimy little bastard federal prosecutor? He's at it again:
This latest prosecution against a U.S. border agent stems from an October 2008 incident near the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, TX where Diaz and several other agents responded to illegal aliens who had crossed the river into Texas with bundles of drugs.
Agents apprehended the aliens and as Diaz was getting ready to put one of the aliens in the truck for transport, he allegedly pulled on his handcuffs, a common law enforcement technique to get suspects to cooperate. It was 1:30 in the morning and Diaz and the other agents were trying to find the drugs brought over by the suspects and determine if any other cartel smugglers were hiding in the bushes nearby. The suspect refused to answer their questions. They eventually found the drugs and all were taken to the station for processing.
Go read.
Near the city of Qom, Iran has a secret plant that is part of its chemical weapons program, according to a secret U.S. cable sent by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which is part of the WikiLeaks documents obtained by Haaretz. Clinton instructed the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to take action against a Chinese company that is involved in the transfer of equipment, know-how and technology to Iran.
Joy, the thought of the Iranian government making lots of chemical weapons.
Ah, the integrity of pacifist principles in Spain; "We won't fight terrorists, but we'll sell weapons to ANYBODY."
Go read why Sarah Hoyt calles him that.One more thing, it I'll put it in a Post Of Its Own
Thursday, April 21, 2011
A new way to describe the nonexistant 'gun show loophole':
Mind you, "closing the gun show loophole" is collectivist-speak for banning the individual transfer of firearms without federal permission. Want to hand down your grandpa's twelve gauge to your son? You'll both have to undergo a background check. Not even King George the III was this grasping.
Stupid: you do it really well
Mike Quigley is proud of his new bill, it would seem. Here are some things it does:
1. Does dumbass have no real idea what happens in a gun barrel? or is he hoping this would mess things up somehow?
2. Does he know of a magical ink that'll glow in infrared and never, ever wear off? or is this one of those "And this is where the magic happens!" moments?
* A second, hidden serial number on every gun, “This provision would require gun manufacturers to install additional, tamper-resistant serial numbers either inside the gun barrel or visible only in infrared light.”I'll let you read the rest over at SiH. On the above, I have two questions:
1. Does dumbass have no real idea what happens in a gun barrel? or is he hoping this would mess things up somehow?
2. Does he know of a magical ink that'll glow in infrared and never, ever wear off? or is this one of those "And this is where the magic happens!" moments?
So if you've got a safety deposit box or some other property,
you'd better make sure it's still there.
San Francisco resident Carla Ruff's safe-deposit box was drilled, seized, and turned over to the state of California, marked "owner unknown."
"I was appalled," Ruff said. "I felt violated."
Unknown? Carla's name was right on documents in the box at the Noe Valley Bank of America location. So was her address -- a house about six blocks from the bank. Carla had a checking account at the bank, too -- still does -- and receives regular statements. Plus, she has receipts showing she's the kind of person who paid her box rental fee. And yet, she says nobody ever notified her.
...
To make matters worse, Ruff discovered the loss when she went to her box to retrieve important paperwork she needed because her husband was dying. Those papers had been shredded.
And that's not all. Her great-grandmother's precious natural pearls and other jewelry had been auctioned off. They were sold for just $1,800, even though they were appraised for $82,500.
Lots of other cases of theft by government. Which is exactly what this is.
Oh, her bank?
Bank of America told ABC News it deeply regrets the situation and appreciates the difficulty of what Mrs. Ruff was going through. The bank has reached a settlement with Ruff and continues to update its unclaimed property procedures as laws change.
Well, considering the bank HAD her name and address AND knew she had a current account and DIDN'T BOTHER to try to contact her... I'll bet they did 'reach a settlement', considering their part in this theft.
San Francisco resident Carla Ruff's safe-deposit box was drilled, seized, and turned over to the state of California, marked "owner unknown."
"I was appalled," Ruff said. "I felt violated."
Unknown? Carla's name was right on documents in the box at the Noe Valley Bank of America location. So was her address -- a house about six blocks from the bank. Carla had a checking account at the bank, too -- still does -- and receives regular statements. Plus, she has receipts showing she's the kind of person who paid her box rental fee. And yet, she says nobody ever notified her.
...
To make matters worse, Ruff discovered the loss when she went to her box to retrieve important paperwork she needed because her husband was dying. Those papers had been shredded.
And that's not all. Her great-grandmother's precious natural pearls and other jewelry had been auctioned off. They were sold for just $1,800, even though they were appraised for $82,500.
Lots of other cases of theft by government. Which is exactly what this is.
Oh, her bank?
Bank of America told ABC News it deeply regrets the situation and appreciates the difficulty of what Mrs. Ruff was going through. The bank has reached a settlement with Ruff and continues to update its unclaimed property procedures as laws change.
Well, considering the bank HAD her name and address AND knew she had a current account and DIDN'T BOTHER to try to contact her... I'll bet they did 'reach a settlement', considering their part in this theft.
So it's not only 'Don't break the CFL bulb!', it's
'Don't use it very much!'
Fears have been reignited about the safety of energy saving light bulbs after a group of scientists warned that they contain cancer causing chemicals.
...
But the German scientists claimed that several carcinogenic chemicals and toxins were released when the environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were switched on, including phenol, naphthalene and styrene.
Andreas Kirchner, of the Federation of German Engineers, said: “Electrical smog develops around these lamps.
Well, isn't that just wonderful? There are mentions of other studies indicating problems with the things, too.
Fears have been reignited about the safety of energy saving light bulbs after a group of scientists warned that they contain cancer causing chemicals.
...
But the German scientists claimed that several carcinogenic chemicals and toxins were released when the environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were switched on, including phenol, naphthalene and styrene.
Andreas Kirchner, of the Federation of German Engineers, said: “Electrical smog develops around these lamps.
Well, isn't that just wonderful? There are mentions of other studies indicating problems with the things, too.
Philip Luty was the creator of a website on, among other things,
homemade firearms. So far as I know he never actually built one , just wrote about it. (I stand corrected: He built and test fired the gun for the original book which Paladin publish.
He got five years in a high security prison for that one, stuck in with the murderers and hardened violent crimminals, I don't think they even let him attend his mother's funeral) For which the British government and bastard excuses for lawmen harassed him- actually jailed him a couple of times- for daring to do.
I just got word he died. His website is being kept in service here in the US, well worth browsing through.
He got five years in a high security prison for that one, stuck in with the murderers and hardened violent crimminals, I don't think they even let him attend his mother's funeral) For which the British government and bastard excuses for lawmen harassed him- actually jailed him a couple of times- for daring to do.
I just got word he died. His website is being kept in service here in the US, well worth browsing through.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Someone I know informed me that the upset over the Wonkette
attack on Palin's son is based on "Palin gets her fee-fees hurt and now you want us to talk nice to each other?" This based on all the nastiness and death threats and personal attacks conservativ- oops, I had to inform her that that crap mostly came from her side. And that trying to play the upset on Wonkbitch's attack on a child was 'because Palin's feelings are hurt'. Got news for her: I have no idea what Palin might say about this(know what I would), but I do know that decent people think bullshit like that is inexcusable. These are the people who shit bricks when someone took notice of Al Gore's son getting arrested, or comment on Chelsea Clinton- after she was grown up- working on her mom's campaign, but garbage like this directed at some nasty conservative's kid? Oh, THAT's fine.
Taking their lead from idiot academics like this. Who basically excuse themselves with "You offended me, so I can say anything I like about you." Hey, Prof. Lewin, go fuck yourself; how's that for offensive, you scab on the butt of humanity? Of course, a professor of Anthropology and Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies in the Department of Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies is probably going to be a thin-skinned nasty-tempered bitch, but you'd think would have the brains to not act like a sorostitute who just got her ass fondled by a non-PC male.
Speaking of idiots who want to mind your business, take a look at this:
So now putting alcohol in an alcoholic beverage and making it taste like something other than burnt coffee is an obvious ploy to "entice young people". What do you recommend, Paul? An independent commission of prune-faced busybodies who will sign off on new beverage flavors provided they taste awful enough?
That's probably EXACTLY what they have in mind, headed by the named member of the think tank that promotes justice in the media. Though anyone who is part of a group like that should be permanently locked up on general principles of Stay The Hell Out Of My Life.
Taking their lead from idiot academics like this. Who basically excuse themselves with "You offended me, so I can say anything I like about you." Hey, Prof. Lewin, go fuck yourself; how's that for offensive, you scab on the butt of humanity? Of course, a professor of Anthropology and Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies in the Department of Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies is probably going to be a thin-skinned nasty-tempered bitch, but you'd think would have the brains to not act like a sorostitute who just got her ass fondled by a non-PC male.
Speaking of idiots who want to mind your business, take a look at this:
So now putting alcohol in an alcoholic beverage and making it taste like something other than burnt coffee is an obvious ploy to "entice young people". What do you recommend, Paul? An independent commission of prune-faced busybodies who will sign off on new beverage flavors provided they taste awful enough?
That's probably EXACTLY what they have in mind, headed by the named member of the think tank that promotes justice in the media. Though anyone who is part of a group like that should be permanently locked up on general principles of Stay The Hell Out Of My Life.
Railguns are getting better and better
A nice, aerodynamic projectile in a sabot, goes through a 1/8" steel plate 100 yards downrange and travels more than four miles further.
Also amazing is the video of the projectile in flight
Also amazing is the video of the projectile in flight
IITF Box of Truth velocity readings
Went to the range today and was able to put together the same guns(minus one) and set up the Chrony to get some velocity readings for the ammo I tested last week. Here's the results, standard DISCLAIMER on the load information.
7.62x25 Tokarev 90 grain Hornady XTP hollowpoint, 5.8 grains W231 1300fps
.32acp, 60 grain Gold Dot hp, 2.5grains Bullseye 857fps
.25acp, Gold Dot factory load 900fps
.380acp, 95 grain Montana Gold hp, 3.2 grains W231 820fps
.45apc, X-Treme 200 grain plated hp, 7.0 grains Unique, 850fps
And I had a chance to shoot that Bernardelli Baby again; using CCI .22 Long solids, 750fps
Notes: these are averages depending on how many rounds I had handy to fire, so don't call these Official X-Round Average Velocities.
All fired over the Chrony at ten feet.
The .380 was fired from a Ruger LCP
7.62x25 Tokarev 90 grain Hornady XTP hollowpoint, 5.8 grains W231 1300fps
.32acp, 60 grain Gold Dot hp, 2.5grains Bullseye 857fps
.25acp, Gold Dot factory load 900fps
.380acp, 95 grain Montana Gold hp, 3.2 grains W231 820fps
.45apc, X-Treme 200 grain plated hp, 7.0 grains Unique, 850fps
And I had a chance to shoot that Bernardelli Baby again; using CCI .22 Long solids, 750fps
Notes: these are averages depending on how many rounds I had handy to fire, so don't call these Official X-Round Average Velocities.
All fired over the Chrony at ten feet.
The .380 was fired from a Ruger LCP
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