Blog, March, 2010
   By Carl Bussjaeger

March 31, 2010 10:45AM
GOP wary of health law repeal push in fall races
Top Republicans are increasingly worried that GOP candidates this fall might be burned by a fire that's roaring through the conservative base: demand for the repeal of President Barack Obama's new health care law.

This is why people must stop voting for parties, and start voting for individuals who will truly represent them.

The Repugnicans didn't object to the bill; they just didn't want to be seen as the ones passing it. The Repugnicans know the bill is generally detested, so they couldn't be seen supporting it. The Demogogue majority made that easy. But now that the bill passed and is law, well, the Reps are perfectly happy to sit back and leave it in place. After all, it's a power grab over the people that they've always favored. And they're counting on unthinking, angry voters to toss Dems this November, and install more of their Rep buddies.

Repeal is politically and legally unlikely, and grass-roots activists may feel disillusioned by a failed crusade.

Disillusioned is what they hope we'll feel, and leave it at that.

That's just whistling past the graveyard on their part.

If the DC scum had continued the assimilation of the national economy at the previous gradual rate, they might have gotten away with it. But spending a trillion dollars to buy out the major financial firms, followed by nationalizing most of the American auto manufacturers, and then nationalizing the medical industry – roughly a full sixth of the economy right there – was too much, too fast. Even folks who weren't paying attention caught on. And just days after the health care assimilation bill passed, what else did they do?

Yeah, nationalized the student loan industry.

Hence the tea party activists. And thus, the Repugnican push to coopt the tea party drive. The Dems and Reps both being the party of insanely huge government, they can't risk a real grassroots opposition to expanded government intervention and spending. So the Reps, who usually pretend to be in favor of fiscal responsibility (even as they expand spending), are trying to turn tea parties into GOP conventions. While they're already making excuses for not keeping promises to the tea partiers.

Don't fall for it. Vote for individuals with real principles. It might happen to be a Rep. Maybe even a Dem (damned unlikely, though). Perhaps a Libertarian. It could be someone unaffiliated with a party. If the right person can't get on the ballot, write him in.

And for Ghu's sake, stop whining that voting for the best person is "wasting" your vote because he can't win. If you won't vote for him, he can't win. But if you vote for a Dem or Rep because they're Dems or Reps, you lose. It's past time to stop bouncing back and forth between Dems and Reps, hoping that this time they'll keep their promises.

[Democrats] say more Americans will learn of the new law's benefits over time and anger over its messy legislative pedigree will fade.

And I "loved" this part. Apparently they haven't noticed that, as more details come out, polling shows ever more people in favor of repeal. What they really mean is that they hope memories are short and people will have become numb to the bill by November.

Remember, remember
The second of November.

Remember what the Dems did to the country. But also remember that the Reps are already making excuses for why they won't fix it.

Elect people who will listen to us, and fix things.

Because the alternatives are damned scary.

March 30, 2010 6:10PM
News flash! I may have found a publisher for Net Assets. They're interested in producing paper and ebook versions, and have also expressed an interest in the next two novels in the Net Assets universe. Stay tuned.

I had someone else interested a few months ago, but that fell through. So I'm crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath.

March 29, 2010 1:50PM
Jury Acquits Honor Student Of Gun Charge
Police also submitted photographs of Banks’ gun partially wedged into the corner of his seat. During cross examination by Lopez, however, the sergeant admitted that the photographs were taken after he had handled the gun and placed it in that position.

Let's see: False arrest, tampering with evidence, perjury. And don't forget 18 USC 242, Deprivation of rights under color of law.

Multiple felonies, and we don't even get to know the goon's name. No repercussions.

You can write to Police Chief George Gascón and asked why we aren't hearing of any consequences for this dirty cop.

March 28, 2010 5:05PM

Oh, great Ghu. Not only am I still getting spammed by Clueless Candidate Howard Wilson, now his brother has started emailing me. And he may actually have less of a clue than Howie.

March 27, 2010 3:30PM

I've mentioned FairPoint Communications before; it's the bankrupt New England telephone company paying out huge bonuses to its execs.

As it happens, I used to work for FairPoint. To give you an idea of FairPoint organization: I had six first line supervisors (only one on paper, the rest in practice), a second-liner, and two third-liners. Just sorting out the conflicting orders was a job in itself. I eventually gave up and quit.

Today, I received a letter from FairPoint. It seems they witheld money from my paychecks that they shouldn't have (and I've heard this happened to other people, though that's hearsay except for one case). I suspect this was caught by an outside auditor in the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

I'm supposed to receive a W-2C to correct taxable wages, and get a refund from the company. Since I already filed my 1040 and got some of my money back, I'll have to file an amended return because of their screw-up.

But here's the best part: "The refund will be paid in an upcoming regular paycheck as 'Pay Adjustment NT' (non taxable)."

I've suspected previously that they might think I still work there. A couple of weeks after I quit, Christine Yoon sent me a letter saying I was fired. Yoon was not my supervisor of record. Further, her letter claimed she called my home phone and my cell phone, trying to reach me before termination. I didn't have any messsages on my home phone, and I never gave the company my cell number. A couple of weeks after that, I got a letter from HR; their employee database was found to to have errors and I needed to update my personal data online on the internal company network. In addition to that, I receive periodic internal bankruptcy updates, containing information which I'd expect to be considered slightly proprietary. On the other hand, Fidelity was notified of my employment status change.

I do wonder though, if Payroll Services still thinks I'm getting a "regular paycheck", where's that money going? It isn't coming to me.

Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on FairPoint's part. Some of the techs have said they wish I was still there. And a fairly senior person thinks they should try to get me back. I wouldn't refuse, under the right conditions; but I think those conditions are unlikely to be met, realistic though they be.

March 26, 2010 1:00PM
Oh, the irony
Congress just passed a law threatening to send thugs to peoples’ homes to do violence if they fail to buy health insurance, yet many of them are now complaining about being threatened for doing so. And all with zero sense of irony.

(Hat tip to Mike Vanderboegh)

March 26, 2010 6:35AM
College says new e-mail font will save money
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has switched the default font on its e-mail system from Arial to Century Gothic. It says that while the change sounds minor, it will save money on ink when students print e-mails in the new font.

And if the students happen to have their email client fonts set to something a little easier to read?

The only way this would work is if the email system is purely web-based, accessed through dedicated machines with permissions set such that users cannot change fonts. In which case, I'd say the college has a much larger problem than mere ink usage. More than one: "...since the cost of printer ink works out to about $10,000 per gallon."

As one commenter noted, he buys archival-quality ink for $80 a gallon.

Hmm. $80 vs. $10,000. I should think some parents would like to discuss expenses and tuition levels with UWGB.

March 25, 2010 5:30PM
Cuban leader applauds US health-care reform bill

Yeah, Fidel Castro thinks it's great.

I rest my case. When a senile, retired, communist dictator likes it, you know you've got a winner. Right?

March 25, 2010 5:00PM
CIA World Factbook - Country Comparison: Current account balance
This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified.

Scroll down.

Keep scrolling.

Keep going.

Almost there.

A little more.

There! Found us. Farther into the red than China is into the black. Papua New Guinea is in better shape than America. Zimbabwe, famous for an inflation rate that had them printing billion-dollar notes, is in better shape. And these are 2009, pre-"health care refom" numbers. We beat the second worst country by -$310,000,000,000; that difference is greater in magnitude than China's positive balance.

If you vote for an incumbent in November, you're insane.

(Hat tip to David Codrea)

March 25, 2010 3:15PM
Congressional Staffers Complain About Double Standard in Health Care Law
"If it's such a good bill, why did the people who wrote the bill exempt themselves from it?"

Because it is a great bill...   if your real goal is to control the people.

But so far as health care goes, well take a look at how well this works in the UK, or Canada.

March 25, 2010 10:00AM
Lawmakers concerned as health-care overhaul foes resort to violence
"It was surprising and alarming to know that people, when they have so many opportunities for expression in this country, that somebody would resort to a brick," Stauble said.

Oh, yes. So many opportunities.

I haven't tossed a brick yet. But I can understand why someone might. My congress-scum voted exactly as the majority of his constituents did not want. The closest thing to a straight answer I've ever gotten from him was a bizarre assertion that I wanted him to vote for this health care "reform" bill, when I wrote to oppose it.

Our supposed representatives aren't representing us. They aren't listening. They ignore us. So, yes, I can understand why someone would start tossing bricks in an attempt to get their attention.

Nothing else has worked.

March 25, 2010 9:40AM
Navy frees Somalis seized after pirate shooting
The EU Naval Force freed six Somalis seized after their companion was shot dead by a private security contractor during an attempt to hijack a ship off the East African coast, a naval spokesman said Thursday.
The navy let the six go after the captain of the MV Almezaan said he could not identify the men detained by the Spanish navy as the group of pirates who attacked him, said Cmdr. John Harbour.

They were present during the hijacking, and one was shot. But then the EU Navy rescued...   the pirates. No investigation. No questioning.

When all is said and done, this will be a good thing. For shippers. Now that they know playing by the government's rules means the pirates win, shippers will simply kill and sink pirates. No more capturing and holding them for the authorities. The ocean-going version of "shoot, shovel, and shut up". Between the outright elimination of pirates and the deterrent value of would-be pirates never seeing their compatriots again, we may finally get this piracy under control.

March 23, 2010 4:20PM
The Onion buys out Time magazine
The Brady Bill, 1993

Well. What a masterpiece of accuracy.

"While the Brady Act (sometimes known as the Brady Bill) was introduced to Congress in 1987..."

Time's reporter (and editor) apparently don't know anything about the process. Bills are introduced in Congress. They aren't Acts until passed by both House and signed into law.

"...the Brady Bill was only able to pass during Thanksgiving break, when a mere three Senators were present to vote on it. All three supported the bill, prompting Vice President Al Gore, then presiding over the Senate, to declare the bill's "unanimous" passing."

I can't imagine where Suddath found that "fact". Certainly not in Senate records, which show it was a roll-call vote of the full Senate, with Dorgan not voting.

Counts:
YEAs	63
NAYs	36
Not Voting	1

Strictly speaking Senate rules require a majority of the Senate to be present to constitute a quorum, although rules do presume a quorum to be present unless questioned.

"...instituting a five-working-day waiting period and background check for any gun purchase..."

No, an initial waiting period for handguns, until the NICS was set up, not everything.

"In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that forced federal background checks were unconstitutional; these days, background checks are carried out by state and local officials."

No, see above. Background checks are done through the federal NICS, run by the FBI. In Printz v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled the local background checks were unconstitutional unfunded local mandates.

Time should be embarrassed by this ridiculous collection of misinformation, and issue an immediate apology for publishing it.

Firing Suddath and her editor would be a good idea, too

March 23, 2010 3:00AM
WTF?
The past year or so has brought the strangest politics I can recall. That does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

March 22, 2010 2:05PM
Now here's a reliable phone book.
Not.

I went to check snail mail a while ago, and found a LocalEdge(tm) phone book. It was dumped in the road in front of the mail box. The mail carrier had run over it. It was a little trashed. I noticed the company's web URL, so I decided to send them a little email, using the email address in their book.

This just showed up in my In-Box:

The phone book is in the trash.

March 22, 2010 12:20PM
Shattered Dreams, Shattered Windows
Per Mike Vanderboegh, the Window War seems to have begun.

It occurs to me that this type of protest would be particularly appropriate for "The Granite State" whose motto is "Live free, or die".

March 22, 2010 12:00PM
"If we ever found a Little League team behaving as poorly as the Republicans and Democrats or the congressman and senators, we’d probably disband the team and go home. Heck, we might even disband the entire league and bulldoze the field.”
 –  Scott Rasmussen, In Search of Self-Governance

March 22, 2010 7:30AM
House sends health care overhaul bill to Obama
"We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people."

The people...

I do not think that word means what you think it means, Fezzini.

A bill opposed by the majority of Americans, according to every poll. What alien planet do Obama and his cast of idiots live on?

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says she believes people who remain skeptical about the massive health care reform that has passed Congress will feel better as they learn more about it.

But then, she's an economically ignorant idiot.

The more I learn about it, the worse it gets.

March 21, 2010 3:00PM
Kill the Bill
"We are doing this for the American people," Pelosi said.

Outside, someone yelled, "You're doing this to the American people!"

Got it in one.

March 21, 2010 11:20AM
What if gun owners played by Alcee Hastings' rules?
If we throw out rule of law and replace it with rule of men, no one will be protected.
We'll be forced to protect ourselves.
How?
I don't know. I suppose we'll make it up as we go.

Read. Think. Decide.

March 19, 2010 5:15PM
The Heat is On: Congressman’s Office Says Constituent Calls Are ‘Harassment’
I called back. This time, I asked to speak to her supervisor in order to report her repeated hanging up as well as the threat she made. I was placed on hold. Thinking I was holding for her supervisor, I was shocked when a Federal Agent with the Capital Police picked-up the telephone.

This kind of crap is pushing folks to the edge of the precipice. It isn't an isolated case either. Carol Shea-Porter [D-Pelosi (technically NH-1, but let's be realistic)] had a TEA party activist arrested for sending her a tea bag and explanation. I forwarded a copy of Mike Vanderboegh's essay (see above pinned post), to "my" rep, P-Poodle-Boy Hodes today; I pretty much expect a police visit.

We speak out, and are ignored. We grow insistent, and are threatened. We protest peacefully, and are arrested.

They're thinning out our options.

March 19, 2010 2:15PM
Hag of the House arrogantly delusional
"When we bring the bill to the floor, we will have a significant victory for OVER the American people," Pelosi told reporters.

There; fixed it for you, hag.

March 19, 2010 1:30PM
Father Pfleger leads gun rally in Chicago
Two issues for these demonstrators: They say they want the ban on assault weapons reinstated. And, Father Michael Pfleger says, they want nationwide firearm licensing.

Naturally. I mean, look how well it's working for Chicago.

"We want the federal government to understand we hold them accountable for our children being shot down in America's streets. Afraid to go to school. We want the government to respond and we want to get mad about our children."

Here's an idea for you: Hold the criminals responsible. Stop taking it out on the people who didn't do it.

There are two things that could be done right now that could make violent street crime almost disappear. The first is already proven in New Hampshire and Vermont: Let the honest folk arm themselves. Stop reducing the decent people to helpless victims.

The second is common sense: Eliminate the artificial price supports, essentially government subsidies, for "illegal" drugs. The War on (some) Drugs drives the price of a weed that grows wild over most of the continent to well over a hundred dollars an ounce. Money like that guarantees that someone will try to meet the demand. It makes sales turf wars inevitable. And some addicts will commit crimes to afford their ridiculously over-priced treats.

Unfortunately, catching and incarcerating drug users is also big business. We wouldn't need all those profitable corporate prisons if the crime rate dropped that much. We wouldn't need nearly as many (typically highly paid, unionized) cops.

So the drug wars (both kinds) will continue, and idiots like Phlegm Pfleger will continue collaborate with the enemy (both kinds).

March 18, 2010 12:15PM
Stupidest.  Firearms.  Accessory.  Ever
UTA (Universal Tactical Attachment) is a user installed, tactical force multiplier: It enables a trooper armed with a long firearm (assault rifle, shotgun or SMG) and a Glock pistol to mount the pistol under the long firearm, thereby creating a unified, tactically enhanced, dual weapon system.

I just stared at the picture for a while, trying to imagine a tactical scenario in which this would be a good idea. I couldn't. The seller even suggested scenarios, and those sounded like bad ideas. Then I scrolled down the page.

They attached a suppressed (a "silencer", to the non-gunnies) Glock to a non-suppressed rifle. With an extended magazine. I could probably imagine something clumsier. And sillier. But I really don't want to.

I was mildly amused by the claim that this would keep your sidearm handy, in case your rifle ran out of ammo. That's just below their picture of an AR-pattern rifle equipped with a spare magazine clipped to the primary magazine, for fast reload.

Keep scrolling. See the idiotic "SWAT model" with his fingers on the triggers of the weapons as he poses. Not only are they marketing a ridiculous product, but they know nothing of firearms safety.

The page says they're currently sold out. That implies some LE or military outfit actually bought these. That's disturbing. It was probably the NYPD, for next time they shoot an unarmed groom-to-be to death.

ADDED: Good comments over at David's blog entry

(Hat tip to David Codrea.)

March 19, 2010 12:00PM
To all modern Sons of Liberty: THIS is your time. Break their windows. Break them NOW.
Nancy Pelosi's Intolerable Act is within days of passage by devious means so corrupt and twisted that even members of her own party recoil in disgust.

We can emulate the Sons of Liberty of old.

We can break their windows.

Mike sent this out as an email, something I don't recall him doing before. This is getting serious. This is getting dangerous. Right now, they're talking party HQ windows.

If this bill passes on a voice vote, I believe it will escalate, and individual congress-scum windows would be next. If this is unconstitutionally "deemed" to have passed without the required vote...

I just don't know. I've seen no sign that the DC and state pols understand how upset people are getting.

ADDED: Look what Mike found. How convenient.

ADDED: Brick thrown through Slaughter's window
Interestingly, this happened before Mike's post suggesting similar actions.

March 18, 2010 11:30AM
Obama Says ‘Louisiana Purchase’ Will Help With the Earthquake in Hawaii
Something that was called a special deal was for Louisiana. [...] That also — I'm giving you an example of one that I consider important. It also affects Hawaii, which went through an earthquake.

Lately, we've heard Obama say some odd things. Most could be attributed to simple misspeakings. But this is...   strange. How the heck is the "Louisiana Purchase" going to help Hawaii? What earthquake? Hawaii hasn't had a major quake in a long time. It hasn't had anything over a magnitude 4 quake in the past two weeks.

Maybe he meant Haiti. But that's about as strange, since he's talking about the "Purchase" helping other states.

The guy's losing it.

March 17, 2010 4:25PM
More wisdom from Mike Vanderboegh:
Here we are on the verge of a civil war and because the news media does not even recognize the validity of our grievances,and certainly never reports them, nobody thinks it is coming except the people preparing for it.

I caught this after my previous post.

While Vanderboegh and Denninger are piddling around with the petty stuff, real Americans are focusing on the tough issues.

The collapse of American civilization, such as it was.

March 17, 2010 3:00PM
A *Very Serious* Warning To Nancy Pelosi
Attempting to "deem" the Health Care bill passed when it has not actually been voted on is not Constitutional. Article 1, Section 7:

You're correct Mr. Denninger; she won't listen. Because she doesn't care.

Leftist Hag of the House Pelosi doesn't take the Constitution seriously. Just another oathbreaking politician, bound and determined to inflict this unwanted PoS on us.

This legislation has always been opposed by a clear majority of Americans. There's nothing in the – apparently defunct – Constitution to authorize it. The procedures they're threatening to use are unconstitutional. They've lied about what it will cost you. And if you want to opt out and take care of yourself, they'll try to fine you for being self-reliant, responsible. And in the end, all fines, all laws, are enforced at gunpoint.

March 17, 2010 1:45PM
Rasmussen: Hodes losing in NH
Two Republican hopefuls now post 10-point leads over likely Democratic nominee Paul Hodes in New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race.

The good news is that Hodes, the Democratic Representative for the state of Pelosi, is on his way out. Separate polling suggests he couldn't even get re-elected to his current House seat.

The bad news is that the folks Rasmussen shows beating P-Poodle Boy are among those who refuse to answer the Gun Rights Questionnaire. And the only reason to refuse to answer would be if they knew their actual take on RKBA would hurt them in the polls in a state that heavily favors RKBA.

RKBA postions are a litmus test regarding individual liberty in general. L. Neil Smith once pointed out that you shouldn't trust someone to run your life, if he won't trust you with a firearm. I will not vote for anyone who won't answer the questions.

March 16, 2010 4:45PM
Girlfriend of Michael Douglas' son sentenced in NY

That's so stupid, I refuse to provide the link. But I have to ask: Why is this national news?

If you're a Douglas fan, or just a celebrity watcher, I could maybe see Douglas's sentencing being of interest. If you're obsessed with Douglas, his son's sentencing might be news, if somewhat irrational.

But Douglas's son's girlfriend?

This makes the national news, but almost no one knows about S. 3081. This country is doomed.

March 16, 2010 4:00PM
PetSpa

An automatic washing machine for...   dogs. And...   cats.

I imagine you could get a cat in there. Once. After which you'd have to find a new home for Fluffy.

Because she'd just be waiting for you to fall asleep.

Apparently this thing has been around for a few years. Today was the first I heard of it. And I'm not letting my cat see it on my screen.

March 16, 2010 2:55PM
Pre-Crime Policing
If what happened to Pyles is legal, in Oregon or elsewhere, we need to take a second look at the civil commitment power. Even setting aside the SWAT team overkill in Medford, there's something awfully discomfiting about granting government authorities the power to yank someone from their home and drag them in for a mental health evaluation based on a series of actions that were perfectly legal, especially with no prior oversight from a judge, or guidance from a psychiatrist.

So basically I woke up in Stalin's Soviet Union this morning.

Bland CBO Memo, or Smoking Gun?
First, a little history. Like both the House and Senate bills, the Clinton health plan would have mandated that individuals and employers purchase private insurance. In its 1994 score of the Clinton plan, Bob Reischauer’s CBO included those mandated “private” payments in the federal budget –- i.e., as federal revenues and federal expenditures.
And yet, none of the CBO scores of this year’s bills include the costs of similar individual/employer mandates as federal revenues or federal spending.

I'm shocked, I say! Shocked!

Not really. But I would like one of those pro-"reform" people to explain how more than doubling health care expenditures is spending less.

S. 3081 Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010
(a) Military Custody Requirement- Whenever within the United States, its territories, and possessions, or outside the territorial limits of the United States, an individual is captured or otherwise comes into the custody or under the effective control of the United States who is suspected of engaging in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners through an act of terrorism, or by other means in violation of the laws of war, or of purposely and materially supporting such hostilities, and who may be an unprivileged enemy belligerent , the individual shall be placed in military custody for purposes of initial interrogation and determination of status in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(3) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN STATEMENT AND RIGHTS- A individual who is suspected of being an unprivileged enemy belligerent shall not, during interrogation under this subsection, be provided the statement required by Miranda v. Arizona (384 U.S. 436 (1966)) or otherwise be informed of any rights that the individual may or may not have to counsel or to remain silent consistent with Miranda v. Arizona.

Creepy enough for you? We've already seen that doing web design for a group retroactively designated as sponsoring terrorism can get you accused of terrorism. Now do a favor for the wrong guy, and the military can disappear you, if this were to pass. This monstrosity is brought to you by SenatorsScumbags McCain and Lieberman.

Constitution? What Constitution?

March 16, 2010 2:00PM
Obama to refuse to campaign for Dems who vote against health care "reform"

Now, really. That's funny. How many people voting against "reform" are doing it to distance themselves from Obama? And given Obama's approval/disapproval ratings, support for, or from, the Prez is likely to be the kiss of death for any Dem campaign.

Break the law and your new 'friend' may be the FBI
U.S. law enforcement agents are following the rest of the Internet world into popular social-networking services, going undercover with false online profiles to communicate with suspects and gather private information, according to an internal Justice Department document that offers a tantalizing glimpse of issues related to privacy and crime-fighting.

Nothing new here.

I've always been amused by the "tech savvy young people" using these social media tools to out themselves. Apparently these "tech savvy" folks think anonymity comes from a cool screen name, and have yet to figure out data-mining, IP traces, proxy servers, and the like.

March 15, 2010 11:45AM
Man Who Carried Gun In Park Has Permit Revoked
"I'm a private person," Embody said. "I didn't want to be in the spotlight. I didn't want my name in the news reports."

This scumbag has done a fair bit of damage to the pro-RKBA movement. Despite his claim that he wanted to avoid the "spotlight", he's been all over the Internet explaining how he stirs up trouble. I'm all for peaceful open carry, but this idiot admitted freely that he is out to be confrontational.

First, his handgun: It is a semi-auto AK-variant. Until I became aware of Embody's antics, I was unaware that there were any AK-variants originally manufactured as pistols in the civilian market. It's perfectly understandable that cops might initially believe they're dealing with an altered weapon.

Then there's the orange paint. I do not know why he painted the muzzle orange, as if it were a toy; I've never seen a coherent explanation from Embody. Further, he has apparently painted the entire weapon blaze orange now. That can only be to draw attention, to ensure he can't be missed.

Next up, the boy sends emails to the police telling them when and where he'll be, and advising them that he won't be cooperative.

And then there's the claim that he had to walk around with the gun in his hand. I wonder what happened to the sling he had at the park. I wish someone had pictures of that gun in his hand; knowing what I do about Embody, I wouldn't be surprised if he was doing it in a manner that most of us would consider "brandishing". His bizarre rants incline me to think he isn't mentally stable, as do his poor carry choices.

The spotlight is exactly what this attention-hungry punk wanted. And this is the last time I give it to him.

March 13, 2010 4:30PM
Judge faces election after unpopular decision
The judge didn't believe the father was a threat and denied the mother's plea to keep him away from their 9-month-old son.
Ten days later, her 25-year-old ex-boyfriend Stephen Garcia shot and killed their baby son and himself...

This is sad, and the hell of it is that I can see both sides' points. Anonymous emails can be scary, but the judge doesn't know where they came from. And another judge had found the father not to be a threat. But this, near the end is what pisses me off: Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and others are campaigning to change the selection-process in the states that elect judges, arguing that campaign donors are often lawyers who appear routinely before the candidate-judges. They also say judges should be free to make unpopular decisions without having to worry about ballot box repercussions.

BS. Judges could be required to recuse themselves any time a donor came before them. The real issue is those "repercussions". The judges don't want to be answerable. To anyone.

March 13, 2010 4:00PM
IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents
Arriving at Harv's Metro Car Wash in midtown Wednesday afternoon were two dark-suited IRS agents demanding payment of delinquent taxes. "They were deadly serious, very aggressive, very condescending," says Harv's owner, Aaron Zeff.

Now, you might be outraged by the apparent waste: salaries of two collections goons, the time used to draw up the letter, the expense (time and fuel) of hand-delivery versus mail, and so on. But it isn't really about the money. After all, fedgov has The Fed printing presses at max RPMs printing lots of money.

It's about control.

Here's the tip off:
In fact, he provided us with an Oct. 22, 2009, letter from the IRS that states Harv's "has filed all required returns and addressed any balances due."

Now, how many of you have bothered getting such a letter from the IRA IRS? The only reason you'd do so would be if there had been a dispute, and you wanted evidence.

So this is a case of goons being dispatched to teach an uppity serf a lesson for standing up to them.

March 13, 2010 1:45PM
Youth Push For E-Cigarette Ban
Paige Niler said she's horrified New Hampshire youth can legally buy e-cigarettes. She said she's afraid her peers will get hooked on nicotine and switch to regular cigarettes.

Paige is clearly one of those arrogant busybodies who firmly believes everyone's life would be better if she just piddled on it.

Hey, Paige; get a life of your own, and leave their's alone. If you don't like e-cigs, fine. Don't use them. But don't you dare tell anyone else what to do, when it's none of your freaking business. If someone wants to suck nicotine, that's their choice. I don't see other high schoolers running around advocating for a law requiring you to use e-cigs.

And Paige, you clearly don't even know much about the subject, or you might've been aware that there are non-nicotine cartridges. And judging by the prices, I don't see too many of your classmates even wanting to bother. Cartridges seem to be competively priced with cigarettes, but would they really spend 150 bucks on the electronic unit?

ADDED: Ah, here are some better prices.

E-cigs seem more likely to appeal to connoisseurs than most highschoolers. Which is too bad, because it looks a lot less unhealthy than smoking.

Of course, I suppose you could load one up with marijuana, and have a good time without the extra crappy combustion products. Maybe that's what Paige fears. The uptight prig doesn't want anyone else to have a good time if she can't.

March 13, 2010 1:00PM
The Enumerator Cometh
And boy is he stupid.

Yeah, a census weasel just showed up at the door. Told me that he was dropping off the census form and that I "had to verify" the address. So I asked him if he knew where he was. He just repeated that I "had to". I told him that I don't work for him, and again asked if he knew where he was. This went back and forth for a while. At one point, he said he saw the mailbox number, but wasn't sure which house it was for. Which is pretty stupid because this is a rural area where plots are generally 35 acres or more. But then the number he mentioned... Well it wasn't mine. Or my nearest neighbors. There is no such address

Finally he looked down at the census package and asked if this was XXX XXXXX Road.

Yep, he had a package for a specific address, and brought it to an address he thought was different.

Told him it was, and pointed out that was all he had to do in the first place. He started telling me that there's a "protocol" we have to follow. I replied, "Fuck your protocol." He looked astonished, so I explained that I don't work for him, so I don't have to follow his protocol. He (theoretically, but we know how that really goes) works for us, so he better change his protocol to reflect that.

No big deal, in a way. It's just my policy to make every census worker's life miserable unless they decide to obey the Constitution, which says they can only ask one question.

How many people live here?

March 11, 2010 1:00PM
Shoddy Internet Service
As I mentioned previously. I lost my broadband connection. I fell back to the dial-up account I kept just for such occasions. This account was with an outfit called MVA.net/USAi.net.

Note the "was".

Yesterday I received an email from them; supposedly my statement, but actually scrambled data. I wrote back and told them that. They replied that I had a balance due, and instructed me to call "Jose" at a particular extension because my credit card was rejected, and I needed to verify it with him. And I also owe a late fee.

I spent the day trying to call Jose. He never answered the phone, and never replied to my messages. I finally reached him this morning. He couldn't verify my card because he can't see the number. But he did have an incorrect address for me, so I expect the number was wrong, too. How they managed this on an account that hadn't changed in years is beyond me. But he did mention that sometimes transactions just fail for no apparent reason.

So these idiots, who by the way cannot keep their SMTP server working and in fact flat killed it once trying to run antivirus software, screwed up my account, and charge me a late fee because of it.

So I tell Jose to cancel my account. He tells me I have to send them an email. If I can get it through their effed up SMTP. Which I couldn't, so I sent it through another account. They replied by billing my credit card and opening a trouble ticket.

But supposedly my account is closed. And I already have a new dial-up account with a different provider. And it's much cheaper. The moral is: Don't do business with MVA.net/USAi.net.

March 11, 2010 9:05AM
Success of lone gunmen may shift al-Qaida strategy
"Even apparently unsuccessful attacks on Western mass transportation systems can bring major cities to a halt, cost the enemy billions and send his corporations into bankruptcy," Gadahn said

Really? Ya think?

March 9, 2010 6:00PM
YouTube Vid: Peter Pan FAIL

More fairy dust, Pete.

But what inquiring minds really want to know is: Did they ever call it off, or just keep going until they ran out of kids?

March 9, 2010 5:45PM
Stupid Criminal Tricks: Teen shoots his own testicles

I strongly suspect he's a gangbanger. Goblins carrying illegally will often go with "Mexican Carry", i.e.- tucking the gun in their waistband sans holster. That way, if they are about to be stopped and searched, they can toss the gun and there's no incriminating holster on their belt.

This tells us something about the mental level of these 'bangers, since a clip-on inside-waistband-holster can be bought for ten bucks. It'll guard the trigger, but can be tossed with the gun.

Oh, well. At least we don't have to worry about this one breeding.

Hey, the Brady Conspiracy to Protect Violent Criminals is really going to be conflicted over this one: Do they jump for joy because they can add another "child" to their list of shooting victims, or cry because one their own got hurt?

March 9, 2010 4:00PM
REAL ID Flopped, So They're Trying Again
Under the potentially controversial plan still taking shape in the Senate, all legal U.S. workers, including citizens and immigrants, would be issued an ID card with embedded information, such as fingerprints, to tie the card to the worker.

This brought to you by Senators Scumbags Schumer and Graham. Except that it's supposedly to fight illegal immigration rather than "terrorism", it is functionally identical to the REAL ID rejected by the people and legislatures of many states.

Here's a better idea: Instead of yet another expensive bureaucractic attempt to stifle freedom, cut the budget for welfare programs that attract the useless (and you can just keep the borders open for those who want to work).

Meanwhile, on the House side, Hag of the House Pelosi (she's really showing the wear) has come up with the peculiar notion that us little serfs shouldn't know the Masters' plans for us until it's too late. She says, regarding health care "reform":
“But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy."

See? It's controversial, and we shouldn't have controversy keeping the bill from passing. Just let us inflict on you, and then you can find out how bad it is. Don't fight it; just bend over.

March 9, 2010 12:30PM
Thomasson: The several varieties of gun nuts
Those classified as "gun nuts" generally seem to believe that ownership of one is an unalienable right like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Then there are those who are nuts about guns, who collect them and seem almost to consider them affectionate, even sexual objects.
Then there are nuts for whom guns become an instrument to fulfill the dictates of a diseased mind, like the Son of Sam...

I haven't provided a link to the original screed because I wouldn't want to give this sicko the satisfaction of driving traffic to him. A web search on the title will get you there. I left a comment on the piece, but decided this called for an email. I just sent this:

March 9, 2010 11:30AM
Wichita man pays crack dealer with Monopoly money

If you must sell crack, don't use it.

Two weeks it took him to realize...    I wonder what finally clued him in?

March 8, 2010 1:30PM
Tom Delay: People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be

I was about to get outraged when I saw that title. But I wisely read the article. And it's almost at the end when you discover that Delay didn't say that. Pravda CNN's Candy Crowley made that statement. Not that I'm a great fan of Delay, but the point he was making is that extending unemployment benefits does encourage some people to stay out of the job market. And he said it's good to help people find jobs, but that we have to look at budget constraints.

Basically, he was being reasonable, but Crowley wanted to demonize him.

March 8, 2010 12:20PM
Toldja So
"I told them this was going to happen," Smith said after learning of the Portage shooting. "It's not a good law to allow people to bring guns that close to work. If you have a chance to go home, you might cool off."

You remember this dork, don't you?

Well, Vern, there's a few problems with your take on this. For one thing, the guns-locked-in-cars bill hasn't even been signed into law yet. For another... Well, the bill would only allow a gun to be locked in a car. Oh, yeah, and attempted murder is already illegal.

So what exactly does this shooting have to do with the bill you opposed? Clearly, this guy had the gun anyway.

I see this guy was at a strip mall. It's questionable whether his employer could even ban firearms in cars in a common usage parking lot. Did the property owner ban them (which the bill in question wouldn't stop)?

Vern's still a clueless dork.

March 8, 2010 8:45AM
Clueless Candidate Howard Wilson is still spamming me, despite repeated notes regarding the rudeness. On the bright side, I apparently did get through to him about the use of the "BCC" field; this latest spam didn't list everyone in "To". That's something. But he still hasn't figured out the art of stripping out headers with strangers' email addresses when forwarding. So I'm still gathering a collection of addresses. Hey, I can always sell the confirmed addresses to other spammers and overly generous Nigerians.

Timeliness still escapes our boy, as well. Today's spam is a forward of a joke from January

March 7, 2010 5:10PM
Meet Exordium, psychopathic socialist. He's nuts, but at least he speaks plainly of what the Left really wants:
I’d rather it not come to this, but if the right is going to arm themselves to the teeth and dig in, I’d like to see the left do the same and finally eliminate all of you wanna-be monkeywrenchers. Cleanse this nation of all of the right-wing, corporate-hugging glibertarian pieces of shit.

While the pro-liberty faction, wants to avoid civil war – a great many of us are military veterans and understand how ugly it would get – this...    person tells us what he wants – to kill everyone who doesn't agree with him. "Cleansing", he calls it. Now where have we heard that before?

Of course, as other commenters noted, we already have guns. We have already trained. Again, many of us are verterans.

What Exordium has is a steep learning curve.

Civil war is nothing any sane person wants, if only because you never know what will replace the old order. Anyone who has studied the American Civil War and its aftermath knows that America became a very different place in many ways. And that was with the Constitution still, more or less, in force. And that is why people like Mike Vanderboegh emphasize "No Fort Sumters", and simply want to restore the Constitution.

You know, the one that Leftist Speaker of the House Pelosi doesn't take seriously

March 7, 2010 11:20AM
Letter to the Editor: Is 'Health Care' worth civil war?
You will be FORCED to play or pay in our wonderful new system of good intentions.
If you refuse, you will be fined.
If you refuse to pay the fine, you will be jailed.
If you refuse to be arrested, you will be killed.
The Founders would have called this "The Intolerable Act."