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Libertarian
War on the News, 23 - 29 December, 2007
With Christmas Day on a Tuesday this year, the news week is very short
indeed. But there are events going on, and these events DO have an impact
on liberty.
Thinking about New Year’s, here are some resolutions I urge us all
to consider:
1. I will work to reestablish liberty, first for my family, second for
my brethren (church and fellow knights of non-agression), third for my
communities (Black Hills, Four Corners), then for my states and nation,
and the world.
2. I will see that all that I say and do to make sure that my support
for liberty and work does not take away liberty from anyone: I will not
be a hypocrite.
3. I will defend the right of other people to say what they will, even
though I think that what they say is wrong, evil, stupid, or just plain
silly.
4. I will defend the right of other people to do what they will PROVIDED
that they do no harm to others by their actions, even though I believe
that their actions are wrong, evil, stupid, or just plain silly or foolish.
5. I won’t attack people for who they are, but for what they do.
This week,
the top news is from South Asia, so I start with that, then go on to the
others:
South Asian
front:
Pakistan: At least 20 killed in Bhutto
rally blast
International Herald Tribune [France]
"A suicide bomber struck shortly after the Pakistani opposition
leader Benazir Bhutto addressed a political rally in this garrison city
on Thursday, killing at least 20 people, witnesses said. ... A police
official, Abdul Karim, said Bhutto had already left the area in her vehicle
when the blast went off, just minutes after her speech to thousands of
supporters. Another police official, Saud Aziz, said it was a suicide
attack." (12/27/07)
Worst news
was to come hours later. Although Musarraf has been loosely allied with
the extreme Islamist (Taleban/al-Queda/etc.) I do not think these attacks
or the later one were supported by, or done by, the government or the
Army.
South Asian
front:
Benazir
Bhutto Shot and Killed After Political Rally
Associated Press
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was
assassinated Thursday by an attacker who shot her after a campaign rally
and then blew himself up. Her death stoked new chaos across the nuclear-armed
nation, an important U.S. ally in the war on terrorism. At
least 20 others were killed in the attack on the rally for Jan. 8 parliamentary
elections where the 54-year-old former prime minister had just spoken.
This week’s
top news in both the Ummah (Islamic world) and the world as a whole. The
Musarraf government is unlikely to be responsible, for despite the fighting
between them, both the Army and Bhutto wanted a united Pakistan, and this
has gone a long ways towards making that impossible. Who wins is the radical
Islamists who see both the Army and Bhutto as evil. Musarraf’s playing
footsie with them may have to come to an end with this – or he may
go entirely over to the Islamic cause.
South Asian
Front:
Pakistan
Denies Misusing US Anti-Terror Aid
CNSNews.com
Reports claiming that U.S. aid money sent to Pakistan for anti-terror
operations has been used for other purposes – including weapons systems
designed to counter longtime foe India – are causing a stir in the
region, and playing into Pakistan’s election campaign...
Remember,
that to the true believers among the Islamic community, such anti-Islamic
concepts as “democracy” and non-Islamic “republics”
and the “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” ARE terrorist in nature, and so
India, being a “democracy” and a “republic” MUST be
part of the terrorism they are fighting. Musarraf is playing both sides
against the middle.
South Asian
front:
Pakistan:
Protests erupt after Bhutto killing
UPI
“Protests, some violent, erupted Thursday in many Pakistani cities
after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi.
The BBC reported Bhutto supporters thronged the Rawalpindi hospital where
their leader was declared dead. Some of them wept while others became
enraged and resorted to throwing stones at cars and breaking windows.
In Karachi, a number of cars were reportedly set on fire. Shots were also
reportedly fired. The city is capital of Sindh province, the home of Bhutto
and her Pakistan People’s Party. Vehicles also were burned in Hyderabad,
the province’s second largest city” (12/27/07)
Dozens
died immediately after in these protests (riots) and even more during
the funeral services for Bhutto and the hopes of “democracy”
in Pakistan. We may be seeing the end of Pakistan as a loosely-unified
country, to boot.
South Asian
front:
Afghanistan: Government resumes mass
executions
Boston Globe
“On a cool October evening, at the foot of one of the mountains
that ring this city, the crack of heavy gunfire ripped through the twilight.
When the reverberations faded and all was still, 15 people lay dead in
a bloody jumble. Thus did the Afghan government, after keeping its firing
squad idle for 3 1/2 years, revive capital punishment. Officials say more
executions are to come. The revival of the death penalty has sparked concern
among many of the nations that provide Afghanistan with military and financial
aid. Beyond moral qualms, critics and human-rights activists are worried
about the ultimate punishment being meted out by a justice system widely
regarded as corrupt and incompetent.” (12/26/07)
The headline
is wrong: simultaneous executions are not the same as mass executions:
these executed criminals were apparently all found guilty in separate
trials of different crimes and executed together only as a “convenience”
and to send a message both internally and externally. That said, this
is hideous, and fully in keeping with the standard practices of an Islamic
thug-state.
South Asian
front:
Afghanistan:
UN, EU employees expelled
Voice of America
"The Afghan government has expelled two senior diplomats from
the United Nations and European Union after accusing them of holding unauthorized
meetings with Taliban militants. EU and a U.N. officials [sic] confirmed
that the two men left Afghanistan Thursday after the government ordered
their expulsion and said they were a threat to national security."
(12/27/07)
“Of
course we can persuade them to stop being evil, nasty, murdering thugs
if we just talk to them…” As if talking to the EU and UN thugs
could make them stop being evil, nasty, murder-at-third-hand statist thugs.
South Asian
front:
India:
Police enforce curfew after religious riots
Reuters
"Hundreds of federal police enforced a curfew in parts of eastern
India on Thursday after clashes between Hindus and Christians in which
one person was killed and 14 churches and 3 Hindu temples were damaged.
... tensions between the two groups in Orissa's rural Kandhamal district
came to a head on Christmas Eve, when fights broke out after Christians
put up a temporary ceremonial arch to mark the holiday, police said. Later
in the day, Christians attacked and injured a Hindu leader known to resent
Christians' attempts to convert low-caste Hindus .... rioting continued
intermittently on Christmas day and Wednesday." (12/27/07)
Muslims
are not the only religious troublemakers in the region. Unfortunately,
these people claim to be followers of Christ Jesus, but create problems
with their neighbors by insisting on following manmade traditions instead
of seeking to live peaceably with them. And compound the error by initiating
violence instead of just defending themselves.
South Asian
front:
India:
Armed police guard tourists as Goa faces protests over industry parks
Times Online [UK]
“Thousands of armed police are being deployed to guard holidaymakers
in the Indian state of Goa after a group campaigning against industrial
parks warned all tourists to leave by the end of the week or face violent
protests. …. Tomorrow’s protest is only one of a recent series
around India against the conversion of farmland into Chinese-style special
economic zones with perks for foreign investors. In the worst example,
30 people have been killed since January in a village in the state of
West Bengal, where local authorities tried to force farmers to sell their
land to make way for a chemical plant. ” (12/27/07)
Goa is,
of course, an old Portuguese port complex/colony that is now part of India,
so the special economic zone designation might make sense. The problem
is, government is taking (stealing) people’s land for this new project:
no different than the Kelo vs. New London case in the US.
Culture wars:
Utah's Jews and Muslims
reach out to seniors, refugees on Christmas
Salt Lake Tribune
About 300 volunteers from the Jewish, Muslim and other communities
were out in force Tuesday, bringing Christmas to those in the Salt Lake
Valley who wouldn't have it otherwise.
Thanks
to Scott for this one. You know, I thought that the reason it is politically
correct to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”
is because Jews and Muslims are “offended” by the mere mention
of the C-day. Yet here we have hundreds volunteering to celebrate Christmas
by giving? Something wrong here, isn’t there? Perhaps it is just
the atheists and the liberal elitists that are really offended, and the
victim-demogogues that claim to speak for the various groups. As I’ve
pointed out elsewhere in commentary, Christmas is a secular holiday for
many of us. I suspect that many more people are offended by the use of
“Happy Holidays” than are offended by “Merry Christmas.”
Culture
wars:
‘Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell’ Is Doomed, Homosexual Activists Say
CNSNews.com
With 2008 and the presidential primaries just days away, homosexual
activists are engaged in a push to repeal or remove the military’s
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy...
Perhaps
in their dreams, but they will find that the recent antics in such places
as San Fran and New York have greatly eroded the support for such a thing
in the military community, together with the impacts of the fighting in
Afghanistan and Mespotamia.
Mama's
Note: Memo to homosexuals everywhere: Get a grip! I've wondered why these
people don't just SHUT UP and mind their own business. Then, probably,
nobody would ASK. Seems they've got to parade around and push their little
fetish on everyone else instead - which is exactly why they don't usually
get along too well with those who don't share their fantasy. In close
quarters, with exacting teamwork necessary for survival, this kind of
nonsense can't be tolerated.
Culture
wars:
God
Vs. Allah Issue Threatens Catholic Newspaper in Muslim Country
CNSNews.com
The government
of Muslim-majority Malaysia will not renew a Catholic newspaper’s
license to publish unless it stops using the word “Allah” to
denote God. A government official was quoted as saying that “Allah”
referred only to the Muslim god, and its use was designed to confuse Muslims...
Funny,
I keep hearing all these “moderate” Muslims and inclusivist
(universalist?) “Christians” telling us that Allah is just another
name for the Creator and that all Jews, Christians and Muslims really
worship the same God. Seems to me like this government has just severely
insulted the All-Merciful by saying that He is not the God of all men,
and therefore, they must be punished by the followers of the All-Mighty’s
Prophet (pbuh), right?
Culture
wars:
AZ: Nuclear plant normal after small
fire
Reuters
"Firefighters put out a small blaze at the Palo Verde nuclear
power plant, the largest in the United States, although operations were
not affected, officials said on Wednesday. The fire broke out during scheduled
refurbishment at one of the cooling towers at the plant, about 50 miles
(80 km) west of Phoenix, operator Arizona Public Service said in a statement.
'During maintenance work on the Unit 3 cooling tower, grinding work began
to cause a fiber glass shroud to smolder,' APS said. 'A small fire developed
but was quickly extinguished by the Palo Verde plant fire department.'"
(12/27/07)
This would
not have been reported in anything but the Fire Blotter (if that) in the
local newspaper if it were not for the fact it took place at an evil,
dangerous, ugly nuke plant. There was no risk of any radioactive release,
no threat to anyone. This kind of thing happens a dozen times a day at
most industrial plants, including coal-fired and other power plants. But
our collective phobia about nukes is so great that even lovers of liberty
seem to have to trumpet it. As anyone with a couple of undergraduate courses
in both physical chemistry and physics can tell you – if they bother
to do the calculations – the radiation released from the life cycle
of a coal-fired power plant is much greater than the radiation from the
life-cycle of a standard nuclear power station.
Mama's
Note: Hmmmm, never knew that. (Not that it bothers me...) Just wonder
how much radiation is put out by a wind machine farm, an ethanol plant,
a pig farm... Probably not really significant, but the sheer numbers would
likely scare the pants off those who just sit around waiting for the next
big fear campaign. Nuts to it. I read somewhere that the sun itself puts
out more radiation than almost anything else. Congress going to legislate
an end to that?
Economic
news:
Holiday sales fall short
of estimates
New York Sun
“The last-minute Christmas shopping crunch was not enough to salvage
consumer-spending numbers for the season. Retail sales, after factoring
out surging gas prices, fell short of estimates, growing just 2.4% from
the day after Thanksgiving through midnight Monday, according to SpendingPulse,
a unit of MasterCard Advisors. Overall sales, including gas prices —
which have skyrocketed more than 30% since last year’s holiday season
— rose 3.6% during the holiday season. This is at the low end of
industry forecasts of a 3.5% to 4.5% gain in consumer spending.”
(12/26/07)
Panic in
Wall Street again, even though, by the story’s own statement, the
buying WAS within the limits of the forecast: just the lower ends. When
you are looking for any excuse to panic, it is easy to find one.
Government
run, tax-funded schools:
UK: Alarm over exclusion of pupils
with special needs
Independent [UK]
“Figures unearthed by the Liberal Democrats show that for the
first time in years more than half the children being excluded from school
have some special need. They place a question mark over the success of
the policy of integrating children with disabilities into mainstream schools.
The figures show 55 per cent of all exclusions involved pupils with special
needs — up from 45 per cent four years ago. … The figures, included
in an answer by the Children’s minister Kevin Brennan to a parliamentary
question by David Laws, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on children, schools
and families, has prompted demands for a review of government policy towards
‘inclusion’ — which aims to provide places for children
with special needs in mainstream schools.” (12/25/07)
As bitter
experience in the US has shown, mainstreaming disabled children (apparently
in an attempt to indoctrinate them as good servants of the state) has
been a failure for multiple reasons and neither the handicapped children
(excuse me, those with “special needs”) nor their closer-to-normal-needs
classmates have gotten anything but less education (and the same indoctrination)
out of it. This is a bad idea.
Mama's
Note: I remember when this nonsense started. I had two patients with cerebral
palsy who were sent to regular school in spite of the fact that a special
nurse had to go with them to manage their wheelchairs, feeding tubes,
foley catheters and oxygen. Neither of them could speak or hold anything
in their hands. It was a nightmare for them and their families, and cost
the taxpayers a fortune.
Home front:
TN: Study says paper trail needed
in ballot box
Tennessean
“A vocal group of voters who want more tangible voting records
gained more ammunition with a report out this month that urges backing
up electronic ballots with a paper trail. But the $25 million endeavor
isn’t likely to take place before the 2008 presidential election
as some have hoped, said state Coordinator of Elections Brook Thompson.
Thompson wants to wait until federal guidelines for voting machines come
down before making the big-ticket buy. ‘We need the time and money
to do that,’ Thompson said. ‘To completely change out our systems
may cause more problems than the potential problems you’re trying
to solve.’” (12/24/07)
Efforts
are being made nationwide to go to paper ballots to provide an audit trail,
as if paper ballots hadn’t been bypassed for decades by corrupt elections
machines and “trusted” third parties. Notice that this effort
is likely to fail to be accomplished anyway, in time for the ’08
elections, and that they are depending on the Feds, of all folks, to tell
them what to do.
Mama's
Note: Aside from the fact that almost nobody in government really WANTS
anything to make voting less corrupt, I don't see what the big problem
is. There is a lot of paper, of all kinds produced in this country, and
a lot of pens and pencils. Photo copy the ballot on the paper and hand
out the pencils... or let folks bring their own. Shouldn't take more than
a few days in any county in the country. End of problem. Only bureaucrats
could drag it out for years.
Home front:
Facebook alarms
privacy advocates again
Mercury News
“Six weeks after Facebook launched a controversial advertising
program that tracked its members around the Internet, the Palo Alto company
is quietly testing a new system that slips links to its mobile software
onto smart-phones on the T-Mobile USA network without the permission of
the devices’ owners. BlackBerry owners can hide the blue-and-white
Facebook icon, but they can not delete it.” (12/25/07)
Protect
yourself against this sort of thing, please.
Home front:
Deaths surge for law officers
Palm Beach Post
"A record number of fatal traffic incidents and a sharp rise in
shooting deaths has led to one of the deadliest years for law enforcement
officers in the United States in almost two decades. With the exception
of 2001, which saw a dramatic increase in deaths because of the Sept.
11 terrorist attacks, 2007 was the deadliest year for law enforcement
since 1989, according to a preliminary report being released jointly today
by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Concerns
of Police Survivors. The report lists 186 deaths as of Wednesday, up from
145 last year. Eighty-one officers have died in traffic incidents, which
surpassed the record of 78 set in 2000, the report said. Shooting deaths
increased from 52 to 69, a rise of about 33 percent." (12/27/07)
Pure propaganda.
Our society is NOT getting more dangerous. These numbers are bogus, in
so many ways. I didn’t have a source of 2007 data, but going to US
Department of Labor statistics for 2006, I found 137 dead under the
categories of “police protection” (126) and “corrections”
(11) from ALL causes at state and local levels. In the more general category
of “justice, public order, and safety activities”, federal,
state and local levels had a total of 187: this includes firefighters
and others. So the report claims 8 more deaths than the government does
in 2006: a similar ratio would indicate only about 170 deaths this year.
But the
real reason to reject this propaganda is here: First, of the 137 dead
in 2007, only 62 died of violence and only 69 in traffic accidents (the
remainder were “miscellaneous”). Second, total deaths in other
industries in 2006 including 303 in crop production, 190 in mining, and
218 in building construction. There are far fewer people actually engaged
in crop production or in mining than in law enforcement: these occupations
are MORE dangerous than being a cop. This doesn’t even take into
account the increasing numbers of cops in the US from 1989 to 2007, or
many other factors, such as increases in major urban areas as compared
to the rest of the nation.
Home front:
WI: Police Taser "suspect,"
wife in mall food court
Capital Times
"Madison police scuffled with and then Tasered a 44-year-old man
at lunchtime on Christmas Eve in the crowded food court at West Towne
Mall. The man's wife also was struck by a Taser probe accidentally. Officers
were sent to the mall just before 1:30 p.m. looking for a man with a gun,
after someone at the mall called 911 anonymously. Officers arrived dressed
in full military-style police gear and observed a man matching the suspect's
description standing in the middle of the food court. ... An additional
officer responded, observed the struggle, and deployed his Taser device.
One of the probes struck Lemon and the other probe struck Lemon's wife.
Both were secured in handcuffs. Lemon's wife was later released with no
charges or injuries. No weapon was found on Lemon." (12/25/07)
Much as
I don’t like it, this man seems to have actually brought the tasering
on himself. BUT there is no reason for the cops to have responded to the
original call the way they did. It was the cops that set up the scene
that led to the man and woman being tasered for no justifiable reason.
The cops overreacted. I am told by police that I know that their training
is increasingly emphasizing the need to respond more and more forcefully,
in order to protect themselves. The need to protect the public has taken
a back seat to the fears (see the article on cop deaths, above, and my
comments).
Home front:
FBI plans world's largest biometric
database
ars technica
"The FBI has announced it plans to assemble the world's largest
biometric database, nicknamed the Next Generation Identification system.
Currently, the FBI stores fingerprints, facial features, and palm print
characteristics at its facilities in Washington DC. The agency's $1 billion
dollar database, however, will hold far more information on any given
person. Moving forward, the FBI expects to make this comprehensive biometric
database available to a wide variety of federal, state, and local agencies,
all in the name of keeping American safe from terrorists (and illegal
immigration). The FBI also intends to retain (upon employer request) the
fingerprints of any employee who has undergone a criminal background check,
and will inform the employer if the employee is ever arrested or charged
with a crime." (12/24/07)
The Police
State takes another leap forward. I wish that hackers would devote their
attentions more to this sort of thing (and its backups) than to ripping
people’s savings off.
Mama's
Note: No money in it. Maybe if folks would take up a nice collection to
reward said hackers, it could happen.
Home front:
Scientists fleeing border, smugglers
Arizona Republic
“Biologist Karen Krebbs used to study bats in Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument on the Arizona-Mexico border. Then, she got tired of
dodging drug smugglers all night. ‘I use night-vision goggles, and
you could see them very clearly’ — caravans of men with guns
and huge backpacks full of drugs, trudging through the desert, Krebbs
said. After her 10th or 11th time hiding in bushes and behind rocks, she
abandoned her research. ‘I’m just not willing to risk my neck
anymore,’ she said. Across the southwestern U.S. border and in northern
Mexico, scientists such as Krebbs say their work is increasingly threatened
by smugglers as tighter border security pushes trafficking into the most
remote areas where botanists, zoologists and geologists do their research.”
(12/27/07)
I am sorry,
but IF the government would serious about ending this drug smuggling (pros
and cons of the war on drugs and the legal status of the product), then
it would be troops and DEA agents out there with NVG, NOT biologists.
The truth is, the governments really DON’T want the drug-smuggling
to end – the profits are the most lucrative when it is illegal but
enough gets in to barely meet demand: simple economic facts. Miss Krebbs
is seeing the same process as that which drove meth labs out of urban
areas into rural areas, and 75 years ago drove hooch-making out of city
basements into rural barns.
Home front:
Report:
60% of US executions this year were in Texas
USA Today
“As more states turn away from capital punishment, either by banning
it or simply not sentencing felons to death, one state has been fairly
consistent in implementing the ultimate sentence: Texas. The result, The
New York Times notes today, is that more than 60% of all executions in
the USA this year took place in Texas. The reason appears to be very direct:
Although the state does not have a particularly high rate of sentencing
convicted murders to death, it does have a tendency to follow through
once capital punishment is meted out. The large number of murders in Texas
and its willingness to carry out executions are the reasons for the high
rate, according to a 2004 study by three Cornell University professors
cited by the Times.” (12/26/07)
It is a
large state, of course, and a lot more direct and simple than California.
And due to its heritage and its location on the border, it is a more violent
state and society than most.
Home front:
occupation forces:
ID: Police
Academy slogan draws crossfire
Fox News
“A state police academy leader has disavowed the slogan of the
most recent graduating class urging one another to ‘go out and cause’
post-traumatic stress disorder. Each class at the Idaho Police Officer
Standards and Training Academy is allowed to choose a slogan that is printed
on its graduation programs, and the class of 43 graduates came up with
‘Don’t suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it.’ According
to the Veterans Association, tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers suffer
from PTSD, which causes nightmares, flashbacks and physical symptoms that
make sufferers feel as if they are reliving trauma, even many years later.
Crime, accidents and other trauma can cause it in civilians. Ada County
Sheriff Gary Raney, who attended the Dec. 14 graduation, pointed out the
slogan to the academy’s director, Jeff Black, minutes before the
ceremony began. A photograph of the program was e-mailed anonymously to
news outlets throughout the state.” [Editor’s note: Eerily
reminiscent of Mayor Richard Daley’s line about HIS police force
- SAT] (12/25/07)
Seems to
be a pretty accurate statement of the IPOSTA and other state police training
institutions, to me.
Mama's
Note: The message boards I'm on really lit up with this one! None of the
cops on those boards were able to talk their way out of the obvious implications,
though some tried hard. Fewer people are buying it, that's all.
Land of
fruit and nuts:
CA: Cigna officers defend decision
to let customer die
Raw Story
“Cigna HealthCare is taking heat this Christmas but isn’t
backing down after its decision to deny a liver transplant to a teenager
afflicted with leukemia left her dead. Nataline Sarkisyan, 17, died last
week after suffering complications following a bone marrow transplant.
Cigna had refused to cover a liver transplant the girl’s doctors
had requested, dubbing it ‘experimental,’ only to reconsider
at the last minute when the girl’s parents had already decided to
take her off life support. After taking a beating in the press and on
the Web, the Philadelphia-based insurance giant distributed a letter to
the press Monday defending their decision.” (12/25/07)
In today’s
litigation society, a firm like this can’t simply say, “We really
made a horrible mistake, and we are sorry.” So they are arrogant,
instead.
Mama's
Note: Asking third parties to make life and death decisions will ALWAYS
create more problems than it solves. Those who truly felt this operation
would be good for this kid should have been the ones paying for it. Then,
if it was a success they could be happy, and if it was not, they would
have nobody else to blame. This is a classic example of a catch 22. The
insurance company is answerable to its investors. They can't please both
investors and patients much, if any of the time.
I doubt
they "made a horrible mistake." I suspect they were trying to
be fiscally responsible, though it's obvious they didn't handle it very
well after the fact. A liver transplant into an otherwise completely healthy
person is very risky and expensive. The chance that this teen would have
lived, regardless of what they did, were probably very small. But nobody
wants to hear that.
Land of
nuts and fruits:
CA: State Supreme Court upholds right
to picket at malls
San Francisco Chronicle
“A deeply divided California Supreme Court today upheld the right
of unions and political protesters to leaflet shoppers at malls and urge
a boycott. The 4-3 decision was based on the court’s landmark 1979
ruling that allowed political leafleting at large shopping centers under
the state constitutional right of free speech. The court said in that
ruling that a shopping mall was the modern equivalent of a town square
or community meeting place, where people come to exchange ideas as well
as spend money. The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that the constitutional
right of free speech applies only to restrictions imposed by the government
and not by private property owners. But the 1979 ruling remains the law
in California.” (12/24/07)
Funny we’ve
never been able to do much to exchange ideas in any of the malls I’ve
visited: maybe the loud I-pods (or boom boxes), the huge crowds, the blaring
Muzak, the screaming mobs, and the constant blare of advertising lights
and displays keeps the communication from going on beyond “I’ll
see you in the next checkout line.”
Local tyranny:
MA: Some dig in for spots they dug
out
Boston Globe
“It’s a tradition that goes back decades and has inspired
brawls, sliced tires, and expletive-laden tirades. Throughout Boston,
but particularly in South Boston, residents have long laid claim to their
snow-shoveled parking spaces by planting lawn furniture in the road as
a way to pronounce to the neighborhood: This spot is mine. Orange cones
are passed down to new homeowners, parking tactics given to the next generation.
But just as aggressively, the city for years has tried to discourage the
civic tradition by instituting a new policy that limits squatters’
rights to the space to 48 hours after snowfall. After that, their goods
would be removed by trash collectors. ‘The streets of the city belong
to all the people,’ Mayor Thomas M. Menino said through a spokesman
when he initiated the shift. Apparently, it hasn’t worked.”
[Editor’s note: Having lived in Boston, and even Southie, for many
years in a previous life, I can attest to the “vigorous defense of
space” exerted by these folks, who often make the Kelo family seem
like compliant serfs! - SAT] (12/27/07)
It would
seem that the defense of their parking spaces needs to begin with defenses
in the city council chambers and the lobby and the election campaigns.
If these people would boot out idiots like Menino or force the council
to change the laws, then they would find it easier to protect their parking
spaces.
Mama's
Note: And then there are people like me who can't begin to understand
why anyone would want to live so close to others that this would even
become a problem. What happened to driveways, garages or private property
as a place to park your vehicle anyway? This is just another example of
the tragedy of the commons - something else to fight about.
Massa-wannabes:
CA: Paul takes unconventional approach
to win delegates
Fox News
“San Francisco Republicans reaching out to voters in overwhelmingly
Democratic Bay Area districts may sound like a losing strategy for GOP
presidential candidates. But supporters of White House hopeful Ron Paul
say they know better. They’re taking advantage of a rule change in
February’s California GOP primary under which the previous ‘winner-take-all’
system has been replaced by one that awards three primary delegates for
every congressional district a candidate wins — no matter how many
or how few Republicans live there. … Democratic strongholds in Berkeley,
Santa Cruz and Oakland may be fertile ground for second-tier Republican
candidates who can’t compete with rivals’ money and organization
in traditionally conservative enclaves like San Diego or Orange County.
In San Francisco, for example, volunteers need to reach only a couple
thousand Republicans to win the district and pick up three delegate votes.”
(12/25/07)
It is clear
that the election isn’t about what the people want, but about how
the system can be manipulated.
Massa-wannabes:
NH: Paper tells folks not to vote
for Romney
Arizona Republic
“The Concord Monitor broke with political tradition Sunday, telling
readers in the state with the first presidential primary why they should
not vote for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney instead of
whom they should support. In a scathing anti-endorsement that called Romney
a ‘disquieting figure,’ the New Hampshire newspaper’s editorial
board said he looks and acts like a presidential contender but ’surely
must be stopped’ because he lacks the core philosophical beliefs
to be a trustworthy president. In particular, the newspaper noted the
former Massachusetts governor’s change of heart on such issues as
abortion rights, stem-cell research and access to emergency contraception,
as well as on signing an anti-tax pledge.” (12/24/07)
Another
event showing what a horrendously nasty campaign the 2008 election has
become. Frankly, the last dozen or so presidents have shown that the only
“core values” necessary are an unbridled lust for power and
a skill at manipulating people and communities.
Massa-wannabes:
Kucinich scores 77% in independent
poll
Dennis4president.com
“Democratic Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich, who has been
the runaway winner in polls of the Party’s progressive, grassroots
base in recent weeks, scored a landslide win yesterday by capturing almost
77% of the vote in a nationwide poll sponsored by a coalition of Independent
voting groups across the country. Of the more than 80,000 votes cast for
Democratic candidates at www.independentprimary.com by self-described
independent voters, the Ohio Congressman received 61,477 — more than
three times the combined total of all the other candidates. Former Senator
John Edwards came in second with only 7,614 votes, or 9.5 percent. Senators
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were third and fourth respectively.”
[Editor’s note: Just as Ron Paul’s 80+% showing in a similar
“independents” poll on the GOP side, this news and a buck-and-a-half
might get you a cup of coffee - SAT] (12/24/07)
Kooki-vich
would make a fine candidate for that branch of the Boot-on-your-neck party,
no doubt. I find it ironic that the left-wing-radical-kook wing of the
modern totalitarian-leaning Liberal movement has chosen the name “progressive”
for themselves. This is because whenever I hear that word, my hackles
rise: “the progressive” income tax is long beloved of Marx,
Engels and crew as a way to destroy the middle and upper classes and turn
us all into proles. I suppose that is truth in advertising. And I should
be grateful that it means there is a chance that “liberal” will
once again mean those who love to give liberty, give to (not be forced
to contribute to) charity, and are willing to let live.
Massa-wannabes:
McKinney
Seeking Green Party Presidential Nomination
CNSNews.com
Former
Rep. Cynthia McKinney, a Georgia Democrat who was voted out of Congress
last year after engaging in an altercation with a Capitol Hill police
officer, is now campaigning to become the Green Party’s presidential
nominee...
About the
kind of thug (and former Baboon) that you’d think the enviro-totalitarians
of the Green Party would want to see run, if they can’t get Al-gor
to do so.
Massa-wannabes:
Democrats enter stretch in Iowa
Washington Post
"With just eight days left to break a three-way deadlock in the
Democratic contest here, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton began delivering
a closing argument Wednesday that centered on the experience she and her
husband gained in the Oval Office during his administration, while her
two chief rivals both argued that they could best succeed in bringing
change to Washington. ... Former senator John Edwards (N.C.) detoured
through New Hampshire before a planned return to Iowa, arguing that his
is a more radical call for change than Obama's. Clinton and Obama are
launching television ads in the state to bolster their arguments as the
three remain tightly bunched in surveys." (12/27/07)
Just who
will we get calling the shots in DC if the electorate and the Electoral
College end up choosing Miz Clinton? As far as change in DC – hah!
Massa-wannabes:
NH: Paul inspires entire activist
operation
Concord Monitor
“Eleven thousand copies of the U.S. Constitution stood piled yesterday
in a garage, at the end of a cul-de-sac on White Pine Lane, outside of
Manchester. A pickup truck from Long Island with a dozen bullet-hole stickers
down its side was parked next to them. In the back was bathroom tissue,
reams of paper and two dozen air mattresses. ‘We need to buy coffee,
frozen dinners, eggs, and bread,’ said Vijay Boyapati, who paid $5,000
to rent the house through Jan. 10. ‘We’re going to need to feed
a small army.’ Boyapati, 29, is the man behind Operation Live Free
or Die, an effort to bring 1,000 people to New Hampshire before the primary,
to campaign for Ron Paul …. Boyapati started a website this fall,
at operationlivefreeordie.com, where 370 people have pledged to come to
the state. They indicate particular dates and jobs they can do, as well
as money they can pay. Another 120 committed to come before Boyaparti
launched the site. … In the kitchen, there is a ten-pound bag of
rice and an institutional-sized can of baked beans on the fake granite
counter. Six green potatoes sit in a bowl under the stainless-steel microwave.
A group of women from the Free State project, calling themselves the Ladies
of Liberty, Boyapati said, had come by a few times to cook and deliver
a few cases of Samuel Adams beer. ‘When you grow this quickly in
a few weeks,’ he said, it’s hard to organize.’” (12/23/07)
Various
libertarian groups and people continue to debate the pros and cons of
supporting Ron Paul, as he appears to be sparking increased interest and
hope in voters. He is not the only one, of course, as the next article
discusses.
Massa-wannabes:
Grassroots activists fill GOP void
Boston Globe
“Eric Woolson, the director of Mike Huckabee’s Iowa campaign,
had no idea what a ‘fair tax’ was until he tried to raise a
crowd to see Huckabee’s band, Capital Offense, perform following
a Republican state-party dinner in April. Struggling to fill the room,
he soon realized that he was competing for attention with a group called
Americans for Fair Taxation that happened to be giving away iPods and
college-football tickets in a nearby hospitality suite. … Around
the same time, Woolson was surprised to learn that a growing number of
volunteers were coming to the campaign’s Des Moines headquarters
and citing an unfamiliar aspect of Huckabee’s record: that while
governor of Arkansas, he had named an advocate of homeschooling to the
state board of education. A few months later, those two once-unknown interest
groups … were crucial in turning out votes for him at the closely
watched Ames straw poll in August.” [Editor’s note: Is it
surprising that a story with this title makes NO mention of the Ron Paul
R3VOLution, which is redefining “grassroots” (as well as “interest
group”) with every step? - SAT] (12/26/07)
It seems
that Woolson is a classic example of how uninformed and politically-lost
too many “activists” and political advisors are – unless
he is lying through his teeth. The GOP is desperate to find someone both
to compete with the Clinton juggernaut AND with the growing Paul campaign.
Keep in mind that the Globe (and most MSM) have no desire whatsoever to
publicize Paul, due to his positions and outspoken nature.
Medical
front:
Study:
Cannabinoids may hamper cancer cell invasion
Science Daily
"Cannabinoids may suppress tumor invasion in highly invasive cancers,
according to a study published online December 25 in the Journal of the
National Cancer Institute. Cannabinoids, the active components in marijuana,
are used to reduce the side effects of cancer treatment, such as pain,
weight loss, and vomiting, but there is increasing evidence that they
may also inhibit tumor cell growth. However, the cellular mechanisms behind
this are unknown." [Editor's note: This is advertised as new
news, but a suppressed NIH-funded study in 1974, and numerous studies
since, have also pointed to cannabis as a tumor growth inhibitor - TLK]
(12/27/07)
Expect
this to be pooh-poohed, now that it has been again made a public issue.
And expect many drug-warriors to take the position that only the “refined”
drugs made from the cannabis can be acceptable.
Mama's
Note: We have to remember that the government has little or no interest
in the safety or effectiveness of anything. It's all about control and
money, the other is merely the excuse to get it.
Mesopotamian
front:
Iraq [sic]: US
targets Mahdi Army splinter group
Biloxi Sun Herald
"U.S. troops killed 11 members of a Mahdi Army splinter group
early Thursday, American officials said. The military also announced that
it had detained two more suspects in the capture of three U.S. Soldiers
earlier this year. One of the suspects is thought to have 'facilitated'
the kidnapping of the American soldiers taken during a May ambush near
Youssifiyah, about 12 miles south of Baghdad, and to have used his house
to hide the soldiers, the military said in a statement. A weapon belonging
to one of the soldiers was found at the residence of the other suspect."
(12/27/07)
I find
it very hard to treat these kidnappers and torturers as legitimate patriots
fighting against an occupation force, especially when you consider the
beliefs and practices of the Mahdi Army and their ultimate goals of world
domination. I realize that a lot of people want to consider the kidnapping
no different than taking enemy prisoners, but clearly, these were not
normal POW situations.
Mama's
Note: Two wrongs don't make a right. They couldn't have been "kidnapped"
or "captured" at all if they had not been part of the invasion
and occupation.
New religions:
global warming:
Who should
regulate vehicle emissions?
Christian Science Monitor
“From opposite ends of the United States, two of the nation’s
most prominent Republicans are butting heads over who has the right to
regulate the vehicle emissions that largely contribute to global warming.
In one corner, a former movie action hero, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Across the ring, a former Texas oilman and sports team owner, President
George W. Bush. Governor Schwarzenegger, along with many fellow governors
of both parties, says that because he’s closer to the problem he’s
best able to deal with it. The president says climate change is a global
problem that should be handled at the highest level of government.”
[Editor’s note: Of course, the alternate answer, NOTA, never occurs
to this writer, only the choice of autocrat - SAT] (12/26/07)
Steve is
correct, of course. Even if global warming were REALLY an issue and could
be influenced by human activities, the government is the wrong group to
handle it, at ANY level.
Persian
front:
Report: 20
million Iranian casualties in nuke war with Israel
Fox News
“An estimated 16-20 million Iranians would die in a nuclear war
with Israel, according to a report issued by a respected Washington think
tank. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) also estimates
that between 200,000 and 800,000 Israelis would be killed, the Jerusalem
Post reported. The report, which is theoretical and based on limited verified
knowledge of Israel’s and Iran’s nuclear capability, paints
a bleak picture for both nations. It estimates that a nuclear war would
last approximately three weeks and ultimately end with the annihilation
of Iran, based on Israel’s alleged possession of sophisticated and
powerful nuclear weapons. The report does not predict the number of deaths
due to nuclear fallout. It lists possible targets for an Iranian strike
as Tel Aviv and Haifa, while the list of probable targets in Iran includes
Tehran and Tabriz.” (12/24/07)
Funny,
no casualty list on “Palestinians” that I see? Of course, it
is bad enough with two to four weeks of combat, radioactive contamination
of thousands of square miles, complete shutdown of all oil production
in the Middle East for years, and no doubt ultimately the elimination
of Israel as well - as the vengeful masses of Syria, Jordan, and Egypt
swarm over the land of Canaan. Unless more nukes are used by the evil
Israelis to wipe out those nations, as well.
Mama's
Note: Personally, I don't see much difference between the Israelis and
any of the rest of them. They're all insane.
Persian
front:
Iran’s
Peace Museum: The reality vs. the glories of war
Christian Science Monitor
“In the soil of an Islamic state long defined by war and martyrdom,
some Iranians are planting a new seed of peace, by opening a museum that
showcases the horrors of war. In Iran, countless acres are dedicated to
cemeteries for soldiers killed in the 1980s Iran-Iraq [sic] war. Endless
tears of mourning and pride have fallen for loved ones lost in that ’sacred
defense.’ And numberless sermons and solemnities have turned martyrdom
into the highest form of worship. Tehran’s Peace Museum, dedicated
in June and set to open soon, aims to adjust a mindset that has prevailed
since the 1979 Islamic revolution.” (12/24/07)
Of course,
this is no more “Iran’s” peace museum than the same thing
would be “America’s” peace museum if it were built in Dayton
or Scottsdale. The people building this are no more representative of
Iran and the Iranian government than Russell Means and his three buddies
represent either the OST government or the Lakota nation. And they will
be lucky to keep the doors open for weeks before the Revolutionary Guards
or some other group tears it down, or a “martyr” blows it up
with a suicide bomb.
Persian
front:
American
Christians Planning to Aid Iranian Jews to Move to Israel
CNSNews.com
Jerusalem
Israel for the first time is publicly urging the entire Iranian Jewish
community to immigrate to Israel -- and American Christians are providing
the financial incentives for them to do so...
Clearing
the decks? Recent analysis stories in the MSM have gone into detail about
the horrors of a nuclear war between Iran and Israel (see the story above).
So maybe the Jews of Iran will be safer off migrating to the US?
Our right
to defend ourselves:
CA:
Escaped tiger kills man at zoo
Los Angeles Times
“A tiger escaped from its enclosure in the San Francisco Zoo on
Christmas Day, mauled one man to death and left two others seriously injured.
The tiger was shot and killed by police after it charged officers. A police
spokesperson said the zoo was evacuated after the incident, which occurred
late in the afternoon near the Terrace Cafe at the east end of the zoo.
The zoo was being searched for other possible victims Tuesday evening,
even though there were no missing person reports. Police helicopters circled
the area with searchlights as ambulances stood by.” (12/26/07)
Of course,
no one in the zoo was armed – either staff or visitors. Otherwise,
they might have at least put the animal down after only one person was
killed or seriously injured.
Mama's
Note: This story has been a regular three ring circus in the media this
week. Everything from the possibility that the "victims" taunted
the animal and invaded it's territory to the utterly ridiculous posturing
by the city government. End of the year news tends to get even more bizarre
than what passes for "normal."
Our right
to defend ourselves:
AL: Resident shoots, kills home intruder
Huntsville Times
“A Madison man shot and killed a man who was apparently trying
to rob him in his apartment Sunday afternoon. Police are also looking
for a woman who was the dead man’s accomplice. According to police
reports, Paul Crabtree and Mary Elizabeth Holt were apparently armed with
knives when they barged into a home at Charleston Oaks Apartments, 222
Kyser Boulevard around 4:10 p.m. The resident shot Crabtree in the upper
left chest. HEMSI paramedics took him to Huntsville Hospital where he
later died. The woman is 5-foot-8 with blonde hair and brown eyes. She
was wearing a pink hoody with a Confederate flag on it.” (12/24/07)
As Mama
said, “don’t take a knife to a gun fight.” Certainly a
nominee for a Darwin Award.
Mama's
Note: Indeed, BUT: A knife is, indeed, a serious weapon and nobody should
be complacent about it. The only way someone with a gun can prevail is
to be prepared to react instantly. A person with a knife can cross the
room and stab you in a few seconds. How quickly can you draw, aim and
fire? And if that gun is in a drawer in the closet, with the ammunition
"safely" in another place... just how can it do you a particle
of good? If you don't have a gun at all ...
Our right
to defend ourselves:
TX:
Bar owner claims self-defense in shooting
KTRK News
“The owner of a southeast Houston bar is claiming self-defense
as the reason he shot and killed a man. It happened around 11:30 pm yesterday.
A man allegedly walked into Henry’s Bar on 80th and Avenue B and
allegedly began waving a gun. Two men inside, including the bar owner,
forced the man out into the parking lot, but it didn’t end there.
Another scuffle broke out and the man apparently drew his weapon again.
The bar owner was armed himself. ‘He pointed the gun at the bar owner
and the bar owner shot him,’ said an investigator at the scene. ‘It
appears to be self-defense at this time.’” (12/24/07)
Although
this occurred outside after the man had been driven out, it still seems
to be self-defense, even if the TV doesn’t seem to be quite buying
it.
Our right
to defend ourselves:
South Africa: Resident shoots intruder
News 24
“The resident heard dogs barking and awoke from his sleep. ‘He
took his firearm and went outside to investigate,’ said O’ Brien.
Police said one robber, who was hidden between two cars in the driveway,
jumped towards the resident with ’something’ in his hand. ‘Fearing
for his life, he instinctively fired his weapon,’ said O’ Brien.
A second robber jumped over a neighbour’s wall, fleeing the scene.”
(12/23/07)
This being
South Africa with its anti-homeowner, hoploclastic laws, this man is likely
in trouble for discharging a firearm.
Mama's
Note: And, of course, whoever is writing this story knows absolutely nothing
about self defense or the use of a gun. Nobody "instinctively"
fires a gun. Without at least some training and practice, the average
person would not even think about the gun if attacked. The "instinctive"
reaction is to run away when faced with real danger. This man obviously
had made the effort to be armed and ready to respond to such a threat,
taking his chances with the official criminals to repel the free lance
sort. Unfortunately, it's six of one and half dozen of another where he
lives.
Our right
to defend ourselves:
Gun seized after Katrina? NRA wants
you
Yahoo! News
"The National Rifle Association has hired private investigators
to find hundreds of people whose firearms were seized by city police in
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to court papers filed this
week. The NRA is trying to locate gun owners for a federal lawsuit that
the lobbying group filed against Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent
Warren Riley over the city's seizure of firearms after the Aug. 29, 2005,
hurricane. In the lawsuit, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation
claim the city violated gun owners' constitutional right to bear arms
and left them 'at the mercy of roving gangs, home invaders, and other
criminals' after Katrina." (12/26/07)
Oh, you
should read some of the stories about this: the evil lobbying group is
whipping up emotions and fearmongering for the sake of money and publicity!
My hope is that the people who did have their guns taken are not too afraid
of future attacks by police to stand up and be counted. We need to show
that gunowners are real people and not evil monsters.
Mama's
Note: Sadly, the NRA has lost all respect from a great many gun owners
since they have, once again, supported the federal government's new "laws"
that will disarm many thousands, including a great many veterans. The
NRA has done a lot of good, especially in providing training to millions
of gun owners, but their lobbying branch has become a terrible liability
and is not longer worthy of support - if it ever was. (And yes, I am an
NRA certified handgun instructor and member.)
Our right
to defend ourselves:
GA: Son
protecting mom shoots stepdad
WGCL News
"A Fulton County woman was shot twice in the stomach early Monday
morning by her estranged husband, police said. Fulton County police said
the woman was being escorted to her car in front of her home on Leisure
Lane in south Fulton County by her son when her estranged husband shot
her with a shotgun. The woman's son returned fire, shooting his stepfather
before calling police, investigators said. ... Police said the couple
was involved in an on-going domestic dispute, with the woman obtaining
a restraining order against her estranged husband before the shooting.
The woman's son had been walking her to her car in front of her home daily
in order to provide protection for her." (12/24/07)
Duh? He
should have called 911 and THEN shot the killer?
Mama's
Note: Shot twice with a shotgun and still alive? Wow, that's one tough
lady. Too bad the son didn't see the attacker sooner, but I'm glad he
took out the creep.
Our right
to defend ourselves:
CA:
Man shoots another in self defense
KFSN News
"No charges will be filed against a man who shot and killed another
man in southeast Fresno on Christmas. Police say it was self defense.
Investigators say a 26-year old man showed up at his ex-girlfriend's home
on east Belgravia, around 4 a.m. to demand to see their baby. Police say
he hit the woman, pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot her. The woman's
cousin was in the home and shot the ex-boyfriend. Police say he saved
both mother and baby." (12/26/07)
And if
he hadn’t been armed, there would be at least three, if not four,
dead.
Our right
to defend ourselves:
WI: Bill
would limit seizing of guns
Journal Sentinel
“State lawmakers want to clip the power of the governor and local
officials to seize people’s guns during emergencies, saying that
authority could trample the rights of citizens. Legislators said they
decided to try to curb those powers after seeing New Orleans police officers
take guns from people during the recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The Republican-run Assembly passed the bill this month on a bipartisan
84-13 vote, and the Democratic-led Senate is looking at doing the same
soon. …. Twenty-one other states, including Louisiana, have passed
similar laws since Hurricane Katrina, according to the National Rifle
Association, which backs the law. (12/22/07)
Though
not high-visibility, this effort is ongoing in dozens of states since
2005. At least the NRA is pushing this, even if they are also pushing
the veterans disarmament bills and other similar hoploclastic measures.
Mama's
Note: I don't have any faith in such bills. We all know just how faithfully
governments at all levels follow the "laws" when it doesn't
suit them. The "Patriot Act(s)" and several other such pieces
of filth no doubt give them all the "authority" they want to
simply ignore such things as this whenever they please - if they bother
to justify it at all. In a real emergency, the swat teams and hoards of
other "enforcers" will be turned loose on the population with
little or no restraint, and their actions will only be reviewed by the
survivors long after the fact.
Our right
to defend ourselves:
Poll:
Americans clearly divided on gun control
Angus Reid Global Monitor)
“People in the United States are almost evenly split between those
who want tighter firearm legislation and those who believe this is unnecessary,
according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 42 per cent of respondents believe
their country needs stricter gun control laws, while 44 per cent disagree.
The U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment guarantees Americans the
right “to keep and bear arms.” Some American states have enacted
their own gun control regulations, independent of existing federal legislation.”
(12/26/07)
I suspect
(as always with polls) that the questions influenced the answers. I’d
love to see a breakout by states, as well, and by urban versus suburban
versus rural versus frontier breakouts. But I still would not trust the
polls, and it still ignores that fact that RIGHTS are NOT subject to popular
vote!
Mama's
Note: Exactly! I once asked a firm "gun control" advocate if
he thought his neighbors ought to be able to "vote" on whether
or not he should be allowed to continue to breathe... Naturally, he could
see no connection whatsoever.
Our right
to defend ourselves:
PA:
7-Eleven clerk shoots purported robber
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“The masked bandit walked into the 7-Eleven on West Prospect Avenue
about 4:30 a.m., said Vicky Bawa, whose family has owned the business
for about 12 years. The intruder brandished a knife, jumped the counter
and attacked the clerk, said Bawa, 25, of Robinson. The clerk, identified
by Bawa as Kaelin Weber, 24, pulled out a handgun and fired. The man ran
from behind the counter, out the door and across the street, she said.
The gun-wielding clerk gave chase. Weber fired another shot and hit the
suspect in the leg, said Bawa, recounting what the clerk and investigators
told her. Weber was victimized during a previous robbery, though he was
not armed during that encounter.” (12/26/07)
Shooting
the guy in the store is one thing: chasing him and shooting him as he
is running away and across the street is NOT self-defense. Miss Weber,
leave the revenge part to the cops: decent humans shouldn’t be doing
it.
Our right
to defend ourselves:
TX:
Guard fatally shoots intruder
Star Telegram
“A man who reportedly sneaked into an east Dallas business late
Wednesday was fatally shot by a man who was guarding the place, police
said. …. A 24-year-old man who was hired to guard the business told
police that he heard a garage door opening, but the remote-control opener
had been stolen in an earlier burglary, McDonald said. The guard then
confronted the man, McDonald said. The guard said the man approached him
in a threatening manner so he shot him with a handgun.” (12/27/07)
At night,
this is exactly what should happen.
Mama's
Note: Right... The only thing I wonder is why they would not have locked
the garage doors so the stolen opener could not be used. Why in the world
don't people lock things up? Locks can't stop a determined thief or intruder,
of course, but it can slow them down and give people a better chance to
defend themselves. Whatever else you do... at least LOCK THE DOORS!!
Southeast
Asia Front:
Cambodia:
Buddhist monks march
BBC News [UK]
“Hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns have been marching in Cambodia
in support of the upcoming trials of the former leaders of the Khmer Rouge.
Almost two million Cambodians are thought to have died during four years
of Khmer Rouge rule in the late 1970s. The organisation targeted religious
institutions, destroying churches, mosques and temples. Muslim and Christian
leaders joined the Buddhist monks and nuns to demonstrate their support
for the tribunal.” (12/25/07)
How can
these people march and expect any justice to be done? As near as I can
see, this is nothing but revenge for what is really almost ancient history:
there is no possible restitution to be gained, no message of warning to
others who would do the same thing, no real gain in public safety by imprisoning
these people, and the effort is wasting time and money that could do more
to repair the ravages of a 30-year-old time of horror than a bunch of
show trials.
Stupid
government tricks:
Bush signs $555 billion spending bill
Los Angeles Times
"President Bush signed a $555-billion spending bill Wednesday
that will pay for a large share of government operations in 2008, but
he complained that Congress did not do enough to restrict pork-barrel
expenditures and was not providing enough money for the wars in Iraq [sic]
and Afghanistan. Bush said in a statement: 'I am disappointed in the way
the Congress compiled this legislation. ... Congress dropped into the
bill nearly 9,800 earmarks that total more than $10 billion. These projects
are not funded through a merit-based process and provide a vehicle for
wasteful government spending.'" [Editor's note: Around $1,850
for every man, woman and child in the United States -- and of course there
WILL be more -- and he's bitching about $33.33 of it? The statement, as
it happens, was made from an airplane that costs taxpayers $55,000 per
hour to operate while it flies him ... to his vacation destination! -
TLK] (12/27/07)
By the
way, folks, the Federal fiscal year began nearly 3 months ago: this is
way too late, and way too expensive. But despite Bush’s complaints,
the Baboons basically rolled over for him regarding operations in Mesopotamia,
and once more demonstrated that their screams and promises are both to
be ignored. Earmarks may only be 2% of this, but pork in the true sense
of the word must include at least 75%.
Mama's
Note: Bush
rejects defense bill by pocket veto, Bush
OKs child health program extension ... Hard to understand just what
he's up to, of course, but you can bet that he has no problems at all
spending our money - and that of our posterity for generations - and he
will insist it's "for the good of the country."
Stupid
government tricks:
UK: Charity supports
dementia tagging
BBC News [UK]
"Proposed electronic tagging of dementia sufferers, with their
agreement, has been backed by a key charity. The Alzheimer's Society said
the plan could empower patients by allowing them to wander, but called
for a debate on the ethics of gaining consent. Many dementia sufferers
feel compelled to walk about outside -- the society says 60% may wander,
and 40% have got lost at some point. The government has said tagging could
allow people to lead 'fuller lives.'" (12/27/07)
If I could
believe that the patients really will have a say (a real say) in this,
it makes sense. But instead, I believe that it will be subject to the
same abuses as so many other “consent” procedures are: “Mrs.
Smith, unless you voluntarily agree to this tag, you will not receive
ANY medical care at all, unless you pay up front for all the additional
costs you are causing the National Health Service.” Or something
similar.
Mama's
Note: Nathan, since when are these thugs that honest? No, the poor old
soul will simply be chained to her wheelchair or her bed and that will
be that. If they are demented enough to need the tag, they are incapable
of giving consent anyway. They usually have absolutely no judgment, so
they'd be run down in traffic in no time, tags or not. The only real answer
is for families to care for their elders in the time honored fashion.
Someone needs to watch them and be responsible for their safety at all
times. The idea of letting them wander is nonsense.
Stupid
government tricks:
UK:
Austrian firm offers to remove "disruptive" migrants
Independent [UK]
"A company specialising in removing failed asylum-seekers is to
approach the Government with plans to use specially adapted aircraft to
deport hundreds of 'disruptive' refugees. Asylum Airways, run by an Austrian
aviation consultant with ties to British security firms, will operate
aircraft for European countries which do not wish to use established airlines
for the forced removal of asylum-seekers. The planes will have specially
designed seats so that the 'passengers' can be strapped down and restrained
by guards." (12/27/07)
Contracting
out the thug-jobs, eh? At least when the Brits deported their convicts
to penal colonies in Georgia and Australia 200+ years ago, they used their
own ships and soldiers and sailors to do so; not the descendants of previous
convicts.
Stupid
government tricks:
Egypt to
copyright pyramids
Fox News
“In a potential blow to themed resorts from Vegas to Tokyo, Egypt
is to pass a law requiring payment of royalties whenever its ancient monuments,
from the pyramids to the sphinx, are reproduced. Zahi Hawass, the charismatic
and controversial head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities,
said the move was necessary to pay for the upkeep of the country’s
thousands of pharaonic sites. ‘The new law will completely prohibit
the duplication of historic Egyptian monuments which the Supreme Council
of Antiquities considers 100 per cent copies,’ he said. ‘If
the law is passed then it will be applied in all countries of the world
so that we can protect our interests,’ Hawass said. He said a ministerial
committee had already agreed on the law which should be passed in the
next parliamentary session, while saying the move would not hurt Egyptian
artisans. ‘It is Egypt’s right to be the only copyright owner
for these monuments in order to benefit financially so we can restore,
preserve and protect Egyptian monuments.’” (12/26/07)
Sorry,
but I don’t think there will be a country with any halfway honest
claim to rule by law that will enforce this stupid law. These Egyptian
politicians are incredibly stupid.
Mama's
Note: I can see it all now... the litigation boom of the century as the
Mexicans try to collect "royalties" from everyone who wears
a broad brimmed hat, and AmerInds of all kinds demand that the tent is
a violation of their copyright on the teepee... We won't even talk about
all the "Mexican food" prepared by cooks of other nationalities,
"Roman" blinds... What a bonanza for lawyers all over the world!!!!
Theft by
government:
NY: Plan would let seniors work to
pay taxes
Salt Lake Tribune (AP)
Audrey Davison lives alone, gets a $620 Social Security check each
month and worries about the sharply rising taxes on her four-bedroom house.
Davison, 76, raised her family there and after 43 years, she really doesn't
want to leave Greenburgh. Greenburgh doesn't want her to leave, either.
The town is pushing a program that would let seniors work part-time, for
$7 an hour, to help pay off some of their property taxes. The proposal
has caused a stir in Greenburgh, a town of 90,000 in Westchester County,
which has the nation's third-highest homeowner property taxes. The plan
would be unusual if not unique in New York, but similar programs are considered
successes in Colorado, Massachusetts, South Carolina and elsewhere.
As the
story points out, this is being done in many places. In Colorado up to
half the property tax can be paid by volunteer work as aides at schools
or elsewhere, by seniors. The problem is, this is still wrong: people
should not be required to pay property taxes – rent, really –
on land that they own. I am no Georgist to believe in some claptrap about
how “land” is different from other physical things and shouldn’t
be owned by individuals. That is nothing more than the same garbage we’ve
been fed from the time of Nimrod and the first Pharaohs of Egypt - that
the “nation” owns the land and we can only “use” it.
Just as income taxes are nothing more than a moderated form of slavery,
so property taxes are just a modified form of feudalism - both are evil.
Giving back some of the taxes, to reduce the burden, is nothing more than
the nobility or the king saying, “Because it has been a bad year
and you are starving, we’ll only require 25% of your crops instead
of the usual 50%” – it is STILL theft. The mugger left you enough
money to get a bus ride to the hospital. It is claimed that property taxes
are really service fees, at least for local town/county governments, but
if a senior (or anyone else) said that they didn’t want certain “services”
to be provided, you know that no rebate or reduction is ever going to
show up. (Thanks to Scott for this one.)
Mama's
Note: I hadn't seen this one!! Makes my blood boil!!! On top of what Nathan
says, which is right on, I wonder what they plan to do with the poor souls
who are totally incapable of working? They must pay this extortion until
they no longer have a dime, at which time they wind up being cared for
in a nursing home or wherever at the expense of OTHER taxpayers. This
is a case of the dog (government) lapping up its own vomit.
The
taxes, and all of the other burdens of government, make it virtually impossible
for many older people to take care of themselves, or for their families
to help them meaningfully.
Theft by
government:
PA: Lawsuit alleges countywide
conspiracy in land theft
The Evening Sun
"The owners of Lauxmont Farms in Lower Windsor Township filed
a lawsuit against York County Monday, claiming that the county commissioners'
efforts to take their land by eminent domain for a park caused them financial
problems. But the lawsuit goes beyond that, alleging the existence of
a wide-ranging conspiracy by public officials in York County. According
to the allegations, the members of the conspiracy wanted to get the Kohrs'
land for considerably less- than-market value, motivated in part by personal
dislike, and conducted a prolonged harassment campaign against the family
that eventually drove their mother to suicide." (12/26/07)
We all
know it has happened before. Even DISNEY has made movies about it. I just
hope these people can find enough evidence to convince a jury.
War on
some drugs:
UK: Growth in
legal form of GHB drug
BBC News
“More than half of the doses being sold as the illegal drug GHB
in nightclubs are actually made from a perfectly legal compound, the BBC
has learned. The Tictac drugs database says about 60% of suspected GHB
samples are in fact legal gamma butyrlactone (GBL), found in nail varnish
remover. More than half of the doses being sold as the illegal drug GHB
in nightclubs are actually made from a perfectly legal compound, the BBC
has learned. The Tictac drugs database says about 60% of suspected GHB
samples are in fact legal gamma butyrlactone (GBL), found in nail varnish
remover. ” (12/27/07)
Gee, so
now are they going to make nail varnish remover illegal? Equally a question:
does the GHL have the same effects as GHB (the so-called “date rape
drug”)? So far, it seems to be street lore that it does, but the
only thing for certain is that the test used to determine the presence
of GHB comes up false-positive with GHL present.
Mama's
Note: The whole mind set of the bureaucrats and slave masters is, "Whatever
isn't forbidden is mandatory." Look for the UK to make table salt
a "prescription only" substance eventually. I have a little
bet with myself on lots of things like this. So far I've predicted about
half of the new prohibitions over the last few years... but it's not an
exact science, of course... just my little hobby.
World wars:
U.S. Navy
aims to flex “soft power”
Christian Science Monitor
“The US Navy is trying to set a new course, embracing a shift
in strategy that focuses heavily on administering humanitarian aid, disaster
relief, and other forms of so-called soft power to woo allies to help
the United States fight global terrorism. The Navy’s new maritime
strategy, unveiled this fall and shared by the Marine Corps and Coast
Guard, is a shift in tone that reflects a broader change in the Pentagon’s
approach as it organizes itself for what many military officials refer
to as a ‘generational conflict’ against extremism. It’s
a move away from the go-it-alone stance of the Bush White House and toward
a new emphasis on building partnerships abroad and finding common interests.”
(12/28/07)
I might
agree with the explanation of what the Navy is doing, but believe that
the CSM is completely off-base about the when and why. The US Navy, for
good or bad, has ALWAYS placed a great deal of emphasis on what the CSM
calls “soft power” from the time of John Paul Jones to now –
when Congress has given them the resources to do it. Smart sailors, from
boot recruits right up to four-star admirals, have ALWAYS known the way
to win and keep allies is to treat them right, offer help, and keep firepower
as the last resort. Again, as much as Congress has allowed them to, this
has been done. It has nothing to do with Bush or his policies as it has
to do with going back to the fundamentals of American naval policy: the
Freedom of the Seas doctrine that makes the Navy a defensive force intended
primarily to keep the sea lanes open and the merchants and fishermen safe
from pirates, storms, and navies intent on enslaving them to some degree
or another.
A follow-up to last week’s news about a Minnesota man who
is still alive after getting raided by cops (by mistake) and shooting
two of them with a shotgun. Neither was hurt, which does raise the question
of the effectiveness of shotguns for home defense:
Problem
is that the criminals are getting better armored as well as better armed.
A shotgun blast to the face would probably be the solution, even
if they are wearing face plates. A solid slug in the shotgun would
also no doubt at least knock them down long enough for a second shot to
the inside thigh or the armpit, or right to the faceplate. But it doesn't
say what he used: a 410-ga would be par for the course when what you want
for home defense is a 10-ga.
Mama's
Note: The scatter-gun might be great (and Nathan is right about the caliber)
to keep near the bed for a night intruder, but - since it is obviously
not something you'll carry around all day, it's not going to do you a
particle of good if you are in another room when the door gets kicked
in. You won't have time to go get it. If you keep it behind the door,
you won't be able to get anywhere near it.
For
realistic self defense, a good handgun that is either carried on the person
(or several, stored in strategic places in the house) - and adequate training
in tactical situations - is the only answer.
Finally,
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Nathan
Barton is writing this from a wonderful place in the West, which might
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the Four Corners States. Exactly where it is, the breezes blow with the
scent of liberty, and the sound of the pines or the pinions is the sound
of freedom. For thousands of years, people have fought and died for the
liberty that Americans in the great spaces of the West enjoy, and he writes
these commentaries in the hopes that continued generations will be able
to do so, until the end of Time.
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Outpost.
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