Goodbye Barry - Welcome Home AMERICA!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Michael Jackson Gets Credit Where Credit Is Due

I got to thinking about my posting of 6/26/09 regarding the passing of Michael Jackson, and decided it was a bit "cold". Here's my take on EmJay:

Michael was undoubtedly one of, if not THE, most phenomenal entertainers of the twentieth century. His music bridged international boundaries, and obliterated language barriers. His career of over 40 years was an exceptional accomplishment. MJ's performances were like a modern-day Roman Circus, in that he appealed to the masses. And not just the masses of Rome, but the masses of the entire world. He was truly "The King of Pop"!

Unfortunately, all was not roses for Michael. Despite his international fame and the many, many millions of dollars he earned, MJ was apparently a tortured soul. As his fame and fortune grew, MJ made a transition from an adorable young black child, to a somewhat other-worldly-looking, middle-aged, white woman-looking creature. He was obviously unhappy that he had been born into a black skin, and as he matured he could not reconcile that fact within his mind. Thanks to the volume of his positive cash flow, he could afford to undergo numerous procedures to bleach his skin to an unnaturally phantasmal white, and have his naturally black facial features surgically modified until he had a miniaturized Woody Woodpecker beak as the central focal point of his countenance. How unsatisfactorily MJ must have viewed the black race, to go to such extremes to erase its image from his mirror. Yet the black community - which he rejected - mourns his passing as they would a true "brother". Sadly, Michael reached the end of his unhappy life as a "whigger".

Then there was his inordinate interest in other people's children... especially other people's pre- and early teen boy children! There's an old saying that goes, "Where there's smoke, there's fire". EmJay should have been charged with arson for the several 5-alarm, fully-involved infernos into which he continued to pour fuel. A fantastic entertainer, outwardly exhibiting the mind and emotions of a young child, yet he indulged in some seriously questionable adult behaviors. I wouldn't go so far as to call him a miserable, self-loathing, child-molesting pervert... nor would I call him anything other than that.

The world has lost a truly great entertainer. MJ will leave a large hole in the entertainment world. The silver lining to this particular dark cloud is that there is also one less pederast in the world.

I'm absolutely certain that many people will consider me to be wrong in my assessment of EmJay's legacy... and there's a snowball's chance they could be right.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Court Rules For White Firefighters Over Promotions - Sotomayor Overturned AGAIN!

This is a followup to my posting "Rewarding Failure," 5/27/09 - MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer, today reported the following:

"WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge. New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities."

The sad part is, that Sotomayor appears to be the best Supreme Court nominee that Obama could come up with! Does he not know anybody with the correct talents for the jobs to which he desires them to be appointed?

Sotomayor successfully retains her title as the "most overturned Federal Appeals Court judge" in the country. Perhaps she should go back to law school... for a refresher course.

Here's what the left side of the SCOTUS had to say - "In dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the white firefighters "understandably attract this court's sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them." But, justice actually triumphed over emotion and the improper and abusive application of law.

The majority opinion, rendered by Justice Anthony Kennedy , who was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, declared "Fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions."

Those who put forth the legitimate effort in time, on-the-job experience, and study necessary to further their careers have been vindicated by the highest court in the land. Unfortunately, it never should have come to this point. Justice should be served at all levels of the court system - not just at the highest level. Justice is never served by punishing those who are successful!

I supposed that in some perverse parallel universe I could be wrong about the way I see this issue...

Sunday, June 28, 2009

It IS a VERY SMALL WORLD!

Now this is an interesting story! Last year, on my motorcycle ride from Grants Pass OR to West Point/Clinton/Roy Utah, I spent the night in Winnemucca NV, as I always do. Shortly after checking into the Motel 6 I met a visitor from Finland, named Juha Lyytikainen, who was vacationing in the States with his wife and sister-in-law in a motorhome. As Juha was a motorcycle enthusiast, we shared some motorcycle stories, and just generally had an enjoyable evening. Inasmuch as I had a long ride ahead of me the next day, I excused myself at about 8:30pm to retire for the night. At 3am the next morning I departed to finish my ride, and that was the last I saw of him.

Today, June 27 2009, I attended a bike show at the Riverside Park in Grants Pass. I was wandering around with a couple of fellow riders, when one of them decided to take a seat at a picnic table in the shade. So the three of us sat down for some relief from the 99ºF heat. As we were sitting there, I noticed a couple sitting at the other end of the same table, were speaking a foreign language, but it was not one with which I was familiar. After a few minutes, the man turned and introduced himself as being from Finland. He said he was a mechanic and welder in his home country. I said, "Last year I met a man from Finland who was traveling with his wife and sister-in-law who was a welder and mechanic in Winnemucca NV." His eyes got big, and he said "That was ME!" I was dumbfounded... we were both dumbfounded. Imagine our surprise at meeting the same people we had met a year before, in an entirely different state. We shared another hearty handshake, and spent the rest of the afternoon visiting, listening to the band, and swapping motorcycle stories like long-lost friends.

Juhan and his wife, Piaive (my spelling is probably wrong, but her name is pronounced like Pie-avey) are lovely people, and we had a great visit. They came over to the house, and Juhan and I continued our visit until almost 11pm, while his wife slept in the motorhome. We're going to breakfast in the morning, and we will probably visit some more during the day.

I'm still amazed at the coincidence. If Roger hadn't decided to sit at that table, we never would have met again - even though we were within 20 feet of each other - after being half a world apart for almost exactly one year!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

North Korea Tests Obama's Resolve - Obama Fails

Kim Long-Il, the Wile E. Coyote of Asia, is unquestionably a certifiable nut job! However, the really scary news is that he is not a stupid nut job. He has tested Obama (and the UN) more in the last five months, than he tested Bush in eight years!

Come to think of it, during the Bush administration, there was only some soft, verbal "saber rattling" from Kim. Suddenly, he's causing great concern in the rest of the Asian world - and annoying the West and the UN - with nuclear tests, long-range missile tests, and "the world can KMA" prohibited small arms shipments to Myanmar.

Last Wednesday, the North Korean-flagged vessel, Kang Nam, left the port of Nampo and was being trailed by a U.S. destroyer, a U.S. official said, making it the first ship monitored under the new U.N. sanctions. A recent U.N. resolution calls on U.N. member states to inspect North Korean vessels if they have "reasonable grounds" to believe that its cargo contains banned weapons or materials. But it must first get the consent of the nation whose flag the ship is flying _ in this case, North Korea. However, analysts say a high seas interception - something North Korea has said it would consider an act of war - is unlikely.

The US Navy ship, the USS John S. McCain, is relatively close to the North Korean vessel but, as of last report, had no orders to intercept the Kang Nam. So, here's the scenario:

1. Kim has pissed off the entire world - or at least enough of it for the 192-member UN to issue sanctions against North Korea.
2. Kim, knowing that the UN is a toothless tiger, continues to thumb his nose at the rest of the world. The rest of the world observes his actions, and does nothing meaningful to stop those actions.
3. The US Navy has a warship within easy interception distance, but Obama issues no order to intercept, board and inspect the Kang Nam for illicit arms - an action which is fully authorized under International Maritime Law.
4. Final score - DPRNK 4 World 0
5. Kim wins! Because the rest of the world lacks the cojones to put him in his place.

I could be wrong about this... and Kim Jong-Il could be the Easter Bunny in disguise.

Monday, June 22, 2009

"Prescription for America" - Infomercial or Propaganda?

ABC will air the special from the White House during prime time on June 24. "Prescription for America," to be moderated by ABC News' Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer, will originate from the East Room and will feature the president explaining his plans for reforming the nation's health care system. Officials with the network claim they will air opposing views, that the audience that will offer up questions for the president during the program will be made up of Americans "who have divergent opinions" in the debate on national health care.

I will be surprised if any of several things happens at this ABC-Obama love fest:
1. "Officials with the network claim they will air opposing views" - that will be the first surprise, considering they have already refused to broadcast opposing views! ABC rejected an alternative health care ad submitted for airing during the prime time special on Wednesday.
2. If the audience "offers up questions for the president during the program", the audience will undoubtedly consist of nothing but Obama Democrats and Obama-sympathetic media (is there any other kind?), and the questions will be previously approved by Obama staffers to insure the president isn't caught with his teleprompters down.
3. The only "divergence of opinion" will probably be discussing how many billions of our tax dollars to throw away on this Marxist health care debacle.

A sales pitch is a sales pitch - no matter what the salesman may choose to call it. In this case it is relatively simple to understand:

BUY MY IDEA... and since it is MY IDEA,
there is no plausible reason to even offer possible alternatives,
much less discuss them.
I AM "THE ONE"!

For those of you who voted for him, we're ALL about to get what you deserve! NMP!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

2010 U.S. Census - Head Count or Potential Body Count?

There is significant consternation among the population over the upcoming, outrageously intrusive, US Government Census. The Census is required - by our Constitution - to be conducted every 10 years.
Today, the controlling law for the U.S. Census is Title 13 of the U.S. Code. There is a lot of census data collected in the United States today, such as economic figures, sales and production figures, and agricultural statistics. Still, the head count is the only part of the census that is called for by the Constitution. The code for the enumeration can be found in 13 USC 141. In this code, the census is directed to be taken in 1980 and every ten years thereafter, and that the count is to be taken on April 1. The returns must be completed within nine months for use in apportionment of representatives. The code also specifies a mid-decade census be taken in 1985 and every ten years thereafter. This count need not be a head count (sampling may be used) though the data cannot be used for apportionment.

Why does the government need to know how many bathrooms I have, or what my total household income is in order to apportion representatives? Are they planning on stopping in to take a dump if they're in the neighborhood? Or, are they planning on hitting me up for a bailout loan? Apportionment of representatives is based upon population - nothing else! Given similar population numbers, the wealthy districts get the same number of representatives as the less-than-wealthy districts, and the government agents have no reasonable excuse for doing anything more than counting heads... unless there is a hidden agenda.

""About 2010 Census

What
Count
The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.

Who
Everyone
All residents of the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.

When
Every 10 years
Every 10 years, and the next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your household as of April 1, 2010.

The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31, 2010.

The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.

Where
Everywhere in the U.S.
The census counts everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.

People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year.

Why
The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state’s Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing. More info

How
The Census Bureau will mail or deliver questionnaires to your house in March 2010. We will mail a second form to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire.

Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. (Census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag.)""

There is a fine for failure to participate in the census - $100. There is a larger fine of "up to" $500 for providing false information. The only good news I am aware of is that they will not be using the "long form" - which was the most intrusive - for this census.

As for me, if approached by a representative of the Census Bureau, I will choose to provide nothing more than how many. Anything beyond that will be answered "Not required by the U.S. Constitution" - which is not "false information", inasmuch as the Constitution only mandates "an enumeration", which simply means how many and nothing more. Consider it to be my personal protest against Government intrusion into the lives of the citizens.

Enough is too much!

I could be totally wrong about the over-insinuation of government into our daily lives and our personal, private information... but I don't think so. Let's ALL take a stand against government intrusion!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Census Workers Marking GPS Coordinates of U.S. Homes

I have seen that headline - or one very similar - in several different places over the last few months, but I do not personally know it to be a fact. However, I do believe I may have actually seen a census worker with a hand-held GPS in front of my house a few weeks ago. I can find no other plausible explanation for his actions.

This 'older man' was afoot, holding an object which appeared to be an electronic device (approx 5"x7") in his hands. He paused in front of the house, looked down at the device in his hands and then approached the front door (I can observe the front yard from my computer room window). I was waiting for a knock at the door... which never came. A few seconds later I saw him walking away from the house back into the street, putting an end to this 'close encounter of the weird kind.' The government's excuse for conducting such a census is, "GPS technology allows us to reduce the amount of time spent by census workers in locating addresses while increasing productivity. Most importantly, by adding a GPS coordinate to each housing unit, the Census Bureau is able to ensure that residents are counted in the right location. This is important as the data are used to apportion congressional representation and used to draw redistricting lines.”

Here are a few of the problems I have with anybody GPS'ing my domicile:
1. First and foremost, it seems unnecesarily intrusive. Why does the government need to know the exact coordinates of any individual's living quarters? It smacks of the groundwork for the fabled "Black Ops" - black helicopters and SUV's showing up, and citizens being spirited off in the middle of the night, never to be seen again. But, there's no real proof of "Black Ops" against the citizens of the USA... yet. The U.S. Census Bureau is simply an excuse—a harmless-looking means of obtaining the front door coordinates. The creation of GPS coordinates for front doors has nothing to do with the Census, in all honesty, no matter how much the United States Government tries to convince you that it does.

2. Given that our national security is significantly less-than-bulletproof, at both our physical borders and the 'borders' of our ostensibly secure government computer systems, to what use could this GPS information be put by those who bear us ill will? I can envision a scenario wherein a foreign power hacks into the appropriate government database and retrieves every bit of data needed to pinpoint heavily populated areas as well as the locations of critical utilities. (The only reason I didn't include the locations of sateside military installations in that scenario is that the rest of the hostile/envious world already knows precisely where those bases are located.)

Our government has already overstepped the bounds of the charter of the U.S. Census Bureau, by using them to gather information beyond a simple headcount. Questions like "Do you have running water in your household?", "Do you have insurance?", questions about educational level, number and kinds of disabilities , etc., have no place in the "census". Census is defined thusly:
1: a count of the population and a property evaluation in early Rome
2
: a usually complete enumeration of a population ; specifically : a periodic governmental enumeration of population
3: count, tally

It was designed as a system of "how many"... not a system of "how much"!

Can we afford to forget the scenes of smart bombs and tomahawk missiles, guided by GPS coordinates, going through the windows and doors of buildings during the invasion of Iraq? "That could never happen here.", you say? Ask the Native Americans what they think about that. And do a little research on the "Bonus Army", Washington D.C., 1932 while you're at it - wherein a cavalry charge was led against WWI military veterans by our own 'heroes', General Douglas McArthur and Major George S. Patton.

As Government grows larger, I am reminded of the words of Thomas Paine, who said, ""Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." and Daniel Webster's quote, "There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." And, although often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the only verifiable attribution for "The best government is that which governs least." is to Henry David Thoreau. They all make sense to me!

I could be wrong about this... I suppose... perhaps... maybe... or maybe not!

Friday, June 12, 2009

U.S. bill regulating tobacco heads to Obama - Government Takes Control of ANOTHER Industry!

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers took the final steps on Friday to pass sweeping legislation giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration broad authority over cigarettes and other tobacco products, sending the bill to the president to be signed into law." It also allows the FDA for the first time to monitor and inspect tobacco companies. Cigarette makers would have to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in user fees, register with the agency, and provide a list of all the products they make. Smoking is not good for one's physical health, and I have no argument there. However, I don't know that government intrusion, in yet another industry, is the best solution. The government is not your Daddy! Tobacco has been used in its various forms for about 2,000 years: "c.1 BCE: Experts believe American inhabitants have begun finding ways to use tobacco, including smoking (in a number of variations), chewing and in probably hallucinogenic enemas (by the Peruvian Aguaruna aboriginals)." (Note: That last one is similar to what most non-smokers would like to tell smokers to do with their cigarettes.) Then we take a big leap forward, jumping over the intermediate history, to that with which we are most familiar:

"1493: Ramon Pane, a mon
k who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage, gave lengthy descriptions about the custom of taking snuff. He also described how the Indians inhaled smoke through a Y-shaped tube. Pane is usually credited with being the first man to introduce tobacco to Europe." Shortly thereafter tobacco was introduced to the courts of Europe, and the rest is familiar to most of us. This is history - it is not meant as justification for smoking, snorting, or chewing tobacco. However, that history helps to explain the continued use of tobacco today. Tobacco has been in regular, legal use since the beginning of the Renaissance some 600 years ago. It wasn't until the latter part of the 20th century that tobacco use was linked to some very serious health problems. It is estimated that directly or indirectly, tobacco causes more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, a figure that represents nearly 20 percent of all U.S. deaths. These deaths have been to a number of conditions defined as tobacco-related including; heart disease, cancer, chronic pulmonary disease and stroke.Those are the primary conditions attributed to smoking tobacco products, which could effect as many as 70,380,000 Americans. Those who choose smokeless tobacco are the beneficiaries of conditions such as cancer of the oral cavity, including the lips, gums, tongue and palette.

The government's justification for inflicting themselves on yet another industry, is to improve the general health of the population of the USA, and reduce the costs of medical care - another industry in which the government is seizing control!

I resent and fear excessive governmental involvement in any and all private industries!
It's just one more step forwarding Obama's Marxist/Socialist "Progressive" agenda for the USA. Which industry will the government force its control upon next? Entertainment? Clothing? Your guess is as good as the next persons. If the people do not say, at this juncture, "ENOUGH!!", then there will be no end to governance OF the people, rather than BY the people.

There's a remote chance I could be wrong about this... but it is
about as remote as the Lunar wilderness!

Obama Blows It Again! Or, Maybe, "It Again" Is Unnecessary

President Obama and his administration have ordered FBI agents to read terror suspects their Miranda Rights; even though they have been captured on foreign soil and are not U.S. citizens officially protected by the Miranda vs. Arizona decision over 40 years ago. The Obama Justice Department has quietly ordered the FBI to issue Miranda rights to foreign fighters captured on the field of battle.

The problems I have with that include (but are not limited to):
1. The ter
ror suspects are not American citizens, nor have they been "arrested" for committing a crime on American soil.
2. The FBI's "charter" is within the confines of the 50 United States.
3. The vast majority of terrorists (99.9%) were not captured upon U.S. soil. They have not been "arrested" per se.
4. Accordingly
, suspects arrested in the US are to be Mirandized before Questioning - which, in the case of foreign enemy combatants, will mean that crucial intelligence opportunities must be postponed until the FBI arrives. In the interim, the lives of American soldiers are placed in additional and unnecessary jeopardy, due to their inability to harvest
immediate and timely humint.
5. Under wh
ose laws will they be charged, and what will those charges be? We cannot charge them under the laws of the country in which they were captured, simply because we do not administer those laws. We can't charge them under the United States Code, because they commited no crime upon U.S soil.
6. Besides which, is there anything in our laws which makes it illegal to fire upon U.S. military forces on foreign soil?
7. Where the hell is the money going to come from to try these 200+ prisoners in US civilian courts?


The trial of an enemy combatant has, throughout recorded history, fallen upon the commander of the oppos
ing forces and whatever military tribunal was appointed by him. Prior to the 20th century, trials of enemy combatants were considerably simpler. The prisoner was brought before the tribunal, found guilty, and executed - all within the space of about 10 minutes... and at virtually NO expense! Beheadings by the sword were free... and an 18th century 7-man firing squad invoked a total cost about 21¢ for the cost of 7 bullets and gunpowder. Those were the good ol' days!

The legal complexities and logistics of trying enemy combatants in civilian courts under US laws are mind boggling. This is obviously something that should remain under the auspices of a military tribunal, for any number of practical reasons (see items 1-7 above). In an imploding economy cost alone should tell Obama that he has chosen the wrong path. On the other hand, it's not like it's Obama's money being spent on this fiasco... it's OURS! And, if he needs more, he'll just raise taxes!

I could be wrong about this whole thing... what do you think?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Why Is Obama Moving So Quickly To Implement His "Changes"?

There are many things changing under the Obama administration. A few may even be for the benefit of some of the people, but the majority of his changes aren't reported in the media. It may simply be because they are considered minor, or not particularly newsworthy.

Then again, it may be because, if they were made a matter of public record, they would not do anything to maintain Obama's popularity among the left-wing Marxist liberals and the left-wing media who elected him.

Why is Obama moving to implement Marxist controls so quickly? Because if he slows down long enough for people to get a sense for the direction in which he is moving our country, he could find himself looking at impeachment proceedings. What exactly has he done? If you can't tell, then perhaps you should ask the Russians - they can see exactly where he's taking our country (see my blog entry, "When The Russians Can See Where We Are Headed, Why Can't Most Of Us See it?", June 4th, 2009).

Obama has, in any practical sense of the word, nationalized our automotive industry, and our major financial institutions.
1. He has placed Edward Whitaker jr., the former CEO of AT&T, at the helm of GM. Whitaker is a man who is on record as having said, "I don't know anything about cars. I do know about business and I know about big business." Knowing about business - and especially big business - may not be of much help as the Chairman and CEO of General Motors. Trading at under $1 per share, Government Motors barely qualifies as in business!
2. Next we have the appointments to Obama's cabinet posts -
a. Janet Napolitano, the Director of "Homeland Security" is a proponent of open borders! So much for protecting the homeland.
b. Tim Geithner, the Director of the IRS is, himself, a tax dodger! There's not much else one needs to say about that fact.
c. Strangely enough, Leon Panetta, the newly appointed Director of the CIA, seems to be more capable than one might have expected, given that he lacks any background at all in the intelligence field. At least he appears to be (publicly) defending his operatives and their integrity.

Then there's Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, who is on record with positions indicating she is not just sexist and racist ("I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."), but she apparently also believes that if a member of a minority group can't qualify for promotion, then you should promote nobody (see Ricci v. DeStefano), thereby punishing the successful candidate(s)! So much for "equal justice under the law".

And, where he can't get support from Congress for changes to the existing laws, he simply issues an Executive Order decreeing a change to be so. On June 10, I posted a blog noting that the administration had, through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, reworded USC15, Chapter 29 (Sections 1241-1245, which defines "switchblade knives") to include in that definition any folding knife that could be opened using only one hand... which would include about 112 million thumb-operated, spring-assisted folding knives owned today throughout the USA. Add to that the fact that our State Department may be on the verge of cutting off all imports of certain calibers of firearms ammunition. Ammos listed for this rumored ban include the .50BMG, 7.62x39mm Soviet, 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington. Additionally, it's said that an expansion of this proposed ban might be broadened to include the 6.8mm SPC, 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP - among others. In other words, State Department officials may be floating a trial balloon to see if there are howls of protest, or whimpers of compliance (as of this posting I have been unable to confirm this as having become law... yet). This could be seen as a backdoor method by which the government can manipulate its way around the Second Amendment (right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed) by controlling the availability of affordable practice ammunition.

You can now see how quickly the boots of tyranny can trample the rights of "free people"... and how little resistance there is to it. Not because we don't wish to resist, but because we are not informed that there is something which needs to be resisted.

"CONSTITUTION VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW"

As usual, I suppose I could be wrong about this... and I hope I am!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Obama move would eliminate 8 of 10 pocketknives

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is proposing a new definition that could be used to eliminate 8 of 10 legal pocketknives in the United States

right now, according to activists who are gearing up to fight the plan.

The federal bureaucracy is accepting comments – written only – that must be received by June 21 before its planned changes could become final, but Doug Ritter of KnifeRights.org, says the implications of the decision would be far-reaching, since many state and federal agencies depend on the agency's definitions to determine what is legal in the United States.

For a long time, those switchblades that have long stiletto blades that are spring-ejected powerfully from the side or end of the handle have been illegal in the United States, but now a review by the agency of its own approval in 2008 of a particular type of knife for import is raising serious alarms. USC15, C29, Section 1241...
Sec. 1241. Definitions

-STATUTE-
As used in this chapter -
(a) The term "interstate commerce" means commerce between
any State, Territory, possession of the United States,
or the District of Columbia, and any place outside
thereof.
(b) The term "switchblade knife" means any knife having a
blade which opens automatically -
(1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device
in the handle of the knife, or
(2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both.


That took care of the "switchblade" knives. Now the CBP wants to include any folding knife that can be opened using only one hand in the category of "switchblade". They say the agency change came in a case involving a knife called the "VanHoy Assist," which knives first were approved by the agency in 2008. But only a few weeks ago, Frederick McCray of the agency's Intellectual Property Rights and Restricted Merchandise Branch did a review. Obviously it didn't come from that case, since that case had already been resolved! What it came from was a change in the political administration! It was a change in political climate and political attitude that caused the review.

The VanHoy Assist is an import... but don't believe for a second that the proposed CBP restriction will sto p at imports only - that's just where CBP controls end! United States Code Title 15, Chapte r 29, sections 1241-1245 of are written in such a way that:
-STATUTE-

Whoever, within any
Territory or possession
of the United States,or
within Indian country(as defined in section 1151 of title 18),
or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction
of the United States(as defined in section 7 of title 18),
manufactures,sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall
be fined not more
than $2,000 or imprisoned not more
than five years,or both.

Neither Obama nor his administration are friendly towards gun or knife manufacturers, nor to the tens of millions of American owners of guns or knives! And, if the fear is that a knife blade can be presented quickly, why have they not included fixed blade knives, which blade is always extended? Probably ONLY because there is no button to press, and even the village idiot could understand that without a button there is no "switch" for the blade to classify it as a switchblade. Isn't a blade that is concealed less dangerous than one that is omnipresent, regardless of the method of opening? Fixed blade knives are probably next on the elimination agenda.

I can understand the prohibition against "ballistic knives" (USC15, Sec. 1245 - those from which a detachable blade is ejected from the front of the knife when a button is pressed) which would never have a useful function as a "tool", any more than a dart could be considered a "tool". But, both pocketknives and fixed blade knives have been used as tools for centuries!

There are roughly 140 million people walking around America with pocketknives in their pocket - and, of that 140 million, approximately 112 million (80%) would be legislated into the status of criminals by this Draconian change in policy.

Isn't it interesting how quickly the boots of tyranny trample the rights of "free people"... and how little resistance there is to it?

I could be wrong about this I suppose...

Monday, June 8, 2009

U.S. war funding bill brims with unrelated extras - Reuters

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A $100 billion bill to fund U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is rapidly accumulating extra items such as money for military aircraft the Pentagon doesn't want and possibly a scheme to jump-start sagging auto sales.

The cars and planes are not directly linked to the U.S. war effort. But they are typical of Congress' penchant for loading bills with unrelated spending in hopes the funds will sail through on the strength of the main legislation...

Democratic Representative John Murtha, who heads the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, managed to get $3.1 billion for eight C-17 and 11 C-130 military transport planes included. However, that has been pared back by four C-130s.

The Pentagon did not request the aircraft but lawmakers want them to preserve jobs in their home states and Murtha disputes the military's contention that they are not needed."

OINK!! Talk about PORK! We're expected to pay for military aircraft that the military neither wants nor needs?? And "Murtha disputes the military's contention that they are not needed." How would Murtha know better than the end-user what they need or don't need? Murtha's military experience is limited to 3 years of active duty - at the end of which he was probably a 1st Lieutenant - and a career in the USMC Reserves (with one year of voluntary active duty during the Vietnam conflict) from which he retired as a Colonel in 1990. He's been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1974! How would he have any idea what the military needs? His practical military knowledge is 40 years old! What a DB! Murtha seems to have donned the mantle of Assistant Messiah.

If the military says they don't need something, take their word for it. Perhaps they would rather have more/better armor for their HumVees! Here's a revolutionary idea... ASK them what they need and give that to them instead of slicing off more bacon! This little piggy went to Congress...

I could be wrong about this... and Murtha could have a bit of common sense, but both assumptions are incorrect!

Suspect in Kan. Doctor's Death Warns of Violence - Associated Press

"WICHITA, Kan. – Abortion providers say that threats of more slayings from a man accused in the shooting death of a high-profile Kansas abortion doctor proves the existence of a "violent, terrorist movement" coalescing around the issue.

Scott Roeder called The Associated Press Sunday from the Sedgwick County jail, where he's being held on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the shooting death of Dr. George Tiller last week at the doctor's church in Wichita.

"I know there are many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal," Roeder said. When asked by the AP if he was referring to another shooting, he refused to elaborate.

"He is a terrorist — there is no question about that. I don't believe he is an isolated terrorist," said Dr. LeRoy Carhart, a Nebraska abortion provider who also practiced at Tiller's Wichita clinic." My guess is that the only terrorism being perpetrated is inflicted by Carhart's conscience.

Terrorist? From what I have heard about the case so far, Roeder is probably no more a terrorist than the Pope. But, if he is not a part of a vast nationwide conspiracy to kill baby killers, what is he? Can you say NUTJOB? Roeder is a psychological anomaly among the ranks of the anti-abortion crowd. I read a statistic today, that claimed 3-4% of our population could be classified with some degree of psychopathology. For the sake of a number, let's say that the anti-abortionists have an active membership of 10,000 across the country. That would give them roughly 300-400 seriously mentally disturbed members... or, about the same number of mentally deranged members as we have serving in our Congress.

Maybe it's time to re-think "hate crimes" and include profession as one of the specially protected categories. We can reach that conclusion through the process of elimination: if somebody willfully takes the life of another human being - a person that they don't even know - and the taking of that life wasn't during the commission of robbery, or other felony or capital crime, then it must be a "hate crime" since all other motives have been eliminated. And the legislature will certainly include attorneys in that special protections group. After all, what profession is more despised than lawyers? And lawyers comprise 90% of our legislators.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

"Reality TV": It's More than Just An Oxy... Moron!

Big Brother... Survivor... The Great Race! Interesting, somewhat entertaining concepts being presented to television audiences as "Reality TV". Everybody that believes there's such a thing as "Reality Television" please raise your hand. (Put your hand back down, Billy Jim-Bob! Y'all ain't been right in the head since you peed on that electric fence.) Okay, the short bus will be along to pick you 4 people up tomorrow morning. (Strangely, these shows - for the most-part - have been quite successful, with repeated renewal contracts for several consecutive seasons.)

There's as much "reality" in Reality TV, as there is in professional wrestling. Why do you think the "World Wrestling Federation" had to change its name to "World Wrestling Entertainment"? There's probably more reality in a Spongebob Squarepants cartoon than there is in "Reality TV"! Anybody who hasn't figured out, after how long now - 5 years? - of "Reality TV", that the programs are fully scripted and choreographed should be made a ward of the courts.

Personally, I watched the first episode of Big Brother and Survivor, and haven't watched another show of that type since. Perhaps they should rename that genre of entertainment to something like "Simulated Reality TV", or "Pseudo-Reality TV". But don't give me a bowl of BS and tell me it's ice cream!

Unpleasant as it may have been to watch, "Reality TV" is what was broadcast on September 11, 2001, live, from New York City. THAT was reality! Even our documentaries are modified to meet the expectations of the producer, just as our news is adjusted to support the political views of the publisher or station owner. That which we call "reality" is our own personal perception of the interaction between man and his environment. If your reality includes a hopping rodent with large floppy ears and a basket full of goodies, or a fat man in a red suit whose M.O. is to enter homes under cover of darkness via the chimney, then you are a prime candidate for "Reality TV". I have no quarrel with entertainment television. In fact, I LOVE entertainment TV! But, let's call a spade a spade - it's not a manually operated personal soil removal and entrenchment device - regardless of what it says on the US Government Bill of Lading!

I usually end by saying, "I could be wrong about this..." but, there's not a snowball's chance this time.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Obama Continues To Pander To Muslims, Desires Unsustainable World Conditions

In a much-touted speech delivered from Cairo, Barak Hussein Obama (NMP) outlined what he sees as the first and second greatest sources of tension between the Muslim world and the United States. Al-Qaeda topped his list, but Israel came in as the second greatest source of tension. The president said, “Israel has been depriving the Palestinians of their homeland for sixty years.”

The president made another point in his speech: “And any nation– including Iran –should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu does not believe that a state which is the center of gravity for world terrorism has the right to have any nuclear power, period.

My question is this: Is Obama's understanding of the history of the middle East that weak, or does he just choose to ignore that history it in favor of his Muslim brethren? It annoys me when people ignore - or worse, pervert - historical data to justify their own position. Everybody seems to overlook the fact that the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah were taken from the Jews by the Romans as retribution for the "Great Revolt" in 66AD. Jewish lands were seized and partitioned. The Jewish Kingdoms of Israel and Judah had existed for about 1,000 years before the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, partitioned it around 135AD and renamed the land that was Israel and Judea "Syria Palaestina". THERE WAS NO "PALESTINE" PRIOR TO THAT! True, the nation of Israel is built upon stolen land, but the Jews are not the thieves. That small plot of land called Israel was originally about thirty- five times larger than it is today, or roughly encompassing 85% of what we refer to today as the "middle East". Israel is recovered land!

His second point - in a display of absolute ignorance - supports Iran's continued nuclear development, which begs another question... why does a major oil-producing country need "nuclear power"? That is what Iranian President Mahmoud I'manutjob claims is their goal. This claim from a country whose entire national culture seems to be built around the total destruction of tiny Israel! The frothing-at-the-mouth, mad-dog leadership of Iran has frequently called for Israel to "be wiped from the face of the Earth". Not only does it show Obama's ignorance, this international kow-towing will be seen by the "Muslim world" as yet another sign of American lack of resolve and weakness.

The evolution of international relationships is based on a popular rule of triadic interaction: "the friend of my friend is my friend, the friend of my enemy is my enemy, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the enemy of my friend is my enemy". The rule is shown to lead to the formation and preservation of unipolar and bipolar configurations of nations, with the strengths of relationships, both friendly and conflictual, intensifying through time. International alliances are also conditions of convenience for each member of the alliance. When, at some point in time, the risks of such an alliance are seen to outweigh the benefits, one or more of the parties involved will "jump ship" out of a sense of self-preservation. This may be more than just an abandonment of the alliance... your old ally may defect to the "other side", becoming the friend of your enemy.

I submit that, based upon human behavioral patterns, there is a quaternary interdiction - "the enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend". International "befriending" is based upon which of the available competing nations is best liked ... or, for those of you of the "cup is half empty" persuasion, that nation which is the least despised. Those are conditions which are subject to change at any given point in time.

As I have said before, in any negotiation, personal or international, he who negotiates from a position of strength will always walk away from the negotiating table with "the lion's share". One cannot successfully negotiate from a position of weakness (in the animal kingdom the weak are referred to as "food").

I could be absolutely wrong about this... show me.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

When The Russians Can See Where We Are Headed, Why Can't Most Of Us See it?

The article below was written by Stanislav Mishin, a blogger and columnist for the Russian newspaper Pravda.

American capitalism gone with a whimper . . . . .

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather than the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas than the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us (Russia) about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blinds the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox (Russian Orthodox) churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more than another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more than ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?

These men, of course, are not an elected panel but made up of appointees picked from the very financial oligarchs and their henchmen who are now gorging themselves on trillions of American dollars, in one bailout after another. They are also usurping the rights, duties and powers of the American congress (parliament). Again, congress has put up little more then a whimper to their masters.

Then came Barack Obama's command that GM's (General Motor) president step down from leadership of his company. That is correct, dear reader, in the land of "pure" free markets, the American president now has the power, the self given power, to fire CEOs and we can assume other employees of private companies, at will. Come hither, go dither, the centurion commands his minions.

So it should be no surprise that the American president has followed this up with a "bold" move of declaring that he and another group of unelected, chosen stooges will now redesign the entire automotive industry and will even be the guarantee of automobile policies. I am sure that if given the chance, they would happily try and redesign it for the whole of the world, too. Prime Minister Putin, less then two months ago, warned Obama and UK's Blair, not to follow the path to Marxism, it only leads to disaster. Apparently, even though we suffered 70 years of this Western sponsored horror show, we know nothing, as foolish, drunken Russians, so let our "wise" Anglo-Saxon fools find out the folly of their own pride.

Again, the American public has taken this with barely a whimper...but a "freeman" whimper.

So, should it be any surprise to discover that the Democratically controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set "fair" maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses? Senator Barney Franks, a social pervert basking in his homosexuality (of course, amongst the modern, enlightened American societal norm, as well as that of the general West, homosexuality is not only not a looked down upon life choice, but is often praised as a virtue) and his Marxist enlightenment, has led this effort. He stresses that this only affects companies that receive government monies, but it is retroactive and taken to a logical extreme, this would include any company or industry that has ever received a tax break or incentive.

The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left.

The proud American will go down into his slavery with out a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker.

Stanislav Mishin

I wish I could say he was wrong... but he's not! WAKE UP AMERICA!!

$500M shipwreck treasure ordered back to Spain

"TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Florida deep-sea explorers who raised an estimated $500 million treasure from the 200-year-old wreck of a Spanish galleon should give all the loot back to Spain, a federal magistrate judge said." Here's the problem I have with that kind of thinking...

The Spanish Naval galleon, Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes y las Animas sunk in the Atlantic Ocean under unspecified circumstances in 1804. If Spain was that concerned about the loss of the ship's cargo, where was their due diligence for recovery during the last 205 years? At the very most, I would award the Spanish government the actual value of the cargo at the time of loss, and then invoke the universal law of "Finders Keepers".

Spain apparently did nothing to recover the bounty of the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes y las Animas, but instead, chose to wait until it was discovered and recovered after a great expenditure of time, effort and money, by somebody else!

The two-year tug-of-war over the 17 tons of silver coins and other artifacts from what is believed to be the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes y las Animas is likely far from over. Odyssey Marine Exploration created an international stir when it announced in May 2007 that the 500,000 silver coins and other artifacts had been raised from an Atlantic Ocean wreck and flown back to Tampa. Spain then went to U.S. District Court claiming ownership of the treasure if it is in any way connected to the country's national heritage. Odyssey said it will oppose Wednesday's written recommendation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Pizzo, which will be considered by another federal judge who will issue an order later.

There is neither logic nor equity to this ruling. Rewarding 205 years of indolence and indifference by the Spanish government, versus the initiative and efforts of a publicly held corporation is obviously international politics in action. There is no justice in such a decision.

If Spain is only concerned about the treasure's connection "to the country's national heritage", let them purchase it from Odyssey at today's market value. Then Spain would have this critical link to their "national heritage" - which is apparently priceless to them - and Odyssey would be fully compensated. Or, as an alternative, Odyssey could gift Spain with one coin of each denomination, and perhaps one cluster known as "pieces of eight", and there is their "national heritage" from history.

But, as anybody with any intelligence can see, the true motivation for Spain's attempt to involve our courts in legally pirating this treasure trove from Odyssey is GREED! Odyssey did not sink the ship... nor is Odyssey responsbile for this treasure lying undisturbed at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for over 200 years! Odyssey showed initiative uninvoked by Spain, and for demonstrating this commendable American trait our government court system wishes to punish them? What's wrong with this picture?

I could be completely wrong in the way I see this issue... all I need is for somebody to explain to me the error of my line of reasoning.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Obama Declares June To Be LGBT Pride Month

Just what we needed... a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month! When is "Heterosexual Pride Month"? Which month is "I Am Comfortable In the Sexual Assignment I Was Born Into Month"? What's next... Pedophile Appreciation Month?

I believe we should have a "Common Sense In Governmental Recognition of Positive Achievements Month"? Unfortunately there is one major stumbling block for that one - common sense and Government have been proven to be mutually exclusive terms!

Why in the world should anybody's sexual dysfunctions be given recognition for a second, much less an entire month? It makes about as much sense as "Regular Bowel Movement Pride Day", or "I Haven't Wet The Bed Since I was Three Years Old Pride Day". Bodily waste removal functions are something all human beings have in common, so why not recognize them instead of peoples sexual perversions?

Yes, in the spirit of "calling a spade a spade", I said the Politically Incorrect word perversions.
With thanks to Merriam-Websters Online Dictionary, I provide the definition (for those of you who may not understand the word):
Main Entry:
per·ver·sion
Pronunciation:
\pər-ˈvər-zhən, -shən\
Function:
noun
Date:
14th century
1: the action of perverting : the condition of being perverted
2
: a perverted form ; especially : an aberrant sexual practice or interest especially when habitual

In case you also don't understand the word "perverted" Here's M-W again:
1 a: turned away from what is right or good : corrupt b: improper, incorrect

Now, dictionaries (thus far, anyway) are not published by politicians or theologians of any stripe, but rather by lexicographers - people who simply deal in words and their meanings! At this point in time they have not yet been subverted by the politically correct left, who are inclined toward revisionist English (which is a good fit with their love of revisionist history).

The path down which Obama is taking our nation is the path to destruction. If our founding fathers could see what is being done to - and by - our government they would be spinning in their graves. Establishing a Perverts Pride month, bowing to foreign heathen royalty while apologizing for our existence, nationalizing corporations and financial institutions, supporting those who are unwilling to support themselves through personal effort, pushing to increase the citizens dependence upon the government for all things, are all red flags that should be warning Americans that this is not the way!

There is no free lunch. We should, through application of our individual labors and skills, earn the bread upon our table. There may be a free lunch someday though... when Obama declares a national Coprophagic Appreciation Day. As for myself... I'll eat the bologna sandwich that I brought.

I could be wrong about this... but that's just a possibility,not a likelihood.