The differences between UK and US grammar are apparently slight enough to not catch the same break that people learning English as a second language are allowed.I’m realistic enough to know that  it will have a nominal effect on the reason that I began which neatly segues into my next point.

Is anyone still naive enough to believe that the powers that be just need a well crafted note pointing out were they are deficient and how they are hurting people will change their way?  Hardly.  In short they are not your audience.

Unfortunately that leaves the public.

Oh wait Is anyone still naive enough to believe that the public  just need a well crafted sitcom showing  were they are deficient and how they are hurting people  by refusing to take ownership of their lives?   Hardly.

In short they are not your audience.

Much easier to remain quiet.

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   I’ve had this before ,  played this scene before,  and the manner that two societies deal with a condition, that on the surface seems contrary to their myths about how to behave, is worryingly the same.  

Organizations  are formed to achieve a goal which is quickly superceded   by the need to keep on being an organization over and above  the need to  carry out the reason they were formed.   

Here’s a Fish lyric from his battle  with a record company that kinda sums up my "quiet" period.

You swear contradictions
your tedious monologues, wielding authority,
Demanding subservience, demanding
I make your sense.
Demanding speaking in tongues.

res ipsa loquitur

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Statewide holiday task force reports 2,828 DUI arrests

“A total of 2,828 DUI arrests were made during a statewide holiday
drunken-driving task force …. 6 percent more than the 2,663 arrests
during a comparable period in 2006.”,”
In the latest effort, authorities stopped 36,901 drivers and issued
11,361 citations for traffic offenses other than driving under the
influence, Mulleneaux said.”

Here we go again. In Arizona about 7%  of those stopped are charged DUI  93%  are not.  Despite figures showing that  police looking for dui via traditional patrols is more effective than the roadblocks and assorted gimmicks it just doesn’t play as well to the cameras.   From Tennessee. Roving patrols took about 19 hours per drunk based on observed behavior.  Checkpoints based on the suspicion that you are driving a car on the road the checkpoint is on took 29 hours. 

Sadly roving patrols aren’t as photogenic as a checkpoint. They don’t tell the people that aren’t infringing just what they are doing about dui , but making them wait, stop and interact with the nice officer  certainly  gets that point across.

I am not saying these checkpoints are not stopping people from driving, study after study shows they have an effect … but  at the expense of more effective methods.  About 10%  of the people arrested for DUI are caught at checkpoints during the holiday crackdowns then why not stop the  PR crap and actually get down to the effective keeping of the peace?

This is not a local phenomena.  Check out the experiences in  Florida, Ohio and an aggregate of studies conducted.  Same message from state to state.It’s not about their effectiveness as primary enforcement it’s the appearance to be seen to act rather than acting effectively that’s annoying me.  While you shouldn’t be trading safety for security it would be nice at least if we were getting what we thought

So please don’t pretend you care about DUI yet insist we need to haul over anyone making a trip just to get 7% of those stopped. Oh and the 4th amendment you have to toss out too for your safety at the expense of the rest I’d rather keep. 7% arrested doesn’t equal convicted either. The real numbers could be a lot less

K? Thx Bai.

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What Do Citizens Owe Government? by James Bovard

What have politicians given to the citizenry that they did not originally take from them? This is the bottom line that must permeate all thinking about the “goods” or “services” that government “provides” to the citizenry. In reality, in the vast majority of cases, politicians give back far less in value than they take. The more the government takes, the less the citizen owes to the government.

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Campus killer’s purchases apparently within gun laws

Source: Campus killer’s purchases apparently within gun laws – CNN.com

I’ve written CNN many times over the years re their disregard for facts when it comes to the legal carrying, description and misuse of firearms they consistently  get it wrong to the point that  it’s not an accident.   Here’s a post   and comment series that’s quite interesting. Firstly  it’s a crime to lie on the form 4473 which you must fill out when buying a firearm , new or used, from a licensed dealer.   Then again so is homicide,  see just how useful our paper tigers are?  

 I think we’ve created so much  “crime” in the US that doesn’t rely on the need for there to be a  victim, or damages incurred that   resources are expended on controlling those that ordinarily would be of no inconvenience to the general population but are used to  demonstrate who’s in charge”   A good post on this  can be found here .  As much as I like annoying objectivists   the originator  Rand had some  great things to say on this subject  one of the most famous from  Atlas Shrugged being,

“Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?”, said Dr. Ferris. “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against — then you’ll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We’re after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you’d better get wise to it. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power that any government has is to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted — and you create a nation of law-breakers — and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Rearden, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”

Put it this way  the local  Sheriff charges  about $70 to  book and  $130 a day to house  those arrested by other departments  for most crimes that result in  fines or action that cost way less than  the  system to arrest, process , try , pay for juries / judges  and the people then enforce the judgements.  The above quote seems rather ominous now?

I’m not sure I’m getting value for money  when there’s no one aggrieved. I don’t buy that  a victimless crime is a precursor to  serious crimes either.  Everyone at some time has HAD to speed  or was caught unaware  by a change in conditions yet we can avoid shoplifting, assault and fraud since  it’s in most people’s interests to not harm others , who wants to live in a world where you have to guard your  family , food, water  etc every minute of every day ?  ( You still should be ready to   but it’s thankfully not needed in most countries that have reached the Civ stage of telephone system:) note I don’t include  guarding against the state that’s another thing altogether )  

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Another look at why public school is an education in itself:)

Now of you want an indication of exactly how moronic this alleged
educator is consider this. Principal Moron says the girls were not
suspended for saying the word “vagina”. Oh, no, not at all. They were
suspended for not obeying his order to not say the word vagina. To
quote the head moron himself: “the girls were punished not because of
what they said but because they disobeyed orders not to say it.” That
is not censorship, he says, but insubordination. And this man is in
charge of people teaching children! This man shouldn’t even be a
janitor at a school.

Note I didn’t call him names  I am merely quoting an article  about a pompous asshole:)

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“In America, we strive for equality and embrace diversity. The kind of hateful language she used has no place in political debate or our society at large. I believe it is our moral responsibility to speak out against that kind of bigotry and prejudice every time we encounter it.”

Mr Edwards,  striving for equal opportunity is one thing, one I agree with, actual equality though is something far scarier and needs to be countered as a  kind of bigotry and prejudice every time     Edwards,  First fucking amendment.. you don’t get it do you ? 

Ah no,  he doesn’t  here’s some more from him

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards says Jesus would be appalled at how the United States has ignored the plight of the suffering, and that he believes children should have private time to pray at school.

Oh  crap

“I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs,” Edwards

Joy to the world.. another person taking on the mantle of forced equality. 

And when I’m faced with difficult decisions, which I regularly am, I very often go to him in prayer.

Get this -YET-  another person that hears voices in his heads thinks he’s the best steward for the world’s largest war machine

Because I am a sinner and selfish, like every human being on the planet.

Ok  now I take offense,   Hey fuck knuckles I was being civil ( ish)  and here you go calling my family names. So telling my 18 month old child that he’s a fucking sinner has you so far in the hypocritical zone that I really don’t think you are making a case for morality coming from Jesus  your homeboy. 

 Are you not the same man that was just explaining how tolerance is a goal, equality is a goal yet  your world view is that we’re all EQUALLY bad,  gee thanks. 

Faggot.

Sources: Independent Online Edition > Americas  , Beliefnet and signonsandiego.com

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I’m happy. Once they get back on their feet and start to provide a better choice of phones for Sprint/Nextel  ( Cell on sprint, walkie talkie on Nextel)  there’s a chance I’ll come back( though only on an annual contract )   when they do.  It’s a shame that so many hours had to be wasted to get to this stage but I am glad I finally found someone to talk to  ( 2 people actually)  that at least  tried to get me a solution to stay with them, I tried it, didn’t  feel like it was a fair trade that I would have to extend my contract because it wasn’t working.    

Not over yet.  Phone has to go back, final bill received and a note saying I am free and clear:)  Still there is hope.

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 Sadly that’s not good enough for those risking their lives to light up the elderly, I mean to  patronize and annoy, er serve and protect.  

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“We’re going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.”

2004 San Francisco Fundraiser.

On people being allowed to retain the fruits of their labor to best dispose of it..   Note  it’s a mistake to assume that everyone that doesn’t have healthcare  wants it. Doesn’t matter Hilary does, and she wants you to have it good and hard regardless of

“We can’t afford to have that money go to the private sector. The money has to go to the federal government because the federal government will spend that money better than the private sector will spend it.” —First Lady Hillary Clinton, in 1993, regarding health care reform

and

“We just can’t trust the American people to make these types of decisions. …Government has to make these choices for people.”

 By the same logic  we can’t trust the United states citizenry to elect those that would make these decisions.  Tis a pickle.

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What is the bill of particulars with which my client is charged? Pay close attention to Mr. Dickens’ allegations. His case comes down to just two points: [1] my client has managed to become very rich, and, [2] he insists on keeping his money for himself. That’s it! That is the essence of his alleged wrongdoing.

I have criminal tendencies in that direction myself. 

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earn over 100k on one income 

Be poor enough to have morons like me pay for your daycare ( thanks Janet) 

If you are in the middle ground you end up needing to nearly  double your salary to get back in real terms what you can  get from the “state” for free, oh and pay no taxes doing it.

Rant coming.. ANGRY    for once though I can  bring up my child, someone other than myself , see I’m not a self centered capitalist  I also wuv my family That  nearly 50% of my salary goes to paying for food, for daycare,for medical care  for just about every other need we have to provide for our kid  is supplied gratis to others  by the state holding a gun to our heads and “inviting” us to pay.  It’s a shite state of affairs Tommy and all the fucking Red Rock in the world ain’t going to change it” 

While I am in a pissed off mood   this time.. at myself. I once passed my radio ham test, I must have known how to explain waves and propogation and various other bits of info that would make my current project easier.  Today  I realised that  “just so” is useless as a way to pass info and that not understanding the why  is pointless even if you know the how..   I feel an expensive educational solution coming on:)

Failing that I will continue to wallow in my ignorance.

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Historically it was the wealthier groups in society that were supportive of gay rights and the poorer groups that opposed them. Individuals deemed working class are more likely to want to bash a gay person than embrace them.

In short the stupider and more religious you are, redundant? the less likely you are to have voted for people to have their natural rights 

Source: Classically Liberal

Also take a look at the UK’s idea of paying women not to be whores,, er sex workers.   And this gem from the  “moron of the week“  a school official that’s banned  four girls for dressing alike. This is the same system that lets cheerleaders wander around in their rather similar garb. Now if the school had the balls to have EVERYONE  turn up with  the same coloured shirt/ trousers I wonder what could happen, probably tasering 

The media tried to find out from Principal Moron why the girls were suspended. He said it was because they violated school rules. Of course the follow up question regarded what rule they supposedly broke. That was a question Principal Moron refused to answer.

Ad hominem left in for free.

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Link to The Daily Times – www.delmarvanow.com – Salisbury, Md.

SALISBURY — A Salisbury Middle School policy that called for students to be escorted on bathroom breaks resulted in three students being forced to answer nature’s call via a soda bottle.

Excessive requests for bathroom breaks throughout the day have prompted faculty members to be more skeptical, requiring some students to be escorted.

 The piss police have expanded their reach from the   war on some drugs:)  Ok isolated case but this is why I don’t want our son  placed in the hands of this state employed morons.  The comments by the morons that employ them is even more telling.  

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The US government has unveiled a new citizenship test for immigrants which will focus on the concepts of democracy rather than on historical facts.

However, immigrant rights groups have rejected the new test, describing it as an anti-immigrant measure.

Both sides, obviously  annoy me.  The test questions are contradictory and seem rather revisionist. They  of course have the balls to ask “what two rights are only for American Citizens” er What the god damn golly gosh fuck are they on.  ALL MEN.. got it ALL regardless from where they hail have these inherent, I think the word is  inalienable rights and to state that the constitution gave us

Questions like this really would make one proud to be an American there seems to be a lot of glory for the state and it’s current officers, policies and include the following gems.
66. What is the current minimum wage in the U.S.? ( socialist)
67. When must all males register for the Selective Service?

83. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

107. Name one of the things that Abraham Lincoln did  ( funniest answer is lead the U.S in the Civil war, I shit you not they have that on the site)plus  the usual crap re him freeing anyone.

It’s not anti immigrant by any stretch of the imagination it’s  not exactly pro America , rather pro the US gov , and no it’s not the same thing.

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Police shot and killed a man Monday evening in the Metrocenter mall food court when he reached for a handgun in the waistband of his pants after he had been told by police to remain still, officials said.

And they  hassle us about carrying legally in the mall because this  type of thing NEVER happens.

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You can hear the debate here .
–Note I have been hit in the head twice today by my son and am not in the best mood…

Erin’s already posted on this on her blog here and here. I’ve been puzzled by the border issue, I’d been pretty outspoken on the matter and likely in error. The problem is not so much the immigrants ( that’s not to say that unfettered immigration is without issues is just that I’ll get to that in a bit) but the system they are migrating to.

There were three speakers and Charles Goyette moderating ( the Minute man scheduled failed to show)

Against immigration Frosty Woolridge, good speaker but on more than one occasion reached into statement making rather than debating. For what it’s worth I believe his sincerity just not some of the logic.

Pro immigration Jacob “Bumper” Hornberger a founder of the Future for Freedom Foundation. You could spend a long long time reading through their output.

Pro reality Ricardo Valenzuela. Ah this guy rocks a former ambassador for Sonara , current advisor on economics to Mexico’s president elect and has no illusions re just how badly Mexico has failed its people, don’t laugh we can get there soon enough.

Sounds uneven? Well the other guy failed to turn up.

Frosty’s contention is that the US can’t sustain a population increase caused by allowing unfettered immigration, that the land can’t sustain it, the water tables wont last and a freeze of 10 years is needed prior to allowing 100k max a year in. Crime increase ( though I am not yet sure it’s because of the number of people or that immigrants  just steal more ) and the accidental death resulting from immigrants ( again how much of this is a function of just having more people )

Bumper,

Nearly all straight freedom /trade all the way though using Eire as an economic success story bugs me given that it was the EU that gave it money after they agreed to stop being parochial jerks and might consider that priests are not the best “writers” of laws. He neatly smacked down the points that increased population = poverty ,which was pretty rudimentary free market economics, something that Frosty’s extensive world traveling hasn’t shown him a lot of apparently. Than again  I’m not sure it’s an analog one can , or should, apply to the USA.

Ricardo,

Well he knows Mexico has failed it’s people, heck to the point that he’d like to see his home State of Sonora become independent, I’m pretty sure I’d like to see that myself, AZ too:) He used to drive freely from US to MX and back all the time without a problem or incident, now you can’t even drive within the US borders and not be stopped in the region for paper’s please ( illegal ) checkpoint. He appreciates that Mexico needs to do more, heck anything, other than be fundamentally corrupt and if his advice holds, and the new president of Mexico starts to get his free market / flat tax system it could be a very interesting place.

All in all a civil 90 minutes with good questions posed by Goyette that weren’t just going down the line repeating the same thing . I’m not going to give a play by play , you can watch the thing when it’s posted. I hate to steal the same joke from Erin re being on the fence, so I won’t but I’ve found that I can’t reconcile a locked down border with freedom on either side and that the measures to defeat it will have turned a police state into an overt police state. ( it’s tiny bit more comforting to pretend )

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