An update to the Rush Limbaughtomy thing from NZB. Barry Bozeman had all his blogs but one suspended.

I am about to break my own rule and link to one of Barry Bozeman’s sites where he tries to justify his actions with his usual bullshit (go here and scroll, he spends three posts justifying himself). He blames the opposition and then talks about his integrity. I’ve never known him to have any. Barry Bozeman has been caught lying a couple of times.

Preemptive: I don’t use sitemeter because I find it misses about 30% of my hits. I’ll stick with Webalizer, thanks. But if my readers are curious, here are my stats:

Kinda funny. Via John of Argghhh!, it seems that The Politburo Diktat busted some moonbat blogger (it’s just one) doctoring sitemeter and TLB ecosystem stats.

NZ Bear has put on a notice of suspension to the culprit, Barry Bozeman of Rush Limbaughtomy.

But some of us were on to him in August: here, here, and here.

One note though, it is not the league of liberals, it is one guy running multiple blogs.

Got one of the issues fixed that caused the several hundred links to my site from the Carnival to be counted. I had to reconfigure MT settings to point at the proper directory. Apparently, there are still 11 (of 125) links being counted which puts my real inbound total at 114. That still puts me as a large mammal.

Anyone know how fix the remaining inbound links? I’m stumped.

A summary of the moonbat rhetoric over the Bush visit to Iraq. And another, which is far more, uhm, what’s the word? Oh yeah, bat shit crazy.

When representatives from your ideology/political party act this way, it explains things like November 2002. In case you were, ya know, wondering about that.

Brian links to the story of a Representative not playing ball and the threats against his and his son’s career. It is an awful display of politics. Sadly, it’s business as usual. Every member of congress is very likely bought and paid for by someone for something. Democrat and Republican alike.

Michael Graham:

WHAT CAN PRESIDENT BUSH DO IN BAGHDAD THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN CAN’T? Appear in public. If that doesn’t send a message to the Ba’athists and their would-be allies, I don’t know what does.

Oh, Hillary’s in Afghanistan and I’m sure the troops are loving that.

Via Insty.

A gun banner wishes for the founder of Keep and Bear Arms family to be murdered:

You are nothing more than sick fucks who represent everything that is wrong with America (and pretty much the world). You are every bit a fanatic as the Sept 11th terrorists and I believe that people like you are responsible when innocent people get killed by guns.

What possible reason can a normal guy have for owning an AK47? I would love to hear your answer for that although I already can gues it, “Blah blah 2nd ammendmant blah blah.” Well how about not reciting garbage like that and actually answer the dam question.

I can only hope that your mother, wife and children get gunned down and die slowly when they are walking the streets quietly minding their own business. Maybe this will teach you a lesson you sick fuck.

John Bellamy

Oh my. And we gun nuts are supposedly dangerous. Send this sick bastard a note.

Buddy Don has the latest Volunteer Tailgate Party.

Happy Thanksgiving.

You need to read this. It will make you think about a few things.

Thanks B.

I wish my minions a happy and safe holiday. Bet you didn’t even know you were a minion.

PC gone too far:

Los Angeles officials have asked that manufacturers, suppliers and contractors stop using the terms “master” and “slave” on computer equipment, saying such terms are unacceptable and offensive.

The request — which has some suppliers furious and others busy re-labeling components — came after an unidentified worker spotted a videotape machine carrying devices labeled “master” and “slave” and filed a discrimination complaint with the county’s Office of Affirmative Action Compliance.

In related news, computer manufacturers have starting labeling parts as White Devil and Uppity Negro.

While we address this critical and vital issue in race relations, SayUncle estimates that in America today: 21 black people will commit murder; 22 black people will be murdered; 506 black people will be arrested for drug trafficking crimes; 1,000,000 black people are in prison; and 26,500,000 black people live in poverty.

Bubba recently received his 250,000 visitor. This resulted in me checking my site statistics and apparently at some point this month, we here at SayUncle hit the 100,000 mark (currently at 107,314 visitors).

To steal Bubba’s joke, thanks to the few of you who come here and hit reload (Ed Note: most of those are you!).

Note to Ed: Those Ed Note jokes are never really funny.

Ed Note: OK, we’ll knock it off

Update: The Shooters’ Carnival is pushing about 4,000.

Buddy Don sums up the new MedisCare bill in the way that only he can.

Hey, Bubba is now a playful primate.

Law.com has a good summary of the pending Silviera v. Lockyer case:

Now, some advocates of gun rights are hoping the Supreme Court will finally bite the bullet and grant review in Silveira v. Lockyer, No. 03-51, a challenge to California’s strict 1999 assault weapon ban. The case is one of dozens the justices are set to discuss at their private conference Wednesday. A decision by the Court whether to grant review could be announced as soon as Dec. 1. The Court also meets in conference Dec. 5.

The Silveira case, brought by a group of “California gentlemen,” according to their brief, asks the Court to reverse a December 2002 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the state law, first enacted in 1989 and broadened in 1999. In an extensive section of the ruling on the Second Amendment, Judge Stephen Reinhardt found the amendment “does not establish an individual right to own or possess firearms for personal or other use.” Reinhardt’s liberal rulings are often scrutinized and reversed by the Court.

When the 9th Circuit was asked to review the ruling en banc, the majority said no — and four judges wrote dissents to that decision.

“The panel’s labored effort to smother the Second Amendment by sheer body weight has all the grace of a sumo wrestler trying to kill a rattlesnake by sitting on it — and is just as likely to succeed,” Judge Alex Kozinski wrote in a dissent, referring to Reinhardt’s lengthy discussion of the Second Amendment.

The last time the Supreme Court expressed a formal view on the meaning of the Second Amendment was in the 1939 case United States v. Miller. Although the meaning of the ruling in Miller is still debated, it framed the discussion of the Second Amendment right in terms of the needs of organized militias, not individuals. Ever since, the Court has denied review in cases that would force it to re-examine its stance.

Via Bubba (who is 3 links a way from being a Playful Primate in the TLB ecosystem, i.e., on page one – link to him damn it) come some new members to the Rocky Top Brigade:

The Golden Calf: Another UTK blogger who appears to be a bit to the right.

In a Mays: Another right wing guy, who I encourage to go on that cruise because they’re awesome. However, plan on spending double what you budget for drinks. Trust me.

The Conservative Zone: Surprisingly, he’s a lefty. No, I kid.

Goobage: Who apparently created that name so I can no longer hit F6 in Internet Explorer and type Goo to get Google. And I, being the resident Uncle, am pleased to announce that the RTB has an Aunt. A conspiracy, I say.

Welcome all!

Then take this test. Tell me how you do!

So, the senate has passed this sweeping MedisCare bill. I have no opinion really on the bill because 1) I oppose the government’s involvement in healthcare, except as a regulatory agency (do you really want the guys that spend $900 on a hammer managing your healthcare?); and 2) MedisCare is a sacred cow that no one can ever touch. But I digress. What is funny is this:

Seniors “will finally have the prescription drug coverage they need and the choices they deserve,” Senate Majority Bill Frist of Tennessee said. “At the same time, it preserves traditional Medicare.”

Republicans continue to be more like Democrats. Heck, I’m starting to miss the two party system.

It seems the IRS is auditing the NEA:

The IRS is auditing the nation’s largest teachers union, scrutinizing an organization that works energetically to elect candidates but files tax returns reporting zero political expenditures from member dues.

The National Education Association promised Monday to cooperate, but its president, Reg Weaver, said the union “will not be silenced” by the audit or the conservative law firm that requested it.

NEA spokeswoman Kathleen Lyons said the audit began last week. “It will be a complete, thorough audit,” she said. “The IRS has not singled out any particular aspect of our activities.”

Weaver and Lyons predicted the association would be exonerated, contending the IRS found no problems when it audited the NEA’s 1993 tax return. The IRS is prohibited by law from publicly discussing audits of specific taxpayers.

While they’re at it, they should audit Rainbow/Push, the ACLU, and the NRA. The fallout would be interesting.

Chicago SunTimes:

The City Council champion of the slave reparations movement demanded Monday that Carole Brown apologize to African Americans or step down as CTA board chairwoman for “allowing herself to be used” to defend a financial services firm with past ties to slavery.

Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd) said it’s insensitive and insulting for Brown, senior vice president of Lehman Brothers, to suggest that “the Lehman Brothers in the 1850s is not the company that it is today.”

Brown made the statement after the company she works for became the first city contractor to admit past ties to slavery.

“She should have kept her mouth shut and said, ‘I’m not going to speak against my people.’ Why is this young lady trying to speak on behalf of slave owners? [They're saying], ‘Let’s parade this black woman out there,’ ” Tillman said.

“Who is she to say that things have changed? Things have not changed. The economy for blacks in this country is just as bad as it was under Jim Crow. We still have only 1 percent of the wealth. She’s not there because of her merits or because someone loves her. She’s there because of the fight we waged for parity in this country.”

Tillman demanded that Brown make a choice: Apologize for allowing herself to be used to sanitize the reputation of a company built on the backs of her own people or step aside as CTA chairwoman.

While black leaders fight this epic battle, SayUncle estimates that in America today: 21 black people will commit murder; 22 black people will be murdered; 506 black people will be arrested for drug trafficking crimes; 1,000,000 black people are in prison; and 26,500,000 black people live in poverty

Les Jones quotes:

A bullet fired in the air during a Ku Klux Klan initiation ceremony came down and struck a participant in the head, critically injuring him, authorities said.

Brian’s on to me.

One of my favorite lefty bloggers has been back a while now and he’s on a roll. William Burton:

Note to People Who Opposed the Invasion of Iraq:

Until you can agree to stop accusing anyone who holds different views than you of being a racist who kills babies for oil, don’t expect to win any converts and don’t expect those of us still on the fence to treat you like anything other than a fucking idiot.

God Bless the USA

I’m happy to see the day where the average guy on the street is far more tolerant than the average politician.

If you’re not reading William Burton, you should be.

WaPo:

Way back before Republicans took over the House in 1995, GOP lawmakers pilloried Democrats for stuffing legislation with local projects that get little or no oversight but boost the popularity of the lawmakers who take credit for them.

In 1992, Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), the future House speaker, told colleagues: “Democrats . . . see no contradiction between adding a billion and a half dollars in pork-barrel [spending] for the politicians in their big-city machines and voting for a balanced budget amendment.”

But a rising tide of GOP spending on home-district projects is making those Democrats of yesteryear look like mere pikers of pork, according to a 15-page study just released by the minority staff of the House Appropriations Committee.

The study finds that the number of home-state projects earmarked in various bills has skyrocketed under the GOP, despite the party’s rhetorical commitment to reining in a profligate federal government.

Moreover, it contends, Republicans “have opened up broad new areas of government to the practice of earmarking that were previously not subject to earmarks.”

Rich’s post about how Dean can win got me to thinking. In 2004, I can rule out a third party winning the presidency completely. The winner will be Bush or some Democrat. That Democrat could very well be Dean. I’ve said in the past that I don’t think Bush can lose but we’re still a year out and a lot can change.

If Dean wins, I think the message will be sent to the Republicans that they screwed up with their big government, pro-gun control, pork spending, PATRIOT act loving ways. Maybe then the Republicans can get back to being the party of small government. If we vote Dean, at least the PATRIOT act takes a hit.

If Bush wins and the GOP sweep of congress continues, the Democrats maybe will figure some stuff out too, such as catering to the fringes is a bad idea. After 2004, one of the parties will be taught a lesson and that’s a good thing.

Jeff finally has the weekly thing up.

Seems someone doesn’t like my take on the RNC ads. Go here and you can read about other articles regarding the ads.

They link to this and this which do paint the pending RNC campaign as a bit nefarious. I would agree.

I am rather amused at matt & jason’s attempt to discredit me based on my position on the second amendment. I think it’s leftist speak for he’s an extremist. Funny how when you know your rights, you’re an extremist. Funny, these antigun folks still fall on the old lies for gun control and can’t prove it because no serious scholarship affirms their views. People do that when they’re on the wrong side.

There is an old saying:

“If the facts are on your side, bang on the facts. If the law is on your side, bang on the law. If neither the facts nor the law is on your side, bang on the table.”

Good advice.

Update: Rich agrees with my orginal assessment:

[Democrats are] all for fighting terrorism, as long as we don’t actually, you know, fight terrorists.

I got a comment in this post from the KKK, asserting their right to be bigots. I agree, they have a right to be bigots. But I have a right to tell them how stupid they are for being bigots.

It seems that two rounds makes a weapon an assault weapon. Seriously, here’s a pic of one. Man, Hell err New Jersey is a terrible place.

Lots of new stuff over at the Shooters’ Carnival. Go read.

I noticed that Opus by Berkley Breathed was in the Sunday comics this weekend. Breathed as apparently used his time off to brush up on Japanimation.

Ouch!

Mike’s back! For how long, we won’t know.

A small Kansas town passed an ordinance requiring all household to own guns and ammunition. While I think the law is kind of stupid and infringes on people’s rights to not own guns, I still find it amusing.

It does remind me of this, which offers a what would a states’ rights view of the second amendment really mean?

CJ stated in comments here that the outrage over the Republican’s ad by some Democrats was likely from MoveOn (which wouldn’t surprise me):

They sent an e-mail today crying about this ad and asking people to fight back by giving money to them. They also give some talking points that seem to be repeated in the blogs you link to.

Now, prominent Democrats are in fact using the same fictitous talking points:

“We all want to defeat terrorism,” the South Dakota senator said. But “to chastise and to question the patriotism of those who are in opposition to some of the president’s plans I think is wrong.”

Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy called it an “attempt to stifle dissent.”

Running down the talking points, it seems. Say, isn’t that what Dems accuse those who disagree with of doing?

Update: Can’t confirm if MoveOn is issuing talking points, but they are raising money to counter the ad. Where there’s smoke . . .

The Mrs. picked up one of those real fancy digital scales that rounds off your weight to 1/10th of pounds. I discovered the following:

A fully clothed SayUncle with a full bladder weighs exactly 171.2 pounds.

A naked SayUncle with a full bladder weighs 166.0 pounds.

A naked SayUncle with an empty bladder weighs 164.5 pounds.

I discovered two things: 1) who knew bladders held that much; and 2) with a pregnant wife going to bed at 8:30 every night, I have a lot of time to do dumb shit.

Via Kevin, came this article from the NYT which details a pending ad for Bush. The ad is not done by Bush’s campaign team, by the way.

The sum total of the description of the ad in the NYT are these:

. . . portraying Mr. Bush as fighting terrorism while his potential challengers try to undermine him with their sniping.

Ok, fair statement and politics as usual. And another description of the ad:

Some are now attacking the president for attacking the terrorists.

Ok, fair statement and politics as usual. And another description of the ad:

“Some call for us to retreat, putting our national security in the hands of others”, then urges viewers to tell Congress “to support the president’s policy of pre-emptive self defense.”

Ok, fair statement and politics as usual. Some do call for these things but I don’t know of any Dem presidential candidates that have called for retreat, but some non candidates have. I could be wrong though.

Kevin writes:

This is an obvious smear of the worse kind. Anyone with an I.Q. over five knows that questions regarding tactics are not desires to see terrorists go unchallenged. Claiming otherwise is simply an attempt to poison the public discourse by making criticism of the president equivalent to disloyalty. It is one of the most dangerous things a party in power can do – and the Republicans have been doing it constantly. Now, it is their official strategy.

My IQ is about 4.9, so I see no description of the ad that calls them disloyal. Nor does any portion of the ad say Democrats love terrorists (the title of Kevin’s entry).

Kevin’s link was trackbacked pretty quickly here:

Kevin at Lean Left points out that the Republicans are preparing to equate Democrats with terrorists in the upcoming election

Oh my! Kevin said no such thing. Nor does the NYT article.

It gets better: I do a little technorati on the NYT story and get these beauties:

Medley:

The RNC has started running an ad trying to defend this Administration’s policies. Check out the NYT article about it and see how many lies and misleading statements in the ad you can find, just in what’s reported in the article! (Hint, here’s one: “Some are now attacking the president for attacking the terrorists.”) They obviously can’t run on the truth, but it’s quite appalling how much they’ll lie to the American public.

How many lies and misleading statements can you find in Medley’s entry? (Hint, here’s three: there are only two quotes from the ad in the article; what lies is this person referring to; and what is the truth this person is referring to?).

Then there’s this, which is much more accurate despite the scaremongering start:

Waaaay back on November 13, I wrote a post about the Republican strategy of pushing the President’s “Doctrine of Preemption” and painting the Democrats as weak-willed, indecisive and perhaps unpatriotic.

Well, it looks like we won’t have to wait too long to see the first examples of this campaign.

Well, this ad (based on the NYT article) doesn’t portray Dem’s as weak-willed, indecisive and perhaps unpatriotic. It says they snipe at Bush, attack Bush, and don’t support preemptive self defense.

The caveat is that none of us have actually seen the ad and the images and audio could, I suppose, leave that impression.

The authors are intimating that the GOP is questioning patriotism of Dems (which wasn’t done); that the GOP is accusing the Dems of supporting terrorism (not done), and the GOP is intimating that opposition to the war is disloyalty (not done). Somehow, they see this in that sparsely quoted NYT article.

Does the ad imply these things? Without seeing it, I can’t say for sure. But from the NYT article, those conclusions can’t be reached but the bandwagon is already getting jumped on.

We go from sniping, attacking the president, and telling congress to support preemptive self defense to calling Democrats disloyal, unpatriotic, stating that Dems love terrorists, and Dems will do nothing about it.

Oh my! Why do the Republicans even need to campaign? It seems the Democrat party faithful are doing it for the Republicans. Maybe they’re so afraid of being called soft on terror and unpatriotic that they deny the accusations before the accusations even come to fruition. Why is that?

I’ve addressed dogs and insurance before (click here to peruse my Pet archives), but here’s the latest (via Unknown News):

Virginia homeowner Steve Wells received a nasty shock in the mail recently. His insurance company, Augusta Mutual Insurance Company, has informed him that they are going to cancel his homeowners insurance because they don’t like his dog.

Like many insurance companies, Augusta Mutual refuses to cover homes in which certain breeds of dog are present. This practice, based on the misperception that certain large dogs are inherently dangerous, is illegal in two states and is being examined in others.

Wells had to file a claim recently because of damage caused by the recent hurricane Isabelle. When the claims adjuster from T. M. Everette Claim Service showed up to inspect the damage, Wells was at work and his dog was in the backyard. On the forms he filled out while inspecting the damage to the house, the inspector wrote the words “CAUTION-PIT BULL IN BACK YARD”.

Of course, there is no way to scientifically prove what breed a particular dog is, the only criteria is appearance. Certain breeds are also not more or less likely to bite. The problem is that certain breeds are popular (more dogs means more bites) and certain breeds are popular among irresponsible owners (dog fighters like pit bulls, as do drug dealers who use them to guard stashes).

Continuuing:

Wells’ insurance company stated that they will cancel his insurance for owning a Pit Bull and for “misrepresenting this fact” when he purchased his insurance. However, there is a very big problem with this. You see, Steve Wells doesn’t own a Pit Bull and he never has.

Meet Buster (picture). Buster is a Terrier mix, the offspring of a female Terrier mix of unknown heritage and an unknown male parent. Wells adopted Buster after rescuing him from a negligent neighbor.

According to the American Kennel Club, there is no such breed as “Pit Bull”. Pit Bull is a term used to describe a particular mix of Terriers and other breeds. Combine an American Staffordshire Terrier, a Bull Terrier, a Boxer and a few other breeds and you end up with what people call a Pit Bull (picture).

Buster clearly is not a Pit Bull. The claims adjuster made a statement that obviously is false. Either the adjuster knew the dog was not a Pit Bull or he didn’t know what sort of dog it was. In either situation, to say that the dog was a Pit Bull was a lie and that lie is costing Steve Wells big time.

Mr. Wells sent both companies a fax disputing the statement and threatening legal action. The claims adjuster answered with more false statements, claiming that Wells said in a telephone conversation that he owned a Pit Bull mix that might bite him when he showed up. Mr. Wells never said that the dog might bite anyone, just that he wanted to know when the adjuster would be on his property.

Now, Mr. Wells is unable to find an insurer to cover his home. The companies that don’t refuse him based on his dog are refusing him based on his recent large damage claim. If his house were to burn down on Christmas morning, the false statements of the claims adjuster will have cost Steve Wells and his family their home with no way to replace it.

Mr. Wells is being refused based on a useless criteria that is actually not even true. He doesn’t have a pit bull and breed is not a factor. The site encourages people to send nasty letters to the insurance company:

T. M. Everette Claim Service
www.everetteclaims.com
P. O. Box 15057
Richmond, VA 23227
Phone (804) 746-2656
Fax (804) 746-8255

Augusta Mutual Insurance Company
13 Idlewood Blvd
Staunton Va, 24401-9355
Customer Service 1-800-533-1673
Customer Service 1-540-885-5127
Fax 1-540-886-1683

Last night, I go to Weigel’s to get a couple of gallons of milk. Here’s how it works:

Weigel’s has been processing Milk in it’s own country dairy since 1936. In 1958 the famous gallon in the returnable jug (shown here) was introduced. It has been saving area consumers money ever since. It is available in whole Milk, 2% reduced fat Milk and no-fat Skim D’ Lite®. Customers buy the jug on their first purchase. After that, they trade the empty jug for a full one and pay only for the Milk. They can sell the jug back to Weigel’s for the full purchase price anytime.

Me and the wife have been trading milk jugs at Weigel’s for years. Last night, the milk was in yellow jugs that resembled Mayfields. Weigel’s no longer issues the re-usable milk jugs but will still give you a dollar credit for your jug. The manager of this particular Weigel’s told me that they can’t find anyone to make the lids. I think that is likely not true. I got two gallons last night for $1.19 each.

I think they realized that they could just bypass the jug program and save some cash. In fact, a gallon of milk went from $1.99 to $2.19. My guess is they figured out that the increase in price would pay for the cheaper jugs and they’d save money.

And they’ve implemented a milk buyer’s program. You get a card and each time you purchase a gallon, they stamp your card. After you buy 16 gallons, you get a gallon free.

I’ll miss those jugs. But the landfills won’t.

It seems I am the number two Google for Jim Bob Cooter and this has resulted in many hits to the site. Yet SKB, who has done more to cover Jim Bob Cooter, isn’t in the top 10. Odd.

For all your Cooter needs, please see Bubba.

I should comment on the 9th circuit’s recent ruling but so many others have. And they did a better job. Clayton Cramer does and Volokh does (go to Volokh and keep scrolling).

Turns out the God Resolution passed in my home county last night:

“This is an extremely un-American situation where government employees place their religious beliefs over their responsibility as Americans,” Sillman said.

After the speakers had their say, county commissioners passed the resolution by a 14-6 vote, with one commissioner abstaining. The vote did not come easily or quickly, as some commissioners were torn between their religious beliefs and their duties on the commission.

Guess the lawsuits will start coming soon.

The recent drop in crime may be attributable to enforcing existing laws:

Good news abounds. New data from the Justice Department show the crime rate today is at a 30-year low. Sexual assaults are down 25 percent from two years ago. Attempted theft is down 22 percent. Robberies are down 27 percent.

Sounds good to me. The supposed reasons:

In just two years, federal gun prosecutions are up 36 percent, and 93 percent of those convicted criminals have been sentenced to prison. This explains why gun crimes are down an amazing 32 percent: The criminals who would be using illegal guns are being caught, locked up and sent away. And all this is being done without infringing on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

Another important factor is the much-maligned Patriot Act.

Sounds good to me.

First, the Rand quote is beautiful:

There is no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is to crack down on criminals. 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 the law. Create a nation of lawbreakers and then you can cash in on the guilt. Now that’s the system!

After that, I continued to read this and once I finally got over the fact that the US Fish and Wildlife Services carried weapons, I was shocked. A man was detained, had his property confiscated but was not arrested. This was because he may have grown some kind of orchid.

Want to compare a suppressed .22 to a suppressed .45, click away.

Adam is all over this. The issues committee on campus has been accused by a Sikh (in the college paper) of not bringing a balanced mix of speakers. The committee, in response to the criticism, sent out emails saying:

We understand what goes on in the committee and why it is liberal leaning. We have nothing to apologize for.

and

if you see one of those ragheads, shoot him right in the fucking face.

[Sukhmani deserves] torture that would put the Spanish Inquisition to shame.

Oh boy. Adam has the scoop.

Last night, the Mrs. got the urge that I dread. She gets this dreaded urge once a year, usually around Labor Day. That urge is to put up Christmas decorations. Long time readers will recall last year’s tale of SayUncle vs. The Light Nazi. I am still the victim of learned helplessness and decided again this year to not fight it. I suggest that before we put up the tree that we may want to take our evening walk to calm the dogs down. The Mrs. agrees.

In our neighborhood, there has been this small, yappy dog running through the fields behind our house. On the back porch, you can hear it barking sometimes.

The Mrs. and I took the dogs for the evening walk, about two miles. We walk the dogs on those 25 feet retractable leashes. Towards the end of the first mile, Politically Incorrect Dog (PID) suddenly became aware of something and went to investigate. It was dark and we couldn’t really see. PID does a little bow and starts playing with what we assume is the yappy dog. PID is bouncing back and forth, and is generally having a good time. Suddenly, Politically Correct Dog (PCD) becomes interested and aggressive. He runs full speed at the yappy dog with the Mrs. tugging on his leash to get him to knock it off. PCD growls and is in an attacking posture. Suddenly, both dogs come running back at us.

Yappy dog comes closer and gets into the range of the street light where we can see him. I suddenly realize yappy dog is not a yappy dog at all. Yappy dog is a berserk skunk and is charging at me, the Mrs., and the dogs. And I mean running full speed, which by the way is not real impressive for a skunk. Who’d have thought skunks were aggressive? It ran right at us, well kinda hopped and wiggled really.

I say to the Mrs. Run!. And we ran like the wind. After we stop a few hundred yards down the street, I smell it. The funk. I say to the Mrs. that someone got sprayed. I smell PID, he’s fine. After all, he was just playing with the skunk and the skunk seemed to be playing back. The skunk, it seems, is not the natural enemy of PID. His natural enemies include geese and catfish. My dog attacking the catfish is a story for another day. And I’ve told the story of the geese before.

I smell me, I’m OK. The Mrs. is fine. PID is fine. PCD got hit right between the eyes and it was horrible. He would actually stop in the middle of the street and roll his head and back around on the asphalt in an effort to escape the horrid stench. The walk back to the house was the longest, funkiest walk ever. Man, did it reek.

PID sniffed PCD a couple times and wanted nothing to do with him after that. We get to the house and I make the skunk smell cure. I then spend the next couple of hours applying the skunk smell cure to PID and PCD. PID needed but one coat as he only had a contact funk from sniffing PCD. PCD required about six applications before being allowed in the house. Lather him up, wait about 10 minutes, rinse. Repeat.

The skunk smell cure consists of one quart of hydrogen peroxide, one quarter cup of baking soda, and enough soft soap (tablespoon or so) to make it foamy and sticky. This stuff can’t be stored and can only be mixed when needed. It attacks the oil that causes the skunk spray to stick. It also will take all the oil out of your skin, get ready for some heavy lotioning after you handle this stuff. And when you wash your clothing after handling it, use cold water. Hot or warm will bleach your clothes. A country boy can survive, with the help of a web search. This stuff is also good to add to a carpet cleaner to get the funk out of your carpet. And a mist of half and half water and vinegar will alleviate some of the smell if it gets in your house. Unfortunately, the only real cure for the funk is time. As of this morning, PCD was still leaving vapor trails, which were faint but noticeable.

After it was over, the wife said You’ll really do anything to get out hanging up Christmas decorations, won’t you?

Yahoo news:

Hirsch had only a 3 1/2-inch knife blade when he came across the bear in his backyard in Williams Lake, about 190 miles northeast of Vancouver.

“He came out of nowhere,” said Hirsch, 61, an avid hunter and outdoorsman.

“I can remember thinking that he’s not stopping — he’s coming,” said Hirsch. “I just didn’t feel I had any place to go.”

He was attacked Oct. 29 while checking on the 15 turkeys he and his wife, Sharon, raise on their spread.

As the bear began to circle him, Hirsch faced it like a wrestler in a ring.

“It was like a knife fight that you’d see in an old-time Western,” he said. The bear swatted out at him, but each time it lunged, he managed to stab it.

“I couldn’t tell you if the fight lasted three seconds or three minutes,” Hirsch said.

Three stabs to the bear’s chest and one to its neck finally did the bruin in.

Family Guy may return to TV. Kick ass.

So the White House was evacuated due to an emergency situation:

A plane flew within five miles of restricted airspace around the complex, the Secret Service said.

Let me make sure I understand, the plane was not actually in restricted airspace but was close to restricted airspace. Dumb.

He’s recovered from his bout with pregnancy.

AlphaPatriot links to the latest on Google bias.

This is odd:

New York’s highest court has heard arguments in the case of a man who has refused to cut his dog’s tail for national competitions.

Manhattan dog owner John Hammer wants the Court of Appeals to reinstate his suit against the American Kennel Club and the American Brittany Club which seeks to bar them from enforcing a 1926 breed standard for judging spaniels that takes points off for dogs with tails longer than four inches (10 cm).

Hammer contends that the “docked-tail” standard violates state law against intentionally injuring an animal and constitutes illegal discrimination because his dog’s tail is 10 inches (25 cm). Lower courts have dismissed his complaints.

“These organisations encourage you to be cruel to animals and they punish you if you aren’t,” Hammer’s attorney, Joseph Foley, told the six-judge panel.

The AKC is a club and can set whatever standards for showmanship it wants. As for me, my opinion on docking and cropping ears and tails is that it’s unnecessary. Dogs have ears and tails for a reason. Tail docking is usually done a few hours after birth (most breeders do it immediately) and heals pretty quickly. Plus, some folks say, the little pups don’t have fully formed nervous systems so pain is minimal.

Cropping ears has to be done when the dog is older. It’s painful and they have to wear that cup on their heads. My parents had a Doberman when I was young and he had his ears cropped. He was running down the steps when the cup slipped over his eyes, which caused him to fall down the stairs. No harm done, but just awkward.

And large dogs that have their tails cropped are sort of funny. Ever seen an excited boxer? They have no tail to wag so they wag their whole butt.

I like my dogs natural. No cropping or docking for me. Of course, I don’t even register my dogs. But then, I don’t show them either.

Update: One more thing, ear and tail cropping has their origins in dog fighting. They’d crop them so that the opposing dog would have less to grab hold of. It has horrific origins.

WATE tells of a Knoxville man who chased a couple of robbers. Pretty neat.

This won’t work because it doesn’t have an audience that gets in a car and travels to work?

or

This won’t work because there will be no dialogue. If someone calls in and says I feel . . ., you can’t debate feelings.

You pick the joke.

Pat Gang emails a picture of children’s toys available on Gaza strip.

This post is just some random stuff that I want to say but not really put into separate posts. Here goes:

A list of stuff not in the Constitution:

Congressional Districts
The Electoral College
Executive Order
Executive Privilege
Impeachment means removal from office

Innocent until proven guilty
Judicial Review
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
Of the people, by the people, for the people
No taxation without representation
Number of Justices in the Supreme Court
Political Parties
Qualifications for Judges
The right to privacy
The right to travel
The right to vote
The separation of church and state
Slavery

And no mention of the word God either.

This whole homosexual marriage thing:

Bubba has it right, why do people care? Jeff at ALMTTR opines and it has to do with God. God has no place in my government. From a purely legal standpoint, marriage is a contract. Some people get married in the eyes of God (heck, I did) but the state can’t use that because it is respecting the establishment of religion. That’s a no-no.

Why guns?

Some folks falsely think that I don’t care about other civil liberties as long as I have guns. Not true. Why do I devote so much time to the right to arms? Because that right is under special attack and no one significant is looking out for it. The NRA? Yeah, right. The largest pro-gun organization has supported a lot of gun control laws and kowtows to anti-gun stuff pretty quickly.

The right to drive?

Every driver’s handbook says driving is a privilege not a right. Why? I’d say it’s one of those rights that remain with the people, or the state. Of course, the people don’t regulate anything so the state does. I think you have a right to drive as part of your right to get to work, which supports your right the pursuit of life, liberty, etc.

Our country has gotten to the point where we assume a right doesn’t exist before we assume it does.

I updated the links at the left there.

The Mega Blog alliance?

Seems the RTB has allied with the Bear Flag League. As soon as the BFL violates the pact of non-aggression (and they will), we will invade.

Why do birds suddenly appear?

It’s called reproduction.

From Chuck:

The Second Annual God Bless Fort Benning Day Rally will be held again this year on the property of Express Automotive Service at the corner of Torch Hill Road and Fort Benning Road on Sunday, November 23rd between 1 and 4 pm. Admission free. Bring a new toy. Honor our soldiers.

If you’re in the area, drop by.

Wisconsin’s governor has vetoed the concealed carry law. I recall that at first he said he would, then it was speculated he wouldn’t. Guess we know now.

Via Unknown News, the terror futures market has been revived by a private firm.

These futures markets have provided valuable info in the past. It’s a shame we’re too politically correct to think. Even the new version is watered down:

CNN/Money incorrectly reported Monday that the market would be much like the one that was backed by the Defense Department, which would have allowed traders to create contracts for, say, whether Yasser Arafat would be assassinated.

But subsequent e-mail correspondence with Charles Polk, president of San Diego-based Net Exchange, the company trying to relaunch the market, made it clear that traders won’t be able to create contracts for such events. The possibility of such a contract under the first plan ignited a political firestorm that forced the Pentagon to drop its support for the market.

Apparently, the Presidential candidates don’t know what the Assault Weapons ban does. I’ve been saying that for a while now. Sadly, neither do most citizens.

The Daily Times:

Wilbur Smith Associates senior transportation engineer John Sexton likens Alcoa Highway to a swollen, dangerous river.

“It’s a river of cars with very few gaps to cross,” Sexton told a gathering of Alcoa Highway business representatives Tuesday.

“There are too many cars going too fast for the number of driveways we have,” Sexton said.

To improve the chances of surviving the games of “chicken” played out daily on the highway, Wilbur Smith Associates has been contracted by the city of Alcoa to conduct an engineering analysis of the heavily traveled roadway, with an emphasis on identifying and improving problem intersections and median gaps.

The plan currently is a bypass. I’d say most problems on Alcoa Highway could be solved with about 3 or 4 traffic lights. But what do I know? I’m no traffic engineer.

KNS:

Those who defraud senior citizens deserve harsher punishment, and Knox County needs to continue pushing senior needs as the population ages, Mayor Mike Ragsdale said Tuesday.

This reminds of those signs on Tennessee gas pumps that have the picture of that caveman looking state trooper. The sign says something like In Tennessee, if you pump and don’t pay you could lose your license.

Special people and businesses deserve special penalties on their behalf? Kinda lame. If I still $100 from Pilot Oil, a 90 year-old, or just some guy then the penalty should be the same.

How many of these guys will actually go to jail? I’d gander that the answer is not enough:

Federal law enforcement officers began arresting several dozen people suspected of foreign currency trading crimes in a crackdown on a largely unregulated facet of business finance, sources said Tuesday.

Speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, two government sources confirmed that raids were aimed at arresting those named in court papers filed under seal in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

One source said the crimes were committed as investors were cheated by individuals who claimed to be making foreign exchange trades when they were not. The trades were worth millions of dollars, the sources said.

The alleged crimes could be carried out virtually anywhere because the foreign exchange market is a largely unregulated one, one of the sources said.

The ruling by the 9th circuit about machine guns and the ruling by the MA Supreme Court that gays have a right to marry have something in common. They both are the right ruling for the wrong reasons.

In the former, it should be a second amendment issue and not a commerce clause issue. However, the commerce clause issue has the added effect of being applicable to other things, like growing you own pot, homemade porn, and making your own pesticides or whatever you can make at home.

In the latter, the SC changed a law and said write a new one. Huh? Judges can’t do that. Rule that a law is constitutional or not. Don’t write laws. Jebus!

God chimes in. No, really.

This morning, bright and early, I had a routine dental appointment, cleaning and stuff. This was my first appointment with my new dentist (we had to switch due to insurance). The dentist makes new patients fill out a questionnaire. This questionnaire is designed to save your life, or at least let the dentist know who to call in the event he fails to save your life. Those pesky dental emergencies.

The questions consist of do you have this disease? And things like that. One question was Do you use tobacco? I checked Yup. Another was Do you use alcohol or other drugs? I checked Yup.

I get to the hygienist and she asks Do you dip or smoke? I say I smoke, it’s so delicious and satisfying. I then decide to volunteer some information and say Oh, and I do crack not alcohol, in case you’re gonna ask. She laughed.

She asks me about dental problems and if I have issues she needs to know about. I tell her that I hate the scraping feeling when they take the metal pick and grind my teeth. She asks me if I want the gas to relax.

Score!

I haven’t had the gas since I was about 12. I remember then the dentist saying Count back from 100 and after it was over I’d only remember saying 98. Now, with my increased tolerance to drugs due to my crack use (the hygienist’s joke, not mine), I remained aware. The gas is a gas. At first, I was almost completely asleep. Then, I woke up and was wide awake. Then asleep. Etc. When I was wide awake, I asked if she turned it off. She hadn’t. Later, she turns it off and the oxygen on and in 2 minutes I’m back to normal and ready to drive.

Good times.

No really, you must read this!

Via Rocket Jones comes this site, where Texas logs the last meals of death row inmates.

From Kim:

“Bother!” thought Pooh, as he chambered another round…

Nice.

From Rodger:

Here are the statistics from the National Safety Council: In the year 2000, firearms killed 600 Americans accidentally. That’s 600 out of nearly 280 million. Here are the other numbers of accidental fatalities for that year: autos, 43,000; falls, 16,200; poisons, 11,700; drowning, 3,900; ingestion of food or other object, 3,400. The only number of fatalities lower than accidental firearms deaths is that from poison gases – 400.

CNS:

When two students retrieved guns they had kept in their cars to stop a public “rampage” shooting at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Va., in January of 2003, only six of 218 unique news reports on the incident mentioned that the students who stopped the shooter were armed. When a Pearl, Miss., assistant high school principal got a gun from his truck, which was parked off campus, to single-handedly stop a mass shooting there in 1997, of 687 unique news stories, only 19 mentioned the assistant principal, only 13 mentioned that he had something to do with stopping the shooting and only ten disclosed that he used his gun to stop the killer.

Also:

In the crime blotter from Dec. 26, 2000, Louis “Sandy” Javelle’s name appeared alongside those of six other victims who had been shot to death by a disgruntled co-worker at Edgewater Technologies, Inc., in Wakefield, Mass.

Javelle distinguished himself that day by trying to delay and disarm the gunman, 42-year-old Michael McDermott, before being killed. But Javelle might have saved his own life and at least four others if the concealed handgun permit he held in New Hampshire had allowed him to carry a weapon on his job in neighboring Massachusetts, according to one of Javelle’s friends and numerous firearms policy experts.

“Sandy held both a federal firearms license and a permit to carry a handgun in New Hampshire,” according to his friend, David Bergquist. “Ironically, the gun laws in Massachusetts prevented him from carrying a concealed handgun. But these same laws did not prevent Michael McDermott from obtaining illegal firearms.”

This speaks for itself:

“The Patriot Act was not meant to be just for terrorism,” Department of Justice spokesman Mark Corallo told a reporter.

Abysmal.

The resolution acknowledging God as the foundation in government passed in Anderson County.

In Blount County:

The attorney for Blount County, Norm Newton, recommended county commissioners strike part of a resolution regarding the Ten Commandments.

The resolution, which originated in Greene County, asks governments at local, state and federal levels to proclaim “God as the Foundation of Our National Heritage.”

The resolution is on Thursday’s Blount County Commission meeting agenda.

In a Nov. 14 letter to commissioners, Newton determined that the fourth paragraph of the resolution “plainly endorses” the Ten Commandments.

It is problematic because it violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the counterpart establishment clause of the Tennessee Constitution, he wrote.

Newton found no other constitutional ground on which the resolution could be successfully challenged in court.

It’s going to get a vote.

Tom writes about the the Padilla case and quotes this article:

But Judge Barrington D. Parker Jr. said he believed the power to designate a U.S. citizen as an enemy combatant rested with Congress, rather than the president.

Giving such power to the executive branch with only limited review by the courts, he said, would be “a sea change in the constitutional life of this country and … unprecedented in civilized society.”

Two points of contention:

Congress doesn’t have the power either. Everyone should have the right to a trial. Period. This detention is an abysmal afront to our civil liberties. If the administration has a case, it needs to make it. Otherwise, it could be me or you in South Carolina.

Tom states:

This administration has absolutely the worst civil rights record since the days of Japanese internment.

I disagree. The Clinton adminstration was very likely the worst. My reasoning is detailed in this post by Jay Caruso. There is a minor level of understanding afforded to Bush because the nation was attacked. This understanding does not lead to justification by any means. It’s one thing to do something in the name of security and another to do it just to expand government. Both are inexcusable but the reasoning behind them is worth consideration.

Matthew Stinson wrote:

No American president . . . has done so much damage to constitutional liberties as Bill Clinton.”

There is much truth to that. Or, as I am fond of saying, at least Bush hasn’t set anyone on fire.

My criticism of Clinton is not meant to excuse the behavior of the Bush administration. They are wrong and everyone (conservatives included) should be very wary of this issue.

And this is why we need liberals, to monitor these abuses. Now, if they could just get taxes, big government, nannyism, and gun control right.

Barry quotes:

From the WVLT VOLUNTEER TV Newsroom:

The Knox County Commission has voted 10-9 to withdraw the so-called “God Resolution.” The resolution recognizes God as the foundation of American heritage and government. It has already been adopted in several other East Tennessee counties.

Good. Of course, I haven’t heard a word about the one in Blount County.

Via James comes this story about the military testing a new 6.8MM round for the AR15. Where do I get one?

And here’s some pics.

William Burton is back after a ten month hiatus.

Jeff has his weekly report on Gun Bias.

Andrew has a use for the Blogosphere. Sounds good to me.

I hope this post finds you in good fortune . . . now send me some cash.

Mark links to some good news indeed.

Apparently, Clinton’s DOJ thought there was a link too.

Head on over to Big Stupid Tommy’s and read.

First, Bush comes out to support the assault weapons ban. Though some have opined it’s lip service to make him appear moderate and that he knows congress won’t get the law to him. Still, gun owners should be outraged. I am.

Now, Democrats are modifying their position on the Second Amendment. Though some have opined that Gun Safety is just the new buzzword for gun control. Sadly for the Dems, they are just paying lip service to the issue because it cost them big in 1994 and likely cost Gore in 2000.

Neither party has it right.

Via Unknown News:

A controversial ordinance giving Miami police more authority during protests was unanimously approved by City Commissioners Thursday, despite pleas by anti-globalization activists who said it would violate their constitutional rights of free speech.

A week before the Free Trade Area of the Americas summit expected to draw thousands of protesters, commissioners gave final approval to an ordinance pushed by Miami Police Chief John Timoney, who has said the law is needed to ensure the safety of his officers and the general public.

Read H&HH’s summary of the actual effects of the law.

Another embarassing Democrat memo that addressess judicial nominations:

They also identified Miguel Estrada (D.C. Circuit) as especially dangerous, because he has a minimal paper trail, he is Latino, and the White House seems to be grooming him for a Supreme Court appointment.

So, is this quote racist? Or is it that the Dems would rather be the party to nominate a latino? I’d guess the latter was the intent but it has racist over tones.

There is an investigation underway regarding the storming of a school with weapons drawn. And they’re calling for a much different approach in the future. I should hope so.

First it was movies, now bloggers are doing albums of the 1990s. I’m gonna include some late 80s stuff too since that whole era of music was intertwined with the end of glam; rise and fall of grunge; and the new metal sound. My top 20 in no particular order:

1. Korn – Korn: Two words: Kick fucking ass. That bass sound was amazing. Every heavy metal band since Korn sounds like Korn. This album was the last metal concert I went to (I’m too old now and look silly). And the show was just before these guys became huge. It rocked.

2. Alice in Chains – Dirt: Melodic, heavy. Definitely one of the more influential albums.

3. Sepultura – Roots: What happens when a heavy metal band goes and lives with a bunch of South American Indians? This album.

4. Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power: This album, to me, marked the end of glam metal (which is a good thing).

5. Pearl Jam – 10: The beginning and end of grunge.

6. Faith No More – The Real Thing: The album that proved you don’t have to be metal to be heavy. Borden is a bad ass.

7. Metallica – And Justice For All: An awesome album! Unfortunately, it would be the last good Metallica album.

8. Primus – Sailing the Seas of Cheese: Les Claypool is the best bass player ever. Well, at least he’s the most creative.

9. Nirvana – Nevermind: Changed the music scene forever.

10. Ice Cube – Predator: The best rap album ever.

11. The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me: The last good album from 80s power bands.

12. Rage Against The Machine: Unfortunately, they were a one trick pony. This album ruled but they had nothing ever after it. And Audioslave sucks too.

13. Sound Garden – Super Unknown: See 12.

14. Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream: Great album but one day you stop smoking weed.

15. Tool – Undertow: This album kicked ass, as did their first one. But after this, all their albums sound the same. That, or you’ve stopped smoking weed.

16. Living Color – Vivid: Who knew black folks could do metal? Vernon Ried is a bad ass. This album absolutely rocked but the band was short lived. Bonus: the singer was in Platoon.

17. Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction: Dave Mustaine is the epitome of heavy metal. This album was their mainstream effort that put thrash on the scene. And it did.

18. System of a Down – System of a Down: Heavy metal meets, uhm, polka? I don’t know what their sound is called but it is different and it is great. Sugar.

19. Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking: It had it all. Melody, heavy riffs and creative lyrics.

20. Limp Bizkit – Three Dollar Bill Ya’ll: Before they were huge but no doubt lead to them being huge. Once you get passed the egoism, they rock.

Another link between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. Strangely, not getting much airplay in the major news:

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein gave terror lord Osama bin Laden’s thugs financial and logistical support, offering al Qaeda money, training and haven for more than a decade, it was reported yesterday.
Their deadly collaboration – which may have included the bombing of the USS Cole and the 9/11 attacks – is revealed in a 16-page memo to the Senate Intelligence Committee that cites reports from a variety of domestic and foreign spy agencies compiled by multiple sources, The Weekly Standard reports.

Saddam’s willingness to help bin Laden plot against Americans began in 1990, shortly before the first Gulf War, and continued through last March, the eve of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, says the Oct. 27 memo sent by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith.

Two men were involved with the collaboration almost from its start.

Update: Tom alerts me to this memo from the DoD which states:

News reports that the Defense Department recently confirmed new information with respect to contacts between al-Qaida and Iraq in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee are inaccurate.

A letter was sent to the Senate Intelligence Committee on October 27, 2003 from Douglas J. Feith, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in response to follow-up questions from his July 10 testimony. One of the questions posed by the committee asked the Department to provide the reports from the Intelligence Community to which he referred in his testimony before the Committee. These reports dealt with the relationship between Iraq and al-Qaida.

The letter to the committee included a classified annex containing a list and description of the requested reports, so that the Committee could obtain the reports from the relevant members of the Intelligence Community.

The items listed in the classified annex were either raw reports or products of the CIA, the NSA, or, in one case, the DIA. The provision of the classified annex to the Intelligence Committee was cleared by other agencies and done with the permission of the Intelligence Community. The selection of the documents was made by DOD to respond to the Committee’s question. The classified annex was not an analysis of the substantive issue of the relationship between Iraq and al Qaida, and it drew no conclusions.

Individuals who leak or purport to leak classified information are doing serious harm to national security; such activity is deplorable and may be illegal.

It seems to me the DoD is on damage control. The memo doesn’t deny any of the allegations of the original story. It just states that:

1) The DoD has not confirmed this story;
2) The DoD has not concluded there is a link;
3) Leaking classified info is a no-no.

What the memo does not do is it does not deny the underlying assertions, which would lead a reasonable person to conclude there is potentially a link, if found to be true. Since the DoD is not denying the assertions, draw your own conclusions.

I think it’s still a link.

Had the first ultrasound and I am glad to say that I am the proud father of a, err, pinto bean:

Barry has some comments regarding the resolution.

Probably bad form to use yourself as the QOTD, but I said this in Bubba’s comments and wanted it for posterity:

When I was young and stupid, I was a liberal. Then I got a bit older and a bit smarter and was a conservative. Now, I’m the smartest I’ve ever been and I am neither.

The Puppy Protection Act, which I blogged here, was introduced in the House.

TimesDispatch:

Richmond’s ordinance requiring people to obtain a permit from the police department before buying a gun has been determined unconstitutional by the city attorney, Police Chief Andre Parker announced yesterday.

Michael Silence writes:

Knox County’s law director will recommend a reference saying the Alabama chief justice “rightfully” displayed the Ten Commandments be stricken from the proposed resolution recognizing God as the foundation of American heritage and government.

Law Director Mike Moyers said the term should not be in the resolution in view of all the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, that have ruled against the actions by Chief Justice Roy Moore.

“It’s bad form to pass a resolution suggesting the courts don’t know what they are doing,” Moyers said Thursday.

He should recommend they strike the whole resolution. This silly pandering is a waste of resources.

The Ninth Circuit says that homemade machine guns are OK. Actually, they say congress can’t regulate them because it’s not commerce. Sweet.

Tennessee law states:

(a) A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells:

…

(3) A machine gun;

…

(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person’s conduct:

…

(7) Involved acquisition or possession of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun or firearm silencer which is validly registered to the person under federal law in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records. A person who acquires or possesses a firearm registered as required by this subdivision (b)(7) shall retain proof of registration.

Any lawyers out there care to take a gander?

My guess in terms of federal law is that as long as you purchase a receiver that is not milled and assemble it, you’re probably OK. As for Tennessee law, it seems the NFA was ruled invalid and thus not applicable. But there is no NFA to register it to. I’m stumped.

Via CD Harris:

Scores carry handguns openly to press point

They carried their handguns in the open in holsters Wednesday, walking in circles around the Statehouse to protest the inability of Gov. Bob Taft and the state legislature to enact legislation permitting them to carry concealed weapons.

“We’re here to demonstrate to the legislature that this is the choice they have left us,” said Pete Brucken, 38, a computer engineer from New Carlisle.

Carrying handguns openly is permitted under Ohio law while carrying concealed weapons is not.

Brucken was among 125 handgun-carrying demonstrators at the peaceful rally organized by Ohioans for Concealed Carry Inc.

Surprisingly, no violence erupted. This is odd, because the Million err Four Mom March, the VPC, and the Brady Bunch have told us that packing would lead to violence in the street.

that because I am not a soldier I can’t have a valid opinion about the Iraqi war?

I am also not a politician and therefore can’t have a valid opinion about politics. I am also not a football player and therefore can’t have a valid opinion about UT football.

Man, I’ve just run out of stuff to talk about.

Update: False alarm, turns out I am a soldier:

US Code: Title 10
US Code as of: 01/26/98

Sec. 311. Militia: composition and classes

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

(b) The classes of the militia are –
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard
and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

Whew, that was close.