Can one report sponsors of political advertisements to the FCC if they blatantly lie? Probably not, due to 1st Amendment issues, but I certainly have candidate if one could.
The American Federation of Teachers-Massachusetts has endorsed Deval "free-em-all" Patrick the Democratic candidate for governor, in part because he advocates capping the number of charter schools. Their radio ad supporting Free-em-all blames the current Republican governor, Mitt Romney, and his lt. Governor, Kerry Healey, who is running against Deval, for massively underfunding public education and advocates for change.
The factual problem with this claim is that it is the Democratically-controlled Legislature that passes the budget not the governor. They have effectively reduced funding for public schools in favor of their own pet socialist programs like universal health care. The Democrats have had a veto-proof majority for years now so any attempted changes in public school funding by the governor that the Legislature disagrees with get overridden.
On a side note, according to the Boston Globe, Deval himself was the beneficiary of a scholarship to a prestigious private school when he was a child, yet he wants to limit access to educational alternatives to the kind of poor public schools that he himself escaped.
So what we have here is a hypocritical candidate supported by a lying union.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
What's Wrong with Kerry Healey on Gun Control
Kerry Healey is the Republican candidate for governor in Massachusetts. She gets high (95%) marks from various 2nd Amendment watchdog groups like GOAL and NRA. One must consider those marks relative though. Most anywhere else someone with that high a rank would be abolishing gun licensing or at least making it "must issue" and supporting principles like the "Castle Doctrine" and "no confiscation".
In contrast consider her latest proposal to centralize firearm licensing decisions to the state level. It is drawing fire from both the moonbats and the local police chief associations. In MA the local police chief has total decision authority on granting licenses. The theory is that the local police know who the "bad actors" are and can deny them access to firearms. In practice this allows gun-banning police chiefs in some towns to restrict, or even deny, virtually all license applications as a matter of policy. There is an appeal process, but it is slow and onerous. Obviously the police chiefs don't want this power taken out of their hands, so they are endorsing Deval Patrick.
The problem with Mrs. Healey's proposal is that centralizing this decision authority at the state level eliminates all possibility of appeal and even worse will make it trivial for some future governor or the legislature to totally restrict gun ownership. If Kerry Healey were a true 2nd amendment supporter she would advocate the elimination of firearms licensing, not its centralization. At a minimum she should be proposing that police chiefs not be allowed to make blanket policies restricting firearms licenses; they should be required to make such decisions on a case-by-case basis, and the appeals process needs to be streamlined.
By way of further comparison, consider the other choices:
Her Democratic opponent, Deval "free-em-all" Patrick, is a left wing liberal who wants to illegally limit firearms purchases to one-a-month and make private sales subject to the same background checks as retail sales effectively eliminating private and gun show sales. The Green/Rainbow candidate, Grace Ross, is even worse. She wants to "Make guns harder to get and easier to turn in. Track the bullets and the guns, and begin to hold manufacturers responsible for so many tragedies in our communities." Compared to these 2 almost anyone scores high.
The independent candidate, Christy Mihos, is a bit better. He received basically the same ratings as Kerry Healey. He claims to be "a firm believer in Second Amendment rights" and to support "Castle Doctrine". Sounds good except his definition of the Castle Doctrine appears to apply only to one's home, which wouldn't be much of a practical change from current MA law. He also favors "clarifying the state's existing gun control laws", whatever "clarifying" means. I suspect it does not mean abolishing. He has not been very forthcoming on clarifying his position. He might, or might not, be better than Kerry Healey in this regard, but at the rate the election is going the only thing he is going to do is steal enough votes to make Deval Patrick our next governor.
The bottom line is that Kerry Healey is no real 2nd Amendment rights supporter, she just looks like one in comparison to everyone else.
In contrast consider her latest proposal to centralize firearm licensing decisions to the state level. It is drawing fire from both the moonbats and the local police chief associations. In MA the local police chief has total decision authority on granting licenses. The theory is that the local police know who the "bad actors" are and can deny them access to firearms. In practice this allows gun-banning police chiefs in some towns to restrict, or even deny, virtually all license applications as a matter of policy. There is an appeal process, but it is slow and onerous. Obviously the police chiefs don't want this power taken out of their hands, so they are endorsing Deval Patrick.
The problem with Mrs. Healey's proposal is that centralizing this decision authority at the state level eliminates all possibility of appeal and even worse will make it trivial for some future governor or the legislature to totally restrict gun ownership. If Kerry Healey were a true 2nd amendment supporter she would advocate the elimination of firearms licensing, not its centralization. At a minimum she should be proposing that police chiefs not be allowed to make blanket policies restricting firearms licenses; they should be required to make such decisions on a case-by-case basis, and the appeals process needs to be streamlined.
By way of further comparison, consider the other choices:
Her Democratic opponent, Deval "free-em-all" Patrick, is a left wing liberal who wants to illegally limit firearms purchases to one-a-month and make private sales subject to the same background checks as retail sales effectively eliminating private and gun show sales. The Green/Rainbow candidate, Grace Ross, is even worse. She wants to "Make guns harder to get and easier to turn in. Track the bullets and the guns, and begin to hold manufacturers responsible for so many tragedies in our communities." Compared to these 2 almost anyone scores high.
The independent candidate, Christy Mihos, is a bit better. He received basically the same ratings as Kerry Healey. He claims to be "a firm believer in Second Amendment rights" and to support "Castle Doctrine". Sounds good except his definition of the Castle Doctrine appears to apply only to one's home, which wouldn't be much of a practical change from current MA law. He also favors "clarifying the state's existing gun control laws", whatever "clarifying" means. I suspect it does not mean abolishing. He has not been very forthcoming on clarifying his position. He might, or might not, be better than Kerry Healey in this regard, but at the rate the election is going the only thing he is going to do is steal enough votes to make Deval Patrick our next governor.
The bottom line is that Kerry Healey is no real 2nd Amendment rights supporter, she just looks like one in comparison to everyone else.
Friday, October 06, 2006
I feel like writing something...
...but I don't know what to write about, so here are some short blog-bites:
Violence against children absolutely sickens me, actual physical stomach-turning sickness. People who kill children ought to be subject to the harshest penalties society can devise. Doesn't matter if they are other children, adults, or worst of all, parents, slow, painful torture followed by a lingering death is too kind for such filth.
Frankly I find Foley-gate to be utter confusion, so far. Was it serious, or was it a prank/set-up by the pages? How long was it going on? Who knew and when? What was or was not done and when? That something happened is clear, otherwise he would not have resigned, but there also seems to be alot of election season hay-making both in the media and political arena with the attendant potential for, shall we say, hyperbole and dissimulation. Maybe the Congressional inquiry will straighten it out, but not likely.
More locally, "Free 'em all" Deval scares me: Just the thought that this man so devoid of truth and substance could be governor of MA, together with our left-of-left socialist legislature is nightmare material. Chirsty ought to get over his little rich boy victim pout with the Republican leadership and drop out.
That's enough for tonight.
Vote Ken Chase for U.S. Senate and Billy Szych for Congress
Violence against children absolutely sickens me, actual physical stomach-turning sickness. People who kill children ought to be subject to the harshest penalties society can devise. Doesn't matter if they are other children, adults, or worst of all, parents, slow, painful torture followed by a lingering death is too kind for such filth.
Frankly I find Foley-gate to be utter confusion, so far. Was it serious, or was it a prank/set-up by the pages? How long was it going on? Who knew and when? What was or was not done and when? That something happened is clear, otherwise he would not have resigned, but there also seems to be alot of election season hay-making both in the media and political arena with the attendant potential for, shall we say, hyperbole and dissimulation. Maybe the Congressional inquiry will straighten it out, but not likely.
More locally, "Free 'em all" Deval scares me: Just the thought that this man so devoid of truth and substance could be governor of MA, together with our left-of-left socialist legislature is nightmare material. Chirsty ought to get over his little rich boy victim pout with the Republican leadership and drop out.
That's enough for tonight.
Vote Ken Chase for U.S. Senate and Billy Szych for Congress
Friday, September 29, 2006
Ignorance is _____
I almost never post about local issues because providing the context required to understand them would be too much for most to read. In this case I have a short message to deliver and don't care about giving context. I'll put some links at the bottom if you want to do your own research.
[soapbox on]
For everyone else, here is the information needed to get started. Good luck, don't get lost:
Town of Winchendon
Winchendon Backyard Fence Forum
[soapbox on]
Dear Mr. K.B., your twisted logic implying that I somehow support or am similar to Mr. Bill J. Clinton is totally bassackwards. If you could actually read and comprehend what I've written here and on the BYF then you would know what I think of that particular ex-(thank goodness)-President. Furthermore, your reasoning and ethics are as twisted as his which is why I won't post on your little board. Go away and leave everyone alone.[soapbox off] Ahh, that feels better.
For everyone else, here is the information needed to get started. Good luck, don't get lost:
Town of Winchendon
Winchendon Backyard Fence Forum
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Neuroses
The time has come for most of the roosters in our new flock to go to the great barnyard in the sky with their carcasses destined for our freezer. Nine of them will be going to slaughter in three and half weeks. Most of them are Barred Rocks. One of them is our Turken (see example to the right).
We are keeping a few of the Barred Rocks just for looks and I wish we could keep the Turken as well because it is a very interesting looking chicken. However, it is the closest thing to a neurotic chicken I have ever seen. It stays inside the coop all the time. I only saw it outside once this whole summer and it ran back inside at the slightest noise.
Ah well, at least it will be good for something in the pot. Hmmm, maybe there's a lesson here for liberal moonbats who are as neurotic about Iraq.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Wynne Shoots Good Idea in the Foot
From CNN:
However, there is a very good idea behind what Mr. Wynne was trying to say. Anyone who has been following what our military has actually been doing the last 10 years will note that they do a whole lot more nation-building, peace-keeping, and policing than actual combat. At the same time their arsenal for such non-lethal situations is woefully inadequate. They need better non-lethal weapons as an addition to their weapons mix to match the missions they now have.
How do you select which kinds of non-lethal weapons to add? It stands to reason that those which are proven effective in action should be used. What I hope Mr. Wynne was saying is that the military should be using non-lethal weapons that have been shown to be effective in police actions because those are the situations that the Air Force finds itself in.
Law enforcement agencies already have these kinds of weapons and continue to acquire new ones. They use them when necessary: No need to arrange any specific tests. Some of them do work better than others. That is where the Air Force should go to find out what works and then acquire their non-lethal weapons accordingly.
Nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before being used on the battlefield, the Air Force secretary said Tuesday.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne really needs to think about what he is saying before sticking his foot in his mouth. Testing weapons, even non-lethal ones, on non-volunteer Americans sounds like a really bad idea. Stated that way it is.
However, there is a very good idea behind what Mr. Wynne was trying to say. Anyone who has been following what our military has actually been doing the last 10 years will note that they do a whole lot more nation-building, peace-keeping, and policing than actual combat. At the same time their arsenal for such non-lethal situations is woefully inadequate. They need better non-lethal weapons as an addition to their weapons mix to match the missions they now have.
How do you select which kinds of non-lethal weapons to add? It stands to reason that those which are proven effective in action should be used. What I hope Mr. Wynne was saying is that the military should be using non-lethal weapons that have been shown to be effective in police actions because those are the situations that the Air Force finds itself in.
Law enforcement agencies already have these kinds of weapons and continue to acquire new ones. They use them when necessary: No need to arrange any specific tests. Some of them do work better than others. That is where the Air Force should go to find out what works and then acquire their non-lethal weapons accordingly.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Sports Spots
The Red Sox pull the plug: The curse returns. Personally I think it all when south when their starting catcher, Jason Varitek, went down. The catcher plays a big part in helping the pitchers; I mean he calls the pitches, right? Mirabelli was OK as Wakefield's catcher but since Wake is down too he's clearly not up to handling anyone else. It's obvious to me that not one of the catchers they've tried since Jason was injured is much good at handling the staff that's left. Mail it in from here on out.
It's an improvement, but I'm still disappointed in the U.S. Basketball team. Clearly they're more of a team than any in recent memory, but next time they've got to round out the talent with some shooters and big men. Teamwork, speed and hussle are all good and necessary, but the object is to get the ball in the hole and stop the other team from doing the same. We'll see how the respond in their final game.
Go Andre.
Way to go Georgia.
It's an improvement, but I'm still disappointed in the U.S. Basketball team. Clearly they're more of a team than any in recent memory, but next time they've got to round out the talent with some shooters and big men. Teamwork, speed and hussle are all good and necessary, but the object is to get the ball in the hole and stop the other team from doing the same. We'll see how the respond in their final game.
Go Andre.
Way to go Georgia.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
And Even More Fakery
Here is an analysis of the Red Cross Ambulance Incident (found via Oraculations). From this article it is quite clear to me that the alleged attack was a complete fake. At this point I trust nothing reported from the MSM regarding Lebanon.
The only thing I find curious is why the Israelis are not running a more active counter-propaganda campaign. I realize that they probably have trouble getting the MSM to cover anything from their side and are a little busy at the moment, but it doesn't take much cooperation or effort to release information debunking most of the propaganda from Hezbollah. Maybe they are trying to take the high road, but at some point you need to slap the fleas down before they drive you crazy.
The only thing I find curious is why the Israelis are not running a more active counter-propaganda campaign. I realize that they probably have trouble getting the MSM to cover anything from their side and are a little busy at the moment, but it doesn't take much cooperation or effort to release information debunking most of the propaganda from Hezbollah. Maybe they are trying to take the high road, but at some point you need to slap the fleas down before they drive you crazy.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Money is Money, Dumb is Dumb
The stupidity in this story is breathtakingly; "Woman admits stealing $2.3M to play lottery". If this is not definitive proof that state-sponsored looteries are a tax on those who are bad with math then nothing is. One wonders how much they cost states in other areas such as increased crime and lost economic growth. Personally I wouldn't mind at all if they were all banned again.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
More Fakery
from Dread Pundit Bluto:
At least it only took them less than 15 minutes to catch this "mistake". One would think that after recent events news outlets would check all pictures and stories submitted byHezbollah propagandists independent Lebanese stringers before publishing them.
At least it only took them less than 15 minutes to catch this "mistake". One would think that after recent events news outlets would check all pictures and stories submitted by
Monday, August 07, 2006
Hezbollah, Pallyworld and the MSM; Fakery All
Evidence continues to mount of the propaganda war being waged by Hezbollah and the Palestinians against Israel. The Mainstream Media (MSM) continues to play along, if not actually aid and abet this deception.
As background evidence, check out this "“Pallyworld"” video: Quite a documentary.
The second exhibit is the Qana "“bombing"”. The EU referendum is a good place to begin the basic analysis; start at the bottom and work up. Here is addition information on "Mr. Green Helmut" via the Dread Pundent Bluto.
The latest evidence is the doctored photo of Beruit from Reuters, and their admission of complacency, if not guilt. Check out Little Green Footballs for the detailed analysis. Furthermore, take a look at "“original"” photo according to Reuters.
It clearly is still "“photoshopped"”. Observe the patterns in the smoke (circled) of smudged buildings that appear to be larger than and overlay the real buildings in the scene. In the 8:11pm update Saturday LGM notes a possible source for the real original. Add to that smoke copied from some other source with the buildings from that source still there and you get this.
For more evidence, here are other doctored photographs at The Jawa Report and the unluckest woman in Lebanon at Drinking from Home.
The bottom line is you cannot trust what you see from the media. If it sounds too good, or too bad, it probably is.
As background evidence, check out this "“Pallyworld"” video: Quite a documentary.
The second exhibit is the Qana "“bombing"”. The EU referendum is a good place to begin the basic analysis; start at the bottom and work up. Here is addition information on "Mr. Green Helmut" via the Dread Pundent Bluto.
The latest evidence is the doctored photo of Beruit from Reuters, and their admission of complacency, if not guilt. Check out Little Green Footballs for the detailed analysis. Furthermore, take a look at "“original"” photo according to Reuters.
It clearly is still "“photoshopped"”. Observe the patterns in the smoke (circled) of smudged buildings that appear to be larger than and overlay the real buildings in the scene. In the 8:11pm update Saturday LGM notes a possible source for the real original. Add to that smoke copied from some other source with the buildings from that source still there and you get this.
For more evidence, here are other doctored photographs at The Jawa Report and the unluckest woman in Lebanon at Drinking from Home.
The bottom line is you cannot trust what you see from the media. If it sounds too good, or too bad, it probably is.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Devotional: Quarrels and Conflicts
It has been a long time since I posted a devotional message. Below is the teaching from today. It is mostly just Scripture, the main text from James 4:1-10, with some key points noted and Scripture related to them. Enjoy.
James 4:1-3
1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Sin is the source of fighting, quarreling, and conflicts. Sin defiles man.
Mark 7:20-23
20 And He was saying, " That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.
21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."
Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
Seek properly from the Lord
Matt 7:7-11
7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10 "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Matt
22 "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
James 1:5-8
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: " He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
Pride puts on in conflict with God
Ps 59:11-12
11 Do not slay them, or my people will forget; Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
12 On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter.
John 12:31-32
31 " Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."
Seek the Spirit and the fruits of Spirit
Gal 5:16-17, 22-25
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Weep in humility and repentance from ones sin
Matt 5:4
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Rom 12:15-16
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Be humble before the Lord
Ps 25:8-10
8 Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth.To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
2 Chron 7:14
14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Seek the Lord
Isa 22:12-14
12 Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth.
13 Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: " Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die."
14 But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, "Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you Until you die," says the Lord GOD of hosts.
Eccl 5:1-2
1 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. 2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
Seek the Lord’s wisdom
1 Cor
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS";
James 3:13-18
13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Prayer of repentence
Ps 51:1-17
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Suggested Hymns:
“O God Our Help in Ages Past”
“Who is on the Lord’s Side”
“Lamb of Glory”
All scripture from NASB via PC Study Bible
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
World Cup Shenanigans
If anyone is following the World Cup at all it is clear that the referees have decided that it is their stage too. MLB went through that awhile back with their umpires and it didn't help baseball one little bit either.
FIFA needs to make it clear to the refs that they exist to help the game not vica-versa. Maybe FIFA should have an official at the games who can give a red card to the referee and bring on a substitute right in the middle: It only has to happen once.
Let the players play.
FIFA needs to make it clear to the refs that they exist to help the game not vica-versa. Maybe FIFA should have an official at the games who can give a red card to the referee and bring on a substitute right in the middle: It only has to happen once.
Let the players play.
Friday, June 16, 2006
People in the Wild: The Obliviot
In the tradition of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, I've started a series called "People in the Wild". Occasionally here I will profile kinds of people one can observe around you "in the wild".
Today's profile is the "Obliviot". Obliviots are those idiots who go through life totally oblivious to everyone around them. They are characterized by a fixed forward gaze, highly directional and variable auditory reception, and unmodulated speech volume. Scientists believe that Obliviots are closely related genetically to the One-Thought-Screamer.
Obliviots are often found at the front of line whether it be the left hand lane of the highway or the local supermarket. Cell phones are an almost universal appendage and their constant use in places like movie theaters appears to some form of mating ritual or territorial marking.
Sadly there is no known predator for the Obliviot. They are impervious to harassment and embarrassment. Direct confrontation rarely has any permanent effect. Avoidance is the best way to deal with the Obliviot. If you see one observe it from a distance, make no direct contact if at all possible, and never ever come under its direct gaze. They are not directly harmful but exposure to its fixed attention will result in temporary transformation of the observer into an Obliviot.
That's all for today from People in the Wild.
Today's profile is the "Obliviot". Obliviots are those idiots who go through life totally oblivious to everyone around them. They are characterized by a fixed forward gaze, highly directional and variable auditory reception, and unmodulated speech volume. Scientists believe that Obliviots are closely related genetically to the One-Thought-Screamer.
Obliviots are often found at the front of line whether it be the left hand lane of the highway or the local supermarket. Cell phones are an almost universal appendage and their constant use in places like movie theaters appears to some form of mating ritual or territorial marking.
Sadly there is no known predator for the Obliviot. They are impervious to harassment and embarrassment. Direct confrontation rarely has any permanent effect. Avoidance is the best way to deal with the Obliviot. If you see one observe it from a distance, make no direct contact if at all possible, and never ever come under its direct gaze. They are not directly harmful but exposure to its fixed attention will result in temporary transformation of the observer into an Obliviot.
That's all for today from People in the Wild.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Bad UN, Bad
Thursday already, goodness!
To put it simply the United Nations is bad news. The "treaties" it promulgates are even worse. Without regular cleaning and updating it has gone the way of all bad bureaucracies. It needs to be flushed into the East River and reconstituted without the one world government view. There is a role for a neutral place for nations to interact, discuss and even coordinate and decide on mutual actions, but that place should not be "a government." Extirpate and replace the UN, starting with the name: Something like The International Pow-Wow might be better. Feel free to suggest your own in the comments.
To put it simply the United Nations is bad news. The "treaties" it promulgates are even worse. Without regular cleaning and updating it has gone the way of all bad bureaucracies. It needs to be flushed into the East River and reconstituted without the one world government view. There is a role for a neutral place for nations to interact, discuss and even coordinate and decide on mutual actions, but that place should not be "a government." Extirpate and replace the UN, starting with the name: Something like The International Pow-Wow might be better. Feel free to suggest your own in the comments.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Neat Tidy Package
I'm sorry it's been so long since I posted anything. Work and home life have both been very busy, and none of the issues around have been much inspiration. My opinions on most of them can be summed up rather succinctly:
Dig a moat on the Mexican border. Use all the illegal immigrants as the labor. Make sure they end up on the Mexican side when done. Populate it with alligators from Florida. Feed them occasionally with dead (or not dead yet) terrorists to keep 'em hungry for flesh. Use the dirt to fill in New Orleans. Make sure Ray Nagin and Rep. Jefferson are under the first truck load. [originally found on the Internet, embellished by yours truly]
Dig a moat on the Mexican border. Use all the illegal immigrants as the labor. Make sure they end up on the Mexican side when done. Populate it with alligators from Florida. Feed them occasionally with dead (or not dead yet) terrorists to keep 'em hungry for flesh. Use the dirt to fill in New Orleans. Make sure Ray Nagin and Rep. Jefferson are under the first truck load. [originally found on the Internet, embellished by yours truly]
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Double Standard for Patches
I heard this story from a coworker who has friend that was a Capitol policeman ~20 years ago:
During the Capitol Police training the instructor posed the following hypothetical question: "It is 2am and you observe a car driving erratically. Running the plates you discover that it is Senator so-n-so. What do you do?"
Everyone raised their hands. The instructor picked a student who replied: "I would pull them over, administer a field sobriety test, and if they did not pass take them into custody and call for a wrecker to impound the car".
Everyone but the friend of my coworker put their hands down figuring the guy had it nailed. The instructor then called on him. His response was: "Pull them over and call for backup. Make sure they don't need medical attention. If they don't, I would ask the Senator to slid over, get in, drive him home, and get him safely into his house. Then I would catch a ride back to my vehicle with the backup officer and resume patrol".
The instructor responded "Exactly!".
Although this was reportedly 20 years ago, I leave it to you the reader to determine whether Congressman Kennedy received preferential treatment.
During the Capitol Police training the instructor posed the following hypothetical question: "It is 2am and you observe a car driving erratically. Running the plates you discover that it is Senator so-n-so. What do you do?"
Everyone raised their hands. The instructor picked a student who replied: "I would pull them over, administer a field sobriety test, and if they did not pass take them into custody and call for a wrecker to impound the car".
Everyone but the friend of my coworker put their hands down figuring the guy had it nailed. The instructor then called on him. His response was: "Pull them over and call for backup. Make sure they don't need medical attention. If they don't, I would ask the Senator to slid over, get in, drive him home, and get him safely into his house. Then I would catch a ride back to my vehicle with the backup officer and resume patrol".
The instructor responded "Exactly!".
Although this was reportedly 20 years ago, I leave it to you the reader to determine whether Congressman Kennedy received preferential treatment.
Friday, April 28, 2006
It's Not the Star Spangled Banner
It's called "Nuestro Himno" (Our Anthem). The lyrics have not officially been released, but early reports indicate that the lyric have been changed for more the linguistic and stylistic reasons. That means it is to a different song, with different words, sung to approximately the same tune, just like "To Anacreon in Heaven" is a different song than the "Star Spangled Banner".
What makes a song? It is the lyrics. There are numerous examples of songs with the same name and lyrics but using different tunes. Conversely there are many different songs, with different lyrics, that share the same tune. Just look through any hymnal.
I've got no problem with someone singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish, or any other language, as long as the lyrics are translated faithfully. Similarly, anyone is welcome to write a new song with different lyrics using the same tune as the Star Spangled Banner. That is all First Amendment-protected speech.
But, to change the meaning of the lyrics and try to claim it is still the Star Spangled Banner is fraudulent deception. People want a boycott, how about we start a boycott of any store that sells this deceptive song, and any radio station that plays it other than in jest. Now that would be a protest with some meaning.
Update: Finally got around to finding the lyrics here, at least to the first two verses. I noted that NPR has a translation about which there is some controversy. The article also seems to indicate that there are additional verses which will vary even further from the original. I stand by my comments: It ain't the U.S. National Anthem.
What makes a song? It is the lyrics. There are numerous examples of songs with the same name and lyrics but using different tunes. Conversely there are many different songs, with different lyrics, that share the same tune. Just look through any hymnal.
I've got no problem with someone singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish, or any other language, as long as the lyrics are translated faithfully. Similarly, anyone is welcome to write a new song with different lyrics using the same tune as the Star Spangled Banner. That is all First Amendment-protected speech.
But, to change the meaning of the lyrics and try to claim it is still the Star Spangled Banner is fraudulent deception. People want a boycott, how about we start a boycott of any store that sells this deceptive song, and any radio station that plays it other than in jest. Now that would be a protest with some meaning.
Update: Finally got around to finding the lyrics here, at least to the first two verses. I noted that NPR has a translation about which there is some controversy. The article also seems to indicate that there are additional verses which will vary even further from the original. I stand by my comments: It ain't the U.S. National Anthem.
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