BoldlyRide

Ace of Spades HQ: "and that the then-current O'Connor-led goofballs on the Court intended to create this new weapon, a +5 Holy Precedent, double-damage vs. rightwing troglodytes."

I'm still looking for the +5 Vorpal precedent that allows one to completely severe the pocket book of the opposing party.

FOXNews.com - U.S. & World - Texas Pastor Electrocuted During Baptism: "A pastor performing a baptism was electrocuted "

Safety Inspections: "Western Queensland gun owners will face a safety audit to ensure their weapons are being stored correctly.
The six-month state-wide audit will see police make appointments with randomly selected licenced weapon holders to inspect their storage facilities.
Weapons licencing branch Inspector Mike Crowley says the move is all about positive re-inforcement.
'The legislation is very clear on how firearms are to be stored, and this is purely put in place to act as a safety guideline....'"

A good example of the Franklin's truism about trading freedom for security and ending up with neither.
No need for probable cause or any reasonable suspicions -- just randomly selected gunowners (who already must register in Australia -- so the state can know who has the legal guns and now they can check up so they know exactly where they are kept and if any are missing) all in the name of safety. I have often wondered how long it will be before, in addition to stops for seatbelts, law enforcement can randomly enter homes to check for child proof caps on medicine, sharp corners on tables and furniture, and safety stickers on the top steps of our ladders -- oh, I almost forgot, better check those mattresses to make the tags haven't been removed. After all, we can never be too safe -- it's for our own good, and the good of the collective, I mean commune, er community.

Blogthings - Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?: "

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

"

Sleepy Hollow Deer? or just trick or treating? There is a picture which explains this last line of the story: "The Pennsylvania Game Commission asks anyone who has seen a deer with a pumpkin head to call 1-814-643-1831."

Vancouver: "He lost a piece of scalp (about the size of a small frozen pizza) and his left ear in the attack. It's believed the bear ate what it tore away because efforts to find the tissue that night failed. Turner is undergoing skin graft operations at Vancouver General Hospital. He also suffered puncture wounds on his left arm.
Those Canadian pizza's must be quite small.
'I didn't see her until she was about 10 feet away and galloping right at me,' he said. 'She grabbed the left side of my face with her teeth and peeled.'
The noise of the bear as it chewed at him was indescribable, but definitely 'angry,' Turner said.
'Then she left [my head] and started dragging me [by the arm],' he recalled.
I am reminded of a description from Little Big Man when the character describes the sound of the knife against his skull as he is nearly scalped --

Legal Status

annika's journal: "Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt."

Two comments: 1) Now this is poetry - it rhymes, it tells a story, and it's interesting. 2) Only 5 thousand? That mudville must be a pretty small place.

This:piece from the TX aclu(eless)is full of nonsense and is appropriately entitled NONSENSE: Instead Of Real Solutions For Texas and deals with a proposed TX constitutional amendment,
The Texas Legislature failed Texans and did not solve real problems, such as school finance, property tax reform and health insurance for all Texas children. Instead, they focused on Nonsense like sexy cheerleading and this amendment that is discriminatory, hateful and divisive.
Not being familiar with the specific issues in TX, I cannot say whether the so called problems outlined by the aclu really exist -- however, I suspect that the problems are only seen as problems by the aclu because the programs do not conform to the aclu's ideal -- and thus they are problems only in the eyes of the aclu. This is a common tactic of "gay rights" groups. Condemn the proposed action or amendment as a waste of time because other "problems" are really what should be demanding our attention (as opposed to the destruction of the family, which the aclu whole-heartedly advances). I know many conservatives in my own state used this argument to protect themselves from having to take a position -- and as Getty Lee and his band used to sing -- 'if you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice" -- thus choosing by inaction to lend support to the "gay rights" movement by not opposing it.
The proposed Constitutional Amendment would use the Texas Bill of Rights to deny rights to some Texans. The Bill of Rights is a sacred document that for more than one hundred years was used to afford rights to all Texans. It is Nonsense to change it to deny rights to some Texans.
Two interesting points. 1) The TX bill of rights is a "sacred" document -- so it seems the aclu is now endorsing religion, that is a surprise. 2)The amendment will deny rights that have been afforded under the bill of rights for over 100 years -- Well, if that is the case, then why is "gay marriage" already against the law?--see the next sentence -- the falsity of this assertion is demonstrated by the next assertion.

NONSENSE: It Is Already The Law
Civil marriages between same-sex couples are already prohibited in Texas , and civil marriages and civil unions from other states or other countries are not recognized in Texas .
It would stand to reason then that the TX bill of rights has not in fact protected "gay marriage" and the amendment will not deny any existing rights at all -- just another example of the aclu's deliberate misinformation. The aclu hopes to change the law with regard to "gay marriage" and a constitutional amendment would make their desired change impossible to accomplish by stealth legislation.
NONSENSE: The Language Is Overly Broad
Even if you oppose civil marriage for same-sex couples, the Constitutional Amendment also prohibits civil unions and domestic partnerships and may impact common law marriages.
I would wager that civil unions and domestic partnerships are not mentioned in the TX bill of rights. I know the claim that the amendment "may impact common law marriages" is typical -- what it means is, is that it won't have an affect but the aclu would like to alarm as many people as they can with information that "may" be lacking in clarity and accuracy.
NONSENSE: Hurts Texas Families
By depriving same-sex couples access to civil marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships, some Texas families lose the right to protect their loved ones in many of the important areas of life: medical decisions, inheritance, property, parental rights and more. Protecting your family is a fundamental right. The Constitutional Amendment is wrong.
More talk about depriving (but remember they already argued that "gay marriage" was already against the law so the amendment is not needed) -- which is entirely false just as the "family" label is false (using that trojan horse again) and the loss (but it doesn't exist) of the ability to protect loved ones is false. Wills, powers of attorney and other documents already allow individuals to make all of these decisions without regard to family status. But truth has never been an impediment to the aclu. In fact, the amendment would appear to be a ratification of what Texans have practiced for over 100 years, but which is now under attack by special interests.

Here: is how the offer begins, "'Feeling a little low on cash? " You don't have to give blood any more -- just go down to the circus and peta will buy you book at Amazon.com.

Heavy Artillery: is now available to the Brits to protect them from attackers. "You will be coloured blue, (dyed in woad) if you miss behave" Very specific instructions are given on how to stand and even what to say. Something like, "Halt you fiend or suffer the dire consequences of my paint misting pen. You will be a marked man, doomed to roam the earth seeking refuge from the law for beating me senseless and taking my valuables. Be gone!" Those Brits really know how to throw a scare into a chap. Since law abiding citizens are denied guns and knives, I guess a shiny spoon or a wee bit of spray paint are the only weapons available. Although, it may be the hand gesture as demonstrated in the helpful photos that is the real deterrent, rather than the mutually assurred paint staining (or MAPS).

I don't know why we Americans haven't thought of this. Have we lost our spirit of invention, ingenuity and entrepreneurial insight. We could issue these handy spray pens to all of our law enforcement officers -- much easier to carry than those awkward nightsticks and bulky firearms. Of course, then the swat teams and even our military special forces would probably want to discard all of their special weapons and tactics in exchange for these menacing little stain makers (really, that is no intentional but subtle reference to a former U.S. President) and the panic inducing hand sign. Of course they would have to approach to within eight inches of the suspect before saying "Freeze, Turkey!" or "You've got to be asking yourself, have I sprayed 169 times, or 170. So do you feel lucky, Punk?"

Speaking of licentiousness on display in the public squareG. Tracy Mehan III on Victoria's Secret on National Review Online:goes from a Greatful Dead album cover to what is described as a truly raunchy display by Victoria's Secret. You'll have to click the link for the vivid descriptions (no pictures), but here is a part of the writer's conclusions:
"[these] outrages may not be crimes, but neither are they victimless. You have to be some kind of Cartesian, mind-body dualist to think that what people think, say, or otherwise communicate has no impact on how they behave, use, or abuse their own bodies. If ideas have consequences, for adults, children, and families, it is time to challenge those ideas, championed by Limited Brands and Victoria?s Secret, and enabled by landlords, mall owners, and feckless consumers.
Norms, values, and ethics are a precondition of ordered liberty, a free society, and a market economy. Their sources are family, community, and religious faith. Without them, disorder runs rampant within the human heart and within society.
The family is the paramount human society which is threatened by the licentiousness (there is no other word for it) promoted by businesses such as Victoria's Secret, Hollywood film studios, breweries, and Super Bowl promoters. Rather than celebrating fidelity and self-sacrifice in the context of stable family life, they promote self-indulgence that pollutes the public square from which it is impossible to insulate one?s family or oneself."

I've always thought it amusing to call the brand Victoria's Secret -- cause she ain't hidin' much -- Maybe Victoria's Flaunt, Victoria's Overexposure, or Victoria's Secret Revealed would be more appropriate. Victoria's Immodest Proposal has a ring to it, but Vikki's Sleaz Togs captures the true essence.

Right Wing Nut House has this: "I guess that makes Al Gore the biggest overflowing commode to ever serve as second bananna . ...
Be that as it may, Mr. Tidy Bowl was in Stockholm, Sweden yesterday to give a speech before an economic forum. Now a Democratic politician speaking at a European economic conference is like a jackass giving a speech at a convention of mules; something akin to the ignorant lecturing the emasculated. And what the Dishonorable Mr. Gore had to say about his own country on foreign soil only proves that when it comes to showing off one's anti-American bona fides, never let it be said that a homegrown leftist loon was ever outdone in exhibiting hatred of the US by a bunch of European socialist lickspittles. Here, in the best tradition of Orson Scott Card and other counterfactual history novelists, is America ruled by Algore I:"

Actually Moran's best lines are in the introduction to the speech, but it is well worth a read -- much better than the baseball stuff he can't avoid expectorating-but it's a small price to pay.

Steve and Yvonne: Have linked to this site. I must, however, question their judgment as they have dubbed this site, "Interesting, thoughful and clever." One of them also likes one of my favorite authors, Alexandre Dumas, - "and you know that can't be bad" (my apologies to john, paul, george, and ringo). I'm just curious how they found this site.

Joust The Facts: "Don't most words in French mean 'coward'?"

That's the punchline -- now go read for effect.

LeftSpeak: "Rather than duck tough issues because of the hostile political environment, progressives here have tried to reframe them in a way that resonates with potential allies. 'We don't talk about gay liberation in Utah,' says Anderson. 'We talk about healthy families and strong communities and say that in the most intimate aspects of our lives the government ought to butt out"

The article also notes that 70% of Utahns voted for the "gay marriage ban" -- the problem with the liberals is that it is the position and their message that is not popular -- their only strategy for success is to dress up the message and send it in under euphemistic camoflauge. Interesting, ironic, or just plain goofy, how the gay marriage message is inserted into the trojan horse of "healthy families and strong communities"

Arbitrary and Capricious: "Voir dire was all smiles from the potential jurors: we were connecting, we shared a few tales, we had a few laughs. The jury was chosen, and I took a bathroom break before opening statements.

That was the first time I saw the quite-obvious..."

The little things make all the difference in jury selection.

You are pretty much the coolest animal, a Liger.


Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Word verification is activated -- hopefully the comment spam will wither and die.

WorldWatch - September 11, 2005 - Freakonomics Or You Have to Find the Facts Before You Can Face Them - The Ornery American: "I think democracy absolutely depends on the continuing right of the ignorant and misinformed to make all the core decisions in our society, "

Got your attention -- go read the piece. You might like it.

Does This: remind anyone else of the Star Trek Episode, "The Doomsday Machine"?

If only we could get Schumer and Biden to recreat this. But it would never work with Kennedy, unless he played the gator.

The American Thinker: "As the court's new junior member, the 60 year old lady Harriet Miers will finally give a break to Stephen Breyer, who has been relegated to closing and opening the door of the conference room, and fetching beverages for his more senior Justices. Her ability to do this type of work with no resentment, no discomfort, and no regrets will at the least endear her to the others. It will also confirm her as the person who cheerfully keeps the group on an even keel, more comfortable than otherwise might be the case with a level of emotional solidarity."

This sounds like the old arguments praising O'Connor as a unifier and the "mother" of the court. While being pleasant is highly under rated in our society, it is not the primary characteristic that I would seek for a supreme court justice. The article quoted does name other characteristics Miers has demonstrated and concludes that she could be part of a court the reads the Constitution as it is written. The only problem with that reasoning is that she "could" or she might not -- her religious background make me think that she would favor life and prayer -- but she might also favor national health care and other social engineering programs -- mum has been the word.

The Therapist: "But let's go ahead and examine the one thing we do know about her. She's a lawyer. That makes me feel better. Jonnie Cochran was a lawyer. Lawyers are very much like prostitutes. They perform whatever duties they are paid to perform, and usually with great experience. Lawyers and hookers are both subject to their employers' demands.

What I want to know is, does Harriet Miers dress like a republican because she's been paid to do so?

Judges, on the other hand answer to no one, except for God, and they've done a good job of overturning Him anyway. "

I have to wonder if Bush came up with this nomination while on the bathroom break he was asking about at the UN -- the pause that refreshes and fills seats, one of them on the US Supreme Court.

Previously, in matching excerpts from the Federalist Papers and the John Roberts nomination, I included sections of Number 76 concerning the role of the senate consent: "It would be an excellent check upon a spirit of favoritism in the President... from family connection, from personal attachment..." When we consider that Miers has no experience as a judge and her only qualification seems to be that she's a lawyer -- the President's lawyer -- it sounds the alarms enumerated by Hamilton. Is this appointment in lieu of payment of legal fees? Or the result of genuine trust and confidence? Only the Shadow (and the restroom attendant) know.

Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views): "To merely describe Miers as a terrible pick is to underestimate her sheer awfulness as a selection. "

Is this true?