Author Archives: Joe

A job for the Queen of Snark

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Via Bruce Schneier:



New Contest: Can You Out-Lame the TSA?


Last week, in response to my article about the idiocy of airport security, the head of the Transportation Security Administration, Kip Hawley, essentially conceded the main argument of my article, which was that America’s aviation security system is not designed to catch smart terrorists, but stupid terrorists. Here’s what Hawley wrote last week:


“Clever terrorists can use innovative ways to exploit vulnerabilities. But don’t forget that most bombers are not, in fact, clever. Living bomb-makers are usually clever, but the person agreeing to carry it may not be super smart. Even if “all” we do is stop dumb terrorists, we are reducing risk.”

Not quite believable. And yet he really said it.

And so, a contest: How would the Hawley Principle of Federally-Endorsed Mediocrity apply to other government endeavors?


…


So, go to it. E-mail your entries to Goldberg.Atlantic@gmail.com.  The Goldblog reader who comes up with the funniest application of the Hawley Principle wins a subscription to the Atlantic.


Here are my entries. They are probably too close to the truth to be funny but still I figure it’s worthwhile to mock politicians in public anytime you get the chance:




  1. Gun “buy-backs”, restrictions on the type of guns, and carrying of guns don’t slow down a violent criminal any. But getting guns out of the hands of small stature women, the elderly, and the infirm will at least prevent those people from being able to go out and commit violent crimes.


  2. Hundreds of millions of meals are prepared each day in the U.S. by unlicensed food preparation people. These people prepare food for small children, the elderly, trusting family members, and unsuspecting friends. Food borne illness and accidental poisoning are exceedingly rare given the vast numbers of meals prepared without inspection by the health officials. Licensing and inspecting the professionals who prepare only a small portion of the total meals won’t stop anyone but a minority of incompetent capitalists but at least it raising the cost of doing business will encourage more people to obtain their meals from those who are unlicensed and less tainted by capitalistic inclinations.

If Tamara enters I will concede–sight unseen.

Quote of the day–Mike Baker

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This gun control effort is part of an overall government takeover by the radical left who now control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The next part of the Obama-ACORN plan is a new military force separate from the US Armed Forces.


Obama has called for a ‘civilian national security force’ (http://www.newswithviews.com/NWV-News/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s) as powerful as the US military, comments that were ignored by the vast majority of the corporate media but compared by conservatives to the Nazi Hitler Youth.


Mike Baker
November 8, 2008
OBAMA AND ACORN OFFICIALS SET SIGHTS ON GUNOWNERS
[It’s interesting to me that the left compared Bush to Hitler so often when it seems to me that there are much closer ties to Hitler from several directions such as:



  • A philosophical basis (socialism)

  • Ignoring the constitution and human rights (hostility to private gun ownership)

  • Adoration of a charismatic leader

  • Organization of a “civilian” security force

  • Mandatory “volunteer” service to the state

We’ll just have to wait and see. It doesn’t appear that Bush is going to start loading people into the cattle cars anytime soon and Obama hasn’t announced plans for any “work camps” yet. So comparisons for either of them to Hitler seem to be a bit weak still.–Joe]

Gun blogger meet today

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Don’t forget there is a gun blogger meet this evening. Details are here. Barb and I plan to attend.

Quote of the day–Jim Purdy

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Why do we need so many dang guns? Wouldn’t the world be a better place with fewer weapons? I haven’t had a gun since the one I had in the U.S. Army in the 1960s.


Jim Purdy
Tulsa (11/9/2008 3:52:49 AM)
Comment to Obama win spurs gun purchases
[Try selling the idea that fewer guns would make the world a better place to these people:



Oh yeah. That’s right. You can’t convinced them of that because they are dead. They are dead because their own government murdered them. With only a few thousand thugs actually involved in the murdering of 10 million people the victims would only had needed a kill ratio of 1:100 to have completely stopped the butchery. But guess what–their government took their guns away from them with Regulations Against Jews’ Possession of Weapons. They had no effective weapons to defend themselves and you, Mr. Purdy and President-Elect Obama, want to recreate the same conditions here.


No thanks. Keep the change.–Joe]

What my neighbor said

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Laurel lives close by and recently had this to say about the Obama “transition plan” in regards to firearms:



Hey, at least you really can’t accuse me of unfoundedly predicting impending doom at this point, considering the arrogant bastard is openly flaunting his intention to wage war on my rights.


Fine. If Obama wants to see our rifles on a battlefield, we’ll give him a battlefield. Μολὼν λαβέ.


I’m done blogging for today. I have software for the battlefield to finish.

Like that will happen

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Sebastian said,



Hope/Change is soliciting feedback. Be sure to give them some.


So I went to the website and said:



The Second Amendment guarantees a specific enumerated right which is being violated by numerous state and local officials. Prohibitions against certain types of firearms such as so called “assault weapons”, prohibitions against carrying of handguns for self defense, and prohibitions against buying and selling of firearms without approval of the government are just a few of the many violations of this essential civil right. I would like for the Justice Department to enforce 18 USC 242 and prosecute the government officials involved in these violations.

Quote of the day–Alan Gottlieb

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This is still the United States, not a socialist gulag. Public money should not be given to private organizations which then turn around and utilize that funding to usurp the electoral process and erode constitutionally-guaranteed civil rights.


Alan Gottlieb
October 28, 2008
‘ACORN USES PUBLIC FUNDS TO STEAL ELECTIONS, NOW YOUR GUN RIGHTS,’ SAYS SAF
[H/T to Jeff for putting me on the trail for this one.–Joe]

Quote of the day–Doc Russia

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In early November, we get to choose between four weeks of riots and four years of socialism.


Personally, I’m rooting for riots.


Doc Russia
October 26, 2008
…we won’t be fooled again
[Yeah, so was I. We don’t always get what we want though.–Joe]

Preparing to fight

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Jeff Knox tells us where he and Mike Vanderboegh agree on the idea of using arms against a repressive government.


That’s all for today. I have more software to write.

Quote of the day–Lyle @ UltiMAK

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Sure; the terrorists are just lonely, misunderstood, and a little insecure. They’ll probably settle down, get jobs and start raising families as soon as we start being nicer and more understanding (and quit being productive, ban alcohol, eliminate our credit banking system, pull all military forces from everywhere, keep our females out of school and force them to stay out of sight, adopt their form of Islam, ban all other religions, banish the Jews, allow them to wipe Israel off the map and finish Hitler’s Final Solution, execute all homosexuals, et al).

But if we get unicorns in the bargain, that should make up for it all. Flying unicorns, too, damn it. None of that Earthbound species. Then I won’t mind not having oil or electricity, ’cause I can get around on my flying unicorn, what feeds on grass (and so I won’t need gas for the lawnmower) left-over bean sprouts and old tofu. Make that four flying unicorns. I need four ’cause I have a family. Either that or the big sport utility flying unicorn (SUFU) that can haul as much as my gigantic, American, 4 x 4, eight-foot bed, super cab, air-conditioned pickup. At least a half-ton SUFU, with the towing package and a big antenna for my ham radio. Oh, and a gun rack. And it can’t mind having my 17 ft. Grumman canoe strapped on top either. It had better be one big damned unicorn or I’m going to be pissed.

Lyle @ UltiMAK
November 5, 2008
In the comments.
[In the same comments Tony says, “I want my unicorn to come with rainbows.” I’m not sure but I think I’m detecting an entire symphony of sarcasm here.–Joe]

Bigot meme in public usage

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I’ve been pushing the anti-gun people as bigots meme for quite a while now (since nearly day one on my blog). Here that concept gets mentioned in a more public venue:

Sigler described Massachusetts as a tolerant state, in terms of race and sexual orientation, but criticized the state’s intolerance towards handguns, saying lawmakers are “[promoting] bigotry against gun owners.” He even proposed that because of these laws, citizens are forced to hide their guns as if they were obscene or wrong, and are ultimately treated as second-class citizens.

Good. It’s one of the few defenses we have against the next administration in the White House.

My town in a UK paper

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Nice article. Laurel has the story. There is even a picture of Sarah Palin sitting on the bed of her University of Idaho dorm room. The article is here. It starts out like this:



They tell me that about one person in 50 on the streets of Moscow, Idaho, is legally carrying a concealed pistol. A lot more have them in their cars. I rather approve of this, though I don’t think I’ll join in.

Quote of the day–Tamara K.

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I’m actually starting to feel sorry for Barry (even more than I already felt sorry for whoever was going to wind up with a key to the Augean Stables and a garden trowel.) There is a large slice of his constituency that is going to feel betrayed if he doesn’t walk to the inauguration across the Reflecting Pool in the Mall.


Tamara K.
November 5, 2008
Even better than a President…
[There will be some disappointment alright. But will it be enough disappointment to keep the nation and world from disappearing into the abyss of socialism and tyranny forever?–Joe]

Keeping up the fight

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There are still lots of things to be done. People have a delaying action to do and a few have some attacks they can make in the short term. The Second Amendment Foundation just announced one of those attacks that can probably bear fruit:



BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov 04, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — The Second Amendment Foundation, joined by the National Rifle Association, today filed a lawsuit in federal court against the State of Washington, seeking to overturn a state law that discriminates against legal resident aliens who own firearms by violating their Second Amendment rights under the equal protections affirmed by the 14th Amendment.


The SAF/NRA suit is joined by three legal resident aliens who face loss of jobs and firearms collections, and possible prosecution for owning a gun for self-defense when their current Alien Firearms Licenses (AFL) expire. Under a statute unique to Washington State, aliens must possess an AFL to legally possess firearms.


Also named in the lawsuit are Liz Luce, director of the State Department of Licensing and Paul D. Ayers, chief of police in Issaquah, WA where two of the resident plaintiffs live. Ayers is a defendant for not issuing concealed pistol licenses (CPL) to plaintiffs Roelof Kroes, a South African national, and Adrian Coombes, a British citizen. The other plaintiff is Philip Grady, also a British national and a resident of Everett.


Among the aspects of the case are that are interesting to me are that I know Roelof Kroes and Adrian Coombes. Roelof has been to several Boomershoots and Adrian is the guy I worked with at the FFL to get my Gun Blog 45 from Para. And of course I know people at the Second Amendment Foundation. They get money from me which is matched dollar for dollar from Microsoft.

Game over man, game over

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Obama is our next president. The Federal courts have huge vacancy rates that will be filled by Obama and the Democrat dominated Senate.


Last month I made more posts, 127, than I ever have in a single month. The extra can be attributed to Obama.


At this point talking and writing isn’t going to have much effect on our fight for freedom. It’s game over man, game over. I’m going to be spending far less time reading blogs and posting. I have a bunch of software I want to write and I’m going to be concentrating on getting that out the door instead of spending so much time with the blogs.

Depression

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I’m very depressed today. I can’t even blame it on Internet sex (it should be safe for work). It’s the election. I voted yesterday and I think that started it.


Then at the cafeteria at work there is a woman that for some reason has been particularly friendly to me. She recognizes when I show up at a different time than usual and always wants to talk a bit (it’s time to introduce her to my wife…). Yesterday she asked if I was excited about “the big day tomorrow”. I told her I was rather depressed about it actually–it is the choice between the lesser of two evils. I then asked if she was excited about it. “I. Am. SO. Excited. About it.” she said. I wanted to tell her how many people were murdered last century by attempts to make socialism work. Was she excited to be a part of the next attempt? Was she looking forward to adding her body and the bodies of millions of others to the pile?


It’s the Second Coming or something. Once the Messiah is on his throne all will be forgiven, all will be peace and love.


I see ethics, rules, and the law do not matter to them. I see Brown Shirts.

Quote of the day–Xenia

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I voted!


Xenia
8:17 AM, November 4, 2008
Via a text message to me.
[Barb called me, as usual, about 45 minutes ago and gave me the latest news from home. She had just dropped Xenia off to vote. It was Xenia’s first time at the polls. Xenia just sent me the above text message. Barb said Xenia was wearing her elephant earrings.–Joe]

Brown Shirts for Obama

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No, not Brown Coats. Brown Shirts. Phil has the story.


Update: Linoge has another example.

Quote of the day–Barack Obama

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So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.





Barack Obama
January 17, 2008
Audio: Obama Tells SF Chronicle He Will Bankrupt Coal Industry
[Deliberately bankrupting an industry that supplies 50% of the energy in this country?


Where is John Galt when we need him?–Joe]

Sweet!

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It’s not a felony conviction and prison time but it amounts to a fine for attempting to infringe the right of the people to keep and bear arms.