Monday, March 3, 2008
In other news of General Treachery
We see various individuals, in living color yet, trashing the DC recruiting office...why aren't these folks in jail? And, for that matter, when is the Berkeley Marine Encampment scheduled?
Code Pink: Egregious in Berkeley
From the folks over at LGF we have the winner of the Code Pink Vileness Competition, awarded to the vilest participant at a Code Pink sponsored/instigated event...
Of course, Code Pink has a contact page, but they obfuscate their e-mail addresses, making it hard for the non-tech savvy to send their regards and respects to those fine individuals.
Purely in the spirit of helpfulness, please find their non-obfuscated information here:
Address: 2010 Linden Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Phone: 310-827-4320 Fax: 310-827-4547
Email: info@codepinkalert.org
Website: www.codepinkla.org
San Francisco
Address: 2017 Mission Street, #200 - San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: 415-575-5555
Email: info@bayareacodepink.org
Website: www.bayareacodepink.org
Washington, D.C.
Address: 712 5th Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002 (5 blocks from Union Station)
Phone: 202-290-1301 (DC House #)
Email: dc@codepinkalert.org
Website: www.codepinkdc.org
New York City
Address: 630 9th Ave, Suite 216 NY, NY 10036
Phone: 646-723-1781 Fax: 646-723-0996
Email: codepinknyc@gmail.com
Website: www.codepinknyc.org
It's important that activist groups get the vital information that's only available through direct feedback, though to avoid being inundated with spam, it's often best in communicating with such groups to use a one-time "throw-away" address such as hotmail or yahoo (carefully anonymizing the information they request w/ pseudonyms and such for privacy) to contact them.
At the same time, given the uncertainties of the world, you can ensure your important views and analysis of Code Pink actions are communicated by also sending a helpful fax to them to ensure they get your message - and remember, brevity is not always clarity, and in dealing with the more liberal sorts one must state each of ones point at least four times, phrased somewhat differently each time, to penetrate the pink fog often interposed between your correspondent and reality.
Remember, it's important that groups like Code Pink get the full range of feedback on their activities and positions so they may better understand the response they generate, and it's fundamentally unfair to fail to assist in lowering the technical barriers to this process so that the less tech-adept may share their views as well.
In that spirit, I suggest posting the non-obfuscated Code Pink contact information wherever you can, along with the photo above, so that they may benefit from the public response they so obviously desire.
Of course, Code Pink has a contact page, but they obfuscate their e-mail addresses, making it hard for the non-tech savvy to send their regards and respects to those fine individuals.Purely in the spirit of helpfulness, please find their non-obfuscated information here:
Address: 2010 Linden Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Phone: 310-827-4320 Fax: 310-827-4547
Email: info@codepinkalert.org
Website: www.codepinkla.org
San Francisco
Address: 2017 Mission Street, #200 - San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: 415-575-5555
Email: info@bayareacodepink.org
Website: www.bayareacodepink.org
Washington, D.C.
Address: 712 5th Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002 (5 blocks from Union Station)
Phone: 202-290-1301 (DC House #)
Email: dc@codepinkalert.org
Website: www.codepinkdc.org
New York City
Address: 630 9th Ave, Suite 216 NY, NY 10036
Phone: 646-723-1781 Fax: 646-723-0996
Email: codepinknyc@gmail.com
Website: www.codepinknyc.org
It's important that activist groups get the vital information that's only available through direct feedback, though to avoid being inundated with spam, it's often best in communicating with such groups to use a one-time "throw-away" address such as hotmail or yahoo (carefully anonymizing the information they request w/ pseudonyms and such for privacy) to contact them.
At the same time, given the uncertainties of the world, you can ensure your important views and analysis of Code Pink actions are communicated by also sending a helpful fax to them to ensure they get your message - and remember, brevity is not always clarity, and in dealing with the more liberal sorts one must state each of ones point at least four times, phrased somewhat differently each time, to penetrate the pink fog often interposed between your correspondent and reality.
Remember, it's important that groups like Code Pink get the full range of feedback on their activities and positions so they may better understand the response they generate, and it's fundamentally unfair to fail to assist in lowering the technical barriers to this process so that the less tech-adept may share their views as well.
In that spirit, I suggest posting the non-obfuscated Code Pink contact information wherever you can, along with the photo above, so that they may benefit from the public response they so obviously desire.
Gun's in Parks
Les Blumenthal of the (Tacoma) News Tribune reports that Representative Norm Dicks (D-Tac) is up to his usual tricks and generally weaselly and liberal ways in this article.
Dicks, in conjunction with Washington's Senators and his Senate counterpart, Diane Feinstein, have vowed to derail any effort to repeal the ban on loaded firearms in National Parks - making claims in a letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne that:
The original logic of the Parks Firearms Ban was to limit opportunistic poaching, a concern that can be managed by vastly less intrusive means. Observably, there is no invisible magic wall surrounding the parks that prevents "bad persons" from entering and preying upon both two-legged and four-legged victims.
Maintaining another large "victim disarmament zone" is at best counterproductive, and at worst begging for trouble.
Dicks, in conjunction with Washington's Senators and his Senate counterpart, Diane Feinstein, have vowed to derail any effort to repeal the ban on loaded firearms in National Parks - making claims in a letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne that:
- “Permitting loaded firearms to be carried or used within our
national parks or wildlife refuges would be a radical, unprecedented
change that would likely upset the delicate balance that exists
between wildlife and park visitors in these areas,” Dicks and
Feinstein said in a letter to Kempthorne. - "More importantly, allowing loaded and accessible weapons in national
parks would create a dangerous environment for millions of American families who annually visit ournational parks expecting a safe and enjoyable experience – not
loaded firearms and stray bullets.”
The original logic of the Parks Firearms Ban was to limit opportunistic poaching, a concern that can be managed by vastly less intrusive means. Observably, there is no invisible magic wall surrounding the parks that prevents "bad persons" from entering and preying upon both two-legged and four-legged victims.
Maintaining another large "victim disarmament zone" is at best counterproductive, and at worst begging for trouble.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
And now for something a bit lighter
And now for something a bit lighter - an artist that never fails to cheer, recommended to me by a good friend, Mika - his bouncy, mostly upbeat style, is a joy. Sort of the love child of Elton John and Freddie Mercury with an incredible vocal range. He does some more serious stuff, but.....here's a couple of his more poppy, silly, pieces...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Television Shows
I like Stargate. It's a fun semi-Space Opera romp...but I have a question - with the Gould (sp?), Wraith, and other assorted baddies floating about - why don't we ever see the Powers That Be in this construct universe do the logical thing?
You know where I'm going, don't ya?
Who's better equipped to go and explore, on the ground, a deeply hostile environment - a bunch of fighter jocks and research types? Or, just maybe, a couple of SEAL teams? Or perhaps a largish number of Marines?
I'm just wondering....
Yes, I know the show was canceled two years ago - this still annoys me when I watch the reruns.
You know where I'm going, don't ya?
Who's better equipped to go and explore, on the ground, a deeply hostile environment - a bunch of fighter jocks and research types? Or, just maybe, a couple of SEAL teams? Or perhaps a largish number of Marines?
I'm just wondering....
Yes, I know the show was canceled two years ago - this still annoys me when I watch the reruns.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Pulling the Flush Handle
Sometimes an agency develops an internal culture with all the redeeming benefits of a recurring malignant cancer, and rather than serving the public becomes an instrument of caprice and torment. When this occurs, costly as it may be, it is time to pull the flush handle.
Every agency, however, has its' constituency - even if only the employees of that agency, who are often the strongest advocates for its' continued existence. Thus, some means of inducing such motivated individuals to either hold their tongue or actively favor the elimination of their employer must be found. I offer a humble solution - early retirement, regardless of time in service, providing a strong financial motive for both veterans and newbies to jump ship and not seek other federal positions (possibly bringing the infectious stench of their prior "agency culture" with them).
I nominate the BATFE for initial testing of this approach as an agency that has long demonstrated their contempt for the law and for the rights of private citizens, acting as a rather specialized political police rather than as an enforcement agency in a republic composed of free citizens with actual civil rights.
From Waco, to Ruby Ridge, to Red's Trading Post, to the most recent events at Cavalry Arms in Gilbert, AZ - they have proven consistently unworthy of the public trust. While not consistently the direct instrument of tragedy, they have been the instigating force much too often. Let them be gone, paid off with retirement in full.
That is all.
Every agency, however, has its' constituency - even if only the employees of that agency, who are often the strongest advocates for its' continued existence. Thus, some means of inducing such motivated individuals to either hold their tongue or actively favor the elimination of their employer must be found. I offer a humble solution - early retirement, regardless of time in service, providing a strong financial motive for both veterans and newbies to jump ship and not seek other federal positions (possibly bringing the infectious stench of their prior "agency culture" with them).
I nominate the BATFE for initial testing of this approach as an agency that has long demonstrated their contempt for the law and for the rights of private citizens, acting as a rather specialized political police rather than as an enforcement agency in a republic composed of free citizens with actual civil rights.
From Waco, to Ruby Ridge, to Red's Trading Post, to the most recent events at Cavalry Arms in Gilbert, AZ - they have proven consistently unworthy of the public trust. While not consistently the direct instrument of tragedy, they have been the instigating force much too often. Let them be gone, paid off with retirement in full.
That is all.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
I couldn't've said it better myself...
RobertaX may be channeling Lucy Kropotkin.....yet another blogomot that ought be mandatory annual reading from grades 8-12 in the public schools, under "Civics".
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
"Shattered Sense of Security"
Shattered Sense of Security - LA Times
Ms. Rosenblatt -
Might I suggest you would serve your readership far better investigating the myth of "safety"?
Lovely as the notion is, on first pass, once one begins to look at the mythical concepts of "safety", "Safe Zones", "gun & drug free zones", and other elements of what are essentially secular theology....the kindest interpretation of them is as misguided myth spiraling downwards towards "our political leaders need to look busy" and yet more cynical evaluations of such thing.
At base, there is no such thing as perfect safety or a safety zone. At absolute best, there are "risk reduction" and areas of lesser risk, achieved only by balancing privacy and civil liberties against an acceptable level of risk, in a rather grim street level playing out of cost-benefit analysis. That a second simultaneous cost-benefit analysis takes place of police and emergency services resources balanced against what constituencies can either scream the loudest or riot the most frantically does not improve matters. And even at that I simplify.
That the events at Aragon were unfortunate is obvious. What is less obvious is that the such solutions as may be available, limited as they are, are unlikely to be found in new regulatory legislation.
While it may be a revolutionary concept for some, criminals don't worry too much about obeying or disobeying the law. This is, perhaps, because they are criminals - folks who break the law.
In light of this stunning revelation, we are faced with little beyond the present day process of writing reports and mopping up the blood after such instances (and in the case of all too many journalists and activists, dancing in it for one reason or another before commencing mopping) in terms of reactive options. Criminals, the insane, and the criminally insane will not be substantially affected by any law we pass.
Looking for preventative solutions, we are left with making ourselves less vulnerable - what some refer to as hardening the targets. To achieve this, we must think outside the paradigm of these last few decades.
* We read of various facilities (schools, workplaces, etc) becoming impromptu drivethru locations courtesy of disgruntled or disabled customers or employees. At a minimum, we need physical barriers (not another essentially silly law) sufficiently sturdy to slow or stop most vehicles.
* We read of cases where bad folks behave badly in the vicinity of schools or other places where persons defenseless by law gather. At a minimum, we need to re-evaluate the architectural efforts of the the last few decades with their utilitarian brick firewalls and lots of glass providing laughable protection from any sort of high velocity projectile - be it a bullet or a bit of shrapnel from an accident on an adjacent road. We need to look at design and materials less in terms of fitting a particular school of architectural thought, and more in terms of protection and energy efficiency.
* We read of various school and workplace attacks with a variety of implements. We must teach ourselves and our youth the importance of, when faced with berserkers of whatever stripe, that the appropriate response is to step up and fight rather than the "cower and flee" response of "do what an attacker tells you". Further, unless we wish to assume a huge economic burden and place ourselves in a police state, we must once again recognize the vital role of the law-abiding and lawfully armed private citizens in preventing (and stopping) criminal incidents ranging from petty muggings on through random rape and murder and thence to mass homicides.
We can't get (and if we really think about it, probably don't want) "safe". If we take responsibility for our fates, we might, perhaps, achieve acceptable risk.
Ms. Rosenblatt -
Might I suggest you would serve your readership far better investigating the myth of "safety"?
Lovely as the notion is, on first pass, once one begins to look at the mythical concepts of "safety", "Safe Zones", "gun & drug free zones", and other elements of what are essentially secular theology....the kindest interpretation of them is as misguided myth spiraling downwards towards "our political leaders need to look busy" and yet more cynical evaluations of such thing.
At base, there is no such thing as perfect safety or a safety zone. At absolute best, there are "risk reduction" and areas of lesser risk, achieved only by balancing privacy and civil liberties against an acceptable level of risk, in a rather grim street level playing out of cost-benefit analysis. That a second simultaneous cost-benefit analysis takes place of police and emergency services resources balanced against what constituencies can either scream the loudest or riot the most frantically does not improve matters. And even at that I simplify.
That the events at Aragon were unfortunate is obvious. What is less obvious is that the such solutions as may be available, limited as they are, are unlikely to be found in new regulatory legislation.
While it may be a revolutionary concept for some, criminals don't worry too much about obeying or disobeying the law. This is, perhaps, because they are criminals - folks who break the law.
In light of this stunning revelation, we are faced with little beyond the present day process of writing reports and mopping up the blood after such instances (and in the case of all too many journalists and activists, dancing in it for one reason or another before commencing mopping) in terms of reactive options. Criminals, the insane, and the criminally insane will not be substantially affected by any law we pass.
Looking for preventative solutions, we are left with making ourselves less vulnerable - what some refer to as hardening the targets. To achieve this, we must think outside the paradigm of these last few decades.
* We read of various facilities (schools, workplaces, etc) becoming impromptu drivethru locations courtesy of disgruntled or disabled customers or employees. At a minimum, we need physical barriers (not another essentially silly law) sufficiently sturdy to slow or stop most vehicles.
* We read of cases where bad folks behave badly in the vicinity of schools or other places where persons defenseless by law gather. At a minimum, we need to re-evaluate the architectural efforts of the the last few decades with their utilitarian brick firewalls and lots of glass providing laughable protection from any sort of high velocity projectile - be it a bullet or a bit of shrapnel from an accident on an adjacent road. We need to look at design and materials less in terms of fitting a particular school of architectural thought, and more in terms of protection and energy efficiency.
* We read of various school and workplace attacks with a variety of implements. We must teach ourselves and our youth the importance of, when faced with berserkers of whatever stripe, that the appropriate response is to step up and fight rather than the "cower and flee" response of "do what an attacker tells you". Further, unless we wish to assume a huge economic burden and place ourselves in a police state, we must once again recognize the vital role of the law-abiding and lawfully armed private citizens in preventing (and stopping) criminal incidents ranging from petty muggings on through random rape and murder and thence to mass homicides.
We can't get (and if we really think about it, probably don't want) "safe". If we take responsibility for our fates, we might, perhaps, achieve acceptable risk.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Morning After College Scramble
Stumbled across this some years ago, and added the ingredients to "keep available at all times" list simply because even hungover (tested back in the dark mists of time) or crawling outta bed leaving someone warm'n'wonderful behind...you can usually stir this up quickly and be moderately impressive.
3 Eggs
3/4 c. Cheese (A hard cheese that melts well - gouda, cheddar, etc. I use Asiago ONLY when cooking for myself)
1 Sausage (I like hot italian, myself...but Andouille is yummy too)
2 tbsp Butter
1 tbsp Chopped Garlic
This is an *approximate* recipe and based on what you've got stocked in your fridge at any given moment. In general, however...start out tossing a couple of tablespoons butter and tablespoon of garlic into a 12" fry pan. Set the heat to medium, and let the butter melt and the garlic saute until lightly brown or you throw in the sausage, whichever comes first.
While the butter and garlic are doing their thing, quarter the sausage lengthwise, then slice the quarters into 1/4" slices. (This is MUCH easier if, when you brought home the sausage, you put it in the freezer). Toss the diced sausage in with the garlic and butter, and continue to saute until cooked through.
Add three eggs (need not be whisked) to pan. Break the yolks, and stir in. Notch up the heat a little, and while you wait for the eggs to set up a little, cube up your cheese. Once the eggs are semi-firm and starting to have dry surfaces, toss in the cheese cubes, stirring vigorously. Continue to saute until eggs are dry and cheese has at least started to melt (I like the cheese to be sort of "semi-firm"). Serve to proposed victim.
Makes enough for one hearty breakfast. For additional victims, multiply by number of victims.
3 Eggs
3/4 c. Cheese (A hard cheese that melts well - gouda, cheddar, etc. I use Asiago ONLY when cooking for myself)
1 Sausage (I like hot italian, myself...but Andouille is yummy too)
2 tbsp Butter
1 tbsp Chopped Garlic
This is an *approximate* recipe and based on what you've got stocked in your fridge at any given moment. In general, however...start out tossing a couple of tablespoons butter and tablespoon of garlic into a 12" fry pan. Set the heat to medium, and let the butter melt and the garlic saute until lightly brown or you throw in the sausage, whichever comes first.
While the butter and garlic are doing their thing, quarter the sausage lengthwise, then slice the quarters into 1/4" slices. (This is MUCH easier if, when you brought home the sausage, you put it in the freezer). Toss the diced sausage in with the garlic and butter, and continue to saute until cooked through.
Add three eggs (need not be whisked) to pan. Break the yolks, and stir in. Notch up the heat a little, and while you wait for the eggs to set up a little, cube up your cheese. Once the eggs are semi-firm and starting to have dry surfaces, toss in the cheese cubes, stirring vigorously. Continue to saute until eggs are dry and cheese has at least started to melt (I like the cheese to be sort of "semi-firm"). Serve to proposed victim.
Makes enough for one hearty breakfast. For additional victims, multiply by number of victims.
Mutant Molasses Cookies
The below are converted to Splenda for damage control - they aren't exactly carb-free, but they're less carb-intensive than the original model (to convert back, just substitute white sugar for Splenda). Warning: These are rather zesty.
MUTANT MOLASSES COOKIES
1 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. splenda
1/2 c. unsulfured molasses
2 eggs lightly beaten
4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/4 tsp. baking soda
4 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
3 tsp. ground cloves
3 tsp. ground cinnamon
Granulated sugar for coating cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and Splenda in large bowl. Beat in molasses and eggs until thoroughly combined. Set aside. In another bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until blended and smooth. With sugar coated hands, roll pieces of dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll the balls with additional sugar and place them about 2 1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 13 minutes. Cookies will flatten as they bake. Remove cookies from oven and immediately cool on wire racks.
Notes: 1) Splenda often requires a bit more liquid. Don’t be shy.
2) Towards the end, this is a very heavy dough. It can burn up smaller
KitchenAid mixers. Lesser mixers should be watched closely.
Makes about 40 cookies.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Mama's Don't Let Your Babies...
Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Drag Queens…
(With apologies to Willie Nelson)
Drag Queens aren’t easy to love and they’re harder to hold
and they’d rather give you a song, than diamonds or gold.
Gold lame’ dresses and well aged old show tunes,
each night begins a new day.
And if you don’t understand him and he don’t die young,
he’ll prolly just ride away.
Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Drag Queens
Don’t let them wear lipstick and put on corset’s
Doctors and lawyers are much better bets.
Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Drag Queens
They’ll never stay home and they’re always alone,
even with someone they love.
Drag Queens like smoky old dance clubs and well focused spotlights
Little warm kitties, cold snark, and twinks in the night
And them that don’t know him won’t like him
And them that do sometimes won’t know how to take him
He ain’t wrong he’s just different
but his pride won’t let him do things to make you think that he’s right.
Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Drag Queens
Don’t let them wear lipstick and put on corset’s
Doctors and lawyers are much better bets.
Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Drag Queens
They’ll never stay home and they’re always alone,
even with someone they love.
Canaries in coal mines and seven foot drag queens
They sing real purty, and warn us just right
Things that hit them, hit us a little bit later
Forewarned is forearmed, forearmed prepared
Thanks to the Drag Queens, daring a difference
They pushed at the boundaries, and fought the good fight.
Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Drag Queens
Don’t let them wear lipstick and put on corset’s
Doctors and lawyers are much better bets.
Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Drag Queens
They’ll never stay home and they’re always alone,
even with someone they love.
Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Drag Queens
Don’t let them wear lipstick and put on corset’s
Doctors and lawyers are much better bets.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Courage, the best prescription...
As Matt over at Better and Better points out, the best prophylactic for mass killers is the willingness to stand up and take responsibility, accepting that there may be some personal cost, that even the ultimate price may be paid, in the quest to protect others.
One example he offers (and more that I've added) that I want to help publicize as modern day heroes are Jacob Ryker, Louise Zoller, Jeanne Assam, Kris Key, James Middleton,Ken Bruce, Gary Seale, and others who have made the decision to go out raging against the night, if necessary, rather than cringing on their knees.
And then, most recently, James Pickett performing a public service.
Just perhaps we need to emphasize duty and honor more, and self-preservation at all costs a wee bit less in what, as a nation, we teach our children and ourselves.
One example he offers (and more that I've added) that I want to help publicize as modern day heroes are Jacob Ryker, Louise Zoller, Jeanne Assam, Kris Key, James Middleton,Ken Bruce, Gary Seale, and others who have made the decision to go out raging against the night, if necessary, rather than cringing on their knees.
And then, most recently, James Pickett performing a public service.
Just perhaps we need to emphasize duty and honor more, and self-preservation at all costs a wee bit less in what, as a nation, we teach our children and ourselves.
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