Lighters OK

The TSA announced today that lighters will once again be allowed on planes. You may remember my previous post concerning this topic. This change in policy may be the smartest decision TSA has ever made. They even cited cost concerns, apparently it costs them $4 million to dispose of these things.

For all of those that missed the link, this page is worth reading: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm

It seems the TSA is actually making fun of its own policy. Showing how many lighters confiscated per day in height compared to the Empire State building. Also saying "the United States became the only nation to ban lights as carry on baggage."

Bad Newz Kennels

Mike Vick's second favorite sport seems to have gotten him in a bit of trouble. We've seen a lot of cases of athletes acting badly. Obviously Vick (and his brother) has embraced the "Thug Culture" and has no place in professional football. I think the Falcons should cut him immediately and the Commish should suspend him.

What really irks me is that everyone goes on and on about Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds is not a thug like this. I'm happy that Barry is about to break the HR record, its nice to see things like that happen and in less than 10 years, A-Rod will probably break it again. The blame should go to the athletes who actually commit bad acts, like Vick.

Also, if you are going to choose a bloodsport, pick Cockfighting. We eat chickens anyway, so its not that big of a deal and nobody keeps them as companion pets.

VA Violates The Constitution Again

Less than a year after Virginia violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution by banning recognition of gay marriages, it has done so again, this time with traffic fines.

 

Virginia residents convicted of misdemeanor or felonies while driving (reckless, DUI, etc.) will now face "civil remidial" fines of $1,050.

 

Reckless driving in VA can be as simple as driving 80 MPH on any road, or going 20 MPH over the speed limit.  It can also include failure to signal and a bunch of other "minor" offenses.

 

Note that these fines will only apply to Virginia residents meaning that the thousands of Marylanders who work here would be treated as a different class in terms of fines. 

Bad Call

Today the Supreme Court ruled that it was OK for a school to suspend a student who held up a banner that said "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" while off school property.  They ruled that schools are allowed to regulate students speech concerning illegal drugs.

 

There are two things wrong with this:

1. The kid was just trying to proclaim free speech and this had nothing to do with drugs.

2. Saying that speaking freely about certain things is prohibited in certain contexts a is very, very bad precedent to set.  This ruling could mean that students could not talk about the pros and cons of medical marijuana in classes, something that should be debated.  It could also be expanded to include political speech.  Maybe next they will not allow students to talk about any current events at all.

3. The student was not on school property.  This fact is probably the worst part of it.  If a school says you can't say something within its classrooms, that's one thing.  Maybe its a private school, so private property, etc.  However, the school has no right to punish someone for saying anything while off of the property.

 

I'm sure the school would have responded similarly if it had been alcohol or tobacco related.  This incident is really not about drugs, but the Supreme Court thinks it is, so here's my 2 cents.  If all drugs are so bad and that one puff of a joint would kill someone, they wouldn't need to regulate speech.  The truth is, puffing on the joint is probably safer than puffing on a cigar. 

 

Lastly, if Jesus was alive today I'm almost certain that he would be hittin' that bong.

 

Ancient Car Security System

In yet another reason to drive a stick (on top of MPG, better control, better acceleration, less maintenance, cost, and fun), it seems that some car thieves have trouble stealing a car with a manual transmission.

 

Recently on FJcruiserforums.com, someone asked why the FJ is not available in California with a stick.  The best answer: "I'm sure this is because 90% of people who drive in California don't have testicles."

 

 

Tony Lives?

Update: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19236576/
Maybe he didn't live afterall. I think it was deliberately a vague ending, I can see the argument either way.

In a very brilliant season finale, not so many loose ends were tied up, but the star of the Sopranos and his family lived on. The 86th episode of the Sopranos was not the best episode of the series, but it was pretty good. I will miss Tony and his family, looking forward to new episodes. A great show has ended.

Monday Dover 400

I skipped work today to go to the "Autism Speaks 400 Presented by VISA", the 400 mile/lap June NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway.

Originally we were going to go on Sunday but tropical storm Barry was in the area. A quick check of the weather forecast made our decision for us. They postponed the race that afternoon. After vacillating on whether to go to the race or work on Monday (even if it meant going by myself to the race), the decision ended up not being very difficult. The day I let work get in the way of an event I've looked forward to for almost a year is not something that would fill me with pride or happiness.

I ended up finding someone to go to the race with, we left at 8am and got home about 12 hours, 250 miles, and 14 gallons later. Rain threatened the race, we were in a downpour on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

The picture you see here was taken shortly before the race began. Almost on cue, after the invocation/prayer, and the national anthem (there was no fly by), it was almost as if the hand of God parted the clouds, because sunshine spilled across the track as soon as the green flag waved. I must say, if God was to choose a sport to watch, it would probably be NASCAR ;-)

#12 (my personal favorite, Ryan Newman) made a strong run all day, never getting much lower than fourth and settling for a second place finish. Martin Truex, Jr. the savior of DEI, ended up winning his first race, by many, many car lengths. And this is saying a lot, because Newman was pretty far ahead in the second spot.

Kurt Busch also re-ignited his villain image by almost running over one of Tony Stewart's crew while crashing into Smoke on pit road to tell him off. He was not allowed to complete the race.

The sad news for the sport today is that Bill France Jr. the man who made NASCAR what it is today, has died. Had it not been for him there would definitely be less fans of the sport and I probably would never get to see it on TV.

Private Discrimination

eHarmony is being sued because it does not allow gay match making on its service. A user is suing, claming that this is against a California anti-discrimination law. These kinds of suits are not constitutionally valid and that's the way it should be. eHarmony and other dating services do not have to offer their services to anyone. The website was founded by an Evangelical Christian, and any users should be willing to play by his rules.

Nobody is forcing people to use eHarmony, it is a matter of choice. Anti-discrimination laws were made so people couldn't be denied basic services due to their race, creed, etc.

Nobody is being denied a dating service, this service just happens to appeal to certain users. There are plenty of gay matchmaking websites out there that don't do much to serve straight people.

Also, eHarmony seeks to differentiate itself by using a kind of dating algorithm developed by the founder (a doctor of some sort) that he says only applies to straight people. He says he simply does not understand the dynamics of same sex relationships.

The private sector should be free to discriminate, especially in areas like this where there is clear choice, such as personals in a newspaper, a gay website, or a gay bar.

Bullshit Lawsuits

A lawsuit has been filed against a bar, its manager, a tow truck company, a tow truck company driver, and the driver of a stalled car over the death of a St Louis Cardinals pitcher who was driving drunk, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt. I think that it is pretty clear where blame is due, on the pitcher. His family thinks otherwise. The restaurant should not have served him if he was drunk and the tow truck driver took too long to tow another car. Not to mention someone is getting sued because his car stalled!

Its these types of lawsuits that make everything from cars to healthcare so expensive. We need to reform our legal system. One easy step we could take is to pass a simple law: if you sue someone and lose, you must pay ALL of their legal costs.

Bush Defeats Democrats In 5 Months

A lame duck has just defeated the democrats.

Remember that war funding bill I recently posted about? It seems that the "tough democrats" who were elected "for change" back in November have officially been castrated. A new bill is being introduced that would not schedule a withdrawal timeline for the troops in Iraq.

So basically the democrats, who were elected to end the war, got into a fight with GWB and he most decidedly won.

Now, the democrats were in a tough position, they basically had two options:

1. Introduce this "compromise bill" which is basically the same type of bill that the republicans have been passing for years.
2. Keep passing a bill with a withdrawal timeline, Bush will keep vetoing them, the war will not get funded, and will end immediately.

They were very afraid of option 2, because if any troop died after that bill was passed, they would be blamed for it, even though with thousands already dead it would be a proverbial drop in the bucket.

Lastly: support Ron Paul, http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Falwell

Jerry Falwell is dead. I don't have much to say about him, except that he took a noble political movement, championed by liberty minded individuals from Ron Paul to Pat Buchanan to even Ronald Regan and perverted it into a religious movement, something that has no place in government.

Ron Paul Quote

"If we ignore (blowback), we ignore that at our own risks. If we think we can do what we want around the world and not incite hatred then we have a problem. They don't come here to attack us because we are rich and free, they come to attack us because we are over there."

Ron Paul Is Right

Giuliani, potentially the worst republican nominee for president in a generation is all smiles now because Ron Paul told the truth and Giuliani was able to perpetuate the ultimate lie.

Paul said: "Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years."

This is the truth. The United States has made many enemies the world over for getting our nose in other people's business. We screwed around in Afghanistan and gave Osama training, weapons, and money to fight the Soviets. We get involved in the Middle East conflict, when we should just let Israel and the rest of the area duke it out instead of jumping in the middle of it with no coherent strategy except for standing behind Israel like Hillary stands behind Bill.

These things all contributed to our being a target 6 years ago and more so now.

Giuliani and his ilk (along with most of the democrats too) would have you believe that we were attacked "because they are jealous of our freedom." Or they will say "they hate our freedom." New Zealand, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, and many other countries are also free. Are they the targets of terrorist attacks? No. Because they have the policy to not get involved in the Middle East.

Paul is right, but the Republicans have all but austracized him for these comments. It is too bad that the American people are stupid enough to believe the greatest lie of all, that we were attacked for our freedom when we were attacked for our policies.

I am glad that The Nation has pointed out that Ron Paul's assessment is coming straight from the 9/11 Commission's report. As he said, he's the only one who bothered to read the report.

In case you want to support this great man: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

US Consitution Article II

Article II of the US Constitution establishes the Executive Branch, the President of the United States of America. In our balance of power, the President is the most powerful single person in the United States. He (no woman has been elected president) is able to appoint officials and veto or approve laws.

Section 1 Clauses 1 & 2: "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector."

The first two clauses establish the President and Vice President and the term of four years. They also create the Electors, the Electoral College. There has been a movement in recent years to make the popular vote decide on who is the president. This would be quite an abboration of our great nation. Currently, each state is guaranteed at least 3 electors, but under a popular vote system, a state such as Wyoming would have the equivalent of fewer than that. Since the State's give the power to the federal government this would create a tyrany of the federal government.

Clause 3 has been made obsolete by an Amendment.

Clause 4 and 5: "The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States."

Congress is able to regulate the day of voting. Only natural born citizens can be President. There has been talk of changing this to include people such as Arnold Schwarzenegger who have been citizens for over 20 years. The argument against this is that these people will still have more allegiance to their home country than a first generation individual would.

Clause 6 has been made obsolete by an Amendment.

Clauses 7 & 8: "The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
The president will be paid for his service which will not vary during his term. Clause 8 establishes the oath of office, to which most presidents have added "so help me god" to the end (hopefully this ending will itself end soon...).

Section 2, Clause 1: "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."
The president is the commander of all armed forces within the nation, but only when called into service, such as through a declaration of war.

Clause 2: "He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."
The President has the power to make treaties with 2/3 of the senate concurring. He can also nominate various public officials (the most important being the Supreme Court) if a majority of the Senate approves.

Clause 3: "The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session."
The President can fill offices without the Senate's approval if done when they are on break. This is called a "recess appointment" and the official will only be in that position temporarily. John Bolton was nominated as Ambassador to the united nations this way.

Section 3: "He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States."
This section requires that the President give a "state of the union" (now a speech filled with ceremony and pomp) to the Congress. He may also bring both houses together to speak with them and most importantly "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" which establishes the "executive orders" in which the President can direct the interpretation of the laws.

Section 4: "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Does lying about a blowjob count as "treason, bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" ?

You be the judge.

Bush's Vetoes

It looks like GWB is going to veto another Iraq spending bill. The first he vetoed actually set a timeline for withdraw. The new bill would with hold funding until after progress is checked during the summer. These two bills are pretty big, as the democrats have been real pussies on this issue for a while. Most of them voted for "the war". That term is awful. This is not a true war its an unconstitutional operation. The only way the United States can go "to war" is for the Congress to vote to declare war, not hand the Executive Branch a carte blanche to do whatever they want. Those of you who read my blog will remember that in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 that "Congress shall have the power... to declare war." Only Congress.

The only candidate with the balls to say he was wrong is John Edwards. Hillary Clinton blames Bush, saying she was misled. Do your fucking home work before you vote to give the president a war!

Here's what I think should happen: if this bill gets vetoed, don't pass another. Cut off all money from the war, the troops, everything. The quickest way to end a government project is to cut funding. People may die on the way out but a lot more are going to die if we don't do something.