Many pundits talk about Democrats taking advantage of the "Black Vote". The implication is that since blacks vote for Democrats on the order of 95% or more, Dems never really have to give them any concessions. They just keep stringing them along with empty promises.

Today, I was reminded that Republicans do just about the same thing to Libertarians. To wit, John Hawkins:

Oh and don't even talk to me about the Libertarians -- it's easy to talk about cutting the budget down to size when you're out of power, aren't going to be in power, and don't ever have to answer to the voters.

Well, if spend-thrift Republicans are turning their back on their own conservative base, how can we Libertarians expect any loyalty? Truth be told, we can't. I will say that I do participate in primary elections, so at least have some say about who is coming up for election on the Republican ticket.

For the major elections, when 2004 rolls around, Bush will not be my only choice. In 2000, I noticed more than half a dozen different names on the ballot. This time around there could be even more. Hell, I've always got the write-in space. I know what some of you are probably thinking, "Go ahead. Throw your vote away." Well, why shouldn't I? The Republicans are acting like they don't need it.

Thanks. I'm truly flattered.

(Permalink woes? Third item entitled: "J'accuse libertarians")

You can only imagine how frustrated I have become, with the attitude of businesses today. Some retailers, namely Best Buy have such an inflexible policy toward their customers, I am astonished that they can make any money, long term. My sister and I had a horrible Best Buy experience a few years ago. She took the brunt of their abuse, and hasn't shopped there since. I was a bit more forgiving, and gave them a second chance. Now they have blown that.

My experience started out with my receiving a gift from my mom. She laid out over $100 and purchased the Godfather trilogy for me for my birthday. Last night, I opened it for the first time. I peeled off the cellophane, and opened up the first disk to pop into the DVD player. Right away, I noticed deep scratches in the disc, and thought to myself that it probably wouldn't make it through the movie. I was right. About an hour into the movie, it started skipping, and the audio was jumping around. After about two minutes, it only got worse, and then shut off completely. I removed the DVD from the player, and tried to return it to Best Buy today.

Typically, with product defects, you expect them to just give you an exchange, and ship the old one back to the manufacturer. Nope. I get the full Monty. "Do you have a receipt?" he asks me. I don't and inform him of this. He asks, "Can you get one?" Now, you would think that if had the receipt, or could have gotten one, I would have brought it with me. I told him I couldn't get one, and that it was a gift. He tells me that there is nothing they can do without a receipt.

I ask to speak to the manager, and Lila Sharp comes over. She is the operations manager. She told me the exact same story that her clerk did. "Our policy is 14 days, and we need a receipt." I told her that I didn't open the movie until I wanted to watch it, which was last night. I still had the cellophane wrapper and everything. She informed me that store policy is that she cannot exchange it.

Then, she insulted my intelligence by telling me it was because of copyright law. Lila implied that if they didn't ask for a receipt, people could exchange pirated movies as defective. I think she figured I was part of some underworld crime syndicate, that counterfeits box sets to the Godfather. Apparently, we manufacture not just the disks, but the custom cardboard cases, and cellophane too. Apparently I even went so far as to stick the adhesive promo label on the cellophane, just to fool wayward Best Buy clerks into exchanging it for the real mccoy.

I said "Copyright law? You're telling me you cannot take this back because of copyright law?!" She saw that I wasn't buying that reasoning, so she fabricated another. She told me that I could have had the DVD for six months, and that the damage could be from "wear and tear". I guess there are people out there that watch the Godfather over and over again until the disk wears out. Although they cannot keep track of the receipt, they somehow amazingly manage to keep the cellophane wrapper looking like it came off the box just yesterday.

Lila did give me their 888-BestBuy telephone number, and the hidden option #4, where people can register a complaint. I called and spoke to Kara, who reiterated what the manager had told me, save the "copyright law" excuse. I had thought the incident with my sister was an isolated one, and local to that store only. Today I find out that Best Buy's perceived zero-tolerance policy is that people are presumed to be criminals until they show proof of purchase.

I will give Best Buy one consolation. I do have a bad habit of not opening my DVDs until I watch them. Then again, I think a lot of people are that way. In hindsight, I should probably open all my Best Buy purchases at the checkout counter, lest my miniscule window of return opportunity pass by before I leave the store. I can tell you one thing, as long as I'm stuck with this $100 set of cheap coasters, I won't be going back in there.

Editor's note: In case any Best Buy lawyer stooges are reading this, and don't understand what libel is, every statement I have made is a verifiable fact.

Where have I seen this before?

Oh yeah, right here.

Talk about filling a niche market. CBS is bringing back Big Brother next week for yet a fourth season. In case you cannot remember, Big Brother is the show that traps a group of strangers in a house and videotapes the three months of monotony that ensues. It is also the show that destroyed Julie Chen's credibility and career.

CBS used to offer Big Brother feeds for free on the internet, but started charging $25 for the privilege last year. From what I hear, they actually raked in a lot of dough. Don't worry too much if you don't have the cash, because CBS will be airing the series three times a week starting July 8th.

Personally, I don't think Big Brother will be a smash hit this year, but it should be profitable. These shows are notoriously low rent, and are sure to raise more money than summer reruns would. Still, I could do without it.

Here are some other shows (past and present) that I could do without:

M*A*S*H - Watchable, and sometimes laughable, but Mike Ferrell and Alan Alda just make me SO MAD. It didn't help that the show killed off most of the major players, and ran 4 times longer than the actual Korean War. Watch the movie instead.
thirtysomething - You just know that anything with that red-haired doofus is going to suck.
90210MelrosePlace - Weren't these the same damn show?
Fame - AHHH! The show has been off for 15 years, and I still cannot get that song out of my head. What's worse is that they are bringing it back to torture another generation!
Cop Rock - Do I really need to give a reason? I wasn't going to include this show because it had such a short run, however, I wanted to remind everyone of it's suckage lest we repeat history. (like we're doing with Fame)
One Day at a Time - One word: Bonnie Franklin.
Saturday Night Live - Had this show run 1975 to 1984 it wouldn't have made my list. After Eddie Murphy left, it was all down hill.
Donahue - Phil Donahue doesn't suck as much for his politics as he does for ushering in a non-stop phase of day-time talk show mania. During the 80s and 90s, talk shows were so plentiful that sets actually came pre-fabricated and stocked with mindless audiences just waiting for the applause light to turn on. All you had to do was "insert host here" and start the cameras.
Whose line is it anyway - It should have been called, how to fuck up a perfectly good Brit-com. I'm amazed that ABC could sink such a lovable British show, especially considering it featured many of the same players. That must have been the 'Disney' ingredient.
CSI: Anything - Lets rip off a hideous show, Law and Order, and combine it with another hideous show, Vega$, and see what happens.
Dateline NBC - Lets show how easily GMC pickups explode in a normal car accident when explosives just happen to be strapped to the gas tank.
Dragnet - This was actually a watchable show, up until the "Blueboy" episode.
JAG - HAHAHAHA!!

I'm sure I've forgotten several. I tried to touch on network shows only. Otherwise I'd have to list Jackass, and just about every show on MTV.

Four. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Last week, the Million Mom March had a shindig on the front steps of West Palm Beach City Hall to commemorate national ASK Day, a day designed to remind parents to ask whether guns are in the houses where their children play.

Four people came.

In other news: Appeals court affirms dismissal of state's lawsuit against gun makers
In case you missed it: DC, where firearms are banned, is murder capital of the U.S.

Are federal agents doing their best to preempt another terror attack? Some people think they are. A bunch of Muslims were rounded up here in Northern Virginia, and indicted for being part of a "Virginia Jihad Network". The Washington Post reports that the 11 men have been charged with conspiring to violate the Neutrality Act; that is, they are accused of preparing to attack foreign nations with which the U.S. is at peace. Namely, they were said to be training to drive India from the Kashmir pass.

The problem I have with the indictment, is that the evidence seems rather weak.

Specifically, the men are accused of practicing small-unit military tactics on private property in Spotsylvania County and using paintball games, weapons and equipment to simulate actual combat "in preparation for violent jihad," the indictment says.

That's right. They were playing paint ball. The federal government also seized firearms from various homes, including one that, according to a local radio report, contained 400 rounds of ammunition. [rolling my eyes and whistling]

Four hundred rounds, and the media goes beserk. Is that all it will take to launch a war against India, a nation with nucular capability?

I appreciate the efforts of our men and women in law enforcement, and I know how difficult it is to take preemptive action. However, I really hope that they have more evidence than this article suggests.

Dimwitted criminals are nothing new. But attempting to rob a pharmacy with only your finger is a new one on my list. ABC News reports on the masked bandit:

A masked man tried to rob a pharmacy armed only with his fingers. Police say the man formed his gloved hand into the shape of a gun during the alleged stickup.

A witness says the suspect didn't bother to hide his pointed finger under a jacket or anything.

That's right. Our moronic protagonist didn't even bother to hide the fact that he wasn't armed. He simply waved his finger around like a gun, and expected people to hand over their dough. After being tackled and unmasked by the owner of the Neillsville, Wisconsin pharmacy, the suspect fled. He was later apprehended.

Although I'm not sure if there is a direct connection, I will note that actor John Ritter used a similar ploy to some success, in the comedy Real Men.

The UK Telegraph reports that the European Commission is drafting some new laws that are rife with feminazism. This shouldn't be surprising, considering these are the same people that closed down children's playground swings. Given that the feminazi rules threaten to spread widespread government censorship, I'm guessing their new constitution won't have a free speech protection. The Telegraph notes:

Advertisements that affront "human dignity" by demeaning women would be prohibited under proposals being drafted by the European Commission.

Television programmes would also be censored to ensure there was no promotion of gender stereotypes... Tabloid newspaper "Page Three" pictures would also be threatened.

So the feminazis are out to stamp out "gender stereotypes", ban sexy ads, ban sexy photos, and censor anything else that they think "demeans" women. I don't know about Europe's TV and print ads, but here in the States, just as many of those ads are geared toward women as they are men. If you don't believe me, take a peek at a Glamour magazine sometime. Some of that stuff could be classified as soft porn.

Notably, advertising wouldn't be the only creative outlet that was subject to censorship. I can't wait until they sit down and start watching Brit-coms to filter out the parts that are an affront to "human dignity." Hell, what is comedy if it isn't an affront to someone's dignity? You can bet that a show like The Sopranos would be banned. While they say that banning London's "gentlemen's clubs" would be going to far, you can bet that it is on the radar.

The feminist movement is nothing new, but in Europe it actually stands a decent chance at becoming law. After all, look at what else they've passed.

Mrs Diamantopoulou [the queen feminist] has so far succeeded in pushing through legislation such as a "Vibrations Directive" limiting the time farmers can spend on tractors and a "Noise Directive" restricting decibel levels in the workplace.

I wonder what else that "Vibrations Directive" covers? No, I won't go there. It's too easy.

Europe is turning into a wonderful socialist experiment, isn't it? I can hardly wait to see what their hashed out constitution looks like. For their sake, I hope that some of those countries, England especially, have the authority sovereignty and the fortitude to walk away from it.

(link via Dizzy Girl)

UPDATE: Sky News notes that tabloid nudity seems to have escaped EU censorship. (This time) My guess is they figured out they were making their power grab too soon.

I want to reiterate my policies. If you like an image you see here, and want to use it someplace else, you MUST download it and upload it on your own server. Unless you have explicit permission from me, or are using the link button, you MAY NOT hotlink my images. I pay monthly hosting fees, and bandwidth is quite expensive. Hotlinking images only makes it more expensive for me to run this site.

Right now there are two message forums that are hotlinking my images. This is one (not safe for work anymore). This is the other one (member only). I would ask that the administrators of those forums, or the users that hotlinked to my images, PLEASE remove the hotlink.

I understand that sometimes you find a cool image, and want to use it. But you need to understand, that from my point of view, you are costing me more money. Next time try providing a hyperlink to this site, instead of hotlinking my images directly.

UPDATE: The first link has removed the hotlinks to my images. Not sure about the second one. Again, I don't mind people downloading images and hosting them on their own, but please don't expect me to pay for it for you.

Yikes! I've been linked by The Twins. Now I kinda feel guilty about my Pulp Jedi post.

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not the only one posting on my site any more. I have to take a few weeks off after the Independence Day holiday, because I've got some book learnin' to do for work. I asked my friend Lope to fill in for me while I'm away. Since he's never blogged before, he's been posting here and there to try to get the feel of things. If everything works out ok, and he survives the blogger hazing probationary period, I may even ask him to stay on here permanently.

His politics tend to contrast with mine, but we've learned to live with our differences. It helps that we can embrace our common interests in guns. When that doesn't work, we resort to armageddon style standoffs of mutually assured destruction.

When it comes to this web site, I expect that you will all show him the same respect that you show me. Actually, I shouldn't wish that on anyone, so I want you all to actually be nice to him instead.

UPDATE: I should add that Lope is short for Interloper. In this case, it seems rather fitting. (grin)

If you like politics like I like politics, then you love the idea of General Wesley Clark getting into the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination, whether you are to the left of Pat Leahy, the right of Rick Santorum or somewhere in the middle. In order to be elected President, a nominee has to run against type. This means a Republican has to appear to be compassionate and inclusive (sound familiar?) and a Democrat has to appear to be militarily and fiscally sensible.

General Wesley Clark doesn't have to answer charges of being "weak on the military" and his stay at Oxford studying economics and then later serving as a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Ford administration should serve him well in establishing "fiscal credibility".

As to charges he has waited too long to enter the race for the Democratic nomination, Clinton didn't run the first time until October. General Wesley Clark has plenty of time and he has said he is considering seriously a movement to draft him.

I predict General Wesley Clark will enter the race and win both the nomination and the Presidential race. I could be wrong but I've been right every Presidential Election since 1984 (despite my best efforts to help defeat Bush II.) It will be a tough bitter battle for the Democratic nomination but is doable with his friend Bill Clinton maneuvering behind the scenes. It will be a tougher battle for President against a man who has already been successful in defeating two candidates with better military records and a better grasp of economics (McCain and Gore).

Some folks are already worried about General Clark's political ambitions and are attempting to smear him in a similar manner to McCain four years ago. I'm still pissed about Bush's Evangelical Right Stooges savaging of McCain and it will be a long time before I worship THEIR Jesus, as a result. Jesus can't be too happy that they are more interested in making Political Enemies than carrying out The Great Commission but that's between he and them. I digress.

Republicans will make much of Clark's association with Bill Clinton but this will only serve to remind moderates of better economic times and the Clinton-hating Republicans won't vote for any Democrat anyway. Expect to see scurrilous attacks on Clark's military record from the Chicken Hawk Right from which Bush will cleverly distance himself, while enjoying the bounce he gets from it.

Also expect to see some Fundementalist types (rural and South) make much of his being born a Jew, raised a Baptist and now a Catholic convert. In the churches I grew up in, he'll be a shoo-in for Revelations' AntiChrist Role and hell awaits the Good Fundemental Christian that votes for the AntiChrist (although, if they believe the AntiChrist is in God's Plan for the world, shouldn't they get behind this Prince of Darkness?) The "First-A-Jew-Now-A-Catholic" thing may also cost him a few votes with the bigots of America. They are still out there, marching in the woods and stockpiling weapons (Hey Rich!).

Ultimately and despite conservative's lock on cable and radio, more Americans identify with Democrats than Republicans. Republicans (and Republiterians) have spent over 20 years trying to make "Democrat" and "Liberal" synoyms, which makes the numbers favor them because more Americans identify as conservative than liberal. Solid moderate candidates like Bill Clinton and General Wesley Clark are difficult for Republicans to "smear" as liberal and they reach across a broader spectrum of political thought.

Of course, the wildcard in all this is the effect the Green Party will have on the process. I will write on this more in the future as I address Alternative Voting Procedures.

It's hard to believe this guy is the same guy that tried to overnourish the puking tree in my front yard. I don't always agree (cough - okay, I never agree) with his Republiterian Principles but his consistent day-in day-out labor in updating the site has reaped rewards in both community and contacts. Equally important, the evolution of his views has helped shape my own views. (For instance, we both own a boatload of guns but have very different ideas about gun violence and gun laws.)

Keep up the hard work Steve and I'll be able to say "I knew him when.." Actually I'm already saying that but for different reasons. [grin].

For your weekend enjoyment, I dredged up an oldie but goodie: The Top 10 Things We Want To Hear Samuel L. Jackson, "Jedi Master, Mace Windu," say in the Star Wars Prequels.

10. You don't need to see my goddamn identification, 'cause these ain't the motherfuckin' droids you're looking for.
9. Womp rat may taste like pumpkin pie, but I'll never know, 'cause even if it did, I wouldn't eat the filthy motherfucker.
8. This is your father's lightsaber. When you absolutely, positively, have to kill every motherfuckin' stormtrooper in the room...accept no substitutes.
7. If Obi-wan ain't home then I don't know what the fuck we're gonna do. I ain't got no other connections on Tattooine.
6. Feel the Force, motherfucker.
5. Now don't be all down on the DARK side of the force, you know what I'm sayin?
4. You sendin' the Fett? Shit, Hutt, that's all you had to say!
3. Yeah, Chewie's got a hair problem. What the brother gonna do? He's a wookie.
2. Does Jabba the Hutt look like a bitch?
1. Hand me my lightsaber... it's the one that says, "Bad Mother Fucker."

Virginia Tech has formally been invited to join the ACC, and the University President has announced that he will accept. ESPN reports that VT will not wait until Miami makes their decision on Monday, and will go ahead and accept the offer.

Indeed, I received a lengthy email (sent to all registered alumni) from University President Steger. In the email, he intimated that he must act in the best interests of the University and the State. Virginia Tech is one of only about 40 schools in the nation that has a profitable football program, and he intends to keep it that way.

Virginia Tech is now headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference, an organization of some of the nationšs most prestigious universities. Today we have received the formal offer of membership, which we will accept. We know that this affiliation will be good for our students, athletes, fans, and communities for many years to come.

After launching "safe injection sites", where intravenous drug users will be able to shoot up in safety, Canada has announced that they will also offer "safe prostitution zones" where hookers can safely practice their craft. Since prostitution money is typically used to purchase drugs, it only makes sense to locate the zones very close to each other.

The government will provide free condoms and the back seat of a '77 Camaro where hookers will be able to freely conduct "business". They will be immune from prosecution, as long as they stay in the car. Canadian officials claim that the program will cut down on sexually transmitted diseases, as well as drum up demand for their new "safe injection sites".

White House drug czar John Walters offered up heavy criticism of Canada's plan, and claimed that "drug abuse is a deadly disease."

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien quipped, "I don't know what he's so upset about, eh. One of my staffers came up with the idea while he was at a rock concert down in Detroit."

Sage One, who recently relocated from blog-city to his own domain, has undertaken the task of interviewing fellow bloggers. In a segment he calls "Share Your Wisdom", he probes the minds of webloggers with 10 seemingly inane, but very interesting (to say the least) questions.

First he interviewed Hectorvex, and then Venomous Kate. Today he offers up this particular interview of someone he says has a "unique sense of humor". If you like to read this site, you may want to take a look at this interview. Remember, the third time is always a charm.

Fox News notes that with all the big name book sellers out there, Americans might actually start reading again. I must admit, that I certainly don't get to read as much as I like.

Hillary Clinton's ghost written book is ranked at Number 7 on Amazon's best seller list. Naturally, it has slipped a bit now that it has been out a while. What I find humorous is the "Customer's Advice". (emphasis added)

- 12 people recommended The Clinton Wars in addition to Living History

- 24 people recommended Hillary's Scheme: Inside the Next Clinton's Ruthless Agenda to Take the White House instead of Living History

I must confess that I haven't read any of those books. However, despite Hillary's best efforts to keep it from being published, I did read the late Barbara Olsen's The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House. I thought it was an excellent book. (If only Mrs. Olsen was around to see it published.)

Another oldie but goodie politi-book is Neal Boortz' The Terrible Truth about Liberals.

Here is today's Friday Five.

1. How are you planning to spend the summer?
- Working, unfortunately.

2. What was your first summer job?
- Scooping ice cream at High's. I was 14.

3. If you could go anywhere this summer, where would you go?
- You mean besides volunteering to be a councilor at that nude teenage summer camp? I'd probably go to Europe. I want to see it one last time before they ruin it.

4. What was your worst vacation ever?
- Well, there was that time my parents tried to leave me at the rest stop. It didn't ruin the vacation, but it almost ruined my day.

5. What was your best vacation ever?
- It's hard to say. Between Mardi Gras, Oktoberfest, my various travel destinations, and the numerous Buffett concerts, who can pick just one. Overall, I'd say Oktoberfest was a good time.

It looks like many of those skulls full of mush that lined up in droves to see Disney's Finding Nemo have started flushing their fish down the toilet. While they are hoping to share with their pets the playful "Nemo" experience, they are actually sending them to watery graves. The LA Times notes:

Margie Valadez, a dispatcher for RotoRooter, is used to calls from upset customers whose watches, rings or even cell phones were accidentally flushed down the toilet. Lately, though, she's been taking calls from hysterical parents asking if plumbers can rescue fish.

"I hear kids crying in the background," she said. "But there's nothing we can do. They're gone."

Salt water fish are killed pretty quickly by the fresh water. (Even quicker if they have those blue tablets in there) Fresh water fish, may survive long enough to reach the grinder (last item).

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the Jordan school board is going to allow employees with concealed carry permits to carry firearms in schools. I'm a bit surprised that the gun grabbers haven't hit the national media with this one.

Personally, I think it is a great idea. The natural reaction for most people is: "Have our schools gotten so bad that teachers and administrators need to carry guns?" My question is, why did teachers ever stop carrying guns? I would imagine that there was a point in time when most teachers had a rifle at hand, especially in the frontier west. I'm no scholar, but I presume that it was probably urbanization (and sub-urbanization) that killed the practice.

We can only imagine how many lives would have been saved at Columbine, had a teacher or principal had a gun handy.

(link via Kate)

Taranto misses the beat on today's Best of the Web.

Remember those two trailers found in Iraq that U.S. officials thought were used to make biological weapons? The State Department's intelligence division disagrees, the New York Times reports: "Among the alternative purposes for the trailers that the State Department report described as plausible were that they had been intended for the refueling of Iraqi missiles, one administration official said."

The Iraqis use trailers to refuel missiles? And we suppose they use the missiles to deliver fertilizer to farmers' fields.

Refueling the missiles? Is that like re-striking a match? Perhaps I missed the part when Israel sent those SCUD missiles back to Saddam for refueling. Don't forget to put another warhead on there too, guys.

I would like to clear up my position on the whole gay sex, Supreme Court decision. Basically, I believe that both sides are in the wrong. On the one hand, you have an archaic Texas law that tries to legislate people's private behavior, and morality. On the other hand, you have a judicial body of nine un-elected people that are trying to legislate morality for everyone.

Rick Santorum, was absolutely correct that this Supreme Court decision, prohibiting morality laws, effectively strikes down all such laws. From a logical standpoint, if states are prohibited from banning sodomy, they should also be prohibited from banning incest, polygamy, prostitution, smoking, drinking, drug use, gambling, and any other sins that do not deprive someone of life, liberty, or property. Acts like driving under the influence, or married men violating their marriage contract, do have an inherent victim, and are not affected.

Just because I am a libertarian, and hold the beliefs that government should not be so intrusive as to regulate every facet of society, including morality and victimless "sins", doesn't mean that I support the Supreme Court delving into local politics. I will reiterate the position I took back in April:

...if you hold the position that our moral views have changed, then it needs to be settled at the ballot box, and not in the courts, because courts cannot dictate morality.

Of course, that is exactly what they've done today.

I think Scrappleface offers the best analogy. Taranto also sums it up well when he says, "By short-circuiting the political process... the Supreme Court took away a little bit of Americans' democratic freedom."

By a vote of 6-3, the SCOTUS struck down Texas' ban on gay sex. FOX News reports that Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, "The state cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime." They also note:

Of the 13 states with sodomy laws, four -- Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri -- prohibit oral and anal sex between same-sex couples. The other nine ban consensual sodomy for everyone: Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia.

Thursday's ruling apparently invalidates those laws as well.

Of course, now that sodomy is legal, it'll be like Dodge City San Francisco. They'll be sodomizing people in the streets. This sets the issue of gay control back 150 years.

USA Today notes that if VT and Miami defect to the ACC, they would arguably go from being the worst major conference in football to being the best.

Six of the league's 11 eventual teams likely will be ranked in preseason Top 25 polls this August - more than any other conference.

In the five years of the Bowl Championship Series, six of the 10 teams that played in the national championship game would now represent the new ACC. The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference - widely considered the two strongest football conferences in the country - have combined for three teams in the five BCS title games.

That may be true, but by lumping all those teams into one conference, don't you create a scenario where other conferences are more likely to go to the big show? For instance, the FSU-VT matchup would never have happened if they were in the same conference.

So what does all this mean for "the preciousss" BCS? Well, Lee Corso seems to think that it strengthens their hold on NCAA football. With the "major six" being reduced to a "major five", and with stronger conferences at that, Corso contends, "They got no chance, zippo, nada of messing this thing up now. They got what they wanted. They deleted one part of the pie. They all got stronger and eliminated one group."

USA Today isn't so convinced. They note that the voice of BCS opposition may grow louder.

If the Big East loses its BCS bid as expected after the current contract expires in 2005, for the first time schools without automatic access to the BCS (60) will outnumber the schools affiliated with the BCS (57).

So, perhaps the ACC is destroying both the Big East AND the BCS.

(link via Ravenwood's Universe staff writer, Marnette)

Staff writer, Marnette pointed me to a Washington Post article, where UNC faculty council executive committee chair Sue Estroff had this to say about Virginia Tech.

"Our faculty are very concerned about the reputation of Virginia Tech's players and Virginia Tech's team," said Estroff, referring to past off-the-field problems for Virginia Tech's football team, which in 1995 and 1996 included 18 players arrested on charges ranging from rape and involuntary manslaughter to drunken driving. "We are not accustomed to that kind of behavior. You have to remember, [North Carolina Chancellor James] Moeser tried to hire their coach and one of the arguments against him was the record of his players. . . .

"Part of our concern all along has been the way that sports and athletes fit into the university. There is very little tolerance on our campus for misdeeds and misbehavior by athletes. I'm not saying we're any better, but I do know what happens around here when somebody gets into trouble."

Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver responded to Estroff's statements.

"We hold the same values that North Carolina does," Weaver said. "There was an incident or two approximately eight years ago, but that's long been history and our people have performed very well both in the community and in the classroom."

I must admit that Weaver was a lot more cordial that most. Here is what he should have said: "Are you out of your fucking mind? You are worried about players that attended the school EIGHT YEARS AGO. Most of whom were either found not guilty or had charges dropped. But you have absolutely NO PROBLEM with the thugs at MIAMI, or FLORIDA STATE, who is already from your own conference. Rumor has it, Bobby Bowden sends uniforms down to the jail house so that his players can get ready while they are waiting for their bail papers to be processed.

And it was Frank Beamer that turned down UNC. You were falling all over yourselves to get Beamer, so don't give me this high school 'I dumped you first' bull shit. Beamer knew that football would always take a back seat to basketball at UNC. Why go into a program that's always going to be second fiddle? You're just upset that with Miami and Virginia Tech being added, you are bumped down to an at best, fifth place finish in your football conference."

Buried in someone's back yard in 1991?? Wasn't that around the time of the first Gulf War?

If this will be the evidence that supports Bush's claim the Iraqis had a Nuclear Program that posed an imminent threat to us, why not just point back to the Nuclear Reactor that Israel blew up in 1981? What's 10 more years on top of these 12?

And what's 22 years to a Giant Tortoise? Imminent, that's what!

I think the Bush administration was smarter to claim the Iraqi's smuggled the bad stuff to Syria. It fulfilled three key objectives:

1) We didn't have to find evidence.
2) We could freely make war on Syria to free their oppressed peoples.
3) The Bush administration would appear to be resourceful rather than deceitful.

I said back when we took down Saddam Hussein that if Bush would invade and free one more country - any country - I'd vote for him in 2004. The violent liberal in me wants to try Democracy at Gunpoint (DAG). It could work. America is at a time and place in History where we can spread Democracy (or else!) and free the people of the world from Dictators and Repression. I'm not certain however that the President is committed to this vision he himself espoused in an effort to garner support for invading Iraq shortly before doing so.

Stewart Mandel makes a pretty good case for Virginia Tech and Miami telling the ACC to stick it where the sun don't shine.

Ordinarily, I'm inclined to agree. However, if anyone leaves, I want VT to be with them.

Eat your heart out Hans Blix

Mahdi Obeidi told U.S. agents in Iraq he was ordered in 1991 to hide documents and parts for a centrifuge to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

"A box of parts and a bunch of documents were buried under the rose bushes in his backyard," one U.S. official told Fox News.

Obeidi also said he was told the materials should remain buried in the backyard of his Baghdad home until sanctions against Iraq ended, when they would be dug up and used to reconstitute a program to enrich uranium to make a nuclear weapon.

Lemme guess, the CIA must have planted that evidence there. Or better yet, just outright denial. Democrat Underground just started a thread to debate the WMD findings. The thread is short, but has this gem: "What's to debate? Uh, we have here some round metal things that might have been used to make something sometime..."

And this one: "They look suspiciously like car parts to me... I'm sure you could dig around in my garage and find parts real similar to those [nuke parts] camophaged [sic] as a washing machine...."

The best part is that they are glued to the Fox News Channel, and are hating every minute of it. It must be the Notre Dame Syndrome*.

* The theory that ND football ratings are so high because half the people tune in just to root for them to lose.

The AP is reporting that Ohio Concealed Carry may be dead. House and Senate lawmakers have until the summer break which starts Thursday to reconcile HB12. However, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft is bowing to law enforcement unions, and holding firm that he will not sign a bill that allows people to carry concealed in their vehicle, or use concealed carry to protect their children.

House Bill 12 passed by a veto proof majority, but the Senate seems inept in signing a draft of the bill that would do the same. Unless they come up with something by tomorrow, concealed carry may be a dead issue.

House CCW Supporters
(click to enlarge)

(Photo via OFCC)

Things like this worry me. When I read about them, I think about getting out of the weblog business altogether. It's distasteful. It's petty. It's completely unnecessary. Leave it to a petty cat fight to ruin things.

Basically, it drums up some questions. I mean, what if someone sets their sites on me, and sends an anonymous email or fax to my boss to get me fired? Who knows, perhaps that is how I lost my last job.

Bogie provides an update on the Vast Libertarian Conspiracy, and reminds me that I reported about it back in April. Libertarians are planning to secretly take over an entire state, like New Hampshire. Granted it'll be a small state, but the game plan is the same one the liberals used to conquer California and most of the west coast.

I'm sure we'll have the usual redistricting battles to fight, because they'll want to lump us all into a single congressional district. That is why I proposed living in mobile homes, so that we can keep on the move. So far, that idea has gone over like a lead zeppelin.

UPDATE: On a side note, Elizabeth McKinstry, vice president of the Free State Project says, "Everyone thinks of Libertarians as the angry white male, obsessed with taxes, taxes, taxes, guns, guns, guns."

I wonder how people get that idea? [whistling]

"Throughout my public service career, I have been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the rights that it grants." -- Ohio Republican (RINO) Gov. Bob Taft, expressing his "strong" support for the Second Amendment, in a letter to the editor of the Toledo Blade.

A few paragraphs later, Taft claimed that Ohio's conceal carry House Bill 12 (which passed the house by a veto-proof majority) is "unacceptable". He thinks that people traveling with children should not be able to safeguard them with a firearm. He also thinks that any concealed carry bill should not be in effect once you get into your car.

The trouble with Taft, and other politicians goes beyond the scope of guns and the Second Amendment. The notion that the inalienable rights protected by the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution are somehow "granted" by the government, is exactly what is wrong with today's politicians and judges. This is exactly the type of attitude that caused Supreme Court Justice O'Conner to say that the University of Michigan has a "compelling interest" to violate the 14th Amendment.

Even though the First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law...", a federal judge somehow held that the campaign finance reform provision that makes it illegal to criticize a politician 60 days before an election is perfectly legal.

In New Jersey, the Democrat party looked for a "friendly" judge to 'interpret' a law that said "51 days" to actually mean "30 days" when they needed to make a ballot switcheroo. Nobody seemed to care what the law said, or that absentee voting had already begun.

We've gotten to the point where the Constitution doesn't mean anything to anyone anymore. Judges, who hold very little accountability, simply change the law to fit their situation on a whim.

An interview, that is.

Last month, when the hideous Assault Weapons Ban renewal was in the news, CNN took some heat over not knowing the difference between an automatic rifle and a semi-automatic rifle. That time, CNN's shoddy reporting, conveniently furthered the gun grabber position.

Today, CNN makes another blunder when they picked up the AP story about Harold McCord. Harold McCord is the three strike felon who used a fake gun made of toilet paper, cardboard, and news print to break out of a Washington court house.

CNN added this photo and caption to the AP wire story:

The cardboard fake gun, left,
resembles a 25 mm handgun, right.
(screenshot)

A 25 mm handgun? That would certainly be a bitch to shoot. I realize that knowing the difference between metric and standard can be a problem for some people, but any idiot should be able to look at that pea shooter and know that a 25mm round isn't coming out of the end of it. They do have an idea of what 25 mm is, right?

Am I being picky? Perhaps. However, I think that CNNs constant mistakes represent an underlying ignorance of firearms. If they have absolutely no knowledge of firearms, how can we expect them to accurately report on the subject? This may be just an honest mistake, but when you add up all the other honest mistakes, you have to assume CNN is either ignorant, does half-assed reporting, or is out to deliberately mislead people (as was the allegation during the AWB flap).

UPDATE: I get results, baby. An hour after I posted this, CNN realized the error and updated their page. Apparently they still have no clue what type of pistol is pictured, because now they simply say that it "is shown by Tacoma authorities."

I never expected this. CNN is reporting that in the ACC/Big East tangle, Miami and Virginia Tech are in; Syracuse and BC are out. This makes no sense to me. World crashing down. Dogs... cats... sleeping together.

I don't really understand the logic behind such a move. That would give the ACC eleven schools. There would presumably be no divisions, and no conference championship game for football. In addition, they already have the Florida and Virginia TV markets, with FSU and UVA. The entire reason for inviting BC and Syracuse had to do with expanding the reach of the ACC. Under this scenario, all they do is expand down the Florida coast a little bit.

I guess the only option that could confound me more would be for them to use the 'nuclear option' and just merge the two conferences completely. That would create a 17 team super conference that would be hell bent on global domination. With 17 teams, their coalition could unilaterally control NCAA football and basketball.

(Photo via CNN)

UPDATE: As for my personal thoughts on this, I think VT should do whatever Miami does. If this is for real, VT should go if Miami goes, and stay if Miami stays. You know the old saying: When in Rome, do what Miami does.

This week's Xtra Large Carnival is over at Single Southern Guy. You should head over there and check out all the good stuff.

For those of you that are keeping score, I forgot this week. That brings my overall record to 28-12.

Since I have already mentioned my personally developed method for humidor humidification, I figured I'd offer up some of my expertise on the initial 'priming' of humidors. A collection of fine cigars can cost quite a pretty penny. With handmade cigars costing anywhere from $2 to $20 for the average stick, a full humidor can literally hold several hundred dollars worth of tobacco goodness. It is therefore very important that you take the time to care for your inventory properly.

When you first buy a humidor, and every year or so as part of routine maintenance, you need to prime it so that it will properly hold the humidity. Out of the 5 humidors that I've purchased or owned, only one has ever included instructions on how to properly prime it.

The tools you'll need are your humidor, of course, a supply of distilled water, and a clean sponge. Tap water and regular bottled water have impurities that will clog your humidor and leave hard water build up and stains. Distilled water, which is pure H20 only costs about $0.59 a gallon, and is the only water you should ever use. Similarly, your sponge should be absolutely clean. Try to use a new sponge, or have a few sponges that are solely dedicated to humidor maintenance. You don't want your cigars soaking up odors from last night's meat loaf, so leave your kitchen sponge on the back of the sink where it belongs.

Take your humidor, and make sure that it is empty. Pour about a half a cup of distilled water into the humidor, until it puddles up in the bottom about a quarter to half an inch. Use your sponge to completely soak the wooden inside of the box, including the lid. The Spanish cedar will absorb the distilled water, and swell slightly. Also coat any removable trays or inserts that came with the humidor. Don't leave the removable pieces in the humidor, lest they swell up and become jammed, or warp. Once you have a good even coat over all the wooden areas, pour the water out. Set the humidor upside down, or on one side so that it can drip dry. You don't want standing water in the humidor, so wipe out the excess with the sponge if necessary.

Let the humidor sit open for a half hour to an hour, or however long it takes to dry or evaporate. Once the inside of the humidor is dry, take your damp sponge and coat the inside of the humidor again. You should add water to your sponge if necessary, but you don't need to pour water into the humidor again, like you did the first time. Once the wood is coated, let the humidor sit open again, until it is pretty much dry to the touch. If you had any internal shelves or dividers, give them the same treatment.

Next, take your sponge and make sure it is damp, but not dripping wet. Put the sponge on a plate, and set the plate in the humidor. You may use a plastic bag, or something else waterproof, but it is very IMPORTANT that you do not let the wet sponge touch the wood. BEWARE that if the humidor is still wet, or that if you let the wet sponge directly touch the wood, you could end up with some mold or mildew on the inside. If you have any internal shelves or dividers, wait for them to dry, and put them back into the humidor so that they don't touch the sponge. They may still be swollen, so don't force them. Close the humidor lid, and let it sit overnight, or for about 12 hours. The water vapor should soak into the pores of the wood and condition it overnight.

Remove the sponge and plate, and inspect the humidor. Fill your humidification device with distilled water or solution [a mix of Propylene Glycol (PG) and distilled water], and put it into the humidor. Also put a hygrometer in there, and add your cigars. Most humidors come with an analog hygrometer, which is sometimes not very accurate. You may want to invest in a digital hygrometer. Keep an eye on the humidity. If it spikes too much, leave the lid open for a few minutes to let some of it out. If you are using PG solution in your humidification device, it should start to regulate the inside humidity to about 70% which is where you want it.

Reuters reports that the UK is considering a ban on parents smacking (known in America as 'spanking') their children. The notion is that if smacking a child as a form of discipline is made illegal, then abusive parents will simply stop abusing their kids.

"Sweden, which has outlawed smacking, has had no deaths at all over the last 10 years at the hands of parents or carers."

Since banning drugs has gotten all the drugs off the streets, and banning guns has rid England of violent crime, I don't see why this won't be just as effective. Who knows, perhaps they will finally ban driving, which has been known to be the major cause of speeding.[/sarcasm]

Back in January, I reported on New Yorkers who were supporting a toy gun ban. At the time, the argument in favor of the ban was that "kids can make toy guns look real simply by spray-painting a gun black, or hiding the toy trademark with tape." Earlier this month, lawmakers in Annapolis announced plans for a similar ban on the toys, even though local police have vowed not to enforce it. (So much for garnering respect for the law.)

After an inmate used a "fake gun" to escape from a Washington court room, perhaps states will consider extending the ban to include legal pads, toilet paper, and ball-point pens.

Harold McCord's "gun" was made of cardboard from the backing of legal pads, stuffed with toilet paper and covered with newspaper blackened with ink from a ballpoint pen.

Guards lowered their firearms after McCord pulled out his "gun" in a Washington court room. He was permitted to flee the scene. Once outside, McCord stole a pickup truck, and escaped. He is still at large.

McCord had been sentenced to life in prison without parole, under Washington State's "three strikes law". I wonder if a "fourth strike" means they'll eject him from "the game".

UPDATE: Random Nuclear Strikes notes that McCord was indeed ejected from the game. Analog Kid notes that even though McCord had three strikes and a foul tip, his "family is already in touch with a lawyer and they plan on suing the involved police agencies. They say 'He was a good guy'."

Related articles:
Guns for Tots - 02/07/2003
Taking a Bite Out of Toy Gun Crime - 01/02/2003
Kids don't kill people, 'Violent Toys' do - 12/02/2002
Great Moments in Law Enforcement - 11/21/2002

New York lawmakers today announced plans to ban all internet sales to individuals who aren't "licensed to receive" internet goods and services. The idea was born out of the success of the State's internet tobacco sales ban. The internet tobacco ban was originally touted as a public health measure and a way to keep cigarettes out of the hands of children. But state lawmakers quickly realized the financial windfall, now that consumers had to leave their house to go to actual brick and mortar stores to buy their smokes.

"We were losing literally millions of dollars in tax revenue from internet tobacco sales. I figured, hell, we're losing BILLIONS of dollars of sales tax revenue on all that other stuff people buy online," said State lawmaker Roy Niggardly, chairman of the New York State Ways and Means Committee. "So why not just ban everything."

Sales taxes aren't the only financial gain the state will receive by forcing people to leave their homes to make purchases. Gas taxes, toll bridges, parking, and public transportation revenues are all expected to rise. Although the economic impact for the State of New York is unknown at this time, lawmakers are already thinking of ways to spend the projected budget surplus.

The next time I get pulled over for speeding in Massachusetts, I'm going to report the officer for illegal smoking. Revenge would be more gratifying than going to court and trying to fight the inevitable.

Given that the Boston Globe is reporting that a mere anonymous accusation is enough to get a police officer fired for smoking tobacco, on or off duty, it may be a strategy that pays off.

Wayne Jeffrey, a seven-year veteran of the Fall River force, was fired May 29 after an internal investigation, prompted by an unsigned letter that claimed he smoked tobacco at a party.

How long before street gangs start giving anonymous tips on every officer on foot patrol in their turf. Better yet, rather than take a hit for unpopular budget cutbacks, politicians could simply report public safety officers for smoking rather than lay them off. Think of the money they'd save on severance packages.

That may seem like a silly question, but in some corners of the country it really may be in doubt. Apparently in Waltham Massachusetts, the government owns your kids, or at least, that is how it would appear to one family. Sierra Times writes about two home-schooling parents, Kim and George Bryant. The Bryant's home-schooling has raised the ire of the Waltham Public School system (WPS), who wants them to fill out forms, file paperwork, and administer government mandated tests to assess the children's education level. When the Bryants refused, WPS went so far as to enlist the Department of Social Services (DSS) to seize their children.

When DSS officials and police officers showed up to take the children away, DSS trooper Susan Etscovitz apparently told the Bryants, "We have the legal custody of the children and we will do with them as we see fit. They are minors and they do what we tell them to do." I can only imagine how this would make a parent feel.

That statement seemed to strike a chord with parents across the country, because the DSS and Susan Etscovitz have been deluged by some less than flattering letters. I'm sure some of them even questioned the marital status of Susan's parents. DSS spokesman Denise Montero had this to say to the media: "There have been calls from all over the country, threatening Susan's life and children. We have had to change her phone number and not allow her to check her e-mail account... ...The ultra-conservatives and Bible-thumpers have inundated us with threats and phone calls. No one deserves to be threatened..."

Indeed she is correct. Threats and intimidation are no way to conduct yourself (nor is namecalling for that matter). However, as Sierra Times points out, threats and intimidation seemed to be a justifiable vehicle for the WPS and DSS to use against the Bryants. They noted that "when it comes to government officials, their threats don't count, or are done under the 'color of law'."

So according to the Waltham Massachusetts Department of Social Services, it is justifiable to show up with armed government agents, and use the threat of lethal force to seize children from a home where no abuse has been demonstrated to have taken place. However, it is altogether unjustifiable for the public to express outrage, sometimes through threats and intimidation. That doesn't seem like a very level playing field to me. But then, when has it ever been?

Perhaps we should return to the good old days of one-room school houses, or home schooled chil'ens. I mean, it used to be that if your kid didn't do enough book learnin' in school he simply ended up tearin' tickets at the tilt-a-whirl. Ok, so maybe that isn't the best solution. But have we come so far that you can have your children taken away, merely because you didn't fill out some government mandated forms? It all seems very authoritarian to me. Then again, I'm just a "bible thumper" or an "ultra-conservative".

Taking advantage of the bright spot in his administration's economic meltdown, President Bush refinanced the White House yesterday. A gleeful President Bush inked a deal on a ten year mortgage that offered the lowest lending rate - just over four points.

President and Laura Bush purchased the White House from Bill and Hillary Clinton in 2000 for a reported 191 million dollars. While the President is rumored to have gotten a more favorable interest rate than was being offered at the time, experts estimate the Bush's were making monthly payments of approximately $1,910,000.00 on their thirty year loan, or $1000 for every $100,000 financed.

With a new ten year mortgage at a lower lending rate, the Bush's monthly payment will increase by only about $300,000 but the Bush's will own the White House outright approximately 5 years after President Bush leaves office.

A President of The United States earns about $400,000 yearly but makes up the difference with frequent trip per diems, speech honoraria and White House tours.

The burgeoning Right Wing Outrage Industry burgeoned again when 9th Grader Stanley Twooey announced plans to roll out a Blog taking on Big Government, Tax And Spend Liberals and "freaks who want to have sex with little kids." Mr. Twooey said the recent story about Big Government shutting down a child's lemonade stand was what drove him to enter this sector of the Outrage market. Mr. Twooey said his first big story will be about "that nudey teen camp" but he is still trying to find pictures to run with his story.

The Right Wing Outrage Industry, founded during the Carter Presidency, was largely a monopoly controlled by radio commentator Paul Harvey. In the mid-80's, California rock disc jockey Jeff Christie created a W.C. Fields-Meets-Richard Nixon-like right-wing radio personality called "Rush Limbaugh" that singled out self-proclaimed liberals for derision and denigration. The radio act struck a chord with disaffected fat white conservatives who were left behind during the social progress of America's black and Hispanic underclasses. Jeff Christie took his radio show nationwide in 1987. Since then, Right Wing Outrage has seen double-digit growth every year.

While millions of Americans continue to lose their jobs to a failing economy and cheap labor overseas, Right Wing Outrage grows even bigger. Recent expansions include former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough's new MSNBC television show, conservative radio personality Michael Savage's new MSNBC television show and Fox News Corp Bill O'Reilly's new nationwide radio program.

To add a bit to what Ravnwood posted earlier, Andrew Sullivan writes most eloquently about the politics of homosexuality. I urge everyone to read EVERYTHING he writes about the subject.

Ironically, in his current role as "Gay Conservative", writing to conservatives about homosexuality accomplishes much the same as Andrew blowing a frothy load into one of his friend's asses. It makes Andrew feel really good but is ultimately seed cast onto barren soil, destined for the shitter. Poppers, anyone?

Luckily for us, Mr. Sullivan is much more complicated than one issue so his ultimate failure to make homosexuality a mainstream Republican cause will not be the end of him.

Reuters notes that some bar and restaurant owners in New York are protesting the smoking ban by unplugging lottery machines in their establishments.

Still steamed over a looming smoking ban, some New York bar and restaurant owners hit the state where it hurts -- in the pocketbook.

They unplugged the lottery machines in their establishments.

The article notes that the move is largely symbolic, as the state shrugged off their concerns, and noted that they weren't really losing much revenue. The same cannot be said about the plight of business owners; some of which have already lost 30% to 50% of their business, and may have to lay off workers or perhaps even close up shop.

That is something that New York City Mayor Bloomberg deemed to be a "minor economic issue."

It looks like Dick Gebhardt may not have to overrule the Supreme Court after all. While they struck down Michigan's use of a point system to give "extra credit" to minority applicants, they pretty much said that racial discrimination is ok.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld a controversial affirmative action policy employed at the University of Michigan's law school, but struck down a policy used by the undergraduate school that gave certain racial groups a head start in admissions.

Fox News reports that the Court struck down the undergraduate admissions process (that gave 20 points to minority applicants) by a vote of 6-3. CNN reports the vote was 5-4, saying "the law school program was upheld by a vote of 5-4; the undergraduate program was overturned by the same margin."

UPDATE: Not that the margins really matter, but MSNBC reports it as 6-3 too. I would watch the video on CNN, but they want $40 just to see it.

It looks like Rep. Lamar Smith and Howard Berman, whose pockets are likely lined with wads of RIAA cash, are planning on using the FBI to act as the enforcer for the RIAA. CNet notes that the lawmakers hope to give the RIAA the full power to use the FBI to enforce their civil copyrights. Thomas C. Greene of The Register takes it a cynical step forward.

There's great economic wisdom in this: by criminalizing such minor misbehavior, the RIAA taps public funds to bankroll its petty squabbles. We should all be so lucky.

Lucky indeed. So, how much does it cost to buy the FBI? Records show that Howard Berman received $186,891 from entertainment companies during the last election cycle.

Andrew Sullivan makes a case for gay marriage in Time magazine.

We can live and let live. [...]

We needn't all agree on the issue of homosexuality to believe that the government should treat every citizen alike. If that means living next door to someone of whom we disapprove, so be it. But disapproval needn't mean disrespect. And if the love of two people, committing themselves to each other exclusively for the rest of their lives, is not worthy of respect, then what is?

I made a similar case back in March:

Now, marriage has been around for thousands of years, certainly longer than this nation has been around. The idea of any two persons being required to seek permission from legislators and citizens to enter into the age old practice of marriage is baffling. Even worse, couples hoping to marry are subjected to such nuisances as blood tests, age limits, taxes and fees.

The only reason I can come up with, aside from wanting tax revenue and control over people's lives, is that marriage licences offer some protection against polygamy, fraud, and dead beat spouses. In the day and age of divorce, I can see where having some up front paperwork might make things easier.

Still, the idea that legislators or citizens can prevent any couple who is of sound mind and body from entering into the bounds of marriage is disturbing. It's one thing to tax it, but to deny someone their fundamental right to take a spouse is wrong.

If there ever was an aspect of life, that the government has absolutely no business regulating, it is the institution of marriage. Marriages should be grounded in common law. If you vow to marry someone before God and/or a few not-so-drunk witnesses, that should be good enough for anyone. The idea that the state has veto power over the union is absurd. I have yet to be presented with a valid argument against gay marriage.

"When I'm president, we'll do executive orders to overcome any wrong thing the Supreme Court does tomorrow or any other day." -- Presidential Candidate and House Representative Dick Gebhardt, discussing how he'd veto the Supreme Court on the issue of Affirmative Action government sanctioned racial discrimination.

Meanwhile, Rev. Al Sharpton offered up the veiled 'Uncle Tom' reference for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas noting, "Clarence Thomas is my color, but he's not my kind."

If you aren't watching HBO, you might want to turn it on. Vitali Klitchko is taking it to Lennox Lewis, and it is only the second round. I thought Gatti-Ward III was exciting a few weeks ago, but this is incredible.

UPDATE: That was a pretty good fight, however I think that overall Gatti-Ward from two weeks ago was an even better contest. If you missed either one, it was your loss. I'm already looking forward to a rematch.

I took a trip to the Bealton gun show today, in search of loopholes. I drove my gas-guzzling, econobox-crushing SUV some 120 miles round trip. I even sped down there and back at breakneck speeds to minimize gas efficiency. Hell, I paid for that gas, it's my right to burn it up.

I didn't really plan on buying anything, but then I walked by a table, where this Romanian SAR-1 was just calling to me. I remembered Kim DuToit's April 15th "Buy a gun to spite Michael Moore Day" purchase, and was absolutely inspired. The SAR-1 is the gun industry's response to the Assault Weapon's Ban that made semi-auto AK-47s illegal. Their desire to ban the gun is exactly what made me want to buy one. Take that Senator Feinstein. Coincidentally, and unbeknownst to me, Kim took his SAR-1 to the range just yesterday.

(click to supersize)

It came with two mags, a 10-round and a 40-round hi capacity pre-ban. It also came with a strap, and a cleaning kit that fits into the stock. I've yet to crack open that cleaning kit. There is either some magic button hidden some where, or you've got to be Mighty Joe Young to get that sucker open. Unfortunately, I bought the rifle (also known as an "Assault Weapon" by the gun grabbers) from a licensed dealer, so I didn't get to take advantage of any gun show loopholes.

The entire package was only $315 +tax. To add further insult to the liberal gun fearing wussys, I used the money from my recent tax refund to pay for it. Having overpaid my taxes last year by $338, it came to just enough to purchase this mean and nasty looking gun. Just think of what I could have bought if I was able to claim those child tax credits like other folks. Perhaps I could have gotten that Bushmaster I've been wanting.

Greetings Stevelings !

Ravnwood asked me to help out for a few days and I have graciously agreed to do so. I understand its hard to get good Bloghelp these days. Hell, its harder to get good Blog, but no one complains about that, right? *cough*

It's been a hectic last coupla weeks for this old friend of Ravnwood's. We moved into the city. As part of my evolution into a full-fledged organic farming and Mother Jones liberal, we made the reverse journey from the suburbs to the city. The savings in commute time should allow us two hours a day more with our children. That leaves 15 minutes a day for you, dear readers. Maybe later I'll post something provocative but right now I need to go turn the steaks on the grill.

-Lope

Kimberly Swygert at No. 2 Pencil chronicles the story of a Maryland high school student that was physically assaulted for displaying a small confederate flag. What is most surprising, is who it was that attacked him.

JT Hunter at Biscuits and Gravy offers up a helping of animal cruelty. It's not beef, but it is what's for dinner.

Jon Ray at PC Watch notes that Canada's gun registration law is so silly, several provinces aren't even bothering to enforce it.

Marc at Quit That was trying to get a photo of the neighbor chick, and ended up with a picture of a very angry mom. Better luck next time.

Phillip Loco at Loco's Lunacy goes back in time, to what might have been said in 1957.

Phillip at PhillipCoons.com celebrates the Navy taking delivery of the latest Super Carrier. The Ronald Reagan will be one of the most technologically advanced of the Nimitz class carriers. She and the George H.W. Bush that is currently under construction will lead the way into the modern age of the Super Carrier.

Any of you who are going to see Terminator 3 when it opens, be sure to look for my cameo. I'll be one of the T-800 models helping Arnold save the day.

(click to supersize)

This will be my big screen debut. I'm excited, but I think they may have picked me more for my muscular resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger than for my acting ability. Oh well.

"...that same flag that took me so long to love, respect, and protect, threatens to become a haunting banner of murder, greed, and treason against our principles, honored history, Constitution, and our own mothers and fathers. To become a vulgar billboard, advertising our disloyalty to ourselves and our allies." -- Actor Sean Penn, telling everyone what he thinks of the Stars and Stripes.

Nod to the MRC, who is showing quite the intestinal fortitude by wading through Penn's 4000-plus word incoherent babbling.

"How can we ensure that hard-working middle income families and the low paid get a better deal, except by those at the very top of the pay scale contributing more?" -- Peter Hain, leader of the UK House of Commons.

Peter Hain is concerned that the UK's top tax bracket, a whopping 40%, is affecting too many middle class families. One Labour Party solution being offered is to raise the top tax bracket to 60%, so that more middle and low income families can be moved out of the higher brackets.

An opponent of that plan, "shadow chancellor" Michael Howard, says "They haven't learnt the lessons of the 1970s when under Labour tax levels rose to 98%."

Isn't California just wonderful. Where else can a "low-level Depa