If you don't have a gun...

You will have assholes who drink beer in an underpass and let their dogs get off the lead. The assholes will have "terrier" dogs who attack blind people's guide dogs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8368548.stm

"What made this awful incident even more harrowing was the fact that the man made no effort to assist her or to check that she was all right once the attack was over.

The man was described by police as white, in his mid to late-20s, around 5ft 11ins and of slim build. He had a cropped beard and brownish to red hair which was cut short and was wearing black tracksuit bottoms and a grey top.

There is CCTV footage at the BBC site.

Actually, I know a lot of yanks that let their dogs run loose as well so this is serious sarcasm. I should make that clear since some people are too stupid to catch that.

Am I writing propaganda?

Reading this definition:
"Propaganda is a form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position. This is contrasted to impartially providing information."

Am I trying to influence people? Not really. I do this for myself. I don't care if people read this, although I do have fans. In fact, I am very pleased with who my fans are! That's part of the reason I blow off the booboisie.

I don't worry about blog ranking, prizes, or any of that guff.

I am doing this to let off steam.

The other point is that I can't persuade some people no matter how cogent my arguments. I could come up with the most definitive analysis of why the "individual rights" interpretation of the Second Amendment is bullshit, yet these people won't accept it.

It's the Michael Bellesiles/John Lott syndrome: Bellesiles is "all lies", yet Lott is "gospel".

Yeah, yeah, I still have more Michael Bellesiles apologia, but not here. The point I am making is that Bellesiles Arming America was trashed with a broad brush.

Somehow, I think reading Arming America is akin to having read The Satanic Verses. For those not in the know, The Satanic Verses was so hard to get through there was something called the "Page 19 Club" for anyone who could get past Page 19!

I am proud to say that I a member of that organisation!

On the other hand, I think a lot of people who trashed Arming America withouth having held a copy, let alone having read it.

And you are totally insane if you read all this post (not really)! But, it's not propaganda!

More Norah Jones

I forgot that "Man of the Hour" was actually about her dog! Actually, I thoght there were a couple of love songs about her dog on the album. The other one being "I Wouldn't Need You".

A woman after my heart.

"The more I see of men, the better I like my dog".

New York State of Mind

I'm listening to Norah Jones's "Back to Manhattan" and wondering what is it with New York City that it captures people's imagination?

Seriously? I was in Fort Monmouth for 3 month and used to go there pretty much every weekend. I would notice that I would be short $100 as soon as the train entered the tunnel under the Hudson. I would go insane within 5 hours and get out.

There is no way I could handle the place for more than a weekend.

I'll make no bones about it that I prefer London, or even being in Paris, to New York. And saying I would rather be in Paris than New York tells you that NYC is theeighth circle of hell in my opinion.

Still, I have a NY playlist full of songs about the place. In balance i should mention that I also have a London playlist, about 5 different England playlists, and a Northern Soul Playlist.

New York is not America, yet people think of it as being such. So go figure?

Part II

I decided it was better to divide the last post into two parts since this is really unrelated to the point I was making in my previous post. This is just me engaging in mental masturbation.

One finds that 2,000 guns cross the US-Mexico border to drug gangs.

For example, one cannot make a blanket statement that gun control does not work in reducing that number. This is especially true if we see that "one gun a month" has changed the internal dynamic of illegal guns within the US. Likewise, the only firearms registration program that has existed in the US has been the NFA: how many NFA weapons are found at crime scenes? If a firearms regulation has an effect internally, why not with guns smuggled externally?

We also know internally within the US that guns move from regions of weak regulation to those of stronger regulation. Likewise, the amount of gunrunning from Nations with strong firearms regulation is next to nil (e.g., how many crime guns come from Britain?).

The answer to Mexican Crime guns might indeed be stronger regulation of US firearms, but how likely is that to happen? the problem is that one cannot let their conclusion be clouded by their own opinions if the evidence shows that answer is stronger regulation of firearms, then that should be the conclusion. If Mexican crime guns came from New Jersey, then you might be able to show that gun control had no effect on the issue.

Another point, is that gun control isn't seen as a panacea, but as a method of reducing the flow. Looking at internal US figures, is that a possibility? I believe there are studies showing that "one gun a month" reduces the amount of crime guns from those states and the figure shifts to states without that regulation. SO, if the amount of guns IS reduced by "gun control" one cannot state there is no effect.

OK, there are a lot of factors involved in the above example, but the primary one is that the person who made it "believes in the Second Amendment" freedoms. I could assume some things from that statement, but I can see that her argument is coloured by her belief. The belief isn't challenged and the result is confusing.

That is a blanket statement that gun control will not reduce the amount of crime guns. Likewise, that whatever reduction resulted from US gun control would beneficial.

Of course, the drug lords have enough money that they could set up their own firearms factories making any gun control moot. Which is also a flawed statement on my part as I think about it. Is it more economically sound and practical to set up clandestine gun factories in Mexico? Is it more viable to smuggle guns from the US than make illegal guns in Mexico? This comes in contemplating her point about making weapons from parts kits.

Again, if it is more economically feasible to make a firearm starting from a kit and only produce a receiver in a clandestine factory (Considering all the other factors), this leaves us with a load more questions. Especially if the source for parts kits is the US. Does that mean an even tighter restriction on firearms parts?

Is the actual answer incredibly tight gun controls rather than gun controls are ineffective?

Anyway, it seems I have glommed two posts into one. More as a musing in the Second half. I do like to challenge my beliefs.

Well, I do like a challenge!

You're not as smart as you think...

I've wanted to follow up on my corollary to my previous post about brainwashing and propaganda.

That's brainwashing, mind control, thought reform, coercive persuasion, influence, manipulation or the subversion of an individual's control of his or her own thinking, behavior, emotions, or decision making.

Part of recognizing propaganda techniques is to know what they are and how they are used. Most people don't, which is why they are easily swayed.

Of course, the emotional techniques, especially those used by the "gun cretins" is highly effective and pretty much text book for being propaganda techniques.

I have a great example that I won't give, except in generalities, where a "gun cretin" is so oblivious of propaganda techniques that his argument shoots him in the foot. The premise of his argument is stated after something he wants to portray as false. Actually, it's buttressed by what he is trying to disprove. Fortunately, the way he states it, he ends up stating what he believes to be false.

I am being purposefully vague since I agree with what he believes is false. I have shared this with other people who agree with me that he is being unintentionally counterproductive to his cause. On the other hand, I don't want to publicly point out that he is supporting my point of view if this fucker is so clueless as to miss what he is doing!

Thank you for being a total dildo and not being able to spot that, guy! If only you knew what a dumbfuck you were being maybe you might get your shit together. Then again...

The problem goes to something I commented on in Man With the Muckrake's Gene change in cannibals reveals evolution in action post:

You can’t get through to them. They are contaminated. They are programmed to think and react to certain stimuli in a Pavlovian manner. You cannot change their mind even if you expose them to authentic information. Even if you prove that white is white and black is black, you still can not change the basic perception and the logic of behavior.

Studies show the brain is wired to get a quick high from reading things that agree with our point of view. The same studies proved that, strangely, we also get a rush from intentionally dismissing information that disagrees, no matter how well supported it is.

Therefore, facts tell nothing to him, even if you shower him with information, with authentic proof, with documents and pictures: he will refuse to believe it.

These people don't want to think. They don't want to challenge their beliefs. They restrict their reading and/or viewing material. The idea is to insulate people from any opposing points of view, to persuade them of a point of view. Any material that might be contradictory to the "line" is censored and taken out of context to change meaning.

We could hope that people discover critical thinking, although that seems highly unlikely given the strong anti-intellectual bias in the US. The ability to think critically involves three things:

1. An attitude of being disposed (state of mind regarding something) to consider in a thoughtful way the problems and subjects that come within the range of one's experiences,
2. Knowledge of the methods of logical inquiry and reasoning,
3. Some skill in applying those methods.

Critical thinking calls for a persistent effort to examine any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the evidence that supports it and the further conclusions to which it tends. It also generally requires ability to recognize problems, to find workable means for meeting those problems, to gather and marshal pertinent(relevant) information, to recognize unstated assumptions and values, to comprehend and use language with accuracy, clarity, and discrimination, to interpret data, to appraise evidence and evaluate arguments, to recognize the existence (or non-existence) of logical relationships between propositions, to draw warranted conclusions and generalizations, to put to test the conclusions and generalizations at which one arrives, to reconstruct one's patterns of beliefs on the basis of wider experience, and to render accurate judgments about specific things and qualities in everyday life.

The problem is that one needs to challenge one's beliefs, especially in the light of contradictory evidence.

Dumb Question time...

So, what exactly do the Bloomberg and Brady folks do with the guns they buy at gun shows?

I mean you see videos where they plunk down cash for firearms and then walk off with them.

Other than the because they can, why do this?

Do they take them and have them destroyed? Do they turn them over to law enforcement?

Or do they turn them into art like this bike rack made by Guns into Art?

I couldn't say it better myself..

I keep wanting to do a post on using "Wedge Issues" as a distraction. Then, this video turned up in some research I was doing for the previous post.

Song by Tommy Roz. From the description:

What makes a poor man vote for a rich polititian? All this and more are explored in a singing indictment of America Gone Wild! An entertaining yet forboding parody of the current political and social landscape which suggests that the only thing standing in the way of a second civil war is a third world war. So hold onto your helmets! It looks like it's time for Armegeddon again.

There's hope yet

Man With the Muckrake has an interesting post about how exposure to chemicals in the brains of male foeti change change their patterns of play. In this study, the frequency of engaging in "typically masculine play" decreased with a greater foetal exposure to certain phthalates in males.

Muckrake asks: "If the phthalate exposure neutralizes the male aggressive gene, will the military find it more difficult to find recruits to fight in future wars?"

This could prove yet another glitch in the gun lobby's attempt to raise sales in a saturated market. I mean who will buy firearms if males become less aggressive? Of course, they can raise the panic level the way gun cretins usually do by creating fear of crime.

Will this change the attitude of the pro-life crowd since they don't want to procreate "effeminate" males? Will they use Amniocentesis to deterine that they kid won't be macho? I mean they want those macho men who love the smell of gunpowder instead of wimps who think guns are dirty, loud, and noisy.

Makes one want to become a Luddite.

Citygirl at Mudflap Bubba's had some criticism about her Blackberry. This follows on that line.

My Senior has been trying to get me to buy one of the things. There is indeed a temptation since my Palm pilot is totally wonky. The digitiser makes using it quite interesting. Fortunately, I am clever enough to have some work arounds for this problem.

I really only need the thing because I have to keep a diary of court appearances. And, it amuses me whilst sitting in Court. Despite the Courtroom dramas, being in Court is boring as fuck.

There are disadvantages to reading in court. One being that some tipstaffs will tell you that you can't read (unless it's a brief). Of course, you can only read a brief so many times. The other problem is if the book is engrossing in anyway, you will lose attention to what is going on in court.

That means play games on the old palm. I usually play Solitaire (Bristol is my fave version since it is pretty easy), but I have Nine Men's Moris, Go, Tetris, Chess, Monopoly, Scrabble, and Dope Wars. The last one was given to me by someone who was representing the prosecution, which seemed ironic. Scrabble using my rules can be too amusing for court.

I refuse to give up my toy!

Anyway, I had this computer security panic that my Senior's (the QC I trail after) e-mail account was compromised. That meant I decided to change his password, which buggered up the e-mail being sent to the Blackberry. Thus, I was sent to the mobile phone shop where QC is a "regular" (he has 20 phones and a seriously addictive personality).

The rep sorted us out. But it was far more complicated than I would like.

Not to mention I see the new phones on the market. It seems that the iPhone is becoming the trend. I just want a bloody phone and none of the other crap for chrissake. I'd probably get rid of the mobile altogether except it is useful when traveling.

Otherwise, mobiles are the bane of modern existance: especially the morons walking down the street or elsewhere texting. I could go on a long rant about mobile phone rudeness.

Here is a nice fantasy from Mobile to end this post.
WARNING: VIOLENT AS ALL GET OUT!

My ideal job...

I've always wanted a job like Bernard Woolley from the Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister Series. The title is Minister's Principal Private Secretary, but otherwise seems to have no real job other than being a nanny for Jim Hacker.

Being able to tell Sir Humphrey that Greek, unlike Latin, has no ablative case and generally act smart with no real purpose is appealing to me. That's why I like to blog.

But, unlike blogging, being a Minister's Principal Private Secretary would mean civil service bennies and a steady paycheque!

Yipee!

Assault weapons ban and Mexican drug gang guns

I have to admit to mixed feelings from reading a post at Mexico's Drug War that rips the assault weapons ban and reinstating it to stop Mexican gang from acquiring firepower.

She states she isn't a firearms expert, which gives me a bit of an advantage over her.

I have to agree her that the Assault Weapons Ban was pretty effete. Personally, I think assault weapons should be regulated as machineguns. Although, it is way too late for that to happen.

She also points out the availability of parts kits and building assault weapons with those kits. Good point for somebody who isn't a firearms expert. Of course, one could just as well build a gun from scratch as use a parts kit.

Sylvia also has a great article on the The Myth of 90 Percent: Only a Small Fraction of Guns in Mexico Come From U.S. where she says that presents a "misleading and inaccurate picture of the weapons trafficking problem that ultimately does a great disservice to the agencies that actively work southbound weapons trafficking issues."

Sylvia points out "bottom line, between non-assault weapons, legal parts kits, and the straw purchase method, renewing the assault weapons ban - or enacting other types of gun control laws - would serve more as window dressing than an actual deterrent to the southbound flow of guns."

I guess I have to agree with her: the Assault Wepons Ban needs to be much tougher. Although, I disagree about the blanket statement about other types of gun control as a deterrent. The weak laws that get on the books won't stop dick, but registration, purchase limits and reporting stolen weapons do work as a deterrent.

But how likely is any form of gun control or serious assault weapons legislation to happen?

Maybe Austria is more interesting than I give it credit

After my posts on the town of Fucking, Austria, it has come to my attention there is also a Wank. I really prefer fucking, but I'll give wank a mention.

Of course that isn't as interesting as Fucking. The Wikipedia article is a real hoot

"The Germans all want to see Mozart's house in Salzburg, the Americans want to see where The Sound of Music was filmed. The Japanese want Hitler's birthplace in Braunau. But for the British, it's all about Fucking."

The local residents are called "Fuckingers".

"What they are, I am not at liberty to disclose, but we will not stand for the Fucking signs being removed. It may be very amusing for you British, but Fucking is simply Fucking to us. What is this big Fucking joke? It is puerile."

Yeah, well I've been called that more than once. I'm puerile and proud of it!

On the other hand, this person doesn't realise how funny that sounds. "What is this big Fucking joke?"

The fact that you don't see it is the joke.

A local resident of the village, Josef Winkler, attempted to cash in on the village's fame by setting up a website, on which he sold t-shirts featuring the village road signs, with the slogan "I like Fucking in Austria" printed on them.

It also seems that people take pictures of themselves bonking under the Fucking sign, which was another reason for the video cameras. Now, that's a counterproductive method for dealing with exhibitionists.

Yeah, I think the residents of Fucking should be cashing in on its name, although Mayor Franz Meindl said "We don't find it funny. We just want to be left alone. We don't harm anyone and just want to live in peace."

Uh, yeah....

Sorry, Andrew, but...

Yet another distraction for when I am watching Andrew Marr, I can think of him looking like this guy: Bibo!

It's hard to watch The Making of Modern Britain and think of the guy as some sort of cartoon character.

Then, this Nazi from the Telegraph writes this nasty review of The Making of Modern Britain. I mean it's pretty obvious that Charles Moore is some form of reactionary from his review of the show. Not to mention the Telegraph is pretty right wing (but I still like reading it).

I mean Marr makes me seem Conservative, but Moore really goes overboard when it comes to trashing 'Red Andy'.

Well, all I can say is "Here, you look just like that Andrew Marr... you poor bugger."

More Archie McPhee!

Of course as someone who finds things like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Lost in Austen to be really cool, this Jane Austen Action Figure is top flight!

What will they think of next?

From the latest Archie McPhee Catalogue, Absinthe Floss


La Fée Verté in the guise of glide! What a concept!

Wait, it gets better. Archie McPhee has an entire page of weird little absinthe items on their site. The mints and gumballs seem a bit weird. But not as weird as absinthe lip balm! Although, the absinthe I've tried had an anise flavour and was fairly sweet (I can't imagine adding sugar to it).

Absinthe in the fin de siècle (19th, not late 20th century revival) was supposed to be fairly bitter hence the sugar. There is one painting of someone sucking a cork to get rid of the taste. I think the recent versions are not a noxious as what I've heard was in absinthe ancienne mixtures. Of course, that was before the pure food and drug movement.

I have to admit to drinking the stuff, but never more than a glass a pop. And it wasn't as exciting as this clip from Moulin Rouge



Kylie as tinkerbell on acid, which just happened to be the best part of the film.

She's not too bad as Little Red Riding Hood either!

Although, the write ups for Absinthe tend to be a bit of puffery. Such as this from Oscar Wilde:

"The first stage is like ordinary drinking, the second when you begin to see monstrous and cruel things, but if you can persevere you will enter in upon the third stage where you see things that you want to see, wonderful curious things." "Absinthe has a wonderful colour, green. A glass of absinthe is as poetical as anything in the world. What difference is there between a glass of absinthe and a sunset?"

The funniest depiction of Absinthe is in Black Books when Manny Bianco is locked in the store and drinks a whole bottle of absinthe in The Big Lock-Out

"Let me be mad, mad with the madness of Absinthe, the wildest, most luxurious madness in the world."--Marie Corelli

A Corollary to my previous post.

I have to admit to being curious as to how most Americans can remain ignorant and brainwashed by special interests: especially those that work against their interest.

I was going to call this post "wedge issues" since that is partly how americans can be distracted.

Brainwashing doesn't take any sci-fi gadgetry or Manchurian Candidate hypnotism bullshit. There are all sorts of tried-and-true techniques that anyone can use to bypass the thinking part of your brain and flip a switch deep inside that says "OBEY."

Ever notice how the gun crowd likes to use their little cliche sayings, which I am not going repeat here. But they are so simple. The use of slogans is referred to as thought-stopping techniques because it does just that. Simple phrases that make one believe.

Until they are examined in detail.

Then they like to give black and white choices and use fear. Such as refutation through emotion: "Well, how will you like it if your girlfirend is raped if guns are removed from the public."

That's why those who support regulations on guns are referred to as "anti-gun". They must not like guns because they will tolerate regulation. That makes those who support regulation "against" us.

This technique is relatively new, but you'll see a lot more of it in the future. Someone will say to his supporters, "These guys work for the enemy, don't believe a word they say. Their lies will only poison your mind."

It's a black and white choice, which makes it easier to remain stuck in their position.

Studies show the brain is wired to get a quick high from reading things that agree with our point of view. The same studies proved that, strangely, we also get a rush from intentionally dismissing information that disagrees, no matter how well supported it is. Therefore, people aren't really going to work too hard to challenge their opinions.

Neither are they going to want to hear they are wrong no matter how well supported the refutation.

Thinkin' 'bout the economy.

I used to say that George W. Bush wasn't going to be outdone by his father who saw the collapse of one of the world's two superpowers, Dubya was going to make sure the other one collapsed.

Of course, people have been predicting the demise of the United States before the Declaration of Independence, let alone the Treaty of Paris.

What gets me off on this topic is that a few mornings back, I awoke to a story about China studying and preparing for the decline of US power. I would have preferred a more definite story on this, but I found the possibility quite intriguing.

I mean you have to remember that the question “How would you carry out a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor?” appeared on every final exam for each graduating class of Japan’s Naval Academy from 1931 until the actual attack. So, there is a precedent for not so sneak attacks catching the US unprepared.

I have to thank il principe for the term weapons of mass distraction media since as per usual, the yanks are too distracted by wedge issues and irrelevancies to see what is happening right in front of their noses. That is that the Chinese are the people propping up the US economy.

Sure, this seems a bit like the episode of Spooks I watched last night (S7e5) where the British economy is on the brink of collapse. On the other hand, that episode raised a lot of the issues, such as running an economy based upon debt, that I talk about here.

There is a seriously mixed rant here at the inability of the American people to see through the bullshit handed to them by the media and politicians. Worse, they are easily misled by special interest groups such as the NRA, Americans for Quality and Affordable Healthcare, pro-life, and so on that keep them in a panic about everything except what really is happening.

The funny thing is that the next invasion may happen by stealth. It will be undetected until the coup has happened. By that time, it will be too late for anything to be done.

Yeahhh, this is sexy

SO, who would you prefer to have you telling you about a disaster? Daljit Dhaliwal?


You know you will have some good conversations with Daljit around. More on Naomi here

Mishal Husain?



Priya Kaur?



We can't forget Zeinab Badawi


OK, I've made the other three look like fluff.

More talking heads

I have always thought Daljit Dhaliwal was HOT!!! from the first time I saw her. There is just something about her that is really cute and appealing Zeinab is a bit too cold. Mishal is nice. But I see Daljit and the Bonzo Dog Band's Kama Sutra starts playing in my mind.



Even on her off days, I'd want to rip off her clothes.

Hey, Daljit, why don't you let me make you a nice cup of masala chai and rub your back? You look like you need that.



Mishal Husain is OK, but she just doesn't have Daljit's warmth (or should I say heat?).

I mean Mishal Husain reads the news, but Dhaljit makes it feel as if she is giving you a personal invite to a private tour of the Khajuraho Temples.

Now, talk about an offer you can't refuse...

Daljit do you like "the congress of a cow"?

I've always said I'd be a lousy Nazi.

It seems that not only is talking head Zeinab Badawi a day older than me, but she is also Sudanese.

I had her pegged for being Pakistani just because it seemed more likely to me. I mean how many people are there from Sudan in the UK anyway?

I'd never have guessed her ethnic origins, or really cared about them either.

I kind of like her name, but would prefer it if she were something like Zowie Badawi. That would have been really cool. It was looking up her name that brought about this post.

I have to admit more of being a Beeb fan than ITN. And Trevor McDonald is my fav ITN newscaster, but...

Screw it, I like Mishal Husain and Daljit Dhaliwal a whole lot more than Zeinab. Daljit being the hotter of those three. Not that I would toss Zeinab out of bed. It's just that I think Daljit is the sexiest of the lot (Badawi 7.5, Dhaliwal 9, and Husain 8).

Yeah, well, I have always said I would have been the Nazi people went to to get papers saying they were Aryan

I don't know how accurate this is, but...

Four blokes walk into a party Oscar Wilde, James McNeil Whistler, George Bernhard Shaw, King and Edward VII...



"There is only one thing worse than being talked about, it's not being talked about."
Oscar Wilde, the Picture of Dorain Grey

More Boston Tea Party!

I found an article by Thom Hartmann called The Real Boston Tea Party was Against the Wal-Mart of the 1770s That pointed out:

The real Boston Tea Party was a protest against huge corporate tax cuts for the British East India Company (BEIC), the largest trans-national corporation then in existence. This corporate tax cut threatened to decimate small Colonial businesses by helping the BEIC pull a Wal-Mart against small entrepreneurial tea shops, and individuals began a revolt that kicked-off a series of events that ended in the creation of The United States of America.

It is a less humours version of what I reprinted in the Glenn Beck and the Ghost of the Boston Tea Party post.

Youu can read more of Thom's article here or here

The revolutionaries had put the East India Company in its place with the Boston Tea Party, and that, they thought, was the end of that. Unfortunately, the Boston Tea Party was not the end; within 150 years, during the so-called Gilded Age, powerful rail, steel, and oil interests would rise up to begin a new form of oligarchy, capturing the newly-formed Republican Party in the 1880s, and have been working to establish a permanent wealthy and ruling class in this country ever since.

For my detractors!

A nice English greeting!
And!

Liberators of the World?

There are a few things on my mind right now with the main one being the United States's image to the rest of the world.

I know this poster tends to annoy rabid Americans, but it relates to the point I want to make here. That is, it is hard for the US to want to persuade the rest of the world to follow its example if it presents an ugly image of itself.

The caption: De U.S.A. zullen de Europese Kultuur van de ondergang redden which translates as "The USA shall save European Culture from Destruction"



Not that this poster doesn't have its ironic twist since it was published by the Nazis who did their bit for destroying European Culture (e.g., Baedeker Raids that destroyed two cities I've lived in, Exeter and Coventry, as well as Bath, Norwich, York,and Canterbury). The poster was originally called "Kultur Terror" ("Culture Terror"). Although, it is difficult to find info on Leest Storm. There is the theory that this was a Flemish SS Magazine "Storm". Well, the Nazis did have a paper "Der Stuermer"

I can argue that the Nazis were just as bad as the threat they raised in this poster, but that's not the point.

The point here is the image that the US projects of itself to the outside world. The Nazis were using everything that was "not-European" to scare the Europeans into supporting them. Of course, that's about like having the EU send out directives on fish and chips that turn them into something that is "not British".

People may want to resist, but not in the way you want them to resist.

How can the US try to take the moral high ground when it has a hard time actually practising the ideals it claims to practise: such as religious tolerance, free elections, an impartial and fair court system. In addition, the rest of the world has universal health care, gun control, longer vacations, and other progressive ideas, which some in the US decry as Socialism.

But how does the US intend on spreading its values to the Muslim world if the US doesn't tolerate Muslims at home?

The Taliban celebrated the Fort Hood massacre as a victory even if the shooter didn't have any ties to an Islamic fundamentalist group.

I have some serious problems with the US reaction to terrorism. It develops an aggressive posture which is counterproductive to the proper course of action. Terrorism is supposed to induce fear, and any reaction other than normal behaviour gives the terrorists a victory.

It was moronic for the East Coast to shut down on 9/11. Even more idiotic to stop air travel. I tried to live my life as normally as possible, but everybody crawled into their hidy holes.

Likewise, repercussions on US Muslim's for the act of one insane person give the Muslim extremists a victory. The extremists want to see US Muslim's polarised against the mainstream culture.

But, Muslims in the US are patriotic. Here are a few of them who died fighting for US ideals.

Cpl. Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, U.S. Army, Muslim, American, killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Spec. Rasheed Sahib, U.S. Army, Muslim, American, accidentally shot to death by a fellow soldier in Iraq.
Maj. James Ahearn, U.S. Army, Muslim, American, killed by a bomb in Iraq.
Cpt. Humayun Khan, U.S. Army, Muslim, American, killed when he approached a suicide bomber in Iraq.

Some African-American soldiers who fought to defend democracy in WWII were lynched still wearing their uniforms when they came home. There is a story about a black woman who refused to salute the American flag and scorned her father, a veteran, because he did. Her father explained that he did not stand to honor the nation as it was, but the nation as it could be if only it embraced its own ideals.

The real enemy is not Islam, but those who would use violence to achieve their goals. These violent extremists can be of any race, creed, or colour.

People should remember that prior to 9/11, the most devastating terrorist attack on the US was perpetrated by two white, Christian Men: Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. There are other groups that expouse beliefs like those held by Timothy McVeigh. In fact, a frightening aspect is tht those beliefs have become mainstream.

It is time that the US should not be seen as the nation as of violence and bigotry, but the nation as it could be if only it embraced its own ideals.

Holy shit!

In Arabic, "Al-Qaeda" has a different meanings, among them “Base", "Ground", "Norm", "Rule", "Fundament", "Grammar". The exact meaning is dependent on the context in which it is used. It depends on the word which follows “Al-Qaeda” in the sentence. "Qawa'ad Askaria" is an Army Base, "Qawa'ad Lugha" stands for Grammar Rules (the Bases of Grammar).

"Qa'ada" is the infinitive of the verb "to sit". "Ma-Qa'ad" is a chair. "Al-Qaeda" is the base or fundament of something. "Ana raicha Al Qaeda" is colloquial for "I'm going to the toilet". A very common and widespread use of the word “Al-Qaeda” in different Arab countries in the public language is for the toilet bowl. This name comes from the Arabic verb “Qa'ada” which mean “to sit”, pertinently, on the “Toilet Bowl”. In most Arabs homes there are two kinds of toilets: “Al-Qaeda” also called the "Hamam Franji" or foreign toilet, and "Hamam Arabi" or “Arab toilet” which is a hole in the ground. Lest we forget it, the potty used by small children is called "Ma Qa'adia" or "Little Qaeda".

So, if you were forming a terrorist group, would you call yourself, "The Toilet"?

Well, Thomas Crapper was credited with inventing the toilet

No shit!

Croeso i Cymru!

This is near our country place.

I guess I'm a weekender (my wife lives there all the time).

Cultural imperialism

I guess some people are correct when they criticise Western Imperialism.



No further comment necessary!

Rememberance-Veteran's Day thoughts

Other than goofing around, I have to remember those who served and thank them.

Soldiers go where they are ordered, whether they agree with those orders or not.

I have said before that supporting the troops means that you don't send them somewhere without the proper resources to accomplish their mission.

If you can't support the cause, then you shouldn't have sent the soldiers in to fight for it. Popular support is the most important resource for the soldier.

It means respecting the soldiers and allowing them to serve: no matter what their political persuasion, religious affiliation, ethnicity, or sexual preference.

It means showing respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country: no matter what their political persuasion, religious affiliation, ethnicity, or sexual preference.

It means taking care of the soldiers who have come back broken, physically or mentally. Not letting them be homeless.

If you live in the States, sign the petition S. 1963, “The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009.”
http://ga3.org/campaign/coburn

Wherever you are, take some time to remember those who served your country.

More Active Shooter Protocol--Armed Civilians make great targets!

As I said, armed civilians make great targets, which ticks off the gun cretins. But...

If they want to go rushing into a zone where they put themselves in harm's way. Go for it!

Who needs them anyway!

Do they really think that a sniper is going to ask or care if she sees an armed civilian at the scene of a mass shooting?

More Fucking around

Given my love of funny roadsigns as well interesting place and street names...

There's a B. Kliban cartoon of two Chinese blokes in a Chinese landscape. One says to the other "Personally, I'm sick of this whole Fukien Province"

Of course, the place is pronounced foo-jen and pronouncing it as fuckin' only marks you as a complete gweilo (鬼佬). Although my Chinese girlfriend caught the joke when she saw the cartoon.

Needless to say,this is a road sign that tends to be stolen. The local authorities now have them lodged in concrete and under video surveillance.


Just imagine the caption for this news story!


Oh, YEAH, baby!

I don't know if it's funnier that there are other towns near Fucking called Unterfucking and Oberfucking.

It is believed that the settlement was founded around the 6th century by Focko, a Bavarian nobleman. The existence of the village was documented for the first time in 1070 and historical records show that some twenty years later the lord was Adalpertus de Fucingin. The spelling of the name has evolved over the years; it is first recorded in historical sources with the spelling as Vucchingen in 1070, Fukching in 1303, Fugkhing in 1532, and in the modern spelling Fucking in the 18th century, which is pronounced with a guttural "oo" sound. "-ing" is an old Germanic suffix indicating the people of the root word to which it is attached; thus Fucking means "(place of) Focko’s people."

Well, you could live here...

figure it out

The Army Can exercise it's Second Amendment right???

If you don't see how stupid this comment is, then you haven't read the actual primary source documents regarding the Second Amendment. Neither have you read or comprehended my posts where I discuss this. That's why you can come here and spout crap about me "not knowing my stuff".

Yeah, right, asshole.

The Second Amendment talks about a well regulated militia, which is a vastly different thing from the Army.

Army--Militia: They are two different institutions.

Again, I repeat that you don't understand the concept of the Second Amendment if you don't see how stupid that comment is.

This is why it doesn't need to be repealed, it needs to be understood.

“Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.”-Rep. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, 1789

Poor Cavecretin

He doesn't like me asking "Why the fuck.." and "What the fuck..." and calling people who fight restrictions on firarms purchasers nasty names.

Probly why poor widdle cavecretin likes talking about the Second Amendment, but is too scared to actually join the military. All those mean, nasty Drill Instructors. I'd love to hear what they would call him.

And I bet Cavecretin wets his bed.

That's really bad come inspection time, Cavecretin.

Not to mention I bet you are such a chickenshit that you wouldn't know what to do if the person you pull your gun on shoots back at you.

Guns are for pussies, but people who know that know they can beat the shit out of pussies like you.

The New Model Army?

The New Model Army of Great Britain was formed in 1645 by Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration. It was raised partly from among veteran soldiers who already had deeply-held Puritan religious convictions, and partly from conscripts who brought with them many commonly-held beliefs about religion or society.

I am amazed that there are organisations that try to convert those serving in the US Military to Christian Fundamentalism to make it a New Model Army.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has a history of religious freedom in the US military. Not to mention I've blogged that The First Amendment and Article VI of the Constitution provide for religious freedom.

Mikey Weinstein, a retired officer and activist for religious freedom in the military, published this communication from the wife of an American Muslim serving in the military:

…I wanted to let you know what life has been like for myself, being an American-Muslim military spouse, over the last few days here at (military installation withheld), since the Ft. Hood incident. When I first learned of this, I was sitting in the PX food court with my best friend whose immediate reaction was, “ No offense to you, but Muslims shouldn’t even be allowed in the U.S. Army”. Wow, this was from my best friend here! I have heard this and similar sentiments repeatedly from various “friends”, as well as people insisting it’s really a terror plot.

Since this happening, my Muslim husband, who is deployed to Afghanistan, has been put on duty to build a chapel on his base, as well as being told not to associate with the Afghan nationals that work there. I went shopping at the commissary and had people mumbling under their breath but loud enough to ensure that I could hear, things like, “get out of our country”, “go back to your country”, “ F-ing Muslims”, “G-Damn Muslims,” and several other expletives you can insert there. Now people don’t just stare at you when they see you go by wearing hijab, they glare. Last time I checked, I was born in this country, this is my country, and my husband is serving it and continues to serve it despite the harassment and racism he encounters. He proudly serves despite the fact that our family pays a higher price for it than many others.

I know that The United Kingdon has a state sanctioned Church, but how can the US condone intlerance in its military? And despite the state religion, The United Kingdom has worked to encourage diversity and understanding in recent years.

The first recorded Englishman to become a Muslim was John Nelson, who converted to Islam at some point in the 16th Century. In the 18th and 19th Centuries there were a number of converts to Islam amongst the English upper classes, including Edward Montagu, son of the ambassador to Turkey.

The first large group of Muslims in Britain arrived about 300 years ago. They were sailors recruited in India to work for the East India Company, and so it's not surprising that the first Muslim communities were found in port towns. Islam was not recognised until the Trinitarian Act in 1812, though Muslims were present prior to this. Today Islam is the second largest religion in the UK with recent estimates suggesting a Muslim population as high as 2.4 million, in part due to considerable immigration to the UK from its former colonies.

My question is why is the US so far behind the UK in recognising Islam? This is especially true considering the Treat of Tripoli I mentioned in my previous post.

I can take some guesses as to why the US demonises Islam, but none of those reasons would be valid ones for such an action.

Religious freedom takes on an additional importance in the current international environment, where religious motivations are an increasing rationale for waging conflict. At a time when the United States is encouraging greater freedom in Muslim nations, it is imperative upon America to show by example that religious pluralism is a viable and preferred option. Any sign of hypocrisy in United States policy, official or otherwise, toward the free exercise of religion within the military makes it more difficult to convince others to follow its example.

Muslim Backlash in the USA?

Why should the vast majority of peaceful people suffer from one insane person's actions?

I have a hard time understanding how some people in the US, in particular the religious right, can be religiously intolerant. The religious right of the founders' time were the ones who wanted religious neutrality from the Government.

I have a problem with people like the one who wrote in the Guestbook at ane exhibit on Jewish Soldiers in the Civil War at Ford's Theatre:
"You can't be a good American unless you are Christian."

I had to respond: "Sorry, but the United States is supposed to be religiously neutral. It doesn't matter what religion a person is, they can be a good American."

I found Naveed Ali Shah's blog when I was trying to learn what went down at Fort Hood. He's a public affairs specialist in the Army who has been deployed for the past 4 months. He is stationed stateside at Fort hood and his wife and child are there now. I watch his blog to see what is going on from a Soldier's point of view.

General George Casey said that “Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse.”

People need to understand that this was the action of one man and that Islam is one of the world's major religions and is the predominant religion in much of Africa, the Middle East and major parts of Asia. But muslims can come from anywhere. Americans have the misconception that all Muslims are Arabs and that all Arabs are Muslims. In fact, less than 20 percent of the Muslims in the world are Arab, and all Arab countries have populations that believe in other religions. The nation with the world's largest Islamic population is Indonesia -- 88 percent of its 280 million people are Muslims.

In the United States, Islam is the fastest growing religion, a trend fueled mostly by immigration. There are 5 million to 7 million Muslims in the United States. They make up between 10,000 and 20,000 members of the American military.

The word Islam is a homograph, having multiple meanings, and a triliteral of the word salaam, which directly translates as peace. Other meanings include submission, or the total surrender of oneself to God.

But some people prefer ignorance to the light.

Another muslim soldier, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, moved Colin Powell to say:

It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way.

The problem is that The American Family Association, a right wing Christian group is calling for no more Muslims in the military. I'd like to think that groups of this sort don't have much sway, but...

The problem is that the US is supposed to be religiously neutral. Article VI of the Constitution states that: "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

To prevent Muslims from Serivng in the US forces is unconstitutional. Moreover, we have to remember this from the Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1797.

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

Somehow that sentiment has been lost with the passing of time, which is a shame since the US should not demonise 1/5 the world's population.

I realise that the next passage was written by George Washington about the Jews, but it applies to all religions

The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my Administration, and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.

President John Tyler wrote in an 1843 letter:

"The United States have adventured upon a great and noble experiment, which is believed to have been hazarded in the absence of all previous precedent -- that of total separation of Church and State. No religious establishment by law exists among us. The conscience is left free from all restraint and each is permitted to worship his Maker after his own judgment. The offices of the Government are open alike to all. No tithes are levied to support an established Hierarchy, nor is the fallible judgment of man set up as the sure and infallible creed of faith. The Mohammedan, if he will to come among us would have the privilege guaranteed to him by the constitution to worship according to the Koran; and the East Indian might erect a shrine to Brahma, if it so pleased him. Such is the spirit of toleration inculcated by our political Institutions."

Ultimately, we must keep in mind what Army Chaplain (Capt.) Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad said regarding the need for understanding that their fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who are Muslim are just like they are non-muslims. "It's important for all of us to see ourselves as coming from the same origin," he said. "It's too easy for people to get off on what's different.

"People have a way of just being people," he continued. "That nature God has already put into us. There's not one Polish nature or Italian nature or Muslim nature or Christian nature. It's just human nature. When people get to the essence of what makes us who we are, then that's what binds us together.

"The Koran says that God created us different nations and tribes that we may come to know each other, not that we should hate or despise each other."

Response to Weer'd Beard

Who said:
I'll be making posts on people like you and your deplorable comments soon once things in my neck settle down.

Jeesus, you should stop sucking donkey dicks and calling it animal research. Especially if you're going to deep throat them.

Although, sucking off donkeys is a much better use of your time than wasting bandwidth with your moronic "opinions".

BTW, I didn't know that guys could do the "mudshark" although I have heard shit about Gerbils. Shoving a mudshark up your arse really doesn't qualify you as an Ichthyologist.

Anyway, I've always thought that Weer'd Beard meant that you were a twat ("He knew full well a woman hath no beard, yet something rough and hairy had appeared") and you just proved it. Especially after seeing a picture of you.

Or maybe you're a total dickhead looking at your pic.

BTW, isn't Mike W. 45limpdick?

Sorry, asshole, but I'm bang on. Your problem, 45limpdick, is that I am right and you are a cretin.

You just can't live with it.

What I quoted above in original language:
Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole,
And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,
And absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,
But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
Ful savourly, er he were war of this.
Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,
For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.
He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,
And seyde, fy! allas! what have I do?
Tehee! quod she, and clapte the wyndow to

You're gonna have to figure out where the above passage comes from!

Active Shooter Protocol

The technique for dealing with mass shootings is called the "active shooter Protocol". This means that the first responder goes towards the sound of the shooting,ignores the dead and wounded, identifies the threat, and neutralises the threat. No verbal commands, no chance for the shooter to surrender. The threat is active and in progress.

Anyone with a firearm who is not reconisable as security service will be considered a target.

The tactic is to move fast and use your firepower. It is the tactic used for dealing with an ambush in combat. Agress the ambushers and use your firepower. That's your best chance to survive.

The problem is that most people confuse plinking and target practise at the range for defensive training. They are not one in the same. Lots of people who know their weapons well don't know shit about defensive shooting tactics, active shooter tactics, or have any real combat shooting experience.

Add in that it takes just minutes for a shooting spree to end

At Virginia Tech, the diminutive, South Korean gunman brandishing a 9mm Glock 19 and a Walther P22 took out his first two victims in the early morning hours. He returned two hours later, chained shut the three main entrances to an educational building and opened fire into second-story classrooms. Thirty others were slain before the gunman turned a weapon on himself.

"The [second] shooting spree took him 9 minutes — 9 minutes to shoot 170 rounds and kill 30 people (ed., I've seen other estimates of 10-12 minutes)," says Tom Turner, director of campus safety at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. "The best thing a department can do is send in first responders to try to minimize death and injury, and neutralize the threat."

Likewise, the Fort Hood shootings were over quickly.

The minimum number of officers necessary to effectively utilize the active shooter protocol is three, though Gnagey recommends delaying entry until four officers arrive. A team of four in a diamond-shaped movement pattern — with one point officer, two flankers and a rear guard — permits officers to perform a 360-degree search and protect themselves from all sides. "We expect officers to use their head and evaluate the situation. They can go in by themselves if they have to," DeAndrea adds. "That's not the best way to operate. But if it's taking place in front of you, you don't wait. You go in and save lives."

The contact team treks toward the gunshots if they know where they're coming from. This team must disregard victims; it's only priority is to stop the threat, says DeAndrea. Traditional tactics go by the wayside in that officers move directly toward the threat. "They are marching to the sound of the gun," he says. "When they hear shots fired, that's where they respond to." On their heels, at least in the Arvada PD, is a rescue team, tagged with the responsibility of evacuating survivors and wounded individuals.

The response remains fluid and officers must adapt accordingly, Gnagey emphasizes. If officers arrive on-scene and notice large-caliber bullet holes in cars, buildings or houses, they know the shooter isn't firing a handgun and the superior firepower of a rifle is needed. Likewise, if gunshots cease and the shooter's location remains unknown, then officers slow their advance and begin opening doors and exploring empty rooms. If the gunman begins firing again, the team accelerates and foregoes searching until it reaches the subject.

Their ability to adapt cannot end once the shooter is found, adds Gnagey. For example, if officers discover the suspect in a room full of kids, they must transition to the response tactics prescribed for a hostage-barricade situation and summon SWAT. As the situation shifts to a tactical operation, responding officers must lockdown the room and maintain the perimeter until SWAT gets there. But if the gunman begins firing at hostages, and SWAT has yet to arrive, responding officers need to storm in.

Active Shooter Protocol
Active shooter events are unpredictable, dynamic, rapidly evolving, multi-variable situations requiring rapid response by law enforcement. If this facility experiences an active shooter situation, you should take the following actions:
5. Points to remember:
* There may be more than one (1) shooter
* Do not touch anything in the area, as it is a crime scene
* Prepare a plan of action in advance - predetermine possible escape routes for
yourself, and always know where exits are located
* DO NOT go to a Shelter-in-Place site
* When fleeing, get as far away from the shooting scene as quickly and safely
possible - do not take/carry anything with you
6. Police response and you:
* Police will quickly respond to the area in which shots were last heard and attempt
to immediately engage/contain the active shooter
* First arriving officers will not stop to assist the injured, or evacuate personnel
* Remain calm
* Do exactly as police tell you
* Keep your hands empty and visible at all times
* If you know where the shooter is, quickly tell the officers
* DO NOT get in the way of officers

Got that, Junior Rambos?

Or do you want to get your sorry arses shot? That isn't a bad thing though to have your idiotic arses shot for just being stupid.

Who's the Bird?

In the previous post?
Why Eve Myles, of course. Eve is telling us she loves Caerdydd (Cardiff in English).

You may know her from Torchwood and Dr. Who (which is an anagram of Torchwood)

Eve is a native Welsh speaker from Ystradgynlais.