I’ll carry the revolver loaded with one round of shot for *two* reasons. 1. It’s a critter that has gotten inside. 2. It’s a kid. Yes, I know that the feral little savages may be packing and may happily shoot me for a thrill. They could also just be stupid punks. If they’re being stupid, they get a “whiff of grape” so to speak, and the chance to leave, and live. If they don’t surrender, or run, but come forward after that, or reach for anything, then the Tokarev will speak.
True story and rare poker blogging
I play Texas Hold ‘em poker with friends on occasion and this really happened. I’m dealt a pocket pair of fours. With a pair (even a low one), I’ll stay in at least for the flop. So, I do and flop is most kind when it reveals another four, a five and a face card. Three of a kind on the flop, I think. Sweet. Now, not to overplay and scare folks whose money I want off, I slow play a bit. Everyone folds but me and one guy. The turn turns out to be another four. Sweet, four of a kind. I am invincible! I bet more aggressively. The opponent stays in. The river, another five. You play four of a kind to win because the odds dictate you do that. I’m all in. My opponent is too. I assume he’s riding a face card full house or he’s overplaying a three of a kind.
He flips over a pocket pair of fives. Son of a bitch. Four fours beat by four fives. He looks at me and says: Look on the bright side. That will probably never happen to you again as long as you live.
Not sure if anyone will take them up on it, but this is a good idea:
Each candidate will be provided with a blog on KnoxNews.com. On it, you can post whatever information you want about yourself or your campaign. Visitors to the Web site will be able to post comments or questions on your blog (you have the ability to delete any comments you want). We will be promoting these blogs online and in print.
I don’t like the deleting comments bit (profanity and questionable content excluded, of course) as it indicates a fear of dissent.
The epic battle of Tom v. Kevin discussing the impacts of culture, poverty, guns and welfare on crime has kicked up a notch. Tom responded to Kevin’s bit here. Kevin has responded to that response here. Behind on my reading so I’ve not read Kevin’s response yet. These two should get a room.
According to everyone, I was wrong in this post. Modern portable phones apparently are cellular.
Publicola, who’s in Colorado, looks at the case of the kid arrested for posing with guns on his myspace account, which I mentioned here. The police should have done something. After all, if this kid later went on a shooting spree at a school and this info came to light, we’d all be criticizing the cops. That said, I think the police should have just informed the parents and not arrested him for not breaking the law.
It’s been a year since the Supreme Court ruled on Kelo, and her house is still there.
Blake notes:
Clay Palmer, a college student who honked his horn at a police officer, had his ticket reduced to a warning in Chatanooga (sic). The student was honking in protest to the officer turning on his blue lights to go through a traffic light only to turn them off after he went through. Palmer was charged with violating the city’s noise ordinance.
I realize and appreciate the need for officers to occasionally and in the course of duty to be able to disregard some traffic laws. But that doesn’t appear to be the case if he turned around just to get some guy for being a smart ass. If they’re not in pursuit, they should abide by traffic laws for the safety of others. If he’d ran that light and caused an accident, that would be inexcusable.
Michael Silence brings us some good news:
Businesses shouldn’t have to pay property tax on their computer software, an administrative law judge ruled.
The order came last week from administrative judge Pete Loesch in a case filed by Nashville-based American Healthways Inc., challenging an attempt by the Davidson County assessor to include computer applications on a personal property tax schedule.
There was a push recently to get a law that taxed software into effect. Last I heard, it was stopped.
Last week I brought you the story of Mark Edward Marchiafava, whose unlawful arrest by Gonzales, La. police and subsequent confiscation of his property raised the ire of Liberty Zone readers. This morning, I’m gratified to tell you that Mark took a trip to Gonzales yesterday and retrieved both his weapon and his bail money.
H/t David.
Generally, it’s not a good idea to take pictures of yourself doing something illegal. It’s dumber to post those pics on Al Gore’s Internets. That’s why I don’t have much sympathy for this guy:
A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday after postings on the popular Web site MySpace.com allegedly showed him holding handguns, authorities said.
Police searched the boy‘s home after receiving a tip from Evergreen High School on Feb. 10, the same day he was suspended, officials said.
One photo allegedly showed him lying on a floor surrounded by nine rifles with the caption, “Angel o‘ death on wings o‘ lead.”
Not sure why he was arrested exactly as the article doesn’t mention the charges. I would assume he was likely in illegal possession of a handgun since he’s a minor. Anyone else know?
Update: Apparently, it is not illegal for a minor to be in possession of a handgun in CO as long as he has parental permission. CBS4Denver reports:
A student at Evergreen High School was arrested and charged with having weapons after he posted pictures of himself on MySpace.com.
The pictures were brought to the attention of the school by a parent and the principal contacted the sheriff’s department.
In one of the photos, the teen was surrounded by nine rifles and was holding two handguns with a caption that read, “Angel o’ death on wings o’ lead.”
“That’s pretty disturbing, a kid with guns you know,” said a student at the teen’s school.
Sure, it’s disturbing but it’s not illegal. Why would the parent and principal not contact the kid’s parents first?
Insty reports Michelle Malkin’s site has been hacked. I didn’t notice because her RSS feeds still worked. Another reason to use feeds! Actually, Malkin reports it’s a DOS attack.
Update: That was quick. She’s back up.
Seen at ar15.com, when someone says Convince me as to why 5.56 is “enough”:
The conclusion of almost every informed discussion on the matter is that 5.56mm fucks people up
Heh:
Also recovered were six inert grenades, a military knife with a swastika on the handle and the phrase “Blut und Ehre”–German for “blood and honor”–on the blade and an AR-15 rifle (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). Police allege the man was trying to convert the semi-automatic machine gun to fully automatic, a violation of federal law.
Err, if it’s a machine gun, it is capable of fully automatic fire. If it’s semi-automatic, it is not. Looks to me like they corrected the wrong sentence.
More proof that the VPC, Brady Campaign, and Million Mom March propaganda is working, at least on the press.
In what should be a shock to no one, cell phones* don’t actually interfere with hospital equipment:
Despite signs in hospitals nationwide, little evidence exists that modern cellphone use interferes with medical equipment, and allowing doctors to use cellphones decreases medical errors, a paper in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia finds.
Cellphone bans in hospitals are “annoying, and you’re doing it for no reason. It’s all voodoo,” says Roy Soto, an anesthesiologist at Stony Brook University in New York and lead author of the paper in the February issue.
I’m also guessing they don’t interfere with airplanes. But, in either location, I don’t want to be around some loud talker on their phone. I think these policies are to minimize annoyance to other hospital customers who may be pre-occupied with a steering wheel imbedded in their chest or a heart attack. In other words, they are policies to keep you from being a dick.
When Junior was born, we were at the hospital for near two days. Signs said no cell phones. Yet, each doctor had one and they were on and they answered them. They also had pagers. The reason is no doubt for emergencies and increased efficiency in communication. And I have no issue with that. However, when at the hospital or on a plane and otherwise occupied or just wanting quiet, I don’t want to hear some loud-talking, self-important executive type with the sniffles yammering on and on about shifting paradigms and leveraging resources.
And Mythbusters says they don’t cause explosions at gas pumps either.
* And, yes, I know it’s very rare to actually see a cellular phone these days. Most phones are not cellular at all.
I’ve posted on my issues with Tasers (more specifically their application) before. Well, this is a new one:
“Taser! Taser!” Cassidy shouted as she sent a two-pronged wire, packing 50,000 volts, at Crouch’s chest. What happened next stunned everyone.
A Taser probe pierced the pocket of his khaki shirt — and ignited the butane lighter inside. Cassidy’s pocket exploded in flames.
“The subject,” recounted Sgt. Al Tolley in a subsequent report, “immediately dropped the knife.”
In the past, I’d see articles like this screed against how certain dog breeds are just evil and I’d feel inclined to comment about the inherent stupidity of the person who wrote it and how they’re selective with the facts and how their personal tale of tragedy impairs their objectivity. Now, I just don’t give a fuck. Sure, I still like to blog. Sure, I still oppose breed specific laws. Just don’t feel the need to comment but felt the need to comment on the fact that I don’t feel the need to comment. Weird, huh?
Am I burnt out? Uncaring? Or is it because I’ve addressed it all before? Not sure. I think it’s the realization that the people are fed lies and misinformation every day from supposedly credible news sources and there’s really not a lot I can do about it. So, there you have it.
Bitter has a lot on the NRA and its future. I didn’t realize there numbers were down so much. I’d re-join in a minute if they’d actually get on any gun issue that’s important to me.
A while back, discussing how movies these days basically suck, I wrote:
Find the most complex, attention getting conspiracy theory and make a movie out of it. Seriously, New World Order, black helicopters, John Titor, Scientology, pick one. Sure, they’re so far-fetched but, dammit, they’re entertaining. Is it sad that I’d rather read the ramblings of crazy people and scam artists than go to a damn movie.
Well, guess what. Looks like there will be one (link on left side). Not sure if it’s going to be a big Hollywood production (looks independent – meaning low budget – to me). Still, good idea.
In the middle of the night, I want something simple and effective. That’s a wheelgun with stopping power.
My strategy will not work for everyone because houses are laid out differently and there are different circumstances (I have no children, for example). This is only what I’d do, so make your plans accordingly. And you should have a plan just in case you wake up to a thief or worse in the night.
She has more.
To Tom for getting his concealed carry permit. He was surprised they gave them to Democrats. Hopefully when he’s next in town, I’ll take him gun shopping.
I got nothing to say about the really stupid decision to allow port regulation by the UAE folks that hasn’t already been said. It’s short-sighted and stupid. It’s also indicative of the fact that Bush is someone’s croney for whatever reason. Quid pro quo? Tit for tat? Something lame and America could suffer for it. And Phelps nails it:
I’m honestly flabbergasted. I just don’t get it. No veto on any prospective Scary Weapons Ban. Not pork laden budget after pork laden budget. Not the Medicare Drugs fiasco. But letting foreign companies accept contracts for American civil service. That is the foundation of our republic, and the thing that we send George W. Bush to the White House to protect.
Some guns cost an arm and a leg. I had no idea they could cost even more then I would pay.
Article is old, but the message is worth noting.
Remember your audience. But Uncle, you’re preaching to the converted.
In the comments section at Crooked Timber, Doctor Slack takes me to task (and perhaps rightfully) for using rhetoric that is, uhm, over the top:
Now, it’s entirely possible that Nick is making unfair assumptions about you on that score. It’s very easy to misread ommon (sic) forms of hyperbole in people’s everyday discourse and come to mistaken conclusions about them as a result. Maybe you’re usage of that hyperbole comes tagged in your mind with all the necessary implied caveats about gun safety and moral rectitude and not actually blowing someone away for the hell of it.
Specifically, he took issue with this quote:
If you’re in my home uninvited rummaging through my belongings, I will lawfully assume that you mean me and my loved ones harm. You will be considered a hostile target. The only warning you will receive will be the 230 grain, jacketed hollow point piercing your flesh.
Yes, it is a bit heavy on the rhetoric. I write for me and for my audience who tend to share my views and knowledge of the gun issue, with some exceptions, of course. But he is correct that my language may overshadow my point in terms of preaching to the non-converted. In other words, a reference to popping a cap in someone’s ass isn’t going to convince a soccer mom that I’m correct. Sure, I could have flowered it up with a few ‘if, then’ statements or reference to ensuring the safety of loved ones or how if you’re in my home I would feel absolutely no obligation to allow you to justify your reason for being there or whatever else to make it more palatable to a more squeamish audience or passers-by from a comment thread elsewhere.
But we all engage in over the top or unfair rhetoric on some issues. For example, anti-choice, selected not elected, why do they hate America, stay out of my uterus, or [insert your convenient political catchphrase that fits on a bumper sticker] here. The power of language, and more specifically, rhetorical choices has an impact on the debate. It can lead to thought-provoking exchanges or complete disregard for someone who may otherwise make a decent point. After all, Doctor Slack probably would not have responded if I used less-offensive language. As a for instance (warning: foul, foul, potty mouthed language follows – click more at your own risk and expense):
Read the rest of this entry »
In a new twist on gun buyback programs:
The Philadelphia 76ers and police officials Tuesday announced a program aimed at curbing gun violence by exchanging tickets for guns.
The one-week program opens Wednesday. Anyone can bring a working gun into a city police station and exchange it for a voucher good for a pair of tickets to an upcoming 76ers game, no questions asked.
Looks like support for the voter passed ban is scarce among others:
On Thursday morning, a lawyer with the city attorney’s office will try to convince a judge that a voter-passed initiative banning handguns and restricting other firearms is allowed by state law.
But save the four members of the Board of Supervisors who placed it on the ballot last November, the ordinance appears to have few prominent friends, even among national gun control advocates.
Mayor Gavin Newsom all but disowned it just before Election Day. State Attorney General Bill Lockyer and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, strong advocates of assault-weapons bans, have taken no position on the San Francisco law. Of four national gun control groups, only one, which is based here, has submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting it.
Meanwhile, national and state gun rights organizations, along with groups representing movie industry armorers and San Francisco police officers, have jumped into the fray, offering briefs to overturn the law.
Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.
Uncle Pays the Bills
 |
|
Find Local
|
