That last post there was post number 40,000. And yesterday was the 8 year anniversary of this blog. Holy crap.

ETA: And, in the next month or so, it will hit 5M visits and roughly 9M page views.

I was driving somewhere the other day with my son in the car (he’s four). I didn’t know the location and typed it into the GPS. I’d never used it with him in the car before. He stared intently, realizing that it was a map of where we were, the roads, and where we were going. For the whole 20 minute trip, he was enthralled with it. Finally, he asked me Daddy, why aren’t the other cars on there?

And I laughed.

Then I wondered exactly what percentage of cars actually have GPS systems? I’d say quite a few. And if the GPS systems transmit as well as receive? Mine transmits since it’s a Droid. Then it occurred to me that if cars with GPS systems transmitted their location, then someone could use that information for live traffic reporting. A bunch of GPS systems in one spot would indicate a problem.

Technology is kinda scary.

Racism in Resident Evil:

A controversy raged about whether the game was racist or not. For my part, I’ve written elsewhere how the bugged-out eyes and animalistic savagery of the zombie attackers in “Resident Evil 5” reminded me of racist imagery used to perpetuate stereotypes and ignorance about black people.

Even more pathetic is the promise of increased cultural sensitivity. In a game about killing zombies. I shit you not. And folks wonder why accusations of racism are yawned at.

In other news, I don’t care if you’re a white zombie or a black zombie. I’m braining you. Especially white zombies because their music sucks.

Why Do Heavy Drinkers Outlive Nondrinkers?

Via Les Jones, whose headline wins the internet.

This morning, I woke up and it was 68 degrees at my house. That’s the first sub 70 temperature I can remember.

Roll your eyes at a public meeting and your elected officials kick you out.

Chicago decided to play some dirty pool and get the case reassigned as a delaying tactic. And Gura tried to get a temporary restraining order, with no luck. I’m not a lawyer so that’s my limited understanding. More from Sebastian.

I’ve uploaded a transcript here

Only racist some of the time.

Exploding Blog! Stuff blowing up, what more could you want?

Via david.

This is my shocked face. If you’re a gang banger, not big deal. When you apply for a permit to lawfully own a handgun, the full force of law comes into play pretty quick.

That is pretty damn cool.

Not a war of ideas:

It is time to pop the tea baggers’ favorite balloon (so what if it will be replaced by another?), and with that in mind I hereby offer to negotiate a $100,000 payday to the person who will come forward with a sex tape or phone records or anything else that succeeds in removing Glenn Beck from the public eye forever.

Classy.

Unnamed Republicans have 10% lead over unnamed Democrats.

Handgun carry at Carrabas: Does their sign comply with the law?

Bear in mind that while it may not be a criminal offense, if they ask you to leave and you do not, you are trespassing.

Me in 2006:

Since the .gov has such broad authority despite my right to abortion err privacy to poke around willy nilly in my financial dealings, my various financial institutions are obligated by law to report when I do something out of the ordinary, and all my wage info is sent automatically to the .gov via payroll providers, why don’t they just go ahead and do my taxes for me?

Now, the presidential advisory board says it’s actually something to think about.

And, shocking, there’s not a lot of realistic gun handling in movies.

Not so much.

You can’t have a gun at a school. That’s illegal.

And hats off to student resource officer Carolyn Gudger, who appears to have handled this situation darn near perfectly.

Sig Enhanced Elite

Shorty

Arfcom gun porn thread

or uncertain what the term ‘fleeing‘ means. Fleeing is apparently a synonym for turning around and trying to shoot you.

ETA: The word ‘fleeing’ has gone down the memory hole.

The California senate rejects the open carry ban.

Fried beer?

So much fail:

The GOP built its power on the Southern Strategy. After the Democrats finally, a hundred year too late, did the right thing and removed the racists from their party, the GOP welcomed them with open arms.

Yet, it’s taken as gospel truth among Democrats.

Coal Creek Armory has some links about the recent changes.

For NRA, the dust up over whether or not the support him could never have ended well for them. The problem is the methodology for determining grades, which usually (but not always) is the basis for their endorsements. While a politician like Reid has a good record voting for gun rights, other actions overshadow those votes, such as support for anti-gun Supreme Court Justices. And toeing the party line.

The good: NRA listened to its base and learned they were not happy. Apparently, they were serious about this Supreme Court justice business.

The bad: this brings to light flaws in the ranking of the yay or nay voting system.

The ugly: Reid kept a lot of anti-gun bills from ever seeing the light of day. And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Obsolescence, a new name for eminent domain.

Christina Walsh:

Imagine you come home from work one day to a notice on your front door that you have 45 days to demolish your house, or the city will do it for you. Oh, and you’re paying for it.

This is happening right now in Montgomery, Ala., and here is how it works: The city decides it doesn’t like your property for one reason or another, so it declares it a “public nuisance.” It mails you a notice that you have 45 days to demolish your property, at your expense, or the city will do it for you (and, of course, bill you).

Your tab with the city will constitute a lien on your property, and if you don’t pay it within 30 days (or pay your installments on time; if you owe over $10,000, you can work out a deal to pay back the city for destroying your home over a period of time, with interest), the city can sell your now-vacant land to the highest bidder.

One in five people are OK with warrantless GPS tracking of citizens.

Gods don’t kill people. People with gods kill people

In Murfreesboro, TN, a mosque is expanding. Folks are upset about it. At the site, there’s been arson and shots fired.

Rusty has the latest.

Mike discusses defending against legal threats to your range. More here.