If it looks like boilerplate and quacks like boilerplate...
But at least the response was on-topic, so I'm assuming that someone read it! (I once wrote former Speaker Pelosi on a gun control measure, her office replied about some Child Custody Act. Wait, what?)
Anyhow, here's what I got back in return from Assymn Jim Beall (Assymn for my district):
----- SNIP -----
Dear Mr. Kelley:
Thank you for contacting me regarting your opposition to SB798, Firearms: BB Devices, Imitation Fireaerms. I want to take this opportunity to apprise you of the latest action taken by the California State Legislature.
At this time, SB798 is awaiting a vote before the Assembly Public Safety Committee. I have not yet had the opportunity to vote on this legislation. I am currently reviewing this bill in its final form so that I can make the most informed decision possible on this piece of legislation. Please be assured that I will keep the views of all my constituents in mind, including yours, should SB798 pass out of Committee and come before me for a vote in the Assembly.
I appreciate knowing your views on this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me again regarding this or any issues of concern to you.
----- SNIP -----
The last two paragraphs of the letter are fairly standard - where to find text of bills, monthly newsletter signup, and like that.
As I said - if it looks like boilerplate and sounds like boilerplate... I've gotten plenty of letters back of similar format on other issues - but at least getting another checkmark in the "No" column on his list, and hoping some staffer tells him what was read, will help.
It can't be a "government of the people" if the people don't make their views known. Meanwhile, I may be writing the Chair of the committee mentioned in the next day or so - probably sometime this week-end. Seems to me that the California legislature should have much larger concerns before them anyhow...
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Going from bad to worse...
Apparently, they're thinking that airguns are just as "dangerous" as real firearms. I see two major flaws in the "logic" at use here:
1) There are no "dangerous weapons" - only "dangerous men."
2) Airguns, firearms, airsoft guns, paintball markers - they're all inanimate objects, and can take about as much action on their own as the typical brick. It's the guy HOLDING it that does something stupid and gets himself hurt!
That said, here's what's going on now - read the link: http://sd22.senate.ca.gov/news/2011-04-26-press-releaselegislation-protect-police-and-public-dangers-fake-firearms-passes-out-
And here's what I had to say about it:
----- SNIP -----
Senator de Leon;
I am writing to you in protest of your SB798. It is my belief that this is ultimately going to be an unproductive bit of legislation that we just don't need.
SB798 continues the "animation" of firearms and related objects, attributing them with their own volition and ability to take real action. They can not, and they do not.
The incident that has prompted your writing of SB798 was not caused by the use of a replica firearm - or even a real firearm - but by the inability of an individual to follow simple instructions. If I'd failed to lay down whatever I had in my hands when ordered to, I'd fully expect to get shot myself! And this would be MY fault, not the fault of something I had in my hands.
As an avid airgunner and enjoyer of MILSIM (Military Simulation) scenario games, I take issue with the idea of making all airguns "obvious" - after all, it rather defeats the purpose of camouflage, and would make the play of MILSIM scenarios difficult to impossible! Have you ever tried to camouflage yourself with bright blue or red gear? It doesn't work very well.
I grow weary of the anthropomorphisation of inanimate objects by legislators - instead of addressing the real problem, which is the individual HOLDING the inanimate object!
I will also be sending this letter to the State legistlators for my district, and I honestly hope that we can have this act defested and the source of the problem properly addressed - the problem is a lack of education, not the colour of the objects used. (California had taken a similar tack with fireworks some years ago - and, despite fireworks being illegal, I'm sure we still log a large number of pyrotechnic injuries around July and February. It is difficult to educate people about something when it has been outlawed...)
Jon D. Kelley
San Jose, CA 95118
----- SNIP -----
If you're in California, and you think this is a dumb idea, write in. If you're NOT in California, and you think this is a dumb idea, I still urge you to write in (California is often hailed as a "bellwhether" in the field of legislation - and stupid ideas always spread.
(Granted, I think California is more of a "Judas Goat" than a "bellwhether" when it comes to things like this, but I need help convincing others of that!)
If and when I get replies, I'll put them up here as well. I'm sending out written letters, so it may take a bit. Wish me luck!
("Bellwhether" - the sheep in the flock that wears a bell to lead the others. "Judas Goat" - the goat with a bell that leads the other goats into the slaughterhouse.)
1) There are no "dangerous weapons" - only "dangerous men."
2) Airguns, firearms, airsoft guns, paintball markers - they're all inanimate objects, and can take about as much action on their own as the typical brick. It's the guy HOLDING it that does something stupid and gets himself hurt!
That said, here's what's going on now - read the link: http://sd22.senate.ca.gov/news/2011-04-26-press-releaselegislation-protect-police-and-public-dangers-fake-firearms-passes-out-
And here's what I had to say about it:
----- SNIP -----
Senator de Leon;
I am writing to you in protest of your SB798. It is my belief that this is ultimately going to be an unproductive bit of legislation that we just don't need.
SB798 continues the "animation" of firearms and related objects, attributing them with their own volition and ability to take real action. They can not, and they do not.
The incident that has prompted your writing of SB798 was not caused by the use of a replica firearm - or even a real firearm - but by the inability of an individual to follow simple instructions. If I'd failed to lay down whatever I had in my hands when ordered to, I'd fully expect to get shot myself! And this would be MY fault, not the fault of something I had in my hands.
As an avid airgunner and enjoyer of MILSIM (Military Simulation) scenario games, I take issue with the idea of making all airguns "obvious" - after all, it rather defeats the purpose of camouflage, and would make the play of MILSIM scenarios difficult to impossible! Have you ever tried to camouflage yourself with bright blue or red gear? It doesn't work very well.
I grow weary of the anthropomorphisation of inanimate objects by legislators - instead of addressing the real problem, which is the individual HOLDING the inanimate object!
I will also be sending this letter to the State legistlators for my district, and I honestly hope that we can have this act defested and the source of the problem properly addressed - the problem is a lack of education, not the colour of the objects used. (California had taken a similar tack with fireworks some years ago - and, despite fireworks being illegal, I'm sure we still log a large number of pyrotechnic injuries around July and February. It is difficult to educate people about something when it has been outlawed...)
Jon D. Kelley
San Jose, CA 95118
----- SNIP -----
If you're in California, and you think this is a dumb idea, write in. If you're NOT in California, and you think this is a dumb idea, I still urge you to write in (California is often hailed as a "bellwhether" in the field of legislation - and stupid ideas always spread.
(Granted, I think California is more of a "Judas Goat" than a "bellwhether" when it comes to things like this, but I need help convincing others of that!)
If and when I get replies, I'll put them up here as well. I'm sending out written letters, so it may take a bit. Wish me luck!
("Bellwhether" - the sheep in the flock that wears a bell to lead the others. "Judas Goat" - the goat with a bell that leads the other goats into the slaughterhouse.)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A few words on Pain -
For most of you, "pain" is merely a word, and representative of something to be avoided. At most, "pain" is a temporary condition to be muddled through and then move on from.
Pain does have its uses - after all, it's a signal from the body to tell you that there is something wrong. It's also a useful evolutionary mechanism for learning - pain motivates you from doing something wrong to doing something right. That's what makes corporal punishment effective - when used properly. After all, didn't I just say that pain was something to be avoided?
However, there are those of us out here who suffer from chronic pain - for various reasons. It may be due to an illness, an old injury (or several!) a chemical imbalance in the body - and we don't even know all of the potential causes for chronic pain (for instance, there is a condition called "fibromyalgia." We don't know what causes it, we're only just figuring out how to manage it, but we aren't anywhere near finding a cure for it. My wife has it - so I've been learning a great deal.)
For me, the pain is due to old injuries - primarily fractures. Over the years I've accumulated quite a few fractures and deep scars, and all have left their marks on me. After a while, they became a source of CONSTANT pain.
For you, pain is probably something that can be avoided. For me (and my wife, and quite a few others,) pain is a constant companion throughout the day. Surgery can't fix it, medication can only dull it - it hurts from when we wake up to when we finally fall asleep, and then it starts all over again when we wake up the next day. Some days it's worse, some days it's better.
In my case, it ranges from good days of "merely annoying and mildly distracting" to bad days of "would somebody please kill me?" (I'm only mildly joking there - but even death, to date, has been a temporary inconvenience for me. I'm not sure it would work, but there are days where it hurts just to get out of bed and go take a leak...)
Headaches? Yeah, I can understand those - I've had a headache since NOV2007. Yes, I'm being medicated for it. Yes, I'm seeing a neurologist. Yes, she's just as in the dark about what's causing it as I am - and we've both looked at MRIs of my head (I can probably sketch the anatomy of my head from memory by now...) and we've been through a series of medications for it (and I'll probably be trying something new next time I go see her. The current med is losing effectiveness.)
Your boss probably talks about "having a headache and coming to work anyway" - I've got to deal with it all day, every day, without a break. Again, it varies in intensity from "distracting" to "disorienting" - I have days where my head hurts bad enough that I can't even see straight.
Recall I mentioned fractures? Most people think there's nothing to the "myth" that a drop in barometric pressure makes old fractures hurt - I'm here to tell you, it's no myth. I'm a reasonably accurate barometer, just going from the pain I'm feeling. Even if TSA weren't being an compleat and utter useless pain in the ass, I still wouldn't be able to fly - airliner cabins are only pressurised to 8000' MSL, and that's well below my "pain threshhold" for barometric pressure. I'd need a dose of morphine and fentanyl before I could spend any signficant time at altitude - I travel by train or car.
Considering the LOCATIONS of the fractures I've had - I've broken my neck in two places and shattered my face, among others - and you can see how it can rapidly get to be incapacitating. The barometer gets below 29.70" Hg, and my pain level spikes rather sharply. The barometer drops below 29.40" Hg, and I can't concentrate. If/when it manages to get below 29.00" Hg, I can't even get out of bed. Not /won't/ - CAN'T. It literally hurts too much to move.
And through all of this, I have people telling me I should at least get a part-time job. I can't do that. No-one is willing to accept someone - no matter how good he is! - working "if and when" and needing to be able to take time off rather suddenly, even in the middle of a shift.
I've managed to find something I can do most of the time - that's why I'm writing my books. Maybe they'll take off and I can get something useful done with my writing - but it's something I can work on in my own time, and if I need to take time off from doing it, I can. I can set my own schedule (primarily nocturnal,) I can stop doing it or take time off from it with little to no notice, I don't have to deal with a boss telling me to "just tough it out" (I swear, the next man who tells me that is going to be used for a battering ram on the nearest masonry wall. That's why I'm writing this - TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. I hurt, and I can't move fast, but I'm far from weak.)
For exercise, about the most I can manage is to walk around the block once or twice a day - it's all I can do. Sometimes, I get around once and can't walk anymore - and whether I'm trying to go around once or twice, I take a cane so I can unload my knees if one of them should start playing up on me. I try to carry it rather than use it, but it's better to have it available.
I won't get into the other medical side effects I've been experiencing from major CNS trauma (I've got a few - and about a dozen MDs on my consultation list...) as this post is supposed to be about PAIN.
However, it's the PAIN aspect of it all that I most want people to try to understand. The problem with pain is that it can't be seen from the outside, and we usually manage to minimise the display of it (for instance, I ALWAYS limp. However, most of the time, the limping can really only be seen by someone who is either trained to notice it - an orthopaedist, osteopath, physical therapist, or similar; or by someone who is a keen observer. Most people can't see it.) Most sufferers of chronic pain can understand me when I say, "I wasn't born - the stoic brought me." Stoicism is equally a part of daily life - just as much as pain is.
We do odd things - some positions relieve the pain we're in.
We often eat odd things - I've found that spicy food (which I enjoy anyhow!) helps to mitigate pain. I've found that's due to the OC that makes hot peppers hot. Fine by me - I've got a decent collection of hot sauces anyhow...
When we say that we can't do something - it's because the pain either prevents us or interferes so badly that it's more difficult than you can imagine. Listen to us when we say it, and try to help us if you can - it's easier all around.
We don't usually talk about how much pain we're in - suffice it to say that, if a sufferer of chronic pain is actually vocally complaining about it, it's probably enough that it would overload you and render you unconscious. We don't have a phenomenal tolerance for pain because we WANT it, believe me! We have it because that's the only way we can really function in any capacity.
For fellow sufferers, a few things I've found out:
- Typical over-the-counter painkillers rapidly lose effectiveness. I can take Tylenol, Advil, or aspirin by the handful and it don't do nothing - therefore, I quit years ago.
- If you can handle it, eating spicy foods can and do help. I love going to Mongolian BBQ - both because I like spicy food anyhow, and because I feel better when I leave. I also have an extensive collection of hot sauces in the fridge - I like variety. Even something relatively mild (Bufalo Chipotle sauce - pleasant smoky flavour and a good pepper bite) can help you - chew on the idea.
- Getting drunk helps, but reserve that for when you want to totally take a break. Most of the time, you REALLY pay for it the next morning (I've heard that hangovers are bad - but I don't get them. However, having all of the pain come rushing back is NOT fun.)
- Pick a physical therapist's brain. You'll probably get some exercises or movements that you can do to help mitigate your pain - and you should be able to do most of them in your chair at work (if you're working) or at your desk at home (if you're not.) You might also pick up how to make something small that will help you, or can buy something relatively cheap that you'll get a good deal of use out of.
- Study anatomy. Learn how joints work - particularly if you have joints affected by pain. You can learn to do movements and exercises on your own that will help you, or what motions to avoid to make the pain worse.
- Medical care is a two-way street. The thing I've noted in common with most people who complain about "quality of care" is that the place TOTAL faith in the white coat. Ask questions. Question what you're told, just a bit. Make notes to refer to in between appointments, and keep in touch with your doctors. If you put some more INTO your appointments, you'll get a Hell of a lot more OUT of them! I make it a point to learn something new every time I go to see a doctor, and that has helped me considerably. Bear in mind that your MD doesn't have all the answers, even if he won't admit to it (the good ones do.) And, there's probably going to be a difference between the answer you get if you don't tell them anything and the answer you'll get if you inform them - and the informed answer you'll get from them will be much more effective.
- If you live with someone, ask their opinion of what they see you doing every now and again. When you're in pain, you're too close to the problem, and you may not notice something useful. My wife and I (both sufferers) keep an eye on each other, and let each other know if we see something different. Comes in handy - because each of us has indeed noticed something in the other that we didn't notice ourselves (does that make sense?)
If you're IN pain, I hope that the tips help, and I hope that reading something by a kindred spirit helps you as well.
If you're NOT in pain, I hope this helps you understand what those of us who ARE in pain go through - every day. It's far from everything that could be said on the subject, but it's probably a good deal more than you knew already - and that was what I was trying to do when I wrote this.
Good luck, everyone!
Pain does have its uses - after all, it's a signal from the body to tell you that there is something wrong. It's also a useful evolutionary mechanism for learning - pain motivates you from doing something wrong to doing something right. That's what makes corporal punishment effective - when used properly. After all, didn't I just say that pain was something to be avoided?
However, there are those of us out here who suffer from chronic pain - for various reasons. It may be due to an illness, an old injury (or several!) a chemical imbalance in the body - and we don't even know all of the potential causes for chronic pain (for instance, there is a condition called "fibromyalgia." We don't know what causes it, we're only just figuring out how to manage it, but we aren't anywhere near finding a cure for it. My wife has it - so I've been learning a great deal.)
For me, the pain is due to old injuries - primarily fractures. Over the years I've accumulated quite a few fractures and deep scars, and all have left their marks on me. After a while, they became a source of CONSTANT pain.
For you, pain is probably something that can be avoided. For me (and my wife, and quite a few others,) pain is a constant companion throughout the day. Surgery can't fix it, medication can only dull it - it hurts from when we wake up to when we finally fall asleep, and then it starts all over again when we wake up the next day. Some days it's worse, some days it's better.
In my case, it ranges from good days of "merely annoying and mildly distracting" to bad days of "would somebody please kill me?" (I'm only mildly joking there - but even death, to date, has been a temporary inconvenience for me. I'm not sure it would work, but there are days where it hurts just to get out of bed and go take a leak...)
Headaches? Yeah, I can understand those - I've had a headache since NOV2007. Yes, I'm being medicated for it. Yes, I'm seeing a neurologist. Yes, she's just as in the dark about what's causing it as I am - and we've both looked at MRIs of my head (I can probably sketch the anatomy of my head from memory by now...) and we've been through a series of medications for it (and I'll probably be trying something new next time I go see her. The current med is losing effectiveness.)
Your boss probably talks about "having a headache and coming to work anyway" - I've got to deal with it all day, every day, without a break. Again, it varies in intensity from "distracting" to "disorienting" - I have days where my head hurts bad enough that I can't even see straight.
Recall I mentioned fractures? Most people think there's nothing to the "myth" that a drop in barometric pressure makes old fractures hurt - I'm here to tell you, it's no myth. I'm a reasonably accurate barometer, just going from the pain I'm feeling. Even if TSA weren't being an compleat and utter useless pain in the ass, I still wouldn't be able to fly - airliner cabins are only pressurised to 8000' MSL, and that's well below my "pain threshhold" for barometric pressure. I'd need a dose of morphine and fentanyl before I could spend any signficant time at altitude - I travel by train or car.
Considering the LOCATIONS of the fractures I've had - I've broken my neck in two places and shattered my face, among others - and you can see how it can rapidly get to be incapacitating. The barometer gets below 29.70" Hg, and my pain level spikes rather sharply. The barometer drops below 29.40" Hg, and I can't concentrate. If/when it manages to get below 29.00" Hg, I can't even get out of bed. Not /won't/ - CAN'T. It literally hurts too much to move.
And through all of this, I have people telling me I should at least get a part-time job. I can't do that. No-one is willing to accept someone - no matter how good he is! - working "if and when" and needing to be able to take time off rather suddenly, even in the middle of a shift.
I've managed to find something I can do most of the time - that's why I'm writing my books. Maybe they'll take off and I can get something useful done with my writing - but it's something I can work on in my own time, and if I need to take time off from doing it, I can. I can set my own schedule (primarily nocturnal,) I can stop doing it or take time off from it with little to no notice, I don't have to deal with a boss telling me to "just tough it out" (I swear, the next man who tells me that is going to be used for a battering ram on the nearest masonry wall. That's why I'm writing this - TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. I hurt, and I can't move fast, but I'm far from weak.)
For exercise, about the most I can manage is to walk around the block once or twice a day - it's all I can do. Sometimes, I get around once and can't walk anymore - and whether I'm trying to go around once or twice, I take a cane so I can unload my knees if one of them should start playing up on me. I try to carry it rather than use it, but it's better to have it available.
I won't get into the other medical side effects I've been experiencing from major CNS trauma (I've got a few - and about a dozen MDs on my consultation list...) as this post is supposed to be about PAIN.
However, it's the PAIN aspect of it all that I most want people to try to understand. The problem with pain is that it can't be seen from the outside, and we usually manage to minimise the display of it (for instance, I ALWAYS limp. However, most of the time, the limping can really only be seen by someone who is either trained to notice it - an orthopaedist, osteopath, physical therapist, or similar; or by someone who is a keen observer. Most people can't see it.) Most sufferers of chronic pain can understand me when I say, "I wasn't born - the stoic brought me." Stoicism is equally a part of daily life - just as much as pain is.
We do odd things - some positions relieve the pain we're in.
We often eat odd things - I've found that spicy food (which I enjoy anyhow!) helps to mitigate pain. I've found that's due to the OC that makes hot peppers hot. Fine by me - I've got a decent collection of hot sauces anyhow...
When we say that we can't do something - it's because the pain either prevents us or interferes so badly that it's more difficult than you can imagine. Listen to us when we say it, and try to help us if you can - it's easier all around.
We don't usually talk about how much pain we're in - suffice it to say that, if a sufferer of chronic pain is actually vocally complaining about it, it's probably enough that it would overload you and render you unconscious. We don't have a phenomenal tolerance for pain because we WANT it, believe me! We have it because that's the only way we can really function in any capacity.
For fellow sufferers, a few things I've found out:
- Typical over-the-counter painkillers rapidly lose effectiveness. I can take Tylenol, Advil, or aspirin by the handful and it don't do nothing - therefore, I quit years ago.
- If you can handle it, eating spicy foods can and do help. I love going to Mongolian BBQ - both because I like spicy food anyhow, and because I feel better when I leave. I also have an extensive collection of hot sauces in the fridge - I like variety. Even something relatively mild (Bufalo Chipotle sauce - pleasant smoky flavour and a good pepper bite) can help you - chew on the idea.
- Getting drunk helps, but reserve that for when you want to totally take a break. Most of the time, you REALLY pay for it the next morning (I've heard that hangovers are bad - but I don't get them. However, having all of the pain come rushing back is NOT fun.)
- Pick a physical therapist's brain. You'll probably get some exercises or movements that you can do to help mitigate your pain - and you should be able to do most of them in your chair at work (if you're working) or at your desk at home (if you're not.) You might also pick up how to make something small that will help you, or can buy something relatively cheap that you'll get a good deal of use out of.
- Study anatomy. Learn how joints work - particularly if you have joints affected by pain. You can learn to do movements and exercises on your own that will help you, or what motions to avoid to make the pain worse.
- Medical care is a two-way street. The thing I've noted in common with most people who complain about "quality of care" is that the place TOTAL faith in the white coat. Ask questions. Question what you're told, just a bit. Make notes to refer to in between appointments, and keep in touch with your doctors. If you put some more INTO your appointments, you'll get a Hell of a lot more OUT of them! I make it a point to learn something new every time I go to see a doctor, and that has helped me considerably. Bear in mind that your MD doesn't have all the answers, even if he won't admit to it (the good ones do.) And, there's probably going to be a difference between the answer you get if you don't tell them anything and the answer you'll get if you inform them - and the informed answer you'll get from them will be much more effective.
- If you live with someone, ask their opinion of what they see you doing every now and again. When you're in pain, you're too close to the problem, and you may not notice something useful. My wife and I (both sufferers) keep an eye on each other, and let each other know if we see something different. Comes in handy - because each of us has indeed noticed something in the other that we didn't notice ourselves (does that make sense?)
If you're IN pain, I hope that the tips help, and I hope that reading something by a kindred spirit helps you as well.
If you're NOT in pain, I hope this helps you understand what those of us who ARE in pain go through - every day. It's far from everything that could be said on the subject, but it's probably a good deal more than you knew already - and that was what I was trying to do when I wrote this.
Good luck, everyone!
Friday, February 11, 2011
To all of you with car alarms...
I gotta tell ya, these things really piss me off. Maybe it's just a California thing, maybe it's getting to be everywhere, but I don't get it...
- They're cranked up to be WAY too sensitive. I stamp my foot fifteen feet away, the wretched thing goes off.
- The really loud ones are installed on vehicles I wouldn't pay five bucks for. If even that.
- Most of them have the "automatic off" on them - I wouldn't mind listening to them so much if I knew they were going to run the battery down...
- They go off WAY too often.
- The cops don't even pay attention to them anymore.
- Neither do the owners.
I've been listening to one on the next block going off - the damn thing's tripped something like six times in the last fifteen minutes. The owner doesn't seem to be doing anything about it, it's pointless to call the PD about it to get him to stop, and I've tried to see about getting the thing shut off before - he's actually worried that someone might steal his car! (It's a fifteen-year-old Honda. It's beat up, and I've heard it try to run. I wouldn't take it if it was given to me /gratis/!)
Frankly, if it weren't illegal for me to do so, I'd shut the damned thing off with a baseball bat whenever I'd hear one going off. These things are getting tedious. I've seen one go off not thirty feet away from a pair of cops on a coffee break - THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK TO SEE WHY. Not because they didn't care, but because THEY'RE burned out on the things!
Considering the general reaction (or lack thereof,) it's really pointless to put these things on vehicles. All you're going to accomplish, when you boil it right down, is pissing off your neighbours rather badly.
KNOCK IT OFF. I'm tired of it. I don't want to hear the wretched things anymore. They're a waste of perfectly good solid state electronics (and there the thing goes again. That's something like nine times in twenty minutes, now...)
The worst part about them? You get some kid with a loud exhaust that sets one off - if he doesn't have anything better to do, the damned fool will keep driving by to set the thing off. Making assault illegal as a blanket policy is doing society a disservice - there really are some people who need to be whacked upside the head once in a while to get their minds right...
- They're cranked up to be WAY too sensitive. I stamp my foot fifteen feet away, the wretched thing goes off.
- The really loud ones are installed on vehicles I wouldn't pay five bucks for. If even that.
- Most of them have the "automatic off" on them - I wouldn't mind listening to them so much if I knew they were going to run the battery down...
- They go off WAY too often.
- The cops don't even pay attention to them anymore.
- Neither do the owners.
I've been listening to one on the next block going off - the damn thing's tripped something like six times in the last fifteen minutes. The owner doesn't seem to be doing anything about it, it's pointless to call the PD about it to get him to stop, and I've tried to see about getting the thing shut off before - he's actually worried that someone might steal his car! (It's a fifteen-year-old Honda. It's beat up, and I've heard it try to run. I wouldn't take it if it was given to me /gratis/!)
Frankly, if it weren't illegal for me to do so, I'd shut the damned thing off with a baseball bat whenever I'd hear one going off. These things are getting tedious. I've seen one go off not thirty feet away from a pair of cops on a coffee break - THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK TO SEE WHY. Not because they didn't care, but because THEY'RE burned out on the things!
Considering the general reaction (or lack thereof,) it's really pointless to put these things on vehicles. All you're going to accomplish, when you boil it right down, is pissing off your neighbours rather badly.
KNOCK IT OFF. I'm tired of it. I don't want to hear the wretched things anymore. They're a waste of perfectly good solid state electronics (and there the thing goes again. That's something like nine times in twenty minutes, now...)
The worst part about them? You get some kid with a loud exhaust that sets one off - if he doesn't have anything better to do, the damned fool will keep driving by to set the thing off. Making assault illegal as a blanket policy is doing society a disservice - there really are some people who need to be whacked upside the head once in a while to get their minds right...
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Whatever happened to REAL news...
And what's the fixation on Barry? Out of all of the Presidents in the last thirty years (probably more!) none of them seem to have had as much ink devoted to them as Obama in the first half of his first term. FDR probably didn't rate all of this in his three terms.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101209/ap_on_he_me/us_obama_smoking
I got a few problems with this:
1) I quit a two-pack-a-day habit of Luckies somewhere north of a dozen years ago. Why didn't that make the paper? Hell - I was working in retail auto parts at the time! If that doesn't kick up your frustration level, I'm not sure what will. I'm amazed that everyone who came in contact with me actually survived the experience...
2) Yeah, there are people still trying to quit - and using "smoking cessation aids" in an effort to do so (most of them didn't exist when I quit, and I refused anyhow. I was going to quit on my own or not at all.) Great, so he's chewing nicontine gum instead. Cheater. Might as well go for an "e-cig" or something like that - that cheats by satisfying the nicotine demon, fulfills the oral fixation, and gives his hands something to do!
Oh wait - it would kill his credibility to be seen sucking on a tampon during the day. Oh, excuse me. WHAT credibility? His "approval ratings" are in the toilet already, aren't they? Might as well finish the job...
3) If we could get him back up to 2-3 packs a day, I'm sure I could take up a collection so he wouldn't have to buy another smoke for the rest of his life. Everyone that voted for the fool - I hope you're happy, or you've come to regret your decision (I don't know what you wanted to have happen, but this isn't the country I fought for. And we keep going down the road to the Left... How much longer before a large enough segment of the population says "Enough!" and the Second American Revolution gets started? I hope and pray for a bloodless overhaul, but I'm a pessimist by nature and don't think we'll get it. I'm also a cynic - if you haven't figured that out already...)
The principal reason we have that yo-yo in the White House now is because he enjoyed an advantage that no other candidate has ever had since 1782 - the unfaltering and fawning adoration of the mass media. I knew the media outlets were leaning to the Left far more than is healthy, but when I saw how they were falling all over themselves to build up Obama and tear down both McCain and Palin, I figured that "media neutrality" was althogether gone.
And gang, I'd rather have Shemp in the Oval Office than Obama - I've always felt that way, and I haven't seen anything to change my mind. "First Black President?" Sure - but not Obama. Kinda like "First Woman President?" As long as it's not Hillary!, Pelosi, Feinstein, Boxer, or anyone like that...
(In the first case, I think I'd rather have seen Colin Powell. In the latter case? How about my wife getting elected - at least I know where her head's at. Women in politics otherwise I just can't bring myself to trust. We may have given women the vote, but I don't think it's improved things like they said it would. Then again, fully 70% of the "deer peepul" are silly enough to keep electing the incumbents wherever possible anyhow - WAKE UP, PEOPLE! WE get screwed because THEY know they will still have a job! Now, what are you going to do about it?
(I still say that it would be a useful regulation that, once you have served a term of office, you are disqulified from holding office at any level for a like term of years. Serve six years as Senator? You can't go on the ballot for bloody dog catcher for the next six years after you finish...)
But I digress. Back to my main point for this entry, which is this: I'm sick to the teeth of hearing about Obama every damned time I turn around, and you never hear that he's doing anything wrong. Even if it's something even somewhat negative (like this whole "quitting smoking" bit...) the tone is more like "Oh, he can't help it; he's under a lot of stress; it's hard to quit when you're stressed," and all that crap.
You know what? You're in the Oval Office now - "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred." Shut up and deal with it, or step aside and let someone else have a swing at it (preferably not Pelosi - I think we'd do better under Lieberman...)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101209/ap_on_he_me/us_obama_smoking
I got a few problems with this:
1) I quit a two-pack-a-day habit of Luckies somewhere north of a dozen years ago. Why didn't that make the paper? Hell - I was working in retail auto parts at the time! If that doesn't kick up your frustration level, I'm not sure what will. I'm amazed that everyone who came in contact with me actually survived the experience...
2) Yeah, there are people still trying to quit - and using "smoking cessation aids" in an effort to do so (most of them didn't exist when I quit, and I refused anyhow. I was going to quit on my own or not at all.) Great, so he's chewing nicontine gum instead. Cheater. Might as well go for an "e-cig" or something like that - that cheats by satisfying the nicotine demon, fulfills the oral fixation, and gives his hands something to do!
Oh wait - it would kill his credibility to be seen sucking on a tampon during the day. Oh, excuse me. WHAT credibility? His "approval ratings" are in the toilet already, aren't they? Might as well finish the job...
3) If we could get him back up to 2-3 packs a day, I'm sure I could take up a collection so he wouldn't have to buy another smoke for the rest of his life. Everyone that voted for the fool - I hope you're happy, or you've come to regret your decision (I don't know what you wanted to have happen, but this isn't the country I fought for. And we keep going down the road to the Left... How much longer before a large enough segment of the population says "Enough!" and the Second American Revolution gets started? I hope and pray for a bloodless overhaul, but I'm a pessimist by nature and don't think we'll get it. I'm also a cynic - if you haven't figured that out already...)
The principal reason we have that yo-yo in the White House now is because he enjoyed an advantage that no other candidate has ever had since 1782 - the unfaltering and fawning adoration of the mass media. I knew the media outlets were leaning to the Left far more than is healthy, but when I saw how they were falling all over themselves to build up Obama and tear down both McCain and Palin, I figured that "media neutrality" was althogether gone.
And gang, I'd rather have Shemp in the Oval Office than Obama - I've always felt that way, and I haven't seen anything to change my mind. "First Black President?" Sure - but not Obama. Kinda like "First Woman President?" As long as it's not Hillary!, Pelosi, Feinstein, Boxer, or anyone like that...
(In the first case, I think I'd rather have seen Colin Powell. In the latter case? How about my wife getting elected - at least I know where her head's at. Women in politics otherwise I just can't bring myself to trust. We may have given women the vote, but I don't think it's improved things like they said it would. Then again, fully 70% of the "deer peepul" are silly enough to keep electing the incumbents wherever possible anyhow - WAKE UP, PEOPLE! WE get screwed because THEY know they will still have a job! Now, what are you going to do about it?
(I still say that it would be a useful regulation that, once you have served a term of office, you are disqulified from holding office at any level for a like term of years. Serve six years as Senator? You can't go on the ballot for bloody dog catcher for the next six years after you finish...)
But I digress. Back to my main point for this entry, which is this: I'm sick to the teeth of hearing about Obama every damned time I turn around, and you never hear that he's doing anything wrong. Even if it's something even somewhat negative (like this whole "quitting smoking" bit...) the tone is more like "Oh, he can't help it; he's under a lot of stress; it's hard to quit when you're stressed," and all that crap.
You know what? You're in the Oval Office now - "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred." Shut up and deal with it, or step aside and let someone else have a swing at it (preferably not Pelosi - I think we'd do better under Lieberman...)
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Nnnngg...
http://www.kcra.com/news/25754519/detail.html
What's wrong with people these days? The kid wants to fly a US flag to honour the veterans in his family. LET HIM.
The worst part, it's that it's not the administration that wants it taken down on their own hook - it's being done in response to "student complaints." I'd be interested in learning the nationality of the students that complain (I'm giving myself three guesses - although they'd all be different, I'm almost willing to bet I'd be right on all three.)
I haven't written my letter yet, it needs to crystallise for a day or so. However, if any of you want to, use this contact information:
Denair Unified School District
Superintendent Edward Parraz
3460 Lester Road
Denair, CA 95316
Office (209) 632-7514 x1202
DISTRIBUTION: UNLIMITED.
The fact that this is in California isn't terribly surprising to me. Go figure.
They're worried about "racial tensions" in school - and I figure that's because there are people who come here who can't consider themselves American FIRST. Pity. If you don't want to consider yourself an American, I'm not keeping you here - you are free to leave any time you like.
Go get 'im!
What's wrong with people these days? The kid wants to fly a US flag to honour the veterans in his family. LET HIM.
The worst part, it's that it's not the administration that wants it taken down on their own hook - it's being done in response to "student complaints." I'd be interested in learning the nationality of the students that complain (I'm giving myself three guesses - although they'd all be different, I'm almost willing to bet I'd be right on all three.)
I haven't written my letter yet, it needs to crystallise for a day or so. However, if any of you want to, use this contact information:
Denair Unified School District
Superintendent Edward Parraz
3460 Lester Road
Denair, CA 95316
Office (209) 632-7514 x1202
DISTRIBUTION: UNLIMITED.
The fact that this is in California isn't terribly surprising to me. Go figure.
They're worried about "racial tensions" in school - and I figure that's because there are people who come here who can't consider themselves American FIRST. Pity. If you don't want to consider yourself an American, I'm not keeping you here - you are free to leave any time you like.
Go get 'im!
Taking a different tack...
Because I feel like it.
My wife and I did a trip up to Washington State recently, and she doesn't mind taking some notes while I drive. I'm not going to dictate essays and such (she's often writing as well,) but I'll toss ideas out and she'll scratch them down for me - we just agree on a keyword first (usually "Seed") so that it's set apart from conversation and she knows to write it down.
I've got three from this last trip. I haven't taken them to extension and written essays around them (yet. Gimme time...) but I want to see what my readers can do with them.
To this end, take one (or more!) of these idea seeds and run with it, writing an essay. Any length you like - I don't like to put too many limitations on people. However, a few are necessary, so here they are:
1) Your point must be logically constructed. Use readily-available information if you can do so, provide links to obscure information if you cannot.
2) No pointless vulgarity. An occasional "damn" or "Hell" for emphasis is perfectly acceptable, but don't get stupid with it. Use my own posts for a guideline.
3) Note that whatever you write and submit is subject to being put up here for all and sundry. To that end, I'd like to give credit where credit is due, but I understand that some people may prefer to remain anonymous. In either case, provide me with your proper name and email - but let me know if you want to remain anonymous, and I'll post it as simply "Reader Submission." I won't tell anyone about you - not even the government! - but I'd like to be able to pass along any comments that come in on your writing. If you don't want to remain anonymous, I'll post your proper name and email address so that you may receive comments directly.
That's not too bad, is it? Now, show me what you can do:
- "It's been said that we have the best government money can buy. The problem is that we spend entirely too much on it."
- "Democracy has been called 'the Tyranny of the Majority'. Our Representative Replublic has become either an indirect form of that, or perhaps a 'Tyranny of the Elected Minority'."
- "Elected Representatives have become the new monarchy. Don't believe me? How often did we hear the phrase 'Kennedy Dynasty" in the last thirty years? Or the 'Bayh Dynasty' in Indiana?"
- "Spirit of '76 - Re-Elect Nobody!"
Let's hear your ideas, instead of just mine!
JDK
My wife and I did a trip up to Washington State recently, and she doesn't mind taking some notes while I drive. I'm not going to dictate essays and such (she's often writing as well,) but I'll toss ideas out and she'll scratch them down for me - we just agree on a keyword first (usually "Seed") so that it's set apart from conversation and she knows to write it down.
I've got three from this last trip. I haven't taken them to extension and written essays around them (yet. Gimme time...) but I want to see what my readers can do with them.
To this end, take one (or more!) of these idea seeds and run with it, writing an essay. Any length you like - I don't like to put too many limitations on people. However, a few are necessary, so here they are:
1) Your point must be logically constructed. Use readily-available information if you can do so, provide links to obscure information if you cannot.
2) No pointless vulgarity. An occasional "damn" or "Hell" for emphasis is perfectly acceptable, but don't get stupid with it. Use my own posts for a guideline.
3) Note that whatever you write and submit is subject to being put up here for all and sundry. To that end, I'd like to give credit where credit is due, but I understand that some people may prefer to remain anonymous. In either case, provide me with your proper name and email - but let me know if you want to remain anonymous, and I'll post it as simply "Reader Submission." I won't tell anyone about you - not even the government! - but I'd like to be able to pass along any comments that come in on your writing. If you don't want to remain anonymous, I'll post your proper name and email address so that you may receive comments directly.
That's not too bad, is it? Now, show me what you can do:
- "It's been said that we have the best government money can buy. The problem is that we spend entirely too much on it."
- "Democracy has been called 'the Tyranny of the Majority'. Our Representative Replublic has become either an indirect form of that, or perhaps a 'Tyranny of the Elected Minority'."
- "Elected Representatives have become the new monarchy. Don't believe me? How often did we hear the phrase 'Kennedy Dynasty" in the last thirty years? Or the 'Bayh Dynasty' in Indiana?"
- "Spirit of '76 - Re-Elect Nobody!"
Let's hear your ideas, instead of just mine!
JDK
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