Light on the blogging

Actually I should say even lighter than has become normal, since I've been about as irregular these past few months as the dog who swipped a two-pound block of cheese.

Anyway, it's conference time and I'm up to my armpits in alligators. Not to mention this is the time of year when I get to see foreigners and fellow bloggers over a podium and/or over beers. The Sunday Funnies will go out on time, but probably a bit weaker than normal.

Wish y'all were here!

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Bible thumpers in the news

Christians forever insist upon the protection of their rights, while seemingly disregarding those of everyone else.

"Questioned by Engle, he said he gave tracts to “unsaved children” without asking their parents’ permission. 'My intention is to get them saved and to get them discipled,' Garisto said."

A United Airlines flight from Denver has landed safely in Washington, D.C., after its crew reported an emergency due to a passenger reportedly praying in an aisle.

Gotta wonder how much that took out of the military budget... and who will pay for it.

"The Boeing 757 jet had a military escort into Dulles, after the emergency declaration."

Let me see... where was it I read that line about state sponsored religions?

"...the borough and council have violated Tearpock-Martini’s civil rights by forcing her to support a religion and denying her the right to protest the actions of government. She seeks unspecified damages for each of five counts, including violation of her right to due process and freedom of speech."

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Hair fight!

 

Election day tomorrow. Go vote if you haven't already. 

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Pakistan acid attack parents 'feared dishonour'

In the end, who was it that dishonored the family?

“A couple arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of killing their 15-year-old daughter with acid say they carried out the attack because she looked at a boy. The girl's father told the BBC that they feared she would bring dishonour on their family. Her mothe r said it was her "destiny" to die that way.”

This kind of thinking goes so far out into the weeds that even the snakes are running for their lives.

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Sunday Funnies

More funnies below the fold...

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It pays to be skeptical

For a day or two I've been listening to and reading as much as I can find on the recovery progress in the eastern states so badly hurt by Hurricane Sandy. A recurrent theme coming from Faux news and several of the more bitter right wingnut bloggers has been the story of non-union Alabama electrical crews being turned back and not allowed to work in union New Jersey. There was so much of this noise out there I figured it had to have some truth, so I started working on a blog post chapping union asses. I support unions, but more than unions I support common sense.

They almost had me. I almost swallowed it and posted that blog, but something told me to keep looking. I'm glad I did... because as it turns out it is just more of the same old extremist Republican bullshit. This is just one link for one story out of several dozen that have come out refuting the allegation. More Republican dirty tricks. More bullshit from the right. 

You almost got me this time. Crying wolf next time won't buy you as much real estate. 

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There is good reason that it is called Reason Magazine

A few days ago Steve Chapman, columnist and editorialist over at the Chicago Tribune, penned a well-reasoned rebuttal of the Cook County Board's latest nonsensical and misdirected efforts in the gun control realm.

"The levy was dubbed a 'violence tax,' which is exactly what it isn't. It would not target criminals who have malice in mind, but would fall entirely on the law-abiding."

As Chapman points out, these efforts are futile because the burden they impose never falls on the intended target and is instead borne by the population segment the tax purports to want to protect. And neither will it stop the flow of firearms and ammunition into the Cook County area. Nobody with any sense will pay the price within the county when a short drive to some neighboring county with politicians sensible enough to understand that Cook County has just handed their sporting goods shops a plum will provide the savvy shopper whatever firearm or ammunition desired... further shipping sales tax monies out of Cook county to the detriment of the citizens.

All of this is smoke and mirrors. Gun ownership and possession is all but illegal in Mexico, yet which group in Mexico is it that is unarmed (and unprotected) and which is armed to the teeth? Pot (do they still call it that?) is illegal in this country yet I’d wager I could find some and get it bought within the next 24 hours if I was of a mind. 

Prohibition doesn't make anything unavailable... it just makes it inconvenient and expensive and it protects nobody. The bad guys don't mind because if it disarms anybody it will be to their benefit. 

Prohibition by any name and under any guise does not work and history has taught us that it never will. The politicians and bleeding hearts of Cook County would do well to learn this and refocus their efforts on other issues. Education comes to mind.

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