How did she get there?

Okay so you have probably seen this story:
DETROIT - A 16-year-old girl who flew to the Middle East to see a man she met on MySpace.com was detained in Jordan and was headed home Friday, an FBI spokesman said.

Now we have all heard about the dangers of myspace.com blah blah blah. Most of which have more to do with inept parents not paying attention to what their kids are doing online but anyway....

My question is with all this high prices airport security how did a 16 year old get on the plane to start with or buy a ticket for that matter? Anyone who has flown since 9-11 knows what a pain in the ass it has become to fly. From the headlines the TSA has generated since then I can think of no one who feels any safer because of the assclowns manning the checkpoints. So can a 16 year old who by the way cannot by spray paint at Walmart without and ID (or anything else you might be able to sniff) just buy a plane ticket and get on a plane at will? I really dont know what the rules are on that but it sure seems odd to me. I'm sure the TSA clowns were to busy strip searching a Medal of Honor recipient to bother wondering why this little girl was flying to Jordan by herself.

40 Reasons For Gun Control

Saw it on an internet forum and thought it was funny as hell.


40 Reasons For Gun Control
1. Banning guns works, which is why New York, DC, & Chicago cops need guns.

2. Washington DC's low murder rate of 69 per 100,000 is due to strict gun control, and Indianapolis' high murder rate of 9 per 100,000 is due to the lack of gun control.

3. Statistics showing high murder rates justify gun control but statistics showing increasing murder rates after gun control are "just statistics."

4. The Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban, both of which went into effect in 1994 are responsible for the decrease in violent crime rates, which have been declining since 1991.

5. We must get rid of guns because a deranged lunatic may go on a shooting spree at any time and anyone who would own a gun out of fear of such a lunatic is paranoid.

6. The more helpless you are the safer you are from criminals.

7. An intruder will be incapacitated by tear gas or oven spray, but if shot with a .357 Magnum will get angry and kill you.

8. A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

9. When confronted by violent criminals, you should "put up no defense -- give them what they want, or run" (Handgun Control Inc. Chairman Pete Shields, Guns Don't Die - People Do, 1981, p.125).

10. The New England Journal of Medicine is filled with expert advice about guns; just like Guns & Ammo has some excellent treatises on heart surgery.

11. One should consult an automotive engineer for safer seatbelts, a civil engineer for a better bridge, a surgeon for internal medicine, a computer programmer for hard drive problems, and Sarah Brady for firearms expertise.

12. The 2nd Amendment, ratified in 1787, refers to the National Guard, which was created 130 years later, in 1917.

13. The National Guard, federally funded, with bases on federal land, using federally-owned weapons, vehicles, buildings and uniforms, punishing trespassers under federal law, is a "state" militia.

14. These phrases: "right of the people peaceably to assemble," "right of the people to be secure in their homes," "enumerations herein of certain rights shall not be construed to disparage others retained by the people," and "The powers not delegated herein are reserved to the states respectively, and to the people" all refer to individuals, but "the right of the people to keep and bear arm" refers to the state.

15. "The Constitution is strong and will never change." But we should ban and seize all guns thereby violating the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Amendments to that Constitution.

16. Rifles and handguns aren't necessary to national defense! Of course, the army has hundreds of thousands of them.

17. Private citizens shouldn't have handguns, because they aren't "military weapons", but private citizens shouldn't have "assault rifles", because they are military weapons.

18. In spite of waiting periods, background checks, finger printing, government forms, etc., guns today are too readily available, which is responsible for recent school shootings. In the 1940's, 1950's and1960's, anyone could buy guns at hardware stores, army surplus stores, gas stations, variety stores, Sears mail order, no waiting, no background check, no fingerprints, no government forms and there were no school shootings.

19. The NRA's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign about kids handling guns is propaganda, but the anti-gun lobby's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign is responsible social activity.

20. Guns are so complex that special training is necessary to use them properly, and so simple to use that they make murder easy.

21. A handgun, with up to 4 controls, is far too complex for the typical adult to learn to use, as opposed to an automobile that only has 20.

22. Women are just as intelligent and capable as men but a woman with a gun is "an accident waiting to happen" and gun makers' advertisements aimed at women are "preying on their fears."

23. Ordinary people in the presence of guns turn into slaughtering butchers but revert to normal when the weapon is removed.

24. Guns cause violence, which is why there are so many mass killings at gun shows.

25. A majority of the population supports gun control, just like a majority of the population supported owning slaves.

26. Any self-loading small arm can legitimately be considered to be a "weapon of mass destruction" or an "assault weapon."

27. Most people can't be trusted, so we should have laws against guns, which most people will abide by because they can be trusted.

28. The right of Internet pornographers to exist cannot be questioned because it is constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights, but the use of handguns for self defense is not really protected by the Bill of Rights.

29. Free speech entitles one to own newspapers, transmitters, computers, and typewriters, but self-defense only justifies bare hands.

30. The ACLU is good because it uncompromisingly defends certain parts of the Constitution, and the NRA is bad, because it defends other parts of the Constitution.

31. Charlton Heston, a movie actor as president of the NRA is a cheap lunatic who should be ignored, but Michael Douglas, a movie actor as a representative of Handgun Control, Inc. is an ambassador for peace who is entitled to an audience at the UN arms control summit.

32. Police operate with backup within groups, which is why they need larger capacity pistol magazines than do "civilians" who must face criminals alone and therefore need less ammunition.

33. We should ban "Saturday Night Specials" and other inexpensive guns because it's not fair that poor people have access to guns too.

34. Police officers have some special Jedi-like mastery over hand guns that private citizens can never hope to obtain.

35. Private citizens don't need a gun for self-protection because the police are there to protect them even though the Supreme Court says the police are not responsible for their protection.

36. Citizens don't need to carry a gun for personal protection but police chiefs, who are desk-bound administrators who work in a building filled with cops, need a gun.

37. "Assault weapons" have no purpose other than to kill large numbers of people. The police need assault weapons. You do not.

38. When Microsoft pressures its distributors to give Microsoft preferential promotion, that's bad; but when the Federal government pressures cities to buy guns only from Smith & Wesson, that's good.

39. Trigger locks do not interfere with the ability to use a gun for defensive purposes, which is why you see police officers with one on their duty weapon.

40. Handgun Control, Inc. says they want to "keep guns out of the wrong hands." Guess what? You have the wrong hands.

The end is near!

DETROIT (AP) — United Auto Workers members have voted to authorize a strike against auto supplier Delphi, adding a threat to already tense negotiations between the two sides.
The UAW said Tuesday that more than 95% of members who voted approved the strike authorization.

Rest here


I have been predicting for a while now that as GM slides into the abyss they would sell off parts here and there to Toyota. This could very well be that final blow that sends GM to an overseas owner like Dodge. Wouldn't it just be shame to see GM sell out, shut down, retool and reopen with non union labor. Hell I might even buy another GM auto!

Gas price relief

Senate Republicans proposed a $100 fuel-cost rebate for millions of taxpayers. Democrats talked of a two-month suspension of the 18.4-cent per gallon federal gasoline tax.

I really don't need $100 that bad so how about you just stick it up your ass. The Dem idea of sticking it to the oil companies for making a profit is just stupid. If they loose money are they going to bail them out for being stupid? Oh wait I forgot they already do that for the airlines don't they. How about this pull all the special deals the govt just gave them and any other free hand jobs ...er I mean hand outs. While you are shutting down FEMA shut down the EPA so we can get some new refineries built and tell the hippies in Cali to stick it and start collecting some of that huge natural gas reserve off the west coast.

May 1st boycott Mexicans day

Now ask me again if I want to eat at El Bracero.

I just love they come here and somehow get financing on a new Ford Expedition with no drivers license and no insurance. Then they have to slap a Mexican flag on the front just to make sure we notice. You what if you love Mexico so damn much drive your ass back. Maybe I'm just jealous I can't figure out how they pull it off.

I'm back and cranky as ever

Nothing like spending a half a semester doing clinical in a state psychiatric hospital to make you a little edgy.

So..

Regular blogging will resume on or about May 5th when I finish this damn psychiatric rotation.

4 years and you have accomplished what?

Apparently not a damn thing. For 4 years both Dem and Rep have bickered over what to do and gotten nothing done. How many Doctors have we lost to states like Indiana where the insurance is cheaper due to Caps on malpractice claims. I can think of 3 OB/GYNs right off the top of my head.

I have to say I find the idea of creating a state-run malpractice-insurance carrier a nightmare maker. Its also typical of the Liberal way of thought. The govts job is not to provide insurance. But its also not the govts job to provide a way to squeeze money out of insurance companies and make trial lawyers rich.

Do a search on yahoo for Cerebral Palsy. Now look to the left in the ad section and tell me what you see. Do you know why lawyers love these little darlings? Because they know the insurance company will settle even if the OB/GYN was not at fault. Experience has shown that a jury will feel so bad for family there is no way they will not rule in their favor. I think it has been shown in research the last I read that only 10% of CP children had a difficult delivery. But in front of a jury it really doesnt matter.

The simple fact is when you are in front a jury of your peers when you are a Dr does the housewife next door really constitute one of your peers?

Media still trying to derail Polyheme

Looks like the media is determined to undermine and derail any advance in artificial blood technology. Nevermind the fact that the patients in this trial are the worst the trauma center has to offer. No the media still wants to focus on how many died after receiving Polyheme. How hard is it to see there is no way of knowing if these patients would have died anyway.

The big question is how many lives could be saved by having Polyheme available on all ambulances instead of having to wait to get to the ER for blood.

RINO eh ?

Seeing as how I don't play well with Democrats, Republicans or Libertarians maybe this might be a spot for me to hang out. There seem to be some good blogs I already read on the list.

Republicans / Independents Not Overdosed (on the Party Kool Aid)

Bill would OK live-coyote sales

House Bill 608 passed 85-15 and is pending before a Senate committee. Kentucky would join Indiana and at least eight other states that allow live coyote sales.




That sounds like a fine plan to me but of course the usual suspects are against it:

But veterinarians, animal welfare activists and the state Department of Fisheries and Wildlife oppose the measure, saying it could lead to the spread of rabies. Some people also say it is cruel to have dogs chase coyotes to exhaustion or death.

"It's just terrifying and it stresses them and they don't meet with a very humane end," said Pam Rogers, Kentucky legislative coordinator for Humane Society of the United States. "They're going to probably be torn apart by the dogs."

A very humane end? Lady its a coyote not a human there is a reason they have a bad reputation. I suppose she has never lost a family pet to pack of coyotes either. Fact is here in Western Kentucky (which you people in Louisville and Lexington always forget about) we are up to our ears in coyotes. I live less than 3 miles outside the city limits and the Mrs wants me to add an electric fence around the chainlink to protect the dogs. As a deer hunter I can tell you that trying to scare a nosey coyote no longer works. I can remember a time when you hardly ever saw them but now you see them in broad daylight and they are not the least bit frightened of humans anymore.

One problem which this bill addresses is the fact the pelts are worthless to trappers but could be worth more trapped alive. The other problem is a coyote isn't a fancy trophy buck like all the GQ hunters come down for. There just are not enough people hunting them anymore but they reproduce rapidly.

KY House passes ATV child-helmet bill

Children younger than 16 would have to wear helmets when riding all-terrain vehicles under a bill passed yesterday by the Kentucky House.

Why do we need a law for this? It should be the parents responsibility to make their kids wear helmets. So basically what you are saying is its against the law for a 15 year old to ride an atv without a helmet but its okay for his dad to ride his Harley on the parkway at 65 mph without it. I seem to recall when they repealed the helmet law for adults it was a matter or "personal freedom" but this they say is not. I suppose that is because minors obviously have no rights as evidenced by the way the school systems treat them.

Deborah Stillwell, whose 12-year-old son, John, was seriously injured in an ATV accident, praised the bill's passage.

John was not wearing a helmet when he crashed into a church signpost in Taylor County last August. He suffered a brain injury and a fractured skull, a broken leg and three crushed vertebrae.

Deborah who obviously failed to make her child wear a helmet now thinks we should feel sorry for her. Maybe John hit the signpost because he is an idiot and should not have been on an atv to start with. I would like to know the make and model of the atv in question because I am willing to bet somewhere on the atv there is a warning label saying it was not to be operated by someone under 16. How many kids have you seen riding giant atv's made for adults?

My god how did I survive childhood with no helmet and on a 3-wheeler at that. Not only did I survive I never broke any bones or had serious injuries.

But the bill's sponsor, Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, said a law might prompt more parents to make their children wear them.

"If this law can save one parent from having a child who is brain-injured or killed, " Gooch said, "I think this law will have been worth it."

Hey Jim I bet if you ban children from riding on bikes and skateboards without helmets you might save a few lives as well. Maybe after they are born we should just strap on a pro-tec until they are 18 cause you never know when one might fall down the steps.

I wonder if Mr Goochs kids wore helmets on atvs......

BTW has anyone seen Rep. Ballard who did not even vote on this? Thanks for representing your district jackass.

So gambling on horse racing isn't a sin?

I just do not understand anyone with the common sense of a syphilis infected goat being against slot machines at horse racing parks.

Here is how the map plays out:

Across the river from Paducah is a casino in Metropolis.
Across the river from Henderson is a casino in Evansville.
Across the river from Louisville is a casino in...whatever that cities name is.

So Paducah and Louisville are already providing the players but getting nothing in return. Yes opponents can say that gambling brings problems. Guess what folks the casinos and the problems are already there the least we can do is get some tax revenue from it. So far the projections are $350 million dollars to help pay for the medicaid program whose cost keeps rising at a pace we can no longer afford.

Perhaps the opponents would be okay with a ballot initiative to start taxing churches like any other business to help out the general fund?

Calling a spade a spade

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- After motorist T. Allen Morgan got a speeding ticket in Coopertown - a town known for its heavy-handed traffic enforcement - he tried to pay his ticket like a good citizen.

But he added a little note on his check which angered Mayor Danny Crosby. The mayor refused to accept the check, sparking the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to launch an investigation Monday.

Crosby told Morgan that he had to either write another check that didn't have the words "for speed trap" written in bold letters or face the charges in traffic court.

"As mayor of this city, if I accept that check from that gentleman, I'm admitting we run a speed trap, and that's a bald-faced lie," Crosby said Tuesday.

Coopertown lies about 20 miles northwest of Nashville on a state highway used by motorists to travel between interstates 24 and 65. The town generates nearly 30 percent of its revenue from traffic tickets.

Mayor you and your city are a boil on the ass of humanity. He should have also added a penny to the check so that you had to spend the .39 to mail him a check back for the penny.

I would love to see what percentage of my cities revenue comes from traffic tickets as well. Protect and serve my ass.

Ralph Peters on the Non-Civil War in Iraq

Since Outlaw 13 is on holiday I will pick up his slack with the sequel to "NO WAR IN THE STREETS". Latest from Col Peters DUDE, WHERE'S MY CIVIL WAR?

I'M trying. I've been trying all week. The other day, I drove another 30 miles or so on the streets and alleys of Baghdad. I'm looking for the civil war that The New York Times declared. And I just can't find it.

Maybe actually being on the ground in Iraq prevents me from seeing it. Perhaps the view's clearer from Manhattan. It could be that my background as an intelligence officer didn't give me the right skills.

Voting for dummies

Bill in House would remove straight-party voting option

A bill that would eliminate the option of voting a straight party ticket with one selection has been introduced in the Kentucky House, but backers say the measure's outcome is uncertain.

Kentucky is one of 17 states, most of them in the South or the Rust Belt, whose ballots offer a straight-ticket option.

I can see why some would not want this removed it would require the voter to actual think about the choices. If voters start thinking they might realize what a crook the incumbent is.

KY House Bill 236

HOUSE BILL 236

Sponsor: Rep. J.R. Gray, D-Benton (jr.gray@lrc.ky.gov)

Key provisions: The bill would add language to Kentucky's general principles of justification law:

In certain circumstances, a person is presumed to be in reasonable fear of death or harm when using defensive force intended or likely to cause death or great injury, and is immune from criminal and civil action for such use of force.

Defensive force can be used against an intruder in a person's home or vehicle.

A person does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to "meet force with force" when attacked where he or she has a right to be.

Excluded are use of force against a police officer carrying out official duties and a lawful resident or owner of a home or vehicle, and a person using force to further an illegal act.

House panel backs bill allowing deadly force against intruders

Rep. J.R. Gray, D-Benton, sponsored House Bill 236 on behalf of the National Rifle Association, saying people shouldn't be expected to avoid a confrontation by running away.

"If someone is trying to break into your home in the middle of the night and you've got a fear for your life ... you have a duty under present law to retreat, go to the farthest corner of the room, I guess, and hope the intruder doesn't try to shoot you while you're retreating," Gray said.

Court rulings going back to 1931 have said that people have a right to protect themselves, their families and their property, with deadly force if necessary, Gray said. His bill would put those rulings into state law, he said.

"If you're convinced that that person is about to use deadly force against you, then you have the right to strike back with deadly force," Gray said.

When I took my CDWL class that's pretty much how it was explained about deadly force. If you thought someone's life was in danger you could use deadly force. Also included were if someone was trying to rape someone or trying to burn down you house or barn. I'm not sure where the arson part came into play though.

This Kentucky House bill would support not only NRA members but all property owning citizens. You would think it was common sense if you believed your life to be in danger that the law would support you but I am afraid that is not the case. Read this true story, based on reported facts and what I know of the events and see if you don't think we need this clearly defined law on the books.

Dustin Hoffman was a U.S. Marine veteran, having served during Desert Storm and Operation Just Cause in Panama. He received a Meritorious Mast for his contribution during Desert Storm. Dustin was also a paraplegic confined to a wheel chair from a hunting accident. For a while someone had been stealing things from his garage and around the house while his mom was gone. Being a paraplegic there wasn't much he could do about it because by the time he could get out there they were gone. Calling the police outside the city limits isn't going to help much either because they will be long gone before the over worked State Police could get there (and if the Gov has his way they will be too busy pulling people over for not wearing their seat belts).

In 2003 a convicted felon who used to be a friend of Dustins came by. One who Dustin also thought was the one stealing from his garage. The odds of that are pretty high because the felon was currently under indictment for stealing a 4 wheeler from a garage and then assaulting the woman who owned it when she confronted him. All we know for sure is that David Woodward went into the house and was shot by Dustin twice in the chest with a .22 rifle. Woodward later died at the hospital. Woodward's girlfriend was in the car at the time. From what I understand she told the police at the scene they had stopped by to invite Dustin to go to church with them. Now I'm sorry but when I heard that I almost laughed out of my chair but I suppose it makes a better story than I was the get away driver for a home invasion burglary.

Dustin was indicted by a county "blue hair special" Grand Jury for excessive force. By "blue hair special" I mean the old bitties that usually make up a small town jury. Ironically I could not find that in the archives of the papers anywhere. A paraplegic for fear of his life as far as we know was indicted for excessive force because he shot a man with a .22 twice in his own home.

Obviously if I shoot an intruder I am going to be screwed because I sure as hell am not going to be using a .22 but more like a .223. Just like I taught my wife I will fire until they are no longer threat meaning they are on the ground. If that takes 2 rounds or 30 and I have to reloathat'sts the way it works.That'sts the way the police are trained is it not? Fire until they are no longer a threat.

Dustin sadly committed suicide. We can only imagine what he was going through. He faced life in that chair, had just killed a man he knew in his own home and was not facing possibly going to jail. As far as I am concerned every one of those jury members played a small part in Dustins decision to take his life. The countattorneyny at the time did not seek reelection and its a damn good thing. I was sort of hoping we would I was looking forward to him campaigning for my vote so I could tell him what I thought of him pursuing charges against Dustin.

Semper Fi Dustin.

Bill would ban online hunting in Kentucky

Now that is an anti-hunting measure I can get behind. What sort of low life would even remotely think that constituted "hunting"? A large part of me thinks this concept would never get off the ground in the first place but better to "nip it in the bud".


Source

Port saga continues

So after having a little more time to sink in I thought maybe it might start to make some sense. After talking to some more in tune with how things work off the radar it was pointed out that how the UAE acts in public and how they help us behind the scenes are 2 different beasts. Sure they are not the only country in the middle east that wishes to cooperate with us but has to satisfy their ignorant masses at the same time. If it was a company from a middle eastern muslim type country taking over the ports it would cause me concern. But for this particular company it would seem that it is owned by the UAE. So a foreign power would running the ports. That does not have a good vibe no matter how you slice it. While the Coast Guard and Custom would still be doing their thing foreign ships who sail into ports everyday would now be dealing with the UAE company. We all know that the Coasties and Customs do not have the budget nor every will to inspect every shipping container. So I think the key ingredient here is would this takeover make it any easier to smuggle into this country.

I thought maybe W knew something we didnt. They have been working on a good trade agreement with the UAE and perhaps it would also give us leverage in the war on terror. Well it looks like I thought wrong.

WASHINGTON — President Bush was unaware that a controversial deal to sell shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a United Arab Emirates-owned firm was in the works until it was approved by his administration, the White House said Wednesday.

Oh yeah thats going to make me sleep better tonight. As usual it looks like the White House has dropped the ball on getting info out to Congress and the Senate. Now some of the biggest liberal assclowns look like they are more on top of national security than the W White House. Wonderful.

Cooler heads are prevailing over at Argghhh!! and they even have an email from a member of the Coast Guard here.

Perhaps this deal will work out for the best if it goes through. More trade with UAE and the politicians who are using it for the next election will dip into their pork projects and give the Coasties more funding to do their job.