On Overreacting

Today's post about the Palm Beach Butt Crack Patrol reminded me of something my oldest son and I caught yesterday while flipping channels during Twilight Zone marathon commercials: another "To Catch a Predator" with Chris Hansen.

My concerns about the blurring between "Only Ones" and "Authorized Journalists" notwithstanding, we do generally find the show good for a few laughs at the loser idiot scumbags, and yesterday was no exception. But they've started doing something I don't remember from earlier shows: Now, in addition to the bellowing horde of weapons-ready tacklers, they've started having some guy in a ghillie suit emerge from the bushes to make first contact.

For some reason, it struck us as really funny, maybe because we weren't expecting it, and our first reaction was to wonder why Chewbacca was making a cameo on Dateline NBC. Then we started laughing and extrapolating fantasy scenarios about other ways to scare the hell out of people, for instance, jumping out of the bushes roaring like a monster while wearing a team mascot costume, or as the Mugato from Star Trek...

But that was just stupid boys having stupid fun, and the larger point was not lost: Here's Chris Hansen confronting these guys alone but for a hidden camera crew that emerges at the finale, possibly unwisely for being unarmed, and then the amount of force present to make the arrest just really stands out starkly against that.

Maybe I'm the one overreacting here, but I remember a time when these kinds of deployments were reserved for murderers, bank robbers, desperados...

Ah well. It's all just entertainment anyway, right?

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch

No biggie--it's a holiday. Probably tomorrow, right?

We're the Only Ones in Full Force Enough

"No one goes to the mall and wants to see the crack of someone's butt."

Probably true in general. But for God's sake, Palm Beach "Only Ones" needed "20 deputies, two canine units and a police helicopter" to deal with it?

Are they truly that afraid? And is that the kind of mentality we want running around confronting people while armed to the teeth with "weapons of war"?

[Via Mack]

Biggest Story of 2007

A comment that I think deserves wider attention was added last night to an older post.

[Via Waste Waste Waste]

This Day in History: January 1

A Bit of Lag Time, Perhaps?

Metro Philadelphia, Nov, 29, 2007:

...Riley, a sociologist and new member of CeaseFire PA’s board of directors.

The statewide gun-control group, arguably Pennsylvania’s most visible and expansive, added four new board members yesterday.

Ceasefire PA's Board of Directors page, as of today:


Huh. Notice anything missing?

Considering they've had over a month now, and with all that computer expertise in their corner, I think they'd at least be able to update a webpage to include their new directors.

Wonder what the holdup is? I'd think anyone fortunate enough to align themselves with a distinguished member of academia would lose no time publicly capitalizing on that. Surely they're proud of it?

Oh well, I'm sure they'll take care of the oversight and advertise their new affiliation soon into the New Year after everybody's back from the holidays, don't you think? In the mean time, just to make sure they don't forget, perhaps the following daily reminder might be helpful?

Bring it On

My advice to Mr Codrea would be to drop the matter now before it gets seriously out of hand. He and his buddies would also be well advised to figure out how to erase their tracks on Google too.

Drop the matter?

I'm just getting warmed up. You ain't seen nothin' yet. And unlike with you, "anonymous," that's not a veiled threat, it's a promise. And I keep the ones I make.

Erase my tracks? Why would I want to do that? I'm pleased with the truths I've brought to light thus far. And I intend to keep excavating.

Funny thing about threats--unless you carry them out if your demands aren't met, they just come off as fear-driven bluffs, as laughable as the impotent creature making them.

I'm supposed to fear and then heed someone so cowardly he needs to threaten anonymously from the shadows?

I'd say someone is getting desperate and scared. And it's not me.

Breaching the Wall

Two-thirds of the guns gathered Saturday were dropped off at Shiloh Baptist Church on 9th Street in Northwest, one of the three locations where the department held the collections, according to police.

So apparently the great "wall of separation" between church and state we hear so much about doesn't apply to ideologies like all-powerful government worship...?

Hot Topic

Gun control is expected to become a hot topic for the US presidential election as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on a controversial handgun ban in the nation's capital.

Why not heat it up even more? The leading Democrat presidential candidates ought to be questioned on what they think the outcome of Heller should be, and their answer--or refusal to give an unequivocal one, ought to be publicized to "sportsmen".

I wouldn't expect this to cause much change within the GOP--even Rudy has made statements in support of Heller. This would be particularly damaging to the Dems, as they've been making noises recently to try and camouflage their tyrannical ambitions in re guns. This would be a way to approach the Democrat "sportsman" with proof that their candidate is so extreme they don't believe in a right to own guns at all--even at home.

It probably wouldn't make that big of a difference, but in politics, every percentage point counts toward tipping the scale, and who knows what damage could be engineered by loudly pointing out to duck hunters how their candidate is ducking an issue close to their hearts? Besides which, it would really be comical watching Paul Helmke and Peter Hamm try to spin it after their "judicial activism" tirades.

Bottom line: if it can hurt Hillary and Obama, why not?

We're the Only Ones Worth Protecting Enough

A man shot dead by police at a village near Sevenoaks in Kent had been reported wielding an Uzi-type sub-machine gun, the police watchdog said on
Sunday.

Wait a minute--are you saying "gun control" in the UK doesn't stop criminals from getting guns?

Unarmed Kent Police officers went to Stansted village on Saturday morning in response to a call that a man was threatening a member of the public, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said.

So if a member of the public's life is being threatened, someone who is prohibited by law from protecting himself, that's not important enough to send someone 'round capable of giving him the protection he's denied?

Two armed response units joined the officers and challenged the man, who was white and aged around 40.

But once "The Only Ones" feel threatened, the means of defense are made available?

Police then shot the man two times and he died at the scene.

And the only thing that will stop an armed threat is another man on the scene who is also armed?

He is not thought to have held a firearms licence or to have been a member of a registered gun club.

I repeat my first question...

Michael Bloomberg for President?

Buoyed by the still unsettled field, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is growing increasingly enchanted with the idea of an independent presidential bid, and his aides are aggressively laying the groundwork for him to run.

That might not turn out as badly as it sounds.

He'd peel "moderate" votes away from the leading Republican and Democrat pretenders, and make an independent run by Ron Paul much more winnable. Plus, his cowardice in taking a stand on the Iraq war means the anti-war crowd would have nowhere else to turn.

Appropriate Use Policy

I don't know why, but somehow, reviewing a few highlights of Bucknell University's computer resources policy seemed like it might be--what's the word?--appropriate...

The use of Bucknell resources is a privilege, not a right, and is granted under the conditions of appropriate usage as stated in this policy. By using Bucknell's network, computing facilities, resources, and accounts, users agree to the guidelines contained herein.

General Guidelines
...Do not be destructive or malicious...

Appropriate Use
Use consistent with the educational mission of Bucknell University.
Use for purposes of, or in support of, education and research.
Use related to administrative and other support activities of the University...

Community Responsibilities
Do not use university resources (including, for example, e-mail, web pages, or newsgroups) to defame, harass, intimidate or threaten any other person(s), or to promote bigotry or discrimination...
Do not publish, post, transmit, or otherwise make available content that is copyrighted, obscene, or legally objectionable...

Ethical Use
...Do not forge, maliciously disguise or misrepresent your personal identity. This policy does not prohibit users from engaging in anonymous communications, providing that such communications do not otherwise violate the Appropriate Usage Policy...

Enforcement of the Appropriate Usage Policy
To insure adherence to the Appropriate Usage Policy and to protect the integrity of Bucknell's computing resources, ISR reserves the right to monitor the network and computers attached to it. In addition, ISR shall have the authority to examine files and account information, and to test passwords, to protect the security of Bucknell's network, computing resources and its users.

Reporting AUP Violations
Reports of problems or violations should be made on the Abuse Report Form.

This Day in History: December 31

On December 31, the American forces assaulted Quebec, with 600 men led by Arnold from the North and 300 men led by Montgomery from the South. The British were waiting between successive barriers. The Americans broke through the first line, but were stopped by the second. Arnold was wounded in the leg and carried from the battle field. Montgomery was killed by a bullet to the head, and the American assault failed. Six hundred men were captured and 60 died in the attempt to take Quebec.

Awareness, Mary Ann Lindley Style

There are alternatives. The one that was pounded into me, and which I still use every time I am approaching a vast parking garage, heading toward a car-filled parking lot, walking alone as dark descends, or sometimes just in a large crowd, is awareness...We were trained in physical maneuvers, some of the less-refined martial arts moves that could help us fight if necessary before we could flee. Quick kicks or punches to the throat, groin and eyes are what most attackers wouldn't expect. [More]

Yes, awareness/preparedness are all part of Col. Cooper's basics. But that's not enough.I'm sure all those Ted Bundy victims you mentioned were quite aware of what was happening to them.

You stupid little girl: I know someone very well who is 6'3" and weighs 230 lbs. He has years of martial arts experience as a young man, starting with Korean Tae Kwan Do, heavy involvement with Okinawan Ishin Ryu, including tournament competition, judo, and even a college course in hand-to-hand combat taught by the late Joe Begala, the man who wrote the Navy/Marine aviator training manual used in WWII and who was "the winningest wrestling coach" in the nation. Plus he's been in a few real fights and knows what it's like to be struck, kicked, kneed and grappled full force, and to bleed.

He's even the subject of some Herman Munster ribbing from his family, like over the time he yanked up too hard on the parking brake and ripped it out of the car floor, or lifted the end of the van enough so it could be freed from a snow-filled pothole.

He would never call any of this to anyone's attention to make them think how "bad" he was: quite the contrary. Since you brought up the Clint Eastwood quote, let me offer another: "A man's gotta know his limitations."

Not being aware of that is the same as being oblivious.

There are plenty of guys he knows who could mop the floor with him--and many of them little guys, like any of his teachers, or men who have never taken a day of martial arts training in their lives and are simply tougher, faster, stronger... The only chance he'd stand, and he freely admits this, is if he had a weapon to overcome their physical advantage.

So you take a basic intro class, and that's all your 10-week session really was, and think you're now qualified to instruct? You fool. I'm sure you'd like to give everyone your expertise on what you'd do when an enraged animal with twice your upper body strength has you on the ground, which is where most fights end up--it's not like in the movies, where everything is choreographed with perfect form, you know.

This is journalistic malpractice, and proves that a little bit of knowledge truly is a dangerous thing. Anyone who listens to an incompetent such as yourself is liable to get themselves killed.

Another UK Gun Registration Victory

A gun stolen from a British military base or smuggled by troops from Afghanistan or Iraq has been used in the attempted murder of a policewoman, The Observer can reveal.

Wow, it's a good thing the Brits keep such meticulous registration lists so stuff like this won't happen. Plus nobody keeps more meticulous inventory records than the military...

[Via Paul W. Davis]

We're the Only Ones Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Enough

At the Iron Tiger Martial Arts school in Middletown and in Milford, N.J., New York City police Officer Trent Young taught kids self-defense.

But Middletown police say Young twisted the tenets of self-reliance to sexually abuse one teenage female student and try to abuse another.

Master Only One say "When you can snatch the pebble from my..."

[Via Declan]

This Day in History: December 30

Being appointed by Colo. Sheldon to procure Cloathing and accoutrements for the Regiment against the ensuing Campaign, you are to repair immediately to Boston as the most probable place of furnishing yourself. Upon your arrival there, you are, thro General Heath (to whom I have written) to apply to the persons purchasing Cloathing for Continental use, for as much as will be Sufficient, and as you have the measures of your Men, have it made up as expeditiously as possible. For the Articles of Boots, Saddlery &ca. you are to contract yourself, and Genl. Heath will furnish you with the Money.

Links to Yesterday's Post on Racist Anti-Gunner

I'm out the door and in a hurry this morning, so I don't have time to do the post I wanted. For now, go here to see what others are blogging about the "mystery racist."

Boy, if it's not who it looks like it is, someone is going to a lot of trouble to set up circumstantial evidence to frame him. That's why my call for an independent investigation is the only way to resolve this.

I'll have more later-- a lot more. As will these other bloggers, I'm sure.

This Day in History: December 29

December 29. 1775

In Schenectady, New York, the local Committee of Correspondence asks local magistrates to prevent the firing of guns on New Year's Day in order to conserve gun powder.

Ahh...The Founding Fathers' version of gun control...

Uganda: We're from the Government and We're Here to Help You

While the United Nations works diligently to curb the Second Amendment rights of Americans, it is turning a blind eye to abused Karamojong tribesmen fighting a brutal government to keep their only means of self-defense.

Paul Gallant sent me this link to his latest article, co-authored with Dave Kopel and Joanne D. Eisen.