Lessons in democracy...

Its not often that the US is shown a lesson in democracy by the place where Great Britain used to be.  However, yesterday they showed exactly how a democracy is supposed to work.  Despite great promises from the prime minister that great action must be taken over the atrocities happening in Syria, the House of Commons pointed out with a resounding "No" vote that the people really felt differently.  And this is a good thing for them, as they showed how a democracy is supposed to work.  Additionally, unlike the EU (who dislike when people vote against it) this vote has no "do over" option.  The people have spoken, please move on.

Here in the US our president, despite complaining about the previous president acting like a cowboy without the approval of congress, would like to act like a cowboy without the approval of congress.  While I have no use for the UN, this is an item that falls squarely within their realm.  Despite the fact that at this point they are both the most corrupt institution on the face of the planet and more ineffective than the League of Nations, this is what they were put in place for.  Also, it would really be better if the nations more centrally located to the conflict were involved.  Despite what some think, the US is not the world's policemen, and our president should not use our military as such.

Dear Fast Food Strike participant...

While I admire the drive and determination you are applying to your cause, I really would like to point out a few problems with your theory.  First, money does not grow on trees, so if you are suddenly paid 15 dollars an hour, that 50%(ish) raise will have to paid for somewhere.  This means that your employer will either need to raise prices or shrink the workforce.  Guess which one will come first.  Second, there are far more people in need of jobs than you think.  Firing you for walking out will not strain them one bit.

I have worked at fast food in the past and always knew that the pay sucked, the hours were crappy and that I was not going to make a career out of it.  It is not your employers fault that you are a single parent of three children who can't afford childcare.  You made the life choices that landed you where you are.  The simple objective you have is to use your work experience to show other employers that you can hold a steady job and show up to work on time.  Working your way up the ladder at that fast food job can't hurt either.  This is a stepping stone to a better job.

Also, while I feel that unions have their place, this really isn't one of them.  I doubt that this will succeed, as my experience shows that most employers will have planned for this and will have people on call who will not walk out.  Generally because they will be getting more hours, possibly OT.  So actually, you will be helping some fast food workers earn more pay, just not how you intended.

Finally, JayG's rage meter can get a break...

Finally a day a day arrives when JayG can honestly post something positive about Massachusetts.  Sumdood was responsible for breaking into a car and stealing an iPad.  Unfortunately, it wasn't just an expensive toy left lying around.  It belonged to an autistic child who uses it to communicate.  Being non-verbal, it is his only means of communication.  It's also used for his therapy, so double whammy.  The story ran on the local Fox news channel and got an immediate response from the viewers, who contacted the station with offers to help.  Within a day the deputy police chief delivered a new iPad purchased by the townspeople to replace the stolen one.

The story ran on Fox News (home to bitter clingers of guns and bibles) who responded with an outpouring of offers to help.  Not to have a rally, pass a law or demand that the government do something.  Just offered to help by buying a replacement asap.

CNN?  Not a peep.  Wait, I have my shocked face around here somewhere....

Denver Housing Authority, where the sympathy wells...

So, only weeks after the fiasco of Ross Management deciding that the Second Amendment was more of a guideline than a rule, the Denver Housing Authority decided that they didn't want to be outshone by Douglas County Housing Authority for dumbass moves made in their name.  Three days after Sandy Rosskilly was shot and killed by her neighbor, the DHA decided that it would be a great idea to give a grieving 70 year old mother 6 hours notice to get out.  Her daughter is still in the morgue, but that is apparently no excuse for not being out in 6 hours.  

It amazes me that on a regular basis, people who have no need for public assistance not only abuse it (and feel that it is their right) but continue to be allowed to use it after being reported (due to lack of .gov willpower to stop it) and yet a 70 year old woman is out on the street with 6 hours notice after the murder of her daughter 3 days before.  If the powers that be in Denver have anything resembling a shred of decency, they will correct this injustice immediately and make sure that the employee who made this spectacular decision is reassigned to something that suits their skills a bit better.  Something like sorting and reconstructing shredded documents and putting them in alphabetical order, and paying them by the completed page.  I doubt anything other than an award for efficiency will happen, however...

You are subjects, not citizens...

So this morning we are seeing a more clear picture of the Miranda Incident at Heathrow Airport.  While people up the chain were notified, none sought to question or prevent the stop, which tells us that they thought it was a good idea.  Additionally, the UK government has threatened legal action against The Guardian and forced the editor to allow agents into his basement to destroy hard drives containing the Snowden data.

Many are crying foul and screaming about freedom of the press.  Here's the thing:  You live in the place where Great Britain used to be.  You do not, nor have you ever had, freedom of press.  While that item is listed in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, you have no such protection.  As Jeremy Clarkson once said of Britain, "We don't live in a free country."  If you don't like it, you could demand that your government change it, but I doubt it will happen.

Conversely, those of you who travel to such areas should be aware that your protections under said Constitution do not extend beyond the borders of the US.  Just because you have a US passport does not mean that you are above local laws, customs or arbitrary imprisonment.

Stretching the rules...

In a strong desire to show that the US is not alone in abusing ill-conceived legislation enacted with the best of intentions but having horrible results, the UK "police" have decided to use the Terrorism Act 2000, Schedule 7 (apparently they have schedules instead of paragraphs and sub-paragraphs) against the partner of a Guardian journalist.  In using this particular set of tragic legislation, they have apparently designated The Guardian a terrorist organization.  That should throw readership up a bit.  Now, I put the word police in quotes because it appears that no one wants to admit it was them publicly.  It seems that the people that they publicly answer to are a bit miffed, since the US got a heads up and they didn't.  Some are trying to make a big deal about the US claiming that they did not ask for the detention.  However, since it was more of a courtesy call, and since the person was being stopped no matter what the US wanted, why would they muddy the waters by putting a request in formally for inclusion?  All they had to do was sit back and pop some popcorn.

The reality is that this was a power play, a bully tactic against the people supplied information by Snowden.   The problem in today's world is that the data, even if it was on this guys laptop, would also be backed up elsewhere.  Likely in multiple locations.  So really you gained nothing, since it is already known what was taken, and pissed off the guys who will now publicly crucify your actions with the information that they have.  Going after WikiLeaks like this didn't stop the flow of information at that site, and this won't stop The Guardian from publishing.  It's also a perfect example of what happens when legislation is rushed through with too little thought given to the far over-reaching powers given to police with no requirement to answer to anyone and no right of defense given to the victims of it's enforcement.  You'd think after the abuses committed during the troubles by British law enforcement, they would have known better.  I guess not.

I can see it already starting...

I see the start of another "celebrated" scumbag shaping up.  Earlier this year, two misunderstood youths stopped a woman and her toddler and demanded money.  When the woman said she had none, they shot her, missing once but hitting her in the leg, then shot her toddler in the face killing him.

Since then, having been identified by witnesses, the two criminals have been arrested.  Additionally, multiple members of the trigger man's family have been arrested and indicted for interfering with the investigation and disposing of the gun, which was found anyway.

The defense attorney is playing the "railroading my client" card in the press.  While I don't put it past law enforcement and prosecutors to ignore evidence so that they can assure a conviction, we don't appear to have that here. We have multiple witnesses and the murder weapon.  I doubt that we are looking at the wrong guys.  What I see building is the start of a new...

No, I won't name or link directly to the scumbag...

A new version of the scumbag that murdered Daniel Faulkner and then proceeded to make a mockery of our judicial system for 30 years.

I hope that they convict them and lock them up for life.  Due to age, despite the crime, I doubt that they will be eligible for the death penalty.  So I hope that they never breathe free air again.  More importantly, I hope they are not afforded the notoriety that appears to be in the works by this defense attorney.