Mexico released data showing only an 11% increase in deaths in the ongoing drug wars in that country, which is much lower than recent years. According to their figures, in the 2009-2010 area there was a 70% increase, which interestingly coincides with the ATF deciding that it wanted to be the top supplier of guns to the drug cartels.
I can't wait for the ATF and Justice Department to start using this data to support their argument that their heavy handed and poorly thought out plans show a need for increased firearms laws. In reality, it shows that our justice department (ah, the poor naming conventions) has lost sight of what their job is about. Much like the IRS and Congress, they appear to think that unless they are showing an increase in the work that they do and the number of people that they go after, they will lose their reason for being.
The thing that struck me most is that this item was not a headline on the site, more of a Section G page six item. Almost 13k dead in 9 months and almost 50k overall and it is an "also ran" story. Sad, really.
<Note to self: When scheduling updates for posting, remember to actually finish the scheduling part. Posting almost a week later is silly.>
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Wait, you need money to do that?
Ah, the great irony unfolds. Occupy Wall Street is now having funding issues. I note that they have a documented corporate structure and I am willing to bet are using a bank to hold the dwindling supply of money that they have had donated. They also have noted a downturn in free food and ice cream delivered to the protests. I'm sure the banks are to blame.
Anyway, they have had to institute a partial spending freeze. (I know that somewhere there is a union rep that is trying to figure out how to protest this freeze and turn it into an opportunity to unionize the protestors.) But as I look at the items described, I am entertained to see the kind of spending that they justified. $3000 in supplies for puppets. $2500 on tea, herbs and likely a very spiffy teapot. They have had to endure such "hardships" while protesting as opposed to those in the past who had possibly a bit more difficult time of it.
Yea, we're taking you seriously. Honest.
Anyway, they have had to institute a partial spending freeze. (I know that somewhere there is a union rep that is trying to figure out how to protest this freeze and turn it into an opportunity to unionize the protestors.) But as I look at the items described, I am entertained to see the kind of spending that they justified. $3000 in supplies for puppets. $2500 on tea, herbs and likely a very spiffy teapot. They have had to endure such "hardships" while protesting as opposed to those in the past who had possibly a bit more difficult time of it.
Yea, we're taking you seriously. Honest.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
I want that firewood salesman!
Russian finds Kalashnikovs in firewood crates
A man who had bought crates off the back of a lorry in Russia for firewood found they contained 79 Kalashnikov rifles and parts, Russian media report. The villager in Udmurtia reported the rifles to a local policeman, after which investigators examined the 64 crates.
Interestingly, there is no mention of the villager or driver in question being harrassed or arrested by the police. Now, if a similar situation occurred in the US, do you think that the ATF would be as polite? Just food for thought...
A man who had bought crates off the back of a lorry in Russia for firewood found they contained 79 Kalashnikov rifles and parts, Russian media report. The villager in Udmurtia reported the rifles to a local policeman, after which investigators examined the 64 crates.
Interestingly, there is no mention of the villager or driver in question being harrassed or arrested by the police. Now, if a similar situation occurred in the US, do you think that the ATF would be as polite? Just food for thought...
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Yep, an upstanding officer...
I know a number of current and former members of law enforcement. I know that there are a large amount of good people in that profession. So it really sucks when I see crap like this guy:
Ex-cop gets prison in shooting plot
XENIA, Ohio (WDTN) - A former Miamisburg police officer will spend some time in prison for convincing his lover to shoot her husband. The victim says his wife used photographs of him as target practice while Mark Roysdon taught her how to shoot a gun.
What really disappoints me is that this waste of oxygen got only 18 months, likely out in 9. While his career is ruined, and he will likely loose most of his possessions, he got off light. In less than two years he can begin to rebuild his life, likely in a different area where they do not know of his real background.
Meanwhile, the victim has to deal with a shattered marriage and the violent ending to it. He will likely have personal issues to deal with for decades.
The word "Justice" in the phrase "Criminal Justice" seems a bit misleading sometimes...
Ex-cop gets prison in shooting plot
XENIA, Ohio (WDTN) - A former Miamisburg police officer will spend some time in prison for convincing his lover to shoot her husband. The victim says his wife used photographs of him as target practice while Mark Roysdon taught her how to shoot a gun.
What really disappoints me is that this waste of oxygen got only 18 months, likely out in 9. While his career is ruined, and he will likely loose most of his possessions, he got off light. In less than two years he can begin to rebuild his life, likely in a different area where they do not know of his real background.
Meanwhile, the victim has to deal with a shattered marriage and the violent ending to it. He will likely have personal issues to deal with for decades.
The word "Justice" in the phrase "Criminal Justice" seems a bit misleading sometimes...
Another fine "Occupy Moment"...
Brought to you by the US Park Police.
Man accused of leaving toddler alone in Occupy tent
Man accused of leaving toddler alone in Occupy tent
updated 6:55 PM EST, Wed January 11, 2012
(CNN) -- A man accused of leaving a 13-month-old girl alone in a tent at Washington's Occupy DC encampment has been arrested, U.S. Park Police said Wednesday.
Police spokesman David Schlosser said the man was taken into custody at McPherson Square in downtown Washington, where Occupy protesters have been camped out since last fall.
Police were called around 10 a.m. and found the baby girl wearing only a "onesie," Schlosser said. Temperatures in Washington at the time were in the low 40s.
Yes, a good example of the fine parenting skills inherent in the Occupy movement. In a city with the seventh highest violent crime rate in the US this pillar of parenthood decided to leave his toddler in a tent. In the park. In 40 degree weather. And he didn't even show up until 30 minutes after the police showed up. That is the cream of the crop, Occupying our country into the crapper.
Police spokesman David Schlosser said the man was taken into custody at McPherson Square in downtown Washington, where Occupy protesters have been camped out since last fall.
Police were called around 10 a.m. and found the baby girl wearing only a "onesie," Schlosser said. Temperatures in Washington at the time were in the low 40s.
Yes, a good example of the fine parenting skills inherent in the Occupy movement. In a city with the seventh highest violent crime rate in the US this pillar of parenthood decided to leave his toddler in a tent. In the park. In 40 degree weather. And he didn't even show up until 30 minutes after the police showed up. That is the cream of the crop, Occupying our country into the crapper.
Top Gear, still doing what they do best.
Apparently, the Government of India has no sense of humor.
Top Gear India special criticised for 'toilet humour'
Top Gear India special criticised for 'toilet humour'
A Top Gear special in India was "offensive" and full of "toilet humour", the High Commission of India (HCI) in London has complained. The 28 December special featured jokes about food and trains and a Jaguar car fitted with a toilet seat on its boot. The HCI has written to the BBC after it was contacted by "too many people" who were "very upset" by the programme.
Nor, apparently, do they do any research on the people and programs that apply for visas to shoot film in their country. If they were unable to check wikipedia for the American Special, or the Botswana Special, or the Vietnam Special, not to mention the second America trip (the US did give them a stern talking to that time) or the Boliva Special, then really they have nothing to complain about.
Now, since I am one of Clarkson's "fat Americans" and I have no problems with the jokes, my advice to India is to lighten up and take the show for what it is, light entertainment, nothing more.
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