Weerd's Light A Candle To Stop Violence

Weerd has requested participation, so here is my submission.  Since CCW is effectively* illegal in California, this is for in home protection. 

* Getting a CCW in California (especially the Bay Area) may technically be legal, but the chances of non-Law Enforcement people getting one are Slim and none, and Slim left town years ago.

You, Sir, are my hero.

90-year-old man, suspect injured in shootout during burglary attempt

Unfortunately, it does not qualify for Jay's DGC list, but still the end result is good so far.  Goes to show that WWII vets still have what it took to win that war.  Now if the jury convicts and the judge actually give him hard time, this goblin will think twice before trying to burglarize a home.

And I am expected to trust the TSA?

After reading the excellent fisking  at Popehat of an article by one Mike Elk (linked to by an equally excellent but shorter one by The Queen of Snark), I am treated to this little gem: 

TSA worker sentenced for aiding drug dealer

And they think we should trust these people?  Seriously?

I've seen fast food joints with better hiring practices than the TSA. 

The fun of researching California firearms laws...

So I was checking the details on the old ammo that I unearthed in my garage when I decided to check out the California firearms laws again to make sure I had not run afoul in the past year.  California politicians really like to pass laws that immediately criminalize significant parts of the population, such as, well, anything proposed by Kevin de León.  Things that come to mind are AB 962 (overturned in court) and SB 798 (changed dramatically after visible opposition and many shenanigans on de León's part).  The first would have banned sales of ammunition using the phone, mail or internet.  It also would have required lots of paperwork and tracking of personal ammunition sales.  Then this fine state senator decided to jump on the "river of steel flowing to Mexico" fiasco, not bothering to note that the ATF was actually acting as the supplier.

So, following that ugly little rabbit hole, I decided to look back at the state websites for up to date information.  I went to the website for the California AG and after a roundabout run of the links, I got to the firearms section.  Here I find that the website hasn't been updated since apparently 2009, since AB 962 was shot down and they still prominently display it as law.  I thought the new AG would want to tidy things up there when she took office there in 2011, but not surprisingly, she hasn't had the time to set her staff to it.  I see that she is keeping up the fine standards that she showed in earlier positions.

Having just returned from the free state of Oregon, I keep looking at our finances and my career and think about what is would cost to move and how hard it would be to find another job...

At the movies: Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows

My wife decided that we should go see the new Sherlock Holmes movie after our daughter got home from school today.  So, we picked her up from school and headed directly to the theater.  After paying $28 for popcorn and sodas, not to mention $22 admission, we headed in.  On a side note, with those prices, I am incredulous the movie industry is shocked that during an economic downturn people may not want to dump that kind of scratch on a movie.

So we then sat down and proceeded to wipe out the popcorn and enjoy the movie.  Two hours of a spectacle that I expect when I sit in a theater. 
Historical accuracy?  Not really. 
Geographic accuracy?  Nope. 
Accuracy regarding the source material from Sir Arthur?  That died on the first movie, not expected here. 

Now, the flip side.  Were we entertained?  Yes, extremely.  The continuity from the first movie to the second was perfect.  I would have liked to have seen more of the London police in the movie, but they did get back in the end.  The movie was fun to watch, did not require much reference to the first movie to follow this one.  If you were looking for the books, please buy the excellent Jeremy Brett series.  If you were looking for an entertaining two hours, this is not a bad way to blow $50.  Just remember to suspend disbelief before entering the theater, definitely before stopping to buy the tickets. 

A frest new start to the year.

The end of 2011 fell short of optimal from a time stand point.  We had an unexpected termination at work which added to the already heavy workload.  Add in my immediate two levels of management being brand new and we find a lot of wheel spinning.  So, in addition to trying to work in family holiday visits in a different state, I worked a lot of overtime and didn't have a lot of time to write.

However, I am going to endeavor to write on a more regular basis this year.  At least one item per day.  Starting today, at least 365 posts...  Wait, its already January second? dammit...

Fast and Furious and journalist failure

Today I am treated to a story on the failed ATF program digging a deeper hole.  Unfortunately, no matter where I look, this appears to be a page 2 story behind "Dog Bites Man".  Apparently, alleged sex scandals involving unelected political candidates is more important than a poorly thought out justice department operation and the efforts to cover it up.  Even more interesting is that this dates back to the Bush administration, so really the media should be having a field day blaming him.

While I would love to see this scandal given the appropriate coverage and tone, since it has been documented by both US and Mexican criminal investigations that this has resulted in deaths in both sides of the border, I see little interest from the media to address it.  Right now, then entire ATF organization should be under scrutiny, all managers in the operation under suspension and all current operations under review.  By now, indictments should be pending against those managers.   

This really plays into my frustration with the media.  I understand that in reality, they are selling a product (newspapers, magazines and ad space on broadcasts and internet sites) and they have to provide something that draws people to their product.  However, since this is the case, I really would like the phrase "journalistic integrity" stricken from use.  I don't see it being practiced, so why pretend that it exists?  The media should be focusing on this and calling for blood.  Instead, they are setting up shop on Herman Cain's front lawn while his political opponents wax poetic on his virtues now that he has called it off.