Five ACC teams

Five teams in the dance. Frankly, it should have been seven. The Wolfpack made it. Hopefully, UNC-Charlotte will not come out with it's AA+ game to show up the elder brethren of the State. Gonna be a fun month. Sit back and enjoy.

Tragedy in Atlanta

I'm beginning to hear some voices that blame gun violence, not a violent person who happened to have a gun as the problem. In this crazy PC-world we somehow don't believe it "good" for the accused to show up in court wearing restraints. So, we allow a person who, alledgedly, has demonstrated violence toward women to be guarded by a 5' , 51-year-old female. We also make it safer by ensuring that deputies' firearms are not easy for the deputies to get out of the holster. This maniac then kills four people and it's due to "gun violence" because the deputies shouldn't have firearms. This is an incredible attempt by the anti-gun forces to turn a tragedy to their political advantage.

The real problem is that we should never allow prisoners like this to be transferred without restraints; we should never allow the prisoner to be transported by one deputy (especially one half his size); and we should make sure that the armed guardians of the court can easily get to there firearms to protect folks in the court. This is not "gun violence" it is violence with a gun under a series of errors, some of those in the name of polictical correctness. The perpetrators of this fraud never seem to be held accountable.

I have several firearms. None of them are violent.

Counter Recruitment Movement

I ran across websites for several counter recruitment movements. The American Friends Service Committee is typical and one of the better sites. Their good advice is that anyone considering joining the military should carefully consider the decision. The AFSC, better than others, still goes off the deep end. Allowing recruiters into schools is somehow
militarizing our schools. They seem to want to place joining the military on the same level as joining McDonalds. The things for a young person to consider are in the forms of whines: "You can't quit when you want to" "You might be sent to war" "They can make you work long hours" "many people join the Guard and Reserves expecting only to serve their state and discover that they can be sent off ot war ad nauseum


Some of this is frankly a
well, duh Joining the military is not like any other job. It is a commitment. Your drill sergeant will not talk nice to you, tuck you in and make sure that you have milk and cookies each night. Your platoon sergeant will demand that you do certain things to standard. Training is hard, it often takes long hours. The military is a very disciplined environment and is very demanding. It is not for everyone, but, frankly, some time in the service would benefit almost everyone. Yes, golly gee, they might send you to war. Last time I looked, that was the purpose of the military and that is what your training is for. If you join the Guard or Reserves, you are joining to be part of the military effort. Hopefully, your unit will not be activated, but when you join, there is always the possibility that it will.

That is why the unit exists

These groups want to make the military seem bad because it is not like other jobs. I've even hear the phrase "other consumer choices" being used. Since when is a job a "consumer choice?" Are we consumers of jobs the same way we are consumers of milk and soft drinks?

The military option should always be the option of last resort. However, just wanting the peaceful solution and allowing the really bad people to know that, no matter what, we will pursue only that option is an outright guarantee that, eventually, we will be forced to use the military. We need, and will continue to need, a strong, well-trained military. It is my hope that the we continue to have high enlistment rates. Those that choose to serve do things well that those who do not choose to serve can't even imagine.

The Home Un-Handy Man

Today was a typical day of fun in home repairs. A simple trip to Lowe's to get the parts to fix a dripping tub faucet turned into a great idea to fix the faucet, replace the showerhead and finally get around to getting four doors keyed identically. Any fumble fingers can replace springs and gaskets in a shower. I proved that I'm not just any fumble fingers and there was a second trip to Lowe's to replace the washers that went down the drain. While there, they had a showerhead on the clearance rack, which was just a few aisles from the door locks. After the second attempt the faucet doesn't drip and the shower head works with no leaks. Of course there was the third trip to get the hole saw since the deadbolts I bought didn't fit the holes in the doors. My wife asked if Lowe's had had a parking place with my name on it. Didn't tell her what they charged to entertain me.

I hope I'm not the only person around that can turn a $4, 20 minute repair into an all day affair costing $120.

Still Going Great

As a lifelong ACC fan, this is the best part of the year, even if Duke, once again, humbled the Wolfpack. It's hard to remember an ACC team that went to the tournament and laid down. UNC may b one of the teams (in my opinion) with a strong shot at the Final Four, but G. Tech didn't lay down and let them walk through the tournament. J. J. Redick, by law, ought to have t play in ankle-weights, one eye blindfolded and with legal goal-tending. It would probably hold him to 30 points.
Go Pack

Still the Best Sports Season

Especially after NC State beats Wake Forest 81-65. This is a great weekend for sports. Just need more TV's to keep up.

This Tops It

Today the Senate voted on legistlation that tightens up the rules on declaring bankruptcy. It will be harder to run up huge credit card debt and then declare bankruptcy. Read the comments. The web site and it's commenters seem to think that this bill is another shot at the poor and middle class by the Republicans and turn-coat Democrats, all of whom are bought and paid for by big financial corporations. They seem to forget that people have an obligation to pay back money that is borrowed. I am amazed by the number of commenters who seem to believe that people have some "rights" to use credit cards and then not pay back the money they owe. They seem to believe that credit cards are some form of necessary redistribution of wealth from the rich and the poor.

Plastic certainly adds conveniences and makes things easier. We seem to be moving into a society that is doing away with checks and cash. I love my plastic because it means that I don't have to carry wads of cash, reduces trips to the bank to get cash, makes it a darned sight easier and less hassle than writing checks, makes travel a lot simpler and all those other things that add to the convenience. Ever try to rent a car without plastic? Almost impossible. Certainly would make buying stuff over the internet much tougher. In Virginia, and most other states we can log on to DMV, and perform all sorts of stuff that would otherwise require driving to an office and standing in line, if you have plastic. However, at the end of the monthly billing cycle the piper lets you know his due. If you are living within your means, you simply write them a check. That's one check, not dozens and no driving from place to place. However, each of these wonderful transactions mean that I'm borrowing money and need to pay it back, unless I'm a democrat. Then, it's simply my right to steal from some faceless business.

I think I'm converting to the progressive view of things. Up until today, I wasn't aware that my bank simply owed me this money.

Counter-Recruitment

Thumbing through channels during times out in basketball games I came across a segment on O'reilly that was almost hilarious. Two people who were activists against military recruitment were on. They never said that they were against enlistment in the service but kept using words like "other consumer alternatives." Honest speech struck only once when one of them said that he wouldn't recommend that his son enlist because his son had better things to do. If you are anti-military, say you are anti-military. One of them said that they had former soldiers that had been lied to by the military. The lie: the college money wasn't as good as she thought. The college money now "given" to soldiers is plainly described and has been for a long time. If it didn't meet your expectations, tough.

Both of the anti-enlistment people were in their 50's-60's. Another group of folks who miss the Viet Nam protesting days.

All young people should consider enlisting. The military experience will make them much more mature when they begin pursuing careers and education. I've never been convinced that going straight from high school to college or a first job is the best thing to do. Give an enlistment in the military a look. If you decide it is not for you, then so be it. Talk to as many people as you can who have been in. Anyone who is an expert on the military and hasn't been in has very little of value to add to your decision.

Best Sports Season

March Madness is the best sports season. Tons of basketball with the premier tournament starting today. Grew up the the ACC tournament. Listened to it instead of attending classes in high school. The ACC tournament has the honor of hosting the best college game ever played: NC State-Maryland 1974. The top two teams in the nation played a breathless game. Unfortunately (or fortunately for us Wolfpackers) the number two team didn't play in the NCAA. Don't think we could have beaten them 4 times in one season. It's going again. The Pack won and it's on to the grudge match with Wake Forest.

Loads of fun. Watching ACC, Big 10, CAA, etc, etc. Just need more television connections and need to find a way to call in sick a few days each week. After the big dance, all that is left until the fall is chasing fish up and down the James and Chickahominy. Life ain't bad, come to think of it.

Hard to Believe

According to a report from a marine involved in the capture of Saddam (Drudge http://www.drudgereport.com/), the capture pictures were faked. Hard to believe that that that secret could be kept for a week. The fact that the Marine was of Lebanese descent and the report was from Lebanon would tend to make the average reader a bit cynical.

Professional Journalism

I've read quite a bit of huffing and puffing by the MSM about bloggers, particularly those of the conservative persuasion. The attack started with "they aren't professional journalists" and thus can't be trusted. It has now moved on to name calling. Other than someone who gets paid to write, record or speak in a journalistic media, I'm not sure what qualifies one to be a professional journalists. To become a professional journalist are you required to:
1. Take post graduate work designed to provide you with a knowledge set and Take a certification/licensing test after finishing that post graduate work?
2. Serve as an apprentice, then be tested an certified to become a journeyman with further certification to become a Master Journalist.
3. Have training by a licensed school and then pass both written and performance examinations to obtain a professional journalist license?
4. Have some level of education, experience before being allowed to take a State-administered certification exam?
5. Have some required level of education and then be ordained?

The answer is no. To become a professional journalist you simply must be paid to be one. Having a degree in Journalism is certainly helpful, but not required. We place great faith in the prouncements of professional journalists, a group of folks who do not have the education, testing or training that is required to be a doctor, lawyer, dentist, nurse, medical technologist, plumber, electrician, EMT, policeman, aircraft pilot, truck driver, professional engineer, certified industrial hygenist, wastewater operator, teachers or many other professions and jobs.

Everytime I hear some "journalist" speaking of the job as though it were holy orders, I can't help but smile. As a society we place fewer requirements on those who seek to mold our thoughts and beliefs than the guy who sprays your house for cockroaches.

They Just Don't Get It

Fox News about 12:45 had a "discussion" on the battle for supremecy in the Democratic Party. Mr. Riegle (formally representing the State of Michigan) was on the party hard line. "Bush is out to dismantle Social Security and make his buddies on Wall Street rich." Riegle's answer to any question was this line. While there can be an honest debate over what needs, if anything, be done to Social Security, only a party ideologue would make such idiotic statements and then expect anyone but a cogenital idiot to believe his idiotic statements. They seem to forget that the federal empolyees have a private savings account that costs about $0.65/$10,000 in managment fees. Hard to believe that the plan Mr. Riegle supports and is more extensive than the Bush suggestion, will wreck social security and, probably, civilization was we know it. I'm tired of listening to politicians who just don't get the fact that a large number of us, if presented with the facts, can figure out things without all the idiotic claims. However, that may be the way these yahoo's got and stayed elected.

The Real Military

The next time I hear some blasting the military, I'll send them this. A story about a soldier who went beyond his assignment and performed a dangerous duty and, in my mind, a real commander. We are there, like it or not, and never should be pinched into a corner by doing the politically correct soldiering. A sulute to both of them.

Terrible Chemicals and a bit of Truth

Review of a book on DDT, PCB's and dioxins. Interesting to note that earlier one of the "reasons" for banning DDT was to prevent overpopulation. Not the politically correct thing to say now, but the ban is simply murder. Millions die each year because we refuse to use a chemical (for which Nobel prizes were given because it saved lives) that could easily and cheaply be used to reduce malaria. In the name of saving the earth, some environmentalists engage in a form of mass murder that would make Hitler and Stalin jealous.

Spice up the Tired Screen Background

After a continuing game of change the computer screen background with my youngest, I happened on Screen Calendar, which automatically changes the background. I suppose any background changer will do, but downloading some really nice photos (National Geographic, Astronomy Photo of the day) and using photos we've taken along with screen calendar makes a nice way to change the windows background. Using a 5-minute automatic change.

If one of the things that makes your day is something to write about, I might need to look for a life, but it does give you something other than the famous blue background or the photos Mr. Gates lets you have.

Of courst the war is now to see who can overload the hard disk with whose favorites.

Campus Visits

The youngest is trying to decide which college her parents should donate large sums of money to. Today's venture was George Mason University. I'm not sure you learn much by such visits, but seeing the campus on a dreary day left a favorable impression. I don't think she would have considered the school at all had it not been for the visit.

Will note that the tour spent little time talking about classes (we did see one class room). Most of the tour consisted of seeing the (3) student unions, a dorm and discussions about food. I guess this is most interests High School Juniors.

Freedom of Speech

Captain Ed's letter is a must-read. Campaign finance reform is an assault on freedom of speech and the FEC is now using the law to continue that assault. The past election is a clear example of a failed idea. Somewhere we ought to require that that the first test of legislative action is "first do no harm." Instead, we get the "law of unintended consequences."

Will Rogers was absolutely right: "Every time Congress makes a law it's a joke. Everytime Congress makes a joke, it's a law."

Why should I, or anyone, be prevented from donating $2001 to any federal campaign, or, now, commenting on politics and politicians over the internet? It is clearly an attempt to limit freedom of political speech.

The Supremes

The more I hear and read about the Supreme Court decision on banning capital punishment of minors, the more amazed I am. The defendant, Simmons, and a partner committed buglary and were observed. They tied, hooded and threw the woman off a bridge to drown because "the bitch saw my face." The deciding members of the court spent quite a bit of time citing other countries law and used "international opinion" in the arguments. I checked the Constitution and it doesn't mention the laws of England, France or any other place as superceding US law. Of course, if I were an attorney, I could understand that the words I read really don't mean that. If capital punishment is abhorrent, then vote in state lawmakers to get rid of the law. It is not the place of any court to decide to establish laws in lieu of decisions by legislatures. Five members of the Supreme Court should be deeply ashamed of abusing the trust placed in them.

But They are Just Kids

I'm generally opposed to capital punishment because I'm not sure that it has much deterrent value and it costs several times more to try the case, manage the appeals and do the execution. Not that some of the under-18's who commit heinous crimes don't need killing, but I don't believe that it is a good way to spend my tax dollars. Lock the up in a terrible place and don't let them out.

It is, howeve, outrageous, that some members of the Supreme Court decided in today's decision not to look at US law, but to look at laws from other countries and unsigned treaties to decide what is legal in the US. I need to go back to basic civics and see when they changed the constitution such that it said that we are bound by laws of other countries when members of the court need something to support their particular beliefs. If the Supreme Court, and other courts decide that it is their duty to write laws, then we need to save the expense of the other two branches and start electing, not appointing all judges. I believe that, today, the court has done quite a disservice to the country, our legal system and the constitution.

Real Environmental Work

Discussion with one of my favorite regulators
"Want to talk about the test report, it was above the limits you have proposed"
-We were testing a change in the system and the storm caused power failures and an upset"
"Yes but the VOC's were high"
-Yes, the fact that the tests were done in upset conditions and testing was stopped because we couldn't get a stable system. That was covered in the letter attached to the report."
"Yes but you were higher than the proposed permit limits."
-Well, we can propose higher limits, since this is new
"You've demonstrated that you can acheive those limits at another facility"
-Well, that was run under normal conditions and not in an upset, and we know that one facility is pretty much like another...
"I know you've tested at other facilities, but each one is site-specific"
-Well, if you are concerned, we can request an increase in the limits"
"You can't, you've shown you can make them at another facility, you either need to retest before the permit or retest after the permit is issued"
-What if retest in stable conditions shows slightly higher than at the other facility, since the results are site-specific, can we then change the limits?
"You can't, you've shown that you can do it at another facility"

Makes one feel a bit dense, and trapped in some circular logic. This is real environmental work at it's finest.