Ok, enough hate-filled sputum from the anti-rights bigots. Let's laugh!

http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2009/12/bummer.html Tam has a dilemma:

"I can't find the flints for my Zippo. This makes me sad."

In the comments several people all comment that the lovely queen of Snark should quit smoking. It's her life, but I must say I feel a million times better since I quit the nails, and I suspect most smokers smoke a lot more than pack-a-month me, did back in the day. Still they catch up to you. Colds grab you a lot easier, your lung capacity dies. You hack up pretty colors every damn morning. I had persistent nose bleeds.

Still if there wasn't something really nice about sucking down a butt on a cool evening nobody would bother with the damn things. Just like how liquor stores can sell cheap liquor that tastes like floor stripper. You won't find vile shit like that in the juice or soda section of your local megamart. Even Starbucks coffee which tastes like burnt shit is a million times more palatable than Old Crow Bourbon, or Segram's Gin, or Maine's own Orloff Vodka. Yet people buy it. Why? Well some times a shitty drink in your hand beats the living hell out of no drink in your hand.

Quote of the Day goes to Will Brown:
"Talk about your hubris; the demon weed will wear you down too one day, young missy!"

Tam Responds:
"Nuh-uh! The .gov will save me! Health care is my right! :D"

That's funny right there!

Arrrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

I really don't like Pepperspray, I have a few cans lying around, but overall I don't trust the stuff.

Still I won't sneeze at a story where OC gets somebody out of trouble:
http://mytumultuousadventure.blogspot.com/2009/12/and-thats-why-i-also-carry-pepper-spray.html

Looks like Robert had a nasty encounter with a belligerent drunk, and hosed him down with OC to stop the confrontation.

Still even from the story, it's hardly the death-ray many claim it to be. Mr. Drunk, according to Robert, didn't even scream, he just turned and walked away with a face full of pepper.

From accounts of people who have been sprayed its a HORRIBLE experience....that being said it is NOT a debilitating experience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFS2c2Bw3Hg

I personally won't carry the stuff, nor will you get a recommendation from me to carry the stuff, but I'm glad Robert ended up OK.

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

Say Uncle Posted this story:
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/1063872.html

"WASILLA, Alaska - Authorities say a 53-year-old Wasilla man amassed a huge arsenal of firearms despite being a felon."

Yep, even gun-friendly Alaska owning guns is a serious crime if you're a felon, but here's what gets me scratching my head:

"Gregory Dale Hayes has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. He is accused of possessing 28 firearms, including semiautomatic guns and rifles with high-capacity magazines."

Who fucking cares? Seriously, either he's a danger or he isn't. If he isn't dangerous, then him owning guns isn't a big deal. Martha Stewart is a felon for lying under oath, honestly I could care less about Martha being a felon with guns. This guy?

"Hayes has multiple felony convictions for assault, as well as weapon and drug offenses, the Anchorage Daily News reported."

Ok so he's probably a dangerous guy. If so, does the number of guns, or the type of guns make a difference? Seriously, a violent offender with a .22 single-shot is a HELL of a lot more dangerous than my entire family with machine guns and grenade launchers.

Also does the media not get that the guns being semi-auto really doesn't make a lick of difference to the law, or the story? Also in Alaska (as well as most of the country) there is no such thing as a "High Capacity Magazine". The reporter who wrote this knows nothing about gun laws or guns...and is "informing" the rest of us. Good for you!

Also this bit is noteworthy: "According to an affidavit from special agent Thomas J. King, the investigation on Hayes started when employees at a gun store tipped off Wasilla police that his behavior was abnormal.

King said Hayes went to the stores and asked a lot of questions without purchasing the weapons. Later, a woman would come in and make purchases....Hayes' girlfriend was arrested for unrelated charges. Federal agents said she told them Hayes was buying the weapons as an investment."

looks like the gun laws, even in Alaska which is one of the most gun friendly states in the Union (I personally rank it tied for 2nd with New Hampshire, after Vermont which is hands-down #1) work really well. He was breaking the law and using his girlfriend as an accessory. Gun shop told the ATF, and his Girlfriend will likely do some time as well for her part in this all.

These are certainly sensible laws.

"He faces up to life in prison if convicted."

Good I suspect he would have hurt somebody if he hadn't been caught. Locked up, he'll do less damage.

I suspect he'd to a lot less damage if we gave him the needle or the gallows, but I'll take what I can get.


Arrrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

From the comment section of the post discussed here:
http://weerdbeard.livejournal.com/604852.html

"If you wanted to have an honest argument on "gun control", instead of simply gish galloping the thread you would get some takers, I expect." -democommie

I Respond:
"OK, I'll bite, I would like to have an honest debate on gun control with you, and any of your compatriots. Where when and how might I persuade you to do this? " and I offer use of this blog (Hell I've linked half my posts germane to this issue there, and the only new comments have been from Sevesteen pointing out some basic points from the pro-gun side.)

His response:
'Weer'd Beard:

You just don't get it. I don't give a flying fuck what you think. You're convinced that your paranoid delusions about government confiscation of guns are a rational response to the attempts by some well intentioned, if less than expert, people to lessen the carnage. You have no respect for those with whom you disagree, unless they can pile more facts up than you can. Of course both you and mike w., when presented with facts you don't like, simply disregard the information, characterizing it as "liberal" or "socialist" or "cowardly".

I really don't care how many guns you own. I don't care how "badass" you and mike w. and the rest of your fellow gunnuts are. You don't scare me, you don't make me feel any more or less safe. You and he and the rest of the folks who feel that the 2nd Amendment, for whatever reason, is absolutely immutable and subject to NO "tampering" or "interpretation" (other, of course, than the recent Supreme Court decision re: Handguns in Washington, D.C., which you all LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!) while there are numerous exceptions to the "rights" of most people in other areas of constitutional law are simply "true believers". All attempts to rein in the proliferation of handguns and military styled weaponry are viewed as covert plans to deprive you of your precious guns. It's a bullshit argument and you are fully aware of it, but the bullshit serves your purpose.

You don't need me to tell you that you're 100% correct in all of your beliefs about the sanctity of personal arsenals. Like a schoolyard bully, however, you seem to think that if you can make me or anyone else cry, "uncle", you've won the argument. Good luck with that."
-democommie


Now note these are the people who are calling for "Reasonable Gun control".

Does this sound like a person who can be trusted to define what's reasonable or not?

We come with facts figures and a desire to spread knowledge....they come with insults and lies.

Any question on who we should trust?

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

**Update** A responce!:
"Weer'd Beard:

Fuck you. You keep calling me a coward and you think you're going to push me into playing your game? You're really a dickhead."

Oh and get this, in the comment above democommie admits to being 60 years old!

Isn't that old enough to act like an adult rather than an elementary school student with a poor home-life?

Remember these are the people who are saying they can define "Reasonable". They sound like you or me?

Last night I headed up to Lake Haruna with a couple of people to see the "illuminations", as the Japanese call Christmas Lights. All in all, it was way prettier than I expected. Also, it was actually kind of cold, yay!

Other than that: TWO DAYS 'TILL AUSTRALIA!! FOUR DAYS 'TILL CHRISTMAS!! *runs around in crazed circles*

So we have like 4" of snow, and still falling. It's Sunday, and not a lot real urgent to do today. Pretty awesome, just hang back and wait for it to stop.

Both my neighbors shoved this morning, and it looks like they did nothing now. I don't mind shoveling once, but twice? No thanks.

So if you're snowed in too, here's something to enjoy:


Damn funny, and LONG.
Here's part 2, and you can follow that to the end:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1AWVLnl48

Of course he doesn't note the general poor story telling with the first 3 movies either (such as the big one, Why should we hate the Empire?) but then again it isn't 100% serious.

Good times!

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

God I love The Onion:


BTW sometime in 2003 a roomate of mine tried to get me to join Friendster. I didn't bother. Really LJ is the only "Social Network" I use.

And hell I just use it like a blog host!

Arrrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

I have done NOTHING productive today. Still in my PJs, and LOVING it!

But just to amuse you all, have a peek at this:
http://sobeale.blogspot.com/2009/12/hows-that-lapse-of-assault-weapons-ban.html

Anti-gun blogger does a little screed about how we should re-instate the federal ban on so-called "Assault Weapons"

I got in on the 2nd comment with "care to explain to me what an "Assault Weapon" is, and why exactly they should be banned?"

It's now 47 comments and counting...care to guess how many of the comments actually address "Assault Weapons"?

I wonder why that is?

Also you'll note the name-calling!

CLASSIC!

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

• 11:14 Half-way through my work week! I cannot wait for the weekend. A bit more Christmas shopping, mailing everything and tons of resting. #
• 17:57 @binaryfaerie Have you gotten your Asylum book yet? I thought they were supposed to have shipped them out... #

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So lying troll had a REALLY bad day yesterday
http://3bxsofbs.infamousanime.net/?p=1220
http://anothergunblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/carry-on.html

So I decided to check his blog (no link, for obvious reasons
http://weerdbeard.livejournal.com/589812.html)

But I found an interesting article:
http://www.njherald.com/story/news/j0187-BC-NJ-GunBuyback-1stLd-Writethru-12-17-0192

Essentially troll pulled out this quote:
"Essex County authorities say more than 400 guns were turned in Thursday as the prosecutor's office resumed a gun buyback program.

The program was suspended last month after local authorities burned through the $50,000 allocated for it in the first two days.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow, recently nominated by Gov.-elect Chris Christie to be state attorney general, said she reallocated $75,000 seized from criminals to reinstate the program."

Even the troll openly admits that the majority of guns turned in for "Buy Backs" (yes I know you can't buy back what you didn't own in the first place) are junk guns who's only value is buy-back fodder, and family heirlooms being destroyed by people to timid or stupid to find a gun shop and get fair market value, or who somehow believe that destroying a gun is somehow better than giving it to a law-abiding citizen with interest in guns. Or of course guns that a criminal has stolen and is unable to sell can be pawned at the buy-backs, destroying somebody's stolen property and paying the criminal for stealing it. And of course the no-questions-asked policy of these programs means that if a criminal wants to destroy evidence that could be used to convict him a gun buy-back is one of the best ways to do that.

Bust just to solidify my statements I like to give references:
http://www.mcsm.org/buyback.html

Still Troll proclaims that gun buy backs are good because there is a chance that MAYBE just ONE gun might be a criminal's gun, either tuned in by a reformed criminal, or seized by a family member, it would be worth it.

Of course troll doesn't want to talk about his involvement in this:
http://weerdbeard.livejournal.com/568583.html

But I point out that it costs HUGE money to have these programs (This story references just $125,000 for a few hundred guns...most of them no risk to public safety) and of course the guns don't cause as much problems as the criminals. So I'd rather that money be used to bolster our police force to help us catch and jail criminals (also when you catch the criminals, you can TAKE the guns away from them, and those ARE the guns used in crime), Troll points out that $75,000 of the money comes from seized property, rather than the public coffers, so obviously that makes it OK.

I'd say you ALL see the folly in that. Where would that money be going if it wasn't used on an ineffective and expensive program? Yep it could be used to bolster the Police force, and get more criminals off the street and in jail (and when you arrest them you can take their guns away!).

These are wastes of money, and because the money is NOT being used to get criminals off the streets, it's resulting in MORE people being killed and hurt.

I gotta say, I think this is EXACTLY what gun control advocates want.

Arrrr

-Weer'd Beard

• 00:57 @mouse452 They always try to make me 'miserable.' Haha. #
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• 13:54 WHY ISN'T FACEBOOK WORKING ON MY PHONE. Grumble grumble. #
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(1,2, 3,4,5, everybody in the car and come on let's drive to the, liquor store on the corner~)

Yeah, so I woke up at 5:13 or so this morning to another earthquake. (Just scroll over Gunma and you can click to see the intensity where I was.) It took me pretty much the entire thing just to work out what was going on- if there is ever a more serious one I will probably die you guys, because I just can't muster up the understanding to get into a doorway. >.> (Also, apparently there was a bigger one later, but it was far enough away that I didn't feel it.) I'm just not used to this idea that the ground could shake- I always spend about thirty seconds just working out what's going on. They've been kind of fun so far, though!

Last night my Eikaiwa class had a sort of half Christmas party/half Bonenkai at a local restaurant. Good times were had by all, I believe. I really like all of the members, so the time flew by. ^^

Also, aaagh, it's getting cold and for some reason my hot water ran out this morning just as I was stepping into the shower. Not pleased. Hopefully it was just that my neighbor used up all the hot water or something, and not an actual problem. >.<

Also, also, yaaay, new icons! ♥ athena_crikey

Oh, and as an update on the adapter thing, athena gave me an idea that totally worked, so my computer is charging again. Excellent news, what?

(Five days to Australia.)

Thought this up here:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2009/12/16/swiss-keeping-guns-at-home/

My Quote:
"Meanwhile you don’t have to dig to deep on ANY person who advocates gun control before you can find that they are a) Clueless, b) Dishonest, or c) hypocrites."


A Challenge, find me ONE person (ONE) who sides with the anti-gun-rights crowd who does not fit in at LEAST one of those 3 groups....I'll bet nearly all fit into at least two!

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

You know how I know? I checked the Fucking Weather!
http://www.thefuckingweather.com/?zipcode=boston%2C+ma

Great Site!! Thanks Colleen!

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

Ok I got this for you.

Boss just walked in and I was telling her all the Wada info. As we were talking the HVAC kicked on and she was RIGHT underneath the vent. Her hair was blowing around and she was blinking.

Me: "Whoah, you're in a wind-tunnel there!"

Her: "yeah it's dryin' ma ball out! Eyeballs I mean!"

That was a good laugh!

Arrrrr

Busy night, as several relatives stopped by, and the phone was ringing off the hook with people checking in. I slept well.

This morning the Mrs. is doing quite well, but is requested to stay in bed as much as possible for today just to ensure good healing. She's not having much pain, which is a VERY good sign (minor nerve damage is fairly common for this procedure which can cause trouble for a few days) Mom-in-Law is taking care of her while I'm at work.

Haven't been following news or Youtube for the standard linkey-no-thinky blogging.

so instead you have this boring update, you're very welcome.

Oh and BTW it's FUCKING COLD today. The lake went from being frosty with a skim of ice that would disappear by late morning, to a sheet of white.

I dug out my heavy coat for today's trip to the salt mines.

Have a good day, all!

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

• 23:20 @feepaige You are amazing Paige! Congrats!! &lt;3 #

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It's been... *checks last space post* oh, a whole week since the last one! Yay! (I think I need a space icon.)

( Probably you're all bored of the Final Frontier Newsletter by now... )

In real-life news, this morning I had a class in which students, who as T-sensei says "aren't normally interested in English", were a little interested due to my presence and the betting game! Awesome! Also, for English class with K2-sensei's first years, I got to help them practice the pronunciation of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" by singing it to them line-by-line and having them repeat. Aaaaagh. That was less than awesome. >.>

Oh, something that's excellent about living in Japan is that I never have to buy fruits and/or vegetables. Possibly this is just from working at a school (and also because I a.) live alone and b.) don't eat that many veggies anyway so they last forever), but man, people are always giving me food. Like yesterday, I came back from class to discover three giant apples and a pack of mushrooms on my desk. "Uwah", I said. Turns out that some farmers came to give the students food and then the teachers got the extras. And there were a ton of extras. Probably I could have taken four or five apples if I had wanted, but these things are GIGANTOR, so I didn't.

Also, yesterday I managed to break my second adapter, which means that I am once again without the ability to charge my computer in my house. *woe* Hopefully my sister still has hers in Australia, or there goes skyping at Christmas. >.>

But! It's now 6 days until I depart for Australia!! And tonight there is an Eikawa class X-mas party, and the 22nd is my school's bonenkai (end of year forget the past year party), so the time should fly by even faster than you would expect. XD

EDIT: Icon made!

The Mrs. is out of the procedure. All went well, but we still haven't seen her yet. I guess she's waiting on a room. I'll likely update this post later.

**Update** She's fine, and right beside me. Now we're waiting for her artery to clot. From what I gather (we follow-up with the doctor Friday) but things look very good.

Ok I have a patient to attend to!

One thing I HATE about the Left and the PC movement is the need to CONSTANTLY change language.

One could get Heady and compare it to Newspeak from Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four". I dunno if I can go that deep into it, but it certainly is a ruse of sorts.

The debate on Climate Change is a good example. It used to be Global Warming, and before that it was the Greenhouse Effect. Hell before that Carbon Dioxide emissions were evil not because of temperature but pH, with Acid Rain (when was the last time you heard about that load of crap?)

The theory of Relativity, and the Theory of Evolution, or the Pythagorean Theorem have been called the same thing since their inception. If something needs to change constantly that says something about it.

Same goes with the PC movement. I had a Girlfriend who's mother worked with the Mentally Retarded. You'll note that "Mentally Retarded" is a bad word...even though it is descriptive, and clear. A 40 year old man who is unable to read, can only speak basic words, and needs diapers, and has been that way since he was 1 years old is Mentally behind you or I. It's not their fault, and it's not a bad thing, I'm not casting judgment, just stating of facts.

In the course of me dating this woman, the name of the people her mom worked with changed several times. First they were "Residents", then "Clients", then "Mentally Challenged", seems it only took a few months before the name had to be changed for Political correctness. I have my doubts that the "Clients" could even follow it.

Certainly it made it confusing for her to discuss her work...and generally she had to fall back to "I work with the Mentally Retarded".

Same goes with race names. Try at the next party when talking about our president refer to him as a "Colored Gentleman". Now we'll all agree referring to another man as "Gentleman" is a nice thing...but calling Obama "Colored"???? What are you, some Redneck Hillbilly??? (BTW why isn't "Redneck" or "Hillbilly" both of which are exclusive to Caucasians, and almost exclusively used in a derogatory fashion ever considered for this?)

Still what doe NAACP stand for? Being Referred to as a "Colored Gentleman" used to be polite, as to the more crude "Black". And of course there is "African American" which is a bit confusing, as it only covers people with Dark skin. Kim Du Toit, Charleze Theron, and any number of other Caucasians who lived in Africa or have family from Africa don't count? Huh?

I know people from Hati who have very dark skin. Are they African American? or Haitian American? I know a guy from Sri Lanka who's just as dark any any of the above. He doesn't count as "Black" either, tho I can think of a number of Self-Identified Blacks who are leagues whiter than him.

Generally the name change is due to deception or shame. If you call somebody "Retard" or use "Colored" as a slur, rather than fighting it you just change the name. And of course if you are pushing a bunk scientific theory, better to keep the shell game running as long as there is money to be made.

Those who wish to destroy the second Amendment are no different. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence used to be called "Handgun Control Incorporated", they have called for Bans of handgun...then bans of "Assault Weapons" (now being called "Military-Style Weapons") they've called for "Gun Control", now it's "Sensible Gun Laws". Think it's any different?

Nope, same shit. They hate the 2nd Amendment, but know you're on to them, so they change the name to create confusion. Hell they even burn their own bridges behind them: "No I'm not for gun control, I just want sensible gun laws!" Then they get vague on how the two are different.

As a general rule if you need to keep packaging your product, generally it was bad goods to begin with.

Arrrrr

-Weer'd Beard

PS: Stop referring to yourself as "Progressive" or "Liberal", you just mean "Socialist" anyway!