MRI to read your thoughts

I can't see any possibility of this technology being (ab)used to make us "safer."

Texas pirates revisited

Texas DA tries to use illegally seized assets for own legal defense | Raw Story

Shelby County District Attorney Lynda K. Russell is the subject of a federal lawsuit (pdf), along with the Deputy City Marshall, the mayor, and other local officials.

According to the ACLU, "Russell is accused of participating in a scheme in which authorities pull over mostly African-American motorists driving along a state highway in Tenaha, TX without cause, ask if they are carrying cash and, if so, order them to sign over the cash to the town or face felony charges of money laundering or other serious crimes."

...Shelby County has refused
to represent Russell because she is a state employee, and the state
Attorney General has also refused. Russell is therefore asking
permission to use the seized money that is the subject of the lawsuit
for her own defense.

"Assist???"

Based on what I've seen of her other writings and website, the author of this article, Deborah Dupre' would probably advocate a "peaceful" solution to federal troops forcing vaccinations on unwilling citizens.  This is an interesting article, nonetheless, although it's no big surprise:

H1N1: Like frogs in water to boil gradual increase of combat troops on U.S. soil

In the U.S., after the Pentagon quietly deployed combat troops for duty on U.S. soil one year ago in October 2008, Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart told The Associated Press yesterday, "as many as 400 combat troops are now ready to go to five regional headquarters around the country."

Justification for this military action is "to assist federal health and emergency management officials if needed as the flu season heats up" according to the AP report.

Who let the kids out?

I was sitting in the living room yesterday evening ignoring the news on TV, when right before a commercial break they gave the following teaser for an upcoming story:

"Two small boys drown in a pond.  Where were the adults?"

My husband and I both rolled our eyes.

As the mother of five lively children, I can think of a few scenarios as to how this tragedy happened:

1. The kids slipped their leashes and got away.
2. Someone wasn't careful to lock their cages properly.
3. Perhaps (and this is a long-shot, I know) these two little boys chose to disobey the adults and snuck off and did what they weren't supposed to.

Ok, yes, there's one more possibility.  The parents were grossly negligent and weren't keeping an eye on their kids.

The point being, the parents aren't always negligent or at fault when something tragic happens to a child.  An accident is just that -- an accident.  It's no one's fault.  Kids can be amazing escape artists and can get themselves into the darndest spots.  Witness the news stories that involve a child stuck in an old well, or some other hole or crevice.  And yet, when a child dies the first reaction by the media and everyone else is "This was obviously the result of negligence on the part of one or both of the parents," or "Too bad the state didn't get those kids out of that home before this happened."

I feel very sorry for the family of these two boys.  Not only do they have to deal with the grief of losing their children, but also the guilt of wondering if they could have prevented it ("If only I had...") and the stigma of the suggestion that was broadcast to the entire community that they are crappy parents.

We are very, very close to a point where the government can enter any home and take any child from a parent at gunpoint at any time.  It has already happened to some families based only on their association with an alleged criminal.  The state is just testing the waters, pushing the boundaries and laying down precedent.  And there are zealous do-gooders who are cheering them on.

There oughta be a law...

The Petition on Behalf of the Distracted Drivers

Back to my knitting

Well, it's coming up on autumn. Time to get out the yarn and needles and get back to my knitting. I've got one sock that needs a mate--I'm not sure I remember how I made the first one, exactly!

I've got the body of a sweater finished and I need to make the sleeves. I'd like to make one of those cute short-sleeved cardigan sweaters for myself this winter. I saw some in the Coldwater Creek catalog and thought they were really cute. A nice simple style that would be easy to knit and looks really cute over a long-sleeved t-shirt or blouse.

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Can you believe Scotland? They didn't even ask our permission before they let that Libyan terrorist out of prison! The nerve! The unmitigated gall! Someone needs to remind them who the ruler of the free world is. [/sarcasm]

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I am growing weary of hearing about the need for a government health care program. I don't want one. I don't need one. And once again, it looks like I'm going to be forced to take what I don't want or need. BOHICA.

Just so we're clear: I don't have insurance. I don't go to the doctor unless I'm REALLY sick. I take care of myself. Life is not fair. We're all going to die sooner or later. And based on my own observation, if you see a doctor regularly, you'll probably die in the hospital after a lingering illness where they use every drug known to man to keep you alive for a few more years.

I bet if I made an appointment with a doctor right now and gave him a list of all my aches, pains, and discomforts, I would walk out of that office with AT LEAST one prescription and probably a handful of samples as well. Not because I'm sick, but because doctors know that your average person would rather take a pill that change their diet, exercise, or just get on with their life in spite of the problems.

And I bet that when this health care program takes effect, it will be a royal pain in the ass for someone like to me to get the simple office visit I need once every 2 or 3 years for a problem like, say, a bad case of poison ivy. (The only thing I've been to the doctor for in the past 5+ years.)

Going back to my knitting....

Tonight on AC360--East Texas pirates

Well, well, well. The Tenaha, TX police are accused of extorting money and valuables from travelers passing through their area.

Of course, we all know what a wonderful job law enforcement does when they have the added incentive of confiscating property from others.

And we all know that all law enforcement officers are men of unimpeachable character, so there should be absolutely no reason to question their actions in this (or any other) matter.

Yeah, right...