A Lesson on Language

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Phil Kadath

This morning I saw a commercial on the idiot box from the bottlers of Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper/Snapple.

The premise was that they had removed “full calorie” drinks from school vending machines and, in doing so, they were helping school kids “make healthier beverage choices”.

Umm, no they are not.

What they have done is remove the supposedly “unhealthiest” of the choices so that the kids only had a supposedly “healthy” selection of drinks to choose from. Replacing Coke, Pepsi, 7-Up, Sprite, etc. and replacing them with the diet versions of these drinks and juices and water is not “helping” anyone make a “healthy choice”.

It would be like the government coming in and stating that they were removing all the Japanese, Korean and German built cars so that American’s could more “Union-Friendly” choices in selecting their automobile.

Or, to put some hair on the argument: It would be exactly like the government outlawing abortion, sending all the subsidy money they give to counselors, etc. to funding orphanages and then coming along and stating they were helping Americans make more “Fetus-Friendly” choices.

It’s all bullshit either way you look at it since more and more government run schools were coming down on said bottlers because of pressure from Concern Troll dot-orgs to take the “unhealthy drinks” out of the schools anyway.

The bottlers got to look like the responsible ones, save themselves from any potential lawsuits, and all they had to do was come up with some language that made it sound like they’re “freeing” the wittle childrens from themselves.

Heaven forbid that a 17 year old think they can make decisions for themselves about what to drink.

Posted in Order of the imperial upraised middle finger. | Leave a comment

I wish I’d have remember this earlier

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Phil Kadath

I got an email I’ve been wanting to publish, but with things as busy as they are, have forgotten every day for almost a week.

My apologies for the late notice.

OREGON CCW PERMITS FOR WASHINGTON RESIDENTS

Sheriff Glenn Palmer of Grant County Oregon is planning to be at the Washington Arms Collectors’ show at the Puyallup fairgrounds on March 27 and possibly March 28 to take applications for Oregon carry permits.  See handgunlaw.us for the requirements  and the application form and contact Sheriff Palmer at [email protected] for particulars.  For another report of Sheriff Palmer see palegreenfire.com and search Oregon ccw.  As always, verify before you travel.

What reminded me of this was this announcement found via Sound Politics

Next Tuesday at noon at the Columbia Tower Club you’re invited to the Rotary Club of Seattle Skyline’s Spring Open House. Our speaker will be, Alicia Scalzo Wilmoth, in-house benefits counsel for benefits and insurance provider Kibble & Prentice. She will be providing her expert opinion on just how the new legislation will affect small businesses. She has no agenda so this will be, as far as I know, as unbiased a presentation as is possible. Just the facts, ma’am.

And even if you’re not all that interested in what she has to say Skyline Rotary is providing a great lunch and a great view all at no cost to you. This is one time when there really is such a thing as a FREE lunch.

You MUST RSVP by Monday at 3pm though so we have an accurate headcount. Please do so by emailing Skyline Rotary the names of the people who wish to attend. Their email address is [email protected].

Second day of the Spring Quarter for me, but it would be nice if one of the other local bloggers could attend.

Posted in Have Gun, Will Travel, Kewel! | 1 Comment

RNS Quote of the Day: 03/25/10

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Phil Kadath

Right this ship.

If the government wishes to look at your school records – it can. If you wish to look at a legislator – or President’s – school records, you cannot.

If the government wishes to publicize where you live, it can, because it already knows your address. If you wish to know the home addresses of your representatives, that’s secret.

As countless examples of state violations of individual privacy demonstrate, you have no secrets from the government, but the government keeps almost everything secret from you – including the contents and costs of sweeping laws it passes. That’s how tyrannies – not democratic representative republics operate.

As for this piffle about how “terrified” Democrats are of “a violent conservative backlash,” while I don’t advocate initiating violence, I do believe that if the choice is between fearing my representatives, and having my representatives fear me, I fall foursquare on the second option.

Bill Quick

I can’t say I disagree with any part of that.

Posted in Quote of the Day | 1 Comment

Is that a threat or a promise?

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Phil Kadath

The Washington State Legislature has yet to come up with a budget that’ll keep the debt in check. They’re currently in their second week of OT trying to decide whether the House version of tax increases is better than the Senate version of tax increases.

The Governess, Christine Gregoire, is running short of patience.

Gov. Chris Gregoire warned Wednesday that she could be forced to make across-the-board cuts of 20 percent if the Legislature doesn’t come up with a budget-balancing agreement.

I think this is a great idea and urge you to do what I did this morning and call your state legislator to demand as much stalling as is necessary to make her have to keep this threat/promise.

Posted in Kewel! | Leave a comment

Damned if you do

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Oscar Gordon

Couple tries to save water in Orange County, and the city hammers them for failure to have enough lawn.  As the man says, it’s all about compliance, not what is right.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Geography 101 Lab Series: #4

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Phil Kadath

Did you know that there is a UN Department that can (and does) suggest to the US government which areas without our sovereign boundaries should be made in to a “Preserve Area”? Also, that our government could designate an area a Preserve but that without UN sanctioning it wouldn’t count as one to the rest of the world because of an obscure treaty?

I didn’t either until this essay.

The Assignment: Preserves and Reserves

The textbook points out that 6.4 percent of all land area is nationally protected, most by way of biosphere reserves. But the authors warn that “the degree of protection … and level of enforcement, varies considerably.”

What are the mechanisms of protecting a natural area? How are the biosphere reserves chosen, and by what national or international agency? What national agencies in the United States protect natural areas? How well—and from what—are the reserves, wildernesses, national parks, and such actually protected?

Use library or Internet resources to answer as many of these questions as possible.

Continue reading →

Posted in Phil Goes to College | 3 Comments

PSA

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Oscar Gordon

If you have something in your home that might give the police a reason to arrest you, do NOT have loud sex (especially in New Jersey).

That is all.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Fair Article on Concealed Carry by…wait for it…MSNBC!

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Oscar Gordon

Found Here

H/T Dave Hardy

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Geography 101 Lab Series: #3

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Phil Kadath

Haiti had recently been shook to hell by their earthquake when this Lab was assigned. American relief groups had been on the ground for about a week when it was due. I’m sure that some of my fellow students were feeling all kinds of cutting edge when writing this paper.

I didn’t. I was already tired of the Haitians demanding stuff. I just wanted to get through it.

The Assignment: Develop an Earthquake Vulnerability Index

The amount of damage an area is likely to suffer due to earthquakes depends on many factors, not the least of which is nearness to plate boundaries where earthquakes are most likely to occur. Keep in mind that some types of faults are more prone to earthquakes than others.

In addition to one’s nearness to tectonic faults, many other factors will affect the amount of property damage and loss of life a region is likely to suffer. Loss in unpopulated areas, for example, will be lower even during a strong quake, and the quality of building construction will certainly also matter.

Develop a list of factors that might influence a location’s earthquake vulnerability index—its proneness for earthquake damage. When you have developed a reasonable list, refer to an atlas or maps to identify major cities or regions that are altogether most at risk. Then research major quakes that have occurred and the measures of their damage. Does history support your argument? Might your observations have predictive value?

Continue reading →

Posted in Phil Goes to College, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

On Rights and Responsibilities

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Phil Kadath

So far over this last year, Congress has stated multiple times in multiple voices that Health Care is a “Right” and I have a “Responsibility” to buy insurance to cover my medical expenses so that my fellow citizens are not burdened by them. This was backed up by the President of the United States when he signed the legislation passed by the Senate in December and the House of Representatives on Sunday.

The new law also states that if I do not live up to my responsibilities of purchasing said insurance, that I will have a fine levied upon me.

Not in the most leftist history class was I ever instructed that fines could be levied upon “Rights”.

However, if this is the new rule, than I am correct to understand that more legislation is in order.

We have a right to keep and bear arms. Bill of Rights, Amendment #2.

According to the new rules on “Rights”, this means that each and every citizen now has a “Responsibility” to purchase a firearm so that they may “Keep and Bear” it, lest their fellow citizens be burdened with having to put themselves in danger by defending those who are not responsible enough to purchase their own.

To not file new legislation as an Amendment to the new law and vote FOR it under the now ongoing “fixing” of the new law, is to either be the ultimate hypocrite or admit that fines cannot be levied upon those who do not wish to pay for use of their “Rights”.

Posted in Life in the Atomic Age | 7 Comments