That's Just Wrong

Consumerist has this entry:

A woman has filed a $200,000 lawsuit against American Airlines alleging the flight crew failed to protect her from a passenger who moved into the seat next to hers while she was sleeping, then "masturbated to her" and—well, you've seen "There's Something About Mary"? Yeah, that.

Come on, do they let just anybody on airplanes these days? Yeah, that's pretty foul and to her, it's probably more "Silence of the Lambs" creepy then "Something About Mary" gross out. I hope she gets the $200k

But I am curious, I wonder how hot she is?

Here's the link

The Nanny State: Example 23423

Sent to jail for giving a manicure without a license! Un. Friggin. Believable.



Pilfered from Lew Rockwell

I think I'm going to be on that list

Let it not be said that people weren't paying attention. This is a story from the San Francisco Chronicle:

U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Venice (Los Angeles County) has come up with a new way to expand the domestic "war on terror." Her Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (HR1955), which passed the House by the lopsided vote of 404-6, would set up a commission to "examine and report upon the facts and causes" of so-called violent radicalism and extremist ideology, then make legislative recommendations on combatting it.

According to commentary in the Baltimore Sun, Rep. Harman and her colleagues from both sides of the aisle believe the country faces a native brand of terrorism, and needs a commission with sweeping investigative power to combat it

We need a commission to study why people think the government sucks? How about they take too much of our money, do a crappy job, and are only looking out for themselves? No Representative Harman, the problem isn't us, it's you.

In the next paragraph, (in case you can't see where this is heading) there is a list of groups who "might" (or will) be targeted for investigation:

A clue as to where Harman's commission might be aiming is the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, a law that labels those who "engage in sit-ins, civil disobedience, trespass, or any other crime in the name of animal rights" as terrorists. Other groups in the crosshairs could be anti-abortion protesters, anti-tax agitators, immigration activists, environmentalists, peace demonstrators, Second Amendment rights supporters ... the list goes on and on. According to author Naomi Wolf, the National Counterterrorism Center holds the names of roughly 775,000 "terror suspects" with the number increasing by 20,000 per month.

If your name isn't on that list, give it time, it will be.

The whole article is here.

Inflation and Our Money Supply

I've had a couple of people email me about inflation and our money supply and asking me how come a guy as ridiculously handsome and charming as me can be such a kook when it comes to the dollar. (Kerri, this means you)

Well, needless to say, the headlines about the declining dollar keep piling up and things are looking to get much worse in 2008. England is looking to surpass us in standard of living for the first time since the 19th Century. Anyway, here is a good explanation of the money system and why inflation isn't just rising prices (which is what most people think it is). It does get a little X-fileish in explaining how the Federal Reserve Bank system was formed but it's the simplest explanation I've found as well.

I'm glad we're getting our money's worth

This is the story of an artist named Steve Kurtz (the article says he's pretty famous, but I've never heard of him) and government run amok (emphasis mine):

Kurtz’s legal nightmare began when he was arrested in May 2004 after he called 911 due to the unexpected death of his wife, Hope. The police notified the FBI because they saw commonly used biological equipment, such as petri dishes and test tubes, in his house.
...

Suspicious of bioterrorism, the FBI arrested Kurtz and searched his house. It was quickly confirmed that Hope had died of natural causes. Weeks later the New York State Commissioner of Public Health determined that the biological materials posed no public health risks. Eventually, charges of bioterrorism were dropped completely. But instead of dropping the case, the prosecution decided to pursue it. Millions of tax dollars and approaching four years later, the prosecution is now charging Kurtz with mail and wire fraud for a transaction worth less than $300.

For the love of all that is holy and great in this world, please someone, explain to me who comes out the winner here? It's not Kurtz and it sure as hell isn't the tax payer. If I find out that the prosecutor was someone looking to finish out his twenty years and collect his taxpayer funded pension my head is going to explode. This is literally a federal case, over a transaction valued at less than $300. Ridiculous.

The whole article is here

Oh Come On!

Conservative Belle has been compiling all of the candidates video Christmas cards (which you can view here)

Hillary's card has to be the greatest advertisement on why polls are worthless. How can she be leading in the polls if her message is essentially "I am the Santa of all nanny-staters". Really, handing out "gifts" like free healthcare, free preschool. Promising everything to everyone? Well what about me Hillary? I'm looking for the card that says "stay the hell out of my wallet" or "leave me the hell alone". Alas, those are the gifts that none of the candidates from either party are willing to give. Unless you are the candidate with two first names.

Pilfered from Hotair