American Idiots: The Mental Illness of Hoplophobia

12 Tuesday Jul 2016

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Hoplophobia: the irrational fear of weapons or the fear of armed citizens; from Hoplon, ancient Greek for the weapons of a Hoplite, or city-state militiaman.

Don’t wanna be an American idiot.
Don’t want a nation under the new mania
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind f*ck America.

  • American Idiot, GreenDay, 2004.

Billy Joe Armstrong and the band came up with that one in response to the ridiculousness of the Bush (43) regime. It may apply to our society now more than then, especially to the hoplophobes among us. The phobes are hysterical anti-freedom bigots, steeped in arrogance, ignorance, hatred, and latent tendencies towards violence. Several recent stories illustrate this point.

Shootinjh.com.

Gersh Kuntzman is the poor wuttle journalist left with PTSD after firing an AR-15 for the first and only time. He’s at it again: The NRA is to blame for police shooting of Philando Castile by encouraging citizens to arm themselves, New York Daily “News”, July 7, 2016.

I don’t immediately blame the cops and I certainly don’t blame the victims.

I blame the gun nuts.

Gun lovers and their mouthpieces at the National Rifle Association have done more to damage police-community relations than poor cop training, racism, crime and fear could ever do.

And it’s all due to the NRA’s twisted, sick perversion of the Second Amendment from a cherished right to keep and bear arms as part of a well-regulated national defense into a call to “stand your ground” in all circumstances.

Attention, gun nuts (and that means any and all gun owners not in the service of the state): you are the problem. Everything is your fault. Then again, isn’t everything always your fault? Our fault? At this point, none really care what the deranged phobes like Kuntzman have to say about us. He’s illogical, he’s ill. But, is he consistent?

If one applied his “logic” to the murders of those police officers in Dallas, would that make the Brady Campaign and other gun control “nuts” responsible for that shooting? I’m sure Mr. Kuntzman would say “no” and that the Dallas massacre falls under damaged police-community relations – all the fault of the gun nuts.

We get it, Kuntzman doesn’t like free and armed people. He may not like girls either. At least he’s not fond of Mischa Barton. Barton went on Instagram and relayed her heartbroken feelings about the death of Alton Sterling and others. Kuntzman responded viciously:

While you’re at it, Mischa, why don’t you defecate on the American flag in the center of St. Patrick’s Cathedral during a 9/11 memorial.

Because that might be the only thing worse than actress Mischa Barton’s ham-fingered attempt to show solidarity with recent police shooting victim Alton Sterling and, by extension, Philando Castile.

You see, Barton is an attractive woman. While she expressed sympathy for victims of police violence, she did so while wearing a bikini. According to Kuntzman, that makes her no better than us gun nuts. I have no idea who Mischa Barton is but I’ll take her over the sniveling likes of Kuntzman (more gamma than beta, I’d say) any day. And she called for more gun control too!

Here's Mischa Barton's infamous Instragram post, which we grabbed before she took it down. You're welcome, America.

I guess gun control can be sexy. Daily News and Kuntzman. Thanks, G.K.

The phobia gets a lot worse than the daily new wuss. Says James Pearce, college “professor”:  “Look, there’s only one solution. A bunch of us anti-gun types are going to have to arm ourselves, storm the NRA headquarters in Fairfax, VA, and make sure there are no survivors.”

This demented savage wants to murder people in protest of murders! It’s the only solution!

I’m morbidly curious as to how such an assault would work out for Adolf Pearce and his anti-gun types. We’ll leave alone the fact that it would make them less anti-gun and more gun nut (actually, it would just make them homicidal maniacs).

Kuntzman is anti-gun and he got PTSD at the firing range. I know some of those folks in Fairfax. They carry guns and they know how to use them. They have their own PTSD range right in the office. They likely wouldn’t even have to draw down on the attackers. Pearce’s brigade would probably shoot and kill themselves in comical fashion out in the parking lot. In case it goes down, I am thankful they have good security video at NRA HQ. It’s all a bluff and bluster, I know. Pearce said as much when the cops came calling. It’s the thought that counts.

That’s what kind of thoughts these mental midgets have – violent, hateful, evil thoughts. They are the enemies of freedom … and bikinis.

Blogging and the Nightly Imagination

12 Tuesday Jul 2016

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Last night I typed up a short piece about losing a Facebook friend. It was just a rambling expose of thoughts, without any of my usual opinions and revelations. (As a friend put it not too long ago: “Perrin’s blog: government bad.”). I was blown away by the high traffic this short post generated – more than many of what I consider good, in-depth articles.

I thank you for your patronage and I apologize if my story broke bad news to some of you. I got some emails and messages about the death in question.

More, I think, is due now on the creation of that post – not of its nature or origin but rather the environment in which it was written. I can work wherever there is internet connectivity (or decent cell reception) – most places: the house, cigar shops, the gym, coffee houses, bars, hotels, etc. Sometimes, most times, I like working outside. Last night’s posting about Facebook was developed in a garden shed. I do some of my best work there, hot in the summer, cold in the winter.

Day or night I tend to get visitors in the shed. These are mostly flying insects though the occasional cat or bird may drop by. With the exception of mosquitoes, their company is welcomed by me.

Last night, while I typed away about a man I’d never actually met, I heard a scratching, scrambling noise above my head. The shed has a loft, a big shelf near the ceiling. The building is less than well secure so it’s possible for all manner of critters to enter.

As the bumping and scrapings continued and intensified I began to ponder what sort of beast I was working with. It was very dark so all I had to work with was auditory information and imagination. Based on observation, I decided it must be either a rat or a squirrel up there, bumping around. I even contemplated the possibility of a raccoon.I don’t mind any of these varmints but then it occurred to me – what if it, whatever it is, is rabid?

I actually don’t mind sick animals (they never bother me; I feel bad for them) but I did not want a Jerry Clower story breaking out either. Still, I pecked away. Nothing happened. Whatever was up there seemed as at home with me as I was with it.

The Humane Society.

Upon completing the stories of the evening I prepared to exit. I turned on the light and looked up. What I had taken in my mind to be mammalian turned out to just be two slender, black beetles. They buzzed away rather stupidly trying to fly through the roof. Given the small size of their brains – with less mental horsepower than even the average politician – this was not surprising. I left them where they were, figuring they’d eventually make it out or make some spider very happy.

This is another of those stories without a central theme, moral or otherwise. I just thought it, for some reason, worth relaying.

Happy Tuesday!

Invasion of the Super-Bugs

11 Monday Jul 2016

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As from the beginning of a horror/zombie movie, scientists have positively identified a strain of E Coli bacteria which is resistant to the “last line of defense” antibiotics. Please read: A ‘slow catastrophe’ unfolds as the golden age of antibiotics comes to an end, Melissa Healy, LA Times, Science, July 11, 2016.

Ms. Healy and the LA Times did a wonderful job with this story. The Times science section impresses at times (get it….).

The devious little bacterium seems to have developed a new gene, “mcr-1”, which makes it resistant to colistin. Colistin is the “last line” drug given when other antibiotics are not effective. Now, for this particular bug, even that doesn’t work. It seems that the infection at issue in the case study was beaten off with a combination of other treatments. However, doctors and researchers are not overly optimistic about what this portends for the future of medicine. Some are downright pessimistic.

“It’s a slow catastrophe,” said Army Col. Emil Lesho, director of the Defense Department’s Multidrug-resistant Organism Repository and Surveillance Network.

The problem goes beyond treating infections. As bacterial resistance grows, Lesho said, “we’re all at risk of losing our access” to medical miracles we’ve come to take for granted: elective surgeries, joint replacements, organ transplants, cancer chemotherapies. These treatments give bacteria an opportunity to hitch a ride on a catheter or an unwashed hand and invade an already vulnerable patient.

…

“It’s not apocalyptic until it is,” said Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and former associate commissioner of the FDA. “Shame on us if we wait till bodies are in the street.”

Whoa, apocalyptic? Bodies in the street! This story made me think of several things:

First, we’ve been being warned for years now, by experts, about our overuse of antibiotics. Drugs given to patients who don’t need them. Drugs given to our cows, hogs, and chickens. And, so on. Maybe it’s not to late to heed the warnings. I haven’t had an antibiotic since I can’t remember when. Since I lost the weight and started working out, I don’t find myself seeing the doctor much at all.

Second, medical science has a history of outmaneuvering the bugs. The Times story included this chart:

nimbus-image-1468286810078

This isn’t the first time there’s been a gap between drugs. They’ll make a new one.

Third, the Times notes the high FDA regulatory costs of developing these new drugs. The drug companies prefer to concentrate on fields where the patient uses the medication for a lifetime. The return on the R&D (and regulatory compliance) isn’t worth the return for antibiotics. Another case of government getting in the way and potentially getting people killed. The author suggests the government might find some incentives (our taxes) to ease the process. Rather than more corporate welfare, I say get the state out-of-the-way. If the FDA had been around in 1928, we might still be waiting on basic penicillin.

Fourth thought – the government which makes it cost prohibitive to develop new miracle drugs is the very same government which is madly trying to bring as many “refugees”and other non-Westerners as possible into the country. Many of these folks, regardless of their intentions, carry diseases we haven’t had here in years. If they’re not going to curb the flow, maybe they could at the very least implement some better medical screenings.

Fifthly and finally, there is something you can do right now to circumvent the government, the scientists, and the culture. Get in shape. A healthy body does an unbelievably good job fighting off disease. Since I went “health nut” – and, yes, cigars are a component – I haven’t been sick once. It’s simple – drink water, sleep, exercise, and don’t eat as much and not as much junk. You can survive the apocalypse.

Odd little critters. BBC.

I’m not worried about these developments.We’re human beings. We can beat the bugs. We might even beat the government.

Death of a Facebook Friend

11 Monday Jul 2016

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Several years ago when I was new to Facebook I did what most digital denizens do – I went looking for people I knew or had known. I happened across this one profile, let’s call him “Andy” (because that was his name). This person had the same first and last name as I guy I went to elementary school with many moons ago. He lived in the same small Mississippi town where I grew up and was about the right age. I couldn’t quite make out Andy from his picture but I was sure it was him.

It was not.

It turns out there were two men in the same town with the same name (first and last). “New” Andy graciously accepted my friend request. Then, soon thereafter, I unequivocally discovered my old friend – the real person from my past. We too, of course, became friends on FB.

So, there I was with two Andys. From time to time I saw postings from the “new” guy. We never interacted as far as I can remember but we stayed “connected”. He seemed like the kind of fellow I would like anyway. I suppose the feeling was mutual. I once pondered whether he was actual friends with any of my old friends over there. Maybe he was even friends with my old Andy. I never thought to ask anyone about it.

Just the other day I read (on Facebook) that Andy had passed away at an all too early age. At first I had that gut-wrenching feeling that I had lost another childhood friend. I’ve lost a few now and know the feeling. Maybe you do too. If not, I’m glad for you.

Further reading revealed it was “new” Andy whom had died. I was happy my old friend is still with us but I wasn’t relieved. I had still lost a friend. Other people I known in the real world and who were FB friends have also died but for some reason this incident was a little more sobering than those.

It seems that everyone who knew the new Andy in real life really liked him. His passing saddened them understandably. I started thinking about him as if I had known him (in person) all those years.

If this rambling is going anywhere, it’s here: I did know him, even if intangibly and on-line. He was my friend. I’m sorry he’s gone. I feel like I’m being selfish for being sorry as I’m sure he’s now in a much better place.

nimbus-image-1468284799643

So, all of this social media does actually have a higher purpose, a human purpose, I suppose. I’m glad I knew my new friend even as little as I did and for the relatively short time I did. This is his eulogy from me.

Rest in peace, buddy.

The New Iron Lady?

11 Monday Jul 2016

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Meet Theresa May, PM for Maidenhead. On Wednesday, assuming the Queen allows and so decrees, Mrs. May will become England’s second woman Prime Minister. In terms of history, she has big shoes to fill following Margaret Thatcher.

With Nigel Farage. UK Express.

She became leader of the Conservative Party only today; her statement:

11 July 2016

Theresa May made the following statement after confirmation of her selection as leader of the Conservative Party: “I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen by the Conservative Party to become its leader. I would like to pay tribute to the other candidates during the election campaign, and I would like to pay tribute to Andrea Leadsom for the dignity that she has shown today. During this campaign, my case has been based on three things. First, the need for strong, proven leadership to steer us through what will be difficult and uncertain economic and political times. The need of course to negotiate the best deal for Britain in leaving the EU and to forge a new role for ourselves in the world. Brexit means Brexit and we’re going to make a success of it. Second, we need to unite our country. And third, we need a strong, new, and positive vision for the future of our country. A vision of a country that works not for the privileged few but works for every one of us. Because we’re going to give people more control over their lives. That’s how together we will build a better Britain.”

If she’s sincere about working for the people, not the elites, then this may be a positive step for the UK. People need more control of their lives. They need breathing room from London and secession from the EU.

Mr. Farage has recently criticized May in typical Farage fashion, mainly over her failure as Home Secretary to curb immigration into the country from the non-West. He also seems to think her rather cold. The Home Secretary yields some power but cannot operate in a vacuum. I hope, it light of BREXIT and with her new authority, she will make good on previous promises to stem the flow of handout-seekers and criminals.

Speaking of criminal, it’s interesting that the UK can find a woman worthy of high office who isn’t now or hasn’t been recently under felony investigation by Scotland Yard or MI5. Cold or not, I hear she keeps a clean email server.

The people having voted to leave the socialists and miscreants in Brussels, the matter now rests with Queen Elizabeth. God save the Queen; God save Britain, and good luck, Mrs. May.

Travel Advisory America

10 Sunday Jul 2016

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Great. Now three countries are warning their citizens to avoid the U.S. or at least exercise caution when visiting us: the Bahamas, the UAE, and Bahrain.

The United States regularly issues travel warnings urging Americans to either avoid or exercise caution in countries marred by violence or political instability.

Now America is the focus of concern by foreign governments in the Middle East and Caribbean as protesters marched in U.S. cities throughout the weekend after police killed black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.

Is this how they see us? PBS/Twitter.

I wonder if it’s the violence they’re worried about or could it be the political instability. Even if everyone got along swimmingly and the police were as gentle as doves with all, we still have the Hillary/Trump thing working against us. Then again, a civilized, critically thinking, and non-violent people wouldn’t keep dredging up loser after loser for high office.

Hmmmmph….

Bookends, July 2016

10 Sunday Jul 2016

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The news keeps getting better month by month for authors and readers alike. The old, traditional, monopolistic publishing industry is fading rapidly. Good riddance. With it goes the middlemen, the obscene contracts, the thefts of rights, the low royalties, the limitations of access and of selection, and the tyranny of the gatekeepers.

Barnes and Noble, the last of the big chain booksellers, has announced it will allow some self-published books in its 640 or so stores nationwide. Some, not all. First, a book has to be formatted for Nook, which is B&N’s house version of Kindle. They’re keeping it in the family. Then, there are sales number requirements (1,000 for e-books, 500 for physical copies). Finally, a review board must approve the book for shelving.

Book Business/Mike Valasnick – Flickr.

This is a systemization of their current, difficult and arbitrary policy. An idie author can already get into B&N but the process and the resulting rewards (if any) are so uncertain it’s almost not worth it. B&N is desperately and belatedly trying to compete with Amazon, which allows any and all authors access to their digital store.

Book Business makes a bigger deal out of this story than it needs to. They compare B&N’s 640 stores (and shrinking?) to Amazon as if Amazon was a nebulous startup concept.

Amazon is the world’s largest bookstore. Period. No, they don’t just have one single store in Seattle. They have as many stores as there are computers, tablets, and smartphones in the world. What is that number? A billion stores? Five billion? It’s huge. I have two of those stores in my immediate possession right now.

Sometimes I get asked if The Happy Little Cigar Book is in bookstores. I always say “yes” and refer the inquirer to Amazon. By the way, just click the link two sentences back, and you’re in the store, ready to buy a copy.

When was the last time you went into a bookstore? Odds are it was a B&N as they’re about the only game left in town – and only in decent sized towns. There are, here and there, small private stores but their selection is extremely limited. An indie house might have 5,000 – 10,000 books that the owner felt like carrying. A big B&N might have 10,000 – 30,000. I’ve noticed B&N sells fewer and fewer real books in their stores and more picture books, calendars, coffee mugs, and other stuff. They’ll have popular bestselling novels but perhaps not a work of classical history or philosophy.

Amazon has millions and millions (scores of millions) of books. The e-books one can buy and start reading within about 30 seconds. Hardcover and paperbacks take a few days for delivery. They’re prices are better too because of the economy of scale.

**Want a FREE book from My Bookstore? CLICK HERE and have one, right now.**

It’s getting harder to find a “real” bookstore just as it’s getting harder to find a “real” book from a “real” publisher. The big houses are in deep trouble. If not for coloring books and romance novels, they would already be gone. The world has changed – for the better.

Am I happy B&N is opening up? Yes. Will I try to get a few of my works into their hallowed stores? Yes. Will I obsess about it? No. Amazon and the internet are the future and the future is now and has been for a few years.

The Dallas Aftermath: Obama’s Storm-trooper Corps?

09 Saturday Jul 2016

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Hussein Obama’s final term in office is winding down. America lazily awaits the next pathetic resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – likely a Big Club, elite, insider and megalomania or, perhaps, a coughing, psychopathic, unconvicted felon.

All big politicians make grandiose promises. Trump wants to build a wall. Hillary … I’m not sure what she’s promising. Maybe to stay on this side of the prison wall? Anyway, once elected, they all do the exact same thing: more of the same. They continue to grow the size and scope of federal power while raising taxes, and/or massively increasing the debt, keep a few pointless wars going, and make sure the banksters are fat and happy.

Hussein had his list of promises. ObamaCare might be the big one though it really just falls under general government growth and a tax increase. One he hasn’t gotten around to is his previously stated desire for a national security force (vaguely stated) comparable in strength to the regular, standing military. He hasn’t really done much towards that goal – yet.

He’s been a busy man. He had a debt to grow, golf, a nation to fundamentally transform, vacations, wars to pour money and lives into, taxes and higher pay for insurance executives, the Federal Reserve cabal to appease, ISIS to fund, attack, defend, and import into the U.S., more vacations, etc. Very busy. Now, at the end, he may be ready to launch his national whatever force or at least lay the groundwork.

Obama may be a lot of things but he is NOT a Muslim. FoxNews/DailyMail.

Last night, in Poland of all places, Obama said he wanted a nationalized police force. More to the point, he wants uniform, federal standards for state and local police – the federal takeover will come later. “I want to start moving on constructive actions that are actually going to make a difference,” Obama said when asked about how he planned to take advantage of the Dallas police shootings and general civil unrest.

Obama began touting the panel’s recommendations in March 2015. The report, titled “President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing Report,” was published in May 2015.

The report urges the federal government to federalize police training and practices, via the use of federal lawsuits, grants and threats to cut federal aid. So far, Obama’s deputies have cajoled and sued more than 30 police jurisdictions to adopt federal rules in a slow-motion creation of a national police system, similar to the slow-motion creation of a federal-run health-sector via Obamacare.

Because ObamaCare worked out so well. Same number of uninsured as before but with higher taxes and higher insurance premiums (for those with insurance) and a dwindling supply of doctors. If you like your sheriff, you can keep your sheriff. I’m not sure how insurance companies and banks will profit from this; rest assured they will, otherwise it wouldn’t be happening.

Here’s the Panel Report, issued by the Department of Justice [SIC] – the people that brought you Waco and an unindicted Hillary Clinton. I don’t recommend actually reading it unless one suffers from near-terminal insomnia.

Ah, another government report on ways to help the people, especially young black people – from an agency that keeps 2 Million young black people behind bars now for selling plants. Hypocrisy at its most psychotic.

Law enforcement standards and procedures from the feds, similar to those used by the FBI and ATF. They have such a stellar record a justice, everything is bound to be just fine – Waco, Ruby Ridge, Wounded Knee, Elian Gonzales, the BLM massacre, out of control false flag manufacturing operations like the Boston Marathon and the Pulse Club, prosecuting Martha Stewart but not Hillary, and on and on. What could go wrong?!

As I said, Obama is about out of time to fully implement this scheme. Herr Hillary has expressed interest in the same though that may be from a personal desire to control the police in an effort to stay out of jail herself. Anyway, the ball is rolling now and state balls only ever grow, gathering mass and speed as they careen towards the people.

Let’s just assume you like in a town with a draconian police force. They’re out to get everyone, corrupt, and they’re really, really bad. They need to be stopped but do you really think the feds are the ones to do it? To me, going to the feds to complain about the local police is much like Br’er Rabbit running to Br’er Bear to report on Br’er Fox. The problems won’t be solved – just shifted and worsened.

Troubles from laws and law enforcement are not solved by more laws and law enforcement. Nevermind that the federal government has no authority whatsoever to do any of this – they are, in fact, prohibited. The Constitution being dead, the law really doesn’t matter anymore. They will get what they want. You and I will get the shaft. More laws, less justice.

Rise of the Machines: The Dallas Bomb-Bot

08 Friday Jul 2016

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I hate to say none of the tragedy out of Dallas yesterday surprised me but it did not. Almost none of it. The murders of the police were predictable. The government is out of control. The people, some awake, some asleep, some sleep-walking, don’t have much control themselves. It’s a bad mixture. It could be much worse though it’s bad enough as is.

What did surprise me, slightly, was how the police killed shooter Micah Johnson. There was a long standoff and shootout. Unable to get a clear shot at him as he hid in a parking garage, the police used a robot to get a bomb close to Johnson. They detonated it, killing him and ending the situation. A robot. With a bomb.

This is not the first time American police (locals, not the feds) have bombed civilians. Here’s a video of a 1985 police bomb used in Philadelphia against a “radical” sect of black separatists. That bombing was roundly condemned as overkill – kill it did, eleven people I think.

The Dallas bombing yesterday was, if anything, more proportionate. The Philly bomb ended a days old siege which perhaps could have been waited out. In Dallas the police acted against an active shooter who posed an immediate threat. Their bomb only killed him.

Some are asking, “should the police be allowed to use bombs?” The short, legal answer is “yes”. I reluctantly concur with the expert consensus with qualification. The police, like anyone else, can legally kill anyone who poses an immediate threat of lethal or grievous danger. If they’re going to be killed, then does it matter if it is by bullet or by bomb?

I am not a fan of the modern, militarized police. Regardless of what I think, they are armed with military weapons. I will leave that angle alone for now. At any rate, in the old days, if the police could not handle a situation, they called in the state militia with heavy weapons – like bombs. And, I’m not going into due process issues either. I am assuming, for column’s sake, the justification for lethal force was there.

Another qualification I would add is that a destructive weapon, like a bomb, should only be used as a last resort and only if collateral damage is mitigated. It appears the damage mitigation box can be checked and I don’t have enough information on the last resort. I’ll give that benefit of the doubt to the police here.

Again, out of all of this it was the robot with the bomb that got my attention. The bomb was probably a Claymore mine or other anti-personnel device. In Philly, 1985, they used a powerful incendiary bomb. The robot used yesterday is more of a remote-controlled vehicle; it’s a machine, a tool. In 1985 they used a helicopter, another machine or tool.

The difference, as I see it, is the rapid advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. Helicopters aren’t getting smarter, robots are.

The Dallas machine was 100% under operator control. However, other government agencies are spending a ton of your money to develop autonomous robots – machines that are programmed to act on their own. Industry is designing robots to control other robots.

Here we delve into science-fiction horror that is rapidly becoming reality. How long until there are autonomous robots with bombs or other weapons? What happens if they adapt to or against their programming and start acting completely on their own? What if they decide we, the humans, are the enemy? With the way technology is changing, we probably don’t have that long before we start getting answers.

I got this fictional Terminator picture from a story about the real thing.

If race relations are bad now, what about when (if, rather, I pray) it’s the human race versus the robots? They’re already taking our jobs. At some point could they see us as obsolete? Adversaries? We just might want to hypothesize these questions and possible answers before the machines do.

What is Wrong? Random Facts, Figures, and Opinions on Race, Violence, Government, and Some Other Stuff

08 Friday Jul 2016

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Historically, I experience a summer slow-down in blog views. It’s that time of year again. I’m also tired of late and working on other things. Yesterday, I took a great little mini vacation. I had a great time.

This morning, recovering, I looked at the news; it seems like the whole world is coming unglued. It isn’t, any more than usual, but it looks very bad. I don’t know if my following list provides perspective or not, but here it is.

Neither of these men needed to be or deserved to be gunned down.

There is no war on the police, per se, though there easily could be.

“Blowback” is a real thing.

There are 14 other occupations in America more lethally dangerous than being a police officer. Some are many times more dangerous. Logging is a dangerous job.

The cops are not out to murder blacks, per se, though it certainly seems like it.

The cops kill more whites every year than blacks. It’s the percentages and perceptions that drive BLM. You really can’t blame them, though…

Statistically speaking in terms of homicides, black people represent the largest danger to other black people.

A glance and a search around the internet will reveal more than a few whites being beaten, tazed, harassed, and killed by the cops – for nothing.

Still, white people are most dangerous to other white people.

There are criminals out there but most “crime” in America shouldn’t honestly be classified as such.

There are many bad apples in the barrel but many police officers are just plain people doing a job the best they can.

Too many people, of all colors, professions, etc., are killed all the time for essentially nothing. This should really end.

A murderer is a murderer, even if he wears a special costume and a badge.

It’s wrong to murder anyone, even if they’re wearing a badge.

America is a safer place now than it has been in decades. One wouldn’t think that given all the news of murders, hatred, and terrorism. It’s the speed of the reporting and all the camera phone.

The instant and constant reporting is new to human history.Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe it will help stamp out the last vestiges of violence and stupidity.

Different peoples are different. That’s why they’re different peoples.

Most people, despite being different, are really almost all the same on a day-to-day and individual to individual level. Most get along pretty well together.

Most individuals are, all in all, fairly decent.

Groups of people start having problems.

Many (maybe even a majority of) Americans, regardless of age, sex, race, income, geographical location, etc., have a really hard time properly operating a motor vehicle.

Those groups of individuals who, as groups, start to have problems, resort to government as a solution to their problems.

Government never has any solutions.

Government, once it takes hold, gains a life of its own, a life of dominance and control.

If the government can’t find a problem to not solve, it will create one. Or a hundred.

Certain little elite numbers of people and institutions traditionally seize on government power to further their own interests.

These elites are highly effective in plotting different people (or even similar people) against each other. This creates an atmosphere of fear and chaos which greatly assists the perception that more law may be the answer. It’s a self-sustaining machine, very expensive and very dangerous.

Many turn a blind eye to all of the above (unless it directly affects them) not because they are stupid, but because they would rather concentrate on the more pleasant, even trivial aspects of life. Understandable. Some are just stupid. Others are lazy. Again, the cameras and phones may help clarify or cure some of this.

“On the street” blacks and whites tend to look and behave mostly the same to me.

Many blacks and whites “on the street” irritate the hell out of me (if I let them).

I have a lot of friends, white and black. I’m rather fond of them.

There are other colors than black and white. The same rules generally apply to them as well.

For my own trivial pursuits, I like football. It’s getting really difficult to watch the average game; I keep waiting and waiting (usually until the end of the fourth quarter) for the football to break out of the otherwise ridiculous circus side-show.

A small group of bankers long ago discovered how to completely control government. Government long ago discovered how to completely control the people. Both groups have done a remarkably good job for themselves. Kudos to them (and damn them). All of this is mostly done in the open. Oddly, the people still haven’t figured it out. Shame on them (and hopes they will yet wake up).

Mencken wrote about imaginary hobgoblins. They still don’t exist for the most part. Some, however, have actually come to life. ISIS comes to mind.

Banning guns won’t help blacks, most cops, or anyone else. These things are just tools. It makes as little sense as banning chain saws to “help” loggers.

Gun bans don’t work. Neither to wars. That is unless by “work” one means “help the government become even stronger and more dangerous”. Then, they work great.

People like James Pearce and Gersh Kuntzman denounce and blame ordinary persons for committing imaginary crimes and for being “nuts” in the criminally, nutty manner possible. This isn’t a case of the pot calling the kettle black. This is a case of psychopathic lunatics trying to project their own illnesses onto the general population. What happened to the asylums?

This rant went on a little longer than I intended. I’ll stop it now.