Wayne LaPierre Called Me

Wayne LaPierre just phoned me and I listened to his automated message.  Wayne is the CEO of the NRA which is WTF.

They really, really,  really called the wrong person.

As I read it, (and I always notice that no one else seems to read it this way, even though this is how it is written) the second amendment that Mr. LaPierre is so all fired up about protecting (get it?  I put a gun joke in there...) states, *ahem, throat clearing*:



A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Did you catch that?  Do you see the first part of that?  The conditional part?  The part that is almost universally ignored?  A WELL REGULATED MILITIA, BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE...  Do you see that part?  That's the condition upon which we are allowed to have guns in this country.  In order to ensure our security, through a well regulated militia (do you hear that Michigan militias--hey!  Do you guys still exist?), the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.

So, if I want to bear arms in something other than a well regulated militia, that right may be infringed, because that's not the right that the second amendment protects.  I might have to have regulations that our society deems reasonable for me to pack heat.

Does anyone else read it this way, because I believe that's how it's written?  And how do I know that's how it's written?!  Because I read the words that they so carefully chose, and I understand English, it being my mother tongue.

The first part is a condition, people! 

Wayne LaPierre.  La Pierre.  LaPierre!  That's French, ain't it?

Wayne, why don't you go get yourself some Freedom Fries and quit worrying your little French head 'bout the English writings.  You don't understand them.

How Economic Inequality Harms Societies

Here's a Ted Talk with Richard Wilkinson explaining how larger income gaps within societies increase social maladies--poorer health outcomes, greater crime, imprisonment, shorter life spans, etc.

The richer countries, those with a higher median income, don't do better.  The USA is the worst!

The Occupy people know all of this already.  This is what they're railing about.

We Know the Things That Really Matter... Right?

~Adbusters

Bad to the Bone, Again...

We love our little Scion.  It has loads of leg room for the kids.  It has a seat that feels like a seat and not a semi-lounge chair, and has loads of head room for me with my tall torso.  It works for our little family.

We now have a replacement car, as our car is being repaired after what we thought was a minor fender bender.  Turns out, though, that we'll have the loaner car for a few days.

We're driving around in this now.

The kids are digging it and asked us if we could buy it.  They asked in all sincerity and without any irony or humor.  I feel so ridiculous in this thing.  It's fun.

I might have to find a creek with the bridge out so I can take the kids sailing over it screaming, "Yee haw!!" at the top of our lungs.

Yes, I do remember the Dukes of Hazzard fondly.  Why do you ask?