Archive for the ‘Legal Affairs’ Category

War is Peace. Ignorance is Strength. Shit is Shinola.

Thursday, June 25th, 2015

And words no longer have meaning. Pardon the strong language, but, as we no longer live in a country under the rule of law, I feel like expressing myself strongly.

I expected King v. Burwell to go the other way, because the evidence was so strong. I felt that way about Eldred and Kelo, too, so I should have expected this.

Fascism is always descending on America, but landing on Europe

Tuesday, April 8th, 2014

I’ve seen that a number of times over the past several years. It’s obvious to me that it’s now landing on the US. What with the IRS scandal (still scandalously being ignored by the media), the lies about Benghazi, overreach in several areas by the EPA, the federal bunny inspectors, and a whole host of other things just in government, it’s obvious that we’re no longer a nation of laws, we’re a nation of oligarchs and bureaucrats.

Then you get into the media, which drives the popular culture, and it’s equally obvious. I seldom go to the movies or watch popular television shows anymore, because the viewpoint is blatant and almost omnipresent.

Because of the leftist orientation of Hollywood and the news media, and because of the leftist indoctrination being performed in the public schools and the colleges, our rights as citizens are being abrogated at all levels.

The First Amendment?

Freedom of association is a dead issue now. The Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a Christian photographer penalized for not agreeing to photograph a gay wedding.

Freedom of speech is also gone. What with free speech zones on college campuses, free speech zones being set up by the BLM, federal plans to monitor newsrooms, and speakers of conservative and pro-Israel stances being prevented from speaking publicly, it’s obvious that free speech is for the left, and nobody else.

Free exercise of religion? Please. You’re not allowed to disapprove of gay marriage, except perhaps if you’re Muslim. Christian holidays are downplayed, because Muslims and atheists don’t approve of them.

The Second Amendment?

Besides all the other efforts to restrict availability of weapons, we now have a new argument: since Leland Yee was running guns and involved with Islamic terrorists, we have to pass the legislation he supports to restrict citizens’ access to weapons. Don’t know who Leland Yee is? See the mention of media bias, above.

The Obama administration has set up new rules that allow a single health worker to abrogate the Second Amendment rights of veterans.

Some Common Core lessons state that the Second Amendment requires gun registration.

I only know of one case recently that involves a Third Amendment argument.

The Fourth Amendment?

We know have municipal SWAT teams being used for “dynamic entry” in situations where a knock on the door would suffice. We have people being searched without the ability to see the search warrant, and the warrant being sealed when they ask about it, and their complaint about it being itself sealed, as well as the order sealing everything.

The Fifth Amendment?

Members of this administration seem to use it a lot, don’t they? When they’re not outright lying under oath, that is.

We’re starting to see some efforts by the states to assert their rights under the Tenth Amendment, but I don’t hold out a lot of hope.

The First Amendment issues also go into the Eich situation at Mozilla. California requires that anyone who donates $100 or more to a cause has that donation associated with them in a public database. Mr. Eich supported Proposition 8 in California some years ago, which stated that marriage was considered to be between a man and a woman. He’s now been forced out of his job by what some are referring to as the “Gaystapo.” That’s enforcement of an approved position in favor of homosexual marriages; it’s no longer permitted to hold a contrary opinion.

I can remember when the position of most homosexuals (at least, the vocal ones) was, “Marriage? That’s for breeders.” That’s gone down the memory hole, and don’t dare think that way, or you may lose your job, too.

I’ve deleted Firefox from my computers, in response. Currently, I’m using Safari at home, and I’ll be trying Iron. Vox Day has an interesting graph showing feedback received by Mozilla. I think it’s telling. So does Will Best.

It’s not looking good for this country. It’s not looking good at all.

Umm, really?

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

I was expecting a tax refund from Colorado, but it had kind of slipped my mind that I hadn’t received it yet. Friday, I got a letter from the Colorado Department of Revenue; they’d made a correction to my return.

I say “correction,” but that’s not what it was. For some reason, they seem to believe that I did not have any state taxes withheld from my salary last year, which, when penalties and interest are added in, turns my modest refund into almost $2000 they want from me.

All I can think is that they lost my W-2, because it said that I had taxes withheld. I’m hoping they’re not taking the position that my W-2 was erroneous. That would be pretty heinous.

Blogger Day of Silence

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Ace called for today to be a Day of Silence. Given my infrequent postings, I don’t know how anyone could tell whether or not I’m participating.

In any case, the purpose is to highlight the actions of Brett Kimberlin and his associates, and to call on Congress to take action to prevent the suppression of free speech intended by these actions.

Just to make it clear, I’m joining the effort.

May the twenty-fifth

Friday, May 25th, 2012

There are a number of things to note about this day. Some are significant; some aren’t.

As much as I enjoyed reading Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and watching the TV series, the fact that it’s Towel Day isn’t that important to me.

Likewise, the fact that it was 35 years ago that Star Wars was released is interesting, but not important.

What is important is the Brett Kimberlin blogburst.

Who is Brett Kimberlin? He’s a con man and convicted domestic terrorist who’s currently being funded by various individuals and foundations on the left side of the political divide.

What’s he doing? He’s trying to suppress anyone telling the truth about him or his connections. He’s using lawfare, perjury, and threats to harass anyone involved in such efforts. For the most part, such people are conservative bloggers, but there are some liberals who’ve gotten on his bad side, also.

Stacy McCain has taken his family into hiding because of what happened after he started reporting on Kimberlin.

Kimberlin tried to frame Aaron Walker for a felony, and both Aaron and his wife lost their jobs because their bosses and coworkers felt threatened.

Patrick Frey, who blogs under the name “Patterico,” has a very detailed, chilling tale to tell that starts with how someone impersonated him in order to get a SWAT team sent to his house thinking that he was a dangerous killer.

Brett Kimberlin is a scary individual who associates with scary individuals. They’re trying to chill discourse, and I don’t want to be someone who stands by and lets them get away with it without notice.

Miscellany 19

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

I’ve been accumulating a lot of links. Time to clear the tabs out.

A good overview of corruption in Obama’s DOJ here.

Interesting discussion of poverty here.

This must have something to do with truth in advertising: a supermarket chain has been forced to withdraw ads that show happy customers.

Useful knowledge: How to avoid going to jail for violating 18 USC 1001.

Not, perhaps, the best dietary choices.

It’s been a long time – I haven’t read much about spontaneous human combustion since I was in high school.

I’ve seen photos of people with elaborate facial tattoos before, but never in this context.

This is interesting – a section of Idaho where major crimes can’t be prosecuted.

Time for Science and Technology:

Carbon nanotube cables that conduct electricity as efficiently as copper? Bring it on!

This is a bit old, but … we can now measure the magnetic properties of a single proton.

This is also a bit old … a new type of car engine. These come around every so often. I was quite taken with the Wankel rotary engine, but it had problems with manufacturability. Maybe this one will work out better.

Visual cryptography. Interesting, but I’m not sure how easy it would be to extract the information into text form.

A visual reference to computer ports.

Fairly computer-centric, but, then, I am employed in the field of software, and I love the title – Here be dragons: advances in problems you didn’t even know you had.

New and improved wireless technology.

Fossilized feathers found in 80-million-year-old amber.

Here’s a scale model of the solar system. Be prepared to do a lot of scrolling.

On the subject of the solar system, here’s an orrery that I think is pretty damned impressive.

Continuing with science, the Ig Nobel awards are about to be announced.

Scientists are also planning to make an artificial volcano.

Here’s something unusual: placebos are becoming more effective. How’s that work?

Been hearing voices with nobody around? You may not be as insane as you feared – birds are teaching each other to talk.

A Z-machine interpreter and a list of games for it.

Technology keeps on improving our lives – here’s a self-inflating bicycle tire.

The Document Which Used To Be Called The MIT Lockpicking Guide. I downloaded a copy when it was called that. Related: a series of lessons on YouTube.

Some products aren’t well-designed. Here’s one example from a trade-magazine blog on the topic.

Time for a little humor.

Here’s something that’s a staple of Jay Leno’s “headlines” segments: marriage announcements.

Got OCD and like to cook?

Lord of the Strings?

I like some of these modified signs.

Not quite humor, but close … Which Programming Languages Make You Cuss More? More accurately stated: which programming languages have more cussing in comments in the code I looked at?

Miscellany 13

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Some interesting-looking movies to watch here.

Writing hard SF? This may be useful.

My ex referred to our first house as “Kingdom of the Spiders.” We didn’t need this chart, because we already knew how to identify black widows. If there’d been others, though …

Boy, I think I could make good use of one of these.

Want to browse the internet anonymously?

This is a very nice music video, with some interesting percussion.

Lawyers are funny

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Or is that, lawyers can be made fun of? I’d like to see more of the trial’s transcripts.

Miscellany 11

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

The first three links come from The Agitator (link on the right).

See new level, hear new level, play new level?

I think I heard of this place a few years from now.

Well, where else would you find one?

We’re losing knowledge and experience. Via The Smallest Minority.

I’ve got a recording of The Cyclotronist’s Nightmare somewhere, but I haven’t heard the rest of these.

This is not Photoshopped.

Too Old To Work, Too Young To Retire is a great name for a blog.

The Silicon Graybeard appears to be an intelligent individual. This post on the administration’s latest disregard for the Constitution is one you should read.

Just what I need … more reading material.

A neat music video found at Xack Phobe’s Master Site. I’m unfamiliar with the group, but I may see what else they’ve got available.

I’ll be gone from KORB on Vimeo.

It’s Constitution Day

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Senator Orrin Hatch and Joseph Stuart both have things to say about it that I think should be widely read.

Of course, I’m not sure how many people will go to the articles from here who wouldn’t have already seen them.