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42% would conditionally support Bush's impeachment
In the FWIW Department, Zogby's latest poll shows that 42% of those asked would support the impeachment of president Bush "if it is found that President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq". If you added his stance on immigration and U.S. sovereignty into the mix, that would probably get over 50%.
Posted to Politics at 02:57 PM | Comments (0)
Guess who's blogging at the Huffington Post?
There are so very many angles with which to approach this, but let's try this one. Which of these do you think has a post at the HP?
1. Dr. Phil
2. John Edward (the spiritualist, not the VP candidate)
3. Deepak Chopra
4. the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
If you care, click here for the answer. Note the advice about 10pm, then note the post time. (OK, time zones might be involved, but let's not let that spoil yet another chance to make fun of HP).
On the other hand, at least the poster is not as objectionable as Paul Krassner or Tom Hayden.
Here's an idea for Arianna: an HP cruise! It would be like those National Review cruises, except it would be for everyone who's posted or who will post at HP. And, instead of hum-drum locations like the Caribbean, Arianna could pilot the cruise into the South China Sea. Arrr, me liberals!
Posted to Bloggage at 02:47 PM | Comments (0)
Look! It's Insty, and he's talking about immigration!
Once every month or two, America's favorite blogger turns his attention to the most critical issue facing this nation. This time around he links to a Mickey Kaus blurb about Bush's "Amnesty" Magnet, which discusses the story we posted here two days ago about the Border Patrol survey showing 45% of illegal crossers came because of Bush's "temporary" worker plan.
Insty has this to say:
This won't play well among the Republicans who are angry at Bush over immigration, and there are a lot of those. Kaus also draws a parallel between welfare reform and immigration reform that seems apt to me.
Kaus (for the most part) understands these issues, but he could do more. For instance, he calls a quote from the National Immigration Forum "idiotic", but, unlike me, he didn't provide a link to more information on that fine organization.
However, to Insty matters involving immigration, sovereignty, and similar are more like a minor annoyance in his libertarian worldview and his support for the Bush administration. He'd much rather discuss important issues like Rathergate. Here's a hint: every American should be angry with Bush and our other leaders about these issues, not just a segment of Republicans.
Posted to Bloggage at 10:36 AM | Comments (0)
New Americans welcomed to Iowa, Arkansas
The U.S. Department of Labor has recently given $850,000 grants to at least two states to establish "immigrant centers".From this:
[The office of AR Gov. Mike Huckabee] was informed of the grant by U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao... The centers will provide job placement assistance, translation assistance, resettlement assistance and legal assistance for immigrants, according to the release... "With our growing immigrant population, we're delighted to receive this grant," the governor said. "These immigrants are adding much to the culture and the economy of Arkansas. We want to do everything we can to make the transition easy for them."And, from this:
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced an $850,000 demonstration grant to Iowa Workforce Development to establish three New Iowans Centers to help immigrants transition into their new communities and the workforce... "One of the biggest and most immediate hurdles that many immigrants face when they arrive in our country is not being able to speak English... The centers will provide assistance with language and occupational training, resettlement, community service referrals and job placement with local area employers who are seeking skilled workers.Open borders advocates have made it difficult to tell exactly what types of "immigrants" we're dealing with here. There's a good chance these are not those in the process of naturalization, as English is a requirement. Could they be legal workers, or are these centers open to the "undocumented" as well?
About the only thing I've been able to find even approaching an answer are the 2001 minutes here, and they're inconclusive:
A presentation on the New Iowan Centers was recently made to the legislative Appropriations Committee. Two New Iowan pilot projects were established in Muscatine and Sioux City last September with $160,0000 to provide employment-based services to employers and new Iowans. Jane stated a question had been raised on whether IWD is providing free legal services to undocumented /illegal aliens. The answer is that no tax dollars are being used in this manner. IWD is not providing free legal services. Staff are referring individuals who request the service to the appropriate noon-profit organization.However, perhaps we can find a clue to at least the spirit of those involved by looking at Our Leader's efforts in this area.
As for Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, see "Vilsack regrets English only bill". I really don't think I've ever seen a politician pander so cravenly. I mean, this is Abject Pandering:
"I brought my staff into the office and said, 'I'm not going to sign this legislation because I don't think it's right,"' Vilsack said to applause. "They said, 'Governor, you're facing re-election and 80 percent of the public thinks this is a good idea. It's a terrible symbol but we think you should sign it."'As for Arkansas' Huckabee, let's hear what a Mexican consul had to say:
"I said, 'Well maybe I should just simply not run for office,"' Vilsack said.
"I was seriously willing not to run again because I thought it was so bad," Vilsack said in an interview. "It's one of those difficult situations that governors find themselves in - when you've got a split Legislature and they try to create political difficulty for you."
In weighing his options, Vilsack said he called officials with the National Council of La Raza ["National Council of the Race" -- LW], a Hispanic civil rights group which had honored him in 2001 for creating New Iowans Centers as a way of welcoming new immigrants.
"I said, 'This is the choice I have. I'm willing to send the award back and I'm willing not to run for office.' And I was committed to doing it...
"I'm here today to apologize personally and for the people of my state," Vilsack said. "It is a bad law. If I had a Democratic legislature, I would get rid of that law."
"[I came to Arkansas to] continue the negotiations with the state and city authorities for making sure that we are going to inaugurate a Mexican consulate in the coming year in Little Rock... Governor Huckabee was a large part of this... He went to Mexico City and met with President Fox and proposed this... [when you get your MC we] don't care if you are documented or undocumented... I like Arkansas... It is so green. It's so clean, nice, with very warm, open people, and many friends of Mexico."See also:
"Arkansas: discounted college for illegal aliens blocked"
"AR Gov. Mike Huckabee goes on the attack"
"Efforts against illegals broaden" (in Arkansas)
"[AR Gov.] Huckabee plan would give aid to illegal aliens"
Whether the centers are for legal workers or not, American citizens deserve much better than those two.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 05:48 AM | Comments (4)
Dubya's Dep't of Propaganda
The report "USDA plants its own news" is from June 16, but better late than never. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has produced three dozen TV and radio "new reports" supporting CAFTA. The reports feature various Bush administration officials extolling that anti-American plan. At the end of each report the fact that it's a government production is given, but many stations have been omitting that part to make it look they were produced by the stations themselves. While it's certainly a neat dodge to blame the stations, our government really shouldn't be doing things like this.
Is there an Impeach Bush petition that isn't run by Ramsey Clark, ANSWER, democrats.com, DU, etc. etc.? Is Professor Francis Boyle of www.impeach-bush-now.org more or less a non-loony?
Posted to Politics at 07:39 PM | Comments (0)
AVWatch: Why are foreign leaders coming to Villaraigosa's inauguration?
According to the L.A. Times ("Inauguration Is the Place for Politicians to Be Seen") and the L.A. Daily News ("Who's who list set for inauguration") here's a partial guest list for the inauguration of Los Angeles mayor and former MEChA leader Antonio Villaraigosa:
Al Gore former V.P.
Carlos de Icaza Mexican ambassador to the United States
Michael Bloomberg mayor of NYC
Fernando Ferrer candidate for mayor of NYC
Arnold Schwarzenegger CA Gov.
George Deukmejian former CA Gov.
Jerry Brown former CA Gov.
Pete Wilson former CA Gov.
Gray Davis former CA Gov.
Lazaro Cardenas Batel governor of Michoacan (MX)
Francisco Ramirez Acuna governor of Jalisco (MX)
Eugenio Elorduy Walther governor of Baja California (MX)
Carlos Rivas Zamora Mayor of San Salvador, El Salvador
"Several [other] officials from El Salvador also plan to attend... including... members of the national congress..."
Gavin Newsom San Francisco Mayor
Willie Brown former S.F. mayor
S.F. city attorney
S.F. district attorney.
Shirley Franklin mayor of Atlanta
Anthony Williams mayor of Washington, D.C.
Fabian Nunez CA Assembly Speaker
Cruz Bustamante CA Lt. Gov.
Bill Lockyer CA Atty. Gen.
Phil Angelides CA Treasurer
Don Perata CA Senate President Pro Tem
Barbara Boxer (D-Outer Space)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco)
Warren Christopher former Secretary of State
Richard Riordan former Los Angeles Mayor
There might be more.
So, why are foreign leaders attending the inauguration of a Los Angeles (CA, USA) mayor? Perhaps we should look to AV's past as well as more recent news like "AVWatch: Mexico to play important role in Villaraigosa's policies" for guidance in this matter.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)
"CAFTA Should Be Rejected Just Like The EU Constitution"
Phyllis Schlafly:...Just as the French and Dutch were suspicious of the dangers lurking in the 485-page EU constitution, Americans are wary of the dangers hiding in the 92-page CAFTA legislation plus the 31 pages that purport to spell out the administrative actions the U.S. must take in compliance. No wonder CAFTA's supporters are bypassing our Constitution's requirement that treaties can be valid only if passed by two-thirds of our Senators.Unfortunately, now see "Senate panel narrowly endorses CAFTA":
The Senate Republican policy paper argues that CAFTA "will promote democratic governance." But there is nothing democratic about CAFTA's many pages of grants of vague authority to foreign tribunals on which foreign judges could force us to change our domestic laws to be "no more burdensome than necessary" on foreign trade.
We have had enough impertinent interference with our lives and economy from the international tribunals Congress has already locked us into, such as the WTO (World Trade Organization) and NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). Americans don't want decisions from another anti-American tribunal any more than the French and Dutch wanted their lives micro-managed by Belgian bureaucrats...
The Finance Committee, which approved the agreement by a voice vote, sent the bill to the full Senate for approval either this week or after the Independence Day recess. Passage in the Senate, traditionally more sympathetic to trade agreements, could give the measure some momentum in the House, where there is stiffer opposition.Also see "AP: U.S. Blocked Release of CAFTA Reports":
The Labor Department worked for more than a year to maintain secrecy for studies that were critical of working conditions in Central America, the region the Bush administration wants in a new trade pact.
Posted to NAU at 01:15 PM | Comments (3)
Yet another picture of someone with a giant fish
Because no one can get enough of things like this:
Tim Pruitt, of Alton, Ill., holds a 124-pound blue catfish that he hooked on the Mississippi River near Alton. The fish is 58 inches long and 44 inches around. It took Pruitt more than a half-hour to drag the fish into his boat. It is the largest of its kind in state history, and is expected to be certified a world record by the International Game Fish Association.
Previously: "More pictures of people with giant fish".
UPDATE: See also the new site Fishosaur.com for more giant fish pictures.
Posted to WackyHumor at 11:18 AM | Comments (1)
Massive crack opens in ground; Texans stunned, confused
All across the Texas panhandle, Texans have been asking themselves, "what caused a giant crack to open in the ground in Claude?" The tiny hamlet is located east of Amarillo.
The finest scientific minds have so far been unable to answer that question. Amarillo Globe News reports that the crack is hundreds of yards long and up to 50' deep. Was it caused by recent rains? Or, could it be a "joint" in the Earth's surface? Or, is it the result of an earthquake fault? Note that that Claude crack is just miles from the much larger trench Palo Duro Canyon.
Through my telekinesis Sputnik mind control ray, I've determined that both Steve Quayle and Whitley Strieber will soon be considering the possibility that this could be the result of a space alien experiment gone horribly wrong.
Posted to Miscellania at 09:08 AM | Comments (0)
"A glowing illegal alien alert"
Terence P. Jeffrey takes a rather scathing look at the Bush administration's lie about caring about "homeland security":...because the Bush administration has not made a priority of securing our border and enforcing the immigration laws within the United States itself, it has also failed in at least one instance to secure a weapons-of-mass-destruction facility on our own soil...
The location was the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn...
Now count the presumed layers of homeland defense these illegal aliens defeated: First, they defeated the defenses we put at our borders to stop people from entering the country illegally or from entering with the intent to stay beyond the terms of their visa. Second, they defeated the defenses we put within the country itself to discover those who are living and working here illegally. Third, they defeated the defenses put in place by the Energy Department to stop unknown foreign nationals from working inside a nuclear weapons facility.
"Also, we learned that the Office of Counterintelligence was not aware of the presence of foreign construction workers at the Y-12 leased facility until notified by the Office of Inspector General during this inspection," reported Mr. Friedman. "Counterintelligence checks had not been performed for these individuals to that point..."
Posted to Immigration2005b at 06:42 AM | Comments (1)
Take the MIT Blogger Survey!
Because you believe in personally enforced diversity, even if it's not 100% accurate.
Posted to Bloggage at 05:39 AM | Comments (0)
Let's all just use Google News instead
Yahoo has "inked" an agreement with the Huffington Post under which HP content will appear in the Opinion section of Yahoo News. It will also occasionally appear in the Celebrity section.
If you go to news.yahoo.com you can see a link in the upper right corner to HP's new content page. Here's a screenshot of the hugely important content Yahoo considers to be worth your attention:
If that's not enough, read the sickening exchange between Arianna and a Yahoo rep. Have a bucket handy.
While I have problems with google's attempts to control just about everything online, I rarely use Yahoo News, and I'm going to scale that back even further in the future.
Posted to Politics at 09:22 PM | Comments (1)
How many illegal aliens is Bush responsible for?
Part of the answer can be found here. Judicial Watch used the FOIA to request a survey that the Border Patrol did of detained illegal aliens.The key findings from the survey:
1. President Bush's proposal lured greater numbers of illegal immigrants to violate the law. Approximately 45% of respondents crossed illegally based upon rumors of a Bush amnesty program.JW also obtained a memo entitled "White House Approved Talking Points":
2. Approximately 63% of the illegal aliens surveyed received Mexican government or media information supporting the notion of a Bush administration amnesty program.
3. When asked if they would seek amnesty if offered, 80% of apprehended illegal immigrants answered, "yes."
[It] instructs Border Patrol agents to withhold information about the negative impact of the president's proposal. "Do not talk about amnesty, increase in apprehensions, or give comparisons of past immigration reform proposals... Do not provide statistics on apprehension spikes or past amnesty data..."UPDATE: Additional reports in:
KRT/DMN: Administration accused of withholding information on immigration
CNS: Bush Encouraged Illegal Aliens, Congressman Says
AP: Lawmaker wants probe on immigrant survey
Human Events: Survey Analysis Indicates 'Guest Worker' Proposal Lured More Illegal Immigrants
Press-Enterprise: White House accused of hiding data
WaPo: Bush Proposal Prompted Surge in Illegal Immigrants
AZ Republic: Group rips Bush gag on border surveys
Posted to Immigration2005b at 06:25 PM | Comments (2)
Gil Cedillo's SB 60 passes Transportation Committee
Gil Cedillo's latest attempt to get ID into the hands of Mexican citizens who are in California illegally has passed the Transportation Committee. It now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and if it passes there it will be voted on in the Assembly. Passage there would send it to Arnold, who will most likely veto it.Details in the biased Copley News report "Immigrant license bill under Republican fire" from James P. Sweeney. However, for the real story see this first-hand account:
Ric Oberlink referred to SB976, implemented in 1993, and observed that Sen. Alquist and others in the legislature at that time recognized that California had a problem with illegal aliens and we should not be facilitating it with driver licenses. At the end of his testimony, Chairperson [Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach)] interrupted to clarify that Mr. Oberlink was referring to Sen. Al Alquist, and not the current Senator Elaine Alquist. Oropoza explained that she didn’t want the current Senator to take the "blame" for the 1993 law...Someone really needs to ask Cedillo which country he thinks he represents.
Assemblyman Simon Salinas, D-Salinas commented, "Superman was an illegal alien, and we made him a hero."
Dennis Mountjoy R-Monrovia asked Sen. Cedillo directly, "Is it your intent to issue driver’s licenses to those who are in this country illegally?" Cedillo never directly answered the question.
Yes
Oropeza, Chair
Chan
Karnette
Liu
Ridley-Thomas
Salinas
Torrico
No
Huff, VChair
Bogh
Horton
Mountjoy
Niello
Not Voting
Pavely
Posted to Immigration_dls at 01:44 PM | Comments (1)
Repeal the 22nd Amendment?
U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys,CA) is co-sponsoring legislation to repeal the 22nd Amendment so that presidents could serve as many terms as they could win. The sponsor is Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and it's received the support of James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). Report in "Two-term limit under fire".
Note that even if this passes it wouldn't apply to Our Leader, just future members of the Bush family. In any case, this is a horrible idea, and will entrench even more our political elites.
Note that Howard Berman's immigration votes earn him an F grade long-term and an F- recently. Perhaps he should concentrate instead on more important constitutional matters like this: "Under bill, illegals wouldn't count toward political clout".
Posted to Politics at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
Al-Jazeera won't be reporting on our porous southern border
Al-Jazeera had planned to shoot a special feature on our porous southern border. The reports, of course, would be shown in the Middle East and, of course, there's a major problem with illegal aliens from that region entering the U.S. The reports might have given even more people the wrong idea.
On the other hand, they would also have pointed out that our "homeland security president" is anything but that.
However, al-Jazeera has called off their report because Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Project not only refused to be interviewed, he contacted his reps and various others. Details in "Al-Jazeera kills Arizona border reports".
Posted to Immigration2005b at 12:40 PM | Comments (1)
Leland Yee's most important legislation ever
Pictured above are California's Assmblymn Leland Yee and Lonewacko heartthrob Paula Abdul. The former is sponsoring legislation for tougher hygiene standards at nail salons, apparently prompted by a year-long ordeal suffered by the even-more-foxy-than-before Abdul. In closing, super-sexy Paula remarked:
"I was publicly humiliated... That is why with an open heart and a selfless agenda, I implore you to pass this bill."
I only wish I were a California legislator so I could help make her wish come true.
Note that Leland Yee also proposed feng shui'ing the Capitol, so this is actually a step up for him. He was mentioned in "When is an Asian-Pacific Islander not an Asian-Pacific Islander?" but the main post about him is "Feng Shui, non-citizen voting, and invasive plant species?"
Drawing sight lines on the photo above is left as an exercise.
Posted to Celebrities at 11:25 AM | Comments (0)
Charlie Norwood on CATO's latest anti-American proposal
For future reference comes this statement from Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA):A CATO Institute-sponsored report intended to discredit efforts to secure the U.S. border has instead bolstered findings that immediate deployment of troops in support of the Border Patrol is the only means of stopping the current hordes of illegal immigrants invading U.S. territory.
CATO author Douglas Massey's report also contends Americans should abandon traditional national sovereignty as a sacrifice to libertarian principles of "free trade", including trafficking in cheap labor. Massey says the United States should "abandon its illusions" and "accept the reality, the necessity, of North American integration."
Norwood says Massey's study, while confirming the need for an immediate deployment of up to 50,000 troops on the border, should serve as a horrifying wakeup call for all Americans who love their country.
"Dr. Massey has pointed out with jarring candor the real agenda of the 'open borders' movement - the destruction of the United States as an independent nation," says Norwood. "We can fight and win this war right now without a shot being fired through a relatively minor deployment of state and federal forces, or we can let our children either surrender their nation, or be forced to fight a major civil war to defend our Constitution and liberties against globalism..."
Posted to NAU at 07:56 AM | Comments (4)
California Teachers Association to move for higher salaries
BREAKING... Through sources we've learned that the California Teachers Association is considering a very major move... The union is considering moving its headquarters - and recommending the relocation of tens of thousands of its members - to another country: Cuba!What initiated this shocking plan is the report "Cuba Raises Salaries of Teachers, Doctors":
Cuba increased the salaries of its teachers, doctors and nurses, highlighting the importance the nation's communist government puts on its health and education sectors.But, as the article goes on to state, everything is paid for, so the $12 a month average income goes a long, long way!
Workers in these fields will receive an average of 40 to 50 additional Cuban pesos a month, or the equivalent of about US$2 (euro1.7). The increase was to take affect July 1.
"It's very modest, and can be improved upon," President Fidel Castro said in a live televised address to announce the news Thursday...
Link via the DUmmies, the first two of whom chime in with, "Cuba becoming more humane and civilized toward its workers while the US does the opposite..." and "The day is soon approaching when Americans get on rafts to flee to Cuba seeking freedom and democracy."
Posted to WackyHumor at 06:45 AM | Comments (1)
Texas, Iowa, Indiana speed limits: now 10 to 20 MPH more than most can drive
According to this, Texas, Iowa, Indiana will be shortly raising their speed limits on some stretches of roadway:
Iowa: 70MPH
Indiana: 70MPH
Texas: 80MPH
In other news, most people can't safely drive more than 60MPH, if that. And, 80MPH translates into people doing 90MPH and some even pushing for the century mark. At that speed it's no longer roadkill, it's hamburger. And:
This new [Iowa] limit better reflects the actual speed of cars on rural highways which averages 69.8 MPH according to sensors embedded into the pavement.
My guess is they'll be saying that same thing when the sensors read 79.9 MPH.
In other, oddly enoughly related news, see "City may end speed limits in high crime areas". Yes, that picture is from the lovely city of Rio de Janeiro, which is dropping their speed limits in some parts of their fine city at night. The reason? So people can get the fsck out of the slums and avoid getting 'jacked.
Posted to WackyHumor at 05:28 AM | Comments (0)
Suffolk County's Steve Levy has a spine
Newsday's Bart Jones offers us an immigration story that isn't a PIIPP. It reports on yet another "marcha" for "immigrant's rights." In this case they were protesting the decision of Suffolk County's Steve Levy to finally evict residents from a clown house; see "Help Bart Jones of Long Island Newsday find the border!" for the backstory.Jones' latest is "A protest over evictions":
Waving signs and banging sticks on plastic buckets like drums, about 200 people, mainly undocumented Mexican immigrants, marched through Farmingville yesterday demanding the right not to be evicted without notice and thrown into the street.Well, Bart, obviously they don't. I mean, that really shouldn't be an issue, now should it? Most other politicians would be intimidated by a little march, but thankfully someone has a spine:
Some residents, however, questioned whether the immigrants have any rights without documentation to enter this country...
...Levy shot back yesterday, saying his campaign is supported by wide swaths of people fed up with overcrowded houses in Farmingville. "The 99 percent of the county that supports the closing of this hellhole need not worry," he said. "I will not back down to this 1 percent lunatic fringe. They evidently don't like me much because I am one of the few officials who are not intimidated by their politically correct histrionics."
Posted to Immigration2005b at 08:42 PM | Comments (1)
"America is ours... This used to be Mexico"
The Vail Daily newspaper offers up "Migrant brings his family to Colorado". It's truly a charming tale of someone who's been working illegally in the U.S. for 13 years, doing the field work that Americans won't do. Now, he's brought his whole family here: wife and four kids. They entered on tourist visas, but they're staying and three of the kids will be going to school. He's going to have to find an additional job to pay for their clothing and books. (He won't, of course, have to find ten or so additional jobs to pay for their schooling.) His illegal status has never been an impediment: he's always found enough documentation to get jobs.Oh, and it contains this absolutely wonderful bit:
[The illegal alien] said it doesn't bother him when people call for him and other illegal immigrants to return to Mexico.Just another one of George Bush's "kind-hearted people".
"It doesn't bother me because America is ours," said Dominguez in Spanish. "This used to be Mexico ... I don't feel bad at all."
Meanwhile, American citizens have little recourse against those - dare we call them - traitors who are hellbent on stocking this country with Mexican citizens who hold such views. In case you think the "migrant's" views are unique, see this: 58% of Mexicans AGREED with this question: "the territory of the United States' Southwest rightfully belongs to Mexico."
No doubt the corrupt apologists will now say that the "migrant's" children will not think the same as he does and they'll assimilate just fine. But, there's a good chance that will be wrong. Why needlessly take the risk? From a non-corrupt, American perspective, isn't it better to import people who don't think of our country as their homeland, or, even better, simply use machines whenever possible to do such jobs?
Posted to Immigration2005b at 08:13 PM | Comments (3)
Dude! Mad props to Rno Paul!
Dude! This Ron Paul guy from congress wants to make hemp farming legal! Send out a 420 to all your buds and buddettes, dude! It's called the H.R. 3037, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005, and it would like make hemp farming like legal. Think of all the products that can be made, like natural clothing, and baskets, and stuff. Details in "Industrial Hemp Farming Act Introduced at Packed Capitol Hill Hemp Food Lunch; HR 3037 Would Give States the Right to Regulate Farming of Versatile Hemp Plant". Harshing my buzz, Common Dreams says "You can smoke a bushel of industrial hemp and not get high." Dude!
Posted to WarOnDrugs at 12:24 PM | Comments (1)
China, Unocal, and "protectionists"
The elites appear to be referring to those opposed to China's proposed hostile takeover of Unocal using the smear word "protectionists."
As an example, the WaPo column from Sebastian Mallady entitled "China's Latest 'Threat'" uses that word no less than 8 times in just 12 paragraphs:
...The Unocal bid brings China one step closer to stirring up the sort of full-blown protectionist fury that confronted Japan two decades ago. Critics were already anxious about China's global strength in low-end manufacturing, its allegedly manipulative currency policy and its piracy of U.S. intellectual property. Now they can also worry about China's acquisition of U.S. companies...
There's much more to be concerned about concerning China, as will be covered below. And, there are big differences between that country and Japan.
...The Japanese paid inflated prices for Hollywood studios and landmark New York buildings. The exiting American owners made off with a nice profit. The Japanese got burned...
So what? Is there any indication that China is bidding an inflated price? Even it's a little high, wouldn't the acquisition serve China's other goals?
You can see why this is not the dominant view in Congress. China is, after all, a communist dictatorship, and we shouldn't assume its intentions are friendly.
This is the only reference to the larger, not-completely-financial issue.
The same blindered viewpoint is presented in the LAT article "Greenspan Opposes Sanctions on China":
As the proposed Chinese purchase of Unocal Corp. fanned protectionist passions in Congress, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned senators Thursday not to let their frustrations with China's economic policies breed reactions that would do the U.S. economy more harm than good... Schumer said his bill was not protectionist...
For those who are intelligent enough to see that the market is not the be all and end all, now see "Chinese dragon awakens":
China is building its military forces faster than U.S. intelligence and military analysts expected, prompting fears that Beijing will attack Taiwan in the next two years, according to Pentagon officials.U.S. defense and intelligence officials say all the signs point in one troubling direction: Beijing then will be forced to go to war with the United States, which has vowed to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack...
Unfortunately, the China hawks appear to be Rumsfeld and other Neocons. But, at least it's good to know that there are some adults around.
See also the 2000 article "Is China in Control of the Panama Canal?" and search for "Hutchison Whampoa".
Posted to Politics at 09:24 PM | Comments (2)
"Immigration reform featured at hearing"
A blurb in the Seattle Press-Intelligencer informs us:A community forum on immigration reform will be held today from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall Seattle... U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels are expected to attend. There will be a short time for the public to comment following the morning hearing... The event is sponsored by more than 30 organizations and is free to the public.Sounds good! I'm all for immigration reform. However, based on other forums and on other factors, I got the feeling that something else was involved, and as it turns out I was right.
This page tells us:
Immigrants from across the state will testify before US Senator Patty Murray in the first hearing on immigration held in Washington State. The hearing features testimonies from individuals from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Beginning at noon, groups from across the state will participate in a series of workshops with those working to reform the immigration system. The closing plenary features a panel of interfaith leaders, as well as comments from US Congressman Jim McDermott. Sponsored by Hate Free Zone Washington, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO.So, in other words, it's going to be about immigration "reform."
The hatefree press release is here:
[...code words for amnesty and massive chain immigration deleted...]Oh my, the euphemisms are running strong in that last sentence. You can see a list of their partners here. They tend to use the phrase "undocumented" a lot.
In addition to Hate Free Zone Washington, NW Immigrant Rights Project and King County Labor Council, the hearing and workshops are sponsored by a diverse group of over 30 immigrant rights, peace and justice, labor and community organizations.
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is mentioned here, and there's even a Beltway Sniper connection.
At the very likely risk of being called a hater, I'm going to call this forum a far-left attempt to confuse "reform" with "open the floodgates."
Posted to Immigration2005b at 11:50 AM | Comments (3)
I'm missing the Watermelon Thump?
Apparently my calendar program malfunctioned, because I just found out I'm missing this year's Luling Watermelon Thump. Luling, of course, is about 45 miles south of Austin, and 40,000 visitors come to the town with a population of just 5,000 in order to thump watermelons, eat same, spit same's seeds, meet carnies, and so forth.
Local resident Lee Wheelis holds the watermelon seed spitting record: over 1/5 the length of a football field. There's even a Howie Mandell connection.
No, really, I knew this thing existed, I did not find out about it when I ran across this site. And, yes, I'm literally itching to make a joke, but I'm trying to take the high road. Plus, I get another chance to use the word "carnies." (also used here and here).
Posted to WackyHumor at 07:37 AM | Comments (1)
Catholic workers for open borders
El Paso Times:The time for immigration reform has come, U.S. and Mexican Catholic workers assembled in El Paso said as the groundbreaking Binational Migration Conference opened Thursday...We already welcome almost a million strangers a year via legal immigration. I'm sure there's something in the Bible about defense against invasion. And, I'm sure there's something in there about personal responsibility and the requirements of governments to look after their own people rather than trying to take advantage of other countries.
"The simple truth is clear: We must welcome the stranger, for in his or her face we see Christ," [Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C.] said. "Sadly, the migration experience today, according to the bishops of both countries, is far from the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed."
If you have counter-arguments from the Bible, please leave them in the comments.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 11:03 AM | Comments (5)
Bush, Kissinger urge Congress to pass CAFTA
Thankfully a Reuters cameraman was on hand to prove that a CAFTA picture is worth a million words:
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) greets former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger following his remarks about the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in the Old Executive Building in Washington June 23, 2005. Supported by senior members of former administrations including Kissinger, Bush asked that congress ratify the CAFTA trade pact, which has languished in Congress since the president signed it in May 2004, to stimulate the growth of commerce between the U.S. and five nations in Central America along with the Dominican Republic. Photo by Jason Reed/Reuters
Full story in "Bush urges Congress to work together to pass CAFTA". See "What's good for CAT would be terrible for the U.S." for more, and see this site for much more.
Posted to Politics at 10:19 AM | Comments (1)
About that PBS "poll"
You might have heard about the recent poll that showed that just 35% of Republicans think PBS has a liberal bias.
A quick scan of the PDF of the poll reveals something a bit... interesting. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it look like:
* at least one of the questions has a very large "unsure" percentage, and
* they polled "consumers" of PBS and NPR. A "consumer" is someone who watches PBS at least once or twice a month.
In other words, they asked people who don't really know all that much about PBS what they think of PBS. While some of those taking part might watch more PBS than others, a good portion of their sample just aren't familiar enough with the subject to make a determination.
The better way would be to find regular viewers, or to show people several hours of programming.
Based on a fair amount of personal experience, the idea that people involved in public television or non-profits in general are not completely liberal is ludicrous. Yet, we're somehow to believe that people to whom virtually any conservative thought is anathema are able to produce programming that doesn't reflect their biases?
Hopefully someone else will look at this survey in more depth and help further discredit those who are pushing it (like MMFA).
Posted to Politics at 08:02 AM | Comments (1)
That isn't the "peace" movement I know
Harold Meyerson discusses the "peace" movement in the WaPo's "No One to Demonize". I'm only going to discuss this bit:
...Confronted with a choice between U.S. occupation and chaos, millions of Americans -- chiefly liberals and Democrats -- who'd been against the war decided to give occupation a chance...
Actually, they thought we were going to be spectacularly successful, and they decided to back away slowly. Of course, the Communists far-lefties continued their protests no matter what.
Posted to ThePeaceMovement at 05:56 AM | Comments (0)
Anyone want to help with a wacky prank?
Anyone in Los Angeles want to help me with a wacky prank? I want to do something like make all the lights at an intersection flash red. I also want to turn traffic signals around so they face the wrong way and mix up the audible signals for blind people. I have access to a cherry-picker truck, so we can turn signals around.
What's that you say? This is most likely highly illegal, and these aren't pranks or the actions of a trickster, these are highly dangerous sociopathic ideas?
Well, apparently not to the AP, since they described someone who's doing these things in Sunnyvale as a "prankster" and a "trickster" rather than more appropriate language. Details in "Calif. Prankster Changing Traffic Lights".
(Via this)
Posted to WackyHumor at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
New York City blacks have a friend in Mayor Mike Bloomberg
Last year the NYT published "Nearly Half Of Black Men Found Jobless" (pay-only link here, possibly reprinted here). From the abstract:Community Service Society reports that only 51.8 percent of black men ages 16 to 64 held jobs in New York City in 2003; bases figure on Bureau of Labor Statistics data and focuses on employment-population ratio... [ratio for whites: 75.7%, Hispanics: 65.7%, black women: 57.1%...] researchers say racial gap may have worsened since 2000 because of welfare reform, gaps in job histories due to incarceration and competition with immigrants for low-skill jobs...Now, over to Mayor Mike's recent comments in "NYC mayor: Make immigrants legal":
Forget about temporary status for undocumented immigrants, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said - let them stay here permanently and legally...I don't know whether he's corrupt, pandering, or just an idiot, but based on his other actions I tend to favor the latter.
"Give them some kind of permanent green card," he said at a meeting organized by the Carib News, a Manhattan weekly newspaper serving the Caribbean-American community.
In an article in the paper's June 21 edition, Bloomberg is quoted as telling the gathering of community leaders he wouldn't go as far as granting citizenship, but he called for illegal immigrants to be granted immunity from deportation.
"We have a half a million people [undocumented immigrants] in the city and 12 million in the country. We are not going to deport them; they are being exploited," he was quoted as saying. "Let's get serious and let's do something about it."
..."Give people documentation that says you don't have to worry about being deported," the mayor added in the article. "It seems to me to be the only intelligent thing to do, given our current situation."
Posted to Immigration2005b at 10:37 AM | Comments (4)
"Change U.S. law on anchor babies"
Al Knight of the Denver Post's editorial staff says:A measure pending in Congress would change the Constitution to deny citizenship rights to babies born to illegal immigrants. The proposed amendment is currently given little or no chance of passage but it certainly helps to focus attention on the nature of the problem...
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States."
At the time the amendment was approved, the author of the clause, Sen. Jacob M. Howard, said the phrase relating to jurisdiction meant, "This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners...."
In subsequent years, the courts invalidated the assurances of Howard; at this stage, an amendment to the Constitution seems the only means available to change the law...
[...Ireland changed their law, and we can too...]
Posted to Immigration2005b at 08:45 AM | Comments (5)
Our "homeland security president" strikes out again
From the NYT's "U.S. Borders Vulnerable, Witnesses Say":The federal government's efforts to prevent terrorists from smuggling a nuclear weapon into the United States are so poorly managed and reliant on ineffective equipment that the nation remains extremely vulnerable to a catastrophic attack, scientists and a government auditor warned a House committee on Tuesday...Just remember: only George W. Bush can keep America safe.
Dirty bombs, crude devices that widely spread low levels of radiation, are relatively easy to detect. But highly enriched uranium, a crucial ingredient in a nuclear bomb, could easily be shielded with less than a quarter-inch of lead, making it "very likely to escape detection by passive radiation monitors" now installed at ports and border stations, Benn Tannenbaum, a physicist and senior program associate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, testified at Tuesday's hearing...
Nationally, less than a quarter of the radiation detection devices needed to check all goods crossing the borders have been installed, federal officials said. In New York, for example, none of the cargo that moves through the largest ship terminal or goods leaving the port by rail or barge are inspected for radiation, Bethann Rooney, manager of security for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, testified...
Members of Congress have also recently questioned a proposal by the Bush administration to spend $227 million in the coming year to create a Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, skeptical that it will do more than add a new layer of bureaucracy.
"I am not too hopeful about this situation," Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., Democrat of New Jersey, said.
Posted to Terrorism at 06:43 AM | Comments (0)
Tamar Jacoby on immigration "reform"
Tamar Jacoby is back with another column entitled "Getting Beyond the 'A-Word'".
It was printed in the Open Borders rag known as the Wall Street Journal. She support immigration "reform" and the Kennedy-McCain amnesty. And, in other news, the sky is blue.
There's really no point in discussing her articles, as she's usually wrong when she's not making misleading statements, building strawman arguments, and the like.
But, just for giggles, I selected one small snippet:
...National security, too, demands that we come to terms with the existence of these 11 million workers. As is, they live entirely beyond the reach of authorities...
They do? What do they do, spend their days living in caves in the hills? No, actually what they do is live in our cities, consume public services, and work jobs at "respectable" businesses.
If there are no more non-emergency public services for them, and the Bush administration cracks down on the employers of illegal aliens, then a very large number of them will simply self-deport. So, they are in fact in the reach of our laws.
The problem, as usual, is that our laws aren't being enforced. See "Bush to illegal aliens: once you're in the U.S., you're home free" for how few companies have been targeted for employing illegal aliens, and see the cases of Arizona's Prop. 200 and California's Prop. 187 for examples of the American public trying to restrict services to illegals and our elites blocking the public's wishes. Note that Jacoby was opposed to Prop. 200: "Next time just stay inside the beltway".
Previous coverage starts in "Tamar Jacoby on the Kennedy-McCain mass amnesty", and make sure and listen to her interview on the John & Ken Show: "Tamar Jacoby gets her arguments shredded into tiny bits of straw".
Posted to Immigration2005b at 05:54 AM | Comments (1)
Could the blogging bubble burst already?
Please, please burst, little bubble, burst! From "AO/Technorati Open Media 100":AlwaysOn and Technorati are pleased to present the first annual "Open Media 100," the power list of bloggers, social networkers, tool smiths, and investors leading the Open Media Revolution...It's like they left their multimedia costumes in the closet, and now have found a new trend to latch their worthless selfs on.
The purpose of this list is to provide an initial, helpful framework of this emerging industry and highlight its key players who are influencing the adoption of open media and proving the impact it is already having on the technology industry, journalism, and marketing. To achieve this goal, we created the following categories: Pioneers, Trendsetters, Practitioners, Toolsmiths, and Enablers...
...This list will evolve and change just as quickly as the Open Media Revolution continues to take hold...
Most of their politically-oriented choices are people who have worthless or childish or childlike opinions. Hatrios indeed, although he's just one of their several duds.
I left the following comment:
I'm a reporter for a major newspaper, and I'm writing an article on the New Media. I'm a little confused and hope someone can help me out.
How will I be able to tell whether someone is (frankly) moving up on the list or moving down? Are any of those on the list showing their age, so to speak?
I'm glad I was already familiar with some of the names on the list, but some I wasn't and they're quite interesting. Thanks for the helpful list.
P.S. Can I just re-write the columns I wrote during the MultiMedia Revolution, re-purposing my old content for the new revolution? Or, are there major differences between multimedia and blogging?
Posted to Bloggage at 07:59 PM | Comments (2)
"Texas has been conquered by Hispanics"
The titular quote is from Rev. Julio Barquero, the Arkansas state chaplain of LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens). The quote is taken from the article "Border state", and here it is in context:"Little Rock is the border between Mexico and the U.S.," said the Rev. Julio Barquero, who operates the Centro Cristiano Fellowship in Sherwood, and is the LULAC state chaplain. "Not Texas anymore — Arkansas. Texas has been conquered by Hispanics."Yes, it's quite unfortunate that he told us what he (and LULAC) think. As for Texans (who still live in the U.S. last time I checked), it's definitely a quote as many as possible should hear. If you know any Texans, please send them the article, post it to Texas blogs, send it to Texas illegal immigration apologists, etc. etc.
Barquero explained that Latinos in Texas have networks and institutions to help them navigate in society, whereas the Latino population in Arkansas is struggling because it is so new.
But his unfortunate choice of words, which might seem to confirm fears about illegal immigration, at least demonstrates the work that needs to be done to build effective Latino advocacy here...
The article also mentions that our friends in Mexico are opening a consulate in Little Rock. And, it includes this:
Ana Lorena Hart became one of the primary lobbyists on Latino issues at the legislature this year almost by default. The multicultural community relations manager at the Tyson Foods headquarters in Springdale (she emphasizes that her political activity is separate from her professional work), Hart was pushed into service in the absence of any organization prepared to undertake Latino political action...Hart advocates for driver's licenses for illegal aliens and all those other Latino causes.
Further:
Barquero, who runs the Sherwood church, started a program that issues identification cards to undocumented Latinos in conjunction with the Sherwood Police Department.It goes on, including a quote that claims Latinos only have limited access to public services. Then, a few paragraphs later, all the public services they can get and all the ones that activists want are enumerated.
"With the IDs issued at the church, miracles have happened," Barquero said. He says the cards enable Latinos to purchase cars, obtain insurance, and even eventually qualify for state drivers licenses. Church officials will issue a card to anyone who can produce a birth certificate or other form of identification from his or her native country, and Barquero says they have distributed 4,500 IDs, all of which bear the seal of the Sherwood Police Department...
Note that Sherwood, Arkansas was mentioned in "Their money or your safety". That includes a story describing a visit by the Mexican consul to that city to hand out Matricula Consular cards (IDs for illegals).
California has a "private attorneys general" statute that can be used by lawyers to sue over public policy issues. I wonder if there's something similar that would allow the American public to start charging people who are assisting this invasion with treason.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 06:03 PM | Comments (1)
Bush to illegal aliens: once you're in the U.S., you're home free
A Government Accountability Office staffer told a House panel yesterday that workplace enforcement of immigration violations had fallen sharply under the Bush administration.
For an example, here are the numbers of employers who received formal letters warning about fines for possible violations of immigration laws:
Clinton in 1999: 417 employers
Bush in 2003: 3 employers
They claim this is because they've been focusing on possible terrorism, such as by concentrating on the border and on illegal aliens working at sensitive sites like Navy shipyards.
However, no doubt a major reason for the drop-off is because of "other factors."
See "Employer sanctions decline" for the details (also here as "Auditors find drop in immigration enforcement at worksites"). Separate report in "Critics cite lax efforts to enforce federal worksite immigration laws".
One of the stock lies from the Open Borders crew is "America's immigration system is broken, and needs to be fixed". This current report is further proof that that's a highly misleading statement: you can't say a system is broken if they system isn't being implemented as designed.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 10:51 AM | Comments (3)
Help Bart Jones of Long Island Newsday find the border!
Bart Jones is Newsday's immigration reporter, but he has a problem and he needs your help. Bart has trouble locating the United States border. If only Jones could find the border, he wouldn't have named his latest Strutherseque work "Dozens of men now left with nowhere to go":The man from Mexico City said he came to Farmingville looking for work so he could give his wife and two children a better life back home.Now, if you didn't know any better you might think some great injustice had been delivered upon these "immigrants", none of whom are identified as being all or mostly illegal aliens anywhere in Jones' tale. In fact, he doesn't even use "undocumented" or even more complicated euphemisms.
Yesterday, he found himself homeless in the land that was supposed to fuel his dream. He was among dozens of Mexican day laborers evicted from 33 Woodmont Place in a crackdown on overcrowded housing by authorities...
Thankfully, those who want a little truth to go with their pap might consider another Newsday report entitled "Farmingville flophouse landlord arrested":
Suffolk police yesterday arrested the owner of a rundown 900-square-foot house in Farmingville that has been home to as many as 64 Hispanic immigrants at a time, each paying $200 to $250 a month in rent...It further describes the long legal process that lead up to the eviction, and it discusses the wacky activities of the Coalition of Landlords, Homeowners and Merchants that supports the landlord.
"They used every square inch of space to squeeze in more clients," said Suffolk Deputy Inspector Douglas Rilling. "It's a house that was built for a family with a couple of kids."
...The house on Woodmont Place first came to the attention of authorities on April 2, 2003, when soot buildup in a chimney sparked a fire. Firefighters found 45 mattresses, according to records...
The NYT report "L.I. Home Held Up to 64 Men, Authorities Say" has more, and if you haven't had enough Jones, see the related report "They 'ran us out of there'", which in a slight nod to the truth briefly mentions "an influx of undocumented Mexican immigrants".
Previous pap from Jones in "More pro-illegal immigration puff pieces noted".
But, most importantly, please contact li *at* newsday.com and suggest they buy Bart Jones a map or something. But, you have to wonder why Newsday would print pieces like this that attempt to apologize for illegal immigration. Why would that be?
Posted to Immigration_piipps at 08:05 PM | Comments (1)
Should Escondido finance giving Matricula Consular cards to illegal aliens?
Two officials of that California city are asking whether Escondido should spend money on an event to which the local Mexican consulate was invited. The consulate drew a crowd: hundreds of people lined up, many to get "IDs for illegals", aka Matricula Consular cards.
Details in "Two Escondido officials angry about Mexican consulate's presence at fair". So far no one has fessed up to inviting our "friends" from south of the border, and note that other city officials wanted to turn a blind eye to this issue.
See also "Conferring Legitimacy, This Card Draws a Crowd" (our friends pay a visit to south Orange County), "Mexican president vows to fight for continued U.S. acceptance of matricula identity cards", and "Consular IDs help illegals evade immigration law". In somewhat related news, see "Who exactly does Gloria Molina work for?"
UPDATE: Our friends have responded. "Mexican diplomat: Escondido officials' comments 'irresponsible'" includes the following hilarious quote from Luis Cabrera, Mexico's consul-general for San Diego:
"Issuing these documents has nothing to do with immigration."
That's a bald-faced lie: these cards have everything to do with immigration, specifically with providing ID cards for illegal aliens. See the links above, especially this.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 03:55 PM | Comments (0)
Ecuador busts Hezbollah funder
From "Ecuador Police Bust Alleged Cocaine Ring Suspected of Financing Hezbollah":QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Police broke up an international cocaine ring led by a Lebanese restaurant owner suspected of raising money for the Islamic militant group Hezbollah, which the U.S. government classifies as a terrorist organization.
Ecuadorean authorities declined to elaborate Tuesday on the group's alleged links to terrorist activities "until further investigation."
But an internal police report obtained by The Associated Press said preliminary evidence "confirms the relationship between this organization and the terrorist movement Hezbollah." The document said the gang sent "up to 70 percent of its profits to the Islamic group..."
Posted to Terrorism at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)
Is Mexico overstating their income from remittances?
Rodolfo Tuiran, who's with Mexico's Social Development Secretariat, says that that country might be overstating how much it receives from its citizens abroad (98% of whom are in the U.S.) The previous figure was $16.6 billion, but he thinks the accurate figure is more like $9.65 billion. See "Debate grows on whether Mexico overestimates money sent home by migrants" for the details.
Whether what he says can be trusted remains open. They could be trying to downplay the amount to avoid it being a PR issue or to avoid it being taxed by the U.S.
Previously:
A massive tax break for remittance companies?
U.S. Amb. Tony Garza: "Reliance on remittances from the U.S. is not a viable economic policy."
Perhaps you should choose MasterCard (or just cash) instead
"Mexican remittances head for new record"
Posted to Immigration2005b at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
Not everyone happy with Minuteman Project in Texas
It seems that lots of people are happy about the Minuteman Project coming to Texas, except for a few grumpy Gusses. From "Warm Welcome in Texas for Minutemen":(GOLIAD, TEXAS) -- There was no shortage of volunteers last night as the controversial Minuteman civilian border patrol organization gathered in this historic south Texas town to organize anti illegal immigrant activities in Texas...Gosh, what an allegation. Think there's any slight chance Lopez could ever come up with proof? Think there's any slight chance the reporter could have asked him for proof? I don't know if this is the same person, but this page describes him as a leader of the Southwest Workers Union, which participated in a march calling for open borders.
The location of the meeting in Goliad was significant. The city was the home of many of the volunteers who died fighting the Mexican army at the Alamo in 1836. The unit which delivered a cannon the Alamo along with a flag that carried the defiant message 'come and take it.'
..."We have met with our senators, we have sent letters to President Bush, we have gone all the way to Washington, and still no response," Parmley told 1200 WOAI's Charity McCurdy. "All we're doing is what President bush asked us to do after 9-11, to be observant citizens and look for suspicious activity and call it in. That's all we're doing."
But several civil rights leaders at the rally said the Minutemen go a lot further than that. Che Lopez compared the volunteers at last night's rally to the Ku Klux Klan.
"Just basically racially profiling people. Pulling them out of their cars. Intimidating them."...
...But not all Texans are excited about the presence of the Minutemen in Texas, and one of them is Senator John Cornyn...Cornyn is involved in the pro-"North America" testimony described here, and previous coverage of him starts in Rep. John Cornyn: "It is very clear to us that there are no Mexican terrorists".
Another group of people who oppose the MMP are described in "Thinking not so welcome among Texas Democrats".
I'm beginning to see a pattern here: almost all of the people who oppose the MMP are just on the wrong side.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 10:20 AM | Comments (2)
Is the Old Mount Wilson Trail possessed?
Almost a year ago I described an outing up the Old Mount Wilson Trail above Sierra Madre during which I twisted my ankle.
On Saturday I hiked the same trail and on the way back I started a slow jog and I twisted my ankle yet again, just about 1/4 of a mile further away from civilization than the last time. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as the last time, and I might be able to take a hike tomorrow or Wednesday.
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Why would this happen twice in almost the same spot? There are other trails I take much more often and I occasionally do a slow or even a fast jog on them without a problem. Is this trail... possessed by anti-Lonewacko daemons?
Alternatively, it could be because:
* both these instances have occurred in gently sloped sections, so I don't concentrate as much as I do on steeper sections, and/or
* this section of the trail is shaded, making it somewhat more difficult to notice rocks and such, and/or
* I simply space out
Next time I go hiking there I'll be sure and pay more attention in the "easy" sections. Note, however, that there are steeper and rockier sections during which I make sure I don't space out. Fast jogging through those sections is quite entertaining.
Posted to OutdoorSports at 08:17 PM | Comments (0)
FAIR to completely discredit Kennedy-McCain
In a move he will probably long regret, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) challenged FAIR to a debate on immigration. FAIR immediately accepted. No date has been scheduled, but at least one debate will occur this summer.
McCain also said that immigration is the most important issue facing America today.
Somehow I don't expect this to go very well for the Kennedy-McCain camp. In fact, if it receives any attention it might scuttle that and similar legislation. The key is to make sure that it receives attention and isn't just shown on C-SPAN at 3am.
Details here and in "FAIR Accepts Senator McCain's Offer to Debate Comprehensive Immigration Reform".
Posted to Immigration2005b at 06:19 PM | Comments (2)
What's good for CAT would be terrible for the U.S.
Reuters alerts us that CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) might be voted on before July 4th. And, if it passes our exports could grow by $1 billion a year, and:Jim Owens, chief executive of construction and mining equipment maker Caterpillar Inc., is one of the industry leaders urging lawmakers to approve CAFTA.Well, it's good to know that CAT would do well. However, CAFTA could be a precursor to the FTAA, and both would result in a loss of sovereignty and massive immigration. Next to those concerns, CAT's concerns mean nothing. There's more information on CAFTA here and on the FTAA here.
"For Caterpillar, the benefits of free trade are very real," he wrote in a May letter to House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois...
Please contact your representatives and urge them to vote no on CAFTA and similar plans.
Posted to Politics at 01:46 PM | Comments (2)
Quislings in Minnesota
Yes, I realize the title is a bit... strong. However, sometimes it's good to call things by their real names.
The report "Mexican Consulate Opening in Minnesota" informs us that the new consulate:
will issue passports and an identification card called a "matricula consular," which can be used to open bank accounts, cash paychecks and obtain marriage licenses...The opening follows a long courtship, lead by luminaries such as:
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly and his predecessor, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, had worked to entice Mexican diplomats to locate in the state's capital city, despite efforts by Minneapolis claiming a large and fast-growing Latino population.Yes, and our "leaders" either believe him or want the rest of us to believe him.
In announcing the opening of the consulate, Kelly acknowledged potentially high-profile controversies over Mexican nationals but said the city would not become actively involved in enforcing federal immigration policy.
Mexican Consul General Carlos Sada said at November's press conference that consulates do not promote illegal immigration or pose national security threats.
For a sickening editorial on the new outpost, check out "Mexican Consulate enhances community" from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. I think we know which side they're on.
Coverage of this troubled state starts in "Would Al Franken be any worse than Norm Coleman?"
Posted to Immigration_consul at 11:29 AM | Comments (1)
I like Raisin Bran too!
Actually, I combine 99 cents store bran flakes with raisins from the same place, thus saving money over both the Raisin Bran brand and the supermarket generic equivalent.Other than that, there are only minor differences between me and Saddam Hussein:
[SH's American guards found Hussein] to be a friendly, talkative "clean freak" who loved Raisin Bran for breakfast, did his own laundry and insisted he was still president of Iraq, says a report published on Monday.Other than the mass murder, torture, chemical weapons,
The article quotes the GIs on Saddam's eating preferences - Raisin Bran Crunch was his breakfast favorite. "No Froot Loops," he told O'Shea. He ate fish and chicken but refused beef at dinner.
For a time his favorite food was Cheetos, and when those ran out, Saddam would "get grumpy," the story says. One day the guards substituted Doritos corn chips, and Saddam forgot about Cheetos. "He'd eat a family size bag of Doritos in 10 minutes," Dawson says.
Saddam believes he will be restored to power.
(More here)
UPDATE: In an exclusive interview with Saddam's guards, FHM will reveal Saddam's most unrequited desire: to eat a corn chip straight off the line.
Posted to Iraq at 11:09 AM | Comments (1)
Combover Boy wins on appeal
From our WTF file comes, "Tom Leykis Prevails on Appeal in Dismissal of Age Discrimination Lawsuit Brought by Caller". Someone called in to Combover Boy; on the air, CB described the caller as someone who is "not just older than my demographic" but is "the grandfather of my demographic." CB went on about how his demo is much younger, and the caller wasn't welcome to call in, etc. etc. Said caller sued, claiming that the radio station was a public accomodation and he had been discriminated against.
Apparently "Tom Leykis" is Combover Boy's real name, so you learn something new every day.
Previously: "More bad news for Phil Hendrie?"
Posted to Celebrities at 09:12 PM | Comments (1)
So, where are the original Downing Street Memos?
Apparently the BushBot blogosphere is trying to relive old glories and desperately trying to draw a parallel between the DSMs and Rathergate. It seems that the typewritten DSMs are in fact facsimiles: the reporter photocopied the original memos he was given, returned to the originals to the government source, and then a "legal desk secretary typed the text up on an old fashioned typewriter". This was apparently done to protect the original source, but as to the re-typing on the old typewriter, that's a bit more suspicious.
In any case, another BushBot makes a bit more sense. No one has denied the accuracy of the memos, and in addition there's also the matter of the legal desk secretary. Would they testify to the accuracy of what they typed?
And, there's also the matter of the original memos, which as we know were returned to their government source. If the minutes of the meetings are different, surely someone should have leaked them to the press by now, no?
Note also the (deliberate?) attempts to confuse matters here: the "originals" which were destroyed are not the originals, they're the photocopies. Expect the Emily Latella-ish Bush supporters to use "originals" when they're actually referring to copies.
Posted to Politics at 04:24 PM | Comments (4)
"For Illegal Immigrants, a Harsh Lesson" made me cry
Dear public *at* nytimes.com:Your June 19, 2005 tale "For Illegal Immigrants, a Harsh Lesson" made me cry. As soon as I read the first paragraph, I could feel my sympathy begin welling:
Esteban Navarro's disappearance broke a lot of hearts at Trenton Central High School, where the dropout rate among Hispanic students is triple the state average...I knew what was coming next, because I've seen so many very similar stories. In fact, there have been so many stories printed almost exactly like this one in tone, content, and structure that I've almost been programmed to give illegal alien advocates everything they want, and more. First they describe just how wonderful an affected child is and his or her plight. Then, like a bright, golden ray, comes hope:
...One solution is embodied in the In-State Tuition Act, first introduced in the New Jersey Legislature in 2003, which would allow illegal immigrants like Mr. Navarro to attend public colleges at in-state tuition rates...Why, it's almost like a sales pitch in its wonderful use of the language! It's unfortunate that you printed hateful thoughts however:
..."If someone from Philadelphia wants to go to school in New Jersey, and an illegal is getting in-state tuition, that angers students a great deal," said Jean Oswald, executive director of New Jersey Commission on Higher Education...Boo! Grown-up talk about policy is such a downer! I want to hear wonderful heart-tugging stories about immigrants struggling against oppression! Thankfully, you didn't explain what she means by "litigious" (example: "Twenty-Four Americans Challenge Law, Claiming New Policy Discriminates Against American Citizens").
..."One of the underlying issues from a policy perspective was the inequity this bill would create in a litigious state like New Jersey," Sharon Ainsworth, director of state relations at Rutgers, said in her testimony. "There is a whole category of students whose parents are here working on visas. We would be providing a benefit to an undocumented student and not to a documented one."
Thankfully, you didn't include the thoughts of some who worry that bills like this might encourage even more disrespect for our laws, that foreign countries are taking advantage of us, that this will take educations away from U.S. citizens as well as legal immigrants, and that this will just encourage more illegal immigration.
And, I'm very thankful that you didn't include the thoughts of those who wonder how so many very similar stories come to be in the first place. Are these stories in fact advertisements? Or, could they be part of an astroturf campaign and are papers aware they're being used to spread a particular ideology?
The last thing I want is for the NYT to look into the story behind the story and try to figure out who's behind all these wonderful tales. And, the next to last thing I want is for the NYT to wonder whether any state employees or others mentioned in the article are aiding and abetting illegal immigration, a federal offense.
I was also heartened by this bit:
A National Honor Society student, Dina was awarded a scholarship to a local two-year college, where she is studying to become a nurse. Since Dina is an illegal immigrant, she is using a false Social Security number...Isn't that wonderful?
[If you're new here, turn your sarcasm meter up to 11 and read the post again.]
Posted to Immigration_piipps at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)
Huffington Post: only the little people scale their pictures
Once you achieve a certain level of "liberal" eliteness, you can do things like the following:
I'm sure one of Arianna's manservants will be along presently to rectify this situation.
In the meantime, visit Huff and Blow. If I start getting visitors I might update it.
Posted to Bloggage at 02:34 PM | Comments (0)
Home Depot doesn't support illegal immigration
The group Save Our State recently held a protest about illegal alien day laborers in front of a Home Depot in Alhambra, CA. It was counter-protested, but apparently peacefully. The AP reports:
Home Depot said in a statement it does not support illegal immigration but can't stop workers from standing near its stores.
I'll avoid making a joke at this point in time, instead I'll point out this rather interesting fact:
Home Depot is paying a lobbyist $10,000 a month to lobby the L.A. City Council about day laborer sites ("Home Depot, Antonio Villaraigosa, Fernando Guerra, and Microsoft").
And, L.A. City Councilman Ed Reyes has proposed an ordinance that all big box hardware stores should have day laborer sites ("...and our day laborer sites won't encourage illegal immigration").
Any math experts out there want to help me add 2 to 2?
Note that the San Gabriel Neighbors for Peace and Justice were involved in this protest; they were also involved in the Baldwin Park protest where a 66-year-old female Minuteman Project volunteer was hit in the forehead by a full water bottle, forcing her to spend the night in the ICU.
There are pictures of the counter-protesters here. As I say in a comment, eventually the MSM will realize that covering up for groups like this is a bad long-term strategy, leading to most people considering them completely discredited.
As for what you can do about Home Depot, there's a very effective suggestion here.
Posted to Immigration2005b at 01:55 PM | Comments (7)
More microbiologist wackiness
Microbiologists and other scientists sure seem to have been having an awful run of bad luck these past few years. I see that Steve Quayle's List of Dead Scientists has expanded to include a few new names since I last checked.
One of the latest is Dr. Robert J. Lull, who was the chief of nuclear medicine at San Francisco General Hospital. He was found in his home's entry hall, stabbed multiple times by one or more assailants. The police found several cherry stones on the floor, and there were cherries in his refrigerator, but they don't know where they came from: him, the assailant(s), or perhaps they fell out when he was taking out the trash. As of May 21, the police were stumped: "Doctor's murder stumps police in San Francisco". His car and credit cards were taken, but the police say something other than robbery could be the motive.
Then, there's the case of Todd Kauppila, who had worked at... Los Alamos. He was fired from there last year in a matter involving two computer disks which had gone missing. It was later determined that the disks never existed in the first place, and his boss later left his job. This case might have just been a medical issue, or it might have been something else entirely...
Snug down your tinfoil and enjoy these prior cases:
Los Alamos whistleblower Tommy Hook: bar fight or setup?
"Death of [chemist] at treatment plant [in NJ] ruled a homicide"
The Microbiologist Mystery gets weirder and weirder
Thank gosh I'm just a blogger!
Posted to Miscellania at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)
Satirizing the Open Borders cheerleaders
The Seattle Times offers us a guest editorial from software executive Greg James entitled "A pragmatic approach to illegal immigration". At first glance you might think this is a factually-incorrect, simple-minded, ethically-challenged Open Borders screed. But, would a responsible newspaper like the Times print such a thing? Of course not!
I believe this editorial to be an excellent attempt at satire, and I'd like to assure James and the Times that we're laughing with them, not at them. Some clues:
A decade ago, there was a big fuss in California when some concerned citizens decided that the illegal immigrants in their state were a big strain on the budget... An interesting thing happened next. Someone else did a follow-up study, and found that what the state saved in economic costs from the use of migrant labor in agriculture was over three times what it cost in health care and education to those same workers... The big fuss quietly went away and nothing much changed in California...
Oh man, that's good satire. Now, at first you might think referring to Prop. 187 as a "big fuss" is sub-Patt Morrison, but in actual fact he wants you to learn about what actually happened concerning Prop. 187. It was passed by 59% of the voters, then left out to dry by since-recalled governor Gray Davis with the assistance of a judge, "American" legislators, and... the Mexican government. As for that study, I'm sure a little research would reveal who funded it and its biases.
Simple questions need to be asked: Are Americans willing to pay $4 instead of $1 for a head of lettuce?
You'll note that he didn't go overboard and tip his hand to this being satire by discussing $10 a head lettuce. No, he kept it reasonable. Of course, everyone knows that the labor costs account for just 10% of the cost of lettuce, and James has probably even read "How Much Is that Tomato in the Window?" and knows that without illegal labor costs would rise only slightly.
The big owners of agribusiness know the answer to these questions, as do the politicians they support.
Of course, James now wants you to say something like, "do we really want agribusiness to determine our immigration policy? Can we trust them to put their country ahead of their profits?" A true master satirist at work!
Then, he goes on to discuss how our politicians are corrupt and how we're employing desert Darwinism to get the strongest workers, including this:
As a bonus, if the "illegals" cause trouble, they can be deported without enjoying any of the rights a U.S. citizen would enjoy.
Of course, James knows it would be nearly impossible to deport millions of people, and he knows you know that too. In fact, he knows you know that if we tried to deport millions of illegal aliens it might result in thousands of casualties and billions of dollars of property loss due to the riots that would probably ensue. And, he also knows that you know that the more illegal aliens who are here the more difficult it will get to deport large numbers of them. Rest assured that he knows this.
He ends with this:
What's more, it would appear obvious, looking at recent history, that several presidents before George W. Bush figured out the same thing. To care about national security is to often make compromises. In this case, the angry voice of conservatives in his own party is the price this president pays for continuing a policy that, while difficult to actually articulate, really makes quite good sense.
Dean Swift has some competition that's for sure! Congratulations to James and to the Times for this cry for a sensible immigration policy.
--
(COTB readers may also enjoy "Think of yourself as a North American, citizen")
Posted to Immigration2005b at 10:51 AM | Comments (2)
Lynd0n LaR0uche asks: Is Dav|d |cke credible?
To the best of my knowledge, LL has not asked whether DI is credible or not. However, for that same rush of surreality, you are welcome to enjoy the DUmmie thread that asks, "Is Alex Jones credible?" As you might expect, the consensus appears to be that he's a bit high-strung, but he has some really good ideas.
Posted to WackyHumor at 09:08 AM | Comments (1)
Camp Goahomahippiesa
I realize I'm out of the loop and this might make me look bad, but I'd never heard of the Rainbow Family before. If you've never heard of them, what do you think they are? A Grateful Dead cover band? A kindler, gentler Mans0n Fam|ly? A bunch of old hippies who get together to have their 60s flashbacks in a social setting?
The latter appears to be the correct idea. They apparently have yearly gatherings consisting of thousands of people camping out. Money's out, barter's in. More information on the group here:
Some say we're the largest non-organization of non-members in the world. We have no leaders, and no organization. To be honest, the Rainbow Family means different things to different people. I think it's safe to say we're into intentional community building, non-violence, and alternative lifestyles. We also believe that Peace and Love are a great thing, and there isn't enough of that in this world. Many of our traditions are based on Native American traditions, and we have a strong orientation to take care of the the Earth. We gather in the National Forests yearly to pray for peace on this planet...
Which brings us to the present day. The DUmmies direct our attention to this news report. The Rainbowians want to hold this year's meeting in the Monongahela National Forest, but the Forest Service is trying to prevent it due to endangered bats. Apparently the FS has allowed them to camp in another area of the forest however.
Surprisingly, the DUmmies offer mixed reviews of the peace and freedom lovers, including this:
when I went to a gathering some years ago the leaders were having to remind people not to sh|t in the river!
That's pretty bad. And, this:
I am working two jobs to keep my head above water and don't have the time or finances to take off for weeks on end on some kind of Magical Mystery Tour like it was 1967 all over again...
Heh indeed. To determine whether you're Rainbow material, look at this picture of two cousins. To which are you closer?
Posted to Miscellania at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)
Should you link to discoverthenetwork.com?
Let's turn that question on its head: should you link to discoverthenetwork.com, or should you link to the version with www? Wait, there are even more choices ahead. You can also link to either version in the .net and .org TLDs. And, it gets even better, because you can link to all six at discoverthenetworks. And, all of those return a 200 instead of 301s pointing to a main domain.
Let's look at a few PR values:
www.dtn.com: PR5
dtn.com: PR3
www.dtn.net: PR0
www.dtns.org: PR0
So, why am I telling you this? Because I've already sent them two emails telling them to fix and the many other problems at their site, and they've failed to do so. Which is a bit frustrating for me, since I've linked to them from many posts here and elsewhere, but they don't seem to be able to do their part to try to make their service as effective as it could be.
I mean, this blogger is hardly an SEO expert, and this site has its own problems, some of which I'm still fixing or have given up on. But, DTN is a newer site, and they (I would imagine) have enough of a budget to actually do something.
So, if you have some pull with them, please suggest they finally fix their site. Some of these changes - like redirecting all 11 alternate URLs to one URL - would take about 15 minutes of work if that.
Posted to Bloggage at 08:20 PM | Comments (1)
Non-biased groups propose California redistricting reform
A coalition of groups - all of which are completely non-biased and are not left-wing groups by any stretch of the imagination - have proposed a "model bill" to serve as a replacement for the redistricting plan proposed by California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. AP report in "Groups propose model for redrawing legislative boundaries".
Under Arnold's plan a panel of three retired judges would redistrict in time for the 2006 elections, and their plan would be put to a vote.
In contrast, the proposal from the groups would have a nine member panel of retired judges, they would only redraw the lines after the 2010 census, and their efforts wouldn't be voted on.
According to Arnold's spokeswoman, "It's great that they are throwing out ideas." It certainly is, isn't it? I too thank them for their input.
As for who's pushing this plan, bear in mind they are completely non-partisan, non-biased groups without even a hint of a left-wing bias.
Groups include:
* The Center for Governmental Studies, "a nonpartisan research group in Los Angeles" per the AP. If that's not true, please leave a comment.
* Common Cause, which:
declares itself to be a non-partisan organization, but has been ardently outspoken against the Bush Administration on everything from the War in Iraq to the President's environmental policies. Recently, Common Cause joined forces with Moveon.org to "institute a complaint against Fox News . . . for deceptive practices in the advertising and marketing of the programming of Fox News Channel..."
* Asian Pacific American Legal Center (mentioned here as a left-wing group)
* League of Women Voters ("A leftwing organization that masks its support for radical agendas behind a veneer of non-partisanship...")
Bear in the front of your mind that the census includes illegal aliens. See "Under bill, illegals wouldn't count toward political clout" for a clue as to why these absolutely unbiased groups would support waiting for the next census.
Posted to California at 08:01 PM | Comments (0)
A Yucaipa earthquake update
In addition to yesterday's shake near Yucaipa (4.9 magnitude), there was an earthquake on Sunday in Anza (5.2). Not only are those two temblors just 25 miles apart, but Anza is 25 miles from the San Andreas fault, and the Yucaipa shaker was just 8 miles from that fault. And, "The Big Quake Question: What Comes After Four?" informs us that "Some scientists believe one earthquake can shake loose, or trigger, another nearby or elsewhere in the world."The Big One is coming.
Previously: "Tremor Watch 2005"
UPDATE: Holy Moley! From "Experts' Heads Shake After Quakes":
Lucy Jones, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, believes that the 5.2 Anza quake June 12 probably triggered the 4.9 Yucaipa quake four days later.Everyone must leave California immediately.
She noted that both quakes were within about 25 miles of each other and occurred on secondary faults — the Anza quake near the San Jacinto fault and the Yucaipa around the San Andreas...
[...her fellow seismologist husband disagrees...]
It has long been held that earthquakes relieve pressure on fault lines, potentially decreasing the threat of a massive quake.
But experts said it was not that simple...
Jones said modest earthquakes do relieve some stress and may redistribute it elsewhere, but not in a significant way.
"The net change is a decrease," she said. "But there are some locations where there is an increase."
Posted to Los_Angeles at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
How much trouble is the U.S. in?
The Patriot Act contains what pretty much everyone who isn't speaking in legalese calls "sunset provisions." Such things are, of course, written into laws when circumstances might change and making something only temporary is considered the wiser choice.This is a dual-use entry. Firstly, I would like to point out that it might not be in the U.S.'s best interests to make everything in the Patriot Act permanent. I'm certainly no expert on that Act, but if I were I think I'd say the same thing.
Secondly, this entry is here because I believe Our Leader has said one of the dumbest things I've ever heard Our Lider say. Considering that I live-blogged the presidential debates, that is truly saying something. Over to our homeland security president:
Some people call these sunset provisions. It's a good name because letting that...those provisions expire would leave law enforcement in the dark.It's good to know that Bush (aided and abetted by his speechwriter, of course) has managed to reduce such an important debate down to a folksy, third-grade-educated, attempt at a joke.
Posted to Politics at 07:31 PM | Comments (0)
Tremor Watch 2005
I'm going to go for a 4.5.
EARTHQUAKE WATCH UPDATE: Preliminary results: 5.3 just north of Yucaipa (about 100 miles to the east of EQW HQ). Our Richter Reporters are standing by... [DEVELOPING: downgraded to a 4.9. Given the distance, my estimate was right on target. Plus, hours before the MSM got to the story...]
BREAKING HARD: Our Inland Empire reporting crew informs us that Yucaipa is actually just 70 miles or so east...
BREAKING: *** QUAKE-CRAZED ANIMAL ATTACKS BLOG REPORTER ***
It appears that one of our blog reporters, citizen journalist pioneer Lonewacko, has been attacked by a quake-crazed animal. Where are you now, LW?
"I'm at EQW HQ. However, the incident occurred in Griffith Park."
Are you OK?
"Yes, I appear to be fine, although I'm still a little shaken up."
What happened?
"After the big quake, I decided to go for a hike. I need to keep in shape so I can cover the breaking stories, plus I wanted to head towards high ground in case of a tsunami. Plus, if any rifts opened in the Earth due to the quake, I wanted to be there to cover it. So, there I was, enjoying a bit of a view... when suddenly I was attacked... I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my right lower upper arm... I realized that the quake had caused animals to go nuts... in this case it was a member of the Apoidea superfamily that attacked me..."
And, that would be?
"That's a bee, Chuck. I was stung by a bee. However, I'm pretty sure it had been agitated by the tremor."
Posted to Los_Angeles at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)
14-year-old steals plane; I blame video games
In Fort Wayne, IN a 14-year-old was wandering around an airport, found a plane with the keys inside, and decided to go for a spin. Surprisingly, he was able to fly for 30 minutes, including taking off and landing twice. The second landing doesn't appear to have been such a good job, since the plane suffered major structural damage. However, no one appears to have been injured.
The kid had never flown before, but I think w