Titled:    Anti-Tailgating Strategy Backfires On Interstate 5

An anti-tailgating strategy on Interstate 5 backfired in the form of unexpected traffic jams, state transportation officials have discovered.

Officials from the state Transportation Department and Washington State Patrol planned to meet Monday to reassess the $35,000 Two Dots To Safety pilot program on a two-mile stretch of the freeway north of this Thurston County town. Similar programs are in use in Maryland, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

Road crews painted dots 80 feet apart and posted signs telling drivers to stay at least two dots - 160 feet - from the vehicle ahead, based on the traffic safety principle of being at least two seconds behind another vehicle when going 60 mph.

Long backups developed Saturday, the day after the program began, when drivers slowed down because of heavy traffic and continued to maintain the two-dot separation, although that much distance was not necessary at slower speeds, said Lisa Mordock, a Transportation Department spokeswoman.

Road crews covered the signs later Saturday pending reconsideration of the program, including the wording on the signs, Mordock said.

The government tells us how to drive better and the law of unintended consequences takes effect.

But couldn't you just tell this was going to happen?

People tailgate because they are in a hurry and the roads lack sufficient capacity. Anything that slows them down or reduces the road capacity is only going to make things worse.

Besides, it's hard to count dots when you're eating your burger and talking on the phone...

Hat-tip to Wizbang

Titled:   Straight shooting for better gun laws

James Alan Fox of the Boston Herald must be bored:

What is so wrong with ballistic fingerprinting Sure, I’ve heard the argument that gun barrels can be replaced or modified. As a parallel to actual fingerprinting, criminals sometimes wear gloves or alter their fingertips, but that doesn’t discourage us from collecting this kind of forensic evidence.

The ATF tracing initiative has consistently shown that less than 1 percent of gun dealers are linked to a majority of firearms recovered from criminal enterprises. While most of these traces may have involved legitimate transactions, ATF investigations have uncovered thousands of federal law violations by these dealers. Unfortunately, recent congressional legislation significantly limits public and law enforcement access to gun-tracing information, thereby shielding rogue dealers.

Aside from some paranoid view of government intrusion, what really is the danger of firearms registration or of background checks on all gun sales We register automobiles, and qualify and license drivers; why not do the same with guns and their owners It makes no sense to prevent law enforcement from tracking firearms transfers that fuel the illegal market. We could even install LoJack-style, GPS devices into new guns to curtail trade in stolen firearms.

It seems as if his performance objectives for the year include the number of email comments received, and he can only achieve this by trotting out the same old, tired suggestions to infringe our rights yet again.

If you feel like helping the poor guy make a "Meets Expectations" rating, you can write to j.fox@neu.edu

Titled:   Hybrids might make you feel good, but why?

The well-respected auto research firm, CNW Marketing in Brandon, Ore., recently found after a two-year study collecting data on the ''energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose'' of the cars, that the hybrids don't stack up well.

CNW found that hybrids use more total energy in their lifetime than their gasoline-powered cousins. Even a Hummer, the ultimate bane of the environmentalist world -- uses less total energy over its lifetime than any hybrid (including the halo special, the Prius), Car and Driver magazine said.

Maybe that is one of the reasons for the recent poor showing of hybrid sales:

Despite all the hype and the recent spike in gas prices, sales of hybrids have dropped every month this year compared to the same month last year. So much that manufacturers like Ford are backing away from earlier politically motivated commitments to produce so many of them...

Oh, the pressure to look like you're doing good!

It reminds me of the time that everything had to be printed on recycled paper to "Save the Trees". Recycled paper takes more energy, produces more pollution during the re-pulping and bleaching stages of production, consumes more water and even results in less trees being planted.

And don't even get me started on polystyrene cups, which turn out to have a lower environmental impact than any other type of beverage container, yet are frequently vilified as man's worst enemy.

When you want to "make a difference", whether for the children or otherwise, please do your homework first so you actually make positive impact rather than help destroy what you were planning to save in the first place.

 

Titled:   Some of them do get it - it's just the MSM can't bring themselves to say it 

I wrote earlier about a cop who was reported to have said:

"We commend him," Higgins said. "But we don't encourage people to take that kind of risk. He could have been hurt."

This was in respect to a CPL holder that subdued a knife-wielding maniac that had just stabbed a number of people. 

It seems that the cops words were twisted by the MSM filter. He actually said something different:

The Sarge said that he had no problem with permit holders but if it were someone who had no training with firearms, did not know the law and had just grabbed up a gun it might not be a good idea.

Which I think we would all agree with.

He praised Mr. Cobb as a genuine hero from start to finish saying he acted in a totally professional manner through-out the entire ordeal. He then continued to say that concealed permit holders were top notch and he’d rather have some of them “…..backing me up than some police officers I know”.

Not the kind of thing they like to report, huh?

Titled:   Woman killed, five others wounded in shooting at Seattle Jewish Federation

The Seattle Times:

The man accused of barging into the offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and killing one woman and wounding five others will be prosecuted on state murder and attempted-murder charges rather than federal hate-crime laws, officials said.

Federal hate-crimes:

SEC. 280003. DIRECTION TO UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION REGARDING SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTS FOR HATE CRIMES.

(a) DEFINITION- In this section, `hate crime' means a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim, or in the case of a property crime, the property that is the object of the crime, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person.
(b) SENTENCING ENHANCEMENT- Pursuant to section 994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall promulgate guidelines or amend existing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements of not less than 3 offense levels for offenses that the finder of fact at trial determines beyond a reasonable doubt are hate crimes. In carrying out this section, the United States Sentencing Commission shall ensure that there is reasonable consistency with other guidelines, avoid duplicative punishments for substantially the same offense, and take into account any mitigating circumstances that might justify exceptions.

The guy in question:

Haq, a U.S.-born Muslim, told authorities he was angered by the war in Iraq and U.S. military cooperation with Israel. According to a statement of probable cause, Haq told a 911 dispatcher: "These are Jews and I'm tired of getting pushed around and our people getting pushed around by the situation in the Middle East."

This fine, upstanding member of the muslim community, does have an admitted penchant for dancing naked in shopping mall fountains.

The venue:

The Jewish federation, a group covering the Jewish community around the Puget Sound region, had organized a large rally last weekend to demonstrate support for Israel in its fight against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

At a news conference on Friday, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said, "This was a purposeful, hateful act as far as we know, by an individual acting alone."

So we have a quiet, loner muslim, with few friends, who get upset, buys a couple of guns (while under arraignment for the exposure charges, which should have failed the background check) and attacks a Jewish organisation because it is Jewish, and manages somehow to be charged not for hate crimes, carrying longer and harsher penalties, but state murder and attempted-murder instead.

I wonder what kind of crimes they had in mind when they thought up hate crimes?

Titled:   Terrorist links may not lead to spot on no-fly list: sources

Being a member of a terrorist organization won't necessarily land someone on Canada's no-fly list, The Canadian Press has learned.

Proposed criteria would limit inclusion on the roster to those who pose "an immediate threat to aviation security," say internal briefing notes prepared by Transport Canada.

Draft regulations, disclosed by a source familiar with details of the plan, confirm the no-fly list will be tightly focused and reviewed every 30 days to keep it up to date.

"You cannot be put on the list on the sole basis that you're a member of a 'terrorist group'," said the source. "In addition, you have to be a demonstrable threat to aviation safety." 

It seems that the best way to reduce your chances of being involved in terrorism while travelling is to avoid Canadian airlines, airports and connecting links.

Paid-up and known members of Hezbollah can still board in Toronto as long as they haven't made threats or acted against the airlines:

The source said that under the proposed regulations, people involved in a terrorist group - either now or in the past - could be added to the list only if there were reason to suspect they may "compromise civil aviation, the security of any aircraft or aerodrome, or the safety of the public, passengers or crew."

And those on the list were almost warned in advance too, a gift for a terrorist to know he is under surveillance, except that resources are limited:

Under Ottawa's plan, people will not be notified in advance that they are on the Canadian no-fly list. The source said informing individuals was considered impractical because it would be difficult to locate some people, and it would severely limit the willingness of police and intelligence agencies to provide names for the list.

Aparently some known members of terrorist organizations are "difficult to locate" and the police would be unwilling to assist!

Still, it is CANADA we are talking about. At least the American public understands the threat we face... doesn't it?

Titled:   Lebanese Financial District Bombed

MSNBC covers the Israeli bombing of the Lebanese financial district of Sidon and fails to notice the sheets of uncut US $100 bills laying all around. 1:07 minutes into the video the camera lingers on the sheets laying on the floor.

Maybe the Fed Reserve has decided to outsource its note printing operations overseas to save money?

I think not.

 

Titled:     8 Grocery Employees Stabbed in Tennessee

A knife-wielding grocery store employee attacked eight co-workers Friday, seriously injuring five before a witness pulled a gun and stopped him, police said.

The 21-year-old suspect, whose name was withheld pending charges, was arrested and then taken to a hospital after complaining of chest pains, Memphis Police Sgt. Vince Higgins said.

The attack apparently stemmed from a work dispute, police said. Five victims, one in critical condition, were admitted to the Regional Medical Center, the main trauma hospital for the Memphis area. Three others were less badly hurt and treated at another hospital.

The attacker, chasing one victim into the store's parking lot, was subdued by Chris Cope, manager of a financial services office in the same small shopping center, Higgins said. Cope said he grabbed a 9mm semiautomatic pistol from his pickup truck when he saw the attacker chasing the victim "like something in a serial killer movie."

"When he turned around and saw my pistol, he threw the knife away, put his hands up and got on the ground," Cope told The Associated Press. "He saw my gun and that was pretty much it." Police arrived within minutes and took the attacker into custody. "

He just kept saying, 'I'm insane. I wish I was never born' and that kind of stuff," Cope said. The attack started in an employee area of the Schnucks supermarket on the outskirts of Memphis and no customers were involved, Higgins said. Police said two large kitchen knives used in the attack were found at the scene.

Witness Frank Rector said the attacker held a knife high in a stabbing position as he chased a victim into the parking lot. The victim, Rector said, "was circling, trying to get away from him." The ages of the victims were not immediately released.

Higgins and a company spokeswoman said all the victims were employees of the store. The spokeswoman said officials from the St. Louis-based company were on their way to the scene. Higgins said police were pulling into the parking lot as Cope was confronting the attacker. "We commend him," Higgins said. "But we don't encourage people to take that kind of risk. He could have been hurt."

Yup - the police would rather have the perp running about stabbing people before they shoot him when they eventually arrive, than a responsible citizen quickly put a peaceful stop to the problem on the spot and show how armed citizens can do good.

At least they haven't arrested the guy with the gun... but then this is TN not CA.

Titled:   Feeding homeless outlawed

The Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that bans providing food or meals to the indigent for free or a nominal fee in parks.
...
The city's new ordinance, which officials could begin enforcing as early as Friday, defines an indigent as a "person whom a reasonable ordinary person would believe to be entitled to apply for or receive assistance" from the government under state law.

Mayor Oscar Goodman, who has been a vocal advocate of cracking down on the homeless in city parks, dismissed questions about how marshals, who patrol city parks, will identify the homeless in order to enforce the ordinance, the violation of which would be a misdemeanor.

"Certain truths are self-evident," Goodman said. "You know who's homeless."

On this matter, Matthew, a frequently-quoted source, says:

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'

Las Vegas - City of Sin, where feeding the homeless is now illegal...

Titled:   Granholm Signs Legislation to Strengthen Self-Defense Rights

Fox News:

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation Thursday that supporters say is aimed at strengthening and clarifying self-defense rights in Michigan. People now will be allowed to use deadly force, with no duty to retreat, if they reasonably think they face imminent death, great bodily harm or sexual assault.

They can use deadly force on their property or anywhere they have a legal right to be. The legislation also protects people from civil lawsuits if they have used force in self-defense.

"Law-abiding citizens will have the right to defend themselves against brutal violence without having to worry about being treated like a criminal," state Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, said in a statement.

The law also creates a "rebuttable presumption" -- a legal advantage that assumes, unless there's strong proof to the contrary, that people honestly and reasonably believe they face death, rape or great bodily harm when someone breaks into their home.

The presumption won't apply in domestic violence situations, disputes involving the police and if people using the force are breaking the law.

WLNS:

Mich. Governor Granholm has signed legislation that supporters say will strengthen and clarify self-defense rights in Michigan.

People now will be allowed to use deadly force -- with no duty to retreat -- if they reasonably think they face imminent death, great bodily harm or sexual assault.The law also protects people from civil lawsuits if they have used force in self-defense.

Critics says the law is NOT only dangerous but also unnecessary because prosecutors already don't charge people who have justifiably used deadly force to protect themselves.

Supporters say the law is needed to protect people from getting sued and partly because Michigan law previously required people to first retreat before using deadly force, putting them at a disadvantage.

Titled: Michigan Castle Doctrine

Looking at the progress of the package of bills signed I see the following on Public Act 311 of 2006:

7/26/2006	Expected in SJ 71	PRESENTED TO GOVERNOR 7/6/2006 @ 12:34 PM
7/26/2006	Expected in SJ 71	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR 7/18/2006 @ 7:21 PM
7/26/2006	Expected in SJ 71	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE 7/20/2006 @ 8:58 AM
7/26/2006	Expected in SJ 71	ASSIGNED PA 0311'06 WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

That was for the old senate bill 1046 - Cropsey - "Crimes; other; right to self-defense and defense of others; clarify. Creates new act."

1185 has also been signed - Jelinek - "Civil procedure; civil actions; immunity from civil action for person who uses force in compliance with self-defense act; provide for."

It seems 5143 has still to be signed as is 5153 and 5548 and since these are tie-barred together there is still much to be completed.

We await more news.