Survival of the Sudsiest

George Will has an excellent column that tells us civilization has depended on the creation of beer.

Like we needed to be told that.

To avoid dangerous water, people had to drink large quantities of, say, beer. But to digest that beer, individuals needed a genetic advantage that not everyone had -- what Johnson describes as the body's ability to respond to the intake of alcohol by increasing the production of particular enzymes called alcohol dehydrogenases. This ability is controlled by certain genes on chromosome four in human DNA, genes not evenly distributed to everyone. Those who lacked this trait could not, as the saying goes, "hold their liquor." So, many died early and childless, either of alcohol's toxicity or from waterborne diseases.

In other words, those of us alive today owe our survival to our ancestor's ability to drink beer!

So, go have a beer and celebrate humanity, will you?

Shock Bracelet Considered For Airline Passengers, Border Control -- Homeland Security

This has to be one of the most outrageous things I've heard of in quite some time.

In order to enhance the security of air travel and to help manage illegal immigration, the Department of Homeland Security has solicited a proposal from a Canadian security company to develop a passenger stun bracelet.
Like the pain collars featured in the classic Star Trek episode The Gamesters of Triskelion, Lamperd Less Lethal's electro-muscular disruption (EMD) bracelet is intended to incapacitate wearers on remote command.

I cannot even fathom that this would be legal, much less allowed by the public. It's being marketed as a tool to aid passengers in the airport, and as an anti-terrorist device. The potential for abuse is monstrous.

The stupidity of PC

In yet another sign of the coming Apocalypse, it's now considered to be racially insensitive to use the term "black hole". You heard that right folks, a scientific term that refers to "the invisible remains of a collapsed star, with an intense gravitational field from which neither light nor matter can escape" is now a rascist term.

Sadly, this little incident took place in Dallas County - which just again proves my point that idiots are running the County, but what do I know.

County commissioners were discussing problems with the central collections office that is used to process traffic ticket payments and handle other paperwork normally done by the JP Courts.

Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said it seemed that central collections "has become a black hole" because paperwork reportedly has become lost in the office.

Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black, interrupted him with a loud "Excuse me!" He then corrected his colleague, saying the office has become a "white hole."
That prompted Judge Thomas Jones, who is black, to demand an apology from Mayfield for his racially insensitive analogy.

You can't make this stuff up, folks.

FISA set to pass, finally

Finally, the Dems running Congress are set to pass the FISA bill that has been stalled for quite some time. It has been held up over concerns the liberals had over being able to sue telecommunication companies that are assisting the government in tracking down terrorist activities.

Even though the Dems in Congress have finally come to their senses and are working on passing the bill, it would appear that Senator Cornyn's opponent still thinks its a bad idea. You've got to ask yourself just who Noriega is protecting. I think it's safe to say that since 9/11 we have had no other terrorist attacks on American soil, at least in part due to FISA working. Like his liberal bretheren in Congress, you have to wonder just who's side Noriega is on.

We've said it before and I'll say it again. Put liberals in charge of National Security and we all lose.

Back yard critters

Been reading Blackfork, Robert's blog, and all his pics of wildlife reminded me of this picture I snapped in our backyard on a wet day this past winter. Not the best picture in the world, but I was happy to get this big boy on film and had to run and find my camera to catch him....

When liberals rule the world - Clusterbombs, part deux

In May, JR wrote about a group of 3rd rate countries who'd all gathered together to ban cluster bombs.

A month later, we get another lesson on what happens when liberals are in charge.

Faced with growing international pressure, the Pentagon is changing its policy on cluster bombs and plans to reduce the danger of unexploded munitions in the deadly explosives.

The policy shift, which is outlined in a three-page memo signed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, would require that after 2018, more than 99 percent of the bomblets in a cluster bomb must detonate.

Limiting the amount of live munitions left on the battlefield would lessen the danger to innocent civilians who have been killed or severely injured when they accidentally detonate the bomb.

OK, I don't have too much of a problem with this. If the new guidelines don't interfere with the ability of our military to accurately and reliably deliver the bombs, then like I said, it doesn't bother me.

However, Senator leaky Leahy (D-Vt), is not happy. Apparently, he doesn't like the fact that the United States is the sole world superpower and would like to create a more even field for our enemies to fight on. Stating that the new policy is "a step back", Leahy goes on to say:

"Now the Bush administration's 'new' policy is to wait another 10 years," said Leahy, calling it "another squandered opportunity for U.S. leadership." He said that in wake of the international treaty agreement, the Pentagon's plan to wait another decade before requiring the 99 percent detonation rate cannot be justified.

So, you put liberals in charge of our national security and this is the kind of crap that happens - you can count on effective weapon systems to be killed off leaving us to fight with one hand tied behind our backs.

Have no doubt - when liberals run our national security, we lose.