American Jurors Too Stupid to Convict Criminals!

It seems jurors these days are watching too much television. The "CSI Effect" is making it hard for prosecutors to convince juries, even in white-collar trials, without sophisticated forensic evidence, like they've seen on the popular television drama. Now this is pretty absurd. It's not like an accountant embezzling money is going to leave a body, or blood and semen samples for investigators to run through their various electronic doo-hickeys! Apparently the "CSI Effect" hurt a securites fraud case in Alabama against HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy.

Alice Martin, the State Prosecutor for the Northern District of Alabama said,
"...Jurors in post-verdict interviews said "we needed a fingerprint on one of the documents or we needed him [Mr Scrushy] to say the word 'fraud' on the audiotape" that was secretly recorded by a former HealthSouth finance chief.

"They said, 'they always do fingerprints on TV'," Ms Martin said.

Now the one thing about the post verdict interview that I really take issue with, is the idea that he had to say the word 'fraud' on tape. Come on, people! How often will a person committing fraud actually say the word fraud while he's committing the crime? I can see it now.

Deep within the bowels of the secret headquarters of HealthSouth, Richard Scrushy and his cabal of co-conspirators plan their next caper...

Richard Scrushy: "Welcome to the fraud meeting, my fellow frauds."

Goon #1: "Yeah, boss! I can't wait to commit some fraud!"

Goon #2: "FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD! YEAH!!!"

New Dispatch from Michael Yon

If you haven't heard of him, or read his work, I would highly recommend that you check him out. I've had a link to his site up for a while, and I've been an avid reader for several months. Michael Yon is a private journalist, operating out of his own pocket, who has been travelling with the 1st Battallion, 24th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), or Deuce Four, if you're into the whole brevity thing. And I must say, it's some of the finest journalism I've seen coming out of this whole war. It's not political. Being a former Ranger himself, it's obvious that Michael is loyal to the men of Deuce Four, but he really does give an unflinching, real view of the way things are going in Mosul. In one incident, he actually picked up a rifle and tried to save an injured soldier! Lt. Colonel Erik Kurilla (a fucking hero, and a man's man if ever there was one) was shot several times right in front of him. The two Rangers in front of him froze, as if Superman had been gunned down right in front of them. So he picked up a rifle, and started shooting. He hit a propane tank and nearly killed everybody. He was, of course, reprimanded. They told him if he ever did that again, he'd be going home. But it just shows how deeply "embedded" Michael Yon is. Truly a must read for anyone interested in getting the real story.

Where's Watchblog?

I will admit, the managing Editor of Watchblog had me a little nervous. I'm relatively new to this whole blogging thing, and this took me off guard. And the day that I found out, I had been having a pretty bad day. Some bullshit collection agency called Ashwood Financial was calling up my mother and threatening to sue me (which is a violation of my privacy and federal statutes) over some bullshit from five years ago. Don't worry. I'll deal with them. I work in the industry and I know the law. They don't know who they're fucking with. But nonetheless, it was disquieting. On top of that, I'm getting married next month in Hawaii. I booked the whole package through Expedia, and about a month ago, I found out that ATA had cancelled the flight. I called Expedia. They called ATA, and ATA assured them that they would re-accommodate us, and that they would call back in two weeks. Once the two weeks were up, I called them back. They assured me that they were working on it, and they would call back in another two weeks. Two more weeks went by. I called them back, and they told me that it wasn't their problem, and I had to take it up with Expedia. I went ballistic. So I called Expedia, and explained the situation. The woman assured me that we would solve the issue, while I was on the phone. She said she needed to put me on hold while she called Northwest. So I sat on hold for 30 minutes. Periodically, she would come back to thank me for holding. Finally, I asked if I could put her on hold, as I had been on the phone for 2 hours and had to go to the bathroom. When I came back, the line was dead. I called back, got a different receptionist, and she said that according to her notes, they were issuing a full refund. I explained that we are getting married on the 10th, and I don't want a damn refund! I want to get down there! She explained that there was no legal way that they could get me another flight. Did you get that? This is a fucking travel agency! I told her fine! Just refund the tickets, and I'll swim if I have to! While I was on hold this time, I decided to check my email. That's when I got the email from the managing editor of watchblog. So it was just the icing on the cake. I was so emotionally exhausted, I nearly broke down and wept, right there at my desk. As for Expedia, I called back later in the evening and got it all straightened out. It turned out that the first two customer service representatives simply didn't want to help me. I guess they were too busy doing their nails, or something else much more important than their job. They've refunded the full ticket price, plus an extra $140, since it's going to be more expensive to book a flight so close to the date. It was an ordeal, but since they straightened it out in the end, I have to give them high marks. And as for watchblog, after some time to think it over, and some much appreciated support from Misha and the rest of the LC's and IB's at the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, I realize that the managing editor of Watchblog is nothing more than a self-righteous douche-bag with delusions of grandeur. I tried to go back to watchblog to let them know I'm not afraid of them, but it seems that their site is down. Where'd they go? Perhaps the feds got sick and tired of being bothered by these half-wits and shut them down. Or maybe the managing editor is so sensitive to criticism, that he took his own life. Perhaps he committed hari kiri, and threw himself off the roof of the hippie commune where he resides. I'm still here, jackass. Where are you?

To Watchblog: FUCK YOU AND THE HORSE YOU FUCKED ON YOUR WAY IN!

Chauncy Biggins in Dutch with the Fed?

Here's an update on the situation with me and Watchblog. I sent their editor two emails. The first, I no longer have a transcript. Basically, I told the editor to go fuck himself, and that I was going to use my blog to tear him down. Idle threats, really when you consider I have like maybe 3 readers. But I digress. I was angry. I felt that I was unjustly banned. I sent a second email, which I have the transcript for, and they replied, then I replied. Here they are in order of last to first:

What have I done that's against the law besides threatening to make angry posts against you on our blog and insult you? I know your kind as well. Juvenile, eh. I have seen multiple cases where you have selectively enforced your policy. It seems to me that your goal is to create an echo chamber where only one set of views gets put forward. I'm not sure what you got from my email that constitutes as illegal, unless telling you to go fuck yourself is illegal. I had no idea! And to suggest it's illegal to criticize you on my weblog, and insult your weblog, and to encourage others to do the same is pathetic! I'm going to post your reply on my weblog. That is the "flaming" I had in mind. At no time did I threaten some type of denial of service attack, or anything like that. That's not my style, and frankly I wouldn't know where to begin. It seems to me that if you have to run to the feds every time you get criticized, then perhaps you really are hiding something. Hmmmm? And various aliases? All I ever did was log onto a different computer and post comments. I never tried to claim I was someone else. I admitted who I was, gave my full name, and my email address. I've logged on under two ip's. I'd be interested in knowing how it is illegal to post on a public forum. I'd be interested in knowing how it is illegal to threaten a "flame war," which constitutes a series of angry and derrogatory posts between two weblogs. When I said tear you down, I meant destroy your credibility. Not your website. I'm no hacker. I'm no cracker. I'm just a guy who knows a little bit of html. Go ahead and contact the feds. I haven't done anything illegal! And if I have, I'd like you to forward me the section in the criminal code that shows such. I'm quite interested!

--- Editor wrote:


---------------------------------
You are clearly the most juvenile visitor I have ever witnessed onWatchBlog. Go for it, bub, we have tracking and we have a link with theauthorities who have aided us with your type before who have to triedto bring down our public service website. And yes, the Feds do takethis kind of threat very seriously, they have proved it to us before,just a few months ago, in fact. Enjoy yourself while you can, as youremail and header info is forwarded along with everything else you haveposted since banned under your vairous aliases ...



Mad Matt wrote:
Looking back on the thread where you banned me, I'm more and more convinced that you selectively enforce your policy to prevent conservatives from commenting. Have you noticed that there aren't any conservatives commenting? It's because you ban them all! I understand what you're doing. You're not trying to put forward a conservative point of view. You're trying to discredit it! I'm a relatively small-time blogger, but I have friends that aren't. (another empty threat: who the hell do I know?) Prepare to be flamed, my friend.


Now readers. What do you think? I know you haven't seen the first email. But I assure you, at no time did I threaten bodily harm. At no point did I threaten to hack his site or anything like that. Have I done something illegal? Should I be thrown into the clink? Is criticism against the law? I certainly hope not, because I may get into trouble over this. Anyone with advice on this issue: I'd really appreciate your candor.

Watchblog can suck my Wang!

Chauncy Biggins, the beloved editor of the Cult of 7G has been banned from posting comments on WatchBlog, a site that has a section devoted to Republicans and Conservatives. Oddly enough, the comment section is invariably an echo chamber for liberals. I always wondered why. But now I realize, that conservatives get banned from commenting there. They look for the slightest infraction to do this, ensuring that all you get is liberal viewpoints. Here's the thread where they banned me:
Shitty Ass Stupid Faggot Blog See, now that's name-calling. They accused me of attacking the messenger and not the message. I accuse them of selective enforcement. You decide for yourselves.
In closing, I'll say this to the managing editor of Watchblog. Fuck you, you pencil-dicked weasle piece of shit, and the horse you fucked on your way in!

Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies at His Home at 80

This man had plenty of history, not just voting to put President Bush in office and ruling over Bill Clinton's impeachment, but that's what we're going to be hearing about most.

Our prayers go to the family of the CJ.

Police Chief: 'Urban Warfare' Slowed New Orleans Rescue

This needs to be talked about quite a bit more, I would think.

Media Vultures

I've been periodically checking the news on television for the past few days. What do I see on every network? The same footage of the same malcontents getting interviewed by the same reporters. Over and over again. A man standing there, holding a baby saying, "No food, no water, no help!" People chanting, "Send help, send help, send help!" I'm left with a few questions and a few conclusions. First of all, the media are a bunch of opportunistic vultures. It's obvious what they're trying to do. They don't give a damn about these people. They just see an opportunity to use this against the president, by suggesting the fed "dropped the ball." Well, what the hell did the state of Louisiana do about it? Should the federal government be expected to do everything? They know they live in a bowl surrounded by water. Why didn't they start working on this problem years ago? Now is not the time for the blame game. Now is the time for action. Which is why other states are now mobilizing their national guard units to assist. Here in Muncie, our National Guard unit is preparing to go down and assist. I know that there are several other units from all over the country heading down. Our local Red Cross has already reported two Louisiana families that have checked in for assistance. All the way up here in Muncie, Indiana! I know it must be the same in other parts of the country! And that's not the only help we're sending. We've got twelve Delaware County sheriff's deputies on their way already, along with volunteers from our local red cross and Indiana Michigan power employees to assist with getting the power back on.
The people who are still there, mostly because the state officials didn't evacuate them all as they should have, should be patient, and do what they can for now until help gets to them! In this modern fast food culture, everybody wants it now, now, NOW!! Well, I sympathize with those people, and I understand what they're going through is horrendous. I'd be screaming bloody murder if I had to go through that as well. I'd be pretty salty. But my perspective would be biased by my emotional involvement. The drowning man thinks the rescue came late, no matter how soon it was. My point is, we're doing what we can. And I understand that people are upset. But the media is using this as political ammunition. They're doing everything they can to say this is Bush's fault. And I wonder, since I've been seeing the same footage, of the same complaining people, for the last two days, if those same people they keep showing have already been evacuated. Or perhaps they were some of the same folks that were looting, and are now angry that they don't have anywhere to stash their new microwaves and televisions. Perhaps I'm being too cynical. But one thing is certain. Those damned news reporters aren't helping anything. All they're doing is trying to profit off of people's misery! All these reporters they've sent down. What are they really doing to help? They've got helicopters. They've got satellites. They could be doing something besides sticking cameras in people's faces! Why don't they start moving people out with their helicopters and news vans? Why don't they help bring food and water? Would that violate their journalistic ethics and neutrality?

Salvation Army

Now is an excellent time to donate to the Salvation Army. They have less overhead, and less bureaucratic bullshit, so more of your money will go to actually helping people.

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm

New Orleans Under Water

I have nothing to say about this other than to say, my hopes and prayers are with the survivors. Here's a link to the American Red Cross.

http://www.redcross.org

No WMD? You just don't understand WMD!!!!

The press, and the left love to say that there was no WMD in Iraq. The following is a tally of all of our findings since we invaded, that have been ingnored by our press. And thanks to our mostly inept president, they are almost completely unbeknownst to most people. Here's a list I lifted from a newsmax story. And for all you libs who would impugn Newsmax's credibility, I have listed alternate sources for each key piece of evidence at the bottom. So there!

Among the WMD evidence discounted by the press [and almost never noted by the Bush administration]:


500 tons of yellow cake uranium stored at Saddam's al Tuwaitha nuclear weapons development facility, which was secured by U.S. troops after the invasion.

1.8 tons of partially enriched uranium discovered at al Tuwaitha, which was removed by the U.S. Energy Department in June 2004 amidst warnings it could be used to produce a dirty bomb.

Centrifuge parts and blueprints hidden by one of Saddam's top nuclear scientists, who told U.S. interrogators that he was ordered to keep the bombmaking tools ready to resume production at a moment's notice.

Satellite photos from 2002 that showed new construction at al Tuwaitha, which had been largely destroyed in U.S. bombing raids during the first Gulf War and Operation Desert Fox.

The discovery of nearly two dozen artillery shells loaded with Sarin and mustard gas, which was reported in June 2004 by Iraq Survey Group chief Charles Duelfer.

Before we move on, I'd like to call to your attention to the Duelfer Report. For all you liberal moonbats, here's the Wikipedia description:

The Iraq Survey Group (ISG) was a fact-finding mission sent by the coalition after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq to find weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs developed by Iraq under the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. It consisted of a 1,400-member team organized by The Pentagon and CIA to hunt for Saddam's suspected stockpiles of WMD, such as chemical and biological agents, and any supporting research programs and infrastructure that could be used to develop WMD. The search uncovered numerous banned weapons-related programs, but failed to find stockpiles, which were the main stated reason for United States President George W. Bush ordering the invasion of Iraq to remove Saddam.

Did you get that? They found that he had programs to develop wmd, but no stockpiles of weapons. Come on, people! If he actually had stockpiles of nukes or chemical weapons, then that would be a good reason NOT to invade! Why wait until they have the weapons, if you know they're trying to develop them? This is why Americans think Democrats are weak on national security! And damn it, Bush never said that there were huge stockpiles of these weapons. He just said that Saddam had failed to account for his wmd. Which could mean anything. It could mean that he failed to account for his programs. Intellectual capital means a lot in the world of technology. Just check out the story of Francis Cabot Lowell, if you disagree. He was the man who committed the famous act of industrial espionage responsible for ending England's monopoly on the textile industry. And he didn't do it by stealing one of their mills. He did it by touring their facilities, and learning how the mills work. In essence, he stole the technology. Destroying the weapons facilities, and indeed the weapons themselves, would be meaningless if you leave the technological ability to develop them, whether it's the blueprints for the devices, or the nuclear scientists with the knowledge of how they work.
Basically, the conclusion I draw is that Saddam wanted these weapons, and nothing could stop him from getting them. The inspections would only have delayed him. Why contain a problem, when you can eliminate it?

And as promised, here is the list of alternate sources:

http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaIraq/IraqUNSC14072003.pdf
http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2005/08/10/news/local/news03.txt
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2002/020906-iraq2.htm
http://www.npr.org/programs/wesat/features/2002/oct/iraq/
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/report/2004/isg-final-report/isg-final-report_vol3_cw-anx-f.htm">

Fair Trade or Free Trade?

I'd like to get a debate started about the issues of fair trade and free trade. I'm not sure which way I stand on this issue, because I've seen some pretty logical arguments on both sides. Anybody interested?

The White Man's Burden by Rudyard Kipling

The White Man's Burden

Take up the White man's burden --
Send forth the best ye breed --
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness
On fluttered folk and wild --
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half devil and half child.

Take up the White Man's burden --
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times mad plain.
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.

Take up the White Man's burden --
The savage wars of peace --
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch Sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hope to nought.

Take up the White Man's burden --
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper --
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go make them with your living,
And mark them with your dead!

Take up the White man's burden --
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard --
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light: --
"Why brought ye us from bondage,
"Our loved Egyptian night?"

Take up the White Man's burden --
Ye dare not stoop to less --
Nor call too loud on freedom
To cloak your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your Gods and you.

Take up the White Man's burden --
Have done with childish days --
The lightly proffered laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold-edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!

I'm in a poetic mood

Rudyard Kipling should be required reading these days.



THE YOUNG BRITISH SOLDIER


When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East
'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast,
An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased
Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier.
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
So-oldier ~OF~ the Queen!

Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,
An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what's fit for a soldier.
Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .

First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts --
Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts --
An' it's bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .

When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt --
Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
An' it crumples the young British soldier.
Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .

But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:
You ~must~ wear your 'elmet for all that is said:
If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,
An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.
Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .

If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it's beer for the young British soldier.
Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .

Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --
A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,
For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.
'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .

If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --
Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,
An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.
Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .

When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,
Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier.
Front, front, front like a soldier . . .

When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich,
An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.
Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .

When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier.
Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .

If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier ~of~ the Queen!

Left Wing Monster #2

Here's an educational post for you young 'uns who don't remember Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. It's an article from discoverthenetwork.org, David Horowitz's much vilified attempt at understanding the network behind the left. This one is number two in the Left Wing Monster series. It's a story that is so extreme, in a sick way, it borders on comical. This one goes out to all you teenage hippie types passing out International A.N.S.W.E.R. literature. Your ignorance could someday destroy you.

Cult of 7G Crosses Over to The Dark Side

Today is a day that shall forever live in infamy. The Cult of 7G, has sworn allegiance to Emperor Darth Misha I, and has joined the ranks of loyal citizens of the Empire at the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiller. All hail Darth Misha I!! Death to Idiotarians!!

De-mystifiying the Left

I read this excellent article by Barry Loberfeld at frontpagemag.com. Truly a scholarly, and at times humorous critique of the left. It basically says everthing I've been screaming for years about leftists, only in a way far more articulate and scholarly than I could ever manage. They don't believe in freedom or equality. They sneer at the concept of freedom, and believe in hedgemony. How dare these unwashed masses determine the course of their own lives? How dare they not take the advice of their betters? If they won't listen to us, we'll take away their property and their rights and force them to listen! What the left actually seeks is their position on top! Under capitalism, Noam Chomsky is just another member of the peanut gallery. He has no control over me and my property, and thus I am left to my own evil devices, like the rest of the evil masses. Under communism, old Noam will get just what he wants, a position amongst the party elite, and the power to control us unenlightened heathens.

Screw Yahoo!

I've decided I'm going to stop using Yahoo as a source for news. I'm convinced that they intentionally change the url's of their news stories to confound bloggers. None of my hyperlinks to yahoo news stories work any more. I don't see why they shouldn't welcome the traffic I direct to their sites, but screw 'em. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. When I do see something in yahoo news that interests me, I'll do my best to find an alternative source to cite. Ya hear that, Yahoo? I say screw you blue, and your auntie too!

America Needs Another Patton

I've seen this quote circulating in conservative sectors of the blogosphere all week. It comes from Patton's famous speech to the 3rd army on the eve of D-Day.

We’re not going to just shoot the sons-of-bitches, we’re going to rip out their living Goddamned guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We’re going to murder those lousy Hun cocksuckers by the bushel-fucking-basket. War is a bloody, killing business. You’ve got to spill their blood, or they will spill yours. Rip them up the belly. Shoot them in the guts. When shells are hitting all around you and you wipe the dirt off your face and realize that instead of dirt it’s the blood and guts of what once was your best friend beside you, you’ll know what to do!

You can read the whole speech here.