Government Lying About “Saved or Created” Jobs

Oh here’s a great one courtesy of the No Agenda podcast. You know all those jobs that have been listed as “saved or created” on the $18 million government run Recover website? Well apparently many of the congressional districts listed don’t exist. I guess it’s easy to make up a list of jobs “saved or created” in the magical land of Make Believe.

Remington to Reenter the Handgun Market

The Firearm Blog points out that Remington is planning to reenter the handgun market. They seem to be coming a long ways from their “hunters only” history of the last several decades. First they introduce AR-15s, than the Bushmaster ACR, and now handguns. All they need to do is create some AK derivative and they too can be at the top of the Brady Hit List.

Google Chrome OS Revealed

Well Google revealed their Google Chrome OS. My take? Meh. It’s a web browser running on Linux. So if you have no Internet connection you have no usable computer.

It would be great for somebody like my Grandma whom would only need a web browser. But I certainly wouldn’t be too happy using it. Fortunately Google admits I’m not the target audience so I’m not going to say much.

Apparently Somali Pirate Dislike Being Shot At

Who knew? According to Snowflakes in Hell a ship was able to dissuade Somali pirates from boarding. How? Well:

Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday for the second time in seven months and were thwarted by private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship who fired off guns and a high-decibel noise device.

I have to agree with Sebastian on this one, I think the noise makers had little to do with fighting off the Mongol Somali hoards. Something tells me they were more afraid of being killed by bullets than discomforted by loud noise.

So the TSA is Security Theatre

Wow I couldn’t say I saw this coming. Another, “No Shit. How could people not get that?” post on Bruce Schneier’s blog leads to a research paper stating that people can improvise weapons on an airplane.

Really? NO WAY! I present the paper’s abstract:

Commonly available items including a ball point pen, a plastic knife, a broken wine bottle, and a broken wine glass were used to inflict stab and incised wounds to the necks of 3 previously euthanized Large White pigs. With relative ease, these items could be inserted into the necks of the pigs next to the jugular veins and carotid arteries. Despite precautions against the carrying of metal objects such as knives and nail files on board domestic and international flights, objects are still available within aircraft cabins that could be used to inflict serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. If airport and aircraft security measures are to be consistently applied, then consideration should be given to removing items such as glass bottles and glass drinking vessels. However, given the results of a relatively uncomplicated modification of a plastic knife, it may not be possible to remove all dangerous objects from aircraft. Security systems may therefore need to focus on measures such as increased surveillance of passenger behavior, rather than on attempting to eliminate every object that may serve as a potential weapon.

Hell I might even be able to use my laptop as a bludgeon weapon! I could also choke somebody to death with the power cord. Wait scratch that I could beat somebody to death the the power brick end of the power cord. Fuck it’s almost like I could even use my bare hands to kill or injure somebody on a plane.

I couldn’t have seen that coming. Anyways I apologize for no direct link but the paper is on a site that requires a subscription to gain access to their papers.

Awesome Japanese Submarine Found

There is something about submarines that fascinate me. Therefore when I hear interesting news about them I read away with impunity. Well researchers have found the purposely sunk I-201 submarine.

The I-201 was a Japanese submersible aircraft carrier. Since cruise missiles didn’t exist during World War II the only really effective way to bomb something by delivering those explosives via airplane. Of course anybody can see a massive aircraft carrier approaching a coast line, but few can see underwater. The idea of these submarines was to deliver bombers stealthily to enemy targets and within minutes surface and launch a surprising bombing.

Of course the war ended before the Japanese could use the I-201 so it ended up in the hands of the United States Navy. The Navy studied it and her sister ship then sunk the shit out of them when the Soviet demanded access to them.

Anyways just some cool shit.

A Right Doesn’t Mean It’s Mandatory

OK I’ve heard this going around by haven’t found the source. Thankfully Says Uncle found the source of this current meme. Some guy at the Washington Post has a modest proposal, require every American to own a gun by force of law. Although this article is most likely satirical in nature it does give me a pedestal to stand on while I say something.

Any right means just that, you have the right. It doesn’t mean you must exercise that right though. Even though United States code does require everybody in the militia is required to own a flintlock rifle the law doesn’t appear to be enforced. [Incorrect as pointed out by Illeix below.] Since that law isn’t enforced it’s really up to the individual whether or not they want to own a gun. And people should have that choice. I think requiring people to own guns is a poor idea.