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Wednesday, December 04, 2002
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On the way home from work today there were two men sitting next to me on the bus. They were talking about how much money they get from the Veteran's Administration, and one of them was talking about how he'd spent a total of twenty years in prison. When the other man said that he received $896/month from the VA, the criminal told him he "should" be getting $2500! He advised the other man that he should fill out a form saying he was 100% disabled by "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."
Neither of the two men were disabled in any way. They were both clearly in good health, and physically fit--they weren't even overweight! Here was a man who was clearly not even remotely disabled (unless you count being an ex-con) talking about getting $2500/month from the government as if he were actually entitled to it! And not only that, he was advising a total stranger on the bus how to do it, the way decent people give advice on getting a job!
I was totally disgusted. Here was some sleazy criminal stealing money from me and every other person who works for a living, and he's getting as much money as I get after taxes--and the other man was stealing an additional $900/month! No doubt both of them are solid Democratic voters.
10:08:48 PM 
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Apple turns sour on local telco. Apple Computer Australia says it's simple: The company has owned the global naming rights of the popular fruit since the computer boom of the early 1980s. [news.com.au]
Ironically, Apple Computer was once sued by Apple Records (the Beatles' record company) for the very same thing.
1:41:26 PM
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The News Is Free site is up and running again today. I'm glad it was only a temporary outage!
12:03:58 PM
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Mr Blair's role model. Paul Marks has seen spotted the true historical template for Tony Blair... For some time now I have been puzzled... [Samizdata.net]
Interesting post comparing Blair, who has apparently managed to somehow acquire a reputation for being "free market," to Louis Phillipe of France and President Herbert Hoover. There's also a comment with a link to an article on Hoover.
It's interesting to compare the historical figures (and Prime Minister Blair) to modern Republicans. They too have acquired a reputation for being "right wing" and "pro-free market" based on their speeches, even as they openly promote the same socialist and national socialist policies as the Democrats--and often with more success!
11:57:24 AM
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Bullseye Gunshop and the 'Missing' Records. AT NO TIME were records missing, as reported in newspapers. The ATF has finished their investigation of the origin of the AR-15 used in the 'Sniper Attacks' on the East Coast, with no charges being filed against the Bullseye. The owner of the Bullseye was congratulated on his cooperation with authorities.
The clerk interviewed stated that it was a reporter's misunderstanding a pile of new, unfilled-out forms that was the basis for this rumor. He had jumped to the conclusion that the new forms represented weapons sold, but not filed with the government. The rumor that this had happened once before was also false.
The local newspaper, The Tacoma News Tribune has printed a retraction, of sorts. Television stations, however, refuse to send reporters to correct some of the damage done to the Bullseye's reputation. [FirearmNews.com]
I won't hold my breath waiting for corrections from the national media, which reported that the store had illegally sold "hundreds" of weapons.
9:10:51 AM
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Taxed Germans Having Shirty Xmas. Frustrated Germans are sending their chancellor the shirts off their backs in response to an e-mail campaign launched after a post-election tax hike. Steve Kettmann reports from Berlin. [Wired News]
This is encouraging. It's a really good sign if Germans (a nation known for blind obedience to authority) are actively protesting. Maybe they'll even vote for some non-Socialist in their next election!
9:08:37 AM
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Feds' Spying Plan Fades to Black. Without fanfare, the government nixes an unpopular Justice Department initiative that would have turned thousands of ordinary citizens into antiterrorist snoops. Civil rights advocates had strongly opposed the program. By Julia Scheeres. [Wired News]
Don't celebrate yet. Just because the government has given up for the time being doesn't mean it won't be back. No doubt it will either sneak into existence quietly as part of some huge appropriations bill in a few years, or else it will be passed after some major terrorist attack gives Congress an excuse.
9:05:34 AM
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© Copyright
2006
Ken Hagler.
Last update:
2/14/2006; 6:57:13 PM.
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