“Indeed that thing upon our neck was not created decoratively, and in using our heads with our hearts, must also use our eyes, and set them clearly, not upon one healing mechanism, not upon one prevention, but upon all those connective dots that can allow future generations the possibility of a freedom including peace and safety.”

– Sean Penn, “Breached Piñatas” on the Huffington Post site

If you’re feeling especially bored and / or you’re looking to be weirded out even more, here’s the full article.

Yep, this is the sort of wisdom and insight that we can expect from the Obama Administration’s second term and its supporters.

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NOTES

1. Reposted –
   1. Personal micro-blogs – Facebook / Google Plus / Twitter / Xanga

   2. Personal blogs – WordPress

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Current mood: irate

For the uninitiated, “BOTE” stands for “back of the envelope” – cocktail napkins rip and tear too much to used for anything other than as napkins.

32,000 – annual number of firearms-related deaths in America (source: CDC)

270,000,000 – number of guns in America’s private sector (BATFE estimate – other estimates double or triple this number)

Now we simply divide the first number (32,000) by the second number (270,000,000) to get a guesstimate of the number of guns involved in fatal incidents in America. Granted, this is rather inaccurate in that it assumes that each fatality involved a separate gun – the recent spree killers in Aurora, Colorado and Newton, Connecticut that Senator Feinstein is gleefully using to justify her latest victim disarmament scheme used the same firearms to kill multiple people. The fact is, that VD movement was rather stagnant here in the States after the year 2000 – this is just what the Senator needed to kick-start it back to life. As the adage goes, “never let a crisis go to waste.”

(32,000) / (270,000,000) = 0.0001185185 – that’s 0.0118518519 % of American guns are the ones that “kill people in America” (guns don’t kill people – when was the last time you saw one fly around on its own, load itself, point itself at anyone and pull its own trigger? But try telling that to an advocate of victim disarmament.)

So to comply with the Senator’s demands, allegedly to prevent spree killers like Lanza and Horton, the other 99.9881481481 percent of American gun owners simply must give up their liberty and property. Never mind that the 99% here never engaged in such evil, nor have any desire to do so.

Never mind that the 1994 “assault weapon” ban signed by Waco Willie Clinton was a dismal failure in stopping such massacres (or any other sort of crime) – the 101 California Street shootings were carried out using two pistols that the State of California had declared illegal six years before (the crappy Intratec TEC-9). What Feinstein wants, Feinstein is determined to get, and to Hell with the truth, or the consequences.

Calculations done with Libre Office Calc

Here’s some more from the international scene:

Figure 1 – Gun-related deaths vs guns per capita, by country
The data used to make the above graph [PDF]

Sources for the above graph

List of countries by firearm-related death rate
Number of guns per capita by country

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Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

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Current mood: irate, pissed

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Fwd: Guns aren’t the problem, and never really were
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:16:38
From: Mike Blessing
To: LPNM Discussion list @ Yahoo!, My Public Email Archive, The Weekly Sedition @ Yahoo!, New Mexicans for Liberty
BCC: [80 individuals]

Re: Gun Arguments Die in Latest Massacre

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Guns aren’t the problem, and never really were
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:51:55
From: Libertarian Party of New Mexico <lpnm.chair@gmail.com>
To: <llinthicum@abqjournal.com>, <opinion@abqjournal.com>

“And it’s time for Americans to stop talking about our individual rights and start accepting our collective responsibilities.”

With that one sentence, Ms. Linthicum disavows the one thing that separates America from the rest of the world – the United States is the only country with the notion of individual rights written into its core documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

She says “I don’t want to hear that it’s not guns that are the problem, people are.” Well, she’s going to, and not just from me, from what I see on the Journal’s website. Because it’s the truth. Inanimate objects such as guns, knives and baseball bats don’t cause violent crime, as she alleges. That’s like saying cars cause drunk driving.

Then she says she doesn’t want to hear about how an armed teacher could have prevented the tragedy. Again, she doesn’t want to hear the truth. She’s got an agenda to promote and doesn’t want anything to get in the way.

Fact is, Linthicum’s pet cause of victim disarmament legislation has been a stagnant one since the year 2000. Twenty dead kids in a public school is just what she needed to bring it back to life.

Why hasn’t she asked any questions about Adam Lanza’s psychiatric state at the time of the tragedy? Was he doped up on Ritalin, Prozac or any other anti-depressant?

And about the shootings themselves:

Why is it that not many (if any) people shoot up private schools or religious schools like this? What makes the public schools so special in this regard?

Why is it that there’s never any coverage of these sort of incidents happening with homeschooling families? After all, quite a few of those in the homeschooling movement are also supporters and exercisers of the right to own and carry weapons.

Why is it that these sorts of shootings never seem to happen at gun shows, at gun stores or at shooting ranges? After all, by Linthicum’s brand of thinking, these are the places that they should happen the most at – lots of guns present, lots of ammo present.

Anyway, Linthicum wants us to put our inalienable Constitutional, civil, God-given human rights aside for her notion of “collective responsibility.” Well, what happens when her side loses an election, and she becomes subordinate to someone else’s notion of “collective responsibility” – a version that she doesn’t particularly care for? Maybe then she’ll learn to appreciate that “outdated” notion of individual rights?

I can only hope so.

_______________________________________________________________________

Mike Blessing / Phone – 505-249-1248
State Chair, Libertarian Party of New Mexico

Who owns you? Who runs your life? Who should – you or someone else?
Freedom is the answer – what’s the question?

“If you wanna live long on your own terms
You gotta be willing to crash and burn”– Motley Crue, “Primal Scream”

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NOTES

1. Links to this post

2. Reposted –
   1. Personal micro-blogs – Facebook / Google Plus / Twitter / Xanga

   2. Personal blogs – Blogspot / WordPress / Xanga / Yahoo!
   3. LPUSA / LPNM – LPNM Blog / LPNM Official Facebook group / New Mexico Libertarians Facebook group / [LPNM-discuss] Yahoo! group
   4. The Weekly Sedition – Facebook / WordPress / Yahoo!
   5. Duke City Fix / NMPolitics.org / Tea Party Nation

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Copyright © 2012 Libertarian Party of New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Current mood: irate, pissed

 

“Laugh at me. Call me mad. Call me evil. But just remember me when you or your loved ones are being raped, or mugged, or dragged off never to be seen again – and you are an obedient, disarmed little citizen who can do nothing about it.”

– Sean Gabb, Director, Libertarian Alliance
   from The Libertarian Enterprise #701, 16 December 2012:
   The War Against Armed Crime: We Need Guns to Make Us Safer

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Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with gedit Notepad++.

SOME DETAILS ABOUT ME

Screenames:		GunsSaveLives, StarshipTrooper, RAH4Pres
Birthday:		21 February
Birthplace:		Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Current Location		Albuquerque, New Mexico
Eye Color:		Greyish-blue
Hair Color:		Dark brown (that was 2005 – now it’s more grey)
Right Handed / Left Handed / Ambidextrous:		Right handed
Your Heritage:		Polish / German, from what I’ve been told by family
Family:		Scattered around the country – ABQ, NM, Philly, PA, Tampa, FL, others in WV and VA/DC
Named after:		No one that I know of
Shoes:		Boots / Sneakers / Sandals
Your Weakness:		Procastination, hesitation
Skills, Talents:		Computers, copiers, fax machines, firearms, radio operator, land navigation
Your Fears:		Rejection / Failure
Your Perfect Pizza:		Sausage and pepperoni (from Papa Murphy’s)
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:		Lose some weight
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:		LOL
Thoughts First Waking Up:		“Oh shit, I have to get up?!?!”
Your Best Physical Feature:		My brain
Your Bedtime:		Work days – 12 AM / Off days – 2-3 AM
Most Missed Memory:		If I knew what it was, it wouldn’t be missing, would it?
Soft Drinks:		Cherry Coke / Vanilla Coke / Root Beer
Fast Food:		Subway / Wingbasket / Jack In The Box
Single or Group Dates:		Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:		Either – Iced tea is my preferred drink
Ice Cream:		Strawberry, butterscotch
Cappuccino or Coffee:		Neither
Do you Smoke:		I’m a non-smoker, as opposed to an anti-smoker.
Do you Swear:		Sometimes
Do you Sing:		In the car
Do you Shower Daily:		Yes
Have you Been in Love:		Yes
Do you want to go to College:		Yes
Do you want to get Married:		If the right person comes along and wants to
Do you belive in yourself:		“Do you belive in myself”? Never heard the word “belive” before.
Most important lesson in life:		Don’t start fights, but be prepared to finish them.
Do you get Motion Sickness:		Not really
Do you think you are Attractive:		A bit
Are you a Health Freak:		No
Do you get along with your Parents:		Sometimes
Do you like Thunderstorms:		Yes, as long as I’m not online – already had a burned-out hard drive
Do you play an Instrument:		The CD player
In the past month have you drank alcohol:		Not lately, but I prefer Makers Mark or a beer or two
Smoking:		No
Most used drugs:		Acetominophen / Ibuprofen (tried pot, but it didn’t do anything for me)
In the past month have you gone on a Date:		No
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:		Yes (Cottonwood)
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:		No
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:		Tried it a few years ago – wasn’t impressed.
In the past month have you been on Stage:		Not for about two years.
In the past month have you been Dumped:		No
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:		No
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:		No
Ever been Drunk:		Yes
Ever been called a Tease:		Yes, and I am.
Ever been Beaten up:		Yes, and I’ve done my share of the beating, too.
Ever Shoplifted:		Yes (not exactly proud of it)
How do you want to Die:		In bed with a beautiful woman
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:		Do I have to?
What country would you most like to Visit:		Not sure.

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||||| 60% Stability |||||||||||||| 60% Orderliness |||||||||||||| 53% Accommodation |||||||||||| 50% Interdependence |||||||||||| 50% Intellectual |||||||||||||||| 63% Mystical |||||||||| 36% Artistic |||||||||||| 43% Religious || 10% Hedonism |||||||||||||| 56% Materialism |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Narcissism |||||||||||| 50% Adventurousness |||||||||||||| 56% Work ethic |||||||||||||||| 70% Self absorbed |||||||||||| 43% Conflict seeking |||||||||||||||| 63% Need to dominate |||||||||| 36% Romantic |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Avoidant |||||||||||| 43% Anti-authority |||||| 30% Wealth |||||| 23% Dependency |||||||||| 36% Change averse |||||| 30% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||| 70% Individuality |||||||||||||||| 63% Sexuality |||||||||||||||| 70% Peter pan complex |||||||||||| 50% Physical security |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Physical Fitness |||||| 30% Histrionic |||||||||||| 43% Paranoia |||||||||||||| 56% Vanity |||||||||||| 50% Hypersensitivity |||||||||||| 50% Female cliche |||||||||||| 43%

Results Summary

Stability results were moderately high which suggests you are relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic.

Orderliness results were medium which suggests you are moderately organized, hard working, and reliable while still remaining flexible, efficient, and fun.

Extraversion results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

Trait snapshot

social, outgoing, worry free, optimistic, upbeat, tough, likes large parties, makes friends easily, rarely irritated, open, enjoys leadership, trusting, dominant, thrill seeker, strong, does not like to be alone, assertive, mind over heart, confident, controlling, feels desirable, likes the spotlight, loves food, social chameleon, hard working, concerned about others

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NOTES

1. Reposted –
   1. Personal blogs – Blogspot / WordPress / Xanga

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Current mood: annoyed, bored, bummed, cranky

Quite often I get to thinking how as kids we got by
Like at Christmas time at our house we couldn’t even afford a fire

But we made do with what we had back then when I was young
Dad used to suck a peppermint and we’d all sit around his tongue

We couldn’t afford no sparkling tinsel for our Christmas tree
So we’d just wheel old Granddad in and make the old cunt sneeze
(ahh-CHOO… wheel him round the other side nanna)

But things changed pretty bloody quick, I’ve got kids now of me own
And I heard ‘em unwrap their pressies, last night when I got home

Hey Santa Claus you cunt, where’s me fuckin’ bike?
I’ve unwrapped all this other junk and there’s nothing that I like
I wrote you a fuckin’ letter and I come to see you twice
You worn out geriatric fart, you forgot me fuckin’ bike

If I’d a’ wanted a pair of bloody thongs, I would have bloody asked
And this cowboy suit and ping pong set you can shove right up your arse
You’ve stuffed me bloody order up, it’s enough to make you spew
But it’s not just me who’s snakey, me sister’s dirty too

Hey Santa Clause you cunt, where’s me fuckin’ pram?
You promised me you’d bring me one, you remember who I am
Cause I’m the little girl what you made sit right on your hand
I’ll give you fuckin’ ho ho ho, you forgot me fucking pram

Next time I come to see ya I’m gonna punch you in the guts
And I’ll let your fuckin’ reindeer go and kick Rudolf in the nuts
You just wait til next year, when you get back to that store
And me and me little sister come stomping through the door

And we’ll say, yeah you wait for it:
Hey mum’s and dad’s you smell his breath and check his bloodshot eyes
And don’t listen to him boys and girls cause he tells fucking lies
He’s just a piss tank and a pervert, and he’s not even very bright
Cause the old fuckin’ wanker forgot me fuckin’ bike

Hey Santa Claus you cunt, where’s me fuckin’ bike?
I’ve unwrapped all this other junk and there’s nothing that I like
I wrote you a fuckin’ letter and I come to see you twice
You worn out geriatric fart, you forgot me fuckin’ bike

Fuckin’ dob you in you old cunt
Tell me old man on you, he’ll punch your fuckin’ lights out
I saw mummy sucking Santa Claus

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This blog entry created with gedit Notepad++.

Current mood: cranky

Why exactly don’t Japanese metal acts get any billing here in the States? Saber Tiger has been around since 1981 and I’ve just heard of them today – thirty-one years later. What the hell was their record label doing for those 31 years (they’ve released TEN studio albums, in addition to a few EPs, compilation albums, etc.^[1])

These guys have the chops to make it – OK, they don’t do the “screamo” bit that is supposed to sound “demonic,” but really ends up sounding like some sort of respiratory problem. But I’ve never understood why American or European bands engage in it, either.

I suspect that part of the problem is that they’ve had something of a revolving door where their lineup is concerned. In their case, it seems like a small orchestra.

---

NOTES

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saber_Tiger#Discography
   http://sabertiger.net/html/discography.html

2. Reposted –
   1. Personal micro-blogs – Facebook / Google Plus / MeetMe / Twitter / Xanga – Chatboard, Pulse

   2. Personal blogs – WordPress / Xanga
   3. Mama’s Fallen Angels (The site only allowed me to post the video clip. I suspect that I would have to attach my wit and wisdom (see above) separately as a comment. Really aggravating.)

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Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Current mood: nerdy, pensive

For those fed up with wearing those stupid glasses while watching 3-D movies and TV, this could be a bit of relief:

While it’s an interesting development, the title of the clip embedded here is “Holographic TV coming in 2012.” Well, it’s almost the end of 2012, and there doesn’t seem to be any commercial version of this tech being pushed to market any time soon.

---

NOTES

1. Links to this post

2. Reposted –
   1. Personal micro-blogs – Facebook / Google Plus / MeetMe / Twitter / Xanga

   2. Personal blogs – Blogspot / WordPress

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with gedit Notepad++.

Current mood: bitchy, cranky

The title of this video clip – “Why our Country is Going Down The Drain” – really is self-explanatory.

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NOTES

1. Reposted –
   1. Personal blogs – Blogspot / WordPress

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.