Reestablishing Slavery

I wasn't terribly surprised to hear that Rep Charlie Rangel (D-NY) has called for resuming the military draft: he's done so a couple of other times over the past couple of years. What's new is that he's now in the House majority and claims he'll introduce legislation as soon as the next session begins.

I find it very telling as to the degree of anti-intellectualism in US government, and the degree of historical amnesia that exists in our society, when a black Congressman reintroduces involuntary servitude into the legislative discussion. Every last bit of the opposition is based 'pon the pragmatic basis that "today's highly skilled and trained army is better suited to voluntary enlistees." No one in government has ever, to my knowledge, put forth a principled argument against military conscription, that is, referred to it as involuntary servitude.

Even more disturbing, is the fact that conservatives, the very people about whom we used to think as fellow travelers in certain areas, have seemingly lost the ability to think in terms of principles (obviously I'm generalizing here). On her radio show today, Laura Ingraham, (about whom I've written here) suggested that in lieu of a military draft, a form of mandatory universal public service might be a good idea to bolster the patriotism of American youth.

I'd be watching for a repeal of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constution, if I thought there was any honesty in Washington DC. Truth is, however, that all of the proponents of either military conscription or mandatory public service deny that this constitutes slavery--in spite of the applicable definition of the term: the state of being in control of another person. (Wordnet 2.0)

A large standing army will be used, and today's already huge military complex, made larger by the addition of large numbers of conscriptees, will be used in more places.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

How Do You Tell The Honest Thieves From The Dishonest Ones?

In the continuing saga of police paramilitarization and the miriad assaults, thefts, murders and Constitutional abuses inherent in this trend, we now find, according to this entry in The Agitator, that groups of private individuals (gangs, as the msm would put it) are donning SWAT-like duds, arming themselves with SWAT-like equipment and using the image and tactics of the paramilitary police, breaking into homes and rousting, terrorizing and looting the residents.

How do you dare resist, if you think it's the police?

Well, apparently (and this may be a small bit of comfort to the victims), unlike real SWAT forces, the non-official thieves very rarely accidentally shoot their victims.

Tip o' the old grey fedora to Balko at The Agitator.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

A Great Man Passes

I just learned of the passing of Nobel Laureate economist Dr Milton Friedman, last night. Dr Friedman was a personal hero of mine and of many others.

The Wine Commonsewer has written a message on Dr Friedman that includes links to several interesting and informative articles about a great man's life and works.

I grieve.

Warm Regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

The Law of Identity

No, this isn't going to be a philosophical treatise, but there's another long-running phenomenon in the realm of interpersonal communication, 'pon which I'd like to comment.

Labels.

From the tender age of about sixteen, when I referred to a young lady with whom I was talking in some particular way, she suddenly said angrily, "Don't label me!"

I don't recall what I said to her or even whether I was right or wrong, but I remember being at once taken aback by her sudden outburst and wondering what on earth she meant. Well, I've heard that phrase several times over the years and sort of put it down as being some kind of girl thing.

I didn't think much about it, but a reference on one of the tv political talk shows brought it back into focus. In the first days after the election, a Democrat Party Strategist was asked something to the effect, "With Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker, will her agenda be as far-left as her recent rhetoric, or will she attempt to work with the President in a non-partisan way?"

Well, the woman (the reason I mention her gender is that I've never heard a male use this sort of argument) affected a conciliatory pose and answered, "Why do we need to use such divisive labels?" or words to that effect.

I finally figured it out!

They don't want to be identified for what thay are, or what they're doing. They don't want to hear it spoken out loud.

A thing is--what it is; its characteristics constitute its identity. An existent apart from its characteristics, would be an existent apart from its identity, which means: a nothing, a non-existent. [Leonard Peikoff, "The Analytic-Synthetic Dichotomy"]

It seems as though the wish not to be "labelled" is a wish to hide one's characteristics from others, to hide these characteristics from oneself, or at the very least, a wish that those characteristics not be named.

The first thing one has to do is ask oneself why.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Them

I don't know, maybe I'm treading 'pon thin ice here, or maybe I learned a different English than did the rest of the country, but I was taught that the subject and the predicate in a sentence must match. In the instance of which I now write, if the subject is singular, then the predicate must also be singular.

Ask your real estate salesman if they are a realtor.

No. Ask your real estate agent if he is a realtor.

Call your friend and ask if they can come to the party.

No. Call your friend and ask if she can come to the party.

The use of the singular subject with the plural predicate is so widespread that I'm often tempted to make the same mistake myself, but I try to avoid it (almost always successfully).

Every time I hear a newsperson say something like, "The police have few clues as to the identity of the killer, but assure us they will be apprehended soon," I always mentally ask, "how many killers were there?"

Miss Steen, where are you when we need you?

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

We Voted For No Incumbents!

Those of us who actually voted, that is. As I write this little ditty, I can't believe how unenthusiastic I've become. I guess I've always thought of American politcs as a sort of team sport, to decide which team gets to rob me--erroneously thinking that one team will steal less of my meager wealth than the other.

No fewer than five conservative pundits I've heard are saying that it wasn't conservatives that lost, but republicans. I'm not sure how much that satisfies me, but it might just be true. The last time I thought that there was any hope at all that conservatism might lead a tentative, transitory movement toward a smaller, less intrusive government was in '94, when Newt Gingrich offered the "Contract With America."

The "Contract" promised to remove a number of obstacles to decreasing the size of government. Gingrich required a vote on several bills, some of which placed limits on Congressional excesses and would've, it was to be hoped, started a move toward decreasing the size of the federal government.

The Democrats started bleating their "it's for the children" inanities and accusing Gingrich and his adherents of all manner of immorality (some of it true) from selfishness and callousness to infidelity. The Republicans, as is their way, folded like a glass-jawed boxer and even in their majority, backed themselves into an ashamed silence.

We know what's happened since then: the Democrat minority pretty much had their way with them for the remainder of Bill and Hillary's tenure as co-Presidents.

Eh, eh! And then along came George! Tall, slim George! Slow walkin' George, slow talkin' George! Along came long, lean lanky Georrge!

We're saved! The pundits all said so! With George Bush as President and a Republican-controlled House and Senate, the country will be fully returned to the promise of the Founding Fathers in no time at all!

Well folks, again we saw what happened. Bush made a few tentative overtures in what might be called the right direction, such as the suggestion of the privatization of a minute slice of the Great American Ponzi Scheme, er, Social Security. When the Democrats began wailing about how Republicans wanted the elderly to starve to death, Republicans in the House and Senate hid under their desks and started up with their standard meek refrain about reviving the Anti-Flag-Burning Amendment.

The Bush Administration reverted to their kowtowing to the Democrat leadership, signing every spending bill they could dream up, and we're off to the (spending) races yet again.

And this is all before the Sept 11, attack!

The resulting war presents a whole new set of Republican gaffes of its own, mostly resulting from, again, Republican cowardice, all of which added to my growing distaste for this administration. In the face of Democrat criticism, and criticism from Europe and (!) from the evil muslim fascists themselves, the American wehrmacht was ordered to fight a "Politically Correct" war. That is, to kill no non-combatant even though the combatants wear no distinctive clothing nor do they in any way separate themselves from the "civilians." This, of course, is to guarantee that the "War on Terror" will never end and will never be won.

Then there was Iraq. What can one say about Iraq? There are a couple of old American military phrases that can adequately describe Iraq: Cluster-fuck and that old WWII acronym, SNAFU (situation normal: all fucked up).

Aside from using the attacks by the islamic fascists to increase government intrusion into the lives and freedom of Americans, destroying the Bill of Rights and every bit of the America for which the Founders fought, there's no reasonable explanation for the way this struggle has been mishandled, almost from the start.

And thus endeth the Republican Party and, with it, the counterfeit philosophy that promised freedom but gives us never-ending strife: conservatism. It really ended decades ago, but its shadow continues to cast a pall over the America envisioned by freedom lovers to this day.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

It Only Encourages Them

For years now, I've been teetering on the edge of "Just Say No!" to the voting booth. Many very intelligent individuals have made very convincing arguments against the notion of voting, and I agree with much of it. Others suggest that "if you don't vote, you've no right to complain." Of course, I disagree absolutely with this opinion. As is painfully obvious to those long-suffering readers of this blog, I do complain. A lot. There's a lot 'bout which to complain.

After the utter failure of the first GWB term in office, for which he should have been impeached and removed from office for a host of reasons, I determined not to vote for him for a second term. Sadly, the Democrats nominated what seems like the very most inept candidate that could've been found: John Kerry. How can you even begin to consider the Democrat Party if this is their best and brightest?

Of course, I voted for Michael Badnarik, who had no chance of winning, but at least has shown that he's read the Constitution of the United States (unlike either Bush or Kerry).

After the past two years' profoundly deteriorating state of the nation, and in the light of a seriously treasonous Congressional session in which almost everything that Congress did was a violation of their oaths of office, not to mention the Constitution of the United States, I've decided not to vote for any Republican for any office. Additionally, my past opinion of Democrats remains unchanged.

Thus, I'll either vote for no one in any offices, or again, vote for the candidate of the Libertarian Party.

It'd be a lot easier to just skip voting altogether were it not for the plethora of referenda on the ballot, almost every one of which exist only to either extract even more of my few remaining very inflation-depleted dollars from my anorexic wallet, or to arrange it so that the same happens to my descendants and their descendants (should any come into existence), not to mention those of my contemporaries.

What I really think, and have thought for a long time, is that America is headed toward a catastrophic financial bankruptcy that will very suddenly make life as hard in these States as it is in the worst of the third world. All caused by thieving politicians and those who vote them into office. That is, those who want something for nothing.

Well, I no longer wish to participate. I'll vote, in self defense, against any referendum that increases either taxes or debt, or further restricts the freedom of individuals. Otherwise....I abstain.

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Enjoying Las Vegas qua Las Vegas

While I did those things for which I came to Vegas, Debbie had been rammin' around the various hotels and casinos much of Saturday. The Liberty Lives! Conference was over after a nice buffet lunch early Sunday afternoon, following which I became freed up to check out some of these things, as well.

Debbie had been talking about seeing a show while we were there, but many of them were closed Sunday and others were outrageously expensive. Since we'd talked about seeing one of the tribute shows, she bought a couple of tix for a show called "The Rat Pack is back!"

As we walked from our hotel to the Greek Isles Hotel and Casino, which contains the theater at which the show is presented, we began to be concerned, as we noted that the building had a rather "weathered" appearance. Our concern was not partucularly diminished as we entered the building and observed a relatively small and spartan casino.

Concern mounted as we went to the will-call window to get out tickets. The male member of the couple in front of us was having a discussion with the clerk.

"Sandy said the tickets would be here for me."

I couldn't hear the "I'm sorry sir, I don't find anything in your name."

The man produced a cell phone. "Just a second. I'll call Sandy." And, turning to me, "I'm sorry this is taking so long."

He says something I can't hear to his phone, then hands it through the slot in the window. "Here's Sandy."

After a few seconds, the clerk hands the phone back to the gentleman, then after several seconds, pushed his tickets out to the gentleman.

He took his tickets, thanked the clerk. He and his lady turned to Debbie and me, apologizing once again.

Well, Debbie and I got our tickets, then went to the hotel's restaurant for a pretty ordinary dinner while waiting for showtime.

When we were seated, 'twas at a table well back from the stage. We were going to have trouble seeing over those in front of us. After pondering that fact for a few minutes, we were approached by an usher, who offered us better seats down near the stage. Whoopee!

The show turned out to be excellent! "Dean Martin" sang a couple of his standards, and did so extremely well. Facially, one could tell it wasn't really Dean Martin, but that's about the only way. He had the voice, the moves and the manerisms, not to mention the Dean Martin rap. As the show continued, the same proved to be true of "Sammy Davis, Jr," "Joey Bishop" and "Frank Sinatra." They were really good!

About two-thirds of the way though the show, "Marilyn Monroe" joins the group on stage. She banters with the boys in perfect Marilyn Monroe style, then is given the stage. She sings, going out into the aisles, soon asking who's having a birthday. Interacting with those who respond, she picks out an elderly gentleman and proceeds to sing Happy Birthday, in the style the original performer famously sang to President Kennedy, years ago. Planting a couple of lipsticky kisses 'pon the gentleman's face, she returned to the stage for the rand finale act, performed by all five performers, during which a jet of air reproduced the famous skirt-lifting scene from The Seven-Year Itch."

Great show!

As we stood to exit the room, who's sitting in the booth directly behind us? The couple who were in front of us at the will-call window. We chatted, briefly. Turns out he's Dick Hardwick, a comedian currently working at the Sahara. "Sandy," was Sandy Hackett, son of the late, great Buddy Hackett. Sandy is one of the producers of the show, and plays Joey Bishop.

We left the room still chatting with Dick and his wife, and ended up meeting the members of the cast and talking with them for a little while. Dick didn't say anyting, but I'm pretty sure it was he who got Debbie and me the better seats down near his table. Cool!

And I got to hug "Marilyn Monroe!"

We went casino hopping the next day, and did a little more gambling, collected a few souvenirs and went up to the top of Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower. It might only be half the size of the original in Paris, but 'twas still very high at the observation deck up top. Debbie was white knuckling the handrail.

Then, there was the drive home. We'd had a lot of fun, and I include the drive home in my favorite car, at night, across the desert under the stars. There's a Bob's Big Boy in Baker. I haven't eaten at a Bob's Big Boy in easily fifteen years.

It would've been worth it just to drive there and then drive back.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Agreement and Disagreement

One of the things I like about Liberty magazine is that, other than its commitment to libertarianism (precise definition to be determined later), the editors have taken no sides regarding the various contraversies within the movement. the writing of any individual can be accepted into the pages of the magazine, as long as it's well written and makes a coherent point.

Thus, there are pro and con articles on objectivism, the Libertarian Party, Friedman and Rothbard, to mention a few. They occasionally publish a fiction story and I think I even recall a poem or two. One can send in a comment on a news story to be printed in the Reflections column or just a clipping that may be placed in Terra Incognita.

It's for this reason, among a few others, that I decided to attend Liberty Lives!, the 2006 Liberty Editors Conference, in Las Vegas earlier this month.

There were several talks by individual speakers and several panel discussions on a variety of topics.

Mark Skousen tried to define the optimal size of government. I'm not sure that I got the entire program, but it started with a stipend from government, to be paid to every American, I guess out of the general fund, to take the place of all welfare and subsidy. While it might actually be less expensive than the outrageous hodge-podge we have now, it still requires that the funds first be extorted from the productive, with the unavoidable "administrative" rakeoff that always seems to serve to cause the "administators" to become the wealthiest among us.

My comment is that whatever government ought to exist, must exist in the absence of the initiation of force by said government. In other words, the only government that ought be tolerated is that which finances itself on a purely voluntary basis and never initiates the use of force.

Skousen returned Saturday morning to speak about Benjamin Franklin, and some of his lesser known activities to aid the cause of the American Revolution.

David Friedman gave the keynote address, in which he spoke about the upcoming changes, for better and for worse, to be caused by new technologies we'll soon be seeing. Some of it, to be employed by government and corporate entities, will increase surveillance of us all and make personal privacy more and more difficult. On the other hand, some of that technology will also serve to help us secure our financial privacy and to make interpersonal communication more private. Friedman, in his professorial style, admonishes us to become familiar with this new technology as it becomes available, and to use it to our best advantage.

Friedman also appeared in a few of the panel discussions, including "How to Fix the Drug Laws" (repeal them), The Future of Liberty, Libertarianism and Religion, and others.

Another highlight for me was the appearance of Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw. I read their book Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach (Warner Books, 1982) back when it was new, and have thought they're on the right track nutritionally since then. I've also appreciated the fact that they're in a constant battle with the evil FDA for our right to ingest that which we, each individual, wish. Ocasionally, David does slay the giant!

Pearson and Shaw gave a talk they called "One Million Deaths by FDA," in which they described one of the battles they had with the incompetent regulatory agency, regarding the right to publicize the beneficial characteristics of fish oil supplements. The one million deaths refers to the number of heart failure deaths that might have been prevented had fish oil advocates been able to publicize their findings earlier. The rule was, as I understand it, that fish oil supplements were on the market, but it was illegal to publicize the findings of studies that show the dramatic effects fish oil supplements have toward preventing sudden death heart attacks.

Jo Ann Skousen moderated a panel on Liberty in Film, in which the panelists described some of their favorite movies, and why they believe they have libertarian messages.

Saturday evening held the climax of the conference. It started with a very tasty Mexican food buffet dinner. Following dinner was a tribute/memorial to the life of Bill Bradford, the founder and late publisher of Liberty, during which several individuals described their friendship and experiences with Bradford during his life.

The evening was topped off by an hour of comedy by Tim Slagle. I only knew Slagle from the several short bits he's had published in the Reflections column in the magazine. They are always witty, funny and make good libertarian points. His stand-up routine was similar, but with a lot more belly-laughs. He made fun of vegetarians, "why don't carnivores have simulated salads made from lettuce-flavored meat?"and marijuana, with a little on the benefits of DDT. His humor was of the sort that one doesn't have to be drunk to find funny.

Debbie didn't attend the conference except for the Saturday night dinner program (which she also enjoyed), preferring to check out the various hotels and casinos on the Vegas Strip. She actually won a little money!

As for me, I had a great time, met several new and interesting people and learned a lot about one of my favorite monthly reads!

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

In Search of Lost Grammar

While attending Liberty Lives! last week (a full review of the proceedings is coming soon), I had an opportunity to chat with Stephen Cox, Editor of Liberty and a professor of literature at UC San Diego, during which he mentioned that he was a grammar nut. While I have to admit my knowledge of English grammar is far less than his, I told him that I too, found it very annoying that most Americans have little education and a poor understanding of the language they use to communicate with others.

In recent issues, Mr. Cox has been writing monthly articles called "Word Watch," in which he discusses communication issues.

It occurs to me that I ought to mention the odd case of the mugging of the English language, particularly when it's perpetrated by professional communicators.

For my first example, I'll use a phrase that pops up very often on tv and radio, and they always get it wrong. When speaking of a gap between two entities, a newsperson will say," between A to B."

Anyone who has ever set foot inside a school, even if just to use a bathroom, should know better than that.

Between A to B.

I hear it daily in the media. What kind of uneducated cretins are they hiring, these days?

It's "between A and B." Or alternatively, "from A to B."

I knew we were in trouble when, several years ago, the news covered a teachers' strike. The teachers were picketing on the public sidewalks in front of the schools carrying signs and chanting silly slogans.

The bad news? Several words on many of the picket signs were misspelled.

I fear for the health of the Republic.

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Viva Las Vegas!

Well, I'm back. One of the fun things about the trip was the drive out there, starting at 0100 Friday. Cruisin' along a desert highway in the wee hours, where our main company on the road was 18-wheelers and billions of stars on a moonless night is hard to beat.

We arrived at the New Frontier hotel at about 0730 and found a nearly empty casino. We had a first-thing-in-the-morning beer at the bar, which was surfaced with video poker machines, then went into the hotel restaurant (The Orchard) for a real breakfast. The cook there actually knew how to fry eggs to order! They have a breakfast buffet there, but Debbie and I agreed to skip it in favor of the menu. All I'd do is eat a whole bunch of bacon, and I don't need that.

The room left a lot to be desired. It wasn't fully maintained--the TV cabinet (which we never used) had a broken door and the bathroom fixtures had a lot of old calcium buildups and corrosion damage. The large window gave us a view of the beautiful Wynn hotel across the Strip, instantly making us wish we were staying there instead.

The few daylight hours I spent in the room were spent watching the construction work on what looks like a second Wynn building going up alongside the first. I can watch construction work all day (busman's holiday), and watching the crews' skill as they lift rebar mats into place and tie them down, and watch concrete crews placing the material is so cool!

Both Debbie and I did a little gambling, with a surprising degree of success--if you define success as breaking even. Remember: the percentage is always with the house. Debbie got a kick out of watching the action at the craps tables and I enjoyed watching the play at the roulette wheels. Neither of us knows enough about the games to be able to bet intelligently, so in the end, all we did was watch.

One of the (sort of) disturbing things about Las Vegas flows from the fact that it's been thirty years since my last visit to the town. Thirty years ago, it seemed like the casinos made their money mainly from the games. Everything else was either free, or very inexpensive. Rooms were cheap. Meals ditto. Shows, too.

Now, everything is its own profit center, therefore everything costs what it actually costs. I guess I don't actually have a problem with that, but it seemed odd to have to pay as much for a steak as it'd cost in LA. I suspect the cause of the change has its roots somewhere in the tax structure. The government extortionists have to get their clutching fingers into the pot, as well!

I can't complain, though (well actually I can, but who's gonna listen?) because Debbie and I had a very good time.

While I attended Liberty's Conference, Debbie did some exploring. She went up and down the Strip checking out a few of the casinos. We did a bit of that together too, after the Conference was over. I'll get into that in a subsequent entry.

'Twas the best vacation we've had in years.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Liberty Lives!

I'll be heading out to Vegas for a few days, starting tomorrow. Among other things, I'll be attending the Liberty Editors Conference at the New Frontier Hotel. Speakers will include editors and contributors to Liberty Magazine. Part of the weekend will be a celebration of the life of Liberty's Founder and Publisher, the late R.W. Bradford, a fellow whom I'd really have liked to have known.

I'll write a report on the proceedings 'pon my return.

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Respect Mah Authoritaa! (Or Go To Juvie Hall!)

Poor Julia Wilson (age 14), unsophisticated with regard to the perilous times in which we live, thought--as many of us do--she was able to express political opinion as she sees it, under the protection of Amendment the First to the Constitution of the United States.

According to a story on AccessNorthGa.com, linked on Drudge, she posted a photo of the President on her web page 'pon which she wrote, "Kill Bush" (her words, not mine, Mr G-Man).

She was taken out of class by a couple of SS thugs and questioned, and they were, reportedly, "unnecessarily mean."

I understand that they were just trying to scare the crap out of the kid, and they did just that, but does her admittedly crude statement of opinion qualify as a threat to the life of the President? I think that a cursory examination would've shown them that this was just a kid who doesn't like the Iraq war.

Hell, I don't like the Iraq war.

Now, Julia, justifiably angry after having been raked over the coals by our government's best jack-booted thugs, now plans to organizing other students to protest the war. Here's hoping she takes some time to study the nation's founding documents (I doubt the President has) and to learn what her rights are and what's right and what's wrong with the Republic.

It certainly is illegal to threaten the life of the President, and it ought to be (though no more so than to threaten the life of any other person), but it is just as certainly not illegal to express dislike for the President and his policies.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

The Green Swastika

According to a memo written by the US Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, dated October 11, 2006, Grist Magazine staff writer David Roberts has written an article advocating Nuremburg-style trials of members of the global warming "denial industry."

This is pretty remarkable, in view of the fact that most of those advocating the erroneous notion that there is a warming trend in the earth's climate and that the actions of mankind are the cause are largely agenda-driven "scientists" whose findings determine the size and scope of the grants they may receive. Lest there has been any doubt at all, this shows very clearly that Hitlerian fascism still lives, and that one of its homes is in the environmental wacko clubhouse. It's also interesting when advocates of a failing program attempt to elevate it to a "war" status--which is what this "war crimes" ploy tries to suggest--to attempt to give it further credence.

It fails completely and begins to illustrate the degree of desperation to which a psychotic will descend as he realizes the errors in his carefully-laid plan have finally been exposed. Watch for the advocation of even wilder acts of craziness in the near future

When simple logic shows that a single volcanic event, such as the Krakatoa eruption in 1883, threw more greenhouse gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere than all the actions of mankind in its entire history, one has to wonder how there can be any reasonable advocates of mankind-caused climate change.

I'm not sure if this places me in Green Kangaroo Court legal jeopardy, but I'll consider myself successful when the Green Meanies come knocking on my door to haul me off to trial. I'll be in pretty good company, I think.

As I've written here, and in previous entries to this site, the public advocates of this imaginary phenomenon, largely the of Hollywood airhead set and the political way far left, are much less interested in the climate than in effecting political change. And, they ain't advocating capitalism, boys and girls.

They aren't exactly saying, but logic indicates that they're in favor of some variant between a feudal and a hunter-gatherer society--with them, of course, cast in the role of the aristocracy. Else, why the condemnation of technology in general, and labor-saving devices in particular? Why the utter disdain of private (read liberty-fostering) conveyances and the accompanying freedom of movement they provide?

Well, we had a relatively short heat wave that ended about a month ago, and currently the days are cool and the nights are cooler. I bet that torques 'em off!

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Writer's Block....

I've been trying to write an entry about the Republicans' utter failure to do anything other than continue the destruction of the Bill of Rights and attempt to remain in power (presumably to finish the nullification of the rest of the Constitution), but it wasn't quite working. Meanwhile, I wasn't getting anything posted.

I'm gonna write some easier stuff for a bit.

Like, today. I started to watch Hannity and Colmes on Fox. Unremarkably, they spent the first several minutes talking with the very shady Col. Oliver North about North Korea. They were saying the predictable things about strengthening the ill-conceived "Patriot Act," and getting the do-nothing UN to write yet another resolution or something.

The really annoying thing--the thing that made me change to AMC (which is playing Fargo, a movie that reminds me of the part of the country in which I grew up--they really do talk that way up there!), was that once again, over and over, ad nauseum, they played that same hackneyed old footage of thousands of presumably North Korean soldiers goose-stepping in a way guaranteed to wreck their backs in no time. I think those clips were really put together by George Lucas on his Industrial Light & Magic, Inc computers at the Skywalker Ranch.

I did a little marching when I was in Boot Camp in the Navy. I have a good memory. You can't march like that.

And I can't watch those computer-generated stooges hippity-hopping past the reviewing stand even one more time.

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

You've Done a Lame Job....Take the Rest of the Year Off

Ain't it nice to have a job in which you can spend millions--nay billions of stolen money every year, go to money's-no-object dinner parties paid for by others, make decisions involving the lives and deaths of millions? Ain't it nice to go through life with the ability to control the lives of a nation of people and no responsibility for mistakes?

These are the politicians we duly elect and entrust with our safety and our well-being.

They're taking the rest of the year off. They're taking the rest of the year off for the sole purpose of conducting a campaign to get re-elected. How many contractors (private individuals who work for finite terms and have to negotiate to renew or extend their contracts--or make entirely new contracts--get the luxury of stopping work and working on the new contract with full pay and benefits paid by the old contract?

Let's require these drones to eschew campaigning on our time and either continue the work they're supposed to do right up to the end of their term, or (better yet!) suspend their pay and benefits from the end of the Congress term until the new term begins. This, of course, to include the pay and benefits of all staffers, who are also working on the re-election campaign.

Some will suggest that while the Congressdrones are campaigning, at least they're not enacting new legislation that will further limit our freedom and our lives. That sentiment, with which I fully agree, really says a lot about their perceived value, doesn't it?

Why not just allow that their re-election is dependent 'pon their deeds while in office? Another idea: One term, and never again.

Some say they need more than one term to gain the experience to be effective in Washington. I'd rather they never gain that kind of experience.

We forget, and they make a point of forgetting, that their job is to erect and maintain a government whose sole task is to protect the rights of Americans, within the limits set by the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The federal government is so utterly overextended that Congress has no idea how to manage it anymore. No one knows where the money goes. No one knows how much money is coming in nor how much is being spent by whom. Each legislator has a number of pet projects that he attempts to fund (with money stolen from you and me) without consideration of prior projects that require ongoing maintainance.

No legislator is interested in limiting himself to his Constitutional role, even though every legislator swears an oath to protect and uphold the document. One wonders how many of them have actually read it.

I hate to seem pessimistic for the Republic, but it's hard to imagine how the wonderful idea that was America can ever be reconstructed.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Tragedy of the Commons--Again

My car is suffering from brake problems, and I took it to a garage this morning. Rather than have Debbie pick me up, I elected to leave the car at the garage and walk the two-plus miles home. Sherman Oaks, a suburb that is within the city limits of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, is actually a very nice area in which to walk. Residents, whether they happen to own their houses or live in the many apartment buildings nearby, generally take care of their surroundings and keep their places up.

There are nicely groomed yards and plenty of shade trees along the somewhat narrow streets. Alternatively, I can walk along Van Nuys Boulevard, Ventura Boulevard or any other of the major streets in the area and peer in the windows of the many storefronts lining that street for miles in either direction.

Today, as I walked along Van Nuys Boulevard, I paid attention to the buildings which housed the businesses I passed. Most were pretty well maintained. Many were older, with the inevitable faded paint and sometimes grafitti on broader walls. All in all, though, it's a nicer commercial street than many I've seen--as is nearby Ventura Boulevard.

What stood out negatively is the area around the freeway. Where the on- and off-ramps open into the street, they've erected very aesthetically pleasant low masonry walls to contain the trash and rubble that might roll down the slopes from the freeway. Between the wall and the sidewalk, they've placed paving stones rather than vegetation.

Now, this is all very nice, and CalTrans is to be commended for designing an aesthetically pleasing , as well as very efficient freeway system.

But.....politicians love to set up plans and programs, preferably with their names attached. They love to spend millions of dollars they could never have earned, on projects that may or may not be economically logical. There's never any thought given to long term maintenance. These were my thoughts as I paused to look at the well-crafted masonry, and the inches-thick layer of leaves both behind and in front of the retaining wall; the piles of trash mixed therein, the fast food bags tossed out of car windows as they exited the freeway, some obviously having lain there for weeks.

Nobody cleans it up. It lies there until wind blows it onto private property, then the property owner cleas it up. The politicians who spend the millions didn't think of, or arrange funding for maintenance and clean-up. I could bring up the fact that, when there were merely 160 million Americans, and the vast majority of those 160 millions paid less than 10% of their income in taxes to government at all levels, the US was a much cleaner, shinier and better maintained--even government property, if you can believe it!

Today, with nearly twice as many people, most working individuals pay on the order of 50% of their income to all levels of government. Property that's controlled by government is mostly shabby, unkempt, unmaintained. Government employees are unresponsive and undisciplined. Their laziness rivals that of career welfare recipients. They can't be terminated.

Nothing gets done.

Anywhere one travels in the great USA, one finds that (in general) private property is clean and well-maintained, and government property is filthy and in rugged condition.

I've long been an advocate of the privatization of....well, everything. Not only will it be far more just, but it'll make our part of the world a cleaner place! Individuals care for what they own.

This just in: in today's news on radio here in the Stalag, a study (I'll try to find the story in print) concludes that streets and highways in El Pueblo de Los Angeles are in the worst shape in the state, with the exception of those in San Jose. Knock me over with a feather! I drive on these alleged streets and highways every day. I have a big car with a soft suspension. I can only imagine how truck drivers and Yugo drivers manage, bumping down these cobblestone-like roads.

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

A Great Man Passes

Jeff Cooper, regular columnist and Editor-at-Large for Guns and Ammo magazine, passed away at home in Gunsite, Arizona, on the afternoon of September 25, 2006.

Off and on, over the past thirty-odd years, I've been reading and enjoying Col. Cooper's columns in Guns & Ammo magazine. I wrote to him once through the magazine, and have a wonderful personal reply from him, which I've saved.

I couldn't begin to list the number and nature of that which I've learned from his writings. He's made shooting sports more rewarding and more enjoyable for me in ways I can't begin to enumerate.

A gentleman's gentleman.

RIP, sir. You left the world a better place.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

America's Most Victimized (so far) Generation

I'm very proud, as many of you know, to be a huge fan and an acquaintance of Mr L Neil Smith. El Neil has written over twenty novels, every one of which I've read, most more than once. To me, he's second only to Ayn Rand, and a lot more fun.

Neil is still writing, and I eagerly await the publication of his next.

I've exchanged emails a few times with him, and have spoken to him on the phone a couple of times. A couple of years ago, I bumped into him at the Freedom Summit in Phoenix, and we had an hours-long conversation.

In spite of much of his fiery writing, such as that in the article I'm linking, He's an affable, mild-mannered fellow whom I'd be more than proud to call a friend. In fact, in spite of my very limited contact with him over the past several years, I will call him a friend!

I won't go into Neil's personal philosophy here, except to say that he's a libertarian's libertarian, and one of those current-day intellectuals who helps define the term.

Neil has just lost his mother, and has written a tribute to her, in his unique style, as well as to his previously deceased father and other members of their generation.

Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss, Neil.

My own limited ability to describe this essay compels me to merely link it, that you may judge for yourselves.

Death of a Generation, by L. Neil Smith

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Life's Strange and Winding Paths

Having read Philosophical Detective's tale of the unusual twist in an old friend's life-path, I'm reminded of a somewhat similar if maybe slightly more common situation in my own experience.

I have a friend (since we were ten) who, after several years married and two kids, came out several years ago. I learned this from another childhood friend, after I went to my 35th anniversary high school reunion in North Dakota. He told me that Chuck (NHRN) had been in town that weekend, but hadn't taken part in the reunion festivities.

Since Chuck was living in Winnipeg, and I had flown in from the Stalag, I was a mite miffed that he hadn't made his presence known. I'd, of course, spent time with several of my other high school friends, rehashing old times and bringing each other up to date, telling lies and promising to keep in touch, but Chuck was one of those I really would like to have seen.

I had visited Chuck once during my biker years, back in the '70's. I rode up to Grand Forks on a vacation and visited a couple of friends. I got Chuck's phone number and gave him a call. After getting his address, I rode on up to Winnipeg.

The dopey Canadian border people made me leave my pistol with them at the checkpoint, but I was able to retrieve it on my way back. I don't know what Canadians have against self defense, but I swear they have a sheepish quiver in their voices and that they grow their own personal wool against the winter cold.

Chuck had a moral objection to the draft, and moved up to Canada right out of high school--and stayed there. I had the same objection, but solved it by joining the Navy. Being anti-authoritarian in the extreme, I had a rugged time with military discipline, but had a good experience with my time in service all the same. One hitch, though, and both I and the Navy had had quite enough of each other.

Back to my tale, I had a nice visit with Chuck and his family in Winnipeg. I got the impression of a very staid, conservative family man, whereas I was anything but that. I might've seemed like a bit of a wild man, riding up on a clattering motorcycle packed to the gunwales with camping gear, souvenirs and not-too-clean clothing.

Since then, according to my other classmate, he got divorced, and came out--all while being a very successful executive in a medical profession. I don't know what happened to his family.

He doesn't seem to want to communicate with me now. I'm guessing he might think I won't accept his orientation. Well, it does seem strange, but this is Stalag California, home of the fruits and nuts, and one can't live here too long without making acquaintance with the odd gay man. I've come to terms with that circumstance many years ago.

It'd be nice to be in touch with Chuck, but I guess it's not to be.

We had a lot of good times, back in the days of twenty-five cent-a-gallon gas and nickel candy bars.

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Where There's Smoke There's Ire

In their seemingly never-ending crusade to make certain no one, anywhere can ever enjoy himself, we see yet another small portion of the surface of planet Earth 'pon which the smoking of tobacco will no longer be allowed by the smoking nazis. (The Orange County Register, Sept 14, 2006 print)

Orange County's beaches. Outdoors. Where the weather is generally relatively cool and breezy.

Now, I realize smokers are, in large measure, their own worst enemies. If I had a buck for every butt I've observed tossed out of a car or just dropped on the ground, I could've retired years ago. Some--in fact, maybe most--smokers are incredibly careless with their butts and their smoke.

One of the reasons for the thus-far proposed ban is a distaste by the public for cigarette butts in the beach sand--not to mention the possibility of one's stepping on a still-smouldering butt in the sand, with bare feet.

It might be speculated that there'd be a lot less anger at smokers by non-smokers were smokers more careful with their by-products.

When I was a younger man, I had the opportunity to spend some time 'pon the beaches of southern France, Italy and Greece. One of the things I recall especially is the fact that the beaches of Cannes and Nice are segmented by cute little fences and had controlled access. I don't know if they were privately-owned or merely leased by private operators, but there was an admission fee to enter the beach. Once inside, you selected a spot 'pon which there was a parasol provided. Waiters came around taking drink orders, or you could just lie in the sun and read, or swim, etc.

Part of what was paid for admission paid people to clean the beaches up, presumably, daily. I use the past tense because it's been many years since I observed all this, and it may not now be the same.

The point is, what we have here in the beaches of the Stalag is the tragedy of the commons. The beaches are public, they belong to all, which means they belong to no one. And that's exactly who takes care of them. What's the government's solution? The same as their solution for most things: heavy fines and lax enforcement.

What you bring to the beach, stays at the beach: your soda cans, cigarette butts, spare change that falls from your pockets, candy wrappers, tanning lotion bottles..... Who's going to pick them up? No one.

You don't think the lifeguards, the police, the parks & rec drones (civil welfare recipients, all) are going to, do you? The only reason the "public" beaches are as clean as they are is that many folks clean up after themselves. But many don't.

Other than the general hatred of many at seeing others enjoying a cigarette 'pon the beach, the biggest reason for wanting a law against smoking there is the cigarette butts--which no one will clean up. That's actually not a bad reason, but attend: there are never any cigerette butts laying around at Disneyland, nor at Knott's Berry Farm--even in the marked smoking areas. They are private property. Their customers pay to be there. The staff uses part of the admission fee to hire people to keep the place clean and free of litter.

We all expect that.

Throw down a paper napkin at Disneyland and step back and watch it. Within a very few minutes, there'll be a cleanly uniformed employee along to sweep it up.

The caretakers (?!) at the "public" beaches couldn't care less. They'd step on or over the napkin and walk on, and probably throw a hot dog wrapper on the sand alongside of it.

So, what am I saying? Well, I'm saying what I always say: Privatize. The foolish notion that the beaches will be better as "public" property is best tossed into the same trash can into which all thinking people have tossed the insane idea that farms and factories should be publicly owned. We, all of us who are civilized and rational, know it was a bad idea then and a bad idea now.

Who wouldn't pay a few bucks to have access to a clean, maintained beach with various amenities such as food and drink waiters and his own mini-cabana? With security against the well-known and often observed beach louts, thieves and drunks.

Why can't some of these private beaches allow smoking, and others not? Why can't some offer alcoholic beverages, and others not? Why can't some allow children, and others not? Pets? Volleyball? Surfing? Imagine the possibilities!

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

In the World of the Unarmed, the Armed Maniac is King

At first, I said to myself: "Wait, this is Montreal! Canada! They don't have guns in Canada!

Stupid as it seems, there aren't supposed to be any guns among the beer-and-donut crowd in the Great White North. Something about their having descended from British Tories and French socialists, I'd guess.

So, you understand why I was skeptical about the veracity of this story, early on. A hockey stick-swinging incident would be more likely, I thought, except that it's a little early in the year for that kind of thing.

Seems someone, using what the uneducated call an "automatic rifle," shot up the Dawson College campus in Montreal. According to this story on Canada.com, as reprinted from the Montreal Gazette. This deranged young man, dressed to look like the Columbine killers, made his way to the campus' second floor cafeteria, then started shooting indiscriminately at the students crowded therein. He shot twenty people, six were injured critically. Sadly, one of the six later died at the hospital.

Early reports indicated that the deranged individual then took his own life, but later it came out that he was killed by police. I sincerely hope that the officer is not prosecuted.

After I reiterate that Canada has outlawed personal firearms for almost all individuals, I'm certainly going to point out that such laws place the law abiding individual at a severe disadvantage.

Since it's now apparent that the killer was shot by a police officer, one might ask how long it took for the police to arrive, and how many might not've been shot had the officers arrived sooner. Those kinds of questions come up at every shooting in memory: where were the police? Why didn't they get there sooner?

I'll go a (big) step farther. How many might not've been shot if a number of those in the cafeteria had been armed, and had trained themselves in the use of their weapons? How many of these kinds of incidents would just never happen because the prospective killer would have to expect armed resistance and would probably be killed before he got very far?

I recall, many years ago, a man entered a McDonald's in San Ysidro, Stalag California, with a semi-automatic rifle and started shooting people indiscriminately, including several children. I remember thinking: how little these parents must think of their children, to be so completely unable to protect them. Had even as few as one or two of these parents been armed and competent with his weapon, several lives would very likely have been saved.

The 9/11 highjackers would've failed miserably to take over the aircraft had a number of the passengers been armed. What a load of trouble that would've saved us! I'm very suspicious that government enacts all the anti-self-defense laws specifically so that there'll be victims, thereby reinforcing their psychotic fantasies that they are needed by us.

But, when we actually do need help, are they there? Not unless you happen to be near a donut shop or a strip club.

For that very reason, one of the things muggers, robbers, burglars and killers count on is unarmed victims.

For that very reason, we all owe it to ourselves and our families to be armed and capable of handling our weapons.

They've killed freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Conspiracies and Lies

Every time there's a major catastrophy, and sometimes a minor one, we hear accusations of conspiracy. They're usually directed at the President, high-ranking members of a governmental agency, or at times, a powerful individual or group outside of government.

I've read viable theories claiming that the GWB administration 1) started the war in Iraq to continue his father's plans, 2) knew about the WTC and Pentagon attacks in advance and did nothing, 3) actually had the buildings packed with explosives to cause an implosion collapse, 4) is deliberately fighting the war not to win, but to make it last for years and, no doubt, more.

President Clinton (I still hate putting those two words together) is accused of having conducted his entire foreign policy to cover up his White House peccadilloes. The Clintons were thought by some to have been involved in the death of Vince Foster, and even that of Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. There was also the mysteries of the FBI files, the firings of the White House Travel Office. There was Mrs Clinton's foolish health care plan and her mysterious "earnings" in commodities speculation, both of which remain mysteries to this day.

Without getting bogged down in what would be a never-ending list--the illegal and knowingly unConstitutional acts by government officials are being committed much faster than I could even type them, even If I could keep track of them all!

There is a solution to all this. In fact, it's a solution to much that's wrong with government. It was first suggested to me in L Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise, in an article entitled "The Boys Who Cried 'Terrorist.'" There ought to be a law, applicable only to government "—making it an offense punishable by public hanging for any government employee, at any level, to lie to any individual for any reason."

We often forget that government employees and elected and appointed officials are our servants--not the other way around. They work for us. There is never a valid reason to allow an employee to lie to his employer.

Remember, too, that these are not special people. Any one of us, within certain Constitutional limits, could become a Representative, a Senator, or yes, even President. Believe me, if a bumpkin like Jimmy Carter can become President, anyone can!

But the point is, there is no reason for government to keep secrets from Americans, nor to lie to them. The reason--the only reason--government employees lie to Americans is that they're doing something they ought not be doing: something unConstitutional or otherwise illegal.

I'd make it a capital offense.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Laurel or Hardy

I'm reading a Breitbart story I found on Drudge. The story claims that girls as young as the age of five are concerned about weight, and that they might become overweight. The story details many of the problems girls and women have that can be attributed to overweight. Many corresponding , but not quite similar problems invade the lives of boys and men because of overweight, as well.

MyWay also has a story on Drudge that calls American obesity a pandemic. first, let me say that I wrote what I think about "pandemics" here. It's become a news media buzzword designed specifically to increase the state of fear in American society.

The MyWay story seems to be written specifically to alarm the non-svelt. Like myself.

Well, I ain't buying it.

The chief reason why we're, many of us, packing on the poundage is very simple: Food these days is just so damn plentiful, inexpensive and, well, delicious. It's been only for the past couple of centuries or so that most of the industrialized world has had enough good food to eat. It's only been for about this past century that food has been good, plentiful and inexpensive.

I'm thinking it's the same people that are trying to turn Americans against technology, against science and against wealth in general, are trying to force and propagandize us away from the kinds of food we like to eat. People who hate life and for whatever reason, want to inflict their psychosis on the rest of us.

Meanwhile, those same miserable psychotics rail against those who have managed to keep their slender, sometimes athletic bodies by condemning dieting and corrective surgeries.

The real difficulty we all face is, in the face of an unprecedented plenty, learning to moderate and partake all these wonderful foods and drinks in reasonable quantities. Since there are a number of level-headed thinkers studying these and other problems that bother those of us who have difficulty living in a land of plenty, I'm sure the solutions will be there soon, if not already.

I regard our plight far easier to live with than that of our ancestors.

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Settling In

I never mowed lawns as a youth in my neighborhood; I was a newsie. 'Twas many years before I learned the joy of mowing. I've lived in apartments most of my life, and generally, my life has been lived more outside home than in it.

I did buy a house in Costa Mesa many years ago, but I was young, a biker and had spending money. I spent most of my non-working time riding up and down the length of California, and going to libertarian meetings, such as the many-years-defunct Libertarian Alternative, where a couple of dozen or so libertarians got together monthly to plot, plan and execute getting libertarian ideas into print and on the air.

The Libertarian Alternative was the brainchild of Charlie Barr, who moderated the proceedings and kept the group of very disparate individuals, who had only the then-somewhat-nebulous notion of libertarianism in common, on mission. Herding cats, as it were. No easy task, but Charlie handled it well. I hear he's escaped the Stalag and is now living in Las Vegas. Libertarian Alternative has been turned by party member Mark Selzer, into a publicity seeking arm of the California Libertarian Party. He produces a tv series for public access tv in several markets.

Back to the message, I spent a lot of my time in the kind of pastimes that kept me away from home , and regarded home as "a box in which to keep my stuff" (thanks for the line, George).

Debbie and I bought this house in 1993. We moved in, at the time, with Debbie's mom Maxine, having decided that this was a good place to live in the LA area. 'Twas more Debbie's decision than mine, but I soon decided it was a good one, for reasons I mentioned here.

We left in 1994, because of the quake, while awaiting repairs to the place. We decided we also liked Orange County (and, I was working there at the time) so we stayed and placed this house on the rental market. It worked out well.

A few weeks ago, when our not-so-conscientious property manager told us that our tenant was bailing, we made the decision to move back. Because of the evil tax code, it seems we're required to occupy the place for two years (to legally change the property from an income property back into a private residence) to avoid the theft of a goodly portion of the proceeds from the eventual sale of the house, by the despicable drones of the feral government.

So, we're here. Death, where is thy sting? (thanks, Bill).

In spite of the oppressive heat of this part of the year, I'm enjoying being here. I'd partially forgotten the charms, and the negatives. The streets are more crowded than OC, they seem narrower and buildings in commercial areas are smaller and closer together. Parking lots are smaller, when they exist at all. The parking enforcement cops (meter maids) are neither lovely, nor compassionate.

Yet, in many ways, the Valley has many of the positives of New York City. Wonderful restaurants, including some near-New York quality delis. Little theaters. Funky shops along Ventura Boulevard. I could, at the risk of boring y'all to tears, go on.

I've been helping Debbie tear out the atrocious landscaping left (against the rules laid out in the lease) by our most recent tenant. Debbie's been finding stuff in boxes and setting up the kitchen and the bathrooms, etc, and I've been unpacking my books and VHS/DVD collection, and setting up my library/office.

Back when we originally bought the place, I acquired a reel mower, being more familiar with that kind than any other, and not desiring to deal with temperamental power mowers. Besides, being a poster child for the government's unreasonably intrusive, futile and stupid anti-obesity campaign, I can use the exercise.

I mowed the lawn several times with the mower, back in those days, and found it agreeable, and so I decided that I'd continue the method, now that we're back.

What better day to get out there and mow the lawn with a reel push mower than Labor Day! I got out there at about 8AM (to beat the heat) and got the job done in a little over an hour, including a short break to give a few peanuts to neighborhood tree squirrels.

It's good to be back!

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Tomorrow's Engineers, Today

When I first arrived in wonderful California in 1965, as a mere lad, I was stunned by all that seemed possible here. There were clean, pleasant cities with wonderfully bizarre-looking buildings and wide, well-maintained streets and freeways, good-paying jobs and the widest variety of types of terrain/scenery one could imagine. There were beaches, mountains, deserts, rivers and lakes, all close enough for a weekend outing, at most.

Cities were similar, yet different, and all jammed together so that it was hard to tell exactly what city I was in at any given moment, while driving. There was also air I could sink my teeth into--that would sometimes burn my eyes and catch in my throat.

A price worth paying, I thought at the time.

I found a job quickly: there were many jobs available. After the first year, I'd left the first job for a higher paying one. Finally, after a little over a year, I got the job I'd been after: a surveyor-apprentice with what was then known as the California Division of Highways. I was involved in building freeways!

One thing I've remembered for all these years: every one of my employment interviewers commented that I had an incredible advantage, having gotten my schooling outside of California. Even back then!

The photo with this entry comes from The Orange County Register, September 1, 2006. It leads a story about California's government children's prisons. The headline: "More Schools Meet Federal Goals," and is a mostly self-congratulatory story apparently written, or at least coached, by a member of the state's Dept of Education, about the improved scores "achieved" by Orange County's children's prisons. Seems they've generally improved a bit over last year.

Pardon me while I hawk up an expression of doubt.

Since the mid-seventies, I've had the opportunity on numerous occasions to interview prospective employees and make hiring decisions regarding these individuals. Though I have no formal schooling in personnel matters, I think I'm a better than middling judge of character. I'm generally happy with the decisions I've made. The one common thread I was able to observe, though, was that high school graduates seem incredibly under-educated to me. On the other hand, the two college grads I had a hand in hiring seemed far better. They were graduate geologists that worked in my lab for a couple of years, then moved on to jobs that made better use of their education and talents.

The high school grads I dealt with, while intelligent lads all (or I wouldn't have hired them), seemed to be deficient in the knowledge of stuff that ought to be taught them in school.

Which brings me back to this newspaper article. The photo shows a quite atrocious construct that looks to me to be a kindergartener's work. I guess it's supposed to be a bridge. In the photo, it's falling over under a load. Good thing the photo's caption tells me this, or I'd never have guessed.

These are sixth graders!!

When I was in seventh grade, lo! these many years ago, we had a science fair at Valley Junior High School in Grand Forks, North Dakota. No science maven, I, so I had no entry in the science fair. A girl for whom I felt fondness at the time was, however, so I attended the science fair.

The recollection that has relevance here, is the fact that one of the thirteen-year-old exhibitors at the Valley Jr science fair built a bridge out of popsickle sticks, string and Elmer's glue that not only looked like a real bridge, but was able to support the weight of the HO-scale cars, trucks and miniature people figurines which he placed 'pon the bridge.

Today's kids aren't stupid--I know some of them. But, they're being horribly shortchanged by the children's prison administrators and teachers.

And here, in spite of the criminally poor job they're doing, they have the gall to congratulate themselves on having improved minutely over the period of a year. They ought to be ashamed!

Why aren't these sixth-graders reading Aristotle? America's Founding Documents? Ayn Rand?

Why aren't they working in algebra? Geometry? Trig?

Why can't they diagram sentences? Why, for cryin' out loud, can't they, any of them, spell?

Why can't they make change? Write a check? Balance a checkbook?

I fear for the Republic.

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

He Almost Made an Absolute Statement

He caught himself in mid-sentence. Just in the nick of time.

'Twas John Edwards, the once and future failed candidate for President of the United States. Yup, the same John Edwards who almost made John Kerry look good. The hack shyster who has made life miserable for obstetricians throughour the country by using criminally sleazy tricks to fool juries into making huge awards to mothers with real and imagined problem births and overly lengthy labors. His quasi-legal arguments have served to increase malpractice insurance premiums to impossible levels for obstetricians all around the country.

Just moments before he was exposed for the sleazeball he is by his critics, he stepped aside to attempt an even sleazier career, that of another kind of quasi-legal theft: politics.

His lackluster run that ended up with his accepting the Vice-Presidential nomination of the evil Democrat Party and that campaign's subsequent failure, seems to have taught him nothing. He's in Iowa again.

Eschewing the Iowa State Fair (a major blunder in its own right), he's kissing hands and shaking babies elsewhere in the state.

Now, I may have the name of the restaurant wrong--I didn't hear it clearly, but the important thing is, Williams sad the following:
"[Butterman's] has the best....one of the best burgers on the planet."

Almost a huge blunder. Almost an absolute statement. How could he ever again offer an insincere complement to another burger joint had he said what he almost said? "[Butterman's] has the best burgers on the planet."

Boy, I'll tell ya, that lawyer training sure saved his bacon that time! Shows you just how hard a job it is, running for the job of thievin'-parasite-in-chief of this country.

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

....Because We Said So!

An old socialist in my virtual acquaintance, who seems to buy into the blatherings of the likes of Algore, Robt Kennedy, Jr and their sort wrote the following, when pressed about their personal extravegances, and I quote:

"And if he travels by [private] jet to educate millions of people on green living, the accumulated impact overcomes the amount of energy he consumes."

Now, I've written about some of this before here, and again here, and here.

I am getting a mite tired of all this global warming crap and maybe lost my patience with the man. I sent out the following rant, which reads not too badly, if I say so myself....I have to say so myself, nobody else will.

Quote:

"That's what the gods of totalitarianism always say. Hitler and his generals lived luxuriously while German citizens went hungry. Lenin ate caviar while Russians starved. Castro wears custom-tailored fatigues while Cubans wear rags originally sold during Batista's time.

"Wannabe courtiers and apologists forgive it in the hopes of gaining favor with His Worship, and perhaps they really do think the dictator is better than they. Perhaps he is. But he's not better than I.

"Those who see clearly know that the dictator is but a smooth-talking con man, with delusions of grandeur and a psychotic need for power over others.

"There is no man-made global warming nor anything of the sort.

"Those who are familiar with the concept, "The Big Lie," know that if you repeat a falsehood loud enough, often enough and put a lot of pseudo-authority behind it, pretty soon many easily-led folks will believe it.

"Once the "True Believer" makes the lie his, it's virtually impossible to change what's left of his mind. "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it." as I've heard said.

"I will never be green, in any way the evil Ralph Nader--or Algore--means. I will probably wear green on (or near) March 17th each year. The odd pint of beer will accompany the wearin' o' th' green.

"Meanwhile, I'll drive my three classic cars, all of which have V8's and 4-bbl carbs. I'll keep my HVAC pegged at 74 and I'll keep enough lights on to light my way. Algore can roll that up into one of his very own home-grown cigars (grown on his own tobacco farm) and stick it into whichever personal orifice he deems proper."

I know that the earth will get along just fine without my help; it has done so for untold millions of years. I don't quite get the irrational self-importance involved in these "green" idiots actually thinking that their use or non-use of air conditioners and automobiles will actually have an effect on the workings of the planet, but I think there's lotsa work for a psychiatrist within their pointy little heads.

Planet Earth is going to last for millions of years still, and if we humans should somehow manage to wear it out, we will have long since found other new planets to use.

They've killed freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Going Full Circle

In the spring of 1992, I was laid off from a very good job in San Diego. After floundering about for a few months, I got what I thought was a reasonably good job in Huntington Beach. 'Twas a killer commute, that 90 mile-each-way drive, so Debbie and I resolved to move north.

Eliminating some details, we ended up buying a house in Sherman Oaks--about 50 miles north of Huntington Beach. Very nearly the worst fifty mile commute in the known solar system.

However, I loved Sherman Oaks! Our house was about two blocks from Ventura Boulevard, a major boulevard lined with dozens of hip restaurants, coffee shops, little theaters, cute shops and chain stores. It's a delightful area, great for walking, close to many cool San Fernando Valley hot spots.

In fact, it's even close to the Universal, Warner Bros and Disney studios and, more importantly, it's not far from the venerable Pickwick Ice Center!

Well, the fun ended on January 17, 1994 with the Northridge Quake. Now, the quake didn't do really serious damage to our house, but it fairly devastated the neighborhood. The opposite side of our street has several small 3-story apartment buildings, many of which were destroyed. Most of the single-occupant homes weren't seriously damaged. Part of our house was shifted slightly on its foundation. There was some stucco damage. A wooden property line fence fell over and worst of all, our water heater fell over--in spite of its restraints--and I had to shut off the gas.

A number of people were injured on our street, but none killed that I know about. I had to rescue an elderly lady from a third floor apartment, who couldn't get out because the stairs were damaged. It turned out that, though the stairs looked deadly, after a bit of empirical testing (I jumped up-and-down on 'em), they turned out to be better than they looked. I had to carry the lady out of her apartment, because she was a knick-knack collector. She had dozens of glass and crystal and ceramic items on and in glass cases. All of it lay in bits and shards on the floor and she couldn't even get to her shoes.

Well, we got down to the street before the next aftershock, and she was fine except for a few minor cuts, which which were handled by another neighbor who had medical experience.

We found out later that it would be days before we could get the water heater and the gas lines repaired and possibly weeks before the gas company could inspect it. They had to inspect everything for many miles around.

So since I was working in Huntington Beach, and our insurance paid for our displacement costs, we took an apartment here in Santa Ana, where we remain to this day.

After several difficult weeks of repair work, in which we also had some unrelated work done at the same time, we placed the house on the rental market. We were able to get rent about double what we've been paying here in the OC (for an apartment). This is why we've stayed. Well, Orange County has its fine points, too.

Our current tenant gave us notice she was moving a few days ago.

We've decided that the time was right to move back.

My writing might get a bit sporadic soon, as we get into the serious throes of packing and moving. Right now, we're involved in making the place habitable for our own fine selves. Paint, new carpets, a few repairs, etc.

The commute will still be bad, but I now work somewhat closer to Sherman Oaks than I used to. I think it's gonna be fun!

They've killed Freedom! Those bastards!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

Would Isolationism Really Be Worse Than This?

The United States has helped just about every nation on earth, one time or another, and sends aid money to many "developing" nations (read primitive totalitarian dictatorships). We're there to help in every natural disaster with both public and private aid. We try to humanely intervene in international struggles and help sooth the disagreements.

It never works. Most of the nations of the world regard United States to be arrogant and controlling. The United Nations, a body that wouldn't exist without our efforts, is basically anti-American. Even countries which would no longer exist, but for our help, side against us more often than not.

I don't entirely blame them.

A hundred years or so ago, the United States of America was a country to be emulated by emerging countries all around the world. We had very nearly perfect liberty. Our government protected our rights, but was not intrusive. Individuals could determine their own futures to a degree never seen on earth before or since. Advancements were being made by these same individuals, in both technology and philosophy, to a degree we can't equal today.

In spite of all that, we've become the country 'pon which blame for all the earth's ills have been affixed. Some of it is justified. Most of it isn't.

Face it. The United States federal government is and has been for over 100 years, unbelievably inept at international relations. Like one might imagine of the antiMidas, everything we've touched has turned to sh(fecal matter)t.

Our dipsh(fecal matter)tlomats get us into wars, both trade and shooting, without exception, with every alliance or treaty signed or attempted. No nation should ever regard itself a super power or a world leader.

It's been the height of arrogance on the part of the neocons that, since Reagan put a well-deserved end to USSR--for which we deserve the world's thanks--they think our intelligence agencies, our state department, our diplomatic corps and our military are infallible, omniscient, godlike.

Meanwhile, everything they touch turns to sh(fecal matter)t.

I propose that the federal government tend to the internal affairs of the United States exclusively and not communicate in any way with foreigners. I propose that the US military and all intelligence agencies suspend foreign adventure and devote all of its resources to protecting the United States from attack by foreigners--either governments, individuals or groups.

In the interest of trade, I propose that the private firm that wishes to conduct international trade, do so in the absence of any government action, and at their own risk. What problems they get themselves into, they must get themselves out of.

If individuals wish to travel outside the borders of the US, they must do so at their own risk, and get themselves out of any trouble in which they find themselves.

I suspect that those nations that want to engage in trade or that favor international tourism will take steps to make their country receptive to foreign visitors.

Our government has botched things so badly that we ought to look into criminal prosecutions of those incompetents who can be shown in a court of law to have caused difficulty.

I'm up to here with the criminal negligence that resides in Washington DC.

These people need to be looked after!

Remember, VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENT!

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California