MaxRedline

There's No Such Thing As "Hate Crime"

The very idea behind "hate crime" and "hate speech" is antithical to the foundations of American culture.  If you're assaulted because you happen to be white or black or brown - it does not make the assault somehow more serious.  Assault is assault, plain and simple.

That whole "celebrate diversity" thing is nothing more than a concerted effort to ensure that differences among people are recognized and responded to differentially.  And that concept mocks the foundation of America, which clearly states that all men are created equal.  Those who insist that you should "celebrate diversity" are simply doing their level best to ensure that you will agree to abide by the Orwellian concept that everyone is equal - but some are more equal than others.  The idea behind the approach is clear: destroy the concept of America as a Melting Pot, and emphasize differences rather than similarities.  This approach allows some people to be more equal than others, depending upon the fad currently in vogue.

And the "celebration of diversity" - in the form of federal hate crime statutes - has already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and is now pending before the U.S. Senate.  If you don't think it's a problem, you really should think again.

Sheikh On A Plane

Trail tip, your Sheikhiness:  if you can't figure out how to make plane seating reservations, ride camels next time.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Recognizing that Islam, like many other religions, can claim a large share of adherents who just want to get along - and recognizing that all religions harbor their share of zealot nutjobs (although Islam seems to harbor more than other religions, this is likely due to the sheer numbers of people involved) - a new category has been added, specifically for the nutjobs.

The case of the holy warrior may have belonged in the new nutjob category, but for a couple of issues:  it appears that the boy was duped (and in fact nearly killed) by his "brothers in jihad", and that he now stands against al-quaeda.

It seems reasonable to use the Islam category in such cases, and to consign those involving al-quaeda and other barbaric nutballs to a category of their own.

Encouraging Statistic

In the first five months of 2007, 3,226 undocumented workers were arrested on the job, compared with just 485 in all of 2002.

While it's true that we can't deport all of the illegals, it does look as though ICE is finally getting serious.  While some wonder if the effort isn't simply a means to placate the GOP, it seems more likely that the feds are simply beginning to respond to massive pressure from the American public - and that can't be credited to any one party.  The invasion of the USA by hordes of illegal aliens has, as the sheer magnitude of the problem has become clear, galvanized Democrats, independents, and even perennial non-voters.  It's not a Republican issue - it's a national issue.

Calling Sam Adams, Tommy, And The Gang

Forget the potholes; we're missing out!  We need more bike paths and stuff, like now - Edmonton's pulling ahead of Portland, and we just can't have that.  What's the new hotness?  Cycle-by shooting.  C'mon, gang; it's time to get with the program!

So Tommy, just put that $200,000 illegal alien job center thing you've been pushing - we've bigger fish to fry.

The Army Medical Examiners Were Suspicious...

The close proximity of three bullet holes in Cpl. Pat Tillman's forehead somehow struck medical examiners as suspiciously abnormal, leading them request a criminal investigation.  The request was denied, despite the fact that the doctors said that the bullet holes were so close together that it appeared the Army Ranger was cut down by an M-16 fired from a mere 10 yards or so away.

Eventually, a criminal investigation of sorts was conducted, ending with the Pentagon concluding that Tillman had fallen victim to an "accident" involving friendly fire. 

That's some darn accurate accidental placement.

Catholics Called It

Washington state insisted that pharmacists must ensure delivery of "emergency contraceptives" - also known as "the morning after pill" to all women who want them, regardless of whether or not supplying such a substance violates the pharmacist's religious dictates in regard to abortion; the state's position is that women have a "right" to the drugs.

Whether or not they have a "right" to the drugs is debatable - what is not open to debate, however, is that the rule forces people to act against their religious beliefs, even though other venues for dispensation of the drugs are widely available.  And, as predicted by Roman Catholic bishops, among others, a lawsuit is now in play.

Dialing Down Global Warming

Normally, the Christian Science Monitor is reasonably responsible.  Unfortunately, nobody's perfect.  And it looks as though they've bought the Anthropogenic Global Warming religion - hook, line, and sinker.

As Rob Kremer correctly notes, there's a compelling argument to be made against the new religion, but the media ignore that.  He links to a comprehensive dissection of what's really going on, and it's well worth your time.  While the issue has been hit upon several times in this blog, Card puts it all together in much more eloquent fashion.

Terror In The Heartland?

Hot on the heels of recent revelations of terrorist activity in Illinois, we have yet another nutball.  Southern Illinois University, this time.  It just gets weirder all the time in the heartland.

Meanwhile, Back At The TOD...

You know how fixed-rail "fuels" development, don't you?  We've been hearing this fairy-tail for years, and our "planners" have some great examples of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD):  there's the Beaverton Round, and Cascade Station.  These are both little urban oases where people walk, bike, or take the train to get - well, everywhere they need to go!  Only one problem: nobody wanted to go to the TOD's.  Both Beaverton Round and Cascade Station languished, undeveloped, for years.

Cascade Station, out by the airport, was supposed to be an "urban village", with housing, small stores, a Starbuck's, and all that other touchy-feely stuff.  Developers stayed away in droves.  Finally, Swedish retailer Ikea stepped up with an offer to build a huge retail store and around 1500 parking spaces there.  Had it been Wal-Mart, you can bet that Harry Tommy Potter and his merry band of wizards thieves would have punted them across the nearest runway.  But this was Ikea!  So, suddenly that whole urban village thing?  Forget it.  Now Ikea has opened and Best Buy's building another big store nearby, and Potter's jumping for joy over the "stimulation of new development".  There's not a spider in the world that can hold a candle to our politicos when it comes to spin.

Over at the Round, a couple of developers bit, then bit the dust.  For half a dozen years, all that lived there was rusting steel.  Finally, thanks to the help of yet another massive public-money subsidy, development got underway, and the "mixed-use" development's about half complete.  So, there you go!  The "vision" is working, and the duckies and the bunnies can all hold hands and dance around the Maypole while singing "Everything Is Beautiful"!

Or not.  Let's hold off a bit, as the developer has just defaulted on a $31.5 million loan.  Not to worry, however - according to the city of Beaverton's plucky chief of staff, this is just a "hiccup" and everything's going to be ducky Real Soon Now.

Remember:  TOD's "fuel development"!