Either the depression is coming back, or I’ve set the thermostat too low, but I can’t seem to get out or stay out of bed. My participation in the message forums I post to is way down, and everything seems flat. This is the dark side to bipolar disorder, the feeling you’re in a hole with no way out.
I apologize for my lack of comment this morning, but I didn’t get out of bed until 10 this morning, when I should have been out at 7.
On the up side of things, I did manage to play a game up Epic this weekend. While I got my butt handed to me, the president of the Epic club who played me said, “You may be new to Epic, but you are a skilled player and will be a force to be reckoned with as you gain
experience with the game.” Boo-yah!
While I made some mistakes, I managed to surprise him and almost won. I only lost because of my timing in reaching one of the objectives. I won’t make those mistakes again.
I’ll try for some posts this afternoon.
Later.

In a few hours, Iraqis will be risking their lives to vote. To show that they have voted, the cuticle of their right thumb will be marked with a Sharpie so they don’t vote twice. This mark will be a badge of honor and a target at the same time.
Vote. That’s the job of a citizen.

Wow, I just has the most “wonderful” attack. Thankfully it only lasted an hour, but I might still miss work because of it. I’m still in the recovery stage of it, but I think I can make it.

Well, the crusade against outdoor smoking has taken a turn for the worse in San Francisco. San Francisco Enacts Outdoor Smoking Ban.

“San Francisco has been a pioneer in tobacco control for decades and continues to be a pioneer with this law,” said Bronson Frick, associate director of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights. “No other city has enacted a law even close to what San Francisco is in terms of covering outdoor places.”

Yeah, well most parts of the country aren’t as rabid about restricting freedoms as you guys are either.
I am not a smoker, and I do not like the smell of smoke. Granted, their smoking is an intrusion on me, but that does not give me the right to restrict their freedom, any more than I can or should restrict the freedom of others that offend me.
You can’t go around and restrict somebody just because it might offend somebody else. I am quite sure I offend a lot of people with my views, but that does not give them the right to restrict me because they don’t agree with me.
While it would be nice if nobody offended anybody else, it ain’t never gonna happen. Someone will be thin skinned enough to take offense at any slight, real or perceived. That does not give them the right to restrict another because they don’t have the ability to deal with other people.
There is a line that should not be crossed, but this doesn’t even come close. I’m glad I don’t live in SF.

some pains are physical, and some are mental, the one that’s both, is dental – e e cummings

In a sort of followup to my post yesterday about Unreasonable Search, this article documents just how bad our “War on Drugs” has gotten. Drug War Shrinking Bill of Rights.
From seizures where there is no crime, to automatic sentences for selling pot that outdo murder convictions, I think it is time we overhaul this system.
First of all, let me be clear. I am against legalization of illegal drugs. I do not believe there is such a level as “recreational use.” Once you’re in, you’re in and it is very difficult to get out. These drugs for the most part do significant damage to your body and brain. That wonderful feeling you get when you’re high? That’s your brain cells popping like popcorn.
That being said, things need to change and they are changing, but toward a police state. Until things are tightened up at the borders, we cannot hope in making a dent in the supply side of things. And until society changes, we cannot hope in making a dent in the demand side of things.
The unlawful searches and seizures must stop, but too many municipalities are addicted to the revenue that these actions generate. They get to keep the cash seized, get to sell off the cars, houses and so on. That’s a lot of money flying around.
I don’t know what to do. You can drag a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. You can keep drugs illegal, but you can’t stop the flood.
But legalization is not the answer either. To make such soul-destroying drugs available OTC will not cut down on drug related crimes. Sure, the drugs will cost less, sure, a lot of the money will go into rehab programs, but the addict still has to get the money from somewhere, and he will still rob and steal to get that money.
Society has to change. Until drug usage becomes socially unpopular, it will continue.

This is a good op-ed: War Is Hell; Losing Is Worse. The article gives you a quick background into Islam and shows you that this religion is based on conquest. It also correctly points out a vital piece of strategy for winning wars.

Cutting and running from the Middle East would bring the war to our homeland. Left to develop its nuclear capabilities, Iran could be expected to share them with its al-Qaida allies and we would be facing a serious nuclear threat here at home. Fighting the war here at home would entail the creation of a police state mechanism where all America would look like Washington, D.C., during the Inauguration – an armed camp devoid of most civil liberties. And there would be no exit strategy, nowhere to cut and run.

Wars are not won by defense, but by offense. You get on the offensive, you stay on the offensive, and you never give the enemy a chance to regain his footing. You knock him down, kick him while he’s down, step on his neck and don’t give him the chance to do anything to you. To do anything less would result in you ending up on the ground, being the object of the exercise.
We are in a fight for our survival. Our very safety against nuclear fire in one or more of our cities will be measured by our success in Iraq. Islam must go through a Reformation as the Christian faith did. Otherwise we may have no choice but to wipe that religion out.
It’s us or them, and it’s all up to them.

In another ill-thought out decision brought on by the KGB IRS, the Justices now have approved that jury awardings are now taxable. Lawsuit Winners Lose the Tax Battle.
Thankfully it has been clarified that winnings related to personal injury are exempt, but other lawsuits are now taxed as earned income. The kicker is the lawyers cut is also taxed, which can reach as high as 40%. Given that most tax rates for big settlements can reach 50% or higher, the “winner” can end up with nothing, or even owe the KGB IRS money for “winning” their case.
If there is a good effect from this, it will certainly cut down on the frivolous lawsuits, but this in reality is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

In another SCOTUS ruling, police now have the right to call out the narcotics dogs during a routine traffic stop, even when they have no suspicion of any drugs or illegal activity. Justices: Dogs can sniff in traffic stops.
The lawyer who successfully argued for this case said:

“You don’t have a legitimate right to privacy in the possession of illegal drugs,” she said. “There are no Fourth Amendment implications, so there never was any violation of anyone’s civil liberties.”

And I firmly believe she blew smoke up the justice’s collective asses. The Fourth Amendment states that, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Bringing dope dogs around your car is a fishing expedition, not founded upon probable cause. I don’t see anything up there that says, “except when you are in the violation of the law.” The burden is on the police to prove that you are breaking the law and this is a violation of my rights, I don’t give a damn what SCOTUS says.
Because if they can get away with it here, then they can just start walking the drug dogs down the street and picking up people just walking around. That is known as a police state.

In another police related story, but this one is funny. Here you go, just how strict and far are the British Bobbies willing to go in prosecuting a moving violation? Read this story, Spotter plane called in to catch driver holding an apple.
The story refers to a left turn, but for those of you who don’t know, they drive on the other side of the road. Their left turn is our right.
So the police and prosecutors went berserk on a lady making a right turn while having an apple in one hand.
Sheesh.

I wanted you to see that old Ted is as Liberal as ever. From Drudge:

TED TURNER COMPARES FOXNEWS TO HITLER
Tue Jan 25 2005 15:53:55 ET
Ted Turner called FOX an arm of the Bush administration and compared FOXNEWS’s popularity to Hitler’s popular election to run Germany before WWII.
Turner made the controversial comments in Las Vegas before a standing-room-only crowd at the National Association for Television Programming Executive’s opening session.
His no-nonsense, humorous approach during the one-hour Q&A generated frequent loud applause and laughter, BROADCASTING & CABLE reports.
While FOX may be the largest news network [and has overtaken Turner's CNN], it’s not the best, Turner said.
He followed up by pointing out that Adolf Hitler got the most votes when he was elected to run Germany prior to WWII. He said the network is the propaganda tool for the Bush Administration.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s certainly legal. But it does pose problems for our democracy. Particularly when the news is dumbed down,” leaving voters without critical information on politics and world events and overloaded with fluff,” he said.
A FOXNEWS spokesperson responded: “Ted is understandably bitter having lost his ratings, his network and now his mind — we wish him well.”
In 1996, Turner apologized to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for comments he made comparing FOX head Rupert Murdoch to Hitler.

I especially loved the comment from the FOX spokesperson.

Straight from the horses mouth about what is going on in Indonesia about all of the “aid people.” No Relief in Sight for the Lincoln.

What really irritated me was a scene I witnessed in the Lincoln’s wardroom a few days ago. I went in for breakfast as I usually do, expecting to see the usual crowd of ship’s company officers in khakis and air wing aviators in flight suits, drinking coffee and exchanging rumors about when our ongoing humanitarian mission in Sumatra is going to end.
What I saw instead was a mob of civilians sitting around like they owned the place. They wore various colored vests with logos on the back including Save The Children, World Health Organization and the dreaded baby blue vest of the United Nations. Mixed in with this crowd were a bunch of reporters, cameramen and Indonesian military officers in uniform. They all carried cameras, sunglasses and fanny packs like tourists on their way to Disneyland.
My warship had been transformed into a floating hotel for a bunch of trifling do-gooders overnight.
As I went through the breakfast line, I overheard one of the U.N. strap-hangers, a longhaired guy with a beard, make a sarcastic comment to one of our food servers. He said something along the lines of “Nice china, really makes me feel special,” in reference to the fact that we were eating off of paper plates that day. It was all I could do to keep from jerking him off his feet and choking him, because I knew that the reason we were eating off paper plates was to save dishwashing water so that we would have more water to send ashore and save lives. That plus the fact that he had no business being there in the first place.

It goes on later in the article that these hangers-on had no intention of recompensating the ship for their meals. For those of you who don’t know, the reason why the officers eat a lot better than the enlisted is because the officers pay for their food, while the enlisteds is free.
The article also documents that while everyone is busy with taking care of those who have been devastated, they don’t have the time or resources to carry out their training missions, which keeps them battle-ready.
For once, just once, I would like to see Americans, both the government and private organizations, withhold their generosity for the next disaster like this. We are in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” spot, and just once I would like to see America hold back its customary willingness to give to others. It will make others think more about how much we really do give.
Of course we wouldn’t withhold it forever, but a week or so of saying, “We’re tired if all of the name calling and the ingratitude. No, we’re not giving this time.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear readers, America gives 40% of the world aid, and for that we get kicked in the teeth. Altruism only goes so far. Let’s make them appreciate what they do get, instead of letting them whine like a spoiled child.
We give so much because we are a Christian and God-fearing people. While Liberals are “raising awareness” by having dinners (5% gets a steak dinner, 15% gets hamburgers, 30% get rice and 50% get nothing), the churches and other charitable organizations are giving of themselves, out of their own pockets to get food and aid to those people who need it. Unfortunately, a lot of it goes to warlords and their troops, leaving those who aren’t in power to starve.
There are no easy answers, but let’s “raise awareness” about how much we really give. Let’s not send that aircraft carrier to the stricken region, let’s not ship tons and tons of food and water. Let’s start attaching some strings to this aid.
Like I said, altruism only goes so far.

I half expected this. Senator Boxer, during Condolezza Rice’s SecState confirmation hearings, laid into Condi like she was a red-headed stepchild. Sen. Boxer takes victim role after hearing for Rice
Boxer attacked Rice’s credibility, integrity and honor. She called Rice everything but a slut and when Rice had the temerity to stand up and assert herself, well then, the nerve! How dare she get uppity with me!
And Boxer is still at it. Boxer: I’ll Call Condi a Liar Again.
Of course, the Senator was “mis-informed” when she said “Californians account for 25% of the dead in Iraq.”

However, it appears that Boxer may have indulged in a few falsehoods of her own while questioning Dr. Rice.
To justify her tough grilling, the Golden State Democrat repeatedly invoked war casualties from her home state, saying they amounted to 25 percent of the 1,400 GIs killed in the fighting.
But after checking with the Web site Casualties.org, OpinionJournal.com says that’s not true. “The number of California servicemen who’ve died is 157, which is about 11.5% of the total, less than half the proportion Boxer claimed,” they noted.
The Marin County demagogue also had her facts wrong when she claimed that her fellow senators voted to authorize the Iraq War based solely on Bush administration claims about weapons of mass destruction.
In fact, the Senate’s Iraq War resolution also cited Saddam’s “brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region” and its refusal “to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait.”

So, like all those extreme Liberals, Boxer prefers what she thinks over the truth. After all, how can a Liberal be wrong on the facts? They care.

Well, the nightmare(s) are coming to an end, I hope.
First of all, the BRAND NEW furnace stopped working yesterday, but the workman did something that finally got it to work. Hopefully it will keep working.
Second, the refrigerator guy is here and is working on it as I type. He should be done in a hour or two.
This morning I was cold, cranky and upset. I haven’t had a good dose of caffeine since Thursday, and having a 55 degree apartment was not a good excuse to get out of a warm bed.
Also, I am starting to take active steps to combat the 100 spam comments I get every day. I have installed a Moveable Type plug-in that is supposed to throw a ‘nofollow’ tag into my comments, which causes the search engines. I haven’t seen it yet. I also am checking out plug-ins that will close old comments, which is where all of the spam goes, all of those entries that are over a week old. No one really wants to comment on those anyway.
All-in-all, I am starting to feel better. I made a pot of hot tea which warmed me up and got me that dose of much-needed caffeine, and with my problems getting fixed, things are staring to look up. Hopefully this will reduce the SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) that I also seem to suffer from.
See you later.

Things are getting worse. Experts: ‘Phishing’ more sophisticated.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER respond to an email that says “You need to verify your account information.” No matter how official it looks, no matter how the links check out, don’t do it. That’s not how your financial institution does business with you. Of course, you can tell it’s a phishing scheme when a bank that you don’t do business with tells you to do that.
But these schemes are getting more and more sophisticated. Worms and trojans are accompanying these emails, so even opening them can compromise you.
You need to get an email program like Eudora, that shows you what’s in the email without ever opening it. Virus filters won’t help in these cases, because these malwares are not viruses.
Be careful out there.