Michigan's Castle Doctrine Update

The House "Castle Doctrine" package is awaiting concurrence by the House this week. Concurrence means that the House must agree on the Senate amendments to the original wording of the bills. The Senate amended the Castle Doctrine legislation to include these changes:

• If passed into law, the law will take effect October 1, 2006
• Sl;ight re-wording of HB 5142, 5143, 5153 and 5548
  

If the House concurs, the bills pass (since the Senate has approved them per the amendments).

The House version is comprised of four bills, HB 5142, HB 5143, HB 5153, and HB 5548.

The Senate "Castle Doctrine" bills are due for the second reading before the House this week. According to state law, every bill must be read three times before it can be voted on. Immediately at the conclusion of the third reading, the bill is either passed or defeated in a roll call vote. The Senate Bills are SB 1046 and and SB 1185.

All six bills are tie-barred - which means if one fails to pass, they all fail to pass.

Michigan residents - please contact your State Representative and encourage him/her to support this important legislation. Remember - phone calls and faxes carry substantially more weight than email.

Find your Representatives phone or fax number here. Don't know who your rep is? Find out here.

June 27 Breaking News: The House offered amendments to the Senate Bills - they will go back to the Senate to vote for concurrence.

JUNE 28 UPDATE: The Castle Doctrine passed in both the Michigan House and Senate by roughly 80% of the legislators. The package will be forwarded to Governor Granholm (D) for signing.

Michigan's Castle Doctrine

The Castle Doctrine has been falsely accused of allowing people to kill those they don't like, of creating a "Wild, Wild West" atmosphere, and in general of doing nothing to make Michigan citizens safer.

Read for yourself the bills that make up this Castle Doctrine. I challenge anyone to find anything allowing indiscriminant killing or the ability to defend oneself while engaged in criminal activity.

What you will find is specific legal structure as to when it is permissible and not permissible to use lethal force in self-defense without fear of criminal or civil punishment.

HB 5142 (with Senate Amendments):

A bill to amend 1927 PA 175, entitled "The code of criminal procedure,"(MCL 760.1 to 777.69) by adding section 21c to chapter VIII.

The people of the State of Michigan enact:

Chapter VIII Sec. 21C.
(1) in cases in which Section 2 of the Dr. Ossian Sweet self-defense act does not apply, the common law of this state applies except that the duty to retreat before using deadly force is not required if an individual is in his or her own dwelling or within the curtilage of that dwelling.

(2) As used in this section, "dwelling" means a structure or shelter that is used permanently or temporarily as a place of abode, including an appurtenatn structure attached to that structure or shelter.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect October 1, 2006.
Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No. 1046.
(b) Senate Bill No. 1185.
(c) House Bill No. 5143.
(d) House Bill No. 5153.
(e) House Bill No. 5548.

HB 5143 (with Senate Amendments):

A bill to clarify the rights and duties of self-defense and the defense of others.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Dr. Ossian Sweet self-defense act".

Sec. 2. (1) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if either of the following applies:
(a) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent death of or imminent great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another individual.
(b) The individual honestly and reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent sexual assault of himself or herself or of another individual.

(2) An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses force other than deadly force may use force other than deadly force against another
individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat if he or she honestly and reasonably believes that the use of that force is necessary to defend himself or herself or another individual from the imminent unlawful use of force by another individual.

Sec. 3. Except as provided in section 2, this act does not modify the common law of this state in existence on October 1, 2006regarding the duty to retreat before using deadly force or force
other than deadly force.

Sec. 4. This act does not diminish an individual's right to use deadly force or force other than deadly force in self-defense or defense of another individual as provided by the common law of
this state in existence on October 1, 2006.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect October 1, 2006.

Enacting section 2. This act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No. 1046.
(b) Senate Bill No. 1185.
(c) House Bill No. 5142.
(d) House Bill No. 5153.
(e) House Bill No. 5548.

HB 5145 (with Senate Amendments):
A bill to exempt an individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force from criminal prosecution under certain circumstances; to establish certain procedures; and to prescribe the duties of certain public officials.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1.
(1) An individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force in compliance with section 2 of the Dr. Ossian Sweet self-defense act and who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses that deadly force or force other than deadly force commits no crime in using thatdeadly force or force other than deadly force.

(2) If a prosecutor believes that an individual used deadly force or force other than deadly force that is unjustified under section 2 of the Dr. Ossian Sweet self-defense act, the prosecutor may charge the individual with a crime arising from that use of deadly force or force other than deadly force and shall present evidence to the judge or magistrate at the time of warrant issuance, at the time of any preliminary examination, and at the time of any trial establishing that the individual's actions were not justified under section 2 of the Dr. Ossian Sweet self-defense act.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect October 1, 2006.

Enacting section 2. This act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 1046.
(b) Senate Bill No. 1185.
(c) House Bill No. 5142.
(d) House Bill No. 5143.
(e) House Bill No. 5548.

HB 5548 (with Senate Amendments):

A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled "Revised judicature act of 1961," (MCL 600.101 to 600.9947) by adding section 2922b

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT: Sec. 2922b.

An individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force in self-defense or in defense of another individual in compliance with section 2 of the Dr Ossian Sweet self-defense act is immune from civil liability for damages caused to either of the following by the use of deadly force or force to either of the following by the use of that deadly force or force other than deadly force: (a) the individual against whom the use of deadly force or force other than deadly for is authorized. (b) any individual claiming damages arising out of injury to or the death of the individucal described in subdivision (a), based upon his or her relationship to that individual.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect October 1, 2006.

Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 1046.
(b) Senate Bill No. 1185.
(c) House Bill No. 5142.
(d) House Bill No. 5143.
(e) House Bill No. 5153.

SB 1046 (with House amendments):

A bill to create a rebuttable presumption regarding the use of self-defense or the defense of others.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), it is a rebuttable presumption in a civil or criminal case that an individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force under section 2 of the self-defense act has an honest and reasonable belief that imminent death of, sexual assault of, or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another individual will occur if both of the following apply:

(a) The individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is in the process of breaking and entering a dwelling or business premises or committing home invasion or has broken and entered a dwelling or business premises or committed home invasion and is still present in the dwelling or business premises, or is unlawfully attempting to remove another individual from a dwelling, business premises, or occupied vehicle against his or her will.

(b) The individual using deadly force or force other than deadly force honestly and reasonably believes that the individual is engaging in conduct described in subdivision (a).

(2) The presumption set forth in subsection (1) does not apply if any of the following circumstances exist:

(a) The individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used, including an owner, lessee, or titleholder, has the legal right to be in the dwelling, business premises, or vehicle and there is not an injunction for protection from domestic violence or a written pretrial supervision order, a probation order, or a parole order of no contact against that person.

(b) The individual removed or being removed from the dwelling, business premises, or occupied vehicle is a child or grandchild of, or is otherwise in the lawful custody of or under the lawful
guardianship of, the individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used.

(c) The individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force is engaged in the commission of a crime or is using the dwelling, business premises, or occupied vehicle to further the commission of a crime.

(d) The individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is a peace officer who has entered or is attempting to enter a dwelling, business premises, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties in accordance with applicable law.

(e) The individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is the spouse or former spouse of the individual using deadly force or force other than deadly force, an
individual with whom the individual using deadly force or otherthan deadly force has or had a dating relationship, an individual with whom the individual using deadly force or other than deadly force has had a child in common, or a resident or former resident of his or her household, and the individual using deadly force or other than deadly force has a prior history of domestic violence as the aggressor.

(3) As used in this section:

(a) "Domestic violence" means that term as defined in section 1 of 1978 PA 389, MCL 400.1501.

(b) "Business premises" means a building or other structure used for the transaction of business, including an appurtenant structure attached to that building or other structure.

(c) "Dwelling" means a structure or shelter that is used permanently or temporarily as a place of abode, including an appurtenant structure attached to that structure or shelter.

(d) "Law enforcement officer of a Michigan Indian tribal police force" means a regularly employed member of a police force of a Michigan Indian tribe who is appointed pursuant to former 25 CFR 12.100 to 12.103.

(e) "Michigan Indian tribe" means a federally recognized Indian tribe that has trust lands located within this state.

(f) "Peace officer" means any of the following:
(i) A regularly employed member of a law enforcement agency authorized and established pursuant to law, including common law, who is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the general criminal laws of this state. Peace officer does not include a person serving solely because he or she occupies any other office or position.

(ii) A law enforcement officer of a Michigan Indian tribal police force.

(iii) The sergeant at arms or any assistant sergeant at arms of either house of the legislature who is commissioned as a police officer by that respective house of the legislature as provided by
the legislative sergeant at arms police powers act, 2001 PA 185, MCL 4.381 to 4.382.

(iv) A law enforcement officer of a multicounty metropolitan district.

(v) A county prosecuting attorney's investigator sworn and fully empowered by the sheriff of that county.

(vi) Until December 31, 2007, a law enforcement officer of a school district in this state that has a membership of at least 20,000 pupils and that includes in its territory a city with a population of at least 180,000 as of the most recent federal decennial census.

(vii) A fire arson investigator from a fire department within a city with a population of not less than 750,000 who is sworn and fully empowered by the city chief of police.

(viii) A security employee employed by the state pursuant to section 6c of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6c.

(ix) A motor carrier officer appointed pursuant to section 6d of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6d.

(x) A police officer or public safety officer of a community college, college, or university who is authorized by the governing board of that community college, college, or university to enforce

state law and the rules and ordinances of that community college, college, or university.

(g) "Vehicle" means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, that is designed to transport people or property.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect October 1, 2006.

Enacting section 2. This act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 1185.
(b) House Bill No. 5142.
(c) House Bill No. 5143.
(d) House Bill No. 5153.
(e) House Bill No. 5548.

SB 1185 (with House amendments):

A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled "Revised judicature act of 1961," (MCL 600.101 to 600.9947) by adding section 2922c.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 2922c.

The court shall award the payment of actual attorney fees and costs to an individual who is sued for civil damages for allegedly using deadly force or force other than deadly force against another individual if the court determines that the individual used deadly foce or force other than deadly force in compliance with Section 2 of the Dr. Ossian Sweet self-defense act and that the individual is immune from civil liability under Section 2922B.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect October 1, 2006.

Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 1046.
(b) House Bill No. 5142.
(c) House Bill No. 5143.
(d) House Bill No. 5153.
(e) House Bill No. 5548.

C'est la vie

Thinking about a pet elephant? Maybe a rhinoceros?

If you live in Warren, you might want to hold off. Tonight, the City Council will look at possible changes to its animal ordinances, and the proposals include a ban on more than two dozen unlikely house pets -- including mountain lions, tigers, crocodiles and bears.

Mountain lions? I know drug dealers usually keep exotic pets, but I didn't know there were so many drug dealers in Warren (bordering on the north side of Detroit) that mountain lions were now a problem.

Foundations

With Warren Buffett's announcement that he will be sending about $1.5 billion every year to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charity has a new, happy challenge: how to distribute twice as much money each year.

Why don't we simply distribute it to the 2 Valuable Foundation, which will promptly use it to fight George Soros?

Something Stinks

It's hard not to wonder whether Detroit has done something to offend editors of health magazines, inclined as they are to tell us first that we're fat, and now, that our air stinks.

Not only that - but our government is economically oppressive and our leaders don't want us to defend ourselves against criminals. Dang - are we turning into England?

More than Pyramids

Egypt was in the news this spring: Killings in Alexandria on Good Friday, suicide bombings in Sinai resorts after Easter, and democracy marches in Cairo in May.

But that isn't the whole story. If you come to Egypt, you'll encounter all the usual images: pyramids, sphinxes, one very long river bounded by desert, camels, the gold and glitter of King Tut's famous treasure. But you may also learn of the power of ancient Egyptian religion.

You might know about Mesopotamian religion with its human sacrifice and male and female temple prostitution. But Egyptian religion, the other religion of the Bible, was very different. Human sacrifice was rare and not reported much at all after 3000 b.c. Temple prostitution didn't exist. Nor did God command the Israelites to destroy the Egyptians as he did the child-sacrificing Mesopotamians.

Read the rest of the story at World Magazine's website.
photo © World Magazine

Natan Sharansky Spearheads Movement To Save Temple Mount Artifacts

From One Jerusalem:

NO BULLDOZING THE TEMPLE MOUNT

Dear Friend of Jerusalem,

For a decade, Muslim religious authorities have participated in the destruction and elimination of precious Jewish and Christian artifacts on the site of Solomon's Temple, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Help us preserve the Temple Mount!

The destruction continues to this day. Thousands of tons of earth, containing archaeological evidence dating back to the period of the Temple of Solomon, were discarded. Among the 'rubble' were ancient seals from a Priestly family, inscribed pottery fragments in Ancient Hebrew, Alter screens and broken columns from a fourth century Byzantine Church.

Since the year 2000, the Muslim religious authority – the Waqf – has blocked all archaeological oversight of the Temple Mount. Instead, the Waqf is constructing Mosques on these sacred sites of Jews and Christians.

One Jerusalem recently met with renowned Israeli archaeologists and discussed the extent of the damage. The facts are astounding. We urge you to sign the following Temple Mount Petition. The petition will be presented to President George Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. One Jerusalem Chairman Natan Sharansky has already gathered a great deal of media attention, when he announced the petition through major blog circuits.

Please sign this important petition (just 2-clicks!) and encourage others to do so as well.

Allen Roth
President, One Jerusalem

Sign the petition here.






photo © One Jerusalem

Saudis Receiving U.S. Aviation Scholarships

Yeah, you read it correctly. Saudi Arabians are receiving U.S. aviation scholarships, even though 19 of the 20 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis.

Danger on the Canadian Border

I don't know if the source quoted here is accurate, but I received this stunning news in my email box this morning:

From the Manitoba Herald
Manitoba, Canada
The Canadian Immigration Problem
by Hal Johnson

The flood of American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada
has intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased
patrols to stop the illegal immigration. The actions of President
Bush are prompting the exodus among left-leaning citizens who fear
they'll soon be required to hunt, pray, and agree with Bill O'Reilly.

Canadian border farmers say it's not uncommon to see dozens of
sociology professors, animal-rights activists and Unitarians crossing
their fields at night. "I went out to milk the cows the other day,
and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn," said
Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota.
The producer was cold, exhausted and hungry. "He asked me if I could
spare a latte and some free-range chicken. When I said I didn't have
any, he left. Didn't even get a chance to show him my screenplay,
eh?"

In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher
fences, but the liberals scaled them. So he tried installing speakers
that blare Rush Limbaugh across the fields. "Not real effective," he
said. "The liberals still got through, and Rush annoyed the cows so
much they wouldn't give milk."

Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet
liberals near the Canadian border, pack them into Volvo station
wagons, drive them across the border and leave them to fend for
themselves. "A lot of these people are not prepared for rugged
conditions," an Ontario border patrolman said. "I found one carload
without a drop of drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa
Valley cabernet, though."

When liberals are caught, they're sent back across the border, often
wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives. Rumors
have been circulating about the Bush administration establishing
re-education camps in which liberals will be forced to drink domestic
beer and watch NASCAR races.

In recent days, liberals have turned to sometimes-ingenious ways of
crossing the border. Some have taken to posing as senior citizens on
bus trips to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a
half-dozen young vegans disguised in powdered wigs, Canadian
immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the
supposed senior-citizen passengers on Perry Como and Rosemary Clooney
hits to prove they were alive in the '50s. "If they can't identify
the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we get suspicious
about their age,"
an official said. Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal
immigrants are creating an organic-broccoli shortage and renting all
the good Susan Sarandon movies.

"I feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just
can't support them," an Ottawa resident said. "How many art-history
majors does one country need?"

In an effort to ease tensions between the United States and Canada,
Vice President Dick Cheney met with the Canadian ambassador and
pledged that the administration would take steps to reassure
liberals, a source close to Cheney said. We're going to have some
Peter, Paul & Mary concerts. And we might put some endangered species
on postage stamps. The President is determined to reach out," he
said.

Seize the Guns

I just don't understand it. I have so many friends who are gung-ho for the government to seize guns from "everyone." Translation - seize them from law-abiding citizens.

I recently received the latest NRA magazine, First Freedom. The current issue sports a front cover showing a giant cloud, obviously a hurricane, and makes reference to the New Orleans gun confiscation when it ask the reader if government can seize the weapons of law-abiding citizens during natural disasters. I didn't think too much about the magazine and left it on the kitchen table, along with some other mail. Mistake. Acquaintances were coming over Monday evening (publik skuul teachers at that!) and they ran smack dab into the magazine.

Now, I really don't give a hoot if someone disagrees with me, but when people hold differing views and they feel it is their obligation to tell me I am wrong, I generally like them to use a little brain with their arguments.

Publik skuul teachers, apparently, don't argue this way.

"Guns are evil... gun owners are evil...we must ban guns...guns are a national security risk..." Yadda yadda yadda.

This comes from the same people who get ready to revolt when government declares child porn illegal (it is against our First Amendment rights, apparently). Or when government cracks down on illegal aliens in our country (it is their 1st amendment right to be here apparently).

I was actually cussed out by these teachers (who I subsequently evicted from my house) when I brought to their attention that gun ownership is a constitutional right - and that if the government could "legitimately" seize guns and cancel this right, they could easily do the same to any perceived First Amendment rights.

But, being publik skuul teachers, I guess this was too hard to understand.

Navy finds long-lost World War II submarine

photo © maritimequest.com

The US Navy says a wreck found at the bottom of the Gulf of Thailand appears to be the long-lost submarine, the USS Lagarto.


A British diver, Jamie MacLeod, located the wreck in May 2005 in 225 feet of water. MacLeod said "It looks to me like it's intact and it's sitting upright on the bottom in very clear water, so you can get a good idea of what it looks like, Everything is still on it all the armaments, the brass navigation lights. It's beautiful."

Navy divers on Friday completed a six-day survey of the wreckage site. They took photos and video of the 311-foot, 9-inch submarine for further analysis by naval archeologists.

The divers found twin 5-inch gun mounts on the forward and rear parts of the ship -- a feature believed to be unique to the Lagarto.

They also saw the word "Manitowoc" displayed on the submarine's propeller, providing a connection to the Manitowoc, Wis., shipyard that built the Lagarto in the 1940s.

Eighty-six sailors died when the Lagarto sank in May 1945. The Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka reported dropping depth charges and sinking a U.S. sub in the area, though it was never known what ship it destroyed.

The Navy sent its divers to examine the ship to provide the sailors' families with some answers after a British professional shipwreck diver last year found what looked like the Lagarto, said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force.

When the Lagarto was lost in 1945 she took 86 men with her, they remain on Eternal patrol.



patch photo © bluejacket.comwreck photo © thaiwreckdiver.com

Blogs Just Won't Die - To the Chagrin of Politicians

After the 2004 elections, which John Kerry lost only because of blogging (to hear him talk about it), the "experts" predicted the demise of the blogger. The blog pheonomenon was over.

But, it ain't happenin' - at least, not yet. In fact, in Michigan, blogging is still "ruining" lifer-politician careers.

A blog brought him down.

It still hurts, three years later.

The relentless criticism of Dante Lanzetta on a gadfly Web site forced him to spend more than $25,000 righting his name after he suffered through what he calls outright lies about his record as Birmingham's longest-serving city commissioner. He believes the blog is the reason for his failure to be re-elected in 2003.

That's a lot of influence for a single Web site...

And, they're popular.

Bhambuzz.org founder Clinton Baller, Lanzetta's nemesis a few years back, said 2,000 people are registered on the site, entitling them to post comments and reply to others. He said that since early 2005, the blog has attracted nearly 410,780 visits.

Watch Out for the Police Car Upgrade

photo © avonhill.com

Ho-hum. Look Honey, a police car in a speedtrap up ahead.




Watch out for new, upgraded police cars. The old Ford Crown Vic is facing cool, stiff competition from Dodge.

Presenting: The Dodge Magnum Police Interceptor
photo © njlawman.com

The Chrysler Group, which had all but dropped out of the police car market over the past five years, is making another run at law enforcement agencies. After introducing police versions of the Charger and Magnum last fall, the Chrysler Group has secured contracts for more than 3,000 vehicles for law enforcement agencies...Early adopters praise the Charger and Magnum for their acceleration and handling...The Charger and Magnum received a boost in October when Hemi-powered versions of these cars placed first and second, respectively, in acceleration, braking and top speed in the Michigan State Police's performance testing.

And here is the Dodge Charger...
photo © allpar.com

Here is an interesting aside: The Michigan State Police have their own color: Michigan State Police Blue. This special shade of blue is not allowed to be used by any other agency and is not allowed to be used on cars sold to the public.

photo © customcopcars.com

Military Clarification

So, there's clarification on the name of the new al-Qaeda leader in Iraq.

The U.S. military said on Thursday it believed the real name of Iraq's new al-Qaeda leader was Abu Ayyub al-Masri.

"We think that Abu Ayyub al-Masri is in fact, probably, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. They are probably one and the same," Major General William Caldwell, the spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq, told a news conference.

Thanks. I thought they looked like the same person.

In a statement posted on a Web site on Tuesday and signed by Muhajir, al Qaeda vowed to avenge the killing of Zarqawi.

That's nice. In a statement Tuesday evening, the US Military vowed to avenge the naming of a new al-Qaeda leader in Iraq.

More on Israel

From Israel National News:

Despite hasty condemnation of Israel, IDF finds that the Arab family decimated on a Gaza beach was not hit by IDF artillery. The only other option: A Hamas mine placed there against Israel.


When seven members of one family were killed in an explosion on a Gaza beach this past Friday afternoon, the world, including many Israelis, was quick to condemn Israel. Israel's policy of firing artillery shells at generally empty areas, in response to ongoing Kassam rocket attacks at Israeli towns and kibbutzim, was immediately blamed.

Both Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz were quick to express sorrow over the incident. Though Halutz said this was not an acceptance of responsibility, that was precisely how it was understood.

"We are not accepting responsibility as long as the investigation has not been completed," Halutz said over the weekend, "and we will be happy to cooperate with the Palestinians in the investigation."

This cooperation did not materialize, however, and in fact the Arabs quickly removed all evidence from the scene - thus raising suspicions that they knew more than they wanted Israel to know.

The IDF investigation quickly ruled out the possibility of air or naval attack, and concentrated only on the option that artillery fire had been responsible. The following findings were then found over the course of the ensuing days:
* The characteristic hole, or "crater," that would have been made by an artillery shell was not found on the scene.
* The timing was off: PA sources claimed the explosion occurred at approximately 16:40 Friday afternoon. However, IDF artillery stopped firing in the vicinity at 16:51, and throughout that time and until at least 16:58, no unusual activity was noticed on the beach.
* Two or three of the wounded were treated in an Israeli hospital, and the shrapnel that wounded at least one of them was not of the type used in Israeli ammunition.

Probably most significantly of all, Israeli intelligence shows that Hamas had placed explosives and mines on the beach against Israeli naval commandos who might try to ambush terrorists using the beach to fire Kassam rockets. It was likely a Hamas-placed bomb of this type that killed the Arab family.

The seven victims included Ali Ghaliya, one of his two wives, and five of his eleven or more children. The film clip of one survivor, 12-year-old Huda, whose mother survived as well, was screened repeatedly around the world, showing her shrieking in agony as she ran among the bodies. All the news reports attributed the deaths to Israeli shelling.

Huda was quickly "adopted" by PA politicians and publicists who seized upon the tragedy for their own purposes. Within hours after seeing her family largely erased, she starred in a press conference, flanked by Palestinian Authority officials who made lengthy speeches. She was also brought to the office of PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), and Ismail Haniya, his Hamas rival and PA prime minister, visited the family home.

The findings of the IDF investigation are not yet final, and were reported last night on Channel Two television. The official report will be presented to Defense Minister Peretz tonight.

Top Ten Resume Lies

According to Forbes Magazine, these are the top ten lies on resumes:

10. For some reason, Forbes started at nine, so we'll have a top nine list
9. Padding grade point averages (Gee, that 2.5 became a 3.5 with a "slip of the finger" on the keyboard).
8. Providing a fake address
7. Claiming language fluency (Sabe usted hablar espanol) HUH?
6. Lying about technical abilities (hey, boss, what is a cosine?)
5. Inflating titles
4. Increasing previous salary (unfortunately many companies require a check stub to confirm the figures people put... oops)
3. Exaggerating numbers (claiming you made your previous employer a million dollars last year when you didn't)
2. Playing with dates
1. Lying about getting a degree (we lost a city manager in my hometown over that one, and the sad part is - he would have won the job offer without the stated degree on his resume)

The Final Frontier

Photo © www.britishcouncil.org

My favorite modern scientist, Stephen Hawking, says humans must find new homes elsewhere in the universe because there's an increasing risk that a disaster will destroy the Earth.

The British astrophysicist told a news conference in Hong Kong that humans could have a permanent base on the moon in 20 years and a colony on Mars in the next 40 years.

We won't find anywhere as nice as Earth unless we go to another star system.

I always find talk like this interesting. Back in the day, I was enchanted with A Brief History of Time. I now expected Dr. Hawking to share about "likely" global catastrophic events like a giant asteroid crashing into earth, knocking us back to the Stone Age. Unfortunately, he was more political.

Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of.

Oh, well. At least I could say, due to my wonderful publik skuul edukashun that this would be no big deal. After all, isn't it about survival of the fittest? Who cares if we wipe ourselves out - isn't that just nature eliminating a problem?

I don't care if Dr. Hawking sounded liberal - I still think he's great. But I won't cut any other liberal-sounding speaker such slack.

Busy Terrorists Make For A Busy Military

From Israel's Foreign Ministry:

Jerusalem, 11 June 2006

Today, over thirty rockets bombarded Israeli communities in the western Negev, wounding four Israeli civilians and causing damage to civilian infrastructure.

Seven Qassams hit the Israeli city of Sderot, in the western Negev. Several rockets landed near schools in the city, causing damage to the structures. In one of these attacks an Israeli man was severely wounded.

In separate attacks, another Israeli man was wounded by shrapnel and two women were lightly injured after a rocket landed a few meters from them. A home in Kibutz Nahal Oz suffered a direct hit by a Qassam; luckily the house was empty at the time of the attack.

In response the IDF carried out two aerial attacks, thwarting attempts to launch rockets at Israel. The first attack was carried out in the morning in the area of Beit Lahia. The IDF targeted a Hamas terror cell, which was minutes from launching rockets at Israel. Another aerial attack was carried out around noon against a vehicle carrying terrorists and rockets in Gaza City. They were en rout to launch the rockets.

The IDF would like to clarify that following the incident in the Gaza northern shore on Friday the IDF has suspended the use of artillery fire. Since the stop of artillery fire Friday afternoon over 70 rockets were launched at Israel.

The Palestinian Authority is fully responsible for any attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, it continues to take no action in order to prevent the daily attacks against Israeli civilians.

The IDF will continue to act with determination and to employ all means at its disposal to combat terrorists and their infrastructure, in order to defend the citizens of Israel.

Cell Phone Rant From A Technophobe

I hate cell phones. I particularly hate the push-to-talk phones all the contractors use whenever I am in a restaurant.

LOUD CHIRP: HEY, FRANK, DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU PUT THE JOHNSON QUOTE? (MORE LOUD CHIRPPING)

Frank, loudly into the phone: I THOUGHT JOHNNY TOOK IT (LOUD CHIRPPING)

LOUD CHIRP: NO. JOHNNY SAID YOU HAD IT. (LOUD CHIRPPING)

Frank, screaming this time: JOHNNY IS A LYING S.O.B. AND I AM GOING TO BEAT HIS PUNK ASS WHEN I GET BACK. (LOUD CHIRPPING)

Not the best way to eat a tuna melt - and it is this way all over America. What could be worse? I mean, besides those awful camera phones? Or the fact that everyone watches ESPN on their cellphone now? I remember when a buddy of mine spent his life savings on one of those big screen TVs last year. "Hey, Jay, come on over and take a look at my 84" flat screen TV that cost $4,995. It's great. Let's watch the Sunday Night football game on ESPN." Are those already the good ol' days?

I tell you what is worse: all the teenagers are getting the little push-to-talk phones. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. For crying out loud. I was at a wedding over the weekend when one of those silly things went off - and the kid got up during the ceremony and went out of the sanctuary to chat. We could hear the chirpping for five minutes. Five freakin' minutes! I finally violated ettiquette, got off my rear end, left the sanctuary, and took care of the problem.

"About 300 people can hear you - and your buddy. Turn that thing off."

"Dude, I didn't know anyone could hear me. Snap."

What the heck does "snap" mean in teen vernacular, anyway?

Loud Chirp: "Dude, I gotta finish this later. Some old guy told me this is too loud for the wedding or something." Loud Chirp.

Loud Chirp: "Tell that old fart to (expletive deleted)."

The kid looked at me, sheepishly apologized, and turned the crappy device off. Of course, neither one of us were allowed back in to the ceremony.

I've read the Bible several times. Tonight, though, I am going to re-read the last book, Revelation. I am sure Apostle John must have seen these chirppy phones somewhere in his apocalyptic vision.

Wiretapping In Court

Ah, another battle over the government's right to invade privacy. Oh, wait, isn't it supposed to be about our constitutional rights? I forgot we had any.

A Federal Court case in Detroit opens today to determine how much eavesdropping the government can legally get away with. Sure, since the government doesn't pay attention to law (reference our constitutional rights), this case doesn't matter. But it should be fun to watch. As the Detroit Free Press writes:

The opening salvo of what is sure to be a closely watched and potentially landmark case over whether the U.S. government has the right to eavesdrop on thousands -- and potentially millions -- of telephone and e-mail communications will be fired in federal court in Detroit today.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit in January, will ask U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor to abolish the Bush administration's program of intercepting international phone calls in its fight against terrorism, saying it violates Americans' free speech and privacy rights.

The Justice Department, which represents the National Security Agency, is expected to argue that the program is legal and a key weapon in the administration's war on terror.

If the Founding Fathers' could see what we've allowed our government to become, they'd roll over in their graves.

Worst Paying Jobs

Forbes Magazine also put out their list of worst-paying jobs.

The "top" three worst paying jobs are:
3. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (i.e. Bus Boys) - mean annual salary = $15,560.

2. Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food - mean annual salary = $15,430.

3. Cooks, Fast Food - mean annual salary = $15,230.

I've personally discovered a some new categories of "worst paying job."

Laid-off Manufacturing Shlub: mean annual salary = $0
Currently Unemployed Manufacturing Shlub: mean annual salary = $0
Laid-off Shlub Who Tips Over Friends' Couches to Grab Loose Change: mean annual salary = $15 (but, alas, it is taxable income)

World Cup Predictions

World Cup Final:

Germany v. Brazil

Brazil 2, Germany 1

Note to all soccer hooligans and rioters: calm down, it is just a prediction. And a hearty thanks for making us Detroiters look like responsible citizens when our teams win championships.

Iran and the EU

From Reuters :

European Union president Austria said on Friday Iran has until the Group of Eight (G8) summit in July to consider an offer of incentives to suspend its nuclear enrichment program.

I assume they'll make another incentive offer in mid-July after Iran tells the EU where to stick it.

Best Paying Jobs

Forbes Magazine recently released the 25 Best-Paying Jobs list. The top five:

1. Surgeons average $181.850
2. Anesthesiologists $174,610
3. Obstetricians and Gynecologists average $174,490
4. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons average $169,600
5. Internists, General average $156, 790

This list is a load of crap. It doesn't take much research to see what the really good paying jobs are.

1. Senator/Congressman - average $7.5 million including lobbyist payouts
2. Businesspartner with Bill/Hillary - average $100,000 payouts on $1,000 investments
3. Criminal Defense Attorney (specializing in white-collar crimes) - average $7,000 per hour with their Senator/Congressmen clients
4. Drug Dealer average $3,000 an hour for just standing on a street corner - or more, if the traffic typically drives by in Daddy's Jaguar with a girlfriend inside.

What To Do When You Run Out Of Bullets

I read a great post the other day:

The last time I went down to the State Department of Safety to renew my concealed carry permit I got into a conversation with the officer who was processing my paperwork. In the course of our conversation, it came up that I was a karate instructor and the officer expressed surprise that I, as a “karate expert,” would feel the need to carry a gun.

I explained that I do not teach “sport” karate. That to me, classical karate is strictly an art of scientific personal protection. In the modern world, realistic personal self-protection must also include the ability to proficiently use guns and knives, as well as the ability to deal with assailants who may be carrying such weapons.

Karate is for when I run out of bullets …

No More Helmet Law in Michigan!

No more helmet law, that is, if Governor Granholm signs the bill. Of course, she has threatened to veto it.

Let's face it - most of the momentum for the helmet repeal is emotional. We riders don't want the government nanny looking over our shoulders as we go down the road. I am part of that group.

I won't go out riding without a helmet on, for several reasons - including the obvious crash issue. But helmets won't protect you from death in a crash. That's right - helemts will not protect you from death in an accident, but if the accident is survivable, they will protect you from becoming a vegetable.

I personally like helmets for other reasons, including protecting me from the amount of road debris thrown in my face or at my head during the average trip, and for shielding against nasty critters like yellow jackets and bumble bees - of which I seem to hit a few times a trip.

Anyways, I think it is foolish to ride without a helmet - but I agree with bikers throughout the state - it should be a matter of personal choice, not government intrusion.

Tragedy and Justice

911 is there to help, right? Emergency services are in most communities around the nation, but in Detroit a few months ago, a couple of 911 operators just plain didn't care.

Robert Turner, then a five year old child, called 911 when his mother passed out. He was dying of an enlarged heart. He called at 5:59 p.m. for 43 seconds, and was told by a very mean operator to "stop pranking" the 911 line and that he would be in trouble with the police if he called back. No investigators were sent, even though he clearly described what was happening to his mother. He finally called back again at 9:02 p.m. for 1 minute, 16 seconds. He again received a stern rebuke and a threat from the operator. Police were sent to the home later in the evening and found a dead mother - a death that should have been prevented if those two did their job.

Now, these operators are facing criminal charges for their actions (and lack of actions). As the Detroit Free Press reports:

In a move viewed as unprecedented, the Wayne County prosecutor charged two 911 operators Wednesday for dismissing a 5-year-old boy's calls for help on the day his mother collapsed and died...

In announcing the misdemeanor charges at a news conference, Prosecutor Kym Worthy said: "The actions of these two 911 operators were egregious. ... This is not what we expect or should expect at any time from our 911 operators."

The two operators face up to a year in jail if convicted.

One Less Terrorist

Old news, but:

U.S. warplanes killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al Qaeda leader in Iraq blamed for bombings, beheadings and assassinations, and President George W. Bush said on Thursday that American forces had "delivered justice."

Castle Doctrine Takes A Step Forward In Michigan

The headline screamed out in bold print: Michigan Senate approves self-defense bills. Yes, the right to self-defense, long a right the State of Michigan refused to allow it's citizens to enjoy, is one step closer to law.

The bills would allow people to use deadly force, with no duty to retreat, if they reasonably think they face imminent death, great bodily harm or sexual assault. They could use deadly force on their property or anywhere they have a legal right to be.

The legislation also would protect people from civil lawsuits if they have used force in self-defense.

The six-bill package is backed by the National Rifle Association but opposed by anti-gun groups. The Senate voted 28-10 and 30-8 to pass two bills, and plans to send the other bills in the package to the House Wednesday.

Michigan residents - contact your representatives. Our state senators did their duty - now it is time for our reps to do theirs... then we must make sure our Democratic governor does her duty as well. Of course, the liberals want to keep us under their thumbs, as former mayor of Ann Arbor (also known as Moscow on the Huron) and current state senator Brater made clear:

We're creating a wild west mentality in this state and I oppose it.

Of course, Sen. Alan Cropsey, aand sponsor of one bill, is able to cite lots of cases that plain "shoot down" the liberal argument. He adds: "this type of nonsense needs to end," and reminds us that that much of the legislation codifies existing judge-made law.

After all, I thought our elected legistlators, not judges, were supposed to make law.

Michigan residents - make your voice known.

To see the bills (they are a quick read, and not in legalese), click here.

Tags: Castle Doctrine , Self Defense

Entrepreneurs and the Gene Pool Lottery

Did you know entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs because of their genetic makeup? It's true - at least to a report on MSNBC.

I know a lot of different entrepreneurs. Some are men and some are women. Some grew up rich, some grew up destitute. Some are educated (by the college standard), some weren't (not even completing high school). Some are white, some are black, some are Hispanic, one is American Indian, one is a mix of different races. Some lived with both their father and mother growing up, some were missing one or both parents growing up.

Based on my observation, it isn't genetic makeup that makes them successful entrepreneurs - it is their tenacity and their drive. Maybe there is no advancement in other countries for those who didn't hit the gene pool lottery. Actually, that isn't true. There isn't advancement in other countries because of economics, not genetics. But in the USA, tenacity and drive overcome almost all obstacles.

Tags: entrepreneur

Canadians Healthier Than Americans

CNN reports that the average Canadian is much healthier than the average American.

You can add Canadians to the list of foreigners who are healthier than Americans. Americans are 42 percent more likely than Canadians to have diabetes, 32 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, and 12 percent more likely to have arthritis, Harvard Medical School researchers found. That is according to a survey in which American and Canadian adults were asked over the telephone about their health.

Here's the kick - you know why they are healthier?

Universal coverage makes it easier for more Canadians to get disease-preventing health services.
Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, Harvard Medical School

It isn't that Americans make foolish food and beverage choices everyday. It isn't that Americans won't take responsibility to live a healthy lifestyle. It is simply because of universal health care in Canada. So there.

Tags: health care

Talk About Lack of Guts...

Here is an interesting one out of Israel National News. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is apologizing for killing terrorists - terrorists killed as they actively engaged in killing members of the Israeli military (Israeli Defense Force, or IDF). No, I am not making this up.

On behalf of the State of Israel, I would like to express my deepest regret over the incident that occurred over the weekend in which two Egyptian security personnel were killed. We have initiated a joint committee to investigate the incident; we will consider its findings. Similarly, we have instructed our security and intelligence forces to cooperate on the issue and to make every effort to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future.

The IDF had a different story:

Today [Friday] at around 6 AM, our forces stationed here [Mt. Saguy, close to the Israeli-Egyptian Negev-Sinai border] were attacked by a 3-man terrorist cell, which opened fire at them. They quickly took positions of cover, opened fire and killed two of the terrorists. We later found that the terrorists were dressed in uniforms of a foreign army, and were equipped with radios and Kalachnikov rifles, and undoubtedly crossed the border in order to attack our forces.

An investigation found that the terrorists had infiltrated
150 meters inside Israel. They were the first to fire and started the gun battle in which they were killed. Nine magazines of bullets were also found alongside their bodies.

I have no clue why Ohmert issued an apology to Egypt - he should apologize to his own troops.

We see so much stupidity in our Congress and among our leaders, it is refreshing to observe that other countries have their share of idiots too.

Tags: terrorism , Israel

A Quick Read...

I've just recovered after experiencing some severe downtime because of poorly prepared food (consumed during a graduation party).

In commemoration to the awful event, here are WebMD's Food Safety Tips for the Warm Weather. Reading this is much less painful than... well, you get the idea.

Stay healthy.

Hell, Michigan

From the AP:

They're planning a hot time in Hell on Tuesday. The day bears the date of 6-6-06, or abbreviated as 666 - a number that carries hellish significance. And there's not a snowball's chance in Hell that the day will go unnoticed in the unincorporated hamlet 60 miles west of Detroit.

I've lived in Michigan all my life, and we Michiganders all know Hell is really 138.7 square miles of city known as "Detroit."

According to the AP are more than 12,000 abandoned homes in the Detroit area.

In 2005, University of Detroit-Mercy Dean of Architecture, Stephen Vogel, stated "Suburbanites are taking the bodies of their relatives out of cemeteries because they're afraid to come to the city. There are about 400 to 500 hundred (being moved) a year..."

Fleeing businesses and homeowners left behind about 38 square miles of vacant land - roughly the size of San Francisco and roughly 25% of Detroit's total land mass.

But, doggone it, we have casinos now, so come on by for an extended visit soon.