Flying to Phoenix on US Airways

So, tonight I am flying to Phoenix on a US Airways flight. Normally I don't worry about flying, and I really am not "that" worried.

But, I have to ask, if you are a US Airways Pilot, and you are on final approach in a Boeing 737, Airbus 320 series or a Boeing 757, don't you usually keep your hands on the yoke (or stick in the Airbus case)? If you are reaching around the cockpit, isn't that usually just to flip a couple of switches on the overhead or maybe to retard the throttle? I realize that cockpits are pretty automated, but shouldn't a pilot on final be pretty busy?

So what in the WORLD could have happened to allow a US Airway's Pilot's pistol to discharge on final???? Should I wear Kevlar when I fly tonight?

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Community College Considering Armed Security

A good first step for Johnson County Community College. Perhaps a next step would be to consider allowing Concealed Carry Permit holders to carry on college Campuses.

From Kansas Progress:

“On university campus you see a world view that in my opinion does not deal with reality. I think they deal with the reality of evil two ways on campus. One, they pretend it doesn’t exist, and two, to the extent that they do believe it exists they believe that human reason and the power of the human mind can combat all evil. I just don’t think that’s where most Americans are on the issue.

“We lock our doors at night, we teach our daughters self-defense practices, just in case something happens, we know that evil is out there and we need to protect ourselves from it.

“In the event that we have an unfortunate incident on campus I don’t believe it would be in the best interest of the taxpayers that we would have to wait for outside forces to come before we could react in kind.”

-State Representative and JCCC Board Trustee Benjamin Hodge

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Emergency Powers Bill Passes Kansas House

From the NRA....Emergency Powers legislation, House Bill 2811, was passed to final action Thursday, March 20 in the House and a vote will likely take place on Monday, March 23. HB2811 would prevent the State of Kansas from confiscating, registering, or regulating the lawful sale, possession, transfer, transport or carry of firearms during a state of emergency, such as occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This bill would protect Kansans' right to self-defense, even during a declared state of emergency.

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DC v. Heller- The Oral Arguments

The official transcript of the oral arguments from District of Columbia v. Heller can be downloaded here.

Far be it from me to second-guess "the Court," but based on my reading of the oral arguments in DC v. Heller, I am optimistic that the DC ban on handguns will be overturned.

It seems to me that Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Scalia, Justice Kennedy, and Justice Alito will come down on the side of Heller, against DC. Justice Thomas, who rarely ever asks questions during argument, has somewhat libertarian views, and will, I am sure, down on the side of Heller as well.

The only other Justices that I a believe I am sure of are Justice Stevens and Justice Souter. There is no doubt in my mind that he will side with DC. Justice Stevens spent time during the arguments going back to the 1700's and stressing that only two of the original states had SPECIFIC clauses in their constitutions which acknowledged an individual right.

Justice Breyer and Justice Ginsburg, by my reading, may take the view that yes, there is an individual right to keep and bear arms, but that the District of Columbia ban is reasonable. Justice Ginsburg seemed to be suggesting this in her statement to Solicitor General Clemet:

"If we're going back to the English Bill of Rights, it was always understood to be subject to the control and limitation and restriction of Parliament. And I don't think there's any doubt about that. And that's what we're talking about here, are legislative restrictions." (Transcript 34:2)

The biggest question that I now have is what the Court will decide on the issue of how laws are to be scrutinized going forward assuming the Court rules that the Second Amendment is an individual right.

Justice Scalia seemed to me to favor strict scrutiny, while the Chief Justice asked why that needs to be decided now and why would they decide it now.

So, now we wait until June to find out what the Courts opinion really is.

A couple of interesting notes-- When Alan Gura, arguing for Mr. Heller, was using the Miller case to discuss types of guns that would be allowed stated that even though Gura was being faithful to Miller, that "Miller may be deficient"(62:22).

Another was Justice Scalia on a limit to the number of guns a person may have:

"You mean you can't have any more arms than you would need to take with you to the militia? You can't have a -- you can't have a -- you know, a turkey gun and a duck gun and a 30.06 and a 270 and -- you know, different -- different hunting guns for different --" (88:8).

It is nice to see that at least one of our Justices hearing this case, can actually name the caliber of some guns.

UPDATE: I just ran across THIS article at Concurring Opinions. It is a very good article to read.

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DC v Heller: What Did the Founders Really Mean?

Tomorrow District of Columbia v. Heller will be heard before the Supreme Court. Tomorrow, at the beginning of the 21st Century, the Nine members of The Court, all born in the 20th twentieth century, will listen to argument and debate over what the members of the Constitutional Convention meant in the 18th Century, when they arranged 27 words and 3 commas into the 2nd Amendment.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed

After over 200 years, it is amazing that we, as a people, do not appear to know what these words mean.

I remember grade-school US History. I remember having to memorize what each of the 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights were. Things were simple. We have freedom of speech, religion, press, the right to bear arms, trial by jury, etc. These were our Rights. They were from God. They were non-negotiable.

In High School and College classes discovered that what I learned in grade-school was not exactly true. I learned that The Court said that what the Founders wrote was not exactly what the Founders meant. I learned that "The Court" has looked at the words the Founders wrote and answered the question "what did they REALLY mean."

However, has "The Court," when looking at the MEANING of what the Founders SAID, left out what the Founders REALLY meant?

The Court has looked at what "freedom of speech, press, and religion" has meant. But, did The Court forget too look at the FIRST five words of the Amendment and forget what THEY really meant?

"CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW…." I am not a legal scholar, but a plain text reading to me says, "Congress shall make NO LAW…" To me that means "Congress shall make NO LAW" regarding freedom of speech or religion or freedom of the press or of the right to petition the government.

Over hundreds of years and hundreds rulings, The Court has created a situation where every one of the rights listed in the Bill of Rights now has an "asterisk." Free Speech only means Free Speech under certain circumtances. The Right to Bear arms, according to some, does not mean that at all. Police can go "door to door" to search for guns and drugs because it is "voluntary." The powers not EXPRESSLY granted to the Federal Government are reserved to the States or to the people, except when the Federal government wants to create new regulations.

Tomorrow the Court will look at the Second Amendment and argue over the first 23 words. However, I would venture to say that the last FOUR words, will be ignored. The last four words of the Second Amendment are just as important. The words "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED" should specifically limits to what the government may do with regard the "right of the people to keep and bear Arms."

So I return to the central question: What did the Founder's Really Mean?

In my opinion, I think the Founders would say, "Look at what we wrote-It's simple: The People's rights--all of them--SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. PERIOD."

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Missing WWII Battle Cruiser Found

The HMAS Sydney, missing since November 19, 1941 has been found. She went down with all 645 hands during a fight with the German DKM Kormoran, who had been disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel. The Kormoran was also sunk in the battle, although 317 of her 397 man crew survived and were taken prisoner when they rowed to shore in Australia.

HMAS Sydney was found in 8,100 feet of water sitting up-right. She was the largest vessel from any country to be lost with all hands during WWII.

Kormoran survivors had reported that they had last seen the Sydney ablaze but heading toward Perth. Although it was assumed that she had sunk, there was no confirmation of this and her exact fate had not been known.

The Sydney was found by David Mearns.

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea

-Eternal Father [The Navy Hymn]

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Juan Williams On Obama

Link: sevenload.com

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"May I Search Your Home?- It is Completely Voluntary"

It is early evening. You have just pulled perfectly cooked "Nathan's Hot-Dogs" off the grill. There is the usual pre-dinner rush in the kitchen as the meal is being brought to the table. The kids are washing their hands. You usually keep the TV off during dinner, but tonight is an exception. There is a baseball game on and your team is doing well this season. You decide to grab a beer from the fridge. You smell the apple pie your wife has put into the oven for desert. Your dog is sitting patiently beside the table, knowing that sooner or later one of the kids will drop something from their plate-or hoping that you might give in and let him have that last bite of your second hot-dog.

You look around you. Baseball, hot-dogs, your family with you, your dog at your side, the smell of apple-pie in the kitchen- there is nothing that can ruin this All-American, Norman Rockwell moment- Except the three rapid knocks at the door that jolt you back to reality.

You get an uncomfortable feeling in your gut. The knocking was loud- with a purpose, not the way salesmen knock, or the way the next-door neighbor kid knocks, when she comes over to tell you about the latest reason she is selling candy for school or that her mother would like to borrow an egg. No, this knock was confident and definitely had a purpose.

You reach the door. Outside you hear a voice, but it is mixed with static. You realize the voice is coming from a two-way radio. You peer out the peep hole and see two men dressed in blue and the badge of your local police department. The uncomfortable feeling in your gut grows. What could be wrong, you wonder. Has their been an accident? Has someone died?

You open the door. "Can I help you officers," you ask with a hint of concern in your voice.

Both officers smile. One of them takes a slight step forward. "Good evening," he says. "We are here in your neighborhood as part of the "Safe Homes Initiative." We would like to know if we can come inside and perform a quick walk through of your house as part of "Safe Homes." We would just like to help you out by verifying that you don't have any guns that are not locked up in the house and help you check to make sure that your kids haven't accidently picked up a handgun in the park and hidden it from you. I am sure you are concerned about your kids safety and making sure you home is safe. You won't mind if we come in and take a quick look around? We are checking all the homes in the neighborhood. And this is completely voluntary."

You stand there staring at both officers, unsure of what to do next. Both officers are smiling, but you notice their hands are resting on their service pistols.

The second officer reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out his note pad. "Can I get your name please," he asks. "just for my paperwork of course."

So now what? Do you let the police in to do a "voluntary" search of your home? Do you refuse, and then wonder if you have made some "list?"

Think this can never happen here? It starts, in the District of Columbia, March 24, 2008. To me, this sounds like something from a 1930's Gestapo playbook.

District of Columbia police will be asking parents/guardians for permission to conduct "voluntary" searches of their homes and children's bedrooms to search for firearms and drugs. Supposedly the search will only be for illegal firearms and drugs. However, I am sure that these searches will lead to prosecution for other matters, based on what they see in plain sight, even though some amnesty is supposed to be involved for the voluntary search. If a found gun has been used in a crime- prosecution will follow.

I have huge concerns about this program. Will people be too intimidated by the police to not allow them into the house? What happens if people refuse? Will the cops just say, "Thanks, have a great day" or will the next question be "Do you have something to hide?"

DC already has the strictest gun control laws in the nation, and NOW they need to go door to door to perform warrantless searches.

Boston and Philadelphia-- Guess what guys, You are next…. (Boston program starts this month, Philadelphia is still working on their program).

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Psoriatic Arthritis- Starting Methotrexate

Earlier this week I wrote about being diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis.

I saw the doctor again today. After a lot of discussion we came up with a treatment plan that will hopefully keep me from loosing the use of my hands and keep me out of a wheelchair-- Enbrel and Methotrexate. Enbrel is an injection that I will take twice a week… it suppresses the immune system. Methotrexate is oral. It is a chemotherapy drug for certain leukemia's, lung cancer and some other cancers, but it also works for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Psoriatic arthritis (PsA). I take six pills over the course of 24 hours and then no more for a week. I have to wait for the insurance to approve the Enbrel, plus there is a bunch of blood tests, a chest X-ray, TB test and other stuff they have to do before I can start taking it.

So, I started my first course of Methotrexate today. All I can say is I wonder if the cure is worse than the disease. The literature was right about the nausea, achiness, being worn out, feverish (low grade), dizziness. Fortunately, from what I have read, I only need to put up with these side affects for 24-36 hours, then I will be back to normal.

Unfortunately, one of the other side affects is slow hair loss. Hopefully that one won't affect me.

If there are any of my readers out there who have PsA or have taken methotrexate, please feel free to email me if you are comfortable. If you have found this post because you have PsA or think you might have Psoriatic Arthritis, again, please feel to email or comment below and I will gladly share any information I know or experiences I have had.

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No Sunspots- Sun Still Quiet

Again this week Sunspot activity has been next to (if not at) zero. This quiet has persisted for the entire month and according to reports, it may continue for some time to come.

The NOAA 'low view' is projecting Sunspot activity to be at zero for the rest of the year!

I am really beginning to wonder about what is happening. NASA heralded the arrival of Cycle 24 in January. Yet all of the sunspots that have occurred since the January announcement have been from Cycle 23. Nothing has been seen of Cycle 24 since the sunspot in January.

The NOAA report and projections are indicating the possibility of a minimum last through December 2008 with activity not starting until January of 2009. Others at NOAA (in the same report) are saying that the minimum has passed and that we should start seeing activity in April.

With global temperature and solar activity linked, I am wondering what does this minimum mean for temperature for the balance of the year? NOAA reported that this winter was the 54th coldest since they began keeping records in 1895. Is this a sign of things to come?

Are we in fact now heading for another Maunder or Dalton Minimum?

(This Post has a "near real time" picture of the Sun and Sunspot Activity from the SOHO Satellite)

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Obama's Free Pass: How Much Longer

How much longer will Barack Hussein Obama get a free pass and when will the public wake up to the fact that this guy is bad news.

He get takes office as a US Senator in 2005. A few months later his wife gets a 200% salary bump from her employer and then her employer gets a $1 Million earmark, courtesy of Barack Hussein Obama. (The Hospital of course says the two were not related.)

He is old friends with "the Weathermen."

He does land deals with Tony Rezko and his staffers get great jobs.

Now we find that his "spiritual advisor," friend, and Pastor is a blatant racist that blames 9/11 on US Support for Israel. He states that blacks should not say God bless America, the should say God damn America. This "pastor" is spewing the same sort of crap as Fred Phelps!

However, if ANY Republican candidate said that Fred Phelps was their pastor and that they had consulted him before running for office, they would be crucified by the press and would be resigning the campaign the next day. I am not the only one who thinks so!!


How much longer does Barack Hussein Obama get a free pass?

Benjamin Franklin put it best: "He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas."

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U-Va: Children of Illegals Not Legal Residents

The University of Virginia is telling students that if your parents are illegal aliens, they are NOT legal residents of the state and therefore out-of-state tuition should apply.

The Virginia AG's office last week said that the schools in Virginia must consider parents legal status because students are considered dependant until age 24. However, the University can review cases to determine if a student's status should be considered separate from the parents.

Despite what I am sure the left will say, this is NOT a bad thing. A parent's legal residence has ALWAYS been an issue when determining a student's residency status. Schools have always been strict on this issue. If the parent is NOT a LEGAL RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER of the state, why should they get tuition breaks for their kids.

I sure wish Kansas would get the message.

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Congress: Sell Israel the F-22

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) plan on making anther bid (I didn't know they made previous bids) to purchase the Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor next month. Apparently, they were denied previously due to a congressional restriction on selling the F-22 overseas.

There are several reasons why we SHOULD sell the F-22 to Israel.

First- We need the jobs in the US. Increasing the production of the F-22 would increase jobs in the US- plain and simple.

Second- I am sure the Israeli's will do a great job "testing" the F-22 in "adverse conditions"- just like they tested the F-16 back in June of 1981.

Third- Stealth will make it much easier to take out Iranian Nuke facilities… But I am sure that this has never crossed anyone else's mind.

Fourth- We need the jobs!!! (ok, I may have mentioned that one already)

Call or write Congress. Ask them to support lifting the restriction on the sale of the F-22. Tell them to let Israel buy the F-22 and create US jobs.

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