Steps to Anarchy

1. Forget to arm the police

2. Disarm the law-abiding portion of your population

3. Prosecute anyone who defends himself from violent crime

4. Sit back and watch. Suggest people evacuate. What's next? Telling them to hit the Molotov cocktails back at the rioters with a cricket bat?

As Instapundit points out, where are the Korean shop owners with AR-15s when you need them?

Equal Opportunity Abusers

Simcha Fisher linked to this pathetic, sad post by an abused man named Doug who thinks he’s getting what he wants for Valentine’s Day. What happens? Well, for Valentine’s Day he goes to the grocery store with his wife – they even take some friends along to celebrate with them and – wait, wait for it – he gets to buy whatever he wants to eat:

“I picked up some really expensive jam. Rachel said, “Yum, that will be really great, Doug!”

In fact everything I picked up got the same response from her (or very close to it), and that was my present: I could choose anything I wanted, and she could only say how great everything was. What an awesome gift that was, a trip to the grocery store.

I have no idea what it cost Rachel to make that trip to the grocery store with me. It was simply one of my best gifts. Find a way to make your man feel accepted, now that’s a Valentine’s Day present.” [my emphasis]

Dr. Helen Smith writes a lot about how men in our society have become more marginalized, and how women can make comments about how ignorant, insensitive, violent, worthless and unnecessary men are and no one bats an eye, while if those same comments were made by men about women, an uproar would ensue. Think about it: how are men portrayed in places like commercials and network TV? They’re stupid, clueless, and a burden to bear (oh how dirty he gets things! I need this new washer from Sears to clean up after him!) And women? They’re nothing less than heroic, multi-tasking saviors who have all the answers and do all the work.

And so many men buy into it and let women treat them worse than the family dog. Just like Doug.

Hey Doug, if Rachel lets you read this, let me tell you something: she’s emotionally abusing you. Really, she is. You need to get some therapy, talk to some real men (email me and I'll give you my husband's number) – something, and fast. Better yet, take all of y’all’s savings you can get your hands on in the next 24 hours and Run. The. Hell. Away. When your life has gotten to the point that you’re grateful she lets you buy your own food one day a year, it’s probably too late for therapy anyway. You are better off living alone with a nice dog as a pet than with this controlling, evil narcissist.

Oh, and girls? If you think even one small part of Doug’s post was cute: go look in the mirror and think long and hard about who you think you are. Because if you’re treating your boyfriend or husband like a cute but messy Chihuahua that you constantly have to take care of – you need to cut that crap out as soon as possible, or you’ll turn into Rachel the Wicked Witch’s twin sister faster than you can say “and your little dog, too.”

This public service announcement is over. Have a nice day.

Sickness

Did you know that "thinspiration" websites existed? I have to say that, until yesterday, I was blissfully unaware of them. Unaware that young girls were using the Internet to encourage one another in their pursuit of anorexia, or "ana" as they fondly call it. Here are a few, if you can stand to look:

http://ana-beauty.webs.com/best100thingstoknow.htm: read all of these if you really want to be ill.

http://www.prettythin.com/

http://thinspiration-pictures.blogspot.com/

http://pro-ana-angels.wetpaint.com/page/Real+Thinspiration

http://ana-beauty.webs.com/mustknows.htm: this last one has this bit of wisdom I'm sure we all need to know: "Use oil free moisturizers when you moisturize, oil is fat!"

Moms of girls, even if your daughter is the healthiest person both emotionally and physically, block these sites with a net nanny - do something! These sites are poisonous.

The Useful Idiot: A Field Guide

I used the phrase "useful idiot" in an earlier post today; it's one I've always liked. Since I'm in a political mood - thanks to tax day - I thought I'd write a little post about some of the most useful and idiotic people I can find. They are easy to spot, and it's far more fun to hunt them then it is to go out, say, birding. And you can do it from the comfort of your very own living room. Why not give it a try?!

Here's my first find; the one I like best in this piece is Jeffrey Hollender, the owner of Seventh Generation, an "eco-products" company. Hollender has this particular gem, that I think makes him the star of the article:

"I do feel that I should pay more taxes — absolutely," Hollender says. "While I don't like how the government spends the money I give them, I do feel that I pay too little."

Soooo. Not only does Mr. Hollender want to give more of his money away, he wants to give it to an organization with which he disagrees. Would he give his money to a lobbying group that supported the growth of responsible nuclear energy? No? Why not? Just because he's on the board of Greenpeace, an organization that thinks nuclear power is "evil"? But he says he's willing to give even more of his money to the government, even though he doesn't like how they spend it.

How do people like this make sense of things? How on earth do you come a point in life where you lack logic to such a degree that you can walk around spouting such nonsense? I have no idea. The only thing I do know: I need to find a new laundry detergent, since the stuff swishing around in my washer right this minute is making Mr. Hollender even more money - that he will eventually share with the government, of course.

Only in New York

Can you sell Pop Tarts at a bake sale and not homemade cookies. It's all about "fighting" obesity, you see. I have to say, whenever you hear anyone from the government tell you they are "fighting" something for you that isn't armed with a gun or a bomb, that would be the time to run. away. quickly. As Ronald Reagan was fond of saying: "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"

Gee, why would people like me rather live in Texas than New York? I just can't understand it ...

HT: Ann Althouse

Some Things are Better Left Uninvented

Like this:

The Divorce Industry.

"A fortnight today, London will play host to the Starting Over Show, a divorce fair for those who have been through or are considering a break-up that was first staged last year in Brighton. The show proved such a success that this year, much enlarged, it is being held in the capital and again on the south coast. As well as inspirational speakers (“No more ‘if onlys’”), family lawyers and estate agents, the exhibitors include life coaches, a cosmetic dentist, a photographer and several dating agencies."

Get the bucket: I'm feeling nauseated.

... and for smoking

Why is the movie An Education rated PG-13?

"PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking."

Yes. We live in THAT country now. God how I hate fascists!

Need. A. Shower. Now

A friend* told me about this last night, and then another posted the link on Facebook this AM. Of course I can't keep my mouth shut on the subject:

"Miss Cougar America, Gloria Navarro, 42, of Redwood City, proudly accepted her title before more than 200 guests, most of them men in their 20s, 30s and 40s, at Dinah's Hotel in Palo Alto on Friday. She said she was proud to represent a new breed of woman: empowered, secure and willing to break boundaries."

Yes, she was proud of the fact she looked 10 years older than her purported age and devoted her spare time to chasing down men 20 years her junior for s*x. If you don't believe me about the "10 years older" thing, just run through the slide show the story provides. (shudder)

Once again, another woman wants to stand up in front of the world and proclaim that the best thing about her is she loves to have s*x. Pathetic, sad, empty - there is more to life than this, people, I promise!

*Said friend lives near Redwood City, and stayed close to home all weekend, just in case. He didn't want to go our without his wife for protection. :)

If It's Scottish ...

"you know it's not crap" - or so says Husband with mind-numbing repetition (and a fair Scottish accent, I have to admit): it's his new favorite thing to say. But this should stop him in his tracks: it's Scottish and it's an entire mountain of crap:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8213352.stm

You have to stop and watch the video - see the cheering crowds and waving flags as Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi gets off the plane in Libya. He's on his feet, arms held over his head like a prize fighter - but don't forget, he's "terminally ill". Sure he is. And what do the politicians say about this: "distasteful", "distressing", and, in the words of our own dear leader, "displeasing". Strong words, those are.

It's all Scottish, and it's all crap - from the release to the cheering homecoming to the tepid responses of pathetic politicians.

The next time I hear Husband say "Scottish", he's getting such a kick.

HT: Ann Althouse

Brings New Meaning to the Words "Bad Judgment"

This mother drove drunk and high down the Taconic Parkway (never an easy road to drive) with her two children and three nieces in the car, crossed over into the other lane and killed herself, four of the five children in her car, and the three people in the car she hit head-on. How in God's name do you justify getting in a car in that condition (BAC .19 - that's actually drunk), especially with children?

There's nothing but sad about this story - there's nothing else to say.

Juvenile Doesn't Even Begin to Cover it

Ann Althouse has a summary of some of the puerile comments made by the media yesterday while reporting on the nationwide Tea Parties. Go ahead, read it. You need to be so nauseated you miss a meal. Consider it a short-term diet.

Every single one of these "journalists" should be fired for some of the most crass behavior on TV outside of South Park, and for a complete lack of anything remotely resembling professionalism.

I think I'm going to puke. Living in this alternative universe makes me dizzy.

I Was Happy

I was fairly happy today, even though I discovered the TAX DEFICIENCY from Hell late this afternoon, but now, I'm not. Chocolate is in my immediate future.

Why?

I learned about this:

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Annual Easter gathering:

A sample of the schedule:

11a to Noon: Children's Easter
Noon to 2p: Live Entertainment
1p: Bonnet Contest, with Beach Blanket Babylon
3:40p: Hunky Jesus Contest

Yes, if you live in San Francisco, you too can take your children to see this:

Don't forget to stay for the highlight of the afternoon:

As we all know I am a well-known prude about such things. But really, honestly, GO FIND YOUR OWN DAMN HOLIDAY, PEOPLE!

Childless Society

Just to creep you out a little, Mark Steyn and cats from The Corner.

Remember

Only the government can save you.

"A pregnant woman, her husband and their three-year-old son were killed in a house fire early yesterday as police who arrived before the fire brigade prevented neighbours from trying to save them. The woman screamed: “Please save my kids” from a bedroom window and neighbours tried to help but were beaten back by flames and were told by police not to attempt a rescue."

The police wanted everyone to wait for the firemen, you see.

I'm Chiquita Banana and I'm Here to Say

John Hinderaker at Powerline on whether the US is turning into a banana republic.

"If the Pelosi bill is actually enacted into law (which I still think is doubtful) and upheld by the courts, there is no limit to the arbitrary power of Congress. In that event, we have no property rights and there is no Constitution--no equal protection clause, no due process clause, no impairment of contracts clause, no bill of attainder/ex post facto law clause. Instead, we are living in a majoritarian tyranny."

Isn't it unbelievable to everyone that Congress passed a bill that states that everyone who works for a company receiving bailout money and who makes more than $250k a year is taxed at 90% on all income above that limit? Yes. Seriously. They did that. I don't think you have to have the slightest knowledge of the Constitution whatsoever for that bill to fail to pass the smell test. John is right: if they can do this, they can do anything. And then the difference between the US Federal government and Robert Mugabe would be ...?

More here.

HT: Instapundit

And a final note: I came up with the label "Topsy Turvy World" to describe some of the inexplicably foolish things that have been going on in the UK for some time; I never expected to use it about anything that happened here.

New Jersey Saves the Day

In the face of soaring national and state government deficits, massive bailout programs run amok, looming tax increases, and all the other problems facing Americans:

NJ is considering banning bikini waxing.

Way to go! Solve some problems! Cross that item off your list and give yourself a big, fat "good job" star at the same time!

Whew. I'm glad they are solving this huge problem for us. I will sleep much better from now on.

Are Farmers' Markets Unsafe?

Apparently Congress thinks so.

HT: Instapundit

Overpopulation

Glorious screedy-ness from Lileks:

"Among the many things we get from England, cautionary examples may be their most useful export:

'COUPLES who have more than two children are being “irresponsible” by creating an unbearable burden on the environment, the government’s green adviser has warned.'

Of course he has. What’s the line from Scrooge - better they should die, and decrease the surplus population? I’m surprised that’s not an applause line these days. If Scrooge had forbid Crachet from putting on more coal because it would contribute to global warming, he’d be the hero, and Crachet would have got the three spirits."

Just what Europe needs - more encouragement to lower their birth rates. Let them. At this point, if they've devolved into the kind of people who think Gaia is more important than humans, we'd all be better off without them. And we can send those Disney people over to run the sights and such, and still have our summer European vacations. Everyone gets what they want in the end - the Euros get their desired extinction, and we get a cleaner Venice, with ADA-approved ramps and handrails. Works for me.

Australia on Down Syndrome

A German immigrant to Australia has been denied permanent residency because his son Lukas, 13, has Down syndrome. Fortunately, the Victorian Premier is on his side, as are a number of other prominent government officials, so hopefully this will be straightened out quickly.


AP Photo.

BUMP: My Moronic Homeowner's Association

Sends this email late last night:

"Deed restrictions prohibit yard signs in Old Braeswood. This is the time of year when, understandably, everyone gets excited about upcoming elections and wants to display their pride in their candidate of choice. It's wonderful how politically active our neighborhood is. Our deed restrictions, however, prohibit all signs except a single “for sale” sign not to exceed five (5) square feet. All political and contractor signs need to be removed asap. We encourage you instead to exercise your creativity and come up with a more interesting approach. How about a cocktail party where we all forget the rules of polite discourse and argue about the issues, or a costumed mock debate? We can also wear our candidates’ tee-shirts and display bumper stickers on our cars. There are many ways to show our political support, and we invite you to share your ideas/ways with us. The most interesting ones will be published in the newsletter. Please send photos and a brief description to info@oldbraeswood.com."

Can you say "violation of constitutonal law"? City of Ladue v. Gilleo, people.

UPDATE: I called our association president and told her - very diplomatically and politely - that her email had a little something wrong with it, and she just fell over. She says she was trying to stop people from stealing each other's signs, and figured if the children won't stop stealing each other's toys, you take the toys away and put everyone in time out. She is sending another email telling everyone they can leave their signs up. And yes, I really was nice on the phone. I can do that when I really want to.

2nd UPDATE: Apparently the association's president has received "several e-mail's (sic) with various points of view about the issue," so they won't be recinding their first email after all. As long as they don't expect my sign to come down until after the polls close on the 4th, that's fine with me - they can be as ignorant as they want to be.

3rd UPDATE: After a little legal research, I dug this up:

“In DuBose v. Meyerland Community Improvement Association, a Harris County District Court ruled that a covenant prohibiting the display of temporary political signs was unconstitutional. The judge wrote, 'The U.S. Constitution does not end where deed restrictions begin.' The DuBose case was reinforced by a new statute passed by the 79th Texas Legislature effective Sept. 1, 2005. The statute addresses how and under what circumstances an HOA may regulate the placement of political signs. The new law, found in Section 202.009 of the Property Code, divides the regulations into two categories: things that cannot be prohibited by HOAs and things that are discretionary. In the first category, HOAs cannot adopt or enforce restrictive covenants that prohibit owners from displaying signs on their property that advertise a political candidate or ballot item for an election. The signs may appear on the property anytime 90 days before the election and ten days thereafter.” [emphasis added]

Next step: I have the name and number of the attorney who won the Dubose case; I think I'll give him a call ...