Skateboarders got their rides back

A very good source "told me" that the kids, after serving their week of punishment for knowing and following the rules but not forcing a big kid to do the same, received their skateboards back.  Before receiving their boards, they were required to answer this question: "Do you know the rules now?"

I don't understand how this principal can say something like that.  The kids could have said, "Yes, you arrogant #$%@%, I know the rules now." But because this principal holds authority over them, they had to swallow their self-respect and answer her question.

As I said before, this principal is motivated by the need to feel important. She gets off by pushing kids around. I hope she gets the opportunity to push someone who pushes back before long. She should be flipping burgers instead of lording it over children.

I don't believe in karma. But some karmic justice would come in handy right now.

Skateboarding Over Students' Rights at Van Buren Middle School

On last night's Channel 4 News, Stuart Dyson presented a segment about some kids who got their skateboards confiscated by Van Buren Middle School in Albuquerque.  The school has a policy -- no skateboarding on school grounds.  I agree with the policy because it makes a lot of sense. Schools have high pedestrian density.

But the way the school enforces this policy doesn't make sense. These 7th graders didn't offend. They weren't riding on school grounds.  An 8th grader was.  Yet everyone got punished by having their skateboards confiscated. Why? What possible motive could the school principal have for punishing kids who are following the rules? Confiscating only the offender's skateboard seems to me to be the right, and also the easiest, action to take.

I want to talk about the punishment meted out, a form of discipline the military used to use. To see it in action, watch the movie Full Metal Jacket.

This sort of discipline can work in the military, where the individual isn't as important as the objective.  Where the objective comes from the group's superiors and is shared by everyone. But it's a bad way to train kids. Especially kids who are supposed to think for themselves, and someday become creative and productive members of a society that values the individual.

I think the most sinister thing about this form of discipline, especially when used on children, is that it's delegated. The only way this form of discipline works, is if the group metes out whatever punishment is required to achieve order. Yet isn't maintaining order supposed to be the principal's job?

These kids are being taught that the group is more important than the individual. They're learning that doing right is not going to be rewarded, and that doing wrong doesn't carry individual consequences. That's a poor lesson.

I wonder how many times the phrase, "Skateboarding is not a right. It's a privilege" was used when these students' skateboards were being confiscated. It aggravates me when people who get off on pushing other people around are given power over other people. Especially when those other people are children.

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ActivClient: Because We Think Intrusive is Cool

I have to use this ActivClient dongle to log into some of my computers at work.  But when it's not plugged in this annoying dialog pops up. Even if you don't need the dongle, you still have to deal with the crappy software.  So I modified the dialog (see below), so that you can see what it's really saying:

Building a Mosque at Ground Zero

There is a plan to build a mosque in NYC at ground zero.  I am opposed to the idea. I'll admit that when I see someone in middle-eastern garb, I usually feel and think something. And it's not nice. This doesn't change unless I actually personally interact with someone and decide he or she is a nice person. I don't want to see a mosque at ground zero. I don't want to see a mosque anywhere, but seeing one at ground zero is like a slap in the face.

I do believe that many mainstream Muslims in the U.S. are secretly sympathetic to the people who participated in the September 11, 2001 attacks on our country. Just like I'm sympathetic to those who died at Ruby Ridge and Waco at our government's hand. But I really don't know what mainstream Muslims think. And even if I did, that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be allowed to build their mosques wherever they want to.

Last time I checked, this was still America. I see commentary everywhere, with a lot of people saying, "We are duty-bound as Americans to prevent this mosque from being built."  But if we are duty-bound to do anything as Americans, it's to allow religious freedom to continue to flourish here. Because without religious freedom, there is no America. 

There's a reason that religious freedom is considered sacred. If government controls your religion, it's controlling what you think. We've already lost countless freedoms over the War on Terror and the War on Drugs. If we allow a precedent like preventing Muslims from building their mosque at ground zero, where is that precedent going to take us as a country? Is it going to be cited in two years to prevent a Jewish temple from being built? Is it going to be cited in 10 years to keep a Baptist church from being built?

If you're one of the angry voices saying that the government should act to prevent the mosque from being built, step back for a moment and think about what such an action actually costs. If it was your church, what would you say if the government prevented you from building it? 

Because if the government were to do something so stupid as to manufacture a reason to prevent this mosque and we were to allow that to happen, your church, or even your house, could be next.

Here's a note for Sarah Palin: I know that riding a mob's wave of sentiment is a common way to gain political power. I knew others would stoop this low, but I really didn't think you would. Shame on you.

Goodbye, Petie

Petie died today.

He was a peach-faced lovebird who would have been 14 years old in two months. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon, and we had a door open to let the breeze in. A scrub jay called. Petie didn't answer.  Normally, he would answer.

"Petie!" I yelled.  

He didn't answer. That's odd.  

"Petie!  Shut up, you stupid bird!"

That always elicits a chirp, but not this time.  Alarmed, I went to his cage. "Petie?" 

I didn't see him sitting on one of his perches, or ringing his bell.  I grabbed the stepladder so I could see the floor of his cage. Knowing what I would see, because lovebirds start dying of old age at 8 years, I forced myself to look on the floor of his cage. There he was, laying on the floor. I picked him up and he was cold.  "Babe, Petie's dead!"

"No. You're joking"

"I wouldn't joke about that.  He's dead." 

I couldn't look at her. I had to keep my emotions in check. I stood on the stepladder, Petie's lifeless body in my hand, looking towards the cage with my back to the room, trying to control the emotional turmoil threatening to overwhelm me. I've lost pets before. Why am I taking this so hard? I have to get out of here before something breaks.

"I'm going to go bury him." 

I went outside. It was starting to rain. Fitting.  This is the first time Petie has ever been in the rain. I was glad to see there was a posthole digger leaning up against the garage, because I wasn't thinking too clearly and I'm not the best at putting my tools where I can find them.  I looked around, thinking, "Where's a place that Petie would like?"  I decided that a shade tree we call the "mushroom tree" was as good as anything else. We've got several pets buried there already. I started digging. While I was digging, I was thinking. About how I didn't get to say goodbye. About how I haven't let him out of his cage to fly around the house in a long time.  About how he had been dead all day and I hadn't even noticed. About how he's just a tiny little bird and it feels like I've lost something important.  Like a kid or something.

13 years ago, Virginia, my wife, wanted a parrot.  But we couldn't afford one at the time.  So we bought a lovebird.  He was five months old. Virginia named him Petie. She spent a lot of time with him, teaching him that humans were friendly. She got bit 20 or 30 times before he decided she was his friend.  And then he got to where I could handle him without being bitten. Then one day, he got mad at her for something trivial.  After that, he decided he liked me instead. I didn't have to do anything.

He could speak.  If you listened carefully, you could hear him clearly articulate the few words he knew.  For the past several years, whenever he was fed, he'd say, "Thank you." He'd also occasionally say "thank you" when he wanted cereal.  He could also say "cereal."  He could say "stupid," and, of course,  "Petie, " "Pete," and "pee-pee." There are other words he didn't use as frequently. My favorite was "thank you," because it was used in a conversation of sorts.

We'd have long talks:

Petie: "Screech!"  

Me: "Shut up, you stupid bird!"  

Petie: "Petie!" 

Me: "Ok, ok, I'll feed you." 

Petie: "Thank you."  

Me: "I haven't fed you yet." 

Petie: "Thank you." 

Me: "You want some cereal too?"

Petie: "Thank you."

Me: "You're welcome."

Petie, I wish you were still alive.  I wish I could have said goodbye. I'm going to miss you for a long time.

WoW Knothide Leatherworking Skills Progression

It's been awhile since my last blog entry. I'm making up for it by posting something here that you're only going to care about if you:

1) Play World of Warcraft online;

2) Are trying to level your Leatherworking skills.

Between levels 300 and 375, you're burning through a lot of Knothide leather.  Here's are some good sources for knothide:

* Blackwind Sabercats in Blackwind Valley (that's in the Skethyl Mountains near Terokkar Forest). At 73.5/71.7, there's a cave they hang out in.  You can farm the valley, then the cave, over and over. When skinned, they drop Knothide with a 100% frequency. Start at the cave (73.5/71.7). Kill the cats outside the cave, then go towards 71.7/73.2, killing cats as you find them. There are 5 or 6 outside the cave.  Run back towards the cave until you reach 73.3/73.0.  Turn East and fly through the canyon towards 77.0/73.7. You can usually find a couple more (up to 3) while the ones you just killed respawn.  Then it's back to the cave, and repeat. You'll have some rest time (you can kill a little faster than they can spawn), but the area is very productive.

* Nagrand at 54/46. Ignore the bison; concentrate on the antelope-looking mobs. I forget what they're called, but there are about 15 acres of mobs to farm there.

* Keep going back to the Masterwork Leather Trainer in Nagrand, and when you pick up patterns that require Fel Scales, switch to Shardhide Boars. They drop Fel Scales (about 50%) and produce Knothide when skinned at about 50% as well. They live on the Vortex Pinnacle, in Blades Edge Mountains. They're on the very top of a mountain at 31/72, on about five acres of flat ground. There are also Aether Rays there -- when skinned they produce knothide at about 95%.

* When you get patterns that don't require Fel Scales, switch back to the Blackwind Sabercats. Past level 350, I'm told you can get patterns that no longer require Knothide. I recommend that and will update this post when I experience this for myself.


I reproduced this post at my new WoW blog. I'm going to start posting there regularly. Mostly to help myself, but to help you too.

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Benefits Comparison for Relocees

My sister emailed this to me, and I thought it was good enough to share.  This definitely doesn't need editorial help from me:

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If you cross the North Korean border illegally you get 12 years hard labor. If you cross the Iranian border illegally you are detained indefinitely. If you cross the Afghan border illegally, you get shot.  If you cross the Saudi Arabian border illegally, you will be jailed. If you cross the Chinese border illegally you may never be heard from again. If you cross the Venezuelan border illegally you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed. If you cross the Cuban border illegally you will be thrown into political prison to rot.

But if you cross the U.S. Border illegally, you get:

1) A job.

2) A drivers' license.

3) Social Security Card.

4) Welfare.

5) Food stamps.

6) Credit cards.

7) Subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house.

8) Free education.

9) Free healthcare.

10) A dedicated lobbyist in Washington.

11) Billions of dollars worth of public documents printed in your language, so you don't have to learn theirs.

12) The right to carry your country's flag while you protest that you don't get enough respect.

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Why not come to the U.S? It makes sense to me.

Hamas and Activism

For more than a generation, Israel has been trying to get along in the Middle East.  It started in 1967, when Egypt, Syria and Jordan (with the help of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco  and Algeria) attacked Israel in concert with the intention of permanently wiping the state out.

Israel, however, kicked their combined asses and took a large chunk of new territory as compensation. This territory originally served as a buffer zone between her enemies and her people.  But before long, Israelis were moving into settlements in this territory.

These are the facts.  Since then, Israel has made concession after concession, in an attempt to achieve a level of peace within and without its borders. It's my opinion that concessions aren't needed -- when aggressors attack a peaceful country, they should expect to take their licks if they lose.

The international community, for the most part, doesn't see things that way. They see Israel as an enemy, and never miss a chance to cast this nation as the "bad guy" in every situation.

In 2005, Israel withdrew troops from Gaza. According to observers, this would be a gesture of trust and peace. Predictably, Hamas took advantage of this opportunity to seize military control of the territory. So Israel instituted a blockade, preventing any shipping except for certain types of humanitarian aid.

For the most part, they have been able to enforce the blockade until recently. A coordinated attempt by hundreds of individuals on scores of ships to storm the blockade resulted in 11 lives lost. The point of this effort, one might presume, was to get humanitarian supplies into Gaza. But Israel was already allowing these supplies in.

The true purpose of this activism was to get Israel to kill activists. This would generate international anger against Israel, causing more pressure and continued concessions.

But in wartime, storming a well-advertised blockade is an act of war. When these ships were boarded, and the people on the ships attacked the security forces attempting to enforce the blockade, those people ceased being activists. The Israelis had to defend themselves against these enemy soldiers, and people got killed. It's too bad, but that's what happens to soldiers in wartime. 

Israel should stop making concessions. Something they understand, but too many others don't, is that there is only one thing they can do that will ensure peace for Israelis: surrender and die. Their enemies are hate-filled, angry, illogical, ignorant people who cannot be reasoned with.  They won't be satisfied until all Israelis are dead and Arabs are the only people left.

And then, they'll turn their hate-filled eyes towards other non-Muslim nations. Oh wait -- they already have.

Another Illegal Immigrant who is a Criminal

Edgar Zarate, New Mexico, Child porn.

Mommy, Why is my Skin Color a Crime?

I was just reading this news about a protest being held in Arizona this Saturday against SB 1070. Juan Baez, a trucker, created a t-shirt that says, "We are hard workers, not criminals! We believe in USA justice. Arizona's SB 1070 is not justice."

Am I the only one who's angry about this?  Juan Baez was an illegal alien who was allowed to stay due to an amnesty law signed by Ronald Reagan in 1986. He has learned something that all poor people south of the border know: Sneak in your poor, your tired, your huddled masses! America doesn't want you. But in the end, they will embrace you!

Ostensibly, Juan Baez considers a law valid only if he agrees with it. Juan, I don't agree with the amnesty you were given. I only agree that you committed a crime coming here. But unfortunately, I have no say. You have already been given the keys to my kingdom. I agree with you on one point: SB 1070 is not justice. It's a law. And even if it's applied zealously, justice won't come for you or your ilk. The worst that could have happened if you hadn't received amnesty would have been your deportation. But Justice, rotting corpse that she is, still demands from the grave that you be punished for your crimes. And unfortunately, that's not going to happen.  

I'd like to see you tried for the crime of entering this country illegally. The crime of stealing WIC, welfare and food stamps. The crime of getting medical care and not paying for it. The crime of impersonating an American. The crime of stealing our jobs. The crime of attending our schools, schools funded by and for hard-working Americans. And scores of other crimes you committed, stealing from tax-funded programs intended for poor Americans, in the course of survival here as an illegal alien while you waited, loudly and impatiently, for an unprincipled politician to sign a paper making you legal.

At this demonstration, where illegal aliens attended in force, another family pushed a toddler who held a placard that said, "Mommy, why is my skin color a crime?"

Why say that? It's not true, and nobody is stupid enough to believe it is. Even the person who created the placard knows that the simple purpose of the law is to make it a state crime to enter the nation illegally. This is a conscious act that has nothing to do with skin color.

But I know why rhetoric like this is being used.

It's simple. These people know that the politicians in our government are easily moved by public sentiment. They know that a public outcry trumps principles, morals and common sense in this country every time it's heard. And they know that if they accuse Americans of any form of prejudice, Americans will let them have their way.

So they sneak into our country, knowing that eventually they will be allowed to stay. In the meantime, they loudly accuse us of racism, while openly admitting their undocumented status. They celebrate Cinco de Mayo in our schools, and call the patriotic Americans who object and are paying for their education, racist.  They scream, "La Raza!," refuse to learn English, take advantage of our social programs, while waiting for their chance at the asylum they have learned to expect. They ridicule our ways, and take advantage of our economy and freedom. They wear t-shirts that display the Mexican flag. They also display this symbol of offense on bumper stickers, hats, flags and handkerchiefs.

As a people, we're not doing them any favors by allowing them to be here. They could demonstrate against the political system in their country that creates the economic mess they are currently escaping by coming here. They could effect positive changes there. Maybe these people who "just want to work" could replace their government with one that would give them better opportunities to do so.

But if they really believe what they're saying about us, they're too stupid to be Americans anyway. We have enough stupid people already living here. We don't need more.

No, young child. Your skin color is not a crime. Your mother and father are teaching you to be a self-entitled, dogmatic racist. They are here illegally, and though they are able to hurt the economy where they live, they can be picked up and sent back if law enforcement is given that power. But don't worry--you were born here. Unlike them, you are an American. You have been given the power, not just to continue this parasitic cycle, but to accelerate it. Not just with your life, but with your vote. 

Congratulations!

Fixing the Unemployment Rate

I'll admit this is a short blog entry. Read the bullets below. If there's anything else I need to say, please let me know what it is.

• 15 million Americans are out of work. 
• 12 million illegal immigrants are in the United States. 
• Illegal immigrants are just here to work. 

If they're not taking our jobs, maybe we should cut down on the number of strawberries we're growing and they'll just go back home quietly.

Republican Backlash Coming?

In Hawaii's First Congressional District, Republican Charles Djou won a special election last night. In Hawaii's history, Rep. Djou is only the third Republican ever elected to fill that seat.

What does this mean?  Maybe nothing.  But maybe what just happened in Hawaii is a sign of things coming in November's midterm elections.  Maybe people are realizing that voting for the Democratic party two years ago was a mistake.

Maybe people are tired of big government. Maybe people are tired of high taxes. Maybe people are tired of a high deficit. Maybe people still believe in the Constellation project. Maybe people are starting to care about the country, instead of their own bellies.

Nah.  People are stupid, and the people with the most votes are the have-nots.  Besides, it's not like the Republicans are going to get this country back to a place where the Constitution is respected.

Illegal Immigrants Aren't Criminals?

Illegal immigrants and their supporters love to say, "Illegal immigrants aren't criminals. They just want to work." What about Juan Gonzalez? A known pedophile and serial rapist for the past five years, he was still in this country, and still raping kids as late as this past Tuesday. That's when he raped a six-year-old American girl. The first time he was arrested for child rape, she was still wearing diapers.

Can you imagine how it feels to a six-year-old girl to be raped and brutalized by a 20-year-old man? How much pain her undeveloped body parts experienced? How frightened and shocked she must have been? How do you think she feels, knowing that our politicians and law enforcement personnel could have kept her safe but chose not to do so, because "undocumented aliens aren't criminals?"

Gonzalez' previous cases started when he was a teenager. He committed two rapes, but charges were dropped and he was released to his illegal alien parents. Nobody was deported.

In 2008, he struck again. Again, charges were dropped. The reason given was vague, but has something to do with medical privacy laws. Nobody was deported.

Here we are, more than five years after his first rape. Albuquerque is still a haven city for illegal aliens, and this scumbag has raped a fourth victim. A young girl who will never be the same. A young girl who can't understand why we are allowing illegal immigrants to stay here unmolested. Who can't understand why we are giving them driver's licenses.

Don't tell me that the new policy instituted by Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry is wrong, or racist. If someone gets arrested, checking their immigration status is a no-brainer. Charge them with all crimes alleged. If they're convicted, leave them in prison as long as you can. And send them back when they get out. If not convicted, they're still illegal. Even if the charges don't stick you can still deport them. Don't let them spend one more day in-country.

Why was this girl raped? Her city, her county, her state, her country let her down. You can blame this on government policy at every level. She wasn't raped because this guy is a scumbag, or because he has a problem with his sexual proclivities. She wasn't raped because he is a pedophile. She was raped because he was here.

The full story is here.

BP did us Harm

A massive, catastrophic oil spill in the gulf is bad. But British Petroleum (BP) did more harm to our economy than they could possibly do to the environment. Every drop of oil we buy from Opec gives more money to terrorists.

As our money flows to OPEC, it flows out of our economy. It buys stuff for people in OPEC member countries. But if we spend money on American oil, it moves around our own economy where it belongs. It gives BP more money to pay employees. It causes lower oil prices. It allows you to spend less money filling your tank and more money on other things.

Because of the month-long oil spill, it's going to be next to impossible to get permits for other ocean platforms in this country. This is going to harm the economy because:

* Fewer oil platforms means fewer jobs.

* Money used to purchase oil from OPEC leaves our country.

* Some of the money used to purchase oil from OPEC is used to fund terrorism.

Write or call your congressman. Tell him you understand that offshore drilling comes with risks. Tell him that it makes sense to increase scrutiny of oil companies. Tell him that it wouldn't hurt to tighten up regulations to make oil companies safer. But tell him not to do anything to cause delays in further offshore drilling, because the U.S. doesn't have enough energy to supply its needs. Tell him you would rather risk another catastrophe of this sort than continue paying at the pumps for the next 9/11.

Make sure he understands you will vote against him if he tries to capitalize on the public panic over this spill to improve his popularity at the expense of our economy and our energy independence.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Space Station

Say goodbye to the Space Shuttle. One launch took place today, and two others are scheduled; one in September and one in November.

It makes sense to retire the shuttle program. It's a waste of money. But it shouldn't be retired until there's something to replace it with.

What's interesting is that its planned replacement (maybe in 2015?) actually capitalizes on the lessons we learned and the technology we gained during the Apollo missions. It looks like it's not going to be replaced however, at least not by the U.S. Government. Instead, it looks like the U.S. will be relying on contractors to get its payloads into orbit.

Where's the sense of urgency? Doesn't space matter anymore? I believe that space exploration and colonization are the most important things Man can do. Over four decades ago, a decision was made to put a man on the moon within the decade. It happened in just over 8 years, because we wanted it to and we made it happen. The way I see it, there have been three chances since (the 80s, the 90s, the 2000s) to put a man on Mars. We had the capability to make the trip in 1970. Instead, we've been dicking around with the Space Shuttle. And the Space Shuttle isn't capable of landing on the Moon, let alone travel all the way to Mars. Wings are useless in space. What were they thinking?

The Ares (1 and 5) and the Orion capsule are a nice step in the right direction. A big rocket, and something designed to go on the end of a big rocket. These rockets could send everything colonists need to Mars. The Orion capsule could be modified for the trip.

So why are they talking about canceling the program? I'm literally unhappy about this.

We owe it to ourselves and our children (yes, the children) to put a permanent base on Mars. Sure, it's possible for the free market economy to put people there eventually. I'm not opposed to contracting out the work. But I'm opposed to anything that can delay a Martian base to a time that I'm not alive to see it. Especially since we should have had people on Mars in the 80s, when I was in my teens.

Life is going to suck if Constellation gets cancelled. Uncle Sam will be the hitchhiker nobody wants to give a ride to.

My Favorite Color is Clear

I was watching the news again yesterday (you'd think I'd learn my lesson at some point). The news covered a rally that was put together by the pro-illegal-alien people. A teenage girl took the podium and started yelling "I'm not documented! But I'm not a criminal! I'm an honor student! This law is discriminating against me because of the color of my skin!" This impromptu speech was accompanied by cheers from the other demonstrators. It sort of reminded me of the My Anus Is Bleeding clip on YouTube, to be perfectly frank.

Although there's nothing in the law that should bother any American citizen (law-abiding or otherwise), I do recognize that some may be concerned that it could be used by racists to discriminate against Hispanics. But only an American can say that. When an illegal says that, it doesn't mean anything. She's being discriminated against because of the color of her passport, true. "Nonexistent" is a color. And it's perfectly legal to discriminate on this basis. But let's not forget that she is the target of this law. How are they going to use it to discriminate against her racially? That's like discriminating against pedophiles by passing a law making it illegal to molest small children.

But what really irritates me is that when this teen got up in front of a crowd of people and confessed to the crime of entering this country illegally, in front of hundreds of witnesses, she wasn't arrested.

Something else that irritates me is seeing illegal aliens trying to change public policy by demonstrating. What irritates me even more is the fact that they are succeeding.

When you hear someone say, "I'm not documented," that's the same thing as saying "I'm here illegally." It's just double-talk. Code for "I paid a dishonest government servant $2000 to issue me an illegal driver's license." "I falsely obtained unemployment benefits." "This country thought I was a citizen and paid for my schooling." "I advised other lawbreakers on how best to enter the country illegally." ...

Once the decision has been made to enter this country illegally, other crimes are inevitable. And if you're "undocumented," you're a criminal.

Should we make crime safe for criminals?

I watched this video on 60 Minutes about the All-American Canal. Since the double fence between Tijuana and San Diego championed by Duncan Hunter was built, at least 90% of the illegal cross-border activity ceased at that hotspot. Some of it just moved...

Many non-Americans started swimming the All-American Canal, an 80 mile canal diverting Colorado River water for agricultural use in California, to get here illegally. And over 550 people have drowned so far doing so.

People are saying that we need to make this illicit border crossing safe to cross, by stringing buoys and ropes every 150 feet. There's no question that this practice will save lives. But should we do that? Are we doing it for the thousands of other canals in California? Of course not! People know better than to cross those canals, too.

There are hundreds of signs in English and Spanish along the length of the canal, warning that it's dangerous to swim in. Isn't that enough? What if we did string ropes and buoys across the canal every 150 feet? Wouldn't that just make it easier to cross? Isn't that a bad thing? If there are that many people dying, how many are crossing successfully? How many of those are bringing explosives and drugs? How many are going to take American jobs? How many are going to commit crimes like murder, rape and theft? How many are going to have children here? How many are going to go on welfare or take food stamps?

I know how many people have died. I don't know how many are crossing, but it seems likely to me that hundreds of people cross there every day. I know I could swim across, and so could most people. I also know how many people are supposed to be crossing: None, nada, zip, zero. How many people are crossing that don't know they're not supposed to cross? Again, none, nada, zip, zero.

I keep hearing the argument that kids are dying. Nobody wants kids to die. But that is a convenient argument for people who are pro-illegal immigrant to put forth. Let's be reasonable about this. Those kids know they're not supposed to cross, so they must understand they're crossing at their own risk. If there was a legitimate reason to cross, I'm sure a bridge would have been built. There's no safety issue here. Putting buoys across the canal to make it safe to cross would have two effects: It would save lives, and increase the number of people crossing. But the number of people crossing is the issue. The lives lost are inconsequential due to the fact that those people are knowingly breaking the law by sneaking here illegally. And stupidly swimming across a canal that is so obviously unsafe to cross.

I think a double fence should be put up. Razor wire, signs, video cameras, patrols. This would have two effects also: It would save lives and decrease the number of people crossing. From a national security standpoint, it makes more sense. And since lives would be saved, it should make the illegal immigrant advocates and activists happy. Unless they have an ulterior motive. I invite you to speculate about that.

But doing nothing is preferable to putting up buoys. We don't owe these illegals anything. Adding safety features to a canal that's not being crossed by Americans costs money. Money better spent on Americans, or even on visitors who came here honestly.

The argument for buoys on that canal can be compared to arguments for medicinal marijuana. Both of these make it easier for people who want something illegal, to get it.

I Had 10 Kids Here, But I'm No Criminal!

Manuela Quintana, an illegal immigrant, was featured on Katie Couric today. She and her husband moved to Arizona 15 years ago and started having kids (10 in all). She's moving from Arizona (probably to New Mexico) now, because the Arizona Governor signed a law requiring police to enforce immigration laws in that state. When, through an interpreter, she was asked if she considered herself a criminal, she said, "I don't think so. Murderers are criminals. I just want to work." (Actually, what she said was "No Creo" something.)

Her slumlord, Kyle Kester, says that his apartments are like a sinking ship. "I've lost 7 tenants this week...This isn't just hurting illegals, it's hurting Americans too, now."

Does this need an editorial kick in the right direction? Of course not! But because Katie was determined to squeeze every possible ounce of sympathy out of this story, I want to make sure that you don't miss your chance at outrage.

15 years ago, two criminals moved here and had 10 kids. They've been successful working in food service, which means they can afford a nice pickup (lowrider, big fat rims, nice paint job) and an apartment with an extra bedroom for their 10 kids to share. They've successfully raised our healthcare costs by going to the emergency room when they needed a doctor, and not paying the bill because they can't afford it. They've successfully taken every handout available to them -- the local church, food stamps, free child inoculation programs, schooling for 10 kids. You can bet your livelihood that the list goes on and on.

They have successfully raised the unemployment level in their community, performing work that Americans should be performing (yes, there ARE Americans who are willing to work food service, or any other job for which an honest employer is willing to pay an honest wage). And in case you missed it the first time, after 15 years in this country they still don't speak English.

Their kids, fully-vested Americans, are going to grow up and vote for more liberal immigration policies than we now currently have. They're going to vote for costly multilingual education policies. And, having grown up taking handouts, they'll vote for the politicians willing to provide the most. Two illegal immigrants, spawning 10 less-than-optimally-productive American citizens.

Manuela Quintana, you ARE a criminal. That, in the USA, is what we call people who break the law. You would know that if you weren't so bloody ignorant. Of course you want to work. Who doesn't? That doesn't mean you should be allowed to work here.

Now for their landlord, Kyle Kester, "This is hurting Americans." He's making a living providing housing for people who aren't supposed to be here. All business contains risk, especially when you cater to criminals. Don't ask for sympathy, Mr. Kester. You aren't a good American. You've made money off crime for years. Now you might lose everything. Mis ojos lloran por ti. I've got some advice for you -- quit taking on illegals as tenants. The risk is lower when you stick to Americans and legal immigrants.

Here's some advice for the 35% of Americans who support illegal immigrants: Read between the lines when news anchors try to manipulate your sympathies. And here's a link to the article at CBS News.

Illegal Aliens are Racist

Arizona made a law, making it mandatory for their law enforcers to enforce a particular Federal law that the Feds are refusing to enforce. Now, bad Americans are using this to call Arizona "racist." How is forcing immigrants to show their papers racist? I have to show my papers when demanded (see my profile picture--I'm a white person. I'm also Native American, having been born here).

Legal immigration can be controlled. Illegal immigration cannot. It's that simple. I'm sick and tired of paying excessive, burdensome taxes because I'm too "rich" to get a free ride. I'm even more tired of those who get a free ride. And illegal aliens can be found among those getting welfare, earned income credit, and free medical care. I am one of the people who have to pay for those things. And I wasn't born into my current wealth. In fact, I'm not wealthy. I'm barely making ends meet. But I make enough money to earn my status as "middle class," that class of people who has to pay for American freebies.

But the thing that really made me angry, was what I read on one of these internet news outlets a few days ago. A self-confessed illegal Mexican national that's here stealing our jobs, said that he's going to move out of Arizona because Arizonans are racist. This because of the new law that Arizona passed.

Let's shorten "Illegal Immigrants." In California, where I grew up, they were just called "Illegals." I think that sums it up. If you don't like that, then move to a place that doesn't call you that. Because we don't want you here. You're stealing from us, and ruining our country.