This guy was almost killed by his neighbor's careless handling of a .44 Magnum.

Four Rules:

- Treat as loaded
- Safe direction
- Finger off trigger
- Know your target

As if you need more evidence that the media are technologically ignorant, they're buying into the claim of a car that runs on water. (CNN video)

Burning hydrogen for fuel is nothing new. In high school chemistry this was called electrolysis of water. The major difference is that they claim to be able to produce hydrogen on demand and thus eliminate the danger of having to store it in large quantities.

While it may work for welding, the problem with this scenario is that you need huge amounts of electricity to produce enough hydrogen to power a motor vehicle. In carrying around all those batteries, you might as well drive an electric car and cut electrolysis out completely. And since it's impossible to get as much energy out as you put into it, you're still losing energy.

Over the normal course of a criminal investigation, it is sometimes prudent to serve a search warrant in order to peek around someone's house for hard evidence to support said investigation. There are legal safeguards in place to protect Constitutional rights, and these are rules that average Americans have lived under for generations.

But in a classic case of "rules for thee but not for me", Congress is letting investigators know that they are not average Americans. Serving a warrant on one of the Congressional elite, no matter how much evidence there is backing it up, is a no-no. How dare you treat grand exalted Congressmen as mere citizens. At least that seems to be the thinking up on the hill.

When the feds raided the apartment of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) and uncovered $90,000 in bribe money stashed in his freezer, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle cried foul. Speaker Hastert went so far as to call the seizing of bribe money unConstitutional.

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) expressed alarm at the raid. "The actions of the Justice Department in seeking and executing this warrant raise important Constitutional issues that go well beyond the specifics of this case," he said in a lengthy statement released last night.

"Insofar as I am aware, since the founding of our Republic 219 years ago, the Justice Department has never found it necessary to do what it did Saturday night, crossing this Separation of Powers line, in order to successfully prosecute corruption by Members of Congress," he said. "Nothing I have learned in the last 48 hours leads me to believe that there was any necessity to change the precedent established over those 219 years."

I think it's high time that Congressmen be subjected to the laws they force on the rest of us. Let Ted Kennedy be given extra scrutiny in the airport. Make Jim McDermott obey eavesdropping laws.

Those who make the laws should be expected to follow them just as we are expected to.

Both Democrats and Republicans "said the tactic was unduly aggressive and may have breached the constitutional separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government."

When I was in school, I was taught that we had a system of checks and balances. That Congress made the laws, while the Executive enforced the laws. I guess they don't teach that in private school.

I had a run in with the Town of Leesburg's finest today. When you read this, ask yourself if this is how it would have happened in your city or state.

I drove out to Leesburg today and parked at one of the local parks that bordered the W&OD trail. The Washington and Old Dominion (affectionately called W&OD pronounced W-N-O-D) is a 44 mile trail that runs from Arlington to Purcellville, VA. It's an old converted rail line with lots of beautiful scenery.

I had just completed the 22-mile round trip from Leesburg to Purcellville and was loading my bicycle into the back of my Explorer, when I noticed a K-9 patrolman letting his German Shepard go 10-200. I was open carrying at the time but did not make any attempt to pull my t-shirt down over the Glock 27 holstered to my hip.

While the police officer was picking up after his dog, I finished putting my bike in the cargo area and headed up to the passenger seat to deposit my helmet, camelback, and mp3 player.

I walked back to the back, grabbed two bottles of water for the ride home, and closed the hatch. Officer Friendly approached and our conversation went something like this:

OFFICER FRIENDLY: Nice day, isn't it?

RAVENWOOD: Yeah, it's gorgeous.

(I smiled as I spoke and extended a hand out offering him a bottle of water. He motioned 'no thanks'.)

OFFICER FRIENDLY: What's with the Glock?

(I was impressed. Even in the holster, he was knew the make right off the bat.)

RAVENWOOD: It's for personal protection.

(I wasn't sure what answer he was looking for.)

OFFICER FRIENDLY: Have you been threatened or anything?

(Like that matters.)

RAVENWOOD: No. But you can't be too careful.

OFFICER FRIENDLY: You got a permit for that?

(Now I'm not sure where he was going with this. He was still pretty casual and completely non-intimidating, so I figured he was just probing me to see where I was coming from.)

RAVENWOOD: Yes. I do.

OFFICER FRIENDLY: Is your permit for open carry, or concealed carry?

(At this point I became a little concerned. I knew I was within my rights, I just didn't know if HE knew I was within my rights.)

RAVENWOOD: It's for concealed carry. But I believe you don't need a permit for open carry in Virginia.

(Actually, I KNEW FOR SURE I didn't need one.)

OFFICER FRIENDLY: That's right. I was just seeing if you knew the laws. I wasn't sure if you were law enforcement or not. Out here, off duty.

RAVENWOOD: Nope, just a citizen.

OFFICER FRIENDLY: You know, I ran into a guy a few weeks ago in a bad neighborhood. He had one of these... what they call Saturday Night Specials.

(I tried to keep from bristling at the derogatory term.)

OFFICER FRIENDLY: It was a cheap 9mm strapped to his hip, and he was pushing a stroller. He said that he'd been attacked a week or so before that he no longer felt safe just walking his kid down the street.

RAVENWOOD: Well, there are some bad people out there.

OFFICER FRIENDLY: Yeah. It's a shame. Well, you be careful.

RAVENWOOD: Thanks. You too.

We said our goodbyes and that was it. At no time did Officer Friendly ask me for any ID or verify that I had a permit. Overall, he was very friendly, respectful, and completely non-intimidating.

Now some of you may view even basic questioning as some sort of intimidation. Especially when he seemed to imply that open carry is regulated. But his demeanor was pleasant, and I don't view answering a few simple questions as intimidation.

Overall, I was very impressed with Leesburg's finest and wish all Northern Virginia cops were like Officer Friendly.

Maryland apparently has their own brand of protecting and serving.

WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins said Joshua Kelly and Llara Brook, of Chantilly, Va., got lost leaving an Orioles game on Saturday. Collins reported a city officer arrested them for trespassing on a public street while they were asking for directions .

"In jail for eight hours -- sleeping on a concrete floor next to a toilet," Kelly said.

[...]

Hopelessly lost, relief melted away concerns after they spotted a police vehicle.

"I said, 'Thank goodness, could you please get us to 95?" Kelly said.

"The first thing that she said to us was no -- you just ran that stop sign, pull over," Brook said. "It wasn't a big deal. We'll pay the stop sign violation, but can we have directions?"

"What she said was 'You found your own way in here, you can find your own way out.'" Kelly said.

Collins said the couple spotted another police vehicle and flagged that officer down for directions. But Officer Natalie Preston, a six-year veteran of the force, intervened.

"That really threw us for a loop when she stepped in between our cars," Kelly said. "(She) said my partner is not going to step in front of me and tell you directions if I'm not."

And adding insult to injury:

Collins said the couple was released from jail without being charged with anything...

Collins said police left Kelly's car unlocked and the windows down at the impound lot. He reported a cell phone charger, pair of sunglasses and 20 CDs were stolen.

Baltimore City police said they are looking into the incident.

Welcome to Baltimore.

Oh, to be back in college when I knew everything. Writing for the student newspaper, Kevin Dooley takes time out of his busy day to solve the Iraq problem:

Even though Saddam may have all the time in the world now to write poetry (at least until he is publicly hanged), Saddam is needed somewhere else. And it's not as a writing instructor in a creative writing class here at the University of Massachusetts. Instead, Saddam Hussein needs to be put back in power as president/dictator of Iraq immediately.

[...]

Say what you want about the guy, and yes, I know he is a brutal dictator who is responsible for countless lives being lost, but he was the only one it seems that was able to keep the Shiite and Sunni Muslims from going at each other's throats.

So what's a little rape and murder, just so long as the buses run on time.

It's official. Politicians have no shame.

A series of scandals on Capitol Hill have national lawmakers pushing for stricter ethics rules, but not the Atlanta City Council. Council members voted 11-2 to relax ethics standards, allowing any city employee to accept unlimited meals and tickets to local events from lobbyists.

What's more, Atlanta's ethics officer points out that measure doesn't require the person buying the meals to be present at the time and notes that staffers are not required to disclose the gifts.

One council member tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the measure simply "made sense," adding that meals and tickets wouldn't influence his decisions.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has promised to veto the new rule, but overriding her veto only requries 10 votes. The measure originally passed 11-2, but with the media spotlight shining brightly several councilmen have already said they will not vote to override a veto.

How to act when (not if) you're mugged in D.C. Heh.

The NCAA's bigoted ban on Native Americans has hit the William and Mary "Tribe", reports the Ass. Press:

William & Mary will be allowed to keep its "Tribe" nickname, but can't use it in NCAA championship competitions and also is barred from holding NCAA events.

The NCAA also said that William and Mary won't be allowed to cure cancer or solve global warming.*

* I've been waiting to use that line since it was used to describe the NCAA football sanctions against the U. of Kentucky for postseason play.

Stewart Mandel opens up the mailbag an talks about what he thinks are the most significant college football games in recent history.

Guess who, made number 1 (albeit for a loss):

1. Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29, Sugar Bowl, Jan. 4, 2000: While the Seminoles won the game, Michael Vick's epic performance was the single biggest impetus to the influx of athletic-style quarterbacks we see today. It's not that there weren't "mobile" quarterbacks before Vick, but coaches rarely gave them the freedom to improvise. Vick helped convince any remaining cynics of just how big an impact such a player could have on a game if properly unleashed, a la Vince Young in this year's Rose Bowl.

What I remember most about that season is how few people had heard of Vick prior to the Sugar Bowl. Having had the pleasure to catch a lot of the games that year, I knew first hand about Vick's talents. I remember sitting on my seat for a total of about 20 minutes during the game. As soon as I'd sit down, I'd have to jump back up to see Vick on the run again.

It wasn't until Tech made it to the Sugar Bowl that people started to take them seriously. (And because of the convoluted BCS formula they were almost kept out.) The greatest compliment Vick received that day came from Bobby Bowden who, when asked about Florida State's performance during the post-game interview, said something like: "Did you get a load of that Vick?!"

What country do we live in again?

AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- A 14-year-old Ohio girl has been jailed nearly a week after failing to testify against a man accused of molesting her.

Court records show the girl has requested a lawyer. But jail officials say she isn't permitted contact with anyone unless prosecutors approve.

Prosecutors say the teen is a material witness and they want her jailed for her safety. A judge has ordered that she be held indefinitely.

The girl failed to show earlier this month at the trial of a 20-year-old man, who's accused of having unlawful sexual conduct with her. He is free on bond.

The man's attorneys say the girl denied that sexual contact occurred, and would not write a statement for police. Defense lawyers say the state has "effectively kidnapped" the girl. They're asking that the case be dropped.

If I'm reading this right the rapist is out on bond, while the rape victim (a minor child) is being held without bail and without access to a lawyer until she agrees to testify for the prosecution.

I've long theorized that anti-smoking commercials were not only counter-productive, but were really a clever plot to increase smoking. Especially those annoying 'think' commercials that say things like "smokers are idiots" and "can anyone tell me why these dumbasses smoke". (to look cool.. Duh!)

Well, the lovely Bitter Bitch points out that throwing money at the drug problem is actually increasing drug use.

Teenagers exposed to anti-marijuana public service announcements (PSAs) produced by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) are more likely to hold positive attitudes about the drug and are more likely to express their intent to use cannabis after viewing the advertisements, according to a study published in the May issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Of course, you need to consider the source.

A Norfolk (VA) man found himself wrongfully charged after he was caught with a rifle on school property. The student was violating school rules, but completely within compliance of state law (more on that later).

19-year old Corey Benton had an unloaded rifle securely locked in the trunk of his car. Police questioned him after he left school during the day and came back. When asked to search his car, Benton volunteered that he had a rifle in his trunk. (oy!) Always exercise the right to remain silent when you can.

Benton was subsequently arrested and jailed for 4 days, even though he broke no laws.

Here's a follow up story, where the reporter shows his ignorance in all its glory.

A Norfolk High School student won't be prosecuted after bringing a gun to school.

Because he didn't break the law.

19-year-old Corey Benton is a senior at Lake Taylor High School.

He brought a rifle to school Monday.

Actually, he left it securely locked in his vehicle trunk, as prescribed by state law. (more on this later)

The stalk had been cut off the gun.

What the fuck is a stalk?

Benton was arrested.

Even though he didn't break the law.

On Friday he was freed from jail after four days behind bars because according to state law, he did nothing wrong.

There's the real story. Why did it take 4 days for him to be released?

Now Corey's father is speaking out.

"We're trying to weigh our options and see what we need to do next," said Rory Rankin.

Sue.

Rankin says his son learned a valuable lesson Monday. But that lesson wasn't in any classroom.

Keep your mouth shut and don't surrender your Constitutional rights.

Benton aroused the suspicion of a school police officer when he drove off school grounds, then returned.

Police asked to search his vehicle. That's when Benton told police about the unloaded rifle in his trunk. Police also found ammunition. Benton was arrested.

Never, ever, surrender your rights. Even if you have nothing to hide, never give police permission to enter your home or vehicle and start poking around. If they insist on doing so, make sure they know that it is being done under duress.

You cannot physically stop them, but I'd at least tell them politely: "You have no reason to search my vehicle and I DO NOT give you permission. If you continue to search my vehicle any way, it is under duress and against my will."

But the charges didn't stick, and after four nights in jail, Benton was freed.

Hello. Because he didn't break the law.

Rankin picked up his foster son.

"Right now he's just trying to relax and get something to eat. You know, he's been in jail for five days," said Rankin.

The Commonwealth Attorney's office says Benton was within his rights.

The gun was in a closed trunk, and Benton had a concealed handgun permit while the weapon was secured in the parking lot. Both are required by Virginia Code to have a gun on school property.

NO NO NO! Virginia doesn't issue carry permits to 19-year olds, and the Virginia Concealed HANDGUN Permit only applies to HANDGUNS, not rifles. The right to keep a rifle in your vehicle is preserved by Virginia law. Benton was released because he complied fully with the law.

Benton passed every test.

But parents like Peggy Brown see a loophole in the law that sends the wrong message to students.

If you don't like the law, change it. But it's not a loophole.

"I think that anytime a child brings a gun or any weapon to school they should be expelled and not be allowed in school for the safety of the other children," Brown said.

First of all Benton is an adult, not a child. Second, he did not take a gun into the school. He kept it locked in his car, as provided for by state law. Third, he is still subject to expulsion for violating school policy, which is more stringent than the law.

Norfolk Schools don't allow guns of any kind on school grounds. Not even toy guns. Benton could still face expulsion.

As for Benton, his father says the family is considering a civil suit against the Norfolk Police Department.

Benton's case was helped from gun rights advocates, who called the Commonwealth Attorney's office and said that Benton didn't break any laws.

What happened was that the Norfolk police insisted on filing charges, even though no crime was committed. It took four days for the Commonwealth's Attorney to force the Norfolk PD to drop the charges. All the while, Benton was held illegally. The Norfolk PD may well have an expensive lawsuit on their hands.

Now, you may be asking yourself about this so-called "loophole" in the law. Why would Virginia law allow a student (or anybody) to keep an unloaded rifle in their car? Well, aside from Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth is pretty much rural. There are a lot of red counties out there, where kids go hunting after school. Rather than make kids drive home 20 miles, grab their hunting gear, and then try to squeeze in a few hours of hunting before dark, they simply let them keep their guns in their car.

Personally, I love the policy. And if some wacko does start shooting up the school, you've got a trained marksman with a rifle and manstopper ammo just a few feet away. There is too much killing going on in "gun-free" zones.

Now I don't know what Benton's motives were. I doubt he was going hunting after school, because it's not hunting season. He's also an inner city black youth, who doesn't fit the stereotype of a hunter. But quite frankly, that doesn't matter. The law is the law and Benton was abiding by it. Expel him if you want, but throwing him in jail is an abuse of power.

Rush Limbaugh reached an agreement with prosecutors whereby he continues his treatment while paying them off for all the money they spent violating his privacy rights. In exchange, prosecutors are dropping the charges. What strikes me as peculiar is this revelation from the CBS News report:

Limbaugh also must continue treatment for his acknowledged addiction to painkillers and he cannot own a gun.

What does gun ownership have to do with it? For starters, Rush isn't being convicted of anything. He is only agreeing to conditions to get them to drop the charges and discontinue their witch hunt. Why would gun ownership even be a condition of the agreement?

Methinks it illustrates just how unreasonable the Palm Beach County Prosecutors are being.