Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

Today in history

COMMENTS I’VE POSTED

1. Posted to Facebook here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here —

   Straight outta Spooner

   Arvin Vohra
   Monday, October 9, 2017 at 3:53pm

   Yesterday, many of you pointed out that it wasn’t fair to call government school teachers and users thieves. In fairness, I have to admit many of you were right.

   A thief generally has to rely on a considerable amount of labor to get the money. Pickpockets, burglars, muggers, embezzlers, and armed robbers have to put in effort, skill, risk. They misdirect those things, sure, but it’s hard to argue that burglary doesn’t take any effort.

   Now compare that to the public school user, who can’t be bothered to work to pay for schooling for their kids, to provide the education themselves through homeschool, or even steal on their own. Their laziness is far deeper than that of any thief.

   I don’t know what the word for “thief who is too lazy to do their own stealing.” Or “welfare receiver who refuses to acknowledge or be grateful for the welfare they receive.” Or “person who inexplicably believes he has some moral claim to the fruits of someone else’s labor.” Or “person who thinks having a kid entitles you to steal, but also to not have to do any of the work of actually stealing, so you delegate others to steal for you, and then act all righteous about it.”

   I should have used a word that meant one of those things, not the word “thief”.

   So to all thieves who do their own stealing: I apologize to you. I disagree with your ethics, but it was unfair to suggest that you were too lazy to do your own stealing, or so deluded that you think your stealing is somehow morally justified.

   Respectfully,

   Arvin Vohra (L)
   Libertarian Party Nominee for U.S. Senate

2. Posted to Facebook —

   What is the phrase “cultural appropriation” supposed to be other than a snide attack on politically-incorrect cultutal appreciation?

3. Posted to Facebook —

   So when does urban KKKalifornia become the Bugchaser Capital of the World?

   (“Bugchasers” are people who deliberately seek out infected persons and have unprotected intercourse with those persons, with the intent of becoming infected themselves. Then they proceed to use their infectious status to get sympathy from family and friends.)

4. nmpolitics.net: Re: End systemic disenfranchisement of independent voters —

   I agree with the idea of uniform ballot access requirements, regardless of partisan affiliation.

   Instead of tax-funded “open primaries,” simply end the practice of using tax dollars to fund the conventions and primaries of the “major party” organizations. Let them pay for it themselves — they’re perfectly able to afford it.

   At the same time that tax dollars are not being spent to fund parties’ conventions and primaries, let them pick their candidates however they see fit. Privately-funded and -managed primaries or caucuses, high-card draw, shooting dice behind the dumpster — as long as non-members aren’t forced to pay for the process or otherwise support it, who cares? There’s wisdom in the saying “Let the buyer beware.”

   http://nmpolitics.net/index/2016/11/libertarian-solutions-to-closed-non-competitive-elections/

   Copied to Facebook here, here, here, here, here, and here

5. Posted to Facebook —

   Nirvana — If Cobain hadn’t have killed himself, no one would care one bit about him or them.

6. Posted to Facebook —

   From Lysander Spooner’s No Treason No.6 — The Constitution of No Authority :

   The payment of taxes, being compulsory, of course furnishes no evidence that any one voluntarily supports the Constitution.

   It is true that the theory of our Constitution is, that all taxes are paid voluntarily; that our government is a mutual insurance company, voluntarily entered into by the people with each other; that each man makes a free and purely voluntary contract with all others who are parties to the Constitution, to pay so much money for so much protection, the same as he does with any other insurance company; and that he is just as free not to be protected, and not to pay any tax, as he is to pay a tax, and be protected.

   But this theory of our government is wholly different from the practical fact. The fact is that the government, like a highwayman, says to a man: Your money, or your life. And many, if not most, taxes are paid under the compulsion of that threat.

   The government does not, indeed, waylay a man in a lonely place, spring upon him from the road side, and, holding a pistol to his head, proceed to rifle his pockets. But the robbery is none the less a robbery on that account; and it is far more dastardly and shameful.

   The highwayman takes solely upon himself the responsibility, danger, and crime of his own act. He does not pretend that he has any rightful claim to your money, or that he intends to use it for your own benefit. He does not pretend to be anything but a robber. He has not acquired impudence enough to profess to be merely a “protector,” and that he takes men’s money against their will, merely to enable him to “protect” those infatuated travellers, who feel perfectly able to protect themselves, or do not appreciate his peculiar system of protection. He is too sensible a man to make such professions as these. Furthermore, having taken your money, he leaves you, as you wish him to do. He does not persist in following you on the road, against your will; assuming to be your rightful “sovereign,” on account of the “protection” he affords you. He does not keep “protecting” you, by commanding you to bow down and serve him; by requiring you to do this, and forbidding you to do that; by robbing you of more money as often as he finds it for his interest or pleasure to do so; and by branding you as a rebel, a traitor, and an enemy to your country, and shooting you down without mercy, if you dispute his authority, or resist his demands. He is too much of a gentleman to be guilty of such impostures, and insults, and villanies as these. In short, he does not, in addition to robbing you, attempt to make you either his dupe or his slave.

   The proceedings of those robbers and murderers, who call themselves “the government,” are directly the opposite of these of the single highwayman.

   https://lysanderspooner.org/s/NO-TREASONn6.pdf
   https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/No_Treason/6

7. nmpolitics.net: Re: We are a Gun Nation —

   Lonsway nails it here —

   “Gun control legislation is useless. We can legislate guns until we cover every single facet of every single purchase of every single weapon ever manufactured, and it won’t change the fact that we have an estimated 270 to 310 million firearms in this country, and more being made every day. We are a Gun Nation. Laws that govern the legal aspects of purchasing and possessing firearms are ‘feel good’ statutes. The only people those laws protect us from are ourselves, those who would obey the law anyway.”

   “They don’t protect us from criminals. Criminals do not care about laws; words written on paper mean nothing to them and protect no one. ‘Law’ and ‘penalty’ are two different beasts. Penalties come after the written word of the law has been violated. Never confuse the two.”

   Also —

   “We can’t legislate mental health.”

   Attempts to legislate morality and ethics are equally foolhardy.

   Either a person is moral and ethical in their behavior towards other people, or they’re not.

   If they’re not, then all the law can really do is address the situation after the fact.

   Copied to Diaspora*, Ello, Facebook here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,here, and here

LISTENING / READING / WATCHING

1. Tor Books [Tom Doherty Associates] — Icehenge by Kim Stanley Robinson
2. nmpolitics.net —
   1. End systemic disenfranchisement of independent voters by Ashley Beyer
   2. We are a Gun Nation by J.R. Lonsway
3. The Lucky Libertarian by Tarnell Brown — Bill Weld: The Fight For The Soul Of The LP
4. Breitbart News — Bannon: Corker Should ‘Resign Immediately’ After Revealing GOP Establishment Wants to Nullify ’16 Election by Tony Lee
5. Status 451 — Days of Rage by David Z. Hines
6. Overkill — The Grinding Wheel
7. Albuquerque Journal [Albuquerque, New Mexico] — Report criticizes NM school district spending by Kim Burgess
8. Black Mirror

Today in history

LISTENING / READING / WATCHING

1. Overkill — The Grinding Wheel
2. Tor Books [Tom Doherty Associates] — Icehenge by Kim Stanley Robinson
3. hickok45 YouTube channel —
   1. KSG vs UTS 15
   2. DP-12 Shotgun
4. Judas Priest — Ram It Down
5. IDW Publishing — The Colonized
6. Breitbart News — Man Surrenders All His Guns to Make a Statement After Vegas Attack by AWR Hawkins
7. Star Trek: Discovery

Today in history

COMMENTS I’VE POSTED

1. Posted to Facebook —

   Weld’s not a libertarian in that he gives no credible evidence that he cares one bit about the Non-Aggression Principle. And anyone who can credibly make any sort of claim to be an “original libertarian” is probably deceased — David F. Nolan, Murray Rothbard, for example.

2. nmpolitics.net: Re: It’s not just about cheeseburgers —

   From the article —

   “I strongly encourage all of us to take a good look at the candidates running for governor and ask ourselves — do they share my values and would they make good decisions if we hire them as our chief executive? Or will they crumple up the bill and throw it in the garbage?”

   All of the New Mexico Democrats who have thrown their hats into the ring for the 2018 gubernatorial race (and for the 1st U.S. Congressional seat) don’t share my political values — Constitutionally-limited government, individual rights and responsibility, laissez-nous-faire free market economics, and public-sector fiscal restraint — at all. Indeed, they seem to view those concepts as their own personal Charmin rolls, instead.

   Copied to Facebook here, here, here, and here

3. Posted to Facebook here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, —

   “F” is for Fantastic

   “F” is for Freedom

   H/T Patrick Petrowsky
   https://facebook.com/groups/ILikeGunsEverywhere/permalink/10154725413930807/

   

   USA TODAY
   Monday, October 2, 2017 at 1:50pm

   Nevada gets a “C-” for its weak gun control laws, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. https://usat.ly/2xaVa7x

4. Posted to Facebook here and here —

   Shawn Haufe
   Friday, October 6, 2017 at 9:19pm

   I CAN’T STAY SILENT ANYMORE.
   I am here to aid those that want gun control. I’m taking a stand and getting involved: if you or your friends have a pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle looking to be removed, I will take it (permanently) and ensure it ends up in a safe place. I normally charge for this service but I’m willing to waive my normal fees because I care. Free pickup service available under 50 miles. Private message me today! Please share!

LISTENING / READING / WATCHING

1. The Orville
2. Black Mirror
3. Marvel Comics — Star Wars: Jedi of the Republic – Mace Windu
4. The Boston Globe — Libertarian Bill Weld will head up a fund-raising event . . . for the GOP by Frank Phillips
5. Gary Johnson calls William Weld the “original libertarian”
6. Tor Books [Tom Doherty Associates] — Icehenge by Kim Stanley Robinson
7. nmpolitics.net — It’s not just about cheeseburgers by Richard Ellenberg
8. Mirror Online — Incredible footage shows ultimate Grand Theft Auto showdown as shirtless armed fugitives open fire on busy motorway by Lucy Clarke-Billings
9. 71 Republic — Why I Left the Libertarian Party by Austin Anderholt
10. Overkill — The Grinding Wheel
11. Townhall — Nothing Makes Liberals Angrier Than Us Normals Insisting On Our Rights by Kurt Schlichter
12. trekmovie.com — EXCLUSIVE: Alex Kurtzman On Pushing Edges Of Canon And Planting Seeds For ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2 by Anthony Pascale
13. National Review — Against the Misguided Moral Superiority of Gun Controllers by David French

Today in history

COMMENTS I’VE POSTED

1. Posted to Facebook —

   I wasn’t expecting to like The Orville, not being a fan of Seth McFarlane’s previous work (I view Family Guy and American Dad as 30-minute bathroom breaks), but I was pleasantly surprised.

   For what it’s worth, the episode that the article’s picture comes from is a rewrite of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky.”

2. Posted to Facebook —

   Consider that November’s run-off election is between Keller and Lewis, we have a “choice” between a virtual third Berry term from Lewis, or an Anglicized version of Martin Chavez from Keller.

   I’m voting for Dumpster Fire.

   https://facebook.com/Vote.Dumpster.Fire

3. Posted to Facebook —

   Apparently, “antifa” is now a form of sexual activity, according to Isaacson.

   So does holding a “TRUMP MUST GO” sign constitute foreplay?

   I’m guessing that “intercourse” involves setting cars on fire, smashing storefront windows, hitting opponents with a bike lock or tossing IEDs into the opposing crowd.

4. Posted to Facebook —

   The domain name — “haanity.com” — gives it away.

   Just like the emails I get advertising R0lex watches, V1agra, etc.

5. Posted to Facebook —

   Wayne, I was happy to vote for you yesterday. You’re still the only one in City OR County government worth listening to.

   Considering that in November, we’re looking at either a virtual third Berry term (Lewis) or an Anglicized version of Martin Chavez (Keller), I’ll be voting for Dumpster Fire in November.

   https://facebook.com/Vote.Dumpster.Fire

6. Posted to Facebook here, here, here, and here —

   

LISTENING / READING / WATCHING

1. DC Comics — Astro City
2. Nova Magazine — Hillary Clinton Just Announced Her Next Move And Marked Her Return To The Political Arena
3. IDW Publishing — Star Wars Adventures
4. Marvel Comics — Star Wars Annual
5. Star Trek: Discovery
6. The Orville
7. Tor Books [Tom Doherty Associates] — Icehenge by Kim Stanley Robinson
8. MSN News from Microsoft — Bannon: It’d Be The ‘End Of Everything’ If Trump Turned Left On Gun Control by Nicole Lafond, Talking Points Memo
9. The Sportsman Channel — Guns & Ammo TV
10. Chiller — The Outer Lmits (1995-2002)
11. Institute for Justice [IJ] — Taking on the Federal Forfeiture Racket by Robert Everett Johnson
12. Daily Mail [UK] — REVEALED: Fetish website profile of anti-fa professor who tweeted about ‘dead cops’ where he appears in photos tied up and tells how he calls partners ‘dirty fascist lapdog w****s’ by Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com
13. The Red Elephants — What Guns Were Used in Las Vegas Shooting? by Rick Write
14. Reason — Hit & Run: How Could Anyone Deny the Need for Tougher and More Stringently Enforced Gun Laws in the Wake of the Vegas Slaughter? by Brian Doherty
15. The Mary Sue — Writer John Scalzi Nails Why It’s So Hard to Be Creative Under Trump by Kaila Hale-Stern
16. The Washington Times — Drexel professor blames ‘Trumpism,’ white entitlement for Las Vegas massacre by Jessica Chasmar
17. Thanks and R.I.P., Hugh Hefner by James Bovard
18. The Libertarian Enterprise — Number 942, 1 October 2017
19. Setting up the straw man by Vin Suprynowicz
20. Washington Examiner — Tillerson, Mattis, Mnuchin forge ‘suicide pact’ in the event Trump wants one of them gone: Report by Melissa Quinn
21. TAOFLEDERMAUS YouTube channel —
    1. Shotgun Shell exploding OUTSIDE a gun – What Happens?
    2. 100 Flint Shotgun Ferrocerium fire-starting slugs
    3. QB-SLUGS – RARE Anti-Materiel shotgun rounds
22. Futurism — China Has a Radical New Plan to Get Rockets – and Humans – to Space by Kyree Leary
23. Society Of Rock — Sammy Hagar Posted A Video Asking Fans For A Small Favor After The Las Vegas Shooting And Tom Petty’s Death
24. Black Mirror