May 03, 2008
Anti-War Comment in Video Game
Writes Ross Nordeen: "Grand Theft Auto: IV just came out, and I've started playing it. I was pleased to hear the main character, a war vet of eastern European descent, say, 'War is where the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other'. I'm not expecting much anti-state rhetoric from the rest of the game, but it was a nice start!"
The Sergeant - The Military in Your Neighborhood
Insanity here is defined as $542,000, a blast-resistant body, rotating roof hatch, ten gun ports, a battering ram, a video camera with night vision, and the capability to go 75mph.
Perhaps the most amazing thing is that the local media justified this massive monster because, a couple of weeks ago, there was a standoff in a community near mine wherein this thing was used to "knock down the front door." That's like justifying the use of an ax to cut sewing thread. Under the guise of Homeland Security, states and localities are provided the funds, so Michigan police are going crazy bulking up their police state.
In Metro Detroit, law enforcement agencies are excited at the prospect of using these 12-ton behemoths on wheels.
Warren's GPV Sergeant 4X4 used in the Capac shooting is the first of three Metro Detroit will receive through a $1.6 million grant from Homeland Security. The other two are expected to arrive at the Southfield Police Department and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office in coming weeks.
The vehicles will be available to other agencies for police work or firefighting.
Law enforcement agencies said the Sergeants ensure public safety by allowing them to deploy their personnel safely.
One more thing worth noting.
It can be used in everything from hostage situations to delivery of warrants to fighting terrorism, officials said.
Delivering warrants?
On a similar note -- many years ago, a cop was a guy who strolled the neighborhood on his "beat," chatted up folks at the barber shop, and was thought of as a friend by many of the locals. Generally speaking, cops used to be guys who really did want to do some good for the community, and bring peace through a little neighborhood security. Good guys - for the most part - used to become cops. Confident, strong men used to become cops so they could hold a respected position in the community and provide leadership. Now, the bad, the bullies, the insecure, and the ugly become cops so that they can control, intimidate, militarize, and rule.
Cubans now allowed a few scraps from Castro's table
These recent stories of how Cubans are now allowed basic freedoms stolen from them by Castro only illustrate how totally un-free Cuba was under Fidel.
It also illustrates how despicable have been Hollywood groupies like Oliver Stone who have fawned over Castro for years, and who have told us that Cuba is little short of Paradise. That's true if Paradise is a place where people are paid $19.50 per month and are forced to buy all their goods from a fixed menu of fifth-rate obsolete products at government owned stores.
Notice also how the United States contributes to their oppression:
The Cuban PCs have Intel Celeron processors with 80 gigabytes of memory and 512 RAM and are equipped with Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. Both could be violations of a U.S. trade embargo, but not something Washington can do anything about in the absence of diplomatic relations with Havana.
Let's hope there are many more of these violations of the embargo to come.
'The Revolution Lives!'
Writes Scott Johnsson: "I had driven five hours down from the University of Maryland to see Ron Paul in North Carolina. Dr. Paul's speech at UNC was as good as ever. Afterwards, he patiently took pictures with hundreds and hundreds of his supporters and signed countless copies of his new book. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to pick up a copy beforehand, so I decided I would stop by a store on my trip back home. I found a nearby Barnes & Noble around 10pm and asked a wonderful older lady at the information desk where I could find a copy. She said they couldn't locate them all day, As I was not the only person to ask for a copy. Then she added, 'That book has been flying off the shelves though, I wish I could get myself a copy, that guy is great. My son wanted me to get him one too, he loves the guy.' I told her that I had seen him speak that day and that I was a big supporter. I told her to check out LRC, too."
President Obama?
That is Ron Paul's prediction. And by the way, LA Times, watch his book create many more Paulians, not just please and educate his present vast following.
Congratulations to Boris Johnson!
Boris, an LRC reader, has been elected mayor of London. Ken Livington, who is not all bad in foreign policy, was a socialist disaster as mayor. Not a warmonger either, Boris is a classical liberal, so congratulations also to the businessmen and taxpayers of a great commercial capital. An Old Etonian, Boris is brilliant and learned. Be sure to watch his charming victory speech.
