If this had been you, or me, or any other “civilian” (aren’t cops civilians too?) then we’d be charged and doing time for firing blindly at these women. The “perceived threat” wasn’t a reasonable one. Wrong make, wrong color….. But it was a pickup….

THIS is an example of the different standards of judgement and behavior for Police officers and the rest of us citizens (aren’t cops citizens too?)

They are lucky they didn’t kill each other, really. If their judgement is that poor, they shouldn’t have badges and guns.

Those was the words used by Flight Director Leroy Cain when it was determined that the Columbia was lost.

Ars Technica has an excellent article on the sequence of events.

HERE

It should also be noted that the foam composition had changed. The environmentalists (and the EPA) had caused NASA to change the foaming agent and the foam composition to one that was less toxic and more environmentally friendly….this made the foam much more brittle. So the foam strikes happened because the EPA and a few environmentalist were worried about a bit of Ozone Depleting Chemicals and a few pounds of not so terribly toxic material that might vaporize….a few POUNDS….

7 people died to save the ozone…

So last spring, I purchased a 3 point backhoe from a company in China.  Figured I’d buy one, and learn the import process and the issues involved and try out the unit, which was HALF of similar units marketed here in the states.

Nice little unit. Not perfect, typical Chinese engineering and manufacture.

Had considred importing a few more to sell at a profit, and had discussed the pricing for multiples with the factory rep.

After a bit of use, I decided that there would have to be some small modifications made to make me (and my future buyers) happier, so I had also begun discussion about those changes.

They refused to modify pricing, so our discussions stalled…..for several months..

Then, a month ago, they made a better offer on price via email. Then a bit better offer. Then they were receptive to the modifications.

THEN THEY CALLED ME AT HOME IN THE EVENING ASKING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET ME TO BUY SOME for import.

Odd that, .Must be that the stories are true………Maybe their economy IS melting down.

I was trying to write a post on the whole Burns, Oregon thing, and kept rewriting it because It kept coming up with me sounding like a asshole (I am an asshole, but I try not to look or sound like one in public).

The one thing that I keep coming back to is this:

They went looking for a fight, and, eventually, the Feds gave ’em one. Sadly, a man died in that fight. But:  As they say: Don’t want none? Don’t bring none……

The Feds were smart enough to wait until they had moved beyond support of the Refuge, and then pounced. This enabled them to take the leaders out of the game without a prolonged firefight….They HAVE learned over the past….The FBI apparently can learn from the ATF’s mistakes over 20 years ago….

When surrounded by many men with guns, continuing to fight, or failing to cooperate, or running away is not a good option. The question isn’t, are they taking you in??, but rather in what condition are they taking you in …healthy? Bent? Broken? Dead?….Often the choice is one you and your actions make for them.

ETA:
For a more intelligent, better written analysis, go HERE and read what Weaponsman has to say…

Has finally caught up to the Wounded Warrior Project…

Wounded Warrior Project Spends Lavishly on Itself, Insiders Say

THe TV news has been quoting the NYT since yesterday….

Odd that the Cdnservative Blogosphere has known this for over a year and the NYT just figured it out….

30 years ago:

I remember where I was that morning:

I was in a friends apartment when over the radio the local DJs (Bob and Tom, actually) said dead flat: “The space shuttle Challenger blew up on takeoff”.

I said to him:
“That isn’t something to joke about”.

We turned on the TV and saw the news reports.

“Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence”

The question is: Is it incompetence, or malice?

FBI Stops All Appeals Of Gun Owner Background Checks

So far I have never been Denied. Flagged once and Delayed, but never was I unable to purchase a firearm (eventually).

But what if you are Denied? Currently, there is no one to whom you can appeal. No one to see if an error was made, or if there is something in their records that is erroneous.

Yer just fucked.

Now, it could be that this is just mismanagement, or this could be temporary, or it could be that a larger number of people each moth will be Denied….

One way to prevent the proliferation of guns, innit?

Yeah, I don’t trust many government officials. Many of those that aren’t WAY beyond their Peter Principal levels are just plain incompetent, or are simply doing what they are told whether it is right/just moral or not…..If they even care that much. A large percentage couldn’t hold a job in the real world without Civil Service protections or racial or gender set asides and quotas.

Having said that, their leaders are not always incompetent and sometimes have an agenda.

Which is this? Incompetence, or malice?

(Found via Wirecutter)

Really trying (and failing) to find sympathy here…..(I need to note that I wasn’t there, and can only make a judgement on what I (think) I know…)

So the FBI decided that the time was ripe:

The leaders left the Refuge (really bad tactic), and therefore their only safe haven, to speak at a community meeting down the road…..
Once they left the Refuge, they were a target. Little or no support…. The Feds took advantage of their situation. Once they left the rest of their party, they were vulnerable.

Starting a gunfight when you are stopped at a place of the other sides choosing, surrounded by armed men….with no support from your comrades?….Letting the other side choose the time and place (and terrain)?
Bad idea. (We don’t know who shot first)
Never ends well. And it didn’t end well in this instance. Bad decisions led to bad outcomes. Perhaps it was Hubris….I dunno

But really, how could they think that this would end any differently, no matter what the circumstances that started it?

It either ended away from the Refuge, or it ends AT the refuge. Now or later.

Not taking sides here, but I don’t see how this can/could end any other way, except with gunfire and deaths.Bad tactics, from the start.

Taking a stand is one thing, Defying the Federal Government, without the support of the populace, is another.  This should have ended 4 days after it started, when the rest of the US population chose not to rally to them.
I really don’t see where the leaders of this “Movement” had planned this out very well.

One man is dead, and the folks that are supposedly leading this movement are in custody. For what?

When one breaks the law, one must be prepared to pay the price when caught.

I find it hard to feel sympathy for any of these folks.

Apparently the feds have gotten tired of waiting in Burns Oregon.

Rumor has it that shots were fired, the Feds have control of the compound and Ammon Bundy and others are in Custody. Casualties (unknown as to whose casualties they might be…) are in the hospital, hospital is on lockdown.

More as it develops.

ETA: The Feds have told the rest of the occupiers that they can go, and they should just go now, while they can.

See it HERE

But I bet that many folks won’t get it