More politicians of unknown party

This is getting old.  Still pathetic, though:

• Name That Party: Maryland
• Name That Party: Investigators

Just in case you haven't been following:
You know, I believe they've detected a pattern here
What party did you say that was?

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 05:01:19 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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How to destroy America

I have a secret plan to destroy America... It is not that hard to do. History shows that nations are more fragile than their citizens think.

Writer Chick posts a speech by Dick Lamm (former governor of Colorado), which generates an interesting comment thread.

Snopes has a revised version (scroll down).

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 03:50:09 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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Now that everyone knows

Rejected Harry Potter endings.
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via SDB

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 15:20:12 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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On the other hand, you could just move to England

...where the police come 'round to complain about your weblog:

Just had a visit from two uniformed officers. Reason? My firearms renewal, but more significantly this blog. It seems that my crappy little corner of the blogosphere has come to the attention of the police, and they don’t like it...

The officers (who were very polite) were quick to point out that they couldn’t force me to remove posts or dictate my freedom of speech but the fact is that I am being watched. Which makes me feel very uncomfortable, like a suspect rather than a citizen...

I feel like Winston Smith. -- Gun Culture weblog

Later post:
July 6: Thanks for Your Support
Still doesn't have his renewal, though.

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 16:59:58 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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Here's what you get from "hate speech" legislation

July 16, 2007

File 2006057

Ms. Connie Wilkins
c/o Free Dominion
2033 Unity Rd.
Kingston, ON
K0H 1M0

Dear Ms. Wilkins:

I am the investigator designated under Part III of the Canadian Human Rights Act to investigate the complaint of Ms. [name omitted at this time] against Free Dominion. As the investigator, it is my responsibility to gather the evidence in relation to the complainant's allegations and, once the investigation is complete, to report on my findings to the Members of the Commission.

The report will include a recommendation for the disposition of the complaint. I can recommend that a conciliator be appointed, if the evidence supports the allegations in the complaint, or that the complaint be dismissed, if the allegations are not supported by the evidence. I can also recommend to the Commission that a settlement be approved if the parties reach an agreement during the course of the investigation.

I am currently awaiting your full response to the allegations which is due on 18 July 2007.

I would like to draw your attention to section 48 of the Canadian Human Rights Act which allows the parties to settle a complaint in the course of investigation. I would be pleased to discuss the possibility of a settlement with you or your representative at any time.

You can reach me at the address and telephone number indicated at the bottom of the first page of this letter. My direct line is [redacted] and my email address is [redacted]@chrc-ccdp.ca. Please note that there are security and confidentiality risks in sending information by email.

Written July 16. Mailed from Ottawa July 17. Received July 18. No details of the "complaint" provided, and oh, by the way, we want a full response *today.*

Some links:
Initial post
Timeline (will be updated as story develops)
Free Republic thread
Small Dead Animals: Free Dominion Targeted by HRC
Canada Free Press coverage (with annoying Vibrant Media popups)
 
Canada's Orwellian legislation, below...
more...

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 16:40:43 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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Will Collier and the Premature Book

Will Collier receives his copy of the new Harry Potter book ahead of schedule, and--
From Frank Martin's Executive Summary^[1]

• 4. [Will quickly sees] an opportunity for making a little scratch, and promptly uses the tools available... The very same tools available to anyone who is mobile enough to get off the sofa from any location on the planet earth.
• 5. The publisher who shipped the book to the reseller freaks out, and naturally overreacts.
• 6. The reseller freaks out, and again, overreacts.
• 7. The auction provider freaks out, and yes, overreacts.
• 8. Will pockets 200+ dollars for all the fun, gets a write up in National Review, gets on CBS news.
• 9. AP, and EBay, the publisher all look like schnooks.
• One book, one post, one auction.

Harry Potter and the AP's Shenanigans
I Was an eBay Voldemort
Fool If You Think It's Over
Things Are Officially Out of Control

UPDATE 070720 14:31: There's more! Now it's Lawyers Behaving Badly!
eBay Pulls Harry Potter 7 Listing-- Hours After Sale Was Completed
Nimrod, Bluster, and ... Blair?
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^[1] It's in the comment thread of this post.

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 22:08:50 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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Bryan Caplan's Jock/Nerd Theory of History

Libertarian Class Theory at Volokh.
...and yes, I played french horn and worked stage crew.
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via Insty

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 23:18:22 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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Out of service

Over at Asymmetrical Information, Megan has been involved in the usual comedy of errors while trying to deal with Sony VAIO customer service:

They'll be happy to give me the tracking number so that I can check with FedEx and see where my box [to ship the computer back] went. And they're sure I'll get the box on Monday. I don't know how they could be sure, since they haven't, y'know, looked at the tracking information. Apparently, that's my job...
Did I mention that I am writing this as I sit on hold with Sony? I've been waiting to talk to a supervisor for fifteenthirty forty-five minutes. I can only assume that they think that if they keep me on hold long enough, I will forget that I don't have a computer and hang up...
Update They left me on hold for an hour, then hung up on me. I'm starting to believe it is deliberate.
Update II The plot thickens. It seems the reason I haven't gotten my second box is that . . . Sony has no record of ever having sent one.
Update III That's right. Apparently the somewhat English challenged help-desk interpreted "Okay, send me a box" as "I'll call you back" and put my request in the circular file.
Update IV After only two hours on the phone with Sony and a good bit of yelling, Sony has graciously agreed to email me a label and put me in a special queue which will see my computer turned around in only 3-5 business days. So I might have it as early as the week after next, provided there are no further hitches.

Awaiting further reports...

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 19:18:42 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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Life imitates Wile E. Coyote

Wrecking Ball Runs Amok In Pa. Town

1,500-Pound Ball Rolls Nearly 1 Mile, Bouncing From Curb To Curb


...and winds up in the trunk of a car! Chuck Jones would be proud.
_{(AP Photo)}
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HT: Kate, who thinks it's more of a Hanna-Barbera moment.
_{(story preserved below)}
more...

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 02:26:38 GMT | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The "simple" job that takes three days

"jhugart" at buzz.mn on the joy of doing-it-yourself (excerpt):

Attempt #1: Shut off the water, drain the pipes. Attempt to cut off the pipe supplying the bathroom, and attempt to loosen the old galvanized fittings around the inside valve for the hose bib.

Discovery: Can't get the tube cutter I had around the pipes supplying the sink; need to get a smaller one. Also, can't get the fitting unscrewed, even with a generous helping of WD-40, and my hack-saw blade is dull, so need to get a new hack-saw blade.

Shopping: Got a smaller tube cutter. Discovered that hack saw blades come in different lengths, so had to guess what length to get (because, naturally, I didn't bring the old blade with me)...

And it gets better (or worse)!  There's a reason those repair guys carry all that stuff on their trucks.  (Good thing my hardware store is close.)

Posted by: Old Grouch in Linkage at 19:11:49 GMT | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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