Good bye, First Amendment...

Don't even think of exercising it if you want to be on a citizen's advisory councils for local Chicago parks.  Apparently, if you want to be part of the council, you'll need to submit to a criminal background check and provide references.  And any money you wind up raising for the new swing set may be used for other things.

Apparently, the park district's director of legislative and community affairs, Tim King, says it's just a "well-intentioned effort" to bring order to the system. 

Almost every evil deed done under the sun was well-intentioned, and the really insidious ones have that lawyerly tone to them that make your butt pucker.  You live there?  Tell King to take a long walk off Navy Pier.

del.icio.us Tags: government,regulation,liberty,economics

Chicago Business News, Analysis & Articles | Got an opinion? Park District has rules | Crain's

Inhaled gas is no laughing matter - Crime & courts- msnbc.com

Glad I don't live in New York.  Not sure about the details here - MSNBC deployed their usual crack staff of reporters to bring you all the details - but apparently it's illegal for a dentist to get smashed on his own stash.  I can only assume it's legal to have and administer nitrous to patients in NY, but illegal to take it yourself if you're the doctor prescribing it.

Of course, nitrous is really REALLY harmless, has effects that last less time than the afterglow of an orgasm, and is freely available to any dental patient with tartar and a bit of panic who need to drive home after their appointments - I'm not sure why the good doctor was arrested.  Like I said, glad I don't live in NY.

del.icio.us Tags: government,drugs,responsibility,liberty

Inhaled gas is no laughing matter - Crime & courts- msnbc.com

Cato-at-liberty » Oy, Hillary

If the notion of President Hillary Clinton doesn't scare you already, I doubt this will cause you to start.  But if, like me, you're completely terrified of a "government junkie" who doesn't believe there's such a thing as "other people's children being President, then this will just push you over the top.

I'd Love to see if this is Hillary's position or just what her Zionist staffer believes...

del.icio.us Tags: government,presidency,liberty,foreign policy,election

Cato-at-liberty » Oy, Hillary

Firearms industry should bear financial liability for homicides involving handguns?

According to George Nation, a law professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, they should.

The professor offers no opinion on whether:

• Auto makers should be liable for car accidents
• Weathermen should be liable for flood damages
• Law professors should be liable for frivolous lawsuits.

Personally, I'm willing to print him out a dozen or so "Owner Unarmed - Pleaser Don't Rob Me" signs he can put in the the windows of his home, car, or tape to his shirt.  Then he can be responsible for (and liable for) his own damn safety.

del.icio.us Tags: law,guns,firearms,responsibility

Firearms industry should bear financial liability for homicides involving handguns

GoDaddy Silences Police-Watchdog Site RateMyCop.com

Interesting - RateMyCop.com, a website to watch the watchers, gets some crap from LEO's, and the hosting company pulls the site quicker than you can say "You have the right to remain silent".

The story is disturbing not only for the reaction of the hosting company (I won't name them - they don't deserve the publicity), but also the reaction of law enforcement officers who are afraid of ... what exactly?  Cyber-bullying?  Some whack job will come hunt them down?  They say the website exposes them, but they're government workers in the public eye 24x7 - aren't they exposed anyway?  Shouldn't they want more exposure?

del.icio.us Tags: government,crime,law enforcement,liberty

GoDaddy Silences Police-Watchdog Site RateMyCop.com -- Update | Threat Level from Wired.com

Is Salvia the Next Marijuana?

If you live in Florida, try not to stand in front of Representative Mary Brandenburg, lest her knee-jerking cause you great bodily injury.

More on this later...

del.icio.us Tags: crime,government,drugs,reponsibility,liberty

Is Salvia the Next Marijuana?