“Gun Death” Pickaxe

I have a pickaxe. Around here the ground tends to be 90% root structure, so if you need to dig a hole you need a pick. I bought mine at the big-box hardware store for a few bucks and no questions asked. Of course its a tool, not a weapon, right?

Deputies in Parker County arrested a man suspected of committing a murder in Springtown late Wednesday night. The incident happened at about 11:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Valley Meadows Drive. Authorities were called to check on the victim’s welfare, but instead found him dead inside of a home….The victim, described only as a man in his 20s, was covered by a blanket in a bedroom at the home. Investigators said that he was killed by a pickaxe but the official cause of death is pending an autopsy. Camfield allegedly confessed to the murder, and said that he was an acquaintance of the victim.

“This was a particularly brutal homicide,” said Sheriff Larry Fowler.

So let’s talk a bit about nomenclature. When I use a pickaxe to dig a hole, its a tool. When somebody uses it to murder or defend their life, its a weapon. When its murder, its also an assault, so does it become an “Assault Weapon”?

Guns are different, because they are different!

h/t Bob

Posted in Gun Death? | 2 Comments

Grass Roots Vs. Astroturf

Turns out while one side packs themselves in gun shows and “Town Hall” Meetings, the other creates fake accounts to make their numbers appear significant!

President Obama supporters appear to be using fake Twitter accounts to send pro gun-control messages to members of Congress, Texas Republican Rep. Steve Stockman and conservative bloggers who also reviewed the messages said Monday.

Bloggers first spotted the trend and said they suspected some social media funny business because the senders had sent no other tweets, had no followers and followed nobody.

In addition, blogger Stacy McCain said his review found the majority of the accounts supporting Obama’s gun-control campaign were created less than 48 hours before a member of Congress was contacted.

The tweets in question included the #WeDemandAVote hashtag – which President Obama told gun-control supporters to include in their Twitter messages to Congress.

Have a look at the embedded video of all the people flocking to the gun show in California. As Tam said, these people aren’t buying guns just so they can turn them in.

More data from Michelle Malkin. One side has support, the other has paid lobbyists pretending to be an army.

We shouldn’t give them an inch!

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Brain Cell Survival Mode

Now this is neat! We’re often told how fragile brain cells are, which makes stroke and other oxygen depreciation stresses so dangerous. There might be some defense mechanisms in place:

It has been known for more than 85 years that some brain cells could withstand being starved of oxygen.

Scientists, writing in the journal Nature Medicine, have shown how these cells switch into survival mode.

They hope to one-day find a drug which uses the same trick to protect the whole brain…Experiments on rats showed that these surviving-cells started producing a protein called hamartin – which forces cells to conserve energy. They stop producing new proteins and break down existing ones to access the raw materials.

When the researchers prevented the cells from producing hamartin, they died just like other cells.

Prof Buchan said: “We have shown for the first time that the brain has mechanisms that it can use to protect itself and keep brain cells alive.”

Their aim is to develop a drug that can produce the same effect, which could be given when an ambulance arrived. This would buy the brain time until clot-busting drugs could be given in hospital.

Very Cool!

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Posted in Biology | 4 Comments

Puzzles are FUN!

Very Neat article:

Scientists set up a game for six chimps that involved moving red dice through pipes until they fell into a container.

The same task was also carried out using brazil nuts instead of dice, so that success led to a treat.

However, the Zoological Society of London found the apes enjoyed getting stuck into a puzzle, with or without the opportunity to win a prize.

The chimpanzees, all members of an adult family group at the zoo, had to prod sticks into holes in the pipes to change the direction of the dice and get them to fall in the right place.

They did not receive advance training on how to play the game and the scientists said the apes were given complete freedom whether or not to pit their wits in the puzzle.

Researcher Fay Clark, from the society, said they noticed the chimps were “keen to complete the puzzle” for its own sake, regardless of whether or not they received a food reward.

“This strongly suggests they get similar feelings of satisfaction to humans who often complete brain-games for a feel-good reward,” she said.

Just look at the success of games like Bejewled or Angry Birds, games that are simple puzzle games without much for story lines or prizes. Also the runaway hit computer game Myst where a minimal storytelling process and heavy puzzle solving became a classic.

Turns out we aren’t alone in out love for puzzle games! I was really amazed that the apes didn’t care if they were rewarded or not. They just wanted to play the game.

Posted in Biology, Games | 1 Comment

More Soros In Trouble

Creepy Nazi Corroborator doing what he does best:

A George Soros-tied nonprofit that is reportedly linked to a memo that proposed using private investigators and other tough political-opposition tactics to “eviscerate” North Carolina Republican leaders now faces losing nearly half its funding, after the plans were uncovered last week.

The Charlotte Observer first reported that an official with Blueprint North Carolina emailed a memo to partner nonprofits calling for “crippling” Republican leaders and launching direct attacks on Republican Gov. Pat McCrory….The group is running into trouble in the wake of the reports. The North Carolina GOP has reportedly filed two complaints against the organization.

And the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, which provided $425,000 of Blueprint North Carolina’s $1 million, says it is consulting with a lawyer on how to move forward. Foundation Executive Director Leslie Winner said she’s not sure whether Blueprint violated its tax-exempt status by getting involved in partisan politics. But the group at the very least exercised “bad judgment,” she said, according to The Charlotte Observer

You gotta love this last line:

Blueprint says its mission is to influence state policy so residents will “benefit from more progressive policies” such as better access to health care and a cleaner environment.

However, the group also says all activities will be “strictly non-partisan” and that its charity status prohibits it from getting involved in political campaigns – for or against any candidate for public office.

“Non-Partisan” is one of those terms that’s as believable as “Common Sense Gun Control”.

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Ugly Duck!

That Momma Duck, she’s funny looking!

Duck Dog

Thanks to Christina for sending this! 😀

Posted in Biology | 6 Comments

“Gun Death” Breasts

Why do we NEED high capacity assault breasts!!!

A large-chested woman will face manslaughter charges after allegedly smothering her boyfriend with her boobs.

Witnesses said drunken Donna Lange, 51, was found lying on top of a 51-year-old man, and one claimed: “She smothered him to death.”

She’s obviously compensating for her lack of a gun…or something!

OK its tragic and horrible…but man I have to laugh at this one!

h/t Kevin

Posted in Gun Death? | 3 Comments

Interesting Battery Technology

Interesting in how quickly it can be charged. No idea how MUCH charge it can hold in a standard amount. Also given that things like electric cars are done with the idea of being “Green” but involve very nasty mining of heavy metals, a pure carbon capacitor is very interesting.

I’m skeptical, but its always nice to see progress.

Posted in Biology, Technology | 2 Comments

The Real Danger At Home

The anti-freedom people seem to think guns are the most dangerous thing on the planet. All their noise is ignoring the REAL dangers.

Contrary to what you might expect from all the news about gun violence, accidental deaths from guns in the home are relatively uncommon, and have actually gone down slightly in recent years, according to a new study. But other deadly accidents at home, including poisonings, falls, and burns, are far more common, and on the rise. The good news: some simple measures can help prevent most of them.

Note that these numbers are from the entire United states, where gun ownership is on the rise, and mandatory “Safe Storage” laws are both illegal, and unheard of.

Be safe, rather than be zealous!

h/t Mrs. Weer’d

Posted in Guns, Safety | 2 Comments

Good Dogs Turning Their Life Around

Woman Can’t Press Charges when her neighbor shot unrestrained dogs:

Police told a Pennsylvania woman that she cannot press charges after her neighbor shot and killed her two dogs when they wandered onto his property.

Two Bernese mountain dogs reportedly got past a hole in their owners’ backyard fence and were drawn to a neighbor’s property with sheep, MyFoxPhilly.com reported.

The neighbor reportedly thought the dogs were a threat and opened fire, killing the male first, and then the female. Under Pennsylvania state law, a homeowner is allowed to shoot animals that are pursuing his or her livestock.

“He fired no warning, he didn’t yell, he didn’t make any phone calls, he didn’t do anything,” Mary Bock, the dogs’ owner told MyFoxPhilly.com.

Yes, Dogs are alive, but at this point we’re talking about property. The dogs were allegedly threatening the sheep. The dogs were only a threat to the sheep because the neighbor was negligent in restraining her dogs.

This is all about property rights. Also can we quit the bullshit about “Warning Shots”? Discharging a firearm is a naturally dangerous act, and one must be sure of their target and what lies beyond it. “Warning Shots” there is no “Target”, and guns are NOT noise makers or warning Klaxons. If you’re going to fire a gun you must have good reason, and good reason was given.

If you don’t control your property, you must pay the price.

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Posted in Biology, Freedom, Guns, Safety | 1 Comment