The Happy Carpenter

Government kills

This is something everybody, left and right, should be able to get behind.  The instiutional blindness of the FDA is beyond BELIEF:

Last week, the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier decision by its own three-judge panel and ruled 8-2 against a dying patient's right to pursue life by taking investigational -- but as yet FDA-unapproved -- drugs.

The case was filed in 2003 by the Abigail Alliance for Better Access to Developmental Drugs and the Washington Legal Foundation. We argued that terminal patients with no options left but death have a constitutional right to such therapy in the care of a qualified physician.

The Alliance began pushing for access to investigational drugs for terminal patients after its founding in mid-2001 upon the death of Abigail Burroughs, who was denied an investigational drug (Erbitux) that an early trial showed might have helped her. She and her doctor were right, but she never got the drug.

Over the past five years, the Alliance has pushed for access to 12 exceptionally promising investigational cancer drugs which have subsequently been approved by the FDA and now represent standard care. At the time we began our advocacy, each of the drugs had cleared at least preliminary Phase 1 testing, and in some cases more-advanced Phase 2 or Phase 3 trials. In other words, they obviously worked for some patients.

RRRRGH!  Can you believe the FDA -- no, strike that, say rather "the people who run the FDA" -- would rather let people die than let them use drugs that haven't yet run the full gamut of their regulations?  UN-BE-LIEVABLE!

The anonymos voice of the pacifist

Just received this comment to an old post in which I thanked three Marines for their service:

Heroes?, those are the same guys you will see in a suburb carring weapons and killing civilians.

The're not Only Al Qaeda doing massacre's in Iraq, just look for more info/photos about the Iraq conflict and you will see with you're own eyes how these "heroes" are planting bodies all over Iraq, by now there are mora than 3000 american soldiers KIA, and over 35000 Civilians Killed.

Ther´s no heroes in a war, just victims, don't you see?, war is usseles, war in Iraq is not for freedom or 9/11, or any other bullshit the goverment throw at us, is just another economic war, just look who is the most profitting, oil companies, weapon companies and a large etc.

Look for the truth, question everything, dont just believe what they say to you, look further.

I will pray to open the eyes from those who are blind, like the bible say the truth will set you free.

Hmm.  Well, the commenter "Whoami" is entitled to his opinion.  I don't think he meant to be a racist with his first line -- I'll give him the benefit of the doubt there, I think he meant the suburbs of Baghdad.  I guess. 

I know I would feel terrible if I actually believed our marines were "planting bodies all over Iraq".

I wonder if there's any hope for him, and what he would think if he were to read Michael Yon's latest from Iraq?

Michael Yon again, telling the story the rest are too scared to tell

Read Yon's Bless the Beasts and Children but beware -- very disturbing photographs of war.  NOT suitable for children.

Some times it only takes a little courage - 17 year old Jr. ROTC hero

From TFS Magnum ( hope he won't mind my cuttin & pasting his whole post):

York Dispatch - 17-year-old Dallastown student says he's proud he helped woman in attack If you're 17-year-old, Junior ROTC member Travis VanKuren, you go help.

"She looked over at me and started screaming for help," VanKuren said. The woman also screamed "help" at two other people in the parking lot who looked at her and walked away.

VanKuren didn't.

Instead, he decided to help, and police say what the 17-year-old did next saved a 42-year-old Manchester Township woman from a man who was impersonating a police officer and intended to kidnap and rape her.
He didn't tackle the guy, he just calmly walked over to him. When the goblin realized he had problems he tried to take the woman's SUV. VanKuren wasn't having any of that, either.
"I asked him: 'Sir, give me the lady's keys back,'" VanKuren said. "My heart was pounding a bit. I was scared because I didn't know what he'd do. But he looked just as scared as I was."
The goblin dropped the keys and walked away. Police caught up with him a little later.

The goblin is charged with attempted rape, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, attempted kidnapping, impersonating a public servant and then some.

The good guys came out on top this time, thanks to an honorable 17-year-old.

What were those other people - the ones who just ignored a woman's screams for help - thinking? They couldn't be bothered to call 911? Why they really had to get into to the Wal-Mart (or get home)? Kitty Genovese must be spinning in her grave. We have not learned what civilization demands of us. Or as Ben Franklin said, "We must all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." You don't want to wish bad things on anyone, even those spineless wonders that ignored this situation, but I do hope they are haunted by thoughts of what might have happened if they were the ones screaming for help, while people just walked on by. The bad guys only win, when we let them.

I particularly admire that charge "attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse" -- has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?

Really good news from Iraq -- Not all unintended consequences are bad

No one should argue that we went to war to improve the Mesopotamian environment.  We didn't.  We did go, in part, to liberate the Iraqi people, so while we were there we helped put the water back into the marshes of southern Iraq.  Turns out that little side job is paying fast and big dividends (from John at Random Jottings, a fellow carpenter):

Here's some good news, via Rand...

...The restoration of southern Iraq's Mesopotamian marshes is now a giant ecosystem-level experiment. Uncontrolled release of water in many areas is resulting in the return of native plants and animals, including rare and endangered species of birds, mammals, and plants. The rate of restoration is remarkable, considering that reflooding occurred only about two years ago. Although recovery is not so pronounced in some areas because of elevated salinity and toxicity, many locations seem to be functioning at levels close to those of the natural Al-Hawizeh marsh, and even at historic levels in some areas....
You know, since I've told you already, that the Iraq Campaign does not really have a military purpose. We just did it to test leftists. To test whether "liberals are really liberal. Test 'em to destruction; show them up for the evil horrid frauds they are.

I [John] wrote here:

...Iraq was (and is) the big test. To propose regime-change in Iraq is really to say to the Left: , "OK wise guys, you claim to be anti-fascist. Help us remove the worst fascist tyrant of our times. You claim to be humanitarian; here's one of the most brutalized countries of the earth needing our help. You claim you are not anti-Semitic; stand with us against against a monster who was paying bounties to Jew-killers. You claim to care about a certain group that's been denied a homeland; here in the Kurds we have a far bigger group denied a homeland..." (I could go on for a long while with these. You get the picture.)...
Now I see there is another test. A test for the fake-environmentalists commonly known as "Greens." The deliberate destruction of the Iraqi Marshes was the biggest environmental crime of our time. Any real environmentalist would be thrilled by the possibility of bringing back to life this vast wetland, and succoring the simple people who lived in harmony with it for at least 5,000 years....

Real environmentalists would be eager to help out. So where are they?

I think that environmentalist is to Green as progressive is to Liberal, i.e., not much difference to any one outside the group looking in.  Restoring the marsh, once twice the size of the Everglades, is nice.  I'm glad we're able to un-do their deliberate destruction by Saddam Hussein.  It's one more way in which Iraq will be a better place after we've left.

The death of gun control?

Got this from Captain Capitalism's chart contest.  Very revealing and worth clicking on to enlarge.

Exactly

Intermittant comments to this old post "I owe that guy an apology"

Almost a year ago I put up a post about my kids riding in the carts at Home Depot.  For some reason, I keep getting comments to the old post, about once a month.  Interesting.  I wonder what search engine entry keeps bringing people to that post.  Here's a copy of it:

I owe that guy an apology

I was at Home Depot the other night with my 6 year old daughter and, as usual, she was riding on the cart.  She loves going to Home Depot with me because riding on the cart is fun.  I like having her with me because she's fun, and she's interested, and of course, because I love her. 

Then the well-trained Home Depot guy comes up to me and says she needs to get off the cart.  And I say back to him "It's all right.  She can ride."  And he says, "No, sir, she really has to get off the cart."  Firm, but polite.  Not rude in any way.

And that's when I went off on the guy.  Not sure what all I said, but I do remember saying "Weren't you ever a kid?", and "I don't care about Home Depot's lawyers!"  I wasn't, remarkably, profane, but I  was pissed and I think I had some Bill Cowher style spittle flying there for a minute.  I shouldn't have been quite so forceful with the guy, who was just doing his job, but really!

• I am the DAD.  I will decide what level of safety is appropriate for my children.
• If I say it's OK, then it's OK.  Back off, quickly.
• There are way too many lawyers and they need to be ignored and defied more.
• There are too many risk managers and we've given them too much power.  Take it back.
• You might get hurt in life -- this does not give you any kind of legal standing whatsoever.

If I see that guy today when I go to get some ogee baseboard to replace the termite-eaten baseboard in my bedroom I'll apologize to him.  I'll also tell him to tell his manager to back off on this one -- when we go back to Home Depot my daughter will be riding in the cart whether they like it or not.

Little did I realize the controversy I was stirring up.  Invariably, the comments I receive are much like this most recent one:

You are the dad so ACT like one! you should be helping to prevent your kid from getting injured. Not a very pleasant site [sic] for your daughter to be going to prom some years later with a huge scar on her lip or missing an eye. grow up and act like the adult rather than letting your child go wild. ESPECIALLY at home depot of all places!!! you types piss me off when I go in there and you pay no mind to your children especially since they have no concept on [sic] danger. I was a kid once and got hurt plenty of times but not under my dad's supervision.

Hmmm.  These people, always men so far, always miss the point -- It's up to me to set the standards for my children, not Home Depot, its lawyers or its risk management department.  And it's not up to them, either.  Hey, I'm a law & order kind of guy, but respect for excessive authority can be taken too far.  All these would-be principals will suck the all the fun out of life, if we let them.

And besides, how dangerous is riding in a cart, anyway?  Is it more dangerous than riding a bike or a scooter or a skate board or snow boarding or surfing?  Is it more dangerous than riding in a car on US 19?  Or climbing a tree?  What is wrong with you people?  How do you plan to teach your kids courage and joi de vie if you never let them do anything that might scratch their beautiful little faces?

Mind your own business.

UPDATE: a picture of my daughter after last night's zip line accident, which had her flopped on her back in 8" of decomosing seaweed goo.  She was not a happy camper.

I was at Home Depot the other night with my 6 year old daughter and, as usual, she was riding on the cart.  She loves going to Home Depot with me because riding on the cart is fun.  I like having her with me because she's fun, and she's interested, and of course, because I love her. 

Then the well-trained Home Depot guy comes up to me and says she needs to get off the cart.  And I say back to him "It's all right.  She can ride."  And he says, "No, sir, she really has to get off the cart."  Firm, but polite.  Not rude in any way.

And that's when I went off on the guy.  Not sure what all I said, but I do remember saying "Weren't you ever a kid?", and "I don't care about Home Depot's lawyers!"  I wasn't, remarkably, profane, but I  was pissed and I think I had some Bill Cowher style spittle flying there for a minute.  I shouldn't have been quite so forceful with the guy, who was just doing his job, but really!

• I am the DAD.  I will decide what level of safety is appropriate for my children.
• If I say it's OK, then it's OK.  Back off, quickly.
• There are way too many lawyers and they need to be ignored and defied more.
• There are too many risk managers and we've given them too much power.  Take it back.
• You might get hurt in life -- this does not give you any kind of legal standing whatsoever.

Disaster survival list

For reference purposes, one guy's list of stuff to be ready to load into the truck with minimal warning.

Note to self:  start buying stuff, especially more ammo.  Mmmmmmm, ammo!

A. Suitcase

Clothing:

Underwear (4) and for girls, bras (2)
Socks (4 pairs)
T-shirts (4)
Jeans (2)
Sweatshirt & pants (1)
Raincoat / poncho (summer)
Overcoat, hat and gloves (winter)
Spare pair of shoes / sandals / sneakers / boots
Towels (2)
(For my Readers in colder climes, I cannot recommend these boots highly enough: light, easy to put on / take off with gloves, and my feet have never been cold with them on. They last about 4-5 years—with heavy usage—and I’m about to order my third pair.)

B. Carry bag / backpack

Games, CD players and CDs
Spare batteries – and when those batteries run down, that’s it
2 or 3 books
+ U.S. Army Survival Manual
Laptop computer & car power supply

Toiletries bag (inside the backpack):

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Sanitary stuff (girls)
Prescription medications
Tylenol etc.
+ Toothache remedy
Sunburn lotion
Shaving gear
(Our kids would also carry their handguns and ammo inside their backpacks, rather than strap them on.)

C. Survival Items (ours are in the Grab ‘N Go Bags)

Medical (in Ziploc bags):

Advil (sunburn, minor pains)
Aspirin (“heart meds”)
Tylenol-3 (Rx painkiller)
Benadryl
Antacids
Immodium
Potassium Iodide
Neosporin
10% hydrocortisone ointment
Antiseptic wipes or bottle of Curel
Antiseptic soap in its own baggie
Hydrogen peroxide / disinfectant
Calamine lotion
Band-Aids
Small roll bandage
Ace bandages (knee, ankle)
Curved sewing needle
Sewing needles & cotton thread
10’ nylon thread
Scalpel blades
Tweezers
Tampons (for wound care)
Sponges
Eyewash / eye drops
Soft earplugs

Stuff:

Large black plastic garbage bags
Ziploc bags
Insect repellant wipes and sprays
Toilet paper

Signaling & Navigation:

Emergency radio
Mirror
Whistle (or one of these combos)
Small compass
Large Compass
Maps (for the 100-mile radius around your house, get one which shows all the small backroads and country roads, because major highways are likely to be parking lots)
Walkie-talkies & two sets of spare AA batteries
Pencils / pens
Sharpies
Paper
Flourescent orange or pink ribbon
Red spray paint

Fasteners:

100’ parachute cord
200’ twine
Ropes
Tie-downs
Duct tape
Zip ties
Assorted rubber bands
Safety pins
Red electrical tape
Superglue

Tools & Weapons:

Leatherman Wave / Gerber multi-tool or Swiss Army Champ
Folding knife
Large fixed-blade knife (eg. Ka-Bar or machete)
Camp shovel
Cord or camp saw
.22 rifle w/sling and 100 rounds ammo*
Shotgun w/20 rounds ammo**
Rifle w/100 rounds ammo***
Handgun w/30 rounds ammo, per person****
Cleaning kit for guns (boresnakes, solvent, oil)

Shelter (in Ziploc bags):

Survival blankets
24-hour body / hand / foot warmers
Bug kits (nets, snake-bite etc) as needed
Work gloves
Tarps and stakes

Drinking:

Stainless steel flask of brandy (doubles as signal mirror)
Water-purifying tabs or -bag
Canteen & holder
Bottled water
If you expect to be walking for any distance, then a hydration system like Camelbak or MSR

Fire & Light:

Bic lighters
Waterproof matches
Magnesium “flint”
Jeweler’s loupe / small magnifying glass
Emergency candles
12-hour light sticks
Mini-Maglite and 10 x AA batteries
Micro-light
Surefire 6P + 4 spare batteries
Large flashlight / spotlight
Sterno cans or small cooker like this one or this one
(This is cool)

Foods & Eating:

Beef stock cubes
Soup packets
Vac-pack meals (eg. MREs)
Beef jerky
Energy bars / survival food bars
Candy
Small cooking pot
Uncooked rice
Corn meal
Sugar
Salt
Canned food
Evaporated / powdered milk
Coffee / tea
Powdered drink (pre-sweetened)
Eating utensils

Two corrupt, in their own way, institutions

I can't help thinking how things might be different if these two old and powerful institutions were honest instead of corrupt, on our side instead of the enemy's:

The Associated Press

If an Iraqi police captain by the name of Jamil Hussein exists, there is no convincing evidence of it - and that means the Associated Press has a journalistic scandal on its hands that will fester until the AP deals with it properly.

In statements, the AP insists Captain Hussein is real, insists he has been known to the AP and others for years, and insists the immolation episode occurred based on multiple eyewitnesses...

It is striking that no one has been able to find a family member, friend, or colleague of Captain Hussein. Nor has the AP told us who in the AP's ranks has actually spoken with Captain Hussein. Nor has the AP quoted Captain Hussein once since the story of the disputed episode...

To make matters worse, Captain Jamil Hussein was a key named source in more than 60 AP stories on at least 25 supposed violent incidents over eight months.

The State Department

Paul refers to "the big lie"--the U.S. State Department's deliberate cover-up of the fact that Yaser Arafat personally ordered the murder of State's own overseas personnel, including an ambassador. This is indeed a very big lie....

Yet the State Department soldiers blindly on, committed to what must be the biggest lie in American foreign policy--the near-mystical belief that the Palestinian "peace process" holds the key to progress in the Middle East. So committed is State to this myth that it preferred to cover up the murder of its own personnel rather than confront the hollowness of its own policy.

It's tempting to play the "which is worse?" game.  On the one hand, good Libertarians expect the government to be arrogant, screwed up, self serving, and incompetent.  But an agency covering up the murder of its own ambassador to maintain its orthodoxy?  Whoa!  On the other hand, the old media has been lefty for, what, forty years now?  And, sure, they've lost the bubble when it comes to Bush vs. Jihadis.  But when did they become so cowardly that they fall for obvious terrorist stringer lies and refuse to come clean about it when confronted?

Really, these two institutions have committed and are committing the same sin:  they will not betray their orthodoxy no matter what. 

Life would be a lot better, and there would be a lot more people still alive today, if the AP and State could find it in their hearts to throw their shoulder to the damn wheel.