Georgia Mom Shoots Home Invader

Paul Ali Slater, top left, in a previous mug shot

On Friday, a man definitely selected the wrong home to break into.

In Loganville, Georgia a mother and her two children weren't expecting anyone, and so ignored their door when someone knocked.

But then the doorbell starting ringing, repeatedly.

Worried, the mother called her husband at work and then took the kids into a closet.

She also took her .38 revolver.

Shortly after they hid, the door was broken open and the family heard someone going through the house.

When a man opened the closet, the woman did not hesitate, but fired all six rounds, in the gun.

Five of the bullets hit Paul Ali Slater, who then tried fleeing, but ended up crashing his vehicle a short ways down the road, where he was arrested and sent to the hospital.

The mother and children were uninjured, and waited at a neighbors, for police to arrive.

Chinese Protest Censorship

Hundreds of people spent part of Monday protesting Guangzhou, China.

They were protesting government censorship, of the press.

Police kept an eye on the protest, but did not interfere except to ensure that the mass did not block traffic.

It was all set off when a Southern Weekly editorial was changed from being a call for greater legal rights, to a piece praising the government.

Southern Weekly has been known for being one of the most outspoken Chinese press.

According to sources, Southern Weekly's offices are not being worked in, since their writers brought public notice to the change.

Despite the risks, other Chinese media outlets have come to Southern Weekly's support, some have even done so openly.

This is but another sign that the Chinese government is finding itself trying to keep it's control, but unsure how to react when the people push back.

Fire on 787 After it Lands in Boston

At about 10:45 EST, a fire broke out in a plane at Logan International Airport, in Boston.

The Japan Airlines 787 had landed, after a flight from Toyko, about fifteen minutes before the fire occurred.

All of the one hundred and seventy-three passengers and eleven crew members had already left the plane, when spoke was noticed.

A mechanic, who noticed the smoke, alerted authorities and fire crews were able to quickly put out the fire.

Officials believe that the fire broke out in the jet's auxiliary battery system.

An investigation is underway, to determine the cause of the fire.

Alabama Teen Arrested for Plotting School Bombing

Seventeen year old Derek Shrout was arrested after teachers found a disturbing journal, he was keeping.

In the journal he plotted out an attack against Russell County High School in Seale, Alabama.

He had plans specifically targeting six fellow students and one teacher, which were to be followed by blowing up the school.

A search of his home found home made devices, that were almost ready to be used.

Shrout is to appear in court, on Monday, to formally be charged with terrorism, attempted assault, and other charges.

California Elementary School Evacuated Due to Bomb Threat

R D White Elementary School, in Glendale, California was evacuated due to a bomb threat, Monday morning.

About 08:30 PST, an anonymous caller made the threat.

The student body of nearly nine hundred, as well as teachers and staff, were evacuated to a nearby supermarket parking lot.

Police are searching through the school for any explosives.

Parents are encouraged to pick up their children, from the supermarket.

School will not resume today, and officials are considering canceling it for Tuesday as well.

Dutch Patriot Missiles on Way to Turkey

Patriot missile batteries from the Netherlands began their journey, to Turkey, on Monday.

They are heading there as part of a NATO agreement to defend Turkey, with six Patriot missile batteries.

Around four hundred Dutch troops will eventually be stationed in Adana, with their two batteries of Patriots.

A like number of Germans will be stationed at Kahramanmaras, with their two batteries.

An equal contingent from the US will be stationed at Gaziantep, and began to arrive on Friday.

The Netherlands plan on only having their troops there for a year, but the other two countries have set no time limit for how long their troops will stay in Turkey.

From The Mouth of Matuszak: Third Term Tyrant Possibility

Hi! I want to repeal the US Constitution,
Amendment by amendment, article by article
until we are the Socialist States of America.
My useful idiots keep voting for me, too.

Representative Jose Serrano (D-NY-15) sponsored a resolution to congress, H.J. Res. 15, to repeal the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution.

The 22nd Amendment is the one that formally placed term limits on the office of President at two terms. Prior to the amendment, the two term limit had been a long standing tradition started by President George Washington. Washington, in his wisdom, sought to insure that no one executive remained in power long enough to transform the US into a tyranny such as seen under several Roman emperors and the nobility in Europe.

Jose Serrano wants Obama elected to a third term though he hasn't yet been inaugurated into his second. It takes little research to determine, with educated speculation, why Serrano would sponsor such a proposal.

Serrano has history of supporting bills meant to reduce US Sovereignty and eliminate individual rights and liberties. He claims to be for "civil rights" yet he panders to collectives while oppressing the smallest minorities in the US, the individual citizens.

Serrano opposes another amendment, the Second. In his own words, he demands that the rights of owning and carrying firearms to be greatly infringed.

Serrano also wants trade restrictions and embargoes lifted from Cuba, a known tyranny and socialist country.

H.J. Res 15 is not the first attempt to repeal the 22nd Amendment. Historically, only one amendment (prohibition) has ever been repealed. The 16th Amendment (allows for income taxes) stands a better chance at being repealed than the 22nd. The resolution is in committee. It has no cosponsors. It is not yet even on the agenda for discussion in committee, much less on the calender for a floor vote.

Despite the odds being against such a repeal does not make it impossible. Most people believed that the citizens of this country would not be ignorant enough to elect the socialist in chair for a second term. Yet, that is what happened. The possibility that the same ignorant and uneducated masses of useless idiots would support repealing the 22nd so that same Marxist could legally seek a third term is still a viable possibility that cannot be ignored.

Full article and commentary originally posted at P-G Matuszak's Mental Aikido. Revision reprinted with permission.  

Kuwaiti Man Sentenced to 2 Years For Tweet

Kuwait's Emir

In October, Rashid Saleh al-Anzi, tweeted, something millions around the world do every day.

However, in his case it resulted in a two year jail term.

Anzi was arrested for making a tweet that was critical of Kuwait's Emir.

Insulting the Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, is illegal in the country.

Kuwait has a history of cracking down on freedom of speech, especially when it comes to political matters.

Just during 2012, several were arrested for posting controversial tweets, including Sheikh Meshaal al-Malik Al-Sabah, who called for reforms.

A Look At December Jobs Numbers

Photo Copyright 2012 by P-G Matuszak. All Rights Reserved.

The unemployment (U3) report for December 2012 is out. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nothing of importance has changed. They claim that the U3 unemployment remained at 7.8%. They claim that the Workforce Participation Rate remained at 63.6%.

The U6 unemployed and underemployed rate is closer to 15.3%.

In common sense terms, the numbers stink. It screams of what President "Peanut" Carter called "malaise".

The Workforce Participation Rate (WPR) at 63.6% over the holiday season should strike citizens as alarming. From late October through December there is normally a seasonal uptick in employment and WPR. Normally, college students garner employment between semesters. Normally, some stay at home parents grab part time employment during these months in order to bump up their holiday celebration budgets. Obviously, this was not the case this year. If it were, then U3 will jump and WPR will drop in January.

If the WPR were the same, today, as it was for December 2008, the U3 unemployment rate would be 13.2%. The U6 unemployment rate would be 20.8%. This is closer to what the real unemployment rate is.

Long term unemployment remained constant, indicating that those out of work made no headway in acquiring employment. Those marginally attached indicated the same. These numbers show that any "increase" in employment in "non-farm", "healthcare", etc. categories are really not increases in employment. It just means some employed people shifted employers.

Not addressed in the report is the increase in applications for SSDI. Following trends over recent months, applications in December set a new record over November's record numbers. However, those approved for SSDI payments in December are still counted as part of the WPR until their first full month of receiving government handouts has completed. This means that the WPR may be actually lower than reported.

Of note is that the average hourly wage has increased a whopping 7 cents. That means your average working citizen is still making less, now, than in November 2011 when the average was closer to $25 an hour than the current $23.73. Non-supervisory jobs average $19.92 an hour, for comparison.

In this article, there is a quote from Mike Huckabee using November 2011 numbers. Government handouts approximate what a working/producing person would gross at $30 and hour, if working forty hours a week, and be tax exempt. Your average worker is making $23.73 and hour with an average work week of 34.5 hours with non-supervisory at $19.92 for 33.8 hours. That is before federal income taxes, socialist insecurity theft social security taxes, and medicare taxes. So, gross, before taxes, it's obvious it currently pays more to be lazy.  

The recently passed amended version of HR 8 still increases social security taxes (for a bankrupt program) by 2%, or an average of $17 a week less in net income for your average worker. Due to the PPACA, health insurance and healthcare plans now cost your average worker an average of $3600 a year ($70 a week). The cost of government mandated deductions continues. So, your average working American, of which there are fewer and fewer, is making less yet paying far more in taxes than prior to Obama's first inauguration.

Hope seems gone. Change is not necessarily growth or progress or prosperity. The "change" Obama and his ilk have brought are entropy, decay, destruction, and ruin. The numbers don't lie.

Original article and commentary posted at P-G Matuszak's Mental Aikido. Article and Photo Copyright 2013 by P-G Matuszak. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission.

From The Mouth of Matuszak: Illinois' Gun Control Problem

Illinois remains the state with perhaps some of the strictest anti-gun laws in the US. Yet, the state's largest city, Chicago, still ranks among the highest in violent crimes to include over 500 murders in 2012. By and large, these murders were committed with firearms.

Illinois still bans both concealed and open carry of firearms by non-police personnel. By state law, one must apply for and be issued a Firearm Owners' Identification Card (FOID) prior to purchasing any firearm or ammunition. In addition, federally mandated background checks must pass favorably for each purchase. The firearms must be registered with the state. The state also has a required waiting period.

Despite all of these measures that deter law-abiding citizens from owning firearms and prevent those same law-abiding citizens the right to bear them, there is a rash of gun violence in the state. Chicago, with its own additional restrictions has the largest problem.

The reason behind this is clear. Private, law abiding citizens with concealed carry permits do not go out and randomly shoot people. Private, law abiding citizens who exercise their Second Amendment rights do not commit murder. Criminals do. Criminals do not care about the law. They intend to break the law by committing murder. So what is a little illegal firearms possession charge in comparison? Nothing. They still acquire the weapons illegally. They steal them. They buy them on the black market. In some cases, they make "zip guns" in their garages. The bottom line is, although illegal or controlled, they still have them. Those who obey the laws do not and are soft targets for the criminals.

In places that are less restrictive on exercising the right to bear arms, violent crime is much lower. The reason is that criminals are far less likely to prey upon people who are more likely to be armed with a means to adequately defend themselves. Criminals are cowards. They are predators. Predators prey upon the weak, not the strong. For one glaring example, compare per capita crime stats of Chicago and Kinnesaw, Georgia.

So what is Illinois answer to their gun problem? Their state legislature proposes to ban all semi-automatic and automatic firearms within the state. This includes BB guns. The ban would be on any firearm that uses a detachable magazine. In addition, one of the new bills puts higher restrictions on privately owned firearms ranges. It limits usage to only those with Illinois issued FOIDs. That means Joe, who has a concealed carry permit issued by Indiana, must apply for an Illinois FOID to shoot at his brother's range across the border in Illinois.

To further demonstrate common sense's exodus from Illinois, that bill also gives state and local police the authority to determine if a range is legal and safe. That doesn't mean that the law enforcement agencies just have the responsibility to inspect, it means that those agencies will have the power to, at whim, decide those standards subjectively. This just opens the door for extortion, graft, corruption, and bribery. Then again, Illinois houses Chicago, a city with a long history of all of the above.

The irony is that both Chicago and the state of Illinois have had their anti-gun laws struck down by federal courts over the past few years. Chicago's handgun ban was struck down by the US Supreme Court as unconstitutional and a violation of private citizens' rights to self defense. The Illinois laws were struck down most recently by Federal Appeals Courts. The state legislature was given a time limit to pass less restrictive and invasive laws that would not infringe upon these rights. These latest laws do not meet the federal courts' criteria. Instead, they appear to be even more restrictive, infringing upon the rights to own (keep) and carry (bear) arms.

Some may argue that the regulations on ranges do not do infringe. However the law indicates nothing less than the evacuation of all sense and reason from the socialists and tyrants in the Illinois legislature. For people to be responsible firearms owners, they need to practice. Practice at ranges limits the change of collateral damage. It improves the chances of accidents due to improper safety procedures (ranges are where people learn how to safely handle a firearm). Setting up training scenarios on a range also improves decision making, helping firearms owners understand target selection and situational awareness. In other words, they know that bullets don't stop when they hit the bad guy and may hit the old lady behind him as well.

Though these range restrictions are part of a "public health and safety" legislation, they indicate that the politicians do not really care about public safety. If they did, they would mandate minimum range time per year for firearms owners. What they do care about is enslaving people and taking away their abilities to protect themselves and others. What they care about is leaving people unarmed and unable to defend against tyranny.

Original article and commentary appears at P-G Matuszak's Mental Aikido. Reprinted with permission.