Shooting birds?

A company called "Bird-B-Gone" (why can't anybody spell out words anymore?) is offering a bird-deterrent laser for sale that is designed to "annoy birds without injuring them."

The company, which specializes in "architectural bird control products," also sells gutterspikes (designed, perhaps, to deter guttersnipes?), bird motels (big cages -- bearing an unfortunate resemblance to some of the motels I've stayed in), and so on.

My second favorite, though, is the scare crow deterrent, which combines a motion sensor and a sprinkler head.

No indication if it will also work "on your little dog, too."

Original line via boingboing.net.

Shooting birds?

A company called "Bird-B-Gone" (why can't anybody spell out words anymore?) is offering a bird-deterrent laser for sale that is designed to "annoy birds without injuring them."

The company, which specializes in "architectural bird control products," also sells gutterspikes (designed, perhaps, to deter guttersnipes?), bird motels (big cages -- bearing an unfortunate resemblance to some of the motels I've stayed in), and so on.

My second favorite, though, is the scare crow deterrent, which combines a motion sensor and a sprinkler head.

No indication if it will also work "on your little dog, too."

Original line via boingboing.net.

Everyone needs a guardian angel...

( ...and this quiz told me who mine is. Who's yours? )

Everyone needs a guardian angel...

( ...and this quiz told me who mine is. Who's yours? )

Today is more important than flag day

Don't get me wrong about flags...they're lovely symbols.

But today is the anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Read it again, even if it's for the first time.

Want a copy for your ownself? You can buy your own pocket copy for a buck. (I buy these in 100-copy lots, and give each of my First Amendment law students one of them. Heh. The ones I distribute say "Cato Institute" on them, however...)

Twelve minutes later... Okay, so that reminded me that I didn't have enough Cato Institute constitutions to distribute in the Fall...and so I ordered a bunch of them from the NCCS (second link above). Serendipity.

Today is more important than flag day

Don't get me wrong about flags...they're lovely symbols.

But today is the anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Read it again, even if it's for the first time.

Want a copy for your ownself? You can buy your own pocket copy for a buck. (I buy these in 100-copy lots, and give each of my First Amendment law students one of them. Heh. The ones I distribute say "Cato Institute" on them, however...)

Twelve minutes later... Okay, so that reminded me that I didn't have enough Cato Institute constitutions to distribute in the Fall...and so I ordered a bunch of them from the NCCS (second link above). Serendipity.

"No, you don't get a raise...I do."

The U.S. Senate today voted to defeat a proposed raise to the minimum wage -- a raise that would have been the first in a decade.

And yet, as Lou Dobbs notes, the House voted to give themselves a raise last week. And, funny, Congress has managed to give itself pretty regular raises over the last decade.

But screw the lowest paid workers. They don't do nearly as much posturing as our representatives.

Sez Dobbs,

For some reason, our elected officials decided against holding a news conference. Maybe that's because they didn't want to draw attention to the fact that they raise their own salaries almost every year while refusing to raise the pay of our lowest-paid workers.

May I recommend you check the voting record of your own representatives on various issues? The United States Senate roll-call vote for the minimum wage amendment is illuminating. Sixty votes were necessary to accept the increase. Only 52 voted in favor...

"No, you don't get a raise...I do."

The U.S. Senate today voted to defeat a proposed raise to the minimum wage -- a raise that would have been the first in a decade.

And yet, as Lou Dobbs notes, the House voted to give themselves a raise last week. And, funny, Congress has managed to give itself pretty regular raises over the last decade.

But screw the lowest paid workers. They don't do nearly as much posturing as our representatives.

Sez Dobbs,

For some reason, our elected officials decided against holding a news conference. Maybe that's because they didn't want to draw attention to the fact that they raise their own salaries almost every year while refusing to raise the pay of our lowest-paid workers.

May I recommend you check the voting record of your own representatives on various issues? The United States Senate roll-call vote for the minimum wage amendment is illuminating. Sixty votes were necessary to accept the increase. Only 52 voted in favor...

Check your pants at the door

( Budweiser & FIFA pants 1,000 fans...I am not making this up. )

Check your pants at the door

( Budweiser & FIFA pants 1,000 fans...I am not making this up. )