American Defense Enterprises

Here is a review of ballistics software for the iPhone/iTouch.  One of them is even active, you can mount it to your rifle and it will automatically make corrections based on angle of elevation…

For those of you that like writing software, the author of the iPhone ballistics package released his C library for doing the calculations for free.  There is also a text based linux (Ballistic) piece of software as well as some free windows tools (such as PointBlank).

Realize, for all these tools, they are to help you model YOUR rifle and YOUR lot of ammunition under certain conditions.  From there, you are supposed to be able to extrapolate the behavior to other conditions — perhaps with a custom ranging card.  Any dumbass that wants to drag electronic gear into a field for applied work deserves the failures they get.

This story at boingboing references an interview that suggests it might be a whole lot closer than many people believe…

Short summary…  Electronic banking had to be SHUT DOWN completely to avoid a $550 Billion(!) 1 day draw against american banks.  If this had not been shut down, the US economy would have collapsed.  Followed by a worldwide collapse 24 h later.

Aka, the Pocket Shark.

Made of super strong plastic so it’s also a weapon!  I like it is very subtlely labeled…  Nothing that would make TSA upset here!

The short summary:

• Property crime continues to fall
• ALL violent crime is up (except homicide)

Last year rates fell across the board.  It is interesting that property crime continues to fall, you would expect that the “bad economy” might make people steal more.  But, there certainly seems to be a whole lot more hate in Los Angeles right now..

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics January 31, 2009

VIOLENT CRIMES                2009**             2008**          % Chg

Homicide                               34*                38             -10.5%
Rape                                      69                 61              13.1%
Robbery                               1186             1091               8.7%
Agg Assaults **                     942               928                1.5%
Total Violent Crimes           2231            2118              5.3%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                             1505              1621              -7.2%
BTFV                                  2607             2651               -1.7%
Personal/Other Theft          2014             2245             -10.3%
Auto Theft                         1552              1886             -17.7%
Total Property Crimes       7678            8403              -8.6%
Total Part I Crimes            9909          10521              -5.8%

We have previously talked about the excessive police use of military style tactics, usually these abuses are linked to the great war on drugs.

The problem with no-knock warrents is that it is very hard for the home owners to tell the difference between the lawful service of a search warrant and a home assault invasion.  Sometimes cops make mistakes and raid the wrong homes and people die — here is a building list of such examples.  Often times, these mistakes lead to a police officer being repremanded.

What happens when you defend yourself in a home invasion lawful service of a warrant and the police don’t kill you?  Well, in Ryan Frederick’s story,  you can sometimes be lucky and avoid a homicide charge and, instead, only spend 10 years in prison.

Summary:  Ryan’s at home, police bust in, Ryan assumes he is being attacked by burglers.  A neighbor witness testified that the police did not audibly identify themselves as such.  Ryan kills one of the police before it is clear what is going on.  Convicted.  Sentenced.

What did he do?  It was thought he was growing marajuana plants for personal use.  Turns out he was growing legal plants for personal appreciation.  Seems like home assault no-knock military assaults are the best way to deal with these non-violent charges, no?

I urge people to reread our nice story on jury nullification. How would you have responded differently?  Could you send somebody to jail for taking such reasonable action?  Admittedly, I wasnt on the jury, I didnt hear the facts– this guy could be a screwup.  Just something to consider.

From: EFF

Please consider contacting your representatives and voicing your concern.

Text reproduced:

The California DMV is attempting to bring biometric information to California driver’s licenses through an obscure, rushed exception to the ordinary budget process. Though the impact on California citizens’ privacy would be tremendous, the DMV can bypass the public and begin implementation of its biometrics plan unless the budget committee actively rejects the request by February 11, 2009. Contact the Senate President Pro Tem and encourage the legislature to reject the DMV’s attempt to implement its new biometrics proposal without genuine public scrutiny.

Last month the California DMV — without notifying the public — sent a letter to the state Joint Legislative Budget Committee requesting that biometric information be recorded for California driver’s licenses and ID cards. Unless the committee actively rejects the DMV’s request by February 11, the DMV will be free to begin implementing the biometric technology. Moreover, in the midst of a severe state budget crisis, the DMV wants an extra $63 million over 5 years to implement the system.

Implementing biometric technology would impact the privacy of millions of Californians. This proposal requires real legislative, public, and expert review, and should not escape public questioning because of an obscure, rushed exception to the ordinary budget process. Defend your privacy by contacting the Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and encouraging the legislature to reject the DMV’s attempt to implement its new biometrics proposal without genuine public scrutiny.

Story at KNX1070.

Summary: Dancer in the SF Valley was called outside by two acquaintances.  After she was outside, they doused her with a flammable liquid and set her on fire.  Suspects are identified and still at large….

That’s a whole lot of hate.

Suspects shown in this Daily News story.

Website for the Strip club: Babes and Beer.