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Open Thread

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:37:19 GMT

Happy Hump Day!

Casinos

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:29:47 GMT

Well, two new counties are now on the list for casinos in Kansas. Ford and Wyandotte counties both overwhelmingly voted in legislation last night approving casinos in their county. Well, I say "overwhelmingly" in terms of their population since Ford county only had some 8,000 voters. However, this puts Wichita in a tough position, doesn't it?

Boot Hill and Kansas City will both now have casinos drawing people to them. Boot Hill out of it's noteriety and nostalgia from the rootin-tootin days of the Cowboy, gunslingers, and drunken shoot-outs over poker games. Kansas City out of its accessibility and already established popularity as a destination.

Now Sedgwick faces a vote on August 7th as to whether or not we should bring casinos to the sedgwick county area. I would say at this point, while I am strongly opposed to gambling personally, we are put into a position where we will actually LOSE what tourism we have in favor of these other destinations in Kansas because of them. Why would you come to Wichita if you can stay in Kansas City on the river and gamble at the casinos up there?

What do you think? Does competition on this scale effect Wichita?

~Dubya

Fallen Heroes

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:14:37 GMT

I'd like to take a moment to pause this morning and acknowledge Charles W. Lindberg, last of the men who were involved raising the flag on Iwo Jima (recently renamed Iwo To). Charles W. Lindberg died on Sunday, June 24th 2007 at the age of 86.

Lindberg was involved in the raising of the first flag atop Suribachi, the highest point on Iwo To. Once the commander from the Marine beach head saw how tiny the flag was, he ordered a larger flag from one of the ships sent up the hill to replace it. The second flag and it's placement has been recorded in history as a symbol of the war in the Pacific.

It saddens me to see these people disappearing so rapidly. I can only imagine how it must have felt for my grandfather, a military veteran as well, to have experienced the death of the last Civil War veterans in his youth. My father seeing most of the WWI veterans pass away. Unfortunately for them, there was no way to collectively and massively put their memories to paper (or e-paper, as it were). The sad part about today is that we have the ability to record these stories, record their heroic moments, document their trials and tribulations...but so few people today seem interested. So few people seem to realiize we're losing a national treasure right before our very eyes. Most veterans of WWII are at least 85 years old...many (that are still alive, anyway) are in their 90s. We are facing an extinction in the next few years and it is something we will NEVER get back. Once they're gone, all our children will have is OUR memories....which too will fade into obscurity in the next generation.

~Dubya

Open Thread

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:51:50 GMT

Good Monday, Wichita!

Tiarht vs. KAKE

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:24:14 GMT

Todd Tiahrt has blasted KAKE and other media groups for the recent ad campaign asking him to repeal his 2003 legislation that prohibits public access to a database that tracks all firearms recovered at crime scenes. Along side KAKE is a coalition of mayors against illegal firearms aptly named "Mayors Against Illegal Guns", who claim access to these records is vital to finding the source or origination of the weapon.

What are your thoughts on this?

Personally, I am of the opinion this is a horrible stance for the media to take. Despite your opinion on the matter, the MEDIA (as I have said TIME and TIME again) is supposed to be our unbiased access to the news. Not an entity that gives us their opinion of what is right and what is wrong. We already have POLITICIANS doing that, we do not need another source telling us how to think.

Posted on "The Hall Monitor" blog:

I would like to reaffirm what Zelda said: Gun laws do nothing to deter criminals. Taking firearms out of the hands of people who will obey the law is a RIDICULOUS solution to gun control.

Firearms are prolific in this county (as they are in many parts of the world). Anyone who wants to, and is prepared to illegally possess one, can get a pistol, rifle, automatic weapon, etc.

School children manage to get their hands on shotguns, pistols, semi-automatic rifles...they run amuck in our schools killing and maiming. By virtue of even possessing the weapons, THEY aren't obeying any "gun control" laws.

How is it, these people believe our law enforcement is going to be able to ferret-out gun-toting criminals if all of our undercover officers and informants have been exposed via this law?

As usual, this is a case of a BIASED media attempting to impose it's view of WRONG and RIGHT upon the populace.

~Dubya

Something doesn't fit

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:11:23 GMT

Man stabbed repeatedly in attack by large group

A 20-year-old man was taken to Via Christi-St. Francis early Saturday after he and a 19-year-old man were attacked by about 10 people in the 2000 block of S. Meridian, police said.

Sgt. Lem Moore said the 20-year-old was stabbed 20 times in the upper torso and neck. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The 19-year-old suffered minor injuries, Moore said.

Witnesses told police the attackers were driving a Green Honda hatchback with the letters ATC on one side.

-- Icess Fernandez

So what you are telling me here is that "10 people" jumped out and stabbed one of two guys 20 some times and left the other virtually unharmed...

Not only that, but they were driving a distinctively GREEN honda with gang affiliated letters on the side.

....while we're on the subject, could someone please explain to me how TEN people fit inside a honda hatchback (presumably a CRX)???

I'm sure it doesn't make sense at ALL that the two started to scuffle and the 19 y/o stabbed the 20 y/o multiple times, making up the whole story out of self-preservation.

Now, I wasn't there, though. That's complete conjecture.

~Dubya

Open Thread

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:56:11 GMT

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Racism in Wichita

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:40:58 GMT

Who knew Wichita had such a seedy, disgusting underbelly?

Last night a man of undisclosed race was shot and killed in the 1300 block of Ida, south of Downtown. Unfortunate. While the article was short and to the point, not disclosing the actual events leading up to the incident or even whether or not the situation was gang related, TWO PAGES of comments quickly filled the thread.

Most of these comments were highly charged, highly racist, and totally appauling.

It saddens me to see people react this way. Assumptions and preconceived notions do nothing but perpetuate the very cycle most of these people are talking about "hating".

I am troubled, concerned, and even scared of a white gang member every bit as much as I am of a black gang member. A group of thugs intent on vandalism or mayhem is intimidating no matter what color their skin. Poverty and lack of education create breeding grounds for gangs. It doesn't matter who it is.

I don't experience this kind of hate everyday in my life. Perhaps I've unwittingly been seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. This article ruined my whole day.

http://www.kansas.com/news/updates/story/97259.html

~Dubya

Open Thread

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:04:22 GMT

Wednesday's Open Thread!

Environmentalists against H2O?

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:45:12 GMT

[youtube yi3erdgVVTw]

Isn't it funny how the collective mind works sometimes? We studied the collective, hive, or mob mind in school, but to actually see it in action always facinates me.

These people are all at an environmental rally, all have the mindset of saving the trees, down with Government...and will blindly sign anything anyone puts in front of them.

I'm with Penn...the next time you're asked to join in on something, remember to investigate what you're getting into. These people are trying to do their best to go against the grain, not be the sheep to "The Man's" wolf...yet, they still follow the crowd like the best of the sheep.

~Dubya

Michael Yon

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:10:08 GMT

Open Thread - 06/11

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:41:44 GMT

Open Thread for Monday!

Iraqi Man in Kansas wanted for murder

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:30:32 GMT

I wonder if news like this would have even made the news 10 years ago? Probably, I supposed, given the unusual nature of the crime.

It's interesting to me that this man felt the need to purchase handguns here in the United States. What is equally of interest was the amount of time it took for the ATF to realize there might be trouble. It almost seems that if he had not come back to purchase a second gun within a two week time frame, he might have been able to get away with illegally purchasing the first pistol.

The synopsis of the case (from kansas.com) was as follows: Mohammed Ziboon, 26 returned to Wichita today to face charges against him detailed as "making false statements on federal forms". He apparently purchased two handguns (.45 caliber pistols) in a two week period from a local pawn shop.

The LIE came into play because of the fact that the man is currently wanted in Iraq for the murder of his cousin. Oh...and he's an Iraqi citizen, not American.

I guess I'm confused. WHAT IN THE HELL is an Iraqi citizen doing buying a handgun in the US in the first place? Even if he was naturalized (which he was NOT), isn't there a WAITING PERIOD on the purchase of pistols? Isn't that time supposed to be spent verifying these people?

We can't even seem to monitor and keep track of firearm sales in the US, how in the world are we supposed to halt arms shipments from Iran to Iraqi terrorists?

~Dubya

Open Thread - 06/06

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:55:10 GMT

D-Day - The Longest Day - Take just a minute to acknowledge those brave men from The Greatest Generation.

Quote to Ponder

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:54:10 GMT

What is everyone's opinion of this 1907 quote? Food for thought:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

~Dubya

Open Thread

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:11:17 GMT

Was out at the Golf Tournament yesterday through the Chamber of Commerce, so I apologize for not getting the thread opened up yesterday, as scheduled.

Omnious language from Tehran

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:07:00 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran — Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that it was "too late" to stop Iran's nuclear program and warned the U.S. and its allies not to push for new U.N. sanctions on Iran, which he compared to a lion sitting quietly in a corner.

In other words, Iran is capitalizing on the fact that the US is completely tangled and stretched to its near-limit around the world. They are posturing knowing full well the US has no intention of attacking or doing anything untoward other than complain to the UN. The UN has no other utility at hand other than the ability to impose sanctions...which, as we've seen in Iraq over the last 15 years, has very little effect on the GOVERNMENT, only creates unrest and suffering among the people. Many countries just flat out ignore UN accords anyway (*cough* France *cough*)

I would be very interested to hear what the audience has to say on this subject. Is this saber-rattling or does Iran fully intend to ignore the United Nations?

~Dubya

Open Thread

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:35:49 GMT

Have a great weekend!

TB Patient claimed ignorance in airline scare

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:21:57 GMT

The TB patient apologized yesterday to plane passengers adding that he was told he wasn't a threat to anyone around him....

I'm going to have to cry foul on this one.

According to the news report on Fox news this morning, Andrew Speaker, infected with a severe and deadly form of tuberculosis, says he was only advised not to travel in his condition.

Who in the heck doesn't understand the dangers of TB? Especially a (supposedly) well educated lawyer!? You would have to have been living under a rock for most of your life to not understand that tuberculosis is a very dangerous disease!

Apparently the CDC contacted him immediately after the discovered his trip on an AIRPLANE to Italy and told him in no uncertain terms "DO NOT COME BACK", that he should be quarantined and removed from the population.

Instead, this guy selfishly takes a flight back to Canada and sneaks across the border (under the nose of a border guard who disregarded orders to stop him), travelling to Denver in order to seek treatment.

Is there not some sort of criminal level of endangerment going on here? Just imagine the tens of thousands of people he potentially exposed to this deadly strain by going to another country, travelling through what has to be several airports, and then on several AIRPLANES where the air is recirculated throughout the cabin.

This guy needs to be held accountable...unbelievable.

~Dubya

Blog Schedule

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:20:42 GMT

Just wanted to say good morning to everyone and to let you all know that from now on, I'll be posting blog entries (including the Open Threads) on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

Have a great weekend!!