Free To Choose...

Friedman would be laughing his ass off, or taking up arms, one or the other...

How does removing a requirement to purchase a thing, "or else", deprive people who WANT to purchase the thing, of the thing?
Doesn't matter whether you replace "thing" with "widget", "candy bar", or "health insurance", people who WANT TO can still purchase it.

— Drang (@DWDrang) November 19, 2017

I mean, I get that progressives are too invested in their ideology to even acknowledge the question.*

And socialists of all stripes would probably say that asking the question is racist, classist, sexist, and a dozen other "ists" I can't even think of right now.

But the fact remains that no one has proposed banning health insurance, nor even  repealing the law that makes it a crime to refuse someone emergency care because they can't afford to pay for it.

They're just proposing that the government cease forcing people to spend money on something they don't want.

Remember, ultimately, any government requirement is backed up by someone with a gun.

BTW, if Obamacare was so great,

• Why does anyone have to be forced to buy it?
• Why do I know so many people with serious medical conditions and no health care?

* Ignoring the obvious question, how many of them are smart enough to even recognize the logical fallacy?

Read The Label

So, did you hear the one about the two women who set sail from Hawaii on a three hour week trip to Tahiti, and got rescued of Japan five months later?

Two women rescued after 5 months adrift in the Pacific - CNN

This being the 21st Century, the story started unraveling rather quickly.
Questions raised about sailors' story after months stranded at sea

The best analysis is found here: 19 REASONS THIS “SURVIVAL” STORY SMELLS FISHY – UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS ONION RINGS (h/t Insty.)

Aside from the fact that I may have to start reading the Unreasonable Dangerous Onion Rings blog just for the name, this is essentially a detailed fisking of the entire story. In this case, go ahead and read the comments. (Note: If you're going to click through to the Daily Mail's coverage, you might want to warn your spouse lest she look over your shoulder when you reach the part about how one of the principles in this story led a "Shades of Grey" lifestyle. AMHIK.)

Anyway.

What brought me here was that, out of curiosity, I looked up de-salinators on Amazon, because, 5 months at sea you'd obviously have to have one.

The search returned 29 hits, most of which are filters or purifiers, not de-salinators.

Removing bugs and contaminants from salt water doesn't do you much good if you still can't drink the water...

Anyway, two rules:

1. Always read the product description. 
2. Never read the comments. 

Exception to 2. above:

• Unless you still have questions about the product description.

Everyone (British) Remembered

Just came across this:

This is a truly humbling initiative. Try typing in your surname - or, if you’re male, your full name - count the matches, and feel the tragedy grab you in the stomach. https://t.co/uEfc4sCRDx

— Daniel Hannan (@DanielJHannan) November 10, 2017

Every One Remembered - Home

The Royal British Legion, as the UK’s national custodian of Remembrance. is working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to keep alive the memory of those who died in the First World War. By the end of the Centenary in 2018, our objective is to ensure every fallen hero from across the Commonwealth is remembered individually by those living today. This is your chance to take part in a truly historic and incredibly significant act of Remembrance.

 Entering my (real, legal) surname returned 87 hits, from British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand force, Mostly army, but a few RAF, and quite a few Navy or Merchant Marine.

I found it striking how many came from the south of England, Devon and Dorset particularly.

There also seem to have been a high proportion of Light Infantrymen, plus a few Royal Marines.

November 11th

And on the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month, the guns fell silent...

...Alas, all too temporarily.

In America, it's Veteran's Day, a day to remember all who served.

In Canada and elsewhere in Commonwealth nations,  it's Remembrance Day.

Ahead of my time

Seen at Says Uncle: SayUncle » USA Today beclowns themselves

Heh®. The Cluemeter: Mocking chainsaw bayonets before mocking chainsaw bayonets was cool!
The Clue Meter: Safety First!
Not sure, but that was probably my first "Derp" post.

The Second Amendment Dichotomy

It seems to me that the tragic events over the weekend in Sutherland, Texas, bring the two sides of the gun control "debate" into stark relief.

The gun controllers would have everyone believe that all gun owners everywhere are just like the murderous scumbag.

Pro-gun folks hold up the likes of Stephen Willeford and Johnnie Langendorff as role models and ideals.

(We'd like to believe they're typical of gun owners, but I prefer to go with "role models and ideals".)

The evidence shows we're closer to the truth than the gun banners.

It is snowing in the 98 double aught 3

That is all.