Meanwhile, Just South of Monroe, NC...

...where they chain foster children to the porch with a dead chicken tied to its neck...

Later on, of course, they progress to tying people to trees and making them squeal like pigs:

A Union County social worker was one of two adults charged with intentional child abuse Friday after deputies found a child handcuffed to a porch with a dead chicken around his neck.

Dorian Lee Harper and Wanda Sue Larson, both 57, have been charged with numerous offenses after a deputy discovered the child at 4116 Austin Road, south of Monroe, authorities said.

Larson is employed as a supervisor with Union County Department of Social Services. She and Harper had adopted four children and were serving as foster parents for a fifth child, officials said.

A deputy was responding to an animal services complaint at a neighboring home Friday when he walked up to Harper’s and Larson’s residence and saw a “10-12-year-old child secured to the front porch at the ankle, by what appeared to be a pair of handcuffs,” officials said.

“The child also had a dead chicken hanging around his neck and appeared to be shivering,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

Larson was not present when the children were discovered but is accused of being complicit in the ongoing mistreatment of the children, the Sheriff’s Office said. She was also charged with willful failure to discharge her duty as a public official.

The child handcuffed to the porch is the 11-year-old Harper and Larson had been fostering, authorities said. The children are now in custody of an undisclosed social services agency outside Union County.

Well, that ought to discourage immigration to this part of North Carolina for the forseeable future.

Update: It's on Drudge, so now the whole world knows about it.

Arrival

Ouroboros ring:

Well, If You Can't Dazzle 'Em With Brilliance...

then baffle 'em with bullshit:

I Hate That Word

That word would be but. It's a negative sort of word, and when it's heard it is usually in a way that brings no pleasure to the hearer. It's heard often in the case of gun ownership: even our beloved President has famously said that he supports the Second Amendment (the right to keep and bear arms), but... with a whole list that follows of the ways in which he doesn't support it.

But showed up in the news again this morning, in a news article from UK:

'Ya cor do that!’ Anger over 'snobbish’ school letter BANNING children from using 'damaging' Black Country dialect.

Angry parents have complained after their children's school banned pupils from talking or writing in their 'damaging' Black Country dialect.

Staff at the West Midlands primary have drawn up a list of ten offending phrases after introducing the 'zero tolerance' policy against the use of local words.

The controversial ruling was announced in a letter to parents claiming the harsh crackdown would 'get children out of the habit' of speaking the way their parents do.

The ban comes two months after a study was published claiming that accents from the Birmingham area make people seem less intelligent and untrustworthy.

Outlawed phrases now include 'I cor do that' instead of 'I can't do that,' and 'It wor me' instead of 'it wasn't me'.

The letter, which was posted to parents last Thursday, said: 'Recently we asked each class teacher to write a list of the top ten most damaging phrases used by children in the classroom.

'We are introducing a ‘zero tolerance' in the classroom to get children out of the habit of using the phrases on the list.

'We want the children in our school to have the best start possible: Understanding when it is and is not acceptable to use slang and colloquial language.

'We value the local dialect but are encouraging children to learn the skill of turning it on and off in different situations.' Here's the entire list:

1. 'They was' instead of 'they were.'
2. 'I cor do that' instead of 'I can't do that.'
3. 'Ya' instead of 'you.'
4. 'Gonna' instead of 'going to.'
5. 'Woz' instead of 'was.'
6. 'I day' instead of 'I didn't.'
7. 'I ain't' instead of 'I haven't.'
8. 'Somefink' instead of 'something.'
9. 'It wor me' instead of 'it wasn't me.'
10. 'Ay?' instead of 'pardon?'

If you look at that list, you'll notice many of them are in common use by Americans. Now I commend the school for wishing to teach their children proper English, but...

It's nanny-statism. A child should be taught by parents the appropriate time for using local dialect and slang. That the school believes it necessary to impose this by fiat says that they don't believe parents are capable of instilling this lesson. And, if you haven't learned it by the time you get into the job market, you very quickly learn there that you either fix it or you don't get employed, at least not in genteel jobs, anyway. If you wish to have a career as a plumber or a dishwasher it's probably not that big a deal.

And I really hate "zero tolerance" policies. They're unnecessarily Draconian, and they remove common sense entirely from any equation in which they appear.

Shit Sister Says

"That's what you need to do, lady, buy a $100 pillow for your afflicted son."

From the Collection

EK Bowie:

Purchased in the mid-1980's, when EK first produced this great knife. USA-made in Richmond, VA. Used to carry it regularly when hiking until my Randall #1 arrived. It's been in storage for a bunch of years now. The sheath had clear plastic liner sheets that became brittle over time and fragmented when I was inspecting it, had to use tweezers to pull the broken remnants out. Without the liner sheets the nylon webbing sheath is a bit flimsy, if I were to begin carrying it again I'd want to get a new sheath made, probably in leather. The micarta handle feels really good in the hand, especially after I broke the sharp edges by sanding it with Scotchbrite.

At one time during the 1980's EK was a major competitor in the military knife market, right up there with SOG, Al Mar, Cold Steel and other knife companies of that period. They over-extended themselves and had to go into bankruptcy reorganization, and have been quiet (but not gone) ever since. They still make knives, their website is here. They're making some great-looking knives, I'd love to have one of their Fairbairn-Sykes models.

She Loves Cats...To Death

In Raleigh, NC, a woman who worked as an animal rescue leader has been arrested for hoarding cats.

Sort of like a pedophile working in a pre-school, ain't it?

You Know Which Republican Could Become President?

Whichever one would go on MSNBC and punch Chris Matthews right in the face.

Just black his eye, bloody his nose, maybe knock a tooth or two out. It'll mean an assault charge, but that's a misdemeanor in nearly all jurisdictions, and the Republican that did it would be a superstar that evening.

Rand Paul is totally missing an opportunity here. And if it happened more than once - - Rand Paul on one occasion, Ted Cruz on another, for example - - the MSM would start watching their filthy mouths a little bit, maybe, and show some respect - - or at least fear.

Happy Veteran's Day...

...to my fellow veterans.

When They Won't Write the Word, You Know What the Word Is

Looking through my RSS reader this morning, I come across this New York Times story about a shooting at a party in Houston:

Two people were killed and at least 22 others were injured when gunfire broke out late Saturday at what police said was a “massive house party” in a suburb of Houston.

More than 100 people were inside the home in Cypress when the shooting started about 11 p.m. Saturday, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The injured, including some in critical condition, were taken to five different hospitals, by ambulance and by private vehicle. The police statement described the party guests as “mostly young adults”.

So I then do a Google News search on party shooting Houston. 26,200 results. Let's look at the first page of results:

Los Angeles Times: "Mostly young adults."

NPR (blog): "most of the injured were between 17-and 20-years-old."

Houston Chronicle: "More than 100 people, mostly young adults..." The Chronicle further quotes an "A. Henry" who was in the house. Wonder why they didn't print his first name? Would it have disclosed too much information, perhaps?

A more recent Chronicle story gives more information:

"It was my party," said Mariah Boulden, wrapped in a white sheet and standing on a sidewalk splattered with blood near her front door.

Saturday night, while she had walked out to invite some neighbors to the party, her brother and others continued with pat downs at the front door of her Cypress home. Two men refused to be searched and walked away, she recounted Sunday morning.

From what she's pieced together, the two jumped a neighbor's fence then walked through her back gate.

"They wasn't supposed to be here whoever they was," Boulden, 18, said.

Just as she was walking back to her house, Boulden said she heard gunshots. She ran to the front door, but it was locked. A cousin grabbed her and they ran down the street, calling 911.

"I didn't expect none of this to happen," she said.

If you didn't expect none of this to happen, why did you have your brothers searching partygoers for weapons?

Finally, a story from the local ABC affiliate includes a photograph, even while continuing to refuse to describe the partygoers in detail:

Well, that explains things, doesn't it?

There's No Holiday That a Liberal Isn't Willing To Condemn

In Binghamton, New York, a liberal Catholic pastor isn't willing to participate in a collection that honors military service, saying that it represents an increase in "militarism in our culture."

Meanwhile, in UK, an equally liberal Anglican vicar is condemning one of Britain's most beloved hymns as a paean to nationalism.

Folks, there isn't a holiday in the US calendar that a liberal won't condemn for one reason or another, save perhaps Labor Day, which holds special meaning for their little Red hearts. Christmas? Too commercial, not inclusive enough, endangers the sacred Wall of Separation between church and state. Thanksgiving? A celebration of our exploitation of Native Americans. Columbus Day, likewise. Easter? Christian (makes spitting noise). Memorial Day and Veteran's Day? Glorify war. Independence Day? Patriotism is for retards. Presidents' Day? Slaveholders and racists.

Here's the hymn that the vicar condemns:



The music is by British composer Gustav Holst, and is a reworking of the Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity theme from The Planets:

Restaurant Review: Moe's Original Bar B Que

Went down to Moe's Original Bar B Que down in Matthews, NC this afternoon for lunch. Was supposed to have a lunch companion, but I got stood up. Nice location for a restaurant, in a safe, yuppified area. The Matthews branch of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library is just at the end of the little drive, there are shops on both sides.

Inside the restaurant was clean and well lit from numerous windows; there are actually glass-enclosed garage-style doors that can be opened in the warm season to allow people to eat in the open air. They were close on this cool November day, of course.

I ordered a pork plate, which comes with two side items and corn bread; I chose mac 'n cheese and Brunswick stew. The mac 'n cheese was oven baked and good, although not very cheesy. The cornbread had a good flavor. The Brunswick stew was tasty, although most of the small bowl was taken up by a couple of huge potato chunks, which I had to cut apart with my spoon. The pulled pork was moist but without much in the way of smoke flavor or evidence of a smoke ring; I guess it was cooked on gas or in an electric smoker (there is a woodpile at the back of the restaurant, which was covered by a tarp, for what that's worth). The pork came from the kitchen with some barbecue sauce on top, a red tomato-based sauce; once I determined that the pork itself didn't have much flavor, I helped myself to the sauce bottle to add some additional flavor. The sauce was undistinguished, also. Here's what the food looked like:

All in all, although it's a great location and is a clean, attractive restaurant, the BBQ isn't all that memorable; I'll give it a 3 on my 5-scale of BBQ restaurants: 3 out of 5: average; reasonably good food, moderate effort by staff/management.

Sowin' Those Wild Oats

In a pickup truck at a Waffle House parking lot, so drunk you mistook a cheeseburger for a sandal.

This article made it to the UK Daily Mail, probably the most popular paper in the UK. So this is how the Brits form their stereotypes of US citizens.

Strange Fall Leaf

Found it this morning as I walked into the house:

Thank You, Mr. President

Because for the next three years, there will be nothing you can say that cannot be inserted into the following sentence:

If you like your (fill in the blank), you can keep your (fill in the blank).

Correct Usage Pnemonic

Travelling in Spain, where King Juan Carlos reigns, I reined in my horse and scanned the plain. "Hard to see in all this rain," thought I. "Are those giants I see in the distance?" Alas, they were only windmills. "Shut up, Sancho!"

Meanwhile, Down In Wilmington, NC...

...the Usual Suspects declare war on the Wilmington Police Department:

Members of one Wilmington gang are "committed to engage in shootings," possibly focusing on law enforcement, after the shooting death of Brandon Devone Smith, according to an FBI memo sent to the state's police chiefs.

Smith was shot to death Oct. 13 by two New Hanover County Sheriff's Office deputies and an ATF agent three days after allegedly firing on Michael Spencer, a member of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and sheriff's office detective, in Creekwood.

Click the link to read the rest. I guess you could call this a "travel advisory."

Another WWII Veteran Murdered

This one not too far away, in Richfield, NC.

His daughter was also beaten severely. No description of the murderer until she's awake and able to communicate, I guess.

That's One Expensive Ball

$35K for one lousy little testicle?

Musical Interlude

Slaid Cleaves, Voice of Midnight:



You can look at the film footage if you like; pay attention to the lyrics, though.