A day in the life of Maru…

Found this cute kitty on YouTube. Precious!

DCG

Definition of IRS

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Illinois House approves gun plan opposed by governor

House passes gun bill over Quinn, Emanuel objections

Chicago Tribune:  Over objections of Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the House approved a concealed weapons bill today that is aimed at ending Illinois’ status as the last state in the nation without a law to allow its citizens to carry guns in public.

But the gun bill backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan goes to a Senate where President John Cullerton has denounced the proposal because it would override local gun laws like Chicago’s assault weapons ban.

Cullerton’s stance tempered the House victory, but sponsoring Rep. Brandon Phelps contended it is critical to move forward because Illinois faces next Friday’s deadline for the spring session’s adjournment and a court order that gives the state June 9 to fashion a law. A federal appeals court struck down the state’s ban on concealed carry.

“After years of debating this issue,” said Phelps, the state legislature’s leading gun rights advocate, “it is incredibly difficult if not darn near impossible to come to a middle ground on this issue. Every legislator on this floor has a different opinion when it comes to concealed-carry policy.

“Even among us gun-rights legislators and even among the gun-control legislators, our ideals of the perfect concealed-carry legislation is not identical,” Phelps said. “There is not a bill that we could possibly draw up in which every single legislator on this floor would be perfectly happy with. We live in Illinois. We never thought this day would come.” The House passed the bill 85-30, with one lawmaker voting present.

“This bill is a massive overreach. It is dangerous,” said Rep. Christian Mitchell, D-Chicago, who lashed out at the often verbose NRA for taking no position on the legislation. “The idea somehow that the NRA is neutral on this is like saying that there’s a fox neutral on an appropriation to defund hen house security.”

The bill is designed to create a law that spells out who can carry concealed weapons in Illinois and where they can carry them, but the legislation’s removal of home-rule powers also wiped out local firearms laws—giving more fuel to the opposition of Quinn, Cullerton and Emanuel.

Chicago Democratic Rep. Ann Williams said the bill would wipe off the books local assault weapon bans and taxes on gun purchases, Williams called for the defeat of the Phelps bill and for support of a stricter, New York-styled law to “reflect the realities” of differences between rural areas and urban areas like Chicago.

A longtime opponent of concealed weapons, Madigan rose on the House floor and carefully went over the appeals court ruling. He pointed out requirements of reporting  mental health problems represented a “dramatic improvement” from current law. And he said the Emanuel administration got a prohibition of carrying guns at everything site where it wanted concealed weapons banned.

Madigan noted that anti-gun lawmakers got only 31 of 60 votes need for a strict, New York-styled bill called in the House in April. But he said gun rights lawmakers– whose legislation overrode home-rule and required 71 votes ended up with 64– even significantly after the speaker said he worked against the bill.

Madigan said gun rights advocates had estimated they had as many as 75 votes at the “high-water mark” before the speaker worked against that version of the bill. “Those vote counts are very telling,” Madigan said. “They tell the reason why I stand before you today, changing the position which I’ve advocated for well over 20 years. But that’s what happens in a democracy.”

Over time, he said, it is expected in a democracy that “there will be changes in thinking” by people in legislatures consistent with the thoughts of constituencies. Quinn quickly issued a statement vowing to block passage in the Senate. “This legislation is wrong for Illinois,” he said.

“The principle of home rule is an important one. As written, this legislation is a massive overreach that would repeal critical gun safety ordinances in Chicago, Cook County, and across Illinois. We need strong gun safety laws that protect the people of our state. Instead, this measure puts public safety at risk. I will not support this bill and I will work with members of the Illinois Senate to stop it in its tracks,” the statement read.

After lawmakers had gone home for the day, Emanuel’s office issued a statement opposing Madigan’s plan, saying the mayor is “committed to working with the leaders” on legislation to combat gun crimes and keep illegal guns off the street.

Cullerton’s attack on what he sees as a pro-gun tilt in the House bill escalated the drama between two chambers already at a standoff over how to fix a nearly $100 billion pension debt with only a week left in the spring session.

Unlike the Senate bill, the Phelps legislation would be no opportunity for communities to add specific locations where guns would be banned based on local sensitivities.

The Senate version would have set up a two-tiered system with one permit to carry outside Chicago and the Chicago Police Department issuing carrying privileges within the city. The House bill creates one statewide permit as long as qualifications are met. Overriding home-rule authority meant the bill would require a three-fifths majority of 71 House votes to pass.

Rahm “murder mayor” Emanuel

Under the Senate bill, a person had to show proper reason to carry a gun. That restriction is not in the House bill.

The House version would put the Illinois State Police in charge of conducting background checks that include reviewing state and federal databases and doing additional interviews if necessary. Any law enforcement agency, including federal authorities, could object to an applicant getting a concealed carry permit.

But the measure also would let citizens who are denied applications appeal that decision to a new review board dominated by people with law enforcement experience, such as former judges or FBI agents. The Senate version had such appeals going to the same state police agency that denied them.

But Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highland Park, contended the penalties are weak, and he said law enforcement authorities should have a chance to appeal a review board decision just as citizens do. “This bill is not ready,” Drury said.

Both bills set out a long list of places people could not carry guns. Among them: CTA buses and trains, public parks, stadiums, zoos, casinos and government buildings. The two bills differ, however, when it comes to alcohol. The House version would ban guns in bars where more than 50 percent of sales come from liquor. The Senate bill has a more restrictive standard.

To qualify for a concealed carry permit, a person must be 21 and cannot have been convicted for a crime in which they served at least one year in prison. A person cannot be addicted to drugs or alcohol, or adjudicated as a mentally disabled person.

Permits could not go to a person who has been convicted of a serious crime or been in a mental health facility within the last five years. A mental health professional would have to certify that a person is not a clear and present danger to himself or others.

The legislation would require 16 hours of training, including shooting exercises. The cost of a concealed weapons permit would be $150 for five years, with $120 going to the state police, $20 for a mental health reporting fund and $10 to the state crime lab fund to help undo backlogs.

I almost feel sorry for people who live in Chicago. Their murder rate is so high that Mayor Emanuel has the “murder mayor” nickname now. Yet elections have consequences. And so does not being allowed to conceal carry in Chicago.

DCG

When seconds count, the police may or may not show up

911 Dispatcher Tells Woman About To Be Sexually Assaulted There Are No Cops To Help Her Due To Budget Cuts

CBS Seattle: An Oregon woman was told by a 911 dispatcher that authorities wouldn’t be able be able to help her as her ex-boyfriend broke into her place because of budget cuts.

Oregon Public Radio reports that an unidentified woman called 911 during a weekend in August 2012 while Michael Bellah was breaking into her place. Her call was forwarded to Oregon State Police because of lay-offs at the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office only allows the department to be open Monday through Friday.

“Uh, I don’t have anybody to send out there,” the 911 dispatcher told the woman. “You know, obviously, if he comes inside the residence and assaults you, can you ask him to go away? Do you know if he’s intoxicated or anything?”

The woman told the dispatcher that Bellah previously attacked her and left her hospitalized a few weeks prior to the latest incident. The dispatcher stayed on the phone with the woman for more than 10 minutes before the sexual assault took place.

“Once again it’s unfortunate you guys don’t have any law enforcement out there,” the dispatcher said, according to Oregon Public Radio. The woman responded: “Yeah, it doesn’t matter, if he gets in the house I’m done.”

Police say Bellah choked the woman and sexually assaulted her. He was arrested by Oregon State Police following the incident. “There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t have another victim,” Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilberson told Oregon Public Radio. “If you don’t pay the bill, you don’t get the service.”

The sheriff’s department had to cut 23 deputies and the entire major crimes unit after it lost a multi-million dollar federal subsidy, according to Oregon Public Radio. There are now only six deputies left.

The sheriff’s department even put out a press release warning domestic violence victims to “consider relocating to an area with adequate law enforcement services.”

Bellah pleaded guilty to kidnapping, sex abuse and assault.

Girls, learn to protect yourselves!

Girls, don’t let yourself become a victim. Get to the range and practice, practice, practice. It’s the best home defense system money can buy.

DCG

It should be OK to lock lips with others after saying ‘I do’?

An enlightened Hollyweird actor

‘Marriage is serious business, but kissing is not’: Mindy Kaling on why it  should be OK to lock lips with others after saying ‘I do’

Daily Mail: Mindy Kaling has voiced her opinion that one should still be able to kiss other people after they get married.

In a New Yorker article, the comedienne and author, 33, who is single, says kissing new people is ‘one of the greatest joys of life,’ which married people should be able to enjoy, too. ‘Why should saying “I do” necessarily mean “I will not kiss another human for the rest of my life”?’ she asks.

The actress and director, who writes and  stars in Fox’s The Mindy Project, said one of the perks of acting is getting to kiss men, often married ones, with ‘zero repercussions for anyone  involved.’ She goes on to explain that she is by no  means advocating open marriage. ‘Marriage is a serious business,’ she writes.  ‘[But] kissing is not.

‘Just because I want to kiss someone doesn’t mean I want to love that person, share a bed with him . . . tell him not to use  so much salt, or share one AOL e-mail account,’ she adds. The problem with kissing, she says, is that  it has been ‘cheapened’, and is now perceived as a gateway gesture to sex.

‘Kissing is to sexual intercourse as the  phrase “Can I talk to you for a second?” is to a full-blown screaming fight,’  she writes.

She admits that kissing does not come without  its complications, but insists it just needs to be treated as an enjoyable legal vice akin to drinking alcohol or gambling. In other words, it just needs to be regulated.

To prevent a kiss from leading to something more, Ms. Kaling came up with a hypothetical invention called the Kiss Monitor™,  an electric device inserted into the lip.

The gadget would allow a person to kiss a non-spouse for 90 seconds, before it would begin sending electroconvulsive  shocks to the lips. ’If the kissing continues, the shocks increase in frequency and intensity until the patient passes out,’ writes Ms.  Kaling. ‘This can be very embarrassing.’

According to Ms. Kaling, this device would resolve the issue people have with kissing others after getting married. She imagines that the Kiss Monitor™ will be a means of demonstrating marital fidelity in the future.

‘I am a romantic at heart, and. . . I look  forward to the day when [a man] and I find each other, fall in love, and solemnize our relationship by exchanging Kiss Monitors,’ she  wrote.

So if a kiss is just a kiss and doesn’t lead to sex, why invent something to make a kiss unpleasant?

I’m not married, yet I doubt seriously my boyfriend would want me kissing other guys – and I certainly don’t want him kissing any women! Let’s see what Mandy has to say about this free-for-all kissing after she does say “I do”.

DCG

Is “f**k cancer” apparel offensive?

Photo by David Maialette

Did cancer hats go to far?

Philly.com: Just hours before dawn on May 14, Jackie Underwood’s three daughters held her  in their arms as the cancer stole the last breath from her broken body.

For many days before, and almost every day since, her children – Makia  Underwood, 32, Zakia Clark, 29, and Tasha Clark, 27 – have worn hats and shirts  that read “F— CANCER,” with the “C” in “F—” replaced by a  breast-cancer-awareness ribbon.

“That’s how we feel. It took our mom away. It’s a demon. It’s the devil,”  Zakia Clark said. “There are no other words you can use to explain how you feel.  You want cancer to get cancer and die.”

Zakia and Tasha Clark were wearing their black-and-pink “F— CANCER” hats  Sunday when the three sisters went to King of Prussia (KOP) Mall with a group of  friends and relatives to pick out a dress for Zakia’s 9-year-old daughter to  wear to her grandmother’s funeral today.

The group shopped for 2 1/2 hours, then split up, and Zakia and Tasha,  Zakia’s daughter, an adult female friend and two girls younger than 5 grabbed  something to eat from Master Wok at the mall’s upper-level food court.

The ladies had just sat down when a security guard approached them and,  without a greeting, ordered: ” ‘Take your hats off,’ ” Zakia said. Zakia took hers off, but Tasha, who once worked at the mall, told the guard  she wanted to see something in writing. It was almost as if Tasha were channeling their mother’s strong spirit, Zakia  said, and it inspired her to put her own hat back on.

“He said, ‘Since you don’t want to take your hat off, you can leave my  mall,’ ” Zakia recalled. “He stood there while we ate and threatened to  call the cops.” Out of nowhere, Zakia said, seven more guards surrounded them. “I was very embarrassed,” she said. “My daughter was so scared she was  crying.”

As the group was escorted to the mall office, Makia called and met up with them. “I couldn’t believe they were acting like they were going to arrest my  sisters,” she said.

Once they got to the office, the women were met by an Upper Merion Township  police officer, who had been called to the mall by security guards.

“The officer said, ‘I find it offensive that you even have that hat that says  ‘F— CANCER,’ “ Zakia said. “He said, ‘It’s their mall, they want you out, you  have to get out.’ “

The women were escorted out, and two security cars were waiting for them at  their car just to make sure they left, Zakia said.

“I just wanted to tell them the whole story,” Makia said of the guards. “I  wanted to tell them a monster came into our house, got into my mother and we had  to watch that until the day it took her, so don’t tell me it’s offensive to say,  ‘F— CANCER.’ “

After the Daily News began looking into the incident, Les Morris,  spokesman for Simon Property Group in Indianapolis, which owns King of Prussia Mall, called Zakia yesterday to apologize. Zakia said Morris was sincere and even asked for her mother’s name and  inquired about her battle with cancer.

“Certainly this could have been handled in a much more empathic and sensitive  manner,” Morris told the People Paper. “We’re very sorry about her loss and  wanted to apologize for the way her party was treated.”

Morris said it’s important for the mall to be “flexible.” “I do think this is an entirely different situation than a 16-year-old kid with a swear word on his T-shirt cruising the mall,” he said. “We need to be  empathic, sympathetic, and listen and make sure that we’re approaching each  situation as it comes up.”

To express their displeasure with the way they were treated, the sisters and  Wade had planned a protest for 7 p.m. tomorrow at the mall entrance near  Nordstrom, Zakia said.

The event will go on as scheduled, and they will wear their “F— CANCER”  hats and shirts, she said. But in light of the apology, it will be more of an  awareness rally against cancer. The sisters won’t be wearing those shirts and hats today.

“I’m not mad at God,” Makia said yesterday. “But the picture of my mother I  was left with is beyond ‘F— CANCER.’ “

I’ve lost loved ones to cancer yet never had the desire to wear a shirt that says this. I’d be concerned about young children reading the words and parents having to explain them. What do you think?

DCG

The difference between a liberal and conservative activist

Lizz Winstead is a liberal comedian. She thinks she’s funny, or something.

Shameful.

DCG

Illegal alien charged with manslaughter in deputy’s death

Repeat offender and drunk illegal alien. Photo courtesy of Houston Police Department

Illegal immigrant alien charged with intoxication manslaughter in Harris County deputy’s death

KHOU: The man accused of hitting and killing a Harris County sheriff’s deputy while driving drunk was in the country illegally, a judge said in court overnight.  Andres Munos-Munos, 23, was charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of Sgt. Dwayne Polk.

According to the Houston Police Department, Munos-Munos allegedly ran a red light on Little York at N. Shepherd and hit Polk’s personal truck shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. HPD said there were no skid marks to indicate Munos-Munos even attempted to stop prior to the crash.

The deputy died at the scene. He was in uniform, and officials believe he was driving home following an off-duty job.

During his court appearance early Monday, Munos-Munos was ordered held without bond. Details weren’t immediately available on his attorney.

Police said the suspect suffered minor injuries in the wreck and was taken to the hospital prior to being taken to court. It was there he underwent a mandatory blood draw.

Polk, 47, had been with the sheriff’s office for 16 years. On Sunday afternoon family and friends left small mementos at the Houston intersection where the deputy was killed.

“Tough morning,” Sheriff Adrian Garcia tweeted. “The HCSO suffered a terrible loss & we are all grieving. Keep HCSO members & their families in your prayers.”
According to the Houston Chronicle, Polk grew up in Houston with his two brothers, three sisters and many cousins. The Bible was among the books his mother used to teach him and his siblings to read, according to a 2012 obituary for his younger brother.

The suspect accused in Polk’s death has had trouble with the law before.
Records show he was arrested on June 10, 2012 for driving while intoxicated. He also was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon. He was deported in July 2012, but later returned to the U.S.

Sheriff Garcia sent this e-mail to his staff following Polk’s death:

The members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office mourn the untimely death of Sgt. Dwayne Polk, a 16 year veteran of the HCSO and a dedicated public servant.

The HCSO deals with on a daily basis the tragedy that happens in our community. Our deputies are trained to handle these situations and do what we can to help our citizens move forward when they have been touched by tragedy. Today, it reminds us that although we wear badges and guns, we too are human and our hearts hurt and are heavy as anyone else who has dealt with the loss of a son, a brother, a dedicated colleague, a caring friend and a proud father. Our prayers are with Sgt. Polk’s family and those who knew him best.

Sgt. Polk’s death reminds us that we must stop these senseless actions at the hands of irresponsible individuals who insist on ignoring the law and common sense, and get behind the wheel after having too much to drink! As we move forward, Sgt. Polk’s death will not be in vain. We will continue to put behind bars those who run the risk of devastating other families, as the Polk family has been. It was eerily ironic that on the morning of June 18th I was with Mothers Against Drunk Driving as they held the annual “Walk Like MADD”.

Let’s remind ourselves that these deaths can be prevented either by personal responsibility or by handcuffs, but we will not stop in our efforts to save lives on our roadways!

These deaths could be prevented if ICE did their job. Yet this administration released hundreds of illegal immigrants aliens with criminal records as the Obama administration prepared for budget cuts. Priorities.

DCG

Archie Comics pokes fun at One Million Moms

Just part of the story…

Openly gay homosexual characters to kiss

NY Post:  It’s just a quick kiss, but it’s a long step forward for Archie Comics’ only openly gay homosexual character Kevin Keller.

The Riverdale teen finds his life turned upside down after locking lips with his boyfriend, Devon, in Pop Tate’s diner, drawing the ire of at least one disapproving Riverdale mom.

The woman “gets very offended and kind of pitches a bit of a fit,” said Dan Parent, who writes and draws the issue, “Kevin Keller” No. 10 that is released Aug. 7.

Issue 10 of the “Kevin Keller,” where openly-gay homosexual character Kevin Keller kisses his boyfriend Devon. The issue will go on sale on Aug. 7.

“Kevin is kind of used to that, but Veronica records the whole thing and of course uploads it to the Riverdale equivalent of YouTube and that starts a bit of a debate,” said Parent.

For Archie Comics it’s a bit of art imitating life. Parent said he wrote the story after efforts to remove a comic magazine showing Keller getting married drew at complaints. One Million Moms, a project of The American Family Association, asked Toys R Us not to display “Life With Archie” No. 16 near its checkout aisles. Toys R Us did not, and the issue went on to sell out its print run.

Parent called the new story a “playful poke” at the protest. Keller debuted in “Veronica” No. 202 in September 2010. It resulted in Archie Comics’ first-ever second printing. It was quickly followed by a four-issue miniseries and the current monthly title.

Publisher and co-CEO Jon Goldwater said the fact that any kiss is being shown in the pages of an Archie Comics book is a step in and of itself. “There aren’t that many on-panel kisses in the pages of Archie, but you often see the lipstick on Archie’s face afterward,” he said.

Goldwater said Keller’s character has let the company weave in contemporary issues to its imaginary world. “We certainly pride ourselves on being contemporary, but that’s not the reason why we’re showing ‘The Kiss.’ Just like when Kevin first told Jughead he was gay homosexual, it was in the natural course of conversation,” said Goldwater. “We are creating this in the same way. It’s just part of the story.”

PC madness. I’ll never buy an Archie comic ever again.

DCG

Illegal alien gets prison for raping 12 year old girl & forcing her to have an abortion

More like war on teenagers

Everson rapist gets prison for impregnating girl, making her get abortion

Bellingham Herald: An Everson man illegal alien who impregnated a preteen girl and forced her to have an abortion must serve a six-year prison sentence, then leave the country.

Luis Gonzalez-Jose, 31, raped the girl at a home in rural Whatcom County while her mother was in the shower, according to charging documents filed in Whatcom County Superior Court.

He brought the girl to a Planned Parenthood clinic in August 2012. She told staff members that her 14-year-old boyfriend impregnated her, but she couldn’t give the boy’s name or address.

Six weeks after the abortion, the girl told a detective how she had really become pregnant. Gonzalez-Jose had insisted “it would be best for her” to not have the baby, according to the documents.

Gonzalez-Jose pleaded guilty to second-degree rape of a child in April. The girl’s family refused to cooperate with prosecutors, according to a Department of Corrections report.

The department evaluator agreed with the plea bargain, recommending a sentence of six years and eight months in prison, but only on the condition that Gonzalez-Jose can never return to the United States afterward. Otherwise, the report stated, a longer sentence would be appropriate.

Superior Court Judge Charles Snyder approved the plea deal this week.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement will ensure that Gonzalez-Jose is deported upon his release (yeah, right). For now, he’s locked up at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton.

Here in Washington State, no parental requirement is needed for an abortion. Apparently even for a minor. Shame on Planned Parenthood for being complacent in this crime.

DCG