Vote!

Our rural polling place had lines for ID check and voting machines at 7 a.m.

Counterfeiting funds terrorism

Law enforcement officials on Capitol Hill Wednesday told a House panel that the booming international trade in phony consumer goods is funding terrorism. Link

So, Bogalusa PD, this was not your best idea:

"We decided to just take the items off the street,” Culpepper said, adding both business are legitimate with the proper licenses. “It’s what they were doing that was the problem.” Link

Gee, Capt. Culpepper, I trust this isn't the way you approach drug dealing? Just take the drugs away, let the perps go? How 'bout armed robbery? Victim gets his money back, bad guy stays on the street?

I. Didn't. Think. So.

Counterfeiting funds terrorism. The Fox News article linked above is from 2003. This ain't nothin' new.

Friday's Daily News has a front-page article about a couple guys arrested while selling counterfeit items. Their names sound, oh, Middle-Eastern to me.

I wonder if their profits were staying in the USA - or if they were going overseas to buy explosives for IEDs to kill our soldiers and Iraqi citizens.

I'm sure it's difficult being a cop in a small town, where you've got to arrest your cousin or your in-laws. But you swore an oath of office; do your job, and leave the judging to the court and jury. Arrest the bad guys, including the store owners, because unless they unwittingly purchased fake goods from their regular supplier (doesn't sound like it), they're just as guilty as the ones driving the truck.

In the latest case, you might want to alert the FBI, in case the scoundrels have terrorist connections.

Motorcycle accident?

Apparent motorcycle wreck tonight on Avenue F.

Many police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance were pulled off the road just south of the AA meeting place. We saw a damaged lime-green bike.

We're praying no one was badly hurt.

So tell us who they are!

In this Daily News article, we learn great stuff:

An eight-agency task force, led by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, hit the streets before daylight Tuesday in a series of parish wide raids whose purpose was to round uo drug suspects. [...] By the time it ended, 15 suspects had been apprehended and taken to the Washington Parish Jail. And case detectives still had nine people to locate and bring into custody.

Seven comments, so far, from people wanting to know the names of the arrestees.

C'mon, Daily Snooze. It's public record.

Some good citizen might want to report a drug dealer who was missed - but they won't because, hey, hard to tell if somebody bonded out or got overlooked by law enforcement if you don't even know who was arrested.

So how 'bout giving us the information we need?

Fire

Looked like it was on Avenue F/1075 a few blocks north of the dance studio.

I didn't drive closer so as not to impede the firefighters.

Did we have a safe fourth?

Perhaps we'll read about it in the Daily News. Perhaps not.

There was a bad accident in front of the Texaco on Highway 21 around the end of last week, the result (we understand) of holiday drinkin' & drivin'.

When will people learn?

Daniel's Big Trip

Daniel, a wounded vet in med school, is driving around the country with his wacky Boxer Rocky and blogging it.

Cool stuff! Read it, and donate. Least we can do for one of America's heroes.

Gas

Can't live with the price, but can't live without it. And there are no easy answers.

Unfortunately, the time to economize on gas was before the price rose. Nowadays, you can't give away that nice big pickup truck or other guzzler you've been cruising in. So unless you've got an income or resources that will enable you to buy an economical car without trading in your dually, you're outta luck.

How many weeks will pass before you can organize a carpool to work? Maybe you should've done that sooner, huh?

My daddy used to say, "Do the math." In this case, it shows a no-brainer. Most of us don't need to carry seven passengers or a roomful of furniture every day. Therefore, we can drive a little Honda, and rent a truck for the occasions when we need one.

The math:

30 mpg, 1200 miles per month = 40 gallons, at $3.89 = $155.60

15 mpg, 1200 miles per month = 80 gallons, at double the cost.

You can rent a pickup truck for a day for the difference. Every single month.

Note to looney lefty liberals: We didn't invade Iraq to steal their oil, or it'd be cheaper.

Motorcyclist killed?

Still at the rumor stage, we heard that a local motorcyclist was killed by a young person driving on a learner's permit - with no accompanying licensed adult.

Local store busted

According to one of our sources, the Texaco at Avenue F and Highway 60 had a spot of trouble with ATF the other day for selling alcohol to a minor. Apparently the cashier didn't card the kid.

Real simple, idiots. Check ID or don't sell the booze.

I think I'll patronize a business with more respect for the law.