When I saw this story in the Juneau Empire, the sirens began to go off. A security company notorious for its past track record of predatory sales tactics and its ruthless exploitation of sales employees in the lower 48 has set up shop in Juneau, Alaska, and is already trying to scare customers into buying their security systems.
Pinnacle Security, based in Orem, Utah, began marketing in Anchorage and Fairbanks last summer. During the past week, they also began marketing in Juneau, with six systems installed in Juneau on Tuesday April 6th alone. However, concerns about their sales tactics immediately became manifest on Monday night when a woman called police after a man selling security systems door-to-door asked repeatedly to be allowed inside. The man said she had been chosen as the first to receive the system for $50 a month, which would then be monitored by the Juneau Police Department once installed. He provided a cell phone number but then told the woman she wouldn't be able to call the number in the future if she decided to buy a system at a later time. Juneau Police spokeswoman Cindee Brown-Mills said the department doesn't enter into such agreements regarding home security systems
In a separate incident Monday, a Juneau resident reported a similar encounter where a man attempted to sell a Pinnacle security system for $44.95 a month, if the homeowner allowed a sign be placed in the yard advertising the system. The witness told police the salesman, wearing a Pinnacle baseball cap and blue jumpsuit, didn't have business cards and spent a long time standing near the mailbox taking notes prior to approaching the residence.
Pinnacle Security COO Steve Hafen said the company's sales associates are required to undergo training and certification, and review the company's code of conduct. Hafen was unable to confirm if his employees, about half a dozen working in Juneau, were the ones described in the police reports. He also stated that legitimate Pinnacle employees have badges, shirts, and uniforms that identify them as a Pinnacle sales representative; imposters cannot process a customer through their system.
But although Pinnacle's behavior in Anchorage and Fairbanks has attracted no media publicity so far, this company has a very checkered past. Previously, they've received an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau due to contractors working without the proper licenses, deceptive sales tactics, improper conduct by workers and unlawfully selling of equipment and services (their current rating is still an "F"). But Hafen claims this is all in the past, and that most of the complaints were resolved out of court. The Empire reports that of the 1,140 complaints on file about Pinnacle Security in the last 36 months, 686 were resolved in the last year (based on the latest BBB report on the company). Read Illinois' litigation HERE. Additional customer reviews are posted on the AlarmSystemReviews website; while there are some satisfied customers, there's about a 1:1 ratio between satisfied and unsatisfied customers. That's just too high of an attrition rate.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Anchorage 2010 Municipal Election Results: Anchorage Assembly Turns Toward The Center, Genuine Conservative Elected To The Anchorage School Board
It appears we will have a more centrist Assembly for the next year. One of the hard-line lefties, Sheila Selkregg, voluntarily stood down, and the other, Matt Claman, has been soundly repudiated. The Anchorage Daily Planet reveals that turnout was an abysmally low 16.71 percent. First batch of media stories published by the Anchorage Daily News, KTUU Channel 2, and KTVA Channel 11.
But voters in Midtown and East Anchorage were not prepared to go all the way to the right. Instead, East Anchorage selected independent candidate Paul Honeman by a noticeable margin over Adam Trombley. This was not really a surprise, although I thought Trombley actually had a chance to take the seat by a narrow margin. Despite the liberals lining up to support Honeman (Selkregg characterized Trombley as an "extremist"), Honeman is likely to end up being a genuine independent. As an ex-cop, he'll be strong on public safety.
In Midtown, Andy Clary actually put up a tougher fight than I expected, but the old war horse Dick Traini reached down and pulled it out at the end. Traini's vast experience and the connection of the Clary name with the Anchorage Baptist Temple were just too much for Clary to overcome. ABT has been vilified by progressives for taking openly pro-family political stances. While this one is still close, absentee and questioned ballots are unlikely to reverse the result.
In West Anchorage, Matt Claman's uninspiring phlegmatism and chronic ineptitude caught up with him big time as centrist Ernie Hall, who has a political resume longer than the Exxon Valdez, mopped the district with him. I expected Claman to lose, but not by that much. It's obvious that the only real fluke here was Claman's razor-thin victory over Sherry Jackson in 2007; it validates my contention that had Jim Bailey not been in that race, Claman would have lost.
As expected, Debbie Ossiander and Jennifer Johnston cruised to victories in Eagle River and South Anchorage, respectively.
We got a split in the School Board races. In Seat A, conservative Don Smith cruised to a surprisingly easy victory. Both Tommy O'Malley and James Labelle received AEA co-endorsements; the split in support basically handed the seat to Smith. Nevertheless, I thought Labelle would have done better; he was a credible candidate who was making his third try for a School Board seat. I had never heard of O'Malley before, but I guess a lot of people outside of Girdwood had heard of him.
Seat B is a disappointment. Once again, Anchorage voters proved vulnerable to the pretty face and the Colgate smile as they selected Jeannie Mackie over the more meticulously-prepared Robert Griffin. I thought Griffin would take this race - and NOT by a narrow margin.
Three of the four revenue propositions all passed, as Anchorage voters proved somewhat generous despite the recession. Voters bought us a batch of necessary road maintenance and repairs, two fire engines, and one ambulance. Voters rejected Proposition 4, which would have bought some improvements for the People Mover public transportation system. Too many people see too many 90 percent-empty buses, plus People Mover still deploys too many of these humongous buses which are far bigger than necessary to carry the requisite number of riders. People Mover needs to better focus on limiting the service to where the need is more demonstrably critical.
But voters in Midtown and East Anchorage were not prepared to go all the way to the right. Instead, East Anchorage selected independent candidate Paul Honeman by a noticeable margin over Adam Trombley. This was not really a surprise, although I thought Trombley actually had a chance to take the seat by a narrow margin. Despite the liberals lining up to support Honeman (Selkregg characterized Trombley as an "extremist"), Honeman is likely to end up being a genuine independent. As an ex-cop, he'll be strong on public safety.
In Midtown, Andy Clary actually put up a tougher fight than I expected, but the old war horse Dick Traini reached down and pulled it out at the end. Traini's vast experience and the connection of the Clary name with the Anchorage Baptist Temple were just too much for Clary to overcome. ABT has been vilified by progressives for taking openly pro-family political stances. While this one is still close, absentee and questioned ballots are unlikely to reverse the result.
In West Anchorage, Matt Claman's uninspiring phlegmatism and chronic ineptitude caught up with him big time as centrist Ernie Hall, who has a political resume longer than the Exxon Valdez, mopped the district with him. I expected Claman to lose, but not by that much. It's obvious that the only real fluke here was Claman's razor-thin victory over Sherry Jackson in 2007; it validates my contention that had Jim Bailey not been in that race, Claman would have lost.
As expected, Debbie Ossiander and Jennifer Johnston cruised to victories in Eagle River and South Anchorage, respectively.
We got a split in the School Board races. In Seat A, conservative Don Smith cruised to a surprisingly easy victory. Both Tommy O'Malley and James Labelle received AEA co-endorsements; the split in support basically handed the seat to Smith. Nevertheless, I thought Labelle would have done better; he was a credible candidate who was making his third try for a School Board seat. I had never heard of O'Malley before, but I guess a lot of people outside of Girdwood had heard of him.
Seat B is a disappointment. Once again, Anchorage voters proved vulnerable to the pretty face and the Colgate smile as they selected Jeannie Mackie over the more meticulously-prepared Robert Griffin. I thought Griffin would take this race - and NOT by a narrow margin.
Three of the four revenue propositions all passed, as Anchorage voters proved somewhat generous despite the recession. Voters bought us a batch of necessary road maintenance and repairs, two fire engines, and one ambulance. Voters rejected Proposition 4, which would have bought some improvements for the People Mover public transportation system. Too many people see too many 90 percent-empty buses, plus People Mover still deploys too many of these humongous buses which are far bigger than necessary to carry the requisite number of riders. People Mover needs to better focus on limiting the service to where the need is more demonstrably critical.
Larry O'Connor Of Central, Alaska Goes To Oregon At His Own Expense And Gives Testimony In $29 Million Civil Suit Against The Boy Scouts
A $29 million civil suit against the Boy Scouts of America has entered its fourth week of trial at Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon, and there is an Alaskan connection. Full story published by OregonLive.com and a separate report by KATU Channel 2.
Update April 13th: Jury finds Boy Scouts negligent, awarded $1.4 million in non-economic damages, with punitive damages to be determined in the second phase of the trial. The jury determined that found that the Boy Scouts of America were liable for 60% of the negligence for the abuse suffered in 1983 and 1984 by Kerry Lewis, who is now 38. The Cascade Pacific Council, the Scouts' local body, was deemed 15% responsible, and together they must pay Lewis $1.05 million. Lewis's suit asked for $14 million. Jurors also found the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which had coordinated Lewis' Scout program in Southeast Portland, responsible for 25% of the abuse but will not have to pay. The church previously settled a lawsuit by Lewis for an undisclosed amount.
Larry O'Connor of Central, Alaska (pictured above left) worked for the Boy Scouts during the 1960s and still volunteers in his hometown in Alaska. He was surfing the Internet last week when he read about the lawsuit alleging that the Scouts failed to keep pedophile volunteers away from Scouts in the early 1980s, even though the organization knew it had a long-standing, national problem. So he flew down to Portland and booked a hotel room at his own expense to offer to give testimony about what he also sees as a cover-up by the Boy Scouts of past practices.
On Tuesday April 6th, 2010, O'Connor told a jury that a Kansas Scoutmaster who was a friend of his told him in 1970 that he had a mutual masturbation session with preteen or teenage Scouts. O'Connor, who lived in Kansas at the time, said he reported it to the Scouting executive of his local council in Kansas. But O'Connor said the organization failed to kick the man out, because in 1981, O'Connor chanced across him at a national jamboree. The man was wearing full Scouting attire. The man quickly ducked away when O'Connor confronted him, O'Connor said. O'Connor said he once again reported the man to regional and volunteer coordinators, but once again, O'Connor got the sense that nothing would happen. They basically told O'Connor, "Thank you for telling us. Leave it alone".
O'Connor also testified that the Boy Scouts were concerned with image. He said that he went to a 45-day national training school in 1967 in order to become a Scouting employee. He said he was taught about public relations, "that no PR was better than bad PR." O'Connor said if he had concerns that questioned a Scout volunteer's character, "we were told to report it to the Scout executive ... and then to be quiet." O'Connor further asserted that money was also a motivating factor in the way the Scouts operated, explaining that during the two years he worked as a professional Scouter in the late 1960s, he was upset by pressure put on him to inflate the number of boys involved in Scouting, in an attempt to justify more donations from the United Way. KATU video embedded below:
So what's this suit all about? According to the suit, Timur Dykes had confessed in early 1983 to molesting 17 Scouts. He made that confession to a bishop who was the coordinator of the Scouting program that met at the 10th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Portland. Dykes was convicted of sexual misconduct with one boy, but the Scouting program didn't stop him from taking part in Scouting, according to the suit. Dykes went on to molest the plaintiff in this case, now identified as 38-year-old Kerry Lewis, who claims he's had lifelong problems because of the abuse. The victim was previously identified only as Jack Doe and is being represented by celebrity attorney Kelly Clark. The Portland-area Cascade Pacific Council and the national Boy Scouts of America are the defendants in the suit. A March 17th OregonLive story indicates that Dykes has been convicted of molesting boys on three separate occasions, in 1983, 1985, and 1994.
The Cascade Pacific Council and the Boy Scouts of America strongly dispute the allegations that Dykes was allowed to continue to associate with Scouts. They say he was disfellowshipped from the church and ejected from Scouting after the early 1983 confession. Earlier in the trial, Boy Scouts attorney Charles T. Smith testified that child molesters are difficult to track because they move around so much and that the organization kept confidential files on them in an effort to protect children. After roughly four dozen witnesses and 52 hours of testimony, both sides have rested their cases; closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday April 8th. For more background on this case, read a series of OregonLive stories accessible HERE.
As for Larry O'Connor, who said he's still a Boy Scout volunteer in Alaska, he left the courtroom worried that the organization might eject him for testifying against practices he saw as indefensible. "I've seen the effect that child molestation has on people," O'Connor said. "...If my going down here can save one boy or girl, it was worth it. ... I hope I'm still a member when I get home."
Regardless of how one feels about the propriety or authenticity of the lawsuit, which will not be discussed in this post, Larry O'Connor is to be commended for putting himself on record and doing so at his own expense. This is the true Alaskan spirit.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Alaska Republican Lieutenant Governor Race A Three-Way Tussle Once Again; Mat-Su Assemblyman Mark Ewing Joins Jay Ramras And Eddie Burke
Update May 9th: Mark Ewing announced on May 6th that he is dropping out of the race for lieutenant governor. Instead, he will be supporting a new entrant, Mead Treadwell, so it is still a Republican "threesome".
As some predicted, it wasn't long after Craig Campbell bowed out of the Republican race for Lieutenant Governor that it became a three-way tussle once again. Joining Jay Ramras and Eddie Burke in the fight is Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Mark Ewing, according to ADN's Alaska Politics blog. Ewing has a Facebook page HERE.
Ewing, 54, backs the pipeline idea long boosted by GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker, even if it requires investing up to $6 billion in public funds to get the project going. He prefers the idea of a 48-inch diameter line to a liquification export plant in Valdez, with a spur to the Cook Inlet area from Glennallen, which would direct most of the pipeline’s costs to Asian gas markets, believing that this would make gas more affordable to Alaskans. He said the smaller 24-inch diameter in-state “bullet line” from the North Slope to Kenai, an idea with some momentum in the Alaska Legislature, would prove too costly for local gas consumers. Ewing also describes himself as a pro-development conservative who is also environmentally-conscious; he tries to do what’s best for the common man on the assembly.
Ewing did not coordinate his plans with Bill Walker in advance, and hasn't sought Walker's endorsement. Walker intends to refrain from endorsing a candidate in the lieutenant governor primary, but is gratified that Ewing is campaigning on the pipeline.
Mark Ewing is married with three children. Unfortunately, he's known personal tragedy; in September 2009, one of his kids, 34-year-old Jeremy Ewing, was killed after breaking into a Palmer-area home to steal drugs. Mark Ewing said he believed his son acted as part of a ring set up by people he met while jailed at Palmer Correctional Center earlier in 2009. Mark said the shooting ended a turbulent life of frequent homelessness, run-ins with the law, and a recent diagnosis of severe mental illness. As a result of this experience, we can expect Mark Ewing to take an active interest in homeless issues and work to overturn legislation that makes it difficult for families to get mental health treatment for loved ones older than 18.
Ewing also deserves credit for having wised up to Vic Kohring earlier than most other Valley politicos. In May 2007, while still a member of the Wasilla City Council, Ewing launched a recall campaign against Kohring, alleging that he had lost the trust of voters. This was shortly after allegations of corruption first surfaced; subsequent events in Kohring's life made the recall redundant and showed Ewing to be prescient. Good judgment is part and parcel of service in elective office.
Prognosis: Mark Ewing is more likely to appeal to the same stratum of working-class Republicans who also support Eddie Burke. He could capture the votes of those who like what Burke stands for, but who might prefer an advocate who they perceive is a bit more restrained in his discourse. This means that the elite candidate, Jay Ramras, may stand to benefit. This needs to be prevented; if Jay Ramras is to become elected our next lieutenant governor, he should have to earn the office, not buy it.
As some predicted, it wasn't long after Craig Campbell bowed out of the Republican race for Lieutenant Governor that it became a three-way tussle once again. Joining Jay Ramras and Eddie Burke in the fight is Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Mark Ewing, according to ADN's Alaska Politics blog. Ewing has a Facebook page HERE.
Ewing, 54, backs the pipeline idea long boosted by GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker, even if it requires investing up to $6 billion in public funds to get the project going. He prefers the idea of a 48-inch diameter line to a liquification export plant in Valdez, with a spur to the Cook Inlet area from Glennallen, which would direct most of the pipeline’s costs to Asian gas markets, believing that this would make gas more affordable to Alaskans. He said the smaller 24-inch diameter in-state “bullet line” from the North Slope to Kenai, an idea with some momentum in the Alaska Legislature, would prove too costly for local gas consumers. Ewing also describes himself as a pro-development conservative who is also environmentally-conscious; he tries to do what’s best for the common man on the assembly.
Ewing did not coordinate his plans with Bill Walker in advance, and hasn't sought Walker's endorsement. Walker intends to refrain from endorsing a candidate in the lieutenant governor primary, but is gratified that Ewing is campaigning on the pipeline.
Mark Ewing is married with three children. Unfortunately, he's known personal tragedy; in September 2009, one of his kids, 34-year-old Jeremy Ewing, was killed after breaking into a Palmer-area home to steal drugs. Mark Ewing said he believed his son acted as part of a ring set up by people he met while jailed at Palmer Correctional Center earlier in 2009. Mark said the shooting ended a turbulent life of frequent homelessness, run-ins with the law, and a recent diagnosis of severe mental illness. As a result of this experience, we can expect Mark Ewing to take an active interest in homeless issues and work to overturn legislation that makes it difficult for families to get mental health treatment for loved ones older than 18.
Ewing also deserves credit for having wised up to Vic Kohring earlier than most other Valley politicos. In May 2007, while still a member of the Wasilla City Council, Ewing launched a recall campaign against Kohring, alleging that he had lost the trust of voters. This was shortly after allegations of corruption first surfaced; subsequent events in Kohring's life made the recall redundant and showed Ewing to be prescient. Good judgment is part and parcel of service in elective office.
Prognosis: Mark Ewing is more likely to appeal to the same stratum of working-class Republicans who also support Eddie Burke. He could capture the votes of those who like what Burke stands for, but who might prefer an advocate who they perceive is a bit more restrained in his discourse. This means that the elite candidate, Jay Ramras, may stand to benefit. This needs to be prevented; if Jay Ramras is to become elected our next lieutenant governor, he should have to earn the office, not buy it.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Alaska Lt. Gov. Candidate Eddie Burke Courageously Calls Out The Socialists On The Anchorage Assembly For Overspending In November 2009
Since I heard that the infamous group of progressive gutter bloggers who waged a one-year character assassination campaign against former Governor Sarah Palin were planning to launch a similar campaign against one of the Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Eddie Burke, I decided to do some snooping. And on Diva's Blue Oasis, I found a video which shows Burke testifying before the Anchorage Assembly on November 3rd, 2009.
Of course, the Celtic Diva posted it on there in concert with other material designed to smear Eddie Burke; it included a hit piece by KTVA Channel 11 along with other uncomplimentary information designed to wrongfully portray Burke as a "racist, homophobic, hotheaded bigot". But including the Assembly video backfired, for it actually shows how Eddie Burke courageously confronts socialists and others who think the Anchorage taxpayer is nothing more than an ATM which can be casually raided at will. Burke is specifically confronting the Anchorage Assembly over the overspending that mandated the budget cuts by Mayor Dan Sullivan, and he calls out the "Socialist Six" by name (Drummond, Flynn, Claman, Gutierrez, Gray-Jackson, Selkregg).
This is exactly who we need representing us. Eddie Burke does NOT mince words and does NOT pull his punches. He cuts through the flowery politically-correct B.S. and gets to the heart of the matter. Regardless of whether we re-elect Sean Parnell or replace him with one of the other leading Republicans, Ralph Samuels or Bill Walker, Eddie Burke would be an essential member of that team as lieutenant governor. He would be willing to say or do what the governor could not. It's sort of like the role of an XO aboard a U.S. Navy warship; the XO is supposed to be the "bad guy" so the CO can remain the "good guy". Find out more about his values and platform on his official campaign website or his Facebook page.
Burke's going to need all the help he can get. Not only is there a dedicated Facebook page developed by those who want to smear Eddie Burke, but his only other Republican opponent at present, Jay Ramras, has a reported campaign war chest of $160,000. So he'll be catching it from both sides.
Of course, the Celtic Diva posted it on there in concert with other material designed to smear Eddie Burke; it included a hit piece by KTVA Channel 11 along with other uncomplimentary information designed to wrongfully portray Burke as a "racist, homophobic, hotheaded bigot". But including the Assembly video backfired, for it actually shows how Eddie Burke courageously confronts socialists and others who think the Anchorage taxpayer is nothing more than an ATM which can be casually raided at will. Burke is specifically confronting the Anchorage Assembly over the overspending that mandated the budget cuts by Mayor Dan Sullivan, and he calls out the "Socialist Six" by name (Drummond, Flynn, Claman, Gutierrez, Gray-Jackson, Selkregg).
This is exactly who we need representing us. Eddie Burke does NOT mince words and does NOT pull his punches. He cuts through the flowery politically-correct B.S. and gets to the heart of the matter. Regardless of whether we re-elect Sean Parnell or replace him with one of the other leading Republicans, Ralph Samuels or Bill Walker, Eddie Burke would be an essential member of that team as lieutenant governor. He would be willing to say or do what the governor could not. It's sort of like the role of an XO aboard a U.S. Navy warship; the XO is supposed to be the "bad guy" so the CO can remain the "good guy". Find out more about his values and platform on his official campaign website or his Facebook page.
Burke's going to need all the help he can get. Not only is there a dedicated Facebook page developed by those who want to smear Eddie Burke, but his only other Republican opponent at present, Jay Ramras, has a reported campaign war chest of $160,000. So he'll be catching it from both sides.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Elder M. Russell Ballard Decries Destructive Effects Of Pop Culture On Today's Women At The LDS 180th Annual General Conference
The 180th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in full swing in Salt Lake City during the weekend of April 3-4, 2010, and among the many General Authorities delivering inspiring and insightful messages is Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Visit Mormonism-Unveiled for more information regarding conference sessions, times, and broadcast information. KSL Channel 5 news video of Saturday's proceedings embedded below:
During the Saturday morning session, Elder Ballard spoke about how mother and daughters still play a critical role in helping each other explore their infinite possibilities despite the undermining influences of the world. He opined that a sacred, symbiotic link connects a mother to her daughter. But then, as reported by LDS Church News, he lashed out about the deleterious effects of pop culture on today's women:
"Popular culture today often makes women look silly, inconsequential, mindless and powerless. It objectifies them and disrespects them and then suggests that they are able to leave their mark on mankind only by seduction — easily the most pervasively dangerous message the adversary sends to women about themselves."
One of the most flagrant examples of this problem is personified in an advertisement for a product called "Booty Pop". This product is actually a set of padded panties designed to be a "butt enhancer". Like padded bras, the message being sent to women is that their original equipment is not good enough, and that their only worthwhile role is to seduce men. Here's the video:
No, there's nothing obscene about it, but it has got to be one of the most disgusting, frivolous, shallow, and irrelevant products ever invented. This is the type of nonsense that provides grist for the propaganda mills of feminists. Feminism is inherently divisive, corrosive, and anti-male, blaming men for all the sins of the world, past, present, and future; the Christian Zionist Pastor John Hagee once characterized feminism as "witchcraft", defining witchcraft as the unrighteous control over someone through manipulation or intimidation for the purposes of domination. Feminism can turn women into sour, bitter harridans who traffic in negativity; compare the example of the effervescently optimistic Sarah Palin, who achieved power and influence while retaining her femininity, with the example of Andree McLeod, who became an embittered, obsessed sourpuss.
Elder Ballard hits the nail on the head with his wise counsel. While the LDS Church has grown with the times, having recently compromised on a gay rights ordinance in Salt Lake City, it retains its social conservatism at the very center. Social justice remains a strictly humanitarian issue rather than becoming a political issue as it has in some other churches.
Visit Mormonism-Unveiled for more information regarding conference sessions, times, and broadcast information. KSL Channel 5 news video of Saturday's proceedings embedded below:
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
During the Saturday morning session, Elder Ballard spoke about how mother and daughters still play a critical role in helping each other explore their infinite possibilities despite the undermining influences of the world. He opined that a sacred, symbiotic link connects a mother to her daughter. But then, as reported by LDS Church News, he lashed out about the deleterious effects of pop culture on today's women:
"Popular culture today often makes women look silly, inconsequential, mindless and powerless. It objectifies them and disrespects them and then suggests that they are able to leave their mark on mankind only by seduction — easily the most pervasively dangerous message the adversary sends to women about themselves."
One of the most flagrant examples of this problem is personified in an advertisement for a product called "Booty Pop". This product is actually a set of padded panties designed to be a "butt enhancer". Like padded bras, the message being sent to women is that their original equipment is not good enough, and that their only worthwhile role is to seduce men. Here's the video:
No, there's nothing obscene about it, but it has got to be one of the most disgusting, frivolous, shallow, and irrelevant products ever invented. This is the type of nonsense that provides grist for the propaganda mills of feminists. Feminism is inherently divisive, corrosive, and anti-male, blaming men for all the sins of the world, past, present, and future; the Christian Zionist Pastor John Hagee once characterized feminism as "witchcraft", defining witchcraft as the unrighteous control over someone through manipulation or intimidation for the purposes of domination. Feminism can turn women into sour, bitter harridans who traffic in negativity; compare the example of the effervescently optimistic Sarah Palin, who achieved power and influence while retaining her femininity, with the example of Andree McLeod, who became an embittered, obsessed sourpuss.
Elder Ballard hits the nail on the head with his wise counsel. While the LDS Church has grown with the times, having recently compromised on a gay rights ordinance in Salt Lake City, it retains its social conservatism at the very center. Social justice remains a strictly humanitarian issue rather than becoming a political issue as it has in some other churches.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell One Of 30 Governors Receiving A Resignation Demand From Guardians Of The Free Republics
At least 30 governors of U.S. states have received letters from a group called Guardians of the Free Republics demanding their resignations, according to CBS News. Allegedly, the letters say if they don't leave office within three days they will be removed, although the proposed manner of removal was not specified.
And among those governors receiving such a letter was Alaska Governor Sean Parnell. According to KTUU Channel 2 and the Anchorage Daily News, Parnell's spokeswoman Sharon Leighow confirmed that Parnell had received a letter in his Anchorage office, although she didn't know when the letter was received, or how it was delivered. She also couldn't immediately provide other details, nor did she specify what steps, if any, had been taken to upgrade Governor Parnell's security.
Although investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, the FBI is warning police across the country that the broad call for removing top state officials could lead others to act out violently.
The Guardians of the Free Republics did not post a copy of the letters they sent to the governors on their website. The Guardians have a long-term "Restore America Plan", which they tout as a "bold achievable strategy for behind-the-scenes peaceful reconstruction of the de jure institutions of government without controversy, violence or civil war. After consultation with high ranking members of the United States Armed Forces, the Plan is in the process of assembling the Guardians of the Free Republics and reinhabiting the De jure Grand Juries..." They put forth an elaborate list of long-term goals, some of which are desirable, but few of which appear to be achievable through normal legislation or adjudication.
A shorter list of immediate goals is published HERE:
-- Ending foreclosure and bank collection actions immediately (our first and seventh directives)
-- Ending tax prosecutions immediately (second and sixth directives)
-- Ending invasions, prosecutions and detentions for fictitious crimes against the state that lack an injured party other than insurrection, treason and frauds against the United States (third and eighth directives)
-- Ending molestation on the byways (fourth and ninth directives)
-- Production of sovereign identification and passports that do not proclaim subject-class citizenship (fourth and ninth directives)
-- Restoration of the trappings of proper de jure governance (fifth and tenth directives)
-- Restoration of the common law of the Land (third and eighth directives)
reigning in of the admiralty color-of-law venue to the high seas (third and eighth directives)
-- Restoration of the proper de jure judicial institutions such as the district court of the United States and the one supreme Court as constructed and restrained in the Constitution for the United States of America, c. 1787 (Phase 2, thirteenth through fifteenth directives)
-- Re-absorption of the de facto judicial aberrations such as USDC into the de jure institutions (Phase 2, thirteenth through fifteenth directives)
a PERMANENT TERMINATION OF TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OUTSIDE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS beginning with voiding of the Downes v. Bidwell monstrosity (Phase 2, eighteenth directive)
-- Arrest and shackling of the District Court of the District of Columbia (Phase 2, sixteenth directive)
-- Recognition of sovereign status in the police databanks of the land (fourth and ninth directives) and a lawful and orderly removal of the corporate state as the ruler of every aspect of your life.
But they avow their intent to accomplish all of that – with our help – BEHIND THE SCENES, lawfully, peacefully, without violence and without risking civil war. Perhaps this is why the FBI does not consider them a threat.
The Christian Science Monitor reports that Texas talk-show host Sam Kennedy is allegedly at the center of the Guardians. John Stadtmiller, who runs the Republic Broadcasting Network based in Round Rock, Texas, which broadcasts Kennedy's weekly "Take No Prisoners" show, says Kennedy is "up to his eyeballs in this Restore America project". The FBI interviewed Kennedy for two hours on Friday March 27th but did not arrest him
Analysis: This group is nothing to fear. They're out of touch not only with what the country needs, but with reality itself. Sending resignation demands to the state governors? What's the logic behind that decision? What have the governors done that's so offensive?
Now if they had sent resignation demands to every member of Congress who voted for Obamacare, that would be sensible, meaningful, and would resonate with much of the American public, particularly the Tea Party contingent. This would dovetail perfectly with the lawsuits against Obamacare filed by a number of states already.
The Guardians of the Free Republics are basically irrelevant.
And among those governors receiving such a letter was Alaska Governor Sean Parnell. According to KTUU Channel 2 and the Anchorage Daily News, Parnell's spokeswoman Sharon Leighow confirmed that Parnell had received a letter in his Anchorage office, although she didn't know when the letter was received, or how it was delivered. She also couldn't immediately provide other details, nor did she specify what steps, if any, had been taken to upgrade Governor Parnell's security.
Although investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, the FBI is warning police across the country that the broad call for removing top state officials could lead others to act out violently.
The Guardians of the Free Republics did not post a copy of the letters they sent to the governors on their website. The Guardians have a long-term "Restore America Plan", which they tout as a "bold achievable strategy for behind-the-scenes peaceful reconstruction of the de jure institutions of government without controversy, violence or civil war. After consultation with high ranking members of the United States Armed Forces, the Plan is in the process of assembling the Guardians of the Free Republics and reinhabiting the De jure Grand Juries..." They put forth an elaborate list of long-term goals, some of which are desirable, but few of which appear to be achievable through normal legislation or adjudication.
A shorter list of immediate goals is published HERE:
-- Ending foreclosure and bank collection actions immediately (our first and seventh directives)
-- Ending tax prosecutions immediately (second and sixth directives)
-- Ending invasions, prosecutions and detentions for fictitious crimes against the state that lack an injured party other than insurrection, treason and frauds against the United States (third and eighth directives)
-- Ending molestation on the byways (fourth and ninth directives)
-- Production of sovereign identification and passports that do not proclaim subject-class citizenship (fourth and ninth directives)
-- Restoration of the trappings of proper de jure governance (fifth and tenth directives)
-- Restoration of the common law of the Land (third and eighth directives)
reigning in of the admiralty color-of-law venue to the high seas (third and eighth directives)
-- Restoration of the proper de jure judicial institutions such as the district court of the United States and the one supreme Court as constructed and restrained in the Constitution for the United States of America, c. 1787 (Phase 2, thirteenth through fifteenth directives)
-- Re-absorption of the de facto judicial aberrations such as USDC into the de jure institutions (Phase 2, thirteenth through fifteenth directives)
a PERMANENT TERMINATION OF TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OUTSIDE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS beginning with voiding of the Downes v. Bidwell monstrosity (Phase 2, eighteenth directive)
-- Arrest and shackling of the District Court of the District of Columbia (Phase 2, sixteenth directive)
-- Recognition of sovereign status in the police databanks of the land (fourth and ninth directives) and a lawful and orderly removal of the corporate state as the ruler of every aspect of your life.
But they avow their intent to accomplish all of that – with our help – BEHIND THE SCENES, lawfully, peacefully, without violence and without risking civil war. Perhaps this is why the FBI does not consider them a threat.
The Christian Science Monitor reports that Texas talk-show host Sam Kennedy is allegedly at the center of the Guardians. John Stadtmiller, who runs the Republic Broadcasting Network based in Round Rock, Texas, which broadcasts Kennedy's weekly "Take No Prisoners" show, says Kennedy is "up to his eyeballs in this Restore America project". The FBI interviewed Kennedy for two hours on Friday March 27th but did not arrest him
Analysis: This group is nothing to fear. They're out of touch not only with what the country needs, but with reality itself. Sending resignation demands to the state governors? What's the logic behind that decision? What have the governors done that's so offensive?
Now if they had sent resignation demands to every member of Congress who voted for Obamacare, that would be sensible, meaningful, and would resonate with much of the American public, particularly the Tea Party contingent. This would dovetail perfectly with the lawsuits against Obamacare filed by a number of states already.
The Guardians of the Free Republics are basically irrelevant.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Great News For True Conservatives: Former KBYR Talk Show Host Eddie Burke Jumps Into Republican Race For Lieutenant Governor Of Alaska
True conservatives in Alaska will undoubtedly be galvanized by the announcement that former KBYR conservative talk show host Eddie Burke (pictured at left) is launching another political foray. He's jumped into the Republican race for lieutenant governor, joining incumbent Craig Campbell and District 10 Rep. Jay Ramras (R-Fairbanks). The lone declared Democrat in the race is Diane Benson. Brief announcement posted on ADN's Alaska Politics blog.
Update: On April 2nd, the day after this post, Craig Campbell announced his intent to discontinue his campaign and withdraw his candidacy.
Most recently, Burke was a conservative talk-show host on KBYR until he departed under rather ambiguous circumstances. His relationship with station management was a bit tempestuous at times; in September 2008, he was suspended without pay for a week for broadcasting the personal phone numbers of activists involved with Alaska Women Reject Palin allegedly without affirmative permission. He was an outspoken and articulate defender of former Governor Sarah Palin, and vigorously jousted with her detractors, including Jay Ramras himself when Ramras called in on June 29th, 2009 and accused former Conservatives4Palin blogmistress Rebecca Mansour of anti-Semitism (Ramras is Jewish). He locked horns with the self-proclaimed ethics queen, Andree McLeod, on more than one occasion. One of his major coups as a talk show host was when he interviewed Ron Paul on October 30th, 2008. Here's the complete press release of his announcement, which provides a draft platform until his new website is completely up and running (he also has a Facebook page):
Former Anchorage radio talk show host and small business owner Eddie Burke has entered the race as a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Though Alaska has financially benefited from its abundant natural resources, particularly the success of the oil and gas industry, Eddie understands that current state budgets are unsustainable over the long term. Therefore, he will encourage and support the Governor and State Legislature to be fiscally responsible in the governance of Alaska. Eddie knows that thoughtful actions taken today will help secure the future for Alaska’s children.
The issues important to Eddie Burke are those that are important to the livelihood of all Alaskans. As a well-known and outspoken media personality on local radio, Eddie has been a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, the rights of the unborn and the concerns of Alaska’s veterans. As he campaigns for Lieutenant Governor, he will continue to be a passionate proponent of these important issues, while also stressing the importance of the responsible stewardship of the State’s financial resources.
Eddie Burke has been an active member of the Alaskan community since he arrived 38 years ago. In addition to his media career, he has been a small business owner and active on the boards of Special Olympics, Crimestoppers, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee and President of Alaska State Snowmobile Association. Furthermore, Eddie gained valuable legislative experience as a Chief-of-Staff in the Alaska State Legislature.
Eddie Burke resides in Anchorage, Alaska with Linda, his wife of 28 years. They are the parents of four children, and the proud grandparents of three young Alaskans. Eddie Burke is seeking the office of Lieutenant Governor in order to secure a bright future for his family and all Alaskans.
This is not the first time Eddie Burke has sought elective office. In 2004, running as an Alaska Independence Party (AIP) candidate, he finished third in the Senate District O race behind John Cowdery (R) and Lynda Zaugg (D), getting 8.42 percent of the vote. In the 2006 AIP primary race for governor, Burke inexplicably finished second behind Don Wright and ahead of the late Daniel DeNardo, despite the fact that Burke was overwhelmingly the best of the three candidates. It is at that point that I soured on the AIP as a political force, which may be the reason why Burke has chosen to run as a Republican this time. The AIP lacks competent, dynamic leadership. I would also suggest you read this assessment of Burke posted on Red County by Alaska conservative blogger Thomas Lamb; it provides a fair and accurate picture of Burke.
Prognosis: Burke's entry into the race has now made this race one of the more interesting of the 2010 election cycle. While Craig Campbell would have tried to remain above the battle and keep his hands clean had he stayed in the race, the same cannot be said of either Ramras or Burke. Both are scrappy fighters committed to their respective visions and not afraid to get their hands dirty. They're on the opposite sides of the fence in regards to Sarah Palin and AGIA. This could be a slobberknocker.
March 31st Comes And Goes With No Announcement Of Alaska STAR Lotto Drawing; Time For A State Investigation Of Promoter Abe Spicola
Update June 11th: Drawing to be held June 15th, payout reduced to $350,000. Updated post HERE.
Update May 3rd: Spoke with ticket sales clerk, who said lotto drawing now pushed forward to May 31st. The operator will continue to push the lotto drawing forward each month until all tickets are sold, or the drop-dead suspense of December 31st, 2010 is reached.
Note: All posts on this particular lotto drawing available HERE, with the most recent post displayed first.
March 31st, 2010 was supposed to be the date on which the drawing for the $500,000 Alaska STAR Lotto was to take place. Originally slated for December 31st, 2009, it had already been pushed forward twice because of what Lucky Times promoter Abe Spicola called "insufficient ticket sales".
Well, it's now April 1st, and guess what? Once again, a winner was not announced. Once again, no explanation has been immediately forthcoming from Abe Spicola (pictured at left, courtesy KTUU Channel 2). Once again, the local media have NOT followed up on this aggressively. Once again, it will probably emerge a few days later that Spicola has pushed the date forward a FOURTH time. And once again, it is legal for Spicola to push this forward again and again and again...until he thinks he's sold enough tickets.
Three times is enough. It's time to put an end to Spicola's bullshit charade and shine an official and harsh light of investigatory scrutiny upon him. And there is good reason for my cynicism; it turns out that, on March 22nd, KTVA Channel 11 ran a story casting significant doubt upon the integrity of Abe Spicola's operation. In that story, Spicola once again regurgitated the excuse that "We didn't sell enough tickets to meet the jackpot payout, plus we also want to raise $50,000 for STAR this year so they could hire one sexual abuse educator for the State of Alaska to go around and educate everyone about the sexual abuse problem here in Alaska". Again, Spicola claimed the economy is to blame for not selling enough tickets.
Dept. of Revenue Tax Division Chief of Investigations Scott Stair reiterated that these repeated delays are completely within the law, although they are not limitless. He pointed out that since the first tickets were sold in December 2009, the drawing must be made no later than December 31st, 2010.
But here's where it gets dicey. KTVA found out that court documents spanning the last 12 years detail two assaults, multiple restraining orders and two domestic violence charges against Abe Spicola. When asked about those charges, Spicola reportedly circled the wagons and became defensive, saying "I have had problems - all my charges, any charges that have ever been brought up against me have always been dropped...I have always been cleared of all my charges so for that to even be brought up is very inappropriate".
But KTVA discovered that Spicola had not been cleared of all the charges. While some charges, including two assaults at Chilkoot Charlie's Bar, have been dropped, Spicola pled no contest to domestic violence assault in 2003. Spicola claims he informed STAR (Standing Together Against Rape) of his past problems, and that STAR stands behind him. But STAR's faith in Spicola appears to be eroding; Nancy Haag of STAR claims the first time she heard about Spicola's past was about a week before KTVA's report. In fact, while Haag appreciates Spicola's efforts to publicize their cause, she hints that had they known about Spicola's past, not only would they have asked more questions, but might not have allowed him to work on their behalf.
A search of the Alaska Court System database revealed no results under the name of Abe Spicola.
Spicola has no excuse for stringing Alaskans along like this; he worked for the state department in charge of monitoring and investigating the gaming industry for years. His failure to adequately publicize this Lotto has also contributed to his problems; he failed to open up a website and list all the outlets selling tickets. He also should have announced on the day of each scheduled drawing that the drawing was postponed -- he shouldn't have waited until days afterward. Either Abe Spicola is monumentally incompetent -- or terminally corrupt. In either case, public confidence in him has now been irreparably damaged.
Update: Since this post, a commenter has informed me that it is against gaming rules to do any kind of promotion of a raffle online or through e-mail. This apparently means it's even illegal to post a list of ticket outlets on line. I was not aware of this restriction.
To resolve that dilemma and restore Alaskans' peace of mind, particularly to the one guy who reportedly bought 87 of these Lotto tickets, a full-scale state investigation is warranted.
Update May 3rd: Spoke with ticket sales clerk, who said lotto drawing now pushed forward to May 31st. The operator will continue to push the lotto drawing forward each month until all tickets are sold, or the drop-dead suspense of December 31st, 2010 is reached.
Note: All posts on this particular lotto drawing available HERE, with the most recent post displayed first.
March 31st, 2010 was supposed to be the date on which the drawing for the $500,000 Alaska STAR Lotto was to take place. Originally slated for December 31st, 2009, it had already been pushed forward twice because of what Lucky Times promoter Abe Spicola called "insufficient ticket sales".
Well, it's now April 1st, and guess what? Once again, a winner was not announced. Once again, no explanation has been immediately forthcoming from Abe Spicola (pictured at left, courtesy KTUU Channel 2). Once again, the local media have NOT followed up on this aggressively. Once again, it will probably emerge a few days later that Spicola has pushed the date forward a FOURTH time. And once again, it is legal for Spicola to push this forward again and again and again...until he thinks he's sold enough tickets.
Three times is enough. It's time to put an end to Spicola's bullshit charade and shine an official and harsh light of investigatory scrutiny upon him. And there is good reason for my cynicism; it turns out that, on March 22nd, KTVA Channel 11 ran a story casting significant doubt upon the integrity of Abe Spicola's operation. In that story, Spicola once again regurgitated the excuse that "We didn't sell enough tickets to meet the jackpot payout, plus we also want to raise $50,000 for STAR this year so they could hire one sexual abuse educator for the State of Alaska to go around and educate everyone about the sexual abuse problem here in Alaska". Again, Spicola claimed the economy is to blame for not selling enough tickets.
Dept. of Revenue Tax Division Chief of Investigations Scott Stair reiterated that these repeated delays are completely within the law, although they are not limitless. He pointed out that since the first tickets were sold in December 2009, the drawing must be made no later than December 31st, 2010.
But here's where it gets dicey. KTVA found out that court documents spanning the last 12 years detail two assaults, multiple restraining orders and two domestic violence charges against Abe Spicola. When asked about those charges, Spicola reportedly circled the wagons and became defensive, saying "I have had problems - all my charges, any charges that have ever been brought up against me have always been dropped...I have always been cleared of all my charges so for that to even be brought up is very inappropriate".
But KTVA discovered that Spicola had not been cleared of all the charges. While some charges, including two assaults at Chilkoot Charlie's Bar, have been dropped, Spicola pled no contest to domestic violence assault in 2003. Spicola claims he informed STAR (Standing Together Against Rape) of his past problems, and that STAR stands behind him. But STAR's faith in Spicola appears to be eroding; Nancy Haag of STAR claims the first time she heard about Spicola's past was about a week before KTVA's report. In fact, while Haag appreciates Spicola's efforts to publicize their cause, she hints that had they known about Spicola's past, not only would they have asked more questions, but might not have allowed him to work on their behalf.
A search of the Alaska Court System database revealed no results under the name of Abe Spicola.
Spicola has no excuse for stringing Alaskans along like this; he worked for the state department in charge of monitoring and investigating the gaming industry for years. His failure to adequately publicize this Lotto has also contributed to his problems; he failed to open up a website and list all the outlets selling tickets. He also should have announced on the day of each scheduled drawing that the drawing was postponed -- he shouldn't have waited until days afterward. Either Abe Spicola is monumentally incompetent -- or terminally corrupt. In either case, public confidence in him has now been irreparably damaged.
Update: Since this post, a commenter has informed me that it is against gaming rules to do any kind of promotion of a raffle online or through e-mail. This apparently means it's even illegal to post a list of ticket outlets on line. I was not aware of this restriction.
To resolve that dilemma and restore Alaskans' peace of mind, particularly to the one guy who reportedly bought 87 of these Lotto tickets, a full-scale state investigation is warranted.
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