Supreme Court can't parse a sentence

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
That's the second amendment to the Constitution, folks. All of it. Mrs. Grundy's fourth grade grammar class should give you enough knowledge to interpret that sentence: There are two clauses in the sentence. One is a prefatory clause, "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State" and the other, "the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" is the operative clause.

A prefatory clause clarifies the operative clause. It is EASY to see that the right to keep and bear arms, according to this amendment, is inextricably tied to the formation of a well regulated militia.

One can dance around the definition of militia, but the key words in the entire amendment are right up front: 'WELL REGULATED.' Period. End of story.

A green Ferrari?

You betcha! The Maranello folks are set to shock the world in 2010 with this econo-buzz-saw -- 40% more fuel efficient, 25% reduced emissions, and Secretariat-stats: 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, top speed over 200 MPH.
Wanna see it?Tentatively called the Millichili (Italian for a thousand kilos), this true supercar boasts 600-horsepower and weighs its name: 2,200 pounds.


Photo by Ferrari

The car will have an aluminum space frame similar to the F430 Scuderia but stretched to a wheelbase of 104.3 inches and fitted with a V10 engine. That's a break from Ferrari's tradition of putting V8s or V12s in its road cars, but Ferrari won five consecutive Formula 1 championships with its V10s, so the engine undoubtedly will be a corker.

How light is 2200 Pounds? It's 200 pounds lighter than a Mazda MX-5 Miata and only 216 pounds heavier than the Lotus Elise. Active suspension will adjust the ride height for maximum aerodynamic efficiency and handling.

Want one? Half a million large, and get in line fast, only 300 will be made. Wow-Ciao!


cut & paste, 65% Jaxon, 35% Wired magazine

Nuclear Power -- Our Satanic Legacy?

Don't talk about how clean it is, or how efficient, or even how safe. Talk instead about radioactive waste, dangerous, radioactive waste that lingers for THOUSANDS of years. Every nuclear power plant produces this waste, and as of this writing we have no idea of how to dispose of it.
The Yucca Mountains, the proposed nuclear waste burial site. Click on the headline for details


Bury it in Nevada, shoot it into space? Are we INSANE? This stuff will be lethal for way past our bedtime; if the human race is still around in a few thousand years, do we want a couple of hundred deadly concrete canisters to be our surprise gift to the future?

We are the custodians of this planet. Let's start to act as if we know what we're doing.

Food Adventures

The Hot Grill in Clifton; Just Fish in Newark.

The Hot Grill's location will test a Jerseyite's driving skills. Hard by the confluence of Routes 20 and 21, just off the Turnpike and Route 80, with Routes 3 and 46 thrown in just for fun, it is a navigation nightmare. Just Fish, on the other hand, is simplicity itself; get on the Columbia Turnpike and drive 30 minutes down to 10th Street in Newark. The food and ambience at both locations are pure 'Joisey.'

At the Hot Grill you'll get hamburgers for $1.75 and the best hot dog this side of Rutt's Hut. The Hot Grill rite of passage is one hot dog, ordered 'all the way.' I did not commit to memory, all the ingredients of this belly buster, but it inludes chili, sauerkraut, mustard, relish and onions. And be prepared to stick out in the crowd. Hot Grill is Essex County turf. Friendly, to be sure, but distinctly urban; there are no horse farms here.


Just Fish is a white lie, but a sign that says '90 percent Fish' would probably just confuse the issue. You can get ribs, oxtails and burgers here, although in my hour visit nobody ordered any of that. The fish is all deep fried, and includes catfish, porgy, shrimp, scallops and crabs - all delicious, all in gigantic portions (order scallops early, they go fast) The big side orders of mac n' cheese and collard greens are both worthy main dishes.

Go to Just Fish on Fridays; there's a 3-piece jazz band in attendance that is extraordinary! (I had a video, but I lost it to computer devils... wait til next Friday, I'll try again...maybe.)