Beware of Dog

Presented without comment.

SEC Coaches Interviewed by ESPN (Spurrier Emphasis and Translation)

ESPN's Page 2 has a great interview with all 12 SEC head coaches. It's more of a "get to know you" style interview, rather than a wonkish "break down the Tampa Two" with us. Of course, Spurrier is great. Read the whole article, but for those of you just interested in Spurrier, I've got his answers (any my translation of Spurrier-speak) below the jump.

Friday Happy Hour

You may be familiar with Columbia's new marketing line "Famously Hot". I heard someone proposed changing just the first word - but still having the first word start with the letter "F".

Since it's Famously hot today, here's a happy hour drink to beat the heat (below the jump)

"We're trying to save life on this planet as we know it today".

So says Nancy Pelosi. What could this be in response to? Alien invasion? Zombie apocalypse? Global warming? You would be wrong on all three. The threat to "life on this planet as we know it today"? The House Republican Budget Control Act.

Run for your life! It's a budget! It's going to eat us all!

(Permanent Press has obtained an artist's rendering.) Below the jump:

US Navy Looking for John Paul Jones' Old Ship

This is pretty cool. Hopefully, they find some interesting artifacts down there (even if they are seriously aged). I'm a little surprised if this is the first search, though. You would think that someone would have already done this.

OL Joe Harris commits to USC Football

Adam over at Life of a Gamecock has the latest on USC's most recent commit. For all your Gamecock related info, he's the man to see.

South Carolina Jury Trial to Decide if "Truck Nuts" are "Obscene"

I was not aware we had a law about this. So, I learned something today. Much more below the jump. Yes, you can have a picture; safe for work. (Or is it?)

Being Sexually Assaulted? Don't Worry There's an App for That.

I wish that was not a serious plan. Sadly, it is. Yes, that's right, all college co-eds are now going to be much safer from sexual assault because the White House is coming up with a smartphone app to fight back. Yes, that's a serious plan. My favorite part (also Breda's):

However, she added, an app that calls on female students to take preventative measures has its shortcomings. It relies on women recognizing when they are at risk and does not change the attitude that the burden to avoid assault is on women. 

“Maybe people could add more components to it to ask people to confront their beliefs,” about what causes sexual assault, she said—like building an app that resembles Angry Birds. “Is there some kind of bird you can fling against misogynistic attitudes?”

Breda: "Isn't there some sort of device that would fling heavy metal projectiles at high rates of speed directly at, and hopefully through the vital organs of, your attacker?" 

Zing! Her blog just made my list of "Required Reading".

Gun Quote of the Day: Expecting Trouble?

"Why would you bring a pistol into the [library, fast food joint, park, mall etc.]? Are you expecting trouble?"

"Of course not! If I were expecting trouble I'd bring my rifle!" 

[H/T: The Breda Fallacy via Say Uncle]

Barking at a Police Dog is Not Constitutionally Protected

According to a trial court judge in Ohio [Via Volokh].

This seems pretty common-sense to me on a couple of levels. First, getting your face up close to a police dog and barking is both stupid and mean. Second, harassment isn't protected speech.

USC Selects Site for New $75 Million Law School

Anything is better than where it is now.

Pimento Cheese... (Updated)

finally gets some respect.

For years, pimento cheese was the Rodney Dangerfield of cheeses in most of America. However, in Columbia, pimento cheese is king of the cheeses. Glad to see that it's finally getting some nationwide respect.

P.S. If you want a serious pimento cheeseburger, go to The Kingsman in Cayce (yes, it's across the river) and order their famous pimento cheeseburger. It will change your life.

 _______________________________________________________

UPDATE: After being scooped by Permanent Press with the above post on 7/12, The State runs their own Pimento Cheese "Gets Respect" article. Clearly, when you want to hear it first, you come to PP.

PP: 1
The State: 0 

Pirates/Braves Game Ends With Blown Call

I really don't know how the umpire missed this call. It wasn't even close, and the umpire was right on top of it. As much as I like the Braves, this is just the wrong call:

Notice that even Lugo thought he was out until the umpire called him safe. I don't know what the procedure is for officially protesting a game, but the Pirates need to look into it - they're in the thick of a pennant race in the NL Central.

New Gunleather

I've been using plastic holsters for awhile. In about the middle of May, I figured my Hi-Power deserved a nice holster to ride in. After lots of looking I ordered a custom holster from D.M. Bullard Leather. The projected wait time (since he's a one-man outfit with very high demand) was October. Ahead of schedule, my holster arrived. Pictures and review below the jump.

The Walking Dead Season Two Trailer

The Walking Dead resumes it's second season on October 16. Here's the trailer:

[H/T Ben at Ace's Site]

How to Read a Legal Opinion

This article is pretty good. I wish someone had given this to me before I started law school. It's nicely broken down into sections and has practical advice for the new students.

Gamecocks QB Coach G.A. Mangus Arrested

G.A. Mangus suspended indefinitely. File this under "bad decision-making" I just wonder what Garcia is thinking...

New Poll: President's Approval Numbers Solid

Wait...upon further review, conclusive polling evidence shows the numbers going the other way.

Right now the President's numbers are about as solid as a Chic-fil-A milkshake. And before you get mad at me, that's not my opinion; the LA Times is saying it. Don't shoot the messenger, bro. The money quote:

Strong support among liberal Democrats for Obama's jobs record has plummeted 22 points from 53% down below a third. African Americans who believe the president's measures helped the economy have plunged from 77% to barely half. Obama's overall job approval on the economy has slid below 40% for the first time, with 57% disapproving. And strong disapprovers outnumber approvers by better than two-to-one.

I'm no expert, but that sounds bad.

[H/T Drudge]

US Post Offices Closing in Small Towns

The Wall Street Journal has an article about the USPS closing post offices in small towns. Ok, so people aren't using the mail as much anymore. Seems reasonable to close up some offices that aren't getting the use. I wouldn't even really call this a tough decision - it's more like common sense. If people are using the service 28% less in the last four years, isn't it stupid not to cut back on the service? Ok, wait. I must be missing something. Ruth Goldway, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission will enlighten me as to the big downside to closing post offices. Ok, Ruth, I'm ready. Drop some knowledge on me:

Some closures might not be worth the savings, Ruth Goldway, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, said in an interview Monday. While there are probably many post offices that are unnecessary and duplicative, "I feel that the postal service, even if it closes all of these post offices, is not going to save all that much money and there are risks to reducing your network," like alienating customers, she said.

So you're admitting that closing down some post offices, or even just sharing space in a gas station will save money. Great. Saving money is what the USPS needs to do. What's the downside again? Oh, customers might be "alienated"? What the heck does that even mean? It sounds like 28% of the customers have alienated themselves already, Ruth. Are you saying that people will be so upset that the post office closed that they'll boycott the mail? They won't mail stuff because they're upset?

Even if Miss Postal-bureaucrat is right, and the USPS doesn't save a ton of money (it's projected to save only $200 million), saving $200 million is still a good thing when the USPS is in $8 Billion in debt. But Miss Sensitive-Pants doesn't care - it's not her money. She's more worried about people getting teary-eyed if the local post office closes in a town of about 400 people. That's a town the size of Nichols, SC.

I detest the argument "Oh, that's not a big expense; cutting that won't do much." When you're $8 Billion in the hole, you can't afford to be so magnanimous with your budget. No wonder the Federal Government has finance issues. When did "Is this a good thing to spend money on?" get replaced with "Yeah, that's not really a good expense, but cutting it won't make up our entire budget gap, so leave it in." You know what they say: $200 million here, $200 million there, pretty soon you're talking real money.

P.S. Nichols, SC doesn't have a post office - and life goes on.

To Kill a Mockingbird

How well do you know it?