Why not?

I make just a hair more than your employee, have four children and have paid around $100 in Federal income tax during the last eight years. This was only due to a year where I made a just a little too much between the second and third child. Had I calculated more thoroughly I would still be at zero.

Want to know something really crazy? If you have a few kids and an income that lies within the first few pages of the tax table, the Federal government will actually give you more than you paid in. Even if you do not qualify for the earned income credit!

There is such disparity of living expenses in different parts of the country that the Federal income tax is inherently unfair and it's a lot easier to take food our of your mouth than it is a helpless child.

And for the record, children, and the education thereof, are a total waste of resources and everyone should be sterilized immediately to prevent the further proliferation of the little parasites. ;P

It's actually very simple, most Americans are obsessed with "one-upping" their peers as it is the American way. We want to see the jock/popular-girl 10 years down the road and read or see about his/her failures with higher education / weight gain / hair loss / unplanned pregnancies / divorces / legal issues. We also hold events known as class reunions, this event is held for the same purpose.

Internet access was not prevalent in South-Central Texas until about '98 or '99, and it was dial up AOL.

IIRC, broadband was not rolled out widespread until about '01 or '02 and I did not get broadband in my area until about '04.

Yes, yes they do.

But not in a mean way, they hate in a similar fashion a Mets fan hates a Yankees fan.

"I love the power glove... It's so bad..."

I smell a PSYOP, please follow along.

1. DOD needs to move the public opinion.
2. DOD tasks "former" Army officer with penning a book as Americans don't respond well to leafleting.
3. DOD realizes that no one will want to read said book.
4. DOD says "Frack! We screwed up! There is sensitive info in there, buy the first printing a destroy all of them."
5. Instant book sales and publicity (AKA: Propaganda).

If the author was really trying to get the info out he would have self published it in PDF and released it on the internets.

"Law abiding" citizens have no need for such powerful vacuums. In fact, evidence has shown that people who own these high-power, high capacity vacuums are quite often linked to racist hate groups.

What is really needed is a registration of all vacuums and a complete ban on any vacuum capable of developing more than a 50 mbar vacuum, those having a debris capacity larger than 0.1 m3, or having a suction line larger than 25 mm.

Citizens will have 30 days to register / surrender vacuums or face a penalty of up to 500 euros.

Law enforcement and other government officials shall be exempt from registration and be allowed to posses banned vacuums.

Define easily available and the source of these statistics.

From what I recall, you would do a lot better by not riding in motor vehicles, and filling in your backyard pool.

While certainly not a global fact, generally speaking someone who has a, albeit poor, plan for the deployment of a firearm maintains proficiency and has received some form of training. Remember, we are not talking room clearing or other advanced tactics here. "Two to the big part" is perfectly suitable in this situation.

Never claimed that everyone was, but you would be amazed at how fast you become lucid when your bedroom door is kicked from the hinges. Further, testing to ensure you are capable of waking and operating a firearm is not required by any law that I know of and I have never heard of anyone doing anything of the sort.

If you have a story, please do share. Firearms are notoriously difficult to operate without opposable thumbs. I think that is treading in the realm of the Mythbusters.

Bad things happen in even the best neighborhoods.

Deploying any weapon in a tense situation tends to turn things from bad to worse in a hurry which is why it should only be done as a last resort. You should be proficient in the use of your weapon, it should be in proper working order and you had better be ready to use it.

It is refreshing to hear someone who holds that opinion to also understand the desire of a person to defend what is rightfully theirs, themselves, or their families.

Allowing a person who has no regard for others to peruse my possessions and trust they are only there to steal is a risk that I will not take.

Ahhh yes, the ol' Goldberging of home protection.

All the tasks you listed are generally complementary with the exception of the "regular psychological evaluation" for lucidness upon a sudden awakening. That's just unadulterated FUD. The pets thing is pretty rich too.

My guess is that your firearms experience is limited to watching "24" reruns.

For the record, I do not consider rolling off the bed and loading a firearm stored there as a solid home protection tactic. Unloaded firearms are pretty much worthless.

Not to totally invalidate your second point but, home invasions and robberies happen even in the nicest of neighborhoods. Although I do not have a citation, common sense says that the nicer neighborhood you live in, the bigger target you become. The OP might live in a gated community with a full time security patrol for all we know.

The reason you view my plan comment as specious is that you likely have no efficient means of protecting yourself, property and/or loved ones. Thus, planning for the unthinkable is outside of your comprehension (and probably scares you a little too).

All that aside and making an assumption about you, I support your "It'll never happen to me" opinion and wish you the best of luck.

Cheers!

Yes, locking a door when you close it behind you is soooooo labor intensive.

At least he has a plan. What is yours?

Break out the hot dogs and marshmallows!!!