Not Gellin' With Magellan

At least not after yesterday.

After less than 90 days of use, My Magellan GPS had decided to pine for fjords.

Unfortunately, it has decided not to even display the route to those fjords but remained pretty locked up and fixed on a route on Woodward, even when I'm not on Woodward. This made it quite difficult to use it for navigation rather than as a paperweight.

Even a reset would only solve the problem for a short while and then it would lock up yet again, which is, as they say, not optimal.

Luckily, it decided to give up the ghost both when I wasn't going anywhere new and just within the Costco 90-day electronic return period so it was an easy exchange for a nice new Garmin nüvi 2455LMT.

I was easily able to transfer the waypoints that were in my old Garmin C330 to the Nuvi by using EasyGPS and the new Nuvi seems to be working very well indeed. This was convenient and beat the manual entries of all my stored waypoints as there had been no way to transfer from the Garmin to the Magellan - crazy that companies can't standardize waypoint storage types, and certainly a barrier to switching brands.

One of the annoying peculiarities of the Magellan was that when it was in map mode (when you don't select a destination or ask for navigation instructions), instead of displaying the approaching street on the title bar it would display the name the street you were on. This is less than helpful. I typically know what street I'm on and when I'm looking for a particular street to turn on, I could use a heads up rather than having to search for the name as it scrolls by on the map and was often cut off or too small to quickly see. The Garmin, by contrast displays the upcoming street on the title bar in map mode making it much easier to navigate.

Overall I'd have to say the Garmin is superior, both in terms of speed in calculating routes and in user features. I do miss the Magellan's landmark suggestions - not only would it say turn at X street but it would say for example, "At the BP Gas Station, turn left, X Street". Which was kinda cool, and surprisingly accurate.

So I'm now back to easy navigation with Garmin, which I probably should have gone with in the first place.

May the People Of Detroit Enjoy The Government They Elected

Elections, as they say, have consequences, and in the case of Detroit one of those consequences will likely be bankruptcy.

The votes by Detroiters confuse leftist analysts: The Detroit Free Press Nancy Kaffer: Contradictory votes signal bigger budget trouble for city

Partially this is because this particular pundit doesn't understand what contradictory means. The again this is the same pundit that thought the Pyramids were publicly-funded arts projects - yes, really. As such, I didn't really expect all that much deep thought. Sure enough she doesn't offer much in her column.

Talk about mixed messages:

Detroit voters thunderingly defeated Public Act 4, the state's Emergency Manager Law, clearly signaling that they don't want unelected officials mucking about in city business.

At the same time, Detroit voters whompingly approved the city's Proposal C, which gives Detroit's corporation counsel, a mayoral appointee, the ability to act independently of the mayor and the Detroit City Council when she perceives that a violation of the Detroit City Charter is at hand -- a clear signal that Detroiters totally want unelected officials mucking about in city business.

Wait.

No, you didn't miss anything. Like much in Detroit, it's complicated, and destined to get more so. Take away PA4 but add Prop C to the mix, and the result is serious financial and operational hurdles for a city that's already got problems aplenty.

It's only contradictory if you don't realize that Detroiters want: 1) The state to bail out Detroit and 2) They don't want the state to have any say over business as usual in Detroit.

Once you realize that its a simple matter to understand that Detroiters don't want a state appointed emergency manager that could overthrow the lock of the corrupt Democrat-Union alliance that has got them into this mess, and they somehow expect the Corporate counsel to go out and get that sweet state money for them under her legally laughable theories.

It's not contradictory, its simply Detroit.

In short with no EFM law, look to Detroit either filing bankruptcy or Snyder stepping in to bail the city out. There is now no real alternative.

If Snyder does that however, look for Michigan Republicans to sure as heck stay home come his reelection.

Detroit voted for it, now let them live with the consequences of their decision, perhaps Obama will now bail them out as thanks for reelecting him.

In addition, not content to just mess up the city, Detroit is sending a felon to the State House rather than the big house: 8-time felon from Detroit wins state House seat in Michigan. He joins another Democrat felon already in office: State Sen. Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, pleaded no contest in a 1993 armed robbery.

Considering that Brian Banks may be charged with some new check bouncing felonies allegedly committed this year before he was elected, he might have a short term as a legislator.

From The Detroit News: 8-time felon from Detroit wins state House seat in Michigan

Detroit, the prime example of the result of Democrat policies fully applied.

Yet Another Detroit DGU

Yet another CPL hiolder protecting himself and others.

The Detroit News: Customer fatally shoots man attempting to rob Detroit coney island

A customer at a restaurant on the southwest side fatally shot one of two men attempting to rob the place Wednesday night after one of the suspects shot the owner, police said.

Two men attempted to rob Adi's Coney Island at 10:10 p.m. on the 6100 block of Michigan Avenue. The would-be muggers shot the restaurant's owner and grazed another man.

A 51-year-old customer, who had a concealed pistol license, pulled out a gun and returned fire, killing one of the assailants, who was 29 years old.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121108/METRO01/211080408#ixzz2BffyX9rm

Robbing a coney island restaurant is just un-Michiganian, so one robber got his just desserts at the restaurant.

Yet Another Case Of A Mental Case With A Gun And A Crime

So the suspect in the Wixom area car shootings allegedly has mental health problems. I know, who would have guessed?

Yet a further example of the consequences of the policy of deinstitutionalization and lack of resources for treatment of the mentally ill.

Instead of treatment or institutionalization where they can get care they need and can be kept from harming themselves or others, we wait for them to commit crimes, then imprison them. And, to the demagogic politician's delight, if they use a gun in their crime, its an argument for gun control rather than preventing the mentally ill from these acts in the first place.

Clayton Cramer has spent lots of time blogging and writing about the problem. If you haven't checked him out before, you should make his blog a regular stop for firearms and mental health issues.

Losing Is Hard, Coming Back To Win Will be Harder

The Detroit Free Press asked its readers: In one word, tell us how you feel about the election

I answered: "Nuts!"

After all, it wasn't over after the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, and it sure ain't over now.

Yes, it will be a tough 4 years ahead, likely with a crappy economy and the liberals' ratchet being pulled evermore leftwards.

Now its time to have a drink or two to dwell over what should have been.

Pick yourself up and help figure out what went wrong, deal with it and do what it takes to rebuild and be ready for the next election with smart candidates that can campaign, are electable and savvy enough to deal with the campaign environment we have, rather than the one we'd like.

The election should have been an easy win for Romney but so many chances were blown by Republicans that never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

Thank you Todd Akin (with a respectful salute to Senator McCaskill for choosing the most defeatable opponent possible - well done) and to Mourdock, you morons, for giving the Dems a golden opportunity for turning an election based on Obama's dismal performance in office to an election over "The Republicans will steal your lady parts".

Enough already with the stupid. Republicans better learn to vet candidates that know both some basic biology and just as importantly, how to not answer a question with the first stupid phrase that comes to mind.

Chris Christie being unable to remove his lips from Obama's nether regions similarly didn't help in the closing days of the campaign. Note To Christie: Kiss any dream of running as a Republican Presidential candidate Good-bye.

Of course, they didn't blow it alone, but you sometimes gotta wonder if the Republicans don't throw these elections on purpose.

Thank you MSM, including especially you CBS for withholding the Benghazi interview transcript you had September 12 that showed Obama was lying during the debate until two days before the election. And to all the rest of you in the MSM for making sure Fast and Furious never made any headway. And thanks to the LA Times for still not releasing the Rashid Khalidi tape.

Thanks also, Commission on Presidential Debates for ensuring all moderators were liberals with two of them actively intervening on Obama's side during the debates. Will Republicans ever learn that such a situation is not to be accepted?

Republicans next time better ignore the next "his turn" candidate for someone electable, smart and ready to do more than just appear presidential. That is not enough. In debates 2 and 3 Romney gave C+ answers when As were needed to boost his numbers, and appearing presidential doesn't cut it.

Its an uphill battle against the entrenched Democrat-Media complex and if you're not ready to fight it and fight hard while avoiding stupid 47% gaffes, don't run and let someone else step forth to do the job.

Already the Stock Market is down with news of the victory reacting to the upcoming financial storm that is almost sure to hit.

It's rough, it is both disappointing and annoying to lose what should have been a blow-out victory. But its not over and don't give up on America yet.

This is not over, there is still some life left in this Republic yet.

Michigan Proposals and Oakland Local Election Results

More thoughts on the national election results in a moment.

On the upside locally here in Michigan, Proposals 2-6 went down in flames, ending the Union-Green takeover attempt of the Constitution and ending Maroun's attempt to buy a slice of the Constitution. All good.

On the downside, Proposal 1 was defeated meaning no Emergency Manager Law and thus without such a law it means that Detroit better get ready for bankruptcy. Given the attitude of Detroiters who were opposed to the proposal, I have darn little sympathy. You voted for it, now you get to live with the results. Don't expect the rest of us to come bail you out.

The Oakland County results can be seen at the Detroit Free Press.

Unfortunately, Oakland county has been going from a prosperous though Country Club Republican Red to Blue. Refugees from Detroit and other locations in Wayne County have been moving here to escape that county's mis-management but then voting to bring about the same policies and Democrat leadership that caused the problem in the county they have left. (Sound familiar?).

On the Upside, L. Brooks Patterson was reelected as County Executive. While a Country Club Republican he at least knows that focusing on the economy is what matters, and a lot of Republicans would be better off if they got that hint.

On the downside two good Republicans fell to Democrat challengers, Bill Bullard Jr lost the County Clerk spot, and he's been a very effective County Clerk and John McCulloch lost his position as Water Resources Commissioner, again someone who was very effective. Democrats also held on easily to the County Treasurer and Prosecuting Attorney positions (to be fair, Dem Jessica Cooper is doing what is by all reports a good job there).

In West Bloomfield, Michelle Economou-Ureste of getting-a-ride-home-from-the-police-because-we're-tired fame was easily reelected, and the one Republican on the board of Trustees was lost, making it all Democrat Drama, all the time in the Township.

Ah, Drat

Fox News has called it for Obama, even as many a vote in Ohio remains uncounted and its still close so maybe it's not over yet.

But if it is over, then we're in for a rough time the next 4 years.

On the upside, it will be hard for him to claim an overwhelming mandate with Romney winning the popular vote and with Ohio won by less than a percentage points.

Quick thought to end this night: This election, Republicans never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

More Michigan Democrat Electoral Dirty Tricks

Democrats pulled at least two dirty tricks in oakland county this election season:

First, in Oakland's 5th District, the Democrats wanted to oust John A. Scott as County Commissioner, so they ran their candidate Alexandria T. Riley and also ran an "independent" John Scott to confuse voters.

Nice trick, but I and others darn well saw though it and voted for the great Scott.

Second, I also saw this sign at lunch today. While it is not in my Congressional district, it is an interesting example of a visible Democrat Dirty Trick run amok on election day.

The only thing is, there is no real group Republicans for Dr. Taj. This "groups" seems to be comprised of an anonymous Facebook page and some signs. Just another Democrat Dirty Trick trying to throw an Congressional seat to the Dems.

Syed Taj is a Democrat facing Kenny Bentivolio, a Tea Party supported candidate that won the Republican primary. This occurred because the Republican lock-in candidate, Thaddeus McCotter, inexplicably and amazingly went down in flames after his idiot staff committed fraud on his candidacy petitions. There was certainly a lot of heat over Kenny winning the nomination and the Country Club wing of the Republican Party was not happy about it, but they did finally come around and support him.

These despicable Michigan Democrat tricks, while sadly typical of them, should hopefully be seen through by the voters.

Sandy Mucks Up Michiganian Absentee Attempts

Superstorm Sandy affecting Michigan voting; some to miss out because of late ballots

Superstorm Sandy caused so much disruption on the East Coast that New Jersey officials allowed displaced residents to vote by e-mail in today's election.

What could possibly go wrong? On the upside, New Jersey is a blue state lock in any case, so they just need to reduce the totals to the number of actual registered living voters and it might turn out a wash.

But that's not all the disruptions and there's now a few Michiganians suffering votus interruptus:

But the storm also disrupted the absentee voting plans for a few Michigan residents visiting the area affected by the Oct. 29 storm that caused widespread flooding and power outages.

Not a lot of sympathy. if you were planning to be out of town, you could have already received your absentee ballot, had it sent to your home address for forwarding or made some other arrangement. It's not like no one warned that Sandy was coming to visit.

On the other hand, I can understand and sympathize with the problem faced by Richard Bernstein:

Pummeled first by a bicycle on a New York City sidewalk in August and then by Sandy, blind Oakland County attorney Richard Bernstein, 38, said Monday he's afraid he won't get to vote today for the first time since he turned 18.

Michigan Secretary of State officials said Bernstein is out of luck after the storm delayed delivery of his absentee ballot to a New York hotel, where he is recuperating from the smashed pelvis he suffered when a fast-moving cyclist struck him from behind in Central Park.

Bernstein spent nearly 10 weeks in Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan as a result of his injuries before moving to the hotel Oct. 26 to continue his rehabilitation as an outpatient.

He said he applied for his absentee ballot the same day he got a fixed address, and Birmingham City Clerk Laura Broski said Monday that her office mailed the ballot to his hotel Oct. 30.

Bernstein's ballot still hadn't arrived Monday and officials with the Michigan Secretary of State are "basically saying I don't get to vote," Bernstein said. "I don't think that's really fair."

Of course, he probably should have had it delivered to his Michigan address back before the storm and brought up by family when they came to visit him - or he could likely have had it mailed to him at the hospital or sent via Fedex by his family to the Hospital. He's a smart guy and unfortunately didn't anticipate Sandy slowing down the arrival of his ballot.

I'm sure he had a lot more going on considering he's recovering over the past 10 weeks and I'd bet he didn't really think about getting an absentee ballot while he was laid up.

And in another interesting example, for which I have no sympathy:

Sharon Lipton of Waterford said she was going to deliver absentee ballots to her daughters Sara and Andrea, who are staying in New York, but she was unable to travel there because of the storm.

She instead filled out their ballots for them according to their instructions and signed as having assisted them to vote. But officials in Waterford told her that the ballots won't be counted.

"I am going to pursue this," Lipton said Monday.

Good luck with that. Again Proper Planning Prevents Poor or in this case missed Performance. Fedex is your friend. So no, you can't fill out other people's ballots for them as that is one heckuva bad precedent to set regardless of for whom you might be casting those ballots.

Voted.

I arrived at the polling station this morning and turnout was much lighter than I expected at my precinct. The parking lot was not full and multiple spots were available. The lineup to vote was quite short.

People in line were saying it is much, much shorter than the line in 2008 - back then it wrapped all the way around and was very lengthy indeed. Today I was in and out very quickly.

Considering that I'm trapped in a heavily Democrat area, make of the comparatively light turnout what you will.

Interestingly enough, there were Democrat campaigners handing out a voting list in the parking lot. Interestingly, it did not say vote for Obama but started its endorsements way down the line with state and county level races only. Funny that.

I figure its gonna be a long day and night.

Katy Perry Goes Gaga For President Obama

Katy Perry performs for Obama in skintight ‘ballot’

I'm wondering if she dedicated this hit song of hers to him, 'cause it fits him like a glove:

Are The Kilpatrick Snakes Starting To Commit Suicide?

Kilpatrick's codefendant Victor Mercado pleads guilty in middle of trial

I always figured Mercado for the sucker being played by the Kilpatricks, acting as a middleman in their criminal enterprise of robbing the city blind - all the while the Kilpatricks were busy dispensing patronage to Democrat supporters in return for bribes and money to enrich themselves and be reelected.

The Detroit Free Press:

In a stunning potential setback for former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and two others, ex-city water director Victor Mercado pleaded guilty to conspiracy today, admitting he helped steer lucrative contracts toward Kilpatrick’s contractor friend Bobby Ferguson.

And Mercado said he did so at Kilpatrick’s behest.

Under the terms of his plea deal, Mercado, 61, faces up to 18 months in prison and a $100,000 fine for conspiring to commit extortion. He also could get probation. He is not cooperating and is not expected to testify against Kilpatrick and the two other codefendants at trial.

Darn it, one of the conditions should have been he testifies against them. How they let that get by is interesting. Then again his guilty plea now won't be in a vacuum, and he sure as anything didn't act alone but was the conduit.

Meanwhile, yet another figure in this incredibly broad corruption scandal gets, in return for his cooperation, a year in prison for tax evasion arising from the bribery scandal: Restaurant owner who admits bribing Kilpatrick's right-hand man gets 1-year prison term

The more that's revealed, the clearer it becomes that Kwame and Kompany were busy using the City of Detroit as their own personal piggy bank and patronage system on such a blatant scale that's hard to imagine outside of the one-party (yes, and you can play name that party! with this article) cesspool that is Detroit.

Wowza, Romney Up By 1 In Michigan!?!

Elizabeth Foley, blogging at Instapundit, notes a Democrat poll that has Romney leading Michigan by 1 Point.

The Hill:

The poll, conducted by Democratic polling firm Baydoun-Foster for Fox 2 News Detroit, has Romney up 47-46 on Obama. The same polling firm pegged the race in Michigan a tie in a survey late October.

The poll is the first in Michigan since August to give Romney a lead, however, while Obama holds a 3.8 percent lead in the Real Clear Politics polling average.

Baydoun-Foster’s Michigan polling has leaned more toward Romney than other Michigan surveys by several points throughout the final months of the campaign, a review of RCP’s Michigan polling shows.

As the Instapundit says, don't get cocky. After all, 1% is well inside statistical error range, but this result is impressive as all heck. Like I said before, if he can make it close in as blue a state as Michigan is, then he's seriously in contention.

If Mitt Romney can win the Mitten State, we're looking at a preference cascade blowout and we're looking at Bob Krumm's scenario 5.

So yes, there is a shot to beat Obama and take Michigan by 1% -- bit only if 100% of us get out there and vote. I'm darn well getting up bright and early tomorrow and heading to the polls to cast my vote for Romney. How about you?

Update: Apparently this particular pollster has quite the interesting background and may not be a pollster at all. Debbie Schlussel has the scoop, and a very interesting scoop it is.

Syria Regime Losing So Is It Seeking To Broaden The Conflict?

Syria's leaders seem to continue to overlook the axiom that "When You're In A Hole, Stop Digging".

After having its hands full with its own citizens, and really annoying and provoking Turkey, it looks like Syria is attempting to provoke Israel and widen the conflict even further.

Not sure if the Syrian regimes thinking is that a war with Israel will somehow unite the Syrians in their hatred of Jews and let the Assad regime come out ahead, but it would likely not end too well for them.

The Detroit Free Press: Syrian tanks enter demilitarized Israeli frontier

Three Syrian tanks entered the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights on Saturday, Israel said, raising concerns violence from Syria's civil war could heat up a long-quiet frontier that has not seen such an incursion in nearly 40 years.

Israel complained to U.N. peacekeepers present in the area, a relatively low-key response that suggested it did not see the Syrian armor as an immediate threat. But the entry marks the most serious spillover of Syria's turmoil to date at the frontier, where stray ordnance has exploded on the Israeli side in the past.

Gee, what could possibly go wrong?

Imams Claim Hurricane Sandy The Wrath Of Islam Upon America

Ah, the Religion of peace at it again.

The Detroit Free Press:Some Muslim clerics say Sandy is divine punishment for anti-Islam film

Some anti-American Muslim clerics have cast the deadly Superstorm Sandy as divine punishment for a film mocking the Prophet Muhammad or for other perceived ills of American society.

The remarks by some on the fringe brought a backlash from other Muslims who said it was wrong to relish the suffering of others.

In Egypt, one radical cleric described the hurricane as revenge from God for the crude, anti-Islam film made in the U.S. that sparked waves of protests in the Muslim world in September.

"Some people wonder about the hurricane in America and its causes," Egyptian hardline cleric Wagdi Ghoneim tweeted twice this week in the aftermath of the storm. "In my opinion, it is revenge from God for the beloved prophet," he added, alluding to the film.

..............

In Saudi Arabia, prominent cleric Salman al-Audah said the storm, which killed more than 140 people, was a wake-up call for Americans to convert to Islam.

But not just in such backward areas as Iran and Saudi Arabia, but try next door, in Toronto:

Toronto Islamist Website Calls Sandy a ‘Divine Slap’ in Face of U.S. ‘Arrogance’

A pro-Islamist website in Toronto is calling Hurricane Sandy “a divine slap on the face” of American “arrogance.”

The website of Crescent International, which calls itself the “newsmagazine of the Islamic movement,” published an unsigned post which concluded by saying: “Hurricane Sandy, as a divine slap on the face of arrogance, is smashing its way through the Eastern Coast of the US.”

The post also criticizes the U.S. for allowing women the right to vote.

One also wonders what they are saying in Dearborn these days.....

So, how's that multiculturalism and Islam-Means-Peace trope working out for you?

Now Don't Forget!

This.

New Tomb On Saturday

After laying undiscovered beneath the sands for 4,500 years, an Egyptian princess's tomb found near Cairo

It's currently being checked out by the Czechs:

Czech archaeologists have unearthed the 4,500-year-old tomb of a Pharaonic princess south of Cairo, in a finding that suggests other undiscovered tombs may be in the area, an official from Egypt's antiquities ministry said Saturday.

Mohammed El-Bialy, who heads the Egyptian and Greco-Roman Antiquities department at the Antiquities Ministry, said that Princess Shert Nebti's burial site is surrounded by the tombs of four high officials from the Fifth Dynasty dating to around 2,500 BC in the Abu Sir complex near the famed step pyramid of Saqqara.

Quite an interesting discovery. Statutes and sarcophagi have been found in the antechamber and they haven't announced yet if there is an intact mummy and artifacts within the burial chamber itself.

The Case Of The Democrat Bouncing Check Candiate

Some Democrats are just a bit more blatant about their criminal aspirations than others.

Take Democrat candidate for Michigan's District 1 Brian Banks for example.

How else to explain a Detroit Democrat running for the State House who can't even balance his own check book who makes it by writing bad checks, and he wants to be elected to spend the State's (read: your) money?

Standing already convicted of eight felonies involving bad checks and credit card fraud, he's running in Detroit for a seat in the Michigan legislature.

After claiming he's reformed (In Democratese this apparently means - "I haven't been caught or convicted again - yet"), he's now bounced a few checks to his current landlord: The Detroit Free Press: State House candidate was still writing bad checks this year, records show.

The Saddest Part: Given the overwhelmingly Democrat domination of his district, comprised of part of northeast Detroit, Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods and a part of Grosse Pointe Shores, The Michigan Democrats are about to seat a once and future felon in Michigan's legislature.

Some Blogroll Additions

Just added a few more read-worthy blogs to the list on the left side:

According to Hoyt - Sarah Hoyt - Smart and a Sci-Fi Author. Time to give some of her books a try.

Not Clauswitz - he's been making many an insightful comments here, least I can do is link back to his fine blog.

The Warrior Class - Six also leaves comments on my blog and his is a fine shooter blog.

If you haven't checked these blogs out before, they're certainly worth a click, and another, and another.

But Does The Car Come With A Wookie Suit?

Last evening, I saw this car in a parking lot. Politics can certainly be worn on more than just your sleeve:

Yes, Someone actually has gone out and bought RONPAUL as their license plate.

Since Ron Paul doesn't live in Michigan, this is a case of fandom gone wild.

As much fun as politics can be, when you're that far into a cult of personality that you pay to have a political figure's name on your vanity license plate, you've gone and moved into the little bit creepy territory.

Incidentally, this is one more decent reason to vote for Mitt Romney.

Ron Paul has a cult-like following.

Barack Obama has developed and consciously cultivated a cult-like following.

I'm pretty sure that Mitt Romney lacks both the charisma and inclination to pull off the whole cult-of-personality thing. And that's a good thing.