All the old news that's fit to retire

31 July, 2009 Societas Maleficarum offline.
Yes, SocMal is offline for the moment. Upstream is working on fixing the problem but until then, yes we know, and yes your mail is being queued. As soon as service is restored we'll send out an announcement.

Update: Service has been restored.

15 July, 2009 RKBA OK! Sort of.
Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law the Restaurant Carry bill, the Parking Lot storage bill, the defensive display bill, and the NRA-trained instructors bill. These go into effect 30 September. We like Restaurant Carry (SB 1113) but don't think it goes far enough (it only applies to CCW holders). Still, it's a start.

Before you all run out to vote for her though, she also signed the stupid Abortion Counseling bill into law, which requires physicians to mouth certain platitudes to women seeking abortions, and mandates a 24-hour waiting period. *sigh* To hell with both parties.

9 July, 2009 The recalcitrant return of updates
Pardon the dust, but we're back. Fixed a couple validation errors in the process. Hooray!

28 October, 2008 The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
We've added a new section for those of us who care about liberty and self-reliance: the 2nd Ammendment protects the first, people. RKBA! Feel free to contribute links or resources.

25 September, 2008 Addendum: Pearce, Try 2
Well, here it is the 25th of September and we've not heard word one from our elected State House Representative Russell Pearce. Damn shame too; but it works in our favor because we've been examining his oponnent Judah Nativio, and may even end up endorsing him. Until then, check him out.

12 September, 2008 Pearce, Try 2
Is it really so hard to answer these questions? Here's our second try, to AZ Representative Russell Pearce. This second attempt was generated by meeting Mr. Pearce at the disastrously disorganized potential riot called the Community Forum at Mesa Community College. More on that fiasco is due shortly, but here's a copy of a letter we sent to our State House rep and yet await a reply to.

04 September, 2008 The truth behind McCain and Palin
Number of pornographic, photoshopped images of Sarah Palin I have received from otherwise non-spam sources since Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain's Vice Presidential Running Mate: 3

Damnit.

27 August, 2008 Hey Pearce!
Yeah, we mean you, Russell. You want to be my State Senator? Christ in a rusty sidecar man, your stance on the 2nd Ammendment almost compels me to vote for you--twice! But when you ignore my correspondence--I, who live on this blasted heath we call District 18--I can only imagine that it is because you don't want to hear from me. You missed the Candidate Forum in Tempe too. What's wrong, man? Scared of working for that paycheck? Worried that we voters might actually dare to ask you how "limited government" and "federal legislation protecting 'traditional marriage'" are somehow not contradictory? Fine. Ignore us. We'll just find someone--anyone--else to vote for. Loudly.

10 July, 2008 Screw you people!
Let's face it, the main page is going to take some time in completing because the Mesa site is getting all the attention. Kinda sucks if you don't live in Mesa, but since this is the fist time that's been said in a while, y'all can sit and spin for a bit. *thhppppttt*

3 July, 2008 Incipit Mesa Urbs
Looks like the Mesa section's seeing some activity. About damn time too.

1 July, 2008 Version 7 kinda sucked
The old site just didn't have schmaltz. It was uninspiring and as such inspired very little in the way of actual activity. This one is much better, because I say so. It's nowhere near done but when it is I think it'll be something worthwhile. Welcome!

For the Book of the Month archives, see these other BotM archives

In defense of the last outpost

Concerning a Council Use Permit for Angel Tattoo

To Caswell's, Mesa's Premeir Shooting Range

Year of the Potato

My Fellow Americans

Dear Fellow Electorate

Dear East Valley Tribune

09 July, 2009 Behold the Secondary Property Tax
Back in November of the Dark Ages of 2008, when fashions were layered and Presidents were of the sort to continue their pursuit of dat wascally wabbit, Mesa voters decided, not unwisely I think, to trust the City with a property tax. Well, the City Council has finally acted on that initiative, and come October we'll be paying about $30 per $100,000 of our house's value. We at VioPac warily support the City in this, and will continue to keep an eye on 'em.

25 July, 2008 The Senator and Mr. Smith
This is interesting; Rep. Russell Pearce, now making a play for the Senate, endorsed Scott Smith for Mayor of Mesa. Now, however, Mayor Smith is rather interestingly avoiding returning the favor. Mayor Smith says, "I'm evaluating whether I should or want to get involved in the state races. I haven't thought about it, honestly. I've been so busy the last few months. He endorsed me and I have a lot of respect for Russell, but I have other priorities right now."

It's a strange issue; on the one hand it looks like he's not returning a favor granted to him; on the other, he's welcome to his opinions and if he doesn't want do endorse someone his right not to do so is protected. I suppose some will see this as a betrayal; I'd like to think that, instead, the Mayor's position is based more on principle than that.

10 July, 2008 Mesa wants your pound of flesh
The City has come up with a few cockamamie ideas over the years in an attempt to get people to recycle, and all of them came down to nagging reminders in the mail and a bumper sticker on trash cans. This one's actually not too bad: with funding cuts hitting City libraries, apparently someone has stepped up to offer up to $25,000 in donations if people will recycle what amounts to one more pound of recyclable materials per week. Interesting. More info here.

8 July, 2008 Breakfast with the Mayor
Busy days for VioPac agents in the field. We attended Mayor Smith's Mayor's Breakfast where he talked with some conviction about his catch-phrase, building a better Mesa. We like 'im, despite the lousy coffee. A write-up is forthcoming.

12 June, 2008 Light Rail Forum
VioPac agents provocateur attended this little gem, and heard some disappointing whining from local businesses. From where I was sitting, it seemed like Valley Metro was falling all over itself to appease the business interests in the audience, even if one of their spokesmen wasn't terribly engaging. The problem here seems to me to be one handily leveled at the old Council and Mayor: who the damn hell is responsible for light rail not going to the crumbling remains of Downtown?! The solution now, as Mesa scrambles to play catchup, seems to be this: in order to avoid tearing up the streets to put in light rail 6 months ago, ... we're going to tear up the streets 6 months from now to make a dedicated bus lane.

*sigh* This is what happens when residents think voting and writing the occasional letter is enough.

13 May, 2008 Mayoral Candidate Forum (plus District 5)
Since my notes on this were stolen at the now-defunct Essenza Coffee House, I'll just recap: GRISVOLDIUS REX was personable but condescending. Scott Smith won the day for me, as he had specific plans with deadlines, spoke about Mesa well, had good ideas about what to do with Southern and Alma School (I asked him, "Now, what about the corner of-" and he cut me off and said, "Southern and Alma School, right?"), and well, he stands like a man who's looking for someone to punch in the face. I was passionately undecided when I showed up, and left feeling sure that now-Mayor Smith could do the job.

Dina Higgins, whose campaign should be studied by anyone looking to beat monied interests in a political race, also impressed me. She's not the best public speaker but I felt she would approach her district's problems methodically and fairly. Were I in District 5 I would have voted for her.

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