Guns can be owned and used responsibly. The problem is that sometimes they're not. And, used irresponsibly, they kill. That's why we regulate them and ought to ban some, like handguns and assault rifles.

Ideally, a pit bull could be no more dangerous than any other dog. But, the world isn't ideal. Even though its owner is really at fault, an abused pit bull is much more capable of killing than most other breeds.

True, all large dogs can kill or maim. But, its proper public policy to start with the worst, even if that leaves other dangerous dogs on the street. If other breeds need regulated, that can be done separately.

My kid shouldn't lose his life because a chain breaks, a door isn't latched, or he walks through the wrong yard. Pit bulls are the assault rifles of the canine world.

A new theater opened by us (Strongsville, Ohio) recently. The old family-run one closed the same day the new one opened. It's a very nice facility. The ticket price is $9. A little sticker shock, but I'd get over it.

Then, I get to the concession stand. The small popcorn is $5. We don't just share a big one because I like salt and butter, and my much thinner wife doesn't. Of course, I can afford $10 worth of popcorn, but I just don't like getting ripped off. How is it that a white-tablecloth restaurant can sell soda for $2 and have a waiter bring it to you? Or McDonalds can provide an entire meal for what the theater charges for candy?

Better, is when we take the kids. They don't want to share. They don't want the two kinds of candy or the microscopic popcorn in the kids meal. So, we're talking $20 per kid with admission and food.

Charge whatever you really need to for tickets, then charge a reasonable price for concessions ($1 for candy, $2 for soda, $3 for popcorn).

Don't make me feel like I got mugged!

"Nobody alive on this planet today will ever take a seat on a pilotless commercial flight."

I'm sure you're correct that it won't happen anytime soon, but infants born today are likely to live 100 years. The last 100 years took us from the Wright brothers to the moon, from the Stanley Steamer to the Prius, from steam engines to mag-lev, and most importantly, from adding machines to Deep Blue.

The key technology is artificial intelligence. That's quite a ways off. Like 30 or 40 years, leaving 60 to 70 for it to be utilized in aircraft.

Two big things are moving us towards it already. First, thousands of lives stand to be saved by making cars drive themselves, and research is ongoing. We'll actually see that before true artificial intelligence. Second, the military is pursuing unmanned aircraft in a big way. Right now, they're remotely controlled, but there's lots of research into making them autonomous.

I'd bet that in 100 years, your pilotless craft takes passengers to Mars.

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

I would require amendment of the Constitution to make warrantless surveillance legal. Not that I'm counting on the present Supreme Court seeing it that way. Without the amendment, the new FISA bill is unconstitutional.

However, it's clear that the government will not obey the law. They violated FISA for four years. If the courts or congress ban a particular program, it will just continue under a different name. The only way to protect against illegal domestic spying is to make it technologically impossible. That's what we must pursue.

The Hampton kids got charged with misdemeanors and are facing a maximum of one year on jail, and will probably get much less.

The Jena 6 shouldn't get off scot-free, if their guilt is proven. They should get punishment that fits their crime, like 30-90 days in jail.

Those insulators were part of an electric fence that was used to convey people to their deaths, or at least prevent their escape.

They belong to (1) the victims, (2) the people of Poland, and (3) everybody in the world who needs to know what happened there.

Send them overnight, today. Or better yet, take them back yourself.

...so we'll probably see it between now and 2009.

Cary does gloss over the only things that matter. PTSD can lead to suicide or homicide. Maybe she can't hurt you with her fists--do you think it won't escalate? Don't you think that failing to harm you, she might harm herself?

Get the VA to treat her for PTSD. It's not easy. Your congressperson might help light a fire under them.

If her doctor recommends drugs for her mental illness, encourage her to take them. Modern anti-depressants are wonder drugs, Scientologist ravings notwithstanding.

Forgive her for her distrust and violence. At some point she'll express remorse. Demonstrate to her that you already forgave her. That doesn't mean accepting it. Loving someone with mental illness is a long haul, but it's what you do if you really love them.

1939 - 2007

Jews - Mexicans

Germany - USA

Hitler - ???

I'm not saying Tancredo is ???. But, I've got to wonder who is.

What if we adopted the practices of the Soviet Union, North Korea, and Nazi Germany to protect us from something that already happened? Would that make us smarter?

What if we made our country a Christian version of the Islamic dictatorship Al Qaeda wants? Would that be victory?

What if we get kicked out of NATO because our former allies won't accept torture, kidnapping, and extrajudicial imprisonment. Would that make us safer?