RA1

Addendum- Some of the federal agents doing the stopping are Customs and Border Patrol agents but all of these stops are far from any borders or entry points. Best regards, RA1

wayout and NCBored- I am recounting what has been reported to and by AOPA, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. This is a well known and solid association with 400,000+ members. I see little reason for members scattered around the country to dream up these kinds of stories. AOPA has published a guide for its' members to follow when so accosted. Basically, refuse the search, ask for their ID's, but don't argue with folks who are holding automatic weapons pointed at you. If they bring out the dogs, just live through it. So far no one has been charged and nothing illegal has been found and whoever these folks are refuse to explain themselves. Sometimes the local police are part of the group, sometimes sheriff's deputies, but the others are unknown but heavily armed. We have already given up a lot of freedoms and it is only getting worse. Best regards, RA1

This is becoming an issue for general aviation also. In the last few months there have been several instances of heavily armed folks with various credentials surrounding an aircraft that has just landed. First they ask if they can search. Then they bring out the dogs who apparently have been trained to give false positive signals to their handlers which becomes probable cause. They may or may not do damage to your aircraft and certainly will delay you un-necessarily. They also have refused to say under what authority they are conducting these searches. This is not only at the time but after formal requests to explain from various general aviation national spokes organizations. The requests are ongoing and will not cease without a reasonable explanation or the cessation of such. Only the FAA and properly identified law enforcement officers have the right to ask to see a pilot's license and picture ID. They do not have the right to search your aircraft, except with probable cause or a warrant. Neither has been offered so far. Best regards, RA1

Zip- No fees ever? No waiting to see the doc? You can choose each and every doc you want to see? You can have every or most every elective procedure? Just curious. Best regards, RA1

Why was not NYC like Mackinac Island where motor driven vehicles are not permitted and the only means of transport are horses, bicycles and feet. They have numerous folks patrolling the streets collecting the debris from all the horses. Of course, MI is a resort and NYC is ... not sure what NYC is. Best regards, RA1

JK- I have no wish to argue with you but CA and NY are so expensive that any reduction in cost would be viewed as a benefit although such charges elsewhere would be extremely excessive. Where in the Constitution does it proclaim health care for all? I am certainly willing to "hang on" and see what happens. I hope we all are satisfied with the end result. Hold hands? Best regards, RA1

Munch, munch, crunch, crunch. Best regards, RA1

I think it is really difficult for amateur observers such as myself to understand the details of the various proposals. Therefore concepts are basically all we have to go on. But, there seem to be a lot of caveats along the way. Confusion seems to be the rule. On one hand, using the $500 hammer principle, one can follow the "logic" of various very different invoicing for much the same services. Cost + overhead at "stated" rates = a $500 hammer. On another hand, it seems that all health delivery systems and folks "pad" their invoices so that 27% of 150% may not be 100% of the "actual" charge but it is around 45%, not 27%. And, I think the padding just goes up from there. I have no idea if the padding is with government approval (via a wink and nod) or collusion or what but I am positive it exists. No one has really tried single payer and that includes Medicare. Fees vary by state and other differences. Auto and home insurance could be single payer but it isn't. Flood insurance as provided by the US government is a huge failure. One thing seems certain and that is Obamacare is becoming less popular as its' "features" are revealed. It will be more expensive than anything in existence now and, so far, much more unwieldy. Best regards, RA1

Correct. Best regards, RA1

I am so sorry she has passed and would love for her to be there to vex BO. ALL the presidents deserve vexing. We all make mistakes and I must forgive her for making a personal remark regarding Israel. She, like everyone else, was and is entitled to personal opinions but some job descriptions should not make them public. Best regards, RA1

One addendum. I learned we are all responsible for what we do unless we are celebrities OR POLICITIANS. Best regards, RA1

This reminds me of some actual advice from an attorney who was a personal friend. If you are driving along after some drinks and get stopped, take from your glove compartment a half pint of liquor and chug-a-lug it in front of an officer. Your excuse being you were so nervous from being stopped that you had to have a drink. Then, they can arrest you for public intoxication but not DUI. He didn't say it was "good" advice. Best regards, RA1

I have seen this with an elevator which somehow makes it more analogous to a "snack machine". Best regards, RA1

As with everything these days, it is complicated and anyone likely would be a fool to be "sure" of anything with so much in flux. Perhaps I should have said, in the US there basically is no sentence that will keep someone in prison for life certain. Pardons by governors as well as the Prez enter into it as well as parole. It also varies by state. The Supremes seemingly would like to rule life without parole "cruel and unusual punishment". I don't think they have yet but.......... OTOH, death by legal execution does seem to be somewhat permanent. Of course, that is both the "good" and bad point of it, isn't it? Best regards, RA1

Isolation such as you describe is possible but very rare. In fact you are most likely to be alone in a cell only if you are on death row. Basically in the US, there is no such thing as no chance of parole. Even being given 400 life sentences to be served consecutively still has some chance of parole. I cite Charles Manson as one example. He has come up for parole consideration. This is one reason some folks continue to favor the death penalty. Best regards, RA1

Gold comes in many forms, even liquid in this case. Wait, you mean the other end of the rainbow. Best regards, RA1

4A- Most folks cannot produce enough power to go around after trying to fly low and slow. Even Icarus found ruin by flying just a little too high. Hope you feel better soon. Best regards, RA1

When I was in the Navy, the US Navy, it was commonly expressed that SOB was offensive to white guys and MF was offensive to black guys. There were no gals in the Navy in those days. They were called Waves. Best regards, RA1

Excellent work. Thanks for the update. Best regards, RA1

hito- You are starting to turn me on. Please send me your picture by private email. Best regards, RA1

TOZ- Interesting concept but very unlikely to ever be pursued in PC USA. Probably everyone I know to include me has considered what they would prefer if or when faced with life and death decisions. That not only includes life imprisonment but also many diseases and other everyday possibilities such as being wheel chair bound as the result of a transportation accident. There may be worse fates than life imprisonment. Your solution might be considered a little "kinky" by some but then that is often what we are all about, isn't it? As I continue to get older and find some more of life's results I find myself thinking that there is a plan in such. Old age and frailty and disease and other things "sneak" up on us and we gradually become used to them and deal with them in various ways. That possibly could include prison life but it is not anything I wish upon anyone but take some solace in knowing much is possible. Best regards, RA1

Madness shall never end. It is built into the human psyche or as they say today, genome. When I was growing up queer was definitely pejorative, therefore it was difficult to escape "early training or learning". However, viewed as simply a word with a specific meaning, it does seem to describe those of us who are different or, as quoted above, not abnormal. Still, a lifetime of stigma lingers. Personally I have always preferred to be "odd" something that also describes me pretty well. Best regards, RA1

Of course. Are you about to be an alternate spokesman for Snowden? Best regards, RA1

Let's not leave out drunks. We need protection too. Best regards, RA1

Interesting story but it only alluded to "modern" use of DNA and, in fact, mainly or entirely was referring to "old" cases before the widespread use of DNA. The "witches" dunked at Salem until they confessed no doubt would not stand up in court today. One thing that you implied but did not say is that a murderer who is executed will not do it again. Also I have seen it reported that executing someone costs more than life imprisonment. Special cells, special handling, access to lawyers, the library, going forth and back to court; all done for many years before the execution. For the above reasons and more, if someone is convicted using modern methods of proof and under unusual circumstances, I am still for the death penalty. Of course, I am well aware of the fallacies of witnesses and other shortcomings of past evidence but according to a friend of mine who is a world class DNA expert there is little chance for error when matching is done properly. Naturally there is more to it than that. Just because DNA proves a person was there does not mean he or she committed the crime. Best regards, RA1