I’m glad I’ve resisted the iPhone thus far… Considering Apple is being particularly nasty about third-party software and unlocking hacks.

The unlocking I can kind of understand - they’re in an exclusive contract with AT&T, and they don’t want the phone used on other services. Sucky, but I get it. Wiping out third-party software, though? Why? The iPhone is seriously lacking, software-wise. I wouldn’t buy one unless something basic like iChat was included - or I had a third-party alternative.

In other words, Apple has lost my potential business indefinitely. They need to change their tune with the iPhone, and either embrace (or at least turn a blind eye) to third-party software - a free market solution, after all! - or count buyers like me out until they pack it full of Apple endorsed-goodies.

This is so full of win, I don’t even know where to start.

Saudi Religious Police Attacked by Girls

24/09/2007
By Sultan al-Kholaif

Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat- Members of Khobar’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice were the victims of an attack by two Saudi females, Asharq Al-Awsat can reveal.

According to the head of the commission in Khobar, two girls pepper sprayed members of the commission after they had tried to offer them advice.

Head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Eastern province Dr. Mohamed bin Marshood al-Marshood, told Asharq Al Awsat that two of the Commission’s employees were verbally insulted and attacked by two inappropriately-dressed females, in the old market in Prince Bandar street, an area usually crowded with shoppers during the month of Ramadan.

According to Dr. Al-Marshood, the two commission members approached the girls in order to “politely” advise and guide them regarding their inappropriate clothing.

Consequently, the two girls started verbally abusing the commission members, which then lead to one of the girls pepper-spraying them in the face as the other girl filmed the incident on her mobile phone, while continuing to hurl insults at them.

The Eastern Province’s head of the commission also revealed that with the help of the police his two employees were able to control the situation.

The two females were then escorted to the police station where they apologized for the attack, were cautioned and then released.

I am somehow not inclined to believe the commission members were as “polite” as they’re made out to be, or that the girls “verbally abused” or “hurled insults” in quite the stated fashion, but that probably goes without saying.

Inspiring. Downright inspiring.

Hat tip, yet again, to War on Guns.

I was wondering when they’d start showing up. They were making me feel inadequate, and that makes me a sad panda of a blogger.

I had never even heard of the “DLA,” so I Googled them right back, and found… Defense Logistics Agency!

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is DOD’s largest combat support agency, providing worldwide logistics support in both peacetime and wartime to the military services as well as several civilian agencies and foreign countries. DLA headquarters is located at Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia.

If America’s forces eat it, wear it, maintain equipment with it, or burn it as fuel.DLA probably provides it.

So… Is the DLA planning on obtaining Virginian SKSs to send to Iraq? (The keywords leading them here were “sks, Virginia” if you missed that.) Is the DLA a giant cover for some secret gun-grabbing agency?

Or… Is some low-level DLA operative using his .gov computer to do some Christmas shopping? …Probably that one. And in that case? Go get ‘em, champ. Just don’t get a Yugo.

Firefly/Serenity fans, playing Halo 3: Be on the lookout listen for Easter eggs. That’s all I’m gonna say. *wink*

These stories have taken over about a dozen tabs in my Firefox browser, so I’m going to finally post ‘em all up so I can clear it out. I apologize if I don’t nail all my hat tips - some of these have been open for a while. Enjoy!

Idaho Man Blames Wild Sex for Car Crash — The fairgrounds in question is across the street from my house. Eww! (Hat tip blog reader 19k30wife)

Rapidly Dying 47-Year-Old Professor Gives Exuberant ‘Last Lecture’ — Put my day in perspective. (Hat tip warpedpuppy on LJ)

US woman arrested over dry lawn — From the “Protect and Serve” files… Right. (Hat tip Mike)

Ron Paul’s Marching Orders — Probably my favorite few minutes from the last debate. Hey, Chris Wallace - your bias is showing. Maybe can the attitude if you’re going to be a moderat[e]or?

Gun owner receives apology from police chief — Ignorance of the law may be an excuse after all… If you wear a badge. We ought to drop this guy a line, since Mike has encountered a similar situation here in Moscow. At least he wasn’t manhandled like Mr. Putnam. I have no tolerance for situations like this - I am unwilling to offer an “Oh, I understand, it happens” or a second chance. If you don a uniform to enforce laws at the point of a gun, you are held to a higher standard, or at least you should be. Frankly, I hope Mr. Putnam sues. Is it a life-and-death situation? Not this time… But if law enforcement agencies aren’t going to police their own ranks, it is up to citizens to force standards upon them. And, on that note…

St. George policeman fired for videotaped tirade — Everyone’s favorite JBT is now looking for a new job! Good news, Mr. Kuehnlein - you can apply online!

Last but not least — a video worth 10/10 on the pucker factor scale. Makes the 405 look like a lazy Sunday drive! (Hat tip evilegg on LJ)

AP report here.

A cursory glance at their campus policies appears to reveal a ban of firearms and other “dangerous weapons,” including knives. No mention - either an exception or specific prohibition - is made about legal concealed carry.

Why am I not surprised?

Not really. But do take a moment, if you will, to tell Marc Ecko what to do with the Bonds baseball:

Bestow it, Brand it or Banish it? — Brilliant. Just brilliant.

I spent several hours torn between “Brand it” and “Banish it” and finally settled on the prior.

Hat tip to my twin, Laura!

If you watch Fox News, you may have heard this discussed already:

New Report Reveals Most Expensive Colleges With Highest Paid Presidents and Largest Government Subsidies Score the Worst On Basic U.S. History Test

The gist:

Complete results from ISI’s second study are being released today in a report titled Failing Our Students, Failing America: Holding Colleges Accountable for Teaching America’s History and Institutions. The new study adds 32 universities not included in ISI’s landmark inaugural study, but the results remain the same. The nation’s college freshmen and seniors again scored just over 50 percent, or an F, on the exam, statistically corroborating and confirming the initial study’s findings that ISI released last September.

Now you, too, can take the quiz and see how you rate! Clicky here for the quiz… then post your scores in the comments. No lying and no cheating!

Here are my results, mediocre as they may be:

You answered 49 out of 60 correctly — 81.67 %
Average score for this quiz during September: 74.9%
Average score since September 18, 2007: 74.9%

When I reviewed my answers, two - maybe three - were ones I really should have gotten if I’d either paid a little more attention or gone with my first instinct. The econ questions were not my friend, but econ never has been.

Reader ParatrooperJJ just pointed me to a few links that may be interesting to those of you curious about that Brett Darrow/”overzealous” cop case:

1) “A check of court records shows Kuehnlein himself pleaded guilty of assault and stealing in two different cases, in 1988 and 1990. He successfully petitioned a judge in St. Louis County in 1998 to expunge his criminal record, which was making it hard for him to get work as a cop.” …Ya think!?

2) “Kuehnlein has been an officer with the department for about two years , and had come from the Riverview Police Department. Uhrig said Tuesday that, perhaps, Kuehnlein was not accustomed to having someone question him as Darrow did, with a camera recording his responses.

“Most officers aren’t used to being questioned like that,” Uhrig said.”– Maybe they should be.

3) And the icing on the “St. George P.D. should be disbanded” cake: “In 2000, Uhrig was defending himself against accusations he sexually harassed a 17-year-old girl during a traffic stop. The case surfaced while Uhrig was an Arnold police officer.

When asked by an attorney in 2000, Uhrig said he denied the claim.

A four-page statement was issued following a review of the accusations by the Missouri State Administrative Hearing Commission. Among its findings were that Uhrig called the teenager “beautiful, hot and tempting.” Uhrig also allegedly asked the teen to come to his car for sex.

Despite maintaining his innocence, the Commission believed Uhrig acted outside the law. They said his unwarranted sexual advances showed he could not enforce the law and was cause for discipline.

Uhrig was suspended for weeks without pay and put on probation. Several years later he took the helm at the St. George Police Department.”

Protect and serve!

Don’t forget, today is Constitution Day! Your required reading, other than your daily dose of PG&B, can be found here.