Ignorance is No Excuse for a Law

(h/t Tam for the title of this post)


At first I didn't want to make this post. I have railed many times against using atrocities to further agendas and feel like by answering those that would, I give credence to their tactics.

However, there has been much talk of the "rise" in violent crime in this country as well as the tools and means of committing those crimes, so I thought it was a good idea to go back to the facts.

Table 7 - Violent Crime Offense Analysis
(I have edited this table from its original to remove sub-classifications of offense. The break-down of the data was not relevant, as I am focusing on total offenses.)

Contrary to what we are being told, ALL forms of violent crime in this country are on the decline, not the rise.

Table 7
Offense Analysis
United States, 2009–2013
Classification	2009	2010	2011	20121	2013
Murder	15,399	14,722	14,661	14,856	14,196
Rape (revised definition)2					108,612
Rape (legacy definition)3	89,241	85,593	84,175	85,141	79,770
Robbery:	408,742	369,089	354,746	355,051	345,031
Burglary:	2,203,313	2,168,459	2,185,140	2,109,932	1,928,465
Larceny-theft (except motor vehicle theft):	6,338,095	6,204,601	6,151,095	6,168,874	6,004,453
Motor vehicle theft	795,652	739,565	716,508	723,186	699,594

Table 8 - Expanded Homicide Data

No real surprise here. Firearms are the most used weapon during the commission of a homicide. However, it is worth noting that, similar to overall violent crime, the use of firearms to commit homicide is on the decline.

Expanded Homicide Data Table 8
Murder Victims
by Weapon, 2009–2013
Weapons	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Total	13,752	13,164	12,795	12,888	12,253
Total firearms:	9,199	8,874	8,653	8,897	8,454
Handguns	6,501	6,115	6,251	6,404	5,782
Rifles	351	367	332	298	285
Shotguns	423	366	362	310	308
Other guns	96	93	97	116	123
Firearms, type not stated	1,828	1,933	1,611	1,769	1,956
Knives or cutting instruments	1,836	1,732	1,716	1,604	1,490
Blunt objects (clubs, hammers, etc.)	623	549	502	522	428
Personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.)1	817	769	751	707	687
Poison	7	11	5	13	11
Explosives	2	4	6	8	2
Fire	98	78	76	87	94
Narcotics	52	45	33	38	53
Drowning	8	10	15	14	4
Strangulation	122	122	88	90	85
Asphyxiation	84	98	92	106	95
Other weapons or weapons not stated	904	872	858	802	850

So, since firearms are the most used weapon in homicide, stricter gun laws must be the answer, right?

From BradyCampaign.org, the states with the strictest gun laws are (From most strict, to most loose):

1.     CALIFORNIA
2.     CONNECTICUT
3.     NEW JERSEY
4.     MARYLAND
5.     NEW YORK
6.     MASSACHUSETTS
7.     HAWAII
8.     ILLINOIS
9.     RHODE ISLAND
10.     DELAWARE

The states with the loosest gun laws are (from most loose to most strict):

1.     ARIZONA
2.     ALASKA
3.     WYOMING
4.     SOUTH DAKOTA
5.     VERMONT
6.     MISSISSIPPI
7.     KANSAS
8.     KENTUCKY
9.     MONTANA
10.     UTAH

Now, let's take a look at Homicide data by state:

Table 20 - Murder by State, Types of Weapons, 2013
(I have edited the following tables to show only the states that I am focusing on and to add simple calculations on the data. The link above is to the original table for verification.)


Most Strict 10

Total homicides: 3906, Total with Firearm as the weapon: 2704, Percentage of homicide with weapon: 69.23%

Table 20
Murder
by State, Types of Weapons, 2013
State	Total murders1	Total firearms	Handguns	Rifles	Shotguns	Firearms (type unknown)	Knives or cutting instruments	Other weapons	Hands, fists, feet, etc.2
California	1,745	1,224	805	29	48	342	238	191	92
Connecticut	86	60	34	0	0	26	12	5	9
Delaware	39	33	22	1	0	10	4	2	0
Hawaii	9	6	1	2	2	1	2	1	0
Illinois3	433	364	352	3	2	7	41	19	9
Maryland	379	268	263	0	4	1	57	29	25
Massachusetts	135	78	35	2	0	41	25	25	7
New Jersey	401	291	229	0	2	60	53	37	20
New York	648	362	290	4	19	49	136	113	37
Rhode Island	31	18	3	0	1	14	5	6	2
Totals	3906	2704	69.23%

Least Strict 10

Total homicides: 857, Total with Firearm as the weapon: 552, Percentage of homicide with weapon: 64.41%

Table 20
Murder
by State, Types of Weapons, 2013
State	Total murders1	Total firearms	Handguns	Rifles	Shotguns	Firearms (type unknown)	Knives or cutting instruments	Other weapons	Hands, fists, feet, etc.2
Alaska	34	12	5	3	1	3	5	13	4
Arizona	304	184	133	11	11	29	56	55	9
Kansas	112	78	39	9	5	25	8	16	10
Kentucky	165	111	82	10	6	13	23	22	9
Mississippi	142	110	80	3	8	19	9	14	9
Montana	15	9	5	0	1	3	3	2	1
South Dakota	12	3	0	0	1	2	1	4	4
Utah	49	31	25	2	1	3	6	7	5
Vermont	9	5	1	2	1	1	0	1	3
Wyoming	15	9	6	3	0	0	2	4	0
	857	552	64.41%

Now the first thing I noticed was the fact that the overall number of homicides in the less strict states is much, much lower that the number of homicides in the more strict states.

AHA!! Less strict gun laws = Less murder!!!

Umm...no. That's not the way this works. The states with the most strict gun laws also happen to be the most dense in population. More people = more criminals = more murder. No big surprise there.

The surprise, for me, was the percentage of murders that were committed with firearms. The states with the more strict gun laws was ~5%  higher for murders committed with firearms than the states with the less strict gun laws. The conclusion I draw from that is that gun laws have either no bearing or a negative bearing on the amount of murders committed with firearms.

Again, the "narrative" is that violent gun crime is on the rise in this country and the only thing that will fix it is stricter gun laws. The numbers do NOT support this. If anything, they show the exact opposite. Crime is down, and "stricter gun laws", as defined by the most anti-gun group in our country, appear to have no effect on the percentage of murders committed with guns.

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics

First of all, let me say this:

It took a lot to get me back to blogging. I normally keep my opinions to myself and a select few friends who I can have intelligent conversations with, and who can debate with me without it going to personal attacks and / or name calling. I don't know how long I will keep posting, what my content will be, or even what I am trying to accomplish (if anything). 

Now, on to the show.


In the last few months we, as a nation, have been bombarded with commentaries, editorials, and news stories about the relationship between law, violence, and race in this country. We have been presented with graphics, statistics, and think tank outputs that were designed to further one agenda or another.

Here is the raw data from the FBI Uniform Crime reports in 2013 (Last year that data is available for)



Table 43 - Arrests by Race 2013

From this table it is clear that those criminals identified as white lead the number of arrests in all categories except for two: Robbery and Murder/Non-negligent Homicide. Whites lead the number of total arrests with 68.9% of total arrests for all violations, with Black or African American at 28.2% of total arrests.

Table 43A
Arrests
by Race, 2013
[11,951 agencies; 2013 estimated population 245,741,701]
Offense charged	Total arrests
	Race
	Total	White	Black or African American	American Indian or Alaska Native	Asian	Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
TOTAL	9,014,635	6,214,197	2,549,655	140,290	105,109	5,384
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter	8,383	3,799	4,379	98	101	6
Rape3	13,515	8,946	4,229	160	173	7
Robbery	78,538	32,945	44,271	579	649	94
Aggravated assault	291,031	183,092	98,748	4,356	4,423	412
Burglary	203,089	136,990	61,709	1,966	2,196	228
Larceny-theft	990,936	677,173	284,358	16,402	12,605	398
Motor vehicle theft	52,307	34,864	15,960	685	725	73
Arson	8,364	6,198	1,925	130	107	4
Violent crime4	391,467	228,782	151,627	5,193	5,346	519
Property crime4	1,254,696	855,225	363,952	19,183	15,633	703
Other assaults	881,086	573,546	283,357	14,041	9,717	425
Forgery and counterfeiting	48,581	31,208	16,375	288	677	33
Fraud	112,920	74,682	35,958	1,145	1,094	41
Embezzlement	12,574	7,882	4,386	87	207	12
Stolen property; buying, receiving, possessing	74,541	50,237	22,687	684	862	71
Vandalism	161,078	113,842	42,566	2,951	1,638	81
Weapons; carrying, possessing, etc.	112,228	65,317	44,671	888	1,251	101
Prostitution and commercialized vice	41,946	22,666	17,378	386	1,492	24
Sex offenses (except rape and prostitution)	46,553	33,695	11,462	622	744	30
Drug abuse violations	1,204,162	815,181	365,785	9,408	12,930	858
Gambling	5,055	1,433	3,362	27	226	7
Offenses against the family and children	78,465	51,017	25,519	1,414	511	4
Driving under the influence	910,470	766,440	113,928	12,575	16,831	696
Liquor laws	277,444	222,201	40,665	10,861	3,672	45
Drunkenness	356,427	288,146	56,885	7,399	3,550	447
Disorderly conduct	372,202	231,604	129,782	7,982	2,775	59
Vagrancy	21,354	13,732	6,802	581	222	17
All other offenses (except traffic)	2,602,939	1,741,855	790,854	43,953	25,090	1,187
Suspicion	825	499	303	12	11	0
Curfew and loitering law violations	47,622	25,007	21,351	610	630	24

Table 6 - Expanded Homicide Data Murder

This table shows that murder is largely divided along racial and gender lines. 83.4% of Whites murdered were murdered by Whites, 90.1% of Blacks or African Americans were murdered by Blacks or African Americans.

When a White Offender killed a White victim, 94.2% of the time, the offender was male. When a Black Offender killed a Black Victim, 98.7% of the time the offender was male.

Expanded Homicide Data Table 6
Murder
Race, Ethnicity, and Sex of Victim by Race, Ethnicity, and Sex of Offender, 2013
[Single victim/single offender]
Race of victim	Total	Race of offender				Sex of offender
		White	Black or African American	Other1	Unknown	Male	Female	Unknown
White	3,005	2,509	409	49	38	2,661	306	38
Black or African American	2,491	189	2,245	20	37	2,217	237	37
Other race2	159	32	27	96	4	142	13	4
Unknown race	68	25	17	3	23	38	7	23

Whew. That was a lot of data. So, what does this mean?

Well...to me it shows that at least two of the narratives being pushed on News Media are flawed.

At the Law ENFORCEMENT level, there are far more arrests of White criminals than there are of Black/African American criminals. An analysis of the Judicial level (arrest to conviction, severity of sentence upon conviction, etc.) is outside the scope of this post, and bears looking into at a later date. We have been told that officers are more likely to arrest minorities, but the data does not bear this out.

We have also been told White on Black homicide (and from some sources, vice versa) is a larger issue than inter-racial homicide. This is also glaringly false. In an overwhelming number of cases, we have males of the same race killing each other.

I am not posting this to further any agenda other than the interpretation of raw data vs. force fed statistics. I have not done any reformatting, additions, or subtractions to the actual tables from the FBI, and have only done simple math to arrive at my percentages. The links above each table go to the full tables on FBI.gov, and you are welcome to check my math.

I truly believe that we can not move ahead in this country until we get back to an informed public. The person responsible for the quote in the title of this post also famously said:

“If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed.”

 I am of the opinion that this holds double weight in an age of 24-hr news channels, social media, and echo chamber think tanks. Check the facts for yourself. When presented with a chopped-up, over-processed graphic, find out where it came from. Find out WHY they made that graphic or offered a percentage without giving the numbers they started with. Find out who is funding them. Do your own research before you jump into an argument that has implications you don't fully understand.

Before you like, share, retweet, +1, thumbs up, or give gold, make sure you understand what agenda you are furthering.

Charleston Church Atrocity, and why it matters

Since 10:30pm on Wednesday 17 Jun, I have been following the atrocious unfolding of yet another shooting by someone with fucked up world view against innocents who had no idea it was coming. This piece of scum (I refuse to put his name here. May it be stricken from our collective memory forever.) walked into a house of worship, a haven, a safe zone, an area where people go to relieve themselves for a little while from all of the insanity and confusion that reside outside the doors, and brought with him death, anger, confusion and hatred. He took it upon his small-minded, bigoted, hate-filled self to kill 9 people who had done no harm to anyone and to destroy the lives of countless friends, family members, and other members of the congregation of that church. Never again will they be able to look at what they consider the most sacrosanct room in their lives without thinking, "There is where my loved one died."

It is times like this I almost wish I believed in a heavens, gods, and the afterlife so that there would be a deity by which to damn this scum's eternal soul.

Hatred is ALWAYS a learned behavior. As a parent, I have tried, and hopefully succeeded in teaching my children that NO ONE is to be hated simply for who they are or how they look. Only actions are worthy of hate. Actions are conscious decisions that have real world consequences. A person's actions will define them for good or bad. Actions will show you if someone is worthy of your love and trust or demanding your hatred and disgust.

To those on any side of any political argument who are using this to justify your stance: FUCK YOU. People are dead. A community is shattered. How about we work on restoring some trust? How about we tone down our rhetoric and actually TALK to each other? Can we, just this once, agree that the pain is real and work towards finding a way to heal it? Maybe when the anger and the hatred I have in me right now have subsided a little bit, I will be in a better frame of mind to share my opinion on some of the political and social questions that have been raised by this atrocity (not tragedy, tragedies are accidents. This was intentional).

Right now, all I can think about is how much people in my home state are hurting, and how much they need sympathy, empathy, and good thoughts. Not more arguing, finger-pointing, and derision.

Right now, it is my wife's birthday, so I am going to go finish frosting her cake, then I am going to hug my children and we are going to help her celebrate. This piece of shit has already wasted enough of her day.

RIP:

Senator Clementa Pinckney
Pinckney's sister (name not released at the time of this post)
Tywanza Sanders
Cynthia Hurd Sharonda Coleman-Singleton
And 4 other, as of yet unnamed, victims

Because of a dead link

I am now reviving my blog to post the following public service announcement: The following is the contact information of the Westboro Baptist Church. Internet, do your thing. #OPWest boro Membership List. updated October 22, 2012. Westboro Baptist Church 3701 SW 12th St Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-273-0325 Email: wbclist@speakfree.net Email: info@phelpschartered.com Email: chockenbarger@cox.net http://www.godhatesfags.com/ Phelps Law Firm Phelps Chartered 1414 SW Topeka Boulevard Topeka, KS 66612 PO Box 1886 Topeka, KS 66601 Phone: 785-233-4162 Fax: 785-233-0766 Fax: 785-969-9017 Email: info@phelpschartered.com Email: slpr@cox.net Email: kjhoffice@speakfree.net http://www.phelpschartered.com/ ============================================================================================ — Abigail Phelps Lawyer Employee at SRS – Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority Born 1968 Daughter of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr 3636 SW Churchill Topeka, KS 66604 Email: bgail@speakfree.net Home: 785-273-7262 work: 785-296-7709 — Barak Phelps-Davis Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Rebekah Phelps-Davis — Benaiah Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps — Benjamin C. Phelps Born 1976 Son of Fred W. Phelps, Jr Wife of Mara Jones-Phelps 3632 SW Churchill Topeka, KS 66604 3636 SW Huntoon St Topeka, KS 66604 Email: idontreadthisemail@godhatesamerica.com Phone: 785-228-9239 Home: 785-233-4162 Phone: 785-228-9239 Phone: 785-273-0277 Phone: 785-273-1080 — Betty Joan Schurle-Phelps Lawyer at Phelps Chartered Born 1952 Wife of Fred W. Phelps, Jr 3600 SW Holly Lane Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-273-0438 Home: 785-272-4135 Work: 785-296-3195 — Brent D. Roper-Phelps Human Resources Lawyer for NAIC Employee at Foot Locker Born 1963 Husband of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper 3640 SW Churchill Topeka, KS 66604 3636 SW Churchill Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-273-0277 Phone: 785-273-7262 Phone: 785-273-1080 Phone: 785-273-3726 Home: 785-273-1445 Home: 785-273-0277 Home: 785-272-1619 Home: 785-273-0325 Home: 785-273-0325 Work: 785-233-4162 Work: 785-273-0068 — Carmen A Phelps Relative of Daniel F. Phelps 2621 SE Granger St Topeka, KS 66605 Phone: 785-267-5157 — Caleb Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps — Charles F. Hockenbarger Born 1974 Son of Karl D. Hockenbarger Husband of Rachel I. Phelps-Hockenbarger 1284 SW Hillsdale Topeka, KS 66604 3220 SW 17th St Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-232-1570 Phone: 785-232-2485 Home: 785-271-1619 Work: 785-273-0325 — Charles William “Bill” Hockenbarger Member of Christian Identity Born 1953 Husband of Mary Hockenbarger 711 NW Page Topeka, KS 66617 3600 SW Holly Ln Topeka, KS 66604 Email: chockenbarger@cox.net Phone: 785-272-8569 Phone: 785-232-2485 Home: 785-246-1567 Work: 785-273-0325 Fax: 785-233-4162 — Chris Davis-Phelps Born 1955 Husband of Rebekah Phelps-Davis 1216 SW Cambridge Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-272-7035 Home: 785-272-7741 — Daniel F. Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps 2621 SE Granger St Topeka, KS 66605 Phone: 785-267-5157 — Danielle Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps 3119 SW Randolph Ave #204 Topeka, KS 66611 Phone: 785-267-3253 — David Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Karl D. Hockenbarger — Davis R. Phelps Relative of Chris Davis-Phelps 1216 SW Cambridge Ave Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-272-7741 Phone: 785-272-7035 — Deborah Kay Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Wife of Karl D. Hockenbarger 1929 SW Lane Topeka, KS 66604 Home: 913-233-1848 Work: 785-296-3959 — Deborah Phelps-Davis Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Rebekah Phelps-Davis — Elisha Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps — Elizabeth “Libby” Phelps Born ~ 1982-3-4 Daughter of Fred W. Phelps, Jr 2001 SW 2nd Street Topeka, KS 66606 Home: 785-234-9694 Work: 785-233-0822 — Elizabeth Marie Phelps Born 1962 Lawyer at Phelps Chartered Manager at Sheltered Living, Inc Daughter of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr 2001 SW 2nd Street Topeka, KS 66606 Home: 785-234-9694 Work: 785-233-0822 — Fred W. Phelps, Jr Lawyer at Phelps Chartered Staff Attorney for Kansas Department of Corrections Born 1953 Son of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Wife of Betty Joan Schurle-Phelps 3600 SW Holly Lane Topeka, KS 66604 Email: fredjr@godhatesfags.com Phone: 785-273-0438 Home: 785-273-0529 Work: 785-296-3195 — Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Founder of Westboro Baptist Church Pastor of Westboro Baptist Church Born 1929 Husband of Margerie “Margie” M. Simms Westboro Baptist Church 3791 SW 12th Street Topeka, KS 66604 Po Box 1886 Topeka, KS 66601 Email: wbclist@speakfree.net Email: info@phelpschartered.com Phone: 785-272-4135 Phone: 785-273-0325 Phone: 785-273-0338 Fax: 785-273-9228 — Gabriel Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — George Stutzman Born ~ 1950′s/1960′s Fiance of Taylor Drain — Gideon Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Charles F. Hockenbarger Son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger — Grace Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — Hezekiah Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps — Isaiah Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — Jack Wu Born ~ 1982-83-84 Westboro Baptist Member 12400 W 161st St Olathe, KS 66062 Home: 913-897-0607 — Jacob M. Phelps Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Jonathan Baxter Phelps — Jacob Z. Phelps Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Fred W. Phelps, Jr — Jael Phelps Nursing Student Born ~ 1984-5-6 Daughter of Jonathan Baxter Phelps — James Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Karl D. Hockenbarger 1929 SW Lane Topeka, KS 66604 Home: 913-233-1848 Work: 785-296-3959 — Jennifer Hockenbarger Born 1977 Daughter of Karl D. Hockenbarger Wife of Samuel Phelps-Roper 1929 SW Lane Topeka, KS 66604 Home: 913-233-1848 Work: 785-296-3959 — Jonah Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — Jonathan Baxter Phelps Lawyer at Phelps Chartered Son of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Husband of Paulette Phelps-Ossiander Born 1959 840 SW Watson Topeka, KS 66606 Work: 785-233-4162 — Joseph Phelps Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Jonathan Baxter Phelps — Joshua F. Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — Joshua M. Phelps Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Jonathan Baxter Phelps — Josaiah Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Charles F. Hockenbarger Son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger — Karl D. Hockenbarger Member of Christian Identity Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Charles William “Bill” Hockenbarger Husband of Deborah Kay Hockenbarger 1929 SW Lane Topeka, KS 66604 Home: 913-233-1848 Work: 785-296-3959 — Katherine Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Daughter of Karl D. Hockenbarger 3642 SW Huntoon St Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-783-7217 — Lauren Drain Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Stephen “Steve” Drain — LeAnn Phelps-Brown Lawyer Employee of Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department Born 1966 Wife of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps 3743 SW 12th Street Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-273-0365 Home: 785-273-4780 Work: 785-291-5100 Work: 785-233-4162 — Luci Drain Born ~ 1950′s Daughter of Stephen “Steve” Drain — Luke Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — Lydia Phelps-Davis Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Rebekah Phelps-Davis — Malachai Phelps Born 2005 Great-Grandson of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr — Mara Jones-Phelps Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Wife of Fred W. Phelps, Jr 3120 SW Westover Rd Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-235-6999 — Margerie “Margie” Marie Simms-Phelps Born ~ 1930′s Wife of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Westboro Baptist Church 3701 SW 12th Street Topeka, KS 66604 Email: wbclist@speakfree.net Email: info@phelpschartered.com Phone: 785-273-0325 Phone: 785-273-0338 Fax: 785-273-9228 — Margie Jean Phelps Lawyer at Phelps Chartered Employee of Kansas Department of Corrections Born 1956 Daughter of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr 3734 SW 12th Topeka, KS 66604 Landon State Office Building 900 Topeka, KS 66612 Email: margiep77@cox.net Phone: 785-273-0365 Home: 785-273-7380 Work: 785-296-3128 Work: 785-296-3317 — Margy “Margie”/”Megan” Phelps-Roper Born ~ 1985-6-7 Daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — Mary Hockenbarger Child Care Provider Born ~ 1950′s Wife of Charles William “Bill” Hockenbarger 711 NW Page Topeka, KS 66617 Email: chockenbarger@cox.net Home: 785-246-1567 — Micaiah Phelps-Davis Born ~ 1991-2-3 Son of Rebekah Phelps-Davis — Noah Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper — Paulette Phelps-Ossiander Office Assistant at Phelps Chartered Born 1960 Wife of Jonathan Baxter Phelps 840 SW Watson Topeka, KS 66606 Work: 785-233-4162 — Rachel Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Charles F. Hockenbarger Daughter of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger 3600 SW Holly Ln Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-272-8569 Phone: 785-272-8559 — Rachel I. Phelps-Hockenbarger Lawyer at Phelps Chartered YMCA Fitness Instructor Born 1965 Daughter of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Wife of Charles F. Hockenbarger 1284 SW Hillsdale Topeka, KS 66604 3734 SW 12th St Topeka, KS 66604 1216 SW Cambridge Ave Topeka, KS 66604 3220 SW 17th St Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-232-1570 Phone: 785-273-0365 Phone: 785-272-7035 Home: 785-271-1619 — Rebekah Phelps-Davis Lawyer at Phelps Chartered Born 1961 Daughter of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Wife of Chris Davis 1216 SW Cambridge Topeka, KS 66604 Home: 785-272-7741 — Rebekah Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper 1205 SW Polk St #5B Topeka, KS 66612 Phone: 785-783-3722 — Samuel Phelps-Roper Born 1979 Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper Husband of Jennifer Hockenbarger 3640 SW Churchill Topeka, KS 66604 3708 SW Churchill Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-228-9287 Phone: 785-273-1080 Home: 785-273-1445 Home: 785-273-0277 Home: 785-272-1619 Home: 785-273-0325 Home: 785-273-0277 Home: 785-273-0325 Work: 785-233-4162 Work: 785-273-0068 — Sara Phelps Born ~ 1980-1-2 Daughter of Fred W. Phelps, Jr 3600 SW Holly Ln Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-0273-0438 — Seth Phelps Born ~ 2003-4-5 Great-Grandson of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr — Sharon M. Phelps Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Grand-Daughter of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr 4128 SW 6th Ave #308 Topeka, KS 66606 Phone: 785-228-9323 — Shirley Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps — Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper Lawyer at Phelps Chartered Born Oct. 10, 1957 Daughter of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Wife of Brent D. Roper 3640 SW Churchilll Topeka, KS 66604 Email: slpr@cox.net Email: kjhoffice@speakfree.net Email: th8asluf@godhatesamerica.com Email: brid1611kjv@bellsouth.net Email: info@phelpschartered.com Phone: 785-273-1080 Phone: 785-272-8559 Home: 785-273-1445 Home: 785-273-0277 Home: 785-272-1619 Home: 785-273-0325 Home: 785-273-0277 Home: 785-273-0325 Work: 785-233-4162 Work: 785-273-0068 — Stephen “Steve” Drain Born ~ 1950′s Husband of Luci Drain 3801 SW 12th St Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-228-1623 — Stephen Hockenbarger Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Charles F. Hockenbarger Son of Rachel I. Phelps Hockenbarger — Taylor Drain Born ~ 1991-2-3 Daughter of Stephen “Steve” Drain Fiance of George Stutzman — Theresa Davis Born ~ 1950′s/1960′s Family Member of Chris Davis 3632 SW 12th Street Topeka, KS 66604 Work: 785-291-7000 — Timothy “Tim”/”Timmy” B. Phelps Lawyer Employee of Shawnee County Department of Corrections Born 1963 Son of Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr Husband of LeAnn Phelps-Brown 3743 SW 12th Street Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785-273-0365 Home: 785-273-4780 Work: 785-291-5100 Work: 785-233-4162 — Timothy Phelps Jr Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Son of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps — Victoria Phelps Born ~ Mid-1980′s/Mid-1990′s Daughter of Timothy “Tim/Timmy” B. Phelps — Zacharias Phelps-Roper Born ~ Mid-1970′s/Mid-1980′s Son of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper ============================================================================================ Domain WhoIs Information: — godhatesfags.com westborobaptistchurch.com beastobama.com godhatestheworld.com godhatesamerica.com priestsrapeboys.com blogs.sparenot.com jewskilledjesus.com signmovies.com godhatesislam.com godhatesthemedia.com Registrant: Westboro Baptist Church PO BOX 1886 Topeka, KS 66601-1886 US 785-233-4162 Domain Name: GODHATESFAGS.COM Administrative Contact: Phelps, Benjamin idontreadthisemail@godhatesamerica.com PO BOX 1886 Topeka, KS 66601-1886 US 785-233-4162 Technical Contact: Phelps, Benjamin idontreadthisemail@godhatesamerica.com PO BOX 1886 Topeka, KS 66601-1886 US 785-233-4162 Record last updated 09-16-2011 08:01:38 AM Record expires on 11-06-2017 Record created on 01-22-1997 Domain servers in listed order: NS1.ENTERPRISE.BLACKLOTUS.NET 204.69.234.1 NS2.ENTERPRISE.BLACKLOTUS.NET 204.74.101.1 ————————————— Domain WhoIs Information: — phelpschartered.com Registered through: GoDaddy.com, LLC Domain Name: PHELPSCHARTERED.COM Created on: 17-Apr-03 Expires on: 17-Apr-13 Last Updated on: 16-Jul-11 Registrant: Phelps-Chartered 1414 S. Topeka Blvd. Topeka, Kansas 66612 United States Administrative Contact: Phelps-Roper, Shirley kjhoffice@speakfree.net Phelps-Chartered 1414 S. Topeka Blvd. Topeka, Kansas 66612 United States 7852334162 Technical Contact: Phelps-Roper, Shirley kjhoffice@speakfree.net Phelps-Chartered 1414 S. Topeka Blvd. Topeka, Kansas 66612 United States 7852334162 Domain servers in listed order: NS1.ZONOMI.COM NS2.ZONOMI.COM NS1.SPEAKFREE.NET NS2.SPEAKFREE.NET Registry Status: clientDeleteProhibited Registry Status: clientRenewProhibited Registry Status: clientTransferProhibited Registry Status: clientUpdateProhibited Port 80/Port 23 vulnerability @JackHerer20 @KYAnonymous1 We Are Anonymous. We Are Legion. We Do Not Forgive. We Do Not Forget. #WestboroBaptistChurch EXPECT US

Exfiltration (How to Escape Europe)

What a trip!!!

Seriously, that was crazy guys. I was told by 4 different travel agencies that there was no way for me to get out of Europe this week. I interrupted them by doing it in less than 30 hours.

It all started on Thursday when I learned that my father had been involved in a pedestrian vs. automobile accident and was not doing well. I called Delta on Friday and attempted to book a flight back to my American home.

It was then that I learned I had the "Bad News Fairy" as a new roommate.

Thank you volcano, I appreciate that, really.

No flights out until Monday morning. No problem, schedule one out at 1100.

Because I am a very frequent flier, and I hate those people who hold up the lines in airports for no apparent reason, as soon as I wake up Monday I jump online to check in to the flight. Damn Fairy is still here. Flight cancelled. Adventure begins.

Four hours on the phone with Delta going over every single airport and flight they have operating in Southern Europe and Northern Africa. Nothing. I call Lufthansa, they are not operating at all. Call Delta back because I hear that Spain has just opened up. They finally tell me they have an available seat on something flying out of Madrid. I really hope that I can find a way to explain to my neighbors why I shouted "I"LL TAKE IT!!!!!" at about force 20. So flight booked for Tuesday @ 1245.

Now remember, this is at about 1030 - 1100.

I jump on the DeutscheBahn (German train system for my American readers) Website and see that they have a train route that goes to Madrid via Paris that leaves @ 1254. Cram stuff in bag, out the door, down to Hauptbahnhof (Main Station for my American readers).

Damn Fairy. All trains to Madrid booked until Thursday.

Now, me being who I am, with the attitude I have, this is not an acceptable situation. I know for a fact that there is a train leaving for Madrid in approximately 1.5 hours. I also know that I need to be on that train. Not want, not prefer, NEED.

Time to make it happen.

"So," I ask in my sweetest voice, "got anything going to Paris sooner than that?" All I am hoping is that sweetness is understood through the language / accent barrier. It is, to an extent.

"Sir, we have something leaving at 1854."

Quick mental calculation: Train leaving Stuttgart at 1854 has exactly 0% chance of reaching Paris, France by 1947, which is what time the only train to Madrid is leaving.

Almost as quick mental realization: This ticket is the only thing I can buy from this counter until Thursday or so.

"I'll take it!" Only about force 5 or so. I am in public at this point and there are Polizei (Police for my American readers) holding firearms very close to where I am standing. I doubt they would take very kindly to me shouting.

So, having procured a ticket to one of my desired destinations, I move toward the tracks. I get the idea to try to buy someone's ticket on the 1254 train using my ticket and 100Euro. No takers.

However, one person reminds me of the fact that tickets are good for the day and destination of travel, independent of time of day. Now I have used this when I miss a train, but never to get on an earlier train before. But what the heck, I need to be on that train. So I get on the early train and start off towards Paris.

I get to Strasbourg when the conductor comes up to me with someone who I had noticed looking at me a few minutes earlier. After the obligatory "Sprachen zie Englisch?" ("Do you speak English?" for my American Readers) It is determined that I am in the other gentleman's seat. Oh dear, what a mistake on my part. I seem to be on the wrong train entirely. After explaining my mistake to the conductor, "Sir, I said I needed a ticket on the next train to Paris, I thought this was it." and telling the gentleman that of course it was my mistake and of course he can have the seat he reserved, no problem at all, I move to the on-board bistro car. Which is fine with me, I was getting tired of walking to that car everytime I wanted a bier (beer for my American readers) anyway. No more problems on this train, and we arrive in Paris at about 1630. Plenty of time to make my, as of yet non-existent, connection to Madrid at 1947.

First thing I notice about the train station in Paris: It is directly across the street from the bridge Liam Neeson jumps off of onto the boat for the final fight scenes of Taken.

Second thing I notice: They are a little bit tighter with their ticket controls and who gets onto the tracks then they are in Stuttgart. So the same "Later ticket/Early train" trick is not going to work.

Hmm...this is going to take some thinking and planning. I plan much better while eating and drinking. And this being Paris and all, there are outdoor cafes everywhere. Perfect.

While enjoying a Parisian sandwich and a really nice Bordeaux, I notice one of the ticket checkers appears to be in his early 20's and has that "Broke College Student" look about him. Perfect.

50Euro later I am by the tracks. Fast forward through another sandwich and glass of wine......

Train to Madrid pulls in, I still have not been able to procure a ticket for the train, but I know that if I can just get on the train, I will be able to buy a ticket from the conductor.

Damn Fairy. Due to the high volume of travelers, they have set up another ticket checkpoint before boarding the train.

I know the Slip 'em a 50 trick is not going to work, because there are too many people around. Time for my next trick. Pulling out my ticket from Stuttgart to Paris, I walk up to the checker that appears to be the least intelligent. I know it sounds mean to say that, but seriously, one look at this person and you just know they needed help getting dressed in the mornings.

"Parley-vous Inglais?" ("Sprachen zie Englisch?" for my German readers. "Do you speak English?" for my American readers.)

As hoped, the answer was no, and they pointed me towards their colleague who is conveinently located closest to the train.

A little backstory: When I was in High School, I perfected something I called the "Study Hall Escape" Basically how this worked was waiting for the study hall monitor to be distracted, then quietly slipping into the hall, and walking out the door like I had permission to. The hardest part was getting out the door in the first place.

I was now "Out the door".

I walk in the first open door of the train and start walking towards the back. After going far enough back that most people have boarded, and making sure that I am in a second class sleeper car, I enter the first cabin I see that only has one person in it. When the conductor comes around to check tickets, I explain that in Paris they told me I could buy the ticket on the train. Once again I am asked to move to the bistro car. Fine with me, again, this is where they keep the beer.

Conductor comes around, 161 Euro for the cabin I was in earlier, as there is an open space there. Fine with me.

Go back to the car, introduce myself to the two people I am going to be riding with for the next 13 hours. Talk for a bit, eventually fall asleep.

Wake up earlier than either of my cabin-mates and not wanting to disturb them I go back to the bistro car for a coffee and some toast. Having sat there for a couple of hours the night before, I am already acquainted with the lady running it and strike up a little conversation with her.

Damn Fairy. Train is going to be 2 hours late getting into Madrid.

Now, original arrival time was 0850 giving me plenty of time to take the metro from the station to the airport, check in, get something to eat, and get on my plane relaxed and refreshed. 1050 means I am going to have to take a cab, hope I can get checked-in on time, rush through security, and run to the plane.

As my cabin-mates wake up, I let them know what is going on. One of them, who is a surgeon from Mexico City, explains that the train station is not far from the airport and I SHOULD have plenty of time.

Train pulls into Madrid at 1115. I am thinking there is no way I am going to make it to the airport in time. After all this, I am going to be screwed by a late train. Something completely out of my control. Then I hear in lightly accented English, "Hey Doug, want to split a cab to the airport?"

It is my surgeon friend from the train.

"Sure."

Now, most of you who will be reading this know me pretty well, and you know that while I have "survival" level in 3 or 4 languages, I am not conversational in any of them. So to me the conversation sounded like this:

Surgeon: "Spanish. Spanish, spanish, spanish. Spanish."
Driver: "Spanish?"
Surgeon: "Spanish, spanish spanish, spanish. Spanish."
Driver: "Spanish? Spanish."
Surgeon: "Si." (Ja for my German readers. Yes for my American readers.)

30 minutes later I am at the airport.

We drove so freakin fast through the streets of Madrid that damn Fairy finally got lost.

No line at the check-in counter. No line at security. Plane not even boarding yet. I actually have an hour to spare by the time I get to the gate.

Smoke a couple of cigarettes, have a cerveza(Bier for my German readers, Beer for my American readers.), and get on the plane.

Total time of travel: 23 hours. Add another 10 on the plane, and I did three countries in not as many days, against a tight deadline that travel professionals at 4 different companies had told me was impossible.

Not bad for a "Stupid American".

Wow, Really?

Don't know if anyone out there is still reading this or not. Been a while since I posted anything, but nothing like a new year to give you a little inspirational kick in the pants.

It has really been an interesting year for me and mine. With me being in Germany and the wife and kids back in the States, there have been many rewards and sacrifices.

Taking this job was one of the smartest, hardest things I have ever done in my life. I knew coming into it that the strains placed on my family would be immense. And I was correct. If I didn't have possibly the best, most understanding wife in the world, I would be lost right now.

The move to Germany. What can I say about that? I mean, it's like another country or something. Seriously though, I love it here. It has been quite the adjustment for me. One of my passions is not available to me at all(Shooting sports and firearms in general), while others are more fun/enjoyable (cigars, beers, and travel). I even managed to get somewhat back in shape with a new passion/hobby, rugby. I may be a little old to pick up a new contact sport, but hey, what's life without a little adventure.

I have made some really great friends and professional contacts over here. (Names omitted to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent.) Some of which have taught me more about myself than they will ever know.

I have learned that time and distance can conquer almost anything. I have forgiven and been forgiven. I have left some pre-conceived notions at the door. I have shattered stereotypes. I have learned that sometimes it's best just to walk away. I have learned that if you try, even if you fail, people notice and are normally appreciative.

Most of all, I have learned that my greatest strengths are my ability to be myself no matter where I am, and the ability to update who I am to include my new experiences and surroundings.