I meant to comment on the recent trend to rename blogs as “online magazines” in order to sidestep any heat from the FEC on the McCain-Feingold nonsense. I’m with Captain Ed. This is a blog, and it will remain a blog.

I understand that (most of?) those changing what they call their blogs (or online magazines) are doing so with their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, but I still think that the best policy regarding the FEC and McCain-Feingold is that of the McCain-Feingold Insurrection, best summed up by a quote from the Serenity trailer: “I aim to misbehave.”

The First Amendment is often used to defend artistic expression, but it was intended to protect political speech first and foremost, as the Founding Fathers believed that it was important that we be allowed to speak out on political issues. If the FEC should decide that blogging about a candidate constitutes a contribution as far as the McCain-Feingold Speech Restriction Act, I promise to continue blogging exactly as I always have, with at least one or two extra posts a week designed specifically to thumb my nose at this illegal law.

Neal Boortz points out that those states that ban fireworks actually have a higher rate of injuries due to fireworks than those that don’t.

Obviously, banning fireworks doesn’t work, because people are going to have fireworks anyway. Isn’t it better to teach them to use them safely than to ban them completely? Can’t we just teach people that fireworks are dangerous, that they’re only truly safe if they don’t play with fireworks, but give them some brief lessons on how to be safe if they’re going to try them out?

No? Let’s try rewording that, okay?

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