Well Now.........Isn't This Interesting?

I'm personally familiar with a coworker who had a family member die from a blow to the head by another's fist. I'm familiar with at least two cases in the past year where individuals have died subsequent to being hit in the head with a fist. A punch to the head that knocks an individual down, followed by slamming someone's head into the ground (sidewalk?) repeatedly, would meet my definition of a high-likelihood of lethality assault.

The fact that there are witnesses corroborating this enhances the probability that the version is accurate, which is important. The most important thing here is that the law is upheld, regardless of participant skin shade. Justice is supposed to be blind so that it is impartial. Which is wildly different from the concept of justice held by those participating in "hoodie marches".

If a large numbers of people are angry, marching, and sloganeering, there's probably some engineering going on behind it.

That'll Learn You to Protect Yourself

Five to one odds, multiple warnings, and on the phone with 911 dispatch when he fired a shot after the thugs retreated, then reattempted to close with him from two directions at once.

For this, he was jailed, evicted, fired, and defamed. Oh, and acquitted.

That's what happens when the masses get uppity about thinking they're allowed to protect their selves.

A tip of the hat to An NC Gun Blog; I'd try to know what's happening locally, but I'm unwilling to pay for a rag that thinks cornfield communism is the road to utopia.

A Glimpse Into The Future

So two people were arrested in Minneapolis for randomly attacking people while videotaping themselves, all in the name of........entertaining themselves. The video showed young males taking turns pushing people off bicycles, pushing down a jogger, and pushing young children. In one case, the victim fought back and punched the attacker. Before most of the assaults, the attacker looked into the camera and said "Watch this."

Remind you of anywhere else? It does me; it reminds me of what I've been reading out of England for years now. Where it's easy to assault people, since most won't fight back, as they might be sued, charged, or jailed for injuring the person attacking them.

I realize most people don't believe this any more, but the biggest reason this kind of behavior happens is that young males don't have a serious fear of having the shit kicked out of them. There used to be a time when, if you were accosted, you or your escort were expected to smack idiots upside the head for this kind of behavior, and people thought there was something wrong with you (as in, you're a coward) if you let it pass. Now victims are expected to quietly report this to the proper authorities,who will properly investigate it, and properly permit you to testify, when they feel the time is right.

It's an excellent method raising bumper crops of modern savages, who will in turn have virtually limitless opportunities to amuse their selves upon the rest of the populace.

Beer Summit?

I'm formally sick of hearing about the President and prof. Gates getting together to have a beer and clear up this "misunderstanding". Bullshit. The only misunderstanding was Gates' concept that his color grants him special privileges to verbally abuse cops for doing their job. I'd be damn happy to have our local police check on my place if someone reports a middle-aged man crawling through the basement window of my house (which immediately preceded the new family policy of always leaving a key outside the house. Crawling through decades of cobwebs is gross, and the five foot drop to a concrete floor is no picnic either).

But there's definitely racism involved here. It's evident that white cops who don't know their place (e.g., uppity) are to be smacked down. And it was certainly a pleasure watching our first post-racial president shoot his mouth off about something he hasn't bothered to research. But then, at least he's consistent. I'm surprised President O is letting Officer Crowley in the White House; he'll probably try to steal the silver and ogle Michelle.

Good luck, officer, and enjoy your Arugula Pale Ale.

Nailed By Johnny Law

Ice mostly gone, caught up on the homework, haven't ridden in over a year.....

What a fine time to see if I can start the bikes up! Took well over half an hour; they've been sitting up on the blocks I put them on in October of 2007. But run they did, with a little persuasion. So it was off to the gas station with bike #1, which happened to be The Wife's ride. Then a little random riding to the neighboring town, and back. Until the siren went off. Nothing like enjoying yourself so much that you don't notice that State Trooper ten yards behind you. Who, after you stop, informs you he had to hit the siren because he's been following you the last half mile with the lights on. Oops. But, one of the good things about the Iowa State Patrol is that they are professional; and if you give them common courtesy, they're willing to listen to you. Even if you're wearing ratty old leather and havent shaved in five weeks. That willingness came in really handy when he told me me tag expired in September 08, and would I like to explain why I hadn't updated it, or why I was riding a bike registered to a female? Or why the proof of insurance was out of date?

It could have been worse. I'd been considering stopping it at the VFW for a beer before riding home, but thought that since I was on The Wife's bike, discretion was the better part of not tempting fate.

I lucked out. The trooper that stopped me actually listened to my explanation. Which amounted to "I was really excited to get out on a bike after being gone a year, and I wasn't smart enough to think about checking the plates". Fortunately, The Wife had renewed the registration, and we do have year-round insurance that was paid up, although I didn't have the proof on the bike. I received a warning, and was given a nice overview of the latest in patrol vehicle electronics after noting that when I was reservist in a one stoplight town years ago, all I ever had was a ticket book, radar gun, and a radio. Things have changed a lot in the last 15 years. But there's still good cops and troopers out there that will cut a break for someone who makes a mistake.

And the ride was still damn good.

Hijab Hijinks

There's a dispute going on in Minnesota currently on a proposed change to the driver's license process; it's been proposed that headgear not be allowed in the photos. The police were the driving force behind this, primarily due to gang members using it make it more difficult to identify them. Granted, unless the gang member looks like this:




or this:

a simple hat probably won't make a huge difference. But, the previously shown headgear (what one would call the item in image two, I have no idea.........) does hide unique features that are useful in identification: ears. If you don't think ears provide significant identifications properties, then you've never seen Mr. Spock, H. Ross Perot, or B.H. Obama.

Can anyone really say these ears aren't unique? :

I think not.

But, some of the local Somali-Americans (Somalicans?) feel it's an infringement upon their religious practices to remove the hijab for the purposes of identification. And I agree with them, it is an infringement. Much like it's an infringement of my religious beliefs when I have to swear that I will faithfully something something something, so help me God. But guess what. You Don't Have A Right To A Driver's License. Nor are you required to have a drivers license or drive. So I suggest that if you wish to have your dolshe and eat it too, you're out of luck.

Like it or lump it.

Amendment IV

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.

(h/t to The War On Guns)

A long time ago, I was a police reservist in a small town. I have a lot of sympathy for police trying to do their job, as they deal with a lot crap on a daily basis. It takes a lot not to become cynical, resentful, and generally fed up with humanity. However, being a gun owner, and a devout believer in "leave me the hell alone / don't screw with me & I won't screw with you" philosophy of life, I have no sympathy when those individuals with egos bigger than their brain abuse their badge. Extra points to the homeowner for unorthodox use of a taser.

It's good to know not all judges are convinced the Constitution is a "living document" open to local changes upon the judiciary's whim.

The "Logical" Progression Of Gun Control

Prime Minister Tony Blair will host the high-level session at Number 10, following the fatal shootings of three teenagers in the space of two weeks in south London.

One pressure group attending the meeting will criticise the police's decision to deploy more armed officers on the streets.

Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (MAMAA) claimed it will simply encourage more criminals to carry a gun.

Spokeswoman Lyn Costello said: "We will be asking that the streets are not flooded with armed police - we want guns off the street not more of them being used.

I see this as "These criminals wouldn't be so dangerous if they didn't feel the need to protect themselves from you police". Jackassery in the first degree.

PM hosts crisis gun crime summit