Land of Oz

Terminator School?

I was wandering through the Detroit News web site and noticed this ad for a career site. Is it just me or does that look like one evil woman? I think she'd give T-X from Terminator 3 a run for its money. Imagine her sitting in front of a bank of monitors watching your every move. And who's that shadowy dude in the background. Gives me the shivers...

Labels: crime, government, religion

Taser or 9mm

Here in Michigan over the last few weeks two teenagers were killed when police used Tasers on them. Naturally the kid's families are up in arms. However, they need to look at both sides here. All I know from the news is that the police used a Taser on one drunk teenager resisting and one teenager who resisted while being searched and detained after a car and foot chase -- and that's about all the details I know. Both families are talking about lawsuits and police brutality.

Here's my take on the situations. One is that a being teenager doesn't make you a helpless weakling. Even if they don't have a concealed weapon, a teenager is strong enough to do real harm to another person - even an adult policeman. Both the teenagers were resisting which means they were fighting back. The police have to deal with people everyday who plan on doing some harm to the police or the public at large. The policeman's job is to control the situation, not act as jury. There's no way a policeman can tell if the teenager is just having a bad day, or has just come from a Columbine shooting and has a .357 tucked in his waistband - and he shouldn't have to take that chance.

The way I see it, the police have several options. They can let the poor little teenager go and hope he isn't on his way to a massacare. They can wrestle him to the ground and hope he isn't carrying a razor or a needle full of infected blood. They can shoot him with a firearm. In real-life people don't shoot to wound, they shoot to hit. In the heat of a fight, you're lucky to hit the target at all, let alone shooting him in the arm. Or they can do what they did in these cases and use a Taser. In this case the suspects died, but I'm betting there's a lot more folks survive a taser than survive a 9mm in the stomach.

I feel the sorry for the kids, but I'm glad there's cops out there putting it on line for me and my wife. If my wife is getting assaulted in a parking lot I'm hoping there's a cop near by with a Taser or a 9mm and isn't afraid to use either one.

Labels: crime, michigan

The Rich Don't Get It

One article today talked about Vick's (ex-dog fighting quarterback) bankruptcy plan would allow him to keep the first $750,000 of his annual pay. After that, a percentage would go to his creditors based on a sliding scale. Another article talked about some young wife divorcing her old husband for $100 million, stating she can't live on $53,000 a week. And I'm not even going to mention the various CEOs and execs making millions.

They just don't get it. If Vick is truly going bankrupt and can't pay his creditors, why should he still be getting $750,000 before paying his debts. There's a whole lot of folks doing quite well on less than $50,000 a year. If Vick was really repentant, why does he need three-quarters of a million to live on before he pays off his debts. And that silly divorcee? As much as I hate stupid lawsuits and such, in this case I hope the lawyers get it all and both her and her husband end up working at Walmart as greeters.

Next thing you know, some executive will be expecting to be paid a big reward for running his company into the ground -- oops, that's right, it's happening too.

Labels: celebs, crime

Worries

You know? There's lots of stuff to worry about. Poison peanut butter, $2 trillion dollar tax payouts, record unemployment and job losses, companies folding by the bundles, and CEOs making millions for leading their companies into the ground.

And you know what else? There's lots of stuff that doesn't even need more than a footnote in the news. Things like 28 year-old college kids smoking grass, atheletes making $27 million a year who take steroids, movie actors commiting suicide and singers beating up their girlfriends.

Which of the two paragraphs above do you think more people know about?

Labels: crime, government

Priorities?

After lunch today I was listening to the hourly national news blurbs. The headlines were Obama in Denver to sign $782 billion bill, hauling away bodies from last week's plane crash, the plunging stock market, jobs and oil prices, and then Alex Rodriquiz and his steroids. Does some guy sticking a needle in his butt, really rank with the other problems going on today? Why should we care? He's being paid to entertain crowds of people, so who cares what he does to entertain them?  As if the rest of professional sports is squeeky clean.

Labels: crime, misc

Same Old - Same Old

Didn't take long, did it? President Obama - in just a couple short weeks - has started stepping into the Washington D.C. morass of cheating, corruption, and influence peddling. His cabinet is supposed to be composed of some of the top minds and people in the country. It seems like a large percentage of them are already shown to be cheats. Really; "Oops, my bad, I didn't know I was supposed to pay that $125,000 in taxes. I'm not a working class slob."

The IRS was after me when I didn't file a state tax form for which I didn't owe any money on. At the time, military income was exempt from state tax, so I didn't file the state tax form. I was a kid and figured if I didn't owe anything, why should I file? I had to track down five years worth of paperwork to make the tax folks happy. So how does someone miss paying $125,000 they owe until they are vetted for a cabinet seat?

And where are these trillions of dollars coming from? We just had a president who built the largest deficit in history and almost (we're not done yet) bankrupted the country. Now our new president's plan is to go even deeper in dept. So now, because some invester and home-buyer and widescreen TV buyer overspent themselves I'll have to pay their debts?
Those trillions in bailout bucks have to be coming from someplace -- and my taxes are it.

So how about instead of throwing more money at businesses who business model is broke, just let them fail and let the businesses who are actually successful reap the benefits of doing a good job? It's going to hurt, but so, eventually, is throwing trillions into the crapper.

Labels: crime, government

Sex & Violence

I'm a Netflix user and one of the last DVDs I rented was a Tales from the Crypt: Season 1. I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. The stories were pretty cliche, with the bad guy/gal doing something bad to someone and then getting their just rewards by the end of the episode. I often read the reviews and this was no exception. The Netflix listing made this NR, for not-rated. Of course, there's always those people who think something like this would be good as a baby-sitter. And of course, they're going to complain about the DVD soon after.

But what they complain about is always the language and sex. Tales from the Crypt uses the F-word pretty often and, horrors of horrors, occasionally shows a bare boob - or two. It should be noted that this volume also contained a wife slamming a fireplace poker into her husband's head, a slightly deranged executioner electrocuting a slew of victims (one of whom had a bared breast, so I suppose she deserved it), a newlywed chopping her newly betrothed into bloody bits with a battle axe, and a doctor transplanting the nine-life organ into a guy's head.

But you know what? The only complaint for the kiddies was the bare-boob (and quite a nice boob at that) and the profanity. The blood and guts, and hacking and slashing, and shooting and burying didn't seem to be a problem. One of our problems in this country is that we seem to be more accepting of murder and violence than sex. OK, I don't have any kids, so I really don't know how I'd treat my own, but I do think I'd rather have my kid run around naked than chopping up people with an axe.

Labels: crime, movies

Illegal is Illegal

From an AP News story:

Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan told Spanish-language paper La Voz Independiente last week that he's worried that so many people are being pulled over and jailed through 287(g) on simple traffic violations. "It is not a perfect program," Duncan said. "One of the things that is hard to explain away is that for otherwise law-abiding citizens, other than the fact that they are here undocumented, what IDs them is a minor violation or even driving to work, having to drive with no operator's license."

I don't get it. Why do people keep missing the point about so-called "undocumented law-abiding citizens?" That phrase is so full of contradictions it's surprising people don't choke when saying it. It's a perfect example of newspeak. First, "undocumented" means that person entered the country without filling out the correct paperwork - in other words, against the law. If you don't enter the country correctly, you can't become a citizen. So how can a person who enters a country illegally be considered a law-abiding citizen?

There are legal ways to enter the country and become a law-abiding citizen. It's takes time and a ton of paperwork, but it can be done. I know since I've gone through the process. And since I've spent the time, effort and money involved in the process, I don't think someone who doesn't do that is entitled to one penny of my taxes.

The way I see it, the sheriff isn't using a traffic violation to put away law-abiding citizens, he's using a traffic stop to arrest law-breaking illegal immigrants who don't care enough about the country they have sneaked into to bother to follow the country's laws.

Labels: crime, government

Tax Cuts

We (the government, you and me) just decided to spend somewhere around $1 trillion bailing out one firm or another. We have one war going on in Iraq and another looks to be heating up in Afghanistan/Pakistan. Last I heard, Iraq was costing us $85 billion a month. Who knows what Russia or Venezuela is going to do - whatever it is, it'll probably cost us big bucks. Social Security is getting beat up and there needs to be something done about health care. Energy prices are going up along with food and probably air.

All that and politicians are still promising tax cuts. Were the hell is the money coming from? Just printing more dollar bills doesn't help much. The more you print, the less they're worth.

Labels: crime, government

Rockwell to Hopper

A couple of my favorite painters are a pretty good example of how I'm feeling right now about our new house. Up until a couple of weeks ago, it was like living in a Norman Rockwell painting. Cool neighbors, little kids playing in the street, and beautiful back yards. Then the new guy moved in. I suppose you have to bear in mind that before him, we were one of the new guys.

I got home and the first thing I noticed was the beginnings of a chain link fence. There aren't that many fences around here. It turned out he had three big dogs. The previous owner of his house was a lawn fanatic. Lawn treatments, lots of watering, mowing in precise patterns and times. I always felt a bit ashamed that my lawn was barely average. Not bad, mind you, but not all that great.

The new guy managed to turn it into a hayfield in about a month. I think he's mowed it twice (he has a huge John Deere riding mower - I have a push reel mower) and leaves the grass as is. After this weekend's mowing, you can no longer see the lawn for the dried out cut grass. At least the dogs are somewhat quiet - so far. We bought some holly bushes to try and hide our view of his dogs and fence - oh, and did I mention the broken car he parks in his back yard? It's a Triumph, but still... And he keeps his garbage cans outside his garage next to our house.

I hate to say it, but this weekend for the first time since we moved here, our Sunday papers were missing. Not only ours, but at least four other households in the neighborhood. You can imagine who my suspect is - even though that isn't fair to him. So much for Mr. Rockwell's view of life. Now we're back to Hopper and his bleak views of strangers never looking at each other. Sigh...

Labels: crime, michigan

Palin

The more I hear about this person, the more it seems she'll be perfect fit into the Republican policies mindset. The first to bug me was her hubby blowing off a legal request to testify. (Honestly, I don't know what exact legal weight that request holds, but it does seem a lawful request that predates her vice-presshipness) She obviously had no problem with ignoring that little legality.

Now there's an interesting email account bugaboo. First off, let me say the folks guilty of breaking in should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. Whether they are breaking into Mrs. Palin's or my email account, they should be busted. However, the attack on the email account discovers an interesting work-around for emails. As I've read, "US law states that all e-mails relating to the official business of government must be archived and not destroyed. However, it does allow for personal e-mails to be deleted."

This means that while official emails via her government account need to be accounted for (and we all know what kind of dirt emails can scrape up) any emails via her yahoo account could conceivably be argued as being personal and therefore not need to be archived.

Yep, this thought of mine isn't based on any evidence other than hearsay and fluff bouncing around the Internet. However, it seems to fit into a way of thinking to me.

By the way, have you ever seen the movie The Manchurian Candidate? It's about some guy who spends a long time in an Asian prisoner of war camp where he's brainwashed by the communists into doing what they want after he returns to the USofA. Hasn't McCain mentioned something about spending time in a POW camp?

Labels: computers, crime, government

Newspeak

HOUSTON (Reuters): La Raza, a Washington-based advocacy group for Latinos, plans to release a report next month that examines what it sees as unfair treatment of undocumented workers after U.S. disasters, and recommends changes in U.S. policy that specifically would alter disaster assistance programs to benefit Latinos.

undocumented = illegal

The problem with this statement is the euphemism undocumented. They are illegal workers. They snuck into the country against the law. Why do they think they deserve government assistance after ignoring the government's laws when they illegally crossed the border. I've been personally involved in the immigration process. It isn't easy, and it isn't all that cheap, but it is doable. One of the reasons doing it legally is such a pain in the ass is because of all those undocumented workers who break the law. That means that those of us doing it legally have to work that much harder because the government has to spend so much time and money making sure the illegals don't pass through.

I'm sorry, but you'll get absolutely no sympathy from me on the subject of illegal immigrant workers.

Labels: crime, government

Detroit

What a difference three months can make. Here's two images of Christine Beatty. She's the woman involved in the Detroit mayor fiasco. Mayor Kilpatrick has been the major name in the news, but he wouldn't be in a mess (at least this particular mess) without her. Not that I'm saying either one is less guilty than the other. Based on the below pictures, she doesn't look like she's had a peaceful couple of months.

July 2008	September 2008

Labels: crime, government, michigan

Dumb Drug War

The semi-subs, known as "self-propelled semi-submersibles," also represent a serious national security threat: Today it's drugs, but tomorrow's cargo could be heavy weaponry, senior defense officials warn.


The above non-attributed quote was pulled from a Christian Science Monitor story about the use of vessels costing $2 million each to smuggle drugs into the USofA. Isn't it becoming really obvious that the drug war is a bust? People have used intoxicants since the dawn of humanity. I've even seen some theories that farming and the civilization it led to came about basically because people needed grain crops to make beer. I suppose after watching someone act up after downing a couple of 40 ouncers make you wonder about civilization, the fact is a lot of people are going to get high no matter what the government says. Many people take the legal route of booze but many also take the illegal route of certain drugs.

And can anyone really explain to me just how marijuana is so much worse than beer? I mean really, a bud is Bud, isn't it? Sure I don't want my doctor operating on me when high on coke or weed, but I wouldn't really be too happy if he drunk either.

So, now we all know that marijuana not only leads to hard drugs, but it can lead to nuclear weapons as well.

Labels: crime, government

85/.22/2

Here's an interesting screenshot from my my.yahoo page. One article is about an 85 year old woman who was robbed in an elevator and the other is about an 85 year old woman who was almost robbed, but pulled her .22 and held the 17 year old robber at gun point until the police got there. And people wonder about the right to bear arms. 85 years old/.22 pistol/Article 2.

Labels: crime, freedom, government

Innocent?

So what - who cares - the government sure doesn't:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold them for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday. Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, quoting policies issued on July 16 by two DHS agencies.

Basically the government can do anything to you anytime they want for any or no reason. They can toss you in jail forever with no trial and no evidence and don't even have to tell you why. They can take any electronic device you may own for any reason, or for no reason. You can't even argue, since they won't tell you why they're taking the stuff. They can listen to your phone calls, watch what you do on the Internet and have made sure you can't even sue your ISP if you even knew it.

I'm sure Mr. Orwell is saying, "and you thought it was fiction, didn't you?"

Labels: crime, freedom, government

Guns, Law, and Order

Here is the kind of thinking that drives me to distraction. A Washington D.C. Councilman, Phil Mendelson, stated:

"I think an individual possessing a handgun that can fire 18 rounds — that is loaded and can fire 18 rounds semiautomatically — is a problem for public safety in the District," Mendelson said. "I don't know what the correct number is, but something less (than 18 shots)."

This means that an individual carrying a weapon with 18 rounds in a magazine is a bloodthirsty, kill-crazy nut, while another person with only, say 15 rounds is not a problem.

Where do people come up with this stuff? Is there some critical-mass of lead and brass that affects the mind of someone who is carrying a weapon? I'm guessing at the point of the eighteenth cartridge, the mass has increased enough to suck the blood from the brain of the weapon owner, turning him into a mindless, cold-blooded killer? Whereas some trash talking, meth taking drunk, with nicotine for brains with a six round revolver is a happy camper?

Here's my outlook on this. If you carry a weapon; whether it be rock, knife, one shot derringer, 100 round belt fed semiautomatic, or even a small tactical nuclear weapon, and you commit a crime against another person - you go away to jail for a long, long, long time. And if you hurt that other person, and I don't care if it's because you dropped your rock on his toe, you get a short trip (and please make it a short wait) to the gas chamber.

I'm getting tired of hearing about people shooting people and getting off with a few years in the hoosegow, then returning to their 'hood as a hero. I don't care what, if someone is old enough to carry a weapon and use it against someone else, they're old enough to take the punishment - and the punishment should be harsh.

Labels: crime, freedom

Ethics

Gosh, another scandal strikes the Obama campaign. It seems one of his staffers did naughty things with a mortgage company. Gee - willickers, who would've guessed. Have you noticed that a lot of people, not just politicians by the way, find a lot things just fine to do, until they get caught doing it?

Obama seems to have no problem dropping anyone who comes up negative once that person is outed. He thought it was perfectly fine to go to a church for twenty years, but all of sudden dropped it as being wrong. Just like the guy somewhat earlier who just happened to get Obama a good deal on a house and connected lot back in Chicago - not that any political shenanigans go on in Chicago.

Governor Spitzer's another dude who while passing legislation against hookers was using them. And what about that wide stance dude from the Northwest? Oops, I'll bet he doesn't support much legislation against shorter stall walls.

Non political ethics...
Which are sucking as well. Yes, I understand that people are paying more and making less and I'm one of those. But! Why on earth are people stealing everything now? I just read where farmers are getting ripped off big time by diesel fuel chiefs. And those goddamn metal thieves are running rampant. This past week they've stolen crosses, flower pots and medals from graveyards. Not to mention a roof from a mausoleum.

Around here, they're cutting catalytic converters off cars parked in apartment complexes, air conditioners from offices, and copper water pipe right out of the walls of houses. A new hotel going up near here had 22 flat screen TVs stolen to the tune of $24,000.

And then there's the real idiots who do armed robbery of 7/11s and dollar stores. If you're going to risk going to jail, at least do something worth the time - $50 at a 7/11 isn't one of them. And I'll bet these robbers would be the first to gripe after being tased by a policeman. And in this case, I much prefer a cop using a .45 to put one of these guys down than bothering with a taser. By the way, does it cost more to tase a guy or shoot them?

Labels: crime, government, michigan

The 'creaking' US airline industry

Like much of America these days, the airline industry feels tired, worn down, and old.
That is surprising in a country that often likes to think of itself as the best.
Arguably, it once was, but the airline industry - like the health system, like schools, roads - you name it, feels like it is just creaking along and leaving its passengers ever more frustrated.

That's a recent quote from a BBC reporter.

That should bother you, assuming you're an American, quite a bit. Not that it should surprise you, just bother you. If you read this very often, you'll see I've already talked about the 30% graduation rate in Detroit's schools. Half of this city looks like a set from Dawn of the Dead with abandoned buildings and weed covered lots - and that's downtown. A road here in Saginaw recently won a statewide competition for the biggest pothole. Also here in Saginaw we just finished a trial where a bunch of teenagers were convicted of murdering a 14 month old kid in a drive by shooting. Every street around the area has houses on sale - and some of those have their copper pipe or aluminum siding stolen and sold.

Yeah, we've got people doing good stuff here, but there is so much doom and gloom. It seems like for every teenager who works for Habitat for Humanity there's three others who are dealing guns and drugs. Did I mention the 75 college kids recently busted for drug dealing in one college in California this week? How about the three cops who were videoed beating up some suspect? Yep, we have our postal service running a charity drive this weekend while at the same time they have to stop service to some homes because it's too dangerous to deliver mail. Think about that - it's too dangerous for a mailman to deliver a letter in broad daylight.

What the hell is going on?

Labels: crime, government, gripes, michigan

Act Normal!

OK - you're being warned. Don't act differently or you may have the FBI looking for you. I'm basically screwed. We go driving by a tourist scene and I'm ogling the bulldozers and cranes on the scene. Show me a cruise ship and I wonder what kind of propulsion system it uses and how the tugs get it into the wharf. When I drive over the Bluewater Bridge I'm as much interested in how much the expansion joints have opened as I am in the view of the river below - and more than the river, I'm interested in what type of ships are going by.

If you look at my photographs you'll see they're very short on people and sunsets and high on buildings and vehicles. It doesn't mean I want to blow them up, I'm just interested in how they work and what kind of power they have. That doesn't make me bad or dangerous, just a little weird.

Labels: crime, freedom, government

Weekend shootings kill 6, wound 23

Nope, not Baghdad or Tibet, or even Detroit. This weekend it's the idiots in Chicago who have nothing better to do that shoot each other. I read that last summer, the My Kind of Town city had 23 shootings every weekend. Not my kind, I'll tell you. And the headline just below it? More felons allowed to enlist in Army, Marines. I guess they figure they need more people from Chicago and Detroit to serve. I can remember when having a misdemeanor meant having problems getting in - although that was the Air Force, which coincidently perhaps, was just blamed for not doing its fair share in Iraq - as if they can decide when and where to protect the USofA on their own??

And on a related issue, it seems like Michigan finally has an industry where, unlike the automotive industry, has more customers than they know what to do with. It's nice to know that once again Michigan is in the top ten rate for violent crimes and incarceration rates. And considering that half the state is woods, that's saying something.

Labels: crime, michigan

Draka

Have you ever heard of the series of books written by S.M. Stirling concerning the alternate world of the Draka. The Draka are a people consisting mostly of loyalists and slave owners who settle in South Africa after the USofA Revolution. They manage to conquer the rest of Africa, followed by Asia, Europe and eventually the Americas. I think the stories are great and have re-read them several times. The first, Marching Through Georgia, is the best and the rest seem to lose a little as the series winds on. (BTW, I think the Georgia in the title can be thought of the Georgia in both Europe and the Americas).

The stories bring up some interesting thoughts about slavery and cruelty and power. Is slavery all that bad compared to other free life styles? Does being a mom living free in Darfur watching your kid starve to death beat being a slave who is housed and fed? And how does what degree of slavery matter? How do you balance a domestic slave cleaning a house twelve hours a day with a slave in a mine being worked to death in ten years?

How about power? Is a Draka who conquers for the sake of conquering and kills to conquer better than a Nazi who kills for the sake of racial purity? Is there a difference? Depending on the roll of the dice being a slave to a Draka might not be all that bad. You work 12 hours a day, get fed, watered and have visits to the vet as needed. As a free American, many people work 12 hours a day, eat and try to afford a doctor. OK, some would argue you're free, but to what end?

I have a pretty good life now. A couple miles away people are living in dumps with bullets coming through their raggedy walls, and will be lucky to graduate high school and have a one-in-ten chance of ending up in jail before they're 30, and whose idea of fun is watching the drug dealer on the corner making change.

Sometimes you have to wonder just how much freedom is too much?

Labels: crime, government, reading

Crime is Crime

I've been following a blog entry about a fellow citizen who using a web cam, caught some lowlife stealing Netflix DVDs from his mailbox. I just love this story. What also interests me are the comments. I'm guessing (hoping) a couple of the comments are from trolls, but I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't. I've seen the same basic comments, although perhaps a bit more literate, appearing in other topics where a rather minor crime has occurred and the dirtbag who did it was caught and convicted. For some reason people seem to be upset that someone can actually get serious punishment for a crime.

Probably the best examples are from the various three strikes and you're out stories. The most well known is probably the guy who stole a slice of pizza and was convicted to 25 to life. [Note: he had six prior felony charges, is 6-foot-4 and took the pizza from some kids, and two, he was let out after six years]. Another crime that raised a stink lately was some guy who got time for stealing a donut from some lady. The one I started with was some kid who was convicted of a federal crime of stealing Netflix DVDs and fined $750 which some people seemed to think harsh.

OK - here's my take on this. All these people were convicted of crimes. Whether it was a slice of pizza, a donut or a DVD, they were convicted of stealing stuff that didn't belong to them from another person of whom the stuff did belong to. Would you rather the dirtbag beat a kid over the head with a lead pipe before stealing the pizza? The criminal obviously doesn't feel he has follow society's laws about not taking stuff that doesn't belong to . Granted, I'd like to see the punishment for stealing a car harder than for stealing a donut, but I still want to see punishment. Crime is a crime and people seem to be forgetting that. Snitch! - Improve your neighborhood!

BTW, the other night on my walk, the police stopped me and asked if I'd seen a loose dog they'd had a complaint on. I can't tell you how nice it is to have police who have the time to look for loose dogs instead of wasting all their time chasing hoods with guns.

Labels: crime, gripes

Politics Suck

The noble profession known as politics. What a bunch of choices we have this year.

We have one dude who has been listening to some preacher bad mouth the USofA for 20 years, and just now decided that's a bad thing - ooh, do you think now being an election year has any bearing on his feelings?

We also have a dame who can't remember the difference between running across an airfield under sniper fire and greeting some little kid in front of TV cameras. Oh yeah, she also claims to have brokered the Irish peace treaty - more or less; or at least had a lot to do with that, or heard of it anyway.

There's another dude who plans on a 100 year Iraqi war. And the way that party has been going for the past eight years, may just end up with a thousand year Reich instead.

We have a current president who wasn't aware gasoline prices were approaching $4 a gallon and thinks thousands of foreclosures and major banks going bankrupt make for "interesting times."

The vice-president, who is in power to serve the people of this country, when told the people don't think the war in Iraq is a good thing says, "So?"

There's a mayor in my home state who feels he's been sent by god to lead the city and just coincidently has no problem with committing adultery. He also apologized to his wife and the city for the act, which he also claims he didn't do.

There's a governor who got caught with his, er, stuff, in a (more than one?) prostitution ring - at $4,500 a night, or over $80,000, and was replaced with a fine upstanding politician who immediately confessed to having several affairs - and so did his wife. I wonder who apologizes to who in that case. Oh, did I mention this shiny new governor also confesses to using heroin and coke?

Isn't it nice we have such an all-American, apple-pie clean sport like baseball to fall back on?

Labels: crime, government, gripes, michigan

Land of the Free?

What the hell? I knew it was bad, but this is amazing apalling. Thank goodness Congress is covering its ass covering Clement's ass instead of important stuff like 1 out of 99 adults is in jail! If you're a young guy, that rate triples and if you're young and black, basically you're screwed. If you are a 20 year-old black man and you have 9 friends, one of you is heading for the clink. But thank god, that baseball will be positive steroid test free - yeah, do we live in a great country or what?

The nationwide figures, as of Jan. 1, include 1,596,127 people in state and federal prisons and 723,131 in local jails - a total 2,319,258 out of almost 230 million American adults.

The report said the United States is the world's incarceration leader, far ahead of more populous China with 1.5 million people behind bars. It said the U.S. also is the leader in inmates per capita (750 per 100,000 people), ahead of Russia (628 per 100,000) and other former Soviet bloc nations which make up the rest of the Top 10.

"For some groups, the incarceration numbers are especially startling," the report said. "While one in 30 men between the ages of 20 and 34 is behind bars, for black males in that age group the figure is one in nine."

Using updated state-by-state data, the report said 2,319,258 adults were held in U.S. prisons or jails at the start of 2008 - one out of every 99.1 adults, and more than any other country in the world.

Labels: crime, freedom, government

Detroit schools grad rate: 32%

That is the number of ninth graders who graduate in four years in Detroit's schools. For males, it's 25%. I'm pretty sure Saginaw isn't far behind - or for that matter may be leading. That has to be one of the major problems not only in Michigan, but any other state as well. If education was improved, I think that much of the bad stuff in Michigan would decrease. You just don't get that many college, or even high school grads, knocking over 7/11 stores.

More jobs for the state? Why are companies going to come to a state where the majority of kids in its biggest city can't complete high school? If they can't figure out how to make it through high school, how can they be expected to hold a job any more complicated than flipping burgers? (How often have you seen that person behind the counter befuddled as you hand them a twenty, a one and three cents for a $6.03 bill - or if you do mess up a penny, they hand you 4 singles and 99 cents in change?)

However, check out the Detroit News or the Detroit Free Press and more often than not, you'll find sports news the number one or two article in the front page. For a month, the headlines should read, 34 Dropouts Today! instead of some steroid-using baseball player and his bazillion dollar salary who's unhappy with his team's treatment of him. Nothing promotes education like some drug-using baseball player who makes $1.7 million a season throwing a ball around.

Labels: crime, government, michigan

Messy

As much as I dislike the paparazi, I glad they didn't follow the deputies' requests. Can image what a mess two disassembled photographers would make on the sidewalk?

From CNN: The two men did not comply with deputies' requests, [Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman] Whitmore said.

"They were repeatedly asked to disassemble in front of the entrances and they were obstructing traffic as well, going into the street," he said.

About 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, in front of the nearby Villa nightclub, deputies arrested photographers Christopher Gonzalez and Vagn Rauch, who were there along with 20 other photographers on the sidewalk, Whitmore said.

Labels: celebs, crime

Lucky Me! #1

And to the .001% of guillible souls who respond to these kinds of things, please stop. To save yourself time and effort, just take a blank check, sign it and tape it to the window of a 7/11 downtown someplace. At least you'll save the international postage and phone charges. Yes, it is fake, trust me.

---

VITTORIO FONDAZIONE.
Corso Ercole I d'Este 44,
Ferrara 44100 - Italy.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Foundation's Officer,
Fondazion Di Vittorio, ITALY
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it

CONCERN

The Foundazion di Vittorio, would like to notify you that you have been chosen by the board of trustees as one of the final recipients of a cash Grant/Donation for your personal, educational, and business development. The Fondazione Di Vittorio, established 1977 by the Multi-Million groups and now supported by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) was conceived with the objective of human growth, educational, and community development.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary program, The Vittorio Foundation in conjunction with the ECOWAS, (UNO) and the (EU) is giving out a yearly donation of US $100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United States Dollars)to 100 lucky recipients.

Based on the random selection exercise of internet websites and millions of supermarket cash invoices worldwide, you were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) as charity donations/aid from the Vittorio Foundation, ECOWAS, EU and the UNO in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament.

You are required to fill the form below and email it to our Executive Secretary below for qualification, documentation and processing of your claims. After contacting our office with the requested data, you will be given your identification pin number, which you will use in collecting the funds. Please endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (N-222-6747,E-900-56) in all discussions.

FULL NAMES:__________________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________________
CITY:_________________________
STATE:_______________________ZIP: ___________
COUNTRY_______________________
SEX:______________
AGE:__________________
MARITAL STATUS:_________________
OCCUPATION:________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS:_______________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____________________

SEND ALL YOUR CLAIMS AND INQUIRIES TO THE
Executive Secretary - Claudio Giovanni
Email:foundationsecoffice01@yahoo.it
foundationclaim_dept@hotmail.com

All information is strictly confidential and will only be used for the purpose to which it is been requested. Please note that these donations/Grants are strictly administered by (ECOWAS), and (EU), under delegated powers from the United Nations Organization (UNO). This means that your qualification number will be raffled to know the organisation (ECOWAS or EU) that will handle your payment.

Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective beneficiaries, no later than 14 days after notification. Failure to do so will mean cancellation of that beneficiary and its donation will then be reserved for next year's recipients.

On behalf of the Board, kindly accept our warmest congratulations.

SEND ALL YOUR CLAIMS AND INQUIRIES TO THE
Executive Secretary - Claudio Giovanni
Email:foundationsecoffice01@yahoo.it
foundationclaim_dept@hotmail.com


Regards.
Mr. Sparo Malcom
(Foundation officer)

Labels: crime, scams

Vick and his dogs

I kind of hate to revisit this, but I can't help it. People can't understand why a guy like him would mistreat dogs (or allow their mistreatment). For whatever reason, parents have quit teaching their kids right from wrong. And I don't mean in a religious way. You don't have to believe in some god to know the difference.

Down the block aways, lives a group of kids - probably in their twenties like Vick - who beat their dogs. I've called Animal Control twice and I know one of my other neighbors has called as well. On more than one evening I've listened to the sickening thuds as one of the kids wailed on their dog.

Over in the other direction lives a family with kids who I consider practically feral. They will stand outside their neighbor's fence yelling and screaming at the poor dog inside. But, coming from a family who lets them jump up and down on there own car and wouldn't pick up trash in their yard if you paid them, I guess it's only to be expected.

And just thirty miles to the south of here, two teenagers were arrested and one of their dogs shot during a dogfighting investigation. The news also says, they weren't involved in organized dog fighting - as if that makes it better.

Why can't you parents teach your kids right from wrong? You stupid people deserve the world you're going to get.

Labels: crime, gripes

Killing

Here we go, another bomb, another couple dozen folks killed. It's bigger news this time because of the target - Benazir Bhutto. It got me to wonder about killing. The USofA is often in the news as a kill-crazy country. We have our share of Columbines, Colorado ministries and shopping mall shootings that make big news. However, we don't have the indiscriminate bombings that happen in so many other countries. (If I said, Muslim countries people would complain, but let's face it, they have more than their share of bombings).

The big difference is that in the USofA we usually kill strangers up close and personal. Not for us is the impersonality of a bomb in a crowd - we want to see the face of our victim as the .38 slug snuffs them out. I wonder why that is? Some people blame our cowboy and outlaw west, but I don't agree. Most killers today couldn't identify when and what was the cowboy west, let alone be influenced by it. The only good thing about suicide bombers is that you don't have to waste any time and money prosecuting them and then watch them go free because of some law technicality. That happens way too much in the USofA.

By the way, in the Detroit Free Press today, they say there's a 2 in 3 chance that if you murder someone you won't be caught. How would you like odds like that on a race horse? Think about those numbers! For every three people killed; two of the killers are going to be free to kill again. Think about that the next time you visit Detroit, er, for whatever reason you'd want to anyway.

By the way, CBS News had the seriously redundant title Bhutto Killed In Deadly Suicide Blast. How could killed and suicide be anything else but deadly?

Labels: crime, government, gripes, michigan

Bad Joke

For a lack of anything better, I thought I'd copy this joke I read in Night Fall a book by Nelson Demille:

So, Jeffrey Dahmer asks his mother over for lunch, and she's eating and says, "Jeffrey, I don't like your friends." an he says, "Well, then, just eat the vegetables."

Hey, I didn't write it, I just copied it...


Night Fall

Labels: crime, food

Michigan Tops

All right. Michigan hits another top ten list, in fact, we've made the top three list -- of most dangerous cities. Seems Detroit is number one and Flint, just 30 miles south of where I'm typing this, is number three. You can tell the state is really concerned too. The number one and two headlines for Sunday's online Detroit paper was about a football couch retiring.

The state ranks among the top in unemployment, foreclosures, dropping house prices, jobs leaving the state and now crime, and the paper is concerned about some guy retiring from coaching football. And we all know how much football contributes to Michigan's quality of life.

Now, I'll admit to enjoying a good game of football, but how about taking some of the time, effort and money that people spend on football and try to fix this trainwreck of a state. And not just the state, since the cities aren't going to do much good in a state that is getting so bad. Our grand old town celebrated the fact that using almost 1000 volunteers and extra state and local law enforcement and fire fighters we only had 9 arsons on Halloween.

Think about that. It took almost 1 out of every 50 people in this city to limit ourselves to only 9 arsons. One of which was just about six houses away from mine. This summer there's already been at least four house set afire on my street. Two of those have been razed, and the other two sit abandoned with broken windows and doors - and I'm in the good section of town.

Michigan - what happened to you?

Labels: crime, gripes, michigan

Pickle Assault Probation

I'm sure some of you who have read this story will feel that the punishment is out of order for the crime. After, who could be hurt with a pickle - right? Like the guy getting life for stealing a pizza and another guy getting jail time for a donut assault, the important point here isn't the item. It doesn't matter if it's a pizza, a donut or even a pickle. To me the two important items here are the fact that it was an assault - no matter its severity, but more important, it was also a break in. Now I don't really care what a criminal does after the break in, the fact is they entered someones home without their permission. It's not important how trivial the event that happens later - later the criminal is only compounding the crime. Granted if it's an life-threatening assault, murder or rape, the idiot should be put away forever (or executed) as soon as possible. But even if it's a trivial event like throwing a pickle, it's still crimes against an individual. Not only the assault but the break in as well. Quit feeling sorry for people who are out to get you or someone else. Our society has no need for people who can't function without breaking laws - whether it's breaking in and throwing a pickle or walking out with an unpaid donut.

(AP - October 30, 2007)NILES, Mich. -- Calling it silly yet serious, a judge sentenced a 35-year-old man to time served in jail and probation in a case that police say involved an assault with — and over — pickles.
Bobby Lee Bolen, who lives in the southwestern Michigan community of Buchanan, was sentenced Monday to 54 days in jail with credit for 54 days served and one year of probation as well as restitution for third-offense home invasion.
According to police reports, Bolen broke into (my emphasis) Jody Lee’s home in Buchanan Aug. 20, got into an argument and threw two large pickles at friends Lee and J.W. Romanski III.

Labels: crime, food

Stupid Cop Shows

For the most part I can take the inaccuracies of TV shows in stride. There are several things though, that really get to me. This came to mind after reading a story where a doctor is walking dog in the woods, sees some red spots on the ground and then touches them and tastes, "hoping for the taste of berries."

This is like the cops shows where the cop finds a plastic bag with white powder, sticks it with his knife, and then tastes it, saying "yep, it's coke." Which is really good for him, because it could have just as easily been rat poison, lye, strychnine or some other powder that would lay him low rather then get him high. There's also a certain CSI guy who as much as I admire his character, tends to do this with unknown substances.

The next thing are surveillance tapes. You know the kind, they have a frame from a dark basement parking lot and after enlarging it can read the numbers off the perps (my cop talk-type writing) driver's license or name on her name tag. That night on the 11p.m. news you'll see a picture made of various shades of gray with a barely human appearing splotch in it and they'll ask you if you can identify this person. Most of the time you can't even tell it's a person.

Then there's fingerprints. OK, this bugs me, but I really don't know if it's realistic; I'm just guessing here. They get a teensy scrap of a fingerprint on the wall and within 10 seconds, they "have a perfect match" for some person "in the system." I really doubt it's that fast or simple.

Labels: crime, gripes, tech

Stolen 'Donuts' = 30 Years

Even the International press picks up on a story like this. Do a google on "stolen donuts" and you'll be offered a big-big bunch of blogs (like this) and editorials and comments about the guy who is risking 30 years for, what they say, is a donut. Reminds about another story a couple years back about some guy in California who because of the three strike rule was going to get life for stealing a pizza.

Folks, you're missing the point. The problem here isn't a pizza or a donut. The problem is stealing. You took something you had no right to, away from its legitimate owner. And you know what? It doesn't matter if that donut belonged to a penniless drunk on the street or to a multibazillion corporation like Pepsi. It's still stealing and it's wrong. And stealing (which he admitted) is why he's going to jail - he's not going to jail because of a donut.

Labels: crime

Big Brother

According to president Bush, "This government does not torture people. We stick to U.S. law and our international obligations." (referring "The memos, first disclosed Thursday by the New York Times, condoned interrogation techniques such as head slapping and simulated drowning. "

When I was a kid we used to torment others (thankfully there were others further down the foodchain than me - tho' not by much) by using statements like the above. A friend of mine would take someone's hat, and hand it to me. When the victim tried to find the hat, my friend could truthfull state that he didn't have it and I could truthfully state, that I didn't take it.

While I have no doubt that Bush feels the statement he made is true, how hard would it be to find some non-citizen from Romania or Israel or Iraq who would be more than happy to beat the hell out of a suspect while US officials either watched - or perhaps went for a cup of coffee while it was going on. And you know? Sometimes that's OK. If John Doe planted a bomb in an elementary school or knew where one was, would I have any qualms about somebody slapping him around to find it before it blew up 134 kids? Nope. But you'd better make damn sure you're beating up the right John Doe.

Labels: crime, government

O.J.

Here's another news article title, "O.J. Simpson ordered to surrender Rolex." No, I didn't click it to read it. You know what? I really don't care. I didn't follow the trial that much. Other than the few/many sound bites that made it into the news and American culture, I really don't know what was going on out there.

I sometimes wonder though, what if he really is innocent? Can you try to imagine what he is going through now? After all, 12 people sitting in the courtroom thought that. They couldn't all be bribed or brain dead - well, maybe brain dead. As much as I like Jay Leno, he's made it aboundantly clear that he figure O.J. did it. And granted, O.J. was just involved in a pretty bizarre adventure in Las Vegas, but after all these years living as he has had to, can you really blame him for being a little off?

After all, we are supposed to hold sacred that a person is innocent until PROVEN guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. In many ways, I'm surprised we convict as many as we do.

Labels: celebs, crime

Comforting

A recent "odd" news article stated:

Both were cited for drunken driving and driving while revoked. They're planning to defend themselves in court with an argument that neither had control, so neither was driving.

Miller blew a 0.16 percent blood alcohol reading on the breath test and Marzinske was at 0.09 percent, the police report said. The legal limit is .08 percent.

Miller said he takes drunken driving seriously, "but we were doing things as safe as possible."

Police clocked them going 35 mph in a 55 zone.

Marzinske acknowledged the arrest was embarrasing(sic).

"I asked my daughter right out, 'Are you embarrassed about this?'" he said. "She says, 'A little bit Dad, but it sure is funny.' So we just have fun with it. There isn't much else you can do."

It's nice to know that neither one of these idiots felt they weren't in control. I'm even more impressed that they're teaching their kids that it's funny to drive without a license and while drunk. Maybe if they have to peel their kid off a tree some night, they might lose a little humor. Can you actually believe they didn't think there was anything wrong with what they were doing? I'm guessing that back in them-there rural hills of rustic Wisconsin, telephones to call for a ride haven't been put up yet.

Labels: crime, driving, gripes

Guns

I just read an article where the courts are again going to debate the right of people to bear arms - own weapons.

First let me state that I am 100% for the personal ownership of weapons. And not just handguns and long guns - but any weapons. If someone wants to own a Browning .50 machine gun on a jeep, let him. If some woman wants to own a 10 gauge double-barrelled shotgun cut down to a 12" barrel, let her. I really have no problem with that. However, if that same person uses that weapon (or even a baseball bat) in a crime, they should pay some severe consquences for that action.

But I have to tell you. If I for one teeny-tiny moment thought that all (or even most) rapists, murderers and robbers would turn in their weapons just because a new law was passed banning ownership of guns, I would be all for it.

I just don't understand how any thinking person can imagine that some cretin who has no problem with raping an 80 year old woman, or holding up a 14 year old for her iPod would suddenly think, "Oh goodness, the Bryco .380 I used to hold up my last six 7/11 stores is illegal - I must turn it in to the police at once!"

Labels: crime, government

Do you tap your feet?

CBS News:"Roll Call, citing the report, said Sgt. Dave Karsnia made the arrest [of Idaho Senator Larry Craig] after an encounter in which he was seated in a stall next to a stall occupied by Craig. Karsnia described Craig tapping his foot, which Karsnia said he 'recognized as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct.'"

Be warned. No tapping of feet in America. We have fought the Muslim religious fanatics and they have won. If you are sitting in the john you'd better make sure you aren't listening to your iPod and tapping your feet. You can be arrested. Heaven help you if you clap along with the music. I enjoyed the movie Tap with Gregory Hines a couple of months ago - what does that say about me?

Labels: crime, government

What Was He Thinking?

Here's my nominee for the 2007 What Was He Thinking competition. Here's a guy who gave up a $110 million career so he could win a few $50,000 dog fighting awards. There are a lot of folks this year who have been showing little common sense, from pandering politicians, to money-grubbing CEOs to drunk, disorderly and dumb celebrities, but Mr. Vick seems have taken the cake.
And for all of you who said he should get the benefit of the doubt, oops. I don't think there's much question about his guilt now.

Labels: celebs, crime

Suspicions

TORONTO (Reuters) A Canadian contractor is looking for donations to fund a funeral after finding a mummified baby in the wall of a Toronto home. ... Newspaper wrapped around the baby was dated September 15, 1925, ... "This is being treated as suspicious death at this time," said police spokeswoman Wendy Drummond.

Suspicious?? You think? Thank goodness for the highly trained Toronto police. If it had been me, I would've just figured the kid grabbed a newspaper for a blanket and wandered into the wall and got lost.

Labels: crime, oldies

Lethal

From the Detroit Free Press:

Margaret Ruth “Maggie” Hilbrands was injured during practice Monday evening with the Lowell Xtreme traveling softball team. She died Tuesday at DeVos Children’s Hospital.

“She missed the ball. It appears it hit her in the wrong spot. She never regained consciousness,” her mother, Jan Hilbrands, told the Grand Rapids Press.

The incident came just a day after another person was killed after being struck in the
head by a ball. Mike Coolbaugh, a 35-year-old coach for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, died Sunday after being struck by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach’s box during a game in Arkansas.

Obviously baseball is a threat to society. This is two people that we know of in the last couple of weeks. Now, I know some people will call them accidents and that baseball had nothing to do with it, but that's wrong. People don't kill people, baseballs kill people.

We need to make some stringent controls over the distribution and use of baseballs and their related hardware. I think registration is a must along with a two-week waiting period. This would give pitchers and others a time to cool off before using their baseballs in anger. And obviously we shouldn't stop at baseballs. Bats are just, if not more, dangerous. If a baseball is near to a bullet, a bat surely is just a step or two away from a sword. Ban baseball, keep our people safe!

Labels: crime, gripes

Good Guy - Bad Guy

Have you noticed what people tend to say about another person after they're dead? How many times have you heard, "he was such a good boy, never did nothin' wrong" (usually after getting shot at 3a.m. near a bar).

The other side of the story is when the deceased wasn't the victim. A "nice, quiet boy who bothered no one" turns into a "withdrawn individual with no friends." A "vivacious girl who liked to live" turns into a "loud, annoying drunk."

But when the deceased is a victim, the "big bully" turns into "a bear of a man who always stuck up for himself... and others" and the "reckless street racer" becomes "a mechanically-minded kid who really liked cars."

I wonder if I'll eventually be known as "that quiet guy who liked to read" or "that withdrawn loner who wasn't very friendly?"

Labels: crime, gripes

Land of the Free?

According to the International Centre for Prison Studies at King's College in London, the United States has long had the world's largest prison population, followed by China at 1.5 million and Russia at 885,670.

What on earth are we doing wrong? This weekend there were 3 or 4 shootings and a couple of murders in my town. Just south of here last week there was a shooting that involved something like a dozen people. Last week near Detroit some guy stole a woman's necklace and sank her in a nearby lake. Some cop (hopefully ex-cop) in Ohio is accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend, and a pro-wrestler seems to have killed his wife, his kid and belatedly himself.

And that is with more people in prison than any other country in the world. I don't get it. Who the hell do we have locked up? Do we put some guy in the slammer for smoking some crack while the murderers and rapists wander the streets? Something has gone or is going seriously wrong in the good ol' USofA and it worries me. We have 2,193,798 people (that's about 1 per 137 people) behind bars and it doesn't seem to be helping a whole lot. There is a problem here and I'm absolutely clueless of what can be done about it.

Labels: crime, freedom, government

Crime Thoughts

Here's just some random stuff about crimes that have been happening lately. Some of this stuff is my same rant, but stuff just keeps happening:

A couple more kids were shot and killed this past weekend. They were minors and of course according to all who knew them, "just 'nice boys' who never did nothin' wrong." These were 15-17 year-olds who were shot on the streets between 2am and 4am. Why are nice minors on the street at 3am - five hours past curfew - and by the way, they weren't working the night shift at 7/11.

On the way to and from work I pass by a house with a sheet of OSB (plywood type stuff) nailed across the front of the house. There was a guy asleep on the couch when his girlfriend drove through the wall and killed him. I don't know if she's been charged or not, but I've seen the house and you have work at it to drive through the wall.

Check out the picture. I've read a lot of hateful commentary about this guy shooting a cop and what should be done with him. I can't get up a hate for him. Obviously this guy is really-really messed up inside his head. I don't know if it's nature or nurture, but he really needs some medical care and either kept locked away where he can't hurt anyone else or put away like the mad dog he seems to be.

Why do so many people walk in the middle of the streets in our neighborhood? They give you a dirty look if you beep your horn at them to get out of the way. These folks range from kids to adults. They don't even make an effort to get out of your way. Yet, who's going to be blamed when they get hit? As far as I'm concerned, if you don't have the sense to get out of busy street, society doesn't really need you taking up space.

Thank god that idiot lawyer lost his $54 million law suit against a dry cleaners over a pair of lost pants. What do you want to bet he's going to appeal?

Labels: crime

// posted by Jim-of-oz @ 6/26/2007 01:04:00 PM

Zone of Stupidity

There's an intersection near where I work that seems to bring out the stupid in drivers - even more so that usual. It's a fairly busy 5 lane secondary road, Tittabawassee, that crosses an interstate highway bypass, I-675. Most of the problems come from eastbound Tittabawassee drivers who are trying to get on I-675. You'd think it was pretty straight-forward. Get in the right lane, put your turn signal on and turn.

For some reason a lot of drivers seem to favor making the right turn from the left lane. They wait until they're right near the turnoff then, jump over to the right - some occasionally use a turn signal, but I think their kids probably reach over and flick the level. The one complication (and having driven in New York, London and Los Angeles among others I'd hardly call it a complication), is that there's a gas station on the south side of Tittabawassee just before you get to the southbound turn off. You can look at the picture and see how congested it is - yeah right.

What you end up with is westbound drivers (from all three of their lanes) trying to turn into the gas station, and eastbound drivers (from all three of their lanes) trying to turn off Tittabawassee and get on I-675. And ever hour or so, it seems like there's some quack who will straddle the middle turning lane, not having left themselves enough time to fully cross, poking into the traffic flow of east and westbound cars.

By the way, the traffic level of the picture is a little low, but not much. Saginaw rush hour traffic levels are similar to 3 a.m. traffic levels in a lot of real cities. In fact, along Bay Road, one of our busiest, about 3/4 of the traffic signals become flashing yellows after 10 p.m. And heaven forbid you sneak some snow on the roads. What self respecting Michigander would recognize that snow is slippery?

Labels: crime, driving, gripes

Why We Have Problems

There's a reason why we are having so many problems in this state, and in other parts of this country. I was looking at the Detroit Free Press. Buried under "More stories…" can be found the article, " Only a quarter of Detroit high school students graduate in 4 years." Which basically means that: "The numbers, based on data from the 2003-04 school year, have Detroit -- for the second year in a row -- having the lowest graduation rate among the 50 largest urban districts in the country."

You know what kind of stories are listed above that? Restaurant smoking bans, carjackings, the Sopranos, baseball and hockey, among others. What the hell kind of city is it that is more worried about how some TV show finished the season or if some pitcher will throw a baseball than the fact that 75% of its kids won't be graduating high school in four years? Of course the officials say the report is untrue, and it is probably slanted to make things look worse - but how much better can things actually be? I'm sure it's going to be refreshing to find out the percentage is only 50% instead of 25%.

This just goes way beyond sad and pathetic.

Labels: crime, gripes

A Load of Crap

Gee -- who would have guessed. After three days of a 45 day jail sentence that was shortened to 23 days a rich spoiled brat gets to go home. Her punishment? Staying at home for 20 days. I haven't been there, but I doubt that staying in her home is going to be any hardship.

Her dirtbag lawyer says, "[Hiltion is] really being punished because of her celebrity". No, you dingbat, she's being punished because she repeatedly drove with a suspended license. Flaunting the law has nothing to do (although is often associated with) being a celebrity.

It's beginning to look like California is a celebrities' "get out of jail free" state. Whether it's drugs, drunk driving, molesting kids, driving with a suspended license or murder, if a celebrity does it in California, they've got a good chance of getting off.

I hope it doesn't happen, but the next time Hilton has an accident I'm hoping she hits and hurts another celebrity instead of some poor shmuck who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time driving a cheap Chevy or Ford. This is the kind of stuff that just really pisses me off. If there was really justice, maybe Blake would shoot Hilton behind the wheel of her car causing her to lose control and runs into OJ forcing his Bronco off the road down a cliff running over Jackson just before he gets his creepy white hands on another 10 year old while Macauley looks on.

Update: I didn't see this until just now: Actress Michelle Rodriguez was released from jail early, after serving less than a day of a 60-day jail sentence, authorities said Tuesday.

Labels: celebs, crime, driving, gripes

Door Locks

This has come up before - a lot. A big question came up when I was watching Desperate Housewives a couple weeks ago. On that show people are constantly knocking on doors, getting no answer, then entering the house to find one nasty incident or another. Cop shows are also good for that. A knock, and the door swings open, and the cop goes in and sees whatever.

Today on the news I heard there's some guy wandering around near here entering into homes and ripping stuff off. There was no mention of breaking in by the way. One guy they interviewed said people were starting to think about - starting, mind you, to lock their doors.

Our office building is locked and each employee has a key card to open the door. I'm one of the strange ones who won't let in people I don't know who "left" their card home. It's not much of an inconvenience to them, since they probably won't have to wait more than a couple of minutes before someone will let them in. Regardless of that, they never fail to give me a dirty look - as if I'm the reason they forgot their key card. Oh, did I forget to mention the guy a few months ago they had to call a police escort for after he was fired? He was being quite vocal and profane in making his displeasure known. And since he was built like a Green Bay Packer linebacker, I made it a point to stay far away from him.

I think those oft yearned for days of not having to lock your doors are in most cases a fantasy. I grew up on a farm almost 50 years ago far away from major cities and more than once we had to call the police because of intruders. Today, I'm sorry to say, there's no excuse for leaving doors unlocked. People are just plain more ornery now and care about as much for others as they do an ant on the sidewalk.

(p.s. this is an old post that was saved and never posted)

Labels: crime, gripes

Stupid Stuff

One of the latest stories about meth is that 'Strawberry meth' is latest drug scare. You know what this means to us common folk don't you? Now we're going to have buy our strawberry Koolaid and Jello mix behind the counter.

You may have missed my earlier rants, but a couple of weeks ago we tried to buy old-fashioned lye to make some old-fashioned soap. You can't do that anymore. Because meth-heads use lye to make their stuff, it can no longer be sold normally. This has also happened with a lot of decongestants, like Claritan-D. Since the meth-heads use this, you have to find a pharmacy and then sign all kinds of releases before you can buy it. Or you can the less effective version that is still on the shelf.

I think we should just give the meth-heads access to some super-duper high strength stuff and let them blow their brains out with it. Instead of inconveniencing the many because of the actions of the few - just get rid of the few.

Labels: crime, government, gripes

Dogs

I have ranted here about loose dogs in the past and will continue to do so. I just found out that this week is Dog Bite Prevention Week. Most of the following has been admittedly cut and pasted (the links to the originals are there). Here's some stats from a fact sheet by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA):

An estimated 4.7 million Americans will be bitten this year.

Primary victims are children.

As many as 800,000 people annually require medical treatment for dog bites.

About 12 people each year die from dog attacks.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurance companies paid $317.2 million for dog bite liability claims in 2005 alone.

From other places: "Small children are the most common victims, followed by older people and United States Postal Service (USPS) employees."

I have no problem with you having a dog. Most dogs are pretty cool. What I do have a problem with is when you let your dog roam loose. Those dogs aren't cool. If I had my way, I'd just shoot them on sight. And if that pisses you off, then keep your dog and the dog's teeth under control and don't bitch and moan when some driver runs it over.

Labels: crime, freedom, gripes

Criminal BS

This story on CNN is so full of bullshit in so many ways, I can barely begin to explain why - (but I'll try). By the way, "Workman, a self-described former "junkie," acknowledges robbing the Wendy's with a gun for drug money and tussling with police outside"

The murderer (Workman) wants to give his last meal to a homeless person but the prison doesn't allow it. What the hell, you're gonna spend $20 whether it's eaten by the bad guy or not. Why is it OK to waste the $20 on some guy who's going to be dead in a couple hours when you can feed some wino on the street?

Didn't really murder the victim, but "his [Workman] weapon 'involuntarily discharged' when he was hit in the head." Please, you're carrying a weapon during a crime. Don't do the crime if you're not ready to do the time - see my earlier comments about guns and "accidents."

"ensure that Workman's death will be peaceful and painless." WHY? He shot Memphis Police Lt. Ronald Oliver. If he's willing to shoot a cop, that means he has absolutely no regard whatsoever for society's rules. Why does he deserve a peaceful and painless death. Memphis Police Lt. Ronald Oliver sure didn't get one.

His [Workman] defense said that new ballistics evidence suggests Oliver died from friendly fire at the robbery scene. Workman has admitted he did the crime. If hadn't robbed Wendy's Lt. Oliver wouldn't be dead now - whether it was Workman's bullet or because Workman robbed Wendys. It's cause and effect.

"In his talk with CNN, Workman said he feared what lethal injection might feel like." He should have given that some thought before he took his gun into Wendys.

I'm sorry, but I feel no sympathy for this guy at all. My sympathies lie with Lt. Oliver who gave his life trying to protect mine.

Update: Not everyone is a butthead. It seems the homeless got a night's worth of pizzas out it anyway. But I still wonder how Lt. Oliver's family is doing.

Labels: crime

Thought Police

Remember when yesterday, I mentioned Orwell and 1984? How about this story, "The senior [4.2GPA] at suburban Cary-Grove High School was charged this week with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct after the principal turned his creative writing essay over to police. ...The charges could result in a $1,500 fine and as many as 30 days in jail if Lee [the senior] is convicted.

This is a kid who had been vetted and accepted by the Marine Corp and had never been in any trouble with the police. However, because of a violent story he wrote for a creative writing class, he was turned over to the cops and charged with disorderly conduct! That is just wrong. At best, how about asking him what's going or maybe see a shrink - but arrest? I don't think so.

Where would writers like Mickey Spillane and Stephen King be, or especially folks like John Skipp & Craig Spector who started the splatterpunk genre, if every disturbing story writer was arrested? Stuff like this pisses me off so much I could shoot someone, oops, wait, I mean allegedly shoot someone, ah, I meant allegedly think about maybe perhaps alluding to causing someone alleged harm, kinda. Wait! OK, what I really meant is that it makes me so mad, I could buy them a Twinkie sundae with soft ice cream and a dietary disclaimer to warn them of any possible harm that may occur should they partake of the calorie ridden treat now or at any time in the future.

Labels: crime, freedom, government, gripes

Can't do anything right

It's not every day an admitted bank robber gets a second chance... Gorcyca's office [prosecutor] did just that when it sought leniency for Lawrence Lawson, a 60-year-old who admitted he robbed a bank... Gorcyca noted Lawson's past employment and his clean record -- "not even a traffic ticket" -- and statements he made to police about how he could not find a job, exhausted all his savings and finally, out of desperation, planned a bank robbery so he would get arrested and have three meals and a roof over his head.

Not knowing all the facts here, I'm not quite sure how to take this story from Detroit. On one hand, here's a guy who loses his job, then muffs a bank robbery so he can get caught and sent to jail, and now the prosecutor is going to let him loose. Supposedly this guy only has $15 to his name, but manages to acquire a firearm to rob the bank.

I've talked about "accidental shooting" before (no such thing in my mind), and wonder just how far this guy was from accidentally shooting some poor teller? Depending on the weapon you're talking about 3-5 pounds of pressure and 1/8" - 1/4" inch of movement before you unleash 150 grains or so lead at just around the speed of sound - a combination of mass and velocity designed to seriously fuck someone up.

I'm hoping for the best for Mr. Lawson, but have my doubts. A year ago he was unemployed, hungry and broke. Now, one year later, he's still unemployed and broke and now has a felony arrest record. I hope someone out there is going to look out for Mr. Lawson by more than just shortening his jail term.

Labels: crime

Virginia Shootings

Here's a line from a yahoo news article about the shooter:

"I guess the thing that is most startling to me, I say startling, surprising, is a young man who's 23 years old, that's been here for a while, that seemed to not know anybody," Flaherty said.

From my experience, I don't think this is that surprising. There's lots of us out there who seem to know no one. We aren't noticed for that reason. All through life there's a lot of folks out there who are on the fringes. Most of us manage to get through life without shooting a school full of people. Of course you don't notice those of us who don't. We're not noticed until or unless something like the Virginia shootings happen.

If you try hard, you can all remember somebody like this from high school, college or your job. You probably remember them, if at all, because of something someone did to them. The slightly odd kid who everyone either at best, ignored, or more likely tormented in some shape or form. Movies often identify them, Milton from Office Space, Carrie from her movie, and Arnie from Christine. Folks who just exist on the edge of society. Most of those who do notice them, just figure they're odd. Honestly, it surprising there aren't more Chos who snap and run rampant. There's a lot of them out there. You met a lot of them and you've probably even laughed at some of them. I'm one of them and even I laugh at others who are worse than I.

Labels: crime, gripes

Guns

I suppose I should add my little voice to the torrent of pro-antigun rhetoric. Simply put, I'm for gun ownership if you want one. In fact, any weapon you want to own is fine with me. Where I draw the line is what you do with that weapon. The kid in Virginia was already identified as a nutcase - and he is one who shouldn't be owning a weapon. But that doesn't mean no one should own a weapon.

One thing to think about is that had a couple of law-abiding students, teachers or guards, been packing guns, the whole VTI thing could've ended up much differently. Think about what would have happened if that kid's first stop was in a marksmanship class where everyone was armed. I think the body count would have been much smaller.

One of the cliches that I believe in is, "guns don't kill people, people kill people." And it's true. You put a loaded gun in the middle of a room full of people and nothing's going to happen unless someone stupid picks up the gun and shoots someone - preferably himself. That gun will sit there until it rusts into a pile of ferric oxide and no one will be hurt.

What I'd like to see is a clampdown on gun crime. Do a crime, any crime, even stealing a slice of stale bread and if you have a gun with you I'd like to see a minimum of 25 to life. Hurt someone with the gun, and I don't care if you drop it and the victim trips over it, you get life - period. A gun can be a deadly force, just like a knife or baseball bat. If you pick one up, you need to acknowledge certain responsibilities. Like I said, I see no problem with owning a gun as long as you're prepared to accept the responsibilities of ownership.

To me there's no such thing as an "accidental shooting." If you're holding a gun and it goes off, you're responsible. Every time I pick up a gun, I consider it loaded and I don't point it towards anything (or anybody) I don't intend on shooting. I don't care if you've just rebuilt it and it's still warm from a bluing bath, I consider it loaded until I check for sure. If you're carrying a gun and trip and shoot someone, you're responsible (unless you're a vice-president) because it wasn't an accident.

Labels: crime, freedom