As children we are taught to be trusting of police officers. We are told that is we ever need help, if we are lost, or are in danger, that a police officer can be of great help when we are in our time of need. However, as time goes on, skepticism clouds the minds of many people. What we are taught as children becomes something to be mocked, dismissed, and ignored. Through this cloud of skepticism, the police officer falls from the role of protector, aide, and friend into the role of a simple human, a drain on our resources, and a potential threat. Unfortunately, some police department reinforce this clouded viewpoint.
Recent years have not been kind to the West Valley City Police Department. From their perceived ineptitude in the investigation of the Susan Powell case, the tossing of dozens of drug cases investigated by this department, and the continued questions surrounding the Danielle Willard case, the WVCPD is in need of some good PR, and it appears that this department got some of that this morning. West Valley City police help evacuate two families from burning home This morning, several members of the West Valley City Police Department assisted in getting several family members out of their burning home. While this may seem like a basic thing for police to do, when the public has little to no trust in you, little things like this can help build up at least a small sense of competency in the public eye. Sure these officers have a long way to go, but small steps like can lead to many great things. Let's just hope that things continue to move forward for this department, because any small stumble could cause any progress to evaporate.
At first glance this seems like a really cool story: Cops using GPS trackers to track a car they are pursuing instead of engaging in a high speed pursuit. This technology could save lives, prevent property loss, and even prevent that bastard who stole my high end sports car from wrecking it in a place that I would never, and will never, go to. But, once again, the skeptic in me rears his ugly head. Sure the police can fire GPS trackers at a fleeing vehicle, but is it legal for them to do so?
In Unites States v. Jones, the Supreme Court dealt with whether police can put a GPS tracker on a suspect's car, deciding that the placement of such a device constituted a search of private property, and that keeping the GPS tracker on the car for an extended amount of time constituted a unreasonable search of a person's private property. While that decision deals with a person that is suspected a crime, how does this decision affect whether the police can shoot a GPS tracker on the car of a person they know has committed a crime? Does public safety affect the legality of such a decision? What about length of time? If the GPS tracker is placed and the car is not found for a couple of days, does the length of time it took to find the car affect whether or not the police can use this technology in this manner?
When contacted by this reporter for this story, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said, "What the fuck are you doing on my property? Get the fuck out of here, you fucking liberal."
When queried, the public relations department for the West Valley City Police Department said, in a statement, "Why can't you journalistic types just leave us alone?!? We were just fine before you people started poking around in our business, and now- and now- Look at us! We're a police force in shambles. Just get out. Get out!"
I have yet to receive a clear answer about the legality of GPS trackers being shot from police vehicles at suspect vehicles. One thing is clear though, I know who I don't trust with this technology.
It's that time again. Once again payday has come, and time has come to see how much money I've earned, how much of what I've made gets eaten up by bills, and how much money I have to not spend in the pursuit of Project Buy A House. The calculations are in, and the amount I have to not play around with is...
$228.39. Okay, that is a nice amount, and will make a significant contribution to my goal of buying a house. Now, let's see the things that I could buy with the amount $228.39, which I'm not because I'm trying to be a responsible adult. Note that I said trying
Coming up within the next two weeks is the annual celebrations of blowing things up, also knows as Independence Day. This is a day where Americans, in the immortal words of not-Apu,
celebrate the independence of our country by blowing up a small part of it. In years past, I would have eagerly driven up to (Redacted to not incriminate the writer) and come back home with (Redacted to not incriminate the writer). In this time where I am trying to be economically responsible, this expense may seem to be unnecessary. However, since I am short sighted in addition to being borderline legally blind, I do not see it this way. There is another reason why buying a big cache of explodables is not something I will do this year.
I have a neighbor who, in the past couple of years, has bought a big supply of illegal fireworks and set them off in a highly spectacular fashion. This neighbor of mine puts on a better fireworks display than anything I've seen at the community sponsored events. And, since the West Valley City Police Department is fuckingincompetent, I expect this illegal display to continue on this year. So, $228.39 left to not spend.
The Last Of Us is a recently released video game that I've heard a lot of good things about. Artist and sexymotherfucker Ted Bracewell said of the game, "I'm only 4 minutes into The Last of Us and it's already my Game of the Year." And you can buy The Last Of Us on Amazon.com for $50. That's right, you can buy it. I'm not going to because of this project I'm currently pursuing, but, for the purposes of this essay, let's say I have. So, $178.39 left to not spend.
Looking over a list of recently released movies on DVD, there's nothing that I feel particularly motivated to buy. Even if I wasn't trying to save for a house, I would not buy any of these movies. So, $178.39 left to not spend.
Looking over the Utah DABC Price List, there is currently a special on Aberlour 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The alcohol store is selling this scotch at $39.99. This is a good price on a Scotch Whisky like this, and Aberlour would look great sitting next to my half finished bottle of Johnny Walker Black, and my sixty percent finished bottle of Tanqueray. If I was to buy this bottle of whiskey, I would also be buying another bottle of Radio From Hell Red As Hell Ale for $3.96. So, $134.44 left to not spend.
Speaking of Radio From Hell, it was recently announced on that show that the X96 Big Ass Show is going to be held on August 24th at the Gallivan Center. $134.44 sounds like a good amount to spend on a show that is always fun to go to. This would be a good amount if I was for sure going to this show. As it stands, I may have to go through some spectacular financial gymnastics in order to go to this show, but that is what happens when you pursue a goal in a masochistic manner.
So, there you have it. I took $228.39 of money that I'm not spending and made a list of things that I will not be buying with the money that I'm not spending. Don't worry, next week I will not have rent to pay, freeing up more of the money that I have earned for me to not spend on things that will make me immediately happy.
Take your normal superhero origin story. Guy gets powers, guy realizes he has powers, guy goes out to save the world. Now factor this in: the guy has a score to settle.
Everybody wonders what it is that makes them who they are. The Hawk thought that question was securely answered. However a meeting with a boy in a hospital causes him to question everything. Why he is, who he is, what he is, and even if he is.
Eleven years after the events of Consequences Of Mayorust, The Hawk finds himself dealing with many of the same issues that many of us deal with: A less than satisfying job, co-workers of variant annoyance, and a romantic life is unhealthy at best. Thrust into all this is Madison Medina, a well meaning woman who's adversarial relationship with The Hawk morphs into a kind of friendship. Madison, in addition to learning more about herself and her abilities, help to reveal deeper problems inside the organization both she and The Hawk work for.
In every workplace there is a person. A person who doesn't talk to anyone, has walled themselves socially, and seems openly hostile to everyone. Every workplace has this person, even if you don't know of such a person, they're there. The Black Robin Christmas Carol is the story of one of these people. It delves into who this person is, why this person is, and how this person can change for the better.
There is a story. A story of pain, a story of loss, a story of unspeakable horrors, a story that has not been given it's proper attention. Some are ignoring this story. Some are unaware of this story. Some know of this story but are complicit in it's darkness. This is a story that must be told. Told so that the good can stop it and the bad can feel shame for it.
When I thought up thig blog, the name I first thought up was "Random Bullshit". Quickly I recognized that this name would put some people off. Then I thought of the name "Random Bull****". That seemed to be to much clutter. Then I was inspired with the name that dons this blog today.
Posts
