More Music
“Jenn”, you ask, “Why do you persist in posting these stupid music videos?”
Good question, with a simple answer: See, XBradTC once made the mistake of asking for music recommendations. I took that as license to push the boundaries of outright obnoxiousness by finding something that I would actually listen too but if possible it has to be something that will make other people say, “What the Fuck”. It’s hard to satisfy both criteria at the same time but it’s fun to try. I see other people doing the same thing on twitter and facebook but I think I do it better.
In Re: Police Militirization
Over at Bring the Heat Bring the Stupid XBradTC addresses militarization of the police, as does Instapundit. I find Brad’s piece a bit more compelling that Instapundit’s which, in my opinion, is just regurgitation of the standard libertarian ‘no government’ line. Both seem to equate the possession of weapons and training in their use as a root cause of incidents like that in Ferguson, MO,, a stance that seems dangerously close to that of hard core gun control fanatics who seem to believe that the mere existence of a gun will lead to it’s use in a heinous crime, but Brad touches on what I consider the real issue.
Lack of Accountability.
For God knows how long, police, prosecutors and judges, have enjoyed a level of immunity from prosecution that is stunning. Is it any wonder then that they act like we are lesser citizens who can literally be disposed of as the wish -quoting XBradTC now:
Should you or I in our capacity as private citizens shoot someone, you may be certain that our names would almost instantly be released to the public. Further, we would almost as quickly find ourselves facing questioning by the police. Police officers however, can rest assured that their department will not release their names, nor will they necessarily face questioning under anything like the circumstances you and I would.
That is the problem, and it doesn’t stop with the individual officers. It continues all the way up through the legal system.
That isn’t the way it should be.
First off given the level of power that is entrusted to these individuals they should be held to a much stricter standard than the ordinary citizen, not the looser standard that they enjoy.
Secondly that accountability should continue up thru the chain. way back when the world was young and Jenn was a newly minted HM3 going thru Petty Officer Indoc. I was taught that as a leader you were responsible not only for yourself and your actions, but for your subordinates and their actions also. Somewhere along the way that idea has been lost and now because no one can be held accountable, faith has been lost in the police. At this point it wouldn’t matter if the victim had been holding a hand grenade and threatening to wipe out half of downtown Ferguson, no one will believe it and the cops have brought this on themselves.
TLDR: It’s not the weapons, it’s the thugs with badges who carry them that’s the problem.
(Sorry if this seems disjointed it’s been awhile and I am trying to get used to writing again)
I’m back – again
Been hanging out at The Hostages for the last couple days and I figure what the hell let’s give this blogging thing another try. I haven’t really prepared anything so we’ll go with the old fall back – Music.
So let’s see how this goes.
Election Season officially starts and Google is there
Google.com/elections. mainly news aggregation so far but there is a “toolkit to help campaigns engage” and a trending searches widget. Maybe it will be helpful to some candidates, but will it help the dream of the 90’s to live on in Portland?
– Elsewhere –
Ron Paul has a secret plan to win and it apparently isn’t all based on racism, antisemitism and general craziness –
Paul is following the roadmap set by Barack Obama’s 2008 strategy: Start early, learn the rules, and use superior organization and devoted young supporters to dominate the arcane but crucial party procedures in states your rivals are ignoring — states where caucuses and conventions that elect the delegates who will ultimately choose the Republican candidate.
(…)
Those states together will award 419 of the 2,286 delegates who will choose a nominee in Tampa in August. They operate under complex, individual rules that favor the prepared. In Idaho, for instance, voters will gather in 44 county caucuses, each of which delivers a vote weighted by its size. Those caucuses will conduct run-offs until there are only two candidates left, and if any candidate gets over 60% in a caucus, he gets 100% of its vote. Any candidate winning more than 50% of the state’s weighted vote wins all 32 of Idaho’s delegates — more than will be awarded to all the candidates in Iowa combined.
Speaking of caucuses – Today is the Iowa caucus and Ron Paul is in position to win it. I wish I could say that they absolutely don’t matter but unfortunately they do. In the last 9 elections 66% of the time the winner of the caucus becomes the party nominee, that carries over to the democrat side too.
More Music for the Masses
The Gossip – Heavy Cross
The Gossip – Your Mangled Heart
Referred from the comments – another Musical Interlude not #OWS #OccupyWallStreet approved
Madison Rising – Walking Through That Door
Never heard them before but I like this song. Thanks Zack
(Another plus the #OWS types apparently don’t want them at Zucotti Park, at least that’s the version I am going with)
Musical Interlude
Black Keys – Little Black Submarines
This kind of says it all – “I renew 13 licenses here every year just so I can spend money in this city.”
Yesterday a Kennewick, WA man auctioned off a business he had spent 25 years building up because the tax burden had gotten too high –
Bertsch, 65, said he is down-sizing because the tax burden got too expensive to stay in business.
(…)
“I am tired of carrying all the tax load,” Bertsch said. “I renew 13 licenses here every year just so I can spend money in this city.”
(…)
Bertsch told a friend at the auction he is selling out because government was taking more out of his business than he was.
I’m glad the government is doing all it can to encourage small business hiring.
Musical Interlude
The Golden Age
Tonight I’m Loving You
Instead of disbursing dispersing the #OccupyWallStreet protesters why don’t we offer alternative locations #OWS
#OccupyIslamabad and #OccupyKarachi both have a nice ring
(I’m teasing here. I strongly disagree with most of the occupiers but I still maintain it is their right to protest and if that means they occupy a park for awhile I can live with that)
A Conservative Shemale 