Monthly Archives: October 2011

Back in 1998 while in scouts I did a backpacking trip through Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  While in the back country the only faciliites available happened to be holes dug in the ground with primitive boxes placed on top as seats.  We were instructed to carry a stick with us and beat it around the hole prior to using said boxes.  Below is a video of why.

I doubt I would eat there anymore either.  Seriously though people, carry your F’n sticks, and don’t use your foot!

h/t David.

Officer Andy Hester evidently missed two very crucial pieces of education regarding the handling and use of weaponry.

Police Chief Mike Hall says officer Andy Hester was at the Front Porch restaurant last week when he held up his taser to activate it.

Hall says Hester removed the cartridge, and that’s when it accidently hit a restaurant employee’s arm.

First don’t play with it or handle it unless it is necessary.

Second, when dealing with a firearm, or firearm like weapon, keep your booger hook off the bang switch.

Had it been a civilian they would have been charged with assault, for that reason he goes on the count.  Accident or not.  While tasers are less lethal, they are still weapons and should be handled and treated as such.

In the words of Say Uncle, “Stop touching it!”

State Sponsored Criminal Count: 133 – Andy Hester

Because playing with weaponry in public where others can be injured is perfectly acceptable if you’re a cop.

That holds true unless you know someone or are the child of someone special.  

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department records clerk Joann Reed wanted a speeding ticket for the son of a deputy dismissed, but she didn’t go to a judge or jury in traffic court.

Instead, Reed faxed a copy of the Centreville Police Department’s ticket from the Sheriff’s Department’s fax machine to Centreville village attorney Carmen Durso, with a handwritten message: “Dismiss this case.”

Which some would just dismiss this since it was just a traffic citation, however the defendant had also failed to appear in court.  The whole point of our legal system is that anyone and everyone should and can be held accountable.  What isn’t right is that those who work within the system are manipulating it to prevent their friends from even being held accountable.

Unequal application of the law is one of the first signs of tyranny.  This is by no means the worst case of unequal application, but every little bit adds more salt into the wound.

via Ry.

Easy, you just don’t lead them so much.

HELI-HOG’N from Gary Wagner on Vimeo.

That has been thoroughly added to my bucket list.  Seriously I don’t know what would make that any more fun.  Alan, if you have resources to make this happen, I will compensate you for your time!

via Ry

Not only did this take place in California, but at a High school no less, so of course it can’t happen here, a school is a gun free zone.  The school went on lock down after a murder-suicide took place in the parking lot.

“I heard the shots and I knew someone was dead,” Chad said. “Why would
he do this at a school? And why did he have to do it where there are
kids everywhere?”

Just because it is a school with kids present does not mean that someone with intent will be thinking about the logistics involved.  The person is not going to care due to a one track mind.

“This just makes you think it could happen anywhere,” she said.

Thanks captain obvious, welcome to the party.  Why do you think this series is named like it is!?

While some would say he didn’t escape the wrath of punishment, many would say he certainly isn’t getting nearly enough.

A State Police trooper has been suspended for six months without pay
for using pepper spray on a suspect who was already handcuffed in the
back seat of a patrol car.

The trooper, Kevin Husband, tried to cover up his actions by saying
in State Police reports and again in an appeal hearing that the spraying
took place outside the car during a scuffle, according to documents
detailing the 2008 incident.

Nice, falsifying documents, assaulting someone while under arrest, and he’s left employed.  While he may get a suspension, the fact is these types of incidents should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The evidence indicated that the officer ultimately didn’t need to use the pepper spray in any case.  The fact that he attemped to cover up his actions indicates he knew it was wrong, and the cover up is worse than the act itself.

State Sponsored Criminal Count: 132 – Kevin Husband

Because when you get bored on shift, pepper spray someone in cuffs contained in a car.  It will provide hours of laughter.

I’m a bit behind on this, but I haven’t forgotten about it.  Beale Street in Memphis, TN decided that it is going to ban guns on the entire street after restaurant carry was passed.  So based on that, nothing should happen right?  Cause guns are banned.  Well, tell that to the 6 people injured from a shooting in none other than the Beale Street district.

Later this month, Beale Street will break out the hand-held metal
detectors at the entrance points and use other security measures to keep
guns out of the three-block area day and night.

Based on the fact that there are metal detectors, how did someone get through with a gun?  Honestly, the detectors are just another form of security theater.

No matter what type of safe guards are in place, if a criminal wants to do something, laws are not going to stop them.

But, but, it can’t happen here, we have metal detectors to keep us safe.

H/T WizardPC

Since JayG started it
and I actually have a story to tell, here goes nothing.

So here’s the meme. Long answers or short.
1. What was your first car?
Model, year, color, condition?
2. What adventures did you have in it, good or
bad?
3. What happened to it, what’s the end of the story?

My first car, bought from my cousin by my parents, was a 2002 Hyundai Accent
much like what is pictured here.

It was stick shift and the low profile model.  It also was the bare minimum
on any extras as in no cruise control.  My parents bought it for me after I
moved into an apartment from the dorms.  Since I had previously lived on campus, I didn’t need
a car and my parents said they didn’t want me driving home every weekend.  I
didn’t have a car in high school, didn’t need one and I didn’t get my license
till after I graduated, I didn’t have a use for it.  At the time, I felt school
was more important than driving.

My first urban driving experience with this car was in Seattle.  I was driving up
James St., which happens to be very steep, and had to stop in the middle of the
hill for a red light.  As I was still fairly new at driving a stick I conked the
engine when the light turned green.  After that, I quickly learned how to play
the clutch on hills which came in handy for the WSU campus.  If need be, I could
easily let it roll more than normal to warn other drivers that were on my tail.

That car was a good little car.  That is, until it became known as the coffin
on wheels.  A car that small up against a fuel tanker carrying 11,000 gallons of
fuel, head on, is not a fair fight.  The car, to say the least, did not
survive.

*Notes below are from TMM, I do not remember the accident or 5 days after the accident.  My condition was the same as Drew Barrymore’s character in 50 First Dates.* Pictures below could be considered by some to be of a graphic nature. Click read more for pictures.

I [TMM] was driving at the time of the accident.  My legs actually came out from under the steering wheel and I was laying at about a 45 degree angle with my legs laying against the dash.  After regaining consiousness and taking care of other issues *discussed in a minute* I set the compound fracture in my left leg.  It was bent about 75-80 degrees, with my foot turned in about 60-70 degrees as well. I won’t describe how I did it, a guy outside the car was disturbed by my actions.  I splinted and wedged it in place on the dash board until the cavalry arrived.

The cavalry had to peel the car open in order to pull me out.  That is quite seriously the most pain I have ever felt in my life.  My right femur was broken right at the Lesser Trochanter.  At the time we actually thought I had broken my pelvis.  That combined with the damage to my left leg, it was excruciatingly painful as they pulled me onto the back board because they basically had to drag my legs over the non-smooth interior.  When they finally got my leg in traction in the hospital it was the most refreshing feeling in the world.  Seriously it ranked right up there with sex just because of how fast it went from pain, to no pain.  It was like flipping a switch.  Which was also the switch were I finally checked out, as they did that, they also started an IV and giving me pain meds.  I have seen my signature on documents I don’t remember signing.  I gave a statement to the police evidently as well.

My first concern on regaining consciousness and realizing what had happened was for TMW.  She was unconscious slumped down in her seat.  Her breathing was obviously labored and when I looked towards her it was obvious that her seat belt was holding her head up by her neck.  She was being choked by the seat belt.  I instructed some people at the scene to cut the seat belt.  An argument insued with them whining about a possible neck injury.  I asked what experience they had in first aid.  To which they responded, “We’re both RN’s.”  At which point I was a bit furthered upset and said, “Well didn’t they teach you anything about the importance of the airway in stabilizing a trauma victim?  If she can’t breath, everything else is null and void.”  They promptly cut the seat belt.  Which was doubly good because she had 6 broken ribs on her right side and as a result her lungs partially collapsed.  That stress coupled with a restricted airway could have easily killed her.

They removed her from the car first, and lets just say that was the most disturbing blood curdling sound I’ve ever heard in my life.  Due to her injuries she was unconscious but aware.  I could hear her quite well as they pulled her from the car.

Once we were both extricated from the car we were airlifted by helicopter to Spokane.  So I remember the ride on the angel of mercy, the wife however does not.  We both went through long surgeries that night to deal with our injuries.  After which I spent 24 hours in the ICU and TMW spent 48 while recovering.

So there’s the story and pictures (after the car was moved to the wrecking yard) of the Hyundai.  If we can find the packet of accident scene photos we’ll try and post some scans of them.