“May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.”


"This report is maybe 12-years-old. Parliament buried it, and it stayed buried till River dug it up. This is what they feared she knew. And they were right to fear because there's a whole universe of folk who are gonna know it, too. They're gonna see it. Somebody has to speak for these people. You all got on this boat for different reasons, but you all come to the same place. So now I'm asking more of you than I have before. Maybe all. Sure as I know anything I know this, they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, 10, they'll swing back to the belief that they can make people . . . better. And I do not hold to that. So no more running. I aim to misbehave." ~ Captain Malcom Reynolds

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Another recap....

Because my titling skills are completely absent today...

Finally got a chance to get out for another DUI special last night - this one was a road check, instead of out wandering around looking for drunks. Road checks are one of those luck things in my experience - what you come out of it with at the end of the night greatly depends on where you end up standing at any particular moment, and what car pulls up to you. Sometimes you get lucky with a good arrest, other nights you have a chance to meet a great many drivers who aren't impaired, who are licensed and upstanding citizens, and you can send them on their ways with hopefully a smile and minimal inconvenience. Either way is still a success in my book; even if I don't get a drunk off the road hopefully the fact we are out there will remind others of the risks and help them make good choices.

Anyway, last night ended up being one of the lucky ones. We've barely gotten into place and the first cars are coming into the line when I see the one that will be ending up in front of me; he's coming down the empty portion of the road in stops and starts as you can almost see the attempt to process what's happening and what he can do about it. Before he even gets to me I have a good idea where this is going, and it doesn't take more than a few seconds of our initial contact for me to confirm my suspicions. It isn't very long before we're taking the ride down to the jail for what ends up being a busy wait at the jail. Definitely made it nicer and a few of the other folks jealous that I picked mine up the very first car.

It did lead to other fun moments (like always). Yet again it amazes me the number of people I run into who think that mixing beer with heavy medication, or even just the medication, is ok to drive with - this was one of those where he even had the stuff with him labeled "Don't drive or operate machinery" - oh, but officer, I just HAD to go to the club for a bit, I was only a little dizzy... But apparently the world still thinks being incapable of driving due to medication is somehow less risky than being so because of alcohol. Of course this also adds to the procedures on my end, since I have to go get blood samples instead of just the breath test - we have a good system in place locally, but it is some more work.

Ended up with some frustrations with other officers as well, a few times I had to bite my tongue. Guys not searching prisoners properly, or treating them like buddies instead of like someone in custody; being casual and half-assed about paperwork and procedures, and just stuff that tends to otherwise get on my nerves. I do what I can to help remind folks but sometimes you can't get through to people.

Ended up being a bit later after that since I helped a coworker with his own arrest. His catch was a guy on a weekend away from the military, who apparently thought it would be nice to supplement his DOD pay with some drug distribution, concealed guns and all that... Not fun getting to call a duty officer in the middle of the night and explaining that one of their enlisted guys is in custody on numerous serious felony charges...

Off to take the kids for some museum fun time and a bit more Halloween. Hope everyone out there gets good sweets of some sort or another. My plans involve a quiet night at home with my wife, no costumes required...

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Tonight's lesson

When it's the tail end of a long, frustrating 11 hour training day, and your group is making the same stupid mistakes we lectured you on five hours ago, I won't feel particularly guilty about emptying a full magazine of airsoft rounds into your bodies during a scenario because you can't pay attention. Maybe it will stick in your minds this time and keep you alive out there on the road when it's for real, and throwing a tantrum about it not being nice or fair won't really impress me. TYVM.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fan post



Dang it, just because of this clip now I'm going to have to watch the gorram show to see what it's about!

Monday, October 26, 2009

No post of note

Feeling off still - a combination of couldn't sleep last night & felt like crap so slept this morning - plus the poor kids are sick. Have a full schedule the rest of the week. So, can't think of anything to write worthwhile, sorry...

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Sunday Funnies



Am I the only one who misses scary vampires?

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Saturday notes

Both munchkins fighting pink-eye, plus had a visitor with the flu this week - so when I woke up feeling crappy wife strongly suggested I head to the doc-in-a-box for a check - and continued doing so til I listened. Fortunately no flu or strep, so just have to deal with a few days of unspecified viral fun.

It did lead to the moment of explaining to the lab tech that if he didn't quit digging the needle into my nerve he was about to get hit - I think he finally got the point, but my arm STILL hurts hours later.

In other fun, it looks like the fraud issue from earlier this month is back - fortunately Wachovia caught it earlier (kudos to their customer service on this as well) & we have a hold on the account. Now just hoping we can find the folks & prosecute - at least it's not costing me any money.

That's it for my fun.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Funny text of the week...

Heard from a fellow bomb-squad member one that should make a few of you laugh. As follows:

Him: "So have you heard of geocaching? I hadn't until two hours ago when I blew up one of their finds thinking it was a pipe bomb..."

Me: "Yeah, I have some friends who do it even. Nice shootin' Tex."

For Meadowlark


This is all that is left of two of them - and yes it was good!

I'll have to check out the link you sent, thanks!

BTW - add coffee to your rubs, if you haven't already - it's a good addition...

Yummy

Just to make a few people jealous - my kitchen is STILL full of the scent of the two briskets I smoked for the party yesterday... perfect to wake up to on a cool fall morning!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Two years

Still playing catch-up from the trip, plus have family in town, so thus the absence of posting. Hopefully things will be calmed down in the next few days so I can catch up.


Sorry for the poor picture quality, but the little princess had her 2nd birthday party tonight (tomorrow is the actual date but the scheduling worked out better for tonight) - hard to believe it has gone by so quickly! The little baby who fit in my arm is now a squirmy, stubborn ball of energy who isn't afraid of anything. She's still most definitely daddy's girl though - and it was great that we had a house full of people, good food and plenty of smiles for her special day.

I hope they all continue to be as wonderful in your future Kyleigh!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Home again

Survived my week away, and home with my wonderful family. The kids were thrilled to see me, and my wife I know is happy for the assistance. Plus it was wonderful to cook a meal again and eat something healthy.

And in fairness to my last post - the bomb squad guys were just as amusing doing tactical entries during some of the events as the SWAT guys doing explosives. But everyone found a good common ground and got a lot out of the week.

Have a few stories to share when I get the chance, but for now I want to relax with my wife and then get a real night's sleep.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Thanks!

OK appreciate it all - I know I don't have room to whine, it was just one of those days.

Much better today - got some sleep and all that. Plus I got to enjoy watching a number of SWAT guys learning explosives math.... as my wife put it, there was some frustration with the "ugh, can't shoot it" guys... Gave me a few smiles though.

Anyway, thanks for the perspective ladies - I'll be better!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Whiny Travel Post

Didn't sleep last night, crappy hotel bed... though thankfully my teammate doesn't snore...

Long day sitting in a classroom just reviewing stuff I already know. Not enough caffeine to make it go fast enough.

Miss my family back home.

Traveling just isn't as funny as it used to be. Hopefully tomorrow is more fun.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Brief notes from a long week...

- Yet again it appears to be the season to cheat at the range... I've caught at least one person every time. WTF??? Apparently integrity and effort don't mean what they used to.

- Found out tonight that it looks like an online transaction somewhere recently got hijacked into some internet fraud. Right now it looks like I'm getting a "refund" from the company that made the charges - but I have more research to do and a report to file, and will mostly likely try to pursue some mail fraud charges. Plus this means my wife and I need to pull the credit reports and see if there is something we don't know about going on.

- Just when I'm almost caught up on things around the office from my last trip and vacation, I'm headed out of town again for a week. Much closer to home this time though, and I get to play with someone else's explosives, so it should be fun. Might even be able to swing some pictures this time.

- Poor Kyleigh seems to have picked up the flu I had before - just feeling a bit rough, but combine that with being two and she is quite unhappy when things don't go her way! Hopefully one more good night's sleep will help with that problem.

- Finally, although I've been trying to keep it quiet, apparently I'll be getting the Nobel prize for science sometime soon. Oh, I haven't actually DONE any research yet, but I have some nifty ideas for cybernetics in the future, and it's the thought that counts now...

Thursday, October 8, 2009

They chose.... poorly

I can guarantee you from my experience, the fiercest fighting during this battle was on who got to go play "catch the pirate" amongst the troops present.

Somewhere Blackbeard and others are spinning in their graves in shame...

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Another link in lieu of my own content

Because it's still one of those weeks.

Marko has another reminder of what a "right" actually is, reference some recent public debate.

Give it a read

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Good thoughts requests

Had a bit of a rant planned, but no room for it - my problems are minor.

It seems Peter over at Bayou Renaissance Man had a heart attack earlier, and is scheduled for triple bypass surgery.

Please take a moment to drop by and send the man some good wishes, letting him know we all hope he recovers quickly.

Thanks.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Software repair tip

Just so you all know, threats DO work...

Following a sudden, unexpected & completely random moment this morning whereupon my desktop decided to corrupt the sound card drivers & play no audio, I spent a few frustrating hours trying the standard fixes through Windows Update etc in order to get things back on track. I was just about at the point of deciding I would have to go ahead and go buy a new sound card etc, when I crossly inquired of the computer if perhaps it was time for a round through the chasis to correct the attitude...

For some reason the next patch straightened things out, and now the sound is back fine.

Just a tip to keep in mind...

Friday, October 2, 2009

Playing games

Had a frustrating day at the range this week - teaching, not shooting. Time for the semi-annual quals for everyone, and it was one of those groups that just didn't seem to take things seriously.

Police work has changed in the past years, and it's certainly not the culture of frequent shooters and such that it used to be. As many others have observed there are a great many cops these days that view their sidearms as more of a burden than an obligation, and don't take the time to practice with it any more than they are absolutely required to. Which, whether or not you are a fan of shooting, is simply negligent in my book - to neglect practice and preparation with one of the most important tools in your possession, particularly one that requires skill and judgment to use, is inexcusable.

Be that as it may, as I said this group was particularly frustrating. Not only were most of them not taking it seriously, but we had just about every sort of cheating possible. Folks trying to shoot extra rounds up close so they wouldn't have to risk missing further out. Another guy who kept trying to fake out putting his pistol all the way in the holster, so he wouldn't have to burn time trying to remember how to draw the gorram thing. People just going through the motions on everything & doing the minimums to get by. Then when they do BARELY pass do they feel concerned about what that means about their skills - nope - more just relieved that they are done for another six months.

Heck, when I confronted one guy about things his response was "Well, this is how I'd set things up if I was going to get in a gunfight, so why does it matter?" Because apparently he has the magical foreknowledge of exactly when an where he's going to ever be called upon to be faced with that sort of situation on the job.

Like I said, I just find it very frustrating. If you heard about a fireman who didn't keep his first aid skills up and someone died, you would be livid. Or a doctor who didn't maintain his knowledge for surgery. But for some reason far too many cops refuse to take seriously their own proficiency to be ready to use the tools of their profession. Just something I can't understand.