Police shootings and black on black violence -

I'm going to make a wild ass guess here and assume that most black on black violence involves one person shooting another for reasons both persons involved are very aware of. To an outsider, the reasons may be trivial, but my impression is that in most cases, both parties have crossed a certain line placing them in a violent sub-culture akin to organized crime. One may be tempted to say let the bad guys shoot it out amongst themselves, except that all too often they are lousy shots who end up killing and maiming innocent bystanders.

Now here comes the problem of police shootings. Someone from a community will know who the bad characters are and who to avoid. To too many officers, every black male is armed and dangerous. There are bad cops who deliberately start confrontations that lead to shootings. Again, my wild ass guess is that in most cases, the cops haven't been trained or aren't using their training to give themselves time to evaluate a situation. For example, why pull the police car up alongside Tamir Rice? Why not observe and approach from a distance? What would have happened had Tamir Rice been armed? He could have very easily shot both officers as they drove right up to him. It was a bad tactical move by the officers no matter how you look at it.

We need to admit that there are bad officers, and sometimes bad departments, and clean them out.

We need to insist that officers be trained to defuse tense situations, and to use that training.

Most of all, we need to insist that officers become part of the communities where they patrol rather than an occupying force.

I'm certain I've made errors in my assumptions. Have at it and educate me as needed.

Bubble lights: anyone know how to get them to stay vertical on a tree branch so they

actually bubble?

Job hunting frustration #73: Looking over a list of available jobs and

seeing that they call for every college major and/or skill set except yours.

Netflix - you need to start adding viewer warnings to your offerings:

So, I'm watching The Fall, and it comes up to a cliffhanger - and the series stops! It turns out that the rest of the story is in season 2, just now being broadcast in Ireland and the UK.

Jeb Bush - 3rd Time's the Charm?

Just thought it might make a good bumper sticker.

What I get a kick out of is that he is referred to as being handsome. Well, maybe 35 years and 100 pounds ago......

Crossing my fingers that this works -

I've been fighting a flare in recent weeks that just keeps getting worse and worse. I even asked the Rheumy about trying a course of prednisone to break it down. He didn't think the symptoms were bad enough to warrant the prednisone since it is only a temporary fix for me. Then - today - his staff called to tell me to talk with my GP - some blood work is off and indications are I should stop another prescription. As it happens, the side effects match up one for one with problems I thought were from my autoimmune disease. I feel better all ready just thinking there might be a light at the end of this tunnel!

The Spending Bill undercuts pensions!?!?!?

How is your Christmas tree decorated?

This is when the Right will get upset about the torture report:

There are torture victims waiting for trial before a military tribunal. If the Defense proves torture, then the court is unable to add any further penalty.

The Patriots who approved torture were the same people who

blew Valerie Plame's cover.


edit to add:

and while we're at it, isn't the CIA at least partially responsible for the rise of Al Quada and the Taliban?