All Politics Are Local (part 2)

Two years ago, I wrote a post about a democrat running for Kansas State Representative against a long standing republican incumbent. The only reason I wrote about the guy at all was that his ideas were very radical for democrat. Just read this post. After a hard campaigned race, Sean Tevis lost his bid by a very slim margin... So, now he's decided to go national. Running for US Congress, with new radical ideas (for a democrat) for the entire country. His website should be live any day now, and I'll certainly be looking forward to reading what this guy has to say. I'll let you know what I think about it also.

Jaywalking Scuffle

I post a lot of stuff about police abuses. SWAT team raids, victimless crimes, and the ever present "war on drugs", shooting dogs on (or even inside) their owners property. This is NOT one of those posts. If you've watched the above video, you see a police officer punch a 17 year old girl in the face. I think she got off easy. Too easy. The video was shot in Seattle Washington by another citizen who just happened to be nearby. One thing you should know about Seattle is that they are considered a "Pedestrian Friendly" city. They have extremely strict laws on how motor vehicles and pedestrians interact. Washington State law states quite clearly that a motor vehicle must stop for any pedestrian who steps into the street at an intersection, whether there are marked crossing lanes or not, and whether there are pedestrian signals or not. The city of Seattle has gone so far as to build a multitude of pedestrian bridges that cross major roadways that were in the past scenes of many pedestrian vs. automobile collisions. Because of the laws of the State and City, and also because of the ped bridges, Seattle strictly enforces its "aggressive driving" and "pedestrian jaywalking" laws. Aggressive drivers face a fine in the area of $120 and jaywalkers face of fine of around $50. So, if you've already watched the video, watch it again. Look for two very important things. The busy street with traffic in the background, and the pedestrian bridge that is right in the background. These two women crossed a busy street, right underneath a pedestrian bridge. If they had been hit by a vehicle, the driver would most certainly have been arrested due to Seattle in recent years enacting a law that charges drivers with a crime punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and 2 years in prison for causing harm to a pedestrian. Even if the pedestrian was partially at fault. The women wanted to fight a cop over a $50 fine for something that not only put themselves at risk, but also put drivers at risk. Here is a quote about how this all started: Walsh (the officer), working in a patrol car, saw several people jaywalking on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, just south of Rainier Avenue South, despite a nearby pedestrian overpass. Walsh tried to stop a group of females when one woman, later identified as Levias, began walking away, according to an incident report. Walsh told Levias she must identify herself so he could issue her a citation or she would face arrest for obstruction, the report said. Levias continued to walk away, prompting Walsh to grab her upper arm with his right hand, the report said. I never thought I'd post something like this, but that cop showed a lot more restraint than he should have. One interesting fact. The 17 year old woman who was punched... was arrested last year for being involved in a robbery where the 15 year old victim was punched in the face before being robbed. Karma... gotta love it.

Burger King Ribs (a review)

I've been wanting to try the new BBQ ribs at Burger King since they came out last week. More out of curiosity than for culinary reasons. I mean, how good can the ribs be at a mass market, fast food, burger chain? Well... actually not bad. I went in expecting to hate them. But I can't. They certainly aren't on par with any ribs you'll get at a top end BBQ joint like BB's Lawnside or Guy & Mae's Tavern, but they do have a decent flavor, and are actually quite tender. The ribs are served dry. No sauce. You get a generic plastic dipping cup of BK BBQ sauce to use if you need it. I tried the sauce, but it is nothing special. Probably isn't meant to be. The size of the ribs is the weird thing. It seems as though BK cuts a rib rack in half (across the bones) to get a smaller size. As you can see in the picture, one rib is about the size of my thumb. Overall, the flavor is good. Nice and smokey, with some char. The texture/tenderness is also good. These aren't as tough as I thought they would be. I figured I'd be using knives or other assorted weapons to get meat from the bone... but it comes off easily with each bite. The only drawback is the price. 6 ribs (or they'd be better termed "ribbettes") with a drink and fries runs about $8.50 with tax. A little bit steep for the amount of meat, in my opinion. But, if you've been wondering whether to give these a try... go for it. Just remember, it is from a fast food burger joint so it won't be the best you ever had.

Memorial Day is a government holiday to remember those in the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To remember those who have given their lives after swearing to defend the United States of America constitution. As a libertarian, I take the words of the US Constitution seriously. I believe those words mean something. And, as a libertarian, I could sit back and measure the lives lost by those men versus my own feelings about whether a war they fought in was justified or not. But I won't. I sit here sipping a beer, and I think to myself... if they took that oath, and paid that price, then I can at least remember them. I raise my glass to every man or women who took that oath and believed it enough to give everything. I won't judge them by what the politicians do. Politicians and the men who are at their whim are two different animals. To the fallen... thank you. The picture above is of my father... he is still with us. Probably drinking a beer to the memory of friends he's lost.

It's No Wonder Police Lie To You...

On my way to work today I drove up the Kansas side of I435 northbound, on my way to the MO-152 cut across to I29. When I was coming up to the Kansas Ave. exit, just before the I-70 interchange are, there was a couple signs on the side of the road. The first one said: KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL DRUG CHECKPOINT AHEAD. With one right after it that said: BE PREPARED TO STOP. DRUG SNIFFING CANINE IN USE. Break lights went on like crazy. People were slowing down to 50 mph in a 70 mph zone. Some people even went for the Kansas Ave. Exit to avoid the Drug Checkpoint. IDIOTS! That is where they stop you. Know why? Because by jumping off the highway, you give them reasonable suspicion to think you are trying to avoid a drug checkpoint because you might actually have drugs in your vehicle or on your person. There is, was, and won't be a drug checkpoint on I435, or on any road. Know why? IT IS ILLEGAL. The US Supreme Court ruled that way in City of Indianapolis V Edmond. Of course the court did say they could lie to you and if you are actually stupid enough to believe the lie and try to avoid the lie, then the cops can search you. But the court doesn't want you lying, to it or to the cops. Not really a level playing field. So, to you folks who jumped off the highway at Kansas Avenue and I435N, get yourself a lawyer.... and then brush up on your constitutional rights and the rule of law in this country. Dumbasses!