Wow. There have been serious problems with my web host. Finally the homepage and blog are back up.
We’re Back
May 8th, 2012Thinking about Mink
April 14th, 2012First, it is textbook: 18-8-404/405, Official Misconduct and 18-8-403, Official Oppression.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation…
Police occupy a complex position in our society: They are a unique arm of the government entrusted with immense power to be used both for and against the people they are sworn to protect. Their salaries are paid by the people whom they are obligated to protect. 3 Though this situation seems harmless enough, the people from whom the police are protecting the general population also pay their salaries. Additionally, the police force 4 is the only institution within our society that has the authority to use force to control problems within this country. 5 This fact escalates the position of police in society sketched here from complex to intensely problematic. The situation is complicated further by the fact that encounters with police may be the most visible interaction people have with the justice system. 6
Caught!
April 10th, 2012http://sports.yahoo.com/news/may-bobby-petrino-never-another-job-fans-thoughts-030700514.html
Bobby Peterino… and gone. Not a nickel of severance. A little research indicates he has been sleazy for a long time.
It is fantastic that the athletic director Jeff Long had the courage, integrity, and forthrightness to say ‘you are damaging.’ There can be no double-standard.
EDIT/UPDATE: Groveling. Oh, and what on earth is a “student-athlete development coordinator?” Reporting on the revealing-personality incident has shown that Petrino said her hiring was needed immediately. I think it is another example of too much power and too much budget.
small business start-ups
April 5th, 2012An Old Letter
April 5th, 2012Today’s News Corp News
April 5th, 2012Today there was another admission of illegality at News Corp. (Sky News.)
A great quote: “There is no such thing as a public interest defense.” How can this guy, John Ryley, be so stupid?
* * *
More on Rupert Murdoch: Slate review of Michael Wolff’s biography; Wolff column/update (good links); Guardian phone hacking home page.
The really enlightening part was reading up on James Murdoch. Wolff provides some real insight. This month there will be news from the British government. It could be major. Is James Murdoch’s fall preemptive?
Reporting, Punishment, and Disgustingness
April 5th, 2012
Gregg Williams
The punishments for the Saints coaches are severe (and appropriate) and some of the perpetrators (i.e., idiots) are appealing them. Thank goodness for information and reporting. There is a tape! And on the internet the news spreads like wildfire. There can be no denying it. And being an underling or boss isn’t an excuse.
In the age of concussions this:
“Every single one of you, before you get off the pile, affect the head. … Touch and hit the head.”
The punishments are more than appropriate. You don’t try and damage the product–the players and stars. Further, it is the antithesis of sportsmanship.
As seems to be the case these days there is always some sort of rationalization or attempted justification. Some players and fans are saying such aggression, sans the bounties, is the norm. Maybe that is true and I certainly am in no position to confirm or refute it. But I know this: It is not for me.
More: I do not like or admire players who think this way. Everyone cannot be blamed, but these people denigrate the profession and the league. I believe the commissioner has a serious problem.
More 2: This columnist often expresses a strong, appropriate viewpoint. Only thing is, he came up a little short. All others who expressed similar views now or in the past are guilty too. Sportsmanship takes absolute priority.
Corruption Definition (Repeat)
April 2nd, 2012My original post on corruption definitions is here.
Public corruption involves a breach of public trust and/or abuse of position by federal, state, or local officials and their private sector accomplices.
Simpler still: Public corruption is a breach of trust. That is the highest standard.
From FBI site:
Public corruption is a breach of trust by federal, state, or local officials—often with the help of private sector accomplices. It’s also the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority. To explain why the Bureau takes public corruption so seriously and how we investigate, we talked with Special Agent Patrick Bohrer, assistant section chief of our Public Corruption/Civil Rights program at FBI Headquarters.
As far as I can tell the definition differs from the legal definition. In other words, to actually prosecute there probably needs to be a quid pro quo. The question then becomes what can affected citizens and taxpayers do? Practically, solutions seem to be confined to keeping on top of local officials, seeking publicity, and elections. Can writing be a difference-maker?
Maybe the way to do it is through other, ancillary offenses such as abuse of power, obstruction, fiduciary duty, police harassment, and falsifying records?
I believe it is very similar to customer satisfaction. ‘You breached my trust and I am dissatisfied.’ Unfortunately, I don’t have the option of not buying that product or service. So I will have to find other ways.
(Another link. The highest standard.)
April 2nd, 2012
My local police department will not enforce local/state/federal laws in my neighborhood. Often they will not respond to legitimate reports. Employees are frequently abusive. They have blatantly said ‘Do not call to report crimes.’ Yesterday I was accused of “harassing the sheriff’s department” by reporting a crime. My nice suburban neighborhood is suffering. They refuse to mediate or perform an internal investigation. They will not reply to written requests.
Poisonous Plants (Eradication Required by Law)
April 2nd, 2012
April 2nd, 2012
- Jennifer Swartz
- “D. Closs #1595?
- Blankenheim
- Fisher
- Dennis Gerlach
- Taborsky
- “Joyce” @ Animal Control
- “Inspector Manko”
- telephone operators
- “Lieutenant” Timothy Sylvester
New
1. Mark Martin (Friday 3/16)
NY style pizza at home
March 31st, 2012Deer @ Growing a Greener World
March 31st, 2012This is rapidly becoming my favorite gardening show. This show is an in-depth examination of deer damage.
http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode209/
http://www.caes.uga.edu/applications/personnel/profile.cfm?ID=9474
Murdoch – the beginnings
March 30th, 2012March 25th, 2012
“Bill Clinton always found himself trying to redeem and rescue his family,” historian William Chafe remarked … “Part of doing that is to… put yourself in the position of rescuing not just your family, but everybody, including yourself, by doing good“
Source:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/clinton-bill/
This quote came after a discussion about alcoholism among his parents (his father in particular).
Corruption in the Jefferson County Government
March 22nd, 2012A good site with Colorado government misconduct (“corruption”) summaries.
These (police misconduct attorneys) are usually not much use but…
The issues surrounding Ted Mink are vast, so much so I’ve started a more in-depth analysis here.