Danny said:
What I'm first?!?!
In the latest round of stupid criminal I present to you:
"You know, if you don't know how to use a gadget, you probably shouldn't go to the trouble of stealing it, because your ass is as good as busted when you call tech support. In the latest case of a criminal not grasping this simple concept, a genius known as Timothy Scott Short stole a Digimarc printer used by the state of Missouri to print driver's licenses and casually called the company to procure the needed software drivers -- which caught the attention of the Secret Service agents already investigating him for identity theft. Digimarc isn't saying how the Secret Service knew Short had called, but since the printer can only be used to print Missouri IDs, it's safe to say they might have had a hunch." -- source engadget.com
In the latest round of stupid criminal I present to you:
"You know, if you don't know how to use a gadget, you probably shouldn't go to the trouble of stealing it, because your ass is as good as busted when you call tech support. In the latest case of a criminal not grasping this simple concept, a genius known as Timothy Scott Short stole a Digimarc printer used by the state of Missouri to print driver's licenses and casually called the company to procure the needed software drivers -- which caught the attention of the Secret Service agents already investigating him for identity theft. Digimarc isn't saying how the Secret Service knew Short had called, but since the printer can only be used to print Missouri IDs, it's safe to say they might have had a hunch." -- source engadget.com
Julie said:
Oh Danny... after 7 years working in the court system have I got stories to tell.
The ubiquitous "I didn't steal no shop" said by countless defendants when charged with Shoplifting.
Hearing a defendant yell at the prosecutor. "Yo Momma shoulda had puppies instead of yo sorry ass". Quickly followed by "You needs to go tah prison tah tightens up yo asshole" (again defendant to prosecutor).
My all time favorite is a round of consensual S&M sex between a man and wife that went very wrong very fast when she inserted a toothbrush in her husbands rectum.
That case has become legend at Wichita City Court. We still haven't decided if she used an Oral-B or a Reach toothbrush - thought that was a very important piece of evidence.
I can go for days......
My occupation can be very entertaining at times!!!
The ubiquitous "I didn't steal no shop" said by countless defendants when charged with Shoplifting.
Hearing a defendant yell at the prosecutor. "Yo Momma shoulda had puppies instead of yo sorry ass". Quickly followed by "You needs to go tah prison tah tightens up yo asshole" (again defendant to prosecutor).
My all time favorite is a round of consensual S&M sex between a man and wife that went very wrong very fast when she inserted a toothbrush in her husbands rectum.
That case has become legend at Wichita City Court. We still haven't decided if she used an Oral-B or a Reach toothbrush - thought that was a very important piece of evidence.
I can go for days......
My occupation can be very entertaining at times!!!
gster said:
I'm going to stick with guitar playing and leave the toothbrush stuff alone! Some people and their hobbies!!
Vaughn Tolle said:
Julie, so true, so true. I suspect an even greater wealth of stories might be those who do/did criminal defense work, whether retained or via appointments. I've a few myself, but given the general rules of attorney-client privilege, most of these will remain untold.....
Vaughn Tolle said:
After all, there are reasons for guilty pleas which do not become a part of the public record....
Vaughn Tolle said:
I know this will sound a bit cold and heartless, but I've little patience or sympathy for those whose homes are currently at risk in this year's round of Southern California wildfires. It's not that the fires don't happen annually; they do. It's not that the Santa Ana winds don't occur annually; they do. So, why build/live there? One might escape in any one year or series of years, but eventually, it seems to me, the fires are going to be there.
If the fires were an infrequent thing, if the acceleration of the fires due to the Santa Ana winds was not so predictable, then I might find myself thinking in a different way about this.
I'm aware that tornadoes here in the Plains are an annual occurrence; but unlike the fires (the area being burned at present was the area of a major fire two years ago, and a lesser one last year) they generally don't occur in the precise geographical area annually with the predictable results. I see FEMA has been activated, with the appropriate Presidential declarations. What ever happened to the concept of "assumption of the risk"?
If the fires were an infrequent thing, if the acceleration of the fires due to the Santa Ana winds was not so predictable, then I might find myself thinking in a different way about this.
I'm aware that tornadoes here in the Plains are an annual occurrence; but unlike the fires (the area being burned at present was the area of a major fire two years ago, and a lesser one last year) they generally don't occur in the precise geographical area annually with the predictable results. I see FEMA has been activated, with the appropriate Presidential declarations. What ever happened to the concept of "assumption of the risk"?
lindainks55 said:
Federal assistance comes quickly,
1. Since the embarrassment of Katrina
OR
2. When it's affecting more influential (read wealthy) people?
Did FEMA, bushco learn a lesson or does it matter where / who needs the help?
I don't know and readily admit my opinions of everything bushco are biased so always jump quickly to lay blame at his feet. My head knows this isn't fair and I don't like thinking like I do!
1. Since the embarrassment of Katrina
OR
2. When it's affecting more influential (read wealthy) people?
Did FEMA, bushco learn a lesson or does it matter where / who needs the help?
I don't know and readily admit my opinions of everything bushco are biased so always jump quickly to lay blame at his feet. My head knows this isn't fair and I don't like thinking like I do!
Vaughn Tolle said:
gster, surely the premiums are high!
If I was the "zoning Czar" in that area, the following regulations would apply:
1) All new residences would be built of concrete or other "only combustible at very high temperatures" material; no wood, etc., could be used on the exterior. No exceptions;
2) All residences would have slate, concrete or tile roofs;
3) There would be no vegetation allowed within 50 feet of any structure; this would include flowers in pots on a porch, veranda, whatever;
4) No wooden fences would be permitted;
5) The owners of improvements on the property, be it residential, commercial, outbuildings, whatever, would be personally (corporately? entity?) responsible for clearing "fire breaks" around the same;
6) All property would need to have access to a source of water separate and independent from the municipal water lines (wells, streams, rivers) for the use of those fighting the inevitable fires;
7) No privately owned "off road" vehicles would be allowed in the area;
8) Any improvements would be required to be close to hardened, paved roads/streets/other methods of ingress or egress; no setbacks more than 25 feet for any improvements from these roads, etc.;
9) All utilities would be subsurface; no standing power lines, utility line poles, etc.; and
10) Controlled burns would be performed to help clear out the brush, etc., on an annual basis; perhaps during the "wet" season.
Draconian? Perhaps, but so long as folks have the feeling that they need to live in areas such as this, and from the news reports do things which enhance, rather than reduce, the threat of destruction of their homes, business buildings, etc., from these fires, then these people have lost the privilege of deciding for themselves. There are too many good, brave, and loyal firefighters that subject themselves to the potential for death or injury on an annual basis to preserve the homes of others.
If I was the "zoning Czar" in that area, the following regulations would apply:
1) All new residences would be built of concrete or other "only combustible at very high temperatures" material; no wood, etc., could be used on the exterior. No exceptions;
2) All residences would have slate, concrete or tile roofs;
3) There would be no vegetation allowed within 50 feet of any structure; this would include flowers in pots on a porch, veranda, whatever;
4) No wooden fences would be permitted;
5) The owners of improvements on the property, be it residential, commercial, outbuildings, whatever, would be personally (corporately? entity?) responsible for clearing "fire breaks" around the same;
6) All property would need to have access to a source of water separate and independent from the municipal water lines (wells, streams, rivers) for the use of those fighting the inevitable fires;
7) No privately owned "off road" vehicles would be allowed in the area;
8) Any improvements would be required to be close to hardened, paved roads/streets/other methods of ingress or egress; no setbacks more than 25 feet for any improvements from these roads, etc.;
9) All utilities would be subsurface; no standing power lines, utility line poles, etc.; and
10) Controlled burns would be performed to help clear out the brush, etc., on an annual basis; perhaps during the "wet" season.
Draconian? Perhaps, but so long as folks have the feeling that they need to live in areas such as this, and from the news reports do things which enhance, rather than reduce, the threat of destruction of their homes, business buildings, etc., from these fires, then these people have lost the privilege of deciding for themselves. There are too many good, brave, and loyal firefighters that subject themselves to the potential for death or injury on an annual basis to preserve the homes of others.
gster said:
VT- I agree with your list. I can't imagine having a house with any type of flammable roof in that area! These people seem to be as delusional as the Florida types that keep rebuilding in the hurricane plains.
Fool me once, fool me twice.. fool me(x+1)... (x+2)... etc.
Fool me once, fool me twice.. fool me(x+1)... (x+2)... etc.
longhorn said:
The same is true for those who live on the coasts and build in areas not stable. Ah the rich. They love the scenery, but paying the piper to live there? Eh... not so much. Socialize the costs, privatize the benefits.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Socialize the costs, privatize the benefits.
Posted By longhorn | 10/23/07 12:50 PM
Good gig, if one can get it.
Posted By longhorn | 10/23/07 12:50 PM
Good gig, if one can get it.
Danny said:
Julie,
I can only imagine some of the stories that go untold. I've a number of friends in law enforcement, and they are a source occasionally of some quite funny stories.
Vaughn,
I think it would be nice to see some of the stories as told by attorney's. I suppose there is a reason for attorney-client privilege.
In response to the California deal, my sister and brother in law are there, while he is stationed at Camp(Fort?) Pendleton. But if choosing to live there, not forced to, yes I'd share your same question as to wondering why would anybody do that?!?!
My wife, however, would share that enthusiasm about Kansas and our tornadoes anyway because, in her words, "Denver doesn't have tornadoes!"
I can only imagine some of the stories that go untold. I've a number of friends in law enforcement, and they are a source occasionally of some quite funny stories.
Vaughn,
I think it would be nice to see some of the stories as told by attorney's. I suppose there is a reason for attorney-client privilege.
In response to the California deal, my sister and brother in law are there, while he is stationed at Camp(Fort?) Pendleton. But if choosing to live there, not forced to, yes I'd share your same question as to wondering why would anybody do that?!?!
My wife, however, would share that enthusiasm about Kansas and our tornadoes anyway because, in her words, "Denver doesn't have tornadoes!"
Vaughn Tolle said:
Danny, it's Camp Pendleton. Apparently, the USMC has its nervous eye on the fire or fires, as it (they) are but five miles East of the camp, and with the Santa Ana winds, moving in that general direction.
Denver likely has a tornado every once in a while; but it has blizzards annually. I'll take my chances with a tornado. As a native, I know when it's time to head for the shelter (when I sees the sucker heading straight for me as I am standing on the porch or out in the yard or up on the roof looking for it!).
Denver likely has a tornado every once in a while; but it has blizzards annually. I'll take my chances with a tornado. As a native, I know when it's time to head for the shelter (when I sees the sucker heading straight for me as I am standing on the porch or out in the yard or up on the roof looking for it!).
lindainks55 said:
The world stopped so there wouldn't be any news other than the California fires. I guess there are no wars anywhere, obviously Congress isn't considering anything, why even other countries have stopped to watch southern California burn. Imagine that kind of power!
Vaughn Tolle said:
Yes, Linda, it is sad that there is little mention of anything else. Examples of "something else": space shuttle launch (OK, I'm a manned space flight nut), the President's request for another 46 (42?) billion supplemental for Iraq, because "General Petraeus and the other commanders say they need it", etc.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Not to mention the verbal commitment of a highly sought men's basketball recruit to KU (for those who want other things to think about)...
Wendy said:
I would imagine it would be difficult to insure, although, there has to be some legal protections on the "price gauging" things, if you understand where i am going? And potentially discrimination exposure? I don't know for sure.
I do remember back when McConnell wasn't just a recon base, that along 63rd street between Rock and K15, NOTHING was built on the North side of the road, due to that being a designated B1 Crash zone, and nobody being able to obtain any type of propert insurance (at least, that is what my dad told me when I randomly asked one day why there weren't any houses or anything built there) But apparently that is the case no longer as there are housing developments, gas stations, some churches, a Kohl's and a Lowe's currently occupying that space...
I do remember back when McConnell wasn't just a recon base, that along 63rd street between Rock and K15, NOTHING was built on the North side of the road, due to that being a designated B1 Crash zone, and nobody being able to obtain any type of propert insurance (at least, that is what my dad told me when I randomly asked one day why there weren't any houses or anything built there) But apparently that is the case no longer as there are housing developments, gas stations, some churches, a Kohl's and a Lowe's currently occupying that space...
Danny said:
Vaughn,
Any space shuttle mission is pretty cool in my book. I was reading that about KU earlier today.
Any space shuttle mission is pretty cool in my book. I was reading that about KU earlier today.
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