The headline of this story on CBS/UPN about the pending execution of Clarence Ray Allen, the oldest inmate on death row, is worth pointing out:
A.G.’s Office: Oldest Inmate Should Be Executed
If the attorney general continues this trend, this does not bode well for the next-oldest inmate, especially if he’s only in jail for a night after getting a little too tipsy and punching his brother-in-law at a Christmas party. Execute the sum’bitch! is apparently what Bill Lockyer would say.
Perhaps this stuff is happening about 21 years too late. But, about the time we hear that any of our phones could be wiretapped without any legal accountability, we hear about the interrogation of a 16-year-old by the FBI in Elk Grove, over the doodle of “PLO” on his notebook.
When I was in school, so many years ago, kids wrote all kinds of things on their books – be it “Corey Hart” in the middle of a heart, or a tribute to Satan. School officials dealt with stuff as they saw fit and didn’t need to call the FBI on them.
But, the implications of this situation are somewhat worrisome. I can understand if people consider the PLO as a terrorist organization. They are obviously controversial to many, though much is a matter of perspective. However, a kid of Palestinian descent shouldn’t get harrassed by the feds just because he expresses allegiance to the organization that is internationally recognized to represent the Palestinian people. Interesting that no school official sat him down to hear his views, or that no notification was made to his parents.
Just call the FBI on the kid. That’ll set him straight, right? The school administrators at Elk Grove High and Calvine High Schools need to answer some important questions about their roles and motivations in all of this.
So the Elk Grove Police is issuing yellow warnings to folks who leave their cars susceptible to burglary. An idea they received at a conference from a town in Texas that experienced an 85 percent drop in burglaries after issuing the tickets. 85 percent you say? Hmmm.
The officers write out a yellow ticket-type warning and place it on the windshield. If the vehicle is unlocked, officers put it on the dash and lock the car.
A few thoughts I have about this. Let me know if I’m off base.
Did this town in Texas also publicize the warnings on the local news? Because I’m wondering if the police are not making the job easier for would be burglars by identifying the at risk vehicles for them by placing a yellow ticket on their windshield.
What if I don’t want my car locked for me? Maybe I left my keys in the car hidden for my friend who is going to borrow it for a few hours while I shop and now I am locked out of my car and have to call AAA? And my buddy is horribly pissed off and can’t make his court appearance? What if, you know?
All snark aside, do try to take heed from this article and protect yourself as best you can so that you don’t receive a yellow card and/or have your car burglarized. Believe me, it can happen to you.
Certain businesses around town are being threatened with boycotts because they are trying to take a more secular approach to the holiday season. Yesterday, a few people took it upon themselves to protest outside a local Walmart.
People, find a new game. Protesting outside Walmart? That’s just been done to death. Besides, Walmart is the most powerful organization in the world, don’t you know?
And really, shouldn’t you be spending Christmas, by you know, celebrating Christmas?
Bob Sylva’s feature in today’s Bee on the current loft craze did not disappoint. It’s an entertaining look at 3 loft dwellers–a rich bachelor, a “Oscar Madison type” (the messy one in the Odd Couple) and a downsized couple with baby (which, of course, represents an anomaly. But the cute family comes out as the most normal-seeming; I guess they don’t turn on you until you turn out more than a baker’s dozen.)
Quotable quotes:
Continue reading “Sylva on Loft Livin’”
This is just too good to pass up. And, as usual, the details are golden.
Unbeknownst to the robber, Petrossi is an expert in martial arts. He assumed a “ready” stance, then grabbed a pair of scissors and box cutter from under the counter and told the man to “bring it on.” Petrossi said the man dropped the beer and fled.
If you get a chance watch the surveillance video paying close attention to the voice in the background.
Petrossi continued after the suspect, who looped back, got into the van, and attempted to drive away. His problems weren’t quite over, though. Petrossi grabbed a rock and threw it through the driver’s side window, shattering it.
No word yet on whether the store was robbed with no one, literally, minding it.
These guys are well qualified for a career in middle management at Carl’s Jr.
After they get out of prison, of course.
Look for a Bob Sylva piece on “loft living,” Sacramento’s newest and fakest fad. Don’t, however, look for the kind of skepticism with which the local blogosphere has been laying into the issue. Or maybe Sylva will surprise.
Here’s one way to have a cheap wedding.
No word on where the newlyweds plan to spend their honeymoon.
Ugh. Seriously.
The Sac Rag 