President Barack Obama called it a "model for all Americans."
He was speaking of the "courage" shown by American freighter Captain Richard Phillips, at a time when many Americans in the business sector are showing a lack of character.
His unselfish and heroic actions not only saved his crew, but maybe this country's overall image in the international community. At least for the moment.
Before we get sidetracked on a rant about the nation's economy, I'll stick with the situation in the Indian Ocean.
The shooting of three Somali pirates by NAVY seals (one shot each, at night and in choppy water) has now forced the U.S. to deal with a problem that has plagued that region for years. The pirates do NOT operate in the Caribbean, but off the coast of Somali, as they have for more than a century. Considered a nuisance by some might be the reason no one has ever thought about taking them on until now.
Yes, I understand the political ramifications of the region, but the fact we took a stand (even if our hand was forced) I'm glad it was the U.S. not backing down to a terrorist in a pirate's costume.
I give the President a little bit of credit, after all he did give the green light to the Navy, in the event the situation escalated.
But let's not forget the crew of the freighter that fought to re-take the ship, and the Captain offering himself as a hostage to avoid a blood bath.
If that situation had never occurred, we could be negotiating with the pirates right now as the ship and it's crew sat in a Somali port along with hundreds of other hostages and ships.
The pirates are threatening to retaliate. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. The President has called for an international solution to piracy on the high sea's.
Thanks to a couple of crack shots from the US Navy, we will finally get the chance to explore it.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Buildings at Riverwalk
It was a view I was starting to enjoy more and more.
Driving to work along Stockdale Highway and glancing over at the Park at Riverwalk.
The peaceful looking ponds (when people aren't swimming in them), the walking/bike paths, picnic areas and the ampitheatre.
Well, the ampitheatre before the start of construction on the new Target. Thank goodness the powers that be decided to scratch plans for the upscale shops and put in a Target or some other big box retailer.
The view of the ampitheatre is now blocked as you drive past the main entrance headed east on Stockdale.
You get a brief glimpse of it before BJ's, then the other Castle and Cooke dome building obscures the ampitheatre, until you pass Changs.
You can look back and see the backside of the structure, until of course they finish putting in the other businesses on the eastside of the complex.
I understand that this was the plan (or the revision of the original plan) for the area, but I grew fond of the ampitheatre and the grassy knoll as a selling point to draw people into the park.
Soon the view will be gone, unless you pull into the parking lot.
Brighthouse might want to rethink the sponsorship, since their sign will soon be obscured by progress.
Driving to work along Stockdale Highway and glancing over at the Park at Riverwalk.
The peaceful looking ponds (when people aren't swimming in them), the walking/bike paths, picnic areas and the ampitheatre.
Well, the ampitheatre before the start of construction on the new Target. Thank goodness the powers that be decided to scratch plans for the upscale shops and put in a Target or some other big box retailer.
The view of the ampitheatre is now blocked as you drive past the main entrance headed east on Stockdale.
You get a brief glimpse of it before BJ's, then the other Castle and Cooke dome building obscures the ampitheatre, until you pass Changs.
You can look back and see the backside of the structure, until of course they finish putting in the other businesses on the eastside of the complex.
I understand that this was the plan (or the revision of the original plan) for the area, but I grew fond of the ampitheatre and the grassy knoll as a selling point to draw people into the park.
Soon the view will be gone, unless you pull into the parking lot.
Brighthouse might want to rethink the sponsorship, since their sign will soon be obscured by progress.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Officer Involved Shooting, Again...
I've said it before, so I'll save the speech about obeying a police officer.
If a member of law enforcement is pointing their gun at you, ordering you to drop something, or get down, or hop on one leg, I'm doing it whether I understand why or not.
As of Tuesday morning, the BPD is investigating three officer involved shootings in three days.
Yes, three times someone did something in a threatening manner to cause an officer to pull their service revolver.
One person had a knife, another a gun and a third allegedly tried to run down an officer with his truck.
One was shot and killed, another wounded and a third was not hit by gunfire but later arrested. He's the lucky one.
But it's the reaction from some witnesses that baffles me.
In the case of the person wielding, not one, but two knifes, a witness told ABC23 he was concerned about collateral damage. The officer fired four shots, hitting the suspect twice.
The witness was worried about the other two bullets hitting bystanders. Fair enough. There have been plenty of instances over the years where innocent people have been hit by errant gunfire. Fortunately, no one else was injured.
Keep in mind, Officer Hinzo did NOT fire her weapon when the suspect threw the hunting knife in her direction. She ordered him to the ground as he pulled out a SECOND knife and unfolded it. Only after he began advancing towards her did she fire at him.
Another witness told us they never would have called police if they knew it was going to end in a shooting. Really?! Maybe Officer Hinzo should have tangled with the knife-wielding man using a taser, police baton or other type of non-lethal option. And, exactly what type of scenario do you believe warrants an officer shooting a suspect?
Police officials say they don't stop to try and consider a suspects mental condition when they are in possession of a weapon.
During a similar story I reported on nearly 10 years ago, a senior officer said this when it comes to confronting a suspect holding a weapon. If an officer shoots, he will keep shooting until the threat is neutralized. Does everyone understand?!
In another situation over the weekend, a boyfriend is trying to gain access to his girlfriend's home. There's reports of abuse. The guy shows up in her backyard HOLDING A GUN when he's confronted by a police officer who orders him to drop it. The man reportedly points the gun towards the officer and he's shot and killed.
What would you have an officer do in this situation? Let the person go free until a non-lethal alternative presents itself? Perhaps the officer should potentially sacrifice their life trying to physically disarm the suspect?
It's all so easy to quarterback after the fact, but put yourself in their shoes for a minute, if you dare.
This morning, a suspicious person is at a local apartment complex and when approached by an officer, tries to run him over with his truck. The officer fires a couple shots in self-defense. The suspect gets away and is eventually pulled over and taken into custody.
I hope this isn't a trend that we will see continue in 2009.
If a member of law enforcement is pointing their gun at you, ordering you to drop something, or get down, or hop on one leg, I'm doing it whether I understand why or not.
As of Tuesday morning, the BPD is investigating three officer involved shootings in three days.
Yes, three times someone did something in a threatening manner to cause an officer to pull their service revolver.
One person had a knife, another a gun and a third allegedly tried to run down an officer with his truck.
One was shot and killed, another wounded and a third was not hit by gunfire but later arrested. He's the lucky one.
But it's the reaction from some witnesses that baffles me.
In the case of the person wielding, not one, but two knifes, a witness told ABC23 he was concerned about collateral damage. The officer fired four shots, hitting the suspect twice.
The witness was worried about the other two bullets hitting bystanders. Fair enough. There have been plenty of instances over the years where innocent people have been hit by errant gunfire. Fortunately, no one else was injured.
Keep in mind, Officer Hinzo did NOT fire her weapon when the suspect threw the hunting knife in her direction. She ordered him to the ground as he pulled out a SECOND knife and unfolded it. Only after he began advancing towards her did she fire at him.
Another witness told us they never would have called police if they knew it was going to end in a shooting. Really?! Maybe Officer Hinzo should have tangled with the knife-wielding man using a taser, police baton or other type of non-lethal option. And, exactly what type of scenario do you believe warrants an officer shooting a suspect?
Police officials say they don't stop to try and consider a suspects mental condition when they are in possession of a weapon.
During a similar story I reported on nearly 10 years ago, a senior officer said this when it comes to confronting a suspect holding a weapon. If an officer shoots, he will keep shooting until the threat is neutralized. Does everyone understand?!
In another situation over the weekend, a boyfriend is trying to gain access to his girlfriend's home. There's reports of abuse. The guy shows up in her backyard HOLDING A GUN when he's confronted by a police officer who orders him to drop it. The man reportedly points the gun towards the officer and he's shot and killed.
What would you have an officer do in this situation? Let the person go free until a non-lethal alternative presents itself? Perhaps the officer should potentially sacrifice their life trying to physically disarm the suspect?
It's all so easy to quarterback after the fact, but put yourself in their shoes for a minute, if you dare.
This morning, a suspicious person is at a local apartment complex and when approached by an officer, tries to run him over with his truck. The officer fires a couple shots in self-defense. The suspect gets away and is eventually pulled over and taken into custody.
I hope this isn't a trend that we will see continue in 2009.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Pile on the Pork
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we in a recession?? An economic slowdown?? A financial funk?!!!
With that in mind, and the current debacle that has swallowed up jobs and retirement funds around the nation, why in the world would our elected representatives do something like this:
Congress is sending President Barack Obama a massive bill funding domestic programs and awarding lawmakers their cherished pet projects after more than a week of partisan debate.
Senators passed the measure by voice vote after voting 62-35 to shut down debate. The White House says Obama will sign the bill. It finishes up last year's budget business, which stalled as Democrats feuded with former President George W. Bush. The huge bill encountered unexpected difficulty in the wake of Obama's economic stimulus bill and a budget plan forecasting a $1.8 trillion deficit for the current budget year.
I know that I'm not privy to a lot of the wheeling and dealings in Washington, but how do you justify more than 400 million dollars in pork spending when Nancy Pelosi is talking about a 2nd stimulus package, while the first one is still being passed out?!
Please, help me understand!!
The AP update is somewhat humorous in recounting the huge bill encountered "unexpected difficulty". Really?!! From who, the Republicans?!
Does it really matter...
The GOP has no leverage to do anything in Washington, but sit on the sidelines and watch as the Democratic Party leads the bailout recovery. Even the symbolic vote has already lost it's luster.
I'm just stunned that with the economy still teetering on the brink of collapse, ANYONE in Washington can still think about pet projects and pork.
I'm not naive enough to believe that the financial mess was somehow going to lead to a pork-free diet for lawmakers, but I can dream!!
With that in mind, and the current debacle that has swallowed up jobs and retirement funds around the nation, why in the world would our elected representatives do something like this:
Congress is sending President Barack Obama a massive bill funding domestic programs and awarding lawmakers their cherished pet projects after more than a week of partisan debate.
Senators passed the measure by voice vote after voting 62-35 to shut down debate. The White House says Obama will sign the bill. It finishes up last year's budget business, which stalled as Democrats feuded with former President George W. Bush. The huge bill encountered unexpected difficulty in the wake of Obama's economic stimulus bill and a budget plan forecasting a $1.8 trillion deficit for the current budget year.
I know that I'm not privy to a lot of the wheeling and dealings in Washington, but how do you justify more than 400 million dollars in pork spending when Nancy Pelosi is talking about a 2nd stimulus package, while the first one is still being passed out?!
Please, help me understand!!
The AP update is somewhat humorous in recounting the huge bill encountered "unexpected difficulty". Really?!! From who, the Republicans?!
Does it really matter...
The GOP has no leverage to do anything in Washington, but sit on the sidelines and watch as the Democratic Party leads the bailout recovery. Even the symbolic vote has already lost it's luster.
I'm just stunned that with the economy still teetering on the brink of collapse, ANYONE in Washington can still think about pet projects and pork.
I'm not naive enough to believe that the financial mess was somehow going to lead to a pork-free diet for lawmakers, but I can dream!!
Back On Line!!!
The blog is working... it's working again!!!
It's been a difficult couple of weeks trying to figure out what's wrong with this blog (aside from some of my thoughts, apparently).
Everything appears to be up and running again, so here we go.......
It's been a difficult couple of weeks trying to figure out what's wrong with this blog (aside from some of my thoughts, apparently).
Everything appears to be up and running again, so here we go.......
Monday, February 23, 2009
I need a vacation, from my vacation...
Why is it vacations are so much work??
It started on Friday, February 13th as I worked the Condors 5-3 win over Ontario.
The next morning, I set out for Stateline, NV (making it through the Tehachapi pass that had just re-opened following a snow closure) for a Boxing/MMA show I was ring announcing on Valentine's Night. A romantic affair with former World Champion Fernando Vargas on hand wearing a blue velvet pimp suit, holding a cigar in one hand and a large pit bull on a chain in the other.
The next morning the rest of my family headed out for Scottsdale, AZ for the Arabian Horse Show, while I got up early and drove to Burbank to board a plane for Phoenix to join them. (I know, why didn't I fly from Vegas, but I'll get to that later).
The Scottsdale Show is the largest and one of the most prestigious next to the US Nationals. I hung out for a few days helping around the barn and visiting my family (parents, sister and three brothers in the area) before returning home with my son Michael on Wednesday night.
We flew back to Burbank and drove to Bakersfield. Michael returned to school Thursday morning, while I drove back down south for a boxing show in Irvine that night. (Michael stayed at his best friends house) Good show with former World Heavyweight Champ Mike Weaver in attendance and former UFC Heavyweight Champ Andrei Arlovski (who's switching over to boxing).
Returned home Friday morning and picked up Michael from school. We headed to the Central California Junior Olympic Swimming Championships at Cal State where he was scheduled to swim in two relays beginning at 4pm.
We repeated the swimming schedule on Saturday, but worked in a Condors game that started at noon. So it made the trip to CSUB a little more exciting.
Rewind on Sunday, but the Condors game started at 2pm, so when we pulled up at the pool, the relay was being called to the blocks just a few moments later.
The rest of the family was pulling up with the horse trailer about a half hour after we returned home from the pool on Sunday.
Following a quick reunion, we collapsed around 9pm Sunday night, so I could return to work Monday morning at 3:30 am.
Now, I can get some rest.
It started on Friday, February 13th as I worked the Condors 5-3 win over Ontario.
The next morning, I set out for Stateline, NV (making it through the Tehachapi pass that had just re-opened following a snow closure) for a Boxing/MMA show I was ring announcing on Valentine's Night. A romantic affair with former World Champion Fernando Vargas on hand wearing a blue velvet pimp suit, holding a cigar in one hand and a large pit bull on a chain in the other.
The next morning the rest of my family headed out for Scottsdale, AZ for the Arabian Horse Show, while I got up early and drove to Burbank to board a plane for Phoenix to join them. (I know, why didn't I fly from Vegas, but I'll get to that later).
The Scottsdale Show is the largest and one of the most prestigious next to the US Nationals. I hung out for a few days helping around the barn and visiting my family (parents, sister and three brothers in the area) before returning home with my son Michael on Wednesday night.
We flew back to Burbank and drove to Bakersfield. Michael returned to school Thursday morning, while I drove back down south for a boxing show in Irvine that night. (Michael stayed at his best friends house) Good show with former World Heavyweight Champ Mike Weaver in attendance and former UFC Heavyweight Champ Andrei Arlovski (who's switching over to boxing).
Returned home Friday morning and picked up Michael from school. We headed to the Central California Junior Olympic Swimming Championships at Cal State where he was scheduled to swim in two relays beginning at 4pm.
We repeated the swimming schedule on Saturday, but worked in a Condors game that started at noon. So it made the trip to CSUB a little more exciting.
Rewind on Sunday, but the Condors game started at 2pm, so when we pulled up at the pool, the relay was being called to the blocks just a few moments later.
The rest of the family was pulling up with the horse trailer about a half hour after we returned home from the pool on Sunday.
Following a quick reunion, we collapsed around 9pm Sunday night, so I could return to work Monday morning at 3:30 am.
Now, I can get some rest.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Bailout Bonanza Part 2
HOLD EVERYTHING!!!!!!
Moments after posting "Bailout Bonanza", an update on the Wells Fargo Bailout Bonanza.
From the Associated Press:
Bailed-out bank Wells Fargo says it's reconsidering whether to hold a corporate junket to Las Vegas amid criticism from Capitol Hill.
The company had planned a posh outing for its top mortgage writers to kick off this week at the Wynn Las Vegas.
The conference is a Wells Fargo tradition. Previous years have included all-expense-paid helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more than 1,000 employees and guests.
After The Associated Press reported that this year's event was about to kick off despite the company's $25 billion bailout, the company defended its decision.
But after swift outcry from Capitol Hill, a company spokesman says it's reconsidering its plan.
Smart move...
Moments after posting "Bailout Bonanza", an update on the Wells Fargo Bailout Bonanza.
From the Associated Press:
Bailed-out bank Wells Fargo says it's reconsidering whether to hold a corporate junket to Las Vegas amid criticism from Capitol Hill.
The company had planned a posh outing for its top mortgage writers to kick off this week at the Wynn Las Vegas.
The conference is a Wells Fargo tradition. Previous years have included all-expense-paid helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more than 1,000 employees and guests.
After The Associated Press reported that this year's event was about to kick off despite the company's $25 billion bailout, the company defended its decision.
But after swift outcry from Capitol Hill, a company spokesman says it's reconsidering its plan.
Smart move...
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