Accountability

At times a wonder what ever happened to personal accountability. Taking responsibility for yourself and your children.

Tuesday an officer shot and killed a young man after the car driving by the man tried to run down the officer. The car hit the officer the officer now on the hood of the car shot at least 8 times and killed the driver of the car. I saw an interview on tv with the mother of the youngman where she made a statement along the lines that she did not thing that her son tried to kill the officer because if he wanted to the car would have been going faster and the officer would have broken legs or more injuries. The clip now on the news station web site has cut this part of the interview out – but I know what we heard her say. Video tapes from the shopping center where this all transpired back up the police officers version of the incident.

Now all the news hub bub is all about the young mans family another person in the vehicles oppinions on how the policeman was wrong, unjustified –

Meanwhile, the fourth person in the car, 18-year-old Hallie Boatright, said Wednesday that while the group did rob the victim, Gallegos was not attempting to hurt Howland and was only trying to make an escape when the officer opened fire.

“We were trying to avoid the cop and get between the cop and the cop car. Nobody tried to kill the cop, nobody tried to run over the cop, nobody said hit the cop,” Boatright said. “We weren’t even going that fast. We were trying to get between the cop and the cop car.”

“Next thing you know, the cop is on the hood of the car and he starts shooting into the car and he just keeps on shooting and shooting and everybody is like let’s go, let’s go,” Boatright said. Boatright was questioned by officers and released after the shooting.

Gallegos’ mother, Michelle Andrade, questioned how the car could have been traveling fast enough in the crowded parking lot of Natomas Marketplace to threaten the officer’s safety.

She also wondered if the officer was actually hit by the car, or instead voluntarily jumped on the vehicle’s hood to begin shooting into the vehicle.

Hello? They committed a crime, they robbed at gun point ( don’t think the victims knew it was fake), they hit a police officer with a car. The officer did his job, what he was trained to do, protect and serve all the innocent bystanders in the shopping center. Boo hoo, I am sorry that a young life has been wasted but it is what it is.

Next on my list is the mother whose son came home from school and complained that he did not like a book assignment he was given and it contained the usage of foul language and Gods name in vain. That is his right. It does not stop there – oh no – now mom wants ratings on all school reading assignments similar to those on movies and CD’s. So parents will know what their kids are reading. Ok, what was wrong with what my parents did. (First off I was lucky they are very well read and knew the contents of standard required readings – you know – the classics.) If you pay attention to your kids assignments and read the book yourself then you would know what language and ideas are included.

I do not want to get into the aspects that involve a well rounded education. If you are so worried about your childs assingments then read the book yourself! If you object ask for a substitute reading assingment for your child. This of course assumes that you can read or you are capable of overseeing your own childs upbringing. The schools are not for raising your kids folks, they are there to educate them.

Enough ranting for now

Britannia Model Update

Just finished cutting all this pieces and glueing them to the sides they are 12mm apart. It took me all last nite to cut these little guys and glue them up. I came up with a method using twizzers and tape to compensate for my inability to hold small items and guide my hand in the right direction.
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I have finished glueing on the side rails. They are made from five pieces of 1x2mm strips of wood glued together and bent into shape. Now I have started the deck. I started the first piece 40mm to the right side of the center line and at the stern and then ran 80mm pieces to the stern. The end piece of the stern need a small side piece at the end to fill in around the box post (whatever it is called). At 80mm it was 4mm too short. I am sure that I choose the wrong (or incorrect) course here but I cut a longer piece and notched the end to fit around the post. I probably should have used a 40mm piece and then another piece. But hey, it was easier and since this is not a strive for perfection model but rather a get it finished and it looks like a yacht model, I choose the easy way.
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I read up on differnet methods of making the chalking lines. I decided since the planks are 2mm wide that I would go with either the lead pencil between each one or just letting the clear coat bring out lines. I will glue some stips up and see what just clear coating them looks like and then make my decision.

I have started collecting anything that looks like it will be useful as a tool when I get to the rigging. This might be another area where having a dentist in the family might come in handy.

Back to planking.

This and That

Well the Vic President has come on gone from our city. A police officer was run over and still managed to protect and serve. Our local dog park committee meeting was crazy as usual but it looks like the upcoming WOOF Walk plans are coming together. The news crews no longer are filming the house that was torched for the third time around the corner. The idiots that have been doing donuts inside our complex coming very close to hitting our vehicles seem to be quite tonight.

I am too lazy to write something thought provoking or at least worldly. I am working on my Britannia model and have compiled a very long list of what NOT to do on the next model. I find my missing hand control and fine motor skills very annoying. Not as annoying as all the political ads that are being played over and over and over and over …

Is there some requirement that says we have to stick to one topic? I hope not, because if that’s the case I’m in trouble. I still say that the best blogging is what we do for ourselves, and hopefully there are others out there who think it’s worth reading.

Drumsbwhistles – odd time signatures

I could not have said it better LOL – lately I really have not felt like sticking to any one subject. It is funny how a blog can mimic life. I have not been very focused on anything in particular lately. Kind of bouncing from here to there. Just as I decided to get into summer mode the rain came back. Now there is the problem – I decided – ha – like a am the pilot?

Well back to my model for now. That is it unless something waps me in the head I and I just have to write about it.

Questions

I sit here listening to the rain come down wondering what is going to happen to the plans to reinforce the levees in California. What are the people along the southern coast going to do to survive another hurricane season. Is Edwards going to run for President. How many died in Iraq today. Anybody find a cure for cancer, AIDS, or a solution to our environmental problems.

No dogs hikes, motorcycle rides today due to the rain. No emails from my friends. Just kind of a boring Sunday. …

This blog is not read by many. In fact the most entrances come from google searches on U tube or the actual word bifurcate. Next are hits off the names of the ship models I am building. Some of the blogs that I enjoy reading have stopped posting or slowed down. Others are questioning why they even bother. The others are gettting read I hope and I do see a few responses on them.  Knowing that a person has to pick a subject and stay with it to become a “read” blog kind of takes all the fun out of it. I mean really, why should I care if x number of people visit this blog? I do not I just care that some of my friends do not.