Encounters with figures of history
Last night I went to a screening of "Lovelace", the new biopic starring Amanda Seyfriend as the iconic porn star and Peter Sarsgaard as Chuck Traynor, the man who started her down the road to doing porn as he allegedly subject her to severe abuse, including forced prostitution, beatings and more.
I never met Linda Lovelace but I did have the displeasure of meeting the real Chuck Traynor. In the early 1980s he opened "The Survival Store" in Las Vegas, a gun store and gun range where anyone could come in off of the street and fire an automatic weapon.
I met him in the mid 80s when I used to go to his range every six to eight weeks to practice shooting. My military job at the time did not involve carrying a weapon, the Air Force wasn't requiring me to maintain my qualification with the revolver (I'd shot expert the last time and they'd decided if you don't carry one, you only needed to qualify with the revolver every three years if you shoot expert) and I wanted to maintain my high level of proficiency.
That's how I got to meet this guy. I didn't get to know him well, but based on the level of douchebaggery I saw him engage in as he ran his business, it isn't a stretch to believe the claims of the late Ms Lovelace.
The thing is, we don't know with certainty what goes on behind closed doors (yes, a Charlie Rich lyric, sort of). Which leads me into my next thought.
* * *
Sometime today, the six women who make up the jury that will judge George Zimmerman will begin their deliberations. I've deliberately not watched the trial coverage on TV, but considering how many people I follow on Twitter who are obsessed with watching and tweeting about it, and the copious amounts of media coverage, I am up to date on what's gone on in the courtroom.
Here's the thing. On this Earth, there were only two people who really know what happened on the night Trayvon Martin was killed. Martin and the man who killed him, George Zimmerman. Martin isn't here to give us his version of events. Since Zimmerman's future hangs in the balance, he can't be relied upon to be totally honest and open about the events that led up to his decision to pull the trigger of that gun. The forensic evidence raises reasonable doubt that this was 2nd degree murder. It might, repeat might, come close to meeting the requirements to convict Zimmerman of manslaughter.
The desperation of the prosecution became clear when they sought to add a charge of 3rd degree murder through child abuse. They did a really bad job of presenting their case. As one legal analyst noted, the prosecution's closing argument was filled with questions. A prosecutor shouldn't be asking questions in a closing. They raise doubt. A closing argument is supposed to give the jury the answers they need to be able to reach a unanimous verdict of "guilty."
There is another fact to be considered, not in determining the guilt or innocence of George Zimmerman, but in considering how we as a society must behave. Had Zimmerman been following the rules of being part of a neighborhood watch, there would have been no gun in his hand when he got out of his vehicle. In fact, he shouldn't have gotten out of the vehicle to begin with. Observe and report. Leave the law enforcement to the professionals. In light of, or in spite of the evidence presented at the trial, George Zimmerman did not have the training, capacity or experience to be confronting someone engaged in breaking the law.
I was a military cop. I have the training and experience. And now that I'm older, and slower and physically limited in what I can do, I wouldn't try to confront someone engaged in committing a crime. I'd call the real cops. Now if someone were about to be killed or raped, I might choose to attempt to intervene, to save a life. But only as an unavoidable, last resort. It isn't that it is no longer my job. It's that I know I'm just not ready to do that job.
Maybe one good thing will come from the Zimmerman trial and the death of Trayvon Martin. Maybe volunteers who are part of neighborhood watch programs everywhere will get a better understanding of what "observe and report" really means.
* * *
I would like to know which incredible jerk or jerks are behind the horrific act of taping fireworks to a dog's body and setting them off. His name is Indy and he's having his second round of surgery today, and hopefully he will survive.
I can't think of a punishment severe enough for whoever did this. Our system of justice doesn't have proper penalties for those who abuse animals. I'm aware that animals aren't people, but those who torture animals will quite probably move on to abusing and torturing people as time passes.
There's an author who wrote a number of books about post-Vietnam Special Ops soldiers engaged in various things (as good guys for the most part). In one of his novels he described what I consider the most heinous method of torturing to gather information I've ever heard of. The "hero" wrapped the body of the "suspect" with a cord that is a slow-burning, high-heat fuse. He wired it to a blasting cap next to the man's genitals. The fuse would burn for six minutes, up one leg to one arm, cross the shoulders, go down to crotch and then "boom". He described it as a method he'd seen a North Vietnamese interrogator use on a prisoner and that no one had ever lasted more than three minutes.
For a brief instant, I can see doing this to whoever put those fireworks on that dog and set them off. Does that make me a cruel person?
* * *
Random ponderings today:
Is anyone else already way past tired of seeing all Zimmerman trial, all the time on both CNN and HLN? Could you do all news on one network and big trials on another?
What part of the admittedly impressive resume of Janet Napolitano qualifies her to become President of the UC System? She has no experience in the classroom or in academia except as a student. Yes, she was valedictorian at UCSC. Yes she studied at the London School of Economics. Yes, she has a law degree. Still, I don't see what part of all that experience qualifies her to take on the task of leading an academic institution.
Do you feel any less safe against a foreign attack since from now through the end of September, civilian employees of the Department of Defense will work only 80% of their scheduled hours due to the sequestration furloughs?
So which was more fun? Watching "Sharknado" or watching all of the Tweets about it? I vote for the Tweets.
Is Candy Crush Saga currently the world's most addictive video game? (maybe but it won't be for all that long)
Did F. Scott Fitzgerald write a novel titled "The Great Gypsy"? Did Chaucer write only one "Canterbury Tale"? How about Maya Angelou's "I Know Why Caged Birds Sing"? Just a few of the 30 some odd errors on this summer reading list: http://www.hempsteadschools.org/cms/lib07/NY01920790/Centricity/Domain/73/Summer%20Readling%20List%202013.pdf
* * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 1191, Saladin's garrison surrenders to Philip Augustus, ending the two year siege of Acre.
On this date in 1543, King Henry VIII of England marries his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr.
On this date in 1776, Captain James Cook sets sail on his third voyage.
On this date in 1804, Alexander Hamilton dies, one day after being shot in a duel with Aaron Burr.
On this date in 1862, Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor.
On this date in 1948, Israel's Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion orders the expulsion of Palestinians from the towns of Ramla and Lod.
On this date in 1962, the Rolling Stones perform their first concert, at the Marquee Club in London.
On this date in 1967, the Newark riots break out.
On this date in 1973, fire destroys the entire 6th floor of the National Personnel Records Center of the United States.
Famous Folk Born On This Date:
Henry David Thoreau
George Eastman
Louis B. Mayer
Buckminster Fuller
Oscar Hammerstein II
Milton Berle
Lyudmilla Pavlichenko (most prolific female sniper in military history)
Andrew Wyeth
Donald E. Westlake
Van Cliburn
Bill Cosby
Robert McFarlane
Delia Ephron
Walter Egan
Jay Thomas
Brian Grazer
Cheryl Ladd
Jamey Sheridan
Julio Cesar Chavez
Loni Love
Kristi Yamaguchi
Brock Lesnar
Tohper Grace
Michelle Rodriguez
Today's movie quotes come from 2003's "S.W.A.T." in honor of today being Michelle Rodriguez's birthday:
Hondo: You know what they say, you're either SWAT or you're not.
#2
Street: So why'd you pick me?
Hondo: To piss off the captain.
#3
Hondo: You still want to work S.W.A.T?
Chris: No. I just enjoy applying all the time.
#4
Hondo: How the hell can I trust a man who won't eat a good old-fashioned American hot dog?
I never met Linda Lovelace but I did have the displeasure of meeting the real Chuck Traynor. In the early 1980s he opened "The Survival Store" in Las Vegas, a gun store and gun range where anyone could come in off of the street and fire an automatic weapon.
I met him in the mid 80s when I used to go to his range every six to eight weeks to practice shooting. My military job at the time did not involve carrying a weapon, the Air Force wasn't requiring me to maintain my qualification with the revolver (I'd shot expert the last time and they'd decided if you don't carry one, you only needed to qualify with the revolver every three years if you shoot expert) and I wanted to maintain my high level of proficiency.
That's how I got to meet this guy. I didn't get to know him well, but based on the level of douchebaggery I saw him engage in as he ran his business, it isn't a stretch to believe the claims of the late Ms Lovelace.
The thing is, we don't know with certainty what goes on behind closed doors (yes, a Charlie Rich lyric, sort of). Which leads me into my next thought.
* * *
Sometime today, the six women who make up the jury that will judge George Zimmerman will begin their deliberations. I've deliberately not watched the trial coverage on TV, but considering how many people I follow on Twitter who are obsessed with watching and tweeting about it, and the copious amounts of media coverage, I am up to date on what's gone on in the courtroom.
Here's the thing. On this Earth, there were only two people who really know what happened on the night Trayvon Martin was killed. Martin and the man who killed him, George Zimmerman. Martin isn't here to give us his version of events. Since Zimmerman's future hangs in the balance, he can't be relied upon to be totally honest and open about the events that led up to his decision to pull the trigger of that gun. The forensic evidence raises reasonable doubt that this was 2nd degree murder. It might, repeat might, come close to meeting the requirements to convict Zimmerman of manslaughter.
The desperation of the prosecution became clear when they sought to add a charge of 3rd degree murder through child abuse. They did a really bad job of presenting their case. As one legal analyst noted, the prosecution's closing argument was filled with questions. A prosecutor shouldn't be asking questions in a closing. They raise doubt. A closing argument is supposed to give the jury the answers they need to be able to reach a unanimous verdict of "guilty."
There is another fact to be considered, not in determining the guilt or innocence of George Zimmerman, but in considering how we as a society must behave. Had Zimmerman been following the rules of being part of a neighborhood watch, there would have been no gun in his hand when he got out of his vehicle. In fact, he shouldn't have gotten out of the vehicle to begin with. Observe and report. Leave the law enforcement to the professionals. In light of, or in spite of the evidence presented at the trial, George Zimmerman did not have the training, capacity or experience to be confronting someone engaged in breaking the law.
I was a military cop. I have the training and experience. And now that I'm older, and slower and physically limited in what I can do, I wouldn't try to confront someone engaged in committing a crime. I'd call the real cops. Now if someone were about to be killed or raped, I might choose to attempt to intervene, to save a life. But only as an unavoidable, last resort. It isn't that it is no longer my job. It's that I know I'm just not ready to do that job.
Maybe one good thing will come from the Zimmerman trial and the death of Trayvon Martin. Maybe volunteers who are part of neighborhood watch programs everywhere will get a better understanding of what "observe and report" really means.
* * *
I would like to know which incredible jerk or jerks are behind the horrific act of taping fireworks to a dog's body and setting them off. His name is Indy and he's having his second round of surgery today, and hopefully he will survive.
I can't think of a punishment severe enough for whoever did this. Our system of justice doesn't have proper penalties for those who abuse animals. I'm aware that animals aren't people, but those who torture animals will quite probably move on to abusing and torturing people as time passes.
There's an author who wrote a number of books about post-Vietnam Special Ops soldiers engaged in various things (as good guys for the most part). In one of his novels he described what I consider the most heinous method of torturing to gather information I've ever heard of. The "hero" wrapped the body of the "suspect" with a cord that is a slow-burning, high-heat fuse. He wired it to a blasting cap next to the man's genitals. The fuse would burn for six minutes, up one leg to one arm, cross the shoulders, go down to crotch and then "boom". He described it as a method he'd seen a North Vietnamese interrogator use on a prisoner and that no one had ever lasted more than three minutes.
For a brief instant, I can see doing this to whoever put those fireworks on that dog and set them off. Does that make me a cruel person?
* * *
Random ponderings today:
Is anyone else already way past tired of seeing all Zimmerman trial, all the time on both CNN and HLN? Could you do all news on one network and big trials on another?
What part of the admittedly impressive resume of Janet Napolitano qualifies her to become President of the UC System? She has no experience in the classroom or in academia except as a student. Yes, she was valedictorian at UCSC. Yes she studied at the London School of Economics. Yes, she has a law degree. Still, I don't see what part of all that experience qualifies her to take on the task of leading an academic institution.
Do you feel any less safe against a foreign attack since from now through the end of September, civilian employees of the Department of Defense will work only 80% of their scheduled hours due to the sequestration furloughs?
So which was more fun? Watching "Sharknado" or watching all of the Tweets about it? I vote for the Tweets.
Is Candy Crush Saga currently the world's most addictive video game? (maybe but it won't be for all that long)
Did F. Scott Fitzgerald write a novel titled "The Great Gypsy"? Did Chaucer write only one "Canterbury Tale"? How about Maya Angelou's "I Know Why Caged Birds Sing"? Just a few of the 30 some odd errors on this summer reading list: http://www.hempsteadschools.org/cms/lib07/NY01920790/Centricity/Domain/73/Summer%20Readling%20List%202013.pdf
* * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 1191, Saladin's garrison surrenders to Philip Augustus, ending the two year siege of Acre.
On this date in 1543, King Henry VIII of England marries his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr.
On this date in 1776, Captain James Cook sets sail on his third voyage.
On this date in 1804, Alexander Hamilton dies, one day after being shot in a duel with Aaron Burr.
On this date in 1862, Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor.
On this date in 1948, Israel's Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion orders the expulsion of Palestinians from the towns of Ramla and Lod.
On this date in 1962, the Rolling Stones perform their first concert, at the Marquee Club in London.
On this date in 1967, the Newark riots break out.
On this date in 1973, fire destroys the entire 6th floor of the National Personnel Records Center of the United States.
Famous Folk Born On This Date:
Henry David Thoreau
George Eastman
Louis B. Mayer
Buckminster Fuller
Oscar Hammerstein II
Milton Berle
Lyudmilla Pavlichenko (most prolific female sniper in military history)
Andrew Wyeth
Donald E. Westlake
Van Cliburn
Bill Cosby
Robert McFarlane
Delia Ephron
Walter Egan
Jay Thomas
Brian Grazer
Cheryl Ladd
Jamey Sheridan
Julio Cesar Chavez
Loni Love
Kristi Yamaguchi
Brock Lesnar
Tohper Grace
Michelle Rodriguez
Today's movie quotes come from 2003's "S.W.A.T." in honor of today being Michelle Rodriguez's birthday:
Hondo: You know what they say, you're either SWAT or you're not.
#2
Street: So why'd you pick me?
Hondo: To piss off the captain.
#3
Hondo: You still want to work S.W.A.T?
Chris: No. I just enjoy applying all the time.
#4
Hondo: How the hell can I trust a man who won't eat a good old-fashioned American hot dog?
posted by me at 10:36 AM
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