Police Violence Against Middle Aged Ladies

It is distressing to me that this story has gotten so little coverage in the major media. In case you haven't heard, here's a synopsis:

San Diego - Friday, June 26 - A middle aged lesbian couple in a nice neighborhood was holding a fundraiser for Francine Busby, a Democrat seeking state office. A short speech was made around 8pm using a small P.A. All the while a neighbor was shouting obscenities, especially anti-gay slurs. It would appear that the neighbor then called in a noise complaint. This was around 9pm and the noise ordinance doesn't come into effect until 10pm. Nonetheless the sheriff's department sent a deputy. This wasn't a rock concert, it was a small gathering (the cop says 50 people, the fundraisers say no more than 30) of mostly middle aged ladies. When one of the owners, 60 year old Shari Barman, questioned why the deputy needed her age since he had her name and address he proceeded to twist her arm behind her back and throw her to the ground. When the other partygoers protested and Barman's partner begged the deputy to be careful with Barman's arm as she'd just had shoulder surgery the deputy freaked out and pepper sprayed everyone within range in the face. He called in back-up which came in the form of six more cars, a helicopter, a fire truck, and a canine team!

“It was a private, quiet party,” Busby said. “I can't reiterate enough that there was never any noise.” ...

The American Civil Liberties Union also has weighed in, releasing a statement yesterday calling for the sheriff to release more information about “what appears to be a significant abuse of power by a peace officer who intruded into a person's home and reacted with unwarranted force to an unsubstantiated complaint alleging a minor infraction.” more

There is a lot of speculation that this was caused by steroid abuse. Whatever. This deputy is typical cop: vindictive, stupid, angry, mean, spiteful, dangerous and worst of all, armed. This is not an isolated incident. Cops are fucking insane in this country and we have to find some way to turn it around. There is a prison guard mentality that is endemic in law enforcement and the cliched "I am the law" approach is now standard but we continue to increase the number of crimes and we recruit the kind of knuckle dragging bullies that will beat anyone that argues with them. You show me one good cop and I'll show you at least one piece of shit that would be jailed if he didn't tend to fuck with the poor and helpless.

These wealthy San Diego ladies will probably get justice in the end, but its because they can afford it. We have two justice systems in this country, the one that favors the rich and the one that jails the poor. And lord help you if you're poor and black! They say there is no honor amongst thieves, but there is far less honor amongst cops.

"Bail Out" Cannot Be Reviewed

This can't be good. The executive branch is using the current economic crisis to increase its power in frightening ways.

Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

His name is Henry Paulson.

Ike Really Tore Up Louisville

[A quick note: I was in Nashville from Monday through Friday evening
so I'm only just now able to make this post]

DSC_2145, originally uploaded by Alan Evil.

Sunday September the 14th the worst weather event in Louisville, Kentucky's recorded history blew through town. For over two hours we experienced sustained winds of 50mph with gusts over 75mph. Trees were literally ripped from the ground, splintered from their bases, and generally tossed around like toothpicks. The path of the storm was fairly wide and it appears it ran right up the Ohio River. I went out in the morning and took pictures of the approaching front, thinking we were going to get some rain and thunderstorms. Boy was I in for a surprise. Not only did we get almost no rain (just a few drops), the sun was shining and the skies were half blue with clouds racing overhead as trees were bent double, first one way and then another (explaining why so many broke). It was truly amazing.

You will find a collection of pictures I took after the storm here. Unfortunately, some streets still look like this a week later. Though we got electricity back about 12 hours after it went out, most houses and businesses around us are still dark. LG&E, our local utility, has been saying it may be another week before all power is restored.