TheAgitator.com
Saturday Links
Saturday, August 28th, 2010- You know, I’m kind of digging Vietnam’s pillars of foreign policy.
- Raytheon invents a device that makes torturing prisoners easy as playing a video game.
- Weird as this sounds, the theory behind it actually makes a lot of sense.
- A restaurant critic tries Nutraloaf.
- Sizing up the number one quadrillion.
- After police shoot and kill unarmed man, Las Vegas plans to make drug raids safer by . . . using more SWAT teams.
- This is one of the oddest lawsuits I’ve seen in a while. If the accusations in the complaint are true, I hope the guy ends up owning the hospital. And I don’t mean in the Interwebs sense of the word. I mean I hope the hospital has a big sign out front with his name on it.
“Weird as this sounds, the theory behind it actually makes a lot of sense.”
Or you could just lean forward. As I understand it, all of this has nothing to do with support of your body’s mass, just the angle of the poop chute relative to the colon.
Prince George County needs to be renamed Kafka County.
All GPS units and mapping software should create routes that avoid the place and give explicit warnings to anyone who is about to enter.
“You are about to enter Kafka County. For your own safety, please turn around immediately and seek an alternate route.”
How are we supposed to read the agitator on our laptops if we’re squatting in the bathroom?
You know.
Sometimes I right click these links to open in a separate tabs, which open behind The Agitator, then go back and read the ones I am interested in.
I thought I was clicking on the tab for Nutraloaf and got a cartoon of two people shitting and an article that opened with presidential hemorrhoids. Imagine my relief when I realized my mistake and no one was going to eat Carter’s crap.
Then I clicked on the actual Nutraloaf story and realized that might as well be….
Those two hospital guards should be in prison, on top of the civil suit against them and the hospital. Given that it was an ex-cop they assaulted, I’m surprised they haven’t already been arrested. I would have called 911 immediately and demanded the real cops take them away in handcuffs.
This is one of the oddest lawsuits I’ve seen in a while. If the accusations in the complaint are true, I hope the guy ends up owning the hospital. And I don’t mean in the Interwebs sense of the word. I mean I hope the hospital has a big sign out front with his name on it.
Effing A. And then once he owns it, they should name a wing of the hospital after him.
Preferably the cancer surgery wing.
“We will beat you until you allow us to heal you.”
it would be kinda poetic if the the guy that was beat in the hospital was an abusive cop and karma was coming around… but I can’t imagine getting tossed around when you already have 4 broken ribs, etc.
I guess professional courtesy isn’t extended between security guards and cops!
Raytheon invents a device that makes torturing prisoners easy as playing a video game.
Oops. That one got away.
I’m kinda of two minds about the pain ray. I can see the screws abusing it for their sadistic pleasure. But it is certainly better than a bunch of screws wading into a prison fight armed with axe handles.
That hospital story reminds me of why I carry a gun. Not much help to Wheeler, but if his wife had a weapon ….
Re: the heat ray story
Does it ever strike anyone but me as a *really* bad idea that we’ve spent the last decade pouring lots of money and smart peoples’ time into developing technology for spying on people and holding down an unfriendly civilian population with a minimum of danger to the occupiers? All this technology will stick around, and you have to guess unprincipled or desperate political leaders will find a lot of interesting uses for it in the years to come.
This will be the biggest legacy of the war on terror, right? In the cold war, we and the Soviets (and to a lesser extent the Chinese, French, and Brits) spent vast amounts of money and genius working out efficient ways to wreck civilization and murder people by the millions. That technology is still around, with the more accessible versions now held by many countries and sought by still more. It’s almost inevitable that it will be used sooner or later somewhere–perhaps North Korea taking out Seoul or Tokyo, perhaps India and Pakistan going to war again and this time going nuclear. Who knows what other nasty stuff–really awful biological or chemical weapons, “enhanced fallout” weapons that can poison land for centuries, etc.–were developed that will sooner or later be used as well.
Similarly, we’ll see all this high tech equipment and doctrine we’ve developed to hold down resentful civilian populations used all over the world, by people who have even less scruples about civilian casualties than we do.
Sooner or later, this technology will probably come home–some president looking at civil unrest and impending prosecution if he loses power will realize that he has a military and intelligence apparatus that’s been transformed into a device for imposing an unwanted government on people, hunting down and torturing/killing anyone who opposes that government, all at a minimal price in terms of occupying soldiers. Much of that apparatus will be robots of various kinds, or mercenaries hired from abroad whose loyalty to the American people and constitution is about as strong as their loyalty to the Iraqi or Afghan people and constitution.
#11 | Mannie
that’s a great point- I know a few cops and they’re never far from a gun… it’s starting to sound like a tarantino plot!
“He told the officers that he had been in a serious car accident and suffered from multiple injuries to the torso and shoulders. Wheeler also told the officers that he was retired from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and that he knew that the security officers had no right or authority to detain him. Wheeler stated that he wanted to leave.”
Wheeler is obviously correct. Assuming this story is even partly accurate, the hospital’s nurses and security officers had no right to prevent him from leaving. I work in healthcare security, and I am called to “eloping patient” situations on a regular basis. Unless these patients have an altered level of consciousness (due to medications/intoxication, medical condition–like dementia or severe seizure disorders–or severe mental illness) or are expressing suicidal or homicidal ideations, we DO NOT physically stop them from leaving.
Often times in these cases, we need to question the patient and the nurses before making this kind of determination, because medical personnel are not always very astute when it comes to these sensitive legal issues. Sometimes, professional arrogance or “authority issues” (yes, medical professionals are prone to this problem too, not just police) are also a problem, and the involved nurses or docs seem to take it personally that a patient is rejecting their advice.
Even when we do have a physician or nurse’s order to make a stop, we would never berate the patient, and we would use as little force as possible to get the patient back to their room (generally, escort holds). At my medical center, that kind of ill tempered response to a patient wanting to leave would be unthinkable. If the plaintiff’s story is accurate, this was an unprofessional and criminal way to deal with an eloping patient.
#8 Marty: “I guess professional courtesy isn’t extended between security guards and cops!”
Not reallly. But these security offiers were apparently out of control super thin-skinned. I don’t think it mattered whothe guy was.
Our hospital security department is generally treated as “another agency” by the local police, and we usually work well together. I have had a few officers that seemed a bit condescending. My reaction to that goes something like this: “Oh well, we aren’t the government police. Who fucking cares?” As far as professional courtesy goes, I know of some of our officers who were given verbal warnings for traffic offenses while in uniform (they may have received warnings anyway, but who knows). On my end, once I questioned a guy who was violating a parking policy in ER. He whipped out a badge and asked me, “does it matter if I’m a cop.” I just looked at him and said “no” with a slight smirk. Kind of pathetic, really. I’m not much for professional courtesy, even if they are.
@#12- My very first thought on this was similar to your own. The more toys these morons get, the more ways they find to abuse them. I’m sure it won’t be long before we hear a story of a person that has been cooked like a microwave chicken just as the military grade one has done previously. Kids always play with their new toys just because they are there!
Happened to me or a member of my family, it would of been taken care of the old fashion way. Then let the jury sort it out.
“On my end, once I questioned a guy who was violating a parking policy in ER. He whipped out a badge and asked me, “does it matter if I’m a cop.” I just looked at him and said “no” with a slight smirk. Kind of pathetic, really. I’m not much for professional courtesy, even if they are.”
Professional courtesy is something that happens without having to show that badge. Once they flip that it tells me that they believe they are entitled to break the rules! That NEVER flew by me when I worked security.
“This is one of the oddest lawsuits I’ve seen in a while.”
When the county in question is Prince George County, I multiply the oddness factor of the story by a coefficient of 0.1, just to equalize the oddness with every other county in the U.S.
I’m beginning to believe that Prince George County rests on a toxic wastedump that is poisoning the watershed. I cannot believe the things that come out of that place, those people are so out of control.
Quote from article on Vietnam’s defense posture: “Vietnam believes China will not threaten peace and stability in the region or throughout the world.”
If they truly believe this, then they are as naive as first graders.
Dr. T
What do you expect him to say when he’s at a press confrence in Beijing surrounded by a billion Chinese? :)
#18 pyo1:
Good for you. Our department rarely calls for law enforcement assistance unless someone is going to jail, police are requested by a victim or we need investigative assistance (they do have more resources and authority in this area, of course). For the most part, we are “the police” on our campus, and we prefer think of the local police as partners, not as our bosses. If they act like that, they can be asked to leave our medical center like anyone else that causes a disturbance.
Given the patient was already possibly suffereing internal injuries, I’d argue that even assault is going to easy on the two securities guards. I’d go after them for attempted murder.
All the nutraloaf lawsuits cited in the article seem to involve the use of it as punishment. I’m afraid that at most the courts will ban that – but leave the Joe Arpaios free to serve it to all prisoners.
markm – I’m sure it won’t be long before there’s a story about someone killed by it because he had food allergies, was assured it was safe…and the loaf was made with something he was allergic too.
Won’t stop it being used, of course…
Speaking of LV Metro detective Brian Yant….
http://www.lvrj.com/news/officer-under-suspicion-101541563.html
This guy is magic!
Eloping patient-I guess there is a term for everything.
“They have the right to refuse medical treatment until it’s time to not refuse medical treatment…I’ll let you know.” Zombie Patrick Swayze
@24 I’d be willing to bet that Nutraloaf is too expensive for the likes of Asshole Joe.
The Raytheon beam is definitely cruel and unusual.
The Nutraloaf seems to fall under the Navy’s bread and water punishment (which they still impose), but which I think is only given for a very limited period of time.
Perhaps a fat farm that served nutraloaf could be a real money maker.
Hey Radley:
Look what I found:
http://www.apbweb.com/featured-articles/1626-swat-audits-called-knee-jerk-reaction.html
That guy should co-own the hospital with the woman who was supposed to get the operation.
Re: the ray gun. In some situations (e.g. a riot) the heat ray would be preferable to other means that can cause more injury. Will it be misused? Yes, definitely. Tasers and pepper spray are misused, as is often noted here, but I’d still rather the police have options besides the pistol. I think rather than characterizing it as a torture device right off the bat, its more helpful to start lobbying for necessary regulations, guidelines, and oversight protections to be put in place early, before the device and it’s use becomes too entrenched to change.
Who would want to own Prince George’s Hospital? Seriously, that place is a complete hole. His first problem was being transported there after his accident.
After police shoot and kill unarmed man…
This all looks like business as usual. Find guys with prior drug arrests, fabricate PC for a warrant, get a judge to rubber stamp their bullshit warrant.
Of course, this is just an isolated incident, right?
Best comment in the Nutraloaf article:
Nutraloaf is people!
At #2
I wouldn’t call what happens in PG County Kafkaesque (particularly having grown up there and currently living about 5 minutes from the county line). The problem with it is that it has gone through extraordinary demographic shifts over the last 25 years that have worked to set up serious tensions, particularly between law enforcement and the citizenry. When the District of Columbia began to gentrify the poor people were pushed out primarily into that county. It essentially went form a very rural, predominantly white area to a majority black and largely urban county in a very abrupt period of time. This doesn’t mean that the place doesn’t in large part deserve it’s reputation for incompetence, violence, and police brutality but there’s nothing systematic about it like what this site has documented in Arizona. As crazy as it probably sounds to readers who aren’t from the area the worst times in that county are probably behind us (in the 90′s it was not a good place to live). The place has improved considerably though law enforcement remains a glaring exception in that regard.
@Mannie, 11: Many hospitals ban firearms, even for licensed CCW holders.
@Albatross, 12: My rifle reaches further than that pain ray.
@Joe, 29: Unpleasant as that device may be, the 8th Amendment protection against “Cruel and Unusual Punishment” is just that, a proscription against punishment. There’s nothing in the Constitution which defends seriously misbehaving prisoners against the use of pain compliance to break up riots.
#32 – the problem is the Taser hasn’t replaced the gun like it was supposed to, it’s replaced the second verbal warning or in some cases even the first verbal warning. It’s added a punishment device as well. It was supposed to be for some loco guy brandishing a knife a decent distance away. In the past, they would shoot the guy. Guess what? They still shoot the guy. I don’t believe for a second the Taser has done anything other than increase inappropriate police violence and sadism. Do you have any proof to the contrary?
I agree that if and only if used properly this laser device makes sense. But that’s the problem, it won’t be. Three seconds is a long time. They say the idea is for the guy to reflexively jump out of the way, but what’s stopping the screw from continuing to reaim and reshoot. Video will mysteriously be lost, and the union will protect the screw-balls.
Radley, if plaintiffs’ petitions were very close to reality at all, we’d be living in a post-apocalyptic hell surviving on dog food and dreaming of the last of the V8 Interceptors.
I hope Mr. Wheeler gets a just outcome, but I’d be willing to bet that there are at least 3 things we don’t know about what happened to him at the hospital.
My impression is that the taser is not intended to be a replacement for guns in a situation where lethal force is justified–and someone brandinshing a knife who will not drop it is most definitely lethal force, if they are within 10 yards or so. Tasers are not as accurate as guns, are harder to aim, and AFAIK are single-shot weapons. I would not choose one as a defense against a knife. Tasers have a place on the contintuum between bare hands and lethal force–it is safer to tase someone than to grapple hand-to-hand on pavement in an attempt to handcuff or subdue them–but sadly they are probably misused more than they are appropriately used. It is too easy for cops to use them on the passively resisting, “noncompliant,” or just to torture someone.
This just in:
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/110394/americas-10-most-dangerous-jobs
Guess what profession is glaringly omitted???
#41 Thanks for the link. I want to vomit whenever I hear about cops “being heroes who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.” Some types of police work are indeed dangerous but mostly what I see cops doing is harassing people who are not a danger to anyone. The guys in that article are the real heroes.
OBTC:
+1 for a good link! This data should be discussed in police academies so that recruits have a more realistic idea of the risks associated with their jobs. I have thought on and off about pursuing law enforcement careers for almost ten years. I have also known that policing is not particularly dangerous since I was studying criminal justice in college. The “putting our lives on the line everyday” stuff is mostly rhetoric.
The most common risks to police officers are motor vehicle crashes and cardiovascular issues (thought to be caused by stress, shift work, poor eating habits, etc.). Instead of hyping the relatively rare shootout or knock down, drag out brawl with a suspect, law enforcement trainers should spend more time advising recruits on physical fitness, good nutrition and healthy ways to reduce stress.
Police recruits are not being trained for war. They are being trained for domestic policing. Yes, training in firearms and defensive tactics training is necessary, but a modern police training program needs to be more like college than boot camp. Don’t get me wrong, I know that cops are not social workers. In fact, I advocate very intensive defensive tactics training for police. If officers have a good background in empty hand defense, I believe they will be less likely to overuse tasers, batons, etc. It is all about being confident and having a plan. And that kind of sums up what a police officer (or other public safety personnel) should bring to the table. Size up the scene, formulate a plan, and go to work. Don’t charge in like a bull in a china shop and start shouting orders!
“Weird as it sounds, …”
Makes me agree all the more with the recent call for a justice index: http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2010/08/13/is-it-time-to-create-a-justice-index/
http://www.lvrj.com/news/party-crashers-99299574.html
Each police station (20 or so in all) has a goon squad on patrol for kids who might be being loud, having fun, and consuming unapproved beverages on their own private property. Tickets are handed out by the thousands. The percentage of youngsters with police records must be an all time world record.
I’ve lived in Vegas for 6 years now. I live in a low income area and nothing has changed as far as safety or residents or businesses that operate here. But it’s transformation to a complete police state has been unbelievable.
Like Fahrenheit 451 firefighters who start fires, the Vegas police are the main initiator of crimes against individuals and personal property of anyone they choose. They are loyal and clannish as any crip or blood are to their legally sanctioned gang.
The courts are full of 100s of thousands of jaywalking tickets, seat belt tickets, and other petty citations. There is a 9 month delay if you want to protest your citations.
Homes are seized for a messy yard, poor maintenance, renting to tourists who make noise, any other reason they choose.
After dark, every fifth car on the deserted streets is a police car. Everywhere is flashing lights and unemployed locals cuffed against squad cars. Police RVs and vans are filled with welfare moms and deadbeat dads herded in like cattle for trying to make a few dollars on the public streets while ex soldiers turned cops load up the citizens who dare to make a buck off the few remaining tourists .
Everyone is encouraged to rat out their neighbors for having an out of state license plate when they are natives. Every intersection has cameras. Every other commercial is from the ad council or govt propaganda ad Radio stations are nothing but government ads and court appointed lawyers hungry to sue anyone anywhere in a kangaroo court.
Whether you’re Paris Hilton or Joe Schmo this is the last place you should go to if you’re looking for a place to vacation. The strip is full of speed traps, undercover police, regular police. Casinos have as many security personell as their are gamblers. Go to a concert, and there are bouncers standing among the crowd facing you, not the stage. Cellphone camera recording kids are harassed and directed
” Vinh reconfirmed the three pillars of Vietnam’s defense policy: not joining in any military alliances or becoming a military ally of any country; not allowing any country to set up military bases in Vietnam; and not relying on one country to oppose another. ”
The lone ranger idea appeals but Vietnam is approximately 1/4000th the size of China…..
I was at the racetrack in Mugello, Italy. A world famous, premier circuit. Ferrari’s home test track. It was a weekday, the track wasn’t very busy. I sought out a bathroom, walked in… and encountered my first “turkish toilet”, a shallow basin with a hole in the middle and two porcelain “bricks” to stand on. Fine, fine, I can do this. Travel is adventure, aye. I then realized that, having rode a motor bike to the track, my pants were zipped to the jacket in the rear. Complicated. I dont’ recall the position i ended up in, but I am certain it was anatomically incorrect.