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July 31, 2006
On Mel
Just about everyone knows by now that Mel Gibson was arrested for DUI in Malibu this past weekend. Everyone also knows that while at the police station, after being processed, and just before his release he began to spout a broad range of anti-semetic blather, blaming "Jews for all the war in the world". He then make a disparaging remark towards a female deputy. All of this was caught on audio tape, as the booking area is recorded at that station and the arresting officer detailed the entire encounter in his nearly 5 page report. Gibson has since apologized for the incident, blaming the alcohol for his nearly life-long battle with alcoholism for his comments.
The lesser known facts about this case are this:
1. Gibson's blood alcohol content was only 0.12 (0.08 is legally drunk). That means he wasn't sloppy, disgustingly drunk, but still fairly drunk. Probably still sober enough to know what he was saying.
2. This was Gibson's THIRD arrest for DUI in the past YEAR. Previous arrests have been swept under the rug due to Gibson's star status. In California the third DUI arrest EVER is prosecuted as a felony. Gibson should never have been cited and released for this infraction (assuming it was only his third DUI ever, which it wasnt'). He should have been booked and jailed pending bail or trial for Felony DUI.
3. The contents of the arresting officer's nearly five page report detailing Gibson's anti-semetic rant as well as the portion of the audio tape which held the comments were to be covered up by the commanding officer of the police station, to protect Gibson's status. According to ABC news radio the commander (a captain) told the deputy that he was going to take and hold the original report and that the deputy would have to write a new report which excluded the anti-semetic comments made by Gibson. In an act of good judgement the deputy refused. The story inevitably got out despite the Captain's actions as a local news station had been monitoring police bands.
I cannot express how wrong it is that stars and VIP's of other sorts get preferential treatment under the law. Gibson is a habitual offender of the Controlled Substance Act. The fact that he is an alcoholic is regretable but no defense under the law for the common man and should not be for Gibson. He should have been long-ago charged with Felonly DUI for his actions, as he should have been this past weekend, but was not. This entire incident probably never would have gotten out if not for his comments at the station.
Fair treatment under the law needs to include everyone. No man should be judged more or less harshly because of their status in life. Stars like Mel Gibson, Britney Spears, and Michael Jackson (just to name a few) should not get away with crime simply because they entertain us. When they commit a crime they need to be prosecuted the same as the common man. To do otherwise undermines the very foundation of our justice system.
Posted by at 08:50 AM | Comments (6)
July 25, 2006
On Islrali Patience
I've been watching the Israli/Hezbola ordeal fairly closely for the last couple of weeks. Having friends in Israel, and friend here with family there the situation is close to home. What impresses me about the situation isn't that Israel attacked Hezbola, its that it took them as long as it did to finally do it.
Ever since it's creation Israel has been a target for radical Islamic groups in the region. After being pushed from place to place for decades the Jews of the region finally decided that they were going to have a home where Jews could live in peace, a place that was theirs, a place where they could settle down finally. They thought that they had it with Israel but were very wrong. Now, instead of having to look for Jews, intolerant terrorist factions could just fire rockets into Israel as well as set of car bombs, suicide bombs, etc. Much of this was done under the guise of territorial rights and such but when it comes down to it, religious intolerance is what the spat is all about.
When Hezbola came into existance in Lebanon as a sort of state-within-a-state they immediately massed near the border with Israel and began terrorist actions. Israel put up with it a long time but finally had enough a few weeks ago when some of their soldiers were kidnapped. Israel, diplomatically requested their soldiers back. Hezbola refused. Israel threatened Hezbola, Hezbola thumbed their nose. Now Israel is making good on their promise to attack and is systematically laying waste to Hezbola targets inside of Lebanon. Can't say they weren't warned.
The only thing that surprises me about this entire event is the lack of response by the legitimate government of Lebanon. Where are they telling Hezbola to get out of their country? So far I've heard nothing from them except whining and bitching over their loss of structure. Why shouldnt' they lose structure? Why shouldn't they lose their entire country? They allowed a terrorist faction, whose name is mentioned in the same circles as Hammas and Islamic Jihad, to come in, take over their government, and conduct terrorist campaigns from within their borders. So far Israel has been fairly neighborly and hasn't attacked any strictly Lebanese targets, but in my opinion they would be well within their rights to do so.
This has been a escalating situation for not weeks but years. It's finally come to a head and Israel has declared with an emphatic "not in my house" that they're done being tolerant of terrorist attacks across their border and have started to clean up. When it's done I think the world will owe them thanks for eliminating a terrorist organization from the planet.
Posted by at 11:04 AM | Comments (4)
July 15, 2006
On Moving on Up
I've decided to take my leave of Enloe and go to a Casual Per Diem status. I inquired about, interviewed for, was offered, and accepted a job with Mountain Life Flight in Susanville and so will be doing that full-time from here out.
My leaving Enloe was a tough decision for my wife and I. Mountain is a small company and isn't able to offer some of the amenities that Enloe can, such as Paid Time Off, Sick Leave, Retirement, etc. But I've been very interested in Flight Nursing since I started in EMS 7 years ago as an EMT and this is an opportunity to realize a dream. There's a lot of things about Enloe that I'm going to miss, mostly the people whom, in my 5 year tenure, I've been fortunate to call my friends and co-workers. Overall I've had some exceptionally good supervisors, I've learned a lot, and have been given great opportunities. It is not with any animosity that I'm leaving.
What I won't miss about Enloe is the constant political tension there. Enloe's going through some tough times with it's Centaury Project, Board, CEO, etc. Its a rough time and it's very distracting to patient care for myself and several of my co-workers whom I've spoken to. Until this transition smooths out I anticipate a large outflux of staff from Enloe to other organizations, and that's a sad thing.
Posted by at 05:11 PM | Comments (2)
July 12, 2006
On Haircuts
Going to get a haircut has never been what I would call a fun experience. Sure the folks at Supercuts or Gr8 Clips were nice enough and I got a pretty decent haircut but that was about where the experience ended. That was until yesterday.
I'd driven by Gearhead Tattoo and Barbershop before, about a year ago, and noticed it. I remember thinking that it may be a cool place to get a haircut but I must have immediately forgotten about it because I never went. Then a co-worker of mine mentioned it about a week ago and it stuck with me. So, yesterday I went on a quest to find the place. I knew it was on Park ave someplace, but not exactly where. I started at Park and Midway and headed North, right there on the corner of 14th and Park was a little white house next to the Goodwill shop with a bold sign announcing the store.
The first thing I noticed when I started up the stairs was the that the place was decorated well, with memorabilia, old signs, and pictures. When I walked through the door, Tony (owner and barber) greeted me and pointed me towards the lounge area. He invited me to open the fridge, grab a beer, soda, or water, and make myself comfortable while he finished with another customer. This was new. Being about noon I opted for a water and left a donation in the box on the fridge. The lounge is complete with a Playstation, TV, magazines, pinball machine, and portfolio for the tattoo artist. It was great.
When I got called for my cut I sat in an old-style barber chair and explained what I wanted. Tony started working but immediately got side-tracked with a story. This went on for a while. He'd cut a bit, then stop to show off a picture, or tell a story. It was great. I had tons of time to kill so I didn't mind listening to him chat and show off his very historic building. The whole experience from start to finish lasted nearly an hour. I got a great cut, exactly what I wanted, and a really fun experience.
Gearhead is not a place to go if you're in a hurry. It's an experience for savoring. After the cut I was invited to hang out or just come back any time to hang, which I very well may do. I've thought for a while that it would be fun to find a place where a guy could just hang out and chat, get a haircut, and just be a guy. This is the place. It's fun, really really fun. I find myself looking forward to my next haircut...a very unique experience.
Gearhead is between 14th and 15th and Park. It's across the street from Off Limits and Nobby's, next to the Goodwill Store. The building is set back from the street a little, so don't be upset if you miss it the first time. It's worth heading down there for a haircut and good company, if you have about an hour to spare.
Posted by at 12:56 PM | Comments (2)
July 01, 2006
On Neumeister's Resignation
The inevitable end has come to pass. Dan Neumeister, Enloes CEO has resigned from his position at Enloe. With him are two board members. This doesn't shock me and really shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone else.
The political climate at Enloe has been at a low boil for a couple of years now and the contract issues with the anethesiologists was just the fuel the fire needed to cause a boil-over. While Neumeister did well at Enloe by saving it from financial ruin, his tactics were always in question and in a small town where everyone knows everyone else it didn't take long for a lot of bad blood to be created.
Whether right or wrong, good or bad Neumeister pretty much had to leave. When a person's ability to lead comes so much into question that nobody wants to follow them, then they are no longer a leader and must move on.
Posted by at 09:04 AM | Comments (1)