Welcome Back Ronin!

After many days of recuperation from my incident with the local constabulary, I’ve come back to blog again with my heart into it … a little!

You will see, if you’ve been a reader for awhile, that I am anti-crime but have no problem taking shots at the cops for their many indiscretions. If you aren’t aware of them (you could fill a floppy disk with “different crimes” they’ve committed and still continue doing). They are a necessity in a society that is governed strictly according to the letter of the law, but at times they are like a disease, gnawing away at the sensibilities of those who aren’t dependent on them but still pay their salaries!

My Mother in Law is 85 and she lives alone – she needs police. My father is the same – he needs the police (but don’t ever ask him!) My wife and daughter need police protection – God bless them all – (almost)!

I must be honest and admit that even though the police aren’t well received in my life, there are times when they come in really handy. There was that time back in 1967 when I needed one to make out an accident report to turn into my insurance company. Then, in 1983 they broke up a fight in which the opponent was given a thorough beating. If it hadn’t been for the lights and sirens racing madly towards us, I’m sure the guy would have been beaten to death. More recently I needed the police again to file a report on some minor damage to my wife’s car when a cable blew out into the road and dinged up the top and one side. They really helped out with their reports! I don’t want their protection – I am equipped to handle that myself.

It is argued that the presence of police cruisers and “beat cops” in urban areas alone – is a major deterrent. I don’t agree with that statement at all.

Other Opinions: (spelling is not mine)

“The crime rate in our neighbouring country, Singapore is far lower than our country. Why? There are few significant differences. I was in Singapore for 3 days holiday last week. I notice there are policeman presence on MRT train station, bus stops, shopping complexes, tourist places and on the streets. I believe the police presence on the street can significantly reduce the crime rate. In Malaysia, it’s hard to see any policeman patrolling on the streets. We will only see our police force doing petty things such as setting up speed trap to fine the motorist.” Wow, same in my town too!

“I, too, believe a strong police presence will deter crimes being committed as often as it is now. Uniformed police may not be able to catch all of the criminals but at least, these criminals can be kept at bay.”

“Woman should start protecting themself and more alert what around them at all time.Not a bad ideal to take up a self defence class.Don’t carry a bad with long strap,or wear that many jewery.Carry a pepper spray or hairspray you can use to spray into their eyes.”

Opinions Vary:

“An aging population and the decline in the use of crack cocaine are more responsible for the drop in crime rates than a strong police presence, argues Anthony Arnove in the following viewpoint. In fact, Arnove contends, putting more police on the street and giving them the power and authority to enforce “zero tolerance” policies may actually increase police violence and corruption because the officers believe they are above the law. Arnove is a writer and a member of the International Socialist Organization.” Must be a Communist or something eh?

The best police presence I have ever witnessed – and no – you don’t want to be snatched by one of these dudes – was in Japan. At least back in the 60’s and 70’s. When the cops showed up as back-up for a small melee, or in search of a dangerous “perp”, they pulled up in small wagons and poured out so fast that they reminded me of college kids squeezed into a VW for the World’s Record!

All would be suited in riot gear, light body armor, full face shields, a big see-through PVC shield strapped to one of their arms while the other wielded either a telescopic steel baton or one of those giant “spring” batons. It was widely known that they carried no firearms normally – only 4th Degree Black Belts – armor plating and a good baton of their choice. These dudes were very tough. It “was” a fact (not sure anymore) that criminals feared physical beatings administered by expert “beaters”, more than the more remote possibility of a bullet rattling their cage. The bad guys would rather be shot at, than beat to a lump of silly putty by these highly skilled “punch out” artists with badges.

I tend to agree with them – I regularly walked down the “Avenue” in large cities, dark alleys, and empty village lanes in the dark almost nightly. I was never treated with anything but the utmost respect by the local citizenry. I never heard of a “real crime” in two years there, but only witnessed a few bar fights and squabbles between Military personnel and the locals. Sometimes these would erupt – but only to a point. Weekends in the ‘red light districts’ was prime time for a wagon-load of these modern police Samurai, to wheel in and simply walk the streets a couple of times. That’s about all it took to restore a little sanity to all the drunken and drugged people working the clubs, while the locals “worked them”.

To recap – yes cops are necessary – and for myself that is limited to back-up reports. No – I don’t think that a few more cops on the beat means a thing to a real criminal – other than in Japan (and probably a few other countries) where I can actually confirm that the crime rate was affected by police presence, in a positive way. Check out Crime Statistics for Japan and w/o checking first – I’d wager that they’re lower, on a cop-to-citizen ratio, than about anywhere on the planet. Why? Criminals would rather take their chances dodging a bullet (or a jury) than take a sure ’nuff, thorough, ass whipping by highly trained martial artists – with BADGES!

Where’s a Cop When You Need One?

Well, on Saturday morning “I did operate a motor vehicle” at 00:39 on “mystreet” USA. I was in no hurry and off to get a barrel of water from an excellent outlet in a small village, down the same road that I live on. Right where the road changes between “our police depts.’s jurisdiction” and “the small village’s jurisdiction”, there is a beat up and barely readable 35 MPH Speed Limit sign posted. From my home until that point, there are about 8 miles of rural road. This is all posted at 45 MPH. I took the whole ride on cruise control as I don’t want to speed, or crash from some speed related issue. As it would happen, I was busy looking at a large lake and missed my turn-off to the water dept. and was now barreling into the 35 MPH zone…da da da da – da da da da (hummed to the musical score of the Twilight Zone) so I threw out the anchor as I was immediately confronted by MASSIVE “Curve 35 MPH” signs. In the dim glow of my brake lights I saw the side marker lamps of a semi-hidden police cruiser (right behind a building corner and on the 35 MPH side of the signs). I heard his engine scream to life as I continued to slow up and before the speedo hit 30 MPH this aspiring Indy car driver cop, had covered a 1/4 mile in a split second. Clearly in violation of the speed limit!

So he comes up to the window and asks the timeless question: “do you know how fast you were travelling”? Yes sir, I was speeding like hell! “License and registration” he demands…this young boy – playing cop – and getting to “work out” on his newest victim – me! We can all sleep a lot better with him on the job! I never saw his face, since he stood behind my window – making normal conversation impossible. I figured that it was a new cop strategy to keep cops from getting a shotgun blast or a quick knife thrust in the face. I found it rather silly in our small agricultural community to behave in such a manner, where men talk to men, face to face and everyone knows at least one or more people in common.

The short of it is, he really stuck it to me and wrote the ticket (locals get warnings 98% of the time) for 47 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. Thanks for the warning and stern admonitions butt-munch! I had to control my unusually vicious temper for two reasons: it was just past midnight Friday and I didn’t want to spend the weekend in the “hole”, plus my wife has her vehicle plastered with magnetic “honk if you love Jesus” and “pray for our troops” stickers all over the back of her van. Arrrgh! That stupid lapse of memory causing me to miss my turn-off, cost me $85 clams. He wrote the previous day’s date down for the court date – and I suppose I could have hauled my dead arse into court, and asked for (and may well have gotten) it thrown out for being written incorrectly, but I was speeding and have forked over the cash. So much for my $85 contribution to the local dolts who scrape Municipal revenue from their speed traps (there’s one on both entrances to the Village) to supplement whatever project the city fathers have a vested interest in.

Saturday was uneventful – only sporadically interrupted by flashbacks of the young boy using his new badge and gun to shake me down. Sunday my luck would definitely change – in a big way – as I would again face THE MAN for unknown indiscretions!

Now on Sunday – my dog and I were w/o the family and chilling at home (she is an attentive and compassionate listener and doesn’t interrupt me when I’m talking). We took the trash out and got all the empty dog and cat food bags, plus any remaining brush we had trimmed, and added it to the already “cured” brush-pile and “lit it up”. Tossed some gas on it and watched it for awhile until I was happy with the burn pattern and that the crap I wanted burned was all covered.

I walked inside and “nuked” a TV dinner and kicked back to eat it for supper. I heard a bunch of sirens down by RT. X and then some over by RT. Y – just blaring and blasting their horns like crazy. I didn’t think much about it, when the dog jumps to attention and is now looking like a statue. I told her to lay down. A few ticks later I finished my Microwave slop and walked out to the kitchen to pitch it out and here’s cops and sheriff cars – two different Fire Depts. and a “meat wagon” clogging my entire driveway and the road on both sides of my property (about 100 yards frontage) divided by the mailbox.

I walked outside and the Deputy sheriff walks up and asks if I live here. I said “yes”, and he asked me why I didn’t answer the door – that he’d just been knocking. I told him “the dog jumped up once but I told her to lay down and she did – meaning that whoever knocked, stopped and left or she’d have been all over the door. As for me I never heard a sound except the sirens – and BTW – what is going on out here? I’ve owned this house 16 yrs, zoned agriculture, and am obviously doing a small burn off of brush and tree branch materials.” I added “I’ve burned here a few times a year for 16 yrs w/o a problem, so why the 4 alarm fire out of nowhere – rescue squads and police?” “I’ve got a hose right on the ‘caddy’ at the back door” – pointing it out – and “I sat out here watching it until sure it was a perfect burn and was working it’s way to the end already.”

At this point the neighbor Preacher and his wife are heard – behind us – him looking like a big “Boob” and her going through some menopausal bout of angst and fear (acting like what used to be called: “having a nervous breakdown”). She was screaming “I’m sorry I thought your car blew up and I was soooo worried and so scared – I’m soooo sorry – I’m sorry, so sorry..sorry…sorry” ….(now – repeat 30 times as fast as you can, while grinding a cell phone, clutched in your hand, rubbing it all over your face and neck and clutching it to your breast at the same time as your fat red face darkens with gallons of tears and cell phone abrasions) you have the picture now?

The Deputy sheriff said she called and told them “a car exploded and everything was on fire down here – there may be someone injured.” She didn’t bother to walk the 50 yds to the back of their lot to actually SEE what she was reporting – our burn pile! He asked if I had anything explosive in the pile or threw anything in like that. I answered calmly, “of course not” and (repeating my burning profile, zoning type and hose vigilance to him again, and told him – “look in there it’s about out, Nothing but some cardboard and briar bushes and tree limbs that the wind blew down.”)

He turned away from them and said something like “this is ridiculous – this was a bogus report and a waste of time, you’re alright, just stay out here in case one of the Fire Chiefs needs to ask you any questions.” “Good call officer” – I thought.

So, the cops split right away, as both of the fire crews threw their ruddy-faced rookies into the melee, to turn anything over with a rake and squirt some water on it (they had to put a special nozzle on it, as the first one appeared ready to blast the burning embers all over the yard). So they pissed on it for about 10 minutes – meanwhile Pastor “X” starts up again with this crap: “we were so worried about you, the important thing is that you’re alright, just so long as everybody’s OK” – with this sick look on his obviously busted face – so I told him “while I appreciate the intent of your remarks – I’M NOT OK and I’m sure everything would have been just fine – UNTIL NOW – that’s all I can say to you right now”….they split, fully knowing the grief, and the shit-storm they had just rained down on my life.

Then both Fire Chiefs came up to sit on the fender and write out our name and addy, phone, etc. – reports. Reason cited was: “burning brush” and they said that would do it. I asked: “I’m not going to get a citation or summons for this am I?” They shook their heads together and said “no – don’t worry about it – this is getting to be crazy – everybody with a cell phone calls us with so many false reports like this – that something needs to be done about it – but I suppose it’s just the world we’re living in now, with many residents just being a little too good of a neighbor, or a nut case in a car passing by calls one in.” I was extremely impressed with his skills as a Fire Chief, but even more so by his incredibly thoughtful insights into the “bigger picture” of fire-fighting, dealing with residents, the challenges they’re faced with, and it’s up’s and down’s. Very cool guy! I asked sheepishly “if I wanted to burn the pile again, did I need to alert them first” and one Chief said “of course not” – he seemed a little “pissed” – not at me. A wise man!

We’re dry today, tomorrow we’re lighting em up again! Yeah – lite em up!

Does Summer Heat Make Us Violent?

There seems to be a direct correlation between soaring temperatures and a rise in violent crime rates.

In the United States crime rates are higher in the South. If you try to figure out why, then consider these few things. Do the Southern States have a more violent culture? I really tend to doubt that theory.

There is one school of thought that does not buy any of the so called “heat / violence” theories. Rather, it points towards a much more simple idea – the South is warmer than the rest of the country! (Brilliant observation eh – what’s their theory then?) Maybe it could be, the hot weather, leading people to anger easily and become violent more quickly. Supporters of the heat / crime theory think so. The heat hypothesis is stated simply: “the more uncomfortably hot the temperature, the more likely people become aggressive.” (that’s what I was saying)

In the South, there were some pretty outstanding results from studies done on the temperature vs. crime / crime rates. Studies between the Northern and Southern States showed a positive correlation (means they are relative to each other) between heat and violent crimes. There might be many factors contributing to this effect, like the differences between cities and cultures of the two areas. (I really doubt that)

So, more studies were done over time, and not by geographic location. These studies show a positive correlation between violent crimes and unpleasant temperatures. (Basically they’re saying “yes – unusually high temperatures tend to make one more aggressive and violent”.)

In one particularly amusing field study, a researcher purposely stopped his car at green lights on days of varying temperature and recorded the number of honks he heard. And again, the hotter the day, the more honks he got. It was noted that, this readiness to blow the horn was decreased when the car had A/C running.

Of course, the correlation of heat to crime is simply that – a theory or hypothesis. It could hardly be used in a court of law as a defense. Or, maybe it could – I haven’t heard it tried yet, despite research that indicates the direct impact of heat stress on the rise of criminal acts.

Professor Alex Gardner says:

Psychologist Professor Alex Gardner has been quoted as saying, “many people might be feeling the shortage of negative ions as they swelter in breezeless cities.”

“You get this dull heavy atmosphere. When you are at the seaside or up in the mountains there is a buoyant atmosphere.” and “People get a bit fidgety, as when there is the possibility of thunderstorms.”

But there’s a dispute over whether an “ion generator” can noticeably improve your mood. So if it’s possible, head for a waterfall, mountain range or the seaside. This should bring your “ions” into equilibrium. Even if skeptics are right and the theories about ions are bull#*^*, you’ll have a pleasant day and get a lot of fresh air – and hopefully an improved attitude.

In the USA Harvard University conducted a study. The results suggesting that a heat wave can trigger a short-term rise in crime, just as cold and very wet weather can reduce crime. So, try and keep yourself as cool as possible – “balance your ions” – and if you have an overwhelming urge to behave in an aggressive or violent manner. Please think twice and remember the guy blocking traffic in front of you with an overheated radiator, is probably a lot more stressed out about it than you are!