Four officers shot and killed yesterday in an ambush at a coffee shop in the Seattle area. Not even on a call, but by someone that ran in shooting specifically intending to kill them. Excellent military tactic BY THE BAD GUYS!

And unfortunately it is only the latest event... It makes me wonder when our society will realize we are at war HERE... in our own Country... in YOUR BACK YARDS on YOUR STREETS!?!

Our citizens deserve their rights, don't get me wrong... but this is just the latest example of the WAR certain elements of our society are conducting. When will YOU wake up and find you've given away YOUR protection and that of YOUR loved ones?

Half of us are basically mercenaries now because of the way our public treats us... We are under siege on our own streets. And YOU accuse us for our actions. Unless you've sworn an oath, taken it upon yourself to stand up in danger's way for someone else, military or police, don't you even be so hypocritical as to judge us.

I took the oath of a soldier when I was 18... trained for combat... took the oath as a deputy when I was 21... trained to help and protect... and for 20 years have seen this society become more violent, more controlled by cowards and activists, more corrupt, and more demanding of ever-increasing 'checks' so this or that 'tragedy' "can't happen again". LISTEN UP AMERICA: every additional little piece you add on the plate to make you feel good you've 'done something' just mires down the whole process so real protection of anyone except the criminal and the lawyer gets put behind the fear of being fined, sued, or even prosecuted because some piece of paper wasn't filled out right, or some cross-report wasn't done exactly right... And on top of it all, a vocal part of this country wants to remove YOUR ability to protect you and your family, to disarm you and prosecute you for defending your home.

YOUR choice America: Wake up and realize what's happening and stand up and make a difference.... or die cowering when anarchists and tyrants come for you!

Threaten me, on duty or off, and I will kill you swiftly, efficiently and without remorse. Bet on it.

Ah, one of the perks of crawling around at night...

Snow drifting down and making everything white and pretty. The lights reflect off all the pristine white shapes as the blanket wafts down to cover the world...

I love snowstorms, really. Quiet, beautiful and peaceful. Kind of seems to take the rush and noise out of the world. 'Course, I don't mind the cold, so that helps.

Now, of course the -reason- I'm crawling around in the middle of the night in the snow.... that's not quite so much fun... Seems too many people are in too much of a hurry, or under-prepared, or... something... to get along without sliding off the road, spinning into some other object, or otherwise decommissioning their vehicle. But at least tonight it's been just vehicles where they shouldn't be, and no casualties out there. So, not a bad night, giving the conditions.

Still... beautiful night.

Well, heya again all. Been..... 6 months? since I've really poked my nose in.... Egads....

Been busy with work and other non-computer activities and issues. Tiring being one of only 8 road rats for one of the larger counties in the state. And the -only- one for my patrol district right now. Can't get reports written, much less actually follow up any investigations. I can barely get fatal crash reconstructions done. :sigh:

A 'off the cuff' bathroom remodel has taken up time off-work. Almost done though. Down to hanging and wiring a new light fixture when the rest of the house is away this weekend. Looks pretty decent, all told. Although, really could have done w/o the blood sacrifice.... I can assure everyone it is prefereable NOT to run an utility knife through your thumb and flay open half the end of it. Set the project back a little bit healing that up enough to use my thumb. But it seems to be healing up pretty well. The ER doc was good at stitching things back together and it's all usable. Not sure if the thumbnail isn't going to grow back a little weird, and the nerves are still a bit funky, but I have full use of it, and the muscle seems to have all re-attached.

Haven't even put together or prepped any figures in the last few months.... :sigh: Hope to do a little bit once I finish up the remodel. Managed a little sketching here and there, but nothing more than scribblings, I fear.

Have managed a couple of WW2 events, so hasn't been all work. We just did our second Afrika Korps event this last week at Yakima Training Center. Desert hot during the day and bloody cold at night. But it was fun

Hope everyone about is doing well. I see LOTS of art has transpired in my absence. I'll be going through deviations for a month!

Keep up the art and BE SAFE!!

Well, I got 'tagged', by the dear :

The Rules

The 1st player of this "game" starts with the topic "6 weird habits/things/hates about yourself" and people who get tagged MUST write a journal about their 6 weird habits/things/hates as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their devpage comments and tell them to read yours...
---

'Weird' things, eh? Hmm... I guess that would depend on perspective, but I'll try here...

1. I'm an RP'er, and occasionally prone to swapping into a character in random circumstances when with others who will recognize and appreciate the humor value. Considering some of the 'characters' in my background, this can lead to puzzled/confused/concerned onlookers upon occasion.

2. I have a rather morbid side, and am fairly jaded by my experiences. This isn't problematic generally around other cops, but I have to be a little careful about conversations in mixed company. It seems not everyone finds discussion about fatal crashes, suicides and homicides to be normal dinnertime topics.

3. I collect and paint miniatures, both for RP and wargaming. Like many gamers, my rabid accumulation exceeds my distracted painting, and I have literally hundreds of the little chaps in various stages of assembly, priming and painting.

4. I've been a re-enactor for a good portion of my adult life. Most recently I've been doing World War 2 re-enactment, as a German soldat. Consequently, I've accumulated a significant amount of 65+ year old leather and equipment, and modern reproduction uniforms. And every couple of months I join up with like minded fellows (and a gal or two on occassion) and we "kill" each other with blanks and wood/plastic 'grenades'. (No, I'm not nazi/fascist, and I play Heer, not SS.)

5. I apparently am rather stern and humorless on duty, and people who have known me for an extended period in that setting have actually stood stunned when they heard me make a joke about something.

6. I hate ties, to the point I wear short-sleeve uniform shirts through the winter with sub-freezing temperatures just so I won't have to wear one with a long-sleeve shirt.

Ok, there's 6 'somethings'... maybe they're weird.

I'm not going to actually 'tag' anyone, as this seems to have gone around a bunch of the people I know here already. But please feel free to participate if it appeals to you.

I hope everyone had a terrific Christmas time. And I hope you all have a fun New Years, as well.

Gonna make this an excuse to take a break here at my desk, and make a short plea...

I would like to ask everyone to have a SAFE New Years. I know it's been said unto drudgery, but Please, Don't Drink and Drive. Have fun, but be safe. And even if you're not drinking and driving, be alert and drive defensively from those out on the roads that aren't being so responsible. For that matter, be alert just walking near the road.

Trust me, as a road rat, I see all sorts of tragedies. As a crash reconstructionist... I see the worst ones. I've picked up enough parts, put enough people in bags, and done enough death/crisis notifications to last me a few lifetimes.

Wintertime driving can be bad enough on its own... take a little extra time, slow down a bit, be alert, be safe and get home in one piece. Please. For everyone's sake.

Ok, /'rant'off

Everyone have a GREAT New Years! May we all have one -heck- of a terrific 2007!!!