First would come relief, followed by a long hug, then maybe a crack on the backside.
The nation stopped and watched a UFO-shaped balloon flying up to 10,000 feet over the state of Colorado on Thursday.
News reports from the ground claimed a 6-yr old boy had climbed into his dad's backyard experiment and floated away.
Turns out, the boy never left. He was hiding in a box in the garage attic.
Balloon boy's brother allegedly told his parent's that he saw his younger brother crawl into the balloon shortly before it floated away.
Here's a link with plenty of video: http://www.turnto23.com/news/21307080/detail.html
The parents had been featured on the ABC show "Wife Swap" twice before.
A real-life drama this time.
Perhaps they need a visit from "Super Nanny". The child could have become "Lost" and been "Dancing with the Stars" if not for the fact the helium-filled balloon began a slow decent, and not a fast one, that potentially could have left his brother as "The Bachelor".
"Desperate Housewives" could only sit and watch the drama unfold on TV.
He landed in a dirt field. A faster drop in the woods might have resulted in rescuers finding little "Men in Trees". He definitely would have been "Pushing Daisies".
Rescue crews started the "Private Practice" of puncturing the balloon, giving it an "Extreme Makeover" to try and free the boy, but he wasn't inside.
Anyone with "20/20" vision can see there's much more to this story.
I only hope the "Big Shots" in charge of this will give the young man a stern talking to once everything calms down. And this wasn't just a publicity stunt designed to rake in more "Dirty Sexy Money" for the parents.
**I know, it's bad, but it's the best I could do on short notice.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Naked Man Confronts Intruder
It's not uncommon for potential victim's of a crime to fight back and turn the tables on would-be criminals.
Many times, it has an element of humor. Sometimes the entire periodic table.
Take this story out of Florida:
A 91-year-old man trying to defend his home got out of bed naked and held an intruder at gunpoint until deputies arrived.
Robert Thompson said he woke up early Saturday morning and heard his dog barking.
He told police the intruder tried to get away through a screen door.
So Thompson grabbed the telephone and dialed 911.
He then grabbed his .38 special revolver, confronted the man and fired a warning shot.
The man stopped, and Thompson kicked out a chair and said "Sit down." The suspect did as he was told.
When Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived, they pulled their guns on him and told him to drop his.
When he did, the gun went off and bullet fragments struck him in the leg.
He was taken to the hospital.
Deputies said the intruder, identified as Jose Pasqual, 26, was intoxicated at the time.
Thompson was back on his feet today, attending his regular ballroom dancing class.
And what a great story for Mr. Pasqual to tell his fellow inmates in the holding tank.
"Yeah, so I was breaking in and this naked old man with a gun caught me."
Many times, it has an element of humor. Sometimes the entire periodic table.
Take this story out of Florida:
A 91-year-old man trying to defend his home got out of bed naked and held an intruder at gunpoint until deputies arrived.
Robert Thompson said he woke up early Saturday morning and heard his dog barking.
He told police the intruder tried to get away through a screen door.
So Thompson grabbed the telephone and dialed 911.
He then grabbed his .38 special revolver, confronted the man and fired a warning shot.
The man stopped, and Thompson kicked out a chair and said "Sit down." The suspect did as he was told.
When Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived, they pulled their guns on him and told him to drop his.
When he did, the gun went off and bullet fragments struck him in the leg.
He was taken to the hospital.
Deputies said the intruder, identified as Jose Pasqual, 26, was intoxicated at the time.
Thompson was back on his feet today, attending his regular ballroom dancing class.
And what a great story for Mr. Pasqual to tell his fellow inmates in the holding tank.
"Yeah, so I was breaking in and this naked old man with a gun caught me."
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
What Were You Thinking??
There are some stories (many, in fact) that come across the desk or spill out over the scanner that seem to effortlessly demand the immediate uttering, "What the hell were you thinking??"
Case in point:
BPD Press Release
On 9/16/09, at 9:17 a.m., Bakersfield Police officers responded to a report of a possible burglary in progress on top of the parking garage adjacent to the Stockdale Tower, 5060 California Avenue. Witnesses inside the upper floors of the Tower observed three suspects transferring property from one vehicle to another and at least one of the suspects was wearing gloves.
Officers Erik Forbus and Verion Coleman arrived first and observed the following three suspects on top of the garage:
Dennis Barton 37
Andrew Eugene Williams 24
Tara Marie Monti 20
Officer Forbus detained Williams and Monti who were in a black GMC truck but when Officer Coleman attempted to contact Barton, he drove away in a white Jeep Wrangler which was previously reported stolen. As Barton proceeded downward toward the exit, Motorcycle Officer Santiago Baltazar entered the garage and heard the radio traffic that indicated Barton was fleeing in the Jeep as well as the squealing tires from the Jeep as Barton approached him.
Officer Baltazar got off of his motorcycle and moved away from it as Barton approached. Barton did not strike the officer but narrowly missed the officer and the motorcycle as he disregarded the officer’s orders and continued to flee. As Barton passed Officer Baltazar he collided with parked cars causing the jeep to spin 180 degrees and stop. Barton then drove in reverse to get away, striking two more cars causing the Jeep to stop. Officer Baltazar approached Barton and the Jeep, ordering him to exit. Barton instead accelerated toward Officer Baltazar who fired his duty weapon at Barton multiple times and jumped out of the way to avoid being struck.
After Barton passed Officer Baltazar he struck the police motorcycle and another parked car which incapacitated the Jeep. Barton exited the Jeep but refused to obey the officer’s commands. Officer Baltazar transitioned from his firearm to his Taser and when Barton continued to ignore his orders, Officer Baltazar shot Barton with Taser darts. Only one dart struck Barton and the Taser was ineffective.
Barton ran past Officer Baltazar and out of the parking garage. Officer Baltazar pursued Barton and he and other officers were able to take Barton into custody on the center divider in the 5000 block of California Avenue.
Williams, Monti and Barton are all in custody and the investigation is continuing.
The Jeep and a Toyota Scion were taken during a residential burglary from a gated community in Seven Oaks early this morning. The investigation into that offense is continuing.
Officer Baltazar has been with the Bakersfield Police Department since January 2005. He will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the investigation and internal review.
End press release:
There you have it, taking a bad situation and making it worse. The definition of an idiot in action.
Case in point:
BPD Press Release
On 9/16/09, at 9:17 a.m., Bakersfield Police officers responded to a report of a possible burglary in progress on top of the parking garage adjacent to the Stockdale Tower, 5060 California Avenue. Witnesses inside the upper floors of the Tower observed three suspects transferring property from one vehicle to another and at least one of the suspects was wearing gloves.
Officers Erik Forbus and Verion Coleman arrived first and observed the following three suspects on top of the garage:
Dennis Barton 37
Andrew Eugene Williams 24
Tara Marie Monti 20
Officer Forbus detained Williams and Monti who were in a black GMC truck but when Officer Coleman attempted to contact Barton, he drove away in a white Jeep Wrangler which was previously reported stolen. As Barton proceeded downward toward the exit, Motorcycle Officer Santiago Baltazar entered the garage and heard the radio traffic that indicated Barton was fleeing in the Jeep as well as the squealing tires from the Jeep as Barton approached him.
Officer Baltazar got off of his motorcycle and moved away from it as Barton approached. Barton did not strike the officer but narrowly missed the officer and the motorcycle as he disregarded the officer’s orders and continued to flee. As Barton passed Officer Baltazar he collided with parked cars causing the jeep to spin 180 degrees and stop. Barton then drove in reverse to get away, striking two more cars causing the Jeep to stop. Officer Baltazar approached Barton and the Jeep, ordering him to exit. Barton instead accelerated toward Officer Baltazar who fired his duty weapon at Barton multiple times and jumped out of the way to avoid being struck.
After Barton passed Officer Baltazar he struck the police motorcycle and another parked car which incapacitated the Jeep. Barton exited the Jeep but refused to obey the officer’s commands. Officer Baltazar transitioned from his firearm to his Taser and when Barton continued to ignore his orders, Officer Baltazar shot Barton with Taser darts. Only one dart struck Barton and the Taser was ineffective.
Barton ran past Officer Baltazar and out of the parking garage. Officer Baltazar pursued Barton and he and other officers were able to take Barton into custody on the center divider in the 5000 block of California Avenue.
Williams, Monti and Barton are all in custody and the investigation is continuing.
The Jeep and a Toyota Scion were taken during a residential burglary from a gated community in Seven Oaks early this morning. The investigation into that offense is continuing.
Officer Baltazar has been with the Bakersfield Police Department since January 2005. He will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the investigation and internal review.
End press release:
There you have it, taking a bad situation and making it worse. The definition of an idiot in action.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Mandatory Evacuation Means MANDATORY!!
What part of mandatory don't you understand??
I understand that it's practically impossible to predict precisely where a wildfire will unleash it's destructive force.
Yes, I'm aware that by monitoring a variety of weather related instruments, taking into account terrain, the last time an area burned... yada... yada... yada... fire officials can plot a course of destruction.
It's using this information that the command center will issue evacuation orders for various communities.
So, when an order, er, request is given to evacuate, you might want to listen.
Yes, it can be an inconvenience for some people who live in fire prone area's. False alarms are probably part of life on the mountain.
The Station Fire is currently ravaging an area northeast of Los Angeles, burning 21 homes (so far) and thousands of acres. Not to mention, the possibility of roasting about two dozen TV, radio and emergency transmitter towers.
Then, we have a handful of people who refused to leave when firefighters told them to over the weekend, who became trapped by the flames.
They called for help, asking firefighters to put their own people into harm's way, to save their hides.
I listened to a co-worker last week discuss so-called "mandatory evacuation" orders with a producer.
She adamantly lectured the younger producer that there was "no such thing as a mandatory evacuation order" because in her words, "no one can make you leave your house".
Really.... unfortunately there IS such a thing as emergency crews, both law enforcement and fire, that are saddled with the task of rescuing people from themselves on a daily basis.
There are people out there who sadly NEED people looking out for them.
When you're told to leave, or excuse me, asked to leave forcefully, PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM!
If the fire passes your home or neighborhood afterwards, without so much as a burnt leaf, then you can complain about having to throw things in the car in the dead of night in some kind of fire drill.
It might be an inconvenience, yes.
But at least you won't be left wondering if someone will find it an inconvenience to risk THEIR life to pull you out of an inferno.
I understand that it's practically impossible to predict precisely where a wildfire will unleash it's destructive force.
Yes, I'm aware that by monitoring a variety of weather related instruments, taking into account terrain, the last time an area burned... yada... yada... yada... fire officials can plot a course of destruction.
It's using this information that the command center will issue evacuation orders for various communities.
So, when an order, er, request is given to evacuate, you might want to listen.
Yes, it can be an inconvenience for some people who live in fire prone area's. False alarms are probably part of life on the mountain.
The Station Fire is currently ravaging an area northeast of Los Angeles, burning 21 homes (so far) and thousands of acres. Not to mention, the possibility of roasting about two dozen TV, radio and emergency transmitter towers.
Then, we have a handful of people who refused to leave when firefighters told them to over the weekend, who became trapped by the flames.
They called for help, asking firefighters to put their own people into harm's way, to save their hides.
I listened to a co-worker last week discuss so-called "mandatory evacuation" orders with a producer.
She adamantly lectured the younger producer that there was "no such thing as a mandatory evacuation order" because in her words, "no one can make you leave your house".
Really.... unfortunately there IS such a thing as emergency crews, both law enforcement and fire, that are saddled with the task of rescuing people from themselves on a daily basis.
There are people out there who sadly NEED people looking out for them.
When you're told to leave, or excuse me, asked to leave forcefully, PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM!
If the fire passes your home or neighborhood afterwards, without so much as a burnt leaf, then you can complain about having to throw things in the car in the dead of night in some kind of fire drill.
It might be an inconvenience, yes.
But at least you won't be left wondering if someone will find it an inconvenience to risk THEIR life to pull you out of an inferno.
Monday, August 24, 2009
A Smoker's Reward
I'm not a cold-hearted individual, despite sarcastic and insensitive tendencies when faced with the following story.
An L.A. jury has just awarded the daughter of a longtime smoker 13.8 million dollars in punitive damages.
The victim, Betty Bullock, died of lung cancer in 2003, but before she passed, filed a lawsuit against Phillip Morris USA for fraud and product liability.
If the name or case sounds familiar, it was seven years ago a jury awarded Betty a record 28 billion dollars in damages, until a judge reduced it to 28 million.
An appeals court reversed that decision last year, an ordered a new trial which produced today's award.
If it gets dragged out another six years, the award might vanish completely.
And I believe that would be the right decision.
I'm not one who gets all wrapped up in talk of addictions.
For example when I was younger I drank. I drank quite a bit at times. I drank quite often.
I then got married and slowed down.
We had kids and I slowed down even more.
Now there is dust on the bottles in my liquor cabinet and expired beer cans in the mini-fridge.
I enjoy a glass of wine or two at dinner with my wife, and the occasional beer or two during football season or my annual guys weekend in Las Vegas.
I don't get the shakes, I don't sit around craving alcohol... I never have and probably never will.
I smoked when I was younger and, the way I see it, grew out of it.
No one forced me to do any of those things. It was my choice. I knew all the warnings and read all the labels.
I didn't blame anyone then for my choices and I wouldn't now.
I understand that some people feel they are prisoners to such vices, I just don't understand the "addiction" or "disease".
I'm kinda like Tommy Lasorda.
The old Dodger skipper was talking to a small collection of reporters (me included) during opening day back in the mid-90's, when he was asked about Daryl Strawberry's suspension for cocaine addition.
Tommy lashed out saying it was a "weakness", not a disease and not an addiction.
I'm from this school of thought. Smoking is not illegal. You know the risks. You understand the consequences.
Now they want to make marijuana legal. I say let them. You know the risks. You understand the consequences.
But it won't stop someone from screaming "fraud" when faced with the possibility of death.
It's cold, it's final and it's something you can't rationalize with once it comes knocking at the door.
That's your final reward.
An L.A. jury has just awarded the daughter of a longtime smoker 13.8 million dollars in punitive damages.
The victim, Betty Bullock, died of lung cancer in 2003, but before she passed, filed a lawsuit against Phillip Morris USA for fraud and product liability.
If the name or case sounds familiar, it was seven years ago a jury awarded Betty a record 28 billion dollars in damages, until a judge reduced it to 28 million.
An appeals court reversed that decision last year, an ordered a new trial which produced today's award.
If it gets dragged out another six years, the award might vanish completely.
And I believe that would be the right decision.
I'm not one who gets all wrapped up in talk of addictions.
For example when I was younger I drank. I drank quite a bit at times. I drank quite often.
I then got married and slowed down.
We had kids and I slowed down even more.
Now there is dust on the bottles in my liquor cabinet and expired beer cans in the mini-fridge.
I enjoy a glass of wine or two at dinner with my wife, and the occasional beer or two during football season or my annual guys weekend in Las Vegas.
I don't get the shakes, I don't sit around craving alcohol... I never have and probably never will.
I smoked when I was younger and, the way I see it, grew out of it.
No one forced me to do any of those things. It was my choice. I knew all the warnings and read all the labels.
I didn't blame anyone then for my choices and I wouldn't now.
I understand that some people feel they are prisoners to such vices, I just don't understand the "addiction" or "disease".
I'm kinda like Tommy Lasorda.
The old Dodger skipper was talking to a small collection of reporters (me included) during opening day back in the mid-90's, when he was asked about Daryl Strawberry's suspension for cocaine addition.
Tommy lashed out saying it was a "weakness", not a disease and not an addiction.
I'm from this school of thought. Smoking is not illegal. You know the risks. You understand the consequences.
Now they want to make marijuana legal. I say let them. You know the risks. You understand the consequences.
But it won't stop someone from screaming "fraud" when faced with the possibility of death.
It's cold, it's final and it's something you can't rationalize with once it comes knocking at the door.
That's your final reward.
Blogging Difficulties
ATTENTION... ATTENTION... THIS BLOG HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY UNKNOWN AND MYSTERIOUS HICCUPS AND CONNECTION ISSUES...
I WILL CONTINUE TO TRY AND POST FROM TIME TO TIME... AND MORE OFTEN ONCE THIS PROBLEM IS ELIMINATED.
THAT IS ALL....
I WILL CONTINUE TO TRY AND POST FROM TIME TO TIME... AND MORE OFTEN ONCE THIS PROBLEM IS ELIMINATED.
THAT IS ALL....
Monday, July 27, 2009
Street Racing Sting!!
The CHP is starting to take a keen interest in busting up illegal street racing in Kern County, targeting rural roads on the weekend.
They've already busted up two parties, the most recent last Saturday night on Garces Highway just west of Enos Lane near Delano.
The Task Force observed vehicles racing westbound on Garces Hwy with between 250 and 300 people lining both shoulders of the roadway.
Officers simply blocked the exits and proceeded to arrest 163 individuals.
The ages ranged from 13 to 26 years of age.
It was a few months ago that two CHP officers attempted to break up a street race and inadvertently fired several shots at a car that allegedly accelerated towards an officer. The shots hit a 14-yr old girl in the front passenger seat. Her family is currently suing the CHP.
Forget about the fact this 14-yr old was out after curfew, riding around with a couple nitrous nitwits and doing who knows what. We attempted to ask her attorney, who only said he didn't want to talk about that, only the officers disregard for proper procedure.
As long as we're busting 13-yr old kids, how about taking the child (not teen) to his house and locking up mom and dad while we're at it.
Let the kid stay home while the parents are downtown getting fingerprinted. I mean, they obviously feel he/she is responsible enough to be out at midnight on a weekend. And if he needs a ride anywhere, he's got a friend close by that can get him anywhere he wants to go FAST!!!
The Task Force reminds you to call 911, if you see anything that appears to be “Street Racing” activity in the dead of night.
Who knows, you might save someones teenager.
They've already busted up two parties, the most recent last Saturday night on Garces Highway just west of Enos Lane near Delano.
The Task Force observed vehicles racing westbound on Garces Hwy with between 250 and 300 people lining both shoulders of the roadway.
Officers simply blocked the exits and proceeded to arrest 163 individuals.
The ages ranged from 13 to 26 years of age.
It was a few months ago that two CHP officers attempted to break up a street race and inadvertently fired several shots at a car that allegedly accelerated towards an officer. The shots hit a 14-yr old girl in the front passenger seat. Her family is currently suing the CHP.
Forget about the fact this 14-yr old was out after curfew, riding around with a couple nitrous nitwits and doing who knows what. We attempted to ask her attorney, who only said he didn't want to talk about that, only the officers disregard for proper procedure.
As long as we're busting 13-yr old kids, how about taking the child (not teen) to his house and locking up mom and dad while we're at it.
Let the kid stay home while the parents are downtown getting fingerprinted. I mean, they obviously feel he/she is responsible enough to be out at midnight on a weekend. And if he needs a ride anywhere, he's got a friend close by that can get him anywhere he wants to go FAST!!!
The Task Force reminds you to call 911, if you see anything that appears to be “Street Racing” activity in the dead of night.
Who knows, you might save someones teenager.
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