TOO PICKY? & HIGH ADVENTURE

TWEETED OUT OF THE GAMES

    OK, so the joke about West Nile Mosquitoes wasn't in the best of taste, but neither was it dangerously offensive. It seemed a harmless attempt with an unintended racism, but it cost Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou her trip to the Olympic games and earned her ignominy.

     This is troublesome.  It once again moves private communication, in this case via Twitter, into the public arena.  In truth the joke was intended only for her followers, in a sense a private arena.  However we can no longer pretend that social media, even if directed to specific users, is like an old fashioned snail mail letter.  One more encroachment upon personal space perhaps, but the way it is in this age. 

     But even given the questionable nature of the joke, is that really grounds to ban an athlete from participating?  If she had told the joke just to fellow triple jumpers, or her coach, it probably would not have resulted in her expulsion.

      I question the fairness and proportionality of the move to kick her out of the games.  As another athlete said, it is a new age.  So it is, and if you are an athletic star, I guess you should be on your best behavior- always.  Just like Soccer, NFL Football, NBA Basketball players always are, right?

       I think she could have "scolded", but being expelled is

an Olympic blunder.  

THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF

LUKE AND HEMINGWAY

HIGH ADVENTURE

     Luke-climber, hunter, fast and preferring the high ground.

    Tree, car, fence, house-all places from which he can watch.

        Brother Hemingway follows older brother.

    But as far as core competency, Hemingway rests well.  He's an expert at taking it easy.

    Luke, in his solitude.

See you down the trail.

SKULL TATT'S AND 40 K A PLATE ??!!

SKULL TATTOOS SEND A WEIRD MESSAGE

    The LA Times prompted the LA County Sheriffs office to

investigate a "secret clique" in the sheriff's gang unit.  Members wear a gun toting skeleton, which according to the Times, the members alter after they've been involved in a shooting. They are called the "Jump Out Boys."

     I understand the need for camaraderie.  I saw it work as I spent weeks with Army Snipers in training, followed FBI Agents through 16 weeks of preparation, embedded with tactical weapons teams, and covered countless other law enforcement or security and intelligence operations.  You go through things civilians never see and it does contribute to a sense of bonding.  There is an however here.

     Cliques, private creeds, as alleged in the Jump Out Boys, are wrong, and send a terrible message.  Yes, we ask cops on drug and gang task forces to deal with the dregs of our society and it is difficult and often dirty work.  The line between good and bad is hard to see.  Still, even when dealing with the dirtiest of dirt bags, or most foul of criminals, cops need to stay within the law and propriety.  They are the line of demarcation between true law and order, civility if you will, and the lawless degeneration of crime. 

      We don't know where the LA Sheriffs investigation will end. Nothing wrong with a tatt, unless it is a symbol for a 

code of a behavior in violation of procedure, policy and law.

I remember rooting out a federal employee-a postman-who

swore a secret oath and wore a tattoo of his allegiance to the Ku Klux Klan. He put that belief above the law that 

governed those of us who paid his salary. He openly advocated violation of some of those laws. 

       If we are a nation of law, we must behave that way, especially those who enforce the law. 

TOO MUCH $$

     One more thing has me venting today.  A $40 thousand

dollar a plate dinner at George Clooney's home?  Even though the attendees can afford it-they are all wealthy, it is just another symbol of the influence of big money in politics.

The Obama campaign will get a shot in the arm.  Romney's campaign also does high ticket fund raisers.  Most of the money will end up in commercials and advertising.  

    The need to raise and spend money has perverted the 

process and supplanted principle, intelligence, problem solving and vision.  What a helluva way to choose office holders!

DAY BOOK

CAT PLAY

The Further Adventures of 

Luke and Hemingway

 "Hey, you know I could sleep a lot better if you'd knock
off that scratching down there."
  "Oh yea?!  Well if you didn't hog the top deck all the time."

 "OK big boy!  I'm down on your level now.  Hey, look at me
when I'm talking to you."
  "I don't want another of those stare downs. But I can see you looking at me.  I just want to get up on the top deck."

 "I'm watching you.  See this right paw?  I can take you out with it."
 "I see it.  Big deal!  Keep the top deck. I'm going to take a nap."

 "Now if you'd please get that camera out of here....."

 "I've got a nap to catch up with....."

   "It's too hot in the sun.  He can have the top deck.

I just want this shady spot."

See you down the trail