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Messages - DougMacG

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101
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Dealing with Social Breakdown (The UK riots)
« on: August 13, 2011, 08:46:45 AM »
"The majority of posters here seem to be of the die-hard republican variety..."
  - taken as a compliment. :wink: I know the policy here is that thoughtful opposing views are always welcome, seeking the truth, and yours is certainly a thoughtful and informative post.

"...those of us who live outside of the US as generally we are ignored or looked down upon."
  - I hope not!  We get bogged down in US politics but the global reach of the forum is certainly a strength.  

"...US have too relaxed firearms legislation."
  - It's that darn constitution.  Besides protection, the firearm is symbolic of keeping our other rights unless given back freely and legally through the constitutional process.  I don't own any guns.  I also think the strong views here about gun rights come from the martial arts / self defense orientation of the forum as much as from the political leanings.  The desirability of having an armed society is a separate question from the specific 'right' in the U.S.

"Gardiner...right wing and a throwback to the Thatcher years"
  - To me, a compliment for him, though I get the distinction that quoting Gardner from the Telegraph is a counter-indicator of UK mainstream political thought.

Speaking only for myself, the headlines of this unrest reminds me of other problems elsewhere, the car fires of Villiers-le-Bel (Paris) and riots in Rosengard (Malmo Sweden) but that does not mean there are similarities.  As you point out we are learning about the participants and motivations of these in the UK.

I have not posted on this because I don't know anything yet, (except for one post in satire that Libya is recognizing the rioters as the official government of the UK.  No offense intended!)  My personal right wing view is that young people in general would riot less and destroy less if they were busy studying, working and responsible for providing for themselves.
---------------
Topic for another thread and I may be reading this wrong, but why would people be pro-war in Libya but anti-war elsewhere like in Iraq?

102
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Prayer and Daily Expression of Gratitude
« on: August 02, 2011, 12:42:14 PM »
Grateful for another glorious summer, for a little time away for a family reunion, to continue family traditions at a 100+ year old lake place with cousins who were my buddies growing up, for the grandchildren to have extended time with their grandparents, to get to better know our relatives from further away, to see my daughter enjoying the same sports and activities we enjoy and grateful to have added a new family member to the group.   :-)

103
Martial Arts Topics / Crime and Punishment: Norway 'suspect'
« on: July 24, 2011, 09:04:10 AM »
Sad to see that by creating carnage this sick jerk gets his views publicized. 

Opinion polls have showed that only about 1 in 4 Norwegians supported the death penalty prior to this incident. http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3881217.ece.  The last execution in peacetime was carried out in 1876.

Makes sense (?), in no situation should killing be the answer...

People hate the abortion analogy but that's where the legal killings are.  There is widespread acceptance of killing 14,000 unborn Norwegians per year in the public 'health' system.  In these 14k/yr situations, killing is the answer.  (But not for an unprecedented mass murderer?)

Doing without the unwanted is good for the resources of the earth (?) (citation needed)

But for the most heinous of the heinous, a capital ending is immoral?  We (as a society) will house and feed and give him humane treatment, free health care, keep him comfortable and with full legal protections for life, while publicizing his filthy manifestos. 

I'm not Norwegian but the issues are the same everywhere.  Mark me down as disagreeing.  Protect the innocent, punish the guilty and provide a certain,  lethal ending for those who commit the very most heinous of crimes against society.  His prosecution is based on only the evidence and facts of the killings.  His other views are of no public interest IMO unless it is part of a larger movement that needs to be stopped.  There is no logical link between opposing the Muslim migration and killing innocent Norwegian children and citizens.

104
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Self-Defense Law - Norway shooting
« on: July 23, 2011, 06:04:56 AM »
Still not clear where to discuss the human disaster in Norway.  The one common thread with these pretend tough guy cowards is that the like to shoot in places wherethe other people are likely to be unarmed.  http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/07/norway-a-postscript.php

105
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Prayer and Daily Expression of Gratitude
« on: May 23, 2011, 10:07:39 PM »
Amen to that BD. Worst in 60 years...

Nothing like Joplin MO, but yesterday was my first tornado ever as a property owner - Minneapolis was hit hard also. God Bless my tenants who ran for to their basements and found safety while the funnel ran through.  I have some cleanup to do, these are 2 story homes buried in debris with pieces of the homes knocked off.  Streets closed, schools closed, all wires down, power off, helicopters circling and 9pm curfew. It wasn't looting at the liquor store where the whole top blew off according to the owner they were taking the bottles out on the honor system when he got there. Lots of photos today but it looks about like this in every direction:

106
Crafty: "I'm looking for leads on good sources of data concerning just how much impact a human skull/brain can safely take."

I recall an ad for helmet breakthroughs that ran during the high school championships.  I finally went back to dig that out.  It is called the Messier Project, M11
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=844818
http://www.themessierproject.com/
http://www.themessierproject.com/theepidemic/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/sports/hockey/18concussion.html?_r=1&ref=hockey

A news story this week:  http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/121813554.html  NHL star Derek Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment Friday, five months after he sustained a season-ending concussion with the New York Rangers.  There was a delay to announce cause of death; now they say suicide.  The family has donated his brain at his request to research: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2011-05-16-1035067980_x.htm "... spokeswoman for the Boston University School of Medicine confirmed Sunday that his brain will be examined for signs of a degenerative disease often found in athletes who sustain repeated hits to the head." BU Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy I think will be a good place to start for existing research.

A more simple answer to your question.  Your sport and so many others I think need to figure out how to keep the intensity up but get the impact to the head down.  The better we are able to measure damage, the more we are going to find.  'What's your head worth?'
----
(Update: The NHL death above is now called accidental overdose, oxycontin and alcohol.)

107
"You are assuming she is telling the truth;"  - Actually I agree with you.  I was just commenting on what I think is known about the steroids, which she has apparently read or been told also.  Who knows if what she says is true. If she was with him over a 9 year period, she knows a few things.  What she says is likely a mixture or truths and lies depending on the questions asked, the facts and the convenience to her agenda,  I would rely on none of it.  They are using gossip of the most personal nature (a 'crime' against God?) to prosecute perjury, a crime against our court system.  If they need her to say she applied acre cream or his equipment manager to say he his baseball cap orders changed by 1/8th inch, I would simply acquit.  I don't believe him.  I don't believe her.  And none of it adds up to a federal crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  Joking aside I agree the implants are deceit right along with a 'relationship' that lasts through 2 marriages and the vengeful, opportunistic behavior afterward.  Let me guess how law enforcement became aware of her relationship and her story...

108
“He changed sexually, in his testicles and performance and that.”

And so it goes for a right to privacy.  :-(

I understand Bonds wanting to hit more home runs, but I don't understand a man feeling more manly by abnormally bulking up at the expense of causing the body to stop the production of natural testosterone, cause sexual dysfunction, health risks, etc.  Strange priorities.  http://www.steroidabuse.org/

 

109
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Prayer and Daily Expression of Gratitude
« on: March 10, 2011, 02:01:34 PM »
Zen G, you inspire me to post wisdom I took from my tenant's bathroom wall yesterday:

In a world where you can be ANYTHING ..............  be yourself.

111
Martial Arts Topics / Re: The American (and first world) cultural context
« on: January 20, 2011, 10:18:47 AM »
My own 2 cents or less.  Breaking and entering in my view is a violent crime (keyword breaking).  Even a burglar entering an unlocked home or private property poses a potential threat of violence upon discovery or confrontation that no one deserves, and a threat of violence is form of violence.  A car theft immediately limits the mobility of the car owner, a physical crime against that person, not a property crime. The distinction to be made is victimless, not non-violent, if you can argue that a crime is victimless or if the damage done is fully repairable, then a remedy short of incarceration might apply.  In general, penalties are too small and the system too forgiving for most real crimes IMO.  Maybe incarceration rates would be lower if the consequences were more feared.  

112
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Dealing with the adrenaline dump
« on: January 18, 2011, 10:24:17 AM »
Great topic and great ideas.

At roughly the same time as the original post, 5rings had a nutrition post in answer to a different question that I think applies equally here, go to health and nutrition thread for specifics.  I would add caffeine limits to the healthy eating advice.  If I wish to be calm in an unexpected, adrenalin charged moment, I will wish I did not have a second, third or fourth cup of coffee that morning or any other altering substance.

"having to stave off someone harassing me on the street"

I had the good fortune of attending an anger management class.  I remember two themes of advice in the class, one was how extremely often that alcohol is a factor when conflict goes too far.  The other was called keeping your basket less that half full.  We all have issues we have to deal with, work, home, bills, stress, kids, IRS, injuries, whatever.  Make time and deal with them one by one.  Don't let yourself get so near the boiling point that the next smallest thing might set you off. On the flip side, don't assume the other guy is not one comment or dirty look away from flipping. In other words, the more he shows he is a jerk, the more avoidance you need.  My guess is that a typical harasser described above is 99.9% of the time not worthy of what you are preparing for in martial arts. 

113
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizens defend themselves/others.
« on: January 13, 2011, 05:35:48 PM »
GM, I agree.  What I am getting at is that process needs to be possible and needs to be utilized.  These people need at some point to be identified and marked, as sufficient information emergess,  so they will fail the instacheck.  It isn't happening so we are bound to repeat this and lose rights ourselves.  Everyone who came in contact with him seemed to know of his mental health deterioration.  Like getting your elderly parents at some point to quit driving, there needs to be a mechanism that is used. In child protection we have what we call mandatory reporters. The doctor, teacher etc. are required to report possible evidence.  Very soon I think there will be bills floated in her name like we had with the Brady bill, further restricting rights of law abiding citizens. Maybe it will be forced tests for all in Obamacare with results in your government issued, embedded chip :-( if we don't quickly think of a better way.  Zen wrote: "we all are ultimately responsible for our own safety".  Please tell that to the 11 month old daughter I left out of the story, twice sent by separate ambulance to the emergency room in negligent crashes; the fatality was a woman properly standing in a median crosswalk.  After conviction for child endangerment and vehicular homocide and real time served,she is again driving and 'no threat', with no oversight.  Hopefully unarmed.

From the other posts I think we are looking in the same direction but need answers.  There is a privacy issue and a liberty issue competing with a public safety issue.

114
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizens defend themselves/others.
« on: January 12, 2011, 10:09:35 AM »
P.C. wrote: " Sounds to me like the Sheriff wasn't very proactive in heading this guy off, he could have on a number of contacts with Jared, had him held for a 72 hour mental evaluation under AZ law."

I was carefully trying to think of what in gun law could or should have stopped this pyscho's purchase without destroying everyone else's rights.  But first you would have to mark this sick man with a searchable record of what he had become.  A background check wouldn't pick anything up if his friends, family, teachers and even the sheriff all had looked the other way.

I drove a bipolar woman against her will to the emergency room during an episode.  She thought she was going to see her doctor, but he had said to take her to the emergency room.  The doctor there heard and ignored my concerns, declared her no threat, prescribed her a narcotic and she was back in the same emergency room the next day this time with the 72 hour hold followed with criminal charges for killing someone with her car.  For about 3/4 of a second I gave that same doctor an icy stare I think he will remember. 

A slippery slope but somewhere we need to look into what your rights are or are not, as people around you see your grip on reality deteriorating.

115
Martial Arts Topics / BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF CANCER: Lung Cancer - Lungevity
« on: December 29, 2010, 12:38:51 PM »
$7500 raised in one event is an amazing success!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I have given all my possible donation money and then some for this year to the following research fund in honor of my good friend fighting lung cancer right now who never smoked a day in his life.  As I gave money I don't have, I explained to my daughter that charitable giving often is stronger later in life when you are more able to give something back.  Cancer research funding is different.  If you want your donation to help save your own life or a family member, you may need to do it now.

Lungevity Foundation,  (Google: 'lungevity')

http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=v2_DonateNow

Lung cancer kills twice as many women as breast cancer, three times as many men as prostate cancer.  Research funding is slowed by the stigma maybe that smokers today knew what they were getting into, but more than 60% of new diagnosis are with people who quit or never smoked.

Like all cancer, early detection is the key.  They are getting close, I am told. to a breakthrough on an effective pre-screen test that would give lung cancer patients a fighting chance for survival.  Dr. CCP, any comments on this?

Read all the way through this thread.  The previous great causes are still accepting donations too!

116
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Prayer and Daily Expression of Gratitude
« on: December 25, 2010, 11:35:40 AM »
I am grateful to again experience the change of seasons, the beautiful music of Christmas and the welcoming message of peace, love, gratefulness and optimism that comes with Christmas and the new year.  Joy to the world.  Let heaven and nature sing.

117
Canis, good questions. What type of assets are you looking to protect? I looked into Living Trust rules recently to help my parents with their estate planning and realized I should have had one for myself all along.

For real estate, my strategy for limiting liability has been to set up a separate LLC for each property, the idea being to offer some personal protection and limit the damage of one lawsuit to the asset of that property, not a portfolio. The more difficult you can make it look to collect, the less likely you will be sued, at least frivolously. So far I have only done this with new purchases, not gone back and transferred titles yet for earlier holdings. I assume the same strategy would apply for assets other than real estate.  Transferring title though doesn't make all liabilities go away.  Some like environmental liability can pass through the chain of title.

The ownership of each LLC needs to be transferred to the trust.  The Living Trust set up correctly will keep the assets that are in it out of probate, but has no affect of limiting liability.  I don't know of any vehicle that offers both.

I don't know the state you are in, but most people should not need an attorney to set up a Living Trust.  Just start googling and reading; they have fairly straightforward forms.  The key is the followup.  You need to transfer the title legally of each asset to be in the name of the trust, not in the name of you or your wife.  Not just a transfer document in your file, but listed in the name of the trust at the brokerage or at the county records.  There may be reason to set up 2 trusts, one for each of you.  If you have a trust but a property or asset is not transferred to it, that asset goes to probate.  Others can tell you what a nightmare that is.  If the asset is in the trust, then whoever you designate to run it can make decisions, moves, buys, sells immediately without years of court system delays.  The ability to move money around may be necessary just to pay expenses.

I am no expert on this and hope that others jump in with good information or to correct any of mine.

118
Martial Arts Topics / Re: December 7th, 1941
« on: December 08, 2010, 06:49:20 AM »
Thank you guys for marking the day that shall live in infamy.  It means a great deal to the people who lived through that time when America was attacked.  The lessons of readiness and peace through strength need to be passed forward.  My grandpa served in Pearl Harbor (after the attack) and my Dad in Europe.  I can't know what it was like for them.  I never thought of them as war heroes but they all were for their part of what was accomplished for their families at home and for all of us who came later.

Punks like Obama and Greenpeace or whoever want to question the value of ending that war with 1940s Japan in brutal victory.  Every lesson since then indicates that readiness and willingness to end a war in victory is what prevents the attacks and the wars.  If Japan had known the ending, that attack would never have happened. (MHO)

119
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Body Language
« on: November 19, 2010, 07:58:27 AM »
In the context that it is fiction and it is television, I like the show.  There were shows about psychics doing similar work.  In this case he denies extraordinary powers, just heightened awareness with good humor.  Like the Harry Potter plots, the good guys have to constantly stray near the edges of the rules to find justice.  Just doing your job correctly doesn't fill the seats.

There were movies such as Pacific Heights about tenants from hell.  As a landlord I found zero entertainment value, nothing original and could turn it off and walk away at any point in a so-called thriller plot.  If I were in law enforcement, the last decade or two of cop shows might not be what I would watch for laughs after work.  But it is where the rest of us get our information about LE.

Nothing realistic since Columbo, or Dragnet.  :-)

120
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Chiropractic for children?
« on: November 12, 2010, 08:15:44 PM »
My daughter has gone through this.

In a slightly different context, 5rings wrote: "he who treats the site of pain is lost".

Under that philosophy or similar, I did not approve of a doc treating the consequences of what was happening before we attacked the likely causes.

My suspicion was exactly what GM posted, the over-weighted backpack.  Add to that study habits that include lying sideways and contorted on a bed or on the floor leaning unsupported against something - for hours.  Not exactly on ergonomic design.  Never using the chair and drafting table I measured, built, adjusted to fit her.

A lot of it goes back to the textbook racket.  There is no reason these kids couldn't be just carrying the pages or chapter they need for each class or just access it all online, instead of carrying 6-8 full textbooks everyday, every where they go.  Second idea would be something with wheels pulled like a flight attendant's carry on bag.  There was no way she was going to be first to change book carrying habits.

As an aside, same was true with hockey gear.  People think hockey is dangerous but I like to joke that 80% of the injuries really come just from lugging the gear in and out of the arena.  Athletes too proud to use wheels.  A couple of years ago I started noticing all the new expensive hockey bags have wheels.

121
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Prayer and Daily Expression of Gratitude
« on: November 11, 2010, 09:21:03 PM »
I am grateful for all who have served this country, in particular my Dad's service in France and Germany during WWII. I am also grateful that our side saw that particular conflict through to victory.

122
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Emergency Tips: Continuous Chest Compression CPR
« on: September 28, 2010, 08:28:14 PM »
You never know when you will wish you were prepared for inevitable emergencies.

My daughter worked her first hour of her first job ever last weekend at the desk of a small tennis club and a man dropped to the ground with a heart attack, not breathing.  Lucky for her and the man, the club manager/ my friend, was there.  He dialed 911 handed the phone to her and headed out with a defibrillator I believe, while someone else had CPR started.

Backtracking here, a Marine friend of mine emailed this video a few weeks ago saying it is the newest, best and simplest way to perform CPR. Please watch and forward/share.  (If someone here knows better, please post.) 
-----

http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcbgpiKyUbs

123
Martial Arts Topics / Emergency Tips: face mask
« on: September 28, 2010, 08:00:13 PM »
Very funny, and practical. 

For those of us who don't have a quick release bra handy, I keep a very heavy duty ($30-40) face mask hanging within reach of the bed.  In a fire, they say it is the smoke that gets you before the flames.  If it works, I should be able to put it on in a matter of seconds of the first smoke alarm going off and maybe have a chance at rescuing a family member and/or getting myself out.  I also recommend having a baseball bat or 2x4 etc. by the escape window for every family member in case the window doesn't open easily to smash your way out the way a fireman would.

A fire in your home is slightly more likely than a nuclear meltdown, but they do make masks for biological/chemical warfare, also for carbon monoxide protection:

http://www.aosafety.com/aosafety.com/products.htm
http://www.safetyrescuegear.com/toxic_gases_escape_fire_hood_p/fire-smoke-safety-hood.htm

124
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Prayer and Daily Expression of Gratitude
« on: September 11, 2010, 09:26:50 AM »
Grateful for a glorious summer, in a place that has extremely distinct seasons.

125
Martial Arts Topics / Re: VIDEO CLIPS OF INTEREST
« on: September 03, 2010, 11:49:55 AM »
Besides nosebleed section, you can see the top of the stadium, this is a very early round in the tournament, but still an expensive sports ticket and people deserve a little peace and quiet to try to experience it from so far away.  The view of the match is far better in your living room.  Looked to me like the younger guy was admittedly disruptive and totally to blame, up until the physical stuff started.  Even when she slapped him he only laughed at her.  He said something else provocative as he sat down but it looked like the older guy was already planning to step in on him.  

Crowd asked a good question, 'where is security?'  They were also saying throw the bum out meaning for sure the young guy.  

I was guessing the young guy gets a disorderly conduct, the woman a 3rd or 5th degree assault - a slap charge, and the older guy a serious charge for going in to hurt him.  NY Post coverage says otherwise: "“It’s a hot night in New York. Things happen,” Chris Widmaier,a US Tennis Association spokesman said of the tussle, which resulted in no arrests.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/fight_night_at_the_open_QlwSKhd4YInp9hGBdZ7m0K

I should add that if they are still looking at film maybe they will still issue a citation or 2.
-----
Djokovic went on to beat Petzschner 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).

126
Martial Arts Topics / Re: No Trespassing
« on: September 02, 2010, 09:31:45 AM »
The point about solar lights too dim is true.  The cheap ones will barely light a walkway and don't give the look of someone home.  You need more juice than that.  For anyone who wants to make the effort for an unwired outbuilding or driveway entrance, you can build a more powerful system pretty cheaply.  You can buy a small 12v 3 watt or 5 watt solar panel on ebay fairly cheap and make night power off of a deep cycle or older car battery with some charge left in it.  incandescent bulbs will drain the battery.  For 12v the ones with multiple LED are bright and efficient, or with a small inverter you can use 110v products like a timer or motion detector connected to more efficient CFL bulbs.  I like to leave a radio with talk on in a vacant rental house.  Along with some timers and lighting it makes it seem from outside the window or door very much like someone is in there-  even during the day.  I'm amazed at how often I fool myself with that when I come back in.  I haven't done this yet, but what I would like to hook up is motion detector activation to a recording of a fiercely barking dog to come on with the lights.  The motion detector lights typically come with 2 light sockets.  Put a bulb in one and a socket adapter outlet in the other and run a cord a little further to trigger something else, maybe another light and radio further away, up by the house.

At home, besides living in a crime free area with watchful neighbors, most effective for me is having multiple vehicles that I split usage with and move around quite a bit for various reasons along with varying schedules that was mentioned. The affect is that you never look in our driveway and assume no one is home.  Most people I'm sure don't have extra cars but maybe you know someone who wants one stored or maybe you keep the extra one in the garage to protect the vehicle when having it by the sidewalk or doorstep would better help to protect the house.   A stored car should be started and moved around regularly anyway which is perfect for this purpose.

The extra car trick backfired for me at one of my inner city houses.  They punched a hole through the bottom of the gas tank.  The next time I left a nice note on the dash saying that the gas tank was empty, and made sure it was.  Strategies in a war zone are different than strategies in a neighborhood.

Beyond the fake video camera idea I would like to go to a cheap real video camera saving onto the hard disk of an old computer and activated by the motion lights.  Maybe you could capture a license plate or mug shot of the offenders.

The first hand account from Costa Rica scares me.  No one should have to face a gun in their face unless you are the perp.  A friends young daughter finishing college is traveling there a lot and wanting to move there.

Knowing your premises was invaded is not a property crime to me.  Someone could have been home or come home during the invasion and startled them.  I would never assume someone with that kind of nerve is not likely to be violent.

127
Martial Arts Topics / Re: No Trespassing
« on: June 28, 2010, 11:02:34 AM »
Tony has it right IMO.  Humor is great but you may wish later that you hadn't made public postings about the pleasure you will take from harming intruders.

I think a 'beware of dog' sign is perfectly acceptable because you are taking a step to prevent harm to a potential intruding. (Where beware of reckless gun-toting homeowner for example  is more an admission of guilt.)   Beware of Dog is also a good sign instead of buying a dog.  Makes one think twice and maybe move on.  The 'no trespassing' sign helps law enforcement to take action against an unwanted person on the grounds.  (Inside the house that should go without saying!)

Besides the alarm system or security sign, lights set off by motion detectors I think are helpful.  Lights on timers help hide that you are gone, and an extra vehicle in front can create confusion.  Also a radio inside with talk can sound through the window very much like voices of people in the house.

(Personally I don't agree with the law that forced entry into a family home is merely a 'property crime'.)

128
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Guro Crafty in Tolmin, Slovenia 6/26-27
« on: June 22, 2010, 11:00:49 AM »
Richest of the Slavic nations, Mediterranian coast and the Alps in a small space, looking forward to a tourist report for those of us who may never make it there.  I recall that Europe and the U.S. were on the wrong side of history opposing self-rule for Slovenians in 1991: http://www.ljubljana-life.com/ljubljana/ten-day-war

129
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Daily Expression of Gratitude
« on: November 12, 2009, 10:14:08 PM »
I am grateful for the military police who shot the Ft. Hood killer.

Guide Dog on Veterans Day already thanked all who served and I belatedly second that, to those I don't even know, to my own father and to my grandfathers before him.  I am grateful.

I wish I could single out and thank everyone who served, but here's one great American.  I ran across this reading about the Fort Hood victims.  This could be under rest in peace, but I just want to say I am grateful for amazing courage and service:
------
Sgt. Amy Krueger

Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis., joined the Army after the 2001 terrorist attacks and had vowed to take on Usama bin Laden, her mother, Jeri Krueger said.

Amy Krueger arrived at Fort Hood on Tuesday and was scheduled to be sent to Afghanistan in December, the mother told the Herald Times Reporter of Manitowoc.

Jeri Krueger recalled telling her daughter that she could not take on bin Laden by herself.

"Watch me," her daughter replied.

Kiel High School Principal Dario Talerico told The Associated Press that Krueger graduated from the school in 1998 and had spoken at least once to local elementary school students about her career.

"I just remember that Amy was a very good kid, who like most kids in a small town are just looking for what their next step in life was going to be and she chose the military," Talerico said. "Once she got into the military, she really connected with that kind of lifestyle and was really proud to serve her country."

130
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues
« on: August 23, 2009, 10:09:52 PM »
I support liberties lost in FISA.  If my number is discovered even for innocent reasons in the speed dial or recently called numbers of a captured terrorist, I expect surveillance and will live through it.  Hopefully they discover it was a wrong number!

A columnist and talk show host hear put it nicely, that if the 19 hijackers were discovered to be middle-aged, balding, midwest, talk show hosts of French Canadian descent, he would expect to be slowed down a little in airports.

Over to BBG's example of abuse with armadillo.  If the Police Chief orders it in front of the Mayor's rival's house for all the wrong reasons, I think we can all agree that those complicit should be fired and prosecuted.

Somebody puts their reputation and hopefully their career on the line when they order surveillance by the government of a private citizen.   

131
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues
« on: August 22, 2009, 11:05:05 AM »
"Anything that law enforcement does has the potential for abuse. Is the answer then to not have law enforcement?"

No. We want it both ways, we want to be not investigated when innocent and we want all crime stopped before it is even contemplated.  So good luck pleasing everyone. Seriously thank you for bringing your experience and professionalism to a sometimes impossible job.

One beef I have from the story is that they defined success as either arresting the drug dealer or getting them to leave the neighborhood.  They don't leave the city and they don't leave the business.  Assuming they are known criminals committing crimes, it is not an equivalent success IMO to have them move on rather than marked with an arrest, a conviction and a sentence.

132
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Self-Defense Law
« on: August 08, 2009, 05:44:35 PM »
"The above is bad advice, unless you have committed a crime. If you lawfully used force to defend yourself/another, a brief statement needs to be given."

Fair enough.  I back off my over-generalized, amateur advice.  In my example the fellow was guilty (of shooting the intruder without all the elements of self defense) and his statement made the case against him.

Thinking of a different legal situation, some years ago I owned an apartment building that was firebombed by teenage gangmembers.  The Mpls arson chief investigator asked me to meet him at the bldg and we set up an appointment.  As I was leaving my office someone else told me to keep in mind that I am a suspect.  I laughed thinking that was ridiculous. I was in Montana skiing and not even reachable when it happened. I have receipts to prove it. Then I freaked, realizing that was exactly what a guilty party would arrange.  On the way over, my mind raced to recall everything I knew about everyone in the building.  Instead of my usual smug and flippant self, I was extremely helpful and forthcoming on everything he asked.  He told me he wasn't able to get into the burned unit and I told him I would get him in.  I used landlord persuasion to get them to the door and introduced him to the tenants after we were in.   When I saw the smoke detector disabled I laid into them about how that could have killed people in the other units and besides I had just warned them about doing that some specific time previous.  (Like OJ Simpson, my best bet seemed to be for them to find the real perps and the real motive very quickly.) Everything worked out fine for me but I no longer carry insurance on any of my properties.  I would rather fix the property out of pocket than fight insurance companies and carry a motive.

What I take from the defense video is that their advice (don't talk to police) applies best in the situation where they are about to arrest you anyway.  You will have opportunity to respond to the charges.

Back to Crafty's piece, the people here seem acutely aware of the requirements of self defense.  I think that is far less true for the general public.

133
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Self-Defense Law
« on: August 06, 2009, 09:25:35 AM »
Excellent article!  I remember my uncle as District Attorney had to prosecute a homeowner who shot and killed an intruder in his home in a heavily publicized local case.  The facts just did not match the requirements of self defense.  The homeowner had previously flaunted the fact that he would shoot any intruder, he made no claim of thinking he saw a weapon much less aimed at him or other life threatening danger, so the result was that the otherwise law abiding citizen defending his home was convicted of murder.

Advice to anyone ever found in that situation: call 911, hand the police your weapon and surrender yourself in silence.  Say absolutely nothing to anyone for a very, very long time until you have the very best legal defense fully set on a very comprehensive legal strategy.  As the article says, self defense is an all or none defense that involves admitting an intentional act and eliminates all other excuses and defenses.

134
Espanol Discussion / Re: Venezuela Pol?tica, eggs to the troops
« on: August 04, 2009, 08:27:29 AM »
Denny,  I think there is good humor in the protest photos with the national guard and I don't want it lost in translation.  Do I understand that the troops or pretend trooops are being handed eggs for the balls they lack for closing stations to hide from criticism?  Also clever is to peacefully hand over the eggs.  If thrown they would invite a reaction or just reflect badly on the themselves. 

Thanks for the updates and keep up the good fight.

135
Martial Arts Topics / Re: tennis elbows
« on: May 18, 2009, 02:53:21 PM »
My experience with it also is from racquet sports.  I suffered for about 2 years and stubbornly played through it.  My logic was to not quit what I enjoy while still aggravating it in the more mundane tasks of life that I can't quit so easily.  Besides when I tried to quit sports I ate more and got more irritable to be around. :-( I received advice from many sources.  My advice is do all of the above. Disclosure:  I am not a trained professional, just passing along what I think I've learned.

1) Ice it after use like you would a badly sprained ankle.  I was told it is a similar injury to a sprain although mine was mostly in the upper forearm more than in the joint.  Make ice by filling paper Dixie cups in the freezer.  Then break the cup to give an ice massage, pressing the cold past the skin deep into the tissue areas that hurt.

2) Rest, then rest and stretch carefully, then rest and stretch and strengthen carefully.  As you come back, try for lower impact and shorter periods of time.  Stop at the first sign of trouble if you can. With rest alone, the pain subsided for me and I felt healed, but the partial healing was brittle and re-injured instantly on the next impact.

3) Anti-inflammatories: People recommended ibuprofen which I take for other achs and pains, but for me nothing alleviated this pain.  Then from two different sources I received advice to take low levels of anti-inflammatories continuously over a period of time.  One was from an MD, but not of this specialty, and the other was from an athlete I thought least likely to put these poisons in his systems.  This was the remedy that seemed to work.  Run it past your trusted medical advisers first as I assume these can be bad for stomach, liver and kidneys.  I took a fraction of maximum dosage several times a day - something like 1 (or even 1/2) tablet ibuprofen at a time instead of 2 as over-the counter might suggest or 4 like pharmaceutical strength, and 1 Alleve (or a half) over night - longer lasting.  I don't remember for how long but the plan was something like 3 weeks, not completely continuous because I feared the other damages, but often. If you try this, make sure you keep up the other therapies, ice, rest, stretch and very carefully strengthen.

4) 'Elbow brace': The only that works in my experience is this, go here http://banditelbowbrace.com/  You can buy it in a large tennis store.  Basically it absorbs the shock before it goes into the elbow or protects whatever areas in the forearm/elbow that you choose.  You tighten down two pads but still allow blood flow.  Don't bother with the other styles IMO especially if tightening hard cuts off the flow and most don't really absorb the shock. Search the words 'bandit elbow brace' in google to get competitive prices online.  I use the white one and continue to use it for prevention.  The black one includes magnets for increasing blood flow.  Costs more and I haven't tried it.  I don't know about those claims.  If you are serious and willing to spend the money, buy 2 of each.  Maybe try the magnets without tightening for treatments when not training or competing.  I know chiropractors have treatments that stimulate blood flow for healing tennis elbow or at least to make you feel good enough to keep you coming back.  I think they use ultrasound(?).  For hockey I wear the elbow brace under the protective pads and for outdoor sports in colder seasons I wear it under the clothing.

Good luck and keep us posted. 

136
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Alignment - leg shortened by impact
« on: March 18, 2009, 11:54:47 PM »
Thanks for all the contributions here - what a wealth of information. The alignment  topic has been central to my life for about 35 years.   When I was 17, I was hit hard as a pedestrian by a car going roughly 50. I was hit on the lower left leg.  There was swelling like a basketball and about 50% overlap on the tibia and fibula. They decided that the set was good enough to heal and fill in, and I was plastered from hip to toe. 

On the first follow up the swelling had gone down and the alignment was checked by x-ray and modified by cutting and shimming the cast at the break with a cork and re-plastered over it.  Still the inside of the cast was loose and the resulting alignment was better but still off. 

I had doctor reports about alignment.  If I recall, the lower half of the lower leg is angled forward and out by 11-14 degrees, the foot is angled a little inward and the knees are fairly loose and slightly knock-kneed on both sides.  Amazingly, only one doctor thought to measure length and discovered that I lost 7/8 of an inch.  If I didn't notice almost an inch, there are people out there unaware of a 1/16 that foxmarten says should be addressed.

When I exercised and trained and built muscles around the knee I felt pretty good.  When I didn't play sports I would also lose the strength to stand or walk much.  My senior year in college I went on a mission to decide what to do about the alignment .  At each stop the first orthopedic surgeon would call in a colleague and then the department head.  It was amazing to me that I could sway their recommendation by whether I complained or downplayed my symptoms.  It seemed like there was little science to it.  I saw the head of the orthopedic department at the Mayo Clinic.  He wouldn't say he recommended re-breaking to correct the alignment, but said he would do it if that is what I wanted and we set an appointment for an osteotomy.  They would re-break higher on the bone than the original break and take out a notch for alignment.  I would actually have lost even more length.

I saw another specialist who recommended against it, wouldn't take on the risks of non-union, non-healing etc.  I canceled the procedure, got on with my life and have rarely looked back.

I tried to find out about a lift for the shortened leg.  Heal lifts were no good because they change the ankle position which is instant pain for me. I walked into medical supply places, asked questions and finally got a referral to a custom orthopedic shoe provider.  They build a 7/8 inch full length lift on a leather shoe, high topped to prevent ankle rollover and I wear it for everything, even golf. I felt better instantly and could feel years of damage go from 'hurt to heal to harmonize'. 

Now I'm 52 and doing well.  It's hard to tell which aches and pains are from sports, which are from aging and which are from this battle.

Some comments and observations:  Kids often notice the unmatched shoe heights instantly while many adults I've known for decades have no idea.

As I think Richard wrote, the alignment and function at the hips is the key to the back and spine.  Sitting and standing too long are strangely harder for me that playing up to 10 sets a day of tennis. 

Maija: "Everything is connected to something or how does that go?" - Lol.  When I tell people that their knees are connected they think I'm crazy, but the knees are only separated by a couple of hips, and the alignment on one side directly affects the other.  Limping to favor one side hurts the other. 

Paul (Foxmarten): the joke about being careful when you talk to someone who carries a knife is prophetic for me.  I've already got more good years without surgery than they would have predicted with it.  They were not selling a fast, certain or complete recovery.

Interesting point about the knee hurting with a shim.  In the ski boot business they do something called canting.  My racing boots have allen screws that allow you to set the sideways tilt of the boot to the footbed so that the ski will sit flat on the snow as you stand naturally. 


137
Martial Arts Topics / World's 10 most dangerous cities
« on: March 16, 2009, 10:08:42 AM »
http://www.realclearworld.com/lists/most_dangerous_cities/most_dangerous_cities_intro.html

10.London - knife related violence
9. Saskatoon - aggravated assault and robbery
8. Norilsk - pollution, life expectancy 40, no living tree within 30 miles
7. Johannesburg - theft, robbery and violence
6. Rio de Janeiro - violent gun crime, assassinations and drug-trafficking
5. Detroit - violent crime, property crime, most notably rampant arson and car theft
4. Caracas - homicide rate doubled under Chavez, 'Murder Capital of the World'
3. Linfen - dirtiest air in the world
2. Ciudad Juarez - epicenter of rival drug cartels, smugglers, kidnappers and criminals
1. Mogadishu - gun battles between rival militias and tribal factions

138
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Daily Expression of Gratitude - Rachel
« on: March 08, 2009, 01:57:32 PM »
I am grateful for intelligent dissent on this board, especially from Rachel.

"Every time I go to post all I seem capable of writing is snarky comments or a harangue. I deleted these kind of  comments before they were posted.  I'm sure you all could handle my negatively but that is not the person I want to be."

Likewise, I have seen other boards digress that way and wish for my own postings and thoughts to not stoop that way.  I regret when my replies to you have crossed that line without being cleaned in the proofread.  My intent was always to challenge you politically, intellectually and morally on the issues, such as pro-life vs. reproductive freedom, not to put you down or myself as superior.  And to be challenged back which is often lacking, especially in your absence.

139
Espanol Discussion / Re: Venezuela Pol?tica
« on: March 07, 2009, 07:15:02 PM »
I jump in on this Spanish language discussion of oppression in Venezuela with a rough attempt at translation.  Please correct me if wrong...

Photos show celebration and demonstration by Chavez who 'won' a right of permanent reelection and is consolidating military power with new appointments to the highest positions.

Crafty thanked Denny for informing us with his first hand look from Venezuela:  'Thanks for your reports. I see that for every post that there are almost two hundred persons reading it. Impressive!'

Denny: On the contrary, I am the one who should give you the thanks in name of my compatriots by yielding us the space and the readers in this fight for liberty and decency.  There are many forums where they have prohibited me to publish news of Venezuela.  I wish that people never have to fight against [this kind of] oppression. 

There is no reason that a tyrant [should be able to take from us] our right to [freedom and pursuit of happiness].

With a grand fraternal hug I give you the thanks.  - Denny
----

God Bless you Denny.  Be safe and keep up the good fight.

140
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Vehicles, driving skills, crime, related issues
« on: January 05, 2009, 09:05:06 AM »
Following up on some excellent info GM posted in 'politics' page 5 regarding speed, driving skills and accidents.  We accept a lot of carnage for mobility.  We also trade away some liberty, such as how fast to drive on an empty freeway, in exchange for attempts at safety and conformance including speed limits that are often established from far away. 

No question speed magnifies the damage in collisions and I wholly subscribe to the cushion of air theory where you refuse to let people follow in your blind spot and refuse to allow trucks (or anyone else) to surround you in a center lane of a freeway.  I quibble slightly with a few smaller points made.  Following distance IMO depends also on visibility PAST the vehicle you are following and other factors like equipment and attentiveness.  3/4 of a second may be average but I would certainly like to think that I am faster than that to begin applying brakes.  A second sounds fast but counting them out: one-thou-sand-one-pause-one-thousand-two... an attentive, anticipative driver should not take 3/4 second to get started.

A quote regarding ABS brakes: "we strongly recommend that buyers choose a car equipped with antilock brakes (ABS)...in order to get the most out of ABS in emergency braking situations, you have to know how to use it. And really, it couldn't be easier; you just stomp on the pedal...Many new cars come with antilock brakes as standard equipment, but you must often purchase them as an option on low- to moderately priced cars.

Of the vehicles I drive, 2 have ABS, 2 don't and on 2 others I'm just not sure.  Now let's assume a child darts out on one of our snowy-salty-icy Minnesota streets.  Would you really like my reflex to be to "just stomp on the pedal" rather than the old fashioned way of trying to maximize braking without locking up? 

141
Espanol Discussion / Re: Venezuela Pol?tica, Why Chavez will Fail
« on: December 12, 2008, 08:44:48 AM »
That was a very impressive analysis and history.  Looks to me like the outline of a new campaign and candidacy to defeat him. 

142
Espanol Discussion / Re: Venezuela Pol?tica
« on: December 04, 2008, 11:01:33 PM »
I appreciate very much Denny's contributions from the front line of Venezuela.  I don't know enough Spanish but with a help from freetranslation.com offer a rough translation of the story (?)

Arrived in the email... 

The History of the Rat

One day, a man entered a store and remained looking at a beautiful statue of a rat, in natural size. 

Very keen on the beauty of that work, the man asked the price of the salesperson: 

"¿How much does it cost?” 

"The statue is worth $50 and the history of the rat costs $1,000." 

“¿Are you crazy. ..?  I will take only the statue." 

Happy, the man left the store with the statue under the arm.  As he walked, he realized, scared to death, that thousands of rats, the scavengers from the pits of the street, began to follow. 

Running desperately, the man arrived to the spring of a port and with all his force, he launched the statue to the sea.  Incredulous, he saw that all the horde of rats were launched to the sea after the statue, dying all drowned. 

Still without being replaced of the scare, the man returned to the antique shop, and the shopkeeper says to him: 

"You returned to buy the history?” 

"No, no, no, simply I want to know if you by coincidence might have the statue of (Hugo) Chávez." 

143
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Girl Fight
« on: October 07, 2008, 08:18:49 AM »
I thought some here might enjoy this article, current cover story of City Pages the free weekly entertainment publication of Minneapolis.  Normally they cover things more like metrosexual interests and how far to the right congressman Kieth Ellison has drifted.

http://www.citypages.com/2008-10-01/news/gina-carano-kelly-kobald-and-kaitlin-young-fight-for-mainstream-acceptance

144
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Movies of interest
« on: May 17, 2008, 09:47:25 PM »
Crafty wrote: "...the movie "Miracle" (2004).  My son is getting involved in playing hockey and this could be a good movie for us to watch.  To help me with my search, do you remember the name of the lead actors?

Kurt Russell played the coach Herb Brooks.  Like the original Rocky, it is more about training, winning and the human side than about the sport.  Here's a clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi379191577/

145
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues
« on: November 02, 2007, 06:51:04 AM »
Saw this on local news last night. Police tasers are equipped with cameras that help the officer document the scene.

http://wcco.com/local/taser.cameras.minneapolis.2.480654.html

Mpls. Police Use Tasers Equipped With Cameras
Reporting
Caroline Lowe
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― The Minneapolis Police Department has become one of the latest law enforcement agencies to use Tasers equipped with cameras. The new Tasers have the cameras mounted on the end of them. Once an officer turns on his Taser, the camera starts recording audio and video of the encounter.

The MPD released video to WCCO-TV from several incidents which occurred in recent months. They included a confrontation with a man armed with a knife at a pool hall, a domestic call where a man holds a crying baby hostage and several encounters where the suspects cooperated after the Taser was turned on but before the officer used the electronic jolt.

"More often than not it does give us a very good picture of the scene just prior to Taser deployment," said Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Scott Gerlicher.

Gerlicher also believes the Taser cameras will increase community confidence in how the MPD handles encounters with suspects.

"We think it affords us a lot better accountability for the officers and for the public to know that we can go back and look at the video and see under the circumstances with which the Taser was deployed," said Gerlicher.

The MPD currently has cameras on 10 of the department's 200 Tasers. Officials hope to eventually provide Taser cameras to all officers on patrol.

The MPD Taser coordinator, Officer Adam Grogove, invited WCCO-TV reporter Caroline Lowe, who also has her Minnesota police license, to try out their new tool. Lowe has been "tased" twice for previous reports but this was the first time she had been on the other end of a Taser.

Grobove wore a protective suit and was armed with a knife when he played a "bad guy" confronting Lowe.

Lowe yelled at him to "back off" and then shot off her Taser cam when he continued to lunge forward. After he was struck with a burst from Lowe's Taser, two other officers took control of "bad guy" Grobove and handcuffed him.

The "staged" incident with Lowe was all captured on video and audio recorded by the Taser cam.

According to a report by the Minneapolis Police Department, officers used Tasers 232 times last year. So far, they have received no complaints from the community.

The Minnesota State Patrol will be getting their first Taser cameras in the next few weeks. They will join Minneapolis, St. Cloud and the Itasca County Sheriff's Office who already have the Taser cameras.

146
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues
« on: August 27, 2007, 11:27:10 AM »
My first 'martial arts' post, not perfectly placed here, but a good story about a citizen's defense of self and family that led to the arrest of a fugitive. Perhaps his martial arts skill was wrestling(?) He is a law partner of John Hinderacker at Powerline: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2007/08/018281.php http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2007/08/018280.php

Radtke was listed in good condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul on Saturday and, although he didn't want to talk about his ordeal, authorities had a message for him: Thanks.

Sgt. Andrew Ellickson said he was convinced that if Radtke's brave actions hadn't stopped the suspect, he would have caused more damage and injuries.

"He wouldn't have been stopped," Ellickson said.

Leland Klanderman agreed: "The guy was determined."

Radtke, an attorney for Faegre & Benson, and his wife, Jody, had just put their three sons to bed Friday.

They were headed downstairs to relax when the front door flew open, according to Jody's mother, Sandy Brandt.

The Radtkes were staring at a ragged-looking man with a rifle, she said.

Authorities said the man forced Keith and Jody Radtke toward the garage.

Quick decision

At this point, Washington County Sheriff Bill Hutton said, Radtke's world began to narrow into a "funnel."He had to make a decision," Hutton said.

When they got into the garage, Radtke saw an opportunity and pounced, knocking the rifle out of the suspect's hands.

Radtke put the suspect in a bear hug and yelled for his wife to go inside and call 911, Hutton said. She did.

Radtke didn't realize there also was a .45-caliber gun in the suspect's waistband, and the suspect was able to get a hold of it and shot Radtke in the lower back.

Radtke continued to struggle with the suspect and knocked the handgun across the garage floor. The suspect bit Radtke several times, and Radtke put him in a wrestling hold.

Nearby officers arrived at the scene, separated the men and used a Taser to subdue the suspect.

 

147
Espanol Discussion / Re: Venezuela Pol?tica
« on: March 27, 2007, 07:52:56 AM »
Quoting: "The Venezuelan government seized 16 ranches...comprising about 817,000 acres...any resistance to the expropriations will result in a forceful response from the government."

To me, that's outragious.  Taken with the previous story that Chavez passd up Iran and Pakistan as arms purchasers, it foretells danger and trouble ahead.  Like Saddam's slaughter of DuJaille or poisoning the Kurds, these takings are an act of force, not an economic policy. 

To the media and the public, this looks like a dog takes a nap story.  Takings are what they do.  How else would you have 'collective property'?  Like the politics of envy in the US, it is presented as fairness, populism and helping the poor or the workers.  Here is the AP story: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8O3TR1G0.htm

In my mind it illustrates perfectly the choices we all face.  Here it is usually just partial takings from the rich with our proclivity to accept and worsen the 'progressivity' in tax rates.  We limit marginal tax rates only based on an efficiency argument - that at some high rate, the productive will not produce and pay more tax.  We never seem to acknowlege the moral argument that coveting and taking your neighbor's riches is wrong.  Whether it is a dictator taking land by force or a majority of 51% of the people taxing the other 49% at a rate far higher than their own, IMO it completely fails to comply with a central principle of free people called consent of the governed.

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