Today’s update from Oakland.

September 8th, 2016

Four Oakland police officers involved in a sexual misconduct scandal will be fired, and seven more suspended without pay, for shocking violations that include attempted sexual assault and assisting in the crime of prostitution, city leaders said Wednesday.

…

Among the alleged offenses, the most startling are that the four officers facing termination committed one or more of the following: attempted sexual assault; engaging in lewd conduct in public; assisting in the crime of prostitution; assisting in the evading arrest for the crime of prostitution; accessing police databases for personal gain; lying to investigators; failing to report allegations of a minor having sex with officers and bringing disrepute to the police department.

In slightly old, but related news, the young woman in question is being held in a Florida jail on charges of “aggravated battery”. Her bail is set at $300,000.

Why was she in Florida? Would you believe drug rehab?

Guap and her mother both told the East Bay Express that the drug-treatment was funded through the Richmond Police Department (RPD), an allegation that has raised eyebrows among people following the investigation into Guap’s prostitution claims (which include RPD officers). “I’m not saying rehab is a bad idea, but there are rehab programs here,” said civil-rights attorney Pamela Price, who is leading a call for the state to take over the investigation from individual agencies involved.

(I feel like I should note here that this is just what “Guap” and her family are claiming. The RPD refuses to confirm or deny that they paid for the treatment.)

And what led up to the aggravated battery? Would you believe drug withdrawal?

Guap’s alleged victim, a detox-center security guard named Joseph Sanders, claimed Guap was getting (verbally) upset with a facility care staffer so he and two other security guards entered the room. At that point, Guap tried to pull a safe off of the room’s countertop and, “when the security officers intervened, [Guap] began resisting, starting a physical altercation,” according to an arrest affidavit. Guap began “screaming at the employees then lunged at one of the female security officers. Sanders attempted to restrain” Guap, at which point she bit his right forearm.

(By the way, “Guap” is not the young woman’s real name, which is why I haven’t edited it out.)

Posted in California Über Alles, Cops, Law | 2 Comments »

Obit watch: September 7, 2016.

September 7th, 2016

Leslie H. Martinson, noted television and film director.

His output in the ’70s included “Ironside,” “Love, American Style,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Room 222,” “Mannix,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Wonder Woman” and “Dallas.”

His film credits included the 1966 “Batman”.

Anna Dewdney, author of the “Llama Llama” children’s books, passed away far too young. This makes me choke up a little bit:

In lieu of a funeral, Dewdney asked that people read to children, Penguin said.

Posted in 1970s, Books, Mannix, Movies, TV | Comments Closed

From the blotter.

September 6th, 2016

A Wisconsin man was arrested in August after he allegedly drank his friend’s blood, cut off her pinky with a machete, put the severed phalange in the freezer to eat later, and then took a blowtorch to his friend’s hand to try and stop the bleeding, according to media reports.

Damn, dude. Kind of busy, weren’t you? I understand why you saved the finger: probably worked up a bit of an appetite with all the blood drinking and pinky severing and blowtorching.

(Also: “the severed phalange”. Pro tip here: an amateur writer such as your humble blogger would have gone with “the severed finger”. “Servered phalange” is how you know you’re reading a true professional.)

[The alleged victim] told police she voluntarily participated in the ritual and didn’t want anyone to be arrested for the event.

And we ask again: where do guys find these women?

And what was the motivation here?

Schrap, whose body tattoos identify him as a member of the Juggalos, which is the name given to super fans of the Insane Clown Posse group, his friend Nick Laabs, and fellow Juggalo Preston Hyde, who goes by “Bloody Ruckus,” were performing a “ritualistic memorial” when they honored a fellow Juggalo who died a year prior by drinking the blood of [the victim], 27.

Juggalos? I get they probably had the identifying marks, but the blood drinking, phalange severing, and blowtorching (the latter after a cigarette lighter didn’t stop the bleeding) seems like a lot more work than your average Juggalo is willing to do.

Posted in Law | Comments Closed

TMQ watch.

September 6th, 2016

The new NFL season is almost here. Mark our words: it will be Christmas sooner than you think.

This being a full service blog, we thought we would try to provide an answer to the question nobody asked:

Lisa Simpson.

Oh, wait. Sorry. Wrong question. The one we actually wanted to answer was “Where’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback and Gregg Easterbrook?”

It doesn’t look like TMQ has found a home this year. Easterbrook’s been responding to folks on Twitter with the same boilerplate tweet, like he has a Microsoft Word AutoText for it or something. Oddly, those tweets aren’t visible when I browse his feed with Google Chrome, but they do show up in Safari on the iPhone. The gist: if you like the column, tell the NYT.

Last year, the first TMQ didn’t run until September 15th (the start of the second week of the season) so it isn’t unprecedented for Easterbrook to get a late start. But last year was also the first year the NYT ran the column: we would kind of think that at the beginning of the second year, they would know what was in the tin, and would have already issued a go/no-go decision on TMQ.

Our impression last year was that Easterbrook was chafing under the apparent new restrictions imposed by his corporate masters (for example, no more 2,000 word digressions about how unrealistic a TV show is). We also got the less distinct impression that the editors at The Upshot were, to be frank (no, wait, Frank is Gregg’s brother the judge) tired of his (stuff). So it would come as no great shock to us if TMQ took a long hiatus. But we do plan to keep an eye on Easterbrook’s Twitter, in case we’re wrong or in case he washes up somewhere else. (With the Univision deal, maybe he could start doing TMQ for Deadspin? Or Jezebel?)

Posted in Sports, TMQ watch | 1 Comment »

Obit watch: September 6, 2016.

September 6th, 2016

For the record: Phyllis Schlafly.

Hugh O’Brian, star of “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp”.

Mr. O’Brian remained active through the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, mostly on television. He appeared on series like “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Fantasy Island” and “Murder, She Wrote.” In 1972 he was one of the rotating leads in NBC’s short-lived high-tech private-eye series “Search,” which also starred Tony Franciosa and Doug McClure.

I also like this:

One of his more memorable roles (though it was also one of his smallest) was in John Wayne’s final movie, “The Shootist” (1976). Mr. O’Brian played a professional gambler who, in the film’s closing moments, became the last character ever killed onscreen by Wayne.

LAT. And a callback to something I previously blogged here: Mr. O’Brian and Al Jennings hanging out and doing a little practice. In LA. In 1957.

Posted in 1970s, Guns, Obits, Politics, TV | Comments Closed

Obit watch: September 5, 2016.

September 5th, 2016

Officer Amir Abdul-Khaliq of the Austin Police Department passed away yesterday.

He was critically injured in an accident on Thursday. According to reports, he was escorting a funeral procession, and was at the Burnet/Ohlen intersection when a woman pulled in front of him (trying to make it into a gap in the procession) resulting in the officer striking her vehicle.

Cmdr. Art Fortune with the Police Department’s Highway Enforcement Command said the department has handled at least a dozen motorcycle crashes involving officers in the past two years, but none had been as serious as Thursday’s incident.

Officer Abdul-Khaliq had been on the force for 17 years and has five children.

Be careful out there, people.

Semi-related: “A Fighter Pilot’s Guide to Surviving on the Roads..”

Posted in Austin, Bookmarks, Cars, Cops, Law, Safety | Comments Closed

Because it is an extraordinarily dangerous sport?

September 3rd, 2016

Bu way of the Hacker News Twitter, an article from National Geographic:

Why Are So Many BASE Jumpers Dying?

In spite of the headline, this is actually a pretty good (though long) article.

This has already become the deadliest year on record for BASE jumping, with at least 31 deaths thus far. Twenty-three of those fatalities occurred this summer—six deaths in June, two in July, and 15 in August.

What’s the answer to the question? The big problem seems to be wingsuits. And specifically:

“There are a lot of people saying a lot of things about wingsuit BASE deaths. There is no single factor, and there is truth in every statement about ego, video, complacency, access, summer vacations, etc. But if we were to work on just one thing, it would be education … The simple truth is that wingsuit BASE jumpers don’t know what they are getting into, don’t know how to practice the sport safely, and don’t even know enough to know how little they know. “

Posted in Sports | Comments Closed

Obit watch: September 3, 2016.

September 3rd, 2016

The late great Jon Polito.

I hate to be lazy here, but I’m going to point to the respectful and comprehensive A/V Club obit. (Though couldn’t they have found something better for Detective Crosetti than the misguided “Homicide” movie?)

(And I need to see “Miller’s Crossing” again.)

Also among the dead: Jim Pruett, legendary Houston radio personality turned prominent (and often quoted in the media) gun store owner. Mike the Musicologist tells me he sold the store a while back; I’ve actually wanted to visit it, but the last few times I’ve been down to Houston it just hasn’t worked out for one reason or another.

Posted in Guns, Movies, Obits, Radio, TV | Comments Closed

Important safety tip (#19 in a series)

September 1st, 2016

I understand the desire to Instagram your travels. Especially if you are on an long cruise going to exotic places. And especially if you are a decently attractive woman.

But you might want to think twice about drawing attention to yourself.

Especially if you are carrying nearly 210 pounds of cocaine in your luggage.

“Traveling is one thing,” Roberge wrote on Instagram. “But traveling with an open mind, ready to taste everything, see everything, learn everything and get yourself out of your comfort zone … is probably the best therapy and lesson ever. I used to be afraid to get out of my little town and now I feel like I don’t want to see that little town anymore cause it’s beautiful out there and it’s sooo worth it.”

Yeah, she’s probably going to be spending a long time out of her comfort zone.

On Monday, the trio appeared in court in Sydney, charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, authorities said.

I don’t know if Australian law is anything like US law, and that “maximum penalty” is more public relations than reality, especially for a first offense with no previous criminal record. I’m also guessing, though, that only one of them is going to get to play “Let’s Make A Deal”, and that the other two will be spending at least some time making new friends.

The cocaine was packed into suitcases so tightly, agents said in a Facebook post, that “these three Canadian nationals did not have much room for clean underwear or spare toothbrushes.”

Ewwwww. Then again, this was a cruise ship, right? I’ve never been on one, but I assume they have a little store where you can at least get a spare toothbrush and perhaps some clean underwear? I actually checked the Princess cruise lines website, and while they claim the ship has “boutiques”, there aren’t many specifics beyond that. Maybe you have to pick up clean undies and a toothbrush when you go ashore?

Posted in Boats, Law, Safety | Comments Closed

Obit watch: September 1, 2016.

September 1st, 2016

There’s a nice obituary in today’s Statesman for Tom Anderson, who passed away a few weeks ago.

Mr. Anderson was the carillon player at the University of Texas since…well, since Jesus was a private:

He played from 1952 until 1956 while a graduate student. In 1967, a year after he returned to UT to work in the international office, where he was assistant director, UT President Harry Ransom asked him to serve as carillonneur, and he continued to play until about three years ago.

I never met Mr. Anderson, but I remember when we toured the Tower some years back, he came up in conversation: the tour guide told us that he always said he was going to keep playing until he could no longer physically make the climb.

He was 93 when he died.

Marvin Kaplan has also passed away. He is perhaps best remembered as Henry Beesmeyer on “Alice”. though he was also in “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and “The Great Race”.

Finally, I intended to note this one earlier in the week, but the past few days have been hard. Jeremiah J. O’Keefe passed away on Tuesday. He was 93.

Mr. O’Keefe was a Corsair pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, the “Death Rattlers”. During the course of his first combat mission, on April 22, 1945, he shot down six enemy planes.

The squadron claimed 23 of the 54 Japanese planes downed that day. Two other Death Rattlers also scored five or more kills. Maj. Jefferson D. Dorroh Jr., the squadron’s executive officer, downed six planes. Maj. George C. Axtell Jr., the commanding officer, scored five. An article on the battle in Time magazine carried the headline “One Deal, Three Aces.”

Posted in 1970s, Heroism, History, Movies, Music, Obits, Planes, TV | Comments Closed

Headline of the day.

September 1st, 2016

Everyone was loving Montreal’s family-friendly puppet festival until the prison rape part

Posted in Media, Theatre | 1 Comment »

The police beat.

August 31st, 2016

A while back, I mentioned the case of an APD officer who allegedly pepper-sprayed a suspect who was handcuffed in the back of a police van.

The officer and the chief have made a deal: 45 days of unpaid suspension, along with some additional conditions (“requiring him to be evaluated by a police psychologist and to have a one-year probationary period”).

Despite the reprimand, Acevedo said that Caldwell was right to try to gain compliance from Wilson, noting that Wilson wasn’t being cooperative. Acevedo said Caldwell had other options — such as asking other officers for help to pin him down and restrain his legs — but described him as an officer with no previous disciplinary issues who “but for this incident has done a pretty good job.”

Part of the deal is that Officer Caldwell will not appeal the decision, since he just got an unpaid suspension instead of a firing.

Posted in Austin, Cops, Law, Politics | Comments Closed

Obit watch: August 30, 2016.

August 30th, 2016

Your Gene Wilder round-up: NYT. LAT. A/V Club.

In a statement, his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman said that the decision not to disclose his condition was not made out of vanity but so that the many children who loved Wilder from his role as the eccentric candy-maker Willy Wonka wouldn’t feel worried or confused. “He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world,” Walker-Pearlman said.

And:

In his first major role on Broadway, Mr. Wilder played the chaplain in a 1963 production of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children.” The production ran for less than two months, and he came to believe that he had been miscast. The good news was that he met the boyfriend of the star, Anne Bancroft: Mel Brooks, who wore a pea coat the night he met Mr. Wilder backstage and told him, “You know, they used to call these urine jackets, but they didn’t sell.”

Posted in Movies, Obits, Theatre, Urine | Comments Closed

Random notes: August 29, 2016.

August 29th, 2016

I almost want to give Maywood, California a category of their own.

Today’s update: the city hired ECM Group, an engineering firm, to do some work for them. Nothing wrong with that, is there?

Nothing except that ECM Group was fired by the city of South El Monte for “questionable practices” after an audit earlier this year.

The audit slammed the company, saying that among other things, workers were reporting as many as 27 hours for some work days.

More:

Already facing a state audit and scrutiny by the district attorney’s office over whether the city violated open-meeting laws, Maywood this year hired a laid-off Boeing project manager whom the mayor had met as a customer at his auto shop to be its city manager, even though he had no municipal experience.

This one is kind of old, and I have no excuse except pure laziness for not blogging it before now. But it is still one of the more popular stories on the Statesman‘s website, and illustrates two important points.

Point 1: you know what weapon has a lot of stopping power? A 4,000 pound Lexus.

A woman ran over a man in her silver Lexus after he fired shots at her and her boyfriend in a Round Rock parking lot, according to an arrest affidavit.

More:

It said the man challenged Viera to fight in the parking lot of the Concentra Clinic at 117 Louis Henna Blvd. The man then called his girlfriend — the driver of the silver Lexus — and told her he was going to be involved in a fight and asked her to pick him up, the affidavit said.

Note a: The strip club in question is Rick’s Cabaret, for those who know Austin.

Note b: Where do guys find these women? With all due respect, most of the women I’ve known, if I called them and said, “Honey, can you pick me up at the strip club? Some guy wants to beat my ass.”, they would show up…with a big bag of popcorn to watch the beatdown.

This leads to point 2: you know what matters more than stopping power? Shot placement.

It said Viera then stepped out of his car and pointed his handgun at the woman’s boyfriend. The woman told police she then sped toward Viera to try to hit him, but Viera fired toward her car and stepped out of the way, the affidavit said.

The woman told investigators that she then turned her car around and saw Viera pointing his gun again at her boyfriend and running after him, according to the affidavit. The woman said she tried to hit Viera with her car again but he fired another shot at her vehicle, the document said.

Third time’s the charm:

It said Viera then fired a shot at the woman’s boyfriend. The woman then ran over Viera and struck a parked car, according to the affidavit. The woman’s Lexus became inoperable and rolled to a stop a few feet away from Viera, the affidavit said.

At last report, the bad guy is in jail, the woman wasn’t charged, and there’s no word about the state of the boyfriend or the Lexus.

Posted in California Über Alles, Guns, Law | 1 Comment »

Like sand through the hourglass…

August 24th, 2016

According to King Arthur Flour, today is National Waffle Day.

According to Knifecenter.com, today is National Knife Day.

Posted in Food, Knives | Comments Closed

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