An Update on My Police Story

Yesterday I wrote a little about the police in our town. I was inclined top let it go at that. However, this morning as I pulled up to my local Starbucks there were four squad cars outside, and four officers inside. When I ordered my coffee I commented to the barrister that I felt well protected this morning. He said it's pretty much that way throughout the day.

A couple minutes later an officer said "good morning" to me. I replied that I feel pretty well protected this morning. I think I saw a light come in his eye and he promptly left. The other three hung around. But as he was leaving another officer drove up and entered.

But here is an observation: They parked in the choice parking places, only one of them ordered coffee, and now they are sitting in the choice places in the store. Like I said yesterday, we only need about half of these guys.

The Police in Our Town

Let me tell you a story about the police in our town. Actually, I could tell you several, but just one this time around. Well, maybe two.

About two years ago I bought a 2010 F-150 for my work. Because it was too large to fit in my garage until I made some adjustments in the garage I had to leave it out doors for the night. That night it was broken into and everything inside was stolen. It was early morning when I discovered this and I called the police. The person I talked to on the phone wanted me to file a report over the phone. I declined and wanted an officer to come to the house. I was told that they would be there shortly. I waited over an hour and nobody came. I called again and was told things were a little slow because of a shift change.

I knew that the police made it a habit of gathering in the morning at the local Starbucks. So I drove down there, and sure enough, there were four officers sitting there enjoying their coffee. I called the police department again and was told the same thing, a shift change was taking place. I told the dispatcher that I didn't believe that because I had just went down to Starbucks and several officers were sitting there. An officer appeared at my house within ten minutes.

Well, I go to this Starbucks a lot in the mornings and there are usually several officers sitting chewing the fat and complaining about their jobs. Interestingly, they don't always buy coffee. There are four officers here this morning (the typical number). Their average stay is 45 minutes to an hour. OH, by the way, they left their cars running outside. I'm sure the taxpayers are happy to pick up that tab.

How many jobs are there where you can spend one-eighth of you shift having coffee club? And is this the only place they do coffee, or do they spend that much time at another coffee shop?

I guess the other story I have for today is about one cop, does not involve others. But one day while I was in Starbucks, he was here meeting with his girlfriend. They got a little passionate and started making out inside the store. You don't believe me? I have pictures. These camera phones are really nice.

Ah, the last police officer just left. A 65 minute break at Starbucks. Hmm.

As far as I'm concerned our city could lay off half the day shift and put the rest of them to work.

Sorry, but that's the way I feel.

Two Stock Stars

Two of the best performing stocks over the past week and for the past several months for that matter are Halliburton (HAL)and Apple (AAPL). The third star would be Schlumburger (SLB).

As long as Apple continues to make the best products and produce the best TV commercials they will be a stock winner. As long as the middle east and the Arab countries are unsettled oil will stay over $100 per barrel and companies like Halliburton and Schlumburger will continue to thrive.

Hand Crafted

have you noticed how so many things nowadays make the claim to "hand crafted." Now, don't get me wrong, I think "hand crafted" is good for a lot of things. But, in reality, I think there are a lot of things that don't make one iota's worth of difference.

Now, if you are talking about furniture or a piece of art hand crafted is way cool. I can really appreciate that. Sewing and quilting is great for being hand crafted.

But I think the term wears a little thin when we start talking about sandwiches, sundaes, and coffee all being "hand crafted." For crying out loud, even McDonald's sandwiches are hand crafted. That doesn't mean they are tasty (although everything tastes like something). In fact, I'd like to see them make a sandwich without using their hands. Starbucks has a tea that is "hand shaken." I thought shaking hands was reserved for church. Anyway, does shaking the tea by hand make it taste better than shaking it in a paint shaker? really, how else are they going to shake it?

The other day I saw a sign for "hand crafted crepes." We have "hand crafted lattes". I was at a cafe where they had "hand crafted burgers." Isn't it amazing that they have to use their hands to install the lettuce and onion then put the top of the bun on and spear it with a toothpick?

Now my question is this: with all this hand crafted food they are making now, do they wash their hands before they make it? Do they wear those plastic gloves? Can it be like the Subway we went to where the guy blew real hard to open the gloves he was going to wear? That was appetizing. Are these the same hands that they wipe their nose with just before they make my sandwich?

I sure wish we could save hand crafted for our hobbies.

Excuse me now while I finish my hand crafted coffee.

Well, Folks, I was Right.

Well, folks, I was right! I knew we would have a problem fining a place to put our $15 roll of paper towels. It has official (maybe unofficially) land on our plant stand in the TV room. I even caught Audrey taking pictures of it there. She laid the corner back so neatly. I suppose she wanted it to have a good pose. I wonder if she will post the photo.

I have a great idea for it: print a smiley face on in and set it above the soffit above the kitchen sink so it can smile on all who enter the house. We're already doing dishes with those towels. I wonder what's next. I know for sure that bounty won't be getting our business for a while. :)

What Are These?

Audrey is on a vacation visiting her brother for his 40th wedding anniversary. This item isn't about her vacation or the anniversary but about a photo she sent me of some of her relatives in a store. It's actually not about the relatives either but about what they had in their shopping cart. I'm told that they are paper towels. But if they are, two rolls of paper towels filled the shipping cart.... the other two rolls stacked on top would have filled another cart. They look like they could be used for aisle runners for a wedding. Maybe 10 weddings per roll.

The questions I have is: 1) Where are we going to keep them? They are a little big for our paper towel dispenser. 2) What are we going to use them for? Baby blankets? 3) What possessed all these relatives to buy them? and, 4) Did they have room in their cars for luggage?.... you, know, the things people actually use?

I have one final observation: Americans must have way too much money.

I have one final ugly question: Are these actually giant rolls of toilet paper?

With that I'll finish my coffee and go to work.

Unrest!

Arab leaders and governments only have themselves to blame for the unrest and rioting that is taking place in their countries. But they also have their repressive religion to blame. In most of these nations both their government and their religion has have been repressive and have resulted in poverty.

At the age of the internet has matured, as facebook, cheap laptops, and smart cell phones have infiltrated the world the people who live in these Arab nations have had a glimpse at the outside world..... and they like it. They see prosperity in democratic and free market nations while they live in poverty. They see people living in freedom while they fear the regime of their own government. They see peoples of free nations eating while they are starving. They see them working while they remain unemployed.

They have also seen the corruption of their own governments. Their dictators and military leaders live live of luxury while they live in poverty.

Just like you cannot put toothpaste back in the tube, these people cannot be turned back. Thousands of them, perhaps millions, have decided that death is better than the way things are now. They are revolting and cannot be stopped. And, they should not be stopped.

In the US we believe in certain inalienable rights. These are not rights only for Americans but are rights that peoples of all nations should enjoy. These rights do not make you change your religion, but rather, protect your religion. But they also give you the freedom to choose. And everyone should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Leaders of these Arab nations that are now in revolt have squandered their political capital. Over the years they have had plenty of time and opportunity to better the living conditions for their people, but they have not. Instead, in some of these nations they are living at Third World levels while they leaders live in luxury. Now these leaders will either live in exile or become martyrs for their cause, that is, if you can consider these thugs martyrs at all.

The cry is "Give me liberty or give me death!" The repressed peoples do not use those exact words but they are living them out, or should I say, dying for their liberty.