Blogging negatively about the police... (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on April 5, 2009 7:26 AM. The previous post in this blog was Playoff time approaches. The next post in this blog is Hooray for Hazel. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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Sunday, April 5, 2009

Blogging negatively about the police...

... could lead to some interesting experiences.

Posted at 7:26 AM | Permalink

Comments (5)

Hopefully Duin and the O will not get the same treatment..... I was actually kinda shocked that the O would actually print something so critical of "Portland's finest".

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf?/base/news/1237857905239420.xml&coll=7

Posted by John Peterson | April 5, 2009 2:22 PM

Now you know why I left Phx. Great place to visit, DON'T live there.

Posted by mp97303 | April 5, 2009 4:08 PM

This comment relates to the bike light story in the Oregonian; not to the phoenix blogger story.

The portland police are out of control. I believe this is the consensus among those of us who have had encounters with needlessly hostile, aggressive, and supercilious portland cops. Hopefully it will become the consensus of a majority of informed voting citizens.

The state has a monopoly on the legitimate exercise of violence.(Weber). The monopoly is granted because the state's exercise of violence is legitimate. The only way legitimacy can be achieved is by officer self-restraint. By failing to exercise this restraint, the portland police use violence illegitimately.

I doubt we could elect a Multnomah County Sheriff who would do anything to address the problem. I don't know if the Portland Police chief is elected or appointed.

If you'll concede that the police frequently use violence illegitimately, and that reform from within is impossible, you might agree that our best option is to redefine "crimes" like riding a bike without a light as violations instead of misdemeanors. Legislatures can define misdemeanors and vest officers with the discretion to arrest for their violation. Atwater v. City of Lago Vista, 532 U.S. 318 (2001).

Just a suggestion. And my unsolicited complaint.

Posted by law student | April 5, 2009 4:52 PM

It's unfair to assume that all police are irrational, violent bullies. It's also smart.

Posted by ep | April 5, 2009 9:10 PM

After reading countless stories of abusive, out of control cops, I realized that I have come to view police officers as big dogs. And I know it sounds funny to say that I don't mean that in a bad way (I like dogs a lot -- it's not an insult ...).

The way I mean it is that, when I'm out and about and I have an encounter with a big dog I don't know, I'm very careful and very aware that I might be dealing with a well-armed, athlete with a grudge who can be irrational and lightning fast, and who is pretty impervious to reason, and who may be totally focused on establishing dominance and may see aggression in any action that doesn't resemble submission.

Sadly, this seems to be how you have to view cops you don't know. We've simultaneously ratcheted up the levels of random violence -- the chances that the cops will encounter a well-armed maniac -- and the level of stupid infractions that cops are supposed to stop you for (which is where they are likely to run into those well-armed maniacs). So we basically stress the crap out of these guys with countless little stops.

I want a new deal: let's take some of the stress off everyone by getting cops out of traffic enforcement entirely. Let's make all traffic violations just that, violations, and make traffic enforcement part of DOT's job, using technology and unarmed folks. If someone is using the car as a weapon, then and only then would police get involved because you're no longer in doubt that the person is violent towards others. But all the safety things (taillights, etc.) -- no police role, period. You got a tailight out, the DOT guy snaps a picture and you get the citation in the mail.

Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | April 6, 2009 12:12 PM

In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 54
At this date last year: 50
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269