This is going to be a rant. Maybe I can counterbalance today’s post that includes dead babies with a more light-hearted post tomorrow- perhaps about cute puppies?
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My wife turned to me today and asked, “Do you think this country is falling apart? Maybe we should get our passports renewed.”
Her question is timely, as for the past week or so, the news has been full of crazy, extremist, wingnuts publicly going off the deep-end.
The arrests this week of the Hutaree members comes amid what the Southern Poverty Law Center, an Alabama nonprofit that tracks extremism, has called “an explosion of new extremist groups and activism across the nation.” The organization has cited the economic downturn as a major reason for the change, and contends that the far right has been particularly animated by the election of the nation’s first black president.
Those groups “came roaring back after years out of the limelight,” Mark Potok, director of the SPLC Intelligence Project, wrote in the group’s latest report. Last week, a new Harris poll reveals that 24 percent -repeating now, 24 percent- of Republicans say Obama “may be the Antichrist.”
So what’s a stump-jumpin’, ridge-runnin’ “Christian foot soldier” armed to the hilt who never outgrew playing army, creating an organization with a rank structure straight out of Pokemon to do?
“Preparing for the end time battles to keep the testimony of Jesus Christ alive” -Hutaree.com
From top left, David Brian Stone Sr., 44, of Clayton, Mich,; David Brian Stone Jr. of Adrian, Mich,; Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio; Tina Mae Stone. Bottom row from left: Michael David Meeks, 40, of Manchester, Mich,; Kristopher T. Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio; Joshua John Clough, 28, of Blissfield, Mich.; and Thomas William Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind. (U.S. Marshall / Associated Press)
Yesterday, this from From The Detroit News:
Nine members of a Lenawee County-based militia group were planning to “levy war” against the United States and “oppose by force” the nation’s government, according to an indictment unsealed this morning in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
They had plans to kill a local law enforcement official and, once officers from across the country came to the funeral, to attack the funeral procession, the indictment alleges.
Because, apparently that is what Jesus would do.
Don’t we as first responders already have enough to worry about? This brings to mind this Pulitzer Prize winning photo by Charles H. Porter IV. It captures a moment in the life of Oklahoma City Firefighter Chris Fields, who on what is arguably the worst call on the worst day of his life, carries Baylee Almon, who became a dead baby shortly after the Murrah Federal Building was bombed in 1995.
- Pray you’ll never have a day like this
Accept my apologies for exposing you to the graphic image from that tragic day. But it bears close scrutiny in order to put the events of these last few days into some sort of perspective.
Imagine what could be going through Chris’s mind as he stares down at the face of such an innocent angel. Man, how does he still deal with that?
My brothers and sisters, home-grown terrorists who care not about killing babies and massacring cops at a policeman’s funeral don’t give a damn about you or your safety. In their dimly-lit skulls, these nutjobs are readying themselves for the violence of The Rapture, justifying their mission as following the teachings of the Christian faith.
You know- Thou Shalt Kill.
It’s not just extremist Muslims, folks.
It’s Frank from the car dealership and Jim Bob from the bait store. Another homegrown threat (again from Michigan) reminds us that terrorism is alive and well and thriving in the hearts and minds of those among us right here in the good old United States who call themselves Christian foot soldiers.
Because, apparently that is what Jesus would do.
Remember that scene safety is still at the top of the priority pyramid.
Be careful out there folks. It’s nuttier than ever.
I used to see myself as far from being an alarmist. Before uttering a response or invoking a knee-jerk emotion, I felt some pride knowing that I would first take the time to figure out what was being presented, then formulate an informed and measured response/decision/reaction.
Howabout that Avian (Bird) Flu of 2007? That was to be a major event. Although many were sickened and some lost their lives, it was not the end of days we were led to believe might occur. Human cases of bird flu peaked in 2006 at 115, with 79 deaths. The number has since declined, with 73 human cases and 32 deaths in 2009, the WHO said.
I quickly stashed my venti vanilla skim latte in its holder and simultaneously honked and waved with less fingers than my left hand contains, while clutching my iPhone in my right. What was this chucklehead thinking?
As we decide how to utilize the constant array of new technology, we need to address the amount of distraction we’re placing upon our responders. We need to recognize and accept that too much input may result in a decreased ability to process the information in a way that is useful. Worse yet, distracted emergency responders may bring increased civil and criminal liabilities upon our departments.
You may recall the tragedy in Dunwoody on January 24, 2010 in which Ann Bartlett, 74, died when a fire swept through her home after firefighters responded to her early morning emergency call and left when they couldn’t find a blaze. Five hours later, they responded to a second 911 call from neighbors and found the home fully engulfed. Her body was found in the home’s remains after the fire was extinguished. 
Two of the four officers initially fired are looking to be reinstated. They say they were fired for violating a department guideline in that they failed to establish command during the initial response. They claim they could not establish command because they had no scene yet. 
According to firefighter reports, a man was heating grease on the stove when he decided he needed to go to the store. 
Firefighters are warning drivers to unplug all electrical chargers from their vehicles when they are not running, after a charging iPod reportedly caused a Chevrolet Suburban to burn up last week.
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When performed by a well-practiced magician, a sleight-of-hand trick serves as an amazing piece of entertainment, wowing young and old alike. The foundation, of course, is pure deception- tricking your eyes and ears and brain into believing something which truly isn’t.
Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain!
According to Comeau, the Chief said it “looked like a comedy act”. It is a comment he still stands by today in 
With all the outcry from the initial story, it began to look like the story had run it’s course. But, the “looked like a comedy act” remark now makes Rubin fair game. It just didn’t have to happen. 
Seems like a no-brainer. Again.
Check Out Real Sports on HBO Tonight for This Amazing Story
Not many people can complete an Ironman, and it’s hard to imagine anyone completing an Ironman after going through what Long went through. But Long is an inspiration, and the Real Sports segment on HBO is a good look at a man who refused to quit.
I see that NIOSH reports have popped up on the radar of the blogosphere recently. Frankly, I’m surprised at the heat a few have been giving them. Maybe I’ve been missing something (it’s happened before). So I took a closer look.
Sizeup, Risk/Gain
What You’ve Said