h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ouch! Sounds like something I'd do... (The egg frying accident, not the car search)

egon!! OUCH!!!

Must have had too much oil in the wok!!!



'g'

Hah! The Naked Chef fries bacon...

> I am always puzzled as to how the Police in the US can 'strip search' your car on mere suspicion, or no suspicion at all.

There's supposed to be suspicion. They're required by law to say, as they stick their head in your car, that they "detect the strong odor of marijuana," for example, before they search your car for pot. But more often than not, the policeman has manufactured a reason to pull you over, just so they can search your car. (Last time I was pulled over for a bogus charge, the guy said that my registration was expired - and I had renewed it two weeks before.)

If they find anything, well, then their suspicion was justified, so many of these civil rights abuses get overlooked.

Did the police damage your car, MR?

Yes, FG,
As far as I can read it, the Cops damaged an already faulty lock on Montanas car. They then 'did' her for having a feulty trunk. Fair??? I don't think so!!!!


'g'

*relaxes in one of the lazy b*****d chairs in the library with a cup of tea, listening to the conversation in the next room*

fg, nah. No damage. It actually helps, because if I have a 'fix it' ticket for the trunk, it means that I get a discount on hourly charges for repair. It's all good.

>>Run into a dustbin!" was the reply

You didn't believe that story, did you?

A police officer should have more than "suspicion" to do a trunk search. The phrase is "probable cause." They can search the cab of the car fairly easily, because when an officer stops a person on the street, or stops a car, or makes an arrest in a home, they are often permitted to search the area in that person's "control" for weapons. Case law states that the entire cab is said to be under the "control" of anyone in it. So if they have enough probable cause to ask you to step out of your vehicle, they'll probably search the cab and there's little to nothing you can do about it. But the trunk is a different story. It's not within reach, it's not within your control: even if there's a loaded fully automatic assault rifle with a grenade launcher in the trunk, you aren't going to be able to grab at it and threaten the cops with it.

So, you can refuse to open your trunk. Which means they'll bring either a warrant or dogs.

The list of things to do is down to less than 10!

Good night all.

If there's a fully loaded assault rifle and grenade launcher in the back of my car, they will be duly informed that I am a concealed carry permit holder and that they can go on their merry way. I am just waiting to get pulled over some time and having to tell the officer that yes, there's a loaded pistol in my reach and that yes I am duly licensed to carry it. So far I haven't had any trouble, but some cops don't handle that situation well. Better for me to be in control of my emotions so as to help moderate theirs.

A whole lot of civil rights are often overlooked in the name of "Officer Safety". Searching the backpack of a kid walking down the street, searching vehicle cabins when a pullover for a marker light out etc. The police have long lobbied for expanded search and seizure policies, and often get them granted via case law. It's a system that I think is flawed and one that I could only hope would change for the better (but fear it will only get worse).

I wonder what will happen in Utah once the new law allowing vehicular carry goes in to effect. I am also looking at the Montana firearms manufacture law closely as a similar bill may be introduced here. I love it when a state exercises it's rights in the face of Old Uncle Sugar. The next few years may be quite interesting in the legal circles. The 10th Amendment types in Texas are also getting some attention.


In other news, GDZ and I picked up the Tuxen today for this weekend's nuptials. It looks like we are all going to be looking pretty good come Saturday. Rehearsal is tomorrow afternoon, then a dinner, then it's off to the races at Oh-Dark Thirty on Saturday. I told him that this time around had better be the last one of these that he does, and that if there is a next time it will have to be a ten minute affair in Vegas. I'll try to remember to take my pocket camera with me to the reception and get a few photos of the happy couple and share. I just have to remember where the hell I put the silly thing first.

[Bel]

Ooooh, B'elana and Milla officially here! Welcome ladies

Please don't make me wear the itchy blues, I have no shoes that go with them at all, and trust me, I have over 40 pairs of shoes.

I had the most wonderful fo texts from sister yesterday, which went

"We r on r way, would u b able to get cabbages, if so can u get 6"

which I may use for the next Stretcher challenge.

I went to the Balmoral Show yesterday and saw lots of lovely cows and pigs and goats

Marv, you must be excited about GDZ's nuptials -- you're positively loquacious tonight!

>>The police have long lobbied for expanded search and seizure policies, and often get them granted via case law.

Case law also occasionally curtails policies that were once common practice. It'd be interesting to see a study of just how often it goes which way. Remember that it's the job of courts to tell legislatures and executives when they've taken things too far and violated a civil liberty. I do wish they'd stop abuses more often, but the primary check on judicial power is that they can only rule on cases actually before them, so a violation must make it all the way up the ladder, first. If it weren't for the threat of judicial invalidation under Amendment 2, I'm relatively certain a bunch of states would have banned firearms entirely after Columbine back in 99. Luckily there's a branch of government that acts as a check on such knee jerk legislative action.

"I'm relatively certain a bunch of states would have banned firearms entirely after Columbine back in 99."

Is that a bad thing?

On a different note, I keep on hearing about this 'Stretcher Challenge' - could anyone enlighten me on what this actually is?

I'm glad I sparked a conversation!

Of course, I could have refused. But, as Irv pointed out, it could have made things worse. So I let them look. They didn't find anything because there wasn't anything to find, and frankly, I think they were embarrassed. Whatever. I'm a bit annoyed that I missed my class, but beyond that, eh.

Mornin All

Rain.

Lil, I am happy for him. While I don't think that excited is really the term I would use, I am looking forward for the event to be concluded. I am very much not looking forward to getting up as early as I must on Saturday, but I'll be there for one of my oldest friends. You need to keep in mind that GDZ and I have been friends for around a quarter century. 20 years ago we were carving our names into quaken aspen in the mountains while in Boy Scouts. 12 and 10 years ago we were seeing his kids being born. 7 Years ago we were dealing with his divorce. We have more than a little bit of history, GDZ and I. While I am somewhat opposed to weddings in general, I am honored to be GDZ's friend and to stand next to him at his wedding.

""I'm relatively certain a bunch of states would have banned firearms entirely after Columbine back in 99."

Is that a bad thing?"

Vip, to my line of thinking, it would be the end of what the US was founded to be. It would be a tragedy indeed. The simple fact is that bans do not eliminate crime.

I know that I am in the slightest of minorities in my opinions, but I am firm in my opinion regarding firearms ownership. There's plenty of topics to argue one way or another, but I'll not be swayed from my position easily. I've been engaging in these discussions for many years.

Marv, I probably should have realised that from the way you phrased the original post. I think it's one of those major differences between the US and UK; I couldn't even conceive of owning a gun (unless I wanted to go out hunting or somesuch). I doubt I'd be swayed either, so let's not engage one another in debate.

On other topics, best of luck for the both of you tomorrow. May the weather treat you well and no unexpected suprises befall you!