Zombie Line Dance

Good Deed of the Day

I am not really that interested in the underlying story about Orlando police chief Val Demings (the examples of screw-ups are pretty mild as police malfeasance go). But Demmings has gone the extra mile of threatening to sue a blogger who is critical of her. My general policy in such a case is to give the blogger lots of free links. Nothing better limits this kind of stupid attempts at censorship than having them backfire into national attention. The money quote comes from Demings attorney, who says, “Truth is not always a defense.”

-Coyote Blog

I can't say I think that's a bad policy. I'll be spreading it around.

Presidential* Embarrassment

President* Obama has spent trillions of imaginary dollars he has no business spending. He has socialized the banking system. He has insulted our closest allies and submitted to foreign dignitaries. He has embarrassed his office on-quite probably-more occasions than any other President. He has lied and cheated repeatedly.

This, however, is probably the worst thing to come out of Obama's Whitehouse, yet:


Airplanes buzzing downtown New York are not considered minor. There is an incident forever burned in our cultural memory.

Keith Ellison is a Foreign Affairs Idiot

Rep. Ellison,

As a lawmaker at the highest level of the most powerful country in the world, why do you feel a need to make a laughingstock of not only yourself, but your office?

As a member of the Foreign Affairs committee, you have legitimate and effective methods of affecting the foreign policy of other countries. Those methods do not include pretending you are a smelly hippie, or getting a "showboating" arrest for violating the law and attempting to create a diplomatic incident.

Your arrest was an embarrassment to us all. Act like the Congressman you are.

Sincerely,
me

Be Subversive! B-E Subversive! B-E S-U-B-V-E-R-S-I-V-E!

Hmm, zazzle will let me make one in child size. Do my kids need the attention they'll get as fellow subversives?

Stole the title from Tam. I've seen the swimsuit pic, now I want to see the cheerleader pic.

Five Ds of School Safety

In order to avoid falling victim to DENIAL:

* DETER - Have alert, visible and armed security on site. Train and equip response teams to a high standard and make their capabilities known (though the details of their response techniques should remain classified). Convince the potential attacker they won’t succeed in killing innocent targets if they come to your locale.

* DETECT - Like Detectives, be ever vigilant for “clues.” Virtually every school attacker, student or terrorist, conducts extensive reconnaissance of their target. They will analyze the availability of ingress and egress points. Questions will be asked about the site’s security preparations. They may photograph and/or sketch the area. Both human and video surveillance can help you pattern these recon missions.

* DELAY - Harden the target with security checkpoints and random security patrols. Drill lockdown procedures to remove easy targets from their potential kill zone. Make sure the lock-down procedure includes the means to lock the doors to areas of refuge. Avoid the urge to evacuate anyone into an area not proven to be safe from potential snipers or bombs.

* DESTROY - If they still choose your site as their target ... you must respond quickly and forcefully. An analysis of active shooter incidents by co-Author Richard Fairburn suggests that even a Rapid Deployment team is unlikely to assemble in time to save lives.(1) In most incidents, the only chance available to save lives is an instant response by on-scene personnel or the first arriving officer. At this point we are not just seeking to defeat the attackers. One of the lessons of the 2004 Russain school massacre, as outlined in John Giduck's excellent book, "Terror at Beslan" is that we must attack immediately, with maximum violence, and no intention of pulling back or giving up ground. Attack the enemy hard and fast and DESTROY them before they destroy more innocents.

-LTC David Grossman

Remember, denial is not a survival mechanism.

These Ds apply to any security situation.

In your home: Deter with motion lights and not having expensive toys in sight. Detect with motion lights and an alarm or a dog. Delay with reinforced doors that are locked. Destroy with a shotgun.

On the street: Deter with a look of confidence. Detect by making sure you are always aware of your surroundings(no iPods in public!). Delay by running if possible, fighting if necessary. Destroy with the best means at your disposal-generally, a gun.

Hooter Zombies

Brought to you by Hell in a Handbasket. Thanks, James.

Comics

Penny Arcade is not one of my regular reads, but I think that may have just changed, thanks to Marko.

Spider, he is our hero.

Out today

I'm attending LTC Dave Grossman's "The Bulletproof Mind: Mental Preparation for Combat."

Update: That's a long day. I can't recommend this presentation enough. If it's available near you, attend this class.