Crimes in our area.

Most know that I work for a Law Enforcement agency here in Forsyth County. I have been seeing a steady increase in what I believe are and could be very violent crimes. Over the 3 years I have worked here, I look back on my past 3 years and see what appears to me is an increase in certain crimes. While you still have the standard House Break In or Business Break In, I am seeing a high increase in home invasions, armed robberies and most, if not all, have guns involved. Due to the sensitivity of the crimes, I am not able to tell you where they occured, who was involved, etc. but what I can tell you is this. Criminals are getting more brave and couragegous. They are robbing people in broad daylight, in well lit areas, and they are barging in at our own house. Recently there was a robbery at a convienent store where they robbed not only the store but the customers as well. What I don't understand is this. You would think that criminals do their leg work and know when is the best time to rob someone or kick in the door to a house to rob the owners. Well, that being said, you would also think that they would KNOW that there are more and more people that are carrying concealed weapons on them due to this influx of criminal behavior. My friend, it is only a matter of time before one of these thugs walk into a store to rob them at gun point and a law abiding citizen with their concealed carry permit and gun in hand is going to pop a cap into someone. Here lies the problem though. Will it be justified? Of course, the case has to be investigated by the local law enforcement ageny and then determined by the District Attorney's Office. I would say that if the suspect is unfortunate to live through the ordeal, that justifiable homicide will come into play. At least I hope it does anyway and not just neglegent homicide. I can tell you this. If someone decides that they want to walk or bust in to MY house, they had better be prepared for the welcome they are sure to receive and be quickly introduced to GLOCK Inc.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future. Stay safe and stay alert.

2008 Elections and the Assault Weapons Ban?

Well, It's getting close to that time again my fellow citizens. It's the up and coming 2008 Elections and it is going to be very interesting to say the least. While there will be several issues that come to light it will be very interesting to see what our 2008 Candidates have to say about the issue of gun control.

Let me say this my friends. I have hunted all my life. At least until I got married. My wife does not care for this and I have kept her wishes and feelings in mind when the cold winds start blowing and the snows start falling. I can remember when I would get up at 0330 hrs to leave Winston-Salem and go 1 hour and 45 minutes just to go kill a couple of deer. I would not trade it for the world. This brought me closer to my Uncle who I dearly love as we had a lot of things in common. Outside of hunting, we have guns in common. I was raised around guns and was taught gun safety up one side and down the other. If I wanted, I could probably teach Firearms Safety to our younger generation today. I know I will teach my boys about guns, their dangers and what to do and what NOT to do when it comes to guns. I just pray that they heed what I say and remember the way that I remember. All of this brings me to the issue of gun control. While I do believe that there should be a little more stricter rules and regulations when it comes to purchasing a gun, I do NOT believe in banning them. Hear my side and what I have to say...Please!!!

When guns are used in crimes, without being said, they are used by criminals. Do you agree?
(Yes)

Okay, if a Law Abiding Citizen chooses to purchase a gun, should they be "punished" because of the criminal activity where guns are used or involved?
(No)

If a criminal wants to buy a gun or have a gun, they will break into your home or business to steal items to sell for money or trade for an illegal gun that has already been stolen or purchased illegally. Reason? Well, if they are a criminal, they can't buy guns...PERIOD!!

Why punish those of us who work hard and abide by the laws set forth by our states and goverment. If we wish to go buy a gun, then so be it. It should not be anyone's business how many or what kind they are accept those on a need to know basis. I do not have a problem with ATF knowing when I purchase a gun. They do it for many reasons and working in the Law Enforcment Field, I have found that ATF can be friends of many.

Assault Weapons have become an issue in the past few years and it's not going to die anytime soon. Several years ago before the last election, the Assualt Wepons issue was a big discussion between Democrats and Republicans. The last election had me nervous and I went out and bought an AR-15 and then sold it which I could kick myself for. Now, I am saving for another and will NOT sell this one. I believe that there will be a day (hopefully not in my lifetime) that we will need our weapons to protect ourselves and even those that don't want us to have them in the first place. From what I have found in doing some research, the 2008 election debates are not going to be on gun control due to the fact that it always stirs controversy BUT, more of the candidates that are running are known to be against guns and while they are not going to address it unless asked, if they get in you can rest assure that it will go through.

Anyone have an AR that they want to sell?

The 2007 Dixie Classic Fair.

Okay, I know that I'm a little late but like the old saying goes, better late than never. The 2007 Dixie Classic Fair was held from Sept. 28-Oct. 7. As usual, I helped at the Winston-Salem Police Department's Food Booth on two days and we attended the fair as a family twice. Let me just say a few things to the parents of our wonderful children that are growing up in trends of today.

There is no wonder that teen pregnancy is on a rise........in Winston-Salem. If you went to the fair then you know what I am talking about. These teen age girls are dressing like pure sluts and if their intent is not to be slut, then they have some wires crossed and their brain is telling them to dress like one. I observed more teenage girls with shirts that cut off just above the their pierced belly button and their jeans showing their thong strings. It is belived that because our teens are eating more chicken than beef, this hormone that has been found in chicken is reportedly the reason that our young female kids are growing breasts really before they should be. This being said, there are alot of female teens that didn't read this article and continue to eat their chicken and therefore, are growing bigger breasts than I have ever seen on a adult woman. Having said this, when you are "built" like a woman, you need to dress like a woman. What I can't get over is that these girls are well endowed and they want to wear the skimpy shirts and some without even wearing a bra!! What in the hell are they thinking.

Parents!!! If you have a teenage daughter you need to have sit down and a heart to heart conversation with them about how they dress. YOU know how they are built and if it would be a problem if they were to dress inappropriately. Guys will be Guys and boys will be boys. Teens will be teens and set aside just the experimentation part of sex, when you are looking at a girl that's built like a woman, how are they to be taken? Add on top of that they are dressed like a slut and you can have it if you ask, what more do you expect.

You parents may also say. "My daughter doesn't dress that way." or "I know what my daughter dresses like." Well. No the Hell you don't. Go undercover when they go out and just see what they are doing and what they are wearing.

I sure am glad I have boys.

BLACKWATER USA

WOW!! What have these people gotten into now. What I don't understand is that in order to be accepted into the different training courses at BLACKWATER, you have to go through this extensive background check including but not limited to, CRIMINAL HISTORY, MENTAL BACKGROUND, FINANCIAL BACKGROUND and last but NOT least, a Psycological Test and Evaluation. One would think that when someone makes it through all this hoopla, testing and mental assesment that WHEN you were deployed to do a job that you wouldn't do some of the things that these people have been accused of doing. Now granted, no one has been CONVICTED of anything yet, just accusations which from what I'm reading and hearing, there are a lot of people, A LOT, that are witnesses to these aligations and from what we are hearing, some pretty strong evidence against them. Now, why would anyone cause this shadow that is lingering over this company and the ones that are emplyoed by this company?

If I were a bigwig at BLACKWATER, I believe I would change the way I do business in hiring these people. Granted, good, law abiding citizens take employment with thse companies and they do a hell of a job. Then, it appears that they think that can do what they want.

FINAL THOUGHT

I think that BLACKWATER has not only the goverment looking at them through a magnifying glass but the general public is looking at them and raising an eye as well. Having said this, I seen a guy wearing a BLACKWATER shirt at the Dixie Classic Fair yesterday, I don't believe I would be doing that right now.

Jena, Louisianna

People, take a few steps back and look what our children AND Adults (yes, ADULTS) are doing here. Now I have to admit that I do not agree with the noose hanging. That's just disrespectful, offensive and just a slap in the face to most, including whites. First of all, the parents of those that ARE involved need to have a sit down with their kids or take them out behind the woodshed and beat the hell out of them and be done with it. These kids obviously do not know respect so I can only guess how they have been brought up in the first place. The old saying goes, "Lead by example." Guess they missed that part.

Secondly, those that beat this kid need to realize that yes, we do know that it is offensive but you don't take matters into your own hands. People now a days are looking for a reason to swing a fist or pull out a gun and this is sad my friends. Violence has became the answer to anything and everything that is bothering us and when someone can point a finger at someone else and say "he/she's responsible" off they go and they think that they are able to do this.

I believe that law makers need to make a stronger stance on certain issues like they have others in the past year. While as of right now, it is not illegal to hang a noose from a tree, it should be against the law to hang it from a State/Government or Federal property. This would cover schools, courthouses, federal buildings, etc. If you want to do it on your own property, so be it. While this one boy had nothing to do with what was done and was truely an innocent person, the ones that WERE involved should not be surprised.

COPY CATS

The news today about Andrews High School has so disappointed me. Again, hanging nooses from trees on school property hits home now. We have people that have gone down to Jenna to protest the charges and in their own backyard, someone has done the same thing that has caused all of these problems. I can promise you one thing. When/IF there is retaliation, those that hung the nooses will be the first to say, it ain't right, that's not fair, they are trouble makers, etc. As my grandfather used to tell me, "If you make your own bed at some time you will have to lay in it."

"Stay safe and keep your eyes open and head down, shit is about to hit the fan."

Time Warner Cable

This past Friday, I arrived home at 7:30am to find that not only did I not have cable tv, I didn't have Internet nor DIGITAL PHONE. So, I call TW Cable and advise them of this. Since the phone being out is a priority, they were going to get someone out right away as opposed to the next day or Sunday. I asked if they could call me on my cell phone so I would know they were on the way and I would get up from napping to meet them. I received a phone call 1 hour later and when I looked at my Phone Modem, it was back online. TV was back and Internet was back. Okay, done deal???? NOT!!!

On Monday at 2:30 pm, everything went out again. I called and learned that there was an outage and it would be back on in 2 hours. Note that the AUTOMATED recording kept saying 90 minutes. We went to eat and when we returned home, it was back on. That was at 7:30 pm.

On Wednesday, it went out again. Same time. I called about 5-7 times and no one could tell me anything and were going to handle it as an isolated case. Well, my neighbor calls and not only is hers out, but my other neighbor as well. I call and get this very nice young lady and she was very helpful. I learned that the fiber optic cable had been cut on FRIDAY, MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY. Due to all the problems and phone calls I had to make from my cell phone, TW Cable has issued me a months free service.

NOW, you say, John, what is your point here? Well, here is my point and it relates back to an earlier post about relying on computers and technology.

Here is a large company with many thousands of customers. I understand that things are going to happen and lines are going to get cut. Working for Pike Electric, I know this all to well as I have cut phone and cable lines myself due to them not being located correctly. Nonetheless, You call and they are not showing an outage by looking at the computer BUT, the automated COMPUTER voice tells you that there IS an outage. Who's right and who's wrong here. Well, I did learn that the human was wrong. You have to be persistant and make your demands clear. Tell them how you feel without being rude and yelling. That will get you further than anything else in this world. Going on, you have this big company and no one can tell you what is going on and while some are customer service oriented, others just want to get you off the phone. While Idon't like asking for a supervisor everytime I call somewhere with a complaint, if I don't get the answer or response that I feel that I deserve, I ask for a supervisor. Lastly, don't tell me that the supervisor is going to tell me the same thing or can't do anything for me. LET ME FIND THIS OUT BY LETTING ME TALK TO THE SUPERVISOR.

The world today as we know it.

The world today as we know it is filled with technology that 20 years ago, we didn't even know existed nor did we ever think would come to be. 20 years ago, we would hear people talk about in 30 years we would be riding in and driving flying saucers or something of the sort. Well, we're not quite there but I do belive it's coming. We live in a society where computers run our world and our everyday life. Like or not, admit it or not, it's true. While I am only 37 years young, the "younger" people today freak out when their computer go down. It's like they cannot operate or function with their computer.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like playing on the computer just as much as anyone else does but when you cannot do your job without it, this could pose a problem. Our Cable TV relies on computers, our Electric relies on computers and god forbid if you have a problem with any of them because the people that work for these companies can't tell you jack.

Crime is at an all time high. This includes murders. Our tempers are right on edge because of various reasons. For those of us that hold a job, we are on edge because of the stress of the everyday work load. The demand for service by our citizens and customers are high and expectations are high. This causes us to strive to provide top quality customer service and yet it's just not enough. This is because customers expect too much for nothing. As for those that can't hold a job? Well, let me say a few things to you.

What is the REAL reason you can't hold a job? You don't have to admit it outloud for fear of shame or critisisim but you know why you can't hold a job. It's one of several things. Either you are on drugs and drugs have ruined your life or you are just too damn lazy to work and let us working people or those that have worked in the past and are attempting to find a job now, support you. Hell, why work when you get a free ride of food, water and shelter. Geesh, what more could a human ask for?

Anyways, I'm not going to get any further into that or I'll be here the rest of the morning and I have other things I need to do like getting ready to leave for the beach.

Another thing is PARENTING. What in the hell has happened to the parents today that was growing up when I was? Everyone is scared of what their kid is going to scream or who they are going to call. Get the hell over it people. If you have a disiplinary issue with your kid, beat their butt's and dont' worry about who they say they are going to call. Even if they have the phone number in the Cell phone that you pay the bill on or can get it off the internet using the computer that you bought. Hell, take that stuff away from them and let them look in a phone book. Maybe they can recite their ABC's. NO!! They would have pick it up and read it. We parents today need to pull out the belt and use it. I want to see the day that Jared and Jeremy try to pull that crap with either one of us.

Well, I have ranted and raved enough now. Hopefully even if you do not agree with me that you at least found it amuzing or entertaining. I'm getting really sleepy right now so I'm done for the time being.

Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan = The Three Stooges

Geesh, these three should make their own TV show. I'm sure it would be a hit for about one day. Look, here is the deal.

Paris, Nicole and Lindsay obviously have issues with Drinking and Driving and Driving on a suspended license. The one thing that they all have in common is that they have more money than you and I probably do. Oh, forgot one thing. They are blonde. This, I'm sure is why they ALL got out lightly. I'm sorry but when you have a cocaine charge, that is not something small and should be and in most states is, ILLEGAL and a Felony on any amount. The lawyers, spokespersons can say what they want to but they were not treated equally as compared to anyone else that is not famous. Wow, what a wonderful legal society we live in today. You can count on the court system for all your needs........provided you have the $$$$$$.

Happy drinking :o)

Michael Vick

What in the hell is this guy thinking? And to beat all, the head of the NAACP in Atlanta openly stated to Foxnews that he did not see an issue with Mr. Vick being reinstated to the NFL after he done his time and even "suggested" that this happen. Wow!! Are we condoning what we do in the publics eyes? Seems as we are. What I don't understand is this. Here is a man that works as a professional football player making millions and then he has to "supplement" his income by fighting dogs and betting on dogs. Not only is the cruel and in-humane but it's against the law. Then, we have to throw in the transporting across state lines charge. I think that right now, Mr. Vick needs to concentrate on his charges and telling the truth before he starts thinking about coming back to the NFL. I can tell you right now, if the NFL lets him come back in any capacity other than a waterboy, I'll be very disappointed. What kind of message does this send to the little guys playing backyard football and playing in their school stadiums every weekend? You can play football, make big money and oh, by the way little fellar, you can fight your PitBull on your off time and make even more money.