Here's another picture of my cat - this one is more current. The first one I posted was when she was a kitten. In case you haven't figured it out, I really like my cat. 

XM Radio

If you have never heard XM radio, you really need to. 150 digital channels of music, talk, sports - you name it. You can get a Delphi unit at Best Buy for about $95, and then pay the XM subscription of $9 a month. The Delphi unit is totally portable. It takes about 5 minutes to put it in any car with no cutting, etc.

The afternoon of 2/25 the 60's channel on XM recreated WDGY, jingles, newscasts, music - the whole bit. If you're old enough to remember Minnesota top 40 AM radio, you'll remember 50,000 watt WeedJee. It was at 1130 (now KFAN), and was a legendary radio station. Listening to the jingles ( WONDER - FUL, DOUBLE YOU DEE GEE WHYYYYYYY) ( IT'S WEEDGEE - TWIN CITIES - ON ELEVEN THREE OH, WEEDGEE ON YOUR RADIO......DOUBLE YOU DEE GEE WHY, MINNEAPOLIS ) brings me back to riding with my Aunt Linda (8 years older than me) in her convertible - going down Hwy 7 making a Kentucky Fried Chicken run to Lake Calhoun. Man, I'm really beginning to sound like an old fart -

Careerism

In my initial post I talked about being about as high up the food chain as I intended to go. I am a patrol sergeant in my department, and as it stands now, I can't imagine doing anything else. On top of that, I work nights (affectionately referred to by nocturnal cops as "dogwatch). I have enough seniority to work days, but I couldn't have it. I have no doubt that I would be fired in the first three days. A lot of things come into play on days - moronic calls and the moronic citizens that make them, increased traffic, and the inter - office crap of days, where political correctness rules supreme.

I tried my hand as the detective sergeant, and I have never been so miserable in a job in my life. I didn't become a cop to sit behind a desk and work 9 to 5, although it never ceases to amaze me how many of my colleagues do aspire to that.

I have never tried to get promoted beyond where I am now. The next position up has absolutely no attraction for me, and even though there has been 3 opportunities for advancement, I have not even tried.

And then, just to upset my little apple cart, I had a nice talk with a friend, Stephany Good. Stephany has never been one to mince her words. She told me to get off my ass and consider advancement. Not necessarily in my department, but look at possibly becoming a chief somewhere.

I have to admit that it is intriguing. I would have to be a chief of a smaller agency, though...because I still have the street in my blood. I'd be out in the squad as much as I could, and I think that it would be easier in a smaller agency. Besides, how cool would it be when some dirtball says "I'm gonna complain to your chief"and I could reply "I AM the chief - ASSHOLE!"

I Told You So

Well, I knew it. This morning, the StarTribune (hereafter referred to as the Red Star) was quick in today's editorial to ask "is it worth it?" with regard to the three soldiers lost. Here's your answer, you knuckleheads: yes.

It absolutely amazes me how out of touch this communist rag is with it's readers. It continues to slide in readership, but the high and mighty "journalists" just scratch their heads, unable to figure out why.

It seems to be a common theme in liberalism - everyone is stupid, I and my kind know what's best for the knuckle dragging masses. I have experienced a lot of this first hand in my personal and professional life. Those who have a liberal political bent have a real tendency to look down their nose at everyone, thinking that they know what's best - - no matter what you think. It has always been my experience that these people can't buy a clue.

The conservative folks tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, and treat them as if they actually have a brain. This would certainly follow: big mama government vs. getting government out of the way and allowing people to prosper.

Mainstream Media News - Why I Hate It

On a day when soldiers are dying in Iraq, the President is having critical talks in Europe, and California is drowning, what does Fox radio lead off their top of the hour radio news with? OH MY DEAR GOD !! THE MICHAEL JACKSON JURY HAS BEEN SELECTED!!! Not only that, but they begin the news as a "News Alert", with the glanging chimes of doom audio.

Honestly, I know I have very few if any readers, but is there really anyone out there that truly gives a damn?

They say that toward the fall of the Roman Empire the citizenry became obsessed with the lives of celebrities. I fear that the barbarians are surely at the gate.

Minnesota Cop Killed in Iraq

A lot of cops are also military reserves or members of the National Guard. I saw a big drop in this in the early to mid 90's, but now it seems to be a growing trend. David Day was a new cop in St. Louis Park. He was called up and went to Iraq. He was killed when he was trying to help some fellow soldiers whose humvee had been hit.

Some on the left are sure to start beating the drums about how this is yet another example of why we shouldn't be in Iraq. One of my favorite talk show hosts is Dennis Prager, because of his calm, reasoned approach to conservatism. Dennis always treats everyone with respect - even if they hardly deserve it. I agree with Dennis that this struggle against islamo -fascism is perhaps an even more important struggle than the second world war. And yes folks - the Iraqi war IS part of that struggle. Would you rather fight them in the streets of Baghdad or the streets of New York?

David Day knew that it was better to fight them over there - where it was he and his comrades on the line - without the additional burden of having to worry about his friends, family and home. That's a concept that a lot of people on the left clearly have a hard time grasping, but is clearly understood by anyone serving in uniform, cop or military.

My heart goes out to the Day family - I thank them for their sacrifice. I am proud to say that David was a brother officer.

Deepest respect and sympathies for the family of the other two fallen soldiers - Jason Timmerman and Jesse Lhotka. All are heros.

In case you wondered where I stood on the Middle East... 

St. Michael 

My Cat - getting ready to pounce 

Initial Post

Yet another Blog is born. I've always liked doing journals and such, so I guess this is the next logical step. What will this blog be ? A perspective on just about anything on life from a regular guy - me. I've been in Law Enforcement for 21 years. I'm currently a sergeant, which is about as high up the food chain as I intend to go. I work nights - which is also by choice. More on that later. I work in a large second ring suburb to the west of Minneapolis - I'm not going to identify it for a couple of reasons that are directly related: 1) Our internal policy on this has been in an uproar since a partner of mine started a website and had the audacity to say where he worked, I don't need the aggravation. 2) I'm not exactly the fair-haired boy at work, so why borrow trouble. If this is really bugging you, Google my name and you'll be able to figure it out yourself. Suffice it to say that my opinions here are mine, and do not reflect the opinions of anyone or anything else.

I can tell you that I am the National Trustee for the Fraternal Order of Police in Minnesotaa. This is a great organization that does a lot of good for cops and society in general.

A couple of the blogs that I really like and have inspired me are James Lileks and Powerline. I can only aspire to even come close to getting into the same ballpark.

Anyway, more posts to come