Friday, April 23, 2010

#Taser Update

-Family Sues Police, Taser Manufacturer Over Death
COLUMBUS -- The family of a Miami University student who died after police used a taser on him is suing both the city of Oxford and the taser manufacturer.
The lawsuit filed by the family of Kevin Piskura states police were not properly trained in using the taser and the company misrepresented the facts about the dangers of the device.

--2 officers in Taser incident back on job
Two central Indiana police officers suspended after allegedly slapping and shocking an unruly 10-year-old boy with a Taser gun are back on the job.
Martinsville police Capt. William Jennings and patrolman Darrel Johnson were reinstated with limited desk duties Monday by a city disciplinary panel, pending the results of a Morgan County Sheriff's Department investigation.

--Questions swirl around unexplained Taser death
More than a month after Jaesun Ingels died when Midlothian police used a Taser to subdue him, his family can only wonder why the 31-year-old perished in the early morning hours of March 10.
The Riverdale parolee claimed a past checkered with violence and drug use, and he had a penchant for fleeing authorities. But Ingels' family struggles to comprehend how a late-night traffic stop left the otherwise healthy man dead in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store on Pulaski Road.

--Vigil Held 1 Year After Fort Worth Taser Death
The spot where community leaders, friends and family of Michael Jacobs Jr. gathered for a vigil Sunday in Fort Worth was the same location where he was shot and killed by a charge from a Taser stun gun one year ago.
"They hit him with the Taser and he was on the ground shaking," said Jacobs' father, Michael Jacobs, Sr. "They didn't realize he wasn't breathing."

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The #Redskins Tackle Dilemma

One of the things that has perplexed Redskin fans all off season has been the Offensive Tackle situation, that is, the lack of viable starting Tackles on the roster.  Common wisdom is that one of the Tackle spots will be solved by the #4 pick and that the other will be a free agent veteran.  All things being equal that would be the case.

It isn't.

One would think that the Offensive Tackle question would be addressed by mass signings as has the Defensive Line question.  The Skins have signed and acquired through trade an entire defensive front even without Albert Haynesworth and therein lies some clues as to the strategy in Ashburn.  One mammoth clue: Haynesworth.  They want to move him.  There has evolved a quiet bidding war of sorts between his former team and his former coach.  The Lions are interested in Haynesworth in addition to the Titans.

That all sounds nice but the Lions' interest presents a speed bump on the road to assembling a line to protect new QB Donovan McNabb.  The Lions, if they acquire Haynesworth, will take an Offensive Tackle instead of Defensive Tackles McCoy or Suh.  The Lions pick ahead of the Skins at #2 and want Okung to protect second year QB Stafford.  And Tampa has also been looking at adding one of the top Left Tackle prospects at #3 instead of one of the two big name Defensive Tackles. 

That would leave the Skins either going elsewhere with the #4 pick or reaching for an offensive tackle.  And that leaves the Redskin strategy to form an offensive line in tatters...  The Skins are left walking a fine line between getting value for the disaffected Haynesworth and making sure they get the player they want with this year's #4 draft pick.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Germany Supports Karpov

#chess . 
Former World Champion GM Anatoly Karpov has been nominated for the FIDE Presidency by Germany.  Germany joins the French and Swiss chess federations in nominating Karpov for the World Chess Federation's top job.  The USCF has already passed a resolution supporting Karpov in his challenge to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

Friday, April 9, 2010

USCF Endorses Karpov

#chess #uscf . 
From the USCF's website:
CROSSVILLE, TN-- The USCF Executive Board unanimously voted that the USCF will support GM Anatoly Karpov in the upcoming FIDE election for President, to be held in October 2010. A full statement from the Board is expected shortly. 
Well, that's good. Now, if they'll do something about the abusive idiots they allow to post on their message boards - and influence governance  - who seek to ruin other peoples' lives with stalking-like attacks... I might re-join.

They got rid of Susan Polgar and Paul Truong, and I applaud them for that.  However, the USCF powers-that-be stopped there and didn't go far enough.  There's more house cleaning to be done.  One is running again for an Executive Board post.  Perhaps a little more attention to what is happening within the Federation and a little less on world events might help...  To be sure, Ilyumzhinov is a scoundrel and needs to be eradicated from FIDE.  However, there are several Ilyumzhinov wannabes who need eradication from USCF's house.  Git'er done, folks, or a lot of us ex-members will remain ex-members.

Previously: About Time - Karpov to Seek FIDE Presidency

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Has It Been A Year, Already?

#tnguns .
WizardPC points out that it has been a year since Ben Goeser was gunned down at a local Nashville sports bar and links a video tribute on YouTube.

When we posted on this story a year ago Nikki Goeser wrote to us of the horror of seeing her husband killed in front of her: "If I could have been allowed to carry my gun (because I do have a permit) perhaps I could have saved him. People that have gone through proper training, background checks, registered their weapon and have the permit should be allowed to carry a concealed gun for their own protection as long as they are not drinking alcohol. Just remember....when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Bad guys don't care about Laws. Let good citizens have the ability to protect themselves and their families. I never want anyone I love to be a sitting target again. Never again. Please, help wake these lawmakers up. I need your help. If there is anything you can do for me....please do this. Do this for Ben."

WWW.BenGoeser.com has been established to "assist families finding themselves in a similar situation. Nikki began the fund knowing that Ben would want her to help others. The pain one goes through when a loved one is taken so suddenly, so violently is immeasurable! The ABSOLUTE last thing they should have to worry about is how they will survive financially. Ben was always bringing people together, making everyone feel as though they were family. We can all come together and make a huge difference in the lives of families coping with such extreme loss. This fund is a Big Ole' "Ben Bear Hug" from above. Through his fund and your help he will always be here to do his usual...lend his helping hands."