miked10270

On the car is written: "We are the Police and You are NOT......" Oh yeah... "Reasonable Articulable Suspicion" or "Reasonable Cause to Suspect" for vehicle searches.... "The driver / passenger(s) appeared very nervous and agitated M'Lud. A persons check via computer was made and we searched the car with the accused's initial consent, which he did try to withdraw when he realised that we WERE going to search the vehicle and occupants." Or in REAL life: "Can we have a look in the car son?" "Err... No." "Sorry son, did you think it was a question? Start by turning out your pockets." Then it moves to a "Thanks very much." or a "What's this?" The "Cause of Search" can quickly & easily be changed based on what's found. I remember going to a "Suspected Drunk-in-Charge" (of a motor vehicle). Car parked, engine off, intoxicated male in drivers seat. Suspect out of car but he swept a bag off his lap into back footwell as he got out. He was kind of out of it and his head kept nodding which came in handy when we "asked" if we could search the car. Ounce of Cannabis in the bag and 4ounces of Heroin in the trunk!!!!! $50,000 worth. The expected complaint came in that the search was illegal, but both "Professional Standards" and later the judge laughed it out. Usually this depends on who's complaining and what's found rather than the "legality" of the search. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Very familiar. The "War on Terror" should not be against Islam, but against Extremism wherever it's found. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Like Geordies? The difference is that this is "World Important" Crap (Like Geordies think they are?). Small question... Are you the guy at Peterlee who looked at My Audi Quattro, talked about my Merc & Landy, and accused me (perhaps suggested) that I might be on the take? Regards, Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

YOU DID WHAT!!!!!!! THE ENGLISH!!!!!!!! Oh. Wait a minute... That would have been me before I was naturalised. Plus... When those daft Geordies shut the town gates and declared for King George, my "home town" declared for the pretender and opened the borough (& that's why we didn't get City status until 2002AD). But seriously... As I said before, a lack of hospitality says more about the person refusing hospitality than the recipient. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

This place NEEDS lightening up...! So... With thanks to Dave Barry of The Miami Herald here's the latest world issue to discuss & dissect. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/10114347.htm Event could be in deep doo-doo! DAVE BARRY I am often criticized for writing immature ''bathroom'' humor, and not enough about important topics. So today I'm going to write about a major international event that is going to take place Nov. 17-19 in Beijing, China: The World Toilet Summit. I am not making up the World Toilet Summit. It was brought to my attention by alert reader Marc Howell, who alerted me to the World Toilet Organization, a group dedicated to improving the world's public toilets, with a website at worldtoilet.org. (''Org'' is a sound made by many of the world's public toilets.) This site states that the World Toilet Summit is a gathering of ''the KEY DECISION MAKERS, KEY OFFICIALS and the MOVERS AND SHAKERS'' of the international toilet industry. The Beijing host committee -- which includes (I am still not making any of this up) an official named ''Stone Wang'' -- states that the summit will feature workshops on ''hot topics'' in the toilet industry. For example, Mr. Seok-Nam Gang of the Korea Clean Toilet Association will present ``Toilets As Tourism Attraction.'' Other hot topics include ''Toilets as Marketing Tools'' and ''Generating Revenue Through Advertisements in Good Toilets.'' There will also be a presentation of the ''Loo of the Year Awards,'' a tour of ''toilets and related facilities in Beijing,'' and a ``dinner show.'' I think the World Toilet Summit is a great idea, because most of the world's public toilets, in a word, stink. I'm not saying the United States is perfect in this department. We've made some serious mistakes, the worst being the introduction of ''low-flow'' toilets, which clog when asked to handle anything larger than, say, a molecule. Also I am not a fan of those high-tech public toilets with the automatic sensors that either (a) become overexcited and flush themselves 37 times before you even sit down, or (b) lapse into a coma, so that when you're done you find yourself waving your arms like a lunatic and loudly remarking ''Well, I'm done!'' in an effort to revive your toilet so it will flush and you can leave, while the people waiting the stall wonder what kind of sick pervert thing you are doing in there. Also -- and I cannot stress this too much -- public restrooms should be clearly marked with signs that say MEN or WOMEN. If there have to be symbols instead of words, the man symbol should clearly be a man, and the woman symbol should clearly be a woman wearing a giant unattractive ''A-line'' style skirt. Theme restaurants should NOT use cutesy names like ''Sheilas,'' ''Caballeros,'' ''Colleens,'' ''Galoots,'' etc.; nor should they use ambiguous drawings that can be misunderstood in dim lighting by a person who has had a couple of vodka gimlets and thus finds himself barging into the ladies' room, not that I have done this more than twice. But for all the flaws of our public toilets, they stand head (har!) and shoulders above those of much of the rest of the world. In parts of Europe, when you enter a public restroom, you often find yourself face to face with some hideous dripping slime-covered contraption originally built by Vikings out of petrified mastodon bones. And as if that's not scary enough, sometimes there's a lurking ''attendant'' who might belong to a completely different gender from yourself, and who expects you to tip her even though it's clear that neither she nor anybody else has ever actually cleaned the restroom, as evidenced by the presence of bacteria the size of wolverines. But at least your European restroom contains some form of toilet. In other parts of the world, all you find is a hole in the floor, as if the toilet has been stolen by commode rustlers. Sometimes there isn't even a hole. Once, while visiting a zoo in China, I asked where the restroom was, and I was directed to: a wall. On one side of this wall were large exotic animals doing their business right out in the open; on the other side were zoo visitors doing exactly the same thing. To this day, unfortunately, this is the image that comes to my mind whenever I hear the words ``Great Wall of China.'' So I applaud the World Toilet Organization for its efforts to improve the world's public toilets. I think this concept could be used in tourism advertising (``KOREA -- Come for the History; Stay for the Public Toilets''). You probably can't attend the summit, but you CAN take part in (I am STILL not making this up) World Toilet Day. This year, it's Nov. 19. Let's all take a few moments to observe this very special occasion. And then let's wash our hands. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Is it just me? Surely the way out of this is for the homeowner to countersue the HOA for failing to exclude the bear, thus causing him distress and fear!!!? At least that way TWO sets of lawyers get to make money... Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

..... And the nomination for Most (or Sole) intelligent Comment in Speakers Corner goes to... Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

So far I haven't bitten... But... You state you work in the News Media. There's a saying over here that "Dog Bites Man isn't news, Man Bites Dog IS news." In effect, what you tend to see crossing your desk every day is the unusual and sordid, which tends to give a skewed view. Would you EVER consider "Cops don't arrest anyone" newsworthy? How about "Cop Happily Married for 25 Years"? Then again, "Cop Goes Postal" or "Cop caught in Illegal Brothel" would sure as hell get loads of media attention! What I'm saying is that you shouldn't confuse what's typical with what makes the news. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Perhaps the Iranians are happy because they can point out to Bush that: "We know where you live!!!" Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Hi Uncaged, I'm sorry you felt that way. Do you think that this was ALL coming from the "Europeans" or was it perhaps that you were being defensive or sensitive "In an alien-nation"? Perhaps it was that since you were an "American willing to travel to Europe" you were assumed to be a liberal and would be a bit down after the election. Remember that Europeans in general can be a bit reserved, but I cannot believe that ANYONE at Empuriabrava would really care that much about American politics. In all seriousness (and I bet I speak for ALL the European Dz.Commers) I would extend the same excellent hospitality and friendliness to a visitor that I have received when I was abroad. Of course, Y'All have to accept what limited hospitality our poor little continent can afford! For example, it's well known that Europe has NO DENTISTS ever since they all emigrated to America to fix PJ's teeth! And of course, what with all the Sweet Pastries, Sour Wine, and Fat Cheeses going through their digestive tracts while they're enjoying the Slim Prostitutes, it's inevitable that the French smell a bit! But then again, would you prioritise "Wash" over "Eat" & "Sex"? Me neither. Regards, Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Hi Jeffrey, I can sympathise with you - I used to get quite a bit of hate mail until I set my junk filter to reject anything in French! Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

I never thought I'd say this to a fellow professional... But... Perhaps you should refine the company you keep! Tom Bulleit is not only tastier, but aalso significantly stronger. "Single Barrel" Jackie D. is also more refined company to keep, but can be a bit "Southern" (By which I mean sweet, NOT inbred). Regards, Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

"How did Fawkes escape punishment by the way? Didn’t we hang draw and quarter him? That’s gotta be a bit of a pain no matter what you do about it." He jumped as he was about to be hung and broke his neck. Thus he was dead BEFORE being drawn and quartered. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Bump 'cos the server posted my reply twice but didn't record it(?) Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Err... Wasn't Guy Fawkes a professional soldier - probably the only professional among them? Suicide certainly WASN't part of his plan - look at the way he cheated the punishment. Anyway... Every 5th November we celebrate the failure of the gunpoder plotters to blow up the houses of parliament in a typically English way; by setting off gunpowder! Personally, I'm not all that sure we have all much to celebrate!? Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

"Is an ASBO just a way of saying, "Commit this crime one more time, and we'll actually punish you"?!" Yes. That's what they're saying. "Continue this behaviour and we'll punish you out of all proportion to the individual incidents." Most antisocial behaviour actually consists of a very minor crime - but committed repeatedly or continuously. The individual punishment(s) are limited to being equally minor. What the ASBO does is prohibit behaviour rather than the commision of the individual crime(s). Commit the crime again and you automatically brreach the ASBO - for which the punishments are far greater (and inspired). Almost all crimes carry maximum penalties in proportion to the severity of the crime committed once. So damaging someone's garden may incur a fine of, say £50. The little git who did this would want "time to pay" and that could be as low as £2 a week! Any additional fines incurred simply means he's paying the £2 a week for longer and longer. Or, there's the possibility that the perpetrator is too young to be fined (or even to be prosecuted). This is one area where the ASBO comes in. As well as the individually minor crimes being committed, he is then ALSO in breach of the ASBO - for which the penalties can include eviction from the perpetrator's home. Thus, taking the example of the "kid gone wild" and the parents not bothering... They'd better START bothering if they want to keep living where they do! Of course, they will be re-housed,. Actually offered their choice of 3 houses by a housing authority. Let's just say there isn't a good choice among them. Thus, the ASBO allows for punishment of behaviour (if it continues) over and above punishments for individual crimes. That's why it's liked so much. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

"Is an ASBO just a way of saying, "Commit this crime one more time, and we'll actually punish you"?!" Yes. That's what they're saying. "Continue this behaviour and we'll punish you out of all proportion to the individual incidents." Most antisocial behaviour actually consists of a very minor crime - but committed repeatedly or continuously. The individual punishment(s) are limited to being equally minor. What the ASBO does is prohibit behaviour rather than the commision of the individual crime(s). Commit the crime again and you automatically brreach the ASBO - for which the punishments are far greater (and inspired). Almost all crimes carry maximum penalties in proportion to the severity of the crime committed once. So damaging someone's garden may incur a fine of, say £50. The little git who did this would want "time to pay" and that could be as low as £2 a week! Any additional fines incurred simply means he's paying the £2 a week for longer and longer. Or, there's the possibility that the perpetrator is too young to be fined (or even to be prosecuted). This is one area where the ASBO comes in. As well as the individually minor crimes being committed, he is then ALSO in breach of the ASBO - for which the penalties can include eviction from the perpetrator's home. Thus, taking the example of the "kid gone wild" and the parents not bothering... They'd better START bothering if they want to keep living where they do! Of course, they will be re-housed,. Actually offered their choice of 3 houses by a housing authority. Let's just say there isn't a good choice among them. Thus, the ASBO allows for punishment of behaviour (if it continues) over and above punishments for individual crimes. That's why it's liked so much. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Herewith the latest from the BBC ASBO-Watch... Remember that ASBOs are issued by courts after a hearing (fair trial). Remember that the idea behind the ASBO is to preserve the freedoms of the majority, and curtail the freedom of those who abuse it. Who decides if an ASBO is issued? A judge AFTER what amounts to a trial. Anyway: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3979263.stm You can't just clamp cars because you want to. It's official. One man who did just that is among the latest recipients of an Asbo. The Magazine is keeping tabs. It's been another busy few weeks for fans of the Asbo, or anti-social behaviour order. No sooner had it been announced that one third of all the orders were broken that new plans to up the war on yobs were unveiled. Noise-makers, graffiti artists and litter louts will all be open to council-imposed fines under government proposals. And Tony Blair said the number of special courts dealing with anti-social behaviour would be tripled, while witnesses in such cases would be offered greater protection. Meanwhile, there was no let-up in the number of Asbos actually being issued. Here are some of the most original. WHEEL CLAMP TERROR In a case to warm the hearts of motorists everywhere, magistrates successfully turned the power of the Asbo against a rogue wheel clamper. There's one less clamper in town... A 38-year-old public "menace" from Portsmouth was handed a five-year order for "intimidating and harassing" drivers and "causing distress". Not only was he clamping cars parked on land where he had no licence to operate, but he once impounded a police car. He was also reported to have tried to clamp two cars as they performed three-point-turns. He was believed to be one of the first clampers in the UK to be given an Asbo. TWO'S COMPANY A family accused of damaging property, driving recklessly, threatening neighbours and using abusive language have been banned from going out together. Asbowatch I: The war against hats The wonderful world of Asbos After hearing of the plight of their neighbours on Merseyside, a court told the mother, father and three sons - aged 16 to 20 - they can only leave their homes in pairs. They are also banned from meeting more than one friend at a time and face a 2300 to 0700 curfew. A CCTV camera has been installed on their road to make sure they abide by the order. The temporary Asbo, in force until a further court hearing on 6 December, is thought to be the first used against a whole family. MUD SLINGING It is often tearaway children who cause the most distress to their communities, a problem Asbos are frequently used to tackle - with orders tailored to the individual troublemaker. Eggs are for eating In Atwick, Yorkshire, a 17-year-old youth has been banned from throwing mud at windows. Or eggs for that matter. He has also been banned from causing damage to flowers and plant pots when entering gardens without the owner's permission. Down in Warwickshire a 15-year-old boy known for his disruptive and aggressive behaviour has been banned from swearing and using violence, or threats of violence, against people "not of his household". Quite what that means for people unfortunate enough to live with him is unclear. PICNIC SITE SEX There have been too many people enjoying the great outdoors in one corner of Lincolnshire. Families visiting the Stickney picnic area on the A16 were upset to find they were sharing it with men meeting for casual sex. After unsuccessfully trying to reclaim the area for villagers by holding a party there, residents decided to ask for Asbos to be handed to their unwanted guests. "We've got a local guide troop that have been excluded from the picnic area because of the nature of these acts," said parish councillor Brian Wood. Should it be decided that Asbos can be used to tackle the problem, locals will be asked to report any lewd acts they spot. FOOTBALL CRAZY "At one point I had 12 footballs which had been confiscated from him in barely two weeks," said a despairing policeman charged with tackling one soccer mad youngster's behaviour. Not only did the 15-year-old use bus stops as goalposts, but he had no regard for the fact other people were trying to use the street he considered his pitch. Should professional footballers get Asbos? "It was not uncommon to see him in the middle of the road with traffic backed up in both directions while he kicked the ball 30 to 40ft up in the air," said the officer Not any more - the County Durham youngster has been banned from playing football in the street, on pain of an Asbo-enforced punishment. It is an idea which some want to see extended to the world of professional football. Following the fracas which accompanied the recent Manchester United vs Arsenal game, Liberal Democrat Lord Dholakia said misbehaving stars should be made an example of. "What happens on the football field is as important as what happens outside the grounds," he said. Lord Dholakia asked a government spokesman: "If the Football Association, or for that matter those in charge, cannot take appropriate action, would you not recommend to the police the use of the government's much-publicised anti-social behaviour order against some of these people?" SHAMELESS A gang who intimidated residents of Gorton, Manchester, quickly turned on a glamorous new target when a TV crew arrived on their estate. The crew of the hit Channel 4 series Shameless were "persistently interrupted" as they tried to film the series earlier this year. Police were called and the youths identified - including 16-year-old Steven Birchall. On Wednesday he was banned from acting anti-socially anywhere in England or Wales. Let's not forget that punishments for breaching ASBOs are draconian and can include eviction from the offenders' homes! Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

I think I can speak not only for myself, but also for NacMacFeegle and MR2Mk1G, when I say that we are almost certainly as elated as you, but perhaps not quite for the same fundamental reason. Still, It's always nice to see some twit make a fool of himself. Mike. PS: If Bush does follow predictions and go all Pinky Commie Liberal Appeaser on you, there's always a place in the UK, where we breed QUALITY faschist politicians (regardless of political colour). Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Ausgezeichnet. Das ist die einzige vernünftige Lösung. Viel Glueck. Errichten Sie auch einiges "Arbeit Macht frei" Lager. Sorry..... Brief ancestral flashback there. Err.... Best of luck in your presidential bid. "Unfortunately", I can't vote. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

"And don't get me started on (Cops') grammar and puctuation. It doesn't inspire confidence." Yes... But surely you're referring to "Georgia" cops! Didn't they recently fire on a "suspect" 60+ times..... Hitting the suspect ONCE in the arm? Seriously, most cops are gradually forced into writing "departmentalese" and are more concerned with getting the report past the "checker" (who's commonly some retired cop supplementing his pension ). One of the things which upsets me is having a report returned because the "checker" doesn't understand some word I've used, and pressure is continually on me to "Dumb Down and Fit in"!!!!!!!! Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

WHat SkyCop said. The guy was "carrying" to make a point. The point was made. He ran for the publicity. Oh yeah... Something to smile about in Britain?... A nice sensible FLEXIBLE legal procedure that not only curbs antisocial behaviour while preserving freedoms for the majority. It suits us and it works in our favour on so many levels! Why not come over and see how it works at first hand? Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

The story said he had to remove his gun belt. TO me that sounds like he went into the polling station like John Wayne in High Noon (Yeah... I know). What a prat!!! It seem to me he was "grandstanding" and it wasn't the first time. Personally, I think that openly carrying a gun; i.e. one that can be seen and noticed WITHOUT any search is a deliberate breach of public peace. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

Naturally. Why wouldn't Skydivers be into Bondage, S&M? After all... S&M requires more equipment (straps, velcro, hooks & stuff), forcing yourself into unnatural body positions, careful and skillful technique, rigging skills..... It's basically the Skydiving of Sex! Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

So the Democratic Party has to change the way it chooses it's candidates. Perhaps by popular vote of membership to identify the 2 most popular candidates then a second ballot to pick who'll run for President and who'll be VP. But that'll involve a lot more party unity and a lot less deals. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.