Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on Obama and U.S. Drone Policy

As usual, the “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” team is on point. I don’t have much to add to what John Oliver covered other than a hearty, “Amen!”

When I Finished My Slaughter- (A Poem Typecast)

A Perfect Example of Why We Fear Those Who Are Supposed To Serve & Protect Us

This is a sad situation... But, not a unique one in the USA. All too often police officers are guilty of intimidating, illegally searching, beating, and even shooting citizens who have broken no laws or only committed minor infractions. 

Are there good cops? I'm sure there are plenty. But, they don't nullify the actions of the bad ones.  A police culture has been cultivated in this Nation which allows for the systematic abuse of citizens and the regular cover-up and minimization of the offenses by police departments when the offenses come to light. That is one reason why the average citizen, regardless of ethnicity, feels instant fear and/or trepidation when they have any reason to interface with a police officer. You never know for certain when being pulled over for minor issue, such as a seat belt infraction in this case, that you won't be shot. Even after the citizen, Levar Jones, had his hands up, Trooper Sean Groubert was still shooting. Ironically, Jones was even apologetic toward the officer after being shot. 

Amazingly, in the situation shown in the video above, it appears that the officer is now actually being held to account for his actions. Only when police are regularly punished for violating the rights of citizens and stop seeing themselves as the "masters" rather than true public servants will the overall situation change in this country. 

This situation is rides on the tails of several recent, unjustified killings of citizens by Police that have hit major media sources. 

For regular updates on offenses against citizens by police and related information, like Cop Block on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/CopBlock

US and Allies Now Bombing ISIL in Syria

Map of Syria-

Based on reports, the U.S. and certain allies have launched a bombing campaign against ISIL targets in Syria. Based on the reports of unnamed officials, all actively participating nations involved, other than the United States, are Arab nations. Though it has not been officially confirmed, those reports assert that Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain have participated in the air strikes. Official confirmation or denial of those reports will apparently be forthcoming. The bombings are said to have been primarily centered on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria thus far.

The first wave of strikes began at approximately 00:30 GWT and lasted around 90 minutes. More strikes are expected to follow.  Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said that The U.S. and "partner nation forces" began air strikes on ISIS targets utilizing a combination of bombers, fighter planes, and Tomahawk missiles.

The Pentagon spokesman also said, "The decision to conduct theses strikes was made earlier today by the US Central Command Commander under authorization granted him by the Commander in Chief. We will provide more details later as operationally appropriate."

For more information on the situation, please visit the links below:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/09/us-begins-bombing-isil-positions-syria-201492313622252650.html

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/22/world/meast/u-s-airstrikes-isis-syria/

Headed to Friendship, In. – Down by the Riverside (music video)

My ’94 Buick Roadmaster Wagon is packed up and ready to head out. I’m excited about getting to Friendship, In. even if just for the weekend. When I was a teen, I used to go down in June for two weeks and work at a little cafeteria during the summer musket shoot and accompanying flea market events. They have the event twice a year in June and September.

I love getting back as an adult any time I can. For me, it’s like stepping into a time machine. Very little has changed from the 90’s to now. The smells, “feel,” and hospitality are all the same. Today, I’m taking one of my oldest friends and my twin, 14 year old sons. They are the age I was when I went to work in Friendship the first time. If you’ll be down there this weekend, look me up! I’ll have my guitar in tow for jamming purposes and a fresh bottle of Scotch for sipping purposes :)

I have yet to get to the newer, “Whispering Beard,” music festival down there, but plan to next summer.

Here are some links about the town and events if you aren’t familiar:

http://www.friendshipfleamarket.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship,_Indiana

http://www.whisperingbeard.com/festival/

A Prank Too Far- When Does a Prank Stop Being Funny?

(This blog was first published on my Wordpress site at: http://lukeaustindaugherty.wordpress.com/2014/05/20/a-prank-too-far-when-does-a-prank-stop-being-funny/

An interesting phenomenon has developed over the last several years via the reach of youtube- the rise of independent, "professional" pranksters. These are creative people who started out small, and due to their consistent and well-filmed prank videos, have reached a certain level of internet fame. For some, that fame and the ad revenue it produces even makes for a full time personal income allowing them more time to focus on their art of creating prank videos.

If you are into the prank videos on youtube, you may know some of the primary pranksters well. Many of their videos go so viral that even if you aren't into watching the pranks, you will see the links posted on various social media sites. Other videos become so popular that they are referenced in major news stories nationally and internationally. A few of the "kings" of youtube prank channels are Jack Vale (the Pooter guy), edbassmaster, Roman Atwood, Vitaly at VitalyzdTV, Tom Mabe at MabeInAmerica, PrankvsPrank, The Scary Snowman, Dennis Roady, MagicofRahat, and others. Some of these pranksters have also learned the trick to being one of the "popular kids" as it were. That is, you team up and tell the populace that the other person is cool too. So, some popular pranksters often team-up to do videos and pranks together. It is brilliant cross marketing and pools their creative resources as well.

These viral pranks range greatly in their nature, style of execution, and subject matter. Some are just goofy "fart" pranks pulled off in public spots, stores, or elevators. See Jack Vale's video's for the best examples of these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2JI0k9HuZk&list=TLKXjhdizraY0h8kPBOQJwSP8c4Sf0N7aw

Others are also very simplistic in nature, but always have a great payoff, such as the Scary Snowman videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZfOCuVXeio

Hey, fake farts and people getting startled have always been and will always be funny. Video pranks will vary from those simple and relatively harmless versions all the way to some very potentially dangerous ones. Some pranksters have also made a real effort to use some of their pranks to benefit others or have done social experiments to raise awareness of some important issues. I applaud the noble efforts of such pranksters to use their art form in the service of helping others to whatever degree they can.

But, there are two other categories of prank videos that I would like to address. Actually, the two have some overlap. That is, pranks that can potentially (or likely) cause harm to the public and pranks that waste the resources of emergency or police services. I was inspired to address this issue after seeing several of those types of videos being discussed by people on Facebook in the last few weeks. It seems that there is a one-upmanship battle going on between the royalty of youtube pranksters. The nature of some of these pranks is getting more ridiculous and/or dangerous. Please know, I am not a "fuddy-duddy" that doesn't get a kick out of a ton of the pranks I see. Yet, in day to day life, I am not a prankster myself. Since I don't like being messed with personally, I don't dish it out either. But, due to the rise of the "professional prankster" some of them think that saying, "IT'S JUST A PRANK!" after doing something crazy in public somehow puts them "on base" from any repercussions.

As a disclaimer and qualifier, I do not condone violence against another person merely over words or insult. I do support defending one's self when you believe that you are in immediate danger, are being actively and physically intimidated, actually attacked, or are defending another person who is in one of those situations. I would assert that some of these pranksters are going too far and becoming reckless in a way that is dangerous to themselves and others with some recent pranks.

Since I have enjoyed watching youtube pranks for years, I have tried to hold back on being too judgmental on some "iffy" pranks that I have seen online. But, the first one I saw from a major prankster, in this case Roman Atwood, that I think definitely crossed the line is the one below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAPNDjQ3Q28

The "Drive-by Shooting Prank" is just reckless, stupid, and dangerous. If you noticed, one person actually shot back at Atwood's vehicle toward the end of the video. Atwood is lucky that the shooter was a poor shot and no one else had a car handy to chase his SUV down in to return real fire. Here are my main points of contention about that prank:
1. Going to a potentially high-crime neighborhood where people are already on edge and making random people think they are really being shot at is just negligent, unthinking, and lacks compassion. I would like Atwood or any other prankster who thinks such a prank is funny to consider what it would be like to walk out your front door, your small child in tow, to what you think is a real drive-by shooting pointed in your direction. Would that just be "ha-ha" funny? Would that just be all good after your and your child were terrified? I know there was not a small child apparent in the video, but I appeal to Atwood's sensibilities (if he sees this blog) knowing his is a father.
2. The prankster his or herself could actually be injured.
3. The people who believe they are being shot at may assume that they know who is shooting at them: a neighboring gang, a person who they have had trouble with before, etc. and take revenge. Or, they may just go looking for a person who was driving the same kind of vehicle as the supposed shooter to get back at them. That is the type of thing that can happen in the real world.
4. Likely, police or emergency services are called because of such a situation. That wastes resources paid for by taxpayers at large for ridiculous reasons. It also can create a potential investigation that could falsely implicate an innocent person.

The recently posted video just below, "Killer Clown Scare Prank," inspired a lengthy discussion on Facebook last week between quite a few people. (Graphic scenes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xSNiPx791A

That Killer Clown video is another example of a prank gone too far in my opinion. Many of the comments on Facebook had to do with the assertion that the person commenting would have reacted violently or shot the "clown." Some of that may have been hyperbole, but I would say the majority of the people commenting were being literal. I myself live in a state, Indiana, which has a substantial amount of people who carry a concealed pistol, myself included. It would be reasonable in my opinion, especially in a city like Indianapolis with a crazy murder rate, to fire at a person who you believe is trying to attack you with a hammer, ax, knife, etc. It is inevitable that one of these pranksters engaging in highly irresponsible pranks will eventually be seriously hurt or killed. With so many real tweakers and violent people out there, as an individual on the street, you can't just not act in a situation because there is a 1% chance you may be the target of a prank. Several pranksters have even been punched or slammed to the ground after doing a prank when they faked stealing a person's property or said something highly offensive. Again, I don't condone a violent reaction to words. But, you can't expect to say crazy things to random people in public and not get hit eventually. Of course, it makes for great video and lots of "clicks," so getting hit may be worth it to some pranksters. See the following for an example: (language warning)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYUtNdFwMuQ

Last, I would mention pranks that demean people. Even if done under the label of "helping" these pranks are in poor taste. Sure, people can do whatever they want for the most part and should be able to in making videos. But, I can also share my thoughts. In the following video, helping needy people is done in a way that is demeaning at the same time. If you're going to give homeless folks money, do it in a way that doesn't involve apparently blowing money out of your ass guys. Just because the homeless will take the money any way they can get it, does't mean you should force them to grovel for money from your butt (of course, it isn't really, but that isn't the point)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJvhdyGjZQ4

In Atwood's defense, he has fed the homeless and given money on several occasions in previous videos in much more tasteful ways (see the link below). And, he and his team have made tons of great prank videos as well. He is actually one of the best all-around pranksters online. Though, the push to get more and more sensational has to hit a wall at some point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJns4mzBng

It is my hope that responsible pranking will continue. But, I implore youtube pranksters to mix in a bit of common sense and refrain from doing obviously dangerous pranks and/or pranks that waste police and emergency services. To my surprise, Roman Atwood, the prankster from the "Drive by Shooting" prank recently discovered a prank that was too much for even him. But hey, stealing gas when it's over $4 a gallon could get you killed anywhere...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCSE75_zHlU

Thanks for reading and sharing! For a bit of comic relief, enjoy this classic SNL skit that relates to this blog perfectly :)

https://screen.yahoo.com/pranksters-prankster-larry-000000471.html

My Pick of the Week- A 1947 Royal Quiet Deluxe Typewriter

As a reader of my blog, you probably don't know what I do for a living besides writing and music. I don't reference it often in my articles. I buy and sell as my main trade outside of creative pursuits. Truth be told, creativity is very useful when picking. After purchasing an item, it goes on one of my ebay stores. The primary being, "Brother Luke's Treasures."

See the link following:

http://stores.ebay.com/Brother-Lukes-Treasures

I tend to buy and sell a lot of the same types of things weekly: vintage clothing, electronics, shoes, housewares, etc, etc. But, I also run across some very cool, interesting, and/or rare items regularly. I've thought for some time about sharing some pictures and information about them on my blog. So, from the thrift stores, auctions, garage sales, and junk yards I frequent, I bring you, "My Pick of the Week."

For installment #1, I have a good one for you! After going to my youngest daughter's soccer game this morning, I saw that a church was having a rummage sale across the street. As I moved from table to table, I picked out a few decent picks at a bargain price: a vintage leather briefcase, an old cosmetic travel case, and one or two other items. Then, I felt a "disturbance in the force" and looked around... I saw a beautiful site from across the large room. It was an old Royal typewriter in the original case.

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe -Photo Luke Austin Daugherty

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you'll know that I love my 1966 Smith-Corona Super Sterling. I generally write all of my current poetry on that typewriter. So, I have a special passion for a good manual typewriter.

Though most everything else was dirt-cheap at the sale, they had a $50 tag on the typewriter. That wouldn't be a bad price if you were looking for a good manual and were going to keep it. But, I'll likely sell it and wanted to make sure there is enough room there to score some dough. I figured there was a slim chance that they would get anyone through the door willing to pay $50 for an old typewriter. There are plenty of folks looking for them online, but you won't bump into a serious typewriter fan everyday on the street. I decided to leave a note with the lady in front that I would pay $30 if it didn't sell for there price and my cell number. To my delight, I got a call from her about 45 minutes before the rummage sale was over and she said that I could buy it at that price. I jumped in my Buick Roadmaster Wagon with one son and our dog and shot over to the church.

I did a pretty basic function test earlier to make sure the unit was serviceable. It needed a normal cleaning, but seemed to be in order. Once I got it home, I cleaned it, freed up a few sticky keys, and got the ribbon advance working properly again. It types like a dream! The ribbon is pretty old and dried out, so the type isn't very dark. I'll get a new one ordered this week. Until then, the old ribbon will serve its purpose.

I must admit, it will be hard to get rid of this typewriter and I may just keep it. In buying and selling, I tend to embrace the drug dealer rule of, "Don't get high on your own supply." That works for pickers too. It is easy to fall in love with items you pick if you pick what you like or collect. Pickers with a "collector" mindset can find it hard to let their picks go. I'm not a collector. But, I do love a good typewriter! Only time will tell if I sell it or keep it :)

Here is the run down on "My Pick of the Week"-

Item: Vintage, manual typewriter

Brand: Royal

Model: Quiet De Luxe portable

Year Produced: 1947 per my serial number research

Includes: Original case, manual, and typing tutorial.

Weight: 12 lb 2 oz for the typewriter alone (contrast 13 lb for my Smith-Corona), 16 lb 6  oz in the case.

Color: Black with chrome accents

Interesting notes: As with some old typewriters, there is no "1" key or exclamation point. You just use the lowercase "L" for the 1 and make the exclamation point by hitting period, then backspacing and hitting shift/8 for the apostrophe. Together, that produces the exclamation point. It is a very solid machine has a fairly light touch with the "touch control" adjusted down. The black knobs on the ends of the carriage are very well made. On my son's Hermes Media 3, those knobs are made of very weak plastic. On this Royal, they seem bullet-proof. The manual is simple and covers just what you need.

If you have never used an old typewriter, it can be a unique typing experience compared to modern computers. If you are a writer, utilizing a typewriter can have an interesting impact on your process and unlock new creativity. In either case, I suggest you take an old typewriter for a spin sometime. For more information on vintage typewriters, this is a great website:

http://typewriterdatabase.com/

See below for more pics of my new Royal! I have included full pictures of the manual that you can magnify if you have the same unit and want to find out something about your own machine functions :) 

Type from a 1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter- (old ribbon) -by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter- by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter- by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter- by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter Manual- by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter manual- by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter Ribbon Change Instructions/Manual- by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter Manual/Function sheet- by Luke Austin Daugherty

1947 Royal Quiet DeLuxe Typewriter Manual Sheet- pic by Luke Austin Daugherty