Guard Dog

Martin's family would have a real good chance of winning a civil trial against him but it would be a Pyrrhic victory at best. Zimmerman was only a working class guy to begin with. He was never rich. Now he's lost his job and any future earning power and sold his home to pay for his defense. They might win and have nothing to show for it but satisfaction. Not many lawyers would sign up for that.

Well, it's not just that. The forensics of the crime scene matched the story. But your second point is right on though. If he had done that nothing would have happened that night. However, if he is criminally responsible because he got out and followed Martin that makes walking on the sidewalk of your own community a criminal act. This whole thing just sucks.

I thought so too, which changes the situation a little bit. If they both had the right to be there it makes it worse for Zimmerman but during the trial it comes out that Martins father's girlfriend didn't live in that community, she lived in the adjacent one and he was just cutting through. Technically that is trespassing since it was a private and gated community. In the real world that is not a big deal but in the minutia of legal proceedings it is a factor.

Well, if Zimmerman did not have a gun and it still went down the same way then there is a good chance he would be dead or at least seriously screwed up and Martin would be on trial. Or not. After all he didn't live there and might have run away. Would that have been better? There was an incident this past week in Austin Peay where two teenagers with long criminal records broke into a house where a woman was staying alone. They were armed with crowbars and knives. She was armed with a .38. she shot both of them, killed one and the other fled. How do you think that story would have ended if she had been unarmed?

What did you sell and what did you buy?

The Stand Your Ground law had no bearing on this particular case. In most states without such a law there is a duty to retreat from a dangerous situation and self defense is only justified if such an action is impossible. In this case Zimmerman pulled a gun only after he was lying on his back being pummeled by Martin. Obviously he could not retreat so that is out the window. My initial opinion on this was that Zimmerman followed Martin and when he did that he assumes at least some responsibility for the outcome. But then after reading more about the case and the trial I changed my mind about that. Zimmerman was walking on a sidewalk in a private community he lived in. He had a confrontation with someone who was trespassing. Asserting that he was responsible means that getting out of you truck and walking on a sidewalk in your own community is in fact a criminal act. It just does not stand up to reason. As tragic as the whole thing was I think the verdict was correct. I don't completely believe his story. I don't think that kid ambushed him. There was a confrontation and words were exchanged and it went bad. I doubt Zimmerman threw the first punch and that kid had a reputation as a hothead. If Zimmerman started the fight then it is murder. You don't get to pull a gun because you were getting your ass kicked in a fight you started. But the truth is there is no way to tell for sure since there were no witnesses to the start of the confrontation and his story was credible. That's why it had to be Not Guilty. Hurlshot was right. The state overreached with 2nd degree murder. But that is racial politics interfering with the justice system for you.

So the giants let Lincecum back in the rotation and all he does is throw a no-hitter. Nice to see him get back on track! And how about the Rays, all they have done is won 9 of the last 10. And the Marlins have a 24-16 record over their last 40 games. Who would have thought?

I was on the road for work last week. So I asked my GF to stay at my place with my dog so I didn't have to board him. Anyway, she did a little redecorating while I was gone! I guess it was a little sparse on decorations around here. I don't have much of an aesthetic sense. It does look a lot better. I also noticed there is a lot of her stuff in my closet & bathroom that I don't think she will be taking home. Funny how that works isn't it? Now I'm wondering if her staying here was really my idea or she maneuvered me into suggesting it. Lets face it Gents, women are operating on a whole other level from us.

Does he kill me like everyone else? There are two ways thing work out with you: 1) Player shoots you (perhaps to acquire your stylish glasses because they took the "Four Eyes" trait and haven't found any others), or 2) You run off into the desert and are killed by radscorpions. You just need to accept it, dude. Winning that forum contest did not grant you eternal life. I think this might be Enoch's funniest post in a long time!

Just finished a Skype session w/ Steph & Tommy back home. Now I'm heading down to the miserable little excuse for a lounge in this miserable little excuse for a Howard Johnson and see what's on tap for they call happy hour.

I think hell would be a giant office where everyone hates each other and are chained in tiny cubicles that they must share with three other unfortunate souls. The damned are given endless menial tasks with unreasonable deadlines that are constantly reduced and even when made not of word of thanks or encouragement will be uttered but the demon bosses. The building will always be too hot, the water cooler will always be empty and it will always be 2 PM Monday afternoon. Some of you are probably thinking you are in hell right now. It sounds like life at AT&T if you ask me.

Watching the Rays/White Sox game on Fox. I wish they would drop the 70's "fauxback" uniforms. It's one thing for the Sox to do it. They actually existed in the 70's. The Rays should wear the old Class A Tampa Tarpons uniforms like they used to do on throwback night. So far Matt More and Chris Sale have both been sharp. Longoria made a hell of a play in the 3rd with an unassisted double play.

Went to the VFW for dinner, a few beers and some lively political discussion. I do believe I am the most liberal one there. And you guys know what a liberal I am! Now if anyone needs me I'll be in Skyrim tonight, with my GF tomorrow, and in Louisville next week. You guys be cool, see you when I get back.

True. Illusion is pretty much useless(other than invisibility and muffle) if you don't put perks in it. If you need some build advice PM me. I actually read the wiki about character leveling. I never read the manual but this time I did.

Hmmm, Hawaii is expensive as hell assuming you want to stay on Oahu, Maui or Hawai'i. I'd say go to the US Virgin Islands. Almost the same thing at half the price and a lot closer. I took my ex-wife to Hawaii a long time ago. It was fun. I wouldn't do it again, but it was fun.

What the ... not in 600 hours have I seen that character. I just had to look her up on the wiki and now I'm gonna go find her in real life. Or, I mean, the game. How cool, thanks. Isn't that the best part about those games? I've played Oblivion, FO3, FONV, & Morrowind too many times to count and still find something new every time.

Very tired. I was up playing Skyrim all night last night. All night. I started at midnight and was surprised to look up and find sunlight coming in the loft window. I'm kind of in a bind though. I have followed a similar leveling strategy as I used in Oblivion but that really does not work in Skyrim. You really need to pick like one or two specialties and stick with them to make the most of the perks. I'm at level 11 now and have no more than two perks in any one skill and all of the sudden my PC isn't very good at much. I may start a fresh game tonight. So far I love the game but the followers could certainly have used a bit more interaction. I love the character Angi, the Nord archer living alone up in the mountains. They really could have done a lot more with her.

Hmmm are you pursuing a wide eyed farmers daughter Ros?

I have lost all respect of law enforcement officers in the past few years. I've found them to be badge heavy, abusive of their authority, ignorant of the laws they are actually enforcing, and far more interested in expedience than actually doing justice. The Shelby County Sheriffs office seems ok but the Memphis PD is little more than an armed gang with badges and uniforms. As for other countries I've only dealt with the police in Japan & Mexico other than the US. The Japanese police struck me a very polite and professional. The only time I've ever been arrested was in Mexico in Tijuana. Those guys were a*****s. They were not interested in hearing what happened, they just arrested every white face in the bar. All that happened was that we got taken to the police station, then taken to the border and turned over to the border patrol. They didn't care because we were all military so they told us to go back to Pendleton and don't come back. I always joked about that later. Anyone can get kicked out of a bar, I got kicked out of a country! As for who has the best police? I don't know. It's not the US though. Some PDs are good, some are not. I'd say the bigger the city/department the worse it will be.

I've been thinking of reinstalling that, any worthwhile mods I should know about? I'm using mainly GEM mods. I like subtle gameplay enhancements. I don't go for weapon or armor mods because they are usually way too strong and it throws the game out of balance. I want it to be a little difficult. I want the caves and dungeons to be dark, I don't want to have to look at the time to see if it's day or night, and if the game has torches, I want them to be useful. I also use a mod the doubles the leveling requirement. I don't want to be level 20 before I've even got good and into the main story line. The way I play these games is by coming up with a concept character and then role playing the concept. My PC now is a Nord that hates magic and refuses to use it or any enchanted weapons or armor. The next time I think I might try a druid type player that relies only on alchemy and wooden weapons and hide armor.

Had a great time yesterday. My GF has an apartment right on Overton Park in Memphis. It's on the 5th floor with a balcony that faces west so we had a great (if distant) view of the fireworks over downtown & the river. I wish I could have brought my pup but fireworks and dogs do not mix. Especially off the ground floor. Going on the road to Louisville next week. We won a bid to build a public access DAS at the executive airport so I'm doing the layout and walk down. She wanted to come with but I asked if she would be willing to stay at my place while I'm gone and keep the dog company. Sometimes bringing him is a lot of hassle and he does not like boarding much. If you ever get a chance to get back with an ex, you should at least try. Absence (and a series of bad relationships that make you both realize you were a good fit) do make the heart grow fonder.

America sucks, capitalism is evil and needs to be replaced with socialism, Americans are polluting the planet and need to die, Australia is the best! Ooops... wrong alt! Kidding of course! Happy Independence Day to all my brothers and sisters out there !

Got home late, slept late, drinking coffee now and getting ready to fire up Skyrim. I just started it for the first time yesterday. So far it's just about the best game ever. Going over to GF's apartment later for dinner & fireworks. Life is good!

Now THAT's a good day! Except for the root beer part.

Rays take two of three from the tigers. Then they go on a little vacation of sorts, three games in Houston.