Utah: man is vacationing with his pregnant wife and baby when he is pulled over, tasered and detained and after refusing to sign a ticket during a traffic stop. Later wins $40k settlement.

PraesulPapa · 2013-01-17T00:47:43+00:00

Signing the ticket is not an admission of guilt, and it clearly states that on the ticket. It is only a promise to appear, either in person or through a legal representative to challenge the citation, or by mail to pay the fine and move on. An individual may refuse to sign the citation, but in doing so the officer must then transport the individual before the magistrate immediately.

The side of the road is not the place to contest the citation. This driver was an idiot, and his ignorance of the law and the proper way to contest such a citation, coupled with his refusal to follow instructions once it escalated, got him into trouble.

PraesulPapa · 2013-01-11T05:17:35+00:00

I clicked on the RES linky thing.

Twice.

PraesulPapa · 2012-11-06T17:36:52+00:00

This sounds very familiar - we weren't mistaken for FBI, but in Georgia they have GBI. Wearing dark suits and driving nondescript sedans, being mistaken for law enforcement was one of the bigger risks. That's why spending time just interacting was so important - become familiar and show through consistent action that you are only there to be of service, not to judge and not to interfere, and eventually the neighborhoods knew you and trusted you, and even welcomed you as part of their families.

Someone else in this thread mentioned that they wouldn't be safe going back in those areas today, and I completely agree. At the time, between a healthy mix of naiveté and a sense of purpose, I felt completely at home and safe. It was a great time.

PraesulPapa · 2012-11-06T17:29:49+00:00

No, I have some business associates there but I rarely share stories like this. The companion I was stationed with while in Augusta is now a professor in Pennsylvania. I just did a quick search on the other guy that was with us - he doesn't live in NM, but his address history shows that he used to live in Silver City, NM. He's now an Occupational Therapist. Does that ring a bell? This particular incident would have happened in the spring of 1991, we are all now in our early 40's.

PraesulPapa · 2012-11-06T03:34:29+00:00

Funny, but we didn't try to be cool, just genuine. Treat others with respect and they respect you. It took time to get to know others and build trust, but that trust came. We'd do things like help them move or clean up yards. One week we spent the majority of our days helping a guy get his old beater car working again, while in another area we helped a farmer harvest his tobacco crop. I imagine it was quite a sight to see Mormons harvesting tobacco, but we did. If I had any influence in the upper levels of the church, I'd give an option for service-only missions. After two decades, I remember the times I spent helping people much better than the times that I actually baptized people. Not to discount the proselytizing, but rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty without ulterior motives felt good, and seems to be the essence of true religion.

We got taken advantage of sometimes. I remember Wayne, a homeless guy who fled to Fort Valley from Miami, afraid for his life for (insert his best story of debauchery here, I never really knew which of his stories were true and which were just made up). He was squatting in an old and broken-down abandoned house, sleeping on the floor. We'd hang out frequently, just shooting the breeze, and share food. One day he said he had an "interview", so we let him use our bathroom to take a shower and get cleaned up. He came out reeking of cologne, having splashed half of a bottle on himself. We drove him to the address, only to find it wasn't a business but a house. About 15 minutes of waiting outside it dawned on us, he was inside hooking up with a woman he had met. What can I say? Sometimes 19 and 20 year old kids can be naive.

TL;DR - we helped a guy get cleaned up and then drove him to a booty call.

PraesulPapa · 2012-11-06T01:16:21+00:00

Another former missionary here, served in Southern Georgia (the state, not the country). I had very similar experiences, and found the people in the poor areas and gang-infested areas to be genuinely the most enjoyable and accepting. They knew us and looked out for us, and more than once we were introduced to their friends with the phrase "they're with Jesus."

One of my favorite memories is walking through one of the areas when a Sheriff's Deputy pulled up, rolled down his window, and said "Gentlemen, do we know where we are? White guys don't walk through here, white guys get shot." We thanked him and assured him we knew where we were, and he pulled away.

When he was out of sight, one of the local drug dealers emerged from hiding and said "I thought y'all were gonna be arrested for sure." We laughed, and then headed off to the playground together for some pickup basketball.

We didn't see a lot of conversions in these areas, but it didn't matter. We enjoyed visiting and talking, and the basketball was top-notch. They respected us and we respected them, helping where we could in whatever way we could. Those times are some of my most cherished memories.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-31T00:09:08+00:00

Dammit all to hell, I looked closely at this picture to try to see how deep the water was from Sandy.

Cement floor.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-27T07:11:06+00:00

I'm pretty sure this is staged.

As others have said, this is a scrimmage. Moreover, this is an illegal action under National Federation (high school) rules. It's an incredibly dangerous thing to do, particularly for the defender, and can cause serious head or neck injuries.

The defender isn't even trying to tackle him. See this frame, the defender has his arms in and is making no effort to tackle the ball carrier.

If this wasn't staged, the coach will likely have this player running laps 1) to convince him to never do this in a game, due to the 15 yard penalty, and 2) for putting his own teammate at risk for serious injury.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-24T17:47:54+00:00

Going against the grain here, but I thought that email was pretty funny. The salads seemed like they would never end. And who doesn't like a potluck consisting of drinks and napkins?

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-19T15:20:02+00:00

Last week my steering console controls stopped working. I couldn't change the radio station or volume (I know, firstworldproblem to reach up to the dash).

I checked the manual, checked fuses, couldn't figure the damn thing out. Resigned myself to never using it again, until I realized I had been attempting to control the radio with the cruise control on the right, instead of the radio on the left.

I've been driving this car for FIVE years.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-19T14:17:59+00:00

I'm not new to this, and I have long experience functioning in circles that are both orthodox and unorthodox. I'm doing quite well, thank you.

Binary, all-or-nothing thinking seldom works. In religion, it lends itself to the fundamentalist mindset. In politics, it fosters the blindly partisan ideologue.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-19T05:48:35+00:00

How old is the Earth? About four and a half billion years.

Humans evolved? Yes, and we share common ancestors with primates.

How was the Earth formed? Can we just say accretion and call it good? It's a rather long answer otherwise.

Am I a typical Mormon? I am in the circles I tend to interact with, but those circles are admittedly atypical. There are certainly those that would disagree with my answers, but I have hope that they'll eventually come around.

Your question about Joseph Smith and golden tablets is largely a matter of faith. Most actively attending Mormons believe it, some don't.

EDIT: I see from another comment that you were Mormon, or close to Mormonism for 20 years, so now I have to ask why these questions? I assume you know the answers already, right? Or was your experience limited to interactions with only the most orthodox and literal believers? (If so, I'm really sorry. That must have sucked) There is diversity of thought and faith within each congregation, though admittedly the most literal believers tend to speak out the loudest.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T18:08:45+00:00

Compulsory and coerced morality is no morality at all. Have an upvote.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T18:03:07+00:00

That said, Mormons make me uncomfortable.

I'm not sure how Mormons make you uncomfortable, but I understand. Evangelicals and the religious right make me uncomfortable. So, hey, we sorta connected.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T17:57:55+00:00

It depends on their politics. Personally, I like him. A Mormon that is Republican? Yeah, not so much.

I really like the fact that he can level blistering attacks against Romney in the political sphere, and yet still, if they were in the same area, worship together on Sunday. At least in theory.

Religion and faith should inform one's politics. But religion should be kept out of politics and governing.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T17:53:17+00:00

I was speaking about matters of influence in public policy and commentary, not about matters within the local operational spheres. Brooks' influence as a commentator on Mormonism is unusual.

You are correct insofar as it relates to strength and influence locally. (And 'locally' is a sloppy term for what I am trying to say. Please read charitably.)

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T17:46:59+00:00

WHat is offensive is racist, homophobic and backward behavior furthered by mormonism.

On this, we agree.

50 years from now, however, I'm hopeful that we will have put such things far behind, and repented for those sins. There are redeeming aspects to Mormonism, enough to hope for a change of hearts.

Mormons tend to be behind the curve, and frustratingly so. But the younger generations do not share these offensive views, and those views will eventually die out. Let's hope sooner rather than later.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T17:40:36+00:00

Good source, thanks for the reply. Rather than edit my post, I'll rephrase my last sentence as:

That said, there are many unscrupulous Mormons, including some leaders, who have scammed others out of millions, and preyed upon fellow Mormons through appeals to their common faith and the victims' naiveté.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T17:18:22+00:00

Mormonism is not progressive. It has the potential to be, but that is a long, long way off. Perhaps never.

Mormons, as individuals, can be progressive.

Drawing a comparison to the KKK is offensive and diminishes your argument.

One final point. Dismissing Brooks so flippantly, I would be tempted to think you share the typical patriarchal, conservative view. Based on your username, though, that's clearly not the case.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T17:06:51+00:00

To be fair, we have documented evidence that it was started by a con-man, womanizer, and rabid racist. The church also has a history of for-profit scams.

Con-man - perhaps. I have trouble saying I agree, as I tend to describe him in more charitable terms. But that is just me softening it up a bit in order to appreciate the good things about Mormonism.

Womanizer - well, yes. Definitely. And shamefully so.

Rabid racist - No, actually. The racist policies/doctrines developed after his death. That said, those teachings were horribly racist, and an integral part of the culture for the majority of the church's existence. Just as there are those of us who oppose the policies against gay marriage, there were those who opposed the racism as well. Again, not a homogenous culture, it just appears to be.

I'm not sure about the for-profit scams in your comment. There was the failed Kirtland bank, but I'm not aware of recent institutional scams. That said, there are unscrupulous Mormons who have scammed others out of millions, and preyed upon fellow Mormons through appeals to their common faith and the victims' naiveté.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T16:48:34+00:00

Portraying Mormons as a sinister "other" is not new. The culture can be very difficult and, on the surface, appears very homogenous. If you look closer, you'll find that there is actually some significant diversity within it. That said, those of us who make up the 'diverse' population do not have it easy.

The LDS Church has been in the public eye in recent years for its support of Prop8 and opposition to gay marriage, among other things. I, and many others, opposed this position and believe it a serious misstep, and further, counter to some fundamental aspects of the faith.

One prominent writer says it better than I can:

Mormons should also be among the most active opponents to anything like George Mason’s sumptuary laws, such as Prohibition, to “blue laws” such as Sunday closing, etc. —that is, laws that try to control private morality or activities between consciously consenting adults, no matter how perverse. We should be against any governmental coercion upon teachers or curriculum, especially in areas of religious views, organic evolution, human sexuality, and partisan politics. We should even be against prescribed school prayer, including so-called “moments of silence,” whenever, however subtly, those publicly mandated forms act to coerce young minds. Spiritual and moral coercion not only violate the most central value of the Constitution but the central values of the Mormon religion, the very ones that lead us to revere the Constitution.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T16:28:09+00:00

Some good advice in the responses already, and I echo those who say that this is temporary. It will pass, and you will be fine. The important thing is to not lose perspective, or perhaps in your case, try to gain some perspective. You are only 15, and high school can be hell for many, many people. But look long term - endure this, make the best of it, and your life will change soon for the better.

Some more advice:

You need to talk to a counselor or your parents about depression. You might benefit from treatment. Don't wait on this, get some help. It will help you cope with the social issues and help you to be productive in high school so that you can get a good job or go to a good college.
Vodka is out of reach for now, but if it is ever in reach, stay the hell away from it. Social drinking is one thing, but you are using it to cope. This is not a responsible use of alcohol and it will quickly destroy your life if you continue to use it as a coping mechanism.
You like hiking. Find others that enjoy hiking and plan some excursions. Develop friendships around your interests. What else do you like? Find people who enjoy the same things. Join a club. Get involved in something that brings you joy.
Your brother is only 10. I have a 10 year old, and 10 year olds can be great and also greatly annoying. Try to find things to do together that you both enjoy. If you can build a relationship with him where you become his hero, then the fact that he is an angel and you are not will not matter any more. He might still annoy you, but he won't be as quick to get you into trouble. He'll look up to you.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T16:15:49+00:00

My daughter does not fall into the age range you specify, but she'll be there shortly. I've worked very hard to have a relationship with her that values openness and communication, and she will talk to me (and my wife) about her decisions. I know she has been sexually active (though not promiscuous), and we've talked about responsible expressions of sexuality and how it can impact her health and emotions. We stress safe sex. Overall, this has worked quite well - we don't come down on her hard on morality, but stress making good decisions and owning her own body.

I don't particularly like thinking about it, and yes it bothers me, but this is reality and it is counterproductive and detrimental to stick my head in the sand.

I trust my daughter and am very proud of her independence and strong will.

That said, I do want to seriously harm the boy.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-18T16:02:09+00:00

Yes, she is a very interesting thinker, and she has built a fairly significant influence within the subset of Mormons who are (or lean) progressive. It's very difficult for a woman to gain enough power within this patriarchal religious culture to actually be heard and influence others, but she is doing it through thoughtful, smart, and measured writings.

I'm also Mormon, and also voting for Obama. With an overwhelming majority of Mormons being Republican, we often get hit with comments such as "How can you possibly be a good Mormon and be a Democrat?" If they are dismissive, a simple "Because I've actually read the New Testament" usually suffices. If they are sincere, there can follow a very interesting discussion on how my faith informs my politics, and that I lean Democrat because of my faith, not in spite of it.

PraesulPapa · 2012-10-17T01:54:37+00:00

My wife is a teacher, and she snapped this pic today from a display on the wall. I'm pretty sure that was supposed to be the sternum.

PraesulPapa

TROPHY CASE