Another person dead in Minneapolis. Here's what happened...

Okay, I just took a look at the videos of what happened to one Alex Pretti yesterday in Minneapolis.  Pretti being the latest person to perish in the chaos that's happening there.

I won't pretend to have all the evidence/facts of the case.  But what it seems to me, at this hour anyway, is that Pretti got himself involved in a bad situation and the Border Patrol direly over-reacted.  That over-reaction was exacerbated by the presence on Pretti of a loaded firearm.

I think there're more than enough that went wrong in this incident to assign blame to practically everybody involved.  There are no clean hands or clean hearts in this matter.  No one can claim innocence.  This almost comes across as an event that was bound to occur and the buck happened to land on Alex Pretti.

As I've said on Facebook and elsewhere lately, too many times now, there are some people who are thriving off of the anger and hatred of our time.  Pretti was angry.  It clouded his thinking.  And it led to him being in a place he should not have been while possessing a gun.  It was like bringing a lit match into an oxygen tent.  It's simply something that no sane person *does*.

Pretti should not have been open carrying.  At least not going into the environment that he was placing himself in.  Tensions are high, emotions are running raw.  Bringing any weapon into that stew of hate is inviting disaster.  If Pretti wanted to protest, he could have done that without having a firearm on him.  What WAS he thinking??  

I don't like to use the term "collateral damage", I've hated that phrase ever since I first heard it years ago. But I'm trying my damndest to think of something that is more fitting with what took place yesterday.  Alex Pretti and the Border Patrol collided and his death is the result of that.  It didn't have to end like that.  He could have still been alive tonight, getting ready for another day on his job.

People, think for yourselves!  Stop being incited to anger and hatred.  Stop listening to the politicians and the news media and too many on social media!  They are leading you into bad places, doing bad things.  I know that some of you think you're fighting against fascism.  I've met victims of real fascism, many times during my life.  What is happening in America right now is NOT that.  The fact that we are freely discussing and debating this, without fear of having our doors knocked down in the middle of the night, is proof of that.  Maybe that kind of thing happens in Britain and other places in Europe, but not here (I digress however).

Alex Pretti is not a martyr for the cause and the Border Patrol/ICE are not the new incarnation of the Brownshirts.  This was a tragedy, an avoidable one, that resulted from too many terrible elements converging.  And that's all it was.

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Department of Justice seeks to hire "Native American Medicine Man"

How is this not an example of racial preference in hiring?! Hell, this is explicitly a sexual preference too. Isn't that what government isn't supposed to be doing?!

Well anyway, it's a tough job market out there but if you happen to be Native American, a man and a practitioner of sacred healing, you're in luck! The Bureau of Prisons divison of the United States Department of Justice is hiring a "Native American Medicine Man" to work at the Federal Prison Camp in Duluth, Minnesota.

Here's the official job description...

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, FPC Duluth, Duluth, MN, intends to make a single award to a responsible entity for providing the services of Native American Medicine man to the inmate population as outlined in the statement of work. The anticipated date of the award will be approximately October 1, 2010 subjected to funds availability for the next fiscal year. The duration of the contract will be from the date of award through 09/30/2011. The contractor shall perform all services at FPC Duluth, in the Religious Services Department, located at 6902 Airport Road, Duluth MN, 55814.

The contractor will conduct Native American ceremonies and provide instruction to inmates in the Native American Faith.

General Topics for Contractors - Native American

1. Red Road
2. All My Relation
3. Medicine Wheel
4. The Sacred Pipe
5. Sweat Lodge
6. Elders
7. Circle of Life
8. Traditions/Rituals
9. Prayers
10. Ceremonies
11. Fasting
12. Smudging
13. The Drum
14. Grandfather/Grandmother
15. Dances
16. The Medicine Pouch
17. Offerings
18. Decision-making
19. Ritual Objects
20. Eagle
21. Eagle Feathers
22. Nature Lessons
23. Family Relations
24. Parenting
25. Learning
26. Healthy Relationships
27. Culture
28. Healing Traditions
29. Herbal Medicines
30. Understanding Self
31. Respect
32. Traditional Games
33. Traditional Foods
34. Seasons
35. Healing Self
36. A Grateful Heart
37. Cleansing Ceremonies
38. What is the role of faith and Community Re-entry?

The contractor will supply all of their own religious garments and books. The contractor will control, supervise, and be responsible for all government materials and equipment and will ensure that such equipment and materials are used only for legitimate program purposes.

The contractor will provide 4 sessions per year. The sessions will either be on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Pipe ceremony) or on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (sweat ceremony). The day and time of these services is subject to change with agreement of the religious services department and the contractor. A session will consist of 4 hours to include entry and exit.

The contractor will adhere to all regulations prescribed by FPC Duluth for the safety, custody, and conduct of inmates. All contract personnel providing services within the confines of the FPC shall have a complete investigation conducted in accordance with BOP Program Statement 3000.02, "Personnel Manual". Any contract personnel who enter the FPC on a regular basis shall be required to attend a four-hour institution orientation program prior to assuming his or her responsibilities under the contract. A "refresher" orientation must be completed annually. The CM (Contract Monitor) will be responsible for scheduling training for contract personnel.

Awright, I have to ask: is the Native American Medicine Man contractor allowed to conduct peyote rituals for his inmate congregants?

I'm 1/16th Cherokee Indian. And I'm a guy. Maybe I should drive up to Minnesota and apply for this :-P

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US court ruling gives zombies free speech rights

Constitutional rights are no longer applicable only to living citizens, but to the undead ones as well.

Here's the story from Metro.co.uk...

US court rules 'Zombies have free speech rights'

A court has allowed a group of protesters dressed as zombies to continue with a lawsuit against police who arrested them for disorderly conduct.

The appeal court overturned a previous finding that the group had correctly been arrested over a 2006 protest in a shopping centre.

The group had been wearing makeup designed to make them look like and extra in a horror flick, with white faces, fake blood and black circles round their eyes.

They then proceeded to stagger round the shops, urging consumers to "get your brains here".

They also carried audio equipment, which police described as "simulated weapons of mass destruction", even though they were mobile phones.

The appeals court ruled that the police had no reason to imprison the protesters simply for "dressing as zombies, and walking erratically in downtown Minneapolis."

Thankfully, everyone else still has our Second Amendment rights and will be ready to employ it when the inevitable zombie apocalypse descends upon us :-P

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This man is about to become a United States Senator

Al Franken has been declared the winner of the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota.

You know, I've been known for pulling a stunt or two for sake of politics. But that picture of Franken is just wrong...

Think about it: this man is about to be granted the same esteemed privileges that in more enlightened times were only granted to great orators such as Daniel Webster, John Calhoun, and Henry Clay.

And it looks like Caroline Kennedy is going to become Senator from New York, based on nothing but her "royalty".

Now do you people understand why I believe the Seventeenth Amendment was one of the most horrible things to ever happen to the United States Constitution, and should be repealed in favor of letting the individual state legislatures elect the senators?!?

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