“I’m sitting on my couch, on my butt, breathing free air. Looking at the pictures of those boys – men and women that are coming home shot to pieces and in coffins, and I’m thinking I never made my payment and freedom isn’t free,” he said. “A few years ago, I got the idea in my head, like a song you can’t get rid of. And I couldn’t shake it.”

Szpicki is walking 1,000 miles, visiting each of the three 9/11 sites. He started in August from his home in Rockford, Illinois.

“I gained ten pounds before I started. I figured on lean days, I could live off my body fat. When I left Indiana, I had gained two pounds. That’s how well they had taken care of me,” said Szpicki.

We caught up with Szpicki as he passed from Maryland into D.C. Along the way, he takes it all in. He is a 70-year-old retired Chicago police detective who never served in the military himself.

“I’ve been to the Antietam Battlefield. I’ve been to Gettysburg. That’s sacrifice. When you see a tombstone that says 28 dead – unknown – that’s what sacrifice is,” said Szpicki. “They sent a young man home to Rockford who had no arms and legs. That’s sacrifice. Me being a policeman, I had my moments. But nothing compared to a person in the military actually giving his life.”

1,000 miles can be a long, lonely road.

“It wears on you mentally as much as physically because you miss your family. You’re far away from home,” he said.

He arrived in Shanksville two weeks ago. Szpicki is paying his own way, so every dime he raises goes to wounded warriors. He’s inspired.

“People that have taken care of me. People have encouraged me. Brought me into their homes even though I was a stranger, to give me a night’s rest,” said Szpicki.

It is a small sacrifice compared to fighting a war, but still much appreciated.

She could hear laughter

in her daughter’s cries,

as she looked up at her picture,

light brown hair falling into her eyes,

there was fear near,

it was undeniable,

as she fought back the tears,

and the redness in her face would glow,

her daughter’s ghost was moving silently,

through the room with slow,

steady steps,

like an infant learning to walk,

everyone in the room was still,

no one would talk,

but the ghost had tears,

and they would continue to spill,

the policeman showed her the dress,

ripped, torn, fragile,

that’s when the dark reality would hit,

and she knew it,

as hope slips,

her hand rose to her lips,

her face turned away,

she took the dress,

crushed it to her chest,

sanity and insanity,

seemed an unbearable struggle,

her voice oddly rich and deep,

as terror continued to seep,

she knew her daughter died,

in so much pain,

that was also undeniable,

because of the massive blood stain,

she bowed her head as her face would drain,

and then the policeman turned away,

as he grimaced with shame.

A video duration 3 minutes 17 seconds success brings First Brigadier Norman singing action. But Norman First Brigadier action this time unlike the previous video that was taken when he was still in uniform at the time police picket in the office of Gorontalo. This time, First Brigadier Norman uses ordinary clothes, located in a room like a residence.

First Brigadier Norman was not doing lipsync this time, he sang with guitar accompaniment. But not him who became the lead singer, but a friend who was beside him. Yes, First Brigadier Norman only in charge of picking the guitar and sings a little rap, while the main vocals are held by his friend next to him.

Complete with head cover, First Brigadier Norman and his friend Keri Noble’s sing again, entitled You and the World.

Since posted on YouTube on April 5, yesterday, a new carrying approximately 309 visitors have seen this video. Of that number 41 people claim to like it and not one that you click ‘Dislike’.

Of the 19 comments that go almost all praised the beautiful voice of First Brigadier Norman and his colleagues are in a video titled ‘Police Gorontalo Idol’. There are even some who compare their actions and natural better than the kind of action boyband Indonesia Sm * sh.

“Ever-Victorious First Brigadier Norman. Life is like a coin has two sides, just like you. Success? in the police and also fluent in the world of drag votes. bravo First Brigadier Norman!” write your visitors with your account name Arderiohukom.

“Haha .. steady? pak pol .. his voice was steady …” said visitor named Irfanodahlimi

Previous First Brigadier Norman had horrendous visitors kocaknya YouTube with action imitation of Shah Rukh Khan titled singing Chaiya Chaiya. The action had time to get serious attention from the Police Gorontalo although only ended with a reprimand. (srn)

Vandals and Vandalism!

The ‘Vandals’ were and East Germanic tribe that were known for their senseless destruction of property and especially art works. They invaded Rome in 455 causing along with the ‘Visigoths’ the destruction of the Roman Empire. The name in modern times means exactly the same a Vandal is someone who destroys other peoples property for no apparent reason? Hence the term Vandalism.

Vandalism does seem to be linked with the young or teenagers. Vandalism is just as prevalent in girls as boys. Why do youngsters break and destroy things that are in their paths? I remember as a teenager carving my name on a park bench and breaking a window on a disused railway station, however my vandalism didn’t progress any further to my knowledge.

Where I live in Yorkshire UK we have a very high vandalism rate. Since owning my car for 4 years I have had every single panel on the car keyed to the metal. I have had all 4 tyres slashed and a huge dent put on the bonnet! The car is worthless now! Why do they do it? My neighbours have all suffered similar fates with their cars. If it was just me then perhaps I could figure out who I have upset. However whole streets are vandalised, with every car being attacked in the dead of night?

Bins in the streets are regularly set on fire! If any cones are left in the street to stop people walking down a hole, they are all stolen and thrown everywhere. A new set of apartments were being built opposite me. Every time a pane of glass was put into a window frame it was broken by the morning, I could hear the glass shattering every night! A JCB digger was left on the building site overnight, I had to call the fire brigade and police as it was on fire at 2.00am in the morning! I quizzed the police that attended the police man said,

“Bloody Vandals stuffed rag in the fuel tank and lit it!”

Why as a society do we just shrug our shoulders and say,

“Its just bloody vandals; bloody kids”

We have given up caring we accept that any property left out at night will be destroyed or ruined why? In the beginning of the article I gave the dictionary description and history of a Vandal. The Vandal tribe were wreaking havoc as they were at war with Rome. I do not see the connection to spotty teenagers roaming our streets with screwdrivers and petrol cans!

Its not just Yorkshire its all over the UK. Our local parks are no go areas day or night because vandals and drug users have claimed the park and you risk being mugged or beaten up if you enter a public park! There is a craze now of teenagers stealing a wheelie-bin and putting it against someone’s front door and setting light to it! Families have been killed!

I was filling what’s left of my car with Diesel some time ago when I was approached by two teenagers perhaps 13 or 14 years old and they each carried a petrol can, one of them said to me,

“Hey Mr can you fill these two cans with petrol as we’re too young to buy it”

I refused point blank and they swore at me and asked another motorist who did fill the cans for them! What did that motorist think the vandals wanted the petrol for? I couldn’t see an off road Quad bike or scooter? and why didn’t their father get the petrol for them? We should all ask questions and not be afraid of the youth of today. The police force aren’t interested in arresting teenagers as there is no penalty for them. All the police get for their trouble is a stack of paperwork and the vandals are let go.

I think the word vandal is no where near strong enough to describe some of our youth of today I suggest a new description for them ‘Wanton Destructive Criminals’ Because of their age it should not stop these criminals being jailed! If I smashed a car up I would be whisked away in short order and jailed! What is the difference that age makes? The car is still smashed up! You do the crime then do the time!

If you try to pass legislation to jail these young criminals the pinko left wing idiots start up with,

“It’s the parents fault really sending them to jail will only breed criminals!”

What the pinko sympathisers don’t realise they are already criminals! Invariably the pinko’s live in leafy Oxfordshire or Kentish rural areas! They don’t get their houses set alight or their lovely BMW’s keyed and the tyres slashed. Let the people of the areas that are blighted by these criminals have a say in their punishment surely?

I say lock them away just as you would do with me. When they try to claim the Dole at 17 refuse because they have a criminal record! Make them work then they may buy possessions and realise what its like to have those possessions destroyed for no reason! What happens when two boxers in a ring fight? One hit’s the other one in the face and he retaliates and smacks him one back. So why are we getting into a ring with a teenager and letting him or her smack us around to we fall down!

Come on Politicians wake up and smell the coffee!

Lord Banks

                                               1952

Jimmy was out of breath he jumped his back garden wall with ease. Jimmy froze to the spot a tall Policeman was waiting in the middle of his garden his pointy blue helmet could be seen by everyone he stood erect but motionless his royal blue police uniform was immaculate. Jimmy froze and dropped the bottle of mixed sweets,

“Pick that up son and walk over to me!”

Jimmy was shaking in fear his hands trembled, but he did what was asked!

“Did you pay for these sweets Jimmy?”

Jimmy tried to think of a lie but none were forthcoming, Jimmy spoke with a trembling voice,

“No officer I took them, I’m sorry”

The immaculately dressed police officer removed his helmet and walked towards the boy. His right hand moved swiftly and he caught Jimmy around the head with a smack! P.C. Baines spoke,

“Now what are you going to do with these sweets? Jimmy was crying, his head hurt and he felt so ashamed of himself he replied,

“I’m going to take them back sir”

P.C. Baines replied,

“That’s a start boy and then you are going to apologise to Mr Hardy the sweet shop owner, and I’m going to walk you there myself”

All the street could see Jimmy walking down to the highroad towards Mr Hardy’s shop! Jimmy’s cheeks were scarlet with embarrassment!

                                                   2011

Jimmy ran as fast as he could and jumped over the rear garden wall. He let himself into the house with his own key. Jimmy turned on his Play Station 3 and played Tomb Raider 2 he opened the jar of sweets and greedily munched on the sugar filled delights. Mr Hardy rang the police and two days later a patrol car arrived and took the details of the robbery. Mr Hardy provided CCTV evidence to back up his claim of being robbed.

P.C. Baines Jnr knocked on Jimmy’s front door two weeks later he sat down on the leather sofa and spoke to Jimmy’s father and mother,

“Jimmy will have to go to court on the 17th of the month he will most likely get an ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour Order) his name and picture will be on lamp posts all around the high road his will be banned from the area!”

Jimmy’s father spoke,

“Can’t we sort this out officer he is only 10 for crying out loud!”

P.C. Baines sucked in his breath then said,

“Little Jimmy has broken the law! Theft! If he was 14 or over he would be in a young offenders facility he is lucky to get away with an ASBO”

Jimmy’s granddad who was visiting said,

“In my day the copper would clip you around the ear make you take back the sweets and that would be that, this is all a waste of my money yes me the tax payer!”

You decide with is better, 1952 or 2011?

Lord Banks

The title of this piece is exactly what we were told as school children growing up in London in the 1960s and 1970s,

“If in doubt go ask a policeman!”

(Evening all!)

We were told to ask the beat bobby for the time or for directions if we were lost. If we had been mugged or beaten up, go find the nearest bobby! Now today 2011 if I wanted to find a Policeman I would have to be able to run at 40mph to catch the Astra patrol car! There are no more beat bobbies? Where did they go, does anyone know?

In my town in Yorkshire for two years we had Community Officers that dressed like policemen they would walk the streets in pairs between 9.00am and 5.00pm. They could not arrest anyone all they were able to do was right down things in a note book then call the real policemen! They were and are a complete waste of space. They no longer patrol our streets and the crime figures will remain exactly the same without them! Why did they work office hours only? Do criminals work 9 to 5? No!

So even our pretend policemen no longer patrol our streets! In the news of late civil service cuts are going to affect police patrol officers? How exactly? We do not have any patrol policemen now! How can you reduce something we don’t have? it’s a mystery. When I was growing up in Enfield, North London, I used to see pairs of policemen walking the beat day and night when we were playing in the streets the bobbies would stop to talk to us and smile and take the time of day to kick a football with us honestly!

(When did you last see one of these?)

Where did it all go so horribly wrong? On the extreme occasion I see a policeman or woman in a major town I always smile and say hello. I have no fear of the police as I don’t break the law. If I get stopped in my car I don’t mind because the car is legal I will not be drunk, it maybe I’ve been stopped just that I have a tail light out, I don’t panic. I’m sure I’m not alone in this regard most citizens like the police force.

If the law is abandoning small towns such as mine. Then make it legal for me to arm myself for home defence I.e. a hand gun. If I’m being burgled in the dead of night I can’t wait two days for a patrol car to turn up! Its true it happened to a friend of mine he dialled 999 as he heard smashing glass from his living room the responding call centre police-worker said to ignore it and they would send a patrol car around as soon as possible! My friend received a phone call half an hour later to ask if the burglar had gone? He replied yes and they stole his laptop and flat screen TV.

The police patrol turned up just shy of 48 hours later! To take a statement? My friend asked if they would look for finger prints or evidence the reply was no! its just a burglary and it happens all the time in this area, and did he consider fitting bars on his windows and a good quality alarm system! A week later my car was vandalised four times in a row with damages amounting to over £1,500 the police arrived and gave me a free car alarm and advised I move! (This is the truth I will swear on a bible)

(A laughing stock!)

What are we paying the police service for? I see the cost for police on my council tax bill every year but I never see a policeman? Its akin to walking into a supermarket and put nothing in my trolley then pay £300 at the check-out! I am more than sure I will get hate mail from this article that’s because the truth hurts! The police have blamed paperwork for their absence from the streets of Britain. The Government has promised to take away 50% of the paperwork from street bobbies. I fear I will still not see a police man or woman in my town!

Being a police officer used to be a vocation in life, a calling if you will? Its not like being a Car Mechanic or a Dentist or a Plumber. You have to lay your life on the line daily! You used to have to want to protect and serve? I fear some police personnel join because of the money and or the perks of the job? I will readily admit, a life of a policeman is not for me. I’m not physically fit and I am registered disabled but even if I were fit I would decline the job, its intense and damn dangerous!

We need a screening process to find real policemen and women and then give them the tools to carry out that job? I.e. Firearms not just for specialist units, all policemen should be armed and with an up to date heavy calibre pistol allied to Mace and a truncheon. We appear to spend so much money on police interceptor cars such as Evo’s and Subaru’s catching speeding motorists, is it essential? Yes but in what  proportion is that crime cost by speeding motorists compared to mugging and burglary and mindless street assaults?

(How much do these cost?)

It will not be too much longer then the vigilante will come out in British citizens and we will start to strike back with violence ourselves! Parents and home owner when threatened will fight on instinct and burglars and muggers beware the citizens are starting to fight back as the Government and the Police Force will not protect their voters and citizens!

Lord Banks

In Polk County,Florida (and I believe statewide) a lawman may only fire his service weapon to diffuse a situation that endangers his life or the life of another person.  He may draw his piece and have it at the ready and may use it as a threat only if be believes he may have to fire.  He may not fire it into the air to, for example, stop a fight or halt a melee.  When an officer begins his shift his ammunition is inventoried and that amount of ammo must be accounted for upon the end of that shift.  A lawman may not, by state law, shoot to disable a fleeing suspect for the purpose of slowing or stopping that flight.  No “halt, or I’ll shoot” like in the comic books.  Shooting and wounding a human being is a felony chargable as  first degree attempted murder and that applies to policemen and well as civilians.  My friend of many years going back to when we were trading goats with each other, Sheriff Grady Judd, told a press conference once that, “…if one of my deputies shoots at you he does not intend to hurt you, he intends to kill you.”  New tools have come in to play such as pepper spray, stun guns and tasers that make the use of deadly force less and less necessary.  However, sometimes the trigger must be pulled.  The following is an account of a trigger pulling of such magnitude that I have none greater in my recollection.

In September, 2006, Polk Deputy  Doug Speirs pulled over an Antiguan national later identified as Angilo Freeland for speeding near where I live.  Freeland, who was armed, fled into a swampy area and Speirs gave chase while calling for backup.  He was shot in the leg.  Deputy Matt Williams and his K-9 partner Sgt. Diogi resoponded and followed into the swamp where they were ambushed by Freeland.  Williams was shot nine times and killed.  Sgt. Diogi was also killed. and the deputy’s .40 caliber Glock handgun was taken.

I still carry a special deputy’s badge and was called upon to join a massive manhunt the following day, however, I was not among the 10 SWAT team members who cornered Freeland hiding beneath some foliage after firing at searchers earlier.  He exposed one empty hand but refused to show the other which was hidden beneath leaves.  The officers knew Williams’ Glock was missing and presumed it was in Freeland’s hidden and and all wanted to go home that night.  Three times they ordered the68 bullets.  He died at the scene. man ato show his hand.  He refused.  They opened fire.  A total of 100 rounds echoed through the woods that day and the medical examiner’s report indicated the suspect had been struck by

The Florida Civil Rights Association had a fit and in December the Justice Department ordered the FBI to review the shooting.  It concluded the evidence did not establish a prosecutable violation of the federal civil rights statutes and closed the investigation.  When asked why 110 rounds were fired Sheriff Judd responded by saying, “They probably ran out of ammunition.”  It turned out that Freeland was an assassin for an off-shore drug ring suspected of killing 15 people in Latin America for not paying their drug debts.

More than 2,000 law enforement officers from across the country and Canada attended Matt’s memorial service.  Sgt. Diogi’s ashes were placed in the coffin and were interred along with his devoted partner.
                                                                       
                                                                       courtesy Polk Sheriff’s Association

Let me not waste more time. Here it goes:

1. Though this is a crime that may be impossible for anyone to avoid but believe it or not, in England you cannot die in the Houses of Parliament.
2. Mailing something to someone? Be careful if you are using one of those stamps bearing the British monarch. In England you can get jailed for pasting a stamp bearing the British monarch upside down.
3. Are you 14 years or age or older? Well if yes then I hope you haven’t missed today’s longbow practice. It’s a rule for every 14 years and older male to practice two hours of Longbow everyday
4. Cab drivers next time before you allow a passenger with a dog inside you cab, be sure that the dog is not a rabid dogs. Or else you might end up paying a fine.
5. In London it’s illegal for a can to carry corpses.
6. Above all these funny laws, this one is the ultimate. In the United Kingdom, a pregnant woman can relieve herself anywhere she wants. That includes, anywhere, be it a public park, a theatre, on a policeman’s helmet or whatever.  

Many people do this and they go unseen and no body considers them a hero. These people are and deserve to be considered hero as much as a person who goes into a fiery building to save some one.

One type of person that many people don’t think as a hero is Jesus. He was the Son of God and did not need to even care about humans or even think about them but he was willing to leave heaven and come to earth to be born as a human to help humans over come their sin. He did not need to do this but this action first of all shows that he cared about them and even though he did not need to do this, he did it showing that he was not a greedy, or self-centered God. After many years, he suffered more to help humanity. He taught for peace and living together for the success of both individuals and the society.

He was frowned upon, spit upon and hit as he was dragged through the streets of Jerusalem. He was flogged and blood flowed from him like water, all because he cared about humans and wanted them to have a higher purpose in life. He was thirsty but they gave him sour wine to make him wounds burn. He was tired but no one cared or helped him other than Simon the cross bearer.

He was at the end crucified after being poked by spears at his guts and sides to make sure he would truly die. This all happened to him because his message was simply love and peace. His determination and responsibility for the humans portrays him as a hero that cared about humans and people to have a better life and to have a better purpose in life other than worldly gains.

Any one could be a hero. It doesn’t have to some one religious or a person that serves the government to save lives. The old lady at your local park that feeds those birds can be a hero. She is willing to brave the weather and is willing to help those birds knowing that those birds cannot repay her through any material worth.

She does this by sacrificing her time and energy to see some one else or in this case those birds happy and free as they relinquish their hunger. This type of person also is a hero due to the fact that she is working toward the good or betterment of other creatures.

Heroes can also work toward the good of the community. The Director of Peniel Revival Ministries, Mr. Abraham Soman, shows that heroes can be very diverse. He helps out in India with many medical camps and programs that help people to become aware of the world around them and to live a good productive life.

He works with the government to provide free medical service and other charitable works. He helps the homeless to build houses by fund raising and donating money and getting them the right people to work with them. He also helps with any calamities that happens that requires others contributing to help the people in need.

For example in May 17, 1995, there was a major communal riot in which the Muslims and the Christians fought each other for days in a major city in southern Indian state called Kerala.

People died and over 300 houses were burned down with huge damage to the local fishing industry by burning all the boats and creating mass havoc. Peniel Revival Ministries sent aid in medical services, and worked with the district collector and the ministry of health to bring food, shelter and peace to the riot stricken land. Even though Mr. Abraham Soman does not get a profit from the works, he does it.

This is an essential part of humanity and what makes up each one of us, so in a way we are all heroes even though some people don’t speak about it or get famous because of it, humans do what they can to make some one or some creature other than themselves to feel better or to improve their condition. That is a true hero.