The Sisyphus Comments

Learn A New Language At Home

Americans have always been a little egotistical about our language. I think some of it can be attributed to laziness. Learning a new language is hard work. You need to learn a new vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.

If you are interested in jumping in and giving it a try, check out the BBC’s Languages site where you will find free audio and video courses. They offer courses in Spanish, French, German, Italian and and a host of others. The site has a Quick Fix section where you can learn essential phrases in 36 languages. Take the 12-week beginners’ courses and stop by each day to check the phrase of the day daily. Check it out.

Visit BBC Languages

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If You Want To Find It – Futz It

You know the internet is a huge sink hole for time. What is even worse is when you come across a great site but you don’t have time to review it and then you can’t find it later.

I know you can bookmark it but that gets to be a pain after a while when you have so many bookmarks you still can’t find what you want.

The solution? Set up a Futz.me account. That’s Futz!!

Here is how it works. When you find something you want to read later, just use your address bar to Futz it. Just type “futz.me/username” (without the quotes) before the url and Futz.me will send you an email with a link to the page.

Not cool enough for you? Well Futz.me lets you send yourself a reminder via the address bar. Even cooler, you can also send reminders to your phone. Check it out.

Sign up for Futz.me

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Why Didn’t I Think Of This?

Every now and then someone comes up with an idea that is “simply” beautiful. Usually, it is some new product that makes you think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” My neighbor, Roy Terkelsen, recently came up with just such an idea.

Salem, Virginia is not known for its snowfall but a few weeks ago we got dumped on to the tune of 18 – 24 inches in just over a 24 hour period. On the bright side, I finally got to try out my Honda Pilot in the snow and it performed wonderfully. Unfortunately, with that much snow, when the city trucks plow the streets they deposit a pretty substantial pile of packed snow in front of your driveway and mailbox. It took me two days to dig out the driveway and an area in front of my mailbox so my letter carrier could get close enough to deliver my mail.

After I finished my hours of shoveling, I was driving past Roy’s house when I spied his simple brilliance. Instead of using his back to shovel the huge snowbank in front of his mailbox, he used his head. He simply mounted a spare mailbox on a 2 x 4 and pushed it into the snowbank where the letter carrier could reach it to deliver the mail.

My plan is to take it a step further and mount a cheap mailbox on a 2 x 4 with a freestanding base so I can just set it out in front of the snow after the plow passes. So let me go ahead and say it, “I wish I would have thought of that.”

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Get A Handle On Your Google Services

I don’t know about you but I find myself getting more and more connected to the big G for my online services. Although I guess we shouldn’t complain about free services, opening a browser tab or window to access the Google services is sometimes a pain. That is why I like the GoogSysTray.

It is a neat little tool for use with the Google services. It monitors your Google Calendar, Reader, Voice, Wave and Gmail. If you get any activity in your accounts, you get a pop up notification in your system tray. If you are a Google user this is a must have. Unfortunately, us Mac users will have to wait since it only works with Windows XP, Vista and 7. Check it out.

Download GoogSysTray

Posted in Computer Advice | No Comments »

More Free Fun From The Web

I thought it might be time to list a few of my recent internet finds. In this article, you will find a tool you can use for work or play, e-books and a little internet computing fun. Best of all – the are all free.

My first recommendation is a tool that will come in handy in a variety of situations. CamStudio can record everything that is happening on your computer screen plus audio activity and save it as an AVI video files. It also has a built-in Flash video Producer that can convert your video masterpiece into bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos. Did I mention that CamStudio is free, as in beer.

Download CamStudio 2.5 Beta (unfortunately this is a Windows only

Next, if you are finding it increasingly difficult to find time to read, why not give audio books a whirl. Just visit LibriVox and you will find a treasure trove of free audiobooks that you can download and put on your favorite MP3 player. Don’t look for the latest Stephen King novel but I am sure you will find something that trips your trigger.

Visit http://librivox.org

I have often wished I had the ability to create something artistic but I have trouble painting the bedroom. However, Livebrush.com can even make me into an artist. It turns your computer mouse into an art producing machine by converting your movements into graphic art. You can use Livebrush to play or to really produce useful graphics that can be exported for use in photo editing software like Photoshop. This is another freebie so it costs nothing to play.

Visit http://livebrush.com

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Make Your Mac Login Unique

One of the few areas that you don’t have control of on your Mac is the login screen. Now that has changed

Ravissant is a free application that gives you the power to customize the appearance of your Mac OS X Login screen. You can change the logo, background and type your personal Mesages to Replace “Mac OS X”.

Save your custom login page and it will be used every time you boot your Mac. Check it out.

Click here to Download Ravissant

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Every Wonder About Running A Marathon?

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Need A Little Help With Your Running or Biking Routes?

Left to nature, you are probably going to add 5 – 10 pounds (2.27 – 5.54 kg). You can either surrender to nature or fight to keep your weight under control by living an active lifestyle. I generally spend 1 – 1.5 hours per day in the gym banging weights, running on treadmill or elliptical machine, climbing on the True Climber or riding the stationary bike.

However, if the gym in not your idea of fun, don’t just sit on the couch try hiking, running or cycling. Get up and get outside in the fresh air.

I use MapMyRide to plot my hikes and bike rides. Once I create a route, I can add reminders and points of interest. The maps can even be exported to a GPS unit.

Once you lay out your maps you can upload them to your blog. You can also borrow maps from other members’ routes!  Check it out!

MapMyRide.com

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Full Metal Christmas

Posted in General Interest | 1 Comment »

Travis Stacey Whitehead v. Virginia

In this case, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a positive alert on a vehicle by a trained narcotics detection dog, combined with the subsequent fruitless searches of the vehicle, the driver, and two other passengers, does not provide sufficient particularized probable cause to allow a search of the only remaining passenger in the vehicle.

Who would have thought this would ever happen. Remember now, the dog hit on the vehicle while the driver and passengers were still inside. A subsequent search of the vehicle and everyone but Whitehead did not yield any drugs. Finally Whitehead was searched and a couple of syringes and a beer bottle caps containing burnt residue were discovered in his front pocket. The residue was later tested and identified as heroin.

The Court ruled that, although the facts of this situation would provide a “strong suspicion” that the Whitehead was holding the drugs that cased the dog to alert, they failed to provide the particularized probable cause necessary to permit a search his person. Of course, we can look at this situation with 20-20 hindsight and ask, “Why didn’t they just run the dog by Whitehead to see if the dog would alert on him?” However, I am certain that it seemed reasonable to deduce that if everyone and everything involved in the situation had been search and no drugs were found, the drugs that caused the alert were probably on Whitehead.

Anyway, since the search was ruled to be in violation of the 4th Amendment, the evidence was thrown out and the case was dismissed.

I realize that cases like this can be frustrating to street cops who are out there trying to put a dent in the drug trade so let me give you a good analogy to help you keep your perspective.

Think of your job as a chess game. The game as rules and we have to follow the rules whether we agree with any particular rule or not. As the the game progresses, you may eventually put your opponent in check (arrest) but the game isn’t over. In this particular game, Whitehead was able to maneuver out of check and go free but the game continues. Eventually, like all the others, he will be put in checkmate (arrested and convicted) and the game will start again with a new opponent. This is our criminal justice system – it isn’t perfect but it one of the best in the world. Keep smiling!

Read Whitehead v. Virginia Ruling

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Addicted to Exercise

I don’t usually just re-post items from other blogs but this was an issue I had never heard of before so I thought it was worth posting. Dr. Jennifer Ashton talks with CBSNews.com’s Cali Carlin about exercise bulimia, an eating disorder where going to the gym can turn deadly.

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Bye, Bye Belton

Years ago, while working an off-duty job in an apartment complex, I discovered a subject sitting in a vehicle on the property. The vehicle did not have a decal identifying it as a vehicle that belonged to a resident so I approached the vehicle and asked the occupant for his identification. As was my normal course of action, I ran a check for wants and warrants on him and the dispatcher informed me that the individual had an outstanding warrant on file. After the subject was cuffed and stuffed in the wagon for transport to the jail, I turned my attention to the vehicle.

Since I had made a full custodial arrest of the subject while he was seated in the vehicle, I could search the vehicle under New York v. Belton (453 U.S. 454 (1981)). I discovered a handgun that was concealed between the driver’s seat and the console so I charged the subject with possession of a concealed weapon.

When the case came to court, the defense attorney suggested that because the subject has already been secured in the wagon there was no threat to me and there was no danger that any evidence might be destroyed so I should have gotten a warrant before I conducted the the search. It was a well presented argument and although the judge could not recall the case, he knew that I was permitted to conduct the search of the vehicle where the subject had been seated since I had made a full custodial arrest. He told the attorney she could appeal the case, which she never did.

After that incident, I started carrying several Supreme Court rulings in the brief case that I used for court including New York v. Belton, Chimel v. California and Berkemere v. McCarty. These cases addressed most of the search and seizure and confession issues that I encountered as a street cop – until last April.

Arizona v. Gant

Last April, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that changed the rules for a search incident to arrest, rejecting 27 years of doctrine that was established under New York v. Belton.

In Arizona v. Gant, Rodney Gant was arrested for driving with a suspended license, handcuffed and placed in the back seat of a patrol vehicle. As you might expect, there were also several officers around during the search of Gant’s vehicle which yielded some cocaine.

The search of Gant’s vehicle incident to the arrest is standard operating procedure under Belton. Unfortunately, the Court decided not to “leave well enough alone” and ruled that the search was a violation of the 4th Amendment.

Basically, the Court ruled that a search of the passenger compartment of a vehicle incident to an arrest can only be conducted under two conditions. The ruling reads that a search can be conducted “only if [1] the arrestee is within reaching distance of the passenger compartment at the time of the search or [2] it is reasonable to believe the vehicle contains evidence of the offense of arrest. Otherwise, the officer has to get a warrant to search the car unless there is some other exigent circumstance or he can obtain permission to search from the owner.

My other “go to” case may still come be useful during incidents like the Gant case. In Chimel v. California (395 U. S. 752 (1969)), the Court ruled that a search incident to an arrest may be conducted if the suspect could lunge to an area and destroy evidence or reach a weapon. Of course this would not have applied in the Gant case because, like in my case, he had been already been handcuffed and moved away from the vehicle so the threat has been removed.

There is a more recent case, Thornton v. United States (541 U. S. 615 (2004)), where the Court gave us a little wiggle room when they ruled a search of a vehicle incident to the arrest of a recent occupant may be also justified “when it is reasonable to believe evidence relevant to the crime of arrest might be found in the vehicle.” Again, this didn’t work in the Gant case because he had been arrested for a suspended operator’s license there was much chance that evidence of Gant’s suspended driver’s license would be found in the vehicle.

In the words of Bob Dylan, “These times they are a changing” and you better keep abreast of the changes or it may cost you in court. Remember to stay safe, always wear your vest and have a great week!

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Trick-Or-Treating Safey Tips

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has developed a resource that police agencies can distribute to citizens to help ensure the safety of kids in their communities:

• CHOOSE bright, flame-retardant costumes or add reflective tape to costumes and candy bags so children are easily seen in the dark. In addition, carry a glow stick or flashlight.
• PLAN a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets. Avoid unfamiliar neighborhoods, streets that are isolated, or homes that are poorly lit inside or outside.
• NEVER send young children out alone. They should always be accompanied by a parent or another trusted adult. Older children should always travel in groups.
• ALWAYS walk younger children to the door to receive treats and don’t let children enter a home unless you are with them.
• BE SURE children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
• DISCUSS basic pedestrian safety rules that children should use when walking to and from houses.
• CONSIDER organizing a home or community party as an alternative to “trick-or-treating.”
• MAKE sure children know their home phone number and address in case you get separated. Teach children how to call 911 in an emergency.
• TEACH children to say “NO!” or “this is not my mother/father” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. And teach them that they should make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming and resisting.
• REMIND children to remain alert and report suspicious incidents to parents and/or law enforcement.

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Cussing at Work

Dear Employees:

It has been brought to management’s attention that some individuals throughout the company have been using foul language during the course of normal conversation with their co-workers.

Due to complaints received from some employees who may be easily offended, this type of language will no longer be tolerated.

We do, however, realize the critical importance of being able to accurately express your feelings when communicating with co-workers.

Therefore,a list of 18 New and Innovative ‘TRY SAYING’ phrases have been provided so that proper exchange of ideas and information can continue in an effective manner.

Number 1
TRY SAYING: I think you could use more training..
INSTEAD OF: You don’t know what the f___ you’re doing.

Number 2
TRY SAYING: She’s an aggressive go-getter.
INSTEAD OF: She’s a f___ing bit__.

Number 3
TRY SAYING: Perhaps I can work late.
INSTEAD OF: And when the f___ do you expect me to do this?

Number 4
TRY SAYING: I’m certain that isn’t feasible.
INSTEAD OF: No f___ing way.

Number 5
TRY SAYING: Really?
INSTEAD OF: You’ve got to be sh___ing me!

Number 6
TRY SAYING: Perhaps you should check with…
INSTEAD OF: Tell someone who gives a sh__.

Number 7
TRY SAYING: I wasn’t involved in the project.
INSTEAD OF: It’s not my f___ing problem.

Number 8
TRY SAYING: That’s interesting.
INSTEAD OF: What the f___?

Number 9
TRY SAYING: I’m not sure this can be implemented.
INSTEAD OF: This sh__ won’t work.

Number 10
TRY SAYING: I’ll try to schedule that.
INSTEAD OF: Why the f___ didn’t you tell me sooner?

Number 11
TRY SAYING: He’s not familiar with the issues…
INSTEAD OF: He’s got his head up his a__.

Number 12
TRY SAYING: Excuse me, sir?
INSTEAD OF: Eat sh__ and die.

Number 13
TRY SAYING: So you weren’t happy with it?
INSTEAD OF: Kiss my a__.

Number 14
TRY SAYING: I’m a bit overloaded at the moment.
INSTEAD OF: F__ it, I’m on salary.

Number 15
TRY SAYING: I don’t think you understand.
INSTEAD OF: Shove it up your a__.

Number 16
TRY SAYING: I love a challenge.
INSTEAD OF: This f___ing job sucks.

Number 17
TRY SAYING: You want me to take care of that?
INSTEAD OF: Who the f___ died and made you boss?

Number 18
TRY SAYING: He’s somewhat insensitive.
INSTEAD OF: He’s a pr_ck.

Thank You,
Human Resources

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