From this morning (Jan. 24 2008) National Park Service Morning Report:

Everglades National Park (FL)
Rangers Remove Python From Visitor’s Car

On Tuesday, January 15th, visitor Ron DeLong stopped his car on the main park road in order to watch a crawling, six-foot-long, exotic Burmese python. As DeLong stepped out of his Ford Explorer, the python began crawling underneath the vehicle and into its engine compartment.

DeLong attempted to grab the python with the curved end of his walking cane, but was unable to stop it.

After several failed attempts to remove the snake, DeLong decided to drive 15 miles to the main entrance station for assistance. When ranger Willie Lopez, wildlife biologist Skip Snow, biologist’s assistant Alex Wolf and firefighter Henry Delvalle checked the Explorer, they found its hood open, with only the tail end of the python visible – the rest of the snake was coiled around various parts of the engine and undercarriage.

Several attempts were made to pull it out through the top of the engine, but failed because the snake tightened its hold on the car. The four responders then discussed their options.

I dare you not to click Read More... Read more…

  Words.. fail.. me..

So I was mostly being sarcastic when I proposed cops should fire their tasers first in all situations.

This interesting video from the dash-cam (here) or (here) from last Thanksgiving shows an Austin cop doing exactly this. Eugene Snelling, 32, was driving 70mph in a 65mph zone and wasn't quick enough showing his license and registration.
I checked the tape -- 45 seconds from approaching the vehicle to taser deployment, because someone was speeding five miles over the speed limit.  Read more…

What a coincidence... our previously discussed favorite zap-em researcher shows up in more news articles.

We just can't know about the risks. How could we? It's not like this guy has done some major research into this topic. Let's all just say stun guns and tasers are perfectly harmless _{(unless you happen to die from one)}.

Stun Gun Used on Pregnant Woman in Ohio [AP]

Dr. William Bozeman, associate director of research at Wake Forest University's Department of Emergency Medicine, said it isn't known whether electricity from a stun gun might pose a risk to a fetus. Read more…

The world's safest and most useful tool is working impressively again, in Utah. (All you taser fans in the crack den *cough cough* get out your lotion, because this stuff is hot.)

Tasered in front of wife and baby? Check.
Tasered for a speeding ticket? Check.
No threat and no warning? Check.
Sarcastic approval from other cops on the scene? Check.

Digby says it all:

Police in the country are now allowed to torture speeders by the side of the highway in order to get them to comply. The only difference between this officer slugging the speeder in the stomach and putting 50,0000 volts of electricity in him is that the latter doesn't leave any marks. The intent, the pain and the goose-stepping authoritarian message are exactly the same.

Word to the wise. Do not ever question the police, no matter whether they are violating your rights, ignoring the constitution or breaking the law. It is perfectly legal for them to torture you on the spot if you do.

I'm feeling so free I can hardly breathe. Read more…

Read the RCMP's description of what you are about to see in this video:

Police were called to the international arrival area of the airport at about 1:28 a.m. on Sunday after airport security officers were unable to calm the man down and his level of violence was escalating.

The man, a Caucasian in his late 30s to early 40s, was yelling in an eastern European accent, sweating profusely, throwing chairs and pounding on windows, according to police.

Now go watch what actually happened.

It's quite clear that this was some sort of dispute that nobody was able to resolve because they had no idea what he was saying. Maybe they had his luggage? He did, in fact, throw a monitor on the ground, but he then sat quietly outside the gate in an office chair, apparently in protest. When the police arrived he threw his hands up and tried to walk away, but he was ordered to stop and he did.

When they tased Robert Dziekanski, he was surrounded by four officers, with his hands at his sides and his back to a wall.

Why?

This disturbs me. Not as much as the Iranian-American student being tased five times for not having his student ID card, but still. Is it just me, or is there a "titillation" factor in this video, perhaps some kind of he-man/tough guy prowess demonstration? I suppose it's a "good thing" they understand the effect of their product, but still...it's just weird.

Make yourself watch the whole thing. It will be hard, but it's important. Just as it's important to be proud of the students who didn't just sit back and cower in fear. Good thinking, kids, and way to use technology to document the atrocities. Read more…