I would say it's staged, but there are too many cars and looks like they are on a bridge.

So yesterday when I was driving to work, there was couple cops in off road vehicles on the bridge by my place.  I don't think anything of it.

When I drive home, the bridge is filled with odd cops vehicle, state police in camouflaged Tahoes, with cops everywhere.  Every news station with vans and 30 foot antennas.  I was like damn, someone get killed in the nature reserve.

Got home, and holly cr@p, someone was growing weed, 9000 lbs.  They had an irrigation systems and lived there.  The cop was on the news stating that even after they found it, they didn't see the living area for some time because it's so thick.

I know that reserve inside and out and even mentioned once to my gf that it was the perfect spot for growing weed.  The vegetation in parts is so thick that you can see jack, but it's littered with brush areas with long grass that could be cleared easily. Complete with a meandering creek for irrigation in the hot Texas summer.  

I have maps of the reserve and when they showed it on TV, I realized that about once every other week I was w/i maybe 100ft of 9000 of weed.  It's a park of sorts, with loads of trails, but not many people use them.  My dog loves it and it's one of the few places I can take her without a leash and not worry about running into people.

I'd like to get some feedback (none / 0) (#25)
by NYShooter on Wed Aug 20, 2014 at 12:00:42 AM EST

From the TL Community about the broader issue of Islam itself. For as long as I can remember, as a true-blue 60's Liberal, I bought into the conventional wisdom: Islam is one of the world's great religions; it, generally, promotes peace and brotherhood; it's the media that sensationalizes the barbaric acts of a tiny minority, Muslims shouldn't be broad brushed by some small percentage of anti-social zealots, and, so on.

(J wanted to move it to the open.  I did not want to take the whole comment.  It's long.  But you should read it to understand mine)

"Depending on their configuration, the vehicles can cost the military between $416,000 and $775,000. But the cost to the city was just $14,000 for shipping, paint and details, according to the police department.

His Youtube Star Turn is Here:  (Very NSFW!!!!!)

"Over the past few years, I have been tracking the rhetoric that police and other authority figures use to justify all kinds of violence. In cases that seem very different, separated by factors such as age, race, gender, sexuality, geography, class and ability, police explain away their actions by citing noncompliance. They do it because it works. They do it because according to their beliefs, any sign of noncompliance is an invitation to strike."

I'd like to get some feedback From the TL Community about the broader issue of Islam itself. For as long as I can remember, as a true-blue 60's Liberal, I bought into the conventional wisdom: Islam is one of the world's great religions; it, generally, promotes peace and brotherhood; it's the media that sensationalizes the barbaric acts of a tiny minority, Muslims shouldn't be broad brushed by some small percentage of anti-social zealots, and, so on.
First, is it true?

What is true?? Islam is defined as a religion yet it has all the trappings of a closed political system that seeks to control every aspect of its member's lives.

Second, if the great majority of Muslims could affect change anonymously they would, overwhelmingly, choose peace and cooperation with all people and religions, and, give up the fantasy of a world wide, one religion, future?  Yes, or, no? It's only fear of reprisal by the militants that keep the majority quiet. What do you think?

I do not know. But the reality is that the majority is letting the radicals set the agenda by default. At what point will this change? I do not know. But the current situation is very disturbing.

Anyway, like I said, I, generally bought into those concepts for most of my adult life, but, now, I'm not so sure. I feel that most religions are simply vehicles that ambitious, power hungry, psychopaths employ to scare the living "b'jesus" out of the weak, uneducated/uninformed, and clinically gullible suckers that make up most of the world's population. But, having said that, most religions have evolved somewhat into the 21st. century, and have modified their views, and, rules to accommodate a changing world, at least, somewhat.
All, that is, but one.

I don't agree with your description of "most religions" but I will agree that most have liberalized.  Islam may have in some locations but it is clear that a significant number have not and they have radicalized a large number of Muslims.

Is there any hope that Islam can mutate from its uncompromising 14th. Century views, and, demands, on its adherents?
Can "change" happen, or is a "winner-take-all" Armageddon inevitable?

Based on the responses of Muslims worldwide change will not happen fast enough to prevent a war. But I do not see it as a winner take all Armageddon. I do see the West enforcing its liberal culture on a culture that is not. The question is will the West act in time to minimize the cost. And it cannot just be the US. It must be the"West."

I base this on my observations that Muslims do not integrate well into the societies they immigrate into but demand that the new society accommodate their previous religious and cultural norms. The riots over a cartoon of Mohammed, "harm" to a Koran, etc. do not speak of an acceptance of others views and life styles by a large majority of Muslims. This is further reinforced by their demands for special prayer facilities in public institutions, prayer times, refusal to carry dogs and alcohol when operating public transportation and such mundane things as touching pork when acting as a checkout clerk in a grocery.

It can be said that many of these are anecdotal. But it is obvious they come from a background that creates them.

To tell you the truth, whenever I see another atrocity like tonight's ( Personal disclosure: The decapitation of Danny Pearl flipped me out forever) I wish I was back as that crazy 19 year old jar-Head that could, and, would, take the fight to them, instead of waiting for my grandchildren to have to do it.

Am I nuts, or, does anyone else have some politically incorrect stirrings going on?

If you are sincerely stating your feelings then you are starting to question long held beliefs. I have been there and done that in another context.

It is difficult and disturbing.

I have had significant personal and business relationships with Muslims. I have found them to be just people. Good, bad and in between.  It is when they are in a group that the problems start. This is not unique to Muslims but is a troublesome fact.

"Although it's not considered nice to state it bluntly: the attack on Obamacare depended almost entirely on lies, and those lies are becoming unsustainable now that the law is actually working."

WASHINGTON (AP) -- American fighter jets and drones continued to pound Islamic State militants in Iraq Wednesday, and military planners weighed the possibility of sending a small number of additional U.S. troops to Baghdad, U.S. officials said, even as the insurgents threatened to kill a second American captive in retribution for any continued attacks.

creeps.

1. Night before yesterday....police trying to apprehend a drunk guy  waving a gun around outside a bar...they fire at him and bullets go through the bar wall or window and kill a woman inside.

2. Yesterday....granny sleeping in her house, knowing her grandchildren were sleeping in other rooms. Has her door closed. Hears a sound outside her door and shoots through it  hitting her 7 yr old grandson in the upper body. No word on his condition.

3. Policeman actually charged for shooting into an occupied vehicle from 70 ft away back in Feb. Supposedly shooting at an escaping suspect, but luckily did not hit the guy, who happens to be black, in case that eventually becomes part of the story. Never can tell.