No Laughing at the Wheel!

A gentleman in Liverpool was recently stopped by the police for laughing while driving. The man was using a hands-free phone, and was amused by a joke he had just heard. The traffic cop told him that laughing while driving can be an offence. This is not a Purim story. Read the report here. The driver said:

""The officer accused me of throwing my head back in a dangerous way, which I denied since it is definitely not something I do. It became a bit ridiculous when he wanted to know the colour of my hair as I have alopecia and there isn't a hair on my head. When I pointed this out he asked: 'What colour was your hair when you had some?'"

If it wasn't so depressing this would be quite funny. *sigh*

suicide by cop?

look at this photograph. what do you see? a person. as you try to identify her/him, what clues can you find? first of all i see the rainbow logo on the cap with the slogan 'pride'. next i see the glasses that look protective, rather than ocular. earphones that muffle sound? perhaps someone at a shooting range? i cannot see the eyes, this person is a cypher.

the daily mail published this photograph today with the caption "Ann Sanderson, who was shot by police in Sevenoaks, had a history of mental illness". call me paranoid, but however unintentionally it may have been, i see this as perpetuating negative associations with the g/l/b/t community.

sanderson is the first woman to be shot dead by police in britain. the mail suggests that in her madness, sanderson may have been consciously seeking death. of course, this is the daily mail speaking. i just wonder if it is not possible for trained police marksmen/women to shoot to maim, rather than kill?