Saturday, May 24, 2014
Pennsylvania law enforcement just won the battle, simultaneous no warrant vehicle searches, and they got a law passed to make hidden compartments illegal
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled recently that police are allowed to search vehicles without a warrant. Meanwhile, the state General Assembly is advancing a bill to grant police authority to arrest those with “secret compartments” in their vehicles.
The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Kate Harper, said law enforcement asked her to introduce the bill, the PA Independent reported, to crack down on smuggling between New York and Florida.
So what the hell happened in Philiadelphia? Now law enforcement is making laws, and the constitutional law that the revolutionary war veterans crafted in response to the British intrusion into American homes, is now ignored in Pennsylvania.
In a 4 to 2 decision weeks ago, the state Supreme Court decided that police could conduct searches of vehicles based solely on probable cause, or an officer’s reasonable belief that the vehicle contained illegal goods or evidence of a crime. The new standard puts the state in line with the federal law, which allows warrantless searches of vehicles.
If cops were trusted to behave professionally, getting a warrant from a judge would not have been a requirement since 1789, and the 6th ammendment "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Looks like the people in power in Pennsylvania have decided that the vague terms "unreasonable" and "probably cause" are all up to the officers to decide.... and no longer an impartial 3rd party, a judge, to be convinced that a search is going to be needed to find evidence of a crime.
A search warrant used to be a legal requirement that specified what was being searched for, where, and when, all with the reason why.
With a search any time a cop feels like harassing someone, anything they find regardless of why they are looking will be immediate cause for arrest.
In addition to New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, I'll also recommend avoiding Pennsyvania
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cops-pennsylvania-search-car-warrant/
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/state/Pa_giving_more_authority_to_cops_in_car_searches.html
Last year it was cops stopping people for questioning, now it's vehicle searches.
If a cop claims to smell marijuana, then they can search, and a driver or car passengers have zero legal protections against police abuse, regardless of the facts or actual circumstances.
And if a cop claims you are a terrorist, or support terrorists, or suspected of being affiliated with terrorists, you're going to have zero legal ground to defend yourself, and be arrested, indefinitely held, and never get a trial http://rt.com/usa/obama-ndaa-appeal-suit-229/
A federal appeals court just ruled that the police have a legal right to stop, search and arrest you for innocent behavior including driving with your hands at the ten-and-two position on the steering wheel at 7:45 p.m., taking a scenic route and having acne.
To the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, these factors added up to fit the profile of a person smuggling undocumented immigrants and drugs. The court said, "Although the factors, in isolation, may be consistent with innocent travel ... taken together they may amount to reasonable suspicion."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-bodine/federal-court-the-police-_b_5223918.html
The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Kate Harper, said law enforcement asked her to introduce the bill, the PA Independent reported, to crack down on smuggling between New York and Florida.
So what the hell happened in Philiadelphia? Now law enforcement is making laws, and the constitutional law that the revolutionary war veterans crafted in response to the British intrusion into American homes, is now ignored in Pennsylvania.
In a 4 to 2 decision weeks ago, the state Supreme Court decided that police could conduct searches of vehicles based solely on probable cause, or an officer’s reasonable belief that the vehicle contained illegal goods or evidence of a crime. The new standard puts the state in line with the federal law, which allows warrantless searches of vehicles.
If cops were trusted to behave professionally, getting a warrant from a judge would not have been a requirement since 1789, and the 6th ammendment "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Looks like the people in power in Pennsylvania have decided that the vague terms "unreasonable" and "probably cause" are all up to the officers to decide.... and no longer an impartial 3rd party, a judge, to be convinced that a search is going to be needed to find evidence of a crime.
A search warrant used to be a legal requirement that specified what was being searched for, where, and when, all with the reason why.
With a search any time a cop feels like harassing someone, anything they find regardless of why they are looking will be immediate cause for arrest.
In addition to New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, I'll also recommend avoiding Pennsyvania
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cops-pennsylvania-search-car-warrant/
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/state/Pa_giving_more_authority_to_cops_in_car_searches.html
Last year it was cops stopping people for questioning, now it's vehicle searches.
If a cop claims to smell marijuana, then they can search, and a driver or car passengers have zero legal protections against police abuse, regardless of the facts or actual circumstances.
And if a cop claims you are a terrorist, or support terrorists, or suspected of being affiliated with terrorists, you're going to have zero legal ground to defend yourself, and be arrested, indefinitely held, and never get a trial http://rt.com/usa/obama-ndaa-appeal-suit-229/
A federal appeals court just ruled that the police have a legal right to stop, search and arrest you for innocent behavior including driving with your hands at the ten-and-two position on the steering wheel at 7:45 p.m., taking a scenic route and having acne.
To the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, these factors added up to fit the profile of a person smuggling undocumented immigrants and drugs. The court said, "Although the factors, in isolation, may be consistent with innocent travel ... taken together they may amount to reasonable suspicion."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-bodine/federal-court-the-police-_b_5223918.html
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Friday, May 23, 2014
Union Pacific brings one home for refurbishment and restoration, #4014, one of the giants of trains "#4014 return home 2014)
Thanks to Case for letting me know about this video!
The other cars in this are heritage fleet support cars, and here's a link http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/attachments/media_kit/steam/844_support.pdf that gives some info about the "Howard Fogg"
The Howard Fogg is Union Pacific’s last boiler car. It was built in 1949 by American Car and Foundry as baggage-dormitory No. 6006.
The Howard Fogg was converted to boiler-baggage-dorm No. 304 in 1962.
The car was converted to boiler-dorm-HEP (Head End Power) in 2000.
It was renumbered again in 1987 to No. 209 and assigned to the Heritage Fleet in 1990.
In 1996, it was renamed Howard Fogg after the passing of the renowned railroad artist.
The Howard Fogg still has a steam generator on board to provide steam if maintenance is required while locomotives No. 844 and No. 3985 are on the road. The car has been outfitted with an electric generator
The car was converted to a tool car for snowplow service and renumbered No. 904304 in 1973.
It was assigned to the Heritage Fleet in 1981.
The car was named Art Lockman in 1992 and was renumbered UPP 6334 in 2003. The Art Lockman is a rolling “machine shop”. It carries tools, parts, machines, lubricants and numerous other items to maintain and repair the steam locomotives while on trips. The car also has a crew lounge area, locker room and laundry area.
Mr. Lockman retired as roundhouse foreman in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after working 43 years for Union Pacific. He is a well-known former employee who is still admired for his knowledge of steam locomotive maintenance and operation.
The Lynn Nystrom was built in 1957 by American Car & Foundry as postal storage car No. 5714. It was rebuilt as a baggage/recreation car for ski train service between Los Angeles, California; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Park City, Utah.
The car was renamed the Pony Express in 1993 to commemorate a Union Pacific train of the same name that ran between Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, from August 1926 to November 1954.
And this is very cool, someone drove alongside for a while and paced it on the highway
You may even want to see the local tv station coverage: http://www.kgwn.tv/news/wyoming/headlines/Big-Boy-4014-comes-to-Cheyenne-258554061.html
Now it has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Union-Pacific-4014-restoration-BIG-BOY/455623014535432
Long Beach Motorama at the Queen Mary Dome, June 6,7,8th
General Admission $10 http://wl.flavorus.com/inkniron/INI2014
Expect parking to be 20 bucks, just a guess from last years Ink n Iron
Update on stolen bike from El Mirage
Good things do happen.
Everyone that took pictures of our bike and passed it on, all of the blogs that picked it up, full coverage on twitter and instagram.....worked.
The pressure was enough to convince the thief/thieves who stole our bike to realize profit was not going to be made, more likely they were going to get their A** kicked if they tried.
At 2 am this morning we received an anonymous call telling us where the bike could be picked up. A tow truck was sent to a location in the Victorville area and our motorcycle was in one piece with minimal damage.
Minor damage, but looks a mess.
They sprayed it with WD or something, trying to hide prints?
Removed SCTA numbers and sticker, put other stickers on it to disguise it and most important, tried to start it and ride it but couldn't get it done.
Thanks goodness. If you haven't ridden a laydown landspeed bike before, let me tell you, you don;t take it for a cruise down your neighborhood block. It would have been totaled.
OUR MOTORCYCLE WAS RETURNED! This would not have happened without all of your help and support. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.
Jill Shannon
https://www.facebook.com/JillShannonImageOfDeceit/posts/10152387658621698
The pressure was enough to convince the thief/thieves who stole our bike to realize profit was not going to be made, more likely they were going to get their A** kicked if they tried.
At 2 am this morning we received an anonymous call telling us where the bike could be picked up. A tow truck was sent to a location in the Victorville area and our motorcycle was in one piece with minimal damage.
Minor damage, but looks a mess.
They sprayed it with WD or something, trying to hide prints?
Removed SCTA numbers and sticker, put other stickers on it to disguise it and most important, tried to start it and ride it but couldn't get it done.
Thanks goodness. If you haven't ridden a laydown landspeed bike before, let me tell you, you don;t take it for a cruise down your neighborhood block. It would have been totaled.
OUR MOTORCYCLE WAS RETURNED! This would not have happened without all of your help and support. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.
Jill Shannon
https://www.facebook.com/JillShannonImageOfDeceit/posts/10152387658621698
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Hitting a semi truck with a load of fertilizing manure, highly not advised... but if it happens, don't use an Explorer, they can't survive
That is not the way to end your day.
Photos from, and story at https://underthehollywoodsign.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/this-morning-near-the-hollyridge-trailhead-a-truckload-of-spilled-manure/
Trans Am racing.. I'd forgotten the icons that were making the cars competitive
Sam Posey's Challenger engine was built by Keith Black
Dan Gurney's Barracuda were built by Phil Remmington
Dan Gurney's Barracuda were built by Phil Remmington
the longest running sponsorships in racing... anyone know of one longer than 30 years?
Kenny Bernstein was with Budweiser for 30 years
John Force was with Castrol for 30 years.
But I'm guessing that there might be something in British motorcycle racing that's lasted longer
John Force was with Castrol for 30 years.
But I'm guessing that there might be something in British motorcycle racing that's lasted longer
John Force said this about Richard Petty, and how to treat fans
" Richard Petty was really something else. He taught em to stand at the ropes and fences and never leave the fans. I'd watch him stand there and never leave a guy in a wheelchair. And I thought, my god, never walk away from a wheelchair even if you miss the next session. If you have to, shove him up there with ya! "
Hot Rod magazine interview June 2014 issue
Hot Rod magazine interview June 2014 issue
The tv show Batman, used a real mountain tunnel for the scenes driving into and out of the batcave, and it's still accessible to the public
It's at the top of Bronson Canyon in Griffith Park, very close to the Hollywood sign, and the Hollywoodland Girl camp
Great news! The bike stolen from El Mirage has been reunited with its owner!
Last night Jill emailed me:
Jesse,
We
Got our
Bike
Back!
I
Posted on Facebook. Thank you thank you!'
Jill
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/05/stolen-bike-alert-landspeed-bike.html
Jesse,
We
Got our
Bike
Back!
I
Posted on Facebook. Thank you thank you!'
Jill
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/05/stolen-bike-alert-landspeed-bike.html
I met Jerry at the Muckenthaler, he's a JPL mechanical engineer on Mars rovers and NASA orbitors
Yup, he has a COOL job!
