The Death of a King

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

According to BBC, the Saudi Arabian king, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, had passed away due to lung infection. Shortly before his death was announced, televisions throughout Saudi Arabia were changed involuntarily to Koranic verses, which are used to identify the death of a senior royal. Abdullah was 90 when he passed away. His 79 year old brother, Salman, had taken on his responsibilities when he was ill. However, now that Abdullah has passed on, Salman will take 100 percent of the responsibilities of the country of Saudi Arabia. Abdullah actually seemed like a decent man, as he was a reformer who believed that women should be allowed to have careers and government criticism should also be allowed. Abdullah was also the main authority in the corporation known as OPEC and he had even gone so far as to aid the United States in their conflict against Al Qaeda. Both President Barack Obama and former President George H. W. Bush stated their condolences to the country and to the family of the king. However, the fact that Abdullah passed away on a Friday, an Islamic Sabbath, is viewed as "a good omen" to many of those that live in Saudi Arabia. It can only be hoped that the new king is as good as Abdullah sounded.

The New Bonnie and Clyde

Dalton Hayes and his girlfriend, Cheyenne Phillips

According to BBC, a Kentucky couple, Dalton Hayes, 18, and Cheyenne Phillips, 13, had been captured and arrested by police in Panama City Beach, Florida. The two had allegedly committed crimes of burglary, theft, and criminal trespassing after disappearing from their homes and escaping custody in numerous states. While attempting to evade police, the two slept in a stolen pickup truck, among other vehicles that had been stolen. The two claim to have been deeply in love with each other, even though Dalton Hayes had not learned of Cheyenne Phillips' true age, instead thinking she was 19 until they began to know each other more. But at that point, "he was already done in love with her" according to the boyfriend's mother. When the two were caught and brought to court, however, I wonder if that love was tested, as Hayes had to face an adult court, while his girlfriend only had to stand in front of a juvenile court. Also, to avoid formal extradition processes, Hayes had said, "I'll sign the papers so I can go back to Kentucky." After a two week "crime-spree," it appears that the two will return back to their home state and face their sentences in my personal favorite state of this great country. The two are being likened to the legendary and infamous Bonnie and Clyde. However, if I may state a truth, the two are truly nothing like Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Bonnie and Clyde were legends in the world of crime and forever will be. That aside, I am glad that the couple was caught and their crimes did not turn violent, as many people seem to be turning to these days.





The real Bonnie and Clyde

Harley-Davidson: The True American Motorcycle

According to USAtoday, the shares in the classic motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson, were much greater than expected in 2014. The company's shares had a quarterly increase of 19% from last year and a 7.5% increase in midday trading. Also, the company had planned on exporting approximately 284,000 "HOGs" overseas, which was a 9% increase from the previous year. I bet the original founders never expected their company to become this large when they were inside a 10x15 foot shack in 1903. However, in the year 2009, the company was not so lucky when it came to sales. In 2009, profit had been down 91% compared to the previous year. The year 2008 had seen a profit of 228 million dollars, while 2009 had only a profit of 19.8 million dollars. Due to this major plummet in sales, Harley-Davidson had cut approximately 1,000 jobs from the line of manufacturing America's classic motorcycles. Also, along with the plummet in profit, there was also a great decline in shipments of the motorcycles in 2009. Only 212,000 to 228,000 motorcycles were expected to be shipped out, as opposed to 303,479 motorcycles that had been shipped out in 2008. However, the company is playing another gamble in recent years. Harley-Davidson is planning on manufacturing electric motorcycles to their line-up of bikes. Harley is planning on taking a number of riders on a 30-city ride. The company will take the information received by the ride to craft their electric bike. I personally do not understand Harley-Davidson's interest in electric motorcycles, as the image of Harley is a rumbling, all metal, icon of American freedom. No matter what path Harley-Davidson decides to take, however, I will always love the Sportster and most other motorcycles by America's classic motorcycle company.

Harley's new electric motorcycle

The Attack on Paris: Free Speech was Crushed That Day

Cherif and Said Kouachi: The Murderers of Paris's Free Speech

According to Al Jazeera, the anger that caused the attacks on the French magazine publisher, Charlie Hebdo, killing 17 people, had pre-existed the issue where the cartoon of Muhammad had been in circulation. Due to the United States invading the country of Iraq in the year 2003, the two brothers that are suspects, Cherif and Said Kouachi, felt as if Westerners were attacking Muslims. However, when Charlie Hebdo published the cartoon, the two felt that their previous feelings were affirmed and that they must fight back. During the U.S. fighting in Iraq, Cherif had attempted to join the fight against America and its allies, but was caught and imprisoned. After this incident, his older brother, Said, had attended training sessions from Al Qaeda in the country of Yemen. Cherif had attempted to break out of prison in 2010, but was unsuccessful and was given life in prison after the action. Also, due to the attacks in Paris, many other European countries are on alert. The country of Belgium has posted a number of soldiers to protect Jewish civilians and locations that pose a great deal of importance. Other countries, such as Britain and Italy, have attempted to protect against anti-Semitism and even expelled nine jihadis out of the country. In the midst of all of this mass hysteria, France continues to search for suspects in the attacks. The country's police had recently released three female suspects, while retaining nine others in custody. There have been violent protests throughout various Muslim countries due to the continuation of the Charlie Hebdo's anti-Muslim cartoons. The Kouachi brothers had been killed by police and later were buried in secret places in France. The need for secret graves is so radicals do not create a shrine out of their graves. It just saddens me to see people slaughtered with no way to protect themselves. I only wish that the "good-guys" had a firearm that could have been used to defend themselves, but instead France is a gun control "utopia," so the mad men get a free shooting ground until the police arrive. The only things that people had to shoot the attackers with were their cameras, and that sickens me. I am sorry to say, but taking guns away does not take the guns out of the hands of the criminal, only the law-abiding citizen, and that is demonstrated here perfectly. The black market just made the Kouachi brothers two very happy murderers, but had the people of Charlie Hebdo and on the rooftops filming the whole thing had firearms to defend themselves, the situation would have been entirely different.

I could not have said it better myself Mr. Noir.

Police Body Cameras: Can't Police Do Their Job Anymore?

According to USAtoday, the city of Los Angeles had purchased 7,000 body cameras for police officers to wear. The cameras were purchased after the events that took place in the city of Ferguson, Missouri. Due to the actions to prevent more "police brutality," $1.5 million were donated and grants had been raised by the Police Commission for the cameras. Los Angeles' city council member Mitchell Englander wishes for LA to be the first city with every police officer to possess a body camera. Many advocates say that body cameras will deter criminal acts, as everything is recorded and there is no disputing what truly happened at the event. However, a single camera can cost from $100-$1000, causing a major cost to police departments and states. This appears to be a serious issue, at least in my eyes. Also, many pro-body camera individuals turn to the incident of when a police officer had to open fire upon a woman wielding a knife. His body camera gave him an edge in the case to see if the shooting was justified or not. Many cities also state that claims of force against police have declined since the use of body cameras has been implemented. Deputy Chief James Brook of Maryland had said that the public awareness was the biggest reason why. To be honest, I do not know how I feel about body cameras, as I feel that police should be able to do their jobs without any interference or worry of public perception and the cost is always a concern, but I also understand the usefulness of such devices. Only time will tell how such body cameras will affect police in the future.



Eye glass style of police camera.

Johnny Cash: The Man in Black

According to USAtoday, in the year 2013, Johnny Cash had been inducted into the second Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Along with the legendary "Man in Black," other music legends such as Albert King, Carla Thomas, the Memphis Jug Band, Kay Starr, The Bar-Kays, Phineas Newborn Jr., and six others had all been inducted. Johnny Cash had actually been a proponent for prisoners' rights during his lifetime. When he was a radio operator in the Air Force, Cash had watched the watched the film "Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison." This film had caused him to become inspired to compose his extremely popular song "Folsom Prison Blues." Johnny Cash became known for his concerts that he had played inside prisons. His biggest two being in Folsom Prison and San Quentin. However, he had played in prisons across the country. Ironically, and slightly funny, is why prisoners were so attracted to Johnny Cash and his music. A common misconception was that Cash had been a prisoner himself, but he had only been arrested for such acts as drunken stupor. Although, he did not do very much to let people know that he had not been a prisoner, aiding in his "tough guy" image. This image had stayed with him throughout his life, mostly in his music. His music had reached great levels of success, with "Folsom Prison Blues" reaching number four on the country charts in 1956 and his cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" receiving an award from the MTV Video Music Awards. Johnny Cash was a man of legend and will go down in history as such. His music was played by my father to me and will most certainly be played by me to my children in the future.

US Gun Raffles: What is the Issue, Honestly?



The Ruger SR-556 the had been raffled by the Police Chiefs.

 According to CBSnews, many different groups of individuals will raise money for their organization by raffling off collections of firearms. A Ruger SR-556 piston operated AR-15 platform rifle was raffled off, along with other various firearms every day in May of 2013, by the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police. A hockey team by the name of West Fargo's Youth Hockey Association had even raffled off 200 different firearms, including handguns, shotguns, semi-automatic rifles, and various other firearms, and an ATV the month after. While many people may see these raffles as a simple means to make money, there were many anti-gunners that viewed the situation in a completely different manner. One anti-gunner by the name of John Rosenthal had claimed that the raffles were "insane" and "criminally irresponsible." What Rosenthal fails to see is that these are not the only raffles where firearms are obtained, plus, all winners must receive a background check before being rewarded their prize. In Indiana, a man by the name of Steve Wagner had been running for Sheriff in Hendricks County. To promote himself, he had raffled off five shotguns, four being pump-action and one being an over-and-under double barrel. The winners were all responsible firearms owners and all received a background check. I personally do not find an issue with a raffle for firearms, as all safety precautions were met. Anti-gunners just need to back off firearms, since more people are killed by motorized vehicles than firearms every day, yet I still do not see any "assault car" bans.

The information left out by the media. Just thought I would add that in.