Narratives are Important (updated)

Here is one narrative:

That an innocent “boy” with a clean record was bringing Skittles and an ice-tea to his father, was stalked and set upon by a racist.

Here is another… does it matter?

Would it matter if the “boy” was 6’3″, a football player, and that those Skittles and ice-tea were stolen? There is more:

Trayvon Martin was suspended from school three times in the months before he was shot dead by a neighborhood watchman, it emerged today.

The new claims, revealed in a leaked report, paint a different picture of a teenager who frequently found himself in trouble with authorities.

It was also revealed that he might have attacked a bus driver, according to a Twitter account that it is claimed belonged to the teen.

The Miami Herald claims that in October, he was caught with a ‘burglary tool’ – a flathead screwdriver – and 12 pieces of women’s jewellery. Martin insisted that they did not belong to him.

Earlier, he had been suspended for skipping school and showing up late to class. And most recently, in February, he was suspended again when officials found a ‘marijuana pipe’ and an empty baggie with traces of the drug….

…read more…

While I still think Zimmerman should have ceased-and-desisted when the 911 dispatcher asked him to, and that he countered the neighborhood watch mantra of observe and report, the most I see Zimmerman being charged with is manslaughter. And he may beat the case:

“With a single punch,” the Orlando Sentinel, citing police sources, reported Monday, “Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood Watch volunteer … climbed on top of [him] and slammed his head into the sidewalk several times, leaving him bloody and battered.”

“That is the account Zimmerman gave police,” the paper said, “and much of it has been corroborated by witnesses, authorities say.”….

…read more…

However, this hasn’t stopped the dinosaurs holding on to their “leadership” roles of a minority group from coming out in front of cameras:

Former NAACP leader C.L. Bryant is accusing Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton of “exploiting” the Trayvon Martin tragedy to “racially divide this country.”

“His family should be outraged at the fact that they’re using this child as the bait to inflame racial passions,” Rev. C.L. Bryant said in a Monday interview with The Daily Caller.

…read more…

Here is a great interview with one of Zimmerman’s friends where you can see the two narratives but-heads:

Take note as well that many have come forward to defend Zimmerman’s character:

George is a Spanish speaking minority with many black family members and friends. He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever. One black neighbor recently interviewed said she knew everything in the media was untrue and that she would trust George with her life. Another black neighbor said that George was the only one, black or white, who came and welcomed her to the community, offering any assistance he could provide. Recently, I met two black children George invited to a social event. I asked where they met George. They responded that he was their mentor. They said George visited them routinely, took them places, helped them, and taught them things and that they really loved George. The media portrayal of George as a racist could not be further from the truth.

…read more…

This doesn’t matter to the two dinosaurs below:


Mind you, early reports are that Zimmerman had a criminal background, in fact Lawrence O’Donnell was set to ask Zimmerman’s lawyer the following question before he left the MSNBC studio: “Did you represent him when he was arrested for assault on a police officer in 2005?” This hurts Zimmerman’s “clean” narrative as well. This matters to me and my view of Zimmerman. However, in my talks with black person’s in regards to this case, a majority of them display no regard or concern to Martin’s character and its contribution to this incident.

In my opinion, this was a perfect storm for a tragedy. But if Zimmerman is found innocent, expect riots, crime, and more violence, as is always the case from the Left.

Three books I recommend are the following — for the bibliophile:

1) Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson, by Kenneth R. Timmerman
2) Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America, by Jesse Lee Peterson

3) It’s OK to Leave the Plantation : The New Underground Railroad, by C. Mason Weaver

Follow link below for the apparent use of “coon” in the 9/11 call. (UPDATED, VIDEO BELOW)

!UPDATED!

Here is an update on the audio of Zimmerman supposedly saying “coon,” and a CNN reporters retraction from him previously stating it was a racial slur (via The Blaze):

And here is George Zimmerman’s father relaying portions of the story of that night that have yet to hit mainstream media:

And here is enhanced video showing the wounds to the back of Zimmerman’s head, that from more grainy film footage was said to be a fabrication:

A Week of Sonoma Wine Tasting, A Wedding, and a Computer Check-Up

My wife and I will be enjoying a rainy Sonoma Wine Country “trot” as well as me being a groomsman in a wedding in Healdsburg. Plus my computer has been acting up, so I am putting it in the doctors office while I am gone. The bachelor party summation is posted at the end:

eNjOy ThE jAm wHiLe I aM GoNe

Recap:

  • Being the only guy in the check-in line drinking a beer (thanks Mike)
  • Asking the Korean girl in the surgeon’s mask if she was afraid of catching prosperity here in the U.S.
  • Sean G in the Reaper/Pam Anderson outfit
  • FLABONGO (atta boy Rory)
  • Justin in the spaghetti strap shooting a machine gun. AND THE HOT BLONDE LOADING IT FOR HIM
  • Melbey walking away a winner
  • That bastard Limo driver, Chow, kicking us out at the Bellagio
  • The ride to Treasures
  • Watching 5 dudes crush 164 crab legs

And my personal fave of the weekend comes from The Steakhouse courtesy of Crown Royal and day drinking:

Waiter: What can I get you sir?
Mike: Pad See Ew
Waiter: Excuse me?
Mike: Pad See Ew!
Waiter: What is that?
Mike: Noodles and eggs.
Waiter: Can you show me that on the menu?
Mike: (opens menu and pauses) I’ll have a steak.

Go get em!

California Tax Revenue Plunges by 22% ~ Top 10 reasons Companies Are Leaving California

Via Big Government:

State Controller John Chaing continues to uphold the California Great Seal Motto of “Eureka”, i.e., ‘I have found it’. But what Chaing is finding as Controller is that California’s economy as measured by tax revenues is still tanking. Compared to last year, State tax collections for February shriveled by $1.2 billion or 22%. The deterioration is more than double the shocking $535 million reported decline for last month. The cumulative fiscal year decline is $6.1 billion or down 11% versus this period in 2011.

While California Governor Brown promises strong economic growth is just around the corner, Chaing proves that the best way for Sacramento politicians to hurt the economy and thereby generate lower tax revenue, is to have the highest tax rates in the nation.

California politicians seem delusional in their continued delusion that high taxes have not savaged the State’s economy. Each month’s disappointment is written off as due to some one-time event.

The State Controller’s office did acknowledge that higher than normal tax refunds for February might have reduced the collection of some personal income taxes. Given that 2012 has an extra day in February for leap year, there might have been one day more of tax refunds sent out. But the Controller’s report shows personal income tax collections fell by $325 million, or 16% versus last year. Furthermore, leap year would have added another day for retail sales and use tax collection, but those revenues also fell during February-by an even larger $813 million, 25% decline from 2011.

The more likely reason tax collections continue falling is that businesses and successful people are leaving California for the better tax rates available in more pro-business states.

Derisively referred to as “Taxifornia” by the independent Pacific Research Institute, California wins the booby prize for the highest personal income taxes in the nation and higher sales tax rates than all but four other states. Though Californians benefit from Proposition 13 restrictions on how much their property tax can increase in one year, the state still has the worst state tax burden in the U.S.

Spectrum Locations Consultants recorded 254 California companies moved some or all of their work and jobs out of state in 2011, 26% more than in 2010 and five times as many as in 2009. According SLC President, Joe Vranich: the “top ten reasons companies are leaving California: 1) Poor rankings in surveys 2) More adversarial toward business 3) Uncontrollable public spending 4) Unfriendly business climate 5) Provable savings elsewhere 6) Most expensive business locations 7) Unfriendly legal environment for business 8) Worst regulatory burden 9) Severe tax treatment 10) Unprecedented energy costs.

…read more…