Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian

Tag Archives: history


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An Explanation of Law Enforcement in the USA

Overview of Law Enforcement Structure

Law enforcement in the United States operates through multiple groups, each with its own jurisdiction and responsibilities. These agencies are organized at federal, state, county, and city levels to ensure comprehensive coverage of law enforcement needs.

Federal Law Enforcement

At the federal level, law enforcement duties are partly assigned to agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI investigates crimes and pursues opportunities for crime prevention on a national scale, and sometimes internationally.

State Law Enforcement

Law enforcement affecting the general population is managed primarily at the state, county, and city levels. Every state has its own police force, which can be known by different names, such as the California Highway Patrol or Minnesota State Patrol. These state patrol agencies typically have jurisdiction over federal and state highways within their respective states.

County Law Enforcement

Each state is subdivided into counties, and each county is under the jurisdiction of a Sheriff. The Sheriff’s office has authority over county highways and is responsible for maintaining law enforcement across these areas.

Local Law Enforcement

Within every county, there are cities and towns, each governed by its own local police force. These departments enforce laws within the boundaries of their respective cities or towns.

Jurisdiction Example

To better understand how these jurisdictions work together, consider a drive from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Rochester, Minnesota. While driving within St. Paul, you are under the jurisdiction of the St. Paul Police Department. As you travel along the Lafayette Freeway to Concord Boulevard, jurisdiction is shared among several agencies: the State Patrol, the South Saint Paul Police, the Dakota County Sheriff, and the Inver Grove Heights City Police. The specific agency with jurisdiction depends on which part of Concord Boulevard you are traveling.

Jurisdiction in Minneapolis

In Minneapolis, the jurisdiction lies exclusively with the Minneapolis Police Department. However, support from state, county, or neighboring city agencies can be requested if needed.

This overview clarifies the structure and jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.


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The Double Meaning of “Ice Out”

Understanding the Double Meaning of “Ice Out” in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the phrase “Ice Out” carries two distinct meanings, each deeply connected to the state’s unique climate and recent events. Traditionally, “Ice Out” refers to the official notice issued by the Department of Natural Resources, declaring that lakes and rivers are now free of ice. This announcement signals the end of the winter freeze and allows shipping on the Great Lakes to resume.

“Ice Out” as a Seasonal Marker

Northern states like Minnesota are known for their harsh winters, with extreme cold temperatures causing lakes and rivers to freeze over. Minnesota, famously called the land of 10,000 lakes, experiences these conditions every year. The Mississippi River, which has its source in Itasca, Minnesota, can freeze as far south as Saint Louis, Missouri, interrupting shipping traffic throughout the winter months. Duluth, Minnesota, stands as the most western city on Lake Superior, highlighting the state’s strong connection to major waterways.

These frozen lakes and rivers not only affect transportation but also create opportunities for popular winter activities such as ice fishing. However, the ice can be deceptive and dangerous; thin ice has tragically claimed many lives over the years when unsuspecting individuals have fallen through into the icy water below. This danger is well-documented, as seen in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s writings about her family’s crossing of the frozen Mississippi River at Lake Pepin during their journey from Wisconsin to Minnesota.

The Official “Ice Out” Notice

The Department of Natural Resources issues an official “Ice Out” notice when all rivers and lakes are confirmed to be ice free. This key announcement marks the reopening of shipping routes on the Great Lakes, restoring an important aspect of Minnesota’s economy and reconnecting the region to broader commercial activities.

“Ice Out” as a Protest Movement

In more recent times, “Ice Out” has taken on a different, protest-related meaning. The phrase has become a rallying cry against the presence and actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, particularly in response to federal intervention and the deployment of troops in the state. This movement began after the discovery of a significant fraud scheme in which federal and state funds were diverted, leading to charges against about 67 individuals, including some of Somali descent. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the unjust scapegoating of the broader Somali community due to the actions of a few individuals.

Minnesota is typically known for its Democratic-leaning political tendencies and is currently governed by Tim Walz, a Democrat. Tensions escalated when the current president, who opposes Governor Walz, increased federal involvement in Minnesota’s affairs, including the deployment of approximately 3,000 federal troops and ICE detachments. This situation has caused unrest among many residents of Minneapolis and Saint Paul—the Twin Cities—who have responded with protest calls and signs demanding “ICE OUT,” expressing their opposition to ICE operations in their communities.

Further Reading

For more insights into Minnesota’s culture and communities, consider visiting the blog Minnesota Prairie Roots by Audrey Fletcher Helbing, who offers an authoritative perspective on the state.


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the USA needs your help

Robert Reich wrote the following and I am reposting it here for my friends who live in other countries.

Friends, I’m addressing this letter especially to those of you who live in other lands. As you probably know, we here in the United States are facing the biggest emergency in the history of our democracy, and we need your help.

Trump and other members of his regime (Elon Musk, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi) are actively undermining our system of government — usurping Congress’s power to fund the government, saying they “don’t care” what judges say, arresting peaceful protesters, investigating Trump’s “enemies,” siding with Putin against Ukraine, encouraging bigotry, and sowing widespread fear.

Please know that the Trump regime doesn’t represent the majority of Americans. Trump won the 2024 presidential election by a razor-thin (1.5 percent) margin, but half of all Americans didn’t vote, including many who voted for Biden in 2020. Polls consistently show most Americans do not support what Trump is doing.

How can you help us? Like most bullies, Trump can be constrained only if everyone stands up to his bullying — including you.

First, if you are thinking about a trip to the United States, please reconsider. Why reward Trump’s America with your tourist dollars? Spending by non-Americans in the United States is a significant source of tax revenue and a major “export” of this nation. There’s no reason for you to indirectly support Trump’s economy. Many international travelers concerned about Trump’s authoritarianism have already canceled trips to the United States. I suggest you do so, too.

Last week, Trump threatened a 200 percent tariff on European wine and alcohol after calling the European Union “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World.” Why reward this bellicose rhetoric? Many Europeans are already skipping trips to Disney World and American music festivals. Travel from China, a frequent target of Trump’s contempt, is down 11 percent. Chinese travelers are choosing to vacation in Australia and New Zealand instead of visiting U.S. national parks. Our dear neighbors north of the border, who have long been the major source of international travel to the United States, are deciding to visit Europe and Mexico instead. In response to Trump’s repeated desire to make Canada a “51st state,” Canada’s former prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has urged Canadians not to vacation in America. An informal boycott by Canadian travelers has begun. The number of Canadians returning by car from visits to the United States already fell by 23 percent in February, and air travel by Canadians returning from the United States was down 13 percent relative to last year, according to Statistics Canada. Overall, it’s expected that international travel to the United States will drop at least 5 percent this year. Although we have loved (and profited from) your visits, I urge you to join many of your compatriots and at least for now decide not to come to the United States.

Second, if you are thinking about coming to the United States on a student or even on an H-1B visa, which allows highly skilled foreign citizens to live and work here, you should also reconsider. Perhaps wait a few years until, hopefully, the Trump regime has ended. It is not entirely safe for you to be here, in any event. Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, a kidney transplant specialist and professor at Brown University’s medical school, who has been in the United States legally on an H-1B visa, was just deported without explanation — even though a court had blocked her expulsion. Dr. Alawieh had traveled last month to Lebanon, her home country, to visit relatives. When she tried to return from that trip to the United States, she was detained by U.S. customs and immigration officials and put on a flight to Paris, presumably on her way to Lebanon. Lebanon is not even on a draft list of nations from which the Trump administration is considering banning entry to the United States. Even if there’s a shortage in America of skilled workers in your specialty, you could be deported at any time, for any or no reason.

Likewise, if you are considering coming to America on a student visa, you might consider the risk at this time. A Columbia University graduate student was arrested and detained for no reason other than that he peacefully protested Netanyahu’s policies in Gaza. The administration of Brown University is advising foreign students, ahead of spring break, to “consider postponing or delaying personal travel outside the United States until more information is available from the U.S. Department of State.”

It is not just the risk. It’s also the circumstances. If you care about democracy, this is not the time to come here on a student or H-1B visa because the Trump regime is riding roughshod over the Constitution of the United States.

On Sunday, the Trump regime deported hundreds of Venezuelan nationals from the United States under the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act — which until now has been used only in times of war — even though a federal judge blocked the decision and ordered planes carrying some of the Venezuelans to turn back to the United States. On Sunday night, Trump told reporters that the Venezuelans he sent back to Venezuela were “bad people. “But no one can take Trump’s word that these were “bad” people. Trump routinely uses the term “bad people” to refer to those who oppose or criticize him, or whom he dislikes. Whatever your reason for wanting to come to the United States — as a visitor, a student, or an H-1B skilled worker — you might reconsider your plans. Deciding not to come would send a signal that you’re justifiably worried about your safety and security here and you are as repulsed by the Trump regime’s attacks on democracy as are most of us Americans.


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In Recovery from PTSD (part 2.)

Here’s what I think is going on
Donald Trump, fraudster, con man and Snake-oil salesman supreme is a dishonest, narcissistic opportunistic man-child who accidentally stumbled on the notion that he could become president of the United States of America. Given his own misgivings about achieving that high office, he pursued it anyway. Over time he gradually got used to the idea that he would become one of the most powerful persons on earth; even though he still did not expect to achieve that post.
By fair means or foul, he was elected 45th President of the United States of America. And almost immediately he realized that he now had an immense power at his disposal.
Unfortunately for the population of the United States, we were unable at that point in time to do much about what we did not know was happening or had already happened.
Most residents of the United States were unaware that any intervention had taken place in our 2016 election process. More surprising for most of them is that it happened through the social media platforms to be found in almost every American household. Namely Facebook and Twitter.
To cut a long story short, A Special Counsel was nominated to investigate the extent etc., of foreign interference. Without going into all the legalese (because I am not a lawyer or trained in law) Jeff sessions who was the Attorney General of the United States (correctly) recused himself from this procedure on the grounds that he would be a witness in any ongoing investigation. The result of his recusal called for the appointment of a deputy Attorney General Attorney who in turn nominated and appointed the Hon. Robert Mueller III as Special Counsel.
No word was heard from Mr. Mueller’s office for about 22 months. We waited patiently for his report.
In the meantime, several very curious events occurred: The FBI Director James Comey was fired (by Tweet). William Barr was proposed and appointed Attorney general of the United States to replace the recused Jeff Sessions. Donald Trump also fired all US Attorneys-General and all Ambassadors to foreign countries. Also, he nominated and had appointed several key positions such as Supreme court judges, cabinet posts, several Secretary levels posts and directors of the CIA and the FBI.

One of the curious cabinet posts came to us in the person of Rex Tillerson. He was formerly the CEO of Exxon Mobil. He was appointed to be the premier diplomat of the United Sates as Secretary of state. The rationale given at the time was that he had had extensive dealings with Russia. Later developments will explain the reason why I thought it a curious appointment.
Trump is not given to reading, listening or believing. By all accounts, he does like to watch cable news especially FOX and FRIENDS with Sean Hannity and copious amounts of Rush Limbaugh. Having said that, Trump disparages almost everyone for having (in his opinion) a low IQ (in other words he believes no-one is smarter than he). Instead of listening to his intelligence organizations and believing what he is told, he prefers to be guided by his gut-feeling.
Since Trump has been in office more than 40 people have been fired or resigned from his administration.
It is becoming clearer each day to the American public the Trump is not qualified nor is he competent to carry out the duties of the President of the United States.
For example: he has no basic skills such as tact, respect, honesty, empathy, kindness, or generosity. He has demonstrated himself to be a nasty, bullying petti-minded, puerile philandering, racist, misogynistic, self-serving, cheat, thief, liar, and all-round know-it-all. He lacks administrative abilities and has no understanding of the world at large. He ably demonstrates his origins as a wealthy, spoiled brat.
I would like to point out a paradoxical reporting or series of media reports in which the successful business-man Donald J. Trump lost $916M. I don’t believe that Trump lost this money but rather laundered it via middlemen to Russia. A possible way he did this was to engineer losses by his casino(s) to Russian middlemen. If this is true, it would explain the hold that Vladimir Putin has over him. It would seem like his Trump Tower deal fell through and Putin has played Trump for a useful idiot by telling him “Kiss your money goodbye or I’ll spill the beans, unless you do what I tell you to do”. In short Donald Trump may be selling us down the river.
Sadly, Trump, as Tillerson said, is an ‘effing moron.
Now to Tillerson and Exxon-Mobile. Trump it seems at some point in time was anxious to conclude a $400B deal for Russian oil. Tillerson being a more honorable person probably indicated No Way Mr. President and was soon out of the door. Then Trump thwarted by this setback (read betrayal) indicated that he would like to release our oil reserves. This would have created a shortage and provide an opening for Trump to enter into the deal with Russia. That did not happen.
Has anybody noticed how anxious Trump is to begin a new war.? Trump understands that those with big bucks at the beginning of a war end up with even more bucks at the end of a war.
In more recent days we saw reporting on an attack on Aramco in Saudi. This smacks of the of Gulf of Tonkin incident and the begin of the Vietnam war. What happened? Prices at the pump went up. You figure it out. Koch brothers are happy.
A brief mention of Trump’s wall. He will probably make millions or billions in kickbacks.
Trump is an unfortunate being. His lack of ability to understand almost all aspects of life except for lust and greed, both of which lead him to an abuse of his power. His ignorance is likely to lead to a downward spiral of a once great nation. The Republic of the United States of America which sought freedom from the tyranny of King George III of Great Britain, has the possibly of being destroyed by this person who would be King.
We must consider his actions, appointments, conduct and conclude he must be voted out of office. While he considers himself to be above the law and has committed crimes and misdemeanors and possibly treason; he must be voted out of office and brought before the nation to be tried and judged and then handed a lawful sentence for his misdeeds and failure to uphold his oath of office.


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In recovery from PTSD

In Recovery from PTSD
You may have noticed; I have not posted anything for quite some time. This has been due to dealing with an ongoing incidence of PTSD. And, for clarification, PTSD stands for Post Trump distress Disorder.
Even before the 2016 election which brought Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, I had a feeling that the way he ran his campaign was indicative of the way in which he would preside as president. I did not vote for him. However, many of my friends did ( I will return to this point later).
Before Donald Trump we had George W. Bush as president. I considered George Bush to be the worst president in recent times. I have since changed my mind and now consider Donald trump to have been the worst.
There is a special committee whose mission is to investigate the riot which happened on January 6th, 2022, at the nation’s capital. This riot it seems was part of Donald Trump’s attempt to stage a coup d’état and remain as president of the united states of America.
Looking back, one must ask oneself, where did Trump get his idea? Was it during his closed-door meetings with Vladmir Putin? Was it during his visit with Kim Jong Un of north Korea? As an aside, do you recall the admiration he had for the way people of north Korea obeyed Kim’s every whim (that it was out of fear was never mentioned by Trump). Somewhere along the way, Trump became indoctrinated with totalitarian ideas.
Had Trump’s attempted coup been successful, we can only imagine that our democracy would be gone and given time, Trump would create a family dynasty supported by loyal oligarchs. Then of course, declare himself president for life. In the meantime, he would discontinue support for NATO, terminate many of the social services we have established and begin a true plunder of the nation’s wealth and resources.
According to the January 6th committee, Trump together with some of his advisors, supported by several GOP members of congress planned and put into action a plot to hold onto the presidency by preventing the Vice president from certifying the election. Part of this plan involved an ongoing propagandist barrage of lies and other false information.
Groups of Trump’s supporters believed this untrue and misleading information and gathered in Washington DC prepared to support Trump’s claims of a stolen and fraudulent election.
Most upsetting about this event is that Trump knew otherwise and yet he did nothing to terminate it once it became apparent that the situation had gotten out-of-hand and people were getting injured.
More than a year ago I started writing a post about Trump and what I thought was going on. I Saved it as a draft and for whatever reason did not find the appropriate opportunity to publish it. I will insert it here as I believe it contains pertinent information. (Part 2. To follow)


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Memories have not faded

On Mount Erebus

forty-one years have gone by.

Airplane crashed, lost friends.


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Jobs of Days Gone By #17 – The Bus Conductor

THW BUS CONDUCTOR

Pay as you enter

Take a seat. enjoy the ride

No more Tickets Please.


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Jobs of Days Gone By 16 – The Sign writer

THE SIGN WRITER

A gold leaf expert

a master calligrapher

artist to be read