In case anybody is following current events and is wondering: yes the sector of
Santa Monica you’re seeing on TV is adjacent enough to where I live that we see
a steady stream of people casually walking towards the unrest to get “involved”.
The sounds of the sirens is drowned out by the sound of the helicopters.
My building manager acquiesced to let me park my car inside the gates (in one
of the three empty slots) and take it out of the exterior parking. After we
appealed (first denied) and then did it anyway, he conceded. That was really
white PMC of him, thanks buddy.
A professor at one of the local urban universities apparently called for a
revolution last night. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get
it.
https://laist.com/2020/05/31/melina-abdullah-black-lives-matter-la-protest-police-violence-george-floyd.php
<https://laist.com/2020/05/31/melina-abdullah-black-lives-matter-la-protest-police-violence-george-floyd.php>
I suspect she may get a calendar invitation sometime soon to talk to the Dean
or even the Chancellor of the university. And maybe the District Attorney.
In 1992 I was living a lot closer to the combat zone and that time we actually
had A) huge pillars of smoke visible all across the city, and B) sounds of
incessant gunfire for 2-3 days, and C) all of law enforcement had retreated
into their own shelters to protect themselves and let the people fend for
themselves. (They came out about 3 days later when the uncontrolled emotion had
burned itself out and the National Guard showed up.) But the police in this
city, Santa Monica, seem remarkably restrained compared to what I’m seeing of
other cities across the country. These guys aren’t in full combat drag, and
they aren’t shooting people (including journalists).
That time, 1992, I was close enough that two baseball throws would have had me
in the combat zone. This time it’s a slightly longer walk, about 1.1 km. Plus I
live in the part of town formerly known as Dogtown because it was the low rent
district. So I’m not particularly concerned, but the wife was close to freaking
out in the mid-afternoon. She’s calmed down now.
That being said I’ve heard about 6 sounds that could be either shots, reports
from pepper or beanbag guns, or firecrackers. I can tell the difference between
firecrackers and gunshots and there have been both. But not many. (I mention
this because for 2-3 weeks at least there have been somebody down near the
beach who sets off a powerful explosive every 20-30 minutes at random places.
Despite many requests from residents the cops said they weren’t going to go
after them. This was up to and including last night.)
The sun is setting now. It has quieted down somewhat over the past hour. It
remains to be seen if things change.
Silly moi: about 4 months ago I bought a new Mavic drone but I’ve not taken the
time to learn to fly it. Today would have been a good time.
