Random Esquire

1.  I don’t understand when people text or IM: “What?”  It’s in print.  Just re-read it.  Just as stupid is when someone writes “um”.

2.  Whoopi Goldberg needs to read the Grand Jury testimony of Polanski’s victim.  If that’s not rape….oh wait, It Totally Is.

3.  I have a cold.  My nose will just suddenly run.  Just,…out of the blue.  and like before, when it does, it feels like my face wet its pants.

4.  I’m sorry I am so slow in responding to comments.  I love reading them.  I will be better.

5.  On my walk home from work, I cross a street on to which many cars are trying to make a left turn.  Those cars get a left turn arrow which then disappears – meaning that they no longer have the right of way and must wait for pedestrians to cross the street on to which they are turning.  Got the scene?  Want story? here I go.

So!  I waited at the corner while the cars turned left and then the arrow disappeared and I got a walk signal.  I stepped out into the intersection and a car came to a screeching halt about 4 feet from me.  A woman in her car was turning left and did not look to see if people were crossing the street.

I was momentarily stunned and I stopped for a moment, taking it in.  At this point, she yelled and drove forward another foot.

And that…is when I got angry.

I held my hand out toward the car and said, “COOL IT” – because crossing the street immediately by me was a man and woman with their baby in a stroller.  The driver crept closer to all three of us who were staring at her.  She came within no more than two feet of the three of them.

And that…is when the father got angry.

The man put his hands on the roof of her car, standing in front of it as if he was going to push it backwards and he waited while his wife crossed the street, yelling at her while she yelled back.

What did I do?  I stood next to him and pointed my camera phone at her.

You know what?  It freaked her the fuck out.

Which, it turns out, wasn’t really necessary.

Because I didn’t have time to actually get a picture before we both got out of her way and she burned rubber down the street.

But this is known as The Camera Defense.  Boss used to tease me about this but I am a firm believer that most people will act like complete assholes if they think it is a relatively private affair.  But if you point your camera phone at them, they usually get their shit together pretty quickly.  Once, on our way to the lake with Little Filthy, I honked at a guy who was straying out of his lane into mine.   At the next light, we were next to each other – me on the right side of him.  He started to yell at me so I picked up my camera phone and pointed it at him and his wife instantly turned and told him to STFU and stop it.

Point of the story?

PAPA BEAR FTW!

The Camera Defense FTW!

I’ve been listening to the news about Roman Polanski all week and…I’m baffled a bit.

This guy gave drugs and alcohol to a 13 year old and then had sex with her.  Part of the basis for statutory rape laws is the general belief that underage individuals lack the capacity to make the decision to have sex.   13 qualifies.

Age alone would be a factor but add on to it drugs and alcohol?  At 13, she probably had a limited understanding of those two things.  Whoopi Goldberg says it wasn’t “rape rape.”  Is that like, when she really means no?  Like, she says it twice - not just that first fake no?  My Black’s Law Dictionary didn’t have a definition for “rape rape” but it appears she means that the sex was consensual.  So Whoopi Goldberg thinks a 13 year old is capable of making that decision – even with drugs and alcohol involved.  What world am I living in?

Apparently, the Grand Jury testimony of the victim states she was scared and asked him to stop.  (I have not seen this – only heard this via the Today Show.)

Then…this argument:  The victim has forgiven him.

Sorry to be crass – but who the fuck cares?  We want people to experience the healing power of forgiveness – but then to use it as leverage as why someone shouldn’t be punished?  What the hell, people?  Don’t get me wrong – I fully appreciate her desire to want this put to rest.   I’m sure many victims would just like to move on – but there is business to be done, like it or not.  The thing is…between Polanski and the victim, forgiveness is great.  Wonderful.

But this is a matter between the State and Polanski. This is a crime against the people of the state who wish to live in a society where 40-something year old men don’t get to have sex with 13 year olds.  We wouldn’t dream of a case like that today in which we say, “Well, in 30 years or so, she’ll have forgive him – why don’t we just wait until then?”

For those people who say, “Come on…it’s not like he’ll do it again…”    Well, I don’t really think O. J. Simpson will murder someone again but I see some value in him being behind bars.

I also do not understand the arguments against his arrest which mention his body of work.  If this guy had been a deadbeat, then we would believe his crime to be worse?  And it isn’t like he turned his life around once he realized what a dangerous path he was on – the guy was already a famous producer and leading a productive life.

Sure, I can appreciate his work – who said assholes don’t have talent?

Imagine saying this to a 13 year old:  “What’s gonna happen is that you’re gonna have sex with this 40 year old man – but don’t worry,  you’ll be under the influence of drugs and alcohol and 30 years later, when you’ve forgiven this man, we’re going to say it is all okay because he’s going to make some awesome movies in the meantime.  So, you know…go on into that room and let him do what he’s going to do.”

WTF?