| 007 - audio post. |
[09 Aug 2010|07:40pm] |
[OOC: After this, the post was altered; instead of what's below, it consists of Eli stating, rather loudly, "Nothing to see here, folks." I'll leave the original content for interested parties.]
The background noise - engine hum, crackling police radio - makes it obvious that Eli is in a patrol car, and the nature of the commentary, as well as its sudden beginning and end, leaves ambiguous whether or not the post was intentionally made.
"- you're telling me they were actually officially calling them raids?"
A different voice, perhaps recognizable to those that know him as Cody Williams, speaks briefly, though his words are not intelligible.
"No, seriously, you're shitting me, right?"
Again, Cody speaks; something that sounds like "I'm not." Eli responds angrily.
"Are they trying to make us look bad? Half the kids out there in D3 already hate cops for no good reason, everyone posting on their iHolos seems to think we're living in Nazi Germany, they have to go around calling these things raids until they realize how stupid that is? What are we even doing involved in this crap anyway? I mean, can't they -"
The post cuts off abruptly with a soft click.
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| 006 - blog. |
[26 Jul 2010|02:50pm] |
I still can't believe the violence going on in Texas. We had a civil war almost two hundred years ago now, and you'd think it would've taught us a few lessons. There were more American deaths in the Civil War, over half again as many, as in World War II, just because we were fighting against our own countrymen. Right now Americans are killing their own countrymen again. And they're doing it over nothing. Texas is not America's misbehaving kid and America is not spanking it. These are needless lives being lost. We've lost enough since the bomb, we don't need to lose more. Texas wants to go it on their own. Texans want to stay in their homes, and who can blame them? I say we let them, because if we fight to get Texas back, by the time we do it won't be worth having. It's clear that they're not going to roll over and surrender because we throw soldiers at them, and by the time the fighting is through Texas is probably going to be a burnt-out wreck. And it's not as if this is even a war for territory, since according to the government it's not safe in Texas' vicinity in any case.
If we simply let the Republic of Texas be, one of two things would have happened. One, their economy, government, or something else wouldn't have been able to sustain itself and they'd have rejoined the Union. Two, they're able to sustain themselves, and after they cool off, they reestablish ties with the States and form a strong alliance. Either of those two things is infinitely preferable to the needless death of soldiers on both sides.
I don't want to make it sound like I support what Texas is doing, either, though. The Galveston bombings easily fit the definition of terrorist actions, and whether you want to call them that or not, they were definitely in violation of the fourth Geneva Convention, and they were definitely despicable.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, even though I normally support our President and our government no matter what, as a former soldier I can't support this war. Americans should never be ordered to kill each other on the field of battle, for any reason.
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| 005 - blog. |
[12 Jun 2010|02:22am] |
For once I have the weekend off - usually I work a shift on either Saturday or Sunday. But since I'm free for two days in a row, Neil and I are going on a little trip. I can't believe I've been in New York almost five years now and never been to Cooperstown. Well, that's getting corrected, finally.
I'm not really one for literary quotes, but I'll make an exception for baseball.
Z is for Zenith
The summit of fame.
These men are up there.
These men are the game.
A guy named Ogden Nash wrote that 80 years ago. He wrote a poem listing some of the early greats, almost all of who are in the Hall of Fame now. And it's true. The members of the Hall of Fame personify baseball.
Ogden Nash included himself in his poem, as a baseball fan. And that's probably the truest part he wrote. The fans are the game. Baseball's had a lot of legendary players over almost 200 years. But the heart of the game isn't on the diamond. It's in the stands. We are up there. We are the game.
This probably the cheesiest thing I've ever written, besides a letter to my ex-girlfriend when I was sure I was gonna die in Chechnya. Baseball just brings out something cheesy in me, I guess. And I'm not embarrassed to admit it.
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| 004 - audio post. |
[05 Jun 2010|05:07am] |
Eli is audibly weary for the brief message.
I've never regretted becoming a cop - far from it - but some nights I really wish I was on the couch in front of the TV, beer in hand, or eating a hot dog at Citi Field. Hell, even a fake-meat hot dog.
He laughs ruefully - it is cut off by a brief click which ends the post.
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| 003 - vlog. |
[20 May 2010|11:12pm] |
Eli sits at the desk in what was once the small guest room of his brother and sister-in-law's Queens home, but which he's occupied for the past five years or so. The lighting is low - the only illumination is provided by a desk lamp. Nevertheless, it is not difficult to tell that the man looks haggard. Much of the lower left side of his face is swollen, and there is an adhesive bandage running vertically down his face between his right eye and temple. He blinks frequently because of it. He leans forward with his chin resting in his right hand as the video begins.
Just a quick note here - I haven't really had a chance to do anything besides work and sleep since the weekend - but from what I've heard, the vast majority of residents questioned this weekend were respectful and polite and got respect back. The vast majority weren't breaking any laws. I'm just saying, you have to listen to both sides. We're not Nazi stormtroopers. We're just doing our jobs. And I don't deserve to be punched in the face for knocking on a door just because you're angry about being inconvenienced a little bit. He points to the left side of his face with a sour expression; evidently he was socked in the jaw. Or bitten by a crazy old Albanian lady that I can't even understand and have to get screened for diseases.
He pauses, sighs, and reaches forward to turn off the camera. But he hesitates. People just need to realize we're here to help and we're just following orders. We're doing the best we can. He looks at the camera for a few seconds before moving slightly; the video ends abruptly.
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| 002 - blog. |
[16 Apr 2010|12:10am] |
I decided I'd do a blog this time since as soon as I turned on the camera I got - I don't know, stage fright or something, and clammed up. Anyway, here goes.
I haven't gotten a chance to hit the pavement much recently. We've been having a lot of instructional sessions at the precinct with guys from the FBI lately. It's a welcome change in one way, I guess. I've had a few bad run-ins with the feds, but those were just hot shot jerks who think they're better than officers because their jurisdiction isn't limited to local municipalities. The guys they sent over were nice, but I'm still not really sure I understand the purpose behind what we're supposed to be doing.
In non-work news, Neil, Rachel and I have tickets to the Mets game on Saturday, and I can't wait. It's been too long since I've been to a ballgame.
Is this how you even do this? I'm sorry, I have trouble believing anyone should care about my life. It's nothing like a police procedural.
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| 001 - vlog. |
[06 Apr 2010|09:25pm] |
Eli stares at the camera for several long seconds before leaning back and folding his arms across his chest.
"Okay, I've never done one of these before. I'm not sure if this is working or not it but says it's recording. Whatever, I'll just do it again if it's --" He leans forward again, fiddling with something out of the camera's view, then: "Oh, okay, it's recording. Okay." He leans back again, changing the camera's positioning so it focuses more directly on him, then crosses his arms again.
"Anyway, we had a deputy commissioner at the precinct a few days ago and he was talking about this policy the department was thinking about implementing - to raise awareness about officers, show that we're normal people too, that sort of thing. So I figured, why not? It sounds like a good idea and I'll go ahead and do it. This isn't official or anything, by the way. I mean, my life isn't that interesting - I don't think so - but it might help people put a face to the law, and I think that's a good thing."
He stops, staring past the camera for a moment as if thinking, then continues. "I'll keep this one sort, I guess - just a brief introduction to who I am and what I do. Well, my name's Eli Watts and I work as an officer of the New York City Police Department out of the eighty-fist precinct in District 3. I'm originally from Eugene - Oregon - and I've been living here in Woodside for about five years with my brother. I've been on the force - I guess about three years now. What I do is - well, it's kind of a throwback to the old way of policing. They call it community policing. I'm assigned a beat to work, and when I'm on duty I go out to the neighborhoods I'm assigned and usually just drive around, making myself visible so people know they're protected and that the law is operating on the streets. I also respond to calls in my areas, that sort of thing."
Eli's brow furrows and he leans forward, his face taking up almost the entirety of the camera's view now. "This feels kind of stupid. I sound stupid, don't I? Maybe I'll do a blog next time instead. Um, I guess that's all. Take care, everyone." He moves an arm, and the vlog ends.
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