When I first saw this video on TV (and by now you've all seen it) my eyes were drawn to the Police Officer's hand in his pocket. Like he was just casually squeezing the life out of this man. "How odd" I thought. Why would someone stick his hand in his pocket like that while basically committing murder in public? Then it hit me, he was playing the part of the proverbial "Ostrich." By sticking his hand in his pocket, he was hiding from what he was really doing. In his mind, he thought if he hides his hand in his pocket, maybe they won't notice my knee on his neck. That's something a child would do. Or it's what an Ostrich does. Hiding in plain sight. Only this time, this subtle act of creating a diversion only added to the horror of this crime.
The ex-police officer's name is
Derek Chauvin. And he is in a world of shit.
He is currently being charged with murder of the third degree and manslaughter. His bail is set at $500,000. Like I said, he's in a world of shit. There's no way he's going to get off. He's going to jail. Or should I say, he's going to Hell? Because that's more like it.
The man's neck he is kneeling on, is George Floyd. May He Rest In Peace.
These two names will be forever linked in the latest heartbreak in our country. Just when you think you have seen and heard it all, something like this happens, and it causes all of us, to step back and take in a deep breath. And unfortunately, it also causes other individuals to step outside, and burn down their own world. Whether or not you feel that the rioting and burning is justified is irrelevant. It's happened so many times in the past, and it's happening right now. AMERICA is once again in shock. How and why does this keep happening? Have we all not learned from our past? It's like a never ending cycle of hate. Just when we hear of one hate crime, another one pops up.
How far have we really come from the days of slavery in the US?
I just finished watching a three part series on Ulysses S. Grant. The American General who fought to end slavery in the US in the Civil War. That was 155 years ago. And yet, here we are, still fighting racism in the United States of America. But there is nothing united about us. We are a nation where bigots, and racists run amok in every town and city. We are a nation that is consumed with hatred. And to make matters worse, our country is run by a man who has no empathy for his fellow man. A man who has failed us all as a leader. He has not united us, if anything, he has deepened the divide between us all.
His latest tweet "When the Looting Starts-The Shooting Starts".
We're all trapped on this ship, with a captain who has no soul. A rudderless vessel, with not a single thread of hope. This is our America today.
There were four police officers involved in this killing. Yes only Chauvin did the kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, as he kept saying over and over again "I CAN'T BREATHE!"
But there were three others who stood by and did nothing to stop it. For 8 long minutes Floyd pleaded with them all. Keep in mind, Floyd was handcuffed. He was lying face down on the pavement with his hands behind his back in handcuffs. He didn't resist. He didn't struggle. He complied every step of the way. He posed no threat to those officers, especially to the cop with his hands in his pocket as he kneeled on Floyd's neck. Essentially squeezing the life out of him. And now, he is dead today.
And the country is on fire in more ways than just some buildings burning.
This ex-cop Tou Thao was seen just standing there doing nothing. Where was the compassion Tou? Where was the common decency for your fellow man? Where was COMMON SENSE? It was no where to be found. Only hate and racism was evident. And the results of their lack of action is the riots, the fires, the looting, and the disruption of businesses and people's livelihoods.
All because of these four ex-police officers who did nothing to save this man's life. They did nothing. And I'll bet anything that if they could go back and do it differently George Floyd would be alive today. And Derek Chauvin would have a black eye from being hit by one of his fellow cops. Instead, we have this.
It was the PERFECT STORM for the Riots and Fires.
Two months of SOCIAL DISTANCING From The Current Pandemic has created this Firestorm, and as I write this it is still ongoing.
Fires in Minneapolis. They even burned down a police officer's building.
They burned police officer's vehicles in New York.
And in Atlanta they burned police vehicles and vandalized many office buildings. Including the CNN building. It was rioting TV. Not that I was looking for that. But after watching the LA riots and the Black Lives Matter and other such protests, it's easy to get sucked up into the whole mob mentality of what these things end up being. I end up feeling terrible about all the businesses that lose everything in these fires and vandalism. And I truly feel bad for the good and decent police officers and law enforcement, that have to take the heat because of those four losers. I honestly feel terrible for them.
And before I move onto the next subject, it is important for me to let you all know, that I have several close friends in law enforcement. I love and respect them all. So when these four individuals pull this crap off, it gives all the good cops a bad name. My heart is breaking for all the good and decent people who are being affected by this. I hope there's peace and justice soon.
So what is the story behind naming our new puppy Zorro?
Well the truth is, Max (above) was himself almost named Zorro.
It's true. I wanted to name our son Zorro when Cory was pregnant with him. Why? I liked the way the names ran together. ZORRO FATELLO. It had kind of a cool flow. It was visually attractive to me. And I thought he could have just signed his name with a Z. I was of course shot down by the powers that be (namely my wife) and we passed on the name. My second choice was Elvis Fatello. You know, like Elvis Costello. Again I was forced to shelve that concept. Whenever Max found out later in life about me wanting to name him Zorro, he couldn't believe it. "Dad I can't believe you wanted to name me Zorro." We would laugh but then I would say "How many kids in your class were named Zorro?" So imagine our surprise when it was Max himself who came up with the name for the puppy. "You got your wish dad, one of your boys will be named Zorro."
It's true, I was a big fan of Zorro in the 1957-59 Walt Disney series.
"Out of the night, when the full moon is bright,
Comes the horseman known as Zorro.
This bold renegade carves a Z with his blade,
A Z that stands for Zorro.
Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z."
"Stop The Hate- Surfing, Zorro, and Love Heals All Wounds."
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This week's Ed's corner looks like Stevie O'Hara but that board is not something that Stevie would ride. But then again, I've seen Stevie on all kinds of water craft. This was late winter early Spring at the Wall in 2008.
Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
Now for Some Local, National and International News
Tomorrow June 1st, 2020 New Hampshire will be able to kind of enjoy our beaches again. Fingers are crossed.
We're all hoping that everything goes according to plan.
My friend and fellow guitarist Johnny A was featured on the cover with The BEATLES. Johnny is a huge Beatles fan and saw them in 1966 at Suffolk Downs in Boston. I know that he's beyond stoked to be on the cover with with them.
PLEASE HELP THESE GO FUND ME Posts (Below).
Click on the image below to MAKE A DONATION. Greg Smith was one of the BEST surfers to ever come out of NH. If you can afford it, please make a donation. Thank you.
The ASA BREBNER GoFundMe page is also asking for Donations. If you donate $25 or more you get a CD of the artists who are recorded some of Asa's songs. Yeah, I'm one of them. If you can afford it, please donate to this fund raiser. Thank You.
Click on the image above to make a Donation. Thank you.
ESM (Eastern Surf Magazine) using a READY MAG format did the Best of Ralph's Pic. And while they couldn't possibly use everything thing I've ever done, they did manage to put up some 50 pics of mine, plus two videos. And I was truly humbled by their intro. Mez said some nice things about me. CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE WHOLE Spread.
GRANITE GIRLS and The RIVER WOMEN from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.
NOW AVAILABLE on VIMEO ON DEMAND. You have spoken and I have listened. You don't have a DVD player so I made it available Online. Watch it on your Smart TV, your computer, or your cellphone! I can't make this any easier my friends. Unless of course I hand deliver to each and every
one of you.
KSM Photoshop of the Week
What if 45 had a change of heart and welcomed KSM into his inner circle? I mean now that Kim Yong Un is missing, I think it might be nice for him to have another evil buddy that he could hang out with. Maybe he could teach KSM how to shave all that body hair off? Lord knows he could use it.
And so my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).
*Note to self -must pick up a case of Body Hair Removal
at Home Depot this week.
HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY Brylee May 22nd!
REMEMBER THE FALLEN MEMORIAL DAY May 25th, 2020!
GOODBYE MAY WELCOME JUNE!
PLEASE Keep longtime NH Surfer Greg Smith in your Prayers.
Lenny Nichols & Colin Madden
Co-Directors, NNE District
Eastern Surfing Association
@esa.nne.surf
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 16 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo
from any of the weeks on RPOTW.
Remember
my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
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