The new Polite device

Eddie and I were at the park this morning. A man came up and decided that he didn't "like my kind" in the park, and told me to leave. I told him that Eddie just had surgery so I didn't want to jostle him around. The elevation to violent threats from the man was nearly instantaneous. While listening to him I took out my digital video camera and turned it on, telling the man while I was doing this, that I had 1.5 hours of time on the camera, and another camera in my bag to insure I got his "good side".

The elevation to polite and understanding conversation was nearly instantaneous.

The world of digital video is wonderful. It isn't like the film days, when the camera could be destroyed, and the film (evidence) with it; digital cameras use memory cards, which are very protected inside the hard body of the camera. Even if the camera is thrown into water, it is very likely the memory card will remain usable.

After Eddie was more alert and I gave him his medicine, we left the park.

At Starbucks I discovered the video clip of the cop throwing a man in a wheelchair to the ground, while other cops look on without comment. It appears the scene is taking place inside the police station, so the cop has to know that the video camera is there, and still he performs this assault.

so ... don't depend on a camera always having a "polite" effect on people. Some people are just violent no matter what is going on, or who is watching.

Eddie appears to be in normal-for-Eddie spirits. The first time I gave him his antibiotics he was ok with it, but the next time, he understood what was about to happen and he's fought me about it every time since. He can be rather indignant at times, and doesn't give a damn if I video tape his assault on my hand or not.