Art Whore

Cleaning the oceans one step at a time

Video filmed by Brian Nuttall on October 31, 2015 in Nova Scotia shows the Earth “breathing.”

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson told a group of First Nations leaders on Wednesday he is trying to rid the force of racist cops within its ranks.

“I understand that there are racists in my police force. I don’t want them to be in my police force,” Paulson said to chiefs and other First Nations delegates gathered in Gatineau, Que., for an annual three-day meeting organized by the Assembly of First Nations.

Paulson’s comments came after one chief urged the top Mountie to address racism within the force.

“We encounter racism every single day. Some of the worst racists carry a gun and they carry a badge authorized by you, Commissioner Paulson, to do the work,” said Grand Chief Doug Kelly, leader of the Sto:lo Tribal Council in British Columbia.

“We need you to confront racism in the ranks.”

Paulson said the RCMP Act, which was updated for the first time in 30 years during the last Parliament, gives him and other commanding officers the authority to handle matters of discipline in a “very decisive” manner.

Canada’s top Mountie said First Nations could even call him directly to report racist officers.

“I would encourage you all, though, to have confidence in the processes that exist, up to and including calling me if you are having a problem with a racist in your jurisdiction or any other problem.

“We have elaborate systems to bring accountability to those people that are trusted, and in some cases not trusted but who are in power to deliver policing services,” Paulson said.

Remember: You do not have to let the police in the house unless they have a warrant — or probable cause. If you’re having a party, turn off the music, ask your guests to chill, and ask that anyone who’s too intoxicated carry on in another room.

Go outside to speak with the cops. Close the door behind you. Although some scary precedents are being set these days, police cannot enter your home without a warrant or probable cause. By closing the door, you’re cutting off a visual — or olfactory — line to potential probable cause.

Be polite. Ask why they are there. “Good evening, Officer. What can I help you with?”

Where possible, assure them you will take care of the problem. If the police ask to enter, inform them, “I do not consent to any searches.” If a police officer gives you an order and you are confused about your position, ask, “Do I have to comply?” If they continue with questioning, tell them you’ll need to call your lawyer and that you will not answer any questions.

widdershins—in the opposite direction; counter-clockwise; generally used to refer to walking in a counter-clockwise direction.

The lore of this word connects it to witchcraft.  To walk widdershins around an object or person was to bring evil and dark magic.  Witches were said to dance widdershins in their nightly revels.  The opposite of “widdershins” was “deasil.”  To walk deasil was to bring good fortune.  

The tradition of clock hands going from left to right is very old.  The first large European cathedral clocks date to the 1300’s had this directionality.  The direction of movement was a natural adoption of the direction of movement of the sun across the sky and, more directly connected to time-keeping, the direction of the sun’s shadow on a sundial.  Our modern equivalents, of the words “widdershins” and “deasil” are respectively “counter-clockwise” and “clockwise.” The latter terms appear to be relatively new inventions with first written usage attested as recently as the 1870’s.  Other than for the practice of witchcraft, there must not have been much early use for words for circularly directed movement, one way or the other. 

Where do we turn now?  This two-dimensional directionality depends of one’s point of view.  Seen from behind a clock’s hands will go from right to left, counter-clockwise.  This ambiguity disappears, however, in three dimensions.  No amount of twisting and turning and observing from different sides will turn a right-handed helix into a left handed helix.  This “handedness” or “chirality” of a three dimensional object in Euclidean space is maintained no matter in how many higher dimensions it becomes embedded.  All real objects are chiral; no physical object is truly symmetric.

Word origin:  While widdershins and deasil are often paired, they have different origins.  Widdershins is Germanic in origin while deasil is Gaelic.  The modern German equivalent of widdershins is widersinnig, preposterous, from wider, against, and sinnes, sense.  The first written record of the two words is from the early 1500’s, but the usage must go back to earlier roots in British folklore. 

More and more:

Deosil and widdershins energies in modern witchcraft

Why Is Clockwise Clockwise?

Gunman is in custody after an hourslong standoff with police inside a Colorado Planned Parenthood.

One officer and two civilians were killed in the attack.