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Saturday August 26, 2000.
I am enjoying the warm summer night and strolling along a popular boulevard. The sounds of music and foreign languages come and go in waves. I pass by clubs and people, all dressed up with places to go. A buzz of energy abounds and the mood is festive, but that ends as we encounter the police checkpoint. Police cars block the two lane street, officers stop every car, some people are asked for documentation, some cars are searched and most are told to turn around. Other police officers line the sidewalk near the checkpoint. Private security lurch outside many of the night clubs. Often we are told to “Keep moving”, especially when caught walking too slowly or stopping to take a picture.
This is the latest entry in my journal. My journal consists mostly of my travel experiences, replete with many encounters with the law and the lawless.
In India the police searched our trunk and collected a “donation”. In Mozambique I narrowly avoided arrest for video taping near an airport. I have survived soccer riots in Brussels and Martial Law in Ecuador during their border war with Peru.
So the location of my latest encounter? You would not be surprised if I told you this checkpoint was in China or Iraq. By now we all know such things are common in much of South America and elsewhere. I am curious to find out how many people would be surprised to learn that it was closer to home. A lot closer. In my case, it was my home, Hollywood, California U.S.A. The world famous Sunset Strip to be exact.
If you are not surprised or concerned, you should be. America too often seems to be on the verge of becoming a Police State so methodically that we have come to expect such scenes in our streets. The excuses have been pounded into our consciousness; the Drug War, illegal aliens, sobriety checkpoints, fear of protesters and on it goes. Now in Hollywood cruising or even walking too slowly is cause to be inconvenienced or harassed. If the goal is to stop people from driving on a public street, then I suggest making it pedestrian only and free up the police to go out and “Protect and Serve” where they are needed.
Ironically, while I passed by a line of police officers, a “Robbery in Progress” call blared out from their radios. I wondered what was becoming of notions such as Personal Liberties and Pursuit of Happiness. I could not help but to wonder what the many tourists were thinking. The people that were being robbed were likely wondering where the police were when they needed them.
I don’t presume to have all the answers but I do know where many of the police were last Saturday night. They were conducting military style checkpoints on Sunset Blvd!
Is the Number / Symbol 69 Evil??? The California DMV says YES!!!
www.6zen9.com
STATE OF CALIFORNIA BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING AGENCY GRAY DAVIS Governor
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES INFO
REGISTRATION OPERATIONS DIVISION
P.O.BOX 932345
SACRAMENTO, CA 94232-3450
JULY 17TH, 2000
MR. STENGEL LIC: 6 ZEN 9
Your request for the above listed Environmental License Plate has been received in the Department of Motor Vehicles Headquarters Office and reviewed.
Unfortunately, we are unable to approve the requested plate configuration for the above listed plate number for the following reason(s) indicated below.
1. California Vehicle Code, Section 5105(a), states, we must refuse any license plate configuration which carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency, or which may be misleading to some of our citizens.
2. A refund in the amount of $41.00 is being processed and will be mailed under separate cover. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks delivery.
Thank you for your interest in the California Environmental License Plate Program. If you have any questions, please call (916) 657-7654
Sincerely,
M. HOOKS, Manager
Special Processing Unit
SMC
6969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969
Coming soon a list of other evils that the DMV may want to look into. Such as:
The number 69 as seen on sport jerseys
Buildings with 69 floors
The years 1969 and 1869, 1769, 1669 etc.
People age 69
People born on 6/9
Math books with the number 69
All books with page number 69
As the DMV stated, they are the thought police of what SOME CITIZENS may find offensive. Watch out!!! If we must live our lives by what SOME PEOPLE believe!
SOME PEOPLE are stupid, hateful, mentally unbalanced and just plane ignorant!
The DMV is the Champion of SOME PEOPLE. What about the rest of the people?
I EXPLAINED TO THE DMV THAT THE 69 SYMBOL AND THE THEORY OF ZEN IS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD AND MEANT IN REGARDS TO A BALANCE AND HARMONY IN LIFE.
They would allow plates with KILLING SPEEDING STUPIDITY etc
But not the mellow old Zen symbol.
THERE ARE NO DIRTY NUMBERS - ONLY DIRTY MINDS
And they are very busy with this sort of work at the DMV.
Is this why the roads of Los Angeles have more pot holes than roads in a third world country? Tax money wasted on Dirty Minded Zealots!
The number 86 can mean DEATH
The number 6 can mean BEER
The number 12 can mean BEER or SHOTGUN
The number 45 can mean GUN
The number 9 can mean WELL DRESSED, YARDAGE
or that the Beatles were DROPPING ACID
The number 21 can mean BLACKJACK or LEGAL DRINKING
The number 714 can mean QUAALUDE
The number 420 can mean PARTY
The number 3 can mean a CROWD or a PARTY
NOTHING BUT SCARY NUMBERS EVERYWHERE!!!
HELP US DMV! SAVE US FROM OURSELVES!!!
(do so and be number 1 in my book)
6969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969
