More on the Josh Powell Fiasco

This is really a response to BMan’s comment on my last post, and I felt it was worthy of a new post. He put a lot of thought into it and I put a lot of thought into my response.

When we go to Nostradamus’s quatrains, they can be interpreted in any number of ways to suit the person or group that’s trying to prove a link between him and the event. For instance, Hister became Hitler, but in actuality, Hister is the Latin word for Danube. Sure, that’s in Germany, but no reputable source lists any support for the claim that it was a prediction of war brought on by Hitler’s Nazis, nor was it a war forged against him by the Allies. That’s but one example and we all know they are legion, meaning lots and lots of interpretations to fit the mood du jour.

In “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, the dialogue between the newspaper editor and the hero, Senator Rance Stoddard, played by Jimmy Stewart, was pretty much the way it was when bad guys roamed the west. By that, I mean John Ford, who directed many westerns from 1939-1965, pretty much wrote the script for what we now perceive was the true old west. In real life, it wasn’t. To be blunt, almost every town had prostitutes, but not Shinbone, for example. Anyway, what the editor said as his interview with Stoddard ended was, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

It came near the end of the movie after Stoddard explained what really happened to villain Liberty Valance, played by Lee Marvin. Stoddard said that he wasn’t the town’s hero, it was Tom Doniphon, played by the iconic John Wayne. Doniphon shot the bad guy.

That’s how legends are borne, and the name Nostradamus is legendary.

If we pay heed to the Mayan calendar the way some read Nostradamus, then yes, the world will end this year, but that’s not at all what the calendar infers. The Mayans created a long count calendar to document past and future events. They also had a 52 year calendar, but the long count calendar spans 5,126 years, beginning in the year 3114 B.C and ending on Dec.21, 2012 if, and only if, it’s based on our Gregorian calendar. Dec. 21 is also the beginning of the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere, so if you live in Australia, you won’t die that day.

Here’s where the interpreters got it all wrong, and that’s why the ‘end of days’ predictions are way off kilter. As I said in the prevoius post, there are no such things as predictions, although educated guesses may work based on factual information that supports the propositions. In other words, A conditions B; if this, then that could happen – only there’s nothing to base the prediction on because it would mean the earth was formed in 3114 B.C. And it will end 5,126 years later, in 2012. But guess what? The earth is a lot older than 5,126 years and, therefore, the 2012 date is rendered meaningless. There’s nothing to base the hypothesis on. It does not compute.

As for Josh, yes, it could have been established that he was a risk, but first we have to address the issue of what separates a “person of interest” and a “suspect.” During the Bush administration, it came about, in a round-about, straightforward sort of way, if that makes sense, as a means to classify terrorists. It soon trickled down to law enforcement. The main difference between POI and suspect comes in the form of constitutional protection. If someone’s name is plastered all over the news as the suspect and it turns out law enforcement goofed, all sorts of lawsuits can be filed. Look at the case of Richard Jewell, the first named (and only) suspect in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing during the summer of 1996. He was completely exonerated, but by then, the mess had turned into a huge fiasco. He filed a series of suits against media outlets that libeled him, including NBC, Tom Brokaw in particular. He settled that suit for $500,000, but bear in mind, Jewell was sued by some of the injured while a suspect and it complicated things further. His exoneration came later that same year by a US Attorney; unprecedented at the time.

What we’ve learned is that you’d better be sure before you name someone a suspect because it could open the floodgates to potential legal problems.

Okay, fine, but what about Josh Powell? Certainly he was a suspect from Day 1, right? Yes and no. No, meaning there wasn’t any evidence. Nothing. Nil. Nada. Just that his wife didn’t come home and he took his very young sons out camping in sub-freezing weather. Very suspicious. Utilizing the “person of interest” euphemism instead of the direct finger pointing nomenclature of “suspect” for Josh meant there hadn’t been enough evidence to do much of anything, and it most likely meant that the Utah police department investigating the case had little to share with their Washington counterparts. It also meant they had nothing to keep him from leaving the state with his sons.

Unfortunately, if someone is named a POI, their life will change, but at the same time, if someone is named a suspect, it could ruin an innocent person’s life for years to come. There’s always that stigma. If you look at Dale Smith II, in the missing Michelle Parker case, if it turns out he is not responsible for Michelle’s disappearance, he could possibly file lawsuits. However, that does not mean he’ll win, but the odds are much better than if he were just named a person of interest.

Do I think the Washington police were keeping their eyes focused on Powell? Of course they were, but their hands were tied by law. It was the court’s responsibility, but it could only be based on what was presented to the judge in the first place.

I can tell you some interesting stories about legal custody cases and how the state is extremely particular about how they handle each one. Surely, the case worker knew about Josh’s problem in Utah, but she couldn’t really base any court testimony on what he did –- or may have done –- out-of-state. The court would have called her on the carpet for it. It was second-hand information garnered from newspaper clippings, radio, and watching the news. Oh yes, and the Internet. If she contacted Utah authorities, what could they have told her other than he was a person of interest?

So, in the interest of keeping lawsuits in check, her hands were tied. Many police departments will call an almost suspect “a person of interest” for a very good reason, but the results of the psychological evaluation Josh had last October should have sent sirens blaring. If the court felt it was necessary to examine him further by administering a psycho-sexual test, why allow him to see his children at all, especially now that they were aware that anime child porn was found on his computer? In my opinion, he shouldn’t have been allowed to see his sons until he passed that one. Surely, there should have been concern over the polygraph test, too, because he would have been probed about the disappearance of his wife.

Despite the fact that all of the visitations between Josh and his sons were supervised, it wasn’t enough, obviously. The thing the judge could have done would have been to be much more prudent. Yes, it’s nice you moved away from your perverted father, but we found some pretty sick stuff on your computer, so until the results of your psycho-sexual test are in my hands, you will meet your children on neutral ground or not at all.

Ultimately, no one else but Josh Powell was to blame. He plotted this course and if it meant blowing up a McDonald’s PlayPlace, he would have done that, too. Judges sometimes base their decisions on how the person handles themselves in the courtroom, or they take it into consideration. Powell was really good at lying and crying. He was a real wolf in sheep’s clothing, alright, but wolves don’t usually eat their young. Who knew he would be capable of doing such a horrible thing?

I’m sure his psyche will be studied for a long time by many professionals, but will it stop other people like Josh from doing the same thing if there’s nothing to “suspect” because they are merely “a person of interest” in another state? I just don’t know.

Comments

[SnoopySleuth]

Dave~~I just googled "cows swallow magnets" and it is true. Now I have heard everything. LOL I thought at first it was a joke.

[Dave Knechel]

I never heard of it before, and I spent many of my early years on farms.

[Tiffany]

This is really interesting writing and commentary from yourself Dave and other readers. Yesterday, in Brisbane, a well respected School teacher tossed his toddler son off the Storey Bridge then jumped himself. Murder Suicide. It's becoming all too common.

The red shirt is very becoming :)

Why, thank you very much, Tiffany! I really like to write simulating articles that beg for thoughtful commentary. Interestingly, throughout the Anthony ordeal, I read an onslaught of comments, mostly elsewhere, that questioned the sanity of people in Florida because the state was under a microscope. Over time, with crimes against children being reported in many other states, the focus expanded, but people living in other areas of the globe wondered what it was about people in the United States. I think, because this country is a major source of news around the globe, other parts of the free world don't cover these types of stories to the same degree. Yes, locally, but the U.S. is a real media mecca. Sadly, I've always told readers that this sort of thing goes on everywhere in the world, and it's always been this way. Today, though, we get news within minutes of it occurring and it tends to over saturate our sensitive brains. Bad news always trumps good because it makes us shake our heads in disgust. Sorry to hear about that well-respected school teacher. I don't think we'll ever know what made him snap.

I'm glad you think the red shirt is right for me. Sometime, I'll have to tell you why I refuse to wear any type of red shirt in June. Not here, anyway.

[MysticalPippin]

Hi Dave
I hope you're feeling better soon. I'm guessing its due to your trip to the dentist?

I want to comment on the Mayan Calendar prediction and will get to todays post later in another post. First, the Mayans never predicted the end of the world. They don't even suggest it in their calendar that interpretation (or rumor if you will) came about by a historian (don't remember his name) in 1935 while attempting to decipher the Mayan language or calendar...... and the rest as they say is history!

The Mayan language presents a huge argument among professionals involved in deciphering the calendar and the Mayan language. The reason is its too complicated to understand their language because of the mixture of even older civilization's languages, and symbols - prior to the Mayans existence. Different perceptions, and interpretations have caused much disagreement and controversy among these scholars.

Second, the calendar itself is wrought with symbols, events and time counts based on those previous civilizations short and long counts (Mesoamericans, and Haab to name a few) Plus the Mayans own interpretations of those prior languages. The calendar is also based on their interpretations of the cosmos. The mayans believed in ascension and this so called doomsday prediction conflicts with that belief. Without getting into the convoluted counts and believe me they are convoluted, - their first calendar had 260 days in it which had something to do with the number 13 - a number of great importance to the Mayans its safe to say no one to date has been able to fully understand their language or their calendar.

My take from what I've read is that the calendar suggests a "new beginning" which to me means a new "age". Its also logical to assume that the calendar is cyclical and the end of it simply means its time to start (or refresh) over. One thing it does predict is a celestial event ocurring sometime between Aug and Dec of 2012 which would go along with a new age starting. But we don't know yet if they were correct about that. I hope this make sense - I always have a hard time explaining this without sounding like a nut. I've read quite a bit about the Mayan calendar predictions and even though I understand what I've read I have a hard time putting it in my own words. Let me just say its the misinterpretation of these ancient civilizations languages and their short/long counts that has caused the 2012 doomsday belief.

Hi MysticalPippin -

I'm happy that someone with more knowledge of Mayan history and the “calendar” than me is here to explain the facts. I, for one, never believed in any sort of doomsday prediction.

Without any further ado, I am going to take your valuable and insightful comment and let it speak for itself. I am quite fascinated in this subject matter, but I am not well-versed at all. You explained it and if anyone thinks you are a nut, then in actuality, they are the nuts. If something of consequence does occur in our solar system between August and December of this year, then atleast we should know that it will have nothing to do with any sort of Mayan doomsday calendar. Thanks for explaining it so well, and a big thank you for being concerned over my health. So far, I'm hanging in there, dentist and all.

[Tiffany]

As interesting as the inner workings of a psycho's mind is Dave, im afraid my mind has fallen below your red shirt. The new banner mooved me in the nicest way. Hmm, so you spent your formative years getting down and dirty on a farm? It might be worthy of a blog. Especially if it's called A roll in the hay. You have my full attention Dave :)

Below my red shirt, Tiffany? Isn't that the land from down under?

I wasn't a farmer, actually. There were farm hands for that kind of work, but I have shoveled manure and tossed bales of hay in my day. It was a great experience growing up, and HAY! You got my complete attention, too!

[New Puppy]

For quite some time now I have noticed Casey Anthony is referred to as Ca Ca and can only assume that it is calling her a piece of shit. Is it acceptable if I refer to Josh Powell as (JP) just piss! If not why not? One act against a child is just as sickening as another, so we can go back a long way and find bathroom language for all of the accused. Actually I prefer not to do any of it, for the sake of exposing my own immaturity.

Rather than go back to todays post, I'll just say it here, Jose Baez did not "win" the Casey Anthony case, therefore Jeff Ashton didn't "lose" the case.

New Puppy - I take full responsibility for Ca Ca because I wanted to strike Casey's name from the record. It was based on George being called Jo Jo bu Caylee, and Cindy being called Ci Ci. That was then, and today, I don't care what she's called.

[MysticalPippin]

I love that analogy New Puppy. Good one!

Dave thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm glad to hear that you're fascinated about this because I am too, (I guess it shows by my commenting about it instead of the real subject here and for that I apologize to everyone but I know its ok with you Dave) I'm actually fascinated with the whole Mayan era and have been since the 70's when I read the book Chariot of the Gods.(not sure about title) In the mid 80's Leonard Nimoy narrated this series on Nova which was somewhat about that book and he (Nimoy) played a roll in the research and writing as well so I'm guessing it must be an interest of his too. For those who don't know of that book its about ancient civilizations and its mysteries relating to aliens and the cosmos. Then a couple years ago it became a newly revived interest for me - I guess because of the 2012 movie.

Are you familiar with Coast to Coast radio? Its talk radio for everything unusual. They periodically have guests - experts in various fields, archeology or historians and such who give insight into the Mayan culture. The history channel has the occasional documentary on them as well.

The Mayan fascinate me because they were such progressive thinkers (even though they practiced the occasional human sacrifice ritual...) and there really is a lot of elements that are still undecipherable in their language. its true, other races who came before them also have that issue but the Mayans left so many artifacts behind including thousands of scrolls of historical data plus these amazing mathematical algorithms and of course the pyramids which were built differently then the ones in Egypt. It gives us this tiny peek - but not enough....... hence the intrigue.

Since we're so close to the doomsday date (and an election year too!) I'm thinking about blogging about this subject cause there's a lot more interest right now. And there's a lot of material on it.

You know, MysticalPippin, I almost mentioned Erich von Däniken and “Chariots of the Gods?” Yes, the book title has a question mark at the end. I, too, was fascinated when I saw the TV show in the early 70s and immediately went out and bought the book. Books, actually, because he wrote one after the first one was such a huge success.

I am not at all familiar with Coast-to-Coast radio, but I do have a membership with History Channel. I'll do some “archeological” online digging on the radio network. Incidentally, a lot of von Däniken's material has been debunked. For instance, he wrote that the stone quarries for building the pyramids were too far away to move across the vast desert, etc., so the Egyptians must have had celestial help, but he purposely neglected to mention that it could have been easily performed if moved a few miles to the Nile and then shipped down river. Still, his work is quite stimulating.

I think it's great that you have such a strong interest in Mayan history and culture. I've aleways been fascinated with all things weird, so don't ever be shy about it on my blog. I enjoy it.