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Issue 358 - 9/8/2008
SNIPPETZ SOARS WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE HAPPY 61ST BIRTHDAY! by Deborah Stumpf 
A modern, autonomous, and thoroughly trained Air Force in being at all times will not alone be sufficient, but without it there can be no national security.”
General H. H. ‘Hap’ Arnold, USAAF It was 61 years ago on September 18, 1947 that the Air Force became a branch of the United States military, previously a part of the U.S. Army. The National Security Act of 1947 created the U.S. Department of Defense made up of three branches – Navy, Army and Air Force. Prior to this Act, aviation was part of the Army and Navy. However, these branches continue to operate their own aircraft for both support and combat. The United States Air Force has 302 flying squadrons and over 7,500 aircraft including those for air to ground attack, bombers, helicopters, tankers, reconnaissance, transports, and trainers. The USAF is headquartered at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and is lead by Mr. Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force; General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff; General Duncan McNabb, Vice Chief of Staff; and CMSgt. Rodney J. McKinley, Chief master Sergeant. USAF Core Values: Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do. Mission: To deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests – to fly and fight in air, space and cyberspace. CALLING COLORADO SPRINGS HOME Colorado Springs is the proud home of three Air Force centers – The Air Force Academy, Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base. UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY The USAFA is a four-year academic institution where a cadet graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree and is commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force. Some areas of study include astronautical, civil, aeronautical and electrical engineering; computer science; law and international affairs; management, behavioral science and human physiology; economics, political science and military history, to name a few. And, of course, military and flight training are an integral part of cadet education. On many days of the year one can see the AFA cadets parachuting from the Colorado skies. PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE Established in 1942, Peterson AFB is the home of the Air Force Space Command and serves as a supporting airfield for the Air Force Academy and Schriever AFB. In 2006, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) was relocated to Peterson AFB. SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE Formerly known as the Falcon Air Force Station from 1985 and 1998, Schriever AFB provides command and control for defense warning, navigational and communications satellites. It houses the Space Innovation & Development Center, the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center and the Global Positioning System (GPS). SIGN ME UP Becoming an airman in the USAF is to become a member of an elite few, the crème de la crème. There are various requirements that must be met: • Obtain a bachelor’s degree at a civilian college/university or at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. • Be an officer with a rank of second lieutenant by either completing a Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program at a civilian college/university; attending Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama; or applying to the Air Force Academy. The application must be accompanied by a nomination from a member of Congress and candidates must pass medical and physical fitness exams. There are only about 1,400 applicants accepted yearly. • Be at least 18 years of age and enter flight training before turning 30 years old. • Be a citizen of the United States. • Score a minimum of 25 points on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test, pilot portion, and pass a basic aptitude test. • Complete a Flying Class I physical, as well as background checks, physical and psychological testing. Pilots must be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall and no more than 6 feet 5 inches tall. Disqualifications include overweight, allergies after the age of 12, colorblindness or difficulties with depth perception (no laser surgery allowed), or vision worse than 20/50 in one or both eyes. • Training at Flight School at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. CAN I FLY NOW? Not really. First, there is the introductory flight training consisting of 25 hours of hands-on flying and 25 hours of classroom instruction. The hands-on training can be gained from ROTC or Officer Training School. These courses are taught in single-engine, propeller-driven planes. Next, soon-to-be pilots participate in a one-year program learning basic flight skills including classroom instruction, simulator training and hands-on flying. These programs are offered at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi or Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. These long training days (10-12 hours) are followed by advanced training to learn how to fly specific Air Force planes. FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET The USAF Thunderbirds perform throughout the U.S. and areas of the world as the Air Demonstration Squadron unit. They have been dazzling spectators with their aerobatic formations since 1953 when they performed at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. These skilled Thunderbirds serve between two and four years depending on whether they are officers or enlisted personnel. New pilots are being trained every year. The Thunderbirds fly Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcons, the same aircraft used in combat with a few modifications to include red, white and blue paint, exchanging the cannon and ammunition drum with smoke-generating systems and removing the jet fuel starter exhaust door. These aircraft as well as the Thunderbird pilots can be easily returned to combat state with little notice. SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE The United States Air Force Band was formed in 1941, providing world class musical entertainment around the world. The Band serves to increase public awareness of the Air Force mission, enhance morale and aid in recruiting. The Air Force Band is made up of seven different ensembles – Ceremonial Brass, Airmen of Note, Air Force Strings, Silver Wings, Singing Sergeants, Concert Band and Max Impact. NOTABLE SNIPPETZ • Basic training runs for 6.5 weeks and has ranged anywhere from 2 weeks to 13 weeks in length since USAF inception depending on service needs. • In 1945, the Army turned over the Colorado Springs Army Air Base (now Peterson Field), then housed at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, to the City of Colorado Springs. Between 1945 and 1951 it was activated and deactivated several times. • Peterson AFB was given its current name in 1942 in honor of an airman who died on the base in a plane crash. • In 1998, Schriever Air Force Base was renamed from Falcon Air Force Base in honor of General Bernard Adolph Schriever, retired, who developed the ballistic missile program. It is the only base ever named after a living person at that time. • The first female Thunderbird pilot was Captain Nicole Malachowski, accepted in 2005; and the first female solo pilot was Captain Samantha Weeks, accepted in 2006. • A Beanhead is a term used to describe fourth class cadets who have shaved heads early in the year. • Every U.S. President except Eisenhower and Carter have spoken at an Air Force Academy graduation ceremony since the Academy’s inception. Notable speakers other than U.S. Presidents are the USAF Chief of Staff, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Air Force and Vice President. Barry M. Goldwater was the only U.S. Senator to speak at an Air Force graduation and did so on two occasions. Issue 359 - 9/15/2008
ARR ME MATEY... SNIPPETZ BE TALKIN' LIKE A PIRATE by Deborah Stumpf 
"Fifteen men on the dead man's chest -- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"
“Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson Arr me hearty, here at Snippetz, we be gettin’ ready for International Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19. We be bettin’ ye thought it would ne’er be here soon enough! Who Came Up With This Idea? A couple of regular mateys from Corvallis, Oregon came up with the idea in 1995 when during a racquetball game between the two, one yelled “Aaarrrr” after a fall. Being the fun guys they were, John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy") officially named Sept. 19 (Summer’s ex-wife’s birthday) International Talk Like a Pirate Day. The holiday started off as an inside joke between the two mateys, but in 2002 they wrote to author, humorist and syndicated columnist Dave Barry who rather fancied the idea and promoted it in his column. In more recent years, Bauer and Summers have found more than their 15 minutes of fame. Both appeared on ABC’s Wife Swap in 2006 as a pirate family. Bauer appeared as a contestant just this summer on CBS’ Jeopardy, referring to himself as a pirate and writer. They have a website dedicated to the holiday and all things pirate where fellow enthusiasts can purchase books, t-shirts and other fun pirate booty. Talkin’ The Talk In order to celebrate the holiday properly, ye must learn a bit o’ lingo. • Start all sentences with “Arr, me matey” or “Arr, me hearty.” • Don’t use the word ‘my’ to describe your possessions. It’s ‘me grog,’ ‘me lass.’ • Never speak in the past or future tense. Always use ‘be’ – I be, you be, they be. • Drop all g’s and v’s when you speak – ne’er, writin,’ fightin,’ drinkin’ and cussin,’ • Be sure to use ye best deep, throaty-sounding voice when ye speak in pirate-ese. Once ye get the basics down, here are some words to add to ye vocabulary for the day: • Ahoy - Hey • Avast Ye – Hey, stop and listen up; check this out • Aye – Yes • Aye Aye – Yes sir, I be doin’ what ye ask NOW. • Bilge rat – A derogatory term to call your friends and coworkers. The bilge is the lowest part of the ship where the rats live in the slimy stinky water found there. • Booty – Treasure • Cackle fruit – Chicken eggs • Davy Jones Locker – An imaginary place at the bottom of the sea where it is said that the souls of dead sailors and pirates lie. If ye be in Davy’s Grip, ye be scared or close to dyin.’ • Fiddlers Green – Pirate heaven • Grog – A pirate drink made of rum and water. It is said that a bit o’ rum was added to their water that had been stored in bales. The rum helped take away the scummy taste and hopefully kill some germs. • Lily-livered – Faint of heart • Matey – A friend or fellow pirate • Me hearty – A friend or fellow pirate • Poop deck – It’s not what you think. The poop deck is the deck on a ship that is the highest and farthest to the stern (back). The ‘head’ is the toilet, which is simply a hole cut in a deck that allows waste to go into the sea. • Scallywag – A scoundrel • Shiver me timbers – A saying used to express shock or disbelief. It is said that the saying described what happened when the wind howled and rattled the wood planks of the ship. However, some say that it was really a way for a pirate to request a back shave. Apparently, pirates were superstitious about hairy backs (a feeling that stays with most of us to this day). Is it true? Not sure, but an interesting thought. • Sprogs – New recruits • Thar – There • Wench – Ye need to look this up on yer own since this be a family publication. • Yellow-Belly’d - Chicken Yo-Ho-Ho, It’s a Pirate’s Life For Me Being a pirate wasn’t all plundering and pillaging fun. Pirates spent countless months at sea on board fairly small ships with little food or drink. With no refrigerators or canned goods available, their version of cheese and crackers were stale crackers and weevils. Disease was common and rampant. Pirates would typically experience scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency which would cause their teeth to fall out and skin to go pale. It also led to the disease “crickets” which caused blindness. Hence, the reason we see pirates with an eye patch. Pirates also experienced dysentery and contacted Yellow Fever from mosquitoes. Many died from the fever, but some only experienced the high fever and then recovered. And then there was gangrene caused by untreated infections. An unlucky pirate with gangrene could only hope that there were sufficient rum rations still on board when it was time to amputate a limb. If caught and found guilty of pirateering, a pirate could be hung in front of townspeople or even decapitated. Sometimes the pirate’s head was put on a stick and marched around town for others to see in an attempt to discourage would-be pirates. Pirate Code of Conduct Yes, there was a code of conduct that included the following: • All shipmates have equal voting rights. • No women or boys allowed on board the ship. • Booty must be divided equally, as well as liquor and food. • No fighting between pirates. • No gambling. • Wounded pirates received a pension determined by the severity of their injuries. • Pirates must maintain their own weapons. Not following the code or breaking rules was punishable, but “Walkin’ the Plank” was not considered punishment except in fiction. Depending on the severity of the breach, a pirate could be marooned or put to death. Bountiful Booty Now for the pillaging that made it all worthwhile. The most prized booty were jewelry and precious stones, and gold and silver. However, other items were more commonly pillaged such as spices, quinine, medical supplies, food, linen and rope. Dividing the loot could be a little more challenging. According to the pirate code of conduct, the loot had to be divided equally. Some things were divided easily and others were more challenging. Jewelry would simply be cut with a knife in order to divide it evenly. A pirate could receive more than his fair share if he lost a limb or partial limb during an attack. A loss of a finger would earn 100 pieces of eight (silver that could be cut into eight small pieces); a right arm would earn 600 pieces of eight. More Pirate Particulars • Every holiday needs a patron saint, right? Talk Like a Pirate Day is no exception. Actor Robert Newton who played Long John Silver in Disney’s 1950 “Treasure Island” is the honorary patron saint of TLAPD. He’s the first that we know of to use the term “Arr matey.” • What about an anthem? We’ve got that, too - a catchy tune entitled “Talk Like a Pirate Day” written by Tom Smith. • Blackbeard started a fashion trend when he lost a leg to diabetes and wore a wooden leg. Pirates began to use wooden legs as a fashion statement, even adorning them with jewels. • Speaking of jewels, pirates wore pierced earrings because they thought it improved eyesight. Apparently, reading glasses were hard to come by at sea. • Contrary to Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” pirates likely did not have parrots or use treasure maps. And pirates typically did not bury their treasures, although Captain Kidd was known to do so. • Although women were not allowed aboard a pirate ship, there were still many famous women pirates including Mary Reed and Anne Bonney who pillaged in the Caribbean during the early 1700’s. Women would have to impersonate men to remain on the ship. Avast me hearty, be needin’ more on TLAPD? Go to http://www.talklikeapirate.com/, get yer mateys and sprogs on board and make a day of it, or ye be walkin’ the plank ye scallywag. Arrr, Me Hearty. Wantin' to know more about me mateys? Issue 767 THE IMAGE MAGAZINE
APR/MAY 2011 GARDENING IN MONUMENT (OR TRI-LAKES) 101 By Deborah Stumpf 
You've got to start somewhere!
Whether new to the area or just never “got it,” a novice as well as the seasoned green thumb can find gardening a challenge in the Tri-Lakes area. The most common misconception is that our elevation is the main factor. However, it’s the winds, low humidity and soil conditions that inhibit plant growth the most. With a little bit of planning and preparation, even us “brown thumbs” can have a beautiful flower garden, healthy trees and shrubs and, yes, even some tasty home-grown vegetables. Monument averages about 150 frost-free days each year, surprisingly only five less than Denver, as noted by the Colorado State University Extension. Late spring and early fall frosts cause much uncertainty about when to plant. As soon as the weather turns warm for more than three consecutive days in a row, we see many a new neighbor out happily planting flowers, only to do it all over again the end of May. Frost can hit as late as the first week of June and then rear its ugly head again around the first week of October. However, once Memorial Day comes around, the chances of a frost are only about 20 percent. In the Zone The USDA has established Hardiness Zones across the country that act as a guideline for farmers and gardeners to determine what plants work well in what geographic areas based on temperature extremes. Colorado zones range from 3 to 7; 3 being the coldest and 7 being the warmest. Monument is in Zone 4. Woody Woodworth, owner of High Country Home & Garden in Monument says some areas in our yards can have Zone 5 microclimates, especially in areas up against stucco or rock where it is protected and stays warmer. Woodworth also says the keys to successful gardening in this area are the 4 P’s: Plan it, prepare the soil, plant it right and protect it. Make a Plan A little bit of planning can save loads of time and money in the long run. Choose plants, trees and bushes that are known to survive and flourish well in this climate (see sample lists below). If unsure, visit a knowledgeable garden center in the area. Inconsistent weather conditions can wreak havoc with the best laid plans, so a good plan is to diversify, just like with a financial plan, particularly in the case of a vegetable garden. If the summer doesn’t turn out to be hot enough for a bumper tomato crop, the lettuce, kale and carrots will flourish in the cooler weather. In the case of flower gardens, plant like plants with similar needs and attributes together. Resist the temptation to mix sun and shade plants together. One group will thrive while the other wilts away. Soil There is little that can be done about low humidity, wind and high soil pH, so preparing and treating the soil properly is the one thing a gardener can do. Pre-treat soil with composted materials. For herbs, use ½ sand and ½ soil. They love to be watered, but need good drainage. Fertilize with a good quality organic fertilizer at appropriate times. These come in both liquid and granular types. Annuals should be fertilized once per week and perennials about every other week while in bloom. Protect If the critters go after your plants, take heart. There’s a product called “Liquid Fence” that will keep deer and rabbits away. Attention to application several times during the season will send the animals to your neighbor’s garden instead of yours. Liquid Fence also has a product for moles and voles. This repellant gets to the root of the matter, protecting plants from these little guys who love to feast on the plant roots. Dramatic temperature changes can cause longstanding damage to trees and shrubs and it is best to gradually reduce watering as summer nears the end. Fertilizers high in nitrogen should not be used in late summer. WHAT TO PLANT There are hundreds of edibles, flowers, trees and bushes that will do well in this climate, but here’s a short list to help get you started: Edibles Fool the late frosts by starting these from seeds indoors in early March. Lettuce Spinach Beets Beans Peas Carrots Ready made plants These do well in window boxes, planters and pots in little greenhouses or using walls of water to temper the weather extremes. Melons Cucumbers Tomatoes Peppers Herbs Bulbs or sets Onions Garlic Potatoes Perennials These give you the best bang for your buck as they come back every year. Jupiter’s beard Sedum (many types) Delphinium Cone flower Daisy Cosmos Gaillardia Shrubs Lilacs Alpine current Red twig dogweed Spirea Potentilla Trees/Vines Autumn blaze maple (red leaf in Fall, a Midwesterner’s delight!) Honey locust Ash Flowering crab trees Vines, such as silver lace, hops and honeysuckle Ornamental Grasses Karl foerster Elijah blue Little bluestem Steppables These are flowering plants that grow well around patios and sidewalks, requiring little moisture and thriving in hot sun. Stone crop Acre Dragon’s blood Scotch moss Irish moss The good news is that our climate boasts plenty of sunshine to enable excellent growth of many species of flowers, trees, bushes and vegetables. Don’t be afraid to visit your local garden store, soak up some advice, grab a selection of perfect plant species and get planting! Sources: Colorado State University Extension Woody Woodworth, High Country Home & Garden Issue 943 - B
THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD: "ALWAYS READY" By Lindsey Harrison 
“Those who served, and those who continue to serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard took an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, and we can never forget the importance of their commitment to our Nation.”
– Robin Hayes, American politician Memorial Day has just passed and June 14th is the birthday of the United States Army, so it only seems fair that we at Snippetz make sure to honor the other branch of the military that we have not covered yet . . . the Unites States Coast Guard. It’s not because we don’t value what they do or think they’re not worth honoring. It’s just how the cookie crumbled so far. But we are making up for it now so relax, OK? Sheesh. And just as we did with the Army article you already read this month – you did read it, didn’t you? – we are going to pick out some interesting snippetz of information about the Coast Guard that you probably don’t know already . . . but after today, you’ll be all caught up on your Coast Guard trivia! COAST GUARD SNIPPETZ NO. 1 – A journalist in the Coast Guard wrote “Roots.” Just in case you don’t know what “Roots” is, we’ll tell you. It’s a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a man from Gambia in Africa who was sold into slavery and transported to North America. That slave, called Kunta Kinte, was actually the ancestor of the novel’s writer, Alex Haley. And Haley (as you probably guessed) was a member of the Coast Guard when he wrote the novel in 1976. Haley also has the distinction of being the first journalist in the Coast Guard. Good for him! COAST GUARD SNIPPETZ NO. 2 – Fewer than half of the people who try out to be a Coast Guard rescue swimmer actually succeed. It does not sound like it would be that hard of a position, especially if you’re a fairly competent swimmer. And there is a certain writer who was a school record holder in swimming at her college. Granted, it was for a relay with three other swimmers and lasted about 6 months before it was broken again, but that is neither here nor there. Anyway, the fact is, the rigors of being a rescue swimmer are beyond anything this writer has ever had to go through and she is certain she would not cut it. We have nothing but respect for their brave men and women who can call themselves Coast Guard rescue swimmers! COAST GUARD SNIPPETZ NO. 3 – The Coast Guard is older than the Navy. The U.S. Coast Guard was established on Aug. 4, 1790 (then known as the Revenue Cutter Service) and consisted of 10 ships intended to help enforce federal tariffs and thwart smuggling. Its first cutter – a vessel that is longer than 65 feet – called the Vigilant was launched in 1791. That same year, President George Washington commissioned the first-ever Coast Guard officer, called Captain Hopley Yeaton. Six years later, the U.S. Navy was established. Hopefully that doesn’t stir the pot with any long-standing competition between the two groups; that certainly isn’t our intent. We are just giving you the facts, folks. COAST GUARD SNIPPETZ NO. 4 – The Coast Guard is both a military force and a federal law enforcement agency. Bet you can’t say that about yourself, can you? Don’t worry, we can’t either. But it’s true – the Coast Guard operates as a part of the Department of Homeland Security in times of peace by enforcing the U.S.’s laws in the ocean, advocating for and protecting the marine environment, guarding our coastlines and ports of call and executing life-saving missions. Additionally, in times of not peace (a.k.a. war), or given such direction by the President, the Coast Guard serves under the Department of the Navy to defend our nation. In addition to the information provide by the “additionally” sentence above, the Coast Guard acts in a humanitarian capacity as a first responder for people in distress due to a natural or man-made disaster, both at sea and on shore. Is there anything the Coast Guard doesn’t do? COAST GUARD SNIPPETZ NO. 5 – Walt Disney has a connection to the Coast Guard. You are probably thinking Mr. Disney served in the Coast Guard or had some other similar tie to the organization. While he did not serve himself, it is possible he has a relative or two who served or may be currently serving. But that is not the connection we’re talking about. During World War II, Disney created a logo specifically for the Corsair Fleet that featured Donald Duck. Not to trivialize the sentiment, but of all the things to attribute to a military force during a World War, it seems like a cartoon duck might not have been the most intimidating option. But if Disney was going for a morale boost rather than something to scare off the Axis Powers, he knocked it out of the ballpark! COAST GUARD SNIPPETZ NO. 6 – The Coast Guard boasts a pretty amazing statistic about age. The average age of retirement from the military for enlisted personnel is 41 and for officers, the age is about 50. Sounds awesome, right? Well, apparently one Coast Guard member did not think that sounded so awesome. That man, Anthony Christy, did not retire at 41 or even 50. He did not even retire at 60, 70 or 80. In fact, Christy was an active duty member of the U.S. Coast Guard as the keeper of the Christiana Lighthouse in Delaware until his death in 1862. He died on duty at the age of 105. Now that’s what we call commitment! COAST GUARD SNIPPETZ NO. 7 – “Semper Paratus.” For those of you who don’t speak Latin, first of all, shame on you. Just kidding. We literally know less than 10 Latin phrases and we only know those because we do the research on such things! Anyway, Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard’s motto, means “always ready.” Hopefully you see the link to the title of this fantastic article. Although it’s just a joke, another motto has been kicked around: “Semper Gumby,” which means “always flexible.” It does not actually mean that. But you remember Gumby, right? That super bendy, flexible green fellow from many years ago? It might be a joke but it’s probably just as accurate as their real motto so why not give it some notoriety, huh? ISSUE 944B
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONSTITUTION By Lindsey Harrison 
You might be wondering what in the world we mean by the “constitution” of the Constitution. Just remember that you’re reading Snippetz and we love a good play on words. So, think of the first constitution as another word for structure or make-up. In doing so, you get the following sentence: the structure or make-up of the Constitution. It’s all making sense now, right? Good. Now, we could just list off the various parts of the Constitution and call it a day, assuming that everyone understands everything each Amendment says and all the implications behind each of them. But aside from the fact that that would basically be plagiarism, it would also be kinda boring. If you want to read the Constitution, we know there’s multiple places where it can be found and you’re welcome to take a look for yourself. However, since that’s NOT what we’re doing, you may be wondering what exactly we ARE doing. We are going to blow your mind, that’s what we’re going to do. More specifically, we’re going to tell you some things about the Constitution that you probably didn’t know. And away we go!
GENERAL CONSTITUTION SNIPPETZ The Constitution of the United States of America was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signers were members of the Constitutional Convention and represented all 13 states in existence at that time, except Rhode Island. Although there were 55 delegates in the Constitutional Congress, only 39 signed the Constitution with George Washington being the first person to sign it. It took several months for the Constitution to be ratified (or formally approved) by the necessary 9 states in order for the document to become law but finally on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire ratified the Constitution, becoming the ninth state to do so. From there, it was agreed that the Constitution would become the new document outlining how the government of the United States would operate as of March 4, 1789. The Constitution took about 100 days to “frame,” i.e. to determine what should be included. Considering it basically runs the lives of millions of Americans, that’s not a super long time to have worked on something but hey, they got the job done. Although the result was a new Constitution, the delegates of the Constitutional Congress didn’t set out to write a new document when they convened in Philadelphia. They actually planned to rework the Articles of Confederation, the original constitution that was written in 1777 and ratified in 1781. However, it soon became clear that there was no saving that document and the best option was just to start over. LESSER-KNOWN CONSTITUTION SNIPPETZ
Issue 945B
SNIPPETZ HAS THE BACK OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE By Lindsey Harrison 
If you’re a regular driver, someone who has the privilege of operating a motor vehicle on a frequent – if not daily – basis, you’ve probably encountered a law enforcement officer during your time behind the wheel. Maybe not by being pulled over but certainly driving past a police cruiser on your way to work or spotting that motorcycle police officer in enough time to slow down a bit. Or perhaps it’s like what this writer encountered on her 2,300 mile, 4-day trip through 10 states to get to Maine: a police cruiser on the side of the highway suddenly whips out behind you, making you believe you were going to be pulled over in a place you’d never been before, resulting in you losing sight of the moving van that was leading the way to your destination, which also happens to be a place you’ve never been before. Whether or not our encounters with law enforcement have been as simple as that or much more complicated, there’s no way to deny the job these men and women have isn’t an easy one. How do they choose which speeder to pull over? How do they head straight for the danger in order to keep the community safe while managing to keep themselves safe at the same time?
HERE ARE SOME OF THE BASICS . . . There’s no debate about it. Being a law enforcement officer in today’s hostile climate is dangerous. So why in the world would anyone ever want to become a cop? The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states that job growth for police officers and detectives is projected to be 5 percent from 2018 through 2028. Even though it’s a dangerous profession, we will always need people working in the public safety sector. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the median pay in 2019 is $65,170 per year. Obviously, there are plenty of people choosing to go into law enforcement. As of 2018, there are more than 900,000 law enforcement officers in the U.S., representing the largest number of officers to ever be employed all at one time. It’s true that law enforcement officers often encounter people in the midst of one of the worst days of their lives. But they also have multiple opportunities each and every day to make a significant positive difference in a person’s life. Imagine being the person to help a drug addict finally decide to get treatment or the drunk driver to realize that they are one drunk drive away from potentially killing themselves or someone else. No, not everyone will be grateful for the reality they face with an encounter with law enforcement, but isn’t it better to take a shot at it than never to try at all? MORE THAN JUST A JOB Of course, it’s not all about the paycheck. We’d wager our own paychecks that the vast majority of people who become law enforcement officers do it more for the satisfaction that they’ve done something to help their community. And it’s not just people they help. Let’s not forget the time our local police force came to the rescue of an adorable puppy left alone and cold alongside a highway in Monument . . . at night . . . in negative degree weather. If there’s anything more rewarding than helping the completely helpless, we’d like to hear about it! In fact, we find the following quote from retired Mukilteo, Washington, Police Chief Rex Caldwell pretty telling: “Every time I teach a policing class, I ask who in the classroom has ever reached into their pocket while on duty and given someone money for food, gas or shelter. All of the hands go up.” CRIME IN COLORADO In the state of Colorado in 2018, there were about 25,643 violent crimes. Colorado law enforcement cleared about 50 percent of those cases, well above the national average of solved crimes, which is about 21 percent. Now, if you’re talking about narcotics violations, the cleared rate jumps to 88 percent, which we think is pretty darn good as well! Sadly, motor vehicle thefts in Colorado have a clearance rate of about 14 percent which tells us all something really important: lock your car doors at night! Or rather, overnight because the highest occurrence of motor vehicles theft is between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Remember that whole thing about not leaving your car running in your driveway to warm it up before you head to work? This is why. Criminals know this is happening and take advantage of it . . . apparently they don’t mind getting up early. DIVERSITY ON THE FORCE With many police forces in the United States being formed in the 1830s in response to riots that broke out in places like Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Detroit and New York, it’s no wonder that the vast majority of the officers were white men. But that wasn’t always the case and it might surprise you to read some of the following Snippetz about when diversity came to the force (not that force, we mean the police force):
LAW ENFORCEMENT SNIPPETZ
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