So far you guys suck.

So far nobody at Poker Night or at Family Dinner Sunday has ever heard of Dominick the Christmas Donkey. You all suck.

Now it pains me to admit that I had to compromise my morals to get a copy of the song. I had to download Rachel Ray's Christmas CD. Yes, my nemesis.

She makes crappy food, crappy faces, and has an abysmal accent- but boy doesn't she looooove donkeys. And once I saw her make punch. I think you know where I am going with this....

And now for your reading pleasure:

Hatred of Rachael Ray can be a powerful uniting force
By Rob Walker | November 26, 2006

Consumer culture and indeed popular culture revolve in large part around shared admiration, shared likes: Fandom, in a word, is a thing that can bring us together.

But what about shared dislikes? Can a community form around that? What is the opposite of a fan club? The answer is the Rachael Ray Sucks Community.

Gathering by way of the blogging and social-networking site LiveJournal, this group has more than 1,000 members, who are quite active in posting their latest thoughts and observations about the various shortcomings, flaws, and disagreeable traits of Rachael Ray, the television food personality.

"This community," the official explanation reads, "was created for people that hate the untalented twit known as Rachael Ray." The most important rule for those who wish to join: "You must be anti-Rachael!"

As with any community, the key to attracting members is not just a clear core idea but one that can be fulfilled in a variety of ways. Members of the Rachael Ray Sucks Community certainly do this, criticizing her cooking skills, her over-reliance on chicken stock, her kitchen hygiene, her smile, her voice, her physical mannerisms, her clothes, her penchant for saying "Yum-o," and so on.

The founder of this enterprise is Misty Lane, 32, of Lansing, Mich., who turns out to be not an angry sociopath but an upbeat-sounding woman who punctuates every other sentence with a friendly laugh.

In the context of anti-Rachael Rayism, Lane was an early adopter: She founded the group three years ago, when Ray's "30 Minute Meals" was just another show on the Food Network. A cooking enthusiast who enjoyed picking up tips and inspiration from "true chefs," Lane complained that Ray trafficked in culinary "common knowledge." And that she kept waving her arms.

"She just used to drive me crazy," Lane says, laughing.

Sounds like a good reason to change the channel, but instead Lane started her community and alerted the 40 or so people on her LiveJournal friends list. Only a few joined, and the community remained small until it was mentioned last year (in a pro-Ray essay) in the online magazine Slate.

By then, Ray, a Cape Cod native, was on her way to becoming the pop culture juggernaut she is today, with a couple of Food Network shows, a syndicated talk show, a magazine started a year ago that is expected to top a million in circulation, plans for a restaurant, and even CDs of her favorite songs for kids and the holidays. Meanwhile, Ray-bashing has flourished, too.

Which raises a curious point: While the community is now mentioned in practically every article about Ray, and new members keep chiming in, it seems to have had no impact on Ray's rise.

Ed Keller, chief executive of the research and consulting firm Keller Fay Group, says that while some brand managers live in fear of negative chatter, what really matters in gauging "talk share" is whether positive talk dominates.

"If you've got a fan base," he says, "you can weather negative word of mouth." (And the anti-Ray sentiment may be a special case, given that many of her fans are almost certainly motivated by an anti-sentiment of their own, against complicated cooking and "foodie" culture.)

Lane has wondered why her particular community has received so much attention. "Most celebrities have anti-sites on the Internet," she points out, and so do plenty of prominent brands, such as Starbucks and Dell. Perhaps the real lesson of communities of disregard is that they're a sign of brand health: Nobody bothers to get together to hate an irrelevant entity. Where would the fun be in that?

And while the tone of the anti-Rachael movement sometimes seems a little unbalanced, fun is basically the point, Lane maintains, of her "silly hobby." She spends an hour a day or so on the site, doing basic maintenance, commenting on new posts, and, most of all, being entertained.

The anti-Ray community is funnier -- and far more active -- than any Ray fan site she has seen.

"It's nice to find like-minded people," Lane says. "You think for the longest time that you're all by yourself, and you're the crazy one for not liking something. Then you meet other people who dislike the same things you do.

"It's like a family reunion!" Lane concludes. And then she laughs, quite cheerily.

More Christmas Livestock News

Swedes guard Christmas goat from vandals
By MATTIAS KAREN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Dec 3, 12:35 PM ET

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - For 40 years it has been torched, vandalized, had its legs cut off and even been run over by a car. But officials in the Swedish city of Gavle are guaranteeing that this year's giant straw Christmas goat — the victim of Sweden's most violent yule tradition — will survive unscathed.

The 43-foot-high goat — a centuries-old yule symbol that preceded Santa Claus as the bringer of gifts to Swedish homes — has been burned down 22 times since it was first set up in Gavle's square on Dec. 3, 1966.

But for its 40th anniversary Sunday, officials think they have finally outsmarted the resourceful vandals by dousing the battered ram with flame-resistant chemicals normally used on airplanes.

"It is impossible to burn it to the ground this year, although you might be able to singe its paws," said Anna Ostman, a spokeswoman for the committee in charge of building the goat. "After 40 years, we think we finally found the solution."

The company providing the fireproof treatment is so sure of its resilience that its spokesman Freddy Klassmo told newspaper Aftonbladet that "not even napalm can set fire to the goat now."

For those who want to follow its fate, a 24-hour Web cam has been set up to film the straw goat where it stands on the central square in Gavle, 90 miles north of Stockholm. However, the security guards that have watched over previous versions have been called off, Ostman said.

"We can sleep very soundly at night now," she said. "The goat can too."

While the origins of the Christmas goat are unclear, the symbol is believed to date back to Norse mythology and the two goats that drew the carriage of Thor, the god of thunder.

Many Swedes place a small straw goat underneath their Christmas tree, or hang miniature versions on the branches.

Since 1966, just 10 of Gavle's giant goats have survived beyond Christmas Day. Aside from being burned, several were beaten down and the 1976 goat was hit by a car.

The vandals are seldom caught, but the 2001 culprit — 51-year-old American Lawrence Jones — was convicted and spent 18 days in jail.

The 2005 vandals — who witnesses said were dressed up as Santa Claus and the Gingerbread Man — remain at large. The pair fired flaming arrows at the goat, reducing it to its steel skeleton.

Kissed the girls and made them cry.

Clooney defends DeVito's 'View' appearance
Actor's on-camera antics included Bush-bashing rant

George Clooney is giving an alibi to his buddy Danny DeVito, with whom he shared a "brutal night" of drinking before an appearance on "The View."

In a taped interview with co-host Matt Lauer, the actor said that it was indeed probable that DeVito was "still drunk" at 10 a.m. after a night fueled by limoncello shots.

DeVito attributed a hard night of drinking for his on-camera antics Wednesday on ABC's "The View," which amused hosts Rosie O'Donnell and Joy Behar but appeared to upset Barbara Walters.

The diminutive actor went on an extended rant against President George W. Bush and discussed his activities with wife Rhea Perlman in the Lincoln Bedroom when he was a guest during the Clinton White House.

"We were doing shots of limoncello and that's all I have to say about it," Clooney said, and than added, "I got to the point where I was dumping shots into the plant next to me ... I don't think Danny saw me do that."

OT: Our Town

Last night Addy and I watched OT: Our Town, a documentary about a Compton high school that puts on a play for the first time in 20 years. Dedicated teachers and amazingly hopeful students made Our Town actually interesting for the first (ever).
I don't want to say too much about it, but you should watch it. It was fantastic.












These kids were so inexplicably adorable.

I can't believe you haven't heard of Dominick The Italian Christmas Donkey

It is only the best Christmas Carol ever! It's Lou Monte and he's singing about a donkey! Who dances and understands Italian. You can keep your Away in a Manger.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Santa's got a little friend,
His name is Dominick.
The cutest little donkey,
You never see him kick.
When Santa visits his paisons,
With Dominick he'll be.
Because the reindeer cannot,
Climb the hills of Italy.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Jingle bells around his feet,
And presents on the sled.
Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,
On top of Dominick's head.
A pair of shoes for Louie,
And a dress for Josephine.
The labels on the inside says,
They're made in Brooklyn.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Dominick starts to dance.
They talk Italian to him,
And he even understands.

Cumpare sing,
Cumpare su,
And dance 'sta tarantel.
When jusamagora comes to town,
And brings du ciuccianello.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Hey! Dominick! Buon Natale!
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)

Why do I keep doing this to myself?

Inside Britney's Underpants
By Joal Ryan
Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:59:19 PM PST

Is Britney Spears allergic to underpants?

Clinically speaking, it's possible.

"Commonly, a lot of underwear is often made out of polyester, which is not a natural fabric," says Dr. Ted Edwards of the Allergy Expert Website. "And a lot of people have a reaction to that."

It is not known if Spears is actually allergic to underpants—polyester, cotton, latex or otherwise. But it is known that the performer is not big on bloomers of late.

In the past week, Spears' formerly private parts have been captured on film on three separate occasions, the latest incident occurring Tuesday night at a Malibu gas station apparently popular with paparazzi and underpants-free pop stars.

The photos, having taken to the Internet like porn to, well, the Internet, have prompted many clicks, some tsk-tsks, and an offer of help from Rosie O'Donnell.

"I went shopping for [Spears] yesterday. I got her these," O'Donnell said on Thursday's edition of The View, as she held up a pair of pinkish-red bikini briefs. "Can you see? It says, 'No peeking.' "

On Wednesday, O'Donnell asked Victoria's Secret to provide Spears and her two new associates, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, with an unlimited supply of panties. Like Spears, Hilton and Lohan have been caught with their pants down. Or, off, as the case were.

A source tells E! News that Spears took shopping matters into her own hands on Tuesday afternoon at Le Bra Lingerie, the West Hollywood shop where a pre-wedding Katie Holmes splurged for $3,000 in underthings.

Spears and an unidentified friend scooped up about $3,400 worth of corsets, tuxedo shirts and other designer lingerie.

There was no specific mention of panty purchases.

According to Harry Finley, who has researched the history of underpants for his Website, the Museum of Menstruation & Women's Health, Spears' crotchless lifestyle is a throwback.

"No women [wore underpants] up to a certain point," Finley says. "All men and women wore a kind of chemise—a long undershirt—with nothing underneath. That was their underwear."

Granted, in those days—say the 1700s—panty-free women weren't squeezing into micro-miniskirts and exiting limos outside Hyde, as Spears is wont to do.

"Obviously, if you wore a lot of outer clothing you can get away with more," Finley says.

"Wear more outer clothing" might be one memo to Spears.

"Put underwear on" might be another.

The latter comes courtesy Ginger Burr, who runs the Boston-based company Total Image Consultants.

As a personal image consultant, Burr is at a loss to explain Spears' new away-with-Underoos look.

"One time you can understand. Two times—I don't know," Burr says. "It's crazy. I wouldn't recommend anyone wear a short skirt and no underwear."

Perhaps if Spears wasn't wearing a short skirt sans underwear while simultaneously exiting a limousine, the world would not be so consumed with her nether region.

Or perhaps if Spears was exiting the limo in the correct fashion...

"There is a proper way, particularly when you're going to be slightly indecent," Burr says. "Keep your legs and knees together and swing them out together.

"It's very simple. It's very logical. Why she hasn't figured this out..."

Not that the panty-free life doesn't have its advantages.

"It's certainly more convenient," Finley says.

It's even a way to prevent infections such as vaginitis, which can be caused or exacerbated by too-tight underwear.

Edwards says underpants are mostly matters of modesty, their use entirely optional. And in some cases, such as rashes, the only option might be to go without them for a while.

"I would guarantee you there's several hundred thousand people out there doing the same thing [Spears did]," Edwards says. "But no one cares about them."

On the off chance Spears is alone, maybe all she needs is a time machine.

"People were not concerned a long time ago with smell, and washing was considered not healthy," Finley says. "People were pretty gross."

So Spears would be at home?

"She'd fit right in."

Oh! I've played this game! "Inside Britney's Underpants." Hmmmmmm......
Oh! Places I don't want to be!
Things that don't exist!
Thar be dragons!

Britney, you trashy ho bag, keep your chacho to yourself. Please.

Joanie Loves Chachi

What is up with all the visible snoosh? Is this the hip new trend? No undies? Am I going to start to see cootchie at the mall- because if I do, I swear I will go over the edge!
Attention annoying starlets: I do not want to see your lady bits. Go drop a grand on some trashy panties.

Perplexing

I don't know what my deal is with Danny DeVito. But here I go again...
Today I saw the following teaser sentence for an article in the Chicago Tribune:

After admitting to a long night of heavy drinking with George Clooney, Danny DeVito went on a heavily censored anti-Bush rant during Wednesday's taping of "The View."

Bwah? I just don't get it. Danny DeVito is invited to cocktails, and I am not? Standards, George, standards.

my sterile and pitiful life

Last night, whilst riding my bike to nowhere, I watched Jeopardy.
Seriously, I did.
And I rocked it.
Then I realized that I was watching Jeopardy.
I think I may have become a total shut-in. Thanks snowstorm!! Now all I need is a cat and a sweater with reindeer on it.

Grrrrrr.

Yes, today I am full of piss & wind.
Also tirades, hot chocolate, and toasted cheese sandwich.

Dancing Irish Strumpets

Yesterday, in addition to The View, I watched:




















Mad Hot Ballroom was a documentary about public elementary schools in NYC competing in ballroom dance.
It was cute, but I was a tad bit bored- I read comics through the whole thing. Mad Hot Ballroom was highly recommended to me, so you may want to give it a shot.
























The Magdalene Sisters was based upon the true stories of Irish girls who in the 60's were sent to work-houses run by nuns. They were sent there for a variety of issues- all related to sex. Some girls were attractive orphans- destined for sin, others were unwed mothers, some were even rape victims.
It was a depressing but excellent movie. Apparently, these workhouses were run until 1996. They think that 30,000 Irish girls and women were subjected to slave labor, kidnap, rape and abuse.

Being a terrible Christian, one thing occurs to me. If I have daughters, while I wouldn't want them using their bodies to manipulate men- or deciding to have sex at 12, the worst thing for a woman is to believe that her body and sexuality are cause for shame. Fearing sex is not something I would want for my fictitious daughters.
If I ever get knocked up, I hope that God pities me and blesses me with sons.

In further blasphemies- I am kind of tired of being judged by other people based upon their misconceptions of my faith. I'm not catholic and I don't believe in cloudy heaven or fiery hell. I'm not impressed with the work of the Church over the last couple thousand years.
So there.

Guess what's made of frozen water and falling from the sky.

Snow, in Seattle, in NOVEMBER.
I HATE snow. You see, that is why I moved back to Seattle.
Snow is completely dumbfounding for Seattlites. We have no idea about what to do when it snows. We live on hills and in valleys with steep roads and driveways. We don't have snow tires, we don't own chains. We don't own those nifty long-handled brushes to brush snow off your car's roof to prevent it from sliding off and hitting cars, pedestrians, and small animals.
The city owns like 6 plows. Total. We can't salt, because we it will kill the salmon.

Monday night at just before 4 pm I decided to cut out of work early, the weather looked awkward. On a whim I filled my gas tank. When I pulled into the 76, there was no snow. When I pulled out there was a blizzard.
I got on the freeway and sat for about 1.5 hours before arriving at my apartment 11 miles away. I had a good 3 inches of snow on my hood.
The next day I refused to leave my apartment- on the advice of the state transportation authority.
So today was my first day on the road since the arrival of treacherous frozen water. I arrived at my car, and attempted to put my key in the lock. No dice.
I returned home, debated putting my footie pjs back on and going to bed-- but no, I have a meeting today. I grabbed my lock de-icer, went out to my car, unfroze my driver's side lock, took the de-icer back into the house. Went back to my car, pulled on the door and found that it was frozen shut. The rear passenger door wasn't frozen, so I crawled in, started the car, then crawled out and scraped my windows.
I arrived at work to find that only 6 people in my entire division decided to show and today and tomorrow's meetings are both canceled.
So, in short, I could have been home in my footie pjs watching drunk Danny DeVito rambling incoherently on The View, whilst having hot chocolate with cognac, but instead I am here stuffing envelopes. in my scarf and hat, because it is so damn cold.

In other sad news, my friend Dan (The Man) emailed me a picture of Britney Spear's hoohaa today.

So, I would rate this day (in a scale of 10 monkeys being great -though admittedly unnerving- to 1 monkey being craptastic) 0 monkeys or possibly one monkey- but he is throwing poo.

What are you doing?

Today I was puttering around in the break room making a lovely hot lunch for myself.

"What are you doing?" asked my new co-worker.

I was microwaving a plate of cheese, so I said: "Magic."

"Ok." Now imagine this being said in such a tone as to communicate that I am both completely cracker dog and a bit of a jerk.

"I'm making a toated cheese sandwich. I have to microwave the cheese and toast the bread seperately...."

"I see."

"Or they catch on fire- or so I hear..."

"Right."

'First impression, shmirst impression,' that's my motto.

Satan has always been so keen on peace.

Woman faces fines for wreath peace sign
By ROBERT WELLER, Associated Press Writer Sun Nov 26, 11:13 PM ET

DENVER - A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.

Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in Pagosa Springs. He said some residents have also believed it was a symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.

"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone interview Sunday.

Lisa Jensen said she wasn't thinking of the war when she hung the wreath. She said, "Peace is way bigger than not being at war. This is a spiritual thing."

Jensen, a past association president, calculates the fines will cost her about $1,000, and doubts they will be able to make her pay. But she said she's not going to take it down until after Christmas.

"Now that it has come to this I feel I can't get bullied," she said. "What if they don't like my Santa Claus."

The association in this 200-home subdivision 270 miles southwest of Denver has sent a letter to her saying that residents were offended by the sign and the board "will not allow signs, flags etc. that can be considered divisive."

The subdivision's rules say no signs, billboards or advertising are permitted without the consent of the architectural control committee.

Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything. Kearns fired all five committee members.

Peace on earth, good will toward men- and women- even if they're assholes, and have done nothing to deserve it. Good job Lisa, a grand is a small price to pay to promote peace and love during the holidays, especially with the added bonus of pissing off morons.

20 Pounds of Meat = Good Times

Thanksgiving was nice and boring, the way I like it. As was Thanksgiving 2.0 held at my uncle's home shortly after. Know what is better than 20 pounds of meat on Thursday? Another 20 pounds of meat on Saturday.
However the weekend was fraught with the sorrows that frozen water brings.
"Come out and have cannolli, come out and go shopping," cried my loved ones. Were they not aware of the frozen water that was falling from the sky? Did it not occur to them that it is cold enough to freeze water- water the very same abundant natural resource that makes up 75% of my mass?
No, I stayed home and ate peanut butter and honey sandwiches while watching West Wing and Numb3rs in my monkey pajamas. I am quite the saucy minx.
Rawr, still single boys.

Update! Yes, I know that the TV show Numb3rs has a three in it. I just didn't give a damn. Still don't. Thank God for comment moderation.

Casino Royale

I saw Casino Royale yesterday and it was great.
As advertised, it was a much more serious film. They took James Bond straight back to his roots as a hard government agent, and I loved it. Because it was much more realistic it was more engrossing. I feel like it was just enough James Bond to be James Bond and just enough not James Bond to be a truly good spy movie.






















Daniel Craig, while not a traditional Bond, was every bit a better James Bond than others I can name-- and is a very uhm... attractive fellow to boot. Ridiculously attractive, actually. And a good actor, which is part of the whole attractive thing.
Did I mention that he is attractive?
Really attractive. Really.
Raaaaawwwwwr.

Enjoy the long weekend

Is it just me, or is the turkey eyeballing the President's nuts? I'm guessing that biting the President's man-bits is a good way to get un-pardoned. Or not, judging by his expression....
Happy Thanksgiving, you turkeys. Eat yourselves silly.

One track mind

So I think that I mentioned that one of the books in my current reading rotation is Salt: A World History.
Well, I think that I am salt obsessed.
Last night I was at a cocktail thing with a coworker to view a European Vacation slide show. Diane, said coworker, was commenting on the salty sardines and other fish she was constantly consuming in Italy, which naturally brought me about to this tangent about the salt trade in ancient Italy and Egypt and why salted fish were so historically significant.
Later, she mentioned that they could tour a salt mine. I, without thinking, excitedly asked if she had any pictures. Staring at me as though I was crazy she said, "no." I then went on to tell nobody in particular that the ancient miners in the salt mines of Germany were some of the first mummified corpses found in Europe. They were incredibly intact from their tools, to their clothing, and even their bodies-- including their hair! Amazing!
People shifted around awkwardly and then we looked at a picture of the Vatican. Vatican, shmatican I say. Ancient salt mines are totally awesome.

There is no justice in this world.

Bigamist 'butt' busted by wife No. 4

Tue Nov 21, 9:54 PM ET

LYNCHBURG, Va. - A man who dresses up as a giant cigarette and uses hip-hop music to encourage children in Lynchburg and beyond to avoid smoking pleaded guilty Tuesday to bigamy. Phillip Dale Williams, 37, had as many as four wives at the same time, Chuck Felmlee, deputy commonwealth's attorney, said.

Williams' fourth wife, Lashawn Stevenson, became suspicious earlier this year when her husband began receiving child support notices in the mail. When the couple wed in 2003, he told her he had never been married, Felmlee said.

Stevenson's investigation led her to a Vallejo, Calif., woman, Antoinette Borum, who told Stevenson Williams left her in 2002 with two children and no child support. When Stevenson confronted Williams, he told her he had married Borum and two other women before her, Felmlee said.

Williams told police he divorced the first wife, but not the second or Borum. Police haven't been able to contact the first two wives, Felmlee said.

Williams' attorney, Tom Current, declined to comment on the case.

Williams was known locally for playing "Douglas 'Dude' Cigarette," a character he created in 1996. He has performed in about a dozen states.

Williams faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced March 9.

This ass-clown who dresses up as a rapping cigarette can get married 4 times, and I can't even get a date. Unbelievable.

I don't care who you are, you NEVER shoot at a cop

Woman, 92, dies in shootout with police
Wed Nov 22, 7:25 AM ET

ATLANTA - A police official said narcotics officers were justified in returning fire on a 92-year-old woman they shot to death after she shot them as they tried to serve a warrant at her house.

Neighbors and relatives said it was a case of mistaken identity. But police said the woman, identified as Kathryn Johnston, was the only resident in the house at the time and had lived there for about 17 years.

Assistant Chief Alan Dreher said the officers had a legal warrant and "knocked and announced" before they forced open the door. He said they were justified in shooting once they were fired upon.

As the plainclothes Atlanta police officers approached the house about 7 p.m., a woman inside started shooting, striking each of them, said Officer Joe Cobb, a police spokesman.

One was hit in the arm, another in a thigh and the third in a shoulder. The officers were taken to a hospital for treatment, and all three were conscious and alert, police said.

Sarah Dozier, identified as a niece of the woman, told WAGA-TV that there were never any drugs at the house.

"My aunt was in good health. I'm sure she panicked when they kicked that door down," Dozier said. "There was no reason they had to go in there and shoot her down like a dog."

Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights leader, said Johnston's family deserves an apology.

"Of the police brutality cases we've had, this is the most egregious because of the woman's age," Hutchins said.

Hutchins said he would try to meet with Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington and would also meet with lawyers.

I doesn't matter how old you are, if you shoot at a cop, they will shoot you. End of story.
If you are black and shot by cops, it is not a civil rights issue if you shot at them first. Additionally, people who keep guns in ready reach and shoot at cops who warn you that they are coming, are probably not people with nothing to hide.