Pepper-spraying cop now getting the full Internet treatment

Fame can be a hydra.

One tentacle can lift you up. Then another wraps itself around your throat.

Lt. John Pike of the University of California at Davis police force might be feeling some constriction today, after the online world began to pay him many-tentacled homage.

Yesterday, it was merely touching retouchings of famous photographs and works of art.

Today, though, Lt. Pike has attracted the attention of hacktivist group Anonymous.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the group managed to create a little 10-minute video that happens to be peppered with Lt. Pike's address, home telephone number, and cell phone numbers. Oh, and just in case you didn't wish to use your voice, his e-mail address also appears.

Another 2-minute video (embedded here) has appeared on YouTube. Its author--who claims Anonymous affiliation--discusses the law and issues a warning to the police.

He says: "The law is clear, and we, Anonymous, have been sending formal complaints and will continue to do so in the future. We also warn you, if you or the rest of the UCD Police continue to use mindless violence on peaceful protesters, more severe countermeasures shall follow."

On the less shaded parts of the Web, some have taken to Amazon.com to offer fresh and heartfelt reviews of pepper spray.

Some might not have realized that one can actually buy pepper spray on Amazon. However, it's a mere $74.79. And it's clearly a product that has enjoyed many satisfied customers.

For example, a reviewer named D-Bag of Liberty offers: "When I reach for my can of Defense Technology 56895 MK-9 Stream, 1.3% Red Band/1.3% Blue Band Pepper Spray, I know that even the mighty First Amendment doesn't stand a chance against its many scovil [sp.] units of civil rights suppression."

Another reviewer, Actual Air, is also bursting with praise: "I know it's not explicitly listed as one the uses on the can, but it's also an amazing human arm de-linker. So if you have this gigantic public space and a dozen people are sitting there with their arms linked - this will really help in your effort to de-link those arms."

Andy Surprise "Andy," yet another happy customer, not only believes the product is out of this world, but he says it can deal with any intrusions from out there: "This is space age domination technology. Works on citizens. AND ALIENS!!"

What some might find most strange in this world of ubiquitous technology is that Lt. Pike must have known that his nonchalant sprayfest was being filmed. He must have known, right? For he appears to own more than one cell phone.