I Support The Death Penalty

Here is just a sample of why. I don't think I need to explain.

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DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- A mother was arrested on suspicion of murdering her newborn daughter by microwaving the baby in an oven.

China Arnold, 26, was jailed Monday on a charge of aggravated murder, more than a year after she brought her dead month-old baby to a hospital. Bail was set Tuesday at $1 million.

"We have reason to believe, and we have some forensic evidence that is consistent with our belief, that a microwave oven was used in this death," said Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County coroner's office.

He said the evidence included high-heat internal injuries and the absence of external burn marks on the baby, Paris Talley.

Arnold was arrested soon after the baby's death in August 2005, then was released while authorities investigated further. Betz said the case was difficult because "there is not a lot of scientific research and data on the effect of microwaves on human beings."

The death was ruled a homicide caused by hyperthermia, or high body temperature. The absence of external burns ruled out an open flame, scalding water or a heating pad as the cause, Betz said.

Arnold's lawyer, Jon Paul Rion, said his client had nothing to do with her child's death and was stunned when investigators told her that a microwave might have been involved.

"China -- as a mother and a person -- was horrified that such an act could occur," Rion said.

The night before the baby was taken to the hospital, Arnold and the child's father went out for a short time and left Paris with a baby sitter, Rion said. The mother didn't sense anything out of the ordinary until the next morning, when the child was found unconscious, Rion said.

Arnold has three other children.

In 2000, a Virginia woman was sentenced to five years in prison for killing her month-old son in a microwave oven. Elizabeth Renee Otte claimed she had no memory of cramming her son in the microwave and turning on the appliance in 1999.

Experts said that Otte suffered from epilepsy and that her seizures were followed by blackouts.

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Enough said.

Please Watch An Inconvenient Truth

I had heard a lot about this movie in the last month, and so decided to add it to my Netflix list. There was a lot of buzz about it and what kind of message it had to deliver.

I added it to my list because it seemed like the right thing to do. I am being honest when I say that I figured it would be a two hour snore-fest with Al Gore pushing a political agenda that would be a precursor to his run for the White House in 2008. Sure, I would watch it, but only to see what all the buzz was about. I am not a tree hugger so it wouldn't really appeal to me that much.

Wow, was I wrong.



An Inconvenient Truth is about as scary a movie as I have seen in a long time. Seriously. It is hands down one of the most eye-opening movies of the year, and rightfully so. I think that it is delivered in a such a manner that Al Gore diffuses any political hubub, and really dials down to evidence and what the experts say. Sure, there are a few political cracks in there, but nearly every one is actually self-depreciating humor aimed at himself and his failure to win the White House.

The general idea is that if we don't do something in the VERY near future to help our planet survive and to help it combat our demands on it, then we are seriously screwed.

Sure, it hit home a little more as Steph and I have kids. I want them to enjoy the planet, be able to travel, and not worry about the environment because we did absolutely nothing to help it. We already recycle, but it is not enough. We need to do more. We went yesterday and changed every light bulb in our house to the energy efficient ones. That is a start. We lowered the temperature in our house. We sealed up doors and windows and when funds allow, will get the furnace changed. Even if you don't have kids I urge you to watch this. It is EVERYONE'S issue.

You can learn what you need to do by going to their website. Click here to visit Climate Crisis. It also contains the trailer for the movie on it. If you want to just watch the trailer, then check it out here.

Like I said, the movie is scary, not because of the story line, but because of the content. PLEASE WATCH THIS MOVIE. Seriously, it will change the way you look at the planet, and hopefully we can all make a change.

Don't take my words for it though...here are the reviews that it has received so far.

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"In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review, but here they are: You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to." ...Robert Ebert, Chicago Sun Times
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"An Inconvenient Truth is a necessary film." ...Wesley Morris, San Francisco Chronicle
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"In an eco-horror show that politely masquerades as a documentary, the former vice president effectively warns of man-made cataclysm." ...Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
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"Brings a feeling of history: Virtually everyone who sees this movie will be galvanized to do something about global warming -- and everyone should see this movie." ...Claudia Puig, USA Today
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"What could have been mired in political rhetoric or techno-speak is instead illuminating, fascinating and sometimes frightening." ...William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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"It's a mind-boggling disaster epic that draws its special power from the fact that we are both the villains and victims of the story." ...Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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"The truths in this challenging film aren't just inconvenient; they're darkly fascinating, mighty scary, and, it seems to me, undeniable." ...Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
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"As a film, An Inconvenient Truth falls somewhere between an auditorium survey class and a stump speech, and if it covers no new ground, it benefits greatly from Gore's air of educated sobriety and principled rectitude ..." ...Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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"Like an inventive and engrossing lecture by your favorite eighth-grade science teacher, making it an engaging movie, whatever your politics." ...Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
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"A powerful film that educates as it engages." ...Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
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"An Inconvenient Truth can't, of course, reveal a future that is still up to us, but by the time you're done watching, the real question is, Which way on God's green earth would you want to err?" ... Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
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"In the battle between Big Trouble (Gore's line) and Big Oil (Bush's), fossil fuel won. Even with gas prices it's still winning, which is why An Inconvenient Truth, for all its limitations as cinematic agitprop, deserves an audience." ...Phil Hall, Film Threat
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Old One of Nim

This was so cute.

It seems like she was so little in this video. It was shot in January 2004, and I didn't know I had it, until I was scrolling through some older files on the hard drive. It was like finding $20 in and old coat pocket. She is sooo damn cute.

Click here to view it.

Wrestling with the Boy!

This was fun, especially when I gave him whiplash by tossing him into the air.

Good times, good times.

Click here to view

Thanksgiving at the Hattons

It was a good time. We alternate the holidays...Thanksgiving at one house, Christmas at the other.

I also had to convince Nim, as sher doesn't like turkey for some reason, that we had a bird that was half chicken and half turkey, and that she would eat off the chicken side.

Click to view

The Greatest Show on Earth

Just when you thought Jerry Springer could not get any lower...

Okay, no-one thought that Jerry could get any lower, but seriously, this is bad! They even have a bell that rings now to say it is okay to fight! I love it.

I Can Count to Dias

Just about the cutest thing you will ever see!

Update on the Car Wreck

Yeah, not so good.

Looks like the car is totalled. That in itself sucks, because now we have to go and purchase another car. We were going to be doing something like that anyway in January, but this obviously hastens it up a little! If you look at the pictures earlier a few posts back you will see that there doesn't actually look like there is any damage to the car other than a dent in the trunk, and some paint missing. Well, the frame of the car got twisted pretty good, and the entire exhaust system got pushed into the engine and so there was damage there, too! I could not believe how much it all added up!

The main concern though is my back. I have been going to see the chiropractor all week, and yesterday it was so bad I had decided to go and get Xrays. There is no cracking or any other signs of fracture etc, but the strain on it is immense. I had to cancel my refereeing and the season ender game last night that I was due to play in. Not good.

The worst part about it is that I cannot pick up Jack! Now, admittedly, he is a fat little bugger, but at 27lbs, it is something I should be able to do without much trouble, even with a bad back. Not so. It really hurts to do that.

I have had three days off work so far, and had to cancel a trip to Indianapolis next week, because I cannot stay in one place for very long (i.e. sitting on an airplane) due to the pain. It really is amazing how much you use your back in everyday life. It is the core of your whole body!

Hoping that it gets beter soon.

My First Parent: Teacher Conference

With Nim being of school age (albeit kindergarten) I am experiencing lots of 'firsts' this year.

Last night, was her first confernce with her teacher to ensure that she is actualy learning something and getting along in class.

While I didn't expect anything too crazy, the teacher said that she was doing very well and was a star pupil. Her school is an environmental one and she seems to be taking to it like a duck in water.

All she needs to work on is her reading a little, which she is going to be doing while at our house. Her writing is very impressive as is her communication with other kids.

I am very proud of her.

Wow

Looks at the initial graphics from this show.

Really "loving thy neighbor"!

My Sister Turns 30!

Today is my sister's 30th birthday!


One of my favorite pics of her and Darren.

Hooray! Now we are all in our thirties, and getting older. She however will always be my little sister, who i love with all my heart and, even though she is a successful financial executive, will always be the little girl who used to wear all her makeup out at once for fear someone would steal it!

Have a great birthday, Em, and remember, you are 30 now...I expect you not to act like one.

Oh, and I would like to be an uncle again, so get on it.

Got in a Car Wreck Today

Yeah, that's right. I was traveling down I-5 going to work. I slowed down with the rest of the traffic and then heard this screeching of tires, looked in my rear view mirror and saw this poor old 1971 VW Campmobile (a.k.a. VW Bus) plowing into the back of me.

I braced for impact and she hit me...hard!

Luckily she was okay, and her dog was, too, in the back of the vehicle. I thought I was okay but throughout the day my back has been throbbing and, well, I had to succomb and go to the chiropractor at 6pm. Not good. My back is all whacked out of shape and I need to rest it for 24 hours, before going back in on Thursday morning for further treatment.

The car was not too bad, surprisingly. However, that seemed only a cosmetic analysis as it started making funny noises, etc. Her VW was mangled in the front, so that isn't good. She had just told me she had it restored. I felt really bad for her.


Poor old Jetta!

Luckily, Steph, Naomi, or Jack were not in the car, and it was just me who got hurt. Steph aways tells me to slow down, but in this case I guess I should have sped up!


Poor 'even older' VW Bus

Anyway, now I have to deal with insurance claims and the such, so that is going to be fun as hell!

Intolerance

So, I had this email exchange today with someone that was a little weird.
It was one of those chain mails that got sent through and it just struck me as very bad. Not sure why, just the whole immigration piece was strange. Not because I am an immigrant, but because of the tone of this one. I am leaving the name off obviously to not offend anyone).

THE INITIAL EMAIL

Yep! I passed it on...

I'm sorry, but after hearing they want to sing OUR National Anthem in Spanish - enough is enough!

Nowhere did they sing it in Italian, Japanese, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German, Portuguese, Greek, French, or any other language because of immigration.

It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it was written. The news broadcasts even gave the translation - not even close.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but this is MY COUNTRY. IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY, SPEAK UP!

I am not against immigration -just come through like everyone else.

Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your taxes;live by the rules; and LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

PART OF THE PROBLEM

Think about this:

If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone, YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM! Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by people from other countries who came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice?

Think about it!

All we have to say is, when will Someone do something about MY RIGHTS? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems no one has a problem with that.

It is Time for America to Speak up

If you agree - pass this along; if you don't agree - delete it ... and leave the country.

MY REPLY

what about the people here that don't speak English, who were born here?

THE REPLY BACK

They still should learn English. When I lived in Europe...I had to learn the language of the country I was in; they did not print English menus or have signs, etc. all done with English "subtitles".

We spend so much money in the school system for ESL (English as a Second Language) students that could be spent elsewhere. Millions of dollars are spent teaching children English who should already know it.

Driver's tests shouldn't be written in Spanish...the street signs aren't in Spanish. When you move to a different country, you adapt to that country...not the other way around. The country should not have to adapt to you.

Touchy subject with everyone, I know. Everyone has different opinions. There's that family where the mom, daughter and one of the sons were sent back to Guatemala, despite being in the US for 15 years. The dad and the other son are still here...legally.

The parents had 15 years to work with the system and have the mother and two children become legal immigrants. Instead, they decided not to and hoped they weren't caught.

Immigrants are fine...as long as they are legal and adapt to our country. We should not have to pay for foreigners to learn English.

MY REPLY BACK

wow....that is about the most intolerant thing I have heard in a while.
Wasn't the original language of this country Indian?

THEIR REPLY

I knew you'd take it that way; good point about the Native Americans.

Not against immigrants, Simon. Immigrants are fine...just legally and with minimal spending for their education of the English language.

When WE go to other countries...they typically do not spend money for us to learn their language, do they? No...you are expected to learn it on your own.

After seeing millions of dollars going into these ESL programs year after year...there is a point where the family takes responsibility and has their children learn English on their own dime.

Sorry...not intolerant...just don't want the money being spent.

MY REPLY

Clearly you haven't been abroad much. English is learned as a second language by Italians, Portuguese, French, German, Spanish, and many many other countries so that they can communicate with the world, and yes, there are many, many signs in English all over Europe in non-English speaking countries, in order to make it a nice place to go see and potentially live in.

So you have to spend some money to educate these kids. So what? What is wrong with that? I would encourage and expect a country as great as this one to do that, and do it willingly. You said there is a point that the 'family takes responsibility and has children learn English on their own dime'. How do they learn if they can afford to get a job to learn.

It is a wonder that Americans are viewed as some of the most racially intolerant people on the planet. Seriously, has GW really closed off minds that much? When all the Mexicans move out, who do you try to get rid of next? Ragheads? Niggers? Jews? Come on....

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Not to get on my soapbox about minorities, but why is it that people over here are so closed minds. Maybe it is because I grew up in a country that has lots of different nationalities. Not saying that doesn't come with other issues, but you adapt, you accept and you grow together.

Immigration is a really hot topic in this country right now. If you are Spanish Mexican then you are basically a second class citizen, and I think that is sad. Everyone deserves the right to have an education. If you have people living in your country, even if it is illegally, you have a global responsibility to educate the children and help them out.

Ireland vs. France

This little ditty made me laugh.
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Jacques Chirac, The French President, was sitting in his office wondering what kind of mischief he could perpetrate when his telephone rang.

"Hallo, Mr. Chirac!", a heavily accented voice said. "This is Paddy down at the Harp Pub in County Sligo, Ireland. I am ringing to inform you that we are officially declaring war on you!"

"Well, Paddy," Chirac replied, "This is indeed important news! How big is your army?"

"Right now," said Paddy, after a moment's calculation, "there is meself, me Cousin Sean, me next door neighbor Seamus, and the entire dart team from the pub. That makes eight!"

Chirac paused. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have one hundred thousand men in my army waiting to move on my command."

"Begorra!" said Paddy. "I'll have to ring you back!"

Sure enough, the next day, Paddy called again. "Mr. Chirac, the war is still on. We have managed to get us some infantry equipment!"

"And what equipment would that be, Paddy?" Chirac asked.

"Well, we have two combines, a bulldozer, and Murphy's farm tractor."

Chirac sighed, amused. "I must tell you, Paddy, I have 6,000 tanks and 5,000 armored personnel carriers. Also, I've increased my army to one hundred fifty thousand since we last spoke."

"Saints preserve us!" said Paddy. "I'll have to get back to you."

Sure enough, Paddy rang the next day. "Mr. Chirac, the war is still on!"

We have managed to get ourselves airborne! We've modified Jackie McLaughlin's ultra-light with a couple of shotguns in the cockpit, and four boys from the Shamrock Pub have joined us as well!"

Chirac was silent for a minute and then cleared his throat. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100 bombers and 200 fighter planes. My military complex is surrounded by laser-guided, surface-to-air missile sites. And since we last spoke, I've increased my army to two hundred thousand!"

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!", said Paddy, "I'll have to ring you back."

Sure enough, Paddy called again the next day. "Top o' the G', Mr. Chirac!

I am sorry to tell you that we have had to call off the war."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Chirac. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Well," said Paddy, "we've all had a long chat over a bunch of pints, and decided there's no foo-kin way we can feed two hundred thousand prisoners."

Media Pisses Me Off

Okay, just read this story. I know, I know, sensational as it is, but check out the ways things are phrased here. Pay particular attention to the bolded area.


(CNN) -- It's over for Britney Spears and Kevin Federline.

The pop singer, known for hits such as "Oops ... I Did It Again" and "Toxic," is divorcing her husband of two years and one month. Spears and Federline, one of the singer's former backup dancers, married October 6, 2004, according to the divorce papers.

Spears filed legal papers Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing "irreconcilable differences."

She is asking for legal and physical custody of their two children, 1-year-old Sean Preston and 2-month-old Jayden James.

Spears did agree in the filing to let Federline have visitation rights.

The date of separation was listed as Monday.

Spears also requested that her earnings and accumulations from after the date of separation, miscellaneous jewelry and personal effects and other undisclosed assets to be declared separate property.

Spears' attorney, Laura Wasser, could not be reached for comment.

Spears, 24, married Federline after a six-month courtship in 2004. In January 2004, she had married childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas, Nevada. That marriage was annulled after 55 hours.

Federline, 28, previously had a relationship with actress Shar Jackson. The union produced two children, one of whom was born two months before he married Spears. Federline recently released a rap album, "Playing With Fire."

The Spears-Federline marriage has been chronicled in detail in celebrity magazines since the pair tied the knot, with rumors of problems often surfacing.

Yes, that one little sentance that I bolded really pissed me off. It is like it is sooo blase that the sentance is included.

Okay, most people, for whatever reason think that he is a scumbag, and that may be true, but that doesn't make him a bad dad. If it is proven he is not able to look after his kids and they may be in harms way by being with him, then fair enough, but how lovely of her to just "agree to let him have visitation". What kind of shit is that?

I remember seeing pictures of her driving around with the kids un her lap while unrestrained...what about that? If that were him, the media would say he is a monster, but does that make her, THE MOTHER a bad parent? Oh no...of course not!

It is his right to have half the time with his kids.

Librarians

This is from our friend Betsy. So good, I thought I would share...

They can't have very nice lives - librarians. It's like being a teacher, only without the opportunities for dating, because the only kids you meet are the nerds. So the last thing America's shsssshing minority needs is the indignity of a urine test. But that's just what we're doing. I'm not sure this is the best use of our time.

The last time a librarian did something really stupid and reckless on drugs was when Laura married George.

Last year, Florida's Levy County introduced drug testing for library volunteers. Whose average age is between 60 and 85. The volunteers were required to drive to another city - Gainesville - and urinate in a cup "within hearing distance" of a laboratory monitor. That'll teach 'em for offering to work for free. "Okay, grandma, now get pissing. And I'd better hear a nice even unbroken stream."

And then something weird happened. Inexplicably, the number of volunteers dropped from 55 to two. It's almost like they didn't enjoy being degraded. And they call themselves the greatest generation.

I know what you're thinking. If Aunt Iris has nothing to hide, she can get a little of her own urine on her hands and prove she's not strung out on junk. Then we can feel safe, and she can go back to mis-shelving the Readers Digests. But then a second thought occurs to you, later, when you really, really think about it. And that thought is this: What the fuck is wrong with us? Are we high?

They're not flying planes. They're showing the homeless how to use the microfiche readers. For free. The only people who profit from this are the stockholders of the drug testing company, who stood to make $33 a head, money the library would have otherwise just wasted on books.

A spokesman for the libraries said she wouldn't make the volunteers drive to Gainesville for their cavity searches anymore. And she also thought the problem wasn't the drug test itself, but the method they used. That's why they're looking into switching from urine tests to mouth swabs. The same method used by the Florida Department of Corrections.