Random Thoughts

• I really love to fish - especially crappie fishing
• I caught a 16" black bass the other day; had a great time getting it into the boat and hated throwing it back in; I'd rather not make the game warden mad, though ;)
• Hooked some REALLY huge fish late that night that pulled the boat away from the dock; I tightened the drag a down too much and snapped the line (dang it); I think Lake Bridgeport has a Loch Ness Monster in it
• I finally bought a weed eater, since my other one disappeared; it has a spring-assisted start (highly cool); I actually used it and I bet my neighbors appreciate that; I had to because the backyard was starting to look like a jungle
• I recently bought three guinea pigs for the munchkins; we went to buy hamsters and came out with guinea pigs; I actually like the guinea pigs; they're cuddly; we had an emergency, though; Lenney, the 5 year-old's GP ran under my bed and got trapped by Luvs the "special" kitty; the child started screaming that the cat was going to eat the guinea pig; the bed bedframe is too short to crawl under, so I had to throw the mattress off and rescue the dang guinea pig; anyone know how heavy a Tempurpedic king-sized mattress is?
• Can someone explain to me what the heck is going on in Arizona?
• Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has "the evil eye"; she just looks mean; can someone tell her that the Mexican-American War is long over?
• I read a news story, "Afghanistan opium poppies hit by mysterious disease", that gave me a "hmmmmmmm" moment; very coincidental that the US is fighting in Afghanistan and the poppies get hit with disease................I think I like it, since I absolutely hate what heroin has done to the world; let's just make sure that ALL the poppies get sick ;), not just everyone else's
• I saw a pickup truck on the outskirts of the Decatur Walmart yesterday selling what I thought were puppies; as I drove by, though, I realized the lady was selling tasers; what the heck? is that even legal? I had the top down on my Miata and heard the "zap" as I drove by; WOW! Decatur sure has changed.......
• I sure do like the 1/2 price frappuccino special Starbucks has been running this week; I think I've become addicted to the dark cherry mocha frappuccino
• A rogue shopping cart recently smashed into the back of my Miata while I was inside a local home improvement store (all captured on parking lot video); did over $500 in damage to my '91 Miata project car; of course I only carry liability insurance on the car; the manager informed me that the sign in the parking lot (way out by the highway and impossible to read from where I was parked) clearly states that the store is not responsible for damage from carts; he went ahead and filed an insurance claim on their paperwork, refused to give me a copy, and sent me on my way; a week later, I got a phone call that I was on my own to fix the car; I've spent thousands of dollars in that particular store, in Decatur, on appliances, lumber, tools, etc; I will never spend another cent there again; I'm sure they won't even notice or care; Once again I say, Decatur sure has changed........; I will clarify this statement, though; there are still many, many businesses in my hometown that still treat the customer with complete and total respect; those businesses know that their livelihoods rely on customers being happy with purchases and returning to buy again; I love my hometown and home county and shop there whenever I can to support local business; just so you know..................

Wow! I'll listen to this kid over Lady Gaga any day

Greyson Michael Chance performing "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga at Edmond's Sixth Grade Festival. He has a YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/greyson97. This is true talent in my opinion.

Suspect in Texas Girl's Attack Commits Suicide

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - A suspect in the 1990 alleged abduction, rape and throat slashing of a Dickinson girl has been found hanged in his jail cell. Galveston County sheriff's Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo says 40-year-old Dennis Earl Bradford was found hanged early Monday in an apparent suicide. Tuttoilmondo says there were no signs of foul play and Bradford made a noose from bedding. DNA evidence led to the October 2009 arrest of Bradford in North Little Rock, Ark. Jennifer Schuett, who was 8 years old when she was attacked, says she is "shocked and disappointed" that Bradford resorted to suicide and she had wanted to face him in court.
The Associated Press does not normally name alleged sex abuse victims, but Schuett and authorities used her name in publicly discussing the case and she maintains a website.
For more on Jennifer's story, and how she helps other crime victims, visit Justice for Jennifer.
Copyright Associated Press

http://www.click2houston.com/video/22380827/

Here's an interview with the sketch artist who worked with the child right after she was found. The facial similarities between the sketch and Dennis Earl Bradford are remarkable.

The DNA in the case allegedly matched with this man. It would have been nice for both the victim and the accused to have the benefit of the use of the criminal justice system, but Mr. Bradford appears to have decided to take matters into his own hands. If he is the monster who hurt this woman when she was a child, and if he actually killed himself to escape justice, then he ranks at the top of the list of cowards in my book.

“Life moves on, whether we act as cowards or heroes. Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.” -Henry Miller

Nashville Flood 2010 - Where was all the help?

How is it that the United States government did not recognize this as the national disaster that it is/was and send the appropriate aid? I can think of no excuse for ignoring these people during this tragedy. I am so very proud, though, of the people of Nashville and the surrounding areas affected by the flooding, who acted with strength, dignity, and perseverance during the horrific flooding. The images I have seen of them working together to help one another has answered one of my burning questions.

Where is our humanity? I have seen it in the people living in the Volunteer State - Tennessee. May God bless each and every one of the families affected by the 2010 flooding of Nashville, Tennessee, and the surrounding areas.

Obama nominates Elena Kagan for Supreme Court

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_supreme_court

There are many moves that the Obama administration has made that have made me "nervous". This is another one of those moves. There are some key statements in this article that are worth noting. I understand that Elena Kagan is an extremely intelligent woman, but I question the Obama administration's motives behind her nomination for Supreme Court.

• [Obama] called her "my friend"


• Never a judge


• At 50 years old, Kagan would be the youngest justice on the court, which would give her the opportunity to extend Obama's legacy for a generation.


• Kagan would be the first justice without judicial experience in almost 40 years


• All of the three other finalists she beat out for the job are federal appeals court judges, and all nine of the current justices served on the federal bench before being elevated.


• Kagan's fate will be up to a Senate dominated by Democrats, who with 59 votes have more than enough to confirm her


• barring a surprise, Kagan is likely to emerge as a justice


• Supreme Court justices wield enormous power over the daily life of Americans. Any one of them can cast the deciding vote on matters of life and death, individual freedoms and government power. Presidents serve four-year terms; justices have tenure for life.


• Democrats went 15 years without a Supreme Court appointment until Obama chose federal appellate judge Sonia Sotomayor last year to succeed retiring Justice David Souter. Just 16 months in office, Obama has a second opportunity with Kagan, under different circumstances.


• she clerked for federal appeals court judge Abner Mikva, who later became an important political mentor to Obama in Chicago.


• Kagan and Obama both taught at the University of Chicago Law School in the early 1990s


• Rick Garnett, a professor of law and associate dean of University of Notre Dame Law School, voiced the concern of many conservatives. "Future elections might undo some of the president's policies, but his more liberal views about the Constitution, the powers of the national government, and the role of unelected federal judges, are now being locked in securely," Garnett said in a statement.


• She would be the third Jewish justice along with six Catholics. With Stevens' retirement, the court will have no Protestants, the most prevalent denomination in the United States.

BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer

Happy Mother's Day

A mother is the truest friend we have,
when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us;
when adversity takes the place of prosperity;
when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine,
desert us when troubles thicken around us,
still will she cling to us,
and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness,
and cause peace to return to our hearts.

-Washington Irving

I wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day. I hope she knows how much I love her. She was always the sunshine in my life during the darkest of times. She showed me love when I didn't know if there was such a thing. She is an amazing woman. Some day she and I will have those special times again. For now, I will cherish the loving memories of us together and look forward to happy times to come. I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

Never mess with a woman

Anyone remember the parking lot scene from the movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes"? This video totally reminded me of that. Women can be so sneaky, and clever, sometimes. Never mess with a woman.