I've really had a lot to say lately but I just haven't written it.
I'll start with a book I read last week called Nanny State: How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children by David Harsanyi. The subject had been something I'd been discussing with some coworkers. What Harsanyi writes is not much of an eye opener as to what is going on. What is eye opening is the lengths people are going to in order to try and achieve the hive mentality.
The smoking bans, pet protectors, moral puritans and tree huggers all have their little niche they want to protect. The only means they believe in using is the government at all levels. City ordinances, state and federal laws as well as suing to achieve the goals are all weapons in the arsenal. These people don't believe humans have the ability to use reason and morals. Instead they try to regulate it.
The teetotalers believe the end justify the means. They've used flawed logic, questionable tactics to down right lies and junk science to bolster their claims.
Up In Smoke
Take the smoking issue. Yes smoking is annoying and I prefer not to be around people smoking. The fact remains that if a business owner wants to let customers smoke that is his choice. If I wish to eat there in spite of the smoking, I have made a choice. If I choose not to eat there because of the smoke, I have made a choice. The bottom line is the business owner made a choice and I made a choice. We have choices. If people don't want to be around the smokers they can take their business else where. If enough people choose non-smoking environments then the smoking establishments will eventually go out of business. It's called free market capitalism and human free will.
The smoking banners instead rail against any kind of smoking. They make claims it's a drag on the health care system, second hand smoke is cancer causing and they are only protecting us from our harmful habits. I'm not going to even address the health care issue. Our system is being dragged down by more than just smokers. Second hand smoke doesn't cause cancer or illness. The smoking banners have resorted to junk science and screaming headlines to dupe the public and politicians into believing the health risks of second hand smoke. Finally, since we can't be left to our own devices, they must take away our ability to make choices and ban us from making the choice to smoke.
Blow Me
Then there is the ultimate in Nanny State ideas. New Mexico state Ken Martinez introduced a bill requiring all vehicles to be equipped with alcohol interlock devices. All cars. Not just cars of offenders or repeat offenders. He wanted everyone who drove a car bought in New Mexico to have to blow into an alcohol detection device in order to start the car.
It may sound like a good idea but it isn't. On the very basic level, it presumes everyone is guilty and must prove his innocents every time he starts his car. It is also a gross intrusion and burden on those who don't drink and those who do drink but don't drive. Martinez likens it to seat belt laws and insurance requirements. Of course I believe seat belt law are invasive too. Insurance laws I agree with. At least they are protecting people from my stupidity.
The book illustrates point after point of the absurdity of the laws and regulations. It also makes the case of how these ideas chip away at our basic freedoms and civil liberties.
The author does point out that he isn't for anarchy. Government regulations and laws are necessary to protect property, rights and secure the country from threats. Obviously crimes like murder, drunk driving, cruelty to animals and such should be illegal. Some crimes, like prostitution and drugs, have come over time such an affront to humanity over the centuries that he has no problem keeping those illegal.
I think it's a great read. You will find that you don't agree with everything in the book but it's good to see how are civil liberties are slowly being chipped away by those who think the general public is to stupid to make choices.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Hurricane Preperations
After Hurricane Rita hit, I vowed I wouldn't leave Houston unless a Cat 4 or 5 is barreling up the Houston Ship Channel. Even then I'm not so sure I'd leave.
Rita evacuations were a disaster. Houston issued a general evacuation with no real plan in place. I got lucky. I was released from work a day earlier than most people. It still took me six hours to drive to San Antonio. That's because I know the back ways. Had I waited another day the drive was closer to twenty hours. It was so bad people were running out of gas on the road. Others were still on the highways with the hurricane only a few hours to land fall. It was an absolute mess.
When Ike came rolling through I stayed put. Some what. I rented a five star hotel in the Galleria area and rode the storm out there. This time I'll ride it out at my luxurious Midtown Houston apartment. This building is sturdy. I can't even drive nails into the wall to hang stuff.
Instead I'm stocking up on hurricane supplies. I'm building an inventory of water. I have a couple of cases of bottled water. I need to buy at least a few gallons of bottle stuff. I have plenty of canned goods.
I'm also adding MREs to the inventory. I have four left over from Ike and just ordered another case from Ebay. I might buy one more case before the summer hits. In the event of a power outage I have plenty of propane to cook any perishables first. I will eat those first and if ice is available from the PODs after the storm, I can use that to try and make it last a little longer. If nothing else I can use the propane to boil water if my supplies run out. At the very worst, I'll be eating cans of corn and green beans heated on my gas stove.
As for gasoline, I need to figure something out. I have a ten gallon can. Maybe get one more and have them in stand by. Rotate them frequently and keep fresh gas in them. I need to look up how long gas can last in a can. Hate to put some bad stuff in my car or truck.
I hope others are starting to take the storms more serious to. I was fortunate the last one. This year I'll be prepared. Only thing I ask God is to keep the building off my head.
Rita evacuations were a disaster. Houston issued a general evacuation with no real plan in place. I got lucky. I was released from work a day earlier than most people. It still took me six hours to drive to San Antonio. That's because I know the back ways. Had I waited another day the drive was closer to twenty hours. It was so bad people were running out of gas on the road. Others were still on the highways with the hurricane only a few hours to land fall. It was an absolute mess.
When Ike came rolling through I stayed put. Some what. I rented a five star hotel in the Galleria area and rode the storm out there. This time I'll ride it out at my luxurious Midtown Houston apartment. This building is sturdy. I can't even drive nails into the wall to hang stuff.
Instead I'm stocking up on hurricane supplies. I'm building an inventory of water. I have a couple of cases of bottled water. I need to buy at least a few gallons of bottle stuff. I have plenty of canned goods.
I'm also adding MREs to the inventory. I have four left over from Ike and just ordered another case from Ebay. I might buy one more case before the summer hits. In the event of a power outage I have plenty of propane to cook any perishables first. I will eat those first and if ice is available from the PODs after the storm, I can use that to try and make it last a little longer. If nothing else I can use the propane to boil water if my supplies run out. At the very worst, I'll be eating cans of corn and green beans heated on my gas stove.
As for gasoline, I need to figure something out. I have a ten gallon can. Maybe get one more and have them in stand by. Rotate them frequently and keep fresh gas in them. I need to look up how long gas can last in a can. Hate to put some bad stuff in my car or truck.
I hope others are starting to take the storms more serious to. I was fortunate the last one. This year I'll be prepared. Only thing I ask God is to keep the building off my head.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A Deal with the Devils, A Rebellion Defeated
A Deal with the Devils
Pakistan is paying a heavy price for the deals they've made with militant extremists and the Taliban. In exchange for "peace" and holding off further advances, Pakistan allowed militants to impose Sharia law. The deal has failed miserably.
The militants are showing the world exactly why the only way they can be dealt with is through force. The extremists are terrorists who don't keep their word. They are vile, disgusting lowlifes who pervert Islam to justify their brutal means. They respect no rule of law and wish to impose their sick ways on all.
The weak civilian government of Pakistan sought to keep the wolves at bay. Now the wolves are at the gate; they are in the Swat Valley and trying to advance further than the deal called for. Now the military is trying to root them out and civilians are caught in the cross fire. Hundreds of thousands of people are refugees in their own country.
The vile dogs want to put those who oppose them to the sword in the name of Allah. The only way to deal with them is to purge them from this world by doing us and them a favor. Send them to Allah and let them discover if Paradise awaits.
A Rebellion Defeated
The Sri Lanka government finally defeated the Tamil Tigers rebellion.
For years the LTTE fought for a homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority of Sri Lanka. They carved up a chunk of territory and ruled as a de facto government. They had their own legal system, banking system, civilian police force and courts in addition to their military and political wings.
In the last several months, the Sri Lankan military routed the LTTE armed forces and dislodged them from their territory. They completed a military victory by annihilating the the LTTE rebels and killing the leadership of the movement.
Sadly there is nothing noble on either side of the finished war. While the Tamils claimed to be discriminated and marginalized by the ruling ethnic Sinhalise government. LTTE used conventional war and terrorism tactics in their attempt to achieve independence. They attacked civilian as well as military targets. Assassinations of political leaders were also used.
The government forces were accused many times of abusing Tamil civilians. Human rights violations of were also a common charge. The government seemed to pull out all the stops to put an end of the rebellion.
In the end the Sri Lankan government was victorious. It puts an end to the fighting but the cost was heavy. 80,000 people are listed as dead due to the conflict. Who really knows the true number. Many more probably will remain uncounted.
The best outcome, besides the fighting ending, would be those that died didn't do so in vain. Hopefully those who lived and survived can sit down and figure out a way to ensure the peace and that the minority Tamils are no longer marginalized.
Pakistan is paying a heavy price for the deals they've made with militant extremists and the Taliban. In exchange for "peace" and holding off further advances, Pakistan allowed militants to impose Sharia law. The deal has failed miserably.
The militants are showing the world exactly why the only way they can be dealt with is through force. The extremists are terrorists who don't keep their word. They are vile, disgusting lowlifes who pervert Islam to justify their brutal means. They respect no rule of law and wish to impose their sick ways on all.
The weak civilian government of Pakistan sought to keep the wolves at bay. Now the wolves are at the gate; they are in the Swat Valley and trying to advance further than the deal called for. Now the military is trying to root them out and civilians are caught in the cross fire. Hundreds of thousands of people are refugees in their own country.
The vile dogs want to put those who oppose them to the sword in the name of Allah. The only way to deal with them is to purge them from this world by doing us and them a favor. Send them to Allah and let them discover if Paradise awaits.
A Rebellion Defeated
The Sri Lanka government finally defeated the Tamil Tigers rebellion.
For years the LTTE fought for a homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority of Sri Lanka. They carved up a chunk of territory and ruled as a de facto government. They had their own legal system, banking system, civilian police force and courts in addition to their military and political wings.
In the last several months, the Sri Lankan military routed the LTTE armed forces and dislodged them from their territory. They completed a military victory by annihilating the the LTTE rebels and killing the leadership of the movement.
Sadly there is nothing noble on either side of the finished war. While the Tamils claimed to be discriminated and marginalized by the ruling ethnic Sinhalise government. LTTE used conventional war and terrorism tactics in their attempt to achieve independence. They attacked civilian as well as military targets. Assassinations of political leaders were also used.
The government forces were accused many times of abusing Tamil civilians. Human rights violations of were also a common charge. The government seemed to pull out all the stops to put an end of the rebellion.
In the end the Sri Lankan government was victorious. It puts an end to the fighting but the cost was heavy. 80,000 people are listed as dead due to the conflict. Who really knows the true number. Many more probably will remain uncounted.
The best outcome, besides the fighting ending, would be those that died didn't do so in vain. Hopefully those who lived and survived can sit down and figure out a way to ensure the peace and that the minority Tamils are no longer marginalized.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Capt. Richard Phillips' Rescue & Sharpshooter
We all know that the Somali pirates are out of control. Several navies are patrolling the area off the Horn of Africa. They haven’t deterred the attacks. Instead the pirates adapted tactics. They are using bigger ships to carry skiffs out to sea and then using the skiffs to attack the ships. The tactic allows them to make raids further out to sea and away from the heavy patrol areas.
When the pirates tried to seize the ship the Maersk Alabama, the captain of the ship, Richard Phillips, surrendered himself in order to secure the safety of his crew. The crew also fought back and captured one of the pirates. In exchange for the captured pirate and safety of the crew, Phillips gave himself to the pirates.
What followed was a high seas standoff. The pirates were surrounded and monitored by the U.S. Navy.
The onsite commander ordered nave sharpshooters to take out three of the pirates on the skiff when one raised an AK-47 to Phillips’ back. The fourth pirate was onboard a ship negotiating. Just like that, three dead pirates. The fourth was arrested and Phillips was rescued. Incredible!
President Barack Obama left standing orders that the navy should use force if Phillips’ life was in danger. When that AK-47 was pointed at Phillips the commander issued the order to shoot.
I fully applaud the actions of all involved, from the President to the commander to the sharpshooters and to Phillips.
Phillips exchanged himself and potentially his life when he agreed to become the pirate’s hostage. He put himself before others. On ships and navies, the captain is responsible for the ship. And that means responsible for everything. Someone else’s mistake can cost a captain his career. Phillips took that responsibility to the highest level. He was willing to put himself in danger so that the ones under his command could leave safely.
One thing I think most people fail to appreciate is what an incredible shot the sharpshooters made. Making a kill shot is no easy feat on land. A shooter must take a ton of factors before the shot. In addition to factoring in the usual shot checklist, the navy sharpshooters have to account for one more item. They must account for the roll of the sea. Their ship is rolling with the waves and so was the lifeboat the pirates were on. That is a lot of side to side and up and down motion to consider. To make one shot like that is incredible. That three sharpshooters were able to do it and not hurt Phillips is beyond my comprehension. On top of it, they had to all do shoot near simultaneously to prevent a pirate from hurting Phillips. It was an incredible feat. My hat off to them.
When the pirates tried to seize the ship the Maersk Alabama, the captain of the ship, Richard Phillips, surrendered himself in order to secure the safety of his crew. The crew also fought back and captured one of the pirates. In exchange for the captured pirate and safety of the crew, Phillips gave himself to the pirates.
What followed was a high seas standoff. The pirates were surrounded and monitored by the U.S. Navy.
The onsite commander ordered nave sharpshooters to take out three of the pirates on the skiff when one raised an AK-47 to Phillips’ back. The fourth pirate was onboard a ship negotiating. Just like that, three dead pirates. The fourth was arrested and Phillips was rescued. Incredible!
President Barack Obama left standing orders that the navy should use force if Phillips’ life was in danger. When that AK-47 was pointed at Phillips the commander issued the order to shoot.
I fully applaud the actions of all involved, from the President to the commander to the sharpshooters and to Phillips.
Phillips exchanged himself and potentially his life when he agreed to become the pirate’s hostage. He put himself before others. On ships and navies, the captain is responsible for the ship. And that means responsible for everything. Someone else’s mistake can cost a captain his career. Phillips took that responsibility to the highest level. He was willing to put himself in danger so that the ones under his command could leave safely.
One thing I think most people fail to appreciate is what an incredible shot the sharpshooters made. Making a kill shot is no easy feat on land. A shooter must take a ton of factors before the shot. In addition to factoring in the usual shot checklist, the navy sharpshooters have to account for one more item. They must account for the roll of the sea. Their ship is rolling with the waves and so was the lifeboat the pirates were on. That is a lot of side to side and up and down motion to consider. To make one shot like that is incredible. That three sharpshooters were able to do it and not hurt Phillips is beyond my comprehension. On top of it, they had to all do shoot near simultaneously to prevent a pirate from hurting Phillips. It was an incredible feat. My hat off to them.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Big Muddle
Note: Once again I'm late in posting something I wrote. Between packing, working, moving, working, unpacking and assembling furniture, I've had very little time to write or update my website lately.
The following article from the Motley Fool pretty much sums up how I feel about the federal government dipping its nose into my business: Bring Back Our Free Markets.
As I’ve gotten older (and coincidentally earned more), I’ve become more fiscally conservative. My social views are completely independent of my fiscal views. The thing the two have in common is that less government is a good thing. Government’s job is to ensure defense of the people, ensure rights are protected and to provide infrastructure. These come in the form of the military, the courts and public roads and utilities. After that the free markets forces rule.
That’s not to say I’m completely against government regulation. Some regulation is required but within reasonable limits. One area that was somewhat deregulated with disastrous results was allowing banks to leverage themselves and get in over their heads. I think regulation is such areas keep a check on the human nature of greed. Just because I believe in free markets doesn’t mean I believe that people who run business should run wonton over their customers and clients.
In the current bailout plan, the government is delaying the inevitable. GM and Citigroup should be allowed to fail and reorganize under bankruptcy laws. It will be one giant suppository for the economy but it will eventually lead to a better system. There is no sense in propping up failing businesses. GM has been a black hole for years and throwing money down that black hole will not help. Time to let the patient die.
How will this all shake out is still a big question. Despite all the gloom and doom the American economy will emerge from this mess.
No one knows the answer to the $64,000 question: When will the economy bottom out and start rising? The answers, according to self appointed experts and the lot, run all over the place. The predictions run from the end of the year to decades. My guess? Some where in between. In other words, I don’t know and neither does anyone else. We just keep on, to use John Mauldin’s term, muddling through.
Speaking of Mauldin, the article Reality Bites by Michael Lewitt comes via Mauldin’s “Outside the Box” newsletter. It paints a bleak picture. In my opinion, it probably is the most realistic scenario playing out. Then again, what do I know?
All I know is I will continue to invest my money in what I believe are companies that are wrongly undervalued and that will rebound in the long term. My time horizon for my personal portfolio is nil. I’m not counting on it for my retirement. It’s something I do with a little bit of my income. I hope to earn money on my investments but I won’t be devastated if I lose it.
That’s it for now. I’d like to update my blog more often but I’m balls to the wall at work and trying to move. It’s a bitch. I can start moving on March 21st but I don’t have to be out of my current place until the end of the month. I’ve started packing now so the end of the month won’t sneak up on me. Now if I can just get away from work long enough.
The following article from the Motley Fool pretty much sums up how I feel about the federal government dipping its nose into my business: Bring Back Our Free Markets.
As I’ve gotten older (and coincidentally earned more), I’ve become more fiscally conservative. My social views are completely independent of my fiscal views. The thing the two have in common is that less government is a good thing. Government’s job is to ensure defense of the people, ensure rights are protected and to provide infrastructure. These come in the form of the military, the courts and public roads and utilities. After that the free markets forces rule.
That’s not to say I’m completely against government regulation. Some regulation is required but within reasonable limits. One area that was somewhat deregulated with disastrous results was allowing banks to leverage themselves and get in over their heads. I think regulation is such areas keep a check on the human nature of greed. Just because I believe in free markets doesn’t mean I believe that people who run business should run wonton over their customers and clients.
In the current bailout plan, the government is delaying the inevitable. GM and Citigroup should be allowed to fail and reorganize under bankruptcy laws. It will be one giant suppository for the economy but it will eventually lead to a better system. There is no sense in propping up failing businesses. GM has been a black hole for years and throwing money down that black hole will not help. Time to let the patient die.
How will this all shake out is still a big question. Despite all the gloom and doom the American economy will emerge from this mess.
No one knows the answer to the $64,000 question: When will the economy bottom out and start rising? The answers, according to self appointed experts and the lot, run all over the place. The predictions run from the end of the year to decades. My guess? Some where in between. In other words, I don’t know and neither does anyone else. We just keep on, to use John Mauldin’s term, muddling through.
Speaking of Mauldin, the article Reality Bites by Michael Lewitt comes via Mauldin’s “Outside the Box” newsletter. It paints a bleak picture. In my opinion, it probably is the most realistic scenario playing out. Then again, what do I know?
All I know is I will continue to invest my money in what I believe are companies that are wrongly undervalued and that will rebound in the long term. My time horizon for my personal portfolio is nil. I’m not counting on it for my retirement. It’s something I do with a little bit of my income. I hope to earn money on my investments but I won’t be devastated if I lose it.
That’s it for now. I’d like to update my blog more often but I’m balls to the wall at work and trying to move. It’s a bitch. I can start moving on March 21st but I don’t have to be out of my current place until the end of the month. I’ve started packing now so the end of the month won’t sneak up on me. Now if I can just get away from work long enough.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Baby Grace Trial, Curious Case of a Former Porn Star
Baby Grace Trial
Rarely does a story rock me to my foundations. One such case was the rapes and murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Peña.
The other story that has shocked me just as hard has been the Baby Grace trials in session in Galveston, TX.
During the trial, detailed descriptions emerged of the beating and abuse the little girl went through on her final day on earth.
I'll never comprehend how someone can abuse a defenseless child. Even worse is that his little girl's own mother subjected her to this abuse. The mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, stayed home from work on the request of her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler, in order to discipline Riley Ann Sawyers aka Baby Grace.
What happened wasn't just abuse. They systematically inflicted pain on the little girl. The beatings started with a thin belt and progressed to a thicker belt in order to inflict more pain. Her head was held under water at one point every time she screamed. They threw her three times on the floor and one resulted in a loud crack. Riley even resorted to telling her mother "I love you" in hopes that the beatings would stop.
When they passed the point of no return they gave her a Tylenol. When she couldn't swallow it they knew they were in trouble. I have to just wonder what was going through their minds. They beat her to near death and think a Tylenol would help.
The details I read in the article were mind numbing and horrible. Like one of my coworkers said, it was probably one of the hardest things he ever read. Another one said she almost started crying. That's cause we were just reading the accounts. In court I'm sure more detail was giving. The jurors were reportedly in tears during testimony. I'm not sure I could sit through listening to something like that.
I think all crimes against children are the worst thing possible. The criminals are the lowest of the low. I like to think that most people have hope of some kind of redemption. Not in this case though. Like the Eartman and Peña murders, I think Riley's mother and stepfather are beyond redemption. Even if they weren't, the crimes are so horrendous that they shouldn't be given a second chance.
Curious Case of an Ex-Porn Star
I debated revealing her identity. She's out there and makes no bones about being a former porn star. I've even exchanged a few emails (which will remain private) with her. In the end though I decided not to reveal her name. She has a website and posts things about her life, her past and where she hopes to head. I found her site accidentally and figured if someone else does that's fine but I'm not going to direct traffic toward her just because she's out there and talking about it.
Miss Ex-Porn star states that she was in the porn industry not for money or fame. She was looking for love. She came from a broken home and didn't know what love was. The only way she could relate to love was through sex and the only sex she knew about was porn.
She then had a revelation if you will. She found God and realized that she didn't have to sell herself for love. She left the porn business and moved on with her life. For that I applaud her. If she wasn't happy and felt used and abused by doing sex films, then she needed to get out. If God and religion helped her get then she did what was right for her. In finding faith, she found a source of strength greater than herself and used it to her advantage.
Now if you read my blast of Kurt Warner and his religion, you are probably wondering why I'm praising Miss Ex-Porn star for her religion?
Big difference between the two. Warner is an athlete on top of the world. He's a multimillionaire with a husband (I swear Brenda Warner is really a man) and seven kids. He's happy. I really don't mind his religion and thanking God for his success but wearing it on his sleeve and praising God at every turn just comes off as smug and arrogant. Plus he uses the wrong forums for it. Miss Ex-Porn star uses it as a source of strength. She used that new found strength to get out of job and business that had started to disgust her. She was not happy. She couldn't get out on her own. She found a way. On her website, which IS an appropriate forum to discuss religion, she tells all and she gives credit to God for digging her out of her situation. Warner just flaunts it on network TV.
So why the Curious Case of an Ex-Porn Star? Simple. She really doesn't hide anything about herself on her website.
She says she's found the love of her life. I also applaud him. How many men would go for a woman with her past and love her for what she is now and not what she was? Not many. The curious part is she's lost her job, found a new one and then never got paid for it. She barely got through December with food and rent. She's struggling to meet rent in January. Yet Mr. Boyfriend is off during the holidays with his family while she struggles alone.
While I did applaud him for claiming to love her, I do wonder how true that is. If my woman were struggling and I claimed to lover, she wouldn't be struggling to make rent or buy food. I know they both profess to be Christians and most churches don't like the idea of the unmarried living together. That said, if it's a matter of survival, you live together. If he genuinely loved her, he'd marry her to meet the requirement of the church. Then they could live together and survive.
Ultimately it's their business how they handle things. However, if they put it out there for everyone to see then they are open to the second guessing and questions.
Rarely does a story rock me to my foundations. One such case was the rapes and murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Peña.
The other story that has shocked me just as hard has been the Baby Grace trials in session in Galveston, TX.
During the trial, detailed descriptions emerged of the beating and abuse the little girl went through on her final day on earth.
I'll never comprehend how someone can abuse a defenseless child. Even worse is that his little girl's own mother subjected her to this abuse. The mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, stayed home from work on the request of her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler, in order to discipline Riley Ann Sawyers aka Baby Grace.
What happened wasn't just abuse. They systematically inflicted pain on the little girl. The beatings started with a thin belt and progressed to a thicker belt in order to inflict more pain. Her head was held under water at one point every time she screamed. They threw her three times on the floor and one resulted in a loud crack. Riley even resorted to telling her mother "I love you" in hopes that the beatings would stop.
When they passed the point of no return they gave her a Tylenol. When she couldn't swallow it they knew they were in trouble. I have to just wonder what was going through their minds. They beat her to near death and think a Tylenol would help.
The details I read in the article were mind numbing and horrible. Like one of my coworkers said, it was probably one of the hardest things he ever read. Another one said she almost started crying. That's cause we were just reading the accounts. In court I'm sure more detail was giving. The jurors were reportedly in tears during testimony. I'm not sure I could sit through listening to something like that.
I think all crimes against children are the worst thing possible. The criminals are the lowest of the low. I like to think that most people have hope of some kind of redemption. Not in this case though. Like the Eartman and Peña murders, I think Riley's mother and stepfather are beyond redemption. Even if they weren't, the crimes are so horrendous that they shouldn't be given a second chance.
Curious Case of an Ex-Porn Star
I debated revealing her identity. She's out there and makes no bones about being a former porn star. I've even exchanged a few emails (which will remain private) with her. In the end though I decided not to reveal her name. She has a website and posts things about her life, her past and where she hopes to head. I found her site accidentally and figured if someone else does that's fine but I'm not going to direct traffic toward her just because she's out there and talking about it.
Miss Ex-Porn star states that she was in the porn industry not for money or fame. She was looking for love. She came from a broken home and didn't know what love was. The only way she could relate to love was through sex and the only sex she knew about was porn.
She then had a revelation if you will. She found God and realized that she didn't have to sell herself for love. She left the porn business and moved on with her life. For that I applaud her. If she wasn't happy and felt used and abused by doing sex films, then she needed to get out. If God and religion helped her get then she did what was right for her. In finding faith, she found a source of strength greater than herself and used it to her advantage.
Now if you read my blast of Kurt Warner and his religion, you are probably wondering why I'm praising Miss Ex-Porn star for her religion?
Big difference between the two. Warner is an athlete on top of the world. He's a multimillionaire with a husband (I swear Brenda Warner is really a man) and seven kids. He's happy. I really don't mind his religion and thanking God for his success but wearing it on his sleeve and praising God at every turn just comes off as smug and arrogant. Plus he uses the wrong forums for it. Miss Ex-Porn star uses it as a source of strength. She used that new found strength to get out of job and business that had started to disgust her. She was not happy. She couldn't get out on her own. She found a way. On her website, which IS an appropriate forum to discuss religion, she tells all and she gives credit to God for digging her out of her situation. Warner just flaunts it on network TV.
So why the Curious Case of an Ex-Porn Star? Simple. She really doesn't hide anything about herself on her website.
She says she's found the love of her life. I also applaud him. How many men would go for a woman with her past and love her for what she is now and not what she was? Not many. The curious part is she's lost her job, found a new one and then never got paid for it. She barely got through December with food and rent. She's struggling to meet rent in January. Yet Mr. Boyfriend is off during the holidays with his family while she struggles alone.
While I did applaud him for claiming to love her, I do wonder how true that is. If my woman were struggling and I claimed to lover, she wouldn't be struggling to make rent or buy food. I know they both profess to be Christians and most churches don't like the idea of the unmarried living together. That said, if it's a matter of survival, you live together. If he genuinely loved her, he'd marry her to meet the requirement of the church. Then they could live together and survive.
Ultimately it's their business how they handle things. However, if they put it out there for everyone to see then they are open to the second guessing and questions.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Israeli Invasion of Gaza
Military action is something that never should be taken lightly. It is the last resort when all other means of achieving a political objective have failed. Most wars aren't necessary. Somebody once said war isn't necessary or justifiable. I think it is when defending one's own country against hostile actions.
Hamas militants continue to fire rockets targeting Israeli civilian targets. The rockets are able to reach deeper into Israel than ever before. The missiles are landing 25 miles from Tel Aviv. Sooner or later Tel Aviv maybe hit.
Israel has every right to defend itself and citizens from such attacks.
Civilians shouldn't live in fear of random attacks. Israel is right to take military action in defending itself and try to incapacitate the rocket launchers.
However Gaza is already a poor faltering state. Hamas controls the territory and has stated that the destruction of Israel is a political objective. Hamas, however, doesn't have the military or economic means to destroy Israel. Part of the rhetoric serves to united the Gazans and keep their minds off the current economic state. It serves Hamas well to have an enemy they can point to. They blame Israel for all Gaza's problems.
Not that Israel is completely innocent in the current mess. Israel's settlements helped paint them as occupiers and therefore an enemy. Israel maintains a blockade of goods that continues to cripple the Gaza and other Palestinian economies.
What is created is a vicious cycle. Israel blockades, Hamas attacks, Israel blockades and retaliates, Hamas hits back again and so on. There is no end to this cycle.
Israel is trying to put an end to it. They are sending troops into Gaza to dismantle the ability to launch rockets into Israel. How much force is necessary though? Should Israel continue to destroy Hamas infrastructure or is the ground invasion justifiable? Israel should take every means needed to incapacitate the ability to launch rockets. They should obviously avoid civilian casualties when they can. Sadly civilians will suffer in this action whether through direct action or by destruction of infrastructure. Hamas is entrenched in Gaza and they have to be rooted out. Civilians will bare the brunt of the action.
The mess on the ground built up over the years though will continue to fester. No matter what Israel achieves militarily the situation will not change. Hamas and other terrorists will continue to find ways to attack Israel. Somehow, some way a new state and strong economy must be built up in the Palestinian territories. How though is beyond my scope or abilities.
Hamas militants continue to fire rockets targeting Israeli civilian targets. The rockets are able to reach deeper into Israel than ever before. The missiles are landing 25 miles from Tel Aviv. Sooner or later Tel Aviv maybe hit.
Israel has every right to defend itself and citizens from such attacks.
Civilians shouldn't live in fear of random attacks. Israel is right to take military action in defending itself and try to incapacitate the rocket launchers.
However Gaza is already a poor faltering state. Hamas controls the territory and has stated that the destruction of Israel is a political objective. Hamas, however, doesn't have the military or economic means to destroy Israel. Part of the rhetoric serves to united the Gazans and keep their minds off the current economic state. It serves Hamas well to have an enemy they can point to. They blame Israel for all Gaza's problems.
Not that Israel is completely innocent in the current mess. Israel's settlements helped paint them as occupiers and therefore an enemy. Israel maintains a blockade of goods that continues to cripple the Gaza and other Palestinian economies.
What is created is a vicious cycle. Israel blockades, Hamas attacks, Israel blockades and retaliates, Hamas hits back again and so on. There is no end to this cycle.
Israel is trying to put an end to it. They are sending troops into Gaza to dismantle the ability to launch rockets into Israel. How much force is necessary though? Should Israel continue to destroy Hamas infrastructure or is the ground invasion justifiable? Israel should take every means needed to incapacitate the ability to launch rockets. They should obviously avoid civilian casualties when they can. Sadly civilians will suffer in this action whether through direct action or by destruction of infrastructure. Hamas is entrenched in Gaza and they have to be rooted out. Civilians will bare the brunt of the action.
The mess on the ground built up over the years though will continue to fester. No matter what Israel achieves militarily the situation will not change. Hamas and other terrorists will continue to find ways to attack Israel. Somehow, some way a new state and strong economy must be built up in the Palestinian territories. How though is beyond my scope or abilities.
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