My 4-year-old rules the roost!

What is wrong with parents? There's a goofy couple in Mesquite who are allowing their 4-year-old to sit in alternative classes because they won't cut the kid's hair. And they're griping about the school district because, "they care more about his hair than they do his education."

The clueless parents of this child say, "The school cannot give us an honest reason why we should force him to cut his hair." Sure they can and did -- it's in the written school policy that a boy's hair cannot touch his collar or hang down into his eyes. The father says, "My son is being singled out. I don't know why." Well, duh! Because he's the one with the long hair!


I don't recall being asked when I was four how I'd like to wear my hair, what I'd like to put on that day, or anything else pertaining to my upbringing other than I might have a few choices on what to eat. This child's father says, "He loves his hair." Maybe so. Maybe he also likes to play in the street, jump into water over his head, play with matches, and dance around outside in lightening storms. Four-year-olds don't know what's good for them. Unfortunately for this one, neither do his parents.

"A hairy situation for 4-year-old." The Dallas Morning News; December 16, 2009; p. 1A.

Shame on you for being sober!

There is a column in the newspaper called "Workcoach." This supposed expert gives advice on getting along in the workplace. Personally, I think she's just a little bonkers.

In a recent column, a person wrote about a quandary he was experiencing. He doesn't drink alcoholic beverages. He says his office Christmas party is basically an "alcohol fest" that lasts until the wee hours of the morning at a local bar. He says that if he refuses a drink, the others want to know what's wrong with him. He doesn't want to be conspicuous.

Well duh! Get you a glass of 7-Up if you don't want to be conspicuous. Who needs to explain to a bunch of drunk clods why you're not making a fool of yourself along with them? Ms. Workcoach told him that when he was offered a drink, he should say, "I'll get something later." What's wrong with, "No, thank you"? She says he should answer inquiries with "Alcohol doesn't agree with me." What's wrong with, "I don't drink"? They're acting like being sober is something to be embarrassed and ashamed of. It's certainly a topsy-turvy world!

"Can nondrinker blend in at boozefest?" The Dallas Morning News; December 16, 2009; p. 2D.

We welcome all!

The new gay mayor of Houston, Annise Parker, says her election will "change some people's minds about the city of Houston. It's a diverse, international city that welcomes everyone."

Really? Would she welcome Osama Bin Laden to Houston? Would she welcome David Duke to Houston? Would she welcome Nidal Malik Hasan to Houston? Would she welcome Hosam Smadi to Houston? You get my drift?

"Winner focuses on job, reflects on milestone." The Dallas Morning News; December 14, 2009; p. 3A.

Who's the scapegoat?

Two Episcopal bishops recently had a debate in Dallas. Katharine Jefferts Schori is the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. Her views have stirred quite a bit of controversy -- mainly because they are anti-biblical.

When asked whether or not non-Christians go to heaven, she said, "It's not up to us to say this person's out of heaven. It's up to God." While that is true as far as it goes, I can unequivocally say that non-Christians do not go to heaven. It is up to God, and He said they won't. Jesus Christ is the only way.

Schori further stated that there is ". . .an ancient human desire to find a scapegoat, with the familiar targets in this society right now being Muslims and immigrants and gay people." Is Schori not making scapegoats of those who understand that we are at war with Muslims, and that their tenets include destroying all those who don't believe as they do? Is Schori not making scapegoats of those who understand that illegal immigration is costing this country millions in crime and welfare benefits? Is Schori not making scapegoats of those who understand that God said homosexuality was an abomination, and that He has historically destroyed countries who accept it?

She says, "Jesus' own witness is to continually reject that kind of response, for it always ends in violence and diminution of life." The Jesus I read about warned against false religions and gods. The Jesus I read about commanded us to obey the law. The Jesus I read about condemned immorality. Jesus' own witness, as far as I can see, is to stand up against that which is wrong -- and sometimes that means being politically incorrect.

As far as targets are concerned, I see more Christians than any other group. They are continually labelled as ignorant and dogmatic, and there is a concerted effort to shut them up through myriad frivolous lawsuits. So who is really the scapegoat?

"No fireworks at bishops' debate." The Dallas Morning News; December 13, 2009; p. 9B.

Comprehension Problems?

Yet another Miranda warning case has made its way to the Supreme Court. Kevin Dwayne Powell says his Miranda warning wasn't explicit enough -- that he was not advised that he could have an attorney present while being interrogated by police. Yet Kenneth signed a Miranda statement that says, "You have the right to talk to a lawyer before answering any of our questions. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed for you without cost and before any questioning. You have the right to use any of these rights at any time you want during this interrogation."

Powell's conviction for illegal possession of a firearm was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court who agreed with him that the Tampa Police didn't adequately convey to him that he could have a lawyer. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer said, "Aren't you supposed to tell this person . . . you have a right to have the lawyer with you during interrogation? . . . And I just wonder, where does it say in this warning, you have the right to have the lawyer with you during the interrogation?" Is this man reading the same thing I am? How do you get more explicit than "You have the right to use any of these rights at any time you want during this interrogation"?

I understand a con trying to get an overturned conviction on any grounds he can, but what is the matter with these judges? We need some judges who can read!

"A rewrite for Miranda rights?" The Dallas Morning News; December 8, 2009; p. 10A.

How to Get Out of a DUI Blood Test

Be a big shot pro golfer with multiple mistresses. The Florida trooper who investigated the Tiger Woods accident suspected DUI. He asked for a subpoena for a blood test. Prosecutors rejected his request despite a witness' statement that Tiger had been drinking and had been prescribed Ambien and Vicodin. They rejected it despite the fact that Tiger was obviously not in control of his vehicle and was unresponsive when the trooper arrived. I suspect had it been Joe Ordinary Citizen, a subpoena for blood test results would have been a routine matter.

"Trooper suspected DUI violation." The Dallas Morning News; December 8, 2009; p. 5C.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A very Merry Christmas to all of you! May you enjoy a wonderful day of fun and togetherness with your family and friends. And may we all remember the reason for the season!

"For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord."

Why is that rate so high?

Patricia McBee of Houston says we shouldn't be talking politics on health care reform when we have one of the highest infant mortality rates of any industrialized nation. I don't know the statistics, but perhaps our infant mortality rate is high because we seem to have so many parents who kill their babies. Andrea Yates, Darlie Routier, Susan Smith, Deanna Laney, Deena Schlosser, Walter Reed Booker (who cut his 6-month-old great-granddaughter in a dispute with his grandson over who ate all the sausage biscuits), Isaac Daniel Bigley and Leanne Donovan (who police say savagely beat their 4-month-old in the "worst child abuse case" they'd ever seen), and the list goes on and on. Maybe if we concentrated on implementing the death penalty a little more consistently, our infant mortality rate would go down dramatically.

There's also another reason for the disparity. The countries she's comparing us to don't count babies for statistical reports until they're 6 months or a year old. The U.S. does. Our rate would be a lot lower, too, if we just discounted that first year of life.

"Results prove we need reform." The Dallas Morning News; December 4, 2009; p. 24A.

Salvation Army succumbs to pc pressure.

Mr. Essie May and I have supported the Salvation Army for many years. I've always thought they did a pretty good job of screening their applicants and effectively using their money. But this year, they are bowing to pc pressure.

In assessing applicants for Christmas help, they have always asked for a social security number. This was to insure that greedy scam artists weren't going to multiple locations to load up on Santa's goodies. Someone complained that the Army was using this method to cull out illegal aliens. Even if they were, that's also good stewardship. If I wanted to help Mexicans, I'd send my money to Mexico. So the Houston area Salvation Army will no longer ask for a SS number. "After much consideration and looking at what was being said, we realized there was so much confusion out there," said Spokesman Juan Alanis.

The new policy goes into effect next year. My donations stop next year.

"Toy drive changes policy." The Dallas Morning News; December 4, 2009; p. 4A.

It sounds good, but what does it mean?

December 1 was World AIDS Day. Special Health Resources for Texas asked people to wear red ribbons "in support of those who have died from AIDS." Maybe I'm just a little unclear on the concept, but does a dead person really need my support? And if he does, how does my wearing a ribbon help him out? Or are they saying that dying from AIDS is somehow an honorable thing?

SHRT went on to say that Education is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the disease. No it's not -- not having promiscuous sex is the best way to prevent the spread of the disease. Maybe SHRT needs a little educating themselves.

"Red ribbons support the battle against HIV/AIDS." The Paris News; December 1, 2009; p. 1A.

It's not easy being green.

Being green is good! Wait a minute, maybe not. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has experienced a green problem. They replaced all their traffic lights with LED bulbs. Unfortunately, the bulbs don't emit enough heat to melt the snow, and the lights get so much snow build-up that they can't be seen. The result? Dozens of automobile accidents. But the important thing is we're conserving energy!

"LEDs pose danger in snowstorms." The Dallas Morning News; December 16, 2009; p. 10A.

ESSIE MAY NEWS ALERT EXTRA

Philadelphia has received its second largest snowfall on record! The East Coast is snowed in! Travel is experiencing a major disruption due to the snowfall and low temps! Global warming is gonna' kill us all!

This was posted December 20, 2009.

The Paris News recently ran an AP article about tech gadgets used to measure calories, exercise distances, etc. Several photos of these gadgets accompanied the article. What I'm curious about is why The News thought it relevant to include in the captions the dates the photos were made. I understand this necessity if the photo chronicles an event, but why does it matter that a Garmin was photographed on October 29 instead of November 1? Did the Timex Expedition look different on October 29 than it did on October 26?

Another interesting point is that most all of the other photo captions in that edition of the newspaper included the dates the pics were taken, whether it was relevant or not. Is this some new policy? If they're into implementing new policies, I'd prefer to see them include some competent proofreaders and some accurate reporting -- no matter what day it is.

"Tech gadgets can boost your workouts." The Paris News; November 26, 2009; p. 12A.

I'm disappointed, Kay.

Kay Bailey Hutchison has turned out to be a big disappointment. She endorsed Robert Pitman for U.S. Attorney in San Antonio. Pitman is openly gay. Hutchison spokesman Jeff Sadosky said, he wasn't sure Hutchison knew about Pitman's sexual orientation. That makes it even worse -- why is she endorsing someone she knows nothing about?

"Hutchison irks right by backing gay jurist." The Dallas Morning News; November 1, 2009; p. 15A.

Propaganda hits Paris ISD.

In October, Paris Independent School District wasted three academic days with one of those touchy-feely seminars for junior high and high school students. I have no idea how much it cost monetarily, but I suspect a good deal. The "experts" were brought in from California.

The first thing I disagree with: The "experts" challenged students to talk openly with others about their feelings. When you're a teenager, you have feelings that no one else needs to know about. You're in the throes of raging hormones, uncertainty, and a desire to be accepted. Someday, revelations about what you're really feeling might be an embarrassment to you. Some things are just better left unsaid.

The second thing I disagree with: One student challenged his classmates to "trust each other." That's a dangerous thing to do. Not all people are trustworthy. In fact, it's been my experience that the untrustworthies far outnumber the truly trustworthies. The students were encouraged to share embarrassing stories about themselves. The better advice is to never share a secret if you want it to be kept a secret.

The third thing I disagree with: Team leaders promoted self-esteem. My observation is that teenagers today suffer from an over-abundance of self-esteem. They need to look around them and see that they are not the center of the universe. For example, the student who challenged his classmates to "trust each other" said, "I look for you to be there for me." If he's truly learning the lesson, wouldn't he have said, "You can be sure I'll be there for you"?

The fourth thing I disagree with: One of the "experts" said, "You can't be measured by who your friends are." As my mama used to say, "Birds of a feather flock together," and "If you lie down with the dogs, you'll get up with fleas." There's also an old adage, "A man is known by the company he keeps." If you run around with hoodlums, you'll gain their reputation and pick up their bad habits.

The fifth thing I disagree with: Tymondre Robinson, a student, said, "I would have never thought that some people would become friends, but after Challenge Day they did." You can't tell if someone is a friend after only one day. A friend is tested by time. A Travis counselor said, "After Challenge Day, during lunch several of our students sat with other students they do not normally associate with. It was truly impressive and heartwarming . . ." If all those people who proclaimed instant friendships after Challenge Day are still friends today (2 months later), I'd be surprised.

I guess I'm a bit of a paranoid, but I see some sinister undertones in this "trust everybody" philosophy, and I'm a bit concerned about it being spoonfed to our children. The first thing that comes to my mind is government control. Trust the government! It knows what's good for you!

"Students take the Challenge." The Paris News; November 1, 2009; p. 1A.

Islam is not a radical religion!

If a Christian ran over his daughter and tried to kill her because she didn't want to be a Christian, do you think it would make front page headlines? Do you think it would be on all the CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS news shows? Do you think Oprah would be talking about it?

What if it were a Muslim? Well, Faleh Almaleki ran over his daughter and her boyfriend's mother in Arizona on October 20 because he thought she was becoming "too westernized." Did you hear about it anywhere but here?

"Iraqi accused of running over daughter." The Dallas Morning News; November 1, 2009; p. 3A.

How's that again?

There was an article in The Dallas Morning News during the Halloween season about a group of paranormal investigators going to the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas to give some peace to the ghosts inhabiting the building. I found it extremely funny.

One of their ghostly indicators was a pendulum held on a line of some sort. The pendulum swinging in a clockwise direction indicated a "yes" answer from the spirit. A counterclockwise direction indicated a "no" from the ethereal realms.

The ghost hunters became excited on the 22nd floor where a bride supposedly hanged herself years ago. When Sierra Sky (do you think that's her real name?) asked if the bride was present, the pendulums all rotated clockwise. Sky then asked the bride if she would like to go into the light. Again, the pendulums rotated clockwise. Sky then performed a ceremony to help the spirit. Here's the funny part. She asked of the ghost, "Are you still here?" The pendulums spun counterclockwise. Now, if she's not there, how did she answer?

"Dallas own ghost whisperers." The Dallas Morning News; November 2, 2009; p. 2B.

We are too pc!

Amelia, Ohio, has given in to the pc garbage of taking Christ out of Christmas. Their Christmas parade has been cancelled because they are afraid of lawsuits and protests. They thought about calling it a holiday parade, but enough good, faithful Christians protested removing the whole reason for the season that they decided not to do it. I agree with the Christians of Amelia -- if Christ isn't in Christmas, why do it at all? But isn't it sad that the mere threat of a lawsuit cowers a town council into refusing to do what's right? One day, Jesus may remind them that He said he would deny anyone who denied Him. I bet a threatened lawsuit will seem insignificant to them then.

"Ohio town cancels Christmas parade." The Paris News; November 6, 2009; p. 7A.

He just wants to control your kids.

Obama has called for more school time for our kids. He says we're behind because our kids don't spend enough time in school. Our kids spend plenty of time in school -- but it's largely wasted time. They watch movies, they prepare for state testing, they go on field trips, they do busy work.

If more time in school is the answer, why is it that Asian kids, who get an average of 993 instructional hours a year, consistently outscore American kids who get an average of 1146 instructional hours per year? Why is it that people of my generation, who never started school before Labor Day and who had instructional aids no more complicated than blackboards, some pull-down maps, an old projector and some slides and film, are far more literate than our younger counterparts?

And what about cost? Larry Throm, chief financial officer for the Dallas school district said one extra week of school in Dallas would cost the district about $32 million. Are five more days of movies and field trips worth that much?

No, if Obama is honest (HA!), he would have to say the whole reason for keeping your kids in school longer is so he has more time to influence their political thought.

"Obama calls for more school time." The Dallas Morning News; September 28, 2009; p. 4A.

It must be mad Cowtown disease.

The City of Fort Worth, known for its cowboy heritage and rugged individualism spirit, has lost its mind. The City Manager has endorsed a recommendation from a "diversity task force" that the city include in its insurance plan benefits for sex-change operations.

According to the newspaper, this recommendation and 19 others were "greeted warmly" by City officials. But take heart: there are still sane people there. Stephanie Klick, The Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman said that this was evidence of liberal policies run amok, and that the policy change lacked common sense.

Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa said, "We pride ourselves in being an inclusive community." God said we're not to include some people -- II Timothy 3:1-9. Maybe Fernando shouldn't be quite so proud of himself.

This also made me wonder about Obama Care. Wonder if we'll all be forced to pay for sex-change operations under that fiasco. Knowing Obama, Pelosi, and Reid, I'd say it's a sure thing.

"Funding for sex changes?" The Dallas Morning News; November 5, 2009; p. 1B.

Was he really a savvy shopper?

David Null says he is a savvy insurance shopper, but the company deceived him. I'm skeptical of his story.

Null's 7-year-old daughter Tatum experienced an unexplained acute liver failure. She was in the hospital only 12 hours when the Nulls were advised that she had reached the $35,000 cap per medical event on her insurance. Null says he didn't know about the cap.

I would not consider myself a savvy shopper, but caps are certainly something I would inquire about. Null also says that he often bought and canceled policies just before low introductory rates expired. That may be OK for credit cards, but health insurance is a whole 'nother animal. If you're getting extremely low rates, there's a reason -- low caps and poor benefits.

As it turned out, the system did not fail the Nulls. The hospital proceeded with Tatum's $561,000 transplant. Medicaid picked up the tab. And the Nulls have the gall to complain that they must keep their income low to keep qualifying for Medicaid. I think they should be grateful that you and I are footing the bill for their stupidity.

"Adversity didn't end with transplant." The Dallas Morning News; September 20, 2009; p. 17A.

Are you caring and easygoing?

Royce Clyde Zeigler's friends and attorney say he was "caring," and "easygoing." Wonder if little Riley Ann Sawyers agrees with that. She was Zeigler's step-daughter. She's the three-year-old he beat with a belt, held under water, tried to suffocate with a pillow, and then hurled to a hard tile floor, fracturing her skull in three places -- any one of which may have been the fatal blow. Then he stuffed her body in a Rubbermaid container and left it in a storage building. A few weeks later, he threw her into Galveston Bay.

Lord, preserve us from caring and easygoing people!

"Man accused in girl's death called caring." The Dallas Morning News; November 5, 2009; p. 3A.

Inquiring minds want to know.

Michael Wayne Norris shot and killed Georgia Rollins and her 2-year-old son in 1986. He was convicted and sentenced to death. Now, 23 years later, his sentence has been upheld by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

The little boy was shot twice in the head, once in the chest, and once in the leg. Despite this, three of our esteemed appeals court judges believe Norris deserves a new trial on the grounds that the law making multiple killings a capital offense does not apply in his case since "he didn't intend to kill the child." Who are these three judges? Inquiring minds want to know so we can boot them out. Essie May did a little research and found out for you -- Judge Paul Womack, Judge Charles Holcomb, and Judge Tom Price. Remember those names next time an election rolls around.

"Death sentence upheld in slayings of mom, son." The Dallas Morning News; November 5, 2009; p. 3A.

This one's gonna cost us!

Bernardo Mario Pena violated his parole. He was picked up and placed in the Dallas County jail. There, he got into a fight with another inmate. He evidently sustained a head injury, and he died. Now his family is suing. And they'll probably win.

"Family to sue over death of inmate." The Dallas Morning News; October 28, 2009; p. 2B.

James O'Keefe: American Hero!

James O'Keefe is an American hero. We all owe him a great deal of gratitude. Even though we've known that ACORN was rife with corruption, it seemed they were invincible. Congress was afraid to say anything for being labelled racist. Obama surely wasn't going to say anything -- it's his pet organization, and it's highly likely it was ACORN's illegal activities that got him elected. They continued to receive millions in federal funds, they continued to fraudulently register voters, and that's just the corruption we know about.

James O'Keefe did what Congress couldn't or wouldn't do -- he initiated the publicity to bring this disgrace to its knees. He's the man who took his camcorder and an actress portraying a prostitute into ACORN offices and documented the blatant disregard for this country's laws and for the people like you and me who are having our money confiscated and used to promote underage prostitution. Three cheers for James O'Keefe! He's proof that one man can make a huge difference!

Note to The Paris News: When you report on an incident on one of the numbered streets in Paris, you need to include the directional. Writing "Police arrested a man on 13th Street" does not provide the location of the arrest. It merely narrows it down to four possible places. We have 13th NE, 13th NW, 13th SE, and 13th SW. I've noticed a staff problem with directions, though. The new high school is on Southeast Loop 286 (Loop 271 in most of your references). Yet you reported the new high school stadium was located on the Southwest Loop. I suggest you ask Santa for a GPS!

"Youthful indignation created a firestorm." The Dallas Morning News; September 18, 2009; p. 9A.

Essie May predicts.

Academy Award for Best Picture for 2010 goes to Michael Jackson's This Is It. It will also pick up every other tom, dick, and harry award out there.

Note to the The Paris News: Just so you'll know for future reference, it's Loop 286, not Loop 271. Don't you know your own address? And it's the Clovis Graves Community Center, not the Clove Graves Community Center. And a person is renowned, not renown.

You voted for change and look what you got!

Would you like a visit to the White House bowling alley? You can get one if you give Obama $300,000. Documents detailing the "price" of meetings with administration officials and White House visits were discovered by The Washington Times in October. The White House calls this "donor maintenance." They said it does not provide any quid pro quo. Perhaps they need to get a dictionary. Quid pro quo means I'll give you x and you give me y. Sounds pretty much to me like I'll give you money and you give me a trip to the White House. I guess the proof would be in whether or not you could call up and get an invite from Barack and Michelle without contributing a small fortune. I kind of doubt it.

"GOP seeks investigation into donor program." The Dallas Morning News; October 29, 2009; p. 13A.

What a Wicked World!

Did you know that it is not against the law in Texas for a parent to expose his children to pornography? How stupid is that?

This absurdity came to light when a divorced mother learned from her small daughters that on a visit to their father, he woke them in the middle of the night to show them a hardcore film. The police investigated, but learned from the District Attorney that the man could not be charged. Tati Santiesteban, is an El Paso Democrat and criminal defense attorney. He said, "Who in the hell is the government to come and tell me what I can show to my children?" It's the same government that can tell you you can't beat them! Duh!

"Law allowing parents to show porn targeted." The Dallas Morning News; October 29, 2009; p. 13A.

Innocence Project -- are they honest?

The Innocence Project, the group that attempts to exonerate convicted persons they believe to be innocent, is blinded by bias and is sometimes intellectually dishonest. I don't put much stock in anything they say. Here's one example of what I'm talking about.

Todd Willingham was convicted in 1992 of setting a fire that killed his three children. He was sentenced to death. His execution was carried out in 2004. The Innocence Project doesn't believe he was guilty. Barry Scheck, co-director of the Project says, "There can no longer be any doubt that an innocent person has been executed." Well, I'll give you a few facts of the case, and see if you have any doubt.

1) He gave contradictory stories to different people, and some of what he said was not borne out by photographs from the investigation of the scene.

2) Witnesses in the neighborhood said he would not go back to try to rescue his daughters, but he was very concerned about moving his car away from the fire.

3) He had a history of family violence.

4) The Innocence Project is relying on the work of Craig Beyler, an expert in the behavior of fire. They claim that he says the fire was not arson, and therefore, Willigham did not commit murder. But Mr. Beyler says that's not what he said. What he said was that the fire was of undetermined origin. He couldn't prove it was arson, but he couldn't prove it wasn't.

5) Todd Willingham was not a saint. He was arrested at age 17 for burglary and paint intoxication. He was arrested more than a dozen times between 1985 and 1989 for theft, assault, burglary, and providing paint to minors. He spent at least two stints in mandatory drug rehab.

6) His wife claims he beat her, at least once when she was pregnant in an attempt to cause a miscarriage.

7) Willingham claimed he was awakened by the fire, and he could not find his children. Yet 2 year-old Amber's body was found face down in his bed. The sheets were pulled up to her shoulders as if she had been "tucked in."

8) Investigators found charcoal starter on the steps of the house.

9) At the trial, the defense did not present a fire expert.

10) Willingham's own attorney thought he was guilty. "I think Willingham was a true sociopath," he said.

11) One of the jurors said she had been contacted by news organizations who wanted her to say, "I can't sleep at night." "They want me to say I did wrong [in voting to convict]," she said. "I can't say that."

12) Willingham confessed to his step-mother that he had not gone into the baby's room.

13) Willingham's ex-wife says he confessed to her in a round-about way that he had killed the children to spite her.

14) His last gestures and words were defiant. As he lay strapped to the gurney, he raised one middle finger to the mother of his dead children and said, "I hope you rot in hell, bitch." The cursing became more vile from there. His last words were obscenities.

Now, none of this proves his guilt, but you'd have to be out of your mind to say that it doesn't raise any doubt. That's why I don't trust the people of the Innocence Project.

"Dad's case has cracks." The Dallas Morning News; October 25, 2009; p. 1A.

Your business may be next!

It seems Obama, Barney Frank, and their cohorts are determined to take over every aspect of the U.S. economy. Frank is pushing the "too big to fail" proposal. Companies deemed too big to fail could borrow from the government. In return the government would seize the firm's profits. AND they would seek restitution from the entire industry. That means that if your firm operated within its means, you would be required to pony up for the firm that didn't while the government enjoyed the profits. It would give the government power to seize nonbank firms, dismiss their management, and wipe out shareholders.

Admittedly, I don't understand all the ins and outs of big finance; however, Scott Talbott does. He is a lobbyist for the Financial Services Roundtable. He said this plan would "expose the entire industry to paying for an unquantifiable risk and impose upfront additional costs during a recession." Wow! Sounds eerily like the health care plan, doesn't it?

"'Too big to fail' proposal is close." The Dallas Morning News; October 27, 2009; p. 3D.

Congratulations, Carrollton!

I'd be so proud if I lived in Carrollton, Texas. A real estate agent there predicts a gay-owned business boom sprouting up near the Green Line station that will connect the area with the queer Dallas Oak Lawn area. He said he expects the Carrollton's gay and lesbian population to grow. Congratulations, Carrollton! You get this week's Sodom and Gomorrah award!

"Gay-owned business boom predicted." The Dallas Morning News; October 27, 2009; p. 3B.

This ain't room service, folks!

I sometimes think I've heard everything, but then something else comes down the pike that truly amazes me. Have you heard of Yuppie 911 devices?

These are gps devices that bored people with too much time on their hands are buying. They use them to hike or do other stupid things in dangerous remote areas. Then, when they get into trouble, they push the panic button and we pay for helicopters, rescue teams, etc. to bail them out.

In September, two inexperienced men and their teenage sons decided to hike the Grand Canyon Royal Arch Loop. This is not a trek for sissies. In the span of three days, they pushed their panic button three times. The first time, they ran out of water, but they found a creek before the helicopters got there. The second time, they thought the water tasted salty, and they were afraid they would become dehydrated. The third time, the rescuers finally wised up and forced these idiots to leave.

This ain't room service! It should be policy that any time a call for help is made, the caller is evacuated. Then, he should be billed for the expense of the rescue. Let's use a little common sense here!

"'Yuppie 911' keeps rescue teams busy." The Dallas Morning News; October 26, 2009; p. 6A.