Those poor low-income students! Most of them find it next to impossible to show up on a Saturday to take an SAT test. Seems they don't have transportation (I'll just bet the majority have a car), they can't take a day off from their jobs (I'll just bet the majority manage to take prom day off), they can't afford the fees (I'll just bet the majority of them have a computer and an ipod and a cellphone), and they have to babysit their younger brothers and sisters so their parents can work (I'll just bet that's the only Saturday in the year they have to do that).
So back some years ago, the taxpayers starting paying the testing fee of $49 for them, but, as you can see, the obstacles to showing up to take the test were just too great. So now, the Irving ISD will offer the test on a regular school day. I expect next year they'll offer to sharpen their pencils (which they'll hand out for free), provide them a Starbucks coffee, and sit and hold their hands while they take the test. That will certainly teach them how to be prepared for college.
"School-day SAT lets more kids take test." The Dallas Morning News; April 18, 2012; p. 1B.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
They've done it again!
Well, they've done it again. . .a home makeover featuring "partners" Don Neilson and Freddie White. Surely there are enough heterosexuals out there that the newspaper doesn't have to keep pushing the gay agenda.
I've considered that I'm over-estimating the number they write about, so I've decided to put it to the test. For six months, I'll keep up with who they write about in garden and home makeovers. I'll report back to you at that time. This could be interesting!
"Kitchen at its barest." The Dallas Morning News; April 14, 2012; p. 1E.
I've considered that I'm over-estimating the number they write about, so I've decided to put it to the test. For six months, I'll keep up with who they write about in garden and home makeovers. I'll report back to you at that time. This could be interesting!
"Kitchen at its barest." The Dallas Morning News; April 14, 2012; p. 1E.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
They sure are good tenants!
Shavon Taylor abducted her daughter during a Christmas break visit in 2009. She took her from Illinois to Dallas where the little girl spent weeks locked in a closet because she reported to her teacher at school that Shavon's live-in boyfriend had hit her mother. The little girl, now 12 years old, was able to call her father in Illinois recently, and they were reunited.
The boyfriend, Andrae Deon Thomas, has a history of domestic violence. He has been arrested multiple times -- most recently last July for hitting Shavon during a fight at their apartment. Officers on that call found him hiding in a closet in someone else's apartment. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to deferred adjudication despite his prior arrests. The apartment manager says that Thomas and Taylor were "Excellent tenants, no problems at all. They paid their rent on time." Yeah, right -- as long as they pay that rent, they can fight all they want and invade other people's apartments all they want and lock little girls in closets all they want. But they're still "excellent tenants."
"Girl, dad reunited after '09 abduction." The Dallas Morning News; March 23, 2012; p. 1A.
The boyfriend, Andrae Deon Thomas, has a history of domestic violence. He has been arrested multiple times -- most recently last July for hitting Shavon during a fight at their apartment. Officers on that call found him hiding in a closet in someone else's apartment. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to deferred adjudication despite his prior arrests. The apartment manager says that Thomas and Taylor were "Excellent tenants, no problems at all. They paid their rent on time." Yeah, right -- as long as they pay that rent, they can fight all they want and invade other people's apartments all they want and lock little girls in closets all they want. But they're still "excellent tenants."
"Girl, dad reunited after '09 abduction." The Dallas Morning News; March 23, 2012; p. 1A.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Real Maids or Fantasies?
The City of Lubbock requires a sexually oriented business to have a permit to operate. Melissa Borrett says she's not operating a sexually oriented business. She says she owns a maid service. The thing is, her maids work in the nude. She says, "I run a maid service. We really just clean houses. These girls are not performers. They're maids." Yeah, right.
But if I were a lawyer, I think I could prove her wrong in court with her own words. "It is kind of pricey," she says of the $100 an hour fee, "but we're fantasy maids." When I hired a maid, I didn't want a "fantasy" maid. I wanted a real one -- one who wears clothes when she scrubs my toilets.
"Nude maid service may skirt law." The Dallas Morning News; April 11, 2012; p. 2A.
But if I were a lawyer, I think I could prove her wrong in court with her own words. "It is kind of pricey," she says of the $100 an hour fee, "but we're fantasy maids." When I hired a maid, I didn't want a "fantasy" maid. I wanted a real one -- one who wears clothes when she scrubs my toilets.
"Nude maid service may skirt law." The Dallas Morning News; April 11, 2012; p. 2A.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Turn it off!
Do you ever long for a television/music-free environment? I certainly do. It seems I'm bombarded everywhere I go.
Wal-Mart has monitors selling the latest products at the checkouts and in the aisles. Recently, they had one of those jingles that drives you crazy playing over and over again. I almost abandoned my cart and left the store. The doctor's office has Jerry Springer type shows or CNN blasting away in the waiting room. My dentist even has a TV in the exam room. When the assistant hands me the remote, I turn it off. Gas up the car, and there's the TV at the gas pump inviting you into the store for a Big Gulp. Go to any restaurant and you can't digest your food comfortably for the noisy music flowing through the speakers. Hasn't anyone told these people that dinner music should be pianissimo? An old fashioned malt shop is fine for some 1950's juke box music, but a sit-down restaurant with $15-$20 steaks on the menu is not the place for Jerry Lee Lewis and "Great Balls of Fire." And now, even the churches have monitors in the hallways blaring out announcements and contemporary music. If you don't read it in the bulletin, and you don't listen when they make the announcements from the pulpit, and you don't read the Power Point announcements on the big screen, then I think it's highly unlikely they'll catch your attention in the hallways.
I just want a little quiet. Turn it off!
Wal-Mart has monitors selling the latest products at the checkouts and in the aisles. Recently, they had one of those jingles that drives you crazy playing over and over again. I almost abandoned my cart and left the store. The doctor's office has Jerry Springer type shows or CNN blasting away in the waiting room. My dentist even has a TV in the exam room. When the assistant hands me the remote, I turn it off. Gas up the car, and there's the TV at the gas pump inviting you into the store for a Big Gulp. Go to any restaurant and you can't digest your food comfortably for the noisy music flowing through the speakers. Hasn't anyone told these people that dinner music should be pianissimo? An old fashioned malt shop is fine for some 1950's juke box music, but a sit-down restaurant with $15-$20 steaks on the menu is not the place for Jerry Lee Lewis and "Great Balls of Fire." And now, even the churches have monitors in the hallways blaring out announcements and contemporary music. If you don't read it in the bulletin, and you don't listen when they make the announcements from the pulpit, and you don't read the Power Point announcements on the big screen, then I think it's highly unlikely they'll catch your attention in the hallways.
I just want a little quiet. Turn it off!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Get the smelling salts for Miss Manners!
I was reading the obituaries in the newspaper recently, and I came across this "suggestion" in one of them:
"For flowers the family requests individuals call Rosetree Florist inWaco
Does that strike you as a bit nervy? Not only are they expecting flowers, but they're telling you where to buy them. Are we now doing gift registries for dead people? I think Miss Manners might have a conniption fit over that one.
"For flowers the family requests individuals call Rosetree Florist in
Does that strike you as a bit nervy? Not only are they expecting flowers, but they're telling you where to buy them. Are we now doing gift registries for dead people? I think Miss Manners might have a conniption fit over that one.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Here's what's disgusting.
Shawn Franklin of Dallas says he doesn't know what's more disgusting: the racial injustice that got Trayvon Martin killed or the treacherous attacks on his being since he was murdered.
Well, I can think of a few things. I find it disgusting when people purposely misstate the facts or state as fact what is only a conjecture.
Shawn states that racial injustice got Trayvon Martin killed. All the evidence isn't in on that yet. There are certainly enough contradictions in witness statements to cast doubt that racial injustice had anything at all to do with Trayvon's death.
Shawn says treacherous attacks on his being have been perpetrated since his murder. As stated before, there is not enough evidence yet to say that Trayvon was murdered. As far as treacherous attacks, Shawn neglected to say what he was talking about, but I'll just bet he's referring to the fact that Trayvon was suspended from school at the time of his death. That's not an attack -- that's just a fact. Or the fact that this was at least his third suspension. He may also be referring to the fact that the reason for his suspension was a baggy with remnants of marijuana in it. That hasn't been disputed, either. Does Shawn think that being killed automatically confers sainthood on a teen who obviously didn't have a problem with breaking the rules?
Shawn says that Trayvon was not killed for anything he did wrong. Maybe not. However, Zimmerman had an injury to the back of his head from something. Shawn says we should stop the shameful attack on Trayvon and give him the respect he is due. I haven't heard any reason yet why Trayvon deserves my respect. Shawn is now afraid to wear his hoodie and sweats. Maybe Shawn is just disgustingly melodramatic.
"Trayvon twice a victim." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 12A.
Well, I can think of a few things. I find it disgusting when people purposely misstate the facts or state as fact what is only a conjecture.
Shawn states that racial injustice got Trayvon Martin killed. All the evidence isn't in on that yet. There are certainly enough contradictions in witness statements to cast doubt that racial injustice had anything at all to do with Trayvon's death.
Shawn says treacherous attacks on his being have been perpetrated since his murder. As stated before, there is not enough evidence yet to say that Trayvon was murdered. As far as treacherous attacks, Shawn neglected to say what he was talking about, but I'll just bet he's referring to the fact that Trayvon was suspended from school at the time of his death. That's not an attack -- that's just a fact. Or the fact that this was at least his third suspension. He may also be referring to the fact that the reason for his suspension was a baggy with remnants of marijuana in it. That hasn't been disputed, either. Does Shawn think that being killed automatically confers sainthood on a teen who obviously didn't have a problem with breaking the rules?
Shawn says that Trayvon was not killed for anything he did wrong. Maybe not. However, Zimmerman had an injury to the back of his head from something. Shawn says we should stop the shameful attack on Trayvon and give him the respect he is due. I haven't heard any reason yet why Trayvon deserves my respect. Shawn is now afraid to wear his hoodie and sweats. Maybe Shawn is just disgustingly melodramatic.
"Trayvon twice a victim." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 12A.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Birds of a Feather . . .
One of my mother's favorite sayings was, "Birds of a feather flock together." I can't tell you how many times I heard that as I was growing up. I thought of that when I read about Abake Assongba.
Abake Assongba runs a charity called Abake's Foundation that purportedly distributes school supplies and food in Benin, Africa. She is accused of an email scam dating from 2009. I don't know all the details of the scam, but evidently she posed as a bank official and defrauded Swiss businessman Klaus-Werner Pusch of $650,000. She then used the money to help build herself a mansion in Florida.
Who does Assongba "flock" with? She is listed (or was) on Obama's website as one of 440 volunteer fundraisers, and she just this year contributed $50,000 to the Obama's. She joins brothers Carlos and Alberto Cardona whose brother is a Mexican fugitive wanted on federal drug charges. The Cardona's gave $200,000 to Obama. That money, however, was returned after someone publicized the connection.
My mother was a wise woman.
"Major Obama donor facing fraud claims." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 6A.
Abake Assongba runs a charity called Abake's Foundation that purportedly distributes school supplies and food in Benin, Africa. She is accused of an email scam dating from 2009. I don't know all the details of the scam, but evidently she posed as a bank official and defrauded Swiss businessman Klaus-Werner Pusch of $650,000. She then used the money to help build herself a mansion in Florida.
Who does Assongba "flock" with? She is listed (or was) on Obama's website as one of 440 volunteer fundraisers, and she just this year contributed $50,000 to the Obama's. She joins brothers Carlos and Alberto Cardona whose brother is a Mexican fugitive wanted on federal drug charges. The Cardona's gave $200,000 to Obama. That money, however, was returned after someone publicized the connection.
My mother was a wise woman.
"Major Obama donor facing fraud claims." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 6A.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Unclear on the Concept
Lindsey Donner seems to be unclear on the concept of health insurance. She is a small business owner who has opted not to buy health insurance. She thinks Obamacare should be in place in case she wants to have a baby in five years from now.
She said that she and her husband did have insurance at one time, but they found they were paying monthly premiums for insurance they never used. Well, duh! They should count themselves fortunate that they're not sick very much. I guess that means I can go ahead and drop my homeowners insurance, because I never use it. Let me see if I can explain this, Lindsey. You buy insurance to protect you against unfortunate circumstances that MAY come. You don't buy it thinking, "Gosh, I hope I get cancer so I can use this," or "Gee, maybe a tornado will hit my house and I can use my insurance."
As far as you wanting coverage so you can have a baby, save up the money yourself if you don't want to buy insurance! If you can't save enough in five years to pay for maternity and delivery care, then maybe you can't afford a baby anyway. Why should the taxpayer be on the hook to pay your way?
"Mandate isn't first of its kind." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 1A.
She said that she and her husband did have insurance at one time, but they found they were paying monthly premiums for insurance they never used. Well, duh! They should count themselves fortunate that they're not sick very much. I guess that means I can go ahead and drop my homeowners insurance, because I never use it. Let me see if I can explain this, Lindsey. You buy insurance to protect you against unfortunate circumstances that MAY come. You don't buy it thinking, "Gosh, I hope I get cancer so I can use this," or "Gee, maybe a tornado will hit my house and I can use my insurance."
As far as you wanting coverage so you can have a baby, save up the money yourself if you don't want to buy insurance! If you can't save enough in five years to pay for maternity and delivery care, then maybe you can't afford a baby anyway. Why should the taxpayer be on the hook to pay your way?
"Mandate isn't first of its kind." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 1A.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wonder why that is?
Since the big brouhaha in Florida over the shooting (justified or not) of Trayvon Martin, there has been a call by some Texas legislators to re-examine Texas's castle doctrine -- that law that gives a home or business owner the right to protect what's his. The law states that a person has no duty to retreat from an attack in his home, vehicle or place of business.
Representative Garnet Coleman is one of those asking that we change the law. He says that it has disproportionate consequences on people of color. Now, wait just a minute . . . is he admitting that more people "of color" break into people's houses and carjack people? Sounds like it to me. I can't think of any other reason the consequences would be "disproportionate." I can tell you this -- if I wake up in the night and I see the shadow of a stranger in my room, I'm not going to ask if he's white or black before I shoot him.
"'Castle Doctrine' re-examined." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 2A.
Representative Garnet Coleman is one of those asking that we change the law. He says that it has disproportionate consequences on people of color. Now, wait just a minute . . . is he admitting that more people "of color" break into people's houses and carjack people? Sounds like it to me. I can't think of any other reason the consequences would be "disproportionate." I can tell you this -- if I wake up in the night and I see the shadow of a stranger in my room, I'm not going to ask if he's white or black before I shoot him.
"'Castle Doctrine' re-examined." The Dallas Morning News; April 2, 2012; p. 2A.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hinky?
There's a term used in law enforcement that means that something about a story just doesn't add up right -- can't exactly put your finger on what's wrong, but you know something is amiss. The term is "hinky." Maybe I'm too suspicious and cynical, but this story seems hinky to me.
Two men were walking down Audelia Road in northeast Dallas at 2 a.m. one day last March. That's niggling doubt number one. What are they doing walking down a road at 2 a.m.? They claim that five men pulled up and shouted anti-gay slurs at them. Two of the men got out of the car with baseball bats and attacked the alleged victims. Hmmmm. . .and they just stood there? They didn't try to run?
One man was knocked unconscious, and the other claims he tried to fight back and was caught in the door of the attackers' vehicle and dragged a short distance. Hmmmmm . . . the attackers' buddies were taking off without them?
The two men who were attacked kept their wits about them enough to realize that the car had 24-inch rims. Really? You'd know the size of the rims just by a cursory look? I'm not into automotive things, so I honestly didn't know. I looked on ebay, though, and the 22 inch, 24 inch, 26 inch, and 28 inch rims all look about the same to me.
The alleged victims, who suffered numerous injuries, took themselves to Medical City Hospital where police were contacted. Hmmmmmm . . . if they were walking, how did they get to the hospital? If they called someone to come get them, why didn't they also call police?
The police say this was a hate crime and is being investigated accordingly. I wonder about that. With all the publicity gays get when something like this happens, why haven't we heard a follow-up to this case since March 15 when it was first reported?
Sounds awfully hinky to me.
"Police seek help naming men in anti-gay attack." The Dallas Morning News; March 15, 2012; p. 3B.
Two men were walking down Audelia Road in northeast Dallas at 2 a.m. one day last March. That's niggling doubt number one. What are they doing walking down a road at 2 a.m.? They claim that five men pulled up and shouted anti-gay slurs at them. Two of the men got out of the car with baseball bats and attacked the alleged victims. Hmmmm. . .and they just stood there? They didn't try to run?
One man was knocked unconscious, and the other claims he tried to fight back and was caught in the door of the attackers' vehicle and dragged a short distance. Hmmmmm . . . the attackers' buddies were taking off without them?
The two men who were attacked kept their wits about them enough to realize that the car had 24-inch rims. Really? You'd know the size of the rims just by a cursory look? I'm not into automotive things, so I honestly didn't know. I looked on ebay, though, and the 22 inch, 24 inch, 26 inch, and 28 inch rims all look about the same to me.
The alleged victims, who suffered numerous injuries, took themselves to Medical City Hospital where police were contacted. Hmmmmmm . . . if they were walking, how did they get to the hospital? If they called someone to come get them, why didn't they also call police?
The police say this was a hate crime and is being investigated accordingly. I wonder about that. With all the publicity gays get when something like this happens, why haven't we heard a follow-up to this case since March 15 when it was first reported?
Sounds awfully hinky to me.
"Police seek help naming men in anti-gay attack." The Dallas Morning News; March 15, 2012; p. 3B.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Bias in the Media
I am a bit perturbed by the news media and the public in general. In the Trayvon Martin case, Trayvon is repeatedly referred to as "an innocent child," "a victim," etc.
That has by no means been established. I don't know if those terms fit or not, but neither does anyone else besides George Zimmerman. If they insist on using those terms, they should be saying "alleged innocent child," "alleged victim," etc.
That has by no means been established. I don't know if those terms fit or not, but neither does anyone else besides George Zimmerman. If they insist on using those terms, they should be saying "alleged innocent child," "alleged victim," etc.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Beware!
If you think Obama's first term was bad, just wait for the second should he be re-elected. He won't have to worry about what anybody thinks about him then. As he told Russian President Medvedev, "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility." Translation: I can do anything I please, and nobody can stop me.
Beware! This is a dangerous man! We all need to make our voices heard at the ballot box.
"Candid Obama remarks caught on microphone." The Dallas Morning News; March 27, 2012; p. 8A.
Beware! This is a dangerous man! We all need to make our voices heard at the ballot box.
"Candid Obama remarks caught on microphone." The Dallas Morning News; March 27, 2012; p. 8A.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Why was he here?
Binh Thai Luc was ordered deported six years ago after serving a prison sentence for armed robbery. Yet last month he killed five people in San Francisco. What was he doing here? ICE says that his native country, Vietnam, didn't want him back. Gosh, I wonder why?
At any rate, if they wouldn't take him back, ICE should have kept him in a detention facility. I guess they were more concerned about protecting Vietnamese citizens than they were about protecting American citizens.
"Slaying suspect was to have been deported." The Dallas Morning News;
At any rate, if they wouldn't take him back, ICE should have kept him in a detention facility. I guess they were more concerned about protecting Vietnamese citizens than they were about protecting American citizens.
"Slaying suspect was to have been deported." The Dallas Morning News;
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Give me a break!
The U.S. Justice Department says that 600,000 people in Texas won't be able to vote if the new photo ID voter law is enforced. Yes they will unless they're planning to vote fraudulently! There is plenty of time between now and November to get a photo ID. If voting isn't important enough to a person to do that simple thing, then he probably shouldn't be voting anyway. The Feds say the law will be discriminatory. No, it won't. Discriminatory is if you say only hispanics or blacks need photo ID. I don't get to skate by without one just because I'm white.
"Feds: Texas voter ID law likely to discriminate." The Dallas Morning News; April 12, 2012; p. 4A.
"Feds: Texas voter ID law likely to discriminate." The Dallas Morning News; April 12, 2012; p. 4A.
Friday, April 13, 2012
What if . . .
What if, at a fundraiser four years ago, Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or Mark Levin said, "Michelle Obama, Alma Rangel, Jacqueline Jackson . . . Now do you really think our country is ready for a black first lady?"
At a recent Obama fundraiser, in introducing Michelle Obama, Robert DeNiro said, "Callista Gingrich, Karen Santorum, Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady? Too soon, right?"
Where is the outrage??????
"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; March 25, 2012; p. 1P.
At a recent Obama fundraiser, in introducing Michelle Obama, Robert DeNiro said, "Callista Gingrich, Karen Santorum, Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady? Too soon, right?"
Where is the outrage??????
"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; March 25, 2012; p. 1P.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
What if . . .
What if a black man in his own neighborhood killed a white pot-smoking teenager who, he claimed, attacked him? And what if the black man had a broken nose, a wound on the back of his head, and grass stains all over his pants? And what if a witness said, "I saw the black man on the ground and the white kid on top of him"? And what if the black man was not arrested because the police had not completed their investigation? And what if the KKK printed up wanted posters of the black man that said, "Wanted Dead or Alive" and offered a $10,000 bounty for him? And what if Rush Limbaugh tweeted all his followers with the message "Reach out and touch someone" accompanied by the address of an elderly couple who just happened to have the same name as the black man?
Do you think the Justice Department would be investigating? Do you think there would be cries of outrage from black politicians? Do you think KKK leaders would be cooling their heels in jail? I do.
Yet we hear not a peep from any of them over the bounty placed on George Zimmerman and the outrageous behavior of those who have victimized innocent people who just happen to share the Zimmerman name. Our country has hit a new low, and the only way up is to get Obama and Eric Holder out of office come November.
Do you think the Justice Department would be investigating? Do you think there would be cries of outrage from black politicians? Do you think KKK leaders would be cooling their heels in jail? I do.
Yet we hear not a peep from any of them over the bounty placed on George Zimmerman and the outrageous behavior of those who have victimized innocent people who just happen to share the Zimmerman name. Our country has hit a new low, and the only way up is to get Obama and Eric Holder out of office come November.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Jim Barber doesn't believe we know what's good for us.
Jim Barber doesn't like Paul Ryan's budget proposal. He doesn't like allowing seniors to choose between Medicare and private plans. He says it will "kill Medicare, a wildly popular government program that three out of four Americans support . . ."
If it's that wildly popular, why does he think it will be killed? He says it will be killed because it will allow healthy people to get better rates somewhere else. If Medicare's all that great, why can't they get the same rates from Medicare? He says only the sickest will stay in Medicare, because they can't afford a private plan. So is he admitting that Medicare's just a tool for redistributing wealth? And the only way we can keep it is to force people into it? Sounds to me like good arguments for why the government shouldn't be in the healthcare business at all.
"Medicare will suffer." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 12A.
If it's that wildly popular, why does he think it will be killed? He says it will be killed because it will allow healthy people to get better rates somewhere else. If Medicare's all that great, why can't they get the same rates from Medicare? He says only the sickest will stay in Medicare, because they can't afford a private plan. So is he admitting that Medicare's just a tool for redistributing wealth? And the only way we can keep it is to force people into it? Sounds to me like good arguments for why the government shouldn't be in the healthcare business at all.
"Medicare will suffer." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 12A.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
How much is an old person worth?
I am a bit disturbed by the opinions being expressed upon the good news that former VP Dick Cheney has a new heart. Instead of rejoicing with him, it seems that people are questioning whether someone "more worthy" should have been given the heart.
First, most of those in the medical profession agree that it does not seem that Mr. Cheney received any special treatment. He waited almost two years for the heart -- longer than most of those awaiting a transplant. Second, there is again agreement that he had to have had healthy liver and kidneys before he would be considered -- standard procedure in evaluating transplant candidates.
The sticking point with these people seems to be his age. Mr. Cheney is 71. Dr. Eric Topol says that the issue is not that he had a transplant, but who didn't get one because he did. I suppose that question could be asked of every transplant. If we look hard enough, we could probably find a candidate "more worthy" in our eyes or someone else's eyes every time a donor heart is available.
Art Caplan is a University of Pennsylvania bioethicist. He says, that "the system should pay more attention to age because you'll get a better return on the gift." Old Art thinks those old folks just aren't worth the trouble. We'll see if he changes his mind when he's 68 and needs a liver or heart transplant.
By the way, why do I get the feeling that Art may have helped craft Obamacare?
"Cheney's transplant renews debate." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 7A.
First, most of those in the medical profession agree that it does not seem that Mr. Cheney received any special treatment. He waited almost two years for the heart -- longer than most of those awaiting a transplant. Second, there is again agreement that he had to have had healthy liver and kidneys before he would be considered -- standard procedure in evaluating transplant candidates.
The sticking point with these people seems to be his age. Mr. Cheney is 71. Dr. Eric Topol says that the issue is not that he had a transplant, but who didn't get one because he did. I suppose that question could be asked of every transplant. If we look hard enough, we could probably find a candidate "more worthy" in our eyes or someone else's eyes every time a donor heart is available.
Art Caplan is a University of Pennsylvania bioethicist. He says, that "the system should pay more attention to age because you'll get a better return on the gift." Old Art thinks those old folks just aren't worth the trouble. We'll see if he changes his mind when he's 68 and needs a liver or heart transplant.
By the way, why do I get the feeling that Art may have helped craft Obamacare?
"Cheney's transplant renews debate." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 7A.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Page 7 News
A man carrying a shotgun kicked in the church door during services at Southside Freewill Baptist Church in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, in April. Church members had seen him approaching and locked the doors. Several church members subdued the man and held him until police arrived.
How could we have gotten this article moved to Page 1? Change the church to a mosque. I think that would do it.
"S.C. church members take down gunman." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 7A.
How could we have gotten this article moved to Page 1? Change the church to a mosque. I think that would do it.
"S.C. church members take down gunman." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 7A.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
If there's nothing wrong with it, what's the problem?
You know how we are told over and over again by Hollywood and the media that there's nothing wrong with homosexuality? I'm a little confused. Phong Van Meter was sued in civil court by one of her restaurant customers, and the judge found in favor of the customer.
It seems that Phong liked to poke fun at the customer. He often came in with his friend, and he says that Phong kept insinuating in front of the other customers that they were a gay couple. If there's nothing wrong with homosexuality, then what's the problem?
Besides that, I can't imagine why the customer kept coming back if Phong offended him. If the employees or owners of a business I go to insult me or otherwise make me feel uncomfortable, I just don't go back. Yet this man evidently had breakfast there several times a week.
In his suit, the customer says Phong is guilty of "defamation of character and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress." Is he saying (gasp!) that homosexuality is a character issue? He says of Phong, "She is an evil old woman." Is that not defamation of character? Could such an allegation cause Phong emotional distress?
I wonder why Phong, who is obviously Asian, doesn't countersue for racial discrimination. She alleges that the customer wanted to run her out of town and used a racial slur when speaking of her.
I guess we've come to the point where we can't say what we want to on our own property. Maybe the Supreme Court will see the absurdity in this suit and toss it in the trash can where it belongs.
"Tiff over verbal jabs heads to justices." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 3A.
It seems that Phong liked to poke fun at the customer. He often came in with his friend, and he says that Phong kept insinuating in front of the other customers that they were a gay couple. If there's nothing wrong with homosexuality, then what's the problem?
Besides that, I can't imagine why the customer kept coming back if Phong offended him. If the employees or owners of a business I go to insult me or otherwise make me feel uncomfortable, I just don't go back. Yet this man evidently had breakfast there several times a week.
In his suit, the customer says Phong is guilty of "defamation of character and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress." Is he saying (gasp!) that homosexuality is a character issue? He says of Phong, "She is an evil old woman." Is that not defamation of character? Could such an allegation cause Phong emotional distress?
I wonder why Phong, who is obviously Asian, doesn't countersue for racial discrimination. She alleges that the customer wanted to run her out of town and used a racial slur when speaking of her.
I guess we've come to the point where we can't say what we want to on our own property. Maybe the Supreme Court will see the absurdity in this suit and toss it in the trash can where it belongs.
"Tiff over verbal jabs heads to justices." The Dallas Morning News; March 26, 2012; p. 3A.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
What universe are you from?
I don't know if Cedric Wood is just incredibly naive or if he is from some other universe. He's trying to find someone to blame for Whitney Houston's death. He says Whitney Houston had to have "endured something sufficiently wounding to end up so addicted to drugs." No, she didn't. Some people just use drugs because they want to -- they may end up not wanting to, but initially, they use them because they think it's cool or they want to be like their friends or they want a new experience or they're just plain showing off. Whitney had everything she could want -- an apparently good mother, positive role models, fame, money. According to her childhood friends, they had a happy childhood. Whitney's father was not only a father to her, but a father figure to the children in the neighborhood as well according to Toni Gregory. It was Whitney's decision alone to ruin her voice with cigarettes and subject her body to drugs and an abusive man.
Cedric says Whitney didn't get the "understanding or sympathy she deserved." How does he know that? And just what about her made her deserving of my sympathy? Cedric says we must delve into the first 15 years of her life to find the underlying reason for years of drug abuse and mental torment. After numerous internet searches, the only thing I can find besides a happy Houston family life is that her parents, like thousands of others, were divorced. Does Cedric know something we don't? Or does Cedric know nothing at all?
"Don't blame fame." The Dallas Morning News; February 20, 2012; p. 16A.
Cedric says Whitney didn't get the "understanding or sympathy she deserved." How does he know that? And just what about her made her deserving of my sympathy? Cedric says we must delve into the first 15 years of her life to find the underlying reason for years of drug abuse and mental torment. After numerous internet searches, the only thing I can find besides a happy Houston family life is that her parents, like thousands of others, were divorced. Does Cedric know something we don't? Or does Cedric know nothing at all?
"Don't blame fame." The Dallas Morning News; February 20, 2012; p. 16A.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.
I thought it was kind of interesting that in the same edition of the newspaper, there was an article about aspirin and one about the need for sedation for colonoscopies.
According to a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, sedation for a colonscopy is "a luxury that is not strictly necessary." Have you ever had a colonoscopy? Did you consider the sedation a luxury? Is novocaine a luxury for a tooth extraction? After all, it's not strictly necessary.
The article about aspirin says that taking a daily dose can reduce cancer risks. Folks, I fear we are systematically being desensitized to Obamacare. I can just hear it now -- you call your doctor for a pap smear, a mammogram, a PSA test, or a colonoscopy, and his reply will be, "Just take two aspirin and don't call me in the morning."
"Heavy Sedation for colon tests criticized." The Dallas Morning News; March 21, 2012; p. 5A.
"Daily aspirin may lower risk of many cancers, researchers find." The Dallas Morning News; March 21, 2012; p. 1A.
According to a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, sedation for a colonscopy is "a luxury that is not strictly necessary." Have you ever had a colonoscopy? Did you consider the sedation a luxury? Is novocaine a luxury for a tooth extraction? After all, it's not strictly necessary.
The article about aspirin says that taking a daily dose can reduce cancer risks. Folks, I fear we are systematically being desensitized to Obamacare. I can just hear it now -- you call your doctor for a pap smear, a mammogram, a PSA test, or a colonoscopy, and his reply will be, "Just take two aspirin and don't call me in the morning."
"Heavy Sedation for colon tests criticized." The Dallas Morning News; March 21, 2012; p. 5A.
"Daily aspirin may lower risk of many cancers, researchers find." The Dallas Morning News; March 21, 2012; p. 1A.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
I don't think that washes.
Have you heard the latest? Retailers are having trouble curbing the disappearance of Tide laundry detergent from their shelves. It seems that's the latest big seller on the black market. It's being traded for drugs, then the drug dealers sell it to crooked convenience store operators, barber shops, and nail salons. According to Ben Nuckols who reported the story for the Associated Press, "Everybody gets something out of the arrangement: the addict, who doesn't have to scrounge up cash; the dealer, who can double or triple his profit on the drugs; and the retailer [convenience store, etc.], who can acquire Tide for less than wholesale."
Excuse me, Ben, but I think you left a couple of victims out of your analysis. What does the original retailer who had the Tide stolen from him get? And what does the honest customer get besides higher prices to cover the retailers' losses?
No, Ben, I don't think your argument washes.
"Drug dealers clean up with Tide." The Dallas Morning News; March 15, 2012; p. 2A.
Excuse me, Ben, but I think you left a couple of victims out of your analysis. What does the original retailer who had the Tide stolen from him get? And what does the honest customer get besides higher prices to cover the retailers' losses?
No, Ben, I don't think your argument washes.
"Drug dealers clean up with Tide." The Dallas Morning News; March 15, 2012; p. 2A.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Separation of Church and State
I guess this is typical of the backward thinking in today's world. The people who yell "separation of church and state" are usually those who don't want any mention of religion or God or church in any area of our government. But that's not what separation of church and state means. Separation of church and state means the government is to stay out of religion -- not vice versa.
A prime example is the Obamacare mandate that requires employers to provide contraceptives to their employees free of charge. Bob Klemick of Euless says, "The religious institutions are involving themselves in politics and the secular world where they don't belong." Bob is either an idiot or disingenuous. Neither the Catholic church nor any other institution "involved" itself in this abrogation of freedom. The Catholic church and other denominations are responding to the government's intrusion into their rights where IT DOES NOT BELONG!
"Another red herring." The Dallas Morning News; February 19, 2012; p. 3P.
A prime example is the Obamacare mandate that requires employers to provide contraceptives to their employees free of charge. Bob Klemick of Euless says, "The religious institutions are involving themselves in politics and the secular world where they don't belong." Bob is either an idiot or disingenuous. Neither the Catholic church nor any other institution "involved" itself in this abrogation of freedom. The Catholic church and other denominations are responding to the government's intrusion into their rights where IT DOES NOT BELONG!
"Another red herring." The Dallas Morning News; February 19, 2012; p. 3P.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
But the point is, they're unpredictable.
I don't know if Karin Campbell of Colleyville is just ignorant, or if she's a couple of eggs short in her nest. She thinks pit bulls get a bad rap. She says everytime a story about a pit bull attack is printed, it "feeds the nation's fear of this breed." Well, yeah!
Karin says, "There are many pit bulls that are living with families as loving pets; many are therapy dogs, comforting the sick." You miss the point, Karin. Pit bulls are UNPREDICTABLE. One can be the loving family pet one minute, and the monster attacking the baby the next. Karin says they don't print it everytime another breed attacks. How does she know? My guess is that the reason you don't see as many stories about attacks from other breeds is because there just aren't as many attacks from other breeds.
From 2005 to 2011, pit bulls killed 128 Americans, about one citizen every 20 days. Of these attacks, 51% (65) involved a family member and a household pit bull. In the first 8 months of 2011, nearly half of those killed by a pit bull were the dog's owner. And that doesn't include all the people who survived pit bull attacks.
Pit bulls frequently attack without provocation or warning. For instance, a pit bull may not growl, bare its teeth or offer a direct stare before it strikes. According to expert Randall Lockwood, pit bulls are also liars. In a 2004 law enforcement training video, taped when Lockwood was vice president for research and educational outreach for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), he shares the following story:
". . .I was investigating three pit bulls that killed a little boy in Georgia. When I went up to do an initial evaluation of the dog's behavior, the dog came up to the front of the fence, gave me a nice little tail wag and a 'play bow' -- a little solicitation, a little greeting. As I got closer, he lunged for my face."
Another case belying a pit's suitability as a therapy animal: Peter Borcheldt is an animal behavior expert. He was training a pit bull for a client. Upon assuring a man he passed on the street that the dog was friendly, the dog suddenly broke free from him and attacked the man in the groin.
Karin dares the newspaper to print a picture of a "pitty" in the arms of a child or visiting the sick. Here's a suggestion, Karin -- why don't you take a photo of your child holding the pitty and send it in? As far as visiting the sick, if they bring one into my hospital room, I'm leaving. I certainly don't want to deal with being mauled if I'm already suffering.
"Pit bulls wrongly blamed." The Dallas Morning News; February 18, 2012; p. 22A.
http://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs-pit-bull-myths.php
Karin says, "There are many pit bulls that are living with families as loving pets; many are therapy dogs, comforting the sick." You miss the point, Karin. Pit bulls are UNPREDICTABLE. One can be the loving family pet one minute, and the monster attacking the baby the next. Karin says they don't print it everytime another breed attacks. How does she know? My guess is that the reason you don't see as many stories about attacks from other breeds is because there just aren't as many attacks from other breeds.
From 2005 to 2011, pit bulls killed 128 Americans, about one citizen every 20 days. Of these attacks, 51% (65) involved a family member and a household pit bull. In the first 8 months of 2011, nearly half of those killed by a pit bull were the dog's owner. And that doesn't include all the people who survived pit bull attacks.
Pit bulls frequently attack without provocation or warning. For instance, a pit bull may not growl, bare its teeth or offer a direct stare before it strikes. According to expert Randall Lockwood, pit bulls are also liars. In a 2004 law enforcement training video, taped when Lockwood was vice president for research and educational outreach for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), he shares the following story:
". . .I was investigating three pit bulls that killed a little boy in Georgia. When I went up to do an initial evaluation of the dog's behavior, the dog came up to the front of the fence, gave me a nice little tail wag and a 'play bow' -- a little solicitation, a little greeting. As I got closer, he lunged for my face."
Another case belying a pit's suitability as a therapy animal: Peter Borcheldt is an animal behavior expert. He was training a pit bull for a client. Upon assuring a man he passed on the street that the dog was friendly, the dog suddenly broke free from him and attacked the man in the groin.
Karin dares the newspaper to print a picture of a "pitty" in the arms of a child or visiting the sick. Here's a suggestion, Karin -- why don't you take a photo of your child holding the pitty and send it in? As far as visiting the sick, if they bring one into my hospital room, I'm leaving. I certainly don't want to deal with being mauled if I'm already suffering.
"Pit bulls wrongly blamed." The Dallas Morning News; February 18, 2012; p. 22A.
http://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs-pit-bull-myths.php
Monday, April 2, 2012
You go, Dad!
Hooray for Tommy Jordan of Albemarle, N.C. Tommy's sassy teenage daughter aired complaints on Facebook about her parents making her do (gasp!) chores. "I'm not your damn slave!" she exclaimed. "You know how hard it is to keep up with the chores and schoolwork? It's freaking crazy." Poor little Miss Overworked . . . if she's that busy, where does she find the time to spend on Facebook?
Well, Tommy took care of that problem. By now, you've probably all seen the video he made as he shot the daughter's laptop to smithereens. We'd have fewer self-serving, spoiled, lazy teenagers if we had more fathers like Tommy who have a little parenting gumption.
Not so, says Gary Baker, a father of two teenagers. He says, "For any parent to respond with wanton violence and destruction of property is unnecessary and clearly an overreaction." Wanton violence? Give me a break! Destruction of property? I daresay good ol' Tommy and not the sassy teenager paid for that laptop, so it was his to do with as he pleased. Overreaction? I think that fits little Miss Drama Queen a whole lot more than it does dad.
I'll just bet that Tommy's daughter will never forget this lesson!
"Dad's tech execution fires up the masses." The Dallas Morning News; February 18, 2012; p. 16A.
Well, Tommy took care of that problem. By now, you've probably all seen the video he made as he shot the daughter's laptop to smithereens. We'd have fewer self-serving, spoiled, lazy teenagers if we had more fathers like Tommy who have a little parenting gumption.
Not so, says Gary Baker, a father of two teenagers. He says, "For any parent to respond with wanton violence and destruction of property is unnecessary and clearly an overreaction." Wanton violence? Give me a break! Destruction of property? I daresay good ol' Tommy and not the sassy teenager paid for that laptop, so it was his to do with as he pleased. Overreaction? I think that fits little Miss Drama Queen a whole lot more than it does dad.
I'll just bet that Tommy's daughter will never forget this lesson!
"Dad's tech execution fires up the masses." The Dallas Morning News; February 18, 2012; p. 16A.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Is this a non-story?
The headline blares "Man evicting 98-year-old mom." How heartless! How cruel! But don't jump to those conclusions just yet.
Peter Kantorowski wants his mother to move in with him or into a nursing home. She's refused to go. Concerned for her welfare (Peter says she's disoriented and the house is in poor condition), he did what he felt he had to do. Since ownership of the house had been transferred to him several years ago, he's having his mother legally evicted.
"I'm not throwing her on the street. At her age, . . . she should have her meals on time." Her court-appointed attorney says, "I'm appalled a son would do this." Since he's so appalled, I'm sure he'll volunteer to see that Peter's mother is properly cared for. But I'm not holding my breath until he does.
"Man evicting 98-year-old mom." The Dallas Morning News; February 18, 2012; p. 16A.
Peter Kantorowski wants his mother to move in with him or into a nursing home. She's refused to go. Concerned for her welfare (Peter says she's disoriented and the house is in poor condition), he did what he felt he had to do. Since ownership of the house had been transferred to him several years ago, he's having his mother legally evicted.
"I'm not throwing her on the street. At her age, . . . she should have her meals on time." Her court-appointed attorney says, "I'm appalled a son would do this." Since he's so appalled, I'm sure he'll volunteer to see that Peter's mother is properly cared for. But I'm not holding my breath until he does.
"Man evicting 98-year-old mom." The Dallas Morning News; February 18, 2012; p. 16A.
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