Never Forget

I was going to post the September 11 column by Leonard Pitts, but as I read through it again I realized that his column was written in a time of shock and grief and anger. Yes we should never forget what happened on 9/11 and we should always remember the sacrifice of the police, firefighters and citizens on that day. We should alsoremember the sacrifice made by our Service men and women since that day.

But this should be a time of healing and remembrance, not anger and irrational idealism. Islam is not our enemy. Those who warp the words and ideals of Islam to further their murderous agenda are our enemy. Just as those who warp the words and ideals of Christianity, or any other religion to forward an agenda of hate and prejudice should be the concern of all rational thinking people.

This country was founded on the premise that we should all have the right to worship as we please. We have the right to free speech, and I may not agree with what you say, but at one time I swore an oath to defend your right to to say it, no matter how idiotic. I may no longer have the authority but I still believe in that oath.

On this 9/11 Anniversary let's remember what is important, our family friends and freedoms. Tell those important to you how you feel, and take the time to thank those who swore an oath to protect your freedoms, even your right to be and idiot.

Of Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs

Yesterday two officers from the Tampa Police Department were killed on a traffic stop. The killer, who had a warrant for his arrest, shot both officers in the head. Neither officer had time to draw his weapon or call on the radio. Citizens who witnessed the shooting called to report it. Both officers were 31 years old; one had a child due next week and the other had 4 boys.

The killer had a long criminal history. He was acquitted on charges of attempted murder at one point. I have already heard the question, and it will be asked a lot in the coming days; "why was a person with a history like this out on the street?"

The easy answer it this....this is how our justice system work. He either served his time or was acquitted. But its not really an easy answer is it? Unfortunately, our system of justice is not equipped to handle people like this. If this killer doesn't get shot during apprehension, he will be tried for two counts of capital murder and will most likely get the death penalty. But it took the lives of two good cops to get this far. Unless the citizens become willing give up certain rights and live in a police state where justice is dispensed immediately and without fail then tragedies like this will continue to happen. The great things is that, knowing this, the sheepdogs still go into battle.

Two sheepdogs were killed yesterday and despite that today, sheepdogs all over this country got up and went out like they do everyday and protected their sheep from the wolves.

Grossman, D., & Christensen, L., “Of Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs.” Published in:
-South Carolina Trooper, Winter 2006.
-Arkansas Lawman, June 2005.
-Oklahoma Chief to Chief: The Official Publication of the Oklahoma Chiefs of Police, -Spring/Summer 2005.
-The Coalition: The Official Publication of the National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition, Spring 2005.
-The Police Marksman, Nov/Dec 2005.

Law Enforcement Week

Right now there's a law enforcement officer helping someone. A police officer is working the streets {day or night} to keep you safe. A sheriff's deputy is missing their family while caring for yours. In the minute it took you to read this, police officers all over the world are saving lives.♥ It's Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.

Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36981179?GT1=43001

The following is just my humble opinion, so don't yell at me or threaten to sue me for insinuating that your kid might be an asshole.

"On any other day at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Daniel Galli and his four friends would not even be noticed for wearing T-shirts with the American flag. But Cinco de Mayo is not any typical day especially on a campus with a large Mexican American student population."

I suspect that on any other typical day these five students wouldn't be noticed with a Flag shirt because they are probably not wearing one. I could be wrong, maybe these 5 boys are true patriots, but I doubt it.

"....the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal's office. 'They said we could wear it on any other day,'Daniel Galli said, 'but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today.' boys said the administrators called their T-shirts "incendiary" that would lead to fights on campus."

Again, I suspect that the idea was to be "incendiary" and cause a fight.

That being said, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. The only reason that it has been Americanized, much like St. Patrick's Day, is so the we can have an excuse to drink copious amounts of alcohol in the middle of the week. If you a Mexican-American or a Mexican citizen living in this country, I don't begrudge you your right to celebrate your holiday. It does not give anyone the right to tell me as an American citizen what I can and cannot do just because it might offend someone. As long as I am not breaking any laws, I have the right to say anything I want. As long as these kids were not breaking any pre-established rules, they had the right to wear the clothing they were wearing and should not have been threatened with suspension.

As for me I'm celebrating Mungo Day.... and if your offended you can bite me

Random Stuff

1. Husband and I got a new puppy. His name is Lucky, he is the anti-Christ. Nala, the older one, was never this bad at 4mos. Lucky is psychotic and is a bad influence on Nala. I should have just said yes to the cat.

2. It was reported yesterday the Lindsey Lohan is suing E-trade over their Superbowl "mil-a-holic" commercial. Apparently the milk-a-holic baby in the commercial named Lindsey is a parody of Ms. Lohan. Ms. Loahn is deluded into thinking that she has one name status on par with Oprah or Cher. Honestly when I saw the commercial, a) didn't realize the baby had a name and b) didn't think of Lindsey Lohan. In fact I rarely think of Lindsey Lohan.

3. Actor and 80's teen idol (their words not mine) Corey Haim died today of an apparent drug overdose. Some news outlets have reported this as a "shocking" death. Really??? Shocking??? He's been a drug addict since he was 12 years old. How is this shocking? As a friend of mine so poignantly said..

Officer James Bonneau of Jackson PD died yesterday responding to a Domestic Disturbance call. Today a self-indulgent asshole named Cory Haim died of a drug overdose. Guess which one got the most press?

Well that's all for now. Soon there will be news on the work front, but I can't comment until things are official. Also I had to implement the security word on my comment page, I hate it and I'm sorry, but my little blog was getting spammed.

TTFN...I have to go see what demon puppy is up to.

New Background

In honor of a holiday the I traditional care nothing for (except the chocolate) I have found and downloaded this really fun girly background. I actually love it. Which is so weird..sometime during the past year I have found my inner girl. I'm not sure how long this will last.

Suddenly pink is my favorite color (have you seen my pink blackberry), I have more than two purses and lord don't get me started on shoes.

I still don't own a skirt and husband and I are going to Monster Jam tomorrow...so there is hope.

Help my cause

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WTH?????

When I was unemployed for a year and a half we ran up quite a bit of credit card debt. Unfortunately even though money wasn't coming in, people still wanted to be paid. (Bastards) With the generous help of my mother, we (she) were able to pay off most of it. There is still one card with a hefty balance.

Husband called today to try to get the interest rate lowered so we could get out from under it. He was told the if we were delinquent on the account they would be happy to help, otherwise not so much.

So let me get this straight...I actually pay my bills on time like a good productive citizen and I get squat. I don't pay my bills and you bend over backward to help me?

Sometimes being a good citizen does not make any sense at all.

Winter Thoughts

I live in Florida so you will never hear me complain when it get cold here. I hate the hot, miserable, sweaty summers. When it gets cold you can pull out the sweaters, the down comforter, and the snuggie.

That being said here's some not so random thoughts about this week's cold snap.....

• What the hell am I supposed to do with ice on my windshield at 7 am? I don't own an ice scraper, nor would I know where to buy one. It was almost and excuse to call in sick and go back to bed
• When you have the heat on in the car high enough to keep your toes from getting frostbite, you have a tendency to want to fall asleep.
• I'm pretty sure my office, inside a building, should not be as cold or colder than it is outside

Ok, I have to set my desk on fire now, the polar bear who lives in my office want to make smores.