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- April 18, 2018
- Were I condemned ...
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I have on occasion considered what might transpire were I a condemned inmate.
All of this in the absence of real crime, the thoughts are primarily inspired by my interest in capital punishment in the US, the deathrow experience, victims rights, perpetrator contrition, and myriad other aspects as presented by various others in my midst from whom I glean tidbits of the experience ... though all secondhand and hearsay.
There is that lengthy appeals process. The possibility for periods of extreme isolation (not that this would really be a bother to me personally) as well as that culture only present in the prison system and it's unique perspective coupled with the ultimate reality of an impending death can imbue in the hearts of men.
Methodology being a foregone conclusion of 'lethal injection' not being something I could fear; the portends for other solutions to the problem of dispatching those sentenced to death have been in the forefront of criminal justice news these days, i.e., our intermittent inability to procure suitable concoctions for administration on a gurney might surrender to more violent ends like electrocution or firing squad. These things I most certainly could fear.
Then there is the question of my immortal soul. While my personal theology only reveals a single unpardonable sin; could I be "sorry" for some deed for which I ended up on death row in the first place.
While my initial thoughts appertaining to execution of inmates level off somewhere in the vicinity of "hell no" there is this other part of me which sometimes succumbs to apologetics and might be wanting some modicum of forgiveness.
This being said, I would also envision myself as going down with a certain amount of defiance and possibly even levity.
How about my family? Subjecting one's self to a judicial "disposal" is one thing. Making it the problem with which one's family must contend adds a twist that complicates matters much more ...
So the quandry remains.
At this juncture the entire concept of judicial execution is something with which I would not be inclined to wish upon anyone, myself included.
However, I remain decidedly "pro death penalty" for whatever level of deterrence it may provide and these feelings within me remain as well.
It would appear that I will probably forego capital offenses altogether as a matter of personal choice and avoid the entire process of having to write a check my life can't cover.
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- April 17, 2018
- World Hemophilia Day 2018
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One of the most memorable hemophiliacs I ever knew of was Ryan White. While I didn't really immerse myself into the problems associated with persons with AIDS I did follow the developments as well as I could. I thought his story to be particularly poignant given the treatment he was given by his community and the general failure to even attempt to understand the nature of disease instead of persecuting the victim of it.
Ryan White was a teenager from Kokomo, Indiana who suffered intense stigmatization and discrimination after an AIDS diagnosis which was the documented result of a blood transfusion.
That cruelty which is ignorance knows no bounds and his efforts fighting the foes of his community catapulted him to the status of national poster child for HIV and AIDS as the result of not being readmitted to school following his diagnosis. He was infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment called factor VIII.
That notoriety of his public and personal plight attracted a number of stars who rallied around him and his cause. The tragedy of his illness culminated with his death on April 8, 1990 — which ironically was but a month prior to that
high school graduation he pursued with everything he had left.
Congress subsequently honored his memory by passing legislation bearing his name in August of 1990 called the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act.
World Hemophilia Day is an international observance held annually on April 17 by the World Federation of Hemophilia. It is an awareness day for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, which also serves to raise funds and attract volunteers for the WFH. It was started in 1989; by one Frank Schnabel with April 17 being chosen in honor of the anniversary of his birth.
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- April 16, 2018
- National Healthcare Decisions Day 2018
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Today is NHDD (National Healthcare Decision Day) which is all about planning in advance for healthcare. This year's theme is "It Always Seems Too Early, Until It’s Too Late."
The day involves collaboration and information dissemination so that health care decisions do not fall too late or to others. It's a sad notion that we can't always have our final arrangements conducted in tune with our personal wishes. This is one of those wake up calls for the populace to get in there and take care of business before it takes care of you. Preparing for the inevitable is not morbid or maudlin ... it is essential to your well being.
You should have a care plan in effect for your now. You should have a living will and durable power of attorney for your later. You don't want to leave your existence to chance ... or if you do you're simply not in tune with what's best for you in the long run.
Advance healthcare decisions involve more than final preparations. They are a process by which health maintenance may be attained and involving of someone to represent you BEFORE you can't do so yourself.
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- April 15, 2018
- Tax Day 2018
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April 15th is Tax Day, the ever looming official deadline for getting those individual tax returns filed ... or requesting an extension.
My mother and I try to get ours done at the earliest possible moment. More for the refund we typically get; but also to curtail some dirtbag attempting to commit tax fraud on us.
I understand from cohorts that I trust that the fact that I get a refund at all is indication for a failed "tax plan". The whole idea being to end up with no bill and no refund ... or a minimal amount of either and not the wad of cash with which I typically end this duty to country.
Now I'm not one to begrudge the government their due ... but we hear of so much fraud in the system and I for one would like to see serious consequences for tax criminals as a matter of course.
I also decline to allow tax criminals to get over on my mother for any reason.
Therefore, we will probably maintain the status quo with early filing and close monitoring of the situation until we are sure that a successful conclusion is at hand.
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- April 14, 2018
- It's My Birthday 2018
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- April 13, 2018
- Thomas Jefferson
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Like so others in the wake of those who would rewrite history, Thomas Jefferson has been dissed right up there with Andrew Jackson, The Confederacy, and all the other leftist liberal pansies cultivated in our institutions of higher indoctrination and cultivation of the fake world we know.
My only beef with Thomas Jefferson is that too many of his children were mixed race being the results of his various cavortings with slaves. I remain against slavery of any kind.
Taking undue advantage of supposed "property" for the purposes of carnal indulgence with lustful intent is simply unethical, immoral, and down right dastardly — but it is generally recognized that this was one of those things he (as well as many others) pursued vigorously.
So Thomas Jefferson the American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence was a slave hopping breeder who incidentally served as the third President of the United States from 1801 through 1809.
It only goes to prove that those frailties of the period remain to this day only now it's the black men hopping every white woman they can get their hands on in revenge. Can't really say that I blame them.
The only group with a bigger beef with white humanity would be the Native Americans — who are indignant as well and rightfully so.
Luckily that fug factor a lot of jungle fever adherents typically encounter is lost upon them because they're used to being with the attractiveness challenged. More power to them because if it floats their boat their ancestors earned that right for them.
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- April 12, 2018
- Charles Quinton Murphy
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Charles Quinton Murphy
July 12, 1959 – April 12, 2017
American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist
One of the absolute funniest men who ever lived.
Gone a whole year now. Rest in peace.One to Sleep On: Release the past to rest as deeply as possible.
Charlie Murphy (@charliemurphy)
Final tweet
April 12, 2017
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- April 11, 2018
- World Parkinson's Day 2018
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Parkinson's disease is a widespread affliction marked by a progressive course of nervous system tremor with rigidity of the musculature and slow imprecise movements.
It affects all manner of people and the tragedy is that though there are management courses which include drugs there is no cure. However, it is the subject of intense study by the research community and this could change at any time.
It is named for one James Parkinson FGS (Fellow of the Geological Society of London) (April 11, 1755 – December 21, 1824) who was a British surgeon, apothecary, geologist, palaeontologist, and political activist.
He is best known for An Essay on the Shaking Palsy which he wrote in 1817. This paper was the first description of "paralysis agitans" which is the condition which ultimately became Parkinson's disease as named by Jean-Martin Charcot about 60 years later.
Parkinson describeed six individuals with symptoms of the disease in great detail reporting on three of his own patients and three others he saw in the street. He referred to the disease at that time as paralysis agitans, or "shaking palsy".
His observations distinguished between resting tremors and the tremors with motion.
He indicated that the tremors in these patients were caused by lesions in the cervical spinal cord but this finding was in error.
It usually affects those in middle age through the elderly and is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and deficiency in the neurotransmitter dopamine.
World Parkinson's Day is held each year on the anniversary of James Parkinson's birth, April 11.
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- April 10, 2018
- Siblings Day 2018
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I'm afraid that my relationships with siblings could be better.
While I admit to being quite the social pain in the butt myself some of them simply fill me with angst and despair over their lifestyles — and some of their propensities and worse — attractions good God Almighty.
I'm historically pretty much of a 'loner' if you will; however being immersed in the presence of innumerable others during my 60 hour or so work week hardly qualifies me for the hermitage I must say.
So in that vein of interpersonal tolerance, I mark today which is Siblings Day (aka National Siblings Day or National Sibling Day) that annual observance in the United States on April 10 honoring the relationships of siblings.
Lacking the federal recognition of Mother's Day and Father's Day, it is held under the auspices of the Siblings Day Foundation and governors of 49 states have officially issued proclamations to recognize Siblings Day in their states.
So it's time to overlook the marginal hygiene, dismal health maintenance, and bad spousal choices with resultant gene pool pollution ... If only for a day.
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- April 9, 2018
- National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
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April the 9th finds us paying homage to those service people who found themselves captives of the enemy as the result of armed conflict defending the interests of the United States of America.
Among those hardships endured by these as iterated by President Donald Trump were "loneliness, torture, hardship, separation from loved ones, and uncertainty about the future" and we as a nation owe them a debt of gratitude beyond measure.
Perseverence and endurance were the themes of each day of captivity until they were finally returned home to their loved ones. A number of prisoners of war died in captivity making the rememberance more poignant.
The fallen and the unaccounted for are remembered this day along with those warriors who returned. As stated by POTUS:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2018, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. I call upon Americans to observe this day by honoring the service and sacrifice of all our former prisoners of war and to express our Nation’s eternal gratitude for their sacrifice. I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
God Bless America and God Bless the former prisoners of war.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.
DONALD J. TRUMP
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- April 8, 2018
- Draw A Bird Day 2018
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Today is another Draw a Bird Day. "DAB Day" as it has become known is the result of soldiers memorializing a little ten year old girl from England named Dorie Cooper who died tragically.
That story is on the official site www.dabday.com and is a touching piece of prose if ever there was one.
Seeing how I don't indulge drawing like I used to so often as a child; I substitute my painting and vector graphic modern day alternatives instead.
For today's Draw A Bird day I give you "Bald Eagle in Pencil and Ink".
It was a brief effort but I hope you like it.
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- April 7, 2018
- The Dreaded Typo
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I am a perpetrator of the misprint. Some mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures "originating somewhere" ... such as my fat fingers. Alas, being a computer guy by trade and a programmer by salary the misfire of a finger does nothing except complicate my life.
At work I get to see the errors generated by typos. I shudder to think how many times a transposed couple of letters have made some compiler whine or some interpreter go 'crayzee' (sic).
Then there is this thing. Today I found not ONE but TWO typos in a piece I wrote on the fourth. Seems that eyes as well as fingers seem to fail periodically. Given the nature of accuracy I'm just glad I don't write this to submit the visitor to a bunch of ads because then I'd really feel cheap and money grubbing given my inability to adequately spell check prior to posting ...
But the real tragedy is that I notice that both my eyesight and my fingers grow weaker over the years. I know I have cataracts and my prescription spectacles could use an update.
However, I am leaning towards trying to find a set of dime store reading glasses with frames that will fit on my enormous melon. This too has proven challenging given the many times I've stopped to look in the past year or so.
So whatever may be, I must deal with those things I cannot change ... or choose not too -- or "have to wait on" because I'm supposedly too young for cataract surgery. I suppose LASIK might be a good alternative to glasses anyway.
Suffice it to say were I a cyborg it would be time to upgrade.
Ta ta!
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- April 6, 2018
- Tartan Day 2018
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Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish heritage on April 6, the date upon which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. Tartan Days typically have parades of pipe bands, Highland dancing and other Scottish-themed events.
We have local events celebrating Tartan Day and the celebration grows each year. They have highland games, demonstrations and a lot in the way of celtic lore and wonder. Some day I hope to attend, but the scheduling conflicts with those duties which provide for my need to eat and live indoors.
Being of Scottish and British descent I have been interested in that heritage from about the time I watched the young girl Murron give a Scottish thistle bloom to the young boy William Wallace at the funeral of his father Malcolm, who was slain in battle in the movie Braveheart ... because the profound poignancy of that moment touched me.
Even though I miss those festivities at the speedway each year I have subsequently tried to observe National Tartan Day each time it comes around in an effort to both honor and connect with my legacy. While it's not my habit to be sentimental; I do sustain a few moments therein from time to time as a function of who I am and where I've been.
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- April 5, 2018
- Poor Hillary simply can't face the facts
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So Hillary Clinton is back on her bandwagon of blame where everyone caused her loss of the presidential election besides her and that company she keeps.
Yes, denial isn't just a river in Egypt and Mrs Clinton is in it up to her crooked neck.
Misogyny didn't lose her the election. Those tales of alleged sexual encounters with all manner of participants filtering down through multiple outlets did.
As for the FBI, they were on her gd side in the matter with operatives pursuing their own anti Trump agendas and those increasingly disturbing matters continuing to come to light.
Sexism didn't lose her the election her continual need for a crutch such as calling the masses "a basket of deplorables" pissed off both sexes in that admixture called the electorate.
The NRA didn't lose Hillary the election nor did it win the election for Trump. They simply seek to protect that second ammendment in the bill of rights despite the desperation of the left to take them away.
Russia ... I think the entire role of Russia is exaggerated and they are being blamed for the faulty social media running rampant which needs to be grabbed by the neck and choked until dead.
Yes, Hillary has blame to spare that she's passing around instead of the monetization of public office "pay for play" schemata characterized by the Clinton Foundation.
The sexual exploits of Bill Clinton, largely ignored by the main stream media are also incongruent with the treatment afforded to Mr Trump. Mr Trump may have treated women terribly but that treatment pales in comparison to the antics of Mr Clinton who persons have publicly stated he left bite marks upon in pursuit of that pleasure which obviously must have been all his.
America is doing great with Mr Trump in the White House and Hillary not running things for her personal profit and gain. Whereas Mr Trump has stated that he preferred not to pursue Hillary and her husband I personally think they should be chained and locked in a dungeon far beneath the surface of the Earth, fed swill, and left never again to see the light of day.
This woman has broken the law at every turn. She was instrumental in the losses of Benghazi. Citizens who were depending on her to both do the right thing and protect them in a hostile and deadly environment.
She is part and parcel of the liberals who would globalize the nation and allow other countries to take us over and place UN forces in control. No Hillary. The United states can do quite nicely with you out of the picture permanently.
Go back to your mentor George Soros. Peddle your influence there and monetize him instead of public office for a change.
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