Proverbial Catch 22: Freedom

America is founded on freedom and equality, including the freedom of unmoderated opinion and open public debate.

I pray this will not be the source of her failure.

September 11: A Day of Unity

September 11 should be a Day of Unity in America, as well as a day of solemn remembrance.

I worry, though, that as our collective grief fades, and as we are pummelled with political rants and divisive discourse... the unity we felt in the days following September 11, 2001 will fade as well.

I'm Proud of Taylor Hicks!

Not only is he an/the American Idol...

He's every guy's guy. It's easy picturing hanging out with him... shooting the breeze, eating some ribs, drinking a beer.

And his performances make me DANCE! I won't lie, I love to dance... but Taylor brings out the unbridled joy of dance in me!

NOTE TO TAYLOR: Please don't change. I loved you when you had longshot odds. I love ALL of the Alabama in you! You totally entertain. Your enthusiasm is contagious. But your character... is RARE. Bank your career on equal parts talent, joy and character! You are SUCH a breath of fresh air!

My Sweet New Bike: Schwinn Suburban Sport

My Sweet Comet gave me a special Mother's Day Gift this year!

No, she didn't drain her savings account to buy me a 'sweet new bike'. She gave me an even greater gift. She gave me the time to ride it.

I bought the bike on Thursday, and she was none too happy about my ride that evening. She didn't so much as greet me at the door when I arrived back home from the ride.

But beginning on Friday, she has begun to graciously accept a treat and a scratch of the head upon my departure, and to bark joyfully upon my return.

I'm blessed to have a great friend and riding buddy, and in spite of sore hindsides, we are well on our way to an established daily commitment and regimine. We even adjusted our routine today to accommodate the impending afternoon storms. We've had a lot of fun, and we make great exercise partners because we have similar lifestyles and share similar goals: We're both extremely busy with our professions. We want to get in better shape, can't afford to injure ourselves, and are both attuned to the "fuel" element of exercise and recuperation.

More on my friend later (with her permission!)... I owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude. For now, let's just say that she's helped me return to the person I've always been. She's truly gifted, and I'm honored to have her as a friend. Otherwise, I don't think my mind would have been open enough to accept her gifts!

To all the Mothers out there...

A Sincere Happy Mother's Day!

To all the Children out there... Love your Mothers and your Fathers each day as if it is the last day you have to spend with them. The Good Lord knows how much I would love just one more day with mine!

Let me share a couple of quotes that reflect my thoughts today:

The longer one lives in this hard world motherless, the more a mother’s loss makes itself felt.
Jane Welsh Carlyle

The woman who bore me is no longer alive, but I seem to be her daughter in increasingly profound ways.
Johnetta B. Cole

It's Official...

In a deliberate effort to decrease ticket sales, the Houston Texans pass over Vince Young and Reggie Bush, and waste their No. 1 pick by selecting Defensive End Mario Williams.

No offense to Williams, but I agree with the fan that I saw on tv:

"I would rather lose 67 to 63, than to win 3 to 0.".

Chalk this up to another reason that I refuse to be entertained by the NFL.

Nation Braces for Day Without Immigrants

Or was that headline... Nation Embraces Day Without Immigrants? Just checking.

Maybe My Shrink Was Right

I've been making what I believe are positive lifestyle changes in the last couple of weeks, and I'm feeling a surge of energy.

That energy, however, is being drained by certain personal interests and passions... in particular, my interest in, and passion for current events: the news and compelling news stories.

I was raised in a politically charged family. Current events were a maintstay of conversation. My father was my role model, and he valued my opinion and the basis upon which I formulated it, far, far, far more than he ever appreciated my agreeing with his own opinion.

In short, he encouraged and applauded my interest and endeavors to formulate an opinion or theory. My reward was his listening and respecting. He often followed up with more reasonable guidance and a gentle attempt at redirection, but the tone was never critical. It always encouraged further thought and further development.

My father taught me the political game. He gave me a reference for a job in the state legislature, and he nurtured my way into understanding how things get done. I will never understand all that he knew, but he certainly provided me a unique and insider's view of "the news" and other media statements.

The old saying, "Don't believe everything you read." is true, but the truly wise are able to see through the statement and to determine the reasoning, direction and concealed issues that were likely at hand. To this day, I analyze everything I learn from the MSM.

And it's no secret that I entered the world of web sleuthing with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. This wasn't the first missing person case that enveloped me, but it's the case that drew me deep into the depths of the internet underworld (ha), including sleuth forums, scarey connections and other blogging sites. It is amazing how little time it takes to learn a massive amount of private information, (not limited to, but) particularly if the subject is of the "myspace" generation. (PARENTS BEWARE!).

All of that said, there are certain issues which are causing me a great deal of anxiety. At the same time that I'm feeling so good, I'm aware that I'm also feeling really bad:

1. Natalee Holloway is STILL missing.
2. The hate sites are beyond my comprehension and annoy me. Only those that personally knew and loved Natalee, in my opinion, are entitled to such deep emotions. The fact is... J2K lied. Even if innocent, they created the bed upon which they lie. They, more than Beth, are responsible for the malodies from which Aruba now suffers.
3. Taco Joe is such a putz!
4. The ALE are a collective putz!
5. The arrest of GVC and surrounding rumors are driving me nuts!
6. Kendrick Jackson is still missing and Quanell X is calling for his (injury to a child charged) father's release so he can help in the search! Puh... leaze! (or is that po... lice!). Daddy-who-beat-da-bebe can help from the confines of jail, but he has by all accounts terminated his cooperation with authorities.
7. The Duke rape case and all of the surrounding drama. Please! Let's get this trial on the docket and move on!
8. Illegal immigration and elected representatives who are both hard of hearing... and don't give a poo.
9. Iran.
10. Gas prices.
11. Property taxes.
12. School funding (on my back!).
13. Kids shooting at kids. Kids plotting to kill kids. Bullet riddled school buses.
14. Inequality. Everywhere.

My shrink once told me to stop watching news programs and listening to talk radio.

Maybe she was right.

041406 Random Thoughts

1. I've spent the last week concentrating on making some positive lifestyle adjustments. More on that later.
2. Kendrick Jackson is still missing. And this just makes me sick.
3. Dave Holloway is one class act. The photos that he's provided, of a younger Natalee, have broken my heart. I can't help but envision my own father...
4. I can't mention Dave without paying homage to Beth. I don't "get" the hate sites. Beth, first and foremost, is a mother. And I relate her to my own. My mother would have moved heaven and earth, by will or by scorn...
5. Dompig is kin to the Kalpoes??? And to some "credible witness" drug dealer that might have been camping in the shrubs across from Natalee's hotel room? ODG...
6. They go to all the trouble to size Deepak's car for their (9 1/2 month late) re-enactment, and then hire a non-white actor to play Joran?
7. Duke Rape Allegations... who knows? I had a hunch, initially... but who knows now...
8. Tom Cruise... what a loon! And poor Katie. I have a feeling she doesn't know what hit (brain washed) her. Oh the price of fame... May Our God watch over their innocent 'spawn'.
9. South Park might have just slipped over the edge.
10. Illegal aliens/immigrants (insert your own politically correct term here)... name another country where illegal immigrants could gather to protest the government/law en masse, and that goverment would provide police protection. Go figure...
11. 48 homeruns in one day? You wanna tell me the ball isn't juiced? Don't get me wrong. I'm in favor! Juice the ball all day, everyday! But keep the players on an even playing field!
12. Barry Bonds... If you let this guy play another day, you've gotta let Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame. Period. End of Story. If anything (and I'm certainly not alleging that he 'threw' any opportunities), Pete discounted his value to the game, rather than taking illegal enhancements.

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?

Here are my results:

You are Joshua Abraham Norton, first and only Emperor of the United States of America!

Born in England sometime in the second decade of the nineteenth century, you carved a notable business career, in South Africa and later San Francisco, until an entry into the rice market wiped out your fortune in 1854. After this, you became quite different. The first sign of this came on September 17, 1859, when you expressed your dissatisfaction with the political situation in America by declaring yourself Norton I, Emperor of the USA. You remained as such, unchallenged, for twenty-one years.

Within a month you had decreed the dissolution of Congress. When this was largely ignored, you summoned all interested parties to discuss the matter in a music hall, and then summoned the army to quell the rebellious leaders in Washington. This did not work. Magnanimously, you decreed (eventually) that Congress could remain for the time being. However, you disbanded both major political parties in 1869, as well as instituting a fine of $25 for using the abominable nickname "Frisco" for your home city.

Your days consisted of parading around your domain - the San Francisco streets - in a uniform of royal blue with gold epaulettes. This was set off by a beaver hat and umbrella. You dispensed philosophy and inspected the state of sidewalks and the police with equal aplomb. You were a great ally of the maligned Chinese of the city, and once dispersed a riot by standing between the Chinese and their would-be assailants and reciting the Lord's Prayer quietly, head bowed.

Once arrested, you were swiftly pardoned by the Police Chief with all apologies, after which all policemen were ordered to salute you on the street. Your renown grew. Proprietors of respectable establishments fixed brass plaques to their walls proclaiming your patronage; musical and theatrical performances invariably reserved seats for you and your two dogs. (As an aside, you were a good friend of Mark Twain, who wrote an epitaph for one of your faithful hounds, Bummer.) The Census of 1870 listed your occupation as "Emperor".

The Board of Supervisors of San Francisco, upon noticing the slightly delapidated state of your attire, replaced it at their own expense. You responded graciously by granting a patent of nobility to each member. Your death, collapsing on the street on January 8, 1880, made front page news under the headline "Le Roi est Mort". Aside from what you had on your person, your possessions amounted to a single sovereign, a collection of walking sticks, an old sabre, your correspondence with Queen Victoria and 1,098,235 shares of stock in a worthless gold mine. Your funeral cortege was of 30,000 people and over two miles long.

The burial was marked by a total eclipse of the sun.

Another Successful Day

1. I got to work on time, which is considerable since DST began.
2. I finished my third project for the week.
3. I got two months of filing in order.
4. I started a new project! (I spent 30 minutes on it, but hey! It's a start!).

01:02:03 04/05/06

OK.

I got it.

I get it.

I took a snapshot of it.

Because this won't happen again in my lifetime.

(And yes, I cheated by posting this in advance, as I have every intention of enjoying the moment from the deep depths of peaceful slumber!).

Today's Thoughts on the Natalee Holloway Case

1. Anyone interested in the case should read today's Riehl World View blog, "Natalee Holloway Update - Corruption Alleged" regarding the possibility that as the "resolution" unfolds, it will be disclosed that corruption played a part in this "unsolvable"crime.
2. If you've got four to six free hours, you should really read through all of the comments (334, when I visited).
3. Even more interesting, follow the links included in the posts. You'll get a crash course in the web sleuth coverage of this case.
4. Even and interesting article in theNational Enquirer is linked, alleging "dirty hands" of the A.L.E. (Arawaks).
5. Read also RWV's past post about the possibility of blood on the hands of" the King".
6. Tie it all together with the recordings of Shango and Simian, mysterious personalities that have provided chronicle and hint, from the very beginning, as to how this case has been and will be played out.

This is but a tiny glimpse into the intricate web of lies and truths surrounding this case. One might find amusement in the mystery, if it weren't for the tragic loss of a young woman's life, the criminal circumstances, ultimate disrespect, unfathomable and inhumane treatment without conscience, and the deep deep levels of corruption and other abuses of power.

Remember... Natalee was a victim by chance. This could just as easily be me, or you, or one of your loved ones.

A Successful Day

1. I finished my project that was due yesterday.
2. I finished my project that is due tomorrow.
3. I have a third project that is also due tomorrow, and I will likely have the time to complete it on time!

Church of Christ's Preacher's Wife Confesses to His Murder

Police have not yet revealed a motive, but Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have indicated that she clearly had one. And authorities will not comment on whether she has accused him of abuse of some kind.

This is a horrific tragedy. There's no denying it. But... it will be interesting to hear and understand the truth as it is made known.

After shooting her husband in the parsonage in Selmer, Tennessee, Mary Winkler loaded her three daughters into their minivan and drove them to Orange Beach, Alabama, where she rented a condo on the beach. The were found and she was arrested as they left a restaurant.

She agreed to be returned to Tennessee and her daughters, Breanna (1), Mary Alice (6), and Patricia (8) have been remanded to the custody of their paternal grandparents.

I have some personal, deep and long standing experience with the Church of Christ.

I was once told by a Christian who studies these things, that children raised in the Church of Christ were documented to have suffered a much higher instance of emotional, physical and sexual abuse, than other Christian 'denominations'.

I want to make it clear that I suffered no physical or sexual abuse as a result of my upbringing in the Church, however, the emotional consequences have proven, to this point in my life, almost impossible to overcome. I've come to understand and accept that I could never measure up to what is expected in the Church for a child, a girl, a woman, or a wife.

It is the Image of God that I deal with now. Is He loving? Or is He damning? Is He a God that created me as I am and understands me? Or a God that punishes me? My heart says one, my upbringing another.

Irregardless, I have no personal knowledge of this case. It will, however, be interesting to see how this story unfolds. It is just so sad. There are three young children who will suffer, irregardless. I pray for God's blessings and reassurances upon them.

Murderess? Or Protector? Time will tell. And I believe Truth will be told.

Randy Quaid Sues Over His Own Bad Judgment

Quaid is evidently disgruntled over compensation for his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Quaid filed a lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging the producers got him to work cheap by falsely claiming the movie was "a low-budget, art house film, with no prospect of making any money."

I haven't seen the movie, so I have nothing to really base my opinion on other than the fact that I have many friends that have seen it, and none of them commented to me that he was even in the film, much less a comment like, "Wow, Dennis Quaid really MADE the film".

Quaid agreed to waive his usual seven-figure fee and share of gross profits in favor of a much smaller payment, the suit claims, although it doesn't say how much he was paid.

The suit alleges intentional and negligent misrepresentation and seeks at least $10 million in damages. It names Focus Features LLC, Del Mar Productions James Schamus.

But he signed a contract, right? I mean he WILLINGLY signed a contract, right? There were no guns to his head. There was a clearly defined scope of work that wasn't breached. He agreed to the terms and conditions of his short term employment, and he signed his name, I assume?

Hey, it happens all the time in my line of work, but you can't sue by reason over your own stupidity. You either consent to the terms, or you don't. Period.

Just think about Andy Griffith and Ron Howard. Do you think they had a clue how much revenue their syndicated series would be worth?

("Brokeback Mountain," which won Academy Awards for best director, original score and adapted screenplay, has grossed more than $82 million in North America.)

Natalee Holloway: So Much for Reliable Tips

Acting on a "reliable tip", Aruban Law Enforcement, along with a U.S. Firm and its ground penetrating radar equipment, turned up nothing.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Sylvania Township donated an employee and its ground radar equipment to search the area after they were contacted by Don Wood, head of Child Watch in Orlando, through an Internet search.

'They got down there and searched beach areas and caves,' Mr. Wood said.

Unfortunately, he said, nothing was found.

Dompig's Theory: Natalee Died of an Overdose, Not Murder

"We feel strongly that she probably went into shock or something happened to her system with all the alcohol – maybe on top of that, other drugs, which either she took or they gave her – and that she…just collapsed," Dompig is quoted as saying.

Sadly, I believed in the VERY beginning that Natalee had most likely died accidentally, due to a drug overdose. And if so, I continue to believe that she didn't knowingly ingest the substance that took her life, and the guilty parties embarked on a massive cover-up.

It's easy to understand how it happened. At the age of 18, nothing bad had ever happened to the sheltered Natalee. In innumerable ways, she likely felt so secure that she threw caution to the wind with the first taste of freedom... and with the handsome, well connected young Joran.

There are supposedly new clues. And there will, hopefully, be conclusive evidence or testimony to determine the exact nature of death and source of ingestion.

It feels like such a breach of faith and betrayal of hope to even discuss such things, but short of an unlikely kidnapping, there is a zero chance that Natalee chose to disappear or is being held hostage, against her will.

I stand firmly behind my initial and continuing beliefs that there are at least four people who know what happened and at least four people who initiated a coverup. In actuality, I believe that there are at least five people, and likely more, involved in the coverup.

Watch Dompig's interview on CBS' 48 Hours, this Saturday at 10pm Eastern, 9pm Central.

Photo is courtesy of CBS and 48 hours! Check out Dan's post at Riehl World View for more photos and commentary!

Cruising the Nut Aisle

I was alerted to this story by way of an ad that was placed in LA Weekly. What a terrible, terrible tragedy...

Condi Rice Passes on the NFL Commissioner Opening

It's widely known that Condi is a huge NFL fan, and has made no secret of her aspiration to run the league one day. The fact that Paul Tagliabue is retiring this July would mean that she would not only have to abandon her current duties, but also any other political goals she might have in the back of her mind (hint, hint).

"Unfortunately, it came open at the wrong time," Rice said Wednesday, clearly amused when a reporter posed the question. "Obviously, I'm very busy as secretary of state, and I intend to continue to be secretary of state as long as the president of the United States will have me."