Just for chat

Val, I need to warn you about a problem. My email security has been breached within 48 hours of reporting certain violations to blogspot and within a few short hours of reporting the violations of the terms for winners of the Orbbies award. There is only one place I have been recently that my main email address has been used. You won’t need 3 guesses where. It is not the email I used in this post. Email addresses from my contacts have been harvested and emails have been sent to various entities, including my clients and my government representatives that I did not send. It looks like the hundred or so emails that flooded my box within a 3 minute period all have the address www. vbn8. myhealthcare-c .com attached under my name. (spaces inserted so it isn’t a live link) It sounds more like a threat to my health. Please tighten your security. I’ve been no place that could have picked up a trojan unless someone has added one to their site that I have been visiting without past problems. I’ll let you know if I find out anything further. The reason I share this with you is that I also used my gmail address at that site when I began to see what was going on during the short time I posted there so I’m afraid that account and anyone I’ve posted with using that address could be affected. I don’t know if that is possible since you aren’t in my address book. But, I’m no hacker. Just wanted to give you a head’s up.

Thanks

As an update before I get to firm with my suspicious, I tried to change my password, couldn’t and found out that my ISP is having major problems that could affect their users email, etc so maybe this problem is wider spread than just my email box, perhaps bigger than one little person could pull off.

Zub,

I’m so sorry this has happened to you. Please keep us up to date on what you find out.

I’m going to leave this in this thread until I get home and then I’m going to move it to Just for Chat.

Thanks for the heads up on this and please keep us up to date.

I don’t know if you guys noticed, but we’ve got a newly revamped and MUCH MORE ROBUST search engine on the site now, so findings things should be a lot easier. Also, we’ll be working to replace the searchable database search engine because the current customized google search sucks wind.

Just an update on daughter and baby-Riley. I think the high fluids and bed rest are helping. Yesterday was the best day she had had in a week. She is still having a constant headache, but the kidney/back/abdominal pain was much better. Today was even better. Same constant headache, right kidney still hurts, but it is even less than yesterday.

So…she is in much better spirits just feeling like she has a chance. We’re going to continue the regimen.

Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers and help. We could not have gotten to this point without them…or you.

That’s great news Val. Hopefully everyday will improve. How many weeks along is she?

Val,
Thanks for the update! So glad to hear that!
and a few {hugs}, too!

I’m glad to hear things are going better, Val. You might want to try a drop of Lavender oil (the real stuff) on her temples or where ever the headache is focused. There are other magic cures scoffed at by the FDA too.

I wanted to let you know that I the email address that was used for this spam attack was our primary rather than secondary and I don’t think I used that email on that blog. Perhaps there is software that can access one through the other but if not, I was allowing my imagination to run, triggered by the timing of the whole thing. I will continue to research once I catch up on my work that was interrupted. This happened at 1:55 yesterday, by the way. When I got an error message while trying to change my password I tried to call the customer service for my ISP and without realizing it, first called the number that was included for Florida, the first number listed, rather than the one for my state. I got a message they were experiencing extremely high call volume because of massive problems or something like that.

That’s still very odd, Zub. I wonder if this is some kind of new email virus/worm that is going around. I hope everything gets resolved for you and others who are affected? infected? If you get a definitive answer on what caused this problem please share so that we can know if there is an email title or sender or such we need to avoid.

Val – glad to hear things are looking up. Prayers continued.

Can we still access the old chat posts? I wanted to make note of Sunny’s remedies.

Thank you and take care,

D

Thank you, Danna!

Here is the last Just for Chat thread:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2010/05/28/just-for-chat-2/

Our President has had a taste of the Anthony goofy juice. He says the Gulf will be better than ever after the clean up. Tell that to all the dead animals. I don’t believe it!

Z, what happened to your email has happened to my daughter and a friend of mine. I believe it is a virus of some kind. I had them run a virus scan and it hasn’t happened since they did that. Neither one of them had been on any blog sites what so ever. I just wanted you to know that it is happening to other people and what they did to fix the problem.

Last year, the Gulf was the cleanest I’ve ever seen it. Hurricane Ike really mixed things up in 2008 and left quite a mess on the ground…. but the clearest water I’ve seen in my life. We’re hoping to enjoy it a few times before the tarballs get to us. I’m afraid it’s gonna be like how it was back in the 70′s, but worse.

Thanks for the update on your daughter, Val. I’m glad she’s doing better! Continued thoughts and prayers to y’all.

Val,

Many years ago I knew a Hispanic lady who would on occasion perform little rituals to pretty much cure whatever ailed you. This would include not only physical problems, but also emotional ones such as heartache or “nerves” or whatever. In addition to reading cards, she would light candles and burn certain special insense and sort of dance around in circles, etc. Quite frankly, I thought it was just “her thing,” superstitions from her culture that had been handed down for generations. I know she believed strongly, but I guess I’m more of a skeptic. I thought it was kind of crazy; curious, but nutty nevertheless.

At any rate, one day we were supposed to go somewhere together and I think I was begging off because I had a fierce headache. She said to me, “Oh, I can make that go away!” and she did!!! She took my hands in hers and pressed her thumbs into the crotch between my thumb and index finger of both hands. There’s a spot that feels like an indentation between what I assume are two strings of muscle or tendons. She gently, but firmly, rubbed that area with her thumbs for a couple of minutes. Then she massaged my temples with the tips of her fingers for another minute and finally rubbed the back of my neck just below and to the sides of where my skull and spine meet. Voila! The headache was gone and what’s more, it stayed gone! It seems like it works best if someone else does that for you, but in a pinch, you can perform this on yourself.

I realize this is totally non-scientific, but it just might work and if not, you’re running no risk of harming your daughter at all and it doesn’t cost anything! Continual pain can be debilitating and wears one’s resistance down, which could lead to susceptibility of other ailments.

Please let me know what happened if you decide to try this with your daughter. In the meantime, it’s great to hear she seems to be doing much better. My thoughts are with you both.

The rig currently suctioning a small portion of the leak in the Gulf caught on fire and was shut down this afternoon. The flames are being blamed on lightning and have been doused. The oil recovery has not restarted yet.

I just saw a story that Kevin Costner signed a contract yesterday to provide 40 centrifuge devices that can separate 200 gallons of oil and water per minute each. Also that the US is still turning down help from other countries that have oil cleanup equipment and volunteered their services on day THREE.

Why would they turn down help? Sigh.

Tob, I saw that interview with Kevin Costner last eve on CNN, and I was impressed with both the technology (it’s based on simple centrifuge physics), and his efforts over years to develop the machine. He tried for years to market it, and testified before congressional committees– but was pooh poohed, told that it wasn’t needed, he was fear mongering, and that the days of oil spills were over!

The fact is, there are LOTS of ways to clean up the oil already spilled (hemorrhaging). Some of the technology available is prohibited by our own EPA laws, because not 100% of the oil can be scavenged from the water! Ridiculously, it’s more lawful to let the oil accumulate in this crisis, rather than recover a lot of it. BP’s solution is mostly to wait for it to hit the beaches, then dispatch workers with rags and rakes. Or emulsify it with dispersants so that it can’t be seen OR recovered. The absurdity of that plan is profound, in light of the technology available, and the willingness of people and other countries to help problem solve.

I have been pondering why BP would refuse all help, why our federal govt is allowing the mess to continue, and why the contracts for clean up belong exclusively to BP and not our govt to direct. The only conclusion I can come to is that the bureaucracies are simply too huge to allow for effective or creative problem solving.

To understand how decision making occurs in complex systems and bureaucracies, and how we can improve failures and mistakes, I highly recommend the book “The Checklist Manifesto”, by Atul Gawande. (I posted it on the book club thread.)

I just heard BP says they have restarted the rig. It is a pitiful small containment/clean up for the government and BP. Obama is thinking like a lawyer (wanting to control the money to reimburse families and companies hurt) blaming whoever, proposing legislation. We need a leader to call all clean-up people who can help to arms to stop what we can in the water, clean up what hits shore etc. If you are able bodied, you should be allowed to help too. They won’t even let locals on the beach. Folks shouldn’t be forced to just watch or donate cash.

I haven’t read upthread re the spill and this is way off topic. What about this intelligence about Afghanistan being so mineral rich. Even to my palsied brain this is going somewhere. Not to mention the mineral rich makes sense. We could be in for something badder.

I just heard Anderson Cooper ask if the birds best interests were being served. It is hopeless.

Hey people…
I’ve had a very exhausting day but I just can’t let it pass by without relating my next
tale of “personal brushes with decomp.” I’ll get right to the facts…
As I might have mentioned, I had to take my Manx cat JuJu to the vet’s today -
now yesterday – because again he’s permanently constipated unless he gets
procedures to “unblock” – cat enemas basically and an x-ray and another $200 bill
for me. and this may continue from time to time for the rest of his life
all because he was born without a tail – or born under a bad sign – or something -
and it’s called “Manx Cat Syndrome” and it causes all these complications to not
have a tail to evenly distribute friction or pressure or energy in the body or something
like that. Anyhow…so my friend who was supposed to take me turns up really sick
and by pure luck I again run into one of the afore-mentioned local mortuary folks
who kindly agrees to take me to the vet’s which is far away and I don’t know how to
get there. So…that’s cool. But then…just as we drop off the cat and are awaiting
pick-up…he gets a booty call. That is, a page to go pick up a body. So…we had to
go make a “pick-up” at a hospital and then went to get the cat. But…the cat took
longer than usual so had to wait while the body was in his SUV – not any type of car
marked funerary – just seats down and body on cart, covered but clearly a corpse,
windows all see-through and situation totally visible. He was carrying no license
and no IDs of any kind to prove he was mortuary personnel. And here we are
partly driving around in broad daylight with a dead body in the back on a carrying
device that made it visible through the windows. And then waiting in a busy strip mall
parking lot – with same. Just us and a cadaver and this guy’s got no legal docs.
Vehicle is a soccer Mom van not in any way marked as funerary.
And can you believe it, not one person said a word to us or looked at us
funny or even called police. Two undocumented un-uniformed seemingly “civilian”
looking people transporting a real cadaver in a clearly visible manner.
We even stopped for lunch.
No problemo. Do not go to jail. Pass go. Collect $200. Ok sure if we had been
stopped and detained he could have called someone to show up with his paperwork
or something. But still…if we had actually been murderers transporting remains
we could have done so in a very open, non-chalant, happy-go-lucky fate-tempting
way and gotten away with it without a hitch. I found that just so bizarre I wanted
to make note of it here. I hope someone finds this story in some way useful.
Or anecdotal. Or wacky. Something. I dunno…but there it is.

Monica – I find your day wacky and bizarre .Love it. I am completely amused by the pictures I have in my head – I almost wish I could have been there with you! Anyhow, thanks for the middle of the night chuckle.

PS – Glad you 2 did not get pulled over for some innocuous reason as it certainly would have ruined your day.

monica——-you get to drive around with ‘ a dead body & the “CSI guy”..’—–while i’m bored to tears doing unit ledgers——and then, laundry.

..trade places?

..by the way—–hope your cat is doing well!

( p.s. “He was carrying no license
and no IDs of any kind to prove he was mortuary personnel”—–why not? ) ( i have ZERO idea of what is required, but i would think…… something…..?)

@Liza…Thanks…But then again maybe I could have gotten on Nancy Grace and
been paid the big bucks for “licensing fees” of film footage of my tail-less cat?
And I wouldn’t have backed down when she tried to grill me, I would have given
her a run for her money for sure!

@Ellejay…Yes my cat is doing well, thanks. Now he’s going to alternate between
single and double meds every day and see if that helps. He has an elongated irregular
colon so periodically he gets “stuck” and needs mechanical help. It sucks.
Re: the documentation, you would think he would carry that but he said he never
is asked for it. Me, I’d throw it in the glove compartment. He wasn’t even asked for
ID to get into the hospital to take the cadaver. Also I asked about decomp and
he said no worries there, that won’t set in for about 48 hours. He asked why I thought
he’d need ID to get the body from the hospital. I explained that there are sickos
out there who might steal bodies. He thought that was far out, like maybe I just
had an over-active imagination on that one.

Out of everything Monica had to say, what stuck out for me was her cat’s name. That’s my sister’s nickname!! ROFL…

Lulu – she had me with the dead body part.LOL

I KNOW you love Owls Val this is one lucky baby Owl http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3016854/The-owl-and-the-pussycats.html

Monica on the Isle of Mann of the coast of England they have there own breed of tailess Cats there called Manx Cats http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=manx+cat&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1G1ACAW_ENUK371&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=Ej0ZTO2eE4mM0gSno73FCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCQQsAQwAA

KC Anthoy civil trial moved to August 2011. Do you believe that?

http://www.wftv.com/news/23924161/detail.html

OMG! That picture of that little owlet staring up at that big lion is so cute! I LOVE IT!!!

Adorable little owl face (kitty pretty cute too). I wonder why they didn’t eat it? I am glad the owlet managed to escape.

Boz I hope wftv verified that date. As Baez et al have made no moves so far to throw out the “nanny did it” theory, Ms. Gonzalez case will likely be a slam dunk with the State destroying the theory during the criminal trial. No need to spend money she doesn’t have proving it herself. Poor lady, I hope she gets justice in the end.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Female_Manx_cat.jpg

Thanks Ecossie…that’s exactly what I have, a Manx tracing back to that Isle of Mann.
Mine is black and a male and looks like the one in the link above from your page,
except like 4 of these put together with a much bigger head and eyes and vertebrae
sticking up in back – called a “riser.” There are actually 4 types of Manx cats.
The kind I have is called a “Rumpie Riser.” This got him the nickname “Mr. Rumpie Risin’”
Also he got a second nickname “Baron Von Rumpy” because there is actually a real
Austrian baron with that title. My Manx also has longer fur and the fur on his tummy
is exactly like a poodle’s not a cat’s. He literally looks like the missing link between
cat and dog. He moves and runs and lays on his back like a dog.

Heartbreaking story of the beginning of the end for the gulf coast and the wildlife under water.
http://www.wesh.com/money/23923549/detail.html

Now that the government will have “a third party” administer the BP funds and a new burocracy (nice spelling) is invented, the carpetbaggers should be arriving any minute. Fat chance of much money being handed out in timely fashion now.

TY Tob~

Heart breaking for all living things off the gulf of Mexico. I’ve been watching this case from early on and I hope BP makes “good” to all the people and animals that will suffer and lose their lives due to BP’s greed and stupidity. I live in the FL. Keys and I won’t be surprised to see this tragic mess on our shores too. Very disturbing to say the least.

For anyone interested in birds in the gulf situation, you can google: Cornell Lab of Ornithology to read about the ornithologists currently down there studying the situation. I spent many years working at the Cornell Lab of Ornitholgy. They are the experts on birds and birdlife. You can also use the website to find out anything, including recording of birdsongs, bird identification and any fact syou might want (section: All About Birds).

As silly as this sounds, If I could, I would go down to the gulf coast tomorrow, bring a case of Dawn, and offer to find and collect any and all affected wildlife. If I was allowed to, would spend 12 hr a day washing them too. I feel so helpless, It breaks my heart! I just cry every time I see video of oil soaked birds and wildlife

@ Monica!

ROFL! Glad to hear your baby JuJu is doing better! Talk about “a funny thing happened on the way to the Vet”! Good Lord, you damn near killed me with the “stoppin’ for lunch” part! LOL! Pretty weird that nobody noticed the covered dead body in the back…I mean really! How could you miss that at a busy strip mall?!! Too funny!

THANK YOU Fingerlakes! Hip Hip for the Cornell Lab! Woot Woot!!

Tob
Ty for the article, I do believe that there is more dead at the bottom of the gulf. It is so said.

Joiseyjuls, not silly. I would too. But I have no trust fund to live on while down there. Food and shelter is a major issue. At least I have no little children to care for here and I am out of work until school starts again in Aug.

I am a mother of a 5 year old, and soon to be 3 year old. I have been following different sites on missing children since the N. Holloway cy toase and want to thank VAL for this site. I am becoming fearful that you just can’t be too careful when it comes to your children and their safety in the community. Does anyone have any suggestions on this blog on how to put my concerns in perspective? I am finding that following these cases closely seems to increase my anxiety and I am striving to find balance between being safe and being over protective. If my child is invited to a birthday party, I stay with the kids. If my children walk over to talk to the neighbors, so do I. My children are never in the front or back yard without me. I try to always have them in my sight line when we are outside. My husband thinks I am over protective but I go on every field trip and arrange my work schedule (luckily it is flexible) to be where they are. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can loosen up and still keep the kids safe- I welcome your comments.

Lisa, since I have experience with this first hand, sadly, here is my first suggestion.

One of the favorite spots these child moletors like are public restrooms. Don’t ever let you youngins go into a public restroom, parks and malls especially, unless you’re sure they are safe. This is up until they are at least 16 years old and I’m not kidding.

And don’t forget to teach them this when they’re not with you!!!!!!!!!

I think that’s what happened to little Kyron. He went to the boys restroom. Someone was in there just waiting for the first kid to come in. He quieted him somehow(tape, chlorform?) put him in something and carried him out. That’s my gut feeling.

Dont worry about it Lisa, my hubby feels I am a lil over protective too (OOOk he calls it crazy ) lol BUT you know what i tell him.. i’ll be crazy n your kids will be SAFE

Boz i think that could be a likely scenario but who could be hiding out in the boys restroom at school???? someone there for the science fair? a parent? teacher? the New janitor??? hmmmmmmmm

Mrs C Hop:

George and Sindie Anthony. You know they said they want another grandchild, right?

arrrrrrrrgh really…on tv??
during the interview about their dead grandchild?

Im starting to believe they are actively campaigning to try to shift public outrage and blame from casey to cindy

Hey Lisa…..I really believe that old saying “better safe than sorry!” I am very similar in my fear for my child and grandchild. All I can say is “trust your gut instinct.” If you feel like there may be too many kids to keep track of on a preschool field trip, don’t worry about being the “Mommy” who helps out and keeps track of kids. If you feel like your children can’t be trusted riding bikes in the driveway without supervision, then you can be the supervisor.

My daughter has been invited to lots of birthday parties in the first grade this past year. I go along because I really don’t know the parents at all. I just let whoever the host is know that I am willing to help her host and keep watch over the kids. So far, most have appreciated the help. It is amazing at the amount of parents who drop off kids at houses where they have never met the parents and don’t give a carp about what happens after they drive away! Leave a child with total strangers??? ACK!

I honestly don’t think you will hurt their independence as long as you don’t “hover” over them.

Don’t know if you guys know about this, so I thought I’d share.

http://gomex.erma.noaa.gov/erma.html#x=-90.42000&y=28.03000&z=6&layers=3023+3898+3894+497

Gm Val TGIF

Thank you for the above link. From those of us sweating bullets over the gushing oil and living on the ocean’s edge…it will come in handy! I just want to strangle BP for their obvious stupidity and disregard for safety in protecting our Mother Earth.

PS~Will we be seeing a new lie scenario this weekend?

Thank You, Ladybug

I put that site on my shortcuts, thanks Valhall!

This is what our world is coming to:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37773863/ns/world_news-europe/

Now twitter is being used by the govener to verify a death penelty ,If only they had that back in the 50s then the red light rapist could still be alive,The govenors sec phoned the wrong phone number to anounce a stay of execution,An by the yime she called the correct number they had already droped the cyanide pellets in the gas chamber. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3019650/Man-executed-by-firing-squad.html

Hey Boz~

That guy needs to be hung by his you know what. As far as “this is what our world is coming to” I sure hope not, as the world is more vocal now than ever regarding sexual child abuse and child abuse in general. I’m hoping we can change this crisis and the internet is going to play a HUGE role. I think we can make a difference thanks to good people like Val keeping people informed.

Bless the Beasts and the Children.

Because I just can’t stop myself:

Seems like Tiger’s putter just ain’t working anymore.

Boz- couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

I just put these two videos up tonight on some of the ghosty activity (or signs of it anyway) in my house. I have been keeping a log of the strange things going on here since 2003 when they first started. If anybody is interesting in reading the 7 years (lmao) of things I’ve logged, I can post the link. Just let me know.

Anyway, these are the two videos my daughter took on Wednesday night of the strange behavior of Goobie – her puppy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B6mjjSe-UM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd-aY_NmxsY

Valhall said: { Jun 18, 2010 – 11:06:50 }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes! Very interested. What kind of meter is that? I need one! My cats and my dog, when I had him, were very aware of “someone” we couldn’t see at the moment…but DO see sometimes…and often hear. We got our hair standing on end one night when my dog’s ears went up and he turned to a WWll photo of my dad and buddies…my dog began to bark and growl and shy away from the photo and did this 4 times. He finally fell asleep and then startled awake…ears went up and, again, walked warily around the photo…growling and then running away from it. (The photo had been there since the dog was a puppy but that night he obviously heard something and saw something…dam*…just a dog so he could tell us what it was! Your videos seem to show a dog that goes to sit next to someone…and actually, Dinky seems to approach first and larger dog following along. I can’t help but want to read what else you have experienced in your house. Please post the link.
PS…when my cats see and hear things they all do at once…just great to sit on the couch with all 7 of them staring up at a wall and then all looking left or right together while I see and hear nothing and then the whole bunch of them will lose interest all at once as though the show is over…or looking out into the dining room where I could swear I just saw (peripheral vision) someone peek around the corner from the hallway (but see nothing when I then turn to see who it is) and one of my younger cats will actually growl and slink away under the couch during the dining room “peeker episodes”…if I’M wrong and a little bit crazy…then I have plenty of company around my house who think I’m right and not crazy at all! Animals are great barometers.
Sometimes I don’t even like my house because it goes through phases of this kind of “activity” and then quiets down for months, only to “wake back up.” Lots of stuff happens (and some quite frightening and unpleasant) and I wish I had recorded it in writing as you did.

It’s a KII meter, Mimi, like what they use on Ghost Hunters when they ask yes or no questions. Here is a place you can buy one:

http://www.ghosthuntersequipment.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=4

The phases of activity are what happen here as well. And they have become less frequent in the past couple of years to where we haven’t had anything happening for a while until my daughter and Goobie moved in. On the discussion thread where I have kept my log all these years we have speculated that things seem to happen more when my daughter IS in the house. Anyway, here is the thread. Being a 7 year old discussion…it’s REAL LONG!

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread13760/pg1

Anadarko Petroleum, who had a 25% ownership in the ill-fated well, has come out severely blasting BP:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/18/news/companies/BP_Anadarko/index.htm?hpt=T1

“The mounting evidence clearly demonstrates that this tragedy was preventable and the direct result of BP’s reckless decisions and actions,” Anadarko chief executive Jim Hackett said in a statement issued late Friday.

So far it would appear that Anadarko is legally partly responsible as BP has been found grossly negligent of nothing. Any court action to give such a finding has been studiously avoided up until this point. The president has sidestepped any such talk by getting BP to agree to a cleanup fund outside any court system.

I am sure that Anadarko will be proved correct eventually, but I see that as years off.

Val
I would like to read what has been happening in your house.

Vl…
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread13760/pg1

This link has the most compelling photographs of the spill that I have seen so far. Tragedy and hope, chaos and hard work, ignorance and experts all shown here.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-html,0,6610369.htmlstory

» Zubenelschemali said: { Jun 14, 2010 – 03:06:12 }
Val, I need to warn you about a problem. My email security has been breached

» Mary said: { Jun 15, 2010 – 10:06:02 }
Z, what happened to your email has happened to my daughter and a friend of mine. I believe it is a virus of some kind.

Hi This also happened to me and this is what I found . It is a spam bot of some kind. Here is the info I found. Hope this helps. Here is the link on this.

http://blog.trendmicro.com/how-many-spam-can-a-spam-bot-spam/

How Many Spam Can a Spam Bot Spam?

Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:15 AM PDT

Mega-D is one of the most prolific spam botnets accounting for around 7 percent of the spam traffic worldwide. It once accounted for as much as 50 percent of the world’s spam volume but has quieted down since the high-profile takedown of the McColo hosting service, and the 2009 takedown of its command-and-control (C&C) servers.

Mega-D is still alive though not as prolific as it once was. We let loose a Mega-D spam bot sample in our malware lab to see how many spammed messages one spam bot can generate in a day.

As shown in the chart above, the single spam bot was able to generate around 2,553,940 spammed messages in a span of 24 hours, an average of 1,764 spammed messages per minute.

Based on FireEye’s 2009 estimate, the Mega-D spam bot’s population reached 264,784, amounting to an overall spam volume of 676,242,448,960 messages. That is a lot of spam!

The following is a spam sample generated by the Mega-D spam bot.

The link in the said spammed message will direct a user to a fake pharma site, the now all-too-familiar Web page of “Canadian Pharmacy” shown below.

The “Canadian Pharmacy” sites peddled by Mega-D bots are all hosted in .RU ccTLD (country code Top Level Domain). As of this writing, these .RU domains resolve to an IP space somewhere in China.

Note that the spam traffic graph was generated via Mailgraph. Rest assured that no spammed messages escaped our malware lab. The outgoing mail traffic shown in the Mailgraph chart were all directed to one of our spam-processing systems.

Post from: TrendLabs | Malware Blog – by Trend Micro

Thanks for that info, Stages!

I have always ed Trend Micro. And Webroot. Good thorough companies.

Val and all, even if my feelings and thoughts toward Cindy are different than many others and it’s plain to see by some of your replies to me that some think I’m out of my mind and cannot see how I can think of Cindy as I do. I still connect with some of you on other levels, but hesitate to say that I do, as my opinions haven’t been well received here and I’m not as educated and well spoken as others, leaving me to feel “outta tha loop: lol at times. Though whether you think I’m nuts or not, I’m asking now for your thoughts and prayers.
Following is a OT post that I made on The Bachelorette message board where I’m Daf_odil, lol, explaining why I’m asking for prayers for me and all involved. This happened a week ago on the 11th.
I’ll follow up with a post that I made later in the week,describing”the day of”. It was very therapeutic for me to write in OT, as I live alone and have grown to feel like fellow commenters there are my friends and family. Thank God that they allow OT there (as long as you say OT),lol. It’s been my lifesaver, as they’re used to my long winded OT posts and still love & accept me. Even if I’m not that well received here, I still feel a closeness to some here and for that I’d like to share my feelings with those and any others who can step back for a sec and see me as a hurting person and not the nut who unconditionally supports Cindy, lol.
Here’s the original post:
_________________________
Enjoy and love laughing and cutting up with all of you, and like nothing better than to know that my crazy memories of my life reminded you of something funny in your own life or to see a response from those who “gets me”, so I already feel like you you give me so much. Now maybe I’m greedy, but I’d like to ask for more. That you’ll let me draw on the strength that I’m hoping you all can send my way in your thoughts, prayers, pebbles thrown in the river or how ever you can get them to me.

Have a close cousin my age whose mother is my mom’s twin, so we grew up almost in constant contact. She had a boy & girl, I had a boy & girl, our grandchildren play together. Her son has twins 3 years old and daughter a couple of years older. One of the twins drowned Friday afternoon, he was found by the 6 yr old in their pool at home.

As you can imagine my cousin is a wreck, daughter in law tried CPR and too late, both parents at home at the time. Visitation today, funeral tomorrow. Most horrible thing I’ve faced in my life, trying to find words to say and I can’t. So have said few and have just listened and listened to anguished words of blame,sorrow and all in between from my cousin, the grandmother. Her sorrow for the other twin who asks her questions she can’t answer, her anger at daughter in law and son, then back to pity and sorrow for them and back again to why and blame, then back to pure anguish. Her worry and pain for her son, his wife and her 6 yr old granddaughter who found her brother.

As easily as you all send me joy and laughter via your hilarious comments that you make back to me and your funny topics, hoping you can throw this crazy Daf_odil some strength and wisdom to help all of ones here in my family that I love, who are hurting so.

Found that if I open up to you as if I’m talking to my mother or a best friend it helps me, so let me tell you about today, things that touched me, jarred me, things that I heard that stuck with me for some reason.

When I talked about blame earlier, only heard that in spurts from my cousin when it was just the 2 of us, she wouldn’t have said those things to her son or his wife that she said to me. She didn’t dwell on blame, it was mixed in with her sorrow, anger, laughter from memories of her grandson, pounding her fists on her legs in gut wrenching moans,back and forth, up and down, all the emotions that she could only let flow with me. She’s a elementary school principal, her son is in law enforcement and her daughter in law is activity director at the nursing home here. This is a small community and the outpouring of love and support from the fellow deputies of the dad, school teachers and employees from the schools, church families from the churches each parent attended as children and the church they attend now as a family was overwhelming. Alex, the twin brother of Austin and his sister, have been the main focus for all. My cousin, her husband and the other set of grandparents have cared for their adult children, (Austin’s mom & dad )as if they were children again. Amazing to see how they instinctly stepped in and held them up as if they were nurturing a child. Funeral so heartbreaking that you felt like you were literally putting one thought in your mind at a time, just to make it through it. Really I felt that way from time that I brushed my teeth first thing this morning until the time I woke up from the nap after the funeral. Able now to think back on the day and absorb it.
Funeral was at 10 in the morning, 2 long lines of deputies and city policemen, emts, standing on each side of the church doors outside as people poured in, walking down between them all. After all non family were seated, family came in and we were seated, then all the men and women who stood in uniform outside filed in and sat down. The church the family attends is the the largest church in town, worked out well for the large crowd. Members from the other churches in town, of all different denominations came out in support of this family. I’d never seen this happen, what a touching, unified sight!

There were 3 ministers chosen to speak, all Baptist, each kept it short and sweet.
First one that spoke was an older man (I’d say early-mid 70′s) from the church Austin’s mom grew up in. His comforting, soft spoken words were directed to the parents. Smiling slightly with the kindest look that I’d ever seen, he looked directly at them, as if the huge, overflowing church held only them. He started by assuring them that Austin was with Jesus, that He had a place prepared for him before their love had even brought him into this world. For them to ease their minds of all worry as Jesus was taking care of Austin in all ways, his every need filled, that pain or fear was never felt, with no memories of anything but goodness. That Austin only knows and feels the happiness and warmth of everlasting love.Then he used the analogy of how he still wanted to know whether his 39 year old daughter who was married and traveled in her job had made it to where she was going, to hear that she was okay and how she still to this day, will call him while traveling and say, “Hey dad, it’s me. I’m here, I’m okay, love you!”
Told them that this is what Austin would say to them if he could.
“Mommy, Daddy, I’m here, I’m okay, love you!”
Well, with these words hit home with everyone there, I believe. Felt the deepest pain and hurt at the thought of Austin saying this to his parents, naturally you could see it hit them especially hard. Can’t explain, but being honest with you, for a second I questioned his choice of stories to relate to us. Thinking why did he have to paint a picture of something so sad, didn’t he see what emotions this brought out in the mama & daddy, in us all ?
Then before I could allow myself to be this way, questioning this man who had himself probably wrangled with what to say in his message, I felt ashamed. Knowing there was no way he could have avoided the pain. As I was sitting there hoping and praying that somehow the heaviness of his message could some how be lifted, the younger (say late early 30′s) of the 3 ministers took the podium. In delivered his message in a louder tone, he seemed to be very high energy, he knows the family the best, being the young family’s pastor As he spoke, he turned and pointed out a large flat structure behind him of what appeared to be a ship, made of brightly painted plywood. Saying that they were in the middle of vacation Bible school and that the ship was the backdrop for the program the children would “put on” for the parents at the end of Bible school. He told how Austin and his twin,Alex, along with their sister had been preparing for this program, how well he knew Austin, how Austin’s big, bright eyes lit up when seeing the ship for the first time. How enthusiastic he had been while at learning the 2 songs he was to sing with his class. He told how he spoke with the parents and thought it would only be fitting to leave the big ship up for the services. So there sat his tiny, light gray/silverish casket in front of this ship, it was covered and surrounded by beautiful, brightly colored flowers, don’t think I saw a pastel or white bloom among them, just beautiful vibrant reds, yellows, purples, etc. that seemed to go on forever. Pictures of Austin in silvertone frames of various large sizes sitting on pedestals & on easels. Candid shots of Austin alone, with his twin Alex, with parents, with his sister, looked like they had all been taken recently.
The ship being left may seem tacky, but it added a touch that I thought was perfect. Almost as if it was meant to be there especially for a little boy, for Austin. Especially since they’d never used before. Men from the church built it just for the end of Bible school program, that the children have each tear.
Can’t explain, but it helped in some way take away the initial shock, pain, horror, out of place, indescribable sight of the tiny casket.

Where the first, older minister’s message brought tears, the younger one who was speaking now, was bringing chuckles. He told us that Austin’s mom had shared a story with some of the parents at Bible school that week about how Austin’s twin Alex, had asked her on the way home from church the week before, where did Jesus live. She’d answered that Jesus lived in his heart. Austin spoke up and said no, Jesus lived in your belly. Then he pulled up his shirt, pointed at his belly button and said, “Jesus lives right here and he’s hungry!”
Well, as much as you could hear low crying and sniffles with the first story, this one brought laughter through the tears. He sat down and the third pastor stood. Where the first one was from the mothers church where she grew up, this one was from the church where the daddy had attended as a child and grew up in.

Continued: He too spoke directly to the parents as the first pastor had, in sharp contrast to the younger, louder minister. Said only a few words, but powerful ones. Speaking to the parents of all the love in the room for them and to draw on that love from all of us for strength, then ended with a sweet prayer. Then at graveside, he said another very short prayer, then the parents, Alex and his sister all stood up and each had a flower. They placed it on top of the casket, the parents, holding a child each, stood there and cried, then they sat back down. Pastor motioned for us to stand and told everyone that the family would be having lunch over at the church, where extended family were welcome, thanked all in behalf of the family and then all left, as the parents made their way back to the limo to take them back to the church.

As almost all family lunches are that the ladies of the churches serve after funerals here in the South, there was baked ham, fried chicken, green beans, homemade mac & cheese, fresh baby limas, fresh stewed corn, sliced home grown tomatoes, potato salad, deviled eggs, tiny cornbread muffins, yeast rolls, tea, coffee, ice water, caramel cake, banana pudding, chocolate layer cake,pound cake and sweet potato pie.
Ladies of the church keep the tea glasses filled, coffee poured, and hold any babies there, so mama’s can eat, lol. They occupy any children who might be toddling or running around by offering them cupcakes and books, so their parents and the adults can eat their meal and chat, while the oldest women sit and talk about the other old women, lol. What they wore to the funeral, how one was clearly wearing a winter dress and how “didn’t she know we’re slap in the middle of summer!?”
Point out which men had not worn a tie or suit coat, what the preacher said that he shouldn’t have and what he should have said and didn’t.

Bless their hearts, thank God I still have at least a year or two before I sit at their table

I have put a new page in the Library for newcomers:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/the-hinky-dictionary/

If I have left off any Hinkyisms…please point them out for inclusion.

Hinky Dictionary is hilarious!

Wow.

Wow to what, Noela?

Val…Maybe I missed it somewhere earlier in this thread, but I was just wondering
if you ever tried getting any EVPs in your home? I’m sure you know what that is,
Electronic Voice Phenomenon…Here’s an example for anyone who doesn’t:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mip5z0BNMcw

Noela,
I am so sorry for the loss of your little relative. Thanks for sharing the story of the funeral and the different deliveries in the church and the rest. It is so hard to know how to face the sudden death of anyone, esp someone young.
I have a friend who used to me my neighbor – I moved across town a few years ago and ever since we’d see each other every 2-3 months. She was very healthy early 60′s. Well, in the last 2 month period, she contracted a rare disease and died (last month). Her husband could not remember my full name so I was not called until the day before she died, and just saw her a few minutes. I have to say – I have not yet cried at all – I have been in shock the whole time and I still cannot talk about this to anyone here. A stranger observing me would think I don’t care at all, which is the opposite of the truth: this sudden death has shaken my very foundations of belief and faith. I have not really landed back on the earth since hearing that my friend was soon going to be gone and I am waiting to land.
I am sorry for your loss, wish you some consolation and for the family of Austin.

DEVO hosts record release party – for cats only!

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/06/17/devo-hold-listening-party-for-cats/?icid=main|main|dl7|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.urlesque.com%2F2010%2F06%2F17%2Fdevo-hold-listening-party-for-cats%2F

Yes, Monica. I did EVPs several years ago. I haven’t done any since.

Thank you so much, Angela. So sweet & considerate of you to understand and let me know that. Know how you must feel finding out at the last minute about your close friend being so close to dying and then to lose her, you must be in a daze. Can understand you not sharing here how you feel until now. Sometimes you have to make that leap, even when you’re not sure how it will be received and hope a good heart and soul will hear you, as you heard me. Appreciate your comforting words for Austin’s family and will pass them on. Wishing you peace in your heart and may the good memories of your friend bring you comfort.

Val, thanks so much for the info and link. Oh…yes, it’s true. When my own daughter and grand daughter stayed with me for 11 months…this house was positively “buzzing with activity,” so to speak. I can’t wait to read your link info…going to go do it now.

@Val…Do you have any mp3s of those EVPs that you could post?

valhall: “If I have left off any Hinkyisms…please point them out for inclusion.”

………maurapedia: a post replete with…discovery page #’s, interview/depo page #’s, times, dates, pings, pongs..( aka: trusted post.)

EEK! Ellejay…sorry, I can’t believe I did that! I’m getting it fixed immediately.

Monica,

As I stated above, as far as I know there is no copy of the EVPs here at my house. (I can do some checking, but I can’t imagine where they would be.) The computer I had them on had a harddrive crash. However, several ATS members had saved them off when I first posted them, so someone else may have them.

Val – I began reading your posts at ATS last night. Til 2:00 am – LOL. Needless to say I am fascinated. I am back to it this morning as I can’t wait to see what happens next! Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Thank you Boz, Mrs. C Hop and Lexi- thank you for the comments/tips on keeping the kids safe…I will keep up what I am doing. Boz- I am so sorry to hear that you have encountered something very bad in the public restroom scenerio…I will keep this in mind. Mrs. C Hop- yes, I agree… better to have my husband think I am crazy over protective if it keep the kids safe. Lexi- agreed about the birthday parties, I am amazed how folks just drop the kids off and never even come in the house to see what is going on. I have never had another parents become aggrivated about the fact that I stay with the kids. I guess if they did, we would leave. I just feel badly about being so skeptical of everyone…I feel as if I watch and listen to everything someone says when I meet them that comes in contact with my kids. These are troubled times. Although sometimes I wonder if things have always been this way… but was just less public…and people were just not as aware due to the lack of information and people just didn’t talk about such things. I am in my early 40′s and I had an unimaginable amount of freedom when I was a kid- all the kids played outside all day- early evening without supervision. Now I stalk my kids

Just thinking about children and these school projects and the parents who help them. It all seems a bit skewed and not to the child’s advantage, ultimately, not to let them do the projects on their own…. totally.

I’d have to think the teachers, as professionals, know what to assign and what’s a reasonable expectation for a different stages of development.

What of the children whose parents can’t (because of work schedules or inability or, sadly, lack of interest, who give their children no help whatsoever. And the children come to school carrying a dinky little project that they did to the best of their ability and have to feel bad because others bring professional caliber work to show.

I think schools should have a strict policy against this type of parental interference. It’s not the best for the children who have the help because they know in their hearts they didn’t do it themselves. And it’s terrible for the ones who have no help but maybe if the playing field was level their projects would be as good as, or even maybe better than their peers.

I think the whole thing totally stinks.

(I always did my own projects. It never occurred to my parents to interfere. Maybe they were lax but I think it was more a certain ethic. They would have felt it was cheating, most likely.)

I know the times are different as parents seem to be much more involved with their childrens’ schools these days. A friend of mine even says “We have a test tomorrow”, talking about her son. Whoa. That’s a hella involvement.

Just something I’ve been thinking about while pondering Kyron’s science project.

JennyB, I have to suppose you might be thinking about the comment I just put on another thread. Please don’t suppose I am going to butt heads with you on this because I’m not. If my kids had been given projects to do that they were capable of, I would not help them at all. But, they were not. They were expected to use The Scientific Method which would be explained in class and could be understood by children of 7 or 9 years of age. Sitting at home and trying to recreate the Scientific Method using another subject, however is not something a child of that age can do IMO. Please see this link and I think you will understand…it is possible that the school they went to was presenting a different format than what you might be supposing. For example…when I was in school, a science project was as easy and fun as burning a candle that sat in a dish of water and covering it with a glass. As the candle burned out, the water “climbed up the glass.” Our job was to demonstrate the experiment and then explain to the class what had happened and why. Period. What second grader would need help with that? No problem.
Not so in this day and age. Take a look…

http://www.sciencebuddies.com/mentoring/project_scientific_method.shtml

Each step was to be written and explained on posterboard but this link is actually the “quick version.” They also had to make sheets listing DATA, EQUIPTMENT…photos or drawings of the experiment step by step, etc. And they also had other assignments to do each night and every night, weekend homework included. I went to all the science fairs…there was not one project that I saw where all the children had received help and it was because they needed it. My belief is that it was because, other parents, like me, knew that their kids were not capable of what was expected…at least not where my kids went to school. In fourth or fifth grade? Yes, and at least my own kids were on their own by then. But I think that was because early experiences were not full of frustration and by then they were ready to tackle such projects alone.
I agree with you that children do need to learn to work independently and mine eventually did. But, I also think that making kids do work that is too hard is not a good learning experience. My kids always did most of the work by themselves and I never GAVE them anything free. We went through each step of the Scientific Method and they had to come up with all the information themselves. But, I needed to explain what was expected with each step. If they drew pictures that nobody would understand I would tell them to give it another try and explain why what they did was not clear. But, yes I was there to keep them directed…showing them that their theory was actually their idea and not a theory and they had to re-do it properly. I should have been more specific with what I said. I did not DO their projects for them but I certainly helped them stay on the right track and I did guide them through it.
But, we might just disagree…I really don’t find helping a child a form of cheating. If my child were having trouble with math, I always sat down and explained step by step what the formula was and why. I used pennies to teach addition and subtraction and showed my daughter why multiplication is simply “fancy addition” and addition is just counting and division is just “fancy subtraction” and just counting backwards…things like that and they said it was easier to learn as I taught a different way than the teacher. My kids are visual learners (and so am I)…they were not taught that way in school and they had trouble unless I explained by using methods they could SEE. The written math problem of 2 plus 2 equals blank meant nothing to my daughter. But 2 pennies put next to 2 pennies was very easy for her. Then I had to show her the written math problem and show her the comparison. Then she could SEE what addition meant.
Oh well, anyway…I just thought I would clarify what I said. I had trouble in school and I knew why when I was older…I wanted my kids to enjoy learning as I never had. I guess we just disagree and that’s okay.

Correction: I went to all the science fairs…there was not one project that I saw where all the children had NOT received help and it was because they needed it.

Mimi

I wasn’t being critical of you at all! I’ve been thinking about this subject ever since Kyron went missing. There’s been a lot of talk about his science project and lamination and all the rest of it.

Honestly, I wasn’t aiming my comment at you!

I think it’s a shame that the schools don’t give assignments that are age-appropriate, if that’s the case.

I don’t have children so I defer to your experience.

Again, I was NOT criticizing you at all.

PS…when I finally learned HOW to learn…I came to love it and haven’t stopped yet and am not planning on ever stopping. But, early school was impossible for me. I did not learn by the same methods of teaching as other kids learned and I now realize there were quite a few of us who had that problem. The teachers really couldn’t do anything about it because they considered us “slow” back then and believed that we just couldn’t learn because we were “dumb.” Now, I believe that more is understood about learning “disabilities” and so it might be better…I hope anyway.

It seems the schools do children a great disservice, not letting them get the self-esteem that comes with tackling and completing a project designed to challenge but not to overwhelm. Giving them something that is simply impossible for the age level seems practically sadistic. And like I said before, terribly unfair to those children who don’t have help and are set up to feel ashamed.

It seems so counter-productive to the learning process and from what I hear and read it’s a systemic problem already.

Anyway, just my observation as a former student, remembering back to when virtually no-one in my class (as I recall) had the kind of assistance some seem to have today.

No biggie, just wondering about the whole thing.

If anyone wants to chat about this I’d love to hear your views. Like I said, I’m not a parent…

Mimi

One thing about the “cheating”. That’s a strong word, one I perhaps shouldn’t have used. I was just trying to channel how my parents might have characterized it. I honestly think if I said to my mom or dad, I have a project due, will you help me? They would have kindly said, no, you can do it all on your own, honey. LOL. They would have said that, I am sure!

It does seem to me if you do your children’s work, or the bulk of it, and send them into school where they present a project as “their own” it sort of sets up an early childhood dishonesty thing.

I guess if the teacher asks, did you have help? And the student says, yes, my mom/dad helped me with this part of it, then that’s cool.

If parents are going to help then there should be full disclosure. That would be okay. then the kids who didn’t have help would not stand out as having such a bad project?

I dunno.

jennyb said: { Jun 20, 2010 – 11:06:13 }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You know what? I didn’t really take offense Jenny. It was just that I had just finished commenting on having helped my kids with their science projects on the other thread. (Maybe my conscience was guilty.) Often people on Val’s blog are having similar thoughts at the same time so that’s fine. I was the one who suddenly felt bad because I thought people would think I pulled a Cindy A. and grabbed the crayons right out of my kid’s hands to do it myself. (Now I’m exaggerating.) But, I
just wanted to clarify. Also…just because you don’t have kids does not mean you have to defer to a parent. It’s not like you were never a kid yourself and have no valuable opinion on such things. As a previous kid, you are also an expert in your own experiences, IMO. I agree with you that you can help kids too much and it ends up not being help at all. Once I was watching my daughter try to help my grand daughter and my grand daughter began to watch tv behind her back while my daughter was busy studying the math problem and trying to explain…my grand daughter was sneaky enough to say,
“Okay…yeah…I see…” (while she glanced at the work quickly and then back to the tv)…so, yes…only so much help…and I said to my daughter,
“I think you better not work so hard at that because someone else is watching tv. And SHE’S smart enough to feign ignorance of the problems just long enough for you to do them all, if you let her…THAT is not what I call helping with homework.”
(I would have demonstrated the method with some similar problems I made up on a separate piece of paper and then made her do all those in the assignment by herself and that would be helping but not doing them myself.)
But, no offense taken and I always appreciate your opinion and comments…I could never be mad at you…okay.

Oh thank you Mimi.

I bet you are an awesome mom and your kids are most grateful.

*mwah*!

Well goodnight and thanks again!

I have to say that I agree with almost 100% of what you say. But I was pretty tuned into my kids and I could sort laziness out from truly just not understanding what they were supposed to do. They didn’t need much help…but they did need some. Kind of like pushing sled over a sticky spot…once it’s moving freely, it glides on it’s own. The work my kids were given was much harder than what I had to do in the same grade levels. It’s also presented too quickly here in Florida due to their having to pass the “F-CAT” exams. If they don’t pass it, they don’t go to the next grade even if they got all A’s and B’s all year. The pressure is intense and the tests are timed and many young kids don’t do well due to fear and anxiety, no matter how “smart” they might be. My grand daughter comes home with homework in fractions…and then Algebra…and then some long division and this can all take place in the SAME WEEK. I don’t understand…we learned one after the other in a progression and we stuck with each until it was fully understood…and we didn’t learn Algebra or fractions at all until we got into a higher grade. I’ll ask my grand daughter how she’ doing in multiplication and she’ll say,
“Oh, now we’re not doing that anymore. Now we’re doing Algebra.”
I’ll ask her to recite her multiplication tables and she’ll say,
“I haven’t memorized them yet. I know up to the 4′s.”
Huh?? Really, what is THAT all about?
School is not what it used to be at all.
And, Jenny, it sounds like you did well in school and you were a smart and capable child. If I’d have been confronted with the Scientific Method in the second grade…and my parents had told me I could do it myself…I would have sat at the kitchen table and just cried. I was just plain old incapable of such things. I have to tell you that my dad would have sat right down with me and would have explained exactly what I needed to do step by step…and he would have made it FUN, too. I always felt so smart after he explained things to me. Damn! I realized I was capable…I just understood him and not what someone was saying in front of a large class that always zoomed right by me and left me in the dust. My son had less trouble and was usually ahead of his class and was bored for that reason. He needed very little help. My daughter was like me and needed help every step of the way. Oh well…I’ve said enough. As you can see, I’ve gone from very few words as a child to WAY too many these days.
But, I do like other opinions because it’s a great way to learn.

Speaking of learning….is there any chance one of you bright people could enlighten me about use of the number 80? I’ve been reviewing Casey’s Profile and have noticed it used (generally at the end of a post) by a number of Hinksters. I just don’t grasp the significance and hate feeling so ignorant.

Maybe others question use of “80″ as well. This might be something Val could include in her dictionary.

Thanks in advance for your patience and willingness to share your knowledge.

Col – this is just a guess (but it is what i have always assumed when i see this symbol) it is a symbol for surprise. Think of the symbol folks use for a smiley face – and then look at 80 – bugged out eyes and open mouthed astonishment.

I could be wrong, and if I am I hope someone will tell me different….

Hey Mimi,

Something i was thinking about our conversation last night. I really meant more along the lines of the special projects, like a science or art project, not daily homework. It’s great to explain concepts to your kids if you understand what their assignments are all about. In my case, my parents wouldn’t have been able to guide me, which is probably why I didn’t think to ask and they didn’t offer. Anyway, I think schools are different these days in what they expect of the children so that’s why I add “I’m not a parent” because I’m not current as to what schools are all about these days. It’s a different world, it seems.

My two cents concerning kids’ school projects:

IMO, neither of these types of parents are really helping their child:

1 – the one who takes the project as if it’s his/her own
2 – the one who doesn’t guide the child at all

I’ve always helped my kids with their school projects. It’s fun to work on it together. I give some advice/suggestions or ask questions to help steer them toward their goal and they take it from there. Each time they do something similar, they need less help from me.

I also go over their homework with them ocassionally. Just so I can see for myself that it is done and because I’m interested in what they’re working on. Some of the work is a lot different from when I was a student. They get a kick out of teaching me the “modern” way of doing it. Sometimes they even wanna know how we did it back in the “stone ages”. lol

I don’t usually reply but I really needed to add my 2 cents here.

My son is 13 and in the 7th grade. He recently had a Geography project due on a foreign country. He worked very hard on this project. He did the research, found the pictures, the maps, the music, the food and recipes, and the clothing from his assigned country and was very proud of himself. All of this was included on his posterboard along with a sample of music to be heard by anyone who wanted to hear it. He received a whopping 67 (D) on this project. He was heartbroken. When asked why he received such a low grade he was informed that he did NOT complete the project because he did not have a cooked sample of the food from his country. Going back to the project packet to make sure we had read what was needed correctly we found a paragraph that stated something along the lines of: There will also be a cooking contest (which will not be included into the grade of the project) if you wish to participate. Bring enough food to feed 15 people (judges and teachers) but you will also have to supply all the materials needed to feed these people. (paperplates, forks, spoons, napkins, drinking cups (if needed) and the food must be kept warm / cold. You will not be supplied any electricty so the food must be in temp controlled containers until the end of the veiwings.) We opted not to participate as we are low income and I could not afford to feed 15 people. I did look into the cost of some food from his country and some of the spices alone would have run me quite a bit of money. All that said I believed he had completed his project and was ready for turn in. What I failed to understand was that the CONTEST was optional but the food was a MUST. He had to feed these 15 people if he wanted a completed project. (Sorry for ranting but this really bugs me.)

Some of these “projects” and the homework the children are given these days can NOT be completed without some type of parental help. I agree that we should not do our childrens homework for them but they do need help with some of it. I will help my son with anything he needs help with but I will not do it for him. I will make example problems and walk him through the steps then let him do the assigned problems on his own. (of course anwering questions if he has any). He will bring home some work sometimes that I simply don’t understand so I will “google” it and we will learn it together.

I also think that our school systems have gotten lazy with the children in recent years. I remember being able to ask for help from the teacher and now they are told to ask their table captain for help if they dont understand. Teachers are not involved with the teaching of our children anymore. They will “cover” the material in class, give some examples on the board, and send them home with 3 pages of homework and not allow them to ask for help from the teacher but from another student. If they wish to have teacher assistance in something they don’t understand they are told to show up for school an hour early the next day and get help in the media center / library by a volunteer (whether teacher, parent, or high school student). I don’t think the teachers really pay attention to which child is in class, where they are at, what they are doing unless they have to be directly involved in some way. NOT all teachers are this way of course, there are some great ones out there that are teaching for the right reasons but some of them are there for whatever reason and don’t really care if the child learns or not. If a child is quiet, well behaved, and prepared for class I don’t think a teacher these days would notice if they were around or not. I believe if this gorgeous little boy would have been a problem child it would have stuck out in someones mind that he was not around faster and his whereabouts while he was there would be easier to pinpoint.

Renee, that is just awful. Your son should’ve gotten a top grade. For effort, for accomplishment, for such hard work. It’s a good thing he has a strong support system at home.

Schools these days sound like a complete nightmare. The system is incredibly unfair. Woe be the parents who can’t afford private schools (if they’re any better) or simply are unequipped to guide their children, at least emotionally and psychologically, through the process.

I’m sorry he had to go through this and hopefully he’s not too deflated to continue trying.

I tell you what, if my mother had to assist me with an assignment like that I would have gotten a big fat F. Horrible cook (seriously bad, everyone knows it)(thank god I married a chef cause I learned nothing useful from her), she never helped with homework and the cost of such a thing would never have been shouldered by her. She would have told the school to go blow and sued if it affected my grades.

Renee: Wow…that’s totally insane.
Good luck to you and all the other parents
raising Hell on this one.

My son is a trooper!!!! He shrugged it off and worked hard to earn himself a B average on his final report card for that class.

My point (buried by my ranting) was that children need help from their parents. Parents need to be involved closely with their childrens school work because some children simply can NOT get it done alone. I don’t believe its cheating, taking credit for someone else’s work or anything of that nature if a parent puts some work into their childs projects or homework. It does depend on how that work is done of course. “Back in the day” we were taught a topic and it was beaten into us by heavy teaching. We would see the work over and over and over until it finally clicked. These days its simply gone over and left for the child to figure out how to get it done. One day its addition the next its fractions and for those children who need some help with the addition they are SOL unless they get help from home.

It’s sad when a child goes missing from a place where he is suppose to be safe. Soon parents will be signing disclosures stating if anything happens to their child (hurt, missing,..) the school is not responsible. When a school allows so many visitors all day every day anything can happen. They allow high school students, parents, anyone who is willing to volunteer to have access to our children and we are none the wiser. Until I got involved I had no clue that my son was to get assistance from a volunteer before or after school hours if he needed help. Anyone can have access to our children at school if they want to volunteer. We have an after school program here called Team Up where students having problems can get help from High School students who volunteer. While the program does help its also scary. Recently we had a High School student (private catholic school) who disappeared to be found later deceased in a park. She went to school, left school grounds later with “classmates” and those classmates did horrible things to her. Those same High School classmates could be volunteers at my sons school. Are they there to help or pray on the weak? We don’t know until its to late.

Are they looking into all the many visitors they had at the school do to the science fair? Are they looking into the adult who was suppose to be escorting this child to and from the science fair? Why was he allowed to return to the science fair without a buddy or adult to escort him and if he did have one are they being looked at? Was he able to “sneak” away from his group to return to the fair? So many questions with as far as I can tell no answers.

If any of these questions were answered I apologize for not being “up to date” on the answers I am a slow reader these days.

OMG I LOVE IT!

I don’t know if this link will work properly but if not go to cnn.com and look for the video “Rape-fighting condom has ‘teeth’”.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/06/21/seg.cohen.condom.teeth.cnn?hpt=T2

LMAO!

The link works just fine, lol. What a great doctor, good for her!

Valhall said: { Jun 22, 2010 – 06:06:38 }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ingenious… Now we need to get this doctor partnered up with a French doctor to invent the Rape Fighting Guillotine Condom and I’ll like the concept even better.

Ok this vid up on Richard Hornsby’s site is hysterical. I didn’t really think it would be this funny but I am ROFL. And his captions are a laugh-riot.

“Cop Eats Pot Brownies Calls 911″

http://blog.richardhornsby.com

Renee, we have the same thinking on public schools these days. As in the case of your son’s efforts and receiving a poor grade…this is typical and unfair. This sort of thing is what makes me so angry. Taking a child who has tried so hard and obviously done a lot of work and having a teacher destroy that good feeling makes learning a negative thing. It can stick with a child all throughout the school years if this is what happens when they first begin school. I’m glad your son had your understanding and support as he needed it very badly at that time. I would not feel any more guilty with guiding and assisting my kids to do the work themselves than I would if we were at the beach and they asked me what waves were or why the sand keeps falling into the hole we might dig if the sand is dry but doesn’t if the sand is wet. I would try to explain and I would ask questions of them, too. Learning takes place all the time and it can be fun…it doesn’t have to be a drudge and cause anxiety and unhappiness.
I see what is expected of kids today and I know there is no way I could have done what they do so I don’t hold it against them when they can’t do it alone. The key is to teach and THEN have them do it alone…in it’s entirety or in steps, depending on the child’s ability.
My grand daughter’s teacher likes teams…she sets to children together and the assignment is done in pairs and most of the “project assignments” were expected to be done at home. Each child was told what part of the assignment belonged to them and was their responsibility. This required my daughter driving her child to the other children’s houses each time because the other parents had excuses why they couldn’t drive to my daughter’s house. Three times my grand daughter did her part of the assignments and the other children arrived at school on due-day without any work at all. My grand daughter was given a “F” each time because she was “part of a team” and her team had not done the whole assignment.
There is another example of unfair and rigid grading…and my daughter went to the school and had to demand that my grand daughter be given a grade for her own work and would no longer be part of the so-called “team.” Teamwork, my eye…all it did was upset my grand daughter and make her cry over poor grades after doing her work as assigned.
I wonder if you live in Florida? If not, your school sounds exactly like the ones here. My daughter and grand child were rushing around like mad house one night after dinner and homework was done…collecting the ingredients to make Japanese cookies, of all things, for the whole class to eat the next day.

I also want to add that there are wonderful teachers out there. They are under terrible restraints, too. There is not enough time to teach all that needs to be taught in the time that is given for the purpose. In Florida, they are under the gun to have everyone pass the F CAT tests or else they may find themselves out of their jobs. They also don’t get paid enough for what they do IMO. The F CAT results determine how a school is graded and this is how funding is given. I don’t see how the teachers have time to help those who are trailing behind the others…there’s hardly enough time to teach those who are having no trouble at all. The whole system has to be turned up side down, emptied, sorted out and started over again in many ways…but I am only familiar with Florida schools…and to repeat the years long cry down here that nobody’s listening to…”the F CAT has to go.”

Val – they interviewed the physician/inventor of the rape fighting condom last night on As It Happens my favourite radio show in the world – I’m sentimental (and it hasn’t gotten that bad). Incredibly interesting. She has self financed and has credible information on why the guy wouldn’t beat the crap out of the victim in anger and retaliation. I was skeptical cause of the potential end results. Now what I’m wondering if they won’t get on to checking for the device and/or learn how to remove it themselves. Don’t trust me on the stats but it was something along the lines of a rape every 28 seconds and lots of gang rapes. She interviewed 300 or so rapists (all from memory so faulty) and especially the gang guys said they’d be scared cause the first guy gets his whanger clapped with a pack looking out for number ones. It made sense. I liked her!

PS Men are such wimps – it doesn’t draw blood. She said it hurt though. It just hooks under the skin and doesn’t penetrate further. It also encapsulates the penis and creates a sealed environment. No worry of disease transmission she said.

Clearly I’m obsessed with the device. While not drawing blood it will leave marks. Sort of like stretch marks -poor dears.

I’m a newbie to this site…but education is my ‘hot’ button so I had to chime in. State tests in general are pathetic, in my opinion. Illinois is no better than Florida. It’s all “teach to the test.” There is no ability for teachers to differentiate within the classroom anymore because they are trapped in these structured curricula that prevent any creativity. My son is a bright little guy. This year, he skipped from 1st to 2nd grade. I didn’t WANT to skip him. But the school couldn’t provide any options to differentiate his classwork – he was reading at a mid-3rd grade level and his math skills were approximately 2 years ahead. But still, he is a 6 year-old and doesn’t really fit in with the older kids so now everything socially is a nightmare. His teacher said, there are some things I wish I COULD do for him, but I just don’t have the time. Grr. Anyway, sorry my first comment on here is a rant. But education today is in a SAD state.

Val

The link worked and sounds like teeth work as well. Awesome idea.

Anyone a tennis fan. There’s a match going on right now that’s in a tiebreaker, almost 10 hours now, 58 to 57. At Wibledon

TJ, if I may offer a book title that may help you on your journey with your gifted son.

http://www.giftedbooks.com/productdetails.asp?id=136

Her book has recently been retitled. Formerly “Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind” is now “5 Levels of Giftedness: School issues and Educational Options.”

Dr. Deborah Ruf is an internationally known expert on gifted children, and planning and navigating their educational path. I know very well the frustrations you have outlined in the public education system with your son, as I haved walked that path also.

My daughter is “Twice Exceptional”, with severe dyslexia, an exceptionally high IQ, and exceptional talent in 2 areas. Public school doesn’t know what to do with her, and we live too far from any private schools. She doesn’t fit into any of their neat boxes and categories, so she qualifies for nothing beyond regular education, except a few pull-outs. She didn’t qualify for any help with her dyslexia because she is “too smart”– and didn’t fit the special education criteria in our state. So we pay $700/ month for specialized tutoring for reading. Fortunately, her accelerated online classes are free. She goes to public school for part of the day, and we pull her out for her customized curriculum. This also allows her to pursue her other talents and passions. We are very fortunate to be able to make this work for her. (She is 9, so we have a bunch more years of education before she is on her own!)

Most gifted programs in public schools are just periodic “pull outs” that do absolutely nothing educationally. They do not provide accelerated curriculum, just “enrichment”. Nice, cheap, and not effective as an educational strategy, but makes it look like they are doing something for the kids. Many teachers will tell you that it is not appropriate to identify gifted kids before 3rd grade, because many of the early readers level out and look more average by 4th-5th grade. (BS.)

Truly, there is no “differentiated” curriculum in public school. In many cases they actually have policies against it. Public school is all about producing test results that demonstrate everyone is reaching minimum standards on standardized tests. I’m somewhat surprised they allowed a grade skip for your son– they have strict rules against that in all districts near where I live. They will not even allow, for example, a talented first grader to join a 4th grade math class, etc.

The answers you seek for your son won’t be found in traditional public education in a general education class– it is necessary to customize for these kids. A blend of homeschool, accelerated tutoring, or college or online classes, etc. A bright 7-8 year old who is computer saavy can navigate an online course with no problems, and parental supervision. Most bright kids with access to computers have been using them since they were toddlers.

This is the hard truth. Public education is not your son’s friend. Take what works, and develop your own plan for him, in accordance with the laws and regs in your state. Dr. Ruf’s book is a good place to begin!

Good luck, TJ!

Yes, we live in Florida. My son has assigned teams also with the grading going across to all students in a group. I also went and complained about this and was told that wasw the way it was done. I could transfer to another teaching “group” or transfer his schools and the other teaching “group” was using the same techniques so that would have done no good. Yes, very sad school system we have these days. Last year my sons school was graded an A school I believe but it is still a fairly new school.

They put my son in a “gifted” class. It consisted of 1 period during the day (usually right before lunch) which he learned creative thinking and writing. They did some drawing and math but other than that they read books, wrote reports, and creative stories. I did not mind the creativity part of this class but I did not understand why that was all they were teaching him. He is above grade level in math and reading and there was no help for him in math.

My husband and I have recently began discussing home schooling but I am worried that his social skills would be lacking and he is already a very shy child. Its a confusing time for him as well as for us. We are simply lost at this point. He will begin the 8th grade this coming year then its off to high school. One can only hope that the high school system is a little better than the middle schools but from what I have been learning through research we are in for some rough roads.

To Renee and other parents of gifted children:

I can empathize with the frustration you are experiencing regarding what’s the appropriate course of action to pursue in providing a challenging basic education for your child. Please note I said BASIC education.

In my opinion, determining the goal of your child’s public school education should be your number one priority. What are you really trying to accomplish? Take a look at “the big picture.” Education is all-encompassing. While subject-specific skills are important, other areas are of equal or quite likely greater importance. It seems to me that what really matters here is that you provide your child with the means to pursue a rewarding life, which certainly includes a career, but also includes relationships and being a productive member of society in general. A kid needs to learn how to learn, how to think creatively, to be able to express himself and to defend his ideas and ideals, to become responsible and to have enough successful experiences that he develops a positive image of himself. Armed with that, there’s no telling what his potential can be.

I think it’s a natural temptation to want to concentrate in whatever area(s) he shows natural ability. I would suggest, however, that this is the purpose of higher education. It’s the foundations of learning that public school education is all about. Certainly you want to offer your child challenges in his area of interest and exceptional ability, but not at the expense of a broader base. Perhaps you already recognize these things. You are obviously concerned and that’s the best possible situation for your child as your direction can lead him towards that to which he aspires. I wish you and your son the best.

I’ll get off my soapbox now….

Please Val, and anyone else, can’t we do something about this. People are committing suicide over this. What the F*CK are we doing about this?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/26/bp-oil-spill-live-feed-vi_n_590635.html

Boz,

As I’ve stated before, because of my real job (lol), I am not at liberty to say a lot here. I will say I don’t know what we can do about the inaction to keep that oil from getting to the coast. And I do feel it could have been prevented. I also can’t explain why our government (NAMELY THE EPA) has continued to let BP act as if they “own” that wellhead. Why hasn’t the EPA been assessing what works and doesn’t work, what is good enough and not good enough. Why is BP able to set back and say – well, looks like it’s working or looks like it’s not working.

That part is totally confusing to me.

And then I’ll end with…there are people trying to come up with ways to stop that well. And I’ll leave it at that.

The apathy is appalling to me. We can build skyscrapers, fly to the moon, make nuclear weapons but we can’t build a one mile long pipe to sit on top of this thing? I don’t get it. A MILE is not that LONG of a distance. I’ve run thousands of them. Did you see the story last night BP is burning sea turtles alive? This is SICK!

Boz,

I went to the English papers a couple of weeks ago. I was appalled that the pictures that they have up are the BP pictures of clean beaches and clean birds. The blogs blame us ( the yanks) for destroying there stock makets falling. There seems to be no blame on BP. We Americans have caused the problems. I don’t know if they have changed or if the real word has gotton out because I have not gone back to their paper in weeks, because it made me so sick to hear what people were saying about us. I don’t have a web site even if I did I would not know how to put it here. I just google English news – London news.

Vl, the British papers are also saying Americans blame the Brits (citizens) for the oil spill and are no longer welcoming Brits into the US. This is typical fodder for many UK papers (absolutely no offense intended; my husband and I write extensively for the UK papers) and news stations. The emphasis on sensationalism and the lack of ‘factual integrity’ is rampant in UK tabloids. That said, it’s pretty bad here, too.

We just had an email this morning from a journalist friend who is going on a television show in the UK this evening and she asked if it is true Brits are no longer welcome in the US. We told her it is absolutely NOT true, and that the average American wouldn’t think to blame the British citizens for what has happened, but do hold BP (which is a massive, multi-nation conglomerate) responsible.

So take what you read in the papers with a huge grain of salt. It’s extremely devisive, but not necessarily at all representitive of general British opinion.

Personally I’m madder at our government than any person British. It would be ridiculous to blame the average British citizen for this. Just look at the link I provided above. What the Hell are we doing to stop this spill? What, dammit, what? Am I insane to suggest to put a one mile 50 foot pipe over this thing and bring the oil to the surface in one spot to be sucked out of the gulf? Why not try? I don’t get it. CHEESEANDRICE!

Renee, have you looked intoa Montessori type school? I don’t know much about them, but I have heard that they teach to your childs ability. If that is higher than his peers, then they teach him at that level. May be an option if you can afford it. Maybe a prep school? Again, if you can afford it.

vl said: { Jun 24, 2010 – 10:06:08 }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is the popular notion that the Americans are to blame for all the world’s ills and troubles IMO. This is the readily accepted theory by almost all nations and peoples. Aside from the fact that the American citizen has their paychecks bled, since the day each began to work, in order to have that money be distributed worldwide as our own government sees fit and to finagle deals that we never benefit from…we still are ultimately blamed for everything that might go wrong. Now, somehow, there are those who believe we have ruined the stock market in England. Once again it is little man pitted against little man as though our individual governments had nothing to do with the overall problems. Do people REALLY think that ordinary citizens have any control over the world’s way of dealing with oil, how it is obtained and what happens when things go wrong? (Or anything else for that matter.) All you have to do is get the occasional peek at how much information is being kept from our eyes in Louisiana to know the answer to that. But, if ordinary citizens want to jump into the battle and begin slinging foul words and accusations back and forth at each other as children do on the playground…well, it keeps them busy and out of the way and our governments and large companies (and, what’s the difference?) love it because they can conduct business as usual without those same individuals interfering with THEM.

One down, how many more to follow?

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpps/news/william-allen-kruse-despondent-gulf-captain-dpgoha-20100624-fc_8299959

http://www.aolnews.com/gulf-oil-spill/article/bp-blog-finds-upbeat-side-of-gulf-oil-spill/19529944?icid=main|main|dl1|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fgulf-oil-spill%2Farticle%2Fbp-blog-finds-upbeat-side-of-gulf-oil-spill%2F19529944

Well it looks like the glass is always half-full for BP execs, who are considering
the recent oil spill and clean-up attempt “a mesmerizing ballet at sea.” Wow!

» Monica said: { Jun 24, 2010 – 05:06:47 }

http://www.aolnews.com/gulf-oil-spill/article/bp-blog-finds-upbeat-side-of-gulf-oil-spill/19529944?icid=main|main|dl1|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fgulf-oil-spill%2Farticle%2Fbp-blog-finds-upbeat-side-of-gulf-oil-spill%2F19529944

Well it looks like the glass is always half-full for BP execs, who are considering
the recent oil spill and clean-up attempt “a mesmerizing ballet at sea.” Wow! Shock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, you must have heard how men out at sea for too long begin to hallucinate. In this case must be that the FUMES are speeding up the process…the boats are ballerinas, the birds are confetti on the waters and the oil well must be a Chinese dragon creature with four legs spewing forth silk. Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize potent powers, particularly control over water. No telling what they’ll be seeing after another few months at sea but it’s turning out to be a good trip, apparently.

@Mimi…LOL…good theory there, the fumes…
Either that or maybe it’s the sirens and harpies luring the sailors
into the oceanic lotus land?…And I’m sure everyone’s heart is
bleeding for the CEO who just wants to get his life back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG-bDvns1Z8&feature=player_embedded

Growing old gracefully is totally overrated!…
This guy missed his calling as a Gong Show star.

I just heard on the news that 7 children have died from being left in hot cars in the past few weeks. Every summer this happens. Why do people not understand they can’t leave their children in a car alone????

I don’t know, it blows my mind. You know, when my daughter was about 1 year old I stopped at a Wal mart. It was like July or August here in Oklahoma. At that time of year this aint hell, but you can sure see it from here. Anyways, some one had backed into my little POS car prior (I was in college at the time and was driving whatever I could afford). They bashed in the driver’s side rear door of my car.

So I had stopped at the Walmart, got out, went to open the back door to get my daughter out of her carseat, and the door wouldn’t open. (What I didn’t know is that the bashed in door was malfunctioning.) Thinking I had not pushed the “unlock” button (which was not a two-button lock/unlock button but just push once locked, push again unlocked) I reach over (driver’s door still open) and push the button thinking I’m unlocking the doors.

I then did the phenomenally stupid thing of closing the driver’s door. So I go to open the back door and it still won’t open. But now I HAVE LOCKED MYSELF OUT OF THE CAR. I freaked out. My 6 year old son was standing there waiting on me and I told him – go into the store, go to a check-out lady and ask for a security guard – NOW! I had to send him alone into the store, because there was no way I was going to walk away from that car. Already, in a matter of minutes her little face was beading up with sweat and she was crying.

A security guard and my son came back out, the police showed up…they had a slim jim, they got the door unlocked. I got grilled by those police to NO END. And I don’t blame them…they were trying to ascertain if I had left her in the car on purpose and gone in shopping. I cleared up what had happened, but my point in telling this story is that I WILL ASSUME that police officers anywhere would be this concerned to find any child left in a car in extreme temperatures (either hot or cold). So PEOPLE NEED TO START PHONING 911 WHEN THEY SEE A CHILD LEFT IN A CAR!

Based on my experience, that parent will get grilled to no end, but more importantly the child’s life could be saved by that phone call. In the brief time it took (which seemed like an eternity) for them to get my car open and me get my daughter out she was drenched from the stifling heat in that car. I can’t imagine intentionally leaving a child in an environment like that.

I had a similar experience when my kids were little. Alas, no college involved. There is a big difference accidently locking the car with the kids in and not leaving the car for one second and leaving your kid in the car and walking away to do something.

I remember my parents leaving us in the car alone when we were kids. The grocery store parking lot had lots of kids in the cars. All of the windows were open and we would shout to each other. I remember in 1965 we got our first car that had seatbelts. We would laugh sliding all over the seats on corners before that. It is a wonder any of us survived, lol.

Another missing 3 year old in Orlando, Florida.

http://www.wftv.com/news/24059372/detail.html

I actually already had the article up for Meliek, but I hadn’t unstickied Kyron’s article. Thanks for posting that, it made me see my error. I hope little Meliek is being treated properly by his uncle until his family can get him home.

Sorry, Val. Somehow I missed your blog about it.

Thinking of Emma Thompson. Yesterday was the one year anniversary of her death.

“A year after a suburban 4-year-old’s gruesome death helped force a state review of child abuse investigations in Houston, there’s little else to show that Emma Thompson passed through this world.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7083574.html

You heard the new name for the Gulf?

The Gulf of Mexicoil.

Ali Lowitzer is still missing. Today marks NINE weeks. There is now a $5,000 reward. Please say a prayer, send some positive vibes, share some mojo…anything! Watching her parents and friends try to go on without her is so hard. They miss her so much.

I’ve got some good news though: Chasity Armstrong has been reunited with her family! Cynthia Tucker has made contact with her mother!

Let’s hope many others will be found soon!

http://www.lrcf.net/missing

I hate this. As if we needed another one. This was on NG last night.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/27/police-charge-missing-ohio-teens-boyfriend-obstruction-justice/?test=latestnews

Col – hopefully this will stay in ‘recent comments’ long enough for you to grab it.

Thread has been moved up to show in left hand sidebar.

Daughter is doing “ok”. She hurts all the time, but the protocol of laying around all the time and drinking drinking drinking, eating and drinking is working to keep her pain steady and not get into contractions.

She’s also starting to get big as a house.

She has decided Riley will most likely be a world champion female kick-boxer. Which is not good for mommy (Riley’s kicking makes mommy hurt worse), but is good to know that Riley is well and active.

Next week will be 27 weeks…which has been our target to get past. Once she is past 27 weeks we will not be as scared when she goes into premature labor, and Riley will have good odds.

Val – Your Daughter and Granddaughter are in my thoughts and prayers. Being a Grandmother is a wonderful time in your life and I wish you all the happiness it brings.

Some great news for a change.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/27/police-ohio-teen-missing-weeks/

Jenny…No, try not to feel bad. People use expressions automatically and without fore-thought all the time. Someone who stops to think about them and then wonder if it might offend is intelligent and concerned with NOT offending those around them. That is actually a good thing. I am SO interested in expressions because I am called on to translate them for my foreign pen pals who are very interested in them. They usually have one from their own country that is very similar in meaning, too. So, I developed a huge interest in them and always want to know where they come from. It is an amazing subject! Really teaches history in a very new way. There are literally thousands of such expressions which we never think about but use constantly in our speech. Many of them are now politically incorrect…but catching yourself is more than many people bother to do.
My doctor is black and one day she and I were talking and I said,
“I never see things in such a black and white way as that other nurse did. I think the patient probably did have pain.”
I could see she was offended although I meant nothing by it other than just what I meant…a black and white mind set…dogmatic, in other words. Yet, I had to apologize and explain myself. It happens all the time.

Mimi -

A few others I wonder about. Calling a spade a spade? I have a feeling that’s out. And also Oriental. I think you’re supposed to say “Asian” now.

Since you’re the resident linguist and I’m too lazy to do research let me know what you think. You could be saving me a lot of embarrassment at the next dinner party.

Thanks in advance.

Also, I think the modern Iranian (young adults) prefer to be called Persian now. Or so I’ve heard from some young Iranians!

Calling a spade a spade does not tie to any racial slur unless someone is a goombah and doesn’t realize it is a card game phrase.

Yeah, but goombah is on the no-fly list, Val.

ROFL!

And then…my little memory helper is:

Oriental = rug
Asian = people

That way I don’t get myself in trouble.

And by the way, I’m of Cherokee and Choctaw heritage and I have no problem with “honest injun”. But then…I’m really thicked skin. I’ve heard there are a lot of people who aren’t. So remember the rug thingy.

OK that’s easy to remember.

But then I may mistakenly call an Iranian a Persian rug…

Sigh. It’s all so challenging. *titter*

See what you started Mimi?

The edumacation of JennyB

I remember when that song “Short People” came out and there was an outcry from small people about it. Now, I guess we are to say “Little People” rather than midget or dwarf… cuz look at this:
“A dwarf is a creature from Germanic mythologies, fairy tales, fantasy fiction, and role-playing games. It usually has magical talents, often involving metallurgy.”
(Wikipedia)
…and, meanwhile:
“Like many other older terms, midget has become part of popular language, although it was often used in a pejorative sense.[citation needed] When applied to a person who is very short, midget is an example of the euphemism treadmill.[2] Actor Hervé Villechaize insisted on being called a “midget” as opposed to a “little person”, which irritated some dwarf activists of the time.”
(Wikipedia)

So…here’s a LITTLE PERSON who wants to be called a MIDGET…but he ends up pissing off DWARFS!
Ummm…is it any wonder that people don’t know what to say?? Yikes, you can’t win.

(Wikipedia)
“According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term midget comes from midge, a sand fly, and the diminutive suffix -et.[3″

Wow…I guess I would prefer little person…I wouldn’t want to have my title derived from a SAND FLY. I wonder if Hervé Villechaize knew that bit of trivia when he was insisting on being called a midget? We call ‘em “no see ums” here in Florida and they are nasty buggers…and a bugger is an old word for a pedophile…so, no matter how you look at it, I would prefer little people. But, no doubt I would offend somebody by saying that.

Val…

I’m happy to hear your daughter’s health concerns appear to have leveled off and while I realize she is still in pain and forced to stay in bed and drink seemingly gallons of water, etc., she’s holding her own. Good news for her, you, and all of us Hinksters who have been keeping good thoughts in our hearts.

As I was reading your response to my inquiry, it occurred to me that the dynamic at work here is one the Anthony’s may never understand. This is what unconditional love is all about. My thanks to you for all the reminders.

uhhhh…..yeah

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/30/gulf.bp.ombudsman/index.html?hpt=T2

I don’t have time to go back and find out what all this racial talk is about but….
Val, what do you call a gay indian?

A Brave *ucker. bad-a-bing

Let’s not forget:

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream3&hpt=T2

Val re ombudsman. This gets worse and worse. Meanwhile a huge portion of our country is being polluted beyond imagination not just by oil but dangerous dispersents. I am so sad about this further evidence of poor corporate thinking. It gives every other business person a black mark. Not that government seems to be helping much.

Val,
Thanks for the update on your daughter and granddaughter! I’m so glad to hear everything is stable at the moment! Sending my strong hopes that she can keep gestating little Riley for at least 5+ more weeks. 32 or more weeks would be a wonderful blessing.

Regarding your comment about her size increasing, please make sure she is not taking in a lot of her calories in liquid form. Most, if not all, of her liquids should be calorie free. Lots of free sucrose/ glucose (ie, sugared soda or fruit juice) is not good at this stage of pregnancy, and can potentially lead to diabetes. Sugar free, caffeine free, is the best way to go when “forcing” oral fluids. Also make sure she is getting 35-50 grams of protein a day (as long as MD approves). During late 2nd trimester, edema (and increased BP) can be exacerbated by a diet heavy in carbs and low in protein. There is strong evidence linking poor diet with pre-ecclampsia/ ecclampsia, especially among young moms. Watch the salty snack foods, too. (Disclaimer: Not medical advice.)

Another issue she may encounter is that her “endurance” is pretty much gone, as she has been on house/ bed rest for several weeks. Labor is a marathon for first time moms, not a sprint. Once she goes into labor, she will quickly tire out. If everything is otherwise going well, consider an early, well-managed epidural. This will help her preserve her strength, and give her the best chance to deliver vaginally. Epidurals aren’t wanted by every woman, I know, but for those who have been on bedrest, in my professional opinion, it’s the best chance they have to avoid a c/section.

(And I certainly realize that avoiding a c/s is also not a goal that every woman or MD wants! Maternal request c/s, with no medical indications, are on the rise BIG time!)

Wishing you continued good luck! Sending you positive thoughts, good wishes, and prayers. KZ

Hi KZ,

Again, I thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. The fluids she is drinking – mainly water, fruit juices, and decaffeinated flavored tea (sweet). So she will be getting quite a bit of sugar. I will talk to her about sticking mainly with the water (which is her main fluid intake anyway).

She is NOT a big meat eater so she isn’t getting a lot of protein, but she did buy herself a big jar of peanut butter which she loves, so she’ll be getting some there.

About the diet…she has to maintain a high carb diet because it has been found to assist in preventing her porphyria going active. And because the ob/gyn has stated that if her porphyria were to go active it could result in early labor…we have to stay cognizant of that.

We have been checking her heartrate and BP. BP is staying good, but heartrate seems to have crept up on her (114 last time we checked it). Her first appointment with the new, local Ob/gyn is this morning!!! And her next appointment with ob/gyn in OKC is next Wednesday. I will be going with her to that one.

I’ll update you after her appt today!

I was sent these links and asked to post them. It looks like a very worthy effort.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/06amberwatchalert/prweb4197324.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi13LczGlsE

Val – typically blood volume and heart rate increase during pregnancy. Is 114 bpm a “resting” rate? That does seem a bit high… Get an active count and a resting count, to compare!

Know you’ll ask the right questions! Good wishes to all!

Oooh, sorry, I see “bedrest” – yeah – let’s not go with an “active” count.

Val:

If your daughter needs both carbs and protein, but isn’t much of a meat eater, check out the ethnic foods section of a large grocery store. Foods from the middle east as well as Asian countries are becoming more and more popular. I’ve been trying to follow a more vegetarian-oriented diet for health reasons and have been surprised pleasantly and the variety and lovely flavors of many foods with which I had previously been unfamiliar. I just grocery shopped this afternoon and came home with a variety of grain mixes that sound interesting. In my grocery store (rural southwestern Michigan) these products were located near the rice and pasta mixes. I really didn’t have hopes of finding anything and there was actually a pretty broad selection.

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/02/un-accuses-massachusetts-special-education-school-of-torture/?icid=main|main|dl5|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentdish.com%2F2010%2F07%2F02%2Fun-accuses-massachusetts-special-education-school-of-torture%2F

Wow…Is this crazy or what?

Thanks, COL, we’ll check into that.

Update on daughter/Riley: Daughter got to go to her first office visit to the ob/gyn we located down here close to us. Daughter likes her very much. She explained to daughter that she has “an extremely shallow cervix”…never knew it could be. ANYWHO, the low down on that is that basically (according to this doc) once daughter is in labor…she’s in labor! That means it was a VERY good move for us to go ahead and get this ob/gyn down here because I don’t think daughter is going to be in labor long before she delivers. This ob/gyn told her if she has more than two contractions in a one hour period…she needs to be in the ER because she could be about to deliver.

Also, this doc thinks that it is the sensitivity of daughter’s cervix that is causing the constant discomfort/pain in her lower abdomen. Doc thinks it is the weight of her ever-burgeoning uterus pushing down on her very sensitive cervix.

Daughter has next visit with ob/gyn in OKC on Wednesday. I will be going with her.

Doc down here said that if OKC doc does not order glucose test next week she is going to…so this is going to work out well. We’ll get the gaps filled in one way or the other.

HAHAHA! Too cute!

http://www.youtube.com/sienna

love it!
the ‘swagger waggon’ with the sienna family

we used to call it the grocery getter

perfect way to start my saturday . . . .smiling
thanks!

ROFLMBO!…in my Swagger Wagon!

So…you know you are having a bad day when…

I have a very … frustrating … situation concerning my 9 year old grandson. I won’t go into details about it because this is a public forum. I’ll just say that according to how … abnormal the situation is …. the time between me getting to see him can vary from every other weekend to months.

That’s why I understand both Kay and Karen’s position when talking about their concerns for Eric and Kristi. Grandmothers learn to hold their tongues so that they can be – in some measure – in their grandchildren’s lives in the long-run.

So…it’s been well over 2 months since I got to last have my grandson for the weekend. I was supposed to get him early yesterday afternoon, but then I got told they wouldn’t even be around this weekend. Then I got a text saying I could pick him up at 7 last night. So daughter and I went up to get him…don’t get to keep for tonight’s festivities, but I take what I can get when I can get it.

So what happens as I’m backing out of the driveway to spend what little time I can with my grandson??? I run over his puppy and kill it.

Yeah…right there in front of him.

*sigh*

Awww Val – So sorry for your troubles. I’m sure your heart must really be hurting today.

I feel terrible. I talked to his mom and told her to find them a new puppy and I would pay for it, but that doesn’t really replace what they lost. It was an adorable little puppy, too. I had no idea it was even out by my car or I would have had daughter get out and watch while I backed out.

*sigh*

Val – hopefully, at 9 years old, your grandson understands about “accidents”. I think getting him a new puppy is a great idea.

» Valhall said: { Jul 2, 2010 – 05:07:57 }

She is NOT a big meat eater so she isn’t getting a lot of protein, but she did buy herself a big jar of peanut butter which she loves, so she’ll be getting some there.

~~~~~~~~~

Same with me, when I was pregnant. Does she like smoothies? You can buy “Silken Tofu” (you can get it at any large grocery store, in the produce section. it’s about $2) and blend a few cubes of it into a smoothie. She can add over 15 grams of protein to her diet per smoothie!

Here is a picture of the more popular highly available one.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KEHB6SREL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

My favorite was Orange Juice, Low Fat Frozen Yogurt, a Banana, Strawberry’s, Silken Tofu, and ICE. Put it in the blender until smooth and drink. They are healthy and really addictive.

Two part investigative report on what our Bureau of Land Management in cahoots with industry are doing to our national treasure the wild Mustangs:

First two are High-def:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/index.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part2.html

These are low-def:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part1-low.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part2-low.html

Val, so sorry about the puppy incident. That would break my heart also. I’m continuing to keep you and your daughter in my prayers. It seems you are walking through a valley right now, but remember God will help you through. One of my steadfast thoughts is this – How can we ever know absolute joy if we have never experienced absolute sorrow? I’m sending my thoughts and prayers to you. You are a great mother and grandmother and you have my admiration.

Val,

Just read this article today on CNN and I find it so sad that LE didn’t bring the killer of Nevaeh to justice, her death was so terrible:

Police seek tips in child’s 2009 abduction and slaying
By Rupa Mikkilineni, Nancy Grace Producer
July 5, 2010 10:50 a.m. EDT

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/05/grace.coldcase.nevaeh.buchanan/index.html

Val,

What’s going on with the Horman thread is a shame for your intelligent site. The absurd accusations are causing posters to refute ridiculous points over and over again. And now we have “saw you on another site saying the same thing” “you must be so and so’s relative or else you are so and so yourself”.

I’m sorry but this really dumbs down your site. I think we all clearly know what’s going on and I’d vote you put a stop to it. There are so many other places people can post nonsense, stupidity and propaganda and get away with it – heck the nonsense is appreciated and promoted at some places.

You wouldn’t be cutting out the rights of freedom of speech, you’d just be doing a service … cleansing and getting back to honesty.

Anyway… this is a public service announcement.

To clarify. I agree with the commenters here who are incensed by the incendiary nature of some posts. The accusations against Kaine are despicable and unfounded and reek of a personal agenda.

I’m just saying I think someone with no facts and spewing nonsense should be put in their place, which is somewhere other than here.

Go ahead and yell at me for saying this. I’m ready. LOL.

Jennyb,

When the comment came through in moderation I thought long and hard about whether to approve it. I came to the conclusion the unbacked statements need to be made public. No matter who “Kim” is…their allegations need to be made public and then challenged. I doubt seriously “Kim” will come back because she/he/it won’t be able to back their statements. And THAT will stand as a testament to the whole issue.

“Kim” is, of course, on moderation and will remain so.

Thanks for your concern, but I think publishing the comment was the right thing to do.

Thanks Val. You da man.

Me? Did I do something wrong?

NO! Kim, you didn’t. Different Kim. In fact, I think I’ll go into the “other Kim” comment and modify the username to keep that straight!

o my gosh that startled me!! I rarely post and couldn’t imagine what I could have said!!

Thank you, Val.

So sorry about the puppy Valhall. The worst part may be that every time the 4th comes along…well it will be sad. Now that I have seen the reports on the Mustangs I am thoroughly depressed. I will have to think of something contructive to do about that. Maybe if everyone on Facebook could be persuaded to slam the BLM with emails and faxes and cc their representatives and the president that might get some attention.

I suggest everyone contact their own Representatives and Senators and the White House. I doubt that this is on President Obamas radar. I am sure he would not like to be known as the president who erased the Mustangs.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Edwin Roberson
Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning
1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5644
Phone: 202-208-4896
Fax: 202-208-5010
E-mail: Edwin_Roberson@blm.gov

The division of Wild Horses and Burros does not seem to have email addresses.

Val we have yet another guy on a rampage in Northumbria same area as the taxi driver who went postal last month. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3042583/Confession-of-shotgun-killer-Raoul-Moat.html

Hi Val,
SO sorry to hear of the puppy accident! I know you will find a way to make it better for your grandson. Oh my– what a sad thing!

Also VERY glad to hear your daughter is set up with a good local OB-GYN that she likes! I think a lot of things will be better managed from this point, which I hope is a relief and comfort for all of you!

I’m so frustrated the medical system is so difficult for people to navigate, especially between different communities.Many of us medical folks really yearn for the continuity of care that is so desperately needed for all of us. As you have found, once you leave a given community or clinic system, continuity of care is almost non-existent, and privacy laws have actually made it MORE difficult for us to obtain records/ labs/ histories on out-of-town patients. It’s a real problem in clinics and ER’s all over the country, who need accurate info to effectively treat patients. We really depend on family members for a lot of info, and especially for senior citizens, this can lead to a lot of inaccuracies about their current situation/ meds, etc. We have a lot of “snow birds” where I live, and it is a constant problem to have inormation sharing between their summer and winter home communities. It is the same problem that many young (but healthier) people have when moving around for jobs, college. Continuity of care an information sharing in healthcare is a huge problem. (Sorry to rant!)

You’re right about the high protein and porphyria– the protein by products can be a real stress for the kidneys, hence the need to constantly “flush” the wastes. (Too much protein can also lead to +ketones.) I guess my main point a couple days ago was “enough” protein (high quality, lower fat), and go for complex carbs, over simple sugars, when consuming the main part of daily calories. Definitely she should have some sweet “treats!” Many people just don’t realize how many simple sugars they drink every day– like liquid candy bars!

I’m so happy that everything seems to be going well at this point! And you have been the force behind a lot of it– things might have been so much more difficult for Riley an your daughter without your persistence, and Mom’s intuition! Riley is truly blessed to have such an advocate there for her at the very beginning of her life.

Good luck and prayers, and keep all us e-friends updated from time to time!

Oh gosh, Val, so sorry about the puppy and your grandson. That’s gotta be a tough one to handle. (((HUGS)))

Not to depress you further, sorry, but just saw on Mike Galanos that there is a new little girl abducted:
http://qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_a97ed453-8bbd-5829-ac47-6f1563b2cb0f.html

Oh man that is horrible. Not another one. She’s so little, only four.

Val – May i have your email address? I have something to share with you. I cannot use your ‘contact Valhall’ above as it only recognizes my throwaway email and I would prefer to use my real one (the one I am registered under here) so you know it is me.

It is nothing important or earth-shattering LOL. Just something I came across that may be helpful.

Thanks

Liza

valhall @thehinkymeter.com without the space

Thanks Val. Email is on the way.

Let’s not forget:

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream3&hpt=T2

Our government and BP are making fools of us.

We have a lot of family activity taking place in the next three days. I will have limited (assuming I have ANY) time to access the blog. I am turning everything over to you awesome Hinky readers. I ask that you stay on point on the subject threads, treat each other with courtesy, and KEEP EACH OTHER UP TO DATE ON KYRON AND ERIC. I will try my best to check in, but it will be few and far between if I get to at all.

I will be praying for Kyron and his family and I will be praying for Eric, his children and his family.

To those who may get stuck in moderation while I’m busy….apologies in advance!

Once again we have confirmed Orlando, Central Florida is the pedophile capitol of the world. This past week a HOMELESS man was arrested for downloading child porn on a computer. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

At the library. CHEESEANDRICE!

Bring your kids to Disney World, the company that pays child killer’s relatives for interviews!

Thanks Val, have a good time with your family.

Val I hope you are having a great time with your family. I had a nice one with mine so far. If you pop in could you please make a Caylee Misc part 24? 23 is kinda sloow.

Thank you!

I came to Just for Chat because I got worried about ya Val, glad I caught the post above!
Hope you’re having a great time and all is well!

And now for something completely different…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKBX6LA76GI&feature=player_embedded

Iboga Hallucinogen Initiation Ceremony in Gabon
(action starts about halfway into video…

Amber Alert for 9 month old baby in Knoxville Tenn. The car has been found in South Carolina.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jul/11/amber-alert-issued-greeneville-infant/

GREENEVILLE – A stolen 1999 Dodge Intrepid used in the kidnapping of a 7-month-old boy has been located in Newberry, S.C., authorities said today.

Authorities believe the suspects who kidnapped the child from Greeneville were headed for Georgia or Florida.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert after Drake Kingston Boyd was taken in a violent incident about 4 p.m. Sunday.

The child is a black male, 27 inches long and 20 lbs, last seen wearing Toy Story pajamas but may also be wearing a blue pant/shirt set.

Police are looking for 35-year-old David Jackson, a black male who is 6 feet, 2 inches tall.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office says there were at least three unidentified women who took part in the kidnapping. Police say the suspects stole the mother’s Dodge.

The suspects also had a white Chrysler Sebring 4-door that possibly bore a Florida license plate. The TBI says Jackson has a lengthy, violent criminal history.

Anyone with information may call 1-800-TBI-FIND or 911.

Wow the guy had 3 women helpers in the kidnapping. WTF is going on here?

RIP George..baseball will miss you.

Not that George…….I mean Steinbrenner.

Heads up! George Knapp will be interviewed on JVM tonight at 7/6c about the Mustang Conspiracy investigative report hubby and George did. PLEASE WATCH! Should be very interesting. VERY PROUD OF HUBBY!

If you didn’t get to view their two-part report, below are the links.

First two are High-def:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/index.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part2.html

These are low-def:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part1-low.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part2-low.html

I am so glad JVM got a hold of this! Will TIVO as I have granbaby softball tonight. That’s really great!

Val I didn’t hear anyone mention that the horses were PROTECTED BY LAW?? It was on the bottom but nobody said so. We shouldn’t have to depend on a private person to take those horses, there is a mandate for their lives on public land already. Any exposure is very good and it sounds like the word is spreading so that is good. Many thanks to your husband.

It took six hours with my antiquated dial-up Internet service to load the first part of the video about mustangs. I’m anxious to view the second part, but not if that means six hours more! I’ll try to get over to the library in the next day or so and use a computer there.

Dear COL,
Remember that your kids and grandkids may be yearning to buy you JUST the right gift! You could casually mention that you would just LOVE to have a faster internet connection at home! (Maybe they would catch on if you said it a few times!) Bake them something yummy before you initiate your plan……

COL needs some high-speed DSL!!
Love your comments, friend!

@COL

you can ask them a whole bunch of questions about high speed internet .. then casually say how you think it might be something you are interested in getting, but you wouldn’t even know where to start. ask about “wi-fi”

if you act clueless/helpless, they will eventually catch on. Start the conversation off with something like “oh my, you kids are so smart with computers and the internet. I wish I knew a 10th of what you know”

Hey where has Gracie34 been? Anyone know? Do we need to put out a Hinky alert?

» Cymbaline said: { Jul 17, 2010 – 02:07:14 }
Hey where has Gracie34 been?

………her mum is very sick.
…it was about a month or so ago that she went to take care of her….lj.

awwwwww, I guess I missed that post. I hope all is well..

http://elkodaily.com/news/local/article_e450d48c-9165-11df-a9f7-001cc4c03286.html

Horse round up resumes,12 dead!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQtq4Z4t1yQ

George sure has aged since we first saw him in ’08, but he doesn’t let ‘Ol Man Time or Cindy slow him down! He shows here that he can get still get down and boogie with the best of ‘em! Just watch this video of him at Fusion, he puts his heifer of a daughter,Gorgeous, to shame! He doesn’t even need a pole, black vinyl boots or a polyester blue dress to do it! Cindy might have taken away his gambling money and closed his online “Poker Stars” account, but that doesn’t stop him from breakin’ it down to “Pokerface” by Lady Gaga.
If the link doesn’t work, go to youtube and enter Grandpa Lady Gaga. ROFLMAOooooo! Go George!

ellejay said: { Jul 17, 2010 – 02:07:32 }
» Cymbaline said: { Jul 17, 2010 – 02:07:14 }
Hey where has Gracie34 been?

………her mum is very sick.
…it was about a month or so ago that she went to take care of her….lj.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, we miss you, Gracie. If you lurk from time to time, say hi! Your absence is noticed, especially on the Nightshift, friend! Sending positive thoughts of encouragement and support to you, north of the border.

» Valhall said: { Jul 13, 2010 – 05:07:17 }
Heads up! George Knapp will be interviewed on JVM tonight at 7/6c about the Mustang Conspiracy investigative report hubby and George did. PLEASE WATCH! Should be very interesting. VERY PROUD OF HUBBY!

If you didn’t get to view their two-part report, below are the links.

First two are High-def:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/index.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part2.html

These are low-def:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part1-low.html

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/mustangconspiracy/part2-low.html

……………wow!!!!!!
…that was absolutely fantastic!

…the wild mustangs are so gorgeous, i can’t even think of a word to describe their being driven off cliffs, killed, later coralled —by helicopter!, all in the name of “big business”——–heart breaking doesn’t even come close.

…what is WRONG with these people, that they can’t share the land?????
…oil/gas, mining, ranching——i GET it, but it’s evident they don’t need ALL of the land to DO it…

…HOW do these people sleep at night?

…i live in alberta, i see horses every day——-none—–as wild and beautiful as your wild mustangs.

…i surely hope that ALL watch these clips——–and pass them on to their friends——OUTrageous.

@Ellejay;

This hits so close to home for me. We use to have so many wild horses running through our land and now we see highways and apts, and grocery stores. We still do a lot of horse riding, daily but we have to find a place to entice our horses because so much is gone from the reservation.

My kids still shoe horses but the pleasure is catching a wild one, especially a mustang, but we leave them alone now and admire them as they run by in herds, they are ours regardless of what the Federal government says. I have never caged them in, we will never do that, nor do we find a way to rid ourselves of them, but if you ever get bit by one you will know it! I have been bit and kicked and it was just a young one!

Wild Horses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhVLiHPUOIM&feature=related

kz: “Wild Horses”.

…haven’t heard this in awhile. ( i like to think i’m at least a little on the tough side——not this time.)

…thank you.

Wild mustangs, how beautiful. Every year Cornell host the “Wild Mustang sale” where they sell (for a token fee) these horses that have been rounded up. It’s sad.

Gracie34, I have been missing you too and hope you are able to visit this site while helping your Mother. Wishing her well and come back to us when you can. I especially miss your cerbic (sp?) whit.

Val, are you ok? You haven’t been around… Just checking.

Hey Ellejay…
Here’s a pic of my new sofa, the one that the funeral guys delivered
and then had a nice convo about decomp. Just for the record…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24213750@N04/3829874636

Beautiful sofa, Monica!

Sorry, I had to chuckle, imagining the “stiff” you had in the car/van laid out on your cool sofa, as if lying in state! Hands crossed in front and all, in a nice black suit and tie! (With a silk pocket square, too!)

…love it monica!

..question—–prior to posting on here (or any blog pertaining to a crime) did you used to clarify your stmts. with…. just for the record.?

…(my kids seem to think that i’ve gone “law&order” speak on them..)

hmmm..the “hearing thread” is closed—–and so is the misc. thread, that’s strange.

Hi KZ…
Well the corpse was NEVER on my hot James Bondesque new sofa.
It was in the back of an SUV but very visible to passerby and nothing
to denote that it was a funeral van. Very tacky!

Ellejay…
Interesting question. And the answer is no. I think it has to do with
being aware that if you get the facts wrong somebody is going to
be on that very quick, so you make sure you clarify your statements.
I’m not a big true crime devotee nor much of a blogger. Hinky is voluminous
enough to keep up with and a lot more intelligent than the others so I stick
with that. But sometimes listen to the Levi Page and Steff Watts shows on
Blog Talk Radio while I’m doing some weekly cleaning. That’s about it.
I don’t want to find myself becoming a

Val,

You’re in my thoughts and prayers, along with your family.

Val
You are in my prayers for the truly heartbreaking decisions that you must make. I will also be praying for you daughter.
God Bless

Val, my prayers are for you and your family.
Having gone thru that with my mom, I can fully understand how important is to be to give your support. Having love in their lives is definately needed now.
The illness is so sad for the family to have to go thru the process.
Many prayers coming from my corner.

Val – all 4 of my grandparents, whom I knew and loved and lived very close to, had Alzheimer’s. I understand alot of what you are dealing with. So far, my mom and dad are okay but the dread… And for myself? Live for today.

Anyways, good luck honey and hugs, hugs.

Such a sad case as this and a very evil person

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7989867/

Police: Man tortured child left in his care
Johnston County man accused of torturing 4-year-old
Site Search

Smithfield, N.C. — A man accused of torturing a 4-year-old girl left in his care could face more charges, Johnston County authorities said Monday.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jonathan Douglas Richardson, 21, of Old Sanders Road, Friday on a charge of felony child abuse after he took the girl to a local hospital and claimed she had fallen off a bed.

Hospital workers contacted law enforcement authorities, Sheriff Steve Bizzell said, after finding the child had cuts, lacerations, bite marks and signs of sexual assault.

Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Tammy Amaon said Monday that authorities are still investigating and that further charges haven’t been ruled out.

The girl, who also suffered severe head trauma, was in critical condition Monday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Meanwhile, Richardson made a first court appearance on the felony child abuse charge. A Johnston County judge left his bond at $1 million and ordered that he be appointed a public defender.

Authorities haven’t said how long the child was in Richardson’s care, but arrest warrants indicate the dates of the offense from July 14 to July 16.

Bizzell said the girl’s mother had been away for military training but has since returned to be with her daughter.

“(This is) one of the worst cases of torture of a child that we have ever investigated,” Bizzell said in an interview Saturday.

“I have detectives out here, professional law enforcement officers, who are saddened by this. It is just unreal,” he added. “We can not imagine someone who would do this to such a young child.”

Wow. Why did Mother leave her daughter with this animal?

Richardson’s grandparents didn’t know what was going on for nearly 3 days? WTF is this guy doing biting her, cutting her? What did she do wrong? Nothing! What a pig. I hope he gets it in jail. I hope someone makes him feel at least an ounce of pain that he caused this little 4 year old, helpless girl.

George I know it is just horrible what the little girl went thru.
Every time I hear of a new case of children, I think it can’t get any worse.
But it always surprises me. There’s always a new case with an worse than evil person.
No form of torture is too good for this horrible person.

You know what? I’m going to go ahead and say just what I think. The world is overpopulated as it is. People like this need to be executed one by one and without fan fare. Then the world will be a better place.

Thankfully the hospital intervened. Hopefully we can find out more about the mother and her relationship with this perpetrator. I still can’t wrap my head around what she was thinking. If it is her boyfriend, love is blind. Regardless, she should be accountable for leaving her daughter in the care of someone when there was a risk of danger. This can be that she just didn’t know him well enough (my guess), unless she otherwise knew he had major psychological issues.

But, I am damn tired of people hurting others, especially children, and using some excuse about being psychologically traumatized previously. That’s BS! I know from experience. I have an awful childhood behind me, but rather than having my past grief manifest toward others, I over-compensate by not standing for abuse now. No child should ever have to endure this. I suppose it is consequential for the mother to be grieving now, as well. She must be feeling tremendously guilty, but I want to know for sure.

I will be looking for updates. I wonder if we will get pictures of the child and the mother, along with her explanation. I still feel that the “well-respected” grandparents of this perverted psycho need to speak up about what was going on their own backyard. They were obviously allowing him to stay there, must have known that he was caring for a 4 year old, and they must have known something about this guy’s past. Anyone with violent tendencies that rise to the level of police intervention, court involvement, etc. should not be allowed to care for a small child like this. Grandparents didn’t question this because he is their grandchild? They were somehow, someway permissive in overlooking the trauma this child endured.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7559895

Here you go. It makes me feel only slightly better about the grandparents, but not much.

Did they not have contact with their grandson since Tuesday?

Did the mother, Helen Reyes, not call to check on her daughter and speak to her by phone to ask her how she’s doing?

George there are other articles at the place I posted. I read them all.
I am wondering where the bio dad was?? Or one of the child’s grandparents??
And why was she with a person who was living in a barn apt with utilites turned off.
And why if the Mom was in the army reserves, did she not have income coming in?
This guy was charged with assault on a female a while back. Did the mother not know this??? Damn makes me so sick at these damn mothers today who never check out someone they leave their children with. And since she has head injuries on top of all that he inflected on her body, she may not make it. Then he will be charges with murder.

Right. I have even been pondering that this abuse could have been present before mother left for military Reserve training, but that it escalated to life-threatening while mother was gone.

It is hard to imagine that the guy snapped once the mother had left.

I want to first say thank you for all the emails and comments that have been so uplifting and supportive. We will get through this. My firm belief is that God’s will WILL be done, which means in the end, all will be right. It is just the long, winding and sometimes very painful path we have to walk in order to get to that end that is uncomfortable.

Daughter and I went over tonight and brought dinner for my parents. We decided to try playing some Moon. Dad used to be one of the best Moon players I have ever known. I thought this would be a good way to be ENGAGED with them while we were there…and it doesn’t hurt to try to stimulate Dad’s brain either. Most of his day is spent asleep on the couch in front of a TV. Since he cant’ communicate well, I doubt him and Mom have a lot of conversations when they are alone.

The brain is a magnificent machine…the most magnificent known to man. But it is also a very scary device when it starts “glitching”.

We were playing (were on our third game). Dad (of course – and it didn’t matter at all) was not the old Moon-pro he had been, but he was engaged and we had a nice time. I threw a three out. Dad throws down a 2/5. Mom (who was playing Dad’s partner and was doing a good job of having him recheck to make sure he was following suit, knew the trump, etc.) asks – Do you not have a three? Dad says “Yeah!” and just looks at the domino played. I said, “Well, then you need to play it because I played a three.” He says, “I did!”. I said, “No, you didn’t dad.” He picks the domino up…I’m showing this picture so people who don’t play dominoes can see a five…

He runs his finger down the three spots on the diagonal of the five and he says, “See there, it’s a three.”

It was like his brain didn’t even see the rest of the dots…all there was was that line of three diagonal dots.

The brain can become a very scary deceiver. It makes me understand a little more about people with severe mental illnesses…very scary.

Val my prayers are with you and family where your dad and mom are concerned.
This is just about the worst thing to watch a person you love with this disease.
I think it nearly killed me when I went to see my mom and she didn’t know us at all.
I bawled for days. Not remembering our names was one thing, but not remember us was another. I used to carry my grand daughter to see my mom quite often because she loved kids so much. Her face would light up when she seen a kid.
Many prayers coming your way from me.

If the grandparents were letting them stay, rent-free, then perhaps they had use of the utilities at the main house. This is what I was thinking, in which case, the grandparents would had to have seen the condition of the little girl before the hospital incident. And, about that hospital incident, my guess is that the grandparents were probably involved in getting medical attention for the girl. Shame on them if they believed the grandson’s, “She fell out of bed,” story.

Val prayers are with you and your family. I do know I have surfed several blogs and yours is the best I have found. Please take care of the family they come first and anyone who has read you articles know what a caring and wonderful person you are. You speak for the families as though they were your own. I know you one day will have many jewels in your crown for the care and love you have shown to families in pain and you speak for justice always . May God Bless and keep and comfort you and your family.

SO, the little 4 year old girl fell out of an air mattess and sustained injuries that have now been fatal. Hmmmmmmmmm. The dumb-ass boyfriend, caretaker or whatever he was, wasn’t even smart enough to come up with a better story. I hope this guy isn’t put in protective custody. Please, NC, don’t protect a monster like this. Let him loose in GP and save the taxpayers money.

Fatal? Did she die?

That is so heartbreaking that I cried when I found out she died. I was compelled to send the following email:

Dear Sheriff Bizzell,

Thank you for trying to help little Teghan Skiba, who will never see her 5th birthday.

If Richardson’s grandparents knew Teghan was living with Richardson, did they have any contact with Teghan during the period that her mother was absent? Are they observant? Did they not check on the girl’s needs?

I surmise that Helen Reyes was not mature enough to make a responsible decision regarding the care of her daughter. I hope she is experiencing guilt and regret for her terriible judgment.

I hope you have a formidable working relationship with the office that will be prosecuting this case. Please give them my message. There isn’t any justifiable defense, not even psychological problems that may be claimed to excuse this heinous atrocity. Please do not spare this monster what he deserves…for Teghan’s sake and all helpless, abused children.

http://annyjacoby.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/four-year-old-teghan-alyssa-skiba-torture-victim-has-died/#comment-450

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7563955

You know, as I sit here crying my eyes out, I think that maybe the propsed laws to evaluate new mothers before they leave the hospital with their infants are not such a bad idea. I used to be weary of such great censorship and monitoring, but as long as we have immature, irresponsible, drugged up, alcoholic (I’m not necessarily making this up. Watch the video at the above link.) mothers who care more about their d*ckhead boyfriends than their own precious children who are reliant and dependant on them, then maybe our social service system needs parameters in place to study socio-economic backgrounds and living conditions of new mothers, especially minors.

Teghan Alyssa Skiba’s mother, Helen Reyes, would have been under age when she gave birth to Teghan.

It’s the vicariousness of imagining what Teghan experienced at the hands of this monster, who will inevitably claim unconscious control due to a drug/alcohol frenzy, in addition to some BS about a hard life, that makes me weep so sadly for her.

Dear Hinky Readers,

Daughter has gone into premature labor. I’ve been at the hospital with her most of the day. She is dilated and she has been having contractions since past noon. And they are frequent and steady. She has is being given medicine to try to stop the contractions and they are giving her steroids to assist the baby’s lungs in case they can’t get things stopped. She has not dilated further in the past 3 hours so we are hoping that the dilation will not progress and they will get the contractions stopped.

If not, they will medivac her to OKC because (depending on which schedule you want to go with) she is somewhere between 28-1/2 weeks and 30-1/2 weeks. The local hospital does not have NICU.

I will not have much access to the internet until this is resolved. I’m taking my daughter her laptop so that she and Riley-daddy can at least see each other over Skype (meanwhile he’s freaking out in the UAE). I may get to check emails and release people from moderation bondage, but I won’t promise anything.

Be courteous to each other and keep each other up to date on the important cases. Until such time as I either have a granddaughter or things get under control….I’m kind of out of here.

Prayers for baby Riley.

My prayers are with ya’ll.

God Bless and godspeed Val!

Prayers coming from my corner.

Valhall

All the best, sending good vibes and karma your way. We will try to behave in your absence.

Many prayers Val!

Hoping that today is a good day for Val.

An everyday lurker sending prayers and thoughts to you, Val and your family.
j

Oh Val,
I was SO praying for 32+ weeks for baby Riley. If Riley comes this soon, please hug your daughter and tell her (over and over) that she did everything she could! You did, too. I know you have all been SO supportive and loving to her as she had this difficult first pregnancy. NO guilt– you all have done EVERYTHING possible to give Riley the best chance at 40 weeks in the womb. There were just too many other complications, so Riley may make her appearance early. We knew this was a possibility. Now it’s time to switch focus to daughter and Riley– how best to support them both, and far-away deployed Dad, who may have many unique issues to face due to his service and deployment during this difficult time.

We Hinkies will be a supportive eCaring Bridge for you, and keep your privacy held close in the process. Sending prayers to your daughter for trust and confidence in her medical providers, prayers for the medical folks to guide their decision making, prayers for you for patience, emotional strength, and and clarity of thought, and prayers for Riley, that she may ask the Creator for just a bit longer to be bonded to her Mom before making her entrance into the world.

Many {{hugs}} as you face some trying hours. KZ

Thank you all for your supportive comments and emails. Daughter is still in the hospital and is still contracting regularly and frequently, however the dilation and effacing has not progressed.

I’m not sure where things are going to go from here. They have had her catheterized since night before last because when she got up to use the bathroom it made the contractions get worse so she is completely restricted to the bed. Even if they get the contractions to stop I don’t know what is going to happen when she gets up for the first time.

We are going to be speaking to the doc about the option of having her cervix sewn shut. It appears the entire problem here is the fragility and sensitivity of her cervix. So, if they can get things under control now and get the contractions stopped while she is bedridden, we’re hoping the doctor will agree to sew the cervix shut and hopefully that will give baby-Riley a few more weeks.

We’ll see….kind of in God’s hands at this point because the medicine to stop the contractions isn’t doing too much. OH! AND, she isn’t supposed to take that medicine due to her porphyria but the doc did lots of research and decided the benefits of keeping her on it outweigh the slight risk of aggravating the porphyria.

sigh…I’ll keep you all up to date.

Val

Sending you an internet hug: O

(I would have made it bigger, but you can’t change font size)

» WSH said: { Jul 20, 2010 – 07:07:12 }
Valhall

All the best, sending good vibes and karma your way. We will try to behave in your absence.

I second that, Valhall!

praying for lots of angels to keep all of you surrounded, may gods abundant grace and mercy be with you and yours.

Val…..

I just discovered the posts regarding your parents and daughter. I’ve been out of touch, both figuratively and literally, and didn’t realize until right now the multiple horrors with which you are having to contend. I sincerely hope you are able to take comfort in the knowledge that your huge online family holds you dear in our collective hearts and prays for the best possible outcome.

Prayers for baby Riley and her family.

Prayers for your family, Val! May Riley continue to “bake” for at least another week or two.

Valhall,

I just read your post about your parents. I have made myself sick taking care of my 92 year old mother. Her not trusting me, the accusations, the guilt of not doing enough, please don’t let that happen to you. I’ve done more for her one milliion times over compared to my siblings and still feel guilty I’ve not done enough.

Take care of YOURSELF. You’re the most important person in their lives.

You can only do so much.

Look, they think they may have found a missing child, Miguel Nunez, missing since 2004. I have wondered about this case in the past…and how awful to be found inside the very house where he was probably living when he “went missing.”

http://www.wesh.com/news/24367570/detail.html

http://abcnews.go.com/News/police-missing-boy-angel-nunezs-remains-found-cooler/story?id=11237083

http://www.connectamarillo.com/news/story.aspx?id=486338

More info.

My thoughts and prayers are with you Val, and your daughter and baby Riley. I’m sorry, I did not see your posts until I came here. Every minute that goes by is another minute for baby Riley to grow a little bit more and I am hoping for as many minutes as the little one needs. Your daughter is about as brave as they come and so are you…soon you will meet Riley and all this trouble will be behind you both.

Val,

When I was 4 months pregnant with my son I went into labor, I was 3 cm dialated and 80% effaced. They could not sew my cervix because of this but they could sew in what they referred to as a basket. Ask the doc about this!

Good luck, lots of hugs and prayers!!

Daughter is home. We bought a little refrigerator and put in her room so that she has her drinks and snacks right there with her. She is on strict bed rest and can only get up to go to the bathroom or take a brief bath. We think we’ve got her set up pretty good so that everything she needs is right there close to her (TV, bathroom, food, drinks, laptop). We’re trying to prevent her having to go down the stairs (bedroom upstairs).

She is losing amniotic fluid (seeping through placenta). I don’t know how much longer she’ll go before it happens, but every day is another day Riley can get stronger so we’ll keep forging ahead.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Just saw this about your daughter and grandbaby, Val, because I don’t normally look at chat. I bet your daughter is glad to be home with you. It sounds like you have a great setup for her. Here’s hoping Baby Riley will relax and decide to wait a little longer before greeting her family. Hugs to you and your family for all you’re going through.

Val I always read all the comments on Just for Chat though dont often comment.I feel so gratefull for your takeing the time to care for others peoples missfourtune an empathy that other are sufering with missing loved ones.You truely are an example of a careing loveing human being.Even more so with the stress your under concerning your beloved Father an his problems.Coupled along with this your Daughters difficult pregnancy.I have a suggestion that may be benifical to your Daughter an unborn Grand child to keep both there strengths up.Refeind sugar is more or less a poison to anyones systems.However natural sugars can be very benifical to fortify an give energy an strength.Its easly absorbed by our bodies syatems as its frome nature.This is an excellent fortifying energy drink to try.Get a blender an put a pint of distilled water not perrier or any such mieral or tap water just distilled,Place about 4 medium sized carrots an one beetroot.An then blend it till its nice an smooth.It may not taste like manna from heaven .But its full of good natural sugars that will be benificall to you Daughter an Granchild….Thanks again for giveing so much when your dealing with so much.My best wishes go out to you an yours…

Glad Daughter is back home. Sounds like she is set up very well.
My prayers for her and baby. I know having bed rest and the stress of everything is very hard on her.

Hi ecossie,

Thank you! We’ll try that. Yep, trying to make sure my daughter watches her sugar intake. Day before yesterday we found out that my stepdaughter has gestational diabetes. She is due on almost the same day as my daughter (pretending my daughter will ever see her due date). My stepdaughter is very concerned because she already eats a very good diet, so she really doesn’t know what she needs to do now!

Holy crap Val, another worry. I will keep sending prayers and positive thoughts to you and your girls. Take care.

I’m sure you have read these, but just in case not, I’m providing links:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gestational-diabetes/DS00316/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gestational-diabetes/MY00956

Mimi-
Poor little Miguel. I suppose there was a good reason the police and/or mother didn’t look for him years ago in the attic? Very sad. At least the mother gets closure now.

Tob, Can you imagine that the house was abandoned after Miguel went missing and nobody ever thought, at that time or in all these years since…”Hey, let’s search the house.” That was one little boy who everyone neglected other than making a missing child poster for and putting up on the missing children sites. It really is very sad…how did he become so forgotten by everyone? Very sad.

Val have you seen this Mistys Parents arested for drugs .Another family reunion this one in Jail as oposed to a courthouse. http://www.thesky973.com/pages/7763066.php

Mimi,

I wouldn’t assume he was ALWAYS in the attic. I can envision the cooler being moved after the investigation happened…but then again, he may have been. God bless his little heart.

Val,
I will be praying for your daughter. If you have already mentioned something else about her pregnancy, then I must have missed it. These days, they can certainly save a baby at 32-33 + weeks. I went through the same thing years ago, but they can do more now with premature babies.

DiDi,

I moved your comment to just for chat. Thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers.

Hello All

Been reading on THM for a long time and having seen the posts about Val’s daughter I just wanted to pass along a success story with a very early birth.

During my last pregnancy, we discovered that there were twins, with one fetus deceased at about 12 weeks. Dr. had us going about normal lives, with no extra precautions (there were no other health complications). At 23 weeks I went into labor to expel the deceased twin, went into the hospital, 24hrs of meds to stop labor did not work and my daughter was born coming in at one pound even and 12 inches long.
Long story short, was told she probably would not walk or talk and most likely be affected mentally.
Two months later, she came home at 2lbs 13 oz, no major complications other than breathing treatments. She is now 15 years old, straight A student, plays on the CYO basketball league and has not shut up yet! The only long term affect is that she has only 16 permanent teeth.

Have put Riley, daughter and dad to be on our prayer list , as well as Val and all others affected by this difficult time.

Hi Val,
Fantastic that your daughter has been discharged! That is indeed good news– they would not have sent her home if things weren’t as stable as they can possibly be! I’ll rejoice for today in this mini-miracle, and keep praying for each extra day in the womb for little Riley.

Bedrest is NOT an easy task for most women, but it beats the heck outta being in the hospital hooked up to mag, etc. Just remind her regularly that she is already a mom, and she is taking good care of her daughter already. And it won’t be forever, though for most moms on bedrest, each day seems to be an eternity! So glad she already had her baby shower, too!

The body continuously produces amniotic fluid, so don’t let her worry about that. She should take her temp at least once a day, and keep track of it. Report any fever to her docs right away, as chorioamnionitis is a worry once the membranes are leaky. (I’m sure you already know that, but it’s good to reinforce!)

Take care of yourself, too, Val! You’re gonna be a Grandma!
KZ

Just to clarify,
Call doc for any fever above 100.0F, any increase in leaking amniotic fluid, or any bleeding. Or any mom heart rate above 130 (taking into account her tachycardia). Or any weird symptoms in the lower abdomen, or below. Of course, for any regular contrax.

Sorry for seeming to give “instructions”….I’ve added your daughter on my “worry about” list! The nurse in me is just a worrier! I just want (pray for) a healthy, good outcome for your daughter and granddaughter. They have enough challenges ahead with the deployment, etc.

Thanks Val, for sharing your life with us! Sending support, kindness, prayers, and good wishes to you!
KZ

KZ,

As always, I so appreciate your suggestions. We will start taking the daily temp today! Yes, I view this as a miracle myself because it really didn’t look like she was going to get to the point they would feel comfortable sending her home. I was very concerned about bringing her home because her bedroom is upstairs and I didn’t even know if we would get her up the stairs without throwing her back into labor. (She had one last HELLUVA contraction on the last day she was in the hospital!) BUT, she got upstairs with no problem and we have virtually made a “suite” for her where she has drinks, snacks, TV, skype to see Riley-daddy when he is not flying and a bath room. When we fix dinner in the evenings we take her a plate and it is working out well.

Bob said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 09:07:15 }

So true! Specially if it’s true that JB’s home is in foreclosure!!!
Baez Home In Foreclosure
by mermaid55 Today at 5:06 am

http://www.justice4caylee.org/news-of-the-day-f1/baez-home-in-foreclosure-t7646.htm#542460

I uncovered this last night, Baez is in foreclosure himself!

He paid $670,000 for his house in 2007, it’s now Zillow estimated at $348,000.00

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5451344&postcount=1

» nums24 said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 09:07:58 }

Well, it’s kind of sad when anyone’s house is in foreclosure, especially if they were sincere in trying to keep up with that obligation. I wonder if he has more than one property. Also, what happens if he has no money, in terms of representing an indigent client where he isn’t getting paid?

My guess, however, is that he wants to rework the mortgage like the Anthonys did since the value of the house seemed to tank.

Jb could always move into princesses empty room.

» bedbug said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 10:07:00 }
Jb could always move into princesses empty room.

Actually, he might check out Sawgrass apartments. I heard there’s a vacancy.

Speaking of Lawyers who don’t watch their mouth, Brad Conway stepped in doo doo with me.

“Saving the home that Caylee grew up in is the single best piece of news they’ve had in well over two years,” said Conway.

‘Scuse me Caylee grew up?

Also I have seen on the news lately that Caylee referred to a previously “missing three year old”.

‘Scuse me she was never 3 years old. And never missing.

» kwest said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 10:07:53 }

Actually, he might check out Sawgrass apartments. I heard there’s a vacancy.

————————————

Oh my god, LMAO. Good one, kwest.

I believe the home in foreclosure is a rental (investment) property, not Baez’s personal residence. On the documents it shows that 2 ‘unknown’ tenants were notified of the foreclosure proceedings. Which by law must be done since tenants would be affected by the foreclosure outcome. I know that they were trying to change laws so that whomever purchases a home from foreclosure or short sale is required to allow the tenant of that property to stay in the home until their lease expires. I’m not sure if that law has gone into effect yet though.

Val – again, awesome awesome post.

» PAMELA said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 02:07:29 }
I believe the home in foreclosure is a rental (investment) property, not Baez’s personal residence.

….according to the osceola property search, it’s residential- single family home.

http://ira.property-appraiser.org/PropertySearch/Default.aspx

ellejay said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 03:07:56 }

Yes – that is common. If you look at the other Jose Baez properties there is a condo that also says single family residential. I’m in the insurance business in Florida and it is common for a single family home to list that way. It doesn’t mean its owner occupied. Although… if it is a 1/2million $$$ home, I don’t see who in their right mind would purchase it and rent it out? That is a hell of a mortgage load to carry.
I would just be surprised if a defense attorney purchases property under his own name. It makes him too easy a target for unhappy defendants etc.
But then again…… We are talking about Prince Poopie Pants!!! LOL

looks like a very nice vacation spot, although i hear he should have saved for his mortgage instead. I wonder what he was actually holding all smug n smiley

» Notagrandma said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 03:07:21 }
They have to hit the bottom of “bad” pretty soon, don’t they?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your comment about hitting bottom soon made me think of when
my uncle told me and my cousins, if we dug a hole deep enough
we dig all the way to China. And we tried. Kept us busy and out of
my aunts way.
So when we see some Chinese people join the scream team we will
know they hit bottom.
Should we send a warning to China?

Pamela:

About Jose’s foreclosure: I read quite awhile ago from a couple of NLBs at another site that Jose was building a huge, very expensive home. If this is true, I guess it is possible that he could not sell his previous home & rented it instead. Now, perhaps he can’t pay the mortgage on both homes. Just a thought.

Ellejay – Actually the home in foreclosure is the house he lives in, the smaller house he rents/rented to Jose L Garcia, formerly of the Baez Law. The property taxes are not paid on the smaller home, the taxes are paid on his residence.

This was passed to me by a reader. It is a very touching song written and performed by a Gulf Coast resident about the effects of the Gulf spill.

» FRG said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 07:07:15 }
Is this JB’s home?

….no. his is 1411 water lilly lane , with 3 bedrooms/2 baths

…it was built in 1994, he bought in in 2007 for $670,000.00

…if you just enter the name baez jose here:
http://ira.property-appraiser.org/PropertySearch/

…it will bring up the property .

http://www.justice4caylee.org/news-of-the-day-f1/baez-home-in-foreclosure-t7646.htm#542460

Justice4Caylee has pictures up of the house Baez lives in and the one he used to live in.
I think that he rents the one to Jose Garcia that he used to live in, This one is where he lived when he took on Casey’s case. Guess when he and Casey sold the pictures, he bought the bigger one.
The pictures are about half way done on this page.
Val, I hope it is alright to reference this site. I noticed that you have it up on the side bar. It describes each property.
Seems the smaller one has property taxes owed on it.
Seems he had grand delusions when he took Casey on as a client.
Makes me wonder if he will file a suit against ABC for giving him false dreams.
He files on everything else. LOL

clminor: “Guess when he and Casey sold the pictures, he bought the bigger one.”

…according to the sales info, he bought it 05/02/2007 , over a year prior to meeting the nightmare known as kc.

…this particular house deal was sheer stupidity on his part.

» ellejay said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 09:07:17 }
Didn’t read that part. LOL
I thought he was living in the smaller house when he started defending Casey.
In fact, I remember someone posting it and saying it was his home. It was his home and no one picked up on the other one. We all assumed that he lived there.
Thanks for the correction.

I wonder how long he has been married to his second wife??
And where does his wife work??
I remember that she was pregnant in one of the pictures I seen of him, his daughter and his ex-wife.

Re: Brad Conway’s remark about the best thing for the A’s in two years and ‘the house that Caylee grew up in’.

Could it be that he heard from his clients over and over, how they wanted to save the house that Casey grew up in, and he substituted the innocent baby’s name and didn’t think how he put his sentence together. Afterall, Casey is the important and only one now, in what is going on. They have obviously nostalgic feelings about the house their daughter grew up in, especially if they believe they will lose her, at least they will have ‘her’ house.

Say, when is Val back from the rainforest???!?!

Maybe Brad and Baez, both with housing foreclosure problems of their own, could bunk in together. Or maybe they can go live with the A’s, there’s lots of room and there’s a pool too.

kleat: “Could it be that he heard from his clients over and over, how they wanted to save the house that Casey grew up in, and he substituted the innocent baby’s name and didn’t think how he put his sentence together.”

..i don’t think so, back in february, he was saying the same thing.

Conway told WESH “it’s the only house Caylee ever lived in” and “the couple can’t let it go.”

Conway said he plans to work a loan modification with the bank over eight to 12 months, Kealing reported.

WOFL-Channel 35 reported that Conway knows foreclosure firsthand. He owed $300,000 on a condo in downtown Orlando, but WOFL anchor Bob Frier said Conway didn’t want to discuss it. The condo went on the auction block this month.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/02/casey-anthony-george-vows-to-stay-in-home-despite-foreclosure.html

Ellejay:

Don’t you have to bring your mortgage payments up to date before you can receive a loan modification? I had read some time ago that it would be the requirement.

I am sick of people letting their homes go into foreclosure because the housing values have fallen. Good grief, there have been years when the market has skyrocketed.

Also, I wonder how the Anthonys were able to get this loan modification. What did they use for income b/c they do not have jobs?

L.Smith…The Ants foreclosure “luck” most definitely had to come from getting by
with a little help from their friends at ABC. ABC-Disney is part of a massive media
conglomerate and likes to share the love with anyone who’s going to make them
big future ratings fortunes.

Monica:

I feel sure the Anthonys already had a stash of cash when they applied for that loan modification. They just wanted to appear broke, thinking it would help in the investigation of their scam foundation. They make me ill!!!

» L. Smith said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 06:07:09 }

The home was built in 1994. I have posted all the info I have on WS:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110341

It looks like JB had the house for sale by owner and sold it. He is still in foreclosure though. The sale has not closed and the list price was $739,000.

LSmith: “Also, I wonder how the Anthonys were able to get this loan modification. What did they use for income b/c they do not have jobs?”

…..we don’t know that george doesn’t have a job. we do know from the jail letters that he was “voted in” church custodian, he claims it’s physically demanding—-not sure if it’s a paid position.he could conceivably be doing something that we don’t know about.

…..cindy does have her disability income from gentiva, that lasts until dec.2010.

….( i have no idea how a loan modification works——-esp. in the u.s. )

Oh goodness –

@ Elle – …..cindy does have her disability income from gentiva, that lasts until dec.2010.

That is just around the corner. Is that the very end of the disability? There were two phases – for lack of a better word – AIR – does this mean Cindy’s income as of January, 2011 is zilch? Just when she needs it in the lead up to Trial?

Re foreclosure and refinancing I have no clue. Galls me though. Stands to reason a bank doesn’t want another empty unsold house – in my mind = complete foreclosure. I shouldn’t worry my head about it since they have such good advice on a process the lawyers they rub shoulders with have personally invested in.

“Deep in my veins” is a very beautiful, touching tribute! Thanks for sharing!

Here’s an effect of the oil spill: my husband’s company, an offshore supply company, has had TWO rounds of layoffs and his boss, to keep “a” job, went off salary to punch a clock at a lesser position, bosses’ previous supervisory job not to be refilled.

The Gulf Coast economy was seriously damaged by Katrina. This is not a high industry place. We have tourism and fishing and farming and… oil. That’s it. There are two, count ‘em two, large industrial-type employers in the New Orleans metro area and they are BOTH closing: Lockheed Martin, now that the space shuttle fuel tank is no longer being made and Avondale Shipyards, moving out of state to consolidate with another location. I am a lifelong resident and nothing else BIG comes to mind, at all. Nothing else medium or small, in these types of industries, either. Some tiny single-owner stuff. Oh, maybe one: Trinity Yachts — they make custom boats for the very wealthy.

The oil rigs pay good money to folks willing to work hard offshore. They support the offshore services industry, and the shipbuilding and maintenance to supply offshore services; it’s a very important industry to the lives of the people here, in this poor place. I respect anyone’s opinion that the moratorium on drilling is needed, but I tell ya the combination of losing the fishing industry and the oil industry is the beginning of generations of poverty and loss of community and culture for some of the best and nicest people on earth and it’s very sad. People are desperate.

My take is that instead of a blanket moratorium, why the heck can’t we put in place the proper regulations and inspections and just make sure they’re operating safely? Are there rules and regulations and safety features at nuclear plants and are they being inspected? Geez, you gotta hope so, eh? Or, you gotta shut them down… We pay taxes and elect people to do the right thing, which in anyone’s mind, would include, unless absolutely necessary, NOT destroying their economy, their lives, their property, their future…

This country still needs Gulf oil. Let’s get the safety and the inspections in place and save these people’s livelihood.

Thanks for listening. That’s my rant on the drilling moratorium. I’m saving up for the rant on the destruction of the fisheries and fishing communities. You can drive 45 minutes from my house and be at Hopedale, Louisiana – a dot on the map where my family has been going out fishing for generations. Even closer is Bayou Bienvenu in Chalmette. I am actually less than 2 miles from Lake Pontchartrain. The back bayous and the marshes out to the Gulf and the lake are different and interconnected environments and all so, so beautiful. I tell ya’, one of the reasons people have stayed and thrived in this poor and backwards state is simply for the beauty and the sense of community and the way of life, the outdoors and the food. We don’t have alot of clout in D.C. like other states. I don’t know if the people, the communities are gonna make it this time around…

Ralph Brennan, head of a restaurant family that’s been big for 60 years in New Orleans, testified to the senate yesterday:
“Today the oil looming offshore is an economic disaster of epic proportion to the Gulf Coast region, dwarfing even the horrific conditions post-Katrina.”

Here’s a recent article regarding my own parish (county) and the lake that’s just a mile or so down the road…

titled: St. Tammany Parish president refuses to allow removal of barges protecting Lake Pontchartrain from oil spill

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/st_tammany_parish_president_re.html#incart_mce

Sorry so long. Done now – see ya!

Guys,

Have any of you tried to check upon JB’s foreclosure in the clerk of courts? I think maybe this person that posted about his foreclosure is making some type of mistake… it may be old news, maybe JB is not in foreclosure after all. If anybody knows how to check, please do it.

Thank you Val for posting the video!! I read here everyday but seldom post because most everything I have to add has already been done. I live in South Allabama about 30 minutes from the beautiful shore. I shot the video in my music store and John is a dear friend of mine. He wrote this beautiful peice!! My husband is a musician as well and the effects felt around here touch everyone from the highest up to the bottom, us included. Everyday people come in my store and they are sad. The happiness is drained from their faces. Each day I try my best to make them laugh and hope that for 1 minute they forget about the oil. My children haven’t touched the sand in their toes once this year because I fear for their health. My 5 year old wants to know why we can’t clean it up like I do when she spills something. Innocence is a blessing!
The posters here are some of the best people in the world. You love, care and share. The people of the Gulf Coast are the same. Our hands are tied and when we try to do something, we must jump through hoops to save our way of life. My husbands transmission business is going done because his customers( fishermen, entertainers, waiters, etc..) can’t afford to fix their vehicles. The tourist are not here and we depend on them every year to make a living. The sadness at times is overwhelming. Another well was hit yesterday in La. There was a spill in MI.
What happened was horrible. It could have been fixed much sooner and the plants and animals didn’t have to die and my children didn’t have to cry when they saw those pelicans covered in oil.
The effects of this mess will be felt for a long time. there are theories that we will be a dead zone before too long and God forbid a hurricane hits us.
I just wanted to share with you the sentiments of the people here. We will rise above and we will reamain strong and in unity.
thank you for watching the video, forgive my typos please, thank you for the prayers!
Brandi- wife, mom, business owner here in South Alabama.

FRG: Have any of you tried to check upon JB’s foreclosure in the clerk of courts?

……it’s still listed as “open” / “undisposed”.

http://198.140.240.34/pa/
…osceola county clerk public records.

…”search by name”.
Baez Lorena , click on the ‘open’ file.

Val,
Praying that all goes well with your granddaughter, I’m sure she’ll be just fine. My grandson was born at 32 weeks and weighed 3 lbs. There were babies in that NICU that were under 2 lbs. It’s AMAZING what they can do these days. My grandson was only in the NICU for 2 days and he “graduated” across the hall to the full term baby nursery – he looked like a little shrimp next to those big ones : ) He is now a happy, healthy 6 year old about to start 1st grade and the love of my life !
Hang in there, you’re going through a lot right now, take care of yourself.

Cindy put $140 into MOTY’s account. Just like clockwork, right after their house payment was renegotiated. What’s their mortgage now? It was $750 or so before between two healthy adults. Maybe they’re each responsible for $200 a month now. $400 a month? For a how many bedroom house with a pool and a yard? Not too shabby. IMO they’re laughing.

I may be living in the wrong part of the world but the rent on my small one-bedroom apartment is $1400 a month and I work hard to pay that. A single person who’s never missed a payment in my entire life. I wouldn’t dream of skipping out on the rent. Sheesh.

FRG:

Yes it is true. WESH did a story tonight here in FL. His quote was it is his personal business, and would not talk about it. However I can tell you that it is in a neighborhood, of Doctors and Lawyers!… Poor Sap. I hope this case breaks his azz! Go to wesh, and see the story very interesting. Maybe he can rent a room for Cindy

CLMinor,

Yavapai County Sheriff has searched a 5 mile radius from the campsite. How far could a 2 year old wander?

Now, it looks/feels like it could have been either Syler fell into water which carried him away, or a wild animal.

It bothers me though that bloodhounds didn’t catch his scent outside of the campsite, and of course that at least 3 others, adoptive mother, her mother, and the adolescent girl did not NOTICE Syler move about the tent and leave. Do you know what I mean? Something’s not right, there.

FRG said: { Jul 27, 2010 – 07:07:15 }
~~~~~~~
Hi, FRG!

I see Thinker answered you but if you are interested, I posted a Link to WESH up-thread. It is an article and video. The video shows Baez’s lakefront home which is in foreclosure. I’ll post the Link again:

http://www.wesh.com/news/24425702/detail.html
WESH Orlando, FL 7-28-10 Updated: 11:21 p.m. EDT

“Baez Faces Foreclosure on Home”

All I can say is wow! These are the faces of meth, before and after!

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/wghp-pg-faces-of-meth,0,938349.photogallery

(Courtesy: Multnomah County Sheriff, Ore.)

» george said: { Jul 28, 2010 – 10:07:37 }

Yeah this is a puzzling case. I have seen pictures of the adoptive mom and grandma.
And it makes me think that someone picked him up or he is in the water somewhere.
The two above mentioned took Polys and haven’t heard any results on them.
And both vehicles were taken in to search for any evidence. Guess they wanted to clear the two and if they did not clear to research it farther.
He sure is a cute little fellow. And I can’t imagine letting him sleep in a tent without adult supervision. Seems wreckless to me.

Hi, Dee!

Was I ever surprised when I saw your comment on Eric’s thread.

It made me LOL! Like I said, you are the master and I’m the apprentice. If there is something that is suppose to be on the “net” and if you can’t find it ……it’s not there!!!

Hope you have been well. I’ve missed you as well as my other friends on the other blog. When I last “spoke” to ‘jaquey’ a few months ago, she had some health issues. I hope she is doing well. She is such a sweet, kind person and like you, ever so helpful to others in finding info.

I don’t know if you continued to follow the Emma Thompson Case. As you may know, Abigail Young, Emma’s mother, was found guilty of the lesser charge and was sentenced to 20 years in prison (Texas Dept of Corrections – we call it TDC) and a $10,000 fine. 20 years was the maximum for the lesser charge. Had she been found guilty of the first degree felony, she could have got life in prison. I think that is what she deserves. JMO

The day she was found guilty (7-12-10) she was taken into immediate custody and booked into the Harris County Jail. I checked today and she is still there awaiting processing into TDC. In my opinion, she should not have been out on bond. Oh well, she comes from a prominent family and they were able to afford two high profile attorneys. At least, I don’t have to see her around town any time soon!

The Prosecutors were disappointed that Young was not found guilty of the first degree felony but respected the jury’s verdict. They were hoping for life in prison.

Only Emma’s dad and her paternal grandmother made Victim Impact Statements. I saw the video in its entirety. Outstanding statements! Ben, Emma’s father, told Young he or a member of his family would be at every parole hearing and speak against her. Young will be eligible for parole in 5 years. She deserves life in prison for the death of her precious 4 year old Emma! Just my opinion.

It was so sad and heartbreaking that no one from Emma’s maternal side of the family made a Victim Impact Statement! I was real busy during the trial – working with local media (a TV station, radio station and newspaper) outside of Houston in ensuring the trial updates were covered by our local media and they were!

For your info, Lucas Ruric Coe’s trial is scheduled for 9-13-10 in Harris County, Tx in the horrific, brutal death of Emma. One down and one to go! He is also scheduled for trial in Sept., 2010 in Montgomery County. Supposedly after the Harris County trial concludes. The Montgomery County trial is in regard to a child abuse case in that county that happened prior to Emma’s death. Coe is still in the Harris County Jail on $300,000 bond. I can hardly wait until his trial. I know he will be found guilty and I do hope he gets life without parole! I plan to attend a few days of his trial regarding Emma. After his trial, Emma can rest in peace! Justice for precious Emma!

Dee, I hope to chat with you here every now and then on one of the threads here. I love this site and have enjoyed reading Val’s great articles for a very long time as well as the comments. Val definitely does her research!

Take care, Dee!

brandi said: { Jul 28, 2010 – 01:07:37 }
~~~~~~
Hi, brandi!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I understand what you are saying.

“Deep in my veins” is very beautiful and touching. Please convey that to John!

We have friends that live in Chunchula and would go to the coast often. They have told us about how this oil disaster has affected the coastal area of Alabama. I can hear the sadness in their voices. They have many friends that are affected by this disaster.

We visited them 2 years ago and went to Alabama’s coastal area one day. What beautiful beach!

I live about two hours from Galveston. There was some tar on the beaches a few weeks ago. Some say it is from the oil disaster and another authority said it is not. It is being tested. It has not impacted the Galveston area yet.

It would be a real disaster with the oil if we get a hurricane in the Gulf. I pray to God we don’t.

Our neighbor down the road has worked offshore for many years. Two years ago, he worked offshore with Alabama as his base. He most recently was working offshore Louisiana. Since the explosion, he has not worked. It is becoming very difficult for him and his family even though his wife works.

He’s considering an offer to go to Africa. He would have to be gone 2 years and it is a gut wrenching decision because his son is only 8 years old. At least with his previous jobs, he could come home every 6 weeks.

The TV stations in Houston (which we get) have shown the birds covered in oil and the beaches. At one time, they had a reporter in Alabama doing live coverage of the beaches. It is so sad and tragic. My heart goes out to the many lives on the Gulf Coast that are affected by this disaster. It upsets me to see the birds covered in oil. I’m a bird lover and it is heartbreaking to see what this disaster had done to so many birds, fish, wildlife, plants, etc. How tragic to be covered in oil!

Ann – Tx said: { Jul 28, 2010 – 11:07:21 }

Thank you very much.
I wonder if the Real State downturn has to do with JB no paying his mortgage? Maybe he is going to pull the same one as the Anthony’s did.

jennyb said: { Jul 28, 2010 – 08:07:58 } said:

So many people are doing loan modifications because they can! Not because they NEED to. I’ve heard several prominent atty’s in Central Florida advertising that “Banks are business’s and they don’t make emotional or ethical decisions. They make best financial choice decisions. Why shouldn’t your family do the same? Just because you can afford your mortgage, doesn’t mean you should continue to pay a higher value for your home than its worth. Call Doucheforname. We’ll get your loan modified, its the SMART business thing to do.”
It sickens me!!!!! I feel sympathy for anyone who bought a home in the early 2000′s (especially 2003-2006) when all of our market values here were climbing 20/25% a year. But anyone with a bit of sense knew that between the crazy real estate market and the insane loan practices (150% loans. People who didn’t make more than $50,000.00 a yr. qualifying for a $500,000.00 home???) that the market bubble was being created was eventually going to burst, and we ALL would suffer the consequences. But… I didn’t mean to start a lecture. I just think there needs to be more personal responsibility here for the financial obligations people take on. For those who have suffered a devastating financial loss (lost their jobs or spouse etc.) then yes, lets’ do whatever to help them stay in their home. That isn’t the case with the Anthony’s. We know, know, for a fact that they received enough money from pics etc. to have been paying on their mortgage. They chose not to. They went the pity path and it worked. The Anthony’s should be ashamed. But I’m sure their laughing all the way from their stinking garage that their precious GRANDDAUGHTER decomposed in for a few days….. to their tacky above ground pool. I hope they enjoy it. I know a few of their neighbors and the Anthony’s are dispised by almost all of them.

I don’t quite understand the Baez foreclosure. He says the problem is the property values dropped… So just HOW, does this affect him. He bought the house at a price he was willing to pay. And he obviously made payments… but then property prices drop and he can’t pay. I could see his problem if he was trying to sell the place, but this is his home.
Property value has dropped since we bought our house, but our house is our HOME, and besides, where does one go to get back some of the money we spent on the house which was about $15,000.00 more than it was really worth. DAMN, we should have financed rather than paid cash for it!

» Marica said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 09:07:34 }

many people, in order to finance an expensive home, took out adjustable rate mortages. these mortages start with a low rate creating a low payment, but adjust after so many years to a higher rate, causing the payment to rise…a lot!

the way the banks sold this concept on borrowers was that real estate always goes up, so when the rate adjusts, just refinace the property at its higher value and get a fixed rate mortage at that time.

here is the rub.

values dropped… a lot!

refinancing is impossible because the home values went down anywhere from 30-50%. these borrowers dont have the cash to pay down the debt to the current value so they can refinance. the rate rose to huge amouts that many people (JB inc i guess) cant pay.

you were smart by buying cash. the only people affected are those that need to sell or need to refinance. if you need to sell and you bought when values were high (3-10 yrs ago), you may be upside down, meaning you owe more than you can sell the home for. an impossible situation for many. (not me, i was lucky. smart and lucky).

Beaz foreclousere, I think it is so wrong to not pay your home and go on vacation, same with the Anthoney. There are people that are really hurting because they may have lost their job, or maybe sickness who are trying to hang on to their home and put food on their table. These are the people who really need the help. These are also the people who can’t afford to pay an attorney to help them saving there homes. WFTV stated yesterday that the Anthoney homes was saved in the most after the foreclouser, however there are people out there that have been waiting for 2 years with the same back to work out the same deal that the anthoney got. There is something so wrong with these to, IMO.

No one should be allowed to get a loan modification b/c their home value has gone down. This makes me furious. Baez is saying that his home value has dropped so he stopped making his house payments in order to twist the bank’s arm to give him a deal based on his home’s value today. No where does he say that he cannot afford the mortgage any more. The guy admitted that he received $90,000 from Casey when she sold pics of her baby. Ugh, what about the people who paid cash for their home? Do they have some type of recourse? NO!

And don’t get me started on adjustable rate mortgages. They’ve been around for years. They have always been a risk. In fact, real estate is a risk just as buying stock is. If you do not want to take a risk, then you do not belong in the market.

And I do not feel sorry for any idiot who bought a house when they couldn’t afford it just b/c some real estate banker was willing to give them the loan.

» L. Smith said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 09:07:02 }

here is the problem with your argument. if that house sits for sale, if it sits empty it affects everyone’s home values. while it takes two to tango, the banks should have known better and regulations should have prevented speculative buying and liar loans. if this was for a car, it wouldnt matter, but peoples homes are often their entire financial future.
this should have been fixed last year but the govenment dropped the ball. bush gave t a r p money to the banks with no strings attached. they should have been required to lend/rewrite or forgive mortage dollars for every t a r p dollar they took. instead the took the t a r p money and sured up their own bottoms lines, didnt lend it, didnt put it into circulation and the issue still lingers.

granted some people are milking the system. stopped paying when they can afford it just because, i get that. but to say that you dont think anyone should be helped is ignore the impact on everyone that this housing issue has created.

perhaps you are in a position to never have to sell your home. great for you. but, if you bought 4 years ago and now get promoted and have to move, dont expect to have 1 dollar in equity, in fact, you probably cant sell for what you currently owe because of the mindset you just wrote.

if you are 100,000 short of payoff, maybe you have to now turn down a promotion effecting your career, maybe now you wont have that retirement nestegg you were expecting because your home is not worth what you owe. its far reaching. helping those that truly cant pay stay in their homes helps everyone.

i wouldnt want to stay their either but they may have no options. 1400 sq isnt that large, certainly a comfortable size for 2 people. i’m downsizing from 2100 sq to 900 sq. that may take some getting used to. even if they wanted to see they probably couldnt get their money out, meaning that they would accept an offer but still owe on the balance due…with no jobs and just disability income, that does not compute.

typo:

even if they wanted to sell….

Bedbug:

If you want to take that job promotion, you can rent your home. I’m sure that is what someone would do if they had paid cash for their home. You sit on it & wait. Real estate is a risk.

If I bought a stock that is no longer worth what I bought it for, should someone have to compensate for my loss? No, I either sale & take a loss or I sit on it. Real estate is a risk.

What if my car is worth less than what I owe the bank for it? Should I be able to negotiate my car loan?

No one complained in the early 90′s when the value of their homes doubled in certain areas of the country.

No one twist your arm to buy a home. Each of us has a choice whether to take that risk or not.

Hi Lisah,

Great post! It sure makes ya wonder how on God’s green earth the Ants can continue to live in that house…I would’nt be able to. It gives me the “eebies” when I think about it, and like you said “they are a different breed”…evidently Caylee was’nt as appreciated and loved as this whacko family claims…too wierd. Besides, who in their “right mind” would buy it?

Hey Pamela,

The issue for me is the way they’ve attempted to pull on the heartstrings of the public. They need to *save* Caylee’s home! That is what makes me completely sick. You want to take advantage of loopholes even though you could afford your mortgage? Well, okay, if that’s the way you want to play it.

But to claim something like that, over the death of a little girl, when a diamond earring (even if it’s fake) is probably one month mortgage payment, a cruise, two months payment, tattoos, at least a month’s payment, etc. etc.

They just stopped paying their pittance of a payment a long time ago. And yet they want to save Caylee’s home so desperately? I hate the dishonesty. And IMO they floated a trial balloon when this first came out hoping people would send in donations. OMG, the poor Anthony’s losing their home! Caylee’s home! People who aren’t that tuned in to the doings in this case probably DID send them money. But overall that little test went over like a LEAD BALLOON so they had to retreat.

This behavior reminds me of their daughter. Hey, they don’t FEEL like paying that bill, it’s not THEIR responsibility. Why should they have to? They want to live the *beautiful life*. They shouldn’t have to take care of anything they don’t want to. Just dump the problem, get a tattoo and move along!

Casey didn’t want to be burdened with Caylee. Dump her. Get a tattoo, say “It’s not my fault” and expect someone else to clean up the mess.

Wonder where she got that sense of entitlement from? Hmmm…

cars and stocks do not have the far reaching effects that the housing crisis has. i do not believe that if i bought a 1500 tv and its now selling for 800, that i am due a bailout. “toys” are a different issue. someone moving from california to boston isnt going to want to have a rental property clear across the country. thats a false solution. besides can that person afford to carry two home loans, probably not.

the bankers that loaned people money KNOWING FULL WELL, they couldnt afford it should have gone to jail. because they knew better, the buyers did not.

you are effected by this issue. it just hasnt touched you yet. i hope you dont become one of the people you seem reluctant to help out.

go listen to rush, he’s on now, besides this discussion is getting off topic.

I read that the kind of disability Cindy is on through her employer pays about 80% of her former salary. That’s a decent sum. And her disability payment doesn’t necessarily end after the first 2 years. It can be extended due to circumstances. Add in the other monies they’ve collected from the tragedy and I’m thinkin’ a $700 per month mortgage was doable. Just sayin’.

Bedbug:

I am not a Rush fan at all. That was nasty.

You did not address the people who paid cash for their home & now want to move 1,000 miles away. What should they do?

If you bought a home that you knew that you could NOT afford because some banker told you that you could, that should be the bank’s problem? In the past, I’ve been qualified to buy a more expensive house but I did not want to take the risk so I bought lower.

Peace.

first yes, it is the bankers problem because they knew better. acting as a good faith advisor, they should be made to provide good advice, not speculative advice.

if you paid cash, and you sell, then you take the loss. that is easier to absorb than attempting to carry two mortages (one on the old property and one on a new property). which the banks wont even let you do now because of the situation they created.

if you sold when your property was high, then you were lucky. i sold a home and made 100k, because i bought when it was low. good for me. had i sold it 3 years ago, i would have made another 75k.

since most people mortage a home, this issue effects far more people.

i bought a condo that is now 50% below in value than 3 yrs ago. is my hand out, NO, because i got a fixed rate and i can afford the payment. like u , i bought safely and below what i could pay. i am not in a position to need to sell or refi. so i am ok. but others are not. if properties in my development go to foreclosure (as they are now), it effects my properties value. its far reaching….”too bad for them” is not a solution because it touches everyone.

Bedbug:

I’m still offended by your statement insinuating that I am a Rush fan. Heck, I am a card-carrying independent!!! LOL

Peace.

bedbug-

I get ridiculous offers in my mailbox every day of the week. If I take them up on it and it doesn’t go well who should I sue?

If you’re mature enough to function in society the buck stops with you.

Yes, sometimes things happen and you need help due to circumstances beyond your control, like losing your job in this economy. And the government has stepped in to help people in these situations.

Many people though, are taking gross advantage because they see truly needy people getting the help they deserve and they want in on that action, whether they need the help or not. Like the Anthonys, in my opinion they are just gaming the system.

property values and foreclosures… I know in Maryland when you get your property appraised and they look at comps for houses SOLD, any foreclosures are removed from the equation, only actual house sales are considered. Banks try to avoid the foreclosure because they won’t recoup the $$$ that they’re owed on the loan. the house across the street from me was just purchased under foreclosure, the former owner bought it for $225k filed bankruptcy and the new owners paid 180K… That’s quite a loss for the bank, not to mention in my state people seem angry and resentful that they lost their house and destroy it before they leave so just about every one is a fixer-upper dump!

» jennyb said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 11:07:54 }

i am not advocating for baez or the anthony’s. i do not know there situation.

there is a huge difference between regreting buying ginsu knives or losy windows and a bad home loan. the responsibility is shared but mostly belongs to the party that knew better.

civilized society should protect those that were taken advantage of. people here opine all day about protecting caylee, well extend that to people who were taken advantage of. there is no difference. people are dying over this issue. there are cases of people, so far in debt, that they kill their families. they are far in debt because there was no regulation on what debt they qualified for…professionals knew better and chased the dollar.

like it or not, we are our brothers keeper.

Tob:

And foreclosure is a topic in the news for the Caylee/Baez case. Nearly everyone involved in the case is or has been in foreclosure. It’s upsetting to me b/c the Anthonys ($20,000 +) & Baez ($90,000 +) had the money to make their mortgage payments but chose not to.

L Smith, your libertarian view on this is more right wing. sorry

PLEASE….. Stop the biting politicals on Foreclosures etc. It doesn’t belong on this thread (unless your addressing those involved in the case) and is unkind.

PEACE to those seeking JUSTICE FOR CAYLEE MARIE ANTHONY

Whatever. I am not moderating and wouldn’t presume to. Discuss whatever tangent you want. It is just that someone said it was off topic. And then continued to go on and on and get personally insulting to someone who didn’t agree with the opinion.

I wish you much love and peace and pray the Judge rules soon. And that Blink makes more funny photos. And that Baez looks at utube and realizes how silly his reaction is when he compares that photo to the many hysterically funny movies there are about him that he could be upset about.

p.s. to val I am not on a rant and am trying to be good. I am actually having a very nice day. Hope you and your girls are well.

Bedbug:

There has always been a housing loan ratio that people could figure out on their own as to how much they could afford before they even talked to a mortgage officer. I’ve never even gone to look at houses that I could not afford.

No, a lot of people just knowingly bought more home than they could afford b/c they wanted to keep up with the Jones’ & the bank told them that they could. They should have checked their ratios. A car dealer recently, upon my credit check & all, told me that I could afford the largest Mercedes they had but I knew what I felt comfortable with & chose accordingly. I have common sense. No one can tell me what to purchase. But then, I’m not materialistic, which is the problem I see with these people who listened to those bankers.

That makes me a liberal???

» FRG said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 08:07:03 }
~~~~~
FRG, you welcome. Glad I could make myself useful! LOL

Since the home is worth so much less than what Baez paid for it, he probably will let it go. I guess he thought he was going to make mega-bucks on Casey’s case and he deserved a huge lakefront home.

If he had problems paying child support at one time, I am surprised he got approved for such a huge loan.

I think Baez needs to get back in the bikini business again and forget about practicing law! JMO He needs to quit acting like a Bozo

» L. Smith said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 12:07:24 }

the 25% ratio was relaxed in the mid 90′s. before that, you couldnt finance more than the 25% home debt to earnings, thats the issue. appraisers and loan officers conspired to artificially raise prices so everyone got a bigger paycheck. while not illegal, it was certainly immoral. had regulations been in place, we wouldnt teetering on collapse.

was baez in this position, i doubt it. the Ants, maybe, dont know. the banks are holding these properties. i am trying to buy a short sale for the past year. BOA isnt moving. the banks do not care if your home value falls. they are holding these to try to max out what they can get for them. they caused it and are now taking advantage of it as well.

Tob said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 12:07:24 } Said:

I apologize if I sounded as if I had any right to moderate. Re-reading it may come off that way. My intention was to just get back to the case. Most of us here have very strong opinions. Most people are very sensitive to politics, religion and economical issues. I was only…in my way…. trying to stop any hurt feelings.
If I offended anyone, you may send me a wet noodle for smacking t
http://WWW.FREEDOUCHEOFALAWYERFORPOOPIEPANTS.COM. LOL

Tob:

I’m trying to be good, too…lol. I’m just mad that Baez was paid a min. of $90,000 & didn’t pay his mortgage b/c his home value decreased….which is exactly what he reported to media.

When are we supposed to hear from the judge?

Pamela & Tob:

It’s all cool!

I’m sorry for my part.

Please don’t label me a liberal….lol.

» L. Smith said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 12:07:24 }
~~~~~

Hi, L. Smith!

You are right! So many people wanted to keep up with the Jones and got in way over their head. The bankers gave them free reign ……so it seems! JMO

I still have difficulty believing how the banks gave loans to folks that really did not qualify. What a disaster that turned out to be!

» L. Smith said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 12:07:40 }

I agree. Bottom line is at the end of the day YOU know what is in YOUR paycheck and YOU know what you can afford no matter what amount any lending instution will finance.

It is true that the banks knew what they were doing, they were making money on YOU. No one can force you to sign that paper.

And now because Baez was a dummy he is trying to take any advantage he can get.

unashamed liberal here.

Bedbug:

I like liberals. I like conservatives. I am an episcopalian….or in some circles, we are called whiskeypalians, lol. We are open to all opinions.

I just have a difficult time liking the stupid people that let someone else tell them what they could afford & now cry wolf when they have been duped. Now, I do have a soft spot for the elderly & uneducated that get scammed by scammers but, I guess, they accept their losses & learn from it. Baez & others like him should, too. They should not be bailed out. jmo

This topic has taken a curious turn.
I have to say I am with Bedbug with this one; the housing market is a major part of the financial backbone of our economy, which effects everyone. I’ve seen and keep seeing people who bought houses they could afford STILL go under because the drop in housing values has been so drastic. That’s why the Anthony’s getting special treatment–which is exactly what they got–is infuriating! And then the nerve of BOA saying they did it to avoid a media frenzy. They didn’t have a problem with being in the media when they were pressing charges against Casey, but they don’t want bad PR about giving the A’s special treatment so they blame it on the media and general public? Slick.
And for the A’s it was all in the name of “keeping the home that Caylee grew up in”. Caylee didn’t get to grow up.
No one ever has, or ever will GROW UP in that house.

L Smith – Just want to say I concur with all you’ve written. I have been in the banking industry many years and I can remember back in the day when I was managing a branch, people would come in and get “pre-approved” for a certain amount. Every customer was thrilled to death they qualified for such a “high amount” that they immediately went on to look at houses that were clearly out of their price range. I have lost count of the customers that I had to sit down and counsel by having them sit down and add up all their expenses that were not included to determine pre-qualification… You know things like groceries, gasoline, dance class for you daughter, Tai Kwon Do lessons for your son, phone bills, electric and gas for your home, the list was endless. Once I pointed these incidentals out o them, their perception of what they could truly afford was significantly changed.
Most people did gamble and go with an adjustable rate on a home they knew they could not afford, but lest we forget, there were many people that went with a fixed rate and got the loan because the house received an overblown appraisal value, thereby allowing people to finance or refinance their homes with a fixed rate. The problems surfaced when they wanted to sell their home or refinance to get a fixed rate loan at 4 ½% and their home appraised for a fraction of what they paid for it – which left them unable to sell it as they owed more than they could get out of a sale and unable to refinance unless they came up with the “difference”.
As we say now when we’re trying to help customers “it’s need versus greed”

Just a Mom:

If you bought a house that you could afford to begin with, how does the value of that home change the situation? It would not unless you elect to sell it. That’s why many people have to sit this one out, including those that paid cash for their homes. If they choose to move & want to sell it, it is their decision to take a loss or rent it out. To me, that is a totally separate issue from what the banks did.

Why should Baez buy a home (that he could afford) for $670,000 & now want it for $325,000 b/c the housing values are down? In a few years, when the market is better, he could sell it & make a big profit yet the guy next door to him that paid cash stands to make nothing. That’s not fair, imo.

KellyJK said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 01:07:15 }

what a shock. a former banker passes the blame. really!

1. who gave the pre-approval for an amount they couldnt afford. the borrower? no, the lender.
2. you cant seriously consider a home that costs more than you are approved for unless you have the additional cash. no offer would be considered without the correct preapproval. even the realtor wont waste their time showing you a home without your ability to get the loan.
3. the problem as u stated it correctly was because after 10 yrs, the system couldnt absorb the inflated values the banks and appraisers created. it starte din the mid 90′s, ended in 2008.
4. the greed was not the borrower, it was the banks. everyone got more commission. the agent, the lender…there is the greed.

i wont change your mind and this isnt the blog for it really anyway.

they arent going to chop off 1/2 the debt. what they will do is reduce his rate, extend his term. things like that. they dont say “poof” and make 300k go away. all they do is find a way to restructure the loan to make it affordable on a monthly basis. that way people can keep in property. which helps us all. when/if the market terns, then they can sell and get out.

KellyJK:

I was always told that someone should take an ARM only if they knew that they were not going to stay in their home a long time. It was not a good risk if you weren’t.

Bedbug:

So, Baez would still owe $670,000 or whatever?

L smith, thats right. it used to be the rule.

but………they used ARM’s as a patch between now and 3 yrs from now when, as they all TOLD people, their home would rise on average of 10% per yr. thats 30% more. so at refi, no need to have the 20% down, because you have 30% equity without 1 cent of your own.

professionals told people this. for the lay person, it sounded good. it sounded…sound.

yes….they dont reduce the dollars, they extend the terms, reduce or lock in a rate. now you get it.

Bedbug:

Yea, Brunos (grocery) told me their stock would rise considerably in a few short years so I should sign on the dotted line to purchase more than I could afford. But I didn’t want to take the risk so I turned it down. Good thing, b/c their stock lost it’s value & now they are out of business.

Ann-Tx,

Thanks for the update on Emma.

here is the difference. this reaches everyone. your bad stock pick is isolated. when you cant afford your mortgage, you cant buy goods, do home improvements, buy a car etc. the people in those industries then cant afford to take vacation, go golfing, go to a amusement park. the people in those industries then cant afford to eat out, go shopping….after a while everyone lays off (sound familiar?) busineses close, move over seas…jobs leave the country forever….this reaches everyone down to the kid you used to pay 20.00 to cut your grass.

it has nothing to do with my bad xm stock ( i bought at 7.50, its 1.05)

Bedbug:

Baez could afford his mortgage. He only stopped paying when the value of his home declined.

ahhhh because they dont want to wait for the market turn to sell and get out. there are tv ads locally suggesting that people walk away if the are underwater. those ads….are lawyers. gee wonder why? because they are looking for a client. fool’um once…how about another?

simply, bush’s tarp money should have been with conditions. every dollar they took must be used to restructure a loan so people stayed in homes. oops, they forgot to put that in there.

» L. Smith said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 01:07:59 }

then the bank will not help him

Bedbug:

Well, these people will have a difficult time buying another home. So be it. Stupid people.

baez can walk away from his home if he chooses but that will be on his credit. now being a tricky attorney, its probably shielded someway. maybe his firm owns the home. i dont know…dont really care.

the bank isnt going to restructure due to reduced value, you have to show inability to pay the monthly payment.

I think the govt. MUST do something about the predatory creditors
creating these types of homeowner scams. But on the other hand,
anyone who deliberately tries to live beyond their means and then
runs crying to the Nanny State to bail them out, like a naughty child
to the parent, is a pathetic loser and should NOT be bailed out by
the taxpayer base.

Ann TX—dee told me where to find you! So glad to see you. Always wondered where you went to. I still have same health issues but try not to dwell on them. Feeling great at the moment.
Thanks for the update on Emma. I don’t get to see much about the case.

Hope you are doing well. I don’t know how you can stand the hot temps in TX. I can’t stand anything above 75 degrees.

Many people ask about you. You are surely missed. Will talk to you again. I do visit here but have not posted before. This is a great site. jaquey

» Ann – Tx said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 12:07:27 }

————-

Ann – TX…..what a great surprise to see you!!!!
I hope you remember me, your c&p teacher, LOL

Julie

Julie and dee—Mine say waiting moderation. Don’t know why.

Hi Dee & Jaquey.

Val,

Have you thought of having the “share” box where we could link your stories to FB?

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/07/30/are-flip-flops-dangerous/?icid=main|main|dl3|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lemondrop.com%2F2010%2F07%2F30%2Fare-flip-flops-dangerous%2F

FYI, vulgar flip-flopper hinkies…

jaquey said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 03:07:27 }

Hi, Jaquey!

What a pleasant surprise to see you here! Thanks for taking the time to “hunt me down!” LOL I am glad Dee told you she “saw” me here. Thank you, Dee!

I have really missed you, Jaquey! I am glad to hear that you are feeling better and that you are having a good day today.

I am so sorry that you don’t get to see much about Emma’s case. Please go to Google and type in: Abigail Young Trial. They are still listing 55 articles. Terri Langford, Houston Chronicle Reporter, wrote some really good articles. She is an awesome reporter! On one of her articles, there was approximately 300 comments made (under the article). I don’t know if all of her articles are still listed on Goggle. You can go to The Houston Chronicle and search Abigail Young Trial there. Maybe all of her articles pertaining to Young’s trial will come up.

On the KBTX – Bryan, Tx articles and Brenham Banner Press articles, I posted comments using the nic, ‘ Concerned Citizen.’ I did not post on the Chronicle comment board. Too wild for me!

Up until last week, there were two groups of articles on Google. One had 77 articles and the other 55. The group of 77 is no longer listed but the group of 55 is still listed.

If I remember correctly, MyFoxHouston (TV station – Houston, Tx) had a good video one day. KTRK (Ch 13) Houston, did several video reports. You will probably have to go to their website and search “archives”. They showed Young while the Judge was reading the verdict. When he said guilty, Young’s knees buckled and she had to sit down. She started crying. I feel those tears were for herself and not Emma! Also, it was reported that when the Prosecutors showed the first autopsy picture of Emma (the media described it) that Young broke down and the Judge sent the jury out and called a recess. I know Ch 13 (KTRK) did a video report on it and I think Terri Langford mentioned this in one of her articles.

Jaquey, I would post some Links for you but Val does not have an Emma Thompson thread. But I know with your research skills (like Dee) you will not have a problem finding the info!

I am doing just great! Running at 150 miles per hour as usual! LOL I am always busy. Still involved in advocacy for child abuse, animal abuse (and elderly abuse on occasion). I am working on some things that I will bring to the attention of my House of Representatives State Representative in an upcoming legislative session.

Sometimes I multi-task so much that I have to be certain that I’m addressing the right issues with the appropriate person! LOL In other words, stop and smell the roses!

The hot temps in “my little corner” of Texas are tough! Some days the heat and humidity are so intense it is difficult to breathe, especially when I mow the lawn. And I do not have respiratory problems. Last week we had a heat index of 108 and I thought I was going to have a heat stroke! I can hardly wait until fall. I wish I was in the mountains of New Mexico this time of the year! I have friends that have a week-end home near Angel’s Fire and they spend the summer there. I am thinking about calling them to see if they would be interested in adopting me for the summer! LOL

It is nice to know that many people ask about me. I miss all of my friends there also. There are some really nice folks that I had the privilege to “meet”. Is Icereffy still around? Being that I was a night owl, there were times that he was the only one I conversed with in the wee hours. There was no one else around! Ice, Mart and I had lots of fun while everyone else were asleep.

Yes, Jaquey, this is a great site. I read Val’s awesome articles and the great comments for a real long time. When I read her article about Eric Preimesberger, I had to comment. I just started posting here recently. I have been very busy the past few months and have not had a lot of time to post.

I also recently started posting on BNN again (Haleigh Cummings case). They are currently covering a story about a 26 year old man from Louisiana who “disappeared”. His mother has stated on the comment board that she thinks he has been murdered. It is a case where there has been no media coverage until Simon and Jan started writing articles about it and covering Zach’s case on their Sunday Radio Show. I am following that case also.

I am so happy you posted and hope to see you here again. This is an awesome site!

Jaquey, to you, my dear friend

Julie said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 03:07:51
~~~~~~~
Julie, Julie, Julie! It is so very nice to see you and I am really surprised! Of course I remember you . . . . . my favorite teacher of C & P and doing Links.

I made many a comment and asked about you. I stated I would never forget you and how appreciative I was to you for your help. I don’t know if you ever saw any of my comments. You took me “under your wing” a long time ago and taught me “the swing of things”. . . being that I was a newbie to posting on a blog. In fact, August will be one year!

I have been reading here a long time and posted my first comment on Eric’s current thread a few days ago. I have tremendous respect for Val, her awesome articles and the folks that comment here. There are some really sharp people on this site. On occasion, I would see that a ‘Julie’ would comment on the various threads here. I was tempted to come on The Hinky and ask if that was you because I missed you so much! Was it you?

Julie, it is awesome to see you again. It’s unbelievable but true that our paths cross again in the huge cyber world!

Hope to see you again, Julie! To my favorite teacher and dear friend . . . . .

nanaof4 said: { Jul 29, 2010 – 01:07:11 }
Ann-Tx,

Thanks for the update on Emma.
~~~~~
Hi, Nanaof4! You welcome! If you are interested in more info from news media on Emma Thompson, please see my comment to Jaquey dated 7-30-10 at 1:07:54.

I have taken a real personal interest in Emma’s case because I personally know Emma’s maternal side of the family: grandmother, great grandparents (now deceased) and great uncles.

Even if I did not know the aforementioned, I would be following Emma’s case because as the lead investigator stated in a press conference when Young and Coe were arrested, it is the worst case of child abuse he has seen in his 19 years in law enforcement. Emma died a brutal, horrific death and I hope she gets the ultimate justice when Coe goes to trial (9-13-10).

I visit Emma’s grave often as she is buried in a cemetery where my grandparents are buried.

It still breaks my heart that such a sweet, innocent child had to die because her mother allowed Coe into her home and then lied to CPS, doctors, etc ( as disclosed at Young’s trial) during the investigation just weeks before Emma died.

I will never, ever forget precious little Emma! She has captured my heart!
Justice for Emma Thompson! For you, precious little Emma . . .

Hi, Dee! Thanks! You are an awesome friend and I know I’ve told you before . . .
you have awesome research skills!

Val has a huge selection of “Smileys”! Really cool!

nanaof4 and Jaquey:

Here is the Link to the Victim Impact Statement video (in its entirety) that Emma Thompson’s father, Ben (Abigail Young’s ex-husband) and paternal grandmother, Laurie Thompson, made to Abigail Young on 7-14-10 on behalf of Emma.

Listen carefully! Ben really lets Abigail have it and Laurie spoke so eloquently and with class. Laurie lets all know who the “real” Abigail is! Parts of this video just makes me cry for Emma!

There are related videos you can click on and to the left side there is Related Content which has a few of the previous articles.

This video could be difficult to locate so that is why I am posting the Link. Val, I hope this is okay with you. If you need to delete it, I will understand. Thanks!

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7552449
KTRK (Ch 13) Houston, Tx 7-14-10

“Mom gets 20 years in daughter’s death”

MLR,

Could you explain more please? I’m not sure you’re asking about concerning linking to Facebook. Can you not link to one of my articles on Facebook? Am I confused? lol (think I am).

» Ann – Tx said: { Jul 30, 2010 – 01:07:37 }

Hi Ann! I did see some of your comments asking about me, and I was really touched. By the time I was able to respond to your comments, you had stopped posting there. I asked about you and nobody seemed to know what happened to you.

The Julie comments you saw here were me, unless there’s another Julie who came on recently. My kids are on summer vacation, so it’s a little harder to keep up on all my favorite blogs.

It’s been great seeing you again.

Julie said: { Jul 30, 2010 – 11:07:20 }
~~~~~~
Hey, Julie! Glad at least you saw some of my comments. It was a few months ago that I noticed a Julie posting here …..not recently. So it was you! I would have hopped on board and said “Hi, I’ve tracked you down, Julie” had I known for sure it was you!

I’ve come a long way, Julie, since a year ago when you “took me under your wing”. Hope to chat with you again, my favorite teacher!

Val,

Nevermind, it’s just as easy to copy & paste.

Ann-Tx,
Thank you very much for the well wishes!! We are all feeling it here and i hope your friend is able to continue to work and do what is best for his family. John is a humble man and he is overwelmed with the response he is getting. “Deep in my Veins” came together quickly and he will tell you it was a gift from God. I noticed the traffic today heading down to Gulf Shores and it looks busier than in weeks. Fingers Crossed things are getting beter.
Take care
Brandi

Bob (from the Casey thread),

Yes, Billy Bob’s was the place to go in the l980′s and early 1990′s. I assume you are talking about Billy Bob’s in the Ft. Worth Stockyards. The guy that founded Billy Boy’s, Billy Bob Barnett, is from near my hometown and I knew him well. He is real tall and was a star basketball player in high school. He went to college on a basketball scholarship. Too bad Billy Bob’s ran into financial trouble during the Texas economic downturn in the late 80′s. Last I heard, Billy Bob sold it and it went under new ownership.

Merle Haggard could use to put a show on that “would bring the house down!” In the 80′s he’d use to play the Houston area ever so often, especially the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. I knew Merle personally and his Vice President & Manager. I was always given Back Stage Passes and had the chance to party with Merle and entourage several times.

When I was a Technical Sales Rep in the Commercial/Industrial Construction industry, one of my customers (General Contractor) wanted to hire either Merle or Willie Nelson
for a “Top Out” party for a Houston high rise. I co-ordinated this and Willie was way too high (financially; not physically if you know what I mean) for a two hour performance. The General Contractor (GC) hired Merle for $25,000. A good time was had by all. Without those two additional bookings, it was going to cost $50,000 plus.

It would have been more but Merle’s manager got a booking in San Antonio the night before, they played the “Top Out” Party from 5 to 7 p.m. and then played Gilley’s (the movie Urban Cowboy was filmed there) near Houston that night. So they gave the GC a break on the price since they were coming from California. My husband still loves Merle’s hits from that era. So do I. I also like the “opossum” as they call “no-show” George Jones. I saw an interview a few months ago with George and his wife and it seems like she inspired him to straighten up!

At the time, I was good friends with Willie and Waylon Jennings. They always gave me a Back Stage pass and of course I did not have to pay to see any of their concerts. No, I was not a groupie! LOL Those were some good times! I have quite a few pictures with me, Merle, Willie, Waylon and the boys (as Casey would say) and Waylon’s wife, Jessie Colter. I wonder if I should try to sell them like Cindy sold pictures! LOL and roll on the floor!

Bob, you said you love Texas. If you don’t mind my asking, what state are you from. I live between Austin and Houston.

Brandi said: { Jul 30, 2010 – 05:07:39 }
~~~~~
Hi, Brandi,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. John puts a lot of emotion into his “Deep in my Veins” and his performance of the song. He should try to cut a record. I bet it would be a big hit.

That is encouraging that you noticed more traffic today. Gulf Shores is beautiful! When we visited our friends in Alabama, I found the people to be so friendly . . . . everywhere we went! Reminded me of Texas. I could move to Alabama in a heartbeat!

Mobile has a beautiful convention center and downtown is so neat and clean. The historic district is remarkable! It is wonderful that they were able to save a lot of the trees. Our friends said before the hurricane it was like driving under a tree canopy. In a few years, perhaps it will be another tree canopy.

Ann – I told khintx that I saw you here & she would love to see you too. If you click on my name, it’ll take you to Reality Chatter, which is where some of us hang out now. Jaquey goes there sometimes too. You’ll have to register in order to comment though. It’s really cool there. Val has RC on her blogroll too, which was really sweet of her to do. Hope to see you there.

Hi Ann,
Merle is “The” real deal. I’ve been a fan of Merle’s ever since I can remember. My dad, who loved Merle’s music was at the show here in Phila. that was Merle’s live recording called, “The Fightin’ Side”. GREAT album by the way Anyway, as I got older and became a musician I became a fan of The Strangers as well. So seeing a Haggard concert was always a thrill because I was a fan of the show as a whole. I met Merle briefly one night before a show for an autograph and for the first time in my life, I was speechless. I’ve met a lot of people, in fact most of my guitar heroes I’ve met, but for some reason, meeting Merle was just different and a moment I’ll never forget. I was alone behind the building where the buses were, it was freezing! lol The show had started, Tammy Wynette was on stage opening the show. Everyone else went inside and I said I was gonna try to meet Merle, so they laughed and we parted ways. lol Bonnie Owens opened the door to the bus and asked me if I’d like a cup of coffee. I was thrilled, but kept my cool lol, and accepted. Bonnie invited me on the bus and I say with her, Biff Adams and Norman Hamlet and had coffee and small talk for a short while. When I first stepped inside, Bonnie mentioned that I probably didn’t know who she was. I assured her I knew full well who she was, and was a fan of her’s too. I would have been happy with that, having coffee with them was beyond anything I’d expected. Anyway, Bonnie told me Merle’s bus would be pulling in soon and I was welcome to wait inside with them, and to “Relax, you can consider us all friends”. She was a really nice lady and I’ll always remember how kind of a person she was, and also very sincere. I didn’t feel at all like any of them had that “I’m a star” or “Better Than” attitude. Anyway. Merle’s bus finally pulled in, Bonnie told me to go ahead and knock on the door, and to say she sent me over. Some guy, I couldn’t tell you who or what he looked like now? A guy opened the door and told me Merle was in the back rehearsing or jamming? I forget which he said, but Merle was in the back playing music, to come in and wait a second. Merle walked out, my mouth stopped working as I fumbled for a piece of paper for him to sign. My mind instantly thought of my buddy inside who I left my camera with! lol Merle told me to put the paper away and got out a picture of himself and signed it for me. I thanked him for all the years of great music and maybe a word or two more and that was it! lol I’ve seen Merle’s show a bunch of times. Before my dad passed away, that was one of the things he and I always did together, we always went to see Merle together whenever we could. It was our night out as buddies.
My dad’s side of the family is from all over down south. One of my dad’s good buddies moved to Texas years and years ago and bought a ranch. My dad and this guy rode horses together for years, and when I was young I learned to ride which became another outing we shared and loved. Anyway, dad and I went to visit his buddy and got to see Merle while we were out there. What a fantastic trip. That place was huge, I’m sorry to hear it’s no longer in business. But I still have my Billy Bobs bandanna and jacket. Actually I’ll have to look, I think the jacket says Ft. Worth Stockyards on it?
That’s awesome you know those guys personally. I’d love to sit and chat with Merle, he seems like someone who’s be interesting to listen and talk to on a personal level. Of course Willie I’ve seen a few times as he always puts on a great show as well. I lived up state Pa. for a lot of years and Willie did a show on a farm one night that was fantastic. Outdoor big stage set up. It seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere! lol I hate living in the city. I could never figure out how my grandparents loved it so much? lol I was told my grandmother came to Philadelphia for a visit when she was young and loved the convenience of everything you need being within walking distance and she moved here for that reason. But I have family all over the south and mid west. I got out of the city years ago, but ran into a stretch of hard times and moved back for work. I still regret it, and I normally would have rode it out. But my wife was pregnant at the time so I did what I thought at the time was best. I was pretty set to head to West Virginia or South Carolina a couple years ago but that’s when my dad passed away. But I’ll get out one of these days again. Times are changing. It’s kind of depressing not having a Johnny Cash show to look forward to anymore, Merle hasn’t been through my area in a long time, Waylon has passed away. I’m grateful I came up during the days of the greatest entertainers this world will ever see. There just won’t ever be another Elvis, or Johnny Cash, George Jones, or Haggard (who still sound great I might add). Country music has some really good performers but it just isn’t the same in my opinion. Those guys are all larger than life figures. It’s the same in all music really. Back when the music was the priority and the goal. Today it all about how you look, what’s “In”, etc.. It just isn’t the same. Anyway, I’m rambling on here! Geeze! lol Thanks for sharing that Ann. That must have been a lot of fun seeing those shows and knowing those people. I think it would be neat to go fishing with Merle or sit in and jjust watch during a recording session. I always thought it would be cool just to sit with a couple of acoustic guitars and jam with one of those guys privately. I can’t explain it, I wouldn’t care if anyone else was there or new about it. Like a back porch sorta jam. Noone sings those old Jimmy Rodgers songs like “Hag”. lol

Anyway, Take care Ann, thanks for your post

Hi AnnTX–What a nice reunion we had! I hadnt lost track of Julie, khintx, SUB, Estee,or Eva. Eventually will all be back in touch. I see Julie told you about RC. That is also a great site. But I still haven’t figured out everything over there.

Icereffy quit posting after he asked a few times about you and no one had an answer for him. Mart I am not sure about. I have never really posted with her so not sure if she is still there. I will watch for her though. Hardly anyone posts late at night like you 3 did.

Thank you for all the material to read and listen to about Emma. I will read tommorrow. To tired tonight. I had no idea you knew some from her family. What a beautiful little girl. So nice that you can visit her too. Her and Caylee I am sure have made friends with each other. Oh my that almost has me crying when I wrote that.

My sister came to spend the day with me today. So I had a wonderful day. She is 2 years younger than me.

I see you are still running 100 miles an hour.You certainly must be a very high energy person. I used to be that way too. But I never was involved with so many things like you are. It takes a special person to do all that you do.

Well until next time!

Has anyone heard from Gracie34? I sure hope all is well with her family, it’s been a while! Sure miss her late night humor!

» Bob said: { Jul 30, 2010 – 09:07:21
~~~~~~~
Hi, Bob!

Thank you for your comment! I really enjoyed reading it. It seems you and your dad had some special times together. How nice and I’m sure those “together times” are great memories for you. Loved the story about Bonnie’s bus and Merle! It does not surprise me about the picture and Merle. He is such a nice person. I have not talked to him since the mid-90′s.

So . . . you play the guitar. The guitar is my favorite musical instrument although I do not play.

Yes, Merle is “the Man”! The era you spoke of was one on the greatest in C & W history. There was such great talent back then. I shared your comment with my husband and he said he could not have said it better. He loves music from that era. There is an FM station in Houston that plays only music from those days and it is the only station my husband listens to. On occasion, when I drive his truck, I’ll change stations and forget to put it on “his” station when I get home. It irritates him! LOL

So you live in Pa. I have relatives that live in the New Wilmington area. They are in the midst of Amish country. They are not Amish. They bought some acreage and built a home a few years ago. He works in Ohio. They have had it with the snow (lived in Pa. all their lives) and will be moving to Texas in Oct. or Jan. depending on when his transfer goes through. They are looking forward to mild Texas winters. I don’t know how they are going to survive our hot, brutal summers!

Yes, when you went to Billy Bob’s in Tx, it was at the Ft. Worth Stockyards. I think Billy Bob’s still is in business but as I stated in my previous comment, it is under new ownership. A couple of years ago, one of our local radio stations was giving away tickets to a performance there in a “be the 12th caller” contest.

Perhaps one of these days you and your family will be able to move back to the country.

I live in the country. My parents (now deceased) owned a ranch so I grew up on a ranch among horses. I don’t ride any more but I am an accomplished horse rider. I love horses! Beautiful animals! The ranch is still in our family and was divided among me and my two siblings. I lived in Houston for many years and I am so fortunate that I was able to move “back home” and get out of the big city!

Take care and I do enjoy reading your comments here and on the other threads!

Hi, Jaquey!

Indeed, it was a nice reunion and a real pleasant surprise for me! Dee has a sharp eye and I’m so glad she left me the comment about master of links! It was enough of a clue to let me know it was ‘dee’!

So nice that you keep up with so many. I blogged with the ones you mentioned. SUB would use to tell me that she would check the blog site first thing in the morning and C/P all of my links and save them to read later in the day. I miss SUB as well as my other friends. SUB had a great sense of humor!

I’m sorry about Icereffy. I really enjoyed blogging with him. As you might know, he is an ice hockey referee in Canada.

I was more than happy to provide info about how to find media articles on Young’s trial. I provided the Link to the video of the Impact Statement. Ch 13 (Houston) was the only TV station that posted it in its entirety. It would have been difficult to find. I’m sorry I could not provide links for you on the other info. Hope you check out all of the videos under the Impact video. They all pertain to the trial.

Yes I know Emma’s paternal side of the family. In fact, I was in town earlier and visited with one of her great uncles when I ran across him in the grocery store. Of course, I did not mention anything about Young being in prison. We did not even discuss the case.

It is nice that your sister came to spend the day with you, Jaquey. I have thought about you often. You are a very sweet, kind person and like me . . . do not like folks to post rumors or no link to back up a questionable statement!

Jaquey, I know you shared some of your health issues with me. Please get plenty of rest and take it easy. I wish you many “good” days and tons of “great” days!

I am so happy that our paths have crossed again!

Val has a huge selection of “Smileys”. I’m like a little kid in a candy store! LOL

Later ~ ~ ~

» Julie said: { Jul 30, 2010 – 09:07:13 }
~~~~~~~
Hi, Julie!

I clicked on your name! That is cool! I can tell you are an advanced blogger…amazing how you did that!

That is a neat site. It covers a lot of different cases. Please tell khintx hello for me!

I did not get to spend a lot of time on Reality Chatter but I will go back and check it out more thoroughly when I have time. It is very nice of Val to include it on her blogroll. Some sites won’t even let a Link go through to Val’s site in a comment referencing an article by Val. Ridiculous!

Do you ever see Cara? She and I were following Emma’s case. If you see her, please tell her hello for me and Lucas Coe’s trial is scheduled for 9-13-10. Thanks in advance, Julie.

Well, I need to go for now. Have lots of things I need to get done today. Julie, have a great day! Later ~ ~ ~

» Ann – Tx said: { Jul 31, 2010 – 02:07:19 }
~~~~~~~
Correction: Yes I know Emma’s paternal side of the family. Should be:
Yes, I know Emma’s maternal side of the family.

I do not know the paternal side of the family. Sorry about my mistake!

Ann,
Hi and thank you
Yeah the music just isn’t what it used to be. So much has changed including TV. All these so called news shows like Nancy Grace etc.. or Reality TV. I miss The Glenn Campbell Good Time Hour! lol
These days I enjoy Marty Stuart’s show on Saturday night, and the same channel reruns old shows like Pop Goes The Country, The Porter Wagner Show, and the Wilburn Brothers.
There just isn’t much “Family” entertainment on TV anymore. It’s sad.
Ya’ know when Johnny Cash passed away it really hit me. He was one of my favorites all my life. And it just made me realize how much things are changing. I guess it’s normal at my age now to be thinking of these things. But I just don’t see anyone being able to come close, let alone topping the artists of years ago. Including movie stars. They aren’t larger than life figures anymore like they used to make you feel. John Wayne to James Cagney etc.. When you saw these people on TV you knew they were “Stars”. They always looked like what you imagined they would. I can’t explain it. Today they look like they just rolled out of bed and ran down to accept their award! lol
Even the musicians , back in the day they mostly played by ear. They weren’t schooled in any way, but they were the best at what they did. Guys like Roy Nichols, Jerry Reed, Roy Clark, etc.. Hearing those guys play and seeing them play was thrilling. Especially to a young musician. I’m just grateful for the time I came up in and for the music my dad turned me onto as a kid. I haven’t been on a horse in a few years now due to my back troubles. But I used to love to ride. My dad, in his day was a real good horsemen.
When he was young, way before I came along, he could do all that trick riding stuff. I still have some old video projector movies of him doing that stuff. He wasn’t professional, but he could have been. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and thanks again.
I’ll quit typing, I could ramble for hours talking about that stuff! lmao

Take care, Hello to your husband. And leave his station alone! lol

Hi Ann-

I will tell kh you said Hello.

Not only is Val on RC’s blogroll, there’s an entire thread devoted to Hinky Meter. I’m glad you got a chance to at least check RC out.

I haven’t seen Cara in a very long time, but if I ever do see her, I’ll give her your message.

You have a great day too.

I have to go too.

Bob said: { Jul 31, 2010 – 03:07:04 }
~~~~~~~
Good morning, Bob!

I loved your comments! Had to LMAO on the following comment:

Today they look like they just rolled out of bed and ran down to accept their award! lol

Bob, my husband watches the shows you mentioned. He also watches Hee-Haw on Sunday. He is a big John Wayne fan. He loves it when they have a John Wayne marathon or a Clint Eastwood (western movies) marathon. Also, loves the Western channel . . . the old westerns. When it’s marathon time, I’m ready to take my Laptop and go outside. I about jump out of my chair . . . gun shots. After a while, I have to ask him would he please turn it down. And, I’m in another room!

It was a sad day when Johnny Cash passed away. He was a legend. I saw Johnny at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo as part of The Highway Men group. I think that is what they called the group. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. Wow! Did they put on a show! Those 4 on the stage at one time . . . awesome! Speaking of Kris, did you like his wife’s music? I like Rita Coolidge.

My husband read your comment and said “Right on! I agree with Bob, especially about leaving my station alone in my truck!”

I like Marty Stewart. He played at our County Fair back in 1989. That was over 20 years ago and I still remember it! Wow! Roseanne Cash also performed. Huge crowd and great performance by both! That is when they both had songs on the Charts and they were “hot” and in demand!

You are right about no “family entertainment” on TV. I know what you mean.

That is so neat that you have projector movies of your dad doing horse riding tricks. You might be able to get someone to convert it to a DVD.

My dad was incredible on a horse. When I was a kid, I loved to watch my dad and the other “cowboys” during cattle round-up. If my dad wanted to cut a certain cow, heifer or steer out of the herd, he could rope one in open pasture running at a full gallop and never miss! And let me tell you, the cattle are moving at a fast speed. The ground shook but it was not an earthquake! He could have been a pro in Cutting Horse Competition.

Bob, do you still play the guitar? Do you go to jam sessions or jam with friends? Do you play C & W, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues?

You said you could ramble for hours about that stuff. Well, I could “listen” to you (read) for hours. Real interesting!

See you later. I need to respond to Julie and then I need to go to sleep. My bed is calling me. I have to get up soon to go to church and I have not even gone to sleep yet! LOL Yikes!

Later ~ ~ ~

Julie said: { Jul 31, 2010 – 03:07:21
~~~~~~~
Thank you Julie re kh. It is really nice that RC has a thread dedicated to the Hinky Meter. I certainly want to check that thread out.

I like the calendar. That is neat! I did look for Emma Thompson. I could not find her. Do you have a thread for Emma on RC? If you do, please add Lucas Ruric Coe Trial (Emma Thompson) – 9-13-10 to your calendar.

One of these days, Cara will surprise me. She quit posting on a regular basis there. It seems after you left. She’d only pop in every now and then to inquire about Coe’s trial dates in Montgomery & Harris Counties. It was always so delightful to see Cara. We were “bird dogging” Coe!

I will check out RC . .. .click on this and that!
Later ~ ~ ~ Time for bed!

Hi Ann – No, I don’t think RC has a thread for Emma Thompson. BUT….here’s the awesome part…..if you do join up there, members are allowed to start a thread, so that would be a good opportunity for you to bring attention to Emma over there.

I hope to bump into Cara one of these days too.

Talk later.

Hi, Julie!

I went to Reality Chatter (RC) to check out Eric’s thread. Nice how you linked back to The Hinky Meter!

While there, I did check out the statements under ‘Register’. ( I think that was the tab I clicked on).

I am not on many blogs because I don’t have the time to be effective if I join more than two. Currently, I am posting here at The Hinky Meter and BNN on occasion. On BNN, I am following the Zachary Pittmann case in Louisiana. I intend to assist Zach’s mother, Christy, in getting media coverage as there has been maybe one article by a local newspaper. According to Simon, that media outlet wanted to charge her $80 to print it! Simon and Jan Barrett, editors at BNN, have brought attention to this case and are currently covering it on their Sunday Blog Talk Radio Show. I have already done some things (behind the scenes) to assist Jan and Simon.

Besides all of my other projects locally, I have limited time to be on more than two blogs. Although I have not thoroughly checked out RC, I think RC is a really neat site. I would be interested in joining. I am very interested in bringing attention to Emma Thompson’s case for no other reason than to expose and bring attention to those that failed Emma. Maybe awareness of Emma’s brutal, horrific death could save the life of another innocent child!

I don’t know if I could be very active because of my time limitations. I would go that extra mile for Emma . . . even if it meant me staying up all night!

The Hinky Meter is now my main blog site to visit and comment. I have been reading here from day one and came on board when I saw the article Val did on Eric Preimseberger. There are such great comments on the various threads here that I never felt a need to comment because it seemed anything I wanted to say was already stated by someone!

I have concerns about joining various blogs. I became confident a long time ago that my e-mail addy would be safe with Val on The Hinky Meter and this is a safe, reputable site. She is the site owner and moderator and is the only one that has my personal info.

Could you please tell me who owns RC, who are the moderators and more importantly, who would have access to my e-mail address? I understand about the IP so it is not necessary for you to comment on it.

Like I said, I am very interested in a thread for Emma Thompson. Lucas Coe’s trial is 9-13-10, and it is the “big fish”. I think there will be a tremendous amount of Houston media coverage on this trial. During that trial, I will be working closely with three local media sources outside of the greater Houston area to ensure updates to the trial are covered. Also, I plan to attend a few days of Coe’s trial if my schedule permits. I am scheduling various things around that date so hopefully, I can attend a few days!

During Abigail Young’s trial, major media sources in Texas, i.e., Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, etc. picked up the story and covered it. ABC (National) had a very interesting article on their website just days before the trial started.

As Emma’s case unfolded after her brutal, horrific death on June 27, 2009, media sources nationwide picked up the story although it was not on CNN, and national ABC, CBS, Fox, etc. Various TV stations and newspapers throughout the U. S. and Mexico covered Emma’s case as it unfolded.

So . . . Julie, if you could answer my above questions, I would appreciate it. If I join, I will have to go back to the School of Julie. You will have to “take me under your wing” and show me “the ropes”.

I’m still trying to learn my way around “The Hinky”. I intend to be a long time participant here. This is an awesome site and I always look forward to articles by Valhall! I have tremendous respect for Val, The Hinky and the people that post here. There are some awesome regulars on this site!

Julie, I’m looking forward to your reply! Thanks in advance!

I will check back off and on for your reply. I will be out of pocket from 2:30 to 5 today.

Julie, one more thing before I go . . . (I sound like Columbo)

On RC, is that a picture of you with that big, bad gun?

Ann-I am amazed at all the time & effort you put into the various cases, and all that you do in your free (if any) time. I commend you for all that you do. You definitely put 120% into your efforts.

I will try to find out the answers to your questions re: RC. I’ve been there since 10/15/09. We get kind of silly there at times, but all of us are 100% devoted to the various cases. No, that’s not me on the gravatar. That’s Bridget Fonda from the movie Point of No Return. You’re the second person that asked me that. btw, The School of Julie, that made me

Talk soon.

Ann – your statement, “This is an awesome site and I always look forward to articles by Valhall! I have tremendous respect for Val, The Hinky and the people that post here. There are some awesome regulars on this site!”, I agree 100%!!

» Julie said: { Aug 1, 2010 – 02:08:19 }
~~~~~~~~
Hey, Julie . . . . . I’m back! Thank you in advance for trying to find answers to my questions.

Yes, I stay very busy! Sometimes, I’m stretched rather thin! When I’m committed to a situation or have strong feelings about something, I’ll pursue whatever avenues necessary to get results.

I have always had a high energy level so I can get a lot accomplished. You should see my ‘To Do’ list some days! But . . . I like the challenge. I am goal oriented and I do multi-task. It’s like constantly switching gears.

My big, important goal for tomorrow is to hope the repairman shows up to fix my oven. Big goal! LOL Our stove is only 4 years old and the oven is not working properly. It cycles from 350 to 100. I baked a cake the other day and it should have been done in 30 minutes. It took 1 1/2 hours! Wow! Not good!

We have a bumper crop of juicy peaches and I was planning on making a peach cobbler as a dessert for Sunday dinner. No way. But I refrigerated the peaches and they should be fine until tomorrow. I’m still thinking about how wonderful my peach cobbler would have been!

I’ll check back here periodically to see if you have any answers. No big hurry because I probably would not join until the end of August.

Thank you, Julie! Glad you got a kick out of the “School of Julie”. It’s the school where Ann-Tx does not have to pay tuition and gets to be “under the wing of Julie”.

I’m putting this in chat because it is just my personal feelings.

Today I needed to make a run to the local Dollar General to stock back up on drinks and such for daughter. She has been laying around for days and days now and she asked to go with me. So we went out and I loaded up the cart with all the juices and water and teas that she picked out, along with pregger-woman snack foods and such. Grabbed a few household cleaning items and went to get in line.

There was a young boy in front of me with a pack of batteries and two one dollar bills in his hand. He got to the counter and I didn’t hear what was said between him and the check-out lady but he scurried off toward the back of the store. He was back in just a couple of seconds and stepped back up to the counter.

I heard the clerk say (in not so kind a voice) “No, not those, the Dollar General brand.” There was a lady waiting with just one item and I told her to go ahead of us because we had a full cart. I turned to my daughter and said, “I’m going to go help this kid find what he needs.”

He looked just like an older Kyron. He was probably about 9 years old. Taller than Kyron, but same hair cut, same lanky, frail build, thick glasses and that smile. I walked toward him and I asked, “What are you looking for?” He was very timid, like Desiree and Kaine describe Kyron. He said, “Triple A’s” and he ran his finger across the front of the package. “I’m trying to find the Dollar General batteries. I found these here” and pointed to a spot where batteries were hanging “but I only have two dollars so she said to get the Dollar General batteries.”

I didn’t see any Dollar General batteries nearby. I said to him, “Well, the ones you have” (they were Energizers) “are better than what she is telling you to get, so here.” I opened my coin purse and took out a $5 bill. I said, “You go on up and pay for those and whatever change you have just give back to me.”

I walked back up and got in line with my daughter and our cart behind the boy. The clerk rang it up. $7.60. (My hubby usually buys batteries and I had no idea how expensive they had gotten!) The young boy never looked at me…he just held out his money and the clerk said, “Do you want me to go find the others?” I spoke up and said, “Nah, here.” And I dug out 60 cents. When she finished the check out she handed him his batteries and a receipt. Then he turned to me with that timid smile, no words, just a look at me. I smiled real big and held up my hand and waved bye to him. He just smiled at me and walked out and got on his bicycle.

I so wish it had been Kyron.

P.S. I forgot to add. My daughter does not read here. But I visit with her occasionally on updates about Caylee and Kyron. I have shown her pictures of Kyron. She was so struck by his adorable smile and cuteness.

As we were driving back home she said, “That boy looked like that boy that is missing.” I asked, “Kyron?” She said, “Yeah.” All I could say was “I know.”

Val thank you for sharing that with us. I am sorry it wasn’t Kyron too, but I am so glad that little boy found a good Samaritan like you that helped him.

I am also very happy to hear that your daughter and grand baby are doing well and that she is keeping her little ones swimming pool full(this is what my older kids called my need for keeping myself hydrated while pregnant with their little brother.)

Please tell her to keep up the good work- I know it isn’t always fun drinking and drinking.

Baby needs the swimming pool full LOL

So true, Momof3! I will let her know you said that. She’ll get a kick out of it! She really is doing well. And…she’s getting big as a boat!!!

Val, thanks for sharing that story. It was really nice. LOL on the battery prices, I didn’t know they were so much either, hubby’s job. Also, I’m glad your daughter is doing so well. I’m happy for you.

Ann-I should have your answer probably tomorrow. I know you said no hurry, but I didn’t want you thinking I forgot about you.

Good luck with getting your oven fixed. Things shouldn’t break down so soon after you buy them. We bought a new washer & dryer less than a year ago, and the timing thing went out on the washer. It would start agitating at the beginning of the load, while it was filling up and then at the end of the final spin cycle, instead of shutting off, it started filling up again and would put about an inch of water in the bottom, so I’d have to stand there and manually stop it. If I missed that part, I’d have to put it back on spin and stand there while the water spun out. Luckily it was still under 1 year, so it got a new timing piece and works fine now.

btw, your peach cobbler sounds like it would have been good.

Wow! So glad to hear daughter and granddaughter are doing so well!! Prayers are being answered! Every day is a blessing for little Riley! Grow, baby, grow!

Val, hope you can take a brief moment and rejoice for little Riley! Your persistence and TLC has helped her to stay put in her mom for long enough to make it past 30 weeks!! Hooray for all of you! The odds were not in your favor to make it this long– rejoice!
Celebrate the small victories when difficulties loom near!

Val,

Thought this was cute!!! If you don’t like it you can delete it.

[IMG]http://i30.tinypic.com/30wqgig.gif[/IMG]

Julie (12:08),

Thank you! I’ll check here for it.

Hi, Jaquey!

Did you see the comment I left you on 7-31-10? It is now upthread.

» Ann – Tx said: { Jul 31, 2010 – 02:07:19 }

Hi, FRG!

If you don’t mind my asking, are you the same FRG that is on the Live Chat – Blogtalk Radio – Simon Barrett’s Sunday Radio Show?

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8069043/

Slain girl’s grandparents: We miss her
some articles on Tehgan at this site
Seems like A group of supports of Helen Reyes were at her hearing and caused a scene.

Ann- there are two owners & one Admin that have access to the e-mail addy. You can always create a secondary e-mail addy for free at yahoo.com. Hope that helps.
Gotta run.

Man Convicted of Drowning Son Over Child Support

FULLERTON — An Orange County man has been convicted of drowning his son in a bathtub over child support issues.
The Superior Court panel returned its decision Tuesday and will consider on Wednesday whether Gideon Omondi was insane at the time of the 2006 murder.
His defense attorney says Omondi was distraught about a custody fight and didn’t know what he did was wrong.
Omondi was also convicted Tuesday of trying to kill his son earlier by putting him in the trunk of his car and dousing it with gasoline.
Omondi pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
If jurors find that Omondi is insane, he’ll be sent to a state mental hospital. Otherwise, he faces a 25 years to life in prison.
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http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-child-support-drowning,0,7673938.story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is such crap. Insanity my caboose !

This story is even worse…
Mom Gets Life for Killing Daughters, Keeping Bodies in Freezer
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-mom-freezer,0,964776.story

These children were adopted special needs children. The woman collected $150,000.00 for these abused and murdered children, even after their murders.

Hi, Julie!
Thanks for the info. I appreciate you taking the time to get the answers to my questions.

This is the first chance I had to check here since noon. I’ve been real busy today. No time for blogs today.

When I have time, we’ll talk more about it again. It’s going to be a real busy week for me this week.

Oh, the repairman did come late this afternoon and my oven is fixed. My stove is only a few years old. Cost us a little over $180 – part, labor and service call fee! I am going to make a peach cobbler tonight!

If you see Jaquey, please tell her I left her a message on 7-31-10. Thanks!

An introduction to Riley Marie. Okay, we got the 3D/4D imaging done today. It was very difficult for the tech to get good pictures because there isn’t much room left and the placenta kept causing distortion…that and Riley Marie was VERY uncooperative. She had her head turned toward the back of mommy and even when she would briefly turn to where the tech thought she could get a good pic, Riley would put her hand over her face or turn back around. She’s working up a good streak of stubborn already!

But I do have these two pics to share. Introducing Riley Marie – age T-10 weeks and counting. In these you are seeing her straight on in the face with her left arm up over her left eye and her little hand over her forehead.

In this second one…she’s smiling!

Oh, Val. She is beautiful.

Thank you, Mary. In the second one she has squish-nose because of the placenta. She doesn’t have much room left at all. She is turned head down…and spends most of her time backwards (looking at my daughter’s spine).

As far as the doc visit went. Daughter is remaining at dilated to a 2 and 50% effaced. So she has not progressed any. The doc is now wanting to see her every 2 weeks.

We’re getting there!

My daughter was born with chipmunk cheeks (still has them for the most part) and so was Riley-daddy (still has them for the most part). And Riley appears to have those same chipmunk cheeks….and pout-lips!

Oh, little Riley Marie is beautiful, Val! Thank you for sharing the pictures and the update! I am so glad your daughter is doing well. Little Riley too!

Long before I started posting here, I’ve been reading your updates on your daughter and Riley and the suggestions to you from some of your regulars.

Oh, Val…she’s precious!

I know you and your daughter have had a great many concerns with this difficult pregnancy, but when I look at baby’s beautiful little face, all I can think is that your hearts must be very full tonight.

God bless you all.

Val, I had a hunch there might be a baby Riley update here today!! Such beautiful U/S pics of your precious granddaughter!! LOVE that little pouty smile!

Head down and facing mom’s spine– PERFECT!!! Let’s hope she stays in just that position! Not OP/ Sunnyside up, or any other odd position. Riley is settling into the best position for vaginal delivery!! 50% and 2 cm– that is really ok– many moms are at that point late in pregnancy. My intuition is telling me that she’ll make it to 34+ weeks. Even if she goes a little early, most babies born at 30+ weeks really do very well, as a graduating NICU class! I hope this is a comfort to you and your family. But I’m still praying for 36+ weeks!!

So glad to hear that your daughter was doing well enough for a brief “parole” trip off bed/ house rest out shopping! (The battery story at Dollar store.) She and Riley are SO fortunate that Grandma Val was very persistent weeks ago to chase down and manage all of the health concerns! Your efforts are paying off with weeks in the womb!

Grow, baby, grow!

HI,
This is in reply to a post Monica made on a Casey Anthony thread. I thought I better put it here.

Hi,
If I may comment about the private lives of people like Tiger Woods etc.. for a moment?
While I agree their private lives Should be private. It’s also been common knowledge since the beginning of “Celebrity Hero” time, that fans and others are interested in, and wonder what, Celebrities do when their not in the spotlight. Right or wrong that’s the life your world becomes when you’ve “Made It”.
Also for people who are sports figures especially, they are probably some of the most popular role models for kids. Some kid somewhere looks up to Tiger Woods, and tells himself he wants to be as good or better than Tiger someday. This kid is excited to get an autograph or to just see Tiger golf in person. (Using Tiger as the example.)
There is a huge responsibility on Tiger to conduct himself as honorable of a man as he can. That’s part of the game. It should be considered part of the job for the amount of money these people make playing sports. He’s an adult, a married adult. He has a responsibility to conduct himself properly, and make amends to his fans or whoever when he screws up. That shows integrity, And it teaches the kid who wants to be like him, that just because Tiger is a great golfer, rich and famous, he also is still a man who makes mistakes just like anyone else, and being a star doesn’t excuse him from consequences. And an apology would show that kid, his hero has integrity. He was able to admit he was wrong, apologized, and did something about it. It’s my opinion these celebrities have a responsibility that comes along with the profession they chose. Fair or not that’s the deal. Then there are the celebrities that think because they’re celebrities they walk on water. That’s just being a spoiled brat. Sports figures, actors, musicians, etc. etc.. making tens of millions of dollars and acting like a spoiled brat they should be fired or banned from their profession if that’s how they’re gonna be. Is it so horrible to live a respectable life? Meanwhile men and women who SHOULD be making that kind of money, Police, Firemen, Nurses, etc.. they’re the real heroes we rarely hear about unless they screw up. Or our men and women in the service, they should be the ones making that kind of money. They are our true heroes. But the little kid doesn’t see it that way. He sees Tiger looking good, dressing good, playing golf, pretty women on his arm, money to burn, and ducking out of the way instead of standing up like a man. I think they should be accountable for their private lives. Today it’s all a big joke or a serious problem gets turned into a “Reality Show”!
It’s ridiculous. Celebrity Rehab! What a disgrace! Taking a serious issue like addiction and making a TV show out of it so those celebrities can make a buck while they get clean. That’s bullshit! I did my 28 days years and years ago and it wasn’t in a freaking resort with hot tubs and tennis courts and I sure as hell wasn’t getting paid! I was getting better, getting my life together, and it was no joke and sure as hell no TV show! Then I went to work, got married and raised a family like a man. Made amends where and when I had to. And I didn’t do it with expectations of forgiveness I did it because it was the right thing to do for me. These celebrities today make me sick. Paris Hilton famous for what? What is her talent? Oh her family owns hotels! Give me a break! How many breaks will Charlie Sheen get because he’s Charlie Sheen? And I like Charlie Sheen, but Jesus! So saying Tiger Woods doesn’t owe an apology, I say he owes more than that!

Just My Opinion

Val, awesome baby pics….boy, those sonograms have come a long way, huh? Im glad to hear mom & Riley are doing well.

Finally got hold of a copy of Fingerprints….fascinating read, thanks for the recommend.

D

It doesn’t get much worse than this.

http://www.wftv.com/news/24493044/detail.html

This guy who killed four members of one family can get out of jail for $20,000 His bail is 10% of the $200,000 bail set by the judge. WHAT! He killed a father and his three grown sons. BAIL?????????????????????????????????????? WTF!

Val, WOW! The sonograms of Riley are precious, so cute! You can really see her pretty little mouth with those chippy cheeks. My kids were born before sonograms and they really are amazing to me today. You really feel that this baby is here already but thinking we just need a little more time. Congratulations on her being a beautiful girl!

Boz- it must be a typo, it should be $2million. I can’t believe it would only be $20,000

Val-the sonogram pictures are awesome! I know your heart is jumping with joy. I’m glad your daughter & granddaughter are both doing well.

Great pictures. I know you are one happy grand Mom.
I would take anything for my grandkids. Love them to pieces.
Love to have them stay with me for the summer, even tho, it costs me an arm and leg
and they run me ragged. LOL

Grandkids are so special!!!!!

Convicted Burglar Sues Captors Over Citizen’s Arrest

http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/burglar-michael-dupree-sues-victim-anthony-mckoy-for-rough-citizens-arrest/19577744?icid=main|hp-desktop|dl9|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fweird-news%2Farticle%2Fburglar-michael-dupree-sues-victim-anthony-mckoy-for-rough-citizens-arrest%2F19577744

This one take the prize. LMAO

Thank you all very much for the kind words about daughter and baby-Riley. I am so glad they are doing so well. Daughter is now on 2 week doctor visits and we are getting near the goal line. I think we’re getting close to being out of the woods. I sincerely believe it would not have gone so well if it were not for the prayers, thoughts, support and guidance I have received from my friends. You are all very special people.

Val,

That’s wonderful news! I hope things are going well with your parents also, haven’t seen an update but I haven’t been to the Just Chat much either.

Off to look at pics of Baby Riley

Awe, it’s like she’s playing peek-a-boo already!

She was definitely playing peek-a-boo! She was down right stubborn! Every time the lady would get her in her sights to get a good shot of her she would either roll away or cover her face with her hands. She was a stinker-butt, I’m telling you!

Thank you for caring about my parents as well. My father is slipping away very fast, both physically and mentally. And everything is taking a great toll on my mom, but she is staying strong. My older sister came down this weekend and spent some time styling mom’s hair. It made my mom feel beautiful (as she is…but she doesn’t always FEEL that way). She looked so beautiful when they came by Sunday to show me her new hairdo. I’m glad she had that special attention just to her.

Dad is swinging severely from day to day. When I was over on Saturday he was so physically weak he could not get out of his chair even with help from mom. It took me and her to get him up. He was incoherent and just basically seemed to not even be in the same reality as us. Then I went to eat Sunday dinner with them and he was a totally different person. He got up out of his chair on his own, and he was much better at attempting conversation (that doesn’t mean the words were there, but you can tell when his mind is working versus when it is not).

Dad has been telling stories to my mom that are upsetting to her…stories of the past. I do not believe most of these stories happened and my mom, who has never questioned my father, can’t seem to come to grasp with the fact that Dad is hallucinating now and getting past events all muddled into a rewrite of history. I try to make her understand, but she can’t. It is all very upsetting.

But I’m grateful for every day I get with them. They are two very special people.

Beautiful pics of Riley, Val! I have never seen the 3D sonograms before. I’m so glad your daughter is doing so well and everything seems to be going smoothly.
Good luck with your parents, I went through that with my parents, my mom was the one who had problems with senility. Lots of prayers for your whole family!

Thanks for letting us know how your parents are doing. I am glad your mom had a dress up day. I am sure she is so grateful to you and your sister for being there for her and your father.

I can only imagine how hard it is on your mother to hear your father re-write history. Hopefully having you there to help her see that that is what he is doing will help ease her mind.

You sound like a wonderful, daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother Val, I think your family is lucky! I know we are

Untitled

Do not ask me to remember.
Don’t try to make me understand.
Let me rest and know you’re with me.
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I’m confused beyond your concept.
I am sad and sick and lost.
All I know is that I need you
To be with me at all cost.

Do not lose you patience with me.
Do not scold or curse or cry.
I can’t help the way I’m acting,
Can’t be different ‘though I try.

Just remember that I need you,
That the best of me is gone.
Please don’t fail to stand beside me,
Love me ’till my life is done.

- Unknown

Those first baby photos of Riley are priceless. The second one, with the smile…it’s like she’s quite proud of herself at dodging most of the photos and then, finally agreeing to…okay, well just this ONE then…and now, back to sleep!
It’s amazing what they can do these days when before we could only imagine what a baby would look like. It’s very plain to see already that she is a very beautiful little girl.

The Alzheimer Prayer
Author Unknown

Please grant my visitors tolerance for my confusion,
Forgiveness for my irrationality and the strength
To walk with me into the mist of memory
My world has become.

Please let them take my hand and stay awhile,
Even though I seem unaware of their presence.

Help them to know how their strength
And loving care will drift slowly
Into the days to come just when I need it most.

Let them know when I don’t recognize them
That I will. . . I will.
Keep their hearts free from sorrow for me,
For my sorrow, when it comes,
Only lasts a moment, then it’s gone.

And finally, please let them know,
How very much their visits mean,
How even through this relentless mystery,
I can still feel their love.

KZ,

How sweet of you!

Val, ever the proud Grandma, Baby Riley is beautiful! Thank you for sharing those pictures with us.

Riley Marie certainly seems to be enjoying her swimming pool, all laid back and comfy.

I will continue to keep both of your girls in my prayers. One thing I thought I should mention about making sure the pool is always full….is when it comes time to drain the pool(water breaks) Wow watch out!

So nice to share in the joy of seeing your grandbaby’s smiling face Val- again thanks for sharing.

KZ,

Thank you so much for both of those poems. They are both so beautiful and really speak to my heart. I am going to print them out for my mother.

Val, So sweet and precious, your little Riley Marie. Great name “Marie”. I have a daughter, step daughter, Two Grand Daughters, and a great grand daughter who all have the middle name Marie.
My heart breaks reading about your parents. So unfair they have to suffer the confusions of the mind when these last years of their lives should be filled with pure joy.
I’ve had another loss. This is four in the past 8 months. We were all together a year ago the last of May. My Mom, five aunts and my dear friend and other Grandmother of my youngest Grand child. My Mom, two aunts and friend are gone. Guess it is little wonder
I have been sort of down & a bit lost.

Ann – Tx said: { Aug 2, 2010 – 11:08:16 }

Hi Ann!!! Nope, that one is not me.

I’m so sorry to hear that, Marica. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Damn!

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Clark-County-man-beaten-unconscious-with-vacuum/lKs6p5ZCO0aG-O7PXvL2dA.cspx

Wonder if he said, “Eureka!”

ba-dump-bump

I’ll be here all week folks.

A vacuum cleaner?…Wow, that really…sucks!

I love reading all the weird news. LOL
I know some of them are not really funny, but they do make a person laugh.
Just goes to show a person how crazy acting, people can be.
Kinda like when a person is in a place where it supposed to be serious and someone does something that makes others burst out laughing.

Funny vacuum joke, but I can’t c&p it:

http://vacuum.funnypart.com/

For all you flip-floppers…
You might appreciate this article on beef jerky architecture. (or pork maybe)

http://www.housingwatch.com/2010/08/03/house-made-of-meat-serves-up-delicious-surprises/?icid=main|main|dl4|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.housingwatch.com%2F2010%2F08%2F03%2Fhouse-made-of-meat-serves-up-delicious-surprises%2F

Closing thread and starting new one.