Killers & Judicial system...one in the same?

Before I start this blog, I want to put a disclaimer in here, so no one takes what I have to say the wrong way. I have my own opinions on certain things, but I just want people to know that the only thing i am truly prejudice against his complete stupidity, which of course, can cover a broad spectrum of things, that said though...immigration issues may come up for some who read this, but that is not what I am writing about today, so other than this disclaimer, I will not be bringing it up.

This past month has been quite a month for nationally broadcasted murders with one thing in common. First it was the three teens in NJ who were brutally murdered, another was a victim of attempted murder, as well as the murder of Deputy Ron Harrison in Florida. The latter was also a friend of a dear friend, so I got a bit more insight into his senseless killing. So is there anyone else to blame besides the killers? How about the judiciary system. These victims might have had a chance if the judicial system had done its job. The main killer in the NJ murders was released from jail on bond after raping a 5 year old, a crime alone I think is punishable by death. The Florida murder was another sad event that could have been prevented. Deputy Harrison was killed by a man who was released on $20K bond, but he was in jail for violating his parole! The latter is becoming such a big case in Florida right now, that it, along with the NJ killings, has also hit the major networks on shows like Nancy Grace and Bill O'Reilly. The prosecutors are now looking into a case against the judge that let Deputy Harrisons killer go free. The really sad thing about it, is that after the man killed the deputy, he told his ex-girlfriend her parents were next. Luckily she called them and before he could get out of his car, the mom spotted him and he drove away. That could have been two more people dead.

I just don't get it. When a person posts Bond it is only a fraction of the bail amount, ie, when the killer in the NJ murders was given bail of $150K, that's the lowest for bail for a child rape incident in NJ btw, he only had to pay $15K...or as customary, 10% of the full bail. How he managed to come up with $15K I have no idea, but let's not forget that not too much earlier, he was posting $2K bond for release from THE SAME jail on assault and battery charges stemming from a bar incident. Wow, what a guy, I can't believe he was let go TWICE in one year to continually harm people. How can someone be let go from jail for raping a child??? Then in the less than a year he commits a THIRD crime, this time resulting in the death of three college students, and it was only by the Grace of God that the fourth and I believe youngest victim of those attacks, lived...but after what she went through, what kind of life will she have?? You're a witness to death and then attacked yourself? I can only hope she finds a way to lead a semi-normal life, but this man stole any kind of security from her and he did it after being in jail at least two times in one year.

Now on to Florida later in the month of August. Last week Deputy Ron Harrison was killed by a man who should never have been out of jail. Let go on $20k bond, which he was posting because he got arrested for violating his parole, the man seemed to have picked his victim before he even killed him and Deputy Harrison never had a chance. Once again this is a man who killed an Officer of the Law who should have NEVER been released from jail. Which leads me to the one question...what is wrong with our judicial system? How can people who continually commit violent crimes like rape and murder be freed on such low bonds? People like that ought to be put in jail forever! I don't get it! I just don't get it. Luckily I read that NJ is going to reform its sanctuary laws, plus in the attacks on the college kids, the murderers bail has been revoked by request from the prosecutors and the judge who let the butt head go who killed Deputy harrison, is now under investigation. A little too late, but at least it might save someone down the road.

that's my thought for now....

Stepping Stones??

I was on myspace this morning and saw a quiz a friend of mine, since I was in grade school, took which instantly brought me back to the 80’s. It was question number five on an 80’s trivia quiz, “name three actors from the Goonies” her answer “Sean Astin (shelly), Corey Feldman and Josh Brolin.” Yes, that brought me back indeed. I remember from 13-15 I lived and breathed Sean Astin, and saw the goonies on tv, 117 times in one summer. lol! I was a teenager what can I say? While still a fan of his, I left the ‘I heart Sean Astin’ shirt behind and grew up, but every so often I time warp back to my childhood.

I remember watching the Sound of Music every Friday when I got home from school, between 5th and 7th grade. I wore out the VHS tape (yes, it seems ancient….vhs tapes. Lol!). I remember asking my parents at least once a month to watch their slides from when my Dad was stationed in Europe. I think I made them sick of their own adventures, but I am constantly thirsting for knowledge and always dreaming about going to Europe…I do want to go someday. I went to a Catholic Private school, St. Martin of Tours, from Kindergarten to Eighth grade. I went to Hawaii to stay with family almost every summer when I was in school. In ninth grade I had summer school and went to Hawaii late, but would ride my bike to SDSU to have lunch with mom and dad, while I pretended to be in the Tour De France on my way there. Lol! There’s just so much and so much keeps coming back to me that I can’t write it all down. We all have ups and downs in our childhoods, but ups and downs aside, I loved my childhood.

When people say the famous line “If I had it to do all over again” you usually hear them finish that sentence with, “I would, knowing what I know now”. Well I wouldn’t. I liked my childhood, but I wouldn’t want to relive it, regardless of what I know now or not. Every decision I make, affects another life and if I deviated from my life plan, knowing what I know, I might not be the same person I am now. I have my moments of being a complete, obnoxious moron, but 90% of the time, I am a good person, with a good heart, like a gazillion other people in the world.

I do, however, want to be more motivated to write more passionately, fighting through the ‘I’m too tired” restraints, but that will come and when it does, look out world, because I’ll be buzzing through the world like a whirl wind. =)

What happened to manners??

When I was growing up, my parents taught me values, manners and treating people with dignity and respect. I admit I am not a saint, nor have I ever claimed to be. I know everyone stumbles from time to time to keep their values in tact but if there is one thing I CAN NOT STAND, it is people who are rude. Here's a few examples...you go to the movies and people have no choice but to crawl over you. Okay, so not their fault, but would it kill them to say excuse me, or pardon me? Apparently. When you're walking in a door, would it kill someone to wait a couple more seconds to hold the door open for someone, or if someone is holding the door open would it kill someone to say thank you for the polite gesture. Apparently. When you're driving down the freeway and you knowingly speed up when you see a blinker on a car no one will let over, would it kill you to let them in? On the flip side of that, when someone let's you in, would it kill you to give them a hand wave to thank them??

What the hell is the matter with people nowadays? Are we so consumed in our everyday lives that we forget how to be polite? I didn't realize someone was behind me today and I almost let the door go, but immediately swung around to hold it open. They thanked me, but the look of shock on their faces made me realize that it doesn't happen to them often. Doing something polite takes no more than a minute or less of our time, but people don't seem to have that to spare anymore do they? It's not just the teenagers either, it's adults as well, so people shouldn't be pointing at the younger generation. Rude behavior is learned for the most part. Children emulate what they see their parents do. Not all of the time, but most of the time.

As many of you who know me can attest to, I have begun speaking up. Whether people hear me or not is another question, but I try to be loud enough. I admit it's not the best approach, but I am beyond frustrated. For example, I was right behind someone walking through the door the other day and they couldn't wait, literally, three more seconds, so I said "thank you" in a nice audible sarcastic voice...to my joy, they had to share an elevator with me. Speaking of elevators, I love it when you're close and people make eye contact with you, but let it shut in your face. nice people. I know I should just live with it, but if I just live with it or don't say something will they ever learn? I hope that at least one or two people catch what I am saying and at least think about it. How hard is it to be kind to our fellow man? Apparently too hard nowadays.

For those with manners, keep it up. For those who have no manners, I hope they never need a strangers help and if they do, well I hope the stranger passing them, isn't just like them.

off my soap box now...grrr.

could this be longer? geez.

first off, if the lowercase blogs with no correct capital letters is bugging you, then pretend i am emulating e e cummings, ok? seriously, i am having an issue with my left hand at the moment, so typing something up quick correctly is not going to happen and has to be done this way...that said...let's move on since quite a bit went on this week....well sorta but not really. lol!

first of all let's start with my blogger picture...okay, okay, before you jump to conclusions i am not going to put it down, but seriously have you seen my desk in the background...yeowie! must have been a busy week...that pic was taken about 8 months ago anyway, i only know that because it has been about that long since i have taken the time to flat iron my curls AND we moved upstairs to the 8th floor about a month ago and that is my old desk setup....before i had privacy, you should see me now, i am smack dab in the middle of the office for all to see...do i mind? not really. I'll live....make do right? lol! =) it is a little weird though...

second...okay, this is funny because i know i was about to write about men, because my finger accidentally hit the x when i was trying to type out second, it turned into sexond...oops. lol! i probably shouldn't have shared that, but then what the heck is a blog for right....okay, so guess what it was??? you got it, 300. two of my favorite actors are in that movie, but the entire group of men in their uniforms make you kinda want to drool...lol! someone get me a cold towel! ahhh! okay, let's get back to business, hee hee...i love this movie. for lack of a better way to put it, i am a sword-fighting movie junkie. i love them, braveheart, gladiator, 300, you name it...even the ones that have fight scenes, but less bloodshed fascinate me...perhaps it's the whole medieval and pre-medieval eras that intrigue me. i love swordplay, errol flynn was great at it and late at night when you watch those movies you can't help but get sucked in. the best sword fight i ever saw though...guess?? okay, to me, the fight scene between inigo montoya and westley in the princess bride. it sounds stupid maybe, but it was great! anyway, back to 300...i just loved it, i don't know why and no not cause of the men, i like stories that make you cheer hard for the underdog...i don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it, but it's inspiring to see people fight the odds in any movie. maybe that's why i love braveheart and gladiator too. don't get me wrong, i love all kinds of movies. i just voted on imdb for gregory peck as a hero for playing atticus finch in to kill a mockingbird. i loooove him and i love that movie...why did i vote for him? because he fought for the underdog and his character staked his reputation on the line to defend the wrongly accused man. good movie....okay, went on a little too long in this paragraph...oops. could i be more all over the board on this one? lol! summation, swords+fighting+action=thumbs up!

thirdly....dustin penner former anaheim duck, newest member of the oilers. i am all over the board with this too, because i don't think i really know how to feel too be quite honest with you. sigh. since the season ended, i have wondered if dustin would stay, but something told me probably not, though i figured i was just being a pessimist. anyway, my understanding is that david mcnab met with his agent and him or something like that once, but it seems to me that dustin wanted, or his agent convinced him, to test the market, well, he was then tendered an offer from edmonton offering him a boatload of money which i don't think he deserved. yes, dustin is one my faves, but come on, my number 1 man jiggy was worth his raise, but still he will have to work just as hard or harder this year to prove he deserves it, dustin on the other hand had moments of inconsistency and you can't drop 4mil a year on someone you're not sure about when two consistent young players are up for contract renewal at the end of the following season. all in all, i wish dustin the best and hope he does better than lupul did when he went to edmonton in the pronger trade. i don't know if he thought burkie would match the offer, but if his agent did, he was nuts. my advice to dustin, play hard and smart and buy a parka.

lastly, is there such a thing with me...apparently my fingers run on the same motor as my mouth does...lol! hahahaha! lastly, i would like to ask all again to keep the peeps in Minnesota in your thoughts and prayers or whatever it is you do (that is nice, lol) as it is going to start getting ugly soon when they bring up the cars that are trapped under water. the death toll has been low, but so many people were trapped. also, if anyone is still alive and trapped, please send your good intentions that they are found. guess that is all except i would like to send a shout out to another of my favorite players who seems to have met with some ill luck in recent years, partly because of his knee, Sandis Ozolinsh, today is his 35th birthday...happy birthday to someone who will probably never see this and i hope his knee heals quickly so he can squeeze out one more year in the NHL if he is up to it. =) you know this brings me to a quick thought...Some people wonder why Ozo is still a favorite player of mine, even though his play has fallen off dramatically in the last few years...it's because people in general always need to be given a chance and reminded that they are worth it even if we can't see it. sometimes life happens to us and it throws us into a spiral to the point where we get dizzy and don't know which end is up. remember, it doesn't matter who anyone is, we all carry some sort of weight on our shoulders and as much as we try to not let it affect our daily lives, sometimes it can spill out into our work. i Think Ozo still has talent, i just think he doesn't get enough fan support or maybe because of that, he's forgotten he still has talent or doesn't think he does?? don't know, it's just my own opinion. =)

Bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota

All I can say is wow….in all honesty I can’t believe something like that happened, but on the same token, I am glad some of the lanes were shut down for annual surface work by the state. Had all lanes been opened, the devastation might have been worse. I guess I am blogging this, simply to touch base on how tragedy fascinates us in a bizarre and morbid sort of way. I say this only because yesterday, I was supposed to go to Disneyland after work and decided to go home and watch the news instead.

It is a strange fascination, but I know I am not alone. I personally do not watch these things for the death and destruction aspect, but more to hope that they find people alive. I also watch it though, because of the shock factor. So many of us drive over or under bridges everyday and to know that one somewhere in this country that was 40 years old just collapsed, is pretty unnerving. Apparently there is a large percentage of bridges in this country that are deficient, but apparently not enough to warrant any major work...hmmm. Several of our bridges here in Orange County are carpool lanes that transition from one free way to another. The 55 to 5 bridge is probably close to the height of the I35W, though it may be a little lower…people also drive under that transitional bridge, so I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like here if that happened.

I sincerely feel for the people that were on the bridge when this happened and around the bridge. I commend those who, even though they suffered their own traumatic experience, still got out of their cars to help those around them ignoring all danger signs. I have been to many places, but honestly Minnesota was one of the most pleasant and nice places I visited…the people there are charming and friendly, so it doesn’t surprise me how they came to each other’s aid, although honestly, I think as humans, tragedy somehow brings us together, ie 9/11. That entire city banded together to be each there for each other during that enormous tragedy and life changing event.

Human nature is an interesting thing. Some people delve too deep into their curiosity eventually creating havoc, while the majority of us simply allow our minds to wonder and process what is happening everyday in the world. My gut reaction last night was a terrorist plot, because of the issues Minnesota is having with some of the cab drivers who refuse farers, because the passengers don’t meet their religious criteria. I’m not trying to single people out, but the sad truth is that we live in a post 9/11 society. I’m not saying everyone is bad, but the potential for ANYONE to go astray is out there and we need to be more careful. This issue however seems more like a faulty bridge than anything else. Cracks, flaws, or perhaps as someone suggested to me yesterday, the continual heat, could be to blame. In the weeks to come we will find out the cause, but until then, let’s try to keep this in perspective and remember that people were hurt, killed and some are still missing. Now is a good time to keep those people and their families in our thoughts, prayers or whatever it is you do to wish people well.

That’s it for now….perhaps today…and remember, when you step into my brain, be careful where you walk, because the next step could be a doozy.

Droolsville

okay, so this is going to sound completely stupid, but it's true, or perhaps I have just realized that I am part "geek", when it comes to certain movies. Yesterday I went to Bestbuy to pick up my copy of 300, with the helmet and art cards and what not. Anyway, while waiting in line two guys who work there (funny enough, members of the "geek squad") were talking about how they were going to get together that night with other friends and watch 300. first they discussed whose copy they would watch, since one guy was sure his other friend would borrow his, then they discussed the order of the movies and that is when i began salivating...the one guy said, "maybe we'll watch braveheart first since it is the longest, then 300, though i am feeling like i am in a gladiator mood, so we could watch that, or maybe we can watch all three?" his friend nodded and thought it was great idea and i thought i had died and gone to conversation heaven.

okay, okay, so it sounds stupid, but put yourself in my shoes, these are three of my favorite movies. i also discovered i had a theme going as well...apparently i love movies with lots of swords, spears and battle scenes. russell crowe, mel gibson, gerard butler and david wenham don't hurt the movies aesthetic value either, but that's beside the point.

i guess summed up, i have a tendency to be a movie nerd, since the mentioning of the motion picture wonder can sometimes bring me to my knees. nothing wrong with that, though i am still shooting for dad and sean status as movie guru wizards...i mean holy cow, the amount of movies those two have amazes me still...i wonder if sean still remembers that i am padawan to his yoda in the movie world? hmmm, i'll have to ask.

till the next time, please be careful where you step inside of my head, because the next step could be a doozy.