“THE FRIDAY NIGHT RAMBLINGS”

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of July 30, 2010.  Must be an election year.  The “robocalls” in the evening are getting real annoying, as are the campaign mailings.  The television campaign ads have turned vitriolic, with lies and half-truths the norm.  I guess, every two years, the lunar cycle shifts in the month of July and the first week in August and the month of October and the first week in November.  6 weeks of a shiny full moon irradiating the brain cells of folks with a marginal intellect, causing a form of “political lunacy”. For example, I read a “Letter to the Editor” in the Kansas City Star today accusing Bush of squandering the Clinton budget surplus.  A budget surplus paid for by gutting our standing military and intelligence gathering community.  At the time, wasn’t it called the “Peace Dividend“:  “Between 1992 and 2000, the Clinton Administration cut national defense by more than half a million personnel and $50 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars. The Army alone has lost four active divisions and two Reserve divisions. The number of total active personnel in the Air Force has decreased by nearly 30 percent. In the Navy, the total number of ships has decreased from around 393 ships in the fleet in 1992 to 316 today. Even the Marines have dropped 22,000 personnel.”   The net result?  Faulty, incomplete intelligence which may have contributed to 9/11 and our America currently involved in 2 shooting wars being fought by National Guard troops and Reservists.   Sometimes, a penny saved is not a penny earned.

The gist of the letter blamed our national debt on the “Bush Tax Cuts to the Rich”.  The “Bush Tax Cuts” will “sunset out” this year, unless renewed.  If allowed to expire, this pilgrim opined, there will be enough tax revenue paid by folks making over $250,000.00 a year to pay off the deficit in no time.  Really?  From an article in Forbes Magazine:  How Will The Expiring Bush Tax Cuts Affect You? “The two major tax-cutting bills from the Bush era were the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA) of 2001, and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. These two laws cut taxes across the board for earned income, long-term capital gains and dividends. The legislation also expanded the child tax credit and made dozens of other changes and adjustments to the tax code, involving exemptions, deductions and the marriage penalty   …  EGTRRA created six tax rate brackets–10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35%, based on income levels. If no extension is passed and signed into law, then the pre-2001 tax rates will go back into effect starting in tax year 2011. The 10% bracket would disappear, and those taxpayers would move up to the 15% bracket, which would apply to all incomes below $34,550. The other tax rates would increase to 28%, 31%, 36% and 39.6% for the highest earners making more than $379,650.  One major provision that will expire at the end of 2010 is the child tax credit, which EGTRRA doubled from $500 to $1,000 per child. Unless Congress votes to extend the child tax credit, the maximum amount will revert back to $500 for tax year 2011, and the number of families eligible for that amount will be much less as tougher eligibility standards that existed prior to EGTRRA will go back into effect.”    So folks making less than $35K get a 5% tax hike and folks making more than $380K get a 3% tax hike  …  in the middle of a recession?  So working people, the “middle class”, the folks most hurting during this “economic downturn”, (don’t you just love Washington Speak?), take it in the shorts again.  Is this the change you voted for?  I didn’t mention all the other non-tax “changes” that will increase your tax load.  Oh.  And remember how “Healthcare Reform” was supposed to make health care more affordable?  Well, it appears that will result in Susan and I having a 30% increase in our health insurance premium next year.  The skinniest horse, continues to have the most flies.

As for the national debt?  You can run your own numbers HERE.  They show that with a Democrat President and Congress, (1992 - 1996), the debt jumped from 4.5T to 5.3T, (with “T” being a Trillion Dollars).  With a Democrat President and a Republican Congress, (1996 - 2000), it jumped from 5.3T to 5.6T.  And from 9/11 forward, with a Republican President and a Republican Congress, (2000  - 2006), it jumped from 5.6T - 8.6T.  With a Republican President and a Democrat Congress, (2006 - 2008), it jumped from 8.6T to 10.6T  …  and finally, with a Democrat President and a Democrat Congress, (2008 - 7/2010, 18 months), it jumped from 10.6T to 13.2T.   The only “change” I plan on voting for this election cycle, is a change in whatever Pig, Red or Blue, (the reference is to “Animal Farm“), is currently feeding at the Washington Trough. 

And proof as to how Americanized the Japanese have become:  Tokyo, Japan (CNN) –  Tokyo’s “oldest man” may have been dead for decades. “Police have found the mummified body of a man believed to have been Tokyo’s oldest man, who may have in fact died some 30 years ago, officials at the city’s Adachi Ward said.  Sogen Kato, who was born on July 22, 1899, would have been 111 years old if he were alive today. Police are still investigating the case, but officials told CNN they found newspapers in his room dating back three decades, and think he might have been dead for at least that long.”  …   Mr. Kato lived in a part of Tokyo known as “Little Chicago” and voted in the last three elections.  He obviously was not the Eveready Bunny nor a former Toyota employee:  he stopped running.

And in the news that makes me question whether we can win in Afghanistan:  (CNN) –  WikiLeaks founder ‘disappointed’ by Gates’ remarks. “WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Friday that he was disappointed by criticism from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates over the release of about 76,000 pages of U.S. documents related to the war in Afghanistan.  Gates said Thursday that the massive leak will have significant impact on troops and allies, revealing techniques and procedures.  Assange rejected that assessment Friday, saying in a release that Gates “has overseen the killings of thousands of children and adults” in Afghanistan and Iraq.”  The released documents do reveal command structure, procedures, the incompetence of some of the past leadership and most important, just how corrupt and ineffective the Afghanistan government is. This war is starting to look a great deal like our failed excursion in Vietnam.  On the evening news, more lives lost. 

And our tax dollars at work:  Washington (CNN) –  Defense officials investigated for child porn.  “Several dozen current, former and contracted employees of the U.S. Defense Department may have put national security at risk by accessing and purchasing child pornography, government documents showed Friday.  Several of the people identified in a series of reports released by the Defense Department were listed as having top secret or higher security clearance. They worked for groups within the department such as the National Security Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office, two of the country’s top intelligence agencies.”  So how many were prosecuted for possessing “kiddie porn”?  Sure didn’t see anything in the news.  I suppose that’s the benefit of working for the government.

(Health.com) –  Can a mother’s affection prevent anxiety in adulthood?  “Babies whose mothers are attentive and caring tend to grow into happy, well-adjusted children. But the psychological benefits of having a doting mother may extend well beyond childhood, a new study suggests.  According to the study, which followed nearly 500 infants into their 30s, babies who receive above-average levels of affection and attention from their mothers are less likely than other babies to grow up to be emotionally distressed, anxious, or hostile adults.”   That’s the good news.  The bad news?  The 500 infants followed into their 30s   …  were still living at home    …   and none had Jewish mothers.

Sitting here listening to the dogs play and editing these Ramblings.  A “flash flood” warning down south.  Susan’s computer is now converted to WIN 7 and we are in for a quiet weekend at Ft Timmerman.  It is hot and muggy outside, the air conditioners  are running, and I hate to think what our electric bill will wind up being, (the TED 5000 projects over $400.00).  Orsheln called yesterday and we preordered 2 tons of pellets, (at $1.75 per 40 pound bag), to be picked up in November.  Good price, during the heating season, they can sell for $4.75 a bag.  If you have any interest in getting a pellet stove, better order now.  Nothing really interesting to watch on TV tonight, even the “Hitler Channel” has reruns I have already seen.  My Epson 7500 is back up and running and this weekend, I plan on making my first 2′ x 3′ print on canvas.  Cutting and making a frame, then stretching the canvas over it.  Should be interesting.  Time to post these Ramblings and later when I say my “Thank You’s”, the most important, a “Thank You Lord! For giving me Susan to share Your many blessing with.“  …   and a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?)  It is becoming apparent to me, we can not win the war in Afghanistan, given the corruption of the existing government there, and frankly,  that means a waste of lives.  Makes me sick thinking about it. Be and sleep well, the best we have as a nation is on watch, so you can.  If my post offends, I apologize, that is not my intent,  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri   …  and the Editorial Staff, Dinker, Willie, Karly, my L’il Buddy   …  and Floydius Irritatus, the copy boy.

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of July 25, 2010.  Had my first run in with R.S.Mo 210.854 this week, (the new statute that empowers a court to reverse all past paternity orders, judicial and administrative, based on new  DNA evidence).    In my case, (all references to make the parties identifiable have been changed), Mom and Dad get a divorce in 2003, with Dad getting sole custody of the 3 children born during the marriage and Mom was ordered to pay child support.  Mom filed a “Motion to Modify” in 2003, during which, Mom alleges one of the children was not Dad’s and petitioned the court for a DNA test to prove it.  The court overruled the motion for DNA testing, on the basis that the matter was “Res Judicata“.  The court did modify the decree, awarding Mom “Joint Legal” custody, Dad “Sole Physical” custody, granted Mom 7 weeks summer visitation and allowed Dad to move out of the State of Missouri.  At the end of summer visitation last year, Mom refused to return 2 of the children to Dad, (the 3rd had graduated high school and was emancipated), and filed another “Motion to Modify”, alleging the children didn’t want to return to Dad.  Dad, who had lost his job, filed an “answer” pro se, and did everything he could to get the children back, but was unsuccessful doing so.  Dad could not raise the funds to attend a “case management” and failed to timely reply to standard “discovery”.  Dad was facing “sanctions” when I got involved at the beginning of the year.  We had a hearing which resulted in no sanctions and the matter was set for trial.  At the beginning of trial, Mom asked for a DNA test, alleging one of the children was not Dads, (pursuant to R.S.Mo 210.854)  …  and that the child in question had a relationship with her biological father.  Case was continued and the court ordered a DNA test.  So now what?  The statute states, inter alia:  “In the event of the entry of a judgment or judgments of paternity and support, whether entered in one judgment or separately, a person against whom such a judgment or judgments have been entered may file a petition requesting a circuit court with jurisdiction over the subject child or children to set aside said judgment or judgments in the interests of justice and upon the grounds set forth in this section.” Does this section apply to Moms, (after all, there is never a question as to who the mother is, is there?)  Does it apply to dissolution actions?  If so, is the court supposed to set aside the Decree of Dissolution or only part of it?  Would a Paternity action have to be filed, naming the putative father, if DNA evidence warrants setting the judgment aside?  Would it be part of the same action, or a new action? The court would not want to bastardize a child, would it?  Can the issue be raised in a modification action   …  since you are seeking to modify the judgement, rather than set it aside?  No doubt, it will be interesting to see how our appellate courts interpret this statute  …  and underlines the fact, we need lawyers in our legislature.

And also this week   …   men stuffing things in their shorts:  (CNN) –  Mexican police arrest man hiding 18 monkeys under clothes at airport.  “Mexican authorities searching a man with a bulge under his shirt at the airport in the nation’s capital found 18 monkeys hidden beneath his clothes, police said. Investigators grew suspicious after Roberto Sol Cabrera Zavaleta, 38, became “markedly nervous” when asked what he was transporting, Mexico’s Public Safety Department said.” That was probably a miss statement by the “Investigators”.  The monkey’s were South American “Titi Monkeys“,  arboreal nut eaters.  No doubt the suspect became “markedly nervous”, when he noticed the monkey’s were working their way down to his crotch   …  and   …  condoms, stealing them, is something you would risk going to jail for?  INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) –  Police: Condom thief stuffed his pants.  “Metro Police are looking for a man who gave a Broad Ripple security guard a hard time while stealing several boxes of condoms from grocery store.  Officers were called around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night to the Marsh supermarket located at 2350 Broad Ripple Avenue. The security guard told investigators he witnessed a man shoving several boxes of condoms down his pants.”  Certainly not the place contemplated in the old “Firestone” Tire jingle from the 60’s and 70’s:  “…  Where the rubber meets the road.“!!  Doesn’t sound to me this idiot would have much use for these tires.  I can just picture this pilgrim explaining to his cell mates, what he was busted for:  “Yea  …  well, I was on my way to rob a bank and thought I would stop and pick up some things for later.”  Wonder what his place in the prison hierarchy will be?

And another candidate for bottom lug on the prison totem pole:  HUDSON, TX (KTRE) –  Police charge Lufkin man with sex assault of girl high on cough syrup.  “Hudson Police have arrested a Lufkin man after they say he had sex with a 13-year-old girl while she was high on cough medicine.  According to an arrest affidavit, Joseph Michael Weeks, 18, met up with the alleged victim and two other friends. According to the report, one of the friend’s mother allowed her daughter and the 13-year-old girl to leave with Weeks, but she told Weeks not to mess with the girl because she knew that he was a “male whore dog”  …   Thornton  [a friend of weeks] says the community is disappointed. Weeks had plans to enlist in the Air Force. “They don’t think it’s right because Joseph had a life to look forward to,” Thornton said. “Now, it’s ruined.”  I would never have suspected “cough syrup” could be a “date rape” drug.  The community was disappointed because this idiots life was ruined?  What about the 13 year old victim?  And, what kind of mother would allow her daughter and a 13 year old child go out with a “male whore dog”?  Perhaps Texas “male whore dogs” don’t pose as much of a threat to young girls  …   as “male whore armadillos”?  Course, then there’s them “longhorns”.
 
And for our home grown Missouri morons:  JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Undercover taxidermist busts illegal hunters in southern Missouri.  “Dozens of hunters in southern Missouri could face criminal charges stemming from a sting involving an undercover taxidermy shop. The Department of Conservation said Monday that it discovered 425 wildlife violations committed by 68 people who brought animals into “Craig’s Taxidermy” in Birch Tree in southern Shannon County.”  I can understand a person poaching, hunting to provide food for their families.  But share with me    …   how much food could you have bought, for the money you would have spent having your “trophies” mounted?  Can you picture the conversation these folks would have if sharing a cell with the monkey smuggler and the condom thief? 

Short Ramblings this evening  …  was working on an emergency motion for temporary custody/visitation in a Motion to Modify currently pending.    Seems my client will be deployed to Afghanistan in about 6 weeks and the decree we are seeking to have modified only calls for 2 weeks summer visitation with his son.  The trial is set in 3 weeks and he will have to leave for pre-deployment training the day after trial.  He will have two weeks in September  …  then ship out for a year in Afghanistan   …  on convoy duty, (he’s a truck driver).  Mom refuses to allow him the extra time with his son.  Frankly, makes my heart bleed even thinking about the pain/loss he has to be feeling  …  and the fear, (not his, although he no doubt has some  …  but his son’s).  There are other facts which obviously led up to the Motion to Modify,  but her attorney’s response to the request for additional time?  “FAX me a proposal and I will talk it over with my client.  Absent an agreement, I have told her to abide by the decree.”  “How about the next three weeks?”  “No.”

Time to post these Ramblings, it’s later than usual.  The “Editorial Staff” is asleep.  It is hot and humid outside  …  I can hear the air conditioning working to keep us cool and comfortable  …  and the electric company’s shareholders smiling.  I’m looking at a geothermal heat pump.  They are expensive and I am not certain, as yet, whether at our age, the investment would be cost effective.  If Susan and I were younger, I would commit in a heartbeat. I noticed several posts on the SFIG about upcoming changes to our Tax Code and how the net effect will be more tax revenue for the Federal Government. Not being touted as a tax increase,  but just a means to ensure more people pay their fair share.  From what I understand, everyone will have to file a 1099, report ANY payments over $600.00 made to anybody during the tax year, (like utilities, insurance companies, grocery stores   …  you name it!)  A fine/penalty if you don’t.  Some folks will have to report health insurance paid by their employer, as income   …   slowly, bits and pieces of the 2,700 page “Health Care Reform Act” are coming to light.  Also, the Bush Tax cuts will be not be renewed.  Not really a tax increase is it?  But then, there has to be a way to pay for the 3.2 TRILLION dollars spent by this administration and their Republican cohorts, these past 18 months. The party of “No” has not been real successful saying “No”.  If there is a difference between “Red” pigs and “Blue” pigs, (the reference to pigs is from Orwell’s “Animal Farm“), would you share with me what that is?  Time to post, and later, when I say my “Thank You’s”, a special prayer for the safe and soon return of my client   …  a prayer that his ex-wife does not break out in hundreds of tiny *ssholes, and each one develop hemorrhoids    …  a “Thank You” for Susan to share this life with   …  and a prayer for the safe and soon return of all of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?).  Be and sleep well knowing our men and women in uniform, (like my client), will be on watch, sacrificing, so you can.  If my post offends, I apologize.  That is not my intent.  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, Dinker, Willie, Karly, my Lil Buddy and Floydious Irritatus  …  the copy boy.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of July 16, 2010.  An alarming bit of news from the Federal Reserve this week:  NEW YORK  — Fed expects weaker recovery.  “The Federal Reserve has become more pessimistic about the economy.  The Fed’s latest forecast, included in the minutes of the central bank’s June 23 meeting released Wednesday, is the latest sign of growing concern that the recovery is losing steam  …  the Fed now predicts the unemployment rate would be between 9.2% to 9.5% this year, slightly worse than the 9.1% to 9.5% range it forecast in April. Unemployment was 9.5% in June, but has averaged 9.7% over the first half of the year. The Fed also lowered its outlook for the job market in the coming years. It now forecasts unemployment will stay between 8.3% to 8.7% next year, up from its earlier estimate of a range of 8.1% to 8.5%. The central bank indicated it expects unemployment in 2012 to still be at a relatively high rate of between 7.1% and 7.5%. The Fed had previously said the unemployment rate could drop as low as 6.6% in 2012.”    …  while at the same time:  Kansas City –  Jobs and consumer confidence slump while corporate profits grow.  “With jobs and raises still hard to get, you might think that corporate profits have also been hard to come by. But look at these numbers. Since bottoming out in the fourth quarter of 2008, corporate profits jumped 41 percent, according to first quarter 2010 earnings reports analyzed by the Economic Policy Institute. Over that period, the nation lost 4.6 million jobs, more than half of the 8.2 million jobs lost since the recession began.”  Who do you think will benefit from that 41% increase in profits? As of 2005   …   businessweek.com:  “half of all U.S. households own stocks, either directly or in a mutual fund or retirement plan.”  One would think that includes you and I.  Show me the money, cause I sure don’t see it!!  I don’t think the 8.2 million folks who lost their jobs do either. So where are the 3.2 trillion dollars the Federal Government has spent during the last 18 months?

Perhaps time for all of us to review our overhead expenses and look at ways to serve our client’s needs in a way they can better afford. May need to barter  –  there are unemployed tradespeople with valuable skills you may have a need/use for  …  and your skills, they may have a need for.  There already is a vibrant “Barter” community up and running on-line  …  and “Craig’s List” is full of listings offering to barter services and tangible goods. Course, the IRS is very aware of  this:  “Barter transactions can provide your company with important financial, sales, and marketing benefits. Like other transactions, however, barter sales are taxable, and your company must report them to the IRS. This is also true of credits you receive or spend through a barter exchange; regardless of how you use barter credits, they’re taxable as if they were cash.” Like during the “Great Depression“, life hasn’t stopped  …  for now,  for too many of us,  it has just gone into “barter” mode.

Point being, I suppose,  isn’t is time for a “change”:  not the political b*llshit put out in sound bites,  all part of pandering to the least common denominator for votes   …  but perhaps, a fundamental “change” in the way we view ourselves, our obligations/commitment to our core values, family, friends, community   …  and our America.  Perhaps, time to put “political party” affiliations aside, and realize we all share common goals:  provide for our families and be secure from predators, foreign, domestic, physical and economic.  Sure seems to me, the folks from both political parties striving to get access, gain control, of the governmental trough all have the same goal:  get elected by whatever means they can.  And once there?  Do what?  We are involved in two shooting wars and, now, as of today,  we have a 13.2 trillion dollar national debt.  Share with me   …  do you really believe any of them will have the political courage, guts, to look you in the face and say:  “We can not afford to fund two wars, provide the services we do, without raising taxes   …  or  …  cut bait overseas and use the money to secure our boarders AND cut entitlements.  We can no longer afford to police the world nor can we provide a “safety net” so tightly woven, it catches all.” 

Perhaps, if there were Red and Blue Pigs, (reference “Animal Farm“), at the helm, willing to do what needs to be done, we would not be reading statistics like this:  Washington (CNN) — June was worst month for Army suicides, statistics show.  “More U.S. soldiers killed themselves last month than in recent Army history, according to Army statistics released Thursday, confounding officials trying to reverse the grim trend.  The statistics show that 32 soldiers killed themselves in June, the highest number in a single month since the Vietnam era. Twenty-one of them were on active duty, while 11 were in the National Guard or Army Reserve in an inactive status  …  He said he could offer only what he has said before: “Continued stress on the force and the opportunities we have been facing in terms of the challenges in the Army continue to cause these events to take place.”   …   or news like this:  ABC NEWS  –  Afghanistan War: U.S. Wounded Toll in 2010 Nearly Matches All of 2009. “Already on track to be the deadliest year ever for American and NATO forces in Afghanistan since the Taliban was overthrown in late 2001, 2010 also will be the worst year ever for numbers of Americans wounded in the war. In fact, the number of American service members wounded this year already has approached the number wounded for all of 2009.”  Time for a change, isn’t it? Nuff said.

And our tuition and tax dollars at work funding scholarly work:  (CNN) — Study: Body shape affects memory in older women. “A woman’s body shape may play a role in how good her memory is, according to a new study. The more an older woman weighs, the worse her memory, according to research released this week from Northwestern Medicine at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The effect is more pronounced in women who carry excess weight around their hips, known as pear shapes, than women who carry it around their waists, called apple shapes.”  Who thinks up these studies?  “Pear Shapes” and “Apple Shapes“?  Let me guess   …   older women with “Watermelon Shapes” were not included in the study because their memory was so bad, they couldn’t remember to show up?

And in other reported research:  (BBC NEWS)  –  Link between inactivity and obesity queried.  “Researchers have challenged the assumption that a lack of exercise causes children to put on weight. An 11-year study of more than 200 children in Plymouth suggests the effect is the other way around - that getting fatter makes them inactive. The paper, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, concludes that programs to tackle obesity may need to focus more on food than exercise.”  I guess that means, if you stop feeding your kid junk food, while they are parked on the couch watching cartoons or playing with their “Play Station”  …  as a result of which, they lose weight, so you can buy their clothes off the shelf at Walmart, instead of  at the “Emil the Tent Maker boutique”   …   they might want to go outside and play?  Never happen  …  cause you would have to get off the couch too  …  to supervise them.

(BBC NEWS)  –  Chatting chimps in Uganda, Africa are ’socially aware’.  “Chimpanzees are aware of the social impact of their communications, primatologists have discovered. Chimps communicate using a variety of calls and gestures, including making vocalizations known as pant grunts, which signal subordination. But researchers have found that chimps will change what they “say” depending on who is listening. That reveals a previously unrecognized social awareness that has implications for the origin of human language.” Human language?  Nah!  More likely the origins of “Rock and Roll”.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Patent troll sues Apple, Google, and most of the tech universe. “NTP Inc., a patent holding company that shook up the tech world several years ago by extracting a pricey legal settlement from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, announced Friday it had launched a fresh barrage of patent infringement lawsuits against the tech world’s leading lights  …  The lawsuits highlight a problem often cited by critics of current U.S. patent policy: Companies are allowed to collect patents for inventions they never plan to manufacture. Those companies, often referred to as “patent trolls,” can then opportunistically sue alleged infringers  …  The United States is the only major country that gives patents to those who can prove they invented an item before someone else’s patent was filed.” Interesting indictment of our sense of values and notions of what is fair, isn’t it?

And in the news that will make your stomach turn:  (CNN) –  Author sentenced to six years in prison for possessing child porn.  “A federal judge sentenced children’s author K.P. Bath to six years in prison Thursday for possessing child pornography.  Investigators found a large collection of pornographic photographs and video clips in the Portland, Oregon, home of the author of “The Secret of Castle Cant” and “Escape from Castle Cant,” according to a statement federal prosecutors released Thursday. “Many of the videos graphically depicted the sexual abuse of very young children,” the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon said  …  Bath volunteered at the Beverly Cleary Children’s Library in Portland and worked at The Asian Reporter newspaper, according to a 2004 University of Alabama news release describing an alumni reading series.  Bath had a master’s degree from the university and had worked as a field hand, factory laborer, musician, editor and teacher, the news release said.” The good news? He wasn’t a priest, a boy scout leader, a daycare provider   …  or a world famous, award winning film maker.  Just a run of the mill waste of perfectly good skin.

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the Editorial Staff hunkered down because we are under another thunderstorm warning.  My large format printer, the Epson 7500 is back on-line after having it serviced, (the print head was clogged because of lack of use.)  You can NOT let inkjet printers sit for any length of time because the ink will dry, plugging the ink nozzles).  I plan on printing several 2′ x 3′ canvas images, stretching, UV coating and texturing them, (those of you who have one of 11″ x 14″ prints know what I am talking about!)   …  and entering them in the State Fair.  Last time I entered an image, (2001),  it won an honorable mention for fine art.  Time to post these Ramblings and watch some “canvas stretching” videos on YouTube.  Can’t be that hard to learn!!  Later, as I say my “Thank You’s”,  I will thank God, that Apple has a fix for the new 4G iPhones, (in case the owners forget to do so), and most important, a “Thank You” for having Susan to share this life with   …  and of course, a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?)  Be and sleep well knowing that no matter how bad the economy gets, as long as our best remains on watch, and as long as there is love and alcohol in this world  …  you will have job security, (although you may have to take your fee in Chicken lips or pork bellies).  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri   …  and the “Editorial Staff”, Dinker, Karlie, Willie, my L’l Buddy   …  and Floydious Irritatus  …  the copy boy.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of July 9, 2010.  Triple digit temperatures on the East Coast this week.  Folks being told to limit their power use to avoid “brown outs”.  Washington D.C.  –  Outages continue: Thousands in D.C. area without power as firms work on repairs.  “The oppressive heat — and now humidity — that descended on the Washington region has spurred near-record demands for electricity.  Power companies are working to repair outages caused by the spike in demand as area residents reach for thermostats. Shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, PEPCO was working to repair 60 power outages throughout the District and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, affecting about 1,600 customers.”   It is readily apparent,  we are operating at peak generating capacities.  Read that to mean, we will have to build more power plants.  KCP&L seeks Missouri rate increase.  “Kansas City Power & Light Co. said Friday it was seeking a 14-percent electric rate increase in Missouri which if granted would mean a nearly 50 percent rise in power prices over the last five years and more increases are expected in the future. The utility said the recent request is due to completing its coal-fired power plant near Weston and other expenses including increased freight costs for coal and improvements to its network of electric lines.”  At the same time, yesterday,  President Obama paid an official to Smith Electric Vehicles in Kansas City, Missouri, (the company recieved 32 million dollars in stimulus funds and just hired 50 more employees   …  hmmm   …  isn’t that $640,000.00 per employee?)  –  Obama points to jobs potential in electric vehicles.  “President Obama defended his administration�s investment in the clean energy economy yesterday, as he visited an electric truck factory in Kansas City, Missouri. After touring Smith Electric Vehicles, which produces Smith Newton trucks for the likes of AT&T, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Staples, the President said 700,000 jobs would be created by energy investments alone over the next few years.”  No doubt, the future lies with electric vehicles.  Every automobile manufacturer is focused on bringing hybrid or all electric vehicles to market.  But share with me   …   where will the electricity to charge these vehicles come from    …  when we already suffer “brownouts” during heat waves?  Shouldn’t our focus be on building and repairing our energy generating infrastructure?  Shouldn’t our focus be on making better use of the energy we currently generate?

Here, at Ft Timmerman, we have cut our electric bill by 20% after installing a TED 5000 energy monitor, to actually see what each appliance we have costs to run on a per hour basis.  There is a real incentive to turn off the garage lights, once you see they cost $.06 cents per hour to leave on.  On average, we use $.16 - $.28/hour of electricity during the day and $.05 - $.11/hour at night.  The “Smart Strips” we purchased and installed, have already paid for themselves after a month and a half of use.  Point being?  With a projected 50% increase in your electric bill over the next 5 years, doesn’t it just make sense to conserve energy?  Go green and keep the green in your wallet??!!

(CNN) — Legalizing marijuana is civil rights issue, California NAACP says.  “Legalizing marijuana is a civil rights issue, according to one of California’s most prominent African-American advocacy groups. The California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, led by President Alice Huffman, recently announced its “unconditional endorsement” for Proposition 19, a legislative initiative on the November ballot that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. Huffman said African-Americans are disproportionately affected by the criminalization of marijuana which makes passing the law a civil rights issue   …   although blacks and Latinos make up less than 44 percent of the state’s population, together both ethnic groups constitute up to 56 percent of arrests that are made for marijuana possession in California, according to the study. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found that African-Americans use marijuana at lower rates than white Americans across the country.” Interesting argument.  Legalize marijuana because African Americans are more likely to get busted for smoking it, even though they are less likely to abuse it than white Americans?  Although I favor regulating and taxing marijuana instead of criminalizing it’s use,  on this issue,  wouldn’t it make more sense to teach our African American brothers and sisters better ways of smoking dope without getting busted?  Wait!  A non-starter:  ACORN has been disbanded.

Washington (CNN) –  Gates tightens control over military interaction with reporters.  “Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday ordered a tightening of controls over military interaction with reporters  …  Before interviews, “all component leaders or their public affairs officers must notify OSD (Office of Secretary of Defense) Public Affairs which, in turn and as appropriate, will ensure that senior department officials with the relevant overall knowledge and situational awareness have been consulted.” The troops call this the McCrystal Rule.  Fact remains, the war in Afghanistan is not going well.  Given our current policy,  I see no way of winning this war, if winning is defined as eliminating a safe haven for Islamic terrorists.  Setting a troop withdrawal timetable was a mistake, although I understand the rational for doing so. An attempt to hold the current Afghanistan political leadership’s feet to the fire. It fails to take into account the leadership’s rampant corruption and the back doors out of Afghanistan they have in place and the billions of dollars they have stockpiled once they do. Open discussion, criticism and reviews of policy, public and private, should be fostered   …  not limited. 

(Health.com) –  How bad are your past sins really? “Let’s be honest: Many of us — OK, most of us — weren’t exactly paragons of health in our youth. And we can’t help wondering: Will those margaritas, junk-food binges, forgotten condoms, or even that one bong hit eventually come back to haunt us? “I cringe when I think of the abuse I heaped on my body when I was younger –smoking, drinking, using tanning beds,” says Stephanie Marchant, 43, a marketing consultant in Woodstock, Georgia. “I’d like to try to repair the damage, but I wonder how much I can do at this point. Is the damage already done?”  Her Doctor, being a Georgia NASCAR fan and treating her for lung cancer, cirrhoses of the liver and melanoma could only respond by pointing out that an engine can run at 50 mph for 100,000 miles   …  or  …  20,000 miles at 200 mph, without breaking down/wearing out.  A driver has the freedom to chose how they drive.  However, there are no warrantees, once you leave the Dealers Lot.

And the good news and bad news  –  the bad:  New York (CNN)  –  Bedbugs, on the rise, close pair of New York clothing stores . “A bedbug outbreak at two trendy New York retail shops has sounded the alarm among city residents and businesses, prompting calls for the city to examine how it deals with the prickly pests. Hollister, a popular clothing store owned by Abercrombie & Fitch in the fashionable Soho neighborhood, remained closed Friday after a bedbug infestation was found earlier in the week, according to company spokeswoman Iska Hain. And an Abercrombie & Fitch store in South Street Seaport also has been closed by an infestation  …  According to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, it issued 4,811 violation notices to residential landlords for bedbug infestations in 2009, compared with 82 in the 2003-2004 fiscal year. For the first half of 2010, 1,976 bedbug violation notices have already been written.”  Really makes you want to go shopping in New York, doesn’t it?  Makes you wonder how bedbugs get into a clothing store.  Do they rent the dressing rooms out on an hourly basis? 

The good news, (for those of us who remain slobs):  (BBC NEWS)  –  Untidy beds may keep us healthy.  “Failing to make your bed in the morning may actually help keep you healthy, scientists believe. Research suggests that while an unmade bed may look scruffy it is also unappealing to house dust mites thought to cause asthma and other allergies. A Kingston University study discovered the bugs cannot survive in the warm, dry conditions found in an unmade bed.”  Kinda supports what I have always suspected   …  you seldom see slobs with asthma or allergies!

On the evening news, Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mocking Bird”.  Ms. Lee is 84 years old this week and on “November 5, 2007, Lee was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush at a White House Ceremony. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States and recognizes individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”  Well deserved.  I wonder how many people decided to become lawyers, (me included), after seeing the movie or reading the book.  To me, the words from the movie, burned in my memory:  Rev Sykes  …  “Jean Louise. Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passing.” I hope some day to garner such respect.  I am what I have worked all my life to become   …  a small town lawyer representing real people with real problems.  A member of a profession based on service.

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the “Editorial Staff” snoozing in the chair next to me.  I’m looking forward to a quiet evening at home, surrounded by all I hold dear   …  and hearing Susan’s heart beating in the next room.  Funny how, over the years, we can finish each other’s sentences.  Answer questions before they are asked. Have conversations where nothing is spoken.  How a look can convey all that needs to be said.  There are times in life, where your heart sings with joy and gratitude   …   like today, finding out a Dear Friend’s daughter does not have lymphoma   …  but an acute case of mononucleosis. Prayer does indeed work.  Time to post these Ramblings and watch a couple of “You Tube” videos on how to stretch canvas.  I have several larger canvas prints I need to do that with. Amazing how you now can pretty much learn how to do anything watching “You Tube” videos:  just search for it.  That’s how I learned to use my cell phone, (from a 16 year old kids “You Tube” video!!)  Later, when I  drift off to sleep saying my “Thank You’s”,  I will also say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform:  care to join me?  Be and sleep well, the best we have is on watch so you can.  If my post offends, I apologize  …  that is not my intent.  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri   …  and the Editorial Staff, Willie, Dinker, Karlie, my L’il Buddy  …  and Floydious Irritatus  …  the copy boy.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the morning of July 4, 2010.  I watched the History Channel series “American Revolution” last night.  234 years ago today, July 4, 1776, a few “wingnuts” signed a document that ultimately resulted in the death of 25,000 Americans, (the American Revolution)  …  and resulted in the birth of a radically new social experiment:  our America.  With a social order not based on birth or privilege, but based on the premise, a declaration, that each white, male, human life is created equal and “endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  It took a civil war to include all male human life   …   and massive civil disobedience to include the female of our species  …  and still more massive civil disobedience to have our laws applied equally.   But still, a premise, over the years, thousands of Americans have been willing to lay down their lives for.  Many have  …  and many more, are willing to do so now.  Then and now, family members, neighbors and friends  …  out there hoeing the row on our behalf.  Keeping our garden, weed free.  Keeping our garden safe. Perhaps, as we watch the fireworks displays this evening, we should be mindful of the fact shared by Fr Pete’s during his homily at Mass last night:  he opined “the rockets red glare and the bombs bursting in air” didn’t invoke “Ooo’s” and “Aaahs”   …  like they do now.  They invoked terror.   There are parts of the world where they still do   …  but not here.

It is cool and raining as I sit here this Sunday morning, enjoying a cup of coffee and grateful for feeling safe in my home. Aware I have the means to defend myself and Susan against thugs intent on taking what I have, by violent means:  I have the basic tools, firearms, to defend myself.  One of many “unalienable rights”, so many have died for.  We celebrate the 4th of July to honor the many heros/lives who have kept this social experiment alive   …  and mindful, that our America is an ongoing experiment which requires the attention and care of modern day “wingnuts”, another generation of patriots.  We have many, our America is not wanting.

Huggers
KarlT

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of July 2, 2010.  Over the past couple of years, the Internet has become an integral part of American life/society.  Access to the Internet is no longer a novel form of entertainment, but has evolved into a utility/service almost as necessary as water, gas or electricity.  We communicate on-line, bank on-line, purchase goods on-line and download songs, movies, games, etc. for our entertainment, on-line. Our Federal Courts have already converted to electronic filing and Missouri Courts will start transitioning to electronic filing in June of 2011.  Free printed copies of the Official Missouri Manual � often called the Blue Book � and free printed copies of the Revised Statutes of Missouri will no longer be available, since they are now available on-line. Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 57.01 has been amended to mandate that electronic copies of interrogatories shall be served upon the opposing party “… in a commonly used medium such as a diskette, CD-ROM or as an e-mail attachment read by most commonly used word processing programs, such as Word for Windows or Wordperfect 5.x or higher.”  And in the rest of the industrialized world?  (BBC NEWS)  –  Access to internet: a legal right?  “Finland has become the first country to make access to broadband a legal right for every citizen. The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunications companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum speed of 1 megabit per second. The government has promised to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015.”

No doubt the practice of law is evolving to deal with this change in technology, perhaps, not for the better.  (BBC NEWS)  –  US pirate hunters target movies.  “An organization set up in the US to track down and punish illegal file-sharers is coming under increasing scrutiny from civil liberty groups   …   But civil rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation is not convinced the fight against piracy is its prime motivation. “The USCG attorneys bringing these suits are not affiliated with any major entertainment companies, but are instead intent on building a lucrative business model from collecting settlements from the largest possible set of individual defendants,” said a spokeswoman for the body.  “We’ve long been concerned that some attorneys would attempt to create a business by cutting corners in mass copyright lawsuits against fans, shaking settlements out of people who aren’t in a position to raise legitimate defences,” it added. The cases that have gone to court appear to be following this pattern. USCG recently filed seven cases in Washington, with thousands of alleged pirates targeted in each case  …  EFF alongside ACLU has asked the judges in the cases to cancel court summons against those accused. Judges involved in the case have asked USCG to explain why it has brought together so many people together in one lawsuit. It has until 30 June to explain why it is pursuing cases in this manner.”  How does USCG have standing to sue?  Is a list of IP’s suspected of file sharing, generated by a German company, sufficient grounds to file suit naming thousands of “John Doe” defendants, cause summons to issue and allow blanket subpoenas to Internet Service Providers demanding the names and addresses of the persons the IP address is registered to?  If you are a named defendant, how do you avoid a default judgment if you can not afford to travel to DC to defend the action?  What redress to you have, after spending the money to travel to DC and defend the suit, when you prevail? 

We can all agree pirating intellectual property is ethically and morally wrong, not to mention stupid and against one’s self interests since it limits an artists ability to improve the product or write the sequel. EQUALLY wrong is filing a law suit, naming thousands of defendants, who may or may not have downloaded illegally, knowing they lack the ability or funds to travel to DC to defend the suit, resulting in multiple defaults. In essence, trolling for default judgements. Further, I question how “real and substantial” piracy now is, since both the music industry and film industries have changed their business models to market single, downloadable songs for less than a dollar and Netflix and pay-per-view make QUALITY movie copies available for home consumption for next to nothing.  RIAA has stopped filing copyright violation/file sharing suits.  I find lawyers using the court system to line their pockets, rather than seeking redress for wronged clients, offensive.  I find this “business model” as offensive as the collection law firms, who buy defunct credit card accounts from credit card companies for fractions of a penny on the dollar, then file blanket collection suits, KNOWING they have no documentation to support their claim and rely on a failed response to a “Request for Admissions”, to take a default judgment or hammer some unrepresented pilgrim into a settlement. Once we tolerate such behavior in our brethren by not speaking out,  we have forfeited the right to call ourselves, view ourselves, as the guardians of our system of justice. Our profession is not just another business, we are a profession based on service to others   …  not self service. Some have forgotten that.

And while we wage a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is the ongoing 39 year “War on Drugs” declared by President Nixon in 1971.  I wonder how many billion dollars we will spend this year to protect our children from “Reefer Madness“?  And this stupidity:  (CNN) –  ACLU sues Wal-Mart for firing employee using medical marijuana. “The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart for the termination of a Michigan employee whose doctor verified his illness qualified for medical marijuana use. Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, fired Joseph Casias in November 2009 after he failed an on-the-job injury-related drug test. Casias suffers from a rare form of cancer in his nasal cavity and brain, and he relied on his doctor’s medical marijuana prescription to alleviate the daily pain. Casias is one of about 20,000 legal medical marijuana users in Michigan. “Medical marijuana has had a life-changing positive effect for Joseph, but Wal-Mart made him pay a stiff and unfair price for his medicine,” said Scott Michelman, staff attorney with the ACLU Drug Law Reform Project.“  I was not aware the ACLU had a drug law reform project.  From their website:  “The Project has an unparalleled track record, having successfully litigated issues ranging from racial profiling in drug law enforcement to protecting medical marijuana users and their doctors from prosecution. We will continue that tradition of success, combining litigation, education, and community empowerment to achieve a humane and sensible drug policy that respects basic human rights and the liberties enshrined in our nation�s Constitution.”  Care to support the ACLU on this issue?  Why?   …  because  …  after 39 years,  it is time to stop SPENDING billions of dollars on a war, (the War on Drugs), that we can not win.  Declare the “War on Drugs” a victory, then legalize, regulate and tax.  Dry up the funds supporting this tragedy:   (BBC NEWS)  –  Mexican singer El Shaka killed after denying his murder.  “Mexican singer Sergio Vega, 40, has been shot dead only hours after he had denied reports he had been murdered. The singer, known as El Shaka, told an internet site he had increased security measures after a growing number of Mexican musicians were killed. Musicians performing narcocorridos, songs celebrating the lives of drug barons, often become the targets of rival drug gangs.”    …   or this one:   (BBC NEWS)  –  Mexico arrest over US consulate killing. “Mexican police say they have arrested a gang leader responsible for killing three people connected to the US consulate in Ciudad Juarez in March. Jesus Ernesto Chavez admitted targeting a US consular worker because she was thought to have given visas to a rival gang, police said  …   The murders raised fears that US interests had become a target in Mexico’s drugs war.”   Why are we continuing to fund, (the money from illegal drugs funding the cartels, and our government funding the Mexican government),  both sides in the Mexican Drug Cartel war?  Didn’t we learn anything from our “Prohibition” experiment?

Still hot outside Ft Timmerman, as I edit these Ramblings.  The “Editorial Staff” is enjoying the cool tiled floor.  They go out for awhile, then scurry back in to cool down.  We are looking forward to a 3 day weekend, (although I do have to meet a client tomorrow afternoon.)  It will be nice to turn off the phones and the doorbell.  The garden at Ft Timmerman is beautiful, (Gallery 1 & Gallery 2).  Time to post these Ramblings and hunker down for the weekend:  just Susan and I.  She in her office designing and making cards, reading “Vampire” romance novels on her “Nook” and me?  Printing some of the images I captured in our garden and perhaps redoing a couple of PhotoShop tutorials.  Sauteed shrimp for lunch tomorrow,  BBQ’s burgers and potato salad on Sunday   …   Ribs on Monday.  Using “Snus” as a crutch, I’m down to a 1/2 pack of cigarettes a day, (from 3 - 3 1/2 packs), no Brandy.  Had my annual medical “Fluff and Buff” yesterday  …  guess I may make it another year.  Something to be grateful for in this evenings “Thank You’s”, included?  Having Susan to share that year with   …  and of course, a bag full of “Please Lord, let our men and women in uniform come home safe and soon!!” (Care to join me in that prayer?)   Be and sleep well, enjoy a safe 4th of July with family and friends   …  and remember you can do so, because some of the best our America has to offer, is standing watch so you can.  Ig my post offends, I apologize  …  that is not my intent.  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri   …  and the “Editorial Staff”, Dinker, Willie, Karly, my L’il Buddy   …  and Floydious Irritatus  …  the copy boy.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of  June 25, 2010.  Hot and humid outside.  We are all hunkered down inside Ft Timmerman.  The TED 5000 shows, with the air conditioning running, we are using an average of $10.00 - $11.00/day in electricity.  With air conditioning turned off,  after installing the “smart strips“, we use an average of $5.50 - $6.00/day, (down from $6.25 - $7.00/day).  The “smart strips” have already paid for themselves. The two biggest energy hogs at Ft Timmerman remain central air and the electric clothes dryer.  Natural gas appliances are MUCH less expensive to operate, so I have been researching switching out our electric freezer, refrigerators, (we have three), clothes dryer and central air with natural gas powered units.  Gas clothes dryers are easy to find and about the same price as their electric counterparts.  Not so for gas central air and refrigerators.  I have just started researching  …  but to replace the refrigerator we have now with a gas unit would cost almost 4 times as much as it’s electric counterpart, ($2,000.00+/- vs. $8,000.00).  As for gas central air?  When I chatted with my air conditioning guy after he serviced our central air units, (we have two), his response was, “You have to talk to the gas company.  I don’t know anything about them.“  I will share what I have learned after I get done doing my research, in a later Ramblings. Here, in our America, our power plants are running at capacity.  Even assuming there was no great push to transition into electric vehicles, we will have to build more power plants. Share with me  …  who do you think will have to pay for them?  Read that to mean massive increases in your electric bill.  Point being?  Start looking at your electrical usage now, with an eye to reducing it and/or converting appliances to natural gas.  Natural gas appliances are less expensive to run now, they will become more so.   Going “green”, for me, is not about becoming a “tree hugger”   …   for me,  it remains keeping my “green” in my wallet.

(CNN) –  Apple on iPhone complaints: You’re holding it wrong. “Hours after its iPhone 4 went on sale to excited crowds Thursday, Apple found itself responding to complaints that holding the phone by its metal edge causes mobile reception to suffer. The company’s response, in a nutshell? You’re holding it wrong. “Just avoid holding it in that way,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs wrote in an e-mail that was making the rounds on the Web on Friday morning.” I didn’t know there was a right way and wrong way to hold a cell phone. An internal Apple memo did suggest, that the best reception possible was after chanting 3 “Our Founders”, 3 “Hail McIntoshs”   …   and a “Glory to own iPads”, while engaged in the classic Yoga “Kapalabhati Pranayama” pose.  Buying an “Apple” is not an investment in a tool  …  from what I have seen   …   it is buying into a way of life.  Kind of makes me wonder if Apple’s usage agreement has a missionary clause?

(CNN) — South African doctor invents female condoms with ‘teeth’ to fight rape.  “South African Dr. Sonnet Ehlers was on call one night four decades ago when a devastated rape victim walked in. Her eyes were lifeless; she was like a breathing corpse. “She looked at me and said, ‘If only had teeth down there,’” recalled Ehlers, who was a 20-year-old medical researcher at the time. “I promised her I’d do something to help people like her one day.” Forty years later, Rape-aXe was born. Ehlers is distributing the female condoms in the various South African cities where the World Cup soccer games are taking place. The woman inserts the latex condom like a tampon. Jagged rows of teeth-like hooks line its inside and attach on a man’s penis during penetration, Ehlers said. Once it lodges, only a doctor can remove it — a procedure Ehlers hopes will be done with authorities on standby to make an arrest.”   Stand by to make an arrest?  Why bother?  What are the odds, in this part of the world, the rapist would survive the inevitable infections?  Why not just harvest the remaining organs?

(BBC NEWS)  –  Stem cell therapy ‘damage’ seen in kidney disease case.  “A new complication has been seen in a patient with kidney disease who received stem cell therapy, scientists have warned. Stem cells were injected into the kidney, but the patient suffered tissue damage and died from an infection   …  They found that the patient had not benefited at all from the treatment, but had actually developed tissue damage called angiomyeloproliferative lesions at the injection sites. These were found to be clusters of blood vessels and bone marrow cells.”  No real comment:  certainly not a tongue in cheek one. Too many folks are praying for the miracle, they have been told, stem cells promise.  I suppose that underscores the obvious, only God has the power to perform miracles, certainly not humankind.

(BBC NEWS)  –  Italy raises alarm over blue mozzarella.  “A batch of about 70,000 mozzarella balls which turned blue upon opening has been confiscated by food authorities in Italy, officials say.  The health ministry said it had activated the European “rapid alert” system to warn of possible contamination, and announced emergency control measures on the cheese.  The cheese - made in Germany for an Italian company - has been removed from shelves and samples sent for testing.” Papa Smurf,  managing director of Smurfenstein Cheese GMB, could not be reached for comment.  In related news,  BP purchased all the tainted cheese for their new damage control television adds entitled,  “BP, celebrating Blue Bayou.” Roy Orbison would be spinning in his grave.

(BBC NEWS)  –  Senior Italian cardinal accused of corruption. “A leading Italian Catholic cardinal and an ex-government minister are under investigation for corruption. Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the archbishop of Naples, previously ran the department that co-ordinates the Vatican’s foreign missions. He is accused of colluding with Pietro Lunardi, a former transport minister, to offer cut-price property deals. He says he will co-operate with the investigation despite his immunity as a Vatican diplomatic passport holder  … 
Ordaining new priests at ceremony at St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI criticized priests who he said used their office to acquire power and personal prestige and to advance their careers.” Not included in the article? Inside sources at the Vatican stated they hoped the press would not find out the “property deals” included daycare centers and private pre-schools.  They opined it is a relief to be dealing with just plain old corruption, instead of perverts.

Editing these Ramblings,  the “Editorial Staff” hunkered down near one of the AC vents.  Susan is playing with her new “Nook“.  Watching her play with it, seeing her happy, makes my heart sing.  As for me?  I am really curious about natural gas options, in terms of household appliances.  We already have a gas water heater, a gas stove, (in my opinion, much better than electric),  and will soon have a gas dryer, as a back up for the clothes line I plan on putting up this weekend.  I need to do more research on gas refrigeration and air conditioning.  The garden at Ft Timmerman is absolutely beautiful, (see Garden 2010 Part 2).  Aside from the flowers, we will have plenty of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers to eat and share at St Patricks Pantry.   Have not decided what to cook for Susan on Sunday nor what movie to watch.  Time to post these Ramblings and settle in for a quiet evening at Ft Timmerman, (researching gas appliances), and later  …  as I drift off to sleep, saying a prayer of thanks for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them with. I never forget to say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform:  care to join me? And also tonight, a prayer that President Obama switching generals in Afghanistan, will not turn out to be a disaster.  Be and sleep well, the best we have is keeping watch, so you can.  If my post offends, I apologize  …  that is not my intent.  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri   …  and the Editorial Staff, Willie, Dinker, Karly, my L’l Buddy and Floydius Irritatus, the copy boy.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of June 18, 2010. I’m down to around 8 - 10 cigarettes a day, (from 3 - 3 1/2 packs).  I’m a nicotine addict. Have been since the early 60’s, since High School, (Newfield High School, Centereach, Long Island, New York), after “Fat Louie Stevens”, “Chicken Bob”, “Freddie the Frog”, (my running buddies), and I stole a pack of cigarettes from my father  …  made all of us sick   …  but we loved it.  About the same time I discovered the joys of Tawny Port and the worst “hang over” possible.  The kind where your teeth ache and the smallest sound feels like ice picks being driven in your head.  “Fat Louie’s” brother owned a ‘59 Cadillac which he let “Fat Louie” borrow on Friday and Saturday nights.  We called it the “Fish Mobile” because of it’s huge fins  …  and believe it or not, in ‘64 -’65, it was a chick magnet for 4 spectacularly unattractive teenagers.  Well, the car was  …  not the occupants.  “Fat Louie” was a drummer and “Chicken Bob” played an organ, (Hammond B3) and “Freddie the Frog” and I were roadies for the band they were in.  That B3 was a bitch to move!! Opened for “The Rascals” one night, before the Rascals hit it big.  A different time with different mindsets and different values.  I can remember driving down the road with one eye closed, cause there were two sets of yellow lines, (would not even remotely consider driving that impaired now!!) In ‘64 - ‘65, the Vietnam War was only a cloud on the horizon and I wanted to be a Lutheran Minister, (had a scholarship to attend the Capital University pre-seminary program).  I did attend, until they asked me to leave  …  involved a misunderstanding about our “House Mother”  …  a lovely young woman named “Becky”.  Not having learned the difference between love and lust cost me my “4D” draft status.  I know the difference now.  “Chicken Bob” passed away in 1987, “Freddie the Frog” in 1993 and “Fat Louie” in 2005  …  all had quit smoking years before they passed away.  I still smoke.  The last vice I have left, having given up “Brandy” April 20th, (although I did enjoy a couple of snifters of Scotch at the Conference).  It is good to be at a point in life where I have no need, nor desire, to cut more notches.  My “gun” has plenty, (and those who served will understand the reference.)  Good memories, all.  Like most, I like to delude myself with the thought that I am respected by my peers, have perhaps made a difference in a life or two and hopefully have a few sunrises left to enjoy and share with Susan.  My Friend Thea passed away this week  …  I wrote a couple of weeks ago in the June 4th Ramblings:  “… she smiled   �  and holding my hand said,  �I know where I am going.  I�m just waiting.  I will see you there.�  We looked into each others eyes for a few minutes,  I stroked her hair, kissed her cheek, squeezed her hand, smiled and said   �  �I�ll see you in a bit.�  �  hugged her husband and walked back to my car.”  I will indeed see her again in a bit.

(BBC NEWS)  –  John Lennon’s A Day in the Life lyrics sell for $1.2m.  “John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to Beatles song “A Day In The Life” have sold for $1.2m at auction, well above the price expected. The double-sided sheet of paper with notes written in felt marker and blue ink was sold at Sotheby’s in New York. The lyric sheet also contains some corrections and other notes penned in red ink.” I remember when “Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released.  Revolutionary at the time. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” caused quite a stir. Lots of speculation about what the lyrics meant.  Led to a whole generation of songs with drug related innuendos.  Anyone remember Jefferson Airplane’s, “White Rabbit“?  “Remember what the door mouse said  …  Keep your head!  …  Keep your head!!.” 

“Cloud Computing” seems to be the new business model:  Los Angeles, California (CNN) –  Is ‘cloud computing’ the future of video games?  “Playing high-profile video games quickly from portable devices such as your iPad might get easier after this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo  …  “Today we’re taking the first step toward a future where video game content is increasingly free from the restrictions of device and location, while showcasing the ability to instantly play the latest, most advanced games at the touch of a button,” said OnLive founder and CEO Steve Perlman.” Basically, “Cloud Computing” converts your computer into a dumb terminal, with the software you use stored on the software vendors server.  The idea is to make software piracy a thing of the past and reduce distribution costs.  I wonder though, is such centralization of software infrastructure really such a good idea?  Given the increasing sophistication of  hacker technology and cyber threats, I don’t think so. In my mind, a potential data “Pearl Harbor” in the making. In the same vein,  the Chinese shooting down a satellite last year should be a “wake up call” that our increasing dependence on “smart” weapons systems, which rely on GPS technology, (satellites), makes us vulnerable.  We won WWII in Europe, not because we had superior technology, but because we could produce Sherman Tanks faster than the Germans could destroy them.  Given we now “outsource” just about everything   …  do you honestly believe we could marshal the industrial resources necessary, to manufacture the weapons we could potentially need?  Damn good argument for allowing an armed citizenry, isn’t it?  The idea of an armed militia, armed citizens capable of joining together to defend our homeland, isn’t exactly a new one.

(CNN) –  5-day ‘morning after’ pill gets FDA advisers’ approval.  “An advisory panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the green light Thursday to an emergency contraceptive for use up to five days after sex. The Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs voted unanimously to recommend the drug, called ella. The pill is intended for women who have had unprotected sex or for whom another method of contraception, such as a condom, failed.” Gee, would it really take 5 days to figure out the condom failed?  Like, do you mount it on a wall and watch to see if it drips?

Short Ramblings to edit this week.  The “Editorial Staff” is curled up and asleep. My heart is still heavy thinking about friends that have passed away.   When “Fat Louie”,(complication from diabetes),  and Bob Sig passed away … I remember a profound sense of loss, sadness  …  not for them, but for me.  Selfish, I know.  Human nature revolves around the self, focused on the tiers in Maslow’s Hierarchy, doesn’t it? I suppose the ultimate lesson in life remains   …  learning the difference between “wants” and “needs”.  We all have “wants”, but just what do you, (and I), really “need”?  Time to post these Ramblings,  process some images I captured earlier,  and later, give thanks for having my greatest “need” fulfilled:  having Susan to share my life with.  We “need” each other to be whole.  And it goes without saying, that I will say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?)  Be and sleep well, you will have a time, when you drift off to sleep,  memories provide a safe place to hunker down in.  Refuge.  Make those memories happen now.  Should my post offend, I apologize, that is not my intent.  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, Dinker, Karly, Willie, my L’L Buddy  …  and Floydicus Irritatus.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of June 18, 2010. I’m down to around 8 - 10 cigarettes a day, (from 3 - 3 1/2 packs).  I’m a nicotine addict. Have been since the early 60’s, since High School, (Newfield High School, Centereach, Long Island, New York), after “Fat Louie Stevens”, “Chicken Bob”, “Freddie the Frog”, (my running buddies), and I stole a pack of cigarettes from my father  …  made all of us sick   …  but we loved it.  About the same time I discovered the joys of Tawny Port and the worst “hang over” possible.  The kind where your teeth ache and the smallest sound feels like ice picks being driven in your head.  “Fat Louie’s” brother owned a ‘59 Cadillac which he let “Fat Louie” borrow on Friday and Saturday nights.  We called it the “Fish Mobile” because of it’s huge fins  …  and believe it or not, in ‘64 -’65, it was a chick magnet for 4 spectacularly unattractive teenagers.  Well, the car was  …  not the occupants.  “Fat Louie” was a drummer and “Chicken Bob” played an organ, (Hammond B3) and “Freddie the Frog” and I were roadies for the band they were in.  That B3 was a bitch to move!! Opened for “The Rascals” one night, before the Rascals hit it big.  A different time with different mindsets and different values.  I can remember driving down the road with one eye closed, cause there were two sets of yellow lines, (would not even remotely consider driving that impaired now!!) In ‘64 - ‘65, the Vietnam War was only a cloud on the horizon and I wanted to be a Lutheran Minister, (had a scholarship to attend the Capital University pre-seminary program).  I did attend, until they asked me to leave  …  involved a misunderstanding about our “House Mother”  …  a lovely young woman named “Becky”.  Not having learned the difference between love and lust cost me my “4D” draft status.  I know the difference now.  “Chicken Bob” passed away in 1987, “Freddie the Frog” in 1993 and “Fat Louie” in 2005  …  all had quit smoking years before they passed away.  I still smoke.  The last vice I have left, having given up “Brandy” April 20th, (although I did enjoy a couple of snifters of Scotch at the Conference).  It is good to be at a point in life where I have no need, nor desire, to cut more notches.  My “gun” has plenty, (and those who served will understand the reference.)  Good memories, all.  Like most, I like to delude myself with the thought that I am respected by my peers, have perhaps made a difference in a life or two and hopefully have a few sunrises left to enjoy and share with Susan.  My Friend Thea passed away this week  …  I wrote a couple of weeks ago in the June 4th Ramblings:  “… she smiled   �  and holding my hand said,  �I know where I am going.  I�m just waiting.  I will see you there.�  We looked into each others eyes for a few minutes,  I stroked her hair, kissed her cheek, squeezed her hand, smiled and said   �  �I�ll see you in a bit.�  �  hugged her husband and walked back to my car.”  I will indeed see her again in a bit.

(BBC NEWS)  –  John Lennon’s A Day in the Life lyrics sell for $1.2m.  “John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to Beatles song “A Day In The Life” have sold for $1.2m at auction, well above the price expected. The double-sided sheet of paper with notes written in felt marker and blue ink was sold at Sotheby’s in New York. The lyric sheet also contains some corrections and other notes penned in red ink.” I remember when “Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released.  Revolutionary at the time. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” caused quite a stir. Lots of speculation about what the lyrics meant.  Led to a whole generation of songs with drug related innuendos.  Anyone remember Jefferson Airplane’s, “White Rabbit“?  “Remember what the door mouse said  …  Keep your head!  …  Keep your head!!.” 

“Cloud Computing” seems to be the new business model:  Los Angeles, California (CNN) –  Is ‘cloud computing’ the future of video games?  “Playing high-profile video games quickly from portable devices such as your iPad might get easier after this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo  …  “Today we’re taking the first step toward a future where video game content is increasingly free from the restrictions of device and location, while showcasing the ability to instantly play the latest, most advanced games at the touch of a button,” said OnLive founder and CEO Steve Perlman.” Basically, “Cloud Computing” converts your computer into a dumb terminal, with the software you use stored on the software vendors server.  The idea is to make software piracy a thing of the past and reduce distribution costs.  I wonder though, is such centralization of software infrastructure really such a good idea?  Given the increasing sophistication of  hacker technology and cyber threats, I don’t think so. In my mind, a potential data “Pearl Harbor” in the making. In the same vein,  the Chinese shooting down a satellite last year should be a “wake up call” that our increasing dependence on “smart” weapons systems, which rely on GPS technology, (satellites), makes us vulnerable.  We won WWII in Europe, not because we had superior technology, but because we could produce Sherman Tanks faster than the Germans could destroy them.  Given we now “outsource” just about everything   …  do you honestly believe we could marshal the industrial resources necessary, to manufacture the weapons we could potentially need?  Damn good argument for allowing an armed citizenry, isn’t it?  The idea of an armed militia, armed citizens capable of joining together to defend our homeland, isn’t exactly a new one.

(CNN) –  5-day ‘morning after’ pill gets FDA advisers’ approval.  “An advisory panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the green light Thursday to an emergency contraceptive for use up to five days after sex. The Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs voted unanimously to recommend the drug, called ella. The pill is intended for women who have had unprotected sex or for whom another method of contraception, such as a condom, failed.” Gee, would it really take 5 days to figure out the condom failed?  Like, do you mount it on a wall and watch to see if it drips?

Short Ramblings to edit this week.  The “Editorial Staff” is curled up and asleep. My heart is still heavy thinking about friends that have passed away.   When “Fat Louie”,(complication from diabetes),  and Bob Sig passed away … I remember a profound sense of loss, sadness  …  not for them, but for me.  Selfish, I know.  Human nature revolves around the self, focused on the tiers in Maslow’s Hierarchy, doesn’t it? I suppose the ultimate lesson in life remains   …  learning the difference between “wants” and “needs”.  We all have “wants”, but just what do you, (and I), really “need”?  Time to post these Ramblings,  process some images I captured earlier,  and later, give thanks for having my greatest “need” fulfilled:  having Susan to share my life with.  We “need” each other to be whole.  And it goes without saying, that I will say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?)  Be and sleep well, you will have a time, when you drift off to sleep,  memories provide a safe place to hunker down in.  Refuge.  Make those memories happen now.  Should my post offend, I apologize, that is not my intent.  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, Dinker, Karly, Willie, my L’L Buddy  …  and Floydicus Irritatus.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the morning of Sunday, June 13, 2010.  It is a quiet Sunday morning at Ft Timmerman.  The smell of coffee and a slice of Honey Wheat toast from the Maple Street Cafe in Cole Camp completes my sense of being “home”  …  not to mention 14 pairs of eyes watching me munch down on the toast  –  they may be Susan’s “babies”,  but they seem to swear allegiance to whomever has the “treats”.  Must be “politicians” at heart.  I left the Conference before the closing lunch on Saturday, (after “moderating” a family law “roundtable”).  Hit three waves of severe thunderstorms on the way home, but did make it home in time to attend Mass, (and get drafted for the first “reading” because the assigned person didn’t/couldn’t attend).  Susan was sacristan.  Last night, I posted the images I captured at the Conference in 3 galleries on “Facebook”, (you don’t need a Facebook account to view the images and if you would like a copy of an image, Email me):

Thursday:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=181499&id=590476330&l=1431076ee7
Friday:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=181508&id=590476330&l=a9b76e0bdd
Saturday:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=181511&id=590476330&l=ec9ce186cc

Aside from meeting friends, there were three things I wanted to accomplish at the Conference:  raise awareness of the statutory requirement we, as lawyers, now have, (effective August 28, 2009), to notify our clients should their “personal information” be “potentially” compromised, (see R.S.Mo 407.1500).  Read that to mean, should your Laptop/Thumb drive/Cellphone, etc. be lost or stolen, you must notify, in writing, each person whose personal information may be “potentially” compromised.  Perhaps ALL your clients.  The most viable defense being “encryption” of the data.  Toward that end, I included “Truecrypt“, (FREE, open source, encryption software), and a quick tutorial on how to encrypt laptops and thumb drives, in the course materials.  More important, I decided to share an algorithm/way of generating a “passphrase” which you CAN NOT forget and contains all of the necessary passphrase elements:  21 characters long, contains symbols, numbers and upper and lowercase letters.  That is a passphrase which has 240, raised to the 21st power, possible permutations. Is it “brute force” breakable?  Of course, should someone be willing to have a supercomputer crank the numbers for a couple of weeks/months/years.  Here is an excerpt from the materials:

(Picture of Keyboard)

1)        File naming convention does not apply, meaning you can use any character or combination of characters on the keyboard.
 
2)        The “passphrase” must be 21 characters long,  use numbers, symbols and upper and lower case letters. Spaces count as a character. Note, that by holding down the Shift Key, you have simple access to numbers and symbols.
 
3)        Set up a universal template for numbers and symbols you will use in every passphrase, with a context/word mnemonic in the center.
                    
                     !890________________123!
 
4)        Chose a mnemonic that is easy to remember and context sensitive.
 
                     Karl@amazon.com
                     Karl@dpreview.com
                     Karl@westlaw.com
 
5)       Examples:
 
                     !890Karl@amazon.com123!
                     !890Karl@dpreview.com123!
                     !890Karl@westlaw.com123!
                                          or
                     !890Bubba123! was my best friend.

Share with me  …  what are the odds you could forget the “passphrase” for accessing one of your accounts, when the name of the account is integrated into your passphrase? This is an elegant, simple solution   …  and if you have an interest,  would you share how many digits does the number 240 raised to the 21st power, contain?

And in other news, (triggered by the “Pig Roast” on Friday)   …   (BBC NEWS) –  WHO swine flu experts ‘linked’ with drug companies.  “Key scientists behind World Health Organization advice on stockpiling of pandemic flu drugs had financial ties with companies which stood to profit, an investigation has found. The British Medical Journal says the scientists had openly declared these interests in other publications yet WHO made no mention of the links. It comes as a report from the Council of Europe criticized the lack of transparency around the handling of the swine flu pandemic. A spokesman for WHO said the drug industry did not influence its decisions on swine flu.”  As an aside, in the paper today,  18,000 people have succumbed to the “Swine Flu”. 

And in the “Our Foreign Aid Dollars Well Spent”?  (BBC NEWS)  –  Cairo court rules on Egyptians married to Israeli women.  “A court in Cairo has upheld a ruling urging the government to consider stripping Egyptian men who are married to Israeli women of their citizenship.  The ruling requires officials to send all such cases to the cabinet, to be decided on an individual basis  …  It calls on the cabinet to determine whether to remove the nationality of the men concerned, as well as that of their children. The court said the government should consider whether the Israeli woman was an Arab or a Jew.  It is estimated that about 30,000 Egyptians are married to Israeli women.”   …   CAIRO –  U.S. Aid to Egypt Totals $28 Billion in Three Decades. “In the three decades since 1975, when the United States began its foreign assistance to Egypt, the most populous Arab country has made enormous progress. While its population rose from about 40 million to more than 70 million, incomes also rose and the standard of living has greatly improved. At the 30th anniversary celebration of the U.S. aid program last year, the aid given totaled $28 billion, by far the largest amount of development aid given to any country in the world by the United States.” And in return, our America benefited how?  Isn’t Egypt the birthplace of modern Islamic extremism?  Perhaps, given the number of Americans that are hurting, we could spend the next $28 billion here, in our America, re-building infrastructure   …  doesn’t charity begin at home?  Course, then the “right” would complain about “bailouts” …  and the “left” would complain, it isn’t enough.  Both missing the ultimate point:  they have the freedom to complain.  Our men and women in uniform standing ready to make the ultimate payment to ensure they can.

Time to post these late, after the fact, Ramblings:  Susan is feeding her babies and the “Editorial Staff” is way too busy following her around, to give a damn about me.  But Susan does,  the reason I braved three severe thunderstorms to come home early.   The garden needs tending and I have a busy week ahead   …  but today,  I will kick back, print several images I captured at the Conference, to be given as gifts. And tonight,  as I drift off to sleep, say a prayer of thanks for a safe trip home to Susan, my partner, best friend and God’s greatest gift to me,  His “tender mercy”, to me.  And of course, it goes almost without saying  …  I will say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform:  care to join me?  If my post offends, I apologize in advance, that is not my intent.  As always  …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff, (currently pigging out!!), Karly, Dinker, Willie, my L’il Buddy   …  and Floydious Irritatus, the copy boy.)