March 7, 2008
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of March 7, 2008. This past week I re-read Robert Heinlein’s “Stranger in a Strange Land“. A bible for those of us who grew up in the 60’s. I am surprised at how many “Water Brothers” I have on this list. How many of us “grok“. ** Note to puppy sharks: take the time to read “Stranger in a Strange Land“: aside from being an entertaining read, it shares some great observations about the human condition. ** Which leads to one of mine: “An integrated Bar, being a mandatory committee and an integrated part of the judicial branch of our government, has an inherent conflict lobbying for or against any legislation pending in the legislative branch. Share with me, how it does not … when the judges that comprise the leadership of our judicial branch, may be called upon to judge the constitutionality of the very legislation they, (through the Bar), may have lobbied to pass?” I fear there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of judges specifically and our Judicial Branch in general. Like it or not, a judge does not, nor should he/she answer to the will of the people. They/it are not his/her constituents. A judge’s master … what he/she answers to, subjects himself/herself to … is THE LAW enacted by the representatives of the people … provided THE LAW enacted, does not violate the contract the people have with their elected representatives: our Constitution and it’s Bill of Rights. It is not a judges role to make law. Ultimately, the most important function of our judicial branch, is to protect the rights of the minority by enforcing our Bill of Rights: it can not do so, if it becomes or is a part of the process, (by lobbying or “educating”) … that seeks to implement the will of the majority. I respectfully dissent with our Bar’s decision to spend a million dollars, (of the dues you and I have been forced to pay), on “educating” the public about the benefits of the status quo. The fact remains, ANY action taken by our Bar to “educate” the public about the benefits of the status quo, will only fuel the public’s perception of the “good old boys” and “activist judges”, seeking to protect their turf. There are changes to be made: instead of fighting change, entrench in un-defendable positions … how about we work with our elected representatives on an individual basis and channel change in a direction that benefits our profession? … and … ensure that the citizens of Missouri have the benefit of competent legal representation by putting teeth in the unauthorized practice of law statutes? How about we stop helping folks harm themselves by downloading the “Court Approved” dissolution packets from the Court Administrators Website? How about we implement a universal picture ID and a vacation rule? How about we use that 1 million dollars on programs that directly benefit Bar members?
I remember in the movie “The Graduate“, the seminal line: “I have one word for you : PLASTICS”, (I also remember Simon and Garfunckle’s classic, “Mrs. Robinson“ – but that’s another Friday Night Ramblings!) Point being, the seminal line today is: Robotics. Intelligent machines are the future and Japan has the greatest research investment: TOKYO, Japan (AP) – Robots enter Japan’s daily life. “At a university lab in a Tokyo suburb, engineering students are wiring a rubbery robot face to simulate six basic expressions: anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise and disgust. Hooked up to a database of words clustered by association, the robot — dubbed Kansei, or “sensibility” — responds to the word “war” by quivering in what looks like disgust and fear. It hears “love,” and its pink lips smile.” Raises an interesting issue: where is the line between human and machine? Susan is on an insulin pump, which allows her to live without the horrors of hyper or hypo glycemic episodes. Other folks have pacemakers and hearing aids. No doubt, there will be more mechanical enhancements to supplement and replace our biological components … the organs … created in HIS image? I suppose that begs the question: If we are created in the image of God … how many parts can we replace … before, we no longer are?
ANDERSON, S.C. — Man Fatally Stabs Himself While Cooking. “A man was killed Sunday when he accidentally stabbed himself while cooking. Chief Deputy Coroner Charlie Boseman said that Michael Downing, 32, was cooking food for himself and his 8- and 10- year-old sons on Sunday afternoon while his fiance was at work. Downing burned himself, jerked his hand away and accidentally stabbed himself with a steak knife that he was holding in his hand, Boseman said.” So his 8 year old and 10 year old sons witnessed this? I post this to share the human condition: how tenuous life really is. How, but for the Grace of God, go you and I. Life is not fair … justice remains … something each and every one of us, has to stand up and fight for. We have an obligation to be “Bad Germans”. As lawyers, isn’t that what we have signed on to do? Isn’t that our calling? Although I fear, some of my younger brethren are more concerned about paying off their student loan debt.
And in the “You know this has got to hurt department!“: CINCINNATI — Woman Gives Birth To Child Nearly Her Own Size. “A northern Kentucky woman believes she is the smallest woman who ever gave birth to such a large baby. Stacey Herald, 33, gave birth five weeks ago to an 18-inch daughter who is not much smaller than her mother. �I’m 28 1/2 inches, head to heel,� said Herald, who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta.” Think about it. How do you get an 18 inch baby, out of a 28 1/2 inch mother? 10 1/2 inches of room for … vital organs? Begs the question, I suppose … how big was the father?
Polk County, Florida — Naked Man Found Stalking Alligator, Bitten by Snake. “Deputies patrolling Saddle Creek in Lakeland said they found an abandoned pickup near a pond early Friday and investigated. During a search of the area, officers said they found Adrian Apgar of Polk City standing naked in the water about 50 feet from the shore. He was walking toward an alligator, the report said. Deputies were able to talk Apgar out of the water without incident. Apgar told deputies that he had been bitten by a snake and was looking for an alligator.” It’s a good thing that only in Florida, does being bitten by a snake while smoking crack, cause a person to take off their clothes and stalk alligators. If there is indeed a genetic basis for behavior … I suspect this is an extremely self limiting gene.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Study: Snowflakes may contain bacteria. “Those beautiful snowflakes drifting out of the sky may have a surprise inside — bacteria. Most snow and rain forms in chilly conditions high in the sky and atmospheric scientists have long known that, under most conditions, the moisture needs something to cling to in order to condense. Now, a new study shows a surprisingly large share of those so-called nucleators turn out to be bacteria that can affect plants. “Bacteria are by far the most active ice nuclei in nature,” said Brent C. Christner, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University.” Times have sure changed: when I was growing up, the standard warming was not to eat the yellow snow.
Yesterday, I drove to Jefferson City and filed for Judge Dandurand’s vacant seat. Today I issued the following “Press Release”:
“On Friday, March 7th, Holden attorney Karl H. Timmerman, M.A., J.D., announced his candidacy to fill the seat on the Circuit Court for Cass and Johnson County made vacant by Judge Dandurands appointment to the Western District Court of Appeals.
Explaining why he wants to serve as the Circuit Judge for Cass and Johnson County, Timmerman stated “I have decided to run for the office of Circuit Judge for Cass and Johnson County because I want to finish my legal career as a judge - a public servant - as a way to pay back my America for the privilege of being an American Citizen. I feel that I am uniquely qualified to fill this position given my education and life experience.”
Timmerman was born in Oldenburg, Germany on January 15, 1948, and became a naturalized United States citizen in Mineola, NY in 1965. He served in the United States Army from July 1967 to July 1970 and was awarded an Honorable Discharge.
His education includes an A.A.S. from Penn Valley Junior College in 1975, a B.A. in Psychology from UMKC in 1977, a M.A. in Psychology from UMKC in 1982, and a J.D. from UMKC in 1982.
Timmerman has been in the solo practice of law since 1982. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, Missouri 8th Circuit District Courts, Missouri 8th Circuit Bankruptcy Court, Supreme Court of the State of Missouri and the Missouri Southern and Western District Courts of Appeal and all trial courts in Missouri.
Timmermans public service includes the past Vice-Chairmanship of the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee (2002-2004), Chairman and founding member of the Solo and Small Firm Internet Group (SFIG), and he is currently serving on the planning committee for the Missouri Bar’s annual Solo and Small Firm Conference. He has served as Chairman of the Jackson County Mediation Advisory Committee and he assisted in the drafting of the mediation rules for Cass and Johnson County. He has been a U.S. Postal Service approved mediator since 1998. Timmerman is currently a member of Holden’s City Council and he has served as Holden�s City Attorney and Prosecutor.
Timmerman has resided in Holden since 1987 with his wife, Susan, and is a member of St. Patricks Catholic Church, where he serves as Eucharistic Minister and lector. He is a member of Holden’s Masonic Lodge, the Ararat Shrine Temple, the Knights of Columbus and has been a member of the American Legion for over 30 years. Karl and Susan are actively involved with 7 Bells Sanctuary, an animal rescue organization headquartered in Cole Camp.
Timmerman is the recipient of the Missouri Bars Solo and Small Firm Committee’s 2001 Distinguished Service Award, was named the Missouri Junior College Association’s Alumni of the year for 2004 and was recently named Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly’s 2007 Missouri Lawyer of the Year.”
Sitting here editing these Ramblings and thinking about running again. I can’t do it 24/7 like I did the last time: I just can not afford to do so. Susan is, as she always is … standing beside me, my partner. Together, win or lose the race, our relationship will continue to deepen and we will both win from the combined effort. That is what relationships, having a life partner, is all about. A combined front against the world. There is a great old Woody Allen line: “Relationships are like sharks – they either keep moving together, or they sink to the bottom and die.” I could not run again without Susan’s support nor could I have a better running mate. Wish me luck, (and send money!!) Tonight, as we snuggle and hold eachother as we drift off to sleep, I will say a pray of thanks … a prayer that God’s Will be done … and 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 this nation has to offer, is on watch so you can. If my post offends, I apologize … that is not my intent. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
Karl (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri … and the editorial staff, Willy, Karly and my L’lil Buddy.