Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of May 11, 2012.  Perception of time is different these days, more precise, I guess. Susan and I have a great “credit score” because we pay ALL bills and “late fees”,  within 30 days, (late fees are pure profit for the lender, since the interest rate is usually usurious because it is unregulated). Got an automated call from “Wells Fargo”  ….  seems our car payment was due on the 4th  …  and they didn’t get it.  Apparently, they now have a computer program that calls you, to demand payment, (or remind you), they have not received the payment, if you are more than 5 days late.  I waited, pushed the requisite buttons  …  for English   …  and chatted with a “representative” who “suggested”  that, I IMMEDIATELY make an electronic payment. Wanted a credit card, (we don’t have any with a balance  …  just a $30K line of credit with BOA) or my Bank routing number, my date of birth and the last 4 digits of my SSN. I declined and shared, we pay bills on the 1st and 15th    …  (that’s when we transfer funds from the Trust Account).  He shared, that was not acceptable.  I shared  …  so  …  sue me.  You can serve me at 103 East 2^nd Street, Holden, Missouri  …  and “Dude, I know you are only doing your job.”   I can now understand why some of the big banks are not generating the same profits. If they were smart, they would be encouraging folks to make their payments late   …  and generate late fees.

So, what’s with all the hype about 3d?  There’s a bunch of TV’s being peddled  …  if you want to spend a few extra bucks and wear these funky glasses and to watch them.  Course, there’s also a bunch of movies. I’m waiting for the evening news in 3d.  Obama and Romney in a debate, in 3D.  And of course, the presidential campaign is heating up:   Washington (CNN) –  Romney’s former classmate: ‘You have to take it into account’  “Phillip Maxwell wishes he had done something to stop it. Maxwell, a Michigan attorney, is still haunted by what he claims he witnessed on the campus of the state's elite Cranbrook School in 1965: a young Mitt Romney and a group of friends holding down a classmate named John Lauber and cutting off chunks of his long hair   …  Maxwell, who told ABC News he is a registered independent who has voted for both Democrats and Republicans, said the episode is "relevant" in the campaign as a window into Romney's character.”   …  and  …  (Hollywood Gossip) — Barack Obama Ate Dog, Mitt Romney Supporter Proclaims!  “Mitt Romney's campaign is fighting back in the War on Dogs, excerpting a passage from President Obama's memoir in which he admits eating one as a kid. The Daily Caller's Jim Treacher wrote a blog post with an excerpt from Dreams From My Father in which Obama writes of eating dog as a boy in Indonesia. "With Lolo, I learned how to eat small green chill peppers raw with dinner (plenty of rice), and, away from the dinner table, I was introduced to dog meat (tough), snake meat (tougher), and roasted grasshopper (crunchy)," writes Obama.”   …  I suppose that is just as relevant "…  in the campaign as a window into [Obama’s] character.”  I am looking forward to the 3D reenactments in the respective campaign videos, of a teenage Romney sniping hair   …  and a teenage Obama chomping down on a dog leg.  Obviously more important issues than a $16.5T National Debt, (and growing)  …  a stagnant economy, continued massive unemployment   …  and a nuclear Iran and North Korea.   Perhaps, if the economy doesn’t improve, President Obama can share the recipes? 

And in the medical research news?  (BBC NEWS)  –  Testosterone supplements may help male weight loss.  “Older obese men could shift excess weight by taking testosterone supplements, suggest findings announced at the European Congress on Obesity. In a study, hormone-deficient men were given testosterone supplements in a similar way to HRT for older women. Men lost an average of 16kg [35 pounds] over five years when testosterone levels were increased back to normal.”  Seems the increased testosterone levels increased geezer “activity”, (you really can burn a lot of calories engaging in the marital appurtenances). The down side?  Knee and foot injuries when old guys, high on testosterone, started chasing their wives around the house again.  Not mentioned in the study?  The marked increase in fistfights in nursing homes.  

Science news?  (BBC NEWS)  –  Mayan art and calendar at Xultun stun archaeologists.  “Archaeologists working at the Xultun ruins of the Mayan civilization have reported striking finds, including the oldest-known Mayan astronomical tables.  The site, in Guatemala, includes the first known instance of Mayan art painted on the walls of a dwelling. A report in Science says it dates from the early 9th Century, pre-dating other Mayan calendars by centuries. Such calendars rose to prominence recently amid claims they predicted the end of the world in 2012  …   The Mayan numbering system for dates is a complex one in base-18 and base-20 numbers that, in modern-day terms, would "turn over" at the end of 2012. But Dr Saturno points out that the new finds serve to further undermine the fallacy that this is tantamount to a prediction of the end of the world. "The ancient Maya predicted the world would continue, that 7,000 years from now, things would be exactly like this," he said.”  I am sure we can all breath easier now, knowing that the world will not end December 21, 2012   …   especially the folks “anal” enough, to have already done their Christmas shopping.  As for the “Mayan art painted on the walls of a dwelling”?  It wasn’t art and it wasn’t a dwelling.  Turns out, it was in fact, the menu painted on the wall of the original/first Taco Bell.  [Footnote:  it is the best and most colorful rendition of the Taco Bell Chihuahua, (Gidget), found to date.]

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the Editorial Staff barking at the Taco Bell Chihuahua commercial playing on my computer.  Short Ramblings this evening because I got home later than expected from the Bar Committee Meetings in Jeff City.  Car pooled with my Dear Lady Friend, Corinne C.  …  and had lunch with Vic P, his lovely wife, Pav and Stacey M.  Will post images taken today on the Missouri Solo and Small Firm Internet, Facebook page later this evening.  Susan is already in bed, excited about attending “Rockfest” tomorrow.  I have no interest in attending:  to me it is akin to a Trailer Park Homeowners Association Meeting.

Time to post these Ramblings and settle in to process the images I captured today.  Last weekend, I was awarded a prize at the Mid Missouri Artists, Spring Show for “Photography Artistic Excellence”.  Nice to have your work recognized.  Sunday “Lunch and a Movie”?  BBQ’d Steak, baked potato and peas.  The movie?  “Bad Ass [2012]”  Later, when I hit the sack, I will say my “Thank You’s” for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them with   …  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 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, Karly, my Lil Buddy and Floyd. On the way back today, was chatting with Corinne about helping a loved pet pass  …  and was overcome with grief, missing Little Willie. The pain remains real.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of May 4, 2012.  Watched a story about “Pink Slime”, the “processed beef” filler used in hamburger  …  and was amazed by the hysteria  …  and the udder, (no pun intended), stupidity of some folks interviewed  …  ”It’s not natural!!”  …  “It’s unsafe”  …  Unsafe?  “It consists of finely ground beef scraps, sinew, fat, and connective tissue which have been mechanically removed in a heated centrifuge at 100°F (38°C) from the fat into liquid fat and a protein paste. The recovered material  [protein paste]  is then processed, heated, and treated with ammonia gas or citric acid to kill E. coli, salmonella, and other bacteria.”  In other words, it is pure beef protein with zero fat   …  and it is cheap!  Unnatural?  Ever read the ingredient list for hot dogs, bologna   …  or for that matter, any sausage   …  and of course “SPAM”?  Last I looked, I didn’t see any bologna, hot dog or SPAM ranches:  they are also made from “leftovers”.   The result? “…  McDonald’s and other major hamburger purveyors announced plans to discontinue use of ground beef with the controversial filler. So did major supermarket chains like Kroger and Hy-Vee, although not without sounding a warning note. “The industry is telling us that the removal of this filler is the equivalent of losing 1.5 million head of cattle – and cattle are already in tight supply,” said Ruth Comer, spokeswoman for Des Moines-based Hy-Vee. An online petition seeking to have the USDA eliminate the filler in school lunches picked up 250,000 signatures.”   Look for a marked increase in beef prices   …  the closing of 4 processing plants and the loss of 600 jobs.  Nothing like an enlightened/aware citizenry.  Course  …  look at who we elect to represent us.

On the campaign trail, President Obama touting how he took out Bin Laden.  As for Bin Laden, some of his letters were released. (CNN) — Bin Laden's letters reveal a terrorist losing control “A trove of never-before-seen letters by Osama bin Laden portray the terrorist leader as an irritated boss chiding his underlings for mistakes yet sure that they could pull off elaborate attacks against the United States.  U.S. Navy SEALs took the correspondence after they killed bin Laden in a raid on his Pakistan compound in May 2011. On Thursday, the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, released 17 letters totaling 175 pages, with more documents to be made public later.”  The letters are an interesting read.  My favorite?

“Greetings Amad and Allah Ahkbar! [God is great!].  How is the Jihad going? Kill any Kafirs lately?  Things are not going so well here in Pakistan.  The wives keep fighting among themselves and my supply of pirated Viagra from India has been cut off.  The Great Satan, (may they all spend eternity trapped in camel dung!!),  has those damn drones flying around making deliveries difficult.  Amad, please be more selective with curriers. I think the last one, Ali, stole my Penthouse, Playboy and Hustler magazines.  They were missing from the currier bag.  Also, I’m having second thoughts about the 77 virgins thing   …  being cooped up with 4 wives is bad enough!  I can’t picture having to spend eternity with 77 woman bitching at me.

Speaking of which, we are having a hard time recruiting suicide bombers here in Pakistan.  These kids are so damn self centered and unwilling to do without the nicer things. I don’t think they would last a week in a cave.  Not to mention, they are so into material things and making a quick rupee.  All the last four I talked to, talked about, was moving to the United States and buying a 7-11 Franchise or a Cab.  I told them Jihad and a “9/11 Franchise” guaranteed them 77 virgins in eternity.  They just laughed at me.  Go figure.

I understand we are getting a little low in cash.  I may have a solution.  Really elegant if you think about it.  Have you considered buying life insurance, naming us beneficiary, on our suicide bombers?  If we recruit them at age 15, we can get a million dollar term policy really cheap.  And get this:  we buy the policies from Jews, so they take a double loss!!!  What do you think?

Got to go.  Fatima is bitching at me, to take the garbage out.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Bin”

In the latest health news:  (BBC NEWS) — Aspirin is as 'good as warfarin' for most heart failure patients.  “Aspirin could be as effective as more expensive drugs for heart failure patients with a normal heart rhythm, according to researchers. Their study on more than 2,000 patients, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, said aspirin was as effective as the commonly prescribed drug warfarin.  Just proves how bad and greedy our medical system is.  The rest of the world just buries folks who suffered heart failure. 

(BBC NEWS) — Pond skaters hooked in sex struggle.  “Pond skater males have evolved elaborate antennae due to sexual struggles with females, say researchers.  Females of the water-skimming bugs are known to vigorously resist the advances of males deemed to be poor mates. With the use of high-speed video, scientists in Canada were able to analyze how males responded. They found that males used hook-like antennae to pin down and restrain females and mate successfully.”  Upon learning the news, feminists in the Justice Department demanded new Federal Regulations outlawing pond skaters with hook-like antennae and the Obama Administration has called for bids from the petrochemical industry to create a “green” environmentally sensitive pesticide that sterilizes hooked antennae pond skaters.  The move enraged Conservative Republican “Right to Lifers’ and the Catholic Church has, as yet, not taken a position.

(BBC NEWS)  – Family disputes create rebel bees. “Worker bees rebel when faced with the prospect of raising their nephews and nieces, research has found.  Scientists in Poland have studied post-swarm bee colonies to understand how workers react to a change in queen. They discovered that when a daughter replaces her mother as head of the colony, some worker bees reproduce instead of caring for their monarch's offspring.”  I wonder how the scientists in Poland got their hands on Arkansas bees?

Sitting here editing these Ramblings and watching “Grimm”, (great show!!).  Had to turn the air-conditioning on because the Fort was too humid and hot.  Normally, we don’t turn it on until the middle of June.  I fear we will have one HOT, HUMID summer. The Editorial Staff is down for the night, except my “Lil Buddy”:  he is sitting on the chair with me, reading these Ramblings.  I have several images to process and print for the UCM, (University of Central Missouri) Summer Art Show.  They have selected one of my images for the cover of their advertising brochure.

Four of my images are on display at the Mid Missouri Artists, Spring Fine Arts Show.  Mass tomorrow, (Susan and I are Lectors)   …  Sunday “Lunch and a Movie”?   Meatloaf, baked potato and corn on the cob.  The movie? “Red Tails [2012].

Time to post these Ramblings and work on my prints.  Later, I’ll say my “Thank You’s” for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them with  …  and of course, the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?)  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.  I still miss Little Willie.)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of April 27, 2012.  Quiet week.  Had a couple of case managements and a BUNCH of paperwork to catch up on.  Amazing to me, how, over the years mandatory “forms” have taken over the practice of “domestic” law.  When I started practicing, (in 1982), you could help a client get divorced  …  and it would take less than a couple of hours of legal time, (a couple of hundred dollars).  For a short term marriage, no children, no appreciable assets and both parties in agreement, it only required a “Petition For Dissolution”   …  and a “Judgment Entry, (Decree of Dissolution).  Somewhere along the line, our legislature and Supremo’s decided to micromanage the practice of domestic law   …  to a point, where now mandatory forms must be filed in EVERY case.  We now have a mandatory  Petition for Dissolution of Marriage,  Statement of Marital Assets and Debts, Income and Expense Statement and a Decree of Dissolution.  Doesn’t matter if two parties decided to legitimize a fun weekend, by getting married   …  and on Monday sobered up and decided it was a bad idea.  Bar tab:  $300.00.  Marriage license:  $58.00. Hotel Room:  $210.00, (Honeymoon Suite at the Budget Inn)   …  Minister:  a $50.00 love offering, (usually payable after the Sermon and a “Laying on of Hands” by the congregation.) 

Then, you have the folks who moved in together  …  and because they decided not to spay and neuter themselves, had a child    …  and some time later,  decided to get married, (perhaps because they could get a “Family Discount” for Section 8 Housing at the local trailer park?)  Course, a child  has a tendency to limit party time  …  so one or the other loses interest and wants out.  Perhaps somebody forgot to share the common law “Zipper Rule”:  “Know Ye All Men and Witnesseth:   he who dropeth his trou and spreadeth his seed, shall be liable for the weeds that springeth forth.  Filia et uglimous, is not a defense.”   There is also the female equivalent:  “If ye lay with a dog, pray ye only gets flees.”  Child support usually comes as a shock. 

And the cost of a dissolution of marriage with a child(ren) involved?  Mandatory “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage”,  “Statement of Marital Assets and Debts”, “Income and Expense Statement”, “Co-Parenting Plan”, “Form 14”, (Child support calculation worksheet), a mandatory parenting class and if the parties are not in agreement on parenting issues, mandatory mediation and a Decree of Dissolution.  You can buy a used trailer for the legal time, (fees) it takes to “get ‘er done”.  Course, “getting ‘er done” is what got them there.

And the legal system’s response to the incredible increase in the cost of getting a marriage dissolved?  Make the forms available on-line    …   why would you need a lawyer?  After all, if you are smart enough to fill out a marriage license to get married, you are obviously smart enough to fill out the forms to get unmarried  …  right?  Kind of makes me wonder why a marriage license costs $58.00 and the filing fee to get a marriage dissolved, costs $99.00, (plus service of process fees.)  Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Not much else to gripe about tonight.  I have images I captured today that I want to work on.  Susan shot a picture of me yesterday:  “ME”.  Notice how old I am getting!!!  Susan is pushing pills tomorrow  …  I have some planting to do in the yard,  (tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers) and two images to print and make frames for.  Mass at 5:00, then hunkered down for the rest of the weekend.  Sunday “Lunch and a Movie”?  BBQ’s Brats, French Fries and a Garden Salad.  The movie?  “Nazis at the Center of the Earth [2012]’  Really, it is a movie  …  although, not one likely to win an Academy Award.

Time to post these abbreviated Ramblings and work on my images.  Later, I’ll say my Thank You’s for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them with   …  and of course, a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?).  Another 3 Americans will not be coming home:  they lost their lives in Afghanistan this week.  2 by IED and 1 killed by a fellow soldier, an Afgan.  3 lives closer to declaring a victory and pulling out.  Course, we will continue to pay Billions until 2024, (according to the latest reports), to keep the Karzai Government afloat. 

Be and sleep well,  the best our nation has to offer is one watch, so you can.  I just wish I felt better about where they are on watch.  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, Karly, Dinker, Floyd  …  and my L’l Buddy.  (Whispering)  …  my heart still aches, thinking of Little Willie).

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of April 20, 2012.  I watched the bond hearing in the Zimmerman/Martin Murder case today, (it was broadcast live on CNN).  Apparently, Zimmerman did have a broken nose and did sustain injuries to the back of his head.  The lead investigator for the State, testified that after forensic testing, they did not know who was yelling for help, did not know who started the confrontation and had NO evidence to contradict Zimmerman’s rendition of the events. Zimmerman testified that he was sorry for the Martin family’s loss.  The judge set a bond of $150,000.00.  The Martin family was appalled that Zimmerman was granted a bond to assure his appearance at trial, (although I seem to remember, in the beginning, the parents only requested that Zimmerman be arrested, an impartial investigation completed and the truth come out).  The independent investigation has been completed.  Zimmerman has been arrested and charged with 2^nd degree murder  …  and the truth, (not the opinions of a bag full of media talking heads or race baiters), will come out. That said, I have no doubt there will be folks who believe, (and argue in the media), that Zimmerman's injuries were self inflicted to avoid prosecution for being an armed, white, racist who hunted down and killed an innocent black kid  …  Zimmerman is guilty of murder because,  if Zimmerman had stayed in his car and not run after Martin, when Martin started running away, (while Zimmerman was on the phone with 9/11)  …  Martin would not be dead   …  none of this would have happened.  Perhaps so. 

And the Presidential Campaign is heating up, with Romney the apparent Republican candidate, Obama the Democrat candidate   …  and Dr. Paul  …  well  … a candidate.  President Obama has set up a campaign website, (no doubt one of many to come):  African Americans For Obama.  His campaign mantra on the African Americans for Obama site?  "…  this is another moment where we have to decide what kind of country we want to be.  We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well  …  or we can build a nation where everybody gets a fair shot, everybody does their fair share, everybody plays by the same rules  …"   The reaction on the street?  “Screw fair shot, fair share and the rules  …  I just want what the people who do really well got.”

In response, Romney has a website under construction:  “White European Americans for Romney”, (not online yet, or I would have provided a link).  His mantra?  “We can build a nation where a shrinking number of people are on food stamps, welfare or drawing unemployment  …  because they have a job.  We can build a nation where everybody gets a fair shot, is treated equally, no affirmative action. Where everybody does their fair share  … because they can afford to put gasoline in their vehicles   …   and everybody plays by the same rules because they can understand them, since they are not hidden in thousands of pages of government regulations.”   As an aside, Romney cancelled his other website:  “Mormon Americans For Romney”, after Fundamentalist Christians, (a significant number of Republican voters), questioned whether Mormons were Christian.  Unthinkable, that being Christian is not part of the Presidential job description, (separation of church and state withstanding).  Romney and Dr Paul do have birth certificates on file.

And Dr. Paul is also developing a website, (assisted by the Libertarian Party),  “Naïve College Students for Ron Paul”.  Unfortunately,   the Libertarian web designers could not reach a consensus about what to include on the site.  [Note:  To deal with a severe case of the “munchies”,  they couldn’t decide on what finger food to order, either.]

And speaking of “munchies”:  (BBC NEWS) — Obama: 'Drug legalization not the answer to drug war'. “US President Barack Obama has said that legalizing drugs is not the answer to the problems caused by the trafficking of illegal narcotics in the Americas   …  "I personally and my administration's position is that legalization is not the answer, that in fact if you think about how it would end up operating, the capacity of a large-scale drug trade to dominate certain countries, if they were allowed to operate legally without any constraint could be just as corrupting, if not more corrupting than the status quo," he said.”   Before getting elected President, Candidate Obama favored decriminalization.  How the candidates view this issue now,  CLICK HERE.

In other political news:  (BBC NEWS)  –  American Nazi Party registers first Washington lobbyist. “The American Nazi wanted to address political rights and ballot access and he expected congressmen would accept meetings. Lobbying was something the party would "try out for the first time and see if it flies," Mr Bowles told ABC News  …  He conceded that there might be some resistance to holding meetings with him. "There might be some congressmen who crumple up the paper and some who say: 'This is interesting,'" he told ABC.”  Last I checked, the American Nazi Party didn’t have any candidates on the ballot.  I think they prefer to be viewed as Conservative Republicans now.  Course, the American Communist/Socialist Party doesn’t either.  I believe they renamed/rebranded their party.  I believe they call themselves, “Progressive” now.  All with the same basic worldview,  but renamed/relabeled  to make them palatable to modern voters. After all, who would want to be indentified as a Nazi, Communist or Socialist?

A tidbit of interesting useless information?  (US NEWS)  – George Washington Voted Britain's Greatest Military Enemy. “This coming September will mark the 229th anniversary of the end of the American Revolutionary War. In the centuries since that conflict, the United States and the United Kingdom have buried the hatchet, joining forces to fight countless conflicts together, including two World Wars. But this weekend, the Brits revealed that some wounds never heal as the Daily Mail reports that Britain's National Army Museum voted George Washington as the greatest military enemy ever to face Britain.”  I suppose the British can really identify with Washington,  wooden dentures and all.

And from the world of online piracy:  (CNN) — Anontune: the new social music platform from 'Anonymous'.  “In a move sure to attract attention from the music industry, a small group of coders claiming to be part of Anonymous is putting together a social music platform. The rather ambitious goal: Create a service that seamlessly pulls up songs streaming from all around the internet. The project, called Anontune and still in its infancy, is designed to pull songs from third-party sources like YouTube and let anonymous users put them into playlists and share them — while keeping the service from being shut down by music industry lawsuits.”  Interesting.  You can download music and save it to your iPod now, from YouTube,  using Free Studio Five.   Just log on to YouTube, search for the song you want and download it  …  legally.

Course, online piracy has spawned a political movement in Europe;  the Pirate Party.  No kidding  …  a political party, that has actually won elections, (much like the “Green Party” of old.)  There is actually an American Pirate Party as well.  It’s platform?  “The Pirate Party's platform centers around issues of intellectual property. "Like its international counterparts, the USPP’s main practical concerns are digital intellectual property and privacy laws—specifically, the abolition of a 1998 digital U.S. copyright law, the reduction of copyrights to 14 years (from 95 years after publication, or 70 years after the author’s death), and the expiration of patents that don’t result in significant progress within four years (as opposed to 20 years)."  Go figure! (Whispering  …  sign me up!! J )

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the Editorial staff running around, looking for their evening treats.  It dawns on me, they eat better than Susan and I do  …  at any rate, better treats.  Shot a quick portrait today to give as a birthday present tomorrow night, (one of Susan’s co-workers).  I’ll play with it tonight, then print and mount it.  I don’t normally enter my images in art shows, preferring to show them on my Digital Artist Facebook Page,  “KarlT, Digital Artist”,  (feel free to download my images and use as a screen saver   …  provided, you “like” KarlT, Digital Artist.)  I will enter 4 of my images in the Mid Missouri Artists, Spring Fine Arts Show in Warrensburg, May 5^th & 6^th.  I’ll print the images and build the frames this weekend.  Tomorrow?  Yard work and planting, then Mass.  Sunday “Lunch and a Movie”?  BBQ’d pulled pork, French Fries and Corn on the Cob   …  the movie?  “Sherlock Homes, A Game of Shadows [2011]”.

Time to post these Ramblings and hunker down for a quiet evening playing with the images I captured today.  Later, I’ll say my Thank You’s for the may blessings in my life and Susan to share them with 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 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, Dinker, Karly, Floyd, my Lil Buddy   …  and the spirit of Little Willie,  (I miss him  …  there is an epty spot in my heart right now!)

Greets and Huggers.  Posted the evening of April 13, 2012.  Today is Friday the 13^th   …  so I laid low.  No sense in tempting the fates. In the news this week  …  George Zimmerman was charged with second degree murder for killing Trayvon Martin.  Saw the video of his arraignment and was struck by how small he was, (5’8, 185 pounds vs. Martin, 6’3, 170 pounds ?).  Heard the prosecutor state, that she prayed with the Martin family before filing.  Given the evidence available to the public at this time, the evidence she has to work with and the burden of proof she has to meet   …  no doubt it was a “Hail Mary”.  As for the burden of proof, (beyond a reasonable doubt), for 2^nd Degree Murder?  “The prosecutors must prove Zimmerman's shooting of Martin was rooted in hatred or ill will and counter his claims that he shot Martin to protect himself while patrolling his gated community in the Orlando suburb of Sanford. Zimmerman's lawyers would only have to prove by a preponderance of evidence — a relatively low legal standard — that he acted in self-defense at a pretrial hearing to prevent the case from going to trial.”  Personally, as much as the media has whipped up emotions, my advice?  Batten  down the hatches and get ready for race riots.  As an aside  …  anybody know a good “Bookie”?

And in response to this administrations policy of deporting illegal aliens:  (San Francisco Chronicle) — Mexico tourism bounces back. “  …  Mexico's Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) announced in February that 2011 was a record-breaking year that saw 22.67 million international travelers. That's 2 percent higher than in 2010, which in turn was 5.7 percent higher than 2009. More important, 2011's international arrivals were 0.2 percent higher than 2008, Mexico's best year in history to that point.”   2011 was a banner year, according to ICE, (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), for deporting “undocumented workers”.  Since most sneak back into the United States and don’t remain in Mexico,  apparently Mexico views them as “tourists”.  It’s a nice spin, considering the danger “tourists” face becoming “collateral damage” in the ongoing drug cartel wars and social unrest.

Perhaps, Mexico will also start marketing “pilgrimages” for Santa Muerte:   Mexico City (CNN) –  Officials: 3 killed as human sacrifices in Mexico. “Authorities in the northern Mexican state of Sonora have arrested eight people accused of killing two boys and one woman as human sacrifices for Santa Muerte — the saint of death — officials said Friday. The victims, two of whom were age 10, were killed and their blood was offered at an altar to the saint, according to Jose Larrinaga, spokesman for state prosecutors. The accused were asking the saint, who is generally portrayed as a skeleton dressed in a long robe and carrying a scythe, for protection, he said. Santa Muerte is a favorite among criminals and the country's drug traffickers. The saint, though not recognized by the Catholic Church, has taken off in popularity in recent years.”  Also not officially recognized by the Catholic Church in Mexico,  Santa Philia, (the patron saint of pedophiles.)  Not sure how the indigenous peoples feel about the saint, considering, (from what I am told), some marry at puberty.

And in testament to successful assimilation into American society:  (CNN) — Undocumented student publishes how-to guide for peers on finding jobs after college.  “A California doctoral student who's an undocumented immigrant has published a free how-to guide on the Internet instructing similar immigrants on finding employment after college and maintaining good health "living in the shadows."  The inspiration for the book came from her family, she said.”   Makes you proud, doesn’t it  …  she has learned how to be a “doctoral candidate” as an undocumented immigrant.  Without a doubt, she has the talent to become the CEO of a major American company  …  or a congressman, or senator!!  (Whispering)   …  she can’t become President because she wasn’t born in the United States  …  unless, of course, she can come up with a birth certificate that says she was.

The “what are they thinking” news:  (Addicting Info) — Indiana Governor Signs Bill Allowing Citizens To Use Deadly Force Against Police Officers Into Law.  “Republican Governor Mitch Daniels has signed Senate Enrolled Act 1 into law in Indiana. The new law allows citizens to use deadly force against police officers they think are illegally entering their homes  …  Republicans say the bill is designed to keep police safe, but Democrats say the bill will lead to the wanton killing of police officers   …  The new law reverses a state Supreme Court ruling that homeowners do not have the right to use force against law enforcement officials who they believe are illegally entering their homes. According to the Evansville Courier Press, an Evansville resident fought a police officer who followed him into his house during a domestic dispute call. “The state Supreme Court found that officers sometimes enter homes without warrants for reasons protected by the law, such as pursuing suspects or preventing the destruction of evidence. In these situations, we find it unwise to allow a homeowner to adjudge the legality of police conduct in the heat of the moment,” the court said. “As we decline to recognize a right to resist unlawful police entry into a home, we decline to recognize a right to batter a police officer as a part of that resistance.”  I suppose this is the ultimate “Castle Doctrine” law.  No doubt the NRA will hold it’s next national convention there.

Berlin (CNN) — German incest couple lose European court case.  “A German man sent to prison over an incestuous relationship with his sister has lost his case that the conviction violated his right to a private and family life at the European Court of Human Rights. Patrick Stuebing had a consensual sexual relationship with his sister after they first met when he was in his 20s and she was a teenager. They had four children, two of whom are disabled, the court said. Stuebing lodged his case with the European Court of Human Rights after being sent to prison in November 2005 by a Leipzig court and losing subsequent appeals against his conviction for incest.”  I guess now a days, Europeans/Germans are pretty narrow minded about incest.  Wasn’t there a time when all the “Royal Family” trees were a tad wanting   …  for branches?  I suppose it also proves the reason almost all societies have a prohibition against incest:  disabled children.  Kinda brings up visions of the banjo player in “Dueling Banjos”.

Had an interesting discussion with Fr. Pete during “confession”, (Rite of Reconciliation), about Little Willie’s death  …  what does resurrection/afterlife mean for our pets.  Will Little Willie and I be reunited when I pass?  He had an interesting dissection/explanation of the difference between “spirit” and “soul”   …  which frankly, made no sense to me.  Life is a form of energy, like light.  Is there really a difference in the many shades/forms of light our God sees, or loves? I don’t think so.  The God I believe in is the light, to which all living things return and become, once again, part of.

Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the Editorial Staff, asleep and down for the night..  Susan is in bed reading one of her “Throat Biter” novels, with Dinker, Karly and Floyd curled up next to her.  I have the material for my presentation at the conference, “Ch-h-h-anges: Motions to Modify in Family Law Matters and Relocation Issues”,  spread around the table, trying to decide what and how to share it.  The law is easy to find, what is not, is figuring out what actually triggered the motion to modify, what the client really wants,.  Where they are coming from in their grieving process, (the grieving steps in the death of a relationship are similar to the steps people go through when they have to confront impending death).

Susan has to work tomorrow and we are Lectors at Mass.  Sunday “Lunch and Movie”?  Sautéed Pork Chops, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Peas.  The movie?  “Dragon Eyes [2012]”. Time to post these Ramblings and hunker down for the night   …  later, when I hit the sack, I will say my “Thank Yous”  …  for the many blessings in my life and Susan to share them 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, the best our America 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  …

KarlT  (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri  …  and the Editorial Staff)