Be thankful you attended school when you did.
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1977 - Vice principal comes over to look at Jack's shotgun. He goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, and FBI is called. Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1977 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends.
2007 - Police called. SWAT team arrives. Johnny and Mark are arrested and charged with assault. Both are expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in a neighbors car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1977 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is placed in foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist convinces Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself, and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1977 - Mark shares aspirin with principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called. Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. Car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1977 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college, and graduates.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given a diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, and blows up a red ant bed.
1977 - Ants die.
2007 - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Homeland Security, and FBI called Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates parents; siblings are removed from home; computers confiscated. Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Heather. Heather hugs him to comfort him.
1977 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Heather is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in state prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Little Fish-Petters
We got a free pond with a pump and everything we would need. When it had languished seasoned long enough in the shed (was it really 3 years?) I brought it out and we put it under our bedroom window so that we could listen to the water chattering over the rocks while we lay in bed. "Hmm" I thought. "Won't that standing water attract mosquitos?" I bought some goldfish to eat the mosquito larvae, then some plants for them to hide under and Patty let me have some of the tadpoles from her pond. You see where I went. Now, I'm not the sort of guy to let fish freeze when Winter comes so I got my old aquarium out and brought the fish inside. With the pump pushing water over the filter it nearly has that laughing water sound again to sleep by. What is a 'tadpole'? That's right, it is an amphibian in morphic form. I knew that, and that it takes 6-10 weeks depending on the environment for the legs to arrive; hind legs first then front... By the time their tails are gone they need something to sit on. Ooops.
This is where my ever-patient wife would usually sigh. Instead, she smiled and allowed the gigantic aquarium that Kristin gave me to become the new amphibian habitat; never once asking. "Where is it going to go?" That is another story. I just wanted to show you how the 'fish project' is going.
I had heard that fish can be tamed to the point that they will come to the dock when you splash if you habitually feed them. I feed my fish regularly so that they are accustomed to seeing me and associate me with meals. They crowd to the glass when I walk in the room. I started, a couple of weeks ago to hold algae wafers in the water and they responded immediately. Now, as you can see they enjoy eating from Tim and Anna's hands.
Wow.
Here, one of them is in Tim's hand; you can see the tail. The fish seem to enjoy the contact and allow him to rub them gently with his fingers.
I just thought this was pretty.
This picture needs no explanation.
This is where my ever-patient wife would usually sigh. Instead, she smiled and allowed the gigantic aquarium that Kristin gave me to become the new amphibian habitat; never once asking. "Where is it going to go?" That is another story. I just wanted to show you how the 'fish project' is going.
I had heard that fish can be tamed to the point that they will come to the dock when you splash if you habitually feed them. I feed my fish regularly so that they are accustomed to seeing me and associate me with meals. They crowd to the glass when I walk in the room. I started, a couple of weeks ago to hold algae wafers in the water and they responded immediately. Now, as you can see they enjoy eating from Tim and Anna's hands.
Wow.
Here, one of them is in Tim's hand; you can see the tail. The fish seem to enjoy the contact and allow him to rub them gently with his fingers.
I just thought this was pretty.
This picture needs no explanation.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Name my Fish
We have some fish; 6 goldfish and 2 plecostemos'. Well, here are the names already bestowed:
1. 'Reggie' is the big goldfish that lost all his pigment; he is white.
2. 'Sunset' is the little goldfish that is red on top and silver on the bottom.
3. 'Swiper' is the medium-sized multi-color with a little moustache dot of black.
4. 'Joel' is the brown, opportunistic eater that loves to swim.
5. 'Tom' is the larger of the 2 plecos which are actually from the catfish family.
That leaves the smaller but energetic and friendly pleco and 2 small, all gold goldfish.
What should we name them?
Pat Stream, would you be terribly offended if I named the Plecostemos after you?
1. 'Reggie' is the big goldfish that lost all his pigment; he is white.
2. 'Sunset' is the little goldfish that is red on top and silver on the bottom.
3. 'Swiper' is the medium-sized multi-color with a little moustache dot of black.
4. 'Joel' is the brown, opportunistic eater that loves to swim.
5. 'Tom' is the larger of the 2 plecos which are actually from the catfish family.
That leaves the smaller but energetic and friendly pleco and 2 small, all gold goldfish.
What should we name them?
Pat Stream, would you be terribly offended if I named the Plecostemos after you?
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Murder Most Foul
Sgt. Joseph Bozicevich, 39, has been returned to the U.S. from Iraq and is being held in pretrial confinement at an undisclosed location in southern Georgia, said Maj. Lee Peters, spokesman at Fort Stewart where the soldiers' unit is based. Bozicevich is charged with the September 14 slayings of Army Staff Sergeant. Darris Dawson, 24, of Pensacola, Florida, the father of four children, none older than 4 years old, and Sergeant Wesley R. Durbin, 26, of Dallas. Written charges filed Thursday against Bozicevich say he shot both soldiers with a rifle. Sergeant Durbin left behind his wife, Mrs. Brandi Durbin.
Bozicevich’s mother, Mary Katherine Bozicevich of Eagan, said a reporter told her about the charges Friday afternoon and “I don’t have any comment.” She told KARE-11 television that her son grew up in Eagan, graduated from Cretin-Derham Hall High School and attended the University of Minnesota. She said that she hadn’t had contact with her son in almost 20 years.
Bozicevich's father, who lives near Albany, N.Y., said he hadn't heard from his son much since his unit deployed to Iraq last year. He said he was unaware his son faced criminal charges until a reporter contacted his family Friday evening. "We just have to wait and see what the circumstances were," said Joe Bozicevich Sr., the soldier's father. "In a combat zone, where people are highly stressed, who knows what happened?"
Fort Stewart officials said Bozicevich was serving his second combat deployment in three years on active duty. He had previously served 15 years in the Army Reserves in Minnesota.
Peters said Bozicevich has been appointed a military lawyer, but he was not immediately able to provide the attorney's name.
The next step will be for Bozicevich to face an Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury, to determine if the Army has sufficient evidence to pursue a court-martial. No hearing dates had been set Friday.
Hey Mark I am still in Iraqi getting back stabbed and screwed over as usual. I am about 30 kilometers south of Bhagdad
I am at a patrol base called Jurf as sukr. We stay here for eight days and go back to the FOB for four days. The FOB
is at a power plant called Iskan. The plant provides about 60% of the power to Iraqi. We have had few incidents that have
involved casualties but the intensity is minimal and boring.
Joe wrote this on September 7th, a week before the murders.
What this story is missing:
Joe Bozicevich is the son of a retired US Army Reserve officer whom it was my displeasure to know; Joe could have used a dad, Sir.
Joe was deployed to Bosnia where it was determined that he should under-go psychological evaluations. The results of these evaluations will doubtless become part of the trial proceedings.
Joe deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, where he served at Camp Bucca. His personal behavior and general demeanor put him at odds with peers, leaders and subordinates; Joe was unconcerned with their approval.
A year ago, Joe and I sat on my deck and we drank a beer while discussing Army Leadership. I have zero doubt that Joe is guilty of murdering these two young soldiers and thus shares the identity of those who have killed US Soldiers; in that respect he is the enemy. The Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth houses many convicted murderers, some with families of their own, who yet need Christ. I will not excuse Joe's murderous acts but I will remain his friend.
There will be more to come as this story develops and I follow it; I will post my observations.
Bozicevich’s mother, Mary Katherine Bozicevich of Eagan, said a reporter told her about the charges Friday afternoon and “I don’t have any comment.” She told KARE-11 television that her son grew up in Eagan, graduated from Cretin-Derham Hall High School and attended the University of Minnesota. She said that she hadn’t had contact with her son in almost 20 years.
Bozicevich's father, who lives near Albany, N.Y., said he hadn't heard from his son much since his unit deployed to Iraq last year. He said he was unaware his son faced criminal charges until a reporter contacted his family Friday evening. "We just have to wait and see what the circumstances were," said Joe Bozicevich Sr., the soldier's father. "In a combat zone, where people are highly stressed, who knows what happened?"
Fort Stewart officials said Bozicevich was serving his second combat deployment in three years on active duty. He had previously served 15 years in the Army Reserves in Minnesota.
Peters said Bozicevich has been appointed a military lawyer, but he was not immediately able to provide the attorney's name.
The next step will be for Bozicevich to face an Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury, to determine if the Army has sufficient evidence to pursue a court-martial. No hearing dates had been set Friday.
Hey Mark I am still in Iraqi getting back stabbed and screwed over as usual. I am about 30 kilometers south of Bhagdad
I am at a patrol base called Jurf as sukr. We stay here for eight days and go back to the FOB for four days. The FOB
is at a power plant called Iskan. The plant provides about 60% of the power to Iraqi. We have had few incidents that have
involved casualties but the intensity is minimal and boring.
Joe wrote this on September 7th, a week before the murders.
What this story is missing:
Joe Bozicevich is the son of a retired US Army Reserve officer whom it was my displeasure to know; Joe could have used a dad, Sir.
Joe was deployed to Bosnia where it was determined that he should under-go psychological evaluations. The results of these evaluations will doubtless become part of the trial proceedings.
Joe deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, where he served at Camp Bucca. His personal behavior and general demeanor put him at odds with peers, leaders and subordinates; Joe was unconcerned with their approval.
A year ago, Joe and I sat on my deck and we drank a beer while discussing Army Leadership. I have zero doubt that Joe is guilty of murdering these two young soldiers and thus shares the identity of those who have killed US Soldiers; in that respect he is the enemy. The Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth houses many convicted murderers, some with families of their own, who yet need Christ. I will not excuse Joe's murderous acts but I will remain his friend.
There will be more to come as this story develops and I follow it; I will post my observations.
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