And the DUH headline for Today is...

Government Workers Get Pension Edge, Study Finds

I'm shocked...SHOCKED I tell ya!!

Okay, sarcasm off now. Seriously though - they call this news???

Dr. Earl Bradley

Hand me my blood pressure pills...STAT!!

A Delaware pediatrician has been charged with multiple acts of child rape and abuse over the course of more than a decade in what may be the worst pedophilia case in US history.

A grand jury indictment unsealed on Monday by Delaware's Attorney General's office charges Earl Bradley with sexually assaulting and molesting 102 girls and one boy in the years since 1998.

He faces 471 separate counts, reflecting the multiple times he is alleged to have raped and abused children who visited him as patients at his Baybees pediatric office in Lewes, Delaware.

The charges include first-degree and second-degree rape, unlawful sexual contact, sexual exploitation of a child and continuing sexual abuse of a child. The indictment cites videos Bradley made of the various abusive incidents, which were seized from his office after investigators began looking into reports of child abuse last year.

In unsealing the indictment, Delaware's Attorney General Beau Biden said the investigation was continuing and he expected more cases to be uncovered.

Biden's office has faced questions over why reports about Bradley in 2005 were not passed along to the state's professional regulation official or the Board of Medical Practice. He has ordered an investigation into whether mistakes were made that allowed Bradley to continue practicing after parent complaints.

Bradley, meanwhile, remains in jail on bail set at 2.5 million dollars. A court date has not yet been set.

Okay, so parents started complaining in 2005, and nothing was done? This cretin was allowed to see patients for 5 more years?!?!?! Whiskey! Tango! Foxtrot! I think there's some serious 'splainin' to do. I think some heads need to roll. I'd also like to know why there was no criminal investigation. Screw the professional regulation official or board of medical practice. This man is allegedly among the worst of the worst!!

I'll be curious to see where this "investigation" goes. If this was indeed reported five years ago and got lost in the shuffle, that in and of itself is criminal. In the meantime, if Mr. (I won't give him the dignity of the title Dr.) Bradley is indeed guilty of these crimes, I have only three words.

FRY THE MOTHERFUCKER

The DUH headline of the day

Chicagoland is a "dark pool of political corruption"

They needed to do a study to come to that conclusion? I think most of us could have saved them the time and effort!! Sheesh!

Drinking Right - Fat Tuesday Style

Most of you know that I attend Drinking Right, which is a group of some of the best conservative bloggers Southeastern Wisconsin has to offer. I know what you're thinking - I think they let me in just to throw some estrogen into the mix. Anyway, we meet the second Tuesday of every month at Papa's Social Club. If you recall, the second Tuesday of this month we were being pounded by a blizzard, so the powers that be decided we'd meet on the third Tuesday, which also happens to be Fat Tuesday. Papa's throws a Fat Tuesday party every year. Let the party begin!

Normally, the drinking right crowd is provided pizza and garlic bread which, by the way, is outstanding!! Since this was the Fat Tuesday party, a cajun buffet was being offered. Now call me ignorant, but I was thinking jambalaya, gumbo, that sort of thing. Oh was I wrong!!! We get up to the buffet, I see some rice and cornbread...cool! I like that. Then come the frog legs and the crawfish. Okey dokey then - I'm game - I'm willing to try anything.

First the frog legs...as far as taste is concerned, they really aren't all that bad. However, I couldn't get past the fact that they looked like frog butts as opposed to frog legs. Don't believe me? Take a gander...

The picture was gleefully swiped from the awesomeness that is Sara's blog.

Okay then - on to the crawfish. I gotta tell you - I tried. I REALLY tried. Yes, I know that crawfish are in the lobster family. Yes, I know that MANY people love them. But honestly, I have to tell you that I acted like a total girly girl. I picked that sucker up, shuddered a few times, tried to get it near my mouth, and promptly squealed and dropped it. (So did Sara, so I'm not alone) I just couldn't do it. In fact, it was giving us the such a case of the heebeejeebees that we had to put them in an empty beer glass and place said glass where we couldn't see it. Final verdict - crawfish look like large red cockroaches.

Yeah - would YOU eat that?!

All that said, despite the crawfish incident *shudder* and being groped/mauled/violated at the bar by some drunk asshat while trying to get a beer, I had a BLAST!! I was with some of my favorite people in a place I feel very comfortable having a great time. I've often said that once I got to know these bloggers, I've somehow gained a whole gaggle of annoying, exasperating big brothers who I love to death. :) Yeah - good times!

Judge John Dean Moxley

In this post, I raised the question of why 23 year old Alissa Blanton was denied a temporary restraining order, and what judge would deny her. Well more is coming to light.

Court documents show that Roger Troy, 61, had met her when she was a waitress at Hooters. After he started harassing her, the manager got involved. In the ensuing two years, Ms. Blanton quit her job, got married and moved twice. All that time her stalker was emailing her and following her. She finally felt the need to have the courts interevene after evidence shows he had been to her house - again. After all, the court system is there to help us, right? Wrong. Ms. Blanton was denied the temporary restraining order and a hearing was set. So why was she denied?

Here is the judge's reasoning:

Despite Blanton's 72-page petition, Brevard County Circuit Judge John Dean Moxley was not convinced that the situation was dire. Last week, he denied her request for emergency protection.

Following the shooting, Moxley told the Orlando Sentinel he had not been able to determine whether Troy's actions met the legal definition of stalking."As a judge you have to follow the law.

You're not omniscient. God bless her soul," he said.

Wow!!! That must be one helluva law! Let's look, shall we? According to Florida Statutes, §784.048(3), stalking is defined as follows:

Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person, and makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury of the person, or the person's child, sibling, spouse, parent, or dependent, commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

Okay then. If the actions of this piece of male bovine excrement did not meet the above legal definition, what in the name of all that is holy WOULD??? Again, I'm not saying that having a TRO in place would have saved her life, but his actions most definitely fell within the criteria above!! Of course, given the history of this judge's decisions, I suppose one shouldn't be surprised. Just a snippet...

In February 2003, Eyewitness News reported how Moxley had let out violent criminal Derrick Henderson, on a signature alone, just days before he was to go
to prison for six years and he disappeared.

In October 2002, Eyewitness News reported how Moxley lowered an accused child molester's bond so he could get out of jail after being accused of stalking 12- and 13-year-old girls.

It's well past time judges were held accountable for their actions, or inactions. In this particular instance, the circumstances were CLEARLY within the legal definition of stalking, yet he let the stalker walk. Now a young lady is dead. Hopefully, this judge will get his comeuppance

Moxley is now under review by the Judicial Qualifications Commission.

I hope they kick him off the bench for good. Judges like this are just as bad, if not worse, than the criminals in the courts over which they preside.

What a Waste

This story is just so sad.

A 23-year-old woman killed outside her Orlando office by a stalker had asked for a protective order but was denied, MiamiHerald.com reported.

Alissa Branton, 23, reportedly turned in more than 70 pages of documents, some e-mails from the stalker, to a judge. The judge denied the request and scheduled a hearing for next week, Fox2Now.com reported.

Police say Roger Troy, 61, fatally shot Branton and then fatally shot himself in an AT&T call center parking lot, when she returned from her lunch break. Her co-workers placed calls to 911 describing the scene.

"This gentlemen just shot this woman several times, and then he shot himself," said another caller, who was clearly flustered and confused. "Can we tell if they're breathing?" asked the 911 dispatch operator. "Oh my God. I don't know, ma'am. I can't go closer," the caller responds.

MyFoxOrlando: LISTEN TO THE 911 CALL

Branton and her husband, Brent, both worked at the AT&T building where the shooting happened

You can read more detailed information here.

My first question is why was she denied a TRO? I know that Temporary Restraining Orders are given out as a matter of course. A complaining witness will file for a TRO, and based on witness testimony, a judge usually enters a TRO, with an evidentiary hearing date within the week. I am very well aware that some people file for TROs for a variety of nefarious reasons, such as getting a leg-up in a custody hearing, for revenge, etc. If the case against the defendant is not solid, the TRO will be dismissed at the hearing. If there's convincing evidence, a protective order will be put in place.

So while I understand that we don't like to clog up the court system, in my opinion, it is MUCH better to err on the side of caution in situations like this! Not only did this victim have her testimony and most likely that of others, she had DOCUMENTATION. I simply cannot understand why the judge didn't issue the order!! So far I've not been able to find out anything about the judge...a name, his/her record...but I'm going to keep looking. It's my humble opinion that Ms. Branton's blood is at least partially on the judge's hand.

Admittedly, a TRO is just a piece of paper. It certainly can't stop a bullet. Would this maniac have tried this if the judge had issued the order? Sadly, we'll never know. What I DO know is that the order should have been issued. This woman was obviously in danger, and afraid for her life.

And while I think this piece of pond scum is a coward for killing himself, I thank God that the taxpayers will not have to bear the expense of a trial, where there is every chance he could somehow walk. At least now he's exactly where he belongs...burning in hell.

Prayers to the husband (they were only married 6 months) and all the family and friends of this victim. Oh yeah - and judge? I hope you can sleep at night...NOT!!

Well Hell's Bells!!!

Well, got the word today about where the Elder and the fam will be stationed. Freakin' GERMANY!!! *sigh* Oh well - I've been wanting to go to Germany for some time. And since this is a post about the family, you KNOW there will some gratuitous photos of Wiggleworm! :)



The Boy's comment on Wiggleworm: He's awesomeness in a small package.

Can't disagree with that!!

Leave! Us! Alone!

Many around the blogosphere are writing posts critical of Michelle Obama's statement that childhood obesity is a threat to national security. Quite frankly, that statement is so ridiculous that I'm not even going to address it. Instead, I'll focus on what is REALLY pi$$ing me off about this issue. If you saw this post, you know where I'm going with this.

At a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the launch of the ‘Let’s Move’ campaign to end childhood obesity in the United States, an epidemic she said is costly and a threat to national security.

...

The First Lady said a broad coalition of groups interested in children’s health are coming together to form the Partnership for a Healthier America, which will use professional athletes, members of the media, and state and local dignitaries to promote the “Let’s Move” campaign and its goals around the country.

Obama used anecdotal details from her own life to explain the challenges faced by overworked parents and children who spend too much time watching TV or playing video games because their neighborhoods are unsafe for playing outside.

“So many parents desperately want to do the right thing, but they feel like the deck is stacked against them,” Obama said. “They know their kids’ health is their responsibility but they feel like it’s out of their control.”

“They are bombarded by contradictory information at every turn, and they don’t know who to believe,” she said.

Obama said before she lived in the White House she struggled to balance the demands of working and being a mother, and occasionally fed her two daughters fast food or “less healthy microwavable options.”

“And one day,” she said, “my pediatrician pulled me aside and told me, ‘You might want to think about doing things a little bit differently.’”

She said it was a wake-up call and that the nation should see childhood obesity as a wake-up call, including the fact that children are victims of the epidemic.

“Our kids did not do this to themselves,” Obama said. “Our kids don’t decide what’s served to them at school or whether there’s time for gym classes or recess. Our kids don’t choose to make food products with tons of sugar and sodium in super-sized portions, and then to have those products marketed to them everywhere they turn.”

How. Dare. You. How freaking DARE you insult my intelligence like this?? They don't know who to believe? They feel like it's out of their control?? Are you KIDDING me??? I'm sorry Mrs. Obama, but I, for one, am a parent who knows that fast food is unhealthy, as are microwaveable meals. And yes, I'm a working parent. Am I guilty of feeding my child unhealthy things now and again? Of course I am. But do not...DO NOT...think that I don't know any better. There are just some days I'm too tired or too busy to make a home cooked meal.

I will say, however, that on weekends, the Boy gets plenty of exercise. When the weather is warm, we play frisbee, soccer, or football outside. Hubby takes bike rides with him. Whether winter or summer, a weekend hike is something to look forward to. In addition, weather permitting, I will NOT drive him to his friend's house - it's about 1/2 mile or so away - the kids ride bikes or skateboard to and from each other's house.

As far as childhood obesity, let's get real here. The key is to have your children eat healthy foods and get off ther a$$es and go outside and play!! We let video games and computers babysit our children. It's easier. Again, I'm guilty of that sometimes too. I think we all are. HOWEVER, I will NOT look to the government to solve this problem. The solution is NOT to pour money into a government program which will tell you what you already know or should know. The solution is for parents to actually take responsibility for their children - to P A R E N T. There!! I solved the problem!

Honestly - I am dumbfounded that people need the government to provide answers that are flat out obvious. And I'm dumbfounded that the government thinks that their roll is to control the lives of individual citizens.

A Super Superbowl

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints!!

A Happy Ending

Many of you know that I am a cat lover. In fact, it's been said that the only think keeping me from becoming a "crazy cat lady" is hubby, who has this ridiculous idea that three cats are enough. Hmmmm - y'all are probably right. Behold King Simba with his subjects Gertie and Abby. Simba is the gray and white one on the left, Gertie is on top of the chair and Abby is underneath the chair.

Rough life, ain't it!?

So where am I going with this? Patience Grasshoppers!!

Sometime mid-last week as I drove in the driveway, I saw a cat who I assumed was Simba sitting on the sidewalk. As I drove up it ran away. When I opened the door to the house, there was Simba waiting to get out. My analytical mind then brought me to the conclusion that the cat on the sidewalk was NOT in fact Simba. I know - I'm brilliant, right? Anyhoo, the next day I was going into the garage for something, and I see kitty eyes looking out from under some boxes. Long story short, kitty had taken to living in our garage. Naturally I put some food and water out for it.

In the next few days I checked various sources to see if anyone had lost a cat. I hadn't really gotten a good look at the little thing yet, only to see that it was a long hair gray and white. On Saturday, the Boy was asking if we could bring it in the house...he thought it was too cold outside.

Me: It's not that cold in the garage. The Boy: Mom, the water we left out froze.

Okey dokey then...I told him to ask his father what to he wanted to do. I did NOT want to get the blame if we ended up keeping this feline. We brought fuzzball into our master bathroom, and needless to say hubby made it crystal clear that we are NOT keeping this cat. So what to do? I put a picture of this little fuzzball up on Twitter and asked if anyone was looking for a sweet kitty. Because, in fact, this little thing was a doll!! Even hubby was kinda getting sweet on her. As she warmed up to us, we could see that her fur was matted and dirty, and she was simply skin and bones. I have NO idea how long she was out there.

To make a (not so long anymore) story shorter, an excellent blogger who I am also proud to call friend, Peter, is now the proud owner of a darling little fuzzball. I understand fuzzball is doing quite well.



It makes me smile when all things come together to form a happy ending!! :)