5 PM and Still Green and Lush.

Now the day is winding down, and my world is still lush and damp. Quiet too. I had a busy day doing the things that keep everything going, and some others that are for pure pleasure, like a bit of reading. But a scan of the news tells the same story from this morning: Rage, fire and death.
I have no ability to save the world or even myself under some people's rules.
But I can continue to present the world as I see it, and to argue the facts as I understand them and try to persuade the rule makers of the errors they believe.
I see , not through a veil of ignorance and belief, but clearly through a crystal lens of education and logic and science. People these days in this country, and especially this part of the country, are falling on Biblical advice for answers to the horrors they see developing. The answers there are palliative at best and dangerous at worst. Palliative because the "good words" give some peace of mind but have no real effect. Dangerous because the words can lead to inaction or wrong action, thus making the demons attacking the world even worse. Demons? Overpopulation; pollution; climate change; starvation; disease; war; famine to name a few.
So wrapped in my world of lush green and damp, I will soon enjoy the company of my lover, and we will enjoy the moment. For we know with certainty that the demons of the world will win this battle, and the world will suffer in unspeakable ways. We also are quite sure it will happen after we are gone to oblivion. Hope so, anyway. WWWD? Drink the best wine first, that's what.

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7VhybpBTyP42X_ztFuErCgll73UH6540PofbnCO-ns8Oc8drGrvtCUqPMA2_T9tQkTrc-ywQqtaVUx9cI8oVi8AES389Bk4wuoP-vQEEe-gUqHIhX2EC2CfUeo7XZuqKArQ6Ng3Ue-zR/s200/Waterfall-in-forest-background-1280x1024-1003075+picture+6.jpg

7 AM. Green and Lush

Lush garden, not mine but like mine

Today starts with blue sky and coffee. SWMBO off to the wars. The world here is so green it is almost like a CGI world outside of my window. Wet and lush. Quiet.

Aftermath of fire

Egypt

In the American West fires rage and burn and kill. In Egypt people rage and burn and kill. In Palestine peace talks try to work while missiles fly. In China the air is so bad you can see it in front of you. In Oceana overfishing depletes stocks and pollution poisons. In West Africa fires burn and people rage and kill.
Am I completely crazy to be enjoying the quiet, green, lush and damp morning?
 
Image: http://carolsgarden.blogspot.com/2011/07/lush-july-garden.html
Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Forest_fire_aftermath.jpg
Image; http://muslimvillage.com/2013/07/28/42179/death-toll-in-egypt-massacre-reaches-200/

Tiara, Cape and Wand.

I posted a short list of friends who I think could and are saving the world, one way or another. Many were left off, not because I thought they couldn’t save the world but just because of space. But now I must devote a bit more space. Yesterday, in the Publix bakery, I was waiting my turn when the woman ahead of me got her birthday cake. It had a Silver Sparkly Tiara and Magic Wand on it, and it said “Happy Birthday Princess” and something else I couldn’t read in the few seconds I could see it. I said something like ‘There is going to be a very happy princess in your house’ and the mom just said ‘Yes she will’, put the cake in the wagon and left.

The thing is, she was a black woman, and I got to thinking about all the crap her daughter may will face growing up in a world so divided by race and hatred. It bothers me greatly that this thought came, unbidden, to my consciousness. And has stayed. I wish I could make that Wand a real magic one, and the Tiara golden with precious gems. And I wish I could wave the wand and make one little girl safe forever. But no, not going to happen. And then a moment of joy came, and I realized that one little girl would have a real wand and tiara for a while. She would believe. I hope her optimism for her future is rewarded with hope and success. If I were the praying kind, I would pray. I am not, so I will just hope.

Image: Facebook

Walking Away? Think Thrice.

This really resonates with me. When I first saw it on Facebook this morning I thought “good thought to share” and shared it. But I have been thinking about it and wondering why it resonated. The answer is simple: I have been on both ends of this. When I was a young and callow fellow, matters of the heart were mysterious to me. I was afraid of girls, then women, and of rejection. I played at being a man, but mostly missed the mark. I regret the hurts I caused, and wish there were some way to just say “I’m sorry. I was a jerk.” Doesn’t work that way, though, does it? So I have forgiven myself, which is the first place all forgiveness must begin. And, during the same period, I was walked away from a time or two as well. I have forgiven them too.

For many years now, I have tried not to be a jerk. I think I mostly have succeeded, but it is for the world to really judge.

As for you, the reader, take this away: Look carefully for who is waiting, and think many times before you walk away.

Image: Facebook.

Don’t Boycott It: Rub their Noses in It.



Remember this "Pride"?

The article cited below had given me pause for thought. Given the Russians vile homophobic public posture, I was thinking “Boycott the bastards”.  But the article reminded me of the Olympic Black Power salute given by Tommie Smith and John Carlos to protest segregation in America and Apartheid in South Africa. This iconic moment could be played over and over again in Russia.

Maybe Something like This?

The US teams could wear Rainbow patches, carry rainbow flags, and display rainbow colors everywhere they go or hold hands with each other whenever possible. Damn little the Russians could do about it, and the GLBTQ community in Russia would see the solidarity. So my advice is to read the article cited below, and then get going on advocating for Gay Colors for American Olympics.

We can show the bastards what solidarity really means. Don’t boycott them; Beat the Shit out of them.

Must Read Article: http://www.sbnation.com/2013/7/24/4548656/sochi-winters-olympics-2014-russia-boycott-gay-rights

Image: http://www.bet.com/news/sports/photos/2012/02/famous-black-olympic-athletes/_jcr_content/leftcol/flipbook/flipbookimage.flipfeature.dimg/011912-sports-famous-olympic-athletes-tommie-smith-john-carlos.jpg

Image: http://www.ruffinflagcompany.net/images/products/gadsden/AZ%20gadsden%20flag%20md.jpg

 

We, You and I, Pay This Guy 80Thousand Dollars a Year to Kill Us.

 

Surely he is worth 80k a year?

“Hasan has admitted to shooting his fellow soldiers, saying in June that the Nov. 5, 2009 attack on Fort Hood in Texas was done in the "defense of others," in his case, the Taliban.”

This guy admits premeditatedly killing American soldiers and through a loophole in pay regulations continued to get 80 THOUSAND DOLLARS a year since. He has now collected 300k. Our money. While the victims get nothing because the government refuses to classify this as an act of terrorism.

BULLSHIT!!!!!!

Oh, and the Army, read that you again, has already spent 4MILLION DOLLORS on the case, including a ton of money paid to his legal advisors, since he is representing himself in the trial.

BULLSHIT!!!!!

You think there is a government conspiracy to take away your guns and invade your privacy? No Way. A government this stupid couldn’t figure out how to get out of a paper bag. What a disappointment.

Photo: NPR Morning Edition.

Harry Potter, Trevor and GLBTQ

I am glad you failed, too.

In case you didn’t know this, GLBTQ youngsters (I am old enough now to use this term) have a higher suicide rate than straight youth. Why? God, the reasons are many, but it boils down, in my view, to the anxiety and depression of not being accepted for who you are by ones you love and the rest of the world as well. Or the fear of this.
So “coming out” isn’t easy. It is viewed and probably is in many situations dangerous. I know a man, the father of a gay son, who for years after the boy came out would not talk to him or have him involved with any family activities. He blamed his son for choosing his gay life. They are somewhat reconciled now, and I hope will continue to grow closer as time goes on. My own son came out to us many years ago, and we are a family. His husband, officially, is a wonderful man and they are a loving couple.
 
In neither case was suicide the outcome of the anxiety of being gay. But it often is and this is where Daniel Radcliffe steps in. He is a spokesperson for the Trevor Project that exists to help GLBTQ youths through the dark days of disclosure. Is Radcliffe gay? Well, he has a girlfriend doesn’t he? You don’t have to be on the GLBTQ team to care about them, or to love them for who they are, or to be an advocate for them. You just have to not be judgmental. (Think “WWJD”. And for the rest of you, think WWWD.)

Check out the Trevor Project and watch the PSA from Harry. And remember it. You may just save a life someday. Maybe even your own

Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Image: http://pinkinourlives.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/trevor-project-girl-2.jpg.

Thomas University West Campus: Well Done!!!

TU Logo

I have been critical of TU in the recent past. Being an  Emeritus Professor and Honorary Alumni is a good thing, and having been through some of the darkest days and then seeing the flourishing of the recent years makes being critical even harder. I have usually been guilty of speaking out when I felt it necessary. Over the years I served TU in various capacities I opposed a number of changes I thought were ill conceived and supported many I thought were right. My concern was always for the students, the family of TU and the institution itself.
My latest and probably last remarks revolved around what I considered an ill-conceived plan to outsource all maintenance without any provision for protecting the loyal employees who carried that burden very well for years. I still think it ill conceived. It shows a total lack of caring for TU family.
 

Renovated TU Basketball Facility

I visited the Main Campus to retrieve some boxes that had been stored in the “barn” and decided to have a drive through look at the West Campus. The last time I saw it there was a huge hole in the ground and crappy looking buildings. Well let me tell you this: It looks really good now. Stark landscaping but that is ok because the vast grassy area to the front and left of the Gym will be built on soon I think. So I drove around the building (not the gym and I don’t know what it is called) and parked. I went in to take a look and ran into a former student of mine, Sarah, who greeted me with a big smile and a hug. Thanks, Sarah, nice to know one is welcome. The lobby is well done if a bit sparse, but it is a work in progress I hope. Needs some plants and art. Daryl, another old friend, joined me from his office and I quickly figured out that this is “his” building. He didn’t say that, but the pride was there in his voice. He showed me the offices, workout gym, athletic training room and the unfinished back rooms. What is finished is impressive. Nicely done and looks very functional.  First  Class.

We walked to the gymnasium which I had last seen after our last basketball game from the first attempt to have a basketball team. In those days everything was ratty except the playing floor. Now it is really nice. All new everything. First class work. Great court, locker rooms (awaiting lockers but they are coming). Everything looks good. Even the original walls and floors have a "new" look.

But more. The enthusiasm of Daryl and the other folks I talked to was infectious. The athletic department and athletic programs are really, really enthusiastic. It comes through. The West Campus is the new “old” Thomas College. Personal buy
 in; love of the place and hope for the future.

For the West Campus I say a loud ‘Well Done TU.”

Image: Google images (Problem: damn few images of TU on Google)

From the Sensei of a friend: What to say to the police.

What to say to police:

When involved in a lethal-force incident, where you fired
shots, otherwise  attempted to apply deadly force, or even brandished a gun
without firing, you'll  likely be confronted by police a short time later.
They're just doing  their job, but you need to be the one to look after your own best interests.

In light of the recent "Salinas Case" ruling by the US Supreme
Court, my  advice to students in this regard has changed only slightly.
In any event, it bears reiterating.

I've recently consulted with a group of distinguished a
lawyers, who are  also my friends and colleagues, on this subject, and what follows is in general agreement by all:

 Simply "remaining silent" is not sufficient, by itself, to assure your rights and best interests are preserved.  Interesting that we live in a country where you have to speak, in order to assert your right not to speak!
And, once one stops answering police questions and demands that his lawyer be present before continuing, he shouldn't start up again prior to his lawyer arriving. When he does, we get into an ambiguous situation, where the prosecution can later claim that, having asserted the right to
remain silent at one point, the defendant subsequently changed his mind, thus, in effect,  waiving his rights.

 In addition, one should not wait until he is arrested to invoke his  rights. Any time you are party to a
police investigation, certainly when your are "Mirandized," your rights need to be unmistakably,
unilaterally invoked, and without delay!

 Invocation of your 5th Amendment rights to decline to answer questions and have your lawyer personally present before questioning resumes must be unconditional and unambiguous. "Do you think I should have an attorney?"  won't suffice!

 No need to be snotty, but you must be clear, and you must mean
it!  Confusion and ambiguity are always the enemy! Slam the door
shut with a clear, unequivocal statement that you wish to exercise your 5th
Amendment rights, now. Don't ask them what they think!

Insisting that police call an ambulance for you that will take you to a  hospital may also be a good strategy. Most will agree that going to a  hospital to be checked-over is probably good advice for anyone who has been involved in a lethal-force incident.

 So, here is my advice when confronting arriving police in the wake of a  lethal-force incident:

Palms out at chest-level, no weapons in sight:
1) "Officers, thank God you're here!"
2) "I'm the one who called."
3) "Those men:
     (a) attacked us,
     (b) tried to murder us,
     (c) We were in fear for  our lives"
4) "I will sign a complaint"
5 "I'm happy to chat with you when my lawyer is present. I
absolutely request my attorney, and I am respectfully invoking my 5th
Amendment Rights to decline to answer any questions until he is personally
present, sir."
 It is appropriate to call officers' attention to:
    (a) evidence that may not be obvious,
    (b) witnesses who may not be  obvious,
   (c) danger that may not be obvious (eg: an armed suspect still in  the area)

Always be polite and non-threatening, but take a deep breath
and speak clearly.  Don't mumble and don't become chatty.

 Finally, when you are "Mirandized," the officer will probably ask you, "Do you understand your rights, as I've explained them to you?"

The best answer is, "Officers, I'm not answering that
question, nor any  other, until my lawyer is here, nor will I sign, nor
initial, any  document."

We could go on for many more pages, but the foregoing pretty much sums it up. You must protect yourself, as no one else will!

"After victory, tighten the straps on your helmet."

Image: http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/79000346.png

Race. Or Juries? Or Crappy Prosectuion?



All Failed by the System.

This isn’t about Race. This is about the laws in Florida, the Jury System, the prosecution and defense lawyers and the Constitution. Not about GZ or TM.

Something happens. A crime is charged. A District Attorney or Grand Jury, of both, agree there is enough evidence of a crime to prosecute. Now here is the clue, folks, that we live in America: Innocent until Proven Guilty. By a Jury. INNOCENT OF WRONG DOING. Get it?
So, the prosecution gathers evidence and the defense gathers evidence. Here is Florida Jury instructions, in part:

To overcome the defendant’s presumption of innocence the state has the

burden of proving that the crime was committed and the defendant
committed the crime.
It is to the evidence introduced in this trial, and to it alone that you are to
look for the proof.
The defendant is not required to present evidence or to prove anything.

 So, the prosecution must define the crime, then prove beyond a reasonable doubt the accused committed the crime.

In the GZ vs TM case, the prosecution chose to prosecute the wrong crime. The Jury unanimously found reasonable doubt on all the charges and found “not guilty”.  Carping about what should have been the outcome, or was GZ a bad man, or was TM just an innocent kid should not be the issue. The issue is did GZ do what he was charged with? The Jury said “NO” loud and clear.

Now the dissection of what a million people think happened goes on, and has no end in sight. For God’s sake folks, people are still debating the OJ thing. This never ends. But, say what you want, in the eyes of the Law, a person found “not guilty” is INNOCENT.

Maybe you could vent your hostility on, oh, the current trafficking of slaves? Or, maybe the morons who deny climate change? Continue pushing the moral lessons of this event with the hopes that things may get better some day. But don’t subvert the system by second guessing the Jury. Say “The Prosecutors Fucked Up” (quite likely they did) but go with the Jury. Lawyers around the country repeatedly say that juries have an uncanny way of seeing the “doubt” in cleaver arguments. Lobby to change the laws or even the Constitution, but move on to more important things. Life is too short.

Image: http://wordsofthesentient.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/innocence-project.gif

Reasonable doubt: http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/flsupct/SC00-906/00-906comments5.pdf