Monday, March 31, 2008

7 Mexican-born Texas Death Row Inmates Lose Appeals

Seven Mexican-born inmates on Texas' death row lost their bids for appeal today before the U.S. Supreme Court, following the court's ruling last week that another Mexican-born inmate's case couldn't be reopened despite an order from President Bush.

Read more by clicking
here.

If they want to spend their lives in jail rather than face the death penalty here for murder, they should have stayed home. These laws are not new. They have been on the books for years.

I say "Strap them to the gurney and put the needle in their arms." I have no sympathy for these pieces of trash. The world will be better when they are gone.

"I believe there would be people alive today if there were a death penalty.” - Nancy Reagan





Sunday, March 30, 2008

Nothing Much Going On Today

I have been very busy today. When I got home, I surfed around the net and could find nothing that I felt compelled to write about.

Perhaps it is the fact that I am tired or the fact that nothing happened in the world today that caught my eye.

Either way, I am going to call it a day. I am going to relax and watch a bit of television before going to bed early.

Everyone have a safe and restful Sunday night and I will see you tomorrow.

"God help me. I'm so tired. I need my sleep. I make no bones about it. I need eight hours a day, and at least ten at night.” – Bill Hicks


Saturday, March 29, 2008

Donald Trump and "Kristen" To Team Up?

Ashley Alexandra Dupré (aka Ashley Rae Maika DiPietro, aka Ashley Youmans, aka Kristen) could be milking her 15 minutes of fame, but instead she is in hiding. All these offers keep coming her way and I wonder if she is going to peak her head out from under whatever rock she is under to considering them.

The newest offer is coming from none other than Donald Trump. Trump has a new reality show on MTV and he wants Ashley to join the cast.

The show has been referred to as a "Lady or a Tramp" style show. So what is this show all about? Donald will get fifteen party girls and send them off to a boarding school type of atmosphere.

Is he trying to make whores into housewives? Hey, if he "reformed" former party girl Tara Conner who knows what The Donald could do right.

Trump is just as much of a sleaze as she is. He wants to make money off this whore.

The sad fact is that people will watch this trash. They both should be condemned as "trash" and ran out of the country.


"This is a sleazy arrangement" - Walter Hamilton



Friday, March 28, 2008

Obama Suggests Ex-Pastor Acknowledged His Controversial Remarks Were Inappropriate

Barack Hussein Obama seemed to suggest in an interview aired Friday on "The View" that his former pastor Jeremiah Wrught has acknowledged that his controversial remarks were inappropriate and hurtful, although there are no public accounts of the minister having done so.

No where can I find (or anyone else, for that matter) can find where or when Wright made this acknowledgement.

This is another spin job by Obama and his camp. This guy is dangerous. He cannot be trusted. We need to make sure that everyone is watching him and keep their attacks up.

He does not need to be the President of the United States.



“I think there is a good reason why the propaganda system works that way. It recognizes that the public will not support the actual policies. Therefore it is important to prevent any knowledge or understanding of them.” - Avram Noam Chomsky




Thursday, March 27, 2008

The National Anthem by The Cactus Cuties

I was over at one of my fellow and favorite bloggers, Law and Order Teacher , this evening. He had a post about five young ladies, known as the Cactus Cuties, and their rendition of the National Anthem. He found it on Right on the Left Coast blog. I want to first thank both of them for calling to my attention these fine young ladies and their talent.

This is a video of the
Cactus Cuties. They are very talented young ladies ranging in age from 8 to 13 singing The Star Spangled Banner. The performance was at the Texas Tech vs Texas basketball game January 20, 2008 in front of over 11,000 people. The Cuties are Andi, Baylee, Blaire, Madeline and Tatum. The group is named for the Cactus Theater in Lubbock, Texas and are coached by Cami Caldwell.

Listen to the clip below. This has to be one of the best performances of the National Anthem I have ever heard. When I heard it, tears came to my eyes. It is beautiful. As I said, listen and see if you do not agree.





“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nipple Piercings + Airport Security = STUPIDITY

A Texas woman who said she was forced to remove a nipple ring with pliers in order to board an airplane called Thursday for an apology by federal security agents and a civil rights investigation.

"I wouldn't wish this experience upon anyone," Mandi Hamlin said at a news conference. "My experience with TSA was a nightmare I had to endure. No one deserves to be treated this way."

Hamlin, 37, said she was trying to board a flight from Lubbock to Dallas on Feb. 24 when she was scanned by a Transportation Security Administration agent after passing through a larger metal detector without problems.

Click
here to read more.

HEY.....MANDI HAMLIN.....ARE YOU CRAZY!!!!!

Get them damn nipple rings out before you board an airplane. What makes you think you have the right to board a plane with medal on (or in) your body. I certainly would not be allowed to board.

Everything in life is about "attitude." This woman should have used her head when she was dressing for the flight. Why would a 37-year-old woman want to have her nipple's pierced? That is just CRAZY!!!

How can she thing she as a civil rights complaint? I didn't know nipple piercings were a civil right.

HEY.....MANDI HAMLIN.....YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!!

"Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!” - George Carlin

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Hillary's Numbers Crashing!!!

Hillary Rodham Clinton's popularity has taken a nosedive. Her 37 percent positive rating is the lowest the NBC/WSJ poll has recorded since March 2001, two months after she was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York.

Click
here to read more.

The democrats are imploding, I am happy to say. If the scandals keep coming, Barack Hussein Obama will soon be following her.

"Everything popular is wrong" - Oscar Wilde

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Hillary Misspoke and Was "Sleep-Deprived" YEAH, RIGHT!!

Hillary Rodham Clinton said today she made a mistake in claiming that she came under hostile fire in Bosnia 12 years ago.

Clinton began retracting the remarks in a series of private interviews Monday and Tuesday before addressing about two dozen reporters in Pittsburgh after a speech.

She told the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "I was sleep-deprived, and I misspoke."

Yeah...right...and her husband didn't inhale or have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky.

A liar married to a liar. She is going down in flames. It could not happen to a better person.

"Great talker, great liar." - French Proverb



Monday, March 24, 2008

Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Begins in Greece with Protests



The 2008 Olympic Torch Relay began today in Greece. Actors portraying Greek priestesses ignited the torch.

Experience taught me that there would be protests during the event and indeed, they did happen.

Political activists made good on their promise to protest the lighting of the Olympic torch on the site of Ancient Olympia today. In response to the ongoing situation in Tibet, the group
Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, had been calling for a complete boycott of the opening ceremony, saying in a statement:

"We cannot let the Chinese government seize the Olympic flame, a symbol of peace, without denouncing the dramatic human rights situation in the country"

Three members of the RSF busted through a line of over 1,000 police officers (3 against 1,000 – and they got through)? That is not my idea of security with one running up behind the head of the Beijing Olympic committee while he was giving us internationally broadcast speech. The protester was holding a black flag that depicted the Olympic Rings made from handcuffs.

An hour later another group of protesters covered in red paint laid down in the town's main street, before being chased down by the cops. International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge publicly commended the protesters on their ability to remain non-violent during their protest.

This Olympics is going to be interesting. The protests in Mexico City 1968 and boycotts in Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 are going to seem like child’s play.

I do not foresee any major boycotts but I do see major protests. Stay tuned for further updates.

"To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men" – Abraham Lincoln

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Joey Vento (Geno's Steaks) Sign Ruled Legal

Joey Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks in Philadelphia, has been vindicated. The city's human relations commission has ruled that a "speak English when ordering" sign does not discriminate against people who don't speak the language.

I have been following Joey and his plight for a while now. Joey has a sign up in his cheese steak stand that reads "This is America. When ordering, speak English."

My lovely bride and I have visited Geno's on numerous occasions. Whenever we are on the east coast and withing driving distance of Philly, we go to Geno's. We both love their cheese steaks and have met Joey's son Geno.


In fact, young Geno gave us two of their employee's shirts which have Geno's logo on the front and their famous saying on the back. He also gave us numerous writing pens and a few stickers.

I say KUDOS to Joey and his right to put up whatever sign he likes in his business. I have taken some heat on the blog sphere for my support of Geno. Well, to those people I say....if you don't like the ambiance at Geno's, then go to Pat's King of Steaks.


“Free speech is not to be regulated like diseased cattle and impure butter. The audience that hissed yesterday may applaud today, even for the same performance.” - William Orville Douglas

Friday, March 21, 2008

Decorating, Hiding Eggs Can Pose a Health Hazard

A story, released by the UPI, states that researchers have determined that decorating eggs for Easter may be hazardous to ones health. This is another case of some groups constant desire to trash traditional holidays. How come many of us made it through childhood, doing many of the things that are not deemed undesirable, lived to a ripe old age. This is just CRAZY.

Decorated eggs are the highlight of the Easter holiday for many, but they can also be a potential pathway for food borne illness, a U.S. dietitian warns.Dietitians at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas say egg artisans can help prevent illness -- and possibly a trip to the local emergency room -- by deciding prior to coloring whether they plan to eat their works of art."If you want to eat decorated hard-cooked eggs, be sure that all the decorating materials are food-safe and that you wash each egg beforehand," Vickie Vaclavik, a registered dietitian and clinical nutritionist says in a statement. "Also, wash your hands between all the cooking, cooling, dyeing and decorating processes and keep the finished hard-cooked eggs refrigerated as much as possible."Vaclavik says individuals who "hide" eggs should carefully place the eggs, considering location to ensure that the decorated eggs aren't tainted by contamination from animals or lawn chemicals.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." – Albert Einstein

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Democrat Wants 50 Cent Per Gallon of Gas Tax

The headline read "Michigan Congressman Wants 50-Cent Tax Hike on Every Gallon of Gas." When I saw it, I said to myself, "It has to be a Democrat." As I read the article, I found out my instinct was correct.

Michigan Democrat Representative John Dingell wants to help cut consumption with a 50-cent a gallon gas tax.

Read the entire article here.

This is another GREAT idea from the Democrats. Remember this proposal is from the political party that wants chance. I guess the change they want it the change that we have in out pockets.

Dingell is a typical low-life Democrat. Take more money from the citizens and use it on a program that will never work.

"There is no such thing as a good tax." - Winston Churchill


Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Spitzer Call Girl Already Gone 'Wild'

Ashley Alexandra Dupre's (aka Ashley Youmans, aka Kristen, aka Ashley Rae Maika DiPietro) previous life may have cost her a cool million dollars.

Joe Francis, the founder and owner of "Girls Gone Wild" had reached out toDupre, now 22, with an offer of $1 million to appear in a non-nude spread for his company's new magazine, plus a chance to join the "Girls Gone Wild" tour bus.

Francis said someone had a revelation at the Tuesday morning staff meeting: Did anyone think to check the archives. They did, he said -and there she was. He also stated his employees got to work on pulling the footage and planned to offer it on the Web site by Tuesday evening, with a free sampling on the front page and the rest available with a $29.95 monthly subscription.

According to a “Girls Gone Wild” press release, Dupre visited Miami in 2003 to celebrate her 18th birthday. After fighting with a friend and getting thrown out of her hotel, Dupre found a nearby “Girls Gone Wild” bus, the company said.

She signed legal papers and spent a full week on the bus, filming seven full-length tapes which included nudity and same-sex encounters, according to the company.

“I personally ended up buying her a Greyhound bus ticket back home to North Carolina,” Francis told the AP.

The plot thickens on Dupre. I guess she has more of a past than anyone realized.

I think one of my students put it best when they said "She is nothing but a skank." I am so amazed, at times, that my students are as observant as they are.

Joe Francis and Dupre deserve each other. They are both scum. Perhaps the IRS should investigate both of their finances. One thing is sure. I wonder how long Dupre waits to try to sue Francis. After all, she wants to make money any way she can.

"All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes." - Winston Churchill

Monday, March 17, 2008

Obama Caught in a Lie

Contrary to Senator Barack Hussein Obama's claim that he never heard his pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preach hatred of America, Obama was in the pews last July 22 when the minister blamed the "white arrogance" of America's Caucasian majority for the world's suffering, especially the oppression of blacks.

It looks like Barack Hussein Obama has been caught in a lie. Imagine that. Barack Hussein Obama telling a lie to divert attention from his relationship with his radical, racist preacher Jeremiah Wright.

Barack Hussein Obama is digging himself a deeper and deeper grave. It will not be long until his Presidential aspirations are nothing but a bad memory.

"No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar." - Abraham Lincoln



Sunday, March 16, 2008

Call Girl's Lawyer Lashes Out at Media

New York Governor (at least for one more day) Eliot Spitzer's favorite hooker, Ashley Alexandra Dupre (AKA Ashley Youmans, AKA Kristen, AKA Ashley Rae Maika DiPietro) is upset that photos from her MySpace account are being posts by the media.

Her attorney, Don D. Buchwald, said Dupre did not consent to the use of her photos in this manner, and the usage may be a violation of federal copyright laws. He said the photos have appeared on commercial Web sites without her consent.

This little tramp is trying to prolong her 15 minutes for commercial gain. She has been offered one million dollars top post for "Penthouse." At this time, she has not accepted or declined the offer.

I wonder how long until Dupre is charged with a variety of crimes? Yes, I know she is being subpoenaed to testify against the owners and operators of the
Emperor’s Club VIP, but she has committed numerous crimes and should be charged with them

First off, she is working as a call girl. It does not matter that she was $1000 an hour hooker. She is a prostitute and evidence exists that she actively participated in the act.

Secondly, I bet she did not pay income tax from her earnings in the "world's oldest profession." The IRS should check into her finances.

Thirdly, she started a business to promote her singing career. I would be willing to bet she did not fill out all the necessary forms and obtain the required licences to operate a business in New York.

I do not feel at all sorry for this young lady. She willingly chose to be a prostitute. With that choice comes everything that is associated with being a prostitute and all that choice implies.

If she had not wanted her photos to be plastered all over television, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, she should not have become a hooker.

Come call her a "high class call girl." How can anyone who is a hooker be called high class?

She is a hooker. Nothing more and nothing less. If she committed crimes, she should be charged right along with Spitzer, her former employers at the club, and anyone else involved.

After all, is not prostitution a crime, no matter what it is called?

"What's in a name?
that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet"

From William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, published in 1594.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Attacks On His Church Trouble Obama

This headline "Attacks on his church trouble Obama" (also posted above) is from a story posted on the Chicago Sun Times website. Barack Hussein Obama seems to be having trouble with his memebrship in the Trinity United Church of Christ and its racist, radical pastor Jeremiah Wright.

Barack Hussein Obama has this black cloud over his Presidental bid and it will not go away.

My response is "Too Bad...So Sad."

Read the article on the Chicago Sun Times website and pay attention to Barack Hussein Obama responses. He is lossing sleep over this.

Now people will geing to see he is not worthy of residing in the White House. Heck, he should not be representing people in the Senate.

The storm is rolling in. Barack Hussein Obama had better learn how to swim.

"Facts are stubborn things." - Ronald Reagan


Friday, March 14, 2008

Obama on "Hannity and Colmes"

Barack Obama was on "Hannity and Colmes" tonight. It was an exclusive interview that was conducted earlier today by Major Garrett on Fox News.

He was questioned about his relationship with Jemimah Wright and what his views were concerning Wright.

Obama seemed flustered and stammered during the interview. He tired to explain his views but seemed confused and struggled with his response.

He certainly looked to be out of his insulated, protected arena that he has placed himself in since he began running for President.

The facade that is Barack Obama is coming down. He is nearing the end of his run for the Presidency. He is finding out when he does not have all the questions before they are asked, he has to think on his feet. It is clear after this interview that he cannot.

The end is near for Obama. Now bring on Hillary. Her days are numbered too.

"The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.” – Winston Churchill

Obama: The Fat Lady (or Preacher) is Singing

The heat seems to be rising on Barack Obama. There are calls for him to cut all ties with radical, racist preacher Jeremiah Wright and to denounce him in no uncertain terms.
Obama has been a member of his church for 2o years. Wright married him and his wife and baptised both of the Obama children.

If he does not cut all ties with Wright, many will condemn him as accepting and adhering to Wright's statements.

If he does cuts all ties with Wright, others will condemn him for abandoning his pastor, his church, and a fellow black man.

Either way, I think this will be the nail in the coffin for Obama. His support is going to dwindle and his will lose many of his supporters.

This controversy is not going to go away. He is in deep water and cannot swim. He is in the fire and has no way to get water. He is going down like the Titanic and all the lifeboats are gone.

People are going to finally find out how he is not qualified to be President. They are also going to find out he is not qualified to be a senator.

I for one, feel he should be forced to step down from his senate seat and terminate his run for the White House.

After all, if he was a Republican, that is what the Democrats would be saying.

In any case, he SHOULD step aside and fade into memory. His career is dead. He should be buried.

"One can survive everything nowadays, except death, and live down anything, except a good reputation.” – Oscar Wilde

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Obama's Racist Preacher Jeremiah Wright

Barack Obama's minister and spiritual leader, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, is (or was, since he is retiring the end of May) the head for the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Obama has been a member of this church for 20 years, Wright married Obama and his wife, be baptised Obama's children, and is one of the my racist preachers out there.

He preaches Black supremacy, White hatred, and anti-American rhetoric in every one of his sermons. He is a anti-white hate monger who feels that blacks would be better of if there were no Whites in the United States.

Click
here for a link to his church. Read the posts and information on the site. It is amazing that this church and its leader are not labeled as "hate organizations."

Obama is going to have to answer questions about his relationships with Wright. He is going to have to justify his attendance and membership in the church. he is going to have to explain his relationships with Wright with more than a vague quote like "He is like and uncle who you loved but don't necessarily agree with on everything."

If Obama was a conservation Republican, he would be held to a different standard.

Perhaps Geraldine Ferrero was correct in her recent assessment.

"At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when He brought some people into being." - Friedrich Otto Hertz

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Spitzer Resigns as Governor of New York

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation today under bloating pressure from state lawmakers and the public. It will be effective Monday.

Lieutenant Governor David Paterson will become the 55th governor of New York and the state's first black governor. He is also the nation's first blind governor.

If Spitzer had been a Republican, he would be held to a different standard. Liberals would be lining up to hold the noose for the lynching. They would be declaring how conservatives have no morals, and how they are hypocrites.

I hope the Federal Government goes after him with all the force of their department.

Spitzer's wife was standing at his right side, showing her support of her husband. Surprisingly, I do not have a problem with that. She should show her support for her husband. After all, she can enact her punishment and receive her pound of flesh later.

Reaction by various politicos is as follows:

"I'm deeply saddened by this turn of events and my thoughts are with Gov. Spitzer's family during this painful time. I would also like to express my support for Lt. Gov. David Paterson. I look forward to continuing to work with him on behalf of the people of New York. David has overcome every obstacle and broken every barrier in his path and I know that he'll continue to display that leadership and determination as governor." — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"My thoughts are with the governor and his family at this difficult time and I think what we have to do now is to move forward. ... (Paterson's) somebody that everybody says nothing but nice things about, and I think he can pull this state together and carry it through what is obviously a very difficult period for all of us." — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"It's stunningly tragic. Everybody is piling on, talking about what Eliot Spitzer did wrong. One of the things he did right was to ask David Paterson to be his lieutenant governor." — Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y.

Like all New Yorkers I am saddened by what we have learned over the past several days. On a personal level Gov. Spitzer and Silda have been close and steadfast friends. As an elected official the governor has worked hard for the people of New York. ... It is now time for Albany to get back to work as the people of this state expect from us." — Lt. Gov. David Paterson, who will become governor Monday.

"He (President Bush) has Gov. Spitzer and Gov. Spitzer's family in his thoughts and prayers. And he looks forward to working with Lt. Gov. Paterson when he takes over the post on Monday." — White House press secretary Dana Perino.

"My heart goes out to his wife and to his family at this time. He must deal with his own problems in his own way. But it is now time for us and all New Yorkers to move forward." — Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who emerged as Spitzer's main political nemesis.

"Obviously I think he made the appropriate decision, and my heart and my prayers go out to the members of his family." — Sen. John McCain.

Obviously, the Democrats are going to support a fellow Democrat. The Republican's reaction is also what I would expect. They (the Republicans) are showing support for the man and his family and are not atatcking him personally.

If the shoe was on the other foot, (Spitzer was a Republican), the Democrats would be up in arms, calling for more than his resignation. That is why I have no respect for Democrats. On the whole, they base their reaction to an event on how it will affect their party and other Democrats.

More on this later.

"Democrats couldn't care less if people in Indiana hate them. But if Europeans curl their lips, liberals can't look at themselves in the mirror." - Ann Coulter

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Spitzer Has Used Hookers for 6 Years

New York Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer has been soliciting high-priced hookers for at least six years and possibly for more than a decade. You can read the story in The New York Post by clicking here.

This stroy just keeps getting better and better. You know if it was a Republican that was in this mess, people would be calling for his head.

One can only hopes this has an effect on the Democrats chances for the White House.


"Colin Farrel was recently asked about prostitutes and he said, 'It's like ordering a pizza.' Really? What restaurant is he going to? All I ever get is a pizza...I guess in some ways it is - when it's delivered, it's never quite as hot as you hoped it would be. "- Jay Leno

Monday, March 10, 2008

Spitzer Linked to Prostitution Ring

New York Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer, who gained national prominence relentlessly pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing, has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a law enforcement official and a person briefed on the investigation.

This is another Democratic scandal what will try to be swept under the rug by fellow Democrats. Hillary Clinton's camp is mum about the scandal.

Read The New York Times take on the story by clicking
here.

More on this as it develops.


"Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country. " - Karl Kraus

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Diane Kruger in "Troy"

I am sitting here in my Lazy Boy chair, surfing the net and watching television. I have been waiting for a few days for the movie "Troy" on AMC. I have never seen it all the way through. It is not that I am a Brad Pitt fan but somehow I have taken a liking to this movie. It could very easily make my Top 10 movie list.

One of the things that makes me like it is the actress playing Helen. Helen is played by German born actress
Diane Kruger. I think she is one of the most beautiful women in movies (at this time). She also played Abigail Chase in "National Treasure."

I will never forget her appearance in "National Treasure" when she walked into the ceremony in a black evening gown. All I could say at the time was WOW.


Even though "Troy" came out before "National Treasure", I saw "National Treasure" first. In "Troy'" I understand she had to gain a bit of weight for the role. She looked so beautiful and voluptuous in that movie.

Now you asked, "Why is Texas Truth going on about some movie actress? What does he or anyone for that matter care?

My point is in both movies she does not look trashy. She does not look like a slut. She does not show any nudity (except for a moment when she is getting out of bed and the side of one of her breasts is visible).

My point is women CAN look appealing WITHOUT looking trashy. They CAN look beautiful WITHOUT being anorexic.

My point is that what is left to one's imagination CAN be so much appealing WITHOUT letting it "flop out" all over the screen.

(I guess another reason that I like her as an actress is that I always had a weakness for blondes. After all, I was lucky enough to marry the most beautiful blonde in the world.)

I will close now and enjoy the rest of the movie. Take care and have a good evening.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius (China's most famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist, 551-479 BC)

Friday, March 7, 2008

California Court Rules: Credentials Needed to Home School

An article published by the Associated Press states that California parents without teaching credentials cannot legally home school their children. This decision is a result of a recent state appellate court ruling.

I have mixed emotions concerning home schooling. On one side, home schooling bothers me. I spent four years getting an undergraduate degree and my teaching credentials. I spent another 3 years getting my masters in educational administration and got 29 hours into my PhD when I decided that I did not want to be an administrator. I spend numerous hours each year going to workshops to keep up with the latest ideas in education. My goal is to be the best teacher I can and it bothers me when someone with no educational training thinks they can do it better at home.

Most of the time when I get a student in my class who has been home schooled, I find they are ill-equipped to handle the rigors of my class. They sometimes are socially awkward and lack social skills to interact with other students.

On the other hand, if a parent has a problem with the education their child is receiving, they should have the right to take them to a place where they will receive the desired education they need and deserve. If a parent is knowledgeable and experienced enough to serve as a teacher, then they should be allowed to teach their own child.

One of the problems I have with home schooling is that very few parents have the knowledge, education, time, and experience to serve as a teacher for anyone.

Look at the diversity of classes offered and required to graduate from school. Who can teach all of those courses? Not many people, I am willing to bet.

My lovely spouse and I are both certified teachers. Between the two of us, who have two masters degrees, two bachelors degrees, with teaching credentials in mathematics, physical science, computer literacy, physical education, history, English, speech and drama.

I feel we are highly qualified to teach our daughter at home. You asked why we did not? Well for one, we didn't have the time. Second, how could we do the job of seven teachers in one year? We could not.

I feel many people home school their children for legitimate reasons. However, there are many more that use that as an excuse to pull their children out of school, keep them home, and hold class for perhaps one hour a day and call that school. Many of these cannot or will not function in the school and cause problems in the school setting.

I have many more opinions concerning the positive and negative aspects of home schooling. Way to many ideas and opinions to expound on them here tonight. I will go into them further at a later time.

Pleas feel free to post your thoughts on this specific ruling and home schooling in general. I welcome all comments.

"Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions." - Author Unknown



Thursday, March 6, 2008

Mexico Orders the Arrest of Cesar Armand Laurean

Mexican officials have ordered police to arrest a U.S. Marine suspected of killing his pregnant colleague and fleeing to Mexico, a U.S. Embassy official said Tuesday. That could lead to his extradition or deportation to the United States.

The Embassy official, who wasn't authorized to give a name, said Mexican officials issued a provisional arrest warrant for Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, which means authorities can take him into custody, on Monday at the request of U.S. officials. The order was first reported by CNN.

Mexican authorities have been working with the U.S. for weeks on the assumption that Laurean was likely in Mexico. A cousin told reporters last week that Laurean visited his liquor store outside the western city of Guadalajara in mid-January, but left without saying where he was headed.

Laurean is being sought on an indictment charging first-degree murder of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who had accused Laurean of rape. Lauterbach's charred remains were found this month with those of her fetus in a fire pit in Laurean's back yard in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Both were stationed at nearby Camp Lejeune.

Laurean left a note for his wife, Christina, saying Lauterbach slit her own throat and that he buried her in the woods near their home. But an autopsy found that Lauterbach died of blunt force trauma to the head.

For much of the 1980s and 1990s, Mexico was hesitant to extradite foreigners, but U.S. officials have praised increased cooperation in recent years. State Department officials said Mexico extradited 73 suspects to the U.S. in 2007, most to face drug or murder charges.

Previous posts on Laurean can be read by clicking
here.

"Every unpunished murder takes away something from the security of every man's life." - Daniel Webster

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Obama to Step Up Attacks on Hillary

In an article in the Houston Chronicle, Barack Obama was quoted in blaming his primary defeats in Ohio and Texas on Hillary Clinton's criticism and news coverage that he argued benefited her at his expense.

He also stated he plans to do more in the days ahead to raise doubts about Clinton's claims to foreign policy and other Washington experience. In a television ad that her campaign credits with helping her win, she portrayed herself as most prepared to handle an international crisis.

"What exactly is this foreign policy experience?" Obama asked mockingly. "Was she negotiating treaties? Was she handling crises? The answer is no."

I love the Democrats. Oprah's Love Child and the Super Bitch can go after each other tooth and nail; spending massive amounts of money to take each other down. McCain can sit back, plan his campaign, and stockpile campaign money for the general election.

These two can continue to bankrupt each other and tear each other's hearts out. It will make it easier for the Republicans to beat them in November.

"In every election in American history both parties have their cliches. The party that has the cliches that ring true wins." - Newt Gingrich

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Super Tuesday for Texas

Texas Truth left school as soon as my final class was dismissed to go to vote. My usual voting location was moved, but the new location was about the same distance from my house as the old location, so it was not a big deal.

I did, for a moment, consider voting in the Democratic Primary for Hillary Clinton. Rush Limbaugh has been a strong voice of Republicans crossing over to vote for Hillary in order to help John McCain in the general election.

After some thought, I could not do it. I have vote Republican in every election in my life except twice. Once I voted for a friend who was running for a local office as a Libertarian and another time I voted for a friend's father who was also running for a local office as a Democrat. In every other election, I have voted Republican.

(Note: In both cases that I did not vote Republican, they both lost.)

This evening I am going back to the election site for the local Republican neighborhood convention. I attended the local convention in 2000 and 2004 and was selected to go to the county convention later this spring. I never have an aspirations to go to the Texas State Republican Convention, but the local convention is fun.

I will post more about how the primary is going here in Texas and how my local convention goes this evening.

"When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it." - Clarence Darrow

Monday, March 3, 2008

Weather Channel Founder Advocates Suing Al Gore

In an article by Jeff Poor on the Business & Media Institute website, Weather Channel Founder blasts the network. He claims it ss "Telling Us What to Think."

TWC founder and global warming skeptic advocates suing Al Gore to expose "the fraud of global warming."

The Weather Channel has lost its way, according to John Coleman, who founded the channel in 1982.

Coleman told an audience at the 2008 International Conference on Climate Change on March 3 in New York that he is highly critical of global warming alarmism.

“The Weather Channel had great promise, and that’s all gone now because they’ve made every mistake in the book on what they’ve done and how they’ve done it and it’s very sad,” Coleman said. “It’s now for sale and there’s a new owner of The Weather Channel will be announced – several billion dollars having changed hands in the near future. Let’s hope the new owners can recapture the vision and stop reporting the traffic, telling us what to think and start giving us useful weather information.”

The Weather Channel has been an outlet for global warming alarmism. In December 2006, The Weather Channel’s Heidi Cullen argued on her blog that weathercasters who had doubts about human influence on global warming should be punished with decertification by the American Meteorological Society.

Coleman also told the audience his strategy for exposing what he called “the fraud of global warming.” He advocated suing those who sell carbon credits, which would force global warming alarmists to give a more honest account of the policies they propose.

“[I] have a feeling this is the opening,” Coleman said. “If the lawyers will take the case – sue the people who sell carbon credits. That includes Al Gore. That lawsuit would get so much publicity, so much media attention. And as the experts went to the media stand to testify, I feel like that could become the vehicle to finally put some light on the fraud of global warming.”

Earlier at the conference Lord Christopher Monckton, a policy adviser to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, told an audience that the science will eventually prevail and the “scare” of global warming will go away. He also said the courts were a good avenue to show the science.


I think it is a great idea, but I wonder how far the suit could go. Gore would have it tied up in litigation and countersuits for years and possibly decades.


"A cloudy day, or a little sunshine, have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most real blessings or misfortunes." - Joseph Addison

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Bill, Chelsea Stump For Hillary in Houston

Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea stumped for Hillary Sunday morning at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston.

Pastor Joel Osteen introduced them from the pulpit to cheers from the crowd gathered in the former basketball arena. Neither Clinton addressed the congregation.

Osteen said Lakewood members have prayed for the former president and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is in the middle of a bruising battle to capture Texas votes in Tuesday's primary in her bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

"We just appreciate you serving the country," Osteen said.

He said leaders at the mega-church don't tell members whom they should vote for, saying there were many fine candidates. But he encouraged the crowd to vote.

The Hillary camp continues to "pimp out" Bill and Chelsea although they have made it clear they do not like that moniker and do not view it that way.

However, what else would you call it? Hillary is getting desperate and with the Lakewood Church service going out to millions around the world, it makes it look like Osteen and his "church" are endorsing Hillary, even if he didn't specifically say so.

The Clinton's are masters of media spin. They know a good photo op when they see it. Look to the right (below) at the picture that was posted at the top of the Houston Chronicle's article on the event.


I have always be anti-Clinton and they devious ways of doing business. In addition, I have always be sceptical of Joel Osteen and his "church." This even solidifies in my mind the lengths these two (Clinton and Osteen) will go to influence the masses and get their point across.

I wonder if Osteen would welcome John McCain to his "church" and photographs taken of the event. I cannot answer that question with certainty, but I do have my doubts.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." - Matthew 7:15

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Clinton Challenges Texas' Primary and Caucus Rules (Possible)

Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign has raised the possibility of a challenge to Texas' primary and caucus rules just days before the contest, drawing a warning against legal action from the state's Democratic Party.

Top strategists for Democratic rival Barack Obama said Friday they supported the party's action, suggesting the Clinton campaign was trying to block the reporting of caucus results.

Read more about it
here.

The plot thickens. More information as it develops.