Being A Judge Does Not Equate With Good Judgement

I have to wonder why a law that was perfectly good ten years ago is no longer so today. According to the Supreme Court.

The ten year old law banned the sale of videos that graphically depicted the torture and cruel death of small animals. Kittens, rabbits, hamsters. Stomped to death by women often wearing high heeled shoes. All for the sexual gratification of those as sick as those who make them. It didn't go far enough. It should have banned the making of these videos and punishment by the same means of those participants whether they made them or watched them!

How does the Supreme Court figure into this? They voted 8 to 1 (let's hear a huge cheer for Justice Alito) that the ban infringed on freedom of speech. Let's see. You can't use the N word because it's considered a hate crime. You can spew your hatred at burials of military casualties even though they had no connection to what you hate! The Supremes are still deciding this one. Well, let hate crimes rule over free speech for those who cannot speak! Hatred of innocent animals! My God, what kind of people are these? All of them!

It's okay because it might infringe on hunting videos? The new legislation will exempt them. In my view they are hardly in the same category nor sold for the same purpose! You know what isn't included? Dog fighting videos! They fit in with the former rather than the latter in my opinion and deserve the most harsh of penalties. Punishment, however, remains punishment light. A fine and up to five years in prison for selling the videos. Are there not a lot of other violations here? By the film makers and worse, those who actually do the killing? Are there no animal cruelty laws?

Maybe it's time to re-examine the penalties for such outrages and stiffen them to a fare-thee-well. Maybe that would help discourage those who make and sell them and buy them. But, then again, perhaps not. It's probably done int the murky world of underground black markets.

All I can say is I hope one never crosses my path. Even at my old age I can guarantee my adrenaline would be flowing to the extent I could still take an eye for an eye. Just like in the video. In high heels. I may hobble but I can still wear 'em!

Adoption - A Point Of View

There has been a fair amount in the papers of late regarding adoption of kids from other countries. There was the mess in Haiti and now the mother who sent her son back to Russia causing the country to ban all adoptions by Americans.

It is certainly an arduous route at best. For both the children, who often are not in the best of health and the prospective parents who often aren't screened sufficiently. The process can take years.

Why, then, do these people choose to adopt foreign children rather than one of the multitude of kids needing homes in this country? It is hard for me to believe the process here could be any more difficult then elsewhere.

I understand that the need is great world wide, but some of these youngsters are not mere babies who will be learning language and culture from scratch. They will be foreigners in a strange land, many speaking a different language. How well are they assimilated into the community once away from family?

I'm curious how Oriental and black kids manage. Look at the conflicts Obama had over his identity, being raised by his white grandparents while he bore the features of his father's race. And that was his own family.

It's a subject close to my heart, having been adopted myself. As was my brother before me. From different families. Needless to say I have a lot of respect for those who are willing to adopt. I'm so grateful a young couple chose me, housed and clothed me, educated me and most importantly - loved me.

I just wish I could understand why this day and age American kids seem to take a back seat.

Earth Day Is A Gas!

Earth Day. A time to remind ourselves to do all we can to save the earth. Recycle, use reusable shopping bags, grow our own food, cut down on emissions. What? Cut down on emissions? Of course that applies to we little people, not our globe hopping President.

Let's see. Where is he today. New York bashing the banking industry. That means a helicopter ride to Andrews AFB, the flight itself to JFK. We mustn't forget all the gas being used by planes in a holding pattern because of restricted air space regulations. Then there is the motorcade to Wall Street and the attending support vehicles and air support. Don't forget the gas being burned while cars are halted to let said motorcade pass. Reverse the procedure for his departure.

Maybe the speech is a worthy undertaking. It depends on where you stand. It just strikes me funny it's taking place on Earth Day by a President who is gung-ho on climate change. It reminds me how tone deaf the administration can be. You don't agree? Add this to the mix.

Joe Biden is on the road today also. Where? New York. Why? To appear on The View . Ahem. That entails a helicopter to Andrews. The flight to La Guardia. The holding pattern for planes waiting for air space to clear. The motorcade and it's attending security detail. Reverse the the procedure for his departure.

Okay. They do not fly on the same plane for obvious reasons which the recent Polish tragedy underscores. During this time of fiscal restraint we're all forced to abide by, however, can we not ask the same from the administration? Especially when he's addressing money men? If the impact of Obama's speech is of national importance, give an address from the Oval Office.

As for Biden, The View? Please. On our dollar. Dollars.

Sure, all Presidents make frivolous trips. But this one; it's the timing and the fact both the President's and the Vice President's destination was but a few miles apart. It actually mocks the whole point of Earth Day. Talk about mixed messages.

Earth Day. For me it stands for, "What on earth have we done!"

Something To Think About

There's something about the small towns of Montana that intrigues me. You never know what you're going to find. Take Big Timber for instance. It's a relatively sleepy little town, quite typical of those around the state. It has, however, the Grand Hotel. One of those wonderful old places that devoted owners pour tons of money into to preserve the history. We stay in them often.

The Grand also has a grand dining room and the chef is one of the best self taught chefs you'll find anywhere. It has been the reason we've gone there quite often. You'd be surprised at how many of them there are! It's a culinary delight when you find them!

The town also boasts the manufacturer of Sharps rifles. Beautiful hand made replicas of the rifles that helped win the west. Hub had always wanted to see how they were made so we stopped in and were offered a tour which we eagerly accepted. It is also Montana gun country. It's political, oh yes. As you can imagine. While there I picked up my free copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, a little booklet distributed by the Heritage Foundation. Various fliers were also on the table sporting jokes and other bits of information to contemplate. One in particular caught my attention. I found it thought provoking enough to devote a post to it.

If you cross the North Korean border illegally you get 12 months of hard labor. Iran - you're detained indefinitely, Afghanistan you get shot, Saudi Arabia you get jailed, China you may never be heard from again, Venezuela you are branded a spy and your fate is sealed, Cuba you'll be thrown into a political prison to rot.

Think about recent happenings around the world where these fates have befallen Americans!

If you cross the U.S. border illegally you get a job, a driver's license, a social security card, food stamps, a credit card, subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house, free education, free health care, a lobbyist in Washington, billions of $ worth of documents printed in your language because you don't speak ours and the right to carry your flag while protesting that you don't get enough respect.

This is an unusual post for me. It's more like one of the multitudes of forwards we get daily in our e-mail. With the debate on immigration reform looming, however, I thought it worthwhile seeing this in one spot just as a reminder of how it works.

My Personal Method Of Pausing To Refresh

I'll be off for a few days to my beloved mountains. Then...the greenhouse awaits!