Oct 6, 2008 | 6:03 AM
Category:
Weather
FINALLY!!!!! RAIN!!!!
Thank you Jesus for this beautiful weather!
I just love it when it rains! I love a day of steady rainfall.
(I said a day!)
My indoor plants are all outside soaking it up and my grass is so happy!!!
Oct 2, 2008 | 11:24 AM
Category:
News
I don't know if many of you heard of the story of the cyclist who was killed in Richardson at the intersection of Greenville Ave. and Arapaho.
A teenager, age not released, driving a pickup clipped the cyclists bike from behind because he said he was blinded by the sun. Yet, he was crossing an intersection. And, this cyclist was hit hard enough to throw him into the pickups windshield and shatter his helmet to shreds. Yes, shreds. Killing him instantly.
Well, this gentleman, cyclist, father, uncle and son, was friend of ours. He and his family own an establishment that has been in Richardson for years and brings lots of people together.
He rode his bike every single morning to work. Never had an issue.
Now, he is dead.
Police are not sure that there will be any charges filed. The scene and time of day are being investigated as well as talking to witnesses.
His back tire was all mangled up and his helmet torn to pieces and the trucks windshield shows a major sign of where Anthony's head hit.
What are your thoughts?
What do you think of the reason given for "clipping" this cyclist. Our friend?
Please........leave comments.
Sep 24, 2008 | 10:17 AM
Category:
Faith
Well, I guess it has been a while for me since I have been on Faith Blogs.
Well, I have been working on prayers for myself and my family.
Too many things going on at one time that, shamefully, I have not stopped to count my blessing recently.
I have recently been ill with lots of things going on...found out I'm borderline diabetic, have to go to nutrition classes, high blood sugar and all that other good stuff that goes with it.
And, lots of other health issues amoung that one.
But, all in all, I still have to stop and thank my beautiful God up above for what I do have......
A supportive and loving family and friends.
Too many meds, too many Dr.'s appts, and not enough time to soak it all in at once.
But, I still have to stop and pray because I still have my family to look after.
I know that He will not give me more than I can handle. So, I will carry what has been put on my shoulders, knowing that He is right there with me.....Helping me while I work to lift the weight and make it lighter.
Sep 17, 2008 | 8:09 AM
Category:
News
LOL......I can just hear it now...........
***************
MIAMI (AFP) - A Florida judge has deemed unconstitutional a law banning baggy pants that show off the wearer's underwear, local media reported Tuesday.
A 17-year-old spent a night in jail last week after police arrested him for wearing low pants in Riviera Beach, southeast Florida.
The law banning so-called "saggy pants" was approved by city voters in March after supporters of the bill collected nearly 5,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot.
The teen would have received a 150 dollars fine or community service, but he spent the night in jail due to a history of marijuana use, the Palm Beach Post newspaper said.
"Somebody help me," said Palm Beach Circuit Judge Paul Moyle, before giving his decision.
"We're not talking about exposure of buttocks. No! We're talking about someone who has on pants whose underwear are apparently visible to a police officer who then makes an arrest and the basis is he's then held overnight, no bond."
"Your honor, we now have the fashion police," added public defender Carol Bickerstaff, who asked the law be declared "unconstitutional."
The judge agreed with Bickerstaff immediately, reported the Post.
Laws that ban low-slung pants are on the books in several US cities, including Delcambre, Louisiana, where offenders can be fined up to 500 dollars or jailed for up to six months.
Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia are among the larger US cities considering similar measures.
Sep 16, 2008 | 12:07 PM
Category:
News
I received this today in an email and wanted to share it.............
Read on, please..............
Sentence of Reid
......
Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?
Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?
Didn't think so.
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District C ourt.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he
had anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.'
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:
January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:
'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.
On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.
The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment.
The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.
This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Now, let me explain this to you We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.
So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: 'You're no big deal.'
You are no big deal.
What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.
We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.
Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America
, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizen s will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice. < /B>
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America . That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.
So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject. Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home. God bless America
Please forward this----------so that every American has a chance to read it.
Sep 4, 2008 | 8:27 AM
Category:
Faith
Today is my 23rd Wedding Anniversay and I would like to tell my wonderful husband how much I love him.
I want very much for him to know that with him, but, most of all through him, I have found love, happiness and a wonderful life.
Even through the thick and the thin, the hardships and happiness, we have made it through because of our love for eachother.
In my heart, there is nothing that can replace the feelings that grow for him more and more each and every day.
To many more years with you, my love.
Love,
Your wife
Sep 2, 2008 | 2:01 PM
Category:
News
There is a subject, that I would really like to touch base on.
This subject, is "Illegal Handicap Parking".
What does this mean?
Who does this refer to?
Who should abide by the rules of "handicap parkings"?
Well, tell me if this person was right or wrong.
This afternoon, when I took my sister to the post office, I parked next to the handicap parkings.
As I waited, the car for my sister to come out, the car that was int he handicap parking next to me pulled out and a white car jetted right in. And quick!
Well, as fast as this car pulled in, I knew it was going to be someone that was not handicap because there were no handicap license plates or tags.
Sure enough, a very nice, young, tall, well built, FIREMAN gets out of the car and locks it.
Yup!! He was even wearing his Firefighters of Dallas uniform.
Needless to say, I was appauled.
How many times do we have to see people that should not be parking in these parkings get out of their cars while the people need them have to park far away or drive around til they find a open handicap parking.
Okay....I know....LOTS of people do this....but, to see a fireman or policeman or anyone that should know better doing this is really just not right.
What is your opinion on this?
Was I wrong to be upset and just stare at him when he came out almost 20 minutes later. Or, is it okay because he was a fireman?
Aug 29, 2008 | 9:56 AM
Category:
News
I don't understand why no charges were filed in this case.
These roads are so dangerous to break down on.
It's sad. A whole family gone.
**************************
SUV Kills 2 Adults, 2 Toddlers . WEST, Texas -- -- A man, woman and two children are dead after they were hit and killed by a sport-utility vehicle on an Interstate 35 frontage road in Central Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the accident happened just before 10 p.m. Thursday about 15 miles north of Waco near the town of West. They said the man and woman were walking with a baby girl and a boy, age about 2, after their car apparently stalled on the two-way frontage road. DPS Cpl. Charlie Morgan said a sport-utility vehicle apparently crested a rise and slammed into the family from behind, hurling their bodies about 100 feet. The DPS identifies the dead as Brandee Thorpe, 20; Austin Fontenot, 2; and Kinzee Fontenot, 1; all of Hillsboro; and Gregory Howell, 25, of Robinson. Their relationships are unclear. The driver of the SUV was interviewed, but no charges are filed.
Aug 29, 2008 | 9:50 AM
Category:
News
Another dumb woman caught offering her children for money.
This stupid texas woman was turned over by the man she made arrangements with because he got busted and let the "biatch" out of the bag.
AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!! Is all I can say about the stupidity in these womens heads!!
********************
Texas Mom Charged with Offering Children for Sex
Stephanie Hays
HOUSTON -- -- A suburban Houston mother accused of offering to let a Missouri man have sex with three young children has been arrested on child pornography charges.
Stephanie Hays, 33, is charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of performance of a child. Bail on each charge was set at $50,000.
The Katy woman is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. Jail records did not show an attorney listed for her and there was no answer at a phone number listed for her address.
She was arrested Wednesday after federal agents in Independence, Mo., learned she had made arrangements over the Internet for Michael Stratton to visit Texas and engage in sex acts with the children, investigators said.
Authorities identified the children as the woman's 11-year-old son, 5-year-old nephew and 2-year-old niece.
Stratton, who had been arrested in a separate investigation in Missouri, gave information about the woman to federal agents. Investigators searched Stratton's computer and recovered copies of his Internet chats with the woman.
The information led investigators from the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to obtain a search warrant that was served on the woman's home Aug. 22, said Harris County Assistant District Attorney Donna Hawkins.
During the search of the home, investigators found several computers containing numerous images of children under 18 engaging in sexual intercourse, Hawkins said.
Task force commander Matthew Gray wrote in an affidavit that he used Stratton's Yahoo account to chat with the woman on Aug. 18, and asked her to send him child pornography, the Houston Chronicle reported in its online editions Thursday.
"The suspect admitted . . . that she had discussed the sexual acts that Michael Stratton would commit against (the children) and making the arrangements for Michael Stratton to meet her the week of Aug. 20, 2008," Gray wrote in his affidavit.
A spokeswoman for Texas Child Protective Services said the agency has not taken custody of any children involved. CPS caseworkers have made sure the children are safe, while the agency conducts an investigation, said Gwen Carter.
This is the second case in less than a week involving a Texas parent charged with offering their child for sex.
Aug 29, 2008 | 6:52 AM
Category:
News
Three years later, we, our own cities, are still trying to recooperate from all the devastation that was brought to us because of Hurricane Katrina.
Now, I am sitting here talking to my sister and asking, what is going to happen this time with Gustav?
I have been keeping up with this storm/hurricane myself because I know that we will go through the same thing again as we did with Katrin victims.
I remember when I volunteered to feed the "victims" that were staying at a large hotel in Arlington. We worked hard, the church, to get good meals together for these people. But, all we got was complaints. That they did not like the food because it was not what they ate.
Well, I took it upon myself to fix a whole meal of things they said they liked. That evening, when I went to serve it, I only had 4 families come down and eat. The rest, were coming in on buses with fast food and bags and bags from the mall.
Seems, that they had started to receive their "victim money" and were enjoying spending it where they shouldn't have been.
I remember hearing all the awful stories from many people all around Dallas County about how these people acted and what they did with the money or assistance that was given to them. I remember the huge fight that the New Orleans kids caused in the Grand Prairie high school against the kids from here.
Is this what we have to look forward to again?
I am praying that we are not.
Houston has closed the Astrodome. It will not be used to house anyone.
The Reunion Arena is out of the question.
And, the worst is...that alot of these people from New Orleans are already being given warnings that they might have to evacuate but, alot are still sitting and "waiting it out".
Did you not learn your lesson the first time?
God help us. We don't need this again. We are still trying to recooperate ourselves.
Aug 29, 2008 | 6:24 AM
Category:
News
She "MAY" face UP TO 20 years in prison.
IF CONVICTED!
First, let's see.....she is here illegally.
Second, she probably had that baby while on government assistance.
Third, she injures the baby
Forth, she takes a WHOLE FREAKIN DAY to take this baby to the hospital. Letting it suffer in this horrible pain for 24 hours!
And, SHE MIGHT get UP TO 20 years?????????
These laws are so effed up!!! Something more needs to be done about all of these freakin women killing and harming these babies.
*************************
Mom Charged with Scalding Baby 8-month-Old Scalded with Boiling Water .
BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- -- A 32-year-old mother is charged with injury to a child after allegedly scalding her 8-month-old infant with boiling water.
Cpl. Alonso Najera said Friday morning that Margarita Cuellar Alvarado is in the Cameron County Jail on a $75,000 bond.
The Brownsville Herald reports the baby is being treated at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Brownsville Police spokesman Jimmy Manrrique said Alvarado, an undocumented immigrant, was arrested on Wednesday after she took her baby to the hospital.
He said authorities determined the child's injuries did not match Alvarado's story. Police believe she waited more than a day before taking the wounded infant for medical attention.
If she is convicted of the second-degree felony, Alvarado may face up to 20 years in prison.
Aug 28, 2008 | 8:17 AM
Category:
News
All I can say about this story is, that I cried. While reading it. And after.
It is sickening what this man did.
He deserves worse than the death penalty.
Just look at the smirk on his face in the picture. This is what he looked like when he received his sentence.
Nothing but evil on that face.
But, we all know that due to his nature of being a pedophile, he will not be put in with the general public in prison to protect him from being murdered while in there.
**************************
Pedophile Sentenced to Death for Murdering 9-Year-Old Idaho Boy
A longtime sex offender was sentenced to death Wednesday for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old northern Idaho boy after federal jurors who watched video of some of the brutality deliberated just three hours.
The jurors' recommendation was binding on U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge, who thanked them, dismissed them and then sentenced Joseph Edward Duncan III.
Relatives of the victim, Dylan Groene, remained somber as the jury's decision was announced. Duncan murdered Dylan's mother, older brother and his mother's fiance to kidnap him and his younger sister, who was sexually abused along with her brother but survived.
"The jury speaks the mind of the community," U.S. Attorney Tom Moss said. "By the verdict today, they have given voice to the victims."
Duncan showed no reaction other than smiling as the verdict was passed to the judge.
He took Dylan and the boy's then-8-year-old sister, Shasta, to a remote western Montana campsite where he raped, tortured and threatened them before shooting Dylan in the head and burning his body. Jurors viewed horrifying video Duncan made of him sexually abusing, torturing and hanging Dylan until the boy lost consciousness.
"This defendant is dangerous. He is a predator who takes pride in his work," prosecutor Traci Whelan said. "He earned this day. His actions ... call out for the death penalty."
Duncan acted as his own attorney but had offered no response to prosecutors' closing argument.
"I have no argument," he told the court.
With an eye toward kidnapping the two children, Duncan stalked their family. In 2005 he entered their Coeur d'Alene-area home and used a hammer to fatally bludgeon their 13-year-old brother, Slade Groene, his mother, Brenda Groene, and her fiance, Mark McKenzie.
Duncan was arrested and Shasta rescued weeks after the kidnappings when a waitress at a Denny's in Coeur d'Alene called police after recognizing the two as they ate.
Duncan pleaded guilty in December to 10 federal charges involving the kidnappings and the murder of Dylan. He pleaded guilty to the other three murders in state court, where he also could be sentenced to death.
"I am so glad this is over. Justice has been served," said Darlene Torres, Brenda Groene's mother. "It's been very painful."
She said that when she saw Duncan in court, "I seen nothing but an evil, empty, coldhearted shell."
In closing arguments, Whelan reminded the jury of Duncan's lifelong "pattern of violence," including a conviction for raping a boy at gunpoint in 1980. Duncan has told investigators he killed two half-sisters from Seattle in 1996, and he is charged with killing a young boy in Riverside County, California, in 1997.
Duncan may now be brought to Riverside County to stand trial in the death of Anthony Martinez.
Whelan told the jury that Duncan would pose a risk even to prison guards and fellow inmates.
"This defendant uses the time that he has to think out these plans and he is dangerous," she said. "He is adaptable and he is dangerous."
The heinousness of the evidence in Dylan's murder made it particularly difficult for the jurors to remain impartial as they deliberate, said Art Patterson, a jury consultant and senior vice president of the trial consulting firm DecisionQuest.
"Generally, for human beings, it's pretty hard to maintain impartiality when confronted with such horror," Patterson said.
"How could any juror not want to see this person removed from our list of living human beings? How could you live with yourself as a juror if there's any chance this human being could escape from jail and do something like this again?" Patterson said.
Aug 28, 2008 | 6:44 AM
Category:
News
Well, I found out some news yesterday after work, that just shocked the crappers out of me!
I live inbetween the White Rock Shopping Center (Casa Linda) and Lockwood Shopping Center. Well, we usually know when something is going on because you hear the police helicopter flying over us or hear all the sirens when there is a chase or accident.
Well, we went to eat at a small restraunt yesterday after work and the owner was telling us that the Carnival on Jupiter and Garland Rd. had been robbed at around 10:00 a.m.. Not only that, right before these hoodlum/theives robbed Carnival, they robbed the Dollar General in the Lockwood Shopping Center across the street.
To his knowledge, they did not and have not caught the robber/theives/hoods.
My thing is, that there have been so many robbies...big ones like these, in our neighborhoods and we only hear of them by word of mouth. We never hear about them on the news or paper.
I, myself, was robbed/beaten, by a couple of men a few years ago while going to my car from the Dollar Store where they opened up the mexican bazaar on Garland and Centerville. But, the police said, unless I could identify the persons, there was nothing they could do about it. I didn't even get a police report number. Even with the busted mouth, black-eye and bump on the head that they gave me. Even though, my jewelry was taken.
The man who killed and burned his girlfriend in a car, I believe last year, was found living under the White Rock Bridge at the lake. Now how close to home is that for some of us?
How are we to know what areas are safe or not if we don't know what is going on and that it is right in our neighborhoods?
No crime watch, neighbors that watchout for eachother, etc...
What are we coming to?
Aug 27, 2008 | 12:25 PM
Category:
News
This is possibly the first lawsuit won for lack of proper medical attention and the possibilty of many more to come.
***********************
Dallas County Loses Million Dollar Jail Lawsuit
A Dallas jury has awarded nearly $1 million to a man who suffered a stroke while in the Dallas County jail. Stanley Shepherd sued the county three years ago, saying he was denied basic health care while in the facility. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports.
The jury awarded Shepherd $900,000. His attorney, Don Tittle, says Shepherd is pleased with the outcome, but as a result of the stroke, is confined to a wheelchair and can only use the right side of his body.
Four years ago, Shepherd suffered a seizure in jail and was taken to the hospital. It took months to partially recover. Blood pressure medication had previously been ordered, but never given. Records were falsified to show otherwise. Tittle says this is the first time the jail's medical care as a whole is being blamed. He expects more claims will be made against the county.
Tittle: I think there were countless others during a significant period of time who received the lowest level of health care possible while incarcerated.
Tittle says Dallas County dodged a bullet because the verdict could've been pricier. A county spokesperson says an appeal is being considered and commissioners will be offered legal options next Tuesday. Bill Zeeble KERA news.
Aug 27, 2008 | 9:06 AM
Category:
News
First she says she fell on him not once, but twice. Now, she is changing her story. Or, atleast her attorney is.
He says it is impossible to her to have injured this child in anyway because she is "too fat". LMBO!!
What's next?
First she is too fat for jail, now she is too fat to have killed.
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Lawyer: Half-Ton Woman Too Fat to Kill Boy .
EDINBURG, Texas -- -- The attorney for a nearly half-ton woman says the 1,000 pounds she's carrying makes it impossible for her to have beaten her nephew to death as she's charged.
Mayra Rosales' defense attorney Sergio Valdez said his 27-year-old client lacks the movement in her arms to have killed the child, calling it an "impossibility."
Mayra Rosales was indicted last week in the March 18 death of 2-year-old Eliseo Gonzalez Jr., who prosecutors say was hit twice in the head while being watched by his aunt.
The boy's mother, Jamie Rosales, is charged with injury to a child for leaving her son in the care of his bedridden aunt.
She's sticking up for her sister.
An attorney for Jamie Rosales, Oscar Vega, said his client believes the death was possibly caused by the morbidly obese woman rolling onto the toddler.
A state district judge has agreed not to jail Mayra Rosales, provided she wears a global positioning system tracker until her trial.