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Cheryl's Spot
Jul. 4th, 2007
09:31 am - 4TH of July
I don't know when so many people stopped calling it Independence Day and started calling it the 4th of July holiday. I'm not even sure people know what we are celebrating on this day. Yesterday I asked five people at work if they knew what the 4th of July was and two of them had no idea. When I returned home from work and I asked my son if he knew what holiday tomorrow was, to my relief he said "Independence Day." I had to smile, and then I had to smile to myself again when he added "Mom, you told me what this day means a long time ago."
Until 1776 a tyrant was the ruler of the people. In Congress, July 4, 1776 the unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America signed the Declaration of Independence. It was then that these thirteen colonies became free and independent states, absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown and all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain.
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
Two hundred thirty-one years ago, 56 brave men signed their names to a bold creed of freedom that set the course of our Nation and changed the history of the world. On this anniversary, we should remember the great courage and conviction of our Founders, and celebrate the enduring principles of our Declaration of Independence.
Of course it is a day for celebration, friendly picnics, and firework displays. Although I feel you should know why you are celebrating. Yes, I did explain to the two people at work why we are celebrating Independence Day. Why did I take the time to tell them? Does it really matter?
Let me tell you a story....
A little girl was on the beach and a big wave pushed up many starfish to the shore. They laid there in the sun dying. The little girl picked up one and threw it back in the water. A man watching told her to leave them, since there is so many one didn't really matter. The girl then picked up another starfish and threw it back into the water and then told the man "It mattered to that one." The man smiled and got up and started throwing starfish back into the water with the little girl. Soon everyone on the beach was throwing the starfish back into the water. Sometimes it only takes one person to make it matter.
It matters to me that two people more in this world now know why we celebrate Independence Day. And who knows maybe they will tell two more people.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Apr. 17th, 2007
09:34 pm - Sadness touches even the happiest hearts
To love one another, to encourage each other to strive for our goals, and to work together toward making this world a better place. When something like this happens, when what is right goes all wrong, it makes no sense to me. I will never understand how one person can set out to hurt so many. I didn't know anyone that lost their life that day, yet this tragedy has left me with a sad heart.
He was depressed.
He was troubled.
He just snapped.
He needed help.
Why? Why? Why?
Why did he do this?
We try to grasp onto reasons for his actions, we try to understand...
We should be asking "Who excused people from helping him?"
Apr. 8th, 2007
09:12 am - Easter Sunday
Although it is a gloomy Easter Sunday I think it should be a day to bring you something good instead of something that ticks me off. *wink*
Health care has been a major issue in Michigan over the past few years. Personally my out of pocket charges for health care has dropped from full coverage by my employer to 70% coverage. I now pay 30% of my own health care coverage out of my yearly earnings. By being required to pay a percentage for insurance I have taken a 30% yearly pay cut on a wage that was already hard to live on in today's world. I think it is only fair that government employees (whom we the people pay their salary) also feel the weight of the raising costs in health care. The introduction of this plan does just that.
Bills introduced Thursday would end the lucrative coverage for new lawmakers elected in 2008 and beyond. Current legislators, including those who took office in January, could continue qualifying for health care at age 55 after serving six years.
Plan Would End Lifetime Health Care
"Lawmakers must lead by example and start with our own house," said Rep. Robert Dean, a Democrat from Grand Rapids and sponsor of the bill to end retiree health coverage for future lawmakers. "There is no other profession where six years of service grants you a lifetime of free health care."
That's crazy!
They currently don't pay an annual deductible unless they see doctors outside their preferred provider organization's (PPO) network. Legislators earn $79,650 a year.
I urge people to get involved in pushing this change forward. Personally I would like to see a reduction in the health insurance benefits that government officials are receiving to this day. I understand this will not solve the health care crisis we are facing, but I also feel that a step in the right direction is a step towards a solution.
Mar. 31st, 2007
05:01 pm - Death Penalty, Justice?
A high profile murder conviction = promotion. In my opinion, false evidence, conveniently lost evidence, withholding evidence, and lack of improper investigation happens to often. Since 1973, more than 115 people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to evidence of their wrongful convictions.
HALT When corruption is reported, punishment is almost non-existant.
Although I would love to see the end to death penalty, I doubt it will ever be abolished completely. However, a temporary suspension of executions while a legislative study commission examines our death penalty system would be a giant step in the right direction. Since 1973, more than 115 people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to evidence of their wrongful convictions.
In 2003 four men were pardoned after it was found that they had been tortured by police into making false confessions by outgoing Governor George Ryan, he also commuted the remaining 167 death sentences in Illinois to life imprisonment. Ryan had halted all executions in the state nearly three years earlier after courts found that 13 Illinois death row inmates had been wrongly convicted.
"Because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious - and therefore immoral - I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death"
~ (ex) Governor George Ryan
- Factors leading to wrongful convictions include
- Inadequate legal representation
- Police and prosecutorial misconduct
- Perjured testimony and mistaken eyewitness testimony
- Racial prejudice
- Jailhouse “snitch” testimony
- Suppression and/or misinterpretation of mitigating evidence
- Community/political pressure to solve a case
lazyNov. 19th, 2006
10:19 am - Human Trafficking
It was very intense and sad. I think what blew me away the most is that it's a true story. It is happening in the United States, it is happening in Canada, it is happening all over the world...........today. No region is immune to human trafficking.
People for sale, people stolen!
The traffic in human beings is flourishing. The global business involving “human goods” has
now reached dimensions comparable to those of the illicit trades in drugs and weapons.
There are two main reasons why this business is thriving: on the one hand, the harsh living
conditions, mostly characterized by poverty, unemployment and a lack of perspectives in the
countries of origin. On the other hand, the demand that exists in the rich countries. It is in their shadow economies that the victims are exploited: as cheap laborers and
as prostitutes in the sex industry, through forced marriage and illegal adoption or for the removal of organs for transplantation. Human rights standards are broadly violated.
An estimated 14,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year, although again because trafficking is illegal, accurate statistics are difficult.
In 2004, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) estimated that 600-800 persons are trafficked into Canada annually and that additional 1,500-2,200 persons are trafficked through Canada into the United States.
Imagine the numbers in third world countries. Parents selling their children to settle debts or because the income is needed to survive. The amount of people stolen and forced to do things beyond their will is outstanding and thriving in today's world.
Personally I feel the penalties for trafficking are insufficient. In the US it is often a reduced to alien harboring. The maximum statutory penalty for alien harboring conspiracy is ten years imprisonment. The US needs to stop letting the people guilty of human trafficking plea out to lower charges. I don't see how brothel owners exploiting underage girls can be considered as harboring aliens.
Trafficking Task Force
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced Tuesday the creation of a human trafficking task force in western New York. Nationally, 32 such task forces already exist.
Human loss of all liberties is not acceptable.
Oct. 27th, 2006
07:56 am - Friends...
A true friend will be sitting next to you saying, 'Damn, we really screwed up'
With high tech cell phones and programmed phone books most people today do not even know one phone number to heart. I know only 2 numbers to heart, my parents (same phone number since I was a kid) and my best friend.
Actually I look at it like this...
You only need to know one number, the number of the person you can call anytime day or night and they will arrive to pick your stupid ass up...
with no questions asked, no judgement passed.
Sep. 10th, 2006
07:01 am - Random things...
I hate laundry. It seems like .25% of my life is laundry. I guess I should go put the wet clothes in the dryer now.
Fall is upon us here, some of the leaves on the trees are changing colors and falling off. The cool nights are a blessing although they make me not want to get out of my warm bed in the morning.
I can't catch a war on CyberNations for the life of me even though the range to hit has opened up. I could really use some free tech and land. I just sit idle, buying more infra each day. HEY, I did buy another factory today.
Coronation street is even boring this morning. No mad drama = boring.
If you're bored join The Ardent Veritate The Roman Empire is not dead!
I guess I will go shopping.........YAY NEW SHOES!
Sep. 4th, 2006
07:37 am - Happy Labor Day Everyone!
My brother, David, took 7th place in the Enduro 250 car race yesterday. It was actually a pretty intense race with many crashes. David managed to avoid them all. I must admit he was doing some pretty spiffy driving yesterday!
Shipwreck found near San Jose island
I think shipwrecks are intriguing. I wish I would of became a marine archaeologist.
calmAug. 28th, 2006
Aug. 20th, 2006
10:22 am - MIA
I am also busy fighting a world war in CyberNations, where I got my ass kicked and spent weeks trying to recover. What could I expect one against four, the odds were not in my favor. I am now a war veteran. Then once my strength was back up to par I got involved with another war for a few days. Stole some land and technology and just when me and two others were going to put this scumbag into anarchy they call off the war.
Now I am sick with a head cold. I hate when my head feels like a hundred pounds. I am making today a do nothing day! Right now I am kicked back in bed against a few pillows in front of the television watching Juwanna Mann and playing around on the computer. I have my laptop sitting on a bed tray across my lap so I am all hooked up. Life doesn't get much better than this.
Here are a few random things I have ran across this morning:
I don't think this Karr dude killed JonBenet Ramsey. What do you think?
Way to go America, now we are recruiting Grandma's.
The Government fulfills few Katrina Promises.
The sad part of the Grandma recruit and the Katrina situation is that it doesn't even surprise me, I actually expect these things. The world we live in is going to hell minute by minute. Your macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie and a Popsicles are not even safe in the world we live in.
I think I've gone totally Katherine Harris CrAzY. Maybe my expectations of others is set too high. This week two people I thought I knew did things I never thought they would do.
Sometimes I moonlight for a guy named Ranger who's extremely bad in an incredibly good way. He's a security expert, and a bounty hunter, and he moves like smoke. Ranger is milk chocolate on the outside ...a delicious, tempting, forbidden pleasure. (Twelve Sharp)
It will be another 10 months before I can get another Ranger fix, where is the fairness in that?
The town folk in Grovers Corners think I am a werewolf! Seems my charater (ParrrrTay) will be dead soon, but the question still stands...
Am I really one of the werewolves?
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