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Willie Change My Mind? Nope!
NEW YORK — Willie Nelson says the Dixie Chicks “got a raw deal” from a disapproving public following their criticism of President Bush.

Oh puhleeze. The Dixie Chicks, who make money off of said public got what they deserved. If they want to take the risk of alienating their listening audience because of remarks they make, they have to understand there could be consequences, including people speaking out about their words of choice. And Willie, it doesn’t matter whether they are on stage in a foreign country or at the Grand Ole Opry in the U.S. of A. The venue doesn’t matter - it’s their message that the people were reacting to.

The trio caught harsh criticism after lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience in 2003 that the group was “ashamed” Bush was from their home state of Texas.

Nelson said he was surprised his remarks about Bush a year earlier during an overseas news conference didn’t incite a similar controversy.

“I said ‘He’s not from Texas and he ain’t a cowboy, so let’s stop trashin’ Texans and cowboys.’ It got a little chuckle, but I didn’t get run out of the country,” Nelson told the magazine.

Well, Willie. Context and presentation are everything. Perhaps you didn’t use the same level of hate and disgust many perceived were behind Natalie Maines’ statement…or maybe your sensationalism doesn’t have as much bite, given you’ve been somewhat eccentric for much of your entertainment career.

No worries….eventually no one will listen to the Dixie Chicks, either.

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Mark Your Calendars!

As I turn the calendar, I’m finding some very exciting days of commemoration and celebration for August!

August 5: Work Like a Dog Day (on a Saturday???)

August 6: National Fresh Breath Day (thank GOD!)

August 8: Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night

August 9: National Underwear Night (for those of you who *wear* underwear at night!)

August 10: National Duran Duran Appreciation Day (woo hoo! Er….um, okay.)

August 18: Bad Poetry Day (there once was a man from Nantucket….)

August 20: Vinegar Day (yippee!)

August 28: Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day (this is one day a year? I thought it was *every* day!)

August 31: Love Litigating Lawyers Day (wow…I guess even they need love)

As you can see, August is jam packed! Mark your calendars and don’t miss a MOMENT!

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Andrea Yates, Continued

I hope not to appear obsessed with this, but this piece crossed my eyes earlier today and I couldn’t comprehend what I was reading, this particular quote from the Boston Globe (emphasis mine):

Prosecutors agreed that Yates was sick but said she was sane enough to know killing the children was wrong.

“We are extremely disappointed with the verdict,” lead prosecutor Joe Owmby told reporters.

Yates was being tried for the murder of only three of her children, but Owmby said he would recommend to District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal that he not seek a trial for the other two.

Why is that? Why would they stop? What about the justice for the other children and/or the potential for them to seek a sentence that would put her in prison for life, versus the opportunity to walk free (even if it is years later)? What would prevent them from seeking this trial? In many cases they choose to divide up the charges, choosing to pursue only some with the idea that they could follow up with further trials as needed. Do the prosecutors believe her sentence is adequate or do they feel they have no hope in winning?

I have to let it go or it will consume me. I need to go hug my kids now.

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Andrea Yates (Not) Guilty by Reason of Insanity

***BEWARE…FOUL LANGUAGE IS LIKELY COMING***

I preface this post with that warning for good reason. The debacle also known as the retrial of Andrea Yates has just culimated into yet another ridiculous verdict. Where as in the first trial she was found guilty of murdering her innocent children by systematically chasing them down and drowning them one by one, she was retried and this time found “Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity.” It’s BULLSHIT. ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT. I hope the jury can live with their decision because it’s possible this damned waste of a human being could be released from inpatient mental health care when she’s “cured” or “treated” or “ready.” Ain’t that nice?

The 42-year-old will be committed to a state mental hospital, with periodic hearings before a judge to determine whether she should be released.

If convicted of murder, she would have faced life in prison.

Defense attorneys never disputed that Yates killed her five children — 6-month-old Mary, 2-year-old Luke, 3-year-old Paul, 5-year-old John and 7-year-old Noah — by drowning them in a bathtub of their suburban Houston home in June 2001. They based their case, however, on a claim that she suffered from severe postpartum psychosis and, in a delusional state, believed Satan was inside her and was trying to save them from hell.

Of course they never disputed it, because she’s completely GUILTY of murdering her five children. Can you imagine looking into the face of your child and making the decision to end their life…watching them struggle as you drown them heartlessly in the bathtub before you hunt down your next victim? Didn’t think so. But SHE DID. Sitting in a mental hospital breathing, reading, watching TV, sleeping, eating, living life with a hope to be free some day is NOT the right punishment for this monster. She honestly deserves no less than the death penalty. So she’s mentally ill. SO WHAT! There is nothing mentally “right” with any killer. You cannot tell me that Ted Bundy was sane. You cannot tell me that the BTK killer was sane. Or Jeffrey Dahmer. Or any killer. There is something broken inside of each and every one of them. NONE of them, including Andrea Yates should be given ANY opportunity to enter society again. EVER. To call this verdict “NOT” guilty is such bullshit. It’s like grading a student’s paper in purple so they feel better about themselves. At the very least call it GUILTY by reason of insanity if you have to call it anything at all. For me it’s simple and will save the trees and save ink when you just print GUILTY on the record.

Speaking of bullshit, Rusty Yates is as vile as his ex-wife is. He thinks this verdict was a “victory.” A few RustyYate-isms:

1. referred to his former wife as a “loving mother who just fell to this disease”

2. said the prosecution “just believed they had enough of the truth to proceed, they never made an effort to get the whole truth.”

3. “It really disappointed me that the state spent … probably a million-and-a-half dollars to get to really, what to me, was obvious from the beginning,” he added, referring to her former wife as “psychotic.”

4. said that in a mental institution she can have a “better quality of life for herself.”

5. said he and and his former wife often reminisce about their children. “Not very many people knew our children … they were our lives, they were important to us,” he said.

Where to begin?

1. How do you call a mother who maliciously murders her five children “loving?”

2. Yeah, and the truth was that Andrea Yates methodically murdered her five children violently.

3. If she would have plead guilty - which she was - that kind of money could have stayed with the state.

4. Fuck her quality of life. Who gives a shit about her quality of life? She obviously didn’t care about the lives of five innocent kids - her own at that.

5. Yeah, until she snuffed life from them. How about their lives, Rusty? Kind of hard for the joys of her life to have a good quality of life when they are buried in a wooden boxes six feet under the grass and flowers they should be enjoying every summer.

I think there’s something broken inside of Rusty Yates as well. I don’t think I’m alone in that thought.

…and *this* quote:

Resnick told jurors that Yates was in a delusional state and believed 6-month-old Mary, 2-year-old Luke, 3-year-old Paul, 5-year-old John and 7-year-old Noah would grow up to be criminals because she had ruined them.

So there it is. It’s all about her. Killing her kids to hide her “mistakes.” Pleading not guilty by reason of insanity because she was the *victim* in all of this. Folks, every day more and more people are pulling the victim card. This paves the way for yet another victim to say they murdered their kids because of this or that versus just taking the accountability and responsibility to say “yep…I did it. I killed ‘em. I don’t know what got over me, but I know murder brings the death penalty. I guess I got to step up and take my punishment.” This victim mentality is bringing society down a notch for sure.

It pisses me off that this case had to be retried because of erroneous testimony. I sure hope Dr. Park Dietz pauses and learns from this. I wonder what goes through his head when he thinks about what his erroneous testimony has caused.

What hope is there with this case? Well, they only convicted her for three of the murders. Perhaps she’ll get the justice that would best represent these vile crimes for the other two lives lost.

***************

Who else is writing about this? Check out their posts:

Tammy at A Mom and Her Blog
Raven at And Rightly So!

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Destiny Norton, Another Child Lost

Another innocent soul lost at the hands of a soulless monster:

SALT LAKE CITY – A missing 5-year-old Utah girl has been found dead.

Destiny Norton’s parents said she disappeared from her front porch July 16 after arguing with them about having to go to bed. Her body was found Monday night in the basement of a neighbor man’s home — about 150 feet behind the Norton’s home, according to Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank.

Burbank held a news conference Monday night and told reporters, “My condolences go out to the family.”

My heart goes out to this family and I hope that they will someday find peace. In the interim, I hope a jury finds justice for the man that did this.

Craig Roger Gregerson, 20, was arrested as he is suspected in little Destiny’s murder. He lived alone.

KSL-TV reported that detectives had previously gone door to door in the neighborhood in search of the missing child and that when they interviewed Gregerson inside his home, their police dogs did not pick up Destiny’s scent.

“I can’t understand how someone can do this to a child,” sobbed Destiny’s uncle, Peter Brooks, the Deseret News reported.

Mr. Brooks - most of us as human beings can’t understand it either.

With many volunteers, along with the police department searching for Destiny, some question how they didn’t find her sooner. I’m certain it will come out in investigations and reports, but I’m a firm believer that a criminal will do what they need to do in order to avoid getting caught…there’s likely an explaination about why she wasn’t found that first time. Unfortunately, these murderers can be very convincing and can hide evidence in an effort to avoid capture. Look at Ted Bundy and his charm. Look at the Green River Killer and his lengthy serial killings. Criminals like the BTK killer, Jeffrey Dahmer and others come to mind. But I can understand that family must be frustrated, especially in their grief. I imagine the task the police department and the volunteers faced was arduous at best, and I’m sure they are punishing themselves for not finding her sooner. My heart goes out to them as well.

Craig Roger Gregerson, if you indeed did this to little Destiny may you rot in hell - starting in your jail cell.

Update: Welcome Basil’s Blog readers!

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The ACLU and Fred Phelps, Part II

Earlier a commenter had a question about which judge would be hearing the case filed by the ACLU on behalf of Fred Phelps’ organization, a.k.a. “Westboro Baptist Church.” As I was scouring around the internets, a post stood out over at Blogcritics.org. The title blared “It’s Painful, But the ACLU Should Defend Fred Phelps.” So…I could help but menader over to see why this would be so important.

It’s the same old story over there. People are so up in arms about “Free Speech! Free Speech!” that they simply cannot see the forest for the trees. Verbatim from Blogcritics.org:

It is important to forget the plaintiff in this case and instead analyze the law being challenged. Although protesting at the funerals of innocent and good people is a repulsive use of free speech, I believe this right must be upheld. If the courts allow free speech rights to be taken away during funerals, where else will lawmakers find a constitutional right to block protests or rallies? If gay rights advocates want to protest outside Westboro Baptist Church or another anti-gay religious institution, will conservative lawmakers pass a ban on protesting outside houses of worship? The precedent is a scary one and I commend the ACLU for looking past the plaintiff to realize free speech needs to be defended.

Based on this logic, shouldn’t I have the free speech right to threaten the lives of other people, or yell “fire” in a theater full of people? Shouldn’t I should have the right to stand in a mosque yelling “who wants bacon?” or a synagogue praising the Holocaust? Bluto says it best:

I support the Constitutional right to freedom of expression, but anyone with any common sense knows that it is not an absolute right. For example, I do not have the right to exhort people to murder the members of the Westboro Baptist Church or the ACLU.

The laws passed in Missouri and Nebraska do not take the rights of freedom or of religious expression away from this group, but protects the right of peaceful assembly these families of fallen soldiers have to honor their loved ones. But the ACLU doesn’t think of that, do they? Instead they think it is much more important for this group to throw hateful statements out in the midst of a funeral all for the sake of “protecting free speech.”

But back to our friends at Blogcritics…

These protests can help conservatives understand the viciousness behind anti-gay spokespeople and may result in changed hearts and minds.

First of all, this isn’t about a gay or anti-gay issue and it CERTAINLY isn’t a conservative issue. This is about rights and freedoms. Nothing more. Secondly, this isn’t an opportunity to “educate” conservatives on anti-gay sentiments - what does that have to do with the issue at hand? Anyone, conservative or liberal should recognize the hate this organization has for not only gays and lesbians but for soldiers, cole miners and every day citizens who just happen to get killed. Their stance is that we are all being punished because the U.S. supports gays and lesbians. Again, nothing more.

A final word from Blogcritics…

Where my frustration lies is not with the ACLU, which is acting appropriately, but with the lawmakers sitting in Congress and state legislatures throughout the country. I do not agree with laws banning funeral protests, but I wonder why such legislation is being proposed at this time. Why is it that lawmakers feel Phelps has crossed a moral line by protesting at military funerals, ignoring the fact that he has demonstrated outside the funerals of gay hate crime victims for years? Are dead soldiers on one side of a moral line and gay hate crime victims on the other side? Why didn’t lawmakers who believe in this law stand up for gay and lesbian people who have faced years of Fred Phelps’ torture? There is a true political calculation in those supporting this flawed law banning the protests.

And a final word from Merri….

I disagree that the ACLU is acting appropriately. The appropriate solution would be - as Captain Ed so eloquently states -

Fred Phelps could get a lawyer on his own; the ACLU and its donors have no obligation to assist him in mocking the loss of family members at funerals. The ACLU has put itself on par with these soulless freaks, and their donors should take note that their money now supports the Phelps traveling hate show.

This is yet another publicity stunt by the ACLU, designed for more attention drawn by huge controversy (in other words, “business as usual”). I love this little gem from Blogcritics: “Why is it that lawmakers feel Phelps has crossed a moral line by protesting at military funerals, ignoring the fact that he has demonstrated outside the funerals of gay hate crime victims for years? There is a true political calculation in those supporting this flawed law banning the protests.” Why does the timing of the law matter, when the law is all inclusive and not selective? Look at the laws in Missouri and Nebraska - it doesn’t say “only military services.” So be happy that families of gay hate crime victims won’t have to endure this either! And quit trying to turn this into a political motive. Again, the only groups with an agenda here are Phelps and his team of freaks and the ACLU, standing behind them.

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The ACLU Publicity Machine Gets a Tune Up

The ACLU is up to their usual bullshit, this time filing a case on behalf of the religiopolitard Phelps and followers at the Westboro Baptist Church (ain’t the word “church” stretching it a bit?).

A Kansas church group that protests at military funerals across the nation filed suit in federal court on Friday.

The group claims a Missouri law banning such picketing infringes on religious freedom and free speech.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Jefferson City on behalf of the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church. Members of the church show up at soldiers’ funerals with anti-homosexual signs.

As you may recall, these freaks recently tried to interfere with the funeral services of fallen soldier Army Corporal Jeremy Jones. Luckily, many vets showed up and shielded Jones’ family and friends from being subjected to these whackos’ rhetoric.

Look, these people have the same freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression I have. No one is holding their tongues, no one is taking away their picket sign paper and markers. While the ACLU is so freaking worried about standing up for Phelps’ free speech, they lack any element of sheer respect and compassion for a fallen soldier who died to protect those very freedoms.

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Nebraska Blogger Bash Coming!

…and it won’t be just Vinnie and me!

Please email me for details at merrimusings AT msn DOT com if you are interested in joining us in Lincoln!

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Concealed Carry Passed by Omaha City Council

Hubby says I get to go shoppin’ ….and not only for a gun, but for a new Coach bag to put it in. Woot!

OMAHA, Neb. — The scramble to prepare for a new weapons law in Omaha has started at area businesses.

The Omaha City Council passed an ordinance on Tuesday that will allow people to legally carry concealed guns when a new state law takes effect on Jan. 1. There are exceptions, including places where the business owner or the person in charge of the property decides to ban weapons.

Mayor Mike Fahey has said he will veto the ordinance, but with a 5-2 vote out of the council, there are enough votes to override a veto.

Nyah, nyah, nyah Fahey. Of course you don’t understand. I’ll bet you never got followed off the interstate when you were coming home from work at 2am, huh?

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I Must Be “Spreading a Doctrine of Hate”

This comes by way of Traderrob at Jawa.

Apparently the Indian government feels that Merri Musings (albeit my old url that’s no longer in service at http://www.merrimusings.typepad.com) is worthy of being censored so the people in India are not subjected to the content of my blog.

Officials in the Ministry of Information Technology cite a July 14, 2003 gazette notification that gives the government rights to restrict access to the Internet.

The notification lists five parameters that can allow blocking of websites, which include threats to sovereignty, security of the country, friendly relations with another nation, public order or to prevent a cognizable offense.

I feel very priviledged to (kinda) be in the company of a number of outstanding blogs on the list, The Jawa Report being one of them. I do think it’s guilt by association since that crazy hubby of mine is a contributor at Jawa Editor in Chief of The Jawa Report (heheheh). Well, maybe it’s all the posts I do on Rachael Ray…it’s just gotta be! ;-)

In all honesty I find it quite humerous, and the article is quite interesting. You can find it here.

The Merri Musings typepad site is defunct, following a transition to this site (and after a very ridiculous battle with Typepad to remove the thugs who decided to use my old URL as a pr0n site). But those of you in India who want to read about Rachael Ray, get a few recipes, read about pedophiles and child molesters (oh, and the occasional political rant)…stop over here…it seems you are still welcome to be here courtesy of your government. :-)

UPDATE: Yanno, sometimes it sucks having to go to work…I missed out on so much!

Let me break it down for you: The penny Beth threw in the fountain made her wish come true - she made the “banned” list! She also notes that Malkin has word that the silly little ban may be lifted in a few days. Malkin also posted what is allegedly a document requesting the ban. You can see it here.

Rusty has a great post on the Indian government’s decision to ban our sites. It appears to be related to some posts we did last year about the rioting following a reported incident involving the alleged flushing of the Koran. Read Rusty’s post - it’s awesome!

Teach also got the ban treatment and boasts about it over at his cove. What great company to be in! Now, since they listed my OLD URL, I don’t get the hits from the WSJ, so I will live vicariously through those that do! :D

…and to think this may have been all about Rachael Ray. Rachael, I guess you are off the hook!

I hunted down my Koran post here, if you want to take a peek.

UPDATE REDUX: I love my hubby.

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*This* is Why Pedophiles Need Tougher Sentences

This case makes me sick to my stomach and pisses me off all at the same time.

OMAHA, Neb. — The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a child pornography case.

Investigators confiscated numerous items, including computers, from a Sarpy County home, NewsWatch 7 has learned.

Police said they will be serving an arrest warrant issued for James L. Miller. Miller faces 100 counts of possession of sexually explicit conduct. Police said most of the victims seen in the photos removed from Miller’s home are boys.

Okay. So this sick freak is in posession of enough sexually explicit material involving boys that they can charge him with 100 counts. If he’s convicted, guess what the sentence is?

The charges can mean a five-year prison sentence and fine of $10,000.

Shoot. Many crimes that are less harmful carry stiffer penalties than that. And this guy is a midgets football coach. I’ll bet he *never* thought of doing anything to those boys he coached.

But WTF about this?

Investigators said they know where Miller is, but have not yet arrested him because he is “indisposed,” but they would elaborate on where Miller is.

GET THIS GUY OFF THE STREETS, PLEASE! One wonders what he is doing when he is “indisposed.”

He was supposed to be coaching the Beef’s playoff game, but officials said a family member had told the Beef that Miller was having personal problems and would not be at the game.

Really? Personal problems? Um, unlike the ACLU (ahem…can you say NAMbLA?) I think being a pedophile is most definitely a personal problem.

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Coming Soon: Rachael Ray Photo Album

For my Rachael Ray fans….I’m in the process of putting together a photo album of Rachael Ray and John Cusimano photos. If you have any that you would like included, please drop me an email at merrimusings *at* msn *dot* com. My hope is that it will be a one stop spot for those of you actively looking for pictures of her (and her hubby, and Isaboo, etc.).

COMING SOON!

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Rachael Ray Updates

Rachael Ray is featured in the August 2006 issue of “Good Housekeeping” and is even pictured on the cover. The article is titled “Rachael Ray’s Recipie for Joy.” You can find a teaser of the article here. Here’s an exerpt:

The unpretentious Rachael Ray might not seem like a top-rated television host who draws more than 18 million viewers a week. But with four programs on regular rotation at the Food Network and 14 best-selling cookbooks, she has become a force to be reckoned with. It’s an understatement to say cooking is her life: Even after a long day of cooking in front of cameras, Ray unwinds by preparing meals for her husband, John Cusimano. In fact, she knew he was The One after he requested this carbonara dish for his birthday dinner.

“I knew my boyfriend was the man to marry when I asked him what he would like for his birthday dinner,” Rachael Ray writes in her cookbook Cooking ‘Round the Clock. “I offered up lobster, steak, fine foods of all nationalities, to which he replied: ‘Can I just have some of your carbonara?’ Whoa! I was right about him….

“Carbonara is bacon-and-egg pasta, a true classic from Italian cuisine. This is the food of the people! I never order it out because everyone messes with it: They add cream, mushrooms, ham — all kinds of stuff that simply doesn’t belong. Yes, I acknowledge that this dish is heavy and bad for you, especially when eaten in copious amounts. But eating this out of the pan or one large bowl with two forks is extra-sexy. Usually, this recipe makes six servings, but late at night, when no one can see us, my husband, John, and I eat as much as we want!”

Carbonara

Ingredients:

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound pasta, such as spaghetti or rigatoni
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (enough to coat bottom of pan)
1/4 pound pancetta (Italian bacon), chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 large egg yolks
Freshly grated Romano cheese
Handful of finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Directions:

1. Put a large saucepot of water on to boil. Add a liberal amount of salt and the pasta. Cook to al dente, about 8 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and pancetta. Brown pancetta 2 minutes. Add red pepper flakes and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Add wine and stir up all the pan drippings.

3. In a separate bowl, beat yolks, then add 1 large ladleful (about 1/2 cup) of the pasta cooking water. This tempers the eggs and keeps them from scrambling when added to the pasta.

4. Drain pasta well and add it directly to the skillet with pancetta and oil. Pour the egg mixture over the pasta. Toss rapidly to coat the pasta without cooking the egg. Remove pan from heat and add a big handful of cheese, lots of pepper, and a little salt. Continue to toss and turn the pasta until it soaks up egg mixture and thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Garnish with parsley and extra grated Romano.

There’s another great Rachael Ray article out at People.com.

TV chef Rachael Ray has a lot on her plate – but worrying about her weight isn’t one of them.

The Food Network host, best-selling cookbook author and lifestyle-magazine editor – who is about to launch her own daytime talk show – says, “I don’t care about any fashion enough to give up food.”

Asked how she manages her weight, “I don’t,” she said at the Television Critics Association’s summer meeting, reports the Associated Press. “I buy jeans with stretch. Everything I have has stretch in it. I haven’t known my weight since I was 12-years-old. I have enough pressure.”

It’s easy to see how she has an ever-growing fan base. She seems like “real people” to me - down to earth and not wanting to get too far from reality. Honestly, who has time to be Martha Stewart? If you aren’t out refinishing that table from 1812, you are drying your pine cones or making your own plates for the 12 course dinner you are serving 30 tonight. I like Rachael Ray because she gets things done in 30 minutes or less, she is no-nonsense, and a bit crazy. Some people can’t stand her loud, gabby, arm-flinging antics on her show. I personally think it is part of her appeal (hint: maybe because I’m a bit like that in person?). It hasn’t hurt her pocketbook, either!

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Introducing Alton Brown’s “Feasting on Asphalt”

As I have been watching my Tivo’d “30 Minute Meals” with Rachael Ray, commercials for Alton Brown’s new show “Feasting on Asphalt” have appeared. Even my kids like his show “Good Eats” because, well, he’s kind of crazy. It appears that on “Feasting on Asphalt” he’ll be just as crazy, but won’t be clean-shaven, will ride a motorcycle and will make his way around parts of the country’s backroads, diners and even VFWs and churches. Here’s some Q&A regarding the show:

What is Feasting on Asphalt?
Alton Brown’s cross-country search for the nation’s best road food.

Where is Alton Brown going?
Georgia, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California and more.

How is he going to get there?
On a motorcycle. “Why a motorcycle? As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better way to experience the road than from the back of a bike. Being exposed to the elements presents thrills and challenges alike, most of which can’t be captured in a ‘cage’ (that’s what motorcycle people call cars),” says Alton.

What will Alton eat?Every kind of road food available–from foraging in the forest (grubs are great protein) to camp cooking (think Lewis and Clark) to diners, truck stops and even the corporate fast food chains. Alton also intends to eat (and cook) in nifty regional joints, churches, community centers, VFW halls, RV parks and the homes of folks nice enough to offer a weary traveler a meal.

You can read more about the show here. There’s some video, great photos and a newsletter you can sign up for. I’ll definitely check out his show. After all, I bought his Sodium Chloride Containment Unit, didn’t I? Oh, and if you don’t know what this is, shoot me an email or drop a comment…always fun to see who is Alton-savvy!

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And I Quote: “Small Sex Offender Listed As Big Risk”

Most of you remember the story of the notorious 5′1″ sex offender, Richard Thompson, and his favorite fan and judge Kristine Cecava. If you need a refresher, you can stop over here. The “Cliff’s Notes” version: Judge Cecava felt sorry for shorty, who happens to be a pedophile (sex offender, child molester, etc.) and chose to give him PROBATION because he might be picked on in the prison yard for being a little guy. The story made national news and put my state of Nebraska on the map…nice, huh? Anyway, the sentence is being appealed by Attorney General Jon Bruning. ..and now, an update.

The title of this post was a very fitting headline over at KETV for good reason. The State Patrol has classified Thompson as a Class Three offender, which has the highest risk to reoffend.

As a Class Three offender, Thompson’s name, address and photo are posted on the State Patrol’s public registry and he must notify the state, through the local sheriff, of any change of address and other information.

Attorney General Jon Bruning’s office has filed an appeal of Thompson’s probation sentence.

The judge’s decision not to imprison Thompson brought local and national criticism.

C’mon judicial system. Do the right thing here. Keep this predator off the street away from kids.

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