Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Justice Served.
Some say the justice system failed in the Casey Anthony saga.
Those "believers" who say she was guilty as sin (and I think she was) say the ultimate justice will be carried out by God and not the Orange County, Florida, judicial system.
They're right about that. But in the words of that great theologian Billy Mays, "Wait...there's more!"
The same God who will judge Casey Anthony will judge the rest of us as well.
Now that should bring comfort to those who are quick to judge and slow to think. It may not seem fair now that someone apparently "got away with it", but isn't that what we do every day?
I may not be a murderer, etc. But I promise you I'm guilty enough on my own without any help from anybody else.
And so are you.
So...lest we become overly self-righteous (too late) let's keep some perspective here.
You may not agree with me on any of this, and that's okay. As I've said numerous times before, you're entitled to be as wrong as you choose to be.
Those "believers" who say she was guilty as sin (and I think she was) say the ultimate justice will be carried out by God and not the Orange County, Florida, judicial system.
They're right about that. But in the words of that great theologian Billy Mays, "Wait...there's more!"
The same God who will judge Casey Anthony will judge the rest of us as well.
Now that should bring comfort to those who are quick to judge and slow to think. It may not seem fair now that someone apparently "got away with it", but isn't that what we do every day?
I may not be a murderer, etc. But I promise you I'm guilty enough on my own without any help from anybody else.
And so are you.
So...lest we become overly self-righteous (too late) let's keep some perspective here.
You may not agree with me on any of this, and that's okay. As I've said numerous times before, you're entitled to be as wrong as you choose to be.
Monday, June 20, 2011
$15 = $25 = $1100.
Last Tuesday I had the good fortune to be seated in the Superior Court of Lumpkin County along with my oldest son, who had been stopped months ago for not wearing his seat belt.
He was guilty, and ready to pay the $15 fine.
Apparently he didn't have his Driver's License in his possession, which added $10 to the total which was now $25.
Lawyers got involved at that point, and, as they say, the rest is history.
Rather than accepting the $25, our District Attorney decided to make an example out of John and things ratcheted up to the point where John had to drive up from South Florida to make an appearance at his arraignment last Tuesday.
He:
--took two days off from work
--rented a car to drive up here ($250 plus gas)
--paid his lawyer over $800 to go with him, and
--spent four and a half hours sitting in court waiting to resolve the issues
I went with him for moral support. I thought my head would explode.
The DA (which can represent more than just "District Attorney") was obviously already way ahead of the game. I'm not sure which office he's running for, but he's campaigning for something.
I will not vote for him, even it's just for dogcatcher.
Again, John was guilty, said so, and was willing to resolve all of this before he moved back to Florida. The DA wouldn't hear of it.
Our Justice system hard at work.
His was the second case called, at 9:08am. It was postponed until "later" in the docket.
At 12:32pm, the judge lit into the DA with full force, questioning why
--John had to drive up from Florida for a $25 ticket
--why the case was in Superior Court, when it was a Probate Court issue
--why there were no court costs involved, and
--basically, why were we all there
The DA had no answer. John went downstairs, paid the fine, ate lunch with his family, and went back to Florida.
There are rapists, murderers, drug dealers, assaults, etc. which all have to come before the Superior Court of Lumpkin County, Georgia.
And then, there's John Berry, threat to society, fugitive, and lawbreaker.
Justice is expensive.
He was guilty, and ready to pay the $15 fine.
Apparently he didn't have his Driver's License in his possession, which added $10 to the total which was now $25.
Lawyers got involved at that point, and, as they say, the rest is history.
Rather than accepting the $25, our District Attorney decided to make an example out of John and things ratcheted up to the point where John had to drive up from South Florida to make an appearance at his arraignment last Tuesday.
He:
--took two days off from work
--rented a car to drive up here ($250 plus gas)
--paid his lawyer over $800 to go with him, and
--spent four and a half hours sitting in court waiting to resolve the issues
I went with him for moral support. I thought my head would explode.
The DA (which can represent more than just "District Attorney") was obviously already way ahead of the game. I'm not sure which office he's running for, but he's campaigning for something.
I will not vote for him, even it's just for dogcatcher.
Again, John was guilty, said so, and was willing to resolve all of this before he moved back to Florida. The DA wouldn't hear of it.
Our Justice system hard at work.
His was the second case called, at 9:08am. It was postponed until "later" in the docket.
At 12:32pm, the judge lit into the DA with full force, questioning why
--John had to drive up from Florida for a $25 ticket
--why the case was in Superior Court, when it was a Probate Court issue
--why there were no court costs involved, and
--basically, why were we all there
The DA had no answer. John went downstairs, paid the fine, ate lunch with his family, and went back to Florida.
There are rapists, murderers, drug dealers, assaults, etc. which all have to come before the Superior Court of Lumpkin County, Georgia.
And then, there's John Berry, threat to society, fugitive, and lawbreaker.
Justice is expensive.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Put Down That Cellphone, You Idiot.
It was only a matter of time.
Everything I've known and loved either causes cancer or tries to kill me. Dairy Queen, cigars, alcohol, you name it, it maims and destroys.
Now, to top it all off, it appears that cellphones cause cancer.
But wait. Maybe, maybe not.
Seems an "international panel of experts" (as opposed to your Mama, the real expert) decided that there are "possible" human-harming carcinogens in the "electromagnetic radiation" found in cellphones.
WHATTTT? There's radiation in my Crackberry? Who'da thunk it?
I have some issues with this report.
A--these folks met in France. That's right--nation of wimps and wine.
2--it took them a week to decide on the report. No telling how many people contracted phone cancer in that time period. I feel a lawsuit coming on.
D--the test group may be flawed. The testing began with a survey of people who already had cancer and asked them how often they used their cellphones. Ten years ago.
These experts are part of the World Health Organization. WHO? That's right.
In 2007 the USA contributed over $101 million dollars to these bozos. And we get a French report about a ten-year-old test on sick people who used cellphones.
I want my money back.
Everything I've known and loved either causes cancer or tries to kill me. Dairy Queen, cigars, alcohol, you name it, it maims and destroys.
Now, to top it all off, it appears that cellphones cause cancer.
But wait. Maybe, maybe not.
Seems an "international panel of experts" (as opposed to your Mama, the real expert) decided that there are "possible" human-harming carcinogens in the "electromagnetic radiation" found in cellphones.
WHATTTT? There's radiation in my Crackberry? Who'da thunk it?
I have some issues with this report.
A--these folks met in France. That's right--nation of wimps and wine.
2--it took them a week to decide on the report. No telling how many people contracted phone cancer in that time period. I feel a lawsuit coming on.
D--the test group may be flawed. The testing began with a survey of people who already had cancer and asked them how often they used their cellphones. Ten years ago.
These experts are part of the World Health Organization. WHO? That's right.
In 2007 the USA contributed over $101 million dollars to these bozos. And we get a French report about a ten-year-old test on sick people who used cellphones.
I want my money back.
Friday, May 27, 2011
It's Been A Long Time, Baby...*
*Elvis Presley, during the 1968 "Comeback" special.
Oh, the placesyou'll go I've been since the last time I wrote.
I attended the Wedding Of The Century. No, not that one. My son John married the beautiful Amanda in Melbourne Beach, Florida. We've decided that if he blows it we're keeping her. On a side note, if you happen to stay at the Radisson Beachfront in Melbourne Beach do not deal with Andy at the front desk. And make sure your air conditioning is working before you check in. Wisdom from experience.
We survived two rounds of tornado weather. I know this will sound callous, but once you've been through a Florida hurricane--or eleven of them--tornadoes just don't seem like that big a deal. But they are.
We've apparently gone full circle in church-hunting, presently attending Dahlonega Baptist Church, where a friend/classmate of the Queen is pastor. I can't believe it, and neither can I.
I'm more convinced by the day that life imitates the car business. When gas hit the $4-a-gallon mark folks scurried to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles, which our dealership had plenty of at the time. These same folks got irate when we wouldn't sell them these same vehicles at invoice, thereby essentially losing money. We really are crooks, us car people.
Speaking of gas prices, somebody asked the other day why stations were charging so much. I told 'em it was because they could. And get away with it. Of course, in Georgia, when fuel prices hit a certain level a tax is levied (included in the price per gallon) which never goes away, no matter if prices go down. Like Daddy used to say, I wished they'da kissed me first.
I think that's about it for bringing y'all up to date. But I'm sure there's more just ahead.
Oh, the places
I attended the Wedding Of The Century. No, not that one. My son John married the beautiful Amanda in Melbourne Beach, Florida. We've decided that if he blows it we're keeping her. On a side note, if you happen to stay at the Radisson Beachfront in Melbourne Beach do not deal with Andy at the front desk. And make sure your air conditioning is working before you check in. Wisdom from experience.
We survived two rounds of tornado weather. I know this will sound callous, but once you've been through a Florida hurricane--or eleven of them--tornadoes just don't seem like that big a deal. But they are.
We've apparently gone full circle in church-hunting, presently attending Dahlonega Baptist Church, where a friend/classmate of the Queen is pastor. I can't believe it, and neither can I.
I'm more convinced by the day that life imitates the car business. When gas hit the $4-a-gallon mark folks scurried to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles, which our dealership had plenty of at the time. These same folks got irate when we wouldn't sell them these same vehicles at invoice, thereby essentially losing money. We really are crooks, us car people.
Speaking of gas prices, somebody asked the other day why stations were charging so much. I told 'em it was because they could. And get away with it. Of course, in Georgia, when fuel prices hit a certain level a tax is levied (included in the price per gallon) which never goes away, no matter if prices go down. Like Daddy used to say, I wished they'da kissed me first.
I think that's about it for bringing y'all up to date. But I'm sure there's more just ahead.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Real News.
I was fortunate enough during my college years to have Billy Watson, then editor of the Macon Telegraph, as one of my professors. I took a 7am class on newspaper writing from him.
I'll never forget the day he brought in a book entitled All The News Not Fit To Print. It contained a compilation of "news" articles published over the years by various periodicals which weren't exactly...news.
Well, Billy, I think I found another one.
Forget the Japan earthquake and the tsunami. Bypass the economy and the uprisings in the Middle East. This is Real. News.
Apparently, in the middle Georgia town of Forsyth, an entire section of I-75 was shut down earlier this week. By the Wienermobile.
It was the wurst that could happen, but, on a slow news day this particular reporter must have exclaimed, "Hot Dog!"
Frankly I was surprised that Oscar Meyer (whose bologna has a first AND last name) wasn't in the vehicle at the time.
But I also have it on good authority that Oscar's really a big brat.
Anyway, don't miss the picture of one of Monroe County's finest pulling over the Wienermobile.
The driver was cited for impeding the flow of traffic, escorted to the dog pound, and the vehicle was inspected for further health violations. The officer was accused of fondling the vehicle's buns. The vehicle was impounded by Nu-Way Wieners in Macon and was found to be filled with top-quality meat and meat by-products, then topped with chili and slaw and served on a steamed bun.
Eat your heart out, Billy.
I'll never forget the day he brought in a book entitled All The News Not Fit To Print. It contained a compilation of "news" articles published over the years by various periodicals which weren't exactly...news.
Well, Billy, I think I found another one.
Forget the Japan earthquake and the tsunami. Bypass the economy and the uprisings in the Middle East. This is Real. News.
Apparently, in the middle Georgia town of Forsyth, an entire section of I-75 was shut down earlier this week. By the Wienermobile.
It was the wurst that could happen, but, on a slow news day this particular reporter must have exclaimed, "Hot Dog!"
Frankly I was surprised that Oscar Meyer (whose bologna has a first AND last name) wasn't in the vehicle at the time.
But I also have it on good authority that Oscar's really a big brat.
Anyway, don't miss the picture of one of Monroe County's finest pulling over the Wienermobile.
The driver was cited for impeding the flow of traffic, escorted to the dog pound, and the vehicle was inspected for further health violations. The officer was accused of fondling the vehicle's buns. The vehicle was impounded by Nu-Way Wieners in Macon and was found to be filled with top-quality meat and meat by-products, then topped with chili and slaw and served on a steamed bun.
Eat your heart out, Billy.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
RIP, Ronnie Hammond.
Ronnie Hammond, legendary lead singer for the Atlanta Rhythm Section, died Monday at age 60.
I first met Ronnie when I was Student Body President at Gordon Junior College in 1975. Well, not exactly.
I met him at Atlanta Recording Studio prior to that. ARS was recording a cover of "Spooky", I already knew Buddie Buie, his son, and J. R. Cobb, guitarist for the band, having done some studio work there.
Ronnie started off in Macon, singing on then-gospel-singer-later-turned Mayor "Machine-Gun" Ronnie Thompson's television show on WMAZ.
Man, was he good.
Rarely do you find a white boy with as much soul as Ronnie had. He put his heart into every song he sang, a result of a conflicted life at the time (resolved later on with the help of God and friends).
I had to beg and plead with the GJC administration to get them to schedule the band for a campus concert. Not many people had heard of them at that point, and they were a calculated risk for the school.
I called Mr. Buie, got Ronnie, who said they'd love to do the gig. We laughed later about how desperate ARS was for paid dates.
By the time the show came around weeks later, "Doraville" was racing up the charts, followed by "Angel" and "Who You Gonna Run To".
I looked like a genius. I wasn't. I just loved good Southern Rock. And ARS was one of the best.
Ronnie lived in Forsyth and died there Monday.
How fitting. The "homeplace" of Southern Rock sent off one of its favorite children.
Like Johnny Cash once sang, "everyone I know goes away in the end."
One of my favorite ARS songs (probably because I identify with it so well):
"Alien"
The sun just went behind a cloud again
Down crowded streets he walks alone
He's a stranger out of place
A number not a face
And all day long, all day long
He's feelin like an alien
Feelin' like he don't belong
Have mercy, cried the alien
Help him find his way back home
The feelin' that he feels he can't explain
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, they're all the same
He's lost and all alone
A heart without a home
Standin' like a statue in the rain
Now, now and then we all are aliens
Feelin' like we don't belong
Have mercy, cried the alien
Help him find his way back home
I first met Ronnie when I was Student Body President at Gordon Junior College in 1975. Well, not exactly.
I met him at Atlanta Recording Studio prior to that. ARS was recording a cover of "Spooky", I already knew Buddie Buie, his son, and J. R. Cobb, guitarist for the band, having done some studio work there.
Ronnie started off in Macon, singing on then-gospel-singer-later-turned Mayor "Machine-Gun" Ronnie Thompson's television show on WMAZ.
Man, was he good.
Rarely do you find a white boy with as much soul as Ronnie had. He put his heart into every song he sang, a result of a conflicted life at the time (resolved later on with the help of God and friends).
I had to beg and plead with the GJC administration to get them to schedule the band for a campus concert. Not many people had heard of them at that point, and they were a calculated risk for the school.
I called Mr. Buie, got Ronnie, who said they'd love to do the gig. We laughed later about how desperate ARS was for paid dates.
By the time the show came around weeks later, "Doraville" was racing up the charts, followed by "Angel" and "Who You Gonna Run To".
I looked like a genius. I wasn't. I just loved good Southern Rock. And ARS was one of the best.
Ronnie lived in Forsyth and died there Monday.
How fitting. The "homeplace" of Southern Rock sent off one of its favorite children.
Like Johnny Cash once sang, "everyone I know goes away in the end."
One of my favorite ARS songs (probably because I identify with it so well):
"Alien"
The sun just went behind a cloud again
Down crowded streets he walks alone
He's a stranger out of place
A number not a face
And all day long, all day long
He's feelin like an alien
Feelin' like he don't belong
Have mercy, cried the alien
Help him find his way back home
The feelin' that he feels he can't explain
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, they're all the same
He's lost and all alone
A heart without a home
Standin' like a statue in the rain
Now, now and then we all are aliens
Feelin' like we don't belong
Have mercy, cried the alien
Help him find his way back home
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