Yankee Apology

On this January 3rd, New Jersey became the first state north of the Mason-Dixon line to proclaim its official regret for perpetuating the institution of slavery.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 270.
This concurrent resolution issues a formal apology on behalf of the State of New Jersey for its role in sustaining and perpetuating the institution of slavery, and expresses the State's deepest sympathies and profound regrets to the thousands of slaves and the descendants of those enslaved, who were denied life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness while in bondage.
In tracing the history of slavery and its legacy of inequality from the founding of the Republic to the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 60s, the concurrent resolution acknowledges the injustices, the broken promises and the blank checks that have never come to fruition. It calls upon the residents of this State to learn about and gain a deeper understanding of the history of slavery, the legacy of de facto and de jure segregation, and the existence of modern day slavery to ensure that these tragedies will not be forgotten and will not be repeated.

• The push is on again this year, the Georgia NAACP's list of 2008 goals includes the extraction of an official apology from the state for its participation in and defense of slavery.
• On this topic our governor has already spoken and proclaimed his resistance. The lack of an achievable goal will not deter the annual complaint that has no purpose other than to perpetuate the myth that blacks deserve pity from the citizens. Pity that takes form as government pandering and vote purchasing.
• New Jersey apologizing for slavery was well intentioned, possibly having an objective of increasing pressure on southern states to apologize.
• Through the period of creation of the Constitution, there were slave owners in the state of New Jersey. This is not mentioned in the apology, because it lacks a connection to historical fact. This is not an apology at all, it is a statement of empathy. At the creation of of our nation, New Jersey became part of the greater world community that rejected slavery. During the Civil War, thousands of the state's citizens died maintaining the union and in part, abolition of slavery. Where is the appreciation for those acts of sacrifice?
• What New Jersey should be apologizing for is for being the nastiest state on the east coast.
• February is coming, time to get ready for Black History Month.

An Old Favorite

Starting during my days at Georgia Tech and up to the time that my son started playing baseball, Moe's and Joe's was one of my favorite watering holes. This is where David Allen Coe and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer carved out their nostalgic place in my heart.

The waiter, Horace, wore a traditional red waiter's waist coat, and served pitchers of "The Finest". An old man then, I am sure that this gentleman has either retired or passed on. For the business's sake the owners might have liked it better if Horace could add.

Located at the intersection of Virginia and Highland, I am dismayed that the crappy little place, Taco Mac, across the intersection has franchised while Moe's and Joe's has remained virtually unchanged. That is probably a good thing.

Benin Republic Bucks

From: chrisolis100@zipmail.com.br
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: GOOD NEWS TO YOU
Date: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 9:58:53
Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft of $1,500.000 US Dollars but did not heard from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with KAJADI COURIER COMPANY here in Benin Republic, because travelled to Paraguay to see my boss and will not come back till next month end. I want You to contact the KAJADI COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC to know when they will deliver your package and send your information to them such as;

Name: ============================
AGE:==============================
OCCUPATION: =====================
ADDRESS: =========================
MOBILE NO.:========================
SEX: ============================
COUNTRY=============

PICTURE=================================

I have paid for the delivery charges and insurance fee. The only money you have to send to them is their security keeping fee which is $106.00 US Dollars to received your package. This is their Contact Address,
CONTACT PERSON; DR, DON WILLIAMS.
DIRECTOR KAJADI COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
EMAIL: (k_diplomaticcouriercompany01@yahoo.fr)
PHONE +229-930-85-220.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee. I gave them your delivery information but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the transferring. In addition the Kajadi Courier Company doesn't know content of this package. So let me know immediately you receive your Draft.
Regards,
Mr. Chris Olis

• Good news for me, all these people want me to pick up easy money.
• After not so deep thought, I think that we can solve all of the starvation in Africa or South America, or where ever the hell it is. All they need to do clean out all of these screwed up banks and use the money to buy some food, maybe some clean clothes. So much money sitting around waiting for the needy to collect.
• As poor as my writing is, you would think that if you are trying to con someone into trusting you, you would make a lot of effort to create a polished and convincing hook. These thieving bastards are in such a hurry to steal that they do not even run spell check.

YA Hoo

There is no correct spelling. The first part is pronounced with a long A sound, like the word day. The second part is pronounced like the word who. This should not be confused with the universal expression "yeah hoo", an exclamation of happiness or excitement.

YA Hoo is a derogatory term used in southern speech to identify a dumb assed person. Here is a good example of a man that could safely be called a YA Hoo.

A Kansas man found out that giving a police officer a “wet willie” after his arrest for public intoxication was not such a good idea. 38-year-old Louis Perales picked up an additional charge of assault and battery on an officer after he put his finger in his mouth and then stuck it in the officer’s ear.

Not dissimilar, found that the word ya'hoo was used in Jonathan Swift's book "Gulliver's Travels" to describe a very ill-mannered person. The Yahoos have human forms and vicious tendencies. In this story the Yahoos are subject to the Houyhnhnms, horses that possess human reason.

Get Out and Push

After the Christmas pitch showing Hitlery wrapping up packages of every potential handout known to a liberal, this is a well timed cartoon. Must give credit to Gary Brookins of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Leathal Injection Inhumane?

The US Supreme Courts is about to consider whether or not lethal injection would be a humane way to speed the departure of convicted murderers.

On Monday the high court will begin deliberations on Kentucky planned executions. Ralph Baze shot a sheriff and his deputy in the back killing both for trying to serve a warrant. Thomas Bowling killed a married couple in front of their two year old child. These men are arguing that lethal injections cause "deceptively painful deaths", thus infringing on the the convicts 8th ammendment rights.

In the past the court has declared that the 8th ammendment prohibits unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain. This case could boil down to Justice Kennedy, who in 2005 wrote a 5-4 opinion banning the executions of juvenile offenders.

Capital punishment is applied in 36, all but one of which, Nebraska, use lethal injection. Seventeen states, including Texas, Florida and Idaho, have offered briefs supporting the Kentucky's position. The most commeon lethal injection method was first applied in Oklahoma in 1977. These include three shots applied in succession, the first is pancuronium bromide which eliminates convulsions and thus provides a dignified death to the inmate and execution, the next two complete the objective.

• The past decision by the Supreme Court, applying the 8th Ammendment, therefore judgement on manners of execution was incorrect and has led to what amounts to a continuous federal interference with states rights.


• There are problems with with convictions, as we have seen with where DNA has exonerated wrongly convicted persons. This is often an argument for avoiding capital punishment, but I do not see it. Captital punishment is not haphazardly applied, juries struggle with the guilt issue then judges are bound by rules set forth by their states.


• Punishment should be a reflection of the crime, and guilt is decided by a jury of citizens. Biblical passages suggest punishment that is proportional. If proportion is acheived, why is the amount of pain an issue? And, for the convicted, wouldn't fear of the execution have the most impact on the convicted?

Spencer's Mountain

This is a movie that I've seen a couple of times on network television. DVD viewing in the as-created movie screen format, shows the Jackson Hole region as breathtaking in its pristine condition. Created from the works Earl Hamner Jr., a writer who as the oldest of 8 children grew up in the small mountain town of Schuyler Virginia. The novel, Spencer's Mountain, is based largely on his own childhood, became a best seller in the 1950s.

The same story led to the creation of the novella "The Homecoming" which in turn was the source for a television movie and the long running television show, "The Waltons". The phrase, "John-Boy, John-Boy, shoot that turkey", captured the essence of strong parental leadership that is indicative of Hamner's work.

The movie is a Warner Brothers production, released in 1963, written, produced and drirect by Delmer Daves. The father, Clay Spencer, played by Henry Fonda, was perfect as the roughneck quarry man with guided by his own good sense and belief in his own form of god. The mother, Olivia, was played by Maureen O'Hara, a beautiful redhead god fearing woman who wished only for her families happiness and achievement. The oldest boy, known as Clayboy was played by James MacArthur, who was seen in the movie "The Battle of the Bulge" and "Hawaii Five-O" as Dan-O. Other actors included were Wally Cox as the new pastor, and Veronica Cartwright as the oldest daughter, and Kym Karath as Patti-Cake the youngest daughter. Both Cartwright and Karath were together in the 1965 classic the "The Sound of Music".

Score 42 of 50. The Christian Science Monitor, at the time described the movie as a "marshmallow version of Tobacco Road". That seems a cruel description but then I guess all poor family stories have similarities. If you like movies that make you smile and cry, rent it.

• Character Development 6 out of 10. The story is based in a short period, there is a good deal of activity but little development beyond the father's growth into the church and sacrifice of his own dreams for his son's future.
• Acting 7 out of 10. Henry Fonda Maureen O'Hara are always good, but the ensemble, with so many children has characters that are not so much acting as being themselves.
• Photography, cinematography 10 out of 10. The movie taken from Virginia and placed in the Jackson Hole region has incredible scenery.
• Writing, script 10 out of 10. A story that you quickly become emotionally involved.
• Concept 9 out of 10. At the time, original and fresh, centered on family unity and individual achievement.

Lawyer Scum

The site Grouchy Old Cripple latest installment of Asshole of the Week, aka AOTW, led me to to an interesting story about how an anti-war lawyer keyed the car of a Marine about to be deployed to Iraq. Please jump to BlackFive to read how callous the left can be.

Bleachers

As said last week, Christmas brought three book by Mississippian author, John Grisham. "Bleachers" is a short novel, or story, 181 pages long, published by Doubleday in 2003. The paperback was published in October 2007. Published before "Playing for Pizza", Bleachers" is the first departure by Grisham from his usual lawyers in danger stories. This is a story about former players haunted by a legendary high school football coach.

The main characters are Neely Crenshaw, Messina's high school All-American quarterback and his Coach Eddie Rake leader of 13 state championship teams in 34 years.

Neely's last heroics for the Messina Spartans was to win the state champion ship on the last play of the game. This in a game where a halftime fight caused the coaches to miss the entire second half. Crenshaw would be the first to admit he carried a good deal of baggage that had been stuffed by Eddie Rake, he left Messina with a college scholarship to a school Rake did not approve of. In his sophomore year Neely experienced a career ending knee injury, this added to the malaise of unresolved issues that the quarterback felt.

Coach Eddie Rake, whom we never meet, begins the book suffering the last stage of terminal cancer. His players have collected in town for vigil and expectant funeral. He started in the 50's and finished in the 90's after the heat stroke death of a player. His success was unsurpassed. Rake's effect on his players was to install a drive to excellence and a fear of failure. The man was both hated and revered. In the end Rake does pass, the players gather with expressions of true emotion. Neely is asked to speak at the ceremony following burial and comes to realize that he is able to let go of anger and retain to his love for Coach Rake.

This was a OK book, for Grisham readers, a change of pace, for sports fans n accurate rendition of how teens place importance on the leadership figures in their lives. On a scale of 1-10, "Bleachers" gets a 6. This is a fast reading simplistic story with a predictable result.

Homeless Man Found Dead in Santa Fe Cemetery

Associated Press offered this story with an unfortunate title.
The story is real enough, the Santa Fe police found a dead man that they believe to have been homeless. He was found under a thin blanket at city cemetery, having died of exposure.
AP did finish up by adding that the local homeless aid society estimates that up to 300 people are homeless on the streets of Santa on any day.

• No doubt that the AP felt it important to remind us of the homeless persons problem. Geronimo Garcia might argue that not having a heavier blanket or a sleeping bag was his biggest problem.
• The story makes no comment on whether or not the deceased was a legal resident. Santa Fe, being in the southwest must be a conduit for migrating illegal laborers.