Send A Card To Our Madison Girl

Each day more details emerge regarding the young lady who was locked in the family basement while the rest of the members lived upstairs. The girl told authorities that she could hear the people upstairs eating, and could only listen, knowing she'd be beaten if she asked for food.

I don't mean to be catty, but to find out the stepmother weighs 340 pounds. and the girl's father weighs, 240 pounds, I am sickened all the more by their actions.

Since I have not seen a site/address to send money, I think the details are still be worked out. However, you can send a card of support (do not send money) to the young girl, whose name has not been revealed, to...

Dane County Human Services
Attn: Julie Ahnen
1202 Northport Dr.
Madison, Wi. 53704

Oh, Babeu, Babeu

A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest form of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal in satisfying his vices. And it all comes from lying — to others and to yourself. -Fyodor Dostoevsky

I do believe the new conservative motto should be, "Do as I say and not as I do." What I wonder about though is this, why does Sheriff, Paul Babeu, hit for the other side- the conservative gay bashers/god fearers/wife cheaters? He finally admitted he is gay, after his illegal immigrant lover outed him. Babeu would like all illegals out, out of this country. He's also running for Congress. Not sure how he feels about gay people. He confuses me.

***

I am also confused about this... A NM woman, Lauren Medina, is going on trial for stealing a $2 pumpkin. She claims she simply forgot to pay for it. She could have made a plea agreement but chose to take it to trial. What a fucking waste of everyone's time, although, everyone should have their day in court cause this is America. But for chrissake, she stole (allegedly) a $2 pumpkin!

***

And what about the guy who wants to evict his 98 year old mother from her home? The m-f-er even had the ... to tell her on her birthday. "Guess what mom, you're going to go live with some strangers. I'm just thinking of your best interest, mom." The asse's brother claims he just want to sell mom's house and pocket the moola. But, what if mom needs help? What if he was just thinking of her but just suffers from bad timing. and lack of empathy? She raised him. Confusing.

***

Did you know the average cost of a wedding is, $26, 951? This gown looks like my dear dead gram's bedspread. I never had a proper wedding. That's okay, it wasn't a proper marriage, either. Not that my folks could have afforded to pitch in. LOL. No, not at all, although they did help out my older sis who had her reception at the AMVETS hall that about to be demolished for a newer digs. I think she had the very last wedding in the old hall. I do know the dance floor slanted and fifty years of beer and cigarettes permeated the walls. Ah, but it's about the people, isn't it? Our neighbors, Mrs H and Mrs P made the food. It was a lovely time.

Strange, my first wedding experience and my last wedding experience involved ... on the cheap, but one was good and fun, the other was just cheap.

My former colleague, 'Doris'  finally decided to marry the man who was gaga for her. I think she didn't want to live her life alone, so she married him. The open bar lasted one hour. Doris did not like the demon rum or anything with alcohol. She even refused to eat rum raisin cake. Actually the whole affair lasted two hours. Wedding, dinner, house band, good bye. There was no photographer. I learned later the disposable cameras in our gift bags were there for us to take pics and hand in the cameras to her. I think the mints were leftovers from a previous wedding she had gone to. It was a bad event.

I have nothing against a blow out wedding and if you are going to have a celebration, do it right and don't go cheap, or tacky.

Speaking of tacky... although it's quiet before the storm.

New Orleans, Fat Tuesday

*Sources, Wiki/Brothers Karamazov, Just Google for Babeu, Medina and 98 year old momma, weddingstats.org.

Machine 0- Human-0

Hey, it was only a dollar, but I think she ripped me off! I like to use the self-checkout lanes at the grocery store, and had to get a few things this morning. I have never had any major problems using the machines. If there is an error, it's the fault of the human-me. Today everything went fine until I put in my money and waited for my change. Mr Machine just coughed a little. I think I heard it say, "Coulosergh." Fortunately, a clerk was near by and could plainly see, no money. She called over the supervisor (the lady who wears the wrong make-up foundation, but, I digress) who pulled out the machine's innards and asked me how much I was owed, although it clearly said, $12 on the monitor. She handed me the money and I stuffed it in my purse, never looking, until I needed some money later and noticed she ripped me off!

You know, I think I'll take my chances with the machines. Sometimes, people forget to take their change and sometimes (I'm revealing a secret, here) change has fallen behind those plastic bags.

I wonder how long it will take me to make up that dollar she 'stole' from me?

Hey, look what I found on boingboing.net. Neato.

Pushing Legacies

Last night I wrote 'The Lone Star Legacy' because I was trying to grasp some sense of reality after I had read about Whitney Houston's funeral. I was not a Whitney fan. It's not that I disliked her, I just preferred rock n roll, to soothing soul.

She had a lot of fans, a lot of family members who will mourn her passing, a lot of hangers on, who wanted a piece of her. She also had a problem with drugs and a bastard of a husband.

She left behind some lovely music, a good movie and a grieving daughter who allegedly has taken the same path her parents did, and is using drugs to get through life.

And this is the person whose face was on every news source. This is the person people had lined up to say good-bye to, one last time.

Today, there will be another funeral and another funeral, and on and on... and it's likely there will be a few mourners to shed a tear for their friend, who worked hard, took care of his or her family, never ingested magic potions to get by, and possibly raised a few children who will carry on and be kind and loving people.

I didn't know Whitney Houston. What was it that made strangers fall down and weep for her?

A Lone Star Legacy

The only sound was the shuffle of impatience behind him-

the heat of another Texas day was a reminder of the constant;

yet, here, the world had stopped, the quiet man had slipped away,

dispersing waves in silent blows, certain to crush,

any emotion that had dared to stay, for on this day,

as he looked to the wooden box, with one yellow rose,

he finally would turn his back on the quiet man.

No bands, no white lined sentinels, no weeping widows,

to see him off, to kiss his cheek, to wipe a tear.

No earthly possessions did he leave, but one-

 who carried, character, integrity and morality.

Into the red dust walked away proof of his existence,

and no one knew, no one cared, no one noticed,

the lone mourner who carried with him, humanity.

Thin Ice

Big St Germain, Northern Wisconsin

I hate basketball. Hate, hate, hate. I can't help but notice in every news source the love, love, love, for Jeremy Lin. He has a basketball uniform on, so I assume he's some phenom player, or, it's all hype, hype, hype.

ESPN is in big trouble this morning. Someone posted on the mobile site the headline, "Chink in Armour." I have heard this word before. My father said it when he talked about his war days, fighting in Korea. I found it ugly and offensive then, and cannot believe morons still use the word. A "sorry" is not going to do. It's just not. Stupid, sick bastards.

*

I bet you don't get a lot of snowmobilers falling through ice in California, but it happens quite a bit around these parts. Also, shooting one's partner during deer hunting season is a regular event. The weather has been too warm, yet people still go on the ice. I'm guessing the snow slopes in Cheddarland are lacking snow, but I bet there is one fool, trying to swoosh down a muddy hill.

*

You all are gonna get sick of me constantly writing about the book, 'Quiet' but it's so good. Cain writes about the study of why we follow other people's leads, even if they are wrong. Is it because we want to fit in, or is something else happening in the amygdala?

That's the core of us, the amygdala, the neanderthal part.

Anyway, it seems the brain refuses to see the wrong part when we are persuaded by others that the wrong answer is the right answer, even when alone, we knew the correct answer.

I bring this up, because it happened to me recently. We had to watch some video about political correctness in the workplace, then take a group quiz at the end. Before we looked at the video, we took a pre-quiz test, then the one that counted at the end. We did better on the pre-quiz, and I know why. There was a sort of trick question in the test. I saw it, but I went along with the group. My brain didn't wipe it out, I saw the mistake, yet I kept my mouth shut. There were only about six people in the room, but two seemed to be making the decisions for everyone, even when I knew they were wrong. A few people in the group seemed to take this opportunity to nap, so, they just didn't care. The only reason I cared was because I didn't want to watch the damn video again if we failed. These videos are pretty lame. Either you understand tolerance, or you choose to ignore it. A video won't change a thing, but maybe it gets the company off the hook. 

So, in our real test, we did worse, but passed. Did I feel terrible for not speaking up? Mmm, a little, because I get mad at myself for letting people take charge, but... I knew the right answer, so who cares if it isn't on record. I know.

+

One more thing... I do plan to post information on how to help our young victim who was starved and found roaming the streets of Madison as soon as all the issues are worked out. 

Stay off the lakes, folks.

"Mother Went Out Again, Looking Like A Courtesan."*

Cat's Meow, New Orleans

"The United States needs some theology and geometry, some taste and decency. I suspect that we are teetering on the edge of the abyss." -Ignatius J Reilly

Meet Ignatius if you have not already met. (I suggest you not shake hands) Perhaps, Ignatius was thinking of Mardi Gras when he spoke those words. Who knows, but the debacle has begun- a full out Bacchanalia, before it is time to repent, to fast, to give up beignets.

Beignets

There is still time to make a King cake, read, 'The Confederacy of Dunces' You must, you must, read it! And if you cannot make a fool of yourself in New Orleans, by exposing your breasts for beads, or singing off key to an audience of drunks, you can be a jester, anywhere. Just remember, the clock is ticking.

King cake

*Quote from 'A Confederacy of Dunces.'

Ms Thingy's Advice Column

Yesterday morning, driving to work, I looked in my rearview mirror to see a nut swerving in lanes, trying to get ahead of... I'm not sure what. I always wonder why people are in a hurry to get to work, get through the grocery shopping, get their morning cup of coffee at the Speedway. Hurry, hurry, hurry. It happened to be a woman in the SUV, who finally slowed down because she had no choice because of the truck in front of her (see above) although, I never did see any brake lights. She did use her time in slow mode to apply mascara and lipstick.

Just a word of advice, these are the people you want to stay behind.

*This is the perp's car. I did add a few effects. She did not stick her head out. That time, anyway.

*

Funny, I usually like medical shows. I find our bodies gross and fascinating, but I was watching that one show, I think it's called 'The Doctors' (just a wild guess) that is really boring and not helpful at all. I've only seen a few shows and the last one I tuned to because they had a tease about how to deal with tinnitus, which I have in one ear. The noise doesn't drive me bonkers, but sometimes it does annoy me and I'd love to try and 'cure' it, although, there is no cure. Once your ear is damaged, it's damaged.

So, I waited and waited for them to talk about it, while they discussed other boring stuff until finally... they brought out a young soldier who had served in Iraq, who told about the day a shell exploded directly in front of him.. He suffers from tinnitus  in both ears, and it's a constant, awful ringing.

If you have tinnitus, this is their advice- Deal with it. Use sound to drown out the other sound. A fan at night, music, soothing sounds. 

I felt bad for the young man. It was obvious he was trying to put on a brave face and accept the fact that he will have to live with tinnitus.

*

You know what? I love my Kindle. I cannot read books from the computer. It's just not right and with print books, lately, they have been my 'Ambien.' I just fall asleep, but with the Kindle, I stay awake and can actually concentrate. It's fabulous. It's so fun to just grab a book from the virtual store. I'm a bookstore lover, but the Kindle store is quick and cheap. I bought a memoir and read the whole story last night. It was a pretty awful write and the author pissed me off as she tried to portray herself as a victim. But still, it was an enjoyable experience. Whodathunk it?

So, my advice to old geezers. Put down the book and get the Kindle or Nook.

Still reading, 'Quiet' by Susan Cain. Still great. She talks about the new open and share policy(although they did this when I was a kid) in the work place and in schools. There is no privacy. Cain notes that studies have shown that this is not a good thing. Doesn't help, doesn't work. People work best when they are alone. She mentions Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple computers. When other young men and women were engaged in coiutus activities, Steve was working on... well, you know. People need alone time, some, just more than others.

Anyway, there is so much in this book that I see in my daily activities. 

The part where introverts mention when they were kids, and were told to come out of their shell... OMG! I had almost forgotten that, but it was something I heard so often, I just knew there must be something wrong with me. Well, you extroverts, there isn't.

My advice, do not tell someone to come out of their shells. Ever.

Madison, FAIL

It's Friday, but I have only an ugly story to tell. I have mentioned the horrific news of a young girl being found walking the streets of Madison, Wisconsin, in only her pajamas. According to the samaritan that saved her, Mike Vega, he was shocked, still shocked, to think about the girl before him.

Little bits of the story are coming out. The most outrageous detail is that child protective services had been out there on numerous occasions, a detail that was not mentioned before. The neighbors were concerned when they saw the girl taking out garbage one day, and going through the bag for food.

In my previous post I mentioned social workers found no indication the young girl had been sexually abused, yet, yesterday, her eighteen year old stepbrother was charged with molesting her since she was nine.

Her biological mother, I heard, is outraged that the monsters who did this to her child only need to post a $30,000 bond, each.

But, where was she? Where was she when this was happening?

I'm thinking about what Mythical Monkey wrote in a comment yesterday about why some protests work, why others will never work. I also know when I write posts such as this one, I get few page views. People don't want to look at the ugliness in this world, but we have got to do something. We have got to ensure that children are protected. People in law enforcement and child protective services have got to be trained to spot these incidents. It's heartbreaking to read that neighbors knew something was wrong, but nothing was done.

Yeah, a downer of a post in one way, but because of Mike Vega, hopefully this girl have have a decent life. Hopefully three people will rot in jail. Hopefully, this will wake people up.

She deserved so much more than this and so many people failed her. I have one little blog, with good, good people who stop by. We can help. Pass this story on, get involved, get angry, and don't let this girl be just a "tsk,tsk" story.


* I've been reading from various news sources, but here is one link that gives more details. www.channel3000.com


"If I drink water, then I will pee and I don't want to pee in the basement. I'm underweight because I don't eat much. I've always wanted to eat more," SLC told investigators, according to the complaint.

Image of the Week

It was a tough one this week, but this image is amazing. It's the Painted Canyon in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

www.nps.gov

Cracktoids

"Oh boy, I've done it now. Gee, I was just kidding folks when I told ol' Maxine to lay off the crack pipe. Haha, you know, her and Whitney must have been smoking that stuff together, cause they're both black, uh, I mean, Afro-Americans. Jeez, they have no sense of humor. Anyway, Waters started it. She pissed me off with her comment calling my pals, "demons." Hey, my colleagues thought I was a hoot. Dumb democrats, need to get their heads outta the bong and laugh a little. Hahahahahahahaha."

Oh, I'm just kidding. Read the story, here.

Quietly, They Roar

The book I'm reading, 'Quiet' by Susan Cain, is terrific. I don't have a lot of heroes, but Rosa Parks will always be one. According to Cain, she was also a quiet, unassuming woman, but she also must have had strength and courage to refuse to sit in the back of the bus.

There is another woman, Jo Ann Robinson, who many people may have never heard of, but without Mrs. Robinson's actions the night of December 1, 1955, the Montgomery bus boycott probably would never have happened. Mrs. Robinson printed 35,000 handbills to pass around, informing people to boycott public transit the following Monday. It was meant to be a one day event, but people listened- the boycott was a resounding success and the rest, as they say...

Martin Luther King was charismatic and a great speaker. He worked in the front lines, exposing himself and his family to real threats and dangers from haters.

But, it was the women who ruled the day.

The handbill...


"Another woman has been arrested and thrown in jail because she refused to get up out of her seat on the bus for a white person to sit down. It is the second time since the Claudette Colvin case that a Negro woman has been arrested for the same thing. This has to be stopped. Negroes have rights too, for if Negroes did not ride the buses, they could not operate. Three-fourths of the riders are Negro, yet we are arrested, or have to stand over empty seats. If we do not do something to stop these arrests, they will continue. The next time it may be you, or your daughter, or mother. This woman's case will come up on Monday. We are, therefore, asking every Negro to stay off the buses Monday in protest of the arrest and trial. Don't ride the buses to work, to town, to school, or anywhere on Monday. You can afford to stay out of school for one day if you have no other way to go except by bus. You can also afford to stay out of town for one day. If you work, take a cab, or walk. But please, children and grown-ups, don't ride the bus at all on Monday. Please stay off all buses Monday.

Amos and Bastards

Two great bands I've heard today. I love Amos Lee. You should, too. And I just heard of this band, Heartless Bastards, today. Loooooooove them.

Tough Love

There are two stories in the news about parents and young girls. One involves a pissed off dad, shooting his fifteen year old daughter's laptop after he read her FB post about her thoughts on her parents. She was angry because they made her do chores. She said she couldn't wait for the day they are too old to wipe their own asses, because she wouldn't be there to help them. Dad found the post and decided to respond with a gun.

Involved parent? Indeed. Stupid stunt? In my opinion, yes. I like that he took action, just not how he did it.

He posted his rant and shooting on Youtube and has had over 22 million views. There are more 'likes' than 'dislikes.' regarding his actions.


The second story involves two parents who locked their fifteen year old daughter in a basement for five years. She managed to escape last Friday, and a passerby called police. She weighed 70 pounds. In the story (Milwaukee Journal) it notes, an alarm would go off if the girl tried to leave the basement. The 'family unit' consisted of, stepmother, father, stepbrother, and two younger children, who all lived upstairs.

In 2007, a social worker was sent to the house amid complaints of sexual abuse. The person found no signs of abuse and the matter was closed.

One girl, shamed into silence. Another, who may finally be heard.

De-Feeted

What are those Finns looking at? 

My relationship with computers is a strange tale. When those newfangled devices started entering the work force, there was one old grumpy geek who tried to teach a bunch of us clueless birds. We stood around the giant box and wondered if that was the thing that would take our jobs, someday? It really didn't do anything but hold invoices and other crap. We still used paper. I should know, I had to file all those papers. But then I lost touch with Mister C and when I came back, he was smaller, but still didn't carry his weight. It also seemed our computers broke down on a regular basis.
Then I got a job that didn't require a computer and I just didn't feel the need to get a personal computer, so I was shocked when the Johnny Weismuller of the computers switched to Stephen Hawking. A brand new world, and it took me time to adjust.

Yesterday, I finally bought a Kindle. I told the girl (I don't like those men at a certain geek store) to show me what to do because I am clueless. Yeah, she was a big help. She gave me a gift card and told me about the warranty.

Well, my Kindle and I had a most interesting night. Awkward, with a few laughs, too. I now know you don't need to poke at it. I also learned that nice design on the front is a button that will make viewing the device quite pleasurable, and I have to admit I only found this out because the cat jumped on the sofa and turned the thing on, after I had thrown it down in frustration.

Well, it's gonna take some learning, but I have already bought a book, 'Quiet' by Susan Cain. It's all about introverts and how they have gotten a raw deal in life, but what would we do without them? I dunno. I am one. I just got started, but it looks good. She mentions those Finnish people are pretty shy, or introverted. Shy and introverted may not always be the same thing, by the way. There is a Finnish joke that goes something like this... "How can you tell a Finnish extrovert from an introvert? The extrovert will be looking at your feet instead of his." Hee-hee. I did hear that about Finns. Maybe I will learn more about that.

Anyway, I must go to the salt mines once again. Sorry for any grammar mistakes, although that's a given on this blog.

Carry on...