Grandma Arrested for Not Watering?

Yep, I knew Utah was one of those states to avoid.

Imagine this, a 70 year old grandma was roughed up and arrested for not watering her yard.

Oh, but there's more...

The officer who was going to cite the elderly lady for a city ordinance violation, claims she refused to answer questions and dragged him inside when she tried to go back in her home. The officer also claims he resisted her attempts to get away, and she slipped in the process, causing injury to her face and arms. Despite how anyone with a little common sense would view the situation, the officer decided to arrest the elderly lady, and took her, handcuffed, to jail.

The lady tried to explain that she couldn't water her lawn because her water had been turned off, how she lived on a fixed income, was having trouble making ends meet, and how she lived alone, but none of that was enough of an explanation for the arresting officer.

Now, I ask, why is it that the city takes more notice of a brown lawn, rather than taking notice of an elderly person living alone with no water and not enough money in the summer? In an interview with the mayor of the city where the incident took place, he avoided any opinion in the matter by pawning off responsibility onto the city attorney.

The arresting officer was sent home later that day and placed on "administrative leave", while the lady was released from jail. She now says she's fearful of the police, "because they'll hurt you if you don't do what they want."

How sad is that?

All I can say is, I hope there is someone who talks this lady into pressing formal charges of oppression, something needs to be done when it's the police and city agencies who take things too far over something so unimportant.

My prayers go out to the elderly woman, if I lived close by I'd help her out with her yard or at least take up a collection to help her get her water back on. I guess here's no such thing as a good neighbor in Utah. Somebody needs to do the right thing and help the lady, as well as look out for her interests as I'm sure the story will bring out more than one sharky lawyer.

May she always have an angel on her shoulder for the rest of her days.

Someone Tell Me Why....

Why can't this guy EVER look presidential in a picture?

Later Leona....

Gone at age 87, Leona Helmsley leaves behind a story of someone born to a working class Brooklyn family, who rose to millionaire status by marrying rich guys then divorcing them. By all accounts, Leona didn't keep her memories of how it was to be a regular person, claiming to be "above the little people." Yep, she was referring to just about everyone who didn't have a Park Avenue address.

Often referred to as "the queen of mean", she gained a reputation for being mean spirited towards those who worked for her, with some saying she'd fire a person just because she was in a bad mood. It's also been said that she sued her daughter-in-law after her son's death for money she said was owed to her, though the wife claimed she knew nothing about any loans made to her late husband. In the end of that matter, she left her daughter-in-law and grandchildren nearly penniless.

Now, I dunno just how credible the stories are about her, I dunno if she was really as mean as they say, but her picture doesn't exactly show a person glowing with the sunshine of happiness. If it's all true, then she would exemplify the worst that money can do to a person. If it's not true, then she's one of the most misunderstood people in New York history.

Though it's not my place to judge, I hope she made her peace with God before her time came.

No Repair for Shuttle?

NASA gave the Shuttle Endeavour an Ok for a Wednesday, August 22nd return to Earth with no repairs, then released a story to the press saying the Astronauts were relieved by the news.

Hey, I'm no aerospace engineer, but looking at this picture of the damage, does it look to anyone else like this could be particularly bad? I mean, NASA did refer to it as "a recessed uneven edged gouge between tiles located on the bottom of the shuttle", but let's just call it what it really is.... a hole! From what I hear, a hole that goes all the way through the heat resistant tile to expose just a felt liner below. If I'm not mistaken, doesn't the shuttle enter the atmosphere at a nose up angle with the bottom of the ship taking the brunt of the friction heat? I find it difficult to believe that any Astronaut would be relieved at the thought of re-entering the atmosphere with a hole in their ship. Don't they deserve better than just a layer of felt between them and a few thousand degrees of heat? At the very least, the shuttle has become an embarrassment, at the very most it's just dangerous. More so than the "space travel is a dangerous business" quote that has been repeated to the press by the agency, this level of risk is just unacceptable.

I sure hope this is the absolute best assessment of the situation NASA could come up with, and is not another Columbia style calculated risk, they better be right. But hey? What happens if they aren't right? What are "we, the people" going to do about it? Afterall, Columbia was said to have damage when NASA cleared the ship to return, only to have a terrible disaster witnessed live on tv by millions. I thought the people wouldn't stand for NASA taking a risk that cost the lives of the Astronauts, people were angry and sad for a while, but the story faded in time, and the people's attention went elsewhere. So even if something bad does happen, will something be done about it? Probably not, it's sad but true in the evidence of recent past events. Though I explore the tough questions and the possibility of a bad scenerio, I really do hope for the best. Those who would fly to space with our flag stitched to the arm of their uniform, deserve the best in what our government provides for them to carry out their duties, and in our wishes for them to succeed. I wish them well, and will say a prayer for when they're on their way back home.

As for NASA, I hope there are some big changes in the organization, that some real money goes into it, and that our country will soon have a new Vice President who will take his duties as head of the space program seriously. Yep, responsibility for the current sad state of affairs should go that far up to the top, afterall it is part of the job description for the Veep. Why haven't we heard from him, ever, about the condition of NASA as an agency, and what they're doing to make it better? If anything.

30 Years Gone....

....but not forgotten.

Farewell Phil

Monday, Phil Rizzuto passed away at age 89. He was a class act, a true team player, and the voice of Yankees games that many of us remember fondly. His presence in the sport of baseball will be truly missed.

Phil, Brooklyn born to a working class family, stood just 5'6", yet he overcame the odds to earn a celebrated place in New York sports history. As a high school baseball standout, he was often regarded by coaches and team mates alike as having more heart than natural ability, but this son of a Brooklyn streetcar driver worked hard to gain notice. Upon a dare from his friends, Phil reluctantly agreed to try out for a spot on the Brooklyn Dodgers, only for it to end in a way that might have crushed the dreams of most men.

At just one look when Phil walked out onto the field, Brooklyn Dodgers manager Casey Stengel, called the young Rizzuto over, then summarily dismissed him from the tryout. "You're too short to play pro ball kid, why dontcha go home and try to find a shine box somewhere?", is what was rumored to have been said, followed by a callous laughter from the Dodgers staff as Phil walked away.

But Phil didn't give up, he stuck with the game, gaining a reputation as a solidly dependable player. In time his efforts paid off, and he found his way to the New York Yankees.

During his time, he never was a big numbers guy, but he was a solid team player, one who wouldn't hesitate to do what it took to help the team advance to take the lead or position for a win. How many of us baseball fans miss that nowadays? I tell ya, self-sacrifice seems to be something from a past era, and a shining example left us Monday.

I never had a chance to see him play, though it almost feels as if I did from all the stories my dad told of the Yankees during Phil's playing days. Phil got a mention in many of those stories that still make me smile when I think about them. My dad had a way of telling a story that would leave you feeling as if you were there, I guess it was his enthusiastic manner of delivery, I sure miss that.

So, farewell Phil, thanks for living a good life and giving hope to the kids of Brooklyn during your days. Though many of us with dreams of pinstripes never made it to run the bases at Yankee Stadium, you did, and somehow that was good enough, you showed it was possible to make a dream become real.

May God speed you on your journey home. If you could, say hello to the Babe, Lou, Mickey, and Roger for me when ya get up there.

Utah Miners Still Trapped

After more than one week, Utah miners remain trapped. Mine owner (shown in forefront of picture) who is leading the "search", needs to stop with the media propaganda and just get those guys out of there.

If this guy is actually tryin' to find those guys, shouldn't he be pointing down?

Get to work ya frickin mine clown!

Yesterday....

This guy finally resigned, effective at the end of the month, the news made me smile.

It's Been a While....

It's been a while between posts, but now's as good a time as any to get back to it! Thanks to all who continue to visit.