How to threaten your children

I love Nebraska.

Many states have a "safe haven" law, where people can leave babies at hospitals and 'give them up' with no repercussions. A way for mothers to give away unwanted children without worrying about adoption or other consequences, and to a great extent, to stop very young mothers form 'throwing away' babies after their births.

While most laws are written for infants (some as restrictive as only 3 days old max), in Nebraska their safe haven law you can drop off "Children". So now, parents can stop 'children' up to 18 years old at hospitals. In this evening's news, a 15 year old was abandoned. The big shocker when a man stopped off 9 of his 10 children off after their mother died, because he couldn't take care of them. (insert joke about caring for 10 children probably driving her to her grave...)

Now, strange as this may be, it's gotta be great for Nebraska parents. Wanna get your kids to behave, just tell them that they can still be returned to the hospital if they misbehave. Who could ask for anything better?

Enough is finally enough

Well, it's finally happened. She got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

My state senator has been indicted for Bribery. I won't bore you with details, you can check the local papers. Or you can read the indictment itself.

Now, Dianne Wilkerson is no stranger to trouble She has been convicted of "minor" crimes in the past - tax evasion, campaign irregularities, being sued for non-payment of fees, and the latest was lying under oath. but through all this, she keeps getting re-elected. It's become very controversial, and very racially charged. Calls of "only a minority can represent a minority district" are often heard. And most elections the 'white' districts, who have "had enough" vote overwhelmingly to get rid of her, while the black districts, who say "she helps all of these low income people" support her enough to get re-elected.

last election, she didn't even qualify to be on the ballot, so she got her supports to put her on as a write-in candidate, and she subsequently won that election. This past election, she lost the primary, yet did not let that dissuade her, and was starting another write-in campaign to get elected.

And then this morning, she was lead off in handcuffs.

The FBI has pictures, audio and video of her accepting bribes, not even big money. Small bribes to get licenses, delay legislation, and other various favors. the latest was just a few weeks ago where she 'demanded' more money from the under cover agent, supposedly this extra money to help her reelection campaign.

Now, all the charges in her past you could almost explain away. (almost). But bribery is another story. You can't explain that away. there is no "but in the end I was helping someone". Putting cash in your pocket is helping only yourself. This is beyond the 'last straw'. This is betrayal. To herself, to those she worked with, and to those she is supposed to be representing. This is going from being a Robin Hood one day to Al Capone the next.

Politics in Massachusetts is a strange beast, but an out and out betrayal of public trust seems to be what it takes before people wake up and smell the coffee... This whole mess is best surmised with a quote from a fellow senator

"This has moved far beyond the sad transgressions of her past," Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei said in a statement. "The latest charges brought against Senator Wilkerson rise to a whole new level, and significantly tarnish the reputation not only of the Massachusetts Senate, but government as a whole."

Trolleys, 1903

Anotehr blog sent me to this youtube video, a 1903 short film taken by Thomas Edison from the front of a trolley. The first part is downtown near Jordan Marsh, and the video ends in Copley Square in front of the library on the Huntington Ave line.

Way cool

Another year

A thanks to all who've sent their birthday wishes. Although I have to ponder the modern era. At 12 midnight last night a half dozen forums and e-retailers had sent me auto birthday greetings. (Adding to the e-coupons I got from some other retailers on the 1st of the month). T'is a new world we live in.

Another low key one this year, although I had a great dinner with a friend on Saturday. Maybe Lester will give me a nice Sox win tonight.

A thanks to all who wished me well. Cash can be sent to....

September Raw

ust a note, one of my photographs made it into the September Globe photography contest. it's a low key contest, but I did make the 'first cut' which is nice... Voting ends this I'll - we'll see where mine ends up. There competition is tough :)

Not yet

No, I'm not running for public office. Not yet at least. :) Although thanks to a friend for passing this on. I'm from CT, which is why they had asked if this person was related (he's not a direct relation).

Love Resurrection

Won tickets today on FNX (woo-hoo) to see Alison Moyet downtown at the Wilbur. I knew she was going to be in town, but not having heard any of her material for a while I was on the edge. Free is a good incentive though.

I ended up really enjoying the show. She played songs form throughout her 6 albums, plus some old Yaz songs. She's fresh of a Yaz (Yazoo) 'reunion' tour, and that got her interested in doing a small solo tour. At close to 50, she can still belt out a tune.

Her voice is just amazing. From pop-dancie tunes (with a band, not a synth), to jazz like standards, she can really belt it out. Some of her new songs were just OK, but more because it just seemed like the wrong material for her. The band brought some interesting arrangements to songs. If your a fan, or just like jazz pop singers, you have to listen to the 'band' version of All Cried out (YouTube link if the embedded video isn't working for you).

The Wilber was actually a great place to see a show. They've removed all the orchestra level seats, as it's used as a comedy club these days. I had GA tickets, so you got to stand where you want - so I had a great view, as it wasn't packed. It seems like it would be a good palce to see a comedy show with the tables in place.

All in all, a great evening out, even though it was to be my only free night this week :) Only bummer is all my friends were booked up and couldn't attend on such short notice.