• From the “Godspeed” Department – An officer in the California Highway Patrol died on Wednesday after being shot in the head the day before.  He had pulled over a vehicle on the highway, and was shot during the traffic stop.  Things like this twist my heart.  I know a lot of people don’t have a very high opinion of law enforcement in general, but good police exist in this country, and in my experience are the majority in their profession.  It is because of good police here in Louisville that Irish Woman and I do not have to take turns standing guard through the night, something that I can’t say about all of the places in the world that I’ve been, including some with “police”.  Go with God, Kenyon Youngstrom.
• From the “Good For Them” Department – A couple in England has had charges of causing grievous bodily harm dropped against them after prosecutors decided they acted reasonably in shooting masked burglars who came into their bedroom.  As has been noted here and on other sites, Great Britain has, for the most part, done away with the part of common law that says that a man’s home is his castle, and that a person in danger may use violence to protect their life.  It’s quite sad that a case where someone defends their life with effective tools and doesn’t get sent to prison is so extraordinary.
• From the “Shocked Face” Department – Internal emails at Gallup suggest that the polling company may have felt pressured by the White House after it published findings that suggested that President Obama isn’t loved by every soul in the country.  White House Press Secretary David “Knuckles” Axelrod publicly questioned Gallup’s methods, and other officials invited Gallup to the White House to ‘discuss’ matters.  I guess I’m becoming jaded by Chicago-style politics, but if anyone is surprised that this administration, which has made it a primary goal to control the media and the message given to the American people, would use pressure tactics to influence polls in a reelection campaign, then I have some beachfront property in Minot to sell you.
• From the “Wehrgeld” Department – The mother of a girl, who was raped and murdered 22 years ago, has raised $4000 to pay for her trip to watch the execution of the man who killed her daughter.  The man was originally convicted in 1992, and his case has been in court ever since.  I cannot imagine what this mother has gone through, but I can fully understand wanting to be there to watch this animal put down.  I just wish I’d heard about it while she was still raising money.

Good – Going to a movie for your evening entertainment

Bad – Going dressed as the Joker

Worse – You have an outstanding warrant and decide to stick around when someone calls the police.

Good – Having a school system that provides an education to an autistic boy and he can ride the bus on the first day of school.

Bad – He’s left alone on the bus for over  an hour after the bus run is over

Worse – Stonewalling the family when they ask to see the videotape from the bus so they can figure out what went wrong.

Good – The land crabs are mating again in Florida, continuing a healthy life cycle.

Bad – They’re doing it in the roads

Worse – Apparently that’s not good for the tires on cars.

Good – I checked the weather report before walking into work this morning

Bad – The weatherman as wrong, and it rained like cats and dogs this afternoon.

Worse – I left my car windows halfway down this morning