Gnome Update

I got another email message supposedly from our gnome. The text was, "Tulare is scary." It was accompanied by the photo you see here. This is just sick! Here is the text of my reply, "We just want our gnome back. Please don't hurt him and don't torture him anymore. We need him back for the holidays...in one piece."

I don't know what is going through the mind of this sick kidnapper. Why would you torture a harmless little garden gnome like this. Perhaps the kidnapper was tormented in elementary school. Maybe they were picked on by everyone else in their class and now they are just taking it out on an innocent gnome. Whatever the reason, this person is twisted.

I just hope our gnome is returned to us soon. We would hate to be gnomeless for the holiday season. Senseless violence against gnomes is a hate crime and will be treated as such when I testify against the kidnapper.

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New Message from My Gnome

I got another message from my gnome last night. Here is the message:

"I just want you to know that i am fine. I was tired of being in your yard with nobody paying attention to me so i will be gone for a while longer. Don't worry i will be back soon. I think that i want to travel a little and i am thinking of going to Tulare tomorrow.

Homie Gnomie.

P.S. I have changed my name for my new adventure."

It was accompanied by the photo above. It is troubling, buy I think my suspicions are confirmed by looking at the photo. I hope to get our gnome back soon.

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Where has my Garden Gnome Gone

I have not heard anymore from the kidnappers of my garden gnome. I have not received a ransom letter. I have not been sent any photos of my gnome in Paris. Where is he?

I find it hard to believe that someone would kidnap my gnome just to torture my family. We are finding it more difficult to carry on with our boring lives with each passing day that our gnome is missing. I don't know how much longer we can go on. We have chosen not to get law enforcement involved up to this point because we don't want this to get messy.

As I have said before, we have a history with our gnome. We have had a lot of good times together. The kids have played with him in the back yard. He has watched Meg grow up. These are memories that you cannot replace.

If the kidnapper is reading this blog, please return our gnome! Our family does not feel complete any more. We can't imagine celebrating the holiday season without our garden gnome.

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What is a Hero?

With tomorrow being Veteran's Day, I thought I would explore a topic that is relevant. Most people consider people who "serve" in our military a hero. I question that type of labeling. What makes someone who serves in the military a hero just because they served?

Are you a hero for killing someone from another country? Are you a hero for destroying the infrastructure of a foreign city? Are you a hero for blindly taking orders? Are you a hero for being stationed in San Diego for 4 years? What makes a member of the military a hero?

If you do something heroic, you should be labeled a hero. I don't think you earn that label just because you choose the military as a profession. And let's face it, that is what it is. The same as being a police officer, fire fighter, teacher or postal worker. It is just a profession, and for many people it is the best profession they could ever hope for. You get to travel. All of your meals and living expenses are covered. Your medical, dental and vision needs are taken care of for you. Your college expenses get paid for. And you even get a pay check. Granted, the check is not that large, buy they are for the most part uneducated members of our workforce. Does any of this make you a hero. If it does, then I know a lot of heroes.

I don't think people should be labeled as heroes just because they choose a certain profession. I think you are a hero for what you choose to do. For your actions. For what you "fight" for. I guess I am just a bit more picky in who I label a hero.

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Insane Killer Recaptured

The title of this blog was a small headline in our local paper today. The small story that accompanied the headline raised several questions in my mind.

The killer was in a mental institution in Washington state after being declared insane. "He was committed after he was diagnosed as schizophrenic and acquitted by reason of insanity in the slaying of an elderly woman in Sunnyside in 1987. He soaked her body in gasoline to throw off search dogs." Click here for the story.

I question the sanity of anyone who murders another person. I think it is obvious that if you decide to end another persons life, you are mentally unstable. So how then do we decide that some people should be sent to prison and some should be sent to mental institutions?

The larger question however is why are we taking people in mental institutions on field trips? Especially if they are there for committing any crime. This makes no sense to me at all. And why would the chosen field trip be to a county fair where there are many children, often not watched very closely by their parents? The tax dollars of Washington state citizens are being used to pay for field trips for murderers. In this economy, I can't believe that tax dollars would be spent so frivously, expecially for those who have committed crimes.

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Hybrid Vehicles

I am about to enter the market for a new car after driving my Honda Accord for 14 years. It has required very little maintenance so I have been very happy with the car. It is just time to buy a new car.

I am only considering one car at this point, a Toyota Prius. I drove one last year and was pleasantly surprised by the power and spacious interior. On my last trip to San Francisco, we caught a ride in a Prius taxi and it handled the hills very well. I also love the fact that the new Prius has the option of a solar panel on the roof to power the A/C when the car is off. That is a great feature when you live in the valley. My mind is made up.

Before making my decision I did a pretty thourough search. I know that I want to purchase a hybrid car because I believe that is the right thing to do both financially and for the environment. The only problem is that there are not enough hybrid models on the market to choose from. The Honda Insight entered the market this year, but it is smaller than the Prius. If you are looking for a hybrid SUV you have even fewer choices. You either have to buy a small one or buy a very expensive larger model. There is nothing in between.

At this point, why aren't all cars hybrid? The technology has existed for long enough that Toyota is able to build very reliable hybrid cars and SUVs. Obviously Honda has also been able to build an attractive model as well. So, why aren't all of the other car makers jumping on the bandwagon? It sure seems like the right thing to do. We are running out of oil, the price of gas continues to rise and we are witnessing global climate change.

It is my opinion that all government vehicles should be hybrid models. If every government agency, including police departments, were required to buy hybrids the auto makers would be forced to build them or lose valuable market share.

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Michael Vick is Back!?

So, Michael Vick played QB for the Atlanta Falcons until he was charged with a felony for operating an unlawful six-year long interstate dog fighting venture known as "Bad Newz Kennels" at a house he owned in Virginia. He was sentenced to 23 months in prison. He served 18 months of his sentence before being released from prison.

On August 13, Vick signed a 1-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles that will pay him $1.6 million this year with an option for the 2010 season worth $5 million. This past Sunday, sportscaster James Brown interviewed Vick for 60 Minutes. In the interview Vick stated that he was sorry that he did not step up as a leader and put a stop to the dog fighting, torture and killing. He said he was sorry for how it impacted his family, friends and team. He seemed very concerned with how it affected his life, but not really genuinely remorseful for what he did to the animals and for breaking the law. The excuse is that this was the life he was surrounded by growing up, so we need to give him a break.

If I was the one who was convicted of a felony charge and served time in prison, I would not be able to come back and get the same or similar job that I had before serving prison time. Does he deserve to make $1.6 million this year just because he is talented on the football field? Why then should I not be able to get a similar paying job after serving time for a felony conviction? Does this mean that he is better or more valuable than me, or any other regular working person? I don't think so and am ashamed that the NFL let him back into the league so soon.

Everybody has a right to resume their life after serving the required time for their crime. The problem is that regular people do not get that luxury. Only celebrities and wealthy people do. This is just not right!

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Who's to Blame?

I read today that there was a police chase in Dinuba. There was a family of seven in a pickup driving through an intersection when the Dodge Neon that the police were chasing collided with it. Five children in the pickup and the three people in the Neon were killed. The parents from the truck are still in the hospital. Did you catch that?

My first thought when I started reading the story was, why are there seven people riding in a pickup? I don't think there are seat belts for seven people. And later my thoughts were confirmed. Nobody in either vehicle was wearing seat belts. And my initial instincts were confirmed as well. Family members are considering suing the Dinuba Police Department. What!? Now I have been living in this area long enough to know the first think people around here think about when the police are involved. Show me the money!

It doesn't matter if the people the police are involved with are committing a crime or not. There first thought is that they can sue the police department and city. If you truly care about correcting the problem, shouldn't you first be demanding and investigation into the actions of the officers? Is this about caring or just about the money?

I hate to say this so soon after a family lost all five of their children, but since none of the children were wearing seat belts, aren't the parents more responsible for their deaths than the police department? I think they are! I am not an expert on the law, but I believe that any deaths that occur during the commission of a crime are attributed to the person committing the crime. I am not a diehard supporter of police, but I think this one is obvious who is at fault. If, after an investigation it is learned that the police officers acted improperly in the chase, I will change my thoughts. But until that time, I blame the criminals in the Neon and the parents of the children. I guess we are still in an era when nobody wants to take responsibility for their own actions.

Here is a link to the story.

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Henry Louis Gates Revisited

So, a few days ago I was watching the news and there was a follow-up story regarding the Gates arrest. They played a part of the 911 call and also a part of the radio conversation between the arresting officer and the police department. Prior to this, the arresting officer's lawyer stated that once the two recordings were released everyone would understand why Gates was arrested. That you could hear him being disobedient in the recording. After hearing the recordings, I must say I don't understand why he was arrested. The neighbor on the 911 call did say it looked like someone was breaking in, but later moved closer to the house and said there was luggage and that they might live there. I understand her call, but why did the police officer treat Gates the way he did?

The recording of the police officer did not do anything to change my mind. He seemed very calm and there was no yelling in the background like his lawyer implied. I think this was just a case of an officer with a chip on his shoulder and the moment his authority was brought into question, he overreacted to prove he was in control. This is a shame because I don't think it was a racist reaction like it is being portrayed in the media. I wish Obama would not have gotten involved, but because Gates is his friend it is understandable.

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Obama's Response to My Letter

Here is the response I got back from President Obama. It only took him about a month.

Dear Friend:

Thank you for writing to me. I appreciate hearing
from you and value your input.

Each day, I am moved by the messages I have
received from people across the country. Far too many
Americans are struggling--falling behind on mortgage
payments, coping with illness, or losing a job without
warning. My Administration is working to address the
serious challenges our Nation faces. I am committed to
taking immediate steps that generate job creation and
economic recovery, and I am determined to make
investments that lay a new foundation for real and lasting
progress.

To build this new foundation, we need health care
reform--this year--that reduces costs, protects health
care choices, and assures quality, affordable care for all
Americans. I encourage you to visit
www.HealthReform.gov to learn more about my
commitment to enacting comprehensive health care reform
in 2009.

I am also dedicated to building a clean energy
economy that creates millions of jobs, helps us achieve
energy independence, and reduces pollution as we tackle
the effects of global warming. Please visit
www.Recovery.gov to read about the more than $60 billion
in clean energy investments my Administration has made to
jump-start our economy and build the jobs of tomorrow.

To prepare our children to thrive in the global
economy, we must guarantee every child a complete and
competitive education. For information about my
education reform agenda, please join me online at:
www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/education.

At the same time, we have an obligation to rein in
our budget deficit by cutting wasteful spending and
ineffective programs. We can do all this, and change the
way business is done in Washington, by building the most
open, transparent, and accountable government in our
history.

While we repair our communities, we must also
recognize the important contributions of our service men
and women in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other nations. Our
military and their families have borne an enormous burden
for their fellow citizens, serving with honor and succeeding
beyond any expectation. For those who have been injured
or lost their lives in pursuit of our freedom, we owe them
our undying gratitude. I am committed to assisting our
servicemembers, veterans, and their families and honoring
our debts to them.

The only way to solve the problems of our time is to
involve all Americans in shaping the policies that affect our
lives. I hope you continue to explore
www.WhiteHouse.gov, which is regularly updated and
more interactive than ever before.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

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My Letter to the President

When my wife lost her teaching job, I started sending a letter to the President on a semi-regular basis. Here is the letter I was sending him.

Mr. President,

As we continue to hear about bailouts and bankruptcies in the news, it alarms me that we are "bailing" on the future of this country by cutting our spending on education. I keep hearing that we “cannot afford to let these companies fail.” How then can we afford to let our education system fail? Our children are the leaders of tomorrow; the future CEOs of GM, Chrysler and the banks that we are currently bailing out.

Here in California, education spending has been cut to the point that many teachers have received pink slips and our children are being forced into classrooms with the maximum number of students allowed. The overworked teachers will not be able to give the students the individual attention they require, and you and I both know that many of these kids do not get the proper help at home either. What then are we teaching them? Are we teaching them that they are not as important as mismanaged businesses that are being run by corrupt or inept CEOs?

I personally know many teachers and have two school-aged children. My wife was a first year 6th grade teacher this past year in a school located in a known gang infested area of our town. She loves teaching and helping every one of her students. She spends a lot of our personal income on supplies and special treats for her students because many of their parents cannot afford to buy these items for their kids. She spends a minimum of 3 extra hours at her school every day, for which she is not paid. She is truly dedicated to helping these kids become better people. Of course, she received her pink slip this year and may be forced to become a substitute teacher, without health benefits, next year just to help us pay our bills.

I believe that education is the key to becoming successful and that the future of the country rests on the shoulders of our teachers who are preparing the next generation of great Americans. I believe that we need to change our government spending patterns and focus more of our national and state budgets on education. I believe that we need to cut our spending on prisons and inmate care. I believe that we can cut our spending on law enforcement in general and get better results. I believe in change. I believe in you. Please help our children by providing an education "bailout" plan.

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Racism and Government II

The arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates has opened the flood gates on racism. Both Mr. Gates and the Cambridge police department are at fault. I don't know all of the details, but rarely is one person to blame for an incident like this. As I understand the facts, Mr. Gates had to force open a stuck door. A neighbor saw someone forcing open a door and called the police. When the police arrived, Mr. Gates did not furnish identification immediately. During the incident he started accusing the officers of racial profiling, even after providing his I.D. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. He was wrong for bringing race into the issue and the police officers were wrong for arresting him. The only way he could be justified for his actions is if the police department has been harassing him for some time. Both to blame...get over it and move on.

Obama made a comment that the "police acted stupidly." This was an inappropriate comment from him, especially after he stated that he does not have all the facts. Last night I saw on a news program that the National Republican Senatorial Committee has put together a petition asking if Obama's comments were presidential. With all of the problems we are facing in this country, they are spending their time and money on this? Ridiculous! Of course his comments were not presidential. I don't need the results of a petition to tell me that. I also saw that at least one politician is saying that the president should not criticize law enforcement. Why not? Is law enforcement above criticism? I think we need to criticize law enforcement more. We need to be critical of their actions because they are enforcing the laws that we, through our politicians, have created. We need to make sure they are doing their jobs properly and not becoming a rogue group like we see in so many other countries.

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