Habla Whut?

I called a small town office yesterday. I got two messages. One was in Spanish. The one in Spanish was longer than the one in English. Why? Was this business that desperate for money?

I was in Walmart. I heard a message over the public address system. I heard it, but didn't understand it. I asked the clerk when I checked out what it was all about. She said it was a message for an automotive customer who had requested a reminder in Spanish. Now that's some catering. I wonder if I could get the tire center to announce in German since I have ancestors from Germany. I'm not holding my breath.

Anybody on Twitter? I got a message a few weeks ago that Twitter had reset my password. I rarely Tweet, but someone had tried to access my account. Why? I have about 16 followers and they're just there because they were looking to get a reciprocal following from me. It's not like it's PayPal or involves any money. So what would I Tweet if I could hack anyone's account?

From Gov. Robert Bentley: In honor of my hernia surgery, EBT cards are all cancelled until next year.

From Sheriff Ronnie Willis: All Lauderdale County sex offenders are to report immediately to ECM for surgical castration.

From  Blogger Shoalanda Speaks: I'm giving Bailey Quarters a raise.

Bailey

Sex Offender Castration Bill

State Rep. Steve Hurst has an interesting bill he plans to present in the next legislative session. Hurst's bill would require any sex offender over the age of 21 whose victim was under 12 to be surgically castrated before he could leave prison. Will it pass?

We're predicting it won't, but if it did, would it lower the chances of the deviant reoffending? Perhaps in some cases, but a sexual predator doesn't have to be intact in order to prey on his victims. It will be interesting to see just how far Hurst's bill gets.

*****

Yesterday we blogged about an ethics complaint against Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Mike Jones. We understand that a similar complaint may soon be filed against Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Billy Jackson. Hmmm, maybe Jimmy Sandlin is lucky he lost the last election.

*****

Halloween is just around the corner. Anyone going as an "Angel?" Probably not; all the ones we know have such tarnished halos.



Shoalanda

Ethics Complaint Brought Against Judge Mike Jones

Kenneth Paschal, Director of Government Affairs for ALFRA, has brought an ethics complaint against Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Mike Jones. The suit has been filed on behalf of the minor child of Mark Davis.

How many ethics complaints against judges are filed each year in Alabama? Since 2000, the yearly average is 156. Obviously these complaints are not a great rarity, but neither are they an every day occurrence in each of Alabama's 67 counties.

Just what does this ethics complaint say? The complaint itemizes five charges against Jones; however, our opinion is the accusation that the good judge allowed personal malice against Mark Davis to affect his ruling(s) is one of the complaint's strongest points.

The judicial inquiry committee has informed Mr. Paschal that it may be at least eight weeks before any action is taken on the complaint. We're waiting, and the citizens of Alabama are watching.



Shoalanda

Annali Vasquez--Not the Mother of the Year

Annali Vasquez

It's Saturday night, do you know where your microwave is? Yes, your microwave. It's probably in your kitchen, right; but just how high up is it? Could a short three year old reach it? We're guessing the answer is no. That doesn't mean all microwaves are placed at such heights, but we bet most are.

So we're to believe a three year-old girl, a short Hispanic Indian three year-old, reached up and opened the microwave door, then reached in and extracted a bowl of boiling soup. Maybe she did...but maybe she didn't.

We've also read an article that seemed to state the girl couldn't have received that kind of burn if she had been standing up. If that's true, was she being held down? There's more holes to this story than are in Mothra's closet.

Now we have the loving mother, Annali Vasquez, an illegal alien, attempting to escape, attacking a Russellville police officer as she did so. This woman can't take proper care of her eyebrows, much less a child. Please, someone...anyone...take this wonderful mother and father to the Mexican border and leave them.

*****

Have you thought about yesterday's puzzle? Yes, it's related to immigration, so today's revelation that the Vasquez couple are in the country illegally fits right in. And the two groups of children?

The healthy, happy children are on the north side of the U.S. border, while the poverty-stricken youngsters are on the south side. Ahh, you say, well that's it. Remember, these two groups of children are only two miles apart. Can you say one group deserves the basics while the second doesn't?

No, just living in the U.S. does not make one group more entitled than the other. It's not the residency, but the citizenship that should bring entitlement. Our federal government is partially shut down. We have to take care of our own citizens and place them first. There can be no exceptions.

As long as the State of Alabama is giving WIC and other programs to illegal aliens, there are lawful citizens of this state who are suffering needlessly. It cannot continue. This is literally a case of those not being a part of the solution being a part of the problem...a large part.



Shoalanda

Let's Play: "It's Your Choice"

The apocalypse came...just like in the movies. You've been assigned to take care of ten children for a
year until they can be transplanted into a new, safe world. Because of the effects of the apocalypse, these children need special food for this twelve-month period in order to not just survive, but thrive. Your problem?

You have only 50% of the rations you know the ten children will require. You can feed all ten with half rations, knowing they will live, but forever be stunted physically and mentally...or you can let five die and feed the remaining five a full ration knowing they will become intelligent productive adults in the new world.

Which do you do?

Now that you've played that game, here's a puzzle for you. Fifty children live in Alleria. They go to school, have adequate food, clothing, and medical care. Two miles away, fifty more children live in Mortura. These children have only cardboard shacks for shelter, scraps for food, and don't go to school.

The question: Don't the children in Mortura deserve just as much as the children two miles away in Alleria? Do you think they should have equal blessings in life, and why don't they?

*****

The first game? There are no easy answers, but we trust you'll think about it. The puzzle? We invite your comments for tomorrow.



Shoalanda

Mark Davis is Free!

Mark Davis was released from the Florence-Lauderdale Detention Center earlier today. Did Judge Mike Jones reconsider his sentence? No, as we understand it, several of Mark's supporters were able to combine funds in order to pay the back child support which the state says Mark owes.

This is not an end, but a beginning. We'll have more on this later, but in the mean time: Congratulations, Mark! Enjoy your freedom.

*****

The Shoals Democratic Club Meeting will be held on Monday, October 21, 2013, 6:00 p.m., at the Operating Engineers Hall, Local 320, Dr. Hicks Blvd. Florence, Alabama.  The keynote speaker for the 6:30 program is Mr. Bradley Davidson, Executive Director of the Alabama Democratic Majority. The public is invited to attend.

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Local state representative Lynn Greer has announced he wants a bill passed to "take lies out of" Alabama campaigns. Good. That should make the campaign season about two hours long...



Shoalanda

A Word About Mark Davis & Alabama Justice

A letter about Mark Davis:

I am a close friend of Mark Davis. I want to thank you for your patience and understanding and becoming a friend with Mark Davis. He is a good man, a good father, a good citizen, a good professional photographer, a law-abiding citizen, taxpayer, voter, and positive contributor to our community.

I want to share with you a few thoughts in hope that it provides you with additional perspective of what many fit parents and innocent children are being subjected to by the Alabama legislators, lawyers, judges (who are ALWAYS lawyers by trade), DHR, AOC, and the opposing misguided parent of their child(ren).

I attended the court hearing at which Mark was given to what amounts a life sentence in jail.

There were several of us present who care about Mark and his daughter.

We each have endured and continue to endure the abusive acts by Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, and the other misguided parent(s) of our children.

Here is a snapshot of the people who were there to support, care for, and love Mark:

Supporter A: U.S. Navy veteran who proudly served to risk his life and limb to protect you and your family; career as an Airline Pilot who you trust to fly your family safely around the USA; father of two girls; law abiding citizen; taxpayer; voter; born and raised in America; legal resident of Alabama – not an illegal immigrant (I inject that because of the immigration issue receiving plenty of media coverage while the fact that our children go abused by the Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, and misguided parents is continually ignored); 

Supporter B: Retired with over 20 years from U.S. Army U.S. Navy veteran, volunteered to die for your family, who proudly served to protect you and your family; currently working for free as a Family Rights Advocate with the non-profit family rights organization Alabama Family Rights Association (ALFRA); father of one girl; law abiding citizen; taxpayer; voter; born and raised in America; legal resident of Alabama – not an illegal immigrant(I inject that because of the immigration issue receiving plenty of media coverage while the fact that our children go abused by the Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, and misguided parents is continually ignored);

Supporter C: Career as an HVAC repair person; father of one son attending Auburn University; blue-collar, hard-working, law-abiding citizen; taxpayer; voter; born and raised in America; legal resident of Alabama – not an illegal immigrant (I inject that because of the immigration issue receiving plenty of media coverage while the fact that our children go abused by the Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, and misguided parents is continually ignored); 

Supporter D: decades in a career as a professional optometrist; owns his own business/practice; father of 3 children; law abiding citizen; taxpayer; voter; born and raised in America; legal resident of Alabama – not an illegal immigrant (I inject that because of the immigration issue receiving plenty of media coverage while the fact that our children go abused by the Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, and misguided parents is continually ignored); 

Supporter F: for many years a professional business owner and operator of a machine shop; father of one girl; blue-collar, hard-working, law abiding citizen; taxpayer; voter; born and raised in America; legal resident of Alabama – not an illegal immigrant (I inject that because of the immigration issue receiving plenty of media coverage while the fact that our children go abused by the Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, and misguided parents is continually ignored)

Supporter G: U.S. Navy veteran served to protect you and your family at the cost of his life and limb; career as a professional Firefighter and EMT who you trust to provide life-saving services for you and your family and risks his life for you and your family; father of one son; law abiding citizen; taxpayer; voter; born and raised in Alabama; legal resident of Alabama – not an illegal immigrant (I inject that because of the immigration issue receiving plenty of media coverage while the fact that our children go abused by the Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, and misguided parents is continually ignored);

No criminals. No thugs. No deadbeats. No threats. None.

What do every one of these individuals have in common? Our children and us have been abused, violated, persecuted, punished and nearly, I say nearly because we have not given up, destroyed by the laws of this State, the abuse by the Alabama judges, lawyers, AOC, DHR, legislators and misguided parents who seek to deny our children the God-ordained fundamental right to BOTH parents.

We are not thugs. We are not law-breakers. We are not threats to society. We are not violators. We are not abusers. We are not criminals. We are not burdens upon the taxpayers. We are not THE problem.

What else do we have in common? We have merely asked to do that which society constantly harps about: To be equally responsible, to be equally allowed, to raise our children AND for our children’s fundamental rights to BOTH parents be equally protected for the betterment of not only us and our child, but for the greater good of the community around us.

And in asking such a humane request, our children and we have been punished.

Here is the irony that is very difficult to think about and sort out and get through:

The day of Mark being given to what amounts a life sentence by Judge Jones, just before Mark’s hearing, a young white male appeared before Judge Jones, charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, plead guilty, was sentenced to prison for 24 months on one charge and 12 months on the other charge by Judge Jones, fined ridiculous amounts of money to be paid to various “victim” groups, fined various amounts of money to be paid to the court and lawyers, and then….wait…..wait…….wait….Judge Jones suspended his sentence and ordered him free on probation and he was allowed to leave a “free” man. While still under the control of the legal system via parole office, the man was free – not incarcerated for life or for any amount of time.

What crime has Mark Davis committed that has harmed or threatened anyone in society?

Mark took care of himself and his daughter. Mark was no burden on the taxpayer in any shape or form. Nor has his daughter ever needed or been given any State taxpayer support via welfare of any kind.

Now, Mark is being taken care of by the taxpayers and his daughter goes without her father. The facts reveal that this child is now greatly at risk for harm to herself or others due to not having her father in her life.

I believe Mark is to be incarcerated for a very long time because he can’t do what Judge Jones has ordered him to do. This is inhumane. But we know this is Alabama justice at its finest.

This entire issue is not about law, case law, court opinions, child support $$$$, etc…This entire issue is about children needing BOTH parents. For over 40 years, we as an American society have not only accepted, but supported, the systematic removal of one fit parent from the life of the child, usually dad in over 90% of the child custody rulings (out of respect for the importance of mothers, this is also happening to them in a smaller but no less important percentages). Yet, then society complains of the fallout when the child is denied, robbed, stolen, ripped from one parent, half of who they are, half of their identity, half of an entire network of extended family to love, support and guide them through what is a really tough world. We would no more support poking out one of a child’s good eyes or chop off one of their legs yet we support the child being ripped from one of their loving parents. End result: lost generations of current children and past children who are now dysfunctional adults. This is man- made. It can be changed for the better if the people want it to be changed.

In my wildest imagination I never thought that asking to be equally responsible for the rearing of our children would result in such harsh and inhumane treatment of not only us fit parents but result in the abuse and punishment of our children. This is living daily horror that we and our kids do our best to survive. This is standard pattern and practice by Alabama judges, lawyers, DHR, AOC, legislators and many misguided parents.

I hope you read my letter and I thank you for your time. I did not write this to be public consumption. I wrote this to you for you to have more insight as to how we and our kids are being treated. However, I respect your expertise on what you do with it as you see fit that will help Mark and his daughter and many other fit parents and children.

*****

The above letter has been edited to delete actual names. We have discussed the publication of this letter with the writer and have omitted some personal information.

*****

Should children of illegal immigrants receive state funds for WIC, etc., while our children are no longer offered Head Start, etc. Interesting question, isn't it? We'll have more...



Shoalanda