Jack Klugman Dies At 90

 

Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?"  That was the question asked at the beginning of every episode of The Odd Couple.  From 1970 through 1975 my family like thousands of others tuned into watch as the tensions between neat freak Tony Randall   and sloppy Jack Klugman different lifestyles inevitably lead to conflicts and laughs.
Not surprisingly, Klugman won Emmys in 1971 and 1973 for outstanding continued performance by an actor in a leading role in a comedy series.

Klugman’s next role was that of a doctor who solved crimes for the police by medical and scientific deduction in Quincy, M.E.  Klugman earned four Emmy nominations “Quincy, M.E.” which ran on NBC from 1976 to 1983.

In 1974 Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer. In 1989, he lost a vocal cord to cancer, but continued to act on stage and television, though he was left with a quiet, raspy voice.

Klugman died at the age of 90 at his home in Woodland Hills, California, on December 24, 2012.  He was survived by his sons, David and Adam, and two grandchildren.

China School Knife Attack Leaves 23 Injured

 

Evil, violence visited two schools on December 14th. We are all aware of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, but are you aware that a world away in Central China, a man wielding a knife attacked students at an elementary school.  All of the victims survived and were treated at three hospitals, though some were reportedly seriously injured, with fingers or ears cut off, and had to be transferred to larger hospitals for specialized care

 I learned that a series of uncoordinated mass stabbings, hammer attacks, and cleaver attacks in the People's Republic of China began in March 2010. The wave of attacks left at least 25 dead and some 115 injured.

I garnered the following information about these incidents in China:

On March 23, 2010, Zheng Minsheng 41, murdered eight children with a knife in an elementary school in Nanping, Fujian province; The attack was widely reported in Chinese media  sparking fears of copycat crimes. Following a quick trial, Zheng Minsheng was executed about one month later on April 28.

Just a few hours after the execution of Zheng Minsheng in neighboring Fujian Province, in Leizhou, Guangdong another knife-wielding man named Chen Kangbing, 33  at Hongfu Primary School wounded 16 students and a teacher. Chen Kangbing had been a teacher at a different primary school in Leizhou; he was sentenced to death by a court in Zhanjiang in June.

On April 29 in Taixing, Jiangsu, 47-year-old Xu Yuyuan went to Zhongxin Kindergarten and stabbed 28 students, two teachers and one security guard; most of the Taixing students were 4 years old.

On April 30, Wang Yonglai used a hammer to cause head injury to preschool children in Weifang, Shandong, then used gasoline to commit suicide by setting himself on fire.

An attacker named Wu Huanming 48, killed seven children and two adults and injured 11 other persons with a cleaver at a kindergarten in Hanzhong, Shaanxi on May 12, 2010;  early reports were removed from the internet in China, for fear that mass coverage of such violence can provoke copycat attacks. The attacker later committed suicide at his house; he was the landlord of the school, Shengshui Temple private kindergarten, and had been involved in an ongoing dispute with the school administrator about when the school would move out of the building.

On May 18, 2010 at Hainan Institute of Science and Technology, a vocational college in Haikou, Hainan, more than 10 men charged into a dormitory wielding knives around 2:30 am; after attacking the security guard and disabling security cameras, 9 students were injured, 1 seriously. The local men attacked the dorm in an act of revenge and retaliation against college students following conflict the previous day at an off-campus food stall in which 4 students were injured, for a total of 13.

On 4 August 2010, 26-year-old Fang Jiantang slashed more than 20 children and staff with a 60 cm knife, killing 3 children and 1 teacher, at a kindergarten in Zibo, Shandong province. Of the injured, 3 other children and 4 teachers were taken to the hospital. After being caught Fang confessed to the crime; his motive is not yet known.

ht children, all aged four or five, were hurt in Minhang District, Shanghai when an employee at a child-care centre for migrant workers slashed them with a box-cutter.

In September 2011, a young girl and three adults taking their children to nursery school were killed in Gongyi, Henan by 30-year-old Wang Hongbin with an axe. Another child and an adult were seriously wounded but survived. The suspect is a local farmer who is suspected of being mentally ill.

In September 2011, a young girl and three adults taking their children to nursery school were killed in Gongyi, Henan by 30-year-old Wang Hongbin with an axe.  Another child and an adult were seriously wounded but survived. The suspect is a local farmer who is suspected of being mentally ill.

What’s interesting is that after the Chenpeng school attack, the Chinese government began posting security guards in schools throughout the country. It is planned that all schools will have a security guard by 2013.

Meanwhile, here in America there are people who against having an armed security guard in the schools.  I’ve taught for twenty years and for about fifteen of those years I taught in schools that had an armed officer on duty during the school day.  So I for one am not opposed to their presence. 

Mo Canady, National Association of School Resource Officers EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR says: “A well-trained, armed SRO is one of the best defenses against an active shooter. We provide training to school-based police officers on sound tactics that save lives during a shooting attack.

“While an SRO is essential, school safety requires collaboration between multiple agencies and parties. No single group or person, including an SRO, can effectively improve safety alone. We urge involvement by parents, cafeteria staff, janitorial staff, counselors, nurses and even students, as appropriate.”

NASRO recommends that every school have a security team that includes school administrators, teachers, cafeteria staff, janitorial staff, counselors, nurses, students and parents.   School security teams were in place in all the schools where I worked.   Such teams help to make sure training is up-to-date and disseminated to all stakeholders.

Schools must be safe havens for our students.  What are you willing to do to see that this NEVER happens again? 

Forgiving The Unforgiveable

We are told that forgiveness will heal our soul and help us find peace.  For so many of us resentment can be so strong that it can impede our ability to forgive.

Imagine then the power of the words of Robbie Parker, the father of one of the children who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

Parker offered comfort and forgiveness to the family of shooter Adam Lanza, saying “I want you to know that our love and support go out to you as well.”

Parker understood that forgiveness did not mean that he condoned what was or that he are absolving the perpetrator of responsibility for his actions. He understood that the family of the shooter was suffering the loss of a mother and a son and he was reaching out to comfort them.

We certainly could understand parents who cannot imagine reaching out to the family of the shooter while they themselves are in the depths of despair.  Sometimes it is very hard to forgive. Sometimes the wrongs are so pernicious and the wounds so painful that forgiveness seems impossible.  We can all hope and pray that the parents of these innocent victims will learn to relieve themselves of the burden of being a victim--let go of the pain and transform themselves from victim to survivor.

Forgiving the unforgivable is a journey with its sight is set on GOD.   GOD has offered forgiveness not just a command but also as a healing. By making the difficult choice to forgive we are freed from the burdens of bitterness, anger, and isolation.

A Second December 14th School Rampage Was Adverted

While many of us are still reeling at the latest school shooting we learn that police stopped what would have been a second mass school-shooting on Friday, arresting an Oklahoma teenager plotting to kill dozens of his classmates.

 Sammie Eaglebear Chavez attempted to recruit students to help him carry out a massive school shooting and bombing plot at Bartlesville High School on Wednesday.  He planned to lure students into the school auditorium where he would begin shooting them after chaining the doors shut.  He also planned to place bombs by the auditorium doors and that when police arrived, he would detonate them.

According to the affidavit Chavez had been attempting to obtain a map or diagram of the high school facilities and had been using a school computer to search for information on a Marlin Model 99M — a .22-caliber rifle on a machine gun platform.

Chavez reportedly told a teacher he bought a handgun and spent the weekend shooting it. Witnesses also report they saw Chavez looking at a website on how to build a pipe bomb and caught him researching the Columbine High School massacre.

A quick check of his Facebook page gives you a little background on this young man.  He proudly proclaims:

“im an alcoholic,ive been hurt so much that its all i know,i hate women and men,and i dont leave my house because i have no reason to.”

His favorite quotes include the following:

"Why are you doing this to us?....becuase you were home"-The strangers "What goes on inside a mans head?....I guess we'll just have to bust it open and find out!!!"-Anonymous "Hurting myself only reminds me that i can still feel."-Anonymous "I wanna slit your throat and fuck the wound!!"-Slipknot "Blind them, torture them, kill them"-dennis-ak”

Thank goodness this is one deadly rampage that was stopped before anyone was hurt or killed. 

Chavez is being held on $1 million bail on a charge of conspiring to cause serious bodily harm or death to other students and is due in court January 11th.

The Names Of The Victims Of The Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Released

Below is the list of the victims of the masacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School released by Connecticut State Police.

-- Charlotte Bacon, Female, 02-22-06

-- Daniel Barden, Male, 09-25-05

-- Rachel Davino, Female, 07-17-83

-- Olivia Engel, Female, 07-18-06

-- Josephine Gay, Female, 12-11-05

-- Ana Marquez-Greene, Female, 04-04-06

-- Dylan Hockley, Male, 03-08-06

-- Dawn Hockstrung, Female, 06-28-65

-- Madeleine F. Hsu, Female, 07-10-06

-- Catherine V. Hubbard, Female, 06-08-06

-- Chase Kowalski, Male, 10-31-05

-- Jesse Lewis, Male, 06-30-06

-- James Mattioli, Male, 03-22-06

-- Grace McDonnell, Female, 11-04-05

-- Anne Marie Murphy, Female, 07-25-60

-- Emilie Parker, Female, 05-12-06

-- Jack Pinto, Male, 05-06-06

-- Noah Pozner, Male, 11-20-06

-- Caroline Previdi, Female, 09-07-06

-- Jessica Rekos, Female, 05-10-06

-- Avielle Richman, Female, 10-17-06

-- Lauren Russeau, Female, 06-?-82

-- Mary Sherlach, Female, 02-11-56

-- Victoria Soto, Female, 11-04-85

-- Benjamin Wheeler, Male, 09-12-06

-- Allison N. Wyatt, Female, 07-03-06

God bless these innocent little ones and their amazing teachers who laid down their lives to protect them.

Deadly School Shooting At Sandy Hook Elementary School

 
 Twenty-seven reported dead in a school shooting in Newton, Connecticut including some twenty children.
 
The first 911 call reportedly came in just after 9:40 a.m., stating that multiple students were trapped in a classroom with a gunman, who authorities say was an adult who had at least two guns. The school locks its exterior doors during the school day, so it is unclear how the gunman or gunmen gained access to the building.

It has been reported that the gunman, now deceased, has been identified as 24 year old Adam Lanza.  It has also been confirmed that the body found in the Newton home of shooting of Nancy J. Lanza, his mother.

A second man was taken out of the woods in handcuffs wearing a black jacket and camouflage pants and telling parents on the scene, “I did not do it.” He has been taken into custody.  Police do not feel that he is connected to the shooting.

According to a witness report, the school's principal and another staffer were killed while the vice principal was shot in the leg after a gunman opened fire in a hallway.
 

A witness said gunshots were heard in the hallway during a meeting and that "100 rounds" must have been fired, according to CNN. After the shots were fired, three people ran into the hallway but only the vice principal crawled back.

Most of the children dead were in a Kindergarten class. The Principal Dawn Hochsprung  and school psychologist are also among the dead.

Ryan Lanza, 24 year-old brother of Adam is being questioned, but is not considered a suspect.

Today’s shooting comes just two days after a gunman in Oregon shot and killed two people at a crowded Oregon mall. The suspect in that case was identified as 22-year-old Jacob Tyler Roberts. Police say Roberts' took his own life inside a mall store. Authorities in that case are still piecing together a possible motive.

Sandy Hook Elementary School is closed Friday while police continue to investigate the shooting.

My prayers go out to those families who lost children.

Three Dead In Oregon Mall Shooting

It’s the holidays and the Clackamas Town Center is decorated with greenery and seasonal decorations. A jolly Santa is listening while good boys and girls share their Christmas wishes.  It could be a typical December afternoon in any mall across the United States.

A young man parks his 1996 green Volkswagen Jetta in front of the second-floor entrance to Macy’s.  The young man exits his vehicle wearing a hockey-style mask, wearing load-bearing vest and is armed with an Ar-15 semiautomatic rifle.

The young man enters the story and makes his way quickly into the mall.  The Christmas music was interrupted by series of rapid-fire shots in short succession.  The nightmare had begun.

The mall Santa, Brance Wilson, was waiting for the next child's Christmas when shots rang out.   Santa dove for the floor and kept his head down as he heard shots being fired upstairs in the mall.

"I heard two shots and got out of the chair," said Mr Wilson, 68. "I thought a red suit was a pretty good target."

Authorities estimated that 10,000 workers and shoppers were at the Town Center when the shooting began, and workers took quick action to lock down their stores while many shoppers headed to the parking lots for cover.

According to police, the gunman shot himself as police converged on him, but not before fatally shooting Steve Forsyth, 45, of West Linn, Oregon, and Cindy Ann Yule, 54, of Portland.  A third victim, Kristina Shevchenko, remains in a serious condition.

The shooter has been identified as Jacob Tyler Roberts.  According to law enforcement the shooter did not have a criminal record.

I checked out his Facebook page but found nothing that would portend this event. 

According to some reports, Roberts had planned to go into the Navy after he graduated from high school, but he hurt his leg, so he wasn’t eligible.  After that, everything kind of fell apart for him.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.  It's amazing that more people weree not hurt or killed in this senseless act of violence.  

It's A Life & It's Wonderful

Today I attended my first Christmas Musical at Gateway Church.  It definitely it won't be my last. 

According to Gateway 39,000 attended "It's a Life & It's Wonderful"! Even better, 545 made first-time salvation decisions and 149 recommitted their lives to Jesus!

I hope that you get the opportunity to watch this show and are blessed by its message.

10 Jolly Ways to Celebrate the Holidays at Fernbank Museum

1)  Winter">http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/explore-exhibits/special-exhibitions/winter-wonderland-2012/">Winter Wonderland
: Stroll through the museum as you enjoy dozens of trees decorated by our cultural partners to celebrate holidays and traditions around the world. Be sure to also check out special artwork created by local branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
2)  Santa-saurushttp://www.fernbankmuseum.org/explore-exhibits/special-exhibitions/winter-wonderland-2012/special-programming/">Santa-saurus
>: This Santa has claws! Look for our new holiday mascot Santa-Saurus on select days during the holiday season.  Giggy A. Dinosaur and his giant Santa hat help spread some joy to the world.
3)  Santa-saurus">http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/explore-exhibits/special-exhibitions/winter-wonderland-2012/special-programming/">Santa-saurus Express Train Rides
: All aboard this special dinosaur-themed holiday train for a merry ride around Fernbank’s Dinosaur Plaza. (Train ride is additional $3)
4)  Genghis">http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/explore-exhibits/special-exhibitions/genghis-khan/">Genghis Khan
: Where would your holiday cards be without Genghis? He’s not usually referred to as “jolly,” but Genghis Khan did impart some gifts to the modern world—from hamburgers to passports, and from pants to postal delivery. See this incredible exhibition before Khan is Gone!
5)  To">http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/experience-imax/to-the-arctic/">To the Arctic
: ‘Tis the season for polar bears on the IMAX® screen!
6)  Holiday">http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/explore-exhibits/special-exhibitions/winter-wonderland-2012/special-programming/">Holiday Photo Opps
: Forget waiting in long lines for that typical pic of St. Nick awkwardly holding a crying baby. Instead come to Fernbank for a holiday photo with a variety of backdrops—from sledding with Santa–saurus to standing under the mistletoe with Giganotosaurus. (Photo is additional $15)
7)  Laughing Pizza Holiday Concert: Don’t miss this award-winning family band performing a variety of original holiday tunes on December 8. Fernbank will also feature special performances by the Atlanta Circus Camp and ornament-making crafts.

8)  Holiday Membership Sale: Now through Dec. 24, Family Advantage and IMAX Advantage Memberships are on sale. More fun. Less cost. Great gift.

9)  Salsa Night: On December 21, Fernbank adds an extra Martinis & IMAX Salsa Night to the schedule. There’s no better way to burn off those extra holiday nibbles and entertain your out-of-town guests.

10)  Appy Holidays: Free Wi-Fi and the new Fernbank Meridian App are now available to add some extra cheer to your Museum visit!

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road, NE in Atlanta. For tickets and visitor information, visit fernbankmuseum.org or call 404.929.6300.

The Prepper’s Guide To Holiday Shopping 4 Tips for Protecting Your Family’s Future

Corrupt bankers, a practically valueless dollar,  hyper-unemployment and underemployment, home-grown terrorism, the uptick in natural disasters and the overall lack of trust in our most important institutions – these are some of the reasons all Americans should be very, very concerned, according to Peter Dash (www.peterdash.ca), a world-traveled researcher for Harvard University's Center for International Affairs.

“I predict a brutal world ahead of us,” says Dash, author of “ZUrabia,” www.zurabia-peterdash.com, a book about rogue forces taking over the world’s most important institutions.

“Unfortunately, I have been right since my research at Harvard in 1986, when I questioned the viability of government institutions to meet general needs and growing problems, both domestically and abroad.”

The pragmatic holiday shopper this year will purchase items to safeguard their families against these threats, which have been long in the making and won’t disappear quickly, he says.

“Terrorism wasn’t inaugurated with 9-11; extremism in Muslim sects has been growing for decades, and Neo-Nazi groups are starting to flourish in failing states like Greece,” he says. “The dollar has been steadily losing its value since the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913; climate change has been on the radar for quite a while; and there have been greedy bankers since, well, banks have existed.”

“If you’re confident that everything is sure to be okay, then you’re not paying attention,” he says.
He offers a four-point survival strategy for holiday shopping:

• Gold is good: The dollar has lost 95 percent of its value in 100 years, and it will continue losing value. As   the Reserve continues to flood money into the system, thereby reducing current   or potential value, more inflation is inevitable, acting as yet another tax on wages. So, collect and buy any gold that you can and consider spending federal notes while they’re still worth something to businesses. Think about your jewelry, and buying more. Silver is a good option if gold is too expensive, and there are Exchange Traded Funds, or ETFs, that are backed by physical gold. A reputable banker or broker can help explain for those who are interested. “TD Ameritrade or Charles Schwab may be good places to start getting information on gold and silver ETF trading,” according to Dash.
 
• Inflation: Spend your money now or smartly invest it before you lose it. Remember, banks often give clients less than one percent on many accounts, but inflation on food and real items we use, like gasoline, are going up by much more. In essence, your banker is stealing your money through the assistance of the Fed, which is killing your savings rate by cheapening money. As if to pour salt on this wound, the bank, in many cases, lends money at four percent or higher. Rerouting some bank savings/wages by investing in canned food, for example, may protect you against the scourge of food inflation, as well as other disasters.
 
• Worthy purchases: With food and water, a failed society puts a premium on additional goods. They include home insulation, gardening tools and materials, computer programs and language learning kits – perhaps Spanish or Chinese – because of the increasing prominence of other cultures. Guns, security systems and other measures to protect one’s home will likely prove extremely valuable should law enforcement be spread too thin, or fail as an institution.
 
• Buy in bulk: Places like Wal-Mart or Costco will help you get the most value with large purchases of food. It’s important to be well-stocked if something happens that results in the emptying   of grocery markets, but remember to have adequate space in your house, apartment or cabin for a “safe” room, which is part of a sound strategy for protecting you and your family.

About Peter Dash

Peter Dash has been a teacher, professor and corporate trainer for the last 17 years, working in Saudi Arabia, the former Soviet Union and China. He has an applied science degree in forestry from the University of British Columbia and a Masters in applied teaching from Southern Queensland in Australia. He was a researcher in world (dis) order and youth groups at Harvard University's Center for International Affairs, started by Henry Kissinger. He follows the investment field intensely, focusing on commodity funds and trends. Fifteen percent of his book’s royalties will go to needy students consistent to the many years Dash has worked in assisting voluntary youth organizations. He lives on a small tropical island that is stocked with the finest well water, fish and food. Dash invests in Gold ETFs and commodity trading companies.

Missing Cousins Elizabeth & Lyric - Update

Cousins,  Elizabeth Collins, of Evansdale, Iowa and Lyric Cook-Morrissey of Waterloo, Iowa have been missing from Evansdale since July 13.   The girls disappeared while riding bikes in Evansdale, about 110 miles northeast of Des Moines, near a popular recreational lake in the middle of town.

Investigators had located the girls' bikes and one of their purses later that day on a nature trail that runs along Meyers Lake.  Despite many large-scale searches the girls' whereabouts remained a mystery.

Sadly we learn today that hunters found two bodies were found in an undisclosed wooded area about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday.  The bodies are believed to be that of the missing cousins. 

The bodies have been taken to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy and to get a positive identification.

This is definitely not the outcome that anyone was hoping for.  I feel so badly for these two families. 

Portable North Pole – Give Your Kids A Personalized Message From Santa!

Do your little ones still believe in Santa?  What better way to share the start of the holiday season than with a fun, fully-personalized experience from Santa for kids and young-at-heart adults!

For the past five years, Portable NorthPole has allowed parents all over the world to create personalized, downloadable video messages from Santa Claus for their children. This year, Portable North Pole has all new offerings, including customizable gifts, to send to children and loved ones for the holidays.

I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to check out the Portable North Pole for the little ones in my life.  It was so easy to create a personalized video greeting. Just upload a few photos and some information about your child and they create a video that had my grandkids smiling from ear to ear.

Portable North Pole’s standard Santa’s Video is a FREE personalized video message from Santa Claus, filled with magic and exciting discoveries for your loved ones. It includes a brand new story and a sneak peek at never-before-seen North Pole locations!

Make Christmas even more memorable with the Personalized Premium Video package.  The Personalized Premium Video package features a personal message from Santa with exclusive video sequences, a personalized Christmas carol with your child or children’s names, photos of your children and a several surprises from Santa and his helpers!

The Interactive Letter Package includes a one-of-a-kind personalized, printed note from Santa to your child or loved one based on the customized information that you provide. Sprinkled with a great pinch of Christmas magic, the letter has an interactive webcam-enabled feature for even further Christmas delight in which your child takes a delightful virtual trip to Santa’s village post office!

Because I still believe in Santa and because the look on your little’s face when Santa says his name is priceless I give the Portable North Pole experience a holly-jolly four stars!

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free code to try Portable North Pole for review purposed. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

 

 

Melissa Dilan-Hernandez A Fool For Love?

Shakespeare tells us that the course of true love never did run smooth and this is true of the star-crossed romance of Melissa Dilan-Hernandez and her "soul mate" TJ.

When last we met the couple the appeared on the Dr. Phil show were Melissa hoped to "set the record straight" and shore up the unlawful sex with certain minors case that she faces.

Melissa proclaimed that when she first met T.J. on Facebook two years ago, he told her that he was 18. She claims that they had an instant connection. “He told me that I was cute, and then I told him, ‘Send me a message,’” she explains.

Even after she learned T.J. actual age she decided to continue the relationship because they were already emotionally attached. As the adult in this case, it was her responsibility not only to say no to the sexual relationship. Even worse SHE decided to have a child but because she has an emotional need to justify her crime she proclaims that 'we' agreed to have a baby - as a minor.  I thought a woman is charge of her own body and therefore makes the final decision. 

“Some say that our love is wrong, but our personal belief is that it doesn’t really matter how old you are; love is love.”

Ah love, so fleeting, so temporal and this is true even for these star-crossed lovers. You see after the Dr. Phil show there was trouble in paradise. I suppose it is unfair to say that the trouble hadn't bubbled up to the surface before the show after all we learned that the police had been summoned to their motel room on seven separate occasions.

On the In Love and Legal show Melissa learned that TJ .was the one who actually went to the police station to fill out a report against Melissa. She also learned that he might not be so willing to wait fifteen years for her to serve out her sentence.

On Melissa's Twitter account she pondered

"How can someone kiss another in public a few hours after they tell you they love you? Do they feel any remorse? So sad."

It didn't take TJ long to move on which no doubt frustrated Melissa. I believe she was hoping that he was a willing victim in hopes that the courts would deal with her with leniency.

We learn the relationship is still volatile when she posts: "Ever been with someone that says he/she loves you, but lies constantly and when caught in it they turn aggressive?"

When others question her choice of dating a 15 1/2 year old boy Melissa's fall back response seems to be that Dr Phil edited the show to make her look bad. This was a charge she had even made while on the show but Dr. Phil let her know that if he really wanted to make her look bad he would share the other things he knew about her, pointed to the card, and she dropped it. On social networking sites though, she's free to spin her story as she pleases with little regard for the facts.

Melissa is quick to attack TJ's character as she insists that she wanted TJ to complete school but he never signed up to take the GED. Obviously Melissa is not knowledgeable about the drop-out statistics for young people who become parents in their teens. I find this interesting especially since she claims to have a BS degree in Education.

Melissa's fall-back seems to be in the role of damsel in distress as she tells a new young man she meets online that TJ dropped by destroying things, including her phone, threatening her by saying that if she didn't get back with him. She lets him know that she can't risk anymore domestic calls to the cops.

Meanwhile Melissa laments the fact that TJ is looking for love on Craigslist. She picks the ad apart bit by bit like a scorned lover. Could it be that she has lost her hold over him?

The sad part is that there are four children who are suffering in this whole drama. Melissa lost two of her children and isn't allowed to see them. Do you realize how difficult it is for a mother to lose custody?

When I tried speaking with Melissa for this article her tweets were more in line with personal attacks rather than substantive replies. She even asked her new potential suitor to attack not just me but others who questioned her wisdom in this situation.

Clearly Melissa exhibits many of the traits of a sociopath such as failing to recognize the rights of others, a grandiose sense of self, lacking the sense of personal boundaries, and is indifferent to the devastation she caused. She is not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams and she certainly does not accept any personal blame rather she blames others, even for acts she obviously committed.

Entering Sweepstakes On Pinterest

Back in the Sixties, Bob Dylan warned us that the times they are a changin’ and that’s true about many things including sweeping.  If you want to win sweepstakes then you have to be flexible in the ways you enter sweepstakes. 

When I first heard of Pinterest I had no clue whatsoever what it was.  When I saw that I could get an extra entry by following someone on Pinterest I decided to create an account and following them.   I soon learned that some sweepstakes were actually entered by creating a “board” so I decided it was time for me to learn more about the site.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard to organize and share the things you love.  Users can add their own content, “repin” content from the “boards” of others as well as content outside of Pinterest and “Pin It” to one of their boards. 

How do you create a Pinterest account?  That’s easy.  To make a Pinterest account, visit pinterest.com. Select the button "Join Pinterest" at the top of the page.  You will be required to create a Pinterest account name, password, and associated email.  You can also register via Facebook or Twitter.

How do you create a pinboard?  You can create as few or as many boards as you like.  To create a new board, click Add+ on the top toolbar on Pinterest, then press Create a Board. Type in a board title, choose a category, and then click Create Board when you are finished.

What is a pin?  A pin is an image added to Pinterest. A pin can be added from a website using our bookmarklet or you can upload images from your computer. A repin is adding an image you find while browsing Pinterest to your own board. When you repin an image, the user who first pinned the image also get credit.

How can you enter sweepstakes using Pinterest?  As with any other sweepstakes winning is all about following the rules. Usually sweepstakes involving Pinterest ask you to create a board with a predetermined name for that board.  The sponsor will then ask you to pin or repin a certain number of images, often asking that you tag these images with a hashtag (#).  Usually pins relate to a specific topic such as recipes or fashion. The sponsor may then ask you to email the link to your board or ask you to complete an entry form which includes a space for the link to your board. 

 Some sponsors have a judging aspect for pinboard entries.  If this is true be certain to read the judging criteria before you begin pinning.  I found a contest which asked that you create a board about travel and I randomly selected photos of places I wished I could visit from their website.  When I went back to make sure my entry met all requirements I realized that my board was actually being judged as to its theme.  This required me to go back and remove some pins and insert some new pins.

I’ve also noticed that several sponsors are selecting their winners based on the number of repins your pins receive.  As I have stated before I’m not big on voting contests which is essentially what this is.  Still you can request repins using Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites.   

The odds of winning any sweepstakes depend on the number of entries.  There is a certain population of sweepers who still rely only on mailing in 3x5 cards.  There is a large segment of sweepers who devote their energy to sweepstakes that only require the entrant to complete a form and submit.  This means the odds are in your favor when you enter alternate entry sweepstakes such as Pinterest.   Entering sweepstakes using Pinterest can be time-consuming but remember the more difficult a sweepstakes is to enter, the fewer qualified entries they will receive. 

Finally, remember that sweeping is NOT a job, it’s a hobby.  Enter sweepstakes for the thrill of it because if it’s not fun then you need a new hobby. 

Was Crucial Evidence Missed in the Casey Anthony Trial?

In the case that never fails to enrage, we learn that the sheriff’s office's computer investigator missed a June 16, 2008 Google search for "fool-proof" suffocation methods when investigating Casey Anthony’s computer activity. It appears that the search was made on June 16, 2008 which coincidentally was the last day her daughter Caylee was seen alive.

While the Orange County Sherriff’s Department “overlooked” the search, Casey’s attorney Jose Baez’s computer expert found the search before the trial. Jose Baez, first mentioned the search in his book about the case but suggested it was George Anthony who conducted the search after Caylee drowned because he wanted to kill himself.

According to WKMG's timeline of the day Caylee was last seen, Casey was in her parents' home - as confirmed by cell phone pings - when the search was typed in at 2:51pm (which was misspelled as 'suffication').

Seconds later, the user was pointed to a website with writing that suggested: 'Poison yourself and then follow it up with suffocation' by placing 'a plastic bag over the head.' 

One minute after that, a MySpace account was accessed. Casey was the only person in the house who used the social networking site.

To this day I am speechless over the NOT GUILTY verdict.  Despite a great deal of evidence pointing directly to her guilt was, the jury rejected every bit of it.  The jury was so caught up in their CSI delusions that short of seeing video tape of the actual murder they would still have found Casey not guilty in spite of this new information.

Casey was found not guilty and therefore she will NEVER be tried again for this crime.  She could get on national television and confess every detail of her crime and still she cannot be prosecuted again.  I would hope she wouldn’t follow down the path of O J Simpson and write a book entitled “If I Had Killed My Baby”.  The best we can hope for is that Casey is NEVER able to make any money from this crime.

Larry Hagman Dies From Complications Of Throat Cancer.

When I was a little girl two shows featured beautiful women who married mere mortal men but that didn’t mean that there wasn’t magic going on.  I’m talking about Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie.  I was about six years old when these shows came out and I wondered if I too had magical powers that would show themselves when I grew up.

Astronauts were heroes and it was easy to imagine that he would fall for the beautiful Jeannie in the show I Dream of Jeannie.  In the show Larry Hagman played Air Force Captain (later Major) Anthony Nelson who finds Barbara Eden, a 2,000-year-old genie and becomes her “master”.    Eventually the two fall in love and get married.

After I Dream of Jeannie, Hagman starred in two short-lived series in the 1970s, Here We Go Again. The show was  a "divorce comedy", portraying the post-divorce life of two couples. Richard and Judy, who have a son, Jeff, divorce after 17 years of marriage due to incompatibility. Jerry and Susan, who have two children, Cindy and Jan, divorce after a ten year marriage due to adultery. Richard and Susan fall in love and marry. He moves into Susan's house, which is near the homes of their ex-spouses.

In the 1971-72 season Larry Hagman starred with Donna Mills in a show called The Good Life.  The Good Life is the story of a middle-class American couple, the Millers (Hagman and Mills), who had tired of their mundane existence. However, instead of following the time-honored premise of "hitting the road" to seek adventure or engaging in a stereotypical period activity such as joining a communal farm, they decided to seek new employment as the live-in butler and cook of millionaire industrialist, Charles Dutton. He noticed that they were not particularly talented at their jobs but found them to be agreeable enough. Their limited skills most definitely were not enough for his stuffy sister Grace, however, and she constantly worked to get them fired. Dutton's teenaged son Nick was aware of what the Millers were doing in their new roles but found great humor in helping them to get away with it.

The show was cancelled at midseason and was replaced by the action drama, Emergency!  My best friend from Junior High LOVED the show Emergency and had a major crush on Randy Mantooth so I’m certain that she was thrilled with the cancellation. 

In the late seventies it seemed as though EVERYONE was watching Dallas.  Everyone except me I guess.  At the time I was in my late teens and my life was spinning out of control.  I had not time or the desire to immerse myself in the family wrangling of the wealthy Ewing family.

 Even when the 1980 cliffhanger season finale in which J. R. is shot by an unknown assailant captured attention worldwide, I don’t think I was able to grasp the show’s appeal. 

At the beginning of the 1980–81 season, writers were told to keep the storylines away from the actors until they really found out who actually shot J. R., and it took three weeks until the culprit was revealed on November 21, 1980 in a ratings record-breaking episode.

Funny, it wasn’t until five years ago when I found the series on DVD did I decide on a lark to check it out.  That was when I finally understood why so many people loved the show.  It was difficult to see the easy going loveable Major Nelson become the evil, maniacal JR Ewing. 

When TNT decided to reprise Dallas earlier this year I was actually very excited especially since Hagman would still be JR.  Could there really have been anyone else who could have played that role? 

Still my husband and I wondered, would the new show have the same appeal as the old show?  Could the original characters breathe new life into their old characters?  Could the new characters appeal to the Dallas fans and also bring in a younger fan base?

We need not have worried.  The show was all that we hoped for, especially Larry.  I remember saying to my husband after one episode in particular; this show had to have Larry it wouldn’t have been the same without him.  At the end of the first season we both acknowledged that Larry was no longer a young man and wondered what the show would do without him.  We have no clue.

In 1993, Hagman starred in Staying Afloat as a down-on-his-luck former millionaire who agrees to work undercover with the FBI to maintain his playboy lifestyle. Originally ordered for two TV movies and a weekly series by NBC, the pilot movie aired in November 1993 to critical drubbing and low ratings, ending production.

In January 1997, Hagman starred in a short-lived television series titled Orleans as Judge Luther Charbonnet, which lasted only eight episodes. In 2002, he made an appearance in the fourth series of Vic Reeves ad Bob Mortimer's British comedy paenel game, Shooting Stars.  In January 2011, Hagman made a guest appearance in the seventh Season of Desperate Housewives as a new husband for Lynette Scavo's mother, Stella (played by Polly Bergen).
 

Hagman appeared in such feature films as The Group, Fail-Safe, Harry and Tonto, Mother, Jug & Speed, The Eagle Has Landed, Superman, Nixo andPrimary Colors.  His television work included Getting Away from It All,Sidekicks, The Return of the World's Greatest Detective, Intamate Strangers, and Checkered Flag orCrash. 

He directed episodes of I Dream of Jeannie and The Good Life as well as several episoes of Dallas and In the Heat of the Night, which was the only series he directed but did not act in. 

Hagman died on November 23, 2012, at Medical City Dallas Hospital in Dallas following complications fromm throat cancer.  In a statement to the Dallas Morning News, Hagman's family said: "Lary's family and close friends had joined him i Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday.  When he passed, he was surrounded by loved ones.  It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for."