New Search For Kyron Turns Up Nothing

Yesterday, about 50 searchers working with seven cadaver-detecting dogs scoured rural areas north and west of Portland on Sunday, crossing from Multnomah County into edges of Washington and Columbia counties.
No sign of Kyron turned up

Meanwhile, Desiree Young struggles today with feelings of despair following yet another failed search for her missing son. My heart aches for Desiree and I hope she gets the answers she deserves soon.

Julie Powers Schenecker (50) Shot Her Daughter Calyx (16) And Son Beau (13) For Being 'Mouthy'

Mother charged in teens' shooting deaths: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

Beaux and Calyx didn't see it coming when their own mother shot and shot them both with with a .38-caliber pistol.

Julie Schenecker left a note detailing her plans to kill her disrespectful children and then herself, saying, "They talked back and were mouthy and that she was going to take care of it," McElroy said. She provided the same motive to police who interviewed her.

According to an arrest affidavit, Schenecker shot her son twice in the head in the family car "for talking back" as she drove him to soccer practice. The report said Schenecker then drove to their upscale home and shot her daughter in the face inside the home.

What would cause a mother to do this? Julie Powers Schenecker’s mother, who lives in Texas, called Tampa police Friday morning, January 28, 2011, requesting a welfare check after receiving a disturbing email from her daughter. Her concern rose when she was unable to reach Julie by phone. She told officers that Julie had been depressed.

Her Facebook page appears to show an outwardly normal Mom with family and plents of friends.

Julie Powers and Parker Schenecker met in Munich, Germany while both were stationed there.

She worked as a Russian linguist for the Army, collecting intelligence for European agencies by interviewing refugees coming from the Eastern Bloc, said Tim Fredrikson, who served with her.

He was a rising intelligence officer who had graduated cum laude with a French degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where the school yearbook is named the “Calyx.”

Interestingly enough the Department of Children and Families said it investigated the family about two months ago after getting a complaint. The tip was determined to be unfounded and the case closed. Spokesman Terry Field said he couldn't elaborate. One wonders if that could have been an opportunity missed.

My heart goes out to her husband and everyone who is suffering.

What Valentine’s Day Means To Me - Giveaway

As a practicing Catholic I love to hear the stories of the lives of the saints. While I definitely love all the love of Valentine's day I don't lose sight of the fact that Valentine's Day celebrates more than hearts and flowers.

How familiar are you with the legend of St. Valentine?

In 270 A.D., marriage had been outlawed by the emperor of Rome, Claudius II. Claudius issued this decree because he thought that married men made bad soldiers since they were reluctant to be torn away from their families in the case of war. Claudius had also outlawed Christianity in this time period because he wished to be praised as the one supreme god, the Emperor of Rome. Valentine was the bishop of Interamna during this period of oppression. Valentine thought that the decrees of Rome were wrong. He believed that people should be free to love God and to marry. Valentine invited the young couples of the area to come to him. When they came, Valentine secretly performed services of matrimony and united the couples.

St. Valentine was imprisoned and while he awaited his execution to be carried out, Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter, the blind Asterius.

During the course of Valentine's prison stay, a miracle occurred and Asterius regained her sight. Valentine sent her a final farewell note. He signed his last note, "From Your Valentine." Even today, this message remains as the motto for our Valentine's Day celebrations.

Today about 192 million Valentine's Day cards exchanged annually. That's a lot of Valentines and my favorite Valentine's are the ones that are made special by the ones I love.

That's one of the reasons I LOVE Valentines card's from Shutterfly. You can customize them for the special person in your life.

Did you know that you can buy your Valentine’s gifts at Shutterfly too? They have so many things to chose from and each one can be personalized with a special photo like personalized mugs.

Thanks to Shutterfly, one of my readers will be receiving 25 FREE Valentine’s cards! It's easy to win!

You HAVE to be a follower of New Day New Page to Win then just tell me which Valentine's Day card you'd order if you won! That's it. Best of all you can use the same answer to enter each and every day. I told you it was easy now didn't I?

This giveaway will begin on January 29, 2011, and ends on February 2, 2010 at 11:59 PM ET. You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry you wish to make. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 years old or over, and the winner will be chosen by random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will to respond by February 4th in order to receive your prize. Once I have received a response from the winner’s the name of the winner will be posted here.

In keeping with the FTC rules I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post. The people at Shutterfly will be providing me with 25 Valentine's Day cards described above agreed to will also be supply 25 Valentine's Day cards to one of my readers. The opinions expressed in this post are my own

If you are a blogger, I have more news for you. You can promote your Shutterfly blog post on Facebook and Twitter “Tell Shutterfly what Valentine’s Day means to you, get 25 free cards

Forever Home Wanted For These Adorable Animals

I have a wonderful and caring young man in my classroom who works at our Vets office. He knows I am a sucker for an animal in need but with two elderly dogs with health problems and our new rescue dog we just don't have any room in our home for another pet.

Kyle knew I love animals and brought me photos of these beautiful animals that will soon wind up in our local animal shelter. The Vet where Kyle works has been taking care of these animals since they were brought in to him but living in a Vets office is no place for an animal to live. Each and every one of these animals just needs to find one person who could open their hearts to the possibility of an unconditional love like you've never known.



Theo is a 5-6 month old short haired tabby. He loves to be held and petted, a classic fat cat. Theo has been neutered and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. He is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized. West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861.



Pixel is a short haired calico and is about 5-6 months old. She is energetic and playful but also loves to be held, petted, and sit on your shoulder. She is a special needs cat because of occasional digestive issues. Pixel has been spayed and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. She is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized. West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861



Matilda is a Labrador Retriever Mix and has just finished her treatment for mange. She is about 6-8 months old and very energetic as most puppies are. She has been spayed and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. Matilda is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized.
West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861



June Bug is a black domestic short hair and is about 6-7 months old. She is very loveable and loves to be held and petted. She was found on Shorter Ave. and had apparently been thrown out of a car as a kitten. She had an eye injury that has now healed completely. June Bug has been spayed and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. She is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized. West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861

Please remember that there are hundreds of dogs and cats like these that have been abandoned and would love to fill your home with love and joy. Thank you so much.


***************UPDATE***************************

All of the cats has been taken by a local rescue organization. They still need a home so as soon as I get more info I will post it. The puppy Matilda still needs a home. I will be updating his information Monday when he is scheduled to be send to the pound.

New Photography Exhibition at Fernbank Museum Reveals the Natural Artistry of Seascapes

Fernbank Museum of Natural History presents the gallery exhibition Seascapes: Photography of Sandra Gottlieb from February 5-August 14, 2011. With a keen eye for the fleeting phenomena of clouds and light, Gottlieb captures the skies and waters of the Atlantic Ocean in this exhibition with beautiful large-scale images that range from the abstract, to the painterly, to the highly dramatic.

Seascapes is a series of 40 large-scale color photographs that concentrate on the sky and water. The images were taken primarily from a single vantage point overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY. Some of the later pictures in the series were shot on the southeast coast of Florida.

Most of the photographs were taken during sunrise and sunset, but the photographer also includes a few from the midday hours. Each day’s photography brought a different view of the sea – peaceful and calm, tumultuous and angry, and often a combination of both – depending on time of day, time of year, and the weather. Each day’s work produced just one image, whether it took a single shot or a number of rolls to capture. Gottlieb’s process included focused awareness of the delicate changes in the light and the clouds. A former dancer, the photographer regards her dancing experience as the source of her appreciation of movement in nature.

These photographs began with strongly abstract images, and transitioned later into more representational. However, all the images share a minimalist aesthetic, using natural objects such as the sun, rainbows, and clouds in a strongly geometric structure to explore the remarkable ever-changing beauty of the sea and sky at each fleeting moment. This work invites viewers to connect to their own memories of the edge of the sea.

Seascapes: Photography of Sandra Gottlieb is included with Museum Admission, which is $15 for adults, $14 for students/seniors, $13 for children ages 3 to 12, free for children 2 and younger, and free for Museum Members. To purchase tickets in advance, visit fernbankmuseum.org or call 404.929.6400.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road, NE in Atlanta. Other happenings at Fernbank include: The special exhibition Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids, on view February 19-August 14, 2011; the grand opening of the all-new children’s exhibition Fernbank NatureQuest in late March 2011; and blockbuster IMAX® films, including Animalopolis (showing through March 17, 2011), Journey into Amazing Caves (showing through March 17, 2011) and Greece: Secrets of the Past (currently showing Friday nights but will show daily beginning March 18, 2011). For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org

New Martinis & IMAX(r) Season at Fernbank Museum

After the annual December break, Martinis & IMAX® is back on Friday nights at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The 2011 season promises good times, lively music, fantastic films, delicious food, and refreshing cocktails—all beneath the world’s largest dinosaurs. Martinis & IMAX® is held every Friday through November from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and features a special Salsa Night on the third Friday of each month.

Atlanta’s original destination for cultural nightlife, Martinis & IMAX® will feature Journey into Amazing Caves at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Greece: Secrets of the Past at 8 p.m., and The Greatest Places at 10 p.m. on the five-story IMAX® screen through March 17, 2011. Fernbank will have a new film schedule in the spring.

One of the most popular nights for Martinis & IMAX® is offered in February when Fernbank features a special Valentine edition of Martinis & IMAX®. This year’s Valentine’s Celebration will take place on Friday, February 11 and will offer an all-inclusive package with two film tickets, a dessert, a bottle of wine, and more for only $45. Individual Martinis & IMAX® tickets are also available, which include one film ticket (no food or drink included), for $12 each.

Salsa Nights turn up the heat on the third Friday of each month with live Salsa dancing and great Latin tunes. Salsambo Dance Studio offers free dance lessons during the evening when they aren’t entertaining everyone with their electrifying moves on the dance floor.

Every Friday night of Martinis & IMAX® is different in its own way, but it’s always consistent with great films, atmosphere, music, cuisine, people, drinks (including our famous martinis), and fun. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the exhibition Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids during Martinis & IMAX with special extended exhibition hours on Friday nights through March. The exhibition, which opens February 19, reveals how living and prehistoric animals inspired dragons, unicorns, mermaids, and more while exploring how cultures throughout time have created mythic creatures to explain the natural world.

Martinis & IMAX tickets include admission to one IMAX® film and are $12 per person (only $8 for Members). There is a $7 cover charge for those not purchasing either and IMAX® ticket or Mythic Creatures ticket. (The cover charge does not apply to Museum Members.) Mythic Creatures admission is not included in standard Martinis & IMAX® admission but those ticket prices will be announced soon.

To reserve tickets, call 404.929.6400 or visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Amanda Bennett Murder: Mother, Three Children Found Shot To Death In Burned House

The Bible says that Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart. (Proverbs 18:8) They certainly have the power to wound mortally.

No longer is gossip dished over coffee and donuts or over the fence as we hang our clothes.

Instead, we know hide behind a computer screen, nameless, faceless, people who use their anonymity to spout the most vile and hateful things with little concern about the possible consequences.

About four months ago I was checking out a story that was happening in another city and when I googled it I was directed to a forums area of the area's paper.

I was shocked at the various subjects being discussed in that paper. There was a thread asking about a particular gentleman and whether the poster should pursue this "hawt" young man. Another thread went on and on speaking ill about their local school board because their child was suspended for "no reason".

I was taken aback by the number of threads that had nothing to do with the news. I thought it was an anomaly. Something just unique to West Virginia. It appears that I was very wrong.

When I woke up Sunday morning I heard the new headline saying that a mother and her three children were found dead in their home in Austin, IN.

A family member called and asked police to check on the welfare of the residents of the home. When the officer entered the residence, he noticed parts of the home had been burned. The officer conducted a quick search of the residence and found up to four deceased victims inside.

They say 30 year old Amanda Bennett died from a gunshot wound to the head area and smoke inhalation. Her two daughters, 14 year old Jasmine Abbott and 9 year old Katelynn Bennett also died from gunshot wounds to the head area, as well as her son, 4 year old Ryan Bennett. Katelynn also suffered from smoke inhalation.

The question that is on the lips of many is why? Why would a woman take her life and the lives of her three children?

It appears for now that the only clues are what are perhaps, Amanda's final words.

While searching the net I learned that the police were very curious in a post that was written in the Crothersville Forum. By the time I got to the forum over 800 people had posted to that particular thread and so it took me a little bit of searching to find some of the relevant posts.

Just like that forum from West Virginia, this forum seems to have lots of threads that seem to have nothing to do with the news of the day. Rather they seem to be a place to air ones dirty laundry, pontificate, and just plain gossip.

In her angst and fury over a pending divorce with a cheating spouse, Amanda Bennett turned to a local message board to vent, and to respond to gossip being spread about the family's sordid drama.

At first Amanda used the name "his wife" but on her very last post which was located on page 23 she changed her name to: Gone forever.

This thread no longer exists but here is some text from the original post which was located in a thread dedicated to gossip from Versatech, her husband's employer.

It was getting late as I was working back through the posts but I did notice that some of the people who joined the thread made comments which only seemed to want to inflame the situation.

Here are some of the posts I chose to copy (FYI all posts are as originally posted and I did not edit or correct spelling):

Page 17 his wife posts: Someone tell me how after ten years a person is suppose to just let go of everything they worked for in life and why others think they have the right to take it away and it's not crazy to love your husband as much as i do a woman is suppose to love her husband that much and if I didn't get mad or act the way I have over it then that would mean I didn't love him much at all . So you all can say I'm obsessed or crazy if you want but if you ever go through what I just have believe me you don't know what to do or how to feel so am I obsessed no I'm not I'm just a mad black woman that has been done wrong by my husband and as for Jan you need to take a look at you kids and ask yourself is what your doing worth hurting them cause that's what you and John has done to my kids to me nothing in the world is worth my kids being hurt and no one is worth more to me then my kids so the next time you call or txt John think about your kids first and how they would feel

Page 19 his wife says: you only say that because John told you that's what happend so why don't you mind your own business
You have no idea what went on in my home John can say what he wants to make himself look better I don't care he knows the truth and so do I he just don't know how to tell the truth anymore he told her he filed for divorce and at the same time asked me not to and many other things they can have each other but he needs to step up and be a dad instead of pushin his kids to the side

pg 20 his wife says:

And to everyone that thinks I was such a bad wife for writing a letter to a FRIEND why do you think it's ok for him to cheat with a married woman I have every right to be pissed off at the two of them and he didn't think I was that bad otherwise he wouldn't have been spending time with me on the side he just wanted you All to think bad of me so you wouldn't think bad bout him the day you Hank was at hardies with him he was suppose to be shopping for his kids but hangin in the bar with you and the rest of his new buddies was more important I guess so that's why I'm so mad he needs to put his kids b4 you or anyone else and he hasnt

Another post on this page from his wife: Oh wait you better ask him considering he tells so much of the truth now it cracks me up he lied to her bout so many things like filing for a divorce I am the one that filed he asked me not too and I only did it because i found those messages so for all his friends that he told I was so bad tell me why if I was so bad he didn't want me to file and was spending time with me when my kids were at school

At the beginning of page 23 his wife changes her sign in to gone forever. This is the post that the police are most interested in:

He just won't stop hurting us with his words and actions so it's time to take the pain away so John Bennett this is for you you got what u wanted no wife an no kids u put her b4 them and u say it's because of the way I act well that has nothing to do with your kids so now you have your truck and your hoe and some family but even they don't think you bein a good dad and they know I didn't do anything to deserve this

Gone forever:

And to everyone that believed John you don't know me and I know I have been crazy but have you ever ha this happen to you after this i hope you people don't think it's right to cheat or hook up married people anymore and don't feel sorry for him he did it himself just b4 I wrote this we were on the phone he hung up cause Jan was cAlling so he needs a wake up so he don't do it to anyone ever again only he won't have his kids he'll have to make new ones.


Sadly, while I may which that tragedies like this should cause people to reflect about what they are posting before they hit the send button, I don't believe that it will. As you read through the thread you watched helplessly as participants seemed to make various comments about her, mentioning her weight, etc. and all the while enjoyed the drama as it played out to it tragic end. It will be easy for them to dismiss it as not their fault because she must have been crazy.

It is so much easier to say hurtful things when we do not have to look into the eyes of another person. We say things we would never say to others in person. It's so easy to forget this in this social media universe we live. It is a world in which we risk depersonalisation, alienation, and self-indulgence if we enclose ourselves in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world.

Was this woman mentally ill? I have no idea? She was obviously in a great deal of pain. Certainly the acts that she committed were heinous and there are NO excuses for the murders of her beautiful children. These children were the innocent victims. Sadly, it is left to those who are left behind to sort out what can never fully be understood.

Family members have scheduled a visitation and funeral service for Bennett and her children.

The visitation will be on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the First Christian Church on West McClain Avenue in Scottsburg.

The funeral will be on Wednesday at 11 p.m., also at the First Christian Church. The burial will be private.

Donations can be made to the Collins Funeral Home at 465 W. McClain Ave., Scottsburg, IN, 47170-1239.

Eight People Sipping Wine In Kettering

Do conservatives hurt themselves by being stuck in the “No Tax” zone? Did the left mire itself in the policies of the past? What changed?

Remember it's the economy stupid.

How Michelle Obama Leads - FREE Kindle Edition

How Michelle Obama Leads actually sounds like an interesting book and you can't beat the price. It's FREE! Now if I could just win a Kindle!

First Lady Michelle Obama, the direct descendant of slaves, now lives in a house that was built by slaves. This daughter of a nurturing if demanding family grew up on Chicago’s South Side, where she developed discipline and diligence, two traits that carried her to Princeton and then Harvard Law School. She turned her back on wealth and prestige to follow her idealism into the public sector, where she was immediately successful. A young beauty with many suitors, she finally settled on a man named Barack Obama. Together they formed a formidable team that accomplished the seemingly impossible--electing the first African-American President of the United States. Her fascinating story is an inspiration to the world.

It’s the summer of 1860 on the Friendfield plantation in Georgetown, South Carolina--coastal low country whose snake- and mosquito-infested fields produce half of America’s rice crop. A young African slave by the name of Jim Robinson is working in the rice fields. Owned by another man, Robinson has no freedom, no choices, no opportunities. It’s hard to imagine his dreams include a vision of his great-great-granddaughter as First Lady of the United States, living in the White House, hosting state dinners, an inspiration to her own country, and one of the most admired women in the world. But it happened. Her name is Michelle Obama–and we can be sure that Jim Robinson would be as proud of his descendant as she is of him.

The Century Of The Self

In this episode you will meet the Weathermen. A group committed to find a way to destroy the policeman inside our head through violence if need be. For the baser of us there is also a segment about how a convent became reduced to a core of radical lesbians. You will also learn why inner directed people chose Regan for President.

Box Tops For Education $50,000,000 Flash Parade

Did you know that by simply participating in the Box Tops for Education® program, America´s schools can earn over $50 million this school year?

As a teacher I can say that this money really helps local school teachers. I really love the "flash parade" and I think you will too.

Box Tops for Education was created by General Mills in 1996 as an easy way to help make a difference for kids and schools. Since then, schools have earned more than $375 million through the program to help get the things they need-from books and school supplies to playground equipment and computers. Help make a difference in schools by clipping Box Tops from more than 240 brands, including Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Hamburger Helper, Kleenex, Ziploc, Hefty, Juicy Juice, Avery, Welch´s, Land O´Lakes and Brita. Find out how much your school has earned and learn other ways to earn cash for your school at www.btfe.com.

Century of Self 2

I've been sucked further down the rabbit hole with this video. That's because while you are watching, you learn about something which then requires you to find out more about that.

While I do remember learning that housewives did not originally buy into the idea of using convenience food like cake mix because they felt guilty about contributing virtually nothing to the cake making process.

In order to enjoy the emotional rewards of presenting a homemade cake, they had to be persuaded that they had really baked it, and such an illusion was impossible to maintain if they did virtually nothing. "This is typical of what the average housewife said: 'Yes, I'm using a cake mix; it saves me a lot of trouble but I really shouldn't,'"

While watching the video I learned about the book The Hidden Persuaders and now I'm on a mission to read this book so I can get the answers to these burning questions:

why some children's TV shows take swipes at parents
why men think of a mistress when they see a convertible in a show window
why automobiles get longer and longer

HP ePrint Live Featuring Actors From The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

HP will be broadcasting a first-of-its-a-kind, crowd-sourced LIVE comedy event on www.youtube.com/hpeprintlive tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 21 from 3-5 p.m. ET hosted by comedian Rob Riggle and featuring actors from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB Theatre).

HP ePrint Live will allow consumers participate in a live, online comedy event when they send in their ideas for skits via HP ePrint – viewers simply email their submission and the UCB cast will turn it into a performance. This is the first time consumers will be given the opportunity to inspire original content and simultaneously watch this content online through live streams.

Highlights Include :

— The two-hour live show, which will begin at 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, Jan. 21.

— Consumers are encouraged to email skit ideas in the form of pictures, poems, single words and drawings via ePrint to ideas@hpeprintlive.com for a chance to watch their skit come to life. If their submission is selected, they will receive a link to their personal video via email. The skit will also be posted online at the HP ePrint Live YouTube channel and the HP for Home Facebook page.

— Consumers that submit skit ideas via HP ePrint will receive access to a special Best Buy HP Photosmart e-All-in-One sale during the campaign period (through Jan. 29).

— If a consumer’s skit idea is not chosen on Jan. 21, they can send in additional suggestions through Jan. 26. Members of the UCB Theatre will continue to accept ePrint submissions for performance during the custom comedy short period. Ideas chosen will be posted online at the HP ePrint Live YouTube channel and HP for Home Facebook page, as well as emailed to the sender. Each day will feature a different theme and setting, including the home (day 1), office (day 2), school (day 3), travel (day 4) and “anything goes” (day 5).

Until then, please be sure to follow HP on Twitter @HP_IPG and join the conversation at #ePrintLive! Let me know if you’d be so kind to share with your network on your blog/tweet/Facebook as we want to give Rob as many skit ideas as we can!

It’s going to be hilarious!

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Back To School I Go

Yesterday afternoon my son Michael stopped by to see us. He wanted to go to the Mellow Mushroom for dinner but since it was their opening night the wait for a table was 45 minutes.

We decided to ditch the pizza and headed over to the Steak and Shake. This was our first time at the Rome Steak and Shake. I had a Southwestern Salad but the guys each ordered up a big burger and a large shake.

It's always good to see Michael. He was telling us about the new girl he's seeing. She is a police officer that he met on e-Harmony. Mike has met teachers, nurses, and other nice professional women through e-Harmony.

I'm glad I suggested that he check out e-harmony because dating, even for the young seems to be a very complicated business. I wish that my oldest son would check out the site or one like it but he's so busy right now with school and work.

The evening always ends too early and before I knew it Mike had to leave and I wished I could spend more time with him and his brother. I miss Virginia on those days.

Finally, we are back in school. The kids are so excited and couldn't wait to get back to the business of learning. Well maybe in my dreams that's how they felt but back to the business of learning we did go.

The main topic of disgruntled discussion was of course "Make-up days." Suddenly it seems everyone has already purchased non-refundable cruise tickets, Disney Vacation Packages, and/or plane tickets.

While some people seem convinced that there will be a big ruckus about the loss of our Spring Break days at tonight's school board session, I personally doubt that any of this will happen. It has been my observation that when Dr. C speaks it is much like Ramses in the movie The Ten Commandments. "Thus it is written. Thus it shall me done."

On the positive side I learned today that I won a $25 Walmart Gift Card from Social Moms. I'm so very excited! Social Moms is a social networking community for influential moms.

Today Is Martin Luther King Jr Day

I think it only fitting that on Martin Luther King Day that I post his historic "I Have A Dream Speech."

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and stopping the Vietnam War.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986.

We Have A WINNER

Thanks to everyone who participated in our giveaway. The winner of our reading by Cynthia Ann was Nicole M of Chicago.

My School's Better Than Your School

Do you remember when you were a kid and you peered out the window to see snow? I bet your little heart began pumping as you began envisioning the snow fort you would be building or you might just be making tactical plans for the "Biggest Snowball Fight Ever." The only thing that may just throw a wrench in your plans was...school.

You watched the bottom of the screen as the school closings began crawling below your favorite morning cartoons. When your school's name finally appeared you let out a war whoop and began doing the happy dance barely noticing your Mother's disappointment that you wouldn't be headed off for school that day.

On a regular school day you dragged out the morning ritual of getting dressed and ready to go, but on this day you knew exactly where you shoes, coat, and gloves were and you ran out the door in warped speed.

As a young child you may never have given much thought to make up days. As a matter of fact, depending upon where you went to school, you may not even have to because "snow days" were actually figured into the schedule. In years that these scheduled snow days were not used you got to finish the school year a few days earlier than you had originally expected.

The most amount of time I missed from school was when I taught just outside of Richmond, VA and we missed almost the full month of February. As each day went by beyond the allotted "snow days" I imagined saying good bye to our Spring Break and even worried how much longer they might actually extend the school year to make up the time.

I think many of us were shocked when it was announced that we would not be making up these days because we in fact had been under a state of emergency and because our school day was generally longer than the state mandated time we would continue on with our school year as originally planned.

Every school district has it's own way of dealing with missed days. When I taught in Newport News, VA we missed some days due to flooding and we had to make them up by coming to school on three separate Saturdays. Classroom attendance was sparse but because we did keep school in session for at least a half a day we had met the letter of the law for school attendance.

I was not surprised when our Superintendent announced that we would be making each and every day we missed due to snow. It would have been against his very nature to have done anything different.

I wasn't even shocked when Dr. C said “It’s a nice gesture, but you have to teach the content. You can’t get the job done unless you’re in class with the children.” I told my husband that this was Dr. C's way of communicating to everyone that at RCS "Education is Job One."

It appears that this was the opening salvo of the war of "My School's Better Than Yours".

FCS spokesman shot back that their Superintendent and board of education members decided not to change the current schedule and will not make up the miss­ed days, saying the planned intersessions are too valuable to students to alter those dates.

During intersessions, students who are a little behind can elect to attend school to catch up while others enjoy a break. Hensley said he would not be surprised if the number of students attending intersessions this year spikes because of the snow days, but currently the school system has no plans of changing those dates to required days for everyone.

“Because we are a charter system we have the flexibility to do that,” he said.

Take that RCS! Maybe Dr. C should have trotted out the fact that RCS was just given the HIGHEST marks ever by a SACS official. I mean how could they possibly top that?

I'm certain that some people find this whole argument to be petty to say the least. I'm certain that both school systems care about their students but each of them is hoping to be the local standard bearer of education. Making this into a pissing match in the local paper demeans both sides of the argument.

Sylvia Browne's Predictions For 2011

You asked for it you got it. It's Sylvia Browne. Every year I would watch her New Year's predictions on the Montel Williams Show. Since that is no longer available to me, I must resort to watching the predictions on the web.

I do not take blame or credit for what she says but I always find it interesting.

What does she have to say about the economy in 2011?




Sylvia even has predictions about terrorism




Remember when you thought the weather was a safe topic. I suppose it is unless you talk to Sylvia because it doesn't sound so great. Sylvia is there to remind you that while you may move away from California to get away from the earthquakes but only wind up being killed by a tornado.

It's All Over But The Melting

Finally the sun was smiling down upon us and began to chase away the remains the snow storm that happened almost a week ago.

Everywhere there is water. Water dripping, water running, and water pooling it makes shoes muddy and carpets dirty.

Darryl woke up with a headache today and then asked if we could go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. Two of my former students work there and as always I inquired about the college progress.

I make sure that they know that the Hope Scholarship is facing serious difficulties and may wind up on the chopping block before you know it. That's because in the past year governing officials have had to turn to the state’s reserve fund in order to pay for the program and keep it running. But as with any reserve and now that the money has run out it looks like cutting the program may be the only answer.

I did select a winner for my giveaway with Cynthia Ann and I contacted my winner by email. I hope the winner checks her email so I can give her info to Cynthia.

I finally decided to stop the insanity of my recent eating habits. I had kept my weight down under 130 for quite some time but now it just doesn't seem like I can keep my eating in check and I'm certainly not eating like I used to.

I've decided to return to doing exercise videos and in doing so I decided to see if I could revisit to exercise buddies. The first one being Jane Fonda. I know, I know, but her exercise video was all the rage back in the 80's and I used it to help lose weight and get toned after I gave birth to my youngest son.



I did the workout every day and actually began to feel as though some of the other women on the video were my compatriots. I was so lonesome at the time I wished that I could have actually afforded to be in an aerobic class and made friends with these women or women like them. How's that for sad.


After a quick search of the web, I did find a copy but it was a VHS AND it was going for $159. WHAT???? Forget that.

I then decided to revisit another old friend, Richard Simmons. Before I got married the first time, my best friend and her sister used to workout with the Richard Simmons television show.



Not only did I never watch him but I just didn't get it. I believe it was a matter of me not knowing how much I didn't know.

Carolyn and her sister were all set to watch the show and he seemed to spend a lot of time reminding us to breathe. I didn't feel all that direction was necessary and I remember rolling my eyes. Add to that I always associated Richard Simmons with trying to SAVE fat people. I just never saw myself as one of those obese people he was called upon to save on various shows.



Then about twelve years ago I had begun to put on a great deal of weight. I weighed almost 160 pounds which is about what I weighed when I gave birth to my sons.

I was unmotivated, I ate too much, and to make matters worse I was depressed.

Then one day I checked out Richard Simmon's Disco Sweat from the library in Newport News. I can't begin to tell you why because I just couldn't imagine myself working out with Mr. Happy Pants. I made the commitment to do the workout once and I suddenly found myself actually exercising again.

I know have it as a DVD. I decided to stop my backwards slide into weight gain and I ordered two new Richard Simmons DVDs to help mix things up and get back on track.

How Was The All-consuming Self Created?

I kind of feel like I'm writing the essay "What I did when I was out of school during the snow days." What did I do? Well for one thing I watched the video "The Century of the Self"

The Century of the Self is a British television documentary film that focuses its attention on Sigmund Freud's family,‭ ‬especially his daughter and nephew,‭ ‬who exerted a surprising amount of influence on the way corporations and governments throughout the‭ ‬20th century have thought about,‭ ‬and dealt with,‭ ‬people.

I felt that this was a very interesting documentary but the utterance of one word would keep me from using it in class to help them understand how "needs" are actually manufactured wants.

The section about convincing generations of women to smoke was very interesting but I was already aware of the story.

For those not familiar with the story, Bernays arranged for New York City debutantes to march in that year's Easter Day Parade, defiantly smoking cigarettes as a statement of rebellion against the norms of a male-dominated society. Publicity photos of these beautiful fashion models smoking "Torches of Liberty" were sent to various media outlets and appeared worldwide. As a result, the taboo was dissolved and many women were led to associate the act of smoking with female liberation.

Before this time, it was considered unfeminine and inappropriate for women to smoke; besides the occasional prostitute, virtually no women participated in the act of smoking publicly.

For his work, Bernays was paid a tidy sum by George Washington Hill, president of the American Tobacco Company.

I would recommend you set aside an hour to watch this video, that is of course if you aren't busy watching American Idol while you are wearing you Silly Banz.

Can You Say Thank God It's Friday When Friday Is A Snow Day?

As crazy as it may seem, we are on day five of our snow vacation. That's right, I said DAY FIVE. This of course leads to our three day weekend.

Darryl was not so lucky because he and all the twelve month employees all had to show up to work on time today. I suppose that's in order to get the schools ready for school on Tuesday.

I was alerted yesterday of my first real win of the year. I won the DVD Day & Night and now I have to print out the AFFY and send it back in. I did receive three coupons for soft drinks from the Einstein Bagels sweep but since there are no Einstein Bagels nearby I didn't really consider them a win.

Today was a pretty uneventful day but it did give me time to download photos and upload videos. I also wrote an article for the school paper.

With Darryl at work I alone am the master of the TV and I'm not forced to watch American Dad or Family Guy.

I did venture out into the real world today and headed over to Kroger. I needed some more paper towels and of course that required the purchase of a Nonfat Venti Green Tea Latte with No Foam from Starbucks.

Liddy Dog seems to be doing better. There were no puddles for me to clean but his bed was slightly wet. He's been leaking in his sleep for awhile now so this is not a new occurrence. I'm hoping these meds he's on will help him.

His eyes appear to be doing much better and his face has returned to his original magnificence.

Atlas is still flying around the house and ready to take on Mr. Raccoon at the drop of a hat. Big Dog generally ignores him but he and Liddy Dog are still very close.

As for school updates here's what I've heard. Floyd County schools will not have to make any of these snow days. RCS will continue in our tradition of excellence and they will take away our winter break as well as two day of our Spring Break.

You heard that right RCS Superintendent said two days in February, one in March and two days of spring break will be used to make up the five days missed this week because of winter weather. He said even if state officials allow school systems a waiver for the required number of school days this year, the classroom time is too important to skip the makeup days.

“It’s a nice gesture, but you have to teach the content,” said Dr. C. “You can’t get the job done unless you’re in class with the children.”

Dr. Csaid teachers plan their curriculum with a specific number of school days in mind, and they need that prescribed number of days to make sure students are learning and are prepared for annual state testing.

AMEN Brother AMEN!!!

As I said before, I heard that many of the schools closer into Atlanta would not be making up the days because state law allows for schools to use up to four days without having to make them up in case of emergency. I could have bet the house that we would have to make those days up which is why I didn't really want them off. This is why I personally couldn't wait to go back. I would rather have had the days off when the weather was nicer.

The Winner's Circle

If you're a sweeper like me, then you've heard these words many times. "Oh nobody wins those things." or "You must just be lucky."

Trust me, luck has very little to do with it. As a matter of fact if you actually calculate the number of times I actually enter sweepstakes my luck must be incredibly bad.

This does not deter me however. I continue to enter sweepstakes and contests and I continue to win.

Here are my wins for the year 2010. Where possible I have placed the ARV of the prize.

January
Advance reading copy of Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff (ARV $5).
$100 gift card from Arbor Mist
Good Eats: The Early Years by Alton Brown (ARV $37.50).

February
$100 VISA gift card from the Tom's of Maine giveaway
Hill's Prescription Diet pet food for one year awarded in the form of coupons (ARV $$774/dog)
Prize: Fender Squire bass guitar, Ibanez electric guitar, Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, and Evans drumhead all signed and played by Saosin in the Changing music video.
Copy of Love & City Dreaming Poems by Margaret Havill Reid.
$50 snapfish gift card

March
Absolute Power by David Baldacci (audio book)
Marrying For King's Millions by Maureen Child (book)
$1,000, two tickets to Daytona and a Meet and Greet

April
Bake Me A Wish Cake
Photo notebook
Get Rid of the Performance Review! (book win)
A Touch of Scandal (book win)
Cienfuegos (book win)
This Ain't No Hearts and Flowers Love Story Pt 2 (book win)
Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet (book win)
$25 Rite Aid Gift Card

May
Little Billy's Letters (book win)
The Swimming Pool (book win)
Work Song (book win)
Still Missing (book win)
Corked (book win)

June
music download from Universal Music
$500 grocery gc
won the Guide To Online Dating.
Poison by Sara Poole (book win)

July
Focus Features DVD pack (ARV $80). Movies included Brokeback Mountain, Atonement, Away We Go, Etrenal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Pride & Prejudice.
Gary Allen Get Off On The Pain CD
Matched by Allie Condle (book win)

August
$100 Visa gift card
$25 Rite Aid Card
If I Stop Talking You'll know I'm Dead audio book win

September
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse "Team Jacob," "Team Bella," and "Team Edward" 1-liter aluminum water bottle set (ARV $30).
$100 Visa Card.

October
100 MyCokeRewards
1 bag of Ghirardelli Squares Chocolate
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards
30 MyCokeRewards

November
Troll2 DVD
Tarizon: Conquest Earth (Tarizon Trilogy)
Francesca Battistelli t-shirt, CD, and bag; and Satellites and Sirens CD, poster, sticker, button, and guitar picks (ARV $60).
Jonah Hex DVD
$20 Dollar General Gift Card
Corona Summer Beach Kit with Weber Smokey Joe Gold grill, two beach chairs and beach umbrella (ARV $125).

December
Commemorative R.W. Knudsen Family® anniversary bottle of Sparkling Concord grape juice
$2 scratch-off ticket
3 FREE scratch off lottery tickets
Free Fries from Wendy's
Breakfast from Hardees for my Department from local radio station WLAQ
A New Shoah: The Untold Story of Israel's Victims of Terrorism - book win
The Devotion of Suspect X - book win
The Flirt Club - book win
$100 Publix GC
$10 Family Dollar Gift Card

CTAE Learning Today Earning Tomorrow

I was so excited when I won this contest just before Christmas. When they say it is better to give than to receive they were absolutely correct. I was thrilled to be able to go from class to class to deliver breakfast to all my co-workers at RHS.

Recently, the RHS CTAE Department was recognized by WLAQ for their hard work and dedication with Breakfast from Hardees.

Many students and parents are not familiar with the rewards of CTAE programs, however, now more than ever, CTAE programs are needed to help ensure the strength of our workforce, global competiveness and the economic health of our nation.

That’s because CTAE students are generally more motivated and interested in their coursework because of its connection to the real world and, as a result, less likely to dropout. In a recent report for the Gates Foundation, the majority of respondents (81%) reported that more learning opportunities which make the classroom relevant to the real world would have helped them to finish high school.

Did you know that a 2002 study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago found that a year of technically oriented coursework at a community college increased the earnings of men by 14% and women by 29%? .

Thanks to the Bridge program CTAE students at RHS are making the shift from high school senior to college freshman. Students can take advantage of dual enrollment and joint enrollment.

If you are interested in learning more about the great opportunities that await you in CTAE, please ask your Guidance Counselor or a CTAE teacher today.

Not Another Snow Day

Ah yes grasshopper. It certainly is another snow day and our Superintendent probably wishes he hadn't given us today off. Looking into my Magic 8
Ball for guidance I feel we will have school tomorrow even though we may well open late.

Generally this means that we wind up only spending about 20 minutes in class which isn't much time to do anything. I've decided to scrap my plans for this week and look towards celebrating Martin Luther King Day with a Word Search.

Some might call this a cop-out but here's the truth. Some students, who are always looking for a reason to miss school will use tomorrow as a perfect day to call in sick. They will reason that missing one shortened day won't make a big difference AND school is off on Monday anyway so it only makes sense not to come to school.

It doesn't make sense introducing new curriculum to students who do attend only to have to spend time reteaching it on Tuesday when most students will then have returned to school.

Students who do attend will hold me personally responsible for the fact that they are in school and Floyd County schools have the day off. They will also want to share their survival stories with other students.

Sometimes it's just better to pick the road well traveled and move on from there.

Here is our Liddy Dog update. Last night I gave him his first round of meds. It appears he had an accident overnight with some blood but his right eye looks much better. The Vet had said he was having problems with his tear ducts in addition to his glaucoma. His eye is no longer red and the build-up that has been occurring on his eyes has noticeably improved.

********************UPDATE****************************

Note to self, consulting the Magic 8 Ball does not necessarily provide the correct answer. If only it had at least said MAYBE instead of DEFINITELY when I posed the question, "Will there be school tomorrow?"

Yes boys and girls that's correct, there will be no school in Rome tomorrow. Oh there will be school for 12 month employees (I am not a 12 month employee) but as for everyone else, well not so much.

We return you now to your regularly scheduled life.

The Snow Day Trifecta

Today is our third snow day. While there was some very icy patches we did manage to take Liddy Dog to the Vet.

It appears he has a bladder infection and that's what causing the blood in the urine and the incontinence. The Vet also says my Liddy boy has cataracts in his right eye and he has signs that his left eye isn't doing so hot either. Since he's already deaf, things don't look well for my baby. The Vet says these are all signs of aging and with him being 16 years old he's obviously no longer a pup.

We now have to give him two different eye drops AND some medicine and we will have to bring him back in about a week. I was so very worried that we might have to put him down but we've invested in his future with over $500 worth of medical bills to show for it. He's worth that much and more to me because I love him and I always have.

Meanwhile, our little buddy Atlas has managed to absolutely destroy his racoon doll...I mean action figure. The racoon was one of the first things I bought him so he would have a toy that squeeks. I was told that miniature pinchsers love squeek toys. The tag on the toy guaranteed it was safe for the dog so we bought it thinking he would just love it.

At first he was terrified of the racoon and would refuse to go anywhere near the thing even to the point of refusing to step foot into the room if he could see the doll on the floorr.

It took a few weeks but out of nowhere he was decided this doll is the best thing since dog treats. He tosses it in the air, thrashes it about, gnaws on it with impunity.

Today he has managed to remove Mr. Racoon's eye. Thank Goodness it wasn't some button eye or he certainly would have choked. We had to then remove the stuffing that he was already beginning to pull from Mr Racoon's head wound.

After the trip to the Vet we headed out to drop off some books at the library. I finished Katie Up and Down the Hall. It was a good book and of course the fact that we both love(d) our cockers really touched a chord for me.

Darryl took me to CiCi's for lunch today because you can buy a drink for $2.99 and get the pizza bar free. Not a bad deal. During lunch the Superintendent of Schools contacted Darryl to say that we would probably wind up going to school two hours late.

I was actually fine with this. Staying home is much better when it's not so darned cold outside.

I had already made up my mind to call my contact person on the phone tree that we would be going in at 10AM but I was going to wait until I saw it in the Rome News Tribune.

Well it turns out that a call did need to be made but that call was to tell M. that there will be NO school tomorrow.

Vitriol To The Left Of Sanity

Sarah Palin: "America's Enduring Strength" from Sarah Palin on Vimeo.

All day long the news has been about the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. As more comes out about the shooter, it appears that Lee Loughner did not appear to have a "right wing agenda".

This despite the fact that Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a Democrat, also found a political element in Saturday's bloodshed. Dupnik argued that the "vitriol" of the country's harshly polarized political climate was partly to blame, arguing that unbalanced individuals are uniquely "susceptible" to vitriol.

Actually friends of the shooter said Jared believed the U.S. government was behind 9/11, and worried that governments were maneuvering to create a unified monetary system (“a New World Order currency” one friend said) so that social elites and bureaucrats could control the rest of the world.

Will the press make a lot of hay about these facts rather than the constant cries that this is all "Sarah Palin's fault." Doubt it.

I find it interesting that much has been made of the whole Sarah Palin targeted district map. Personally did not like the map but then again I didn't like this classic "targeted map" from the Dems.

This map appears on this page of the Democratic Leadership Committee website (dated 2004 during the Bush years). Would you say that "Behind enemy lines" might be considered a bit militant?

Sandra Bernhard promising to having Sarah Palin gang raped by her big black brother. (Frankly I found that a two fer one hat suggests that blacks are rapists at heart and that rape is the perfect punishment for someone who has philosophical differences with you.)



Or how about that wacky fun loving movie that won the International Critics Prize - Death of a President



DEATH OF A PRESIDENT follows the investigation of the fictional assassination of President George W. Bush in October 2007. Combining real archival footage with a credible but fictional story, "Death of a President" presents a fascinating and thought-provoking political thriller.

Yeah it's thought provoking alright. It provokes me to ask why was such a movie celebrated?

Then there is this little gem from former talk show star Montel Williams when he encourages Rep. Michele Bachmann to slit her throat. Certainly no one could possible see this as violent rhetoric.



Honestly I'm just sick of it. Sick of it all and I think many Americans are sick of it too.

If you head on over to a certain Democratic website feel that the media is now denying the obvious "facts" that this was all because of Sarah Palin.

What is your proof? What is your proof?

Just because you are a Republican does NOT make you a racist. It does NOT make you a wack job. It does NOT mean you hate the current President. This doesn't mean I agree with him and everything he does but I don't hate him.

The Vitriol needs to stop and it needs to stop now.

Perhaps Sheriff Clarence Dupnik should have spent less time making such inflamatory comments without facts to back them up and spent more time responding to death threats the suspect made in the months leading up to Saturday’s rampage.


his department was well aware of Jared Loughner’s mental instability and may have been slow to respond to death threats the suspect made in the months leading up to Saturday’s rampage.

Today is 1/11/11

Today is January 11, 2011 and once again, today is snow day part deux and while no significant snow has fallen today, there has been some frozen precipitation on and off today.

In the further adventures of Atlas vs snow, today Atlas learned that while he is light enough to walk on top of the ice encrusted snow, stopping can be hazardous. Every Time he stopped he would sink all the way through the snow which would then cause him to panic.

All is not well in the dog department here. My sixteen year old cocker has been having incontinence problems lately but today he has a bloody tinge to his urine. Since our vet is closed today due to snow we will have to take her soon. I'm very afraid she will have to get put down. She has already lost her hearing and she sleeps away a great deal of the day away.

It would be so sad to have to say good-bye to my faithful friend Liddy Dog. I found him at the animal shelter in Newport News, Virginia and when they took him out of the cage I swear I was in love.

I noticed he walked with a very noticeable limp and it turned out the reason was he was born without one of his front paws. Oh it's still there it's just barely developed and located right under his knee joint. I had to have him because I was certain he would not be adopted otherwise.

Once we arrived home he made himself at home and began following me around and acted like a prima donna. My bed become his bed. My couch became his couch. He was a one spoiled young man coming in and it hasn't changed since.

When he first arrived he only moved if I moved butif I tried to take him for a walk outside he refused to walk any further than a half a block. This would then require me to carry him home. Trust me I got lecture after lecture about that. Still he seemed to relish the opportunity to see and be seen on our little walks. After awhile, he was able to actually walk three blocks both ways.

He will always be my liddy dog. I wish I could take him to the vet right now.

-----------------------UPDATE-------------------------------

I just checked the Rome News Tribune to learn that there will be no school tomorrow. I find that truly amazing.

Snow Day - January 10, 2011

Shortly after I finally went to bed last night it began to snow. According to Darryl it was coming down fast and furious.

Since our Superintendent of Schools had cancelled classes for Monday I wasn't really concerned. Trust me, in order for our Superintendent to cancel school it was nothing short of a miracle.

Today the snow in the Rome's downtown is standing between three and four inches, while some are reporting almost eight inches outside the city limits

Forecasts are predicting an additional one to three inches to fall today.

*****************UPDATE***************************

Throughout the afternoon a very light freezing rain was falling and around 2:45 the BIG BOSS cancelled school a second day in a row. An icy drizzle is expected to fall tonight as well.

According to the news it could be Saturday before things finally thaw out.

So stay indoors boys and girls and stay off the roads, it's cold out there.

FAKE Jared Facebook Loughner Accounts Now Surfacing.

There are now fake Facebook accounts in Jared's name trying to tie him to the Tea Party, Glen Beck et all.

Obviously right after the shooting happened his REAL Facebook account was pulled. This is not unusual for the police to do and it seems that some news companies are actually reporting that these actually are his Facebook accounts. DUH!!! Just look at when they were created. I certainly doubt he's being given access to the internet right now to create new facebook accounts.

Fake Account#1

Fake Facebook profile #2

While the actions of this CRAZY person are vile, trying to tie this to the right by creating fake profiles and then the news is now reporting this as REAL! Talk about lazy reporters. Really, don't you want to know what really caused him to do this or is it more important to make this about incriminating Glen Beck and Sarah Palin? If that's really what it was about his REAL Facebook would contain such information and from what I saw before they pulled it no such ties were apparent.

People lost their lives here people, let's stop the political spin!

Meanwhile, according to court documents released Sunday, Jared had scrawled "my assassination" and "I planned ahead" on an envelope found in his home. I believe he felt that he would be shot himself, perhaps becoming a martyr so some cause.

Investigators also found a letter from the congresswoman in a safe at the house where Loughner lived with his parents, thanking him for attending a similar 2007 event, a federal agent's affidavit states. Could it be that he was stalking her and if so then it would appear that this stalking began long before Obama became President or Sarah Palin "targeted" her seat.

One person who knew Jared said that Loughner had been obsessed with Giffords ever since she failed to answer his question at a campaign event. “The question was, ‘What is government if words have no meaning?

Loughner is presently invoking his his right against self-incrimination and is not talking with investigators. He scheduled to make an initial appearance before a federal magistrate in Phoenix on Monday, prosecutors said.

If there is any doubt that we are dealing with a seriously disturbed individual, we need only look in his backyard where he had erected a sinister shrine complete with a minature skull.

Hidden within a camouflage tent behind Jared Lee Loughner's home sits an alarming altar with a skull sitting atop a pot filled with shriveled oranges.

A row of ceremonial candles and a bag of potting soil lay nearby.

Experts on Sunday said the elements are featured in the ceremonies of a number of occult groups.

The discovery of the shrine raises the possibility that Loughner, 22, may have been driven by other forces. Students and faculty at Pima Community College, which he attended until his suspension last summer, said Loughner was clearly at odds with the world.

May justice be served for this unspeakable and senseless act.

Please Remember The Victims Of The Shooting In Arizona

The dead in yesterday's deadly shooting include:

John M. Roll, 63, a federal district court judge who was appointed by George Bush senior in 1991

Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, Giffords' director of community outreach. Gabriel was Giffords's community outreach worker, who organized the gathering on Saturday that was billed as a "Congress on Your Corner".

Dorwin Stoddard, 76. Mr Stoddard was said to have been shot in the head as he tried to protect his wife, who was wounded.

Christina-Taylor Green, 9, a student at Mesa Verde Elementary. Christina, one of six who died in Saturday's shooting, had been featured in the book, "Faces of Hope, Babies Born on 9/11" about children born on the day of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.

Dorthy Murray, 76 was known to her friends as "Dot," was a retired homemaker and secretary. She and her husband of 50 years had been high school sweethearts.

Phyllis Schneck, 79. Was a retired homemaker and church volunteer. She is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.



In addition to the six deaths, 13 people were wounded in the melee.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to these victims who were killed and injured, as well as their families. President Obama is calling for a moment of silence on Monday, 11 a.m. ET, to honor Arizona shooting victims

Jared Lee Loughner Shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).

When Darryl and I were out driving today we learned about this tragedy. We both wanted to know more about the Congresswoman and WHY someone would do this.

While liberals like Jane Fonda blamed Saturday's tragic shooting spree in Tucson, Arizona, on former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, conservative talk show host Glenn Beck, and the Tea Party movement, perhaps you might want to know what a young lady who went to high school, college, & was in a band with the gunman has to say:

@antderosa As I knew him he was left wing, quite liberal. & oddly obsessed with the 2012 prophecy.

@antderosa He was a political radical & met Giffords once before in '07, asked her a question & he told me she was "stupid & unintelligent"

His own words on his YouTube Channel don't do much to describe him:

Schools:I attended school: Thornydale elementary,Tortolita Middle School, Mountain View Highschool, Northwest Aztec Middle College, and Pima Community College.
Interests:My favorite interest was reading, and I studied grammar. Conscience dreams were a great study in college!

Movies:(*My idiom: I could coin the moment!*)

Music:Pass me the strings!
Books:I had favorite books: Animal Farm, Brave New World, The Wizard Of OZ, Aesop Fables, The Odyssey, Alice Adventures Into Wonderland, Fahrenheit 451, Peter Pan, To Kill A Mockingbird, We The Living, Phantom Toll Booth, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Pulp,Through The Looking Glass, The Communist Manifesto, Siddhartha, The Old Man And The Sea, Gulliver's Travels, Mein Kampf, The Republic, and Meno.

In one video, titled "America: Your last memory in a terrorist country!," a figure in dark clothing and a smiley-face mask burns an American flag in the desert. The soundtrack is a 2001 song by the band Drowning Pool, in which the singer repeatedly shrieks "Let the bodies hit the floor!"

From Jared Loughner’s Facebook Page (his profile was scrubbed minutes after this scrape, — and no mention of military service of any sort. I also don't see anything about the Tea party or Sara Palin either.

Here is a poem he wrote from his myspace account:

In a youtube.com video dated Dec. 15, entitled “Introduction: Jared Loughner” the accused gunman describes himself as a U.S. military recruit who had applied to join the Army. The Army, however, said it rejected Lougher as a recruit in 2008.

I would like to extend my condolances and prayers to the families of all those affected by this horrible tragedy.