I Don't Have To Pay For Nothing Because I'm Just Me

While I certain do not begrudge someone an education, this video seems to demonstrate why some tax payers are saying "Enough Already!" Judge Judy speaks ‘Moron’ to whom the taxpayers have given $70,000 towards his education (so far). This self-centered, narcissistic, taxpayer-funded third-year college student wants to keep the checks coming but not for his room and board as it is intended, rather to pay for him to party the night away.

Even when Judy explains that the money he's wasting came from taxpayers with certain expecations it seems to be lost upon him. Clearly the "rich" (read tax payer) have to pay more so he can continue his life of indulgence and ripoff, because after all, he's just him.

Oh if only this video could be played in court when the taxpayers demand their money back. This of course will never happen because he is "ENTITLED" to this money and who am I to question how he uses it.

Casey Anthony As A Hustler Centerfold?

The preeminent pornography Larry Flint has allegedly offered Casey Anthony $500,000 plus 10% profits for photo-spread in Hustler.

Larry claims that people have come up to him in droves on his book tour requesting Casey in the nude. He has had more requests about Casey than anyone else ever.

To steal a quote from Casey "Surprise...Surprise".

Can you really blame Larry for making the offer, after all her own attorney announced in open court that Casey is a liar and slut in court. Besides, unlinke Casey, Larry is honest about who and what he is and he is in the business of making money.

Perhaps Casey could pose with duck tape on her mouth.

Congressman Wu Has Tiger Blood

but he's not WINNING!

Rep. David Wu announced that he will be leaving Congress following a report in The Oregonian last week that an 18-year-old woman complained to his office about an "unwanted sexual encounter."

He's issued a statement announcing his imminent resignation:

It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be a United States Congressman. Rare is the nation in which an immigrant child can become a national political figure. I thank God and my parents for the privilege of being an American.

Now, however, the time has come to hand on the privilege of high office. I cannot care for my family the way I wish while serving in Congress and fighting these very serious allegations.

The wellbeing of my children must come before anything else. With great sadness, I therefore intend to resign effective upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis. This is the right decision for my family, the institution of the House, and my colleagues.

It is also the only correct decision to avoid any distraction from the important work at hand in Washington. I intend to go forward with new resolve and love of family, the State of Oregon, and our nation.

Don't cry for Wu though because he doesn't leave empty handed. His consolation prize will be a pension and benefits worth more than $1 million in his lifetime.

I'd say he'll be doing just grrrrrrrrrrreeeaaat with that kind of walking around money!

Casey Anthony Mask

Hide your children because it looks like Casey Anthony will be headed your way come Halloween. I bet you already saw this one coming didn't you.

Actually I think this mask bears and uncanny resemblance to Casey don't you think. The mask does not come with the upgrade, duck tape, but you can always pick that up at the Home Depot along with a laundry bag.

Sunday Morning Wreck

It can happen in a second.

Darryl and I had not warning this morning as we began our weekly shopping trip. We parked in the parking lot of CVS and headed towards the store, coupons and shopping list in hand ready to go bargain hunting.

As we came out of the store we heard a loud crash and we looked up to see a car veer off the road heading straight down the embankment towards our car.

No one seemed in control of the vehicle that seemd to be coasting almost in slow motion. While you wanted to run to the car to make sure the driver was OK you were frozen in place partly out of shock and partly because the car was still moving and you knew that you should wait for the vehicle to stop to render aid.

The car barely missing our car and came to a stop as it hit the curb of the CVS.

The car was badly damaged and the driver, a woman, said she couldn't move and we told her that she should try. We had already called 911 as had the other people who had witnessed the accident. The next thing we knew an ambulance and a fire truck had shown up.

We stayed with the woman speaking with her letting her know that help was there. Then after she was loaded onto the ambulance we were questioned bythe police as to what we observed.

We were told that thewoman in the vehcile that had coasted off the road had broken her ankles but that she would be OK.

I came away shaken by the incident because it could have ended so differently. Life is just so fragile and sometimes we get a wake-up call to remind us that life is precious.

Amy Winehouse Found Dead In Her London Home

Amy Winehouse Performs Rehab Live

Troubled diva Amy Winehouse dead at 27. Winehouse was found dead Saturday by ambulance crews called to her home in north London's Camden area. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Winehouse's battled with substance abuse were the subject of much media attention. In various interviews, she admitted to had problems with self-harm, depression and eating disorders.

Please Help Find Baby Kate

Katherine Shelbie Elizabeth Phillips, also known affectionately as “Baby Kate” is now five months old. Born on February 12, 2011, she was last seen on June 29, 2011 when her father, Sean Michael Phillips, sped away with her in his vehicle after arguing with her mother.

Phillips was concerned about telling his parents he had another child. His parents did not know about Kate nor did they ever see her. Phillips had also insisted that they give Baby Kate up for adoption.

Sean Michael Phillips is in the Mason County Jail where his bond is set at $500,000 on kidnapping charges. He is scheduled to return to court on August 3, 2011.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Mason-Oceana Dispatch at 231-869-5858.

The Anthonys Are Bahama Bound

George and Cindy Anthony are going first class as they alighted from a stretch limo and boarded a private charter jet today at the Orlando Executive Airport heading to the Bahamas. Orange County businessman David Deese, is paying for the trip.

It appears that Casey is not the only one living La Bella Vida.

Where Is Casey? Where Is Casey?

When my youngest son was a little boy I was introduced to a certain bespectacled young man who wore a red and white-striped shirt and was always hiding, sometimes in plain sight, you just had to look for him.

Could it be that the shell game that Jose Baez is playing with Casey more to raise the value of his client or is it really for her own protection?

Interestingly enough, there are reports that a woman emerged off of the same plane that Casey Anthony allegedly boarded days earlier.

Now why would she be back in Orlando and why would her attorneys, the ones that are so concerned about Casey's safety?

If the defense wanted to keep this "sighting" private, why would the person coming off of the plane be wearing the same clothes that Casey Anthony wore the day of her jail release? Is this a game Baez et. al is playing with the media or is Baez trying to make sure his commodity stays newsworthy?

Step Right Up And Dunk Casey Anthony!

The Lexington Lions Club Bluegrass Fair organizers have decided to capitalize on the outrage in the Casey Anthony trial by setting up the Casey Anthony Dunking Booth front and center at the fair.

It appears to be a big "hit". Lots of people were out Monday night snapping photos, calling friends, and talking about the booth.

Participants can pick up a ball and throw it at one of two choices – “guilty” or “innocent.” The goal is to hit one of them, knocking the Anthony look-alike into the cold water below.

Is this in good taste? I suppose it is far better than setting up a "Wack-A-Casey" game or the Casey Anthony Shooting Gallery.

For better or worse, Casey Anthony is a public figure and part of our lexicon. She can expect that there will always be those who will believe that she got away with murder.

Don't Allow Caylee's Death To Be In Vain

If you go to church any length of time your priest or minister is going to deliver a particular sermon that you will find very timely as well as a gentle nudge to get you back on the right path.

My husband generally does not like to go to mass and I generally don't make a big deal about nagging him. This week was different though because he actually told me that he wanted to go to mass.

Truthfully I thought he'd tell me he changed his mind by the time Sunday rolled around but come Sunday morning he was ready to go to mass. He was hoping that he would hear something that would answer a pressing question in his mind.

Isn't it funny that the message today was a reminder to me about forgiveness.

Today's reading from the New Testament was from Matthew 13:24-30.

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”

Generally this parable is interpreted to show that both believers and unbelievers will co-exist until the end of the world and the coming of Christ. My priest though brought it back home when he said that there are times when we ask ourselves, "How can God allow people who do bad things to live among us?" We were reminded that God gives us all the opportunity for forgiveness and spiritual growth and that God will be judge in the end and not those of us here on earth.

My mind went straight to Casey Anthony. It also went straight to the internal debate I have about the death penalty. If we are all children of God, if all lives are sacred, then how can we as humans support the death penalty? On the other hand are there not cases that cry out for the ultimate punishment of death and wouldn't one such case involve the murder of a child.

Like so many others I felt that I was mourning the life of a child that was cut short and for whom many of us, myself included felt found no justice in the courts.

You could see signs of this in many people that reacted to learning of the verdict in the Casey Anthony case with numbed disbelief. You could see the pain in the eyes of people outside of the court house and at the the tribute that many seemed to be suffering an empty feeling of pain as the shock of the verdict wore off. These were the tears we cried for Caylee that we'd searched for in her own mother's eyes.

Then the frustration gives way to anger which is actually one of the normal phases of grief. Some may lash out and lay blame for the death on Casey Anthony and they release of bottled up emotion that they feel.

Some people rail against fate, questioning "Why Caylee?" You may also try to bargain in vain with the powers that be why such a thing could happen to such an innocent child.

Hopefully many of us who have been affected by this case in one way or another will find some sort of ACCEPTANCE (this does not mean condoning the crime)not and HOPE that this will never happen to another child by doing something positive so there can finally be justice for Caylee.

Please sign the petition for Caylee's law. Don't let Caylee's death be in vain.

Casey Is Going To Cali

It is being reported that a plane left the Orlando Executive Airport around 3AM. It taxied out of the hanger without lights. At the end of the runway, lights came on, it took off. No flight plan was filed. Aircraft was a single engine turbo prop, registered to an address in California where Atty. Tony Macaluso has his office.

When Macaluso first came on Team Anthony in March, 2009, he was already facing charges with the California Bar Association. The Notice of Disciplinary Charges against him were filed on January 13, 2009. At that time, Macaluso was charged with eight counts. They consisted of one count of Moral Turpitude-Issuing NSF Checks, two counts of Failure to Maintain Client Funds in Trust Account, three counts of Moral Turpitude-Misappropriation, on count of Failure to Maintain Client Funds in Trust Account, and one count of Misuse of Client Trust Account.

Apparently, Macaluso had used about $170,00 from clients trust accounts for expenses in his business, including the leasing of a jet. While he is not accused of stealing any money and states the money was returned to the accounts, this definitely fits into the category of misappropriation of funds.

Hmmmmm.... leasing of a jet. Very interesting.

Don't forget Peace Walk for Caylee is scheduled for today at 2 PM from the memorial site in Orlando. If you are anywhere in the area please come out and show your support for Caylee!

Casey Anthony Is A Free Woman

After being acquitted of first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, Casey Anthony was released last night just after midnight.

Anthony was given $537.68 in cash and accompanied by two sheriff's deputies armed with semi-automatic rifles.

Casey Anthony was greeted with shouts of 'killer' and protesters holding placards with the words 'murderer' and 'devil' when she exited the Orange County Jail.

Where Casey will go now is anybody's guess. Her father has made it apparent that she is not welcome home. There has been speculation that she might go to Puerto Rico and there was early speculation that a distant relative of her mother Cindy who lives in Texas might take her in for awhile.

What will Casey do with her life is an even more difficult question to answer. She is a high school drop-out with virtually no work experience in a very difficult economy. Putting that aside though, who would want to hire the "Most Hated Mother in America"?

Do you honestly think that a diner at Cracker Barrel would want her to take their order? Would your local bank hire her? Can you imagine anyone wanting to drop their child off at a daycare center where she would be employed?

Despite all this agents say that her story was highly marketable, despite the furor over the verdict. As a matter of fact Jose Baez is still pitching photos of Casey's first days out and an exclusive interview with her.

Casey is going to have to do something because she has a defamation lawsuit for slander by a woman who shares the name of a nanny Ms. Anthony invented. When Casey had told the police that a nanny, nicknamed “Zanny the Nanny,” kidnapped Caylee she began receiving death threats and now has difficulty securing employment herself though no fault of her own.

Texas company, EquuSearch, which helps find missing people has also sued Ms. Anthony and is asking for $100,000 in expenses it incurred in its search for Caylee.

Let's take our collective anger and turn it into a positive force by signing the petition to make it a felony for a parent/guardian to not report a child's disappearance is a timely manner.

Help make a change, people! No parent should get a free pass of 31 days ever again!

Would You Allow Casey Anthony To Babysit Your Children?

By now most of America is aware that Casey Anthony has been found not guilty. Given the fact that there is a legislative proposal in San Francisco that seeks to make ex-cons and felons a protected class, I was wondering if this might prevent you from denying Casey Anthony a position in child care.

While Casey Anthony was found not guilty on murder charges she is a convicted felon and therefore in many states this could affect her ability to find employment.

For example, as a teacher, I am required to undergo a background check. If I have ever been arrested or convicted for an act of moral turpitude a school district could chose not to offer me employment. After all, if I used to sell crack on the street to small children would you really want me teaching your kids?

That's why I'm glad that Joy Behar articulated the question I've been wanting to ask Casey Anthony's lawyer Dorothy Clay Sims.

Does it really take a body language specialist to tell us that there is NO WAY that Ms. Sims would trust Casey with her cat let alone her own children.

I wonder if her hesitancy might be because she actually thinks that Casey is a dangerous psychopath and a pathological liar and a killer.

Sean Michael Phillips Appears In Court Today

Sean Michael Phillips appeared in court today wearing a bullet proof vest. Phillips, 21, the father of Baby Kate’s sister and the man charged with kidnapping her, had just received deployment papers to Afghanistan.

Good-bye GACTE Hello Home!

Note to self: You cannot drink even one glass of wine if you are taking medication.

I woke up today with 76 trombones leading the big parade in my head and while the pounding reminded me of the mistake I made by imbibing the night before, I wondered how in the world I was going to roll out of bed and head on over to the GACTE meeting.

Obviously I am not a big drinker and never have been but one would think that one small glass of wine would not have such serious ramifications.

I turned to look at the clock in my room which caused my head to swim and my stomach to turn.

I was barely able to dart to the bathroom quick enough to audition for a part in the Philip's colon health commercial with the crazy Colon lady who wants to let you know she'll help you with bouts of gas and diarrhea.

My trips back and forth between the bed and the bathroom finally subsided after I finally had a long hot shower, a Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks, and some aspirin. A quick trip down to the whirlpool helped too.

Thankfully most of my packing had been done the night before and the room had been prepaid. It made checking out so much easier.

I finally ran into my boss this morning as well as my new co-worker. We were all checking out and getting ready to head on over to the Waverly for the close of the GACTE Conference.

The Conference convened with a brunch that included election results, awards, and door prizes. I did not win any prizes by the way.

Before I hit the road I stopped off at the Cheesecake Factory and ordered a BBQ Chicken salad. It's made with avocado, tomato, grilled corn, black Beans, cucumber and Romaine all tossed with their Barbeque Ranch Dressing and topped with lots of Crispy Fried onion strings.

I had planned to take this home to my husband for the two of us to share along with a slice of cheesecake. This is my one disappointment because I had ordered one kind of cheesecake and I didn't check my order before I drove home.

I arrived home about fifteen minutes before Darryl. When he arrived home I surprised him with the meal from Cheesecake Factory and that's when I realized that they gave me the WRONG kind of cheesecake. They gave me a German Chocolate Cheesecake and although it was OK but I had craved the Oreo Cookie cheesecake I'd ordered all the way home. Since I live over an hour away it's not worth it to drive all the way back.

It's good to be home though. Atlas was so glad to see me. All he could do was jump up and down on me and not allow me out of his site.

Darryl was also glad to see me and let me know that even just three days apart was difficult.

We spent some time swimming in our pool which is finally clean. Thank goodness because this has been the longest it's ever taken us to open our pool.

I feel like clicking the heels of my ruby red slippers together and reciting "There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

GACTE, BCS, & Passion Tea Oh My

Today was Division Programs Day at the 64th Annual GACTE and it couldn't have begun any better. I know it sounds crazy but they actually had my FAVORITE TAZO Tea, Passion Tea, as my students would say OMG! It made up for the fact that I had to hustle myself over to the Waverly this morning at 8AM on a summer day.

My first session was entitled, "Quick, Easy ways to Become A Standards-Based Classroom (MS &HS). To be honest, in the past my favorite thing about these workshops were finding new ideas to incorporate into my classroom which has always meant lugging home tons of paper. Not this time. It seems like every session I attended offered to email you the material or provided you a link for the material. Won't Al Gore be so very happy?

I was looking forward to the second session, "Engaging Pupils in the Classroom by Embedding Projects into the Curriculum (HS)" because it promised a project resource CD for all attendees! Obviously others felt the same way because the session was packed and I had heard people discussing that this was why they chose to attend that particular session.

While the instructor did not have those CD's available, she did have a very good reason and her presentation made up for leaving empty handed.

I was going to eat lunch with the people in my area, I changed my mind last minute. The reason for this was that while other instructors were filing out of their sessions they began heading over to the tables which were almost completely set. A few teachers headed over to various tables when a couple of women at the Dias that were part of GACTE asked them to just wait. Then a few more people began heading for the tables and the women had to repeat themselves. I just didn't feel like hugging the walls, staring at tables, like a vulture waiting for its turn at the carcass.

I decided to head on over to Cumberland Mall instead and pick a restaurant. While I was trying to decide between a couple of restaurants I'd never been too, I decided to visit the Cheesecake Factory because they last time I'd eaten there it was SO good.

I ordered the Santa Fe Salad from the lunch menu but trust me, even though they say it's smaller, it's still HUGE. I had to divide it in half and bring the other half back to the hotel for another meal. Thank goodness I didn't eat the bread because then I wouldn't have been able to eat my half serving of salad.

Of course, I couldn't very well have gone to the Cheesecake Factory and NOT had any cheesecake now could I? I guess I could, technically I did, but I did ask them to pack that up to go also. It was so very hard to decide but I decided to try the vanilla bean cheesecake which I will share with my husband on Wednesday when I go home.

I arrived back at the Waverly just in time to watch the hotel staff serve a steak to the other attendees. I did wonder if perhaps I'd made the wrong choice, but I don't think I'll be regretting my choice when I'm eating that cheesecake later.

I finally took the opportunity to head on over to the hotel pool and swim a little bit as well as take advantage of the whirlpool.

There is a GACTE Networking Reception but I probably won't be attending. I still feel a bit uncomfortable when I'm around others in a room where I hardly know anyone. I say this even though I did briefly attend the small mixer here at the hotel and I did take a seat at one of the tables in the Business Education luncheon even though I didn't eat anything.

I didn't wind up babbling or analyzing every word I said, berating myself for every perceived mistake. I spoke with a teacher from Thomasville City Schools who owns a coffee shop and he explained to me about why Starbucks has such a bitter taste. It was really very interesting.

As I write this post the sky has finally opened wide and there heavy pouring rain is providing a respite from today's heat despite warnings of dangerous lightning, and gusty winds.

Unfortunately, the Weather Service has issued another heat advisory for metro Atlanta for Wednesday for heat indices topping 105. Can you say HOT?

What I Learned At GACTE

For the next several days I will be attending the 64th Annual GACTE Conference.

As I explained yesterday I wound up arriving much later than I had originally hoped to arrive but after breakfast today I headed over to registration to retrieve my packet.

I wound up bumping into two of my co-workers. Each of us all had the same question, "Did you see the boss?" We all had the same reason to ask this question because we all wanted to make sure that she knew that we had shown up and attended all of the meetings.

The first General Interest Session I attended was entitled, "Engage, Excite, Educate! It was conducted by Dr. Marilyn Skinner who I thought had a plethora of online resources available for teachers to use in the classroom. Some I had already known about but others were new and I'm excited about investigating them further.

The second General Interest Session I attended was entitled job Search Readiness-The New job Market and How to Help Students Succeed. As the media reminds us constantly, we are living in the new normal and I for one have been worried about how I can help my students find a job after graduation.

Several things impressed me about this session and one of them was the fact that Judi Adams of RightChanges.biz actually spelled out to those in attendance the TRUE Unemployment numbers. When I explained them to my students many of them had no idea that the real unemployment numbers are between 16%-20% but the government is quick not to calculate them in a more transparent manner and therefore release the unemployment figure as being 9.2%.

After the morning workshops my co-worker and I headed out for lunch over to Schlotzsky's. I don't know if I'd ever eaten there before but i can tell you that I really loved their Greek salad. I probably would have liked it even more if I hadn't managed to get a large squirt of salad dressing on the front of my dress.

At 2PM I was able to view the Career Tech Expo and view the various exhibitors tables. I also got to enter to winner some of these exciting prizes:

IPad
2-Night Weekend Stay at the Renaissance Waverly with Breakfast for 2
iPod Touch
and other prizes donated by exhibitors. Wish me luck. They will be drawing for prizes on Wednesday and you can only win if you attend the GACTE Awards Brunch and Business Meeting on July 13th

In order to receive learning credit for this conference I had to pick up all conference materials at the registratioon desk and attend all activities and breakout session. Approximately one month after the conference concludes, I will be sent an e-mail which includes a link allowing me to evaluate the conference. This survey will require the CTAERN password, which allows GACTE to confirm participants ho have completed the final required evaluation step. Once I have completed the on-line survey I will be issued a Professional Learning Contact Hour Certficate that reflects the 20 contact hours recommended for participation in this conference.

Vitriol & The Aftermath of The Casey Anthony

According to a recent survey 2 in 3 Americans think Casey Anthony is guilty. Another survey found that 86% of African Americans believe Casey Anthony is guilty of the death of her two year old daughter, Caylee.

Many of them wonder like I do if Casey would have received the same treatment had her name been Laquita Jackson.

Casey Anthony has become the most hated woman in America and you don't have to look far for the proof. From a Facebook account called "I HATE Casey Anthony" which include a photo of Casey pointing a gun to her head to people declaring that they want to punch Casey Anthony in the throat I don't blame Casey's attorney's for being fearful for Casey's safety.

I am concerned about the outrage and anger that has been directed at the jury members. While I personally don't feel that they decided the case correctly,and I find it distasteful that some are hoping to profit on this tragic death, I don't hate these jurors as some do. They had a difficult job to do and now many of them are receiving death threats.

The woman, known only as juror number 12 left her job and went into hiding fearing co-workers would 'want her head on a platter'.

Is it any wonder that Judge Belvin Perry revealing on Thursday that he would not release to the public the names of the jurors for their own safety?

Please remember, that while Casey Anthony is scheduled to be released on July 17th, you must NOT take the law into your own hands. We are a country of laws and the jury has spoken even if we disagree we can NOT allow ourselves to become a nation of vigalantism.

In the meantime please do something positive in Cayee Anthony's memory. There is a petition online for a new law created called Caylee's Law that will make it a felony for a parent or guardian to not notify law enforcement of a child going missing within 24 hours

Please join others who want to find justice for Caylee

How's Those Meds Workin?

For awhile now I've been having problems with panic attacks. I wish I could tell you how or when they all began but I think it would have to have been about twelve years ago.

If something bad or off happened during the day I would become almost uber-introspective thinking about what I could have done or should have done when something happened often taking full responsibility for things even when the perhaps I bore no responsibility.

My world was become more restrictive. I wouldn't quite say I was to the point of being agoraphobic but I would say that while I was once someone who could pick up on a whim and head for the beach I now only went to work or shopping.

There was a sameness to my day, weeks, and months except for interactions with some at work and I stuffed my fear and anxiety by stuffing my mouth with food.

I struggled to beat this by myself and it seemed like an up-hill climb at times. I had to break down the symptoms and work at taking them on one by one.

For example, part of the reason I hated leaving my house was because I was suffering with menorrhagia. It's a very embarrassing condition and it also left me very tired.

I finally decided to stop putting off seeing a doctor and found out that my problem, Uterine fibroids, was treatable.

I lost the weight I had put on but with all that was going on with my life, from my husband losing his business, losing our home, etc., etc. I just couldn't seem to totally beat my depression. There were times when I would feel a wave of fear for no reason at all. My heart would pound in my chest and it would sometimes be hard for me to breathe if there was some deviation in my schedule. I was living the life of a quasi-agoraphobic

I was living a life of active avoidance and it was having serious impact on my life. I have finally sought out treatment for my panic attacks and I think I finally have begun seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Today I was driving into Atlanta for a big conference for my curriculum area. Normally the thought of going all that way all by myself would start making me nervous. I would begin thinking over and over that I just didn't want to go.

This time I was backed yesterday and while I wasn't excited about going I was able to leave without working myself into a state or seeking ways to avoid leaving for the conference.

Just before I got on 75 I stopped at the Starbucks in Cartersville to get a brownie. That's when I noticed that I had Darryl's keys. This was not a good discovery because they are keys to the house, his vehicle and of course work keys.

Honestly there was a time where I would have gone into full panic attack mode at the very thought of having to drive all the way back home only to have to turn around to begin driving back. Keep in mind this does not mean that I would have been angry about the whole thing just panicking because now I'd be late getting where I was going.

This time I realized that my world wouldn't end. I'd simply get my brownies, called my husband, returned home with the keys, and then headed on over to the Country Inn & Suites in Atlanta.

Speaking of the Country Inn & Suites, I'm staying at the one in Windy Hill and I really love it. My bed is HUGE. I also have a nice refrigerator and microwave in the room. There is a Fitness Center and a swimming pool whirlpool area. This Country Inn & Suites offers a complimentary shuttle within a 5-minute radius of the hotel between the hours of 8AM - 10PM. How great is that.

I got here too late to go to the conference opening event but I'll be there bright an early tomorrow.

Court Dismissed Early Because Casey Felt Sick After Viewing Court Photos

Casey Anthony became ill during her murder trial on Thursday, and as a result, court was dismissed early.

Jurors viewed a series of photos showing the wooded area near the Anthonys’ Suburban Drive home where Caylee’s remains were found in December 2008. Duct tape was on the child’s skull.

Former First Lady Betty Ford Dead

Betty Ford died Friday at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Her cause of death was not immediately clear.

Betty Ford (April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011) was the wife of former United States President Gerald Ford and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. As First Lady, Ford was active in social policy and shattered precedents as a politically active presidential wife.

Throughout her husband's term in office, she maintained high approval ratings despite opposition from some conservative Republicans who objected to her more moderate and liberal positions on social issues. Ford was noted for raising breast cancer awareness following her 1974 mastectomy and was a passionate supporter of, and activist for, the Equal Rights Amendment. Pro-choice on abortion and a leader in the Women's Movement, she gained fame as one of the most candid first ladies in history, commenting on every hot-button issue of the time, including feminism, equal pay, ERA, sex, drugs, abortion, and gun control. She also raised awareness of addiction when she announced her long-running battle with alcoholism in the 1970s.

Even President Barak Obama noted that throughout her long and active life, Elizabeth Anne Ford distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. As our nation's first lady, she was a powerful advocate for women's health and women's rights. After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford helped reduce the social stigma surrounding addiction and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment. While her death is a cause for sadness, we know that organizations such as the Betty Ford Center will honor her legacy by giving countless Americans a new lease on life.

Casey Anthony's Set To Cash In With Million Dollar Deal

The Son of Sam Law is any law designed to keep criminals from profiting from their crimes, often by selling their stories to publishers. Such laws often authorize the state to seize money earned from such a deal and use it to compensate the criminal's victims.

I bring up this law simply because in light of the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial many people are concerned about Casey's ability to profit of the circumstances surrounding the death of Casey Anthony.

The Son of Sam Law does not apply to Casey Anthony because she was aquitted of the murder charges.

It's "not impossible" to expect Anthony to get an advance between $750,000 and $1 million or for her receive a cut from the sales of the book. If a TV or film studio acquires the rights to it.

It is being reported that book publishers in New York are in a bidding war to land Anthony’s tell-all book. The price tag is up to $3 million, according to ABC News.

As a matter of fact, it was reported yesterday that Casey had been offered $1 million to appear on The Jerry Springer Show.

According to these reports, not only does host Jerry Springer want Casey, he also wants her parents Cindy and George Anthony and her brother Lee Anthony.

The Jerry Springer Show claims that they have not made any monetary offer to Casey Anthony and her family to appear on the program, nor will they.

Meanwhile, Casey Anthony is not the only one who may profit from the death of little Casey Anthony. The network news divisions reported being approached by Rick French, a publicist from North Carolina, who said he represented Juror No. 6. One network executive said the fee being demanded to talk to Juror No. 6 was $50,000.

Jose Baez Gets Dropped By Hollywood Agent

Oh darn. Hollywood Baez has lost his Hollywood agent in a matter of hours. I guess it's true when they say that the public is fickle.

It was originally announced that Jim Griffin of Paradigm would represent Baez and explore opportunities in publishing, motion pictures and television, according to several reports Thursday afternoon.

Now, according to an internal Paradigm memo Paradigm has informed Jose Baez tonight that we will not be representing him.”

Guess Paradigm remembered that old adage about lying with the dogs and getting up with fleas.

By the way, there is a Facebook group that believe Casey Anthony is Guilty, and should not profit from book deals, interview licenses, movie deals, reality type shows.

What we can do, is not buy her book, not watch her made for TV movie, not do anything that would support Casey Anthony from profiting from her daughter Caylee's death.

Should Mason Have Been Giving Himself The Finger?

When Cheney Mason was lecturing those who don't that he hoped that this has been a lesson to those who have indulged in media assassination for the past three years with bias, prejudice, and incompetent talking heads was he perhaps the pot calling the kettle black?

If you view the following video, he had acted as a talking head before joining Casey's dream team saying what would be and how it would be. I suppose that since he says that he is discussed by some of the lawyers who did this, he'd conveniently forgotten this little television appearance.



Perhaps that's why he presented this classy hand signal to let us know that he is still number one.

In the meantime, Casey's release date has been pushed back a few days and she is now scheduled to be released July 17th.

Casey Anthony To Be Free Next Wednesday

It's all over but the paperwork for Casey Anthony as she will be freed into society next Wednesday after having been found not guilty in the death of her child.

Before court began this morning Casey was animated, smiling and occasionally played with her hair. Her demeanor changed, however, to stone-faced when she heard she would be spending a little more time in jail.

Outside the courthouse there was increased police presence and a throng of protesters gathered near the courthouse, holding signs that said "Arrest the Jury!!" and "Jurors 1-12 Guilty of Murder."

The one source of comic relief (if comic relief can be found in the face of this tragedy) a young man held a sign asking Casey Anthony to marry him.

I was not the only one shocked as a representative of HLN actually interviewed this guy asking him just how he planned to ask her to marry him and why he wanted to marry her.

"I would date her," said the sign's holder Tim Allen. "Everyone deserves a second chance.



Speaking of jurors, one of the jurors, Jennifer Ford, told ABC News in an interview "I did not say she was innocent," Ford said. "I just said there was not enough evidence. If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be."it was because "we were sick to our stomach to get that verdict."

"We were crying and not just the women. It was emotional and we weren't ready."

I guess she was ready when ABC decided to take her and her immediate family as well as nieces and other family members for an all expense paid to Disney World in return for her interview. (May I interject her that she's a far better negotiator than Judas. After all he only got 30 pieces of silver.)

Jennifer Ford isn't the only juror who wants you to know that if the price is right the flight's tonight.

According to TMZ a publicist for the unidentified juror is sending a letter to media outlets, claiming, "Our client -- a married, college-educated, 33-year-old white male with two young children -- is willing to consider granting one or more media interviews so long as the opportunities are paid."

This just in....

According to the Orange County Sheriff Office spokesman Cpl. Susan Soto, hours after Casey Anthony was sentenced for lying to investigators about the disappearance of her daughter, lightning struck the area of a makeshift memorial where Caylee Anthony's skeletal remains were found dumped.

I found this particularly interesting because when the jury was sent home after their first day of deliberation, a storm blew in with heavy downpour and strong winds.

Am I the only one who senses there may be a message here?

Voting Contest Scandal

I have asked ToyDiva from OLS if she would allow me to reprint her post about Voting Contest cheating.

Let me begin by saying that initially I felt that these were winnable because they usually required some sort of skill and I actually was able to win a couple with the help of vote requests on various forums I belong.

I would make myself sick begging for people to vote for me, feeling disappointed because I saw some of my competitors do questionable things to get votes. I was entering against someone offering freebies for votes.

Another time I entered a very small voting contest with only one prize and ten people competing. One of the people entered a famous photo. I say famous photo because I used to have a jigsaw puzzle that was made of the original photo. I emailed the contest to tell them the problem and NEVER received any response back from them. The two of us were neck and neck for a little while but then in the last day she got hundreds of votes and blew me away. She won the prize. I can't even remember what that prize was but I was disappointed.

Then a few years ago I noticed that someone had posted a very interesting post about people using bots, scripts, and multiple email addresses in a voting contest involving a popular mommy blog. The grand prize I believe was a washing machine.

I believe that's when I finally had a "light bulb moment". Sponsors have voting contests in order to drive traffic to their website. As soon as I realized that I realized that there was really no incentive for sponsors to change what it was they were doing.

Even worse is when sponsors change their rules and/or ignore their own rules as happened in a recent contest I entered.

After swearing that I would NEVER again enter a voting contests I entered one that was only open to teachers. There was a photo aspect and an essay aspect.

The day before the contest was over there were only THREE entries and mine was one. The prize structure was a $500 GC for classroom supplies for the grand prize winner and $100 GC for the top 10. I was thrilled. At the very least I could buy $100 worth of school supplies.

I checked the day after the contest "ended" but voting hadn't begun and there were only four entries. I was pretty happy because I realized that this meant I would get at the very least one of the $100 GCs.

A week went by and on the day voting begins I log on so I could get the link necessary to use to ask people to vote for my entry. Imagine my surprise when there were about thirty entries!!! How in the world? According to the rules submissions had already stopped a week ago and now there were twenty-six new entries. How could that be?

The voting began and while I had first place for a little while I quickly lost it. The rules initially said that you could only vote once per person which is what I informed my friends. Days later I realized that this rule had also been tossed to the wind because when I checked to see how voting was doing I was asked if I wanted to vote for my entry. I had already voted but I decided to click the vote link and believe it or not it registered a new vote. Now I have to go back to my family and friends and ask for more votes.

Some people where able to give me a second vote and some weren't. I went back the next day and I wasn't able to vote again. I informed my support team tat they couldn't vote again. I was however, WRONG AGAIN. Three days later I checked on my progress and was asked once again if I wanted to vote for my own entry.

I threw my hands up in the air. Can vote. Can't vote. Enter past the deadline. Some of the people I would normally ask don't belong to Facebook where the contest was held. I just stopped asking people to enter because just felt it was out of control. Obviously I did not win.

I have known "ToyDiva" online for awhile because she and I both entered essay contests and such. I liked that about her. Today she wrote a very informative post and with her permission I'd like to share the next voting contest scandal.

Here's is Toy Diva's Post In Its Entirety

Before I begin this much anticipated essay on the dirty underworld of contesting, allow me to explain a few things. First, I am not writing this because I am a "sore loser". I knew I had lost this contest well before it ended. Secondly, any reference to voting pages are not directed at any page in particular. And finally, I am writing this essay to expose what really goes on in "voting contests" so my friends and fellow contesters are informed and the companies and administrators who run these contests stop running these three ring circuses and go back to old fashioned judging.

I have been a sweepstaker for 7 years. During those 7 years, I have won some amazing things including trips, cash, gift cards, electronics, toys and more. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I got a taste for voting contests. My daughter had an entry in the "Cheese Doodle" contest to win a Wii for my son, her older brother, who happens to be disabled. The company gave several Wiis away and my daughter won. However, it wasn't without alot of work "campaigning" for votes, emailing friends and family as well as returning votes for those who had voted for us. My next voting contest was for a trampoline and the next for a Tempur-pedic bed. I was blessed to have won both of those with the help of family, friends and the Facebook and sweepstaking communities. I have always chosen my voting contests by need, rather than want...after all, they take a great deal of work and countless hours on the computer.

Most recently, I saw an opportunity to try and win a family trip to Florida as well as a brand new car in the Visit Florida Sunshine Moments sweepstakes (which it was technically a contest since it is not the luck of the draw) I entered a beautiful photograph I had taken on a trip I won (through a luck of the draw sweepstakes) 4 years ago, to Florida. I thought I had a good chance at winning, although I knew it would be tough....alot more people want to win a car than a trampoline or a bed! I was psyched and ready to FIGHT to win this contest. We were in desperate need of a new vehicle due to my health and my son's. And the trip to Florida, I wanted that desperately as well since we have never had a family vacation.

Not even one week into the contest, I was in the lead but I noticed an entry screaming up on my heels quickly. The photograph was absolutely gorgeous.....so gorgeous in fact, that I felt it looked professional. I Googled the title of the photograph and it popped up in HUNDREDS of links.....on blogs....on a Canadian tourism site...and in Flick'r under the TRUE OWNERS NAME. The photograph was immediately removed from the contest. I was happy. It was unfair to me and the other participants to have a stolen photograph in the running.

I was still in first a week into the contest, then things started to change dramatically. Suddnely, in the blink of an eye, I was in third. I was still getting a steady influx of votes, I was still campaigning and working day and night but a few entries started moving up at the speed of light! One went from 8th to 2nd in a matter of hours.....another from 17th to 2nd in just hours.....and still another that was well on the 20-somethings that flew to 2nd in a matter of a few hours. How was this happening? How could they possibly be getting that many votes that quickly. And how was the 1st place person staying in first, set in concrete? My mind churned and I didn't want to think it.....I didn't want to say it.......but I couldn't help but be suspicious......were they cheating? Before the contest ended, I started doing some investigating and what I learned not only disappointed me but it absolutely SHOCKED ME!

How naive was I? How long had this been going on? Why aren't companies doing something about this? How could contestants actually cheat like this and then sleep at night?

I didn't drop out of the contest, no way, I stayed in....kicking, screaming and holding on for dear life for, at least, a top 10 finish. I wanted to prove to myself that cheaters never win. But ahhhh, they do. They get the car and the trip and I get a camera.......no sour grapes, I needed a new camera ever since I allowed the husband to take mine on a ghost hunt and it was returned to me with a sticky shutter. Nothing worse that a sticky shutter. So now I am sure you are curious as to what my little investigation turned up, right? Ahhhh, soon.......

But first, allow me to explain the general rules of voting contests, just in case you don't know. You might think you enter your essay or photograph and people browse the entires and say, "Oh this is nice, I'll give it my vote." or "Well written! He's got my votes!" No, no, no.....not ever close. You can write a single run-on sentence with poor spelling and still win. You can enter a beach photo that isn't even the state asked for...but you can still win. It's all about the votes.....how many friends you have...how much time you're willing to spend.....how popular you are...what church you belong to......where you work etc. it's a numbers game.

You can trade votes on voting pages.....which is perfectly alright (as long as the rules do not state otherwise). You simply post your contest link and ask for votes. People vote for you and in return, you vote back for them. One vote for one vote....even Steven. OH! But I just learned, things aren't as cut and dry as they seem! I noticed several vote requests posted by, let's say "Jon Smith". Jon Smith posts 3 vote requests, none of them seem to be his, names don't match, nationalities don't match and Jon is obviously NOT from the US, and if he is, he's yet to learn to read or write English. So people vote down the wall for everyone, including Jon Smith and his 3 entries. Jon Smith then returns one vote per person. Now first, it's a little unfair, but secondly, Jon Smith actually is a "vote exchanger". (Can you hear the music...dun, dun dunnnnnnnnnnn)

A person who "exchanges votes" offers to give you 50 votes for your one vote. Sounds short sided on Jon's side....but no.....Jon had his own network voting for him....his own vote exchange page. So Jon gets his votes by everyone who posts on his page or through his network and he's easily returning his promise of 20-30-50 votes per person by posting them on other walls to be votes on by up to 100 or more people per day. Vote exchanging is frowned upon and is usually grounds for disqualification IF the contest administrator find out. And you, the contester voting for Jon's many contests, is getting the short end of the stick.

Now on to the fun part of the story!! Now who wouldn't want to vote for an adorable photograph of two little girls and Cinderella at Disney World, right? It seems EVERYONE wanted to vote for that photograph.....for a little incentive. During my investigation (where I was merely trying to see what voting forums they were posting in) I found a mom blog. On this mom blog they were giving away FREE DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING KITS! Woohoooooo! Was I excited about the freebie? No, I'm not a scrapbooker. I was, however, intrigued by the fact that these kits were being given away FOR A VOTE in a particular Florida contest. And not only that, you got one EACH TIME YOU VOTED! I retained the link and it was subsequently turned over to the contest administrator.

http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/06/fr...ur-choice.html

Obviously, they didn't disqualify the entry, it won first place. But the question remains, was that cheating? Is it OK to "buy" votes? Personally, I feel it is cheating, otherwise Ms. E (my alter ego and adult product blogger) would have given away much more "interesting" prizes to scoop up the motherload of votes. But some might jump to her defense and say, "The rules didn't state you couldn't give away an item for each vote." TRUE. The rules stated "cheating" was grounds for disqualification.....they didn't go into details..."cheating is defined by paying cash or trading merchandise, sexual favors, dog walking service, your third cousins' baby or an internal bodily organ for a vote. You cannot use proxy computers, pay a company for votes or".......let me stop right there. PAY A COMPANY FOR VOTES.

YES....you can actually pay someone for votes! Need 500? Gotcha! Need 1,000 by a certain date? No problem! Need 5,000 votes or facebook photo "likes" in 3 weeks, spread out and from different ISP addresses? They can do that! I even found one heck of a bargain.....1,000 Facebook "likes" or votes for a mere $5!!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?no...45938&comments

I found a company, during the investigation, where people freelance their services for everything from SEO and website building to giving hundreds and even thousands of Facebook likes, contest votes or anything of that nature for a price. You post what you need, you set the particulars, the freelancers bid.

http://www.freelancer.com

I looked around the site and searched terms like "Facebook votes" and "Facebook contest" and surely enough, there was one of my competitors, asking for bids on 1,000 votes. I looked at her profile (and she included a photo) came to the Florida photo contest and matched are Freelancer account name to her entry AND her Facebook account. Obviously her measly purchased 1,000 votes weren't enough to contend with free scrapbooking kits.....or the other "questionable" entries that would move 3, 4 or as many as 20 places in a matter of hours. By this time, I KNEW there was no way I could win this contest, so I just dug deeper....I wanted the truth out there for all contesters to see.

Now if you are one that wants to run right out to the site and post for a freelancer to vote for you 5,000 times.....be my guest. However, I fully intend on taking this to every company, sponsor, sweepstakes administrator and marketing company out there. I want to see voting contests ABOLISHED. Hell, if they claim they don't have the time or manpower to go through hundreds of photographs and pick a winner, heck send them to me, I'd be happy to JUDGE the contest fairly! Voting contests are no longer fair.....they are an abomination and reflect poorly on any company who chooses to run one then turn a blind eye to blatant cheating.

As a special treat to my contesting friends, I'd like to share some interesting links with you! Are you currently in a certain baby contest here on Facebook.......look out, somebody is buying votes: http://www.freelancer.com/projects/I...o-Contest.html Oh and don't think just because the person on this account isn't from the USA, I learned through another contester that people from other countries frequently enter US based contests and they have "friends" here in the US to collect their prizes for them.

And for the rest of you contesters, I thought these links might be of interest:

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/W...quot-like.html

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/I...o.1028475.html

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/I...-fan-page.html

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/I...ikes-Need.html

Here's a good one! http://www.freelancer.com/projects/1101491.html

And another! http://www.freelancer.com/projects/1105374.html

And here is a list I pulled off of Google with VARIOUS Facebook contests listed from various months throught the year. Maybe you'll see the person who beat YOU out of a certain contest. Take a peek!

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/a...ook-votes.html

And please don't think this is the ONLY place out there. This type of "freelancing" is popping up everywhere! I am a fool not to have realized this earlier!

http://www.careerfreelance.com/freel...freshcoast247/

In closing, I would like to add this. I do not like cheaters. Those of us who enter sweepstakes and contests do it for the thrill and the challenge and excitement of winning. Most contesters are honest.....but I am noticing an increasing amount of people who are saying "To hell with morals and rules. I want to win and that's all that matters!" Yes, the society of instant gratification, the country of entitlement. Well this woman isn't into it. I find it morally wrong to cheat and you will nevr find me doing it.....EVER. And for that matter, you will never find me entering another voting contest again.

I would much rather lose, playing by the rules than win by cheating.

ABOLISH VOTING CONTESTS!!!!!!!

UPDATE: Did a cheater actually prosper? It appears she did and boy she can't wait to tell you how thrilled she is that her strategy worked.

http://mga-creations.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-won-contest.html

Fernbank Museum Tips the Scales of Fun during Annual REPTILE DAY Event with Lizards, Snakes, Turtles & More!

ATLANTA-Fernbank Museum's annual Reptile Day will give visitors an opportunity to
get up-close with dozens of lizards, snakes, turtles, and even a few amphibians,
including frogs! This popular event for visitors of all ages will take place on
Saturday, July 30, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A variety of reptiles-both exotic and native to Georgia-will be on display in the
Museum's Great Hall for visitors to examine up close. Select display animals will be
available for visitors to touch. Fernbank also is partnering with the Georgia
Herpetological Society, the Chattahoochee Nature Center, the Bear Hollow Wildlife
Zoo, My Reptile Guys, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and more. Organizations will
offer many opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the importance of
these exceptional animals. Children will also have the opportunity to create a
leopard gecko hat and see a real leopard gecko from Fernbank's education collection
of live animal ambassadors.

Reptile Day coincides with Fernbank's summer-long programming series, 97 Days & Ways
to Play, which offers visitors a variety of ways to enjoy the summer with giveaways,
events, programs, activities and more. Fernbank's 97 Days & Ways to Play continues
through September 4, 2011.

Reptile Day is included with Museum admission, which is FREE for members, $17.50 for
adults, $16.50 for students and seniors, $15.50 for children ages 3-12, and free for
children ages 2 and under. Purchase Museum tickets at fernbankmuseum.org/97days or
by calling 404.929.6400.

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

Will Casey Turn To Porn?

I for one was wondering what Casey Anthony would do with her life once she was released from jail. After all she's a high school drop out who never really held a job and that whole "baby killing" thing might just hurt her chances in her future employment endeavors.

Never fear Casey because unlike many Americans who are desperately searching for work, you already have a job waiting for you when you get out of jail.

While this is not a job everyone would want to put on their resume Casey must be really excited about the fact that Vivid Entertainment has offered her a job in one of its upcoming porn films.

I'm thinking it must have been her lawyer's job recommendation when he called her a "slut".

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

The head of porn company Vivid Entertainment has rescinded an offer to make Casey Anthony an adult film star.

Oh Darn. Believe it or not even the porn industry finds her a property they don't want to touch. The head of Vivid Entertainment said, "A movie starring Casey Anthony is not what people want to see."

You know like how men couldn't wait to rent porn video staring Amy Fisher who shot her married lover's wife in the head. Now that's sexy!

Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty

When The jury left for the evening yesterday I was pretty sure that there would be a decision in the Casey Anthony case. I expected it to be sometime this afternoon. What I did not expect was the verdict that the jury delivered.

I felt that the jury would want information about just how the child died and they didn't have that. It was for this reason I felt it would be difficult to get a guilty verdict for murder in the first degree.

What I did convince myself was that jurors would come back with a verdict of guilty of aggravated child abuse or second degree manslaughter.

Like so many others I sat transfixed to the TV as the verdict clock began counting down the hours until a verdict was rendered.

I felt I would have enough time to walk my dog Atlas and run to Walmart. So I scheduled these activities for first thing in the morning.

When I arrived home the clock was still ticking and I almost wondered if in fact the jury might not reach a verdict today.

I ate lunch, then stepped out of the room to put some clothes in the dryer. I was only out of the room for a few moments and I realized that the announcement that a verdict had been reached and would be delivered at 2:15 PM today.

I sat down and began tweeting to others who have been following this trial. A "crazy" thought came to my mind that I would cry when the verdict was reached. Would I? Why would I cry? Would it be relief that it is finally over?



When the camera focused on the "All Rise" I watched as Casey seemed to be sucking in deep breaths in a way to calm herself down. I wondered how she would react when the verdict came down.

My chest constricted. I began to write the tweet about the verdict before it was announced believing that she would be found not guilty of First Degree murder. I was going to send it and then I was going to tweet Guilty of the second charge but I said I'd better wait until the verdict was actually announced.

When the word came down many people keep coming back with the same feelings. There was no justice for Caylee. I am shocked and not alone.

Casey was only convicted of lying to the police which carries a maximum of about four years total. She obviously won't serve her whole sentence. She might even get time served. Casey Anthony could walk as soon as Thursday.

Will she go back home to be with her mother and father? Will they take her back into their home? Will she now profit from this tragedy? Forget the Son of Sam laws because she was not convicted and therefore can sell her story, write a book, and/or help make a movie if she wants to do so.

As I watch the people outside of the courthouse milling around aimlessly I wonder if they feel that same sense of disbelief. Are they all wondering "What ever happened to justice for Caylee?

Deliberaton In The Casey Anthony Case Has Begun

Following the prosecution's closing argument rebuttal and Judge Belvin Perry's instructions to the jury the Casey Anthony murder case has been given to the jury for deliberations.

I felt that Prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick left the jury with a haunting image, that of a photo of the "Bella Vita" tattoo and asked questions that the jury must answer. "Whose life was better without Caylee? Was Cindy Anthony's life better? Was George Anthony's life better? Mr. Ashton said what George Anthony's life was like as a result of losing his beloved granddaughter. Whose life was better? That is the only question you need to answer in considering why Caylee Marie Anthony was left on the side of the road dead."

Casey Anthony is accused of multiple charges, including the following:

Count One, First Degree Murder: If Casey Anthony is convicted of first degree murder, regardless of whether it is on a theory of Pre-meditated Murder or Felony Murder she will receive at a minimum a life sentence. For many years, a life sentence in Florida is a life sentence, which means there is no parole or early release. A defendant convicted of first degree murder only leaves prison after his or her death. The only alternative to a life sentence is death by execution.

Lesser Included of Count One, Second Degree Murder: (depraved mind murder, not premeditated) The maximum penalty for Second Degree Murder is a life sentence. The minimum sentence is based on the Criminal Punishment Code. The estimated minimum sentence for this charge and other charges which might result in conviction along with this count would be 24 years, 6 months.

Count Two, Aggravated Child Abuse: The maximum penalty for aggravated child is 15 years in prison. The estimated minimum sentence for this charge and other charges which might result in conviction along with this count would be 12 years, 1 month.

Count Three, Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child: If Casey Anthony is convicted of causing the death of Caylee by culpable negligence the maximum sentence is 30 years in prison. The estimated minimum sentence for this charge and other charges which might result in conviction along with this count would be 16 years and 6 months.

Counts Four Through Seven, Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer in Reference to a Missing Person: The charge in these four counts carries a maximum of one year in county jail for each count. As a result if convicted of all four of these counts, Casey Anthony could receive a sentence of four years if the sentence for each count is run consecutively.

The jurors ended their deliberations early on Monday due to the July 4 holiday, however, they will return to the courthouse to deliberate further on Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM ET.

Isn't it interesting that a the torrential downpour that happened shortly after the jury was dismissed just as it rained the day Caylee's body was found. Is it a foreshadowing of the outcome?