Saturday, October 24, 2009

HOW FIGHTS START

My wife sat down on the settee next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, 'What's on TV?'

I said, 'Dust.'

And then the fight started...



******************************************


My wife and I were watching "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, "Do you want to have sex?"

"No," she answered.

I then said, "Is that your final answer?"

She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, "Yes."

So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."

And then the fight started....



******************************************


Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the boat up to the van, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.

I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible."

My loving wife of 5 years replied, "Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?"

And that's how the fight started...



******************************************


I rear-ended a car this morning. So, there we were alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car. You know how sometimes you just get so stressed and little things just seem funny? Yeah, well I couldn't believe it.... He was a DWARF!!! He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, "I AM NOT HAPPY!!!"

So, I looked down at him and said, "Well, then which one are you?"

And then the fight started.....



*****************************************


My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, 'I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds.'

I bought her a bathroom scale.

And then the fight started...



******************************************


When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her some place expensive... so, I took her to a petrol station.

And then the fight started...



******************************************


After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's License to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.

The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'. So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair. She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability, too.'

And then the fight started...



******************************************


My wife and I were sitting at a table at my school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'

'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'

'My God!' says my wife, 'who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'

And then the fight started...



******************************************


I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason took my order first. "I'll have the steak, medium rare, please."

He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?""

Nah , she can order for herself."

And then the fight started...



******************************************


A woman was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to her husband, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'

The husband replied, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.'

And then the fight started.....


New Baby Giraffe Born at Zoo in Norfolk


Here is a picture of the new baby girl giraffe born at the Norfolk zoo on Thursday, October 22, 2009.
The Masai is the first to be born at the zoo and is the baby of 7 year old Imari and 8 year old Billy.
The unnamed baby giraffe has past all the survival milestones and is walking, nursing and bonding with its mother, Imara.
For more pictures of the baby giraffe go to www.wtkr.com.
If you have never been to the Norfolk zoo it is quite a beautiful place to see. For more info on the zoo go to www.virginiazoo.org.

Teen found in Times Square doesn't know who she is


Authorities are pleading for the public's help identifying a "Jane Doe" teen with amnesia who has been in the city's care for two weeks.

One of the few clues to her background is that she's able to recall words from a 2003 fantasy novel, "Fool's Fate."

"I just want to know who I am," the teen, estimated by doctors to be between 14 and 17 years old, was quoted as saying. "I want to know who I am and what happened to me."

In what an official described as an "extraordinary case," cops picked up the teen on Oct. 9 at 12:30 a.m. outside the Covenant House shelter at 460 W. 41st St., near the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

She was wearing tattered clothing, including green army pants, but had no ID.

She had no memory of her name, home or family. A fingerprint check produced nothing.

Tom Manning, a Covenant House spokesman, said she wasn't a resident at the shelter and workers there don't know her.

Officials said the blond, spiky-haired, soft-spoken girl has undergone testing by police experts and psychiatrists, who are convinced she isn't faking.

For two weeks, the Administration for Children's Services has been trying to track down her identity without luck.

"She is safe with us, and we are doing all we can to help her, but she needs to find her family," said ACS Commissioner John Mattingly.

Officials believe the young woman isn't from the city.

She is 5-foot-6 with a medium build, with poorly maintained teeth and blue eyes.

She has been reviewing materials designed to help students pass GED exams for high school and says she's able to do the math but has no memory of reading the history and science materials.

At one point, she wrote down the name "Amber" and responded when called by that name.

But she says she has no idea if that's really her name.

One of the weirdest clues to her identity is that she recently found herself recalling words that turned out to be an excerpt from the fantasy novel "Fool's Fate," by best-selling author Robin Hobb.

The book is part of a well-reviewed trilogy that has sold more than 1 million copies.

According to the ACS, the girl also said she has been writing a fantasy story featuring a heroine named Rian "who's been raised by the commander of the guard post on the edge of a fantasy kingdom."

Officials declined to make her available for an interview.

They asked anyone with information to contact the NYPD Missing Persons Squad at (212) 694-7781.

VIA

Friday, October 23, 2009

Obama taxes pacemakers, heart valves

By Dick Morris and Eileen McGann

The more the fiscal details of the healthcare bills emerge, the more appalling they seem. The Senate Finance Committee bill includes a broad provision taxing all manner of medical devices. This tax includes such frivolous luxuries as pacemakers, stents, artificial heart valves, defibrillators, automated wheelchairs, mechanized artificial limbs, replacement hips and knees, surgical gurneys, laparoscopic equipment and the like.

President Obama is planning to reduce the cost of medical care by taxing it!


The most recent Gallup Poll reflected that 49 percent of respondents said they believed that the ObamaCare plan will increase their healthcare costs. Only about 20 percent said it would lower them. It is taxes like these that substantiate this kind of concern.

The origins of this new medical device tax are troubling as well.

The medical device industry had its day at the White House, as did the insurance industry, the drug makers, the nurses and the doctors. In turn, each group heard the White House request that it come up with voluntary cuts in its healthcare costs and support Obama’s proposed changes in return for assurances that Congress would not impose deeper cuts (or, in the case of the doctors, that it would actually rescind cuts already scheduled under current statutes).

But, unlike all these other groups, the medical device industry refused the deal. This posture enraged the tyrants in the White House, who vowed to punish the industry with cuts imposed by Congress. The result was a decision by the revenue-hungry Senate Finance Committee to extract billions in funds from the industry.

The legislation does not work like a sales or excise tax. Rather, it follows the model of the punitive tobacco settlement imposed on cigarette companies in the '90s. It assesses an industry-wide payment that firms must make in proportion to their market share. It bars the them from passing along the cost of the assessment by charging more for certain basic products, but allows them to raise the price of others to raise the funds for the fee.

The result will be that virtually every piece of advanced surgical equipment will be subject to a price increase to meet the levy from Washington. No matter that these devices often make the difference between life and death and that, in effect, taxing them raises the cost of vital treatments. The vengeful White House will have its pound of flesh from the medical device industry for daring to be independent and to refuse to knuckle down to administration pressure.

This tax, imposed in a spirit of haughty arrogance, falls on totally inappropriate objects. Valves, prosthetic limbs, pacemakers, hearing aids and such are essential therapies that make life longer, better and less painful. To tax them makes no sense. Except in the world of sharp elbows and interest group politics that grips this take-no-prisoners and show-no-mercy White House.

VIA

A Comment Requested to be posted

This was supposed to be a comment, it was obviously too long to be accepted in the comment section so the author emailed it to me with a request to have it posted.

If this would be the case for an opposing view I' would/will be happy to oblige.

Discuss;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clara Mae says……………………..

There is more to Christine's case than meets the eye. Does anyone actually think that LE is going to babble about everything they know thus far? Give me a break...... Heck I bet that they don't tell Lynn much of anything about what they have on the case because she would blab it everywhere and to people like Blink.

Any information that LE has given to Lynn has gone out everywhere and then been twisted and turned by their agendas to try and hurt people. Lynn just wants the attention and has an evil vengeance against everyone and everything. She could have put an end to all of this stupid nonsense at any time and she hasn't. Instead, she has chosen to align herself with likeminded people with black hearts. Lynn brought Blink into our lives and has let Blink run roughshod over everyone. I blame Lynn for all of the trouble more than I blame Blink.

People have assisted Christine’s family and accommodated them in every way imaginable. Their appreciation and thankfulness is demonstrated by bringing in sleaze balls to make a big story of corruption about the disappearance of Christine. There is no BIG story to be had.

Christine made a really bad choice by going and staying with JR and Tia. Something happened while she was there. It’s common knowledge about their activities yet Christine stayed with them. It's obvious that she was enjoying her visit and partying with them. She stayed for several days. She had been there before with Levi. If she was on the up and up, she would have never gone back to visit a second time and live their lifestyle. Bad Choices - PERIOD!

I'm not saying that it's okay for anyone to do something to Christine. No one has the right to harm another. Whoever made Christine disappear, needs to be brought to justice.

Christine's case is not some big mystery that is fit for a book or television movie. Sorry, those are the facts. Lynn needs to take her head out of the sand and face the facts. There is no fame to be had and the only attention that she will get is not positive.

Cases like Christine's happen every day. Young people living a lifestyle partying because escaping into the fun is better than facing real life. Their brains are saturated with drugs and alcohol and someone gets hurt or they get murdered. Our society is numb to it. It's nothing new. There will not be any book or movie and no, the national media is not coming.

The ugliness and evil vengeance attitudes that have been displayed by Christine’s family members are appalling. Their behavior speaks volumes about who they really are. If they need to lay blame somewhere then I suggest that they take a look at their actions and leave the good people of Pocomoke alone. Christine’s behavior was not something new. They know that is a fact. Yet they did nothing to help her change her behavior and she wound up with the likes of JR and Tia. Those are the sad facts of the matter.

It’s sad that a beautiful young mother of 3 has gone missing and presumed dead. It breaks people’s hearts and they want to do something to help end the misery for her family. Why? Because that is the way us hillbillies are.

Although I’m not a born and raised hillbilly, I take pride in owning the name. It’s not a bad word to me because I know what kind of people the hillbillies are. Hillbillies are good people until you mess with one of their own. That’s called loyalty.

After this latest fiasco with Blink, I for one don’t have it in my heart to open my arms to Christine’s family. I think that many people feel the same. It’s not about we are hiding something or that we don’t care. It’s about the craziness and mean viciousness. The only thing that has been accomplished with the Blink fiasco is people turning away from Christine’s family. The hillbillies are closing their doors.

PE has given people a place where they can express their opinions freely. We owe many thanks to PE for doing that. Yes, this latest Blink fiasco has brought many “new friends” to TA and PE. It doesn’t matter what side of the political aisle we lean toward we can come to PE and speak freely. PE keeps its mouth shut about who the bloggers are. We can trust PE not to blab all over town about who is posting. It’s called “trust”. The thanks for doing that is a sleaze ball threatening to sue TA.

I wonder if they think they will split a settlement of a lawsuit? That is why people sue - to get money.

The primary focus is about finding Christine. Stupid dramas have unfolded and it appears that everyone who has tried to help find Christine is now in their sights. They have turned it into a “who can we get” issue and aren’t even focusing on finding Christine.

I for one am sick of it and say “not in my backyard. Put the lunatics back under whatever rock they crawled out from and leave the good people of Pocomoke and Worcester County alone.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Dog bit off baby's toes as mom slept


Mom blames medication as reason she didn't hear baby's cries, officials say

JACKSONVILLE, North Carolina - Authorities say they are charging a North Carolina woman who slept as a pit bull chewed the toes off her 4-month-old baby's left foot.

The Onslow County Sheriff's Office said Monday that the child's mother, Robie Lynn Jenkins, and her boyfriend, Tremayne Spillman, will be charged with felony child abuse.

Deputies say the couple were dog-sitting the 1-year-old pit bull for a friend who had been arrested on gun charges.

Officials say Jenkins told investigators she was on medication and didn't hear the child crying as the two slept in the same room Sunday night. She says she didn't notice the injury until she changed the baby's diaper Monday morning.

Jenkins and Spillman did not have a listed phone number, and authorities would not say whether they had attorneys.

VIA

Father Runs Over Daughter For Being Too "Westernized"


Police believe a 20-year-old girl was run over in a Phoenix suburb because she had become too "Westernized." And the man they suspect was behind the wheel was her own father, an Iraqi immigrant.

Police say 48-year-old Faleh Hassan Almaleki of Glendale allegedly ran his daughter over Tuesday at an Arizona Department of Economic Security parking lot in Peoria.

The victim, Noor Faleh Almaleki, who lives in Surprise, Az., a Phoenix suburb, remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

A second woman, 43-year-old Amal Edan Khalaf suffered non-life threatening injuries. Police say the women are roommates.

Cynthia Diaz, who witnessed the crash, said Noor Almaleki was unconscious and bleeding from the nose; however, Khalaf was able to communicate.

"I asked her specifically, 'Do you know who did this?'" Diaz said to CBS Affiliate KPHO. "She said yes and she gave a name."

Police said Faleh Almaleki was last seen driving a gray or silver 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with license plate No. ADS-9192.

More at CBS Affiliate KPHO.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Girl's Body Found In SE Georgia Landfill


Sad, Sad, Sad....

Clay County Sheriff Fears Body Is That Of 7-Year-Old Somer Thompson

POSTED: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
UPDATED: 9:39 pm EDT October 21, 2009

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Clay County authorities report that the body of a small child was found in a landfill near Folkston, Ga., where Orange Park's garbage is dumped.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed later Wednesday the body is that of a girl. Investigators said an autopsy will be performed Thursday morning in Savannah, Ga.

"We hope and pray that it's not the body of Somer (Thompson), but the garbage that was in that area was collected from Orange Park," Beseler said.

Seven-year-old Somer Thompson disappeared while walking home from school Monday afternoon. A massive search of Orange Park has been under way since Monday evening.

Clay County detectives found the body about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at a the Chesser Island Landfill in Charlton County. Sgt. Dan Mahla said the scene at the landfill has been contained, and evidence technicians will process the scene as much as possible overnight. The FBI, GBI and the Charlton County Sheriff's Office are all at the landfill investigating. "This was just a hunch -- a standard investigative practice -- and discovered what we feared we were going to find," Beseler said. "Everyone in Clay County, everyone in Florida grieves for this family right now." Beseler announced the grim news at an afternoon news conference that was delayed for about 20 minutes because of a "major development." Gov. Charlie Crist was on hand hoping to rally efforts to find Somer and the Justice Coalition was set to announce a $30,000 reward for Somer's safe return.

Read More HERE

2nd OPEN HOLSTER DAY RALLY



MARYLAND SHALL ISSUE

- ANNOUNCES THE -

2nd OPEN HOLSTER DAY RALLY


November 7th, 2009
10 AM to 5 PM
At Baltimore Inner Harbor’s McKeldin Square

Purpose: To have a large, completely peaceful and unarmed gathering of supporters of “Shall Issue” laws in Maryland. We will be wearing empty holsters in protest of the current “Discretionary Issue” system that sees Handgun Carry Permits issued only to those politically connected or dealing in extraordinarily large amounts of physical cash, or the occasional person who can meet the high burden of proof needed to receive one for self defense.

How to Participate: The intent is to have a nice day with the family and friends at the Inner Harbor, shopping, eating and sight seeing while wearing, in plain sight, an empty holster. You will know others participating in the protest by their open holsters. Stop by the Open Holster Day Rally information booth at McKeldin Square, located at the intersection of Light and Pratt Streets, introduce yourself and make new friends.

Basic Safety Rules: All holsters must remain empty at all times. Do not put toy guns, training guns or the like in your holster. We want to emphasize the emptiness of the holsters and our lack of protection. The holster will simply be a fashion accessory, symbolizing our vulnerability to criminals.

Long Term: The plan is to build on each Open Holster Day Rally, gathering more protesters to join us in January, during the Legislative session, to take the protest to the next “Shall Issue" bill hearing. Join us, make friends and help the movement to get Shall Issue Conceal Carry in Maryland.


PLAN TO JOIN US AND BRING YOUR FAMILY!

Check HERE for more info and updates

When Geese Fly in a V

When geese fly they fly in a V formation for aerodynamics, they swap the single leader so it can rest as that goose takes the brunt of the air and tires. As they fly there is only one question.


Why is one side of the V always longer than the other side?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

WTH VDOT?


This is an actual sign that went up this week. VDOT officials are working as quickly as possible to replace it...obviously.

Post have been moved to collaborate

There were some good comments that made me think about re-doing those post and the way they were written. You were right,

I'll fix all that and bring it back ... no comments were lost.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Odor on Nictitate The Byrd Rd Fires (chapter 5)

Odor on Nictitate
By Odor Eliminator

Chapter 5: Just the facts, Man!

OE has decided that this chapter will not be about Nictitates misguided, misinformed, and sometimes made up story. Somehow along the way of this tale, OE came to the realization that Nictitates book was just plain stupid! There will always be someone out there looking to suck off of another to sensationalize their self. Anyone with half a brain can figure out Nictitates motives and if you can’t, OE will tell you that the motives are not pure.

Christine’s family has chosen to align their selves with Nictitate and have exhibited behavior beyond belief to all who have done nothing more than extend a hand of compassion. We know who has done what and belaboring the point is useless. Their behavior is self destructive and OE believes that they know no other way in life.

OE began this tale because too many lies were being told about efforts to find Christine and bring the people to justice who are responsible for her disappearance. Good, kind hearted people were being unfairly maligned and it was beyond OE’s realm of understanding how anyone could be so evil and hateful wishing to intentionally cause pain to others. It is still beyond OE’s realm of understanding.

Much ado has been made about the Fires on Byrd Road. Readers have asked many questions about what went on during the period from September to November of 2007 at the farm where Christine was staying and was last seen. Speculation about these fires is that the occupants disposed of Christine in one of the many fires and one of the searches focused on sifting through the ashes of the burnt down chicken house. OE has searched out the story about the fires and is now sharing them with you.

Sources tell OE that the first fire started around 10:00 P.M. on September 20, 2007. The neighbors tell OE that their dog had been barking off and on and they assumed that it was barking at deer walking around and eating in the just harvested corn fields surrounding the farm. They first noticed the fire while watching television and catching a glimpse of bright orange out the window. One of the neighbors got up and looked and saw that the end of one of the old chicken houses on the farm was in flames. They immediately called 911 to report the fire.

Fire crews arrived within minutes to put out the flames which were by then burning out of control. The neighbors say that “they were thankful that the fire fighters took the initiative to place a fire truck and firefighters on their property to protect their buildings in case the fire spread”. Amazingly, the fire didn’t spread and the neighbors say that it was due to the “quick response and hard work of the fire crews getting the fire under control”.

Sources tell OE that speculation and questions about how the fire got started in the first place began immediately. The farm had stood empty for about 5 years prior to the occupants moving in. The electric to the old chicken houses was turned off at the main breakers. Why didn’t the occupants of the farm house call 911 to report the fire? Sources tell OE that they had to have seen it because by the time the neighbors saw it the fire was burning out of control.

It is known that the occupants first said that “hunters” had been on the property and insisted the “hunters” were around when the fire started and were also back on the property afterwards. No one else saw these “hunters”. Sources tell OE that the following day one of the occupants of the farm house produced a Delaware license plate that had been partially burned. Supposedly, it was found while the occupants were looking through the remains of the fire. This was turned over to a Deputy Fire Marshall who was investigating the fire.

Contradictory to this story, one source tells OE that the owner of the farm had been on the property that day and one of the occupants and his nephew who was visiting from New York at the time, had told a story about how they had removed the license plate from the owners truck and made it look like he had been the one to start the fire. They did this because the owner had given them notice of eviction. Purely for informational purposes, the owner of the farm did not have insurance on the old chicken houses.

In the early hours of September 22nd, someone invaded the neighboring home while they were sleeping and stole a laptop, cell phone, and wallet. Sources tell OE that the neighbors have no doubt that it was one of the occupants of the farm house. Amazingly, one of the occupants of the farm house taunted the neighbors afterwards telling them that he had done it. He was brazen enough to admit in court to the Judge that yes he had told the neighbors that he did it.

The occupants came up with the rent money and were not evicted. Speculation about where the money came from to pay the rent ran rampant because none of the occupants worked a job. The big question was, where did the money come from to pay the rent?

By early October, the neighbors were in fear of the occupants of the farm house. Several incidents had occurred whereby the police had to be called to remove the occupants from their property. Sources tell OE that every time that the neighbors had company or tried to sit outside in their backyard, the occupants of the farm house would come on their property and start trouble. At one point, one of the farm house occupants was arrested and spent the night in jail. Sources tell OE that particular incident started the threats from the farm house occupants of hurting or killing the neighbors. One of the farm house occupants was carrying a lead pipe and trying to hit people with it. By this time, Justin Hadel was living at the farm house.

The terror of huge “bon fires” began. Sources tell OE that at all hours of the night 30 to 40 foot flames would suddenly shoot up into the air in the area surrounding the farm house. Eyewitnesses tell OE that it appeared as if the whole place was going to go up in flames. OE is told that on some occasions during these huge “bon fires” the occupants of the farm house could be seen dancing around the fire and throwing something into it that exploded.

The second fire began around midnight in early October. The other end of the old chicken house that had not burnt down in the first fire burst into flames. Security guards who had been hired to protect the neighbors called 911. Eyewitnesses watched as a small glow began in the building and then burst into flames. By the time that fire crews arrived, which was in minutes after the 911 call, the remainder of the building was burning out of control.

This time, Fire Marshall McMahon arrived to investigate. The occupants of the farm house told the story of seeing the neighbors on the back part of their property and that they started the fire. When the Fire Marshall questioned the neighbors, it was learned that the security guards were on the back part of the property patrolling not the neighbors. It was learned that while patrolling, the occupants of the farm house were observed sitting in a car drinking beer and then taking off and tearing up the soybean field surrounding the old chicken house.

Again, many questions and speculations ran rampant. One source tells OE that the occupants of the farm house were heard arguing and one of the occupants was hollering at the other saying “I know that you did this”.

The Fire Marshall laid down the law to everyone and said that if he saw so much as a spark, he would take it as someone trying to burn something down. Sources tell OE that any little flame was to be reported. During this time, a burn ban was in effect because the weather had been dry and vegetation was very dry. The entire area was like tinder waiting to burn.

Following this fire, the occupants of the farm house continually started the 30 to 40 foot “bon fires” at all hours of the night. Sources tell OE that there would be total darkness and then all of a sudden flames would leap into the air. As directed, the security guards or the neighbors called 911.

After a few times of doing this, one particular incident had a Worcester County Deputy and a Deputy Fire Marshall waking the neighbors up a 3:00 A.M. to talk to them. Sources tell OE that Deputy Sheriff Purnell and a Deputy Fire Marshall who wouldn’t identify his self told the neighbors that if they called in another fire they would be issued a citation. The neighbors explained what Fire Marshall McMahon had directed them to do and were told that the occupants of the farm house could now do whatever they wanted. Eyewitnesses tell OE that this “talk” got very loud and threatening. The neighbors ended it by telling the LE men that the whole place could burn down and they wouldn’t pick up the telephone. They then sent the LE men on their way.

This incident has had many accusing the VFD of threatening the neighbors. Clearly, the VFD had nothing to do with it. The neighbors say that if they had wanted to do something about it, they would and that they “surely would not ask Nictitate to stick her nose into it”. After seeing a recent email where Nictitate is questioning about the threats made to them if they called the fire department, they are angry that it continually appears to be a sticking point with Nictitate and that all kinds of wild accusations are being made. They feel that it’s no one’s business unless they say it is and have talked to OE and PPE only because the entire story has been misconstrued and they want the record set straight. They are also angry that Nictitate has taken pictures without permission that belong to them and is using them for personal gain. They have requested in the past and are requesting again that the pictures be removed from Nictitates website.

OE has obtained an actual picture of the second chicken house fire. Unlike Nictitate, OE was given the picture with permission to use it.

This is an actual Byrd Rd fire, not a controlled burn fire from the Showell VFD site.

The last fire reported at the farm was the infamous house fire. The neighbors were sleeping and the security guards on duty sat and watched but did not pick up the phone as they had been directed not to. This time, the occupants had to call in the fire their selves.

As the story goes, the occupants were utilizing an old wood stove in the farm house to provide heat. Sources tell OE that they had grabbed up or chopped up any piece of wood that they could find. In spite of being told not to use the woodstove, they did. Somehow, the house caught on fire and again, fire crews had to put out another fire on the Byrd Road Farm in the early morning hours.

Christine was living at the farm house at this time. As a matter of fact, this fire occurred 2 days prior to when she went missing. Questions remain as to why she stayed after the fire because the farm house was not habitable. The VFD had cut a hole in the roof to put out the fire and everything had to have been soaked from where the fire fighters used water to put the fire out. We know that there was no hot water or heat. It’s inconceivable that anyone would inhabit a house under these conditions especially with two small children. OE’s question for Nictitate is – Did Christine go somewhere else to stay after the house fire?

After the farm house fire, the “bon fires” continued. They were never reported. In November, the occupants of the farm house were evicted and this time they moved away.

Amazingly, since November of 2007, the VFD has not had to rush to Byrd Road. Clearly, something was going on however it has been explained to OE that suppositions are not enough evidence to put an arsonist behind bars. Unless an arsonist is witnessed in the actual act of starting a fire a conviction is rare. Don’t criticize the VFD’s or the Fire Marshall for this. Go to your Sate Capitol and get the laws changed.

There appears to be a clear pattern and we have learned that one of the former occupants of the Byrd Road Farm has now been arrested in Tennessee for repeating the same pattern. Eviction equals set it on fire.

Coming soon: Chapter 6 – We have a blog that has decided to try and discredit the PPE. Christine’s family has taken up residence on this blog and PPE is being accused of fabricating the stories about what happened on Byrd Road and of putting the efforts of LE down (they better go back and read Chapter 3 and 4). OE deems it time for a good ole slap down. We will continue to have information provided by eyewitness accounts and sources that have been close to Christine’s case from the beginning. It’s time!

Note: For those of you who want to highjack writings from OE – DON’T. Any writings contributed by Odor Eliminator belong to The Pocomoke Public Eye exclusively and all rights are reserved. You may not copy and paste, dissect, snip, or use any of OE’s writings in any part or its entirety without prior written consent.

Smash the SBY Blimp -'BOY', Enjoy the game!!

Smash The Blimp!!! oh this is fun!!

|

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Dude Perfect

These young men (Dudes) do this completely for charity...



and this is The World's Longest Basketball Shot by Dude Perfect.

Get in shape or pay a price.

Senate proposals put premium on healthy living

Bills could put workers under pressure to lose weight, stop smoking


Get in shape or pay a price.

That's a message more Americans could hear if the health care reform bills passed by the Senate Finance and Health committees become law.

By more than doubling the maximum rewards and penalties that companies can apply to employees who flunk medical evaluations, the bills could put workers under intense financial pressure to lose weight, stop smoking or even lower their cholesterol.

The initiative, largely eclipsed in the health care debate, builds on a trend that is already in play among some corporations and that more workers will see in the packages they bring home during this month's open enrollment. Some employers offer lower premiums to people who complete personal health assessments; others offer only limited benefit packages to smokers.

The current legislative effort takes the trend a step further. It is backed by major employer groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. It is opposed by labor unions and groups devoted to combating serious illnesses, such as the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Diabetes Association.

Read More HERE

Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License By Louisiana Justice Of The Peace


A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.



Read more HERE

It's that time of year again

Getting mine in early




Happy Halloween!!
You've been Mooned!!

Hat Tip - Ree

Saturday, October 17, 2009

California Rights Group Wants Target to Pull 'Illegal Alien' Halloween Costume

PC? C'mon... how far is too far for the PC crowd?

A Southern California immigrant rights group on Friday asked the Target store chain and a costume company to stop selling an "illegal alien" Halloween costume it said is offensive to immigrants.

The costume features the mask of an alien with a green card and an orange jumpsuit with "illegal alien" written across the front.

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, wrote e-mails to Minneapolis-based Target and Wisconsin-based BuySeasons, Inc. calling the costume "distasteful, mean-spirited, and ignorant of social stigmas and current debate on immigration reform."

The group said it also planned to send letters to other companies that are selling the costume.

Target is removing the costume from the site after receiving several complaints, company spokesman Joshua Thomas said Friday. The store never intended to sell the outfit but included it in its online offerings by mistake, he said.

An e-mail to BuySeasons, Inc. wasn't immediately returned Friday

VIA

The Shore Sloth’s

Is it me or does my native home of the eastern shore attract a certain people?

It seams as if many people here are taking advantage of the system, things like section 8 housing, food stamps, free medical, etc. yet some of these people are completely able to contribute to society.

Take for example a person that was just summoned to court for a PO that was granted by a judge. The PO was for “stalking” and the PO was ordered by the judge, how can a “stalker” receive welfare? Why are our tax dollars going in the gas tank of a “stalker” to assist his twisted illegal activities?

If a person is physically able to “stalk” another person why does the system grant them tax dollars only to be a burden on society and commit illegal activities? If we would happen to encounter this “stalker” and kick their ass your tax dollars will pay for their medical bills, feed them and pay their rent and utilities, does that make sense?

It simply seams to me that we here on the shore have an over abundances of government leaches that draw from the government teat and never add any value to our community.

If you fall in this description, GET A LIFE!! And a job.


Snip from SBYNews

While Jonathan Taylor was NOT supposed to be in Court today, he showed up in a wheel chair and required special attention when the Donna Ennis case was brought up. He was escorted into the court room in an extra wide, (seriously) wheel chair and the Judge said, why don't we try this case today, since both parties are here. Clearly the Judge could realize that Jonathan had been served a temporary Peace Order and considering today's hearing was supposed to only be about Donna, Jonathan proved to the Judge just by showing up for a hearing that he will follow her no matter what.



Clearly walking out of the court just fine!!



Pictures courtesy SBYNews

Nut causes riot, offers free merchandise

This nut entered the store and offered to pay for everyone's purchase up to $500.00 and they in turn called friends and family. When they found out that this woman was full-of-it they trashed the store and stole what they wanted anyway, the trial lawyer in the video says the thieves are not responsible. HUH?

Welcome to the new Obamerica, where if you don't have it you're entitled to just take it.

Pennsylvania Man Busted With Marijuana Stuck on Forehead, Police Say


Police in central Pennsylvania say they've nabbed a real pot head.

Twenty-nine-year-old Cesar Lopez is charged with drug possession after police say an officer saw him with a bag of marijuana stuck to his forehead.

Investigators say an officer saw Lopez looking at the inside of his baseball cap in a convenience store early Saturday morning in Lebanon, about 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia. When Lopez looked up, the officer spotted a small plastic bag appearing to contain marijuana stuck to his forehead.

Police say the officer peeled the bag off Lopez's forehead and placed him under arrest.

Authorities say the sweatband of a baseball cap is a frequent hiding place for drugs.

CIRCLE FLIES

A cowboy from Texas attends a social function where Barack Obama is trying to gather more support for his Health Plan. Once he discovers the cowboy is from President Bush’s home area, he starts to belittle him by talking in a southern drawl and single syllable words.

As he was doing that, he kept swatting at some flies that were buzzing around his head. The cowboy says, “Y’all havin’ some problem with them circle flies?”

Obama stopped talking and said, “Well, yes, if that’s what they’re called, but I’ve never heard of circle flies.”

“Well Sir,” the cowboy replies, “circle flies hang around ranches. They’re called circle flies because they’re almost always found circling around the back end of a horse.”

“Oh,” Obama replies as he goes back to rambling. But, a moment later he stops and bluntly asks, “Are you calling me a horse’s ass?”
“No, Sir,” the cowboy replies, “I have too much respect for the citizens of this country to call their President a horse’s ass.”

“That’s a good thing,” Obama responds and begins rambling on once more.

After a long pause, the cowboy, in his best Texas drawl says, “Hard to fool them flies, though.”

Friday, October 16, 2009

Odor Eliminator (Chapter 5)

Coming soon!!
Odor Eliminator has decided to do a chapter 5, no rebuttal this time just plain old facts of some of the interesting events that they have uncovered.

Their next chapter will include actual pictures, not some pictures of controlled burns from Showell. OE has advised me that they have obtained actual pictures of the fires on Byrd Rd.

Keep checking PPE for the next OE episode coming soon.

HEY!!

7 Lies In Under 2 Minutes

The Public Takes a News Quiz ... and Doesn't Do So Well

How much do you know about the news? Take the quiz HERE

One question that always comes to mind when reading a poll: How much does the public know about the issues and current events it is being asked about, particularly complex ones like health care?

The Pew Research Center looked for some answers by giving 1,002 adults a news quiz, conducted Oct. 1-4. (You can take the quiz yourself here, but no cheating by looking first at the results which are below.)

The quiz included 12 multiple-choice questions and those who took it answered an average of 5.3 questions correctly.

Here are some of the results:

Seventy-five percent answered correctly when asked which party controlled the House, (the Democrats).

Sixty-five percent knew that Sonia Sotomayor was the new Supreme Court justice.

Sixty-one percent knew that health spending in the U.S. was higher than most of Europe.

When asked in what legislative context the "public option" was being discussed, 56 percent correctly answered "health care."

Fifty-three percent knew the unemployment rate was close to 10 percent.

Forty-two percent knew that Israel and Iran do not share a border.

Forty percent knew that Glenn Beck was a radio and TV talk show host.

Thirty-three percent knew that Ben Bernanke is the Federal Reserve Chairman.

Thirty-three percent knew that the Dow was back close to 10,000 points.

Twenty-eight percent knew the correct size of the U.S. military force in Afghanistan (about 70,000).

Twenty-three percent knew that "cap & trade" had to do with energy and climate legislation.

And for all the frequency with which his face has been on TV lately and the front pages of the newspapers, only 18 percent knew Max Baucus was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

VIA
Take the quiz HERE What's your score?

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Vigilante Mom in Prison in Alleged Abuser's Death

A Florida woman reported to prison Thursday to begin finishing a 10-year sentence for killing a man she believed had molested her daughter.
Sylvia Neeley, now 48, admits killing Arthur Danner, 73, of Dade City, Fla., more than a decade ago, The St. Petersburg Times said.


Three months earlier, Neeley had reported to authorities that she believed Danner, her next-door-neighbor, had molested her daughter, the paper said. The girl, who is mentally disabled, was 12 years old at the time. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office investigated, but did not find enough evidence to charge Danner.
On May 24, 1998, Danner boasted about molesting the girl and threatened to do it again, Neeley said. "Stoned on beer and painkillers," Neeley went to her home in Dade City's Land O'Lakes mobile home park, got her gun, then returned and fired at Danner's chest and groin, the paper said.
Neeley was convicted of the killing in 2000 but the verdict was later thrown out and a new trial was ordered. With a new trial coming up, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but will receive credit for the more than four years she already served, the Times said.
Before she headed back to prison, Neeley told the judge, "I'm very sorry for the crime I committed. I just felt like no one was helping my daughter."
Neeley's daughter, now 23, has been moved to a group home, the paper said.
For more information on this story, see The St. Petersburg Times.

Missing 'Balloon Boy' Found Safe at Home

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Oct. 14) -- A 6-year-old boy was found hiding in a cardboard box in his family's garage attic Thursday after being feared aboard a homemade helium balloon that hurtled 50 miles through the sky on live television.

The discovery marked a bizarre end to a saga that started when the giant silvery balloon floated away from the family's yard Thursday morning, sparking a frantic rescue operation that involved military helicopters and briefly shut down Denver International Airport.

But Sheriff Jim Alderden turned to reporters during a news conference and gave a thumbs up and said 6-year-old Falcon Heene is "at the house." ''Apparently he's been there the whole time," he said.
The boy's father, Richard Heene, said the family was tinkering with the balloon Thursday and that he scolded Falcon for getting inside a compartment on the craft. He said Falcon's brother had seen him inside the compartment before it took off and that's why they thought he was in there when it launched.

But the boy fled to the attic at some point after the scolding and was never in the balloon during its two-hour, 50-mile journey through two counties. "I yelled at him. I'm really sorry I yelled at him," Heene said as he hugged his son during a news conference.

"I was in the attic and he scared me because he yelled at me," Falcon said. "That's why I went in the attic."




Richard Heene adamantly denied the notion that the whole thing was a big publicity stunt. "That's horrible after the crap we just went through. No."

The flying saucer-like craft tipped precariously at times before gliding to the ground in a field. With the child nowhere in sight, investigators searched the balloon's path. Several people reported seeing something fall from the craft while it was in the air, and yellow crime-scene tape was placed around the home.

But in the end, the boy apparently was in the garage the whole time, even as investigators scoured the house and neighborhood for any sign of him.

Neighbor Bob Licko, 65, said he was leaving home when he heard commotion in the backyard of the family. He said he saw two boys on the roof with a camera, commenting about their brother.
"One of the boys yelled to me that his brother was way up in the air," Licko said.

Licko said the boy's mother seemed distraught and that the boy's father was running around the house. The Poudre School District in Fort Collins, where the boys attend, did not have classes for elementary schools Thursday because of a teacher work day.

Read More HERE

Drunk Driver Calls 911 on Self.


In Wisconsin, a woman decided to call 911 dispatch while driving home drunk from a local watering hole. The following is a transcript of the conversation.

Caller: I just want to know if somebody can follow me home because somebody seems to think I can’t drive home straight.

911 Operator: OK, why is that?

Caller: He seems to think I am too intoxicated to drive.

911 Operator: OK, and so you called 911, or he called 911?

Caller: Well, he wanted me to call 911 because he thinks I’m too drunk to drive.


The ‘he’ in this case was a boyfriend who’d consumed a 12-pack by himself, yet still had the wherewithal to point out the driver, who’d knocked back 6, should not be getting behind the wheel (and yet no foresight or judgment whatsoever to pass up a ride home).

The woman failed the Breathalyzer and was ticketed in her own garage, but not before earning the unlikely kudos from a county sheriff (possibly, a distant relation):

“I think a judge will look at her and say, ‘You know what? You stepped up to the plate. You did the right thing. I think it’s commendable.”

Any Cat Folks Around??

Our family kitty is about 8 years old, here lately he has been acting a little strange like begging for people food and getting into things that he has never attempted to do since he was trained as a kitten.

Although he was acting a little different we didn't notice any other changes in him until last Saturday morning he was acting lazy and then got sick. He then all of a sudden just stopped moving, in such a way that the wife though he was dead, he wasn't but it was obvious that something was really wrong.

The wife and son packed him up and carried him to the Vet, they did blood-work and examined him. The Vet said that he thought his liver was failing and it was nothing he could do but he would know for sure when the test came back. He gave him a shot of fluids so he wouldn't dehydrate, and sent him home.

That same night the cat started to perk-up somewhat and by the next morning he was fine; just like nothing was ever wrong with him.

The blood-work results came back the middle of the week and the Vet said he had good news, there was nothing wrong with the cats liver but he had a low count of white blood cells and to come pick-up a prescription.

The Vet then explained that he could not explain why the cat was so sick and then perked-up as if nothing was ever wrong.

Then as of yesterday he has been fine, but sometime during the night the cat is right back to where he was (sick) and it looks like he's not going to make it. He wont move, eat, and cannot stand. I have had several animals in my life but I have never seen one get so sick then bounce back like this one did just to repeat it over again.

The wife has held him all day with him wrapped in a blanket and I heard her crying once and I went to see why and the cat was dead. But... low and behold he started breathing again in about two minuets but he's on his way out it looks like at any time.

The Vet wants him to see what may have caused these strange events for future reference because even the Vet says this is a very, very odd occurrence, but the wife and kids say no.

Anyone ever had an animal that had taken deathly ill then recovered over night only to repeat a week later after being completely normal and dropped like you snapped your fingers?

'Wheelchair Recycler' Gives Back Freedom

The man best known as the "Wheelchair Recycler" has spent the past 11 years building and fixing power chairs for the people with the greatest need, but who often could not otherwise afford one.
Permanently paralyzed in a car accident in 1995, David Heim, 47, of Marlborough, Mass., knows what a wheelchair means for a disabled person: "Independence. That's the greatest thing."

"You can't be without your chair for a week, let alone a day," he told NBC Nightly News.
His nonprofit organization takes used wheelchairs and refurbishes them with other donated parts. The work ranges from quick repairs to custom-made jobs, but each one is personalized to address the client's individual needs.
Heim has helped over 500 people across the country, and even internationally, since he first started his company.
"When I go into any rehab, or see anybody, I don't see their face first. I look at their chair -- what's wrong with it, are they comfortable, how are they positioned," Heim told NBC News.


Heim's chairs typically sell for $800-$1,000, a fraction of what a chair would typically run. Though Heim's shop is struggling itself to break even, he often gives away chairs or services to people who can't pay.
When The Christopher Reeve Foundation learned of Heim's charitable works, it donated the late actor's chair. Its parts were used to fix six other people's power chairs. The foundation also provided two grants that allowed the Wheelchair Recycler to buy vans to pick up donations.
Heim envisions operations like his existing in every state, and is now working to make that happen: "It can't stop with just this one shop."
For more details, visit NBC Nightly News and USA Today.
To find out more about Heim's operation, visit wheelchairrecycler.org.

North Carolina Pastor to Burn Bibles?

A church leader in North Carolina is burning versions of the Bible he doesn't agree with.

Pastor Marc Grizzard of the Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton is building a bonfire on Halloween to destroy Bibles that aren't the King James Version.

His reason for burning the holy books?

"What we're doing is we're burning books that are satanic. I believe the King James version is God's preserve, inspired, in erect, infallible word of God."

The pastor also says well-known Christian ministers like Billy Graham and Rick Warren are heretics whose books belong on a long list of negative influences and should be thrown to the flames.

http://wtkr.com

Newport News Girl Sells Toys to Buy Vests

There was round of applause at Tuesday night's Newport News city council meeting for a local girl taking action and getting results.

Kayleigh Crimmins has been raising money to buy bullet resistant vests for police dogs.

This one will go to a Newport News sheriff's department K-9 called Vader.

This is the fifth one she has bought with money from selling her toys on Craigslist.

"I think she is amazing I think she is determined I think she loves dogs, and there's no end to this she's made that very clear," says Kayleigh's mother Lee.

Kayleigh has also been holding yard sales and recently started a new project, 'Cans for K-9's' to help with her fundraising efforts.

http://wtkr.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WORCESTER: Trial date set for Pocomoke blogger

Pocomoke blogger Billy Burke will be going to trial for wiretapping charges in November.
Regardless of any differences I believe that recording an open conversation on the public steps of City-hall is not a criminal action.
Maryland laws on/about recording are very strict, but it plainly states that one must have "a reasonable expatiation of privacy"
A conversation in public, outside, on the steps of the Pocomoke City Hall building is about as open, and public as one could be.

Mr. Burke recorded a conversation between his wife and the Mayor on the public steps of Pocomokes City hall building. (a public setting) IMHO and should well be in the eyes of the law. This is though for the Judge and Jury to decide this November.

The Burke's were met by the Pocomoke Police with a warrant to search and confiscate all electronic equipment in their possession earlier this year, and Mr. Burke charged with wiretapping by the States Attorney Joel Todd. Mr. Burke was charged after a recording was sent by Burke to SA Todd and the MD Attorney Generals office as what Burke considered evidence of the destruction of public documents that were under the FOIA of the Burkes, Mrs. Burke was a council candidate at the time.


POCOMOKE CITY — A jury trial is scheduled on Nov. 2 for a local blogger accused of illegally recording a conversation with town Mayor Michael McDermott.

William F. Burke, a Market Street resident and publisher of pocomoketattler.com, faces a single count of wiretapping for taping a March 27 exchange between McDermott, himself and his wife Stephanie on the steps of town hall.

Pocomoke, Police Investigate Thefts of Liquor Store and Tractors

Dispensary employee arrested
PRINCESS ANNE -- An employee at a Somerset County liquor dispensary has been charged with theft in connction with the disappearance of more than $800 in liquor, according to Maryland State Police.

Dennis Wayne Johnson, 51, an employee at the store on Route 13 north of Pocomoke, is accused of removing liquor from the store, and supplying others with liquor without paying for it, police said.

On Sept. 21, the Maryland State Police criminal investigative section received information from the Somerset County Liquor Board regarding the thefts.

Johnson resigned his position with the liquor store at the beginning of the investigation, police said.

The investigation into the incident is continuing, police said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Police investigate tractor thefts
PRINCESS ANNE -- Maryland State Police are investigating the thefts of two tractors from a John Deere dealership on Route 13 north of Pocomoke City.

The tractors were stolen sometime between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday from Atlantic Tractor, police said.

The suspect utilized some type of "rollback" tow vehicle to remove the two tractors which had previously been located out in front of the dealership, police said.

The tractors are described as:

n1998 John Deere model 755 tractor (used). Green and yellow with a small dent on the front grille.

n2009 John Deere model JD3032E tractor with front end loader (new). Green and yellow.

Anyone who may have seen these tractors being transported on the roadway, or anyone with information regarding this theft is urged to call the MSP Princess Anne Barrack tip line at 443-260-3737.

Source; DelmarvaNow.com

Holidays are Coming, Made In America

Shop American made. Below is an on-line shopping resource for American-made products for the home and family. Click on a shopping category, using the sidebar menu or the icons below.


Welcome to an on-line shopping resource for American-made products for the home and family. Click on a shopping category, using the sidebar menu or the icons below.

American-Made Wedding and Bridal
American-made Fashion Accessories
American-made Apparel
American-made Household Appliances
American-made Baby Gear
American-made Bed and Bath Products
American-made Handcraft
American=made Home Decor and Furnishings
American-made Kitchen & Dining Wares
American-made Sporting Goods
American-made Tools
American-made Toys & Games


STILL MADE IN AMERICA.COM
Hat Tip; Plainsman

Having a Bad Day?

When you do think about this feller!!

Suspended Delaware student heads back to first grade thanks to policy change


Six-year-old Zachary Christie can return to school today. Inundated by more than 1,000 phone calls and a national media frenzy, and faced with a couple hundred people who showed up to protest, the Christina School Board opened its meeting by unanimously voting Tuesday night to amend its zero-tolerance policy, clearing the way for Zachary's return to his first-grade class.

On Sept. 29, Zachary was suspended for five days when he brought a camping utensil with a knife, fork and spoon to Downes Elementary. Zachary planned to use the tool at lunch to eat his pudding. Under the district policy, he was also prohibited from returning to the Newark elementary school until he completed at least 45 days at an alternative school.

Now, students in kindergarten or first grade who bring a dangerous instrument to school will face a three- to five-day out-of-school suspension and then be allowed to return to their school where they will receive counseling. The change is retroactive to the beginning of the school year.

"We need to recognize the cognitive level of these kids," said school board member John Mackenzie. "We need to provide a little leeway."

"I'm thrilled Zachary will be able to go back to school," Zachary's mother, Debbie Christie, told a group of local and national media after the board's vote. "I'm overwhelmed. I'm sure my son is overwhelmed, and I'm ready to get back to my private life."

Kenneth Trump, a national school safety consultant, said suspending a 6-year-old for bringing a knife to school is not uncommon, but forcing a 6-year-old to go to an alternative school for 45 days is "over the top" compared to other districts across the country.

"School officials are certainly much more inclined to err on the side of safety in a post-Columbine and Virginia Tech world, but that doesn't mean that we don't need to have discretion or common sense," Trump said. "The consequences for a 6-year-old first-grade boy with a camping utensil should be different than a 16-year-old student with multiple knives and weapons with intent to kill students and staff."

According to the district's code of conduct, if the full blade of a knife is shorter than 3 inches, school officials consider it a dangerous instrument; 3 inches or longer and it is a deadly weapon. The blade on Zachary's utensil was shorter than three inches.

Prior to Tuesday's board meeting, the district had said it had to follow its policy consistently to be fair.

Ronnie Casella, an associate professor of education at Central Connecticut State University, said too often districts create zero-tolerance policies because they're afraid of giving different consequences to different students.

"They're scared of opening themselves up to a lawsuit so they turn to these one-size-fits-all policies. But unfortunately that leads to some crazy kind of decisions and some strange and odd outcomes," he said.

Christina Superintendent Marsha Lyles said principals had expressed concern about the lack of flexibility in the district's policy.

"We want to make sure this [policy] is equitably addressed," she said. "We need to have very clear guidelines and expectations of behavior that everyone adheres to."

Al Cavalier, an associate professor in the school of education at the University of Delaware who specializes in classroom and behavior management, said the Christina issue is part of a much broader national problem schools have been facing as they try to strike a balance in how to react to these kinds of situations. Determining intent usually is the key.

"The context is everything. Schools, parents and children are all struggling to find the right balance," he said.

School districts also need to be more inclusive as they create new disciplinary policies, he said.

"I think we all could provide a more public hearing about these policies before they're formed," Cavalier said.

Christina had already scheduled a workshop for the beginning of November to examine the district's code of conduct and see what, if any, improvement could be made. Wendy Lapham, the district's spokeswoman, said more changes to the district's policy could be made then.

State Rep. Terry Schooley, D-Newark, who sponsored legislation in the spring to allow districts to modify the terms of an expulsion or determine expulsion is not appropriate, said she hopes the district will do a thorough evaluation of their student discipline policies and give even more flexibility and discretion to school principals.

"We need to get back to what is going to change kids behavior other than just punishment because I think in the long run, [zero-tolerance policies] aren't going to make a difference," she said.

Schooley initially thought her bill, which was passed and became law in June, would help Zachary. But because he only carried a "dangerous instrument" and not a "deadly weapon" to school -- and was suspended rather than expelled -- the law did not apply to his case.

Schooley now plans to revise the law next legislative session, which doesn't begin until January.

Zachary's case isn't the first time Christina has made headlines.

Last year, fifth-grader Kasia Haughton was suspended for bringing a serrated knife to school to cut a cake. The student faced a possible expulsion until the district reversed its decision and allowed her back in school after determining she never had possession of the knife.

Two years ago, the school board expelled a seventh-grader for using a utility knife from home to cut windows out of a paper house for a class project.

While Christie wants to step out of the spotlight, she does want to be an activist for more flexibility on zero-tolerance policies.

"I hope my voice has given other people a voice," she said.

NOTE: Thanks DelmarvaNow.com this is a great/well written article.


VIA