In October of 2009 I wrote a blog discussing the Kimberly Cates murder in New Hampshire. Today, the second of the two accused murderers was convicted and sentenced to Life in prison without the possibility of parole. Christopher Gribble is 21.
I know people who say it is terrible that a 21 year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison for a mistake he made when he was 19. Personally, I'm just glad that a person like that is off the street. The bottom line for me is this...Kimberly Cates is dead because of him. Kimberly's husband is a single dad because of him. Jamie Cates, who was a sweet, innocent child of 11 years, has no mother because of him. She also has physical scars from where these two animals slashed and hacked at her with knives and machetes. Two full-grown males with weapons mutilating an unarmed 11 year-old little girl. With no conscience.
I'm sorry, but I find it real hard to be empathetic towards these two. The consequences they face are the direct result of their conscious decision to kill. Jamie Cates did not have any choice, and everytime she looks in a mirror, she'll be reminded of this horrible act. Every birthday that her mother isn't there, she'll be reminded of her loss. Every Mother's Day, while her friends are taking Mom out to dinner, she'll be placing flowers on a grave.
Spader and Gribble received a trial as they are guaranteed by the Constitution. And they received the sentences for their crimes.
Jamie Cates is also serving a life sentence, but without the benefit of a trial in a court of law.
I'm glad those two animals will never walk the streets again. But I wish the events that put them there never took place. Because then Jamie Cates would just be another happy-go-lucky 13 year-old girl, and I wouldn't be shedding a tear for her today.
Take care my friends.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Hakuna Matata
When my kids were little, we rented the movie "The Lion King" which had a song in it I really liked- "Hakuna Matata". The lyrics were rather simple:
"Hakuna Matata"
"Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze
It means no worries for the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!"
What a wonderful philosophy to have!
The sentiment has given birth to numerous sayings and cliches over the years:
"Don't sweat the small stuff"
"Don't worry about what you can't control"
"Let it be"
"Just keep groovin'"
and my favorite....
"Whatever".
I had forgotten this worry-free philosophy for a while. I began worrying about things I had no control over. The economy. World Peace. Weather. Politics. You may or may not have seen the blogs and my Facebook posts on a variety of these topics.
Well no more. You see, I got back in touch with that philosophy...Hakuna Matata. No worries. I refuse to spend hours thinking about things I cannot control.
I cannot control the economy, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I cannot control world peace, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I cannot control the weather, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I cannot control the politics, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I have witnessed firsthand what happens when someone lets things they have no control over dominate their lives. It's not pretty. And I refuse to let myself follow that path. From now on, I only concern myself with things I can control.
I can control the grades I get in college.
I can control my performance at work.
I can control my diet.
I can control my exercise habits.
I can control the way I choose to treat others.
I can control the amount of time I waste on Facebook.
Hakuna Matata. No worries. I think I can get used to this.
Take care my friends.
"Hakuna Matata"
"Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze
It means no worries for the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!"
What a wonderful philosophy to have!
The sentiment has given birth to numerous sayings and cliches over the years:
"Don't sweat the small stuff"
"Don't worry about what you can't control"
"Let it be"
"Just keep groovin'"
and my favorite....
"Whatever".
I had forgotten this worry-free philosophy for a while. I began worrying about things I had no control over. The economy. World Peace. Weather. Politics. You may or may not have seen the blogs and my Facebook posts on a variety of these topics.
Well no more. You see, I got back in touch with that philosophy...Hakuna Matata. No worries. I refuse to spend hours thinking about things I cannot control.
I cannot control the economy, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I cannot control world peace, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I cannot control the weather, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I cannot control the politics, therefore, I will not worry about it.
I have witnessed firsthand what happens when someone lets things they have no control over dominate their lives. It's not pretty. And I refuse to let myself follow that path. From now on, I only concern myself with things I can control.
I can control the grades I get in college.
I can control my performance at work.
I can control my diet.
I can control my exercise habits.
I can control the way I choose to treat others.
I can control the amount of time I waste on Facebook.
Hakuna Matata. No worries. I think I can get used to this.
Take care my friends.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Changing view on Climate Change
If you have been a reader of this blog for a length of time, you know that I am what some would label as a climate change skeptic. It's not that I don't think the climate is changing, I just didn't accept the theory that it was man-made. I based my belief on scientific evidence that the greenhouse gas levels in our atmosphere have been at the same levels they are now, except that man did not exist when those levels did, so therefore, man's activity did not contribute to those levels then, and so we didn't have to assume that man's activity contributes to it now.
Unlike most self-proclaimed Liberals, I actually will listen to opposing arguments, and if the evidence warrants it, I will change my stance. In this case, some new scientific evidence has arisen that changes things for me. And because of this new evidence, I have to reassess my standing on the issue.
The evidence that showed the prior greenhouse gas levels came from studying bubbles trapped in ice core samples. It has now been discovered that Antarctic ice caps melt and refreeze from the bottom as well as the top. This throws the accuracy of the dating of the ice cores into question. What if those previous levels were after man's appearance on Earth? Do the new dates coincide with say, volcanic activity? And what about the possibility that maybe this time, it actually might be man's activity contributing?
Regardless of whether or not the greenhouse gasses are man-made or not is almost moot. The greater point is this: they exist, and the high levels are dangerous. Scientist keep studying climate change-shouldn't they focus on alternative energies instead? Or finding other methods of reducing the gasses? It's kind of like a shell game...but they are looking for the wrong answers. Stop trying to find the cause, and start working on the cure. Otherwise, Earth's prognosis won't be very good.
Take care my friends.
Unlike most self-proclaimed Liberals, I actually will listen to opposing arguments, and if the evidence warrants it, I will change my stance. In this case, some new scientific evidence has arisen that changes things for me. And because of this new evidence, I have to reassess my standing on the issue.
The evidence that showed the prior greenhouse gas levels came from studying bubbles trapped in ice core samples. It has now been discovered that Antarctic ice caps melt and refreeze from the bottom as well as the top. This throws the accuracy of the dating of the ice cores into question. What if those previous levels were after man's appearance on Earth? Do the new dates coincide with say, volcanic activity? And what about the possibility that maybe this time, it actually might be man's activity contributing?
Regardless of whether or not the greenhouse gasses are man-made or not is almost moot. The greater point is this: they exist, and the high levels are dangerous. Scientist keep studying climate change-shouldn't they focus on alternative energies instead? Or finding other methods of reducing the gasses? It's kind of like a shell game...but they are looking for the wrong answers. Stop trying to find the cause, and start working on the cure. Otherwise, Earth's prognosis won't be very good.
Take care my friends.