TGIF Summary

Welcome back, oh Queen of the blue light special. Martha's home and I for one am glad the ordeal at Camp Cupcake is over. No cappuccino for all that time and then come home to find your machine is on the fritz? How bad can it get? Sporting an elegant piece of ankle jewelry, Martha will spend the next five months under house arrest. She looks well and I wish her well. Actually, Martha should have never been hung out to dry in the first place. Another example of prosecutorial overreaction based upon gender. In any event, during her stay in the big house (or the suburban bungalow, whatever) the stock price of Martha's company rose. On the day of her release, it dropped. Does this indicate that the company was better off while she was in the slammer? Who said crime doesn't pay?

The Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty constituted Cruel and Unusual Punishment in violation of the 8th Amendment when directed at juveniles. I applaud the decision of the Court and hope that they will find a case to hear that will eventually abolish all death penalties. Maybe some death row inmate will bring a case for reversal on the grounds of age discrimination. A dissenting justice in the case, Antonin Scalia who coincidentally is being touted for the Chief Justice role once Rehnquist finally sees the light and gives up his seat, gave us his most enlightened legal reasoning for being in the minority. Much like a state requiring a drivers license or setting hours for liquor sales, the death penalty for juveniles is a state's right issue. Excuse me Mr. Justice? How about when a state wishes to permit same sex marriage? An amendment to the Constitution is contemplated so that we can save ourselves from the immorality of it all. I will agree for the record that it appears it some cases that the death penalty is appropriate. Some people are worthy of being dragged into the alley, shot and thrown in the nearest dumpster. Then again some of you haven't been cops and seen the harm capable of an over zealous team of cops and prosecutors.

Now take the case of a part time police chief in Fowler, Ohio. He had his own diversion program for juveniles committing traffic violations. Paddling. Not quite the teacher with a hickory switch or the unruly nun armed with a ruler, but a paddle to avoid receiving a ticket. He now faces a 52 count indictment for various felony and misdemeanor charges along with the (sigh) customary lawsuit. You can't paddle them: you can't execute them. How will they ever be disciplined?

In related teenage news, a teacher in Brick, N.J. (the city and state say it all) was caught on video from a camera phone throwing a tantrum and pulling the chair out from underneath a student for refusal to stand for the National Anthem. At least he didn't use a paddle.The teen who filmed the incident was suspended for 10 days for something to the effect of "violating the teacher's Constitutional rights". However, police looking at the video on the phone discovered more videos depicting the teens involved in the destruction of Christmas displays. The teens were charged. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Hopefully, the teacher was placed in timeout or given an extra study hall.

In case you are wondering, Robert Blake's fate is now in the hands of the jury. There has been more testimony of Michael Jackson not keeping his hands to himself. Hollywood celeb couple, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, are no longer holding hands since the very pregnant Richards has filed for divorce.That's more hand chicanery than any magician can keep up with.

Har$$hbi$hop Burke (ching-ching) has supposedly left town to avoid the upcoming demonstration (read candlelight vigil, March 6th at 11 AM) at the Cathedral on Lindell. Question: what is the purpose of a daytime candlelight vigil?