Shadow Void

A Belated Veteran's Day

We start off each day at work by facing the flag while the principal leads us in the pledge. Immediately following the pledge, there is a moment of silence for all the troops who are serving in the war on terror. I've noticed during the pledge that there are kids who refuse to stand or refuse to stop walking during the moment of silence. I think they need to show more respect for the flag and more respect for those who are serving. Clearly, some of their actions are disrespectful to our vets and those men and women who are currently serving in the war.

 

Is it too much to ask for them to stand or stop? Simply said "No!" that being said I can understand not wanting to say the pledge. However, we need to keep our troops and out vets in our remembrance at all times. They serve our country not knowing what the next hour, the next day will bring. They serve knowing that they may not return to the states. They serve knowing that they will be shoot at by the enemy. They serve knowing that someday, the war will be over. What should they expect from us?

 

Every soldier should expect a certain amount of respect and love. Family and friends should write and send packages, and there isn't any reason why the rest of us cannot do the same. They should get a thank you, when seen in public. They should get respect even if we don't agree with the war. Respecting them has nothing to do with the reason, we are fighting. Instead, our respect is about their willingness to fight for us.

Something To Say; The Maine Vote

I have a few things to say but before I get to the regular post. Heck with it, I'm not going to do my planned post. I don't want to bash anyone because that really isn't my style. I feel like I need to write this post. It just depends on my time and what, I feel inside of me. Just fair warning, this post could be long.

The other day, Maine voted on gay marriage. We lost the right to legally marry our sweet-hearts in that state. I feel like kicking someone. Come on people get with the program! I wonder, how you would feel if you suddenly found your marriages legally banned and then stripped of all rights and privileges that use to be granted a married couple.

First off, it's not going to happen but if it did, it would not be pretty. You couldn't be at the hospital with your special someone. Their family could decide if you were able to stay in the room with them or if you are kicked out. You would lose any tax cuts for married couples. You would lose the benefit of being able to draw from your loved one's pension. Okay, so those are the examples that I could think of at this time. I'm not done yet so hold your horses.

Those of you who have voted to deny us the right to marry you should be sad, those of you who voted "Yes!" to allow us to marry should be applauded. Thank you for standing up for us! I acknowledge your decision to vote but I can't say anything else about your vote. I wonder how many of you who voted "No" have a gay family member or a friend who might be gay? If the answer is yes, then I wonder how you managed to sleep after you voted? Hopefully, you didn't. I hope someday your eyes will open.

By voting no, you are keeping a loving committed couple from marrying. So now, they are forced to live together without the binding power of a marriage license. You think by keeping us from the altar will stop us? It won't! We'll try again in Maine. Why should you have the power to deny us the right to marry? I'm not trying to take away your right to be married or to make it so your marriage is suddenly annulled. We are not taking away anything from you or your family. Allowing us to marry isn't a bad thing.

Allowing us to marry is in the long run a good thing. I don't think nor do I believe that church's should be forced into performing marriages. So why would it be a good thing? First off, there would be money paid to the state, county, or city where the marriage took place. Money would be put out for the rental of a hall and for many of the other normal wedding services. Overall, there is money to be a made off of any marriage. We have to live somewhere. I like to think that most of us make good neighbors. I can't think of a bunch of reasons of why it's a good reason to vote so that we can get married. I guess the biggest reason is the happiness that you're vote would impart on a loving couple. After all that couple dreaming of a wedding could be one of your friends, a co-worker, or even a family member.

I'm not out to tell you that you should go against your heart. I'm asking you to think about it. Search your heart and consider the happiness of a couple. I know I'm asking a lot of you, but I promise you, it's not that bad. I'm simply asking you to ponder it and pray about it. I you still feel wrongly about it, then you can entirely forget about this entry.

Thanks for reading!

Somtimes:

A piece of shit man from my area has been arrested for being a dick. He was molesting kids. The next words out of my mouth will shock some of you but I need to say it any way and I need to say it to him.

You are a coward, a piece of crap who should never see the light of day. And now I am gone.

*************  I  have decided to remove the oringinal top half of this post.   I'm going to post the article on my blog so at least you can read about this creep.  I don't work in any of the schools mentioned in this article.

Article from the NW Indiana times

EPA APPROVES PRAIRIE DOG POISON

Prairie dogs are an essential part of healthy prairie ecosystems; they are a food source for predators, maintain short vegetation, and dig burrows that many other animals also use. But these keystone mammals already have been eradicated from more than 95% of their historic range across the Great Plains! Scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have questioned the EPA’s approval of Rozol and Kaput-D, citing serious concerns about the effects of these poisons on prairie ecosystems -- and especially on highly endangered black footed ferrets and imperiled swift fox, burrowing owls, bald and golden eagles and other wildlife linked to prairie dogs in the food chain. Yet these poisons are now being used to kill prairie dogs, threatening many of the imperiled prairie bids and mammals that we’ve fought so hard to rescue from extinction. Last week, we filed a lawsuit with our local allies at Audubon of Kansas challenging the use of Rozol and Kaput-D. We face a tough fight ahead as we take on the lawyers at the EPA and the well-funded legal teams of the makers of these poisons. Help us win in court with your tax-deductible contribution to save prairie dogs and other endangered wildlife from an agonizing death. Rozol and Kaput-D can take weeks to kill a poisoned prairie dog, making them easy prey as they become disoriented and slowly lose bodily function. And, because these poisons can linger in a prairie dog’s carcass for weeks, animals like black-footed ferrets and birds that feed on dead or dying prairie dogs or live in contaminated burrows (as burrowing owls often do) can also inadvertently become poisoned and share the same grim fate. The effects of Rozol and Kaput-D are widespread and dangerous. Will you help us fight in court to end the misuse of these deadly poisons and protect America's prairie wildlife? For the Wild Ones, Jonathan Proctor Rocky Mountain Region Representative Defenders of Wildlife P.S. Your help can make a big difference. Thanks to the actions and donations of caring people like you, Defenders has been able to help the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana and private landowners in Kansas save two important prairie dog colonies in these states and help establish two new footholds on America’s plains for endangered black-footed ferrets.

Kids In My Life and Kids In General

I want to start this blog entry by stating that I don't have any kids. I do however have 13 nieces and nephews. I have 4 nieces, 7 nephews, 1 great nephew, and one more great nephew due at the end of this month. Sometimes, I struggle with the idea of me and someone having a kid in our lives. I'll go in more detail on that subject a little bit later. I am writing this up as I am watching my great nephew. We are downstairs watching his favorite show, Thomas the Tank engine. It's one of the many dvds they have out. After today, I am not sure that I want kids at all.

 

I am about ready to scream. Maybe, I am tired but right now I have no patience. Something you need if you're going to have kids. In the last hour it's been nothing but "I want..." and "Why...?". Right now, I can't take him asking the repeated questions and me answering with repeated answers. At school, we would say he has me in a power play. For as much as I love kids, I can't take their behaviors all the time.

 

After reading this, I'm sure you're wondering how in the heck, I got started working with works and how I managed to keep my job if I don't have patience. I've been over my job before in other posts and you can read more about it elsewhere in the blog. The kids that I work with are special and it takes a special person to work with them. Each one comes with their own set of challenges and problems. Each one of them has a quality that makes the job wonderful. If it wasn't for those bright moments, the job would be really hard to do. It isn't always smooth sailing. Occasionally, I find myself needing or wanting to scream. You also have to realize that I've been doing this for eight years. I wouldn't be there if I wasn't doing something right. A large part of why I think they keep me around is how I work with the kids and how I interact with the kids. When I'm with the kids at lunch, I make sure that they eat and then I get the unique chance to get to know the kids. Find out what sort of stuff they like, we talk. Sometimes it might be about a show they like, other times it's about a video game they love to play. I love that opportunity. Knowing the kids and knowing what they like and don't like makes my job a whole lot easier. Now, that doesn't always work for each and every kid, sometimes there are clashes of personalities and that is okay too. After all, they are each individuals. I haven't really discussed where I stand on the subject of wanting kids.

 

Where do I stand on the subject of kids? I want kids or at least don't mind being around kids. I use to dream of having a kid. In fact one time I did. Really quick here is a recap. A dark room, me in the center of the room, door opens, kid enters, and he comes up to me. Tells me that he's coming soon! It's been almost 10 years since that little boy came in a dream. I thought once upon a time that it was an omen of good things to come. It wasn't though. At any rate, with my current financial situation and my home life, it wouldn't be fair to bring a kid into this craziness. I have no interest in raising a kid by myself either. If a kid is going to be in my life, I want someone else by my side to offer support to both me and the kid. I wouldn't mind trying foster parenting or adoption. I know, I know it's rough! My one solid fear about it is really my parents. I'm afraid because that because I would want the other person in my life to be guy, that they would take that out on the kid. I'm basically trying to say that the kid would largely get ignored. I totally want to be fair to the kid that means providing a home that offers support, love, teaching opportunities, while still allowing the kid to be a kid. I don't want them to have to wonder why his grandparents won't come to his birthday parties. Above all of that, I want to be able to provide for their needs. So with that said, what do I say to the haters?

 

I think you need to get over yourselves. First off, you yell and scream that a kid needs a mom and a dad. Okay, so what about all the kids who have birth defects or other issues, why don't they have a mom and a dad? OKAY, stop everything time for a slight disclaimer:

( I know there moms and dads and dads and dads who are doing the right and accepting kids into the homes who may not what others are looking for in a kid. Thanks!! )

You know what in a perfect world; we wouldn't need to have this discussion. I don't want to hear you quoting the bible about how a kid should be raised by mom and dad. A gay couple is just as able to raise a healthy child as any straight couple and isn't it about love, nurturing, and being able to care for their needs. I don't want to hear that they'll be abused. How many kids have been killed, neglected, or abused at their hands of their heterosexual parents? We all know that the minute a child that in the home of a gay couple is mistreated in any way that it will make national news. Hmmm...things have been a little quiet on that issue. Won't say that it won't ever happen and hopefully it doesn't. I don't want to hear about the kids turning out gay. While we don't exactly what leads to a person being gay, I doubt that having gay parents is going to automatically pre-determine their child to being gay. (Did that make any sense?) In other words, no I don't think it will happen. I mean, there is a chance any child will be gay. It's a matter of numbers and genetics. I just want to thank those parents gay, straight, or whatever who have decided to have kids and are raising them without hurting them. I hope those who can will adopt will consider adopting a child who has some difficulties in their lives. I'm not coming down on anyone who is raising their kid the right way. Don't you haters even twist what I just said! Bye All!

Question, if you were going to adopt a child which child would you adopt?

A.The perfectly healthy baby

B.The teen who has been bounced around from home to home.

C.The kid who was born with drugs in their system

D.The kid is HIV +

E.It doesn't matter who I adopt

A Letter from Evan Bayh on allowing loaded weapons into National Parks

From Evan Bayh Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to allowing loaded weapons into National Parks. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and views with me. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, (H.R. 627) passed the Senate on May 19, 2009. This legislation gives cardholders a fair chance to manage their credit card debt by targeting credit card companies' exploitive practices found in the fine print of their agreements. Attached to the final version of the legislation was an amendment to allow loaded weapons into National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges, overturning a previous ban on the practice. I understand that this particular amendment has generated serious concerns among some members of the public. Throughout my public life, I have opposed legislation that fails to appropriately balance the need to maintain a safe society with the ability of law-abiding Americans to own and use firearms responsibly. I believe we must do all we can to ensure that we keep handguns out of the hands of criminals, which is why I have voted to require mandatory instant checks for gun purchases at gun shows and pawn shops, supported the reauthorization of the Assault Weapons ban, and supported increasing penalties and punishment of individuals who illegally transfer handguns and assault weapons to children and juveniles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can love help you live longer? Find out now.

Fiscal Condition of our country

Thank you for contacting me regarding the fiscal condition of our country. I appreciate your thoughts and understand your concern on this important issue. I am a longtime advocate of fiscal discipline. As Governor of Indiana, I balanced the State's budget without raising taxes and left behind a $1 billion surplus. I have continued to push for responsible fiscal management during my time in the U.S. Senate. The troubled state of public finances highlights the importance of restoring fiscal responsibility to the federal budget. Simply put, it is immoral to borrow from our children and grandchildren to finance large and persistent deficits. It disturbs me that the Federal Government borrows billions each year from foreign creditors, such as the Chinese and Japanese central banks. The growing indebtedness of our country to our competitors raises troubling questions about America's independence and the ability of foreign countries to influence our economic and trade policies in ways that might not be in our national interest. For these reasons, it is imperative that we spend every taxpayer dollar wisely. In January, I supported a resolution of disapproval regarding the release of the second half of the funds for the Troubled Asset Relief Program from the Treasury. It concerns me that these funds may have been used improperly, rather than to stabilize our banking system as intended. It is now more important than ever that our government demonstrate the accountability that we taxpayers deserve. I believe that both parties need to come together and identify ways to control spending. Recently, I was one of three Democrats that opposed a bloated $410 billion Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government because of the inclusion of $7.7 billion worth of earmarks and an unaffordable eight percent increase in discretionary spending at a time of deepening deficits. I was also one of two Democrats to vote against the Fiscal Year 2010 congressional budget resolution due to its lack of fiscal restraint. At a time when so many American families are tightening their belts to make ends meet, Congress should be equally committed to living within its means. The budget I opposed projected an unsustainable level of deficits spending. The national debt today stands at over $11 trillion and is projected to reach $17 trillion by 2014 under this budget. We cannot pass that burden on to our children and grandchildren. One area of particular concern is the runaway practice of congressional earmarks, or "pork-barrel" projects. In 1996, there were 3,023 earmarks; by 2009, the number had increased to 11,914. For this reason, I supported a one-year moratorium on earmarks and have repeatedly voted to strip egregious earmarks from spending bills, including the now-infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" and the so-called "Hippie Museum." As a longtime leader in the Senate for restoring fiscal responsibility, please know that I will continue the fight to bring accountability and sunshine to a budget process in desperate need of repair. Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope the information I have provided has been helpful. My website, http://bayh.senate.gov, can provide additional details about my work in the Senate, including legislation and state projects. You can also sign up for occasional email updates. I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues that matter to you.

Gays in the military being looked at

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is looking at the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and trying to figure out ways to make if more Humane for us. One example mentioned are those who are revealed by a third party. A fair number of individuals felt the need to ask questions or make comments that are just stupid in many ways either they are basing their comments on stereotypes or their own ignorant views. I've already commented on the comments but thought that I might write up a blog post of my thoughts on their comments. I am not going to post the original comments nor will I leave any quotes from the comments.

One of the people leaving comments asked about housing and bathing of gays amongst their heterosexual counterparts. One other person made a comment about a gay soldier possibly getting erect in the showers while looking at his fellow soldiers. First off they would be members of a unit and as such, I think they should be housed together and allowed to shower together. Not every gay guy out there is seeking out straight guys to prey on. I think those who decide to serve in the military are very much aware of the hardships that might come along no pun intended. As far as gay soldier getting erect in the shower, I'm not sure that the straight soldiers would be comparing penises or bodies, but I would imagine that occasionally an erection pops up even among them. After all, they are washing down there and many of them leave behind wives or girlfriends.

Another person wrote over her concern that we wouldn't be treated the same by our str8 peers. You know what, when women were first being welcomed in as regular fighters in the military. There was concern they wouldn't be able to hack it. You know it's not an issue. Those who sign up for the military are doing it because they want too. Which means, they would fight and do the job. Many soldiers have already been fighting alongside gay men already. I don't know what to say about this.

This next one really bothered me because I hate stereotypes. This poster wanted to know how often the gay soldiers would be tested for HIV and how they would protect the "straights" from their blood splatters. First off, I want to know what would protect a gay soldier from the blood spatters from a "Straight" soldier who has HIV. Come on now, not every gay guy in the world has HIV. I think some people really have their heads screwed on the wrong way. I might be talking to the choir on this piece but this one caught me off guard

This next person said that he/she believes that we could serve effectively in the military, but he /she has concerns with us being emotionally fragile. I think there are just as many emotionally fragile soldiers who have been in the military. I don't think you can take one stereotype and apply to it all the gay men and women out there. Basically, it's what this person has done. I don't agree with their thinking. At least they would be willing to see us serve.

Where is the line drawn on sexual perversions? Well, interesting question? Let's see once again it comes down to what is legal within the United States and what isn't. In our country, a person is a pedophilia is committing felony. I assume that bestiality is also a crime worthy of being a felony. Don't they do background tracks of people as they join the military? As far as I'm concerned let them serve. Who would they be hurting? And if they act out while serving and are discovered, I'm sure they will be court martial and tried for their crimes. Yes, God is very important. Yet, I'm not sure how he plays into this debate.

This next comment really got me mad. They claimed that we would be a security risk as well as a disgrace to the military. What about all the soldiers who committed acts while in Iraq. I'm thinking of those who humiliated their Iraq prisoners. It's not cool. If that had been our boys or men humiliated, we would have rallied behind them and smacked someone upside the head. To me that was a disgrace. If you are going to disqualify us from the military and remove those of us who are serving in the military. Well, then I think, we would remove every soldier who has a tattoo. I think we would remove any soldier who has had sex while on leave. I think we should remove any soldier who has ever gotten drunk while on leave. Okay, well maybe not but you get my point. We aren't any more of a security risk than any other person serving in the military.

This last one got me pissed. The person who posted this claimed to have family who served in the Civil war. She said that if a sissy boy had been in there platoon they would have tarred and feathered them. Quite frankly, this is a different age. I think any man or woman who serves in this great military is anything but a sissy. I could never do what do them on a daily basis. If you are capable of taking a life, you are not sissy. If you can do the job of a defender for our country you aren't a sissy.

I am very proud of our fighting men and women. I don't care if they're bisexuals, homosexuals, or even if they are straight. Their soldiers doing what many us aren't doing. I give them credit where credit is due and there isn't a single person in this country that should throw slurs or ridicule their service for this country.

 

 

Death To Kids???

I am sickened right now. Three kids have died two from my area and from Massachusetts. One died because the vechile carrying her family was smashed between two semis. One was killed by his babysitter and her boyfriend. Then there is the 7 year old boy who was beaten by his dad on Father's day. It sickens me that the later two had to meet their end at the hands of sick freaks. Don't they realize that we won't be the one's giving them punishments. We can only dish out mortal judgements. I hope they pay. I feel sorry for the truck driver who hit the family. I know in that case that is was an accident. However, the latter two still could be alive. Someone decided that they should die all of these morons need to be taught a lesson. For what I am about to say may make me just as bad as them but a few priceless stings from my scorpion might teach them a lesson. Oh...it's nothing that would kill them, I can promise you that. People who hurt kids need to be punished and not left off for F***ing good behavior. They need to know they can't get away with this crap. Maybe my history teacher in high school was right. He thought there needed to be a revolution of sorts in our country. He joked that I would fit into the new order of things. Did he know something that i didn't? Yeah I have potential. I believe in kids. I know they are the future. These sickos and everyone like them. They need and deserve special treatment. Such a cheerful piece of writing huh? That father didn't deserve to have a child.

Coal-Fired Electricity - A letter from my senator

Thank you for contacting me regarding the construction of new coal-fired electricity generating plants. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns on this issue. As you know, last December the retaining wall of a coal ash storage pond gave way in Eastern Tennessee leading to what some believe to be the largest environmental disaster of its kind in U.S. history. Over 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash was released into the nearby Emory River. This disaster also highlights our nation's dependence on coal for electricity generation. Approximately 49% of the U.S. electricity is derived from coal-fired power plants. Indiana is significantly more dependent on coal with 95.4% of our electricity coming from coal. These facts, along with the Department of Energy's projection of an increase in U.S. demand for electricity of 30% by 2030, underscore our need to pursue clean, renewable energy generation technologies around the country. Solar, wind, geothermal, and many other renewable energy technologies have tremendous promise to reduce our need for coal power plants. That is why in the 110th Congress, I supported the bipartisan Energy Investment and Protection Act of 2008, H.R. 6049 which passed the Senate on September 23, 2008. This legislation extends tax credits for a variety of clean energy sources which are critical to securing the energy and national security of the United States. These sources include renewable fuels, carbon capture and sequestration, energy efficiency, conservation, advanced technology vehicles, among others. Please rest assured, should legislation regarding regulation of coal-fired plants come before the Senate in the 111th Congress, I will keep your views in mind.