Clarence Earl Gideon: A little guy who stood up for his rights against a flawed legal system

       Good Day World!

Don’t feel too bad if you never heard of Clarence Earl Gideon. He changed history, although his legacy is lost to all but law students and scholars. I gotta tell you though, Gideon was no angel.

But, because of Gideon, an ex-con and poorly-educated gambler, you’re guaranteed legal representation even if you can’t afford it when accused of a state crime. In Gideon v. Wainwright, a unanimous Supreme Court declared on March 18, 1963, that the states were required to provide legal counsel for defendants in felony cases who could not afford an attorney.

Prior to Gideon, there was a loophole in the law and if you were indigent…you were guilty. I wouldn’t hold this guy up alongside George Washington or some other great American…but I do hold him up as a man who declared he was an American with rights…and proved it.

Read more about Clarence Earl Gideon:

A 'nobody's' legacy: How a semi-literate ex-con changed the legal system

Clarence Earl Gideon: Unlikely World-Shaker

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Bounty from the Sea: 2000 Pounds of Pot Scattered on Shoreline

Imagine you’re just going for a stroll on Arroyo Camada Beach and you stumble upon a bunch of big packages just sitting there…alone and unattended.

What do you do? The packages look suspicious, and you suspect there’s marijuana inside them. Do you grab one and run, hoping no one will see you stumbling along with it?

Photo from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department

There’s no way to know for sure who found this little 2000 pound treasure trove of Ganja, but the street value is estimated at $4 million. Santa Barbara authorities discovered a panga-style boat near the beached stash.

The word is, 20 panga-style boats have landed on this stretch of beach in the last two years. As for grabbing one of these bundles of boo, if I accidently stumbled upon it, I’d turn and run as fast as my out-of-shape 62-year old legs could go!

Meandering Monday: You could be a super human some day

        Good Day World!

 It’s the day after celebrating St. Patrick’s birthday, and there are a lot of woozy Irishman and wannabes this morning feeling a bit under the weather. So I’ll write today off as a meandering Monday. Here are a few odds and ends that have skittered across the news desks across the country recently that you may find interesting:

What’s it take to get banned from all the libraries on earth? Go here and find out. Then there’s the New York man who said he wasn’t aware laughing too loud was a crime. I’ve heard of hygiene freaks but this woman went too far when she stole $16,000 of toothbrushes from Kohl’s!

And how about the discovery of four-winged birds!?? Then there’s the family that robs together that won’t stay together after getting caught robbing a Wells Fargo Bank in Tooele, Utah. The kids were 5 and 2 years-old.

With the economy picking up I thought you might be interested in investing in some historical memorabilia. Here’s a hot item - Buzz Aldrin's 1969 guide to landing on the moon. Finally, I read here that some people think there will be Super Humans by 2045. I’ll be 109 years-old then, but who knows? I may be one of those Super Humans!

Time for me to walk on down the road…

As It Stands: Actively seeking inspiration is one key to happiness

 

By Dave Stancliff/For The Times Standard
 Straight out; I’m not a famous inspirational coach and I don’t have a degree in philosophy. What I can offer however, is experience in actively seeking inspiration in life and why I think that’s a good idea.
Most people want to be happy. Environmental, physical, and mental challenges often prevent that from happening. I’ve seen many examples in the last 63 years. People I know and love who aren’t happy for one or more reasons. They hit a brick wall at some point and can’t seem to climb over it.
From experience, I can tell you if you look for inspiration around you, it’s there waiting for you to discover it. I’ve found it’s easier, for some perverse reason, to be negative than it is to be positive.
Being positive takes work. Being positive every day is a goal few can achieve, but the good news is the more you work at it, the easier it gets to be. One key to happiness that has worked for me is to seek inspiration from those who have it worse than I do.

Following stories about people who defy the odds is a feel-good pursuit I enjoy sharing with others. I’ve got a few good stories for you today to illustrate what I’m talking about:
The first is about Fred Butler, a 106-year old man who just got his high school diploma. His story has probably been experienced many times by many others. He had to drop out of the ninth grade to support his mother and siblings.
Along the way Fred was married for 65 years, raised five children, and served in the Army during WW II. You might say he did it all. Except for getting that high school diploma.
According to his daughter-in-law Cathy Butler, Fred always felt bad about not graduating from high school. Despite leading a full and productive life, he had that one regret. That is until he was awarded an honorary diploma during a ceremony attended by school officials and the town mayor last week.

 You see, Fred always told his children and grandchildren how important an education really is.
 The second story is about a man named Bill Southerland. He was born with type 1 diabetes and the doctor told his mother he wouldn’t make it to the age of 25. The doctor also said Bill was the youngest case of diabetes in the world at the time.  
 Bill, however had other plans and defied the odds. Not only has he survived his diagnosis through sheer willpower, but he’s thrived. He took his passion for cycling to heights seldom achieved by anyone and now manages a world class cycling program.
He led a Race Across America, and used his journey off and on the bike as a way of change how the world views diabetes. I highly recommend reading his book, “Not Dead Yet,” if you want to know more about him and the amazing things he’s done with his life.

The third story is about Stephanie Deckler, one of the bravest people I’ve ever read about. She proved the power of a mother’s love is unconditional and death-defying. Last year a deadly tornado ripped through her family’s Ohio home.
Without hesitating, the 37-year old mom protected her two young children with her body as the tornado sucked them into its vortex. Her quick action saved the children’s lives, but both of her legs were mangled so badly that they had to be amputated. Thirty-nine people died that terrible day in March 2012.
Later, during an interview with an ABC News reporter, she told him, “I stayed conscious the whole time. I couldn’t afford to pass out. They needed me. They had to have me, so I had to figure out what to do.”
Stories like this give me goose bumps. Ordinary people doing fantastic things every day of the year. We seldom read about them because bad news seems to dominate the mainstream media - it’s sexier than someone who survived a tornado or overcame a potentially fatal disease.
I’ve noticed that some networks wait until the last portion of their broadcast to throw in one “feel good” story. I think that’s nice, but more balance throughout the broadcast would be nice too.

I really get sick of hearing about the violence in this country. I believe more inspirational stories about ordinary people would give us all a much needed positive daily boost.
As It Stands, I read somewhere that inspiration can be found in many things, but the most inspiring thing to me is people who overcome life’s adversities.

Nutty Celebrity Caricatures: Artist finds his muse & it’s a peanut

 Steve Casino is not nuts.

But he knows all about peanuts. The 26-year old toy inventor, turned a hobby into a body of work and thus far he’s got a corner on the market.

 His unique little sculptures sell for between $300 to $1,000, depending upon the complexity of the sculpture. To assure his art stands the test of time, he removes the legume inside, re-seals the shell, and dips it in polyurethane. Good for the ages.

If you’d like a special gift for someone, you can go to his website and order one of these clever little artworks. But don’t be surprised if it takes while to get one. I read that he has a backlog of commissions for his shell art. (information for this piece came from here)

Who cares if people are killed by guns every day in the USA?

                 Good Day World!

Today’s topic is about gun control. My question to you is: “Who cares if people are killed by guns every day in the USA?”

America is struggling with the amount of gun-related deaths every year. The deaths continue to increase. Sometimes the stories are sad. Accidents that happen resulting in disability, or death. Other stories are too horrible to imagine – like Sandy Hook for example.

We lead the world in gun ownership. Is this a good thing? Does the 2nd Amendment guarantee that we can own any type of weapon – regardless of it’s killing capacity? Should we each have a bazooka, or even our own missile launch system if we have the money?

How far will this fight to neutralize gun deaths in America go? The NRA resists even the slightest hint of gun control. But Americans are increasingly speaking up and saying they want changes in our gun laws.

10 Pro-Gun Myths, Shot Down

“By cutting off federal funding for research and stymieing data collection and sharing, the National Rifle Association has tried to do to the study of gun violence what climate deniers have done to the science of global warming. No wonder: When it comes to hard numbers, some of the gun lobby's favorite arguments are full of holes.”

Related Stories:

Shot by sibling, police officer's daughter dies

Reports: Father accidentally shoots, kills 10-month-old son in front of family

Police: 7-year-old fatally shot by father outside gun store in Pennsylvania

U.S. Gun Deaths Since Sandy Hook Top 1,280

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Today’s Topic: Contamination at NC Marine base lasted up to 60 years

       Good Day World!

The extent of the criminal negligence in not addressing such a vital issue as clean drinking water boggles my brain. When I read that federal officials have known this for years I was livid!

Once again, the men and women of our military have been dishonored by exposure to potential hazards that have gone untreated for far too long. If we’re not poisoning our troops with toxins in wars like Vietnam, or unspent radium in Iraq, we’re letting them drink contaminated water.

How could a situation this important to the troop’s health go for so long? Wasn’t anyone paying attention? Who was asleep at the watch when report after report came in warning of high levels of contamination in the drinking water? I leave that for to you decide. The following article – and links below -  give more details:  

“Some of the wells that supplied drinking water to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were contaminated by cancer-causing solvents for as long as 60 years, a new federal report shows.

_______________________

Over the span of 35 years, between 500,000 and 1 million people were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, one of the most storied Marine bases in the country. A group of men have banded together saying that their surprising breast cancer diagnoses are linked to Camp Lejeune's contaminated water. Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.

________________________

Month-by-month calculations show that Marines and their families at the base drank and bathed in water that may have been tainted with trichloroethylene (TCE) from 1948 through 2008. Other water sources were contaminated with benzene from 1951 to 2008, the report shows.

Federal officials have known for years that the base’s water supply was badly contaminated, from fuel leaks and probably from a dry-cleaning plant as well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that between 500,000 and 1 million people were exposed to the contaminated water from 1953 to 1987, when the last of several contaminated wells were closed. The new report takes the potential estimates back five years earlier.

"It is possible," Dr. Christopher Portier, director of the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, told NBC News. But he says he believes it more likely the contamination began in 1953, as previously estimated.” Read the whole story here

Related:

Marine Corps response to NBC Rock Center story

Contractor underreported levels of chemicals

Congress probes toxic water at Marine base

Time for me to walk on down the road…

No post today due to external reasons that I’m looking into

The cable company that I use for my computer – Suddenlink – was vandalized (fiber optic line was cut) and thousands of Humboldt County residents were without a variety of services ranging from internet, television, and telephone.

This is the fourth time in a week the vandals have struck, and the first time the malicious vandalism has affected the area I’m in. No one knows why this is happening. Theories abound. The one I’m entertaining is a past employee of Suddenlink with a grudge.

I guess one of the most troubling aspects is why. Why would someone do this? The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is asking asking the public to call with any information about these attacks. It’s also troubling to me how exposed our communication systems are to people with bad intentions.

As far as I know, there’s no salvage market on fiber optic wire (23 feet was stolen in the first vandalism incident). From what I gathered thus far today, the fiber optic line in Bayside (by Arcata) was just cut. Suddenlink employees had to search to find where the damage was done, unlike the last few incidents when the damage was open and apparent.

The editor and Publisher of The McKinleyville Press, Jack Durham, has asked me to do an investigative piece on the vandalism – as it has affected McKinleyville twice. I may be retired, but sometimes I come out long enough to do a special assignment.

Let the hunt begin…

Here’s the official press release from the Sheriff’s Office:

“On 3-13-13 at about 1100 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Suddenlink and advised of vandalism to their Fiber Optic Cable.  This is the fourth vandalism to Suddenlink’s Fiber Optic Service since March 8, 2013.  The most recent vandalism is believed to have occurred in the 3400 block of Old Arcata Road however Suddenlink is still attempting to identify the exact location.  The Sheriff’s Office responded to the area last night and did not locate any suspects or find obvious signs of where the cable was damaged.

Sheriff’s Investigators are currently on scene investigating this crime and Suddenlink personnel are working to repair the Fiber Optic Cable.  Suddenlink previously estimated the repair costs to be approximately $10,000, per site.  The vandalisms have occurred in the areas of Ferndale, Trinidad and now Bayside.

Suddenlink is offering a $5,000 cash reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) that are responsible for these crimes.

This is an on-going investigation and the Sheriff’s Office is working diligently to identify a suspect or suspects in these crimes and to stop further vandalisms and interruptions to Suddenlink’s services.  

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call Detective Kirkpatrick of the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at    707-268-3640 or the Sheriff’s Tip Line at 707-268-2539.” 

 

Todays Topic: Newspaper industry to lobby to retain Saturday mail delivery

    Good Day World!

By now, everyone knows the United States Postal Service is in financial straits. Not everyone knows the impact this will have on other businesses.

The following article details another side-effect – other industries that will be affected if the USPS has to cut out Saturday deliveries.

These are hard times and hard decisions are being made. 

“Members of Congress are going to be hearing a lot from newspapers this week — not via their editorial pages but in person.

There’s only one topic on the agenda: the U.S. Postal Service and its stated plans to eliminate many kinds of Saturday mail delivery later this year.

The National Newspaper Association is coordinating the lobbying effort that will involve newspaper representatives from across the nation, including those in Nebraska like the Daily News. "It's a business decision for us just like it's a business decision for them (the postal service)," said Max Health, a postal consultant for the Publishing Group of America. "It's not over until it's over."

Early last month, the postal service announced it plans to drop Saturday delivery of first-class mail beginning in August, a move intended to save it $2 billion annually. The postal service plans to continue to deliver packages and pharmaceutical drugs on Saturday, but not direct mail, newspapers, periodicals or first-class mail.

The Greeting Card Association, National Newspaper Association, American Forest & Paper Association, National Rural Letter Carriers Association and Envelope Manufacturers Association trade groups, along with the National Association of Letter Carriers labor union, are among many pushing to preserve Saturday delivery.

"We all lose if the postal service doesn't continue with Saturday delivery," said Rafe Morrissey, vice president for postal affairs at the Greeting Card Association.

Part of the argument to be relayed to members of Congress this week is that the postal service it acting illegally in its plans to unilaterally end Saturday mail delivery. That’s because Congress, through a series of continuing resolutions, has kept in place a requirement for six-day delivery.

The current resolution, however, expires March 27, which prompted the postal service to announce plans for the end of Saturday delivery, Heath said.

“Whether Congress passes a complete appropriations bill or another continuing resolution, it could still keep the (six-day-a-week delivery provision). The expiration date is not a valid legal reason to make a decision, unless you are trying to make a force play to get a lot of attention,” Heath said.

Another argument to be made by the supporters of retaining Saturday mail delivery is that the projected annual savings of about $2 billion is exaggerated.

In fact, the U.S Postal Regulatory Commission has said it believes the estimate of savings is considerably too high. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat who is a co-sponsor of the House bill to preserve Saturday delivery, also said the postal service has not substantiated its projected $2 billion in annual savings from ending Saturday delivery.

Regardless of the accurate figure, the savings won’t come close to solving the postal service’s financial problems. In fact, it may simply drive more business away from the postal service, Heath said.

“The real problem is the unfair requirement from the 2006 postal reform act for the U.S. Postal Service to prefund future benefits over a 10-year period at more than $5 billion  per year. This is over and above the $2 billion paid from the postal service operating budget each year already,” he said. “No other government agency has this requirement. It was just a budget trick that year to help the deficit.”

Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa added, “By requiring the postal service to pre-fund retirement health benefits to the tune of over $50 billion over 10 years, which no other agency or business has to do, Congress is tying their hands. The USPS would not be in the dire situation it is today if it had not been required to pre-pay these funds.”

Another key factor is the impact ending Saturday delivery would have on rural areas, the elderly and some businesses, such as smaller daily newspapers.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader, said, “Cutting down mail delivery to five days per week will not save the postal service from insolvency. This short sighted measure will deal a crippling blow to the millions of Americans and small businesses who rely on the timely and reliable delivery to every community in our nation.”

While newspaper industry representatives and many others will continue to press for a continuation of Saturday delivery — while also pushing for comprehensive financial reform measures that would improve the postal services’ bottom line — discussions are taking place and plans are being made if the effort is unsuccessful.

Heath said, “Newspapers with Saturday issues should get their department heads together and analyze options.”That’s what has been taking place at the Daily News, led by Cristina Anderson, the newspaper’s circulation manager, in recognizing the importance of the several thousand Northeast and North Central Nebraskans who receive the newspaper via the mail.

Expansion of motor routes, more use of electronic delivery of the newspaper and other possibilities are all being discussed. - The Associated Press contributed to this article - By KENT WARNEKE editor@norfolkdailynews.com

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Today’s Topic: New Monthly Candidate for Dumbest Criminal Ever

       Good Day World!

From Wisconsin - Jarad S. Carr (left – courtesy of Chippewa County Jail ) just wanted to get a refund for his printer. The problem was he didn’t have a receipt for it. And, he didn’t have the paper tray and installer CD that goes with it.

Employees at Walmart (where else would something like this happen?) tried to work with Jarad, but he apparently came unglued and displayed a total lack of brains.

I think this is safe to assume, seeing how Jarad really had bigger and more important matters to worry about; like two felony arrest warrants for armed robbery and burglary in the next county. This did not deter him from telling the clerk he wouldn’t leave the building until he got a refund for the printer.

Understandably, an employee called the police. Meanwhile, one of the employees found two phony $100 bills still in the printer. Jarad reportedly crumbled them up and asked the employee to throw them away! No, really. Jarad could have walked away, but he wanted a refund so badly he offered to take half of the price for the printer!

The police arrived and promptly arrested Jarad and found more fake bills in his car. (read more about this story here) I guess there’s not much more to say. Other, than this guy was extremely stupid, clueless, drugged-out, or on a mission to become the dumbest criminal for the month of March.

Time for me to walk on down the road…