Kansas Government Official Drives Drunk

Stanley Ahlerich, executive director of Council of Economic Advisers for Governor Brownback, of Kansas, was arrested for drunk driving at 3:14 on Saturday, February 6. It's as easy as pi, isn't it? He thought he would get away with it.

To A Local Kid

Mention was made to my daughter about the posts you see on this site about missing persons, especially children. She tells me that you feel that if you or one of your classmates or buddies went missing, I wouldn't look for you, post about you, share your picture, or pass out flyers if you weren't found right away, as I do for others who are missing. Please rest assured that I would do the same for you, no matter how much harassment your parents and the rest of your community reserve for me because I care about safety in schools and safety for children.

As often as you've been told that children are completely safe here, and that it is not a problem if your school's faculty violates state and federal laws by abandoning children along highways in random parts of the county, this is not the case. In fact, your state, Kansas, is home to one of the most problematic cities in the entire country for human trafficking: Wichita. It's in fifth place, out of all the nation's cities, for human trafficking of all kinds.Your parents simply won't open their eyes, but the fact that they do not care is not a reason to shut off my own empathy and let you down. I would certainly look for you, and I would do everything I could to raise awareness.

Marijuana Will Be Up For Vote In Wichita

The new petition for decriminalization of marijuana, particularly first offenses, was written up, passed around, and signed by enough people to force the city of Wichita, Kansas, to put it on the ballot in April. This will make possession within the city a municipal offence with a small fine, rather than a felony, or whatever is convenient for prosecutors to call it. It seems like a step in the right direction; perhaps our jails and prisons can reserve space for those who commit violent crimes, instead of locking up those who get caught taking bong hits. It's also nice to see Wichita listening to it's constituency.

One aspect of this matter that is troubling, however; is one of the considerations listed by the city of Wichita, as a possible reason ignore the voters. Wichita is worried about lost revenue via fines and other fees, collected from offenders. Suppose everyone in Wichita sobered up and quit smoking pot? Or perhaps got better at hiding from cops? Then how would Wichita deal with "lost revenue"? Is it possible that our judicial system is actually, in it's own way, discouraging addicts and alcoholics from recovery because of financial considerations? Say it ain't so! Financial loss in the form of  penalty fines and fees should never be a consideration in this type of referendum. Here's an excerpt from Wichita's proposal:

Happy Holidays: The IRS Gave The Money Back

Just in time for the holiday season, the IRS gave a restaurant owner named Carole Hinders, of Iowa, back the money that they had confiscated last year, because it looked as if she was attempting to manipulate the amounts of her bank deposits in order to skirt banking laws. Her bank deposits were often just a little bit shy of $10,000; and it looked as if she was manipulating them, or "structuring" them, in order to avoid creating records. Often, this is associated with money laundering and is done by drug dealers. Carole Hinders wasn't involved in either.

The Internal Revenue Service was unable to prove intent, and actually gave her money back to her last week. Luckily, Hinders had support and representation; hopefully, small business owners can learn from this.

In Case You Skipped Church This Sunday

The churchgoing teachers in Frankfort, Kansas, have a message for you if you skipped church on Sunday. They want you to know that as long as you are white and christian, Jesus doesn't mind if you ignore the laws of the land and act like a bigot!

A Kansas Customer Makes Retail Headlines

I forgot all about this! An Abilene, Kansas man happened to be in Washington on July 8, when Top Shelf, a store in Bellingham, opened and sold the first bag of recreational marijuana retailed there since 1937. It was heralded as the very first weed to be retailed in the state of Washington, but that seems unlikely, since the federal prohibition laws against it have only been in effect since 1937. The man's name is Cale Holdsworth, and since he only bought two grams, his purchase probably did not survive the trip back to Kansas! It's nice to see Kansas in the news for something other than Kris Kobach's latest legislative lunacies or Westboro Baptist Church's shenanigans.

* No, I do not support recreational drug use, so don't be running to your mama or your local pharmacist crying that I do. I simply prefer to see your tax dollars and mine spent on something besides the prosecution of victimless crimes.

Alice Jones Hears God, I Hear My Ancestors

We have a library here in Frankfort, Kansas, that is almost devoid of useful information, but chock full of racism and unlawful behavior. Heartland Works is a program funded by the Department of Labor that provides work opportunities for high school students in need of paid work experience. Heartland Works; Alice Jones, the director of the library; and Tom Schroeder, the guidance counselor of Frankfort High; work together to gain labor for the library at no cost to the City of Frankfort. Well and good, as long as no class time is lost to the students involved, and Miss Alice and Mr. Tom account for the students during every minute of the school day, and remember that recreational drugs and underage drinking are against the law.

It recently came to my attention, via conversations with one of my daughters, who had been involved in the Heartland Works program, that another child working at the library under the same auspices was often drunk at work, and occasionally engaged in uses of recreational drugs. In an attempt to verify this information with Alice Jones, the ultimate eyewitness here, I was stunned when she affirmed every word my daughter said, and offered in her own defense, "I knew ____ was violating the law, but God told me not to report it, and to give her "another chance". When I asked how many "other chances" were given, a concrete number was not determined. So there it was: despite the fact that Frankfort High is a public school, beholden to the same federal laws as all other public schools in the United States of America, Tom Schroeder and Alice Jones took it upon themselves to betray my trust in the public school where I sent all six of my children. Also, I had not realized how unexposed my daughter was, prior to her Heartland Works experience, to drugs and drunkenness, but she shared with me that this was the first occasion in her life to actually witness pathological drinking and drug use in person.

Aside from the obvious violations of the law, which is designed to protect my children from Frankfort's alcohol and drug abusing children at school, another disturbing portion of this entire situation is the fact that a silly-assed library director not only thought her own opinion and ideas could and would override my country's law, but justified her deliberate errors by explaining to me that "God" told her to do it! In essence, she exposed my child, who was supposed to gain exposure to employment experience, to underage drinking, drugs obtained via black market sources, and to the wonderful world of enabling and functioning as an accessory after the fact! Those are things I would not ask my daughter to do for me, or for anyone in her family, and they are NOT things that any child should learn at school! Can anyone blame me for my outrage at the public school in Frankfort Kansas, or at USD 380?

This is how Kansas Christians in close knit communities show their respect for other cultures.

Teaching my daughter to depart from everything I have taught her about drugs, alcoholism, following the law, and communicating with me when she became aware of problems with those things was inexcusable in every way. My daughter came from a culture that loves children and encourages communication between generations, and when Tom Schroeder and Alice Jones taught my daughter to hide those things from me, they damaged the sacred trust between mother and daughter, and took grave chances on severing her from her family and her Ancestors; and also took a grave chance of ruining her life. I should also mention that if my daughter had not been asked to hide the situation from me, it would have provided our family an opportunity to teach her more about the functions of friendship, and about sharing information with her workmate about regaining her health. But this, somehow, was not a desire of Frankfort High or Heartland Works. Be that as it may, it is one of the functions of this family, and now that my eyes are open to the subtle attacks of a Christian community, it will not happen as easily to this family again. Frankfort is going to have to fight from now on, if it wants to ruin the lives of my other children.

If Alice Jones really thought "God" was talking to her, a claim made much more often by delusional mental patients than by educated people, she got away with damaging the lives of both children, my daughter and the child she enabled, in the name of her Christian religion. If "God" really spoke inside of Alice's head, would he have told her that respect for the Laws of the Land was only for "other people" and not for her? Or would he have told her that there are reasons for the laws, and that she had a responsibility to keep them, especially when children are involved, even if she did not understand how all of the legislation over the years have contributed to current laws? If "God" really spoke inside of Alice's head, would he have told he to enable an alcoholic teenager, or would he have told her to remove the child from the Heartland Works program until she completed alcohol treatment? An opportunity to offer that child real help was lost. Shame on you, Frankfort. If "God" was really speaking inside of Alice's head, would he have told her to send the message that showing up drunk for work is acceptable? If so, can anyone blame me for hating Christians, Christianity, and God?

 

Second Reason To Consolidate Kansas Schools

Not too long ago, I discussed, on this site, what I consider to be the first reason to consolidate Kansas public schools, rather than leave them under the control of unified districts and unprofessional local school boards consisting of uneducated folks with no teaching experience. This allows the unified districts too much leeway to violate federal and state laws, since none of them answer to federal or state authority in any way. One of those laws that Kansas school boards attempt to sidestep has to do with student safety and weapons; specifically firearms.

Before she graduated last year, my daughter shared with me the fact that she did not always feel safe at school because some of her classmates took guns to school. I was shocked to hear this, and asked her why this was happening. She told me that during hunting season, boys in her class went hunting before school started, and instead of taking the guns home and putting them away, they would leave them in their lockers, or in the back seats of their cars! This particular school, in Frankfort Kansas, has all grades from kindergarten to grade twelve, and no one besides my daughter had ever considered the possibility that a small child could open a car door, find an unattended weapon, and create a tragedy. Also, at least one of the children cited by my daughter as taking weapons to school is a confirmed bully, and allowing such a child to take weapons to school is crazy, but this is school in Frankfort, Kansas.

I went to the local sheriff's office to complain about this, and was told by the undersheriff, Tim Ackerman, that because of the Republican leanings of most Kansans, and because many of them go to fundamentalist Christian churches, Frankfort School does not have to worry about tragedies such as the ones in Columbine, Colorado and Newton, Connecticut. Later, I called the Kansas Department of Education, and was told that Kansas schools do not have to really obey the law. It is only a "recommendation" in Kansas, not a requirement. The best alternative my family was able to find for the protection of everyone in our home was to find another school that is not affiliated with Kansas public schools or USD 380.

The only way to change this, and make Kansas schools safe is to either put the entire mess (and I DO mean mess) of public schools in Kansas in receivership, or simply consolidate Kansas public schools and make them answerable to state and federal authorities. Most Kansans hate that idea, but if Kansas were truly able to understand the law and govern themselves, public schools in Kansas would all be in compliance with the law.

Tim Ackerman, the cop who thinks voting Republican and going to church are great ways ensure that kids can safely attend school with guns in tow during hunting season.

The Meaning Of Conception

I really thought I was only jesting when I wrote this post, just over a month ago, concerning Kansas Governor, Sam Browncrack, and his proposed legislation stating that life begins at conception. Apparently, the United States actually has a few morons in the judicial branch of government who actually might consider pressing charges against women for spontaneous abortions. In Mississippi and Alabama, women who have miscarried or given birth to stillborn babies have been charged and prosecuted under laws that were written to protect children from exposure to the manufacture and trade of methamphetamine, and in Virginia, legislation requiring women to report miscarriages to law enforcement has been proposed! At this point in our history, we do not have the medical technology to even begin to diagnose the cause of each and every spontaneously aborted pregnancy. How can we charge the mothers with criminal acts? What about the fathers, and possible flawed sperm?
 

It really seems as if, back in the day, when I saw this movie the first time, I heard the chorus as:
"Every sperm is sacred,
 every sperm is blessed,
 if any sperm was wasted,
 God would sure be pissed!"

 

Blue Is Such A Beautiful Color

 

It did not matter how many new laws were passed to prevent people from voting, how many lies Mitt Romney told, how hard it rained on the East Coast, or how many bald white cooperation owners threatened their employees in hopes of forcing Republican votes. It didn't matter how many birthers cried about Hawaii not really being a state when it really is a state, or how many surprises Donald Trump had in store for Obama. It didn't matter how many voting machines were hacked by Romney's family and other supporters, or whether or not Romney's supporters were able to get away with hiding explosives in polling centers when told by the Supreme Court that they could not suppress the votes of those who might vote Democrat. Nor did it matter how many times Mitt Romney interrupted his President during the debates. The better man won, and the man who only cares about half of America's citizenry, not all, lost. So mote it be!

Illinois Students Suspended For Possession Of Caffeine

Yes, you read that correctly! It is not against the law to drink or possess caffeine. It is not against the law to drink or possess tea or coffee. One may also eat chocolate, which contains caffeine, and also consume and share the confection at school. Yet......four high school students in Illinois were suspended for "consuming unfamiliar mints" in the cafeteria! Instead of simply asking the students what they were eating, the drama queens who run the school in Peoria, Illinois hauled the students into the office, confiscated the package, which, by the way, lists all the ingredients, suspended the young people, and called their parents! Let me remind everyone at this jucture that if a crime had actually been committed, the school would have had a responsibility to notify law enforcement. Law enforcement would have had to pack up some doughnuts and COFFEE for the road and go arrest these naughty children. But that didn't happen, because the children did nothing unlawful. But did the drama queens at the school "unsuspend" the children and apologize for accusing them of criminal behavior? (I'd sue the school over that if it were my child) Did they give the students back the instructional time, which is their right? Did they even abide by federal law, which states that children must attend school until the age of sixteen? No they didn't. After the successful dramafest, the school decided that they should continue to deny these children instructional time at school!

"According to EnergyFiend.com, each mint contains 101 milligrams of caffeine along with guarana, green tea, ginseng, acai, mangosteen and goji.

McMichael's father said school officials later admitted they did not know if the chewable, unmarked mints were, in fact, illegal drugs, but upheld the suspensions anyway, saying the teens displayed "gross misconduct for taking an unknown product."....Yahoo News

The Food And Drug Adminstration actually takes all the mystery out of these "unknown products" by requiring a list of ingredients on all foods marketed commercially in the United States. That includes mints, gum, candy, coffee, and tea. Imposing discipline in a school is a very serious thing, especially a suspension. The principal, teachers, and any other faculty involved has the reponsibility to find out what has actually taken place before depriving a child of the right to an education.

Quite a few of us actually drink coffee in support of world peace! Can anyone imagine what would happen if everyone with a caffeine habit was suddenly denied? Another question that deserves an answer here involves the teachers' lounge at this school: how much coffee is consumed there? Had the teachers involved in this incident abused anything stronger and less legal than caffeine before they suspended these children? Had the teachers involved in this incident had their coffee yet?

 

Mints and candy will not be tolerated in Illinois schools! So says the Furor!

 

Jan Brewer Endorsed Obama!

That's right! A Freudian slip of the tongue! Governer Jan Brewer of Arizona accidently endorsed President Obama! She actually stated that she hopes he wins the presidential election this year!

"I know that if President Obama is elected in November, which I hope that he is, that he will be able to come together with all of us and come up with a solution and I believe he will secure our borders and therefore we can resolve all those other issues, it's a simple matter."......Jan Brewer, via Yahoo News.

Jan Brewer has a serious problem, stemming from an apparent deap seated hatred, with any immigrant to this country who does not need sunblock at the pool. While it's true that immigration laws have been enacted for good reasons, those laws should apply to everyone, not just people with darker complexions than Jan Brewer's. Within the past month, a congresswoman from Missouri begged and whined at the powers that be to allow the caucasion and blond Lauren Grey to unlawfully overstay her visa; yet others in exactly the same position do not get that privilege. America's problem appears not to be with immigration per se, but with olive and darker immigration! But Jan Brewer's quote reveals what she very likely knows is best for America. Instead of talking out of her ass, as usual, she spoke from her subconscience.

 

Lady, go get yourself a life!

 

Missing Children Still Need To Be More Important

I came across this video on Facebook this morning. It seems that someone has finally given law enforcement a believable account and confession about what happened to Etan Patz on May 25, 1979. In the years since little Etan disappeared, technology has made missing children and adults easier to find, and law enforcement has been given different protocals to follow. Picture recognition, such as those ancient "milk carton" photos, now replaced with pictures in the entrances of Walmart stores, have helped bring home at least ten percent of missing children. But nothing replaces watchful parents and guardians, safe schools and other institutions that deal with children, and an observant public. This is a short video, but very infomative......there is even a clip of an artist working on an age progressed image of Kyron Horman. I hope the artist takes into account all the different ways Kyron might look with longer hair. I hope everyone will watch this video.

News Item From WIBW

I came across this today, from WIBW, in Topeka, Kansas. I'll toss out the whole article here:

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Kansans have told a state official that they
want hundreds of laws taken off the books.Dennis Taylor, known as the state's "repealer'' says he has
received hundreds of suggestions on which state laws[Image] should be
repealed - ranging those regulating lynching to a recent smoking
ban. [Image] Taylor, who is head of the Kansas Department of Administration,
told lawmakers Monday that he would report to Gov. Sam Brownback[Image] on his findings soon. Brownback will make recommendations to the
Legislature on which laws to repeal.Taylor says another law that has drawn several comments - both
positive and negative - is one allowing the eradication of prairie
dogs.The Lawrence Journal-World reports (http://bit.ly/vsW5rK) that
Taylor received his suggestions from a public tour and on an agency
website.

I read this article, written by Giang Nguyen, a few minutes ago. I just have one question..........Laws regulating LYNCHING? WTF?

Here's the link.