Violence Against Women Act Passes

The Violence Against Women Act passed today. This is good news for all of the police training, shelters, counseling programs, funding for legal representation for victims, (and that is an HUGE problem!!) and laws connected to the Violence Against Women Act. Sadly, the subject of children caught in custody battles wherein the issue of domestic violence has manifested is still not properly addressed. Judges still seem to think that a violent thug will only have one victim over the course of his violent career, and thereby almost blame the victim! A family law court judge in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia actually tried to "overlook" the issue of domestic violence in rulings in a certain case, but since the thug involved had already been found guilty of domestic violence in criminal court, this judge was unable to ignore the guilty verdict when rulings were made. Without the Violence Against Women Act, she might have gotton away with it.

One hundred and thirty-eight Republicans did not think that protection under the law in all phases of defusing an ongoing domestic violence situation was "fiscally responsible", and those same Republicans also did not think that those most likely to become victims of domestic violence in their states would have any value as votors, and probably not as human beings, either. Kansas lawmakers, of course, voted against it. Their position on this is probably that it's more cost effective from an economic standpoint to bury a domestic violence victim than it is to help her.
 

Watch Congress Extends Violence Against Women Act on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Mark Redwine Acts Like A Liar On Dr. Phil

Dylan Redwine is still missing. Dr. Phil taped show segments that last for two episodes of "Dr. Phil", consisting of interviews with Dyan's parents, Mark and Elaine, and others involved with the case. Elaine genuinely presented as a mother who wants her son found alive; Mark presented as a violent thug wishing to separate everyone from the Truth. At about forty-three seconds into the video below, Mark states that he is "doing everything he can" to be involved in the search for Dylan. No doubt! He's probably involved in hiding evidence and derailing the investigation whenever possible. And that polygraph he promised Dr. Phil he'd take? He changed his mind and didn't take the polygraph.

Also in the video, is a woman who has dated Mark Redwine in the past, and gives a very white-trashy sounding verbal recital about why Elaine Redwine should not ask her husband to speak honestly, as in passing a polygraph, concerning Dylan's whereabouts. She has been cited by some as Mark's only supporter; but that is not true. His sister, Bridgett Redwine-Simmers, while speaking of Dylan in past tense also supported the unlikely possibility that Mark may be innocent, and even attacked others who see different possibilities concerning her brother.

In the past twenty-four hours, new clues have surfaced. Holes have been cut in the ice in Vallecito Lake, and cadaver dogs have picked up a scent.


 

 

Demons In Pat Robertson's Sweater

 

Every time I hear something new from Pat Robertson, I always think he cannot possibly outdo himself and top his latest insane, yet money-making, statement. From demonic Halloween candy to pacts with "Satan" being responsible for earthquakes, the theological teachings of this preacher continue to inspire yours truly to extreme gratitude for the agnosticism taught by her father. What's the good word from Reverend Robertson now? That we must be very careful when buying second hand sweaters, because if we are not vigilant, we may accidently bring home sweaters with demons in them! The mental image conjured up of a demon in a sweater, modeling it before a mirror while it combs it's hair, is even funnier than the idea of a witch volunteering at a candy factory before Halloween, coaxing demons into pieces of candy for unsuspecting trick-or-treaters! If nothing else, Reverend Robertson is certainly funny! Someone else, after reading about this, wondered why Robertson has not been committed to an insane asylum yet, and I can only surmise that the psychiatric nurses union has taken a united stand against having to babysit this preacher!

 

Take This Job And Shove It

For centuries, the question, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" has been asked. And now there's a new question: why did the Pope say "Take this job and shove it"? Historically, the event of papal resignation has often been coupled with scandal and bribery. In the case of Benedict XVI, there have been rumors of even more child abuse cover-ups than the public has been made aware. It has also been speculated that Benedict XVI's past in Nazi Germany in the Hitler Youth was simply too conflicting with the perceived goals of the Church, whatever those may be; but the Hitler Youth may not have been all encompassing to the extent of influencing the Pope at this point in his life. This picture was floated around Facebook a few days ago, citing another possibility!

In Case You Skipped Church On Sunday

In case you were not in church on Sunday, here's the good word, from a priest, no less!
 

 

Child Support Deadbeat Dad Arrested Overseas

Robert Sands owes over a million dollars in child support. Robert Sands didn't think he should have to pay. Neither did anyone who enabled him. Robert Sands had a "papers please" moment in the Philippines, and now he is back in America. He's only looking at about four years behind bars, though. Health and Human Services has a new website to help with things like turning in, or locating a child support scofflaw. Just to make it easier for those who would be tempted to ignore the laws and not report deadbeat dads, ( lets not pretend that Robert Sands was completely without enablers) the form for turning them in is right here.
 

Another bit of trivia concerning child support is that most child support obligees (the persons who are owed the money) are women, and most child support obligors (the persons who owe the money and occasionally become deadbeats) are men. Historically, state and federal government agencies in the United States have made fewer efforts to assist in collection of child support than they have made for the collection of unpaid parking tickets.
 

Life Seems To Imitate Art!

Here are a couple of things I thought were amusing......