Manslaughter For Not Predicting An Earthquake? Really?

Wow.  Just Wow!  Take a look at this article when you get a moment of free time (http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110526/sc_livescience/seismologiststriedformanslaughterfornotpredictingearthquake).

It’s about a group of 6 seismologists that are being tried for manslaughter for not being able to predict a 2009 earthquake in L’Aquila.  Maybe it’s me but this is just plain ridiculous!  Seriously, there is no exact science to predict an earthquake.  The article discusses how scientists are actively trying to develop methods to predict earthquakes but there are no tools out there currently to help predict a very random phenomenon.  It’s like trying to predict next year’s Super Bowl or World Series winner.  Yes we know certain areas of the world are more susceptible to earthquakes but when and exactly where they will hit is not exactly a science.  I’ll liken it to predicting a Super Bowl winner again.  We all know the best 6 or 7 teams but do we really know if any one of those teams will win the big game for certain?  No, it’s impossible because it’s unpredictable, just like many weather phenomenon.  It’s not possible to predict Mother Nature!

I will continue to follow this story because it could affect other scientists and weather experts.  What if I bought tickets to a baseball game and my local meteorologist told me it was going to be sunny and 85, yet when I get to the game and the sky opens up and a thunderstorm cancels the game.  Can I sue the weatherman for the cost of the tickets because he didn’t accurately predict this thunderstorm?  Can I sue the weatherman for the sunburn I got because he didn’t correctly tell me the sun was going to be out when I mowed my lawn?  Come on… This is ridiculous.  Meteorologists at least have instruments and tools to predict weather patterns but even that isn’t an exact science.  Patterns change, fronts come and go and it’s just an extremely hard job to do.  Imagine if we could sue them when they weren’t right.  There would be no weather experts because no matter what, Mother Nature is very unpredictable.

Maybe it’s me but whoever is trying these seismologists needs to have their head examined because how in the hell can you predict an earthquake….

Sane Enough To Kill, But To Insane To Stand Trial???

I just finished reading an article about the Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner.  A judge has declared him incompetent to stand trial at this time and he will be sent to a mental health facility for up to four months to be evaluated.  If he gets “better” or mentally stable and understands the consequences of the case against him, the trial will continue but if not, the charges could be thrown out and he’ll spend the rest of his life in an institution.

I usually don’t like to bad mouth the United States of America, but man does our Justice Department really puzzle me.  This 22 year old was competent enough to get a driver’s license, buy a handgun, get admitted to college (he dropped out), feed himself, dress himself and plan and construct a killing spree.  Yet, he’s not competent enough to stand trial for the crimes he’s committed?  I don’t get it.  I remember reading awhile back that this same individual sent messages to some of his friends and family the night before the killings that read, “Please, don’t be mad at me.”  This shows that he knew what he was going to do was wrong and that the killing spree was premeditated.  So exactly how is he incompetent?

The judge has had two mental health experts evaluate him and they both concluded that he is a schizophrenic and likely not faking the whole thing but how does one go from competent enough to get into college and plan a huge killing spree to a loony toon overnight?  It just doesn’t make sense.  I love this country more than anything but it’s stuff like this that really tries my patience.  It seems we give these killers and murderers more rights and compassion than they really deserve.

This case is really an easy one to determine.  It’s pretty much an open and shut book.  Hundreds of people were at the rally and saw him shoot the people.  The evidence is all there, so why do we need to waste taxpayer’s money by housing, feeding and giving medical and mental care to this lunatic.  It’s stuff like this that really make you scratch your head and say what the fuck?

Maybe it’s me, but the court system in the United States and all of the judges that review cases should be checked for competency.  Get it together already.  If an animal or dog attacks a person and causes serious harm, they are deemed “mad” and put down; I think it’s time to extend that to human beings as well.

Maybe it’s me, but our gun laws should also be checked for competency because apparently you can own a gun and be a mentally unstable schizo maniac….

Post 9/11 Flying...

I’m back from vacation and I hate to be that person but I wish I was still in Florida.  I hate it when people come back from vacation and all they do is talk about and wish they were back to relaxing and doing nothing all day.  I always think to myself; “come on get back to reality already.”  Yet today, I find myself thinking how nice it was to be in sunny Florida and by the poolside bar enjoying a cocktail.  Oh well, I guess I have to snap out of it.

While traveling I did notice something that really pisses me off, it kind of goes with what happened a couple weeks ago with the killing of Osama Bin Laden.  Maybe it’s me but 9/11 really screwed up flying.  I had only flown maybe three times before 9/11 but I remember it being so easy and so relaxed that it was probably the easiest part of a flight.  Nowadays getting through security and onto an airplane is so nerve-racking and annoying that I want to punch all terrorists square in the face.

I have the system down and usually feel pretty confident while going through security but when you witness other people getting screamed at because they forgot they had a bottle of toothpaste or an unopened bottle of soda in their carry-on, you yourself start to feel uneasy.  Don’t get me wrong, I think the protocol is needed and anything that makes us more secure as a country is alright by me but those damn terrorists really fucked flying up for all of us.

Take off your shoes, take off your belt, separate all them when putting them on the conveyor belt.  Walk through the metal detector. Whoops, you beeped, please do it again.  Oops you beeped again, now you get the wand.  Heaven forbid you beep during that, then you may get have to get a full cavity search (thank goodness, I’ve never had that pleasure…yet).

There’s no joking around with these people either.  I went through the metal detector with my Red Sox hat on and had to remove it and have it inspected by the attendant.  I jokingly said, “Ha must be a Yankees fan.”  The attended sternly stated that, “no sir, this is just protocol, it doesn’t matter which baseball team I like.”  Easy there lady, I was just joking with you.  The security seems too brash and if they lightened up a bit, I bet everyone would be more relaxed.

While flying is the quickest and generally the easiest way to get to your destination, those stupid American-hating Muslim bastards really fucked it up.  I think that all the terrorists we capture and hold prisoner should be lined up after the security gate at the airport and every passenger should be able to kick them in the nuts after they go through the hassle they created.  It would make us all feel just a little bit better about the process and I for one would actually look forward to the proceedings.  Who’s with me?  I wonder if the White House website has a suggestion box I can send this to…

Men and Lip Balm

Special double post for you today because we’ll I have a lot to talk about I guess.  While on my little weekend excursion that I spoke about in my last post there were two guys on the trip that applied lip balm quite frequently and a couple of us joked with the guys pretty roughly.  I have a couple of friends that do this as well and I think it should be a man rule.  Men should not put lip balm on in public.  In fact, maybe it’s me but men should not apply lip balm on in public view with other men around.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for protection and maintenance of the lips but seriously guys, you look ridiculous.  I get chapped lips and if I don’t take care of it, I get nasty ass cold sores and no ones wants those or chapped lips but guess what there’s a way to apply lip balm and not look like a little bitch.  Go to the bathroom, go to a corner, go to another room, I don’t care, just stop applying it on in front of other men.  You look like you should be wearing a purse around your shoulder that carries your tampons and douche’s.  Please for the sake of manhood everywhere, excuse yourself, hit up a bathroom (make sure you’re in a stall) and take care of your lips.  If you don’t, fully expect another man to make a comment or straight up smack the shit out of you because quite frankly – you deserve it!

The Best Weekend That Almost Never Happened

My body is finally starting to recover from the hurting I put on it over the weekend.  I went to Philadelphia and Baltimore for a bachelor party weekend from Friday until Monday.  It was three straight days of partying and drinking like I’ve never done before.  Going to bed at 3 and getting up at 7:30 after a long night of drinking is just something I really can’t do anymore.  I hate to say it but I’m just getting too damn old for that shit.  It was a weekend I will never forget though and I’m even though my body was a disaster and my wallet weighs a lot less I am glad I went on it.

I originally was dreading going because I only really knew one of the people that were going (the groom to be).  After a four hour train ride and three crazy nights I can honestly say I am so glad I didn’t bail out.  I was close.  The money being spent, the factor I didn’t know anyone and being away from my wife and son for 3 days was weighing heavy on me there for awhile.  In the end it ended something I’ve really never had with my close friends.  I met some people that I think I’ll continue to be friends with and had experiences I’ve never had before.

Maybe it’s me but just because you don’t know everyone doesn’t mean you should automatically assume you’re going to have a bad time.  I guess I should have known that before.  I usually have a great time wherever we go and whoever I’m with but this trip worried me.  Not only was there no one I really knew but all the other guys knew each other very well.  I figured I’d be the odd ball out, the one that didn’t get the stories, the one that wasn’t in on all the “had to be there” jokes and experiences.  That quickly changed on our train ride down.  It was like I had been there friends for the last 10 years.  What I’ve learned is to just go with it, be yourself and generally you’re going to be with people that are a lot like you.  It’s funny how people that are so much alike flock to each other.  One of those mysteries of life that is so wonderful.

My body is finally starting to recover from the hurting I put on it over the weekend.  I went to Philadelphia and Baltimore for a bachelor party weekend from Friday until Monday.  It was three straight days of partying and drinking like I’ve never done before.  Going to bed at 3 and getting up at 7:30 after a long night of drinking is just something I really can’t do anymore.  I hate to say it but I’m just getting too damn old for that shit.  It was a weekend I will never forget though and I’m even though my body was a disaster and my wallet weighs a lot less I am glad I went on it.

I originally was dreading going because I only really knew one of the people that were going (the groom to be).  After a four hour train ride and three crazy nights I can honestly say I am so glad I didn’t bail out.  I was close.  The money being spent, the factor I didn’t know anyone and being away from my wife and son for 3 days was weighing heavy on me there for awhile.  In the end it ended something I’ve really never had with my close friends.  I met some people that I think I’ll continue to be friends with and had experiences I’ve never had before.

Maybe it’s me but just because you don’t know everyone doesn’t mean you should automatically assume you’re going to have a bad time.  I guess I should have known that before.  I usually have a great time wherever we go and whoever I’m with but this trip worried me.  Not only was there no one I really knew but all the other guys knew each other very well.  I figured I’d be the odd ball out, the one that didn’t get the stories, the one that wasn’t in on all the “had to be there” jokes and experiences.  That quickly changed on our train ride down.  It was like I had been there friends for the last 10 years.  What I’ve learned is to just go with it, be yourself and generally you’re going to be with people that are a lot like you.  It’s funny how people that are so much alike flock to each other.  One of those mysteries of life that is so wonderful.

We Got Him!

They finally got him!  Osama Bin Laden was finally captured late Sunday night and America is celebrating.  I like it.  I see a lot of mixed emotions on the news about people saying it’s not right to celebrate but these same people must not remember when the Arabs and Al-Qaeda danced in the streets after 9/11.  They must not remember the planes that flew into the Twin Towers, Pentagon and Pennsylvania landscape that killed over 3,000 innocent Americans.  On the news yesterday about 50% of those that were interviewed said they were glad he’s gone but the celebrating and patriotism is overkill.  What?  Are you kidding?  This country could use a little more patriotism.  The only good thing that came out of 9/11 was the outpouring of support and togetherness that resulted.  Everyone banded together and patriotism was at an all time high.

With all that’s going on in the United States right now, this is a great morale booster.  We’re still in a financial downturn, the housing market still is suffering and the unemployment rate is extremely high.  If catching a serial murderer/terrorist can instill some good feelings and patriotism so be it!  I’m all for it.  There’s no such thing as “fake” patriotism.  It’s not like these people were running around saying they hate the United States.  They were just disappointed in the current economic and political state we were in.  It’s great to see people embracing this and showing their support for the good ole U.S. of A.

Lastly I want to touch on one thing that bothers me in this whole mess.  People are praising President Obama for “finally” capturing and killing Bin Laden.  Come on.  Really?  He’s responsible for capturing and killing this maniac?  I don’t think so.  In fact, this was one of those Executive Orders that President Bush had at the end of his presidency that Obama had to sign upon becoming the new president.  The order to capture and bring Bin Laden to justice was a continuation of the one that was during the past presidency.  Let’s concentrate are praise and thank you speeches to those that really got it done.  Our Troops and Military personnel that continue to protect our freedom and liberties!  God Bless and Thank You!