Aug 28, 2008 10:03 AM Posted by Sonni
You've almost certainly heard the story of Caylee Anthony--a 3-year-old from Florida who's been missing since July. Well, actually she's been missing since early June, but her mom Casey didn't report her missing until July.
In the media firestorm that's ensued since she's been reported missing, a lot of people have come out swinging against Casey. Why wouldn't a mother report her child missing until a month after she noticed? Why does she appear to be so calm when interviewed about her daughter's disappearance? And why did she give investigators false information? After all, Casey claimed all along--at least after she revealed her daughter was missing--that she thought Caylee was likely abducted. For a mother who no doubt needs help in finding her child, she seems to be making it more difficult for investigators to get to the bottom of this. Casey's actions no doubt have a lot of mothers out there furrowing their brows, suspecting--if not outright condeming--Casey in her own daughter's disappearance.
Now comes word that traces of human remains have been found in the back of Casey's car--evidence that a body decomposed right there in the vehicle. By the way, this is the same car that Casey's mother said only weeks ago had the smell of death in it. (The remains have not been identified yet.) And then this: Just yesterday, court documents revealed Casey tried to give her daughter up for adoption before she was born. These are new wrinkles in a case that will keep people eagerly waiting to see that the perpetrator--no matter who it is--is brought to justice.
So what are your thoughts? Who do YOU believe?? Aug 25, 2008 10:55 AM Posted by JimLokay  Sydney and I after a long day at Idlewild last summer. Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it? I guess we have some catching up to do!
Let's start with the first day of school. Many districts go back into session today, and if not today, then later this week. Those days are long behind me, although I do remember the anticipation of walking the three blocks to the bus stop at the East McKeesport Number Two Fire Hall. In my younger days, it was usually excitement over filling my brand-new backpack and getting the year started off right (which never really panned out that way.) In high school, it was just the sheer determination to get high school over with.
I've never been much of an expert in terms of getting into someone's head, so I can't tell you what my cousin Sydney is thinking, but according to her Godmother (my sister), she's pumped.
You see, today is her first day of kindergarten. She turned five back in April, so now is the time for her to start that thirteen-year march to graduation day.
I don't have any kids, nor does my sister. Therefore, while some of my friends have children, I'm living these years vicariously through Sydney (and let me be perfectly clear: I'm totally fine with that! It's like having a kid with none of the responsibility.)
Sydney can be a sweetheart. I love the stories that her mother, my cousin Rachel, tells me of her waving to the TV thinking that I can see into their living room. I took her on her first waterslide plunge at Idlewild last summer (which went swimmingly - she loved it!) We've gone to her favorite McDonalds many times, and she is usually good for a big hug.
Then, there's the downside. Much like any five-year old, she's incredibly fickle. She can be temperamental when she doesn't get her way, she's very picky about what she eats, and she can just be downright crabby. What's funny is that her Godmother - again, my sister, - was the EXACT SAME WAY, and truth be told, is still at times (I love you, Andrea!) In turn, she takes some of those traits from my Aunt Gracie, who happens to be Andrea's Godmother (as well as mine!) It gets passed around!
So I'm anxious to see how Sydney fares on day one. Will she be wide-eyed and full of wonder, eager to make new friends? Or will she immediately regret being there, hoping to return to her living room full of Hannah Montana regalia? I know she hates to be away from her mother. Will she go through separation anxiety? Who knows?
I'm going to make a prediction, though. Looking at the generosity of my Aunt Grace, and the great social and interpersonal skills Andrea has picked up through the years, I think Sydney's going to be all right. Furthermore, I hope maybe her teachers in the Norwin School District might let her big cousin Jim stop by sometime to see her in her new element. Aug 25, 2008 9:52 AM Posted by Dennis Today, we carried a story out of Topeka, Kansas that we have sadly heard too many times. Twin toddlers were left alone in an automobile with the windows rolled up...and they both perished. The outdoor temperature was just 75. With all the reminders that are passed on through the media each year on this--"Never leave children or pets in a car with the windows rolled up!"--it's hard to imagine that it keeps happening. But it does.
Let's give you some perspective on this, as I refer to an experiment that was done a couple of years ago. The experiment showed that in full sun, the temperature in an enclosed vehicle rises an average of 40 degrees in 60 minutes...when the temperature is in the 72-96 degree range. Furthermore, we learned that 80% of that temperature rise takes place in the first 30 minutes! The study also showed that there was very little difference between closed windows and those that were cracked an inch and a half.
Here's what that means. If the temperature is 75 degrees, as it was in Topeka, the car temperature goes to 107 within 30 minutes...115 degrees at the 1 hour mark. People and pets, of course, aren't made to withstand that kind of heat.
In a free and open society, we are free to make choices. The choices we make can bring about good or bad. Unfortunately, it isn't always just we who pay the price for bad decisions. Let's learn from the tragedy in Topeka. Aug 22, 2008 10:43 AM Posted by jonesy Lien to the left. Lien to the right. Ahhh... never mind.
Tax this. Tax that. Can you tax taxes? Some would argue Allegheny county would if it could. It seems Allegheny County comes up with duty for just about everything. Quite often, they're steep. Most recently the county taxed alcoholic drinks and rental cars to help fund mass transit. The issue is headed for referendum in November. I don't reside in Allegheny county, but if i did I would vote for the drink tax. I understand the arguments on both sides of issue. Personally, I don't think a couple of extra quarters for an adult beverage is that big of a deal. Conversley, already excessive property taxes could become significant. And now, like the lion in the Wizard of Oz, it appears the county has a heart. Well, sort of.
The county has decided to give tax payers more time to pay real estate taxes before imposing liens and fines. It extended the deadline until October. My question: will this really make a difference in getting more folks to pay what's owed?
According to county controller, Mark Flaherty, the county has some 40,000 outstanding tax bills due. Flaherty sited understanding harsh economic times have fallen on county residents as the reason to extended the deadline. Think about it. If they don't have the money at the current tax deadline, will they really have the cash October 1st? Many of Allegheny county residents are older folks on fixed incomes. Those incomes aren't going to increase between now and October. This will force folks to live on less in order to save. With everything from prescriptions to gas to utilities and prescriptions costing more, how are these fixed income folks going to save?
In theory, most would agree the leniency the county is offering is wonderful. However, in reality, it's a vicious cycle for many that may only delay the inevitable: liens and quite possibly sheriff's sales. Aug 21, 2008 11:15 AM Posted by jonesy  Better pic after assuming new Row E seats Great show!! It was worth the mere three hours of sleep, ok, nap I took before coming in this morning.
John Mayer played his hits, some less popular tunes, and some incredible guitar jams. At one point early in the show Mayer said, and I quote: "I feel like jammin". That simple statement was followed by a thunderous roar. Indeed he did..... jam!
Seriously. I'm not kidding. He plays like he has 6... wait, no, 7 fingers on one hand. I truly believe he is one of the best, if not the best guitarist of modern day.
I was surprised there weren't more people in attendance. Gina and I had Row "y" seats. We prefer lawn seats for Jimmy Buffet, Aerosmith, etc, but for shows like Mayer, we'll take pavilion. Annnyywhoooo, Row Y just wasn't close enough. So we liberated Row E seats. Hey, if they're unused and I'm not getting kicked out, they're fair game.
Did anyone else attend? For those who didn't, I provided some grainy cell phone pics. Aug 11, 2008 11:21 AM Posted by Dennis One of my favorite stories is of the time I was addressing a senior citizens group up on Mt. Troy. I was new in Pittsburgh, which tells you this is an old story. I was making the point to this group of seniors that even though I was not a native Pittsburgher, they should give me a chance to be their "weather guy." "After all," I said, "it may be that even some of you folks haven't lived around here all your life. Perhaps you've been here 40, 50, or even 60 years...but there was a time when you moved in from somewhere else and had to get to know people and they had to get to know you." To make the point further, I said "By a show of hands, how many of you have lived here all your life?" Most of the hands went up, but one lady on the front row kept her hand down. The lady next to her nudged her and said "Raise your hand, Mabel! You've lived here all your life!" Mabel responded indignantly "I have not! I grew up on the North Side!"
That's a true story and it got a roaring laugh from the group at the time, including me. But it made a lasting impression on me. We love our neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and are proud to claim them. We're proud of being from Pittsburgh, but we also want people to know that we're from Troy Hill or Mt. Washington or the South Side or Homestead or Polish Hill, etc. I think that's neat and it adds a lot of charm to our town.
To be sure, you see this community pride thing in other parts of the country, too. But I believe it's more pronounced, here. Pittsburgh area folk are a special breed. And I hope being proud of our "community within the community" never goes away. Aug 11, 2008 10:19 AM Posted by jonesy
Hose em down!! No, not the kids, though the thought crossed my mind, but the dogs.
Instead of dirtying up the bathtub, we decided the nice day called for a good ole dog wash in the driveway. When you bathe them in the house, it doesn't matter how dry you get the pooches, each decides to use the limited amount of carpet we have for their own personal towel. You know, you've seen it. Butts in the air and wheelbarrow themselves around the carpet until they hit hardwood.
Some soap suds, two dogs and two kids later.... voila, clean dogs.
working at the carwash
working at the carwash yeeh
come on and sing it with me
carwash
sing it with the feeling now
carwash yeah
Our daughters never wash the dogs. Neither do I for that matter. It seems to be a back breaking endeavor in the bathtub left solely up to Gina. So the girls decide it would be fun to bathe them outside. Who are we to argue. Of course we are good parents and neglected to tell the girls the dogs would squirm, pull away, and soak them with seizure like full body shaking. TAKE COVER!
Gina and I took our supervisory seats in a couple of sun chairs to watch the entertainment. A beer in hand to boot. The first pet to suffer through two kids with a hose, the black one, Wilma. She's an 80-pound Giant Schnauzer. She outweighs the girls by a good 10-pounds. Now Wilma likes to take a bath. She'll actually jump in the bathtub. She's not so crazy about it this day. At first she was cooperative trying to drink from the hose. The girls think it's great when water shoots up her snout which launches her into a gagging and sneezing fit. Then something snapped and Wilma starts dragging the girls around the driveway trying to get away. The 20-minute battle ends and there she stands.... perfectly soggy pooch. I towel her off and apparently I did an insufficient job, because she starts wheelbarrowing on the pavement.
The little dog, Max knew he was next, because we lost track of him. He sought refuge somewhere in the garage barricaded under the car. Max is a 30-pound Petite Bassett Griffon Vendeen(PBGV). The girls assume because of his slight stature, he's a less formidable customer. HA!!!. The first drop of water hits him and launches into his best rendition of a bucking bronco. The slippery little sucker escapes 3-times and decides to play "catch me if you can". 20-minutes and a towel off later, he's wheelbarrowing around the drive way too. Of course now that the dogs are done, my jeep in the background, goes untouched. I guess it needs fur and a get-away plan before my daughters will wash it.
At the carwash wooh
talking about the carwash yeah
come on y'all and sing it for me
car wash woh
car wash yeah
With two kids and two dogs, who needs TV. Pure entertainment. Thought I'd share. Oh and it was my pleasure to offer that song that will no doubt be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Come on, you know you're singing it!! Aug 11, 2008 9:50 AM Posted by JimLokay Looks like I'm the guy that gets the ol' blog to post #100. Hooray!
You may have noticed Stephanie Watson filling in today. She'll be in all week -- and before I get the emails wondering where Sonni is, she's taking a long vacation. She'll be back soon!
This is going to be a short one. I have to head out to a story in Highland Park about the city's new "bike czar." This position is being created solely to lobby for the rights of people who decided to pedal it to work, and possible to pursue incentives for cyclists.
We have a few people here who eschew their cars for pedal power. Do you bike? And if so, care to share any unique shortcuts or scenery that non-bikers might be missing? Aug 5, 2008 12:38 PM Posted by Sonni As promised:
http://kdka.com/video/?id=44595@kdka.dayport.com
Enjoy, and look forward to hearing from you! Aug 5, 2008 11:37 AM Posted by Sonni Hi all... We got our video camera up and running again, so stay tuned for another post of a "Behind the Scenes" look at KDKA! Jim and I serve as tour guides on this next exclusive trip, so be here around noon to see it! | |