Monday, November 30, 2009

Travels with Bubbie: 11/27/2009 - 11/30/2009

Bubbie and I went back and forth to/from Seattle to visit with Sarah and Gannet over the weekend. Gannet was lots of fun (so was Sarah!) and we took in the Seattle Aquarium, Pike Place and some Northwest seafood. We sampled Northwest-style clam chowder at Ivar's, Anthony's Pier 66, and and the hotel restaurant at the Waterfront Marriott. All OK and different, but maybe Ivar's white chowder was the better of the bunch. Their red was mediocre and their fish and chips would have been awful if the chips hadn't been acceptable. At least they offered malt vinegar. Being a Ye Olde English fan, I am rather finicky (OK, pissy) about F&C, and I really haven't been completely satisfied. Sea J's in Port Townsend, WA is consistently good and I had good F&C at the Word of Mouth in Salem, OR (although it seemed to be a one-time special on the day I was there).

The weather was decent and the scenery from the hotel room at the Waterfront Marriott was excellent, overlooking Elliot Bay. Gannet loved watching the ferries, container ships, tugs and gulls do their thing; Bubbie and I enjoyed watching Gannet do his thing!

Friday, November 20, 2009

News From the 9th Circle

This morning I read in the Corvallis (OR) Gazette-Times that Texas had executed another post-birth human being. Nothing unusual in that for the Lone Star State, a political entity that values potential people far more than it does living, breathing humans. Be that as it may (I abhor abortion, but I abhor executions more). This particular case, however, is even more egregious than the usual callous disregard for human life and common sense that Texas Governor Rick Perry exhibits.

There is no question that the person who was executed (Robert Lee Thompson) was a criminal and deserved to be in jail. And because a clerk (Mansoor Bhai Rahim Mohammed) in the store that Thompson and his partner in crime (Sammy Butler) robbed was killed, Thompson received the death penalty.

Here is why Rick Perry has earned (not for the first time) my scorn. During the commission of the crime, Butler was the gunman and Thompson was the accomplice. Butler shot and killed Mohammed. Butler received a life sentence. I do not know the circumstances as to why there was such a difference in the sentences. In any event, the sentences were not Rick Perry’s doing or fault.

Thompson’s lawyer argued before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles that Thompson’s punishment, compared to Butler’s, was unfair. The Board agreed in a 5-2 decision on November 18, 2009 and recommended that Thompson’s sentence be commuted to life. Perry disagreed and Thompson was executed on Thursday.

The callous disregard for human life and common sense that Rick Perry has exhibited since he became governor when W was appointed to the presidency by an activist Supreme Court is such that he should be booted out of office as soon as possible. Nine years is enough of this despicable man’s insane tenure. He should be retired to his appropriate Circle of Hell.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Number 27

I did not write the following quoted comments about the Yankees (David Schoenfield of ESPN.com wrote it on November 5, 2009; see the Page 2 section). I just had to present it here for the Red Sox fan from the West Brookfield, MA area who gave me such a ration of effluent back in the spring. Since I could not have said it better, here are David's words:

“Remember back on May 12 when they were 15-17 and 6½ games out of first place? You were mocking them at the time, weren't you? You know you were. So, if you hate the Yankees, it's probably your fault they won. They took that mocking and spit it right back in your face.”

As I am fond of saying to Red Sox fans, "Talk to me in October." I saluted you and the Red Sox in October 2004 (especially that year!) and October 2007. I am listening...but there is no real need to say anything. You spoke volumes in the spring!