Justice Souter's home in danger.

http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html

This isn't a joke. As a result of the Supreme Court's ruling, on which Souter was part of the majority, he could lose his home.

A Supreme Case of "What the @*%^# ??"

If you own property in the United States, pray that the government never decides that they have a better use for it than you do. The courts won't even help you.

Today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the New London Development Corporation to allow them to "condemn" 15 properties that are privately owned in New London Connecticut. NLDC was contracted by the City of New London to develope an area near the closed Fort Trumball. The development came as a result of Pfizer (another heartless American corporation, don't get me started on this and other pharmaceutical companies) announcing plans to build a research facility in the Fort Trumball area. The City of New London realized, "hey the properties adjacent to the new facility would be prime area for businesses that will serve Pfizer employees." They purchased all of the parcels of land that they could, but when 11 owners refused to sell, all of the sudden the development of this area by private businesses is in the public interest. "Hey, we can condemn the properties that we can't buy and seize them under the 'emminent domain' laws if it is in the public interest." Sounds like Communism to me.

One of these families that is being evicted is a couple who have lived in that house for 60 years. The wife was born in the home and it has been in the family for over 100 years. I'm sure that when her parents bought the property they didn't anticipate losing it so the city of New London can lease the properties to fast food restaurants and build a Hotel / Conference Center. "We don't care if this has been your home, it's more important that the Pfizer employees have someplace nearby to buy sub sandwiches and hamburgers for lunch."

If only we could get the 5 Justices who voted in the affirmitive off of the bench. That would truly be in the public interest.

The Da Vinci Deception

Read this author's blog about how Dan Brown plagarized his books when he wrote The Da Vinci Code.

http://davincicrock.blogspot.com/

After reading the legal filings, I'm pretty convinced. If you're not convinced read Lewis Perdue's original books, Daughter of God and The Da Vinci Legacy.

A Healthcare system that's worse than ours?

We complain about our healthcare system here in the States, but it could be worse. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely despise the medical insurance system. In my eyes Insurance is simply state sponsered extortion. Medical insurance was created as a way to gaurantee equal access to healthcare regardless of financial status. Great idea, right? Not!

On the flipside is a state healthcare system, everybody pays into it, via income taxes. Unfortunately, without the opportunity of being able to charge insurance companies and patients exorbitant and excessive fees for very little service, medical professionals have little incentive to offer quality care.

So, in Britain they have a state healthcare system and also allow private "self pay" healthcare. Well, in hospitals or clinics that offer both, guess who gets treatment first? The patient that can pay, and patients that are already waiting get to wait a little longer. Canada's supreme court just ruled against a ban on private care in that Country, and Canadians are justifiably concerned.

So, although we Americans face legal extortion whether we need medical treatment or not, I don't think we should look to Canada or Britain for answers. If only there was such a thing as a Doctor, Pharmaceutical Company, or Medical Equipment company that was honestly in the business of helping people.

Great idea for a reality show

I just thought of this and decided to write it down.

A songwriter competition, kind of like American Idol (I hate using this comparison, but it's the closest thing to what I'm envisioning).

Instead of a bunch of amateurs screeching to today's pop hits, the shows contestants would come up with their own songs which would be performed each week by established singers.

Each week could be a different genre of music, Country, Rock, Pop, Blues, etc. The contestants would know a week ahead of time the singer that they would be writing for, that way they can tailor the new song to the singer. Then a couple days before airing, the singer would come in and rehearse the new song.

One challenge that I have thought about is that there won't be a lot of current popular singers that would want to take the risk of being on the air and having to sing a really poorly written song.

Maybe there would be a group of a dozen singers and each week would rotate which singer is paired with which songwriter. That way the producers aren't trying to constantly sign up singers, and when the show is successful more singers would want to join in. Also, with a set group of performers, for the first episode they could have them perform one of their own hit songs, that way it sets the bar, showing what the singers are truly capable of.

And, a different take on the reality show, nobody is eliminated. Each week, each song is given points, by judges and by the audience and viewers. The very last show would reveal the winner, and they win a contract, or scholarship, or whatever.

This reality show idea is copyright 2005, Aaron R. Carter. Do no steal my idea you money grubbing jerks.

What movies make more money

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/13/entertainment/main701331.shtml

So, they suggest that hollywood make more G and PG rated movies because they make more money. By that same argument, hollywood should make more Science Fiction movies.

The top 25 grossing movies of all time:
1. Titanic (1997) $1,835,300,000
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1,129,219,252
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) $968,600,000
4. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $922,379,000
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) $921,600,000
6. Jurassic Park (1993) $919,700,000
7. Shrek 2 (2004) $880,871,036
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) $866,300,000
9. Finding Nemo (2003) $865,000,000
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $860,700,000
11. Independence Day (1996) $811,200,000
12. Spider-Man (2002) $806,700,000
13. Star Wars (1977) $797,900,000
14. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) $789,458,727
15. Spider-Man 2 (2004) $783,577,893
16. The Lion King (1994) $783,400,000
17. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) $756,700,000
18. The Matrix Reloaded (2003) $735,600,000
19. Forrest Gump (1994) $679,400,000
20. The Sixth Sense (1999) $661,500,000
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) $653,200,000
22. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) $648,200,000
23. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $641,107,697
24. The Incredibles (2004) $624,037,578
25. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) $614,300,000

That's 19 out of 25 movies that are Science Fiction / Fantasy films. Another 4 of the top 25 are Disney animated films. The last two are about a big boat and an idiot. Only 1 of the top 25 was rated R, and it is only in the top 25 because it was a sequel to a far superior movie.

Only one of the movies on this list was released prior to 1993 (Star Wars in 1977). This is partly a result of higher ticket prices and wider distribution.

This list is also only based on theater ticket sales. Taking into account Video and DVD sales and rentals would change this list significantly.

(list obtained from www.imdb.com)

Big Brother knows best

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/10/earlyshow/living/parenting/main700908.shtml

When did we, as Americans, lose our right to make our own decisions about the medical treatment of our children?

This is a 12 year old girl who can think for herself, and she doesn't want the treatment.

Now, admittedly I don't know these people, and I don't know to what degree her parents have influenced the girl's opinion. But, even if they are wrong, and the girl needs radiation therapy to cure her of the cancer, isn't it her right and the right of her parents to refuse treatment?

This is similar to another case in Utah about a year ago in which the State had ordered a girl taken from her family because they would not subject her to the medical treatment prescribed by her doctor. This also brings up thoughts of the Terry Schiavo case in which government officials tried to enforce their views regarding the treatment of a vegetative woman.

Disgusting, it makes me sick to my stomach. And to make matters worse the State officials had even considered removing the family's other three children and placing them in State custody. It's time to start another letter writing campaign, I think. Darrell Azar of Texas Child Protective Services is going to get an earful from me, along with whatever judge is assigned to the case.

You are a murderer, your girlfriend is not.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,158783,00.html

Can someone please explain to me how two people can participate in the same activity to end the life of a baby, and only one is a murderer?

The actions of both of these people showed indifference to the life of their innocent victim.

Here I Am

Yes, that's right I'm here, at work, in Irving, TX. For those of you who were concerned, because I wasn't where you thought I was going to be. At least you didn't start a nationwide man hunt. I'd hate to have to pay $40,000 for a search I didn't ask for.

Why exactly does it cost $40,000.00 for a bunch of people to tromp through the woods and swamps of Georgia anyway?