Open Thread: Aurora is Coming
I know some places in the Fairbanks area have already spotted the elusive aurora but down here in Anchorage I haven’t gotten a glimpse yet. But prepare yourself folks, it’s coming… and with that, The Darkness.
So make sure you bask in the light as much as you can and grab up the last of the summer crop at the local farmers markets.
If you’re jonesing for an Aurora, here’s great video of both the aurora and noctilucent clouds in northern Scotand:
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/unusual-night-sky-phenomena-caught-on-film
Anyone out there help with the racial aspect of three teens in Oklahoma killing a white ball player for fun? The White district attorney says he is charging the two Black teens with 1st degree murder and is gonna ask for the max penalty of life in prison w/o the possibility of parole.I get charging one Black teen with murder,he is the one who pulled the trigger,killing the randomly chosen victim. As near as I can tell,the other,younger Black teen was along for the ride and didn’t participate. The White driver is being charged as an accessory as the driver who actively pulled up close behind the victim so he could be shot at close range. The DA says he is going to pursue a “lengthy” sentence for the oldest and White member of the group.Seems to me the White guy had a more active role in the crime than the younger Black kid that got the murder rap for being there. What am I missing here?
I haven’t seen enough real information about this case to have a clear idea whether there is a racial aspect in the chargings or the crime itself (some are saying it is/was a hate crime )
I did see a couple mentions that the eldest/driver is “credited” with providing information on the supposed (bored? disgusting!!!) rationale for shooting the poor fellow and mention of tears and ramblings on his part at charging time. It IS possible he is being charged as an accessory only because of assisting the investigation but we don’t know that yet.
Oklahoma has 3 scenarios which can be charged as 1st degree murder:
according to this site for those accused of various crimes in that state:
http://www.oklahomacriminallaw.com/homicide%20information.htm
“Malice and Forethought Murder —the state must prove the defendant caused the death of a human with the deliberate intent to take away the life of a human being.
1 st Degree Felony Murder —the state must prove the death of a human occurred as a result of the defendant’s commission of one of several crimes. The state does not have to prove the defendant intended to cause the death.
Child Abuse Murder —the state must prove the death of a child under the age of eighteen occurred as a result of the defendant’s commission of child abuse or willfully permitting of child abuse. The state does not have to prove the defendant intended to cause the death of the child. ”
It is likely the 2nd teen was charged under 1st degree felony murder but we don’t know .
Have you found the charging documents?
I don’t know if Oklahoma makes them public.
http://www.news.com.au/world-news/hate-slaying-oklahoma-teen-spewed-venom-in-tweets/story-fndir2ev-1226703140431
Haven’t seen actual documents,yet. According to the above link,Edwards tweeted some really nasty,racial comments and has been in trouble before. At 15,the judge seems to think he should be put away and never allowed freedom. Both Blacks are considered adults due to the charges they face. The older White kid is considered a juvenile offender,but will be tried as an adult. Jones could get as few as two years to life in prison. Rusty Limpaw wants this to be a hate crime. The James Bird case in Texas where White guys chained Black James Bird to their pickup and drug him until his head fell off,,didn’t rise to the level of hate crime for Limpaw and dumbass dubya. Well at least it didn’t take White officials several months and considerable public pressure to arrest and charge Okla. teens.
Well- Mr Limbaugh’s usual rush-to-judgment routine rather misses the point that the driver apparently confessed that it was a thrill kill and that local authorities see no compelling evidence, even in light of the nasty tweets by one of the young men, that it was also or primarily a hate crime.
So, Pffftt! on Mr Limbaugh and his busted record routine. Same to some of the others I’ve read in relation to this case.
A thrill kill is disgusting in and of itself. I’m waiting to see what plays out and trying not to speculate . (which is very hard to do!)
For all you do-we have had 1.2+.8+ .4+2.4+2+.3 =7.1 inches of rain in the last two weeks-this next sip of tap water is for you! It is headier than cheap champagne. Thank You for being YOU.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpD586ljfbk
Thanks mikey- rilly I’m just a cranky almost-old lady who is sick and frickin tired of doofs like Mr Limbaugh hogging too much of the conversation in this country.
I keep hearing how we’ve never been so divided -which I disagree with . I will accept that there is a difference in recent years with the TV, “tubes”, and radio speeding it all around so rapidly .
You ever see the movie Dry White Season? Mr Limbaugh is a real life pastiche of the thoroughly nasty white wife there and equally dangerous … yerg. ugh. yarf.
With all that rain, you sure it isn’t you who lives in rainforest?
We’ve got some rain here now -finally! Whew!
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Here is one of the best and brightest commentaries I’ve seen in a long time: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/opinion/begala-ashton-palin/?hpt=po_c2
As conservatives everywhere try to claim Kutcher’s words as their own, Begala tells it like it is:
” It’s not often that I agree with Sarah Palin. But when she comes around to a liberal point of view on an issue, that is to be noted with praise. So, good for you, Sarah, for flip-flopping on the issue of hard work.
“Palin took to Facebook recently to praise the remarks of liberal actor Ashton Kutcher, who has in the past donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democrats and participated in a star-studded video pledging, “to serve our President (Obama) and all mankind.””
And then for a strong finish:
“And if Palin liked Kutcher’s Teen Choice remarks, she’ll love this statement: “Success may not come quickly or easily. But if you strive to do what’s right, if you work harder and dream bigger, if you set an example in your own lives and do your part to help meet the challenges of our time, then I’m confident that, together, we will continue the never-ending task of perfecting our union.”
“Those are not the words of Ashton Kutcher. No, the liberal extolling hard work and patriotism in those comments was Palin’s president — and mine and Ashton Kutcher’s and every American’s president: Barack Obama.”
I noticed Kutcher didn’t dump wife Demi until long after he was shacking up with Mila. His work philosophy carried over to his romantic life. He is a fellow iowan,but one of my least favorite ones.
No Aurora, no termination dust here in the (RAIN!!!) forest,
but the students came back to school this week and that has lifted my spirits.
I’m exhausted at the end of the day, but it’s a satisfying weariness well-earned. Last night my head met my pillow at 8:00, and I was long gone before the 9:00 pm jazz hour on my local public radio station. Give me 3 weeks and I should be able to stay awake well after dark. 🙂
Here’s to the scholars and a fresh new school year full of possibilities!
L’Chaim!
thatcrowwoman
What a lovely photograph & I hope everyone enjoys something grown by a friend and/or neighbor – no matter where you live!
I thought I would try to be amongst the first to remark upon something rare and possibly wonderful:
The Polk County GOP co-chairman resigned today. Here’s the link to the article at The Washington Post (and a snippet): http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/20/polk-county-gop-co-chairman-resigns-citing-disappointment-with-republican-party/
“Chad Brown, the co-chairmain of the Polk County (Iowa) Republican Party has resigned and changed his party affiliation to “Independent” citing what he observed as the GOP’s contention and dysfunction.”
Hmm, maybe “wonderful” is too snide a comment. After all there have been times when people would at least TRY to find some common ground with the folks on the other side of the political aisle. I hope they return and flourish and I’m sorry that so many reasonable people fled because not doing so would lead to long-term health problems, etc.
Summer has be quite nice here. Last summer was flat nasty. No rain, and three solid weeks of temps significantly above 100*.
Now is the time of spider webs in the morning, hummingbirds getting more aggressive than usual feeding up for their trip South, and (gag, oh, gag) honking HUGE nightcrawlers and slugs coming out on the driveway so I can step on them in the dark going to get the paper at 4:30. Must remember this is the season for shoes… All the critters are feeding up for winter, so it is the season for the morning chorus of JESUSHCHRIST as Himself finds the head offering of the day on the front porch as he leaves for his office. Poor man. If he’d just go out the garage, then he wouldn’t see it. Of course, the UPS guy would, and that might put paid to his kind delivery. I avoid the front porch like the plague this time of year. Never know what is going to be there. Sometimes it is a skunk, and that is a bit much, even for me! Freaking Wild Kingdom around here, which is appropriate since we are about 30 minutes from the St. Louis Zoo where Marlin Perkins was headquartered.
Any idea if Marlin is stuffed and on view there? I remember 7th grade physical science teacher/football coach/Ike Walton member/etc ordering our class to watch Wild Kingdome episode about the Kaibab Plateau in Arizona and try to understand the corelation between killing off all major predators and the subsequent habitat destruction/demise of mule deer. One of the best,most loved teachers I had.
Growing up, my whole family gathered around the (black-and-white) TV to watch Mutual Of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
My father-in-law, of blessed memory, was an entomologist with the National Park Service. He was good buddies with Marlin Perkins’ sidekick, Jim Fowler. They could spin some yarns, all the while either teaching us something or pulling our legs. Or both. .Just thinking about them puts a smile on my face.
jimzmum, I hadn’t seen a single hummingbird all summer, but week before last I hung a feeder, hoping to feed and see some southbound birds. Sure enough, a little female rubythroat started visiting just as my summer break was ending. She visits early when I sing my morning prayers, and in the afternoon when I get home from the library, and sometimes again at dusk. (She just flew in and is steady fueling up as I type this.)
With all the rain here this summer, we’ve seen lots of snakes also, too. Grey rat snakes, mostly.
I’m okay with that… as long as I see Them first.
How is it Alaska can have all this beautiful scenery,rugged mountains,miles of coastlines,valuable natural resources,nice variety of peoples and turn around and allow freaking nutjobs lay waste to it all?
mikey-
I wish I knew how to cure the thar’s-more-over-the-next-hill-boys! dealie .
It has infected all of the western states, especially here.
On a positive note, a judge ruled in the unions’ favor, allowing them to challenge the union-breaking AO37! The mayor says he is confident that a city-wide vote would back him up, but he is appealing it to the supreme court anyway.
http://www.adn.com/2013/08/19/3032626/judge-oks-movement-to-overturn.html