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this in OC:

Investigators trying to sort out a case of four dead fetuses found at a home ... Police say Christy Freeman, 37, was bruised on her legs, stomach and forearm when she was found bleeding Thursday. Freeman initially told police she was not pregnant, then changed her story to say she'd given birth to a deformed baby, which she called "gloopity glop."

A 26-week-old male fetus was found wrapped in a bloody towel under Freeman's bathroom sink. Freeman has been charged with murder under a Maryland law that allows murder prosecutions of people who cause the death of a fetus that may be able to survive outside the womb. According to charging documents, the baby boy was not deformed.

A search revealed remains of three other fetuses, two wrapped in plastic in a trunk and another in a Winnebago parked in Freeman's yard.

* title said with sarcasm, of course.

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The Jay has a long speech about lindsay, paris, and britney being lost girls. here's a snippet:

I can even look at people like Matthew Broderick who killed a person with his car, or Halle Berry who performed a hit and run, or Winona Ryder who so famously shoplifted, and not decry their existence or continued career. They made mistakes, they apologized, they didn’t let that part of their behavior continue. They never glorified in their malfeasance. Paris and Lindsay seem to revel in their ability to do harm and get away with it. They seem to enjoy being this ... I’m just sick and tired of awarding popularity to these stupid girls.

original post 07/28/07. updated and bumped up: for those that are unaware of the Matthew Broderick situation. here's more info:

In 1987, Broderick was involved in a multi-car collision while driving in Ireland with Grey (his fiancée at the time). The collision killed a woman and her daughter. Broderick (who fractured his leg and a rib) was cleared of all charges but paid a fee of $175 to the victims' family. Drinking was not involved in the crash. Martin Doherty, the elder victim's son, was quoted by Bill Hoffman in 2002 saying "I would like to reassure him that there are no bad feelings from us."

remember this, mom?

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the sentencing project has released a new report on racial disparities in prison sentences:

Blacks in the United States are imprisoned at more than five times the rate of whites, and Hispanics are locked up at nearly double the white rate.

the worst states are IA, VT, NJ, CT, and WI. in those states, blacks are locked up at more than ten times the rate of whites.


similarly, chris uggen has a map that shows mortality rates in prison. the red states are those with the highest mortality rates [click to enlarge].

he says:

i'm not sure to what extent this pattern can be attributed to differentials in sentencing practices, health care, or the sociodemographic characteristics of inmates, but there is strong evidence for some sort of regionalization.

i agree.

Labels: crime and social justice

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1) "I'M GOING FISHING" Translated: "I'm going to drink myself dangerously stupid, and stand by a stream with a stick in my hand, while the fish swim by in complete safety."
2) "IT'S A GUY THING" Translated: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical".
3) "CAN I HELP WITH DINNER?" Translated: "Why isn't it already on the table?"
4) "UH HUH", "SURE, HONEY", OR "YES, DEAR" Translated: Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response.
5) "IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN" Translated: "I have no idea how it works."
6) "I WAS LISTENING TO YOU. IT'S JUST THAT I HAVE THINGS ON MY MIND. "Translated: "I was wondering if that red-head over there is wearing a bra."
7) "TAKE A BREAK HONEY, YOU'RE WORKING TOO HARD". Translated: "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."
8) "THAT'S INTERESTING, DEAR." Translated: "Are you still talking?"
9) "YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS." Translated: "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop', the address of the first girl I ever kissed and the vehicle identification numbers of every car I've ever owned, but I forgot your birthday."
10) "I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU, AND GOT YOU THESE ROSES". Translated: "The girl selling them on the corner was a real babe."
11) "OH, DON'T FUSS. I JUST CUT MYSELF, IT'S NO BIG DEAL." Translated: "I have actually severed a limb, but will bleed to death before I admit that I'm hurt."
12) "HEY, I'VE GOT MY REASONS FOR WHAT I'M DOING". Translated: "And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon."
13) "I CAN'T FIND IT." Translated: "It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so I'm completely clueless."
14) "WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?" Translated: "What did you catch me at?"
15) "I HEARD YOU." Translated: "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said, and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next 3 days yelling at me."
16) "YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE." Translated: "I am used to the way you yell at me, and realize it could be worse."
17) "YOU LOOK TERRIFIC." Translated: "Oh, C'mon, please don't try on one more outfit, I'm starving."
18) "I'M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE." Translated: "No one will ever see us alive again."

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i didn't realize:

Pigs are very smart, and can escape from just about any fencing you can rig up. But they can also be trained like dogs. So when they are piglets, teach them to come to you by shaking a can of rocks and rewarding them with an egg.

Then, when a pig gets out of the fence, simply stand inside the fencing and shake the can. The little piggy will come running home.

[via tricks of the trade]

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is a medication for Parkinson’s disease, but has been recently advertised for restless leg syndrome. listening to the commercials, i find it quite interesting that compulsive gambling is listed in the side effects. i'm no doctor, so how does this happen?

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just to point it out, it is 68 degrees in vancouver, bc today and 66 in paris. it is 80 here.

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story here.

Labels: adorable photo of the day

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Are You an Alpha Female?: You Have Many Alpha Tendencies

You're not a total alpha female, but you certainly know how to - and like to - get your way.
You're forceful without being intimidating. You're confident without being vain. A perfect mix.

Is Your Family Dysfunctional?: Your Family Is 56% Dysfunctional

Your family definitely has some problems, but probably nothing that can't be overcome.
You don't have the greatest past with your family, and bad feelings may arise when everyone's together.
It may take some individual or group therapy to work everything out. And that means your family has to admit there's a problem.
If your family isn't ready to change, you may need to give them some distance for a while.

What Kind of Girl Are You?: You are a Brainy Girl

Whether you're an official student or a casual learner, you enjoy hitting the books.
You know a little bit about everything, and you're always dying to know more.
For a guy to win your heart, he's got to share some of your intellectual interests.
A awesome book collection of his own doesn't hurt either!

Are You Manic?: You Are 51% Manic

You are definitely super charged, and your energy is infectious!
Your mania is something to be proud of. You wouldn't be you without it.
Just make sure not to give into that self destructive streak of yours.

Labels: quiz

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"At the Oceanfront, double-entendre billboards would create a bigger riot than if tourists stole all the sand."

Mike Gruss on billboards such as Shuck U - Old School Raw Bar and Grill, I Got My Crabs at Dirty Dick's, and Salty Peter's Shrimp Shack, that run along the way to the Outer Banks. He also says, "There's a fine line between offensive and humorous. It's just odd it happens to be the state line" regarding the fact that they allow such boards in NC but not in VA Beach.

Labels: quotes

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i've mentioned before about the online polls on the virginian-pilot site. here's what's up today:

Do you believe the charges against Michael Vick?

Yes 89.38%
No 5.12%
Undecided 5.5%

Total: 2344 votes

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this site answers questions having to do with certain colors: the red sports car, the green card, the yellow highlighter...

pretty interesting stuff. i had no idea that blue was a common color for wedding gowns in the late 1800s.

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˙ʇǝƃ noʎ ʇɐɥʍ sı ǝǝs noʎ ʇɐɥʍ ˙noʎ ɹoɟ ʇı "dılɟ" llıʍ ʇı puɐ xoq ǝɥʇ oʇuı ʇxǝʇ ʎuɐ ǝdʎʇ oʇ noʎ sʍollɐ ʇǝƃpɐƃ ǝldɯıs sıɥʇ

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a 60-40 recipe: Chinese food 'made from cardboard'

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As one with an interest in sociology [a sociologist?*], I love when The Planning Council publishes a new book new book of stats. It's called An Investment in Priorities, with the 2006 edition just released. The book is a group of beautiful graphs and data measuring all kinds of things locally (wellness, education, jobs, neighborhoods, etc).

Inside, we find things about Hampton Roads such as:

The Bridge and Tunnel Daily Volume increased 70%, 1990-2005. (This covers the HRBT, MM, and James River Bridge.)

The percent of dropouts decreased, lower than the state average.

Violent crime increased 27%, 2000-05, way higher than the state.

Domestic assault numbers have increased in last three years.

The poverty rate remains the same, from 2000-05, at 10%.

The poverty rate for children increased, higher than that of state, lower than US. In 2000, the region had 40,000 children living below poverty, more than one in every six children. The good news for Norfolk is, since 1990, the poverty rate for children has remained fairly constant. The bad news is that it is over 28%, the second highest in region. Also, that is twice as high as region as a whole, state, and US.

1,800 people on any one day in SHR are homeless, with Norfolk having the most.

In all cities, whites are more likely to think race relations are good or excellent. In the region, 56.4% of whites characterize race relations as good or excellent, only 34.1% of blacks say so.

* should i accept this?

Labels: crime and social justice

thoughts - by jessica at 9:43 PM | |

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kim. beth. misti.

* all three are married and one has kids. i could have adjusted this list a number of ways (all three have kids, etc.). spice is nice.

Labels: three things

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"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield." --Price Cobb

Labels: quotes

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1804: Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr kills Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

what would happen if we still settled things this way?

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jeez, i remember that 2005 was a record-breaking year for murders in norfolk. looks like we are close to the same roll. i guess it's no surprise really.

Crime in the city decreased overall by 13 percent during the first six months of 2007, though homicides increased, police Chief Bruce P. Marquis told the City Council Tuesday afternoon.

The city had 27 homicides to date this year, compared with 11 during the same period last year and 25 during the first half of 2005.

Of this year's cases, 15 have been solved by investigators. Nine of the victims knew their attackers. Murders stemmed from robberies, drugs, gang activity and domestic violence. A few killings took place in the "general vicinity" of Wards Corner, and the rest were scattered around the city, Marquis said.

Burglaries, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts have declined during 2007, he said.

only 15 solved?

Labels: crime and social justice

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i posted a bit on the other page, but mostly i've just been MIA. there's been a lot going on, and much of it has been without power. i can live without the computer, even lights. the AC is something altogether different.

in addition to all that, i have been thinking of something lately. been thinking that we shouldn't wait for life to happen. wait until the time is right. wait until we are alright and everything is in place. i mean, with all that waiting, aren't we missing a lot?

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via talkleft's coverage of Bush's commutation of Libby's sentence, i found this:

Come to think of it, I don't know if Bush has ever actually used his powers to get one single person out of jail even one day early. If there are such cases, they are certainly few and far between. So Libby's treatment was very special indeed.

while i think paris did too much time, libby is certainly not doing enough, especially considering selling pot can get you 55 years. [you know that killing a man often carries a much more lenient sentence.] it's all out of wack. how many days until the presidential inauguration?

Labels: crime and social justice

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sad news.

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there's lots i could say about this poster. [similarly, see this disney rejection letter from 1938.] there's also lots i could say about war propaganda. you know, times have changed...

but as far as this poster is concerned, i'm just going to say, at least this artist gave women some credit.

[you can buy it here]

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the –definite article
1. (used, esp. before a noun, with a specifying or particularizing effect, as opposed to the indefinite or generalizing force of the indefinite article a or an): the book you gave me; Come into the house.
2. (used to mark a proper noun, natural phenomenon, ship, building, time, point of the compass, branch of endeavor, or field of study as something well-known or unique): the sun; the Alps; the Queen Elizabeth; the past; the West.
3. (used with or as part of a title): the Duke of Wellington; the Reverend John Smith.
4. (used to mark a noun as indicating the best-known, most approved, most important, most satisfying, etc.): the skiing center of the U.S.; If you're going to work hard, now is the time.
5. (used to mark a noun as being used generically): The dog is a quadruped.
6. (used in place of a possessive pronoun, to note a part of the body or a personal belonging): He won't be able to play football until the leg mends.
7. (used before adjectives that are used substantively, to note an individual, a class or number of individuals, or an abstract idea): to visit the sick; from the sublime to the ridiculous.
8. (used before a modifying adjective to specify or limit its modifying effect): He took the wrong road and drove miles out of his way.
9. (used to indicate one particular decade of a lifetime or of a century): the sixties; the gay nineties.
10. (one of many of a class or type, as of a manufactured item, as opposed to an individual one): Did you listen to the radio last night?
11. enough: He saved until he had the money for a new car. She didn't have the courage to leave.
12. (used distributively, to note any one separately) for, to, or in each; a or an: at one dollar the pound.

man, the writers of the dictionary should win an award.

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