October 2006 Archives

I was all set to write a post tonight declaring this the happiest time of the year. That's because today is the beginning (officially) of Daytona Biketoberfest. Along with Bike Week, this is something I enjoy every year. I also bitch about the crowds, but that's ok. It's a time when bikers outnumber the other vehicles in the area. To me, that's happiness.

Of course, someone had to go and screw all of that up for me. A 17 year old kid at University High School used his pocketknife to kill a 15 year old kid. Somewhere, there's a family that never gets to see their boy come home from school today. How does a parent deal with that?

I watched Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary give a press conference on the evening news. He was visibly, and rightfully, frustrated and angry. The murder weapon was a pocketknife. Sheriff Beary railed against the right for students to carry a pocketknife on a school campus. It's something he mentioned that he has a lobbyist working in Tallahassee to prohibit. When asked for something that parents can take away from this event, the sheriff said, "Don't let your kids bring knives to school."

That caught my attention. Orange County School Superintendent Ron Blocker stated clearly that there is a zero-tolerance policy for any weapons on campus. If found or used, the student gets expelled.

Here's where I get into a problem. I was raised to believe that a gentleman always carries a pocketknife. I'm not talking about a big blade, but something lie a pen knife. I was also raised and properly taught to use the blade properly. A pocket knife isn't a weapon, it's a tool.

The issue here is the killer's intentions. Reporters mentioned he spent time underneath a school bus trying to change his clothes - I assume this was part of a pre-meditated get-away plan. If that's so, a ban on pocketknives would make no difference. He could've brought a screwdriver and planted that into the back of the victim's neck instead of the pocket knife.

Will this end up being another witchhunt against existing rights? Will we start viewing useful tools as deadly weapons?

I can accept that the school system has the right to decide if pocketknives aren't allowed on campus. I simply hope they do so thoughtfully. The students who obey safety rules and proper usage of any tool get hurt. Those who plan violence will still find some way to hurt - or kill - others around them.

Update: It was a fight over a girl. The murderer confessed to the Sheriff's office. He went to school planning to attack the victim. Knives are against the rules of the school. It didn't matter, did it?

I think Orlando is having a clash with itself. Do we live in a big metropolitan city, or a backwater town. There are clues in both directions.

The local news is rife with examples of bribes and pay-offs to silence a local big-mouth. Among the list of people trying to shut the mouth of Doug Guetzloe:

• Orlando Magic


• Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed


• Gaylord Palms


• Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority

Who knows how many more organizations paid to silence this raving idiot? He's built himself a nice income just from being a pain in their ass. Every day, the Orlando Sentinel lists another organization that admits to paying Guetzloe. Some admit it's hush money, others deny it. Honestly, what other reason is there to pay this guy?

Based upon numbers in various Orlando Sentinel articles, Guetzloe earned $927,250 in hush money within the last ten years, and most of it seems to be within the last five years.

How can I become a pain in someone's ass?

So Orlando is all grown up now. We have corruption and hush money. We have a sky-rocketing murder rate. What demonstrates a city's growth more than bribes and murder?

On the other hand, we have examples of backwater stupidity. It's 2006, and people are still burning crosses in someone's yard. Why? Don't you people know have any better ways to express yourselves? Also, just what are you trying to express? A burning cross isn't an insult to the victims who found it in their yard. Instead, it's a monument to the stupidity of the people who burned the cross. That's why you'll get arrested.

I've been stuck at home for the past few days. Back pain. It's not like there's an exciting story behind it. I injured my back in April 2005 while weightlifting because I didn't properly adjust the leg press machine. Now my back just goes out of whack now and then. The most recent example happened on Sunday while leaning over a laundry basket.

Fortunately, my employer allows me to work from home in a situation like this one. I've been stuck inside for a couple of days. Today, I felt marginally better. I also ran out of food, so I decided to try a trip to the grocery store. My back was a bit stiff getting in and out of the car, but otherwise not a problem.

The problem is driving around the idiots who occupy the space around my neighborhood during a work day. I'm normally at my office 25 miles away, so I don't get to experience this particular breed of American Death Squad - mothers driving minivans while talking on a cell phone.

Who decided it was a good idea to give a 3000 pound projectile to a distracted driver? Does this kind of thing happen every work day? I truly felt lucky to get home unscathed.

This is evil. It must be the work of Satan. In fact, I'm sure of it. A minivan is what Satan would drive.

There's nothing cliche about it. Evil doesn't want to advertise itself in a screaming sports car, oversized SUV, or even a motorcycle. No, true evil is among us in seemingly innocent ways. That's why Satan chooses to pretend to be a minivan driving soccer mom with a child (spawn of Satan) strapped in the rear seat.

In the 1.5 mile trip from Publix back to my home, I was nearly smacked by no less than four minivans. Each one contained a Mom driving while talking on a cell phone turned around attending to her Spawn of Satan in the back seat. Each one ignored common safety protocols, like stop signs, traffic lanes, and the need to avoid other vehicles nearby.

I hope I'm well enough to get back to the office tomorrow. It's safer.

 Since resigning from Congress last Friday, Mark Foley's been showing an interesting series of excuses for his pedophile behavior.  I wonder which PR consultant is giving him clues on what to feed the press?  Basically, he's trying to divert the blame by becoming a victim himself:

• He blames alcoholism
• He blames sexual abuse by clergy
• He's announced that he's gay
• He's entered rehab for alcoholism

Foley's lawyer, David Roth, announced that the former Congressman is cooperating with law enforcement, preserving all e-mail and records, and anything else that investigators may want.  Isn't that precious?  After years of inappropriate behavior on juveniles, he's playing nice.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush ordered the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate thoroughly.  Of course, there's also a Congressional and FBI investigation.  Who gets to nail him first?  Probably an imprisoned father who doesn't like pedophiles.

My suggestion to Mark Foley is to visit the find his prison name so he's prepared for what awaits him.