As I am trying to work, I hear my downstairs neighbor yelling. I recognize her voice. She must be yelling at her live-in boyfriend of a few weeks or so. I heard her say she would send him the bill for the new screen door and that he was to leave the kitchen clean. Yesterday morning I heard him step out the back door and let out a four-letter word at the top of his lungs. Maybe they're out of pot...

I feel very concerned about her 1st grade son. I hope he's with his father and isn't around to see this stuff.

I hope everyone else's day is going better than theirs.

The jury had been deliberating since late last week (Apr. 26, '07) before informing the judge that they were not able to reach a decision.  The 24-year old man being tried for manslaughter can rest easier for now.  Until I learn more, I will say that he could be tried again if the District Attorney's Office want to pursue a conviction again.  Bless your soul, Jake.  Thinking of you often.







One of the most moving tragedies this town has gone through in a long time is the story of the death of Jake Boysel. Please, please, please, wherever you are, concentrate on your driving so you drive safely. This was the reason I began a blog on Blogstream; I was frustrated with the carelessness and lack of regard for others on the road I see as I drive around Santa Barbara, California.

Each day, I see this beautiful child's brown eyes looking out from a poster at the entrance to the junior high school. He pleads with us to drive safely.

I did not know Jake personally, but he liked to do the same things my sons like to do. My sons have gone to, or are going to, the same junior high school that this boy was bicycling to the morning he was hit by a car. I attended that same junior high school in 1967-1968.

If you go to the link from Jake's name above, and click on the "comments", you will see the flowers left on the fence at the spot where he was hit by a speeding car. When I drive by there, I get a lump in my throat. The driver is being prosecuted for vehicular manslaughter. Jake's parents made a statement along the theme of "it won't bring him back".

Drive careful, Santa Barbara. Drive careful everyplace. Lulublue

Now I hear that a few oil companies are about to ink the deal to take over Iraq's oil supply. Not in my name, please. I hate the idea that my tax dollars have funded Exxon's way to Desert Oil Paradise.

Have you read Fiasco? It's about the planning and implementation of the Iraq "liberation", as they called it. Actually, if it had been well-planned and our learned, experienced military were listened to, it might have gone alright. If I were in charge, I just would have shipped Saddam off to the island or planet where I ship all pedophiles. I do hope and pray that it all works out in a positive way for all involved. Less harm, less death.

I hope the whole world doesn't think all Americans think, feel like selfish, arrogant people. We aren't all like that...only about 1/4 of 'em are and some of us are trying to change things, with as little harm and chaos as possible.

How do we breed out the greed and hatred? What do we do about those borders? They have to be safer. My ancestors sailed over here in the 1600s and throughout the generations have fought in most of the wars...but not for greed. For freedom...Not for Christianity. For freedom and choice to...or not to...call yourself a Christian. As the saying goes, Who would Jesus bomb? Who would Jesus torture? Luv, lulu

The Santa Barbara News-Press now has a column by (Dr.) Laura Schlessinger. Laura said that George W. Bush was named at the top of the villain list, and at the top of the hero list. He’s just someone who inspires extreme passion in people. With the planet Pluto prominent in an astrological birthchart, the person can make an unforgettable impression for good or ill. Pluto is ascending in his chart. Pluto was coming up on the eastern horizon at the time of his birth.

The elections of 2000 and 2004 were twisted and the neocon/rightwingers took advantage. I give them credit for not having any problem with something like a conscience to get in their way. Once in the White House, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz were able to influence his decisions. Their priority was to rebuild Iraq. There were many reasons. Bush just wanted to be in the history books as a war president.

After 9/11, the attempt to “get” those responsible for that second bombing of the WTC seemed reasonable. Veering off into Iraq was unreasonable. And Al Qaida goes on, Bin Laden is out there somewhere, and who knows what else.

I am disgusted that the administration now wants to read my mail (as long as they pay the bills, have at it), and to know what websites I visit; the things that a free country does not tolerate. At least in the past.

I am in awe of our military in Iraq. I hope they can accomplish their goals in that country. I hope they return home soon without returning for a third and fourth tour of duty. I hope and pray for the best.

You know who else inspires extreme passion in others? Laura Schlessinger.
lulusblues

Investigations into the Bush Administration's dishonesty and dirty tricks (Plame, WMD, et al.) will definitely NOT include testimony from Saddam Hussein. Isn't it telling that the execution was rushed to take place before the Democrat-enhanced House and Senate were sworn in? The two others who were to be executed with Hussein did not hang as had been scheduled. They could wait a while longer.

The buCHAINey Gang have hired on naval personnel. More ships are on the way to the Middle East, too. So, does anyone have a guess as to when the attack on Iran might happen? They have a couple years left so they may as well (they figure?) use up as much of our money as possible, get their fill of killing people, break the Navy, and snag as much of that oil for Exxon, Shell, and other friends while the gettin's good.

I want to know how much $$money$$ Bush and Cheney, etc. manage to add to their fortunes by the war-mongering they stage while in charge. I have also been thinking that it is not acceptable to take all our US money only to waste it on death and destruction instead of making sure Americans have the basics needed like food, shelter, health care, and all. Making money is fine and dandy (if harmless). But this war was such a gamble. Why not have presidents and cabinet members who want to spend billions in a war for revenge, profit, and to save their family-name in the history books be required to spend their own money to do so? We should definitely get Uncle Sam's share of the profits back from these guys as well as the oil companies. And if they want to be this aggressive, they should be the ones, as well as their families, to do the fighting. Anyone else has freedom of choice to fight and maybe can even share in the profits. We need to start putting these ideas on paper and working on some ratios regarding my idea. And maybe we could require them to pass an exam on the history and culture of the enemy, too. ("Gee whiz, I didn't know Grandpa "Briskit" did all that to those people. No wonder they hate __________!")


I don't see such a problem with actually defending myself, my kids, my home. I'd do it. But I'd try to resolve the problems in non-violent ways, first of all.

What happened to the basic Golden Rule of treating others with respect so you are treated with respect? How hypocritical and blood-thirsty and soul-less some humans can be. How depressing...