October 10, 2009
The N Y Times reports on a study that our nation’s high school dropout rate directly correlates to the prison population. For those of us who work in the criminal and juvenile systems know this all to well. In fact, one wonders why a study was required.
Of the people that I represent either as counsel or guardian ad litem, most can articulate difficulty reading and writing. Some with great self awareness acknowledge illiteracy. Why do academics waste time on conducting studies of what people doing the work already know? Because academics identify problem, they do not solve them.
I challenge those academics to generate studies on fixing the dropout rate. Real fixes tested on kids. Perhaps look into long term suggestions beginning in pre-K or perhaps education of parents on how to raise children. Please stop telling up what we already know.
August 7, 2009
Dear Mr. Murdoch:
Just to keep you posted, I will NOT be paying for your Fox News content at Foxnews.com. I read seven news sites per day. You are more than welcome to make a profit in this economy but it will not be on my back. I will continue to read your ticker via Dish Network, which I pay for already. Let me know how this works out of you.
Salmon and Grits
July 31, 2009
Set in 1901, Bitter Tide provides a well researched history and description of the comings and goings of Ellis Island. Add to the huddled masses, a mystery with twists and turns. Bitter Tide offers interesting and unique characters and a great page turning story! Must read.
June 26, 2009
Rest in peace, Farrah & Michael, now there is other news. Both made a significant impact on popular culture, now go back to work and report and read some real news.
The New York Times actually reports other news. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that lab technicians who test evidence in criminal cases must actually testify, subject to cross examination, and prosecutors cannot rely on written reports. The right to cross examine laboratory technicians remain sacrosanct. Thank heavens. The decision can be found here.
The short explanation: the US Supreme Court ruled in Crawford v. Washington that certain exceptions to the hearsay rule were no longer exceptions. A witness, for the most part, must be present to testify against a defendant in live court. Out of court testimony (affidavits, statements to police) are not admissible if the only reason for the existence of the statement is due to the court case.
The case before the Supreme Court reads as clearly a violation of Crawford. Affidavits or “certificates” signed and presented by the State of Massachusetts during trial established that the substances seized from the defendants tested positive for illicit drugs. These certificates circumvented the defendant’s right to cross examine the lab analyst about the method of testing used, the steps taken, and efficacy of the tests used.
We should all be cheering this decision and the preservation of the right to confrontation.
Also, the Supreme Court ruled that the strip search of a 13 year old girl by school officials to find ibuprophen was unconstitutional. Why did the Supreme Court have to make a ruling? It was Ibuprophen. Seriously? Have we as Americans vacated logic for strict compliance to rules and regulations?
June 16, 2009
Recently in Georgia, news broke that school officials from four counties altered the test answers of struggling students on standardized tests. These alterations boosted the test scores of those four schools and changed each school’s classification under no child left behind. The erasure marks on the score sheets led to an investigation by the State school officials.
Now, one legislator proposes a way to resolve the problem: criminalize the alteration of test responses. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the way to resolve failing schools and broken education systems is to create a new criminal charge. No, the Georgia General Assembly does not need to spend time focusing on repairing and revamping the State’s educational system and find more money to make these repairs. The General Assembly should spend time, money and energy creating a new crime which will be almost impossible to prove and burden an already underfunded, furloughed law enforcement system in this state. (Imagine getting a jury to convict a teacher of a crime like that!)
So, Dan Weber, spend more time fixing the state education system, Mr. Senate Education Committee chair, instead deflecting the issue to gloss over the real problem!
June 16, 2009
As 2009 winds on, the expansion of the Federal government into the lives and homes of the American people is becoming more and more inescapable. In the Western United States, citizens respond with expansive gun legislation. At what point do we as voters and taxpayers draw the line? How do we draw that line?
The Bush Administration slowly eroded the independence of states during that 8 year term in the name of education and the common defense against terrorism. In the last months since his inauguration, the Obama administration has created czars for every issue under the sun without any legislative oversight. These czars wield power and control over tax payer money without any recourse through the checks and balances of the Constitution.
How do we stop the expansion of government?
June 8, 2009
Dear Tom Glavine:
The changes in the Atlanta Braves over the last few years make me less likely to follow the games. Your summary firing last week was tactless. But Please! Please stopping whining. Please place a muzzle on your agent.
If you choose to file a complaint with Major League Baseball, then you should do it; just stop talking about it. No one wants to hear your whining. If the standard of proof is that you can still pitch successfully in the majors, go get a job somewhere else. Prove them wrong. You complaining to every open microphone is unseemly. The Braves management does not care what the public thinks (see John Smoltz.)
While I have a great deal of empathy for your plight, your whining campaign only shows your weakness. The campaign has no impact on the decision makers.
Your fan,
Salmon and Grits
May 25, 2009
As we continue to wait for President Obama’s selection to replace Justice Souter, Stanley Fish discussed both sides of the law versus empathy debate in his NYTimes post. Read for yourself and decide, do you want someone who follows the established rules or someone who follows their feelings.
May 25, 2009
Colin Powell called on the Republican Party to debate and broaden its base. Is that really a good idea? Perhaps the time has come for Republicans to create a platform-a realistic representation of the majority of membership. Those participants who disagree-too far left or too far right, it matters not–should leave and create a new stronger third party.
Can this group reasonably erect a tent big enough to cover fundamentalist Christians and social liberal Republican? Is this possible? The 2008 election shows that’s just not possible.
May 22, 2009
In Athens, we have suffered a great and now well known lose. Unfortunately, folks would prefer to call it private. Please read this very well articulated comment which explains domestic violence. Simply because individuals worked as professionals does not change the character of the relationship. Domestic violence and relationship violence occurs at all income levels. The public generally does not hear about it when the couple has money.
