Happy Birthday, Henry!

United States is the world's leading jailer

The United States has 2.3 million people behind bars, more than any other country in the world and more than ever before in its history. Newly released figures show a sharp racial imbalance in the US prison population, with blacks outnumbering whites by six to one. Nearly 11 percent of black men aged 30-34 are in prison.

Why do you think America locks up so many more people than do Canada, Britain and other democracies?

762 per 100,000 residents: United States
152 per 100,000 residents: Britain
108 per 100,000 residents: Canada

Does anybody want to try to explain this?

Pretty in pink

 

 

Cookie by Violet

Playing in the sprinkler

At the beach

Violet loves Seth and it looks like she wants to play with him, but he is having fun in the water, playing with his brothers. She brings out her sand toys trying to entice him. Looks like it worked.

Sleeping soundly

What would the founding fathers have thought?

The Michigan Court of Appeals last week ruled that it’s okay for police to use dogs to sniff around the exterior of a home to detect drugs without a search warrant. Thus, it’s now perfectly legal in Michigan for the police to walk up to a home, use a sniffer dog and then obtain a warrant.

A dissenting judge says the ruling erodes the protections of privacy and the sanctity of the home guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment.

In the State of Washington, where the large majority of the marijuana is grown indoors, a well-publicized $5000 reward awaits informants who will turn in marijuana farms. Remarkably, no advertised reward encourages those who turn in murderers, rapists, or robbers.

What would The Founding Fathers have thought about:

* Rewards for informing on your neighbors?
* Random stops of law-abiding citizens to “check up” on them?
* Bringing dogs onto your property to sniff around?

The American Revolution was fought over less.

Now, what do YOU think?

No talking on the cell phone while driving starting July 2008. Is this a good law? What do YOU think?

The law which goes into effect July 1, 2008, prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while driving. The only exception is to make emergency calls to the police, fire or medical authorities.

The fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions.

Passengers are not affected.

Drivers 18 and over will be allowed to use a "hands-free" device to talk on their wireless telephone while driving. You can use an earpiece, but you cannot have BOTH ears covered. The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving. Oh, by the way, you can still send text messages while driving (if you are 18 and over).

So, what is YOUR opinion on this law? Whatever you think, please let us know the reasoning behind it.

Ron Paul takes every opportunity to spread his message of liberty!

I JUST LOVE THIS PICTURE OF RON PAUL, SO THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU, TOO!

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul spoke to supporters outside the Mayo Civic Center prior to the opening of the Republican state convention in Rochester today.