i L i n d . n e t

From Ms. Brenda, Toby’s friend in Austin, comes this little bit of Texas.

Brent & I visited his sister in south Austin this past Saturday, and I
made him stop the car so I could take a pic of this sign!!! LOL!!!!!
OMG!!! (I wasn’t the only one stopping, either. haha)

Another bit of humor came my way in the form of a wonderful animated cat cartoon from YouTube. Enjoy the video and don’t forget to check the comments!

And it’s a good thing those bits of humor came my way because the news has been depressing, even while I try not to obsess about the Superferry and Iraq/Afghanistan. The latter has taken on heightened relevance since the son of one of our neighbors, another Ian, left Kahuku High School a couple of months early in order to join the Army and now, just a couple of months after finishing basic training, has already been sent to Afghanistan. Forget the promises of training and education. They’re apparently so hard up for bodies over there that these kids with only the basics are being sent into the war zone.

Here’s a comment worth noting from that well-known radical source, Newsweek.

Here is the reality. Iran has an economy the size of Finland’s and an annual defense budget of around $4.8 billion. It has not invaded a country since the late 18th century. The United States has a GDP that is 68 times larger and defense expenditures that are 110 times greater. Israel and every Arab country (except Syria and Iraq) are quietly or actively allied against Iran. And yet we are to believe that Tehran is about to overturn the international system and replace it with an Islamo-fascist order? What planet are we on?

Okay. But even while trying not to dwell on this insanity, I’ve still found the news to be a depressing refection of what we’re becoming.

There was the case yesterday of a mentally ill man who set several minor fires being sentenced to 10 years in the high security prison at Halawa. I think highly of Steve Alm–I’ve thought he would make a great candidate for governor–but treating someone who is mentally ill with a harsh prison term just doesn’t seem to be what “justice” is all about. Is it that there are no other options? Was that really the kind of case that the new arson law was designed to address?

Then I got up this morning to read about a community initiative getting high praise out in Kapolei for guarding the perimeter of the high school to keep kids from leaving. Why not give them guns and dogs? What are people thinking? Education isn’t about keeping kids locked up with threats of arrest. Well, it shouldn’t be. It would be great to see these parents, business owners, and concerned members get involved in education rather than prison emulation exercises like this one. Make school interesting and kids will stay. If they don’t, then work with them. Find out why they’re leaving? What options can we give them to continue their education in other settings? Hawaii has done a terrible job at creating alternatives to the standard classroom fare. Kids cutting school is a more of a symptom than a problem.

A reader who asked to remain anonymous added this comment yesterday:

Read your recent blog about the lobbyist who cautioned you about speaking about House politics.

I don’t agree. Your observations are very useful and insightful. They provide your readers with a perspective that very few see.

Whether or not people view you as an extension of the House dissidents is irrelevant. I know those guys and they surely can stand the heat, if any. I really think your perspectives are mostly always right on and maybe the House Leadership feels threatened by this. Don’t let one lobbyist silence you!

Keep those blogs coming!!

Many thanks for the vote of confidence.