J's Cafe Nette

Archive for September 30th, 2007

In what has to be a big disappointment for Mary Winkler, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of her husband and is now on probation, a judge issued a stay preventing her from having the supervised visit with her daughters as planned yesterday.

JACKSON, Tenn. — An appeals court Friday blocked a supervised visit between a woman convicted of killing her minister-husband and their children.

The court issued a stay against the Saturday visit after a last-minute application from the children’s paternal grandparents, who have had temporary custody of the three young girls since Mary Winkler went to jail after the March 2006 shotgun shooting.

Winkler, 33, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in April for shooting Church of Christ minister Matthew Winkler at their residence in Selmer.

“It’s very devastating to Mary and I’m sure to the children,” said Winkler’s attorney, Kay Farese Turner.

The stay is only temporary pending an investigation of Dan and Diane Winkler’s accusations that the judge who originally granted the visit ruled erroneously, Turner said.

It would seem she should be able to at least visit with her children if supervised. No child should grow up not knowing its parents. If the children don’t want to see her, that’s different, but for now she should be able to have supervised visits.

The grandparents are suing to take away her parental rights and have a two million wrongful death suit against her.

Tweet This Post

I received an email from Guss today telling me he gave it his best shot, but blogging is not for him. He says he’s neglecting his dogs and work that needs to be done at the house and has cleared all his posts off his site.

I have asked kimsch to change the theme to Js Cafe Nette so we will have a different theme to put up every now and then.

I’m disappointed that he decided it wasn’t for him but I understand and support his decision.

I would also like to congratulate kimsch on her third blogiversary, which was Friday. Congratulations, Kim!

Tweet This Post

I was just reading this story about a documentary made about former President Jimmy Carter.

As usual, he is uninhibited from condemning this country in another country, this one being Canada.

But I was struck by a couple of his comments:

Taking part in the film festival’s first geo-political talk, taped for television, Carter called for Washington to hold “direct talks” with Iran, laid out his vision for Mideast peace and lamented the “unwarranted and unprecedented” religious fundamentalism that has crept into US politics.

In a stinging attack on US President George W. Bush and his Christian supporters, he said: “I worship Christ who was the prince of peace, not pre-emptive war.” [Emphasis mine.]

“A superpower like the United States should use all of its resources … to promote peace,” he said.

Jimmy Carter was a Southern Baptist, a very conservative denomination, when he was president and until just a couple of years ago. He taught Sunday School while he was president.

He has decided to join a group of the “Feel good now” Christians who see everything through today’s prism and not as said by God who never changes.

But, as a professing Christian, he certainly should know Jesus is still alive and Is still the Prince of Peace. That’s one of His titles.

It’s no secret to anyone who has read me for any length of time that I consider Jimmy Carter the most impotent president we have ever had. I also know he has done good works since he left office and I applaud him for that.

I feel rather sorry for a man who is still bitter about his defeat and wants so much to be a significant part of our policy in the Mid-East and anywhere else he thinks he belongs.

Maybe I’m splitting hairs here, but we should never refer to Christ in the past tense unless we are talking about His walk on earth. I’m sure I’m guilty of doing this too, but will make an effort to stop.

Tweet This Post

From Patterico’s Pontifications is the following quote from a returning Marine chaplain:

“As we came in for the final approach to Oakland a Lieutenant who served in Afghanistan with the same unit in 2006 mentioned how when they landed in Oakland they were not allowed in the terminal. He said, “they made us get out by the FED EX building and we had to sit out there for 3 hours”. He also indicated he was almost arrested by the TSA for getting belligerent about them not letting the Marines into the terminal.

Well the same thing happened again. This time we did not park by the FED EX building, instead we were offloaded near the grass that separates the active runway from the taxi ramp, about 400 yards from the terminal. When we inquired why they wouldn’t allow us in the airport they gave us some lame excuse that we hadn’t been screened by TSA. While true, the screening which we did have was much more thorough than any TSA search and was done by US Customs. Additionally, JFK didn’t seem to have a problem with our entering their terminal, nor did security in Germany.

It felt like being spit on. Every Marine and soldier felt the message loud and clear, “YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN OAKLAND!”

Add to that the fact I read an article the other day that stated the US Marine silent drill team was not allowed to film on the streets of San Francisco because of traffic concerns when the traffic officer in charge of filming movies said it has never been a problem before. The Marines were allowed to film on the streets of New York City during rush hour.

These Marines have served their country and most didn’t ask to go to Iraq. We are treating today’s military the very same way some treated our military returning from Viet Nam and it is wrong!

These guys would lay down their lives to save yours or mine and we treat them like we’re ashamed of them. I’m proud of every single one of our military who has or is serving with honor.

Tweet This Post

I often wonder why people insist that Hillary Clinton apologize for voting to authorize the Iraq War. It wouldn’t change the record, but it seems apologies are a big deal to someone, even if they say it for political expediency.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a true believer in apologies, but I feel they should come at the right time and not months or years later.

That’s why I was a bit disgusted to read today that the president of Duke University finally apologized to the lacrosse players he let hang out to dry for over a year.

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University President Richard Brodhead apologized Saturday for not better supporting the men’s lacrosse players falsely accused in last year’s highly publicized rape scandal.

Brodhead, speaking at the university’s law school, said he regretted Duke’s “failure to reach out” in a “time of extraordinary peril” after a woman accused three players of raping at a March 2006 party thrown by the team.

“Given the complexities of this case, getting the communication right would never have been easy,” Brodhead said. “But the fact is that we did not get it right, causing the families to feel abandoned when they were most in need of support. This was a mistake. I take responsibility for it and I apologize for it.”…

…In the early days of the case, Brodhead was generally cautious in his comments, saying the players should be presumed innocent while also insisting the crimes alleged had no place at the elite private university.

Brodhead said Saturday he worried that making numerous public comments could be interpreted as an attempt by Duke to “influence the judicial process,” especially since Nifong was insisting a crime had occurred.

That may have created an impression that Duke did not care about the accused students, Brodhead said, which he said was untrue but still something he regrets.

“Duke needed to be clear that it demanded fair treatment for its students,” he said. “I took that completely for granted. If anyone doubted it, then I should have been more explicit, especially as the evidence mounted that the prosecutor was not acting in accordance with the standards of his profession.”

Brodhead also said the school could have done more to show that some members of Duke’s faculty who were openly critical of the lacrosse team did not speak for the university as a whole.

The article does say a settlement has been made with the former coach and the players. Maybe this apology was part of that settlement.

I certainly hope it was enough to cover the legal expenses of these young men who could be rotting in prison cells now if not for good attorneys.

Which begs the question: what happens to those who cannot afford high-priced lawyers with the sources these lawyers had at their fingertips?

Tweet This Post

Yesterday my very good blogging friend The Anchoress read about the death of our precious Silky and wrote a post called All Dogs Go to Heaven, asking pet lovers to come over and commiserate.

You all have been wonderful in your comments and some of you are suffering the recent loss of a beloved pet.

I received private emails from the Anchoress and I value them as I value any she sends me. She is one of the most wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of communicating with.

In honor of all who have lost their beloved pets I offer you this poem:

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown…

I’m like Truman who says dogs don’t have souls and I’m also like him and the Anchoress who believe our pets will be with us in Heaven.

After all, if God knows it will make us even happier He’ll have our loving pets by our side for all eternity.

Tweet This Post