I don’t know how I missed this story when it originally surfaced, but reading this article makes me sick to my stomach and full of disgust that a human being could possibly do something like this.

FRANKFURT AN DER ODER, Germany — Family members of a German mother accused of killing nine of her newborn babies testified Tuesday their suspicions she was pregnant were met with denials.

Sabine Hilschinz, who was arrested after the remains were found last July buried in flower pots and a fish tank in her parents’ back yard, has been standing trial in state court here since last week.

Yes, you read that right. Nine newborn babies. Carried the pregnancies to term and once the babies were born, she buried them in flower pots and fish tanks.

Hilschinz, 40, faces eight counts of manslaughter for the deaths, believed to have taken place between 1988 and 1998. She could be jailed for up to 15 years if convicted. She will not be prosecuted in the death of a ninth child because of the statute of limitations.

Frank Koenig, a nephew of Hilschinz, said he recalled the family discussing the possible pregnancies with her, but when she denied them, they accepted her story.

Imagine being a friend of the family and finding some of the remains while you were cleaning out their garage.

Initially she saw plastic bags, he said, but pulling it out they found the remains of the babies.

“And then lots of little bones fell out,” he said.

Further digging in several flower pots turned up a baby’s skull. A day after the discovery, family members decided to contact the police, he said.

How horrible! And this woman stated to a judge last August that she only really remembers two of the births because in all of the other births she got drunk when she went into labor.

I guess to her, abortion wasn’t the answer (likely due to her selfish concerns about her OWN health) , but it seemed okay to wait until the baby was born to kill it. Has she heard of adoption? How about contraception? How about keeping her legs together?

I see shit like this and I almost can’t see straight I’m so pissed. Gah!!

They are at it again - saying they are doing it in the name of “free speech:”

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging a Kentucky law aimed at preventing protests from disrupting funerals for soldiers killed in Iraq.

Members of a Kansas Baptist church have protested at military funerals, claiming soldiers’ deaths are a sign that God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality.

The new law, signed by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher in March, bans protests within 300 feet of memorial services, wakes and burials.

The ACLU says this goes way too far and limits free speech and expression too much. This is rich:

The ACLU argues that people could unknowingly violate it by stopping to chat on a public sidewalk near a funeral home. The civil liberties group said it could also prevent pro-military people from participating in counter-protests outside memorial services.

Oh yeah, sure. Here is Bob walking up the street and sees his friend Fred in front of a funeral home and they stop and chat. CHAT…not to demonstrate, not to protest, not to yell hateful things about a fallen soldier at his or her funeral, but to CHAT. And Bob and Fred would get arrested? What crap. …and I love the way the ACLU slips in that they are also challenging the law to protect the counter-protests. How admirable of them.

Let a family mourn the loss of their hero. No one is saying a person or people cannot protest, they just can’t sit by the casket while they are doing it.

Update: More at Protein Wisdom & Stop the ACLU!

Here at Merri Musings, we are proud to say that we are in a position to put to rest a discrepancy noted in the local news*:

Several thousand people participated in a rally at Omaha’s Tranquility Park on Monday afternoon. Police and organizer estimates conflict on exactly how many people marched. Omaha police estimated about 2,000 people participated, but organizers said it was three or four times that.

Our most effective reporters were on the scene and can, indeed, solve this debate. Omaha police, as well as rally organizers, were slightly off from the actual count. Here is a photo from today’s event:

*what you have just read in this post is sarcasm. Any confusion with actual events and/or anything like it will be solely and entirely blamed on the reader. Thank you, and have a great day!

There are many great lines that can be quoted from 24, but this one, via Bill Buchanan is one of the best (and is soon to be a classic):

“You don’t know what you’re dealing with, you little ass kisser.”

Oh, yeah. Now *that’s* what I’m talkin’ about!

Who cares if the rest of the world thinks this day is historical because it is “Don’t Bring Your Illegal Immigrant to Work Day” or whatever they say it is.

It is on *this* day, 5 years ago that our beautiful Bug, Emily, make her first appearance in this world - all 8 pounds, 8 ounces of her. She came right on her due date, even though Mommy’s doctor was out of town on business. Mommy could hardly believe she was in labor, but Emily made sure she figured it out in time to get an epidural! Bradley was so excited to become a big brother…not so sure he’s as excited now as he was then but he loves you all the same!

…and today is the first day (and likely the last) that Emily’s favorite thing is Strawberry Shortcake. So we have a strawberry flavored, Strawberry Shortcake decorated birthday cake, just for her. She was up and at ‘em, bright and early at 6:00am, emphatically declaring that the birthday cake is “BEAUTIFUL!” Yay!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUG! We love you!!

While she didn’t win for best service show, she was a presenter and looked like she was having fun. Here’s some photos of her at the big event:

This is her with Elmo and Oscar. Nice sidekicks, Rachael!

Another on the red carpet!

Presenting with what’s-her-name from daytime soaps!

Rachael - I think you look great! Congrats on your nomination!

Go help him celebrate!

Yay for him!

Okay, so why is this the hottest story ever? Why are people drooling until this movie comes to theatres? I don’t think it’s because they think Tom Hanks is hot, so there’s got to be something else. I, for one, can’t figure it out. I’d rather watch paint dry or count raindrops or something.

How does one write a letter to the families of those men who died beside him? I can’t even fathom it. There’s some speculation, though…

Mr. McCloy was comatose when he was rescued and spent months in a hospital with extensive brain damage, originally described as remembering nothing about the disaster.

His letter, however, is a cogent and moving account of what happened, and it was not immediately clear how he came to compose it or why he chose to send it.

I personally don’t know that the first point is all that relevant and think the second point is pretty broad in scope. I imagine when one faces the trauma Mr. McCloy went through, and had the substantial recovery time that he does, remembering such events right away has got to be daunting and freightening. I can only imagine the weight that was lifted off his heart by writing that letter. I can’t even imagine the heaviness of his heart as he pulled those thoughts out of the recesses of his mind. It’s clear, though, when you read the letter that he was a compassionate and giving man, even at a time when things looked bleak. To share an item that sustains life in that way is so incredibly giving and unselfish. Would I have done the same thing? I like to say and think so, but thank God I’ve never been placed into a situation such as that. I’m in awe of the bravery of all of these men.

I firmly believe that McCloy survived for a very special purpose - one that he’s beginning to fulfill. I’m certain we have a lot to learn from him and his story.

For anyone who has been following the story of Matthew Koso, here’s some closure on the question of “can it happen again?”

TOPEKA, Kan. – Motivated by the controversial Matthew Koso case in Nebraska, Kansas is raising its minimum age for marriage.

Under legislation worked out by Kansas House and Senate negotiators on Wednesday, nobody under age 16 could marry in Kansas.

Not everyone agreed that Jon Bruning, Nebraska’s Attorney General, should “go after” Matthew Koso, but he did break the law in Nebraska. He had sex with a minor. I find this bit of news a relief.

I’m always one to wait until I hear the announcement, but this is a rather exciting development:

WASHINGTON — Tony Snow will be named new White House press secretary on Wednesday morning, FOX News has learned. Snow is expected to be at the White House for the announcement. He has been mulling the offer for the last several days.

I truly like Tony Snow - when Rush had guest hosts, I was always happy to hear it was Tony. This is a gentleman who has won a fight with colon cancer and it will be interesting seeing him behind that podium!

Update: Yep - he’s the new press secretary. AWESOME! He’s gonna put ole Helen “Gertrude” Thomas in her place (or is that Crypkeeper, Diva?). Heh.

I appreciate that there are mental illnesses in the world. I appreciate, at times, that mental illness will make you believe things that aren’t necessarily true and may make you do things you normally wouldn’t do. I don’t have a popular view on this - either that or there are a lot of vocal people that have to comment against my views on this - but I get virtually sickened when I see another murderer who is trying to get off on a “not guilty by reason of insanity” plea.

Clarendon Hills resident Neil Lofquist pleaded not guilty (requires subscription) Monday to charges he raped and killed his 8-year-old daughter last month.

DuPage Judge Michael Burke ordered the continuation of psychiatric tests that will be provided to the prosecution and defense.

Lofquist, 41, is accused of sexually assaulting his daughter, Lauren, two days before her death and again the night he allegedly choked, stabbed and dunked her head in a toilet.
(re
He appeared briefly Monday morning in DuPage County Courthouse, where he pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder and two counts of predatory sexual abuse.

At the hearing, Lofquist, wearing a yellow jumpsuit that indicates he is on a mental health watch, was assigned a public defense attorney after Terry Ekl, his private attorney, dropped out of the case.

Human beings typically do not have a tendency to want to murder other human beings. These are things that come about either due to a lack of conscious, a life-time of conditioning within an enviornment (i.e. heavy abuse, etc.), or due to what is commonly known as “mental illness.” In my opinion, and again this is my opinion, there isn’t a murderer out there who could be classified in any definition of “sane.” It takes an extraordinary departure from conscious, from knowing right and wrong to decide to kill - especially your own child. It doesn’t make a person any less guilty of committing the act, and it doesn’t make the person any less dangerous. Which is why I firmly believe we need to protect society against those who are deemed “insane” murderers and those who are deemed “sane” murderers. Both committed murder. Both brought death to another human being. Maybe I’m just hung up on the term. If a person pleaded “GUILTY by reason of insanity” I would feel a bit better about it (as long as the punishment fit the crime).

I think it’s shameful to use mental illness as a way to gain a level of innocence when there’s no doubt a person committed the act. It’s infrequent that a person with bipolar or depression kills another person. To me there’s something else. A person who is able to kill another human (war and self-defense aside) is wired differently. Layering mental illness makes the issue more complex but it truly doesn’t change the guilt of the act. They did it, they are dangerous and they should not walk side-by-side with your child, my child, me or you.

It’s Bauer nite. And I can’t wait - only 3 more minutes until Tivo is done and I can watch. Um, no, I’m not addicted. Not at all. Nope. Not me.

Hi all!

The great Sadie has been working hard to convert Merri Musings to Word Press and I’m now able to post! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Timing couldn’t have been better. We’ve been bitten with spring fever, we’ve been getting a billion things done in our yard (landscaping, new patios, fence, etc.) and dealing with that has been pretty time consuming.

I love this time of year…all the trees getting their leaves, the new grass and flowers/plants, and outdoor grilling! On top of everything else, we’ve put in an order for a really nice grill, too. We’ll pick it up on Tuesday! By then, we should have sod. The only thing left may be the fence panels, but maybe they’ll all get it done Monday. Heh. Right….

Anyway, I’ll probably put up a post that might be worth reading later tonight. Today will be dedicated to laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning and all other things unholy.

My husband has a great post up on the 9/11 attacks. I must warn you the photos, from the Moussauoi trial, are extremely graphic. You should view them, however, as they serve as a solid reminder of why we are at war and why our brave women and men in the military risk their lives each and every day. Each of these victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks have family and friends who mourn their horrific deaths every waking hour and to allow this to fade from our memories would truly be a tragedy.