Not any big surprises here:

NEW YORK, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Readers have a hearty appetite for Every
Day with Rachael Ray, the new food/lifestyle magazine published by The
Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.  The first issue of Every Day with Rachael
Ray debuted nationwide on October 25, 2005, and the overwhelming demand at
retail has prompted the publisher to go back to press for an additional
135,000 copies, bringing the total print run to more than one million copies.

…and it doesn’t stop there!

Barnes & Noble, Inc. announced on Monday that Every Day with Rachael Ray
set a new sales record at the chain, selling more than 20,000 copies in the
first two weeks — the strongest launch of any food magazine. Every Day with
Rachael Ray is expected to be among Barnes & Noble’s top ten bestselling food
magazines.

If you can’t get your hands on an issue, you can visit their companion site here.  Small snippets are published there, and you can also subscribe to the magazine there.  I really enjoyed the premiere issue, reading it cover to cover, and I’m certain any Rachael Ray fan will enjoy it as well!

I’m sure you’ve all heard the news about the 18-year-old, David Ludwig, who allegedly killed his girlfriend’s parents because of an argument about curfew.  Both he and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Kara Beth Borden, were captured after a police chase and authorities are attemting to determine the role she may have played, if any, in the slaying of her parents.

Kara’s 13-year-old sister, Katelyn, told investigators her father and mother were shot after they argued with Ludwig for about an hour, according to a police affidavit filed in court.

"As they got near the front door, Katelyn Borden saw David Ludwig with a handgun pointed toward her father and Katelyn saw David Ludwig pull the trigger, heard a gunshot, and then she ran into the bathroom," the affidavit said.

She heard a second shot — presumably the one that killed her mother — while hiding in the bathroom, it said. Ludwig then ran through the house calling for Kara, she told investigators.

Michael and Cathryn Borden, both 50, were found shot to death shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday, after the couple’s 9-year-old son ran to the home of neighbors, who called 911. An older daughter also escaped, police said.

I find it incredibly sad that the siblings were witness to this act and now they will be subject to all that comes with it since their parents are deceased.  Authorities are suspecting that this was premeditated, which carries a life sentence if Ludwig is convicted.  Ludwig is virtually a kid himself.  How could such anger be in someone who is barely an adult?

The interesting spin on this is that CBS reports that both of these teens apparently had blogs.  The blogs themselves aren’t interesting per se.  They appear to be the usual "teen" types of blogs - listed hobbies/interests, pictures, emoticons.  Truly nothing that seems out of the ordinary and nothing that would lead you to believe that the next action would be the murdering of the girl’s parents.  I just sense that because some criminals reportedly have maintained blogs that could be "a window to their minds," each and every time there is a heinous criminal act I picture reporters frantically searching Google or Yahoo! to find the blog the criminal wrote so they can report on their "state of mind."  It’s just compelling to me, and I see it as evidence that could be used in the investigation and/or the trial on both sides (defense and prosecution).

The children impacted by this act are in my thoughts in prayers.  My heart goes out to them.   

I arrived safe and sound back home on Saturday, only to be welcomed by a slight ear injury from the flight (pressure trauma, according to the urgent care doc), darn it, as well as a number of crazy things in REAL LIFE.  I just wanted to let you know that I’m alive, and indeed will probably post some things this week before hubby and I go on our trip to Vegas (my first time!).  I’m looking forward to it!

Many thanks to my partner in crime, Raven, for doing a TREMENDOUS job filling in for me in my absence.  I can only hope she got some good traffic from it!

(more…)

History of Veterans Day 1921 - an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial services all took place on November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I at 11:00 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), which became known as Armistice Day. 1926 - Armistice Day officially became a holiday in the United States, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans. 1968 - new legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date. Official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day center around the Tomb of the Unknowns. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation’s tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of "Taps."

Department of Defense Veterans Day Coverage Military History

The ACLU has breaking news for everyone:

ACLU and Diverse Coalition of National Non-Profits Win Major Victory in Challenge to Misguided CFC Government Watch List and Contribution Policies

(more…)

Of all the pathetic things I hear about…this has to be right up there on the top of my list. I should make a new category called “Give Me A Break!” for this baloney.

(CNSNews.com) - Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals say they will lie naked in flower-decorated coffins outside the Department of Agriculture in Washington on Wednesday to “remind consumers that an addiction to poultry could lead to a bird-flu pandemic.”

Protesters will raise a banner reading, “Bird Flu Kills: Go Vegetarian,” and they plan to hand out “emergency vegetarian starter kits.”

Using such a potentially serious and devasting virus as a backdrop for a publicity stunt is LOW. I’m surprised PETA isn’t loosing feathers over the mass cullings that have occurred in the past several months.

PETA quoted the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as saying that bird flu can be caught by eating undercooked meat or eggs.

But the CDC also notes that poultry products can be safely eaten, “provided these items are properly cooked and properly handled during food preparation.” According to the CDC, the bird flu virus is sensitive to heat, which means that “normal temperatures used for cooking” will kill the virus.

“Avian influenza is not transmitted through cooked food,” the CDC website specifically says. And it says there is no evidence so far that anyone has become infected after eating “properly cooked poultry or poultry products, even when these foods were contaminated with the H5N1 virus.”

Trust me…birds with H5N1 would not be something ANYONE would ever consider for human consumption. Birds infected with this virus don’t make it to the grinder shop, so to speak.

What is more disturbing, though, is this thought process coming out of PETA:

PETA sees a moral dimension to the anticipated pandemic.

“It’s payback time, with avian flu now showing up as a direct consequence of a very sick and cruel industry,” said PETA Vegan Campaign Director Bruce Friedrich.

“With diseases running rampant in crowded, filthy factory farms, not to mention the known link between meat-eating and heart disease, the safest thing to do with chicken flesh is to avoid it like the plague.”

PETA is among the activist groups that oppose “factory farming,” where birds and other livestock live in conditions that activists describe as cruel and inhumane.

You know…these morons are spoiled idiOts who have no medical or science background, for sure. If they did they would not (ever) joke around about such issues. Pandemic flus are horrible. They kill MILLIONS. The next flu has potential to kill BILLIONS. This didn’t start with birds who were caged up; it started with field chickens in Vietnam…PETA needs to do it’s homework and get the facts right.

Cross Posted @ ARS

Some people have a lot of nerve. Those who have harmed children should have no rights period. Convicted sex offenders especially should not have access to those who they very likely would harm again.

DELAWARE, Ohio — The U.S. District Court Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by registered sex offenders who say the Ohio law banning sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school is unconstitutional.

David Slack, one of the six registered sex offenders who filed the suit, said he cannot afford to move away from his home near Woodward Elementary School in Delaware, Ohio.

“I’ll be homeless because I don’t make that much money,” Slack said.

I don’t want to hear his sorry ass stories. He’s full of BS and he knows it. He wants to live near the school so he can check out the prey. It’s what all sex offenders want: To have their eye candy right in front of them. If this is an issue of being homeless, then get another job asshole. Do whatever it takes to move away from the kids. The state should make him get another job! I don’t condone states getting involved like that, but in these cases it wouldn’t be a bad thing. Kind of like forced labor.

On Monday, the U.S. District Court dismissed his case. The court did not uphold the constitutionality of the law, but just said Slack and the other registered sex offenders did not have the legal standing to file suit.

“There’d been no action taken to remove them from the place they’d been living in, or they brought it even though they weren’t living within 1,000 feet of a school,” Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro said.

Nevertheless, Petro said he sees the case’s dismissal as a victory for the state and all of its residents, NBC 4’s Duarte Geraldino reported. Petro said he believes many sex offenders are likely to offend again.

1000 feet isn’t that far, 1/5th of a mile. I live near two schools and the neighborhood is always busy with kids walking to and from school…I wouldn’t feel content knowing a pervert lived ANYWHERE near the area. A good 6 miles is what I MIGHT feel alright with. 1000 feet? The perverts can still see the kids…and lurk and watch them as they walk by.

“I am truly sorry about what happened, but it was just one of those things. I can’t explain why it happened,” Slack said.

Yep…and no one wants to hear your half ass apology. It’s too late for that. And it’s very lame, when used in context to this lawsuit.

Supporters praised the judge’s decision and said it allows the state to enforce a law that is needed to keep children safe.

“This law is in place to protect children from potentially dangerous predators,” Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro said in a statement. “This is a reasonable and necessary statute.”

The law allows city and county prosecutors across the state to seek eviction orders against hundreds - and possibly thousands - of convicted sex offenders living too close to schools. The law expands a statute that had allowed neighbors, landlords or school officials to seek evictions.

Now this is what I want to read…laws making it legal to boot these perverts right out of the area. Who wants a salivating twisted sex freak who seeks children, living in their neighborhoods, near the schools or places where kids hang out? I know this leaves little option as to where the freaks can go…and that’s the point. They should be sent out to a field in the niddle of no where…

But opponents say the re-offense rate is no different for sex offenders than for other criminals and that imposing the 1,000-foot rule would be impractical and unconstitutional.

In some cases, they say, the rule would be so restrictive it could result in homelessness.

That is a lie. Sex offenders often repeat their crimes, and to a higher degree of harm each time. There is a BIG difference between a person who robs a bank or sells drugs, compared to this type of criminal. I cannot believe these advocates are even trying to compare. Those who care about kids need to keep pushing these issues and demanding local governments to force the perverts into seclusion. I hate to promote that, but when it comes to welfare and safety of children, it may have to come to this.

Cross Posted @ ARS

It’s THAT time of the week again! Go see what we’re all writing about this week. Want to know more about what we are, why we are, what we look for in conservative womens’ blogs? Go here. You can’t just join us, you have to be invited.

This week’s edition of the Cotillion

Our Members:

Here they go again…picking on American healthcare as if it were the worst thing in the world. I love how these writers suggest things are better in other countries. Things are worse, far worse in those national health care nations. But we won’t hear about that.

Americans pay more when they get sick than people in other Western nations and get more confused, error-prone treatment, according to the largest survey to compare U.S. health care with other nations.

The survey of nearly 7,000 sick adults in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain and Germany found Americans were the most likely to pay at least $1,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. More than half went without needed care because of cost and more than one-third endured mistakes and disorganized care when they did get treated.

And people of other nations didn’t run into all these issues?

Although patients in every nation sometimes run into obstacles to getting care and deficiencies when they do get treated, the United States stood out for having the highest error rates, most disorganized care and highest costs, the survey found.

Ah ha…yes people do run into problems elsewhere. Just not as often, maybe, as suggested by the careful planting of that word, “sometimes”. I want to see the details of this survey.

“What’s striking is that we are clearly a world leader in how much we spend on health care,” said Cathy Schoen, senior vice president for the Commonwealth Fund, a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation that commissioned the survey. “We should be expecting to be the best. Clearly, we should be doing better.”

Other experts agreed, saying the results offer the most recent evidence that the quality of care in the United States is seriously eroding even as health care costs skyrocket.

“This provides confirming evidence for what more and more health policy thinkers have been saying, which is, ‘The American health care system is quietly imploding, and it’s about time we did something about it,’ ” said Lucian L. Leape of the Harvard School of Public Health.

It’s really sad to see these reports, which are so misleading and full of bullshit. No where in this world will anyone get better care- no where are there better hospitals, medical research facililies. No where. It has to cost something-after all the people who work at these places need to earn a living. It’s not that far out of reach-and all of them have funds for those who cannot pay.

Americans had the easiest access to specialists, but they experienced the most problems getting care after hours, and Americans and Canadians were the most likely to report problems seeing a doctor the same day they sought one.

Americans were also much more likely to report forgoing needed treatment because of cost, with about half saying they had decided not to fill a prescription, to see a doctor when they were sick or opted against getting recommended follow-up tests. About 38 percent of patients in New Zealand reported going without care; the numbers were 34 percent in Australia, 28 percent in Germany, 26 percent in Canada and 13 percent in Britain.

But what they’re not saying here is– people in Germany and Canada and Britain often have to wait DAYS for prescriptions to be filled; they may see a doctor the same day they call, but needed medical tests can take months to get done (and when you have cancer, months can mean your death); after hours care???-in these nations?? They do what we do-ER visits. Don’t let them fool you.

About one-third of U.S. patients reported problems with the coordination of their care, such as test results not being available when they arrived at a doctor’s appointment or doctors ordering duplicate tests. In the other countries, 19 to 26 percent of patients reported similar problems.

Americans also reported the greatest number of medical errors. Thirty-four percent reported getting the wrong medication or dose, incorrect test results, a mistake in their treatment or care, or being notified late about abnormal test results. Only 30 percent of Canadian patients, 27 percent of Australian patients, 25 percent of New Zealanders, 23 percent of Germans and 22 percent of Britons reported errors.

It’s all in proportion to what these people of Germany/Britain/NZ get…they don’t have the same resources we do. They also have state run medical programs,which reeks of assembly line mentaility. Nothing is personal with health care over in Europe. At least here in America, most doctors know their patients by their first names. It is true that Americans experience more medication errors and simliar things. Much of this is due to too much government oversight into the medical field. The paperwork that has to be done to support all this is astronomical. And wasteful.

I have to say too…that many Americans are just plain lazy when it comes to their own health. They still think the docs can save them from every ill in the world; Americans tend to follow their own directions when it comes to following MD orders for treatments and medications. And insurances do rule much of what we can do and cannot do. That is only a small percentage of problems though. In other nations, the socialists inspired medical models leave nothing to be desired. Why so many here wish to see our system turn into that is something I have yet to figure out. I think a lot of people just don’t know how BAD it really is over in Europe. Waiting months just to get a mammogram, because you’re just another number on a long list (while you feel that lump getting bigger and bigger). Waiting months for other life saving treatments (waiting weeks and weeks for chemo treatments), because you have no value as an indivdual. And don’t ever think they get it all for free. They pay upwards of 50% in taxes over there-right out of their pay-to cover these costs. Break it all down and I would say Americans get a much better deal.

Cross Posted @ ARS

I’ll be out of town on business starting Tuesday morning, and I won’t be returning until Friday afternoon.  I’m hopping on a 7am flight (ugh…I don’t do mornings well, let’s just say the girl traveling with me convinced me…and at least she’s giving me a ride to the airport so I can sleep on the way heh!), so chances are I’ll be pretty busy Monday night, spending time with the munchkins and hubby and packing.  So, this will probably be my last post until Friday night or Saturday.

I’m not bringing my laptop because, frankly, I will be either flying, or working (my agenda is jam packed!).  At this point, I’m hoping we get to at least look around a bit!  I just don’t think I’ll have time to blog.  I’m hoping those of you with a set of keys feel comfortable throwing up a post and linking the hell out of your own sites, just to boost your stats!

This is what I’ll be thinking about, and would have posted about had I been here this week:

1. The trip hubby and I are taking to Vegas for our 10-year-wedding anniversary.  I’m PUMPED!  Our first trip without the young’uns!
2. GO PEYTON MANNING!  Earn me some SERIOUS Fantasy Football points, dammit!
3. I don’t have to cook for at least 3 days!  And that means there won’t be dishes for me to do either…LOL
4. I’ve never been where I’m going, and I’ve never had to go through customs.  Perhaps there will be a story there when I get back?
5. What will the political atmosphere be where I’m going?  I’m imagining fairly liberal, but it will definitely be interesting to observe!
6. I’m looking forward to 2 1/2 days of hearing about issues that we need to work through.
7. Even though I’ll be working, I’ll have a week’s worth of work backed up back here at my home office.  And only 4 days to do it before I’m on vacation.  And a full calendar.  ::: shrug :::
8. Will my chihuahua be alive when I return, or will he be taking the long, wet nap for biting my hubby?
9. Will my kids miss me?  Will my hubby miss me?  I’ll miss them terribly!  I did the last business trip I had!
10. Will my DVR hold all of my shows?  LOL

Take care, have a great week and stay out of trouble!  Oh, wait.  DUH….I keep forgetting who my audience is!  Heheheheheheheheheeheheheh!!!

In an effort to curtail panhandling, the Pittsburgh City Council passed some ordinances relating to when and where panhandling would be limited.  The mayor was expected to approve these recommendations on Wednesday.

In a last-minute amendment, council added a provision to keep panhandlers at least 25 feet away from church entrances. The ordinance also would prohibit begging between sunset and sunrise, within 10 feet of a bus stop or street food vendor and within 25 feet of a sidewalk cafe or a line of people waiting to enter a theater or buy tickets.

As is always the case, the ACLU has to leave its footprint on anything they interpret as "a no-no" (emphasis mine):

Barbara Feige, president of the Greater Pittsburgh American Civil Liberties Union, said she doesn’t plan to challenge the ordinance’s constitutionality in court now, but she wouldn’t rule it out if people complain. Feige said it’s unconstitutional to restrict freedom of speech from sunset to sunrise, which is too vague to be enforced properly by police.

I felt the need to go to my trusty dictionary to get some definition behind these basic concepts.

Sunset:  The event or time of the daily disappearance of the sun below the western horizon.

Sunrise:  The event or time of the daily first appearance of the sun above the eastern horizon.

Panhandling:  To approach strangers and beg for money or food.

Call me a simpleton, but last I checked, it was pretty simple to determine what sunset and sunrise are.  Even my local weather celebrity tells me the exact hour and minute of sunrise and sunset every day.  So the whole sunset/sunrise issue is resolved.

Now, my trusty dictionary says that panhandling is approaching strangers and begging for money or food.  I cannot be convinced that panhandling falls within freedom of speech.  I would actually go a step further and say that after sunset, a person who is a stranger to me approaching me would actually be quite frightening (whether they are panhandling or not).  I think the limitations make perfect sense and are not out of line in any way. 

Who is the ACLU fooling?  Someone will complain, more than likely the panhandler who isn’t getting his or her "fair share" of income due to the limitations, and the ACLU will put on their cape and swoop down in an attempt to "save the underdog."  At the risk of sounding completing heartless (okay, a risk I have to take), I have to wonder if a panhandler’s income is being reported to the IRS?  What would the ACLU accomplish by fighting for a panhandler’s right to panhandle after dark?  Why wouldn’t they just offer the panhandler a job in order to truly help?  [crickets chirping]

Okay, I think you get the point.  I just think the ACLU could do so much more by actually HELPING someone.  Instead, they focus on these types of cases in an effort to help "the little guy" defeat the big, mean system.  This doesn’t help anyone, and is truly a waste of our time.

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Please stop over at Stop the ACLU! to read more about the ACLU’s involvement in issues you may be surprised about!

Please stop over at my hubby’s site here. 

He’s participating in a fund drive for a good cause - Project Valour-IT.  He has all of the information, but simply stated, this fund drive will allow Soldiers’ Angels Project Valour-IT to "…form laptop libraries equipped with voice-controlled software at each major military medical center.  Service personnel with hand or arm wounds can check out one of these laptops for as long as they are hospitalized.  If they still need assistance when they leave the hospital, they receive a copy of the voice-controlled software to use on their own computer."

What a GREAT CAUSE!  By donating using the donation button at Vince Aut Morire, your donation will count for the "Navy" team.  A little friendly competition for a good cause never hurt anyone, right?  The competition is scheduled through Veteran’s Day (Friday, November 11th).

Thanks for your consideration.  Eric and I have donated and hope you’ll think about helping our soldiers as well!

It never fails to amaze me that the changing of the calendar brings with it new observances.  No, not talking about Thanksgiving, not talking about Veterans’ Day…I’m talking about the unusual observances that are assigned to each and every month of the year (and then every week of said month, and every day of said week).  Here’s what the month of November brings us:

• National Fun with Fondue Month (um….no, ain’t gonna touch it!)
• Georgia Pecan Month (hmmmm….won’t the pecans in other states feel discriminated against?)
• National Peanut butter Lover’s Month (mmmm….peanut butter!)
• National Impotency Month (eh….ain’t gonna touch that one either, although is it intended to celebrate impotency or make us aware of it?  Hmmmm….nope.  Ain’t gonna go there)

There are a few weekly and daily celebrations that I couldn’t pass up as well.  This week includes:

• National Fig Week (YAY!  It’s National FIG week!)
• Plan your Epitaph Day, Wednesday (I’m just not ready for that!)
• National Men Make Dinner Day, Thursday (now THAT’s what I’m talkin’ about!)
• National Sandwich Day, Thursday (hey…who decided to put SANDWICH day on the MEN MAKE DINNER DAY?  This should be National 7-course-gourmet-dinner-day!)
• National Chicken Lady Day, Friday (whah?!?!?)
• International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, Sunday (okay, I put this one in for two reasons…1) it is the world’s longest title….how do you get this on a bumper sticker anyway? and 2) Read it again…yeesh!)

There you have it!  Be sure to mark your calendars and plan your celebrations and events for November!

So, we’ve been having a Cotillion each and every week, and I just haven’t been playing the past few weeks (for one reason or another…let’s leave it at "real life" getting in the way).  I did have a chance to get a post submitted this week, and it’s part of the great round up at Portia Rediscovered (you’ve just GOT to take a look at her new digs!).

As always, the post is also over at the Cotillion.  Many thanks to Portia for a great round up and to all of the fine ladies for many great posts!

I remember when I was a kid, we had to start looking at the candy we got after Trick-or-Treating, just to ensure there were no razor blades in apples or pins in candy bars after some idiots decided it would be entertaining to do such stupid things to kids. 

Now that I have my own children, worrying about pedophiles and child molesters is on the list of "safety tips" for Halloween.  I truly believe that as a parent, I am the number one protector of my children - no one can do it better.  Either my husband or I will go out with the kids as they trick-or-treat, ensuring they are safe from traffic, other kids out to cause trouble, or adults who would enjoy inviting kids in for an inappropriate visit.

There are many communities who are focused on how to protect kids from sexual predators who may be "tempted" by children parading up to their homes - and I applaud their efforts!  There are various approaches to this, ranging from increased in-home visitations to the homes of sex offenders on Halloween night to proposed laws banning sex offenders from participating in Halloween altogether.  Here’s a glimpse:

About 45 registered Level 2 and 3 sex offenders who live in Westchester County, just north of New York City, will receive special invitations to attend an educational program between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Oct. 31, under an initiative spearheaded by Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano. Those who don’t attend will receive a personal visit from probation officers and police. Level 1 sex offenders and those on probation who have committed crimes of a sexual nature will also receive a home visit, according to a statement released by Spano’s office.

"We’ve done home visits on Halloween nights in the past, but this is the first year that we’ve asked sex offenders on probation to come in to our offices," said Victoria Hochman, assistant communications director for the county executive.

Hochman said kids present the same temptation to sex offenders that alcohol presents to alcoholics. Rather than have sex offenders at home and in the position to be tempted by parades of children coming to their doors, Hochman said, the county will offer probationers something constructive and hopefully put parents at ease.

The Halloween initiative does not come in response to a spike in molestations or abductions on the holiday, however. "We have never had an incident on Halloween night," Hochman said. But highly publicized cases of brutal child abductions in recent years have heightened citizen activism and put pressure on local authorities to monitor sex offenders more closely. Westchester County was also the first in the state to use active Global Positioning System bracelets on sex offenders under the supervision of its probation department.

"Given the high recidivism rates with this type of crime, people are very concerned. This could provide some relief for people," Hochman said.

I like this idea, and in my mind it seems as though this would be the best approach.  Removing any high risk offender from the situation all together seems to make the most sense with follow-up for those who don’t attend the activity.

Here are what a few more communities are doing:

• New Jersey’s state parole board is putting a curfew on some 2,200 sex offenders it supervises.  Sex offenders need to be indoors by 7pm on Halloween and can’t answer their doors.  They can’t attend parties where children are present as well and can’t take children - including their own - out to trick-or-treat.

• In Parker County, TX (west of Forth Worth), 42 registered sex offenders on probation will have to spend the evening at county offices.  They state, again, that this is proactive, in order to prevent any issues as well as "protect" the sex offenders from any false accusations.  Eh, the latter isn’t as important to me, but it may temper the heat the ACLU may attempt to throw their way. 

• Lastly, a Michigan state lawmaker wants to ban sex offenders from Halloween. State representative Fran Amos of Waterford introduced a bill that would prohibit convicted sex offenders from handing out candy and could be passed in time for Halloween.  This most recent action has ruffled the feathers of the ever criminal protective ACLU, who states this is unconstitutional.  I say let’s invite said sex offenders over to the house of the ACLU’s Shelli Weisberg on Halloween - she can entertain them.  Oh, and let’s hope she doesn’t have young children.

Again, the best thing we can do is be good parents - get out with your kids to ensure their safety.  And if you’re like us, maybe you can "trick-or-beer" at the same time!

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Punta del Cappello to Jay and Ace of Spades