05.14.18- THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
During the 2016 election cycle the Russians were active in trying to access US voter systems. No information was changed, nothing was deleted or added, but the information was seen.
Some states, like Illinois, are vowing to protect their system and their voters’ personal information.
Florida, on the other hand, just gives out the information to anyone asking…and thereby even if they don’t ask. Some folks collect the Florida voter data and publish it on web sites. That includes men and women, every political party and children who may be pre-registered in the state as young as 16.
In spite of requests from all 67 of Florida’s Supervisors of Elections the legislature has ignored the plight of the people who elected them.
This should be a top shelf issue for the Legislature in the 2019 session. But, it won’t be unless you act and contact your Representative and Senators about it. Do it now, do it later and do it more than once.
This squeaky wheel needs grease and the Legislature is the only place that can provide it.
05.15.18- BLACKBURN LEAVING BREVARD…WHAT NOW?
I said it Monday morning on the show: Desmond Blackburn is the best Superintendent Brevard Schools has had in my time here. Monday afternoon, Desmond was gone, or had announced his departure anyway.
He’s leaving to become the CEO of a nonprofit that focuses on improving education. I am sure he will succeed there.
Desmond is something other top administrators were not. He’s a great communicator. That was certainly different and appreciated. We did not always agree, but we could always talk.
As he goes on, the district is left to find the next Superintendent of Schools. I am not happy with the search firm path and I am uncertain as to how many administrators in the country are ready for the big chair. Those already in the system deserve consideration.
The board has the tough job of seeking out the right person for this position. One who matches the bent of the county would be a good start.
I just hope they know where to look!
05.16.18- FROM DANGEROUS TO FUNNY
Domestic disturbance calls are some of the most dangerous handled by the men and women of law enforcement. They can also be some of the funniest. And they are not only United States issues.
While domestic incidents are often volatile, they often involve alcohol and sometimes the silliest reasons for a fight. There are rare occasions where they bring us humor.
Such is the case of one incident in a German town. Police were called by a neighbor who was tired of the constant yelling and screaming from next door. When they responded the police heard the disturbance.
Once they got inside they discovered that the man inside was yelling at, arguing with, a parrot! No, the bird wasn’t his partner, it belonged to his girlfriend. Apparently the parrot had upset the guy for some reason.
My domestic incident animal story involves a pet monkey, but that one is for another time.
05.17.18- A PENSION EARNED- unless the public is ticked off
Some people in Broward County want Deputy Scot Peterson’s pension stopped. The former SRO at MSD High School, who retired after the incident, began drawing around $8700 a month in April.
Some victim families and lawmakers are outraged. One Parkland father called Peterson the “Coward of Broward”. A Democratic State Representative wanted to halt the pension until the state investigation of the shooting is completed saying, “Pensions are for people that do their job. The taxpayers shouldn’t fund failure.” And even the governor called Peterson’s action of not entering the school during the shooting, “shameful.”
Wait a minute. Provisions for stripping a state retiree of his pension involve commission of a felony, which has not even been hinted at, much less proven in this case.
Peterson is a decorated 32 year veteran. We don’t know what we don’t know. We do know he has not been charged. He’s more than earned his pension.
05.18.18- REAL WOMEN of SWEET BRIAR
Sweet Briar College is an all women institution in Virginia. For last week’s graduation an alumna of the school, ’55 grad Nella Gray Barkley, riled the graduates and others as she laid a dose of honesty on the assembled crowd.
Her words of truth didn’t fit the snowflake narrative the girls had come to believe so the offended took to the place they always do to vent their indignation…private Facebook groups where dissenting thought just doesn’t happen.
What was the truth? That the #metoo movement had taken responsibility away from them and that it was wrong. That they and they alone controlled their bodies and that they were strong enough to claim their desired places in society and that they should.
Suddenly their victimhood was gone and responsibility was theirs. Now THAT’S a graduation!
The college reminded the graduates the advice was good and they didn’t have the experience to have a better perspective. Good for Sweet Briar. Good for their grads…if they only listen.