Dec. 24, 2009 - Judges seek flexibility in child porn cases
Child sexual abuse used to be unheard of. Oh, yes, I know that it happened, but it was undoubtedly rare--much rarer than it is now. However, today it is almost so common place that it seldom rates a mention in the main stream media. Therefore, I was interested in the following information from Alan Gomez of USA Today, hardly a right wing media outlet, that appeared on my computer's home page, and feel that I have to make a comment on it. The article begins, "People convicted of possessing child pornography are getting support from an unexpected source: federal judges. In hearings across the country, defense attorneys and federal judges are asking the U.S. Sentencing Commission to allow judges greater flexibility to give lighter sentences for possession of child pornography when no other crime is involved. District Judge Jay Zainey of New Orleans, who testified last month, says he is not defending people who possess 'filth' but that the prison terms established by the commission are sometimes too harsh." The pro-porn defense attorneys I can understand, but the federal judges? I would like to think that the ones who suggest this are appointees by Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, but I know that Republican Presidents have appointed some boneheaded federal judges too, although to be honest whenever they have nominated truly conservative judges, the Democrats in the Senate go absolutely ballistic. Judge Zainey (now that is a Dickensian name if I ever heard one) may say that "he is not defending people who possess 'filth,'" but that is exactly what his proposal does! The article points out that for most federal crimes, the commission sets — and Congress approves — a range of suggested prison terms. Some major crimes require a mandatory minimum sentence, but most convicts are sentenced under a range of suggested prison terms called sentencing guidelines. For someone who possesses child pornography, a sentence can be harsher depending on whether the defendant used a computer and whether a large number of images were involved. Judges can order higher or lower prison terms, but if they do so drastically or often, they run the risk of a sentence being overturned on appeal. Well, what is wrong so far? People who are involved in child pornography are not fit to be out in society; they should be locked up and the key thrown away--period. The fact is that judges who order lower prison terms drastically or often should run the risk of a sentence being overturned on appeal. Others agree. Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, says judges already give sentences that are lighter than the guidelines. He says they sometimes minimize the crimes by not examining the pornography involved and are too often swayed by defendants who appear before them and do not match society's stereotypes of people who look at child porn. "Doctors, lawyers, business executives, schoolteachers, police officers — they come out of mainstream America," Allen says. "So in a lot of situations, judges look at them and say, 'They're not dangerous,' or they minimize it and say, 'This is just kiddie porn.' " Every person who seeks out child pornography, however "upstanding" he (or she) may seem, simply increases the market to exploit and abuse children to produce it and meet the demand. Reducing demand by locking these people up for good actually should work better than trying to go after the makers. U.S. District Judge William Sessions, chairman of the commission and chief judge of the district of Vermont, says judges have been nearly unanimous that the guidelines and the mandatory minimums restrict their ability to sentence convicts based on the specifics of each case and defendant--in other words, the judges want to be more lenient and let them off with a slap on the wrist. However, he also notes that police and prosecutors want to maintain them intact to serve as deterrents to crime, and to use possible sentence reductions as incentives to win defendants' cooperation in investigations. Hurrah for the police and prosecutors! Maybe they, who actually have to deal with these perverts, know something that the elitist judges do not.
Dec. 24, 2009 - Good Reading
The Sept./Oct., 2009, issue (#90) of Practical Homeschooling ( www.home-school.com ) has articles by Mary Pride about the importance of the library to homeschoolers, by Joyce McPherson on the National Bible Bee, by Jeanette Webb on Creating a school profile and transcript for college, and by the always interesting Sam Blumenfeld (83 years old) on going to school back in the Great Depression (excellent!), along with the 2009 Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards, spotlight reviews, and a tribute to the late HSLDA attorney Chris Klicka, among other useful items.
Dec. 24, 2009 - No Homeschooling, No Christmas for the Johansson Family
As you celebrate Christmas this year, please remember all the parents who are still fighting for their right to homeschool, and for parents who have had their children taken from them by force without just cause because they homeschooled their children--like the Johansson family of Sweden. This Christmas we can rest easy knowing that the gifts that we bought for our children will help further their education or offer a new way for your family to have fun together. The Johanssons have been denied Christmas with their only child, and so much more.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
Dec. 24, 2009 - Communication Corner ~ Last Few Days of my Video Countdown to Christmas!
I've done this each year for a few years now. These are the final days of my Video Countdown to Christmas that started on December 15th. Each day I'm uploading an inspirational or comedic video that shares the spirit of Christmas with my readers. Check it out on Communication FUNdamentals!
And Merry CHRISTmas everyone!
Dec. 23, 2009 - Trying Something New
I started a new blog Here. Not sure if I really want another blog. One of the reasons is I need a change. HSB is wonderful but it's so hard to navigate. To change things takes so much time. Blogger is more simple. It's still up in the air though. Lupe, was saying to keep this blog but more of just for curriculum talk and the other blog more of a family blog. Again I'm not sure.
Merry CHRISTmas,
Linda<><
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - Christmas Eve Eve
If it were up to me we would do our big Christmas celebration today! I love December 23rd. Why? I don't know, I just do. But, alas, today is just another Wednesday this year but I am looking forward to going to prayer meeting at church tonight. We have made Mrs.L's hershey kiss cookies this morning and I made an experiment fudge recipe. So far it looks like it will turn out good, we will see when it cools completely. I have attempted to make two batches of my Great Grandmother's fudge recipe and both were flops. One is just like softened tootsie rolls so the kids have been eating on that one, the other one just flopped big time. I give up for this week, maybe I will try again next week. I am looking forward to Christmas with friends this year as are the kids.
Now onto pictures.
Baby Blessing turned one this month and that was a big day here, well, actually out and about but we were all together. Here he is eating his cake.
May the Lord find us faithful.
Dec. 23, 2009 - And one more
Again, the school officials reacted appropriately, but the fact that incidents like this just keep happening and happening and happening (didn’t I just say that yesterday) continue to remind us of the rabidly anti-Christian bias that has infested our society. On December 16, 2009, WorldNetDaily reported about a third-grade New Jersey girl’s once again being allowed to read her Bible during classroom "quiet time" after her teacher ordered her to stop reading the Good Book. The dispute developed after Michelle Jordat learned her daughter, Mariah, was told to put the Bible completely out of sight at Madison Park Elementary School in Old Bridge, N.J. "She was upset and she was hurt that she wasn't able in her own free time to read the Bible," Jordat told New York's WNYW-TV. "Her teacher told her to put it away, and she put it in her desk. And then the teacher told her, 'No, put that in your backpack. I told you to put it away.' And it hurt her feelings and confused her. Why would my teacher say that I can't read the Bible when I'm not bothering anybody else?" The principal has since apologized, acknowledging a mistake on the teacher's part, since school policy does allow children to read the Bible or any other religious book during quiet reading time. "This was injustice," Jordat says. "No other child has to go through this again." Although Jordat accepted the principal's apology, she is looking for something in writing confirming that reading the Bible is permissible during personal reading time. She also indicated she'll be seeking legal counsel.
Dec. 23, 2009 - Homeschooling Through High School ~ Merry Christmas!
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! I want to share a couple of video clips which I located on YouTube...they are from a Public Television show that I have seen many Decembers over, titled, "Rick Steve's Christmas in Europe." These two clips share my favorite parts of the show. I love the peacefulness, the simplicity, and the picture of the family generations coming together. I hope you enjoy it, too!
Rick Steve's Christmas in Europe ~ Part 9
Rick Steve's Christmas in Europe ~ Part 10
May God bless you and your families as you focus on the beauty of God's plan for His children, and all that "Emmanuel" means to you.
~Lori
Dec. 23, 2009 - Merry Christmas From the Littles! - Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - One of our favorites
Here is one of our favorite recipes for Christmas candy, orange fudge.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
May the Lord find us faithful.
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