"Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves."
This little boy is so smart. He sits there and watches us type on the computer then bangs on the keyboard himself. I really can not wait to see what he comes up with next.
He is on Facebook talking to all the ladies...:)
It is never a dull moment in this house with him here.
Today while watching the news/on Facebook, there were 3 stories that caught my attention.
The first one really hit home, I have always been protective over my younger brother and my cousins. (Even though they are boys). I didn't care who it was that was messing with them. I went into "Crouching Tiger Mode". But, now that I am a parent, it touched me a little more than maybe it would have before.
32 Child Predators Busted in Sex Sting.
LAKE COUNTY -
It's the largest child predator sex sting in Central Florida.
Undercover detectives in Lake County went online posing as children and ended up catching 32 men trying to have sex with kids.
One after another, detectives took down the men who drove to a vacation rental home in the Four Corners area.
"These suspects came to that house with the intention of having sex with a child," Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders said. "Instead, they went to jail."
Borders said the detectives started chatting with and caught the men in less than a week.
Gregory Lawrence, who is a father who drove from Georgia to have sex with a child, was among them.
Deputies said he had his own two children with him, who are 6 and 8 years old.
Lawrence left them waiting outside in the car when he went up to the house, according to officers.
Borders said the Department of Children and Families came to take the kids.
"It's bad enough that he's driving to Lake County to meet what he thinks is a child to have sex with, but to bring his own children with him, I think the best place for him is jail," Borders added.
Detectives went undercover onto websites and into chat rooms posing as children from between 9 to 14 years old.
They also pretended to be parents who agreed to let strangers have sex with their own kids for money.
"I would tell you that there is that type of real activity going on on the Internet," Borders warned parents.
Deputies said Robert Nelson, another suspect, showed up with a gun hidden in his pants.
Detectives said some of the suspects arrived with M&M's and Skittles for the child they thought they were meeting.
"I think it's pretty scary considering we were there for just five days," Borders said. "I don't know if we were to continue that operation how many people that we would've put in jail, and that's why I just strongly remind the parents in our community that it's important to monitor their children's activity on the Internet."
Borders said some of the suspects have been arrested for sex offenses in the past. Others had no criminal history at all.
One suspect, Brian Weiss, also worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A team representative said Weiss has been fired but did not say what he did for the team.
Deputies said the 32 suspects are all now facing felony charges of traveling to meet a child for sex and using their computers to try to make that happen.
Keep in mind that this was all done over a computer, which is why I can not stress how important it is to monitor your child's computer usage carefully. When I was younger I was always getting so mad at my parents for looking over my shoulder, watching what I was doing online. Now, I know it was just because they cared, not because they wanted to be all in my business. Some people do not have parents that care the way they should. I am not saying be a psycho-crazy parent and become paranoid but I am saying to keep an eye on what is going on. I swore that I would not be one of "those" parents who shelter their children for the entire lives but this is a different story. I dare someone to try and touch or harm my child. As the subject line says "Commit murder with smiles on their faces". I will say no more than that.
One of the men who was arrested had brought his two children with him. His children are 6 and 8 years old. He was arrested and DCF took custody of the children.
It sickens me to know that these MEN (thought) they were meeting children for sex!
What sick f**k gets enjoyment from this?!?
Some officers pretended to be parents who agreed to let strangers have sex with their own children for money! The Lake County Sheriff stated that there are actually people who do this to their kids! Are you serious? Does your child's mental/physical health mean nothing to these people?!?
Another suspect showed up with a gun hidden in his pants.
What would have happened if this was not a sting operation and he really did meet and have sex with a child? Would he have killed the child as well? Kidnapped the child so he would have sex with them all of the time? What?
Others showed up with candy, intended for the children they were meeting.
Some of these men arrested had a past sex offender history and some had no record at all.
Personally, I think that people who get off to children are sick and disgusting. They all deserve to be put on a deserted island with nothing and die. I also think that there is something mentally wrong with them. Maybe they were abused as a child and that has scared them or maybe they just like children...what it really is...we will probably never know.
California Mom Arrested After Baby Dies From Microwave.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA -
Sacramento police arrested a 29-year-old mother Tuesday after an investigation found her baby likely died from burns suffered in a microwave oven.
Ka Yang was being held without bail in Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of murder and assault resulting in the death of a child.
She was arrested three months after her otherwise healthy 6-week-old daughter, Mirabelle Thao-Lo, was found dead in the family home on March 17.
Police described the child as suffering "extensive thermal injuries." Officer Laura Peck said the arrest took so long because investigators had to pinpoint what they believe is the cause of death by looking for other cases involving similar injuries.
They found three in the U.S., all after children were burned in a microwave: in Dayton, Ohio; Galveston, Texas; and New Kent County, Va.
"This is rare. The injuries were obviously very unique," Peck said. "There have been only three other documented cases in the entire country where the injuries were consistent with this case....Those children were also burned and placed in the microwave."
She said police do not know a motive. She did not believe Yang had an attorney, and none was listed in jail records.
"We wouldn't assess her mental condition. That will be up to the court system," Peck said. "The bottom line is no one knows what happened in that house but her and the little baby."
Yang has three other children, all under age 7, who were removed from the home the day their sister was found dead. They are now living with relatives.
Last month, China Arnold, of Dayton, Ohio, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2005 microwave murder of her 28-day-old daughter, Paris Talley.
In 2008, Joshua Mauldin, of Galveston, Texas, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for severely burning his 2-month-old daughter in a microwave oven. The girl survived, but suffered second- and third-degree burns to her left ear, cheek, hand and shoulder. Part of her left ear had to be amputated, and she required several skin grafts.
In 2000, a Virginia woman was sentenced to five years in prison for killing her month-old son in a microwave oven. Elizabeth Renee Otte claimed she had no memory of putting her son in the microwave in 1999. Experts testified that Otte suffered from epilepsy and that her seizures were followed by blackouts.
This recent case sounds like severe Post-partum Depression. After just having a baby and having to take care of him pretty much on my own, I know how hard it can be and how upset I got but I NEVER thought about hurting my child and I would never hurt him, no matter how frustrated I got with him.
I do not think that the 5-25 year jail sentences are nearly enough punishment for what these people did to newborn babies. They need to suffer the same way their children suffered.
I just don't understand how someone could do this to their own flesh and blood.
Gavins Point Dam Increases Releases.
IOWA/NEBRASKA-
More Missouri River floodwater is heading this way.
Releases from Gavins Point Dam in northeast Nebraska will increase to 160,000 cubic feet per second by Thursday as a result of continued rain in South Dakota — where as much as 6 inches fell recently — and northern Nebraska.
The corps is currently releasing a record 150,000 cfs from the dam, causing widespread flooding along the river in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa and further downstream.
The higher flows are not expected to cause the river to rise significantly at Omaha, said Monique Farmer, a corps spokeswoman. The river was 5.5 feet above flood stage Tuesday at Omaha.
The impact of an additional discharges will result in the river rising 8.4 to 12 inches at Sioux City, Iowa, and 3.6 inches to 4.8 inches from Omaha to Rulo, Neb.
Farmer said river levees that have been hardened or heightened to defend against flows based on the 150,000 cfs releases should operate fine under the increased flows.
Corps officials have been ramping up releases since late May to flush historic and unprecedented floodwater out of six reservoirs in the northern plains.
Officials planned to hold Gavins Point releases at 150,000 cfs for an extended period of time, said Brig. Gen. John McMahon, commander of the Northwestern Division.
“Unfortunately, recent rains have reduced our flexibility, and we must evacuate these flood waters to manage the remaining flood control storage in the reservoir system,'' he said Tuesday. “As we've stated all along, heavy rain storms could result in major revisions.”
The corps is working with state and local emergency management teams to identify potential flood areas, provide residents with current information and help protect vital infrastructure.
“This continues to be a very dynamic situation and dangerous at the same time,” McMahon said. “People along the river are encouraged to make evacuation plans to protect their possessions and property.''
Flooded areas are expected to be inundated for several months.
Jody Farhat, the corps water management chief in Omaha, said rainfall is once again erasing most of the flexibility designed into dam operations this year.
She said the corps continues to evaluate the amount of water entering the system and will revise plans as needed.
Gavins Point will increase releases by 5,000 cfs over two days. The 160,000 cfs level will be attained by Thursday and remain at that level through August.
This whole situation is ridiculous! While other places are in a severe drought, they are flooding perfectly good farm land. So many people are going to be affected by this and people could possibly lose their homes and land to flood waters. This is a man-made flood, it could be controlled but the people who made this decision choose not to. Sacrifice little towns to save bigger towns. It is not fair. My Aunt is being affected by this decision, we are waiting and hoping that she does not lose her house to this poorly made decision. Especially because the decision was just made to increase the amount of water being let out. (Cross your fingers).
If it were up to me, I would suck up water from inside the dam with water trucks and take it to places (like Florida) who really need it. Considering just last week a large portion of Florida was on fire due to no rain.
"When one door closes, a window opens so you can jump out."
So now that I am done ranting about the news...
When did everyone develop such sucky personalities?
In these last 2 days I have realized something that has probably been keeping me from getting a job.
Today's employers mostly only hire employees with NO personality and no idea how to do their jobs.
So, next time I apply for a job or have a interview I need to have no personality, no enthusiasm, and no knowledge about the job I applied for. It infuriates me. People be grateful you have a job!
There are some people out there that would kill for your jobs and would be happy doing them.
Random Fact #3:
"Scientists suggest that stress is part of the evolutionary drive because it has enabled humans to survive. Specifically, stress temporarily increases awareness and improves physical performance."
To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says:
"Leave no stone unturned."
Religious service for Malea Sue Rusch, 36, Park Avenue, Orange City, Fla., who died March 23, 2008, at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, Orange City, will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 28, at Stetson Baptist Church, DeLand, with the Rev. Jeff Dowdy officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the church. Malea was born March 29, 1971, in Daytona Beach. She was a nurse for Mid-Florida Hematology & Oncology in Orange City. Malea enjoyed life, her family, scrapbook-ing, helping people, taking photos, family vacations (especially the Bahamas). She will be missed by everyone she touched. Malea married Edward Rusch, Jr. in December 1994. They met in high school and were high school sweethearts. She was a member of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand. Survivors include her husband, Edward Rusch, Jr., Orange City; her parents, James and Patricia Kemp, DeLand; daughter, Ashleigh L. Rusch, Orange City; son, Brandon E. Rusch, Orange City; grandmother, Mary McAllister, Paisley, Fla.; aunt, Mary Ann Mueller, DeLand; uncle, Larry Cribbs, Georgia; and friends, Mohan L. Sharma, M.D., DeLand and G.R. Woodard, D.O., South Daytona. Altman-Long Funeral Home is in charge
