Google is trying to make one of my favorite Bloggers disappear.
Check it out: Stupidtom All Around
And remember…he maybe one of many
but he’s the best.
amm
Writing
Sunny Longyear and Co.
This little bit o’ fun was a challange from Kitty:
So here is your assignment for today, dear readers. Find a song that inspires you to write something, whether it gives you an idea for a script or just puts you into a better frame of mind
Babe, you’re getting closer
The lights are goin’ dim
The sound of your breathin’
Has made the mood I’m in
All of my resistance
Is lying on the floor
Taking me to places
I’ve never been before….
When I write my stories that I like to think of as “Grave Tales” I always reach for my Elvis tunes and I play this one first…actually I listen to it a lot when I’m writing.
It’s been the ‘back beat’ for stories like
Midnight Conversation at Riversleigh
annndddd here it is!
Way Down Lyrics (Elvis Presley)
Babe, you’re getting closer
The lights are goin’ dim
The sound of your breathin’
Has made the mood I’m in
All of my resistance
Is lying on the floor
Taking me to places
I’ve never been before
Ooh, and I can feel it,
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down, way, way on down
Ooh, my head is spinnin’
You got me in your spell,
A hundred magic fingers
On a whirling carousel
The medicine within me
No doctor could prescribe
Your love is doing something
That I just can’t describe
Ooh, and I can feel it,
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down, way, way on down
Hold me again,
Tight as you can
I need you so,
Baby, let’s go
Way down where it feels so good
Way down where I hoped it would
Way down where I never could
Way down, down, way, way on down
Steal This Scene
Here’s the deal- I describe a scene.
Right after you read it answer the questions below.
Here we go:
You’re at a meeting.
A bunch of people with guns join the meeting and line up behind you.
Each one takes a turn going to the front of the room to tell you ‘how it is’.
You’re not allowed to do anything but listen.
Quick- who are they and what year is it?
It’s Right Human
Not only do I write, I can bake a mean enchilada and fry a sinfully good lumpia on top of that I can do other things like work on Human Rights Issues.
This news article is from the Everett Herald here in Washington state and this story is about an Ordinance that I’m proud to say I’m helping to put together.
The Luis Moscoso quoted here is my husband, Jerry Hebert (also quoted) is the type of person who not only makes the world a better place…but a fun one too- Dave Somers and Roger are truly good guys and I’ve enjoyed working with them.
So I’ll stop babbling now and let you read on…
County needs commission to stand up for citizens, activists say
Members of a new group of minority-rights activists say a recent rise in racial bias and discrimination in Snohomish County is pushing them to better protect and explain the importance of civil rights.
The Snohomish County Citizens Committee for Human Rights has gained momentum on its efforts after meetings were held this summer for an anti-gay group and what was billed as an illegal immigration summit.
Members also say the community must rally against racist graffiti and swastikas recently scrawled with spray paint on fences and cars.
To make progress, the Snohomish County Council needs to approve a local human rights commission in county government to hear concerns and stand up for the rights of residents, said Luis Moscoso of Mountlake Terrace, a member of the effort.
“I do believe in the area of human rights; there’s a lot more we could be doing,” he said. “We need to take responsibility for managing the communal climate we live in here.”
Moscoso reported progress on the proposal to the state Human Rights Commission at a meeting in Snohomish on Friday.
The County Council might consider a formal proposal next spring, he said.
“I applaud this effort,” Human Rights Commissioner Shawn Murinko said. The community is the best place to respond to civil rights debates, “and it only makes good sense to form these groups,” he said.
The state panel and its staff are advising the cutting-edge effort in Snohomish County, Commissioner Jerry Hebert said.
“The community is the one driving this,” Hebert said.
Earlier this year, Everett created a 15-member diversity board aimed at ridding city government of discrimination based on race, religion, income, gender, physical ability or sexual orientation.
County Councilman Dave Somers and county finance director Roger Neumaier have attended meetings of the planning group for the countywide effort.
“We support the human rights cause that the group is working on and we are looking forward to receiving the proposal so we can review it,” Neumaier said.
Unlike the state Human Rights Commission, which enforces state anti-discrimination laws, a local commission would be a more accessible venue to discuss race and discrimination issues as they arise in the county.
“We need ongoing community dialogue that is managed in a safe venue, where everyone feels safe to come to talk about what’s going on,” Moscoso said.
It might also be able to address community concerns.
“I would like to reinforce we’re not here to solve all the problems of the world,” Moscoso said. “There already are human rights laws on the books in Washington. This would be another way to enhance understanding and implementation in our community.”
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
Get Paid WRITE!
So this Writer’s Strike…do you think it’s just about money?
Well okay, it’s about money but there’s a little more to it then that.
For me it’s all about telling people who tell stories that- ” you know what….it’s really nice of you to speak up, to share your ideas to open up your soul and mind and let anyone with a DVD player or 10.00 bucks wander around in your head for awhile…but at the end of the day your voice ain’t worth a nickle”…and I’m not joking there.
So read up on this, especially you Labor People ( okay…you KNOW who I’m talking to here ) and show a little support for your Union Brothers and Sisters.
Here are some links…educate yourselves.
Start HERE
Max’s place has done a few posts here and I’d say take a look at the BBC article here
And pass the word along…
amm
Write On!
Until I was in my early twenties I must have had a couple of dozen Pen Pals from all around the world- of course the Internet changed all of that and now me and a few of my ” Pals” from the old days send mail via the Internet.
I think that e-mail changed the flavor of letters and only recently has some of that come back.
Another thing that changed was my stamp collection.
In ‘the day’ I’d save the envelope ( which we used to decorate ) with the stamp in the corner and I’d put them in these photo albums. Every once and awhile I’d go through them and think about how neat it was that I was writing to people in places like Scotland or Germany or somewhere here in the States.
Now days I have site meter- it’s not the same as the stamp, but on the other hand I can’t imagine that the kid I was would have guessed that one morning she’d wake up every morning to find that people from these places had read something she’d written.
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Canada | Winnipeg, Manitoba | |
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United States | Grand Rapids, Michigan | |
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United States | Oakland, California | |
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United States | Jacksonville, Florida | |
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United States | New York | |
|
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United Kingdom | London, London, City of | |
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Norway | Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag | |
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United Kingdom | ||
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Qatar | Doha, Ad Dawhah | |
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Romania | Constanta |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina | Ljubuski, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegov… | |
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United Kingdom | Barrow In Furness | |
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Czech Republic | Rudn, Stredocesky Kraj | |
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United States | Columbus, Georgia | |
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Italy | Rescaldina, Lombardia |
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Australia | Preston, Victoria |
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Netherlands | Zoetermeer, Zuid-Holland |
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Egypt | Cairo, Al Qahirah | |
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Germany | Recklinghausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen | |
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Hungary | Szeged | |
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Australia | ||
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Spain | Santa Brgida, Canarias | |
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United Kingdom | Elgin, Moray | |
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Australia | Busselton, Western Australia |
I don’t have the stamps anymore, but what I do have is a better understanding about communication- how important it is to ourselves that we are part of a community and that in that community we have a place and a voice.
It’s an important understanding to have.
Write On.
For A Good Time Call…
Hi God!
Betch’a missed me round the old Pearly Gates..ha, just kidding.
Like I’d hang out there- that Velvet Rope stuff is so elitist…
Instead I’ve been learning about what happens when the gene pool gets to shallow
so here we go
today I’m putting some of it in
GOD CHAT
Lord I wonder if you understand that if you want to scare people into being good you shouldn’t make them laugh…
When I was a kid my Mom used to threaten to spank us with this wooden spoon- which was pretty funny because she wasn’t into that spanking gig, plus by the time I was 10 I was five inches taller then her and my brother was this low functioning dweeb that would laugh at anything so the entire discipline thing sort of fell apart when she’d start screaming in her Hawaiian accent about how bad we were.
She sounded like one Betty Boop on speed.
So anyway God…if you want me to marvel at your works ( and not snicker ) don’t create people like the lot in Oregon ( God I do love those guys down there ) who ran around stealing Garden Gnomes and then they put all of gnomes ( all 75 ) on one lawn.
The Police took the Gnomes into custody…and if you’re missing one you can check their website- oh and just to show you this is real here’s the report and the pictures of the…um, victims- though the person who woke up to find these things staring into their windows will probably be in therapy for a very long time
SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
( hey that’s the town THE SIMPSONS are from!
amm )
______________________________________________________________________________
INCIDENT: CASE # Criminal Mischief/Found Property 07-10284
DATE/ TIME: 10/17/07 @ 1743 hours
LOCATION: ( deleted by amm )
______________________________________________________________________________
NARRATIVE OF INCIDENT: A resident of the Thurston area of Springfield called the Police on 10/17/07 to report that someone had placed numerous lawn ornaments in the yard of the residence sometime the previous evening. A Community Service Officer responded to the location and found approximately seventy five lawn ornaments placed in an orderly manner on and around the front lawn. These lawn ornaments were primarily animal and gnome type figurines and were likely taken from other residences at various times.
Springfield Property control personnel would like to return those items to the owners and have decided the most efficient way to do this would be to place photographs of the various ornaments on the Springfield Police web site, www.ci.springfield.or.us\police\media.htm.
If you received this by FAX and not e-mail, you may obtain photos by calling 726-3721
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Capt. Richard Harrison 726-3721
NEWS RELEASE COMPLETED BY: Brent Carpenter 726-2326
Now there’s a lot you gave us here to be thankful for in the Pacific Northwest Lord…and I look high and low for these things every day. I’m inclined to look low because you know…that’s the way I am.
This was a tough call though like is it high or lowbrow news?
See years ago I was in this accident on the freeway and the person who got their first was a Washington State Patrolman with freckles and he looked just like Ron Howard back when he was on ” Happy Days “.
I didn’t laugh at the way his voice cracked, or the way he called me ” Ma’am ” . Nope what got me was the little bow tie that’s part of the Washington State Patrol Uniform.
I think the guy on the Maytag Commericials wears the same one.
Anway.
I tried so hard not to laugh God…but I did.
And then I made up an excuse for my outburst of rapid fire snickers and snorts that shot snot straight out of my nose and all over my windshield.
I said I’d hit my head.
Okay it was a lie and I paid for it because as soon as that came out of my mouth everyone who was showing up ‘ at the scene ‘ took it very seriously. For me it was a night of X-Rays and being woken up every couple of hours to be asked if I knew what my name was.
So today I find out our Washington State Patrol…just look:
OLYMPIA, Wash. – It’s a look that lead-foot drivers know all too well: the crisp black bow tie and blue “Smokey Bear” hat of a Washington State Patrol trooper. And according to a national trade group, the outfits are the best-looking state police uniforms in the country
Quit toying with me God.
Okay, this deserves some sort of divine retribution on your part and I’m talking real Fire and Brimstone action on your part ( may I remind you that you only promised to not flood anybody anymore…I checked ).
The city of Mountlake Terrace is making a man scuttle a pirate ship he built for his kids in his yard.
According to our ahem our ” Code Enforcement Officers ” ( no I did NOT make that up…that’s what they’re called) it violates city building codes.
Heaven help us- it’s a Pirate Ship and unless it sails down the middle of the street and runs over one of my cats I don’t care what anyone puts in…
their own yard.
Especially if it’s something as awesome as a Pirate Ship….at least it’s not a giant garden gnome ( sorry…sorry….couldn’t resist ).
So there it is God….this is what you created right in front of my nose this week…other people may wonder why I pay attention to this and talk to you about it…
But what can I say- I love a good sense of humor.
Keep up the good works
See ya round
and
ahmmmennnn
Look What I Dug Up!
Tomorrow, Saturday, November 3, WNJ’s own Joanne Austin and Ryan Doan will be signing their book Weird Hauntings: True Tales of Ghostly Places, at the Barnes & Noble store in Howell from 2 to 4 PM. The store is located on the northbound side of Route 9.
NOW HERE’S A TASTE….READ THIS BOOK…IN THE DARK…I DARE YOU
amm
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Did You See That?
Just doing my part to spread the Halloween joy…
Here are some treats to get you in the Halloween Spirit
! enjoy !
For some Devilish Delights ( and I DO MEAN Devilish Delights)
visit
at
He says it’s all about Pies, but for real Tony loves that spooky stuff so check him out at Tales at Twilight
I AM NOT WORTHY I AM NOT WORTHY visit my heroes Mark and Mark at Weird New Jersey –they so rule.
And to get that little chill- you know the one that runs up and
down your spine just as the lights go off…
read Max’s Ghost Story
Want to see something really strange? Then vist the West Midland Ghost Club in the U.K. ….
or you could stay local like me and hang ( ha ) with the crew from A.P.A.R.T
ONE MORE DAY!
NOW GO FORTH AND HALLOWEEN….
In A Little Town North Of Seattle
I tried to explain to the guy on the bus that Lynnwood is all about shopping malls and Ford Explorers and Soccer Moms and Hockey Dads.
But he wasn’t having it.
He said Lynnwood is all about Power and Corruption and Crooked Cops and dames with big hair and blue eye shadow.
What’s this Coffee Swillin’ chump know I thought to myself?
He’s from Seattle and as far as he knows there’s nothing North of Seattle except for the Wilds of Canada and Lumber Jacks named Swede and one- eyed grizzly bears with attitude problems.
Coffee Boy smiled wished me well and got off at his stop
And then I saw this story staring up at me from the paper he left behind and I thought to myself
He may be right….
I.B.
WE GOT UPDATES HERE!
FBI seizes handgun, cash in Lynnwood police investigation
Seattle Times staff reporter
The FBI has seized a handgun that was reported missing from the Lynnwood Police Department’s evidence room as well as cash during a search this week of the home of a deputy chief under investigation for theft, according to court documents.
A search-warrant return filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday says FBI agents seized money, a .38-caliber revolver, financial records, shredded documents, police paperwork and pipes, powder and a scale from the Everett home of Deputy Chief Paul Watkins.
The serial numbers on the revolver match those of a handgun that was among evidence checked out from Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office by Watkins in 2002, according to the FBI. The evidence package also contained more than $14,000 cash and two grams of cocaine, the search warrant application alleges.
The amount of cash seized from Watkins’ home is not included on the search-warrant return, which is an accounting of items taken during the search.
The search warrant alleges that Watkins told the Police Department’s evidence officers that he would release the money to its rightful owners, but no paperwork tracking the money was ever completed and no receipts were found.
The evidence had been originally seized by Lynnwood police during a 1996 drug bust, the search warrant alleges.
Watkins, 50, has been placed on paid administrative leave. Evidence against the longtime Lynnwood officer is now being presented to a grand jury, according to a source. No criminal charges have been filed.
Watkins could not be reached for comment. The Lynnwood Police Department has declined to comment.
According to court documents, Watkins served as the department’s commander of the Investigations Division from 2001 to 2004 where he oversaw property seized from criminal suspects. During that period, Watkins flouted department policy by having officers turn over directly to him cash that had been seized by police and was due to be returned to its original owners, the search warrant alleges.
When asked about the missing package in May, Watkins said he recalled bringing the package of cash, handguns and cocaine from the prosecutor’s office to the evidence room at the department, but said he failed to log it in properly.
The search warrant also details six additional instances between 2001 and 2005 in which Watkins allegedly kept seized cash that he was supposed to return to its owners.
According to the search warrant, the FBI was asked by Lynnwood police to investigate Watkins after an internal audit showed that cash released to him between 2001 and 2005 could not be accounted for.
The search warrant also says that Watkins and his wife have filed for bankruptcy four times in recent years and that on several occasions Watkins made cash deposits to his bank account on the same days that he claimed to have returned seized funds.
Irregular Bones 
