Two weeks ago I announced the expectance of grandchildren (twins). It turns out there will only be one. One decided to go to heaven early. But the little person is doing well, 14 weeks and the heart is beating strong and organs are forming on schedule. So we've gone through a little adjustment period and now little mamma is gaining weight on schedule and feeling well. She looks good too. Thanks for the well-wishes and keep a pray in your heart.

MC, I'm sorry to hear that. News like that is always hard to take and I hope that your daughter bears it well. It's encouraging to read, though, that she is doing well physically (as is the baby).

Have you started writing a song for the baby yet?

Thoughts and prayers, MC. May God keep you all in His tender light.

MC,

I am so sorry to hear about your Grandbaby. But what a comforting thought knowing that your Grandbaby is with our Father and the Angels in Heaven. I will keep your family in my prayers. Will this be your first Grandbaby?

MC, what a mixed bag of news for you and your family. While loss is so incomprehensible, I'm so happy that your daughter and the surviving twin are growing well. May she continue to blossom!

I asked the same question, and received horrified looks from soccer parents, like I was the Unabomber. I always felt that the soccer crowd here in central PA feels superior to those playing other sports.

The picture of the team holding up the state championship trophy is memorable because nobody was smiling. I agree that the championship game is supposed to be played to a conclusion. There are great lessons to be learned from working hard all year to reap an ultimate reward, and an even greater lesson to be learned by working as equally hard, only to fall a bit short of the ultimate goal.

Sorry about the loss, MC. I hope your daughter feels well and strong. Best wishes to you all.

Thanks for the well-wishes everyone. Little Mom is doing great. If it wasn't for modern science we would never have known about the twin. Its called the "Vanishing Twin Syndrome". Its not uncommon. Before the age of sonogram there were probably more twin pregnancies that were not known by the doctor or parents. The twin gets absorb by the mother or forms into a papery membrane that is part of the birth of the healthy baby. (See we know too much). There are multiple reasons why the twin doesn't develop; nutrition, lack of placenta formation, competition, etc.

So, on we go.

Wayne County Treasurer wants his bonus.
Bonus Time!

Two noteworthy stories from New York:

1. {copied from the Channel 4 NBC site): Two New York City EMT's accused of walking away from a pregnant woman who collapsed and later died have been suspended, city officials said today.
The two fire department employees, Jason Green, 32, of Long Island City and Melissa Jackson, 32, of Queens Village, were suspended without pay as the investigation continues into allegations they refused to help the woman because they were on break and wanted to eat breakfast. Mayor Bloomberg called the EMTs actions 'unconscionable." When asked if "burnout" might have been a factor, the Mayor said,"Burnout? They were sitting there having coffee. How could they be burnt out? They're human beings. Somebody is dying down the street and (people) say help them and they just sat there."

Eutisha Rennix and the baby she was three months from delivering died during the Dec. 9 incident. Witnesses said the emergency workers were on break ordering breakfast at the Metro-tech Center Au Bon Pain restaurant where Rennix worked as a cashier. She collapsed in a woman's bathroom and several workers and customers asked the EMT workers for help. Instead, they said they walked out of the store telling them to call 9-1-1.

2. Rudy Guiliani announced he will NOT run for the U.S. Senate (from NY) in the 2010 election. Polls have him winning the election by double digits and personally, I can't see how he could lose against the Democrat incumbent who replaced Hillary Clinton.

"America's Favorite Mayor" will stay in his lucrative security business, and some have been saying he will never again seek political office.

I was so shocked when I saw both of these on the news today, SC. How can any human being sit there while a woman is dying and sip their coffee?? It's unconscionable. That poor young girl, just trying to make a living for her and her unborn child.

The Giuliani story REALLY shocked me. I figured that he could win this Senate race, no sweat. The story going around is that he didn't want to be painted with the Kerik brush.

I think those EMTs have worked their last day in their field. It's hard to imagine how reprehensible that conduct is.

Did these EMT workers say "why" they just walked away? That's so unbelievable. I can't imagine anyone being so cold.

As far as Guiliani goes, he didn't do all that well running for President. I know he is loved by many, but maybe he just doesn't want to run or maybe he's afraid someone somewhere has some dirt on him. Although as a politician he should be prepared for that.


TIS

No argument there, klyd, but I have a legal question that perhaps you could answer.

I suspect the victim's family will be suing the City. Now, considering that the EMTs were on a break, I figure they were technically off-duty. Could the City still be held responsible?

In many scenarios municipalities are immune from liability. But this immunity is often inapplicable in cases of gross negligence or intentional acts. I don't think the fact that they were techically off duty would save them as I think their conduct still violated a duty of care. Liability isn't my forte, and I'm not too familiar with New York practice. Maybe DT can help out.

A local political consultant who is already charged with corruption and bribery in two separate federal cases, now also faces State charges of felonious assault. His girlfriend, who is a former State Representative and co-defendant in the federal cases, came home to find the consultant in bed with another woman. Allegedly she got a camera to document what was taking place. The consultant pointed a shotgun at her and cocked it.

Sam Riddle Bond

updated 5:51 p.m. CT, Wed., Dec . 23, 2009
KERRVILLE, Texas - Prosecutors planned to review the case of a woman authorities claim has called 911 30 times over six months for non-emergency reasons, including a call to complain that her husband refused to eat his dinner.

Last Friday, the woman allegedly made a pair of calls to 911, including a hang-up and another where a woman was heard screaming.

Police were dispatched to the residence and officer Paul Gonzales said she told police that "her husband did not want to eat his supper." A police report said the 53-year-old woman was also yelling "about things that happened two weeks ago."

I can imagine 911 gets a lot of calls from mentally unbalanced people, as well as really dumb people. I'll bet this lady is a little off. Ya think???

A while back I heard them play a tape from a woman who called 911 from a McDonalds (or some fast food chain) because they wouldn't make her burger the way she wanted them to. The 911 operator kept telling her that's not an emergency. Unbeleieveable.

TIS

Passenger allegedly tried to blow up plane. This plane was arriving in Metro Airport from Amsterdam.

Passenger Tried to ignite device

I just now saw this story Lilo. I am hearing conflicting reports though via CNN & MSN. Some report this guy as being Al Queda, others sites don't mention it. Some say he tried to light firecrackers, and another report says they were more than just firecrackers, they were explosives.

At any rate, thank God they contained him and nobody was hurt.


TIS

The ABC website says that he is a Nigerian national and was claiming to be directed by Al-Quaeda. It's not clear from his name if he is an indigenous or naturalized Nigerian. In any event one would want to know how he got whatever device he was supposedly trying to ignite past security in Amsterdam. That's the most important thing.

ABC Link

Suspect is Bank Chairman's son

Passengers Describe Situation

Randy Quaid Arrested with Wife in Texas - Plea Deal?

By Philippa Bourke Dec 26, 2009

Randy Quaid and his wife, Evi, pleaded not guilty to felony fraud charges at a Santa Barbara Superior Court earlier this week. The Quaids were taken into custody in Texas earlier after failing to show up for their court dates.

After 3 break-ins, Detroit man calmly shoots, kills intruder, cops say
By TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Tigh Croff’s home in Detroit had been broken into three times in the last week.

So when he found two men in his backyard on the block of Manistique at 12:30 a.m. Monday, the east-side resident — who is licensed to carry a gun — gave chase, Detroit police said.

One man got away. The other stopped running, turned around, put his hands up and, according to a police source, taunted the 31-year-old homeowner.

“What are you going to do?” Herbert Silas of Detroit reportedly asked, his hands still in the air. “Shoot me?”

“Absolutely,” Croff told investigators he replied before pulling the trigger, the source said. Silas was hit once in the chest, killing him.

Silas, 53, was unarmed when he was fatally shot, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Maria Miller said Tuesday.

Croff now faces charges of second-degree murder and felony firearm, Miller said. He is set to be arraigned at noon Wednesday in Detroit’s 36th District Court.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said today that more facts will come out in court.

We have sound reasons for charging the defendant as we did," Worthy said. "All the relevant evidence will be presented in court.”

Detroit police spokesman John Roach would not discuss specifics of the shooting. The phone number listed for Croff’s home was disconnected.

This reminds me of my Great-Uncle Wooly. He had one of the few cars during the Depression. On an almost daily basis, the neighbor's kid would jump up and down in front of Uncle Wooly's car and chant, "You can't run me over! You can't run me over!"

One day, Uncle Wooly hit him with the car.

And the following day there was a headline: "Wooly Bully Run In"

...did he have two big horns and a wooly jaw?

This is getting a lot of discussion on local radio.

School: 9/11 wear was a mistake
9/11 hoodies

That's fucking awful. It may as well be the likeness of an airplane intead of a bird .

I know, I know, freedom of expression and all that, but I find it very upsetting.