Reflections From a Murky Pond

On Monday, May 10, 2010 the legendary artist Frank Frazetta died of a stroke at the age of 82 in hospital near his home in Boca Grande, FL. Our world has grown just a bit more drab and dreary with the passing of Mr. Frazetta who was one of the true greats of 20th century art and who inspired so very many people over the course of his life and career.

He had been heroically battling severe and chronic illness for well over a decade. Sadly, this last stroke was just too much – even for him.

Frank Frazetta painted heroes defending fair damsels from the very spawn of Hell and inspired whole generations of artists, game designers, writers, musicians, and film makers with his works over his 40+ year career. Yet, in many ways Frank was every bit as much of a hero as the characters he brought to life with his brush and his fire. When the strokes took his good right hand – think about that – he trained himself to paint with left and kept on going, indomitable and passionate.

But, while I’m saddened by his passing out of our lives, I’m not too shocked that Frank finally laid down his arms and his brush and let the reaper claim him. In July of 2009 Frank’s great love, muse, and wife of 53 years, Ellie, died after a long battle with cancer. With his children long grown and with families of their own it’s not odd or shocking that chose to follow Ellie.

One of Frank & Ellie’s Wedding Photos From 1956

People can, have, and will continue to write volumes about Frank Frazetta and his wife and partner, Ellie. I’m not really up to that challenge right now. But they say that picture is worth a thousands words, so below are 18 thousands worth worth of tribute and eulogy.

 

A Very Small Sampling of Frank Frazetta’s Artwork

Frank, may you find fair winds and following seas under whatever strange and wondrous stars you and Ellie find yourselves. If you run into to David and Leigh, please say hello for me.

America was founded through war and suffering upon the concept of personal liberty. Sadly, since then our culture has been infected with a creeping desire to surrender that liberty to the state in order to be protected from the actions of others and of ourselves.

We have slid far down the slope into tyranny, and few seem intelligent enough to even notice it.

All fear the jackbooted thugs of the dictator, but so many in America gladly accept the more kindly face that despotism normally wears.

When a Texas third-grader get’s a week’s detention, during which she would be separated from other students during lunch and recess, for possessing a Jolly Rancher hard candy, it’s a stark warning sign that the Nanny State is firmly entrenched in the country.

Reported by KHOU:

ORCHARD, Texas – A third-grader at Brazos Elementary was given a week’s detention for possessing a Jolly Rancher.

School officials in Brazos County are defending the seemingly harsh sentence. The school’s principal and superintendent said they were simply complying with a state law that limits junk food in schools.

But the girl’s parents say it’s a huge overreaction.

“I think it’s stupid to give a kid a week’s worth of detention for a piece of candy,” said Amber Brazda, the girl’s mother. “The whole thing was just ridiculous to me.”

Leighann Adair, 10, was eating lunch Monday when a teacher confiscated the candy. Her parents said she was in tears when she arrived home later that afternoon and handed them the detention notice.

According to the disciplinary referral, she would be separated from other students during lunch and recess through Friday.

Jack Ellis, the superintendent for Brazos Independent School District, declined an on-camera interview. But he said the school was abiding by a state guideline that banned “minimal nutrition” foods.

“Whether or not I agree with the guidelines, we have to follow the rules,” he said.

The state, however, gives each school discretion over how to enforce the policy. Ellis said school officials had decided a stricter punishment was necessary after lesser penalties failed to serve as a deterrent.

Ellis said failing to adhere to the state’s guidelines could put federal funding in jeopardy.

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s website, “The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (TPSNP) explicitly states that it does not restrict what foods or beverages parents may provide for their own children’s consumption.”

Brazos Elementary Principal Jeanne Young, said the problem, in this instance, was that the candy was provided by another student – not the girl’s parents.

The girl’s mother said the incident has taught her daughter a lesson, but not the one her teachers intended.

“I told her, ‘Leighann, unfortunately you’re learning very young that life’s not fair,’” Brazda said.

— Gabe Gutierrez
KHOU News 11, Houston, TX

So the Food Police at Brazos Elementary gave the ten year-old Leighann Adair a week’s detention for “possession of minimal nutrition food.” One has to wonder if the student who gave her the Jolly Rancher got worse due to harsher sentencing for “possession with intent to distribute” and if young Ms. Adair could have gotten a lighter sentence by identifying her “dealer” to the authorities.

Brazos Elementary school officials have defended their actions against Leighann Adair as being required by- and consistent with Texas state laws; they were just following orders from the Nanny State after all. In this they are actually correct.

Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (TPSNP) Update

SY 2009-2010 TPSNP Amendments will be effective August 1, 2009. Highlights of the Amendments include:

• Nutrition Standards: Schools must eliminate deep-fat frying as a method of on-site preparation for foods served as part of reimbursable school meals, a la carte, snack lines and competitive foods. Transition period for extensive equipment or facility changes ends.
• Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV): High Schools my not serve or provide access for students to FMNV and all other forms of candy at any time anywhere on school premises until the end of the last scheduled class.

Complete details and information pertaining to the SY 2009-10 Amendments are available here: Texas Public School Nutrition Policy – SY 2009 – 10 Amendment – Effective August 1, 2009

As I have said before, the Liberals seek to enact a “nanny state” whose despotism will wear a kindly face, but whose iron fist will strike as hard as any other tyrant’s. Even worse, as they have so often in the past, they have come first for America’s children since they are well acquainted with Lenin’s words, “Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.”

The question before Americans is do we have the conviction and the will to do what is necessary to stop them.

The upcoming 2010 elections are quit important in America. This time especially they’ll help shape the future of our country. As such the results are of great importance to many of us.

2010 Election Results – Who should be 2010 Playmate of the Year?

Yes, it’s that time of year again: time to reveal who was voted 2010’s Playmate of the Year. On May 14 it will be revealed who is the 2010 Playmate of the Year, chosen by Hugh Hefner based on a poll of Playboy’s readers.

What? You thought I was talking about the 2010 mid-term Congressional elections?

Today, Thursday, May 6, 2010 was America’s National Day of Prayer for 2010. It was a day of moderate social importance but somewhat greater political importance as are so many things in this modern world.

Even President Obama got involved in the National Day of Prayer.

President Obama Observing The National Day of Prayer

Of course, since religious and spiritual matters are a very personal matter except when they turn into violent extremism and terrorism, we shouldn’t really comment overmuch on President Obama’s devotions. 😉

Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-born naturalized American citizen decided to turn jihadi and join the ranks of Muslim terrorists who plague the Civilized World.  On Saturday, May 1, 2010 Shahzad drove a SUV loaded with improvised explosives into Times Square in NYC and tried to explode it amid the crowd of New Yorkers and tourists, which would have resulted in mass civilian casualties.

Fortunately Shahzad’s training by the Taliban in his home nation of Pakistan didn’t seem to include adequate training in such improvised munitions. The car bomb failed to detonate and within hours the FBI apprehended Faisal Shahzad.

Federal prosecutors have filed a five (5) count indictment against charges against Shahzad on Tuesday, May 4, 2010  in U.S. District Court of Southern New York: attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, use of a destructive device in connection with criminal violence, transporting and receiving explosives, and damaging and destroying property by means of fire.

These are five very serious federal crimes. When – there’s no point in bothering with the fantasy of saying “if” – the filthy, failed jihadi terrorist is convicted he will face life in prison, mostly likely effectively without any possibility of parole.

Yet the single most applicable and important federal charge against Faisal Shahzad is sadly and conspicuously missing from the indictment. That is the charge of treason under Title 18, Part I, Chapter 115, § 2381 of the US Code.

Title 18, Part I, Chapter 115, § 2381. Treason

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

The 30 year-old Faisal Shahzad moved from Pakistan to America 12 years ago, studied for and recieved his MBA here in America and, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in April 2009. Shahzad certainly owed allegiance to the US – in the truest sense of that word; he had a debt to America that he should have spent his life trying to pay off.

That’s apparently not how Shahzad saw things. He was seemingly more than happy to enjoy the freedoms and comforts of America but felt know loyalty to the people and nation who were gracious enough to allow him to join them. He chose instead to levy war against them, adhere to their enemies, and give those enemies aid. He chose the path of Muslim jihad.

So why hasn’t US Attorney General Eric Holder instructed the federal prosecutors in this case: Brendan McGuire, John Cronan, and Randall Jackson to include the charge of treason in the indictment? Why hasn’t President Obama instructed his boy, Holder to do so?

Both were quick to defend offering Faisal the protections under the law that even Shahzad deserved as a American citizen, but neither seems willing actually fully apply the law to him.

Trying, convicting, and executing the jihadi, Faisal Shahzad for treason would send a clear and strong message to America’s enemies, both within and without the borders of our country. I just hope that fact is not the reason why neither President Obama nor his Attorney General, Eric Holder want to do so.