And On A Lighter Note . . .

Hello again, Hello.

Evelyn here,

the above greeting is from a great song, but I cannot think of its title. However, after so much heavy stuff (entries), I have something to that will lighten the mood.  I have received the long awaited news that the second season of my newly beloved series is now in production. Those of you who have been following my entries know that I am speaking of HBO's newest and hottest series "ROME".  Earlier this year, I posted my short review of the series, but this time I am posting an excerpt from information I have received.

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THE ROME NEWSLETTER

ROME Begins Production of second season

HBO's epic drama series ROMESM has begun production on its ten-episode second season, it was announced by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Filming of the new episodes will continue at Rome's Cinecitta Studios through next October, with debut set for 2007.

"This exciting series offers a spectacle unlike anything else on TV," noted Strauss. "The new episodes of ROME will go deeper into the intriguing characters and provocative storylines that made the first season a hit with critics and subscribers."

Chronicling the fall of a republic and the rise of an empire, the first season of ROME wrapped last December. TV Guide hailed it as a "feast for the eyes" and a "ripping good story," as well as a "shamelessly enjoyable historical romp," while the Washington Post described the series as "ravishing and wickedly shocking," and "a feast for the senses that includes generous portions of food for thought." In addition, ROME receivedtwo Golden Globe® nominations: Best Television Series - Drama and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama (Polly Walker).

 

HBO Online Communications
Home Box Office, Inc.

 

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Well, from the above  debut date (2007) we "ROME" fans still have a wait before we can shamelessly enjoy the series and all it historical and pagan-ish glamour. 

 

Evelyn out.

 

House Bill 761 Passes Into Law

Hello everyone,

 

Evelyn here again,

 

with the following update   on HB 761 "Safe Shelter" bill.  This excerpt is from Attorney General Charlie Crist News Release, dated April 25, 2006.

 

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Crist Praises Unanimous Passage of “Safe Shelter” Bill in House

 

TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist today praised the Florida House of Representatives for its unanimous approval of the "Safe Shelter" bill, which would significantly increase penalties for anyone who trespasses at a domestic violence shelter.

 

 The goal of the bill, sponsored by Representative Jennifer Carroll, is to keep abusers away from those they have victimized by making the shelters more secure for their inhabitants. The bill, which has been endorsed by the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence and numerous law enforcement entities, was approved by the House 117-0. Under the legislation, violators would face up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine, a significant enhancement from the current penalty of no more than a $1,000 fine.

 

 "Shelters are intended to provide victims with a safe haven from those who have harmed them," said Crist. "Domestic violence victims should not have to worry about being victimized twice. I encourage the Senate to give this good bill swift approval."

 

 The Senate bill is sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano.

 

 

Charlie Crist

Attorney General

News Release

 

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Evelyn out.

Prom Night Smarts with Protext

Hello everyone,

Evelyn here,

The following is from the Attorney General Charles Crist's New Release, dated April 27, 2006. It is about Protext which is pormoted by Century Council and Teen Arrive Alive. There are also a web link for more information.

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Crist Encourages Parents To Promote Safe Prom Experience

 

      TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist today announced a free service for parents of teenagers attending their high school’s annual prom. Parents can register through a website and send their teen a free text message expressing those parents’ desire that prom night be an enjoyable but safe experience.

 

            Promtext is an endeavor by the Century Council and Teen Arrive Alive. Parents can visit the Century Council’s website and register for the free text message, which will be sent to teens through their cell phones (if they are equipped to receive text messages). The message will be properly timed in order to assist each teen in making the right choice to staysafe and don’t drink.

 

            "Prom night is an exciting time for our high school students and their parents," said Crist. "It is also one of the more dangerous evenings of their lives. Promtext allows parents to reach their sons and daughters at an important time when some will be under peer pressure to use alcohol – with potentially catastrophic consequences."

 

            Proms are a regular feature in Florida communities from the end of April throughout the month of May. These events and post-prom activities mostly occur without incident, but some teenagers have been involved in alcohol-related crashes with devastating or lethal consequences. A reminder from those who care most about their teenager can potentially save lives.

 

            "The message is simple," said Crist. "Teens should hear their parent’s voice when reading a text message reminding them to ‘Make the Right Choice, Stay Safe, Don't Drink Under 21.’ That’s good advice whether spoken or written."

 

            The Century Council, based in Washington, D.C., is known for its mission of "Fighting drunk driving and underage drinking." Teen Arrive Alive is a web-based service committed to saving lives by assisting teens in making the right decisions about alcohol consumption.

 

            Parents may register for Promtext by visiting the Century Council’s website at:

www.centurycouncil.org/promtext/index.php

 

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Evelyn out.

Swerving Driver

Hello everyone,

Evelyn here,

The corner that I wrote about in my previous entries is still the source of many of the problems that affect my street and, to my surprise, extends along its side street. I have often asked the Jesus why some people seeks to make problems for others to only fall from grace in my direction. The Lord knows that I am not looking for them, but there they are trying to intimidate and bully an innocent out of exposing evil when they where not even on the list or where unknown for whatever they wished to hide.

Too religious, well this should help. The bad asses on that corner and apparently the bad asses that I knew nothing about tried to intimidate me yesterday by swerving a car in front of me. The driver might have gotten away with it had he not driven into his driveway before I even passed him.

I think the above incident falls under the heading of what I have heard called "Dumb Crimes.” If he was trying to warn me away, he failed. I knew of him or those of his household. He has only made me suspicious of him and those who were in his car. This all happened as I was returning to work from spending my lunch hour at home.

 The avenue behind me is not happy in knowing that I writing about happen here, some one has to say something. At least one household was openly trying to harassing shortly after I got my car, but report that situation to the police department.

I am not trying to make anyone happy by reporting this situation, but as a resident and home owner on this street, I am very fed up with the people that living of that corner and their activities. They moved in and brought with them their crime, their illegal drugs, and their brutally. They care noting for this neighborhood and some have never cared for the fact that I have tried in the past to keep this and other types of crimes out of our area, only to have myself be mock, laughed at, harassed my son harassed and mistreated and lied too about my intentions toward our neighbors. My family was torn apart because of people wanting to hide their illegal drug sell activities. To stop it I attempted to get a Crime Prevention Program started in here, but as I started before I was mocked and harassed and I and my family has been subject to the same mistreatment ever since. 

Back then, I was not supported. Today support is not the issue. Safer streets are the issue. I was told some months ago that there is a crime watch program in action here, but it not working for those of us who are tired of the harassment of crime and the illegal drugs sale.

Someone said that I awoke a sleeping lion, but truth is that the people selling these drugs believed that they bullied and cowered the residents of my street and probably this neighborhood enough that they felt safe to carry on with their illegal activities. However, I am not backing down and I believe that am not alone in wanting safer, quieter, drug-free streets.

For those to mistakingly believe that the trafficking, selling and use of illegal drugs carries no consequences, I want to add this excerpt from the Attorney General Charles Crist New Release dated April 28, 2006.

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Miami-Dade Jury Convicts Marijuana Trafficker

 

            TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist today announced the conviction of a Broward County man for trafficking in 654 pounds of marijuana. Howard Reynolds was found guilty by a Miami-Dade County jury and was immediately taken into custody. The case was prosecuted by Crist’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

 

            Reynolds, 31, of Hollywood, was involved in a drug trafficking ring that brought large amounts of marijuana to Florida from Los Angeles. He was arrested in February 2003 after he and co-defendant Christopher Solomon went to a warehouse near Miami International Airport to pick up a shipment of 654 pounds of marijuana, valued at more than $500,000. Solomon was also arrested, but fled the country after posting bond and remains a fugitive.

 

            "Many problems faced by society can be traced to illegal drug use," said Crist.  "Those who traffic in illegal drugs must pay a steep price."

 

            Paperwork found on Reynolds and in his van at the time of his arrest suggest he was involved in trafficking more than 10 tons of freight, which may have been marijuana, between October 2000 and February 2003.

 

            Reynolds was found guilty of trafficking in cannabis and conspiracy to commit trafficking in cannabis, both first-degree felonies. He faces up to 60 years in prison. Sentencing will be announced on May 31.

 

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Although this happened in other county, it can very well happen here.

 

Evelyn out.

 

Religious Freedom

Hello everyone,

 

Evelyn here,

 

The following is a excerpt from  Attorney General's News Briefs - "AGNews".  It is from the April 14, 2006 issue. I also emailed this excerpt to some special friends.

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Message from Attorney General Charlie Crist


In ceremonies in Miami this week, some 12,000 people from more than
100 nations raised their right hands, swore their allegiance to the
United States and became American citizens.

These ceremonies made a compelling statement about the lure of freedom
as practiced here in the United States. The same appeal of liberty is
behind the current debate over federal immigration policy, as
literally millions of men, women and children seek out a better life
in the home of the free.

This week’s naturalization ceremonies serve as a poignant backdrop as
millions of Floridians exercise the very freedom that led Europeans to
settle these shores in the first place - the freedom of each
individual to practice the religion of his or her choice.

In two days, some 14.5 million Floridians who identify themselves as
Christians will celebrate Easter, the holiday at the core of their
faith. Two days ago, approximately 700,000 Jewish Floridians observed
the beginning of the Passover festival, commemorating the freedom of
the Israelites from bondage in ancient Egypt.

Regardless of an individual’s particular religious beliefs, we all
can
agree that the freedom to worship as one chooses is what sets our
nation apart. It is no accident that our Founding Fathers placed the
guarantee of religious freedom into the very first amendment to the
U.S. Constitution. With that in mind, we should all take a moment to
remember those brave American men and women of all faiths who are
fighting around the world to protect for our freedom.

Springtime brings renewal to our state, offering sights, sounds and
fragrances that were dormant through the cooler winter months. In the
same way, this week bring a spiritual renewal to the millions of
Floridians celebrating holidays of particular significance to their
faiths.

I wish each of you a joyous holiday.


Charlie Crist

 

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Evelyn out.

Attorney General's News Briefs - "AGNews Update"

Below is an update on the passing of the  HB 919-False Witness bill into law which makes it a crime punishable by law for relatives and/or others to protect a suspect
from an on going investigation by officers of the law.

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"An AGNews Update"

This morning, the Florida Legislature took an important step forward
in protecting public safety when the Senate unanimously passed our the
False Witness bill, less than 24 hours after the House recorded its
own unanimous approval. This bill will make it a criminal offense for
anyone to knowingly provide false or misleading information to law
enforcement officers as they conduct felony or missing person
investigations.

The need for the bill was made clear when authorities were
investigating the disappearance of Jessica Lunsford last year.
Relatives of the man eventually charged with Jessica's abduction and
brutal murder did not provide authorities with information regarding
his whereabouts, thwarting any chance law enforcement might have had
of finding Jessica alive. Prosecutors concluded they had no avenue to
charge the relatives under existing Florida law, but the False Witness
bill will change that by subjecting violators to up to a year in jail
and a $1,000 fine.

I wish to commend the sponsors, Senator Jeff Atwater and
Representatives Michael Grant and Charlie Dean, for their hard work
guiding this bill through the Legislature. I look forward to the day
Governor Bush signs it into law.


Charlie Crist

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A Bitter Pill on The Job

Hello everyone,

Evelyn here,

One note about the problems I have had on the job. Well, shortly after I was hired a woman was hired that turned out to be related to one of the families on the corner where drugs have been sold. She has tried on more than one occasions to create an incident by saying things she felt would upset me enough to lash back at her, but I had already reported her presence to a superior so my saying anything to cause further upset was not necessary.

However, since I have been reporting and writing about the illegal drugs sold on the corner, she has tried to cause even more trouble. When she started working on the job, I knew she would try to cause trouble eventually, but I believed that she should have a fair chance to prove me wrong. She has only proved me right. Her latest harassments are being reported also.

Last night was a prime example of how badly the pushers want that corner back. I believe they are responsible for a black car that was parked in the middle of the street, which is the street between two of three houses that they live in. It is a dark street and anyone driving and turning onto that corner from the opposite avenue would have driven straight into the back of it. A driver would have has to be quick and turned sharply either to the right or the left of the street as well as driven onto a lawn to avoid hitting the car. There was no other way around it. 

Fortunately, I came around the other entrance to the street. When I noticed the black car sitting where it sat, I did not understand the purpose, but early today I did mentioned it to someone who said, "It sounds like an insurance thing". An insurance scam. I believe that person is right, and I believe that a great deal of vengeful motivation went into planning it.

Many people drive from that opposite avenue and onto that corner. Whoever owns that black car whether he/she/they were seeking revenge, insurance money or both did not think of the multitude of people who use that street. It could have been one of their youth racing around it. Several times in the past week, I have heard someone loud and insanely riding a motorcycle around these streets. Nevertheless, I do not think the driver of the black car was being carelessness. I think they sought revenge and that the insurance money wouldhave been a bonus. In short, they had a plan.

This is strange but for some odd reason they have come to believe that the police department will not step in and arrest them. All I can impart on this kind of thinking is, “Do not listen the rumor mill.” The police department knows without a doubt that I, for one, want the illegal drugs off these streets as well as the harassment stopped. If it takes arresting a few of them, let it be so. They want me to stop writing of this. I will not. They want that corner back for their dubious purposes. I, for one, say “NO.”

For those who wanted to know, I sleep well.

 

Bullies And The Fight Against Illegal Drugs: An Update

Hello everyone,

 

Evelyn here,

 

With another update on the illegal drug sale on the corner of my street and the people who have done the selling. These are rough customers, yet I believe that reporting and publicly denouncing their illegal activities is the way to stop the drug sales as well as the commotion that goes on at the corner.

 

They are trying to maintain that corner and have tried to create more than one trouble situation for me. However, this is the time for the other families who want the illegal drugs sale on ours street to stop, and particularly that corner, to step up and voice their complaints to the police department. I have and I made it clear that I do not like the sale of these drugs, the harm that the pushers have done to this block and neighborhood, and the harm they have done to the families who have tried to stop them. 

 

Will the other residents speak out? I do not know, but I for one want a drug free neighborhood and since the sellers of these drugs are trying to sell on my street it must stop here on this block – on this avenue. 

 

The habit of these pushers so far has been to go from corner to another corner to sell their illegal drugs. Generally, the residents of one avenue push them to another avenue or block, but this method solves nothing, and the pushers then attempt to control to the new block. If the residents of the new block turns a blind eye to what is happening, out of fear or because they are part of the situation, the pushers gain control of the street and the selling of the illegal drugs begin again. Meanwhile the residents on the previous block breathe a sigh of relief because they feel that they do not have to deal with the drug problem any longer. 

 

This is just passing the problem on to others, and makes the pushers meaner and more determine to control the new block.

 

It is important to realize and accept that the illegal sale of drugs is a neighborhood problem and that each resident must step forward to help stop it. There are agencies in the city that can help. The local government can help organize a formal march against the selling of the drugs; a report of each incident of suspicious activities at and around the pushers home. This can be frequent activities at odd hours -- the night or day, Moreover, report every attempt to harass, harm and/or in the case of what I experienced of late, attempts to create an incident that would bring the police to question the one attempting to stop the illegal actions. An example but a true incident is one male of their group jumping in front of my car this weekend. I was driving to church. However, I also saw him milled together and thought something was about to occur before it happen. I also saw the people who try to protect them, so I knew that what occurred was a setup. I reported it.

My point in this is that not everyone can be trusted, and I do not advise doing so. A lot can be done anonymously to stop the sale of these illegal drugs if a fear of retaliation is a factor. They have attempted to cause my problems on the job and with in the neighborhood, but they were reported and they can be stopped and so can the selling of their drugs.

 

When I first wrote this someone was playing very loud music from a vehicle. This is one was they harass the families living here, and to my knowledge, no one has picked up a phone to report the driver of the vehicle. The families here are mistaken if they think the drug problem will go away or that the pushers have not or will not harm them or affect their lives in anyway. They already have, and because the pushers want to maintain control over this area, the selling of illegal drug here will not get better by ignoring it. 

 

This is the time to get rid of this illegal drug problem. The pushers want to be your friend for their own selfish reason. I am sure some of them have children, but so do you. So why should your hard earned money go to provide for their children, and their needs while children and you go without?

 

These are the facts, harsh but true. 

 

Evelyn out.

Nice Sunday

Hello everyone,

Evelyn here,

I have spent the day as unproductive as I could get and still managed to be busy. I think that is my polite way of saying that I tried to be as lazy as I possibly could on such a beautiful Saturday.  I spent a great part of the day searching the Web, checking my favorite sites and answering and/or sending email and just generally having cyber fun. I consider the time I spend on the Web as a great pastime to watching TV, although I did a little of that also. 

Nevertheless, I did manage to drag myself from the bondage of my computer for a short while to attend a Seder dinner at my parish. The Seder observance is a wonderful spiritual reenactment (with parishioners’ participation) of Passover. It also gave one a good idea of what the observance meant to those freed from the slavery of Egypt in Moses time, and of what Last Supper might have been like for Jesus and the Apostles.

Overall, I am back and adding some entries that I really wanted to post on the Web site version this blog, but I am not able to do at this time.

There is no category for my particular mood today, so "unhurried" is a good description of how I have felt and behaved.

Evelyn out.

 

Xena Wins Third Place - You Go Girl!

Hello everyone,

Evelyn here,

Being a forever Xena Warrior Princess fan, I am posting the following link to the Barbie Bazaar online magazine, http://www.barbiebazaar.com/. After clicking on the "BMAA" link on the left side of the page, you will find that the Xena Warrior Princess' doll won third place in the History Category of the 2006 BMAA Doll Contest. (I cast my vote for it, and now I feel very proud). Another favorite of mine is the Johnny Depp' s Jack Sparrow doll in the Celerity Category which won first place.

Great Stuff!

Evelyn out.

Battling Bullies -Protectors of Sellers and Users and of Illegal Drugs

Hello

Evelyn here,

I defending myself from our local bullies. You know the types. The ones who manage to stay low key until some else want to push someone around by intimidating them. Yes, it would seem that our little illegal drug pushers are trying to shut the old girl up with threats and other unsavory tactics,  I strongly suspect their threats and other destructive behavior has worked well on many in the years they have lived among us. 

However, I have grown up since my last encounter with them a few years back, and the fact that they have remained in operation all this time is proof of how prettily them have gotten around our local P. D. It also speaks of how, sadly, there been no banning together of neighbors to get rid of the drugs. You might not be able to rid yourself of the people selling the drugs, but with persistence, you can be rid of the selling of illegal drugs.

Some might be saying, “She shouldn’t be trying to stop this. It’s dangerous.” Well, yeah, it is dangerous, but I like neither the use of illegal drugs by anyone nor the sale of it. However, I refuse to live among them without making my stances on the issue known and attempting to get through to others that the sale of the illegal drug must stop and that the people who are it are only thinking of their needs.

Those who buy these drugs mean no more to pushers than a means to their own selfish ends. If the buyers (users) dies or ends up in a vegetable state for life, their lost means no to the seller than a temporary lapses  in illegal income ( some child’s pampers, shoes, or formula) that is quickly replaced by a new victim in a short span of  time. I imagine that procuring new users to a pusher is like selling a use car. The pusher has a good sales pitch, and like a use car that is sold “as is”, there are no warranties or guarantees that your will not be altered forever.

I speak for no others, but myself, and I want the illegal drug sell on that corner stopped. Am I alone in this? I really do not know. All I know is that while a small group of families has knowingly allowed their children to amuse themselves by harassing and manipulating the masses, the sell of illegal drugs on our street has risen. To my amazement, everyone around me appeared preoccupied with trying to ignore the children and not finding them (and I not forgetting the few would like to stop me from being so up front in this pitiless situation).  

Nevertheless, it is a sad state of affairs when families who attempted to stand up against the pushers were forced out of their home, their property trespassed destroyed, and if they did not move they find themselves threaten and harassed, their children beaten, and themselves beaten if the pushers can manipulate someone into doing it.  God forbid that they should have to do the dirty deeds themselves. I mean, why bother when you can mess up entire family structures.

 

This has been my street. This is that corner.

Evelyn out.

 

Truth, Faith and Superstition

Hello,

Evelyn here,

with a little word on truth, faith and superstition.

 I am a believer that there are things that happen to people that has no rational and in many cases no acceptable explanation. I speak of things that could even today bare a label within the reams the unknown, the superstitious, the psyche, and the mystical. I also believe that in this 21st Century of ours that our initial lack to believe things that seems to fall in one of these medieval or barbaric reams is due to our modern religious beliefs, our fear of what we do not understand, our advancement in science, and our basic need for a ready answer for everything. 

This being the case, the above views has left our modern minds with a door that allows us to be unwilling to accept what is different. Nevertheless, when certain truisms are presented that strongly subject that something unexplainable is happening and we in turn react negatively with indifference, harassing behaviors or destructive acts, I tend to think that we have learned no more of ourselves as human beings than when we first crawled out of our Neolithic caves.

I have brought up this subject during this period of Lent because I have drawn some comparisons with certain events surrounding me that make me believe that I could strongly argue the case of Jesus and the age old question of how, if he were to make himself known today, he would be received and treated in our times.

My reflection on this is simple and I am sure other people have come to the same conclusion as me, which is that are those among us who are sufficiently different enough for whatever reason that we instintly, shun, fear, harass, and if not successful, try to kill or destroy.

Do I sound too harsh? I could be more thorough in my examples, but all a person needs do is to think on those actions and people they may have taken for granted or may have mistreated, misjudged or otherwise hurt at some point in the past. Then place Jesus in that person stead. If we are then honest with ourselves, we would come to see ourselves as Jesus’ persecutors, and after seeing ourselves in this light, a great shame would spread within us.

 What does this have to do with my introductory statement? For those who know something of me. Everything!

Are you paying attention?

Evelyn out.