Volume 13, Number 3, January 27, 2008

Greetings, and thanks for joining me for another week. Starting us off are a few news stories you may have missed. First, considering the finer points of the law. Joshua Hoge, a schizophrenic confined to Washington's Western State Hospital, is claiming at least part of his late mother's estate even though he's the one who killed her some eight years ago. Washington law prevents profiting from the "unlawful" and "willful" taking of another's life, but Hoge was found "not guilty by reason of insanity," and the legal issue is still unsettled. Furthermore, according to a recent report in the Seattle Times, it appears that the mother's estate consists almost totally of the $800,000 the estate won in a lawsuit against a county health clinic because it was negligent in delaying the alleged perp's medications, which probably led to his killing her. (Seattle Times)

Next, considering the finer points of religion. Back in May, one of the world's Christian "dental healers," the interdenominational Rev. Steve Jones, set up his latest revival tent, near Bradenton, Fla., and began not only allegedly curing toothaches but growing teeth and turning amalgam fillings into gold, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The reporter described a parade of witnesses claiming to have been healed and to have seen their crooked teeth straightened. Laying his hand on the jaw of one local resident, Jones assured the crowd, "You can see gold coming (into the filling)." I guess if this is true, it beats seeing a holy image on a piece of a burnt bagel. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

Finally, more on the finer points of religion or PC is alive and quite well, thank you). Something like this has happened before, but this is the latest. Over across the pond, a story based on the Three Little Pigs has been rejected by a government quango in case it offends Muslims (a quango is a group or agency that is financed by a government but that acts independently of it). The digital remake of the children's classic was criticized by Becta, the education technology agency, because "the use of pigs raises cultural issues". Officials also attacked the story - called The Three Little Cowboy Builders - for stereotyping the building trade, reports the Daily Telegraph. The comments were condemned by the computer program's creator as "a slap in the face" The controversy was sparked during an awards ceremony designed to honor the best educational stories, programs and teaching aids for children. Dozens of companies submitted entries but Newcastle-based publishers Shoo Fly were shocked when judges told them that their interactive 3D book was unsuitable for children. In a feedback form, Becta told the company: "Judges would not recommend this product to the Muslim community in particular." The story for primary school pupils replaces pigs with "cowboy builders" as part of a light-hearted tale designed to spark interest in reading and design technology skills. But its authors were also told that it portrays the building industry in a bad light. Judges said "retelling a story" was acceptable, but it "should not alienate parts of the workforce", adding that builders should be "positive" role models for young children. "Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?" the judges asked. Anne Curtis, the founder of Shoo Fly, which won a prize at the prestigious Education Resource Awards for the story, said: "The feedback amounted to a verbal assault. I feel these criticisms aim to close the minds of teachers and young people to some issues." Muslims criticized Becta's response and insisted that a computer program based on the Three Little Pigs should be welcomed in state schools. Tahir Alam, the head of education at the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "We are not offended by that at all." Yesterday, the quango stood by the verdict, which was made by 70 independent judges, mainly teachers (teachers of all people. Feh!). (Ananova)

From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fulton County schools want to pay students to stay in school a little longer. Forty students from Creekside High and Bear Creek Middle schools in Fairburn will be the first to try the "Learn & Earn" program, where students will get paid to attend after-school tutoring programs. Students will make approximately $8 an hour, and be eligible for bonuses if their grades improve, said Kirk Wilks, district spokesman. The initial students are in the eighth and 11th grades. With the support of Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts, the pilot program will last 15 weeks and pay students for participation and performance. The object of the program is to determine if paying students to study will improve classroom attendance, grades and test scores. The initiative is funded by Charles Loudermilk, chairman and chief executive officer of Aaron Rents, through the Learning Makes A Difference Foundation. The foundation is a local non-profit designed to improve education through creative programs. The students chosen for the program were picked by school staff, based on attendance, grades, test scores and free or reduced lunch status, the release said. (If they can do better for money, they can do better without it, if you ask me, which you didn’t.)

From Reuters, a farmer built an entire mock castle behind a screen of hay bales and lived there concealed for four years to evade planning regulations, officials said -- but it may be torn down anyway. Robert Fidler hopes to take advantage of a provision of planning law that allows buildings without planning permission to be declared legal if no objections have been made after four years But Reigate and Banstead Borough Council in Surrey is not impressed. "It does not count because the property was hidden behind hay bales," said a spokeswoman (No fair, no fair!). "No one knew it was there." The council wants the building near Redhill some 30 km south of London to be demolished, along with an associated conservatory, marquee structure, wooden bridge, patio, decking and tarmac racecourse. "It looks like a mock-Tudor house from the front and it's got two turrets at the back," the spokeswoman said. "I understand there is also a cannon. The couple would have been unlikely to get planning permission as the farm was in "green belt" land where building was restricted, she said. A hearing takes place in February. Fidler's wife Linda told the Daily Mail newspaper the children grew up looking at straw out of the windows of the house and that they kept their son away from playschool on the day his class was due to do paintings of their houses. "We couldn't have him drawing a big blue haystack," she said. "People might ask questions." Planning inspectors had been called to the site by concerned neighbors shortly before Fidler took the hay bales down in summer 2006 but had not seen the house. "When the inspectors went there, all they saw was hay bales and hay bales on agricultural land are not that unusual," the spokeswoman said. "I think the neighbors thought there might be something going on but it is difficult to tell, isn't it?" (Yes, I guess it is, actually.)

Adult behavior: An argument between neighbors escalated with a shotgun and a chainsaw. Michael Shane Spurrier was charged with felony aggravated assault. Cumberland County Sheriff's deputies said Spurrier and Christopher Rogers got into a row over Rogers' dog on Friday. Officers said Spurrier got his shotgun to back up his argument, but another person took it away from him. Spurrier was then accused of getting a chainsaw and chasing Rogers around the yard with it until Rogers managed to jump into his vehicle and leave. (Crossville Chronicle)

Little crimes? It's a novel but it's created a mystery - where has the overdue book been for the past 57 years? "We don't have records that go back that far," said Lori Belongia, director of the Marshfield Public Library. "We don't know who checked it out." The book "Northern Lights" by Roger Vercel turned up in the book drop about a month ago. Published in 1948, its most recent checkout stamp reads either March or May 10 of 1950. The library's policy is to ask for reimbursement for books that become so long overdue that it stops charging overdue notices. In the 1950s, the overdue fine was a penny a day. Now it's 15 cents a day, with a maximum charge of $10. Belongia said someone probably reimbursed the library at some point. "Most likely it was someone who took it home, forgot to return it, probably paid for it," she said. She said the library doesn't expect to put the book back on the shelf. The fictional work, translated from French, is about the son of an explorer and his challenge of charting his destiny. "It's in good shape," Belongia said. "To put it on the shelf now that we've automated, it would cost us to put it back. It's not dated information; it's just no longer popular. If it were, we would have bought another copy." It's no mystery what's happened to book prices. The library has records that show the book was purchased in hardcover in 1948 for $1.93. Now the average book costs more than $25. (AP)

Getting a little behind in your work: The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a $1.4 million fine against 52 ABC Television Network stations over a 2003 broadcast of the cop drama "NYPD Blue." The fine is for a scene where a boy surprises a woman as she prepares to take a shower. The scene depicted "multiple, close-up views" of the woman's "nude buttocks" according to an agency order just issued. ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Co. The fines were issued against 52 stations either owned by or affiliated with the network. FCC's definition of indecent content requires that the broadcast "depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities" in a "patently offensive way" and is aired between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The agency said the show was indecent because "it depicts sexual organs and excretory organs — specifically an adult woman's buttocks." The agency rejected the network's argument that "the buttocks are not a sexual organ." (No comment will be offered here.) (Associated Press)

Finally, a few quotes from some of the greats to get you motivated (for what, I am not sure, but I am sure you will find something). (1) “People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar. (2) “Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.” Wayne Dyer. (3) “People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.” Norman Vincent Peale. (4) “‘I can't do it’ never yet accomplished anything; ‘I will try’ has performed wonders.” George P. Burnham. (5) “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” Dale Carnegie. Bonus: “There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way.” Christopher Morley. “Hey, get out there and just do it!” Dave Berman.

Later.