Kidnapper sues former hostages for breach of contract
In a bizarre case, a Colorado man is suing the newlywed couple he kidnapped for breach of contract, claiming they agreed to hide him for money after he crashed a stolen vehicle into their yard, then held them at knifepoint.
From The Huffington Post:
In his lawsuit, 25-year-old Jessie Dimmick of Aurora, contends that after breaking into Jared and Lindsay Rowley’s Topeka-area home while fleeing police, he and the couple reached a legally binding, oral contract that they would hide him for an unspecified amount of money. Dimmick, who is representing himself, is seeking $235,000.
"As a result of the plaintiffs breech (sic) of contract, I, the defendant suffered a gunshot to my back, which almost killed me. The hospital bills alone are in excess of $160,000, which I have no way to pay," Dimmick wrote in his civil suit filed last month in Shawnee County District Court.
Dimmick’s gunshot occurred after he fell asleep while eating Cheetos, drinking Dr Pepper and watching the movie Patch Adams, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Police were able to gain access to the house and when they woke up Dimmick, one officer’s rifle accidentally discharged.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
A Sad Commentary on the Human Race . . .
India's Proposed Two-Child Policy
by Colin Mason
The southern Indian state of Kerala might be the next in a long line of governments attempting to destroy their own greatest resource: their people.
According to on-the-ground reports obtained by PRI, elements in the Keralan government are attempting to pass what they innocuously call "The Women’s Code Bill." This bill, if passed, would create a two-child policy in the state of Kerala, in an attempt to curb India’s "overpopulation" problem.
Like other restrictive birth policies around the world, the Keralan policy would carry criminal penalties. For instance, if a couple were to become expectant with an over-quota child, the father could face three months of imprisonment, or a fine of 10,000 rupees (about $200 … an astronomical sum for lower-class Indians). People or associations who spoke out against the program could be gagged with huge fines or prison sentences.
And, just like China’s one-child policy, the government would refuse to acknowledge the existence of over-quota children, denying them basic rights and state benefits.
The bill would also encourage abortions as a way for families to remain under-quota. Free abortions would be available in state hospitals. In addition, free contraceptives would be available to married couples. The bill also takes the further step of allowing no-court divorce: essentially it would provide for the institution of a "marriage officer" who would have the power to grant divorces outside of Kerala’s legal infrastructure … if both parties were willing. The reason for this? An explicit desire to "streamline" the divorce process and eliminate backlog in Keralan divorce courts.
The net effect of all this seems to be a systematic and deliberate assault on traditional Indian family structures and values, all for the purpose of disrupting what Keralans have been doing for centuries: having large families.
In addition to this, this two-child policy is being proposed in the face of hard demographic data, data that clearly shows that shows that Kerala is experiencing the same birth rate decline and population aging that is afflicting the rest of the world. In other words, even if overpopulation were a problem, the "problem" would be quickly correcting itself on its own, without the need for forceful, abusive policies.
But what really worries population control advocates around the world is that the Catholic Church has set up its own social agenda in Kerala. These Church policies make a point to extend benefits like education, health care, and other benefits to larger families.
Most Catholics see these policies as merely an extension of the Church’s existing philosophy on the primacy of the family and the value of children. But many radical population control groups have tried to frame it as a sort of "population war," with the Keralan Catholic hierarchy playing the part of the irresponsible villain. According to a recent article in Population Matters, the Church in Kerala is "worried about its dwindling numbers," and as a result is "exhorting its flock to have more children."
"In the southern state of Kerala," the article continues, "where Catholics have long been a large, important minority, church authorities believe the state’s overall Christian population could drop to 17 percent this year, down from 19.5 percent in 1991. While they don’t have precise numbers for the Catholic population, they believe it is also dropping sharply."
Never mind that the Catholic Church is the world’s original charitable institution, so it has always been in the business of giving out free health care, food, shelter, and education. Giving such aid to larger families is nothing new. Population Matters also makes much about the fact that some of these charities give cash benefits to large families, but so what? Large families have more mouths to feed … the money is not social engineering. It just makes sense.
And furthermore, never mind that even this article is forced to admit that these policies are not universal across the region. Some Indian Catholic institutions base their charitable giving on the number of children. Some don’t. It just depends.
The thing is, if there’s anything we’ve learned at PRI it’s this: people who dehumanize other people tend to assume that everyone thinks the same way. In other words: to many, human population is nothing better than a scourge on the planet at worst, and a tool to be manipulated at best. Naturally, they figure that every other social institution thinks this way.
But the fact of the matter is that the Catholic Church sees each human as individual and unique. It sees each person as valuable for their own sake, and it sees each human fertility decision as intensely private and individuated. And as such, the Catholic Church has always been in the business of helping people live better lives. Sometimes helping people live better lives means providing them with free health care or education. Sometimes it means giving them cash bonuses to help them feed their families.
And sometimes, it means leaving people alone to make their fertility decisions in the privacy of their bedrooms. The Keralan government could stand to learn something from the Catholic Church.
Colin Mason is the Director of Media Production at Population Research Institute.
by Colin Mason
The southern Indian state of Kerala might be the next in a long line of governments attempting to destroy their own greatest resource: their people.
According to on-the-ground reports obtained by PRI, elements in the Keralan government are attempting to pass what they innocuously call "The Women’s Code Bill." This bill, if passed, would create a two-child policy in the state of Kerala, in an attempt to curb India’s "overpopulation" problem.
Like other restrictive birth policies around the world, the Keralan policy would carry criminal penalties. For instance, if a couple were to become expectant with an over-quota child, the father could face three months of imprisonment, or a fine of 10,000 rupees (about $200 … an astronomical sum for lower-class Indians). People or associations who spoke out against the program could be gagged with huge fines or prison sentences.
And, just like China’s one-child policy, the government would refuse to acknowledge the existence of over-quota children, denying them basic rights and state benefits.
The bill would also encourage abortions as a way for families to remain under-quota. Free abortions would be available in state hospitals. In addition, free contraceptives would be available to married couples. The bill also takes the further step of allowing no-court divorce: essentially it would provide for the institution of a "marriage officer" who would have the power to grant divorces outside of Kerala’s legal infrastructure … if both parties were willing. The reason for this? An explicit desire to "streamline" the divorce process and eliminate backlog in Keralan divorce courts.
The net effect of all this seems to be a systematic and deliberate assault on traditional Indian family structures and values, all for the purpose of disrupting what Keralans have been doing for centuries: having large families.
In addition to this, this two-child policy is being proposed in the face of hard demographic data, data that clearly shows that shows that Kerala is experiencing the same birth rate decline and population aging that is afflicting the rest of the world. In other words, even if overpopulation were a problem, the "problem" would be quickly correcting itself on its own, without the need for forceful, abusive policies.
But what really worries population control advocates around the world is that the Catholic Church has set up its own social agenda in Kerala. These Church policies make a point to extend benefits like education, health care, and other benefits to larger families.
Most Catholics see these policies as merely an extension of the Church’s existing philosophy on the primacy of the family and the value of children. But many radical population control groups have tried to frame it as a sort of "population war," with the Keralan Catholic hierarchy playing the part of the irresponsible villain. According to a recent article in Population Matters, the Church in Kerala is "worried about its dwindling numbers," and as a result is "exhorting its flock to have more children."
"In the southern state of Kerala," the article continues, "where Catholics have long been a large, important minority, church authorities believe the state’s overall Christian population could drop to 17 percent this year, down from 19.5 percent in 1991. While they don’t have precise numbers for the Catholic population, they believe it is also dropping sharply."
Never mind that the Catholic Church is the world’s original charitable institution, so it has always been in the business of giving out free health care, food, shelter, and education. Giving such aid to larger families is nothing new. Population Matters also makes much about the fact that some of these charities give cash benefits to large families, but so what? Large families have more mouths to feed … the money is not social engineering. It just makes sense.
And furthermore, never mind that even this article is forced to admit that these policies are not universal across the region. Some Indian Catholic institutions base their charitable giving on the number of children. Some don’t. It just depends.
The thing is, if there’s anything we’ve learned at PRI it’s this: people who dehumanize other people tend to assume that everyone thinks the same way. In other words: to many, human population is nothing better than a scourge on the planet at worst, and a tool to be manipulated at best. Naturally, they figure that every other social institution thinks this way.
But the fact of the matter is that the Catholic Church sees each human as individual and unique. It sees each person as valuable for their own sake, and it sees each human fertility decision as intensely private and individuated. And as such, the Catholic Church has always been in the business of helping people live better lives. Sometimes helping people live better lives means providing them with free health care or education. Sometimes it means giving them cash bonuses to help them feed their families.
And sometimes, it means leaving people alone to make their fertility decisions in the privacy of their bedrooms. The Keralan government could stand to learn something from the Catholic Church.
Colin Mason is the Director of Media Production at Population Research Institute.
Something often forgotten . . .
The
Pilgrims came to America not to accumulate riches but to worship God, and the
greatest wealth they left unborn generations was their heroic example of
sacrifice that their souls might be free.
- Harry Moyle
Tippett
Early this morning . . .
Christmas Baking Day Two!
I just finished cleaning the kitchen and putting away the cookies in the freezer. As requested, one of each has been kept out for my quality control panel - my husband and teenage son. My son's only regret this evening? He liked dinner so much, he had seconds so couldn't do justice to all the cookies available!
Poor Santa . . .
Find circumstances that enhance you . . .
People
are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in
circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and
look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
- George Bernard
Shaw
Second Day of Christmas Baking . . .
I think my husband is happy it is cookie-baking 'season', again! He helped me clear out a space in the freezer for storing them and then went out and cleared yet another space. I think he is looking forward to being part of quality control!
After I cleaned up the kitchen, last night, I realized it was only six in the evening and two hours until my husband returned from work. I decided to make up three batches of refrigerator cookies. I like refrigerator cookies because they have to spend a certain amount of time there and it frees you up for other baking while you wait. I didn't do any more baking but enjoy the fact that I can come home and bake without messing up the mixing bowl.
I put up a batch of very lemon cookies with lots of zest and fresh lemon juice as one of my refrigerator cookie choices. I feel so blessed that we have both a lemon and an orange tree and I can go 'shop' out in the backyard when I need one of either.
I also put together the Chocolate Cookie Covered Wreath cookies, too. It was my first time with this recipe. My only change, next time, would be to divide the dough more in half to insure I have enough of the chocolate dough to surround the fruit and vanilla cookie middle.
The third batch is an annual favorite. It is comprised of two doughs. One is a espresso/chocolate dough. The other one is vanilla with dried cranberries and pistachios. With this recipe, you pack the dough down in layers in a loaf pan - making sure you line it with waxed paper so you can get it back out for slicing. It isn't a difficult recipe so much as detailed but if anyone is interested, I would be happy to post it.
The weather promises to cool down a bit today so it will making baking more comfortable. My husband likes this time of year because I keep out one of each cookie baked for his snack when he comes home from work. The rest are put away for Christmas and Christmas giving.
After I cleaned up the kitchen, last night, I realized it was only six in the evening and two hours until my husband returned from work. I decided to make up three batches of refrigerator cookies. I like refrigerator cookies because they have to spend a certain amount of time there and it frees you up for other baking while you wait. I didn't do any more baking but enjoy the fact that I can come home and bake without messing up the mixing bowl.
I put up a batch of very lemon cookies with lots of zest and fresh lemon juice as one of my refrigerator cookie choices. I feel so blessed that we have both a lemon and an orange tree and I can go 'shop' out in the backyard when I need one of either.
I also put together the Chocolate Cookie Covered Wreath cookies, too. It was my first time with this recipe. My only change, next time, would be to divide the dough more in half to insure I have enough of the chocolate dough to surround the fruit and vanilla cookie middle.
The third batch is an annual favorite. It is comprised of two doughs. One is a espresso/chocolate dough. The other one is vanilla with dried cranberries and pistachios. With this recipe, you pack the dough down in layers in a loaf pan - making sure you line it with waxed paper so you can get it back out for slicing. It isn't a difficult recipe so much as detailed but if anyone is interested, I would be happy to post it.
The weather promises to cool down a bit today so it will making baking more comfortable. My husband likes this time of year because I keep out one of each cookie baked for his snack when he comes home from work. The rest are put away for Christmas and Christmas giving.
Good thought to start the day . . .
True
charity is the desire to be useful to others with no thought of recompense.
- Emanuel
Swedenborg
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