Stop us before we kill again

I don't think I've ever posted here before about the death penalty. Despite what you may think if you've just started reading my blog, I rarely post about political topics of any sort. But there's an opportunity for Gov. Bredesen to save a life in the next 9 days, so I must speak up.

Phillip Workman was convicted of murder and sentenced to the death penalty for killing a police officer in 1981 during a botched robbery. He was convicted on the testimony of an "eyewitness" who later admitted to not being at the scene of the crime, and despite ballistics evidence that proved Workman couldn't have shot the officer. In all likelihood, the officer was killed by friendly fire. Regardless, there's far more than a reasonable doubt that should have protected Workman.

I don't know if Bredesen is going to do the right thing here or not. Frankly, up to this point I've been sorely disappointed in his actions on death-penalty cases. Even in his second term [not that there was ever a doubt he'd win it], he's passed the buck on the death penalty. When our governor passes the buck, he bloodies the hands of all Tennesseans.

I am personally opposed to the death penalty on religious grounds. I believe it's not my job to pass judgment on others, but instead to leave that to a much higher power. If killing someone isn't passing judgment, I certainly don't know what is. Regardless, I find it impossible to square the teachings of Jesus and his healing mercy with the state executing its own citizens.

Now, if you know me at all, you know I'm adamantly in favor of a wide separation of church and state, as well. So, I don't think you ought not support state-sponsored killing just because that's what my Methodist upbringing teaches me. Instead, try these great reasons on for size:

* How will we compensate those innocent people who have been executed due to a miscarriage of justice? We're always horrified to hear of [increasingly many] prisoners who have been exonerated by today's technology, DNA or otherwise. To be released from prison an innocent person after 15, 20, 30 years is one form of torture eased. How will we make it up to those we've killed in error? One is too many. And there have certainly been many, many more than one. Who will be next? Your neighbor or mine? Your child or mine?

* We skew the process from the start when we "death-qualify" our juries. Under our current system, I won't ever serve on a capital jury because I'm anti-death penalty. Studies show that people in favor of the death penalty are also more likely to convict. People, please don't ever be in the wrong place at the wrong time, because those most intent on flipping the switch will be the ones to decide your fate. Without perjuring myself, I, and those like me, won't be there to stop it. We aren't even allowed on the panel.

* I find it especially infuriating that it costs MORE to execute someone than it does to keep them imprisoned for life, but it's true. Thankfully, there are certain appeals open to those who have been sentenced to death [though the appeals process doesn't always work, AKA the Phillip Workman case], and appeals cost taxpayers lots and lots of money. Why on earth would we want to charge ourselves extra for the privilege of killing someone? This is not how I want my tax dollars spent.

This is not what our system of justice intends, but it's how "justice" is carried out every day in many states across our country.

Still not convinced? Get more from Sharon Cobb. Watch the video she's posted. It might save an innocent life.

I'm quitting turnips

I have really, really tried, but I can't make myself like turnips. I tried them boiled, with this great broth. I tried them mashed. You add enough butter and anything should be great, right? I was just wasting the butter, as it turns out.

My problem is two-fold: Turnips are one of those sweet vegetables. And I can't get over the fact that I don't like them.

I don't know what it is, but I've never had a taste for sweet vegetables. Growing up, I turned my nose up at beets, turnips and sweet potatoes. I can now eat beets and sweet potatoes, but only by treating them as if they were more savory than they are. I roast beets and serve them with a vinaigrette. I like my sweet potatoes roasted or baked with butter, salt and pepper. I still don't like the traditional fixings for these vegetables, heavy on sugar or its substitutes.  Actually the more I think about it, I don't like anything sweet messing with my non-sweet food. I think maple syrup is delicious, but I can't stand it on waffles or pancakes, for instance. Team the syrup with some baked fruit, then we're in business.

At any rate, I hereby declare myself to be done trying to like turnips. I think because they feel such a part of down-home cooking, I've kept after them long after I should have rightly given up. As of now, I'm leaving them for the rest of you.

A good cause: Great barbecue

Jim over at the Mothership BBQ has a few important posts the last few days. While he's scraping by on the side, side, side street where he's located in Berry Hill, he's got the opportunity to make a real go of it in the SoBro area. People, if you have not yet feasted at the Mothership, you're missing out. And just think how much easier it would be to do that if MSBBQ were in SoBro. And you could have some beer with your 'cue.

Got some investor connections for the man? Your stomach will thank you.

Shopping research from my friend Diane

Hey, I figured some of y'all would be interested in this shopping research by my friend, Diane Willard. Like me, she's mystified at Metro Schools' promotion of the sales tax holiday this weekend as an opportunity to purchase clothing for next fall meeting the new uniform requirements, since the new uniform requirements haven't been officially released yet [and won't be until sometime in early May]. Nonetheless, she has checked out some local stores using the proposed policy as a guide. What she found isn't encouraging:

I decided to go check the stores out to see what selection I would have should I be one of those parents that does back to school shopping in April. I went to K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target, and our neighborhood thrift store since I would assume these would be the stores the majority of parents in our district would shop. At K-Mart, there were polos on sale for teen girls and about 5 pairs of khakis that may or may not be dress-code appropriate--the cut looked a little too flared for me. Most of the capris had drawstrings, making them useless as well. In the younger girls department, there was not one item that I could find that would meet the code, no polos, no skirts, nothing. A quick glance at the young boys department didn't yield polos, but they did have elastic-waisted khakis.

Wal-Mart was not much different and once again, absolutely NOTHING for girls in sizes 6 to 14.

Target did have $20 khakis that could work for teen girls, but none under size 12. Polo shirts were $10 but they did not have any navy blue. Shorts were $18, but to be honest, I wasn't sure a lot of them were long enough to make the new code. Young girls made out slightly better if they were sizes 2 to 6x as they did have a rack of shorts that would work--they were $15, I believe. Once again though, for most elementary girls there was nothing! Young boys had khakis, I didn't see polos and for teen boys there were khakis, but no polos.

The thrift store yielded absolutely nothing for young girls or teens, but there were khakis for boys. I didn't check for polos there.

I realize the retailers haven't had a reason to stock this stuff before now, but it makes me wonder about the fall. I've never worked in clothing retail so I'm not sure when they would even need to place their orders for the fall, but I would think it would be pretty far in advance. I'm really curious how they plan to handle things if people can't find the "proper" attire.

While I'm certainly not going to be buying my child clothes this weekend [she has plenty in her closet that still fit and that she likes, nary a khaki or polo in the lot], I'm dumbfounded by this:

• $20 khakis??
• $18 shorts??
• $15 shorts for little girls??

These were Target clothes. Good grief, I can't afford that and my child is nowhere near qualifying for reduced lunch. The 7yo has a closet full of clothing items that cost on average, around $10. I have no idea who could AFFORD to buy compliant clothing. Assuming they could find it.

Thanks to Diane for shedding more light on the problems with school uniforms in Metro.

That took a ridiculous amount of time and effort

But the banner is finally back.

Yes I do

I have no idea where my Fixin' Supper banner went, either. It was here the other day.

I guess I will have to poke around in the innards tonight. Stay tuned.

Figured it out: I had this temporarily stored on a server at work that's had problems this week. I'll have to move the banner to a new location tonight!

I'm missing the point somewhere

So, I read this morning in the City Paper that the school board's uniform committee still isn't finished with the policy, but they are sure they AREN'T including an opt out provision. Somewhere, I've missed something. Because without an opt out, they're violating students' civil rights, including their right to a free public education. And all the school districts that this committee cites as their models -- like Long Beach and Memphis -- DO include an opt out.

I know this sounds crazy if you haven't been in the middle of this for weeks like I have, but I am starting to think this committee really believes that making kids dress the same will erase the disparities they bring to school with them. They're bound to have some good intent, right?? But wearing baggy or sloppy clothes isn't what's stopping some kids in Metro from learning. Let's talk about the kids who come to school hungry. Who don't have a parent at home. Whose parents are at home, strung out on drugs. Who struggle with learning disabilities. Who don't have money to buy school supplies. Who are being abused. Whose parents are getting divorced. Who dodge bullets in their own front yards.

The school uniforms won't shield kids from those problems. They won't make more fortunate kids feel empathy. They won't create active PTOs at schools that haven't had them. They won't erase the differences between the so-called haves and the have-nots.

Bottom line: They will get the school district sued, and your tax dollars will be used to defend a policy that's been proven in an academic study to be ineffective. Talk about a waste.

Garden, 4.21.2007

  Garden, 4.21.2007 
  Originally uploaded by lcreekmo.

Here's what I planted:
8 tomato plants
4 basil
1 thyme
1 rosemary
Flat-left parsley seeds
Cilantro seeds
Artichoke seeds

Much gardening is happening

Last week, we re-dug the garden. Today, I just dug in three bags of worm castings. Am now sitting down. :)

I'm about to go out and plant the tomatoes and herbs we bought last weekend. Much, much more to come.

Just go read this

Hutchmo has a great post on the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson integrating baseball.