Odds and Ends

On 2 September 2017 a 15-year-old boy threw an active firework into a drought-stricken area of a scenic part of the country.  I wrote "an active firework" because the boy had lit the fuse before throwing it.  The resulting fire burned for more than 3 months.  It destroyed more than 48,000 acres - or over 75 square miles; it destroyed people's homes; it trapped people hiking in scenic areas; it killed an unknown number of many kinds of wildlife.  The boy plead guilty to all the charges filed against him, and today a court ordered him to perform almost 2,000 hours of volunteer service, to write letters of apology to those trapped on hiking trails, and to those who lost their homes.  The judge also ordered the boy to pay the different people and organizations involved a total of $36,618,330.00 - and also acknowledged there was no way the young man can repay that amount in his life-time (unless he wins a big lottery jackpot).  I believe justice has been served, but the boy's attorney is fuming.  - I shrug my shoulders and say, "Too bad."  Wildfires hurt every living thing on this planet.  I like this judge!

   The orange circus peanut with cotton-candy hair in the Oval Office said today that the scheduled June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has a "substantial" chance of "not working out."  Do you think?  I, personally, have serious doubts that it will take place.  I also have serious doubts that anything will be accomplished if it does take place.  It will just be a stupid game of one-upmanship.
   Did you know there's a sinkhole in the White House lawn?  It's by the wrought iron fence behind the media area...  It seems to be slowly growing.  Do you think it could be the way that China's leader is getting to 45 about helping out ZTE?  Did someone finally did their way from China?  (I am being facetious here...)
   And EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had representatives (reporters) from CNN and the AP barred from a public meeting this morning.  The spokesperson said that there was "no room" for anyone else - but other reporters allowed inside said there were multiple empty seats in their area.   So now Pruitt is trying to keep the press away from his "public" meetings about water contamination!  He is really living up to his nickname of Screw-It Pruitt!

  Quick takes:   The father of the boy who shot and killed and wounded people at Santa Fe High School  had said Friday and Saturday that his son was a quiet, but normal boy.  Today he says that his son was bullied into taking defensive measures...
    Two accused killers are on the loose after a "short circuit" unlocked prison doors in South Carolina.  Three men escaped after attacking a guard and using his own pepper spray one him.  One of the three men was recaptured 18 miles from the prison.  The other two are on the lam.
    A Baltimore County (Maryland) police officer was run over yesterday while responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle and a breaking and entering call. A neighbor saw a vehicle cruise slowly through his neighborhood and then saw three young men exit a black Jeep Wrangler and break into a friend's home.  A female officer was sent in response.  As she approached the Jeep, she told the driver to exit the car.  Instead, he ran her over and left her dead in the street.  The 16-year-old boy and his three break-in friends have been arrested.  They all have juvenile records, and the young man accused of killing the officer has stolen 4 vehicles since the beginning of the year.

 I can't understand how anyone can publish entries and betting-odds for the Belmont Stakes when the race is 19 days away, the entries have not been confirmed, and we have no idea of the weather and possible track conditions....