It’s Monday, August 31, 2009 and it’s Monday already?
I had a pretty good weekend, but it seems to have ended all too abruptly.
It occurred to me (late last night) that this Monday thing might not be absolutely necessary? I know the work week needs to start on some day, but is Monday really the right day for this? Yes, of course we’ve been doing it this way since before who-flung-the-chunk, but couldn’t it be time to maybe examine a different way of doing things? I mean so many of our troubles (well, mine at least) stem from being tired and grumpy. I think we’d all get along better if we were just better rested. To test this theory, I called my old psychology professor and asked her about it.
She seemed disinclined to discuss the question and much more intent on raking me over the coals about my ability to tell time. Okay, it wasn’t late last night so much as early this morning. Still, I would have thought it an interesting psychological discussion, but she wasn’t at all interested. Since she threatened to call me back “at some ungodly hour” I’m all the more relieved that I used James’ caller ID and claimed to be him.
In any case, three-day weekends seem to work well for and are hugely popular with everyone I know. Now, I don’t know everyone there is to know, but I think “People That Rich Knows” is a statistically valid sample. Of the people who did not hang up on me, 75% thought it a good idea to have three-day weekends every weekend. 15% responded with variations of “Who the hell is this?” and “Do you know what time it is?” The remaining 10% responded with profanity and threats.
It’s possible that insomnia and scientific research are incompatible. I sure hope James has a good explanation. There’s some people pretty angry with him right now. I’m pretty sure he shouldn’t have suggested they chug some 5-hour.
Which reminds me, classes at RMC started last week. I think no one is more pleased than Roberta. I know that by the time any of my vacations are drawing to a close, my wife is pretty pleased to see me returning to work and not being underfoot all the time. Plus, I know that Doc is happy to get back in front of students, having nearly been slain (twice) by those doing his hip replacement.
Plus, it looks like Rocky has some new professors on the roster:
In other news, the Billings Gazoo website has made some improvements lately and I do like the new layout. However, the comments part (often more entertaining than the actual stories) is busted as often as it works:
In any case, we again drag out this worn and hard-used soapbox and wonder what is considered justice in this county. Last spring (March 7, 2008 to be exact), Matthew Murray Kewitt was driving stoned and struck a car driven by 19-year-old Alyssa Kline. She was seven months pregnant and as a result of the crash, had to have her baby delivered by an emergency Cesarean section procedure. The child lived for nine days.
Kewitt plead guilty today to vehicular homicide and negligent vehicular assault. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend Kewitt receive a sentence for vehicular homicide of 15 years with the state Department of Corrections with 10 years suspended and a $10,000 fine. The agreement calls for a suspended 10-year prison sentence for the negligent vehicular assault charge, and Kewitt will be ordered to pay restitution.
So, the guy’s driving stoned on a Friday morning, causes a wreck that causes the premature birth of a child that died (Am I leaving anything out?) and our county attorney thinks that 5 years with the DOC (not prison, mind you) is somehow justice.
I wonder if there is a crime so heinous, so terrible, so against the best interest of the citizens that Dennis Paxinos wouldn’t plea-bargain it down. What’s important to this guy? What matters? Is there anything that would make him say “No! This one we prosecute!” I haven’t seen one yet.
Looking into the old Crystal Ball, we see Mister Kewitt being sent straight to a pre-release where he’ll live for the 15 months necessary to become eligible for parole. Then, he’ll be back among us. If this is what passes for justice in these parts, I don’t know how Dennis Paxinos (Yellowstone County’s “County Attorney”) can look himself in the face. How can he tell that woman “The guy that killed your kid probably won’t spend a day in prison and will be back on the street in less than two years.” ?
I’ve said it before and it’s as true now (maybe more so) as it was when I first said it: Yellowstone County has shit for a county attorney and shit for judges.
In other news, I’m on the hunt for another municipality to aggravate, much like the sport I had with Bellbrook, Ohio back in the early part of the year. This time, I think it will be James and Will (who have yet to adopt a more penitent attitude) who carry the fight to some hapless municipality over yet another tuna festival. It would be nice to have an insider who can report on our progress from the side of the vanquished.
Here’s a picture of the Mayor of Bellbrook sharing her autographed photo of Dan with the city council.
Well time to push up yet another heaping helping of hilarious hooey. Tune in tomorrow to see who wins our Mudskipper Song contest!
