The Runaway Bride
Here’s another big news story that started out as a true crime as classified by the police then turned into, well I don’t know what it turned in to. For Jennifer Wilbanks, 32 and scheduled to be wed this past Saturday 4/29/05, went off to take a jog and never returned.
As these things go, her fiancé, John Mason, was under great scrutiny. Statistics show, ladies and gems, that 85% of folks who turn up dead were killed by someone they knew. It’s a wise police force that studies those around potential victims closely before casting its eyes to strangers.
I didn’t know what to think of John Mason originally. Admittedly my inclination is to suspect this fellow and others in his position. But I could never get a handle on him.
Initially I considered him innocent and this based solely on one comment that he made. When asked by Greta why Jennifer didn’t go jogging with him, he said that she doesn’t like to jog with him, that he talked too much. In fact, Mark Fuhrman was on the telephone with Greta and he mentioned how much he hates to jog with anyone who wants to talk. This sounded very true to my ears, not something Mason trumped up to cover for why he didn’t go jogging with Jennifer.
Then the man took a lie detector test privately and began making demands before submitting to a police administered one. I got suspicious all over again.
But my on and off suspicions were moot in that it turns out that dopey Jennifer showed up in New Mexico of all places. At first she lied and said she was abducted by a Hispanic couple in a blue van. Then her lie was exposed and all hell broke lose.
There’s a lot of debate about whether Jennifer should be sued for the cost of investigators’ and volunteers’ time.
Here’s the rub. Jennifer or any other idiot has a right to jump on a Trailways and disappear any time they want. However the media or law enforcement react is not on that idiot. BUT, if the idiot KNOWS that all this hoopla is ongoing and still does not take steps to stop the expense and worry, then perhaps they should be held liable.
Now another caveat. If Georgia does not currently have a such a law on the books then they cannot, willy-nilly, just prosecute Jennifer Wilbanks in such a fashion.
One more caveat: It seems to me that a civil lawsuit could be filed by the state investigators and the many volunteers against Jennifer, assuming they prove she was unaware of all the uproar over her disappearance. Then, IF Jennifer should decide to write a book or star in a Lifetime movie, all of the proceeds would then go to the winners of the lawsuit until the max of any monetary reward.
What we don’t need in this country is people faking their own disappearance with a hope of monetary gain by a book or movie based on public curiosity caused by their stunt.
And for the record, the fact that Jennifer lied about an abduction dismisses from my mind any claims she makes that she simply didn’t know. That, ladies and gems, would be a lie.
From fox 24 before Jennifer was found
Her fiance, John Mason, says Wilbanks went jogging Tuesday night in downtown Duluth, and when she didn't return after a couple of hours he called police.
From ABC News after Jennifer was found:
Distressed, out of cash and in disguise, a missing Georgia
bride-to-be turned up on a seedy stretch of Route 66 and told authorities
Saturday she'd been abducted, then copped to the truth she fled the pressure of her looming wedding
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Randolph Dial/Bobbi Parker
I refer yon reader to my post regarding the talented and strange criminal Randolph Dial and the assistant warden’s wife who disappeared along with him.
Blog post-Who is Randolph Dial
Bobbi Jo Parker and Dial were missing for ten years before they were both discovered living in a trailer somewhere in Texas. Parker alleges that she was captive the entire time, unable to escape for fear of danger to her family.
Greta reports that:
per Lee Hancock Dallas Morning News-found in trailer-valentines, love cards, sent to one another, letters sent to others who didn't know her, described presents she gave to him. Spoke to her husband, warden, says she was a hostage, he believes. (note:paraphrased)
And from another blogger, Danny Bloom
hot news here. Parker and Dial were lovers and she will soon be
charged with aiding and abetting his escape.
Watching it all from over here in Taiwan, go figure, I am,
Danny Bloom
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Michael Jackson-It Gets Even More Bizarre
Couple of things going on with Michael Jackson, pedophile who molests kids selected especially because of their dysfunctional families. Let’s begin with yet another idiot-Debbie Rowe.
Who was supposed to testify that she did not mean what she said in that rebuttal documentary where she claimed Jackson was a wonderful father.
She did not say that. Instead she went back to her stupid moon-eyed adoration of Michael Jackson which caused her to bear two children then sign them over to him. For a fee, of course.
Any woman who bears children and gives them to anyone, much less pedophile Michael Jackson, gets no credence in my book. I don’t know why Sneddon thought she was worth the time to testify. I’m hearing she feels pressure because she wants to see her children, which I don’t believe else why did she give them to him to begin with?
Rowe did provide the one insight in the trial that caused me giggle. When asked about Mark Geragos, that deceitful attorney who shows up whenever there’s a camera then proceeds to plead out his client or they lose completely, why Debbie Rowe snorted and said exactly this. May her comments be forever part of the dialogue about this loser lawyer.
It also would appear that an attorney who worked closely with Michael’s brother, a Mr. Oxman, was fired completely from the case. Unlike Geragos, I think Tom Mesereau is really trying to win this case for his client. As such he doesn’t need more dopey attorneys hanging around, gumming up the works.
From Fox News
My sources say that Oxman — who'd been missing from court for over a week — had been told by Mesereau not to appear today. Oxman ignored him, however, and showed up at the start of court. When he tried to take his seat, Mesereau ordered him to sit with the public and not with the defense. Once seated, Oxman was then served with official notice that he'd been fired.
Also, it would seem that Michael has money worries not that I’m surprised what with having to pay off female baby-making machines and former victims of his pedophilia. Seems a Ron Burkle came to his aid.
From Fox News
Jackson has gone to the tycoon hoping that Burkle, who is reportedly worth $2.3 billion, can stave off the former King of Pop's much-needed sale of his portion of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Jackson is currently at risk of defaulting on over $270 million in loans …
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That Couey Crew
Get a load of this all American family.
Myself and Bill O’Reilly have been banging the drums over this crew.
Why are they walking free? Did the DA make a deal with them? Can it really be possible Couey held Jessica for days in a closet and they didn’t know it? Even if they didn’t, which myself and half of America doesn’t believe, shouldn’t they at least get a slap for aiding and abetting? It was this Dixon woman who bought Couey his bus ticket out of town after all.
I’ve been watching Bill O’Reilly’s show and he’s staying on top of this. He’s got prosecutor King on the run. Although, hey, it could have been the pressure from this Blog, you should smile.
It’s entirely possible that Jessica could have been saved had these idiots reacted and did the right thing.
So why are they free to go to Disney World?
From Citrus documents
Dorothy Dixon, Couey's half-sister, also spoke with investigators about allegations Couey molested her children.
Dixon said she allowed Couey to live in her home with her children, even after hearing of the allegations that he molested them.
She allowed it "because he's my brother," she told investigators.
The girl also told investigators she stayed in the mobile home on Snowbird Court where Jessica's body was found, and all the adults in the residence would use cocaine and drink alcohol.
After Jessica's disappearance, the girl said, deputies began coming to their mobile home looking for Couey. Shortly after that, someone at the home told Couey to move out, and he got his jacket and left the house.
A couple of days later, she said, family members saw Couey walking along U.S. 19 and got him something to eat before he boarded a bus to Georgia. After that, Madie and Gene Secord took the family to Disney World, she said.
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Finally, Some BTK Pictures
Pictures of the serial murderer known as BTK, or “bind, torture, kill” aren’t at all rare. But I came across a picture of Dennis Rader in a moment with his wife and thought it fascinating.
I have to wonder what it must be like to be married to such a brutal man.
And she looks so normal!
Congress Critters Open Can of Worms
I'm thinking maybe the Democrats got more than they bargained for. Because in their effort to bring down Tom Delay, a successful representative who gets things done, the Dems went after what they called "questionable" travel and political association.
As if, what were they thinking, every one of them doesn't have such questionable travel accompanied by strange bedfellow political sharks.
It's how it works. The Dems know it. But that party doesn't believe in winning at the ballot box. They could, just throwing it out there, actually try to beat Tom Delay in his home district. They could, throwing it out there again, come up with some original ideas and challenge Delay in what Rush calls the "arena of ideas".
It's much easier to cheat and use the judiciary to advance a political agenda the peons have voted against.
Meanwhile us fools out here in la-la land have to sit and watch these idiots waste taxpayer money with their games except, hey throwing it out there, actually conduct the nation's business. We wait until we can, as we have done methodically since the early nineties, vote them out piece meal by piece meal. So the games continue.
From the Wapo:
Members of Congress are rushing to amend their travel and campaign records, fearing that the controversy over House Majority Leader Tom DeLay will trigger an ethics war that will bring greater scrutiny to their own travel and official activities.
Some offices have sharply limited staff travel, and some members are not traveling at all because of the intense review they believe they will face in coming months.
Lawmakers are paying old restaurant bills, filing missing forms and correcting erroneous ones as journalists and political opponents comb through records and DeLay (R-Tex.) attempts to answer questions about travel financing and his past relationships with lobbyists.
And Just for the Hell of It
There's been some digging by some sharp Journalists. Statistics emerge. Turns out Tom DeLay is a piker when it comes to traveling around like a big shot. The Dems beat him handily. How else can they feel relevant?
From Chron.com
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay traveled on official business less than dozens of members of Congress, who took 5,400 official trips at a cost of $16 million in the last five years, according to a study released Tuesday.
Democrats traveled more frequently than Republicans.
The top 10 travelers, by the number of trips in the last five years, were all Democrats.
DeLay was tied for 114th place on the list, with 15 trips.
Democrats took 3,025 trips, while Republicans went on 2,375 trips, with two independent lawmakers accounting for another 10.
Several members, including Democrat Nancy Pelosi, minority leader from California, have been forced to revise their official travel disclosure forms and inform the ethics committee of mistakes.
A Pelosi aide had not reported a $9,000 trip to South Korea with the same group that sponsored another DeLay trip that has drawn media scrutiny.
The aide, Eddie Charmaine Manansala, "wasn't aware she had to file a staff report," said Pelosi's spokeswoman Jennifer Criden.
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The Tragedy of the Georgia Toddlers
This story and the so-called "runaway bride" are straddling the line between true crime and current events. Both dramatic and interesting stories come to us courtesy of the state of George. Florida, I hear, is taking a rest.
So far it appears that the toddlers is a case of neglect rather than a true crime. Although there's still some strangeness about that case. As in how those young children got all the way down to that pond in the five minute period the mother claims she was in the bathroom.
The mother, as it turns out, was neglectful and the child protective services had been monitoring the situation for at least a year.
Here's a good perspective on the conditions of little Jonah and Nicole's home:
Three-year-old Jonah Payne and his 2-year-old sister, Nicole, who went
missing Saturday, were discovered at 12:15 p.m. Monday near the shoreline of the pond, a few hundred yards from their rural Georgia home and within feet of each other. Warrenton is about 100 miles east of downtown Atlanta.
Searchers did not find the children during an initial search Saturday of the 1 1/2-acre pond, which is coated with a layer of green algae. A searcher on Monday spotted a lump by the shoreline, which turned out to be Nicole's body. Her brother was nearby, police said.
The children's mother, Lottie Kain, 33, told authorities they had apparently wandered away about 6 p.m. Saturday while she was in the bathroom. The children had strayed from their home earlier that day as well, but were brought home shortly afterward by a neighbor, said Warrenton Police Chief Jim McClain.
On one occasion, Coleman said, Kain said she could leave the boy alone because he would be safe in his playpen. Coleman said she scolded Kain, saying: "Good Lord, don't you know a baby can get out, and turn the stove on and burn the house down?"
Coleman said she evicted the family about a year ago for nonpayment of rent. While they lived in her mobile home park, Coleman said, "The house was a mess. Old food . . . on the tables in the living room. Food on the couch. . . . I wouldn't feed my dog [there.
By CRAIG SCHNEIDER in Atlanta, MAE GENTRY in Warrenton
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/26/05
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Thanks to Slick Rich
Although we'll be hearing more about it in the future, I'm sure.
Ted Kennedy's brother in law a wired FBI informant? The headlines should be plastered with this information!
Teddy Kennedy's brother in law turns out to be an FBIinformant inside democrat fundraising over the last three or four years. Hewas a young man that ingratiated himself doing campaign and fundraisingactivities during Clinton's second presidential campaign and his second term. He was arrested and charged in an illegal campaign contribution /bank fraud / check kiting scheme in Louisiana 3-4 years ago. He decided totake a plea bargain and wore a wire for the FBI for over three years. Herecorded conversations during democrat fundraising strategy sessions, fundraising, and related wheeling and dealing. He was the inside informant who taped David Rosen, who put together Hillary's 2000 Hollywood Gala fundraising event, and gathered sufficient information that led to his arrest. He also participated in efforts to funnel foreign campaign contributions into democrat campaigns. The FBI is not saying anything about how much other information they have on other democrat campaign finance fraud. There should be a number of democrats getting nervous - one of themwould be Hillary. Limbaugh, Fri.
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The Bush Prime Time Press Conference
I myself wanted to watch The Apprentice so I wasn't all that keen about this prime time affair this past Thursday 4/29/05. As I understand it the networks had a cow and Bush did agree to push the start of the press conference to 8:00 am.
I noted two surprises. At least for me.
I was surprised when Bush said that no, he did not consider the opponents to his judicial nominees to be because they are people of faith. Bill Frist and a cadre of Republicans had been out promoting that notion the entire week prior.
Bush said he thought congressional opposition to his judicial nominees was due to ideological differences in how they viewed the role of the judiciary.
I think Bush is exactly right, frankly. Those that view the American judiciary as the final arbiter of all things moral and cultural have it wrong. The judiciary exists to check that laws passed by legislatures and acts of the executive branches adhere to constitutional standards.
It's a tough row to hoe. People consider judges the guys in black robes who bang the gavels and that's the end of it. Of course this is in criminal and civil courts, not the federal appeals and supreme courts, which have an entirely different function.
Finally, one smart alec reporter had to mention something about "rich people" such as "Dick Cheney". Bush chided him for it, calling it a "low blow".
Which it was. Is Dick Cheney the only rich person in America? So why did the reporter feel the need to mention it? Could have this alleged impartial journalist have a political agenda of his own?
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On One Hand, It's Kinda Sweet ...
On the other hand, well that's the one Bush is using to hold the hand of Saudi Prince Abdullah. The political fallout from this visual is not that the Dems will start whispering that Bush is homosexual though who knows, they might.
No. The price of gasoline notwithstanding, Saudi Arabia still was home to fifteen of those terrorists who attacked our country on 9/11/01. Lots of Americans haven't forgotten that. Plus Saudi Arabia continues to fund radical Islam.
A bunch of inbred retards sprung from camels that House of Saud.
But I guess Bush was being nice.
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The Presidential Ipod
In between clucking about John Bolton's attire and hair and the lies about Tom Delay, Washington is all abuzz about Bush's Ipod.
More specifically the choice of songs upon.
Below, from the AP, some of the songs Bush jogs to. And below this, the political cartoon of the week, oh so germane.
What we're talking about is a lot of great artists from the 60's and 70's and more modern artists who sound like great artists from the 60's and 70's," he said.
"This is basically boomer rock 'n' roll and more recent music out of Nashville made for boomers. It's safe, it's reliable, it's loving. What I mean to say is, it's feel-good music. The Sex Pistols it's not."
Jones, Levy told the Times, was nonetheless an interesting choice. "George Jones is the greatest living singer in country music and a recovering alcoholic who often sings about heartbreak and drinking," he said.
"It tells you that the president knows a thing or two about country music and is serious about his love of country music."
The songs by Jackson indicate that the president "has a little bit of a taste for hard core and honky-tonk," Levy said, adding that both Jackson and Jones "are not about cute and pop, and they're not getting by on their looks."
And while Kenny Chesney "is about cute and pop and gets by on his looks," Levy said, "he's also all about serious country music."
McKinnon, who has downloaded "Castanets" by Alejandro Escovedo and "Alive 'N' Kickin' " by Kenny Loggins into Bush's iPod, said that sometimes a presidential playlist is just a playlist, nothing more.
from AP
There’s Five Left and a Bit of Scandal
As of this past semi-final segment there are five contestants left: Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Scott Soval, Anthony Federov, and Vonzell Washington. To Paula Abdul’s tears, Constantine Maroulis was eliminated in this round.
The touch of scandal comes from hints of an ABC expose of the show which will, as has been hinted, feature claims of manipulation by sore losers and a whisper that Paula Abdul has somehow been involved in a romantic fashion with some of the contestants.
I don’t know how much is true but as Fox proudly claims, an ABC expose will give their hit show even more publicity. Myself would watch to see who Paula’s been romancing.
From Matt Drudge:
ABC has been warned in writing it could face legal fallout for airing its scathing behind-the-scenes look at FOX's AMERICAN IDOL, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
FOX owner Rupert Murdoch has informed executives that it appears ABC is attempting to maliciously "destroy" the nation's most-watched series as it heads into the final weeks.
FOX believes ABC has interviewed a half a dozen losing contestants -- contestants who will claim AMERICAN IDOL producers and judges somehow manipulate the show's outcome!
Some other tidbits about the competition include an allegation that favored Bo Bice had been in trouble with the law over cocaine and marijuana possession with intent to distribute. Supposedly Bice was upfront with the contest organizers and there’s no intent to defraud.
Another tidbit-I heard Steve Doocey on Fox and Friends say that Constantine’s Aunt was his daughter’s teacher. I suppose she’s a bit disappointed this week.
Now on to some thoughts about this past week’s segment. Which theme was “songs of the new millennium”, or songs created AFTER 2000.
This pretty much leaves this Grandma Blogger in the dark as I work with a belief that there were no decent songs composed after 1969. Yet even in my ignorance I have an opinion. Understanding that I was unfamiliar with every song sung during this past week’s competition.
Carrie Underwood is still my favorite to win this thing. She looked much nicer this week with a typical country shirt and comfortable jeans. She stuck to her venue-country and western. I thought she sounded good but alas, the judges were not impressed. I have a blurb in my notes that Carrie has a nice butt. I don’t know why I wrote this but consider it so noted.
Even with a more modern theme, Bo Bice wore some kind of 60’s shirt and in general looked like the hippies of mine own younger days. Which bothers me not a whit as I myself wore buckskin fringes and granny dresses of the era. It just seems odd for a competitor in this contest not to have a more updated look. The song he sang was odd, including a segment of “talking”. Wow. You’d think singers in a SINGING competition would avoid such a thing. If those whispers of past drug issues don’t kill his chances I still look for Bo to be one of the top two.
Vonzell Washington looked great with a gorgeous outfit and great hair. I thought the song she sang was okay. Randy loved her and said it was an especially difficult song. In total I thought Vonzell gave the best performance during this segment of the contest.
Anthony Federov wore a handsome suit. He also added some drama by sitting down and singing part of his song. A nice touch. The judges were approving except, of course, for Simon Cowell. By me Anthony is just not up to Carrie, Bo or Vonzell and I expect him to be eliminated soon.
It seems that Constantine took my advice and washed his hair. He’s a talented fellow and definitely deserved to stay over Scott Soval. At least as I see it. Maroulis does have a bit of a ham in him, loving the camera and acting out a little too theatrically by my taste. Alas Constantine is no more.
As for Scott Soval, I thought he did an awful job and so did all of the judges. Simon’s only comment to Scott was to “pack your bags”. The big fellow hangs in for another week but I’m not convinced he’ll be around much longer.
Picks for top three:
3-Vonzell Washington
2-Bo Bice
1-Carrie Underwood
On Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at 10 pm, ABC is featuring a "Primetime Live" American Idol expose. I shall watch to see which contestant Paula Abdul is sleeping with.
Also this coming week-still another round of American Idol. The theme segment will air on Fox, Tuesday, 5/3/05, at 8pm.
The American Idol elimination show will air on Wednesday, 5/4/05, at 9 pm.
The Apprentice is down to the final three. Now begins what is called "a round of grueling interviews". This part of The Apprentice airs on Thursday, 5/5/05, NBC, at 9 pm.
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