Daughter
My Birthday wish for You
I hope that every candle brings a new wish.
I hope the Smile that lights your face stays there all year-long.
I hope everything you’ve dreamed it will come true.
I hope you know how much I love You
and how proud I am of you.
Happy Birthday With So Much Love.
Card from my Mother
You can’t give back what you took from my life.
Xx M
Do you want to expand your knowledge, travel without leaving home or a number of classes that grab your interest.
iTunes U offers an extensive selection of free non credit courses from top rated universities. No stress, go at your own pace, courses are complete flexibility.
iTunes U also offers hundreds of free Podcast on any subject you can imagine. Take a trip around the world. I love Podcast, reading done for you. The system can configure automatic downloads, has bookmarks, and keeps track of what you’ve listened to or not.
Courseca.org offers over hundreds of free on-line courses from top universities. No stress, work at your own pace. Drop a course as I’ve done several time. They also offer for fee courses Corsica.org range of subject matter is impressive.
Berkley School of Music offers a limited number of free on-line courses.
I hope you find something interesting, maybe even something you can do with the kids.
Xx M
I celebrate my 7th year blogging anniversary and turn 53 in four days. Neither occasion are important on their own. What make this year so special is I’m alive. So many of you prayed , sent well wishes yet never treated me different.
I started my first blog to help grieve my granny’s death. Flash forward, I’m blessed learning other cultures around the world. Blogging with millions of people at WP there are opportunities to learn, share and clarify the misunderstood. The most important lesson learned is people are generally good.
I’m free to write my thoughts, some will not agree, others will not. We need different perspectives to broaden our mind.
Thank you for making every year a good one. I appreciate the kind thoughts, asking how I’m doing and treating me normal. I hope to see you in the years to come.
Party On!!!!! Pass the milk please!
Hugs
Melinda
Have a great weekend. When I heard the songs as a teenager, I hade no idea what they were talking about. HAHA! Have a great Friday, don’t forget sunscreen. Xx M
Information provided by RAINN
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Twenty Minutes of Rape
June 22, 2016
“I so admire this woman, who had the guts to expose what she is going through and share it with the world.”
Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) offered these thoughts on a night when a bipartisan group of 18 members of Congress stood in solidarity, each reading parts of a victim impact statement written by the survivor of a brutal sexual assault that occurred on Stanford University’s campus in 2014. The story has resonated around the world.
In March of 2016, 20-year-old Brock Turner was convicted of three felony counts: sexually penetrating an unconscious person with a foreign object; sexually penetrating an intoxicated person with a foreign object; and assault with an intent to commit rape.
Despite the finding of guilt and the brutal details of the crime—which involved a college party, an incapacitated and unconscious victim, and bystanders intervening when they discovered the victim behind a dumpster not far from campus—Judge Aaron Perksy decided to impose a sentence of only six months. This sentence was far less than the six years recommended by prosecutors, and only one-quarter of the normal two-year minimum sentence. Persky avoided minimum sentence by finding that “unusual circumstances” existed.
The short sentence shocked many, as did a statement written by the perpetrator’s father defending his son’s “20 minutes of action.”
Bringing national attention to the case, CNN anchor Ashleigh Banfield spent more than an hour reading the survivor’s full statement on air. The survivor’s eloquence and emotion, led the story to be carried by media worldwide.
Former Judge Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) spoke to fellow members of Congress about the case. “Mr. Speaker,” Rep. Poe said, “I was a criminal court judge and prosecutor for 30 years, this judge got it wrong.” Poe, who as co-founder of the Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus has led efforts to protect and support victims of sexual violence, continued: “As a country, we must change our mentality and make sure that our young people recognize sexual assault and rape for the heinous crimes that they are… As a grandfather, I want to know that my granddaughters are growing up in a society that has zero tolerance for this crime.”
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) led a one-hour “special order” on the floor of those of Representatives, during which members of Congress took turns reading the survivor’s statement. “People must understand rape is one of the most violent crimes a person can commit,” said Speier.
“This event, which was bipartisan and included both men and women, was unprecedented and demonstrates a rising awareness about these crimes and their devastating impact on survivors,” said Rebecca O’Connor,
RAINN’s vice president for public policy. “This case focuses the national spotlight on ongoing challenges and the continued need to teach the difference between criminal acts and ‘20 minutes of action’; the need to support survivors when they bravely come forward and pursue justice against the odds; and the need to get to a place where rapists receive punishment that fits the crime.”
In her statement, the survivor spoke to not only to the crimes themselves, but what happened after: “He is a lifetime sex registrant. That doesn’t expire. Just like what he did to me doesn’t expire, doesn’t just go away after a set number of years. It stays with me, it’s part of my identity, it has forever changed the way I carry myself, the way I live the rest of my life.”
#ActWithRAINN to support survivors and join the fight against sexual violence.
The Judge set a six month jail term when the minimum for the crime is two years. The message sent by the Judge is Sexual Assault is not a traumatic illegal crime. She was violated twice with a foreign object, for which he received two felonies, third for the intent to rape. Can you think of someone you love, a son or daughter dealing with life changing trauma.
Brock’s father read a statement in his sons defense “20 minutes of action” RAPE IS RAPE. RAPE DOESN’T HAVE A MINIMUM TIME TO QUALIFY, RAPE IS RAPE IF 20 MINUTES OR TWO HOURS. I want to throw up.
Action, Change and Punishment is essential. Another drunk 20-year-old frat party will go on. Who knows how the rapist will up the thrill as he ages.
She and others who make their voices heard are my heroes.
Xx Melinda
Summer is my favorite time of year, I love outdoor sports. One favorite is tubing down the river riding the rapids.The temperature reached 100 degrees today, I’m in front of computer today.
Hope everyone has adjusted to kids being out of schools and family vacations. Don’t forget the sunscreen.
Xx M
Growing up with four bothers, I was a fearless tomboy. At 12 years old I was crowned with braces. After a few pops in the mouth my football career was over. Good childhood memories.
Chronic Lyme Diseases affects everyone different, my parasites settled into my brain. The first sign was the lack of balance. Think about the walk taken after getting pulling over for intoxication. I could take 2-3 steps at most with eyes closed. I have continued to have balance and common sense my husband would say.
The clouds mingled as a storm moved in.Vibrant orange, pinks and every shade of blue. While he walked the dogs, I stood on the hot tub taking photos.
Hours after the rain, I noticed a large earthworm on the storm door. My mission was to save the earthworm. If I bend below the knees, I’m going down.
I diligently dug a hole in the dirt with one knee holding me up.David came running outside just in time for a glorious Circus tryout.. I fell down two bricks stairs, grabbing a landscape light on the way down it stabs me in the stomach. Then a loud crack as my head hit a stone brick. I was stunned and wanted to cry. No time for crying, he is yelling to see if conscious while trying to maneuver me from under patio table. It was time for me to sit and find my legs and damage done by light. He is pulling me up, legs behind me which makes it difficult to stand and do less damage. My head swirled and standing up was the last thing on mind. David rushed me in like a RN working ICU to examine my head. You can see what you think.
A draft of the Lyme Update is almost complete. I will share a TSA shack down story and tips for maneuvering thru security.
Fly’s and Mosquitos also carry Lyme. Be safe this summer.
Xx M
Interesting concept. Xx M
lookingforthelight.blog 