Griff was sentenced today

for 20 years. He'll be eligible for parole in 16, making him about 60 when he gets out. When he does get out (assuming he survives prison), he'll have to register as a sex offender and keep his address up to date or risk three years of automatic prison again. The sad thing is, I don't think he still understands how wrong he is--yet he really does deserve this sentence. The judge had leaned towards leniency until reading his psych profile and the letters from those who knew him, none of whom wrote in actual support of him. I think that surprised him. I saw one of the letters, which outlined the pattern Griff had used before. The victim's mother wrote a letter as well, including an assertion that the he tried to lure the victim's brother too. All this added up to the sentence given. All Griff could say was that he was sorry he let people down, not that he was sorry for what he did or taking any responsibility for harming a child. I don't think he's reacting like an adult, but more like an adolescent or child being caught for being bad.

Sad. But good and just.

Yesterday was a blah day

It all caught up with me, and I felt really depressed. See, on top of the problems I'm having with the car and the financial fallout of that, plus the computer, I still haven't heard from my folks, someone is really angry at me and I'm not sure whether I can make it up to the person, my psychiatrist is leaving for New York so I have to find a new one, and my house is continuing to deteriorate because I am overwhelmed by the results of Darius' illness.

In other words, life is a reall mess right now.

But I do feel better today, and not to sound touchy-feely Christian, because I'm not, but I prayed about it (there's various Gods to pray too, after all), and I feel more like facing the challenges today. Yesterday I was just overwhelmed and after riding the buses to my psych appointment and to get my work schedule, I just didn't feel like being around anyone at all and just wanted to curl up in bed. Which I did. But I guess sometimes you just need a pause to reflect on the good and the bad and how to face both, right?

Does anybody know

what I can do to make sure the left sidebar works on all screen settings? I ask because one person I know has had trouble for a long time with it being beyond a margin, and I don't know how to fix it. Someone else e-mailed me to know this is also a problem for him, so it's not an isolated issue. I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

I had the strangest sensation

this morning as I walked from the bus stop to work. I stepped forward, and it was like I stepped on something vibrating, like a rattlesnake in full rattle. Then my right hand (same side) started feeling like it was vibrating from the inside out, though it wasn't visibly any different. I didn't have any sensory changes or feel woozy or anything, just the vibration, followed by a bit of a headache on the left side of my head. My first thought was, my God, I'm having a stroke, but again, no other symptoms were present, and I barely hesitated in coming on up the hill. But it was weird. I'm used to the pins and needles feeling of carpal tunnel, although I don't have it anymore, but this was totally different.

A really great site on disaster prevention

Are you prepared?

Very simple to use and shows you how to build a disaster kit for the home and a 'go bag' that you can take with you. It's from the San Franciso Office of Emergency Services, so it covers a lot of different types of disasters including earthquake, flooding, terror, disease, power outages, even tsunami. There's also areas designed for special considerations about children, seniors and the disabled, and pets.

And isn't that a relief for all of us?

Not to be sniffed at: a chance for bean-eaters to go fart-free - World

Now they just need to cure the common cold and the greatest mysteries of science will be solved. :)

Remembering twenty years ago

Chernobyl horror remembered

And one thing we need to remember is how interconnected we are as a people and as an environment. Mistakes made sometimes have far-reaching consequences. The lives lost and the wasteland that is left remind us of folly and bravery in the face of disaster.

Need to find a good doctor?

This story from KGO, an ABC affiliate in San Francisco, tells of the pluses and pitfalls of researching physicians online.

A very tall stack of books

Take a look at this sculpture celebrating Germany as a place of ideas.

Check out

PGG : Official Project Galactic Guide Horseshoe