en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/268435 Comments by acacnin http://collegecandy.com/2012/04/07/what-your-american-girl-doll-says-about-you/#IDComment334372465 I don't think it says that much about the little girls who played with them, but it may speak to some degree about the mothers, grandmothers or aunts who chose them for their girls as gifts. Sometimes given quite casually, but sometimes given after quite a bit of scrimping and saving. Sun, 8 Apr 2012 06:48:04 +0000 http://collegecandy.com/2012/04/07/what-your-american-girl-doll-says-about-you/#IDComment334372465 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Texas-trucker-pleads-guilty-to-killing-Seattle-couple-145029705.html#IDComment328657495 Lets not forget that ugly does not mark out who is evil and who isn't. That's a dangerous assumption to make. Dangerous to otherwise good folk who don't fit our idea of who looks good.. and dangerous to us because there are some very good looking, very charming monsters out there and we shouldn't let their attractiveness alone lead us to put our gaurd down. Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:42:20 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Texas-trucker-pleads-guilty-to-killing-Seattle-couple-145029705.html#IDComment328657495 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Texas-trucker-pleads-guilty-to-killing-Seattle-couple-145029705.html#IDComment328655806 Yeah_and Am I correct that you are in Washington State? If so, here's an idea for you. Have you ever spoken to Legistive Rep Chris Hurst from the 31st district? He's ex-law enforcement, he's on the judiciary committee and if you make an appointment, he'll listen to what you have to say. His staff is nice, very respectful of citizens who come with concerns. I don't know all the issues involved here. If we keep these guys alive because we hope to get informaion about victim identities to help victim's families, if because it's too great a risk to let them go to trial.. too much of a risk that they might get off altogether to the plea looks good to the state, if the mandatory appeals before carrying out a death sentence are too expensive (I hear they outweigh the cost of housing them for life) but.. I maybe it would be good for Chris Hurst to hear from someone with your experience to balance against all that? Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:39:11 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Texas-trucker-pleads-guilty-to-killing-Seattle-couple-145029705.html#IDComment328655806 http://www.politicaltheatrics.net/2010/04/americansapologeticsubmissive-and-complicit/#IDComment66528872 Hmm, I can easily see that happening. I know a woman who breaks into tears every time I make a remark that casts doubts on her beliefs, which I suspect she sucks up directly and unedited from Rush Limbaugh. I consider her behavior bullying and cowardly. But I do find that some people will engage with me if I give them a chance. I start out by really listening (which is hard to do if the other person is ill informed) Then, after I kind of know the way they think, I start to ask questions that lead them to question their own assumptions. I try to remain open and inviting, I may risk having my own opinions changed, but that hasn't happened. I have been able to plant seeds of doubt in some cases, and change minds a few times. We need to change minds and hearts (yes still acninee... I seem to have a comment account where I didn't get the spelling right) Thu, 8 Apr 2010 06:51:00 +0000 http://www.politicaltheatrics.net/2010/04/americansapologeticsubmissive-and-complicit/#IDComment66528872 http://www.komonews.com/news/80666077.html#IDComment50415637 (part 2) I think that possibly the reform we need is to better fund our criminal justice system so that the state doesn't have to release any convicted offenders because it just can't afford to continue holding them. I think we need to be sure the system is well funded so that the opportunity to go to trial is not delayed and time served before sentencing doesn't end up being counted twice against final sentence. But how many of us outraged folk are really ready to back up the desire for judicial reform by paying higher sales or propety taxes, by advocating for a state income tax? Tue, 5 Jan 2010 03:30:09 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/80666077.html#IDComment50415637 http://www.komonews.com/news/80666077.html#IDComment50415619 I think we need to be very carefully about what we advocate for. If we call for harsher sentencing now, are we reforming a broken system, or are we acting out a desire for vengence? A desire for vengence may be a normal and understandable reaction to recent events, but that doesn't make it the best course for our society. I spent some time observing in courtrooms last year in Pierce county. I was more impressed than I expected to be. Both the prosecution and the defense were empassioned advocates who seemed to believe the system was there to be the arena where the struggle for justice was waged. Judges seemed to make very even handed rulings. It is not easy to convict an accused person. But remember that we don't want it to be. A cornerstone of our law is that people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This is not liberal hogwash, it is a concept that far predates today.s liberals and conservatives, it is a hard won right that our forefathers struggled for, and it is there to protect the average citizen from police or prosecutorial error, from prejudices. I know that if I am ever mistakenly suspected and accused of a crime, I want those protections in place. (continued) Tue, 5 Jan 2010 03:29:48 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/80666077.html#IDComment50415619