Would you trust your soul to this man?

Intelligent Design?

Maybe the Big Guy is trying to tell us something?

The Face That Launched a Thousand Terrorists

When this man tells you that we're going to do this

We usually end up like this...

And this....

Off To Court We Go…

This blog is dedicated to the oxymoron called the Czech Judicial System.

Well, I went to court once again and, yet again I will go to court.

Back in July a representative from the “bitovy podnik” - the organization that handles the property that’s been stolen from people, takes rents from them and supposedly repairs any problems within the residences – did not show up at court because he "didn’t get notice in time to make arrangement to come to court". The judge summoned him again, to show up in August. The judge mentioned in court: according to Czech constitution law people were to get back property. The two lawyers for the city and the state were visibly stunned, argued and were told that this is the law. I was very hopeful. My lawyer was visibly pleased because he said it would be over in August.

In August the representative from the bitovy podnik did not show up and the judge fined the organization 10,000 CZK – not for my benefit, but for the court’s. He could have, according to Czech law, have found in my favor but chose, instead, to postpone the proceedings until September, insisting that the representative be present. The two lawyers for the city and state were unhappy that they would have to come back to court yet again, since it seemed that the judge had already made a decision in my favor the preceding month anyway. I was very angry and my lawyer explained that the judge obviously didn’t feel that it was proper to make a decision without the rep being there. We went round about it and finally I decided to wait one more month.

My lawyer was confident that things would be finalized this time. The man who wants to buy the house (who has restituted property after his 7 year wait, and who owns property on Václavské nám.) and his son, who just graduated from law school here in Prague, came along to hear what was going on.

So, last week we went to court and the representative did show up. He explained that there was no reason for these proceedings because the city owned the property. Both the city and state lawyers looked astounded as this was pronounced, my lawyer jumped up angry and Jan, the son, was translating for me so I understood what was going on. At the end, the judge said this was a very complicated case and we would postpone until October 5^th.

Now I really understand what’s going on. Czech constitution law states that people who live in what was once private property will restitute the private property without tenants. The bitovy podnik would be responsible for finding new apartments for the people who currently reside in my house. The law is different for people who live in apartment houses. In that situation, the city is not responsible for relocating tenants, but the owner is. Therefore, if I were to make an agreement with the bitovy podnik to allow the tenants to stay, I would probably get the house back faster.

However, it would cost approximately 3million crowns per tenant to move them out. Without tenants, the house is worth about 1.5 million dollars – with tenants, less than 1 million. Is it worth it for me to give up ? million dollars? I think not. Therefore, I shall stay and fight.

Now, the people who want to buy the house are driving me crazy with conversation (always in Czech, which I don’t understand, and am tired of listening to). They are willing to give me money to go to the States to get Vlasta and bring here back here to sign papers giving me power of attorney and to make an agreement with us to buy the house. The original deal was that they would give me 20 million crowns (approx. $870,000) after taxes and paying the lawyer. I would get a net 20 million. Last night, the deal changed: they will give me 20 million and I would pay the tax (5%) and the attorney (10%). That would net me approx. $740,000. Because of this, I no longer trust them. This is unacceptable and I’m going to begin talking to real estate agents again. So the saga continues.

Vigil for the Victims of Katrina

Austin American-Statesman

Young Grace Vyborny [Mama Stephanie behind her] joins others in prayer during a vigil for the victims of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina.

The South Austin vigil was sponsored by Katrina Help Austin.

When the Levee Breaks

"It appears that the money has been moved in the president’s budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that’s the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can’t be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us. "
Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; New Orleans Times-Picayune, June 8, 2004. (http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002331.html)

We now know that the mainstream media has picked up on this piece of information. It is now documented that in 2004 funds that should have been spent by the American government to repair and shore up the levees in Louisiana were spent instead on “Homeland Security” and the “War” in Iraq. So now, in 2005, we have over 1,000 people dead – at the present estimations – because this administration chose unwisely.

Isn’t saving the lives of American citizens a part of “Homeland Security”? We’re losing American citizens in a war (or am I supposed to call it a “struggle” now?) in a place where we were not, heretofore, at risk, and now we’re losing a battle against nature because this administration follows Evangelical Christian thinking.

You know who they are, don’t you? They are the very same people who want abortion banned. It does not matter that the Republicans have been in control of Congress since 1992 (reminder, Bill Clinton was President at that time) and not one Republican in Congress has dared to introduce a bill banning abortion.

They are the same people who, as druggists, will now refuse to hand out birth control under any circumstances, thereby forcing yet more women to have abortions. Good thinking, yes?

They are the same people who want Darwin’s theory of evolution thrown out and have our young people study the Bible instead.

They are the same people who believe in “Intelligent Design” and want Newton’s theory of gravity thrown out and have it replaced by “intelligent falling”. This replacement, you know, explains why angels fly and how Jesus ascended to Heaven.

Well, I’m not a recent convert to Evangelical thinking, nor born again Christian, but I have a question to ask…

If there is such a thing as “Intelligent Design” - and we’ve been cursed with more disasters since the Bush Administration has taken power (not elected, God knows, the first time - but was the second time) - is this God’s way of telling the American people that they chose unwisely?

Max, Monkey - For You

Hey mom

I am so tired, and this is going to be super short...I spent the last day of my "vacation" working for Katrina Help Austin ( katrinahelpaustin.org ). I am now a manager there, heading up the phone lines and getting poeple to safety...so I am working my 8 hours here, and 6 hours there, getting shit together. I accidently became an administrator....there are all these interviews and shit, the politics is nuts, but is so rewarding...but I am beat. I have to tell you some stories, but no time. It is some fucked up shit, I am telling you. It is amazing.

I love you and have to go...will write later

stephy

Open Letter to John Conyers

But will no one in Congress address the most pressing issues on a national level? Will no one in the Media address the most pressing issues on a national level?

Only 20% of the money allocated was actually delivered in order to repair the levee. The funds originally allocated for the repair and re-shoring of the levee by the Army Corps of Engineers was redirected by this Administration to fund a war against people who are not guilty of anything other than the fact that their leader was a horrible individual. I live in the Czech Republic and I know about this travesty of justice - so why don't more Americans at home know about it.

The Red Cross was told to stay out of New Orleans by the Bush Administration. I live in the Czech Republic and I know about this travesty of justice - so why don't more Americans at home know about it.

The pictures from the prison in Iraq have not been published because this Administration continues to hide the fact that permission has been given by this Administration to to torture, sodomize and kill people who are being "questioned". I live in the Czech Republic and I know about this travesty of justice - so why don't more Americans at home know about it.

I know that you've worked very hard to deliver the message of the Downing St. Memo. I live in the Czech Republic and I know about this travesty of justice - so why don't more Americans at home know about it.

Denial after denial is heard from people in this Administration. Claims that they never knew about the threat of Bin Laden, a lie. Claims that they were unaware of the dangers of a major hurricane, a lie. Claims they did nothing to out a member of the CIA, a lie. I live in the Czech Republic and I know about these travesties of justice - so why don't more Americans at home know about them.

When are they going to be held accountable for their wrongs? They've killed many Americans by their arrogance and stupidity in not addressing reality and the issues of the day. Can we begin impeachment proceedings against these incompetents immediately before more Americans are killed?

I live in the Czech Republic and I know about this travesty of justice - so why don't more Americans at home know about it.