Back to the Grind

The next two weeks will be busy.

1. Tomorrow, I have my first of four exams this semester. Yes, it is on the day we get back from break.
2. I have to make the answer key for the exam for the class I teach this week, once I get the exam from the course chair.
3. I have a homework set due on Thursday. The middle of the week will be spent on this as well as working on the homework set due next Monday.
4. I have an exam the first Thursday in April. So I will be spending next weekend studying for that, which means I will be bringing work with me when I
   
5. Visit St. Mary's next weekend (provided things work out). I don't know if I will make it down Friday night or Saturday morning, though.

Also, I had a very enjoyable day yesterday with much of the group as we toured the national zoo. A lot of walking, but quite enjoyable. The only snag was that my SmartTrip card has apparently died. I'll have to see what can be done about that.

Some Thoughts From the Weekend

1. It's spring break. So now I can relax a bit before two weeks of exams.
2. I found out that my denomination has its General Synod at the end of June. Fortunately, it is not over a week my church has service, so I will not be called upon to preach. However, I would not be surprised if my preacher tries to convince me to go.
3. How on earth the Terps earned a ten seed in the NCAA tournament is beyond me.
4. At least Discovery was able to launch.
5. NASA is letting people vote on the name of one of the modules for the space station. The leading name thus far is Serenity. I wonder how high up NASA's chain of command knowledge of the reference goes.
6. My sister's cat has learned to play fetch. With crumpled pieces of paper.
7. Is Dougherty really the best the Democrats can do in Frederick City?
8. Why does Cheney think that Obama should even dignify Rush Limbaugh with a debate? Will any private citizen then be able to challenge the president to a debate? If that happens, watch just how little work can get accomplished in Washington.

Yes, I realize this post is disjointed. I'll try better next time.

Maybe.

Frederick County Needs a New State's Attorney, Part II

Several months ago, I wrote about how Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith (Frederick County's version of Jack McCoy) was accused of not paying child support, and how the facts of that allegation showed that Smith needed to go from office. Well, his office hit a new low of incompetence.

Last year, a woman in Thurmont who had already been cited for driving with her kids in the trunk of her car, was arrested for providing alcohol to a young teenage girl. The girl subsequently had to go to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. Well, the State's Attorney's office had her plead guilty to a count of providing alcohol to a minor that only businesses can be guilty of. So the judge had no choice but to throw out the guilty verdict and let the woman go. D'oh.

The new proof that Charlie Smith needs to go is trivial. Although the kicker is that people are complaining about the defense attorney bringing it up, even though he'd probably be disbarred if he did not, and the judge for throwing out the case, even though the judge has to follow the law and must overturn the verdict as under the statute, the woman cannot be guilty of what she plead to. Let's put the blame where it belongs: with the State's Attorney's office. And since Charlie Smith is the State's Attorney, the buck should stop with him.