Freedom and Jeff - An inspirational story ~~

This is the kind of story you need when it seems like the world is spiraling out of control.....

Not many people get a picture of this proud bird snuggled up next to them! Freedom and I have been together 11 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings.

Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She's my baby. When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice.

We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet's office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lie in.

I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes.  We also had to tube feed her for weeks. This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't  stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning.

She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live.  I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.  We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington . We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and  some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up  doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000; the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after  8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results.

I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.

Sheriff Paul Babeu ~~ Still one of AZ best lawmen

Today I appeared on CNN The Situation Room for a conversation with Wolf Blitzer to set the record straight about the false allegations and false reporting about me that has persisted over the past few days. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch this and then share it with your family and friends – particularly those of you who I’m honored to have the support of in Pinal County and Arizona’s 4th Congressional District. Thank you.


Wolf Blitzer's exclusive interview with Sheriff Babeu

situationroom.blogs.cnn.comsituationroom.blogs.cnn.com

ACTION ALERT: GOP wants to end private prison assessments and quality reports ~~

Hello, all,


In yet another stunning display of hubris, the Arizona state legislature released a corrections budget bill yesterday that would eliminate the requirement for cost and quality assessments of private prisons in Arizona. That’s right—they literally don’t want to know.

While I’m somewhat flattered that the report we released is so threatening to the industry, it is very important that we take this seriously. I’m attaching a press release and an action alert—if you all could share the press release with any interested reporters you know and also send out the action alert to any members you may have in AZ, I’d really appreciate it.

Finally, we are going to be filing a formal protest of the RFP with the State Procurement Office in the next couple weeks. We are looking for organizations (good government groups, taxpayers rights groups, other budget watchdogs) to sign on. If any of you have ideas or contacts with these groups in AZ, please let me know. When we file the protest, we’ll be doing a bunch of press work, so I’ll be sure to send it along to the group. Thanks,

Caroline Isaacs, Program Director,

American Friends Service Committee, Arizona Area Program

103 N. Park Ave., Ste. 111

Tucson, AZ 85719


We want the facts on private prisons!

FACT: Private prisons in Arizona are not saving the state money

FACT: Private prisons are not safer or providing better quality than state prisons

FACT: Private prisons are unaccountable to Arizona taxpayers

Unfortunately, the attitude of state lawmakers is, “don’t bother me with the facts.” The budget bill released by the state legislature yesterday would eliminate the requirement for a quality and cost review of private prison contracts. That’s right, the state legislature has just said, “We don’t care.” They don’t care if these prisons are safe and they don’t care if they are wasting millions of dollars of your money. BUT YOU SHOULD CARE.

Recent reports have revealed that private prisons in Arizona cost more overall than equivalent state-operated prison units. Safety inspection data has revealed widespread safety problems, including malfunctioning cameras and alarms—the same kinds of problems that led to the escapes from Kingman in 2010.

Why wouldn’t they want to know if private prisons are actually saving money?

Why wouldn’t they want to know if these facilities are safe?

Why wouldn’t they want to know if people are being rehabilitated?

Take Action! Tell our legislative leaders WE WANT THE FACTS!

Ask them to repeal the language in the FY2013 Criminal Justice budget reconciliation bills (HB2860/SB1531) that would eliminate the requirement to review the cost and quality of private prisons. CALL TODAY!

House Speaker, Andy Tobin, atobin@azleg.gov; (602) 926-5172

Senate President, Steve Pierce; spierce@azleg.gov, (620) 926-5584

Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. John Kavanagh, jkavanagh@azleg.gov; (602) 926-5170

Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Don Shooter; dshooter@azleg.gov ; (602) 926-4139

Private Prisons in Arizona Need Oversight and Accountability Because:

• Prisons are fundamentally about public safety. Our communities should be assured that these facilities are safe, and the public should be notified when there are incidents like escapes or riots.

• Arizona taxpayers are shelling out millions for private prisons every year. We deserve to know what kind of return we’re getting on our investment.

• Private prisons are performing a core government function and doing it on the taxpayer’s dime.

**If you can blind copy or cc us, we will have a better idea how effective this initiative is. If you receive responses, even boiler-plate ones, please forward those to us, if possible.

A broken promise ~~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKBpuchg0rU

MANIAC COPS ~ WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM??

How do we police the police?

Can we get better accountability?

Is the system that checks the police flawed?

Do the investigative panels that police the police look the other way?

Are there predators in uniform amongst us?

Do these predators have “moral character violations such as excessive force or violence (domestic or otherwise), drug use, theft, and forcible sex?

Are efforts to get to these facts undermined by politics within the police ranks?

Do unions protect the uniformed rank and file members?

Is anyone researching these facts to reveal a “fit for duty” profile for our police?

  

• ARE THERE ANY CASE STUDIES?
•  
• HAS ANYONE SEARCHED DATABASES FOR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CURRENT AND PAST VIOLATIONS REPORTED?
•  
• ARE THE POLICE ALLOWING OFFICERS TO KEEP THEIR BADGES AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS IGNORING THE WRONGDOINGS?
•  
• ARE THERE OUTSTANDING CASES OF VIOLATION OF THE PUBLIC TRUST?
•  
•  DO THE AGENCIES INVESTIGATE CRIMES COMMITTED WHAT ARE KNOWN TO BE AS “MORAL CHARACTER VIOLATIONS?”
•  


•  HOW DO STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDLE OFFICER MISCONDUCT?

 MAYBE IT'S TIME WE START LOOKING AT THIS PROBLEM AND THE CERTIFICATION OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS EVERYWHERE ~~

Veterans in crisis can now text for help

By Patricia Kime - Staff writer

Posted : Wednesday Feb 15, 2012 16:46:15 EST

Veterans and service members contemplating suicide can now text for help through the Veterans Crisis Line, formerly the national Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline. The Veterans Affairs Department announced Wednesday that confidential text-messaging is available 24 hours a day by texting 83-8255.  Trained professionals will provide free mental health support, referrals and advice for military members, former service members and their families via texts.

The new number is one of several initiatives rolled out this month by VA to address suicide in the veteran population. VA also introduced toll-free access to its crisis line from Europe, according to a VA release.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/02/military-veterans-in-crisis-can-now-text-for-help-021512w/The number is 0800-1273-8255, or 118 from a Defense Switched Network line.