Friday, March 26, 2004
This is a letter from Kobe Bryant's accuser's mother, to the judge presiding on the case. It was recently posted on espn.com. Anyone who thinks she is doing this for the notoriety or fame is either a daughterless male or a moron- and the two aren't mutually exclusive.
Your Honor,
I would like to share with you the reality of my daughter's life.
You are aware of 3 people that have been arrested for threatening her life. She has received literally hundreds of death threats on the phone, in the mail and e-mail. In addition, she has received thousands of obscene messages. We are constantly worried about her safety.
My daughter has lived in four different states in the past six months. She is followed everywhere by the defense and the media. The defense begins to question everyone she meets. The media reveals her location. Her safety is at risk and she has to move again. She can't live at home, she can't live with relatives, she can't go to school, or talk to her friends.
When she moves to a new location she doesn't know anyone. As soon as she gets a job or makes a few acquaintances someone figures out who she is and the media arrives. The last time she got a job the second day she was there the media found her and began following her. Most employers are not willing to deal with the problems this brings to their business.
My daughter has been home for two days. Last night, she tried to have dinner with a friend and her friend's mom. On the way into the restaurant a man came up to them pulled out a camera and began taking pictures and questioning them. They asked him to stop, they tried to walk away he followed them and would not stop until she used a cell phone to call for help. First there is the fear when someone walks up to her and pulls something out of their pocket. Are they going to hurt her? She has received more than enough death threats that those thoughts are now a required part of her daily life.
When the immediate fear of being harmed subsides, she is left with the frustration of knowing that she can't go anywhere, even have a simple dinner with a friend.
No one else involved in this case has had to make the life changes and compromises that my daughter has had to make and will need to continue to make until this case is over. Even the defendant is able to continue living in his home and continue with his employment.
My daughter has plans for her future. She wants to continue her education. However, her life is on hold and her safety is in jeopardy until this case is over. I am asking that the court do whatever possible to bring this case to trial as soon as possible. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, (name withheld)
Your Honor,
I would like to share with you the reality of my daughter's life.
You are aware of 3 people that have been arrested for threatening her life. She has received literally hundreds of death threats on the phone, in the mail and e-mail. In addition, she has received thousands of obscene messages. We are constantly worried about her safety.
My daughter has lived in four different states in the past six months. She is followed everywhere by the defense and the media. The defense begins to question everyone she meets. The media reveals her location. Her safety is at risk and she has to move again. She can't live at home, she can't live with relatives, she can't go to school, or talk to her friends.
When she moves to a new location she doesn't know anyone. As soon as she gets a job or makes a few acquaintances someone figures out who she is and the media arrives. The last time she got a job the second day she was there the media found her and began following her. Most employers are not willing to deal with the problems this brings to their business.
My daughter has been home for two days. Last night, she tried to have dinner with a friend and her friend's mom. On the way into the restaurant a man came up to them pulled out a camera and began taking pictures and questioning them. They asked him to stop, they tried to walk away he followed them and would not stop until she used a cell phone to call for help. First there is the fear when someone walks up to her and pulls something out of their pocket. Are they going to hurt her? She has received more than enough death threats that those thoughts are now a required part of her daily life.
When the immediate fear of being harmed subsides, she is left with the frustration of knowing that she can't go anywhere, even have a simple dinner with a friend.
No one else involved in this case has had to make the life changes and compromises that my daughter has had to make and will need to continue to make until this case is over. Even the defendant is able to continue living in his home and continue with his employment.
My daughter has plans for her future. She wants to continue her education. However, her life is on hold and her safety is in jeopardy until this case is over. I am asking that the court do whatever possible to bring this case to trial as soon as possible. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, (name withheld)
Now this is just brilliant:
Monty Python's Life of Brian is getting re-released, and being marketing against The Passion.
I love the British.
Monty Python's Life of Brian is getting re-released, and being marketing against The Passion.
I love the British.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Life Lesson Boot Camp
That's where I seem to be these days. Poetic? Oh sure, what life lesson isn't poetic? But fun? Painless? Recommended to all my friends?
Um, no.
Now, I'm a guy who prides himself on having all the answers. You need em; I got em. (They are, by the way, B, 3.14159265, mankind and Grover Cleveland)
But these days, things have been a little puzzling. Everyone I know seems to be going through tough times. Morale, as they say, is low. And I really, really don't know why.
Until my wife told me last night.
"We are being prepared for something special."
Ooooo. I like special. That kicked the ol' ego into overdrive. Sure it was nice when the cheerleaders noticed me in high school, but I want to sit at Fate's table and know she's looking out for me. (And if you don't think Fate is a woman, you probably don't have plans tonight.) Now, I would settle for Faith (or Hope- but not together, as if you have faith, why do you need hope?) or even Death (the stories!), but Fate is the wo-man!
But I digress. I like the idea that Fate holds me dear enough to throw enough little shit at me that I'm ready for the Big Shit when it happens. I like that somewhere, in muted whispers and grand gestures the powers of the universe want me to be OK. And I'm not talking about George Bush, here, people.
So take a little solace if times are rough, because I honestly think that Fate is preparing us all for some unique and enormous stuff.
Wait, that's a song...
take a little solace if times are rough
the fates are preparing you for enormous stuff
the stuff of which heaven and angels are borne
stuff to shelter to you from the coming storm
thank you boys....
That's where I seem to be these days. Poetic? Oh sure, what life lesson isn't poetic? But fun? Painless? Recommended to all my friends?
Um, no.
Now, I'm a guy who prides himself on having all the answers. You need em; I got em. (They are, by the way, B, 3.14159265, mankind and Grover Cleveland)
But these days, things have been a little puzzling. Everyone I know seems to be going through tough times. Morale, as they say, is low. And I really, really don't know why.
Until my wife told me last night.
"We are being prepared for something special."
Ooooo. I like special. That kicked the ol' ego into overdrive. Sure it was nice when the cheerleaders noticed me in high school, but I want to sit at Fate's table and know she's looking out for me. (And if you don't think Fate is a woman, you probably don't have plans tonight.) Now, I would settle for Faith (or Hope- but not together, as if you have faith, why do you need hope?) or even Death (the stories!), but Fate is the wo-man!
But I digress. I like the idea that Fate holds me dear enough to throw enough little shit at me that I'm ready for the Big Shit when it happens. I like that somewhere, in muted whispers and grand gestures the powers of the universe want me to be OK. And I'm not talking about George Bush, here, people.
So take a little solace if times are rough, because I honestly think that Fate is preparing us all for some unique and enormous stuff.
Wait, that's a song...
take a little solace if times are rough
the fates are preparing you for enormous stuff
the stuff of which heaven and angels are borne
stuff to shelter to you from the coming storm
thank you boys....
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Only Chris, Jimmy and Sleazy will understand this...
Thus far in March Madness:
PAC-10: 1-3
Big 12: 7-1
hee, hee.
For the other 6 billion of you, here is the back story:
Last January, the aforementioned boys and I (thanks to the amazing Bina) went to the Madison Square Garden to watch Texas and Arizona play in an early season basketball game. My beloved Horns fell short, but college hoops is all about March, so I wasn't worried.
As we exited the Garden (and passed right by former Spur Danny Ferry), an exuberant, inebriated fellow was shouting out about how PAC-10 basketball was superior to Big 12 basketball, and how Texas had better get out of his town. And mind you, he was less eloquent than I.
Well, true believers, I took issue with his statements. At first I just added the timeless "Sucks!" at the end of his yelling out "PAC-10 Basketball". And while that certainly held the folksy charm all hecklers must possess, his drunken commentary continued to annoy me until I just walked up to him, got in his face and told him what a dumbass he was (and probably still is).
This could have been a bad scene, mind you. I had had a few and he had had the rest and the fastest way to pissing me off is to insult my beloved Longhorns. So I made light of his lack of verbal flexibility and his general baffoonery, and he made fun of the small baby growing in my belly. Well, when I realized he wasn't talking about my actual baby, I went through the roof.
Eventually, his three pudgy friends showed up and said something scary like, "Back off, man." I thought about showing these Arizona dry-heaters that four of them is worth one of me, but did the math and realized I hadn't carried the 3. In any event, we all walked away; me with my baby and him with his stupidity.
And with 3 teams still in the Sweet 16 (compared to 0 from the PAC-10), I bet that dude is home wishing he had a family to love like I do.
...
"PAC-10 Basketball!"
Thus far in March Madness:
PAC-10: 1-3
Big 12: 7-1
hee, hee.
For the other 6 billion of you, here is the back story:
Last January, the aforementioned boys and I (thanks to the amazing Bina) went to the Madison Square Garden to watch Texas and Arizona play in an early season basketball game. My beloved Horns fell short, but college hoops is all about March, so I wasn't worried.
As we exited the Garden (and passed right by former Spur Danny Ferry), an exuberant, inebriated fellow was shouting out about how PAC-10 basketball was superior to Big 12 basketball, and how Texas had better get out of his town. And mind you, he was less eloquent than I.
Well, true believers, I took issue with his statements. At first I just added the timeless "Sucks!" at the end of his yelling out "PAC-10 Basketball". And while that certainly held the folksy charm all hecklers must possess, his drunken commentary continued to annoy me until I just walked up to him, got in his face and told him what a dumbass he was (and probably still is).
This could have been a bad scene, mind you. I had had a few and he had had the rest and the fastest way to pissing me off is to insult my beloved Longhorns. So I made light of his lack of verbal flexibility and his general baffoonery, and he made fun of the small baby growing in my belly. Well, when I realized he wasn't talking about my actual baby, I went through the roof.
Eventually, his three pudgy friends showed up and said something scary like, "Back off, man." I thought about showing these Arizona dry-heaters that four of them is worth one of me, but did the math and realized I hadn't carried the 3. In any event, we all walked away; me with my baby and him with his stupidity.
And with 3 teams still in the Sweet 16 (compared to 0 from the PAC-10), I bet that dude is home wishing he had a family to love like I do.
...
"PAC-10 Basketball!"
