Brian Dugan's confession not enough to spare his life

Chicago newspapers are buzzing with the news that Brian Dugan finally confessed to the 1983 killing of Naperville's Jeanine Nicarico, a big-eyed, dimple-smiled fifth grader who had a lifetime ahead of her. At 10-years old, she was brutally raped and murdered. Dugan is finally admitting to the crime in an effort to save his own skin. He is presently serving two life sentences for the death of 27-year-old Donna Schnorr of Geneva and 7-year-old Melissa Ackerman of Somonauk. If anyone ever deserves the death penalty, it is Brian Dugan.

The Nicarico case was haunting, on so many levels. I remember when the story broke. I was a young mother with two small children. I once lived in a neighboring town to Naperville where the Nacarico's lived. I knew the area. Knowing that I drove the same streets where this monster committed this heinous act caused me to feel personally violated.

In general, were were all more innocent then -- as a society we weren't yet desensitized to the taking of a human life. The murder of the child just punctuated the hideous nature of murder.

This case couldn't help but invoke anguish and empathy for everyone involved. The mere mention of Jeanine Nicarico's name is enough to bring back all those feelings. What must the last moments of her life been like? Losing a child evokes the worst loss, but how have her parents been able to cope?

Unimaginable suffering has been experienced by family, friends, neighbors, an entire community, as well as all of society.

Following the initial incident and so many court appearances, charges were wrongly brought by an overzealous prosecutor. Two men faced the death penalty but were later cleared, revealing major flaws in the criminal justice system. Bad politics became entangled in this case resulting in a moratorium on the death penalty evoked by an ex-governor whose home address is now that of a federal penitentiary. It is nearly impossible to count the tragedies associated with this case in its 26 year duration. And the worst case of all, is that few lessons have been learned as yet.

Hummingbirds

I never knew hummingbirds were so territorial or that watching them might be hazardous. The latter might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I believe it is just a matter of time before I get smacked in the side of the head from one or more of them as I sit on the front porch enjoying the show.

I used to think that such activities were peaceful and quiet, but hummingbirds are neither. I admit it is the kind of 'noise' I relish however. These tiny birds that aren't much bigger than some insects with a much louder buzz, are amazing little critters. Rarely do they sit still, although I have seen that at times. They either sit on the perch of the feeder or on a shrub next to the porch as they wait their turn to imbibe. Sometimes they chase one another to an awaiting tree branch where they become invisible behind an oak leaf.

I make my own food for them; I must be a great cook. They love that colorless sugar water. I swear I've even seen one or two smacking their lips (beaks). With two feeders on the front porch, it is nearly impossible to count how many birds are buzzing around at one time. They swarm the feeders and are very picky about which spot they occupy. They are pretty picky about who they dine with as well. The males are pretty mean to the females and especially to the other males. I haven't been watching long enough to know if their behavior changes as the season progresses. That may be a nice activity for the future. I think I could get into hummingbird behavioral studies. Perhaps I can apply for a government grant. It seems like everybody else gets them. It would be nice to be paid to sit on the front porch, birdwatching. ;-)

Journalism trends

Journalism as we know it is changing, rapidly. But is the trend toward linking and collaborating one which will stand the test of time? And what does it all mean to the notion of making a living?

Since I stopped working for a weekly newspaper which resulted in the loss of my weekly paycheck, I have been exploring the potential for writing on the Internet. My study has led me to believe that it is easy to write on-line. In fact, anyone can do it. One thing is certain, there are no short-cuts. And the down side is that not everyone can make a living at it.

While I remain in the throes of the learning process, I have concluded that making a living as a writer on the Internet may be doable, but it will take not only talent, but lots of hard work, and perhaps a little luck. The pool is large and growing as journalism schools graduate new students and established newspapers present pink slips to longtime reporters.

The new trends: link and collaborative journalism, encouragement of citizen journalists, and a steady influx of new bloggers is producing a glut of sources to fill our 24-hour news shows.

I have to wonder how much of this new found information is paid for? Does CNN pay citizen journalists to send in photographs of planes landing in the river or forest fires threatening neighborhoods? Are bloggers paid when they provide information that goes on the air?

It seems to me that news organizations, which are scrambling to save themselves are doing it at the expense of the innocence of some hard-working would-be journalists eager to see their work displayed in the mainstream. Even the newspaper I worked for begged for digital photographs to be contributed to help provide community news. There was no talk of compensation, but there was an offer of a byline.

Getting a byline is a great thing. I happen to think a byline stands for something special. It should not be tossed out like candy at a parade. I also believe that if work is good enough to earn a byline, it is good enough to deserve compensation.

It seems that along with journalim trends, there is a growing practice to try to coerce free services from journalists in return for nothing more than a pat on the back. Trouble is a pat on the back won't feed the family. I hope the journalism trend does not include FREEdom of the press.

I happen to believe that this freebie trend will peak and then subside as the laws of nature dictate. Once people realize how hard they are working for nothing or for very little, we will begin to see survival of the fittest.

Racial inequality deserves an Act of Congress

Solving racism, once and for all should start with an Act of Congress.

Isn't it time we, who are guaranteed equality by the law of the land, make our decisions based on the human experience rather than through a black or white perspective. Isn't it time to punctuate any perceived differences among us with a period -- end of story?

It seems as though the answer to our personal black and white dilemma lies in education. We must all learn to see a picture that is bigger than just our own mirror image. We must realize that we are all members of the human race. What we do to each other we do to ourselves. Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp?

I was outraged by the Henry Louis Gates, Jr., arrest, on so many levels.

Perhaps I am still reeling from Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton overload, but what I heard was another black victim accusing a white police officer of racial profiling. I admit being a bit skeptical. Something in Gates' tone failed to show me a scholar who wants to rise above and even solve the racial divide. I saw a man who wants to use it to his advantage.

Was this a rogue cop as Gates suggests? Was it a case of racial profiling?

In an interview with USA Today, the arresting officer Sgt. James Crowley claims he is not a racist. He refuses to apologize to Gates for arresting him for disorderly conduct. Crowley claims that initially Gates refused to identify himself. Was Gates overly defiant, disorderly?

Gates has one perspective -- that of a suppressed black man. Crowley has nother perspective -- that of a police officer who was investigating a suspicious activity involving black men seemingly breaking into a house.

We need to know the real truth here, rather than these black and white perspectives.

It is time we stop treating people differently -- any people. There are laws on the books that say black and whites are equal. But it seems to me that blacks will continue to be treated differently as long as they insist on acting as if they are different.

The first step to bridge the differences is to do away with the Congressional Black Caucus, a black group of lawmers in the very House where laws of equality were written. Shouldn't this be the first place we see change? This would set a good example by the U.S. Congress.

If a crime was committed against Gates, it needs to be investigated. If Crowley acted inappropriately, he needs to be reprimanded. But rather than just a black or white perspective, this incident like all others should be investigated from a human perspective.

Bird feeding chores

This morning while enjoying a fresh cup of coffee on the deck, marveling at another beautiful Ozarks morning, I had an epiphany.

I had already changed sheets and made the bed, preparing for a load of laundry. It was only 6:30 a.m.

A chorus of birds were singing their favorite songs as they flitted from tree to tree. I watched a Nuthatch land on a bird feeder below me in the back yard. I realized it was empty, or nearly so. Then I remembered, my husband John took the feeders in at night -- a new practice he'd begun since raccoons decided to enjoy a nightly feast, at ours and the birds' expense. When I was finished putting out the three feeders and filling the fourth, I sat back on the deck with second cup of coffee.

It really felt good to have completed this little task. Then it came to me. This was what people meant when they referred to "doing their chores." I never related to that phrase. My parents never taught me to "do chores."

Oh my mother would yell at me now and then, "Make your bed!" or "clean your room!" but there was never an organized routine involved. It was just random yelling, which I usually ignored. She never pushed it, just kept on yelling. So, no cause and effect -- never a lesson to be learned. Hmm, I never taught that to my kids either.

Fortunately my husband had a much different upbringing. He has always been very regimented. I've always marveled at how he does things every day like clockwork, even now that he is retired. I'm grateful that our children learned from his behavior.

I've always been a free spirit. If I had to do chores every day, when would I have time to write in my blog, work on a quilt, pick up my knitting or crocheting, write a letter, call a friend on the phone, create an oil painting, bake cupcakes, read a book, write one, or any of the other things I do (ir)regularly? Sometimes I augment these activities with the mundane ones -- vacuuming, cleaning or actually finishing the laundry. I certainly don't have a routine though.

When people come by for a visit, they probably will not see my house neatly picked up, unless I know they are coming. But I figure they come to see me, not my house. If their visit is a surprise, and I really like those, there may be projects strewn about in various stages of completion.

Now that I know this about chores, I have to decide if I want to give in to what I've learned. That's easy; the answer is absolutely not. I like having the freedom to do whatever I want when I want, even if it means having some dishes in the sink or a floor that needs to be scrubbed. Those things will get done when I get around it. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with doing those things only lasts for a minute before it needs to be done again. Yet, the feeling that comes with hanging a newly-painted canvas or admiring a handmade quilt is a much better and longer lasting.

New Blog about NASCAR

I've started a new blog -- all about NASCAR. It is one of the many things I enjoy writing about. CH on track contains a few stories that I've written. Hopefully I can keep it updated as the racing season progresses.

My favorite driver is Ryan Newman, so there will likely be a disproportionate number of posts related to Newman. However, while Newman will remain my favorite, the more I learn about NASCAR, the more I am interested in racing in general as well as individual drivers.

Pat Quinn, just like all the rest

Illinois Governor proves to be no different than predecessors

With the signing of the State of Illinois' $31 billion "Illinois Jobs Now" bill Wednesday, Gov. Pat Quinn just rewound the clock on a project for which time should have long ago run out. The bill steers another $110.5 million toward the third airport project.

Billed as a jobs creator, that money will go toward buying the remainder of the land the state has been unable to obtain from folks who have vowed to fight to keep their land, homes, and farms -- unwilling sellers. How does that create jobs?

The only possible explanation for throwing good money after bad for a forty-year old project void of forward progress, is that Quinn is continuing similar practices of his predecessors -- jobs for favorite supporters: lawyers who will try to push eminent domain on innocent families; consultants who will to try to hide the project's lack of need; public relations specialists who will explore every angle in an effort to paint a rosy picture of the project; and of course investors who also contribute to public officials' campaigns for promise of a piece of the action when an airport is built, if it ever is. Perhaps some of those professionals are part of the 10.3 percent of Illinois' unemployed.

Many believed Pat Quinn would be different than his predecessors -- one who is serving time in a federal penetentiary and another who awaits his day in court. It looks like nothing has changed except the names.