Stand Your Ground law in Florida allows murderers to walk free

Are you fucking kidding me? I didn't even know about the "Stand Your Ground" self defense act until the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin gained national attention. The shooting happened in Sanford, Florida on February 26. According to several sources. Martin was walking home from a nearby 7-11 store where he purchased a pack of Skittles and an iced tea for his younger brother. A neighborhood-watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, spotted the boy walking and called police, informing them that he suspected Martin of being a prowler. According to 911 tapes, Police told Zimmerman not to follow Martin. Zimmerman disobeyed and followed anyway.

From what the public has been told by several media outlets, an altercation ensued, and Martin was shot once in the chest, killing him. "Zimmerman has not spoken publicly," according to usatoday.com, but in a statement his father said, "the portrayal of George Zimmerman in the media, as well as the series of events that led to the tragic shooting are false and extremely misleading."

So I ask you this, Mr. Zimmerman: Exactly which parts are misleading? The fact that your son shot Martin in the chest (which by the way, he admitted to, even after police told him not to follow the boy), or the fact that your son murdered a defenseless boy in cold blood? From the reports I've seen in the media, and 911 tapes that have been heard by the public, I don't find anything of it misleading.

Zimmerman's dad even went as far to say that "George is a Spanish-speaking minority with with many black family members. He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever." Give me a fucking break!

The Los Angeles Times reported that 28-year-old Zimmerman dreamed of being a cop, stating that he took his volunteer role as a neighborhood watch captain very seriously, and claiming he had called 911 on at least 50 occasions last year to report suspicious activity.

Miami-Dade prosecutor, David Waksman, told the Miami Herald, "If he was attacked, he can stand his ground. But if police say back off and we'll take care of it, he's not covered."

In December 2010, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that judges should consider more lenient standards than the usual "beyond a reasonable doubt" normally used in criminal cases. Zimmerman has not been charged with any crime.

Under a 2005 law signed by Jeb Bush, the Stand Your Ground defense, or as it has been known by it's critics, the "Shoot First" law gives Floridians the right to shoot and kill someone if they feel they are in a deadly situation. It was a bill that the NRA also lobbied for. I personally think Zimmerman is just a nut job, and I think some time behind bars would be good to deflate his bloated ego.

New television show has me asking, "do people change?"

The television premier of ABC's new show, GCB, aired tonight. It really got me thinking though, do people really change? I should know the answer. I've known many people and have noticed many changes in them since childhood. But how do you get others to see that, or should it even matter? My friends know that I'm not the kind of person who likes to be disliked without good reason. Well, I guess I shouldn't be giving anyone reason to dislike me to begin with, but everyone knows shit happens, right?

In light of all the anti-bullying campaigns, this show centers around five women in Dallas: a former high school queen of mean, and four others set on revenge. The show is based on Kim Gatlin's book, Good Christian Bitches. If you missed it, you really should consider recording it, or watching it On Demand.

Just watching Leslie Bibb's character trying to explain how she wasn't the same person she was in high school suddenly brought back memories of things I had done as a kid. Ok, I'll admit, I did some crappy stuff, and I was somewhat of a meanie, but no more than anyone else was. But is that a cop out for me to justify my actions as a child? Maybe so. But I realize as an adult that back then, I was definitely in the wrong.

For some unknown reason, I've always seen myself as being really sweet...well that, and the fact that I hear it from everyone. Fact of the matter is, I used to be somewhat of a mean kid. Whether it was wreaking havoc by telephone and allegedly terrorizing school mates, or convincing another classmate that a celebrity scout would be at our talent show to check him out, I guess I had a way of being very bad. I'm just glad I grew up, as most of us usually do.

So my question still, do we change? I know that I have, but I guess I need validation from friends, someone to confirm it for me. Or is it that we still see our friends the same way we did growing up? I admit, I still see some of my friends the same way, while others I've seen a change in. I guess in a way, many of us are "good Christian bitches."

Cruise line popularity likely to sink after second incident at sea.

Only six weeks after the Italian cruise ship, Costa Concordia, was capsized after hitting a reef along the Isola del Giglio, another ship owned by the same company had to dock in the Republic of Seychelles after sitting adrift the Indian Ocean three days.

The BBC reported that the Costa Allegra was without power, depriving passengers of hot food and air conditioning for three days. Because the weather in Seychelles is hot and humid, I'm sure this made for a very sticky situation. But all kidding aside, what does this say for the cruise industry?

Luckily there were no fatalities, unlike the Costa Concoria incident which claimed over 27 lives. Maybe Americans can take comfort in the fact that they weren't American cruise ships. Costa Allegra and Costa Concordia however are operated by Costa Crociere of Genoa, Italy, which is owned by the Florida based Carnival.

So how safe are we when we board one of those luxury cruise lines on our next vacation? According to a blog posted in the transportation section of thehill.com on January 16, a spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said the Costa Concordia accident was a "terrible tragedy," but not a common problem. The CLIA also reported that "accidents such as (the Costa Concordia) are extremely rare occurrences in the cruise industry and cruises continue to be one of the safest means of travel among all types of vacationing."

Here are just a couple of things you should keep in mind when deciding to book your next cruise:
1. A safety drill called a "Muster Drill" must be conducted within the first 24-hours of sailing. This drill should include instructions on how to use life jackets and where to gather in case of an emergency. Find out ahead of time what the safety procedures are. Once on board, they should be listed on the back of your cabin door.

2. One Fox News correspondent stressed that you should pick a cruise line that specializes in your native language. Having to listen to five languages simultaneously as most European ships do, can be very confusing and stressful in a life and death situation.

3. If disaster strikes: Look for the ship's officers, get your life jacket, and know where to find life rafts just in case life boats are not available.

Until the next incident out at sea (and let's hope there isn't another one), happy sailing everyone.