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.

Three more days for Seven Minutes In Heaven

Remember the game Seven Minutes In Heaven? Two of your friends were selected to go into the closet for seven minutes to do whatever they wanted, which mostly consisted of making out. These days, making out in a closet is is for wimps. Or maybe it just seems to me that teens these days are more about going into a closet for seven minutes and playing their luck with pregnancy and HIV. Anyway, I'm straying from the point. Seven Minutes In Heaven is back!

Thanks to the talented minds of Jessica Garcia and Linda Arredondo, SMIH will be on display Saturday, March 3 from 6pm to 10pm at the Fox Motel located on 302 Newell Avenue, just Northeast of the downtown area. And if you ask me, the curators of this sexually inspired art show picked the perfect location. The disclaimer on the invitation alone is enough to peek one's interest: "Warning: This show contains explicit imagery."

For those of you not from San Antonio, or just not familiar with Fox Motel, it's got quite the reputation for renting out rooms by the hour. I don't think an explanation is required for you to get the picture of the kind of seedy establishment this is. But who are we kidding, we all know sex sells, right?

According to a press release, SMIH is a "curated group exhibition of 13 artists whose artworks will explore ideas of the erotic and notions of sexuality."

Erotic art is intended to evoke erotic arousal by depicting sexual scenes. The exhibition will feature paintings, sculpture, performance, and site specific installations. The featured artists include Alfonso Espronceda, Ana Fernandez, Catherine Garant, Wesley Harvey, Mira Hnatyshyn, Barbara Justice, Jung-Hee Mun, Kelly Reid Walls, Matt Van Hellen, Vincent Valdez, John Cody, and works from the curators Garcia and Arredondo.

Although I wish I could give you more information as to what to expect on Saturday night, I'm still in the dark myself. Although I can say that Fernandez, one of the artists, hinted about an installation she would be exhibiting on a bed in one of the rooms. It's an installation which she admits was inspired by the venue itself.

The show is free to the public. Music will be provided by DJs Phoenix and Sneaky Le Sneak. Food will be available from the Chili Queens Food Truck. For more information, you can visit the Facebook page for SMIH at www.facebook.com/events/217671898321853/

What are they singing about now?!

So Katy Perry's new album is scheduled to drop March 27th. But really, can we call it a new album? Not really. Teenage Dream: The Complete Collection is a special edition album which includes all 12 tracks from her original Teenage Dream album, but also includes three new songs, and a mix of her six No. 1 hits.

So technically, it's a new album because you don't own it, but seriously, it has all the same music you've heard before. According to critics, her latest song, Part of Me, is supposed to give listeners a darker side of Perry, given her post-breakup situation with former husband Russell Brand.

One Aol Music blogger said that Perry's music is being described as "darker" and "deeper." The blog went on to say that Bonnie McKee, a collaborating songwriter of Perry's, told MTV News that Perry is "going through some major life changes, so it's not all about bubble gum and fun."

I have to admit, I listened to Part of Me for the fist time tonight, and despite the lyrics of the song, the melody is still bubble gum and fun to me. Who hasn't done the whole post-breakup "fuck you" song thing anyway?

Let's go back to a Jagged Little Pill that Alanis Morissette sprung on us in 1995. It was such an angry album with an edgy sound. And who can't forget 6x Grammy winner Adele who poured her heart out about her loser ex. And although everyone loves a little Taylor Swift, we all know she's talking about her latest tragic relationship. Katy Perry's words may be a little "darker," but her music will remain the same pop fun that we've been getting from her, and that is why her fans will continue to support her.

Another major recording artist in the headlines today is Britney Spears. According to multiple sources, Britney, along with Janet Jackson and Fergie have been linked to the new season of The X Factor. But according to the Chicago Sun-Times, it seems Britney has the best shot at this point.

While others seem to be on the fence regarding Spears as a judge, the fact is whether or not people thing she has a voice or not, she's been very successful in the music industry. Did anyone seriously believe that Paula Abdul had a great voice? Granted Abdul never shaved her head in public, nor did she have a very public meltdown where she had to rise from the ashes, Abdul also had a pretty fruitful music career.

With another successful album and tour behind her, Spears seems like she may have time to devote to a tv show, but who knows what will happen at this point.

Texas Trash vs. Mustang Exchange

For the longest time I'd wanted to go by a locally owned secondhand store down on McCullough Ave called Texas Trash. I became "friends" with them on Facebook, and knew they were a small retail store and I needed to satisfy a curiosity. So before Halloween I finally got that chance.

I needed to find a pair of boots. I needed boots that I knew I would probably only use once, so I figured I'd try thrift store shopping, and to no avail. Who knew it was that difficult to find used and abused boots? One of my final stops was Texas Trash. I really hate to talk trash, but the name kinda said it all. I loved the idea, but once I walked through their front door, it was pure madness.

I specifically remember walking in and passing a large pile of clothing on the floor by the front door. As I walked further in, I realized how small the place actually was, so it was a little easier to see why it might have been a little chaotic in there. There was no separation as far as men's and women's apparel, which also made it difficult to find anything. The store however has been open for some time, so they have to be doing something right. I do have to say, they had some interesting items, but more so for women. There was really nothing that screamed at me (well except maybe for Alex telling me we needed to get the hell out of there).

If you like trendy little thrift shops, then another little locally owned secondhand store that's worth checking out is Mustang Exchange on San Pedro Ave, across from Night Rocker Live. I totally discovered this little gem by accident. Now before you tell me many of my stories start with "There was this one time I was drinking..." I have to tell you, this is one of those stories.

So there was this one time I was drinking with Alex and Joe. We were enjoying happy hour at 2015 Place when we suddenly got this crazy urge to walk down to Annex, which if you're familiar with this area in San Antonio, you'll realize the two bars are not just a few blocks from each other, but rather about a mile apart. Anyway, we get this urge to walk down to Annex, and along the way discover a woman outside a resale shop, so we decided to check it out.

The woman who had been outside turned out to be the shop owner. She was very welcoming and told us a little bit about her store. The store was pretty well lit, and very organized and there was plenty of walking space. She even had dressing rooms! Of course I found a cool pair of jeans which I had to buy, even though Alex and Joe both tried to talk me out of it being that we were on foot and heading to another bar. But that's another story I'll have to tell you about.

Now there is another store on Olmos Dr called Buffalo Exchange and let's not forget about Plato's closet inside of Park North. But I wanted to point out Texas Trash and Mustang Exchange because they're in the neighborhood. So if you like checking out thrift stores, give these two your business and let me know what you think.

It's just gossip, isn't it?

It takes one person to start a rumor, and one more to make it official gossip. Believe me, I'm always up for good gossip, but its always a little different when it's about you. Funny little story I heard from Alex when I came home on Saturday. It all started with a strange dream on Friday, and apparently ended up with Alex leaving me and moving out by Saturday. Or at least that's what this gossip would have had you believe. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?

Friday I woke up and told Alex, in detail, the weird dream I had. In my dream, I had come home one evening to witness Alex packing up his belongings. To state the obvious, I asked what was going on, and he replied that he had to move. When I asked him why, he elaborated, telling me that his parents were moving and that he had to go with them. I still didn't understand, but what did it matter? It was a dream. Next thing I knew, I was moving into this tiny ass apartment because of all the credit card debt I had acquired along the years, and I was opening an IRA with a measly $35.

Alex and I had a good little laugh afterward. The next day, he comes home from work and tells me that according to the latest gossip, we had already split up and that he had moved out. This stemming from a conversation with someone at work regarding my dream. He was sharing my dream with someone when a third party overheard. Next thing he knew, everyone was questioning what had happened with us. When Alex told me about it, I thought I'd add a little fuel to the fire and make it a bit more interesting.

Afterall, it's just gossip until you hear it from the actual source. I decided to go on Facebook later that evening and post only what I had heard from Alex. My update read:

"Today's hot gossip: Alex is packing up and leaving! Well good luck with that, buddy! I just heard it now! Ugh, I've been needing a drink since 2am."

I figured that would be enough to let everyone else jump to their own conclusions. And wow, did the texts and Facebook messages start blowing up our phones. People concerned, people wanting confirmation, people wanting to be nosy. It was fun, but I had to respond to everyone of course (well almost everyone) and explain what was going on.

What should you learn form this? Social media really works! People are paying attention. It can be your friend, but it can also be your enemy. Use it wisely. And if you have any savory gossip, please let me in on it. I'm always one to talk. (wink, wink)