It’s all based on the intent. Investigators in the Station Fire, currently the largest fire in Los Angeles County history, say that there’s a good chance the fire was started intentionally. As two firefighters died in the blaze, that could lead to death penalty charges for the suspect. It’s not without precedent – Raymond Lee Oyler was given that sentence in June for starting the Esperanza fire in 2006. source
The thing that concerned me most about it was it seemed like a direct channel from the president of the United States into the classroom, to my child. I don’t want our schools turned over to some socialist movement.
Pearland, Tex. parent Brett Curtis • Describing the reason why he’s keeping his three children home. Why is this a story? Because Web sites and conservative talk show hosts started giving it attention on Wednesday, despite the fact that it had been planned for weeks. We hate the fact that this is now a big story. Teachers are largely in a cruddy situation because of the controversy: If they show it, conservatives are up in arms. If they don’t, they’re disrespecting the president. We don’t like this one bit. • source
There came a time when she felt like they were a family. And she loves the girls very much, and she loves Jaycee very much. And that seems a little strange given the circumstance, but that’s she has said to me.
Gilbert Maines, Nancy Garrido’s attorney • Describing the bizarre family dynamic between her, her husband Phillip Garrido and Jaycee Dugard and her children. That’s right, a husband, a wife, a girl you kidnapped nearly 20 years ago, and the two daughters she had with the husband: The traditional nuclear family. • source
As I think back to my three brothers, and about what they had accomplished before I was even out of my childhood, it sometimes has occurred to me that my entire life has been a constant state of catching up.
Ted Kennedy • In his soon-to-be-released memoir, “True Compass,” about his legacy in comparison to his famous brothers. Kennedy goes over a bunch of other things in the book – most notably that he expresses incredible amounts of remorse over the Chappaquiddick crash, which killed Mary Jo Kopechne and haunted the rest of his political career. • source
Just ask victim Thomas Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was one of many recent victims in a rash of “flash mob” incidents in Philly. But instead of doing fun stuff, like giant pillow fights, these mobs are violent. Cars have been smashed in. People have been beaten. Stores have been robbed. Police have been forced to step up their game in the wake of the incidents, which sound like nightmares to law-abiding citizens. Three have been arrested so far, but more than 100 have taken part in the incidents. source