Suicide is not the answer

The story at this link http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/local/14645757.htm really bothers me. Man jumps to death off parking garage Belleville chief calls it suicide BY JESSICA ADLER For the News-Democrat BELLEVILLE - A 37-year-old Belleville man committed suicide Monday morning by jumping off the top floor of the St. Clair County parking garage following an appearance in family court. "It was undoubtedly a suicide," said Belleville Police Chief Dave Ruebheusen. The man, identified as Rory J. Hamilton, jumped off the garage, located across from the St. Clair County Building in downtown Belleville. Hamilton left family court, drove his Pontiac Transport minivan to the top of the garage building, and leaped to his death, police said. Though his fall was broken by an oncoming car, the man was pronounced dead as a result of massive head injuries at St. Elizabeth's Hospital Emergency room at 11:10 a.m., St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone said. More at the above link. I didn't know Mr. Hamilton, but, his death troubles me. How desperate he must have been to choose to end his life. I don't know why he felt this was the answer. I don't understand why anyone would. When I hear the word suicide I think of John Kennedy O'Toole. Mr. O'Toole wrote one of my favorite books of all times, A Confederacy of Dunces. In a nutshell the story of Mr. O'Toole is that he wrote this book and then got rejected by a number of publishers, (uh, this does happen to authors, many get lots of rejection prior to having their work published. He was also himself a college professer. He killed himself (undoubtedly there were other issues) and after his death his mother found the manuscript for A Confederacy of Dunces and embarked on getting it published. She cornered a professer, Walker Percy and made him promiser to read it. He didn't want to, but, started reading the first page and got drawn it. He realized that this was a great book, helped her get it published and it won the Pulitzer Prize. It is a great book, funny and sad, and one that I have reread many times. I am always left somewhat angry that O'Toole killed himself and deprived us of his future work. Maybe he would have written more, maybe he would have been another Harper Lee, (she wrote the wonderful To Kill a Mockingbird and then has never written another! But, by killing himself, we will never know. However, defeated Mr. O'Toole felt, he never experienced the joy of being not only published, but being a Pulitzer Prize winner! Of being a best selling author. Of whatever joy and happiness his future held. For I really do feel that joy and happiness is always just around the corner. Most of us won't go one to be best selling authors or win major prizes but all sadness eventually yields to happier times. No matter how bad or dark things have ever seemed to me, great joy has always reappeared. And I firmly believe this applies to each and everyone of us. Eventually things will get better. We just have to hang on till they do. I am sorry that Mr. Hamilton didn't hang on to see what happiness was instore for him. I am sorry for those he left behind who will always have to wonder why he did this and why he didn't ask for help. A Confederacy of Dunces (Evergreen Book)">A Confederacy of Dunces To Kill a Mockingbird"">To Kill A Mockingbird

A Beautiful Child

This book, linked on the left, is one you just can't put down. It is the story of a woman known as Sharon Marshall, although that is not her real name. Kidnapped as a small child, she was raised in a life of abuse by convicted death row inmate Franklin Delano Floyd, who married her when she grew up and then murdered her. But her true identity is not known to this day. Read this book and then follow the case information on Websleuths - one of the best true crime message boards on the Net.

Farewell West Wing

Today I am a little sad after seeing the series finale for The West Wing last night. It was good. Infact, I think the past few months have been really good and I am sad that series will not continue with the Santos in the White House. A charming young couple in the White House with cute kids - what a great back drop. Too bad NBC didn't have the balls ABC lacked. Commander in Chief was also really good and ABC worked at killing that.

The Da Vinci Code and Holy Blood, Holy Grail

I first read Holy Blood, Holy Grail some years back and decided with the book being in the news again http://www.theage.com.au/news/general/the-da-vinci-pitch/2006/05/04/1146335867153.html that I would give it a reread. It is a very interesting idea and I find it hard to feel that there is some truth in it. Here is a review from Amazon.com - "Amazon.com Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln, and Richard Leigh, authors of The Messianic Legacy, spent over 10 years on their own kind of quest for the Holy Grail, into the secretive history of early France. What they found, researched with the tenacity and attention to detail that befits any great quest, is a tangled and intricate story of politics and faith that reads like a mystery novel. It is the story of the Knights Templar, and a behind-the-scenes society called the Prieure de Sion, and its involvement in reinstating descendants of the Merovingian bloodline into political power. Why? The authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail assert that their explorations into early history ultimately reveal that Jesus may not have died on the cross, but lived to marry and father children whose bloodline continues today. The authors' point here is not to compromise or to demean Jesus, but to offer another, more complete perspective of Jesus as God's incarnation in man. The power of this secret, which has been carefully guarded for hundreds of years, has sparked much controversy. For all the sensationalism and hoopla surrounding Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the alternate history that it outlines, the authors are careful to keep their perspective and sense of skepticism alive in its pages, explaining carefully and clearly how they came to draw such combustible conclusions. --Jodie Buller " Of course, this was one of the books that Dan Brown used as research for The Da Vinci Code I really liked The Da Vinci Code and am eagerly awaiting the release of the movie. It isn't often that I want to see a movie opening weekend, but, this one I will.

So Good I am bumping this post about Living with War

This album is so good I am bumping this post. Go and listen to it now! Neil Young's newest album is a must listen. Hear it now by clicking this link http://www.hyfntrak.com/neilyoung2/AFF24052/ or checking my links section This album is the summer of 2006 anthem - all the tracks, especially Let's Impeach the President. I also really like Shock and Awe, but, again the entire album is great. Just what America needs right now. People need to really get together and do something about the state this country is in. I will have a snazzier link to the album when I figure out who to do it. Oh, and check out http://www.neilyoung.com for more info and lyrics. Thanks, Neil, for putting into words what I (and a lot of other Americans) am feeling!

Sometimes You Need Something Lighter

Sometimes crime and news just get too much and I need a break. Finding a good book to bury myself in is my favorite escape and the best book I have read recently is Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews. This book is about BeBe Loudermilk, a minor character in her earler book, Savannah Blues, Savannah Blues which is an awesome book, by the way. Although, I must stress that Savannah Breeze stands alone - you don't have to read the other book first (but, you will want to read it once you are done, as well as all of Mrs. Andrew's books!) Here is a brief quote from an editorial review of Savannah Blues: "From Publishers Weekly In this spirited sequel to 2001's Savannah Blues, Southern belle BeBe Loudermilk continues to attract the wrong kind of man. Thrice married and divorced, her latest romantic debacle involves Ryan Edward "Reddy" Millbanks, an unscrupulous financial consultant who takes her for nearly everything she owns. All BeBe has left is the Breeze Inn, a run-down motor hotel on Tybee Island, a quirky beach town. With the help of best friend Weezie, an antiques expert with a talent for turning garbage into gold, BeBe is determined to make the property a success. She soon butts heads with Harry, the Breeze Inn's ornery caretaker, but her efforts pay off: seemingly overnight, the Breeze Inn is fully booked and bustling. But when Reddy surfaces via yacht down in Lauderdale, BeBe hits the road with Weezie, Harry and her grandfather (who manages to tear himself away from the Weather Channel) to find the reprobate and make him pay. A former journalist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Edgar nominee Andrews writes with tongue firmly in cheek, presenting a cast of eccentric characters and a plot that's decidedly over-the-top. It's light, pastel fun. (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. " Enjoy!

Samson's Fall

Huff’s Crime Blog As usual, Steve Huff is well on top of the story of Samson Shelton. His blog has a lot of interesting information about Shelton's web presence and his digging has uncovered some links that are fascinating in hindsight. I wonder just how many teachers have information on their myspace.com accounts and other web sites that might stop something like this happening again. The school superintendant that hired Mr. Shelton said they did a background check, but, I wonder, as does Mr. Huff, just how many of the schools Google the teachers and prospective teachers and see what is out there. Maybe I am naive, but if I were a teacher I think I would be more careful. Sure, everyone is entitled to free speech, but, when teachers or people who come in contact with our children reveal darker sides of themselves online for anyone to see, you have to wonder.