Thursday, March 22, 2012

Tyler Clementi gets justice.......

                                  ......Guilty verdict for video spying!
For those of you who don't know or remember, allow me to refresh. Tyler is the man who jumped off the George Washington Bridge because he was rudely outed by his roommate Dahrun Ravi. This case has many implications towards the future. For those of you that use the Internet to harass or tease or BULLY! Beware the rest of the world watches. This is a tragic lesson for young people about casual cruelties and unintended consequences in the Internet age.

Dahrun Ravi was found guilty of all 15 charges against him. This includes invasion of privacy and anti-gay intimidation. The jury concluded that he not only spied on Tyler as he kissed another man, but also singled him out because Tyler was gay. He could get up yo 10 years in prison and be deported back to his native India even though he has lived here legally since he was a boy.

The most serious of charges....two counts of bias intimidation based on sexual orientation....carry up to 10 years in jail. Ravi was also convicted of seven counts of covering up his actions by instructing a friend what to tell investigators and deleting tweets and text messages. How many of YOU out there cyber-bullying think that just by deleting things you do, you won't be caught? Hmm?

Some of the jurors said that Ravis tweets, especially the one where he "dared" friends to watch the webcast, were key evidence in convicting him of the anti-gay intimidation. "That post, what it said, struck a chord in all of us." said juror Ed Dolan.

In letting this case go to trial, Ravi lost big. He and his lawyers rejected a plea bargain that would have spared him jail time and the prosecutors would have helped him avoid deportation.

But more importantly, this case is stirring up a national conversation about anti-gay bullying and teen suicide. It illustrates the dangers of technology in the hands of those who have grown up with the likes of Twitter and Facebook. "They don't feel its spying. It's their own iPhone or laptop they are using. Hopefully parents will use this as an example to their children." said Fordham Law Professor Annamarie McAvoy.
Rutgers student Melvin Ways said, "The lesson here is that not everything is meant to be publicized to the entire world, especially private matters and things that are personal to people."

Tylers father said it best. "Your going to meet a lot of people in your life. Some of these people you may not like. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean you have to work against them."

Rest in peace Tyler, rest in peace.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

YES ITS BEEN A WHILE.

Sorry it's been so long. Lots to catch you all up on. First, me. I recently had heart surgery. 4 stents. Then the blood pressure wouldn't stabilize. YUCK! Then my computer had a heart attack. Had to go in for surgery. Then as I was under, my Mom died of a coronary. Think she knew? I do. Its ok though. She was in a home. Had stroke and alzhiemers. She's in a better place.  I am doing so much better myself. No need to fret over me.
Fret instead for the elections. This is becoming a freaking circus. I want to be there when the clown car shows up at the Republican convention and they all pour out. They can't blame the economy as it's getting WAY better. Thank you Mr. Obama. So they are now picking on Gays and Women.  If Mittins or Frothy Santorum ever do win the election....Canada looks really good. Little cold, but I'll get used to it.
Think that it will be a brokered convention? Then we may have another Bushie in the house. Or maybe Chris Christie. GOD FORBID! We are just going backwards to the 1950's.
I urge all of you to get out and vote this oming election. Or get out and get the vote out. We need to turn this house around and get the Democrats back.
But enough of this rant for now. I'll get back to regular blogging soon. I promise. Love to you all.
MUWAHHHHH!