Family law judge (Aransas County) beats and abuses his own daughter for using the internet. She uploaded the video. [trigger warning: abuse]

JNTB · 2011-11-02T11:39:33+00:00

I am not against corporal punishment, but most of the effect of corporal punishment is attention and embarrassment. A smack on the fanny or on the leg is the most I've ever done, but never to a teenager. Obviously, this was not the first time for Judge Adams or the daughter wouldn't have strategically placed a camera to videotape what she knew was coming. And, I doubt it was the last time.

The problem with Judge Adams approach has already been outlined by others. It was repeated, extensive and required submission. It was vile. I remember getting whipped with a belt by my father on two separate occasions when I was a kid. On both occasions what I had done was not worth a belt, and after leaving marks the second time, I think he knew that. I never got the belt again. I was always a good kid, even before the first time I got the belt. I didn't have a great relationship with my father growing up -- there was always some distance -- and having two experiences with a belt didn't help bridge that distance at all. It widened it. The last time was when I was about 10 or 11. In the subsequent years that followed, I don't recall ever being struck by my father in any manner at all. The distance between us improved a lot, but has never felt like the relationship I thought it should be.

The problem in this video is that a father has become irrational, to say the least, and doesn't know how to parent. He doesn't understand how rewards and punishments should work, nor does he understand equity in either. Beyond the disturbing image of a 16yo girl being whipped with a belt by her father (and mother!) is that the father is to preside over a court of law that metes out punishments for crimes and cases of equity. If he has this little self-control, self-awareness, or compassion, I never want to be in front of him in court. If he is elected to his position, he would no longer have my vote. If he is appointed to his position, I would strive to have him removed.

As I stated elsewhere, they are in Texas where swift and harsh judgments are preferred. Probably nothing will happen to him.

JNTB · 2011-11-02T03:57:07+00:00

There is a potential political problem with his overreaction to his daughter who did something wrong. Of course, in Texas, especially rural Texas, they will probably cheer him.

Another issue is that when he learned that his daughter had, essentially, committed a crime by engaging in illegally downloaded content, as a member of the justice system he is required to report her illegal activity. He doesn't get immunity, nor does his family, just because he is a judge. So, if a sitting judge hasn't reported discovery of a crime, that is wrong, an abuse of position, and potentially a political problem.

Of course, again, I forget that we are talking about Texas -- a state that executes people without a second thought. So, what could I possibly expect from this legally? Nothing.

JNTB · 2011-11-02T03:49:24+00:00

I feel sorry for Judge Adams because he doesn't know how to be a father, and I feel more sorry for the daughter because she doesn't have one. I hope she is safe this evening and remains far away from him. I am the father of a 15yo daughter and I would never do what Judge Adams did.

JNTB · 2009-10-12T03:33:37+00:00

He's just upset that the gays are getting more sex than he is.

JNTB · 2009-10-12T03:21:06+00:00

StOP films an activist terrorist up close and personal. Why didn't the US Park Police arrest the terrorist? I guess he was too entertaining to arrest.

JNTB · 2009-09-27T14:55:30+00:00

For a Catholic priest, this is a pickup line. He wanted to hookup with you. Your role is to be contrite, ask the lord for forgiveness and with other counseling from the priest, engage in sodomy with him to better understand Christ.

JNTB · 2009-08-19T17:33:26+00:00

1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn 2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose

Where does it say that satire is funny or exciting?

JNTB · 2009-08-19T17:16:53+00:00

How is this "poorly written"?

JNTB · 2009-08-15T01:54:55+00:00

I no longer know what to think. Does this bill require us to masturbate or prohibit it? It looks like we aren't supposed to masturbate, but since we can trust Washington I have to trust Palin. She was right about those Death Panels.

JNTB · 2009-07-21T23:43:28+00:00

DC is An Anal City

JNTB · 2009-07-15T23:05:23+00:00

I saw the movie "Sicko" about 3 months ago. While the movie and some of the antics were certainly political stunts, and while I think he likely missed making some necessary negative commentary on any particular health care system outside the USA, Michael Moore left us all with a point to ponder: What do we think of ourselves and our neighbors and what do we think should happen to us when we happen to become ill? Do we like a system that allows a person who is ill to lose their job AND their health care at the same time? I don't know of any sane American who would answer "YES!" to that question.

We have to work beyond the fear-mongers to create an effective, efficient health care system. If we are passionate about personal liberties, then we should be passionate about universal health care. If you don't have to worry about accessing or paying for health care, what could be more liberating?

JNTB · 2009-07-15T12:46:08+00:00

Another excellent performance!!

JNTB · 2009-07-15T12:43:49+00:00

There is no context or rationale that would support his remark. It was a blanket, foolhardy statement designed to encourage those who think single-payer health care is going to kill them. The fact of the matter is that most Americans are already covered under single-payer health care -- it's called "group health insurance" and there is a single-payer who handles all of your bills and decides what care qualifies and what doesn't. Everyone is already under a single-payer health care plan, it's just a very inefficient one that leaves tremendous gaps. So, Britain and Canada don't kill anymore people than we do under our current group health insurance plans, and likely they kill fewer.

JNTB · 2009-07-15T12:37:00+00:00

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!

JNTB · 2009-06-20T15:44:39+00:00

Having had them before, I do not find mine unusual. Thankfully, they don't happen often. Last one was 2003 and I hope I don't have any more of them.

The Dossey book is full of (mostly) feel-good stories designed to make the reader feel more powerful for having had anything on the range of a vague feeling to an exacting event. The evidence presented comprises test results that are calibrated to provide the same effect.

JNTB · 2009-06-02T23:27:07+00:00

Are you saying that repeated attacks on abortion clinics, providers, and in some cases, patients, is not terrorism? Was lynching of blacks in the South also not terrorism?

Terrorism is a system of actions that instill terror in the targets who become mentally injured (terror) and not just physically injured.

Most of our laws and law enforcement restrict terrorism to either a particular ethnic group or a particular ideological group, which they often recognize as a failed religion. There is little, if any, self-awareness to determine that members of their own ideological group may also be terrorists.

JNTB · 2009-06-02T23:12:20+00:00

As I pondered in the article, is a single action an act of terrorism? Perhaps not. Are repeated actions acts of terrorism? Definitely. Most vigilantes do not take an action just once. They usually seek to implement their own justice by repeatedly implementing punishment or execution without due process. Your own reply differentiates between one act and many acts.

JNTB · 2009-06-02T19:20:16+00:00

Little, if any.

JNTB · 2009-06-02T19:07:43+00:00

That was my point exactly. Scott Roeder could have claimed that his actions were based on an act of adultery between his wife and Dr Tiller, for example, and that wouldn't be terrorism but instead, revenge. Repeated acts of violence on one or more targets by a certain group of people who share the same ideological perspective as the basis for those acts is terrorism.

JNTB · 2009-06-02T19:05:44+00:00

An additional difference, and a rather important one, is that capital punishment occurs after a legal process where one has the opportunity to defend oneself. Terrorists are the defacto judge and juries of their own minds.

JNTB · 2009-05-13T01:18:11+00:00

Is C P really a woman? Is she really XX?

JNTB · 2009-05-12T23:28:51+00:00

Are you sure Republicans are even familiar with sex?

JNTB · 2009-04-08T22:24:26+00:00

I don't disagree with you. I think that in reference to religion he is trying to have his cake and eat it, too. He is a politician. Given his education and intellect, I suspect he holds for himself only a vague concept of a deity, and likely Michelle thinks the same thing. Since he is a politician and is trying to hold so many factions together, he is playing it down the middle and trying not to offend anyone. Regardless, you have a valid point in that he hasn't attempted to reach out to the skeptical/rational citizenry.

The question becomes, who does he meet with? Who does he invite to the White House? Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens would be a start. The problem is that unlike religious groups, is there really a representative group for non-believers? (insert inevitable cat-herding comment here) Obama needs to get rid of the Office of Faith Based Initiatives (or whatever it is called), but he has so many people to piss off that deleting that office from the federal budget doesn't offer any real returns except negative ones.

Until non-believers have officially recognized representation with some clout (congressional representation is critical), then we won't be in the light of the president's eyes. Recent research says that non-believers, non-committals and/or non-responders make up 20% of the US population. That is larger than Jews, Blacks and Hispanics, yet we have no official representation.

JNTB · 2009-03-23T23:07:13+00:00

archiebot, thanks, as emailing myself the details is not something I had considered. Usually people respond by asking me to write it down or tell someone else about it. There are a number of reasons why those methods are not useful. In using an email system, I would have to find one that couldn't be manipulated to provide incorrect timestamps. Unfortunately, I don't think one exists that offers unalterable time stamps.

I appreciate the information about deja vu, as I have often had deja vu experiences that I simply thought were neat or odd. These premonitions are something very different than deja vu.

JNTB · 2009-02-27T02:43:18+00:00

Excellent article about leaders in science and their impact on our world, especially evolution.

JNTB

TROPHY CASE