‘I Love Alex’ earns girl 4-month suspension
Posted: July 17, 2007 Filed under: Howl's Moving Castle 1 CommentKATY, Texas – Writing “I love Alex” on a school gymnasium wall brought a 12-year-old the same punishment as if she had made terrorist threats.
The Katy Independent School District rated the message, written with a baby blue marker by sixth-grader Shelby Sendelbach, as a Level 4 infraction — the same as for threats, drug possession and assault.
Only murder, gun possession, sexual assault and arson are considered more severe by the suburban Houston district.
For her punishment, Shelby was assigned to an alternative school from Aug. 27 through Dec. 21.
Just following the rules
School district spokesman Steve Stanford said the district was just following a state law, saying it requires assignment to an alternative school for graffiti.
Her parents have appealed and a hearing is set for this month. Lisa and Stu Sendelbach said they don’t condone what Shelby did but think the punishment is overly harsh.
“We are shocked that the school district rules as they are written make no distinction between what Shelby is accused of and what a gang member does with a can of black spray paint,” Stu Sendelbach said.
Upcoming Events
Posted: July 15, 2007 Filed under: All's Well That Ends Well 1 CommentThis Friday is my birthday. I’m less excited about the birthday part than I am about the present part: getting to go buy Harry Potter at midnight! I didn’t get caught up in the Harry Potter phenomenon until after Goblet of Fire, so books 5 and 6 are the only two I’ve anticipated the release of. My mother told our family she would buy one copy of Book 5 and do a lottery for who got to read it first; I didn’t win…and I think it was at least a week before I got my hands on it. (I read it in about six and a half hours. I think my reading speed should have been taken into account; I could have turned it over to the next family member in a matter of hours…) Book 6 came out the week before my birthday, and I requested that my present be the privilege of getting to read it first. I ought to have specified that I wanted the book right away.
2007 is going to be different. There are only two people in my current household, and one of them has no interest in reading Book 7 until he has heard the audio books of the first 6. And, it being my birthday, said husband is willing to wait in line with me and a bunch of other HP fans at midnight so I can get my hands on a copy as soon as possible. We’re taking the 21st off work so that I can come home and start reading. Scratch that – I’ll probably open it the minute it’s paid for.
The only downside is that I read quickly. I expect to be tired by the time I finish, since it will probably be somewhere between 4:30 and 6:30 in the morning, but will I be able to sleep? If not, who will I talk to? My cousin Jennifer reads about as quickly as I do, but she is in Scotland, so discussion with her will be limited. I don’t actually have any friends in Provo who are sure to buy HP at midnight and who’ll have finished reading it early enough to discuss with me. As far as I’m aware, most HP fansites are closing down the discussion forums for a few days to avoid spoilers about the book.
Well, it will all work out somehow. If anyone is awake and finished reading Book 7 in the wee hours of the morning, call me. Or look for me on Gmail chat. I’ll be there.
11-year-old charged with driving drunk
Posted: July 14, 2007 Filed under: Howl's Moving Castle Leave a commentMIAMI (Reuters) – An 11-year-old girl was charged with drunken driving after leading police on a chase at speeds of up to 100 mph that ended when she flipped the car in an Alabama beach town.
A video camera in the police car captured the look of surprise on the officer’s face when he approached the wrecked car and got a look at the motorist.
The Mobile Press-Register newspaper said the patrolman saw the Chevrolet Monte Carlo speeding and flashed his lights to signal the driver to stop. Instead, the car sped faster, traveling at up to 100 mph (160 kph) before sideswiping another vehicle and flipping over in the Gulf Coast town of Orange Beach, Alabama, on Tuesday night.
The young driver, who lived nearby in Perdido Key, Florida, was treated at a hospital for scrapes and bruises and released to relatives. Police also charged her with speeding, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless endangerment.
The car belonged to a relative and police were still trying to find out where she got the alcohol. There was none in the vehicle but her blood alcohol level was over the limit for adult motorists, police told the newspaper.
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