we saw that...

third circuit upholds habitual offender bill and twenty year prison sentence for lower third street hydrocodone slinger

it must have been cases like this -- that led to those "boss wagner" radio ads.

although we supported and eventually voted to reelect chuck wagner as sheriff of rapides parish, we believed that his constant public bragging about all the drug arrests the sheriff's office had and were making was a big mistake.

while such talk might have been lauded twenty years ago, anyone of any reasonable intelligence now knows that the war on some drugs has been a colossal failure, has cost everyone a major loss of our freedoms, increased corruption as well as being a severe waste of taxpayer money -- so why is this all that he had to run for reelection on?

if only sheriff wagner had went after all the crooked politicians, governmental officials and white collar criminals who have always found refuge in rapides parish because they are protected by law enforcement, the district attorney and the judicial system -- with such abandon, he would have been sheriff for life. the citizenry would have demanded to have built a memorial to him on the court house grounds.

crooked politicians and corruption are what people are concerned about these days. not drugs.

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bolton avenue prozzies to get a $2.5 million dollar upgrade

kalb excerpt:

Next month, work is set to start on Bolton Avenue improvements in Alexandria.

The estimated $2.5 million dollar project will bring new sidewalks, street lamps and even a bus transfer terminal.

But as News Channel Five's Brooke Buford found out, not everyone is looking forward to it. ~ read more

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minister louis farrakhan on obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage

(FinalCall.com) - Minister Farrakhan commented on President Obama's endorsement of gay marriage during an address at the San Diego, California Convention Center, May 27, 2012. View this full video at http://www.noi.org/webcast

whats worth noting here is that while minister farrakhan does not say that barky's endorsement of same sex marriage is godly -- he does point out, seemingly quoting from james chapter two verse ten, when he states that "jesus said that if you offend in one thing you offend in them all." meaning that a sin is a sin and that none are worse than the other, with the possible exception of the sin of blaspheming the holy ghost.

in first corinthians chapter six verses nine and ten there is a list of sinful activity that your participation in will prohibit your inheriting the kingdom of god:

Know yee not that the vnrighteous shall not inherite the kingdome of God? Be not deceiued: neither fornicatours, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselues with mankinde,

Nor theeues, nor couetous, nor drunkards, nor reuilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ~ first corinthians chapter six verses nine and ten kjv 1611

and again in galatians chapter five verses nineteen through twenty-one:

Nowe the workes of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adulterie, fornication, vncleannesse, lasciuiousnesse,

Idolatrie, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Enuyings, murthers, drunkennesse, reuellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I haue also tolde you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherite the kingdome of God.

But the fruit of the spirit is loue, ioy, peace, long suffering, gentlenesse, goodnesse, faith,

Meekenesse, temperance: against such there is no law. ~ galatians chapter five verses nineteen through twenty-three kjv 1611

yet you hardly, if ever, hear about any of this from your fake preachers, pulpit pimps and right wing nutters who are only obsessed with homosexuality/same sex marriage and abortion.

we suspect the reason for this is because if the preachers did talk about these things if would run most, if not all, their congregations off.

at the end of the clip minister farrakhan talks about the bible and the constitution and we agree with the point he's making there too -- this is mostly because we believe that prayers conducted at the opening of governmental bodies should be banned.

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kevin tillman writes about his brother pat tillman

reposted for memorial day

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. ~ Sir Winston Churchill

its a terrible thing to finally come to the realization that everything you have been taught is a lie.



By Kevin Tillman

Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.

It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we got out.

Much has happened since we handed over our voice:

Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.

Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.

Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.

Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.

Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.

Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.

Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.

Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.

Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.

Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.

Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.

Somehow torture is tolerated.

Somehow lying is tolerated.

Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.

Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.

Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.

Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.

Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.

Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.

Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country.

Somehow this is tolerated.

Somehow nobody is accountable for this.

In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don’t be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that “somehow” was nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.

Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.

Brother and Friend of Pat Tillman,

Kevin Tillman

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war is a racket

at one time, smedley darlington butler, major general, united states marine corps., deceased, was and might still be, the most highly decorated marine in the history of the corps. this means that "old gimlet eye" had the potential to have made a halfway decent sailor.

believe it or not but general butler was a republican! of course this was 70 - 80 years ago when being a republican actually meant something.

also to his eternal credit he supported the bonus army. while to their eternal shame and damnation the united states senate, president hoover along with macarthur, eisenhower and patton betrayed them.

war is a racket book review from an amazon.com customer:

By Abe Vigoda "madinventor" (Brooklyn, NY USA)

This review is from: War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier (Paperback)

Dear readers, I first heard of Major General Smedley Butler when I joined the Marines twelve years ago.

Hearing of his exploits while in Boot Camp, us recruits all wished we had as much guts as this Demi-God.

Imagine my surprise now, after having learned that our brave and tough idol had confessed to being the best "enforcer" for big business there ever was! He then became a whistle blower of the highest order.

Brave and honest men and women who attain some kind of fame on the world stage do not get to live too long in this world. Their outspokenness is extinguished as soon as people start listening.

In General Butler's case there was a glitch in the system. He rose to the heights in rank because of his courage, heart, and tenacity during times of WAR.

They had no choice but to elevate him. He earned his unobstructed view of how the world works with blood, sweat, and tears.

When he realized that he was just being used... All hell broke loose. His passionate essay in this book should be read by everyone living in this great country. He tells it the way it was and the way it still is.

It's going to be a while before someone else from so high-up steps "out of line" and talks. Can you imagine this happening nowadays? Not gonna happen. It seems that Generals are now chosen for political reasons.

So read this book about the brave General who showed even more courage as a Civilian. ~ read this and other reviews at amazon.com here

four legendary marines and medal of honor winners. (left to right) sergeant major john henry quick, major general wendell cushing neville, lieutenant general john archer lejune, major general smedley darlington butler

smedley darlington butler circa 1920's

War is a Racket

click here to download fourteen page .pdf [39 kb]
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smedley darlington butler memorial at find-a-grave

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subtropical storm beryl expected to come ashore along the florida - georgia coast early monday 28 may 2012

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kalb: mysterious, unnamed judge comments on suit

the lame stream media's suppression and covering up the name of the magistrate judge who issued the recommendation when that tidbit of information is an integral part of the "report" is par for the course in what passes as professional journalism and journalists in these parts.

you should ask yourself what else do they routinely leave out?

UPDATE: gannett/the alexandria daily town talk: judge: rebates in hands of alexandria city council

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stephenson et al vs stephenson family trust

while we generally have little to no (mostly no) sympathy for woodworth, la., residents on account of their being complicit with their crooked elected officials in allowing or even encouraging them in running the town's long time speed trap scam, we have even less sympathy for those who attempt to or steal someone else's land.

so, kudos to alexandria, la. attorney gregory engelsman, esq., of the bolen firm for taking this case on.

the cause, michael d. stephenson and sherri medica stephenson vs the stephenson family trust, is allotted to ninth judicial district court judge john c. davidson.

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developing: u.s. magistrate judge james kirk recommends dismissing armested franklin et al vs city of alexandria

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baseball exhibit at the louisiana history museum

via: klax-tv.com

although their website leaves a lot to be desired, for instance, no news report video clips, it is worth checking out from time-to-time for info that gannett/ the town talk and hoax (sic) media/ kalb arent reporting or are currently suppressing and covering up.

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england economic and industrial development district removes sst1 llc unlawful access termination suit to federal court!

according to court documents made public this afternoon by rapides parish clerk of court, robin l. hooter, alexandria lawyer and england economic and industrial development district attorney, albin a. provosty of the provosty firm, has filed to move tasha swanson's unlawful termination of access suit out of the courtroom of ninth judicial district court judge george c. metoyer, jr. to the u.s. district court, western district in alexandria, before judge dee drell.

the reasons given by england for turning this suit into a federal case seems to us to be a bit of a reach, which leads us to wonder if this is merely an exercise by the silk stocking crowd in forum shopping in order to get the case before a judge more sympathetic to england and less so to the petitioner and given judge drell's background that could be a strong possibility.

one the other hand, some could say that the same could be true for the petitioner and her suit being before judge george metoyer. however, judge metoyer is but one of several ninth jdc judges and the suit was assigned to him by random allotment. whereas, judge drell is the only game in town as the federal system goes.

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137th running of the preakness stakes "i'll have another" wins second jewel of the triple crown of thoroughbred racing!

will "i'll have another" have another and win the triple crown? we hope so. the last triple crown winner was in 1978 by "affirmed."

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big dust up at the england economic & industrial development district: sued for unlawful termination of access

from what we can gather from her petition, in 2007 tasha swanson the owner of sst1 llc landed a sub-contract with sundowner alexandria, llc., to clean airplanes out at england airpark.

over the years her business has grown and she has been awarded more sub-contracts to clean airplanes such as with the united states marshals service, ice, csi aviation services and ryan international airlines.

as a result of the success of her company, in early april 2012 she sent an employee over to the england economic & industrial development districts' office "in order to meet with david h. broussard, jr., the airpark development manager to inquire about leasing space for it's equipment to perform the sub-contract but instead met with the defendant's executive director, jon w. grafton."

somehow or anther on that same day ms. swanson's employee received a telephone conference call from jon w. grafton, scott gammel and david h. broussard, jr., "who jointly advised that 'since we have an fbo who can provide these services we will not lease you property and at this time you need to cease and desist any cleaning as sst1'"

so ms. swanson filed for and after having had to put up a $10,000.00 cash bond was granted a temporary restraining order.

ms. swanson's cause is set for hearing before ninth judicial district court judge george c. metoyer, jr., at 9:30 am on 21 may 2012.

the filing attorney is alexandria, la., attorney kelvin g. sanders, esq. and the attorney for the england economic & development district is albin a. provosty, esq., of alexandria's provosty law firm.

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third circuit grants plaintiff's attorney a do over in alexandria hotel damages claim

whether this opinion which was released moments ago by the third circuit is a good one or not probably depends on if you're suing or being sued.

this petition was originally filed on 23 june 2008 and one aspect of the case that the third circuit should have addressed but didnt is that attorney's prior to filing suit should do a better job in their due diligence.

on the other hand, this opinion should help business owners to understand that no matter how you structure or appear to structure the ownership of your properties, that when the plaintiff's attorney finally figures out who the responsible party to sue is, that you're likely not going to be able to argue that their time to file suit ran out (prescription).

lawyers money shot:

the jurisprudence is consistent that prescriptive statutes are to be strictly construed in favor of maintaining rather than barring actions. ~ .pdf page seven

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another prozzie bust on bolton avenue

via: klax-tv.com

by now you'd think that prostitutes and johns would know to stay away from bolton avenue!

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lamborghini driver zigged when he should have zagged

Apparently captured at an intersection in Wheeling, Ill., there's no other information known about the driver of the Gallardo, other than their new-found knowledge of how the V-10 interacts with the all-wheel-drive system on a slow corner. ~ read more

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katrina mary says that alexandria's downtown & john "marty" thiels southpark station post offices might remain open

via: twitter @theadvocatebr

10 La. post offices are on proposed USPS list to stay open. Plan is tentative and not yet approved. http://bit.ly/K2Vs2e ~ view tweet

excerpt:

A tentative list of urban post offices in Louisiana proposed to remain open was submitted to The Advocate from U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s office on Tuesday.

This list has not yet been approved by the USPS:

1. Downtown Alexandria (Alexandria)

2. South Park Station (Alexandria)

3. Istrouma (Baton Rouge)

4. Jefferson (Lafayette)

5. Mail processing center (Lafayette)

6. Moss bluff (Lake Charles)

7. Downtown Monroe Post Office (Monroe)

8. Lafayette Square Post Office (New Orleans)

9. Mail Processing Center (New Orleans)

10. Bywater Post Office (New Orleans) ~ read more

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newsweek proclaims barky obama the first gay president

snatched from rense.com

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mother's day

10 Who can finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue Rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall haue no need of spoile.

12 She will doe him good, and not euill, all the dayes of her life.

13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afarre.

15 Shee riseth also while it is yet night, and giueth meate to her household, and a portion to her maydens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her handes she planteth a Uineyard.

17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.

18 She perceiueth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her handes to the spindle, and her handes hold the distaffe.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, yea she reacheth foorth her handes to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold: for all her houshold are cloathed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herselfe couerings of tapestrie; her cloathing is silke and purple.

23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth among the Elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linnen, and selleth it, and deliuereth girdles vnto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her cloathing; and she shall reioyce in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisedome; and in her tongue is the law of kindnesse.

27 She looketh well to the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of idlenesse.

28 Her children arise vp, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters haue done vertuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vaine: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shalbe praised.

31 Giue her of the fruit of her hands, and let her owne workes praise her in the gates.

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city of alexandria, la. answer's the unique bar and lounge lawsuit

failing to address how the ordinances in question are constitutional, the city of alexandria, la., in its answer pleads in part, that:

"the purposes of the ordinances also include the protection of young adults from their own vulnerabilities, protection of the public health and general welfare and the protection of young adults from the corrupting influences of older patrons drinking alcoholic beverages."

say what? did mayor roy just lose the gay vote?

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third circuit affirms rapides parish child porn sentence

no one here is for child pornography, however, this opinion offers us a fascinating and important glimpse into some of the computer programs, such as the wyoming tool kit and techniques the police can and do use to spy into your computer contents - when you're logged on to some peer-to-peer file sharing websites such as these several mentioned in the opinion: gnutella, bearshare and limewire.

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third circuit ok's liquidation of cat island club llc

although they won their appeal in which the third circuit affirmed a summary judgement that they were granted by ninth judicial district court judge harry randow, a reading of that opinion (.pdf from page 101 or third circuit here) could possibly lead one to conclude that ty-bar industries, inc., dean tyler / william c. barron, arent really the type of people that one would want to get in "bidness" with.

something else that comes to mind, is that these La. R.S. 12:1302 et seq., limited liability companies seem to be generally a bit dodgy.

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uss louisiana ssbn 743 returns to homeport

via: twitter @usnavy

One of the most welcome sights a #Sailor wants to see coming back from #sea: http://ow.ly/aLP0T ||| view tweet

120506-N-GU530-093 BANGOR, Wash. (May 6, 2012) Family members await the return of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, following its strategic deterrent patrol. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released) ~ source

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connecticut to become 17th medical marijuana state

via: twitter @HIGH_TIMES_Mag

excerpt:

by Mark Miller

Mon, May 07, 2012 5:51 pm

The Connecticut Senate effectively legalized medical marijuana in the state by passing House Bill 5389 in the early morning hours Saturday following a 10-hour overtime session described as “passionate” by the Hartford Courant. The Connecticut House of Representatives passed the bill in late April.

Governor Dannel Malloy (D) praised the bill’s passage and has stated that he fully intends to sign it, which would make Connecticut the 17th state in the U.S. to have legalized medical marijuana. Including the District of Columbia, that’s 18 out of 51 states/districts in the nation, meaning more than a third of the country now has legal medicinal cannabis.

HB 5389 passed by a 21-13 vote at 2:35 a.m. local time. The extended session was primarily due to the filibustering of State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton), who reportedly lectured on the dangers of medical marijuana (she views it as both highly addictive and a gateway drug) for over eight hours in voicing her opposition.

But in the end, compassion and logic won out over propaganda and scare tactics, with Boucher’s attempts to have the bill amended to restrict it even further being voted down as well. ~ read more

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the unique bar and lounge sues city of alexandria, la. over unconstitutional ordinances

according to the petition, La. R.S. 26:286 allows those citizens aged 18 - 20 to enter into a bar -- but they can't purchase or consume alcohol.

so, not to be outdone by legislation passed by that collection of freaks, perverts, criminals and lunatics who comprise the organized crime gang which calls itself the loony looziana legislature, in 2008 the (to be kind) nanny-staters and rinos (well one rino) on the alexandria, la., city counsel passed an ordinance, which, unsurprisingly, the mayor, who in this case we will refer to again as "baggy pants roy," promptly signed into law which seems to conflict with state law.

the ordinance cited as being "codified in the alexandria, louisiana code of ordinances, part ii, section 4-25(3)," goes a step further than state law and prohibits bar owners from selling alcoholic beverages to or allowing 18 - 20 year old citizens from even entering a bar -- "unless said person is accompanied by such person's parent or legal guardian who is over the age of twenty-one."

although the petition doesnt state when it was passed (the online ordinance book seems to indicate 09 february 1999), it also cites alexandria, la., ordinance, section 15-81.2, which "prohibits any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years from going into or upon or remaining in or upon or attempting to go into or upon or remain in or upon any business, which belongs to another, where alcoholic beverages are the principal commodity sold, handled or given away, unless such person is accompanied by his or her legal guardian."

the petition avers that these two city of alexandria ordinances violate sections 3 and 9 of the louisiana constitution of 1974 and they want the ordinances struck down

since we're always for rescinding, nullifying or striking down all freedom killing laws, rules, regulations, ordinances and so forth, we have to side with the unique plaintiffs.

the petitioners also attempted to make the rapides parish police jury defendants due to a similar parish wide ordinance. however, the judge requested that the police jury not be served.

also the judge while denying the temporary restraining order to enjoin the city from enforcing the ordinances in question, ordered the petitioners to submit their brief by 20 may 2012 and the city to submit theirs by 25 may and fixed a hearing for 9:30 am on 19 june 2012.

the petition is filed by marksville, louisiana attorney douglas l. bryan of the bryan law firm, llc (who might want to consider hiring a better proofreader) and is allotted to ninth judicial district court judge john c. davidson.

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van halen "dreams" united states navy blue angels tribute

probably not for the vertigo challenged.

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may 2012 scorpio super moon

the 05 may 2012 super moon rises over rapides parish, louisiana in this wst... photo taken at 8:09 pm, cdt. at the time the photo was taken the moon was void of course [website|||screen grab], meaning that the moon had moved out of libra at 1:02 pm cdt and was transiting into scorpio.

according to this website, last nights super moon was about 250 miles [400 km] farther away from earth than the super moon of 19 march 2011.

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138th running of the kentucky derby

(1) riders up
(2) the call to the post
(3) "my old kentucky home"
(4) post parade
(5) the 138th run for the roses
before the race we were pulling for the #7 horse "rousing sermon" -- the show horse of the 99th louisiana derby. however, after the race began we were really hoping that the #6 horse "bodemeister" would pull it off by going the distance. even so, it was a very good race.

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