Las Flores (CA) – 18-year-old Omar Khan should be graduating from high school this week, but instead he faces more than 38 years in prison for hacking into school computers.  School officials at the Tesoro High School in Las Flores California allege that Khan changed grades and his Advanced Placement test scores.  Khan is also alleged to have installed a remote access program onto school servers.  In all, Khan is charged with 69 felonies.

more of the article here.  Via /.

When I dealt with a computer discipline case a few years ago, we didn’t have the legal basis (nor really the desire) to prosecute as a felony criminal case.  To me, this seems a bit excessive.  Perhaps a settlement can be reached?  I mean, putting this kid away for more than twice as long as he’s been alive seems to be the wrong answer.

What do you think?

This is Midsummer - the longest day of the year.  For me, this was a day off, as is my practice.  Fridays accomplish for me what Sundays do for many folks. 

I am getting used to life at 41 13′ 57″ N 80 47′ 39″ W.  There was enough sunlight on this mostly-sunny day for me to read on my east-facing front porch until 9:20 this evening.  I have moved from Patrick O’Brien’s Master and Commander series to C.S. Forester’s Hornblower Saga.  I’m working on #3 of 11, Hornblower and the Hotspur.  I initially delayed reading the Hornblower novels just because of the rediculous name of the protagonist. 

Still, on these warm, summer evenings, my mind travels back to Champaign-Urbana, where midsummer is ever-so-slightly shorter in terms of daylight - especially the backyard at home.  Somehow, whether it was a croquet match or just sitting on the patio or the back porch, that is where summer evenings are most comfortable. 

Nevertheless, I am content - even happy - here in Warren.  This is my house.  This is becoming my city.  This is my place of mission.  And there are good memories here, too.  Moreover, they are getting better, and are more frequently positive. 

Thanks be to God.

Over the past years, Americans have been more socially conscious about protecting the environment and inhaling tobacco. They have become less socially conscious about money and debt.

The agents of destruction are many. State governments have played a role. They aggressively hawk their lottery products, which some people call a tax on stupidity. Twenty percent of Americans are frequent players, spending about $60 billion a year. The spending is starkly regressive. A household with income under $13,000 spends, on average, $645 a year on lottery tickets, about 9 percent of all income. Aside from the financial toll, the moral toll is comprehensive. Here is the government, the guardian of order, telling people that they don’t have to work to build for the future. They can strike it rich for nothing.

Provocative?  Read full article here.

Today is my Father’s birthday.  On my birthday back in March, my mom composed an encomium for the event.  My dad and my brother Grant commented with their own additions.  So today, let us celebrate Mike Thomas:

Being his first child, I cannot speak to the events of the day of his birth, or youth, or college years.  My earliest memories go back to my earliest childhood - Dad coming back from work with the two oversized portfolio cases to our house in west-central Champaign.  Shortly thereafter, he became self-employed, and I remember talking to him through the intercom from the house to the detached garage where he had his office.  I remember many attempts at wiffleball and football, with varying degrees of success on my part.  I remember making the Snow Bunny out in the driveway on Saratoga. 

I remember working in the heat, re-roofing the house one summer once after the leaky back porch became a liability. 

But memories do not a character make, necessarily.  Dad modeled for us what a Christian man should look like.  Such a man read the Bible daily, always desired to tell others about Jesus, volunteered at a homeless shelter, led the cub scout pack, took the kids camping (even when it rained), and did most home repairs himself.  Prayer and quiet time went alongside of paying the bills.  Work was something that could happen at home or at an office.  Giving and receiving favors from others when needed was a part of life. 

These and many other lessons I have learned from Dad over the years.  I really don’t know how to say more.  There is much more, but it’s hard to put in words - and then hang it out on a blog. 

Grace and Peace - have a great birthday - I love you, Dad!