Metallica

I was in the process of posting an article on my other blog about name preferences when I came upon an Associated Press news about a couple who petitioned their government to allow them to name their daughter “Metallica.” The parties are currently hurling arguments at each other in court.

In case you’re wondering, I did not pluck this out from a U.S. court record database. The incident happened in Sweden. Naming your child Metallica would not be a problem here in the United States. I’m sure that you would encounter hundreds of people bearing that name in the telephone directory of your state alone.

I don’t know why the Swedish government made such a fuss out of the parents’ request. Their baby has already been Christened, but the Swedish National Tax Board refused to record it in their registry. An official of the agency bluntly branded the name as ugly. But if you’ll ask me, it’s anything but ugly. I admit that it’s quite an unusual name though, but I’m sure many would find it cool.

The couple already won in the county level, with the County Administrative Court ruling that the tax body had no legal basis in denying the registration of the name. The agency was not convinced and appealed the case to a higher judicial body.

Baby Metallica is now in a precarious situation. Since her name is not yet legally recognized, she can’t be issued pertinent documents or instruments, such as a birth certificate or a passport. In fact, the couple already cancelled their travel plans last month because a passport cannot be issued to persons not recorded in the government registry.

I’m not sure if a similar incident has already happened here in the United States. As far as I know, a couple or parent can bestow any name upon their children.

A Penny More

I’ve always believed that we should return to society what we have received from them. We owe what have right now to God, and it’s only right that we pay Him back even if He’s not asking us to do the same.

Such was what real estate tycoon Genshiro Kawamoto did when he handed over three of his mansions in Hawaii to homeless families. The scene where Kawamoto eyes swelled upon being thanked tearfully by a recipient was featured in almost all dailies around the world.

The billionaire pledged that he would continue this act of kindness by opening up 8 of his 22 houses in the area to families who don’t have a place to go.

There’s a catch to this, though. While he gave the keys of his mansions to the needy recipients, he didn’t give them the titles to the properties. The lucky homeless families would only stay there as tenants. However, no rent would be asked of them. Kawamoto even gave them a thousand dollars to help them move in. The recipients would also have to pay the utility bills.

I’m all praises for Kawamoto. However, I think he should’ve done more than just open up his mansion to the needy. He already has more than enough to live comfortably until his death, and I’m sure that his heirs would be getting more than what they could spend in a lifetime upon the former’s demise. The least that he could do then to express his thanks to the Big Guy is to give rather than to lend some of his blessings.

Sure, letting the homeless families stay in his mansions rent-free would be of tremendous help to them. However, the billionaire has less than 30 mansions in the state. He could help hundreds or even thousands more if he sells just two of his mansions and use the proceeds thereof to build low-cost, but decent houses.

There are some who doubt the true motive of Kawamoto’s actions. He was said to have been quite heartless in evicting tenants before in the different estates that he owns. I wonder if he already has a court record for violating lease contracts or other agreements to that effect.

Again, I want to stress that I’m all praises for Kawamoto’s action. However, if he really wants to be of help to society, he should give instead of lend.

Paid to Read Novels

Where do you get your daily dose of crime and mystery tales?

If you grew up during the 80s like I did, then chances are is that you held and read a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys pocketbook. If reading was not your thing back then, then maybe you’ve been an avid fan of the hit series Murder She Wrote. If you were already in your 40s or 50s when the first Apple Mac was released, then maybe a few Sherlock Holmes or Ian Fleming novels graced your bookshelf.

For those who were born during the time when Cable TV was already around, Court TV probably whetted their appetite for crime and suspense stories. We have cable since 1995, but I must admit that my fingers don’t stop pressing the remote whenever I chance upon that channel. Don’t get me wrong. I’m very interested in mystery or crime flicks, especially if they’re based on a true story. However, I guess I’m just more of a book person than a boob tube one.

I haven’t read a crime and mystery novel for some time now. In fact, I think the last one that I’ve read was an Ian Fleming masterpiece. I have some Agatha Christie titles on my desk, but they’re more of for show than for reading :) I’m reading court records everyday, and some of them involve the commission of crimes. For those whose job involve researching and processing court records, reading Nancy Drew novels is like going to the office.

But for me, it’s the other way around. Going to the office is like going to the public library to read mystery novels. I love reading. This is the reason why I stuck with my current job of processing public records even if I could jump to another ship which offers higher pay and better dental :) I love my job, and I don’t see myself changing career anytime soon.

The Art of Living

“What good would that do to you after graduation?”

That was the first question and the initial reaction that my mom had when I told her that I want a liberal arts degree. I was so engrossed with many books and topics on humanities during high school that I was bent on pursuing a degree that has many subjects or electives on the matter.

I was able to convince her that my future would not be jeopardized by having a liberal arts diploma. But I must admit that I had a hard time enumerating the possible jobs that I could get with a degree that deals with almost anything under the sun.

I originally planned to go to law school after graduation. However, I didn’t find law that much interesting. It would definitely be cool to be called “counsel.” But then again, I would most probably be called something else when I become a member of the bar. It’s not that flattering when you’re being referred to as a reptile or a dreaded member of the marine species.

I’m happy with the way things turned out after graduation. While my job might not get me a BMW or a Jaguar anytime soon, I think I could safely say that I’m living quite comfortably. Hmm maybe I should delete this line. My boss would probably use this blog entry to ward off any requests for a raise.

Although I ditched my original plan of becoming a lawyer, my present job ironically deals partly with the law. You all know that I handle or process public records for a living, and that includes court records. I think I’ve already read tons of statute and case books that could propel me to graduation day in any law school in the country. But, then again, I’m already happy with what I am and with what I have today.

Land of the Free, But Not for the Brave

Contrary to popular opinion abroad, America remains to be a very conservative society. While the state values and upholds each of its citizen’s right to freely express himself or herself, this right has been deemed to be not absolute.

Take for example the right to stage a protest. Everybody has a right to go to the streets and profess his dismay over the way things are going or being done in government. However, the protest should be done in an orderly manner. In some cases, permits would have to be secured from the local government concerned.

Not everybody is aware of the limitations, though. Indeed, the qualifications or exceptions to the rule are mostly lodged in the federal and local statute books and not in the Constitution. Some can be found in the decisions promulgated by the courts.

I’m not a lawyer, but I think it’s safe to say that the exceptions to the freedom of speech, of the press, and of choice refer to cases or instances wherein the rights or lives of others might be harmed or disrupted. If this is the exception that the law contemplates, then I’m all for it. The exercise of a constitutional right should not result in the violation of another.

This opinion or stand of mine has recently been tested or questioned by an incident in Largo City where government officials are contemplating on firing their city manager due to the latter’s plan of undergoing a sex change.

I’m a Catholic, and I’m fully aware of the Church’s stand on gender change. However, I’m of the opinion that it’s every citizen’s right to choose how he should take care of his body. If persons are allowed to undergo surgery for certain bodily enhancements without employment repercussions, then how come Largo City manager Steve Stanton has been threatened to be fired if he pushes through with his intention of undergoing a gender change? I think the city council overreacted on Stanton’s revelation. They should heavily consider his sterling track record as a city manager before they make a decision.

Taking Its Part

It’s comforting to know that the government is continuously looking for ways by which court and criminal records can be easily and systematically accessed.

Many have harbored fears that the proliferation of online court record-retrieval services may have given the government an excuse to leave this need to the private sector. I was therefore elated when I chanced upon a very useful and important project by the Department of Justice on their Web site.

The National Criminal History Improvement Program is not actually new. In fact, this undertaking started more than a decade ago. It aims to ensure the availability of various public records, especially criminal and court files, to the police and other government agencies. This removes the unnecessary impediments that hamper inter-agency coordination as far as accessing and sharing their registries or databases are concerned.

I’ve heard of projects that have been prematurely abandoned due to lack of funding or interest. I’m glad that the government is continuously working on the program despite the fact that it has already accomplished much.

Goodbye Michael, Hello Kobe!

I told you he is the heir-apparent.

Kobe Bryant scored 31 points, five rebounds, six assists, and six steals to lift the West past the east in the recently concluded NBA All Star Games.

I’ve been a Laker fan since my grade school days, and I’m always very happy when a member of my favorite ball club garners one of the individual awards that are regularly given by the league.

Bryant is undeniably the best player in the NBA today. Many consider him as the successor of Michael Jordan. He’s turning out to be a very good role model, too. However, there are still some who doubt if he could be a good ambassador of the league and of the game.

Bryant has been charged with sexual assault. I already forgot the details of the case. Maybe I’ll try to check the court record for its status. I’ll write about charge after I’ve verified the file.