News and Current Events, pt.9

4009. jexster - 12/14/2004 5:35:34 PM

Commenting on the failure to pass Prop A, his affordable housing bond which included 90 million for homeless supportive housing (65%, 66.7 req'd):

"This is tough work," Newsom said. But with a smile, he urged the crowd to remember the words of Winston Churchill:


"Success is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm."

He's got a million of 'em!

4010. iiibbb - 12/15/2004 8:46:52 AM

Ewww

4011. judithathome - 12/15/2004 12:01:57 PM

Can't get in to the Star Telegram but that have an article about the woman who chopped off her baby's arms...she read it in the Bible and was just doing what the Bible told her to do.

4012. thoughtful - 12/15/2004 12:30:42 PM

ugh.

4013. iiibbb - 12/15/2004 12:55:25 PM

Someone that nuts would get the same message reading the phone book.

4014. PelleNilsson - 12/15/2004 1:38:24 PM

Missile test shuts down and delays U.S. shield

The first test in nearly two years of a multibillion-dollar U.S. antimissile shield failed on Wednesday when the interceptor missile shut down as it prepared to launch in the central Pacific, the Defense Department said.

About 16 minutes earlier, a target missile carrying a mock warhead had been successfully fired from Kodiak Island, Alaska, according to a statement from the Missile Defense Agency.

An "anomaly" of unknown origin caused the interceptor to shut down automatically in its silo at the Kwajalein Test Range in the Marshall Islands, said Richard Lehner, a spokesman for the Pentagon's missile agency.

Didn't even get off the ground!

4015. alistairConnor - 12/15/2004 1:40:41 PM

At least that saved them the embarassment of missing.

4016. alistairConnor - 12/15/2004 1:43:17 PM

Interesting that they scheduled this resumption of testing fotr AFTER the election. Someone has realistic expectations...

4017. thoughtful - 12/15/2004 1:52:32 PM

AC, it's an interesting list of all the things they postponed until after the election...the big offensive in fallujah, bush's physical, the missile shield...

4018. PelleNilsson - 12/15/2004 2:21:53 PM

Missile test shuts down and delays U.S. shield

The first test in nearly two years of a multibillion-dollar U.S. antimissile shield failed on Wednesday when the interceptor missile shut down as it prepared to launch in the central Pacific, the Defense Department said.

About 16 minutes earlier, a target missile carrying a mock warhead had been successfully fired from Kodiak Island, Alaska, according to a statement from the Missile Defense Agency.

An "anomaly" of unknown origin caused the interceptor to shut down automatically in its silo at the Kwajalein Test Range in the Marshall Islands, said Richard Lehner, a spokesman for the Pentagon's missile agency.

Didn't even get off the ground!

4019. thoughtful - 12/15/2004 2:28:42 PM

Quite a riposte, pelle!

4020. wonkers2 - 12/15/2004 2:30:49 PM

PLenty of money to wast on such hare brained military projects, but we can't afford Social Security or civilized universal health care. Everyone should be required to watch "Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Love the Bomb" as I did over Thanksgiving. It's amazing how well it holds up in our current situation.

4021. iiibbb - 12/15/2004 3:29:27 PM

My personal deal with gov't running something like health care is that it would eventually become a top-heavy monster. Too much overhead for too little return. I'd complain about the paperwork too, but it's pretty bad with normal insurance companies already.

The health care industry is crazy though

It cost tons to become a Dr. because they know Drs. generally become wealthy. Lots of insurance costs to protect the Dr. from liability. Lots of insurance costs to cover the cost of seeing a Dr because they spent so much becoming a Dr. and want to be wealthy. Drug companies pushing product... (what was the recent stat... over half the US population is being medicated at any given moment).

It's a clusterfuck... I don't know how to undo the jam, but the whole industry is inflated.

4022. wonkers2 - 12/15/2004 4:41:59 PM

Single payer, universal health care would not necessarily mean that the government would run health care. Medicare does affect health care practices, but not in a damaging way. Medicare could be expanded in stages to provide everyone with basic coverage for necessary services (no face lifts, breast enlargements, and more hospice and less heroic end-of-life care). How to pay for it is the problem with health care costs going up in double digits every year. A single payer system could help moderate cost increases.

4023. thoughtful - 12/15/2004 4:48:35 PM

Medicare does affect health care practices, but not in a damaging way.

I beg to differ. It affects both practices and costs. There are whole medical industries built around what medicare will and won't pay for...just check out a nursing home some time.

And costs? Docs routinely bill more than they need to to medicare and then accept the 'approved amount'...priming the pump for when medicare reviews average fees for setting the next rounds 'approved amount' and we all pay more for it.

4024. Wombat - 12/15/2004 4:56:14 PM

I don't see how any "modern" health care system could be less efficient than ours.

4025. wonkers2 - 12/15/2004 7:42:51 PM

Thoughtful, are you saying that doctors overbill private insurers less than Medicare? My impression is that this problem is not confined to Medicare, and private insurers take their cut out of the pie. I'm not suggesting that there is an easy, simple solution to rising health care costs. But a universal coverage with a single payer plan would at least be a step toward assuring a more even distribution of health care for everyone. And I suspect that health care is delivered more efficiently in Canada than in the U.S. I don't pretend to be an expert on health care although I was involved somewhat for many years in the negotiation of fee for service plans in the auto industry, and I'm aware of some of the pitfalls of that costly system.

4026. robertjayb - 12/15/2004 10:00:17 PM

San Francisco to disarm...Jexster must surrender grandpappy's squirrel gun...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- City residents will vote next year on a proposed weapons ban that would deny handguns to everyone except law enforcement officers, members of the military and security guards.

If passed next November, residents would have 90 days to give up firearms they keep in their homes or businesses. The proposal was immediately dismissed as illegal by a gun owners group.

The measure -- submitted Tuesday to the Department of Elections by some city supervisors -- would also prohibit the sale, manufacturing or distribution of handguns, and the transfer of gun licenses, according to Bill Barnes, an aide to Supervisor Chris Daly.

4030. thoughtful - 12/16/2004 8:43:15 AM

wonks, i'm not suggesting the system can't be improved and that govt can't be successful at running very efficient insurance programs...soc sec is living proof that it can. I'm just suggesting that the presence of medicare, esp in its present state does bias the system, both in terms of costs and care.

4031. iiibbb - 12/16/2004 8:50:35 AM

I'm confused why you think Social Security is proof that it can... because I look at it as the opposite.

4032. robertjayb - 12/16/2004 8:59:02 AM

Hawk evictors backdown...

NEW YORK (AP) -- A week after two red-tailed hawks were evicted from their aerie outside a luxury apartment building, the board that runs the high-rise on Fifth Avenue has given in to the demands of bird lovers and agreed to let Pale Male and Lola rebuild their nest. Now the question is whether the birds that flew the co-op will come home to roost.

The possible return of Pale Male and Lola came after a week of angry protests and bizarre Big Apple street theater on a stately block of Manhattan. Women chanted with stuffed birds on their heads, ambulance sirens screamed in support of the hawks, and a 13-year-old girl tap-danced in a cow costume in the middle of Fifth Avenue.

4035. alistairconnor - 12/16/2004 9:12:39 AM

Message # 4031New Zealand's experience with work-related accident compensation is interesting in this respect.

Originally run as a government service, it was privatized a few years ago. Half a dozen insurance companies picked up the business, and premiums shot up.

There are straight mechanical reasons for this : for example, the insurance companies want 6% profit. All else being equal, this adds 6% to the premium.

There was a change of government, and it was taken back into the public sector. Premiums shot down again.

Also, being a public service, they have a responsibility to deal fairly with claimants, and a strong role in prevention. A private insurance company, whether in accident or health insurance, has no vested interest in prevention (since they don't have a monopoly, there is little point; easier just to increase premiums to recoup costs) nor in equity (the tendency is to reduce payouts by making it harder to claim).

4036. wonkers2 - 12/16/2004 9:47:10 AM

From today's NYT:

New book says Abe Lincoln was gay.

Retired generals oppose Gonzalez for Attorney General because he showed poor judgment in memos advising that international treaties on treatment of prisoners be ignored. It didn't occur to him that the treaties protect American soldiers as well as filthy foreign swine. [This is an example of the problems from having a superficial moron in the White House who is disinclined to question and over-rule bad recommendations from his subordinates.]

Rumsfeld is toast. He's being harpooned from the right--McCain, Habel, Kristol. About time.

4037. wonkers2 - 12/16/2004 9:50:07 AM

One more: High school sports are being corrputed by the increasing adoption of big time college recruiting abuses in efforts to lure 7th and 8th graders.

4038. alistairconnor - 12/16/2004 10:06:25 AM

Rumsfeld is toast.

I'll believe that when I see it. And dance for joy.

4039. judithathome - 12/16/2004 10:12:41 AM

I don't think Rumsfeld is toast...Bush likes him and that's all that matters. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks and it certainly doesn't matter what the public thinks. Bush likes him.

4040. wonkers2 - 12/16/2004 10:27:27 AM

Well, at least he's wounded.

4041. thoughtful - 12/16/2004 10:31:06 AM

iiibbb, if you look at the cost of running soc sec vs the cost of running the average insurance policy it's far far cheaper. I had stats years ago and am sure I don't remember them well but it was like costs of soc sec were 0.2% of $ issued vs 16% for the average private policy or numbers of that magnitude. Ever since ross perot fixed it up and esp with electronic transfers and direct deposit, it's really very efficient.

4043. iiibbb - 12/16/2004 12:38:25 PM

Livestrong bracelets match color and style of "do not resuscitate" bands in hospitals

4047. robertjayb - 12/21/2004 1:59:54 PM

Slate sold...

Dec. 21, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. sold its popular Slate online magazine Tuesday to The Washington Post Co., a move that makes Slate's political commentary and quirky feature articles more broadly available across the Internet.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though Slate editor Jacob Weisberg said the amount was "a very respectable, impressive price."

Microsoft has said Slate, with roughly 6 million readers monthly, breaks even financially but isn't consistently profitable.

4048. alistairConnor - 12/21/2004 6:43:14 PM

Yes, but who did they sell it to?

In my fictional version, it was Murdoch.

4049. greystoke - 12/22/2004 10:29:48 PM

Innocent man freed after 17 years in prison.

Yet another example of the unreliability of eyewitness identification of a stranger.


EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- A man who served nearly 17 years on a rape conviction was freed from prison Tuesday after DNA tests determined that he was not responsible for the crime.

Brandon Moon, 43, joined his parents, Frank and Shirley Moon, late Tuesday afternoon for a long drive to their home in Kansas City, Missouri, after his release from the El Paso County jail.

...

The victim, who was assaulted at gunpoint in her home in April 1987, identified Moon from a police photo, but she told police she couldn't remember whether her attacker had a mustache or identify the color of his eyes.

The Innocence Project concluded that the victim misidentified Moon as her attacker.

4050. alistairconnor - 12/24/2004 8:24:34 AM

Sick puppy buys copy cat

It's only a matter of time : soon there will be brand-name pets, or perhaps, you will be able to buy a clone of the famous doggie on this year's hit TV show...

4051. greystoke - 12/25/2004 8:21:32 AM

Pittsburgh bounty hunters kill unarmed fugitive.

Pittsburgh homicide detectives were trying to determine yesterday whether a bounty hunter was justified in shooting and killing an unarmed fugitive in a darkened North Side home Thursday evening.

...

Bryant said two bounty hunters, who referred to themselves as "fugitive recovery agents," went to the home shortly before 7 p.m. armed with a fugitive warrant for Robinson.

Robinson, who authorities said had no permanent address, had skipped out on a $20,000 bond on drug and stolen property charges.

...

Bryant said the bounty hunter told police he ordered the fugitive to come out. He said he repeatedly told Robinson to show his hands, but Robinson just as repeatedly refused to do so.

At some point, the bounty hunter was able to see Robinson's hands. In one of them was an object he mistook for a weapon. He fired and struck Robinson.

It was unclear how the bounty hunter was able to fire the shotgun while also holding a flashlight or if the other bounty hunter and the homeowner witnessed the shooting.

4052. robertjayb - 12/27/2004 10:40:34 PM

Damned socialized medicine...

Dec. 28, 2004 - (AP) - A doctor at a public hospital in southern Mexico mistakenly amputated the right leg of an elderly patient who had sought treatment for an infection in his left foot, the patient's family announced Sunday.

Seeking treatment for a foot wound aggravated by diabetes, Alberto Lopez, 74, was admitted to a Social Security Institute hospital in Tuxtla Gutierrez, 430 miles south of Mexico City, and underwent surgery on Friday.

But the patient emerged from surgery without a right leg and still suffering from the original infection according to family members who filed a complaint Sunday with the state attorney general's office and a national medical arbitration commission.

As of Sunday, Lopez had not yet been notified that the wrong limb was amputated unnecessarily, according to his daughter, Esperanza Lopez.

4053. arkymalarky - 12/27/2004 11:48:38 PM

Wonder what the tort laws are like in Mexico. I think that happened in the US not too many years ago.

4054. wonkers2 - 12/28/2004 9:43:48 PM

It's happened in the U.S. many times.

4132. greystoke - 1/1/2005 11:50:35 AM

Vietnamese immigrant elected to Texas legislature.

"I remember my father gave each one of us a gun and said: 'Use it if you have to,'" said Vo, recalling how he, his five siblings and his parents fled Saigon in 1975 as their country collapsed. "It was chaos. The day I left, I stood on the boat, looked at horizon, seen airplanes falling from the sky."

That far exceeds any turmoil Vo has experienced following his election to the Houston-area District 149 seat he captured by a mere 33 votes the incumbent.

Vo, 48, insists the election uncertainty and recount that confirmed his victory are behind him, even though a House committee is investigating and the full House could declare Vo a winner or declare the election void and ask the governor to order a new one.

...

Vo worked as a busboy and a cook. He assembled digital watches and video games. He was robbed more times than he cares to remember as a convenience store clerk. He went door to door updating listings for telephone books. He's been a steelworker and a goldsmith, built computers and formed a computer company. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston, where he met his wife. And they're raising three children.

He got into real estate, built shopping centers, manages apartment complexes and even earned a license as an air-conditioning technician.

...

Vo approached the House effort methodically, the same way he learned Spanish — his fourth language.

...

Outside of work, one of Vo's hobbies is target shooting with a .45-caliber pistol. It's a link to his teenage years in Vietnam, where weapons and self-defense training were a high school requirement.

4192. iiibbb - 1/3/2005 10:46:51 PM

Is this how far out of touch environmentalists have gotten?

Two days after the tragedy, the executive director of Greenpeace UK (search) told the British newspaper The Independent, "No one can ignore the relentless increase in extreme weather events and so-called natural disasters, which in reality are no more natural than a plastic Christmas tree."

4193. iiibbb - 1/3/2005 10:47:59 PM

Earthquakes and tsunamis are geologic events... not weather events.

I'm more or less an environmentalist, but no one is going to care anymore.

4194. jexster - 1/3/2005 11:45:22 PM

Greenpeace are morons....always have been, always will be

4195. alistairconnor - 1/4/2005 8:18:37 AM

iii, I find you incredibly gullible about quoting stuff...

Come on...
1) the article you link is from Fox News (i.e. it's Objective Reality™ ... right?) and is polemically anti-"environmentalist" in tone.
2) it quotes the Independent, which is an intelligent paper, and wouldn't let anyone get away with a whopper like the one which is implied by the contextless quote excerpted
3) whatever you may think of Greenpeace, they are simply not that goofy.

I searched the Independent web site for "Greenpeace tsunami". The only article it came back with was, unfortunately, subscriber-only, but here's the summary :

This year has seen a succession of ferocious natural disasters, destroying cities and killing tens of thousands of people. Michael McCarthy reports on a trend that is terrifying the insurance industry

27 December 2004

The deadly sea surges that swept across southern Asia yesterday, destroying whole communities across at least eight countries, were triggered by the strongest earthquake the world has witnessed for 40 years.

Article Length: 1023 words (approx.)

I would like to suggest that the quote
"No one can ignore the relentless increase in extreme weather events and so-called natural disasters, which in reality are no more natural than a plastic Christmas tree"
was in reference to the various extreme weather events which must have formed the bulk of this article, which was visibly a wrap-up of the year, with the tsunami tacked on the end.

I imagine that the other quotes are similarly misused. It's called "trash journalism".

4196. alistairconnor - 1/4/2005 8:24:08 AM

I think your phrase

I'm more or less an environmentalist, but no one is going to care anymore.

is the most telling : I'm afraid you're right.

Spin it any way you want : what people are going to remember about the disasters of this year is the tsunami (which is, obviously, not climate-related) and they are going to think "aw well, that wasn't global warming, was it!" and slide to "so global warming isn't so bad after all" and even to "well, those other catastrophes probably weren't human-induced either" to just the sort of fatalism where the Fox guy wants us.

4197. Wombat - 1/4/2005 9:43:06 AM

One could argue that higher sea levels would make parts of some countries more vulnerable to tsunamis.

Something that has gotten little play here in the US of A is Burma. Was it affected?

4198. thoughtful - 1/4/2005 9:45:10 AM

Ah yes. Environmentalism is dead. Walking through the malls over the holidays I saw that fur is back. A sure sign that the bushies have impacted many avenues of 'political correctness'.

4199. Wombat - 1/4/2005 9:48:15 AM

iiibb sometimes uses contrarian thinking instead of independent thinking. A pity, because he is a Motier who is capable of the latter.

4200. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 10:06:18 AM

Message # 4196

I agree that higher sea levels pose some risk... but relative to the surge of a tsunami... the few foot rise in sea level pales to a tsunami's force. A greater effect on tsunami destruction is actually surface roughness (trees etc) to slow the currents down as the water moves inland.

My instinct says the majority of people died not because they couldn't swim, but because they were caught in a torrent of water carrying large debris.


However... Alister gets it. These types of environmentalists take 1 step forward but 10 steps back by jumping on this issue. They don't realize that Joe Public lumps all 'environmentalists' together

Greenpeace= Sierra Club = Earth First = ELF.



Contrarian thought has it's moments... especially when you're trying to point out that the stand your opponent (or maybe even your friend) is taking is just as off-the-wall as the one you might have adopted for the moment.

4201. PelleNilsson - 1/4/2005 10:14:16 AM

Burma must have been hit, perhaps rather badly, but the regime there is not releasing any details.

4202. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 10:19:59 AM

However, you're right... the Fox's article is perhaps over the top...

a href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7185892 target="new">Reuters

CNN

Strange when I google Greenpeace with certain phrases I get hits on phrases that seem over the top... but what I follow those links I can't find the same phrases... almost like articles or phrases have been deleted.

Maybe they caught themselves or toned down the rhetoric.

4203. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 10:30:01 AM

US's East cost is doomed..... Mega Tsunami.


There was a segment on TV about this the other day. Not everyone agreed it would case a 1000 ft wave across the entire east coast. Admitingly, I don't know much about the propegation of Tsunami.

The biggest I've ever heard about was Mt Toc in Alaska... where a landslide generated a wave over 1000 ft high in an Alaskan Fjord. That was in an enclosed space... I'm not sure the same would happen across the Atlantic...

but I'm not a geophysicist.

4204. Wombat - 1/4/2005 10:39:21 AM

A magnitude 9 earthquake in the Atlantic would certainly prove "interesting."

4205. wonkers2 - 1/4/2005 10:52:53 AM

New York City had better lay in a supply of gas masks in anticipation of being "reeked" with devastation!

4206. alistairconnor - 1/4/2005 10:56:20 AM

but what I follow those links I can't find the same phrases... almost like articles or phrases have been deleted.

... Probably because they never said that stuff. Consider the sources your first search throws up. Most likely they are Foxy, i.e. bullshit non-journalists, who have cherry-picked quotes out of context.

Find me a reputable primary source where an environmentalist states that the tsunami was human-induced, and we'll discuss it.

I'm not saying you won't find one. But I want you to think about "reputable" sources. Anything that you, personally, stand behind as a fairly reliable source of information will be fine.

4207. wonkers2 - 1/4/2005 11:06:08 AM

Fox purveys right-wing propaganda and polemics, not news.

4208. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:08:38 AM

No... there were distict sencences/phrases in the search preview to the Greenpeace website... but then I could not find the same phrases when I followed the link.

Greenpeace News
... Greenpeace Headlines. ... changes vital, ec Global Warming, Pollution Add to Coastal
Threats Nature's fury: whom to blame Media Linking Killer Tsunami to Global ...
archive.wn.com/greenpeacenews/ - 89k - Cached - Similar pages

4209. alistairconnor - 1/4/2005 11:15:31 AM

whom to blame Media Linking Killer Tsunami to Global ..

Learn to use Google better. That link (which I also got by googling "tsunami greenpeace") is a link to the front page of a
http://archive.wn.com/greenpeacenews/

4210. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:17:53 AM

Thanks yoda.

4211. alistairconnor - 1/4/2005 11:18:50 AM

whom to blame Media Linking Killer Tsunami to Global ..

Learn to use Google better. That link (which I also got by googling "tsunami greenpeace") is a link to the front page of a Greenpeace news site, which gets rolled over pretty quickly. By consulting Google's cached version of the page, I was able to find the original reference : a link to an article on another site : Media Linking Killer Tsunami to Global Warming

The opening paragraph of this article (on a site called Crosswalk.com, apparently a religious thing) :

With the world's attention focused on the earthquake/tsunami that has claimed tens of thousands of lives in at least ten countries that surround the Indian Ocean, media organizations like Reuters are pinning part of the blame for the catastrophe on "global warming."

"A creeping rise in sea levels tied to global warming, pollution and damage to coral reefs may make coastlines even more vulnerable to disasters like tsunamis or storms in [the] future," wrote Alister Doyle, an environmental correspondent for Reuters, who attributed the opening paragraph of the story to "experts." However, Doyle's story did not contain any quotes directly mentioning the theory of global warming.

4212. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:18:57 AM

Speaking of conspracies... How's the Ohio recount going. They nail anyone yet?

4213. alistairconnor - 1/4/2005 11:19:39 AM

Score so far : iiibbb zero.

But keep trying!

4214. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:20:57 AM

Score for life?... or just a period?

4215. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:23:01 AM

I feel so so

Jexter.

4216. alistairconnor - 1/4/2005 11:25:24 AM

Har!

4217. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:30:33 AM

Al Zarqawi captured?

Keep your eyes peeled.

4218. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:32:28 AM

Date's oldish though...

4219. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:34:34 AM

I know Eoropean dating makes more sense... but it's worse than the metric system for me :)

4220. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:38:18 AM

Nope... not captured...

4221. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 11:39:32 AM

U.S. military and intelligence sources are denying print and broadcast reports that terrorist Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi has been arrested in Iraq, MSNBC reported Tuesday.

MSNBC said senior U.S. military and intelligence sources told it the reports are not true. A newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, al-Bayane, reported in its Tuesday edition that the Jordanian-born terrorist had been arrested in Baqouba, Iraq. Iraqi Kurdistan radio also reported the arrest of al-Zarqawi.

The U.S. military in December said al-Zarqawi likely is in the Baghdad area.




Isn't google great... you're right Alistar... it's so simple. This is like a revelation...

4222. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 2:36:51 PM

You've got to love this business model. Write software invades peoples' machines, cripples them with ads that promise to get rid of the software that invades peoples' machines.

4223. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 2:37:11 PM

I think they should castrate him personally.

4224. thoughtful - 1/4/2005 2:50:24 PM

Is that say's law reinvented...supply creates its own demand?

4225. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 4:12:16 PM

More interesting Tsunami news... about Elephants.

4242. iiibbb - 1/4/2005 10:51:26 PM

Now... this is news... and here

4254. iiibbb - 1/5/2005 10:46:09 AM

I wonder if the ACLU plans to chime in on this one.

4312. robertjayb - 1/5/2005 11:44:53 PM

Daryn Kagan, by my lights one of the least offensive CNN news anchors, ripped her rep with me today when she came on parroting full-blown GOP talking points on dubya's latest "reform" campaign. Very enthusiastic she was in announcing the good fight against lawsuit "abuse." What a ton of crap this scheme is...calculated of course to closing courthouse doors to ordinary shallow-pocket folks.

Daryn's rumored romance with Rush Limbaugh may be coloring her coverage...do you think? Rush can be excused as a right-wing whore of long standing.

But Daryn is a dissapointment...

4329. iiibbb - 1/6/2005 11:10:04 AM

I saw on the news last night that the Swedish kid they thought got kidnapped has been found... I didn't catch much details though.

4340. wonkers2 - 1/6/2005 12:19:41 PM

The Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on Speedy Gonzales is currently on C-Span. Worth watching.

4375. wabbit - 1/6/2005 2:17:27 PM

ok, a slew of posts have been moved to the Gun Control thread.

4376. robertjayb - 1/6/2005 3:04:19 PM

Andrea Yates verdict overturned...

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Andrea Yates, the Houston mother serving life for drowning her five children in a case that shocked America, had her murder convictions overturned by a state appeals court on Thursday because of flawed testimony by an expert witness.
................................................

The case raised awareness of women's mental health issues and put the Texas justice system under scrutiny for its stance on insanity. The law simply mandates that defendants are insane if they are diagnosed with mental disease and do not know right from wrong.


State lawmakers are expected to examine, and possibly overhaul, the insanity statute this year.


Yates suffered from severe postpartum depression after the birth of her fifth child and was taking medication at the time of the killings.


She admitted to drowning the children, who ranged in age from six months to seven years, in the family bathtub on June 20, 2001, while her husband was at work at the nearby NASA (news - web sites) Johnson Space Center.

Her clod of her husband was as much if not more to blame for the tragedy. IMHO.

4377. arkymalarky - 1/6/2005 6:14:27 PM

I always thought that. I must say he sounds reasonable in explaining what happened and why, but I still can't see them leaving her alone with those children for even a minute. Even if they never dreamed she would harm the children, as he said, she was by all accounts incapable of caring for them in her state of mind.

4378. judithathome - 1/6/2005 6:33:06 PM

He certainly didn't waste any time...he's on Larry King tonight.

4379. iiibbb - 1/7/2005 12:22:40 AM

More Tsunami Video than you can imagine.

They have everything... it's amazing how some of the people just stand there.

4380. iiibbb - 1/7/2005 12:23:34 AM

You need bit torrent to download a lot of it.

4381. robertjayb - 1/8/2005 3:28:07 PM

Don't worry about a thing. Nothing could possibly go wrong go wrong go wronggo wronggowrongowrongoxx4477/1007..

HONOLULU (AP) -- A nuclear submarine ran aground about 350 miles south of Guam, injuring around 20 sailors, one of them critically, the Navy said.

There were no reports of damage to the USS San Francisco's reactor plant, which was operating normally, the Navy said.

The 360-foot submarine was headed back to its home port in Guam, and the Friday afternoon incident was under investigation, said Jon Yoshishige, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet.

4382. wonkers2 - 1/8/2005 5:47:12 PM

Somebody's face'll be red. At least they didn't hit a fishing boat this time.

4383. robertjayb - 1/9/2005 10:47:17 AM

One dead in sub grounding...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A crewman died Sunday from injuries sustained when the U.S. nuclear submarine USS San Francisco ran aground Saturday off Guam in the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy said.






Medical personnel rushed to the submarine continued to treat 23 other injured crewmen, some critically, suffering from broken bones, lacerations and bruises, a Navy spokesman said.

4384. robertjayb - 1/10/2005 1:25:02 AM

Quitcher bitchin' It's just a tiny bit of freedom. You'll never miss it...

TRURO, Mass., Jan. 7 - In an unusual last-ditch move to find clues to the three-year-old killing of a freelance fashion writer, police investigators are trying to get DNA samples from every man in this Cape Cod hamlet, all 790 or so, or as many as will agree.

Raising concerns among civil libertarians and prompting both resistance and support from men in Truro, the state and local police began collecting the genetic samples last week, visiting delicatessens, the post office and even the town dump to politely ask men to cooperate. Legal experts said the sweeping approach had been used only in limited instances before in the United States - although it is more widely used in Europe - and in at least one of those cases it prompted a lawsuit.

Sgt. David Perry of the Truro Police Department and other law enforcement authorities here say that the program is voluntary but that they will pay close attention to those who refuse to provide DNA.

4385. robertjayb - 1/10/2005 11:50:04 AM

Heads roll at CBS:

Jan. 10, 2005 | NEW YORK (AP) -- Four CBS News staffers were fired Monday following the release of an independent investigation that said a "myopic zeal" led to a "60 Minutes Wednesday" story about President Bush's military service that relied on allegedly forged documents.

The network fired Mary Mapes, producer of the report; Josh Howard, executive producer of "60 Minutes Wednesday" and his top deputy Mary Murphy; and senior vice president Betsy West.

Dan Rather, who narrated the report, announced in November that he was stepping down as anchorman of the "CBS Evening News," but insisted the timing had nothing to do with the investigation.

Rather "asked the right questions initially, but then made the same errors of credulity and over-enthusiasm that beset many of his colleagues in regard to this segment," top CBS executive Leslie Moonves said.

(via Salon)

4386. robertjayb - 1/10/2005 12:06:41 PM

The CBS account...

4387. iiibbb - 1/10/2005 12:10:05 PM

wow.

4388. iiibbb - 1/10/2005 5:12:47 PM

Another survivor plucked from the sea

Amazing.

4389. wonkers2 - 1/10/2005 9:58:17 PM

Warm water, incredible guts and good luck.

4390. concerned - 1/11/2005 6:30:06 PM

CBS News is a great institution with a distinct and precious legacy. I have been here through good times, and not so good times. I have seen us overcome adversity before. I am convinced we can do so again. That must be our focus and priority. And we can fulfill that objective by getting back to business and doing our jobs better than ever.

Lest anyone have any doubt, I have read the report, I take it seriously, and I shall keep its lessons well in mind.

Good ol' Dan Rather - needs a weather report to tell which way the wind is blowing, or so he wants everybody to believe. What's with his royal 'we', btw? He's leaving the workplace he befouled come March.

4391. concerned - 1/11/2005 6:36:30 PM

Re. 4385 -

It's all really Bush's fault, of course.

4392. iiibbb - 1/11/2005 10:26:17 PM

They're always sorry after they get caught.

Yet another issue in this country that ought to supercede the war on drugs.

4393. iiibbb - 1/12/2005 12:19:41 PM

No more siestas

4394. wabbit - 1/12/2005 12:36:01 PM

I think I could go without eating for 12 hours...

...Lipscomb had been in the flooded timberland near Hollowell Reservoir for about 12 hours when he was rescued. To survive, he drank dirty bayou water and ate a raw duck breast.

4395. Magoseph - 1/12/2005 7:10:46 PM

I am proud to be an American and that I was fortunate enough to be born in Alabama. The state that has its motto "We dare defend our rights". I was raised in era, the 1940's as a child and the 1950's as a teenager, which I remember with great affection.

During this era, love of God, family, and country abounded. Men were men and women were women and there was no mistaking which was which. Both were proud of their individual roles. Homosexuality was very queer and a despicable act… an abomination. (more)
Read the sheriff's letter

4396. Macnas - 1/13/2005 5:22:32 AM

And the coloureds knew their place too.

4397. Magoseph - 1/13/2005 8:19:25 AM

Yes, the coward forgot to mention that fact.

4398. iiibbb - 1/13/2005 9:29:34 AM

Gloom and Doom, Gloom and Doom.

4399. alistairconnor - 1/13/2005 10:18:34 AM

Interesting that the journalist saw fit to insert this paragraph :

Scientists differ as to whether global warming is caused by man-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse" gases, by natural climate cycles or if it exists at all.

This is pretty much counter-factual, or at best severely dated (not even Con can find us a scientist who's still in denial about global warming) and entirely irrelevant to the article. It's as if, in an article about an archaeological find of hominid remains, the journalist informed us that some scientists think that evolution never happened.

4400. iiibbb - 1/13/2005 11:01:19 AM

More from the uber-civilized side of the Atlantic. We're only 100 to 150 yrs away from this folks.

4401. Macnas - 1/13/2005 11:21:52 AM

Well, he is a quarter German after all.....

4402. Wombat - 1/13/2005 11:26:19 AM

Reminds me of a party that my students threw when I was teaching at a university in Britain. It was a "bad taste" costume party. In terms of Nazi regalia, Prince Harry would have been among the more discreet participants.

4403. alistairconnor - 1/13/2005 11:29:49 AM

And his great-great-uncle Ed was a crypto-nazi.

Funny.

This week, Europe is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. And dear old Jean-Marie Le Pen is getting all nostalgic for the Good Old Days of the Occupation. Which wasn't so bad as it's generally painted, he says. The Gestapo were basically hard-working honest folk, their job was to keep order. And all that.

This is quite likely his swansong. These are the fundamental values of the French far right, but he's never been so explicit about it before : can the 15% of French electors who vote FN stomach it? I suspect not.

4404. Macnas - 1/13/2005 11:33:48 AM

Good old days eh? that fool was about 12 when the nazis occupied France.

4405. jexster - 1/13/2005 10:55:18 PM

4406. Marc-Albert - 1/14/2005 8:26:23 AM

The swastika bothers me less than the fact those kids are smoking. The swastika will go at the end of the party, but not the smoking.

4407. Macnas - 1/14/2005 10:27:28 AM

The sax-goethas are famous smokers Marc, in fact, the brand of cigarettes I like have the house crest on them "by royal appointment".

4408. robertjayb - 1/14/2005 10:42:12 AM

Swastikas are toxic. During one of our energy crises a few years back an editor friend had to put together a publication on Germany's WWII experience converting coal to vehicle fuel. Well, clever him, a good old Baptist boy from central Oklahoma. He put a swastika on the cover page and another on an article inside.

Hoo, Lordy me. Such a fuss.

Had to recall and destroy the whole press run...

4409. Magoseph - 1/14/2005 1:44:54 PM

Tsunami-surviving hippo in Kenya seeks solace in a century-old tortoise

NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby-hippopotamus that survived the tsumani waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise, in an animal facility in the port city of Mombasa, officials said.

The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean, then forced back to shore when tsumani waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.


"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park, told AFP.


"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatised. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added: "The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.

"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years," he explained.

4410. Marc-Albert - 1/15/2005 11:15:15 AM

Speaking of smoking, I wonder know they managed in Italy during this first week when the national smoking ban in public places came into force. Many restaurant and bar owners had vowed to defy the law that was voted two years ago but came into force only this Monday.

4411. jexster - 1/15/2005 3:51:56 PM

Finally the dunderheads at the Pentagon produce something with genuine social value!

All those billions wasted on NumbnuttedWeaponDefense...

Now how to get hold of the patent...

SUMMARY: The Pentagon (news - web sites) once looked into making a weapon that would render enemy troops sexually attracted to one another, according to a document obtained by a watchdog group.



The Pentagon briefly looked into making a weapon that would render enemy troops sexually attracted to one another, according to an official document uncovered by a watchdog group that monitors research into biological and chemical weapons.


The proposed aphrodisiac was part of a weapons development plan circulated in 1994 at the U.S. Air Force Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio. An outline of the plan was discovered by the Sunshine Project and posted on its Web site.


The six-year plan included development of several "non-lethal" chemical weapons, including one that would inflict "severe and lasting halitosis" in enemy combatants and a "sting me/attack me" chemical that would cause bees to become more aggressive.


The aphrodisiac chemical would be designed to make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to each other. The resulting widespread homosexual behavior, the proposal suggests, would cause a "distasteful but completely non-lethal blow" to morale.

4412. wonkers2 - 1/15/2005 8:20:16 PM

That was no doubt dreamed up by Brigadier Jack D. Ripper, the airbase commander in Dr. Strangelove.

4413. concerned - 1/18/2005 12:04:06 PM

This belatedly corrects Wonkers' erroneous take on the fallout of CBS's Memogate on Dan Rather which appears not to exist, if the truth be known. Not only will DR retire from CBS Evening News as in Mar 05 as per arrangements prior to Memogate but Rather will apparently remain on 60 Minutes in some capacity after this date.

4414. concerned - 1/18/2005 12:26:57 PM

Delete one 'as' from my last.

This information re DR can be found here.

4415. thoughtful - 1/18/2005 12:55:42 PM

Ouch!

Nail in Head

4416. concerned - 1/18/2005 1:52:06 PM

Open mouth, insert nail. There must be easier ways to perform a auto-lobotomy than this.

4417. wonkers2 - 1/18/2005 2:07:42 PM

Fine with me if Rather stays on as long as he likes, but I do wonder what they are going to do to Armstrong Williams and whoever in the Bush administration authorized the $280,000 bribe paid by the American taxpayers.

4418. Marc-Albert - 1/18/2005 9:28:16 PM

There must be a mistake. Surely, they mean Swiss or French banks.

ISRAELIS FAULT OWN BANKS ON HOLOCAUST

By Steven Erlanger The New York Times

Report also assails government over returning funds

JERUSALEM Israeli banks holding funds from European Jews who were killed in the Holocaust failed to make a determined effort to return funds to their heirs, and when funds were returned, they were not returned at their proper value, according to a report by the Israeli Parliament released Tuesday.
.
The Israeli government, as custodian for a large part of the funds, also failed to make a serious effort to maintain the value of the funds or to return them to survivors or heirs, the report said.

"What we have discovered, in particular the attitude of the banks, has filled us with disgust," said the chairwoman of the parliamentary commission, Colette Avital, a Labor party legislator.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/18/news/mideast.html

4419. robertjayb - 1/19/2005 12:05:39 AM

What's the big deal? Sounds to me like a faith-based initiative.

DENVER (AP) -- A former church treasurer took $777,000 without authorization and invested it in the construction company where he worked, the Denver regional office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has concluded. Church officials asked prosecutors to investigate.

Gary Campbell resigned from the part-time elected position in July after a routine audit turned up discrepancies. He said Monday the expenditures were unauthorized, but not fraudulent, and that the company intends to pay the money back with interest.

No charges have been filed.

4420. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 10:08:43 AM

Inspired by the hippo... here's my own nature story.

4421. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 11:38:47 AM

Tsunami may soon eclipse the official record, death toll rises above 225,000. Chinese earthquake in 1976 had an official death toll of 250,000... but unoffical numbers were over 600,000.

4422. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 11:56:52 AM

Students hear intelligent design for first time in classroom.

4423. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 1:07:09 PM

Bad lawyer.

4424. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 1:47:59 PM

New environmentalism?

Grist: Your criticisms echo those we're hearing about the progressive movement at large -- criticism that liberals focus too much on precise policy prescriptions rather than communicating a broader values message.

Shellenberger: A critique similar to the one we've made on environmentalism could be made of many other single-issue movements -- women's rights, abortion rights, anti-war, criminal justice, labor, and so on. Each of those so-called movements has turned itself into a special interest in defining the problem so narrowly and offering technical policy solutions instead of an inspiring vision.
----------------------------------
Grist: Are you saying that environmentalism has become a tradition, not a movement?

Nordhaus: Exactly. Movement implies going forward and making progress, tradition implies holding on to the past. After the 2004 [election] defeat there was no admission by environmental leaders that we got our asses handed to us on a platter and that we must rethink everything. Instead what we heard from environmental leaders was that they succeeded in the states and districts they targeted. In his response to our paper, Carl Pope agreed that we're facing a crisis and that enviros are politically weaker than they were 15 years ago, but then he went on to propose the same damn policies and politics that enviros have been pushing for 30 years.

4425. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 1:50:09 PM

I still have my eyes on super-efficient diesel in the short term, and fuel cells in the long term... I'm still skeptical of the hybrid fad.

4426. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 1:52:41 PM

I like diesels becaue they're compatible with biodiedel (not to be confused with the french fry cars which aren't the same technology)

4427. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 3:20:49 PM

California professor flunks Kuwaiti's pro-U.S. essay

A 17-year-old Kuwaiti student whose uncles were kidnapped and tortured by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's invaders more than a decade ago said his California college political science professor failed him for praising the United States in a final-exam essay last month.
Ahmad Al-Qloushi, a foreign student at Foothill College near San Jose, Calif., said he was told by professor Joseph A. Woolcock to get psychological treatment because of the pro-American views expressed in his essay.

4428. iiibbb - 1/19/2005 3:22:16 PM

"Apparently, if you are an Arab Muslim who loves America, you must be deranged," said Mr. Al-Qloushi, who feared the failing grade could cost him his student visa.
"I didn't want to be deported for having written a pro-American essay, so as soon as I left his office, I made an appointment with the school psychologist," he said.

His innocence is priceless.

4429. alistairconnor - 1/20/2005 7:25:00 AM

Message # 4424 Good article, iii.
The original paper, te death of environmentalism, is even better.

It's been very disheartening in recent years to see how environmental issues have had absolutely no political traction in the US.

The proximate cause has been Bush/Rove's engineering of the agenda : the "war on terror" trumps all; the war in Iraq, and the various cultural wars in the US, squeeze out any consideration of environmental questions. Bush's legacy so far is that stereotypical mindset of Americans on the defensive : anal-retentively hanging on to their SUVs, their smoking factories etc (I won't mention their guns, OK?) because they feel under threat and because all those foreigners want them to let go...

The structural reason is the US's two-party political landscape. In other places, the kind of progressive coalition these guys want to see has become a viable political force, and has profoundly influenced the thinking of ordinary folks, and even of the politicians, to some extent.

4430. thoughtful - 1/20/2005 8:32:09 AM

Yup, I knew the gopers were in when I saw real fur return to the department stores...stoles, collars, jackets...

4431. Magoseph - 1/20/2005 9:46:53 AM

Woman Gives Birth to Giant Baby

SAO PAULO, Brazil - A woman in northeastern Brazil has given birth to what one doctor called a "giant baby," a boy weighing 16.7 pounds.

Francisca Ramos dos Santos, 38, gave birth to the healthy boy named Ademilton on Tuesday at a hospital in Salvador, 900 miles northeast of Sao Paulo. He was the largest baby born at the Albert Sabin Maternity Hospital in its 12-year history, the hospital said.


"Obviously the baby was born by Caesarean section," hospital director Rita Leal said. "Both mother and baby are doing just fine."


Ademilton "could truly be considered a giant baby, for he was born weighing what a six-month-old-baby normally weighs," pediatrician Luiz Sena Azul told the Correio da Bahia newspaper.


Santos has four other children — ages 9, 12, 14, and 15 — who were born weighing between 7.7 pounds and 11 pounds.


"She knew Ademilton would be a big baby, but not this big" Leal said. "She, her husband and the hospital staff were caught by surprise."


The average weight for newborns in Brazil is 7.7 pounds for boys and 6.6 pounds for girls.

4432. Magoseph - 1/20/2005 9:47:16 AM

Toys

4433. Magoseph - 1/20/2005 9:47:37 AM

Toys

4434. Magoseph - 1/20/2005 9:50:34 AM

Again

4435. iiibbb - 1/21/2005 4:47:28 PM

This person will go far in life.

4436. greystoke - 1/22/2005 1:39:47 PM

Environmentalism has hit bottom for the following reasons: poor economy, concerns over terrorism and the war in Iraq, years of relying soley on winning in court, extremists in the forefront, and close identification with the Democratic Party and its baggage.

One would think that four years of Bush would have resurrected the movement, as he is the worst president on environmental issues since Reagan. However, when the economy is poor nearly everyone is more concerned about their jobs and economic development than nature and wildlife.

Furthermore, concerns about the war and terrorism make many people more patriotic and therefore more supportive and trusting of the President and his administration. Plus, as with the economy, it focuses peoples attention away from almost all other issues.

Extremists on any issue are a big turnoff to middle America. In my area there was a fair amount of sympathy for the positions of environmental groups until one group with relatively extreme views started filing lawsuits against the Forest Service. The impact of these lawsuits has been exaggerated by the local media, the Republican politicians (those are the only kind we have in northwest PA), the Forest Service, the timber industry, and the oil industry. As a result, any kind of environmental movement around here has no chance of influencing public opinion.

[continued]

4437. greystoke - 1/22/2005 2:03:50 PM

Lawsuits have been the favorite tool of environmentalists, who have pressed them with great success over the years, thus protecting wildlife and habitat throughout the nation. However, the opponents of environmentalism have been chipping away at the laws that underpin these lawsuits.

Furthermore, federal judges nominated by Reagan and the Bushes have replaced liberals sympathetic to the environmental groups in many paces. And the local populace where some of the lawsuits have been successful now vehemently opposed the resulting restrictions on land use.

So the success of said lawsuits has resulted in a huge, cumulative backlash from Repulicans, industry, conservative pundits, and segments of the affected public. Thus far, the environmental movement has been unable to counter this backlash. I can't fault environmentalists for using the lawsuits so brilliantly and successfully. But that time is past and they must start on the much harder job of courting broad public support.

Lastly, I think the Democratic Party is headed for irrelevancy and will ultimately be replaced by some other entity that is opposed to Republicanism. It is associated with too many causes that are not embraced by the mainstream of the nation. This demise will take some time, so I think the environmentalists must become less ideological by divorcing themselves from the Democratic Party, no matter how painful that may be in the short term.

The End.

4438. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 2:10:05 PM

You know, it's public land, so whatever the public decides to do with it is fine with me. However, don't overestimate the importance of federal land in the national timber production scene. Federal land represents over 20% of the US forest resource... but only around 15% of the supply (in the 90's. I've seen more recent numbers that puts their contribution under 10%.

It is projected that the contribution of tree farms will increase to 2/3rds into the year 2050. That coupled with other technologies (figure 5 should lower pressure on other types of forests.

Personally, what screws the environmental movement is that it's more often driven by the NIMBY syndrome than a real desire to be better environmental stewards. Plus the chants of 'gloom and doom' lose people... especially with really complex issues such as acid rain or global warming. These are issues that don't lend themselves to sound bites.

It's also a bit of the "chicken little" meets the "public's attention span". If an envrionmental group overblows the problem, or pushes to early, or resorts to terrorist activites, they win battles and lose wars.

4439. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 2:19:26 PM

Re Greystoke's comment: We could be headed toward toward two polarized parties as used to be the case with the Labor and the Conservative parties in the United Kingdom. This could lead to in unstable course for the country with the ship of state veering widely to the right or left, depending on which party is in power. The fact that the basic beliefs of the Democratic and Republican parties have been quite similar has contributed to American political stability and economic progress unmatched by any other major country.

4440. greystoke - 1/22/2005 2:28:30 PM

People who come together to oppose an environmental threat are frequently accused of NIMBYism. However, I think that is usually an unfair characterization. Obviously, groups formed locally can only influence local issues. And they are manned by volunteers with limited time and money to spend on "the cause".

So you can hardly expect a group, for example, opposed to clearcutting on a local National Forest to be able to influence national forestry practices. They can merely influence what happens on their local National Forest, so that's the scope of their activities.

4441. greystoke - 1/22/2005 2:34:23 PM

wonkers2,

No, I don't think the problem is that we will have two parties each with extreme views. I think the problem is that we will have one party in power for an extended period of time and the other party will become increasingly impotent. This will ultimately lead to viable third party Presidential candidates, the eventual success of which will spawn a new party to replace the Democrats.

The result is OK, but the process will take a lot of time.

4442. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 2:42:31 PM

Based on that Presidents show on the history channel we need another Teddy Roosevelt; a good mix of Democrat and Republican.

4443. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 2:43:13 PM

Well, I think your prediction of the demise of the Democratic party is premature. I memory serves me, there are more registered Democrats than Republicans. Don't forget that Gore got more popular votes than Bush. But the parties are more polarized and, in the case of the Democrats, splintered, than they have been in a long time. And, with the increasing influence of evangelicals on the GOP, combined with the anti-government, kill the beast tax cutters, the GOP has moved far to the right of where it was in the pre-Reagan days.

4444. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 2:46:20 PM

A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush.

One extremist in your camp is worth 2 moderates who might vote for anyone.

4445. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 3:04:03 PM

I'm watching an inauguration protests on C-span this morning...

... some of these people are morons... and poor public speakers.

4446. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 3:05:34 PM

...ooops, just lost interest.

4447. greystoke - 1/22/2005 3:19:58 PM

wonkers2

Perhaps a little review of the 2004 election is in order here. We have a Republican President, a 55-45 Republican majority in the Senate, a 232-203 Republican majority in the House, 28 Republican governors, 25 Republican majorities in state houses or assemblies, and 24 Republican majorities in state senates. (These counts of state bodies do not include Nebraska. And Montana has a tied house, while Iowa has a tied senate.)

Paints a pretty clear picture of Republican dominance, doesn't it ? I don't see any silver linings. Apparently this majority of voters who are registered Democrats either aren't voting or are voting Republican.

4448. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 3:29:21 PM

I think you overestimate republican dominance. Clinton was president for 8 years after all.

I think the problem this year was Kerry... and the problem last time was Gore. It's weak candidates and circumstances that are the problem.

What makes it a hard read on how Bush got elected is that my older brother (who is pretty conservative) didn't vote for Bush... he voted libertarian. I lean towards conservative candidates, but I voted for Kerry.

I think the situation is very dynamic... I'm not sure there's a press towards conservatism.

4449. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 3:30:51 PM

I do think it's funny when talking heads on the TV say that the answer for Dems is to become more clear about their liberal message... to move away from the center back toward their 'base'.

I think this is their problem. Their 'base' isn't where they get their power.

4450. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 3:47:55 PM

One swallow doesn't make a summer. The Ohio race could easily have gone the other way, making Kerry president. Ditto in Florida in 2000. Bush is in the process of self-destructing which will open the way for a Democratic victory in 2008.

4451. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 3:49:33 PM

The trouble is that between Iraq and his deficits, he's fucking up the country.

4452. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 3:51:20 PM

I know for one thing I'm a lot happier when congress and the president are different parties.

4453. greystoke - 1/22/2005 3:51:54 PM

wonkers2

You mean he is self-destructing now, but was not self-destructing on November 2nd ? What is Bush doing different than what he has been for the last four years ?

I don't agree with his policies, but a majority of voters do.

4454. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 3:58:56 PM

The problem for the Democrats is not that they aren't voting or that their numbers are too few but rather that there are too many independents who are influenced by superficial factors and single issues rather than the overall positions of the candidates on important policy issues. More of the independents apparently voted for "The Chimp" out of ignorance eg, a belief that Sadaam Hussein was behind 9-11 or because they liked Laura's hair style better than Teresa's, or because they liked they way Bush came across on TV better than Kerry or because of the lies about Kerry by the Swift boat veterans.

4455. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 4:31:16 PM

hat there are too many independents who are influenced by superficial factors and single issues rather than the overall positions of the candidates on important policy issues.

It might be a dangerous assumption that there's something deficient with independent voters, and not somthing wrong with the message Democrats are sending. Democrats like to say they are the uniters... but some of my Democratic friends are very judgemental and frequently vocalize how much better they are than all these rednecks. Usually a turn-off for a fence-sitter

If you think you're better than independent voters, fine, but I wouldn't actually let them know it. A lot of Dems can't keep their mouths shut in mixed company.

Another thing I see dems do is fail to let the story itself... they seem to have to go over the top with it. Michael Moore (and other celebrities) are the best examples. While there was a lot truth about Far-911... Moore just has to push it down peoples throats to the point of even distorting the story. Once people pick up on that, you lose the whole story. Dan Rather's memogate is another example.

I dems in general have developed so much blood-lust against conservative views that they don't care how the message is delivered or who delivered it.

I can't say this is a perfect picture of what's going on, but it's what I observe amongst the people I know, and the people I see on TV.

4456. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 4:42:38 PM

I assume your friends weren't running for office. Kerry's positions on the issues were better, but he didn't come across as decisive and strong enough.

As far as independents are concerned, I have more respect for party line Democrats than people who say "I vote for the man, not the party." Political parties are what have made our system work. I can respect a Republican who says I voted for Bush, even though he's a turkey, because he's my turkey and because I support the principles of the Republican party--limited government, individual initiative, balanced budgets, realistic foreign policy--even though Bush has strayed a bit from the fold.

4457. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 4:52:48 PM

Greystoke,

Yes, Bush was self-destructing himself and the country long before the election. Unfortunately, he was elected by enough people who were and are clueless about his or Kerry's policies. As I recall, at the time of the election, a high percentage of Americans, due to Cheney's and Bush's lies, still believed that Sadaam Hussein was behind the 9-11 attack. Others didn't like Teresa Kerry or thought Kerry was too indecisive (I can agree with this one myself), etc, etc. Some writers point to the unfortunate influence of the National Rifle Association on American politics as a major contributor to the recent strength of the GOP even more important than preventing effective handgun control.

4458. arkymalarky - 1/22/2005 5:00:58 PM

You're exactly right, 3i3b. I've seen it at work here, and poor Democrats are actually baffled at why they did so poorly among the people they think they help (and generally do help) the most.

Grey,
I don't agree with his policies, but a majority of voters do.

Polls don't show this, and it's anecdotal, but the Red-state types I know are pretty standard, and none of them supported Bush so much as opposed Kerry and bought into the crap thrown on him in the campaign (flip-flopper, etc). Kerry and the DNC contributed to that by not keeping it simple and clear, imo. People can state the few things Bush harped about, whether they agreed with them or not. They can't outline what Kerry supported/opposed and where he stood on specific issues, though I believe he was clear. It's up to the party to simplify and hone the message and make sure it's repeated by every guest they can get on a talking-head show, like Republicans do. It makes us want to hurl, but it's like "please don't squeeze the Charmin." It works when people begin trying to compare each candidate and platform.

I thought it was nice that Kerry had a website and a book about their plan, but who read it? Not me. Did they take points from it and simplify it into repetitive messages and direct ads? Not that I know of.

4459. arkymalarky - 1/22/2005 5:02:44 PM

Dems are going to have to get their heads out of their asses and their noses out of the air, and change their attitudes toward the masses or Grey's prediction will come true. I don't think it's a given under current circumstances, and in fact, if they play it smart (Howard Dean for chair of the DNC? Would they really do that?) it could be that Republicans have got more than enough rope to hang themselves for a while. If not, we're in big trouble, because their policies are going to have a long-term devastating effect on the nation, especially the very people that voted for them. It's not the basic Republican Party either--it's those in control of it, and many Republicans are appalled, but they don't seem to have a sense of how to address it. It may show up in some internal struggles over the stupid crap the Bush team is trying to drive through in his second term.

The fact that most of the national media sucks was a big contributing factor. Not that it helped Republicans over Dems so much that they knew how best to take advantage of that fact.

4460. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 5:04:14 PM

I assume your friends weren't running for office.

No... but you all represent.

I vote for the man... I can't buy into either party's total platform because there are elements from both that I subscribe to... but I don't vote to earn respect.

If I could change three things about either party

Republicans -
1) Drop the moral majority crap, the obsession with drugs and homosexuality just pisses me off.
2) Drop blinding support for corporations. I agree that these are the guys that make the economy work, but allowing Enrons to happen lowers my faith.
3) They do not show enough concern about environmental issues for my taste.

Democrats
1) Drop the unwaivering support of gov't as a tool for social change. There comes a point where people have to be responsible for themselves ... recognize that there is such a thing a frivolous lawsuits... welfare should be a safety net, not a way of life.
2) The underdog isn't automatically right, or doesn't automatically require gov't intervention.
3) Drop gun control (granted I'm biassed and both parties have lousy records for civil liberties IMHO)

4461. arkymalarky - 1/22/2005 5:04:52 PM

And if they nominate Hillary Clinton in '08 they're just suicidal.

4462. iiibbb - 1/22/2005 5:28:47 PM

Abortion is by far and beyond the most polarizing single social issue that can drive someone's entire voting record.

I am pro-choice... but I have a lot of personal reservations about abortions. I confess that I feel that life begins at conception... but when life begins is a theological issue and I am pro-choice because I beleive in the separation of church and state.

My position feels weak... but it's where I've come down on it. Most people who think life begins at conception just think it's murder. This seems to be totally lost on dems I've ever broken the topic with. The last time was eating lunch with some dem friends and their were some women there I didn't really know. I mean... they vehimently beleive it is their choice... but the fact that some people view it as murder seemed completely lost on them.

I guess if I were king I would have no-abortions after 3 months unless the mother's life were in danger. Abortion is a lousy form of birth control... but I would make the RU-486 (sp) pill legal.

Problem is that both sides of the abortion debate have taken all-or-nothing stands... and I fear that's what they're going to wind up getting.

4463. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 5:50:24 PM

True and the Republicans have benefited more than the Democrats.

4464. Ronski - 1/22/2005 6:06:28 PM

iiibbb,

I agree with your prescription for both major parties, but you realize that if they did what you advise they would turn into essentially the same party, a moderately libertarian one, and that is not about to happen.

4465. Ronski - 1/22/2005 6:09:03 PM

wonkers,

You're right about the GOP benefitting more than the Dems on this, but if abortion were actually threatened, the reverse would be true in most of the purple states. That's why the GOP will, as long as it can get away with it, claim to be against abortion, but make sure they don't actually start doing away with it.

4466. wonkers2 - 1/22/2005 8:09:44 PM

True, no doubt. And I suspect the Supreme Court will hesitate to reverse Roe v. Wade. That would create a revolution.

4467. greystoke - 1/22/2005 9:29:19 PM

arky

"Polls don't show this, and it's anecdotal"

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. The people who voted for him don't support his policies ? Are you saying they support Kerry's policies but voted for Bush because he's such a swell guy ?

"It's up to the party to simplify and hone the message and make sure it's repeated by every guest they can get on a talking-head show."

I agree, but obviously they have to be policies that the masses will support. Let's suppose the Democrats clearly state that they support gun control. They will lose more votes than they will gain. That's why they currently don't state some of their policies clearly. They want to hedge on many issues so they don't piss people off. Not a recipe for success.


"And if they nominate Hillary Clinton in '08 they're just suicidal."

I agree. The Democrats need some young leaders without baggage to step forward right now with clear and popular messages. See what works and what doesn't between now and 2008. I don't think that will actually happen, hence my prediction of the demise of the Democratic Party.

4468. greystoke - 1/22/2005 9:40:54 PM

arky,

OK. After reading your post a couple more times, I get it. I thought your introductory phrase stood by itself in response to my statement rather than prefacing the rest of your comment.

Sorry for my density.

But I still maintain that someone who voted for Bush because he is against Kerry is supporting Bush's policies. If the person is against Kerry and against Bush's policies then why doesn't he just stay home or throw his vote away on a third party.

4469. arkymalarky - 1/23/2005 12:43:48 AM

The density is in my typing. I'm about batty these days when it comes to composing stuff. Been doing too much of it irl and it's all starting to look the same.

All I can say is that I work with a lot of people (not on my real job, but my other real job) who voted for Bush and they don't like him. They're fine with a Republican administration and they were afraid of what Kerry would do. These are social conservatives, who I think are the ones who came out to vote in the red states and made a difference, especially among subgroups the Dems generally do better in--Latinos, older blacks, Catholics, etc--based on what little I've read.

4470. arkymalarky - 1/23/2005 12:47:04 AM

I'll put it this way. I was in a tiny Delta district at an all-black church and a bumper sticker on the preacher's car was one about marriage being between one man and one woman. Who in the rural Delta would even give a rip about that? Or anywhere else for that matter? Yet the marriage amendment to the AR constitution passed overwhelmingly. Thank goodness--we were bound to have a flood of gays demanding to get married in rural AR if we hadn't fended it off with that amendment.

Sheesh.

4471. arkymalarky - 1/23/2005 12:54:06 AM

I can understand arguing about gun control or abortion or whatever, but I'm completely lost at how people can get all worked up about an issue that has nothing to do with them. Even if they oppose gay marriage, IT WAS A NON-ISSUE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY RED STATE. Not that that's what people voted on, and Kerry and Edwards didn't support it, either--not that anyone knew that.

I think that should be the Dems next strategy--come up with a better knee-jerk brain-dead non-issue than the Republicans. It could work.

4472. angel-five - 1/23/2005 3:16:08 AM

Yes, all those Republican-mandated cuts in education funding are finally paying off with dumber voters.

4473. wonkers2 - 1/23/2005 8:58:59 AM

Lord, make my words sweet in case later I may have to eat them.

4474. Magoseph - 1/23/2005 9:17:47 AM

I tried to find what exactly Summers' remarks were exactly-no luck so far, lots of critics, though.

4475. Magoseph - 1/23/2005 9:25:59 AM

Here

Summers Storm
By Ruth Marcus
Saturday, January 22, 2005

Larry Summers, the Harvard University president and former Treasury secretary, has never been mistaken for a diplomat. So when you combine someone of Summers's compulsively impolitic instincts with a topic as volatile as gender differences, the ensuing explosion doesn't come as a huge surprise.

Precisely what Summers said about the underrepresentation of women in top academic posts in the sciences isn't certain; his luncheon address to an academic conference was taped, but no transcript has been released. But everyone, Summers included, seems to agree that he at least raised the question of whether "innate differences" between the sexes could account in part for the paucity of women in such jobs. Summers also tagged, as the leading cause of women's scarcity in the hard sciences, the demanding, 80-hour-a-week nature of such careers and the unwillingness of many women with children to make the necessary sacrifices.

"I'm here to provoke you," Summers is reported to have said -- and so he did.

4476. iiibbb - 1/23/2005 9:52:39 AM

Maybe there is an innate difference though...

Intelligence in men and women is a gray and white matter

Men and women use different brain areas to achieve similar IQ results, UCI study finds

Irvine, Calif. , January 20, 2005

While there are essentially no disparities in general intelligence between the sexes, a UC Irvine study has found significant differences in brain areas where males and females manifest their intelligence.

The study shows women having more white matter and men more gray matter related to intellectual skill, revealing that no single neuroanatomical structure determines general intelligence and that different types of brain designs are capable of producing equivalent intellectual performance.

“These findings suggest that human evolution has created two different types of brains designed for equally intelligent behavior,” said Richard Haier, professor of psychology in the Department of Pediatrics and longtime human intelligence researcher, who led the study with colleagues at UCI and the University of New Mexico. “In addition, by pinpointing these gender-based intelligence areas, the study has the potential to aid research on dementia and other cognitive-impairment diseases in the brain.”

4477. iiibbb - 1/23/2005 9:53:06 AM

toysyes?

4478. iiibbb - 1/23/2005 9:53:22 AM

more toys maybe

4479. wonkers2 - 1/23/2005 10:23:57 AM

Different but (Probably) Equal

4480. wonkers2 - 1/23/2005 2:27:49 PM

Johnny Carson died at age 79 this morning at his home in Malibu.

4481. robertjayb - 1/24/2005 7:18:53 PM

It's a dirty job, but someone...

HOUSTON (AP) -- Some suspects in prostitution investigations are confronting naked justice. A prosecutor says police are now allowed to undress in an effort to persuade suspected prostitutes to negotiate sex acts.

During a four-month sting operation that ended with 56 arrests in November, some undercover vice officers dropped their covers altogether.

``Someone had to do something to shut these places down,'' said Harris County Assistant District Attorney Ted Wilson. ``It was just so widespread. It had almost gotten in your face.''

4482. wonkers2 - 1/24/2005 7:54:24 PM

Cap'n Dirty sez, "I wonder if they're hirin?"

4483. jexster - 1/24/2005 8:48:31 PM

Now that all Bush's Stem Cell lines have been contaminated (guess he thought they were queso dip), the competition is heating up in California between San Diego and SF for the new headquarters of the California Insitute of Regenerative Medicine as recently approved 3 billion stem cell research funding from the State set as seed money for tens of billions in a new biotech gold rush

4484. iiibbb - 1/25/2005 11:16:48 AM

Activist Accuses Feds Of Creating AIDS Virus
California AIDS Activists Says Government Created Virus To Kill Blacks

4485. thoughtful - 1/26/2005 1:18:11 PM

Be careful where you walk!

Dog shocked on sidewalk

A Brooklyn Heights dog walker Monday accused Con Edison of repeatedly failing to repair an electrified patch of sidewalk that shocked one of the canines. "They're okay, but they'll never walk down that street again," Jennifer Morgan Bauch said after she returned home with the six dogs in her charge, including Cooper, a year-old 65-pound mixed breed whose afternoon walk turned into quite an adventure.


Four Shocked By Electrified Sidewalk In Chelsea

A source tells us that four people have been brought in - the victims of an electrical shock. They were walking in Chelsea when the incident occurred at the corner of West 21st Street and Seventh Avenue when they experienced an electrical jolt. Con Ed officials have confirmed that the block had been electrified. They are at the scene investigating as well as police. They've sealed off the area.


Family pet gets dogged by shock


A Lynn man walking his nephew to school Wednesday morning was bitten by the family dog seconds after the animal received an electrical shock from a metal sidewalk cover.

The incident occurred near the corner of Union and Green streets at approximately 7:30 a.m. and mirrored a series of similar occurrences in Boston last year, in which one of the dogs was electrocuted.

4486. robertjayb - 1/26/2005 1:25:30 PM

Cool Australia Day pic from Sydney:


...I wonder, does the opera house roof leak?

4487. Max Macks - 1/26/2005 3:39:42 PM

30 killed in copter crash and 4 more by road bombs
and snipers.

I suppose it is inevitable, but I am saddened at
how the deaths of American soldiers are now reported
in almost the same way as a score in some sporting event.
Just the score with not no comment other
than to revise the total count.

I am appalled by the few times we read or hear
of the number of Iraqi civilians killed
by a bomb that some asshole in the US military
drops on a building or apartment complex because
there is a "suspected" terrorist in there somewhere.

4488. iiibbb - 1/27/2005 2:35:46 PM

Freaky news of the day

Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras—a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal.

Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. The embryos were reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created.

4489. ronski - 1/27/2005 3:08:04 PM

That doesn't sound like a good idea in a country worried about population growth.

4490. alistairConnor - 1/27/2005 4:05:18 PM

Yes but just think how politically docile they would be. They could make do with smaller apartments too.

No awkward judaeo-christian ethics to hold them back, those Chinee.

4491. thoughtful - 1/27/2005 4:17:20 PM

But they're talking mice with human brains!!! Can you imagine having a rodent talk back to you and get snarky???

4492. Ronski - 1/27/2005 8:33:41 PM

Well, cats do, all the time.

4493. robertjayb - 1/28/2005 10:43:31 AM

Tsk. Whatever happened to standards?

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jailed Mafia boss Joseph Massino secretly recorded his successor plotting the assassination of a federal prosecutor, becoming the first head of a New York Mafia family known to have turned government informant, sources familiar with the case said Thursday.

A federal indictment unsealed Thursday alleges that acting Bonanno family head Vincent ``Vinny Gorgeous'' Basciano planned the killing of a top mob prosecutor in meetings with someone described as a ``high-ranking member'' of his crime family. The FBI recorded the conversations with the help of the high-ranking member, the indictment says.
................................................

The alleged betrayal would rank as one of the most stunning violations of the Mafia code of silence in the history of American organized crime. It also would signal just how deeply the FBI has penetrated a crime family that nearly collapsed in the 1980s after undercover agent Joseph Pistone won its confidences posing as mobster Donnie Brasco.

4494. RickNelson - 1/28/2005 1:38:09 PM

"11 people killed Wednesday in suburban Glendale after a man abandoned his sport-utility vehicle on the tracks and caused two commuter trains to collide in the deadliest U.S. rail accident in nearly six years.

Dean JaeschkeDamian DovarganesAssociated PressThe suspect, Juan Manuel Alvarez, 25, was charged with 10 counts of murder on Thursday and could face the death penalty, authorities said.

He will be charged with another count following the discovery of an 11th body in the wreckage."


Too much insanity, just too much!

What do ya'all think, burn him at the stake?

4495. jexster - 1/28/2005 2:03:52 PM

Character Education
by Steve Hely
How the Secretary of Education can fight a smarter, more effective war against lesbian cartoon characters. TNRweb only




DAILY EXPRESS
Character Education
by Steve Hely

Only at TNR Online
Post date: 01.28.05
azy pundits eager for easy editorials were pitched two softballs this week by the Bush cabinet. Reports emerged about the Pentagon's creation of newly formed spy units, giving Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld power to direct clandestine operations. And Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings denounced PBS for spending taxpayer money on a cartoon that included lesbian characters. But what commentators failed to realize was the obvious connection between the two controversies.

Even the most casual viewer of action movies knows that secret spy units are the backbone of America's defenses against threats both human and robot alike. Ideally such a unit should have a cool name. The Pentagon might do well to rename its "Strategic Support" group something like "FireForce Tigertooth" or "OpTeam: Slashrazor." And one further hopes that these teams are staffed with brash, unshaven mavericks, who take no guff from the desk jockeys back at HQ. Yet too much power concentrated in one department can present a threat to the government's balance. One can only imagine the kind of nightmarish scenarios that might arise from having a cocksure, arrogant Secretary of Defense. Which is why every other cabinet secretary should also get a secret spy unit--starting with Margaret Spellings.

Consider the course of recent events. Spellings somehow learned that an unaired episode of "Postcards from Buster" features the cartoon's title character visiting Vermont, where he encounters lesbian couples and learns about maple sugaring. The education secretary declared that "many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode." Presumably she meant lesbianism, not maple sugaring.





Luckily, Spellings spoke out in time, and PBS does not intend to distribute the episode. But what if she hadn't? Lesbians have demonstrated their power to penetrate not only the world of maple sugaring, but the world of cartoons about maple sugaring as well. How much more of a wake-up call do we need?

A covert operations unit, reporting directly to the Secretary herself, would be an invaluable resource. Among other benefits, such a unit would free up valuable time Spellings apparently spends watching unaired episodes of "Postcards from Buster." But more importantly, it would provide a front-line strikeforce against incipient lesbianism.

Imagine this scenario: Two lesbians are meeting in secret, feeling confident and secure as they plot to infiltrate a children's cartoon. Suddenly, their scheming is interrupted by the piercing sound of a Blackhawk helicopter. It's "EdSquad: Thunderclap" (my suggested name), the elite force of the Department of Education. Another mission a success; another cartoon defended.

But foiling lesbians would be only one of the many tasks of a secret education intelligence unit. Relying on test scores to monitor school progress would be a thing of the past, as EdForce Mongoose (another of my name suggestions) could covertly determine just which children were being left behind. And by whom.

4496. jexster - 1/28/2005 2:04:07 PM

Detention and canceled recess are simply not effective deterrents to bullies anymore. Appeasement has failed. It's time to let EduStrike Hawksclaw (I've got tons of these) clamp down with stun grenades and Bradley fighting vehicles. Spitballs would be preemptively located and destroyed while still in the development stage.

For too long we've allowed the Department of Education to go unequipped, while lesbians and children only grow stronger. The sooner the Secretary of Education has human intelligence and first-strike capability, the better.

But our goals shouldn't be limited. Ultimately, all cabinet members should have their own ops teams. Think of a utopia without fear of poultry rebellion or cattle uprising--that's the America we could live in if Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns had the intelligence resources he so badly needs. Consider how much more effective Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez would be at protecting trademarks if his ComCommandos could negotiate with the business end of an AK-47. Flu vaccines wouldn't be so hard to find if the Department of Health and Human Services searched with Predator drones. Planning on stocking your factory with unsafe machinery? You'll think twice if you have Secretary Elaine Chao's LaborNinjas to worry about.

The problem with our intelligence has been too much organization, too much careful coordination. It's time to spread jurisdiction and control as widely as possible, to maximize success.

Secret spy groups and cartoon lesbians are all over the news. But it's time we realized the former is a solution to the latter. And it's time every administration official has what he needs to achieve the same kind of results Rumsfeld has gotten. It's time every cabinet secretary has a DropForce: Snowdragon. (They're free to use that.)



Steve Hely is a writer for the upcoming Fox show, "American Dad."

4497. iiibbb - 1/28/2005 3:12:25 PM

Message # 4494

I think we should have a national registry of SUV owners... perhaps even a ban on certain types of SUVs... esoecially ones that can hold more than 15 gallons of gas.

4498. wonkers2 - 1/28/2005 3:17:26 PM

Great ideaa. We also should end the CAFE truck loophole for SUVs and phase in gasoline tax increases of $1.50/gallon over two or three years.

4499. Max Macks - 1/28/2005 4:35:43 PM

I just read something by

what was called " REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS"

Is there really such a watchdog organization?

4500. robertjayb - 1/28/2005 5:29:47 PM

Slow news day? Go with an animal story...

VENETA, Ore. (AP) -- So far nobody has gotten Randy Cox's goat. But Cox wishes someone would. Cox found the affable brown-and-white male in his detached rec room when he came home from work Thursday, and the goat shows no sign of wanting to leave.

He found the animal communing with his dog, Dandy, and both seemed to be hitting it off.

Cox said he had seen the goat in his neighborhood, but doesn't think it lives there. Calls to the authorities didn't help much.

``I called animal control. They told me to call the sheriff. The sheriff said call animal control. Then they gave me an emergency number for loose livestock,'' he said.

Nobody answered.

4501. Magoseph - 2/1/2005 12:35:55 PM

Things like that enrage me:

ON WISCONSIN : JS ONLINE : NEWS : MILWAUKEE : E-MAIL | PRINT THIS STORY
Boy, 12, accused of sex assault
Attack on 4-year-old caught on tape at YMCA
By MARY ZAHN
mzahn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 31, 2005

A 12-year-old boy sexually assaulted a 4-year-old girl in the unsupervised weight room at the Parklawn YMCA Saturday afternoon after hitting, kicking and choking her, according to a petition filed Monday in Milwaukee County Children's Court.
Advertisement
Value! Quality! Style!

Most of the assault was captured on video security cameras at the facility, located at 4340 N. 46th St, records show. The children - who did not know each other - were unsupervised at the time, according to the petition.

One of the facility managers who was at the front information desk looked up at a video camera monitor about 1:15 p.m. and saw the boy "wearing a black and red basketball jersey and black mesh shorts on top of a little girl wearing a purple coat, hat, scarf and pink outfit" in the weight room, the petition states. The manager ran to the room and saw the boy pulling up his shorts. He tried to run away but was stopped by another staff member, records state.

The girl had been enrolled in the "Y Love Program" along with her 9-year-old brother from 8 a.m. until noon, authorities said. Herb Hayden, branch executive of the Parklawn YMCA, said the program was a "faith-based leadership development program" that offered help with homework and Bible study. It could not be learned why the girl was unsupervised after the program.

4502. wonkers2 - 2/5/2005 8:40:17 AM

RIP Ossie Davis Obit.

4503. greystoke - 2/5/2005 7:15:11 PM

Washington State considers financing red light cameras.

Camano Island Democratic Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen attended a traffic-safety presentation at a national legislative conference last year that included a film of accidents where cars ran a red light and were hit broadside in the intersection.

...

The experience boosted Haugen's interest in legislation to enable local jurisdictions to install automated photo enforcement of red-light violations.

A camera, triggered by sensors at an intersection, photographs the license plates of all cars that run the red light. A ticket is mailed to the owner of an offending vehicle, who has the right to challenge the ticket by submitting an affidavit to court saying he or she was not driving.

...

From 2001 to 2003, nearly 3,500 accidents statewide were attributed to running red lights, according to the state. Thirty-four of those crashes resulted in deaths.

"I don't think any of us drive a day without seeing somebody run a red light," Haugen said at her committee's hearing on the bill. "In states and in cities that have this ability, it has really significantly reduced the amount of accidents, because people know that they're apt to be caught."

...

Aspects of camera-enforcement programs have generated controversy in the past, but the bill attempts to resolve the problems, Haugen said.

In San Diego, cameras photographed people in the car as well as the license plate. Newspapers ended up with pictures of some elected officials with people they weren't supposed to be with, making the program unpopular with officials.

4504. arkymalarky - 2/5/2005 8:51:32 PM

You all have got to see this. I remembered it when someone posted the nail-in-the-head xray, but couldn't find it at the time.

CNN: drill through head

4505. judithathome - 2/6/2005 1:17:27 PM

My letter was printed in the paper today but I can't link to it because of some snafu with my subscription to the on-line edition. There were 14 other letters on Social Security and I was very impressed with them...generally, I have a very low expectation that people around here really "get it"; evidently some of them do. Mostly they just follow the arrow that points to the right but some of the letters today were quite the opposite of that mindset.

4506. robertjayb - 2/6/2005 2:12:25 PM

Heeeeres Judith:

Although we rarely see the fluffy white stuff in Texas, I'm sure you know what a snow job is: It's what's being pulled on you by the Bush administration.

If you have the feeling that your president seems like Chicken Little, running around saying the sky is falling on Social Security, it's because he's blowing tremendous amounts of snow on the matter.

I challenge all of you to do your homework. Read both sides of the argument, become familiar with the subject, and use some common sense. Don't get snowed under by the hysteria from the White House and Fox News.

You have a huge chore ahead; the snow is getting so deep that it'll be difficult to shovel. Take heart -- it will be rewarding because there is truth under all that swirling snow.

Judith

4507. arkymalarky - 2/6/2005 2:17:34 PM

Great, Judith!

4508. robertjayb - 2/6/2005 2:33:30 PM

And Heeeeres Molly:

AUSTIN, Texas -- I don't get it. The divide between the rhetoric and the reality in this administration is larger than I can span. The dissonance between the noble ideals expressed and the nasty actions is too raw for me.
................................................

There is no crisis in the Social Security program. It is not in trouble. If nothing is done, come 2042 -- or 2052 if you believe the Congressional Budget Office -- SS will have to start paying less than its promised benefits, but will still be able to pay seniors more than it does today in constant dollars. You can easily fix even that minor problem by lifting the cap on FICA taxes now at $90,000.

Why should people who make more than $90,000 have their higher income exempted, when every nickel made by people below the poverty level is taxed?
.................................................

Dogged if I know what these people have against SS, a program that works just fine and has kept elderly people from having to eat cat food for many years now. Because the right wing has somehow become a cult of anti-government nuthatches, I have no idea where we're headed.

4509. judithathome - 2/6/2005 2:44:54 PM

Thanks, Robert. And Arky!

I wanted use "shit" as a metaphor but thought "snow" was more likely to make it past the censors.

4510. iiibbb - 2/7/2005 12:01:04 PM

gay bomb

4511. wonkers2 - 2/8/2005 7:59:38 AM

They start driving young in Michigan Here

4512. robertjayb - 2/8/2005 7:55:45 PM

Oklahomans are just so damned interesting...and we Texans thank the Gods for them every day...

Filed at 6:59 p.m. ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Jurors and others in Judge Donald Thompson's courtroom kept hearing a strange whooshing noise, like a bicycle pump or maybe a blood pressure cuff. During one trial, Thompson seemed so distracted that some jurors thought he was playing a hand-held video game or tying fly-fishing lures behind the bench.

The explanation, investigators say, is even stranger than some imagined: The judge had a habit of masturbating with a penis pump under his robe during trials.

The lurid allegations have led to criminal charges against Thompson, brought an embarrassing end to a solid career and shocked many of his colleagues. The case could also lead to a wave of appeals from defendants claiming that the judge was not paying attention while presiding over their cases.

4513. wonkers2 - 2/8/2005 8:07:09 PM

That one takes the cake!

4514. thoughtful - 2/8/2005 8:09:27 PM

Hmmm...sounds to me like the bushies shouldn't be concerned with 'inflation' in jury awards! Gives a whole new meaning to taking a case to a higher court.

4515. thoughtful - 2/9/2005 10:34:23 AM

Carly's been canned! at HP...what a stunner!

4516. Magoseph - 2/9/2005 4:05:54 PM

-- and a company spokesman said she'll get a payout of approximately $21 million, including stock options

4517. concerned - 2/9/2005 5:40:31 PM

4518. wonkers2 - 2/9/2005 6:51:41 PM

Welcome back, concerned. It's been boring around here without anyone from the dark side!

4519. iiibbb - 2/10/2005 2:57:50 PM

Budding cyber love ends in divorce

A budding romance between a Jordanian man and woman turned into an ugly public divorce when the couple found out that they were in fact man and wife, state media reported on Sunday.

Separated for several months, boredom and chance briefly reunited Bakr Melhem and his wife Sanaa in an internet chat room, the official Petra news agency said.

Bakr, who passed himself off as Adnan, fell head over heels for Sanaa, who signed off as Jamila (beautiful) and described herself as a cultured, unmarried woman - a devout Muslim whose hobby was reading, Petra said.

Cyber love blossomed between the pair for three months and soon they were making wedding plans. To pledge their troth in person, they agreed to meet in the flesh near a bus depot in the town of Zarqa, northeast of Amman.

The shock of finding out their true identities was too much for the pair.

4520. thoughtful - 2/10/2005 4:19:15 PM

didn't steely dan or someone do a song about that?

If you like pina coladas, or getting caught in the rain...

4521. concerned - 2/10/2005 5:18:56 PM

Re. 4518 -

Hi, Wonkers -

Good to see the Mote is keepin' on. I listen to a small amount of talk radio nowadays while driving at lunch or to/from work since the 'all news' CBS affiliate I usually have been listening to features drier than dust financial 'news' shows then, and I have to say that Rush Limbaugh, for one, can be a very devious operator. For instance, he had a caller once who was complaining about purported damage to whales' hearing from naval sonar testing, and instead of calling him a liberal kook, Rush actually spent some time discussing the issue with him and even empathizing.

Better check to see what's gaining on you, Lefties. It looks like the 'VRWC' wants to co-opt and debunk you out of business.

4522. concerned - 2/10/2005 5:25:07 PM

Then you have George W. with his vision thing - something the Democrats got out of after JFK bit the big one. Heck - conservatives' even have Hilliary playing in the Middle Of The Road nowadays.

4523. robertjayb - 2/10/2005 5:34:44 PM

Hold on, Arky!

Feb. 10, 2005 | Caraway, Ark. -- A small earthquake centered in northeastern Arkansas rattled parts of several states Thursday but caused no major damage.

Shaking was felt as far away as Memphis, Tenn., and in Mississippi casinos.

A preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, which hit at 8:05 a.m. four miles east of Caraway, had a magnitude of 4.2. A quake of magnitude 4 can cause moderate damage.

"I mean, it was shaking," said John Cannon, who was roused awake by a 2 1/2-second rumble in Memphis, 50 miles south of the epicenter. "I thought someone got in the bed with me. It was strong."

The quake was centered in the New Madrid seismic zone, which covers portions of Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. One of the largest earthquakes ever to strike in North America, estimated at magnitude, 7.5 was centered at New Madrid, Mo., during a series of temblors in the winter of 1811-1812.

4524. arkymalarky - 2/10/2005 7:27:37 PM

I didn't feel a thing. I did feel one once, though, when I was in college. One of these days, or so they keep telling us, a big one will happen.

Thoughtful,

Steely Dan would never write a song as cheesy as that!

4525. greystoke - 2/10/2005 10:01:53 PM

Rupert Holmes, the one hit wonder.

4526. robertjayb - 2/11/2005 1:12:20 AM

Competing with Oklahoma...

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Virginia lawmakers dropped their droopy-pants bill Thursday after the whole thing became just too embarrassing.

The bill, which would have slapped a $50 fine on people who wear their pants so low that their underwear is visible in ``a lewd or indecent manner,'' passed the state House on Tuesday but was killed by a Senate committee two days later in a unanimous vote.

Republican Sen. Thomas K. Norment said news reports implied that lawmakers were preoccupied with droopy pants.

4527. thoughtful - 2/11/2005 9:39:05 AM

the really scary part about the story..the bill was sponsored by a democrat!

4528. wonkers2 - 2/11/2005 9:54:28 AM

As somebody wondered, would it apply to a 50-year-old fat plumber?

4529. judithathome - 2/11/2005 11:25:03 AM

Death Of A Legend...Attention Must Be Paid

Arthur Miller, the Pulitzer prize-winning playwright whose most famous fictional creation, Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman," came to symbolize the American Dream gone awry, has died, his assistant said Friday. He was 89.

Miller, who had been hailed as America's greatest living playwright, died Thursday night at his home in Roxbury of heart failure, his assistant, Julia Bolus, said Friday. His family was at his bedside, she said.

His plays, with their strong emphasis on family, morality and personal responsibility, spoke to the growing fragmentation of American society.

4530. iiibbb - 2/11/2005 2:40:07 PM

Message # 4526

They 'dropped' their undepants...

bill

4531. thoughtful - 2/15/2005 12:36:34 PM

cnn breaking news...michael jackson admitted to the hospital on the way to the trial.

weird, weird, weird.

4532. iiibbb - 2/16/2005 8:08:42 PM

California and Massachusetts considering milage tax. Apparently they're losing revenue because of more fuel efficient cars.

What's unfair about this (beyond the obvious) is that cars actually run better on the highway and have lower emisions than a car that is not run very much or is poorly tuned and only goes a few miles.

4533. lemwalker - 2/16/2005 9:20:41 PM

25 years or so ago California had a water crisis. Asked/demanded everyone conserve. People did and water rates went up. Because usage went down.

4534. iiibbb - 2/16/2005 11:27:55 PM

I rag on cops... for good reason... but traffic cops have a special place in my heart.

DUBLIN, Ireland - There’ll be no more boots on ambulances at Dublin’s airport, after one disabled an ambulance that was waiting to transport a seriously injured man to the hospital.

advertisement
In Ireland it’s called a clamp, and police at Dublin International Airport use them to enforce a no-parking rule outside the arrivals entrance.

In this case, the ambulance got the clamp even though it was parked in a section reserved for emergency vehicles.

To add insult to injury, the paramedics had to withdraw money from their own bank accounts to pay the fine because police wouldn’t accept the ambulance company’s credit card.

A spokeswoman for Dublin Airport Authority says the incident was “deeply regrettable.”

She says police clamped the vehicle because it had been in the emergency area for 30 minutes, when the area is supposed to be used only in “life or death cases.”

4535. iiibbb - 2/16/2005 11:38:47 PM

Another sign the end is near.

4536. wonkers2 - 2/17/2005 7:33:42 AM

Candidates for a Darwin award.

4537. iiibbb - 2/17/2005 9:27:32 AM

Colorful beads lead to court

Student claims Schenectady school district cannot ban her red, white and blue necklace

By MICHELE MORGAN BOLTON, Staff writer

ALBANY -- A Mont Pleasant middle school student is taking her freedom-of-expression fight to federal court, claiming Schenectady school officials have no right to ban her from wearing a handmade red, white and blue necklace to class.

The beads, which Raven Furbert got as a string-it-yourself Christmas gift, symbolize love of country and respect for soldiers serving in Iraq, according to the lawsuit her mother, Katie Grzywna, filed in U.S. District Court in Albany.

4538. wonkers2 - 2/17/2005 11:12:30 AM

Candidates for a Darwin award.

4539. greystoke - 2/20/2005 1:51:40 PM

Utah considers changing drivers licenses for illegal aliens.

The news is that legislators are considering a bill that would replace driver licenses with "driving privilege cards" for undocumented immigrants. Another bill would deny such people the privilege of driving at all.

...

Hundreds of Latinos rallied at the state Capitol on Friday, wrote complaint and suggestion letters to legislators and attended meetings earlier last week to hear Latino advocacy groups rail against the proposed legislation. Even the Senate is torn between party lines, with Republicans voting for it and Democrats against.

...

Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, sponsored the bill after a recent informal audit by the Legislative Auditor General revealed abuses, including 62 drivers listed under one address, and 14 who may have used the ITIN and voted during the last election.

"Just having one illegal alien vote in a Utah election is one too many," Bramble said before SB227 passed 18-8 during a preliminary Senate vote Friday. A final Senate vote is expected Monday. If it passes, it will move on to the House. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said he supports SB227.

4540. arkymalarky - 2/20/2005 3:16:33 PM

Hey Grey!

We've had a bit of a flap over that kind of thing here. Interesting when two Republican fundamentalists are pitted against eachother. The governor (a Baptist preacher) was quoted as saying he drank a different "Jesus Juice" from his opponent in the legislature, a very conservative Christian who's against the governor's idea of providing more help and loosening restrictions wrt illegal aliens. I haven't kept up with the gory details.

It's part of a bigger national picture that I think will lead to some interesting fireworks within the Republican Party over the next few years.

4541. greystoke - 2/20/2005 7:55:37 PM

arky,

I'm not in favor of denying the right to drive to illegal aliens. But if they are using the drivers licenses to vote and such, I could be in favor of a "driving priviledge card."

If the issue causes Republicans to turn on each other, so much the better.

4542. arkymalarky - 2/20/2005 9:20:00 PM

That's my view.

Interesting political goings-on in AR politics in general this year. A motion to reaffirm support for separation of church and state failed last week, but the vote was 44 against, 39 for, and 17 not voting. At least one of the against said he just thought it wasn't necessary, and that he supported separation of church and state. The legislator who proposed it said he was tired of the religious undertones prevalent in the session.

4543. judithathome - 2/21/2005 8:45:00 AM

RIP...Hunter Thompson, gonzo journalist.

He went out on his own terms: self-inflicted gun shot.

4544. Macnas - 2/21/2005 9:53:01 AM

One less interesting person in the world.

The man made me laugh. I especially liked the time when, when the issue of Aspen becoming over-developed was being debated by locals, he suggested they change the name from "Aspen" to "Shithole".

4545. concerned - 2/21/2005 10:34:48 AM

What was all that 'fear and loathing' stuff about, anyway?

4546. judithathome - 2/21/2005 2:18:28 PM

The Truth.

4547. greystoke - 2/21/2005 9:38:39 PM

From the "Salt Lake Tribune":

A 21-year-old Salt Lake City hiker escaped with minor injuries Saturday after he dropped off a mountain ledge and fell about a thousand feet, and then rode an avalanche feet-first.

Mark Thomas had a minor back injury and frostbitten feet after his Saturday ordeal, police said.

...

Thomas and two other men were hiking near Mount Nebo when the snow gave way, one told police. Thomas - who was between the two men - slid about a thousand feet down the mountain, triggering an avalanche, Orme said.

Thomas told police that he rode the snow feet-first down the mountain, and was partially buried in the basin. His friends, who did not fall off the ridge, tried to help rescue him but eventually sought authorities.

While they were gone, Thomas was able to dig himself out of the snow and began walking out of the canyon, meeting rescuers on their way up the mountain.

4548. wonkers2 - 2/22/2005 7:22:37 AM

Ouch!

4549. wonkers2 - 2/22/2005 7:26:38 AM

Here's trouble!

4550. judithathome - 2/22/2005 10:11:13 AM

Nearly 500 volunteers have already joined the Minuteman Project, anointing themselves civilian border patrol agents determined to stop the immigration flow that routinely seeps past federal authorities

Here we go...bloodbath, for sure.

4551. robertjayb - 2/23/2005 7:17:36 PM

Way-to-go, Hunter S. Thompson!

DENVER (AP) -- Hunter S. Thompson, the ``gonzo journalist'' with a penchant for drugs, guns and flame-thrower prose, might have one more salvo in store for everyone: Friends and relatives want to blast his ashes out of a cannon, just as he wished.

``If that's what he wanted, we'll see if we can pull it off,'' said historian Douglas Brinkley, a friend of Thompson's and now the family's spokesman.

4552. Macnas - 2/24/2005 3:24:18 AM

That should be do-able shouldn't it?

I knew of a fellow here who was successful in his wishes that some of his ashes be shot over his favourite clay shooting grounds, after being reloaded into shotgun cartridges.

The remainder of his ashes he had cast into the sea at his favourite spot for sea fishing.

4553. wonkers2 - 2/24/2005 8:57:29 AM

All this stuff about what to do with ashes is maudlin. What difference could it possibly make, except possibly making the surviving relatives and friends feel better?

4554. robertjayb - 2/24/2005 1:22:46 PM

Keep up on the blogosphere wirh Wampum's 2004 Koufax Award Winners.

Old friend spudboy scores well.

4555. judithathome - 2/24/2005 2:32:46 PM

> What difference could it possibly make, except possibly making the surviving relatives and friends feel better?

But isn't that what funerals are for? It's to make the survivors feel better, right?

4556. thoughtful - 2/24/2005 2:55:50 PM

I would think so....my dad wanted his ashes spread in the gulf stream, so we sent his ashes to the US Navy in Jacksonville and they held a nice ceremony at sea...video taped it for us, and we fulfilled his wishes. No idea if it made him feel any better in some other plane or something, but it made me feel better.

4557. Magoseph - 3/2/2005 9:47:58 AM

The New Yor times
February 28, 2005
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Don't Blame Wal-Mart
By ROBERT B. REICH

Berkeley, Calif. — BOWING to intense pressure from neighborhood and labor groups, a real estate developer has just given up plans to include a Wal-Mart store in a mall in Queens, thereby blocking Wal-Mart's plan to open its first store in New York City. In the eyes of Wal-Mart's detractors, the Arkansas-based chain embodies the worst kind of economic exploitation: it pays its 1.2 million American workers an average of only $9.68 an hour, doesn't provide most of them with health insurance, keeps out unions, has a checkered history on labor law and turns main streets into ghost towns by sucking business away from small retailers.

But isn't Wal-Mart really being punished for our sins? After all, it's not as if Wal-Mart's founder, Sam Walton, and his successors created the world's largest retailer by putting a gun to our heads and forcing us to shop there.

Instead, Wal-Mart has lured customers with low prices. "We expect our suppliers to drive the costs out of the supply chain," a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart said. "It's good for us and good for them."

Wal-Mart may have perfected this technique, but you can find it almost everywhere these days. Corporations are in fierce competition to get and keep customers, so they pass the bulk of their cost cuts through to consumers as lower prices. Products are manufactured in China at a fraction of the cost of making them here, and American consumers get great deals. Back-office work, along with computer programming and data crunching, is "offshored" to India, so our dollars go even further.

Meanwhile, many of us pressure companies to give us even better bargains. I look on the Internet to find the lowest price I can and buy airline tickets, books, merchandise from just about anywhere with a click of a mouse. Don't you?

The fact is, today's economy offers us a Faustian bargain: it can give consumers deals largely because it hammers workers and communities.

We can blame big corporations, but we're mostly making this bargain with ourselves. The easier it is for us to get great deals, the stronger the downward pressure on wages and benefits. Last year, the real wages of hourly workers, who make up about 80 percent of the work force, actually dropped for the first time in more than a decade; hourly workers' health and pension benefits are in free fall. The easier it is for us to find better professional services, the harder professionals have to hustle to attract and keep clients. The more efficiently we can summon products from anywhere on the globe, the more stress we put on our own communities.

But you and I aren't just consumers. We're also workers and citizens. How do we strike the right balance? To claim that people shouldn't have access to Wal-Mart or to cut-rate airfares or services from India or to Internet shopping, because these somehow reduce their quality of life, is paternalistic tripe. No one is a better judge of what people want than they themselves.

The problem is, the choices we make in the market don't fully reflect our values as workers or as citizens. I didn't want our community bookstore in Cambridge, Mass., to close (as it did last fall) yet I still bought lots of books from Amazon.com. In addition, we may not see the larger bargain when our own job or community isn't directly at stake. I don't like what's happening to airline workers, but I still try for the cheapest fare I can get.

The only way for the workers or citizens in us to trump the consumers in us is through laws and regulations that make our purchases a social choice as well as a personal one. A requirement that companies with more than 50 employees offer their workers affordable health insurance, for example, might increase slightly the price of their goods and services. My inner consumer won't like that very much, but the worker in me thinks it a fair price to pay. Same with an increase in the minimum wage or a change in labor laws making it easier for employees to organize and negotiate better terms.

I wouldn't go so far as to re-regulate the airline industry or hobble free trade with China and India - that would cost me as a consumer far too much - but I'd like the government to offer wage insurance to ease the pain of sudden losses of pay. And I'd support labor standards that make trade agreements a bit more fair.

These provisions might end up costing me some money, but the citizen in me thinks they are worth the price. You might think differently, but as a nation we aren't even having this sort of discussion. Instead, our debates about economic change take place between two warring camps: those who want the best consumer deals, and those who want to preserve jobs and communities much as they are. Instead of finding ways to soften the blows, compensate the losers or slow the pace of change - so the consumers in us can enjoy lower prices and better products without wreaking too much damage on us in our role as workers and citizens - we go to battle.

I don't know if Wal-Mart will ever make it into New York City. I do know that New Yorkers, like most other Americans, want the great deals that can be had in a rapidly globalizing high-tech economy. Yet the prices on sales tags don't reflect the full prices we have to pay as workers and citizens. A sensible public debate would focus on how to make that total price as low as possible.

Robert B. Reich, the author of "Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America," was secretary of labor from 1993 to 1997.

4558. robertjayb - 3/3/2005 3:20:56 PM

A trip around the world? You betcha!


.......over Grand Canyon...

WASHINGTON, March 3 - Steve Fossett's audacious attempt to fly an airplane around the world alone, without stops or refueling, ended successfully today at the former Air Force base in Kansas where it began, as his GlobalFlyer, its 13 fuel tanks nearly empty, touched down safely in Salina some 67 hours after it left.

The flight by Mr. Fossett, a millionaire adventurer who is also an avid sailor, glider pilot and balloonist, covered about 23,000 statute miles on a zig-zag course across the Atlantic, Africa, Asia and the Pacific to ride the tailwinds, which sometimes blew at 150 miles per hour.

Built of composite materials and carrying a single jet engine of a type often used in pairs to power corporate jets, the flight was a test of how fuel-efficient a plane could be and how much fuel it could carry. The 18,100 pounds of fuel on take-off Monday evening constituted 82 percent of the plane's weight.

4559. iiibbb - 3/3/2005 4:39:15 PM

He did better this time than his circumnavigation of Antartica in the baloon.

4560. jexster - 3/4/2005 10:54:27 AM

Planet of the Apes
Chimps Maul Visitors at Bakersfield Sanctuary

4561. jexster - 3/4/2005 10:54:44 AM

Charlton Heston still with us?

4562. wonkers2 - 3/4/2005 11:50:23 AM

Brain dead for years. I would like to have seen a mano a mano between Heston and Burt Lancaster.

4563. iiibbb - 3/6/2005 12:03:32 AM

Credit card penalties, fees bury debtors

The way the fees are now imposed, "people would be better off if they stopped paying" once they get in over their heads, said North Carolina bankruptcy attorney T. Bentley Leonard. Once you stop paying, creditors write off the debt and sell it to a debt collector. "They may harass you, but your balance doesn't keep rising. That's the irony."

4564. robertjayb - 3/8/2005 10:15:35 PM

An irruption of owls in Minnesota. Irruption?

Minnesota is being invaded. By owls. They started flying south in November and they have kept on coming. This is what ornithologists and birders call an irruption. And this one is of historic proportions.

"This invasion is unprecedented and we may not see anything like this again in our lifetime," said Dr. Mark Robbins, curator of birds at the University of Kansas, who traveled north with a group of graduate students to observe the owls.

Owls that normally live in the boreal forest, the spruce belt that ranges across the top of the Northern Hemisphere, have been driven south by a crash in the population of rodents, in particular the red-backed and meadow voles, the favorite food of the great gray owl.

4565. Magoseph - 3/10/2005 5:29:20 AM

chicagotribune.com >> Local news

Wisconsin death has Lefkow tie
Man who shot self left note, cops say

By Jeff Coen and and David Heinzmann
Tribune staff reporters
Published March 10, 2005, 3:20 AM CST

Investigators early Thursday said a man who shot himself in the head during a traffic stop in Wisconsin had a suicide note claiming responsibility for the slaying of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother last week.

Members of the task force of Chicago police and federal agents said the man's van was stopped in West Allis, near Milwaukee, about 6 p.m. As officers approached the vehicle, the man killed himself with a gunshot to the head.

Investigators said the man had a suicide note that included an admission that he shot the judge's family. The note included details in the case that were not released to the public, investigators said.

In the vehicle were .22 caliber shells. Investigators found three casings of the same caliber in the Lefkow home this week. Investigators also said they should have enough physical evidence, including DNA, a fingerprint and other items from the crime scene, to make a definitive comparison.

Sources close to the case said they were investigating whether the judge had ruled against the man in a civil matter. He was not immediately thought to have ties to any hate group.

The note indicated that the judgment had cost the man "his house, his job and family" one source said.

Chicago police and federal investigators were en route to West Allis late Wednesday to investigate. If the man's suicide note is true, the investigation, which had moved heavily toward the organization tied to jailed white supremacist Matthew Hale, will have ended in a starkly different realm.

As investigators combed the Chicago murder scene again Wednesday, federal authorities were using bullets recovered from the bodies in an attempt to pinpoint the make and model of the murder weapon.

The bullets and casings have created a puzzle for investigators.

An early examination of unique markings on the bullets indicated the weapon could be a .22-caliber revolver, some familiar with the tests said, while other investigators said it could be another type of firearm. Indications the weapon might be a revolver raises more questions, investigators said, because true revolvers do not eject casings.

One theory was that the casings could have been dropped in the reloading of a very small handgun that holds only one or two rounds, investigators said.

Two casings were found just after the bodies of Michael Lefkow and Donna Humphrey were discovered by Judge Lefkow after she returned home from court on Feb. 28. One was located under one of the bodies, sources have said, and the other was found behind papers on a low shelf of books.

The third was found in the basement of the home on Tuesday after investigators returned to the home in a new, intense round of evidence gathering, according to sources.

Technicians have removed a significant amount of evidence from the Lefkow home in the last two days, sources said. Investigators took search dogs through the home on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, several doors were removed from the house to be examined for trace evidence. Pieces removed from the house were being analyzed at the Chicago police crime lab, investigators said.

Major evidence analyzed in the last several days has not produced information to break the case. Neither DNA collected from a cigarette butt left in the sink of the house nor a fingerprint found on a broken window have led to a suspect.

Both the genetic profile and fingerprint have been run through national databases, but no matches were found. Members of the task force of Chicago police detectives and federal agents were continuing to chase hundreds of tips Wednesday. The task force has now swelled to as many as 300 investigators.

Officials also hope a $50,000 reward being offered in the case might draw someone forward.

Also Wednesday, Glenn Greenwald, a New York attorney who has represented Hale in several past civil lawsuits, said Hale's mother asked him to pass a clearly coded message from Hale to a follower about 2 to 2½ months ago.

Greenwald said he declined to deliver the message because he didn't understand what Hale meant in the note.

4566. PelleNilsson - 3/10/2005 5:37:58 AM

mago, can you please link such long articles instead of pasting them?

4567. Magoseph - 3/10/2005 5:56:13 AM

I should, Pelle, but this one needs registration, so I thought I would do this instead--sorry about that, though.

4568. Magoseph - 3/10/2005 6:00:59 AM

Chicago Tribune
Hope this works.

4569. Magoseph - 3/10/2005 6:01:31 AM

Toys

4570. Magoseph - 3/10/2005 6:02:42 AM

If this link works, maybe you can delete the article, Pelle.

4571. robertjayb - 3/10/2005 9:58:43 AM

The link works. The article is a good account of an important event and worth the space.

4572. robertjayb - 3/10/2005 1:59:18 PM

All candy-stripers have been accounted for...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former President Bill Clinton underwent his second operation in six months on Thursday, this one to clear up minor complications from his quadruple heart bypass.

The spokesman, Brian Dotson, said at 1:45 p.m. that Clinton's surgery was over.

4573. ronski - 3/10/2005 3:10:51 PM

heh.

4574. wonkers2 - 3/11/2005 7:44:01 AM

Robert has a wicked sense of humor.

4575. wonkers2 - 3/11/2005 8:00:06 AM

New York's finest--detectives used badges to kill for the mob Here.

4576. alistairconnor - 3/11/2005 8:01:18 AM

um what's a candy-striper?

Do I want to know?

4577. thoughtful - 3/11/2005 8:27:25 AM

Candy stripers are girl (early teens) volunteers at hospitals...called so because of the pink and white striped uniforms they wear. Usually they do easy tasks like deliver magazines to patients or fetch water and such. Usually they are girls who have an interest in medicine as a career.

4578. robertjayb - 3/11/2005 11:20:35 AM

The World's Billionaires...(Forbes)

4579. iiibbb - 3/11/2005 11:42:35 AM

We must ban the .22 caliber. It has surpassed the lethality of the .50 BMG.

4580. Magoseph - 3/11/2005 11:56:57 AM

From the site:
NEW YORK - In just the last two years, we have added an astonishing 215 new names to the ranks of the world's billionaires. In 2003 we found 476 billionaires. Today it's a record 671. Their aggregate net worth has grown from $1.4 trillion to $2.2 trillion. The average net worth has also jumped, from $2.9 billion to $3.2 billion. To what do the billionaires owe their good fortunes?

Please, answer this question?

4581. wonkers2 - 3/11/2005 12:14:41 PM

To the will of God, obviously. He has obviously, in His great wisdom, entrusted these resources to their stewardship in the interest of all his children.

4582. iiibbb - 3/11/2005 12:18:20 PM

Probably simply because their money grows faster than they can spend it. 1 billion earns 130,000 per day at a paltry 5% annual interest.

4583. robertjayb - 3/11/2005 12:54:54 PM

Shootings in Georgia courtroom...

March 11 (Bloomberg) -- An Atlanta judge and two other people were shot and killed and a fourth person was wounded after a man wrestled a gun away from a courtroom deputy. The suspect, who was on trial for rape, was still at large.

The shooting took place on the eighth floor of the Fulton County courthouse, where judges' chambers and courtrooms are located, spokeswoman Jessica Corbitt said. The courthouse and surrounding government buildings have been locked down.

The suspect, identified by law enforcement as Brian Nichols, fled after carjacking a vehicle outside the courthouse. Nichols also was being tried on false imprisonment charges, jury member Robert Singleton, 40, said in an interview. The trial began earlier this week and was to end today, Singleton said.

4584. thoughtful - 3/11/2005 1:19:09 PM

Would that be considered evidence that is prejudicial to the jury???

4585. robertjayb - 3/12/2005 1:12:09 PM

Courthouse shooter caught...

March 12, 2005 | ATLANTA (AP) -- A man accused of killing three people at a courthouse was captured after a hostage situation at an apartment complex Saturday, hours after a U.S. Customs agent was discovered shot to death miles away, police said.

Authorities who had been investigating the agent's death were dispatched to the suburban apartment.

4586. robertjayb - 3/12/2005 1:18:29 PM

add Shooting...

``Brian Nichols is in custody. He turned himself in without incident. Everybody is safe,'' said Officer Darren Moloney of the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Moloney said Nichols was armed and had a female hostage when he was caught. The woman was not identified by authorities, and it was unclear what relationship she had with Nichols.

Nichols, 33, was taken into federal custody. FBI Spokesman Steve Lazarus said Nichols is a suspect in the courthouse shootings and the fatal shooting of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent found dead early Saturday.

The agent was discovered shot to death at an upscale townhouse complex, and his blue pickup truck, pistol and badge were missing.

4587. robertjayb - 3/12/2005 6:49:55 PM

Order burgers via Pakistan...

Company officials said the idea, being tested at a small number of restaurants in the Pacific Northwest, is aimed at reducing the number of mistakes at the drive-through window. Last year, a McDonald's franchise owner in Missouri did a similar experiment, using a call center in Colorado.

"If you're in L.A. and you hear a person ... with a North Dakota accent taking your order, you'll know what we're up to," McDonald's Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner said during a presentation to analysts this week.

"You have a professional order taker with strong communications skills whose job is to do nothing but take down orders," said Matthew Paull, the chief financial officer.

Paull said most complaints the company receives are from drive-through customers who got the wrong order.

4588. arkymalarky - 3/12/2005 6:57:07 PM

How are they going to outsource the people who prepare the orders and make lots of the mistakes in the first place? They should just cut a deal with FedEx.

4589. wonkers2 - 3/12/2005 9:30:07 PM

Just about everything but ditch digging and window washing, and table waiting can be outsourced.

4590. robertjayb - 3/16/2005 6:46:34 PM

And that's the end of that story...

Baretta actor acquitted.

LOS ANGELES -- A jury acquitted tough-guy actor Robert Blake of murder Wednesday in the shooting death of his wife four years ago, a stunning verdict in a case that played out like pulp fiction.

The jury also acquitted Blake of one charge of trying to get someone to kill his wife, but deadlocked on a second solicitation charge.

The 71-year-old star of the 1970s detective drama "Baretta'' dropped his head, trembled with emotion, and let out several deep breaths after the verdict was read.

The jury of seven men and five women delivered the verdicts on its ninth day of deliberations, following a trial with a cast a characters that included two Hollywood stuntmen who said Blake tried to get them to bump off his wife.

4591. Magoseph - 3/16/2005 6:56:53 PM

He was pretty well shaken up, looked for a moment about to collapse.

I'm glad that Petersen was sentenced to die and is on his way to San Quentin State Prison.

4592. wonkers2 - 3/19/2005 7:52:37 AM

R.I.P. George F. Kennan, 101, major figure in development of postwar U.S. foreign policy, architect of containment policy and CIA covert operations directorate, supporter of Korean War, opponent of Vietnam War, ambassador to USSR and Yugoslavia, fluent in Russian, Polish, Czech, Norweigan, French and Portuguese, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and many other awards. Long obit here.

4593. wonkers2 - 3/21/2005 7:47:30 AM

R.I.P. John Z. Here.

4594. Magoseph - 3/21/2005 8:43:42 AM

Cranks at Random International posted this picture.

Won, your link for the obituary doesn't work for me.

4595. wabbit - 3/21/2005 10:03:47 AM

Somewhere, DocBrown is in mourning.

4596. wonkers2 - 3/21/2005 1:12:31 PM

Try this. Here.

4597. robertjayb - 3/21/2005 5:48:44 PM

School shooting in Minnesota...

RED LAKE, Minn. -- The FBI was called to investigate a shooting today at Red Lake High School that may have killed six people and injured 14, according to police and broadcast reports.

At least four people have been hospitalized.

Tom Lyons, chief deputy for Beltrami County, said the shooting occured about 3 p.m. at the school in Red Lake. He said that as many as 14 people were injured. He said he did not know if any of the victims had been killed. "We don't know that yet," he said. "Our information is just too sketchy right now."

Red Lake High School principal Chris Dunshee called his wife Cathy shortly after the shootings occurred.

"He called to let me know he was OK and that was a relief,'' she said. "He didn't want to tell me any details, but said he thoughht five or six people were shot and that one was dead.''

(Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

4598. robertjayb - 3/21/2005 5:59:22 PM

...Via AP---The FBI did not say how many people had been killed and also declined to release details.

Red Lake High School, on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, has about 300 students, according to its web site.

Audrey Thayer, who lives in Bemidji and works as a researcher for the American Civil Liberties Union's Minnesota chapter, said the reservation was locked down by police with roadblocks.

4599. robertjayb - 3/22/2005 1:14:49 PM

Old friend Spudboy sees rightwing/neo-nazi ramifications in the Red Lake school shootings: The fruits of hate...

4600. iiibbb - 3/23/2005 9:11:19 PM

Whether one believes someone has a right to die or not, if you're going to let her die, then kill her. I don't understand letting her starve to death. You wouldn't let a suffering animal starve to death.

4601. wonkers2 - 3/23/2005 9:34:09 PM

A knowledgeable commentator on one of tonight's talk shows said she isn't suffering since the feeding tube was removed and she has not suffered during the past 15 years. Her care has been very good.

4602. iiibbb - 3/23/2005 10:09:37 PM

Just give her a lethal injection if you ask me. Why does it have to be by starvation. It just seems unnecessary to do it this way.

4603. robertjayb - 3/23/2005 10:54:34 PM

Jeb wins round in Schiavo case...

CLEARWATER, Fla., March 23 - After a series of legal and legislative setbacks to efforts to resume the feeding of Terri Schiavo, Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday succeeded in getting a state court to hear new motions in her case, presenting an affidavit from a neurologist who said Ms. Schiavo's brain damage appeared less severe than previously thought.

On yet another day of rapid-fire maneuvers in the politically charged case, Governor Bush held a hastily convened news conference Wednesday afternoon to announce the doctor's affidavit, and he suggested that state officials might seek to gain legal custody of Ms. Schiavo.

Later, state lawyers appeared before Judge George W. Greer of Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court, who ordered Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube removed last week, and asked to intervene in the case.

4604. Snowowl - 3/23/2005 11:28:26 PM

This whole thing is revolting.

The parents and the disgusting politicians who want to make political capital out of this case have turned this poor woman's life and death into a sideshow.

4605. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 6:36:32 AM

What a strange entry

Apparently someone has offered him 1 million to let custody go over to her parents. So if her were doing this for the money he could make more if he let her live in her parents' care. Someone in my office thinks he was abusive and is worried that if she did recover that she'd reveal something that would put him in jail.

The whole thing is fishy if you ask me.

I still object to executing her by starvation.

4606. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 6:42:05 AM

Same sentiment

4607. wonkers2 - 3/24/2005 6:42:11 AM

Schaivo's husband is clearly motivated by nothing more than carrying out his wife's stated wishes. The easiest thing in the world would be for him to walk away from the situation. His financial situation is unaffected whether her life is prolonged is allowed to die.

4608. thoughtful - 3/24/2005 7:26:42 AM

...if she did recover...

her eeg is flat, her cortex is liquified, her brain is atrophying. There is no recovery. There is no one there. NPR had the chief of neurology on from dartmouth and he said the cases where people will 'come to' after years of being comatose are those cases where the brain injury is due to trauma. He said after 3-6 mos of being in this state from a brain injury due to oxygen deprivation, there is no coming back. Ever.

The thing that is weird about this case is, she's 41 now and has been in this state for 15 years so she had her heart attack at 25/26. I've heard tell it was due to her bulemia, but i'm not sure. clearly there were things going on her young life that led to this unusual circumstance.

4609. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 8:03:49 AM

Don't misunderstand, I don't object to her right to die.

I just think it's wrong to do it by starvation.

4610. thoughtful - 3/24/2005 11:55:34 AM

iiibbb, she is dead. She died 15 years ago. Only the shell is alive. I'm sorry for her parents and understand why they don't want to let her go. I'm sorry for her husband and understand why he needs for all of this to end. I'm especially sorry for all of them for a personal family tragedy to be turned into a media circus. But she is dead. She has been for a long time.

Stop the madness.

4611. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 11:59:11 AM

You apparently misunderstand... I say let her go.

But why dick around with starvation? Just stick a needle in her and she's done.

4612. PelleNilsson - 3/24/2005 12:25:41 PM

Who is going to do that? What would the legal consequences be for the person doing it?

4613. judithathome - 3/24/2005 12:28:14 PM

They'd end up in the cell next to Jack Kevorkian.

4614. PelleNilsson - 3/24/2005 12:31:02 PM

That's what I thought.

4615. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 1:28:47 PM

How is refusing to feed them any different than sticking a needle in them. The Dr. who pulled the tube should do it... that or her husband.

They've made the decision to let her die... just do it.

If a parent decided to stop feeding their down-syndrome kid, what are the legal consequences of that? If she's already brain-dead then what's the legal difference between starving the body to death, and injecting something?

4616. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 1:39:58 PM

I remember a time when people didn't get upset when you gave them the finger.

4617. PelleNilsson - 3/24/2005 1:43:13 PM

There is a difference between how things should be and how they actually are. If the doctor will be prosecuted for the needle but not for the tube, who are you to decide what he or she should do?

4618. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 1:59:50 PM

There is a difference between how things should be and how they actually are.

Exactly my point... there should be no difference.

4619. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 2:03:53 PM

My comments are directed to the system, not to the Dr's letting her starve.

If the system makes a distinction between the two... the system is flawed.

It goes beyond anyones' feelings about euthenasia.

4620. jayackroyd - 3/24/2005 2:08:07 PM

iiibbb

The difference is between taking measure to help keep the body alive and taking measures to actually kill the body. You can ask for a do not resucitate order. You can't ask for a lethal injection. In this case, under Florida law the spouse is deemed to be the most certain source of information about a patient's wishes, absent a living will.

Even with a living will (I have one), there are still decisions to be made, because it's not always possible to predict what will happen. The living will designates your representative and a backup (it's no good having a spouse know your wishes if he or she is a coma beside you after the car wreck). This case, as apparently every judge has said, is open and shut.

As thoughtful says, the only good news here is that she isn't suffering. There's nobody there to suffer. These are brainstem functions going on but there is no person in there.

thoughtful is sympathetic to the parents. I'm not so sure I am. They're resisting all competent and independent medical advice. I suspect they may be enjoying all the fuss.

4621. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 2:20:49 PM

I understand the legal situation on why they're starving her rather than just getting it over with. I am expressing my frustration at the stupidity of it, that is all.

The end result is that she's dead... whether you starve her or inject her... she's dead.

The point is we don't even do animals this way.

Like most things, I think people have a right to choose something like this. The system should do something to accomodate this kind of situation.

I'm speaking as someone who's going to go out of this life kicking and screaming and I can't imagine many situations where I would want to quit (e.g. Million Dollar Baby scenario)...

4622. jayackroyd - 3/24/2005 2:32:28 PM

I'm speaking as someone who's going to go out of this life kicking and screaming and I can't imagine many situations where I would want to quit (e.g. Million Dollar Baby scenario).

I;m the opposite, but I don't think you can really know until you're actually faced with the situation. It's an intellectual exercise now, an emotional one then.

4623. iiibbb - 3/24/2005 2:41:51 PM

Well... I think you are right, that it's easy to say and harder to do... but I can say it would be consistant to my personality to endeavor to persavere (to cite another Clint Eastwood movie).

4624. wonkers2 - 3/24/2005 2:42:07 PM

Schiavo's parents are idiots.

4625. judithathome - 3/24/2005 2:51:25 PM

I suspect they may be enjoying all the fuss.

This has been their life for 15 years...they are reluctant to give up the familiar.

I suspect they will soon become spokespersons for the Right To Life movement, which is bankrolling much of the costs of their appeals. They will go on the speaking circuit and we'll see them everywhere.

4626. thoughtful - 3/24/2005 4:38:21 PM

It'll be interesting to see if the schindlers actually do hit the circuts or not. Not being a parent, it's tough for me to relate, but they do say the hardest thing for a parent is to lose a child. Because she's been physically present for 15 years, she hasn't 'died' in their eyes and they haven't had to accept her death. It's hard to accept the death of a loved one...even harder when it's a child, but even harder still when one has purposefully lived with the delusion that she is alive and might get better, and even harder when one thinks of their living child as being purposefully starved to death.

I think the desire to be right and to win is the strongest of all. Somewhere along the line, this has become a contest of wills between the husband and the family. I don't think we'll ever know the truth. All we know is they used to get along very well and the family was very supportive of him...until the malpractice settlement. (Money changes everything, no?) Then, whether it's because he got some of the money and they didn't get any or what, the issues started to arise. That's when they started accusing him of not providing adequate care and all.

But if this gal was bulemic which is what led to her heart disease in the first place, this family was clearly never the Cleavers. But as I say, we'll never know the whole truth.

4627. judithathome - 3/24/2005 5:01:19 PM

Most people with eating disorders are reacting to control issues. Maybe they controlled her in life as they are attempting to in "death" now.

4628. Wombat - 3/25/2005 10:37:52 AM

This web site has a pdf file with the Schaivo's Guardian Ad Litem's report http://floridahealthinfo.hsc.usf.edu/. it is very interesting reading. Her parents are f--king nuts. Testimony was taken to the effect that if Schaivo's heart failed, they would want her to undergo open heart surgery. In the early years, when they and Michael Schaivo were still on good terms, they encouraged him to date.

4629. robertjayb - 3/25/2005 2:37:28 PM

A glimpse of insanity...

By Bill Torpy | Friday, March 25, 2005, 02:06 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

4630. iiibbb - 3/25/2005 2:49:14 PM

I'm kind-of surprised that as anxious they are to prove she's still "there" that they wouldn't have her under pretty constant video surveilance.

4631. Magoseph - 3/26/2005 9:42:22 AM

Why Schiavo's Parents Didn't Have a Case
Andrew Cohen is CBS News' legal analyst.

March 25, 2005

Terri Schiavo's parents did not lose their federal case because they didn't try hard enough. They didn't lose their case because everyone conspired against them. They didn't lose it because Congress ticked off the judiciary over the weekend with its over-the-top custom-made legislation. They didn't lose it for lack of money or because they failed to file a court paper on time. They didn't lose it because the laws are unfair or because bureaucrats sometimes can be arbitrary and capricious.

The Schindlers lost their case and their cause — and soon probably their daughter — because in the end they were making claims the legal system has never been able or willing to recognize. They lost because they long ago ran out of good arguments to make — those arguments having been reasonably rejected by state judge after judge — and thus were left with only lame ones. And they lost because in every case someone has to win and someone has to lose. That's the way it works in our system of government. It isn't pretty, and sometimes it's unfair. But it's reality.

More...

4632. robertjayb - 3/28/2005 10:51:33 AM

CNN reports a magnitude 8.2 earthquake in Sumatra, said to be an aftershock of the tsunami earthquake and located along the same faultline.

4633. jexster - 3/28/2005 11:14:02 AM

Seen any Tejas cockroaches Robt?

4634. robertjayb - 3/28/2005 5:24:13 PM

An arrest in Red Lake school shooting...

RED LAKE, Minn. (AP) -- A juvenile has been arrested in last week's shooting rampage on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, federal authorities said Monday. They would not say how the juvenile was believed to be connected to the attack, which left 10 people dead, including the 16-year-old gunman.

U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger said the juvenile was arrested Sunday, but declined to give any details, including the age and gender of the juvenile. Heffelfinger said federal law required him to withhold the details.

4635. alistairconnor - 3/29/2005 5:51:22 AM

Warning : sick humour alert

Weller’s statement also claims that Schiavo “laughed out loud” when she heard Jesus’s name after being told that “Jesus would stay right by [your]side.”

Good to see she's kept a sense of humour.

Schiavo said “Ahhhhhhh” and then followed that by “summon[ing] all the strength that she had” and added, “Waaaaaaa.”

Well, she's more articulate than the Pope.

4636. Macnas - 3/29/2005 6:21:31 AM

iiibbb had a good point though.

If it was an animal, no matter what state it's brain was in, it would be killed quickly. I hate the idea of that woman starving to death. I know that the indications are that she cannot feel much of anything anymore, but it seems like cruel and unusual punishment to me.

If her husband is her guardian, and he has lobbied as hard as he has for her right to die, perhaps he should be the one to administer a lethal injection. And I don't mean that in a cynical sense, I just wonder if it is even legally possible.

4637. Macnas - 3/29/2005 6:32:00 AM

alistair, that's a terrible cruel joke on the poor old pope.

A thing myself and my Missus have always found funny is the way the pope is always described by certain ulster lunatic fringe protestants, particularly "the pope of rome".

This is pronounced in the Northern dialect as "pope-a-rome", which rhymes with "toblerone", the triangular chocolate. Do you remember the Toblerone theme music, that used to be played when it was being advertised on television?
We set some words to this jingle last night, plagerising what we could remember of the actual jingle lyrics:

Pope-a-rome, out on his own,
Triangular pontiff,
Thats pope-a-rome.

He wears triangular hats
He has triangular knees
He's got a triangular dog
who has triangular fleas.....

4638. robertjayb - 3/29/2005 10:03:03 AM

Here in the American southland we heard about the pope-a-rome in the sixties.

Some red-necked scholars hearabouts said John F. Kennedy wanted to have a tunnel from the white house to the vatican in order to receive instructions from the pope-a-rome.

4639. robertjayb - 3/29/2005 10:04:58 AM

hereabouts

4640. alistairconnor - 3/29/2005 10:07:40 AM

For me, and for Jexster, as baptised Anglicans, Pope Pole is more correctly referred to as the Bishop of Rome.

4641. thoughtful - 3/29/2005 11:14:32 AM

All this poping reminded me of lehrer's Vatican Rag:

First you get down on your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

Do whatever steps you want, if
You have cleared them with the Pontiff.
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison,
Doin' the Vatican Rag.

Get in line in that processional,
Step into that small confessional,
There, the guy who's got religion'll
Tell you if your sin's original.
If it is, better play it safer,
Drink the wine and chew the wafer,
Two, four, six, eight,
Time to transubstantiate!

So get down upon your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

Make a cross on your abdomen,
When in Rome do like a Roman,
Ave Maria,
Gee it's good to see ya,
Gettin' ecstatic an'
Sorta dramatic an'
Doin' the Vatican Rag!

Alternate ending:
Gee it's good to see ya,
Doin' the Vatican,
(You can say that again!)
Doin' the Vatican Rag!

4642. wonkers2 - 3/29/2005 4:49:38 PM

The Reverend Jerry Falwell is "stabilized" in critical condition in a hospital after stopping breathing and being arrived. Without being macabre, I wonder if he has a living will?

4643. Macnas - 3/30/2005 1:05:14 AM

You're an anglican eh? high church or common-or-garden variety?

4644. Ulgine Barrows - 3/30/2005 1:26:25 AM

shithead!



or shite head


Take your pick

4645. Macnas - 3/30/2005 1:29:32 AM

shitehead eh? full of shit or common-or-garden variety?

4646. Ulgine Barrows - 3/30/2005 1:41:57 AM

This is where I fall down.


I don't know how to properly curse.

Shit, Shite. fine me!
bwwaaaah

4647. alistairconnor - 3/30/2005 4:07:07 AM

Me, I'm a common-or-garden low-church shithead.
Jex of course is a flamboyant fancy-dress mystical High Church shitehead. In fact he's way off the scale in terms of anything I've encountered.

My anglicanism is strictly nominal, I was christened as a sop to my father's parents, who were generally benevolent and somewhat monied. I might have been a Presbyterian, if there had been any hope of ever pleasing my maternal grandfather. But he was tight-arsed and tight-fisted, an archetypal Calvinist.

4648. Macnas - 3/30/2005 5:57:46 AM

I'd like to be somewhat monied. Then I could afford to be generally benevolent.

4649. wonkers2 - 3/30/2005 8:49:24 AM

Saw a very funny play last week--Gogol's "The Government Inspector." It's amazing how topical the satire is about petty government corruption.

4650. wonkers2 - 3/30/2005 8:50:12 AM

Oops! That was meant for the Movie thread.

4651. RickNelson - 3/30/2005 9:17:21 AM

Robert, or anyone of course,

did you catch that the Red Lake Reservation school shooting may have been a conspiracy?

The head of the counsel up there, Jordain, is now reeling from his sons arrest. Three other suspects are now being questioned. The community is in further shock and disbelief.

In another community somewhere(?), another young man was expelled for stating the shooting was cool and he would do it too. The school is on alert.

Dammit, what the hell!?

4652. arkymalarky - 3/30/2005 1:45:42 PM

No news in here about Johnnie Cochran's death?

4653. arkymalarky - 3/30/2005 1:48:00 PM

The environment in Red Lake sounded beyond depressing, as did that kid's life--even moreso than on most highly impoverished reservations.

This conference I'm going to in WV should have several representatives from reservation schools. It did last time I went, including at least one in Alaska. They fight a hard fight in a lot of those schools just to get decent funding, good teachers and facilities, etc.

4654. Magoseph - 3/30/2005 2:04:46 PM

I suspect that the Red Lake Reservation School did not have any security measures in place for lack of funds.

4655. arkymalarky - 3/30/2005 2:11:21 PM

Actually, they did, because of past problems, but the kid had gotten around them, including killing the security guard first. I think the funds probably came from the past problems, though, and like everything else, the equipment isn't enough. You have to have a good plan and competent people in place to carry it out efficiently, and that takes more than a one-time grant or budget item.

4656. arkymalarky - 3/30/2005 2:11:58 PM

What's really sad is that now it will be harder than ever for them to attract good teachers and administrators into their school.

4657. wonkers2 - 3/30/2005 3:19:59 PM

Cochran's most memorable line: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." [Referring to a glove offered into evidence as the killer's, but it was too small for OJ.]

4658. robertjayb - 3/30/2005 3:51:27 PM

I am impressed that the Red Lake police apparently responded quickly and directly to the shootings. Unlike Columbine, they didn't stand around scratching themselves and pondering "tactics" while victims bled to death.

4659. robertjayb - 3/30/2005 4:01:51 PM

Deputy's e-mail reveals details...

March 30, 2005

RED LAKE, Minn. -— (AP)--An e-mail is giving a glimpse into the events inside Red Lake High School last week during a teenage gunman's shooting spree.

The Associated Press has obtained the e-mail sent by Polk County sheriff's deputy James Goss to members of his family.

Goss described working security on the Red Lake Indian Reservation to allow tribal police to attend a funeral for a shooting victim. Goss wrote that he was invited into the school by an FBI agent, who gave him a reconstruction of events.

Much of what Goss wrote has been publicly described by witnesses, but two parts were new -- that gunman Jeffrey Weise (was shot in the hip and leg by a tribal officer, and that Weise killed himself with the shotgun he carried.

4660. arkymalarky - 3/30/2005 5:03:03 PM

I can't imagine police in places like Columbine get enough experience dealing with violent situations to act competently even if they were trained well.

4661. RickNelson - 3/30/2005 5:52:04 PM

That security guard has been detailed as a hero. He slowed the shooters progress, saved the life of his fellow guard (two on duty, a man and a woman), and saved others who fled behind him. He tried to talk to Jeff and stood face to face asking him to talk. Unfortunately for Mr. Brun (hero) he was not allowed to have a weapon.

That man faced him without even a tazer. I think he might have had pepper spray and a baton.

Mr. Brun deserves a national medal of honor.

What I'm waiting for now is the conspiracy news. Why and who helped Jeff or failed to stop him, knowing what he planned.

4662. arkymalarky - 3/30/2005 6:13:58 PM

That is a bizarre aspect of all this starting to unfold.

You're right about the security guard. I don't know what they need to do if they're going to have security at a school, but it's simply leaving a guard a sitting duck in the event anything does happen not to have him armed in some way. What's the point? You can have a hall/parking lot monitor do the same thing.

4663. robertjayb - 3/31/2005 7:06:43 AM

I suggest a career change...

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The hunt is on for a turd burglar. Police in San Diego are searching for a gunman who swiped a bag of poop from a woman out walking her dog.

The woman told police that she was out walking her dog, Misty, on Monday night when a man in his 20s ran up behind her and grabbed the bag she was holding.

When the gunman discovered what was in it, he threw it down in disgust, pointed his gun at the 32-year-old woman and demanded money, San Diego police detective Gary Hassen said.

He then aimed his .22-caliber semiautomatic at Misty and pulled the trigger twice but the gun didn't fire, Hassen said.

The robber ran to a waiting small, silver car and fled the scene, police said.

4664. thoughtful - 3/31/2005 9:12:05 AM

terry schiavo died...thank goodness! I'm so glad that's over. Now we only have to wait for the media feeding frenzy to die.

4665. alistairconnor - 3/31/2005 9:23:11 AM

Them dam librals murdered her.

Specially the ones on the Supreme Court.

4666. alistairconnor - 3/31/2005 9:46:49 AM

Now for the Pope...

4667. arkymalarky - 3/31/2005 9:47:39 AM

Wow. I hadn't turned on the TV and didn't even know it.

4668. Max Macks - 3/31/2005 1:56:34 PM

I seldom watch TV news , but had to see

the photo of that vegertable several times..

Weird as that whole story is ..for me the
most bizrro part was the parents.

If they needed to care for someone, why not
adopt a child.

When I read more of the story (even a little
was too much ) that this so called human
was kept alive by various tubes for
FIFTEEN YEARS... jazus 15 years.

Some say that maybe this weirdo
episode in Am politics may finally begin to
see what W. Bush is really like

but I fear too many religous nuts keep supporting him.

4669. Max Macks - 3/31/2005 1:57:47 PM

arky, I saw the story on my computer home page

news headlines ...

4670. arkymalarky - 3/31/2005 2:01:21 PM

The Mote's my homepage at home and Arts and Letters Daily is at work, so I have to go looking once I log on, and I've found (especially being on dial-up) it's quicker to look here first. Moters are some of the best news sifters around!

4671. robertjayb - 3/31/2005 3:44:58 PM

The pope is bad sick says CNN. "Last Rites" administered.

4672. robertjayb - 3/31/2005 4:02:39 PM

So Long, Ted. A sometimes pleasant piece of furniture, but furniture nonetheless

Made his bones dancing on the political grave of Jimmy Carter and hyping the Iran hostage "Crisis" beyond rationality.

America held hostage. Day XXX!

Night after night. Drip, drip, drip.

By the time dubya came around he was sleek, fat and satisfied.

4673. alistairConnor - 3/31/2005 4:04:19 PM

Hey I didn't really mean it.

Just a hunch : if he really is dying now, it's because he's chosen to. There is no technical reason why he couldn't have a lingering semi-life for quite some time, but I'm sure he's astute and strong-willed enough to not wish for this, either for himself or for his firm.

Course, in terms of doctrine, this is not a very orthodox position for him.

4674. alistairConnor - 3/31/2005 4:06:27 PM

... but then again, it could be a urinary infection...

4675. Magoseph - 3/31/2005 4:19:32 PM

Apparently, he has lost some 40 pounds at the rate of one a day--he is on antibiotics. I think he is done for, what with being 84 and the ravages of his Parkinson Disease on his system.

4676. wonkers2 - 3/31/2005 4:26:11 PM

The Real Johnny Cochran Here.

4677. thoughtful - 3/31/2005 4:34:46 PM

while i was never a fan of this pope, i will be sorry to see him go only because he looked so much like my polish grandfather....thought of him every time i see a pic of the pope.

4678. Macnas - 4/1/2005 1:30:15 AM

Ah well, popes eh?

Theres always plenty more.

4679. alistairconnor - 4/1/2005 1:36:37 AM

Who will I miss more? Karol or Yasser?

Hard call.

4680. iiibbb - 4/1/2005 8:03:28 AM

Ms Wheelchair looses crown... "Not disabled enough"

4681. wabbit - 4/1/2005 10:56:11 AM

RIP Frank Perdue

4682. robertjayb - 4/1/2005 12:31:18 PM

Via CNN, Reuters reporting the Pope is dead.

4683. Magoseph - 4/1/2005 12:48:27 PM

Well, they were wrong-not yet, he has just lost consciousness.

4684. jayackroyd - 4/1/2005 12:54:25 PM

I'm hearing the same report on the radio, attributed to Italian sources but without confirmation

4685. jexster - 4/1/2005 4:01:40 PM

Papal Death

I love it.

I am glad they don't retire. Otherwise, we'd be deprived of Papal Death Watch, Papal Funeral, Black smoke and white, and Cornonation Ceremony..


I love it all...every 24 hour news net is now All Papal Death Watch All the Time...

4686. jexster - 4/1/2005 4:02:42 PM

I sorta kinda liked much about J2P2 but God let him hang around too long

4687. Magoseph - 4/1/2005 4:03:57 PM

Ghoulish, that 's what you are.

4688. jexster - 4/1/2005 4:13:20 PM

Oh not at all...This is good shit...St. Peter's Square is packed!

habeam papam!!!

But first...a real treat..Papal Death!

Death of the Pope

The Cardinal Camerlengo proclaims a papal death.The death of the Pope is verified by the Cardinal Camerlengo, who traditionally performed the task by gently striking the Pope's head with a small silver hammer and calling out his Christian (not papal) name thrice. The ceremony has not been observed during the twentieth century; under Universi Dominici Gregis, the Camerlengo must merely declare the Pope's death in the presence of the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and of the Cleric Prelates, Secretary and Chancellor of the Apostolic Camera. The Cardinal Camerlengo takes possession of the Fisherman's Ring worn by the Pope; the Ring, along with the papal seal, is later destroyed before the College of Cardinals.

During the sede vacante, as the papal vacancy is known, certain limited powers pass to the College of Cardinals, which is convoked by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. All cardinals are obliged to attend the General Congregation of Cardinals, except those who are over eighty (but those cardinals may choose to attend if they please). The Particular Congregation, which deals with the day-to-day matters of the Church, includes the Cardinal Camerlengo and the three Cardinal Assistants—one Cardinal Bishop, one Cardinal Priest and one Cardinal Deacon—chosen by lot. Every three days, new Cardinal Assistants are chosen by lot. The Cardinal Camerlengo and Cardinal Assistants are responsible, among other things, for maintaining the election's secrecy.

The Congregations must make certain arrangements in respect of the Pope's burial, which must take place from four to six days of the Pope's death, and is to be followed by a nine-day period of mourning (this is known as the novemdiales, Latin for "nine days"). The Congregations also fix the date and time of the commencement of the conclave. The conclave normally takes place fifteen days after the death of the Pope, but the Congregations may extend the period to a maximum of twenty days in order to permit other cardinals to arrive in Vatican City.

A vacancy in the papal office may also result from a papal abdication, though no pope has abdicated since Gregory XII in 1409.

Let's keep it that way!

4689. robertjayb - 4/2/2005 3:04:32 PM

Happy Trails, Pope...

4690. Magoseph - 4/4/2005 4:08:30 PM

Hey, Robert, put a caption in Sex and Gender for me, please?

4691. judithathome - 4/4/2005 4:12:01 PM

Thank God you found a picture of him alive, Robert!

4692. wonkers2 - 4/5/2005 9:08:46 AM

Good News for Thrifty Americans

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday, in the first decision I can recall written by Clarence Thomas with which I agree, that IRA's, with certain exceptions, are untouchable in bankruptcy proceedings as are 401ks and Social Security. Until yesterday's ruling, IRAs generally weren't protected from criditors under federal law--unlike 401ks and other employer sponsored retirement plans. Instead IRA protection was covered by state laws which vary.

The Supremes didn't address whether large IRA accounts will be fully shielded, however. The bankruptcy code says that certain assets "reasonably necessary" to support the debtor and any dependents may be protected from crieditors. That language means some of the assets in very large IRAs might not be protected.

However, the bankruptcy bill expected to pass Congress this week would cap the IRA exemption at $1 million, EXCLUDING ROLLOVER DEPOSITS that often make up the bulk of IRA accounts. This provision would effectively extend protection to most IRA accounts.

Wall Street Journal 4-4-05

4693. robertjayb - 4/5/2005 10:35:50 AM

Big C for Jennings...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - ABC News television anchor Peter Jennings is suffering from lung cancer, ABC News said on Tuesday.

Jennings, who presents ABC's "World News Tonight," has been one of the anchors of the three major U.S. broadcast networks in the last couple of decades. NBC's Tom Brokaw stepped down last December and Dan Rather ended his 24-year term at CBS last month under the cloud of a reporting scandal.

4694. thoughtful - 4/5/2005 10:51:33 AM

Uh oh...that doesn't sound good. They say he begins out patient treatment. That means it's beyond operable. Of course with lung cancer, 9 out of 10 times it is beyond operable when they find it.

Poor peter.

I see they didn't mention Koppel as a sub. That's a shame. Koppel is good. certainly better than charlie gibson.

4695. thoughtful - 4/5/2005 10:52:00 AM

of course, I don't think gibson is well either. during the pres. debates he had clear signs of a tremor.

4696. jexster - 4/5/2005 1:20:20 PM

Papam Putreficanum
Vatican: John Paul II Was Not Embalmed


Donations of Air Freshener Maybe Sent to the Camerlengo



(04-05) 10:26 PDT VATICAN CITY, (AP) --


Departing from tradition, Pope John Paul II was not embalmed, only "prepared" for viewing by hundreds of thousands of mourners, the Vatican said Tuesday.


Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls did not elaborate on the procedure, but an embalmer in Rome said it appeared John Paul's remains were only touched up with cosmetics.


Massimo Signoracci, whose family embalmed three other popes, said he could not be certain what had been done without examining the body.


Signoracci said even a light embalming is necessary for a body that is exposed for several days.


John Paul died on Saturday, and his remains were put on public view late Monday on an open platform in St. Peter's Basilica. He will be buried Friday.


Historically, organs were removed to make embalming more durable. Relics of 22 popes — from Sixtus V, who died in 1590, to Leo XIII, who died in 1903 — are kept in Rome's St. Anastasio and Vincent Church, near the Trevi fountain.


Pope Pius X, who reigned from 1903 to 1914, abolished the custom of removing organs.


Embalming usually consists of draining the blood and other bodily fluids and intravenously injecting formaldehyde and other preserving liquids.


Signoracci said his family had embalmed the remains of John XXIII in 1963, and of Paul VI and John Paul I, who both died in 1978.


Paul VI was only lightly embalmed before his body was placed before the public during Rome's hot summer. But after two days the skin and fingernails began losing their color.


John XXIII's body, by contrast, was in excellent condition when it was exhumed from the cramped grotto under the basilica in 2001 — 38 years after his death — and moved to the main floor following his beatification.


John Paul II, who expressed a will to be buried underground, will be placed in John XXIII's vacant tomb.

4697. alistairConnor - 4/5/2005 4:16:33 PM

I heard there was some controversy over his remains, the Poles are ardently yearning to have his heart return home.

Perhaps that is the reason they didn't embalm him : unseemly squabbling over his lights, liver, bowels (always useful for hanging capitalists) etc...

4698. judithathome - 4/5/2005 4:47:55 PM

Saul Bellow....RIP

4699. alistairconnor - 4/6/2005 3:45:44 AM

Oh yes... his famous book was "The quiet American", right?

(rim shot)

Um, what books should I have read by the Bellow fellow? I'll put them on my long-list.

4700. Magoseph - 4/6/2005 5:28:12 AM

No, that’s Graham Greene, Ali.

Bellow’s obit

“Norman Mailer called “Augie March'' a ``travelogue for timid intellectuals.

This quote from the article amuses me because when I said to a friend, a couple of years after I got off the boat, that I needed to read the works of typically American writers, Saul Bellow was first on the list.



I

4701. alistairconnor - 4/6/2005 6:17:55 AM

No, that’s Graham Greene, Ali.

Yes actually I have read all of Greene (and none of Bellow)

... Bellow ... quiet American... ;o) ... never mind.

4702. wonkers2 - 4/6/2005 6:19:26 AM

I liked "Augie March" almost as much as "Huck Finn." Mailer is a good writer but not in the same league with Bellow. I wonder if Bellow was using Viagra???

4703. Magoseph - 4/6/2005 6:49:07 AM

Ali, you know that I am unable to understand your so very subtle plaisanteries--sorry, though...

4704. PelleNilsson - 4/6/2005 8:46:20 AM

Prince Rainier died this morning.

4705. judithathome - 4/6/2005 9:38:35 AM

Alistair, I got it...and, to use one of Jay's faves, LOLed.

4706. Magoseph - 4/6/2005 9:51:59 AM

GIWIST, Judith!

4707. concerned - 4/7/2005 1:45:58 PM

Cochran's most memorable line: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." [Referring to a glove offered into evidence as the killer's, but it was too small for OJ.]

Memorable? More like stupid. I have (had) worn leather gloves that have, because they had become wet (no, not with anybody's blood), or for other reasons have shrunk to the point where I could no longer get them on my hand(s) without ripping them to the point where they were useless.

4708. concerned - 4/7/2005 1:45:58 PM

Cochran's most memorable line: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." [Referring to a glove offered into evidence as the killer's, but it was too small for OJ.]

Memorable? More like stupid. I have (had) worn leather gloves that have, because they had become wet (no, not with anybody's blood), or for other reasons have shrunk to the point where I could no longer get them on my hand(s) without ripping them to the point where they were useless.

4709. concerned - 4/7/2005 1:47:32 PM

4668. Max Macks - 3/31/2005 8:56:34 PM

I seldom watch TV news , but had to see

the photo of that vegertable several times..

I hope you're never entrusted with the care of another (disabled) person.

4710. Macnas - 4/8/2005 1:11:30 AM

Hello con, how are you doing?

Good to see you again.

4711. jexster - 4/10/2005 11:39:01 AM

The media had fun with this from Charles' wedding yesterday....here's the full text

COE Book of Common Prayer, 1662:

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

4712. wonkers2 - 4/14/2005 10:58:16 AM

There is a fascinating story of intrigue and murder of one of France's richest men--financier-banker, Edouard Stern--on the front page of today's Wall Street Journal. I would link it if I could.

Stern was the heir of a 19th century banking family and known in his own right as a shrewd deal maker. Stern took control, at age 23,of the family bank by ousting his father in a family coup. He and his father didn't speak for 15 years until his father was on his death bed. He salvaged the family banking business and made a billion. In the meantime he married the daughter of Lazard Frers chairman David-Weill and joined Lazard as a presumptive head of Lazard some day. He became restive and Left Lazard. He and his art-historian wife had three children and then divorced.

Anyway, getting to the point, Edouard Stern, age 55, was found March 1 in a pool of blood in his Geneva apartment, clad only in a skin-colored full latex body suit. His lover, 36-year-old, Cecile Brossard is under arrest for his murder. She knew where Stern kept his guns because he often coaxed her into handling them. [N.B. iiibbb, don't let your fiance fondle your guns!] After killing Stern, Brossard fled and threw the murder weapon plus two other guns and her key to Stern's apartment into Lake Geneva and flew to Sydney, the "farthest place she could think of from Geneva." She returned shortly thereafter and confessed to killing Stern "in a fit of madness provoked by his behavior toward her." They had argued over $1 million he had deposited in Ms. Brossard's name at Credit Suisse, but then had frozen the money. They had also argued over his unfulfilled promises to marry her. Ms. Brossard came to Mr. Stern's apartment, and they argued about the money, "but at some point Mr. Stern changed the subject and they had sex. The couple's experience with sado-masochism may explain Mr. Stern's attire that night."

In Switzerland, crimes of passion carry prison sentences of 1-10 years, compared with intentional murder, for which sentences start at 10 years.

I was unsure whether to put this post in the Gun Control thread for the edification of iiibbb or to put it in the Sex thread for the pleasure of Ms. No and Cap'n Dirty, or in the International thread for Alistair and Pelle, so I compromised and put it in News and Current Events. Enjoy.

[The full story is worth the price of today's Wall Street Journal.]

4713. iiibbb - 4/14/2005 12:04:25 PM

Scintillating... it's like right out of a CSI episode. Did you see the one where they put LSD in the rich guy's baby bottle? He had a secret room and everything.

Granted... not quite as creepy as the "furries" with their "yiffing".

4714. wonkers2 - 4/14/2005 12:46:26 PM

Ha! Pretty good!

4715. thoughtful - 4/14/2005 1:05:31 PM

Give it 2 weeks and it'll be a law & order episode

4716. Ms. No - 4/14/2005 1:35:41 PM

Wonk,

I replied to your post in Sex & Gender that referred to this news story. A somewhat similar case happened here in the States about 18 mos ago.

4717. wonkers2 - 4/14/2005 6:37:46 PM

Tnx. Got it.

4718. Ulgine Barrows - 4/14/2005 11:26:40 PM

wonkers2, that is so similar to the fiction of Patricia Cornwell as to be eerie.

4719. alistairConnor - 4/14/2005 11:44:10 PM

Life imitates art.

I could never imagine writing about someone in a latex body suit.




Oh wait...

4720. iiibbb - 4/15/2005 6:51:17 AM

In the continuing saga of gay marriage the Oregon Supreme Court nullifies 3000 marriage licenses from one county.

African american slaves used an alternative Celtic tradition to tying the knot... jumping the broom...

4721. iiibbb - 4/15/2005 8:20:41 AM

Wonkers... let me one-up your seedy story.

14-year-old shot; beau, 28, arrested

It has everything you'd expect.

- They're distant relatives
- They're (almost) in West Virginia
- They live in a trailer park
- The police arrested him holed up in another relative's house.

4722. iiibbb - 4/15/2005 8:25:37 AM

Too much water deadly for athletes

The dangers of this substance are not new; they have been covered up by the establishment though.

4723. Magoseph - 4/15/2005 1:29:29 PM

A friend of mine just called and said that the break in the stock-market is based on a rumor that Ford and General Motors will soon declare bankrucy--anybody else heard this?

4724. thoughtful - 4/15/2005 2:28:33 PM

i heard about gm but not ford...rumors at this point

4725. iiibbb - 4/15/2005 2:32:07 PM

tumble

4726. wonkers2 - 4/15/2005 2:35:27 PM

There have been rumors but, in my opinion, it's not likely that GM will declare bankruptcy. But, on the other hand, companies have done it in order to get out from under some of their union contract obligations.

4727. wonkers2 - 4/15/2005 2:36:42 PM

iiibbb, do you think it would have helped if the 14-year-olds mother had been packing? She might have tried to shoot him in the nether regions.

4728. iiibbb - 4/15/2005 2:38:32 PM

mixed reports on GM

GM says no

Blogosphere says fear

Union label?

4729. wonkers2 - 4/15/2005 2:38:37 PM

One other thought on the GM Ford rumors--if gas prices go up to $2 and the economy nosedives, as it well might, all bets are off. GM could have a serious cash flow problem.

4730. alistairConnor - 4/15/2005 3:36:22 PM

This week, the last of the English car makers closed its doors.

But GM and Ford... that would be the end of an era. Logical enough.

4731. iiibbb - 4/18/2005 8:56:54 PM

Wasn't their a movie where they drilled through the mantle and the whole Earth cracked in half?

4732. Macnas - 4/19/2005 2:57:27 AM

re 4731

I love the findings: its more complex than we thought.

Hurrah for science and $1.5 billion!

4733. alistairconnor - 4/19/2005 3:09:43 AM

Well actually, what he says is : "this CONFIRMS that it's more complex than we thought".

I mean, we always expect the unexpected. But this is so surprising that it's a ... well, a total bore actually.

Hurrah for scientific eloquence!

4734. jayackroyd - 4/19/2005 3:19:47 AM

The sidebar is pretty funny. The article say we really don't know what's down there, while the sidebar tells what is down there.

4735. Macnas - 4/19/2005 3:52:13 AM

I doubt Jules Verne is doing the copy.

I'll be disappointed if they don't find at least one gigantic lizard beast.

4736. Macnas - 4/19/2005 3:53:07 AM

And hurrah for alistairs diabolical puns!

4737. thoughtful - 4/19/2005 6:16:49 AM

wonks..what do you mean IF gas prices go up to $2...in our area they are $2.25 for regular!

4738. iiibbb - 4/19/2005 1:42:59 PM

On the bright side... he can work on his degree.

4739. wonkers2 - 4/19/2005 2:05:53 PM

Thoughtful, I meant $3.

4740. Ms. No - 4/19/2005 2:22:22 PM

Raise a glass for $2.57 cheapo unleaded.

But we'd better hush before Macnas puts us all in our place.

4741. Macnas - 4/20/2005 1:20:33 AM

Harrumpph!

If'n I were youse I'd start hoarding fuel now.

4742. PelleNilsson - 4/20/2005 2:01:40 AM

Here we are paying the equivalent of $5.70 per gallon so you still have some way to go.

4743. jexster - 4/21/2005 8:52:13 PM

In order to protect our children and the American family, we obviously need to ban heterosexuals from teaching in our public schools.


Sorry Arky...
Turn in your badge.. your eraser..your chalk
----------------------

In City Schools, Five Teachers Are Accused of Sex Offenses

By THOMAS J. LUECK

Published: April 21, 2005

Charges filed yesterday against a math teacher in Brooklyn were the latest in a string of five cases said to have involved criminal or inappropriate behavior by
school employees that have stunned parents and school officials.

The teacher, Joanna Hernandez, 27, surrendered to face misdemeanor charges of kissing one of her students, a 15-year-old boy, in an empty classroom at Intermediate School 55 in Brownsville during school hours, the police
said.

Ms. Hernandez's arrest came a day after Schools Chancellor Joel I.Klein issued an extraordinary warning to principals throughout the city. "I will use all means at my disposal to see that sex offenders are removed from our school
system and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Mr. Klein said in an e-mail message.

4744. wonkers2 - 4/22/2005 3:48:17 PM

Terry Semel, CEO of Yahoo topped the Forbes list for total compensation last year at $230 million.

4745. wonkers2 - 4/22/2005 3:51:13 PM

See the rest of the top CEOs Here.

4746. wonkers2 - 4/22/2005 3:52:16 PM

Tops in compensation, at least. Not necessarily tops in performance.

4747. Magoseph - 4/27/2005 8:03:28 AM

April 26, 2005
LA CROSSE, Wis. -- A man told police he kept his mother's corpse in a basement freezer for more than four years while he collected her Social Security checks, authorities said Monday.
Philip Schuth, 52, told police his elderly mother, Edith, died of natural causes in August 2000 but that he didn't tell anyone because he was afraid police would blame him, according to documents filed in court. An autopsy is set for this week on the body, which was found in ice in a sitting position.
Investigators found the chest freezer after a Friday night standoff at Schuth's home in Campbell, about 110 miles northwest of Madison, that began when a boy told his father that Schuth had hit him.
The boy's father and mother and the child confronted Schuth. After admitting he'd hit the boy, Schuth pulled out a gun and opened fire, injuring the father, according to court documents.
When he surrendered, investigators found guns and explosives.
By the Associated Press

4748. alistairconnor - 4/27/2005 8:15:47 AM

Well, at least he didn't run a motel. And he isn't called Norman.

4749. robertjayb - 4/27/2005 7:16:55 PM

Aggies clone French horse...(AP)

A horse has been added to the list of animals successfully cloned by researchers at Texas A&M University.

School officials announced Wednesday their partnership with a French company resulted in the cloning. A&M believes this is the first successfully cloned horse in North America. Horses had previously been cloned in Italy.

The French-American partnership was a major factor in the horse's name: Paris Texas.

"Look at him, he's gorgeous," Katrin Hinrichs, the lead scientist on the project said just before the six-week old light brown foal made his public debut. He whinnied and walked right up to several photographers who snapped his picture.

4750. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 1:22:10 PM

Judy Woodruff leaves CNN

Darn. She was my favorite dubya apologist.

"To my colleagues and friends at CNN: I've decided to leave daily journalism after 30 years, 12 of them at this network. I've had challenging and exciting opportunities, been supported by an amazing and talented group of people, and made lifelong friends. I wish them the very best. I'm discussing several long-form projects in television. I'll also teach, do some writing and be an occasional consultant and contributor to CNN. To all of you at CNN who have been so wonderful to me, I can't begin to thank you adequately. But thank you. We will stay in touch and we'll always have memories of good journalism, good times and a few laughs together."

What's this "journalism" you're talking about, Judy?

4751. thoughtful - 4/28/2005 1:24:34 PM

w apologist??? she was the one who cried on the air when gore lost.

i dont watch cnn, but i'm always amazed when folks here say how right wing they are...my rw husband calls them 'al jazeera'

4752. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 1:45:04 PM

Well, I sure missed those tears. To me she is wallpaper.

4753. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 1:50:03 PM

I hope this report pans out. Sightings have been reported from time to time only to be debunked.

NPR... A group of wildlife scientists believe the ivory-billed woodpecker is not extinct. They say they have made seven firm sightings of the bird in central Arkansas. The landmark find caps a search that began more than 60 years ago, after biologists said North America’s largest woodpecker had become extinct in the United States.

The large, showy bird is an American legend -- it disappeared when the big bottomland forests of North America were logged, and relentless searches have produced only false alarms. Now, in an intensive year-long search in the Cache River and White River national wildlife refuges involving more than 50 experts and field biologists working together as part of the Big Woods Partnership, an ivory-billed male has been captured on video.

4754. judithathome - 4/28/2005 1:56:37 PM

Judy Woodruff certainly IS a Bush supporter...she slants almost every interview to favor the Bush side. I have been so angry at times at her obvious bias that I've fired off letters of compliant to CNN.

If I were to do it every time she shows her bias, I'd never get anything else done at all.

4755. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 2:00:27 PM

Science Magazine backs bird tale:

The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), long suspected to be extinct, has been rediscovered in the "Big Woods" region of eastern Arkansas. Visual encounters during 2004 and 2005, and analysis of a video clip from April 2004, confirm the existence of at least one male. Acoustic signatures consistent with Campephilus display-drums also have been heard from the region. Extensive efforts to locate birds away from the primary site remain unsuccessful, but potential habitat for a thinly distributed source population is vast (over 220,000 ha).

4756. thoughtful - 4/28/2005 2:04:33 PM

well apparently sen byrd said she's been intimidated by the bushies...maybe he's right...

4757. wonkers2 - 4/28/2005 2:11:40 PM

About all that can be said for CNN is that of the cable news channels, its less offensive than Fox and CNBC. And that's not saying much!

4758. judithathome - 4/28/2005 2:14:43 PM

I agree on both points, Wonkers.

4759. PelleNilsson - 4/28/2005 2:16:30 PM

Surely the rediscovered woodpecker is much more interesting than this or that TV-journalist or US senator.

4760. judithathome - 4/28/2005 2:21:15 PM

Maybe so but it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, not the one that makes holes in my oak trees.

4761. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 2:23:24 PM

Yes, it is.

Arky should go a safari.

4762. judithathome - 4/28/2005 2:33:18 PM

Robert, did you read that Willie Nelson is a little too much of a Democrat for the Texas Republican Mafia to name a highway after him? And that Odessa is starting an elective class on the Bible in their high schools? Wonder if they will teach the football players to pray more before their football games.

4763. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 4:16:26 PM

They're dissing Willie?

I predict a GRASSroots uprising.

4764. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 4:33:15 PM

Willie has an opinion...

4765. robertjayb - 4/28/2005 4:46:05 PM

Save the Willie Nelson Highway!

4766. arkymalarky - 4/28/2005 4:52:00 PM

That is so cool! I'll have to pass the bird info on to Bro. It sounds more likely to be in his neck of the woods than mine.

4767. wonkers2 - 4/29/2005 6:45:55 AM

Two white South Africans guilty of feeding black victim to the lions Here

4768. Magoseph - 4/29/2005 8:21:03 AM

That is horrible1

4769. Magoseph - 4/29/2005 8:21:13 AM

That is horrible!

4770. jayackroyd - 4/29/2005 9:25:27 AM

4766

There is concern that crowds of people may try to see the secretive ivory billed woodpecker. The Times says that the researchers have tried to keep the site secret. NPR (I'm told) reported this morning that "some wild life concervancy specialists were lamenting the attention this announcement was getting," quoting my spelling challenged source.

4771. PelleNilsson - 4/29/2005 10:21:58 AM

It made the news of BBC World Service. Not bad.

4772. arkymalarky - 4/29/2005 10:51:46 AM

Bird enthusiasts may travel from far and yon, but they would have difficulty maneuvering to the right location, and you're not going to have crowds of Arkies heading out to look for woodpeckers, no matter how rare. They probably don't even know about it if it hasn't appeared on Fox News yet.

4773. thoughtful - 4/29/2005 12:40:59 PM

so long as some a*hole doesn't come along and shoot the darn thing just because he can.

Remember someone, somewhere, shot the last passenger pigeon.

4774. alistairConnor - 4/29/2005 3:42:51 PM

And the fuckers shot Cannelle.

She was one of the dozen Pyrenean bears.

4775. robertjayb - 4/29/2005 3:48:24 PM

The last passenger pigeon (Martha) died at the Cincinnati Zoo on Sep. 1, 1914, at the age of 29.

4776. concerned - 5/3/2005 10:40:02 AM

An example of why it was wrong to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube

“How long have I been away?” Herbert asked.

“We told him almost 10 years,” the uncle said. “He thought it was only three months.”

Herbert, who will turn 44 Saturday, was fighting a house fire Dec. 29, 1995, when the roof collapsed, burying him under debris. After going without air for several minutes, Herbert was comatose for 2 1/2 months and has undergone therapy ever since.


News accounts in the days and years after his injury describe Herbert as blind and with little, if any, memory. Video shows him receiving physical therapy but apparently unable to communicate and with little awareness of his surroundings.

Those who wish to infringe on patient rights (mostly for political reasons) have arbitrarily denied Terri Schiavo any possibility of making similar progress.

4777. Magoseph - 5/3/2005 10:58:15 AM

This article, concerned, is not very hopeful regarding the chances these people, who recover, have for the rest of their lives.

4778. arkymalarky - 5/3/2005 11:14:49 AM

The man could walk with a walker and utter a few words over all that time.

4779. thoughtful - 5/3/2005 11:37:50 AM

there's also no indication of what condition he was in..whether or not cat scans indicated liquified brain matter and no electrical activity as in the schiavo case...hard to tell but the fact the they said he spoke and "made specific requests" may suggest there may have been some verbal activity prior to this though perhaps not coherent or relevant.

IAC, just as frist shouldn't diagnose over the tv, neither should we try after one article. we just don't have the facts.

4780. concerned - 5/3/2005 2:37:48 PM

How could somebody 'use a walker' if he has little awareness of his surroundings? That doesn't jibe.

4781. concerned - 5/3/2005 2:40:27 PM

Just because part of the brain is destroyed doesn't indicate that the person is beyond recovery. There are numerous instances of individuals who live reasonably normal lives with an entire hemisphere of his or her brain missing or destroyed.

4782. judithathome - 5/3/2005 3:27:34 PM

I just can't do it...I just can't. It's sitting there, waiting to come out and I just can't do it.

4783. robertjayb - 5/3/2005 3:43:08 PM

Judith, you are a saint.

4784. thoughtful - 5/3/2005 4:46:47 PM

There are numerous instances of individuals who live reasonably normal lives with an entire hemisphere of his or her brain missing or destroyed.


cite from a reputable source, please...just one instance will be fine.

4785. arkymalarky - 5/3/2005 6:27:12 PM

Con'd--they didn't just let him wander the halls by himself. Duh.

Don't you think that such a decision should belong to the family and expert physicians rather than the state? Take, for instance, the baby that the Texas law Bush signed allowing the state to unplug against its parents' wishes.

4786. arkymalarky - 5/3/2005 6:28:37 PM

We had an Arky wake up after 15 years or so in a coma, but it was a coma. This was some time before the Schiavo case was resolved. Still, it's not the same condition. I'd forgotten it, but one of the news channels mentioned it today when reporting on the revived fireman.

4787. wonkers2 - 5/3/2005 8:27:08 PM

Possibly some of those missing half their brain are Moties?

4788. concerned - 5/3/2005 11:36:34 PM

Now that you all have demonstrated your comprehensive ignorance on this matter and, therefore, shown your unfitness to pass judgment on the Terri Schiavo case relative to myself, here is a link to an article describing a medically accepted procedure, called 'hemispherectomy', in which generally half the brain, excluding the brain stem, thalamus and basal ganglia are removed, with typical post-operative results that allow participation in most recreational activities.

This plasticity of brain function is not limited to children, as millions of cases of adult recovery from cerebral dysfunction, stroke and other nerve cell damage can attest. So, to sum up, you all can just screw off regarding the Schiavo case AFAIC because you don't know what you're talking about and you're certainly not competent to reach a conclusion that she was in a vegetative state in the first place and could not have improved her condition.

4789. Macnas - 5/4/2005 1:42:08 AM

re 4774

But alistair, it was coming right at them!

(if you've never watched Southpark, it won't be half as funny as I meant it to be...)

4790. Magoseph - 5/4/2005 2:42:11 AM

There was an episode bashing Bush last month that was pretty terrific, Mac--have you seen it?

4791. alistairconnor - 5/4/2005 2:42:47 AM

Actually Mac, just last night I received an email on the subject of Cannelle (apparently the last full-blooded indigenous Pyrenean bear, the others are reintroduced from the Balkans)

... and according to the police report, it does indeed appear that they had little choice but to shoot her. She mauled a hunting dog (fair cop, she was defending her cubs), then went for one guy, he fired a warning shot but she charged again, and bailed him up in a tree for 45 minutes... the tree was hanging over a cliff... just like in the movies.

So. Some of my ecologist friends have jumped to conclusions and they've been baying for the blood of the hunters. But the fundamental problem is of incompatibility of habitat between people and bears.

4792. Macnas - 5/4/2005 2:54:03 AM

I would have thought, and maybe I'm being somewhat naive here, that the region in which this rare bear resided in would have been a reserve of some sort.

Man is always going to clash with other animals, where there are supportable numbers in adequate habitat, this usually isn't a problem. There will still be incompatibility, as you say, but it should be on a manageable level.

However, where the animal concerned is such an animal as "Cannelle", and is so rare in terms of bloodline that it is the only one of its kind left (no disrespect to the Balkan bears), then I would have thought that she would have had her habitat considered a special nature reserve where no hunting was allowed.

Personally, If I were aware of a bear, I wouldn’t go within 20 miles of it.

4793. Macnas - 5/4/2005 2:55:19 AM

Mago, I have not been watching any television of late, bar some news, so I am well behind in all my favourite programs.

4794. thoughtful - 5/4/2005 7:26:53 AM

Thanks for the link concerned. I'd not heard of that procedure before. I knew that for severe seizures they would sever the synapses between the two brain hemispheres, but i'd not heard they actually remove half the brain.

However, none of this has anything to do with the schiavo case. She was not suffering from seizures or other brain abnormalities. She was in a persistent vegetative state. And she didn't have a healthy brain hemisphere to take over for a damaged hemisphere. She had a liquified brain and no electrical activity in the brain. Very different thing.

4795. Magoseph - 5/4/2005 7:49:16 AM

2,300-Year-Old Mummy Unveiled in Egypt

By PAUL GARWOOD, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 14 minutes ago

SAQQARA, Egypt - A superbly preserved 2,300-year-old mummy bearing a golden mask and covered in brilliantly colored images of gods and goddesses was unveiled Tuesday at Egypt's Saqqara Pyramids complex south of Cairo.


The unidentified mummy, from the 30th pharaonic dynasty, was enclosed in a wooden sarcophagus and buried in sand at the bottom of a 20-foot shaft when it was discovered recently by an Egyptian-led archaeological team.

"We have revealed what may be the most beautiful mummy ever found in Egypt," Zahi Hawass, chief of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said as he helped excavators remove the sarcophagus lid to show off the find.

4796. judithathome - 5/4/2005 8:04:49 AM

you're certainly not competent to reach a conclusion that she was in a vegetative state in the first place and could not have improved her condition.

And reading a few articles on the subject doesn't make you any more compentent than anyone here.

4797. arkymalarky - 5/4/2005 8:22:02 AM

It was clearly pointed out on CNN this morning by Sanjay Gupta (whose looks make his credibility impeccable, imo) that none of the instances noted of people reviving after years was that of "permanent vegetative state." All of them were in some degree of coma, and could respond to stiimulation throughout the years they were incapacitated, and Schiavo could not.

4798. arkymalarky - 5/4/2005 8:23:30 AM

Ewww, and I guess this falls under "news," but mentioning CNN reminded me that I saw somewhere that their news anchor, Daryn Something (a female) is dating Rush Limbaugh.

4799. alistairconnor - 5/4/2005 8:30:39 AM

The sudden hysteria in the US about not unplugging people :
First, I thought it was just a perversion of the virtuous human principle of keeping people alive as long as there's a slightest chance.

But that's not it. These people are in fact as impervious to scientific reasoning on this, as they are on evolution, for example. They believe that science is fundamentally suspect. They probably believe in miracles : direct divine intervention : and that's probably the subliminal subtext to the Schiavo business.

I've got no problem with people believing this sort of stuff, but it's not a sound basis for public policy.

4800. Macnas - 5/4/2005 8:42:50 AM

Angels, that's another big aspect of gonzo spirituality in the U.S.

4801. thoughtful - 5/4/2005 8:48:13 AM

AC, it's the same thing as abortion rights. You have to go to whatever incredible lengths, costs, sacrifices necessary to keep the 'innocent' alive. But no problem with killing the convicted even if they may be innocent, sending youth off to fight holy wars, etc.

The latest code phrase for it is "culture of life".

4802. concerned - 5/4/2005 12:10:26 PM

arky -

I don't know how you can arrive at that conclusion about Terri Schiavo since she most certainly could respond to stimuli during the entire period of her incapacitation, thus could not have been in a 'persistent vegetative state'.

Admit it, your side screwed up re the Schiavo case.

4803. arkymalarky - 5/4/2005 1:22:53 PM

"I" didn't arrive at any conclusions about Terri Schiavo. Your information is not what all the news agencies and experts (save one, I believe) reported.

If you're depending on Frist's video diagnosis, then you have more faith in his capabilities than most people.

4804. arkymalarky - 5/4/2005 1:24:38 PM

And "I" didn't screw up in the Schiavo case. It was a question of who was responsible for making decisions concerning her welfare based on the best available information wrt her prognosis, and the courts determined it was her husband, not her parents or the government.

4805. thoughtful - 5/4/2005 3:56:59 PM

concerned. First of all it's not 'our side' 'their side' on this. It's not like all gopers supported maintaining the feeding tube...nor all dems the reverse. Rather the consensus was, across party lines, that this is a private family matter and the congress and the president should butt out.

Secondly, whoever 'we' is, 'we' did not screwup the Schiavo case. Rather her case was heard by many many courts over many years and was put before the supreme court 3 times! The consensus of all of the courts that reviewed her case was that she was in a persistent vegatative state and that there was sufficient evidence that her wishes were not to be kept alive in those conditions. Believe it or not there were xtians among those judges and gopers too.

See timeline here.

So whoever 'we' is, 'we' did not screw up. Rather her overly controlling parents had clear emotional issues and refused to deal with the fact that their daughter died 15 years ago.

...quotes the June 2003 opinion of the Second District Court of the State of Florida;

Over the span of this last decade, Theresa's brain has deteriorated because of the lack of oxygen it suffered at the time of the heart attack. By mid 1996, the CAT scans of her brain showed a severely abnormal structure. At this point, much of her cerebral cortex is simply gone and has been replaced by cerebral spinal fluid. Medicine cannot cure this condition. Unless an act of God, a true miracle, were to recreate her brain, Theresa will always remain in an unconscious, reflexive state, totally dependent upon others to feed her and care for her most private needs.

4806. wonkers2 - 5/4/2005 4:02:33 PM

Why don't we wait for the autopsy?

4807. judithathome - 5/4/2005 5:40:01 PM

Theresa will always remain in an unconscious, reflexive state, totally dependent

This bolded word is the answer to your claim of her responsiveness, Con.

4808. wonkers2 - 5/5/2005 4:57:07 AM

Kerkorian to buy 9 percent of General Motors Here.

4809. Wombat - 5/5/2005 2:45:34 PM

Concerned needs to learn the difference between Persistant Vegetative State and Minimally Conscious State in re brain injuries. I am also sure that Concerned was delighted to welcome Jesse Jackson to his "side."

4810. robertjayb - 5/5/2005 5:37:47 PM

Gotta love that Willie!

On the proposal to name a toll road after him ---

…he envisioned motorists invoking his name every time they paid for their drive.

"I don't really need that," Nelson said. "If they want to give me a piece of it, that's a different deal."

4811. arkymalarky - 5/5/2005 9:56:41 PM

Really. I'd tell them they'd have to agree to pay him a portion of the toll to even get the rights to use his name.

4812. jexster - 5/6/2005 12:13:22 PM

Kulligan's a peter-pumper!!!!

Anti-Gay Republican Mayor of Spokane Outted for Molesting Boys

It ever thus that men who complain the loudest and rail against fags are some the biggest queens around..fact of life

4813. jayackroyd - 5/6/2005 1:06:21 PM

From CNN:

To a dessert shop customer, the severed fingertip found in a pint of frozen custard could be worth big dollars in a potential lawsuit. To the shop worker who lost it, the value is far more than monetary.

But Clarence Stowers still has the digit, refusing to return the evidence so it could be reattached. And now it's too late for doctors to do anything for 23-year-old Brandon Fizer.

"I'm not saying who has it, but somebody has it," Stowers said this week in a telephone interview, refusing to let on where the fingertip is now.

Soon after Stowers found the finger in a mouthful of chocolate soft-serve he bought Sunday at Kohl's Frozen Custard in Wilmington, he put it in his freezer at home, taking it out only occasionally to show to television cameras.

He refused to give it to the shop's owner, and refused to give it to a doctor who was treating Fizer, who accidentally stuck his hand in a mixing machine and had his right index finger lopped off at the first knuckle.

Finders, keepers, I guess.

4814. Wombat - 5/6/2005 1:28:37 PM

I thought that there was no connection between sexual orientation and pedophilia. Is Jexter suggesting otherwise? If the charges stick, the irony (and hypocrisy) is delicious.

4815. jayackroyd - 5/6/2005 1:46:55 PM

The last two paragraphs are interesting on that score:

An article by Steele opened this way: "In an Internet chat room last New Years Eve where he discussed his recent date with an 18-year-old man, Spokane Mayor Jim West criticized the 'sex Nazis' who try to regulate private sexual behavior. For years, thats exactly what West tried to do in Olympia [the state capital[]."

Editor Smith wrote, "This is not a story about sexual orientation. This is a story about alleged sexual abuse of children and misuse of power and authority. Using the trappings of office to lure and groom young sex partners, barely of legal age, is the public's business whether those potential partners are men or women."




One of the problems with these stories is that it's one thing when the kid is 10 and another entirely when the kid is 18. That is, of course, unless you're a priest under a vow of celibacy and in a position of intimate counselling that could be likened to a shrink.

Is it about the abuse of children? Or about young adults?

The hypocrisy is palpable in either case here, but the editor's rhetoric doesn't seem to match the facts that are stated in the article. "Boy scouts" can cover quite an age range, btw.

4816. jayackroyd - 5/6/2005 1:52:23 PM

I wonder whether this endangers the church's tax exempt status.


A North Carolina pastor has given his faith-based community a Republican makeover. From ABC news affiliate WLOS:

"East Waynesville Baptist asked nine members to leave. Now 40 more have left the church in protest. Former members say Pastor Chan Chandler gave them the ultimatum, saying if they didn't support George Bush, they should resign or repent."

4817. Ms. No - 5/6/2005 2:43:12 PM

What's the reasoning behind religious organizations being immune to taxation anyway? I could understand and fully support tax deductions for verifiable social aid spending, but it is quite apparent that not all churches are truly non-profit organizations and more and more these days they are active political action committee and lobbyists.

4818. thoughtful - 5/6/2005 4:00:48 PM

Well the reasoning is part of the separation of church and state. It would be easy for a government to levy 100% taxes on any 'nonapproved' religion, thus effectively establishing a state religion.

I have no problem with that provided the churches do their part and stay out of government. What churches tell their parishoners is fine by me...these people want to be preached to about all aspects of life is their business. But when church leaders start interfering in politics publicly...like that bishop trying to ex-communicate kerry for his abortion stance, then that's over the line in my book. My response would be to have the govt tax them for their political activities. Was it falwell or robertson that lost their tax exempt status because they went over the line? Can't remember.

4819. jayackroyd - 5/6/2005 4:30:33 PM

What's the reasoning behind religious organizations being immune to taxation anyway?

One of the problems with the income tax is how to tax non-profit organizations. They certainly exist, and since they show no profits, in principle they should be exempt from tax in a year they show a revenue surplus. If we used a comsumption tax, things would be easier. We could just tax them like everyone else. (Which is what I would prefer.)

4820. wonkers2 - 5/7/2005 5:30:14 AM

Two-year-old mauled to death by malemute and husky pets in her own back yard. Here.

4821. robertjayb - 5/8/2005 12:43:11 PM

Whore College offers hands-on training ...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Where else? -- (AP) -- It's higher education of the horizontal variety. About 25 sex workers went to a college of sorts, sitting through lectures on effective marketing, stress reduction and condom-application skills.

"We are still illegal," instructor Kimberlee Cline said before her 20-minute demonstration. "If we want to be treated as business professionals, we need to act ethically within the industry."

4822. iiibbb - 5/8/2005 12:48:10 PM

4.7 million dog bites per year in the US.

That's about 10 bites per minute... 1.5 people per minute need medical attention.

4823. iiibbb - 5/8/2005 12:49:12 PM

Protect the children from the nails.

4824. OhioSTOPAS - 5/8/2005 3:45:07 PM

Teen takes call from mother in Iraq, suspended for using cellphone in school:

"Columbus, Georgia (AHN) - The 17-year-old received the call during lunch time. When he was asked by a teacher to hang up, he responded, "This is my mom in Iraq. I'm not about to hang up on my mom."

"Assistant principal, Alfred Parham said the suspension was issued because of the teens reaction. Parham claims the child used profanity as he was escorted to the office.

"Kevin got defiant and disorderly," Parham said. "When a kid becomes out of control like that they can either be arrested or suspended for 10 days. Now being that his mother is in Iraq, we're not trying to cause her any undue hardship; he was suspended for 10 days.""

The school gave the kid a break by not having him ARRESTED? Mighty kind of them. Mighty kind to our service members in Iraq too - call your son 10,000 miles away back home, and the school will hang up on you and suspend your son.

Some good news: as a result of public outrage, the shit-for-brains school administration is revoking the suspension.

And some amusing news: Today's Fox News Sunday mentioned this story, but placed the incident in Columbus OHIO (complete with helpful map of the Buckeye State). Typical of the fact-checking rigor we've come to expect from Faux News.

4825. wonkers2 - 5/8/2005 4:10:48 PM

How do people with such little common sense or sense of proportion get into positions of authority?

4826. arkymalarky - 5/8/2005 8:07:42 PM

I agree with the revocation of the suspension, but the kid shouldn't have cussed at the teachers and should be punished in some way for that. If we all got to cuss out every idiot in authority this would be an anarchy.

4827. Macnas - 5/9/2005 1:46:25 AM

Extenuating circumstances Arky, and while I think you're right, in the main, I also think sometimes turning the air blue with a stream of foul language that would shame a stevedore is good for the soul.

4828. thoughtful - 5/9/2005 7:30:43 AM

The pathetic state of journalism today. Apparently someone called in to howard stern pretending to be schwarzenegger saying ridiculous and stupid things to be funny. Then some British press picked up the story and printed it as if it were real, which was then apparently picked up by Scarborough who discussed it as if it were real.

When will someone in the media realize that there is a difference between journalism and rumor-mongering????

Where's walter cronkite when we need him....

4829. arkymalarky - 5/9/2005 7:39:15 AM

Students need to learn how to respond differently, not just to authority, but to help them function irl. It might work in the movies, and adults know when it is necessary irl. You can get the message across and maintain control of yourself and the situation without getting verbally abusive, and more likely get your way in the process. The kid may have proven a point, and I don't necessarily disagree with it, but he obviously didn't get to continue his conversation with his mother, which is supposedly what was so important to him, and he might have been able to do so with a different approach.

I don't know these particular circumstances because I didn't read the article. Did he say when called down about the phone that it was his mother in Iraq and the teacher got ugly? Or did the teacher ask him to put away his phone and he got defiant and defensive?

It is against the law for students to have cellphones at school in AR, and if I allowed it without going through the office I would be held responsible. I don't know what the circumstances are there, but I probably would have sent the kid to the office (still on his phone) to continue his conversation with his mother there in private. Where I work 1) it's highly unlikely a kid would get defensive or defiant right off the gitgo and 2) it's highly unlikely that anyone would try to make him hang up on his mother in Iraq, regardless of the law, but we wouldn't allow him to just yack away on campus in front of the other students who are required to obey state laws and school regulations--several of whom also have parents or siblings in Iraq.

It would have been nice had someone in his family informed the school of his circumstances ahead of time, and the possibility he might receive an important phone call and need to be available. Kids are constantly trying to use cellphones at school, despite laws and school regulations, and with text messaging they now use them to cheat in class. It's a much bigger problem than most people realize. We've even had a few instances where students got in trouble in class and called their parents to the school on their cellphones with their side of the story before the teacher and/or office even had a chance to address it, much less deal with it.

My own daughter almost got suspended for using her cellphone right before she graduated, and I had zero sympathy for her, even though the teacher whose class she was in didn't care. Another teacher came in and saw it and reported her. She knew the rule and she got busted.

4830. Macnas - 5/9/2005 7:52:05 AM

Cell phone use in schools IS a bigger problem than I realised arky.

My daughter, 9 years old, is one of the few in her class who does not own one. Now, they don't use them in school of course, but I get a fair amount of whining about it now and then. Maybe there should be a legal age or something applied to them for purchase.

4831. arkymalarky - 5/9/2005 8:07:35 AM

It's hard to say. I don't know how parents stood it before they were around--they're great teenage tracking devices--but they can be dangerous in cars (I never have gotten Mose to adequately understand that) and a nuisance elsewhere. Also, this "anytime, anywhere, anything" attitude some teens are beginning to get is getting tiresome--and I was always rebellious myself and think a fair amount of it is good in young people. Authority and rules should be challenged when they're repressive or impractical.

The bottom line for that particular story to me, as a teacher who's had a lot to do with students and cellphones, is how both sides handled it. If the teacher got ugly for no reason, as opposed to just doing his/her job and getting the kid to obey the rules on campus before realizing what the kid was doing, I think the teacher should be PRIVATELY talked to about how to handle such situations in the future and the kid should not be in trouble if he tried politely explaining himself to no avail before getting defiant.

4832. robertjayb - 5/9/2005 4:21:08 PM

Up for a "good dog" story, Arky?

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- A newborn baby abandoned in a Kenyan forest was saved by a stray dog who apparently carried her across a busy road and through a barbed wire fence to a shed where the infant was discovered nestled with a litter of puppies, witnesses said Monday.

The baby girl, named "Angel" by hospital workers, was clad in a tattered shirt and wrapped in a plastic bag when the dog found her Friday, according to Aggrey Mwalimu, owner of the shed where the baby was discovered in a poor neighborhood near the Ngong Forest in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

4833. arkymalarky - 5/9/2005 6:17:40 PM

Awww, thank you, Robert!

4834. robertjayb - 5/10/2005 5:00:57 PM

Dad did it...

ZION, Ill. May 10, 2005 — (ABC) -- A man was arrested on murder charges Tuesday in the Mother's Day stabbings of his 8-year-old daughter and the little girl's best friend, who were killed after they went biking in a park.

Jerry Hobbs, who was recently released from prison, had led police to the bodies just off a wooded bike path early Monday, claiming he spotted them while searching for his daughter, the girl's grandfather, Arthur Hollabaugh, told The Associated Press.

Hobbs, 34, was questioned through the day about the deaths of Laura Hobbs, 8, and Krystal Tobias, 9.

4835. greystoke - 5/10/2005 5:11:45 PM

Another "good dog" story:


Heidi McIntyre and Tina Smith, who were represented by Erie defense attorney Tim Lucas, faced a preliminary hearing before Titusville Area District Magesterial Judge Amy Nicols on one count of having sexual intercourse with an animal.

According to a criminal complaint, the women were assisted by Douglas R. Peterson of Titusville on or about Oct. 4, 2004, with having sexual intercourse with a dog — a male mastiff — at Peterson’s residence. Peterson faces the same charge.



This town is not far from where I live.

4836. robertjayb - 5/10/2005 5:19:05 PM

Flaws found in Firefox...(Guerrilla News)

No software is immune to defects, also called bugs, as the latest critical vulnerability for Firefox shows. Once thought and reported to be a typical ‘trademark’ of Microsoft, Firefox shows it can introduce critical vulnerabilities with regular intervals as well. The advice at this point is to turn off Javascript in the browser, which can be done via the menu Tools->Options. Then select Web Features from the icons on the left, and remove the checkmark from Enable Javascript. This will have impact on the functionality of some web sites, since Javascript is commonly used for providing interactivity.

I was wondering about that strange icon...

4837. wonkers2 - 5/11/2005 10:12:03 AM

The Capitol and the White House are being evacuated as I post this message. Air Force jet fighters are scrambled over the Capitol. Per CNN.

4838. wonkers2 - 5/11/2005 10:13:41 AM

A small plane was seen flying into restricted air space in the Washington area. The CIA is saying they have no information about an iminent attack.

4839. wonkers2 - 5/11/2005 10:26:26 AM

All clear! 12:20 pm. Two F16 fighters were seen circling a single engine plane. They fired two warning flares directing the small plane away from downtown DC. The are in the process of forcing the small plane to land.

4840. jexster - 5/11/2005 8:53:16 PM

We just had our third baby earthquake in a week...Is it just relieving tectonic stresses or Precursor to Armageddon?

Stay tuned

4841. OhioSTOPAS - 5/13/2005 6:18:49 AM

In Message # 4824 I mentioned a news story about injustice to a high school student in Columbus, Georgia. (He was suspended for taking a cellphone call in school - from his mother, serving in Iraq!) I noted that Fox News (sic) Sunday mislocated the story in Columbus, OHIO.

Fox has now posted the transcript and repeated the error:

"A 17-year-old high school junior in Columbus, Ohio was suspended — in effect for the rest of the year — for using his cell phone during school hours. . . ."

Oops! Loyal Fox viewers might believe it is the Columbus, OHIO school system that screwed up. If they take it out on the mayor of Columbus (Michael Coleman, the leading Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor in next year's election), that's just an unfortunate accident. Again, uh, oops.

4842. OhioSTOPAS - 5/13/2005 6:22:40 AM

More Fox News (sic) follies:

As a wayward plane headed for the Capitol and White House the other day, frightened citizens exited our national landmarks. Even Mrs. Bush had to be hustled to a safe location.

But what important national institution did Fox highlight in its coverage? See here.

4843. robertjayb - 5/13/2005 2:45:00 PM

No, no, no! It is not happening...

(13 May 2005)

Nearly two-thirds of fish species in the North Sea have moved further north in search of colder waters because global warming is driving sea temperatures higher.

Scientists have compiled the first unequivocal evidence linking a major northward shift of North Sea fish species with rising ocean temperatures.

The researchers believe the movement is more dramatic than the simple migration of individual fish and represents a fundamental change in the distribution of marine species.

A study that covers 25 years of data has found the range of nearly two-thirds of North Sea species - including commercially important fish such as cod and haddock - have shifted either further north or to colder depths.

As cold-water fish have gone north, exotic warmer-water species such as the bib, scaldfish and lesser weever have extended their range by moving into the North Sea from the south, said Alison Perry, a marine biologist at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.

(The Independent)

4844. Ms. No - 5/13/2005 4:50:29 PM

Anyone else not surprised in the least that they've busted a bunch of INS agents and National Guardsment for drug trafficking across the U.S./Mexico border?

4845. judithathome - 5/13/2005 7:23:45 PM

What???!!! Surely you jest!!!

4846. OhioSTOPAS - 5/15/2005 4:18:44 AM

I'm astonished too!

We actually have National Guardsmen that haven't been shipped to Iraq???

4847. jayackroyd - 5/15/2005 12:34:34 PM

Shoes, off, please.

4848. iiibbb - 5/15/2005 2:12:15 PM

12 year old baby

4849. Macnas - 5/16/2005 2:40:34 AM

re 4847

Security much have been watching the animated film "Madagascar", with the evil penguins and all.

4850. robertjayb - 5/16/2005 10:45:52 AM

Good dog!

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- A border collie and golden retriever mix from Missouri has won the National Hero Dog award for alerting her owner that her husband was pinned underneath a tractor.

Eight-year-old Shannon, who lives on an 80-acre farm in Washington, Mo., accepted the 23rd annual National Hero Dog award Friday with her owners Ted and Peggy Mandry.

The award does not honor trained rescue dogs but "a companion animal that's well-treated and has bonded with the family, so they somehow know what to do and step up to the plate when there's trouble," said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.

4851. iiibbb - 5/18/2005 11:08:48 AM

I would think in today's self-esteme centered education system, they'd make everyone valedictorian

4852. iiibbb - 5/18/2005 11:40:51 AM

Another assasination attempt on Bush

This time in Georgia... last time in Central America somewhere.

4853. iiibbb - 5/18/2005 2:42:17 PM

Bee problem

Nearly 1/3 of all the food we ingest can be tied to bee activity.

4854. iiibbb - 5/19/2005 10:58:06 AM

Minutemen are people too.

TUCSON, Ariz.--Anybody who appreciates a good yuck was sad to see the Minutemen pack up their pickups and go home. After all, it wasn't every day that we got to enjoy the spectacle of sunscreen-lathered ACLU observers chasing volunteer border-watchers through the desert. But in the media bonfire accompanying Arizona's Redneck Revolt, we saw the cultural divide separating media elites from ordinary people--those with BlackBerries and $150 hairdos versus folks with tobacco bulges in their cheeks.

In the view of most of the reporters who parachuted into Arizona for this story and, disturbingly, local ones as well, you'd get the distinct impression that the Minutemen are the problem along the border. That's right. America needn't worry about the thousands who bust into the country every night. No, the real danger are those yahoos who think calling the cops when they see somebody breaking the law is a good idea.

Never mind that it worked, more or less. In April, the number of illegals coming across along the Naco corridor, where the Minutemen were stationed, fell, even if the balloon effect pushed them to other places along Arizona's 350-mile-long border with Mexico. But that's not the story most editors and producers wanted. They wanted to stand up the angle that went something like--no, exactly like--this: Gun-toting vigilantes run amok in the desert, hunting harmless illegals who are only looking for work.

So, you show up in gritty Tombstone, grab somebody wearing a straw hat and a sidearm and work him for the quotes you want. Then you shoot film of the guy wearing his gun, because that's what the producer said in the story meeting, and if you're lucky you get a big grin on the subject's face showing gaps where teeth should be.

I've been a reporter in Arizona for 30 years. As the border story has heated up, I get calls from out-of-town reporters wanting me to hook them up with angry border residents. If I mentioned in a story that a particular rancher carries a gun, that's the rancher the reporters want to see. They're less interested in understanding his problems than getting film of him and his six-shooter.

These border residents are routinely snickered at and called racist vigilantes. But most are decent folks caught up in the daily invasion of illegals who tramp across their land. Ranchers in hard-hit areas spend the first hours of every day repairing damage done the night before. They find fences knocked down and water spigots left on, draining thousands of precious gallons. And then there's the trash: pill bottles, syringes, used needles, and pile after pile of human feces.

4855. greystoke - 5/21/2005 7:44:36 AM

Mary Kay gets married

Mary Kay Letourneau, whose notorious seduction of 12-year-old boy led to more than seven years in prison, has married the former student she was convicted of raping.


Letourneau, 43, and Vili Fualaau, 22, exchanged vows they had written themselves during a tightly guarded ceremony Friday night, said Janet Annino, co-executive producer of the TV show "Entertainment Tonight."

The couple have been in the spotlight since Letourneau was imprisoned in 1997. But when she was released last August, the couple — who have two daughters together — reunited.




I'm thinking that not much was accomplished by putting her in prison.

4856. arkymalarky - 5/21/2005 11:01:38 AM

Hey Grey! Don't be such a stranger!

I found their gift registry interesting. Can't remember specifics, but they have fairly expensive tastes, considering.

4857. iiibbb - 5/21/2005 11:47:39 AM

Catholic girl with celiac can't do communion?

Has the catholic church gone insane?

It's actually pretty sad that this mother thinks that they represent God in this matter.

Seek and yee shall find. Ciliacs need not apply.

The Catholic church has gone insane.

4858. Magoseph - 5/21/2005 12:13:04 PM

All religions are insane, in my opinion, iiibbb.

4859. jayackroyd - 5/21/2005 5:19:34 PM

Maybe the kid will take the host, die in a state of grace and gain eternal life. Makes sense, doesn't it?

4860. jexster - 5/21/2005 7:34:51 PM

Damn! Thought I had a Job!

SUMMARY: Spokane Mayor Jim West has returned from a self-imposed leave of absence taken after allegations surfaced that he offered city jobs to men he met in gay online chat rooms.

4861. greystoke - 5/22/2005 8:17:45 AM

Arky,

I did a quick search and you are right. Here is a link.

Its probably not to late to send them a gift.

4862. Macnas - 5/23/2005 1:42:24 AM

re 4857

There is a bit of stubbornness on the family side too.

The smallest sip, as in a dab on the tongue of alter wine would be sufficient. It's like the mother wants things her way or not at all.

I'm not standing up for the church or anything, it just seems there are two pig headed sides to the issue.

4863. arkymalarky - 5/23/2005 6:56:11 AM

I agree, Mac. My stupid isp was acting up last night, but I noticed that she'd been given alternatives and refused them.

4864. jexster - 5/24/2005 3:32:00 PM

4814 - no there IS a connection between sexual orientation and pedophillia...

straight pedophiles molest girlies
gay...

get it


sheesh

4865. jexster - 5/24/2005 3:34:42 PM

But there isn't much market for either here....


The City is turning a right of way left from demolition of an earthquake damaged freeway into a multi-lane boulevard with a nice park and playground at the end of it, two blocks from my place


Why?


Child Population Dwindles in San Francisco

They're all out getting raped in the suburbs

4866. iiibbb - 5/25/2005 11:38:26 AM

Going too far?

I think so.

It's not like anyone died.

Stupid isn't much of a crime.

4867. arkymalarky - 5/25/2005 11:43:48 AM

I think she should have to pay a significant fine. I think the media should have to pay for spending so much time on such a story.

4868. thoughtful - 5/26/2005 6:33:35 AM

I hope she sees a doctor...in the pictures she's skinny with bulging eyes...signs of thyroid disease which can also impact your mental state as well. Thyroid disease is worsened by stress and a wedding with 600 guests is pretty stressful. Not making an excuse, just hope she gets proper medical treatment.

4869. robertjayb - 5/27/2005 9:07:49 AM

WARNING: concerned take note...

Viagra may cause blindness.

4870. thoughtful - 5/27/2005 11:00:20 AM

My hubby told me that this a.m. I was cracking up. Everything you were taught as a kid does finally come true.

Remember that old joke about the parents who told the boy that if he played with himself he'd go blind? Kid responded, but I really like it, so is it ok if I do it just til I need glasses?

4871. Marc-Albert - 5/29/2005 7:08:18 AM

"lest but not last"

I chuckled a moment ago when I read this article in Le Monde where it is mentionned that Germany's Oskar Lafontaine was "le guest star" of a pro-no political meeting in France. French journalists are notorious for confusing or missplelling English quotes, popular expressions, etc.

But then, I just googled "guest star" and ended up with hundreds of hits on anglo sites.

Is it "star guest" or "guest star"? Are both permissible or should we reserve guest stars to supernovas crossing the Chinese sky?

(I also ended up with hundreds of hits with "Last but not lest")

4872. thoughtful - 5/29/2005 9:00:45 AM

It's guest star...not star guest...at least here in the states...

4873. thoughtful - 5/29/2005 9:02:03 AM

What happened to the good old days when you only had to 'walk a mile for a Camel'.

Man leaps from speeding car in pursuit of a puff
Drunk went out window after cigarette blew away, Ark. police say.

FOREMAN, Ark. - A leap of faith proved hazardous for a smoker in need of a cigarette fix after a night on the town.

Jeff Foran suffered trauma to his nose, eyes and chin after jumping from a car traveling 55-60 mph. Authorities said he was trying to retrieve a cigarette blown out of the passenger-side window.

4874. Magoseph - 5/29/2005 9:32:02 AM

"Last but not lest"

I wonder what that expression mean--I know the one "Last but not least", but this one is puzzling to me.

4875. concerned - 5/29/2005 10:34:22 PM

TV GIRL SOUASHED MY BABY SOUIRREL

May 28 2005

A REPORTER sent to do a story about a baby squirrel stood on the fluffy creature by mistake and killed it.

Inka Blumensaat wanted to tell how a pet cat had saved the orphaned squirrel by adopting it as her own.

But the friendly rodent jumped on her leg as she filmed her report and she panicked and trampled it underfoot,breaking its neck.

Heike Reher, whose cat adopted the squirrel in Lubeck, Germany, said: 'The reporter started leaping about like a mad woman. She squashed the squirrel completely.

'Everyone looked at the floor in horror where the little squirrel lay in a pool of blood.

'I picked my little treasure up and ran out of the house in tears. I was so upset I could not speak.

'The reporter came back with some flowers but I could not speak to her.'

Inka, who works for NDR TV, said: 'I regret the whole thing bitterly and wish there was something I could do to put it right.'

4876. Macnas - 5/30/2005 1:20:36 AM

"'Everyone looked at the floor in horror where the little squirrel lay in a pool of blood."

Am I a bad person because I laughed at this??

4877. Magoseph - 5/30/2005 2:35:07 AM

Yes, you are and so am I, Mac.

4878. Macnas - 5/30/2005 6:41:22 AM

What the hell happened in Ohio this morning? 6 people shot in some kind of feud?

4879. judithathome - 5/30/2005 8:40:08 AM

Six Found Slain In Ohio Homes

4880. jexster - 5/30/2005 8:42:34 AM

TD ...stick to postings like 4875...forget policy politics and war.

Send your resume to the Onion?

4881. judithathome - 5/31/2005 3:02:20 PM

Letter in the Wash Post BB


Our Investment: Why We Love George

George W. Bush is more than the perfect puppet Reagan was; he's truly one of us. We don't have to convince him of the benefits of helping out the rich and powerful — he's known them all his life. Billionaires bought him the education his brains couldn't — Andover, Yale, Harvard — then bailed out his failed business ventures, and paid his way into politics. As a result, George is as dedicated to realising our vision for America as we are!

Tax Cuts, the Deficit and Destroying Public Services

We love George's tax cuts! They mean trillions for us and tidbits for everyone else. Better still, they've left Americans with a crippling debt that their children will be paying back to us (guess who loaned Bush the money for a tax cut?!) for years to come while the Government slashes social security, education and health care to avoid going bankrupt.

Investment: $200 million to Bush's 2000 election campaign

Return: $1.1 trillion in tax cuts

Percent Return: 550,000%

Medicare and Pharmaceuticals

The health of Americans is important to us. In fact, it's worth about $1.6 trillion a year! And now George is helping us make even more money from this booming business. He's protecting our profits by barring cheaper drugs from abroad, while his new Medicare bill guarantees that the government can't negotiate bulk drug prices from our companies.

Investment: $44 million in Drug Company donations to Republicans since 2000

Return: $139 billion in additional Drug Company profits over 8 years

Percent Return: 315,900%

Defense Contracting

Most Presidents keep our Defense Contractors happy, but George is special. He's increased the defence budget, turned over lucrative government services to our companies and topped it all by destroying Iraq with our most expensive bombs and then paying us to re-build it! So while America gets more wars, less money for social programs, families and the future, we get $250 billion!

Investment: $23.5 million in Defense Contractors' donations since 2000 to Republicans

Return: Approximately $251 billion

Percent Return: 1,068,000%

Energy

George is an oil man, Cheney is an oil man. We're all oil men! From Kyoto to Iraq, George has ensured that whether it's global warming or global peace, our profits come first. He even let us write his new energy bill and give ourselves $30 billion of your money in new subsidies.

Investment: $108 million from Oil Companies since 2000 to Republicans

Return: $30 billion

Percent Return: 27,778%

Workers' Overtime Coverage

Overtime pay may keep millions of families afloat, but it sure costs us a lot of money! That's why George has fought the whining public and the Congress to remove 8 million workers' right to overtime pay, potentially saving us $1.9billion a year, forever!

Investment: $6 million from Business Associations since 2000 to Republicans

Return: $1.9 billion per year forever

Percent Return: 31,667% per year

Media Consolidation

George knows the value of having media that'll make him look good, and we know the value of controlling what you think (and of making $billions doing it). Again, George has stood alone against a public outcry, a bi-partisan Congress and the foundations of America's democracy to ensure that our mega-media corporations can get even bigger.

Investment: $25.7 million from media corps to Republicans since 2000

Return: Control over what every American thinks and buys — priceless

Environment

Once, governments fought to protect your health and preserve the environment for your children. Maybe they just didn't appreciate how much money could be made? But George does. He's undone decades of terrible, anti-Billionaire policies and fought hard for our rights to make billions polluting the air, endangering health and wrecking the natural world.

Iraq War

For years our "Bomb the Arabs and Steal Their Oil!" bumper sticker has gone unheeded. That is, until George came along. The Middle East has been a constant irritation to us Billionaires for decades. Finally we've gone in and taken control. WMD, human rights, whatever. We've got the oil and that means serious money. Dead US soldiers, dead Iraqis, enraged Muslim world, increased terrorist threats? As long as our profit margins are healthy, we'll make it through.

4882. thoughtful - 5/31/2005 3:20:11 PM

Go figure!

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines - Two men believed to be former soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army have been found on Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines, the Japanese Embassy in Manila has reported.
The embassy sent three officials to the southern Mindanao city of General Santos on Friday to meet the two men.

It was not immediately known if the two men were aware that the war was over.

4883. wonkers2 - 5/31/2005 3:29:17 PM

Wolf Blitzer just reported that Bob Woodward confirmed that "Deep Throat" is 91-year-old Mark Felt, deputy director of the FBI during the Watergate break-in period. Felt is alive and well at 91 in Santa Rosa, California. The Washington Post will carry a story on this tomorrow.

4884. OhioSTOPAS - 6/2/2005 4:24:45 AM

There have been disgusting right-wing attacks on Felt from out-from-under-rock-crawlers like Pat Buchanan, Charles Colson and G. Gordon Liddy. I love getting lectured on public duty by an anti-Semite and two convicted felons.

4885. wonkers2 - 6/2/2005 8:52:21 AM

True. Ben Bradlee expressed his disgust on PBS yesterday that a network would put slimers like Gordon Liddy on to comment on the Deep Throat matter.

4886. wonkers2 - 6/2/2005 9:05:23 AM

Chris Matthews had another neocon slimeball on last night--Frank Gaffney--as a counter to the U.S. head of Amnesty International. They discussed Amnesty's report on Guantanamo. Gaffney of course denied the validity of the report's findings and all but accused Bil Schulz? of treason. Schulz pointed out that the Bush administration itself cited Amnesty reports about Sadaam Husseins human rights violations to support its war plans. And the administration has also applauded Amnesty reports on many other countries,e.g., Cuba, North Korea.

4887. wabbit - 6/2/2005 12:58:06 PM

Get your cameras ready!

For only 45 days, starting June 1st until July 15, 2005, Prophet Yahweh, Seer of Yahweh, will be calling down UFOs and spaceships for the news media to film and photograph. During this time, a spaceship will descend, on Prophet's signal, and sit in the skies over Las Vegas, Nevada for almost two days.

4888. Ms. No - 6/2/2005 2:23:41 PM

Caught a couple of interviews yesterday on the local public radio station. Nixon Officials React to 'Deep Throat' News

Two of these guys went to jail for their crimes and yet they still can't apologize for what they did or even admit they were wrong. Instead they want to focus on how Felt is a traitor because he betrayed them as if his loyalty should be to the administration rather than to the nation. So, they sling a little mud --- not much since they realize that however righteous they view themselves the rest of America regards them as criminals -- and when asked how they feel now about what they did then they both talk about how Jesus is a force in their lives. Sort of an "all that's behind me and I don't even think about it because Christ is my savior so I don't have to behave well or admit when I'm wrong because none of that remotely matters."

Sickening. Utterly sickening.

4889. Ms. No - 6/2/2005 2:33:41 PM

And now we've got this Luis Posada Carriles guy who, if we expect to retain any kind of credibility whatsoever, must be extradited and treated as a terrorist. Just because he's commiting acts of terrorism for a cause the US likes doesn't mean he's not a terrorist.

Shit, they detained CAT STEVENS in the name of the War on Terror, surely they can extradite a crazed bomber.

4890. Magoseph - 6/6/2005 7:06:22 AM

Missing Texas student found after 7 years--Working at Sam's Club in Kentucky

BRYAN, Texas (AP) -- A Texas A&M University student who had been feared murdered after disappearing nearly seven years ago has been found alive and working in Kentucky, according to authorities.

Brandi Stahr went missing in October 1998, and police spent hours searching for her body in wooded areas. They questioned a serial rapist and murderer about her just hours before he was executed last year.

But a telephone tip led investigators to Florence, Kentucky, where Stahr has been working for the last five years at a Sam's Club, said Texas Ranger Frank Malinak.

"We thought we were dealing with a missing persons case," Malinak said. "But, in actuality, we were dealing with a person who did not want to be found and was in hiding."

Stahr, 27, hid from her family after she and her mother, Ann Dickenson, got into an argument over bad grades she received during her sophomore year and her family stopped paying for school.

For the last five years, Stahr worked under her real name, using her Social Security number. But police said they were unable to locate her that way because they don't have access to IRS records.

Dickenson and Stahr haven't reunited yet, but have talked on the phone. Stahr told her sister the family should not bother visiting, but her mother said nothing will stop her.

"We're going. I'm going. Even if I have to sit out in a (Sam's Club) parking lot to see her," Dickenson said.

Although Stahr committed no crime in her disappearance, investigators spent a lot of money and time looking for her, Malinak said.

"The responsible thing to do would have been to let someone know you're OK," Malinak said. "There are going to be people expending man-hours and effort, trying to find a missing person."

Well, "expending man-hours and effort" should be less a problem nowadays since most disappearances of young women seem to make the national news.

4891. alistairconnor - 6/6/2005 7:41:05 AM

I wonder, who's responsible for wasting time and money?

Did her family tell the cops they were in conflict?

Why this implication that she is responsible for letting people know where she is? That's rather "paternalist"... in the strictest sense.

An unmarried woman belongs to her father, in a right-thinking Christian society. (Not in a free society).

4892. Magoseph - 6/6/2005 8:18:32 AM

I wonder, who's responsible for wasting time and money?

In my view, she is, but only if she knew they were searching for her. Seven years ago, she may not have known that fact.

Did her family tell the cops they were in conflict?

If they did not, again in my view, the parents are responsible for spending in vain the taxpayers’ money.

4893. alistairconnor - 6/6/2005 8:27:23 AM

In my view, she is, but only if she knew they were searching for her.

Even then. She may have had good reason to stay away from them. In any case, it's a matter for her and her family. It's no business of mine, of yours, or of the police's.

4894. Magoseph - 6/6/2005 8:48:08 AM

Ali, it is a police matter—a person is reported as missing, the police put her out as a missing person. If the parents gave false information to the police in respect to the advents preceding her disappearance, this could possibly result in her parents having a degree of financial responsibility.

4895. concerned - 6/6/2005 8:54:48 AM

Wrt the Michael Jackson circus, I haven't paid much attention to all the hoopla, and I don't have overmuch sympathy for the way he's chosen to live his life, but if all he is potentially guilty of is a single incident or two, and he may not be, that would probably not justify any prison sentence.

Might as well say that now while I can still make a fool out of myself on the matter.

4896. alistairconnor - 6/8/2005 7:08:56 AM

Sicilian's license revoked for driving while gay

... but it was overturned by a judge :

The court said being gay was merely "a personality disturbance" and not a psychiatric illness, and had no bearing on a person’s ability to drive.

4897. judithathome - 6/8/2005 11:42:48 AM

American Main Stream Media, Cliff Notes Version

Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson More Deaths in Iraq Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Massive Job Layoff Trend Continues with GM Set to Drop 25,000 Workers Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Howard Dean is Crazy; Remember We Showed You "The Dean Scream" Several Hundred Times? Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Nubile Teen Girl Still Missing in Aruba

Now we must pause for this commercial break.

4898. Magoseph - 6/8/2005 1:39:24 PM

You must be pretty upset, Judith.

4899. judithathome - 6/8/2005 1:41:27 PM

I am but not to the point of writing that...ha! I lifted it from a guy named Denis over in TAPA at WC. Should have given attribution in the original post...sorry!

4900. arkymalarky - 6/9/2005 11:21:55 AM

Here we go again.

This is going to get interesting. I doubt anything will go forward for a while, though. I certainly hope not.

4901. Magoseph - 6/9/2005 1:06:56 PM

I bet your telephone will ring and ring the rest of the summer.

4902. arkymalarky - 6/9/2005 1:20:36 PM

We'll certainly be planning for this over the summer, but I'm really hopeful things won't get going until next summer. The 2006 election is HUGE for AR. We're electing a new governor, and there are two contenders on the Republican side who are making rural education and consolidation an issue. Asa Hutchinson and Winthrop Rockefeller are running, Asa with an anti-consolidation position and Rockefeller for it. They are already campaigning. AG Mike Beebee is running on the Democratic ticket, probably the only major candidate for them, and it will be interesting to see what he has to say about the issue, if anything. If he and the party are smart, they will show strong support of rural communities and take advantage of the current Republican split over the issue.

I suspect districts like mine won't be threatened with consolidation again until the next legislative session, year after next. People are too afraid it will hurt election/reelection chances if they take it up now. And they're absolutely right that it would.

The main thing we've got to do right now is use the time we have wisely to organize, strategize, and unify support for public schools in general and rural and high-poverty schools in particular. We're set to do that with a new statewide organization that we're recruiting membership for this summer and next fall.

4903. Magoseph - 6/9/2005 1:54:36 PM

Have you read this yet?

Ark. Gov. Talked Up for White House Run
By MELISSA NELSON, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, June 9, 2005

(06-09) 11:53 PDT Little Rock, Ark. (AP) --

Imagine this: A man from Hope with a weight problem serves more than 10 years as Arkansas governor, makes cross-country connections through his leadership of the National Governors Association and weighs a run for the White House. Bill Clinton? Not this time.

Mike Huckabee, a Republican who took over as governor at the height of Clinton's Whitewater scandal — and who lost more than 100 pounds while promoting health in an unhealthy state — is being talked up for a presidential run after he leaves the Governor's Mansion in 2007 at age 51.

His new weight-loss book, "Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork," reached as high No. 9 on Amazon.com, and he has gone on a New York-to-Los Angeles book tour that has boosted the former Baptist minister's national profile.

He also ran this year's Little Rock Marathon with Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa — which happens to be the site of the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.

"This has not been some sort of diabolical master plan to raise my profile," Huckabee said. "I did not go out and lose weight and improve my health to raise my image. People who think that are giving me too much credit."

Marathon runner or not, if Huckabee were to enter the 2008 presidential race he could find himself miles behind other candidates.

"If he sees himself with a lot of support among religious conservatives, there are people out there already with national records working hard at that. You have Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania, Sam Brownback in Kansas, George Allen in Virginia, all from that segment of the party," said Dennis Goldford, a political scientist at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

4904. arkymalarky - 6/9/2005 3:53:00 PM

I've heard the talk for a while. He's very unpopular here, and religious conservatives here in particular oppose him. Though Clinton had persistent enemies, he was very popular in AR for the most part. It would be interesting to see how he did, and I don't doubt he's very interested in running.

4905. judithathome - 6/9/2005 5:04:52 PM

Well, never think it's too ridiculous to come true...like I did when I first heard Bush was condiering running. You see what happened there....

4906. robertjayb - 6/9/2005 10:28:30 PM

Sudden job opening in Nuevo Laredo...

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico — Alejandro Dominguez was the only person brave enough to apply for the job of police chief of this lawless border city.

He took office Wednesday afternoon, declaring he wasn't afraid of anything. Shortly after nightfall, he was dead, gunned down by assailants in this city on the front line of a turf battle between Mexico's two main drug gangs.

Early today, most city officials channeled all questions to Mayor Daniel Peña, who was holding private meetings and hadn't made a public appearance.

Councilman Joaquim Treviño called on President Vicente Fox to do more, two months after the federal government sent in 700 soldiers and federal agents.

4907. robertjayb - 6/12/2005 5:02:48 PM

And there I was...

It was getting a little crowded in Heaven, so God decided to change
> the
admittance policy. The new law was that in order to get into
Heaven,
> > you had to
> > > > have a really bummer day on the day that you died.

The policy
would
> > go into
> > > > effect at noon the next day.

> > > > So, the next day at 12:01 the first person came to the gates of
> Heaven.
> > The
> > > > Angel at the gate, remembering the new policy, promptly asked the
man,
> > > > "Before I let you in, I need you to tell me how your day was going
> when
> > you died."

> > > > "No problem," the man said. I came home to my 25th-floor apartment
on
> > my
> > > > lunch hour and caught my wife having an affair. But her lover was
> > nowhere in
> > > > sight. I immediately began searching for him. My wife was half
> naked
> > and
> > > > yelling at me as I searched the entire apartment. Just as I was
> about
> > to give up,
> > > > I happened to glance out onto the balcony and noticed that there was
a
> > man
> > > > hanging off the edge by his fingertips! The nerve of that guy!
> Well,
> > I ran
> > > > out onto the balcony and stomped on his fingers until he fell to the
> > ground.
> > > > But wouldn't you know it, he landed in some trees and bushes that
> broke
> > his
> > > > fall and he didn't die. This ticked me off even more. In a rage,
I
> > went back
> > > > inside to get the first thing I could get my hands on to throw at
him.
> > Oddly
> > > > enough, the first thing I thought of was the refrigerator. I
> > unplugged it,
> > > > pushed it out onto the balcony, and tipped it over the side. It
> > plummeted 25
> > > > stories and crushed him! The excitement of the moment was so
great
> > that I
> > > > had a heart attack and died almost instantly."

> > > > The Angel sat back and thought a moment. Technically, the guy did
> have
> > a bad
> > > > day. It was a crime of passion. So, the Angel announced, "OK sir.
> > Welcome
> > > > to the Kingdom of Heaven," and let him in.

> > > > A few seconds later the next guy came up. To the Angel's surprise,
it
> > was
> > > > Donald Trump. "Mr. Trump, before I can let you in, I need to hear
> > about what
> > > > your day was like when you died."

> > > > Trump said, "No problem. But you're not going to believe this. I
> > was on
> > > > the balcony of my 26th floor apartment doing my daily exercises. I
> had
> > been
> > > > under a lot of pressure so I was really pushing hard to relieve my
> > stress. I
> > > > guess I got a little carried away, slipped, and accidentally fell
over
> > the
> > > > side! Luckily, I was able to catch myself by the fingertips on the
> > balcony below
> > > > mine. But all of a sudden this crazy man comes running out of his
> > > > apartment, starts cussing, and stomps on my fingers. Well, of
course
> > I fell. I hit
> > > > some trees and bushes at the bottom, which broke my fall, so I
didn't
> > die
> > > > right away. As I'm laying there face up on the ground, unable to
> move
> > and in
> > > > excruciating pain, I see this guy push his refrigerator of all
things
> > off the
> > > > balcony. It falls the 25 floors and lands on top of me, killing
me
instantly."

> > > > The Angel is quietly laughing to himself as Trump finishes his
story.
> > "I
> > > > could get used to this new policy," he thinks to himself. "Very
> > well." The
> > > > Angel announces. "Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven," and he lets
> Trump
> > enter.

> > > > A few seconds later, Bill Clinton comes up to the gate. The Angel
is
> > almost
> > > > too shocked to speak. Thoughts of assassination and war pour
through
> > the
> > > > Angel's head. Finally he says "Mr. President, please tell me what
> it
> > was like
> > > > the day you died."

> > > > Clinton says, "OK, picture this. I'm naked inside a
refrigerator.....

4908. jexster - 6/12/2005 5:21:57 PM

Rice Takes to Stage to Aid Ailing Soprano


I didn't know they let Corado out of house arrest

4909. PelleNilsson - 6/13/2005 9:22:43 AM

Cheer up with a bit of numa numa jay.

(Link stolen from Kitts McInnes at ATI)

4910. judithathome - 6/13/2005 1:48:32 PM

Michael jackson verdict is in...announcement will be at 1:30 PST.

4911. Magoseph - 6/13/2005 2:20:40 PM

Condi is on Hardball today.

4912. wabbit - 6/13/2005 3:16:47 PM

NOT GUILTY

• Conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment, extortion - NOT guilty
• Lewd act on a child under 14 (4 counts) - NOT guilty
• Attempted lewd act on a child under 14 - NOT guilty
• Administering alcohol to enable child molestation, including lesser charge of administering alcohol to a minor (4 counts) - NOT guilty

4913. alistairConnor - 6/13/2005 3:35:02 PM

Oh well, I didn't follow the trial or anything, but maybe there's a lesson.

Money can't buy me love.

But money can buy me justice. Something like that?

4914. Magoseph - 6/13/2005 3:41:29 PM

I'm glad of the verdict.

4915. Ms. No - 6/13/2005 4:11:10 PM

There was no way the conspiracy or alcohol charges were going to stick. The revealed evidence/testimony pretty clearly showed that the plaintiffs were lying about those things.

As for the molestation charges it could've gone either way but not based on what I heard of the testimony. I wouldn't have been surprised by a guilty verdict but I think it would have been wrong --- not because I feel with absolute certainty that Jackson has never molested a child but because the prosecution didn't prove their case and to hand down a guilty verdict just because you think Jackson's a weirdo would have been the wrong thing to do.

4916. jexster - 6/13/2005 4:27:55 PM

Anybody have a ticket to the NeverLand bash tonight that they can spare?


Gonna be a hot time tonite!

4917. Ms. No - 6/13/2005 4:38:02 PM

Is it a sleepover party?

4918. arkymalarky - 6/13/2005 6:36:05 PM

...because the prosecution didn't prove their case and to hand down a guilty verdict just because you think Jackson's a weirdo would have been the wrong thing to do.

EXACTLY.

4919. jexster - 6/13/2005 8:51:50 PM

4920. Macnas - 6/14/2005 6:19:01 AM

jex, that's just cruel....

but I'm laughing yet.

4921. thoughtful - 6/14/2005 6:21:33 AM

I didn't see/hear much news this a.m. I promised myself I'd change the channel as soon as the M word came up. Consequently I did a lot of channel changing, until I hit CNBC Europe. Honest there IS other stuff going on in this world besides the Michael Jackson trial! Really!

4922. jexster - 6/14/2005 9:36:48 AM

Jackson Won't Share Bed With Kids Again

4923. alistairconnor - 6/14/2005 9:39:42 AM

Yeah I don't blame him. They're such cry babies.

4924. jexster - 6/14/2005 10:53:14 AM

4925. jexster - 6/14/2005 10:54:19 AM

Good one AC...I think I'll just leave it there....I was so distressed yesterday...cable service collapsed at noon..

4926. jexster - 6/14/2005 10:54:50 AM

The only reason I'd even bother with CNN these days

4927. thoughtful - 6/15/2005 9:35:23 AM

Schiavo autopsy results are in.

Thogmartin said that Schiavo's brain was about half of its expected size when she died March 31 in a Pinellas Park hospice, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed.

"The brain weighed 615 grams, roughly half of the expected weight of a human brain. ... This damage was irreversible, and no amount of therapy or treatment would have regenerated the massive loss of neurons."

4928. wonkers2 - 6/17/2005 1:06:27 PM

CROOK ALERT!!!

Tyco's former CEO, Dennis Kozlowski, was convicted today of grand larceny!!

4929. wonkers2 - 6/17/2005 1:08:26 PM

Kozlowski Convicted

4930. wonkers2 - 6/17/2005 1:18:28 PM

CROOK ALERT111
Big accounting firm, KPMG, acknowledged "illegal conduct" wrt tax shelters in order to head off criminal prosecution. Here.

4931. judithathome - 6/17/2005 1:32:04 PM

But hey, let's all throw our Social Security into the market...what could go wrong?

4932. wonkers2 - 6/17/2005 2:13:47 PM

Right, turn your Social Security money over to the mutual funds who have been caught allowing after-hours trading by hedge funds, (the equivalent of allowing bets to be placed after the finish of a horse race) and to "financial advisers" like American Express who are actually salesmen, not advisers, etc. ad nauseum.

4933. robertjayb - 6/18/2005 9:58:04 AM

Search for Aaron called off...

ORANJESTAD, Aruba - The search for American teenager Aaron Dover was called off Friday in Aruba. Aaron Dover was reported missing Wednesday, June 15th, to Aruban authorities by his brother Ben. Ben claims he and his brother were returning from the beach after a day of surfing when his brother suddenly disappeared. This is the second disappearance in the past month in Aruba. The other being a prestigious "honor's student" who disappeared May 30th after running off with three strangers who reportedly had sexual intercourse with her.

So why give up on the search for Aaron Dover and not Holloway? It has been reported that Aaron had a C average in high school. "He wasn't even upper-middle class," says Aruban Prime Minister, Nelson Odoober, "why should we look for a poor kid?"
..................................................

"We also heard the family is a bunch of Democrats," says an unidentified Aruban resident, "so you know the American officials will not be getting involved." This is a sad mystery that will probably never be solved. If only he made better grades in high school, he might have been found.

(The Spoof!)

4934. Magoseph - 6/18/2005 12:17:26 PM

Yeah I don't blame him. They're such cry babies.

This remark is a scream!

4935. Ulgine Barrows - 6/20/2005 2:39:44 AM

Deep Throat outs himself

that is the link I clicked to get here.


larky - here's hoping you get what you're after......

4936. alistairconnor - 6/20/2005 3:24:53 AM

... I keep reading that as " Deep Throat cuts himself "


I've seen a better headline somewhere :
"After holding it in for thirty years, Deep Throat spits it out"

....bleaaaagh.

Perhaps that's why he kept quiet for so long : "Hi folks, I'm the famous c*cks*cker!"

4937. wonkers2 - 6/21/2005 3:26:51 PM

It took 41 years, but part-time preacher and former head of the local KKK, Edgar Ray Killen, was convicted of manslaughter in the murders of civil rights workers Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman!!

4938. judithathome - 6/21/2005 4:32:10 PM

"Hi folks, I'm the famous c*cks*cker!"

Had no idea he was on Deadwood!

4939. robertjayb - 6/22/2005 9:43:55 AM

U-2 Down...

An Air Force U-2 spy plane has crashed in Southwest Asia, killing the pilot, the military said today.

A short statement said the crash occurred at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday as the plane completed a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the name given to American military operations in Afghanistan. The pilot was not identified.

The crash occurred as the plane was returning to base, according to the statement issued by the Central Command. The base was not identified, but military officials who have been briefed on the incident said it was returning to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

The location of the crash could not be disclosed "due to host-nation sensitivities," Capt. David W. Small of the Air Force, a spokesman for Central Command, told The Associated Press.

The term Southwest Asia can be used by the military to include the Middle East.

4940. robertjayb - 6/22/2005 9:53:20 AM

Are they lion?

June 21, 2005 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- A 12-year-old girl who was abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage was found being guarded by three lions who apparently had chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday.

The girl, missing for a week, had been taken by seven men who wanted to force her to marry one of them, said Sgt. Wondimu Wedajo, speaking by telephone from the provincial capital of Bita Genet, about 350 miles southwest of Addis Ababa.

She was beaten repeatedly before she was found June 9 by police and relatives on the outskirts of Bita Genet, Wondimu said. She had been guarded by the lions for about half a day, he said.

"They stood guard until we found her and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest," Wondimu said.

"If the lions had not come to her rescue, then it could have been much worse. Often these young girls are raped and severely beaten to force them to accept the marriage," he said.

(Salon)

4941. Magoseph - 6/22/2005 5:07:34 PM

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia Police in Ethiopia are calling it a miracle.
They're crediting three lions with helping keep safe a 12-year-old girl who'd been abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage.

Police say the lions stood guard by the girl after apparently chasing off her captors.

The girl had been missing for a week. One police official says the lions guarded the child for about half a day -- and after her rescue, the lions went back into the forest.

A wildlife expert says the girl's crying may have kept her from being eaten. He says the lions may have mistaken her whimpering for the mewing sound of a lion cub.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

4942. judithathome - 6/28/2005 9:22:40 AM

VA Getting The Picture

Turns out that $1 billion shortfall for health care funding for our nation's veterans -- disclosed last week at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing -- is only one of many important and vexing dilemmas facing top officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Take, for example, this discussion of a major problem during the weekly conference call a few weeks ago among senior officials at the Veterans Health Administration, which is the medical part of the VA.

VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, suitable for framing. (By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)
"As you know," Deputy Undersecretary Laura Miller said on the May 27 call, "many of our facilities, medical centers, CBOCs" -- that's community-based outpatient clinics; there are about 850 of them in the country, many in rural areas and some open only one to two days a month -- "and [other] offices have a picture of Secretary [ Jim ] Nicholson prominently displayed.

"Unfortunately, however," Miller continued, "there are many facilities that currently do not have the picture displayed. I am aware that the mailings of the pictures occurred on April 22, 2005." So that's more than five full weeks.

"Dr. Perlin" -- that's Jonathan B. Perlin , undersecretary for health, who revealed the $1 billion shortfall after being grilled by committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) -- "and I cannot stress the importance of this enough," she said. "We are asking that you give this your highest priority. We will continue to ask for daily updates on the status until we are assured that all of our facilities have a current picture displayed."

In defense of local VA officials, it turns out that Miller was wrong: Not all the photos went out on April 22. And we hear some officials disagreed that the photos should be their "highest priority."

"And here we're trying to figure out where our next patient meal is coming from and what furniture to sell to buy drugs next year," one VA official said.

Agency officials said Friday that 100 percent of the VHA facilities have reported appropriate placement of the Nicholson photos. Well, it is important to be able to recognize the head of the agency, especially after last week's hearing. Nicholson was the author of an April 5 letter to senators saying, "I can assure you that VA does not need [additional funds] to continue to provide timely, quality service. . . . "

If by some chance any CBOCs or hospitals lost or did not get the pictures, we provide one here that you can cut out and use just in case a headquarters inspector shows up to check on compliance with this important initiative.

4943. thoughtful - 6/28/2005 9:56:07 AM

Un-freakin' believable.

4944. wonkers2 - 6/28/2005 10:26:28 AM

The VA medical system is a morass of mediocrity and a vast sinkhole for taxpayers' money. When I was in DC I suggested naively to the Gore taskforce to reinvent the government that all but a few specialized VA trauma treatment and rehabilitation hospitals be closed or converted to drug rehabilitation facilities and veterans be provided care in hospitals in their own communities which could be administered by Medicare, BC-BS or other entities. Instead, they built more VA hospitals. The VA is even more of a political third rail than Social Security.

With my suggestion I even provided a scenario for selling the program. Gore would commission a study of the quality and cost of care at VA hospitals and then after a few visits publically deplore the poor care at the worst hospitals and declare that deserving veterans would no longer be forced to travel far from home only to be subjected to inferior care. Henceforth they would be entitled to the same care in the same hospitals as their neighbors in their own communities. [I never got a reply to my proposal which I sent to Elaine Kamarck, Gore's staffer in charge of the program.]

4945. wonkers2 - 6/28/2005 10:39:41 AM

Reinventin' the gov ain' easy!

4946. Magoseph - 6/30/2005 7:06:49 AM

Your local paper

4947. Magoseph - 6/30/2005 12:29:29 PM

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 · Last updated 4:37 a.m. PT

Bride calls off wedding, throws party for the homeless

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EVERETT, Wash. -- A young woman decided to call off her wedding 12 days before the event and her parents knew they'd be stuck with the bill, so they decided to have a party anyway and invited the homeless.

Residents of the Interfaith Family Shelter, housed in a former convent across from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church where the wedding had been scheduled, attended the bash thrown by Katie Hosking, 22, a medical assistant at the Everett Clinic, and her parents, Bill and Susan Hosking of Lake Stevens.

"They had a DJ and really good music. It was a warm, friendly atmosphere. The food was delicious. It was a nice break with people not worrying about anything for one night," shelter manager Carol Oliva said. "Toward the end of the evening, they packed up all the leftover food and we got to bring it back to the shelter."

One homeless woman got her son out of a wheelchair, "took that child out on the dance floor and picked him up and danced with him. It was a beautiful sight. Our kids realized that even when something bad happens, somebody else has something worse," Susan Hosking said. "It was an eye-opener."

The almost-bride would not say what led to the breakup, only that it happened June 6, 12 days before the scheduled date of her wedding.

Planning a reception for 150 guests at the Echo Falls golf and country club, her parents had made a $2,500 down payment and written another check for the $6,200 balance. Club policy requires full payment for any event that is canceled less than 60 days before the scheduled date.

"Personally, it's a really hard time for a family," said Jessica Gamble, the club's catering sales manager. "It's a really awesome thing that they did. They made the best of it."

Susan Hosking said that once she and her husband "got past the panic," they took a suggestion from her brother-in -law in New York and decided to invite the staff and residents of the shelter operated by the Interfaith Association of Snohomish County to share in the evening.

More than 50 family members and close friends were joined by about 40 homeless people, shelter workers and volunteers. The shelter staff arranged rides to the club.

Instead of a wedding cake, chef Michael Greb produced strawberry shortcake to top off a menu that included baron of beef, salmon, shrimp cocktail, fettuccine and fruit.

"Oh my gosh, we had so much fun," Katie Hosking said.

Shelter residents, she said, "came up and thanked us several times - thank you, thank you, thank you. We all danced. I still got to dance with my dad."

Her mother said she was happy to demonstrate an alternative to the case of Jennifer Wilbanks, 32, who got cold feet and vanished shortly before a 600-guest wedding in Georgia. Wilbanks pleaded no contest this month to telling police a phony abduction story and was sentenced to probation and community service.

"That food would help feed people at the shelter for another three or four days," she said. "With the notoriety of the runaway bride, I would like people to know that these things do happen, and there is another outlet. The money is spent."

4948. jexster - 6/30/2005 3:22:53 PM

Topless Activists Greet SF
A group of Mendocino women bare their anti-war sentiments in Union Square.

After Sunday's topless dykes on bikes..somewhat of an anti-climax (get it? climax???)

4949. jexster - 6/30/2005 3:24:52 PM

Score that as a triple

4950. jexster - 7/6/2005 12:57:53 PM

Greetings Volunteers,

I am optimistic when an idea transforms into progressive change and this is happening with Project Homeless Connect. I am motivated to continue our efforts at reshaping the way we think and deal with chronic homelessness in San Francisco and I am especially encouraged when I see that our efforts are being embraced as a national model.

Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness intends to engage the involvement of significant cities across the United States in a proposed Project Homeless Connect national day.

Cities such as Philadelphia, New York and San Diego attended past Project Homeless Connect events in San Francisco and may also be involved in the proposed national day along with an impressive list of other cities. Some of those cities are: Portland, Los Angeles, Denver, Indianapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, Saint Paul, Atlanta, Miami, and even a city in Puerto Rico.

We need your continued involvement and we hope that we can count on your participation at Project Homeless Connect 6, Thursday, August 4th, 2005 at the Bill Graham Auditorium. We're always looking to engage new San Franciscans, please bring one new person to Project Homeless Connect 6.

VOLUNTEER PREFERENCES AND RSVP FORM

If you have yet to do so, please take a moment to fill out the new Project Homeless Connect Volunteer Preferences and RSVP Form. We have now added an "other" interest category if your volunteer group does not fall into the previous predetermined list and we have additionally added a "sorry unable" and "other" option within the RSVP pull down menu. Thank you again for your attention and we appreciate your time.

PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT THE MOVIE!

Many thanks to SF State University's Urban Institute for their production of a Project Homeless Connect Video. This video records some of the early events held at the Bill Graham Auditorium. This is a terrific introduction to the project.

You can view the movie by visiting our Media page.


RECRUIT A FRIEND OR BUSINESS

We encourage you to recruit a friend or business to volunteer at the Project Homeless Connect events. If you have questions regarding the best way to approach these individuals contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteers@projecthomelessconnect.com.

Thank you once again,

Mayor Gavin Newsom

4951. jexster - 7/6/2005 1:03:35 PM

Project Homeless Connect - The Movie
Produced by the Urban Institute
SF State University

4952. jexster - 7/6/2005 1:11:15 PM

Girlie Man

4953. robertjayb - 7/7/2005 6:59:50 PM

Dennis is Menacing...

4954. jexster - 7/7/2005 7:13:55 PM

I do so miss those little showers

4955. arkymalarky - 7/7/2005 8:17:44 PM

I certainly hope it brings us some rain. This is the first dry summer we've had in several years, and it's miserable.

4956. jexster - 7/8/2005 9:19:54 AM

450 Sheep Jump Off a Cliff

ISTANBUL, Turkey - First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff, Turkish media reported.

In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned, Aksam reported.

"There's nothing we can do. They're all wasted," Nevzat Bayhan, a member of one of 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd, was quoted as saying by Aksam.

The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas, located in Van province in eastern Turkey, tops $100,000, a significant amount of money in a country where average GDP per head is around $2,700.

"Every family had an average of 20 sheep," Aksam quoted another villager, Abdullah Hazar as saying. "But now only a few families have sheep left. It's going to be hard for us."

4957. wonkers2 - 7/8/2005 9:23:07 AM

Analogous to Americans in the 2004 election.

4958. jexster - 7/9/2005 4:43:21 PM

Bush Wins Papal Vote

Reuters - 8 July 2005 0953 GMT

VATICAN CITY- In a stunning turn of events, U.S. President George W. Bush has been named as the next pope to succeed John Paul II as the leader of the Catholic Church. The Vatican announced today the true election returns, which had been obscured by the temporary appointment of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as pope. The heavy veil of secrecy was lifted by the Vatican today with this announcement along with the announcement that Cardinal Ratzinger's elevation to pope has been annulled. The true election result had been kept secret until now to give the Vatican enough time to investigate possible voting irregularities.

How could this have happened? For the first time in history, the College of Cardinals employed electronic voting machines to select the next Supreme Pontiff. Bush won by a margin of 2,528 votes, despite the fact that only 115 Cardinals take part in the process.

The machines, which were last used in the 2004 Ohio Presidential election, also registered minus 27 votes for Democratic candidate John Kerry. "It's a miracle!" cried Kenneth Blackwell, spokesperson for voting machine manufacturer Diebold Corporation. "God has spoken."

Supporters of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had demanded a recount; but Blackwell said the voting machines, which had been modified to emit a plume of white smoke when a plurality was reached, are unable to produce a paper audit trail, rendering a recount impossible.

When informed of his victory, President Bush expressed surprise. "I was not aware I was running for the popecy," he said. "I thought you had to be Polish. I wish people would tell me these things."

However, he added that he would be "honored and privileged to serve as Supreme Pontoon for the rest of my natural life, or until I die, whichever comes first."

4959. robertjayb - 7/12/2005 9:51:22 PM

Dennis has moved on...Say hello to Emily

4960. robertjayb - 7/13/2005 11:55:53 AM

NASA Postpones Discovery Launch...

July 13 (Bloomberg) -- NASA said a problem with a fuel sensor forced it to delay the launch of space shuttle Discovery.

The problem with a sensor that tells the engines when to cut off was detected as the astronauts boarded the craft ahead of today's planned launch, Allard Beutel, a spokesman for National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in an interview.

Discovery was scheduled to lift off at 3:51 p.m. local time from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It would have been the first shuttle mission since Columbia disintegrated over the southern U.S. in 2003.

4961. thoughtful - 7/13/2005 1:19:22 PM

rehnquist has been taken to the hospital...

4962. Marc-Albert - 7/13/2005 2:49:40 PM

Bush book incites controversy

Cairo, Al-Ahram Weekly, 7-13 July, 2005

Al-Azhar is being criticised for sanctioning a highly controversial US biography of Prophet Mohamed. Gihan Shahine sifts through the 19th century tome to find out why.

After much debate, Al-Azhar has finally approved the distribution of a 19th century biography of Prophet Mohamed authored by Reverend George Bush, a distant ancestor of US President George W Bush. Life of Mohamed: The Founder of Islam and of the Empire of Saracens has provoked a storm of controversy for its harsh criticism of Prophet Mohamed, whom it calls "an imposter". The book also occasionally refers to Muslims as "locusts".

Censors at the Al-Azhar-affiliated Islamic Research Academy (IRA), who have the authority to ban books on religious themes, have concluded that the contested volume is "a piece of documentation which portrays a lively picture of Prophet Mohamed's life", and "praises the prophet in almost 80 per cent of its content." A final IRA report said that although the book contains many negative inaccuracies, it does not contradict Islamic tenets.

Readers will have to decide for themselves. At one point in the 262-page book, Bush calls Prophet Mohamed "one of the most remarkable men" who was "very considerably in advance of the age in which he lived". Elsewhere, he writes that Mohamed was "decidedly the most successful imposter, that ever lived." The book claims that by marrying more wives than the four ordained by Islam, Prophet Mohamed "did not observe the rules of morality which he himself laid down, and which he enforced upon others by such terrible sanctions". The Prophet's wives are described as "concubines" and the holy Qur'an as "a pretended revelation" of which the prophet was the "original projector and the real author." In fact, Bush's primary argument seems to be that Islam is a "desolating scourge" and a divine "punishment" for the deplorable state Christianity had reached prior to the appearance and rise of Prophet Mohamed.

4963. robertjayb - 7/14/2005 10:41:40 PM

Rehnquist holding on...

July 14 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, aiming to end a swirl of speculation about his future, said in a statement that he has no immediate plans to retire and intends to stay in his position as long as his health allows.

``I want to put to rest the speculation and unfounded rumors of my imminent retirement,'' said Rehnquist, 80, who is battling thyroid cancer. ``I am not about to announce my retirement. I will continue to perform my duties as chief justice as long as my health permits.''

4964. Magoseph - 7/15/2005 10:03:49 AM

Dial M for moron: Wrong-number call to pol lands drug suspect in can

By Michele McPhee
Friday, July 15, 2005 - Updated: 03:35 AM EST

Dial M - for moron.

An alleged Somerville drug dealer hoping to unload a ``large shipment'' of pills thought he was calling an old connection Wednesday night. What he got instead was Boston City Council President Michael Flaherty on the line - and a court appearance yesterday on drug-peddling charges.

``It was a sharp move on Councilman Flaherty's part to play along with this guy,'' police Commissioner Kathleen M. O'Toole said yesterday, shortly after the alleged dealer, John Murphy, 32, was arraigned at South Boston District Court.

According to Flaherty, the sting was set up after he received a call on his new cell phone from an unrecognized number late Wednesday afternoon.

As Flaherty tells it, the conversation went like this:

``What's up? It's Murph,'' the caller said.

Flaherty, who grew up in South Boston and still lives there, said he naturally responded by asking, ``Which Murph?''

``John Murphy,'' the caller said. ``I just got a big shipment. Klonopins.''

An anti-depressant, Klonopin is also a controlled substance.

Flaherty, astonished that a dealer could be so brazen, said he pressed the caller for details.

``It would have been very easy for me to say, `Sorry, you have the wrong number,' and hang up the phone,'' Flaherty recalled yesterday.

Instead, Flaherty said he drove to South Boston's Area C-6 police station and recounted the call to Capt. Paul Russell.

``Initially, I was skeptical that we would be able to make contact with him, but I passed it along to the drug unit,'' Russell said.

An undercover officer called the number Flaherty provided, asked for ``Murph'' and claimed she was ``a friend of Mike's who wanted to buy 50 pills.''

Flaherty's phone rang again.

The conversation went like this, he said:

``This girl, your friend, she all right?'' Murphy wanted to know.

Flaherty vouched for the cop, and Boston police said they set up a meeting with Murphy to buy the pills for $100.

Just before 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, a blue Chevy Impala pulled into Sullivan's at Castle Island, police said


Minutes later, Murphy and his girlfriend, Stephanie Iarossi, 34, were cuffed on drug charges.

Murphy was held on $10,000 bail despite begging his father in court: ``Please, Dad, sell the car.''

Iarossi was held on $3,000 bail.

Murphy's attorney, Denis Frauenhofer, said his client ``had no idea what he was doing'' when he called one of the city's most powerful politicians.

Flaherty promised to help the suspect seek drug treatment.

``My hope that this kid reaches out for help,'' he said. ``I think about all the young men and women, and the neighborhoods, that have been destroyed by this type of activity.''

4965. robertjayb - 7/16/2005 6:13:01 PM

Survey says students feel high schools let them down...

DES MOINES, July 15 - (NYTimes) - A large majority of high school students say their class work is not very difficult, and almost two-thirds say they would work harder if courses were more demanding or interesting, according to an online nationwide survey of teenagers conducted by the National Governors Association.

The survey, being released on Saturday by the association, also found that fewer than two-thirds believe that their school had done a good job challenging them academically or preparing them for college. About the same number of students said their senior year would be more meaningful if they could take courses related to the jobs they wanted or if some of their courses could be counted toward college credit.

Taken together, the electronic responses of 10,378 teenagers painted a somber picture of how students rate the effectiveness of their schools in preparing them for the future.

4966. arkymalarky - 7/16/2005 6:41:00 PM

My daughter was an honor graduate and went to college on a full scholarship, yet I got a frantic call from her in her freshman year about the Iliad, which she'd been assigned to read and was having a test over. She had never heard anything about it, never read anything similar, and was completely unfamiliar with the major themes, literary elements, etc. Her father was similarly disgusted with her math preparation--and this was supposed to be a quality school, one that has won national awards. It wasn't a lack of ability on her part, either, because when we were able to help her she picked up what she needed quickly and did well in both her math and English classes (though I think if she were not academically lazy--spoiled might be a better word--she could have gotten a lot on her own without our help).

4967. Macnas - 7/18/2005 1:51:58 AM

I recall being shocked when I heard my sister had failed her first year in university, many years ago. Reason being she was, and indeed is, one of the cleverest people I know, and also one of the hardest workers.

She said the third level regime was totally different to what she had been used to in school, in that it was all left up to her, and if she didn't work as hard as she might it was not anybody’s responsibility but her own.
We all remember, perhaps, the teacher in school telling you that it was all up to you, that we were fooling nobody but ourselves, that we only had ourselves to blame if we ended up only being fit for digging ditches or picking blackberries.

Of course, teachers in secondary school, worthwhile teachers that is, have great interest in their students doing well, and take no small amount of time to try and make sure the student does the best they think they can do. If you are a student that relies on, or enjoyed this close attention, has my sister undoubtedly was, the real world "sink or swim" attitude of third level is alien.

4968. arkymalarky - 7/18/2005 7:33:29 AM

I want my students to do well, but doing well means learning how to achieve on their own. I very much see my job as preparing students for post-high school--NOT seeing that they achieve IN high school. Of course if I do my job AND the students do their jobs, they will succeed both during and after high school. BUT for a lot of schools (and this has nothing to do with your sister, but with my observations here), teachers aren't taking the time to challenge students due mostly overloaded schedules and/or less enthusiasm. The kids, consequently, aren't getting more attention, but less.

Their grades don't reflect that, however, because it's easier for a teacher to walk through classes with minimal challenges, especially when you have 150 students a day and you know parents will come sailing down on any teacher who gives their children C's instead of A's. It becomes a "choose the hill you want to die on" thing. If a kid makes an A the parent's not likely to complain, or even know there's a problem with a particular subject, until it's too late. I had half a mind to go to Mose's math teacher after she took her college entrance test and complain about the A+ Mose got in trigonometry.

4969. robertjayb - 7/20/2005 7:56:49 PM

NASA Aims for Tuesday Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA will try to launch Discovery on the first shuttle mission in more than two years next Tuesday, after tracing last week's fuel gauge failure to, most likely, an electrical grounding problem lurking inside the spacecraft**.


**i.e., no freakin' idea

4970. jexster - 7/27/2005 8:03:02 PM

'Raging Grannies' risk US jail in bid to be allowed to fight in Iraq



Five greying anti-war activists from a group dubbed the "Raging Grannies" face possible jail time after demanding to be enlisted in the US Army to fight in Iraq, one of them said.

The women, aged between 57 and 92, were charged with criminal trespass after turning up at an Armed Forces Recruiting Center in the western US state of Arizona demanding they be allowed to join the fighting ranks.

"We're very serious about that, we really want to enlist," 74-year-old "Raging Granny" Betty Schroeder told AFP.

"We think it would be better if old people were killed at war than young ones," the retired nurse, whose husband and two brothers were killed in battle in other wars, explained.

4971. Ms. No - 7/28/2005 8:55:43 AM

You have got to be kidding me.

No Butts Behind the Wheel

4972. iiibbb - 7/28/2005 9:02:50 AM

Note to self, pitbulls do not turn off.

4973. wonkers2 - 7/28/2005 9:12:43 AM

iiibbb, what do you think of the GOP's bill to immunize gun makers from lawsuits?

4974. Ms. No - 7/28/2005 9:46:32 AM

I think it's ridiculous that such a thing would be needed. When a pedestrian gets mowed down by a drunk driver nobody sues Subaru.

The regulation to put in place and enforce is to obtain the report of criminal distributors from the gun manufacturers. They know who's selling illegal guns to criminals. They've always known and from what I understand the ATFB knows they know.

The problem is that there's a liberal investment in being anti-gun and you can't be vociferously anti-gun when you don't have enough gun violence to concern folks.

And so long as the liberals are happy to chase the red herring of gun restriction, the conservatives are happy to let them. It ensures that the Dems will have a harder time getting the Libertarian vote and so long as they're spending their energy on guns, they can't spend it on other stuff.

4975. Ms. No - 7/28/2005 10:31:56 AM

above post copied to Gun Control thread

4976. robertjayb - 7/28/2005 9:44:42 PM

heh, heh, heh...

MILTON, Fla. (AP) -- An activist with ties to anti-abortion violence has been jailed after losing an appeal of his conviction and 18-year prison sentence for molesting a teenager at the home for troubled girls he operated.

Sheriff's deputies took John Burt, 67, into custody Wednesday. A three-judge panel of a state appeals court on Friday unanimously upheld his conviction on five counts of lewd or lascivious molestation or conduct with a child under 16.

4977. robertjayb - 7/29/2005 12:00:57 PM

London bombers nabbed...

07-29) 10:44 PDT LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) --

Raids in London and Rome on Friday rounded up the last of the four suspected attackers from the failed July 21 transit bombings in Britain, officials and media reports said.

Two of the suspects were picked up in west London following raids by heavily armed police, the reports said. London police did not confirm their identities.

Video broadcast by ITV News/Daily Mail in London showed two men identified as bombing suspects stripped to the waist emerging at gunpoint on a balcony of one apartment after police apparently fired tear gas inside.

Italian police in Rome arrested Osman Hussain, a naturalized British citizen from Somalia, as part of an ongoing investigation in the bombings, said Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu. Hussain was "the fourth attacker," he said.

4978. robertjayb - 7/29/2005 12:05:02 PM

Scotland Yard briefing due momentarily on CNN.

4979. robertjayb - 7/29/2005 2:10:06 PM

Musharraf joins global struggle against extremism...

The Pakistani president today ordered all foreign students in the country's religious schools - the madrasas - to leave.

The move by General Pervez Musharraf is part of his government's attempts to crack down on extremism. The Islamic schools have been in the spotlight after reports that one of the London bombers studied at one.

Gen Musharraf also promised to take action against unlicensed madrasas.

Some 1,400 foreign students are now in the country under student visas, news agencies reported this afternoon. The visas become invalid once students leave the schools.

4980. jexster - 7/31/2005 9:39:41 PM

4981. jexster - 7/31/2005 10:51:51 PM

Congress last week announced that the office of President of the United States of America will be outsourced to overseas interests as of 31 August. The move is being made to save not only a significant portion of the President's $400,000.00 yearly salary, but also a record $521 billion in deficit expenditures and related overhead.

"We believe this is a wise move financially. The cost savings should be significant," stated Congressman Thomas Reynolds (R-Wash.). Reynolds, with the aid of the Government Accountability Office, has studied outsourcing of American jobs extensively.

"We cannot expect to remain competitive on the world stage with the current level of cash outlay," Reynolds noted.

Mr. Bush was informed by email of his termination. Preparations for the job move have been underway for some time. Gurvinder Singh of Indus Teleservices, Mumbai, India will be assuming the office of President as of 1 September. Mr. Singh was born in the United States while his Indian parents were vacationing at Niagara Falls, thus making him eligible for the position. He will receive a salary of $320 (USD) a month but with no health coverage or other benefits.

It is believed that Mr. Singh will be able to handle his job responsibilities without support staff. Due to the time difference between the US and India, he will be working primarily at night, when few offices of the US Government will be open.

"Working nights will allow me to keep my day job at the American Express call center," stated Mr. Singh in an exclusive interview. "I am excited about this position. I always hoped I would be President someday."

A Congressional Spokesperson noted that while Mr. Singh may not be fully aware of all the issues involved in the office of President, this should not be a problem. Mr. Singh will rely upon a script tree that will enable him to respond effectively to most topics of concern. Using this tree, he can address common concerns without having to understand the underlying issues at all.

"We know these scripting tools work," stated the Spokesperson. "Mr. Bush has used them successfully for years."

Mr. Bush will receive health coverage, expenses, and salary until his final day of employment. Following a two week waiting period, he will be eligible for $240 dollars a week unemployment for 13 weeks. Unfortunately he will not be eligible for Medicaid as his unemployment benefits will exceed the allowed limit.

Mr. Bush has been provided the outplacement services of Manpower, Inc. to help him write a resume and prepare for his upcoming job transition. According to Manpower, Mr. Bush may have difficulties in securing a new position due to limited practical work experience. One possibility is re-enlistment in the Air National Guard. Should he choose this option, he would likely be stationed in Iraq, a country he has visited.

"I've been there, I know all about Iraq," stated Mr. Bush, who gained invaluable knowledge of the country in a visit to the Baghdad Airport's terminal and gift shop.

Sources in Baghdad and Falluja say Mr. Bush would receive a warm reception from local Iraqis. They have asked to be provided with details of his arrival so that they might arrange an appropriate welcome.

4982. Ms. No - 8/1/2005 3:10:05 PM

Denver Seizes and Destroys Hundreds of Family Pets


Yep, your neighbors can call and report that you have a dog they think has some Pit Bull blood in it and the City will come and look at your dog and if they think it looks like a Pit Bull they'll take it away and kill it.

The city is not, however, rounding up and killing other dogs that look scary or even that have bitten or seriously injured people.

4983. Ms. No - 8/1/2005 3:54:16 PM

A better article on the absurdity of the Denver Pit Bull ban

from article

"If anyone says one dog is more likely to kill - unless there's a study out there that I haven't seen - that's not based on scientific data," said Julie Gilchrist, a doctor at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who researches dog bites.

...
The American Temperament Testing Society evaluated 122 dog breeds and found the American Staffordshire Terrier, a type of pit bull banned in Denver, passed 83.3 per cent of the time, just behind the golden retriever (83.6 per cent).

4984. concerned - 8/1/2005 4:08:53 PM

Kill, Chihuahua, Kill!

4985. Ms. No - 8/1/2005 5:09:05 PM

Actually there was a fatal Pomeranian mauling of an infant not long ago. Labs and Golden Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels have killed kids. The issue is not the breed of dog but the circumstances of the specific incident.

4986. jexster - 8/1/2005 7:27:38 PM

We're going after the Evil Pit Bull ourselves.....the Nicaraguan extended family that manages this building residentially speaking has one themselves.


Su nombre es Malo

of uneven temperament, but mostly nice...fun to see him being walked on his turned-to-neck spike leash with the neighbor weiner dog

4987. jexster - 8/1/2005 7:32:33 PM

SAN FRANCISCO - Dog bite reports show pit bulls likeliest culprits - Breed blamed in 27% of city's known attacks since 2003


Personally I's prefer a rottweiler and an M-50 machine gun but all I have is a killer balinese with arthritis

NATION - Data on pit bulls may be skewed by popularity - Rottweilers were deadliest dogs for much of 1990s

That one killed what's her name...

4988. wonkers2 - 8/1/2005 9:26:35 PM

Don't most cities execute dogs that attack and maul people?
My daughter was attacked by her next door neighbor's Rottweiler a couple of years ago. The police came and picked the dog up and killed it. A month later the neighbor had another Rottweiler. Some people never learn. My daughter could have sued and collected but didn't. (The dog got over the neighbor's fence into my daughter's back yard and attacked her unprovoked as she was going up the back steps. She had to have several stitches in her back and still has scars. I don't know whether the police charged the neighbor with a crime. I don't believe so. IMO, he should have been charged.

4989. jexster - 8/1/2005 9:34:20 PM

4990. robertjayb - 8/2/2005 8:40:44 AM

Cow Pollution...

To city dwellers, cows may conjure up thoughts of a peaceful scene in the countryside - or dinner in the works.

The images that come to mind are quite different for rural Americans who live near cows, especially modern dairy farms with thousands of cattle and tons of manure.

According to a new report issued by government regulators in California, dairies are the No. 1 source of smog-producing pollution in the San Joaquin Valley, producing more than even cars and light trucks.

The San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District has determined that a cow annually emits 19.3 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the gases that contribute to smog. That is 50 percent more than currently thought, the report said.

The new emission factor will force up to 250 more dairies to apply for permits, and force them to comply with regulations that are to be announced next summer.

4991. wonkers2 - 8/2/2005 9:49:36 AM

If they could capture that gas it would help solve the energy crisis. I'm surprized the GOP didn't include a project in their energy bill.

4992. Ms. No - 8/2/2005 10:40:25 AM

Jex,

I don't care what kind of dog it is, if the owners feel the need to stab it in the neck with metal spikes on a regular basis then they shouldn't have a dog. Clearly they cannot or will not control the animal properly. It also seems pretty obvious that they are invested in the idea of a "tough" dog without being equally invested in the idea of being responsible pet owners. So if and when that dog bites someone it will be blamed on the dog's breed rather than on the fact that he's got lousy owners.


BTW, that first article is much more fair than it at first appears, but if all you read is the headlines it seems extremely prejudicial. I know that sensationalism sells papers, but I do wish the media would be a little more responsible in its reporting. The second article is quite good and brings up a lot of what the real issues are.

People like drama and they want to find something easy to blame. We aren't happy unless we've got a great evil to rail against and don't anyone bother to tell us we're overreacting or making the problem worse by our actions. This kind of thinking crosses all political fences and neither conservatives nor liberals are any less immune to such idiocy.

4993. Ms. No - 8/2/2005 11:09:11 AM

Don't most cities execute dogs that attack and maul people?

I'm sure some cities do but most do not except in the most serious of cases. Not all dog bites or attacks are equal. A dog that jumps the fence and attacks a neighbor in another yard is likely an irredeemably dangerous dog. A dog that attacks a masked assailant who breaks into your home is a hero. A dog who chases children like prey needs serious supervision. A dog who nips a child for pulling his tail or poking him in the eye needs protection from bratty kids. BTW most fatal dog attacks happen when young children are left unsupervised with dogs.

I think there should be serious fines for irresponsible pet owners. I think you should have to have a license to breed animals. This means that 99% of dogs and cats should be spayed or neutered. I think you should be fined if you have an unlicensed litter of kittens or puppies and I think you should pay higher registration fees for un-altered animals unless you are a licensed, registered breeder. I think people should be fined for abuse and neglect when they tie up a dog in the yard and just leave it there --- that dog is miserable and more than likely dangerous because he is unsocialized and untrained. I believe that vicious animals should be put down but I also believe that it takes more than a single bite to show that a dog is vicious. There is a difference between a dog that is aggressive with other dogs and a dog that is aggressive with humans. There's a difference between a dog that is protective of his owner or home or yard and a dog that cannot be walked on a public sidewalk or park without lunging at any man or beast that comes within 10 feet of him.

Denver isn't killing dogs that attack people, though. They're killing all dogs that look like they might have Pit Bull blood regardless of the dog's behavior. They're killing dogs that have never harmed anyone for no other reason than hysteria. Killing the innocent pets of responsible people is not the answer.

4994. judithathome - 8/2/2005 11:11:09 AM

Killing the innocent pets of responsible people is not the answer

Amen.

4995. arkymalarky - 8/2/2005 12:08:21 PM

Yet another mark against Denver. Is your brother still planning to move there, No?

4996. robertjayb - 8/2/2005 12:25:05 PM

Stormy Weather Ahead...

WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - U.S. government forecasters on Tuesday predicted that 21 tropical storms could form during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, tying a record set in 1933.
..................................................

* Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, with most activity in August and September.

* Average hurricane season has 10 tropical storms. Of those, 6 became hurricanes and 2 are ranked as major ones with winds of at least 111 mph.

* 2005 hurricane season prediction calls for 21 tropical storms. Of those, 11 may become hurricanes and 7 may have powerful enough winds to rank as major ones.

* 2004 hurricane season had 15 tropical storms. Of those, 9 became hurricanes and 5 were ranked as major ones.

* Most active Atlantic hurricane season was in 1933 with 21 tropical storms, followed by 1995 with 19 tropical storms. The most hurricanes in a season occurred in 1969, when there were 12 hurricanes.

4997. Ms. No - 8/2/2005 1:35:31 PM

Arx,

That's the plan, but it depends on whether he gets the job there or not. So far, he can't apply for it because they haven't "posted" it. He's got a good shot at it when they do, though.

Funnily enough I was over there last night and they mentioned that they'd really like it if I moved as well and I had to tell them that regardless of any other considerations -- job, friends, lifestyle -- I wouldn't move anywhere I couldn't take my dog.

Not that there aren't plenty of places to live other than the city of Denver proper, but that kind of craziness can spread.

Truthfully, however worked up I get over any of this stuff, my reasons not to move to Denver don't start with my dog. ;-> The only reason for me to move to Denver would be to stay close to my brother and his family and as much I would miss them that's not really enough reason to uproot my entire life.

Of course, ask me again about three months after they actually move and you may find me packing my bags.

4998. arkymalarky - 8/2/2005 2:34:30 PM

If they go and you go to visit them, check out Nederland. You'd love it and you'd fit right in. It's not far at all from Denver--less than an hour, I believe.

4999. robertjayb - 8/2/2005 2:46:25 PM

An Air France aircraft has skidded off the runway attempting to land in Toronto and is on fire. CNN says 200 peeps aboard.

5000. robertjayb - 8/2/2005 3:02:15 PM

Airbus A340, flight 358 out of Paris.

5001. robertjayb - 8/2/2005 4:07:19 PM

No known fatalities per an airport official.

Amazing.

5002. judithathome - 8/6/2005 9:05:38 AM

My letter is in the paper today...it's in response to a guy who wrote about that awful Garry Trudeau's comic in which he used the term Turd Blossom to describe Karl Rove.

Mine is the third letter...the other two on the same subject are really good, too.

5003. Magoseph - 8/7/2005 4:36:58 AM

The letter is in the Cafe today.

5004. greystoke - 8/7/2005 9:23:34 PM

You can pay nerds to play video games for you.

It can take hundreds of hours to work through the beginning stages of online video games, fighting off virtual enemies and building up cool powers and weapons. But a new service will let gamers skip all that mundane effort, allowing them to rent virtual characters that are already beefed-up and powerful.

The rental service by GamePal.com, which costs $349, followed by $129 monthly payments, is a way to outsource what is supposed to be fun. Call it laziness or just the latest obituary for the attention span, but it points to a real change in how people experience leisure: The notion that you have to earn your fun is going out the window.

5005. robertjayb - 8/7/2005 10:14:41 PM

R.I.P., Peter Jennings, elegant anchor...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Peter Jennings, former prime-time anchorman for ABC News, died on Sunday at his home in New York, the network said. He was 67 and suffered from lung cancer.

5006. robertjayb - 8/7/2005 10:24:36 PM

NYTimes Jennings obit...

5007. arkymalarky - 8/8/2005 11:09:23 AM

Hey Grey! Don't be such a stranger!

5008. judithathome - 8/8/2005 12:49:51 PM

Peter Jennings, elegant anchor...

And high achieving high school dropout, too. Class act all the way.

5009. thoughtful - 8/8/2005 12:53:52 PM

that lung cancer will get you quickly.

when my dad had it i was reading the stats and they're not good. Only 1 in 10 are even operable when they find it, and unlike other cancers, the survival rate hasn't budged since the 1950s.

5010. robertjayb - 8/8/2005 1:47:46 PM

Tunneling bank thieves take $68 million in Brazil...(reuters)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Thieves tunneled into a bank in northeastern Brazil and stole $68 million, the biggest bank heist in the nation’s history, police said Monday.

“It’s something you see in the movies. ... They dug a 200-meter (650-foot) tunnel that goes underneath two (city) blocks. They’ve been digging for three months,” police investigator Francisco Queiroga told Reuters by telephone.

5011. greystoke - 8/8/2005 5:38:45 PM

arky,

Sorry. I just get so busy in the summer. And I'm working long hours on the job.

Yea, I know, I'm a whiner.

5012. arkymalarky - 8/8/2005 5:45:59 PM

Excuses, excuses!

Mine is this slug of a dial-up isp I'm on.

I start back to work this week, and I'll actually have more time than I have this summer, partly because I spent so much of the summer catching up on stuff that had been neglected the last couple of years.

5013. wonkers2 - 8/8/2005 8:11:15 PM

The Brazilians must have watched a re-run of "The Lavender Hill Mob!"

5014. robertjayb - 8/9/2005 11:20:05 AM

Woman who cut wedding now cuts grass...

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks (search) mowed the lawn of a government building Tuesday as part of her court-ordered community service for lying to police after she ran off days before her scheduled wedding.

Wearing an orange community service vest, a ballcap that said "Life is good" and running shoes, Wilbanks seemed upbeat as she pushed a powered mower by a swarm of reporters and photographers. She briefly spoke when the mower's engine died in some tall grass.

"I'm doing well," said Wilbanks, who has been undergoing mental health treatment. She admitted with a laugh that it had been a long time since she had mowed a lawn.

5015. robertjayb - 8/9/2005 1:25:02 PM

Four-Star General relieved ...Sexual misconduct alleged...

WASHINGTON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - The four-star general who headed the U.S. Army's training and recruiting efforts has been relieved of his duties after an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, defense officials said on Tuesday.

In a rare punishment of a four-star officer -- the highest rank in the military -- Gen. Kevin Byrnes, 52, was fired as commanding general of the Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe in Virginia by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army said in a statement.
.................................................

A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the disciplinary action followed an investigation by the Defense Department inspector general's office into "allegations of personal misconduct of a sexual nature."

5016. wonkers2 - 8/10/2005 4:15:45 PM

Did it involve Judith Miller, perchance? Or Lynne Cheney?

5017. Magoseph - 8/12/2005 3:34:16 AM

Delay's pals indicted

5018. judithathome - 8/12/2005 9:43:10 AM

Reach at Your own Risk - Kiplinger's

A spike in interest rates, a recession or just plain overbuilding could deal Americans without much home equity a heavy blow, says Dean Baker, an economist and co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Washington, D.C., think tank. He's so bearish that he sold his condominium last year for nearly three times what he paid in 1997, and he now rents. Baker's sure he'll buy again for as much as 25% to 30% below today's prices. He foresees similar declines in other hot markets.
(see The 13 Riskiest Housing Markets)

A more likely scenario, says economist Mark Zandi, of Economy.com, is that mortgage rates will rise modestly, by one to 1.5 percentage points over the next year, and home prices will flatten but not fall. That would still be a disaster for many recent borrowers. "In 2006 and early 2007, we'll be in the middle of a massive loan adjustment -- just when house-price growth will have weakened," says Zandi. "I wouldn't be surprised if we see record levels of foreclosures and delinquencies, even if the economy continues to expand."

5019. wonkers2 - 8/12/2005 10:24:33 AM

Both of Detroit's "local" papers changed hands last week. The Detroit Free Press, a middle-of-the-road paper who supported Kerry in the last election, was sold by Knight Ridder to Gannett. And the Detroit News which has a right wing Republican slant was sold by Gannett to MediaNews, a privately held Denver company which owns the Denver Post and the Los Angeles Daily News.

Anybody know anything about the Los Angeles Daily News or Denver Post. I fear the worst for the Free Press now that it's in the hands of Gannett. (The Abramoff indictment, front page on the NYT, was buried in a tiny article on page eight of this morning's Free Press). MediaNews is probably worse. Too bad for Detroit.

5020. arkymalarky - 8/12/2005 11:05:25 AM

Gannett killed off the Arkansas Gazette, a great liberal newspaper and the oldest continuing newspaper west of the Mississippi. They then sold it to the chief rival of the Gazette, the Arkansas Democrat after floundering for several years. They never intended, imo, to try to make the Gazette a competitive paper. Nancy Reagan was on the Gannett board at the time.

It's a long story, but basically the Gazette lost an expensive lawsuit against the Democrat about their circulation practices and the Gazette never recovered. The Democrat calls itself the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since buying the Gazette from Gannett, but I don't call them that. Their owner, Walter Hussman, is very conservative and is buying up newspapers in this region of the country.

5021. arkymalarky - 8/12/2005 11:05:58 AM

And yes, that is bad news for the Detroit newspapers.

5022. arkymalarky - 8/12/2005 11:06:38 AM

Oh, and I don't know anything about MediaNews. I didn't catch that the first time around.

5023. arkymalarky - 8/12/2005 11:08:09 AM

I think the Denver Post is a crap paper, but that's just based on the little I read it in the summers when I'm in CO.

5024. wonkers2 - 8/12/2005 2:57:29 PM

Detroit may be going from a quite right wing Republican (News) and a middle the road or moderate Republican or independent paper (Free Press) to two conservative Republican papers. This follows just about all of our radio stations being gobbled up by chains. Detroit's flagship station is now owned by ABC Disney and most of an outstanding group of local talent ( Karel Haas, J.P. McCarthy, Mike Whorf) has been replaced by the likes of Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura and Sean Hannity. Local programming has shrunk to almost nothing. The only local broadcaster of any note is Mitch Albom. The same thing has happened to many local companies including nearly all the local banks, many of what were formerly savings and loan assn's, drug companies and even Chrysler which is now owned by Daimler Benz. We have become a branch economy like a bananna republic.

5025. wonkers2 - 8/12/2005 3:05:50 PM

More bad news from Motown. Here.

5026. robertjayb - 8/13/2005 1:47:47 PM

Ohmigod! Swan couple outed...

Aug. 13, 2005 — Boston sure loves its swans.

Each spring when they return to the Public Garden the Mayor leads a grand parade and hundreds of kids arrived dressed as swans and ducks. They even nicknamed one swan duo that each never leaves the other's side "Romeo and Juliet."


Only, it turns out neither swan is Romeo — they are both female.
.................................................

It can be difficult to tell a swan's gender, so zoo curator Frank Bealls's team at the zoo gave them an exam and determined these swans were both girls. The Parks Department didn't tip off the public until The Boston Globe asked for the results and then published a story.

Reactions from Bostonians have been mixed. Some are calling them a symbol of acceptance and tolerance, with a nod to the fact that Massachusettes is the first state to legalize gay marriage. Others are calling for the city to buy "real Romeos," male swans for the girls.

As of now, the Parks Department plans to do no such thing.

"Swans do mate for life," Beall said. "If you introduce a male at this point, he will likely be driven off."

5027. Magoseph - 8/13/2005 2:38:04 PM

It can be difficult to tell a swan's gender, so Bealls's team at the zoo gave them an exam and determined these swans were both girls.

How about writing, "...these swans were both females."? Especially, since he writes later, "If you introduce a male at this point, he will likely be driven off."

A male swan, but a girl swan...

5028. iiibbb - 8/15/2005 11:33:01 AM

Project

5029. thoughtful - 8/16/2005 6:26:54 AM

damn! another plane went down...this one from colombia, crashed in venezuela. Why is it these things always seem to happen in clusters?

Just horrible.

5030. alistairconnor - 8/16/2005 6:57:13 AM

Chilling news : the permafrost bites back.
Siberian marsh gas will tip us into the Warm Age

Tipping point... positive feedback loop ... a 70bn tonne fart.

Concerned, Sto and other skeptical enviro-nihilists have been saying for years that either global warming doesn't exist, or it's too late to do anything about it.

They were half right, it seems.

5031. robertjayb - 8/16/2005 9:57:21 AM

updating 5029....

Filed at 11:11 a.m. ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- A plane carrying vacationers from the French Caribbean island of Martinique crashed Tuesday in western Venezuela after reporting engine trouble, and at least 160 people aboard were feared dead.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-82 was en route from Panama to Martinique when its pilot reported trouble with both engines to Caracas' air control tower at around 3 a.m., said Francisco Paz, president of the National Aviation Institute.

Airport authorities lost radio contact with the West Caribbean Airways plane roughly 10 minutes later in the area of Machiques, near the border with Colombia some 400 miles west of Caracas, he said.

5032. thoughtful - 8/16/2005 10:26:18 AM

Actually, AC, from my POV, I wouldn't argue that there is evidence that the earth is getting warmer. My argument is over evidence that it is caused by industrialization as opposed to many of the other potential causes of climate change, variations in which clearly predate human presence on earth.

5033. wonkers2 - 8/16/2005 10:32:37 AM

That big climate fluctuations have occurred in the past, perhaps for reasons unknown, does not conflict with the evidence that for the past 50 or 100 years the increased burning of fossil fuels and the loss of forests, etc, has contributed to global warming. Hardly anybody, aside from the oil, utility and auto industries disputes this. However, it is true that some other factor could override these effects and take us back into another ice age.

5034. PelleNilsson - 8/16/2005 12:54:33 PM

During the past decade the evidence for global warming has become quite solid. We need to contemplate the following undisputed facts:

1. CO2 is a greenhouse gas.
   
   
2. Since the beginning of industrialization human activities have caused increasing amounts of CO2 to be pumped into the atmosphere.
   
   
3. As a result the ratio of CO2 is significantly higher than a century ago.
   
   
4. The earth is actually warming up.

5035. thoughtful - 8/16/2005 1:36:51 PM

Pelle,

Come on...you're scientific enough to know that correlation is not causation.

There was also the argument that all the pollution is throwing up massive amounts of particulate material in the air, blocking out the sunlight, making the earth cooler.

There was the argument that we are reaching the end of an exceptionally warm period and that we should be moving into a centuries long ice age soon.

Then there are all those far more powerful forces that we don't understand...like the earth's axis isn't fixed...the earth's orbit isn't fixed...like the reversal of magnetic polarity of the earth...like sunspots. Like El Nino. Like what caused the past warm periods and ice ages throughout earth's history. I mean, I'm living in a most moderate, temperate area that still reveals the results of the wisconsin glacier sheet that covered our area in 3500 feet of ice in the last ice age, leaving innumerable boulders behind. That was 15,000 years ago, long before man had any significant impact on the global environment.

There is simply too much that we don't know and don't understand about climate change and what causes it, let alone what, if anything, can be done about it, to begin creating any workable solutions.

And, as I recall, you've personally done work on paradigm shifts and know how persistent ideas can be regardless of if they reflect underlying reality or not.

Yes there is evidence that the earth is warming. But we simply don't know the cause. And if we can't identify the cause, we sure as heck can't cure it.

5036. wonkers2 - 8/16/2005 1:45:38 PM

Although there is plenty we don't understand about our global climate, the warming effect of CO2 in the atmosphere is beyond dispute. This could be (1)accelerating other warming factors; (2)counter-balancing unknown cooling factors; or (3)acting alone, in the absence of other factors, to warm the earth. Seems to me prudent to do what we can to reduce or slow the increase in CO2 emissions.

5037. thoughtful - 8/16/2005 3:51:16 PM

Prudence is at what cost with what impact with what alternatives.

For example, nuclear power is not a scrumptious alternative to greenhouse gases, but many are proposing it.

Key generator of greenhouse gases is transportation...what's a valid alternative?

Are we all to return to the ways of the cavemen? At the cost of how many lives?

And of the studies I've seen, even optimistic scenarios about our ability to reduce greenhouse gases only slow accretion, not reduce them. It's not clear we can reduce them in any reasonable amount of time or with any reasonable extant technology.

And if you're correct that CO2 may be offsetting the earth's cooling, we could go through all this only to be no better off or even worse.

I'm not seeing any good solutions here, let alone any good understanding of the underlying problem.

It's a conundrum...one which may have deadly consequences...but man wasn't given any special guarantee against extinction over other animals.

So it goes.

5038. wonkers2 - 8/16/2005 4:13:37 PM

There are plenty of things we could be doing that we aren't doing--accelerating research on alternative energy sources; raising CAFE standards and eliminating the SUV truck exclusion; adopting changes in building codes (green buildings) and energy use standards for appliances; and so forth. We are burning fossil fuels like there's no tomorrow, thanks to the lobbying and propaganda emanating from EXXON, et al, we are sticking our heads in the sand.

5039. thoughtful - 8/16/2005 4:24:41 PM

but all of those suggestions, while all well and good, only nip at the very edges of CO2 emissions and without dramatic technological breakthroughs won't keep the level of greenhouse gases from growing.

The only way to do it is to turn off the energy tap. Drastic reductions in electricity use, private transportation, re-urbanize the country so people can walk/bike to work, etc. And that's without even counting the over 1 billion people in china who are hankering for modernities such as cars, refrigerators, etc. Throw in another billion in India for good measure. Significant reductions in population growth would be required which necessarily entails economic recession. We're talking drastic change if you expect to flatten the presence of CO2 in the atmosphere. And that says nothing about reducing current levels. CO2 is very persistent and no one knows how to effectively reduce what's already there.

I'm telling you, there are no good solutions here...not any that don't entail significant human costs.

5040. alistairConnor - 8/16/2005 5:47:29 PM

You're right about that, Tful... it's too late, most likely. And it's going to hurt. Best to wait for the roof to fall in, rather than try to do anything about it.

I'll add you to the list of enviro-nihilists.

No future.

No oil futures, anyway.

5041. wonkers2 - 8/16/2005 8:22:35 PM

Well, we need to start somewhere. We should have signed the Kyoto Treaty, however imperfect it may be. The U.S. should be leading, not dragging it's feet. Instead we are selling gas guzzling Cadillac and Porsche SUVs and exempting them from gas mileage standards. Instead we should slap a big luxury tax on them and, more important, triple the tax on gasoline, gradually in stages over several years, perhaps to avoid a sudden shock. Maybe we need a sudden shock! And we should be encouraging nuclear power instead of dirty coal fired generating plants.

5042. wonkers2 - 8/16/2005 10:37:50 PM

Dr. John Ruether on global warming. (My baby sister's fiance. He died suddenly yesterday while on a trek with her in Peru.) Here.

5043. robertjayb - 8/17/2005 12:17:55 AM

That's a shame, wonkers. Sympathy to your family.

5044. robertjayb - 8/17/2005 12:22:05 AM

Watch where you step, Arky!

August 16,2005 | LITTLE ROCK -- It happens every year: large numbers of copperheads gather and move in unison to dens for hibernation. But it happens in October, not July or August. Now the common event has become an uncommon and inexplicable one.

"I know for a fact that all these snakes didn't just wake up one day and do this," said Chuck Miller, whose Marion County yard has been overrun with the pitvipers. "Something's making them do it. They know something we don't know. There's got to be something more to this."

5045. alistairconnor - 8/17/2005 3:38:21 AM

Tful:
We're talking drastic change if you expect to flatten the presence of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Well, yes. But we're going to get the catastrophic economic future you're talking about, without even flattening CO2 levels.

You're talking about the fact that non-fossil energy sources are expensive and problematic. But hey, guess what. So is oil. Or hadn't you noticed?

I wonder what would have happened if the US had made an effort to reduce greenhouse gases over the past five years, for example as Japan has done. At best, it would have pushed back the oil price shock a year or two, I suppose. Though it might have been possible to bring India and China on board for negotiating reductions.

5046. alistairconnor - 8/17/2005 4:33:35 AM

Message # 5032 Tful, I wonder if your wilful ignorance on this is not caused by ideological blinkers. Your position would have been respectable ten years ago, arguable five years ago, but it looks just plain silly now. You haven't been keeping up.

Yes, nobody has ever denied that there have been big climate swings in the past, with natural causes (strawman). It is now well-understood that (naturally caused) high CO2 levels have in past ages, accompanied rapid climate swings. And so on. The jury is not out any more.

5047. wonkers2 - 8/17/2005 5:59:37 AM

Thanks, RJB. Here's a more technical paper by John Ruether. He was a DOE scientist working recently on CO2 sequestration. Prospects for Early Deployment of Power Plants Employing Carbon Capture

5048. thoughtful - 8/17/2005 6:27:39 AM

Wonks, so sorry to hear about your loss.

5049. thoughtful - 8/17/2005 7:03:18 AM

AC, willful ignornace? Call it what you will. I prefer to think of it as skeptical. Remember when margarine was better for you than butter?

Paradigm shifts in science happen all the time. And, has been amply demonstrated, once a paradigm takes hold, voices to the contrary get drowned out and shut down. As a result, facts and truth often take the hardest hit.

So, for example, the famed hockey stick chart upon which much global warming theory has been based...


...was examined by Stephen McIntyre and found the data to be flawed. Here is McIntyre's corrected data.



You can read more about it here.

5050. alistairconnor - 8/17/2005 7:14:15 AM

Yeah, yeah. And the Siberian peat bogs aren't really melting, nor is the antarctic icecap breaking up, it's all measurement errors, and smoke and mirrors from pseudo-scientists with mysterious vested interests? Is that the message, Thoughtful?

When your illustration comes from an eminent scientific (and famously politically neutral) publication like the WSJ... well I'm obliged to sit up and take notice, aren't I!

Measurement errors happen all the time. Maybe over-zealous scientists were not careful enough, maybe they had an agenda to push, maybe that particular study was flawed. But the allegation that the scientific case for global warming is based principally on that particular chart, is just nutty. It's a strawman, and a sceptical mind like yours should recognise that. (The WSJ couldn't possibly be pushing an agenda, could it?)

It's weird : you remind me of Kuligin, a year or so ago, questioning whether AIDS was caused by the HIV virus. If you're interested, we can pursue the matter...

5051. thoughtful - 8/17/2005 7:29:16 AM

And I doubt that you would argue that the entire global warming debate hasn't become politicized. Politics necessarily damages truth and rational investigation into areas about which we have only a little knowledge. And we know that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

But in any case, it is always dangerous when we thing we have all the answers and refuse to listen to well-reasoned arguments to the contrary.

So rather than buy hook, line and sinker the argument that the earth is overheating, it's man's fault, and we're all going to die unless we make our lives absolutely miserable, (gosh this sounds like something a fire and brimstone preacher would preach rather than science!) I'd rather keep an open mind, recognize that the jury IS still out on this issue for many reasons, recognize that the costs of fixing a problem over which we may have no control or even may not be a problem are extremely high, and moving ahead with caution and reason is by far the best approach.

Mind you, I'm not anti-environmentalism. I find clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment far preferable to a dirty one. I detest the gutting of environmental legislation that bush has pushed through as the evidence is clear that under the legislation, the environment has improved significantly since the 1970s when rivers were catching fire. It's just that, cleaning up the environment by itself is sufficient reason to pursue things like cleaner power generation, more fuel efficient cars, 'green' houses (heck we're even exploring active solar for our new home), let alone how it could change the geopolitical bind we're in currently over oil.

But when you are talking about eliminating CO2 output, you are talking about an entirely different can of worms...starting with no more breathing and no more farting. I'm simply not ready to go that far. Not yet. Not without more evidence that this is a critical issue. Not without more evidence that I will be better off than I am now.

5052. thoughtful - 8/17/2005 7:39:25 AM

OK AC, I've had enough of this. I've made my point.
Comparing me to Kuligan is going way too far.

5053. alistairconnor - 8/17/2005 7:53:10 AM

So rather than buy hook, line and sinker the argument that the earth is overheating, it's man's fault, and we're all going to die unless we make our lives absolutely miserable,

Jumble it all together and tie it up into a strawman.

Let's separate the elements of that. You have three quite distinct propositions here :

1)* "the earth is overheating"
You seem to be casting doubt on this still. Are you serious, yes or no?

2)* "it's man's fault"
Ow, my toe hurts. Could this be related to the fact that there's an elephant standing on my foot? Gee, maybe there's some other explanation. I guess the jury's still out, huh.
But seriously : if you are prepared to accept proposition 1, then we can see if you've got some other explanation for it, to compete with the one that fits the available data.

3)* "we're all going to die unless we make our lives absolutely miserable"

Speak for yourself. In any case, my life will certainly be affected by increasing energy costs, and this will influence economic decisions and people's lifestyle choices more and more, in the next few decades. But this is largely independent of any coercitive measures to decrease CO2 production. I'm planning to buy 15 to 20 tons of wood in the next few weeks, purely to keep down the cost of heating this winter. As it happens, this is virtuous with respect to CO2 production. It requires more physical labour on my part, but it's not clear that it's an overall negative with respect to my happiness.

I grant you that the efficacy of seeking to reduce CO2 emissions is arguable -- I have trouble believing that we will agree to leave fossil fuels in the ground, while they remain among the cheapest energy sources -- but if one accepts proposition 1 and 2, then they certainly need to be considered seriously.

Conversely, even if you reject the idea of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this has no bearing either way on the truth or otherwise of proposition 1 or 2.

5054. alistairconnor - 8/17/2005 8:17:43 AM

Actually Thoughtful, the reason that AIDS discussion with Kuligin stuck in my mind is that it's the only occasion I can think of, when he actually backed away from a proposition that he seemed to have a vested interest in believing, when faced with overwhelming evidence.

As you are more open to reason than Kuligin, I believe that you would change your view if you examined the evidence.

That "debunking" the WSJ mentioned was done by two self-professed "climate sceptics" : an amateur mathematician and a social scientist. If you know of a climatologist who disagrees that the 1990s were the warmest decade for a thousand years, please let us know. Likewise, if you can find evidence that the Siberian permafrost is not in fact melting for the first time in eleven thousand years, then clue us in on that too.

5055. alistairconnor - 8/17/2005 8:20:35 AM

But in any case, it is always dangerous when we thing we have all the answers and refuse to listen to well-reasoned arguments to the contrary.

Oh absolutely. I'm not a bad listener : bring 'em on. But it's OK : if you can't find any, I'll understand.

5056. PelleNilsson - 8/17/2005 9:36:55 AM

There was a time when the contrarians denied that there is any global warning. This position not being tenable anymore, their fall-back position is that it is due to natural causes. The McIntyre "correction" should be seen in this light. As I see it there are two intellectual difficulties.

First, the underlying conecpt is that the current warming is a return to the natural state after a cool period. That assumes a climatological history of a warm earth with cool periods. But the available data suggests the contrary: that the earth is cool with warm episodes, the last one ocurring in the middle ages. What McIntyre has done, assuming that his interpretation of the data is correct is to prolong this last episode by 150-200 years which is not very impressive. And I find it quite difficult to reconcile McIntyre's conclusion with the historical record of bad harvests and famine in Europe during that period.

The second difficulty is that of cause and effect. Their relationship is not symmetrical. A cause, given the same initial parameters, will always have the same effect, but a given effect can have multiple causes. We can agree that the medieval warming was caused by factors we currently don't understand, but that does not have to mean that the present warming is caused by those same factors.

5057. thoughtful - 8/17/2005 9:42:16 AM

Well let's see. I presume by your stringent standards that this person would qualify as a climatologist:

Adjunct Scholar, NCPA
Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the Center for Climatic Research, University of Delaware.

David R. Legates is an associate professor of geography and director of the Center for Climatic Research at the University of Delaware. He is also the Associate State Climatologist and Associate Director of the Delaware Space Grant Consortium (sponsored by NASA -- see http://www.delspace.org).

Legates received B.S. degrees in Mathematics and Geography, a M.S. degree in Geography-Climatology and a Ph.D. degree in Climatology - all from the University of Delaware.

He has taught at the University of Oklahoma and Louisiana State University before returning to his alma mater.

And in this article in addition to pointing out problems with the Mann data and citing recent studies, he concludes:

The scientific evidence, including the two most recent studies of the climate for the past 1,000 years, strongly indicates that Northern Hemisphere temperatures have been both as warm as and substantially cooler than the present, absent any possible human influence.

Further, you might try this summary of the little medieval warm period.

I'm only suggesting that there are other serious voices out there, other evidence and other studies, in addition to flaws in well accepted studies (including now Mann himself has admitted to having some flaws in his data) that tell us that the history itself of climate change, let alone what causes it to change, is simply not well understood. That paradigms, once established, will drown out any research that casts doubt on that paradigm regardless of how correct it is. That jumping to conclusions on correcting a problem that we don't understand is not only incredibly expensive in terms of $$ and lives, but most likely will be completely futile.

I, of course, don't see that position as unreasonable. If you find that pov difficult to accept, so be it.

PS. We've been heating our home with wood for over 25 years. Neophyte.

PPS. This time I AM done.

5058. alistairconnor - 8/17/2005 10:04:49 AM

Whatever the length and intensity of the "Medieval warming period", it is simple fact that the Siberian tundra didn't melt then, nor did the Antarctic icecap thin out as it is now doing. Therefore, rearguard attempts to portray the 15th century episode as warmer than the current one, are simply counterfactual.

You will recall that in my post which started the current discussion, Message # 5030, I posted some new (to me) factual information about warming. New evidence is emerging all the time, and it's convergent.

You may choose to remain sceptical. It's a convenient stance for those who have an economic or idealogical vested interest in doing nothing. I agree that attempts to do anything about it are likely to be largely futile : in part because of rearguard resistance by vested interests; in part because we do indeed seem to be past a tipping point, with the likelihood that natural phenomena like the Siberian thaw are providing powerful amplifying impetus.

Meanwhile, I've got an elephant standing on my foot. I suppose I'd better learn to live with it.

5059. thoughtful - 8/17/2005 12:31:34 PM

Pelle, I don't see that the warming has to be returning to a natural state...only that the warming is not historically unprecedented, even in recent times, so it is not necessarily a result of human activity.

We can agree that the medieval warming was caused by factors we currently don't understand, but that does not have to mean that the present warming is caused by those same factors.

It also doesn't mean it isn't caused by those same factors, which clearly we don't understand. Until we understand what has caused warming in the past, we can't be sure that the same forces aren't at work now.

5060. arkymalarky - 8/17/2005 4:44:36 PM

Message # 5044
It happens every year: large numbers of copperheads gather and move in unison to dens for hibernation. But it happens in October, not July or August. Now the common event has become an uncommon and inexplicable one.

Wow, that's wild. Bob's killed several copperheads just in the past couple of weeks. The dogs were barking at one the other night in the front yard under a huge oak tree. Diva was a great snake dog.

5061. arkymalarky - 8/17/2005 4:46:31 PM

I'm sorry about your family's loss, Wonk.

5062. robertjayb - 8/17/2005 5:37:11 PM

Polar bears denied lunch...

OSLO -- (AP) -- Three unarmed Polish researchers stranded on a remote Arctic island were rescued by helicopters as polar bears were closing in on them, officials said Wednesday.

The hairsbreadth escape took place on an island in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, about 650 miles from the North Pole.

"It was the worst imaginable situation. They were cold and wet, had no equipment or weapons, and were surrounded by hungry polar bears," said Peter Braaten of the Svalbard governor's office.

The men were rescued by helicopter Tuesday after 15 hours shipwrecked at the edge of a tiny bay between two glaciers, he said.

5063. robertjayb - 8/17/2005 5:54:18 PM

"Jews! There are jews at my table!"**


ALLENHURST, N.J. Aug 17, 2005 — The bill was a shocker, and not because of the amount. After eating at a Jersey shore restaurant, Elliott Stein and his girlfriend were handed a bill that said "Jew Couple" near the bottom, as a table identifier used by the waitstaff. The slur also turned up on Stein's credit card statement weeks later.

"My grandfather went through all that in old-school Europe," Stein, a New Yorker and a regular at the restaurant, told the New York Post. "But that happened more than 50 years ago. You don't expect it to happen in 2005."

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office said Wednesday it is investigating the July incident at Parkhill's Waterfront Grill through its Division on Civil Rights.

**Jack Nicholson in "As Good as it Gets"

5064. wonkers2 - 8/17/2005 7:42:30 PM

Americans sucking Jewish cocks.

5065. Macnas - 8/18/2005 1:54:21 AM

Old-school Europe??

Would it have been better if the bill had stated "Jewish couple"?? Maybe not.
How can you tell if someone is Jewish, just by looking at them as they eat? Is is what they order? But if they are eating at a grill I doubt they are totally kosher. I doubt they were wearing skull caps or carrying on like Mel Brooks schleping it up.

5066. alistairconnor - 8/18/2005 2:33:53 AM

I blame the I.T. department.

Clearly, the internal identifier used by staff shouldn't show up on the bill given to the client, much less on the credit card statement.

Intriguing... do their other clients get bills labelled "loud fat chick" or "old letch"? And are they entitled to sue too?

I suppose it's more fun than numbering the tables.

5067. Macnas - 8/18/2005 4:20:44 AM

If you have ever worked in a service industry, where you intereact with the public, you can end up despising them.

5068. Magoseph - 8/18/2005 7:20:20 AM

CHICAGO -- LaChania Govan said she got bounced around by her cable company when she called to complain. She made dozens of calls and was even transferred to a person who spoke Spanish _ a language she doesn't understand.

But when she got her August bill from Comcast she had no trouble understanding she'd made somebody mad. It was addressed to "Bitch Dog."

5069. wonkers2 - 8/18/2005 8:37:45 AM

I wonder if they put "WASP couple" on other people's checks?
Probably not.

5070. robertjayb - 8/18/2005 9:35:07 AM

tropes.org seems to me a promising directory of news sources.

5071. robertjayb - 8/18/2005 11:40:11 PM

Will the Judge Crater mystery be solved?

Aug. 18, 2005 — ABC News has learned NYPD detectives have obtained the first new evidence in 73 years in the disappearance of a New York State Supreme Court judge once dubbed "the most missingest man in America" by the city's tabloid newspapers.

On August 6th, 1930, Judge Joseph F. Crater stepped off a Midtown Manhattan curb and into a cab after seeing a Broadway play with his showgirl girlfriend. He was never heard from again.

5072. Marc-Albert - 8/19/2005 4:59:28 PM

Hi, mate!

"It’s pomposity gone mad” (Former PM Bob Hawke}


Australians - Sydney Opera House notwithstanding - are not known for anything approaching sophistication - but I must say this Australian "mating" habit is, ahem, a surprise, even for a Québécois used to informality.

Mates are Ok at Aussie Parliament

Security guards at Australia's parliament can continue addressing politicians and visitors as "mate", after a ban on the term was reversed.

After a complaint from a civil servant about informality, guards were told to address everyone as "sir" or "madam".
But Prime Minister John Howard said barring the classic Australian greeting was "absurd and ridiculous".
With many of his mates in Canberra also up in arms, the official edict was overturned within 24 hours.

Other politicians were equally dismissive of the drive for gentility.

"It's pomposity gone mad," said former Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke, praising the term's flexibility and "nice neutrality".

"I have never seen anything so criminal in all my life," said one of Mr Howard's Liberal Party colleagues, backbencher Bob Baldwin.

"It's part of the Australian vernacular. It's a term of endearment and of mateship."

But the leader of the Labor opposition in parliament, Kim Beazley, politically no mate of the prime minister's, put the blame for the "un-Australian" move on Mr Howard himself.

"This is John Howard's Australia. It's all about masters and servants," he said.

5073. Marc-Albert - 8/19/2005 5:02:12 PM

Oops, I forgot this is the sophisticated MOTE and one has to pick up his toys.

5074. judithathome - 8/19/2005 10:42:12 PM

ABC News has learned detectives have examined erosion records, and believe they have identified a location where bones could be recovered. Police officials said digging there had not yet begun.

They are waiting until Geraldo can get a film crew together and sign on for a special: The Secret of Crater's Grave.

5075. jexster - 8/21/2005 2:04:53 PM

Bush "Intelligence": Nukehavistan May Have Nuclear Weapons


WASHINGTON, DC—A report released Monday by the Defense Intelligence Agency suggests that there is reason to believe that the former Soviet republic of Nukehavistan may be manufacturing nuclear weapons.

5076. thoughtful - 8/23/2005 6:11:09 AM

Pat Robertson calling on the US to assassinate Hugo Chavez. How very xtian of him....

5077. robertjayb - 8/23/2005 11:19:57 AM

Does this make Pat a terrarist?

5078. thoughtful - 8/23/2005 11:31:20 AM

Well it certainly makes Pat an idiot.

(CNN) -- Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson has called for the United States to assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling him "a terrific danger" bent on exporting Communism and Islamic extremism across the Americas.

since when do atheists and the hyper-religious join forces???

5079. judithathome - 8/23/2005 11:43:24 AM

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela's vice president accused religious broadcaster Pat Robertson on Tuesday of making "terrorist statements" by suggesting that American agents assassinate President Hugo Chavez. Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said Venezuela was studying its legal options, adding that how Washington responds to Robertson's comments would put its anti-terrorism policy to the test. "The ball is in the U.S. court, after this criminal statement by a citizen of that country," Rangel told reporters. "It's huge hypocrisy to maintain this discourse against terrorism and at the same time, in the heart of that country, there are entirely terrorist statements like those."

5080. thoughtful - 8/24/2005 12:16:12 PM

I guess no one seemed to mind when robertson suggested blowing up the state department...was that not too a terrorist threat?

The guy is OTT...he's obviously spent too much time drinking his own milkshake.

5081. wonkers2 - 8/24/2005 1:03:27 PM

A boycott of ABC-TV until they dump Pat Robertson was suggested today on the Al Franken show. Trouble is, I hardly ever watch ABC!

5082. Macnas - 8/25/2005 1:15:30 AM

That old jerk has his own television show? Ha!, only in the U.S., land of the free.

5083. thoughtful - 8/25/2005 6:21:47 AM

apparently old pat first denied saying it...then when showed the video tape, he admitted he said it and then apologized.

It's about time someone held these radical's feet to the fire and make them take responsibility for their reckless words.

5084. Magoseph - 8/25/2005 6:35:19 AM

That old jerk has his own television show?

He owns a network, Mac--see below.

M. G. "Pat" Robertson has achieved national and international recognition as a religious broadcaster. He is the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc., founder of International Family Entertainment Inc., and several other organizations and broadcast entities.

Founded in 1960, CBN was the first Christian television network established in the United States. Today CBN is one of the world's largest television ministries and produces programming seen in 90 nations and heard in 50 languages including Russian, Arabic, Spanish, French and Chinese. CBN's flagship program, The 700 Club, which Robertson hosts, is one of the longest running religious television shows and reaches an average of one million American viewers daily.

5085. judithathome - 8/25/2005 10:15:32 AM

One million brain-dead Americans daily...people who think anything that old fool says is truth.

5086. Macnas - 8/25/2005 11:02:08 AM

ahh, there is no hope.

5087. jexster - 8/28/2005 12:57:32 PM

DAMN! I waited TWENTY ONE YEARS for this moment!

Oh well unlucky in life, unlucky in love..

NEW ORLEANS - Monstrous Hurricane Katrina barreled toward the Big Easy on Sunday with 175-mph wind and a threat of a 28-foot storm surge, forcing a mandatory evacuation, a last-ditch Superdome shelter and prayers for those left to face the doomsday scenario this below-sea-level city has long dreaded.


"Have God on your side, definitely have God on your side," Nancy Noble said as she sat with her puppy and three friends in six lanes of one-way traffic on gridlocked Interstate 10. "It's very frightening....

5088. jexster - 8/28/2005 1:13:24 PM

WDSU..NBC NO...just inteviewed a woman at Louis Armstrong Airport...

She is in a PANIC..just wants to get back to SAN FRANCISCO!

and I wanna be where she is..sheesh

5089. robertjayb - 8/28/2005 1:44:29 PM

Katrina is an answer to bush's prayers.

Forget about Cindy Sheehan, the constitution cockup in Iraq, fuels cost, and the steady stream of casualties from the war against terrarrists.

George the beneficient can now dispense aid and comfort to the storm refugees.

5090. judithathome - 8/28/2005 3:29:30 PM

He'll be down there pontificating before the dregs of the storm reach Crawford.

5091. jexster - 8/28/2005 5:51:18 PM

5092. lemwalker - 8/28/2005 6:04:59 PM

With the assistance of Katrina gas will pass $3 easily.
Glad you can't be there Jexster, would hate to lose ya.

5093. judithathome - 8/28/2005 6:30:32 PM

Yeah, I agree about gas going up...that's why I filled my tank today.

5094. judithathome - 8/28/2005 6:32:54 PM

Glad to see you, Lem! Don't be a stranger.

5095. jexster - 8/28/2005 6:47:28 PM

Chris Mathews said Bush "sounded like a hall monitor" there's a job for him!

5096. jexster - 8/28/2005 6:48:20 PM

Yea Lem it is PISSING me off...I used to drive my family crazy every hurricane watch...

5097. jexster - 8/28/2005 6:56:55 PM

"What if this city we've loved for over 200 years becomes engulfed in water, a pool of toxic waste for years..." Chris Mathews

5098. jexster - 8/28/2005 7:12:34 PM

I had a fraternity brother who rode out Camille in Gulfport.

I was in San Francisco for a visit!!!

The place leveled his parent's vacation home and he held his little sisters tied to his waist for three hours while he grab an oak tree for dear life..

What FUN!

5099. jexster - 8/28/2005 9:34:59 PM

That bitch has drawn bead on the Crescent City..right up the mouth of the Mississippi..the scenario we feared when I was a boy..Audrey, Betsy etc..


MSNBC had an NWS guy on...toxic soup..city uninhabitable for months...blow Mississippi levees to flush into Lake Pontchartrain...


What are the chances this will happen?

50/50

5100. jexster - 8/28/2005 9:35:20 PM

Maybe not so much fun...

5101. robertjayb - 8/29/2005 12:59:14 PM

Ya'll come back now, you heah...

A driver for the Rev. Al Sharpton led Ellis County Sheriff's deputies on a nine-mile chase at speeds up to 110 mph before state troopers stopped the car, authorities said.

The driver was rushing Sharpton to the airport after his visit anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan on Sunday at her camp outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford. The car carrying Sharpton and two other passengers was clocked doing 110 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 35 in Ellis County in North Texas, said Lt. Danny Williams.

The car ignored deputies' attempts to stop it and continued speeding and weaving in and out of traffic before it was stopped, Williams said.

Deputies arrested Jarrett Barton Maupin, 43, of Phoenix. Maupin told the officers he was hurrying to get Sharpton to the airport. Deputies impounded the rented 2005 Lincoln.

Williams said his officers offered Sharpton and the other, unidentified passengers a ride to a hotel across the highway, but they declined and walked there instead.

5102. robertjayb - 8/29/2005 1:09:04 PM

Just out for a test run...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A man test-fitting a $17,000 artificial leg ran off without paying the bill, police said.

The man visited Spectrum Prosthetics and Orthotics on Aug. 19 to be fitted for the prosthetic and "was allowed to take it for a couple hours to ensure that the fit was proper," a police report said. But the man didn't come back, Sgt. David Murillo said.

Todd Schweizer, one of the owners of the company, said employees had been working with the man for about a week.

"We were trying to meet his needs," Schweizer said.

5103. thoughtful - 8/29/2005 2:59:47 PM

things are looking pretty sucky in new orleans...close to a million people without power...

5104. thoughtful - 8/29/2005 3:05:04 PM

who left the toys out!

5105. robertjayb - 8/29/2005 3:18:36 PM

Musta been me. I'm sorry. Oh God, I'm so sorry.

5106. robertjayb - 8/29/2005 9:39:17 PM

Stayed in Mississippi too long...

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Announcing itself with shrieking, 145-mph winds, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast just outside New Orleans on Monday, submerging entire neighborhoods up to their roofs, swamping Mississippi's beachfront casinos and killing at least 55 people.

Jim Pollard, spokesman for the Harrison County emergency operations center, said 50 people were killed by Katrina in his county, with the bulk of the deaths at an apartment complex in Biloxi. Three other people were killed by falling trees in Mississippi and two died in a traffic accident in Alabama, authorities said.

5107. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 10:58:56 AM

Times-Picayune heads for high ground...

Tuesday, 9:40 a.m.

The Times-Picayune is evacuating it's New Orleans building.

Water continues to rise around our building, as it is throughout the region. We want to evaucate our employees and families while we are still able to safely leave our building.

Our plan is to head across the Mississippi River on the Pontchartrain Expressway to the west bank of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. From there, we'll try to head to Houma.

Our plan, obviously, is to resume providing news to our readers ASAP. Please refer back to this site for continuing information as soon as we are able to provide it.


-30-

5108. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 12:18:56 PM

French Quarter flooding

We have received reports from NOLA.com readers that the French Quarter is flooding. One reader report came from the corner of Bourbon Street and Royal Street. FoxNews is also reporting now that flood waters have entered the historic area of New Orleans, which was spared much of the initial flooding from Hurricane Katrina.

5109. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 12:21:58 PM

Martial law declared

Local television stations report that Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes are all now under martial law, allowing the military to assume control over civilian forces.

(NOLA WebLog)

5110. jexster - 8/30/2005 12:31:24 PM

The BR Advocate and WBRZ have extensive video footage of a flyover of the New Orleans area. There are three segments

What has happened down here is the wind have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of evangeline

The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through cleard down to plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of evangelne

Chorus
Louisiana, louisiana
They’re tyrin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
Louisiana, louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away

5111. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 1:07:24 PM

Informal salvage operations...

5112. jexster - 8/30/2005 1:21:55 PM

NO - 80% under water...Tulane won't begin classes for another two weeks at the earliest

5113. jexster - 8/30/2005 1:22:17 PM

toys

5114. PelleNilsson - 8/30/2005 1:41:52 PM

Martial law ... military to assume control over civilian forces ...

Thank God that I live in a country where stuff like that is not only unthinkable but forbidden by the constitution.

5115. jexster - 8/30/2005 2:59:35 PM

Baghdad on the Bayou

NEW ORLEANS - With much of the city flooded by Hurricane Katrina, looters floated garbage cans filled with clothing and jewelry down the street in a dash to grab what they could. In some cases, looting on Tuesday took place in full view of police and National Guard troops.

At a Walgreen's drug store in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers.

When police finally showed up, a young boy stood in the door screaming, "86! 86!" — the radio code for police — and the crowd scattered.

Denise Bollinger, a tourist from Philadelphia, stood outside and snapped pictures in amazement.

"It's downtown Baghdad," the housewife said. "It's insane. I've wanted to come here for 10 years. I thought this was a sophisticated city. I guess not."

5116. jexster - 8/30/2005 3:01:54 PM

Yesterday Congressman Jefferson was interviewed. About the second or third sentence, "I am very concerned about security in the City"

It was a bad-ass place when I was there....by all accounts much worse now

5117. jexster - 8/30/2005 3:02:10 PM

Think St. Petersberg

5118. judithathome - 8/30/2005 3:23:29 PM

Denise Bollinger, a tourist from Philadelphia, stood outside and snapped pictures in amazement.

"It's downtown Baghdad," the housewife said. "It's insane. I've wanted to come here for 10 years. I thought this was a sophisticated city. I guess not."

Isn't Philly where the police or the Guard blew up a house with Black Panthers inside? In a sophisticated way, of course.

5119. jexster - 8/30/2005 3:25:23 PM

Gov.: New Orleans Needs to Be Evacuated

Water is flowing in from Lake Pontchartrain and the Industrial Canal

With water rising in the streets of New Orleans and conditions rapidly deteriorating, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Tuesday that the tens of thousands of people now huddled in the Superdome and other rescue centers would have to be evacuated.

"The situation is untenable," Blanco said at a news conference. "It's just heartbreaking."

Because of two levees that broke Tuesday, the city was rapidly filling with water, the governor said. She also said the power could be out for a long time, and the storm broke a major water main, leaving the city without drinkable water.

5120. judithathome - 8/30/2005 3:25:37 PM

Bush is cutting short his vacation by two days. Poor guy. What a bummer.

5121. jexster - 8/30/2005 3:26:01 PM

and not surprisingly all the underground utilities are a shambles

5122. jexster - 8/30/2005 3:26:31 PM

I for one am glad he is in control

5123. jexster - 8/30/2005 3:28:33 PM

5124. jexster - 8/30/2005 3:30:09 PM

Yellow=below sea level

5125. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 3:42:08 PM

Evacuating patients...

Times-Picayune---Patients at downtown New Orleans hospitals that are being inundated with flood waters are being evacuated to triage centers on the LSU and Nicholls State campus.

People who are being rescued off of roofs will also be sent by helicopter, ambulance or bus to the triage centers, said Dr. Jimmy Guidry, the state health officer. Medical experts will evaluate whether they can be sent to a regular shelter, a special needs shelter or a hospital.

5126. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 3:45:59 PM

5127. jexster - 8/30/2005 4:04:46 PM

Gulfport/Long Beach/Bay St. Louis look like Hiroshima 1945...there's hardly a building standing....even the KMart's gone...WalMart too

5128. jexster - 8/30/2005 4:06:29 PM

The water is coming through the levee on the right...the Industrial Canal connects Pontchartrain and the Mississipppi

5129. jexster - 8/30/2005 4:07:48 PM

They're going to drop 3000# sandbags plus cargo containers filled with rip rap..then maybe blow the levees at the Bonnet Carre Spilway to let the water out of the Lake and into the River...

5130. jexster - 8/30/2005 4:09:05 PM

The above re; the second levee break..water is rising in downtown

5131. arkymalarky - 8/30/2005 4:23:44 PM

Message # 5188That's so right.

At a Walgreen's drug store in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers.

Those people need food and drinks and diapers. They should let them have it.

Bob also wondered how many people left before the storm with their vehicles full of stuff that could have held people. Our priorities are so screwed. I didn't even think about that until he said it.

His friend, btw, did stay (she's an RN) and is working in a hospital emergency room until they evacuate it. We just got a call from friends this afternoon, updating us on how she's doing.

5132. arkymalarky - 8/30/2005 4:25:09 PM

Message # 5118 is so right, that is.

5133. jexster - 8/30/2005 6:39:55 PM

Judith ...it was the Philadelphia Police..Frank Rizzo either Chief or Mayor at the time

5134. jexster - 8/30/2005 6:40:53 PM

G'ul durn Yankee aguhtaytur go home

5135. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 8:31:28 PM

Regular Katrina updates from WWL...

9:23 P.M. - FEMA bringing 2,000 officials to town. Bringing in food, water, ice, tarps. Setting up offices where you can get grants and loans.

9:21 P.M. - (AP) One Mississippi county alone said its death toll was at least 100, and officials are "very, very worried that this is going to go a lot higher," said Joe Spraggins, civil defense director for Harrison County, home to Biloxi and Gulfport.

5136. jexster - 8/30/2005 9:01:33 PM

It's one thing for all that water to be out there in the ninth ward, gentilly and lakefront...this is gittin close home

8:04 P.M. - Mayor Nagin: Unhappy that the helicopters slated to drop 3,000-pound bags into the levee never showed up to stop the flow of water. Too many chiefs calling shots he says.


7:59 P.M. - Mayor Nagin: Pumps at 17th street canal has failed and water will continue pouring into the city. Nine feet of water is expected on St. Charles Avenue that will be nine feet high. Water is expected to spread throughout the east bank of Orleans and possibly Jefferson Parish.

5137. jexster - 8/30/2005 9:27:38 PM

5138. robertjayb - 8/30/2005 10:31:39 PM

Senator Landrieu on the job...

5139. thoughtful - 8/31/2005 6:25:10 AM

Of course I understand nothing about this, but if the levees have broken, where will the pumps pump the water to? Back to the lake?

None of this makes real sense to me, other than, take the total loss and rebuild the entire city, only about 15' higher than it was...they did that in Seattle.

Miss is a mess too...tv showed pictures of one of the casino barges having been picked up and literally dumped atop a hotel building.

The whole place is a mess. An absolute and total, utter mess.

5140. jexster - 8/31/2005 8:24:04 AM

They have to fix the levees first...then they pump back into the lake...NO flood control is designed for a Mississippi river flood not a "Lake" flood - either Pontchartrain to the North or Borgne to the east

5141. jexster - 8/31/2005 8:53:10 AM

T'fil...It's the Fucked Up Frog Aristocracy...

In 1718, French colonist Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville ignored his engineers' warnings about the hazards of flooding and mapped a settlement in a pinch of swampland between the mouth of the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico and a massive lake to the north....

New Orleans, a city that has struggled to keep its head above water, physically and economically, is now a city submerged.

City officials estimated that 80% of the town was under standing water Tuesday, with some areas beneath as much as 20 feet. Water at times coursed through the French Quarter, one of the highest points in a city that is largely below sea level.

In broad swaths, the flooding submerged low-lying neighborhoods up to the rooftops and left one of America's most enchanting cities a sodden ruin.


New Orleans' Tragic Paradox

Too bad he was born too soon for the Guillotine

5142. jexster - 8/31/2005 8:56:53 AM

5143. jexster - 8/31/2005 9:02:00 AM

Gov. Blanco: Everyone Out NOW

NEW ORLEANS - The governor of Louisiana says everyone needs to leave New Orleans due to flooding from Hurricane Katrina. "We've sent buses in. We will be either loading them by boat, helicopter, anything that is necessary," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said. Army engineers struggled without success to plug New Orleans' breached levees with giant sandbags, and the governor said Wednesday the situation was worsening and there was no choice but to abandon the flooded city.





"The challenge is an engineering nightmare," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said on ABC's "Good Morning America." "The National Guard has been dropping sandbags into it, but it's like dropping it into a black hole."

5144. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:45:19 AM

Allons a Lafayette!

Panic Rises, Despair Sets In - Lafayette Daily Advertiser

5145. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:51:56 AM

NOPD Got All the Best Stuff

More From The Times-Picayune | Subscribe To The Times-Picayune
Looters leave nothing behind in storm's wake
August 31, 2005
By Mike Perlstein
and Brian Thevenot
Staff writers


Law enforcement efforts to contain the emergency left by Katrina slipped into chaos in parts of New Orleans Tuesday -- with some police officers and firefighters even joining
looters in picking stores clean. At the Wal-Mart on Tchoupitoulas Street, an initial effort to hand out provisions to stranded citizens quickly disintegrated into
mass looting.

"We don't have enough cops to stop it," an officer said. "A mass riot would break out if you tried."


"The police got all the best stuff. They're crookeder than us," one man said.

5146. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:52:56 AM

5147. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:56:51 AM

NO Devastation Map - NyT

5148. jayackroyd - 8/31/2005 11:38:20 AM

Check these out:

finding groceries in an emergency
looting grocery stores

5149. jexster - 8/31/2005 12:20:59 PM

It ain't jiss groceries ..its Air Jordan's and WalMart TV's!!

God Bless AmuhruKuh!

The looting has begun. There were crowds swarming over Roberts at Elysian Fields and St. Claude, and legions more at the brand new Wall Mart on Tchoupitoulas (maybe they were all Magazine St. small business owners, but that's a local joke). I remember a couple of years back when righteous folks in the US kept asking me how Iraqis could possibly loot their own facilities. Well, perhaps some might now wonder how Americans can possibly loot their own facilities -- except that somehow it's not surprising at all when order completely breaks down. Even cops are doing it, but then that's a specifically New Orleans touch, if you know what I mean.


Baghdad by the Mississippi


George has declared an "all hands on deck" response!


I am sure the good people of the Great State of Louisiana are as heartened as the fine people of the Great State of IraQ

5150. jexster - 8/31/2005 12:26:52 PM

'All hands on deck, we've run afloat!' I heard the captain cry
'Explore the ship, replace the cook: let no one leave alive!'
Across the straits, around the Horn: how far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course, and no one left alive

5151. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 12:44:03 PM

Interdictor is blogging from the 10th floor of an office building on Poydras Ave. in downtown NO.

Fascinating.

5152. Magoseph - 8/31/2005 1:20:35 PM

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 31 -Refugees from Hurricane Katrina who sought safety in the New Orleans Superdome will be taken by bus to the Astrodome in Houston under a plan worked out by state, federal and other rescue agency officials, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas said today.
The refugees will make the 350-mile trip from New Orleans to Houston on 475 buses provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the governor said. The Astrodome will be available to house them at least until December, and longer, if necessary. He also said he would open the doors to Texas' public schools to children from out of state whose families were left homeless by the storms.

5153. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 1:52:34 PM

Our community in central Tx has opened two shelters for 400 to 500 humans and the county is taking in animal refugees from animal shelters in the NO area. This is probably happening all over... After all Tejas means friends. Even to bedraggled coonasses.

5154. thoughtful - 8/31/2005 2:21:57 PM

while of course the looting isn't right, it's not like the losses haven't already occurred...it's not like walmart or target is going to open up shop anytime soon and start selling anything...in fact the insurance companies probably wouldn't let them. It's one thing when it's commercial establishments....next step, as in FL, will be when bands of looters start ripping off other people.

Total chaos and destruction.

Just another reminder of exactly how thin that veneer of civilization is and that a couple of hundred years of modernity isn't anything vs. tens of thousands of years of evolution.

5155. judithathome - 8/31/2005 2:26:31 PM

Gosh, I Guess We Need FEMA After All

How FEMA responds will be closely scrutinized in Congress, where there is a debate over whether the Bush administration is diluting FEMA's effectiveness by making it primarily a relief and response agency. Traditionally, FEMA has also been actively involved in planning for catastrophes.

Created in 1979 by President Carter to manage federal responses to disasters, FEMA hit its nadir in its 1992 handling of Hurricane Andrew, when thousands went without shelter for days. The Clinton White House elevated the FEMA director to a cabinet position that reported directly to the president. But in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, FEMA has been absorbed by the Department of Homeland Security. Its reduced status has prompted criticism from state and local emergency officials that FEMA's efforts to respond to natural disasters are being overshadowed by the department's focus on terrorism.

"Hurricane Katrina shows that efforts to protect the country from potential terrorist attacks should not prevent us from responding to natural disasters, which can happen at any time," said Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who is the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. "We also want to be sure that we are preparing for the after-effects of future catastrophes."

The new secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, has proposed relieving FEMA of longstanding functions such as helping communities prepare for disasters with programs like building houses outside flood zones, erecting hurricane shutters and drafting evacuation routes. That would leave FEMA with only the responsibility of responding to and cleaning up after disasters -- worrying some experts who say that disaster-relief officials can't respond effectively unless they are intimately involved in disaster preparedness.

According to congressional figures, FEMA has lost control of more than $800 million in grant money since 2003 to the Office of Domestic Preparedness, another part of Homeland Security. This includes the emergency management preparedness grants, which are the only federal funds that keep the states' emergency management offices staffed and running. The National Emergency Managers Association, which represents the country's 50 state emergency management directors, has been complaining that those funds are no longer provided directly to them but now are routed through states' own homeland security offices.

Homeland Security officials say the grant program guidelines are sufficiently broad enough to include natural disaster training and equipment. But consultants hired by states and localities to make use of the funds say these monies are almost invariably earmarked for terrorist events.

5156. jexster - 8/31/2005 3:04:17 PM

Our community in central Tx has opened two shelters for 400 to 500 humans and the county is taking in animal refugees from animal shelters in the NO area. This is probably happening all over... After all Tejas means friends. Even to bedraggled coonasses...


Fate worse than death...


There had been three deaths at the Superdome, two elderly patients and a man who committed suicide by jumping from an upper ramp.

5157. jexster - 8/31/2005 3:05:32 PM

Interdictor is blogging from the 10th floor of an office building on Poydras Ave. in downtown NO.

Sent an email to my best college bud..on the 36th floor of that bldg...no answer yet

5158. thoughtful - 8/31/2005 3:14:12 PM

I just flipped on the tv for a few seconds..about all i can take of the pictures of the devastation including a stretch of rail that was literally covered with wood splinters from what used to be nearby houses, piled high on the tracks.

It looks as if there is literally very very little left.

Un freakin' believable.

5159. jayackroyd - 8/31/2005 3:27:29 PM

thoughtful--

On looting, did you look at the links I posted?

5160. thoughtful - 8/31/2005 3:45:04 PM

no i didn't until just now...but i did see the looting on tv this a.m.

looked like this:



and even worse with people stealing entire shelving units along with the merchandise on it

5161. jexster - 8/31/2005 3:51:11 PM

5162. jexster - 8/31/2005 3:54:15 PM

just flipped on the tv for a few seconds..about all i can take


Count your blessings T'fil ...Think of the poor souls interred in the AstroTomb, tormented with Tejas hospitality!

5163. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 4:16:54 PM

Interdictor reports at 4:23...

Ok, we went down to the ground floors to lock down the building tight since a couple of people holed up with us took off. While we were down there we surveyed a huge area of the CBD.

Flooding in the CBD: Poydras is flooded from near the west side of the Superdome down to Baronne street. All of the side streets are flooded too down that way. Baronne is the last flooded street as you head to the river. Poydras is clear from Baronne to the river.

There is no water that we could see from Poydras to the interstate starting at Baronne and going all the way to the river. Headed toward Canal St. from Poydras, I saw no flooding at all from just past Baronne to the river. That's a huge area of the CBD without water on the streets. That's way better than the warnings we got.

5164. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 4:36:02 PM

Regular unleaded was $2.64 today at a Sam's Club (discount pricing) up from $2.43 on Saturday. A 21-cent rise in four days! And away we go....

5165. jexster - 8/31/2005 4:52:25 PM

Well that Idiot interdictor must be a Yankee or Texican. Everybody knows its dry around the river.

5166. jayackroyd - 8/31/2005 6:38:45 PM

There are frighteningly large numbers of dead being thrown around the blogosphere. Has anyone seen any estimates they consider reliable?

How about you Europeans? Less emotional investment there, and less chance of a newscaster picking the biggest number for shock value.

5167. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 6:46:16 PM

Sid Vicious has his uses: Bushies ignored NOLA warnings---Sound Familiar? (Salon)

.....In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war....

...............................................



After a flood killed six people in 1995, Congress created the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, in which the Corps of Engineers strengthened and renovated levees and pumping stations. In early 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a report stating that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S., including a terrorist attack on New York City. But by 2003 the federal funding for the flood control project essentially dried up as it was drained into the Iraq war. In 2004, the Bush administration cut funding requested by the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for holding back the waters of Lake Pontchartrain by more than 80 percent. Additional cuts at the beginning of this year (for a total reduction in funding of 44.2 percent since 2001) forced the New Orleans district of the Corps to impose a hiring freeze. The Senate had debated adding funds for fixing New Orleans' levees, but it was too late.

5168. iiibbb - 8/31/2005 7:03:21 PM

This is exactly the type thing that made me go out and buy a gun... Did this once... won't be flatfooted again.

5169. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 7:52:12 PM

THE PARISH IS CLOSED

.......Slidell suffers extensive flood damage; Mandeville, Covington windNorthshore Update: Wednesday 7 p.m......

5170. jexster - 8/31/2005 8:36:02 PM

Martial law has not been declared, according to LA's atty gen...not possible constitutionally...what has happened and is being incorrectly reported as "martial law" is actually the assumption of local law enforcement by the State of Lurziana...constitutional rights have not been suspended..

5171. marjoribanks - 8/31/2005 9:12:07 PM

Not picking on any one statement here, but rather on general comments around the Internet, philosophical ruminations about the "thin veneer" of civilization, and how the slightly Mad Max scenario that's unfolded in and around NO is to be expected.

Not true. This is a far more specific phenomenon. I find, in this particular brand of looting, vigilante-ism, slightly Mad Max-type environment, something that has a particularly American character. In my opinion, it has something to do with (a) the prevalence of a huge number of arms among the public and (b) a far less quantifiable but nonetheless real resentment felt by the usually marginalized have-nots in a society of haves.

I can't help but make the comparison to two huge natural disasters in South Asia just in the past year. You had the tsunami which killed probably at least five times as many people on India's coastline than Katrina has in the USA. Many Indian social character flaws surfaced in the aftermath; huge corruption, hoarding of relief, exploitation of various kinds. But almost no violent crime, no storming of the city of Chennai, no assaults on relief staff or supply convoys.

Similarly, very recently, you had the immense deluge (37in in 24 hours) in Mumbai that devastated the commercial capital of the country, shut down the stock exchanges, killed many hundreds and left millions homeless, all this happening in a population more than ten times the size of NO. You couldn't have a starker rich-poor divide than in Mumbai, to boot. But there was no looting to speak of, no significant violence to add to thenatural disaster, and instead it became a moment of solidaity in the city not unlike what NYC experienced after 9/11.

This comparison is not meant to pile on, or to be gratuitous at all, just to give us all some pause; society in NO has responded differently to this disaster than the dirt-poor Tamilians after the tsunami, or the millions of crammed-in residents of Mumbai after their deluge, or, indeed, the stunned residents of NYC after 9/11. Why is that? I think it says something about the way society there has evolved, something about the character of the place, and it clearly points - again - to the absurdity of the gun culture that has been allowed to run rampant in many parts of the USA.

5172. jexster - 8/31/2005 9:27:06 PM

LA Wildlife and Fisheries tried to evacuate Charity Hospital...

They attacked the boats and stole the generators from the command post..

Going in with Coast Guard tommorrow


And they Busheviks chortled about Baghdad

5173. jexster - 8/31/2005 9:40:10 PM

Local coffee hole...15% of all sales to New Orleans

5174. jexster - 8/31/2005 9:43:17 PM

NYC after the Blackout in the 1970's better analogy Marjie...Baghdad after the Invasion...very good one


Congressman Bill Jefferson was interviewed on Monday and when he said he was concerned about security...I took that ominous.

New Orleans is a scary place...outside of the French Quarter and the upscale neighborhoods, crushing poverty and crime..when things work right

5175. jexster - 8/31/2005 9:44:14 PM

I have lived in DC...NYC..LA....none is worse than New Orleans

5176. marjoribanks - 8/31/2005 9:46:51 PM

Baghdad after decades of dictatorship is a bit far-flung if you ask me, but NYC during the blackout is quite right.

5177. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 9:47:32 PM

Those game wardens should have had more guns.

5178. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:07:37 PM

Breakdown of order...same same everywhere....Liberate WalMart!

5179. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:08:50 PM

a new meaning to the term "Wildlife and Fisheries"....


Ah the Sportsman's Paradise!

5180. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:17:34 PM

ACT OF GOD DESTROYS NEW ORLEANS
DAYS BEFORE "SOUTHERN DECADENCE" 8/31/05

PHILADELPHIA - Just days before "Southern Decadence", an annual homosexual celebration attracting tens of thousands of people to the French Quarters section of New Orleans, an
act of God destroys the city.

"Southern Decadence" has a history of filling the French Quarters section of the city with drunken homosexuals engaging in sex acts in the public streets and
bars. Last year, a local pastor sent video footage of sex acts being performed in front of police to the
mayor, city council, and the media. City officials simply ignored the footage and continued to welcome and praise the weeklong celebration as being an "exciting event".
However, Hurricane Katrina has put an end to the annual celebration of
sin.

On the official "Southern Decadence" website
(www.SouthernDecadence.com), it states that
the annual event brought in "125,000 revelers" to New Orleans last year, increasing by thousands each year, and up from "over 50,000 revelers" in 1997. This year?s 34th annual "Southern Decadence" was set for Wednesday, August 31, 2005 through Monday, September 5, 2005, but due to massive flooding and the damage left by the hurricane,
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has ordered everyone to evacuate the city.

The past three mayors of New Orleans, including Sidney Barthelomew, Marc H. Morial, and C. Ray Nagin, issued official proclamations welcoming visitors to "Southern Decadence". Additionally, New Orleans City Council made other proclamations recognizing the annual homosexual celebration.

"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city," stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. "From 'Girls Gone
Wild' to 'Southern Decadence', New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration
of sin. May it never be the same," he continued.

New Orleans is also known for its Mardi Gras parties where thousands of drunken men revel in the streets to exchange plastic jewelry for drunken women to expose their breasts. This
annual event sparked the creation of the "Girls Gone Wild" video series.

"Let us pray for those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their
city for so long," Marcavage said. "May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our
city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," Marcavage concluded.

Funny how the fundies always leave Jesus out of their blitherings...

"[God] sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45)

5181. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 10:18:21 PM

Friction sparking at the Astrodome with freelance refugees showing up at the gates and being told that only people from the Superdome are to be admitted. One family guy with a carload of women and children was real unhappy. He had a "Let us in" sign made for TV. Hmmm.

A gang of kids said they had hitch-hiked to Houston. The deal seems to be that if you are not a Superdome alum, you are out of luck.

Another snafu is that the first bus arrived much earlier than expected. I've wondered all day why they were talking about a 12-hour drive NO to Houston. It's I-10 all the way and then zip around the 610 loop and there you Six or seven hours even if you stop to pee.

5182. jexster - 8/31/2005 10:33:01 PM

I am so glad we're "takin out the garbage in EyeRak..."

Even Larry King's taken up the Bush cuts to COE levee work story...


As a public health catastrophe unfolded Wednesday in New Orleans, hospitals in the Crescent City sank further into disaster, airlifting babies without their parents to other states and struggling with more sick people appearing at their doors.

Dangerous, unsanitary conditions spread across the city, much of which now sits in a murky stew of germs.

The federal government declared a public health emergency for the Gulf Coast region, promising 40 medical centers with up to 10,000 beds and thousands of doctors and nurses for the hurricane-ravaged area.

In a stunning example of how desperate the situation has become, 25 babies who had been in a makeshift neonatal intensive care unit at New Orleans' Ochsner Clinic were airlifted Wednesday to hospitals in Houston, Baton Rouge, La., and Birmingham, Ala. Many were hooked up to battery-operated breathing machines keeping them alive.

Their parents had been forced to evacuate and leave the infants behind; by late in the day, most if not all had been contacted and told where their babies were being taken, said hospital spokeswoman Katherine Voss.

"We actually encouraged them to leave. It would just be more people to evacuate if there was a problem," said Dr. Vince Adolph, a pediatric surgeon.

Helicopters had to land on the roof of the parking garage to get the babies because water covered the helipad at the hospital, one of the few in the area that had been operating almost normally.

"We're getting kind of at the end of our rope," with a skeleton staff of doctors and nurses who have been on duty nonstop since Sunday, Voss said.

Officials were trying to evacuate 10,000 people — patients, staff and refugees — out of nine hospitals battling floodwaters or using generators running low on fuel. About 300 people were stranded on the roof of one two-story hospital in the New Orleans suburb of Chalmette.

Yet even as they tried to evacuate, many hospitals faced an onslaught of new patients — people with injuries and infections caused by the storm, people plucked from rooftops who are dehydrated, dialysis and cancer patients in need of their regular chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

"We have thousands of people who are getting ill ... our hospitals need to be prepared to take care of the incoming sick," said Coletta Barrett of the Louisiana Hospital Association.

5183. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 11:11:14 PM

BTW, the claim that Texas movers and shakers generously "cleared" the Astrodome schedule to admit needy Lousianians is pure Lone Star bullfeathers. The Astrodome doesn't have a schedule and hasn't for some time. Harris County owns the stadium and has been brainstorming madly for something to do with the place.

The football Texans now play next door in Reliant Stadium and the baseball Astros play (after a fashion) downtown in the new Minutemaid Park.

This burst of publicity for the one-time "Eighth Wonder of the World," may slow its creeping white elephantness.

And if the good old boys do well by doing good...It's the American way.

5184. robertjayb - 8/31/2005 11:16:34 PM

Yee-Haw!

CNN now reporting that the early bus is a "renegade bus" and the passengers are not authenic Superdome survivors.

What a mess.

5185. alistairConnor - 9/1/2005 1:13:56 AM

20/20 Hindsight dept...

What the NO authorities should have done, in the 48 hours leading up to the announced catastrophe :

Airlifted into the city, thousands of

Dutch engineers
Irish cops
French doctors

etc

5186. jexster - 9/1/2005 2:26:27 AM

God damn Texicans...


Filthy fuckin Astrodome! Puhleeze...


We want Reliant




The least you bastards can do. After all, you are responsible for the disaster to begin with or GWB no longer your favorite son?????

Give the scum back to Mexico.

5187. jexster - 9/1/2005 2:47:04 AM

A hottie!!!

5188. jexster - 9/1/2005 2:55:13 AM

From NOLA.com

436. The New Orleans Way !!!!
by ptlruler, 8/31/05 21:59 ET
I hope that within a couple of weeks, when most of the water is gone, and the real cleanup begins and N.O. at least has temporary power that brass bands take to the streets and play loud and proudly and show the world that the spirit of the city lives on. I hope that jazz music is blared over loudspeakers. I hope that all the cleanup crews and volunteers will take breaks to dance in the streets for a few minutes every couple of hours! I hope that somehow the greatest city in the world can turn total disaster into the greatest party the city has ever seen. It may not be the same kinda party we're used to, but it would no doubt be the greatest one ever and it would truly last 24-7 during the entire duration of the cleanup, leading up to a grand reopening of the city, which of course would lead to the party of all partys. I hope its mardi gras all year round for the next couple years. The spirit of the greatest city in the world WILL NOT BE DESTROYED!!!

5189. iiibbb - 9/1/2005 5:37:10 AM

Message # 5171

I think it says something about the way society there has evolved, something about the character of the place, and it clearly points - again - to the absurdity of the gun culture that has been allowed to run rampant in many parts of the USA.

I can buy the idea that it is a discrepancy between the haves, and have-nots... but you are seriously blaming the looting and breakdown in civility on the American gun culture?

What the fuck? At the absolute minimum it is a chicken egg argument.

That is the single most inane thing I have heard heard anyone say about this disaster so far.

5190. iiibbb - 9/1/2005 5:43:55 AM

By the way... you're wrong that there was no looting after the tsunami... as it was well televised

5191. iiibbb - 9/1/2005 5:49:39 AM

Sorry... it is the second most inane thing... but a very close second.

I just read Message # 5180.

5192. iiibbb - 9/1/2005 6:02:12 AM

Looting after tsunamis

Looting after Bhagdad was "liberated"

Looting after huricane Andrew

Looting after the earthquake in Mexico City

5193. thoughtful - 9/1/2005 6:02:57 AM

Marj, I always thought it was because the police in India had no problem shooting guns into rioting hordes of people which brought the rioting to a quick end. Given the frequency of riots in India, perhaps it's because the cops are much better practiced at riot control...and the populace much more aware of the consequences of rioting.

5194. iiibbb - 9/1/2005 6:04:49 AM

Gun owners are typically, white, middle class, males.

In most of the news coverage of the looting... looters are rarely white, middle-class, males as far as I can tell.

Now explain how the gun-culture makes the people I see on TV go out and loot.

5195. Marc-Albert - 9/1/2005 6:33:51 AM

I agree that the existence or absence of a gun culture has little to do with the occcurence of looting in a crisis situation.

I think it's the presence of law and order forces, or the perception that such forces are in a position to intervene quickly, that plays a determining role.

The only case of large-scale looting in Montreal occured 25 years ago when the Montreal police suddenly walked out of the job during a strike. As soon as it was announced that federal troops would be called in after a night of looting, the looting stopped, even before the arrival of troops.

Five years ago during the 10-day ice storm, large tracks of the city, including commercial areas, were deserted for a few days. There was no looting, probably because would-be looters realized that the police could intervene quickly.

5196. Marc-Albert - 9/1/2005 6:43:12 AM

correction: the police strike was some 35 years ago (October 1969)

5197. judithathome - 9/1/2005 7:04:06 AM

Even if the New Orleans police could get to the looters in time to arrest them, they have no facilities in which to hold them.

5198. marjoribanks - 9/1/2005 8:21:17 AM

People, people, kindly read what I said.

I find, in this particular brand of looting, vigilante-ism, slightly Mad Max-type environment, something that has a particularly American character, and then I put some of the onus on gun culture.

Carjackings, armed mob assault on relief supplies, common armed robbery of generators, these are the things going on that don't happen in places which aren't awash in firearms. Looting happens, to some extent or another, under all kinds of extreme situations in all parts of the world. The way this particular anarchy has unfolded, this particular descent into chaos, is colored (and in my opinion made far, far, worse) because the US has absurd gun laws and a brutish, semi-insane, gun culture.

5199. Magoseph - 9/1/2005 8:30:22 AM

Marj, very well put and to the point—the American gun culture spun out of control long ago.

5200. marjoribanks - 9/1/2005 8:35:06 AM

However, I must note that it's always interesting to see otherwise perfectly reasonable people bristle with outrage when it is suggested that non-Americans (even, gasp, heathen third-worlders) can and often do act better as a people, as a culture, as a society, than Yanks.

In this situation, I'm afraid, the facts are stark. We've had a number of disasters in the past year alone, in a whole range of poor countries, and in none of them have you seen the shabby, frenzied, violent, bottom-of-the-barrel behaviour in the immediate aftermath of disaster as you've seen in NO. It does attest to a cultural difference, it dows bear testimony to something within the society. Sorry to upset you fine people, but them's the facts and the whole world sees it that way.

5201. judithathome - 9/1/2005 8:35:30 AM

I totally agree, Marj...read this:

From yahoo.com


With New Orleans sinking deeper into desperation, Nagin also ordered virtually the entire police force to abandon search-and-rescue efforts Wednesday and stop the increasingly brazen thieves.

"They are starting to get closer to heavily populated areas — hotels, hospitals, and we're going to stop it right now," Nagin said.

In a sign of growing lawlessness, Tenet HealthCare Corp. asked authorities late Wednesday to help evacuate a fully functioning hospital in Gretna after a supply truck carrying food, water and medical supplies was held up at gunpoint.

"There are physical threats to safety from roving bands of armed individuals with weapons who are threatening the safety of the hospital," said spokesman Steven Campanini. He estimated there were 350 employees in the hospital and between 125 to 150 patients.

Tempers flared elsewhere across the devastated region. Police said a man in Hattiesburg, Miss., fatally shot his sister in the head over a bag of ice. Dozens of carjackings were reported, including a nursing home bus. One officer was shot in the head and a looter was wounded in a shootout. Both were expected to survive.

Looters used garbage cans and inflatable mattresses to float away with food, clothes, TV sets — even guns. Outside one pharmacy, thieves commandeered a forklift and used it to push up the storm shutters and break through the glass. The driver of a nursing-home bus surrendered the vehicle to thugs after being threatened.

People in this country are raised on guns and when the center doesn't hold, they revert to Wild West rules...not all these assholes stole guns; I daresay many already had them and are using them in ways the NRA taught them.

5202. Magoseph - 9/1/2005 8:47:33 AM

Flexy tells me he heard that several foreign countries offered us help for NO and that Bush has not yet accepted any of them--Have you heard something to that effect somewhere?

5203. Macnas - 9/1/2005 9:23:13 AM

I have not heard anything about that Mago, hard to imagine it is anything more than a courtesy of it is the case.

After all, there are 40 something other states that can lend a hand.
I thought that I'd see much more of the Army Eng. Corps during this terrible event. Maybe they are busy in another country.

5204. Macnas - 9/1/2005 9:27:52 AM

Judith, I did see on our news last night a local man being interviewed in Biloxi. He and some neighbors were trying to clear up after the storm wreck. He said they had some looters come by that morning, but he was able to make them move on by virtue of the fact that he was armed. He remarked that he was thankful he did not have to use it.

Good, bad, what?

5205. Macnas - 9/1/2005 9:29:11 AM

I recall that when I was being trained for riot control, part of our martial law rule set was the shooting of looters on sight.

5206. iiibbb - 9/1/2005 9:29:42 AM

In this situation, I'm afraid, the facts are stark. We've had a number of disasters in the past year alone, in a whole range of poor countries, and in none of them have you seen the shabby, frenzied, violent, bottom-of-the-barrel behaviour in the immediate aftermath of disaster as you've seen in NO. It does attest to a cultural difference, it dows bear testimony to something within the society. Sorry to upset you fine people, but them's the facts and the whole world sees it that way.

There are too many co-factors to make the conclusions you've made. Aside from the fact you're completely ignoring the looting that does happen in these other poor cultures...

Aside from the fact that you have no proof for what you are saying you're ignoring many cofactors including

- the density of press coverage
- the area affected (300 km of coastline in tsunami and damage limited to the coast, probably twice the coast and the effects felt far further inland).
- the level of gov'/military control in place before and after the disaster.
- the number of casualties (dead people don't steal)
- the density of valuables and the fact that the reason Walmarts don't get looted in Thailand is because Walmarts aren't in Thailand.

these among other things.


People in this country are raised on guns and when the center doesn't hold, they revert to Wild West rules...not all these assholes stole guns; I daresay many already had them and are using them in ways the NRA taught them"

Again I say... what the fuck are you people smoking?

It is just pure prejudice. I don't even know how to respond to this manure... it's isn't worth any more time out of my day.

5207. jexster - 9/1/2005 9:39:51 AM

Mago - Hugo Chavez offered food and fuel on Monday!

:=)