January 23, 2010
Poor website
My poor site has been neglected for a couple years now :(
Curse you World of Warcraft, Anime, Work and Family for sucking up all my time.
Ok, I also eat and sleep, guess that takes a few minutes a day.
March 19, 2009
NFL concerned about player safety, switching to flag football
Ok, Ok not really.
However if you ask any of the players from the beginning of pro football up till the 80's I think all would say it's not a mans game anymore. Used to be all players were fair game for hitting, it's part of the sport. Now you have to file a petition, go before a judge to view the rules on hitting, then if all the stars in heaven line up you could tap the guy on the shoulder. Let the game be played NFL... geezz.
More @ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Dreamworks grabs Tax Payer Bank Bailout Money
Oh yay!
We get to bailout hollywood studios now as well, is there no end to the Osama administrations fleecing of the American taxpayer??
Read up on it at Deadline Hollywood Daily
December 11, 2008
CURSE YOU GLOBAL WARMING!!
NEW ORLEANS - A rare snowfall blanketed south Louisiana and parts of Mississippi Thursday, closing schools, government offices and bridges, triggering crashes on major highways and leaving thousands of people without power.
Parts of Louisiana were expected to get up to four inches of snow. Snow also covered a broad swath of Mississippi, including the Jackson area, and closed schools in more than a dozen districts. The National Weather Service in Jackson said up to 8 inches was possible in the southern and eastern parts of the state.
A heavy band of snow coated windshields and grassy areas in New Orleans, where the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28179147/
November 28, 2008
Wal-Mart Worker Dies After Shoppers Knock Him Down
NEW YORK (AP) — A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers shortly after the Long Island store opened Friday, police said.
Nassau County police said the 34-year-old worker was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 6 a.m., an hour after the store opened. The cause of death was not immediately known.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/
2008-11-28-walmart-death_N.htm?csp=34
**Happy Holidays everyone. I'm sure his family will have a wonderful holiday - after they bury their loved one, that is.:-/**
November 06, 2008
BBC SHUNNED ME FOR DENYING CLIMATE CHANGE
FOR YEARS David Bellamy was one of the best known faces on TV.
A respected botanist and the author of 35 books, he had presented around 400 programmes over the years and was appreciated by audiences for his boundless enthusiasm.
Yet for more than 10 years he has been out of the limelight, shunned by bosses at the BBC where he made his name, as well as fellow scientists and environmentalists.
His crime? Bellamy says he doesn’t believe in man-made global warming.
Here he reveals why – and the price he has paid for not toeing the orthodox line on climate change.
Surprised? No.
September 30, 2008
U.S. turmoil fails to carry through to Europe
"We are now in the golden age of thieves. And where I come from we put thieves in jail, we don't bail them out." — Rep. Pete Visclosky, Democrat.
LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks were at near three-year lows on Tuesday but fears of a major market meltdown failed to carry through from Wall Street to Europe as confidence in bank rescue packages persisted.
The U.S. Congress's rejection of a bank rescue plan tore nearly 9 percent off the broad S&P 500 on Monday but European shares and many Asian stock markets clawed back from early losses on hopes the U.S. plan would eventually go through.
U.S. stock index futures also pointed to a higher opening, suggesting belief that Monday's selloff was over-done.
"It's certainly my working assumption that there (will be) some sort of agreement reached in the U.S. and based on that I would expect the market to recover quite strongly from yesterday's sell-off," said Darren Winder, equity strategist at Cazenove.
Parts of the private sector becomes corrupt and fails, good. It's long over due for a cleansing.
I found the bill all 110 pages, HR3997 is vague and uses broad general language, which is what we do NOT need. Download Here
September 01, 2008
Some turn violent in march to GOP convention
That one sentence sums up the famous double standard of the far left. Do as we say, not as we do, it's disgusting.
It's no different than if the story was "PETA marches in the streets slitting the throats of homeless pets to protest pet violence."
Just as stupid.
August 13, 2008
Prince Charles warns GM crops risk causing the biggest-ever environmental disaster
In his most outspoken intervention on the issue of GM food, the Prince said that multi-national companies were conducting an experiment with nature which had gone "seriously wrong".
The Prince, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Telegraph, also expressed the fear that food would run out because of the damage being wreaked on the earth's soil by scientists' research.
He accused firms of conducting a "gigantic experiment I think with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong".
"Why else are we facing all these challenges, climate change and everything?".
Brilliant Prince, Good show ol' chap. (it really is worth reading it all, I had no idea the man was this smart)
August 01, 2008
Obama pines for the good old days of Red Communism
Details are in this six-page policy paper.
The first part of Obama’s plan is an emergency energy rebate ($500 to individual workers, $1,000 to families) as soon as this fall.
“This rebate will be enough to offset the increased cost of gas for a working family over the next four months,” Obama said. “Or, if you live in a state where it gets very cold in the winter, it will be enough to cover the entire increase in your heating bills. Or you could use the rebate for any of your other bills or even to pay down debt
Holy Crap Batman!
Obama is the second coming of old school Soviet Union style socialism/communism.
I'm at a total loss for words how the media and his minions refuse to open their minds up and see what is really going on... just blows me away.
God have mercy on us all if this lunatic gets into office.
lol and we thought W. was bad, this guy is going to make him look like Mr. Rogers.
July 24, 2008
Obama cancels troop visit
Republicans are, smartly, seizing upon this report from Der Spiegel (which has become a must-read this week):
SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned that Obama has cancelled a planned short visit to the Rammstein and Landstuhl US military bases in the southwest German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The visits were planned for Friday. "Barack Obama will not be coming to us," a spokesperson for the US military hospital in Landstuhl announced. "I don't know why." Shortly before the same spokeswoman had announced a planned visit by Obama.
The optics here are not good: Obama has time to get in a workout and give a speech to a crowd mostly comprised of Europeans, but can't be bothered to visit American troops wounded in action recovering at a military hospital.
Obama's explanation strikes at much of the criticism he's gotten from McCain and the GOP.
"The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign," explains spokesman Robert Gibbs.
This is a sticky wicket for Obama.
Uh, nice.
At least we know where he stands, not with our troops.
June 25, 2008
Court rejects death penalty for raping children
In a 5-4 vote, the court said the Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in such cases violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
"The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion. His four liberal colleagues joined him, while the four more conservative justices dissented.
There has not been an execution in the United States for a crime that did not also involve the death of the victim in 44 years.
Patrick Kennedy, 43, was sentenced to death for the rape of his 8-year-old stepdaughter in Louisiana. He is one of two people in the United States, both in Louisiana, who have been condemned to death for a rape that was not also accompanied by a killing.
The Supreme Court banned executions for rape in 1977 in a case in which the victim was an adult woman.
So we are back to the supreme court making laws, how refreshing to know that all phases of our government have completely run a muck with America haters trying to destroy this great nation.
Hey supreme court, how about your do YOUR job, and let congress make the laws.
June 17, 2008
45 New "Super-Earth" Exoplanets Discovered
A team of European scientists have discovered 45 new exoplanets using the HARPS instrument on the 3.4-m telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile. The planets are all less then 30 times the mass of Earth and all orbit very close to their stars (it is easier to detect small planets if they orbit very close to their star, so these are the ones found first).
It was only in 2005 that the first earth-sized exoplanet was discovered and only in April 2007 that the first Earth-sized exoplanet was discovered in the habitable zone (distance from star that allows for liquid water to be stable).
Now the team has found one sun-like star that has three super Earths orbiting it-- the smallest of which is only 4 times the mass of Earth. The host star, HD 40307, is located 42 light-years away towards the southern Doradus and Pictor constellations. "We have made very precise measurements of the velocity of the star HD 40307 over the last five years, which clearly reveal the presence of three planets," says planet hunter Michel Mayor of the Geneva Observatory.
Oh, tease us some more. Like we can jump in the Enterprise to go check it out once we find them. =P
June 16, 2008
AMD graphics card breaks teraflop barrier
The chip maker is slated to introduce a new single-chip graphics card — the ATI Radeon HD 4850 — based on the new chip on June 25. Then, in August, AMD is expected to release a graphics card, code-named R700, that will include two of the new chips.
"We're [at] a turning point in the way we design our graphics chips," said Matt Skinner, a spokesman for AMD. "As they get bigger and bigger, they use more power, and we're coming up on power constraints as well as how many transistors you can fit on a certain dye size.
Really, such a Duh! moment.
I read this and thought, why the hell didn't they do this before? We have SLI cards and mobo's why not slap two or even four chips on a card to begin with, it's quite a simple solution.
However, I have to say given ATI's long and proud history of having the worst drivers in the game will still take me back to Nvidia for a while to come.
June 14, 2008
Global Warming and the Price of a Gallon of Gas
You may want to give credit where credit is due to Al Gore and his global warming campaign the next time you fill your car with gasoline, because there is a direct connection between Global Warming and four dollar a gallon gas. It is shocking, but true, to learn that the entire Global Warming frenzy is based on the environmentalist’s attack on fossil fuels, particularly gasoline. All this big time science, international meetings, thick research papers, dire threats for the future; all of it, comes down to their claim that the carbon dioxide in the exhaust from your car and in the smoke stacks from our power plants is destroying the climate of planet Earth. What an amazing fraud; what a scam.
The future of our civilization lies in the balance.
That’s the battle cry of the High Priest of Global Warming Al Gore and his fellow, agenda driven disciples as they predict a calamitous outcome from anthropogenic global warming. According to Mr. Gore the polar ice caps will collapse and melt and sea levels will rise 20 feet inundating the coastal cities making 100 million of us refugees. Vice President Gore tells us numerous Pacific islands will be totally submerged and uninhabitable. He tells us global warming will disrupt the circulation of the ocean waters, dramatically changing climates, throwing the world food supply into chaos. He tells us global warming will turn hurricanes into super storms, produce droughts, wipe out the polar bears and result in bleaching of coral reefs. He tells us tropical diseases will spread to mid latitudes and heat waves will kill tens of thousands. He preaches to us that we must change our lives and eliminate fossil fuels or face the dire consequences. The future of our civilization is in the balance.
Of course the Church of Gore and it's disciples will stamp out this glimmer of sanity like they have done to others.
June 03, 2008
Unisured Taxpayers In Massachusetts Are Fined....
Five percent of taxpayers failed to obtain health coverage last year, and more than half of those — about 97,000 — were forced to forfeit their personal exemption — worth $219 — after it was determined they could have afforded health care.
Two percent of taxpayers — about 62,000 — were found not to earn enough for health care, avoiding fines. Under the landmark law, taxpayers must show they are insured or face penalties. The numbers were based on a review of 86 percent of expected tax filers for 2007.
The state's first-in-the-nation universal health insurance law required everyone in the state to be insured by July 2007, except for those who secured a waiver proving they couldn't afford insurance.
Gov. Deval Patrick said the fact that 95 percent of filers were insured shows the 2006 law is making progress.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_re_us/
massachusetts_health_care
** *Sniff, sniff* - Is that the stinch of socialism I smell? Why yes, yes it is! Welcome to America one and all where socialism continues to pop up, rearing it's disgustingly, ugly head. Sneaking it's way into our society through the means of brainless, corupt lawmakers who have "forgotten" (they don't care actually) that our founding fathers set up a REPUBLIC government for us - NOT a socialist one (and no - NOT a democracy either)! No one should be forced to have health insurance (or anything else) - even when they CAN afford it. That's a personal choice that every person has a right to make with OUT the government coming in and forcing them to do otherwise.
Why hasn't this law been challenged by the people! Then again, maybe it has. If so, then why hasn't the suppreme court ordered the this law to be abolished!**
May 15, 2008
Alienware: Game PCs need more than faster chips
Parent company Dell vowed on Tuesday to pour more resources into the game PC unit and invest in "product development, design, and engineering."
Alienware's Marc Diana believes optimizing systems for the 64-bit world would allow game PCs to make big strides in performance. In effect, today's 32-bit environments are putting a crimp on PC-based gaming.
"So many people are caught up in this hardware race. Dual-core, quad-core this and that," said Diana, who is Alienware's product marketing manager for desktops. "If these companies--Intel, Microsoft, Nvidia, ATI, and AMD--if they'd just sit down and realize the performance benefit of optimizing their drivers and software for 64-bit."
Finally a voice of reason who gets it.
Obama Cries when the obvious is pointed out
Obama Takes Issue With Bush Foreign Policy Speech
ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: The Obama campaign is taking issue with a comment President Bush made while speaking to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel's statehood.
"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," the President said to the country's legislative body, "We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is –- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."
I think "Dave C" nailed it in the comments:
All who believe in 100% diplomacy are like Neville Chamberlain in 1938 who tried to appease Hitler.
May 07, 2008
Ex-Gitmo Prisoner Carries Out Suicide Attack....
A spokesman for U.S. military's Central Command told The Associated Press that Abdallah Salih al-Ajmi took part in an attack in Mosul.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24504862/
**NOOO! Not an ex-Gitmo prisoner! Gee - I wouldn't have seen that one coming! Seeing as how they're all SUCH innocent people who have been locked up under petty suspision! Right....**
April 03, 2008
Comcast offers super-fast Internet speeds
Being a heavy gamer myself I found this funny, what gamer has the need for 50mb connection? Let alone afford it?
Now the "movie download" person, you can put money on is getting his bits and bytes from other users, and not by paying a online movie rental/seller.
February 04, 2008
Clinton Health Plan: Garnish Wages to force Universal Health Care
The New York senator has criticized presidential rival Barack Obama for pushing a health plan that would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment."
Clinton said such measures would apply only to workers who can afford health coverage but refuse to buy it, which puts undue pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms. With her proposals for subsidies, she said, "it will be affordable for everyone."
Clinton also suggested that Obama would be more susceptible to Republican attack ads in a general election because he has not been scrutinized for years as she has.
One word.
Frightening
In other words, this crazy ***** scares the **** out of me!
December 21, 2007
Oldest U.S. WWI Vet Dies In Ohio At 109....
TOLEDO, Ohio - J. Russell Coffey, the oldest known surviving U.S. veteran of World War I, has died. The retired teacher, one of only three U.S. veterans from the "war to end all wars," was 109.
Coffey died Thursday at the Briar Hill Health Campus in North Baltimore, where he had lived for the past four or five years, said Gaye Boggs, nursing director at the nursing home. No cause of death has been determined, she said Friday. His health began failing in October.
"We're sure going to miss him," Boggs said. "He was our most famous resident, that's for sure."
More than 4.7 million Americans joined the military from 1917-1918. Coffey never saw combat because he was still in basic training when the war ended.
The two remaining U.S. veterans are Frank Buckles, 106, of Charles Town, W.Va.; and Harry Richard Landis, 108, of Sun City Center, Fla., according to the Veterans Affairs Department. In addition, John Babcock, 107, of Spokane, Wash., served in the Canadian army and is the last known Canadian veteran of the war.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071221/ap_on_re_us/obit_coffey
**First off - thanks to all these men listed for their service. Especially J. Russell Coffey....may you rest in peace.
Secondly - and I don't mean this to sound disrespectful but where it says "No cause of death has been determined"....now, I'm no expert on these matters but I think it's pretty safe to assume that the fact that he was 109 years of age was most likely a contributing factor to his demise. But hey, that's just my thought. God bless 'em.**
December 07, 2007
Pearl Harbor Memories: Billings Man Had Full View Of Infamous Day....
Ed Chlapowski can still see the white smoke rise into the sky right before the USS Arizona exploded.
On that infamous day of Dec. 7, 1941, Chlapowski realized his best friend, Brutus West, was on that ship.
"It hurt terrifically when it happened. You never recover from it," he said.
As the years grow longer and the number of survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor becomes smaller, there's urgency to preserve those memories.
For Chlapowski, 85, the chronology of that Sunday morning 66 years ago may sometimes get the better of him, but the events have never left him.
"Brutus West is still on the Arizona as far as I'm concerned," he said.
As a 19-year-old radioman, Chlapowski had a year of Navy life behind him when the Japanese launched their surprise air attack on the naval base in Hawaii.
He had been stationed at Pearl Harbor for just more than two months under the command of Adm. Husband E. Kimmel, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet. But Chlapowski had been stationed on the Arizona before that, a fact that makes the loss of the ship even more powerful to him.
The morning of the attack, Chlapowski had been on watch from 4 to 7 a.m., when he took his breakfast break in the submarine base cafeteria.
"I saw the roof blow off at Hickam (Field), and I saw the planes flying in," Chlapowski said. "The plane turned, and I saw the 'meatballs' on the wings and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. It still does. I knew it was the Japs."
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/07/news/local/
18-pearlharbor_v.txt
**I realize I just posted two stories on Pearl Harbor but I did that because I really love putting a face (or two) onto history. Besides, I couldn't decide between the two.**
Pearl Harbor Lives In Hearts Of Its Vets....
After 66 years, some survivors wonder if they are the last reminders of the attack that led the U.S. into war.
Their ranks thinned by age, Pearl Harbor veterans today are commemorating the 66th anniversary of the Japanese attack and wondering whether Americans will remember one of the most defining moments in history after they die.
"When we're gone, we're gone," said 87-year-old Jack Ray Hammett. "We're already just a paragraph in the history books. Will even that disappear when the last one of us dies?"
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a speech to Congress, immortalized the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and other military installations on Oahu, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, as a "date which will live in infamy." Today, those words are remembered mostly by the generation that lived through World War II.
It is a generation in steady decline. About 16 million Americans served in uniform during the war. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 2.7 million are living, but they are dying at the rate of about 1,000 per day.
The exact number of Pearl Harbor survivors, though unknown, is smaller, and they are older than the average WWII veteran. Hammett, a former Costa Mesa mayor, said he liked to think of his buddies as "walking, living history."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pearl7dec07,0,4471368.story?
coll=la-home-local
December 01, 2007
CBS Seeking 'Irreverent,' 'Hip' Journalist for Eco-Beat (No Knowledge Required)
The network has posted an ad seeking a reporter to cover the “eco beat” – with some interesting requirements.
“CBS is expanding its coverage of the environment,” the ad reads. “We seek a talented reporter/host for Internet video broadcast. We are looking for smart, creative, hard working up and comers, who can bring great energy, creativity and a dash of humor to our coverage. A deep interest in the environment and sustainability issues will serve you well.”
So you would think such a job would require a science background or years of covering environmental news? Not exactly.
lol
November 30, 2007
Overnight shift to be classified as 'probable' cancer cause
Next month, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization, will add overnight shift work as a probable carcinogen.
I can see night sift making even more money now, shift diff + hazard pay.
November 26, 2007
Rolling in cash
All Linda Katz had to do was step outside of her house to make thousands on the Internet. Now the Midwestern entrepreneur is building a business selling a piece of the old west online: tumbleweeds.
By KEVIN SITES
Linda started her online business, the Prairie Tumbleweed Farm, as a joke. It was 1994 and she wanted to teach herself how to design a website. Since she lived on the prairie in southwest Kansas, where rolling tumbleweeds are sometimes the only dynamic feature of an endless flat horizon, she invented a farm that sold tumbleweeds, listing prices at $15 for a small one, $20 for a medium and $25 for large.
http://potw.news.yahoo.com/
**This was too funny NOT to post. Kuddos to her! It's amazing how a joke can turn into some pretty decent cash! Be sure to check out her website at the prairietumbleweedfarm. Unfortunately my computer won't connect to it right now (Gee, there's news) but I'm going to try again later. I've got to see this website.:-)**
November 07, 2007
Cancer Patient Denied ‘Wonder Drug’
A man given 12 months to live is at the centre of Oxfordshire's latest health postcode lottery' case after being denied drugs which could prolong his life.
Kidney cancer sufferer Stephen Dallison, of Iffley Road, East Oxford, has been told that more clinical evidence is needed to support his case, before he can receive Sunitinib, which costs £2,500 a month.
The 33-year-old said: "I've been given approximately a year to live and this drug has been shown to extend life.
"It's not a cure, but it can prolong your life by months, even years, and you can have a much better quality of life while using it."
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/
display.var.1780901.0.cancer_patient_denied_wonder_drug.php
**My sister sent me this link yesterday. This is simply appalling! Yes, I understand that according to this article, this drug may only give him a few extra months. BUT it could also give him extra YEARS! By THAT time (a few months OR years) - no telling WHAT other treatments may be on the market to help him better. As a Christian, I value ALL life. Born and the unborn - man and animal alike....but come on! We treat DOGS better than we're treating this man and others like him. This is not the first time someone has basically got down on their hands and knees *begging* their government for medication/medical help so that they may live and unfortunatley, it won't be the last. Please pray for this man and others like him so they may recieve the help they need to just live. Btw....I believe (though not sure) that his appeal has been denied so if you're in England please contact whoever you can (if you can) to help further this man's fight.**
October 31, 2007
Army tests James Bond style tank that is 'invisible'
In secret trials last week, the Army said it had made a vehicle completely disappear and predicted that an invisible tank would be ready for service by 2012.
The new technology uses cameras and projectors to beam images of the surrounding landscape onto a tank.
Hrmm... Interesting.
October 25, 2007
California Fires May Be At Turning Point....
SAN DIEGO - A massive aerial assault and a break in harsh winds helped firefighters make their first major progress against Southern California's firestorm, raising evacuees' hopes of returning home for good. But flames were still drawing perilously toward thousands of homes.
The hot, dry Santa Ana winds that have whipped the blazes into a destructive, indiscriminate fury since the weekend were expected to all but disappear Thursday.
"That will certainly aid in firefighting efforts," National Weather Service meteorologist Jamie Meier said.
The record high temperatures of recent days began succumbing to cooling sea breezes, and two fires that burned 21 homes in northern Los Angeles County were fully contained.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/ap_on_re_us/
california_wildfires_292
**The updated news is that these fires have claimed two more lives. Let's pray that ALL of the fires are put out soon and that if there truely was any criminal act behind the start of them that the person(s) will be found and brought to justice. In the mean time, I hope Mooseboy and Keven (I was under the impression that both are from California though I have no idea from what area) are ok and that their homes are still intact.**
October 23, 2007
Sharp Drop Seen in US Deaths in Iraq
Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch points to what the military calls "Concerned Citizens" — both Shiites and Sunnis who have joined the American fight. He says he's signed up 20,000 of them in the past four months.
"I've never been more optimistic than I am right now with the progress we've made in Iraq. The only people who are going to win this counterinsurgency project are the people of Iraq. We've said that all along. And now they're coming forward in masses," Lynch said in a recent interview at a U.S. base deep in hostile territory south of Baghdad. Outgoing artillery thundered as he spoke.
Good News indeed, I only wish Bush had thought about listening to the Generals before and finished this long ago.
Catholic Condom Ban Helping AIDS Spread In Latin America: U.N.
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The rapid spread in Latin America of the virus that causes AIDS is made worse by the Roman Catholic Church's stand against using condoms, a U.N. official said on Monday.
Some 1.7 million people across Latin America are infected with the HIV virus or full-blown AIDS, and the epidemic is spreading swiftly with up to 410,000 new cases in 2006, up from as many as 320,000 new cases in 2004, according the UN AIDS program, UNAIDS.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071023/hl_nm/honduras_aids_dc
**It pains me ANY day when I have to agree with ANYONE from the UN (I think I may need to lie down). The thing that *totally* pisses me off though is this: I don't care WHAT denomination you come from. Whether it's the catholic, methodist, baptist, nazarene - *whatever*! WHY would you and why ARE you listening AND following with*out* question to what the church and/or any MAN tells you to do?
You know....why don't we believers and followers of Christ try walking on "the wild side of life" for a change. Why don't we READ the Bible for OURSELVES, pray and ask God how HE wants us to live our lives as well as asking Him how HE wants us to interpret His word for our own spiritual lives. So if AFTER you read the word and seek God's answers, if you feel God is telling you through His word that premarital sex, and the use of any and all contraceptives are wrong - EVEN inside of marriage – fine. Then once we find ourselves in church listening to the pastor, preacher - or whatever name you give to your clergy - Why don't we try comparing what THEY say to scripture and continue to ask GOD (NOT man) if it's the road HE wants us to travel. I'm telling you....it sounds crazy BUT it just might work!**
End of rant
October 12, 2007
Shortage of Intelligence in general public creates knee jerk drug recall
Novartis (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) and Prestige Brands Holdings (PBH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) are recalling their oral infant cough and cold medicines, as well, because data show that when the medicines are misused, it can lead to overdose, especially in children under 2 years old.
At least three chain stores said they are pulling over-the counter infant cold and cough medicines from their shelves: CVS Pharmacy, the retail unit of CVS Caremark Corp (CVS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Stop & Shop Supermarket Co LLC and Giant Food LLC.
I'm really hoping there is something evil about these drugs and it was discovered, and they are using this lame excuse to pull the drugs... really hoping.
Democratic staffers to get vaccinated for hepatitis for NASCAR Visit
GOP: NASCAR is contagious, but its fans are not
WASHINGTON — Being around NASCAR fans requires no inoculation.
That was the word Thursday from Republican officials after they learned that a congressional committee's Democratic staffers had advised aides to get vaccinated for hepatitis and other diseases before visiting NASCAR events in Concord, N.C., and Talladega, Ala.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said his committee aides were visiting health-care centers, detention facilities and other operations where they could be exposed to communicable diseases. He said the immunizations were routine for health-care workers.
I don't care who you are, this is funny. =P
October 10, 2007
Microsoft Scrambling to Explain Ballmer Comment on Red Hat Linux
But one spokesperson acknowledged late this afternoon that multiple sources have yet to come to an agreement over what the company should say.
People use Red Hat, at least with respect to our intellectual property in a sense have an obligation to eventually to compensate us. [emphasis ours]
October 05, 2007
Beef: It's what is poisioning you for dinner
Burger Maker Topps Closes After Big Recall
The second-largest beef recall in U.S. history caused Topps Meat Co. LLC to close Friday.
"This is tragic for all concerned," said Chief Operating Officer Anthony D'Urso. "In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large."
Topps on Saturday expanded its recall of frozen hamburger patties because of possible E. coli bacteria contamination that sickened more than a dozen people in eight states to 21.7 million pounds from 332,000.
It's a great time to go vegetarian! (or just stop eating beef)
October 01, 2007
Illegal Alien Welfare Costs Exceed $35 Million
“Illegal immigration continues to have a devastating impact on Los Angeles County taxpayers,”said Antonovich. “In addition to $220 million for public safety and $400 million for healthcare, the $440 million in welfare allocations bring the total cost to County taxpayers that exceeds $1 billion a year -- this does not include the skyrocketing cost of education.”
Hrmm...
I'm sure those bleeding hearts in D.C. see nothing wrong with this, after all they are the kings of pork.
September 22, 2007
Columbia University to be added to sponsor of terrorism watch list
Or it should be...
It seems they are welcoming with open arms the Highlord of hate and intollerance President Mahmoud AhImANeedAJob.
Perhaps the government should look into ways of cutting any funding and support it gives them.
Just a thought.
August 20, 2007
Russia orders long-range bomber patrols
Putin reviewed the first Russian-Chinese joint exercise on Russian soil before announcing that 20 strategic bombers had been sent far over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans; showing off Moscow's muscular new posture and its growing military ties with Beijing.
"Starting today, such tours of duty will be conducted regularly and on the strategic scale," Putin said. "Our pilots have been grounded for too long. They are happy to start a new life."
Putin said halting long-range bombers after the Soviet collapse had hurt Russia's security because other nations, an oblique reference to the United States, had continued such missions.
"I have made a decision to resume regular flights of Russian strategic aviation," Putin said in nationally televised remarks. "We proceed from the assumption that our partners will view the resumption of flights of Russia's strategic aviation with understanding."
One big cup of crazy for Mr. Putin, with a side order of world domination. (hold the mayo)
Anyone else think the Russian people gave up on a democratic society too soon?
Scientists hail ‘frozen smoke’ as material that will change world
Aerogel, one of the world’s lightest solids, can withstand a direct blast of 1kg of dynamite and protect against heat from a blowtorch at more than 1,300C.
Scientists are working to discover new applications for the substance, ranging from the next generation of tennis rackets to super-insulated space suits for a manned mission to Mars.
It is expected to rank alongside wonder products from previous generations such as Bakelite in the 1930s, carbon fibre in the 1980s and silicone in the 1990s. Mercouri Kanatzidis, a chemistry professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, said: “It is an amazing material. It has the lowest density of any product known to man, yet at the same time it can do so much. I can see aerogel being used for everything from filtering polluted water to insulating against extreme temperatures and even for jewellery.”
Aerogel is nicknamed “frozen smoke” and is made by extracting water from a silica gel, then replacing it with gas such as carbon dioxide. The result is a substance that is capable of insulating against extreme temperatures and of absorbing pollutants such as crude oil.
I found this utterly fascinating myself.
Finally a wonder product NOT made from crude oil. :)
August 08, 2007
Indonesia's West Java hit by strong earthquake
JAKARTA (Reuters) - A powerful undersea earthquake has hit Indonesia's West Java island, a telephone text message from the country's Meteorological agency said on Thursday.
The agency did not give a tsunami warning and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, but the quake caused panic in parts of the densely inhabited Java island.
Let's all pray the coffee crops are ok. (said the coffee addict)
July 05, 2007
New Chinese Ballistic Missile Submarine Spotted
The new submarine was photographed by the commercial Quickbird satellite in late 2006 and the image is freely available on the Google Earth web site
Can we stop with the nuclear build out already?
Need the CIA to arrange an accident aboard all of these in the middle of the ocean.
Oh, side note .. nice work Google ;)
I actually agree with Castro, how strange
For once I agree with Fidel Castro.
Food based biofuels may not be the answer, but another problem.
Take the declining number of farms in America and the explosion of people in third world countries and toss in the food based biofuel industry, now we have something to be concerned with.
I see food based biofuels as cheap bandage for the wound that is the worlds oil consumption.
The real alternative would be something like hydrogen or a water based design.
You can read more from the article below and the rest via the link at the bottom.
The head of the U.N. Environment Program said on Wednesday Cuban leader Fidel Castro and others are justified in raising concern about the potential for ethanol production to threaten food supplies for the poor.
But UNEP director Achim Steiner said the jury is still out on whether risks outweigh the benefits when using food crops to produce ethanol as an alternative fuel.
Castro, who has taken to writing articles since he was sidelined from power last year by intestinal surgery, has attacked U.S. plans to increase biofuels output using crops such as corn, saying this will increase food prices and global hunger.
"What President Castro points to is something the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has also raised recently: That there is significant potential and risk for competition between food production and production for a global biofuels market," Steiner told Reuters during a environmental meeting in Havana.
June 25, 2007
Iwo Jima flag raiser Lindberg dies at 86
RICHFIELD, Minn. - Charles W. Lindberg, one of the U.S. Marines who raised the first American flag over Iwo Jima during World War II, has died. He was 86.
Lindberg died Sunday at Fairview Southdale hospital in the Minneapolis suburb of Edina, said John Pose, director of the Morris Nilsen Funeral Home in Richfield, which is handling Lindberg's funeral.
Lindberg spent decades explaining that it was his patrol, not the one captured in the famous Associated Press photograph by Joe Rosenthal, that raised the first flag as U.S. forces fought to take the Japanese island.
In the late morning of Feb. 23, 1945, Lindberg fired his flame-thrower into enemy pillboxes at the base of Mount Suribachi and then joined five other Marines fighting their way to the top. He was awarded the Silver Star for bravery.
"Two of our men found this big, long pipe there," he said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2003. "We tied the flag to it, took it to the highest spot we could find and we raised it.
"Down below, the troops started to cheer, the ship's whistles went off, it was just something that you would never forget," he said. "It didn't last too long, because the enemy started coming out of the caves."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070625/ap_on_re_us/obit_lindberg
June 14, 2007
Baby monitor picks up video from NASA....
Strange but apparently true according to the news article found here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_fe_st/baby_monitor_space
PALATINE, Ill. - A mother of two in this suburb of Chicago doesn't have to turn on the news for an update on
NASA's space mission. She just flips on her baby monitor. Since Sunday, Natalie Meilinger's baby monitor has been picking up black-and-white video from inside the space shuttle Atlantis.
"Whoever has a baby monitor knows what you'll usually see," said the elementary school science teacher. "No one would ever expect this."
**I couldn't pass this up. I think it's totally hysterical (though logical once you think about it)! However I must say I feel completely cheated. Muddy and I bought a speaker monitor for our last kid some years ago. We *barely* used it and we NEVER got anything like this. Some people have all the luck.:-)**
June 06, 2007
D-Day Soldier's Dog Tag Found in Sand
HUNTINGDON, Tenn. -- The family of Pvt. William Bernice Clark never had a funeral for him, never got to say goodbye and never really accepted his fate among the fallen during the Normandy D-Day landings in World War II. That was until his dog tag was discovered in the sands of Omaha Beach.
On Wednesday -- exactly 63 years after that tragic day -- the aged tag was returned to his native Tennessee.
Click here to find out more!
"This feels like an ending," said the soldier's first cousin, 79-year-old Lota Park, who along with another cousin accepted the dog tag at a ceremony in the small town of Huntingdon, about 90 miles west of Nashville.
The tag has blackened with age, but his name, identification number, religion (Protestant) and blood type (Type O) are all clearly visible.
It remained out of sight for more than five decades until a collector from England found it five years ago on the beach, likely near the very spot where the 20-year-old Clark was killed. The collector gave the dog tag to a World War II buff from New Jersey, who turned it over to the National D-Day Memorial.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/
ats-ap_us17jun06,0,3167950.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines
June 05, 2007
Iran Happy to start WWIII
“God willing, in the near future we will witness the destruction of the corrupt occupier regime,” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said to a number of foreign guests at a ceremony marking the 18th death anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution leader, Ayatollah Khomeini.
Citing last year’s Lebanon war, he said, “With God’s help, the countdown button for the destruction of the Zionist regime has been pushed by the hands of the children of Lebanon and Palestine.”
Ahmadinejad went on to note that “If you make a mistake and create another war against the oppressed Lebanese nation, this time the angry ocean of the nations of the region will remove your rotten roots from the region.”
First let's get this straight, President Imaneedajob does not give a hoot about the Lebanese people.
He only cares about power, if he can use them to gain power in the middle east, then so be it.
He is, highly motivated, intelligent and flat out crazy.
This is the same man who wants to bring about WWIII so he can dispose of all those who do not believe as he does.
The same man who took a union leader in Iran who was putting together a protest and took him out in the center of town and slowly cut his tounge out so he would shut up, and silence any others wanting to protest his government.
Sounds to me like it's time to start putting a dent in his plans. (or his head)
June 03, 2007
They call this a consensus?
Here is yet another article that debates the so called concensus on global warming.
Here is a cherry picked excerp;
Does any remember the global cooling warning in the 70's? I do and I wonder how many of the scientists then are the same scientists today? I wonder what will be the 'end of the world' doomsday scenario that they will be trying to sell us in another 30 years.
That is if we make it that long! LOL. Not that I dont think that it is good to be much less wasteful and take care of our planet (not to mention getting off our depency on fossil fules) just dont tell me that we are all going to die if we dont.
If the left was smart about it, they would be telling the right that their 401k will be in jepordy if we dont go green. Then something would be done about it. Just dont say 'were all going to die' because everyone is sceptical about those scenario's, yes even the scientific community.
This whole global warming thing has backfired. Now instead of going green because its the right thing to do, everyone is trying to figure out if the myth is true and doing nothing. Again the should have just told everyone that their retirement money would be gone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_cooling
June 02, 2007
FDA Says Avoid Toothpaste Made In China....
WASHINGTON - The government warned consumers on Friday to avoid using toothpaste made in China because it may contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze. Out of caution, the
Food and Drug Administration said, people should throw away toothpaste with labeling that says it was made in China. The FDA is concerned that these products may contain diethylene glycol.
The agency is not aware of any poisoning from toothpaste in the United States, but it did find the antifreeze ingredient in a shipment at the U.S. border and at two retail stores: a Dollar Plus store in Miami and a Todo A Peso store in Puerto Rico.
Officials said they are primarily concerned about toothpaste sold at bargain retail outlets. The ingredient in question, called DEG, is used as a lower-cost sweetener and thickening agent. The highest concentration of the chemical found in toothpaste so far was between 3 percent and 4 percent of the product's overall weight.
"It does not belong in toothpaste even in small concentrations," said the FDA's Deborah M. Autor.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070601/ap_on_he_me/chinese_toothpaste
****....and some people have considered me "goofy" in the past because I have gone out of my way - for years now (not always to the degree of success that I'd like) - to avoid buying anything "made in China". Maybe those same people wouldn't consider me "goofy" now.****
May 16, 2007
Microsoft running scared from Linux
This is not the first time that Linux has been under attack for alleged patent infringements.
"We've heard all this before with the SCO (Unix) case," says Steven D'Aprano, operations manager for Windows-Linux integration consultant Cybersource. "We know that Microsoft had been funding SCO, tossing them a few million here and there to keep the case alive.
"SCO did their best to show that there was supposed patent and copyright violations in the Linux kernel. While the case hasn't completely finished yet, it has lost steam because SCO has got no evidence to support their claims.
"Until Microsoft start to actually point at particular bits that they claim are in patent violation then talk is cheap."
According to D'Aprano, an open source advocate, if Microsoft actually does put on the gloves against Linux, it will have a tough time deciding who to go after.
May 10, 2007
Disney condemns Hamas Mickey Mouse
Diane Disney Miller said she was disgusted that a copy of the famous cartoon character was being used on a new Hamas TV show to encourage Palestinian children to fight against Israel and America.
Ms Miller, 73, claimed it went "against the grain of humanity", before saying: "Of course I feel personal about Mickey Mouse, but it could be Barney as well.
"It's not just Mickey, it's indoctrinating children like this, teaching them to be evil. The world loves children and this is just going against the grain of humanity."
Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV station began to show the children's series, Tomorrow's Pioneers, last month. It features a life-size lookalike of Mickey Mouse called Farfur, who sings about children arming themselves with AK-47s and aspiring for world domination "under Islamic leadership".
Ms Miller said: "What we're dealing with here is pure evil and you can't ignore that."
After CNN's Glenn Beck blew the whistle on this new tactic by Islamic Extremists to indoctrinate children to kill Americans and Israelis, the media are finally covering it.
Now they are claiming to be taking it off the air, why do I not believe it will change very much?
CNN article here
May 06, 2007
Royal's Defeat leaves socialists searching for scapegoats
It is the party’s third consecutive presidential defeat. The Socialists now face the question of whether they can ever regain power without ditching their anti-capitalist rhetoric, as the mainstream left has done across almost all of Europe.
Ms Royal can argue that she did better than Lionel Jospin, who in 2002 led the Socialists to a humiliating third place behind Jacques Chirac and far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. But France’s main opposition party still faces a wrenching crisis.
”The left is not credible on so many issues, from the 35-hour working week to immigration and law and order,” says Dominique Reynié, professor at Sciences Po university.
From the little I know of this campaign and the content in this article I'd say I have hope for the people of France yet. Here's hoping that Sarkozy can bring the country together and make positive long term change.
May 02, 2007
Home invasion gone wrong for illegal aliens
It seems the two crooks never learned two things, they were in Montana and Patricia had been a clay shooting champion since she was nine. Patricia was in her upstairs room when the two men broke through the front door of the house. She quickly ran to her father's room and grabbed his 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun.
Resindez was the first to get up to the second floor only to be the first to catch a near point blank blast of buck shot from the 11 year olds knee crouch aim. He suffered fatal wounds to his abdomen and genitals. When Garza ran to the foot of the stairs, he took a blast to the left shoulder and staggered out into the street where he bled to death before medical help could arrive.
It was found out later that Resindez was armed with a stolen 45 caliber handgun he took from another home invasion robbery. The victim, 50 year old David Burien, was not so lucky as he died from stab wounds to the chest.
Three words,
You Go Girl!
:-)
*edit*
I have been trying to confirm this but I'm not able to so for now it's a news story with the emphasis on story until I can confirm it.
March 24, 2007
Illegal immigrants allowed at least five strikes
A heavily redacted Department of Justice memo from late 2005 disclosed the prosecution guidelines for immigration offenses, numbers the federal government tries to keep classified. DOJ officials would not say Thursday whether it has adjusted the number since the memo was written, citing "law enforcement reasons."
The prosecution guidelines have been a source of frustration for years among the ranks of U.S. Border Patrol agents, said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council. Smugglers can figure out the criteria by trial and error, he said, and can exploit it to avoid prosecution.
"It's devastating on morale," Bonner said. "Our agents are risking their lives out there, and then they're told, 'Sorry, that doesn't meet the criteria.' "
I know there are people that want Bush's head because of Iraq. However I think there is something more sinister happening here. The complete and total lack of protection our boarder has. Bush and his buddies are planning the total destruction of America for one thing, m-o-n-e-y.
March 15, 2007
Food safety scrutiny is forcing changes on Ohio Amish bakers
State regulators are stopping by for another reason.
The country kitchen and other home bakers in an Amish enclave in northwest Ohio have come under scrutiny for selling meats and cheeses without a license and cream pies and pumpkin rolls without the refrigeration required to thwart foodborne stomach illnesses.
I'm curious if the fools in the government have ever had Amish food?
We're talking about real food made with whole ingredients normally organic and massively better for you than the processed crap the regulators are probably eating.
If I'm going to an Amish store and buying goods it's assumed they don't have a fridge or any electric, you'd be a moron to expect to see rows of freezers and refrigeration units.
Of course it's well known you have to give up common sense and good judgment to be in government. :-P
February 26, 2007
Al Gore’s Personal Energy Use Is His Own “Inconvenient Truth”
Read More @ Tennessee Center for Policy Research
Nice.
I'm sitting in the dark typing this by candle with the heat off wrapped in blankets and he's sucking up the power.
February 24, 2007
Mexican anger over US 'trespass'
Legislators say workers and equipment building a section of the barrier have gone 10 metres (yards) into Mexico.
The alleged border violation comes ahead of a high-level meeting in the Canadian capital Ottawa.
US, Mexican and Canadian foreign ministers are to discuss border security and trade issues.
Mexican legislators said they had photographs and video, taken on Monday, of the workers and heavy-duty construction equipment that showed them about 10 metres inside Mexico near the border city of Agua Prieta and the town of Douglas, Arizona.
I almost soiled myself laughing when I read this.
February 07, 2007
Harvard: In-Opinion & Feelings & Out-Facts & Understanding
The curriculum at the oldest U.S. university has been criticized as focusing too narrowly on academic topics instead of real-life issues, or for being antagonistic to organized religion. Efforts to revise it have been in the works for three years.
One of the eight new required subject areas -- "societies of the world" -- aims to help students overcome U.S. "parochialism" by "acquainting them with the values, customs and institutions that differ from their own," said a 34-page Harvard report on the changes.
I'm not sure who these parents are that are sending their kids to this establishment, but they need their pulse checked.
As a parent myself I really, really don't get the appeal of sending your kids off to be taught everything wrong, and pay out the nose for it.
January 30, 2007
Intel builds 80-core prototype
The prototype was built so that the chip giant's researchers could investigate the best way to make such a large number of processing cores communicate with each other. This was in addition to researching new architectural techniques and core designs.
The chip, dubbed the Tera-Scale Teraflop Prototype, is just for research purposes and lacks a lot of necessary functionality at the moment. However, R&D Technology Strategist Manny Vara said that the company will be able to produce 80-core chips en masse in five to eight years.
Holy multiprocessors batman!
With an 80 Core processor you could render games with lifelike quality.
Sweeettttt.
January 29, 2007
Global Warming = Ice Falling from Sky
But it happened on Hilldrop Court in Town 'n Country around 9:30 Sunday morning.
Neighbors woke up to something they never thought they’d see.
“Came out to find a large piece of ice sitting on the car, and ice all over the place,” said neighbor John Young.
The damaged car, a Ford Mustang, belongs to Carlos Javage’s son.
I sure wish the weather would cooperate with the nut job scientists that now have to change their story, it's going to be global cooling and "the coming ice age" in a few years. Then it will be global warming again, I sure hope they figure out it's all part of the Earth's natural cycle.
*sigh*
January 24, 2007
'Fossil' Shark appears off coast of Japan
A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is 600 metres or more under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week.
The Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, south of Tokyo, was alerted by a fisherman at a nearby port on Sunday that he had spotted an odd-looking eel-like creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth.
Marine park staff caught the 1.6-metre-long creature, which they identified as a female frilled shark, sometimes referred to as a "living fossil" because it is a primitive species that has changed little since prehistoric times.
The shark appeared to be in poor condition when park staff moved it to a seawater pool where they filmed it swimming and opening its jaws.
Looks fierce.
Is it possible that since it lives 2000 feet down normally that it being close enough for man to see and caputre it, could it's sickness be the bends?
Just thinking.
Oh, you can also see some video here
January 19, 2007
Why China's Missile Test Is Troubling
Protests and expressions of concern were lodged over the test by the U.S., Japan, Canada, South Korea and Australia, but Beijing has so far refused to comment on the issue or even confirm the test took place. "The brazenness of this is a bit frightening," says Mike Green, former senior Bush Administration Asia adviser. "It shows that the Peoples Liberation Army has considerable leeway — a great deal of influence if not autonomy — to increase their capacity even at considerable diplomatic cost."
The reason for all the fuss is simple: the test potentially marks a major step forward in China's ability to nullify the huge technological advantage of the U.S. in any clash over Taiwan. While Western intelligence agencies have long been aware that the People's Liberation Army was attempting to develop an anti-satellite system, the successful targeting of a single satellite in high orbit marks a significant milestone. When the Pentagon issued its annual report to Congress on China's Military Power last summer it stated that "China can currently destroy or disable satellites only by launching a ballistic missile or space-launch vehicle armed with a nuclear weapon." All that has now changed.
Yikes, anyone think China lets North Korea do their crazy act to keep our attention elsewhere?
December 31, 2006
Swiss Pioneer flys like a bird
And even after the dream was realised, first with hot-air balloons and later with heavier-than-air aeroplanes, the dream remained unfulfilled.
Because being truly at one with the air, able to swoop and soar like a falcon or an albatross, remained an impossibility. And in legends where the dream became real, as in the myth of the Ancient Greek birdman Icarus, the price was a heavy one; an ignominious crashing to Earth.
But for one brave Swiss pioneer, a former military pilot called Yves Rossy, the dream has become reality.
If anyone is looking to get me a late Christmas present, this would be nice.
December 22, 2006
'Truthiness' is the word of the year
The word -- if one can call it that -- best summed up 2006, according to an online survey by dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster.
"Truthiness" was credited to Comedy Central satirist Stephen Colbert, who defined it as "truth that comes from the gut, not books."
Stephen is so proud, one man can make a difference. :-)
December 10, 2006
The Arrogance of Man
Scientists apparently can't figure out why the "Bird Flu" virus which had most of the world bracing for a pandemic a few months ago, has mostly disappeared. It may come back of course, disease typically does. For instance, malaria, once on the verge of being irradicated, made a comeback. Smallpox has begun to appear in some third world countries. But for the time being, it is gone.
This is more evidence of the arrogance we display when we attempt to predict the course of nature. Whether it be the hunting patterns of wolves in yellow stone, temperature or disease, we simply are not omniscient. We can, at best, make reasonable assumptions or guesses. But in the end, we only know the present. History isn't even a certainty in this day and age of revisionist historians and scientists using "evidence" to support a predetermined conclusions.
Read more at Yahoo!/AP
December 08, 2006
4 -year-old Accused of Improperly Touching Teacher
Damarcus Blackwell's four-year-old son was lining-up to get on the bus after school last month, when he was accused of rubbing his face in the chest of a female employee.
The prinicipal of La Vega Primary School sent a letter to the Blackwells that said the pre-kindergartener demonstrated "inappropriate physical behavior interpreted as sexual contact and/or sexual harassment."
Blackwell says it's ridiculous that the aide would misread a hug from a four-year-old. Blackwell wrote to administrators demanding that the whole incident be expunged from his son's academic file because his son is too young to know what it means to act sexually.
*scratches head*
Just wondering what kind of hate monger teachers aid freak they have working at that school??
Who gave her the job interview?? They should be fired along with the wack job aid.
Sheessshh!
December 07, 2006
Pearl Harbor survivors meet for last time
This will be their last visit to this watery grave to share stories, exchange smiles, find peace and salute their fallen friends. This, they say, will be their final farewell.
"This will be one to remember," said Mal Middlesworth, president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. "It's going to be something that we'll cherish forever."
Hero Mother of the day
The boy was charged with petty larceny, but because he is a juvenile, he did not have to spend time in jail.
Good news today, there are still good parents in America. When your kid is on the brink of becoming a life long resident of the pen you do what you must to save them. I applaud this mother for loving her son enough to do what it takes to set him on the right path.
November 30, 2006
AP: CENTCOM to Call Out Fake "Burned Alive" Source Tomorrow
Via Pajamas Media, LGF has word that CENTCOM and Iraqis are planning to address the Capt. Jamil Hussein matter tomorrow:
Sir:
I have just learned from Mr. Costlow, mentioned below, that Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, the official Ministry of Interior spokesmen, will begin his regularly scheduled press conference at noon tomorrow with a statement that Capt. Jamil Hussein, is not a Baghdad police officer or an MOI employee.
See Dub points out that the AP, in its rewritten "burned alive" story, implied that the blog storm set off by questions about Hussein might have been, umm, encouraged by a P.R. company paid to represent the American military.
The dispute comes at a time when the military is taking a more active role in dealing with the media.
The AP reported on Sept. 26 that a Washington-based firm, the Lincoln Group, had won a two-year contract to monitor reporting on the Iraq conflict in English-language and Arabic media outlets.
That contract succeeded one held by another Washington firm, The Rendon Group. Controversy had arisen around the Lincoln Group in 2005 when it was disclosed that it was part of a U.S. military operation to pay Iraqi newspapers to run positive stories about U.S. military activities.
Interesting, fake anti-U.S. news in the media?
Hrmmm...
November 14, 2006
Oil, Terror & Environmental Pipedreams
(AXcess News) S. Orange, NJ - In late October I attended a luncheon briefing in New York sponsored by the Middle East Forum. The speaker was R. James Woolsey, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and currently a vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. The room was filled with men who represent a class of citizenry known as "influential." Woolsey's topic was "Energy Alternatives and the War on Terror."
Normally, I give men like Woolsey a lot of respect because they've earned it. However, it didn't take long before I began to hear views that made me begin to question, not just the wisdom of what Woolsey was saying, but why he was saying it.
"The way strategically over the long run to weaken the enemies of Israel, such as Ahmadinejad, is to weaken the role of oil," said Woolsey. "Oil makes it harder to avoid genocide in Darfur because the Sudanese have a deal with China, and it makes it harder to deal with Iran, because China and Iran have an oil deal."
Say what? Weaken the role of oil? Genocide in Darfur has something to do with China? Iran will not pursue its lunatic Islamic apocalypse because it has an oil deal with China?
Found this interesting read, sad you don't read much truth in the media today, nice to find some sensibility from Mr. Caruba.
November 10, 2006
Yacht crew happens upon island birth
View Pics @ Fredrik and Crew on Maiken
Wow, this is intense.
Also there is an interesting bit on it Here
November 09, 2006
Is Microsoft really giving Linux its blessing?
Absolutely not! The deal that Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer has announced with Novell will involve Microsoft handing out thousands of vouchers for what he called "Novell's version of Linux" running on Windows servers. But as Ballmer said in San Francisco: "We're still competitors," and: "The right answer is Windows, Windows, Windows."
For the past four years, Microsoft has been trying to resolve its conflicts with other companies. It has already done deals with Sun, AOL and Real Networks, and the Novell agreement is another step forward, though it doesn't end the anti-trust suit that Novell filed in 2004 alleging anticompetitive practices that hurt its WordPerfect Office business.
Well it seems to me Microsoft is still doing what it can to destroy Linux, only this time It's the old if you can't beat em', buy em', line of thinking.
Yes, I realize nobody can 'buy' Linux, however creating deals like this with all the major players will put their dirty little mitts into more slices of the pie, so to speak.
If these companies really want virtual, they should just use vmware, that is where the smart money is, imho.
October 04, 2006
Welcome Back DDT!
DDT is back. 30 years after a baseless book and rich white enviromentalists managed to achieve a ban, not to mention millions of deaths in th 3rd world, DDT is back.
Read John Stossel's Column
October 02, 2006
Good Job U.S. Government
Way to protect us from ourselves, kill jobs and a portion of the economy. Afterall, only the scum of the earth would ever gamble on the internet.
Read the story at Yahoo!/Reuters
September 06, 2006
Birth of your child or Steelers??
Beth Gardner’s neighbors helped deliver her baby on the Parkway West.
State police got a call around 9:30 p.m. last night that a woman was in labor near the Green Tree exit.
Gardner’s neighbors were driving her to the hospital because her husband was watching the Steelers game last night.(
Considering my beautiful daughter made me miss my beloved Steelers in Super Bowl XXX when Neil O'Dufus was paid off to throw the ball to the defense and loose the game for us, I think this guy needs help.
I mean, he missed his kids birth for a meaningless preseason game! 80% of the players in that game were cut less than a week later.
One word, LOSER.
Micro$oft Vista takes price to new levels
The Redmond-based company also confirmed again its commitment to releasing the OS in January, after distributing it to business customers in November.
The upgrade price for those with older versions of Windows is set at between $100 to $259, depending on which version required. The most expensive will be the “ultimate” edition, designed for business users.
The standalone products will cost from $199 to $399.
*** NEWS FLASH ***
Linux is still 100x more secure & stable.
Linux is also still FREE!.
(Vista buyers = suckers) *snicker*
September 04, 2006
Irwin 'never feared death'
But he said although Mr Irwin got into plenty of “close shaves” with his antics involving various dangerous animals over the years, his star charge never feared death.
The larger than life Mr Irwin was killed today by a stingray barb off Port Douglas in far north Queensland while filming for his daughter Bindi's TV series.
Mr Stainton admitted he “always” feared that this day would come during their 20-year association.
“You think about all the documentaries we've made and all the dangerous situations that we have been in, you always think 'Is this it, is this a day that maybe is his demise?',” he said in Cairns today.
“We've been in some pretty close shaves.
“(But) nothing would ever scare Steve or would worry him. He didn't have a fear of death at all.”
September 01, 2006
Mexico Govt. Sets up border crossing training camp
Gunshots pierced the night air. Sirens wailed. Then came a voice, sounding like the U.S. Border Patrol. "Don't cross the river!" someone yelled in a heavy accent. "Go back to Mexico where you belong!"
Welcome to one of Mexico's strangest tourist attractions: A park where visitors pay the equivalent of $16 to hike across fields and through treacherous ravines, a gruelling experience aimed at simulating an illegal journey across the U.S.-Mexico border.
"We want this to be an exercise in awareness," said Alfonso Martinez, who acts as the chief smuggler at EcoAlberto park in central Mexico. "It's in honour of all the people who have gone in search of the American Dream."
The park, funded in part by the Mexican government, compares crossing the border to an "extreme sport" and tells participants that they, too, can "trick the migra," slang for the Border Patrol.
Considering the comic book they already produced, this is not a shock.
August 25, 2006
Ray, think before you speak, please
Ray sits in his office, the phone line is quiet, the staff have gone home.
He needs 'Chocolate Town' to be in the news again, but what can he do?
Katrina?
No he has played that to death.
Racism?
No, that also is losing it's charm.
Absurd, moronic and outlandish statements?
Bingo! That always draws attention.
'You guys in New York can't get a hole in the ground fixed'
NEW YORK (AP) -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin criticized efforts to redevelop the World Trade Center site when confronted in a television interview about delays in rebuilding his city after Hurricane Katrina.
During the CBS "60 minutes" interview, a correspondent pointed out flood-damaged cars still on the streets of New Orleans' devastated Ninth Ward. Nagin replied, "You guys in New York can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it's five years later. So let's be fair," according to CBS.
The program is scheduled to air Sunday night. Text and a video clip from the Nagin piece were posted on CBS' Web site Thursday.
Ray, can I speak freely here?
How about you stop pushing blame around, stand up say "I screwed up and now it's time to fix this mess".
Can you do that Ray, can you?
Your citizens deserve you, the morons who voted for you in N.O. and who keep voting for you and living 'under water' deserve whatever you come up with next.
Shuttle Astronauts Arrive To Prepare For Sunday Launch
"We have a saying back in Texas, 'It's time to walk the walk,"' said Brent Jett, Atlantis' commander, after arriving from Houston by training jet. "We are ready for the challenge ... All we need is a little good weather on Sunday and we'll be out of here."
This mission is the start of a renewed effort to finish building the international space station before the cargo-carrying shuttles are retired in 2010.
I wonder how much this is costing us? How many kevlar vests, humvee armor upgrades and such could we have bought instead?
August 23, 2006
U.S. Stop Screwing With our Food!
The U.S. agriculture secretary Mike Johanns had notified the European Commission last week that trace elements of an unauthorized, genetically modified rice were detected in long grain rice samples that were meant for commercial use. While the U.S. authorities have assured Brussels there is no environmental or human health risk by using the rice by humans or animals, the commission is seeking information, which may be indicative of its indication in imposing curbs on imports.
A commission spokesperson, Antonia Mochan, told a news conference that the commission is seeking information that it needs to make a decision from the U.S. authorities as well as Bayer.
As a staunch supporter or organic farming and fair trade food this sickens me. Why we feel the need to screw with the perfect things God made and man has been happily using for thousands of years is beyond me. Rice, so simple so perfect, so let's jack with it so we can make it hold up under the shower of dangerous chemicals we want to spray on it.
Are the buffoons at Bayer AG retarded??
I think I'm starting my own country, organistan. :-P
Dutch F-16's Escort Airliner back to Amsterdam
A Dutch air traffic control spokeswoman said the plane was in German airspace when it turned back. A spokeswoman for Schiphol said the pilot had taken the decision to turn back but could give no further details.
Security has been increased at airports worldwide after British police said on Aug. 10 they had foiled a plot to blow up planes in the mid-Atlantic using liquid explosives disguised as drinks.
Dutch news agency ANP quoted police as saying a number of people had been taken off the Northwest plane and were being questioned.
Ah, Islamic extremists. During an election year there is one group we can take everything they say they will do as a promise. Unlike our politicians who make loads of claims, threats and 'campaign promises' that we know they will never keep.
August 22, 2006
Pilotless F-35 breaks cover
"Two to three years ago we started looking at what could be done with the F-35," says Frank Mauro, deputy director unmanned aeronautical systems. The Skunk Works has taken both the optionally piloted and dedicated unmanned JSFs through concept design, he says, and is waiting until all three manned variants have flown before pursuing the idea.
It makes you wonder, if they are making this public, what technology beyond this is still being hidden. :-)
I still think the XF-23 beat the pants off the F-22 in it's head to head testing where it lost in the end. If we're spending hundreds of millions on one plane shouldn't we demand the best?
Just my two cents.
August 15, 2006
Terrorism charges dropped in cell-phone case
Washington County Prosecutor James Schneider said yesterday that he didn't have enough evidence to present the felony terrorism charges to a grand jury. He said in a news release that he needs more information to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
"At this time we didn't see a link that we could prove," Schneider said in a phone interview, adding he was referring to both terrorism in general and any specific group.
They are still being charged with a misdemeanor for lying to police. I'm not sure if that involves a fine for what. It's a double edged sword of sorts, you arrest two suspicious men who begin their relationship with police by lying. Then after a few days let them go and now you have angered the already angry muslim community in America. Typical catch twenty two.
August 14, 2006
Cyclops Baby Born in India
The report, from Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children in Chennai, cites two potential causes for the birth defect: Either it was the result of an undetected chromosomal disorder or the mother was exposed to Cyclopamine, a drug that is being researched by a number of U.S. pharmaceutical companies as a potential cancer treatment.
There is no reference in the report on how Cyclopamine became listed as a possible cause.
Wow, if you need any evidence that we should be testing on animals THIS is it.
Screw the monkeys, test away i say.
Whoever the pharmaceutical company is that did this needs to fund this girls medical expenses for the rest of her (likely short) life.
August 13, 2006
Dearborn, MI: Battlefront America
NPR has a two part series concerning Dearborn, MI. It's a surprisinglys straight look at the growing war brewing right here in America.
Bazzi left Lebanon in 1976; his parents stayed behind. Last week, Bazzi lost his elderly mother, Amina, in the southern Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil. She was too old to leave when fighting broke out.
From NPR
Honestly I'm shocked NPR would play the audio from the protests, how will they survive the outrage from the kook fringe that wants America to be the evil in every news report.
Only time will tell.
August 07, 2006
US Senate Ratifies Cybercrime Treaty
The U.S. Senate today ratified the Convention on Cybercrime Treaty.
The purpose is to allow greater cooperation between the U.S. and Europe dealing with cybercrimes, however it's very, very broad language could lead to some questionable applications.
Article 1 section C is an example.
i any public or private entity that provides to users of its service the ability to communicate by means of a computer system, and
According to this definition, it does not even have to be the internet. Just providing a null modem cable to direct connect two computers together, or a cat5 crossover cable. Seems to broad to me, I'm all for fighting cybercrime, but let's be logical about this.
Oh crap, I said logical when speaking about government, there goes any credibility I had.
:-/
Full Story @ Yahoo!
August 02, 2006
Marine Names Murtha in Defamation Suit
Attorneys for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in court papers that Murtha tarnished the Marine's reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops "killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was covered up.
From Washington Post
Nice to see someone making politicians be accountable for the trash they spew. I have no idea if SSGT Wuterich is guilty or not. However that is not the point.
July 28, 2006
Top Shi'ite backs anti-militia calls
Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri), commanded a mass rally of his followers "to support the government to solve the issue of militias, and to spread the implementation of law and order."
Sciri is allied with the Badr Organization, one of the most feared militias in Iraq, but is also a key member of the two-month-old government of national unity, led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
From tvnz.co.nz
While it would be foolish to deny Iraq is full of violence and problems, this is a very positive event.
July 27, 2006
Gaza groups ready to deal on cease-fire, release of Shalit
Ibrahim Al-Naja said the factions were ready to stop the Qassam rocket fire if Israel's ceased all military moves against the Palestinian factions in Gaza. They are also ready to release Shalit in exchange for guaranteeing the future release of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas leaders did not confirm this report on Monday, but if it is true, then this is the first time that Hamas has indicated its acceptance of the Egyptian proposal to solve the crisis.
Is this a Trojan horse or real? Interesting, we'll take the old wait and see approach on this one.
Execution of a teenage girl
A television documentary team has pieced together details surrounding the case of a 16-year-old girl, executed two years ago in Iran.
Her death sentence was imposed for "crimes against chastity".
The state-run newspaper accused her of adultery and described her as 22 years old.
But she was not married - and she was just 16.
From BBC NEWS
This is only one example, this sounds to me like these dirt bags are going to be great negotiating partners, loads of reasons to believe a single word they say.
Hezbollah to launch "rain of terror"
"The nose cones will contain spent nuclear rods from Iran's nuclear programme. The rods are wrapped with conventional explosives. The dirty bombs are primarily intended to create increased panic across an already nervous population in northern Israel," claimed a senior intelligence officer in London.
Meantime, Mossad undercover agents are desperately trying to locate where the "dirty bomb" arsenal is located. It is believed to be in the Bekaa Valley.
The Israeli intelligence service has also told MI6 that it believes Hezbollah now has "up to a thousand" other rockets poised for launch.
From G2 Bulletin
Keep an eye on this one kids, it will be interesting to see how much press this gets once it starts happening.
July 26, 2006
All is not lost: Logic still can win in America
Eminent domain abused
Ohio Supreme Court overrules Norwood home-taking
In holding parts of Ohio’s eminent domain law unconstitutional, the state’s highest court set a different course than the U.S. Supreme Court did in its landmark Kelo v. New London decision last year.
There, the Supreme Court ruled that a Connecticut city’s taking of property for economic development was constitutional – but made clear that state constitutions could set different standards for property rights.
The Norwood case is expected to be closely watched around the country. It was the first major eminent domain case to reach a state Supreme Court since Kelo.
The case was brought by property owners Joseph Horney, Carl and Joy Gamble and Matthew F. Burton, who argued that the city should not be able to take their properties and deed them over to Rookwood Partners for a $125 million shopping and office complex.
From The Enquirer
I'm shocked to see this kind of logical ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court, maybe my state has hope after all. ;-P
July 19, 2006
US government helped sink The Pirate Bay; goes after other sites
Justice Minister Thomas Bodstrom denied allegations in a Swedish television report that the government ordered the crackdown on a U.S. request. "I have never acted individually or spoken about how the police and prosecutors should act, nor will I do it," Bodstrom was quoted as saying by Sweden news agency TT. Sweden's constitution bars ministers from directing police investigations.
It turns out that the minister was choosing his words carefully. While he may not have personally ordered the raid, a new report in the Washington Post claims that US authorities were involved in alerting their Swedish counterparts to the existence of The Pirate Bay. At an April meeting, the US delegation expressed its displeasure at the site.
From Ars Technica
Got to love the RIAA and MPAA's deep pockets, wish I could buy my own politicians so I could force other countries to do my bidding. Bastards.
July 17, 2006
Advertising invading your egg tray
IN September, CBS plans to start using a new place to advertise its fall television lineup: your breakfast.
The network plans to announce today that it will place laser imprints of its trademark eye insignia, as well as logos for some of its shows, on eggs — 35 million of them in September and October. CBS’s copywriters are referring to the medium as “egg-vertising,” hinting at the wordplay they have in store. Some of their planned slogans: “CSI” (“Crack the Case on CBS”); “The Amazing Race” (“Scramble to Win on CBS”); and “Shark” (“Hard-Boiled Drama.”). Variations on the ad for its Monday night lineup of comedy shows include “Shelling Out Laughs,” “Funny Side Up” and “Leave the Yolks to Us.”
George Schweitzer, president of the CBS marketing group, said he was hoping to generate some laughter in American kitchens. “We’ve gone through every possible sad takeoff on shelling and scrambling and frying,” he said, adding, “It’s a great way to reach people in an unexpected form.”
Newspapers, magazines and Web sites are so crowded with ads for entertainment programming that CBS was ready to try something different, Mr. Schweitzer said. The best thing about the egg concept was its intrusiveness.
Full Story @ New York Times
This is going to be a massive failure, most Americans will get pissed off and leave the eggs that have 'ads' on them on the shelf in favor of eggs without ads. -Ed
July 14, 2006
Talk about your "slanted" point of view
Just a quick note, this is more propaganda imho, than it is news.
Each point in the timeline is "look how evil Israel is and how innocent Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran are." Oh give me a freakin' break.
Aljazeera.Net - Timeline: Israel and Lebanon
BBC: Israel Evil, Terrorists Good
Watching the BBC News this morning you would think that Israel was pure evil and that the terrorists (including Syria) were gentle angels. With exception of the short interview with Sami Khiyami the Syrian Ambassador to England when they asked him why they are supporting Hezbollah, to which he replied "we need to support freedom fighters", huh?
Later (much) they talked to Benjamin Netanyahu (very briefly) and he said what sensible people are saying. "We made an agreement with the Lebanese government that they would dismantle Hezbollah and police their own territory and we would pull out giving them full control, we held up our end of the agreement, they have not."
Thus, anyone bitching about Israel and NOT about Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria should check their facts.
(note, never did I say Israel were without fault ever, I'm only speaking of this current battle)
I love this line: "But some experts warn that the Bush administration's diplomatic options may be stretched too thin to mediate effectively and prevent major bloodletting." from the sfgate.com
They just don't get it, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran DO NOT GIVE A FLYING CRAP about talking!!, their goal is to kill Americans, Israelis and everyone else who is NOT their version of a muslim. Wake up stupid people of the world. You cannot negotiate with terrorists, it, does, not, work. (ever)
Sensible people who are willing to negotiate don't become terrorists (or Muslim extremists), sensible people also do not abandon their own people and then use them as pawns to create hate, anger and war (cough, cough, Syria).
OK, I'm done ranting.
Need to go to work now. :-)
July 11, 2006
U.S. Hackers Unite!
The State Department is recovering from large-scale computer break-ins worldwide over the past several weeks that appeared to target its headquarters and offices dealing with China and North Korea, The Associated Press has learned.
Investigators believe hackers stole sensitive U.S. information and passwords and implanted backdoors in unclassified government computers to allow them to return at will, said U.S. officials familiar with the hacking. These people spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the widespread intrusions and the resulting investigation.
The break-ins and the State Department's emergency response severely limited Internet access at many locations, including some headquarters offices in Washington, these officials said. Internet connections have been restored across nearly all the department since the break-ins were recognized in mid-June.
"The department did detect anomalies in network traffic, and we thought it prudent to ensure out system's integrity," department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said. Asked what information was stolen by the hackers, Cooper said, "Because the investigation is continuing, I don't think we even know."
Full Story @ BREITBART.COM
U.S. hackers strike back -Ed
July 10, 2006
Japan Considers Strike Against N. Korea
TOKYO (AP) - Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North's missile bases would violate its constitution, signaling a hardening stance ahead of a possible U.N. Security Council vote on Tokyo's proposal for sanctions against the regime.
Japan was badly rattled by North Korea's missile tests last week and several government officials openly discussed whether the country ought to take steps to better defend itself, including setting up the legal framework to allow Tokyo to launch a pre-emptive strike against Northern missile sites.
"If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack ... there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense. We need to deepen discussion," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.
Full Story @ My Way News
June 26, 2006
Palestinian terrorists still holding Shalit
For the families of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, the abduction on Sunday of IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit is good news because of the possibility that it could result in a prisoner swap with Israel.
On Monday, many families and groups appealed to the Hamas kidnappers not to release the soldier unless Israel agreed to set free a large number of prisoners.
In Ramallah and Gaza City, the relatives of some of the prisoners held press conferences during which they urged the kidnapers to resist efforts to release Shalit without security the release of their sons. The families also staged sit-in protests outside the offices of the International Committee for the Red Cross to demand the release of their sons.
Full Story @ Jerusalem Post
Hrmm.. troops massing on the boarder and your making demands. Seems like someone is feeling really lucky today. :-P
June 09, 2006
Record meteorite hit Norway
As Wednesday morning dawned, northern Norway was hit with an impact comparable to the atomic bomb used on Hiroshima.
At around 2:05 a.m. on Wednesday, residents of the northern part of Troms and the western areas of Finnmark could clearly see a ball of fire taking several seconds to travel across the sky.
A few minutes later an impact could be heard and geophysics and seismology research foundation NORSAR registered a powerful sound and seismic disturbances at 02:13.25 a.m. at their station in Karasjok.
Farmer Peter Bruvold was out on his farm in Lyngseidet with a camera because his mare Virika was about to foal for the first time.
Full Story @ Aftenposten.no
June 08, 2006
Iraqi leader: Al-Zarqawi is eliminated
The Iraqi prime minister has announced the killing of al-Qaeda chief in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Nuri al-Maliki announced the killing of Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the head of an organisation known as al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, at a news conference in Baghdad broadcast live by Iraqi state and international media organisations on Thursday.
He said al-Zarqawi was killed along with seven aides on Wednesday evening in a house 50km northeast of Baghdad, in the province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital, Baquba.
"Today, al-Zarqawi was eliminated," al-Maliki told a news conference, drawing applause from reporters in the hall where he made the announcement, flanked by Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador, and US General George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq.
Full Story @ Aljazeera.Net
Good work Iraq.
June 07, 2006
Experts say report of badges for Jews in Iran is untrue
Several experts are casting doubt on reports that Iran had passed a law requiring the country’s Jews and other religious minorities to wear coloured badges identifying them as non-Muslims.
The Iranian embassy in Otttawa also denied the Iranian government had passed such a law.
A news story and column by Iranian-born analyst Amir Taheri in yesterday’s National Post reported that the Iranian parliament had passed a sweeping new law this week outlining proper dress for Iran’s majority Muslims, including an order for Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians to wear special strips of cloth.
According to the reports, Jews were to wear yellow cloth strips, called zonnar, while Christians were to wear red and Zoroastrians blue.
Full Story @ canada.com network
Ok DF, I posted a story that was found to be untrue, the strange part is when liberal rags post stories that turn out to be untrue, how many of them post that??
June 04, 2006
Web users to 'patrol' US border
A US state is to enlist web users in its fight against illegal immigration by offering live surveillance footage of the Mexican border on the internet.
The plan will allow web users worldwide to watch Texas' border with Mexico and phone the authorities if they spot any apparently illegal crossings.
Texas Governor Rick Perry said the cameras would focus on "hot-spots and common routes" used to enter the US.
US lawmakers have been debating a divisive new illegal immigration bill.
Full Story @ BBC NEWS
The idea is half right, what we need are remote control sniper rifles (with night vision) to match the cameras. You would not have to kill to many to send the message that coming here legally is much better than being dead. -Ed
May 30, 2006
Cloaking Breakthrough
New materials are on the U.S. Department of Defense's radar.
Ever since H. G. Wells published The Invisible Man more than a century ago, the prospect of invisibility -- or cloaking -- has been a mainstay of science fiction. But now physicists say they have finally figured out how to make objects invisible, and what's more, they are just months away from putting this theory into practice.
The trick is to find a way to guide light and other types of electromagnetic radiation around an object so that it casts no shadow and produces no reflection. Normally, this kind of manipulation would be a tall order, says John Pendry of Imperial College London, England. But, he adds, the recent development of a new class of materials called "metamaterials" makes it tantalizingly feasible.
Metamaterials are engineered materials whose properties are determined by their physical structure rather than their chemistry, says Pendry. Such properties include the ability to bend light, he says.
Full Text @ Technology Review
May 23, 2006
GORE BURNS 439,500 LBS OF FUEL TO ATTEND SUMMIT
"The most vulnerable part of the Earth's environment is the very thin layer
of air clinging near to the surface of the planet, that we are now so
carelessly filling with gaseous wastes that we are actually altering the
relationship between the Earth and the Sun - by trapping more solar
radiation under this growing blanket of pollution that envelops the entire
world," Vice President Gore told the U.N. Global Warming conference of 159
nations this morning in Koyto, Japan.
In what was one the most dramatic speeches in recent memory, Gore announced
to world leaders: "Whether we recognize it or not, we are now engaged in an
epic battle to right the balance of our Earth, and the tide of this battle
will turn on when the majority of people in the world become sufficiently
aroused by shared sense of urgent danger to join an all-out effort."
Applause filed the halls of the Kyoto International Conference Center. "We
must achieve a safe overall concentration level for greenhouse gases in the
Earth's atmosphere."
and then ...
Gore's plane, a Boeing 707 gas guzzler burns on average 4.1 gallons a mile.
The complete Washington to Florida to Washington to Alaska to Japan and
return to Washington trip calculated from commercial air mileage tables is
just over 16,000 miles total. Gas gallons needed for AIR FORCE II to go
16,000 miles: 65,600. Applying the average price of $2.01 per gallon of
Jet A to the 16,000 mile r/t -- the fuel cost alone passes $131,000.00.
There are 6.7 pounds per gallon of jet fuel. Total pounds of fuel burned on
Gore's Global Warming Express -- 439,500.
Unprecedented Leadership.
Full Report @ DrudgeReportArchives.com
Too funny -Ed
May 19, 2006
WWIII anyone?
Iran eyes badges for Jews
Human rights groups are raising alarms over a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear coloured badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims.
"This is reminiscent of the Holocaust," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. "Iran is moving closer and closer to the ideology of the Nazis."
Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."
The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.
Full Story @ canada.com network
Someone please hit Iran's WMD buildings, bunkers and whatever else they have with tactical nukes and end this now. -Ed
May 14, 2006
Virginity pledges have little staying power, research finds
Virginity pledges, in which young people vow to abstain from sex until marriage, have little staying power among those who take them, a Harvard University study has found.
In fact, more than half the adolescents who make such signed, public promises give up on their pledges within a year, according to the study released last week.
The findings have raised the ire of Concerned Women for America, a conservative organization that endorses adolescent sexual abstinence.
"The Harvard report is wrong," said Janice Crouse, a fellow at a Concerned Women for America think-tank.
Full Story @ Chicago Tribune
I got in a very small discussion the other day with someone who posted this same article on another site. I thought it would be interesting for a little discussion here.
This one guy on the other site stated how these abstinence pledges "really push kids to marry young, even though that sets them up for divorce, usually not too far down the road.". He went on to say that, "The single strongest indicator that a marriage will end in divorce is young age of the couple marrying. And (some) churches provide little support for members who divorce.".
(Just as a side note - I'm happy to say the church muddy and I attend does have a divorce support group that meets weekly)
Quite frankly, I couldn't agree with him more. I think this *does* push young people into marriage at such an age when the majority of them are absolutely NOT ready for it. My thought is this:
If someone WANTS to take that virginity pledge - GREAT! I hope they can pull it off. I think it's a wonderful goal. Virginity is nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be proud of BUT what we these groups need to understand is true reality. It is completely unrealistic to think that the majority of teens and young people will save themselves for marriage. Christian or not. I've said this for quite a while now. There's obviously nothing wrong with encouraging kids to wait for marriage but at the same time, let's also teach them (Christians and non) about birth control, condoms and other forms of protection. -Ed
April 04, 2006
All I Can do is laugh
Indian director hopes to cast Paris Hilton as Mother Teresa
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AFP) - An Indian movie director said he hopes to persuade
Paris Hilton to play the role of Nobel laureate and prospective Catholic Saint, Mother Teresa, in an upcoming film.
ADVERTISEMENT
click here
"Her features resemble Mother Teresa," director T. Rajeevnath told AFP from the southwestern coastal state of Kerala.
The filmmaker said Hilton is on his shortlist after a computer-generated image showed a close facial match between the hotel heiress and the Albanian-born nun.
Full Article @ Yahoo! News
April 01, 2006
Bush preps historic Third Term - memo
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the office of the White House Counsel are preparing a draft document laying out the President's wartime authority to remain in office past 2008, The Register has learned.
The scheme is described as an emergency "continuity presidency," made necessary by the extraordinary circumstances and unique challenges of protecting the United States from the threat of international terrorism.
"The world changed on 9/11," a confidential DoJ memo obtained by The Register explains, "and no Administration is US history is better suited to adapt productively to those changes than this one.
Full Article @ The Register
What the!?!? ... -Ed
March 29, 2006
Marchers say gringos, not illegals, have to go
WASHINGTON – While debates about guest-worker programs for illegal aliens take place in the corridors of power, in the streets of America's big cities no amnesty is being offered by activists calling for the expulsion of most U.S. citizens from their own country.
While politicians debate the fate of some 12 million people residing in the U.S. illegally, the Mexica Movement, one of the organizers of the mass protest in Los Angeles this week, has already decided it is the "non-indigenous," white, English-speaking U.S. citizens of European descent who have to leave what they call "our continent."
Full Article @ WorldNetDaily
Again I say, deport everyone who is not here legally, Everyone. Then we can take that 60+ BILLION we spend every year on supporting them here to putting up a wall, more security or other means and still have cash left over to pay down our national debt. Which btw the freakin' republicans are like crack whores they way they are spending. Can we curb some of that anytime soon?? -Ed
March 27, 2006
Uncommon Valor, Unsung Heroes
God Bless the US Marines
War News
Monday, March 27, 2006
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor
The New York Daily news reported a war protest concert called "Bring 'Em Home Now" headlined by a bunch of musicians I never heard of, noting that Cindy Sheehan was an invited guest and that Jeanne Garafalo plans to broadcast her TV program from the concert.
Interestingly, I ran a Google news search of the concert and got four hits. One was a music site in the UK, two were local New York-area papers, and the fourth was a website called 'alArab Online'. Ordinarily, Western music concerts don't make headlines in the Arab world. But it's great propaganda for their side.
The Dixie Chicks are making their way back up the country music charts with a new anti-war album recanting their tearful apology for making anti-war statements while on tour in London.
The new album, "Not Ready To Make Nice" slams the administration and the war anew, noted al Jazeera.
George Clooney got an Oscar for 'Syriana' -- an antiwar film in which America was the heavy and the terrorists were the heroes.
A Kansas-based protest group regularly pickets military funerals, carrying signs like "Thank God for IEDs" and Thank God for Dead Soldiers".
Public support for the war in Iraq in waning, as is public support for the war on terror. The Bush administration's job-approval rating dropped to 36% -- an all-time low.
Full Article @ Omega Letter
This is a must read article. Especially if you are a Marine. OHRAAA! -Ed
TABC now entering bars to arrest drunks
The message the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is trying to get across with its latest campaign likely comes as news to many people. Simply put, it's that bars are not a place where people are supposed to be drunk.
Agents are now entering bars to arrest intoxicated patrons in what they call a pre-emptive strike, but others say the campaign is borderline harassment.
The program has proved controversial and state lawmakers are planning to review the program after criticism following recent arrests at 30 Dallas-area bars this month.
Full Article @ wacotrib.com
Ok, here's the thing. If you *choose* to go to a bar you *choose* how much you want to drink. You have every right to choose if you want to drink a little or a lot. You *should* even make a choice as to how you can safely get home *before* you even leave to go to the bar.
Now, I could understand if there were cops in the parking lots arresting people if they chose to drive home intoxicated (I actually think that's a good idea for everywhere in the country.) But, I think this is going just a bit too far. -Ed
March 14, 2006
Where is the outrage?
Authorities called it one of the worst rape cases they could recall.
Seven gang members and three female associates were charged Monday with raping a woman as the mother of one suspect allegedly watched and encouraged the assault, authorities said.
The 23-year-old victim was targeted because her boyfriend had angered members of the Anaheim gang, authorities said.
She was lured into a hotel room by a female gang associate at a Feb. 23 party then sexually assaulted over a seven-hour period, Anaheim police Chief John Welter said.
He called it "one of the worst rapes I've seen in my 35 years experience."
Authorities identified the 38-year-old "gang mother" as Connie Herrera Retana and her son as 18-year-old Martin Carlos Delgado. Police said the victim was lured into the room and beaten by 23-year-old Jolean Disbrow.
"It makes you shake your head that mothers could be participating," said Orange County Assistant District Attorney Susan Kang Schroeder. "It shows how a group mentality can breed disgusting behavior."
Full Story @ sfgate.com
Ok, so your only shock is that the mother "watched" her sons and company rape a woman for seven long hours!?!?!?!
Are you kidding me??
How about that someone was raped to begin with?
How about it was for seven hours, a fifteen year old involved and your only distressed that the mother was there watching? This country (or more specifically California) is going down the crapper. Maybe we should dump our liberal ways where the innocent are persecuted and the guilty are protected. I say we bring back public hangings, if you rape or kill, bring your ass out into the public square and string you up. -Ed
March 09, 2006
Dubai threat to hit back
Dubai is threatening retaliation against American strategic and commercial interests if Washington blocks its $6.8 billion takeover of operations at several U.S. ports.
As the House Appropriations Committee yesterday marked up legislation to kill Dubai Ports World’s acquisition of Britain’s Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation (P&O), the emirate let it be known that it is preparing to hit back hard if necessary.
A source close to the deal said members of Dubai’s royal family are furious at the hostility both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have shown toward the deal.
“They’re saying, ‘All we’ve done for you guys, all our purchases, we’ll stop it, we’ll just yank it,’” the source said.
Full Story @ TheHill
I guess nobody told them you get more flies with honey than with threats. Personally I don't want any outsiders running any part of our country, including the Indianapolis airport, and sea ports that China runs in California. However that being said speaking just economics, it "seems" like a win/win for everyone. -Ed
March 08, 2006
Red rain from another planet?
On July 25, 2001, blood-red rain fell over Kerala. The unusual phenomenon continued for two months, raining crimson, turning clothes pink, burning leaves on trees. In some places, the rain fell in scarlet sheets.
Scientists were shocked, and the government ordered an investigation. Scientists concluded that the rain was red because winds had swept up dust from Arabia and dumped it on Kerala. But Dr Godfrey Louis, a Reader in Physics at the School of Pure and Applied Physics at the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, Kerala, was not convinced.
He diligently gathered rain samples and, after months of painstaking research, concluded: 'The red particles, which caused the red rain of Kerala, are of extraterrestrial origin.'
His colleagues -- other scientists and physicists -- frowned at the conclusion. But Dr Louis stuck to his theory. His scientific conclusions have now received international support. Dr Milton Wainwright of the micro-biology Department at Sheffield University in Britain has been examining some of the particles of the red rain samples that hit Kerala. And he has come out in support of Dr Louis' theory that the rains could belong to an alien life form.
Full Story @ redriff.com
March 06, 2006
Some Gitmo Prisoners Don't Want to Go Home
Fearing militants or even their own governments, some prisoners at Guantanamo Bay from China, Saudi Arabia and other nations do not want to go home, according to transcripts of hearings at the U.S. prison in Cuba.
Uzbekistan, Yemen, Algeria and Syria are also among the countries to which detainees do not want to return. The inmates have told military tribunals that they or their families could be tortured or killed if they are sent back.
Full Story @ BREITBART.COM
Yea, we are such barbarians here that our freakin' prisoners don't want to leave! Holy cow Gitmo must be hell on earth. -Ed
March 04, 2006
R.I.P. Dan Compton
Fellow Yellow Jacket, Dan Compton, was found dead in his vehicle on the side of a rural road in Lamar County, Georgia this afternoon, about 1 hour from the school. His family and friends with the school (Georgia Tech) and Equisearch had planned an all weekend search throughout the area.
He had been missing since February 17th, when he was last known to be leaving a Buckhead bar in his Silver 1998 Honda Civic with Texas plates, which had also been missing. His family began to worry when they could not contact him at home or on his cell phone.
Foul play is not suspected but the official cause of death is under investigation. Parents had previously said that he may have been depressed over a break up with his girlfriend, a month prior.
RIP Dan Compton, 1984-2006.
Editor's Note - I did not know him, but I still find it sad that a member of my school's community has passed. Sadly, when I heard he was missing, his ATM card and cell phone had not been used and possible depression, this is what I feared.
February 27, 2006
You to can profit from terrorism, Just do it the Hamas way
BBC reported today that the European Commission is preparing to pay 120 million Euro to Hamas for what the commission calls "meeting the basic needs of Palestinians". How about letting the terrorists they elected fund the people. After all the people have been funding the terrorists for decades.
The following from fas.org:
HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Description
The HAMAS (in Arabic, an acronym for "Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia" -- Islamic Resistance Movement -- and a word meaning courage and bravery) is a radical Islamic fundamentalist organization which became active in the early stages of the intifada, operating primarily in the Gaza District but also in Judea and Samaria. Formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. HAMAS’s strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and a few areas of the West Bank. Also has engaged in political activity, such as running candidates in West Bank Chamber of Commerce elections.
Activities
HAMAS activists, especially those in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have conducted many attacks—including large-scale suicide bombings—against Israeli civilian and military targets. In the early 1990s, they also targeted suspected Palestinian collaborators and Fatah rivals. HAMAS increased its operational activity during 2002-2003 claiming numerous attacks against Israeli interests. The group has not targeted US interests—although some US citizens have been killed in HAMAS operations—and continues to confine its attacks to Israelis inside Israel and the territories.
Strength
Unknown number of official members; tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation
HAMAS currently limits its terrorist operations to Israeli military and civilian targets in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel. The group’s leadership is dispersed throughout the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with a few senior leaders residing in Syria, Lebanon, and the Gulf States.
External Aid
Receives some funding from Iran but primarily relies on donations from Palestinian expatriates around the world and private benefactors in moderate Arab states. Some fundraising and propaganda activity take place in Western Europe and North America.
Interesting now that Europe wants to join Iran and other Arab states in funding terrorism.
Also for the blind fools thinking that Hamas is now peaceful, think again.
From cfrterrorism.org :
What does Hamas believe and what are its goals?
Hamas combines Palestinian nationalism with Islamic fundamentalism. Its founding charter commits the group to the destruction of Israel, the replacement of the PA with an Islamist state on the West Bank and Gaza, and to raise “the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.” Its leaders have called suicide attacks the “F-16” of the Palestinian people. Hamas believes “peace talks will do no good,” Rantisi said in April 2004. “We do not believe we can live with the enemy.”
Only two years ago they plainly stated their primary goal is to kill all Jews and wipe out Israel.
Nice move Europe.
*Note: For the bleeding hearts among you who will undoubtedly claim that Hamas does social work and blah, blah, blah whatever else. It makes zero difference if your goal is to wipe out a people and take their land.
February 22, 2006
Maybe Saddam was right
Mosque Attack Pushes Iraq Toward Civil War
Insurgents posing as police destroyed the golden dome of one of Iraq's holiest Shiite shrines Wednesday, setting off an unprecendented spasm of sectarian violence. Angry crowds thronged the streets, militiamen attacked Sunni mosques, and at least 19 people were killed.
With the gleaming dome of the 1,200-year-old Askariya shrine reduced to rubble, some Shiites lashed out at the United States as partly to blame.
Full Story @ BREITBART.COM
I cannot believe that I'm even considering that maybe Saddam was right all along. You need a vicious dictator to keep these people in line. Other wise they would wipe each other out.
I understand all they know is violence, and for decades all they have had is violence, however would that not PUSH You to be peaceful?
Is this just another example that the Muslim religion is not peaceful but full of intolerance and hatred?? Unfortunately, I have no answers at this time. Only questions.
(afterthought)
Perhaps it's mearly the cycle of violence morphing into this. -Ed
February 21, 2006
A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism
During recent decades, new scientific evidence from many scientific disciplines such as cosmology, physics, biology, "artificial intelligence" research, and others have caused scientists to begin questioning Darwinism's central tenet of natural selection and studying the evidence supporting it in greater detail.
Yet public TV programs, educational policy statements, and science textbooks have asserted that Darwin's theory of evolution fully explains the complexity of living things. The public has been assured that all known evidence supports Darwinism and that virtually every scientist in the world believes the theory to be true.
The scientists on this list dispute the first claim and stand as living testimony in contradiction to the second. Since Discovery Institute launched this list in 2001 over 500 scientists have courageously stepped forward to sign their names. The list is growing and includes scientists from the US National Academy of Sciences, Russian, Polish and Czech National Academies, as well as from universities such as Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and others.
Read More @ CSC - Center for Science and Culture
Interesting, could it be darwinism is not fact but but really is, [gasp] a theory?? -Ed
February 20, 2006
"The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves"
Commentary on the News
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor
This past season, NBC aired a short-lived TV series called "The Book of Daniel" as one of its prime-time offerings. The series revolved around an drug-addicted Episcopal priest with an alcoholic wife, a gay son, and a drug-dealing teenaged daughter.
At the office, the priest's lesbian secretary is sleeping with his sister-in-law. The priest, Daniel Webster, (hence the clever title) would have periodic discussions with 'Jesus', who when asked to do something for Daniel in one scene, replied, "Who do you think I am? God?"
NBC defended its offering as a 'serious drama about Christian people and the Christian faith'. It wrapped the series in the 1st Amendment and aired the series over the objections of the many network affiliates who refused to carry it.
After airing only three episodes, NBC unceremoniously dumped the show. The media started screaming 'censorship' by the religious right. The fact is, by the third airing, all the program's sponsors had pulled out. Not because of threats or violence. Because of economics. The show was awful and nobody watched it.
Read the entire commentary here
cwilli note: Another outstanding article from Jack Kinsella. He points out the obvious truth that the media continues to disrepect Christianity while clearing respecting Islam. They are only upstaged by the ACLU who is determined to stamp our Christianity but defends the rights of Muslims....
February 19, 2006
U.S.-Funded Power Plant on Line in Iraq
BASRA, Iraq - Glistening in
Iraq's barren southern salt plains, a natural gas-driven power station has come on line, generating sorely needed electricity for war-weary Iraqis and demonstrating that much-maligned U.S.-led reconstruction efforts are beginning to bear fruit.
U.S. officials said Sunday that increasing Iraq's electricity generating capacity through facilities such as the 250 megawatt electricity plant near the southern city of Basra is crucial to American efforts to encourage Iraqis to turn their backs on the insurgency.
It's nice to hear some GOOD news from the front. I'm proud of them. Not only will this obviously be benificial to the Iraqi people BUT it will also help to create some more jobs. Enough said.
Full Story @ Yahoo!
Cheney Media Blitz to Continue, Iran Elated
AAAHHHHH!! Quick, someone duck tape my head because it's going to explode this week!
How in the world can real news be pushed back into oblivion while a fricking hunting accident gets ALL the time??
Oh crap, yea, that's right. The mainstream media has been given charge by the liberal elite to bash our bumbling president into next year.
So begins yet another week of the mindless drivel we endured last week.
yea
Full Story @ DRUDGE REPORT
February 13, 2006
Hollywood 'resists gay US actors'
Sir Ian McKellen has said openly gay US actors are prevented from having successful Hollywood careers.
"It is very, very, very difficult for an American actor who wants a film career to be open about his sexuality," the gay British actor said.
"And even more difficult for a woman if she's lesbian. It's very distressing to me that that should be the case."
The Lord of the Rings star added: "The film industry is very old fashioned in California."
He was speaking at the Berlin Film Festival, where he received a lifetime achievement award.
Wow, I don't normally post B.S. about Hollywood, however this is too bizarre not to. I'm still just starring at the page, no idea how he can possibly call the Capitol of "tolerance" anti-gay. -Ed
Germany denies being lazy, strikes over increasing work week by 1.5 hours
FEB. 13 5:40 A.M. ET German public workers expanded their week-old strike to much of the country on Monday in a deepening dispute over plans to make them work longer hours.
Public workers in nine of Germany's 16 states were stopped work on Monday, compared to only two last week, making it the biggest stoppage in public services for 14 years.
The ver.di labor union, the country's biggest, is protesting plans to make some public employees work 40 hours a week compared to the current 38.5 hours.
Now to be fair it does not say if they are being paid hourly or salary. If it's hourly, then who cares if you work an extra hour or so. Your being paid. However if your salary, then you should be paid for the extra 1.5 hours of work. That's just common sense. (Still, tis a silly headline) -Ed.
February 10, 2006
Video surveillance outfit chips workers
A Cincinnati video surveillance company CityWatcher.com now requires employees to use Verichip human implantable microchips to enter a secure data centre. Until now, the employees entered the data centre with a VeriChip housed in a heart-shaped plastic casing that hangs from their keychain.
The VeriChip is a glass encapsulated RFID tag that is injected into the triceps area of the arm to uniquely identify individuals. The tag can be read by radio waves from a few inches away.
That is simple to solve, everyone quits and they can't hire people, thus they stop the practice. (yea I know it's not irl that simple) -Ed
February 06, 2006
One For the Thumb!
Fast Willie Parker set a new Super Bowl record for the longest touchdown run during the Steelers ugly victory over the hapless Seachickens.
Steelers 21 vs. Seahawks 10
January 31, 2006
Patients Suffer Deja Vu ... Over and Over
Imagine suffering from chronic déjà vu. You don't even go to the doctor because you feel like you've already been there.
"We had a peculiar referral from a man who said there was no point visiting the clinic because he'd already been there, although this would have been impossible," said psychologist Chris Moulin, who runs a memory clinic at the University of Leeds in the UK.
So Moulin has started the first known study of the condition.
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
I would add my own comment about this story....but I'd SWEAR I've already done that before.... -Ed
January 30, 2006
We're not gouging (cough, cough)
Exxon profit tops $10 billion, capping record year
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's largest publicly traded oil company, on Monday reported a quarterly profit of $10.7 billion, capping a year of record earnings dominated by surging oil and gas prices.
The results pushed up Exxon's profit for the year to a staggering $36.13 billion -- bigger than the economies of 125 of the 184 countries ranked by the World Bank. Profit rose 42 percent from 2004.
The company and its peers have come under fire for posting billions in profit while consumers struggle with high gasoline prices. Exxon was quick to emphasize that such results would help it make long-term investments to meet energy demand.
The Irving, Texas company's fourth-quarter net income rose 27 percent, to $10.71 billion, or $1.71 a share, from $8.42 billion, or $1.30 a share, a year earlier. Revenue was just shy of $100 billion.
Full Story @ Reuters.com
January 29, 2006
Washington, Pennsylvania, is Now Steeler, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania (AHN) - About 15-thousand residents of one southwestern Pennsylvania city really do live in Steeler Country. That's because the mayor and council voted unanimously Friday night to change the city's name from Washington to Steeler.
The change is in effect until after Super Bowl 40, where the Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Seattle Seahawks.
Full Story @ All Headline News
Awwwwww Yeeeaaaaa!!! Here we go Steelers, Here we Go!! -Ed
Dealing with the enemy
THE Israeli cabinet faces its first test of the Hamas era this week when it decides whether to continue with a regular transfer of $US60 million ($80 million) in taxes to a Palestinian Authority that soon will be ruled by its arch-enemy.
The defence and security establishment favours the payment going ahead, but some senior ministers believe dealing with Hamas, even on an administrative level, sets a dangerous precedent.
Five days after its stunning landslide win in the Palestinian elections, Hamas has continued with a conciliatory line, offering a long-term truce with Israel, but at the same time insisting it will never recognise the right of the Jewish state to exist.
Full Story @ The Australian
January 23, 2006
New super-gun to be tested in Feb
Next month a new high-explosive munition will be fired in Singapore and then tested again by the U.S. Army, heralding what may be a sea change in weaponry: a gun that can fire 240,000 rounds per minute.
That's compared to 60 rounds per minute in a standard military machine gun.
Metal Storm Inc., a munitions company headquartered in Virginia but with its roots in Australia, has been developing a gun that can shoot at blistering speeds, albeit in short bursts as each barrel is reloaded.
A Metal Storm gun of any size -- from a 9 mm hand-gun up to a machine gun size or a grenade launcher -- has no moving parts other than the bullets or munition inside the barrel. Rather than chambering a single slug for each shot - very quickly in the case of machine guns -- the bullets come pre-stacked inside the barrel and can be shot all at once, or one at a time, as the shooter decides through the electronic controls.
Because there are no moving parts, the weapon is less likely to jam, and will presumably need less maintenance.
Lashing many barrels together increases the number of rounds per second. Once fired, however, each spent barrel has to be reloaded.
Full Story @ United Press International
January 19, 2006
Feds after Google data
The Bush administration on Wednesday asked a federal judge to order Google to turn over a broad range of material from its closely guarded databases.
The move is part of a government effort to revive an Internet child protection law struck down two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court. The law was meant to punish online pornography sites that make their content accessible to minors. The government contends it needs the Google data to determine how often pornography shows up in online searches.
In court papers filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Justice Department lawyers revealed that Google has refused to comply with a subpoena issued last year for the records, which include a request for 1 million random Web addresses and records of all Google searches from any one-week period.
The Mountain View-based search and advertising giant opposes releasing the information on a variety of grounds, saying it would violate the privacy rights of its users and reveal company trade secrets, according to court documents.
Nicole Wong, an associate general counsel for Google, said the company will fight the government's effort ``vigorously.''
``Google is not a party to this lawsuit, and the demand for the information is overreaching,'' Wong said.
Full Story @ MercuryNews.com
Feds after Google data
January 12, 2006
Anyone for playing God??
Taiwan breeds green-glowing pigs
Scientists in Taiwan say they have bred three pigs that glow in the dark.
The pigs are transgenic, created by adding genetic material from jellyfish into a normal pig embryo.
The researchers hope the pigs will boost the island's stem cell research, as well as helping with the study of human disease.
The researchers, from National Taiwan University's Department of Animal Science and Technology, say that although the pigs glow, they are otherwise no different from any others.
Taiwan is not claiming a world first. Others have bred partially fluorescent pigs before. But the researchers insist the three pigs they have produced are better.
Full Story @ BBC NEWS
December 29, 2005
Forums Update
It's fixed.
Those looking to get into the tracker, pm me on the forums. Thanks.
December 22, 2005
Congress to push Taxation without Representation
This may be the last holiday season to enjoy tax-free Internet shopping, thanks to new legislation in the U.S. Congress.
Two bills introduced Wednesday propose sweeping changes to how Americans are taxed for online and mail order purchases. Businesses initially would be required to collect sales taxes on purchases shipped to roughly half of the country, and that percentage is expected to rapidly increase.
"Main Street retailers collect sales taxes, while many online and catalog retailers are exempt from collecting the same taxes," said a statement published by Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican. "This is costing states and localities billions in lost revenue." (A related bill has been introduced by Sen. Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, who is a former state tax commissioner.)
At the moment, if you order something from a company that's located entirely out of state, you're typically not charged sales tax. Seattle-based Amazon.com, for instance, does not collect sales taxes when shipping to California.
Full Story @ CNET News.com
Once again, the asshats in Washington D.C. have taken it upon themselves to further push us to a second civil war. Except this time it won't be the Boston Tea Part it'll be the Internet Everything Party. It's time to send a message to those mindless drones who suckle on the breast of evil that we will not stand for this. Write your congressman or woman today! Put an end to this tyranny or they will continue to ignore the constitution and oppress us into oblivion. -Ed
December 21, 2005
The Truth On the Ground
When I told people that I was getting ready to head back to Iraq for my third tour, the usual response was a frown, a somber head shake and even the occasional "I'm sorry." When I told them that I was glad to be going back, the response was awkward disbelief, a fake smile and a change of subject. The common wisdom seems to be that Iraq is an unwinnable war and a quagmire and that the only thing left to decide is how quickly we withdraw. Depending on which poll you believe, about 60 percent of Americans think it's time to pull out of Iraq.
How is it, then, that 64 percent of U.S. military officers think we will succeed if we are allowed to continue our work? Why is there such a dramatic divergence between American public opinion and the upbeat assessment of the men and women doing the fighting?
Full Story @ The Washington Post
"Thanks to Chachi over at "The Spanktuary" for sharing this story so that I may now ....pass it on. It's a good story and....enough SAID!!! -Ed
Freeman Criticizes Black History Month
NEW YORK -
Morgan Freeman says the concept of a month dedicated to black history is "ridiculous."
"You're going to relegate my history to a month?" the 68-year-old actor says in an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" to air Sunday (7 p.m. EST). "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
I don't normally (actually I don't remember EVER) posting an article on celebrities but, I found this one very interresting - especially considering it's comming from a *black* man. I happen to also agree with him. -Ed
December 19, 2005
Anyone else sick of the liberal war on Christmas?
Christmas advisory!
The battle against Christmas
December 2, 2005
Guy Adams
RenewAmerica analyst
Christmas has become a treasured and beloved American icon. At this time of the year, how many of you fondly think back to your childhood and recall many precious memories of those times? I know I do. I still look forward to it: the true meaning of Christmas, the decorations, the aroma of Christmas cookies, the presents, the delicious feast, and the getting together with family--some of whom we may have argued with in the past, but at this time of the year, we seem to put it all behind us. We even become friendlier with strangers, don't we? It's a wondrous time of year.
Not for some. For a handful, like the ACLU (arguably the Against Christmas Liberties Union), it's positively the most offensive time of the year. It is a battle against Christmas. They're trying to take "Christ" out of Christmas. I believe it is a battle against you and your children.
cwilli note: If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times; the ACLU is an evil organization with a clear cut goal to wipe out Christianity in our Country. This is just another example of this.
Buy your Christmas gifts from a small business and not a chain store. Keep the money here in America. Let a small business owner give his kids a good Christmas instead of going to someone who is already a millionair off the hard work of a someone else like you or me.
December 17, 2005
Dems taking a stand for nothing
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said yesterday that Democrats should not seek a unified position on an exit strategy in Iraq, calling the war a matter of individual conscience and saying differing positions within the caucus are a source of strength for the party.
Pelosi said Democrats will produce an issue agenda for the 2006 elections but it will not include a position on Iraq. There is consensus within the party that President Bush has mismanaged the war and that a new course is needed, but House Democrats should be free to take individual positions, she sad.
Full Story @ WashingtonPost.com
There you have it folks, the Dems will stand for nothing!, and will continue to blame everyone else for standing for something.
On a side note it's interesting to see the post calling Pelosi a sad person, maybe they are coming around? -Ed
December 15, 2005
US-Mexico border wall would be 'disgraceful': Fox (so we should do it)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Vicente Fox denounced as "disgraceful and shameful" on Wednesday a proposal to build a high-tech wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to stop illegal immigrants. (if you did not print comics showing your people how to invade our country maybe it would not come to this)
Concerned about the huge numbers of illegal immigrants streaming across the border and worried it could be an entry point for terrorists, a U.S. lawmaker has proposed building two parallel steel and wire fences running from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Coast. (yea!)
But Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said a wall running the length of a border would cost too much. (Name one thing the Gov does that does NOT cost too much??)
Mexico has expressed indignation at the idea. (Again, if you were not pushing your poor out the door into our house we would not have to do this.)2
Fox, speaking in Tamaulipas state across the border from Texas, said such extreme security measures would violate immigrants' rights.(lmao! complete and absolute lie)
"The disgraceful and shameful construction of walls,(that would not be needed if you, again, were not pushing your poor and unwanted on us) the increasing enforcement of security systems (lmao, love this one, shame on us for "enforcing" our laws, haha) and increasing violation of human rights and labor rights (what he is again saying here, "those we determine are scum and are pushing our the door cannot illegally go and work in the U.S.") will not protect the economy of the United States," he said.
The only way to stop illegal immigration is to declare war on Mexico and post troops on the boarders to put an end to this. As far as I can tell anyway, if anyone else has a valid idea let us discuss.
Full Story @ Reuters.com
December 03, 2005
Alzheimer's Could Be Diabetes-like Illness, Study Suggests
Could Alzheimer's be a form of diabetes?
That's the tantalizing suggestion from a new study that finds insulin production in the brain declines as
Alzheimer's disease advances.
"Insulin disappears early and dramatically in Alzheimer's disease," senior researcher Suzanne M. de la Monte, a neuropathologist at Rhode Island Hospital and a professor of pathology at Brown University Medical School, said in a prepared statement.
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
The Iraq story: how troops see it
BROOK PARK, OHIO – Cpl. Stan Mayer has seen the worst of war. In the leaves of his photo album, there are casual memorials to the cost of the Iraq conflict - candid portraits of friends who never came home and graphic pictures of how insurgent bombs have shredded steel and bone.
Yet the Iraq of Corporal Mayer's memory is not solely a place of death and loss. It is also a place of hope. It is the hope of the town of Hit, which he saw transform from an insurgent stronghold to a place where kids played on Marine trucks. It is the hope of villagers who whispered where roadside bombs were hidden. But most of all, it is the hope he saw in a young Iraqi girl who loved pens and Oreo cookies.
Full Story @ csmonitor.com
November 28, 2005
UK May resort to lopping off heads
A GOVERNMENT agency is launching an inquiry into doctors’ reports that up to 50 babies a year are born alive after botched National Health Service abortions.
The investigation, by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH), comes amid growing unease among clinicians over a legal ambiguity that could see them being charged with infanticide.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which regulates methods of abortion, has also mounted its own investigation.
Its guidelines say that babies aborted after more than 21 weeks and six days of gestation should have their hearts stopped by an injection of potassium chloride before being delivered. In practice, few doctors are willing or able to perform the delicate procedure.
This is just ****** sickening. "Doctors are increasingly uneasy about aborting babies who could be born alive." How can they want to murder in the first place?, it's like saying I took a gun and shot my 10 year old but the 9 year old was just too young for me to kill like that. No different.
I really would like to see the suicide statistics for abortion doctors and staff. I really can't fathom how one could do such things and live life like everthing's ok. -Ed
Microsoft: Linux is anti-commercial
References to free software and Linux were removed from a UN document after Microsoft claimed that such software aims to 'make it impossible to make any income on software as a commercial product'
Microsoft asked for references to free software to be removed from a document presented at last week's UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) conference, the software giant admitted on Friday.
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is unhappy that the document was changed and claims that even though it was on the panel discussing the document, it was not made aware of Microsoft's changes.
The document, known as the Vienna Conclusions, discusses issues around IT and creativity. The original draft of the document discussed how the free software model is changing the way people do business.
Full Story @
ZDNet UK News
The best part was the info I found on FSFE's website which put a spotlight on M$'s trick. -Ed
if (Windows Rules) then (Linux fails)
Part of the problem with the documentation and identification issues I talked about last week - and will talk about more later - is that it is very hard to separate information from disinformation.
Disinformation comes in three major forms:
1. innocent mistakes;
2. intentional disinformation (aka FUD); and,
3. (self) delusion.
Delusions are easily the most dangerous of these. In the IT context the most common delusion is simply that what we know is right in general or applicable to some specific issue when, in reality, it isn't. We know, and we act accordingly - with frequently catastrophic results.
FUD, taken as the art of spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt, is at its most dangerous when it plays on existing certainties to reinforce delusion.
A recent report by Security Innovation comparing Windows and Linux seems to fall squarely into that category.
Full Story @ ZDNet.com
It's funny how windows folks spin studies, surveys and other data driven reporting.
This takes a in depth look at one such report and the problems with it. Being a "nix geek myself I found it sad and funny, enjoy. -Ed
October 24, 2005
France set to clear key hurdle to EDF flotation
PARIS, Oct 23 (Reuters) - France is set to clear a key obstacle to the partial privatisation of EDF [EDF.UL] on Monday with the signing of a deal guaranteeing the provision of public services by the energy giant.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and his finance and industry ministers will sign the deal with EDF chief Pierre Gadonneix, Villepin's office said on Sunday.
The conservative government has been pushing for assurances from EDF that it will protect the country's cherished public service ideals in a bid to overcome heated trade union opposition to the flotation.
Monday's deal is expected to contain tariff guarantees. High fuel prices and the approach of winter have made energy costs a sensitive topic, with unions saying a market-oriented EDF could raise electricity bills purely for gain.
The rate of investments is another potential stumbling block to the flotation. EDF has set out plans to invest 26 billion euros ($31.15 billion) over three years but Villepin wants that figure raised to 30 billion to favour French production.
Full Story @ Reuters.com
While not a fan of the French government, I have to say this on the surface appears to be a positive step. Besides, if the unions and socialists are against it, it must be good. :-) -Ed
October 20, 2005
Hypocrites to come out of woodwork
The following news story is a good laugh. If you want to see the unashamed bias against anything positive the U.S. is doing, read on. When the contractors were killed in Iraq sometime ago (mind you non-combative contractors helping to RE-BUILD Iraq, a good thing) they were beaten, broken and dragged through the streets, hung from and bridge and basically put on display. Not ONE of the scum who now cry fowl stood up to raise a voice against it. Now we'll see who the hypocrites are, won't we?
In other news I could not give a rats butt about the burning of two terrorists bodies.
It's almost funny how socialist anti-everything American news rags love to bring in the Geneva Convention when speaking about us and how we choose to deal with terrorists. Last time I reviewed the Geneva Convention I don't remember it mentioning terrorists at all. Then again, I see this for what it is, a ratings boost to help SBS considering they have tanked lately.
The US Defence Department said reports that US troops burned the bodies of two suspected Taliban fighters and used the charred corpses in a propaganda campaign in Afghanistan, in footage aired on SBS television, are being "aggressively investigated".
The allegations are being probed by the Army Criminal Division, according to a statement from the coalition force based at the Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul.
"This command takes all allegations of misconduct or inappropriate behaviour seriously and has directed an investigation into circumstances surrounding this allegation," said Major General Jason Kamiya.
He said corrective action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true.
SBS
Secret tracking codes in laser printers cracked
The pages that are printed by your colour laser printer may include tiny dots, almost invisible to the naked eye. The dots form a code that can be read by the US Secret Service, ostensibly to track down counterfeiters. Now, for the first time, the code has been cracked.
The Secret Service has admitted before that the tracking information is part of a deal struck with selected colour laser printer manufacturers – including Xerox, Canon and many others. If a colour laser printer is used to forge a document and agents get sight of the document, the codes can be read. However, the full nature of the private information encoded in each document was not previously known.
"We've found that the dots from at least one line of printers encode the date and time your document was printed, as well as the serial number of the printer," said EFF Staff Technologist Seth David Schoen.
You can see the dots on colour prints from machines made by Xerox, Canon, and other manufacturers. The dots are yellow, less than one millimetre in diameter, and are typically repeated over each page of a document. In order to see the pattern, you need a blue light, a magnifying glass or a microscope. But once you've cracked the pattern, you may be able to trace the owner of a printer that produced a suspicious document.
Full Story @ The Register
Huh. I guess all those conspiracy theorists have a point after all. -Ed
October 06, 2005
U.S. Senate - Land of Yellowbellies
US senators have voted overwhelmingly to outlaw cruel or degrading treatment of detainees held in US custody abroad.
The Senate voted 90-9 in favour of the motion, which senators said would lay down rules for troops and officials carrying out interrogations.
Prisoner abuse scandals at Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq and concern over the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay have dogged the US since 2001.
The motion was opposed by the White House, which views it as unnecessary.
Bush administration officials say the move would be restrictive, and limit its fight against terrorism.
Full Story @ BBC NEWS
Last I checked you did not extract info from terrorists by putting them in comfy chairs and prodding them with fluffy pillows. (circa 1970 Monty Python Sketch - The Spanish Inquisition) -Ed
September 27, 2005
School Expels Girl for Having Gay Parents
ONTARIO, Calif. - A 14-year-old student was expelled from a Christian school because her parents are lesbians, the school's superintendent said in a letter.
Shay Clark was expelled from Ontario Christian School on Thursday.
"Your family does not meet the policies of admission," Superintendent Leonard Stob wrote to Tina Clark, the girl's biological mother.
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
All I can say is that this "Christian" school's administration is full of a bunch of jerks! And THAT'S putting it very nicely. I read a similar story about a year ago where a girl was expelled because her mother was a stripper!
Who cares!!! What place does *any* school have to say that someone's family does not meet their judgmental requirements! Jesus accepts all and loves all so who are they to make exceptions.
Look...it's no secret to anyone who frequents "muddysmind" that we don't agree with the homosexual lifestyle but we also know it's not our business (nor do we care) what two people do in the privacy of their homes (as long as it's consensual and no children are involved). Besides, that's not even the point. No matter what that schools position is on homosexuality (or any other lifestyle choice), it's just wrong, vicious, and bullying to make an innocent child pay for it. Shame on you 'Ontario "Christian" School' and others like you. You make me vomit!!!! -Ed
Katrina Takes a Toll on Truth, News Accuracy
BATON ROUGE, La. — Maj. Ed Bush recalled how he stood in the bed of a pickup truck in the days after Hurricane Katrina, struggling to help the crowd outside the Louisiana Superdome separate fact from fiction. Armed only with a megaphone and scant information, he might have been shouting into, well, a hurricane.
The National Guard spokesman's accounts about rescue efforts, water supplies and first aid all but disappeared amid the roar of a 24-hour rumor mill at New Orleans' main evacuation shelter. Then a frenzied media recycled and amplified many of the unverified reports.
"It just morphed into this mythical place where the most unthinkable deeds were being done," Bush said Monday of the Superdome.
Full Story @ Los Angeles Times
[sarcasm]Huh, imagine that. The news was "inaccurate" on it's reporting. How out of place is that? -Ed[/sarcasm] -Ed
September 25, 2005
FDA official quits over morning-after decision
WASHINGTON - The highly regarded women’s health chief at the Food and Drug Administration resigned Wednesday in protest of her agency’s refusal to allow over-the-counter sales of emergency contraception.
Assistant Commissioner Susan Wood charged that FDA’s leader overruled his own scientists’ determination that the morning-after pill could safely be sold without a prescription, and stunned his employees last week by instead postponing indefinitely a decision on whether to let that happen.
“There’s fairly widespread concern about FDA’s credibility” among agency veterans as a result, Wood told The Associated Press hours after submitting her resignation Wednesday.
“I have spent the last 15 years working to ensure that science informs good health-policy decisions,” Wood, director of FDA’s Office of Women’s Health, wrote in an e-mail about her departure to agency colleagues. “I can no longer serve as staff when scientific and clinical evidence, fully evaluated and recommended by the professional staff here, has been overruled.”
Full Story @ MSNBC.com
Ok...here's what I don't get.
1) Regular birth control pills consist of the same hormones that are found in this morning after pill. The difference? Regular birth control pills have a period of 21 days in which the hormones are spaced out AND you DO need a prescription to buy them. This morning after pill comes in the form of two (2) pills that have to be taken 12 hrs. apart from one another AND they have not *only* the same hormones that regular birth control pills have BUT they have these hormones in a much HIGHER dosage. AND they want to make it to where you can buy these pills *without* a prescription? Am I the only one who thinks this doesn't make sense?
2) With that in mind, I think this is a potentially very dangerous situation for some women (as these pills have similar warnings found in regular birth control pills such as women who have severe liver disease should not take this product) to be taking these morning after pills without a prescription. What if they *do* have certain diseases (liver, porphyria) that have not been detected yet. This is one of the reasons why when women get put on regular birth control, doctors like to do follow ups every few months to a year (depending on your history) so they can do little things like - taking your blood pressure, your temperature and asking questions about your body's adjustments and reactions to the pill to make sure your body is accepting it well. Which brings me to my 3rd point....
3) Some of these women may NOT be on regular birth control and may not seek follow up treatment with their family doctor. I think this is more likely to happen to girls under 18 as their family doctor would have to notify their parents, therefore if this morning after pill would become available to these girls, and they *did* start to experience certain unusual symptoms, they would probably be even less likely to do a follow up with their doctor for the fear that their parents would definitely find out.
But, ok...go ahead, some of you - tell me how I'm over reacting and that the "morning after" pill has no need for a prescription. Come on....I know you want to.... so let 'er rip....
-Ed
September 24, 2005
Evolution Pundits afraid of competition
A landmark legal trial begins on Monday that could determine how the theory of evolution - one of the basic tenets of modern science - is taught in US schools.
In the town of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 11 parents of children who already attend the nearby Dover High school or who will in future, together with the American Civil Liberties Union, are suing the Dover Area School District for voting in new rules that will encourage children to consider alternatives to evolution such as “intelligent design” (ID).
Full Story @New Scientist?
I don't know how a "theory" can be taught as being the only option. Seems like the U.S. is not as free and open a society as we like to make believe. -Ed
September 19, 2005
'UK IS NEXT US'
U.K. leaders are now saying that they are heading for the kind of poverty and racial divide that they were seeing brought to light after hurricane Katrina hit the U.S.
Full Story @Sky News
-Ed
Harriet, government can't fix this problem, only God can, and, only if the people want it changed.
So give up now before you waste more government money.
September 13, 2005
Anti-rape condom aims to stop attacks
KLEINMOND, South Africa (Reuters) - A South African inventor unveiled a new anti-rape female condom on Wednesday that hooks onto an attacker's penis and aims to cut one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world.
"Nothing has ever been done to help a woman so that she does not get raped and I thought it was high time," Sonette Ehlers, 57, said of the "rapex," a device worn like a tampon that has sparked controversy in a country used to daily reports of violent crime.
**I bookmarked this page about 2 weeks ago (as you can tell from the date of the artilce) and just forgot to post it. All I can say to the inventor of this product is..."YOU GO GIRL!!!!"
Full Story @Excite News
September 08, 2005
Speicher Investigatin Efforts Continue
WASHINGTON - The Navy has been unable to determine whether Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher, the fighter pilot shot down over Iraq in January 1991, is dead or alive, but it decided to keep his official status "missing/captured" and intensify investigative efforts.
Read the story at Yahoo!/AP
*Editor's Note*
I don't know what Capt. Speicher is still alive. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if his body is among the thousands in mass graves. However, I also have zero doubt that he survived that missile strike and subsequent ejection. Many former Iraqi prisoners claim to have seen many American POWs in Iraqi prisons in post Gulf War I Iraq. More than one has mentioned him by name without prompting. It is believed he was even held at the now notorious Abu Ghraib. With all that said, Americans in general, but his family in particular deserves to know his fate, whatever it may have been, or may yet be.
September 02, 2005
Mayor to feds: 'Get off your asses'
(CNN) -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin blasted the slow pace of federal and state relief efforts in an expletive-laced interview with local radio station WWL-AM.
The following is a transcript of WWL correspondent Garland Robinette's interview with Nagin on Thursday night. Robinette asked the mayor about his conversation with President Bush:
NAGIN: I told him we had an incredible crisis here and that his flying over in Air Force One does not do it justice. And that I have been all around this city, and I am very frustrated because we are not able to marshal resources and we're outmanned in just about every respect.
You know the reason why the looters got out of control? Because we had most of our resources saving people, thousands of people that were stuck in attics, man, old ladies. ... You pull off the doggone ventilator vent and you look down there and they're standing in there in water up to their freaking necks.
And they don't have a clue what's going on down here. They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn -- excuse my French everybody in America, but I am pissed.
Full Story @ CNN
You Want How Much a Gallon?
CHICAGO, Sept. 1 - At a downtown Marathon gasoline station here, gas prices did something strange in the wake of the deadly Hurricane Katrina - they fell 25 cents a gallon, to $3.45, for regular unleaded fuel.
The dealer, Jim Klun, dropped his prices Thursday after Marathon Petroleum, the company that supplies his gasoline, admitted through a distributor Wednesday that it had increased prices too much in the confusion that has gripped gasoline suppliers and retailers all over the country since Monday's storm.
Far from the devastation that caused flooding in New Orleans and other cities along the Gulf Coast, Mr. Klun is one of many dealers caught between oil companies and angry consumers.
Full Story @ New York Times
August 30, 2005
These Articles Speak For Themselves
I will only say that at least one of these articles is a column which makes it more of an opinion piece. However, after reading all three, I think all of them are less than neutral one way or another. That being said they present certain facts well. Argue away.
August 23, 2005
Shaddup Pat!
When your trying to spread the good news of Jesus and his love for us.
You might not want to publicly announce we need to wack a nation's leader.
Maybe Chavez is a danger, however I believe Pat you just exposed yourself as a man of Religion and not a man of God.
Two different things buddy.
Pat go back to begging for money on T.V. and leave world politics to the rest of us.
Full Story @ CNN.com
August 08, 2005
PROTESTING SOLDIER MOM CHANGED STORY ON BUSH
The mother of a fallen U.S. soldier who is holding a roadside peace vigil near President Bush's ranch -- has dramatically changed her account about what happened when she met the commander-in-chief last summer!
Cindy Sheehan, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., who last year praised Bush for bringing her family the "gift of happiness," took to the nation's TV outlets this weekend to declare how Bush "killed an indispensable part of our family and humanity."
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm
cwilli note: I realize that this lady is greaving the loss of her son. But If I would have died in battle (not to mention; as a volunteer) and my mother did what this lady has, I would feel disgraced.
August 02, 2005
News Flash - London
Reports coming in now that Gray's Inn Road is closed by King's Cross due to a smoking bus and a suspicious package. Also the bomb squad has been called in.
developing...
*Update*
False alarm, seems a bus engine caught fire and when the fireman arrived they found a suspicious package on the bus. Turned out to be harmless.
Good news.
July 30, 2005
A good reason to be a virgin...
KAMPALA (Reuters) - A Ugandan member of parliament has pledged to reward girls for their chastity by paying their university fees if they are virgins when they leave school, a local newspaper said Wednesday.
Bbaale County MP Sulaiman Madada said any girl in his district who wanted to take part in the scheme aimed at promoting girls' education would be given a gynecological examination by health workers to check they were virgins.
Full Story @Excite News
**I guess this is one way to try to cut down on the spread of diseases even though there are flaws with it from the start. However, I wonder how many girls from Kayunga will actually get to go to the university. Better yet, I wonder how many poor girls have been forced to give up their innocence already.***
July 26, 2005
Feds Warn Of Suspicious Activity At Hospitals
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued a special bulletin that warns of an increase in suspicious activity at hospitals.
DHS warns that impostors entering hospitals may be terrorists, and "U.S. hospitals offer easy public access and would be recognized by terrorist planners as easy, accessible targets. Known targeting of such facilities would instill great panic and fear in the general public."
The DHS bulletin outlines these incidents:
* In October 2004, two hospitals in the Phoenix metropolitan area reported suspicious activity, including photography, requests of building layout, inquiries regarding the location of the pharmacy, and computer fraud.
* Three men inquired as to the location of the pharmacy at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. These men previously had visited hospitals in Texas and Indiana. All three hospitals are distribution points for the antidote medicines for biological attacks.
* On Feb. 7, 2005, at approximately 10 a.m., two individuals who identified themselves as special agents representing the Department of Defense and the CIA entered the emergency department at Middletown Regional Hospital, NY. The subjects requested to see the charge nurse and presented identification badges. They asked the nurse a series of questions concerning capacity for cardiac care, trauma care, heliport, and private rooms. As the hospital staff's suspicion of the subjects increased, they left the building. The hospital staff did collect a business card from one of the subjects, and it appeared to be fraudulent.
Full Story @ RNweb
July 14, 2005
Ebbers weeps as sentence handed down
Bernie Ebbers wept in court as he was told he faced 25 years in chokey for orchestrating the world's biggest securities fraud at WorldCom.
The man behind the $11bn (£5.8bn) con that helped make WorldCom "become synonymous with fraud" was visibly shaken when the sentence was handed down yesterday, according to those in court.
For Ebbers, 63, the jail term means he could spend the rest of his life behind bars, reports the BBC.
He is due to start his prison sentence on October 12 at a federal jail in Yazoo City, Mississippi, which is near his home.
Handing down the sentence Judge Barbara Jones told the court: "A sentence of anything less would not reflect the seriousness of the crime."
In March, Bernard J Ebbers, the former chief exec of WorldCom (now renamed MCI), was found guilty of orchestrating the $11bn (£5.8bn) accounting fraud that led to the collapse of the US telecoms giant, the loss of 20,000 jobs and wiped out more than $100bn in stock value.
Full Story @ The Register
July 10, 2005
Set Phasers to Stun
ARLINGTON, Va. - For years, the U.S. military has explored a new kind of firepower that is instantaneous, precise and virtually inexhaustible: beams of electromagnetic energy. "Directed-energy" pulses can be throttled up or down depending on the situation, much like the phasers on "Star Trek" could be set to kill or merely stun.
Such weapons are now nearing fruition. But logistical issues have delayed their battlefield debut - even as soldiers in Iraq encounter tense urban situations in which the nonlethal capabilities of directed energy could be put to the test.
"It's a great technology with enormous potential, but I think the environment's not strong for it," said James Jay Carafano, a senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation who blames the military and Congress for not spending enough on getting directed energy to the front. "The tragedy is that I think it's exactly the right time for this."
Full Story @ Miami Herald
July 07, 2005
London rocked by terror attacks
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was "reasonably clear" there had been a series of terrorist attacks.
He said it was "particularly barbaric" that it was timed to coincide with the G8 summit. He is returning to London.
An Islamist website has posted a statement - purportedly from al-Qaeda - claiming it was behind the attacks.
Full Story @ BBC NEWS | UK
Our prayers and thoughts with our brothers and sisters in London this tragic morning.
July 01, 2005
Elite military unit missing Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. forces desperately scoured rugged Afghan mountains Friday for an elite American military team missing after fierce fighting that included the shooting down of an Army Special Forces helicopter with 16 soldiers aboard earlier this week, U.S. officials said.
A purported Taliban spokesman claimed to have captured one of the soldiers.
The developments further worsen the already stinging blow the U.S. military suffered from the deaths of the 16 on the MH-47 Chinook chopper, and comes as it scrambles to deal with an insurgency that threatens three years of progress toward peace.
Full Story @ MSNBC.com
Keep praying for our valiant and courageous military.
PBS B.S.
The House of Representatives restored the proposed budget cuts that PBS’ defenders claimed would “destroy” it. So PBS has been saved. Who can contain their excitement?
Of course, the debate over PBS was enormously silly, but let’s leave up the party streamers anyway.
Now, I must disclose a bit here. I worked in the backalleys of PBS for about a half-dozen years. I produced a weekly television show and several documentaries, and I was involved on the business side of things quite a bit. I’ve attended annual meetings and conferences. In short, I know a little bit about public television.
And … it’s liberal. It just is. To say it isn’t is just plain batty. The shows we associate most with PBS are run by liberals — some of them great journalists and some of them miserable partisan hacks — and they tend to tackle questions from a liberal perspective. The people who run PBS are liberals. The decision-makers are liberals, and — contrary to funhouse logic of PBS’s left-wing critics — the fact that these executives sometimes opt to put conservatives on the air doesn’t change that fact. It might mean, as some leftist critics claim, that PBS execs don’t have the courage of their convictions. Or it might just mean that they’re trying to make the network more balanced and respond to a perceived need.
Full Story @ National Review Online
Thais catch 646-pound catfish in Mekong
BANGKOK, Thailand — This big one did not get away. Thai fishermen netted a 646-pound catfish believed to have been the world's largest freshwater fish ever caught in Thailand, a researcher said Thursday.
The nearly 9-foot-long Mekong giant catfish was landed May 1 by villagers in Chiang Khong, a remote district in northern Thailand, and weighed by Thai fisheries department officials, said Zeb Hogan, who leads an international project to locate and study the world's largest freshwater fish species.
Full Story & Picture @ ESPN Outdoors
Wow! (that is not what I really said but sums it up)
June 25, 2005
Atlanta City Council Accused Of Bigotry
ATLANTA - A proposed ordinance to bar panhandlers from accosting people in Atlanta's tourist section has run headlong into the politics of race in this city of the New South that likes to portray itself as having moved beyond black and white.
Hoping to boost convention business and tidy up downtown, the City Council is considering a measure to prevent visitors from being hit up for money by homeless people around Olympic Centennial park, CNN Center and some of the South's finest restaurants.
Read the story at Yahoo!/AP
June 23, 2005
Dick's Non-Apologizing Apology *sick*
Dick goes to the floor the United States Senate with a scripted speech and says our troops are essentially Nazi's and that Guantanamo Bay is along the lines of the German Ovens that killed Millions of Jews.... oh.. how about you resign and profusely apologize to every Jew, American and each and every one of our fine men and women in the military, Dick.
Here is the planned, calculated and spoken words of Dick.
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what
Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have
been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no
concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the
treatment of their prisoners."
Huh??
He is describing the horrible, in-human conditions like, "the temperature unbearably hot", "extremely loud rap music was being played", "the temperature was so cold in the room" and "The detainee was almost unconscious on the
floor, with a pile of hair next to him".
*blink*
Dick, you are either the most brain dead person in Washington or someone looking to get the liberal base set on fire to fatten your wallet for the coming mid-term elections.
My guess since you ARE a senator you have some brains and therefore this was PURE POLITICS and you could give a rats ass about the poor terrorists in Guantanamo.
Mind you there are only three types of prisoners there, let me enlighten you.
1. People killing, shooting or attempting to kill American troops.
2. People transporting and/or physically assisting those in number one.
3. People behind the folks in one and two supporting them by moving money and/or raising money.
Full Text @ Chicago Tribune news
For those who don't know what Dick said here it is.
Mr. President, there has been a lot of discussion in recent days about whether to close the
detention center at Guantanamo Bay. This debate misses the point. It is not a question of
whether detainees are held at Guantanamo Bay or some other location. The question is how we
should treat those who have been detained there. Whether we treat them according to the law or
not does not depend on their address. It depends on our policy as a nation.
How should we treat them? This is not a new question. We are not writing on a blank
slate. We have entered into treaties over the years, saying this is how we will treat wartime
detainees. The United States has ratified these treaties. They are the law of the land as much as
any statute we passed. They have served our country well in past wars. We have held ourselves
to be a civilized country, willing to play by the rules, even in time of war.
Unfortunately, without even consulting Congress, the Bush administration unilaterally
decided to set aside these treaties and create their own rules about the treatment of prisoners.
Frankly, this Congress has failed to hold the administration accountable for its failure to
follow the law of the land when it comes to the torture and mistreatment of prisoners and
detainees.
I am a member of the Judiciary Committee. For two years, I have asked for hearings on
this issue. I am glad Chairman Specter will hold a hearing on wartime detention policies
tomorrow. I thank him for taking this step. I wish other members of his party would be willing
to hold this administration accountable as well.
It is worth reflecting for a moment about how we have reached this point. Many people
who read history remember, as World War II began with the attack on Pearl Harbor, a country in
fear after being attacked decided one way to protect America was to gather together Japanese
Americans and literally imprison them, put them in internment camps for fear they would be
traitors and turn on the United States. We did that. Thousands of lives were changed.
Thousands of businesses destroyed. Thousands of people, good American citizens, who
happened to be of Japanese ancestry, were treated like common criminals.
It took almost 40 years for us to acknowledge that we were wrong, to admit that these
people should never have been imprisoned. It was a shameful period in American history and
one that very few, if any, try to defend today.
I believe the torture techniques that have been used at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo and
other places fall into that same category. I am confident, sadly confident, as I stand here, that
decades from now people will look back and say: What were they thinking? America, this great,
kind leader of a nation, treated people who were detained and imprisoned, interrogated people in
the crudest way? I am afraid this is going to be one of the bitter legacies of the invasion of Iraq.
We were attacked on September 11, 2001. We were clearly at war.
We have held prisoners in every armed conflict in which we have engaged. The law was
clear, but some of the President's top advisers questioned whether we should follow it or whether
we should write new standards.
Alberto Gonzales, then-White House chief counsel, recommended to the President the
Geneva Convention should not apply to the war on terrorism.
Colin Powell, who was then Secretary of State, objected strenuously to Alberto Gonzales'
conclusions. I give him credit. Colin Powell argued that we could effectively fight the war on
terrorism and still follow the law, still comply with the Geneva Conventions. In a memo to
Alberto Gonzales, Secretary Powell pointed out the Geneva Conventions would not limit our
ability to question the detainees or hold them even indefinitely. He pointed out that under
Geneva Conventions, members of al-Qaida and other terrorists would not be considered
prisoners of war.
There is a lot of confusion about that so let me repeat it. The Geneva Conventions do not
give POW status to terrorists.
In his memo to Gonzales, Secretary Powell went on to say setting aside the Geneva
Conventions “will reverse over a century of U.S. policy and practice... and undermine the
protections of the law of war for our own troops... It will undermine public support among
critical allies, making military cooperation more difficult to sustain.”
When you look at the negative publicity about Guantanamo, Secretary Colin Powell was
prophetic.
Unfortunately, the President rejected Secretary Powell's wise counsel, and instead
accepted Alberto Gonzales' recommendation, issuing a memo setting aside the Geneva
Conventions and concluding that we needed “new thinking in the law of war.”
After the President decided to ignore Geneva Conventions, the administration unilaterally
created a new detention policy. They claim the right to seize anyone, including even American
citizens, anywhere in the world, including in the United States, and hold them until the end of the
war on terrorism, whenever that may be.
For example, they have even argued in court they have the right to indefinitely detain an
elderly lady from Switzerland who writes checks to what she thinks is a charity that helps
orphans but actually is a front that finances terrorism.
They claim a person detained in the war on terrorism has no legal rights -- no right to a
lawyer, no right to see the evidence against them, no right to challenge their detention. In fact, the
Government has claimed detainees have no right to challenge their detention, even if they claim
they were being tortured or executed.
This violates the Geneva Conventions, which protect everyone captured during wartime.
The official commentary on the convention states: “Nobody in enemy hands can fall outside the
law.”
That is clear as it can be. But it was clearly rejected by the Bush administration when
Alberto Gonzales as White House counsel recommended otherwise.
U.S. military lawyers called this detention system “a legal black hole.” The Red Cross
concluded, “U.S. authorities have placed the internees in Guantanamo beyond the law.”
Using their new detention policy, the administration has detained thousands of individuals
in secret detention centers all around the world, some of them unknown to Members of Congress.
While it is the most well-known, Guantanamo Bay is only one of them. Most have been captured
in Afghanistan and Iraq, but some people who never raised arms against us have been taken
prisoner far from the battlefield.
Who are the Guantanamo detainees? Back in 2002, Secretary Rumsfeld described them as
“the hardest of the hard core.” However, the administration has since released many of them, and
it has now become clear that Secretary Rumsfeld's assertion was not completely true.
Military sources, according to the media, indicate that many detainees have no connection
to al-Qaida or the Taliban and were sent to Guantanamo over the objections of intelligence
personnel who recommended their release. One military officer said: “We're basically
condemning these guys to a long-term imprisonment. If they weren't terrorists before, they
certainly could be now.”
Last year, in two landmark decisions, the Supreme Court rejected the administration's
detention policy. The Court held that the detainees' claims that they were detained for over two
years without charge and without access to counsel “unquestionably describe custody in violation
of the Constitution, or laws or treaties of the United States.”
The Court also held that an American citizen held as an enemy combatant must be told the
basis for his detention and have a fair opportunity to challenge the Government's claims. Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor wrote for the majority: “A state of war is not a blank check for the
President when it comes to the rights of the Nation's citizens.”
You would think that would be obvious, wouldn't you? But yet, this administration, in this
war, has viewed it much differently.
I had hoped the Supreme Court decision would change the administration policy.
Unfortunately, the administration has resisted complying with the Supreme Court's decision.
The administration acknowledges detainees can challenge their detention in court, but it
still claims that once they get to court, they have no legal rights. In other words, the
administration believes a detainee can get to the courthouse door but cannot come inside.
A Federal court has already held the administration has failed to comply with the Supreme
Court's rulings. The court concluded that the detainees do have legal rights, and the
administration's policies “deprive the detainees of sufficient notice of the factual bases for their
detention and deny them a fair opportunity to challenge their incarceration.”
The administration also established a new interrogation policy that allows cruel and
inhuman interrogation techniques.
Remember what Secretary of State Colin Powell said? It is not a matter of following the
law because we said we would, it is a matter of how our troops will be treated in the future. That
is something often overlooked here. If we want standards of civilized conduct to be applied to
Americans captured in a warlike situation, we have to extend the same manner and type of
treatment to those whom we detain, our prisoners.
Secretary Rumsfeld approved numerous abusive interrogation tactics against prisoners in
Guantanamo. The Red Cross concluded that the use of those methods was "a form of torture."
The United States, which each year issues a human rights report, holding the world
accountable for outrageous conduct, is engaged in the same outrageous conduct when it comes to
these prisoners.
Numerous FBI agents who observed interrogations at Guantanamo Bay complained to
their supervisors. In one e-mail that has been made public, an FBI agent complained that
interrogators were using “torture techniques.”
That phrase did not come from a reporter or politician. It came from an FBI agent
describing what Americans were doing to these prisoners.
With no input from Congress, the administration set aside our treaty obligations and
secretly created new rules for detention and interrogation. They claim the courts have no right to
review these rules. But under our Constitution, it is Congress's job to make the laws, and the
court's job to judge whether they are constitutional.
This administration wants all the power: legislator, executive, and judge. Our founding
father were warned us about the dangers of the Executive Branch violating the separation of
powers during wartime. James Madison wrote: “The accumulation of all powers, legislative,
executive, and judiciary, in the same hands may justly be pronounced the very definition of
tyranny.”
Other Presidents have overreached during times of war, claiming legislative powers, but
the courts have reined them back in. During the Korean war, President Truman, faced with a steel
strike, issued an Executive order to seize and operate the Nation's steel mills. The Supreme Court
found that the seizure was an unconstitutional infringement on the Congress’s lawmaking power.
Justice Hugo Black, writing for the majority, said: “The Constitution is neither silent nor
equivocal about who shall make the laws which the President is to execute ... The Founders of this
Nation entrusted the lawmaking power to the Congress alone in both good times and bad.”
To win the war on terrorism, we must remain true to the principles upon which our
country was founded. This Administration’s detention and interrogation policies are placing our
troops at risk and making it harder to combat terrorism.
Former Congressman Pete Peterson of Florida, a man I call a good friend and a man I
served with in the House of Representatives, is a unique individual. He is one of the most
cheerful people you would ever want to meet. You would never know, when you meet him, he
was an Air Force pilot taken prisoner of war in Vietnam and spent 6 1/2 years in a Vietnamese
prison. Here is what he said about this issue in a letter that he sent to me. Pete Peterson wrote:
From my 6 1/2 years of captivity in Vietnam, I know what life in a foreign prison is like.
To a large degree, I credit the Geneva Conventions for my survival....This is one reason
the United States has led the world in upholding treaties governing the status and care of
enemy prisoners: because these standards also protect us....We need absolute clarity that
America will continue to set the gold standard in the treatment of prisoners in wartime.
Abusive detention and interrogation policies make it much more difficult to win the
support of people around the world, particularly those in the Muslim world. The war on terrorism
is not a popularity contest, but anti-American sentiment breeds sympathy for anti-American
terrorist organizations and makes it far easier for them to recruit young terrorists.
Polls show that Muslims have positive attitudes toward the American people and our
values. However, overall, favorable ratings toward the United States and its Government are very
low. This is driven largely by the negative attitudes toward the policies of this administration.
Muslims respect our values, but we must convince them that our actions reflect these
values. That’s why the 9/11 Commission recommended: “We should offer an example of moral
leadership in the world, committed to treat people humanely, abide by the rule of law, and be
generous and caring to our neighbors.”
What should we do? Imagine if the President had followed Colin Powell's advice and
respected our treaty obligations. How would things have been different?
We still would have the ability to hold detainees and to interrogate them aggressively.
Members of al-Qaida would not be prisoners of war. We would be able to do everything we need
to do to keep our country safe. The difference is, we would not have damaged our reputation in
the international community in the process.
When you read some of the graphic descriptions of what has occurred here -- I almost
hesitate to put them in the record, and yet they have to be added to this debate. Let me read to you
what one FBI agent saw. And I quote from his report:
On a couple of occasions, I entered interview rooms to find a detainee chained hand and
foot in a fetal position to the floor, with no chair, food or water. Most times they urinated
or defecated on themselves, and had been left there for 18-24 hours or more. On one
occasion, the air conditioning had been turned down so far and the temperature was so
cold in the room, that the barefooted detainee was shaking with cold....On another
occasion, the [air conditioner] had been turned off, making the temperature in the
unventilated room well over 100 degrees. The detainee was almost unconscious on the
floor, with a pile of hair next to him. He had apparently been literally pulling his hair out
throughout the night. On another occasion, not only was the temperature unbearably hot,
but extremely loud rap music was being played in the room, and had been since the day
before, with the detainee chained hand and foot in the fetal position on the tile floor.
If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what
Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have
been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no
concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the
treatment of their prisoners.
It is not too late. I hope we will learn from history. I hope we will change course.
The President could declare the United States will apply the Geneva Conventions to the
war on terrorism. He could declare, as he should, that the United States will not, under any
circumstances, subject any detainee to torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The
administration could give all detainees a meaningful opportunity to challenge their detention
before a neutral decisionmaker.
Such a change of course would dramatically improve our image and it would make us
safer. I hope this administration will choose that course. If they do not, Congress must step in.
The issue debated in the press today misses the point. The issue is not about closing
Guantanamo Bay. It is not a question of the address of these prisoners. It is a question of how we
treat these prisoners. To close down Guantanamo and ship these prisoners off to undisclosed
locations in other countries, beyond the reach of publicity, beyond the reach of any surveillance, is
to give up on the most basic and fundamental commitment to justice and fairness, a commitment
we made when we signed the Geneva Convention and said the United States accepts it as the law
of the land, a commitment which we have made over and over again when it comes to the issue of
torture. To criticize the rest of the world for using torture and to turn a blind eye to what we are
doing in this war is wrong, and it is not American.
During the Civil War, President Lincoln, one of our greatest presidents, suspended habeas
corpus, which gives prisoners the right to challenge their detention. The Supreme Court stood up
to the President and said prisoners have the right to judicial review even during war.
Let me read what that Court said:
The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and in
peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, and
under all circumstances. No doctrine, involving more pernicious consequences, was ever
invented by the wit of man than that any of its provisions could be suspended during any
of the great exigencies of government. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy or
despotism.
Mr. President, those words still ring true today. The Constitution is a law for this
administration, equally in war and in peace. If the Constitution could withstand the Civil War,
when our nation was literally divided against itself, surely it will withstand the war on terrorism.
I yield the floor.
June 22, 2005
U.S. Trained Mexican Commandos on U.S. Killing Spree
The feds have been alerted through a memo to law enforcement throughout the southwest, telling them that Mexican commandos are now working for drug cartels.
You'll be shocked to learn where the commandos were trained.
The memo from the Justice Department warns that Mexican commandos were trained by U.S. forces, but switched sides. They are now using their deadly skills to work for the drug cartels.
They were elite forces trained by the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, \Georgia to battle against the powerful drug cartels.
They're known as "los zetas," but a memo from the Justice Department to police agencies in the southwest warns that some of those commandos changed sides and are now working with drug smugglers.
Sheriff Tony Estrada says, "Things like that are a concern to us, especially trained here on the U.S. side. They've gotten pretty special training in reguards to areas they were supposed to specialize. Now, they are working with drug traffickers on the Mexican side."
Using the commando training, Los Zetas are known to be extremely violent and have been blamed for an outbreak of violence along the Mexican border.
Full Story @ KVOA
June 21, 2005
Teens give adults mediocre grades, survey finds
WASHINGTON - School is out across much of the country, and so is the seventh annual Uhlich Report Card, a survey that gives teenagers a chance to grade adults on how well they're solving problems teens and the rest of the nation face.
They didn't give adults a report card that most kids would be proud to take home, however. Adults' overall grade came out to a C; they scored 10 B's, 13 C's, one D and no A's when their grades in 24 categories were averaged.
**I just thought this was an interresting article. Out of the mouth of babes.**
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
June 20, 2005
Schiavo Was Beyond Saving, Autopsy Finds
MIAMI — During
Terri Schiavo's final days, when her fervent supporters said she was alert, responsive and trying to speak, she was massively and irreversibly brain-damaged, blind and oblivious to what surrounded her, a medical examiner's findings revealed Wednesday.
Schiavo died March 31 at a Pinellas Park, Fla., hospice after the plastic tube through which she had received food and water for 15 years was removed by a Florida judge's order, sought by her husband, who contended that she was in a persistent vegetative state.
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
June 19, 2005
Oil shale activity may lag in Wyo
LANDER -- The Rocky Mountain West has up to 1 trillion barrels of oil bound in 1,000-foot-thick oil shale formations in northwestern Colorado, southwestern Wyoming and eastern Utah.
Don't expect much development of this resource any time soon in the Cowboy State.
"The quality of the oil shale deposits in Wyoming just isn't as good as those in Colorado," said Cindy Wertz, spokeswoman for the Wyoming office of the Bureau of Land Management.
Full Story @ casperstartribune.net
June 18, 2005
NIMBY is no solution for child molesters
For sex offenders who prey on children, out of sight isn't out of mind. That is just one reason the "pedophile-free zones" that the Hamilton Township Council created on Tuesday night won't work.
Though the goal is admirable, forbidding convicted pedophiles from living within 2,500 feet of schools, parks and playgrounds is largely a symbolic gesture.
The vast majority of sex crimes against children are committed not by strangers lurking in the bushes but by people those children know and trust - in other words, by people literally in the children's back yards.
Full Story @ North Jersey Media Group
June 17, 2005
Security Breach Could Expose 40M to Fraud
NEW YORK (AP) - A security breach of customer information at a credit card transaction company could expose to fraud up to 40 million cardholders of multiple brands, MasterCard International Inc. said Friday.
The credit card giant said its security division detected multiple instances of fraud that tracked back to CardSystems Solutions Inc., which processes credit card and other payments for banks and merchants.
The compromised data included names, banks and account numbers - not addresses or Social Security numbers, said MasterCard spokeswoman Sharon Gamsin. Such data could be used to steal funds but not identities.
It was the latest in a series of security breaches affecting valuable consumer data at major financial institutions and data brokers in an increasingly database-driven world.
The breach appears to be the largest yet involving financial data, said David Sobel, general counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
"The steady stream of these disclosures shows the pressing need for regulation of the industry both in terms of limitation in the amount of personal information that companies collect and also liability when these kinds of disclosures occur," Sobel said.
Full Story @ Excite News
June 09, 2005
Dean: The mouth that won't stop roaring
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, unapologetic in the face of recent criticism that he has been too tough on his political opposition, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans "all behave the same, and they all look the same. ... It's pretty much a white Christian party."
Full Story @ SFGate
"We're more welcoming to different folks, because that's the kind of people we are,'' Dean said Monday, responding to a question about diversity during a forum with minority leaders and journalists. "But that's not enough. We do have to deliver on things: jobs and housing and business opportunities and college opportunities.''
Dean's remarks are an example of why the former Vermont governor, who remains popular with the party's grass roots, has been a lightning rod for criticism since being elected to head the Democratic National Committee in February. His comments last week that Republicans "never made an honest living in their lives," which he later clarified to say Republican "leaders," were disavowed by such leading Democrats as Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
June 06, 2005
Supreme Court Rules In Medical Marajauna Case
WASHINGTON - People who smoke marijuana because their doctors recommend it to ease pain can be prosecuted for violating federal drug laws, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, overriding medical marijuana statutes in 10 states.
ADVERTISEMENT
The court's 6-3 decision was filled with sympathy for two seriously ill California women who brought the case, but the majority agreed that federal agents may arrest even sick people who use the drug as well as the people who grow pot for them.
Read the story at Yahoo! News/AP
June 02, 2005
UN Thinks Stopping AIDS Is Unrealistic.
I'm not going to reprint any of the article. I let you all read it, but essentially the UN's AIDS chief said that the goal of halting the worldwide AIDS spread by 2015 is not a realistic goal. He later said it was however possible. How he reconciles the 2 statements, I'll never know.
This is a particularly sore spot with me. Let me be the first to say the following:
It is very much realistic to stop the spread by 2006 and this lack of faith in humanity is both sickening and further reasoning for the abolishment of the UN.
The problem of AIDS is a lack of education. Most people know little to nothing about the disease. This problem is only compounded in Africa where civil wars have ravaged many nations preventing any sort of education about things as simple as disease.
We can not prevent idiots from continueing to put themselves at risk. But we can educate people as to how to prevent the disease.
May 30, 2005
A time to remember the sacrifice
May God richly bless you all and keep you safe.
And for our hard charging devil dog Skywalker, Semper Fi!
Also a salute to my online bud Joe who's somewhere under the ocean making sure his boat pings like non other.
Mrs. Muddy's cousin who is making sure N.A.S.A. looks good in pictures.
May 29, 2005
France says "Poo Poo on you EU"
French Voters Soundly Reject European Union Constitution
PARIS, May 29 - Turning its back on half a century of European history, France decisively rejected a constitution for Europe on Sunday, plunging the country into political disarray and jeopardizing the cause of European unity.
The victory for the no vote - 55 percent to 45 percent - came in a nationwide referendum on the European Union constitution after a bruising campaign that divided France and alarmed Europe.
Foreshadowed in recent polls, the no vote could doom the 448-article treaty because all 25 members of the European Union must ratify it before it can take effect.
Full Story @ New York Times
It's funny how france seemed so "one world government" yet wants to remain independent.
May 26, 2005
CIA Overseeing 3-Day War Game on Internet
WASHINGTON - The CIA is conducting a war game this week to simulate an unprecedented, Sept. 11-like electronic assault against the United States. The three-day exercise, known as "Silent Horizon," is meant to test the ability of government and industry to respond to escalating Internet disruptions over many months, according to participants.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because the CIA asked them not to disclose details of the sensitive exercise taking place in Charlottesville, Va., about two hours southwest of Washington.
The simulated attacks were carried out five years in the future by a fictional new alliance of anti-American organizations that included anti-globalization hackers. The most serious damage was expected to be inflicted in the closing hours of the war game Thursday.
Full Story @ My Way News
I wish the network companies would be involved in this, since it's their networks this kind of thing would happen on. They can deal with it faster an better than the CIA could.
May 23, 2005
New XBOX 360 powerd by Apple?
Microsucks new highly touted Xbox 360 was so good that they decided to use Apple G5's for the display kiosks.
Hrmmm..
As Bennyhill pointed out they did not even bother using a WINDOWS based pc for the demo but Apple!
What does that say about their product? They can't even use something windows based to run their demo on? This makes one wonder what the heck is powering their Xbox!?! Linux???
Bwaahahahahaha.
Losers.
Click the below link for all the pics.
Full Story @ AnandTech
May 18, 2005
Danger Will Robinson, Danger!
GOP Aides Say New Patriot Act Obliges Bush
WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee is working on a bill that would renew the Patriot Act and expand government powers in the name of fighting terrorism, letting the
FBI subpoena records without permission from a judge or grand jury.
Much of the debate in Congress has concerned possibly limiting some of the powers in the anti-terrorism law passed 45 days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
But the measure being written by Sen. Pat Roberts (news, bio, voting record), R-Kan., would give the FBI new power to issue administrative subpoenas, which are not reviewed by a judge or grand jury, for quickly obtaining records, electronic data or other evidence in terrorism investigations, according to aides for the GOP majority on the committee who briefed reporters Wednesday.
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
America, sits as he slowly ever so gently slips the chains around her feet, her arms and her neck.
Hey fat lazy America let us all sit in front of the TV while our "elected" government strips away our freedoms bit by bit.
What sickens me even more is the so called liberals will cry and scream over us freeing an enslaved people yet won't lift a finger when their own freedom gets whacked. Sick.
May 17, 2005
Trump calls Freedom Tower 'disgusting' and a 'pile of junk'
"I'd rather have nothing than what they're building," says the real estate mogul in a Hardball interview
In an interview scheduled to air on "Hardball with Chris Matthews" Thursday, Donald Trump tells Chris Matthews that the proposed Freedom Tower was designed by "an egghead architect" who "really doesn't have a lot of experience designing something like this."
Following is a transcript of interview.
CHRIS MATTHEWS, 'HARDBALL' HOST: Donald Trump, thank you for joining us in amidst of this controversy over the World Trade Towers.
Speaking into now the counter, every time I fly over Manhattan I see basically an amputated Battery area. The bottom of the island looks amputated. I see the missing towers. Is that a better monument than the Freedom Towers, just not having anything? Or would you rather have the World Trade Towers back?
DONALD TRUMP: I'd rather have nothing than what they're building, Chris. It's a terrible design. It was designed by an egghead architect who really doesn't have a lot of experience of designing something like this. And it's just a terrible design.
May 16, 2005
New Survey Finds Huge Gap Between Press and Public on Many Issues
NEW YORK A new survey to be released Monday reveals a wide gap on many media issues between a group of journalists and the general public. In one finding, 43% of the public say they believe the press has too much freedom, while only 3% of journalists agree. Just 14% of the public can name “freedom of the press” as a guarantee in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in the major poll conducted by the University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy.
Six in ten among the public feel the media show bias in reporting the news, and 22% say the government should be allowed to censor the press. More than 7 in 10 journalists believe the media does a good or excellent job on accuracy--but only 4 in 10 among the public feel that way. And a solid 53% of the public think stories with unnamed sources should not be published at all.
Full Story @Editor & Publisher
I do not think this will shock anyone, except the media. ;-)
May 11, 2005
Linux taking over the world! (sorta)
Customer Survey Shows 75% of Computer Shoppers Interested in Linux-Based Operating Systems
SAN DIEGO and HILLIARD, Ohio, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Linspire, Inc. and Micro Center today announced that the two companies have formed a broad-based partnership to meet the rising demand for desktop Linux among mainstream computer users. Beginning today, all 20 Micro Center stores nationwide will sell Linspire's Linux-based operating system in both the boxed version and pre-installed on desktop and laptop personal computers.
The partnership follows recent market research reports that predict revenues from desktop Linux PCs will grow to $10 billion by 2008. In addition, internal surveys by Micro Center reveal that more than 75 percent of its customers have an interest in running a Linux-based operating system.
Full Story @ Yahoo! Finance
April 13, 2005
Druggists refuse to give out pill
For a year, Julee Lacey stopped in a CVS pharmacy near her home in a Fort Worth suburb to get refills of her birth-control pills. Then one day last March, the pharmacist refused to fill Lacey's prescription because she did not believe in birth control.
"I was shocked," says Lacey, 33, who was not able to get her prescription until the next day and missed taking one of her pills. "Their job is not to regulate what people take or do. It's just to fill the prescription that was ordered by my physician."
USATODAY.com - Druggists refuse to give out pill
***Personally, I can understand and excuse a pharmacist if they have certain moral issues when it comes to filling certain prescriptions. However, it *is* their obligation to refer/transfer the prescription to another pharmacist or pharmacy so the patient can get the proper medication they've been prescribed. As for those pharmacists who refuse to even *return* the prescriptions to the patient - they display a conduct that not only disgraces their professional conduct but violates a moral code of ethics.***
April 10, 2005
New, cheap battery outshines alkalines
Panasonic will introduce AA and AAA disposable batteries in June that the company calls the "most significant developments in primary battery technology in 40 years."
According to Panasonic, these Oxyride batteries last up to twice as long as premium alkaline batteries like Duracell Ultra ($5 for four), yet cost the same as regular alkalines ($4 for four).
Astounded yet? Then get this: Oxyride batteries are also supposed to deliver more power. The result, the company says, is that battery-operated toothbrushes spin faster, flashlights shine brighter, camera flashes are quicker to recharge and music players produce richer sound.
Full Story @ CNET News.com
It's about time, *sigh* My kids toys will make those annoying noises longer and louder now,... yea.
April 07, 2005
Shuttle Discovery Moves Toward Florida Launch Pad
MIAMI (Reuters) - The space shuttle Discovery began its crawl to a launch pad on Wednesday, after a crack in insulating foam briefly delayed the significant step in NASA's two-year quest to return the shuttle fleet to flight.
The roll-out, taking place at barely 1 mile per hour and expected to last six hours, was delayed by more than an hour after a technician spotted a hairline crack in the foam on the shuttle's external fuel tank.
Falling foam ripped a hole in Shuttle Columbia's wing in 2003, condemning its seven-man crew to death when the spacecraft disintegrated on re-entry, in the second fatal disaster to hit the shuttle program.
NASA consulted experts from the tank-manufacturing facility in New Orleans to determine if repairs were needed to Discovery, then continued the shuttle's transfer on its giant platform to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Full Story @ Reuters.com
uh.. your foam is cracked so you call the manufacturer and they say "eh! fughgetaboutit.." and you do.
Sounds like NASA has NOT learned it's lesson to me.
April 06, 2005
Crew Spank Galaxy 3 Nil
Edson Buddle and Ante Razov teamed up to make quick work of the L.A. Galaxy. Watching the game now (yea I know it's a few days late) and it's good to see the Crew get aggressive.
It was not a good night for soccer the field looked a bit slow and the high winds played havoc on the Galaxy it seemed.
I think the Galaxy need to work on conditioning myself, they looked quite winded in the second half, and sloppy shooting to boot.
on a side note ..
Since my B-Day is coming up soon it would be kewl if someone would hook me up with the Crew's home kit. Buy Muddy the Crew kit here
March 26, 2005
Many Germans Want Berlin Wall Back, Study Finds
BERLIN (Reuters) - Nearly a quarter of western Germans and 12 percent of easterners want the Berlin Wall back -- more than 15 years after the fall of the barrier that split Germany during the Cold War, according to a new survey.
The results of the poll, published Saturday, reflected die-hard animosities over high reunification costs lowering western standards of living and economic turmoil in the east.
Full Story @ My Way News
March 18, 2005
Dutchman in Iraq genocide charges
Prosecutors in the Netherlands have formally charged a Dutch businessman with complicity in genocide for selling chemicals to Iraq's former regime.
Frans van Anraat, 62, is accused of selling US and Japanese chemicals which were used to produce poison gas.
The gases are said to have been used to kill more than 5,000 in a 1988 attack on the Kurdish Iraqi town of Halabja.
Mr van Anraat earlier admitted selling chemicals but told Dutch TV he had not known what they would be used for.
The full trial of the businessman - the first Dutch national to be prosecuted for genocide - is not due to begin for several months.
Evidence being used by prosecutors includes information obtained from the former head of Iraq's chemical weapons programme, Ali Hassan al-Majid, otherwise known as Chemical Ali.
He has been charged in Iraq of masterminding the mustard gas attack on Halabja for which Saddam Hussein also faces charges.
Full Story @ BBC NEWS
How the American Press has missed this HUGE Story is amazing. If we'd quit spending so much freakin' time on Celebrity asshats and their crap we would be more aware of the important things happening in our world.
March 15, 2005
Yea France!
Dateline Now : It seems France has found a pair. Arresteing and convicting six slime balls who had plotted to blow up the U.S. embassy in Paris.
The very interesting part is the one who ratted on the others was tortured?, "But during the trial, Beghal retracted those statements, saying they had been made under torture.", this we know to be false.
As the outstanding world citizen France would NEVER use such a horrible thing as torture, this guy was obviously lying. ;-)
The 1-10 year sentences seems a little light imho but hey, they did something.. and for that I applaud them.
Full Story @ VOA News
March 04, 2005
Cows bear grudges: official
We at Vulture Central were growing increasingly concerned that funding bodies may have a taken the axe to the kind of cutting-edge research which proved that cows enjoy a bit of girl-on-girl, and that sheep like happy, smiley people and pine for absent friends.
We needn't have worried. A team at Bristol University has proved what bovine aficionados knew all along: that cows have a "complex mental life in which they bear grudges, nurture friendships and become excited by intellectual challenges", news.com.au reports.
What's more, cows are reportedly "capable of strong emotions such as pain, fear and even anxiety about the future" - as are pigs, goats and chickens. Accordingly, Christine Nicol, professor of animal welfare at Britain's Bristol University, warns that "even chickens might have to be treated as individuals with needs and problems". Yes indeed. Needs: chickenfeed. Problems: Chicken Tikka Masala. Enough said.
How, though, can the team demonstrate that cows bear grudges? According to the report, the cattle-worriers "have documented how cows within a herd form friendship groups of between two and four animals with whom they spend most of their time, often grooming and licking each other. They will also dislike other cows, and can bear grudges for months or years".
Full Story @ The Register
Seems funding of mindless research is not just a U.S. problem.
March 02, 2005
Movie 'pirate' dead in jail cell
p2pnet.net News:- Russell Sprague, the man who acquired more than 130 screeners of Hollywood features including "The Last Samurai" and "Mystic River" and then posted them on the p2p networks, was found dead in a Los Angeles prison cell.
He got the movies from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences member Carmine Caridi, 70, was recently ordered to pay Warner Bros $300,000 for providing Sprague with the copies.
Sprague, 52, was facing three years in jail after pleading guilty to one count of copyright infringement. He was to have been sentenced March 21.
Full Story @ p2pnet.net
Seems the MPAA and RIAA have far reaching power. If I didn't know better I would of said this guy had angered the mafia. Could it be the MPAA and RIAA are more like the mafia than we realize?
February 22, 2005
Artificial eyes by 2010, says EC
European scientists have joined the race to produce an artificial retina with research that could help restore the sight of thousands of people suffering from retinal disease.
Belgian Professor Claude Veraart says that a prototype device has been implanted in two patients so far, according to a Reuters report. He said that 15 teams of researchers are working on the problem, but that the Belgian trials had produced the best results so far. The Belgian team co-ordinates a pan-European research effort, involving scientists in France and Germany.
As with similar work in the United States, the prosthetic retina works by passing artificially stimulating the optic nerve, in line with signals from a tiny digital camera mounted on a pair of glasses.
Full Story @ The Register
Seems I may be able to cure my colorblindness one day after all :-)
Nokia dumps IE for Firefox: 55,000 times
REPORTS ON TWO Scandinavian web sites said that Nokia is pushing Microsoft Internet Explorer off its desktop PCs in favour of the Firefox browser.
Full Story @The Inquirer
Nokia dumps IE for Firefox: 55,000 times
February 21, 2005
Avidemux 2.0.38rc1 released
Avidemux 2.0.38rc1 was release yesterday. Looks like a good update, but I'll stick to 2.0.36 for the moment. I have also been working (for a good 30 minutes, haha) on an Avidemux desktop icon. I'll make it available once Mean gives the ok.
February 09, 2005
WorldCom chief 'made me inflate revenues'
SCOTT SULLIVAN, the former chief financial officer at WorldCom, the bankrupt US telecoms group, told a New York court yesterday that Bernie Ebbers, the group’s former chief executive, had put pressure on him to inflate revenues so that the group met Wall Street estimates.
In his second day on the witness stand, Mr Sullivan said: “The source of the pressure was Bernie and the source of the pressure was also the marketplace.”
Mr Sullivan described how his former boss denied his pleas to lower earnings projections as the company’s finances deteriorated in 2000. Mr Sullivan testified that as earnings reports came due “there was one thing that he said each time, ‘We have to hit our numbers’ ”.
Mr Sullivan told the court that, under pressure from his boss, he adjusted revenue figures, such as credits for overbilling, in order to match Wall Street analysts’ growth expectations.
Full Story @ Times Online
I can confirm the following from the article "Mr Sullivan described how his boss was obsessed with costs, accusing employees of stealing coffee. Mr Sullivan paraphrased his former boss: “There’s more coffee filters than coffee bags. That means employees are taking coffee home, and we need to cut out the service.”
We lost our coffee and were told that it was to cust expenses... then it came out that Ebbers thought we were stealing coffee. Nobody bothered to consider we used 2x packs of coffee for each pot because it was weak, poor quality coffee to begin with. :-/
February 07, 2005
U.S. Drops Criminal Inquiry of CIA Anti-Drug Incident
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors have dropped a three-year investigation into whether at least four CIA officers lied to lawmakers and agency superiors about a secret anti-drug operation in Peru that ended in 2001, a Justice Department spokesman said on Saturday.
"The Justice Department has declined a criminal prosecution," spokesman Bryan Sierra said in a statement.
The United States halted anti-drug surveillance flights that first began in 1994 after the fatal downing of a small missionary plane in Peru in April 2001.
How does the CIA gun down an American missionary and her baby and nobody is held accountable? I say Bush either steps up the plate and fires the asshats responsible for this (at the very least) or gives up and admits he is everything the liberals claim he is.
13 Year Old Gang Member: DRT
Feb 7, 2005 2:24 pm US/Pacific
LOS ANGELES (CBS) Authorities were investigating a Los Angeles police shooting that left an unarmed 13-year-old suspect dead early Sunday in South Los Angeles....
Read the story at KCAL 9
*Editors note* I wonder How many lives were saved because this kid was killed? Other articles mentioned he was a gang member, hence the reference to him as a gang member.
February 06, 2005
French demonstrate to keep 35-hour work week
PARIS (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of French people took part in demonstrations across the country to protest against government plans to reform the 35-hour work week.....
Read the story at Yahoo!
*Editor's Note* What whiny bitches.
February 03, 2005
MP3.com is Reborn
SAN DIEGO, February 2, 2005 - Michael Robertson, the founder and former CEO of MP3.com, will announce next week that he is starting a new digital music company called MP3tunes. The company will focus on music products and services with an emphasis on the MP3 format to maximize interoperability and consumer choice. Over the coming months, MP3tunes will make several new products available online including a hardware device, software products and an online music store. Robertson will officially announce the new company at the Desktop Summit, February 9-11 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego (www.desktopsummit.com).
"When I started MP3.com, the term 'MP3' was an obscure acronym recognizable only by geeks," Robertson said. "Back then, we had to battle for the legality of MP3 players. But because of those early efforts, consumers now have a spectacular array of portable players to choose from.
Visit MP3tunes.com
January 31, 2005
Terrorism Alert in France
TERRORISM ALERT IN FRANCE -- (AP, UPI) Yesterday, the French Government
announced that it has raised its terror alert level from RUN to HIDE.
The only two higher levels of their terror alert are SURRENDER and
COLLABORATE. The heightened alert was precipitated by the recent fire
which destroyed the French White Flag factory, effectively disabling their military.
(Thanks to nfkiller on fark.com for the above satire)
January 29, 2005
France Mad Cow.. or is it "Irritated Cow" Disease
Mad Cow Disease Detected In Goat For First Time
"If it's in a goat.. should it not be called mad goat disease?"
A goat in France that was slaughtered in 2002 had mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the European Union confirmed.
The positive test results were announced Friday by the EU more than two years after testing the remains of the French goat. Scientists initially believed the goat was infected with scrapie, a disease in the BSE family.
Consuming contaminated products from animals infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), has been scientificly linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans.
Full Story @ Healthtalk
January 19, 2005
U.N. funds terror
The former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations says the global body, through several of its agencies, is funding terrorist organizations.
Citing documents captured by Israeli Defense Force personnel, Ambassador Dore Gold says funds flowed from the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP, to two leading Hamas front organizations.
In a column slated to be published today in the Wall Street Journal, Gold said donations of between $4,000 and $10,000 went to the Tulkarm Charity Committee and the Jenin District Committee for Charitable Funds.
"Receipts and even copies of thank you notes to UNDP were discovered," he writes.
Full Story @ WorldNetDaily
January 10, 2005
Torture? Not if cheerleaders do it, lawyer claims
Muddy's Note: While many seem to think this was torture, it was not.
1 a : anguish of body or mind : AGONY b : something that causes agony or pain
2 : the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure
Now wearing panties on your head or lying naked in a pile is down right embarrassing, but not torture.
These are terrorists, not the good hard working people of Iraq we're talking about here. Would you object to this kind of "treatment" for lets say a gang of thugs who rapes and murders your family ??
I think not.
Oh on a side not this attorney is a complete dumb*** for thinking this argument will do anything but get him disbarred.
Forcing naked Iraqi prisoners to pile themselves in human pyramids was not torture, because American cheerleaders do it every year, a court was told today.
A lawyer defending Specialist Charles Graner, who is accused of being a ringleader in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal, argued that piling naked prisoners in pyramids was a valid form of prisoner control.
"Don’t cheerleaders all over America form pyramids six to eight times a year. Is that torture?" said Guy Womack, Sergeant Graner’s lawyer, in opening arguments to the ten-member military jury at the reservist’s court martial.
Full Story @Times Online - World
January 06, 2005
America's Charity
This is a nice article for certain people who like to cry about how we spend more of our GDP on our military than on foreign aid (every though in hard dollars we give more than any other country on earth.)
December 22, 2004
Teens sack Santa for sweets in southern France
It seems the U.S. is not the only thing France hates. :-P
ALES, France, Dec 21 (AFP) - A sweets-giving exercise by a Santa Claus in southern France turned sour when a group of greedy teenagers kicked him to the ground and beat him up for not handing over his sack of sweets, police said Tuesday.
The man, dressed up as Father Christmas to hand out the sweets to children in the centre of the town of Ales on the weekend, was set upon when he refused to give more confectionery to one of the youths.
The teenager and his friends, all aged around 15, kicked and pummeled the man until they were scared off by passers-by.
Officers said Father Christmas suffered multiple bruising and had lodged a criminal complaint.
Story @ Expatica
December 19, 2004
Sad story raises interesting question.
December 19, 2004
Johnnie Carl, 57, the conductor of the Crystal Cathedral Orchestra committed suicide Friday at the landmark glass and steel church after a nine-hour standoff that began just before congregants prepared for a Christmas pageant.
Carl reportedly had an argument with an employee Thursday evening. He then returned to his office, fired four shots and barricaded himself in a bathroom. Police attempted to talk to him, however, Carl shot himself to death.
According to authorities, Carl had grappled with depression and was hospitalized for depression weeks before taking his life. Carl's wife Linda said her husband stopped taking a drug that helped him control manic depression because he was concerned about the possibility it might harm his kidneys.
Three weeks ago Carl was admitted to the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center when his condition worsened. He was at the medical center for about 5 days. But his wife said she didn't think he was entirely stabilized.
Full Story @ Health Talk
Muddy's Notes: I was always taught growing up that if you kill yourself you will not go to heaven. Even if someone had accepted what Jesus did for them and asked God into their life. This article got me thinking. I can only assume that this man had asked Jesus into his life and was a believer. So in turn how could God refuse someone who was mentally unstable and committed suicide? I don't know the answer myself however human logic would suggest their salvation would remain intact. I did find some interesting reading on the subject of suicide that still did not give a clear yes/no answer however seemed to debunk the theory I was raised on. (this is not a go ahead to those of you out there who read this and are unstable to go ahead and kill yourself, just thought I'd clear that up now)
France Launches Spy Satellite, U.S. Prepares Star Wars Test
By Laurent Marot
KOUROU, French Guiana (Reuters) - A European Ariane rocket launched a military surveillance satellite on Saturday, the third in a French-led drive for a European "spy in the sky" independent of the United States.
The Ariane-5 rocket blasted off at 1:26 p.m. (1126 EST) from the European Space Agency (ESA) launch site in French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America.
An hour after lift-off, space officials said the Helios 2A satellite separated from the rocket. An additional six microsatellites were also released by the rocket
Full Story @ Reuters.com
December 12, 2004
Telemarketers Begin Mobile Assault
A plan by a powerful telecommunications group to make a directory of wireless phone numbers is riling many who fear that their cell phone numbers will become prey for telemarketers.
Even though it is illegal under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 for telemarketers to call mobile phones without permission, it is also illegal under the federal CAN SPAM Act of 2003 to send much of the junk mail that, legal or not, still floods our e-mail inboxes.
The move to compile a directory of cell phone numbers comes from the Communications, Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), a trade group for the wireless industry.
It's designed to be voluntary. Before your number appears, you have to agree to it.
The CTIA argues that the directory is needed because more than 8 million Americans use only wireless phones.
Full Story @ Detroit Free Press
December 07, 2004
Drug Lords Develop Genetically Modified Cocaine Tree
LONDON (Reuters) - Colombian drug lords have developed a genetically modified "cocaine tree" that contains higher drug levels and is resistant to herbicides, the Financial Times newspaper said on Tuesday.
Full Story @ Excite News
Hunter shot in rump during toilet break
Hehe... oh the many french jokes I could make..
IT was a case of the hunter being hunted when a 70-year-old French man stopped to relieve himself against a tree Friday and was shot in the backside by his own rifle.
Firefighters in southern France recounting the incident said the unidentified man leant his gun against a car and was shot when it fell to the ground and discharged.
Firemen said the bullet merely grazed his rump, adding that he had escaped serious injury by a centimetre or so.
November 27, 2004
Star Trek not so silly anymore
Demo Advances Quantum Networking
Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have transferred information stored in the properties of a cloud of rubidium atoms to the properties of a single photon.
The ability to transfer information from atoms to photons is needed for quantum computers, which use the properties of particles like atoms and photons to compute. Quantum computer designs generally use atoms as memory that can store information long enough to perform computations on it, and photons to transfer information.
Full Story @ Technology Review
Seems we're edging closer and closer to having the processing power to get us into space and moving at light speeds. However I think we're long overdue to replace those aging IBM Thinkpad 760XD laptops on the space station. Sad when you think about the International Space Station is run by something you can buy on ebay for about forty dollars. :-(
November 24, 2004
Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School
A California teacher has been barred by his school from giving students documents from American history that refer to God -- including the Declaration of Independence.
Steven Williams, a fifth-grade teacher at Stevens Creek School in the San Francisco Bay area suburb of Cupertino, sued for discrimination on Monday, claiming he had been singled out for censorship by principal Patricia Vidmar because he is a Christian.
"It's a fact of American history that our founders were religious men, and to hide this fact from young fifth-graders in the name of political correctness is outrageous and shameful," said Williams' attorney, Terry Thompson.
"Williams wants to teach his students the true history of our country," he said. "There is nothing in the Establishment Clause (of the U.S. Constitution) that prohibits a teacher from showing students the Declaration of Independence."
Full Story @Reuters News
November 06, 2004
France Dispatches More Troops to Ivory Coast
PARIS (Reuters) - France has ordered more troops to Ivory Coast to protect French citizens after nine French soldiers and a U.S. aid worker were killed in a government bombing raid and Ivory Coast troops fired on French forces.
French President Jacques Chirac ordered the Ivory Coast planes involved in the Saturday airstrike destroyed and a defense source said French forces would also destroy five Ivorian military helicopters, leaving the country with only one helicopter.
Mobs of machete-wielding pro-government supporters rampaged through Abidjan, furious at the French destruction of the planes. Plumes of smoke rose from the plush Cocody suburb.
The French embassy said a French school in Cocody had been set ablaze, four French policemen were evacuated from a building by helicopter before it too was burned down and that there was a loud explosion near the embassy.
The escalating tension between the East African country and its former colonial ruler followed three days of a government air offensive to retake the rebel-held north of the country.
Full Story @ Reuters.com
November 04, 2004
It Was All Over When Michael Moore Showed Up
He Was For Nader...Before He Was Against Him
I sensed it was all over for John Kerry in Florida upon learning that Roseanne Barr and Michael Moore would be at the Tallahasee/Leon County Civic Center election eve to rally the faithful to depose Prince W come on E-Day. After all, Leon County is a safe haven for Democratic presidential candidates such as Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton and Gore.
As the final returns from Florida starkly prove, the Michael and Roseanne road show would have done better to work the I-4 corridor circuit where the election was actually decided.
It was Moore's second appearance in Tallahassee in a month. In October he spoke to a full house at Ruby Diamond auditorium on the FSU campus. Moore started his entertaining October anti-Bush harangue by bellowing out, "It's great to back! The scene of the crime." Moore, of course, was referring to the infamous 2000 election.
Full Story @ counterpunch
November 03, 2004
County by County Breakdown: Bigger Blowout than 2000
I just found the USA Today county-by-county break down of the election. What a blowout. In 2000, we had the biggest county to county blowout since Reagan blew Mondale out of the water in '84. This time was bigger. I just wish I had the actually figures from '84 to compare, but either way it's huge. Shows where Democratic support really is though: the inner-city. That doesn't immediately suggest anything (you can interpret it a number of ways) but that is how it is.
October 27, 2004
Amnesty International: Deaf, Dumb and Blind
You know, it's bold stupidity like this that makes me loose all hope in this world.
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) - The United States has failed to guard against torture and inhuman behavior since launching its "war on terror" after Sept. 11, 2001, Amnesty International said Wednesday in a report just days before the U.S. election.
The rights group called on President Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry to promise to take prompt action to address the issue head on if elected on Nov. 2.
It condemned Bush's response to the 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, saying it had resulted in an "iconography of torture, cruelty and degradation."
Full Story @ Reuters.com
October 25, 2004
Soldier says Iraq is turning around
Like a lot of people who work in big cities, Lance Varney puts in long hours, goes to a lot of meetings and spends a lot of time stuck in traffic. Unlike most people, Varney does his work in a war zone.
A major in the 1st Cavalry Division, Varney spends his days navigating the streets of Baghdad as part of the U.S. military's efforts to rebuild the city. And while Varney, the son of Florence residents Ben and Linda Stovall, doesn't make light of the dangers, he says Iraq isn't the scene of unrelenting chaos and destruction people might think from news reports.
Full Story @ freerepublic.com
October 21, 2004
Laura Bush Has Never Held A "Real Job"
Yes, Teresa can't keep her mouth shut.
First she wanted the children who lost their homes to the recent rash of hurricanes to run naked for a while. Now she, of ALL people accuses the first lady of never having a "real job". I suppose marrying one of the richest men in the world and getting all his cash was a job? I bet it was a snow job since I'm sure Kerry did the same thing to her.
Ah the hard knock life of being filthy rich... I'm sure it's lonely up there. :-P
The more I hear from her the more I get the impression that she thinks shes soooo much better than the rest of us.
Full Story @ BostonHerald.com
October 17, 2004
Annan: Iraq War Hasn't Made World Safer
"I cannot say the world is safer when you consider the violence around us, when you look around you and see the terrorist attacks around the world and you see what is going on in Iraq," Annan told the ITV network.
"We have a lot of work to do as an international community to try and make the world safer," he said.
Read the entire story here
cwilli note: What the story didnt tell you is that at the time he made these statements, Kofi Annan had just came back from checking is account balance at the ATM. With no more money coming in from the food for oil program, Annan is starting to feel the pinch. All those promises he made to the French, Germans, Russians and Chinese has left Kofi with a little egg on his face. Meanwhile he goes home to his multimillion dollar mansion paid for by the bodies lying the mass graves. Yea, the inspectors just needed more time. More time for inspectors equals more millions for Kofi.
Get the US out of the UN.
October 14, 2004
Men save signs for Bush in stakeout
According to two Mercer Island men, signs supporting President Bush are an endangered species. Within days of going up in the affluent neighborhood, the signs disappear.
So there the men were this week, camped in the dark woods with lawn chairs and a video camera, waiting for the thieves to strike.
It only took three hours. At about 10 p.m. Tuesday, a 25-year-old Mercer Island man walked to a grassy area along the 6700 block of Island Crest Way and began to pull up Bush signs installed by the two men, police said.
Full Story @The Seattle Times
It's not really this story but the continuous stream of stories like this of the rage and hatred that liberals display over and over again. The "peace" people who claim to hate war and such are the first ones to fight, scream and become enraged. Funny how that works.
October 07, 2004
Kerry Shows Tender Side
John Kerry apologized to the group upon realizing his egregious mistake.
However the damage was done. President Bush took a 3 point lead in the most recent Akron polls as a result. A Kerry spokeswoman later gave a statement in which the Presidential hopeful again apologized and promised if elected that the dreaded Cartwheel Disease would be cured.
Foreign monitors to observe U.S. elections
NEW YORK — A 55-nation body charged with overseeing fair elections and human rights in its member states expects to send as many as 100 monitors to observe the U.S. elections on Nov. 2, saying numerous "weaknesses and vulnerabilities" might delay the outcome or even compromise the results.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) explained its decision to send teams of professional foreign observers to the United States to watch the voting, saying irregularities with voting machines and procedures could jeopardize public confidence.
I don't remember asking for help... how about we give them da' boot?
Saddam paid off French leaders
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Saddam Hussein used a U.N. humanitarian program to pay $1.78 billion to French government officials, businessmen and journalists in a bid to have sanctions removed and U.S. policies opposed, according to a CIA report made public yesterday.
The cash was part of $10.9 billion secretly skimmed from the U.N. oil-for-food program, which was used by Iraq to buy military goods, according to a 1,000-page report by the CIA-led Iraqi Survey Group.
According to a section of the report on Iraqi weapons procurement, the survey group identified long-standing ties between Saddam and the French government. One 1992 Iraqi intelligence service report revealed that Iraq's ambassador to France paid $1 million to the French Socialist Party in 1988.
Read the entire article here
cwilli note: You mean the French were in Saddams back pocket? You think maybe this could be why the French were against every policy the US made? No. This simply cannot be.....
October 06, 2004
Stupid Muslims Ruining Good Name of Honest Hard Working Muslims
So the Muslim community is going out and registering voters after the deadline has passed to register voters... ???
According to rockthevote.com the deadline passed last week.
In addition the following line is just the most uninformed, prejudiced and backwards thing I've heard in a while. (from someone not from the kerry or bush campaign)
< --- begin clip ---- >
"The community is scared and depressed," said Joy Shaffea, as she emerged from a prayer service at the Bridgeview Mosque Foundation here.
"We want to feel like we used to. We want to live in comfort, not fear."
More than anything else, Shaffea hopes that a new administration would change the tone in the national debate about the war on terror and Islam.
"I hope Kerry gets in there and appoints people who start talking intelligently," she said. "They need to quit generalising, calling all Arabs evil-doers and all those other stupid names Bush uses."
< ---- end clip ---- >
Joy for your information ALL Americans live in some Fear where have you been since 9/11 ?
Who is generalizing? When did Bush say all Muslims are evil or whatever fantasy you dreamed up?
The truth is Arab born Extremists who use terror as their tactic dreamed up, planned and carried out the 9/11 attacks. Would it not make sense then that someone of Middle Eastern decent would carry out the next attack?
Heck maybe it'll be midgets next time, Yea.. I can it now.. they will sneak on in carry on luggage and pop out with guns blazing.
Get real.
Full Story @ Yahoo!
October 04, 2004
Most songs on iPods 'stolen' - Microsoft CEO
It's official. All iPod users are music thieves - according to Microsoft CEO Steve 'Monkey Boy' Ballmer.
"The most common format of music on an iPod is 'stolen'," he told reporters in London today, according to a Silicon.com report.
Ballmer conveniently ignores not only that there are many non-Apple music players out there, on which there are probably as many, if not more "stolen" songs.
He singles out the Mac maker for attention because - wait for it - "we've had DRM in Windows for years". The implication is that DRM hasn't been in the Mac OS for a similar duration, and that's what's allowed all those stolen tracks to seep through onto the web.
Windows has, of course, also had Napster, Grokster, Streamcast, Aimster, Kazaa full and lite, et al for years, but - again - none of that Windows-only music theft apparatus has registered on Mr Ballmer's radar screen, it seems.
Full Story @ The Register
October 01, 2004
Officials: Man Dead For 20 Years Registers To Vote
AKRON, Ohio -- The state of Ohio is stepping in to investigate possible voter fraud in Summit County. And the Lake County prosecutor is also looking into fraud there.
More than 800 voter registration cards in Summit County are under investigation, NewsChannel5 reported.
Full story @ NewsNet5.com
September 30, 2004
Connie Rice: Top 10 Secrets They Don't Want You to Know About the Debates
Thanks to divine for the link to this.
The Tavis Smiley Show, September 29, 2004 · After weeks of political wrangling, Sen. John Kerry and President Bush will square off for the first of three key presidential debates. Both camps have agreed to an elaborate, 32-page contract that spells out everything from the size of the dressing rooms to permitted camera angles.
But the controversy over the debates threatens to overshadow the events themselves. Some citizen groups complain that the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) isn't as non-partisan as it should be, and that Kerry and Bush won't be pressed on urban issues. Commentator Connie Rice says that's just the tip of the iceberg, and she's got another Top 10 list -- this time: Top 10 Secrets They Don't Want You to Know About the Debates.
Read Full Story @ NPR
September 29, 2004
Wild ride to space... and back
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Microsoft to Release Third Open-Source Project
Published on: Wednesday, 29 September 2004, 09:53 GMT
MicrosoftWatch: The Redmond software firm is set to make available more of its code under an open-source license on Tuesday.
Microsoft is preparing to release a third piece of code under an open-source license via the SourceForge code repository on Tuesday.
Both Microsoft and SourceForge have been hinting for some time that they plan to release more code this way. Earlier this year, Microsoft made its Windows Installer XML and Windows Template Library technologies available under the Common Public License (CPL), a bona fide open-source license.
SpaceShipOne set to begin bid for X Prize
SpaceShipOne, the creation of Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen and aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan, will be lifted off an airstrip in Mojave, Calif., at 6 a.m. PT with the help of a carrier plane. The vehicle, capable of traveling three times the speed of sound, will then fire its rocket and head toward zero gravity — about 62 miles above the Earth.
"We're all very confident," Rutan said Tuesday, quickly adding, "Anything can happen, though. ... The fact that this has gone so well — I pinch myself. I wouldn't have believed we'd be here today."
X Prize rules say that a team must send an occupied, reusable craft into space twice in two weeks. SpaceShipOne is scheduled for another flight on Monday, five days after the first launch. Rutan declined to disclose the pilot's name.
A non-profit group called the X Prize Foundation is offering the $10 million prize to encourage the development of a commercial space industry. The prize has gone unclaimed for eight years, but SpaceShipOne is considered the most serious contender yet.
Full Story @ USATODAY.com
September 28, 2004
'Grandpa' seeking family gets adopted
Finally, some feel good news. For once.
A lonely pensioner who turned to Italy's classified pages to find someone willing to "adopt" him as a grandfather is finally heading to his new home and family in northern Italy this weekend.
Giorgio Angelozzi, 80, has lived alone outside Rome with seven cats since his wife died in 1992, but he took the unprecedented step of putting himself up for adoption last month via the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Full Story @ CNN.com
September 24, 2004
Bush: No backing down
In news conference with Iraqi leader, he says U.S. withdrawal would free 'terrorists' for attacks elsewhere
WASHINGTON - Denying he has painted too rosy a picture of Iraq, President George W. Bush said yesterday that terrorists could "plot and plan attacks elsewhere, in America and other free nations," if U.S. forces were withdrawn. He said he would consider sending more troops if asked, but Iraq's interim leader said firmly that they weren't needed.
Bush and Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, standing in the Rose Garden under a bright sun, agreed that Iraq is making steady progress despite bombings, beheadings and violence that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 Americans and many more Iraqis.
"On television sets around the world we see acts of violence; yet in most of Iraq, children are about to go back to school, parents are going back to work and new businesses are being opened," Bush said.
Allawi said 14 or 15 of Iraq's 18 provinces "are completely safe."
Full Story @ Newsday.com
September 23, 2004
New web browser?
Posted by Harry McCracken
Thursday, September 23, 2004, 08:23 AM (PST)
Word on the Web is that Google may be thinking of releasing a Web browser--possibly one based on the open-source Mozilla code. The company now owns www.gbrowser.com, a URL that would certainly make a logical companion to GMail's home at www.gmail.com.
cwilli note: I just recently got an invite for Gmail. I must say I love it! I get 1 GIG of storage for email for FREE!!!! The sad part is my non-techie wife was the one who invited me. How in the world did she get an account before I did?
With the introduction of GMail, the recent purchase of photo software company Picasa, and other moves, Google is clearly branching out from its traditional role as the Greatest Search Engine on Earth; there's also been talk of it releasing a hard-disk searching utility of some sort, which would pit it more directly against Microsoft in the world of systems software.
What Google does, it usually does not just competently but inventively--GMail proved, to my surprise, that you can still build a better browser-based e-mail client. But I do worry a little bit about cool companies that try to do everything; it's tough to do that and do everything well.
That's one of the lessons of the portal wars of the late 1990s, when search engines such as Yahoo, Lycos, and Excite reinvented themselves into one-stop megasites that were often hit-or-miss in terms of quality. When Google came along and did great Web searching, pure and simple, it quickly became the gold standard in its category. If GBrowser does come to be, it'll be interesting to see if it's simply a rebranded Mozilla with a few minor tweaks, or a truly innovative product. Stay tuned...
September 19, 2004
Dan Rather's forgery fit
Seems ol' Dan is being the strong captain, going down with a sinking ship. :-P
CBS News and anchorman Dan Rather have entered the journalistic equivalent of one of Dante's circles of Hell, forced to live forever with a scandal they created. With their Texas Air National Guard forgeries, they now live in a neighborhood of national media embarrassments. Faked Food Lion resumes. Staged GM pickup truck explosions. Janet Cooke's profile of Jimmy the 8-year-old coke addict. Jayson Blair's phony travelogues from "West Virginia."
Watergate was a scandal Mr. Rather thoroughly enjoyed since he built his career on ripping into Richard Nixon. Now, Rather is Nixon, a bitter, vengeful man who allowed his friends to use dirty tricks against his political opponents and, when caught, can only deny, deny, deny and bluster about the evil intentions of his enemies.
Full Story @ PittsburghLIVE.com
September 16, 2004
The always elegant Teresa
"let them go naked for a while"
I tell you what, it brings a tear to my eye every time she opens her mouth. We'd be blessed to have such a silk tongued first lady.
Such caring and compassion, to put it all out there. "Screw the little brats, at least they will have water, let em' all go naked!" she poetically said.
It really hit home how wonderful she would be for our country when calling local businesses for donations one asked her if she had donated any of her billions. she kindly said "it's not money I give but my love".
Real Story @ Yahoo! News
September 15, 2004
ABC slams CBS, NBC says Acronyms rule!
Casting Further Doubt
Document Analysts: CBS News Ignored Concerns About Disputed Bush Military Records
Sept. 14, 2004— Two of the document experts hired by CBS News say the network ignored concerns they raised prior to the broadcast of a report citing documents that questioned George W. Bush's service in the National Guard during the Vietnam War.
The authenticity of the documents in the report by CBS News' 60 Minutes II has been widely questioned. The documents were allegedly written by Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, who died in 1984.
Emily Will, a veteran document examiner from North Carolina, told ABC News she saw problems right away with the one document CBS hired her to check the weekend before the broadcast.
"I found five significant differences in the questioned handwriting, and I found problems with the printing itself as to whether it could have been produced by a typewriter," she said.
Will says she sent the CBS producer an e-mail message about her concerns and strongly urged the network the night before the broadcast not to use the documents.
"I told them that all the questions I was asking them on Tuesday night, they were going to be asked by hundreds of other document examiners on Thursday if they ran that story," Will said.
But the documents became a key part of the 60 Minutes II broadcast questioning President Bush's National Guard service in 1972. CBS made no mention that any expert disputed the authenticity.
"I did not feel that they wanted to investigate it very deeply," Will told ABC News.
Full Story @ ABCNEWS.com
September 13, 2004
Teachers Back Away From Red Ink
Ok, I thought we were starting to move away from the touchy-feely garbage and were supposed to be getting back to the basics.
Now we can't grade papers in red because it's a non-positive color? What next? We stop having gym class because some fat ol' lazy TV watching kids might feel uncomfortable ?
Give me a break.
Article below :
An F is an F, but failure seems so much friendlier when it comes in purple.
A growing number of the nation’s educators are stocking up on purple pens for grading papers and passing on the traditional red, which they say can be intimidating and damaging to a student’s self-confidence.
"Teaching should always be a positive practice. Red seems to stand out in such a negative way," said Dorothy Porteus, school support specialist with the New York Charter Schools Association. “Little guys internalize the red and it doesn’t make them feel good.”
Full Story @ FOXNews.com
September 10, 2004
CNN Lists Tax Rankings
I'll just go ahead and bring you my favorite part of this article:
"Five states have no personal income tax, and at least two of them, Florida and Nevada, are among the fastest-growing in the nation."
By the way, those 2 states, along with Tennessee, Texas and Hawaii rely completely upon Sales and excise taxes, which, if done right do not hurt the poor as the article states. Explain to me how a poor person is going to be hurt by a 6% sales tax on a $500 TV? They're not, since they're poor and can't afford it! If they're truly poor, they simply can not afford the things that are ebing taxed. In mos tof these states, food is not taxed and clothing has a minimal tax.
Under the Fairtax plan, new cars would be taxed, used cars would not. Everyone would recieve a monthly refund for the estimated amount that a family of their size would need for food and clothing for the month. My family and I (middle class family, making combined 80-100k among 4 incomes mind you) have run the numbers, and we would go from having no disposable income whatsoever to having a respectable amount of it! As it stands now, our disposable income happened once a year when we get our tax returns.
To be competitive in the future, we simply are going to have to restructure the way we collect taxes.
No would someone explain to me how John Kerry's plan of raising taxes and the minimum wage is going to 'fix' our economy (which is already growing)?
Read the article at CNN Money
September 08, 2004
Your Tax Dollars at Work
I don't know what they are going to think up next. Capturing space dust and then when the satellite returns to earth catch it with a hook hanging off a helicopter... uh.. their board.
Someone give these people some work to do so they quit wasting our tax dollars, goofing off in space. Sheesh!
Full Story @ Reuters
September 03, 2004
Clinton to Undergo By-pass
I just would like to state that our thoughts and prayers are with Former President Bill Clinton and his family as he undergoes by-pass surgery for a "Significant blockage."
As someone who has gone through this with a family member it is a scary thing, but usually a very successful and uneventful surgery - though when I went through it was many years ago. I was much younger and the surgery was not as well-versed into doctors as it is now.
September 01, 2004
Hundreds Held Hostage at Russian School
Camouflage-clad special forces carrying assault rifles encircled Middle School No. 1 in the North Ossetian town of Beslan. Earlier, a little girl in a flowered dress fled the school holding a soldier's hand; officials said about a dozen other people managed to escape by hiding in a boiler room.
Full Story @ Yahoo! News
August 29, 2004
US soldier Claims Intelligence Encouraged Torture
I'll just come right out and say that him saying this to foreign reporters was highly inappropriate and reeks of "cover-my-ascot." I'll also say that what he did was not in anyway shape or form torture. Wrong? Yes. Abusive? Yes. Torture? Not in this lifetime. There is a stark difference between abuse and torture and this was simply not torture and anyone who thinks it is knows nothing about torture.
After saying this in the manner in which he did, any leniency he might have gotten for pleading guilty, could very well get thrown out the window. For one thing it strengthens the JAG office's case, it was also inappropriate and downright stupid.
I have friends who work in intelligence. One is overseas now. Maybe the Army does thing differently (any vets want to weigh in?) but Marine intelligence personel are trained not to do things like this. I highly doubt the Army is any different, so if this is true, then these were either very frustrated, or very undisciplined soldiers.
I also don't think humiliation is abuse. The Geneva Convention specifically states that humiliation is only wrong if it is done publicly. But the Geneva Convention also makes it so that these prisoners were all either not covered by the Geneva Convention, or eligible to be summarily executed.
Another issue is this guy says "Junior soldiers" had conflicting demands placed on them. First off, this guy is a staff non-comissioned officer in the United States Army. He is in no way a junior soldier. Second, as a soldier they should be trained to make quick and calculated descisions about how they do their jobs. If they were not, then their officer's and NCOs should all be held accountable for that.
This is without a doubt him trying to not take responsibility for his own actions. For that alone, I hope he is drummed out of the Army swiftly, and dishonorably.
Read the story at Yahoo!/AP
August 27, 2004
Greenspan Calling for Reduction in Social Security and Medicare
Today Alan Greenspan is confirming a prediction of mine: our shrinking workforce is about to create an odd problem.
Greenspan is saying that unless work is done quickly, social security and medicare is going to cause "abrupt and painful choices."
I agree.
Read the story atYahoo!/AP
As muddy can confirm, I predicted 3 weeks ago that the biggest economic problem facing my generation would be that we have to many jobs. Why? Because my generation is smaller than that of the baby-boomers. Which means less people working to support a growing economic burden of social security and medicare.
This is another reason I support the FairTax plan. First off, we'd pay taxes on imported goods, which we generally don't now - but we do on domestic goods as do other nations when importing our goods! Does this sound like a job creation mechanism to anyone else? The second thing is that our incomes would not dictate the government's budget. Also, tourists would be able to take up some of our budget by paying their share of our sales tax when they come here.
The other issue is we need to privatize both social security and medicare now! Let people invest their money. Put part of it in TSP. If you don't know what TSP is, it is a government employee/military investment plan and it ought to be what social security is going into as it yields anywhere from 3% to 15% annual interest through investments. Both cwilli and myself could problably answer a few questions about it (though probably me more than him) as he is retired military and I am current.
Simple fact is that we have a shrinking workforce which, thanks to government dependency is going to have to take on a larger economic burden.
If anyone would like to know why my generation is the first American generation to be smaller than the previous I can answer that too. Despite longer life expectency and less child hood disease my generation has had something no other generation before had: legalized abortion on demand. If you don't think that is why then you give me a better explanation.
LTCOL North Speaks
LTCOL Oliver North, USMC (Ret.) has written an open letter to John Kerry. It is a good read to understand why many veterans do not want this man to be the commander of our armed forces.
FairTax
For those of you reading who do not know, our country spent a hundred years without an income tax. It was first tried during the civil war to help finance the war. It ended thereafter and was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. Hence today we have the 16th amendment and for the past 90 or so years we've had to live with it. The founding father did not want any tax where the governmen takes money directly from indviduals. They wanted as little government in our lives as possible.
Read on.
Well the move has been afoot for awhile now t return to that. John Linder, a Republican representative from Georgia, has a bill called the FairTax Bill. Now he has alot ofDemocrats and Republicans who have signed on to this plan. Essentially it works this way:
The 16th amendment gets repealed, the act does not go into effect without this. A national retail sales tax is implemented. It would be an inclusive, 25% (approximately) tax. So, IOW, when you go to the store and pick up a magazine, the price says 4.05, you pay 4.05 + whatever local sales tax, just like you do now. The 25% is already in the price. Although, it would probably be beneficial for state government to change their sales taxes to be inclusive for uniformity sake.
No you can probably already see what is happening here: everyone has to pay taxes. If you consume (and everyone does) then you have to pay.
Now you may be asking, how can this possibly work? I mean hey poor people will have to pay! Well, there is actually a solution to that problem. In essence: if it is clothing or food, then you don't pay taxes up to a certain amount. Kind of like the sales tax holidays here in Georgia and down in Florida (by the way, on Georgia's sales tax holiday, sales tax revenue soars.)
I'm not going to go into to many more details, but if this plan were implemented, and you work 40 hours in a week and get paid 10 dollars an hour, then you would get $400 dollars. There would be no FICA to take money away, no Socialist ponzi schemes, no medicare taxes. All of that would be covered by the sales tax. Government spending? Goes down. IRS? Virtually eliminated, and what's left would have only 2 functions: collect money and mail a monthly check to people to refund them for food and clothing.
Imagine the money government will save just by eliminating IRS paperwork! Imagine the money corporations will save not having to implement new tax rules. Prices go down (albeit, not right away.) Profits will be up (more consumption occurring.) And one other thing: No one will be able to say the rich aren't paying their fair share. The poor won't even be paying taxes unless they're buying stuff they should be able to afford if they are poor anyhow.
This is an idea thatI signed onto during high school. There are no doubt flaws, but flaws can be fixed. Very few people think that our tax system is good, and the ones that do are socialists. This is a system that encourages economic growth instead of punishing it. Under the socialist income tax, you are punished with higher taxes if you succeed. With this, you pay taxes only if you really want to pay them. You don't have to buy a new 50" LCD DTV afterall. But you want one so if you can pay the $5k, you'll be paying a 25% tax in that $5k.
Our current system is dependent uponpeople having jobs. Well, this system is dependent upon people spending money, something that continues despite depressions or recessions.
Our current system taxes corporations. This system ill remove those taxes. This increasing profits. Competitive pressures will force the prices of goods down.
Our current system has high costs to maintain. This system has very little cost and is already used in most states so it will not increase conformance costs for most business.
I encourage you to read the website. I was on this band wagon long before John Linder had a House seat and before this organization or the bill existed.
Vote for Kerry or We'll Crap on ya!
Wow! Can you think of a more effective campaign weapon? "Vote for John Kerry or we'll dump human waste on you!" Geezz what will the republicans do to top this? "Vote for Bush or we'll not only dump human waste on you but also make you watch all of Kevin Costner's movies back to back." AAAHHHH!!! The Horror! :-P
Full Story @MTV.com
August 23, 2004
Church Says Girl's Communion Not Valid
BRIELLE, N.J. - An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot eat wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained no wheat, violating Roman Catholic doctrine.
Yahoo! News - Church Says Girl's Communion Not Valid
***I actually read this article a few days ago and ever since then have tried to arrange the words just right in my mind of how to draw out on paper of how utterly *ridiculous* this situation is. Here you have this girl who is suffering from a disorder that can easily be made worse by the traditional communion "standards" of her Roman Catholic Church and they're (the Roman Catholic Church) are more concerned about their senseless rhetoric and dogma than the health and well being of their followers. Not allowing her to substitute a simple wheat waffer for a rice one (or grape juice for an alcoholic) because it is - in their eyes - "invalid", is like telling me (and thousands of other Christians)...."Hey, since you got baptised in a baptistry behind a pulpit and *not* in an actual river then, your baptism is just not valid!". Give me a freakin' break!!! It is NOT the kind of waffer you eat nor the wine (or grape juice, for *that* matter) that you drink that makes a communion "valid" nor is it what God cares about but only the attitude of the heart that speaks the truth to Christ and in the end, *that* is what truely draws your spirit to His....****
New Overtime Rules
Today new rules from the federal government on who can and who can't recieve overtime goes into effect. I'm completely against it! Wonder why? Read on!
The Bush administration just continues to irk me when it comes to domestic policy. This is just the tip of the ice berg. I mean really, what business is it of the government's who gets and does not get overtime? Unless you are talking about government employees, I don't even see where they have the authority under the constitution to do this.
It's not interstate commerce by any stretch of the imagination, and that's the closest to having constitutional authority that I can find.
This is another example of the government saying: you're not capable of running your own life, so we are going to do it for you. And why not? We only ask them to do it on ar egular basis.
An employer and employee should be able to come to an agreement on what they will be paid and the circumstances surrounding it and that goes for minimum wage also. Sorry, but I spent alot of time working the stereotypical "minimum wage" job and I never met anyone who actually made minimum wage there who was over the age of 17. My girlfriend and my little sister are in that boat now and they both make over minimum wage and my sister is 16. They get overtime when they work more than 40 hours. Period. What is so complex about that, that the government has to regulate it?!
Under these new rules, I have friends who were making $35k a year if they worked 5 hrs overtime a week minimum. They won't qualify for overtime now and they are their families' sole incomes.
It is time to tell the government to get out of our bedrooms, pocketbooks and workplaces. And neither Kerry nor Bush want to do that.
France thanks WWII Allies
President Jacques Chirac, hosting the function aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, expressed his country's "infinite gratitude" to the nations who took part in the August 15, 1944 assault.
Full Story @ Channelnewsasia.com