Friday, August 31, 2007
How do you explain this one to your high school civics class?
In June, Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig was busted in the men's room of the Minneapolis airport and charged with soliticing sex. On August 1 Craig pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and kept his mouth shut hoping the press would do the same. The story broke at the end of the month at which time, Craig says he is totally innocent and shouldn't have pleaded guilty to anything.
After three days of intense public scrutiny, Craig's pals say he may resign. For what?
If he's innocent he ought to keep his seat and fight. If he quits it can only be because he's guilty of something worse than disorderly conduct. U.S. Congresspersons don't resign for that. Ask any member of the Kennedy family. Craig can't have it both ways. Innocent people don't plead guilty to begin with. And they certainly don't resign.
After three days of intense public scrutiny, Craig's pals say he may resign. For what?
If he's innocent he ought to keep his seat and fight. If he quits it can only be because he's guilty of something worse than disorderly conduct. U.S. Congresspersons don't resign for that. Ask any member of the Kennedy family. Craig can't have it both ways. Innocent people don't plead guilty to begin with. And they certainly don't resign.
Confess Your GREEN Sins?
What about the red, white, blue, orange and yellow ones? Hard to know whether to laugh or cry at this one
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Canadians Declare Bigfoot
An Endangered Species.U.S. Senate considers offering same protection to Mickey Mouse, Snow White and ET.
Society's Hopes Sag
Atlanta is discussing how to waste more law enforcement time and dollars by making it against the law to wear saggy, baggy pants that ride so low your underwear show(s).
This effort should be stopped at once. Baggy pants and flashy drawers may be offensive to some, but saggy pants serve a purpose.
When the Puritans ran colonial America, they did all sorts of practical things to warn citizens of public danger. My favorite was making female aldulterers wear a scarlet letter "A" embroidered on their dress. This practice was highlighted in a colonial bestseller, "The Scarlet Letter." It also made it easier for low-rent men to identify shameless hussies.
Baggy pants serve almost the same purpose. You see someone wearing them, you automatically know the guy (or girl) is an unemployed, undereducated moron. And probably someone you want to avoid, unless you're looking to score some dope or stolen jewelry.
There's just one problem. Sooner or later, anybody caught laughing at baggy-panted losers may is bound to be accused of fashion profiling and sent to sensitivity school. Who needs that?
This effort should be stopped at once. Baggy pants and flashy drawers may be offensive to some, but saggy pants serve a purpose.
When the Puritans ran colonial America, they did all sorts of practical things to warn citizens of public danger. My favorite was making female aldulterers wear a scarlet letter "A" embroidered on their dress. This practice was highlighted in a colonial bestseller, "The Scarlet Letter." It also made it easier for low-rent men to identify shameless hussies.
Baggy pants serve almost the same purpose. You see someone wearing them, you automatically know the guy (or girl) is an unemployed, undereducated moron. And probably someone you want to avoid, unless you're looking to score some dope or stolen jewelry.
There's just one problem. Sooner or later, anybody caught laughing at baggy-panted losers may is bound to be accused of fashion profiling and sent to sensitivity school. Who needs that?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Vick Pleads Guilty. Now What?
Today, former Altanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges regarding his involvement in organized dog fighting.
After the hearing, Vick spoke publicly about the incident for the first time. "We all make mistakes. I made a mistake for using bad judgement and making bad decisions," Vick said. "Dogfighting is a terrible thing and I didn't reject it. ... I will redeem myself."
But can he?
He will be sentenced December 10. He will do jail time and lose his right to vote, hold public office, be on a jury and own firearms.
The question is, will Vick ever be accepted again by a community and group of fans that once adored him?
I hope so. What he did was depolorable, but Vick, like everyone else, deserves a secind chance at public acceptance, if not football. He's admitted his guilt and he'll pay the price. What happens after that will be partly dependent on public opinion. Should he never play again, Vick will need all the help he can get to live a productive, positive life. I, for one, will wish him well and hope he can recover from this incident.
I've gotten plenty of second (third and fourth) chances in my life. I don't know where I'd be without them. I hope the public will show Mike Vick the same grace. Unless and until he convinces me I'm a fool, I'll gladly grant him a second chance to turn his life around.
After the hearing, Vick spoke publicly about the incident for the first time. "We all make mistakes. I made a mistake for using bad judgement and making bad decisions," Vick said. "Dogfighting is a terrible thing and I didn't reject it. ... I will redeem myself."
But can he?
He will be sentenced December 10. He will do jail time and lose his right to vote, hold public office, be on a jury and own firearms.
The question is, will Vick ever be accepted again by a community and group of fans that once adored him?
I hope so. What he did was depolorable, but Vick, like everyone else, deserves a secind chance at public acceptance, if not football. He's admitted his guilt and he'll pay the price. What happens after that will be partly dependent on public opinion. Should he never play again, Vick will need all the help he can get to live a productive, positive life. I, for one, will wish him well and hope he can recover from this incident.
I've gotten plenty of second (third and fourth) chances in my life. I don't know where I'd be without them. I hope the public will show Mike Vick the same grace. Unless and until he convinces me I'm a fool, I'll gladly grant him a second chance to turn his life around.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Vick Pleads To What?
Yesterday former football star Michael Vick pulled the smoothest judicial move since O.J. Simpson failed to squeeze his bloody hand into a glove for an L.A. jury. Vick pleaded guilty to some bogus charges about being involved with taking dogs across state lines to fight and be killed. Here's the good part. He says while he bankrolled betting on dog fights, he didn't gamble himself and thus did not violate any NFL taboos. Better yet, he says he was present when dogs were killed but never actually participated in the gruesome executions. This is like Bart Simpson saysing "I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, you can't prove I did it." Worst of all, federal prosecutors agreed to this nonsense. Vick may serve less than a year in jail. Thankfully, he's been suspended without pay indefinitely by the NFL. Next stop, prison. After that..the poorhouse. Or maybe Vick can start a rap group. With Vick's street cred, he should be an overnight sensation in the Hip Hop cult.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Bad Government Not Limited To Iraq
Good timing. Halfway through their annual "August Recess," member of the U.S. Congress receive new polling data showing congressional approval ratings have reached an all-time low of 18%. That's lower then President Bush, lower than V.P. Cheney, lower than trial lawyers, used car salespersons and Michael Vick. Hitler had better numbers at the height of Worl War II.
But here's the ironic part. As they bask in their well-deserved condemnation, many members of congress are taking time to bash leaders of the Iraqi government for not doing a better job of putting that country together and moving forward. Granted, Iraq is no poster child for good government, but building a representative government from scratch is no easy task. If you don't believe it, reread your American history and see how close this country came to falling apart after winning its independence from Britian.
Iraq may never get its national act together, but the last people who need to comment on bad government are the members of the U.S. Congress. This is the ultimate case of the pot calling the kettle black.
But here's the ironic part. As they bask in their well-deserved condemnation, many members of congress are taking time to bash leaders of the Iraqi government for not doing a better job of putting that country together and moving forward. Granted, Iraq is no poster child for good government, but building a representative government from scratch is no easy task. If you don't believe it, reread your American history and see how close this country came to falling apart after winning its independence from Britian.
Iraq may never get its national act together, but the last people who need to comment on bad government are the members of the U.S. Congress. This is the ultimate case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Mining Disaster
As of this writing, it is reported that officials of Murray Energy, co-owner of Utah’s Crandall Canyon Mine, may soon declare the six miners trapped in an August 6 cave-in dead. Mine owners are also considering closing the area of the mine where the six miners likely died and making it a permanent memorial. But...owners also insist they will continue to dig in other areas of the mine.
Question? How will the other Crandall Canyon miners feel about resuming work on a mountain that has so far claimed three rescue workers and where six of their former buddies probably lie dead?
Maybe a better question is whether they should even be asked to go back to a mine that in the very near future will be part mine, part tomb and part memorial?
Glad it's a question I don't have to answer.
What do you think?
Question? How will the other Crandall Canyon miners feel about resuming work on a mountain that has so far claimed three rescue workers and where six of their former buddies probably lie dead?
Maybe a better question is whether they should even be asked to go back to a mine that in the very near future will be part mine, part tomb and part memorial?
Glad it's a question I don't have to answer.
What do you think?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Duck. But Not Too Soon.
Last year, despite dire predictions, not a single hurricane made landfall on the U.S. gulf coast. This year, as Hurricane Dean threatens (currently) northern mexico and south Texas, things are back to normal. Or are they?
Hurricane Katrina taught us that failing to evacuate in time can cause big, deadly problems. After 2 years without a big blow, federal, state and local authorities along the Gulf of Mexico are outdoing themselves in the "Early Evacuation Derby." Already, some Texas town have urged voluntary evacuations with Dean still four days away. Other places have begun mandatory evacuations. The effort might save lives, but there's a downside, too. If hundreds of thousands evacuate early and Dean goes elsewhere, as hurricanes are prone to do, they'll be less likely to evacuate next time. Early evacuations also present targets of opportunity for looters, shoplifters and other low rents who know how to cash in on human fear. Some early evacuees could suffer as badly at the hands of looters as they might have in the eye of the storm. It's worth thinking about.
Hurricane season is finally back. Officials should treat these storms with caution. Not panic.
Hurricane Katrina taught us that failing to evacuate in time can cause big, deadly problems. After 2 years without a big blow, federal, state and local authorities along the Gulf of Mexico are outdoing themselves in the "Early Evacuation Derby." Already, some Texas town have urged voluntary evacuations with Dean still four days away. Other places have begun mandatory evacuations. The effort might save lives, but there's a downside, too. If hundreds of thousands evacuate early and Dean goes elsewhere, as hurricanes are prone to do, they'll be less likely to evacuate next time. Early evacuations also present targets of opportunity for looters, shoplifters and other low rents who know how to cash in on human fear. Some early evacuees could suffer as badly at the hands of looters as they might have in the eye of the storm. It's worth thinking about.
Hurricane season is finally back. Officials should treat these storms with caution. Not panic.
Coming Soon To A Hip Church near You?
Church "bribes" potential new parishioners with Gospel On The Go
Most "World-Changing" Invention Since The Segway Scooter
Yeah, but will it make you rich and good-looking?
Friday, August 17, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Justice Gone To The Dogs
As of this writing, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is reportedly close to reaching a plea deal under which he could serve as much as a year in jail for his participation in a Virginia dogfighting ring. Meanwhile, Mary Winkler, who admitted shooting her preacher husband to death last year was just released from jail after serving just 67 days for blowing her man away while the kids were in the house. Sixty seven days for murder. One year for dogfighting. Equal justice? You tell me.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Climate Change Before Gore? Not To mention SUVs?
Maye so, according to the Washington Post. A researcher thumbing through old issues of the WaPo came across this headline that would have made Al Gore soil himself...
"Arctic Ocean Getting Warm; Seals Vanish and Icebergs Melt."
There's just one problem. The hadline and artiucle were published in November...of 1922!!!!
The 1922 article includes this familiar-sounding passage...
"great masses of ice have now been replaced by moraines of earth and stones," and "at many points well-known glaciers have entirely disappeared."
How 'bout that? melting ice, dying seals, disappearing glaciers.
It's weather, folks. It's happened before and it's happening again. The only question you need to ask is why are we hysterical now but not then? Guess back then, people thought it was just weather at work, not evil humans and thei evil cars destroying the planet.
"Arctic Ocean Getting Warm; Seals Vanish and Icebergs Melt."
There's just one problem. The hadline and artiucle were published in November...of 1922!!!!
The 1922 article includes this familiar-sounding passage...
"great masses of ice have now been replaced by moraines of earth and stones," and "at many points well-known glaciers have entirely disappeared."
How 'bout that? melting ice, dying seals, disappearing glaciers.
It's weather, folks. It's happened before and it's happening again. The only question you need to ask is why are we hysterical now but not then? Guess back then, people thought it was just weather at work, not evil humans and thei evil cars destroying the planet.
Monday, August 13, 2007
NASA revised Temperature Stats
here are the revised temps published by NASA. Negative number indicate temps below the mean. Positive numbers indicate amount (in degrees above the mean).
NASA revised temperatures
NASA revised temperatures
More Bad News For Global Warmers
You've probably heard this song before, but in case you haven't, here's how "USA Today" sang the tune in 2004:
"Nine of the 10 hottest years on record occurred in 1995 or later, according to the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization. The last four years were among the five hottest; 1998 was the hottest on record."
Wowie. Zowie. We're all gonna die. Unless of course, the data were wrong. And it turns out, they were. Don't take my word for it. Ask the folks at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, which collects and publishes most of the weather data used by Al Gore and his disciples in the Church of Global Warming.
NASA's head weather dude for years, James Hansen, is on record as saying things have never been hotter. he is especially proud of being the first person to absolutely, positively state that 1998 was the hottest year on record.
Or maybe not. Last week, in a move not reported by the New York Times, National Geographic or the U.N. Panel on Climate Change, NASA's weather watchers posted some revised figures on surface temperatures in the U.S.
Guess what? Seems like after NASA adjusted its "methodologies" to get some more accurate data, there's new winner in the Hottest Year Ever Derby. That winner? 1934.
Things got worse for NASA from there. Previously, NASA agreed that nine of the world's ten hottest years had occurred since 1995. Not quite. In fact, according to NASA;s revised figures, four of the top ten hottest years occurred in the 1930s: 1934, 1931, 1938 and 1939. Worse, only 3 of the top 10 are from the last 10 years (1998, 2006, 1999). Other recent "super-hot" years, including 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 fell way down the charts.
Don't take my word for it. Ask NASA. To their credit they were willing to make changes after their suspect methodology was pointed out. The bad news, none of the major media pointed out this
"Inconvenient Fact."
Guess they're still looking for the 1930-era SUVs that caused the hot spell.
"Nine of the 10 hottest years on record occurred in 1995 or later, according to the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization. The last four years were among the five hottest; 1998 was the hottest on record."
Wowie. Zowie. We're all gonna die. Unless of course, the data were wrong. And it turns out, they were. Don't take my word for it. Ask the folks at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, which collects and publishes most of the weather data used by Al Gore and his disciples in the Church of Global Warming.
NASA's head weather dude for years, James Hansen, is on record as saying things have never been hotter. he is especially proud of being the first person to absolutely, positively state that 1998 was the hottest year on record.
Or maybe not. Last week, in a move not reported by the New York Times, National Geographic or the U.N. Panel on Climate Change, NASA's weather watchers posted some revised figures on surface temperatures in the U.S.
Guess what? Seems like after NASA adjusted its "methodologies" to get some more accurate data, there's new winner in the Hottest Year Ever Derby. That winner? 1934.
Things got worse for NASA from there. Previously, NASA agreed that nine of the world's ten hottest years had occurred since 1995. Not quite. In fact, according to NASA;s revised figures, four of the top ten hottest years occurred in the 1930s: 1934, 1931, 1938 and 1939. Worse, only 3 of the top 10 are from the last 10 years (1998, 2006, 1999). Other recent "super-hot" years, including 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 fell way down the charts.
Don't take my word for it. Ask NASA. To their credit they were willing to make changes after their suspect methodology was pointed out. The bad news, none of the major media pointed out this
"Inconvenient Fact."
Guess they're still looking for the 1930-era SUVs that caused the hot spell.
Friday, August 10, 2007
"Natural Forces" 1, Global Warming, 0
Oops. Darn that old el nino and his bratty sister, la nina, too. wonder what else computer models have missed in forecasting future planetary doom?
Thursday, August 9, 2007
When Animals Attack, Part Whatever
First we had bad beavers in Sweden. Now it's perpetratin' pike in Austria
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
4Real Still Not A Reality
After being denied the right to name their kid "4 Real" New Zealand couple picks a super name for their child
Sportsman of the Modern Era
This award has to go to Henry "Hammerin' Hank" Aaron, former holder of Major League Baseball's home run record. Last night, steroid junkie Barry Bonds hit homer number 756 to break Aaron's record. After the homer, a video tape of Aaron congratulating Bonds was played to the sellout crowd in San Francisco. I'd have choked before congratulating Bonds on the drug-fueled feat. This isn't stop-the-presses news, but Aaron's a bigger man than I. After the game Bonds said his "record" wasn't tainted at all. Right. And pro wrestling's real, isn't it Barry?
Important Headache Advisory
The blog has been silent for a few days while the blogger attempted to address some software issues, including a bad tooth. The tooth is now much better thanks to my favorite dentist, Dr. Phillip Swords, of Newnan, GA. If your mouth is a mess, he's the man to fix it. If you're in good shape, dentally-speaking, Phillip can still improve your smile and your attitude. Doesn't get much better than that. My headache's better. Best of all, I didn't have to deal wth THIS!
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
Global Warming Isn't Always Hot?
Scientist Says Global Warming Causes Cold Winters. On what planet does this make sense? After years of insisting hotter weather is killing coral reefs, this "scientist" says coral is being murdered by Cold Weather, Too!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Minneapolis Tragedy Highlights Future Problems
As of this writing, 4 people are dead, over 60 injured and 20 missing following the collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Personal injury lawyers have already swamped the Twin Cities as they troll for clients. Engineers, contractors and inspectors are running for cover. According to news reports, recent inspections showed some metal fatigue and other potential problems with the collapsed bridge.That's awful, and the victims, their famiies and loved ones deserve our prayers, warm thoughts and best wishes. But..expect more of this kind of disaster in the near future. Last month a 100-year old steam burst and caused great damage—and not a little anxziety—in Manhattan. Every year, more bridges and stretches of road are closed for overdue repairs. Our national infrastructure is showing its age. Things have to be fixed, and soon. The cost of repairs will be astronomical. But where will the money come from? A recent congressional report said in a few decades federal entitlement programs, mainly Medicare and Social Security, would consume 70% of the national budget. That number's not going down. Sooner or layer Congress will have to quit playing the blame game on Iraq and address future budget disasters. We can't abandon all our social programs and we can't wait until every bridge in the country has collapsed to discuss that issue. Truth is, congress has only two choices to deal with future shortfalls: cut entitlements or raise taxes. Count on the tax increase first, but after that, well, you might start getting ready now to kiss your favorite federal program good-bye.
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