US News

[Amicustoall]

Tweeting, Texting in the Jury Box: A Danger to Fair Trials?

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1948971,00.html#ixzz0b5iTx7N8


As an attorney I say just take away their phones during trials. Of course it will not stop them after hours from searching for additional information about the case they are sitting on, which is troublesome. It is unclear how to combat that, other than sequester them; but, that is cost prohibitive at the very least.

[garyrulez]

In Cuyahoga County, we had to leave our cell phones in the jury room or face contempt charges.

[Amicustoall]

That is a bit of a good news gary. I don't think there is any such requirement here in southern California.

[Amicustoall]

Very cool we will have a blue moon on NYE.

[really_mzungu]

Very cool we will have a blue moon on NYE.

Yes. Yes we will.

http://www.examiner.com/x-16479-NY-Astronomy-Examiner~y2009m12d31-Observe-a-Blue-Moon-for-New-Years

Nothing wrong with a little self-promotion... :D

[WeedMage]

I can't believe any phones are allowed in a courtroom. Been a while since I've even sat around waiting for a go at jury duty, but it just seems like they would require all phones/pda's to be turned off during the actual sessions and not even allowed on the person of the actual parties involved in the court action.

[Amicustoall]

Guard killed, marshal injured in Las Vegas courthouse shooting
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/04/las.vegas.shooting/index.html

Dang.

[Amicustoall]

Small cargo jet crashes outside Chicago
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/01/05/illinois.jet.crash/index.html

[PolyesterAngel]

Should I start a thread called "Canada news?"

[Amicustoall]

Sure go ahead, might be something interesting. I also have a thread for news from around the world and some other more pointed news type threads. Just covering many bases.

[garyrulez]

Should I start a thread called "Canada news?"

I heard there was a lost mitten reported in Nova Scotia today.

[Amicustoall]

OMG that is awful news gary, do they have live coverage?

[garyrulez]

OMG that is awful news gary, do they have live coverage?

24 hours on the news channels, breaking into the regular channels- except for hockey.

[Amicustoall]

LOL What about the beer commercials?

[PolyesterAngel]

I heard there was a lost mitten reported in Nova Scotia today.

More like a HUGE snow storm that left many dead and others stranded. But I can read about my news in the paper... I don't want to be the bearer of bad news here.

[Amicustoall]

Brown looks to pull off huge upset in Massachusetts
(CNN) -- Democrats are scrambling to hold onto the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in a surprisingly close race in Massachusetts that could imperil President Obama's agenda.

Polls published in the last week of the race show Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Martha Coakley in a dead heat, worrying Obama and Democrats about the possibility of losing what once was considered one of their safest seats.

A Brown victory would give Senate Republicans the votes to stop the health care bill -- and the rest of the president's agenda -- through a filibuster, a tactic they employed after Democrats took control of Congress after the 2006 elections. However, they have been unable to use that tactic after Democrats gained their 60-vote majority in the Senate in 2008.

"I want to be the person to go down there and send the health care [bill] back to its drawing board, so they can do it better," Brown said. "And when they're talking about raising your taxes and they're talking about raising the debt ceiling and they're talking about all those things, at least we can debate it in a transparent manner, not behind closed doors."

Obama dashed to Boston on Sunday to try to rally voters for Coakley, the state's attorney general.

"If you were fired up in the last election, I need you more fired up in this election," he said at a campaign event.

And Vicki Kennedy, the late senator's widow, called on state Democrats to turn out to save her husband's legacy.

"We need your help. We need your support. We need you to get out there and vote on Tuesday," Kennedy said. "We need you to bring your neighbors. We need you to bring your friends."

Coakley's challenger -- a pickup truck-driving Republican state lawmaker -- has the backing of frustrated Tea Party voters.

"We don't like the health care that is the bill that is in Congress right now. I think it will be very dangerous control of our rights," conservative voter Ellen Svegalis said.

Brown's surprising strength in Massachusetts, considered a Democratic stronghold, comes in part because some independents and conservatives who have supported Democrats in the past are having second thoughts.

"I don't think it is particularly the president. I don't think it is particularly Coakley. I think it is the direction that this country is taking. We need to send a message to the people. The people are very angry," independent voter Denis Fitzgerald said.

John Avlon, author of "Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics," said the outcome of the election rests in the hands of the independent voters. Although Democrats far outnumber Republicans in the state, there are more independents than Democrats and Republicans combined, he said in an commentary on CNN.com.

Avlon: Swing voters will decide Kennedy seat

Even diehard Democrats accuse Coakley, who once had a double-digit lead, of running a lackluster campaign.

"I wish she was more likable as a candidate. There are some things that are turning me off about her as a candidate," said Scott Olson, an undecided Democrat.

Democrats face a growing enthusiasm gap in this year's battle for Congress, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Friday.

Forty-nine percent of Republicans questioned in the poll say they're extremely or very enthusiastic about voting this year, up 6 points from November. Thirty-one percent of Democrats say they're enthusiastic, down 11 points.

Read more about the poll

Several Democratic sources say multiple Obama advisers have told the party they believe Coakley is going to lose. The sources said they still hoped Obama's weekend visit to the state, coupled with a late push by party activists, could tip the balance in her favor, but Obama aides have grown increasingly pessimistic since Friday.

The race is so close that Democrats are trying to figure out if they can pass health care reform without that crucial 60th Senate vote. Top White House aides insist they are not engaging in any talk of contingency plans, because they believe Coakley will come out on top Tuesday.

The seat is currently held by former Kennedy aide and longtime friend Paul Kirk, who was appointed to the seat on an interim basis after the 77-year-old Kennedy died of brain cancer in August. Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin, a Democrat, said last week that certifying Tuesday's election results could take more than two weeks -- potentially enough time to allow congressional Democrats time to pass a final health care bill before Brown is seated.

But multiple Democratic sources say this is unlikely. Even if House and Senate Democrats could reach a deal to meld their bills and pass them in the next couple of weeks, there would be a huge outcry from not only Republicans, but also an increasingly distrustful public.

Read more about Democrats' backup plan on health care

Both the Coakley and Brown campaigns have raised large sums of cash in the past week and combined have spent well over a $1 million on television commercials. National party organizations as well as independent groups have also flooded the airwaves in the typically politically uncompetitive Massachusetts.

Former President Bill Clinton held rallies for Coakley on Friday, while former New York City mayor and 2008 GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has teamed up with Brown.

[garyrulez]

This is really a shocking story. Not only could the Republicans take a seat that's been Democratic forever- in one of the most liberal states in the country- but to take the seat based entirely on being against health care reform from a guy whose LITERAL dying wish was that health care reform be passed is astonishing.

Word on the street is that Dem "insiders" are already planning for defeat.

[Amicustoall]

Perhaps this is a statement that other democrats ought to listen to.

[Michelle in WI]

I think it's actually because she said Kurt Schilling is a Yankee's fan.

[garyrulez]

I think it's actually because she said Kurt Schilling is a Yankee's fan.

That was a really, really bad move. In Massachusetts, Republicans are third, Dems are second, and Red Sox Nation is first.

Seriously, how stupid was that?

[garyrulez]

Wow- Scott Brown not only curb-stomped the Dem running for Kennedy's seat, but he won freaking Hyannasport. Holy moly.

[therealshell]

I hope to not upset anyone by stating this, but, after seeing George W. Bush on telly the other day, I still don't care for him.

Note to CayCay: I am not bashing him here.

[Michelle in WI]

That was a really, really bad move. In Massachusetts, Republicans are third, Dems are second, and Red Sox Nation is first.

Seriously, how stupid was that?

I don't even follow baseball, but I know Kurt Schilling is the Red Sox hero with the bloody sock. Come on, lady!

He won Hyannisport? Wow.

[Amicustoall]

shell it is ok that you don't care for him. To me politics is not about caring for someone it is whether that person can govern and lead.

gary that is really amazing. I had not read or heard that yet.

[Amicustoall]

Suspect in 8 Virginia killings surrenders
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/20/virginia.shootings/index.html


To me it is even scarier when it seems to have been so well planned out.

[Amicustoall]

Toyota halts US sales of Camry, 7 other models
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/01/27/toyota_halts_us_sales_of_camry_7_other_models_asso ciated_press/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed7

While it is the responsible thing to do at this point, it unfortunately might have a huge negative impact on the company in a long term way, and certainly the economy in a more general way.

[Amicustoall]

Study: Abstinence program most effective at delaying sex among youths
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/02/abstinence.study/index.html?hpt=Sbin&hpt=T2
First, I was a bit surprised at the outcome of the study. But, more importantly, I was aghast at the age of the kids included.

[Amicustoall]

A Chinese Bank to loan funds 4 a high-speed train b/w Vegas & LA?! Some hurdles to overcome b4 that's a reality though http://bit.ly/3l7P0C

I would think that this would be a winner. Not only are you a hero for employing 1000s of people, it would make money from the day it was opened.

[garyrulez]

It's a phenomenal idea. Another thing I'd heard was the potential of building an airport between LA and Vegas that the high speed train would run through. Instead of all the congestion of LAX and McCarren, you could fly in between the two, then get to whichever city you wanted in less than an hour.

[Amicustoall]

Well it would make the most sense to put the "train station" in like Ontario or some east of LA, so that it would serve LA, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and San Diego as well. In Vegas, put it just south of the strip.

[garyrulez]

I totally agree.

[Amicustoall]

I know that I would see more shows in Vegas if I could get in and out that easily.

[garyrulez]

Unlike the brain-dead idea they've come up with here to build a train (NOT a high speed train, mind you) between Cleveland and Cincinnati, this actually makes sense.

[Amicustoall]

Blizzard headed toward mid-Atlantic region
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/weather/02/05/winter.storm/index.html?hpt=T2

Everyone in the area stay safe.

[Amicustoall]

Snow-weary region expects second wallop
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/weather/02/08/winter.weather/index.html?hpt=T2

I hope that everyone is all snuggled up in front of a fire, with a hot chocolate and kahlua, and safe.

[Amicustoall]

Earthquake rattles northern Illinois
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/02/10/illinois.earthquake/index.html?hpt=T2

Anyone feel it? I spent 7 years in southern Illinois and never felt a quake, even though there is a major fault there.

[Amicustoall]

Bill Clinton in New York hospital, ABC News reports???
(CNN) -- Former President Bill Clinton was hospitalized in New York on Thursday, ABC News reported.

Two sources have told CNN that Clinton went to the hospital after experiencing chest pains.

Clinton, 63, underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

A spokeswoman for that hospital said she had not heard anything about the report.

Bill Clinton undergoes heart procedure following chest 'discomfort'
(CNN) -- Former President Bill Clinton was hospitalized in New York on Thursday after experiencing chest pain.

"Today President Bill Clinton was admitted to the Columbia Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital after feeling discomfort in his chest," said Douglas Band, counselor to the former president, in a written statement.

"Following a visit to his cardiologist, he underwent a procedure to place two stents in one of his coronary arteries. President Clinton is in good spirits, and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts. In 2004, President Clinton underwent a successful quadruple bypass operation to free four blocked arteries."

[Amicustoall]

I can't wait for the challenges to this one.

The city of West Hollywood voted unanimously to ban the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. The goal of the ban is to eliminate the demand for commercially bred dogs and cats and reduce the inhumane conditions in the breeding industry.

[Jolena]

Please don't let our council members want to do this too! I don't even think that we have any pet stores in the city, but that wouldn't stop them LOL

[Amicustoall]

Well next they should take on improving the lives of garment works, and prohibit the sale of clothes in the city!

[Jolena]

But that would make sense. The one thing I have learned about local government is that you can't do anything that actually makes sense or is logical! ;)

[Amicustoall]

I guess from where I sit there is no difference. They are trying to negatively impact puppy mills, so stores can't sell puppies, no matter they origin..........in my example tis the same but with clothes. I personally find it offensive, and seriously question the constitutionality of either.

[WeedMage]

Banning dogs and cats sold in pet stores is a good thing. If you want a purebred dog or cat go to a REPUTABLE breeder. Go check out that breeder's home/kennel PERSONALLY. They should be interviewing you just as much as you're interviewing them. Talk to your local breed club - DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Check out at a breed rescue group.

Or just adopt from a shelter.

NEVER EVER get a dog or cat from a pet store!

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/

WARNING: this next link is photos - might be difficult to look at for some people:

http://images.google.com/images?q=puppy+mills&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=1AB7S9qVAo7etgPV6tnLCA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB4QsAQwAw

[Amicustoall]

Weed not all dogs and cats sold at pet stores are from abusive puppy mills, that is the problem. They are regulating the sale of a product, some of which come from nasty places, some of which do not.

[WeedMage]

Weed not all dogs and cats sold at pet stores are from abusive puppy mills, that is the problem. They are regulating the sale of a product, some of which come from nasty places, some of which do not.

The thing is - how do you know the difference?

[Amicustoall]

Weed how do you know that the jeans you are wearing were not made in a factory where 6 year old are made to work 15 hour days for a bowl of rice? You do what you can to find out, ask questions etc. And if you are not satisfied about their origins, then don't buy it. But why can a legitimate breeder sell dogs or cats?

[WeedMage]

But why can a legitimate breeder sell dogs or cats?

Huh? I don't understand this question.

If you're going to ask questions about where a puppy came from, you're probably not buying it from a pet store. This is a "cause" of mine.

First thing - if you're in a pet store, you might not even have planned to buy a puppy, but get caught up in their overwhelming cuteness factor. A percentage of these purchases eventually end up in a shelter because the human did not know what they were getting into. This human also has no clue about puppy mills and won't ask.

If pet stores are not allowed to sell puppies (or kittens) this scenario will not happen.

Let them bring in rescue groups for "adoption day" where the group's org can educate people on the breed and filter out someone not suited for that dog. My sister works with a Collie rescue org and they have a pretty tough screening process before they'll allow a dog to go to a forever home.

[Amicustoall]

Weed that should have been "can't."

You can point to horror stories no matter where a puppy or kitten is acquired. But to forbid the sale in a legitimate store is beyond encroaching on your basic freedoms in the US. I am not saying the cause isn't a good one, but the means is bullshit.

[WeedMage]

When there are no more puppy mills in this country, let the pet stores sell puppies.

[Amicustoall]

Facebook gripes protected by free speech, ruling says
Miami, Florida (CNN) -- A former Florida high school student who was suspended by her principal after she set up a Facebook page to criticize her teacher is protected constitutionally under the First Amendment, a federal magistrate ruled.

U.S. Magistrate Barry Garber's ruling, in a case viewed as important by Internet watchers, denied the principal's motion to dismiss the case and allows a lawsuit by the student to move forward.

"We have constitutional values that will always need to be redefined due to changes in technology and society," said Ryan Calo, an attorney with Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society.

"The fact that students communicate on a semi-public platform creates new constitutional issues and the courts are sorting them out," Calo said.

Katherine Evans, now 19 and attending college, was suspended in 2007 from Pembroke Pines Charter High School after she used her home computer to create a Facebook page titled, "Ms. Sarah Phelps is the worst teacher I've ever met."

In his order, Garber found that the student had a constitutional right to express her views on the social networking site.

"Evans' speech falls under the wide umbrella of protected speech," he wrote. "It was an opinion of a student about a teacher, that was published off-campus ... was not lewd, vulgar, threatening, or advocating illegal or dangerous behavior."

Matthew Bavaro, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who is representing Evans, was pleased with the ruling.

"The First Amendment provides protection for free speech regardless of the forum, being the Internet, the living room or a restaurant," he told CNN.

On the Facebook page created by Evans, which included a picture of her teacher, Evans wrote: "To those select students who have had the displeasure of having Ms. Sarah Phelps, or simply knowing her and her insane antics: Here is the place to express your feelings of hatred."

According to court documents, Phelps never saw the posting, which was made from a home computer after school hours.

After receiving three comments from people who criticized her and supported the teacher, Evans removed the page from Facebook.

School principal Peter Bayer suspended Evans, an honor student, for three days for disruptive behavior and cyberbullying of a staff member. Bayer also removed her from Advanced Placement classes and assigned her to regular classes.

Bavaro, Evans' attorney, is seeking to have the court find the school's suspension invalid and to have documents related to the suspension removed from her school file.

"It will eliminate any official public record and validate her rights, since her First Amendment rights were violated," he said.

Internet experts say the court got it right, and that the ruling shows the law evolving with society.

"It reassures Internet users and students that they can still speak their mind," Calo said. "Its not a security issue. Its personal opinion and gossip."

Calo believes high-profile campus shootings at Columbine and Virginia Tech have made schools more security conscious. But in this case, the principal went too far, he said.

"I think this is just an example of an overreaction on the part of an administrator to speech outside the classroom," he said.

"It used to be that principals wouldn't hear you talking about teachers outside the class. Social networks give principals the ability to see what students are saying about teachers and each other.

"It's one thing to use that information to identify illegal or dangerous conduct. It's quite another to punish opinion and speech outside the classroom that doesn't disrupt the activities of the classroom," he told CNN.

Bavaro said Evans is not granting media interviews at this time. He said she is not seeking to get rich from her lawsuit.

"We are only seeking nominal, token damages. Maybe $100. Some token amount to show that her rights were violated," he said. This case is not about money."

An attorney representing Bayer, the school principal, did not return CNN's calls for comment.


I am really not sure why this is case drew attention really, and to me it certainly does not stand for any proposition that is new or cutting edge. It is free speech pure and simple. It really is no different than a student mailing flyers, or standing at a Starbucks expressing her opinion about the teacher.

[Amicustoall]

Do you think Toyota can survive another recall?

Toyota considering a recall of Corollas
By Coco Masters and Jim Puzzanghera | 8:31 a.m.
Company President Akio Toyoda says the automaker is "ready to respond" to power-steering complaints.

[WeedMage]

After receiving three comments from people who criticized her and supported the teacher, Evans removed the page from Facebook.

It makes me happy that some people did this instead of just ignoring it.

School principal Peter Bayer suspended Evans, an honor student, for three days for disruptive behavior and cyberbullying of a staff member. Bayer also removed her from Advanced Placement classes and assigned her to regular classes.

I'm a little torn here - I feel like the suspension is appropriate. If Ms Evans had such a problem with the teacher, she should have gone to her parents and the principal. Maybe she did - I don't know, but I think "cyberbullying" is legit and should be addressed in some way.

Taking her out of the AP class was not appropriate and, to me, is actually worse than the suspension, but didn't seem to be addressed in court.

I am really not sure why this is case drew attention really, and to me it certainly does not stand for any proposition that is new or cutting edge. It is free speech pure and simple. It really is no different than a student mailing flyers, or standing at a Starbucks expressing her opinion about the teacher.

It obviously drew your attention :)

[Amicustoall]

Yep it drew my attention because of the silly statements speaking about evolving law. To me this is not evolving law at all. In the US we still have freedom of speech, and the young lady had a right to complain about the teacher, it makes no difference to me if that is done on a blog, facebook, a billboard, a flyer or just plain speech. She was merely exercising that right, and should not be punished by removal from school or AP classes. To me what was described in the article is far from cyberbullying, in fact labeling it that way really makes a mockery of legitimate cyberbullying. And the other charge grounds of disruptive behavior is just plain funny. It is obvious that the administration wanted to punish the young lady for exercising her freedom of speech and had to stretch and stretch to find a "legitimate" niche.

[Amicustoall]

How horrible.

A small single-engine plane crashed into a building in Northwest Austin Thursday morning, sparking a fire.

The crash happened near MoPac and Highway 183.

Smoke could be scene pouring from the a building in the Echelon complex on traffic cameras and in photosgraphs send in by KVUE viewers and reporters.

KVUE’s Noelle Newton reports most of the windows are blown out. People were evacuated. There is so far no word on how many people have been injured. A witness told KVUE that it didn't appear the plane was having any trouble before it crashed.

Firefighters say they have made several rescues, but so far two people are unaccounted for.

Officials say an FBI field office is housed in the complex, but it was not hit. They say this appears to be accidental.

Traffic in the area is being diverted.

[Amicustoall]

This is awful!!!

(CNN) -- The latest news as it comes in to CNN from the scene of the crash of a small plane in Austin, Texas. (All times are ET, one hour ahead of local Austin time.)

12:38 p.m. The pilot of the plane had set his house on fire beforehand, stole the plane and crashed it intentionally, a federal official told CNN.

12:18 p.m.: Witnesses described an infernal scene that shook nearby buildings and sent fire and smoke bellowing into the sky. "I just saw smoke and flames," said CNN iReporter Mike Ernest. "I could not believe what I was seeing. It was just smoke and flames everywhere."

12:11 p.m.: Harry Evans of the Austin Fire Department said firefighters found "heavy fire destruction in and around the second floor ... lots of heat, lots of smoke, lots of fire."

Are you there? Share your photos, video, stories with CNN

12:05 p.m.: Two people were transported from the crash site to University Medical Center Brackenridge, said hospital spokeswoman Matilda Sanchez. She could not provide additional information. University Medical Center Brackenridge is the only Level 1 trauma center for adults in Austin.

12:03 p.m.: Cynthia Reed, who works in the building next to the one hit, told CNN she saw people who apparently were trapped. "They were hanging out the windows, screaming for help," she said.

12:02 p.m.: "At this time we have no reason to believe there is a nexus to criminal or terrorist activity," said Matt Chandler, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. "We are in the process of coordinating with state officials and other federal partners to gather more information and at this time we will defer additional questions to local officials and the FAA."

11:44 a.m.: Firefighters used two ladder trucks and other equipment to hose down the blaze at the building, which police said was located in the 9400 block of Research Boulevard. Traffic on Southbound U.S. 183, which is adjacent to the crash site, started to snarl as black smoke poured out of the seven-story building.

[42stairs]

Cleveland, Ohio: Miserable City, USA (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35449611/ns/business-us_business//)

As someone who grew up about 20 minutes east of Cleveland, I find this sad. Even sadder is that I can't argue with it. :( Other miserable cities include Detroit, New York, and last year's "champion"Stockton Ca. Does your city rank?

[just blame craig]

How horrible.

A small single-engine plane crashed into a building in Northwest Austin Thursday morning, sparking a fire.

The crash happened near MoPac and Highway 183.

Smoke could be scene pouring from the a building in the Echelon complex on traffic cameras and in photosgraphs send in by KVUE viewers and reporters.

KVUE’s Noelle Newton reports most of the windows are blown out. People were evacuated. There is so far no word on how many people have been injured. A witness told KVUE that it didn't appear the plane was having any trouble before it crashed.

Firefighters say they have made several rescues, but so far two people are unaccounted for.

Officials say an FBI field office is housed in the complex, but it was not hit. They say this appears to be accidental.

Traffic in the area is being diverted.

There was a small plain crash near my house on Monday, 5 died.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/nyregion/17plane.html

[garyrulez]

Cleveland, Ohio: Miserable City, USA (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35449611/ns/business-us_business//)

As someone who grew up about 20 minutes east of Cleveland, I find this sad. Even sadder is that I can't argue with it. :( Other miserable cities include Detroit, New York, and last year's "champion"Stockton Ca. Does your city rank?

Well, that's marvelous. I'm going to complain to my county commissioners. Oh right: they're all under indictment.

[Amicustoall]

42 I have not been to Cleveland area in a couple of years, but last time I was there it had vastly improved from when I was a kid..........you know in the dark ages.

[Amicustoall]

Craig I remember that news story and it was say as well, but something about someone purposefully doing that kind of thing.............shit you want to die, go do it, but why take others with you?

[42stairs]

42 I have not been to Cleveland area in a couple of years, but last time I was there it had vastly improved from when I was a kid..........you know in the dark ages.

Oh, it DEFINITELY improved in the late 80s-early 90s, with the Flats revitalization, and the Gateway project that brought us Jacobs Field and Gund Arena (sorry, Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena)....and hey, the river hasn't caught on fire in over 40 years! But sadly the city seems to have regressed back to the Mistake By The Lake. :(

Well, that's marvelous. I'm going to complain to my county commissioners. Oh right: they're all under indictment
Just think, once they're in jail, they'll have plenty of time to read your letters. :rolleyes:

[Amicustoall]

42 I am sorry to hear that. My dad grew up in Shaker Heights, and we used to visit there quite often when I was a kid. I had not been there in more than 20 years when I made a quick trip in and out for a BNL show 2-3 years ago, and I was impressed how nice downtown seemed.

[42stairs]

I'm planning a trip up to Ohio in March (first Sandusky to visit the in-laws, then Akron to visit some friends. ) Might have to swing by Cleveland to see what's going on. Honestly, I haven't been to Cleveland in a few years, but the last time I was there I noticed a lot of empty residential space downtown.


Oh, and my name is Vicki, btw. *waves*

[Amicustoall]

Nice to meet you. I grew up in Upper Arlington (outside of Columbus). I have not been back in that neck of the woods for uhhh....maybe longer than you have been able to read. When I flew out for BNL shows, I flew into Detroit, went to that show, stayed with a friend in Toledo, drove to Cleveland for a show and flew out at the break of dawn and came home. I did see the area from Toledo to Cleveland, but not much else. When we retire I think some road trips in that area would be fun. We are here in southern California if you ever get this way.

[42stairs]

Oops...thread hijacking. I'll move this to PM....


we now return you to your regularly scheduled News thread, already in progress.

[WeedMage]

Does anything good happen in the US?

[42stairs]

Occasionally, yes:

3 year old give prosthetic leg to Haiti (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35198679#35198679)

Bill and Melinda Gates pledge $10 Billion for vaccines: or "If I had $10 billion dollars, I'd buy you some health care" (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35140870/ns/health/)


New World Hugging Record (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35391983/ns/us_news-weird_news/)

[garyrulez]

Here's the thing about that list: Cleveland has problems, no doubt. The weather sucks, the politicians suck, and for way too long, the city completely ignored that all of its industry was evaporating. But...there is a lot of good, too, which Forbes didn't seem very interested in talking about:

We have some of the best restaurants and one of the top chefs (Michael Symon) in the country.

We have arguably the best medical care in America- Lowes just announced that any of their employees needing heart care would be flown to Cleveland for treatment.

We have some great entertainment options: one of the country's best orchestras, LeBron, a top art museum (how many of you knew The Thinker was at the Cleveland Museum of Art?), and- yes, I know it's a cliche at this point- the Rock Hall.

So, we definitely have our problems...but worse than Youngstown, Flint, Detroit? No way.

[42stairs]

Good points, Gary. And Cleveland is called the Comeback City....


It just seems that Cleveland is getting hit hard by the economic troubles we are in, and because I grew up near there, it's sort of like finding out your favorite aunt is really sick.


But the weather....ugh....the sun more or less goes into hibernation in November and comes back as April nears. And we do have bad luck with our sports teams....however, I firmly believe this is the Cavs year (I've been saying that for years but this is THE year!) I will say this, if LeBron leaves the Cavs at the endof the season, I am driving to whatever city he signs with, and kidnapping him. Sure, he's over a foot taller than me, is twice my weight, but I am older than him and will not hesitate to turn him over my knee and spank the stupidity of leaving the Cavs out of him. :D

[Amicustoall]

Gilmore Girls go Hollywood?
I think I had a small stroke when I read the headline on Popeater.com: "Alexis Bledel Ponders a 'Gilmore Girls' Movie." I still cannot get enough of the two Lorelais, even though "Gilmore Girls" completed its run nearly three years ago.

The show - set in fictional Stars Hollow, Connecticut - centered on a mother-daughter duo who were best friends first and parent/child second. Oh, and it was magical! Not in a wands and broomsticks sort of way, mind you; but in a "sitting on a window seat, watching snow fall, drinking hot cider (or coffee, if you’re a Gilmore) and savoring a great book" way.

Series creator Amy Sherman-Paladino (a.k.a the smart American girl's hero) breathed tremendous life into her characters. For example, Bledel's character, Rory, aspired to be CNN's Christiane Amanpour, quoted Dorothy Parker (Sherman-Palladino's production company is named Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions) and read Proust. Literature was essentially an un-credited character on "Gilmore Girls."

The plot goes like this: Series protagonist, Lorelai Gilmore, turned down a life of privilege after becoming pregnant at 16 and opted to raise her daughter on her own. At the show’s premiere, Lorelai was 32, Rory was 16, and the show was about how Lorelai wanted Rory to be exactly like her, but at the same time be nothing like her. She wanted Rory to have the advantages she never had (top-notch education, world travel), but also wanted to keep her away from coming out parties, cotillions, rich snobbery and overall stuffiness. Throughout the show’s seven seasons, we saw Lorelai grow from inn manager/community college student pursuing a business degree by night to proprietress of her very own country inn.

We simultaneously watched Rory grow from 15-year-old Harvard-bound prep school student, to editor of the Yale Daily News (she picked Yale after agonizing over one of her famous pro-con lists) to Ivy League graduate and reporter on the Obama campaign.

But sandwiched within those details were the elements that made the show dazzle. The quirky inhabitants of Stars Hollow were straight out of a 1940s screwball comedy (articles could be written about each one of them). Lorelai's parents, Richard and Emily Gilmore, started off in the series by funding Rory's education but wound up guiding, anchoring and nurturing both Lorelai and Rory, and always with a great sense of humor.

What other fictional TV show could nab guest stars like Madeleine Albright, Senator Barbara Boxer, Norman Mailer, and the aforementioned Christiane Amanpour?

While a "Gilmore Girls" movie is still feeding rumor mills, I wonder if it is better to just leave well enough alone. Perhaps it is best not to mess with perfection.

What about you? Would you like to see a "Gilmore Girls" movie? Or, if you weren’t a "Gilmore" watcher, are there any TV shows (a la “Sex and the City") that you believe would translate well to the Silver Screen?

Posted by: Katie McLaughlin -- CNN



I for one would love to see the Gilmore Girls in a movie format.

[garyrulez]

We now have the details on new New NEW Obamacare. I think this is version 9.2.

So, the brave new initiative is the same plan that the public hates, with the added bonus that Obama is going to be able to tell health care providers how and when they can increase or decrease their rates? His great idea is that the president of the United States should be able to exercise price control over an entire industry? I don’t know what bugs me more: the idea itself or the fact that he apparently believes it’s within the scope of his duties as an elected official in a free country- with a free market economy- to take over price controls of a massive industry. Hey, if this works, why not let him decide how much new cars should cost? On that note, flat screen TV’s seem pretty damned expensive to me.

This, by the way, is not at all dissimilar to the Soviet Union mass producing all left shoes because it satisfied the quota.

Seriously, though, never once has this administration suggested any legislation that would LEGALLY address medical costs: not once has TORT reform been mentioned, nor have they addressed the ridiculous state-by-state pricing of insurance. If you could reign in malpractice insurance costs, the costs of ridiculous law suits, and allow insurance companies to actually compete with each other, you WOULD control costs in a way that is actually beneficial- and actually INCREASE freedom.

But, sadly, this is more proof that this is actually the way our president thinks: let ME personally take it over, and it will be better. Scary, man.

[Lacey]

I dunno Gary, charging someone who's unemployed (let alone employed!) $400+/month for insurance doesn't seem excessive to you? (And that's not even counting the people who are "uninsurable" because they're not healthy enough, but that's another issue)

Frankly, the insurance companies are only out for one thing, and that's not making people healthy. I don't know if this is the best way to go about changing that, but eventually, something's gotta give.

And honestly I don't find the government takeover of health care or insurance companies very scary at all, so take that into account haha

[garyrulez]

We disagree fundamentally on this one, Lacey, so we're not going to make a single point that's going to cause the other one to suddenly change his/her mind. The fundamental point is that I DO believe government takeover of private industry is scary.

Ford has had a near-rennaissance of a recovery over the last year. Their cars are selling better, their stock has gone up almost 10 times from the low. Heard any good news about GM lately?

[Lacey]

Well duh Gary, I'm not trying to change your mind haha I just asked if you thought the actual costs of health insurance are fair currently. Maybe you do, I dunno.

and frankly I don't follow the auto industry at all, so besides Toyota kicking the bucket with gas pedals I don't know shit about anyone else haha

[garyrulez]

Well duh Gary, I'm not trying to change your mind haha I just asked if you thought the actual costs of health insurance are fair currently. Maybe you do, I dunno.

and frankly I don't follow the auto industry at all, so besides Toyota kicking the bucket with gas pedals I don't know shit about anyone else haha

No I do not think health care is fairly priced today- but I think it can be reigned in without the president having the ability to force price changes.

Regulating lawsuits against doctors and regulating malpractice insurance would substantially reduce what doctors charge- that's not even mentioned in the plan. Allowing insurance companies to compete across states (which they are now, for no apparent reason, not allowed to do) is not even mentioned in the plan.

Those two things alone will not "solve the problem", but don't they even deserve a MENTION in a complete overhaul of the health care system?

[Lacey]

probably! haha

I miss his lofty single-payer system dreams lol

[garyrulez]

Yeah, the problem is, it turns out that you're one of about 15 people who miss that!

[Amicustoall]

Ahhhh a monopoly will solve the problem! I am not sure that history will support that theory.

[WeedMage]

I wonder what came first - insurance companies or high medical costs ...

[garyrulez]

This is an actual non-made up quote from YOUR Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. I'm not even going to put my own comments on it, because it probably speaks for itself (which is to say, the man is insane):

"I met with some people while I was home dealing with domestic abuse. It has gotten out of hand. Why? Men don't have jobs. Women don't have jobs either, but women aren't abusive most of the time. Men, when they're out of work, tend to become abusive."

Okay, one comment, Senator: I would love to see the clinically endorsed study that shows the link between losing your job and beating your wife.

[Amicustoall]

cnnbrk

Nearly 1 in 11 U.S. banks at risk of failure, FDIC says. http://on.cnn.com/ajyoP4


Those are some scarey thoughts.

[Michelle in WI]

Hate to tell you, Gary, but Uncle Harry may be on to something:

http://new.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/AR_EconomicStress.pdf

In the interest of full disclosure, I have only had a chance to skim this. It does seem to warrant a full reading, once I get the chance.

[garyrulez]

Thanks, Michelle- I found that very interesting. In a bad way.

Also, as far as Harry goes, I still somehow found his comments vaguely condescending.

[katezilla]

Growing Pains actor Andrew Koenig missing from Vancouver.... aka "Boner" Stabone.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/23/growing.pains.missing.actor/index.html

[garyrulez]

Yeah...that story is sad and weird and creepy...and his dad was on Star Trek.

[Amicustoall]

I guess this is cleaning house!

(CNN) -- A school board in Rhode Island has voted to fire all teachers at a struggling high school, a dramatic and controversial plan aimed at shoring up education in a poverty-ridden school district.

On Tuesday night, the board approved the plan by Frances Gallo, superintendent at Central Falls School District, to discharge 88 teachers at Central Falls High School.

The firings come over the district's concern that teachers refused to spend more time with students to improve test scores.

But a teachers' union spokesman called the firings "drastic" and cited a 21 percent rise in reading scores and a 3 percent hike in math scores in two years.

The terminations will go into effect in the next school year at Central Falls, one of the lowest-performing schools in the state.

[Amicustoall]

Wow, I had not heard about this, damned Olympics!

David Benke: On Tuesday afternoon, a gunman with a high-powered rifle shot and wounded two students outside Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colorado. The school is near Columbine High School, where two seniors killed 12 students and a teacher in 1999.

The Denver Post reports that Benke, a 57-year-old math teacher, heard what he thought were firecrackers and walked toward a man with a rifle filling the chamber with another round. "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to grab him before he got a second shot off," Benke told the newspaper. "I grabbed him, and I think he dropped the gun. Basically we danced around."

A second math teacher, Norm Hanne, also wrestled with the shooter, according to the paper.

Authorities on Wednesday identified the suspect as 32-year-old Bruco Strongeagle Eastwood.

After being subdued, the shooter "said he was going to sue us," Benke told the newspaper.

The Post reports that Benke, a one-time finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year, became the subject of a Facebook page, some three hours after the shootings. The page is called "Dr. David Benke Is A Hero!!!!" By 11 p.m. Tuesday, the page had more than 7,100 members.

[Amicustoall]

All of you in these parts of the country be safe out there!

(CNN) -- A major nor'easter is expected to bring blizzard conditions to interior New England and heavy rain and near-hurricane-force wind gusts to Northeastern coastal areas Wednesday through Friday.

Little, if any, snow will fall in Boston, Massachusetts, while Washington, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, could see as much as 5 inches of snow with locally higher amounts, CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said.

Record snowfall totals of 30 inches or more will be possible across upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, Morris said. Very strong winds will combine with the heavy snow to produce dangerous white-out conditions and widespread power outages.

[Amicustoall]

It must be nice to have nothing better for our legislature to do:

987LA

CA State Assembly declares "Cuss Free Week"! Initiative started by a teen who began a No Cussing Club at his Jr. high http://bit.ly/3l7P0C

[garyrulez]

It must be nice to have nothing better for our legislature to do:

987LA

CA State Assembly declares "Cuss Free Week"! Initiative started by a teen who began a No Cussing Club at his Jr. high http://bit.ly/3l7P0C

What a fucking waste of time.

[Lacey]

fuckin' agreed, Gary!

[garyrulez]

Absolutely stunning new poll from CNN:

56% of Americans believe that the federal government of the US poses "an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens". The number of independents was an incredible 63%.

I mean, just chew on that for a second. More than half of Americans- one year after Obama was elected easily- think their own government is a threat to freedom. Wow.

[Den of Antiquity]

Absolutely stunning new poll from CNN:

56% of Americans believe that the federal government of the US poses "an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens". The number of independents was an incredible 63%.

I mean, just chew on that for a second. More than half of Americans- one year after Obama was elected easily- think their own government is a threat to freedom. Wow.

As a life-long Californian, let me just say on thing before cuss-free week is over... HOLY FUCK!!

[Amicustoall]

Damn it gary, why in the hell would you think that fucking legislature enacting a no cuss week is a fucking waste of time?

[Amicustoall]

That poll is enlightening. I doubt it will have much of an effect on the politicians, but it should

[Amicustoall]

Uh oh, not good news for already troubled Toyota

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/02/26/dnt.toyota.hits.house.wgcl?hpt=T2

[Jolena]

Apparently no cuss week starts next Monday...LOL I can't imagine why CA is so fucked up right now!

[katezilla]

I gave up swearing for Lent. 40 days of no swearing. Holy smokes.

[garyrulez]

Does typing swears count?

[Amicustoall]

gary, shit I have not reviewed the legislature personally so I don't have a fucking clue, and frankly I don't give a damn enough to do it either.

[WeedMage]

Absolutely stunning new poll from CNN:

56% of Americans believe that the federal government of the US poses "an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens". The number of independents was an incredible 63%.

I mean, just chew on that for a second. More than half of Americans- one year after Obama was elected easily- think their own government is a threat to freedom. Wow.

Probably the same people who think Obama is a terrorist without a US birth certificate.

And look - I actually responded without cussing - not so difficult, is it?

[Amicustoall]

Weed I never said it was difficult. I think it is stupid that my legislature felt that that was the most important thing they had to deal with. Add to that the infringement of my right of free speech, and it just makes me say What the fuck!

I for one have to say I don't think Obama is a terrorist without a US birth certificate; however, without proof that he is eligible to serve as the President is worrysome to me.

[garyrulez]

Probably the same people who think Obama is a terrorist without a US birth certificate.

If 63% of independents said this, then a hell of a lot of people have come to believe that after voting for the guy a year ago.

[garyrulez]

Rumor of the day:

CBS News is looking seriously to replace Katie Couric with....Anderson Cooper.

[WeedMage]

Rumor of the day:

CBS News is looking seriously to replace Katie Couric with....Anderson Cooper.

I've always liked him :)

[garyrulez]

From today's UK "Daily Telegraph":

The End of the Road for Barack Obama?

Mr Obama benefited in his campaign from an idiotic level of idolatry, in which most of the media participated with an astonishing suspension of cynicism....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/7396358/The-end-of-the-road-for-Barack-Obama.html

[Amicustoall]

(CNN) -- Looking for an affordable last-minute getaway? JetBlue Airways is celebrating its 10th birthday with a $10 one-day fare sale Monday on flights from New York to the airline's original 10 destinations.

Travel must be booked on JetBlue's Web site by 11:59 p.m. CST Monday for travel on Tuesday or Wednesday, March 9 or 10.

Flights included in JetBlue's "Thank You fare" promotion go from the airline's home base at New York's John F. Kennedy International airport to Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers, Florida; Buffalo and Rochester, New York; Oakland, California; Burlington, Vermont; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The airline plans to roll out a series of monthly deals to mark the beginning of its second decade, a JetBlue announcement said.

On Wednesday, JetBlue will announce giveaways for New York-based customers on Twitter, the announcement said.

"We are excited to kick things off in our own backyard with these $10 fares and Wednesday's giveaway in New York," said Robin Hayes, the airline's chief commercial officer.

[garyrulez]

Dan Rather offered this critique of President Obama yesterday on his HDNet show:

"Look, he's a nice guy, he's very articulate, but right now he couldn't sell watermelons..."

Watermelons, Dan? You may want to check your racist dictionary of terms not to associate with black presidents (yes, I realize he wasn't being intentionally racist, but, my God).

[Amicustoall]

Mary Josephine Ray, believed to be the oldest woman in the United States has died - she was 114 years and 294 days old. http://bit.ly/3l7P0C

[Michelle in WI]

Dan Rather offered this critique of President Obama yesterday on his HDNet show:

"Look, he's a nice guy, he's very articulate, but right now he couldn't sell watermelons..."

Watermelons, Dan? You may want to check your racist dictionary of terms not to associate with black presidents (yes, I realize he wasn't being intentionally racist, but, my God).

Watermelons?? Umm, wow.

[Michelle in WI]

No, this is not an Onion headline:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/03/lindsay-lohan-sues-e-trade-over-ad-baby/1

[Lacey]

hahaha arrogance personified.

[garyrulez]

Man, if only that baby had been named Jon...

[Amicustoall]

I hope that the only one that makes a dime off that piece of shit lawsuit is her lawyers!

[TheHYPO]

I hope that the only one that makes a dime off that piece of shit lawsuit is her lawyers!

The lawyers who, more likely than not, did their job and legally advised her that this would be a good idea for a law suit? I don't get why they should profit either.

[TheHYPO]

Weed I never said it was difficult. I think it is stupid that my legislature felt that that was the most important thing they had to deal with. Add to that the infringement of my right of free speech, and it just makes me say What the fuck!

I for one have to say I don't think Obama is a terrorist without a US birth certificate; however, without proof that he is eligible to serve as the President is worrysome to me.

I don't understand what purveyors of this "he isn't eligable" theory would like as proof. His birth certificate has been made public, and according to a completely independant website (http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertificate.asp) that makes it its business to debunk myths, his birth announcement was in two Hawaiian newspapers in 1961. Now, I know that they shoot "Lost" in Hawaii, but I'm pretty sure it's not the real Lost island, and that the Democrats there don't have the powers of time travel or a "magic box" to make things they wish for actually appear. Do people claim that the birth announcements are planted in 1961 when he was born because someone was PLANNING for him to be president? There must be copies available in public libraries (or are those not trustworthy either?)

1) Birth Certificate
2) 2x Birth announcements

That's two pieces of proof. So asking for proof is not the issue. People need to explain exactly what kind of proof they will accept so it can be provided.

[garyrulez]

I fail to understand why anyone would waste one calorie on Obama's birth status when there are so many legitimate issues facing his presidency that they could be complaining about.

[Amicustoall]

The lawyers who, more likely than not, did their job and legally advised her that this would be a good idea for a law suit? I don't get why they should profit either.

SInce it is privileged we will probably never know what was said by whom in those discussions but I can see two scenerios............one tell her hey that is a pretty weak case, and her saying..........IT IS THE PRINCIPLE I WANT TO SUE...............then I say attorneys get everything you can up front and go for it, the other is she came to them and they said ohhhhh best case ever..........in that case perhaps they should take on a contingency fee and they can both sink or swim together.

[PolyesterAngel]

Does this count as US news? I mean it happened in California ;)

Lone, lovelorn wolverine baffles scientists (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/09/MNPJ1CATHU.DTL)

[Amicustoall]

Foursquare takes lead in where-am-I apps
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/12/sxsw.foursquare/index.html?hpt=T2

OK I know I am older than some, but I just do not get these. To me they seem like a wonderful way to be tracked, stalked, and have your privacy invaded.

[Amicustoall]

A Santa Monica sushi restaurant, The Hump, and one of its chefs has been charged with illegally selling whale meat. The unlawful menu item was uncovered through a sting operation coordinated by the Oscar winning director of the documentary "The Cove" about the slaughter of dolphins in Japan. Two women ordered a chef's sampler plate -- when the waiter identified one of the thick raw pieces of meat as whale, the amateur investigator secretly pockets the meat which was later confirmed through DNA tests as Sei whale -- an endangered species. The restaurant admitted to the wrong-doing and could face a $200,000 fine -- the chef could get a year in prison

[garyrulez]

It's called The Hump? Who the fuck would eat ANYTHING from a place called The Hump?

[Den of Antiquity]

A Santa Monica sushi restaurant, The Hump, and one of its chefs has been charged with illegally selling whale meat. The unlawful menu item was uncovered through a sting operation coordinated by the Oscar winning director of the documentary "The Cove" about the slaughter of dolphins in Japan. Two women ordered a chef's sampler plate -- when the waiter identified one of the thick raw pieces of meat as whale, the amateur investigator secretly pockets the meat which was later confirmed through DNA tests as Sei whale -- an endangered species. The restaurant admitted to the wrong-doing and could face a $200,000 fine -- the chef could get a year in prison

They should lock the chef in a tank with Tilikum for a few hours so they can "play."

I just don't get what the appeal is. I was in Kumamoto on a business trip several years ago and was at one of those "let's feed the round-eyes some crazy shit" dinners they like to throw there. I found out after one of our meat-intensive courses that I had eaten raw whale and raw horse. The whale thing upset me quite a bit, but since I was begrudgingly raised on a horse ranch as a kid, I must admit I therapudically had seconds on the horse. Both were relatively gross tasting though. Even by Japanese food standards.

[Amicustoall]

gary when I read the articles I immediately thought that they ought to serve camel on a mace!! :)

[garyrulez]

They should lock the chef in a tank with Tilikum for a few hours so they can "play."

I just don't get what the appeal is. I was in Kumamoto on a business trip several years ago and was at one of those "let's feed the round-eyes some crazy shit" dinners they like to throw there. I found out after one of our meat-intensive courses that I had eaten raw whale and raw horse. The whale thing upset me quite a bit, but since I was begrudgingly raised on a horse ranch as a kid, I must admit I therapudically had seconds on the horse. Both were relatively gross tasting though. Even by Japanese food standards.

"Gross by Japanese standards" takes me to a place food-wise where I really don't want to go.

[garyrulez]

gary when I read the articles I immediately thought that they ought to serve camel on a mace!! :)

HAH! Uh...is that long enough! HAH I say again!

[Amicustoall]

OK this is odd

James Brown's body (viewer discretion advised) has been stolen, according to his reported love child LaRhonda Pettit.

The soul legend's body was put in a crypt after his death on Christmas Day in 2006. Since then it has been kept at his daughter Deanna's house in South Carolina while a public mausoleum was being prepared.

Pettit has now claimed the body has gone missing. Consequently, she says she is being denied the opportunity to carry out an autopsy to determine Brown's true cause of death.

"My daddy's body has disappeared. I have no clue where it was taken, but I need to know where," Pettit explained. "I'm convinced his death was suspicious and I want the people responsible brought to justice. The only way to do that is to exhume his body and have an autopsy. I cannot understand why one was never conducted."

Brown died in Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia of congestive heart failure and pneumonia.

Pettit is one of several people to come forward after his death claiming to be his love child. She was not named as a beneficiary in his will.

[garyrulez]

James Brown didn't strike me as a guy who smelled particularly fresh while amongst the living...God forbid today.

[garyrulez]

The State Department announced today that it will voluntarily submit a Human Rights report to the US Human Rights Council on human rights issues within the United States. Typically, the UNHRC asks a number of countries to submit reports for its "universal periodic review" process, but it's unusual for the US to volunteer to do so.

In fact, the US's membership on the UNHRC is controversial, in and of itself, as countries such as Iran are currently members (about a year ago, Iran's foreign minister used the UNHRC as his platform to declare Israel an "illegitimate Zionist regime).

Other countries who will be submitting "universal periodic reviews" at the request of the UN this year include human rights peers of the US such as Liberia, Libya, Lebanon, Mongolia, and Croatia.

[WeedMage]

Not trying to make light of a serious situation, but even the news reporter was trying not to smile on this one:

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Third-Avenue-closed-by-police-activity-87474352.html

What made me laugh was this:

"This man came in claimed to be a vampire and wanted food which he explained was people," said Mission director Mike Johnson.

"I'm a vampire and I'm hungry!" he exclaimed, casting a measuring eye to the people around him.

The Union Gospel Mission is a homeless shelter and at that time of day it was likely full of hungry people sitting down to breakfast.

[garyrulez]

He wants to eat people, the place is full of people...sounds like a win-win to me.

[Michelle in WI]

Does he sparkle in sunlight?

[garyrulez]

For the first time...well, ever...the Gallup poll shows more Americans disapprove of President Obama than approve. 46% Approval (down from 48% last week), 47% disapproval (down from 44% last week).

I debated putting this in the health care thread...

[Amicustoall]

cnnbrk

President Obama announces mortgage help for the unemployed and "underwater." http://on.cnn.com/bW8Sjd

[garyrulez]

Not exactly US news, but a South Korean ship was sunk and most or all of the sailors are feared dead. It's believed to have been sunk by North Korean ship.

Wonderful.

[Lacey]

ugggggggggggh. North Korea is probably the one country that actually scares me. If the world does end in 2012, it will be because of NK haha

[Michelle in WI]

Yikes.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100329/METRO/3290334/1409/Militia-members-arrested-in-Sunday-raid-to-be-charged-today

[garyrulez]

"Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment ...," one of the group's purported leaders wrote on its Web site. "We, the Hutaree, are prepared to defend all those who belong to Christ and save those who aren't. We will still spread the word, and fight to keep it, up to the time of the great coming."

I've heard of misinterpreting the Bible, but if I recall correctly (and I think I do because it was literally this Sunday's Gospel) Jesus's exact words were "put away your sword". They better hope the prosecution doesn't call him as a witness.

[garyrulez]

Not to one up you, Michelle, but the Cleveland Police finally answered an age-old question this weekend: How many cops does it take to collect on an 8 year old warrant for a misdemeanor?

A sold-out concert by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at House of Blues in Cleveland came to an abrupt end Sunday night when 50 Cleveland police officers and Cuyahoga County Sheriff's deputies descended on the venue and took a member of the Grammy-winning hip-hop group into custody.

Flesh-N-Bone, whose real name is Stanley Howse, was arrested, tour manager Josh Williams said shortly afterward.

A Third District police officer, who declined to give his name because he is not authorized to make public statements, said Howse had outstanding warrants and would spend the night in jail.

The officer said police from multiple districts were dispatched to the House of Blues because of the size of the crowd, estimated at 1,000-plus, and that nobody was hurt during the incident.

[Amicustoall]

I find this idea fascinating. Will have to ponder a bit about whether I like it or not.

Live Nation is testing out the use of 'smart chips' in place of paper tickets for festivals and other gigs. The smart chip would be used on a wrist band that would be unique only to you as the ticket purchasers. Since that bracelet was purchased by and used only by you, you could use the wristband to buy food, drinks, and even parking. However the major goal of the new technology is to curb ticket scalpers and brokers who sell ticket for well above face value. Several artists and bands including Muse are putting pressure on concert promoters to help protect fans from being scammed. [NME]

[garyrulez]

Amicus, I don't know if we've discussed this on here or not, but I'm still really up in the air as to my feelings on scalping. I think there's a very good argument in saying "it's my property, why can't I just sell it for more than I paid for it?"

[garyrulez]

Interesting poll: before the inauguration, 51% of Americans supported closing Guantanamo Bay. Today, only 39% say they support its closing and a full 60% believe it should remain open.

I'm really not sure what this could be attributed to. Overall dissatisfaction with the president? The fact that people realized if it closes, those prisoners are probably going to come to America or be released? I really don't know.

[Lacey]

I'd attribute it to the fact that polls suck. haha

[Amicustoall]

gary
I abhor scalping. The main reason is that it so screws the performers, and is a direct cause of the enormous price for tickets. From what I understand, there is a thought that true fans are willing to pay $150 a seat to a scalper, so why wouldn't that be willing to pay that in the first instance? Anyway, I wish the public in general would just say NO and then those people would stop.

I am pretty much a free marketplace person, but there is something about the limited nature of tickets and the anonymous means we use to purchase them that really gives me problems.

[WeedMage]

Not to one up you, Michelle, but the Cleveland Police finally answered an age-old question this weekend: How many cops does it take to collect on an 8 year old warrant for a misdemeanor?

Should that be how many Cleveland cops does it take?

:::ducks and runs for cover:::

(coming from someone who knows almost zippo about Cleveland - just cause I like to tease!)

[WeedMage]

gary
I abhor scalping. The main reason is that it so screws the performers, and is a direct cause of the enormous price for tickets. From what I understand, there is a thought that true fans are willing to pay $150 a seat to a scalper, so why wouldn't that be willing to pay that in the first instance? Anyway, I wish the public in general would just say NO and then those people would stop.

I am pretty much a free marketplace person, but there is something about the limited nature of tickets and the anonymous means we use to purchase them that really gives me problems.

I'm curious - how does it screw the performers and why is it a direct cause of the enormous price for tickets?

[Michelle in WI]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/27/v-fullstory/1551541/adam-walsh-murder-revisited-the.html

[garyrulez]

That's a really creepy story. Why is it just coming out now though? Maybe I didn't read the piece closely enough.

[Michelle in WI]

I'm not sure why, either. I think maybe it's just one of those stories that get a follow-up every once in a while because it was such a headline-grabber, went unsolved, and everyone took it so personally. It seems like Adam Walsh's abduction really changed things. It elevated the level of fear, and things never really went back.

[Amicustoall]

Weed because they (bands, acts, etc.) try to fair priced about their ticket prices, and professional scalpers go in buy those tickets, jack the price, so that fans have to pay a huge price, and THAT extra does not go into the musicians' /comics'/etc. pocket. I think that the advent of VIP packages etc., was because it became apparent that fans would pay that much, and the band/act/etc would get to share in that bigger price.

[WeedMage]

Weed because they (bands, acts, etc.) try to fair priced about their ticket prices, and professional scalpers go in buy those tickets, jack the price, so that fans have to pay a huge price, and THAT extra does not go into the musicians' /comics'/etc. pocket. I think that the advent of VIP packages etc., was because it became apparent that fans would pay that much, and the band/act/etc would get to share in that bigger price.

The only thing I can find against scalpers are the ones who buy up a bunch of tickets and re-sell them. They protect against that for online sales now, so I don't think it's as big a deal but maybe I'm just naive about that.

The performers are still getting what they expected to get from the "regular" ticket sales and I still don't see how scalpers make the performers jack up their prices. They don't HAVE to charge enormous amounts.

The only person getting screwed is the fan who chooses to pay some outrageous amount to get a ticket. So, that's not even really so much getting screwed :P

Now, what I don't like is when buying a ticket online and it's then a "will call" held ticket and then I decide not to go. I'm out the money period because the rules are that I have to be the one to pick up the ticket. (This is for the Victoria BC show that I'm using as a specific.) I can't make that trip to pick up the ticket and hand it off to someone (where I would only charge the cost of the ticket :)) so - the band gets the money and no one gets to see the show.

Don't blame the scalpers - they're kind of like hookers - they're just providing a service.

[garyrulez]

The other thing I would add to defend the scalpers is that let's say they buy up 100 tickets to a show and then the show doesn't come close to selling out. Now, not only are they not going to make a huge profit and screw over the fans, they're actually going to have to sell at a loss or even eat the entire cost of the tickets.

I've never seen a rich scalper.

[Michelle in WI]

When someone mentions scalpers, I always think of Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High

[Amicustoall]

gary I would say that the ticket brokers do alright for themselves, and they are scalpers, just more organized ones.

[Michelle in WI]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100331/ap_on_re_eu/eu_the_vatican_s_defense

[garyrulez]

I am a practicing Catholic and one of my good friends is a priest and the pastor who married Tanya and me and also baptized our daughter. In fact, he's also going to Christen my 74 year old father as a Catholic later this year. He's one of the few (at least that I've met) priests who acts like and treats you like a normal human being. So, that's where I'm coming from with this:

The Vatican makes me absolutely sick in many ways. They have willfully ignored real world issues not just during this latest crisis but for literally hundreds of years. Throughout history, for every John Paul II, who was truly a great ambassador and humanitarian, there has been a corrupt scumbag of a Pope. From Popes having multiple mistresses to Popes who took giant bribes to perhaps the worst sin of all: Popes ignoring the Nazis and the Holocaust. Still worse than the abuse scandal in my mind. I mean, hell, the collection of artwork the Vatican owns could almost end world hunger all by itself!

But here we are again: the Vatican putting politics and self-preservation ahead of the welfare of these poor people and the Church itself. The thing that upsets me the most is how frequently the Pope seems to do the exact opposite of his most important charge: setting a living example of Christ.

[garyrulez]

I admit it, I can't figure this guy out:


WASHINGTON (AP) - In a reversal of a long-standing ban on most offshore drilling, President Barack Obama is allowing oil drilling 50 miles off Virginia's shorelines. At the same time, he is rejecting some new drilling sites that had been planned in Alaska.

Obama's plan offers few concessions to environmentalists, who have been strident in their opposition to more oil platforms off the nation's shores. Hinted at for months, the plan modifies a ban that for more than 20 years has limited drilling along coastal areas other than the Gulf of Mexico.

[Lacey]

I am a practicing Catholic and one of my good friends is a priest and the pastor who married Tanya and me and also baptized our daughter. In fact, he's also going to Christen my 74 year old father as a Catholic later this year. He's one of the few (at least that I've met) priests who acts like and treats you like a normal human being. So, that's where I'm coming from with this:

The Vatican makes me absolutely sick in many ways. They have willfully ignored real world issues not just during this latest crisis but for literally hundreds of years. Throughout history, for every John Paul II, who was truly a great ambassador and humanitarian, there has been a corrupt scumbag of a Pope. From Popes having multiple mistresses to Popes who took giant bribes to perhaps the worst sin of all: Popes ignoring the Nazis and the Holocaust. Still worse than the abuse scandal in my mind. I mean, hell, the collection of artwork the Vatican owns could almost end world hunger all by itself!

But here we are again: the Vatican putting politics and self-preservation ahead of the welfare of these poor people and the Church itself. The thing that upsets me the most is how frequently the Pope seems to do the exact opposite of his most important charge: setting a living example of Christ.

Kind of tangential, but if you're interested in the history of the Vatican and especially corrupt popes, read A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester. It's actually a history book that kind of reads like a novel, and while it's about the Middle Ages, it certainly focuses heavily on corrupt popes. Super good read. Here's the synopsis on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_World_Lit_Only_by_Fire

But other than that I agree with your post! Vatican needs to wake up sometime here. I have a feeling that when this pope croaks, though, instead of electing someone progressive like JPII who could work on these issues, they'll just swing the other way and go ultra conservative.

[garyrulez]

Thanks, Lacey- I'm definitely going to read it. As a matter of fact, I'm going to get it tonight.

[Michelle in WI]

On a semi-related note, we watched Doubt recently. Amazing film.

[Lacey]

Sweeeeeeeeeet. :)

I should read it again. I had to read it for a history class (with like the best history prof ever, dude was awesome and a great teacher) in college but it was one of those I ended up reading in like 2 days because it was so interesting.

[Michelle in WI]

Okay, I normally disagree with just about everything Bill O says and does, but kudos to him on this one!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100331/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1390

[marebo]

i hope he follows thru...because what they do i do not consider free speech...i consider it harassement...and at a very emotional and vuneralble time in these people's lives...i may not believe in the war we are in...but the soldiers who fight them do at service to their president and the citizens of the usa...and deserve all our respect...they dont make the policy ...they follow the orders...i have two nephews in the army...and they have been deployed to iraq and afganistan...and luckily they came back alive...but who knows if they will have to go back again...i saw a documentary on this sect...so nice to sit in your compound with you swimming pool...and rail against the people who afford you that liberty to spew your hatred...

[Lacey]

Okay, I normally disagree with just about everything Bill O says and does, but kudos to him on this one!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100331/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1390

Agreed!!! Good for him. (Did you hear that, Gary? :D) I would be surprised if the ruling for paying those legal fees isn't overtuned as well.

[garyrulez]

Well, I guess I lived to see the day...seriously, that's a great gesture on his part. I feel bad for the judge though. I'm sure he hated to have to rule the way he did.

Lacey, bought the book.

[Lacey]

Yay! That's a big deal for me, because I never give book recommendations because I almost never read for fun anymore. haha

[garyrulez]

What's not fun about corruption and scandal in the Middle Ages?

[caycay]

Sallie Mae will be laying off 1/3 of their workforce or 2500 jobs because of the healthcare/education reform bill. I could not find the story on CNN or MSNBC, CBS or ABC, but of course FOX - but no-one likes them because they are biased. I could find a couple of stories that talked about the CEO taking a pay cut, but NOTHING about the lay-offs. Huh.

Finally on Huffington there was something http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/22/sallie-mae-plant-faces-im_n_509230.html


The good news? Maybe those 2500 people can go work for the IRS since they are adding 14,000-16,000 jobs to make sure the fines, er, taxes, are imposed on those who are forced (illegally in my book) to buy insurance.

Oh- and this year Social Security is upside down. Go Big Government!

[Amicustoall]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/04/01/navy.pirates/index.html?hpt=T1

That is somehow surprising and more than a bit disturbing. I mean they are ARMED!

[garyrulez]

Very interesting, cay: the most important line in that article to really read into how this administration views our country is that the federal government wants control of every student loan in America.

Please ask yourself: what on earth does the government controlling all student loans have to do with health care?

For me, I'm just going to put another chalk mark under "formerly private industries now controlled by the federal government".

[Lacey]

I'm confused and probably Gary you can explain it better.

I have student loans. Federal student loans, Perkins or whatever. That's money from the government, correct? I consolidated them through a bank, and pay the bank every month. But I'm still paying off the government technically, correct, because they're the ones who loaned me the money?

Now if that's all correct (and it may very not be lololol), then it seems like the government is just finally controlling the loans that they dolled out anyway? Taking out the middle man?

[caycay]

In some ways you may be right about the middle man thing - but is NOW the time to lay-off more people?

We used Sallie Mae last year for college tuition, but not for a loan - (their interest rate is 10%).

They offer a program that allows you to pay your college tuition in interest free installments. We like the program because it obviously allows us to keep a large amount of money in an interest bearing account and then disburse it over 8 months. If for some reason we defaulted they beared the risk to come after us for the balance due because they pay the full semester's tuition up front to the University. I know it was a government funded program, so I guess in the end, the government was bearing the risk on default.

[Amicustoall]

cay I think you have that right, many of the programs are federally guaranteed, they are not the lender.

[garyrulez]

I think the ladies answered that pretty well. The only thing I would add is that from what it sounds like, you used to be able to get a loan through the government or a private lender...sounds like now, the government will be your only option.

[WeedMage]

Okay, I normally disagree with just about everything Bill O says and does, but kudos to him on this one!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100331/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1390

I'm confused - this Baptist group - they protest at ALL funerals of soldiers? Or just the ones they think are gay soldiers?

[Lacey]

Pretty sure it's any soldiers. They're completely, utterly insane. You can visit their website at godhatesfags.com (no that's not an april fool's joke, unfortunately)

edit to add: Also, you really shouldn't call them a Baptist group, because they're really not in the slightest, even though they claim to be

[marebo]

i agree lacey...there is nothing christian about them at all

[Michelle in WI]

It's not just soldiers. It's any high-profile death. They believe they are the only ones going to heaven, and that all of the rest of us are hell-bound, so any time there is a death which gets lots of media attention, they show up and remind us of how holy and righteous they are, and how we're all going to suffer eternal damnation. They're quite gleeful about it. A year or so ago, they showed up with their signs in our little college town because three students died in a fire.

[Ellen from Saint Louis]

Okay, this is scary, and on-topic (though it won't seem that way at first.)

Was chastising a conservative co-worker for an ex-Klan member running on the GOP ticket (she agreed, bad idea). Then she made a comment about how there are extremists on both sides. "What about these far left wing nut jobs who are protesting that soldier's funeral?"

Yes. She thinks they are left wing nut jobs. As a far left wing nut job I tried to argue, "They have signs that God hates gays! WE LOVE GAYS." "I love gays too." Then we decided we just assume all nut jobs are with the other side.

I was staggered though.

[marebo]

yes it is scary for the fact this person was talking about something they really didnt know about and attibuting to certain people...i think americans have become complacent and if thier life is ok they just dont enter the debate of what this country is becoming...the good the bad or the ugly on both sides...i would really like a third party to emerge...fiscally conservative lke we all have had to have become...but also compassionate to the ones who truely cant take care of themselves ...but it seems the politics of the country are polarized..and where do we go from here?

[WeedMage]

What's scary is that these are the kind of people who watch ONLY FOX news and believe everything they hear there - and there are a lot of them!

[Stephanie]

I'm so glad I'm Canadian. It's just easier. And Peter Mansbridge is the man! :)

[garyrulez]

Okay, this is scary, and on-topic (though it won't seem that way at first.)

Was chastising a conservative co-worker for an ex-Klan member running on the GOP ticket (she agreed, bad idea). Then she made a comment about how there are extremists on both sides. "What about these far left wing nut jobs who are protesting that soldier's funeral?"

Yes. She thinks they are left wing nut jobs. As a far left wing nut job I tried to argue, "They have signs that God hates gays! WE LOVE GAYS." "I love gays too." Then we decided we just assume all nut jobs are with the other side.

I was staggered though.

The Weathermen? The Black Panthers?

[Ellen from Saint Louis]

The Weathermen? The Black Panthers?

Grooovy dude. Far out. You got me. I forgot it was 1960.

ETA: And the suffragettes! Don't forget them!

[garyrulez]

Clever...how about Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton gaining fame and money from a very real racial struggle in this country? Al set off race riots in New York by rallying people around Tawana Brawley- a woman he knew was lying. Jesse Jackson went on the Today Show the day after MLK's assasination and claimed that King died in his arms. Except that the "reverend" Jackson wasn't there when King died.

Speaking of assasinations, who was the last US president shot? Reagan, right? I really doubt that John Hinckley was a right wing nut. Or the guy/woman who shot at Eric Cantor's office. He's still the only Congressperson to be actually shot at through this health care debacle.

[Michelle in WI]

I hate when I forget to take my loaded pistol out my carry-on luggage. Happens all the time.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100402/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_browns_rogers_arrested

[garyrulez]

The sad part, Michelle, is that the Browns were trying to trade him...

Seriously, there are actually people in Cleveland (admittedly, not the majority, but still) who are trying to defend the guy.

Last time I went out of town, I got to the hotel and brushed my teeth. Later that day, I unpacked my suitcase and guess what I found? Extra tube of toothpaste. No idea it was there. So, I guess what I'm saying is, it could happen to anyone.

[katezilla]

California peeps: You guys oK after those earthquakes yesterday?

[garyrulez]

I've always found that the simpler and shorter the answer, the more likely it is to be true and (ironically) a complete answer:

CHARLOTTE - Even by President Obama's loquacious standards, an answer he gave here on health care Friday was a doozy.

Toward the end of a question-and-answer session with workers at an advanced battery technology manufacturer, a woman named Doris stood to ask the president whether it was a "wise decision to add more taxes to us with the health care" package.

"We are over-taxed as it is," Doris said bluntly.

Obama started out feisty. "Well, let's talk about that, because this is an area where there's been just a whole lot of misinformation, and I'm going to have to work hard over the next several months to clean up a lot of the misapprehensions that people have," the president said.

He then spent the next 17 minutes and 12 seconds lulling the crowd into a daze. His discursive answer - more than 2,500 words long -- wandered from topic to topic, including commentary on the deficit, pay-as-you-go rules passed by Congress, Congressional Budget Office reports on Medicare waste, COBRA coverage, the Recovery Act and Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (he referred to this last item by its inside-the-Beltway name, "F-Map"). He talked about the notion of eliminating foreign aid (not worth it, he said). He invoked Warren Buffett, earmarks and the payroll tax that funds Medicare (referring to it, in fluent Washington lingo, as "FICA").


http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/04/obamas-17-minute-2500-word-res.html

[Ellen from Saint Louis]

Clever...how about Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton gaining fame and money from a very real racial struggle in this country? Al set off race riots in New York by rallying people around Tawana Brawley- a woman he knew was lying. Jesse Jackson went on the Today Show the day after MLK's assasination and claimed that King died in his arms. Except that the "reverend" Jackson wasn't there when King died.

My friend did invoke Al Sharpton, and I had to concede HE is a nut.

Of course, Hinkley had a long history of mental illness. He was an involuntary nutjob.

[Michelle in WI]

Jesse Jackson wasn't there? Uh, I'm pretty sure I've seen the photos of him standing right next to MLK moments before he was shot, and crouching down next to him as he died.

[garyrulez]

Jackson, at the time King was shot, was in the parking lot of the hotel talking to some musicians...he literally hid for 20-30 minutes after hearing the shots. When he reappered, he told staffers for the leadership conference that he and King were both attending that he would be handling the media. It was then that he went to the hotel room and posed for the famous picture with King.

The next morning, he flew to Chicago to appear on the Today Show. Even though it was only a few hours after King's death, he had already hired a public relations firm. He went on the air wearing the same shirt he had been wearing the previous day and told the national audience "he died in my arms". It was, obviously, an outright lie.

Interesting sidenote: Jackson was suspended from King's charity (Operation Breadbasket) shortly after King's murder when a Chicago Tribune reporter discovered that Jackson was embezzling money from the organization.

Source: Kenneth Timmerman, author of "Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson". His source was Dr. Ralph Abernathy, who was chosen to lead Operation Breadbasket after King's death.

[garyrulez]

Of course, Hinkley had a long history of mental illness. He was an involuntary nutjob.

So...Hinckley: not fair to tie to the left, because of the particular style of his nut-jobbery? As opposed to someone who would blow up a clinic?

[garyrulez]

After throwing this pitch today at the Washington Nationals' home opener...

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0410/play_ball_716e9eab-fd1c-4f23-a4f6-2663250f8b04.html

President Obama was promptly named the Cleveland Indians 4th starter.

[Michelle in WI]

I guess Brett wasn't the only one scoring last season:

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/89979942.html

[garyrulez]

Holy shit...and a well-deserved rim shot for you, Michelle.

[garyrulez]

A record 47% of Americans will pay no federal income tax at all in 2009.

[garyrulez]

Bart Stupak, the pro-life Michigan Democrat who voted in favor of Obama care after taking a strong stance against it, will retire instead of seeking another term in Congress. The Tea Party and Republicans were directing a lot of money and time to his district, and since the vote his popularity had dramatically decreased. He said in his statement that he wants to retire now to focus on his family and other opportunities. No mention of polls that have suggested he would lose handily this fall.

[therealshell]

Bart Stupak, the pro-life Michigan Democrat who voted in favor of Obama care after taking a strong stance against it, will retire instead of seeking another term in Congress. The Tea Party and Republicans were directing a lot of money and time to his district, and since the vote his popularity had dramatically decreased. He said in his statement that he wants to retire now to focus on his family and other opportunities. No mention of polls that have suggested he would lose handily this fall.

Some of the hate-filled crank calls that were left on Stupak's answering service were downright scary. If I got calls like that, I'd retire, too, and probably move to somewhere safer, like Canada:rolleyes:

[Jolena]

A record 47% of Americans will pay no federal income tax at all in 2009.



I'm sure several of us on this board are making up for that 47%! ;)

[Amicustoall]

I know I shared my income that is for sure.

[Amicustoall]

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says he will retire this summer, the high court's press office said Friday.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/09/john.paul.stevens.retires/index.html?hpt=T1

[WeedMage]

A record 47% of Americans will pay no federal income tax at all in 2009.

Yeah, being unemployed will do that to you.

[WeedMage]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023262.php

A PEEK BEHIND THE BECK CURTAIN.... It's been an ongoing point of debate for a while: is Fox News' Glenn Beck actually deranged, or is it just an act to appeal to far-right consumers? I'll admit to going back and forth on the question.

But Forbes profiles the strange media personality in its new issue, and gets an interesting comment from the talk-show host himself.

With a deadpan, Beck insists that he is not political: "I could give a flying crap about the political process." Making money, on the other hand, is to be taken very seriously, and controversy is its own coinage. "We're an entertainment company," Beck says. He has managed to monetize virtually everything that comes out of his mouth.

That monetization has proven incredibly lucrative. Beck's Mercury Radio Arts, dubbed "Glenn Beck Inc." by Forbes, generated $32 million over the last year, and only $2 million of that total came from Fox News. The majority was the result of book sales, speaking engagements, merchandising, and assorted Beck-related publications (magazines, website, newsletter).

"I don't necessarily believe that [what Beck says] is reflective of his own personal politics -- I don't even know if he has personal politics," said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, a trade magazine devoted to talk radio. "I see him as a performer."

What's more, Zaid Jilani reminds us that this isn't the first time Beck has suggested he doesn't buy his own shtick. He has described himself as "a rodeo clown" and conceded, "If you take what I say as gospel, you're an idiot."

I guess the only surprising thing is that Beck would admit that he doesn't "give a flying crap about the political process," in effect acknowledging that he considers his minions -- who've been convinced by Beck to care deeply about the political process -- a bunch of suckers.
—Steve Benen

So - "deadpan" - think he was joking? Unfortunately, most of the people who listen to him believe he has the last word on a lot of topics.

[garyrulez]

He's the conservative version of Keith Olbermann.

[garyrulez]

Yeah, being unemployed will do that to you.

True...and I keep hearing the current administration talking about all the jobs they're creating.

[Michelle in WI]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100412/hl_time/08599198101900

[garyrulez]

Rasmussen conducted a poll over the last few days that shows if the election were held today, Barack Obama would be dead-even with….Ron Paul.

Not only is it a shocker because Paul is sort of considered a fringe candidate, but because in the breakdown by party, only sixty-six percent of Republican voters stated they would vote for Paul. If Obama is showing statistically tied with a candidate who doesn’t even have broad Republican support…wow.

[Michelle in WI]

I'm sorry, I guess I didn't get the memo that it's still 1965.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100414/ts_csm/294380

Seriously, WTF??

[garyrulez]

I know how popular Mad Men is, and I get that some of the fashions are coming back into style...but isn't segregation taking it a bit too far?

[garyrulez]

President Obama at the totally useless "Nuclear Security Summit" this past week made a comment that is getting some play in conservative corners. He implied (or maybe outright stated) that the US has grown weary of its superpower status:

"Whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower, and when conflicts break out, one way or another we get pulled into them."

John McCain called the remarks "a direct contradiction to everything America believes in":

"That's one of the more incredible statements I've ever heard a president of the United States make in modern times. We are the dominant superpower, and we're the greatest force for good in the history of this country, and I thank God every day that we are a dominant superpower."

[Lacey]

Just keep thankin' God for whatever you want, Mr. McCain!

PS I'm perfectly happy letting the rest of the world figure out their own damn problems for once.

[garyrulez]

That worked awesome when we tried it in World War II.

[Den of Antiquity]

That worked awesome when we tried it in World War II.

Crap. I was having a nice day until you made me think and form an opinion, GR.

Like so many things today in the US, partisanship has seemed to polarize an argument that most likely has a valid solution somewhere in the middle ground.

1.) Every one on this planet actually should be thanking God, Buddha, whatever, that the U.S. did become the dominant super power, either through victory in war (Nazi's in WW2) or by the slow painful death of an eco-political structure that has proven time and again to not be sustainable (Communism in USSR.) The U.S. has a LOT of problems, but last time I checked the news we weren't lining up millions of our own citizens and leading them to slaughter. OK maybe we water boarded a few folks unnecessarily, but we haven't tried to eradicate an entire race of people, or sent millions off to die in camps in Alaska. We should all be thankful that we do not live in a world where one of those regimes became the dominant power. That we do not is not SOLELY the result of U.S. efforts, but it certainly "primarily" is.

2.) That being said, the U.S. has way too many military bases sprawled out in way too many countries (865 bases outside the U.S. per Pentagon stats, though now with Iraq & Afghanistan it may be closer to 1,000) . We have gone far beyond "protecting our interests" or "assisting our allies" and our continued prescence in many areas is what causes some of the friction that we then actually do end up defending our borders against. This really needs to be re-evaluated with some clearer criteria, especially in light of our country's current economic difficulties. I gotta think we can still be a benevolent super power, TEMPORARILY help those allies in need, protect areas we have interests in using clearly-defined rigorous set of definitions, and and do so much more effectively and efficiently than with 1,000 military bases.

3.) Just a philsophical question to ponder, but it seems to be a general point of view that:

- A left leaning Democrat would want us to pull out of these countries so they can learn to fend for themselves and reduce dependence on US gov't, but can't seem to see how our welfare system is keeping people from learning how to care for themselves and increasing their dependence on US gov't. .
- A right leaning Republican tends to be the opposite - get people off the gov't dependence, but keep our presence in other countries in tact so they continue to depend on us.

Kind of an inconsistent philosophy when looked at that way.

I don't know what the answer really is or what that middle ground might someday be if achieved. But I find both the Obama and McCain comments terribly polarizing. Obama is basically pandering to the liberal left who hates all military presence. McCain's statement, (although true in the context I describe in #1 above) is pandering to the flag waving, gun toting right wingers. Both statements could have been tempered, maybe even with, I don't know, a thought or two about what a SOLUTION might be?? Novel concept, I know, but until we get that, it's just grandstanding and politicking business as usual.

[sarah11918]

Like so many things today in the US, partisanship has seemed to polarize an argument that most likely has a valid solution somewhere in the middle ground.

On that note, we saw a poll on CNN Mexico (not sure why we had to sit through 12 minutes of Obama on CNN *Mexico* just to see something about the volcanic ash, but I digress...) that asked whether or not the US tax system was broken. Surprise, surprise, the results were 50-49, right down the middle.

Joe's response is usually, "Why aren't they two different countries already?" * But then, I remember South Park and how both sides are needed.

Edited to add: * Sure, you could say something similar about us, but it would really have to be 4 or 6 countries, and that's just too much work to even think about.

[Den of Antiquity]

I remember South Park and how both sides are needed.



I love that episode. What was it, something like "That way we can be total dicks, but then let the world know how bad we feel about it." ?

In my own personal utopian world, Canada and the U.S. are united as one under the wise leadership of Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

[garyrulez]

Great stuff, as usually from both of you guys. Kudos, sir and ma'am, kudos.

[garyrulez]

A 21 year old New Jersey man is facing multiple charges after sticking his fingers down his throat and intentionally vomitting on an 11 year old and her father during a Phillies-Nationals baseball game Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The gentleman he puked on turned out to be an off-duty police captain. He then proceeded to vomit on the officer attempting to arrest him.

Insert your Philly sports fan jokes here.

[Michelle in WI]

This is just sad:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100421/ap_on_he_me/us_school_lunches_threat

[therealshell]

A 21 year old New Jersey man is facing multiple charges after sticking his fingers down his throat and intentionally vomitting on an 11 year old and her father during a Phillies-Nationals baseball game Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The gentleman he puked on turned out to be an off-duty police captain. He then proceeded to vomit on the officer attempting to arrest him.

Insert your Philly sports fan jokes here.

Somehow, this reminds me that Kate Smith used to sing the anthem before many Flyers hockey games.

[becky11]

This is just sad:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100421/ap_on_he_me/us_school_lunches_threat

Why is that sad, Michelle? Not attacking, just curious.....

[Michelle in WI]

It's sad that our kids are eating so poorly and exercising so little that they will be unable to serve in the military. Now that I am slightly less bleary-eyed (got up too early!), I realize my original statement was rather brief and non-specific and may have given the impression that I think it's sad that the military is trying to do something about it- not my intention!

[Den of Antiquity]

A 21 year old New Jersey man is facing multiple charges after sticking his fingers down his throat and intentionally vomitting on an 11 year old and her father during a Phillies-Nationals baseball game Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The gentleman he puked on turned out to be an off-duty police captain. He then proceeded to vomit on the officer attempting to arrest him.

Insert your Philly sports fan jokes here.

Hey, any city whose fans collectively and violently boo Santa Claus would surely have no problem vomiting on children. I hear their cheesesteaks are actually made from unicorn meat too.

[becky11]

It's sad that our kids are eating so poorly and exercising so little that they will be unable to serve in the military. Now that I am slightly less bleary-eyed (got up too early!), I realize my original statement was rather brief and non-specific and may have given the impression that I think it's sad that the military is trying to do something about it- not my intention!

Gotcha. Totally agree then. :)

[garyrulez]

A school in Atlanta is under fire for a surprise guest speaker they had this past week: a fresh-out-of-prison rapper named T.I.

Even better than that, after a parent wrote a complaint e-mail to principal Terry Oatts (suggesting a better lesson would have been for children to see T.I. pick up trash or mow the grass at the school), Oatts responded "I thought about asking a guy who snorted coke when he was 30 to come and speak, but President George W. Bush was not available".

You stay classy, Principal Terry Oatts.