Residents reported curious declarations hanging from mosque walls and market stalls recently in Ramadi, the Sunni Muslim insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad. The fliers said Iraqi militants had turned on and were killing foreign al-Qaida fighters, their one-time allies.
A local tribal leader and Iraq's Defense Ministry have said followers of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, have begun fleeing Anbar province and Ramadi, its capital, to cities and mountain ranges near the Iranian border.
...Al-Jadaan, the Anbar tribal leader, looked confidently to the future and — if his prediction comes true — what likely will be a hero's role in the eyes of the U.S. military.
"Under my leadership and that of our brothers in other tribes, we are getting close to the shelter of this terrorist," al-Jadaan said of al-Zarqawi. "We will capture him soon."
Friday, March 10, 2006
Ultrasound Machines are Manipulative? Yikes!
Pregnancy resource centers have been installing ultrasound machines, and some pro-choicers aren't very pleased:
"It's a manipulative tool," said Ginny Copenhefer, a former lobbyist with the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. "I don't think it's fair to heap guilt on them because they feel they have to terminate a pregnancy. That's just the most cruel form of abuse that I can imagine."
Really? I can imagine worse things, Ms. Copenhefer. Killing an innocent child for one.
"It's a manipulative tool," said Ginny Copenhefer, a former lobbyist with the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. "I don't think it's fair to heap guilt on them because they feel they have to terminate a pregnancy. That's just the most cruel form of abuse that I can imagine."
Really? I can imagine worse things, Ms. Copenhefer. Killing an innocent child for one.
This Is An Improvement?
If the rumors are true, George Washington's Carl Hobb's is on the short list to take over the Cincinnati basketball program. Hmm, so this is the sort of coach President Nancy Zimpher wants to clean up UC's "tarnished" image:
The chairwoman of the faculty senate's executive committee at George Washington University said this week that a committee would look into the admission of two players on the men's basketball team. Omar Williams and Maureece Rice of the Colonials , who are ranked No. 6 in N.C.A.A. Division I, played for schools run by Darryl Schofield, the coach who runs Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia. An investigation by The New York Times found that Lutheran was not an accredited school. Four former players at Lutheran told The Times that Schofield was the only teacher at the school and that class attendance was not required.
...The leading scorer on the George Washington team this season, Danilo Pinnock, attended a school with a prep program centered on basketball, finishing high school at Coastal Christian Academy in Virginia Beach. A former player at Coastal Christian, Keith Darden, said in an interview last month that he did no work while attending the school and still passed three classes.
The chairwoman of the faculty senate's executive committee at George Washington University said this week that a committee would look into the admission of two players on the men's basketball team. Omar Williams and Maureece Rice of the Colonials , who are ranked No. 6 in N.C.A.A. Division I, played for schools run by Darryl Schofield, the coach who runs Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia. An investigation by The New York Times found that Lutheran was not an accredited school. Four former players at Lutheran told The Times that Schofield was the only teacher at the school and that class attendance was not required.
...The leading scorer on the George Washington team this season, Danilo Pinnock, attended a school with a prep program centered on basketball, finishing high school at Coastal Christian Academy in Virginia Beach. A former player at Coastal Christian, Keith Darden, said in an interview last month that he did no work while attending the school and still passed three classes.
Movie Revenues are Waaaay Down Again
And the many bad R-rated movies are a big part of the problem:
While a record eight [movie] titles grossed more than $200 million last year, it continued to be hard going for R-rated fare. The only R-rated film among last year's top 20 grossers was 'Wedding Crashers.' There were three in 2004 and five in 2003.
While a record eight [movie] titles grossed more than $200 million last year, it continued to be hard going for R-rated fare. The only R-rated film among last year's top 20 grossers was 'Wedding Crashers.' There were three in 2004 and five in 2003.
The Vulgarity Industry
I should be shocked, but I'm not:
Apparently that's not too much for morning network TV. At 7:45 EST, a Purex laundry-detergent commerical featured one woman urging her girlfriend to look over a high fence in her yard. The gals are looking at a naked guy watering his grass (essentials covered up on screen). Woman #1 stares and says, "Those socks are so clean!" Naked Dude uses Purex, of course.
I think we can all agree that the time before the kids are packed up for school could reasonably be considered a sex-free commercial zone.
You would think so, wouldn't you?
Apparently that's not too much for morning network TV. At 7:45 EST, a Purex laundry-detergent commerical featured one woman urging her girlfriend to look over a high fence in her yard. The gals are looking at a naked guy watering his grass (essentials covered up on screen). Woman #1 stares and says, "Those socks are so clean!" Naked Dude uses Purex, of course.
I think we can all agree that the time before the kids are packed up for school could reasonably be considered a sex-free commercial zone.
You would think so, wouldn't you?
Quote of the Day
"In [this city], churches are wealthy enough to market themselves a crowd (I am also guilty). And how do we market? By asking and supplying what people say they prefer for their church experience. Given that my community finds 'relevance' the most important value to hold, I have been feeding them human enrichment rather than eternal and powerful truth (I have been like Joel Osteen in style with a little SBC culture thrown in). I have grown a church of baptized pagans." -- Anonymous D.C. pastor
Coach K Inc. -- Not So Good
INDIANAPOLIS -- Here's the secret they don't want you to know in the halls of American Express or the tents outside of Cameron Indoor.
Krzyzewski Inc.'s branch offices could use some remodeling.
Tommy Amaker's Michigan bunch embarrassed itself and -- by association -- the Duke franchise Friday, losing to Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. This was only the latest disgrace to the Coach K -- um, er -- coaching tree.
We trot out that bromide with caution because to credit Coach K with a "tree" at this point would be complimenting shrubs everywhere. We'll give it to you straight from the site of the latest fiasco: If Krzyzewski calls recommending one of his guys right now, make that scratchy noise with your voice and pretend like you've been disconnected.
To summarize: Quin Snyder ran Missouri into the ground before resigning under pressure earlier this year. It's going on three years since Mike Brey had a tournament appearance at Notre Dame. David Henderson is feeling the heat at Delaware after a 9-21 season. It's been four years since Bob Bender was fired at Washington where he was 26 games under .500.
Just the other day Fairfield's Tim O'Toole (Duke assistant, 1995-97) was fired with a 112-120 mark in eight seasons.
Coach K's long line of disciples who have become head coaches, and it hasn't been pretty -- just ask Michigan.
Krzyzewski Inc.'s branch offices could use some remodeling.
Tommy Amaker's Michigan bunch embarrassed itself and -- by association -- the Duke franchise Friday, losing to Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. This was only the latest disgrace to the Coach K -- um, er -- coaching tree.
We trot out that bromide with caution because to credit Coach K with a "tree" at this point would be complimenting shrubs everywhere. We'll give it to you straight from the site of the latest fiasco: If Krzyzewski calls recommending one of his guys right now, make that scratchy noise with your voice and pretend like you've been disconnected.
To summarize: Quin Snyder ran Missouri into the ground before resigning under pressure earlier this year. It's going on three years since Mike Brey had a tournament appearance at Notre Dame. David Henderson is feeling the heat at Delaware after a 9-21 season. It's been four years since Bob Bender was fired at Washington where he was 26 games under .500.
Just the other day Fairfield's Tim O'Toole (Duke assistant, 1995-97) was fired with a 112-120 mark in eight seasons.
Coach K's long line of disciples who have become head coaches, and it hasn't been pretty -- just ask Michigan.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
The Cameron Crazies Should Have Thought Of This One
When USC guard Gabe Pruitt took his first trip to the free throw line early in the game, the Cal student section hollered in unison: "VIC-TOR-IA, VIC-TOR-IA," and then yelled out a telephone number. Pruitt glanced back at the crowd in horror and bewilderment before clanking his free throws.
It turns out that a couple of mischeivous little bastards from the Cal student section had been IM'ing with Pruitt all week under the identity of "Victoria," a fictional UCLA hottie, and Pruitt was eagerly anticipating a date with this nubile co-ed back in Westwood after the game. In preparation for the date, Pruitt had handed over his digits, which the Cal student section recited back to him in unison.
It turns out that a couple of mischeivous little bastards from the Cal student section had been IM'ing with Pruitt all week under the identity of "Victoria," a fictional UCLA hottie, and Pruitt was eagerly anticipating a date with this nubile co-ed back in Westwood after the game. In preparation for the date, Pruitt had handed over his digits, which the Cal student section recited back to him in unison.
Monday, March 06, 2006
"You Smoke Crack, Don't Ya?"
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee basketball Coach Bruce Pearl has indefinitely suspended freshman Anthony Passley and walk-on Jordan Smith following their arrests early yesterday morning on drug charges.
Passley and Smith were parked on a sidewalk near a night club in Smith's Crown Victoria when they were approached by police and asked to move, according to Knoxville City Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Police smelled marijuana and were given permission by the players to search the car. They found less than 15 grams of crack cocaine in a side compartment on the driver's side door, DeBusk said. Both players were charged with possession of a Schedule 2 drug for resale.
Passley and Smith were parked on a sidewalk near a night club in Smith's Crown Victoria when they were approached by police and asked to move, according to Knoxville City Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Police smelled marijuana and were given permission by the players to search the car. They found less than 15 grams of crack cocaine in a side compartment on the driver's side door, DeBusk said. Both players were charged with possession of a Schedule 2 drug for resale.
New Orleans City Government At Work
It would not be fair to say the New Orleans City Council did no business at its meeting Thursday.
During a seven-hour session that included a nearly 1 ½-hour lunch break, the council devoted about 90 minutes to actual legislative business: passing ordinances, resolutions and motions. It also spent about the same amount of time in relevant legislative fact-finding: getting reports on progress in restoring the city's electricity and on repopulation trends.
But that still left plenty of time for council members to involve themselves in, well, non-legislative stuff. The list included sharply criticizing the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, quoting the formula for a McDonald's Big Mac ("two all-beef patties, special sauce . . ."), denouncing "poverty pimps" and then defending the councilman who denounced them, listening to extended comments by a speaker who refused to identify himself, and hearing from an assortment of speakers who blamed white racism for all the city's problems.
Not to mention the moment when Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, who is white, told the audience, apropos of nothing, "I dance like an African-American."
Many audience members' eyes rolled at that, but no one said anything. Those who regularly attend the council's meetings are so used to such moments that nothing fazes them. ...
During a seven-hour session that included a nearly 1 ½-hour lunch break, the council devoted about 90 minutes to actual legislative business: passing ordinances, resolutions and motions. It also spent about the same amount of time in relevant legislative fact-finding: getting reports on progress in restoring the city's electricity and on repopulation trends.
But that still left plenty of time for council members to involve themselves in, well, non-legislative stuff. The list included sharply criticizing the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, quoting the formula for a McDonald's Big Mac ("two all-beef patties, special sauce . . ."), denouncing "poverty pimps" and then defending the councilman who denounced them, listening to extended comments by a speaker who refused to identify himself, and hearing from an assortment of speakers who blamed white racism for all the city's problems.
Not to mention the moment when Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, who is white, told the audience, apropos of nothing, "I dance like an African-American."
Many audience members' eyes rolled at that, but no one said anything. Those who regularly attend the council's meetings are so used to such moments that nothing fazes them. ...
Here's A Shock
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In Mississippi, 89 percent of fourth-graders who took a state reading test were rated proficient or better. But when the same students took a federal test, only 18 percent reached that standard.
Such discrepancies are not uncommon. Students from all over the country performed worse on a tough federal test than they did on state exams in reading and math -- raising questions about whether states are setting lower standards.
State testing is a waste of time. Everyone cheats. I'd just require all graduating seniors to take the ACT and SAT and then determine how poorly they've been educated. But that's not really necessary. Everyone knows which schools do a bad job and which ones are ok.
Such discrepancies are not uncommon. Students from all over the country performed worse on a tough federal test than they did on state exams in reading and math -- raising questions about whether states are setting lower standards.
State testing is a waste of time. Everyone cheats. I'd just require all graduating seniors to take the ACT and SAT and then determine how poorly they've been educated. But that's not really necessary. Everyone knows which schools do a bad job and which ones are ok.
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