There is no fool-proof way to gauge which Kentucky high schools had the best athletic programs this year. One old-fashioned way is to measure success in the major team sports -- baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, fast-pitch softball and football. (Soccer and volleyball aren't played in some parts of the state, and/or the number of games they play in those sports vary widely.)
Using 20 wins as the standard of success in baseball, basketball and softball, and 10 wins in football, Dixie Heights was the only program to hit the mark in each of those sports this school year The Colonels won 10 games in football, 25 in boys' hoops, 20 in girls' hoops, 20 in baseball and 23 in softball.
Scott County just missed scoring across the board, coming up one win shy in softball. Corbin, Henderson County, Lexington Catholic and Owensboro Catholic also qualified in four out of five sports. Trinity, an all-boys' school, was 3-for-3 in baseball, basketball and football.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Quote of the Day
From the Tennessee Times, an official publication of the UT Athletic Department:
What are your goals for Tennessee Basketball?
Bruce Pearl (UT Head Coach) -- We're going to make progress right away. I don't know in terms of winning or losing what that's going to mean. My goal is for Tennessee basketball to once again become Kentucky's rival. There's no team in the SEC that's beaten Kentucky more than Tennessee. Tennessee has beaten Kentucky 62 times. Alabama is next at 37, so it's not even close, and right now Kentucky thinks their rival is probably Florida. I'm going to change that.
I like his moxy. Too bad it won't come true.
What are your goals for Tennessee Basketball?
Bruce Pearl (UT Head Coach) -- We're going to make progress right away. I don't know in terms of winning or losing what that's going to mean. My goal is for Tennessee basketball to once again become Kentucky's rival. There's no team in the SEC that's beaten Kentucky more than Tennessee. Tennessee has beaten Kentucky 62 times. Alabama is next at 37, so it's not even close, and right now Kentucky thinks their rival is probably Florida. I'm going to change that.
I like his moxy. Too bad it won't come true.
American History of War
Victor Davis Hanson - next to Paul Johnson - is the finest historian writing today. Here's a little taste from his latest essay:
The second problem was that not only were we no longer clearly fighting a right-wing extremist ideology, but Texan, twangy, and conservative President Bush was hard to repackage into the reluctant liberal warrior in the image of Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman, or Bill Clinton.
So there was never much room for error in this war. We are not talking in this postmodern era in terms of a past Democratic president invading Latin America, interring citizens in high-plains camps, hanging terrorist suspects, nuking cities, or bombing pharmaceutical factories in Africa, but, at least from the weird present hysteria, something apparently far worse — like supposedly flushing a Koran at Guantanamo.
In a leisured and liberal society, it is very difficult in general for a conservative to wage war, because the natural suspicion arises — as a result of the conservative's tragic view of human nature and his belief in the occasional utility of force — that he enjoys the enterprise far more than a lip-biting progressive, who may in fact order more destruction. George H. W. Bush barely pulled off freeing Kuwait, but only because he fought on the ground for only four days, used the aegis of the U.N., pulled back on televised images of the so-called "Highway of Death," and was able to avoid going to Baghdad and dealing with a murdering despot still in power.
The second problem was that not only were we no longer clearly fighting a right-wing extremist ideology, but Texan, twangy, and conservative President Bush was hard to repackage into the reluctant liberal warrior in the image of Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman, or Bill Clinton.
So there was never much room for error in this war. We are not talking in this postmodern era in terms of a past Democratic president invading Latin America, interring citizens in high-plains camps, hanging terrorist suspects, nuking cities, or bombing pharmaceutical factories in Africa, but, at least from the weird present hysteria, something apparently far worse — like supposedly flushing a Koran at Guantanamo.
In a leisured and liberal society, it is very difficult in general for a conservative to wage war, because the natural suspicion arises — as a result of the conservative's tragic view of human nature and his belief in the occasional utility of force — that he enjoys the enterprise far more than a lip-biting progressive, who may in fact order more destruction. George H. W. Bush barely pulled off freeing Kuwait, but only because he fought on the ground for only four days, used the aegis of the U.N., pulled back on televised images of the so-called "Highway of Death," and was able to avoid going to Baghdad and dealing with a murdering despot still in power.
This Was My Idea
Apparently, the next trend in reality shows is to involve celebrities. According to Variety, Fox is in talks of airing a spin-off of American Idol, where 10 celebrity singers compete to win $1 million for their favorite charity.
Actually, my idea was to take 10-12 washed up acts without high-profile recording contracts (say, Axel Rose, Loverboy, etc.) and let them duke it out for a new, big deal with Sony or another recording studio.
Actually, my idea was to take 10-12 washed up acts without high-profile recording contracts (say, Axel Rose, Loverboy, etc.) and let them duke it out for a new, big deal with Sony or another recording studio.
Expanding the Big Tent
Do you want to know why the Democratic Party is having trouble appealing to "normal" people? From today's Kentucky Post:
Twenty years ago, the Republican Party captured the American flag, said Erlanger resident Dan McGue.
Then, with Rush Limbaugh, Republicans captured the nation's radio stations.
During the 2004 presidential election, they captured Jesus, McGue said.
"They're the only people who can talk to God, and he guides George Bush in all he does," McGue said. That anyone would believe that is really upsetting, he said.
McGue was speaking at a meeting of voters in Independence on Thursday night, voters united by their anger at Bush.
McGue, a retired railroad worker, said he has voted for Republicans, but he's totally upset with the Bush "dictatorship."
"I can't believe he gets away with what he does," he said, and he blames the national media for not taking the president to task.
Former President Clinton could not get away with what President Bush has, he said.
McGue was among about 30 voters who consider themselves progressives who met at the home of Jenny and Jamie Jameson for a Democracy for America "house party" on Thursday.
It was one of at least 50 similar events held in homes across the U.S. on behalf of the national political action committee formed out of Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign last year.
The organization now works mainly to get candidates elected to local and state offices. Its state chapter is called Change for Kentucky.
Jameson told his guests he was looking for people who could put a political apparatus in place in Kenton County, one that could expand to all of Northern Kentucky.
"The power of the people can win elections and it will win elections," Jameson said, and many applauded.
The first priority for the organization would be to set up a communications system, he said, so that progressives could respond quickly to media attacks.
Too often, Democrats don't speak with a unified voice, he said. His prime example was their scattered response to accusations of partisanship in the Transportation Cabinet scandal.
Jeff Hampton of Morning View, wearing a "Please Jesus, save me from your followers" button, asked for pressure on local television stations to cover news they aren't covering.
"Whatever our first issue is, our second needs to be media reform," he said.
The guests spent most of their meeting getting organized and getting to know one another. Many talked about how isolated they feel as Democrats in a heavily Republican corner of the nation.
"I feel like a man without a country," said Roger Evans of Edgewood.
Frustrated at the direction the country's been heading in, he wanted to find a way to make a difference, and hoped the new group could provide that.
An ordained minister, he says he's very disappointed in the way the "religious right" has distorted the teachings of Jesus for political gain.
"How many people have to die to avenge 9-11?" he asked. "When will we realize that Jesus taught that we don't have an eye for an eye, but we forgive 70 times seven?"
The group will focus on organizing volunteers for local elections in 2006, when county officials and many city officials will be up for re-election.
Jeremy Horton, Change for Kentucky's co-founder and political director, told the guests he was encouraged that so many had come, with the elections more than a year away.
"Politics in Kentucky is in a very grave state," Jameson said. "We're going to do something about it."
Twenty years ago, the Republican Party captured the American flag, said Erlanger resident Dan McGue.
Then, with Rush Limbaugh, Republicans captured the nation's radio stations.
During the 2004 presidential election, they captured Jesus, McGue said.
"They're the only people who can talk to God, and he guides George Bush in all he does," McGue said. That anyone would believe that is really upsetting, he said.
McGue was speaking at a meeting of voters in Independence on Thursday night, voters united by their anger at Bush.
McGue, a retired railroad worker, said he has voted for Republicans, but he's totally upset with the Bush "dictatorship."
"I can't believe he gets away with what he does," he said, and he blames the national media for not taking the president to task.
Former President Clinton could not get away with what President Bush has, he said.
McGue was among about 30 voters who consider themselves progressives who met at the home of Jenny and Jamie Jameson for a Democracy for America "house party" on Thursday.
It was one of at least 50 similar events held in homes across the U.S. on behalf of the national political action committee formed out of Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign last year.
The organization now works mainly to get candidates elected to local and state offices. Its state chapter is called Change for Kentucky.
Jameson told his guests he was looking for people who could put a political apparatus in place in Kenton County, one that could expand to all of Northern Kentucky.
"The power of the people can win elections and it will win elections," Jameson said, and many applauded.
The first priority for the organization would be to set up a communications system, he said, so that progressives could respond quickly to media attacks.
Too often, Democrats don't speak with a unified voice, he said. His prime example was their scattered response to accusations of partisanship in the Transportation Cabinet scandal.
Jeff Hampton of Morning View, wearing a "Please Jesus, save me from your followers" button, asked for pressure on local television stations to cover news they aren't covering.
"Whatever our first issue is, our second needs to be media reform," he said.
The guests spent most of their meeting getting organized and getting to know one another. Many talked about how isolated they feel as Democrats in a heavily Republican corner of the nation.
"I feel like a man without a country," said Roger Evans of Edgewood.
Frustrated at the direction the country's been heading in, he wanted to find a way to make a difference, and hoped the new group could provide that.
An ordained minister, he says he's very disappointed in the way the "religious right" has distorted the teachings of Jesus for political gain.
"How many people have to die to avenge 9-11?" he asked. "When will we realize that Jesus taught that we don't have an eye for an eye, but we forgive 70 times seven?"
The group will focus on organizing volunteers for local elections in 2006, when county officials and many city officials will be up for re-election.
Jeremy Horton, Change for Kentucky's co-founder and political director, told the guests he was encouraged that so many had come, with the elections more than a year away.
"Politics in Kentucky is in a very grave state," Jameson said. "We're going to do something about it."
Sigh
A classic case illustrating my stumbling block with Roman Catholicism:
Catholics are still welcome to attend, but the lack of official involvement amazed Graham biographer Bill Martin, who characterized the archdiocese's reasoning as a "change in policy" from Mr. Graham's 1991 Central Park crusade. Back then, he said, 630 Catholic churches cooperated with the crusade and information on the meetings was handed out at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
That 1991 stance had been a huge shift from Mr. Graham's first New York crusade in 1957, he said, when Catholics boycotted the event and Catholic clergy were instructed on how to counter Mr. Graham's preaching.
"So maybe something's come down from above saying not to be involved in this," Mr. Martin added.
Mr. Zwilling said he didn't remember any such cooperation from churches back then, but Catholic clergy in 1991 did receive names of Catholics who answered Mr. Graham's altar calls at the Central Park event.
In a column to be released Saturday in the diocesan newspaper the Tablet, Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio outlined the significant divide over how Catholics and Protestants understand salvation.
The bishop said he welcomed Mr. Graham into the area and promised to follow up on any names given to them by crusade organizers.
How do Roman Catholic commentators respond. Well, one of my favorites wrote this:
But I actually do see the dioceses' point. This is a Protestant evangelical event. Why should a Catholic diocese work hard to get its people out to it?
Oh, I don't know. Maybe to help introduce people to their Savior. Apparently not everyone in "The Church" would agree.
Catholics are still welcome to attend, but the lack of official involvement amazed Graham biographer Bill Martin, who characterized the archdiocese's reasoning as a "change in policy" from Mr. Graham's 1991 Central Park crusade. Back then, he said, 630 Catholic churches cooperated with the crusade and information on the meetings was handed out at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
That 1991 stance had been a huge shift from Mr. Graham's first New York crusade in 1957, he said, when Catholics boycotted the event and Catholic clergy were instructed on how to counter Mr. Graham's preaching.
"So maybe something's come down from above saying not to be involved in this," Mr. Martin added.
Mr. Zwilling said he didn't remember any such cooperation from churches back then, but Catholic clergy in 1991 did receive names of Catholics who answered Mr. Graham's altar calls at the Central Park event.
In a column to be released Saturday in the diocesan newspaper the Tablet, Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio outlined the significant divide over how Catholics and Protestants understand salvation.
The bishop said he welcomed Mr. Graham into the area and promised to follow up on any names given to them by crusade organizers.
How do Roman Catholic commentators respond. Well, one of my favorites wrote this:
But I actually do see the dioceses' point. This is a Protestant evangelical event. Why should a Catholic diocese work hard to get its people out to it?
Oh, I don't know. Maybe to help introduce people to their Savior. Apparently not everyone in "The Church" would agree.
Don't Mention That Name
One of the things I love about NASCAR is that the name of Jesus is mentioned at the end of every pre-race benediction. I guess if you're about to go out and put your life on the line, you're not too concerned about offending people's delicate sensibilities.
The Medical School of South Carolina is not NASCAR:
When the Rev. John Parker was asked to say the benediction at the graduation rite for the Medical School of South Carolina, he did what any Eastern Orthodox priest would do.
He went straight to "The Great Book of Needs," a four-volume set of prayers collected over two millennia for use during every imaginable kind of ritual.
It was easy to find prayers about Jesus and healing, including: "Do now, O Lord, give your grace to all those here gathered who have labored and studied hour upon hour, to go into all the world, and also to heal by the talent You have given to each of them. Strengthen them, by your strength, to fear no evil or disease, enlighten them to do no evil by the works of their hands and preserve them and those they serve in peace, for You are our God, and we know no other."
Then he received a letter from the president's office offering guidelines for prayers at this public school in Charleston, S.C. It required inclusive language such as "Holy God, Holy One, Creator, Sustainer" rather than prayers mentioning Jesus, Allah, the Trinity or other specific divine references.
The Medical School of South Carolina is not NASCAR:
When the Rev. John Parker was asked to say the benediction at the graduation rite for the Medical School of South Carolina, he did what any Eastern Orthodox priest would do.
He went straight to "The Great Book of Needs," a four-volume set of prayers collected over two millennia for use during every imaginable kind of ritual.
It was easy to find prayers about Jesus and healing, including: "Do now, O Lord, give your grace to all those here gathered who have labored and studied hour upon hour, to go into all the world, and also to heal by the talent You have given to each of them. Strengthen them, by your strength, to fear no evil or disease, enlighten them to do no evil by the works of their hands and preserve them and those they serve in peace, for You are our God, and we know no other."
Then he received a letter from the president's office offering guidelines for prayers at this public school in Charleston, S.C. It required inclusive language such as "Holy God, Holy One, Creator, Sustainer" rather than prayers mentioning Jesus, Allah, the Trinity or other specific divine references.
This Is Not Surprising
The WaPo puts the Karl Rove "controversy" on the front page today.
Hmmm. That's interesting. Sen. Dick Durbin's remarks never made the front page
Hmmm. That's interesting. Sen. Dick Durbin's remarks never made the front page
- June 17, A-11
- June 18 in briefs, A-5
- June 19, A-6
- June 22 apology, A-6
We Must...I Mean, Have To...I Mean, Want To Destroy the Embryos!
Will this make the nightly news. Probably not.
PITTSBURGH, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a ground-breaking study, scientists at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh have discovered that adult, or post- natal, stem cells have the same ability as embryonic stem cells to multiply, a previously unknown characteristic indicating that post-natal stem cells may play an important therapeutic role. Adult and post-natal stem cells are often overlooked in favor of embryonic stem cells in the national debate over the therapeutic use of stem cells.
Until now, it has been generally believed that embryonic stem cells had a greater capacity to multiply than post-natal stem cells, making them more desirable to research as a potential treatment, according to Johnny Huard, PhD, director of the Growth and Development Laboratory at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a ground-breaking study, scientists at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh have discovered that adult, or post- natal, stem cells have the same ability as embryonic stem cells to multiply, a previously unknown characteristic indicating that post-natal stem cells may play an important therapeutic role. Adult and post-natal stem cells are often overlooked in favor of embryonic stem cells in the national debate over the therapeutic use of stem cells.
Until now, it has been generally believed that embryonic stem cells had a greater capacity to multiply than post-natal stem cells, making them more desirable to research as a potential treatment, according to Johnny Huard, PhD, director of the Growth and Development Laboratory at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Nice Try
This was a rather weak effort on the part of the Diocese of Covington.
The $40 million the Diocese of Covington will put up as its share of a $120 million settlement with victims of priestly sexual abuse is the maximum it could afford without getting into dire financial straits, its lawyer said Wednesday.
"We were willing to put up virtually everything the diocese has that's not committed to a parish," said Chicago-based attorney Carrie Huff.
Huff and Stan Chesley - who filed the lawsuit on behalf of an unknown number of victims - said they came up with that figure after meeting with accountants for the diocese and examining financial and property records.
The settlement calls for the diocese to pay up to $40 million via cash on hand, securities and the sale of some of its property, including the Marydale retreat center in Erlanger. The remainder of the money will come from insurance payments - which may eventually cover the diocese's share as well.
The $40 million the Diocese of Covington will put up as its share of a $120 million settlement with victims of priestly sexual abuse is the maximum it could afford without getting into dire financial straits, its lawyer said Wednesday.
"We were willing to put up virtually everything the diocese has that's not committed to a parish," said Chicago-based attorney Carrie Huff.
Huff and Stan Chesley - who filed the lawsuit on behalf of an unknown number of victims - said they came up with that figure after meeting with accountants for the diocese and examining financial and property records.
The settlement calls for the diocese to pay up to $40 million via cash on hand, securities and the sale of some of its property, including the Marydale retreat center in Erlanger. The remainder of the money will come from insurance payments - which may eventually cover the diocese's share as well.
I'll Be Right Back, I've Got A Phone Call To Make
WASHINGTON - Callers to Congressman Ben Chandler's office have left no doubt about where they stand on the a proposal to slash federal funding for public radio and television.
"Everyone is against the cuts," said Chandler's spokeswoman, Jennifer Spalding. "We've had no one call us who is for the cuts."
I enjoy PBS programming (well, most of it), but the public subsidy must go. I think Clifford and Arthur can make it on their own.
"Everyone is against the cuts," said Chandler's spokeswoman, Jennifer Spalding. "We've had no one call us who is for the cuts."
I enjoy PBS programming (well, most of it), but the public subsidy must go. I think Clifford and Arthur can make it on their own.
Those God-Fearing Docs
This doesn't surprise me at all:
CHICAGO — A survey examining religion in medicine found that most U.S. doctors believe in God and an afterlife — a surprising degree of spirituality in a science-based field, researchers say.
In the survey of 1,044 doctors nationwide, 76 percent said they believe in God, 59 percent said they believe in some sort of afterlife, and 55 percent said their religious beliefs influence how they practice medicine.
"We were surprised to find that physicians were as religious as they apparently are," said Dr. Farr Curlin, a researcher at the University of Chicago's MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics.
"There's certainly a deep-seated cultural idea that science and religion (search) are at odds," and previous studies have suggested that fewer than half of scientists believe in God, Curlin said Wednesday.
A previous survey showed about 83 percent of the general population believes in God.
But while medicine is science-based, doctors differ from scientists who work primarily in a laboratory setting, and their direct contact with patients in life-and-death situations may explain the differing views, Curlin said.
Clarification: It's not a "deep-seated cultural idea" that science and religion are at odds, it's a "deap-seated Leftist secularist idea." Big difference.
CHICAGO — A survey examining religion in medicine found that most U.S. doctors believe in God and an afterlife — a surprising degree of spirituality in a science-based field, researchers say.
In the survey of 1,044 doctors nationwide, 76 percent said they believe in God, 59 percent said they believe in some sort of afterlife, and 55 percent said their religious beliefs influence how they practice medicine.
"We were surprised to find that physicians were as religious as they apparently are," said Dr. Farr Curlin, a researcher at the University of Chicago's MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics.
"There's certainly a deep-seated cultural idea that science and religion (search) are at odds," and previous studies have suggested that fewer than half of scientists believe in God, Curlin said Wednesday.
A previous survey showed about 83 percent of the general population believes in God.
But while medicine is science-based, doctors differ from scientists who work primarily in a laboratory setting, and their direct contact with patients in life-and-death situations may explain the differing views, Curlin said.
Clarification: It's not a "deep-seated cultural idea" that science and religion are at odds, it's a "deap-seated Leftist secularist idea." Big difference.
A Confederacy of Dun...Supreme Court Justices
More foolishness from the high court:
WASHINGTON (AP) - A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development in a decision anxiously awaited in communities where economic growth often is at war with individual property rights.
The 5-4 ruling - assailed by dissenting Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as handing "disproportionate influence and power" to the well-heeled in America - was a defeat for Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They had argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas.
As a result, cities now have wide power to bulldoze residences for projects such as shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to generate tax revenue.
The case was one of six resolved by justices on Thursday. Among those still pending for the court, which next meets on Monday, is one testing the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commands on government property.
Writing for the court's majority in Thursday's ruling, Justice John Paul Stevens said local officials, not federal judges, know best in deciding whether a development project will benefit the community. States are within their rights to pass additional laws restricting condemnations if residents are overly burdened, he said.
"The city has carefully formulated an economic development plan that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including - but by no means limited to - new jobs and increased tax revenue," Stevens wrote.
Stevens was joined in his opinion by other members of the court's liberal wing - David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. The bloc typically has favored greater deference to cities, which historically have used the takings power for urban renewal projects that benefit the lower and middle class.
They were joined by Reagan appointee Justice Anthony Kennedy in rejecting the conservative principle of individual property rights. Critics had feared that would allow a small group of homeowners to stymie rebuilding efforts that benefit the city through added jobs and more tax revenue for social programs.
What this court needs is another Scalia or Thomas...or two.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development in a decision anxiously awaited in communities where economic growth often is at war with individual property rights.
The 5-4 ruling - assailed by dissenting Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as handing "disproportionate influence and power" to the well-heeled in America - was a defeat for Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They had argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas.
As a result, cities now have wide power to bulldoze residences for projects such as shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to generate tax revenue.
The case was one of six resolved by justices on Thursday. Among those still pending for the court, which next meets on Monday, is one testing the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commands on government property.
Writing for the court's majority in Thursday's ruling, Justice John Paul Stevens said local officials, not federal judges, know best in deciding whether a development project will benefit the community. States are within their rights to pass additional laws restricting condemnations if residents are overly burdened, he said.
"The city has carefully formulated an economic development plan that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including - but by no means limited to - new jobs and increased tax revenue," Stevens wrote.
Stevens was joined in his opinion by other members of the court's liberal wing - David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. The bloc typically has favored greater deference to cities, which historically have used the takings power for urban renewal projects that benefit the lower and middle class.
They were joined by Reagan appointee Justice Anthony Kennedy in rejecting the conservative principle of individual property rights. Critics had feared that would allow a small group of homeowners to stymie rebuilding efforts that benefit the city through added jobs and more tax revenue for social programs.
What this court needs is another Scalia or Thomas...or two.
The Brain Speaks
This, sadly, is right on the money:
"Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Mr. Rove, the senior political adviser to President Bush, said at a fund-raiser in Midtown for the Conservative Party of New York State.
Citing calls by progressive groups to respond carefully to the attacks, Mr. Rove said to the applause of several hundred audience members, "I don't know about you, but moderation and restraint is not what I felt when I watched the twin towers crumble to the ground, a side of the Pentagon destroyed, and almost 3,000 of our fellow citizens perish in flames and rubble."
Told of Mr. Rove's remarks, Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, replied: "In New York, where everyone unified after 9/11, the last thing we need is somebody who seeks to divide us for political purposes."
Mr. Rove also said American armed forces overseas were in more jeopardy as a result of remarks last week by Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who compared American mistreatment of detainees to the acts of "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others."
"Has there ever been a more revealing moment this year?" Mr. Rove asked. "Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals."
"Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Mr. Rove, the senior political adviser to President Bush, said at a fund-raiser in Midtown for the Conservative Party of New York State.
Citing calls by progressive groups to respond carefully to the attacks, Mr. Rove said to the applause of several hundred audience members, "I don't know about you, but moderation and restraint is not what I felt when I watched the twin towers crumble to the ground, a side of the Pentagon destroyed, and almost 3,000 of our fellow citizens perish in flames and rubble."
Told of Mr. Rove's remarks, Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, replied: "In New York, where everyone unified after 9/11, the last thing we need is somebody who seeks to divide us for political purposes."
Mr. Rove also said American armed forces overseas were in more jeopardy as a result of remarks last week by Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who compared American mistreatment of detainees to the acts of "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others."
"Has there ever been a more revealing moment this year?" Mr. Rove asked. "Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals."
Enter the Twilight Zone
I'm posting this entire article because it is just sooooo weird:
Katie Holmes' Missing Days
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
By Roger Friedman
The newly engaged Katie Holmes still has some explaining to do to her friends and family.
There were 16 days in April during which no one seems to know where she was.
Holmes made a public appearance on April 4 at the premiere of "Steel Magnolias" on Broadway.
She came with her publicist, Leslie Sloane Zelnick, and a couple of other friends. They were there to support Rebecca Gayheart, who was making her Broadway debut.
I know this because I spoke to Holmes at length during the play's intermission. She said she had just moved into her New York apartment and was looking forward to seeing the city.
I also know that on April 4, she had not yet made the acquaintance of Tom Cruise. She briefly dated Josh Hartnett after breaking up with actor Chris Klein.
Hartnett, Klein, Cruise: Which of these three is not like the others?
Klein and Hartnett are young and tall. Cruise is middle-aged and height-challenged.
On the other hand, he's the biggest movie star in the world. They are not.
Holmes was busy during that first week in April. On April 7, she was photographed at the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi event.
Four days later, Holmes was still in New York and was photographed at VH1's "Save the Music" concert. She still had not met Cruise.
Sometime that week, her friends say, she flew to Los Angeles for a meeting with Cruise about a role in "Mission: Impossible 3." The meeting took place after April 11.
The next time anyone heard from Holmes was on April 27, when she appeared in public as Cruise's girlfriend and love of his life.
Where was she during those 16 days?
Somewhere during that time, she decided to fire both her manager and agent, each of whom she had been with for years and who were devoted to her.
The manager, John Carrabino, also handles Renée Zellweger and is beloved by his clients.
Holmes also acquired a new best friend, Jessica Feshbach, the daughter of Joe Feshbach, a controversial Palo Alto, Calif., bond trader.
The Feshbach family, according to published documents, has donated millions to the Church of Scientology. Jessica's aunt even runs a Scientology center in Florida.
According to Richard Behar's now famous 1991 story in Time magazine about Scientology, the Feshbachs were the subject of congressional hearings in 1989.
Behar wrote: "The heads of several companies claimed that Feshbach operatives have spread false information to government agencies and posed in various guises — such as a Securities and Exchange Commission official — in an effort to discredit the companies and drive the stocks down.
"Michael Russell, who ran a chain of business journals, testified that a Feshbach employee called his bankers and interfered with his loans. Sometimes the Feshbachs send private detectives to dig up dirt on firms, which is then shared with business reporters, brokers and fund managers."
The risk-taking Feshbachs, known the world over for making their fortune "shorting" stocks, and the level-headed, conservative Holmeses would be a difficult mix at a dinner table.
Katie's father, Martin Holmes, is the senior partner in a large and respected Toledo, Ohio, law firm. His son, Martin Jr., has recently joined the firm. He's a Harvard graduate. Katie's mom, Kathy, is frequently cited in Toledo for her charity work.
There is some fear among Holmes' close circle that her instant romance with Cruise is not as organic as portrayed.
For one thing, Holmes was raised a strict Catholic. Also, gone from the picture are two close Holmes friends who used to be with her when she did publicity for a film.
One of these is Meghann Birie, a childhood friend who has suddenly disappeared from Holmes' world. Another, a local TV producer here in New York, was too afraid to discuss the situation with me.
We know that Cruise auditioned several actresses for this role before settling on Holmes. This column reported a story about Jennifer Garner. There have been published stories about Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba being approached.
A newer one involves Scarlett Johansson, who ran for her life when presented with a fait accompli dinner at the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood.
And history has been rewritten since the April 27 unveiling.
Curiously, since the Cruise-Holmes situation popped up, we have heard over and over again that Cruise was the young actress' idol when she was growing up.
That's certainly interesting because all of the publicity that used to run on Holmes — still found all over the Internet — lists another Tom as her favorite actor.
That would be Tom Hanks.
Katie Holmes' Missing Days
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
By Roger Friedman
The newly engaged Katie Holmes still has some explaining to do to her friends and family.
There were 16 days in April during which no one seems to know where she was.
Holmes made a public appearance on April 4 at the premiere of "Steel Magnolias" on Broadway.
She came with her publicist, Leslie Sloane Zelnick, and a couple of other friends. They were there to support Rebecca Gayheart, who was making her Broadway debut.
I know this because I spoke to Holmes at length during the play's intermission. She said she had just moved into her New York apartment and was looking forward to seeing the city.
I also know that on April 4, she had not yet made the acquaintance of Tom Cruise. She briefly dated Josh Hartnett after breaking up with actor Chris Klein.
Hartnett, Klein, Cruise: Which of these three is not like the others?
Klein and Hartnett are young and tall. Cruise is middle-aged and height-challenged.
On the other hand, he's the biggest movie star in the world. They are not.
Holmes was busy during that first week in April. On April 7, she was photographed at the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi event.
Four days later, Holmes was still in New York and was photographed at VH1's "Save the Music" concert. She still had not met Cruise.
Sometime that week, her friends say, she flew to Los Angeles for a meeting with Cruise about a role in "Mission: Impossible 3." The meeting took place after April 11.
The next time anyone heard from Holmes was on April 27, when she appeared in public as Cruise's girlfriend and love of his life.
Where was she during those 16 days?
Somewhere during that time, she decided to fire both her manager and agent, each of whom she had been with for years and who were devoted to her.
The manager, John Carrabino, also handles Renée Zellweger and is beloved by his clients.
Holmes also acquired a new best friend, Jessica Feshbach, the daughter of Joe Feshbach, a controversial Palo Alto, Calif., bond trader.
The Feshbach family, according to published documents, has donated millions to the Church of Scientology. Jessica's aunt even runs a Scientology center in Florida.
According to Richard Behar's now famous 1991 story in Time magazine about Scientology, the Feshbachs were the subject of congressional hearings in 1989.
Behar wrote: "The heads of several companies claimed that Feshbach operatives have spread false information to government agencies and posed in various guises — such as a Securities and Exchange Commission official — in an effort to discredit the companies and drive the stocks down.
"Michael Russell, who ran a chain of business journals, testified that a Feshbach employee called his bankers and interfered with his loans. Sometimes the Feshbachs send private detectives to dig up dirt on firms, which is then shared with business reporters, brokers and fund managers."
The risk-taking Feshbachs, known the world over for making their fortune "shorting" stocks, and the level-headed, conservative Holmeses would be a difficult mix at a dinner table.
Katie's father, Martin Holmes, is the senior partner in a large and respected Toledo, Ohio, law firm. His son, Martin Jr., has recently joined the firm. He's a Harvard graduate. Katie's mom, Kathy, is frequently cited in Toledo for her charity work.
There is some fear among Holmes' close circle that her instant romance with Cruise is not as organic as portrayed.
For one thing, Holmes was raised a strict Catholic. Also, gone from the picture are two close Holmes friends who used to be with her when she did publicity for a film.
One of these is Meghann Birie, a childhood friend who has suddenly disappeared from Holmes' world. Another, a local TV producer here in New York, was too afraid to discuss the situation with me.
We know that Cruise auditioned several actresses for this role before settling on Holmes. This column reported a story about Jennifer Garner. There have been published stories about Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba being approached.
A newer one involves Scarlett Johansson, who ran for her life when presented with a fait accompli dinner at the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood.
And history has been rewritten since the April 27 unveiling.
Curiously, since the Cruise-Holmes situation popped up, we have heard over and over again that Cruise was the young actress' idol when she was growing up.
That's certainly interesting because all of the publicity that used to run on Holmes — still found all over the Internet — lists another Tom as her favorite actor.
That would be Tom Hanks.
The Fertility Timebomb
Britain is facing an infertility crisis, with the number of couples who experience problems conceiving expected to double within the next 10 years.
A leading fertility expert warned yesterday that, by 2015, one in three couples may need IVF treatment or similar fertility procedures. The low success rates of such treatments means soaring numbers will be left childless. Professor Bill Ledger predicted a looming "infertility timebomb", with thousands of couples forced to go through physically and mentally draining treatment, at a cost of millions of pounds to the NHS each year.
He blamed the soaring rates of fertility problems on modern lifestyle factors such as obesity, women delaying starting a family, falling sperm counts among men and rising rates of sexually transmitted infections, particularly chlamydia. Smoking is also a main factor in infertility in men and women. Professor Ledger, of the University of Sheffield, called for the Government to recognise infertility as a "disease".
A leading fertility expert warned yesterday that, by 2015, one in three couples may need IVF treatment or similar fertility procedures. The low success rates of such treatments means soaring numbers will be left childless. Professor Bill Ledger predicted a looming "infertility timebomb", with thousands of couples forced to go through physically and mentally draining treatment, at a cost of millions of pounds to the NHS each year.
He blamed the soaring rates of fertility problems on modern lifestyle factors such as obesity, women delaying starting a family, falling sperm counts among men and rising rates of sexually transmitted infections, particularly chlamydia. Smoking is also a main factor in infertility in men and women. Professor Ledger, of the University of Sheffield, called for the Government to recognise infertility as a "disease".
James Lileks on Gitmo
Q: What is Gitmo?
A: Contrary to what some suggest, it does not stand for "Git mo' Peking chicken for Muhammad, he wants a second portion." It stands for "Guantanamo," a facility the United States built to see if the left would ever care about human rights abuses in Cuba. The experiment has apparently been successful.
A: Contrary to what some suggest, it does not stand for "Git mo' Peking chicken for Muhammad, he wants a second portion." It stands for "Guantanamo," a facility the United States built to see if the left would ever care about human rights abuses in Cuba. The experiment has apparently been successful.
I Killed This Guy
From Tucson.com:
Corwyn (Cory) William Zimbleman
Tucson, AZ (formerly of Champaign, IL)
Age 53. Born April 18, 1952 to the late Willard and Gilda (Ebert) Zimbleman, died June 10, 2005. Throughout his life Cory was an extraordinary artist. His artistic talent and imagination would bring awe to all who viewed his work. His works grace an LP cover and numerous books; using Computer Aided Design (CAD) he designed home and business exteriors, interiors, and furniture for several architectural firms. His talent went beyond the fine arts as he added sculpturing, woodworking, metals, and other mediums to his repertoire. Having never gained the recognition he deserved in his own lifetime his family hopes to publish a book of his works. Another of his passions was herpetology. As a child he was always bringing home reptiles. His friends nicknamed him "Snake." He even built a turtle pond in his backyard. An avid atheist, he studied the bible and religion with more fervor than most Christians. He had strong political opinions and followed Amy Goodman's radio broadcast "Democracy Now." Alas the stolen election of 2000 and living with right-winged Americans finally brought him to his early demise. Stress from living in this unjust country brought about several heart attacks rendering him disabled. Cory, a great man, so very talented, compassionate and intelligent, dedicated to the arts and humanities and the environment, will be greatly missed by his wife, family, and friends. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Montiel; his step-daughter, Esperanza Hernandez both of Tucson; his brother, Mike (Dana) of St. Louis, MO; his sisters, Susan St. Claire of San Jose, CA and Laura Zimbleman of Ypsilanti, MI, and his turtles Heidie, Skinhead and Studley and many other pets. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 21, 2005 from 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., please call 883-2862 for information. Cremation has taken place.
Corwyn (Cory) William Zimbleman
Tucson, AZ (formerly of Champaign, IL)
Age 53. Born April 18, 1952 to the late Willard and Gilda (Ebert) Zimbleman, died June 10, 2005. Throughout his life Cory was an extraordinary artist. His artistic talent and imagination would bring awe to all who viewed his work. His works grace an LP cover and numerous books; using Computer Aided Design (CAD) he designed home and business exteriors, interiors, and furniture for several architectural firms. His talent went beyond the fine arts as he added sculpturing, woodworking, metals, and other mediums to his repertoire. Having never gained the recognition he deserved in his own lifetime his family hopes to publish a book of his works. Another of his passions was herpetology. As a child he was always bringing home reptiles. His friends nicknamed him "Snake." He even built a turtle pond in his backyard. An avid atheist, he studied the bible and religion with more fervor than most Christians. He had strong political opinions and followed Amy Goodman's radio broadcast "Democracy Now." Alas the stolen election of 2000 and living with right-winged Americans finally brought him to his early demise. Stress from living in this unjust country brought about several heart attacks rendering him disabled. Cory, a great man, so very talented, compassionate and intelligent, dedicated to the arts and humanities and the environment, will be greatly missed by his wife, family, and friends. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Montiel; his step-daughter, Esperanza Hernandez both of Tucson; his brother, Mike (Dana) of St. Louis, MO; his sisters, Susan St. Claire of San Jose, CA and Laura Zimbleman of Ypsilanti, MI, and his turtles Heidie, Skinhead and Studley and many other pets. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 21, 2005 from 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., please call 883-2862 for information. Cremation has taken place.
O'Conner Out?
Bill Kristol - who sometimes is in the know - has this little nugget concerning the Supreme Court:
(1) There will be a Supreme Court resignation within the next week. But it will be Justice O'Connor, not Chief Justice Rehnquist. There are several tea-leaf-like suggestions that O'Connor may be stepping down, including the fact that she has apparently arranged to spend much more time in Arizona beginning this fall. There are also recent intimations that Chief Justice Rehnquist may not resign. This would be consistent with Justice O'Connor having confided her plan to step down to the chief a while ago. Rehnquist probably believes that it wouldn't be good for the Court to have two resignations at once, so he would presumably stay on for as long as his health permits, and/or until after Justice O'Connor's replacement is confirmed.
(2) President Bush will appoint Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to replace O'Connor. Bush certainly wants to put Gonzales on the Supreme Court. Presidents usually find a way to do what they want to do.
And his aides will have an argument to make to conservatives (like me) who would be unhappy with a Gonzales pick: Bush would not, after all, be replacing a conservative stalwart like Rehnquist with Gonzales. Gonzales would be taking O'Connor's seat, and Gonzales is likely to be as conservative as, or even more conservative than, O'Connor. Indeed, Karl Rove will continue, Gonzales is as conservative a nominee to replace O'Connor as one could find who could overcome a threatened Democratic filibuster. Bush aides will also assure us privately that when Rehnquist does step down, Bush will nominate a strong conservative as his replacement. They might not tell us that nominee would be as an associate justice, for Bush would plan to then promote Gonzales to chief justice--thus creating a "Gonzales Court," a truly distinctive Bush legacy.
(1) There will be a Supreme Court resignation within the next week. But it will be Justice O'Connor, not Chief Justice Rehnquist. There are several tea-leaf-like suggestions that O'Connor may be stepping down, including the fact that she has apparently arranged to spend much more time in Arizona beginning this fall. There are also recent intimations that Chief Justice Rehnquist may not resign. This would be consistent with Justice O'Connor having confided her plan to step down to the chief a while ago. Rehnquist probably believes that it wouldn't be good for the Court to have two resignations at once, so he would presumably stay on for as long as his health permits, and/or until after Justice O'Connor's replacement is confirmed.
(2) President Bush will appoint Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to replace O'Connor. Bush certainly wants to put Gonzales on the Supreme Court. Presidents usually find a way to do what they want to do.
And his aides will have an argument to make to conservatives (like me) who would be unhappy with a Gonzales pick: Bush would not, after all, be replacing a conservative stalwart like Rehnquist with Gonzales. Gonzales would be taking O'Connor's seat, and Gonzales is likely to be as conservative as, or even more conservative than, O'Connor. Indeed, Karl Rove will continue, Gonzales is as conservative a nominee to replace O'Connor as one could find who could overcome a threatened Democratic filibuster. Bush aides will also assure us privately that when Rehnquist does step down, Bush will nominate a strong conservative as his replacement. They might not tell us that nominee would be as an associate justice, for Bush would plan to then promote Gonzales to chief justice--thus creating a "Gonzales Court," a truly distinctive Bush legacy.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
W Is A Fiscal Fraud
Today, we know that compassionate conservatism is really just big government and changing the tone means his veto pen is buried under the ground. The last four years, total spending has risen 33 percent - a figure larger than Clinton's two terms combined. Adjusted for inflation, one would have to go back to Lyndon Johnson to find a larger increase. Moreover, real discretionary spending increases in FY2002, FY2003, FY2004 and FY2005 are 4 of the 10 biggest annual increases in the last 40 years.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Happy Father's Day
Some belated Father's Day wisdom from Homer Simpson:
The code of the schoolyard, Marge! The rules that teach a boy to be a man. Let's see. Don't tattle. Always make fun of those different from you. Never say anything, unless you're sure everyone feels exactly the same way you do.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get.
Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike: you just go in every day and do it really half assed. That's the American way.
Kids, just because I don't care doesn't mean I'm not listening!
When I look at the smiles on all the children's faces, I just know they're about to jab me with something.
I never apologize Lisa, I'm sorry but that's just the way I am.
Marge, don’t discourage the boy. Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals … except the weasel.
I won't lie to you, fatherhood isn't easy like motherhood.
The code of the schoolyard, Marge! The rules that teach a boy to be a man. Let's see. Don't tattle. Always make fun of those different from you. Never say anything, unless you're sure everyone feels exactly the same way you do.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get.
Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
Lisa, if you don't like your job, you don't strike: you just go in every day and do it really half assed. That's the American way.
Kids, just because I don't care doesn't mean I'm not listening!
When I look at the smiles on all the children's faces, I just know they're about to jab me with something.
I never apologize Lisa, I'm sorry but that's just the way I am.
Marge, don’t discourage the boy. Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals … except the weasel.
I won't lie to you, fatherhood isn't easy like motherhood.
Do It For "The Children"
I'm all for keeping the kids safe, but isn't this going a bit too far.
The Campbell County High School football field could be a safer place to play and march next season thanks to some old tires and a new surface.
The field is being refurbished using a product called crumb rubber, made from recycled waste tires, providing more cushion than traditional dirt fields.
"The process serves kind of a two-fold purpose," said Cathy Guess of the Kentucky Division of Waste Management. "It is a beneficial reuse of waste tires, and we have found there are fewer injuries to students after this is incorporated."
Now, even the dirt and grass are a danger to "the children."
The Campbell County High School football field could be a safer place to play and march next season thanks to some old tires and a new surface.
The field is being refurbished using a product called crumb rubber, made from recycled waste tires, providing more cushion than traditional dirt fields.
"The process serves kind of a two-fold purpose," said Cathy Guess of the Kentucky Division of Waste Management. "It is a beneficial reuse of waste tires, and we have found there are fewer injuries to students after this is incorporated."
Now, even the dirt and grass are a danger to "the children."
If Only the Pigs Had Restrained Themselves
This piece from The Scotsman starts off great, but ends with a sigh:
IT IS one of the big, untold stories of the global economy. America's public finances are improving at last, to the great relief of the White House but to the puzzlement of much of the commentariat, which cannot fathom how tax cuts can possibly go hand in hand with a smaller budget deficit.
The US budget shortfall fell to $35.3bn (£19.4bn) in May, down 43.5% on the $62.5bn seen during the same month last year, thanks to a continuing surge in tax revenues. This year's deficit was the smallest May shortfall since the $27.9bn seen in May 2001, which was also the last year the government ran a budget surplus. This is a much better outcome than almost anybody was forecasting; it follows a series of US tax relief packages between 2001 and 2003, making the lower deficit all the more surprising to most analysts.
This apparent paradox has a simple explanation: President Bush's 2003 tax cuts played an important role in boosting economic growth and share prices; in turn, this triggered an explosion in tax receipts which is now compensating for the revenue lost originally. Of course, there are other reasons why the US economy has bounced back, including the strong international recovery and normal cyclical effects. But there is no doubt that the tax cuts helped a great deal.
Another explanation for why mainstream forecasters got it so wrong is that they attributed the deficit almost exclusively to the president's tax cuts. But the deficit's primary cause was the economy's poor growth after the collapse of the dot.com bubble. President Bush's decision to throw caution and principle to the wind and embark on an astonishing spending binge - much of which had nothing to do with his military or security policies - was an equally important reason.
The deficit could easily be abolished entirely by freezing spending for 18 months or so. Bush now seems likely to meet his campaign pledge to cut the deficit in half as a percentage of GDP by 2009; but if he had the guts and the support of the supposedly conservative Congress, he could easily eradicate the deficit simply by not spending more.
But Bush's and Congress's profligacy remains largely unchecked, with government spending in May hitting $188bn, up 5.7% from the same month of last year. But this was swamped by improved revenues of $152.7bn, up 32.3% from May 2000, led by an exceptional performance from income tax and corporation tax - thanks to, rather than despite, the 2003 tax cuts.
IT IS one of the big, untold stories of the global economy. America's public finances are improving at last, to the great relief of the White House but to the puzzlement of much of the commentariat, which cannot fathom how tax cuts can possibly go hand in hand with a smaller budget deficit.
The US budget shortfall fell to $35.3bn (£19.4bn) in May, down 43.5% on the $62.5bn seen during the same month last year, thanks to a continuing surge in tax revenues. This year's deficit was the smallest May shortfall since the $27.9bn seen in May 2001, which was also the last year the government ran a budget surplus. This is a much better outcome than almost anybody was forecasting; it follows a series of US tax relief packages between 2001 and 2003, making the lower deficit all the more surprising to most analysts.
This apparent paradox has a simple explanation: President Bush's 2003 tax cuts played an important role in boosting economic growth and share prices; in turn, this triggered an explosion in tax receipts which is now compensating for the revenue lost originally. Of course, there are other reasons why the US economy has bounced back, including the strong international recovery and normal cyclical effects. But there is no doubt that the tax cuts helped a great deal.
Another explanation for why mainstream forecasters got it so wrong is that they attributed the deficit almost exclusively to the president's tax cuts. But the deficit's primary cause was the economy's poor growth after the collapse of the dot.com bubble. President Bush's decision to throw caution and principle to the wind and embark on an astonishing spending binge - much of which had nothing to do with his military or security policies - was an equally important reason.
The deficit could easily be abolished entirely by freezing spending for 18 months or so. Bush now seems likely to meet his campaign pledge to cut the deficit in half as a percentage of GDP by 2009; but if he had the guts and the support of the supposedly conservative Congress, he could easily eradicate the deficit simply by not spending more.
But Bush's and Congress's profligacy remains largely unchecked, with government spending in May hitting $188bn, up 5.7% from the same month of last year. But this was swamped by improved revenues of $152.7bn, up 32.3% from May 2000, led by an exceptional performance from income tax and corporation tax - thanks to, rather than despite, the 2003 tax cuts.
Quote of the Day
"America doesn't have a lack of empathy; they just don't know the issues as well. Actually, today I had to defend the Bush Administration in France again. They refuse to accept, because of their political ideology, that he has actually done more than any American President for Africa. But it's empirically so." -- Live 8 (and Live Aid) organizer Bob Geldof in Time magazine
Elections in Lebanon
From the NY Times (and you know they hated publishing that last line):
Opponents of Syrian domination claimed a stunning majority victory in the final round of Lebanon's parliamentary elections on Sunday night in a rebellion touched off by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri four months ago.
An anti-Syrian alliance that tried to bridge religious lines and was led by Mr. Hariri's son, 35-year-old Saad Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, won at least 21 of 28 contested seats in northern Lebanon, the last polling area in the elections that have been staggered over the past four weekends. That gave the alliance a majority in the next 128-seat Parliament.
It was a startling change in the way politics have usually been carried out here - along strict clan and religious lines and long under the control of Syria - and perhaps an example of a greater yearning for democracy in the Arab world.
Opponents of Syrian domination claimed a stunning majority victory in the final round of Lebanon's parliamentary elections on Sunday night in a rebellion touched off by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri four months ago.
An anti-Syrian alliance that tried to bridge religious lines and was led by Mr. Hariri's son, 35-year-old Saad Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, won at least 21 of 28 contested seats in northern Lebanon, the last polling area in the elections that have been staggered over the past four weekends. That gave the alliance a majority in the next 128-seat Parliament.
It was a startling change in the way politics have usually been carried out here - along strict clan and religious lines and long under the control of Syria - and perhaps an example of a greater yearning for democracy in the Arab world.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Go Away
Amnesty International does much good, but much harm as well. Check out this story from Pavel Litvinov in the WaPo:
Several days ago I received a telephone call from an old friend who is a longtime Amnesty International staffer. He asked me whether I, as a former Soviet "prisoner of conscience" adopted by Amnesty, would support the statement by Amnesty's executive director, Irene Khan, that the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba is the "gulag of our time."
"Don't you think that there's an enormous difference?" I asked him.
"Sure," he said, "but after all, it attracts attention to the problem of Guantanamo detainees."
Several days ago I received a telephone call from an old friend who is a longtime Amnesty International staffer. He asked me whether I, as a former Soviet "prisoner of conscience" adopted by Amnesty, would support the statement by Amnesty's executive director, Irene Khan, that the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba is the "gulag of our time."
"Don't you think that there's an enormous difference?" I asked him.
"Sure," he said, "but after all, it attracts attention to the problem of Guantanamo detainees."
Good for Deano
It's good to see Dean repudiate this crap, but this sort of nuttery is now the mainstream of the Democratic leadership.
WASHINGTON -- A handful of people at Democratic National Headquarters distributed material critical of Israel during a public forum questioning the Bush administration's Iraq policy, drawing an angry response and charges of anti-Semitism from party chairman Howard Dean on Friday.
"We disavow the anti-Semitic literature, and the Democratic National Committee stands in absolute disagreement with and condemns the allegations," Dean said in a statement posted on the DNC Web site.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, organized the forum on Thursday at the Capitol to publicize and discuss the so-called Downing Street memo. That document suggests that the Bush administration believed that war with Iraq was inevitable and that the administration was determined to use intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the ouster of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
The Sunday Times of London has reported that the prewar document, which recounts a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair's national security team, was leaked from inside the British government. The White House has rejected the memo's assertions.
Conyers' event occurred in a small Capitol meeting room, and an overflow crowd watched witnesses on television in a conference room at DNC headquarters. According to Dean, some material distributed within the DNC conference room implied that Israel was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
One witness, former intelligence analyst Ray McGovern, told Conyers and other House Democrats that the war was part of an effort to allow the United States and Israel to "dominate that part of the world," a statement Dean also condemned.
"As for any inferences that the United States went to war so Israel could 'dominate' the Middle East or that Israel was in any way behind the horrific September 11th attacks on America, let me say unequivocally that such statements are nothing but vile, anti-Semitic rhetoric," Dean said.
"The inferences are destructive and counterproductive, and have taken away from the true purpose of the Judiciary Committee members' meeting," he said. "The entire Democratic Party remains committed to fighting against such bigotry."
WASHINGTON -- A handful of people at Democratic National Headquarters distributed material critical of Israel during a public forum questioning the Bush administration's Iraq policy, drawing an angry response and charges of anti-Semitism from party chairman Howard Dean on Friday.
"We disavow the anti-Semitic literature, and the Democratic National Committee stands in absolute disagreement with and condemns the allegations," Dean said in a statement posted on the DNC Web site.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, organized the forum on Thursday at the Capitol to publicize and discuss the so-called Downing Street memo. That document suggests that the Bush administration believed that war with Iraq was inevitable and that the administration was determined to use intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the ouster of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
The Sunday Times of London has reported that the prewar document, which recounts a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair's national security team, was leaked from inside the British government. The White House has rejected the memo's assertions.
Conyers' event occurred in a small Capitol meeting room, and an overflow crowd watched witnesses on television in a conference room at DNC headquarters. According to Dean, some material distributed within the DNC conference room implied that Israel was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
One witness, former intelligence analyst Ray McGovern, told Conyers and other House Democrats that the war was part of an effort to allow the United States and Israel to "dominate that part of the world," a statement Dean also condemned.
"As for any inferences that the United States went to war so Israel could 'dominate' the Middle East or that Israel was in any way behind the horrific September 11th attacks on America, let me say unequivocally that such statements are nothing but vile, anti-Semitic rhetoric," Dean said.
"The inferences are destructive and counterproductive, and have taken away from the true purpose of the Judiciary Committee members' meeting," he said. "The entire Democratic Party remains committed to fighting against such bigotry."
Master Yoda Stern
I still think David Stern is the best commissioner of any professional sport, in part by wielding his Jedi-like powers over the player's union every couple of years. But the following has occurred on his watch:
The NBA has lost about half its network TV audience in seven years, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The NBA has lost about half its network TV audience in seven years, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Iraq Report
From Austin Bay:
I find that this return visit to Iraq spurs thoughts of America– of American will to pursue victory. I don’t mean the will of US forces in the field. Wander around with a bunch of Marines for a half hour, spend fifteen minutes with Guardsmen from Idaho, and you will have no doubts about American military capabilities or the troops’ will to win. But our weakness is back home, on the couch, in front of the tv, on the cable squawk shows, on the editorial page of the New York Times, in the political gotcha games of Washington, DC. It seems America wants to get on with its wonderful Electra-Glide life, that September 10 sense of freedom and security, without finishing the job. The military is fighting, the Iraqi people are fighting, but where is the US political class?
I find that this return visit to Iraq spurs thoughts of America– of American will to pursue victory. I don’t mean the will of US forces in the field. Wander around with a bunch of Marines for a half hour, spend fifteen minutes with Guardsmen from Idaho, and you will have no doubts about American military capabilities or the troops’ will to win. But our weakness is back home, on the couch, in front of the tv, on the cable squawk shows, on the editorial page of the New York Times, in the political gotcha games of Washington, DC. It seems America wants to get on with its wonderful Electra-Glide life, that September 10 sense of freedom and security, without finishing the job. The military is fighting, the Iraqi people are fighting, but where is the US political class?
Bring In The White Coats
There's only one thing that will keep goofs like Tom Delay in power...Democrats. Check out
Dana Milbank today in the WaPo. Democrats held a mock impeachment (is this high school?) trial yesterday in the United States Capital, with John Conyers as chairman.
The session took an awkward turn when witness Ray McGovern, a former intelligence analyst, declared that the United States went to war in Iraq for oil, Israel and military bases craved by administration "neocons" so "the United States and Israel could dominate that part of the world." He said that Israel should not be considered an ally and that Bush was doing the bidding of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
"Israel is not allowed to be brought up in polite conversation," McGovern said. "The last time I did this, the previous director of Central Intelligence called me anti-Semitic." Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), who prompted the question by wondering whether the true war motive was Iraq's threat to Israel, thanked McGovern for his "candid answer."
At Democratic headquarters, where an overflow crowd watched the hearing on television, activists handed out documents repeating two accusations -- that an Israeli company had warning of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and that there was an "insider trading scam" on 9/11 -- that previously has been used to suggest Israel was behind the attacks.
In the past, I thought that John Conyers and his ilk had wandered off the Democratic Party reservation. I'm beginning to think that they are the Democractic Party reservation.
Dana Milbank today in the WaPo. Democrats held a mock impeachment (is this high school?) trial yesterday in the United States Capital, with John Conyers as chairman.
The session took an awkward turn when witness Ray McGovern, a former intelligence analyst, declared that the United States went to war in Iraq for oil, Israel and military bases craved by administration "neocons" so "the United States and Israel could dominate that part of the world." He said that Israel should not be considered an ally and that Bush was doing the bidding of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
"Israel is not allowed to be brought up in polite conversation," McGovern said. "The last time I did this, the previous director of Central Intelligence called me anti-Semitic." Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), who prompted the question by wondering whether the true war motive was Iraq's threat to Israel, thanked McGovern for his "candid answer."
At Democratic headquarters, where an overflow crowd watched the hearing on television, activists handed out documents repeating two accusations -- that an Israeli company had warning of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and that there was an "insider trading scam" on 9/11 -- that previously has been used to suggest Israel was behind the attacks.
In the past, I thought that John Conyers and his ilk had wandered off the Democratic Party reservation. I'm beginning to think that they are the Democractic Party reservation.
Is He Crazy...Or Brilliant?
The World According to Carl Everett
Noted paleontologist Carl Everett of the Chicago White Sox is back to feed us more of his astounding views on life, this time in a Maxim article that is sure to be a big hit in the John Rocker household. Having successfully disproven the existence of dinosaurs, Jurassic Carl now turns his attention to gays, Wrigley Field and Tiger Woods. Here are some of his latest "findings" straight from the July 2005 issue, which I bought strictly for, uh, work-related purposes:
Noted paleontologist Carl Everett of the Chicago White Sox is back to feed us more of his astounding views on life, this time in a Maxim article that is sure to be a big hit in the John Rocker household. Having successfully disproven the existence of dinosaurs, Jurassic Carl now turns his attention to gays, Wrigley Field and Tiger Woods. Here are some of his latest "findings" straight from the July 2005 issue, which I bought strictly for, uh, work-related purposes:
- Wrigley Field needs to be "imploded."
- Tiger Woods is not an athlete.
- "Gays being gay is wrong. Two women can't produce a baby, two men can't produce a baby, so it's not how it's supposed to be. ... I don't believe in gay marrages and I don't believe in being gay."
- "It's proven that 99 percent of baseball fans have no idea what they're watching."
Quote of the Day
"Continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit." -- Franklin Roosevelt
Why Only Attractive, White Girls?
Here's some food for thought:
At the same time, I am often amazed at how brazen the MSM can be in selecting what types of missing persons reports it selects as leading stories, especially on websites and TV. The missing person is almost always young; always a woman; always white; and always attractive. Right now the CNN.com home page is leading with this missing persons story, featuring (of course) a photograph of the attractive young woman front and center . . .
I can't stress enough that I am not saying this story isn't newsworthy. Every missing persons report is potentially newsworthy. Still, a person who followed the MSM uncritically might think that the only missing people in America are young attractive white women.
At the same time, I am often amazed at how brazen the MSM can be in selecting what types of missing persons reports it selects as leading stories, especially on websites and TV. The missing person is almost always young; always a woman; always white; and always attractive. Right now the CNN.com home page is leading with this missing persons story, featuring (of course) a photograph of the attractive young woman front and center . . .
I can't stress enough that I am not saying this story isn't newsworthy. Every missing persons report is potentially newsworthy. Still, a person who followed the MSM uncritically might think that the only missing people in America are young attractive white women.
On Keeping the Sabbath
From the Christian Century:
With sundown on the Sabbath, I stopped seeing the dust balls, the bills and the laundry. They were still there, but they had lost their power over me. One day each week I lived as if all my work were done. I lived as if the kingdom had come and when I did the kingdom came, for 25 hours at least. Now, when I know Sabbath is near, I can feel the anticipation bubbling up inside of me. Sabbath is no longer a good idea or even a spiritual discipline for me. It is an experience of divine love that swamps both body and soul. It is the weekly practice of eternal life, marred only by the fact that I do it alone. In its community form, Sabbath is not only about rest but also about resistance. Each time it appears in Torah, the commandment limits the exploitation of others as well as the exhaustion of the self. When you stop working, so do your children, your animals and your employees, even if they do not believe in your God. You believe in your God, so they get the day off. By interrupting our economically sanctioned social order every week, Sabbath suspends our subtle and not so subtle ways of dominating one another on a regular basis. The lion is restrained from making a profit on the lamb, who may still choose to lie down for a Sabbath nap alone but is free from the fear of waking up as lamb chops on this one day at least.
With sundown on the Sabbath, I stopped seeing the dust balls, the bills and the laundry. They were still there, but they had lost their power over me. One day each week I lived as if all my work were done. I lived as if the kingdom had come and when I did the kingdom came, for 25 hours at least. Now, when I know Sabbath is near, I can feel the anticipation bubbling up inside of me. Sabbath is no longer a good idea or even a spiritual discipline for me. It is an experience of divine love that swamps both body and soul. It is the weekly practice of eternal life, marred only by the fact that I do it alone. In its community form, Sabbath is not only about rest but also about resistance. Each time it appears in Torah, the commandment limits the exploitation of others as well as the exhaustion of the self. When you stop working, so do your children, your animals and your employees, even if they do not believe in your God. You believe in your God, so they get the day off. By interrupting our economically sanctioned social order every week, Sabbath suspends our subtle and not so subtle ways of dominating one another on a regular basis. The lion is restrained from making a profit on the lamb, who may still choose to lie down for a Sabbath nap alone but is free from the fear of waking up as lamb chops on this one day at least.
Come On, Bono
U2 frontman BONO was horrified during a visit to Ethiopia, when he saw local women pelting a breast-feeding aid worker with stones.
The American woman was oblivious of the offence she was causing, and had to escape the angry onslaught from female Muslims who had no qualms about injuring her or her baby.Bono recalls, "I remember one vision of the people who are with WORLD VISION, which is an American aid agency.
"One of the women was breast-feeding a child on the horse. She was so comfortable. She didn't mean to be insensitive."
Uh, Bono, she wasn't being insensitive. She was breast feeding her baby. For some reason, the "peaceful" Muslim women took offense.
The American woman was oblivious of the offence she was causing, and had to escape the angry onslaught from female Muslims who had no qualms about injuring her or her baby.Bono recalls, "I remember one vision of the people who are with WORLD VISION, which is an American aid agency.
"One of the women was breast-feeding a child on the horse. She was so comfortable. She didn't mean to be insensitive."
Uh, Bono, she wasn't being insensitive. She was breast feeding her baby. For some reason, the "peaceful" Muslim women took offense.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
This Is Great News
Dwane Casey was, in my opinion, unfairly ostracized over the whole UK/Emery package recruiting scandal in the 80's. He was clearly set up...and sacrificed by the university and that snake Eddie Sutton. Here's hoping he succeeds in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are negotiating with Dwane Casey after offering their vacant coaching job to the longtime Seattle assistant.
Casey, according to NBA coaching sources, beat out San Antonio Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo and deposed Cleveland coach Paul Silas in the race to succeed Flip Saunders as Wolves coach. Sources said Casey and the Wolves began exchanging contract figures Tuesday and are progressing toward an agreement.
Team vice president Kevin McHale coached Minnesota to a 19-12 record after Saunders was fired in mid-Feburary, but the 44-38 Wolves missed the playoffs just one year after ending a run of seven consecutive first-round exits by reaching the conference finals.
McHale maintained from the start that he didn't want the job on a permanent basis, and Casey materialized as a leading contender early last week.
A finalist for jobs in Toronto and Atlanta last summer, Casey is also a finalist for the coaching vacancy in Portland. Barring an unexpected breakdown in Casey's talks with the Wolves, Portland is expected to turn to Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are negotiating with Dwane Casey after offering their vacant coaching job to the longtime Seattle assistant.
Casey, according to NBA coaching sources, beat out San Antonio Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo and deposed Cleveland coach Paul Silas in the race to succeed Flip Saunders as Wolves coach. Sources said Casey and the Wolves began exchanging contract figures Tuesday and are progressing toward an agreement.
Team vice president Kevin McHale coached Minnesota to a 19-12 record after Saunders was fired in mid-Feburary, but the 44-38 Wolves missed the playoffs just one year after ending a run of seven consecutive first-round exits by reaching the conference finals.
McHale maintained from the start that he didn't want the job on a permanent basis, and Casey materialized as a leading contender early last week.
A finalist for jobs in Toronto and Atlanta last summer, Casey is also a finalist for the coaching vacancy in Portland. Barring an unexpected breakdown in Casey's talks with the Wolves, Portland is expected to turn to Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
A Nation of Wimps
I'm not one to reference Psychology Today, but this is one of the finest articles I've read in a long time.
More Social Security
From John Tierney in the NY Times:
Men in their 70's raced on bikes for 40 kilometers in this month's National Senior Games in Pittsburgh. A 68-year-old woman threw the discus 85 feet, and a 69-year-old man hurled the javelin nearly half the length of a football field.
Is it possible that people this age are still physically capable of putting in a full day's work at the office?
I realize I'm being impolitic. In the Social Security debate, the notion of raising the retirement age is the elephant in the room, as Robin Toner and David Rosenbaum reported in The Times on Sunday. Both liberal and conservative economists favor the change, but politicians are terrified to even mention it to voters.
Americans now feel entitled to spend nearly a third of their adult lives in retirement. Their jobs are less physically demanding than their parents' were, but they're retiring younger and typically start collecting Social Security by age 62. Most could keep working - fewer than 10 percent of people 65 to 75 are in poor health - but, like Bartleby the Scrivener, they prefer not to.
Amen brother. And I'd add this:
Today's notion of "retirement age" is a fairly recent one. Otto von Bismarck is often credited with craftily setting the retirement age at 65 because most people wouldn't live that long -- though in fact, Bismarck set it at 70, and it wasn't lowered to 65 until later. But the justification for retirement has always been that by retirement age people were nearly used up, and deserved a bit of fun and then a comfortable and dignified decline until death. Get rid of the decline and death, and you've given up the justification for living -- as Social Security recipients, at least, do -- off other people's efforts on what amounts to a form of welfare . Logically, retirement should be put off until people are medically old, or perhaps just replaced with disability, and those who are able to work should do so, while those desirous of not working should save up as for a long vacation.
Men in their 70's raced on bikes for 40 kilometers in this month's National Senior Games in Pittsburgh. A 68-year-old woman threw the discus 85 feet, and a 69-year-old man hurled the javelin nearly half the length of a football field.
Is it possible that people this age are still physically capable of putting in a full day's work at the office?
I realize I'm being impolitic. In the Social Security debate, the notion of raising the retirement age is the elephant in the room, as Robin Toner and David Rosenbaum reported in The Times on Sunday. Both liberal and conservative economists favor the change, but politicians are terrified to even mention it to voters.
Americans now feel entitled to spend nearly a third of their adult lives in retirement. Their jobs are less physically demanding than their parents' were, but they're retiring younger and typically start collecting Social Security by age 62. Most could keep working - fewer than 10 percent of people 65 to 75 are in poor health - but, like Bartleby the Scrivener, they prefer not to.
Amen brother. And I'd add this:
Today's notion of "retirement age" is a fairly recent one. Otto von Bismarck is often credited with craftily setting the retirement age at 65 because most people wouldn't live that long -- though in fact, Bismarck set it at 70, and it wasn't lowered to 65 until later. But the justification for retirement has always been that by retirement age people were nearly used up, and deserved a bit of fun and then a comfortable and dignified decline until death. Get rid of the decline and death, and you've given up the justification for living -- as Social Security recipients, at least, do -- off other people's efforts on what amounts to a form of welfare . Logically, retirement should be put off until people are medically old, or perhaps just replaced with disability, and those who are able to work should do so, while those desirous of not working should save up as for a long vacation.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Some Things...and People...Never Change
An interview with Gloria Steinem from that new teen feminist rag:
Melody: I keep on reading about how you believe in the inherent goodness of humanity, and I was just wondering how someone like Bush fits into that world view... if he does, at all.
Gloria: Well, yeah. He wasn't born that way. As a baby, he probably had a whole person inside him! But that family is enough to turn anybody into a raving power maniac, and they certainly did it with him.
Melody: When I saw the picture, the famous picture of him, with a bunch of other white guys, gleefully signing away our rights as women... all I could think was, "ok, how is that not just pure evil?" [Talking about the signing of the partial-birth abortion ban.]
Gloria: Well, you know, there is certainly evil effect. There are certainly going to be millions of women and a lot of men who simply are not alive because he's in the White House. There are going to be whole species of animals, and living things, and plants that are not alive anymore, and will never come back, because: he killed them. So, that's an evil impact. I don't think it's inevitable. He wasn't born that way.
This is chalk full of dumb comments, but the dumbest: "I keep on reading about how you believe in the inherent goodness of humanity." Who in the world - other than Gloria and her Leftist comrads - believes in the "inherent goodness of humanity." Please.
Melody: I keep on reading about how you believe in the inherent goodness of humanity, and I was just wondering how someone like Bush fits into that world view... if he does, at all.
Gloria: Well, yeah. He wasn't born that way. As a baby, he probably had a whole person inside him! But that family is enough to turn anybody into a raving power maniac, and they certainly did it with him.
Melody: When I saw the picture, the famous picture of him, with a bunch of other white guys, gleefully signing away our rights as women... all I could think was, "ok, how is that not just pure evil?" [Talking about the signing of the partial-birth abortion ban.]
Gloria: Well, you know, there is certainly evil effect. There are certainly going to be millions of women and a lot of men who simply are not alive because he's in the White House. There are going to be whole species of animals, and living things, and plants that are not alive anymore, and will never come back, because: he killed them. So, that's an evil impact. I don't think it's inevitable. He wasn't born that way.
This is chalk full of dumb comments, but the dumbest: "I keep on reading about how you believe in the inherent goodness of humanity." Who in the world - other than Gloria and her Leftist comrads - believes in the "inherent goodness of humanity." Please.
Say What?
ANDREW Bogut is getting a crash course in the cutthroat world of US sport, with the NBA draft hopeful forced to deny rumours he is going blind.The Australian basketball sensation is coming under increasing scrutiny from the US press ahead of the June 28 draft.
Bogut and former North Carolina forward Marvin Williams are expected to be picked No.1 and No.2 in the draft, held in New York, with NBA clubs Milwaukee and Atlanta holding the first two selections.
Williams, 18, is considered the player with the most potential following one season at Chapel Hill. College player of the year Bogut is viewed as the safest choice after a dominant sophomore season at the University of Utah.
But with only two weeks remaining until he is thrust into the international spotlight, doubts have been raised over Bogut's quickness, his overall potential and even his eyesight.
Former Utah coach Rick Majerus, who enticed Bogut to Salt Lake City and coached him in his first college season, reportedly told NBA executives recently the 213cm centre had a degenerative eye disease.
Bogut denied the accusation as well as any speculation of a rift between himself and Majerus.
Bogut and former North Carolina forward Marvin Williams are expected to be picked No.1 and No.2 in the draft, held in New York, with NBA clubs Milwaukee and Atlanta holding the first two selections.
Williams, 18, is considered the player with the most potential following one season at Chapel Hill. College player of the year Bogut is viewed as the safest choice after a dominant sophomore season at the University of Utah.
But with only two weeks remaining until he is thrust into the international spotlight, doubts have been raised over Bogut's quickness, his overall potential and even his eyesight.
Former Utah coach Rick Majerus, who enticed Bogut to Salt Lake City and coached him in his first college season, reportedly told NBA executives recently the 213cm centre had a degenerative eye disease.
Bogut denied the accusation as well as any speculation of a rift between himself and Majerus.
On Wealth and Fame
From Andrew Sullivan:
Some may find it hard to feel pity for someone as wealthy as Jackson, but if you view wealth, as I do, as a potential prison of pitiless isolation, then the damage to the man's psyche and soul must have been and still is immeasurable. And damaged people damage others - even in the pathetic, sick way in which Jackson obviously wounded some of the children who foolishly came into his care. The parents of these boys should have known better, but they too were mesmerized by the fantasy of eternal wealth and youth. What you see in this case, then, is the cold, heartless core of American celebrity: a Faustian trade-off between instant, fathomless attention and the maintenance of any sort of psychological or spiritual perspective.
Meanwhile, fame moves on. No one cares much about Jackson's music any more. No one cares about his soul or those of his alleged victims. What the culture of celebrity builds it also destroys - casually. In this case, the wreckage is a husk of a human, the detritus of a culture that feeds on exposure and then, bored, moves on to the next victim. It is because we do not want to look at this too long that we finally look away. The world that created Michael Jackson is also the world that will happily forget him.
Some may find it hard to feel pity for someone as wealthy as Jackson, but if you view wealth, as I do, as a potential prison of pitiless isolation, then the damage to the man's psyche and soul must have been and still is immeasurable. And damaged people damage others - even in the pathetic, sick way in which Jackson obviously wounded some of the children who foolishly came into his care. The parents of these boys should have known better, but they too were mesmerized by the fantasy of eternal wealth and youth. What you see in this case, then, is the cold, heartless core of American celebrity: a Faustian trade-off between instant, fathomless attention and the maintenance of any sort of psychological or spiritual perspective.
Meanwhile, fame moves on. No one cares much about Jackson's music any more. No one cares about his soul or those of his alleged victims. What the culture of celebrity builds it also destroys - casually. In this case, the wreckage is a husk of a human, the detritus of a culture that feeds on exposure and then, bored, moves on to the next victim. It is because we do not want to look at this too long that we finally look away. The world that created Michael Jackson is also the world that will happily forget him.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Mother of the Year
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The mother of Nicholas Faibish, the 12-year old San Francisco boy killed in a dog mauling attack, says she left the child locked in the basement to protect him from the dogs.
Maureen Faibish tells Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle she used a shovel on the door to lock her son in the basement while she went out to run errands.
"Typical Nicky," Mrs. Faibish told the Chronicle, "he wouldn't listen to me."
Faibish says she locked her child in the basement because the female dog Ella was in heat. She believes Nicholas got out of the basement and interrupted Ella and Rex, the family's male dog, while they were mating.
"My younger dog was in heat and anyone who came near her, Rex saw as a threat," Faibish told the Chronicle. "He may have been trying to mate. It was a freak accident. It was just the heat of the moment."
She sounds all broken up about the brutal death of her son. This woman should be shot.
Maureen Faibish tells Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle she used a shovel on the door to lock her son in the basement while she went out to run errands.
"Typical Nicky," Mrs. Faibish told the Chronicle, "he wouldn't listen to me."
Faibish says she locked her child in the basement because the female dog Ella was in heat. She believes Nicholas got out of the basement and interrupted Ella and Rex, the family's male dog, while they were mating.
"My younger dog was in heat and anyone who came near her, Rex saw as a threat," Faibish told the Chronicle. "He may have been trying to mate. It was a freak accident. It was just the heat of the moment."
She sounds all broken up about the brutal death of her son. This woman should be shot.
More "Scientific" Hogwash
In his review of Michael Shermer's new book, Science Friction, George Scialabba writes that Shermer...
...is less patiently evenhanded on the subject of intelligent design. It rouses the full-throated skeptic in him. His chapter called "The New New Creationism" aims to blow intelligent design theory out of the water, and, in this reviewer's opinion, it succeeds. With the exception of Pope John Paul II's 1996 encyclical "Truth Cannot Contradict Truth," conservative Christians' hostility to evolution has been unremitting. They have therefore championed (Shermer would say concocted) intelligent-design theory, according to which evolution's chief explanatory mechanism, natural selection, is unable in principle to account for irreducibly complex phenomena. (An irreducibly complex phenomenon, like the eye, is a system of interacting parts, every one of which is essential to successful functioning.) Very few scientists, Christian or non-Christian, have been persuaded by this argument. Shermer thoroughly explains why and offers a more tentative but still useful account of scientists' best current answer to the question of how life originated. "The answer can be found in the properties of self-organization and emergence that arise out of what are known as complex adaptive systems. . . . As a complex adaptive system the cosmos intelligently designs itself. It is one giant autocatalytic (self-driving) feedback loop that generates emergent properties, one of which is life." That may not be immediately intelligible, but non-scientists who want to understand the natural or social world had better get used to hearing about complex adaptive systems.
May we ask if science can demonstrate how such systems are created without the participation of any intelligence? Maybe a system evolves complex adaptive powers by employing . . . its complex adaptive powers.
...is less patiently evenhanded on the subject of intelligent design. It rouses the full-throated skeptic in him. His chapter called "The New New Creationism" aims to blow intelligent design theory out of the water, and, in this reviewer's opinion, it succeeds. With the exception of Pope John Paul II's 1996 encyclical "Truth Cannot Contradict Truth," conservative Christians' hostility to evolution has been unremitting. They have therefore championed (Shermer would say concocted) intelligent-design theory, according to which evolution's chief explanatory mechanism, natural selection, is unable in principle to account for irreducibly complex phenomena. (An irreducibly complex phenomenon, like the eye, is a system of interacting parts, every one of which is essential to successful functioning.) Very few scientists, Christian or non-Christian, have been persuaded by this argument. Shermer thoroughly explains why and offers a more tentative but still useful account of scientists' best current answer to the question of how life originated. "The answer can be found in the properties of self-organization and emergence that arise out of what are known as complex adaptive systems. . . . As a complex adaptive system the cosmos intelligently designs itself. It is one giant autocatalytic (self-driving) feedback loop that generates emergent properties, one of which is life." That may not be immediately intelligible, but non-scientists who want to understand the natural or social world had better get used to hearing about complex adaptive systems.
May we ask if science can demonstrate how such systems are created without the participation of any intelligence? Maybe a system evolves complex adaptive powers by employing . . . its complex adaptive powers.
Steve Fields Steak and Lobster Lounge Is Here!
The new restaurant has officially opened, and now the website is up. Looks good. A little pricey for my Newport bloodlines, but still good.
Another Bad Movie Idea
Quentin Tarantino has reportedly signed up to bring Eddie Murphy back as Beverly Hills Cop legend Axel Foley.
The movie-maker came up with the idea for a fourth Beverly Hills Cop film while writing Murphy a part in his upcoming war movie Inglorious Bastards.
Murphy tells website joblo.com: "There's been talk. Nothing solid yet. Quentin is insane but good insane. He came to me with an idea for another Cop, and we've been talking about that.
"If it comes off, great - he's one crazy guy worth working with."
The movie-maker came up with the idea for a fourth Beverly Hills Cop film while writing Murphy a part in his upcoming war movie Inglorious Bastards.
Murphy tells website joblo.com: "There's been talk. Nothing solid yet. Quentin is insane but good insane. He came to me with an idea for another Cop, and we've been talking about that.
"If it comes off, great - he's one crazy guy worth working with."
The Rest of the Story
Nixon was a cancer, but the whole lovefest with Mark Felt over the past few weeks has been sickening. Felt was no hero - he was a lawbreaking crook, just like the President he helped bring down.
One former federal prosecutor remembers Felt:
The news that W. Mark Felt, former deputy director of the FBI, is "Deep Throat" -- that it was he who played a key role in exposing and bringing to justice the people who authorized the 1972 Watergate break-in -- came as an unexpected revelation to many. But it was particularly unexpected for me, because, together with others, I prosecuted Mark Felt for a series of illegal and unconstitutional break-ins that he had authorized.
In late 1972 and early 1973, during the same period when he was investigating the Watergate break-in, Felt authorized FBI agents in New York and New Jersey to break into and search the homes of friends or relatives of fugitives associated with the Weather Underground, a radical, violent antiwar organization. These friends and relatives were innocent of any wrongdoing. There was no probable cause to conduct the searches. There was no search warrant authorizing them. And they were clearly illegal.
With Felt's authorization, teams of agents clad in old clothes picked locks or bribed landlords and searched these people's homes. They searched thoroughly: desks, beds, closets, etc. Using a document camera, they photographed a diary, a love letter, a Valentine's Day card, statements of personal philosophy and other documents. When they were done, they put everything back in place so that no one would know they had been there.
One former federal prosecutor remembers Felt:
The news that W. Mark Felt, former deputy director of the FBI, is "Deep Throat" -- that it was he who played a key role in exposing and bringing to justice the people who authorized the 1972 Watergate break-in -- came as an unexpected revelation to many. But it was particularly unexpected for me, because, together with others, I prosecuted Mark Felt for a series of illegal and unconstitutional break-ins that he had authorized.
In late 1972 and early 1973, during the same period when he was investigating the Watergate break-in, Felt authorized FBI agents in New York and New Jersey to break into and search the homes of friends or relatives of fugitives associated with the Weather Underground, a radical, violent antiwar organization. These friends and relatives were innocent of any wrongdoing. There was no probable cause to conduct the searches. There was no search warrant authorizing them. And they were clearly illegal.
With Felt's authorization, teams of agents clad in old clothes picked locks or bribed landlords and searched these people's homes. They searched thoroughly: desks, beds, closets, etc. Using a document camera, they photographed a diary, a love letter, a Valentine's Day card, statements of personal philosophy and other documents. When they were done, they put everything back in place so that no one would know they had been there.
This is Torture?
From CNN:
The U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay is drawing fresh criticism following a magazine report on a logbook tracing the treatment of a detainee who officials believe was intended to take part in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Time magazine said the interrogation techniques included "standing for prolonged periods, isolation for as long as 30 days, [and] removal of clothing."
They have a name for this: it's called fraternity hazing.
The U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay is drawing fresh criticism following a magazine report on a logbook tracing the treatment of a detainee who officials believe was intended to take part in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Time magazine said the interrogation techniques included "standing for prolonged periods, isolation for as long as 30 days, [and] removal of clothing."
They have a name for this: it's called fraternity hazing.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Every Life is Valuable
Ms. Mamitu was exceptionally lucky in that she was brought to a hospital here in Addis Ababa that offered free surgery by a saintly husband and wife pair of gynecologists from Australia, Reginald and Catherine Hamlin. Reg is now dead, while Catherine is the Mother Teresa of our time and is long overdue for a Nobel Peace Prize.
After that operation, 42 years ago, Ms. Mamitu was given a job making beds in the hospital. Then she began helping out during surgeries, and after a couple of years of watching she was asked by Dr. Reg Hamlin to cut some stitches. Eventually, Ms. Mamitu was routinely performing the entire fistula repair herself.
Over the decades, Ms. Mamitu has gradually become one of the world's most experienced fistula surgeons. Gynecologists from around the world go to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital to train in fistula repair, and typically their teacher is Ms. Mamitu.
Not bad for an illiterate Ethiopian peasant who as a child never went to a day of school.
This very "worthless" child grew up to be quite "worthfull."
After that operation, 42 years ago, Ms. Mamitu was given a job making beds in the hospital. Then she began helping out during surgeries, and after a couple of years of watching she was asked by Dr. Reg Hamlin to cut some stitches. Eventually, Ms. Mamitu was routinely performing the entire fistula repair herself.
Over the decades, Ms. Mamitu has gradually become one of the world's most experienced fistula surgeons. Gynecologists from around the world go to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital to train in fistula repair, and typically their teacher is Ms. Mamitu.
Not bad for an illiterate Ethiopian peasant who as a child never went to a day of school.
This very "worthless" child grew up to be quite "worthfull."
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Kenneth Taylor, RIP
One of the most influential men in the world has died...someone most people have never heard of.
Kenneth Nathaniel Taylor, who founded Tyndale House Publishers after he had been unable to find a company willing to publish his Bible paraphrases, died at age 88 on Friday. Tyndale House is now a leading publisher of Christian books and resources. Taylor's biblical paraphrase, which became The Living Bible, sold more than 40 million copes in North America alone. In 1950, Taylor also founded the Christian Booksellers Association, a trade association of Christian stores, publishers, and other retail companies now known simply as CBA. He also created the missions organizations Evangelical Literature Overseas and Short Terms Abroad (which merged with Seattle-based Intercristo in 1976).
Kenneth Nathaniel Taylor, who founded Tyndale House Publishers after he had been unable to find a company willing to publish his Bible paraphrases, died at age 88 on Friday. Tyndale House is now a leading publisher of Christian books and resources. Taylor's biblical paraphrase, which became The Living Bible, sold more than 40 million copes in North America alone. In 1950, Taylor also founded the Christian Booksellers Association, a trade association of Christian stores, publishers, and other retail companies now known simply as CBA. He also created the missions organizations Evangelical Literature Overseas and Short Terms Abroad (which merged with Seattle-based Intercristo in 1976).
Social Security CRISIS!!!
WASHINGTON, June 11 - Americans turning 65 this year can expect to live, on average, until they are 83, four and a half years longer than the typical 65-year-old could expect in 1940. And government actuaries predict that American life spans will just keep growing.
This demographic trend - by 2040, the average 65-year-old will live to about 85 - has major financial implications for Social Security and major political implications for the lawmakers now trying to overhaul the system.
So what's the response from the dolts in Washington: "What crisis?"
Here's the problem. The original Social Security program was designed 65 years ago in 1937. But it was fatally flawed because it did not adequately anticipate future rates of inflation or life expectancy. In 1937, CPI averaged 1.4% per year over the previous 25 years. Since then, it has averaged 4.0% per year. Life expectancy then was 60 years. Today it is 77. Any remedy to the present retirement system must comprehend and solve the unpleasant unpredictability of both these factors.
The Solution: Pay promised benefits to those 58 and older. Bump the retirement age for younger workers to 75 or 76 (and index based on life expectancy). Cut benefits for younger workers (pre-58). Allow younger workers to invest a small percentage in private accounts.
This demographic trend - by 2040, the average 65-year-old will live to about 85 - has major financial implications for Social Security and major political implications for the lawmakers now trying to overhaul the system.
So what's the response from the dolts in Washington: "What crisis?"
Here's the problem. The original Social Security program was designed 65 years ago in 1937. But it was fatally flawed because it did not adequately anticipate future rates of inflation or life expectancy. In 1937, CPI averaged 1.4% per year over the previous 25 years. Since then, it has averaged 4.0% per year. Life expectancy then was 60 years. Today it is 77. Any remedy to the present retirement system must comprehend and solve the unpleasant unpredictability of both these factors.
The Solution: Pay promised benefits to those 58 and older. Bump the retirement age for younger workers to 75 or 76 (and index based on life expectancy). Cut benefits for younger workers (pre-58). Allow younger workers to invest a small percentage in private accounts.
Now Why Don't I Take The Left Seriously...Oh Yeah
A group of naked cyclists took part in a bike ride to protest against oil dependency and to "celebrate the human body."
Crowds gathered as about 100 people set off from Hyde Park corner, London, in the World Naked Bike Ride past some of the capital's most famous landmarks.
Most of them stripped fully naked for the 10km (6.2 miles) cycle past Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, Covent Garden, Oxford Street and the United States Embassy.
Some bikes were decked out with banners reading 'Oil is not a bare necessity but a crude obsession' and 'Support the trade justice movement'.
Others have slogans painted on their backs and some were on roller-skates.
Crowds gathered as about 100 people set off from Hyde Park corner, London, in the World Naked Bike Ride past some of the capital's most famous landmarks.
Most of them stripped fully naked for the 10km (6.2 miles) cycle past Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, Covent Garden, Oxford Street and the United States Embassy.
Some bikes were decked out with banners reading 'Oil is not a bare necessity but a crude obsession' and 'Support the trade justice movement'.
Others have slogans painted on their backs and some were on roller-skates.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Indian Dominance of the Spelling Bee
One possible explanation:
But Nehru would have approved of spelling bees. Indian pedagogy relies heavily on rote memorization--the result of a fusion of Victorian teaching methods imposed by the British and ancient Hindu practice, in which the guru (or teacher) imparted his learning to pupils via an oral tradition. (The Victorians, for their part, regarded correct spelling almost as a moral virtue, and certainly as a caste "signifier," to use a clumsy anthropological term.)
So the act of sitting down for months with dictionary on lap, chanting aloud the spellings of abstruse words and then committing them to memory probably taps into an atavistic stream coursing through the veins of Indian bee-children. A friend tells the story of how, in his childhood, he'd had an Indian boy home for a sleep-over. He awoke in the middle of the night to find his guest poring over the host family's Random House dictionary. "I own an Oxford dictionary," the boy had said, by way of bizarre, nocturnal explanation. "This American dictionary is so different!
But Nehru would have approved of spelling bees. Indian pedagogy relies heavily on rote memorization--the result of a fusion of Victorian teaching methods imposed by the British and ancient Hindu practice, in which the guru (or teacher) imparted his learning to pupils via an oral tradition. (The Victorians, for their part, regarded correct spelling almost as a moral virtue, and certainly as a caste "signifier," to use a clumsy anthropological term.)
So the act of sitting down for months with dictionary on lap, chanting aloud the spellings of abstruse words and then committing them to memory probably taps into an atavistic stream coursing through the veins of Indian bee-children. A friend tells the story of how, in his childhood, he'd had an Indian boy home for a sleep-over. He awoke in the middle of the night to find his guest poring over the host family's Random House dictionary. "I own an Oxford dictionary," the boy had said, by way of bizarre, nocturnal explanation. "This American dictionary is so different!
Single Payor System Struck Down Up North
Canada's Supreme Court struck down a Quebec law outlawing private health insurance. Here's the money quote:
"In the case of certain surgical procedures, the delays that are the necessary result of waiting lists increase the patient's risk of mortality or the risk that his or her injuries will become irreparable," Justice Marie Deschamps wrote for the majority. "Many patients on non-urgent waiting lists are in pain and cannot fully enjoy any real quality of life. The right to life and to personal inviolability is therefore affected by the waiting times."
Amen, sister.
"In the case of certain surgical procedures, the delays that are the necessary result of waiting lists increase the patient's risk of mortality or the risk that his or her injuries will become irreparable," Justice Marie Deschamps wrote for the majority. "Many patients on non-urgent waiting lists are in pain and cannot fully enjoy any real quality of life. The right to life and to personal inviolability is therefore affected by the waiting times."
Amen, sister.
Not All Democrats Are Goose-Stepping Behind Dean
From the Don Imus show:
June 9, 2005
Imus: "On another note here, speaking of the Democratic Party, which you are a member of, how's Howard Dean working for you?"
Rep. Harold Ford Jr.: "(Laughing) I won't have him down so many times in Tennessee on the campaign trail with me. He has made some comments as of late that really speak to a lack of understanding I think, of the country, a lack of understanding of faith and values. I'm a Democrat and I'm a God fearing one. I grew up in church. Christianity is not reserved for white males. I think perhaps Governor Dean sometimes gets a little excited at the mouth, and says things that are simply not true. It may reach a point where if he can't find a way to kind of control some of his comments, and temper his comments, it may get to the point where the party may need to look elsewhere for leadership, because he does not speak for me, and I know he does not speak for a majority of Democrats and I dare say Republicans in my home state. I know that other, even Senator Biden and others, have made some stronger comments about him. I look forward to having a chance to sit with him here in the next day or so. I think he's going to be here in Capitol Hill a little later today to meet with us. I want to ask him directly. Can he contain himself in a lot of ways, and what is his thought process in a lot of these issues because it is not representative of where the party is."
June 9, 2005
Imus: "On another note here, speaking of the Democratic Party, which you are a member of, how's Howard Dean working for you?"
Rep. Harold Ford Jr.: "(Laughing) I won't have him down so many times in Tennessee on the campaign trail with me. He has made some comments as of late that really speak to a lack of understanding I think, of the country, a lack of understanding of faith and values. I'm a Democrat and I'm a God fearing one. I grew up in church. Christianity is not reserved for white males. I think perhaps Governor Dean sometimes gets a little excited at the mouth, and says things that are simply not true. It may reach a point where if he can't find a way to kind of control some of his comments, and temper his comments, it may get to the point where the party may need to look elsewhere for leadership, because he does not speak for me, and I know he does not speak for a majority of Democrats and I dare say Republicans in my home state. I know that other, even Senator Biden and others, have made some stronger comments about him. I look forward to having a chance to sit with him here in the next day or so. I think he's going to be here in Capitol Hill a little later today to meet with us. I want to ask him directly. Can he contain himself in a lot of ways, and what is his thought process in a lot of these issues because it is not representative of where the party is."
Encouraging News from Saudi Arabia
Conservative Islam is the foundation of Islamic radicalism, which is Islam carried to a murderous extreme. This movement is weakening in the place where it originated; Saudi Arabia. One of the most telling signs has been the decline and fall of the religious police. The Mutawwain -- national "religious police" – or "Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Suppression of Vice" has long been a force in Saudi Arabia, acting against any perceived "un-Islamic" behavior in an attempt to preserve religious purity (e.g., it's better that women should burn to death in a fire than that they appear without their veils). Over the past few years, however, the Mutawwain have come under increasing pressure. Long regarded not only as arbitrary, but also corrupt, the organization is under investigation by the official state prosecutor, and its budget and personnel have been cut repeatedly; from over 2000 officers just five years ago there are now apparently only some 700.
Shame on Bishop Foys
I take back all of my previous praise of the Bishop. It turns out the Diocese is only paying $40 million, with the remaining $80 million hinging on their successful lawsuit against their insurance carriers. Oh by the way, the Diocese is self-insured, which means they're essentially suing themselves.
BURLINGTON - Calling the $120 million Covington Diocese settlement "a sound bite," Senior Judge John Potter rejected it, saying both sets of lawyers were fooling victims of sexual abuse.
Potter, of Louisville, said that while the proposed settlement was a good first step, it could collapse and end up in a trial - because only $40 million is immediately available for the claims.
Potter didn't discount the chance that the remaining $80 million could be collected through litigation with insurers. "It may, in the future at some point, become a $120 million settlement."
The judge said he wanted to make sure that no victim of sexual abuse by a priest became dispirited about his comment, but that it was better the victims understand up front that there isn't yet $120 million to be doled out.
The diocese is suing its insurance carriers to force them to contribute $80 million to the victims of the nation's only class-action suit alleging sexual abuse by priests.
Church investments and diocesan real estate will cover the diocese's $40 million part of the settlement.
A Roman Catholic self-insurance program released a public statement while Potter conducted the hearing, saying the Covington Diocese never consulted with its agents about the proposed settlement, despite the fact that the insurance group had paid $1.6 million for lawyers to defend the diocese.
Catholic Mutual Group, whose chairman is the archbishop of Omaha, said it was "saddened that the diocese has chosen to sue the church's self-insurance fund without prior notification or consultation."
The diocese has participated in Catholic Mutual's self-insurance company since 1968.
The statement said the carrier has "scrupulously abided by its obligations" to the Covington Diocese and does not understand how the diocese could expect Catholic Mutual to fund a settlement in which it wasn't consulted and hadn't approved.
Regardless, the statement said, Catholic Mutual will work to help resolve the situation in a way that's fair to all involved.
BURLINGTON - Calling the $120 million Covington Diocese settlement "a sound bite," Senior Judge John Potter rejected it, saying both sets of lawyers were fooling victims of sexual abuse.
Potter, of Louisville, said that while the proposed settlement was a good first step, it could collapse and end up in a trial - because only $40 million is immediately available for the claims.
Potter didn't discount the chance that the remaining $80 million could be collected through litigation with insurers. "It may, in the future at some point, become a $120 million settlement."
The judge said he wanted to make sure that no victim of sexual abuse by a priest became dispirited about his comment, but that it was better the victims understand up front that there isn't yet $120 million to be doled out.
The diocese is suing its insurance carriers to force them to contribute $80 million to the victims of the nation's only class-action suit alleging sexual abuse by priests.
Church investments and diocesan real estate will cover the diocese's $40 million part of the settlement.
A Roman Catholic self-insurance program released a public statement while Potter conducted the hearing, saying the Covington Diocese never consulted with its agents about the proposed settlement, despite the fact that the insurance group had paid $1.6 million for lawyers to defend the diocese.
Catholic Mutual Group, whose chairman is the archbishop of Omaha, said it was "saddened that the diocese has chosen to sue the church's self-insurance fund without prior notification or consultation."
The diocese has participated in Catholic Mutual's self-insurance company since 1968.
The statement said the carrier has "scrupulously abided by its obligations" to the Covington Diocese and does not understand how the diocese could expect Catholic Mutual to fund a settlement in which it wasn't consulted and hadn't approved.
Regardless, the statement said, Catholic Mutual will work to help resolve the situation in a way that's fair to all involved.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Schiavo Redux
This is probably the best commentary on the Terri Schiavo case that I've read. And amazingly, it's from the usually unstable Joan Didion.
Big Bro' Was Right
My brother Greg used to tell me that Hollywood was filled with nothing but shallow, insecure, self-centered, moronic fools. I never believed him. How could Rodney Dangerfield or Keenan Ivory-Wayansk, who Greg knew all too well, be jackasses? They were so funny.
Alas, he was right.
Legendary movie maker STEVEN SPIELBERG has hit out at Hollywood for not rallying round for Democrat JOHN KERRY's election campaign last year (NOV04).
The SCHINDLER'S LIST director supported Kerry in his unsuccessful battle for US Presidency against GEORGE W BUSH, but he was outraged that the influential film industry weren't more vociferous in their support of the Democrats in comparison to the backing they gave to charismatic former leader BILL CLINTON in the 1990s.
In an interview on Australian chat show ENOUGH ROPE, he fumed, "I was disappointed that Hollywood didn't do enough for John Kerry's campaign, compared to what Hollywood did for Bill Clinton's campaign.
"The democratic Hollywood base, power base and money base, really didn't come out this year, and I was surprised about that.
"It might have been that Hollywood is very interested in charisma and I do not think that Hollywood felt that John Kerry had the kind of charisma that Bill Clinton had and that they didn't come out in force.
"I thought John Kerry would have been a wonderful world leader and an American president."
Alas, he was right.
Legendary movie maker STEVEN SPIELBERG has hit out at Hollywood for not rallying round for Democrat JOHN KERRY's election campaign last year (NOV04).
The SCHINDLER'S LIST director supported Kerry in his unsuccessful battle for US Presidency against GEORGE W BUSH, but he was outraged that the influential film industry weren't more vociferous in their support of the Democrats in comparison to the backing they gave to charismatic former leader BILL CLINTON in the 1990s.
In an interview on Australian chat show ENOUGH ROPE, he fumed, "I was disappointed that Hollywood didn't do enough for John Kerry's campaign, compared to what Hollywood did for Bill Clinton's campaign.
"The democratic Hollywood base, power base and money base, really didn't come out this year, and I was surprised about that.
"It might have been that Hollywood is very interested in charisma and I do not think that Hollywood felt that John Kerry had the kind of charisma that Bill Clinton had and that they didn't come out in force.
"I thought John Kerry would have been a wonderful world leader and an American president."
We Need More Eloria Noyesi Moths
I can honestly say I thought of this years ago, but nobody would listen.
BOGOTA,Colombia - A group of Colombian scientists believe they've found a way to wipe out cocaine production: unleash an army of hungry moth caterpillars. But critics of the proposal say the chance for "ecological mischief" is high.
The plan envisions breeding thousands of beige-colored Eloria Noyesi moths in laboratories, packing them into boxes and releasing them into steamy coca-growing regions of Colombia, the world's main supplier of the drug. The moths, about twice the size of a fly, are native only to the Andean region of South America.
Colombian Environment Minister Sandra Suarez told The Associated Press that the government considers the proposal an "interesting alternative" to existing eradication methods.
Carlos Alberto Gomez, president of the privately funded National Network of Botanical Gardens, made the proposal last week. He said the moths would naturally make a beeline for the coca plants and lay their eggs on the leaves. About a week later, caterpillars would emerge and destroy the plants by devouring the leaves.
BOGOTA,Colombia - A group of Colombian scientists believe they've found a way to wipe out cocaine production: unleash an army of hungry moth caterpillars. But critics of the proposal say the chance for "ecological mischief" is high.
The plan envisions breeding thousands of beige-colored Eloria Noyesi moths in laboratories, packing them into boxes and releasing them into steamy coca-growing regions of Colombia, the world's main supplier of the drug. The moths, about twice the size of a fly, are native only to the Andean region of South America.
Colombian Environment Minister Sandra Suarez told The Associated Press that the government considers the proposal an "interesting alternative" to existing eradication methods.
Carlos Alberto Gomez, president of the privately funded National Network of Botanical Gardens, made the proposal last week. He said the moths would naturally make a beeline for the coca plants and lay their eggs on the leaves. About a week later, caterpillars would emerge and destroy the plants by devouring the leaves.
A Mixed Bag
StrategyPage has good Iraq news...and bad. First, the good:
More towns in Iraqi's "wild west" are being pacified. The usual drill is not another Fallujah, but a government official meeting with local tribal and religious leaders, where an offer is made. Iraqi and American troops are coming. Neighborhoods that support the government will see little or no fighting as a search is made for weapons, bombs and the like. Neighborhoods that wish to resist will be hit hard. By now, everyone knows how smart bombs work. Increasingly, Sunni Arab leaders are being told, by their followers, that all this violence is not worth it. After Saddam fell, Sunni Arabs continued to believe in fantasies. For the last two years, the collective delusion was that the Americans had no stomach for guerilla war, and the Kurds and Shia Arabs could never get a government together. Today, Sunni Arabs who can get away on a little vacation, go north to the Kurdish north, or south to Shia Basra. In both places you can sit in an outdoor cafe without fear of a suicide bomb going off down the street. The Kurds and Shia have more jobs, more reconstruction and less crime. The Sunni Arabs don't want to live in their own mess any more. They don't want to live in a combat zone, especially while the Kurds and Shia are not.
Now, the bad:
The biggest obstacle to economic revival is not terrorism, but corruption. For example, over a third of Iraq’s potential oil revenue is lost to corruption and theft. . . .
Iraq may be free of Saddam, but it is not yet free of the corrupt practices that allow someone like Saddam to take power, and keep it. While much is made of the terror Saddam used to keep Iraqis in line, we forget that he often used corruption, and the willingness of too many Iraqis to take the money and look the other way. The corruption has gotten so bad, especially the oil thefts, that the government is planning on firing several hundred thousand government workers. The money simply isn't there to pay them. The money, instead, is in the pockets of local criminals, or foreign bank accounts belonging to corrupt officials. Until Iraq can confront and conquer this enemy, they will not be able to enjoy the benefits of their oil wealth.
More towns in Iraqi's "wild west" are being pacified. The usual drill is not another Fallujah, but a government official meeting with local tribal and religious leaders, where an offer is made. Iraqi and American troops are coming. Neighborhoods that support the government will see little or no fighting as a search is made for weapons, bombs and the like. Neighborhoods that wish to resist will be hit hard. By now, everyone knows how smart bombs work. Increasingly, Sunni Arab leaders are being told, by their followers, that all this violence is not worth it. After Saddam fell, Sunni Arabs continued to believe in fantasies. For the last two years, the collective delusion was that the Americans had no stomach for guerilla war, and the Kurds and Shia Arabs could never get a government together. Today, Sunni Arabs who can get away on a little vacation, go north to the Kurdish north, or south to Shia Basra. In both places you can sit in an outdoor cafe without fear of a suicide bomb going off down the street. The Kurds and Shia have more jobs, more reconstruction and less crime. The Sunni Arabs don't want to live in their own mess any more. They don't want to live in a combat zone, especially while the Kurds and Shia are not.
Now, the bad:
The biggest obstacle to economic revival is not terrorism, but corruption. For example, over a third of Iraq’s potential oil revenue is lost to corruption and theft. . . .
Iraq may be free of Saddam, but it is not yet free of the corrupt practices that allow someone like Saddam to take power, and keep it. While much is made of the terror Saddam used to keep Iraqis in line, we forget that he often used corruption, and the willingness of too many Iraqis to take the money and look the other way. The corruption has gotten so bad, especially the oil thefts, that the government is planning on firing several hundred thousand government workers. The money simply isn't there to pay them. The money, instead, is in the pockets of local criminals, or foreign bank accounts belonging to corrupt officials. Until Iraq can confront and conquer this enemy, they will not be able to enjoy the benefits of their oil wealth.
Don't Say That Again
Funniest moment from Wily Mo's post-game comments after last night's Reds' game. I paraphrase:
Reporter: "How do you think your bobblehead looks?"
Wily Mo: "It makes me look like a fag."
Uh, I don't think Wily Mo's used to dealing with the activist groups down there in the Dominican.
Reporter: "How do you think your bobblehead looks?"
Wily Mo: "It makes me look like a fag."
Uh, I don't think Wily Mo's used to dealing with the activist groups down there in the Dominican.
The Gospel is Spreading...Even to Harvard and Yale
Fabulous article from the NY Times (yes, that NY Times) on Christians at Ivy League colleges. Will these universities once again become the bastions of Christian learning that they were created to be?
Is This Good, Bad, or Neither?
WASHINGTON -- Hispanics accounted for half the 2.9 million U.S. population growth from 2003 to 2004 and now constitute one-seventh of all people in the United States.
A Census Bureau report issued Thursday said that trend probably will continue because of immigration and a Hispanic birth rate outstripping non-Hispanic blacks and whites.
The agency estimated there are 41.3 million Hispanics in the U.S. The bureau does not ask about legal status so its numbers are intended to include everyone.
The population growth for Asians ran a close second. Increases in both groups are due largely to immigration, but also higher birth rates, said Lewis W. Goodman, an American University expert on U.S.-Latin American relations.
A Census Bureau report issued Thursday said that trend probably will continue because of immigration and a Hispanic birth rate outstripping non-Hispanic blacks and whites.
The agency estimated there are 41.3 million Hispanics in the U.S. The bureau does not ask about legal status so its numbers are intended to include everyone.
The population growth for Asians ran a close second. Increases in both groups are due largely to immigration, but also higher birth rates, said Lewis W. Goodman, an American University expert on U.S.-Latin American relations.
No Like Hillary
Interesting tidbit from Bob Novak:
At a dinner party in a private room of a Los Angeles restaurant attended by eight Democratic politicians, I was asked to assess the political scene. I concluded with a preview of the distant events of 2008. While there had not been so open a race for the Republican nomination since 1940, I said, Clinton was dominant for the Democrats. For someone who is neither an incumbent president nor vice president to have apparently locked the nomination so early is without precedent.
As I made this analysis, the liberal Democratic functionary across the table from me shook his head in disagreement. He left his seat between courses, and then returned with this announcement: ''There are eight Democrats in this room. I've taken a little poll, and none of them -- none -- are for Hillary for president. They think she is a loser.''
At a dinner party in a private room of a Los Angeles restaurant attended by eight Democratic politicians, I was asked to assess the political scene. I concluded with a preview of the distant events of 2008. While there had not been so open a race for the Republican nomination since 1940, I said, Clinton was dominant for the Democrats. For someone who is neither an incumbent president nor vice president to have apparently locked the nomination so early is without precedent.
As I made this analysis, the liberal Democratic functionary across the table from me shook his head in disagreement. He left his seat between courses, and then returned with this announcement: ''There are eight Democrats in this room. I've taken a little poll, and none of them -- none -- are for Hillary for president. They think she is a loser.''
This is Comforting
Up to a third of scientists have engaged in ethically questionable practices over the last three years, according to a survey published in today's issue of the British science journal Nature.
The surveyed behaviors range from extremely serious acts such as fraud and plagiarism -- which were committed by only a fraction of a percent to 1. 4 percent, respectively -- to acts that are ethically far more ambiguous, such as ignoring data that contradict one's theory.
The surveyed behaviors range from extremely serious acts such as fraud and plagiarism -- which were committed by only a fraction of a percent to 1. 4 percent, respectively -- to acts that are ethically far more ambiguous, such as ignoring data that contradict one's theory.
Dirt is Good
I've always thought that dirt is good and hyper-cleanliness bad. It just makes sense that your body strengthens it's immune system by being attacked - much like an athlete becomes more skilled by being challenged by better athletes. Well, there is a growing consensus in the medical community that asthma is caused by cleanliness.
There is growing evidence that asthma, like polio, is a disease of cleanliness. It is rare in farm children and seems to be related to a failure to expose very young children to dirt when their immune systems are sorting out friend from foe. Polio was the same and the epidemics first appeared in Sweden, in villages, where a combination of isolation and cleanliness isolated children from new pathogens. This was finally figured out in the 50s when Mexican children were tested, once the antibody test was available, and all the poor kids were found already immune even though none had paralysis. A similar mechanism is postulated for asthma although there is no proof yet. Epidemiology will probably prove it one day. In the meantime, asthma deaths are climbing steadily.
There is growing evidence that asthma, like polio, is a disease of cleanliness. It is rare in farm children and seems to be related to a failure to expose very young children to dirt when their immune systems are sorting out friend from foe. Polio was the same and the epidemics first appeared in Sweden, in villages, where a combination of isolation and cleanliness isolated children from new pathogens. This was finally figured out in the 50s when Mexican children were tested, once the antibody test was available, and all the poor kids were found already immune even though none had paralysis. A similar mechanism is postulated for asthma although there is no proof yet. Epidemiology will probably prove it one day. In the meantime, asthma deaths are climbing steadily.
Quote of the Day
From Andrew Sullivan:
"Does anyone in America doubt that Kerry has a higher IQ than Bush? I'm sure the candidates' SATs and college transcripts would put Kerry far ahead." - Howell Raines, former executive editor of the New York Times, last August.
That's classic.
"Does anyone in America doubt that Kerry has a higher IQ than Bush? I'm sure the candidates' SATs and college transcripts would put Kerry far ahead." - Howell Raines, former executive editor of the New York Times, last August.
That's classic.
The Hits Just Keep On Coming
University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins said he first learned of the statutory rape charge against UC recruit Tyree Evans on Tuesday night after assistant athletic director Tom Hathaway was contacted by a newspaper reporter seeking a comment from a school official.
Evans, a 6-foot-3 guard from Richmond, Va., is one of five current or former members of the Winchendon (Mass.) School basketball team who are facing charges in connection with an alleged incident last fall at the prep school.
"We are shocked about it," Huggins said Wednesday from Chicago, where he and associate head coach Andy Kennedy were watching UC graduate Jason Maxiell compete in the NBA pre-draft camp.
"When we found out (Tuesday), we were dumbfounded. We started calling around trying to find out what's going on. If this happened, he'll never set foot on our campus."
Evans, a 6-foot-3 guard from Richmond, Va., is one of five current or former members of the Winchendon (Mass.) School basketball team who are facing charges in connection with an alleged incident last fall at the prep school.
"We are shocked about it," Huggins said Wednesday from Chicago, where he and associate head coach Andy Kennedy were watching UC graduate Jason Maxiell compete in the NBA pre-draft camp.
"When we found out (Tuesday), we were dumbfounded. We started calling around trying to find out what's going on. If this happened, he'll never set foot on our campus."
Why I Love Chad Johnson?
In response to a comment made by his agent in a recent online report, Chad Johnson stressed Wednesday that a holdout is not in his plans.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus represents the Bengals wide receiver, who is under contract through the 2009 season. An ESPN.com story about Rosenhaus included a comment from the agent that Johnson was "sorely underpaid."
"My agent doesn't run me. I run myself," Johnson said after Wednesday's workout. "He works for me. Therefore, if there were any holdout going on it would be going on right now with the rest of those that are holding out for more money right now.
"(Number) 85 ain't going nowhere."
Agent Drew Rosenhaus represents the Bengals wide receiver, who is under contract through the 2009 season. An ESPN.com story about Rosenhaus included a comment from the agent that Johnson was "sorely underpaid."
"My agent doesn't run me. I run myself," Johnson said after Wednesday's workout. "He works for me. Therefore, if there were any holdout going on it would be going on right now with the rest of those that are holding out for more money right now.
"(Number) 85 ain't going nowhere."
Wily Moooooo!!
Wily Mo saved the day last night with 2 home runs, including the game winner in the 9th. But Eric Milton was - yet again - awful.
Even with the win, do the Reds dare to keep running Milton out there every fifth day?
Milton had his sixth awful start in seven outings, and his ERA rose to 7.46. He is in the first year of a $25.5 million, three-year contract.
The Reds have better options. Luke Hudson joins the rotation today. Matt Belisle (2-5, 4.76 ERA) and Randy Keisler (2-0, 1.93) both have pitched considerably better than Milton.
Given his performance over his last seven starts - 1-5, 9.16 ERA, 54 hits and 11 home runs in 361/3 innings - there's little to suggest that Milton is on the brink of turning it around. Any chance the Reds will take him out of the rotation?
"I can't comment on that," Reds manager Dave Miley said.
Even with the win, do the Reds dare to keep running Milton out there every fifth day?
Milton had his sixth awful start in seven outings, and his ERA rose to 7.46. He is in the first year of a $25.5 million, three-year contract.
The Reds have better options. Luke Hudson joins the rotation today. Matt Belisle (2-5, 4.76 ERA) and Randy Keisler (2-0, 1.93) both have pitched considerably better than Milton.
Given his performance over his last seven starts - 1-5, 9.16 ERA, 54 hits and 11 home runs in 361/3 innings - there's little to suggest that Milton is on the brink of turning it around. Any chance the Reds will take him out of the rotation?
"I can't comment on that," Reds manager Dave Miley said.
Nobody Knows, The Trouble I've Seen
I think it's time for Larry to go preach to his fellow inmates in prison.
COVINGTON - The Rev. Larry Davis purchased a Porsche with some of the more than $700,000 he stole from the First Baptist Church of Cold Spring - sometimes brazenly withdrawing the money at horse racetrack ATMs, a federal prosecutor says.
"The thought of somebody in a leadership position misappropriating funds for personal use is very troubling," said U.S. Attorney Gregory Van Tatenhove.
"We, as a community, need to take a strong stand to hold those individuals accountable."
A seven-count federal indictment returned Wednesday says Davis submitted a false loan application to Fifth Third Bank, evaded federal income taxes for four years, and transferred stolen church money across state lines to buy the Porsche 911 and a minivan.
COVINGTON - The Rev. Larry Davis purchased a Porsche with some of the more than $700,000 he stole from the First Baptist Church of Cold Spring - sometimes brazenly withdrawing the money at horse racetrack ATMs, a federal prosecutor says.
"The thought of somebody in a leadership position misappropriating funds for personal use is very troubling," said U.S. Attorney Gregory Van Tatenhove.
"We, as a community, need to take a strong stand to hold those individuals accountable."
A seven-count federal indictment returned Wednesday says Davis submitted a false loan application to Fifth Third Bank, evaded federal income taxes for four years, and transferred stolen church money across state lines to buy the Porsche 911 and a minivan.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
What a Bunch of Stiffs
What is the most underachieving professional sports franchise based on player salaries?
Without a doubt, the NY Knicks.
Without a doubt, the NY Knicks.
Ooooh! Ahhhhh!
SORRY, Richard Gere, but Owen Wilson (above) doesn't share your adoration of the Dalai Lama. Wilson tells Playboy that he went to hear the Tibetan spiritual leader speak at UCLA once to "impress a girl" and "the crowd made me want to throw up. At the end of his corny lecture, with a bunch of goofball utopian ideals, he opened it up to questions. Somebody asked, 'What's the answer to world hunger?' And his answer was like, 'Sharing!' And everyone oohed and aahed like he'd just solved the problem. Somebody else asked, 'What's the solution to racism?' And he came back with, 'We all have the same color of blood,' and everybody was swooning. I just couldn't believe what the big deal was."
Go, Deano, Go
When Howard Dean became Chair of the DNC, I suggested that this was Karl Rove's doing. I clearly had my tounge in my cheek at the time. After the past few weeks, I'm beginning to think the Rove angle may be true.
Many Republicans probably voted for George Bush dozens, if not hundreds, of times in 2004, according to Democrat party Chairman Howard Dean, "by taking advantage of the fact that Democrat poll workers have difficulty distinguishing individuals from among a crowd of white Christians."
"Thanks to their pale skin, round eyes and khaki trousers, Republicans just blend in," said Mr. Dean. "So they vote, get in the back of the line and vote again. And because they've never made an honest living in their lives, they could do that all day long."
Many Republicans probably voted for George Bush dozens, if not hundreds, of times in 2004, according to Democrat party Chairman Howard Dean, "by taking advantage of the fact that Democrat poll workers have difficulty distinguishing individuals from among a crowd of white Christians."
"Thanks to their pale skin, round eyes and khaki trousers, Republicans just blend in," said Mr. Dean. "So they vote, get in the back of the line and vote again. And because they've never made an honest living in their lives, they could do that all day long."
No, It's Really Not
Leahy said too many legislators saw the United Nations as an "easy place to beat up" but that the United States should not be acting unilaterally "simply because the United Nations happens to be here within the borders of the United States."
"It is hard to think of a world without the U.N.," he said.
"It is hard to think of a world without the U.N.," he said.
Come On In, Boys
In a way, this is very good news. All of the nutjobs across the Middle East are heading to Iraq and not Israel or the U.S. or France. Now it's a matter of staying the course and killing all of these bastards.
ALEPPO, Syria -- When the Americans led the invasion of Iraq, the men of Abu Ibrahim's family gathered in the courtyard of their shared home in the far north of Syria. Ten slips of paper were folded into a plastic bag, and they drew lots. The five who opened a paper marked with ink would go to Iraq and fight. The other five would stay behind. Abu Ibrahim drew a blank.
But remaining in Syria did not mean staying clear of the war. For more than two years, by his own detailed account, the slightly built, shabbily dressed 32-year-old father of four has worked diligently to shuttle other young Arab men into Iraq, stocking the insurgency that has killed hundreds of U.S. troops and thousands of Iraqis. The stream of fighters -- most of them Syrians, but lately many of them Saudis, favored for the cash they bring -- has sustained and replenished the hardest core of the Iraq insurgency, and supplied many of its suicide bombers. Drawn from a number of Arab countries and nurtured by a militant interpretation of Islam, they insist they are fighting for their vision of their faith. This may put them beyond the reach of political efforts to make Iraq's Sunni Arabs stakeholders in the country's nascent government....
ALEPPO, Syria -- When the Americans led the invasion of Iraq, the men of Abu Ibrahim's family gathered in the courtyard of their shared home in the far north of Syria. Ten slips of paper were folded into a plastic bag, and they drew lots. The five who opened a paper marked with ink would go to Iraq and fight. The other five would stay behind. Abu Ibrahim drew a blank.
But remaining in Syria did not mean staying clear of the war. For more than two years, by his own detailed account, the slightly built, shabbily dressed 32-year-old father of four has worked diligently to shuttle other young Arab men into Iraq, stocking the insurgency that has killed hundreds of U.S. troops and thousands of Iraqis. The stream of fighters -- most of them Syrians, but lately many of them Saudis, favored for the cash they bring -- has sustained and replenished the hardest core of the Iraq insurgency, and supplied many of its suicide bombers. Drawn from a number of Arab countries and nurtured by a militant interpretation of Islam, they insist they are fighting for their vision of their faith. This may put them beyond the reach of political efforts to make Iraq's Sunni Arabs stakeholders in the country's nascent government....
Keep Your Hands Off My KFC
Attacking an embassy or a consulate is one think, attacking the Colonel is quite another.
KARACHI, Pakistan, June 3 - Four times since Pakistan allied itself with the United States campaign against terrorism, a KFC outlet here has been attacked. Each time, the owner, Rafiq Rangoonwala, dutifully cleaned up and reopened for business. This time, with six of his employees dead, he's not so sure.
Last week, as evening prayers began at a Shiite mosque down the street, a suicide bomber believed to belong to a Sunni extremist group linked to Al Qaeda blew himself up inside the mosque compound, splattering his remains across the high courtyard wall. Minutes later, a mob, believed to be led by outraged Shiites, stormed Mr. Rangoonwala's KFC outlet, dousing its floors with gasoline, setting it ablaze and then blocking the entry of rescue workers.
Six hours later, the six bodies were hauled out. Four had been burned. Two had frozen to death in the walk-in freezer; their bodies were found only after a mobile phone belonging to one of the men rang. The dead had all worked at the KFC, and they were all local men in their mid-20's.
KARACHI, Pakistan, June 3 - Four times since Pakistan allied itself with the United States campaign against terrorism, a KFC outlet here has been attacked. Each time, the owner, Rafiq Rangoonwala, dutifully cleaned up and reopened for business. This time, with six of his employees dead, he's not so sure.
Last week, as evening prayers began at a Shiite mosque down the street, a suicide bomber believed to belong to a Sunni extremist group linked to Al Qaeda blew himself up inside the mosque compound, splattering his remains across the high courtyard wall. Minutes later, a mob, believed to be led by outraged Shiites, stormed Mr. Rangoonwala's KFC outlet, dousing its floors with gasoline, setting it ablaze and then blocking the entry of rescue workers.
Six hours later, the six bodies were hauled out. Four had been burned. Two had frozen to death in the walk-in freezer; their bodies were found only after a mobile phone belonging to one of the men rang. The dead had all worked at the KFC, and they were all local men in their mid-20's.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Very Good Advice
Israel need not pay much attention to Europe, which is using its Middle East policy to separate itself from the US, has a tendency toward appeasement and is largely pro-Palestinian, former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar told The Jerusalem Post Monday.
"Europe likes appeasement very much; this is one of the most important differences between us and the States," Aznar said in an interview on the Bar-Ilan University campus. "Europeans don't like any problems. They prefer appeasement."
"Europe likes appeasement very much; this is one of the most important differences between us and the States," Aznar said in an interview on the Bar-Ilan University campus. "Europeans don't like any problems. They prefer appeasement."
A Lot More of This is Coming Down the Pike
General Motors Corp. announced today it plans to cut 25,000 jobs in the United States over the next three years by closing various assembly and component plants, a move brought on by both a cooling of the American love affair with the mighty SUV and rapidly spiking health care costs.
Rick Wagoner, chairman and chief executive of GM, told an annual shareholder's meeting in Wilmington, Del., this morning that the undisclosed plant closings will save the world's largest automaker an estimated $2.5 billion a year once completed. He said the job losses were prompted by a "sudden downturn in performance" in the U.S. market.
Rick Wagoner, chairman and chief executive of GM, told an annual shareholder's meeting in Wilmington, Del., this morning that the undisclosed plant closings will save the world's largest automaker an estimated $2.5 billion a year once completed. He said the job losses were prompted by a "sudden downturn in performance" in the U.S. market.
I Have to Call B.S. on this One
A once-in-a-decade survey of the mental health of Americans has found that disabling mental illness is as common as such chronic diseases as heart disease and cancer -- but strikes people at a much younger age, with more lasting impact on their lives.
About half of Americans will develop a mental disorder at some time in their lives, the survey of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults found -- with half of those cases starting by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24.
About half of Americans will develop a mental disorder at some time in their lives, the survey of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults found -- with half of those cases starting by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24.
I've Heard of Blind Umpires...
...but not this.
Love of the game means many things to many people, but more to Max McLeary than just about anybody else. A man who clings to the lowest rung of pro baseball as an umpire for 35 years, logging six nights a week and 45,000 miles a year crisscrossing the Midwest to lay down the law, can't be doing it for the money -- $125 per game, plus expenses. It has to be the work.
But even that doesn't explain McLeary's devotion. Because for the last 25 of those years, he's been doing it with one eye.
Love of the game means many things to many people, but more to Max McLeary than just about anybody else. A man who clings to the lowest rung of pro baseball as an umpire for 35 years, logging six nights a week and 45,000 miles a year crisscrossing the Midwest to lay down the law, can't be doing it for the money -- $125 per game, plus expenses. It has to be the work.
But even that doesn't explain McLeary's devotion. Because for the last 25 of those years, he's been doing it with one eye.
John Kerry...Idiot?
Well, if Bush is an idiot (remember his lackluster performance at Yale), then JFK must be an idiot -1.
Yale grades portray Kerry as a lackluster student
His 4-year average on par with Bush's
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff June 7, 2005
WASHINGTON -- During last year's presidential campaign, John F. Kerry was the candidate often portrayed as intellectual and complex, while George W. Bush was the populist who mangled his sentences.
But newly released records show that Bush and Kerry had a virtually identical grade average at Yale University four decades ago.
In 1999, The New Yorker published a transcript indicating that Bush had received a cumulative score of 77 for his first three years at Yale and a roughly similar average under a non-numerical rating system during his senior year.
Kerry, who graduated two years before Bush, got a cumulative 76 for his four years, according to a transcript that Kerry sent to the Navy when he was applying for officer training school. He received four D's in his freshman year out of 10 courses, but improved his average in later years.
The grade transcript, which Kerry has always declined to release, was included in his Navy record. During the campaign the Globe sought Kerry's naval records, but he refused to waive privacy restrictions for the full file. Late last month, Kerry gave the Navy permission to send the documents to the Globe.
Yale grades portray Kerry as a lackluster student
His 4-year average on par with Bush's
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff June 7, 2005
WASHINGTON -- During last year's presidential campaign, John F. Kerry was the candidate often portrayed as intellectual and complex, while George W. Bush was the populist who mangled his sentences.
But newly released records show that Bush and Kerry had a virtually identical grade average at Yale University four decades ago.
In 1999, The New Yorker published a transcript indicating that Bush had received a cumulative score of 77 for his first three years at Yale and a roughly similar average under a non-numerical rating system during his senior year.
Kerry, who graduated two years before Bush, got a cumulative 76 for his four years, according to a transcript that Kerry sent to the Navy when he was applying for officer training school. He received four D's in his freshman year out of 10 courses, but improved his average in later years.
The grade transcript, which Kerry has always declined to release, was included in his Navy record. During the campaign the Globe sought Kerry's naval records, but he refused to waive privacy restrictions for the full file. Late last month, Kerry gave the Navy permission to send the documents to the Globe.
"Pol Pot Reborn"
Robert Mugabe continues his insane demolition of houses and businesses as he increasingly starts to look like Pol Pot reborn, seeking to depopulate the cites and drive the now homeless and unemployed population into the countryside to eke out an even more miserable living, thereby dispersing and isolating people from communities which might oppose his tyrannical rule.
And where are the marchers in the west? Where are the protesters calling for justice in Zimbabwe? Where is the outrage from those tireless tribunes of the Third World, the UN? Why can I not hear the snarls of fury from the alphabet soup of NGOs? What of the legions of Guardian readers finding out about all this? What are they going to call for? Amnesty International is getting a lot of (bad) publicity from having called Guantanamo Bay 'a gulag' whilst now admitting they do not actually know what is happening there, yet why are they not straining every fibre of their being in opposition to this African horror? There is tyranny aplenty to be opposed without having to invent any.
And where are the marchers in the west? Where are the protesters calling for justice in Zimbabwe? Where is the outrage from those tireless tribunes of the Third World, the UN? Why can I not hear the snarls of fury from the alphabet soup of NGOs? What of the legions of Guardian readers finding out about all this? What are they going to call for? Amnesty International is getting a lot of (bad) publicity from having called Guantanamo Bay 'a gulag' whilst now admitting they do not actually know what is happening there, yet why are they not straining every fibre of their being in opposition to this African horror? There is tyranny aplenty to be opposed without having to invent any.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Heathen America?
I'd say the 26% figure is probably more accurate.
How many Americans go to church regularly?
If you listen to the answers provided by major opinion research firms, the answer usually hovers around 40%. (National Opinion Research Center: 38%; Institute for Social Research’s World Values: 44%; Barna: 41%; National Election Studies: 40%; Gallup: 41%.)
But in recent years this consensus has been challenged. It seems that it’s more accurate to say that 40% of Americans claim to attend church regularly.
In 1998, sociologist Stanley Presser at the University of Michigan—whose “research focuses on questionnaire design and testing, the accuracy of survey responses, and ethical issues stemming from the use of human subjects”—co-authored a study entitled: “Data Collection Mode and Social Desirability Bias in Self-Reported Religious Attendance,” American Sociological Review, v. 63 (1998): 137-145 (with L. Stinson). Comparing diaries with actual attendance, they made the estimate that the actual percentage of Americans attending church from the mid-1960’s to the 90’s was about 26%.
How many Americans go to church regularly?
If you listen to the answers provided by major opinion research firms, the answer usually hovers around 40%. (National Opinion Research Center: 38%; Institute for Social Research’s World Values: 44%; Barna: 41%; National Election Studies: 40%; Gallup: 41%.)
But in recent years this consensus has been challenged. It seems that it’s more accurate to say that 40% of Americans claim to attend church regularly.
In 1998, sociologist Stanley Presser at the University of Michigan—whose “research focuses on questionnaire design and testing, the accuracy of survey responses, and ethical issues stemming from the use of human subjects”—co-authored a study entitled: “Data Collection Mode and Social Desirability Bias in Self-Reported Religious Attendance,” American Sociological Review, v. 63 (1998): 137-145 (with L. Stinson). Comparing diaries with actual attendance, they made the estimate that the actual percentage of Americans attending church from the mid-1960’s to the 90’s was about 26%.
Quote of the Day
"I hate him. He talks too much. He talks too much, he doesn't make sense, he's fat, he's sloppy, he acts like he's the best thing since sliced bread, he's ugly, he stinks, his mouth stinks, his breath stinks and basically his soul stinks too.'' -- Carolina defensive tackle Kris Jenkins on Oakland defensive tackle Warren Sapp
I agree.
I agree.
This Ain't Good
Cincinnati pitcher Eric Milton has allowed 63 homers in the 45 games he has pitched over the past two years.
Those Crazy Kids
The following clip is an excerpt of a report aired on Al-Arabiya showing children in Gaza playing “Jews and Arabs,“ a game in which the aim is to die as a martyr for Allah.
*Clip #700: The Death Games of Gaza Children
Reporter: Abd Al-Sattar's favorite game is "Jews and Arabs."
Boy: The Arabs are in the street. The Jews stand over there and we shoot at them, and throw rocks and grenades at them.
Reporter: To win the game, the player must die.
Boy: Burn the tank!
Boy: Martyrdom for the sake of Allah is our greatest desire. Oh God! Don't be afraid because fear hurts me. Don't be sad because sadness frightens me. Don't scream because screams kills me.
*Clip #700: The Death Games of Gaza Children
Reporter: Abd Al-Sattar's favorite game is "Jews and Arabs."
Boy: The Arabs are in the street. The Jews stand over there and we shoot at them, and throw rocks and grenades at them.
Reporter: To win the game, the player must die.
Boy: Burn the tank!
Boy: Martyrdom for the sake of Allah is our greatest desire. Oh God! Don't be afraid because fear hurts me. Don't be sad because sadness frightens me. Don't scream because screams kills me.
Hooray for Bishop Foys
Although I detest Stan Chesley (who filed the suit), I think Bishop Foys should be applauded. He's pretty much the first bishop in the country to take responsibility for what the Roman Catholic Church has been doing for the last 50 years. If only the Archdiocese of Cincinnati was as Christ-minded.
The Diocese of Covington has agreed to pay up to $120 million to those who were allegedly molested by priests and other church employees over the past half century, the largest payout yet from any diocese in America in the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis.
The record-setting settlement, which eclipses those in abuse cases in much larger dioceses in Boston, Orange County, Calif., and elsewhere, comes in response to a lawsuit charging that church officials deliberately covered up the abuse for decades.
It also dwarfs the $3 million that Archdiocese of Cincinnati officials agreed to put into a victims' compensation fund to address sexual abuse allegations.
To help pay for nearly 50 years of abuse of children and teen-agers, the church will put the Catholic Center/Marydale property in escrow to help raise $40 million in cash for the settlement fund.
The remaining $80 million will come from insurance.
The settlement, announced Friday but subject to court approval, does not specify the number of victims or abusers.
But in a 2003 report, the diocese admitted that it had named 158 victims and that 30 of the diocese's 372 priests since 1950 had sexually abused at least one child.
The Diocese of Covington has agreed to pay up to $120 million to those who were allegedly molested by priests and other church employees over the past half century, the largest payout yet from any diocese in America in the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis.
The record-setting settlement, which eclipses those in abuse cases in much larger dioceses in Boston, Orange County, Calif., and elsewhere, comes in response to a lawsuit charging that church officials deliberately covered up the abuse for decades.
It also dwarfs the $3 million that Archdiocese of Cincinnati officials agreed to put into a victims' compensation fund to address sexual abuse allegations.
To help pay for nearly 50 years of abuse of children and teen-agers, the church will put the Catholic Center/Marydale property in escrow to help raise $40 million in cash for the settlement fund.
The remaining $80 million will come from insurance.
The settlement, announced Friday but subject to court approval, does not specify the number of victims or abusers.
But in a 2003 report, the diocese admitted that it had named 158 victims and that 30 of the diocese's 372 priests since 1950 had sexually abused at least one child.
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