Many 22-year-olds head for spring break at the end of March. Ben Roethlisberger will go to Afghanistan and Iraq, where life is no day at the beach.
Roethlisberger, the Steelers' sensational rookie quarterback last season, will join a small group of NFL players on a nine-day USO tour of Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait at the end of the month. The group will visit military troops and help open the Pat Tillman Center, a USO facility in Afghanistan funded by the NFL.
"I'm looking forward to that," Roethlisberger said yesterday as he completed a second full week of workouts at the Steelers' UPMC facility.
"I'm excited to go over and see some of the troops over there, helping us. They support us and they make what we do seem so insignificant. We're just going to try to support them and have fun with it."
The USO tour will be March 29-April 7 with its main objective to open the center in honor of Tillman, a player who left the Arizona Cardinals to join the U.S. Rangers. He was killed last year in Afghanistan.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Smoke and Mirrors
From Jason Stark of ESPN:
Another team that has looked overrated early, according to scouts following them, is the Reds."I don't see how they can possibly have enough pitching," one scout said. "I don't like the relievers they've brought in. And I don't like their starters a lot better. Milton and Ortiz are home-run machines, pitching in a bad park to be a home-run machine. And Paul Wilson is a five-inning guy. With a really deep bullpen, that rotation might work. But I don't see it."
Another team that has looked overrated early, according to scouts following them, is the Reds."I don't see how they can possibly have enough pitching," one scout said. "I don't like the relievers they've brought in. And I don't like their starters a lot better. Milton and Ortiz are home-run machines, pitching in a bad park to be a home-run machine. And Paul Wilson is a five-inning guy. With a really deep bullpen, that rotation might work. But I don't see it."
Friday, March 11, 2005
The PBGC Is Busy
I fear we're going to see a lot more of this:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The agency that backs corporate pensions said Friday it was taking over United Airlines' pension plan for ground employees, saying the plan operated by the bankrupt airline was only 30 percent funded.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. said it would guarantee payment of an estimated $2.1 billion in benefits out of the plan's $2.9 billion shortfall. The plan has more than 36,000 active and retired employees, the agency said.
What's the big deal? It's a big deal because the taxpayers are picking up the tab for these company's that have underfunded pension plans...and more are on the way.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The agency that backs corporate pensions said Friday it was taking over United Airlines' pension plan for ground employees, saying the plan operated by the bankrupt airline was only 30 percent funded.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. said it would guarantee payment of an estimated $2.1 billion in benefits out of the plan's $2.9 billion shortfall. The plan has more than 36,000 active and retired employees, the agency said.
What's the big deal? It's a big deal because the taxpayers are picking up the tab for these company's that have underfunded pension plans...and more are on the way.
When It Rains, It Pours
University of Colorado officials investigating embattled professor Ward Churchill received documents this week purporting to show that he plagiarized another professor's work. Officials at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia sent CU an internal 1997 report detailing allegations about an article Churchill wrote.
"The article . . . is, in the opinion of our legal counsel, plagiarism," Dalhousie spokesman Charles Crosby said in summarizing the report's findings.
Churchill did not return calls to his home or office Thursday seeking comment.
"The article . . . is, in the opinion of our legal counsel, plagiarism," Dalhousie spokesman Charles Crosby said in summarizing the report's findings.
Churchill did not return calls to his home or office Thursday seeking comment.
You Know It's Time To Change Schools...
...when something like this happens.
Two people were shot in a fight that apparently began across the street from Woodward High School about 9 a.m. today.
Passersby who called 911 described the incident as several teens shooting at each other.
"I was dropping off my kids at (the Phoenix Community Learning Center in Jordan Crossing) and a bunch of kids were in the parking lot by the Shell station, and they were just shooting back and forth at each other," said witness Sean Daniels. "I told my kids to duck."
"These kids were running and shooting. There was a lot of gunfire exchanged," Daniels said.
Two people were shot in a fight that apparently began across the street from Woodward High School about 9 a.m. today.
Passersby who called 911 described the incident as several teens shooting at each other.
"I was dropping off my kids at (the Phoenix Community Learning Center in Jordan Crossing) and a bunch of kids were in the parking lot by the Shell station, and they were just shooting back and forth at each other," said witness Sean Daniels. "I told my kids to duck."
"These kids were running and shooting. There was a lot of gunfire exchanged," Daniels said.
P-Man is a Star
They dedicated the new physical fitness facility at the high school to Pops yesterday. And of course, the P-Man got his mug in the paper.
Check Mate
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Former world champion Garry Kasparov said on Friday he had retired from competition chess to devote himself to Russian politics and oppose President Vladimir Putin.
The world's number one chess player is a leading member of a liberal grouping known as Committee 2008, set up by liberals after their disastrous showing in the 2003 parliamentary election.
"I have done everything I could in chess and more. Now I plan to use my intellect and strategic thoughts in Russian politics," Kasparov said in a statement, quoted by Interfax news agency.
Kasparov, 41, announced his departure after winning a prestigious tournament in the southern Spanish town of Linares for the ninth time on Thursday.
The world's number one chess player is a leading member of a liberal grouping known as Committee 2008, set up by liberals after their disastrous showing in the 2003 parliamentary election.
"I have done everything I could in chess and more. Now I plan to use my intellect and strategic thoughts in Russian politics," Kasparov said in a statement, quoted by Interfax news agency.
Kasparov, 41, announced his departure after winning a prestigious tournament in the southern Spanish town of Linares for the ninth time on Thursday.
I Like Rod Barnes
Good move by Ole Miss:
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi and Rod Barnes have agreed to a four-year contract which will keep him as the Rebels' coach through the 2008-09 season, the school announced Wednesday.
Terms were not disclosed.
"Rod has made positive changes in the direction of our basketball program," Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone said. "With our recent success in recruiting and aggressive play we exhibited this year, we are seeing a resurgence of a typically coached Rod Barnes team."
Barnes is 126-92 in his seventh season at Ole Miss. He coached Ole Miss to a school-record 27 wins and led the Rebels to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament in 2001, and followed that with another NCAA berth in 2002, but Ole Miss hasn't had a winning season since.
"While we aren't pleased with our performance over the last few years, as I know our fans have not been, we have made significant strides in areas that needed improvement," Barnes said. "We will achieve the success that our coaches, players and fans expect."
The Rebels (13-16) play South Carolina (15-12) on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the SEC tournament.
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi and Rod Barnes have agreed to a four-year contract which will keep him as the Rebels' coach through the 2008-09 season, the school announced Wednesday.
Terms were not disclosed.
"Rod has made positive changes in the direction of our basketball program," Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone said. "With our recent success in recruiting and aggressive play we exhibited this year, we are seeing a resurgence of a typically coached Rod Barnes team."
Barnes is 126-92 in his seventh season at Ole Miss. He coached Ole Miss to a school-record 27 wins and led the Rebels to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament in 2001, and followed that with another NCAA berth in 2002, but Ole Miss hasn't had a winning season since.
"While we aren't pleased with our performance over the last few years, as I know our fans have not been, we have made significant strides in areas that needed improvement," Barnes said. "We will achieve the success that our coaches, players and fans expect."
The Rebels (13-16) play South Carolina (15-12) on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the SEC tournament.
Are Newspapers Extinct?
It appears they're heading that way:
The Prudential Equity Group issued a biting 72-page report this morning on the state of circulation and found that both quality and quantity continue to decline.
Among other findings, the report said that "other paid" circulation was up 34% in the last reporting period, which it labeled "troubling.". . .
In the below-average category, the L.A. Times experienced an overall circulation decline of 5.6%. Full-paid home delivery was down 10.8%, much worse than the 2.4% national average, the report said. Home-delivered copies through third party sales decreased "significantly," said the report.
The report noted a curious trend at the Times regarding other-paid circulation, calling the fluctuations and changes "peculiar." As one category drops another gains, with the rough total remaining constant. "A 158% increase in discounted copies also signals to us more trouble with circulation and selling at the cover price," the report said.
The Prudential Equity Group issued a biting 72-page report this morning on the state of circulation and found that both quality and quantity continue to decline.
Among other findings, the report said that "other paid" circulation was up 34% in the last reporting period, which it labeled "troubling.". . .
In the below-average category, the L.A. Times experienced an overall circulation decline of 5.6%. Full-paid home delivery was down 10.8%, much worse than the 2.4% national average, the report said. Home-delivered copies through third party sales decreased "significantly," said the report.
The report noted a curious trend at the Times regarding other-paid circulation, calling the fluctuations and changes "peculiar." As one category drops another gains, with the rough total remaining constant. "A 158% increase in discounted copies also signals to us more trouble with circulation and selling at the cover price," the report said.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Darfur Update
Out of sight, out of mind.
Women and girls in war-ravaged Darfur are continuing to suffer a high incidence of rape and sexual violence, according to a report issued today by Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Stories of rape survivors told to MSF are a horrific illustration of the daily reality of the ongoing violence that has displaced almost two million people in Darfur.
Between October 2004 and mid-February 2005, MSF doctors in numerous locations in South and West Darfur treated almost 500 women and girls who were raped. MSF believes that these numbers reflect only a fraction of the total number of victims because many women are reluctant to report the crime or seek treatment.
Almost a third (28%) of the rape survivors who sought treatment from MSF reported that they were raped more than once, either by single or multiple assailants. In more than half the cases, the rape was accompanied by additional physical abuse. Women told MSF that they were beaten with sticks, whips or axes before, during or after the act of rape. Some of the raped women were visibly pregnant, as much as five to eight months, at the time of the assault. The majority of survivors of rape and sexual violence tell MSF that the attacks occurred when women left the relative safety of villages and displaced camps to carry out activities indispensable of the survival of the families, such as searching for firewood or water.
81% of the 500 rape survivors treated by MSF reported being assaulted by militia or military who used their weapons to force the assault. In Darfur, as in other conflicts, rape has been a regular and deliberate tool of war. It is used to destabilize and threaten a part of the civilian population, often a particular group.
Women and girls in war-ravaged Darfur are continuing to suffer a high incidence of rape and sexual violence, according to a report issued today by Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Stories of rape survivors told to MSF are a horrific illustration of the daily reality of the ongoing violence that has displaced almost two million people in Darfur.
Between October 2004 and mid-February 2005, MSF doctors in numerous locations in South and West Darfur treated almost 500 women and girls who were raped. MSF believes that these numbers reflect only a fraction of the total number of victims because many women are reluctant to report the crime or seek treatment.
Almost a third (28%) of the rape survivors who sought treatment from MSF reported that they were raped more than once, either by single or multiple assailants. In more than half the cases, the rape was accompanied by additional physical abuse. Women told MSF that they were beaten with sticks, whips or axes before, during or after the act of rape. Some of the raped women were visibly pregnant, as much as five to eight months, at the time of the assault. The majority of survivors of rape and sexual violence tell MSF that the attacks occurred when women left the relative safety of villages and displaced camps to carry out activities indispensable of the survival of the families, such as searching for firewood or water.
81% of the 500 rape survivors treated by MSF reported being assaulted by militia or military who used their weapons to force the assault. In Darfur, as in other conflicts, rape has been a regular and deliberate tool of war. It is used to destabilize and threaten a part of the civilian population, often a particular group.
Why Didn't Somebody Think Of This Sooner?
Muslim clerics in Spain have issued the world's first fatwa, or Islamic edict, against Osama bin Laden. According to the Associated Press, the fatwa issued on the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, calls bin Laden an apostate and urging others to denounce the al-Qaida leader:
The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country's 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission represents 200 or so mostly Sunni mosques, or about 70 percent of all mosques in Spain.
[. . .]The commission's secretary general, Mansur Escudero, said the group had consulted with Muslim leaders in other countries, such as Morocco - home to most of the jailed suspects in the bombings - Algeria and Libya, and had their support.
[. . .]The fatwa said that according to the Quran "the terrorist acts of Osama bin Laden and his organization al-Qaida ... are totally banned and must be roundly condemned as part of Islam."
It added: "Inasmuch as Osama bin Laden and his organization defend terrorism as legal and try to base it on the Quran ... they are committing the crime of 'istihlal' and thus become apostates that should not be considered Muslims or treated as such." The Arabic term 'istihlal' refers to the act of making up one's own laws.
The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country's 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission represents 200 or so mostly Sunni mosques, or about 70 percent of all mosques in Spain.
[. . .]The commission's secretary general, Mansur Escudero, said the group had consulted with Muslim leaders in other countries, such as Morocco - home to most of the jailed suspects in the bombings - Algeria and Libya, and had their support.
[. . .]The fatwa said that according to the Quran "the terrorist acts of Osama bin Laden and his organization al-Qaida ... are totally banned and must be roundly condemned as part of Islam."
It added: "Inasmuch as Osama bin Laden and his organization defend terrorism as legal and try to base it on the Quran ... they are committing the crime of 'istihlal' and thus become apostates that should not be considered Muslims or treated as such." The Arabic term 'istihlal' refers to the act of making up one's own laws.
Bengals Up To Old Tricks
The ESPN Insider rips the Bengals' front office:
At first glance, this looks like the most confusing and dysfunctional front office in the NFL, and it is difficult to analyze who has the power---but the Bengals believe in their system, and at the end of the day, that might be all that counts.
*As usual, at the top is Mike Brown, who runs the entire organization. Brown gives his coaches and advisers a lot of power in personnel decisions and will rarely go against Marvin Lewis.
*Katie Blackburn and husband, Troy, run the business side of the organization. Depending whom you talk to, they can be considered very efficient or a major roadblock when it comes to contracts and personnel -- but they do have significant power and are part of the Brown family.
*Further complicating things are the roles of Bill Tobin, John Cooper and Bruce Coslet. All three are listed as consultants and theoretically are film evaluators, but they have the ear of upper management, which adds more voices to the decision-making process.
*Pete Brown is senior VP of player personnel; Paul Brown Jr. is VP of player personnel; and Duke Tobin is director of player personnel, but most of his expertise is on the pro side. Longtime scout Jim Lippincott is director of FB operations and really the face of the muddled Bengals' front office; he keeps everything running and organized.
*There are no scouts in this organization, which means the coaches are heavily involved in player workout and personnel decisions. The way this department is set up, it gives the Bengals' coaches a lot of opportunities for film evaluation--but nothing substitutes an area scout knowing the players in his area. As a result, with coaches involved, the workout and film production becomes most important and character and intelligence are not scrutinized. There are a lot of titles here, but the power structure is most confusing.
At first glance, this looks like the most confusing and dysfunctional front office in the NFL, and it is difficult to analyze who has the power---but the Bengals believe in their system, and at the end of the day, that might be all that counts.
*As usual, at the top is Mike Brown, who runs the entire organization. Brown gives his coaches and advisers a lot of power in personnel decisions and will rarely go against Marvin Lewis.
*Katie Blackburn and husband, Troy, run the business side of the organization. Depending whom you talk to, they can be considered very efficient or a major roadblock when it comes to contracts and personnel -- but they do have significant power and are part of the Brown family.
*Further complicating things are the roles of Bill Tobin, John Cooper and Bruce Coslet. All three are listed as consultants and theoretically are film evaluators, but they have the ear of upper management, which adds more voices to the decision-making process.
*Pete Brown is senior VP of player personnel; Paul Brown Jr. is VP of player personnel; and Duke Tobin is director of player personnel, but most of his expertise is on the pro side. Longtime scout Jim Lippincott is director of FB operations and really the face of the muddled Bengals' front office; he keeps everything running and organized.
*There are no scouts in this organization, which means the coaches are heavily involved in player workout and personnel decisions. The way this department is set up, it gives the Bengals' coaches a lot of opportunities for film evaluation--but nothing substitutes an area scout knowing the players in his area. As a result, with coaches involved, the workout and film production becomes most important and character and intelligence are not scrutinized. There are a lot of titles here, but the power structure is most confusing.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Nice Defense
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- In a city where power-sharing between blacks and whites is still a work in progress, New Orleans' first black district attorney has been hauled into court by 44 whites who say they were illegally fired en masse and replaced with blacks when he took office.
The racial discrimination trial opened in federal court this week, with the white former employees seeking back pay and unspecified damages for emotional distress in a lawsuit against Eddie Jordan, the flashy New Orleans prosecutor who in 2000 put Edwin Edwards, Louisiana's high-rolling former governor, behind bars.
"While it may be OK for a new district attorney or sheriff to come up and clean house, you can't clean house with all of one race," Clement Donelon, a lawyer for the fired whites, said Tuesday. "You can't fire all the white people to hire your friends, and other black people."
Jordan has said that he had the right to choose his staff and that the firings were done for reasons of racial balance.
"This is not discrimination; this is a political effort to create diversity," his lawyer Philip Schuler told the jury of eight whites and two blacks. The lawyer noted that in New Orleans the workforce is overwhelmingly black - nearly 70 percent - and that Jordan merely wanted "a workforce more reflective of the community."
Now, is it just me, or did the defense attorney just admit to being guilty of racial discrimination? What does Mr. Schuler think the city is...a university.
The racial discrimination trial opened in federal court this week, with the white former employees seeking back pay and unspecified damages for emotional distress in a lawsuit against Eddie Jordan, the flashy New Orleans prosecutor who in 2000 put Edwin Edwards, Louisiana's high-rolling former governor, behind bars.
"While it may be OK for a new district attorney or sheriff to come up and clean house, you can't clean house with all of one race," Clement Donelon, a lawyer for the fired whites, said Tuesday. "You can't fire all the white people to hire your friends, and other black people."
Jordan has said that he had the right to choose his staff and that the firings were done for reasons of racial balance.
"This is not discrimination; this is a political effort to create diversity," his lawyer Philip Schuler told the jury of eight whites and two blacks. The lawyer noted that in New Orleans the workforce is overwhelmingly black - nearly 70 percent - and that Jordan merely wanted "a workforce more reflective of the community."
Now, is it just me, or did the defense attorney just admit to being guilty of racial discrimination? What does Mr. Schuler think the city is...a university.
Organic Food Meets Disney
This is for my friend Melissa Yates. I think she'd call this heaven on earth.
True or False?
Bush Announces Iraq Exit Strategy: 'We'll Go Through Iran'
WASHINGTON, DC—Almost a year after the cessation of major combat and a month after the nation's first free democratic elections, President Bush unveiled the coalition forces' strategy for exiting Iraq.
"I'm pleased to announce that the Department of Defense and I have formulated a plan for a speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq," Bush announced Monday morning. "We'll just go through Iran."
Bush said the U.S. Army, which deposed Iran's longtime enemy Saddam Hussein, should be welcomed with open arms by the Islamic-fundamentalist state.
"And Iran's so nearby," Bush said. "It's only a hop, skip, and a jump to the east."
While this sounds like Bush, I'll say it's from The Onion.
WASHINGTON, DC—Almost a year after the cessation of major combat and a month after the nation's first free democratic elections, President Bush unveiled the coalition forces' strategy for exiting Iraq.
"I'm pleased to announce that the Department of Defense and I have formulated a plan for a speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq," Bush announced Monday morning. "We'll just go through Iran."
Bush said the U.S. Army, which deposed Iran's longtime enemy Saddam Hussein, should be welcomed with open arms by the Islamic-fundamentalist state.
"And Iran's so nearby," Bush said. "It's only a hop, skip, and a jump to the east."
While this sounds like Bush, I'll say it's from The Onion.
Bad Law
I'm with the Dems on this one:
The bankruptcy bill would make it harder for people to abandon their debts by filing for bankruptcy.
The changes have been long sought by credit card companies, retailers and auto lenders but efforts died in the previous Congress in a standoff over the abortion language.
This year, House of Representative leaders have promised to move the bankruptcy legislation quickly if the Senate passes it without dramatic changes.
The Senate was expected to vote later on Tuesday on a motion to limit debate on the bankruptcy overhaul bill. If that passes, the measure could pass the chamber by the end of this week.
At the heart of the legislation is a means test that would determine if people filing for bankruptcy earn enough to pay off their bills. Some filers would be forced into repayment plans, rather than having their assets liquidated to repay creditors.
Instead of changing the bankruptcy rules, credit card companies (and others) should stop giving credit away to individuals with poor credit (or without the means to pay off debt). They make their beds, so they should sleep in them.
The bankruptcy bill would make it harder for people to abandon their debts by filing for bankruptcy.
The changes have been long sought by credit card companies, retailers and auto lenders but efforts died in the previous Congress in a standoff over the abortion language.
This year, House of Representative leaders have promised to move the bankruptcy legislation quickly if the Senate passes it without dramatic changes.
The Senate was expected to vote later on Tuesday on a motion to limit debate on the bankruptcy overhaul bill. If that passes, the measure could pass the chamber by the end of this week.
At the heart of the legislation is a means test that would determine if people filing for bankruptcy earn enough to pay off their bills. Some filers would be forced into repayment plans, rather than having their assets liquidated to repay creditors.
Instead of changing the bankruptcy rules, credit card companies (and others) should stop giving credit away to individuals with poor credit (or without the means to pay off debt). They make their beds, so they should sleep in them.
Quote of the Day
THE half-dozen black SUVs double-parked on East 57th Street were a clue that an important government figure was inside Tina Brown and Harry Evans' maisonette. The military uniforms meant federal. The well-connected couple was throwing a book party for "The Big Picture: The Logic of Money and Power in Hollywood" by Ed ward Jay Epstein. The well-protected guest was Asst. Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.
When a literary liberal gushed to Wolfowitz, "Who would have thought that 8 million Iraqi citizens would turn out to vote?,"the neo-con replied with a smile, "I did."
When a literary liberal gushed to Wolfowitz, "Who would have thought that 8 million Iraqi citizens would turn out to vote?,"the neo-con replied with a smile, "I did."
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
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