tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61547242011-08-30T19:30:12.908-07:00Random MusingsThoughts and ideas from the mind of BenCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.comBlogger1441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1084910274387140922004-05-18T12:57:00.000-07:002004-05-18T12:57:54.386-07:00USATODAY.com - Family of Abu Ghraib detainees say abuse culprits should face death: "ABU GHRAIB, Iraq (AP) On the eve of the first court-martial in the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, relatives of those still held at Abu Ghraib prison said Tuesday the only suitable punishment would be death illustrating the potential gap in expectations in the case. "
I think this is a rather unreasonable request.Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1084474777813323162004-05-13T11:59:00.000-07:002004-05-13T11:59:37.813-07:00Yahoo! News - Progress Made in City's Schools, but More to Go: "While there are still sufficient numbers of white students in the Topeka school system to foster diversity, the trend lines point in a troubling direction. The proportion of minority students in Topeka public schools has been increasing nearly 2 percent per year, from 30 percent in 1991 to more than 51 percent today. In some Topeka Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1084389733405417102004-05-12T12:20:00.000-07:002004-05-12T12:22:13.406-07:00Pet peeve #2: News stories about some new safety innovation that "prevents death."
It doesn't prevent death. It postpones death. We're all going to die eventually, it's just a matter of when. Eat healthy, exercise, don't smoke, drink only in moderation, live well and you will still die. You'll just die later and have a higher quality of life beforehand.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1084389582943238242004-05-12T12:18:00.000-07:002004-05-12T12:19:42.943-07:00Pet-peeve #1: When reporting accidents the media says "Police have not yet determined if speed was a factor."
Of course speed was a factor. Stationary objects don't crash into each other. What they mean to say is "Police have not yet determined if speeding (or excessive speed) was a factor."
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1084326241179825782004-05-11T18:44:00.000-07:002004-05-11T18:44:01.180-07:00Yahoo! News - Lawyer Says Accused U.S. Spy May Have Abuse Proof: "TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (Reuters) - A lawyer for a Syrian-born U.S. airman accused of espionage said on Tuesday that potentially damaging evidence of how detainees were treated at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba may surface during his client's court-martial hearing. "
Maybe they will...maybe they won't. Clever ploy for his lawyer Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1084316656520827222004-05-11T16:04:00.000-07:002004-05-11T16:04:16.520-07:00Politics News Article | Reuters.com: "'I am also outraged that we have so many humanitarian do-gooders right now crawling all over these prisons looking for human rights violations, while our troops, our heroes are fighting and dying,' he said.
'These prisoners, you know they're not there for traffic violations,' said Inhofe, whose senatorial Web site describes him as an advocate of 'Oklahoma Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1083358059030907542004-04-30T13:47:00.000-07:002004-04-30T13:51:57.403-07:00Man who attacked Royals coach arrested: "The man who ran onto the field at a Chicago White Sox game with his son and attacked a coach has been charged with felony burglary, and prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke his probation."
Gosh, that fine, upstanding, citizen got in trouble again? Imagine that. Frankly I was stunned that this idiot, who went on a drunken rampage with his son (his Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1082167768693407432004-04-16T19:09:00.000-07:002004-04-16T19:13:28.623-07:00CNN.com - Cocaine found on U.S.-bound Navy ship - Apr 16, 2004: "A stash of cocaine and heroin was found aboard the Colombian Navy's main training ship shortly before it was to sail for the United States, the Navy said on Friday, in a fresh embarrassment for the nation's scandal-plagued security forces."
Is it any wonder they can't stem the flow of drugs? Even the Columbian military is, Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1081989870350328932004-04-14T17:44:00.000-07:002004-04-14T17:48:26.983-07:00Yahoo! News - Army Extends Tours Despite 1-Year Pledge: "WASHINGTON - About 21,000 American soldiers in Iraq (news - web sites) who were to return this month to their home bases in Louisiana and Germany will have their tours extended at least three months to help combat the surge in anti-occupation violence, defense officials said Wednesday. "
Not just Louisiana and Germany. My cousin is based Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1081989748128326812004-04-14T17:42:00.000-07:002004-04-14T17:46:24.780-07:00Yahoo! News - Wis. Woman Charged With Faking Abduction: "Hundreds of people from Madison and Seiler's hometown searched for her after she disappeared, and her claim about an armed man touched off a major manhunt that authorities said cost the police about $96,000.
Her first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, but her attorney was expected to appear in her place.
Lawyer Randy Hopper Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1081825200115179642004-04-12T20:00:00.000-07:002004-04-12T20:03:53.920-07:00CNN.com - Pakistan: Jail term for key critic - Apr 12, 2004: "Pervaik Malik, the top Pakistani opposition leader and a fellow member of parliament, called for Musharraf's resignation and said there would be demonstrations throughout the country beginning Tuesday.
Hashmi was arrested on October 29 on charges of defaming the government and the army. "
Once again I am reminded how lucky I am to Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1081819651809803172004-04-12T18:27:00.000-07:002004-04-12T18:31:25.966-07:00The New York Times > International > Asia Pacific > Hoping for Free Saris, 21 Indian Women Die in Stampede: "NEW DELHI, April 12 Twenty-one women were killed on Monday in the northern Indian city of Lucknow in a stampede set off when free saris were offered at a public birthday celebration for a close aide to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "
What a terrible tragedy and a sad comment on Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1081108562304156302004-04-04T12:56:00.000-07:002004-04-04T12:59:45.576-07:00Baghdad Burning: "Abu Hassen is lawyer who has taken on very few cases since the end of the war. He explained once that the current Iraqi legal system was like a jungle with no rules, a hundred lions, and thousands of hyenas. No one was sure which laws were applicable and which weren't; nothing could be done about corrupt judges and police and it was useless taking on criminal cases because if Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080849267599928722004-04-01T11:54:00.000-08:002004-04-01T11:58:05.936-08:00Yahoo! News - At 96, a Uke Legend Still Has Plenty of Pluck: "At 96, a Uke Legend Still Has Plenty of Pluck"
What a great story! I got to hear Bill Tapia perform on the Perry & Price show once and he was outstanding.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080848927818624842004-04-01T11:48:00.000-08:002004-04-01T11:52:26.216-08:00Yahoo! News - Clarke's Charges Gain Acceptance: "Nearly three-fifths of those surveyed echoed the contention by Clarke that Bush placed a higher priority on invading Iraq than combating terrorism. And a smaller majority agreed with the charge by the onetime White House counterterrorism chief that Bush did not focus enough on the terrorist threat before the Sept. 11 attacks. "
No great surprises Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080848359333405872004-04-01T11:39:00.000-08:002004-04-01T11:42:57.873-08:00Yahoo! News - Gruesome Iraq Images Could Shake U.S. Opinion: "The images immediately evoked comparisons to the 1993 killings of 18 U.S. troops in Mogadishu, when crowds were filmed dragging the corpses of two U.S. soldiers through the streets. Washington ended its military presence in Somalia soon afterwards. "
In my opinion it was a big mistake to withdraw from Somalia after that attack (it Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080776547688090002004-03-31T15:42:00.000-08:002004-03-31T15:46:05.030-08:00How to Solve the Terrorism Problem...
Yahoo! News - Militant Blows Himself Up in Uzbekistan: "TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - A lone militant who was holed up in a house blew himself up early Thursday, ending a standoff in the Uzbek capital. "
I say we create a row of inexpensive homes, and allow any militant terrorists who want to blow themselves up to go inside and do so. No sanction or penalty Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080776373702480012004-03-31T15:39:00.000-08:002004-03-31T15:43:11.076-08:00And then...desperation set in.
Yahoo! News - Martha Stewart Seeks New Trial: "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Martha Stewart (news - web sites) sought a new trial on Wednesday arguing that one juror lied on the jury selection questionnaire and made public statements after the trendsetter's conviction showing his bias against the upper class. "
Write your own comments, folks. Obviously Martha and her teamCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080691589718719902004-03-30T16:06:00.000-08:002004-03-30T16:10:06.200-08:00Women look best once a month: A woman's face is most alluring at the height of her cycle.: "Roberts does not yet know what hints people are extracting from the pictures in order to judge their attractiveness. The colour and condition of their skin may be important, he says. Previous studies have shown that skin tone becomes lighter during ovulation. 'But there may be more factors; we have to lookCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080665578894727522004-03-30T08:52:00.000-08:002004-03-30T08:56:34.326-08:00CNN.com - Attorney:Woman thought God told her to kill sons - Mar 29, 2004"The dilemma she faced is a terrible one for a mother," Files said. "Does she follow what she believes to be God's will, or does she turn her back on God?"
Files said he would present witnesses who would corroborate Laney's love of her children as well as her belief "that the word of God was infallible."
Just because you Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080591684935464312004-03-29T12:21:00.000-08:002004-03-29T12:24:59.716-08:00Yahoo! News - Shiites Organize to Block U.S. Plan: "Here, the gaunt, 38-year-old said, was a leaflet that enumerated the objections of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the country's most powerful cleric, to Iraq's interim constitution. This, he said, was the letter the ayatollah sent to the United Nations (news - web sites) in protest. And here, displayed proudly, was the petition denouncing that Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080590413744211592004-03-29T12:00:00.000-08:002004-03-29T12:06:07.593-08:00Yahoo! News - Shiites Organize to Block U.S. Plan: "Here, the gaunt, 38-year-old said, was a leaflet that enumerated the objections of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the country's most powerful cleric, to Iraq's interim constitution. This, he said, was the letter the ayatollah sent to the United Nations (news - web sites) in protest. And here, displayed proudly, was the petition denouncing that Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080580044302499302004-03-29T09:07:00.000-08:002004-03-29T09:10:59.030-08:00CNN.com - Bush-appointed judge rejects racist label - Mar 29, 2004
Does this headline surprise anybody? I'm waiting for "Bush Appointed Judge Embraces Racist Label."
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080455688916656692004-03-27T22:34:00.000-08:002004-03-27T22:38:21.250-08:00Does anybody else find it interesting that Kiefer Sutherland, the ruthless sniper from the movie "Phone Booth" is also the spokesvoice for MCI. Is that really the voice you want to hear over the telephone?
By the way, Phone Booth is a gripping film. If you have a chance to see it, I recommend it. Sutherland was a perfect choice.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080455065547208052004-03-27T22:24:00.000-08:002004-03-27T22:27:58.013-08:00CNN.com - Iran starts up uranium site - Mar 27, 2004: "VIENNA, Austria (Reuters) -- Iran has begun operating a facility for converting uranium, a key step toward enriching it for use as fuel or in a nuclear bomb, a spokeswoman for the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Saturday."
I guess we're just taking their word for the fact that they aren't using it for weapons?
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080350700868928742004-03-26T17:25:00.000-08:002004-03-26T17:28:31.670-08:00Thanks to Blogstreet.com we now have an RSS feed for this blog! Just click here or the "Syndicate This Site (XML)" link in the sidebar to the right in order to access it.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080078007561400742004-03-23T13:40:00.000-08:002004-03-23T13:43:33.843-08:00CBS News | 5-Year-Old's 'Wacky' Spice | March 23, 2004�12:19:56 (AP) A 5-year-old boy took a bag of marijuana to school and was sprinkling it over a friend's lasagna like oregano when a monitor intervened, police said.
Also on Monday, authorities in Indianapolis said a 4-year-old boy took crack cocaine that police said was worth up to $10,000 to his preschool class and showed it to classmates, Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080010299150677892004-03-22T18:51:00.000-08:002004-03-22T18:55:04.983-08:00Today Israel had Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin killed.
My intial reaction was disappointment. Clearly this is an escalation in the violence between Israel and the Palestinians and it's virtually certain, at least in the short run, to increase tensions and violence in the region.
The more I think about it, though, I consider the possible parallel to Osama Bin Laden - who is obviously the "Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1080009488484612032004-03-22T18:38:00.000-08:002004-03-22T18:41:33.856-08:00ABCNEWS.com : Cincinnati Police Cleared in Custody Death CINCINNATI March 22 — Police committed no crimes during a videotaped fight with a black man who died after lunging at officers as they took him into custody, a prosecutor said Monday.
That was my reaction when I first saw the tape and I'm glad that the prosecutors finally agree.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079992376214540832004-03-22T13:52:00.000-08:002004-03-22T13:56:20.966-08:00Yahoo! News - Polls: Young Back Same-Sex Weddings More
Strikes me as interesting that virtually everybody being quoted as opposed to same-sex marriage in this article is identified as having a strong religious affiliation.
I don't begrudge people their rights to religion, in fact I strongly believe that we are each guaranteed our individual rights to worship (or not) as we see fit in the U.S. Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079990737001818612004-03-22T13:25:00.000-08:002004-03-22T13:44:33.750-08:00Obsidian Wings: Corroboration of Clarke's account
This is yet another account, this one from the former British Ambassador to Washington, which seems to confirm the allegations that the Bush Administration was pushing for war with Iraq immediately after September 11th despite the fact that Iraq was not connected to the attacks.
How many people have to testify to this before the claim is taken Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079989975339624332004-03-22T13:12:00.000-08:002004-03-22T14:07:00.873-08:00CNN.com - Bush administration rejects�Clarke charges - Mar 22, 2004 Some administration officials questioned Clarke's motives, suggesting he had a partisan agenda. Clarke has served under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Step 1: Discredit the accuser by claiming he is a Democrat and thus anything he says are just politically motivated lies.
In her interview with CNN, Rice pointedCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079821322400430302004-03-20T14:22:00.000-08:002004-03-20T14:25:24.840-08:00Yahoo! News - Aide: Rumsfeld Urged Iraq Attack on 9/12: "WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld almost immediately urged President Bush (news - web sites) to consider bombing Iraq (news - web sites) after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on New York and Washington, says a former senior administration counterterrorism aide. "
I'm not the least bit surprised. I believe Paul O'Neill whenCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079740780691520212004-03-19T15:59:00.000-08:002004-03-19T16:03:01.343-08:00Yahoo! News - Bush Hails Iraq War as Boost for Mideast Stability: "On the eve of the first anniversary of the start of the Iraq (news - web sites) war, blasts echoed across Baghdad from a suspected mortar or rocket attack on the headquarters of the U.S.-led administration. The U.S. military said there were no casualties."
Does it seem sort of odd to be declaring Iraq as a boost for middle east Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079640624810867522004-03-18T12:10:00.000-08:002004-03-18T12:13:44.560-08:00Tuesday night I attended a neighborhood watch meeting where an HPD Detective who specializes in white collar crime talked to us about Internet crime and identity theft. He said that most identity theft is NOT perpetrated on the Internet. Rather it's still very common for the crooks to get your information by "dumpster diving" -- going into your trash for discarded bills, credit card statements Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079599172497876902004-03-18T00:39:00.000-08:002004-03-18T00:42:51.186-08:00It occurs to me that back when President Clinton so blatantly lied to us, wagging his finger at the camera while he intoned "I did not have sexual relations with that woman...." we all snickered.
Now we have a situations where a number of officials in the Administration have been caught in what can at best be described as mistakes, if not outright lies, regarding the war in Iraq (remember Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079477668690885862004-03-16T14:54:00.000-08:002004-03-16T14:57:45.250-08:00CNN.com - Sources:�C-section mom to face fewer charges - Mar 16, 2004 Prosecutors filed the child endangerment charges two months ago when, they say, one of Melissa Ann Rowland's twins, a daughter, was born with traces of alcohol and cocaine in her system.
I'm not sure what to make of the claim that she allegedly refused a c-section but if it's true that the daughter was born with alcohol and Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079456892426935662004-03-16T09:08:00.000-08:002004-03-16T09:11:29.310-08:00Outside the Beltway: "Terrorists Win in Spain II"
Outside the Beltway has some very interesting commentary on the Spanish terror attacks of last week.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079404811657230532004-03-15T18:40:00.000-08:002004-03-15T18:43:27.403-08:00BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Survey finds hope in occupied Iraq: "The poll suggests that Iraqis are happier than they were before the invasion, optimistic about the future and opposed to violence. "
This story really is good news.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079395879238114752004-03-15T16:11:00.000-08:002004-03-15T16:14:35.123-08:00CNN.com - White House to Kerry: Names names - Mar 15, 2004: "Kerry campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter shot back that if McClellan was going to take on campaign issues, Bush 'ought to get him off the taxpayers' payroll and stop using the White House for political purposes.'
'The bottom line is this White House would be better off spending its time repairing our alliances around the world so we Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079392574519823192004-03-15T15:16:00.000-08:002004-03-15T15:19:30.310-08:00CNN.com - Popcorn worker awarded $20 million in lawsuit - Mar 15, 2004: "People cried and hugged his wife, Cassandra, as the jury ruled against International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. and its subsidiary Bush Boake Allen Inc., the manufacturers of the flavoring. They were ordered to pay $18 million to Eric Peoples and $2 million to his wife for compensatory personal injury damages. No punitive Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079387102411043912004-03-15T13:45:00.000-08:002004-03-15T13:48:17.826-08:00Nominee: Understatement of the Week
ABCNEWS.com : Democrat Sharpton Endorses Kerry for White House March 15 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Civil rights activist Al Sharpton dropped his longshot White House bid on Monday and endorsed John Kerry, saying it was time for the party to rally around the nominee.
In my opinion Al Sharpton has as much chance of being the first American on Mars as he does of Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079386909595931512004-03-15T13:41:00.001-08:002004-03-15T13:45:05.043-08:00The Register: "Apple's calculated annual run rate of 130 million songs a year equates to $43.9m of revenue per annum. Napster is expected to announce revenues of $9.1m for its first five months of selling downloads.
Of course, how much of that ends up on Apple's bottom line is another matter. In any case, that figure has to be put alongside the company's annual revenue of $6.2bn (FY2003) Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079386908932737912004-03-15T13:41:00.000-08:002004-03-15T13:45:04.390-08:00The Register: "Apple's calculated annual run rate of 130 million songs a year equates to $43.9m of revenue per annum. Napster is expected to announce revenues of $9.1m for its first five months of selling downloads.
Of course, how much of that ends up on Apple's bottom line is another matter. In any case, that figure has to be put alongside the company's annual revenue of $6.2bn (FY2003) Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079386067014697042004-03-15T13:27:00.000-08:002004-03-15T13:34:53.500-08:00Politics in the Zeros: "The leader of Spain's victorious Socialists said Monday he will withdraw his nation's support for the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, restating a campaign promise"
Bob Morris' "Politics in the Zeros" blog points out this story today. My take is that this isn't really a new position for the Socialists in Spain; I suspect they were opposed to the war in Iraq from the Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079385695460083462004-03-15T13:21:00.000-08:002004-03-15T13:24:51.093-08:00CNN.com - Kerry pressed on international�claim - Mar 15, 2004 "I'm not going to betray a private conversation with anybody," he said Sunday. "I have heard from people, foreign leaders elsewhere in the world who don't appreciate the Bush administration and would love to see a change in the leadership of the United States."
Pressed on the campaign trail and by reporters to name the leaders, KerryCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079296210460697442004-03-14T12:30:00.000-08:002004-03-14T12:33:24.483-08:00AP Wire | 03/14/2004 | Orange County teachers accept pay cuts to avoid layoffs, larger classes
This is the first time I've seen the teachers union blink on salaries. I think teachers are generally underpaid, but I also recognize the limited resources given to education in this country and the great challenges they face.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079233149622460842004-03-13T18:59:00.000-08:002004-03-13T19:02:22.250-08:00KR Washington Bureau | 03/12/2004 | Medicare cost analyst says he was ordered to provide skewed figures: "Medicare cost analyst says he was ordered to provide skewed figures"
Hmmm...another disturbing story out of the Bush administration.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079125387095950322004-03-12T13:03:00.000-08:002004-03-12T13:06:18.780-08:00CBS News | Welcome To Bushworld | March 11, 2004�17:40:24 What's different is that the Bush administration stands accused of politicizing and bullying processes of the government that are designed to be above the fray of partisanship and ideology, such as intelligence gathering and science policy-making. Put bluntly: they don't much care about facts, science and truth.
An interesting article --Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1079049071312753862004-03-11T15:51:00.000-08:002004-03-11T15:54:21.903-08:00FOXNews.com - Top Stories - Report: Al Qaeda Claims Credit for Madrid Blasts MADRID, Spain — Al Qaeda has reportedly claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in Madrid Thursday that left at least 190 people dead and 1,240 wounded.
This doesn't surprise me - when I first heard the description of the attacks it really didn't sound like the way that ETA conducts their attacks.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078964207600388872004-03-10T16:16:00.000-08:002004-03-10T16:19:56.560-08:00Salon.com | The new Pentagon papers: "The new Pentagon papers
A high-ranking military officer reveals how Defense Department extremists suppressed information and twisted the truth to drive the country to war."
Whether you agree or disagree with what is said here this is a powerful article making some very serious claims about the intelligence that was used to support the war in Iraq. It is Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078823330573738522004-03-09T01:08:00.000-08:002004-03-09T01:11:57.390-08:00I really like CSI: Miami but David Caruso is the William Shatner of our generation. In the 1980s and 1990s it was David Hasselhoff. Today it's Caruso. Every line he delivers is the most important line in the show. The man could make ordering a pizza into a crisis.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078797730029611122004-03-08T18:02:00.000-08:002004-03-08T18:05:16.530-08:00Yahoo! News - Bush Accuses Kerry of Trying to Cut Intelligence: "'Once again, Senator Kerry is trying to have it both ways. He's for good intelligence, yet he was willing to gut the intelligence services,' Bush told a Houston fund-raiser. 'And that is no way to lead our nation in a time of war.' "
While Kerry's proposed cuts are troubling it is important to remember that they were proposed in Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078781245837491512004-03-08T13:27:00.000-08:002004-03-08T13:30:31.856-08:00: "Plame probe update"
This is a mildly interesting article but I guess I'll take this opportunity to reiterate my views on the whole Plame thing:
1. If it was a political dirty trick by the administration then it's despicable.
2. If a law has been broken then there MUST be some consequences and prosecution. We can't let this one slide.
3. It's entirely possible that no law was broken. Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078776862427918602004-03-08T12:14:00.000-08:002004-03-08T12:17:28.483-08:00Failure to read well by 3rd grade makes it tough for kids to catch up - The Honolulu Advertiser - Hawaii's Newspaper: "After third grade, students stop learning to read and start reading to learn. If they have not mastered reading before entering fourth grade, they begin falling behind in all other subjects.
Schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto has set a goal of having all public-school kids Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078774529568310902004-03-08T11:35:00.000-08:002004-03-08T11:38:35.390-08:00iWon News: "Bush, who was traveling to Dallas for a fund-raiser Monday, planned to call attention to a 1995 bill that Kerry sponsored to trim intelligence spending by $1.5 billion over five years. The cut was part of what Kerry called a 'budget-buster bill' to strip $90 billion from the budget and end 40 programs that he said were 'pointless, wasteful, antiquated or just plain silly.'"
I think Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078774266051448812004-03-08T11:31:00.000-08:002004-03-08T11:34:11.920-08:00Yahoo! News - Supreme Court Won't Revisit Boy Scouts' Ban on Gays: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) allowed Connecticut on Monday to remove the Boy Scouts from a list of charities that receive contributions from state workers because the group excludes gays. "
As an Eagle Scout myself I guess I should weigh in on this matter. So here it is:
1. I support the Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078617906456389812004-03-06T16:05:00.000-08:002004-03-06T16:08:10.060-08:00BBC NEWS | Entertainment | David Crosby seized in drug bust: "Veteran rocker David Crosby has been arrested on drug and gun charges at a hotel in New York City where he had been staying during a concert tour. "
David Crosby arrested for having drugs? That health nut? Who would have thought...
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078603919302891072004-03-06T12:11:00.001-08:002004-03-06T12:15:02.610-08:00Yahoo! News - Bush Defends Campaign Focus on Sept. 11 Attacks: "The commercials have angered many victims' relatives, outraged at what they say is an attempt to politicize one of the darkest days in the nation's history. The Bush administration has defended the ads as relevant and 'tasteful.' "
While intellectually I don't like the notion of exploiting the Sept. 11th attacks for political gain, Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078603913495053742004-03-06T12:11:00.000-08:002004-03-06T12:14:56.793-08:00Yahoo! News - Bush Defends Campaign Focus on Sept. 11 Attacks: "The commercials have angered many victims' relatives, outraged at what they say is an attempt to politicize one of the darkest days in the nation's history. The Bush administration has defended the ads as relevant and 'tasteful.' "
While intellectually I don't like the notion of exploiting the Sept. 11th attacks for political gain, Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078540512777391492004-03-05T18:35:00.000-08:002004-03-05T18:38:14.746-08:00Yahoo! News - USA Today's Top 25 U.S. Bestsellers: "USA Today's Top 25 U.S. Bestsellers"
How well is Dan Brown (Author of "The DaVinci Code") doing?
4 of the top 15 bestsellers on the list are his. Wow!
-B-
Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078368247344572332004-03-03T18:44:00.000-08:002004-03-03T18:47:06.623-08:00World Press Review - World Press Wire: "Kerry Promises a Kinder, Gentler Foreign Policy"
The headline of this article made me a little nervous, but reading it I can find little to object to. I agree with trying to rebuild alliances and that we do need the cooperation of allies in the fight against terrorism.
That shouldn't mean that we never use our military strength to defeat enemies, but it Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078272141991528652004-03-02T16:02:00.000-08:002004-03-02T16:05:20.123-08:00Yahoo! News - GOP Plans Votes to Put Democrats on the Spot: "A top Edwards aide said the senator is 'not thrilled' to be voting on gun control one week before southern states such as Texas hold their primaries. Kerry, who has missed every Senate vote this year -- plus several key votes last year -- canceled a Florida campaign event tonight to be on hand for the gun votes, several of which are Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078266773290807662004-03-02T14:32:00.000-08:002004-03-02T14:35:50.950-08:00AxisofLogic/ World News/CommentThe former senior American intelligence official was equally blunt. He told me, “Khan was willing to sell blueprints, centrifuges, and the latest in weaponry. He was the worst nuclear-arms proliferator in the world and he’s pardoned—with not a squeak from the White House.”
It's rather remarkable to me how quietly we've accepted this situation. Khan has actually Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078265034255677152004-03-02T14:03:00.000-08:002004-03-02T14:06:52.263-08:00al Qaeda = Iraq, right?
A lot of Bushies shrug off the notion that there is any confusion or that Iraq and Al Qaeda have been wrongly conflated. This post from the "Don't Switch Horsemen Mid-Apocalypse" blog points out yet another example of where nobody actually SAYS that Iraq and Al Qaeda are the same thing, it's just implied.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078259118542357582004-03-02T12:25:00.000-08:002004-03-02T12:28:16.153-08:00World Press Review - World Press Wire: "'How is it possible that any man, let alone a Muslim man, does this on the day of al-Hussein?' asked Thaer al-Shimri, a member of the Shiite Al-Dawa party. 'Today war has been launched on Islam.'"
Following up on my earlier post. This has the rumblings of something that could get out of hand. The Middle-East has never been known to be peaceful and they Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078257644718268112004-03-02T12:00:00.000-08:002004-03-02T12:03:42.640-08:00Yahoo! News - Qaeda Blamed as Attacks on Shi'ites Kill 170 in Iraq: "Leaders of the country's 60 percent Shi'ite majority said the bloodbaths were intended to ignite civil war. The Iraqi Governing Council blamed a Jordanian who Washington says is working for al Qaeda and trying to fuel chaos in Iraq. "
Seems to me that killing Muslims during a religious ceremony is not a good way for Al Qaeda toCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078174497545113332004-03-01T12:54:00.000-08:002004-03-01T12:57:53.390-08:00Yahoo! News - Bryant Lawyers Eye Accuser's Sex Life: "At the heart of the defense attack is a contention that the 19-year-old accuser had a 'plan' to have sex with Bryant to attract attention from an ex-boyfriend. Bryant's attorneys say injuries found on the woman could have been caused by sex with someone other than the Los Angeles Lakers (news) guard.
Prosecutors have urged the judge to bar Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078170003973644072004-03-01T11:40:00.000-08:002004-03-01T11:42:59.950-08:00World Press Review - World Press Wire "The removal of President Aristide in these circumstances sets a dangerous precedent for democratically-elected governments anywhere and everywhere, as it promotes the removal of duly-elected persons from office by the power of rebel forces.
This does raise some difficult questions. Naturally I think we all feel it's abhorent to allow the tyranny of some Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1078169504078934832004-03-01T11:31:00.000-08:002004-03-01T11:34:40.170-08:00Salon.com Technology | Will the election be hacked?: "What she found alarmed her. The machines were state-of-the-art products from an Ohio company called Diebold. But the code -- which a friend of Jekot's had found on the Internet -- was anything but flawless, Jekot says. It was amateurish and pocked with security problems."
I'm not questioning her conclusions, but does it strike anybody else Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077936225664995912004-02-27T18:43:00.000-08:002004-02-27T18:46:38.043-08:00Incremental Blogger: Continuing the conversation about gesture-based editing: "I can imagine a day in which students draft a piece on their tablet pcs using a stylus, easily revise and edit, possibly with 'gesture based editing,' and develop their ideas further by seamlessly adding diagrams, labels, illustrations--even pictures they've annotated, all with the use of a pen/stylus--just like paper Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077931932814652222004-02-27T17:32:00.000-08:002004-02-27T17:35:05.246-08:00Yahoo! News - Jackson Pulled Over While Wearing Mask: "GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. - Michael Jackson (news) was pulled over by police and asked to identify himself after shopping at a Wal-Mart while wearing a ski mask.
An employee called police Tuesday, police Lt. Bill Kimminau said. The employee gave a description of the vehicle and Jackson was stopped a short time later.
Authorities asked Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077928154770558642004-02-27T16:29:00.000-08:002004-02-27T16:32:07.170-08:00Yahoo! News - House Speaker OKs 9/11 Panel Extension: "President Bush (news - web sites) supports the extension and the Senate earlier Friday passed on a voice vote a Senate Intelligence Committee bill including the two-month extension.
But without a guarantee that the House would act by next week on that bill, Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman (news - web sites), D-Conn., held up a Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077927842973377262004-02-27T16:24:00.000-08:002004-02-27T16:26:55.420-08:00World Press Review - World Press Wire
Today former colleagues and ex-diplomats rounded on Ms Short.
Her one-time deputy at the Department for International Development, George Foulkes, said: "This is the latest outburst from Clare ... there has been a pattern, since she ceased being a minister, of constant attacks on the Labour government and particularly on Tony Blair.
"She has got a clear Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077843798597991272004-02-26T17:03:00.000-08:002004-02-26T17:06:09.903-08:00If you like special effects and neat ideas it's hard to top this short film: 405
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077837648921269372004-02-26T15:20:00.000-08:002004-02-26T17:24:53.746-08:00BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Astronaut pair leaves ISS empty: "Commander Foale has said he is happy to carry out the five-and-a-half-hour walk, recalling that pairs of Apollo astronauts had made lengthy walks across the Moon's surface in the 1960s and 1970s without anyone staying behind on their lander. "
Well, that's certainly true but I don't think there was much risk that the lander was going Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077823796888598622004-02-26T11:29:00.000-08:002004-02-26T11:32:47.623-08:00CBS News | Radio Group Delivers Stern Shock | February 26, 2004�14:01:42 (CBS/AP) The head of the nation's largest radio group said he was "ashamed" of one "shock jock" program, even as his company suspended another, better-known personality's show.
Clear Channel Radio has pulled Howard Stern's show from the half dozen of its 1,200 stations that run it, saying it did not meet the company's Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077822176678598832004-02-26T11:02:00.000-08:002004-02-26T11:05:47.653-08:00Following up on the allegations of spying on UN diplomatic groups by the U.S. and Britain...
I have to think that we would be outraged if it was revealed that a foreign nation had bugged our diplomatic groups. If these allegations are true they are at the least embarassing for us and may even carry some consequences internationally.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077792143507481542004-02-26T02:42:00.000-08:002004-02-26T02:45:13.466-08:00A follow up to the story about the British intelligence agent:
Claire Short, the former Cabinet Minister, said that British agents has spied on Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary-general, in the run up to the war on Iraq.
This is certainly revealing an uncomfortable amount of intelligence work directed against the UN and UN member nations. Perhaps that work is necessary, but I don't Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077791691184373082004-02-26T02:34:00.000-08:002004-02-26T02:37:41.233-08:00Church of the Customer: "'The early work I did on loyalty was powerful but useless... satisfaction surveys are such a joke... The key is making your customers' lives better.'
Making your customers' lives better can produce far better top-line and bottom-line returns via word of mouth than any points, rewards or frequent-purchaser programs. Making your customers' lives better is planting the Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077787083261182212004-02-26T01:18:00.000-08:002004-02-26T01:20:53.466-08:00World Press Review - World Press Wire: "Mrs Gun's disclosure about the bugging operation has already embarrassed the Government, with countries involved, including Mexico and Chile, asking questions.
A Mexican diplomat alleged that it allowed the Americans to head off a proposed compromise resolution in the UN that might have averted war."
The story about Mrs. Gun (a British intelligence officerCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077777489800946812004-02-25T22:38:00.000-08:002004-02-26T01:22:36.373-08:00Winners never quit and quitters never win, but only idiots never quit AND never win...
Dennis Kucinich took 2nd in the Hawaii Caucuses. He was the only candidate who bothered to campaign there. When you can't even win in a state where you are the only candidate who shows up, that is a good sign that it's time to fold the tent and go home.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077763824934808472004-02-25T18:50:00.000-08:002004-02-25T18:53:14.326-08:00The Creatures From the Sandwich Shop - Behind the singing rodents in the Quiznos ad. By Seth�StevensonThe spot: A small, furry creature, wearing a bowler hat, levitates as he sings an ode to Quiznos subs. Nearby, another flying creature wears an 18th century seafaring hat, and strums on an acoustic guitar. Song lyrics: "We love the subs! 'Cuz they are good to us. The Quiznos subs. They are tasty,Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077736961295989612004-02-25T11:22:00.000-08:002004-02-29T02:44:07.280-08:00IHT: Chief of the CIA warns of �next wave� of terrorWASHINGTON George Tenet, the director of central intelligence, has said that the world is at least as "fraught with dangers for American interests" as it was a year ago, despite the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and successes in dismantling the leadership of Al Qaeda
This illustrates the paradox we face and perhaps the brave face Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077677824355024182004-02-24T18:57:00.000-08:002004-02-24T18:59:52.310-08:00The ThinkThink store has some neat shirts for sale including one I really like which says on the front "If you're going to vote, please think" and on the back "If you're going to think, please vote."
I hope that sentiment catches on.
-B-Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077676270591759852004-02-24T18:31:00.000-08:002004-02-24T18:33:58.856-08:00KansasCity.com - The Kansas City Star, breaking local news, sports, entertainment, business: "MIAMI - (KRT) - The Pentagon on Tuesday charged two Arabs being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with conspiracy to commit war crimes on behalf of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network, setting the stage for the first U.S. war crimes tribunals since World War II."
It's about time. I'm heartened to Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077308420632032172004-02-20T12:20:00.000-08:002004-02-20T12:23:03.200-08:00ESPN.com - MLB - Attacker of Royals coach may end up in jail: "CHICAGO -- A man on probation for running onto the field at a Chicago White Sox game with his son and attacking a coach has tested positive for drug use, court records show, and prosecutors said they will ask a judge to send him to prison."
My first thought was: "Why isn't he in jail already?" The guy, and his son, ran out onto the Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077307687531040592004-02-20T12:08:00.000-08:002004-02-20T12:10:50.263-08:00All Headline News - Friend Wavers at Martha Stewart Trial: "NEW YORK - A close friend of Martha Stewart who told a damaging story about the homemaking expert wavered slightly in her testimony Friday as the government neared the end of its case.
On Thursday, Mariana Pasternak testified Stewart told her shortly after selling her ImClone Systems stock that she had known ImClone founder Sam Waksal Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077307403106331962004-02-20T12:03:00.000-08:002004-02-20T12:06:05.890-08:00All Headline News - Bush to Install Judge, Bypassing Senate: "WASHINGTON - Bypassing Senate Democrats who have stalled his judicial nominations, President Bush will use a recess appointment to put Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at least temporarily, government sources said Friday."
What does it tell us about our government when the only way to get Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077159532962326792004-02-18T18:58:00.000-08:002004-02-18T19:01:32.653-08:00CNN.com - Whites-only scholarship generates controversy - Feb. 18, 2004: "(CNN) -- A whites-only scholarship to be awarded Wednesday by a student Republican organization at Roger Williams University in Providence, Rhode Island, has drawn both controversy and support. "
My wife and I have often quipped that we were going to open a "Caucasian Cultural Center" here in Honolulu. Naturally we would Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077152000646559192004-02-18T16:53:00.000-08:002004-02-18T16:56:00.280-08:00Yahoo! News - Kerry Wins Clark's Backing, Republican Attacks: "Citing a news report quoting an unidentified Democrat as saying 'everything' was on the table for the November campaign, Gillespie told a Republican dinner in Reno, Nevada, that Kerry did not want to debate issues with Bush. "
Hasn't Kerry repeatedly said that he wants to debate issues with Bush? This seems like just political Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077151927233041282004-02-18T16:52:00.000-08:002004-02-18T16:54:46.890-08:00Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage: "On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated on its Web page reported that Katie Hnida, a former place kicker, said she was subjected to lewd comments by other players, groped in team huddles and raped by a teammate.
Coach Barnett issued a statement saying he knew nothing about the rape but later when trying to explain why Hnida had been harassed said sheCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077151237547772472004-02-18T16:40:00.000-08:002004-02-18T16:43:17.340-08:00Yahoo! News - Bush Backs Off Forecast of 2.6M New Jobs: "Jobs are a sensitive political issue for Bush as he fights to keep his own job in a second term. The economy has lost 2.2 million payroll jobs since Bush took office, the worst job-creation record of any president since Herbert Hoover. "
Wow, now this is a startling fact. In Bush's defense the economy took a pretty hard hit after 9/11. Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077141129354512162004-02-18T13:52:00.000-08:002004-02-18T13:54:48.826-08:00Education - what could be more important than reading? Reading is how you access the dubious wisdom of this blog.
I'd like to suggest that the public schools look to add teacher aides and/or community volunteers who are specificly tasked to work with kids on reading to the classroom beginning in the third grade. No child should leave the third grade unless they can read at an age-appropriate Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1077054163693791042004-02-17T13:42:00.000-08:002004-02-17T13:45:21.920-08:00Political Wire: Drudge Rumors Prove False: "Drudge Rumors Prove False
'A 27-year-old woman who became the subject of Internet rumors about a supposed relationship' with Sen. John Kerry said 'that those reports are 'completely false,'' the Washington Post reports."
This is a good example of how low the standard of "proof" has fallen in today's politics. This is from a pro-Kerry website. In factCoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1076637270172221312004-02-12T17:54:00.000-08:002004-02-12T17:57:01.543-08:00Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on National Review Online: "So i say again, the only solution is to strike the religious, military, and other cadres of the Shi'a so that they revolt against the Sunnis. Some people will say, that this will be a reckless and irresponsible action that will bring the Islamic nation to a battle for which the Islamic nation is unprepared. Souls will perish and blood will be Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1076552864550719482004-02-11T18:27:00.000-08:002004-02-11T18:30:14.966-08:00This might really be more appropriate for my Technology blog but it occurs to me that the proliferation of cell phones was a big step in society. Both forward and backwards.
Forwards in that it gave people tremendous freedom and tremendous security. You can go anywhere and still be able to stay in contact. Get a flat tire by the side of the road? You can call the auto club without having to Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1076461056933033392004-02-10T16:57:00.000-08:002004-02-10T17:00:06.263-08:00BBC NEWS | UK | Politics | Rumsfeld 'unaware' of WMD claim: "US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says he cannot remember hearing the claim that Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes. "
He's the Secretary of Defense, preparing to lead us into a war against a country he claims has WMD and he isn't reading the intelligence dossiers prepared by our allies? I find that Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1076456764780305512004-02-10T15:46:00.000-08:002004-02-10T15:48:33.576-08:00Yahoo! News - Generals Say They Believed Iraq Had WMD: "'It was my belief that this cause was just,' said Adm. Vernon Clark, chief of Naval Operations. 'That was my position then and that's what I believe today.' "
I actually find it reassuring that these military leaders are confirming that they too believed (falsely as it turned out) that Saddam had WMD before the war. This underscores that Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154724.post-1076447212833431172004-02-10T13:06:00.000-08:002004-02-10T13:09:21.856-08:00BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Chile's UN phones 'were tapped': "Press reports in the UK suggested the US National Security Agency was spying on the envoys of those countries, and had requested British help. "
This is just wild speculation, of course, but if it is true it is NOT a very flattering picture of the U.S.
As much as I want our intelligence agencies to improve, I'm not sure that Coachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14646326753055553792noreply@blogger.com0