Monday, February 26, 2007

Americans lag only Turkey in discrediting evolution

Americans lag only Turkey in discrediting evolution: "Miller points a finger at 'by the book'' religions like those practiced by fundamentalists in the United States and Iraq.
'Fundamentalists in this country say everything you need to know is in the Bible, period. Islamists say everything you need to know is in the Koran, period,'' Miller said."

1 in 6 on public assistance?!!!!

LubbockOnline.com: "The welfare state is bigger than ever despite a decade of policies designed to wean poor people from public aid.
The number of families receiving cash benefits from welfare has plummeted since the government imposed time limits on the payments a decade ago. But other programs for the poor, including Medicaid, food stamps and disability benefits, are bursting with new enrollees.
The result, according to an Associated Press analysis: Nearly one in six people rely on some form of public assistance, a larger share than at any time since the government started measuring two decades ago."

Incomprehensible Intersections


Dark Roasted Blend: Incomprehensible Intersections: "They are called the 'Malfunction Junctions', or 'Spaghetti Intersections', and they are located almost in every major city in the West. You can find the streets that end nowhere, streets that strangely allow traffic in both direction (without providing proper lanes), streets that change names more often than a communist Cold War spies."

Crimes leave elderly broke and betrayed

Crimes leave elderly broke and betrayed: "He is among many concerned about elder abuse, particularly financial misdeeds against the elderly that are believed to be among the least-reported crimes.
They also are crimes that haven't captured the public's attention. "
Interesting, the silence of the liberal lambs over Jenny's "get out of jail free" proposal. Crooks destroy lives. Reducing criminal penalties is criminal. Imagine the liberal lion's roar if Engler had suggested this.....

Killer Kites!

11 dead, over 100 injured at Pakistani kite flying festival, officials say : "At least 11 people died and more than 100 people were injured at an annual spring festival in eastern Pakistan celebrated with the flying of thousands of colorful kites, officials said Monday.
The deaths and injuries were caused by stray bullets, sharpened kite-strings, electrocution and people falling off rooftops on Sunday at the conclusion of the two-day Basant festival, said Ruqia Bano, spokeswoman for the emergency services in the city of Lahore."
Will there be a Kite-Brady Bill in Lahore soon?

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Thomas Sowell on Barack Obama on National Review Online

Thomas Sowell on Barack Obama on National Review Online: "Senator Barack Obama recently said, “let’s allow our unions and their organizers to lift up this country’s middle class again.”"

Meetings make us dumber, study shows - LiveScience - MSNBC.com

Meetings make us dumber, study shows - LiveScience - MSNBC.com: "People have a harder time coming up with alternative solutions to a problem when they are part of a group, new research suggests. "

Mayhem Main Event at NBA All-Star Weekend - AOL Sports

Mayhem Main Event at NBA All-Star Weekend - AOL Sports: "Things got so bad that she closed the 24-hour restaurant from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

'I have been spit on. I have had food thrown at me,' she said. 'I have lost two servers out of fear. I have locked my door out of the fear of violence.'"

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

FOXNews.com - Sword-Wielding Man Confronts Neighbor After Hearing Woman's Cries on Porn Film - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

FOXNews.com - Sword-Wielding Man Confronts Neighbor After Hearing Woman's Cries on Porn Film - Local News News Articles National News US News: "OCONOMOWOC, Wis. — A sword-wielding Wisconsin man broke into his neighbor's apartment thinking he was chivalrous after hearing the cries of a woman he thought was in peril — but instead, she was in porn.
James Van Iveren was in his Oconomowoc apartment listening to music when he heard loud cries from a woman he thought was pleading for help, reported the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The 39-year-old grabbed a cavalry sword, a family heirloom, and rushed upstairs to forcibly open the quarters of an upstairs tenant he barely knew.
'It was a woman screaming,' Van Iveren said of the Feb. 12 incident. 'She was screaming for help.'
Bret Stieghorst told police that he was watching a pornographic DVD when Van Iveren kicked open his door, damaging the frame and lock in the process, with a 39-inch blade in hand.
Stieghorst said Van Iveren demanded 'Where is she?' while thrusting the sword at him.
The neighbor told police Van Iveren became increasingly aggressive as he repeated the question, insisting that he had heard a woman being raped. The complaint said that, with the sword pointed at him, the neighbor led Van Iveren throughout the apartment, opening closet doors to prove he was alone."

The Hillary Spot on National Review Online

The Hillary Spot on National Review Online: "Edwards: 'Perhaps the Greatest Short-Term Threat to World Peace Is the Possibility That Israel Would Bomb Iran's Nuclear Facilities'
Hillary Spot reader Michael points out this little gem in Peter Bart's column on John Edwards' comments in Hollywood:
There are other emerging fissures, as well. The aggressively photogenic John Edwards was cruising along, detailing his litany of liberal causes last week until, during question time, he invoked the 'I' word — Israel. Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace, Edwards remarked, was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. As a chill descended on the gathering, the Edwards event was brought to a polite close.
Really? Israel is the biggest threat? Not Ahmedinijad? Not al-Qaeda? Not a coup attempt in Pakistan? Not a complete breakdown in Iraq drawing in the Saudis, Turks, and Iranians?
Or, you know, perhaps not."

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich: "It takes about 16 PB&J sandwiches to save a chicken's life, for example. "

Power Line Forum | The UN? You’ve Gotta Be Freakin’ Kidding Me

Power Line Forum The UN? You’ve Gotta Be Freakin’ Kidding Me: "For my tax dollar, the all-time best Capitol Hill event involving celebrities occurred back in 1985, when the House Democratic Task Force on Agriculture held a jam-packed hearing that featured testimony on the plight of the American farm family from—I am not making this up—Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange and Jane Fonda. Technically, of course, these women are not members of struggling farm families: They are rich actresses. But they have all played members of struggling farm families in major motion pictures, which more than qualifies them to testify before a congressional task force. They were so sincere it made your teeth hurt. Both Lange and Fonda broke down crying, and thousands of photographs were taken. A genuine family-farm member could have set fire to herself on the Capitol steps and not have gotten half the press coverage."

Luck? MSU was better team than Wisconsin

Luck? MSU was better team than Wisconsin: "If you are a true basketball fan, you watch a game like this and want to elope with these Spartans. They really had no business beating Wisconsin. Their shooting guard, Neitzel used to play point guard -- and people said he was small then. Their point guard, Travis Walton, is not a natural point. Their small forward, Raymar Morgan, is a freshman who missed more than a month because of an injury. Their starting center, Drew Naymick, has battled horrible shoulder problems -- an MSU source has confirmed that for a while, Naymick just dropped off the shoulder at rehab in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon.
They might as well call 'Neitzel' before every play, because every opponent knows he is getting the ball. Tuesday, Neitzel shot 10-for-17, nailed six three-pointers and scored 28. The rest of the Spartans shot 12-for-31, made one three-pointer and scored 36.
What a year for Neitzel: He switched from point guard to shooting guard, improved his defense dramatically, lifted his team from a near-certain trip to the Nobody's Interested Tournament to the cusp of an NCAA tourney bid, scored 28 points in an upset of the No. 1 team, and Britney Spears is trying to look like him."

The Bush depression?

US deficit is shrinking, for now csmonitor.com: "Already, the federal deficit is shrinking toward about half the size that it has averaged since 1970, when analyzed as a percentage of gross domestic product.
The shift reflects a strong economy, with higher incomes and corporate profits generating a bigger flow of tax revenue. In turn, the Treasury's progress could help the economy by buoying investor confidence in the nation's fiscal position."

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

La Shawn Barber’s Corner » Suspected Arrested in Durham for Rape

La Shawn Barber’s Corner » Suspected Arrested in Durham for Rape: "Yesterday a man was arrested in the so-called second Duke rape case."

Variety.com - The real Hollywood politics

Variety.com - The real Hollywood politics: "The aggressively photogenic John Edwards was cruising along, detailing his litany of liberal causes last week until, during question time, he invoked the 'I' word -- Israel. Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace, Edwards remarked, was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. As a chill descended on the gathering, the Edwards event was brought to a polite close.
Support for Israel in the U.S. has lately become bafflingly multi-cultural, representing an alliance between diaspora Jews, traditional Zionists and evangelicals. Support from Christian zealots, who now represent about one third of Israel's tourist business, is welcomed even though, according to evangelical doctrine, Judgment Day will bring the ultimate destruction of Israel and death to most of its residents."

The Chronicle fanning the flames again

Racial tension mars development hearing: "Emotions flared at times Monday after more than 100 citizens streamed into Reeths Puffer Intermediate School cafeteria to argue for and against a development of up to 96 'affordable' single-family homes proposed for the northwest corner of Muskegon Township."
Maybe "affordable" equals "subsidized"? And if you can't afford to buy a home in Muskegon county today, with some of the lowest housing costs in the nation, well..... maybe you've got some other problems. Maybe.....

TCS Daily - 'Just-in-Case': How to Think About Uncertainty and Global Warming

TCS Daily - 'Just-in-Case': How to Think About Uncertainty and Global Warming: "'Let's just say that global warming deniers are now on a par with Holocaust deniers, though one denies the past and the other denies the present and future.'"

OpinionJournal - Cross Country

OpinionJournal - Cross Country: "But it seems that the hybrid HOV program, rather than suppressing automobile use, did the exact opposite: The program was wildly popular, and the HOV lanes became clogged. Californians began talking about 'Prius backlash.'"

Tim Blair

Tim Blair: "Big call from Tim Lambert: “Crime and violent crime in Britain peaked in the early 90s and [have] since plummeted.” His source? The British Crime Survey, an annual affair which asks some 40,000 Brits if they’ve been encrimed during the previous year. Is it trustworthy? Depends which side you’re on: "

Minority admissions plummet - Academics

Minority admissions plummet - Academics: "The acceptance rate of underrepresented minorities has plunged since the University was forced to stop using affirmative action in January, according to data provided by the University. The acceptance rate of underrepresented minorities has plunged since the University was forced to stop using affirmative action in January, according to data provided by the University. "

Monday, February 19, 2007

My Way News - Rescuer Credits Dog With Saving Climbers

My Way News - Rescuer Credits Dog With Saving Climbers: "Three climbers who tumbled off a ledge on Mount Hood were taken away in an ambulance after they hiked down much of the state's highest peak with their rescuers - and a dog who may have saved their lives.
'We're soaking wet and freezing,' said one of two rescued women as she walked from a tracked snow vehicle to an ambulance.
One of the women, whose name was not released, was taken to a Portland hospital and being treated for a head injury, said Jim Strovink, spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department.
'She's going to be fine,' he said, noting that she had walked most of the way down the mountain.

(AP) Lt. Nick Watt, with Clackamas County Sheriff's office, left, announces at Timberline Lodge near...
Full Image


Two others, Matty Bryant, 34, a teacher in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, and Kate Hanlon, 34, a teacher in the suburb of Wilsonville, were taken to Timberline Lodge on the mountain to rejoin five other members of the climbing party, he said.
Rescuers using an electronic locating device found the three climbers and their black Labrador, Velvet, on Monday morning in the White River Canyon, where they had holed up overnight at about 7,400 feet, officials said. The crew hiked with them down the east flank of the 11,239-foot mountain; on the way down, the climbers got into a tracked snow vehicle that took them to the ambulance.
'The dog probably saved their lives' by lying across them during the cold night, said Erik Brom, a member of the Portland Mountain Rescue team. He described the wind in the canyon as 'hellacious.'"

Dumbest Protest Idea Ever - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views)

Dumbest Protest Idea Ever - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views): "Consumers are asked to withhold their spending for seven days, beginning on Sunday April 15 and lasting until Sunday April 22, 2007. Do NOT shop corporate outlets Minimize use of oil and gas. Carpool: bus, bike or walk. If you buy, BUY LOCALLY. Plan Ahead and Stock Up"

Tim Blair

Tim Blair: "Australia’s 60 Minutes delivers absolute and final proof of human-caused global warming: "

Maybe Ralph felt his end was nigh - Opinion - smh.com.au

Maybe Ralph felt his end was nigh - Opinion - smh.com.au

My Way News - McCain: Rumsfeld Was One of the Worst

My Way News - McCain: Rumsfeld Was One of the Worst: "Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday the war in Iraq has been mismanaged for years and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will be remembered as one of the worst in history.
'We are paying a very heavy price for the mismanagement - that's the kindest word I can give you - of Donald Rumsfeld, of this war,' the Arizona senator told an overflow crowd of more than 800 at a retirement community near Hilton Head Island, S.C. 'The price is very, very heavy and I regret it enormously.'"

U.N. urged to take action on asteroid threat | Tech&Sci | Science | Reuters.com

U.N. urged to take action on asteroid threat Tech&Sci Science Reuters.com: "An asteroid may come uncomfortably close to Earth in 2036 and the United Nations should assume responsibility for a space mission to deflect it, a group of astronauts, engineers and scientists said on Saturday."

My Way - Sports News

My Way - Sports News: "Roger Federer tied Jimmy Connors' record of 160 consecutive weeks as the top-ranked player in men's tennis Monday.
The 10-time Grand Slam champion has held the No. 1 ATP Tour ranking since Feb. 2, 2004. The Swiss star is assured of breaking the record next week. "

Inventor of the TV Remote Dies

Inventor of the TV Remote Dies: "Hit the mute button for a moment of silence: The co-inventor of the TV remote, Robert Adler, has died."
But he downplayed his role when asked if he felt his invention helped raise a new generation of couch potatoes.
"People ask me all the time — 'Don't you feel guilty for it?' And I say that's ridiculous," he said. "It seems reasonable and rational to control the TV from where you normally sit and watch television."