Archive for March, 2006

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Is it possible people have forgotten how sleazy the first BASIC INSTINCT was? It would take longer than fourteen years to swab that movie out of one’s mind. The parody with Armand Assante was more intense and certainly more suspenseful.

Friday, March 31st, 2006

Sharon Stone fights for sex scenes
CHINA VIEW XINHUANET
BEIJING, March 18, 2006 — Sharon Stone has fought with “Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction” director after she discovered her raunchiest sex scenes had been edited out.
Stone is back playing scheming killer Catherine Tramell in the long-awaited sequel to the 1992 original crime thriller, and she has promised […]

Posted in Movies |

I guess Mr. McGuirk would have rather Ms. Carroll had taken one of the costumes offered by her captors. There was the Scarlet O’Hara, the Wonderwoman and the Carmen Miranda. Had she come out of her ordeal wearing one of those, do we really think Mr. McGuirk would have been more sympathetic. I usualy switch off the Imus show when the executive producer is on camera. His face seems to betray a deep anger which is a might unpleasant so early in the morning.

Thursday, March 30th, 2006

Thanks to THINK PROGRESS for this.
Imus In The Morning, 3/30/06
IMUS: We’re back here on the “Imus in the Morning” program on the radio all over the country and on MSNBC. Well, the official position, of course, of the program, is thank god correspondent Jill Carroll from the Christian Science Monitor has been released.
MCCORD: You bet, […]

Posted in News Media, Iraq |

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t bother with a story like this. After all, we weren’t there and more importantly–we’ve got our own problems. But, I chose to run this because of the last line of the intoductory paragraph on the website. Randy is born-again. After listening to how non-born agains have not taken Jesus Christ as their Lord and Personal Savior (or is it personal Lord and savior), I feel it is important for the nation’s ballast to realize that (a) one should keep one’s religion to oneself and (b) (a)

Thursday, March 30th, 2006

The Smoking Gun writes
Big Unit Gets Stingy With Love Child
Randy Johnson seeking rebate for “secret” daughter child support.
MARCH 27–Sure, Randy Johnson may earn $16 million annually pitching for the New York Yankees, but that hasn’t stopped the baseball star from trying to legally nickel and dime a woman with whom he had a “secret” child […]

Posted in Religion, Baseball |

When NETWORK opened in 1976, I thought the writing was heavy-handed. Thirty years have proven the prescience and subtlety of the movie.

Thursday, March 30th, 2006

Take a look at Crooks&Liars…
TDS on FOX News
Jon Stewart takes a look at a segment on FOX. The humor comes between the subject matter and the video footage that they show while the people are speaking.
Video-WMP Video-QT
(Warning: The video does get a little steamy for FOX viewers.)

Posted in News Media, Law |

These White House patriots will allow the entire country to go to hell in order to insulate their clueless leader. When does politics end and treason begin?

Thursday, March 30th, 2006

PREWAR INTELLIGENCE
Insulating Bush By Murray Waas, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief political adviser, cautioned other White House aides in the summer of 2003 that Bush’s 2004 re-election prospects would be severely damaged if it was […]

Posted in administration, Bush, Iraq |

Earlier today, I had discussed the monetary pressures which have forced ballet companies to seek varied revenue streams. The boarding of lions and hyenas up stage was frightening enough, but a veterinarian must have administered tranquilizers for each performance. Now, I have discovered other less dangerous uses of space, but I cannot fathom how the dancers were able to hear their musical cues in the first two cases below. The third alternative must lead to problems with muscle and tendons.

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

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Sincere thanks go for:
Original Jackson St. tunnel photo is from Chicago-L.org. The photographer is Graham Garfield.
The repair bay is from Bethesda/Chevy Chase Shell bccshell.com
The bowling alley is Stevens Lanes from stevens-tech.edu/bowling
All dance pictures:
Wendy Whelan
January 22, 2006, Sunday
Story By CHIP BROWN (NYT); Magazine

Posted in Dance |

Guess who!

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

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(a)

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(b)

Answers and references are here and here.

Posted in Quiz |

Does anyone remember the huge vat Terry Southern’s Magic Christian placed in Chicago?

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

I guess the true test of unrestrained avarice is the nose to find
monetary gain in–shall we say–wastewater. DBp

RAW STORY
March 29, 2006

“An explosive report, obtained in part by Raw Story and soon to be released by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), fingers high-level officials both on the federal and local California level in […]

Posted in Congress, Cheney, Books |

I used to think “Queen for a Day” was exploitive when it gave a ride around Beverly Hills in a solid gold Cadillac to women who couldn’t pay the electric bills and feed eight children because their husband were drunk, dying or dead.

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

This Smoking Gun story about ABC will nauseate the most cynical among us.
If you dare, read it here. 

Posted in Television |

“Whenever the laws of any state are broken, a duly authorized organization swings into action. It may be called the State Police, State Troopers, Militia, the Rangers or the Highway Patrol. These are the stories of the men whose training, skill and courage have enforced and preserved our state laws.”–Siegfried “Dan” Matthews

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

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highwatpatroltv.com  jogged my memory.

Posted in Television |

As evidenced by this photograph of a French soldier and his dog, even the Great War had happy moments. Why can’t the news media find happiness in Iraq? They’ve even got color film.

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

Posted in Iraq |

One has to tip the old Jimmy Hatlo Hat to Tom Delay. Despite the situation, he is still able to take sanctimoniousness to yet a higher level. Fear of tempting Fortuna would constrain less foolhardy people. Not Tom. He even wants his gun permit returned. Maybe best defense is a good offense, but sometimes the best defense is keeping one’s mouth shut. I’m certain he is attempting to galvanize his base by mixing Jesus n’ Ammo, but I have a sneaking suspicion his constituents are smarter than he may believe. Is it possible that Tom “doesn’t get” it?

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

Associated Press
DeLay Says Justices ‘Don’t Get’ Criticism
By WILL LESTER , […]

Posted in Tom Delay, Supreme Court |

I’m Oinly a Boid In a Guilded Rage…

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

WASHINGTON NOTE and RAW STORY

HAVE BEEN REPORTING THAT SCOOTER AND ROVER ARE SINGING AND STINGING

Please read the stories here and here.

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Parlorsongs.com & Associated Press

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whistlingrecords.com

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vincentfreemanantiques.com; dudehisattva.com; financialtimesdeutchland.de; wishes.debian.co.nz

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financialtimesdeutchland.de; wishes.debian.co.nz

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Posted in administration, C.I.A. Leak, Cheney |

Hey, Tony. Did you really think W. was going to surrender his place on top? As long as he holds whatever incriminating photographs he must have of your dallying with a Eveinrude outboard, the friendship will remain one-sided.

Monday, March 27th, 2006

US is a difficult fried, Blair tells Australia

Tania Branigan in Canberra and Will Woodward

The Guardian
March 28, 2006

The “madness” of anti-Americanism in Europe could cause the US to disengage from alliances with other countries, Tony Blair warned yesterday. In a speech to the Australian parliament in Canberra, the prime minister said justice, fairness and […]

Posted in Bush, Great Britain |

Why aren’t these folks ever featured on ABC’s World News Tonight?

Monday, March 27th, 2006

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Hateville Girl Magzine from baseballcube.com

Posted in Boxing, Oddity |

The close friend who had forwarded two Tribune pieces had mentioned that Archbishop Burke of St. Louis seemed to be a protoge of Boston’s erstwhile Cardinal Law. When my pal Mary read the comment, she labeled the article BURKE’S LAW an early 1960s’ vehicle for Gene Barry. Mary also mentioned something that I had missed. Pope Benedict XVI quietly dropped one of his titles…

Monday, March 27th, 2006

I had realized that age had made it more difficult to lose pounds to defend his Welterweight title after a defense of the Middlweight belt. Alas, that was not the case.
Mary referred to the “…pope, formerly lnown as Prince of the Church…” So, Benedict dropped Prince of the Church? I designed a new papal flag […]

Posted in Religion |

These two pieces from the Chicago Tribune certainly add mortar to the brick wall the Roman Catholic Church is building to protect itself. In all fairness, after 16 years of Catholic education, I have met no relatives or friends who recall even the slightest incident of priestly abuse. I know that my parents reared us with a peaceful humanism and a healthy anti-clerical base. Gentle as my Father was, he would have responded to any inappropriate behavior with action from which no wall could protect the evil-doer; and this would be the better option for the perpetrator. Had my Mother become involved, I hesitate to imagine the outcome.

Monday, March 27th, 2006

Parish Fights Archbishop to Keep Parish AliveBy Manya A. Brachear
Chicago Tribune staff reporterMarch 26, 2006
ST. LOUIS — On a recent Sunday at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, the file of faithful streaming up to receive Communion stretched from the nave to the back pew.
Hands clasped and heads bowed, the parishioners returned to their seats reverentially after […]

Posted in Religion, Illinois, Missouri |

Remember, sports fans, this is where Secretary of State Blackwell in 2004 resurrected the Katherine Harris role of 2000. I’m not kidding about “resurrected” because Blackwell spends more time in church than most pastors as he campaigns on God’s and money’s side!

Sunday, March 26th, 2006

BEAUTIFUL OHIO POLITICS
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“Supporting a Culture of Life”

“Pro Marriage…Pro Family”
“Supporting Gun Owners Rights.
“Expanding School Choice”
…FROM HIS CAMPAIGN SITE.
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She’s running for her old AG job.
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The GOP state campaign fund sent $1.49 million to Jim Petro(top)  and
$1.27 million to Betty Montgomery(above). Toledo Blade

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COLUMBUS (AP) — Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell will not debate rival Jim Petro before […]

Posted in Republicans, Ohio |

Did not Ed and Tom spend time on their knees in the office? They must have been looking for nickels.

Sunday, March 26th, 2006

Former DeLay Aide Enriched By Nonprofit
Bulk of Group’s Funds Tied to Abramoff

By R. Jeffrey Smith

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 26, 2006; Page A01
A top adviser to former House Whip Tom DeLay received more than a third of all the money collected by the U.S. Family Network, a nonprofit organization the adviser created to promote […]

Posted in Republicans, Abramoff, Tom Delay |

From this moment forward, I shall label any graphic which shows illegal pathways of money and influence–like the one below–as a GRAPHT.

Sunday, March 26th, 2006

Where the Money Went

The chief of staff to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) formed the U.S. Family Network to promote a pro-family political agenda. He and his wife received nearly a third of the money the group collected.

Washington Post
March 26, 2006

Go here for the Grapht in the Post.
SOURCES: Interviews and U.S. Family Network records |
GRAPHIC: The […]

Posted in Republicans, Tom Delay, Religion |

Well, shut my mouth! David Stockman was correct all along. A quarter of a century ago, he stated that the “trickle down” economic theory would lead to a rise for the other economic classes. Those folks are probably making reservations now for Aspen, Banff and St. Moritz. I guess this puts the kibosh on the Y2K computer worries of the 1990s. Y2.1K promises to be a real rip-snorter.

Sunday, March 26th, 2006

London ‘under water by 2100′ as Antarctica crumbles into the sea

“Such a rise would threaten cities such as London, New York, Bombay and Tokyo. Large parts of the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Florida would be inundated, and even smaller rises would flood extreme low-lying areas, such as several Pacific islands and New Orleans.”

By Mark Henderson, […]

Posted in Environment, Nature, Science |

Today marked the beginning of the annual slaughter of harp seals for the dictates of fashion. I once made the mistake of having not closed my eyes quickly enough during a documentary about the hunt. Today, I wondered what would happen if the seals had decided to defend themselves as best they could.

Sunday, March 26th, 2006

“As they stand up, we’ll stand down.”–Gunnery Sergeant Peter P. Penguin
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(AP Photo/CP,Jonathan Hayward)
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REUTERS/Paul Darrow
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(AP Photo/Christopher Brown)
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(AFP/File/David Boily)
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REUTERS/Paul Darrow
Penguin/Gun/Armor images from:
hi.is; army-technology.com; usc.mun.ca; felixsalmon.com; uscg.mil

Posted in Business, Nature, Canada |

Since most of the documentary channels’ programming seems to focus on UFOs and SETI, I would have thought NASA could have forseen this discovery.

Saturday, March 25th, 2006

INCREDIBLY STARTLING IMAGES FROM
NASA’S MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORIBITER
LEAVE SCIENTISTS BREATHLESS…DBp

By Eric Swedlund
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.25.2006

Described as sharp, detailed and spectacular, the first images of Mars from the UA’s HiRISE camera arrived early Friday to a thrilled scientific team set to examine the red planet in unprecedented detail.
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The $40 million camera, aboard the […]

Posted in Science |

More H’art Work…

Saturday, March 25th, 2006

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The “…Stranding Network..” is real.
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Plate images usually are found at state’s DOT websites.

Posted in Automobiles |

Straight from the DBp newswire…

Friday, March 24th, 2006

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Posted in Ukraine |

It’s a nice way of generating trust and loyalty.

Friday, March 24th, 2006

More Walgreens customers sue over insults on their prescription printouts
By Missy Stoddard
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted March 23 2006

Less than a month after a Palm Beach woman sued Walgreens for labeling her CrAzY!!” and “psycho” in its nationwide computer system, two more Floridians have come forward with similar allegations.
A Palm Beach Gardens grandmother, […]

Posted in Business, Florida, Health |

It would be humorous if it were not so dangerous.

Friday, March 24th, 2006

Bush shuns Patriot Act requirement
In addendum to law, he says oversight rules are not binding
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | March 24, 2006
WASHINGTON — When President Bush signed the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act this month, he included an addendum saying that he did not feel obliged to obey requirements that he […]

Posted in Bill of Rights, Bush |

Who doesn’t believe events like the two in the last few days have been a continuing pattern of behavior? The only difference is the re-awakened news media. Welcome back!

Friday, March 24th, 2006

W’s Uncle Buckey Earned Millions from a Sale of a War-related Company.
An SEC filing shows William H.T. Bush collected about $1.9 million in cash, plus stock valued at $800,000, from the deal.

By Walter F. Roche Jr., Times Staff Writer
March 23, 2006
WASHINGTON — As President Bush embarks on a new effort to shore up public […]

Posted in Business, Military, Bush |

Finally, after thousands of Avian Flu stories, this one convinces me that there is a possibility of a pandemic.

Friday, March 24th, 2006

Human-to-human transmission of H5N1 highly unlikely, studies show

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhuanet) — H5N1 virus prefers to settle in cells deep within the lungs, rather than in the upper respiratory tract, as happens with human flu strains, two new studies have found.
That may help explain why human-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus has so far […]

Posted in Health |

Disdain is my only emotion for the matron of that wonderfully sinister family which never disappoints by accidentally doing the right thing. “Fare una brutta figura” is how an Italian would describe her action. Why use an Italian idiom to say she has made a fool of herself? Think back to her venom in having called ‘84 vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro a “witch with a b.” Imagine a person whose name ended in an “o” having the temerity to run against the family’s cobalt blood! Because of her ability to dally in an un-American class fog, there is the Italian proverb: “Alla fin gioco, tanto va nel sacco il re quanto la pedina.”*

Thursday, March 23rd, 2006

Thanks to RAW STORY for the initial heads up.
March 22, 2006 11:58 PM
Former first lady’s donationaids son
Katrina funds earmarked to pay for Neil Bush’s software program
BY CYNTHIA LEONOR GARZA
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Former first lady Barbara Bush donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund with specific instructions that the money be spent […]

Posted in Business, Bush, Katrina |

Last night on Keith Olbermann’s Countdown, Helen Thomas stated that she believed the news media was finally awakening from their coma. Someone sent me this exchange between Ms. Thomas and Ari Fleisher before the invasion of Iraq.

Thursday, March 23rd, 2006

Helen Thomas Socks It to the White House
January 9, 2003

Please read the exchange here.

Posted in News Media, administration, Iraq |

Imagine the statement’s credibility if the senator had not rolled over during the Alito hearings and voted for a man who thinks the White House and Big Brother is hunky-dory. He reminds me of the town drunk ordered to dance to avoid the gun shots from the heavy in a Republic western. W’s and Dick’s hands are black with gunpowder residue and the senator gets a chance to re-assess his opinions.

Thursday, March 23rd, 2006

Associated Press
Update 3: Specter to Shepherd Bills Through Senate
By KATHERINE SHRADER , […]

Posted in Congress, Bill of Rights, administration |

A close friend wondered if Rosicrucians would get the same shake.

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006

Georgia poised to OK Bible studies bill
By Nancy Badertscher, Bridget Gutierrez
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/21/06
Georgia is close to becoming the first state in the nation to pass a bill sanctioning Bible studies classes in public schools.
Under the measure, which passed the House on Monday by a vote of 151-7, high school students could […]

Posted in Bill of Rights, Religion, Georgia |

Didn’t we just read that W. wanted the FBI to break into homes without warrants or consent?

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006

Supreme Court Limits Police Searches of Homes
By David Stout
Published: March 22, 2006
WASHINGTON, March 22 — A bitterly split Supreme Court, ruling in a case that arose from a marriage gone bad, today narrowed the circumstances under which the police can enter and search a home without a warrant.
In a 5-to-3 decision, the justices sided with […]

Posted in Bill of Rights, Supreme Court, Georgia |

I have obtained a list of the proscribed monikers which appear below.

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006

China Limits Names for Newborns
March 17, 2006 Times online
From Jane Macartney of The Times, in Beijing
The joke goes in China that if you call out the name Wang Wei in the street at least one person is bound to answer. The personal name Wei, or “mighty”, is so popular that parents have been turning to […]

Posted in China |

Arrestee is suspect in arms sales.

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006

Coyote Loose in New York’s Central Park Is Captured (Update1) March 22 (Bloomberg) — A coyote loose in New York’s Central Park was captured by wildlife officials this morning after eluding them for two days.
Officials had corralled the critter several times since it was first spotted March 20, though it managed to escape each time. […]

Posted in New York, Nature |

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