Yup....I'm a Libra. You've been warned!!
As if drivers didn't have enough to worry about when shopping for insurance, a new tongue-in-cheek study suggests predicting good or bad driving habits could be as simple as reading one's horoscope. The study, based on data gathered by Toronto-based InsuranceHotline.com, was supposed to help illustrate the point that insurance companies vary widely in how they determine what premiums to charge.
But Web site president Lee Romanov got a shock when she noticed that certain astrological signs seemed to encounter an undue amount of traffic trouble. "I didn't expect anything, but then I saw some signs got an overwhelming amount of tickets and other signs got an overwhelming amount of accidents, while other signs got a combination of both," Romanov said.
Libras, who celebrate their birthdays between Sept. 23-Oct. 22 and are supposed to embody balance, turned out to be the worst drivers, Romanov said. "That's the sign with the balance, the scales, and they are always looking for harmony, but at 5 o'clock rush hour there is no balance and harmony," she quipped. "(As a motorist), you have to make snap decisions, and Libras are no good about making snap decisions." Well, yeah, but we are good at picking up hotties in our defensive driving classes...
Other signs that appear to struggle on the road include Aquarius and Aries - the sign of the ram.
On the other hand, Leos, who are born between July 23-Aug. 22 and are considered generous, motivated people with a desire to excel, seemed to have the least problems behind the wheel, Romanov said. Gemini and Cancer also scored well, she added. Geminis? She obviously never rode with my mother. She may not have been in any accidents, but her driving probably caused a few other people to have them....
Will the insurance industry at large heed Romanov's findings?
Not likely, said Dan Danyluk, chief executive of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada. "I think what you want to do as an underwriter is ensure that you don't make decisions based on coincidences, and you are making them to the greatest degree on statistical reality," Danyluk said.
Romanov conceded that she doesn't expect her study to convince the industry to add a whole new bent to the setting of auto insurance rates. But it does illustrate how arbitrary some insurance companies seem to be when setting their rates, she added. "Half the point of the study was to point out that insurance rates are so vastly different between companies (which are) ignoring astrological signs." Umm...maybe because astrology is generally good only for entertainment value, you goofy twit. Now, please 'scuse me, gotta get my car out of the shop.... ;)
#1
Leos, who are born between July 23-Aug. 22 and are considered generous, motivated people with a desire to excel, seemed to have the least problems behind the wheel,
So, I bring this article to My in-sewer-ants company and get, what, a 20% discount?
And the "generous" part means I have to hit the tip jar this month.
#4
I'm a Libra and consider myself to be an excellent driver. I've been involved in a total of 2 accidents in a total of 31 years behind the wheel, one of which was my fault and one of which wasn't.
I've driven from California to Ohio, the East Coast, and through the southwest and deep south more than 5 times making round trips each time. Each round trip totalled more than 2500 miles.
I figure I've logged somewhere around a million miles in the 31 years (or so) I've been driving so that averages to 1 accident every 500 thousand miles.
I'd say that's a pretty good record overall.
Astrology is fortune telling and has about as much worth.
#5
It amazes me that in the history of the planet some idiot King or Emporer hasn't tried to forbid births during certain months or create a big push towards births during other months.
Maybe that whack-job in Central Asia who's redoing the calanders will try something like this. What would happen if everyone in a nation was a LIbra (beyond the messy highway problems)?
#6
It amazes me that in the history of the planet some idiot King or Emporer hasn't tried to forbid births during certain months or create a big push towards births during other months.
Herod tried a post natal approach to that issue iirc
#8
Apparently being born precisely one month premature didn't move me out of the Libra driver category... or so the evidence appears to show. So much for being a Virgo.
I don't want to look like I'm playing against my team by posting this, but in all honestly, if this is confirmed, there's a serious house-cleaning needed, like the US army has proved it can do. Regardless, rwanda is one big stain on France, and the propaganda war continues to this day, with the msm relays of the quai d'orsay pushing the "two genocides" theory.
More female survivors of Rwanda's 1994 genocide have accused French troops of raping them, in allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers that France had in the country at the time.
Testifying Thursday before a Rwandan government-appointed panel probing alleged French complicity in the mass killings, two women told in detail how they been violated at the ages of 12 and 14 respectively.
Both witnesses were granted anonymity by the inquiry commission, which was forced to briefly suspend its fourth day of a second round of public hearings when one member collapsed in tears during the testimony of the then 14-year-old.
The woman, a member of Rwanda's Tutsi minority that made up the vast majority of the some 800,000 victims of the genocide, claimed she had been handed over to a French soldier by extremist Hutu militia in southwest Rwanda.
(SomaliNet) Madagascar has arrested General Andrianafidisoa, commonly known as Fidy for allegedly organizing an unsuccessful coup against Madagascars president, Marc Ravalomanana.
Fidy allegedly distributed leaflets amongst Madagascars natives of a transitional government, which was supposedly led by a military board two weeks prior to Madagascars presidential elections. A reward of $50, 000 had been announced for whoever knew about his whereabouts. "General Andrianafidisoa was captured by state forces at about 19:30 in a hotel in the centre of town. General Andrianafidisoa put up no resistance," Lucien Victor Razakanirina, Secretary of State for Public Security, said yesterday (Tuesday).
Madagascar went to the polls on December 3rd and preliminary results show that 57 year old Ravalomanana is set to rule Madagascar for another term. However, these results are disputed by the opposition who say that Ravolomanana scored less than the required 50% majority vote.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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And I was so hoping that King Julien was involved
Posted by: john ||
12/14/2006 20:27 Comments ||
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JEDDAH For the first time in Saudi Arabia, there will be distribution of wealth amongall of the Kingdoms regions including all cities and villages and covering all sectors, according to Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, deputy premier, minister of defence and aviation and inspector-general. This is every bit the howler you expect. Read on
Addressing senior commanders of the armed forces in Riyadh recently, Prince Sultan assured the citizens of the governments plan for fair distribution of wealth, by carrying out development projects all over the Kingdom. They won't exactly distribute the money, see, they'll just spend it. Sounds like a congressman or two I know ...
"Moreover, the states revenues and budget surpluses will be distributed for the coming years through the 8th Development Plan and later through the 9th Development Plan, the Saudi Press Agency quoted the Crown Prince as saying. "And we'll keep spending til we run out!"
Saudi Arabiahas posted a record budget surplus of SR218 billion in 2005 based on surging crude prices. Which heretofore has been distributed on Wahhabist literature in the world's mosques, generous contributions to the Widows Ammunition Fund, and blood money to the Paleos.
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) said in its annual report on the Saudi economy that the gross domestic product GDP growth reached 6.5 per cent in 2005 compared to 5.3 per cent the previous year. It was the third consecutive budget surplus. The surplus reached SR45 billion in 2003, and SR98 billion in 2004. All from oil as opposed to, you know, making anything of value.
Explaining the States low revenues in the past three years, he said that the cost of the war for the liberation of Kuwait in 1990 was among the reasons that led to the financial problems the Kingdom has faced over the past decade.
"What were the other reasons?"
"Don't worry yourself about those."
"Those?"
"Those." [softly] "Mahmoud, take care of this man."
"Yes, Effendi."
He said thatthe new Allegiance Commission regulation would remove confusion from the minds of citizens, ... ... they're abolishing the state religion? ...
... as it thoroughly defines the mechanism of accession to the throne and appointment of the Crown Prince, particularly if one or both the king and crown prince pass away at one time. A distinct possibility, that. This is the time the 3,000 princes all proclaim how worthy they are.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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"Yes, by the will of Allan, it will be fair and equitable. Lessee you get one dollar. You get one dollar for service to the throne. You, Prince Shitface get four million dollars to sustain your lifestyle." Carry on.
Akhmed Zakayev listened intently as his friend Alexander Litvinenko read out the names in an alleged Russian hit-list of political dissidents. Mr Zakayev, a Chechen separatist, had just picked up Mr Litvinenko in central London and was driving him home to Muswell Hill, north London, where they were neighbours.
Hours earlier, on 1 November, Mr Litvinenko had been handed documents by Italian investigator Mario Scaramella at the now infamous Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly. The documents, it has been alleged, revealed information about the assassination of journalist and Putin detractor Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow in October. They contained a list of enemies of the Kremlin, allegedly targeted for elimination by Russian secret services. The list included the names of Mr Scaramella and Mr Litvinenko.
As the pair headed towards north London, Mr Litvinenko, a former member of the Russian secret services, FSB, told Mr Zakayev he too was on the list. "I was not surprised," said Mr Zakayev, the foreign minister of the Chechen government in exile and a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin. "I know they are coming for me."
Continued on Page 49
Russia is preparing to cut off natural gas supplies to neighbouring Belarus and Georgia unless the two former Soviet republics agree by the year-end to pay much higher prices in 2007.
Coming a year after Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, briefly cut gas to Ukraine in a similar pricing dispute, such a move could provoke further international criticism that Moscow is using energy as a political tool. It might also intensify pressure on Russia to ratify the European Energy Charter treaty, which would require such disagreements to be resolved through arbitration.
Action against Belarus could affect supplies to Poland and Germany since a transit pipeline runs across the republic, though it carries only a third of the volumes running through a bigger export pipeline across Ukraine. Last January, pressure in the trans-Ukrainian pipeline to western Europe dropped as a result of what Gazprom said was Ukraine stealing gas for its own use.
Continued on Page 49
#2
My guess is Russia knows the Belarussians will pass along the price increase to the Europeans so the threats are a sort of money-laundering type threat.
Posted on the off-chance that France still matters. And yes, I know it's a duplicate.
French exports slumped in October and the country's car industry slid deeper into crisis, heightening fears that France is buckling under the strain of the super-strong euro. The monthly trade deficit ballooned to $2.7bn, following two months of sliding industrial orders and a shock halt to economic growth in the third quarter. Car output is down 14pc so far this year.
French trade minister Christine Lagarde blamed the grim trade figures on the tight policies of the European Central Bank, which has raised interest rates six times in a year to 3.5pc. The rate rises are the key factor pushing up the euro. "We sold one less Airbus, we haven't sold any satellites, and we have not sold any ships. Frankly, the battle against inflation has been won. It's high time the ECB began thinking about growth," she said. Selling one less Airbus might be a blessing.
Her comments came as French leaders of all stripes stepped up attacks on the bank, accusing it of "monetary masochism". The euro has risen 11pc against the US dollar and most Asian currencies this year, and 20pc against the Japanese yen. American exporters thank you.
French premier Dominique de Villepin who is a man called on EU states this week to reassert national control over their economies and set proper limits on the powers of the ECB. "We must clarify matters in exchange rate policy, which means taking back our sovereignty."
Remind me, wasn't it the French and Germans who demanded the ECB and the Maastricht Treaty? Wasn't it the French who demanded that the eastern Europeans minded their betters in economic matters?
Mr de Villepin was alluding to a clause in the Maastricht Treaty (111-4) giving EU ministers power over the currency. It is a tool that could - in effect - enable politicians to set interest rates, stripping the ECB of its independence. "This is a tough fight that we are going to have to carry out at a political level," he said.
Ségolène Royal, socialist candidate for the presidential elections in May, went even further, accusing the ECB's president Jean-Claude Trichet of usurping democratic authority. "It's not for Mr Trichet to dictate the future of our economies: it's a matter for our leaders chosen by the people. We must completely change the charter of the central bank," she said. Why not just bring back the franc?
ECB governor Guy Quaden said there was no reason for states to "panic" about the currency level. "The euro is relatively high but we are not in uncharted waters. It's striking how one hears these complaints during presidential campaigns," he said.
However, critics say the landscape has changed beyond recognition since the last bout of European currency strength in the early 1990s. Italy has lost 40pc in competitiveness against Germany since the exchange rates were fixed ten years ago, while France last lost over 20pc - yet they still have to compete in the same currency zone. Which they agreed to. Rather hard to feel any sympathy.
Germany is re-emerging as a Teutonic Tiger with exploding exports to China, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, while Europe's 'Club Med' bloc are steadily losing share of world markets. Fiat sales have been rather flat in the U.S. this last decade -- stuck on zero.
Derek Scott, Tony Blair's former economic adviser, said the euro system was becoming unworkable as the one-size-fits-all monetary policy drove countries further apart. "The ECB faces an impossible task because there is no such thing as Euroland: there are groups of countries going different ways," he said. "Germany has clawed back competitivenes by squeezing its economy, but Italy, France, Spain and others have been enjoying property booms. Boom goes bust," he said. The Euros can't work together? Whoda thunk?
"In the end, the ECB may to have to respond to the needs of the weakest economies, or monetary union will fall apart," he said.
Philippe de Villiers, leader of the eurosceptic MPF movement, said he was launching a referendum drive for a return to the franc. "The euro is a failure. It's weakening our industry and our exports to the point where Airbus is preparing to build plant directly in the United States and China," he said. "As we saw with the Czech and Slovak currency split, leaving the euro is technically quite simple. We could do it in eight days," he said. And bring back the Lira -- I miss all those zeros.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I'll wager you get your wish Doc. Italy will need to monentize the debt very soon, the Lira was ideal for that task, the extra added zero was easy to miss.
#3
Just think, all those petrodollars flowing into Euros are hurting Eurabia. Nothing wrong with the European economy that exiling the political class, breaking the unions, and adopting a 40 hour work week with only TWO weeks of vacation a year wouldn't fix.
Posted on the off-chance that Europe still matters.
BRUSSELS - European leaders are set to put the brakes on EU enlargement, at a two-day summit in Brussels opening Thursday, to allow time to get the blocs constitutional house in order.
The European Parliament on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of reforming the EUs institutions before admitting any more member states, a call endorsed by the EUs executive arm, the European Commission, on the eve of a summit where enlargement tops the agenda. The buzzwords are integration capacity or absorption capacity, putting the emphasis on the EUs ability to handle new members more than the readiness of candidate states to join up. Including the ability to shake down the new members for the French and German pension plans.
A new institutional settlement should have been reached by the time the next new member is likely to be ready to join the Union, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told euro MPs during their enlargement debate in Strasbourg. We need it to strengthen the legitimacy of the Union. We need it to strengthen Europes role in the world, he said, adding that the steps to achieve that settlement should be taken before 2009. Right about the time Airbus collapses.
Bulgaria and Romania will become the 26th and 27th members of the European club on January 1, but under the strictest conditions ever imposed on new members amid continued concerns over corruption and their judicial systems. After that there is general agreement that the doors must be closed while serious EU housekeeping is done. Bad news for Croatia and the other, mainly Balkan, nations behind it in the queue.
How's that deal the Turks worked out with the French back in '03? You know, the one where the Turks agreed to keep the U.S. 4th Division out and the French agreed to support the Turks in the EU?
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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You perhaps 'ave this supposed "deal" in writing, monsieur?
Posted by: Dominique (who is a man) ||
12/14/2006 0:32 Comments ||
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(AKI) - The Bosnian authorities have excavated 277 bodies, presumed to be Muslims and Croats, from a mass grave near northeastern town of Brcko, local media reported on Wednesday. Members of the excavating team said it was the biggest mass grave in the area and victims were believed to be local Muslims and Croats, killed by Bosnian Serb forces in 1992.
Eleven years after the war, mass graves are still being discovered frequently and excavations are in process on several locations.
About 100,000 people were killed during Bosnias 1992-1995 civil war and thousands are still listed as missing. The biggest massacre took place in eastern town of the United Nations proteced enclave of Srebrenica in July 1995 when up to 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces after they overran the town.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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We need to take note on this. The folks that believed we could negotiate with animals are wrong,were wrong, and always will be wrong. Now, we have some in our leadership that think we can negotiate peace in the middle east. Peace can only be negotiated through strength and from a position of dominance. Korea, Viet-Nam, Cambodia, and the Balkans are all shining examples how well negotiating with animals really works. If we are not the dominant force any peace will be on their terms and we will whitness, once again, events like the purges in Viet-Nam, mass killings of Cambodia, and the genocide of the Balkans.
Skidmark, I agree with you in that Clinton and his lack of mettle should be held accountable in history for this, but so should the weak generals like W. Clark, spit-spit, and General Short.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
12/14/2006 8:34 Comments ||
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#3
The biggest massacre took place in eastern town of the United Nations proteced enclave of Srebrenica
No more need be said.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/14/2006 18:50 Comments ||
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Iff I heard it correectly, according to ALEX JONES, of INFOWARS.com/PRISONPLANET.com, while guesting on C2CAM wid George Noory claimed that the CLINTON ADMIN knew AL-QAEDA was stirring up local Muslims in BOSNIA? and had even conducted = sponsored several dedic terror attacks agz the then-ruling Serbian authorities - when the SERBIANS responded wid military force, POTUS BILL ordered the USDOD vv USN-USAF to ATTACK THE SERBS???
(Xinhua) -- Russia's military chief of staff criticized on Wednesday U.S. plans to deploy missile defense systems in Europe, saying the planned move is a mistake. In a strange way, I agree. I feel faint, I'd best go lie down.
Russia sees the plans as "an erroneous step with extremely negative consequences for international security," Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. "The formation of a U.S. missile defense base in Europe cannot be viewed otherwise than as a serious re-configuration of U.S. military presence," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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Russia refused to join or participate in GMD, are building their own BMD or at least trying to, plus are unilater arming Amer's enemies to the hilt like the loyal friend of America they are.
#2
It is time to stop unilaterally defending our supposed allies. By all means provide a shield for Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, etc. but think twice about intervening on behalf of Phrance.
#4
The problem is this sort of defence works best the sooner we know about an attack. Bases on the ground in Europe would know of a polar-bound missile a lot sooner than a satelite in Earth orbit that is over the South Pacific at the time of launch.
A Geosynchronus orbit satellite would be a good option though.
#5
It will not be there to protect Europe. It's situated there to provide an earlier opportunity to shoot down incoming, before they are over US territory.
#6
GMD would have both SPACE + GROUND/SURFACE, and very likely in-betweens = intermediary systems as well, e.g. BLIMPS, 24-7-365, JSTARS/ABL-types, at least for time being. However, both GMD like NASA are believed to be the hit list for new Congress after Jan 2007. * LUCIANNE.com/OTHERS > DEMS CLAIM TO INHERIT GOP "FINANCIAL MESS", PELOSI > DEMS WILL "DRAIN/CLEAN GOP SWAMP". etal.
As for RUSSIA, FREEREPUBLIC POSTERS > Russia is not America's friend, Russia only intended to use the USA-West to revitalize + modernize its MIC-'Plexes, Russia - despite 1989 or 1991 - has never stopped nor ceased its anti-US, anti-Western, anti-democratic COLD WAR = UNIPOLAR MARXIST-STALINIST SOCIALIST SUPERPOWER AMBITIONS-AGENDAS. RUSSIA > HOLD EUROPE HOSTAGE TO ENERGY + OTHER FORMS OF AYSMETRIC, GEOPOL, ECON-POL/DIPLOM WARFARE WHILE US DEMOLEFTIES AND ALIGNED WEAKEN AMERICA FOR FUTURE DOMINATION-CONTROL BY RUSSIAN-CENTRIC EURASIA. The US Dems agenda of empowering + entrenching ANTI-AMER AMER SOCIALISM INSIDE AMERICA, WHILE WEAKENING OVERSEAS is perfectly consistent. PC = We are helping Russia = Russia-China/SCO = Commie Asia/Eurasia = Mackinder's World Island, etc to kill ourselves.
DIALECTICISM = WAFFLISM = LEGAL LIAR > iff one is a Legal Liar, WHY NOT A LEGAL TRAITOR??? IN A LAND WHERE UNDER GUISE OF RIGHTEOUS "FORTRESS AMERICA = AMERICA FIRST = LIBERATARIAN/ETHNIC RIGHTS = NATURAL RIGHTS, .................@etal. RADICALISTS + ACTIVISTS ARE PUSHING HARD FOR LEGAL PEDOPHILIA, LEGAL BESTIALITY, LEGAL POLYAMORY/POLYGAMY, LEGAL TEACHER-MINOR SEX, LEGAL MURDER, etc. ERGO, WHY NOT LEGAL TREASON! Its GLOBALISM, D *** ng it, the WOT > about Radical Islam AND ONLY RADICAL ISLAM, correct!? AMERICAN CITIZENS CAN NOT HAVE "TOO MANY" RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, correct!?
Was another "NOT TOO MANY" news article yesterday on the Net but D*** I forgot whatziabout.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was forced to answer questions regarding the choice of a new president. Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has called for early elections in April, a month before his mandate expires, the Turkish daily Milliyet reported. In response, Erdogan said, The present parliament will hold presidential elections at the appointed time.
Erdogan answered journalists as he arrived to the headquarters of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). When journalists recalled that some newspapers had published stories saying that the presidential elections would be held by a newly-elected parliament, Erdogan said that the current article of the constitution regarding the timing of presidential elections was very obvious.
One of the journalists asked him, The president has made a statement where he emphasized the importance of holding early elections in April, what would you say about that?
Erdogan asked him where the statement had been made and said, I havent heard anything; unless I hear it directly from Mr. President, I wouldnt believe such things. Sorry, but I wouldnt make an assessment on something I have heard from the press.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson was in critical condition recovering from emergency brain surgery Thursday, creating political drama over whether his illness could cost Democrats newly won control of the Senate. The South Dakota senator, 59, suffered from bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation, the U.S. Capitol physician said. He described the surgery as successful. The condition, usually present at birth, causes tangled blood vessels that can burst.
Okay, now we know more: this is very serious. This is the result of a rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. These are indeed congenital malformations: not everybody has them, and if you do, you might have one or 100. They might never break or they might. It's scary in a big way; one neurologist I know describes them as 'a time bomb inside your head'.
If one leaks, you get symptoms of a TIA or stroke. If an aneurysm really opens up, it's a hemorrhagic stroke and death/near death within a couple of hours. Frequently one has what is called a 'subarchnoid hemorrhage' (SAH, bleeding into a space between the brain and a lining layer of the brain) which is especially serious. The damage comes from the blood, the loss of blood supply to that part of the brain, the direct compression of brain tissue, and the increased pressure inside the head which squeezes the brain and brainstem further. The brain really, really doesn't like any of this.
Emergency treatment includes therapies to lower the pressure and fix certain metabolic problems that might occur, followed by emergency surgery to fix the aneurysm and relieve the pressure better. Sometimes radical surgery is required, and sometimes it has to be repeated.
If the patient recovers you go on a hunt to find other aneurysms, generally with what is called a 'digital angiogram'. If you find more, you consider fixing them now so that they don't rupture in the future. Whether one goes ahead with surgery to do that can be modified by age and other medical conditions.
However, recovery is not certain, and a ruptured aneurysm has, even with the best medical care, a very high morbidity and high mortality rate (I've seen numbers > 50%). Re-bleeding after surgery is a common, serious problem. Surviving patients are frequently left with serious neurologic deficits, and other complications may occur. Patients with an aneurysm and SAH have the highest mortality rates and lowest full recovery rates.
Addendum at 1645 CST: I'm reading at other sources that this wasn't an aneurysm but rather an arteriovenous malformation. The difference: the former is a weakness and 'bulge' in an arterial wall; the latter is an abnormality that causes arteries and veins to join together in an abnormal way. The pressure from the arterial side can cause the abnormal vessels to blow, and it's totally unpredictable. The clinical consequences, however, are the same and are as I've noted above.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2006 12:50 ||
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Scary. I hope he pulls through with no permanent damage.
Thanks, Dr. Steve, for the clear explanation of what's going on.
Posted by: Mike ||
12/14/2006 14:04 Comments ||
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#3
This is NOT how I want to see anyone removed from office. I pray for his full, and speedy recovery.
only after full recovery, I hope the people of south dakota will vote him out of office.
Posted by: N guard ||
12/14/2006 16:27 Comments ||
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#4
What, Mike, you don't think I'll find that in The Washington Post? Are they not there to inform us of these matters?
Actually, only Mrs. Bobby allows the WaPo in our home, and yes - thank you, Steve, for the insights!
Posted by: Bobby ||
12/14/2006 16:29 Comments ||
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#5
This happened to my favorite cousin Nancy, when she was 22, right outisde a Navy hospital. She was very lucky to live. Rehab was a right witch of a bastard for her, she did fine for 15 years, but another one got her.
#7
I too wish him a speedy recover and don't want the Senate control on these terms. The Docs I hear on the radio predict a LONG recover meaning a minimum of six months.
#8
My mother-in-law had this. A double cerebral aneurysm four years ago. She was an office worker for the Republican party in the Twin Cities when this happened. They did brain surgery and saved her life. She got an infection that almost killed her. Now she is in an assisted living place. The event severely affected her short term memory, but her long term memory is still intact. Like Doctor Steve sez, very serious.
I was listening on the radio news about it (top of the hour snippet). They were quoting Dick Durban that said that there was a precident for a sitting Congressman not to be replaced while he recuperated. Cited someone that was gone for 6 months. So the strategizing and positioning has already started.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
12/14/2006 21:21 Comments ||
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#9
Sen. Charles Sumner in the 1850s.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
12/14/2006 21:40 Comments ||
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#10
I too don't want (if it should happen) the balance of power to tip this way. You think we heard unending sniping about how we "stole" two elections? Just wait til they fire up the conspiracies on how Halliburton's involved in the Senator's condition.
I'll seriously be in prayer for this man and his family.
And, Glenmore (#6), I don't think we'd be so nice to Uncle Teddy. He's an unconvicted murderer, a drunk and a complete idiot and liberal. The al-kee-haul may explain the latter two, but does NOT forgive murder in my book. I don't give a rat's arse that his brothers had been killed. It doesn't excuse his behavior (two wrongs do NOT make a right). He's no better than the race hustlers, thinking he's "owed" his seat in Congress because his brothers were killed.
Posted by: BA ||
12/14/2006 21:46 Comments ||
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Tim Johnson's done nothing to deserve ill wishes and condemnation. I sincerely hope he gets better - (selfishly) outside of the Senate pressures. Ted Kennedy? I can't wish any good for him. I'll leave it at that
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/14/2006 22:43 Comments ||
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Funny we have to hear about this from The Guardian, eh? I googled "Governor Blanco auction" and this was the article I got. A local news agency's opinion website had a citizen tut-tutting the business class's snub of the Gov, and even said that Mr. Maddox (after paying $1 for dinner with the Gov at the mansion) gave the tickets to the Univ. of LA-Monroe "to do with how they saw fit." Quite the snub, methinks, right, Nigel?
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A chance to dine with embattled Gov. Kathleen Blanco fetched a winning bid of $1 at a recent fundraising auction hosted by a group of business leaders. Shows ya what LA's business class thinks of the Gov. There may be some sanity left in the most corrupt State in the Union.
The president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, in northeastern Louisiana, said she called Blanco's office Tuesday to apologize for a "poor joke gone awry." Unlike Kerry's "stupid troops" joke, I actually get this one, and find it quite humorous!
"It's something we deeply regret," chamber president Sue Edmunds said Wednesday. "Our organization has worked very well with the governor. We have been pleased with her efforts on behalf of this community."
Dinner with Blanco was the last item up for bid at the fundraising auction last week. Edmunds said the bidding opened at $1,000 and dropped to $500 before the auctioneer accepted a $1 bid from bank executive Malcolm Maddox, a regional chairman for Capital One.
Others were trying to bid on the dinner when the bidding abruptly closed, according to Edmunds. Sure! I can't fathom that a local Chamber of Commerce would refuse a higher bid.
"We were all stunned," she added. "It was at the end of the auction, so there was no way to go back and amend that."
An apologetic Maddox came forward Monday to donate $1,000 to the chamber, Edmunds said. He won't be dining at the governor's mansion, however: A chamber official will go in Maddox's place. more at link
Posted by: BA ||
12/14/2006 08:06 ||
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#1
I got the pleasure of listening to Gov. Blano speak to some troops who had just returned from Iraq. All she said was "look at what I have done" for about 1 hour and never mentioned the troops or the war. "Oxygen Thief" would be the proper term for her.
#5
How would you like to be in NOLA now with "Chocolate City", "Dollar Bill", and this useless bonehead as your elected representatives?
Louisiana: the northernmost banana republic.
Posted by: mac ||
12/14/2006 17:03 Comments ||
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By Monisha Bansal - CNSNews.com Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - Six months after naming Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) The KKK guy?
as "porker of the month," a taxpayer watchdog Wednesday praised the incoming chairman of the Senate appropriations committee, as well as his House counterpart, for pledging to do away with congressional earmarks for the rest of the current fiscal year.
Congratulating Byrd and Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) for their stance, Citizens Against Government Waste said the Democratic leadership had stepped up where Republicans did not.
"Together with the promise to forgo next year's congressional pay raise, Democrats are taking important steps toward changing business-as-usual in Washington," the advocacy group said in a statement, hailing the decision by the incoming committee chairmen to pass a "continuing resolution."
"What [the continuing resolution is] going to do is fund the government for the appropriations bills that were not passed by Congress," explained David Williams, vice president of policy for Citizens Against Government Waste.
"Homeland security and defense appropriations bills were passed, but everything else wasn't, so basically the continuing resolution just keeps the government operating," he said.
Continued on Page 49
#3
Geez, the idiocy abounds. Yes, we're under a Continuing Resolution, which only funds operations of the gov't (not pork projects), but the Funding bills could be passed at ANY time when the new Congress convenes.
And, the CAGW is relying on their "promise to forgo next year's congressional pay raise" to give Byrd an "attaboy"? I thought that CAGW did good work, but this is al smoke and mirrors.
Posted by: BA ||
12/14/2006 10:21 Comments ||
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Heh, you'd be grinning too... We don't have a category for Political Nonsense or Media Hype Run Amok. So this will hafta do. I guess, in the end, this is to be expected. A party, devoid of ideas, devoid of substance, lacking ethics and integrity, a creature of image and style over substance and value, would go gaga over just about anyone or anything that promised the bright shiny thingy they want so desperately: power. The only suprising aspect may be how quickly the MSM has (momentarily) abandoned Hillary. She may have a hubris debt with them that is greater than we realize... Not that they won't re-embrace her and her massive political machine if Obama turned out to be made of lead. Ah well, we shall see if the bright shiny thingy can withstand the spotlight they've decided to send his way...
WashTimes: The other Barack Obama
We don't recall the last time a first-term senator introduced "Monday Night Football" to a national audience; we just hope it doesn't become a trend. But such is Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's celebrity these days that we imagine few who watched Monday's game between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams didn't know that the guy on their screens wearing that awkward Bears cap was a possible future president.
Of course, if you haven't yet fallen prey to Obama-mania, you might just be asking, What has this guy done to deserve all this? The answer is very little -- but that's also the point. Mr. Obama's two years in the Senate have been relatively quiet, given all the national attention he garners. We'll be analyzing his Senate record so far in a later editorial.
That should take, oh, about a minute. Kinda like reviewing John F'n Kerry's Senate accomplishments, only there's even less.
...more at link...
New Hampshire was recently brightened by the presence of Barack Obama, 45, who, calling the fuss about him "baffling," made his first trip in 45 years to that state, and not under duress. Because he is young, is just two years distant from a brief career as a state legislator and has negligible national security experience, an Obama presidential candidacy could have a porcelain brittleness. But if he wants to be president -- it will not be a moral failing if he decides that he does not, at least not now -- this is the time for him to reach for the brass ring. There are four reasons why.
First, one can be an intriguing novelty only once. If he waits to run, the past half-century suggests that the wait could be eight years (see reason four, below). In 2016 he will be only 55, but there will be many fresher faces.
Based upon precisely nothing, Will speculates about how / when this clown can / will be Prez. A little shift here, a little nudge there and Bingo! Power! George, baby read my lips, "When you have something other than vapor and obvious political calculus, give us a call. Now wipe your chin."
...more at link...
The sucking sound now grows into that nasty slurping thingy...
It is sometimes called a bubble or a boomlet or a bandwagon. A new political figure arrives on the national stage and audiences swoon. Suddenly, mysteriously, and without anybody knowing much about him, he is The One, the next hot thing, eclipsing all other presidential wannabes.
(Until he isn't anymore.)
This bubble is not love -- as anyone who was ever 15 years old can testify. This bubble is infatuation. Political infatuation. Presidential contenders can be the subject of crushes just as surely as that new kid in high school, and in both cases it's what you don't know about the person that forms much of the appeal.
Speaking of which, there's this transfer student we've been eyeing in Miss Fischer's P.E. class. Name's Barack or something. Big dark eyes, great cheekbones. From Illinois. Don't know much about him, but, boy, is he dreamy.
This fluffer piece wobbles back and forth, but the message is upbeat, the wallflower on her Big Date with the Star Quarterback, a wet sloppy kiss, a Donk hope chest of butterfly wings and equally substantial prayers, in other words: a damned fine fluff-job. And, no surprise, I'll bet Obama's enjoying himself.
...more at link...
#1
In short, Mr. Obama's record as an Illinois state senator was down-the-line liberal. For someone representing a liberal district in Chicago, that's not very surprising. What is surprising is how Mr. Obama's liberal label has been effectively wiped clean since he entered the U.S. Senate.
But lookit that smile!
Posted by: Bobby ||
12/14/2006 6:19 Comments ||
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#2
"What is surprising is how Mr. Obama's liberal label has been effectively wiped clean since he entered the U.S. Senate."
Not in this media age, and not forever.
His patterns of voting are a matter of public record, and they will ultimately do him in on a national level. Left, left, and more left - combined with the same kind of sanctimonious faux-Christianity of Jimmy Carter.
The more I look at the Obama phenomenon, the more it looks like a rope-a-dope for getting Hillary in, in some way, shape, or form.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
12/14/2006 6:47 Comments ||
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#3
The Obama boomlet is from folks who dont like Hillary.
#7
I hate to say this, but Obama's black, that is African-American.
Like Lynn Swann, and the other blacks who recently lost various blue or purple states.
Reality check, there are not enough black racists to elect him. They are outnumbered by the white racists. For those of us who may not use race to make our decisions, Obama is a socialist. Check it out. His presents is a signal that the donk party is about to explode.
#9
RUSHLIMBAUGH.com articles > "Its About Bring Down Capitalist America"; and [summation]> MOUD doesn't need WMDS or Terror becuz US DemoLefties will be his weapons of national defeat + destruction.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota underwent surgery on Wednesday, a source said, after suffering what a doctor called "symptoms of a stroke." The actions prompted concerns about his fellow Democrats' razor-thin majority in the incoming Senate.
While there was no immediate word on the condition of the 59-year-old senator, the source, who is familiar with Johnson's situation, said surgeons sought to remedy an unspecified medical problem.
Just hours after Johnson was admitted to George Washington University Hospital, a spokeswoman for him said the senator had not suffered a stroke. She provided no other details.
Continued on Page 49
#1
I hear from Melanie Morgan on KSFO that the loonies are already out on the left calling for full-scale investigations to determine if Sen. Johnson was poisoned or otherwise the victim of an attempted assassination on the part of the GOP and the White House.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
12/14/2006 12:28 Comments ||
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#3
Do you know who this is? Yeah, that's right.
Make sure that the Stroke Inducement Ray is properly disposed of. No traces, understood? Or I'll be taking somebody hunting with me. Get the picture?
Good. Have a nice Christmas...
Democrat Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was taken to a Washington hospital this afternoon after suffering a possible stroke, his office said in a statement. Johnson became disoriented during a call with reporters at midday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before ending the call. "As this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team. Further details will be forthcoming when more is known," the statement read. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said called Johnson "a dear friend."
"Every member of the United States Senate sends our best to him and to his family at this difficult time, and we wish him a full recovery," Reid said. But if Johnson's condition could determine control of the Senate, CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports. Should Johnson be unable to continue to serve, it could halt the scheduled Democratic takeover of the Senate. Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election.
South Dakota state law says that the governor can appoint a replacement when there is a "vacancy," but Secretary of State Chris Nelson tells CBS News political producer Steve Chaggaris that it's unclear whether a seat held by an incapacitated senator would be considered "vacant." Unless Johnson dies, the state of South Dakota is unsure of how to proceed if he's incapacitated. If he dies, however, the Governor, Mike Rounds, would appoint a replacement who would serve until the next general election in 2008, Chaggaris explains. Because the governor is a Republican, an appointment of this nature could affect the balance of power in the Senate, and thus the entire Congress.
From other news reports it sounds like the Senator had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — not serious in and of itself, but it can be harbinger of bad things like a stroke. Best wishes to the Senator and his family, and hope he makes a complete recovery.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Unless Johnson dies
???
They are talking hypothetically, I assume.
Hopefully he will retire and enjoy what time he has left here on earth with his family without the added stress of governing.
Funny they wouldn't have thought about this a bit more than they seem to have before.
#3
Frst of all, I know every Rantburger sends his or her prayers out for Senator Johnson - politics stops at the hospital door. It's all that much more tougher at Christamas time, so I hope he'll have a fast and full recovery.
From a discussion point of view, however, this brings up some interesting questions that will be looked at by BOTH parties. There is no standard - in ANY state, as nearly as I can tell - that covers when a Senator is considered 'incapacitated'. My call would be that if he cannot travel to Washington for the swearing in of the next Congress on january 4th, he could be considered incapacitated and unable to discharge his duties. If that call is made, the Democratic response will be swift, vicious, and violent - they will do everything possible to prevent the seating of a Republican senator, and I suspect that would include refusing to seat him without a new election.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
12/14/2006 8:38 Comments ||
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#4
In related news, Majority Leader Harry Reid was treated for hypertension and persistent sphincter convulsions.
However, I think it is discriminatory that the dead can vote at the polls but can't vote in Congress. Its a grand American Donk tradition. Where's the equal protection clause when you need it? And you thought the Senate smelled before, just wait. [sarcasm off]
#6
Seat got bad juju In 1969, another South Dakota senator, Karl Mundt, a Republican, suffered a stroke while in office. Mundt continued to serve until the end of his term in January 1973, although he was unable to attend Senate sessions and was stripped of his committee assignments by the Senate Republican Conference in 1972.
Johnson, who was elected in 1996, holds the same seat previously held by Mundt.
#7
politics stops at the hospital door.
Amen, brother.
The radio news coverage last night was sickening--like vultures circling. There was really no mention of how he was, where he was, or what had happened. Just a lot of "if-he-dies" speculation.
Johnson, 59, suffered from bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation, the U.S. Capitol physician said. He described the surgery as successful. The condition, usually present at birth, causes tangled blood vessels that can block the flow of blood or rupture.
"The senator is recovering without complication," said the physician, Adm. John Eisold. "It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long-term prognosis."
Eisold said doctors drained the blood that had accumulated in Johnson's brain and stopped continued bleeding.
Johnson's condition, also known as AVM, or arteriovenous malformation, causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large and become tangled.
The condition is believed to affect about 300,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The institute's Web site said only about 12 percent of the people with the condition experience symptoms, ranging in severity. It kills about 3,000 people a year.
PUNE, DECEMBER 13 : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to conduct ground tests for the countrys first flight version of a Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (Scramjet) engine in Hyderabad next year. This is will be followed by the first Scramjet flight test in 2008.
The design of a flight version of the Scramjet engine is on and it will be ground tested in 2007, followed by a flight test a year later, Chief Controller R&D (Service Interaction), DRDO, Dr Prahlada, told The Indian Express on the sidelines of a conference on Air Breathing Engines and Aerospace Propulsion at the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) here on Tuesday.
As per plan, the flight test will be carried out onboard an indigenous platform, a prototype of which has already been developed by DRDO. The vehicle will be 7-m long and we have already developed a prototype for the test. It will enter a 20-second long flight to go up to mach 7, Dr Prahlada said. DRDO has already ground tested a scramjet engine to speeds in excess of Mach 2, he added. A Scramjet engine makes it possible to design smaller, lighter and faster aircraft as it takes oxygen needed for fuel combustion from the atmosphere itself instead of carrying liquid oxygen.
Posted by: john ||
12/14/2006 10:30 ||
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Isro to perform space capsule recovery experiment
Between January 10 and 15, 2007, the highly-proven four-stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will thunder off the launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, carrying with it three satellites.
In an interview with Times of India on Saturday, chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) G Madhavan Nair, said the three satellites to be carried by the rocket are the indigenous Cartosat-2, to be used for mapping purposes, a space capsule recovery experiment (SRE) and a 50 kilogram Indonesian satellite called Lapan.
The SRE mission is important because the capsule will be placed in orbit at an altitude of 625 km and recovered after sometime.
This will allow Indian Space Research Organisation to study the reusable launch vehicle technology especially in the critical area of re-entry when the capsule will experience searing temperatures.
Once placed in orbit, the capsule carrying some microgravity experiments is expected to remain in that position for 12 to 90 days.
When the drop command is flashed from Isro's telemetry and tracking centre at Bangalore, it will re-enter at a velocity of 1.5 km per second and splash down either in the Bay of Bengal or the Pulicat Lake.
During the final moments of the touchdown the capsule's speed will be reduced with the help of three parachutes.
Nair said the process of integrating the 44-metre tall PSLV rocket has been initiated at Sriharikota.
Posted by: john ||
12/14/2006 10:45 Comments ||
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#2
....God (or Rama)bless 'em, there's plenty of room Out there for those who want to explore and make their fortunes...
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
12/14/2006 12:34 Comments ||
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#3
Ground test at mach 7?
That's one king-hell of a wind tunnel ya got there, boys...
#4
IIRC they have two hypersonic wind tunnels for testing models of spacecraft
Posted by: john ||
12/14/2006 15:00 Comments ||
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#5
Looks like they're building a new one (speeds up to mach 12).
The older ones were 2m diameter. It would be interesting to see the specs of this one.
Rs 100-crore hypersonic test facility to come up at VSSC
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006
In what would give considerable thrust to Indias long-term space race strategies, a hypersonic test facility that can test speed up to Mach 12 speed is set to come up at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The facility, which is to be installed at a cost of around Rs 100 crore, will materialise in a year, VSSC Associate Director Dr V Adimurthy told this websites newspaper on the sidelines of the 20th national aerospace conference which began on Sunday.
Whats special about the new facility, which is being developed indigenously, is that it will be the first one in the country that can test speed up to Mach 12.
Posted by: john ||
12/14/2006 15:17 Comments ||
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Kofi...screw!
UNITED NATIONS - South Korea's Ban Ki-moon was sworn in Thursday as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations, promising to make his top priority the restoration of trust in the world body that has been tarnished by corruption scandals. Oh, throw enough of somebody else's money at it, and tarnish wipes right off. It make take years and years though...
Ban, 62, will take the reins of the United Nations on Jan. 1 when Kofi Annan steps down after 10 years at the helm. He will be the first Asian to lead the organization in 35 years. Ban will oversee an organization with some 92,000 peacekeepers around the world and a $5 billion annual budget. Its reputation has been battered by scandals in the oil-for-food program in Iraq and in peacekeeping procurement, and its outdated practices need reform to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Other then that, it does a fine job.
General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa administered the oath of office to the career diplomat who served as South Korea's foreign minister. Ban swore to conduct himself solely in the interests of the United Nations and to refuse to accept instructions from any government or other authority. I will never go against the family...
In a brief address, Ban told delegates from the 192 U.N. member states that he was "deeply mindful" of key words in the oath "loyalty, discretion and conscience" which he said "will be my watchwords as I carry out my duties as secretary-general."
He pledged "to set the highest ethical standard" and "work to enhance morale, professionalism and accountability among staff members, which in turn will help us serve member states better, and restore trust in the organization." Hey! I can hear you! Stop that snickering! I'm serious! Really! I am!
"The good name of the United Nations is one of its most valuable assets but also one of its most vulnerable," Ban said. Which is good, as it keeps the price up...
He promised to strengthen the three pillars of the United Nations security development and human rights in order to build "a more peaceful, more prosperous and more just world for succeeding generations." I think they missed a comma in there. Here's a couple of million. Go out and buy the UN a comma...
"As we pursue our collective endeavor to reach that goal, my first priority will be to restore trust," Ban said. "I will seek to act as a harmonizer and bridge-builder." He said one of his "core tasks will be to breathe new life and inject renewed confidence into the sometimes weary Secretariat." Weary? I thought he was dead?
"The member states need a Secretariat that is dynamic and courageous, and not a Secretariat that is passive and timid," he said. Zzzzzzzing!!!
Ban also paid warm tribute to Annan, saying "it is an honor to follow in your revered footsteps." ...your teeny, tiny little revered footsteps.
"Your tenure has been marked by high ideals, noble aspirations, and bold initiatives," he said. Like...ummmmmmmm...ummmmmmmmmm...ummmmmmmmm...anybody?
Okay, moving right along...
"Your courage and vision have inspired the world. ... You have given the United Nations new relevance to the people's lives." Thanks, dad!
Before the ceremony, diplomats also paid tribute to Annan and approved a resolution lauding his "many bold initiatives" to reduce poverty, promote peace and security, protect the environment and launch the reform process. They rose and gave him a sustained standing ovation. Sounds as sincere as a Shriner's Club roast...
In his farewell speech, Annan said that "despite many difficulties and some setbacks, in the past decade we have achieved much that I am proud of." At a time of sweeping change, he said, the U.N. reoriented and remolded itself, "became more transparent, accountable and responsive ... (and) began to better address the needs of individuals worldwide." Kojo, Benon Sevon, me, lots of people you'll never hear of...
The United Nations and its member also accepted that development, security and human rights "must go hand in hand," he said."I depart convinced that today's U.N. does more than ever before, and does it better than ever before. Yet our work is far from complete indeed, it never will be," Annan said. So open up those checkbooks...
He told the General Assembly, which appointed Ban in October, that "you have chosen well. Our organization will be in safe hands." I wonder if they made Ban Man hold burning pictures of saints, or draw some blood from a finger?
Then, looking at Ban, he said the new secretary-general already had a distinguished career in international diplomacy."But I can safely tell you that your most rewarding years lie just ahead," Annan said. "I wish you both the strength and the courage to make the most of them." It is a greater Gravy Train then you have ever imagined...
#4
I am one of the fortunate few Rantburgers that did not want to vomit after reading this little ditty. As a trained and experienced sanitation engineer, dealing often with systems that handle large amounts of fecal matter, I do not heave, when confronted with piles of sh*t, like that seen at the UN.
These UN guyz really believe their own sh*t. The sooner we get these leeches out of this country, the better we and the rest of the world will be. No disrespect meant for leaches. Now I will go and wash my hands. Pfeh.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
12/14/2006 21:00 Comments ||
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PHOENIX - Former President Carter prayed with rabbis who are angered by his new book's reference to apartheid in describing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but he didn't change their minds. The Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix said they wouldn't call for a boycott of Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," but they also won't suggest that anyone read it. "I don't know if he gets the evil that we are facing," said Rabbi Bonnie Koppell of Scottsdale. Carter, 82, was met by a crowd of protesters as he appeared at a book store in suburban Tempe to autograph copies of the book.
He said he chose the title to shine light on the festering conflict and give Americans a different point of view than what they're used to. "I wanted to provoke debate," Carter said. "I wanted to provoke discussion."
Carter's book follows the peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians during his presidency in 1977-1980. He's critical of all players in not reaching a better accord, but he's especially critical of the Israelis. He previously told The Associated Press that Americans are rarely exposed to anything other than pro-Israeli views in the news media.
Koppell said Carter's word choice was "gratuitously provocative" and meant to add fuel to an already incendiary subject and sell more books. "I don't really see the book as helpful," said Koppell, who has read it.
Carter met Tuesday with the rabbis' group for almost an hour, prayed with them and invited them to help him teach Sunday school. Koppell said she was surprised that he spent so much time with them and felt he would try to be more balanced in the future.
Rabbi Ayla Grafstein of Scottsdale said it didn't matter what promises Carter made. "In the end, he's not going to change what's in his book," Grafstein said.
Simon & Schuster said the book is in fourth printing, with 395,000 copies in print. Most of Carter's books have been best sellers. The latest is on The New York Times best seller list.
Posted by: Bobby ||
12/14/2006 05:33 ||
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#3
Sorry, I'm not awake yet, I thought the headline was:
Carter Prays with Anti-Carter Rabbits
TIM: Well, that's no ordinary rabbit!
ARTHUR: Ohh.
TIM: That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!
ROBIN: You tit! I soiled my armour I was so scared!
TIM: Look, that rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer!
GALAHAD: Get stuffed!
TIM: He'll do you up a treat, mate.
GALAHAD: Oh, yeah?
ROBIN: You mangy Scots git!
TIM: I'm warning you!
ROBIN: What's he do, nibble your bum?
TIM: He's got huge, sharp-- eh-- he can leap about-- look at the bones!
ARTHUR: Go on, Bors. Chop his head off!
BORS: Right! Silly little bleeder. One rabbit stew comin' right up!
TIM: Look!
[squeak]
BORS: Aaaugh! (Falls to the ground, headless)
#5
'Spook, LOL! You took the words right out of my keyboard!
Posted by: Mike ||
12/14/2006 10:36 Comments ||
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#6
Sounds like a great publicity stunt for everyone involved in this travesty. Jimmuh would pray with the devil if he thought it would get more publicity for his book. The rabbis should have known he was just taking them for a ride.
#2
If they found a chemical that could rapidly and safely do this, it would be a godsend to trauma care. This is because acute and intense pain can easily cause much additional damage, in all sorts of ways, and shock.
Ideally, they would want something that wears off after 15 minutes, and another that lasts for hours. The first would be because pain, or the lack of pain, is essential to many diagnoses. The latter would be very useful for extended surgery, where it is highly undesirable to use general anesthesia.
U.S. District Judge James Robertson was wrong when he ruled that U.S. paper currency discriminates against blind people.
Discrimination occurs when someone is barred from enjoying benefits, goods or services. African-Americans experienced discrimination when they were barred from eating at lunch counters or forced to sit at the back of public buses.
Blind people are not barred from spending money. When we hand merchants our money, they take it and provide us with what we have paid for. People with whom we transact business provide us with correct change, and we then fold or organize the money so that we can identify it in the future.
We transact business in this way successfully every day. The cost to society in changing machines that accept currency, such as vending machines and ATMs, will be much greater than the small convenience afforded to the blind by being able to identify money by touch.
Changes that make paper money more easily identifiable might be desirable to everyone who handles money. But the money should not be changed solely on account of the blind. We do not need such a dramatic change to accommodate us.
Changing the currency only for the sake of the blind implies that we can't look out for our own best interests and are generally helpless and incompetent. If society believes we walk around not knowing how much money is in our pockets, it might also believe that we are not competent to work and do business with others. Such beliefs would make our goal of full integration into society virtually impossible.
The blind are a minority. Though it is crucial that minorities have a voice in society, it is also the responsibility of every minority to use that voice wisely and not to cry discrimination when no discrimination has occurred. The blind of America will fight discrimination wherever we find it, but we will not do so by falsely portraying ourselves as victims and engaging in frivolous litigation.
Marc Maurer is president of the 50,000-member National Federation of the Blind. (The
Treasury Department declined to provide an opposing view to this editorial.)
#1
Yes, thank you for driving another nail in the coffin of the Victim Mentality(tm).
personal story: We have 2 blind employees here in our Fed. Gov't building that run the 2 snack bars. One's black and one's Indian and they transact business every single day exactly how Mr. Maurer describes (Paper money is folded in differing ways depending on if it's a $1, $5, $10 or $20 bill). Coins are no problem already (differing sizes, weights, and ridging on the sides). Some of the most down-to-earth, hard working guys I know of (I know, I know, it's a Fed. Gov't building for all you snarkers out there, so it's not hard to spot real work, lol).
Posted by: BA ||
12/14/2006 10:38 Comments ||
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#2
When I was an intern at the Medical College of Viriginia hospital, there was a blind man who ran the snack shop on the first floor of the old building. He too handled money perfectly in the same way. He also knew every item being sold there and could reach for any food item, bag it, ring it up, handle the money, and chat you up at the same time. Delightful fellow.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2006 10:49 Comments ||
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#3
(The
Treasury Department declined to provide an opposing view to this editorial.)
WTF?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
12/14/2006 10:51 Comments ||
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#4
Well said. It's nice to see a group not playing the victim card, even when they are actually entitled to to some extent.
I imagine the blind are using their plastic more and more anyway.
#6
I'm acquainted with someone who knows Mr. Mauer personally and professionally. I'm advised he is a gentleman and patriot of the first order in the classic mold of "no better friend, no worst enemy". I've been given to understand Mr. Mauer finds the currency issue to be a minor distraction at worst.
The same cannot be said , however, of the issue of muslim cab drivers refusing service to the blind accompanied by seeing eye dogs. I'm advised Mr. Mauer, together with his organization - the Natioanl Federation of the Blind (NFB)- have adopted a somewhat less tolerant attitude toward those who benefit financially from holding a public license but refuse to provide service to all of the public on a non-discriminatory basis.
For many of the blind, a seeing eye dog is an extension of themselves. The relationship between master and dog is symbiotic. The dog would take a bullet for it's master. The master would take a bullet for the dog. We should all be so fortunate to have such a relationship in our lifetime. But I digress.
Suffice it say that legal strategies are being developed and honed to such an extent that, within the near future, in the event a muslim cab driver gets so uppity as to deny service to a blind person with a seeing eye dog, said cab driver will be made to regret the day he attempted to impose his alien culture on a blind American accompanied by a seeing eye dog.
Wait for it. It's coming. It's gratifying to know that some Americans are preparing to push back against the muslim on-slaught.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
12/14/2006 12:11 Comments ||
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#7
National Federation of the Blind tell judge to STFU over money
heh they got the right stuff...try volunteering for them sometime.
:-)
I'd imagine that the populace as a whole would be in a tizzie over that sort of typical Muzzie action. You just don't mess with a man and his dog, much less a BLIND man and his seeing-eye dog. Like child predators in prison, there's just some things you do NOT do.
Posted by: BA ||
12/14/2006 13:39 Comments ||
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#9
As an aside, it is culturally interesting how blind and deaf organizations over time become insular. That is, their members become so used to interaction only with those who share their handicap that they develop an "us and them" attitude with everybody else.
Especially with the deaf, there have even been a few instances when couples intended to have deaf children, so that "they would belong".
But in either case, it would not be surprising if eventually they built communities completely tailored to their disability, for maximum comfort.
#10
A-moose: Without realizing it you've just described every muslim enclave in the West. Muslim = insular. An insularity that will remain unchanged unless they assimilate with us for I have no desire to assimilate with them.
I know good folk from both the blind and the deaf communities. For reasons not entirely clear to me, the deaf do in fact seem more "clanish" and "tribal". Far moreso than the blind. I don't know why this is but it's true from my experince.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
12/14/2006 14:37 Comments ||
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#11
An interesting study that won't be made should compare Moslem immigrants in the US against ethnic immigrants to the US, as far as their "rate" of assimilation.
That is, first generation immigrants usually blend in fairly well. Second generation are neither here nor there and tend to be troublesome, such as creating organized crime gangs. Third generation are mostly assimilated, with a few bumps, and have mostly forgotten the old country.
I wouldn't be surprised if in a relatively short time, we start seeing a new version of Islam arise in the US, that will be far more like Sufism than Wahabbism. That is, a "protestant" version of Islam that embraces middle-class values, peacefulness, and is generally polite.
It will really get going when some Sufi madrassas get built, to turn out Imams that US Moslems would be more comfortable with than Islamists. This is critical, because of lot of the US mosques are uncomfortable with their radical Imams, but they are the only Imams they can get.
#12
I know the blind have sharpened other senses, but do they know something about money we don't ?
If so, I hope they keep it to themselves.
I wonder how they do with counterfeit bills.
#13
I had a enlightening experience with one of those blind convenience store persons years ago, I bought a Coke and when he gave me my change there was a $5 where a one should have been.
I told him it was a 5 and gave it back, he gave me the correct dollar bill and said "Damn them"
I said " Folks giving you ones and telling you they're fives?" "No dammit" He said, "they're giving me fives and telling me they're ones."
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/14/2006 19:08 Comments ||
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#14
Though it is crucial that minorities have a voice in society, it is also the responsibility of every minority to use that voice wisely and not to cry discrimination when no discrimination has occurred.
Very well said. Now, would someone please hammer this into the skulls of all American Muslims?
Suffice it say that legal strategies are being developed and honed to such an extent that, within the near future, in the event a muslim cab driver gets so uppity as to deny service to a blind person with a seeing eye dog, said cab driver will be made to regret the day he attempted to impose his alien culture on a blind American accompanied by a seeing eye dog.
First offense: Massive fine, something like $1,000.
Second offense: Suspension of taxi license for one month. Owner operated taxis should be grounded or impounded to prevent use by anyone else during the period of suspension.
Third offense: Permanent revocation of taxi medallion and commercial license.
It shouldn't be too hard to set up a canine squad for undercover operations aimed at nailing these un-American bastards. This a form of creeping Islamization that needs to be stomped on hard and vigorously. Think flamenco dancing.
#15
Weirdly enough, Chinese paper currency includes some Braille (via raised print), so that blind people can make out how much money they're handling. The irony is that this would seem to imply the blind are more likely to be able to detect fakes, since counterfeit currency, however good, is less likely to include this feature.
A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected most claims by slave descendants that they deserve reparations from some of the nation's biggest insurers, banks and transportation companies.
The three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling that slave descendants have no standing to sue for reparations based on injustices suffered by ancestors and that the statute of limitations ran out more than a century ago.
But the panel did keep alive a smaller portion of the suit, claiming that major U.S. corporations may be guilty of consumer fraud if they hid past ties to slavery from their customers.
The opinion, written by Judge Richard A. Posner, said that "statutes of limitations would be toothless" if descendants could collect damages for wrongs against their ancestors.
"A person whose ancestor had been wronged a thousand years ago could sue on the ground that it was a continuing wrong and he is one of the victims," the court said. It said statutes of limitations could be extended in some cases but not for acts committed 100 years ago.
The panel also said the descendants lacked standing to sue because their links to the slaves were distant.
It said the "causal chain is too long and has too many weak links for a court to be able to find that the defendants' conduct harmed the plaintiffs at all, let alone in an amount that could be estimated without the wildest speculation."
The lawsuit was a consolidation of 10 suits filed around the country and moved to Chicago. Slave descendants claim that big American corporations including such Wall Street giants as JP Morgan Chase & Co., Aetna Inc. and Bank of America profited from slavery and should pay. It says the companies insured and transported slaves and even issued loans to slaveholders so they could buy slaves.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr. had dismissed all the claims. He found that the descendants lacked standing and that the statute of limitations had expired, and that the issue was political and shouldn't be worked out in a court.
While largely upholding Norgle's decision, the appeals court kept alive the consumer protection claims.
Descendants claim they have been injured by buying products from companies that concealed the fact that they or their predecessor companies somehow benefited from slavery.
In allowing the consumer-protection claims, the appeals court said it knew of no law saying a seller has "a general duty to disclose every discreditable fact about himself." But it added that sellers who misrepresent a product, fearing the loss of buyers who would object to it, are guilty of fraud.
Bruce Afran, an attorney for the descendants, said that "we have a very fair chance of prevailing" on the fraud claims.
He said some banks had filed false information with regulators that could be used as evidence in arguing they were guilty of consumer fraud.
Defense attorney Owen C. Pell did not return a message left at his office. Defense attorney Alan S. Madans declined to comment. The one "reparation" that should exist is to historically document the corporations and individuals who *at the time* built their fortunes on slavery. Many of these New England companies and families still have descendants in positions of political power in the US. Almost singularly in the democrat party.
#4
The panel also said the descendants lacked standing to sue because their links to the slaves were distant.
No, judge they lack "standing" because they are not slaves themselves. Doesn't matter how "distant" the links, you can not sue if you're not affected directly yourself.
I'm sure exJAG and other attorneys here can explain this better, but Lawyering101 teaches you all about "standing". It's the VERY first thing I learned when I came aboard my job. Basically, "standing" means you have to have been PERSONALLY affected in order to sue. In plain English it means, you have to be a party to the action in question, AND you have to sue the correct person/company for whom is responsible for that action.
IOW, even the son/daughter of a slave could NOT sue for reparations, but ONLY the slaves themselves. And, since none of them are still alive, this is all moot. Of course, the same was the case w/ Michael Newdow (suing on behalf of his daughter over "under God" in the Pledge, when he didn't have custody of her). Knowing this case, I assume "Standing" would allow a parent to sue on behalf of a minor too.
Finally, what's with adding Bank of America? They didn't exist (at least not the same bank in it's current form) back in slavery days. Was some company/bank they bought out recently tied to slavery? The other two companies have a longer history, so I assume they might be tied to slavery, but again, the legal theory of "standing" disallows ANY forms of reparations now.
Posted by: BA ||
12/14/2006 10:30 Comments ||
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#5
Of course, that won't stop them or some activist judges from pursuing this non-starter.
Posted by: BA ||
12/14/2006 10:33 Comments ||
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#6
Richard Posner is one of the nation's leading legal scholars (U. Chicago), and everything a judge should be. In a sane world, I wouldn't necessarily define him as a conservative. But by respecting the Constitution, promoting free markets and the rule of law, and recognizing the limits of judicial power, he's a conservative by default. It's unfortunate that this is true of anyone who isn't a vicious radical or mentally ill, but there ya go.
#12
But by respecting the Constitution, promoting free markets and the rule of law, and recognizing the limits of judicial power, he's a conservative by default. It's unfortunate that this is true of anyone who isn't a vicious radical or mentally ill, but there ya go.
Some deft phrasing with a finnessed backhand swipe there, exJAG.
Perish the thought that these black plantiffs would ever go all the way back to the source and identify the Islamic slave traders who so often rounded up their African antecedants for sale and transport to the new world. Such a mental exercise might require them to further understand that Islam continues to have a hand in the slaughter of blacks, be they Muslim or not, to this very day.
#13
There's an interesting question here. What about children of Holocaust victims suing for 1) insurance money, 2) confiscated houses and factories, or 3) looted artwork? I am not sure where the dividing line really is. In 20 years or so, the last survivor will have died. Given how companies have stonewalled in the past; they might end up keeping their immoral gains.
Any thoughtful ideas?
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
12/14/2006 16:34 Comments ||
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#14
"What about children of Holocaust victims suing for 1) insurance money, 2) confiscated houses and factories, or 3) looted artwork?"
These are thefts and money due and owing to the actual survivor's families. Insurance money is paid to surviving family members. Property confiscated from a father, and then killing the father doesnt' eliminate the estate's claims, and therefore the child's claims for the stolen property. Otherwize, steal with impunity, but just be sure to kill the real owner so as to extimguish the claims to the property. These damages are not speculative and have a real dollar or property figure, while slavery reparations as such are purely speculative.
IIRC, holocaust survivors aren't suing for compensation for physical wrongs done to themselves or their ancestors, e.g. civil rights suits; but are suing for their directly stolen property, some of which still exists in perfect condition, and now owned by the very organizations that stole them and concealed the theft.
Artwork too has very specific legal provisions for recovering lost and stolen pieces.
Posted by: Mark E. ||
12/14/2006 17:04 Comments ||
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#15
How about this ...
If I have to pay for what happened many generations ago, then simply put, those receiving the payment today must be slaves today.
Now, never would condone slavery and it is a horrid thing, but if I do the time, I must of done the crime and therefore I'd be owed some slaves from the reparation pool.
At least it is a discussion point, 'you gunna make me pay, then you gunna work, get on with cleaning the house'
The cost of the identity theft from yesterday's story on the raid. This is one of the "hidden" costs of the illegals.
Theresa Sanchez was expecting a $5,400 tax refund when she opened a letter from the IRS in January 2003. Instead, she got a bill demanding payment of taxes on $120,000 in undeclared wages. Someone using her name and Social Security number had earned the money through a series of jobs dating back to 1996 and had not paid any taxes on the income, the letter said.
Sanchez complained to the agency and to the Federal Trade Commission that her identity had been stolen, and was being used by someone to gain employment. Nonetheless, more than two years later, in April 2005, a woman walked into the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colo., and used Theresa Sanchez's name and Social Security number to get a job.
The womans employment ruse became public knowledge Tuesday when authorities raided Swift & Co. plants in six states and arrested approximately 1,300 illegal immigrants suspected of buying or stealing other peoples identities to secure U.S. jobs.
Continued on Page 49
#1
The suspect accused of illegally using Sanchezs identity is identified only as Jane Doe.
Ironic aint it? The people most vulnerable for this variant of identity theft have surnames like Sanchez or Garcia. Not Kennedy, McCain, or for that matter Doe.
#4
That's three weeks longer than they deserve. Run 'em NOW, and confiscate any assets they leave behind to pay for their deportation. They should be thrown back to their own country with no more than the shirt on their back. Criminal bastards--we should be shooting the foreigners at the border and hanging the natives here who hired them in the first place.
Posted by: mac ||
12/14/2006 17:11 Comments ||
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#5
Icerigger. Spit.
Asstard. Not since Blackjack & young Mr Patton were chasing Poncho Villa has the border even been noticed - it has NEVER been enforced. Not even Reagan enforced the border - he was a *wink wink nudge nudge* guy about that cheap illegal labor. It is an institution - and has been since Day One. But now, now that you've noticed, whoa - Where's the FuCkinG mAgiK wANd?
Asshole. There are 537 politicians, hundreds of "judges", hundreds of Moonbats running Sanctuary Cities and Police Depts, drug cartels, an array of well-funded politically-active organizations, the entire MSM, the Catholic Sanctuary Symps, and a Pandora's Box of screeching assholes who all have a stake in this, ranging from touch-feelies to Stalinists to terrorists to Dope Mules to Coyote Fuglies.
But you Blame Bush. Bush alone.
I think it's a tad more complicated - such as the Donks In Power who will divert long-awaited allocated fence and manpower funding to the usual Pork Game, torpedoing the first real attempt in US History to control the border.
Lord knows we've never thought about this before, debated it before, explored the many issues before, here on RB.
Nope. We've been waiting for you to show up and assign blame.
#6
Back to the old .com. Sugar coating everything. Can't tell where he stands. Mystery writer. Next the trove of girlie pictures will be rediscovered (please, please, please).
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
(SomaliNet) Madagascar has arrested General 
JEDDAH For the first time in Saudi Arabia, there will be distribution of wealth amongall of the Kingdoms regions including all cities and villages and covering all sectors, according to Crown Prince 
Akhmed Zakayev listened intently as his friend Alexander Litvinenko read out the names in an alleged Russian hit-list of political dissidents. Mr Zakayev, a Chechen separatist, had just picked up Mr Litvinenko in central London and was driving him home to Muswell Hill, north London, where they were neighbours. 
Russia is preparing to cut off natural gas supplies to neighbouring Belarus and Georgia unless the two former Soviet republics agree by the year-end to pay much higher prices in 2007.
(Xinhua) -- Russia's military chief of staff criticized on Wednesday U.S. plans to deploy missile defense systems in Europe, saying the planned move is a mistake. 
Prime Minister 
By Monisha Bansal - CNSNews.com Staff Writer
Democrat Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was taken to a Washington hospital this afternoon after suffering a possible stroke, his office said in a statement. Johnson became disoriented during a call with reporters at midday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before ending the call. "As this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team. Further details will be forthcoming when more is known," the statement read. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said called Johnson "a dear friend." 
"I don't know if he gets the evil that we are facing," said Rabbi Bonnie Koppell of Scottsdale. Carter, 82, was met by a crowd of protesters as he appeared at a book store in suburban Tempe to autograph copies of the book.
