Canada Court Allows Gay Married Parents to Hit Their Kids Repeatedly with Premeditation


Canada approves corporal punishment! In certain indeterminable circumstances.

"Parents and teachers may use force to correct a child's behaviour but it must be minimal and not administered out of rage or frustration, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday."

Obviously, this is quite ridiculous. How could the state possibly interfere into the intimate details of child rearing much less determine the thought process behind parental decisions.
Parents often spank their children out of frustration. In fact I was spanked most often out of frustrataton.

And isn't fruatation with childhood behaviour a much better reason for corporal punishment thatn, say, cold premeditation.

Say a parent deiceds to hit his child at noon tomorrow for ten minutes to teach him a lesson about the random disappointments we must face in lifa. And then the parent reapeats that lesson each and every day at random. None of those beatings would run afoul of the Canadian intrusive ruling but surely all would constitute abuse.

But this is Canada and they are nuts, so that is that. Maybe the state shouldstart making decisions to stay out of people's parenting decisions.

By the way, heterosexual parents can also hit their kids. I was just sexing up the headline.

John Kerry: Benedict Arnold?

John Kerry has made a point in every stump speech and every debate to lay part of the blame of America's economic woes on companies that outsource part or all of their operations to foreign countries. Just last night in the South Carolina debate John Kerry stated that we must seek a " prosperity where we create jobs here at home -- and where we shut down every tax loophole, every benefit, and every reward for any Benedict Arnold CEO or company that sends jobs and profits overseas.'"

John Kerry has shown that he talks the talk, but does he also walk the walk? Not so much.
An analysis of John Kerry's tax return on Open Secrets reveals that while Senator John Kerry is railing against these corporations on the campaign trail, he is simultaneously pocketing the profits those companies produce.

CNN has done a significant amount of research on the Exporting of America and has compiled a list of those companies
at their website. A simple comparison of the list and John Kerry's tax return reveals a generous crossover of companies.

Medtronic, SBC Communications, Verizon, ExxonMobil, Intel, Microsoft, 3M, General Electric, Wyeth, Citigroup, Proctor and Gamble, American Express, Monsanto, Emerson Electric, AT&T, AT&T Wireless, Comcast, Pfizer, Equifax, IBM Johnson and Johnson, Oracle and others all hold a proud place on the senators tax return.

So does this mean that Kerry, as stockholder, and therefore part owner, of all of these companies is himself a "Benedict Arnold"? I would not say so, but according to Kerry's own language it appears that he might be.

I'm Craaaaazy Botox Guy! Now give me some candy!



Captions:
I once had a face lift this big.

Howard Dean? Like this. A pinky finger. Is that what you want in the oval office?

Feel free to add your own in the comments.

1 Moped, Slightly Stained, Free to first taker

In case you were wondering what it looks like, when whales explode in a downtown city street in southern Taiwan, well here is the picture.

It is not pretty, so do not click if you have recently eaten. A poor moped seems to have recieved the brunt of the goop. So far, officials believe that the whale exploded due to the innocent build up gas. I however suspect Al Quaeda.

Governor Dean Takes over Writing Duties, And goes after John Kerry.

Just got the newest Dean email and he is targeting John Kerry directly.

"

Eleven months ago, when few people knew our campaign existed, I asked the Democratic Party leadership some fundamental questions.

Why were so many Democrats in Washington supporting George Bush's unilateral war in Iraq? Why were they supporting No Child Left Behind? Why were they voting for the president's reckless tax cuts?

I am still waiting for the answers. The American people deserve the answers.

Well he is mad at the Democratic leader ship which equals Terry MCauliffe, Hillary Clinton, tom Daschle and John Kerry. Although, I am not sure they voted for the tax cuts.

Today, all my opponents are talking the talk. Even those who voted for the war now speak like they opposed it.

Those who voted for No Child Left Behind now criticize it.

And those who shrank from confrontation in the face of polls and pundits now compete to outdo each other in their condemnation of George W. Bush.

But in 2004, Democrats must decide: Who will stand up for you? And who will stand up against George W. Bush?

This is some first class whining.

I believe only someone who has consistently and firmly stood for change -- even when it wasn't politically popular -- can truly lead this great struggle.

So John Kerry easily changes his mind with the winds of popular sentiment? Sounds very Clintonesque.

And I need your help today to raise the funds we need to take back the Democratic Party and defeat George Bush:

Imagine 2005. Radical Republicans of the Bush-DeLay school will push their divisive agenda.

When that happens, who will stand up for you?

A Washington insider who shifts with every poll? Who cuts deals that sell out the interests of ordinary Americans, and who has spent decades collaborating with the special interests that fuel his campaigns?

Ohh that smarts. Is this a republican campaign ad? Did Howard Dean hire Karl Rove to be his new campaign chairman?

Or someone from outside Washington, truly independent, and ready to do what's right?

As President, I will stand up for you -- I won't just say it.

You know I will do it -- because I have done it.

And we can stand up for all Americans if we stand together.

The Washington insiders are spending millions in paid advertisements to try to persuade voters that they'll stand up to the system they've been part of for years. Many of these ads will attack us.

It's extremely important that we go into the coming primaries with the resources we need. Can I count on your help today?


Thank you for everything you do.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

P.S. Please forward this email on to everyone you know."

Ok Howard. I will. You keep banging on John Kerry and you may get my support. If you name him by name in your next email, and add a few more title to your name, I will contribute to your campaign.

Farewell Joe Trippi, We hardly knew ye!

Here is a copy of Joe Trippi's final Daily email, sent on the Day of the New Hampshire Primary. All of the emphasis is mine.

Tonight the comeback begins.

The pundits have underestimated us before -- and they were wrong. All week they've been trying to write us off -- and we're going to prove them wrong again.


Sorry Joe, I guess not so much.

Today the people of New Hampshire vote. Momentum is on our side. But the race for the nomination is a 6-week marathon where 33 states vote - and you have built the only campaign on the planet that can run the distance and come out strong enough to defeat George Bush in the general election.

One thing is certain: we will go on, and we will prove the doubters wrong. But all of us must fight like we've never fought before. The way we win is to keep sprinting forward:

What Joe is saying here, is that eventhough he is using the word "we", he means "you" or at least "not me." The tell is the last line using the word "sprinting." Joe has never sprinted in life. And, based on his recent campaign diet, he is not ready to start now.


Thousands of Americans are joining our campaign every day.

While,at the same time, several are being asked to leave.

On the campaign trail, voters are responding to Governor Dean's record of standing up for what it is right --even when it's not popular.

The way to win the nomination is to get a majority of the more than 4,300 delegates to the Democratic convention. Iowa and New Hampshire combined decide only 77 of those delegates.


Joe Trippi's Super Bowl Predicition:"the team that will win will score more points than the other team."

Which means that the race is wide open. And the way to win it is to keep going forward and to keep building the resources Howard Dean needs to win the nomination and defeat George Bush:

For more than a year we have known that the biggest threat to our campaign was getting people to get over their own disbelief that they have it in their power to take back our government.


The current threat to the campaign seems to be Joe Trippi.

You have shown that you believe it's possible. But now is the time to spread the word about our cause. Please forward this email on to at least 5 other people.

Now more than ever, you gotta believe.

Joe Trippi
Campaign Manager
Dean for America


What he did not add was:
P.S. I have attached my resume for your perusal. If you have a need for any overweight internet savvy campaign adviser please feel free to contact me.

And I thought only Californians were from a different planet!

Australian IT reports that we are all martians. Scientist have been examining a meteroite that was found in the polar ice cap and believed to be from Mars. "The carbonate (residue from bacteria) and obviously all of the materials of the fossils inside it were all formed on Mars and definitely could not have been produced here on Earth,' Dr Taylor said. 'The fossils pre-date any fossil evidence of life on this planet. 'So it demonstrates quite clearly that there was life on Mars before there was life on Earth. 'And with this fossil record that we've got now, it indicates that life probably came from Mars.' "


Well that explains this:

Knight Rider/Life Gaurd/Freedom Fighter...and Big Whiner

David Hasselhoff claims he had hand in Berlin Wall falling: This is not a joke. "David Hasselhoff has complained to museum curators after finding his photo absent in a collection of memorabilia about the fall of the Berlin Wall."

"Speaking to German magazine TV Spielfilm, Hasselhoff said in 1989, the year the wall fell, he had helped reunite the country by singing his song 'Looking for Freedom' among millions of German fans at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin."

His theory is during his appearance thousands of East Germans stormed the wall trying to end the pain and suffering caused by Hasselhoff's music. The surge was so strong that the wall came tumbling down and millions of East Germans joined in.

Freedom was born, adn it is all thanks to Hasselhoff's horrible horrible music.

But do they serve wine to children in coke cans?

BBC NEWS reports that a new form of matter may have been created in lab The report describes a " fermionic condensate is a cloud of cold potassium atoms forced into a state where they behave strangely. "

Those scientist by the way wwere Americans at the University of Colorado. They predict that this technology could be used to create a superconductor.

"If you had a superconductor you could transmit electricity with no losses," Jin said. "Right now something like 10% of all electricity we produce in the United States is lost. It heats up wires. It doesn't do anybody any good."

Actually what you could have is extremely fast and efficient computers with much smaller circuits that don't heat up like your computer is doing right now.

And what was that "strange" behavior? "To make the condensate the researchers cooled potassium gas to a billionth of a degree above absolute zero - the temperature at which matter stops moving.

They confined the gas in a vacuum chamber and used magnetic fields and laser light to manipulate the potassium atoms into pairing up and forming the fermionic condensate. "

That doesn't sound so strange to me. I guess you had to be there.

More on the Oil for Souls Program and the Coalition of the Drilling

Indian Congress got oil bribes from Saddam, the ExpressIndia Reports: "Iraq plans to investigate allegations that dozens of officials and businessmen worldwide illegally received oil in exchange for supporting former leader Saddam Hussein, officials said on Tuesday. "

Nanotech split: California goes conventional

usnews.com reports on the Nanotech battles in terms of funding options. The Forsesight Institute is adamant that more funding should go toward molecular manufacturing as opposed to a more staid approach.

Senator Chuck Schumer Anti-Environment Child Asthma Wanting Mercury in Your Drinking Water Acid Rain Liking Satan

or at least that's what he would be calling President George Bush if hehad urged the EPA to grant gasoline waivers Forbes reports that "Sen. Charles Schumer of New York asked the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday to allow gasoline sold in his state to be blended without federally mandated additives, which he said could drive up the price of the fuel."

The OIG Releases its fourth Civil Rights Report Pursuant to the Patriot Act: No Patriot Act Related Complaints Made

Special Report: "This report - the fourth since enactment of the legislation - summarizes the OIG's Section 1001-related activities from June 16, 2003, through December 15, 2003. "

Here is the operative language you were looking for:

"None of the 162 matters involved complaints alleging misconduct by DOJ employees related to their use of a substantive provision in the Patriot Act. "

Pickering will be an issue in South Carolina

Expect the rhetoric to ramp up in the next week as TIME reports: "after seeing George W. Bush lay a wreath at the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. and then turn around and go back to Washington and appoint a [Mississippi judge] Charles Pickering [Sr.] to the federal bench. I think the African-American voter will be energized.' "

Following the Kerry Money

Kerry Finances Are Said to Improve Rapidly: "Ms. Kerry has also maintained that she can make so-called independent expenditures for such things as advertising supporting his candidacy, though she would be prevented from coordinating with Mr. Kerry or his campaign. Some campaign finance experts have said such an arrangement would present thorny legal problems, to say nothing of public perception."

Although, in Ms. Heinz's defense, it does not look as if she listens to anyone before decided on what she is going to do or say. Personally, I would love to independently produced Heinz commercial.

Also of note is the rapidity with which the Times has fully switched to the use of Ms. Kerry as opposed to Ms. Heinz. As recently as Novemeber of 2002 she insisted on being called Ms. Heinz.

Christina Aguilera honest girl, likely good date, but don't bring her home to mom, for several reasons.

Today's Zoning News

Columbus Online Community: "Much of that can be attributed to the many challenges the pork industry has to face. Prices are down, interest by young people is low and many hog farmers are dealing with zoning regulations."

The Gilroy Dispatch has a nice opinion piece on the local zoning board's cave in to developers on the issue of tract mansions.

Zoning and land use dispute over highway exit divides town: "Like the tug-of-war between sheepherders and cattle ranchers in the Old West, residents and developers are feuding over what is the best use of the open land along Interstate 93 in South Tewksbury."

The Center for Consumer Freedom discusses the possibility of zoning for fat people. Seriously.

Gambling Magazine reports on Governor's Slot Plan Catches Some Counties By Surprise(warning if you visit this site you may start to get annoying gambling site pop-ups if you have not disabled cookies) "Robert Ehrlich's plan to place 4,000 slot machines at two locations on the Interstate 95 corridor created confusion Tuesday among local lawmakers about where the slots would go and what type of venues might be used for gambling. "

Problem is the bill is not specific as to the locations of the slots. "Several lawmakers said they were hesitant about considering a bill that didn't include specifics such as what types of areas slots would go into. Ehrlich and his aides didn't specify whether the bill would limit slots to nonresidential areas or commercial areas.
"My concern is we'd be passing a bill without knowing where in Cecil or where in Harford counties it would be placed," James said. "It's almost like you're overriding local zoning."

The Weymouth News reports that zoning eyed to protect town's water: "Proposed amendments to the town's zoning ordinances will provide greater protection to Weymouth's watershed and drinking water supplies, James Clarke, director of planning and community development, said at last Tuesday's joint public hearing of the town council and zoning board."

Color me shocked! Chagrined even! Bribed? The French? C'est ne pas possible!

Interest!ALERT: Quality Content: "Documents from Saddam Hussein's oil ministry reveal he used oil to bribe top French officials into opposing the imminent U.S.-led invasion of Iraq."

""Oil runs thicker than blood," is how one former ambassador put his suspicions about the French motives for opposing action against Saddam."

And in case you were wondering what other countries were in the Coalition of the Drilling?

Well Al-Mada's list cites a total of "46 individuals, companies and organizations inside and outside Iraq as receiving Saddam's oil bribes, including officials in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sudan, China, Austria and France, as well as the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian Communist Party, India's Congress Party and the Palestine Liberation Organization."


Maybe that's why there is no oil left to pay off the war debt and reconstruction.

Bill visits his Wife at Democratic Strategy Session. No news on who he brought as a date.

New York Post Online Edition reports that: "President Bill Clinton is coming to Capitol Hill tomorrow for an unusual closed-door strategy session aimed at mapping out a plan for the Democrats to retake the White House and Congress, officials said yesterday. "

Al Gore was not invited, nor was John Kerry. Are the Democrats trying to unite their party, or running a third party candidate in the fall?

Senator Frist has an Opening: Computer Experience a big minus

Frist aide Manueal Miranda has been put on leave in memo probe - The Washington Times reports: "'There was no stealing,' Miranda said. 'No systematic surveillance. I never forwarded these memos period.' "

Well now he has plenty of time to reconsider that story.

Kerry Summarily Contradicts "Cosmetic Enhancement Rumor", Forgets about chin and stick surgeries.

According to theDRUDGE REPORT John Kerry has summarily denied any use of Botox or cosmetic enhancement.

He has had chin surgery though. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported in 2002 that: "Kerry is classically drawn as How a Senator Should Look: He is 6 feet 4 and slim with a helmet of brownish-silver hair, high and knobby cheekbones and a surgically enhanced chin -- not cosmetic surgery, contrary to speculation. (The operation, says Kerry press secretary David Wade, was to correct 'a malocclusion,' a bad bite that caused a clicking in his jaw.)"

No mention is made of the large stick that, for the longest time, resided inside his colon but which now appears to have been surgically removed.

In New Hampshire: Everyone is a Winner!

Everyone won in New Hampshire according to every candidate tonight. Good for them. Even Al Sharpton who got over 330 votes. How did that happen? Was it keg night at Kappa Sigma Phi at UNH? Well now everyone has Joe-Mentum.

Speaking of Joe-Mentum, Joe is now calling for the resignation of George Tenet. Not very Presidential, if you ask me, which is appropriate considering that it is Joe Lieberman talking. If was going to win he could just fire him, himself.

Was it me or did the networks pipe in "Na na na na. Na na na na. heyy heyy hey, Gooood bye." in the background of Howard Deans speech?

Howard Dean called this Supreme Court the most conservative Supreme Court since the Dred Scott decision in his concession speech. Oh really? I have no idea what he means by "conservative" though. Does conservative = racist? Or does conservative mean respect for precedent? Probably his definition for "conservative" is "bad". Doesn't Lawrence simply blow this theory out the water no matter what he means?

Turns out Heinz does have a rather large bottled and manufacturing facility in Indonesia. I wonder if Kerry is going to go after those evil outsourcing anti-American bastards at Heinz.

Ok final results versus predicitons time! I can safely report that I am a healthy 0-3 in my election candidate predicitons:

Candidate.....Predicted.....Actual
John Kerry...........45%.....39%
Howard Dean........23%.....26%
John Edwards.......17% ....12%
Wesley Clark.........7%......12%
Joe Lieberman.......6% ......9%
Other.................2% .......2%

I underestimated Dean's and Clark's core support, and overestimated the Kerry surge. But I am 2 -1 in my prediction of "Other." It has been said before, I am in tune with the others.

Next week I get to pick 7 decisions incorrectly.

Power Mojo from the New Hampshire Primary


Watched Kerry's winning speech again tonight. Better than Iowa.

Best Line by far was:

In the past month I have depended on the same band of brothers, that I depended on some 30 years ago. We are a little older, a little grayer, but we still know how to fight for America.

That is golden stuff. He should use that at the convention. He also talks about the "the economy of privilege" which is a nice phrase. He emphasizes "the idea of opportunity not just for some but for all Americans." Then he starts to tank as he talks about the wealthy.

His lines against tax loopholes and millionaires ring hollow as he stands next to Ms. Heinz. Does HJ Heinz use any foreign labor? I wonder? He called them Benedict Arnold's. That would worth looking into.

Howard Dean is live on Hardball. He should be giving the St. Crispian's Day Speech to his supporters right now. He is hammering home on the outsider ideal. Chris Matthews brings up the antiwar aspect. Howard Dean swings and misses and goes back to jobs and health care. He should be hammering home on the war issue. Chris says MSNBC will be the new home for Howard Dean.

CNN goes to Edwards speech. I geuss they have given up on Clark and now become the channel of Edwards. Edwards says we have a moral responsibility to lift the poor our of their circumstances. It is his stump speech. Networks have heard it before and all switch away.

CNN now switches to Clark. Not concilliatory at all. Interesting. Chants of "Go Wes Go" echo across the hall. He is going on to South Carolina and Oklahoma.

Dean is now on Fox News. Different message here than MSNBC. Very smart. Discussing the budget deficit almost exclusively. Dismissing Washington insiders including Terry McCauliffe."I'd put my finger on Terry McCaulliffe." he says.

At 10:00 pm every network switches to Lieberman who is crazy. "We are in a three way split decision for 3rd place." At the same time the crawl is showing him solidly fifth. He lauds New Hampshirites, who just rejected him. He claims that New Hampshire has not reached a decision. He wants to take his cause, which is apparently finishing third, to the rest of the nation.

I wonder if he will campaign on the Sabbath? Fox News has become as bored as me with Mr. Lieberman and has gone back to the pundits.

Clearly Howard Dean needs to win an upcoming primary to stay alive. Of course his money is still pouring in but Kerry is the presumptive nominee now.
More later.

Update I
Turn out is very high in New Hampshire, high enough that New Hampshire may go Democrat in the fall. Especially if the libertarians give up on this high spending adminsitration.

Update II
Kerry is 2 for 2 now. He should get some cash. The decision now is how to spend that money and where. February 3rd has 335 delegates at stake. 247 More on February 7th. Those are the next battles. Will he be able to win Michigan and Missouri?

Howard Dean's speech is now on all the networks. They are hoping for another meltdown. The crowd is nuts. But he is somber.

Howard Dean is claiming the momentum, which is eerily similar to Joe-mentum in that it is non-existant. He says:

We are all together in this. Stand with us to the very end. We stand together. We stand up to George Bush all the time.

Ahh, but Howard talks too long. He is boring now.

The Democratic party machinery has spoken. Kerry has been annointed.
Tonight the people of New Hamphire have gone soft, and gone for the known commodity. The real key to this whole thing will be how did Kerry get 38% in Iowa. Where did that come from?

Sushi Anyone?

eTaiwanNews.com reports that sperm whale has exploded in Tainan City: "A dead sperm whale being transported through Tainan City on its way to a research station suddenly exploded yesterday, splattering cars and shops with blood and guts. "

"What a stinking mess! This blood and other stuff that blew out on the road is disgusting, and the smell is really awful," said one resident.

The news also showed one section of the street along with several parked automobiles and pedestrian walkways covered in red with copious amounts of splattered whale blood. "

It's like one of those all you can eat happy hour buffets.

The New Hampshire Primary; A referendum on Cable News?

The pundits are making their final predictions today and the voters in New Hampshire are dutifully trudging through the snow to the polls to pick the next Democratic nominee. but are they in a sense picking something else. Perhaps they are also picking which cable news channel has the most influence of the everyday voter.

For example, Wesley Clark is clearly the CNN candidate. He was on CNN every day from the start of the war on March 19 through April 12. Since then he appeared several times and seems to be their quite darling. In fact he has appeared so often that anchor Aaron Brown called him "the cable news equivalent of a foxhole buddy." Now the fact the he spent hours and hours commenting on the war as a private citizen and then could not arrive at a coherent policy on the war is some what concerning, but still, he remains CNN's guy.

On the other hand, Joe Lieberman is clearly the candidate of MSNBC. He appears on Imus in the Morning at least once a week, if not more often. The network itself almost perfectly reflected his views: pro-war, pro-troops, but not so clear on their domestic agenda. they toyed with Micheal Savage before canning him. They toyed with Phil Donague and Jesse Ventura. All over the place domestically, much like Joe. if Joe Lieberamn wins, then MSNBC will carry the crown.

So who then becomes the candidate of Fox News? Obviously it is a Bush channel, but who then on the Democratic side? Joe Lieberman seems to be the most conservative. But his morality in media movement is the antithesis of Fox. I can't help but be drawn to the National Review's urgent plea to the Democratic electorate to please nominate Howard Dean. A Dean nomination would surely lead to a catastophic loss by the Democrats and four more years of Fox supremacy.

Edwards of course made his campaign announcement on Comedy Central's the Daily show so he is their candidate, Dennis Kucinich represents PBS and Al Sharpton? B.E.T.

But where does that leave John Kerry. He is horribly boring. Craggy. Old looking. Desperatley Liberal. He has a heroic past and concilliatory present. For more democrats he is comfortable like an old shoe. Sounds like a perfect candidate for the news crew at 60 Minutes. That makes Kerry the CBS candidate.

So there you have it. If Clark wins, CNN has mojo. If Dean wins, FOX News is the cable king, and if MSNBC wins then Lieberman, Edwards-Comedy Central, Kerry-CBS, Kucinich-PBS and Sharpton-B.E.T.

Al Franken aattcks Free Speakers in a blow for Free Speech

New York Post Online Edition reports that "Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean. "

A pre-emtive violent strike? How disgusting. Liberals define free speech as the ability for people who agree with you to say whatever they want whenever they want on any station they want without the presence of impediment.

Don't expect big gifts from the Schwarzenegger's this year.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that Arnold has broken state campaign finance laws by loaning himself 4 million dollars on the eve on the election. "Schwarzenegger will probably face no fines as a result of the ruling, but he will be blocked from paying himself back with the more than $3.4 million he has raised since his election and will have to convert the loans into a personal contribution to his campaign."

A Jury of Her Peers?

The Martha Stewart Jury has been seated and quasi in rem has uncovered court documents that reveal the makeup and background of the eight women and four men who comprise the twelve unbiased and purportedly randomly chosen individuals who qualify as peers to Martha Stewart for their ability to expand their trades in multifaceted infotainment conglomerations, and knowing the difference between a $6,000 and $12,000 Hermes Birken.:

Juror #1- White Female: Age - 60; Occupation-Government Employee; Marital Status-Occassionally on weekends, never on weekdays; Residence-Chappaqua and Washington D.C.; Net Worth- Over $8 million less legal debts of dead weight husband; Prior investment experience - Turned $1000 into $100,000 in the cattle futures market.

Juror #2 - Asian Male Age - 53; Occupation-Former Baseball Player now Chef/Restauranteur/Bobby Flay ass-Kicker; Marital Status-1 wife, 3 geisha; Residence-New York/Tokyo/Philadelphia/Kitchen Stadium Net worth-Over 10 million; Prior investment experience- Fleeced Iron Chef Italian out of millions of yen in buckwheat noodle relabelling scam.

Juror #3 - African American Female: Age - 50; Occupation-Television host/Magazine Mogul/Secret Leader of women's movement set to take over planet in 2006; Marital Status-Single but Stedmanized; Residence-Chicago, the Vineyard, the Hamptons, Aspen; Net worth- Over 1 Billion; Prior investment experience- Caused world wide slump in beef market by directing her minions/viewers to lay off the meat.

Juror #4 - White Portugese Female: Age - 65; Occupation-Philanthropist/Party Switcher/First Lady Wannabe; Marital Status-Married/Widowed/Remarried; Residence-Washington D.C, the Cape, the Hamptons, Pittsburgh; Net worth-500 million; Prior investment experience- Converted translation degree from small Geneva preparatory college into 500 million dollar ketchup fortune.

Juror # 5- White Jewish Female:Age - 44; Occupation-Socialite/Heiress/Future Prison Love Slave; Marital Status-Married to Juror #6, also testified against Juror #6; Residence-Houston, Leavenworth; Net worth-Once approximately $24 million, now not so much.; Prior investment experience- Turned 24 million in illegal Enron profits garnered by Juror #6 into Charitable foundation supporting her children. (Juror will not be available from July 2004 through December 2004)

Juror #6 - White Male: Age - 45; Occupation-Energy Company Executive, Prison Bitch-to Be; Marital Status-Married but prepared for extramarital experimentation in the next 10 years; Residencehouston, Leavenworth; Net worth-Used to be 24 million, now, has his own toothbrush, bar of soap, and tube of lube; Prior investment experience- Turned fake energy contracts worth nothing into multibillion dollar company and then all the way back to nothing again.

Juror #7- White Female: Age -46; Occupation-Former Television talk show host/Former magazine Icon/Former Broadway Producer/ Former Heterosexual; Marital Status-(refused to answer on the basis of the inherit bigotry of the question); Residence-Long Island, Manhattan, Aspen, Miami; Net Worth- Over $30 million, but fading fast; Prior investment experience - Turned successful London play into box office failure by investing $10 million of her own money.

Juror #8- Latina Female Age -30; Occupation-Dancer/Perfumist/Actress/ Magazine Publisher. /Singer/ Single Life Afficionado; Marital Status-Single/Married/Divorced/ Married/Divorced/ Engaged/ Arrested/ Engaged Again/ Giglied/Single; Residence-The Block,New York, Hamptons, Malibu, Ben Affleck's famous tear filled race car sheets.; Net Worth- Over $160 million less posssiblealimony payments to Ben Affleck.
Prior investment experience - Insured rear end for 10 million.

Juror #9- White Male : Age -75; Occupation-real estate Mogul/Baseball Mogul/Shipping Titan/ Fat Guy/ Manager-Firer/red Sox embarasser; Marital Status-Less maried than Joe Torre/more married than Derek Jeter; Residence-House the Ruth Built; Net Worth- Over $980 million; Prior investment experience - Lose millions and millions in revenue every year eventhough owning the most popular sports team in the country, with a long history of sell-outs and packed houses.

Juror #10- African American Male Age -33; Occupation-Marathon Runner/Music Prometer/Television Show Producer/Self Promoter/ Hip Hop Artist/ Self Congratulator/ Movie Star/ Party Planner/ Self Lauder; Marital Status-Broken hearted, but waiting for juror #8; Residence-The Hamptons, Manhattan, Miami, MalibuNet Worth- Over $18o million less legal fees of anticipated gun play; Prior investment experience - Took $60 million from Sony eventhough completely bereft of talent of an original thought. Living of legacy of overweight friend who died more than a decade ago.


Juror #11- White Female: Age -69; Occupation-Currently unemployed/Former Real Estate Mogul/New York Slum Lord and Queen of Mean; Marital Status-Not since she got out of the joint.; Residence-Title VIII housing in East Paramis; possible return to Riker's Island "Summer Home" if things don't pick up soon. Net Worth-Current checking account balance: $73.00, plus six cartons of emergency cigarettes Prior investment experience - Controlled large apartment properties at virtually no maintenance cost for several years.

Juror #12 - White Female Age - 57; Occupation-Former Television host/Former Singer/Former happily Married Idol to Millions of housewives/Current Stalker of Kelly Ripa Marital Status-Married but still pissed; Residence-Chapaqua, the Vineyard, the Hamptons, Professional Football Hall of Fame Net worth-Close to 20 million, less millions leveraged for future psychiatric care of Cody and Cassidy; Prior investment experience-Used poor Honduran children to pump out thousands of pieces of subpar suburbanite K-mart casuals.

"I am confident, that with this jury we can get a fair trial" Stewart's lawyer stated. "These egotistical, no talent, leeching. illegal investing spas are really Ms. Stewart's people."

James Shchlesinger Takes Global Warming theorists Out to the Shed!

In the Hartford Courant: James Schlesinger has an Op/Ed entitled: "Cold, Hard Facts Take Heat Out Of Global Warming"

Registration is required but it is worth it.

Here are two very nice sections:
"The Bush administration, as an alternative to such energy-suppressing measures, has focused on filling gaps in our state of knowledge, promoting the development of new technology, encouraging voluntary programs and working with other nations on controlling the growth of greenhouse-gas emissions. Collectively, these actions involve spending more than $4 billion annually, and the United States is doing more than any other nation to address the climate-change issue."

and..

"It is important that we not be unduly influenced by political rhetoric and scare tactics. Wise policy involves a continued emphasis on science, technology, engagement of the business community on voluntary programs and balancing actions with knowledge and economic priorities. "

Mmmmm cheap shrimp....

US begins probe against India, others for shrimp dumping : HindustanTimes.com: "The US Commerce Department has begun a probe into charges of dumping of shrimp against countries like India, China and Vietnam, amidst protests from American businesses and international shrimp importers."

I would kindly suggest to the Commerce Department that before they impose heavy tariffs on imported shrimp, they take a good look at America. Do we truly look like a nation that has had all that it can eat?

I thought not.

Senate Chairman Merry-Go-Round

Over at Southern Appeal, Adam has a post noting that rumors are circulating that Senator Frist may suspend the chairman term limits rule for Senate Committees. According to several sources, Frist is looking into a rule change. The current rule states: "A senator shall serve no more than six years as chair and six years as ranking member of any standing committee." But I am not so sure that Frist's interest in the rule change has anything to do with comparing the stewardship of Senator Hatch versus Senator Specter over the Senate Judiciary Committee. That is only one of several issues because the Senate has several Senators that will be term limited this year.

For example, Senator Stevens (pictured below, and with that picture how can not want to root for the guy,)



will be term limited out at Appropriations and replaced as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee by Senator Thad Cochran(R-MS).

Senator Cochran will then no longer be the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and he will be replaced by either Senator Lugar, who is currently Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, unless he has already been term limited out, which seems possible. If not Lugar, then the Chairmanship would fall to Senator Mitch McConnell. However, if Senator Lugar is not term limited and returns to Chair the Agriculture Committee then he will be replaced as the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee by Senator Chuck Hagel, a man who has a knack for finding himself in front of rolling television cameras and is not shy about criticizing the President on his Iraq policy.

However it is not entirely clear that Senator Cochran wants to give up his post in the Agriculture Committee (although his website already touts him as the next Chairman of the Appropriations Committee). This is because Senator Cochran is also the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and is expected to retain the position as the No. 1 Republican on that subcommittee after the fall elections. Because he holds both the top party position on the agriculture committee and the top position on the agricultural appropriations subcommittee, Senator Cochran the single most powerful figure in agriculture in Washington. The Farm Bill will come up for revision in 2007, and if the Senate is still Republican hands at that time, it will be his bill.

If for those reasons, Senator Cochran chooses not to become the next Appropriations chair, then that responsibility would fall to Senator Arlen Specter, who would likely choose Judiciary over Appropriations for the airtime, considering the upcoming Supreme Court Nominations. (If any openings are left after this fall that is). If Senator Specter does not take that chair then it would fall to Senator Domenici. Senator Domenici would then have to give up the Energy Committe Chairmanship which would fall to Senator Craig.

Meanwhile, Senator Stevens would replace Senator John McCain as Chairman of the Commerce Committee. If Senator Stevens replaces Senator McCain on Commerce then Senator McCain will replace Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Cambell on the Indian Affairs Committee. If there was any committee that meant for Senator Campbell then it is the Indian Affairs Committee.

But, I digress. If Senator Hatch is term limited out of the Judiciary Committee, then he will take over from Senator Chuck Grassley at the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Grassley would then take over the Senate Budget Committee. This should happen anyway because Senator Nickles is retiring. Unless, of course, Senator Domenici would rather become the chairman of the Budget Committee, as he has seniority. That would, once again make Senator Craig the new Chairman of Energy and Grassley the Chairman of nothing.

Now all of this nonsense hinges on a number of factors. First and foremost, Senators Campbell, Specter, Grassley and McCain are all up for re-election and will not be Chairing any committees if they lose. Next there are 36 seats up for re-election this year with at least seven open seats, so anything could happen, including a Democratic return to power. Those roads in West Virginia may get one more useless repaving yet!

What this is meant to demonstrate is there are a number factors up for consideration in determinig whether or not to extend the six year term limit system. Personally, I think that the term limits are a good idea, in general. They keep the money really moving around in Washington, and prevent comittees from getting too comfortable with continuing resolutions. Plus on Appropriations the Chairman has significant power to direct pork back to his home state and if this position is awarded on a rotating basis, then at least the pork will get a nice even distribution. (Remembering that as long as John McCain represents Arizona, I wouldn't expect too much flowing to that particular state.) Conservatives who fear Senator Specter as the next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee should not move to have the term limits replaced, but instead should be out campaigning for Pat Toomey. If Rick Santorum can win, then so can Pat Toomey.

Todays Zoning News:

The Rocky Mountain Telegram reports that a zoning violation was at heart of the deadly building collapse in Cairo.

The Press of Atlantic City reports that sneaky developers have been using underwater property to calculate total lot sizes to get around zoning laws. "The new ordinance would ensure that no single-family home stands on a dry site smaller than 4,000 square feet, regardless of whether the larger property on which it sits includes submerged or otherwise undevelopable land, such as wetlands."

The city of Salisbury has passed a home fix-it-or-get-fined rule - according to delmarvanow.com: "The Salisbury City Council on Monday passed an ordinance that authorizes the city to fix properties at the owners expense if repairs are not voluntarily made in a timely fashion. As it stands, when a property is discovered in a deficient state, city housing inspectors can issue a citation for each infraction. If repairs are not made within 10 days, fines for each infraction can be imposed. Bill Holland, director of the Salisbury Building, Housing and Zoning Department, said fines typically range from $25 to $50 per violation per day. "

The Ledger-Enquirer reports on an an attempt by a medical waste facility operator to" convince the Talbot County Planning Commission that treating red-bag medical waste" which is not allowed in an indutrial zoned sight as "a laundry process failed Monday night." hard to believe that gauze, sheets, bed pads and syringes wouldn't be classified as laundry.

The Daily Mississippian reports that Oxford residents voice concern about city zoning: "The plan is a guideline for Oxford in terms of how it grows and develops over the next 20 years. It is Oxford's first comprehensive plan since 1971." Anyone who has been to Oxford can attest that it is a lovely town, and hopefully it will continue to grow that way. In classic zoning-speak, one resident wants their RA to be reclassified as an RE because a PUD is not allowed in an RE. Obviously.

RLUIPA Issues Heat Up in Rockaway, New Jersey

The Daily Record News reports that a Beckett Fund letter has stirred up anger at church hearing.: "The Rockaway Township Planning Board Monday night reacted sharply to a letter it saw as a threat, but which officials of the Washington, D.C.-based Becket Fund, that defends churches in court fights, said was meant as informational only."

The paper reports that "Christ Church of Montclair has a $14 million purchase agreement for the 107-acre, former Agilent Technologies site on Green Pond Road in Rockaway Township. The property is in an office-research zone and a church would be a conditional use."

The Beckett Fund sent the Township an informational letter informing them of the basics of the RLUIPA law and the availability of suit should the Township not grant the provisional zoning.

If the Township can not find a reason to grant the permit that would pass strict scrutiny then expect the Beckett Fund, and maybe the Justice Department to get involved. Of course, being that this is Rockaway New Jersey and not Miami or Hawaii, then the Justice Department may choose to ignore this particular dispute.

When Nanotechnology Meets Patent Law

SiGen Announces the End of Litigation Case With Soitec "Silicon Genesis Corporation (SiGen) announced today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has denied the most recent effort of Soitec and the CEA to overturn the jury verdict that invalidated the major claims of Soitec's primary 'Smart-Cut(TM)' patent, U.S. Patent Number 5,374,564 ('564 Patent). "

In case you were wondering, Silicon Genesis Corporation (SiGen) is a leading provider of Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) process technology targeted for use in the production of engineered wafers that enable NanoTechnology applications with next generation products.

Microsoft Loses another Round in Europe

FT.com Home US: "The European Commission has reached a preliminary decision that Microsoft broke European competition law and abused its dominant position in the personal computer market."

The real issue in Europe is with the Windows Media Player, which comes bundled with the Windows software. The Commission has consistently called for Microsoft to pay a fine, unbundle its Media Player program from the rest of Windows and share more information with competitors.

Personally, I have downloaded Realplayer, and for whatever reason, all of my media files immediately became associated with Real player. Similarly all of my new files also become associated with Realplayer eventhough I prefer Windows Media Player.

European Anti-competition laws are similar to U.S. competition laws and the U.S. and European cases are expected to continue on a similar track. More new will be available by May 1.

Dixville Notch, The People's Choice Awards of Primary Contests

The people of the unfortunately named Dixville Notch have spoken! Dixville Notch is in far north New Hampshire, a short smuggled pack of cigarrettes throw from the Canadian border, so as you read on, please do so with a slight French Candian accent. The united voices of Dixville Notch have cried out to the heavens as first primary in the nation and may have shouted the name of the next Democratic Nominee for President! Their choice?

Wesley Clark?!

By a vote of 8 for Clark, to 3 for Kerry, 2 for Edwards, and 1 each for Kucinich and Dean. George Bush recieved all 11 votes. Shortly after the vote was cast, who do you should suppose should walk out of the vote counting room? Why Wesley Clark himself. How embarassing would that have been had he recieved no votes.
how did he know to be there? Could he have been clued in on the vote tally prior to the voting? Or more likely, I believe the residents of Dixville Notch have succumbed to the quiet politeness of their brethren to the north. When informed that Wesly Clark was in the building, I am guessing that most of the votes were cast out of sympathy for the good General. It would have been gauche, out of place, so very American, to have let him fall on his face in view of the dozens of media outlets covering the event.

I wonder however, if there were other candidates in that backroom who did not come? Dennis Kucinich couldn't have anything better do. He was probably there.
Huddled in the back room, hoping above hope that his name would be called. Heck maybe there all back there. Playing Jenga maybe. I bet when they started annoncing the names John Kerry started walking to the door. Not so fast Mr. Senator.

It wouldn't be John Kerry's only loss of the night. Harts Location, in central New Hampshire, with a couple of dozen voters also reported thier results early. George Bush got 13 Votes, And the Democratic winner? Wesley Clark?! Again. And he wasn't even there! This time the vote was much closer with 6 for Wesley Clark and 5 for John Kerry. Maybe this is a trend. I can say that my prediction that Clark would get less than 10% of the vote can only bode well for his campaign.

By the way what do you suppose is the mascot of the Dixville Notch High School Team? The Resevoir Tips? The Circumcisers? The Moyles? The Shafts?

Some great humor from the Clark blog:

On the eve of the New Hamshire Primary, I thought it might be interesting to peruse some of the posts at the Clark blog. For example, on December 16th, 2003 a poster named DW wrote:
If and when Kerry drops out, sure would be nice if Kerry threw his support (and Theresa's $$) behind Clark!

Another poster named enthusiast writes:

If your analysis is correct, and I hope it is, then this means that Edwards, Kerry, Lieberman, and Gephardt will all be finished between now and February 4th.

It looks like Wes Clark is going to need them all to drop out in order to be able to beat Dean. The longer they stay in, the harder it will be for Clark. The sooner they drop out, the better.

They should all realize this by now. Even being narcissistic and self-absorbed which all politicians must be by nature, still they should be able to tell which way the wind is blowing.

It's clear that Clark is ahead of the other four with regard to fundraising, internet support, and average poll numbers. What's beginning to become clearer is that Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman, and Gephardt are running out of cash. So it just seems like a matter of time now, since none has been able to catch fire by now. Why should one of them get hot after a useless year of campaigning that has gotten them all nowhere?

Step aside, gentlemen, and help Clark wrest the nomination out of Dean's hands.


Ahhh, youth. It is to laugh.

Patriot Act Faces first real Hurdle

The WAPO reports on the first federal court to rule against a portion of the Patriot Act

More deatails available at How Appealing.

The Passion Shocker! New Ending Reveals Jesus had a Clone!

Film critics around the world were astonished on Monday after viewing the most recent edit of Mel Gibson's new movie "The Passion" to discover that the director had changed the ending of the movie to incorporate the new character of Jesus' Clone!



When reached for comment on the decision for the new ending, Mel Gibson admitted to the switch. "Basically our old ending was not testing well outside of the Vatican, Utah, South Bend, Indiana, and several counties in Georgia." The original version of the Passion will still be shown in movie theatres in those locales, but every other theatre, and every Motion Picture Academy voter, will recieve a print with the new clone based ending.

"In today's world of lower church attendance, the popularity of the blasphemous DaVinci Code, the search for life on Mars, Howard Dean attracting thousands of supporters, embryonic stem cell research and the possible first human clone, audiences just weren't buying our old ending confirming that Jesus was the Son of God." Gibson continued. In order to placate the growing secular masses, Gibson's production reshot a second ending where Stephen Hawking travels back in time and creates a clone of Jesus in the moments prior to his crucifixion.

"Audiences were much more comfortable with the clone idea." Gibson quipped, "Plus this really opens the possibility for a sequel." Although, Gibson was coy about possible story lines for the sequel, he did say that he was currently in talks with Jim Cameron and Leo Di Caprio. "For too long people have said that there was no way there could be a sequel to Titanic, well we got Jesus' clone now, so pretty much anything is possible!"

Undaunted Quasi Predictions Continue!

Eventhough I am solidly 0-2 in Presidential Primary Predictions I will continue undaunted!

John Kerry..........45%
Howard Dean........23%
John Edwards.......17%
Wesley Clark.........7%
Joe Lieberman.......6%
Other.................2%

So why the big Kerry win despite recent polls showing a tight race? A recent poll showed that 56% of New Hampshire voters felt that John Kerry had the best chance of beating Bush in November. For primary voters, I think that this is the single most important issue. Dean will still get his core support and the maverick Edwards will curry favor among the New Hampsirites sense of obligation in rewarding the up and comer.

As far as Wesley Clark is concerned, recent interviews and debates have demonstrated he may be quite nuts. And unfortunately for Joe Lieberman, I think "Joe-mentum" is Joe-bogus and the only Joe-vote he is Joe-going to Joe-get is that of Joe-mama.

Mars Dataset #2 is available for your Maestro Software

Nasa is providing Mars Dataset #2 Downloads. This is very time consuming so i would not suggest playing with this package at work.

Also it is RAM hog and so you can pretty much do nothing else.

But on the plus side you can see the 3-D images.

NASA is currently giving an update on the Spirit and Observer Rovers. For some reason the Spirit Rover was brodcasting for short period of from the year 2053. It is back in the present now. But still not working perfectly. They have narrowed down the problem to a flash memory system. The Spirit Rover has accumulated many more files than previously thought.

Martian porn perhaps?

Deny! Deny! Deny! ......Boom!

The Associated Press reports that"The Syrian government has repeatedly denied that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were sent to Syria to prevent their discovery by U.N. inspectors or U.S. troops."

Their most recent denial came in the wake of the David Kay reprt detailing shipments of something from Iraq to Syria in the build up to the war. My question is however, don't these guys ever learn. Denial only leads to overthrow. The Syrians should just admit to whatever the U.S. says, let in anybody they want, show them everything from a tank of sarin to cup of Dijon Mustard and host the World Cup in 2012. This is known as the Libyan gambit and I highly recommend it.

Todays Zoning News

In the New York Daily News Mike Lupica writes on some of zoning and displacement problems of the new Nets stadium.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports on Manhattan zoning plans to double the size of the city, to 2600 people!

The Press of Atlantic City reports that ocean City had a 92% approval rating for all zoning variance requests. Which is nice, unless you wanted to live in a residential zone.


The Auburn Journal reports on a zoning and planning issue surrounding the opening of a gun park and hunting range. "What's going on with our Planning Department officials?" a local resident asked. "Is the department blinded by the magical phrase "open space"? Is the department selling out our zoning laws in order to get "wildlife habitation" programs?"

The Tennesseean reports on a planning commissioner in La Vergne who is considering a land-friendly zoning category. : "Jerry Kelly, the city's new planning director, wants to change that way of developing and proposes a new zoning district that would require developers to work with the land's characteristics."

The Charlotte observer describes the fading of a group called the Nuwabians who tried create the `Egypt of the West' At first the group was sued for violating a varity of zoning laws, but now their leader faces serious criminal charges. The article states "Frank Ford who litigated for the county against the group in zoning cases, said, 'It's not often you get a bunch of black folks in the middle of Georgia running around in cowboy suits.'"

And in a rare heart touching zoning story, the Berkshire Eagle Online discusses a tale of local businesses in West Stockbridge, MA who donated the use of their parking lots to a local eatery to help meet zoning requirements. "The Zoning Board of Appeals granted Tom Tenuta and William Boudreau two special permits at a public hearing Thursday night, allowing them to turn two-thirds of the Waterside Gallery building at 30 Main St. into a restaurant and exempting them from a parking requirement called for in the bylaw."

Does this mean Micheal Stipe can sue quasi in REM

DMNews.com reports that: "Playboy Enterprises and AOL settled their trademark-infringement case over keyword advertising last week, just days after a court ruled the 5-year-old case could proceed. "

Playboy sued Netscape and the now defunct Excite over search engine results that would trigger banner ads for non-Playboy sites when playboy and playmate were search terms.

Because the suit has settled, the precedential value of the case is close to nil eventhough a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said recently the case could continue after a lower court had issued a summary judgment for Netscape, now owned by AOL.

Hopefully the members of R.E.M. are shiny happy people and will not sue the owner of this lonely blog eventhough if you visit this site, coverspoject.com, looking for news on R.E.M. you recieve a constant stream of updates from quasi in rem.

Sorry R.E.M.fans, but sometimes even the best planned technology is not Automatic for the People. Then again maybe a website that is intended on giving R.E.M. fans band updates , but instead delivers conservative news is a sign that it might be the End of the World as We Know It.

I feel fine about that.

Good Discussion of Pickering Appointment at Claremont Institute

The Claremont Institute's blog, The Remedy has a nice discussion going on as to a possible bold strategy for a new wave of recess appointments should the fillibuster hold.

Now most of these appointments would be constitutionally impermissable, unles they are nominated prior to a recess, however one name that he does not name is Attorney General Pryor.

The post to which Attorney General Pryor was nominated occurred durin and intersession recess, unlike Pickerings post, which occurred during an intrasession recess, and his nomination will likely still be pending during the next Congressional recess.

Similarly, Attorney General Pryor could no doubt put together a staff at a rapid clip and begin hearing cases. However he would have to give up his post, and he may not get a vote. However, if his nomination is still pending next Christmas, and the Republicans gain seats in the Senate, then the President should appoint him win or lose the election.

Suspected Terrorists Can No longer Make their Money the Old Fashion Way

The Christian Science Monitor has an interesting letter to the editor detailing some of the changes the Patriot Act has caused in the institutional investment sector. The article states that "USA Patriot Act regulations that took effect this fall require various financial service providers - mutual funds included - to beef up their knowledge of people with whom they're doing business"

This line is interesting however: "Mr. Paris says his company uses information from your application to verify against government records that you are not a suspected terrorist. Once that is established, he says, no one goes on to build any sort of dossier"

How is that possible? Do investment houses have a list of suspected terrorists and their addresses? If we know who the suspected terrorists are and their addresses, then why are they still there? Unless the application says:

Padilla, Jose
Cell 23
Guantanamo, Cuba 80263

how exactly can a company determine if an investor is a suspected terrorist?

And if they are a suspected terroroist, but the government does not feel the need to arrest them, then by what authority can the government prevent them from investing in Vanguard's Small Cap Value Index.

This is all highly confusing, but if anyone has any ideas I would be very curious.

Justice Department Buys Big Screen T.V., Rents Karate Kid Trilogy, Bills Taxpayer

Dow Jones News reports that the Justice Department " is looking into a coalition of companies known as the Blu-ray group, people familiar with the matter say. Founded by Sony, Matsushita, Philips and seven other major electronics companies, the group is promoting the Blu-ray disc, a format that can store about six times as much data as a conventional DVD, enough for more than four hours of high-definition video. "

there are currently two leading formats of DVD technology competing to be the next big thing. As with the Beta-max/VHS debate, one system seems to be the favorite of users/afficionados and another seems to be the favorite of industry types. The Justice Department is investigating possible anti-trust violations with the apparent collusion of the Blu-ray group.

Oish, Justice Department, you too much T.V..

The Golden Globes and Iowa Caucuses: Full of Sound and Fury and of Questionable Significance


The Golden Globes were on last night, and, unless you were expecting something other than a massive Hollywood vanity festival, rife with fake compliments and false senses of accomplishment, it did not disappoint.

The Golden Globes has long been the Iowa caucuses of the award show season. This first-of-the-season self-congratulatory back-slapper, features groups of unknown voters, in this case the Hollywood Foreign Press, who have little or nothing in common with the average American, yet who are given the opportunity join together in backrooms and alleys and decide, without actual consideration of anything objectively meritorious, who should be labeled a "winner." Often the Globes pick a winner who, while the darling of the Foreign Press, has no real national appeal and no real shot at being on the winning ticket at the more democratic Academy Awards. Finally, the Globes are a combination of television and screen actors and therefore, much like the voters in the caucuses, the Hollywood Foreign Press are often faced with a large cast of nonworthy nominees who seem to be participating in the process simply because they have nothing better to do.

For example, for several years now, Sharon Stone and Melanie Griffith have been showing up at the awards for no particular reason. Truly, they are the Dennis Kucinich and Lyndon Larouche of the award season. Are they nominated? No. Can they win anything? No. But has anyone in their lives had the courage to step up and tap them on the shoulder and tell them that the tribe has spoken? Unfortunately no. Hollywood would operate so much more efficiently if only Jeff Probst would visit these award shows and politely tell these aging actors and actresses, whoonly have USA movies of the week and guest spots on UPN sitcoms to look forward to, that they have been voted off the island. Good bye. Don't forget to stop by and let Joan Rivers critique your unfashionable dress on the way out.

Every year my wife and I watch the show and place award-by-award wagers on the winners of the dubious categories. Of course, on several occasions the selection becomes exceedingly difficult. For example, this year which transgendered cross-dressing saga on HBO should win for best television mini-series? I suppose I should not have been shocked when there was more than one to choose from, but color me mid-American, I was. So how does one pick? This year I went with the "straight" anti-war, anti-administration ticket. Anyone at the Sarandon/Robbins table was selected without question. Anyone in the widely panned Reagan miniseries was moved immediately to the top of the list unless, of course, the even more anti-Reagan administration mini-series "Angels in America" was in competition. Europeans, especially French or German actors, were given the benefit of the doubt. Sean Penn wins even if the category is best actress in a musical comedy. However this process made the selection for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Made for Television next to impossible. The nominees in that category were Antonio Banderas, in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself, who is European, but in the Coalition of the Willing. Also nominated was James Brolin, from The Reagans, who could be the obvious selection due to his daft and witless portrayal of the President. But also in the category, were two transgendered stars, including both Troy Garity, in the HBO story Soldier's Girl and Tom Wilkinson, in the equally sexually confused Normal. And finally Al Pacino, was nominated for Angels in America. I decided to stick with my guns and went with Pacino. Needless to say, I won our wagers easily.

Much like the Iowa Caucuses, the Globes often promote those candidates without much national recognition, but who could play a major role in future contests. For example, the Globes feature, as award holders, the daughters of Hollywood royalty, who themselves are not yet stars, but who one day could be. This year the royalty in waiting was Kevin Costner's daughter who was quite lovely. She also happened to look several years older than Costner's current companion or wife or girlfriend or partner or opposite gendered associate of choice or whatever the Hollywood establishment is calling such women today. My suggestion would be for future contests to switch these two roles and make the award presenters be the new girlfriends of recently divorced and aging Hollywood actors. These women are the real movers and shakers in the industry. The Catherine Zeta Jones's, Lara Flynn Boyle's and Calista Flockhart's of this world demand to be recognized, and deserve our adulation. If, for nothing else, the willingness to see old dudes in the buff.

In the end the Globes, much like the Iowa caucuses, settled on the old and established instead of the new and trendy in picking the Lord of the Rings. Perhaps the Foreign Press, much like the Iowa Caucus goer wanted to be associated with a winner, and electability, rather than the maverick. Or, perhaps, like much of America, they weren't running to the theatre to see Cold Mountain or Mystic River. Will the Lord of the Rings survive through the rest of the award season? Who knows, but it has survived the petty insanity that is the Golden Globes and next up is the Shire in New Hamp, where, I am told, several cast members in the movie are home town products.

Original Memos

By the way, if you are still at all curious as to the actual content of the misappropriated Senate Judiciary memos, then visit this link to where the Coalition for a Fair judiary still has them archived.

India responds to Omnibus Outsourcing Ban

The Financial Times reports that India has responded to the ban on subcontractors using outsourcing in the omnibus package. The article contains a fascinatin note though: " US federal contracts account for only 2 per cent of India's IT earnings, the bill sends a worrying message to the Indian outsourcing industry, which has been lobbying hard to stave off protectionism."

2%! 2% of all of India's IT earnings are directly funded by U.S. taxpayers. Apparently that works out to almost 300 million dollars. That is 300 million dollars that really should be put back into our own econmy here at home. That makes up for just about all of the other pork in the bill if you ask me.

More Outsourcing...to America?

This Contra Costa Times article highlights foreign auto makers efforts to set up shop in America. It poses an interesting contrast to the campaign slogans that have ricoched across the campaign trail.

Hyudai is currently building yet another auto plant in Alabama. So the message seems to be if you want to buy products that support American workers, buy foriegn products. But if you want to buy products that support American stock holders, buy at Walmart.

I am Howard Dean! I refuse to stop saying stupid things.

Ap reports on the latest Howard Dean gaff "Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean (news - web sites) said Sunday that the standard of living for Iraqis is a 'whole lot worse' since Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s removal from power in last year's American-led invasion. "

This is not a joke. Howard Dean actually said this. Which means he knows exactly what the standard of living was before the fall of Saddam as well as what the standard of living is now. More importantly it means that he totally disregards system of government in the equation for standard of living.

Isn't freedom of speech a factor? How about freedom from persecution? Don;t these things matter? Will they matter under a Dean administration? If they will not then it makes his attacks on John Ashcroft and the Patriot Act virtually meaningless.

Another Democrat declines re-election bid

The WAPO reports that: "U.S. Rep. Jerry Kleczka, a Democrat, will not seek re-election this fall after 10 terms, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Sunday."

This looks like a safe seat for Democrats, but it is once again another contest that will sap funds from the general Democratic funds.

First Pictures from Mars Opportunity

It's working!

This rover is looking for samples of hematite, which is typically created in the presence of water.

Zoning Laws Sought to prevent gambling activity

Washington state legislature seeks to enact curbs on the spread of gambling.

Gambling Magazine reports that "Local officials yesterday called on the Legislature to clarify their powers to control so-called mini-casinos and other gambling activities through zoning." However, even in the land of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc., 475 U.S. 41 (1986), the limits of zoning power are still unclear. Renton of course, upheld zoning restrictions on adult motion picture theatres based on reports showing the secondary effects of such businesses in other cities. No adult motion picture theater could be located within 1000 feet of any residential zone, single- or multi-family dwelling, church or park, or within one mile of any school.

Generally speaking, the First Amendment does not require a city to conduct new studies or produce evidence independent of studies prior to enacting a zoning ordinance. However it is unclear what exactly the secondary effects of these cardrooms are.

Schools in Florida want to bid on property in secret.

The Online Ledger reports that some schools want exemption from Sunshine Law for land deals Florida's open government Sunshine Law would generally not allow districts to negotiate property deals in secret. however, school districts are seeking the exemption claiming that land owners hike prices when they hear school districts are property hunting.


That may be true however something about the phrase "secret property negotiations" strikes me as inviting the appearance of corruption.

French Join the Coalition of the Willing! In the war on music swappers....

Forbes.com reports that France has allied with the US and UK to sue song swappers. Forbes reports thatwe should. "Add the French to the war on Internet song swappers." This leads to the obvious question: Who is stealing French music?

Well they aren't they are stealing, American music distributed by SNEP which represents roughly 50 independent and major music labels including Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Music and Bertelsmann's. The French music industry trade body SNEP will report that recorded music sales fell 14.6 percent in revenues in 2003 to just under 2.1 billion euros, said Herve Rony, SNEP general manager


However, because copyright laws are much weaker in France, parliamentary action is needed prior to the pursuit of enforcement mechanisms similar to the ones that the RIAA has used in this country.

Further Evidence that New Hampshirites have Nothing to do...

Polling changes yet again, Reuters reports. "Kerry's lead is now nine points over three days, however he led only by 26 percent-22 percent over Dean in Friday polling alone, while Edwards and Lieberman each hit 10 percent," pollster John Zogby said.

But my question is this, why are these people still answering their phones. There are ten different polling outfits up there. Six different candidates still making calls. Multiple special interests groups. Yikes! If I were them I would just lean back, take the phone off the hook, relax and have a homebrew.

Either that or I would answer Sharpton to every pollster every time.

More Evidence on Nukes for Money in Pakistan

Pakistan traces foreign bank accounts of N-experts : HindustanTimes.com: "Foreign bank accounts of two senior Pakistani nuclear scientists, who allegedly received money for passing nuclear technology to Iran, have been traced by investigators even as the government ordered all ministries and departments not to invite Dr AQ Khan, the father of the country's atomic bomb, to any official function."

Most official functions in Pakistan involve executing someone, so I am pretty sure Khan is o.k. with that. By the way, just in case you wondering:

"KHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNN NNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!"

Finally an actual hit piece on John Kerry!

So far in this last weeke verything that I have read about John Kerry's many faults has been pathetic. However Mickey Kaus changes all that (link via Instapundit) with an anti-frontrunner linkfest.: "Kerryphobia Korner: Many emailers have told me I should lay out more rigorously my reasons for opposing John Kerry. I'll try to do that during the coming post-New Hampshire 'Turkey Shoot.' "

You should go check it out. Links aplenty!

The Tyranny of Copyright Continued

"The House Judiciary Committee has approved controversial legislation that extends protection for facts within databases which are not currently eligible for copyright protection. "

The article on internetnews.com continues:"The Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act (H.R. 3261) allows database owners to sue in civil court for damages arising from the theft of the information in the database. The committee approved the bill on a 16-7 vote. "

The money behind this legislation has not yet begun to flow into the Senate, and hopefully it will not. "This legislation is absolutely not necessary," Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) told internetnews.com. " There is a lack of need for this and huge opposition. It is mischievous in that it will lock away facts from public access."

Take that Old Europe!

NASA reports that we are 'Two for Two' as Opportunity lands on Mars: "NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe led off a post-landing press conference with praise for the Mars Exploration Rover team, which he called 'the best in the world.'"

That's another big "in your face" to the Europeans. Meanwhile in other news, Dr. Ed Weiler, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Science, seems to have gotten a little too attached to his twin rovers. He noted that the last few days have been an emotional rollercoaster for the Mars team. But, he said, "we resurrected one rover and saw the birth of another." Someone should remind Doctor Weiler that these things are remote controlled cars.

Mars Observer Lands and shows signs of life!

Tests are still being run on Al Gore, who was at JPL headquarters for the landing. By the way, Al Gore, who two weeks ago endorsed the Mars Rover as his pick for best Mars spacecraft, commented that he is considering switching his choice.

John Edwards Blames Bush for War Vote

Reuters |reports that: "Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards called on Saturday for an independent commission to investigate if the Bush administration misled the U.S. Congress in making its case for war with Iraq and demanded an end to 'war profiteering.' "

In other news, Edwards blames John Ashcroft for making him for the Patriot Act and stupid children every where for making him vote for "No Child Left Behind."

If the commission goes through the Edwards campaign is planning on changing its official campaign slogan to "John Edwards for President:Its always some one elses fault."

U.S. Congressman Arrives in Libya, stalled at customs for failing to declare and/or have illegal guns and nuclear devices

BBC NEWS reports on the US delegation's arrival in Gaddafi's Libya "US congressman Tom Lantos has arrived in Libya to see how its pledge to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme is progressing. "

No US congressman has visited Libya since Muammar Gaddafi took power nearly 35 years ago. The rumor is that Gaddafi is aiming for the World Cup, or , is afraid for his life. I feel for the citizens of Libya, but insofar as Mr. Gaddafi is concerned, I hope he dies a thousand deaths.

Non-homicidal non-drunken non-driver picked to fill seat of drunken homicidal driver

South Dakota Republicans pick nominee for convicted congressman's seat: "State Sen. Larry Diedrich received a majority of votes on the fourth ballot cast by members of the Republican State Central Committee. "

Diedrich is a soy/corn and hog farmer, who has not, as yet, killed anyone with his car. No news yet on the democratic nominee, but sources report that the Democrats first choice, Ted Kennedy, is unavailable.

Fat Men should not threaten death

Wisconsin Republican, and known cheese and bratwurst eater, James Sensenbrenner, who heads the House Judiciary Committee, vowed that extending the Patriot Act before reviewing its results by 2005 would happen 'over my dead body.'

Representative Sensenbrenner, who clocks 3 bills at least should not be speaking so quickly. Granted the Act deserves review, but this man is one Octerberfest away from a quadruple bypass. I would put the odds on this threat at about 50/50. but if Representative Sensennbrenner does not immediately denounce dairy in all its forms, I would give the advantage to the Patriot Act.

It still does not make it Ironic

Man dies after win on lottery TV show: "Carl D. Atwood, 73, won $57,000 on Thursday during a taping of the television game show in Indianapolis, Hoosier Lottery Director Jack Ross said.

After the two-hour taping, which will air tonight, Atwood returned to his hometown of Elwood with the check, Ross said.
About 7 p.m., Atwood was crossing Main Street a block from his home -- on his way to the grocery store where he had bought the ticket that got him on the show -- when a black pickup rounded a corner and struck him, said Elwood Police Chief Toby R. Barker."

No matter what Alannis Morrisette says, this still is not irony. It is crappy, and an extremely unfortunate set of circumstances, but irony would be if the man was hit by the lottery wagon bringing his money to him.

Just in case you forgot, Micheal Jackson is pretty weird:

News Of the World - Online Edition: "MEGASTAR Michael Jackson's claim he is the natural father of the two children born to ex-wife Debbie Rowe is a LIE.
Debbie was artificially inseminated with anonymously donated sperm to give birth to son Prince Michael Jnr and daughter Paris. "

Totally Cosmic Dude!

Wired News reports the story Cosmic Rays, Who's Yer Daddy?: "Rocky Kolb, a founding head of the NASA Astrophysics Group at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, developed a more unconventional hypothesis. Kolb attributes high-energy cosmic rays to the decay of supermassive dark matter, which was left by the Big Bang.
'I would love it if that theory is correct,' Kolb said. 'But even if the most conservative theories turn out to be right, it would be a revolution in physics.' "

The only good Canadian is a ... well you fill in the blank:

The CBC news reports that: "- Pakistani authorities have confirmed that Egyptian-born Canadian citizen Ahmed Said Khadr was killed during a raid last year against suspected terrorists in the country's tense border region, officials said Saturday.

Well its good news that Canada is becoming involved in the global war on terror, now if only they could pick the right side.

Next Congressman up for bids: Rep. Billy Tauzin

In a sure ploy to increase his price, Congressman Tauzin has rejected the initial offer to head the MPAA"Rep. Billy Tauzin (R., La.), who wields influence over the government's relationship with drug and media companies, rejected an offer to become Hollywood's top lobbyist but hasn't decided whether to head the pharmaceutical industry's leading trade organization"


this is just a big bidding war, Jack Valenti, who is reportedly 82, but closer to 108, has headed the organization since Edison was alive. He literally promoted the use of color picture technology as opposed to black and white.

Tauzin will likely end up being the head of the MPAA, but they will have to increase their offer.

Mission to Mars II: Electric Boogaloo

Tonight all the cool kids will be watching t.v. " Landing of the second Mars Lander, Opportunity, is scheduled for 12:06 a.m. EST Sunday, and Theisinger said mission control would not slow down Opportunity's mission because of the problems with Spirit.

"Opportunity is headed toward Meridiani Planum, a smooth plain near Mars' equator, which is believed to be full of iron-bearing hematite, a mineral that on Earth usually forms in the presence of liquid water. "

I once had a bug bite on my Merdiani Planum. Hurt like a mother. Couldn't reach it and I think it got infected.

Sorry Guys, She is off the market.



and check this loser who snagged her:



of, course he does have a job and a house and a beagle.

Killing two Ducks with one shot

The L.A. Times has an interesting article by veteran supreme court watcher David Savage entitled "Senators Inquire of Justices' Recusal Rules" The details are "A letter from Sens. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut was prepared in response to a report in The Times on Saturday that Justice Antonin Scalia and Vice President Dick Cheney had gone duck hunting together in southern Louisiana three weeks after the high court agreed to hear Cheney's appeal of a judge's order that he produce documents about meetings of his task force on U.S. energy policy."

I doubt that this raises the specter of impartiality since, even though the case is entitled Inre Cheney the Vice President is not personally liable in the energy task force case and would not face financial damages if he loses.

Here is the story from last December detailing the Court's accepance of cert. in the case.

Here is Dean's statements on his web blog from today:

Blog for America : Dean's Statement on David Kay's Comments | January 24, 2004:

"'Today's comments by David Kay further undermine this President's repeated claims that Iraq posed an imminent threat to America with weapons of mass destruction. It is an embarrassment that for the second year in a row, George Bush misled the American people in his State of the Union address about Iraqi weapons.'"

Why did he post this? He must know by now that it is not true. Additionally, I have no idea what weapons-of-mass-destruction-program-related-activities exactly entails, but I am pretty sure that Mr. Kay's admissions must fall somewhere in that wide swath of language.

Kerry Getting Stronger By the Second

This American Research Group 2004 NH Democratic Tracking Poll is just amazing -Day Results

Jan 16-18, 17-19, 18-20, 19-21, 20-22, 21-23

Clark 20% 19% 18% 19% 20% 19%
Dean 28% 28% 26% 22% 18% 15%
Edwards 8% 8% 9% 9% 11% 13%
Kerry 19% 20% 24% 27% 31% 34%
Kucinich 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1%
Lieberman 6% 7% 7% 7% 7% 6%

13 Points down in 6 days for Dean, 15 points up for Kerry. Everyone loves a winner, boy!

Man Bites Dog, Dog shares snuff film of the act on the internet, Cat Dowloads Film.

AP Wire reports that a federal Judge has allowed KAZAA, a file-sharing software maker, to bid to sue entertainment companies. " A federal judge has ruled that the makers of the most popular file-sharing software can pursue copyright infringement claims against several movie and music companies."

As it turns out, in their bid to prosecute those who illegally share their copyrighted material, severla music and movie companies downloaded Kazza Lite and then, in violation of Kazaa's licensing agreement, used the service to threaten its users. Now, I can understand Sony music wanting to use Kazaa to warn file swappers, but for goodness sakes, BUY THE SOFTWARE!

Outsourcing and the Omnibus

Although it has not been widely reported here in the United States, on of the key provisions of the omnibus bill was a limitation on outsourcing of public contracts. As reported by ExpressIndia, however, theU.S. has passed its first law against outsourcing. "The provision is the first federal law that limits companies from performing contracted work outside the US ever since outsourcing became a potent political issue in the US a year ago. "

Now, when the federal government gives contracts to an American firm, that firm cannot give subcontracts out of that to a source outside the United States. I wonder why those Senators on the campaign trail who bemoan the loss of jobs outside the U.S. voted against the bill?

A conglomeration of no-goodniks

The New York Times is reporting that President Musharraf now concedes : "that scientists from his country appeared to have sold nuclear designs to other nations probably 'for personal financial gain.' "

So who were these nations? So far Iran and Libya have acknowledged receipt of the knowledge. Boy, if only there were a word to describe multiple nations working together for one evil purpose.....

Argument #1 as to why overtime rules should be rewritten.

If sitting around in the nude qualifies you for overtime, then I am due a big fat check. The Miami Herald reports that the plucky ladies at Voyeur Dorm believe they are being undercompensated for their difficult work. " They have sued the operator of the website, www.VoyeurDorm.com, in federal court, alleging that the daily regimen of semi-nude sunbathing, housekeeping, swimming, showering and chat-room correspondence in the fishbowl of the World Wide Web went well beyond the limited hours they were told they would have to work. They seek compensation for uncollected overtime pay."

Thar she blows!

Geuss what? There is oil in Alaska.: "Interior Secretary Gale Norton signed off on a plan Thursday for opening most of an 8.8 million-acre swath of Alaska's North Slope to oil and gas development. Some of the drilling could occur in areas important for migratory birds, whales and wildlife. The Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will use the plan to manage a northwest portion of the government's 23.5 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Geologists believe the reserve may contain 6 billion to 13 billion barrels of oil."

By the way many of those enironmental concerns do noy ovvur in the Alaska North west Wildlife Reserve. In fact one of the reasons that an agreement, since renegged on by Senator Byrd, to allow drilling in ANWR was the potential for coastal damage in some areas of the National Petroleum Reserve.

Oh, and if you were wondering what horrible right wing environmentalist hating whacko opened up the eastern shore for drilling? His name was Bill Clinton.

Real money for fake stuff

I have no idea why this virtual property has value. But appaparently people are willing to millions of dollars for it. Virtual Currency Pioneers to Join Forces; Internet Gaming Entertainment Ltd. Acquires Yantis Enterprises, Inc: "Massively multiplayer online role-playing games ('MMORPGs') like EverQuest and Ultima Online are filled with virtual property -- things like magic weapons, houses, in-game currency, and characters that are bought and sold on auction exchanges, with thousands of dollars trading hands every day. The total trade volume for virtual property is estimated by Professor Edward Castronova, professor of economics at Cal-State Fullerton, to exceed $400m annually, with an undetermined portion of that amount annually captured in real-world dollars by dealers in virtual currency and goods. "

How to become an Federal Judge 101

Two different views are reflected in a couple of the recent nominees.

Gene Pratter, for example has given almost $20,000 recently to Republicans and their causes. A significant amount of that to local Senator and Judiciary Chairman to be, Arlen Spector.

On the other hand Raymond W. Gruender, nominee for the Eigth Circuit court of Appeals has given very little, to anyone.

So if you are a practicing attorney with a desire to be a federal judge, don't get out that checkbook quite yet.

Senator Leahy's statement on Judge Pickering

Senator Leahy has released this statement: "Late last Friday afternoon President Bush made his most cynical and divisive appointment to date when he bypassed the Senate and unilaterally installed Charles Pickering to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. That appointment is without the consent of the United States Senate and is a particular affront to the many individuals and membership organizations representing African Americans in the Fifth Circuit who have strongly opposed this nomination. "

This is my favorite part:
" The nominee’s supporters, including some Republican Senators, have chosen to imply that Democrats opposed the nominee because of his religion or region. That is untrue and offensive. These smears have been as ugly as they are wrong. "

Ugly and wrong? Like describing him as a racist?

And this on the theft of the documents:

"The third disappointment we face is the ongoing fallout from the cyber theft of confidential memoranda from Democratic Senate staff. This invasion was perpetrated by Republican employees both on and off the Committee. As revealed by the Chairman, computer security was compromised and, simply put, members of the Republican staff took things that did not belong to them and passed them around and on to people outside of the Senate. This is no small mistake. "

Actually he has that about right. What the theif should have done was steal all of the documents and then use them to write his own memos in the form of "theories" as to the Democratic strategies. Simply distributing them is poor form.

Kerry Campaign Installs Caller I.D. and Call blocking on All Phones

The John Kerry for President Campaign has installed Caller I.D. and call blocking on all campaign phones this afternoon in response to the news that Walter Mondale has come out and endorsed Senator Kerry for president.

"We don't know how that one got through, "Kerry campaing manager Pam Oliver, stated on Friday, afternoon, "But we just cannot risk anymore of these endorsements." News in New Hampshire has been spreading that past Democratic Presidential nominee Micheal Dukakis has been planning on endorsing Kerry as well and has been trying to get in touch with the Senator prior to his announcement.

The Kerry campaign had initially rigged its call system to prevent any call from a phone registered to a Dukakis from being connected through to their offices. But now, in response to the Mondale nod, that service has been expanded." At this point we are taking no calls from any phone number with a Greek sounding sound, any phone in the Boston area, or anyone with the first name Kitty or Olympia." Oliver stated.

Jump into the Nano-Boom! Have Fun Riding the Nano-Bust!

In our continuing effort to keep investors abreast of the coming boom and bust in the stock market we pass on this report from MSN Money - CNBC TV: Investing According to CNBC, "Money is pouring into the fledgling science of nanotechnology, and many analysts foresee a repeat of the Internet boom and bust. Peter Hebert of Lux Capital sees a key difference that he thinks will allow nanotechnology to avoid a dot-com-style meltdown. "

Not likely, besides the fun is watching your money fly away. Anyway, Mr. Lux picks three stocks to watch:

VECO5- Veeco Instruments Inc.31.54 -0.30
Veeco Instruments Inc. makes next-generation microscopes using nanotechnology. Its instruments are used in the semiconductor and data-storage industries. Our first nano-bubble stock pick, Intel is a customer, Hebert said, as are Stanford University and MIT.

FEIC6- FEI Company 26.58 -0.22
The Hillsboro, Ore., company is another maker of precision instruments used in nanotechnology.

PCOP5- Pharmacopeia, Inc. 20.16-0.20
The Princeton, N.J., company accelerates and improves drug-discovery and chemical-development processes.
Our charts will be updated to the left as well, coming soon.

As Don Johnson would say, "We're looookin's for a heartbeat! Heart beaaaaaat."

AP reports that NASA Gets New Signal From Mars Rover "Engineers got a 10-minute signal Friday morning from the Spirit rover and planned further communications with it in an effort to diagnose and possibly patch up their ailing robotic patient on Mars. "

In further testing, NASA engineers have narrowed it down to two possible sources of the communications failure. The first is a piece of Microsoft Software used to manage the basic operating system on the rover. Microsoft has responded that they are sure the problem is not with their software, but even if it is, it is definetely not a programming error, but in fact a a feature. Much like many "bugs" with Microsoft products, it is the misunderstanding of the end user which causes the belief that this is a bug, not a problem with the product. In fact the inability of the rover to communicate with Earth for long periods of time, is actually quite a fantastic feature, according Microsoft, as it gives the rover the necessary downtime with which it can collect it's thoughts and ponder the meaning of existence.

The other possible explanation of the failure is much more nefarious. Immediately, prior to losing communication with the rover, NASA learned that the Rover had been reading its email. Although unconfirmed at this point, one of the emails was sent from an unknown source entitle "Juliette" and had the subject line "I love you." Whether or not this email contained a virus, at this point, is unknown. Other emails read by the Rover included offers to increase the size of its Martian probe by up to 3 inches, and a way to make up to $1000.00 a week by working from Mars.

John Kerry's Big Decision

How to Spend the Money?

With John Kerry's Iowa win, the money has begun to pour in. AP reports that: "Kerry, the four-term senator from neighboring Massachusetts whose campaign was given up for dead just weeks ago, has seen an infusion of more than $750,000 in cash from Internet sites alone since his win in Iowa, aides said." Which begs the question: how to spend the money?

Prior to Iowa John Kerry loaned his campaign significant amounts of money, upwards of 6 million by some accounts, and now he faces the decision of whether to spend this infusion of cash on repaying himself, or on spending it on continue campaign efforts.

Clearly, if he feels he can win in New Hampshire and then go on to win the nomination, he is not going to repay himself now, there will be plenty of time for that after the convention. However, if his advance polling in South Carolina/Missouri/Oklahoma and the next round of primaries looks bleak, and before Iowa they did, then maybe now is the time to pocket the new cash.

Of course, John Kerry has all that Heinz money to fall back on in his personal life so this money may just be gone. But if he begins to pay back his loan then it will give an insight into his campaign prospects for the future.

Hello???? Is there anybody out there?

AP reports that NASA is Unable to Communicate with Mars Rover: "Project managers initially seemed unconcerned at the setback but are now examining whether the communications glitch may have contributed to the more serious problems with Spirit. "

John Edwards, Master of the Strawman

I just watched a John Edwards stump speech on CSPAN out of curiosity and I have to say the man is pure infomercial smooth. And in the true spirit of the infomercial he puts forward most of his "policy" positions through the posing of completely ludicrous strawman questions. Such as, "If you are looking for the Democrat who is best at sniping at his fellow Democratic rivals , then I am not your man." or "I am not going to get the votes of those Democrats who are looking for the same old same old from Washington insiders." But damn if he wasn't smooth as silk. I was ready to buy a rotisserie grill by the time he was done.

Not on my own of course. Only together can we solve our problem of a lack of rotisserie chicken. And if we want dry stringy chicken then John Edwards is not the man who can help me get that type of divisive rotisserie grill. But if I want fresh suculent chicken with full health care benefits then John Edwards and I together can get that rotisserie grill and eat that chicken for a better America and a brighter future.

When asked a questions though he did give an actual answers.

The question was "If elected President, will you support a 40 mile per gallon minimum on all vehicles?"

His answer,"Yes." I guess he wasn't planning on winning in Michigan after all.

The next question was "Do you support giving illegal aliens drivers licenses?"

His answer,"Yes." Of course he called them undocumented workers as opposed to illegal aliens.

He thinks the confederate flag is divisive and should not be flown on public grounds. What about the one that flies at General Lee's Headquarters in Gettysburg Pennsylvania?

He thinks that "stem cell research should continue in a "scientific way." Whatever that means. and he notes,"Everyone is against cloning!" Well not everyone, Senator, and it is a fine line between where cloning ends and stem cell research begins.

He thinks we shoudl internationalize our forces in Iraq. I wonder what country those Spanish troops were from who died. He also thinks we should have a democratic timetable for Iraq. Mmm. That also sounds familiar. He wants NATO to take over. Well, Spain, The United States, Italy, Denmark, Poland and several other NATO members already have troops there. Turkey is not wanted. What NATO countries are we missing, who would actually send troops?

Gay Rights Activist Supports Judge Pickering

And to what must the human Rights Watch's chagrin, he uses actual facts. The Independent Gay Forum has an article that defends Judge Pickering penned by Stephen H. Miller.

Here are the facts:
"In 1991, Pickering sharply rebuked an attorney who tried to use a plaintiff's homosexuality in a fraud trial, saying "Homosexuals are as much entitled to be protected from fraud as any other human beings." And in 1994 he stopped an anti-gay citizens group in the town of Ovett, Mississippi, from using the courts to harass Camp Sister Spirit, a lesbian community. "The judge who threw out the anti-Camp Sister Spirit case and rebuked homophobia from the bench in the Deep South over ten years ago deserves a promotion," according to a statement last year from the Log Cabin Republicans."

The Kansas City Star reports on the ongoing investigation of GOP staffers in the Senate accused of infiltrating judiciary files.

Here are some previous articles discussing the leaks. Senate Opens Inquiry Into Leaked Memos (washingtonpost.com)Independent Judiciary: News Clip The Committee for Justice notes

And just for old times sake here is an old Federalist Society Debate entitled: Of Senate Default and Judicial Nominations: Does the Constitution Require the Full Senate to Act?, Dean Doug Kmiec and Elliot Mincberg (PDF), June 7, 2002"
Here is my favorite quote from the discussion as stated by none other than Elliot Minceburg, Vice President, General Counsel and Legal Education Policy Director of the People for the American Way Foundation, " I would be very surprised if the people who have been approved by the Committee are not voted on by the full Senate, at least by the time that they adjourn.

Judge Pickering Round-Up

Fireworks expected at today's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting according to FOXNews.com: "Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking member of the panel; Dick Durbin of Illinois; Dianne Feinstein of California and possibly Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts are all expected to make opposing statements. "

The Sentinel Online reports : Senator Arlen Specter has been drawing fire for not condemning the appointment. "'Mr. Specter strongly opposed the use of the recess appointment in 1997,' said Hoeffel, the Philadelphia-area Democrat who hopes to unseat the senator in November. 'I hope he is still standing by that conviction.'"

WTOK reports on the possible successors to Judge Pickering's district court seat.


And in the latest sign that Wesley Clark's campaign is completely doomed, former NYC mayor David Dinkins has endorsed him. Newsday Reports During his remarks at the event where the endorsement was made, Dinkins said as long as an administration picks people like 'arch conservative Charles Pickering,' the Mississippi federal judge recently appointed to an appeals court, 'justice will be denied and it will be our job to choose other powers to make those choices.'

Dean Blog once again tries to "flip" a poll

On the Blog for America there is a fervent cry for supporters to flip a poll. But this time the cry is for a mental revitalization of their own campaign. The plea asks: "Please hurry to cnn.com and vote 'Yes' on the QuickVote about whether Howard Dean can revitalize his campaign or not." For a link to the poll, click here.

Unfortunately depite the plea, the results are not falling in the Dean supporters favor. Currently the results are 68% to 32 % against. Truly, the only real culprit in this scenario is CNN.com for publishing an publicizing the result of a web based poll at all. However it is sad when the Dean bloggers have to result to manipulating an outside poll to convince themselves of a fact that they should be confident in without reference to a CNN poll.

More thoughts on why the President mentioned steroids in the SOTU last night.

So why did President mention steroids last night. Well for one his speech was covered on ESPN's website in an article entitled "Bush appeals to athletes to end drug use." Similarly the speech was covered on Sportscenter, for more than just having Tom Brady in the First Lady's Box.

Then again, perhaps President Bush has begun the campaign for his life after office as the next commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Mars Rover continues to explore, as yet no sign of Marvin.

Ap reports that Nasa Scientists Await Data From Spirit Rover: "The six-wheeled robot broke out its 'Swiss army knife' of gadgets this week to examine some of the Red Planet's soil and on Tuesday turned its attention to the rock, NASA (news - web sites) scientists said. "

No evidence of water yet. The Rover is currently drilling into a rock named "Adirondack" which is interesting because it is a smooth rock that is thought to have become that way due to erosion. However, so far the rover has found elements that would indicate volcanic activity as opposed to sedimentary activity that would have resulted from the presence of water.

The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

Has an excellent resource on their site, theTimeline for Molecular Nanotechnology.

The best part about the site is the availability of comment and criticism.

But what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

The Kerala News reports that "four militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and one of the United Liberation of Asom (ULFA) surrendered to the army in Assam on Tuesday, an Indian Army spokesman said."

Actually, quite a bit. Assamese tea leaves are the strong dark tea leaves that form the "backbone" of most tea mixes from Earl Grey to Tetley to Lipton. Most of the tea plantations are found in the hinterlands of the province of Assam, in areas rife with rebels (and tigers). Kidnappings are actually quite common. As the rebel movements are quelled tea plantataions can operate much more safely and efficiently. Tea is a global commodity so as prices drop in Assam, they drop around the world.

More Judge Pickering Articles

Thomas Sowell has a nice editorial on the Pickering saga, focusing on Senator Kerry's response (Kerry denounced Judge Pickering as an advocate for a cross-burner). Sowell notes that: "Race is not a game to be played recklessly. Not if the country matters more than a politician's candidacy. "

Smearing Judge Pickering - The Washington Times has a similar editorial focusing on John Edwards response (on his website Edwards stated:"he "took extraordinary steps to reduce the sentence required by law for a man convicted of cross burning.""). The article notes that "with this slander of Judge Pickering, Mr. Edwards (who as a trial lawyer knows better) reveals himself a politician who will say anything - no matter how damaging to a decent man's reputation - to win the presidency. "

WTOKin Mississippi reports that Pickering's appellate docket is already set. I tell you though this will be a very tough transition for his staff. The Fifth Circuit has an odd scheduling system that puts a great deal of pressure on its clerks under normal circumstances. His clerks must have had a serious crash course over the last week.

The Advocate.comhas (which features a casual Wesley Clark on its cover) has an article with the headline "Bush circumvents Congress to appoint antigay judge ." The article notes that the "gay rights group Human Rights Campaign sharply criticized Bush for the recess appointment. Pickering is one of only six judges HRC has opposed out of approximately 200 nominated by the president. "

Who are those six judges you may ask? Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee, Timothy Tymkovich, Attorney General William Pryor, Jeffrey Sutton, Judge Michael McConnell and Judge Charles Pickering

And finally, just in cased you missed it, Paul Krugman's editorial which labels the Judge Pickering appointment as "sinister" and implies it was meant to coy favor with the unnamed racist right is running in the Straits Times, a newspaper in Singapore.

I sure hope they also get the Krugman Truth Squad over there.

SOTU Blogging

Some final thoughts. This was not a highly charged political speech. Not too many really big ideas or calls for action. No mention as far as I can recall on the sanctity of life issues. Overall a strong speech. I especially liked the Patriot Act part. Not extraordinarily memorable though. Even though he finished only 15 minutes ago, I think I can remember more about last year's speech than this year.

SOTU BLOGGING
Here is Senator Tom Daschle's blog on the same topic from last year: "A nurse who has colon cancer. . .and can't afford the $1,500 a month cost of the drugs she must take said, 'Tom, they tell me I'm going to die. But you must solve this problem soon, so the next generation won't have to.'"

SOTU Blogging

Senator Daschle speaks on health care, which is good. A little harsh though. Apparently President Bush is letting a nurse in South Dakota die of colon cancer.

Not very nice.

NBC has John Stewart commentary. Now I am a huge fan of John Stewart, but is this really appropriate?

SOTU Blogging

Rep. Pelosi looks constantly surprised at everything she says. i wonder if she can still close her eyes...."America must be a light to the world not just a missile?" That's sort a mixed metaphor isn't it.

100% of containers inspected?! That would certainly solve all of our employment issues.

"A grandmother of 5!" Wow, I take back my earlier comments. That is some excellent work.

"Thank you Leader Pelosi." Just sounds odd. Orwellian in a way.

SOTU BLOGGING

And now for the response. But first John Kerry, Patriot fan, Democratic front runner and Botox afficionado.

SOTU Blogging

Drug testing kids?

Howard Dean just about a million more vounteers.

No steroids in sports? How did that get in the SOTU?

SOTU BLOGGING

I wonder why he chose the red tie. Usually he shows in the light blue one. Of course anything is better than Frist's test pattern clip-on.

Hey he said VETO, who knew it was even in vocabulary.

I wonder what Tom Brady's opinion is on association health plans, the medicare prescription drug benefit and tax free health savings accounts.

SOTU BLOGGING

Limiting growth and discretionary spending to less than 4%?

Cut the deficit in half in the next 5 years?

Why can't we just get rid of the deficit in 5 years.
Farm Bill? Gone.
Energy Bill? Gone.
Prescription tax bill? Gone.

I think that might do it.

SOTU BLOGGING

Yeaahhhh community colleges. Everyone appaud community colleges. Of course if you went to a community college, don't bother sending your resume to those people who just heartily applauded your school.

Its better you exist outside their imagination.

SOTU BLOGGING

I wonder how you say "Fair and Balanced" in Arabic.

SOTU BLOGGING

I wonder if they translating this speech and playing it for the prisoners in Guatanamo. If so, I am wondering if they understood the implications of the "this is a war not a criminal prosecution," line.

Also I wonder if the "17 other countries" specifically requested not to listed among the nations who have voluteered troops. I bet yes.

SOTU BLOGGING

Tom Brady,
Super Bowl Champion
Tara Reid Dating
Republican?
Even if he isn't this statement seems dirty:
Tom Brady's in the First Lady's Box at the State of the Union address.

Shouldn't he be focusing on the Superbowl?

This bodes well for the Panthers.

The next recall battle begins today.

Today the Save our City group held its first press conference in support of their efforts to recall Washington D.C.'s Mayor Tony Williams. The five reasons they cite to recall Mayor Williams are listed here.

This process is a long one and very unlikely to go very far. An even if it is successful, and a recall vote is placed on the ballot in the November election, then Mayor Williams himself can run on the next line of the ballot to replace himself. Therefore, unlike California where Governor Davis was prevented from replacing himself, even if Mayor Williams gets recalled, he could be replaced by Mayor Williams.

Omnibus Bill likely will not pass before State of the Union tonight.

Government Executive Magazine - 1/20/04 Senate leader loses first round on omnibus bill, but passage likely: "Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., failed Tuesday in his effort to move the fiscal 2004 omnibus appropriations measure to a vote, falling short of the 60 votes needed to end debate on the Senate floor"

The Senate will try again on Thursday. One of the main issues of contention, especially among western Democrats is a two-year delay of mandatory country-of-origin labeling of meat and produce. The President is rumored to speak about the mad cow issue in tonight's state of the union and this is one of the efforts that the administration is taking in order to get beef exports to Japan back up to their pre-scare levels.

A Mission to Mars would, obviously, be using a "potassium Rankine cycle power conversion system"

In case you were wondering what a "potassium Rankine cycle power conversion system" is check out ORNL's News Page which reports on recent developments in space based propulsion systems. One necessary component of the process would have to involve a nuclear reactor. Current treaty obligations may limit that possibility however, and so it will be interesting to see how the administration works to continue wit these scientific developments.

Martha Stewart Jury Selection Continues Today

Quasi In Rem has discovered the standard questions that Stewart's lawyers plan to ask during voir dire:

1. When preparing tartlets, do you prefer to use nonstick tarlet pans or cast iron tarlet molds?

2. Which caviar would be most appropriate to serve as an appetizer to salmon en croute: beluga, osetra or sevruga.

3. Do you find that Julia Child's croquembouche preparation technique leads to an askew display only fit for ignorant housewives?

4. What is your position on Silpat baking mats versus parchment paper as a baking surface for linzer engagement cookies? Would your position change if you were making meringues?

5. Should a county prosecutor be forced to resign his post if he refuses to prosecute your South Hampton neighbor for planting verdant low lying shrubbery next to your property as if he lived in the suburbs of St. Louis?

6. How would you describe a wedding and reception that cost less than $500.00 a guest: Chintzy? Cheap? or Shockingly chintzy and cheap?

7. Inside stock tips: Good thing or Very good thing?

The Department of Justice has released a "STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT ON THE REGPAY CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INDICTMENT"


Available here. Regpay is a third party credit card processing company operating out of Belarus. Of most interest is the following statement: "As of Jan. 13, 2004, 37 federal search warrants have been executed, 12 of them on web hosting and credit card processing companies; $800,000 in proceeds from the sale of child pornography has been seized; 160 cases have been initiated and twenty-four persons have been arrested in Operation Falcon. Just today, 15 people were arrested in New Jersey in connection with this investigation. "

What is interesting is the subpeonas that have been executed on the credit card processing companies. That means that they have credit card numbers and billing information for those individuals who purchased those services domestically. Stay tuned for many more arrests coming in this case.

Everyone is working today in Washington D.C.,

so that at least the President has one day of accomplishments to talk about tonight. The Supreme Court hears two cases: "BedRoc Ltd. v. United States, No. 02-1593. Are sand and gravel 'valuable minerals' for purposes of federal land-grant law? (One hour.) and Hibbs v. Winn,No. 02-1809. Does the Tax Injunction Act allow a federal court to block a state income tax credit? (One hour.) "

And Congress is back in session to debate/pass the omnibus bill. Watch your wallet.

Dean lists all of the states he's going to lose in.

Has anyone ever given a worse third place finish speech?

Here's my favorite bit:
"And you know something? You know something? Not only are we going to New Hampshire, we're going to South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico! We're going to California and Texas and New York! And we're going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan! And then we're going to Washington, D.C.. To take back the White House!
We will not give up. We will not give up in New Hampshire. We will not give up in South Carolina. We will not give up in Arizona or New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan! We will not quit now or ever! We want our country back for ordinary Americans. And we're going to win in Massachusetts! And North Carolina! And Missouri! And Arkansas! And Connecticut! And New York! And Ohio!"

Do the state capitols next! Frankfurt and Montpelier and Olympia and Phoenix and Austin and Columbia.....

I don't know how long this link will last but here is the audio. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Boston locality passes resolution against Patriot Act

Thanassis Cambanis of the Boston Globe reports that the "Brewster Town Meeting has formally condemned the antiterrorist USA Patriot Act."
"In Brewster, anger at the Patriot Act has drawn together libertarians, an antitax group, and a Unitarian congregation, as well as a more traditional coalition of civil libertarians and antiwar activists."

I have a feeling it is more the latter than the former.

What was that Axis thing again?

The Boston Globe reports that Pakistan, Iran link to technology eyed: "Two Dutch ministers said yesterday there were 'indications' that North Korea and Libya may have acquired potentially arms-related nuclear technology developed in Europe that Pakistan and Iran are known to possess."

Clark Campaigns in South Carolina on Pickering Appointment

Clark travelled to South Carolina on Monday and railed against the Pickering appointment.In the three days since the appointment, the description of Judge Pickering by the Democrats has become more and more pointed and General Clark described him as: "'anti-civil rights, anti-voting rights, anti-justice.' "

By the end of the week, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Move-On.Org ad comparing him to Hitler.

Once again, my election prediction is incredibly wrong.

Actual vs. Predicted Results:


Howard Dean: 18 % vs. 24%
John Kerry: 38 % vs. 23%
Dick Gephardt: 11% vs. 22%
John Edwards: 32% vs. 17%
Other/Undecided: 1% vs. 14%

John Kerry meet Theresa Heinz, Ms. Heinz this is John Kerry

John Kerry had a laugh out loud funny line in his victory speech last night. But don't take my word for it, ask his wife Theresa Heinz who burst out laughing when her husband was describing the tax code.

His statement was that we now have a 17,000 page tax code in this country, and that needs to change because all of those tax breaks and loopholes work for the wealthy and none of those pages work "for anyone in this room." At that moment the honest Ms. Heinz burst out into laughter. No doubt she has used about 15,000 pages.

The rule of course, as demonstrated most ably by Howard Dean, is when you out lying on the campaign trail, leave the wife at home.

Quick Round Up of Afternoon Pickering Links

Several interesting articles and opinion pieces on the appointment of Judge Charles Pickering. Illinois Conservative Politics, Senate Democrats 'playing politics' with judicial nominees, President Bush says - (Baptist Press),
Bush right to install Pickering - hattiesburgamerican.com, ProudParenting.com - Bush Appoints Anti-Gay To Appeals Court Ignoring Congress


And just a thought. Judge Pickering has already been sworn in to his post as a Judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. I guess that means he took his clerks with him. That would be nice, sign up for a district court clerkship and get an appellate court clerkship in exchange.

Kerry's early choice for V.P.

Although his campaign cannot be reached for comment, insiders believe that Senator John Kerry has narrowed down his choice for Vice President should he get the nomination.



Insiders have learned that Kerry has made a short list of VP candidates that includes only one name "Fred the Clown." Fred and Kerry, although rarely seen together, have had a steadfast freindship since Senator Kerry returned from Vietnam.

"For the longest time, I thought he was a hallucination." Kerry has commented, "But then we started talking policy, and we agreeed on everything, and I mean everything, I began to suspect he was real." Kerry's belief's in Fred's existence were verified when Fred billed him $50.00 for appearing at his daughters 5th birthday party, eventhough Fred had been invited as a family friend.

"Since then we've been fast friends." Kerry said.

The Curmudgeonly Clerk has a nice round up of Pickering News

Available here.

He again points out the oddity of a man that Howard Dean has a called a "racist" to recieve unanimous confirmation as a district court judge.

By the way here is the Thomas report on that nomination. Notice that it was reported favorably out of the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Joseph Biden, and then on September 28, 1990 he was confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent.

Hmmm, who else was a Senator in 1990?

A rose by any other name would still violate the patent.

The CBC News reports that a patent fight concernign canola seeds heads to Supreme Court of Canada.

Of particular interest in this case, where lower courts have ruled that a farmers unintentional use plants grown from genetically modified canola seeds violated a patent held by Monsanto.

Who can patent life, and who owns life – whether it's seeds, plants, animals and so on?" Percy Schmeiser, the aggrieved farmer, said Monday at a news conference.

Is this irony?

CNN.com reports that Olivia Goldsmith - 'First Wives Club' author - has died at 54 "Goldsmith had been in a coma since last Wednesday after complications resulting from anesthesia during plastic surgery, according to her lawyer, Steven Mintz. She died at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan on Thursday, he said. "

Is it irony that a writer of books about superficial women dies because of complications from plastic surgery? I wonder if Micheal Moore has been considering one of those stamach stapling operations?

Environmental Groups lodge objections to Pickering appointment

Earthjustice, an environmental group, has lodged its complaint to the Pickering appointment.

Let's see we've had PFAW, NOW and enviromental groups have their say. We are still waiting on the NAACP, the AARP, the NRA the AFL/CIO and the WWE.

Salon Outraged at balanced article on Judge Pickering appointment.

Eric Boehlert at Salon.com reports that the administration must be overjoyed by the Knight-Ridder article that ran in many major newspapers on Saturday that presents a balanced look at Judge Pickering's career.

The gall of Knight-Ridder to print such slanted as statements as:"A Knight-Ridder examination last year of the judge's complete record revealed him to be much more moderate than his opponents made him out to be," and "As a state legislator in the '70s, Pickering "worked to help those at the bottom of the economic ladder."

How disgusting!

U.S. News: and World Report has an interesting article on Attorney General Ashcroft

John Ashcroft has been demonized and lionized. He's a complex guy all right, just not the guy everyone thinks he is. Entitled "Ashcroft's Way," the article highlights both the successes and the controversies of Ashcroft's tenure.

US/India Warming....it must be about the oil.

GuardianIn case you were wondering why there has been a marked improvement in Indo-U.S. relations, well wonder no more. Huge oil reserves have been found in western India,

Cairn - which is now increasingly focused on India and Bangladesh after work in the North Sea - said initial estimates of the find ranged from 450 million to 1,100 million barrels.

The New York Times admits the error of its ways, in its DEAN coverage.

The New York Times admits errors.

Stating: "The paper has made mistakes. " The Times continues: "Wilgoren's description of Dean listening to Al Gore announce his endorsement (Dec. 10) was inappropriate in a news article: ''Dr. Dean smirked his trademark smirk"; that's columnist language. The visual used to illustrate an article on Dean's temper (Jan. 3) was more problematic; it was the cover of a recent issue of National Review, with the face of an inflamed Dean above the headline, ''Please Nominate This Man." The caption noted that National Review is a ''conservative journal," but there's no escaping the fact that this wasn't an example of Dean's temper, but of what an avowedly partisan publication thinks of Dean's temper. "

Imagine that, the New York Times taking itself to task for being TOO CONSERVATIVE! It would be funny if it wasn't true. I wouldn't have thought it possible until I actually read it. Those Dean supporters must raise quite a ruckus in the mail room at the times.

They are caucusing in Iowa! Someone get out the soap!

With the Iowa Caucus today, and given my long history of accurate presidential primary predictions, here is my call for todays results:

Howard Dean: 24%
John Kerry: 23%
Dick Gephardt: 22%
John Edwards: 17%
Other/Undecided: 14%

Project 21 African American Leadership Group Praises Recess Appointment of Judge Charles Pickering

As reported at U.S. Newswire: "Members of the Project 21 African-American leadership network praised President George W. Bush for his recess appointment of Judge Charles Pickering to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals."

Of note the article states that during "his legal career, he testified against the Ku Klux Klan, defended black clients during the Jim Crow era and helped set up the Institute of Racial Reconciliation at Ole Miss."

Planned Parenthood Condemns Pickering Appointment to 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today denounced President Bush's recess appointment of Charles Pickering to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. "

Of note they charge that "He advised the Mississippi Legislature on how to strengthen the state's ban on interracial marriage, pressured the Justice Department to drop a charge against a convicted cross burner, opposed the Equal Rights Amendment, and called for a constitutional amendment banning abortion."

February 2002 Article on Pickering from Mona Charen

Here is another article on Pickering's alleged racism entitled "Liberals Try to Nitpick Pickering" from Insight on the News - Fair Comment

The best quotes are:

"James Charles Evers? You mean the brother of slain civil-rights hero Medgar Evers? He's defending this 'extremist' in the pages of the Wall Street Journal? Hmmm.

...

Evers, who has known Pickering for decades, was "saddened and appalled to read many of the allegations that have been put forth about Judge Pickering … made by groups with a Washington, D.C., address and a political agenda" and without real knowledge of "Pickering's long and distinguished record on civil rights."

Evers notes that Pickering did more than face down the Klan. While in private practice, he defended an African-American man accused of robbing a white 16-year-old at knifepoint. After two trials, the man was acquitted."

Senator Hatch's Statement on Judge Pickering

Entitled"It's time to vote for Pickering" here is Senator Orrin G. Hatch's statement in support of Judge Pickering as it appeared int the Washington Times.

Of note the Senator states that "State Rep. Philip West, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and past vice president of the Mississippi NAACP, and James Charles Evers, brother of slain civil rights activist Medger Evers, are among his most vocal backers. "

The Wall Street Journal has an article entitled: The Pickering Precedent

WSJ(1/19) Editorial: The Pickering Precedent

The money quote is:

"One of the more despicable elements of the anti-Pickering smear has been the use of the race card, even though the judge has the support of the African-Americans who know him best, including the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP. Mr. Pickering sent his children to the newly integrated public schools in that state in the 1960s, and he helped the FBI in prosecutions of the KKK, testifying against the imperial wizard in 1967 at some personal risk. "

John Kerry celebrates MLK day in style!

John Kerry celebrates Martin Luther King Day by taking time to appear on every major morning news show.

He truly believes in the cause that man.

The cause of John Kerry that is.

I'm coming out, I've got the world to show, Got to let them Know!

Indian Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani Sunday said that given the upturn in the economy and other fast changes taking place in the country it was possible for India to emerge as a super power in the 21st century.

"We will prove this and make the world see that it is quite possible for India to emerge as a super power," he made the remarks while inaugurating the 24th edition of Hindi Daily "DainikJagran" in Ludhiana of north India's Punjab state.


It never hurts to have 1.3 billion people agree with every word you say.

Reminder of Pickering votes from last year,

Washington Post article immediately following the failure to gain cloture on Charles W. Pickering Sr. in the Senate last year.

Of note is Senator's Schumer statement that on civil rights "his record is, at best, mixed." and the fact that Senators Kerry and Edwards declined to participate in the vote. Of course now they have plenty of time to comment on the appointment.

Dean calls Pickering a Racist

Newsday.com reports that Dr. Dean has taken a step that many of his rivals have not, come out and out and labelled Jude Pickering a "racist."

Of course, Dr. Dean may not have all of his facts stright, but I will let you decide:

"Dean also sharply condemned President George W. Bush's recess appointment Friday of Mississippi federal Judge Charles Pickering to a U.S. appeals court, calling it "the ultimate hypocrisy. Yesterday he went to salute Dr. King's birthday. Today he appoints a racist to the Supreme Court, " Dean said."

The Supreme Court? Hopefully he replaced Stevens.

Today's round up of Pickering news

The Washington Post has a story with an interesting title: Bush Bypasses Senate On Judge which is not really true since Pickering has been voted on several times by the Senate and still needs Senate confirmation to keep his seat. CNN has this report. The Free Republic reports that NOW is Outraged by Bush's Underhanded Appointment of Pickering. Does anyone remember when NOW was not outraged? I wonder how they can tell the difference. The USATODAY.com has a report also entitled "Bush bypasses Democrats and installs Pickering" And Reuters makes sure to categorize Pickering's political views in its headline: "Bush Bypasses Congress on Conservative Court Pick"

The BBC reports that Bush sidesteps Senate over judge. There report highlights this statement of Senator Kennedy:"It serves only to emphasise again this administration's shameful opposition to civil rights".

TalkLeft has summarized some of the reaction to the Pickering appointment from the Blogosphere.

Meanwhile, despite all of this swirling controversy, Pickering continues his successfull boxing career. is there anything the man can't do?

Germans love John Kerry and David Hasselhoff.

Anyone reading this article in the Freie Presse Online entitled "Senator Kerry baut Fuhrung vor Vorwahl in Iowa aus" and stating that" "Favorit Dean auf Platz drei der demokratischen Herausforderer," could come to only one possible conclusion:

Germans love John Kerry.

Of course, as the paper points out:"Umfragen zufolge hat jedoch keiner der demokratischen Anwärter derzeit eine Chance gegen den nach wie vor populären Präsidenten George W. Bush. " Just because you win the Democratic nomination that does not necessarily give you a bratwurst's chance in Munich at becoming the next President.

Toomey joins internet revolution.

The Mercury News reports that Rep. Pat Toomey is corralling support with a campaign tactic first tapped into by Democratic firebrand Howard Dean.

This blog will make no endorsement in the Republican Senate primary in Pennsylvania but please vist this
site, and this site, and this site.

Hinckley is coming to the Hill!

He better get his White House tour reservations early because those things are a hassle! The Justice Department has decided not to appeal the sentencing decision to allow Hinckley's unsupervised visits to D.C.. As a Hill resident I cannot say that I am pleased that his vistis are limited to this area.

Pakistan investigates nuclear weapons lab...

Herald.com - Your Miami Everything Guide: "Pakistan has expanded its investigation of the country's premier nuclear weapons laboratory, detaining as many as seven scientists and administrators for questioning, amid allegations that sensitive technology may have spread to countries such as Iran, North Korea and Libya, officials said Sunday."

Nuclear weapons technology spreading from North Korea, through Iran, via Pakistan and Libya. How odd that those countries would choose to work together, almost as if they formed an .....mmmm. What is the word that I am looking for?

In a battle of Budweiser's, only wet t-shirt fans will win.

BUD BOWL XVI: WE WANT DRAGO!

"A nearly century-long trademark dispute is intensifying between Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., the world’s largest brewer, and tiny Czech producer Budejovicky Budvar. With both claiming they produce the only genuine Budweiser beer, they’ve taken their sudsy squabble to courts in 24 countries around the world.
Budvar won the latest round in South Korea, where a court ruled last month that the company’s name and trademark doesn’t conflict with Anheuser-Busch or infringe on its rights. "

A court battle? To settle a beer dispute? This is ridiculous just of the top of my head I can think of several better ways to solve this. What about quaters, or speed quarters, or beerball, drinking jenga, Beer-Olympics, boat races with the CEO's or just a traditional no holds barred battle on the grid iron, BUD BOWL XVI.

Sure we would give the Czechs a chance to train their wussy little euro-fashion cans and bottles. Bud might have to bring some of its greatest players out of retirement, The Freezer (aka "The Appliance Of Defiance, The Beersome Foursome, Beery Sanders and vaunted Bud Light QB Budway Joe.

Tomorrow's cricket scores today.

India humbles Australia: "A complete performance with the bat and ball saw India humble world champions Australia for the first time in 12 years."

The Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar defied an ankle injury to score 86 duuring th match.

In other news, this is the single most boring post of this entire blog's history.

I bet these guys would rather be in Guatanomo right now.

Ap reports that early this morning: "Pakistani agents arrested seven al-Qaida suspects and confiscated weapons during an early Sunday raid in the southern city of Karachi, an intelligence officer said. "

Given the recent crackdown, and search for international approval, I don't think these guys are long for this earth.

Patent Lawyers, the next generation of video game heroes.

In Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon, a new video game available on Windows and X-Box, features George, a handsome U.S. patent lawyer, and Nico a stunning French newspaper reporter, who find love as they fight evil to stop Armageddon.

Finally, game developers have started to dig into the deep treasure trove of exciting patent attorney stories. As game players navigate the exciting travails of every patent attorney take to watch out for paper cuts, computer freezes and getting bored to death.

Edwards calls his shot.

The SF gate reports that "Edwards predicts upset victory in caucuses."

I think this is a little too exuberant. A strong third would have been a victory for Edwards in Iowa. Now if he does not win, he has fallen below his own expectations.

President Musharraf calls for a jihad! But the good kind of jihad.

The Statesmanreports that in his first address to a joint session of the Pakistani parliament, President Pervez Musharraf "called for a jihad against extremism and sectarian violence, pledged to permanently root out terrorism from Pakistani soil and emphasised that the composite dialogue beginning next month should be pursued with sincerity to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. "

LA Times and Kerry's statement on Pickering

The L.A. Times has a lengthy article on the Pickering recess appointment. Once again Senator John F. Kerry takes the cake for the exaggerated political speech as the Times quotes his release stating that Judge Pickering "advocated tirelessly on behalf of a cross-burner."

Advocated? Judge Pickering was not an advocate, he was a judge.
Tirelessly? Ugh.

This is going to get worse before it gets better.

The Senator Schumer "going bananas" watch continues and so far his rhetoric is calm.

In other tnews the New York Times has this op/ed: A Judicial End Run

There can be only one!

The Seattle Post Intelligencer asks the age old question, where are Microsoft rivals? As the paper notes "One of the most important provisions of the antitrust settlement negotiated with Microsoft Corp. is falling short of the federal government's hopes that it would energize rivals of the world's largest software maker, the Justice Department acknowledged yesterday."

Efforts taken to persuade competitors to license Microsoft's Windows technology for their own software products "are not likely to spur the emergence in the marketplace of broad competitors to the Windows desktop," antitrust lawyers stated. It also does not hurt that Microsoft keeps buying up all its rivals.

More domestic terror suspects plead guilty

From USATODAY.com, two members of Virginia-based terrorism network plead guilty: "Randall Royer and Ibrahim al-Hamdi, who entered their pleas in Alexandria, Va., had ties to the Lashkar-e-Taiba group seeking to drive India out of Kashmir. A federal indictment said the Northern Virginia group also had broader goals of helping the al-Qaeda network; Afghanistan's former ruling militia, the Taliban; and rebels in Chechnya. "

But I thought that the Bush administration had given up on the war on terror. How is this possible?

Edwards Bloggers get into online poll flipping act!

The presidential blog world has finally found it's purpose "flipping" MSNBC internet polls.

After several earlier successful efforts by bloggers for Dean to skew the results of an Internet poll, Edwards has gotten in to the act. On Edwards Official Edwards campaign blog there are official calls and links to flip an MSNBC poll.

Now, to be fair, MSNBC is itself to blame, as it actually televises these poll results as news. But still it is an interesting use of web resources in the pseudo-election internet age.

Who should you vote for?

AOL News has a Presidential Match Quiz to test whom you agree with most on the issues. Here are my results:

1 Bush Score: 100%

2 Lieberman Score: 77%

3 Kerry Score: 66%

4 Edwards Score: 65%

5 Clark Score: 63%

6 Sharpton Score: 62%

7 Dean Score: 61%

8 Gephardt Score: 58%

9 Kucinich Score: 45%

Now this quiz does not indicate leadership abilities, motivational abilities and charisma and so it is not an accurate indicator of all of the categories people look to in choosing a leader. But maybe it will make you rethink your choice if your candidate does not come up on top.(LvSA)

Sunday's Editorials Today!

The WAPO has an editorial tomorrow entitled "End Run for Mr. Pickering"

The editorial contains a massive lie:
" In this case, Mr. Bush has used a recess appointment for someone who cannot, on his merits, garner a vote of confidence from the Senate and who has no prospect of confirmation in the current Congress. "

Anyone who has followed the confirmation process knows that Judge Pickering has already recived a vote of confidence, 54-43 in fact with two Democrats, John Breaux of Louisiana and Zell Miller of Georgia, and independent Jim Jeffords of Vermont joined 51 Republicans in voting for cloture on the debate on his nomination.

A man without a country?

The Supreme Court has accepted cert on an immigration case to determinethe proper time limts on holding illegal immigrantsThe appeal will address "a serious question whether the Constitution permits the government to lock a nonadmitted alien in prison for the rest of his life because his home country will not take him back.' "

DOJ asks for Supreme stay of Padilla release

DJ UPDATE: US Appeals Terror Suspect Case To Supreme Court: "The Justice Department filed a late request with a federal appeals court in New York, asking that a ruling ordering Padilla's release be put on hold"

If 14% of the people like you, nobody likes you.

At least in Iowa, in most of the counties.

According to Caucus Math if only 14 % in a particular caucus like you then none of the people like you.

That is why a 4 way race is so interesting because it means that if any candidate falls below the 14% in a particular county that that nominee will get no votes. It also means that because Edwards is the second choice of most Iowans his 17% is actually much stronger than that.

However, it is also an indication as to how screwed up the Iowa Caucus is. For example if I were writing up caucus rules they would be:

1. Show up.
2. Vote.
3. Whoever gets the most votes gets the delegates.

on the other hand the Iowa caucus rules are 46 pages long! and are very complicated.

Fifth Circuit Vacancy created during recess

According to th "Vacancy List by Circuit and District Report" the post to which Judge Pickering has been nominated was created on August 10, 1999 when Judge Henry Politz retired.

This is traditionally a recess period, but updates will follow....

Yes it was during recess, as indicated here.

Congressman Clyburn's Statement praise for Recess Appointment

Clyburn (SC06) - Statement - Praise for 4th Circuit Recess Appointment: "I believe President Clinton�s recess appointment of Judge Gregory was the right thing to do. The Senate had long ago abdicated its duty to confirm judicial appointments in a timely manner. Judge White�s during the 106th Congress, came 10 months into the session, when 17 nominations were pending 12 of which were holdovers from the 105th Congress. This abysmal record is certainly justification for the President�s action"

By the way here is the CRS report on recess appointments.

Recess appointments for Federal Judges.

It is a nice accompaniment for the Federalist Society's paper on the same subject available here.

Here is a nice Claremont Institute article on the process.

This is not a new development, Judge Gregory in the Fourth Circuit was first appointed by President Clinton as a recess appointment, A. Leon Higginbotham and Spotswood Robinson, the first African-Americans to sit on the Third and D.C. circuits, respectively, were both recess appointments by President Johnson in 1964. And President Kennedy used the recess appointment power to make Thurgood Marshall the first African-American judge on the Second Circuit in 1961. All of these appointments were ultimately confirmed to full life terms.

And here are some comment from a recent Federalist Society panel on the issue. The comments were made by Manuel Miranda, Counsel to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and
Jeffrey Berman, Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight in the Courts, and Chief Counsel to Senator Schumer in response to a question on recess appointments.


Question:So, I want to ask, and Mr. Berman and Mr. Miranda can respond, what would you think about recess appointments, and would, in fact, that be a useful thing if someone were to accept a recess appointment, like Miguel Estrada, for example?


MR. MIRANDA: I think I'm not going to be able to give you a full answer because it's really in the prerogative of the President, and I wouldn't be in a position to comment too much on that. Certainly, recess appointments are a vehicle or an instrument, and one that President Clinton used with Roger Gregory, who President Bush later renominated in his May 9, 2001 group. So, it's certainly an instrument to be used. It's between, I suppose, Miguel Estrada and the President whether
51 he was offered a recess appointment. Certainly, it's a difficult thing to accept, especially if you're 42 years old and have a thriving legal practice. Whether that's what would obtain a national debate -- I'm not certain of that.

MR. BERMAN: I think both sides would welcome a national debate on this, and so I'm tempted to say that anything that would generate that, I'd welcome. I don't know what reaction would be from the Democratic senators and my boss. You know, it's a legitimate use of the President's powers; I don't think anyone would challenge his ability to do that. Whether it would create a political firestorm or not, I don't know. And you know, my boss is a very calm guy. He doesn't go bananas. And so, I can't see that happening, either. I just don't know.


I bet he does go bananas. Let's watch.

PFAW comment on Pickering appointment

As predicted by Southern Appeal the PFAW has lodged its views againtst the Pickering nod. Most shockingly, they add: "Announcement of Pickering's appointment came as Americans prepare to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King. This move is an insult to the memory of Dr. King, and to all Americans who are committed to equal justice under the law."

So ridiculous. I wonder how Dr. King would stand on the Democrats filibuster of Miguel Estrada and Janice Brown.

Shells found in Iraq were not chemical weapons

FOXNews.comreports that tests on Iraqi shells find no chemical agent. Meanwhile in a strange story, WorldNetDaily is reporting that the IAEA believes that the yellowcake found in Rotterdamn was from Iraq.

It was only 5 pounds, but how did that yellowcake get out of Iraq, get into a shipment of steel, and find its way to Rotterdam.

Searching Google for jobs? Look in India

Google is hiring in India. More evidence that it is not the eports from India that we need be concerned about but the exporting of U.S. jobs to India.

At the carnival of global rage, everyone is a clown

The Times of India has a rather interesting article discussing the ongoing World Social Forum (WSF) which began in Mumbai (Bombay) on Friday night and pledged to launch campaign for a new international order ensuring social justice at all levels.

A new international order? Scary. Also, is there any more evidence necessary that the Nobel process is deeply flawed when Nobel laurate Shirin Abadi of Iran makes statements that allege that the US was not allowing the Iraqi and Afghan citizens to exercise their fundamental rights.

Abadi has often appealed to the womens community to oppose the male-dominated society and fight for an equal place. Did women have a more equal place in Taliban dominated Afganistan? I bet Ms. Abadi arrived at the conference in a car filled with 50 other people.

The Indiana Law Blog has more RLUIPA news

The Indiana Law Blog: Law - More on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act of 2000 (RLUIPA)

Well worth reading, and listening to the NPR feed, especially since the Justice Department has shown more incentive to get involved with these cases.

Omnibus battle continues in Senate Abattoir

according to Congressional Quaterly(which is a daily paper...don't ask): "Seeking to head off a damaging procedural defeat next week, the Senate's top Republican warned his colleagues Thursday evening of the potential consequences of killing the $820 billion spending package." This is not the only armtwisting going on. According to Robert Novak, Senator Ted Stevens has sent every Senator a copy of the bill along with a detailed individualized list of every nice chop, loin, hock and baby back rib listed in the bill that will benefit the Senator home state.

If it does not pass, then the government will operate on a continuing resolution. This would give spending discretion, of this money which has already been appropriated by the way, to the individual agencies in question as opposed to the Congress.

FOXNews.com - Politics - Bush Gives Recess Appointment to Pickering

Thanks to legal genius Krusty the Clown for this news item.
FOXNews.com - Politics - Bush Gives Recess Appointment to Pickering

This is a bold move and one that will leave Democrats scathing and incensed. However if any of the Democratic Senators running for President questions this maneuver then I hope the press holds their feet tot he fire.

Every single one of them have voted to continue the fillibuster. And yet they would assume that when they get elected President, the Senate would confirm their judges. Think again.

US wants India to have formal export control regime

US wants India to have formal export control regime from the HindustanTimes.com. This is good news....for India. It is after all not manufacturing exports from India that ae damaging our domestic economy. India itself oursources those jobs to the Philipines and China.
It is the oursourcing of white collar job from the United States to India that is hurt our economy and recovery. Those tech jobs are not going to be affecting by export controls.

Still, though, it may be worth it in the interest of promoting large democratic countries who have not shown a long history of hesitation in standing up against Muslim extremism.

Improving relations with Canada, one Scott at a time.

One a recent trip to Canada President Bush was confronted with an aide to Prime Minister Martin named Scot Reid.


The following exchange occurred as reported by
the Globe and Mail.

"The President chuckled. “Well, you got a pretty face,” he told the surprised Mr. Reid. He wasn't done. “You got a pretty face,” he said again. “You're a good-looking guy. Better looking than my Scott anyway.”(refering to Scott McClellan)"

I don't know what to say about this.

The fourth blade actually takes off a layer of skin

Shaving products company Schick said on Thursday a federal judge had rejected a bid to halt sales of its four-bladed Quattro razor on grounds the device infringes on the patent for Gillette Co.'s three-bladed Mach3 razor.

Now I have not read the opinion but I am willing to bet that somewhere in the opinion the Judge says "Four blades is different than three blades. if you are having trouble with the math it is different by one whole blade."

By the way who are these hairy Chewbacca people who need four blades. And it does not stop there, apparently Gillete has raised the bar to a whole new dimension and made its new razor BATTERY POWERED. The new Gillete M3 Power is designed like a traditional plastic shaver, but it contains a triple A battery in the handle, which vibrates to lift and shave more facial hair.

Ok, if you are a man who has to use a battery power three bladed wet razor to get a close shave, my advice to you is simply this, grow a beard. Trust me, it should take about two and half days.

Everyone get on the peace train.

Yahoo! News - Pakistan-India Train Service Resumes: "India and Pakistan resumed rail services across their border Thursday and passengers celebrated while crossing a frontier closed for two years when the nuclear-armed rivals hovered near the brink of war. "

It is great news, but I wonder if you can get travel insurance for that ride?

Volokh has a lengthy post on Cal-RLUIPA

Per The Volokh Conspiracy: "A California assembly committee just rejected proposed AB 600, which would among other things 'prohibit any local, state, or other public agency from imposing or implementing a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person' " which included "communal worship, religious meetings, religious education, and day care services, the construction of structures, grounds, parking lots, and other necessary facilities for these purposes, and the use of existing facilities for these purposes" -- "unless the agency demonstrates that the imposition of the burden on that person is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. "


Volokh continues to post his letter to the California State Committee on Local Government. In his letter he states that under the law, "Religious meetings would get special privileges." and "In the marketplace of ideas, religious ideas will thus have more legal rights than secular ideas," because any imposition of a burden on such activities would have to be met with a compelling state interest.

I will not presume to question his knowledge of the law, that would be stupid of me. I will say however, that this country was founded by people who came here for religious freedom. People petition our government everyday to stay in this country because of religious persecution in their home country. Maybe there should be some place on this planet where religious thought is given the benefit of the doubt over non-religious thought. Why not here, in a country, where the founders specifically drafted a constitution that prohibited any legal impediment to the free exercise of religion?

Now as a pratical matter I understand his concern. If you are living a house next to a facility that schedules large and loud group events every night it does not matter if the partcipants are Amish or Amway salesman, the noise is still the same. However, this country was not founded by Amway salesmen.

Can P2P networks be monitored?

Critics say Kazaa can stop copyright violations | CNET News.com. Who are these critics? The idea of creating server software that would somehow counteract P2P file sharing across all networks seems quite ludicrous to me. At least for all of the current copies of copyrighted material in existence now.

Best quote of the article: "'If this unicorn of a program exists in the forest of software, then it is incumbent upon the industries that keep claiming that they've made sightings to at least provide video for the evening news,' said Adam Eisgrau, executive director of P2P United. "

Dean Bloggers make rivals pay up

The WAPO has a question for Dean: How Solid a Base? (washingtonpost.com) Which is an interesting question, I suppose, but what is more interesting is the advertisements on the bottom of the page.

The ads are provided by Google's click through service and are "pay per click". In other words the advertising has to pay for every visitor who uses the link to go to the site. Well the Deaniacs, ever internet savvy, have decided to use this feature to make the owner of Deanfacts.com an anti Dean site, to pay up.

On the Dean blog there is a call for Dean supporters to "make the smearers pay." by clicking through to the site.

There is of course a link for Dean For America on the same site so I suppose that anyone who wanted to increase expenses for the Dean Campaign could do the same.

Or if you plan to own Google stock you could just click away and increase their bottom line.

Dean Bloggers Flip another Poll

Once again the Deaniacs have a call to arms to flip another poll. With a call of "Everybody pounce on this poll..."
Deaniacs plunge into MSNBC survey.

Ahh internet polls, truly the most meaningless data every recorded.

(Please vote in polls on left)

How we tax explained, sort of...

The Government Performance Project 2003 has prepared a 50 state report on how individuals in the 50 states are taxed. I have not, as yet, read the entire report, but it sure looks like New Hampshire is a reluctant tax payers paradise. Of course, most of you already knew that.

The project places a high weight on regressivity vs. progressivity and so their star ratings may seem to be off. Their standard is stated as such "They break the golden rule of tax equity: collect the lowest possible rates on the widest possible base of taxpayers."

Which is fine, in theory, but if that theory is taken to its logical extremes then all incentives for upward mobility is lost. You end up with a country like Sweden where there is no growth.

Domestic Terrorist Arrested

Animal-rights activist Allison Lance Watson arrested in Seattle

Watson was arrested, arraigned and then released, charged with lying to a Seattle federal grand jury investigating an arson attack on an Olympia forest-product company.The article lists some of the recent domestic terrorist activities of the ELF and the ALF:

"Sept. 23, 2003 -- Mecosta County, Mich. The Earth Liberation Front claimed to have left incendiary devices at a pumping station for a water bottling plant owned by Nestle Waters North America.

Sept. 19, 2003 -- San Diego. The Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility for torching four houses under construction and left a banner reading "Development destruction. Stop raping nature."

Sept. 6, 2003 -- Santa Fe, N.M. The Earth Liberation Front claimed to have spray-painted a third of the SUVs at a Land Rover dealership with such words as "avarice" and "gluttony."

Aug. 26, 2003 -- Sultan. The Animal Liberation Front claimed credit for a raid on a fur farm in which 10,000 mink were released from pens.

Aug. 22, 2003 -- Earth Liberation Front actions in Southern California including in Arcadia at Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ten SUVs were spray-painted with "terrorist," "killer" and "ELF." In Duarte, a Mitsubishi dealership had its building and 20 of its vehicles painted with "ELF" and the phrases "gross polluter" and "We (heart) pollution." In West Covina, there was a fire at a GM dealership, destroying and damaging several SUVs, including several Hummers. A fire also destroyed a warehouse at the dealership. Messages left there included "I (heart) Pollution," "American Wastefulness" and "ELF".


Aug.1, 2003 -- San Diego. The Earth Liberation Front accepted responsibility for what it called the "largest act of environmental sabotage in U.S. history." Fire caused $50 million in damage to a five-story condominium complex."

Full list of Patent Recipients for 2003

Top Ten Patent Recipients for 2003: "Top 10 Private Sector Patent Recipients for 2003:
1. International Business Machines Corporation (3,415 patents)
2. Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (1,992 patents)
3. Hitachi, Ltd (1,893 patents)
4. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd (1,786 patents)
5. Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (1,759 patents)
6. Micron Technology, Inc (1,707 patents)
7. Intel Corporation (1,592 patents)
8. Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V (1,353 patents)
9. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (1,313 patents)
10. Sony Corporation (1,311 patents)
By comparison, the U.S. Government received 879 utility patents for the year, which would rank it 17th among the top patenting organizations for 2003"

To be fair though, 900 of Koninklijke Philips Electronics' 1,353 patents invovle different ways to pronounce "Koninklijke".

Rover cruises for Martian chicks, finds none, goes home and plays Risk

The Houston Chronicle reports that the Mars Rover has left the lander in first step of Mars journey. The rover took a 78 second 10 foot trip from the base. No new results as of yet but download the Maestro software to check out the new pictures when they become available.

Moseley Braun To Drop Out Of Presidential Race

Moseley Braun To Drop Out Of Presidential Race: Former Illinois Sen. Carol Mosley Braun is reportedly planning to drop out of the race for the White House according to several sources.

I just watched her on the Daily Show and she did not utter a word of this. Although when she asked John Stewart if she could borrow tweny bucks for the cab ride back to the airport I sensed her campaign may have been in debt.

Georgia Democrats for Bush

Attorney General Griffin Bell who is on the panel of four civilians the administration has picked to review the convictions of the Gitmo prisoners has joined the ranks of Senator Zell Miller and other prominent Georgia Democrats in annoucing their support of President Bush.

In fact, FOXNews.com reports that he will be appearing at Atlanta fund-raiser Thursday evening featuring President Bush.

Is President Jimmy Carter now the only Democrat left in Georgia?

Feddie, over at the fantastic blog Southern Appeal will surely have more thought on this throughout the day.

The Atlantic comments on detainees rights

Stuart Taylor Jr. writes in
The Atlantic that "the Supreme Court Needs to Rule on 'Enemy Combatants.'" He is right, however not for the correct reasons. As he notes: "[The administrations] legal position boils down to this: If the president puts the enemy-combatant label on any American citizen (or anyone else), anywhere in the world, the military can hold that person virtually incommunicado, for as long as it chooses, with no access to a lawyer, no right to testify or call witnesses, and a judicial process that amounts to an empty ritual, with courts obliged to ratify whatever factual claims the government makes without hearing any evidence beyond what the government chooses to disclose."

There is significant debate as to his claim on the latter issue, whether the the judicial process will really be an empty ritual, and for that reason, and he continues to argue that the Court should not just rule on the issue but rule against the administration. Precedent and pure practicality do not necessarily support that point of view. However, he is correct that the Court should weigh in on the issue, insofar as it will at least give their imprimatur on the processes that have been afforded these proceedings and distinguish between the cases of non-citizen combatents captured in a foreign battlefield and American citizens captured in the United States. I am still reading the briefs of the Gitmo prisoners here and I can't wait for the future filings.

Dean Blog Readers "Flip" Senate Republican Poll

One of the more popular antics by Dean Supporters (many of whom are internet savvy) is to flip opinion polls posted on the web. This is not unusual, as internet polls are notoriously unscientific, (please vote in the polls in the left column), and was most recently accomplished on the American Family Association's marriage Poll.

Well they are doing it again, on Dean's Blog For America poster's are urging Dean supporters to vist the Senate Republican Conference and vote in this
Poll. They are voting en masse for this proposition:
The world is actually in worse condition, and Saddam should still be in power because the U.S. acted rashly.

Because this is obviously the wrong answer, the result is supposed to be rather embarassing for the Senate Republicans. I think both the poll and the tactic are rather silly, but all is fair in love and politics.

But in light of the chicanery here is a Dean-Blog-proof poll:

Nanotech Stock Watch

In order to participate in the possible coming nanotech market bubble it is important to get in early, feel the coming euphoria, stay in too late, buy on the decline and end up penniless. As part of that journey, quasi in rem will from time to time suggest completely baseless stock suggestions of companies that could possibly ride the wave.

Today's suggestion is the former internet bubbble blower Intel. Why Intel? well because they have enlisted Nanosys for memory help according to CNET News.com Since you cannot buy Nanosys, as of yet, why not jump in head first to the same company that rode the previous wave quite nicely.

Dean Defeats Sharpton In D.C. Protest Primary (washingtonpost.com)

By the way, Dean has won the D.C. meaningless primary. Only about 42, 000 people voted, which is appropriate considering that this primary meant nothing.

The results:

Howard Dean 17,736 43%
Al Sharpton 14,248 34 %
Carol Moseley Braun 4,824 12%
Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich 3,435 8 %
Other 3%

I was way off, especially on the popularity of Al Sharpton and Kucinich. However I was completely accurate in my prediction of "Other."

Will nanotechnology lead to the next boom?

ZD Net has an interview with Phillip Bond, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology at the U.S. Dept of Commerce, and other things, concerning the impact of our next technological wave on the economy.
Recommended.

I think its too early to tell, but it's certainly a sign when law firms get into the act.

Justice Department Joins another RLUIPA case

The Miami Herald reports that the Justice Department backs Jewish congregations' suit.

Ok, so far the Justice Department has joined RLUIPA suits in Hawaii and Miami. Far be it from me to suggest a pattern, but I find it hard to believe that there are not interesting RLUIPA suits proceeding in Minnesota.

Call for a reversal of Poletown!

Illya Somin, Law Professor at George Mason has a fantastic editorial calling for Michigan to alter property grab rules - 01/08/04

This is a fantastic idea. Justice Ryan's dissent in Poletown is brilliant and should be the law of the land.

For more inforamtion go to the Mackinac Center.

The planned removal of the yeoman farmer?

The Illinois Leader has an interesting article looking at the "planned" reorganization of rural America. While Ms. Morrison is right that there are many strains currently placed on the typical American land owner, I am not sure that there exists some grand scheme to put everyone in a city.

A-C-O-N-E-H

Who wouldn't want to live their entire life on a golf course, it sounds pretty nice to me.
All the divets you can eat, your own private bunker, free broken tees. The good life. It must be, Kenny Bethel was able to convince a woman, Francis, to share this life with him as his wife for the past 9 years. But all good things must come to an end.

Now why was Mr. Bethel kicked out? His possesion was actual, continuous open and notorious. Doesn't he have the right to stay? But as any first year property student will know that Mr. Bethel's big error was, of course, exclusivity and hostility. He should have been chasing those golfers around in a little battle-cart throwing lost spikes at them in order to preserve his claim. So sad.
I understand though that upon death, he wil recieve total enlightenment, which is nice.

Howard Dean: Unilateralist

USATODAY.com has reprinted Howard Dean's letter to President Clinton in 1995

The man's ability to pick the path of political expediency is simply amazing, or should I say, Clintonesque.

D.C. Primary Today

The D.C. primary is today and polling precinct #84 is directly across the street from my house.

Here is a picture:


Notice anything? Well you can't miss the Howard Dean signs within 50 feet of the polling place. Now this may or may not be electioneering, but considering that this primary does not necessarily mean anything, who cares! Only several of the district's 28 super delegates have pledged to support the winner of the primary today. None of the actual delegates are in dispute as those will be decided in the caucus in March.

For more information go here to Let's Free D.C..

For my prediction I think that the results will be:
Dean : 48
Sharpton: 23
Kucinich: 17
Braun: 9
Other: 3

Those are actual vote numbers, not percentages.

Summary of Supreme Court Arguments in Tennessee v. Lane

First and foremost I highly recommend to everyone to visit the Supreme Court for an argument whenever possible, it is higly entertaining and ellucidating.

Prior to hearing argument in Tennessee v. Lane the court made several announcements.

Of primary importance for me, due to my unfortunate and unprovoked seizure by the Capitol Police yesterday, was the case of Illinois v. Lidster, 02-1060. Justice Breyer read the disposition of the case which concluded that police may conduct a random stop road block for information gathering purposes. Not relevant to my seizure, but the information,still unkwnown despite the Capitol road block, is whether the dogs used in the stops around the Capitol are purely bomb sniffing dogs, or can they detect evidence of other criminal behaviour.

One quick aside on the Justice's demeanor; has anyone else noticed or analyzed the angle of recline the Justices take while seated as compared to their judicial philosophy? There seems to be a pattern as Justices Scalia and Thomas spent much of the day in a reclined "lazy-boy" type position. Meanwhile Justices Stevens and Ginsburg were at full upright attention. The rest of the Justices, Kennedy in particular, seem to sway back and forth from full recline to full upright depending on the mood of the chamber. Interesting.

Anyway, on to the argument, which was very lively. The two main points of contention between the parties and the Justices is whether the court should take the opportunity of this case and rule that Title II of the A.D.A. is facially unconstitutional as incongruent and overbroad with respect to the evidence of discrimination against the disabled, or should the court treat this as an as applied challenge to Title II based on the evidence of a constitutional violation present in the inaccessibility to the courthouse.

If the Court takes the second track, and treats this as an as applied challenge, this case appears to be a slam dunk for the respondents. Only Justice Scalia seemed willing to question whether the unavailability of an elevator or volunteer at a courthouse to carry a disabled person upstairs would constitute a denial of access to the courthouse. The other Justices, Justice Breyer in particular who commented on the "fine record of a violation", seemed willing to agree that that was enough to constitute a constitutional due process violation. If that finding is made, then the Court could find that the statute was applied constitutionally in this case and need not necessarily move on to the facial challenge.

The advocate for Tennesse was desperate most of the argument to move away from this issue and stated that the statute must be viewed as a whole, despite the possibility of singular instances of unconstitutional deprivations. The livliest exchange of the argument occurred when Justice Stevens asked his requisite "What about the children?" question positing whether the wholsale denial of a public education to disabled children would constitute a constitutional violation. The Tennessee advocate began an convoluted response when Justice Scalia jumped in and said "The answer is no."

At times the argument boiled down to whether this was a revisiting ofHibbs or whether this was Garrett.. (See Southern Appeal for a comment on these two cases.) Justice Breyer specifically discussed the majority's problems with his dissent and attached appendix in Garrett and distinguished this case on every point.

Other issues discussed invovled whether the application of the statute might still be Constitutional under the commerce clause (Justice Breyer seemed to be reminiscing when he commented on the quaint times when we actually cared about the limits of the commerce clause.) Justice O'Connor was concerned that there would be no other individual remedy for those denied access to courts in this manner if the individual remedy section of Title II is declared unconstitutional. Justice Ginsburg was curious as to the application of the statute if the disable person was denied access to a theatre while Justice Kennedy asked the same question but used a hockey rink as his example. Justice Rehnquist questioned how this case was any different from Boerne or Garrett. Justice Souter seemed to be leading the charge on affirmance of the as applied question as he was inquisitive on multiple occassions as to where the as applied challenge ended and the facial challenge began.

All in all an excellent bench. Based on nothing more than the argument I would predict a 6-3 affirm, with Justice Thomas, Rehnquist and Scalia in dissent.

Demonstrations prior to arguments in Tennessee v. Lane

Back from the argument today with photos of the demonstrators and summary of the oral argument. The re-enactment was not quite as dramatic as I expected, but the argument was lively with every justice but one (guess which one) asking questions.

It was fairly cold in Washington, D.C. this morning so the general admission line prior to argument was less than expected. I arrived at 8:00 a.m. and was able to secure #48. The media arrived shortly thereafter (approximately 10 different outlets) and set up their gear on the Supreme Court Plaza. At around 9:00 a.m. the demonstrators arrived and set up shop:



There were, at a quick glance about the same number of protesters as media members. However, because of the relatively short line, several of those who would have joined the chant took the opportunity to enter the Court and watch the argument. The actual demonstration began at around 9:00 a.m. when the protesters began a chant that rhymed crawl with justice for all in remembrance of the journey of named plaintiff George Lane.

It was then that several demonstrators, not more than 6, both handicapped and not, began to re-enact George Lane's crawl:





Once the protesters climbed up the first set of stairs onto the plaza, they began the crawl across the cold stone plaza to the main staircase.



The protesters moved fairly quickly past us as we stood in line, no doubt due in part to the temperature of the stone. During the re-enactment, the Capitol Police kept their distance, serving mostly to keep the many media members out of the way of the protesters. However once the protestors reached the base of the main staircase, the Capitol Police stopped their progress.



There was no real physical confrontation. I don't think either group really wanted to initiate any type of contact. By the way, one thing I did notice at the Court was a plethora of these signs:



They were shuffling us into the courtroom at this point and so if there were any more fireworks, or more accurately, sparklers, I missed them. All in all, the display was effective, but not very overwhelming. Summary of argument next....

I am off to see the protests!

As discussed here I am off to see the protesters and try to get in and hear argument. I will post pictures later. Based on the Court's recent history of federalism cases, there is a reported fear among the plaintiffs that the Court will hold for Tennessee. But Hibbs changed all that and so I think this one is really up in the air. Where have you gone Chief Justice Rehnquist? A nation composed of individual sovereign states turns its lonely eyes to you (Woo, woo, woo)....

I was seized! And searched! Without suspicion! Or Probable cause even!


The United States Capitol Police have resumed stopping people in their cars in the area around the Capitol for random vehicle searches. Last night I was pulled over next to the Congressional office buildings on the south side of the capitol. The searches consist of pulling the car off to the side and, while the car is stopped, running a dog around the car. It is unclear whether the dog is a pure bomb sniffing dog, but if it was not, then my search may have been unconstitutional. Other reports indicate that they also ask to look in the glove compartment of certain cars, althoughthat search was not performed on my vehicle.

After a car is detained, the Capitol Police give you a nice little form that states:

Random Security Screening of Vehicles
Due to the recent increase of the National Security
Threat Level to Orange-High, the United States
Capitol Police is conducting random security screening
of vehicles in the immediate area of the United States
Capitol Building. Your assistance is requested so that your
vehicle may be screened.

The purpose of this measure is to ensure our Nation's
Capitol remains safe and secure. Your cooperation and
understanding during the brief screening process is
appreciated.

The last sentence of course is added in light of the admonition in Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32, 44 (2000), that road blocks may not be used for general criminal law enforcement. This is assuming that the dog was purely a bomb sniffing dog, which is apparently possible.

New Jersey has a similar program described here.

Bush unveils Indo-US nuclear, space program

Bush has proposed a series of steps to strengthen Indo-US technological ties. The proposal was made in a release, as opposed to a speech, which is unfortunate, because I really would have liked to have heard Bush say this: "The vision of US-India strategic partnership that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and I share is now becoming a reality." And while the United States has not explicitly approved of India's nuclear weapons program, although this proposal comes close, it doesn't hurt to have a democratic Hindu nuclear power as an ally in an increasingly radical Muslim subcontinent.

India, meanwhile, is focusing on other technologies to combat global terror, including
mustache power. Heck it worked for Saddam for almost 25 years.

Court considers reach of US disability law | csmonitor.com

Tomorrow the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Tennessee v. Lane and Jones:

The briefs available in the post below. There will be a protest tomorrow where disabled activists will be re-renacting George Lane's plight by leaving their wheelchairs and climbing the stairs of the Supreme Court building. Hopefully yours truly will be there as well to witness the event.

NPR ran a story on this earlier today as well.

Briefs in Tennessee v. Lane.

Court denies Cert in detention case.

Reuters reports that the Supreme Court has denied cert in the case brought on behalf those detained in the wake of 9/11. They say you should never read anything into a denial of cert, but this strikes me as a possible preview in the Gitmo cases. Or maybe I am just reading too much into this.

But here is an interesting sentence:
Without comment, the top court refused to hear an appeal by civil liberties and other groups challenging the secret arrests and detentions for violating the Freedom of Information Act and constitutional free-speech rights under the First Amendment.

It appears as if Reuters is slippping in the inuendo that the arrests and detentions themselves were "speech based", an act which is not unheard of for their world audience. I tend to think this is just lazy writing, but still....it is Reuters.

Mars Maestro Software

Here is just an incredible timewaster. NASA/JPL has made the software available on its website that it uses to control the Spirit rover. It has also made the available data available to download. Once the rover gets moving this should be, in two words, really cool.

Republican Senate Staffers take note:

There look to be at least 1 and maybe 2 positions on the FCC coming up this year. This position has long been the happy hunting grounds of senior Senate staffers who want to start earning the big bucks of the illegal kickbacks from Rupert Murdoch. The funny thing about this article is that apparently the Clinton administration did not pay much attention to the FCC nomination process, unlike the Bush administration.

Was there anything that the Clintons did keep their eyes on?

Florida Court rules in guardian case.
This is an extremely interesting case, one for the law school con law exam. Does the state have the authority to appoint a guardian for the fetus of a mentally retarded rape victim? The court ruled no, holding that : "We find no Florida statute or case law that has determined a fetus to be a person." This is probably the case, as it is in many states, however I am sure that there are increased criminal penalties in Florida for criminal acts against pregnant women that injure the fetus. As it turns out the victim had the child in August. I wonder if the ACLU will try to reverse the child's personhood status? Mmmm. In a ray a hope for Florida jurisprudence there is a dissent. Justice Robert J. Pleus Jr. stated in dissent that appointing a guardian for J.D.S.'s fetus would have been the only means to ensure that "the state's compelling interest in the health, welfare and life of the unborn child" was protected. That sounds fairly reasonable to me.

Peace talks continue in India
But more still must be done. India and Pakistan will be holding three rounds of talks at foreign secretary-level, beginning from next month, to work out a step-by-step approach to discuss Kashmir and other matters. The real breakthrough came with the categorical assurances from Pakistan that it will not permit any territory under its control to be used by terrorists. Clearly Musharraf is trying his best to bring Pakistan into the world community, but if I was him I would be sleeping with both eyes open. Especially since factions in Pakistan do not show much hesitation in killing their political leaders.

The Supreme Court Hears Two Cases Today

The first case looks rather boring but the second case, Nixon v. Missouri Municipal League,No. 02-1238; FCC v. Missouri Municipal League, No. 02-1386; Southwestern Bell v. Missouri Municipal League, No. 02-1405, asks whether federal law preempt state prohibitions against their political subdivisions' offering telecommunications service to the public? I will be there today and give any update possible.

IBM is the Patent King! (statement patented by IBM)

Once again IBM has PS2'd its way to the lead in US patent filing. Last year they got 3,415 patents, marking the 11th consecutive year the company has been the top recipient. At this point however, because IBM has moved almost completely out of the consumer electronic and computing industry, they are sort of like Yanni. Sure the dude has sold a billion albums, but I don't know anyone who owns one.

IBM and Intel come to Linus's Defense

In the ongoing battle between Linus Torvalds and SCO over the ingenuity of Linux, Linus and Co. have gotten a huge boost from IBM and Intel who are now contributing to a new fund to defend Linux users against copyright infringement suits. Now clearly they have a dog in the fight because Linux is an open source language. However, if they are willing to add their resources after reading articles like these where Linus's defense of Linux sounds alot like Vanilla Ice's defense of his sample of "Under Pressure" then maybe SCO doesn't have a case after all.

Chemical Weapons Found in Iraq!

Danish troops have found dozens of mortar shells in southern Iraq which could contain chemical weapons according to initial tests.

My Kingdom for a sheep!
Given the long history of the Indo-Pakistani conflict, This news item is truly disturbing. Will the current peace talks be ruined due to lack of good sheep meat? One can only hope not.

Rehnquist Slams Congress
The nation's top judge has sharply criticized Congress over the issues of judicial salaries and laws tightening federal sentencing guidelines. In his annual report on the federal judiciary, Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist said Congress should have sought the judiciary's advice before limiting judges' ability to impose lighter sentences.

Details here.

There are no more banana seeds.