Voting Rights Act Case In Mississippi

Sounds familiar, I know, but it isn't what you think. The U.S. Department of Justice's complaint - the first of its kind in the country, according to department officials - accuses African Americans of discriminating against white voters. Among the issues the Justice Department said it found in its investigation were:

Black candidates who do not satisfy residency requirements have been allowed to run in elections in an effort to defeat white candidates for local office.

White voters have been kept from participating in the Democratic primary, even those legally entitled to vote.

Absentee ballots cast by white voters have been rejected, while ballots from black voters that contain similar or more serious defects have been accepted.

White residents have been discriminated against in the selection of people to work at polls and in providing information about the absentee voting process.

White candidates have been blocked from viewing the tabulation of ballots, while black candidates have been allowed to do so.

Black residents have been allowed to violate restrictions against campaigning at the polls.

I don't have any idea about the merits of the case, but it will be interesting to see how this one unfolds.

Work + Sick = Miserable

Well, I managed to come down with the ear, nose and throat crud while in Mississippi. It started off relatively light, but has gotten worse the last couple of days. I'm feeling pretty cruddy right now. Hopefully it will clear up in time for this weekend's big Super Bowl get-together.

Going To Be Away

A last minute work trip is taking me to Jackson, Mississippi for a few days. Therefore, no new posts until next week. Please check out some of the blogs listed over on the right side. Many of them are much better and more informative than this one. But I'm trying to catch up to them!

Even Royalty Gets TSA Treatment

Okay, maybe that should say minor royalty... Sweden's Prince Carl Philip is reported to have been held by American police in Miami when he entered the USA from Venezuela last autumn. He was interrogated on arrival in the country, missed his connecting flight, and arrived in Washington one day later than planned. Authorities didn't believe he was actually who he claimed to be, and he spent one night in police custody.

Blue Monday

According to researchers in the United Kingdom, today is the most depressing day of the year. That means it's all downhill the rest of the year. Woo hoo!

The History Of What?

There really is a web site about everything somewhere out here on the Web. How about this one... The History of the Button.

Stephen Colbert Explains The AT&T / Bellsouth / Cingular Sale

Watch and learn...

Typical Of The Enviro-Weenies

Heidi Cullen, climatologist for The Weather Channel, has advocated decertifying any television meteorologist that expresses doubt that human activity is causing global warming. The end-all argument of the Left: think like us, or else! That's excellent.

What she advocates, on the most basic level, is extortion. She's saying either promote the agenda we want you to promote, of we will do harm to your career.

Actually, others have taken this ridiculous notion a step farther. Grist magazine writer David Roberts called for the Nuremberg-style trials for the "[expletives]" who were members of what he termed the global warming "denial industry." Interestingly, Cullen featured Roberts on an episode of her Weather Channel show "The Climate Code". She referred to him as an expert on ecology and energy issues.

As an aside... In December, Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.)and the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee announced the public release of the Senate Committee published booklet entitled "A Skeptic's Guide to Debunking Global Warming Alarmism. Hot & Cold Media Spin Cycle: A Challenge To Journalists who Cover Global Warming." The senator has challenged the media in a series of speeches and hearings to stop the unfounded hype.

"The American people are fed up with the media for promoting the idea that former Vice President Al Gore represents the scientific 'consensus' that SUV's and the modern American way of life have somehow created a 'climate emergency' that only United Nations bureaucrats and wealthy Hollywood liberals can solve."

YouTube Fame

Here's an interesting article about the fame generated by a hit video on YouTube. It's from the guy who created the Spiders On Drugs video I posted below.

Warning: Some graphic language

Flippity-Floppity

Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes, then-incoming House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman, was quoted in the Dec. 5th issue of Newsweek magazine as saying he wanted to see an increase of 20,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq as part of a "stepped up effort to dismantle the militias."

"We have to consider the need for additional troops to be in Iraq, to take out the militias and stabilize Iraq," the Texas Democrat said to the surprise of many, "I would say 20,000 to 30,000."

Then guess what happened. President Bush announced that he would implement that very increase, precisely what Rep. Reyes suggested.

What happens when a liberal Democrat realizes that President Bush sees things their way? Why, they change their opinions. Remember the Democrat mantra... Bush Is Bad. After the President announces his plan, which matches what Rep. Reyes proposed a month earlier, the good Democrat changes his tune.

Hours after Mr. Bush announced his proposal, Mr. Reyes told the El Paso Times that such a troop buildup was unthinkable. "We don't have the capability to escalate even to this minimum level," he said.

Wow! Rep. Reyes supported the troop increase before he spoke against it. John Kerry would be proud.

Still Fair and Balanced

The Media Research Center has released the results of a ten-week study on Cable TV's coverage of the Iraq War. The MRC reviewed all three news networks' reporting on Iraq between May 15 and July 21. That period of time included the successful air strike that eliminated al-Qaeda terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, as well as allegations of U.S. military misconduct at Haditha. The results? No surprises...

All three cable news networks ran more stories reflecting bad news about the situation in Iraq than stories about coalition achievements. But Fox News (FNC) was the most balanced, with 20 percent of stories emphasizing optimism, compared with 30 percent that stressed pessimism.

Fully three-fifths (60%) of all CNN stories on the war emphasized setbacks, misdeeds or pessimism about progress in Iraq, compared to just 10 percent that reported on achievements or victories. MSNBC’s tilt was closer to CNN, with four times more bad news stories (48%) than reports stressing good news (12%).

While FNC provided significant coverage to unproven claims of U.S. military misconduct in Iraq (12 stories), the other networks took a much more sensational approach to the story. MSNBC aired three times as much coverage of alleged misconduct as FNC (36 stories), while CNN aired a whopping 59 stories — nearly five times the coverage of FNC.

FNC aired a total of 81 stories announcing coalition victories in Iraq, nearly as many as MSNBC (47 stories) and CNN (41 stories) combined. During the ten weeks of our study, most coverage of Iraq’s political process reflected optimism about the democratically-elected government, a topic that FNC also showcased more than either MSNBC or CNN (63 stories vs. 34 and 38 respectively).

While all three networks presented news of Zarqawi’s death as a victory for the U.S. coalition, CNN chose that day to interview a Middle East journalist who complained, "There’s no good news in Iraq. There’s no corner that’s been turned, there’s no milestone... I just feel very depressed and hopeless." Over on MSNBC, the network took time away from covering the breaking news of Zarqawi’s death to feature positive profiles of United States military deserters.

And the folks at CNN and MSNBC wonder why FoxNews remains the runaway, clear #1 cable news channel in the U.S.

Sometimes You Sound Like A Nut...

The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch has this gem...

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, D-Cleveland, who is running for the 2008 presidential nomination, went further. In a speech Monday in New York, Kucinich unveiled his plan to "end the occupation" of Iraq by U.S. forces, pay reparations, close bases and withdraw.

The Mexican Invasion

The number one issue that cost Republicans in last November's elections was obviously the war in Iraq. But perhaps the second biggest issue, among conservatives at least, was the government's refusal to seriously combat illegal immigration. The tremendous influx of illegals from Mexico has brought us to this point: Of everyone alive that was born in Mexico, more than 12% now live in the USA.

Government estimates show that during the 1970s, about 120,000 Mexicans illegally crossed the border into the US every year. During the '80s, that number jumped to 200,000 a year. In the '90s, about 350,000 a year. That figure now is approaching 500,000 illegals a year.

How much American money is winding up in Mexico? The L.A. Times reports that $39 billion was wired from the U.S. to Mexico during 2005, most of it from the 12 million illegal Mexican immigrants working in America.

If you know me, you know I don't buy into conspiracy theories. However, I believe 12 million people streaming across the border constitutes an invasion. Keep this in mind... Mexican President Ernesto Zedilla was in Chicago in July 1997, and told the National Council of LaRaza, "I have proudly affirmed that the Mexican nation extends beyond the territory enclosed by its borders." He announced a Mexican constitutional amendment that purports to allow Mexicans to retain their Mexican nationality even though they become U.S. citizens (which is contrary to the U.S. naturalization oath). In 2001, then President Vicente Fox came to the United States. He reiterated this line, proclaiming that "the Mexican nation extends beyond the territory enclosed by its borders" and includes migrants living in the United States. He called for open borders and endorsed Mexico's new dual citizenship law.

For more on the idea that the Southwestern United States should be returned to Mexico, do a Google search for "Republica del Norte".

Good Or Bad?

The San Diego Chargers play host Sunday to the New England Patriots in the AFC playoffs. The last 1,000 or so tickets went on sale this week, but with a stipulation. Tickets were for local residents only. Payments could be made only by credit card, and the billing address on the cards was checked. Orders with an out-of-area billing address were immediately cancelled.

I can understand the argument that the Cargers wanted to make sure their fans could get tickets, not lose them to Pats fans. This shows (to me, at least) what a weak fan base the Chargers have, that there were still a lot of tickets available the week leading up to a playoff game. It's a sign of weakness and insecurity on the part of the Chargers.

More importantly, couldn't this open the Chargers up to some legal action? Apparently there's no NFL rule that saws tickets have to be made available to everyone. Sure doesn't seem right to me.

Taking It To Them II

Pajamas Media reports that the al Qaeda members U.S. gunships attacked yesterday were on the move from Ethiopian military forces. Apparently, U.S. air and ground forces have been covertly aiding the Ethiopian military since its intervention began on Christmas Day.

So, U.S. boots are on the ground in Somalia. I'm glad to see that the War on Terror continues, despite the cut-and-run Libs gaining control of the Congress.

Taking It To Them

CBS is reporting that a U.S. AC-130 gunship attacked members of al Qaeda in Somalia. The targets were the senior al Qaeda leader in East Africa and an al Qaeda operative wanted for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in Africa

Spiders On Drugs

This absolutely hilarious video shows how different drugs affect the lives of spiders. If it doesn't scare you straight, nothing will!

Hate Crime, But Seemingly No Outrage

This story from the LA Weekly provides a very detailed look at the media response to the brutal beating of three women by a mob on Halloween night. The victims were white, the gang of more than three dozen accused attackers all black and hurling racial insults. The attack led to charges, including hate crime charges, against many of the alleged attackers. There was virtually no media coverage of the incident prior to the trial, which is in its fourth week.

The lack of coverage from the national media, and the lack of outrage from civil rights leaders, could lead one to think there are different levels of hate crime for different color people.

Former CNN Anchor Tells Only Good News

Daryn Kagan spent a dozen years at CNN, but was let go last week. Rather than jump to another network, she's launched her own web site. She's still anchoring, in a sense. More than just a talking head, she's also webmaster and reporter. But she's working the "good news only" beat.

Excuses, Excuses

Stumbled across this story about Texas public schools appealing their ratings from the latest student standardized test scores. The state ratings system is based largely on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test scores of specific subgroups such as black, Hispanic, white and low-income students. A school must produce a given passing rate in each group to earn a certain rating. Among the excuses given by the schools for student failures...

One teenage girl was set to take the state test for special-education students but went into labor before she could. The school argued that it should be able to count her as a passing student.

A fire alarm went off during the social studies TAKS exam... officials argued that the alarm had distracted the school's black students, whose scores had fallen short of the acceptable bar.

A fourth-grader who consistently got good grades had answered "A" to every multiple-choice question on a practice TAKS test. According to school officials, the student's parents had encouraged the child to sabotage the TAKS.

Send In The Clones

The USDA has announced their findings from a study on meat from cloned animals. The results: meat and milk from clones of adult cattle, pigs and goats, and their offspring, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals. The assessment was peer-reviewed by a group of independent scientific experts in cloning and animal health.

The outcry has already begun from religious groups, organics growers, fear-mongers and worry-warts. After searching Google News for stories about the decision, and reaction to it, most of the arguments against the decision seem to go like this: "Nobody wants to eat meat from a cloned animal. Cloning is unethical. How do we know it's safe? Eleven years of study isn't enough. Why do we need cloning. We grow all the animals we'll ever need."

Critics play up the idea that clones are some kind of scientific Frankenstein animal. Actually, if you look around, you might see a clone today. Don't believe me?

The basic definition of a clone is "one that appears to be a copy of an original form." As far as genetics, a clone is "the aggregate of genetically identical cells or organisms asexually produced by a single progenitor cell or organism; an individual grown from a single somatic cell or cell nucleus and genetically identical to it." Have you ever met identical twins? Also known as "nature's clones", identical twins are exact genetic matches. They're like clones of each other. We don't consider them freakish or ungodly. We don't shun them.

The "eating cloned meat" argument is misleading, because the cloned animals would almost exclusively be used for breeding. Their offspring would not be clones. Animals with the strongest, most beneficial traits could be replicated and used to strengthen herds. If we can locate animals with resistance to diseases, like a BSE ("Mad Cow") resistant cow, they could help breed new herds of cows all resistant to the disease.

The science behind this research is no less relevant or untrustworthy than the science that led to vaccines for diseases, treatments for cancers, brain surgery, in-vitro fertilization, DNA and genome mapping, and so much more. These are not mad scientists, trying to create some genetic abomination. They're working for the greater good, just as most scientists always have. Arguments based of fear, mis-information, even lies, are much more dangerous and unethical than the science of cloning.

Some Fun Stuff To Start Off 2007

Just a few fun sites I've stumbled across recently...

ElfYourself.com
Upload a picture of a friend or co-worker and create a dancing elf with that person's face.

Overheard In New York
Folks overhear the strangest things in New York. At this web site, they share those conversations with the world.

Sportpodcasts
This directory of sports-related podcasts is a must visit for sports fans.

UTOPIA Maps In The News
For the geographically challenged, the maps here help give a reference to the places around the world where news is happening.

Aviation Videos
Some fantastic, some scary and some downright bizarre flying-related videos. My favorite, the guy who's hurled hundreds of feet into air via sling-shot, then parachutes back to earth.

Spreadshirt.com
You design your won t-shirt, andthey create it.

Will It Blend?
These clowns take the strangest assortment of things and, well, try to puree them in a blender. Cell phones, rotisserie chicken, credit cards, even hockey pucks.

Happy New Year Folks!

Here's hoping you all have a splendid 2007. May it be your best year yet.