Wednesday, August 31, 2005

evening

Idiot of the Day - Las Vegas Review Journal Editors

This is a quote from this morning’s Review Journal editorial column. “And yet, many people around the world said the United States didn’t offer enough support in response to the tsunami. A U.N. bureaucrat went as far as calling Americans and other Westerners “stingy.” It was an insult of the highest order to the world’s most generous nation.

So where is the rest of the world in our time of need? There’s nary a peep from the “global community.”

I cannot BEGIN to tell you how sick of this crap I am.  For one, we’re the richest country in the world, based on spending power.  We’re amongst the top several countries based on income.  But we’re 12th amongst the 21 richest nations overall in helping the world’s poor.  No, people, we are NOT #1.  Denmark is number one.  We’re number one in arrogance, always thinking we’re number one in regards to everything else.  Yes, sure, we have a nice country, but that doesn’t make us the be all and end all of the world.

Secondly, and most importantly, in regards to the ignorant statements of the Review Journal; I’m going to quote a news story that was published today regarding other world leaders expressing condolences, after the RJ editorial was printed.  However, while listening to CNN yesterday afternoon, I heard with my own two ears and saw with my own two eyes, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, expressly say that we’d received calls from other countries offering help.  In addition, there was this article from Associated Press that states, “From papal prayers to telegrams from China, the world reacted with an outpouring of compassion Wednesday for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in messages tinged by shock that a disaster of this scale could occur in the United States” and this “Whether aid is sent, most nations did offer sympathy.  French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent messages of sympathy to President Bush. China’s President Hu Jintao and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II also sent messages of condolence.” Plus, there was this from The Toronto Star -” Canadian officials have started getting ready to send whatever type of aid the United States requires to help with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said today.”

So, RJ editors, quit your whining and spend your time doing research instead.  A person with a modicum of common sense would just hazard a guess that other countries would offer help and aid money.  So, with that common sense, the average person would do a little research and note that, yes, aid had been offered.  Las Vegas is a big city now, we should have a big city newspaper.  Instead, the paper is full of half-truths and hyperbole.

Right now, I’m having trouble understanding why the American Red Cross needs the support of the average American.  Do we not have enough government money to help the poor victims of this disaster?  We’re spending billions in Iraq, so we surely should have enough money to help Americans get back on their feet after such a tragedy, no?  We’ve donated money to charities that are going into the affected areas to help rescue animals.  I’m assuming the US government has enough money to help people in the area.  Our donations went to Best Friends Hurricane Relief Fund and Noah’s Wish.  I expect the government to take care of its people, but I know they won’t take care of their beloved pets.

Monday, August 29, 2005

lunch time

They Call Me “The Prez”

Get your position here

Sunday, August 28, 2005

lunch time

Yay, Hawaii! - Little League World Series Champs

That was the best Little League World Series final game I can ever remember seeing.  An amazing comeback by Ewa Beach, Hawaii to beat returning champs, Curacao.  What a fun game to watch.

For those of you who are finding my blog by searching for “llws hot mom hawaii”, I think you’re either looking for Sheyne Baniaga’s sister (for whom I have zero information) or Mariana Bichette, who is the mom of Dante Bichette, Jr., from Maitland, Florida.  Actually, I don’t have any more information on her than can be found on a regular ol’ Google search either.  I watched the LLWS to enjoy the baseball - the occasional eye candy was just a bonus.  But hey, congrats to Mariana Bichette, who’s gotten over 70 hits to my blog.  You were apparently very popular in Williamsport.

An update for curiosity seekers...because I keep getting hits for Mariana Bichette and there don’t seem to be any pictures anywhere.  I had one game left on my TiVo, so I took a picture of the teeeeeevee.

Credit to ESPN or ABC or the Bichette family or whomever.  If there’s a problem posting the picture, send me an email and I’ll take it down.  And if anyone else swipes it, you’d better do a good job of getting the reflection of my mini-blinds out of her hair.

Update 8/29 - Thanks to Blayne, I need to correct my info about the sister from Hawaii.  It’s Layson Aliviado’s sister, Manager Aliviado’s daughter and she’s 20.

Friday, August 26, 2005

early evening

Idiots of the Day - Ann Coulter & John Loftus

While Ann Coulter is an idiot every single day, she outdid herself yesterday with this appearance on Fox (duh, where else?) News:

From the August 25 edition of Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes:

COLMES: And I want to ask you about something, Ann, that you wrote in your most recent column. You had a very funny line, actually, that it is hard to find a parking spot in New York City. There’s no question about it. You’ve had a pretty good day if you can do that. But then you said, “It’s far preferable to fight them on the streets of Baghdad than in the streets of New York (where the residents would immediately surrender).” Now, some New Yorkers felt that you were calling them cowards by making that statement.

COULTER: No, I think I was calling them supporters of Cindy Sheehan.

COLMES: Is that what that is? You certainly don’t feel that New Yorkers are cowards?

COULTER: I think they would immediately surrender.

COLMES: So you do think that?

COULTER: I don’t—I don’t think—I think I’d rather have them trying to invade Mississippi or Georgia, Alabama, you know, the states where I want Cindy Sheehan’s bus tour to go

And while Ann Coulter is a moron, she isn’t putting anyone’s life in danger.  John Loftus, a former federal prosecutor (which would lead you to think he had a brain in his head, but oh, you’d be WRONG), gave out the address of a supposed terrorist who was living in California.  Unfortunately, the “Terrist” (Fox News followers aren’t the brightest bulbs - that’s what was spray painted on the house), had moved out of that house three YEARS ago.  This was the moron’s excuse, “Loftus also apologized and told The Times last week that “mistakes happen.” “I’m terribly sorry about that. I had no idea. That was the best information we had at the time,” he said. The best information they had at the time???

Let me tell you about “best information”.  Sometime last year, I lost track of one of my very best friends.  She moved and sadly, she isn’t attached at the hip to the internet, so she doesn’t check her email (or doesn’t have any) every five minutes like I do.  Instead of losing her forever, I paid Intelius.net $7.95 and found her new address.  While some people might find that creepy, I highly doubt tracking down my friend of twenty years would think so.  I don’t know the address of the poor family who has been threatened because of the stupidity of John Loftus, but I’m taking a wild guess that little ol’ me could’ve found out more accurate information than Loftus and his colleagues at Fox News, for less than $8.  Less than two Venti drinks at Starbucks.  For less than $8, *I* could’ve prevented a family from dealing with illiterate and dangerous bullies launched by Fox News and John Loftus.  And you know what, even if the “terrist” WAS living there, should everyday citizens go knocking on his door?  Shouldn’t the police or FBI deal with the issue versus, say, Jim Bob Wingnut?

Thursday, August 25, 2005

late morning

Pride In The Blog Community

Even though Mr. Badger’s cancer is terminal, we’ve all done what we can to help make the rest of his time here as comfortable as possible.  Here’s an update on the fundraising that I wrote about in this post.  “Thanks to your generous donations, there is now a professional support network in place to help the Badgers through this time.  With Hospice involved, Mr. Badger’s pain medication has been much more closely monitored, the dosages increased, and the nurses who come twice a week have reassured him that they will keep him from suffering physically.” To read the rest of the post - Badger Fund Update

Don’t forget, $2,100, while currently making a significant difference in the lives of the Badgers right now, there’s surely more needed.  So, if you have a little extra, why not donate? And for my readers, who might be skeptical about the legitimacy of the Badgers or even Academic Coach, I can assure you that I’ve checked everything out myself and it is absolutely legitimate.  There is no question about the dire circumstances faced with regards to both the terminal cancer and the horrible treatment they’ve received from their state and our federal government.  How they’ve been treated should be a crime.  Okay, I’ll end my rant here.  If you can, donate.  If you can’t, send good thoughts their way.