CSI Makes Mistake - Me Thinks!

As a CSI fan -- I do not look forward to the "Tarantino" finale!

New Seatbelts

They are releasing new seatbelts that will limit driver distractions.

Brotherhood

We hear all the negative stories about how Iraqi soldiers are behind -- how our military does not trust them -- etc... I must admit I am pleasantly surprised that the Washington Post released this story and picture... Some highlights:

"When I saw those Iraqis in the water, fighting to save their American brothers, I saw a glimpse of the future of this country," said Col. Mark McKnight, commander of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, which had overall responsibility for the unit in the accident, his eyes tearing.
[...]
Pfc. Russell Nahvi, 23, of Arlington, Tex., a medic whose platoon was involved in the accident, said he arrived in Iraq this month with preconceptions about the Iraqi forces. "You always heard never to trust them, to never turn your back on them," he said.

The actions of the Iraqis that Sunday "changed my mind for how I felt about these guys," he said. "I have a totally different perspective now. They were just so into it. They were crying for us. They were saying we were their brothers, too."

Iraqi Army soldiers pray in traditional Islamic manner in front of a memorial for 3 American soldiers on Friday, February 18, 2005 in Forward Operating Base Palowada in Balad. Iraqi soldiers helped Americans to find the bodies of three American soldiers with Charlie Troop Task Force 5-7 (SPC Dakotah Lee Gooding, SGT Rene Knox Jr., SGT Chad William Lake) who died in accident during a mission.
Ramin Talaie for The Washington Post

Little History

On this date in 1803 the Supreme Court ruled itself to be the final interpreter of all constitutional issues... (Simply and FYI I found interesting)

Listen to Ward Churchill Yourself

I believe among other things Ward Churchill is suffering from a mental imbalance, but that is my opinion. Michell Malkin has clips available to listen to -- so listen and draw your own conclusion. You can here to clips here, here, here, and here; or read the transcript here.

Interesting Take

Here, with our readers' help, are WorldNetDaily editors' picks for the 10 most underreported stories of the past year. [Read more here]

There is an Issue with Social Security

This is a step forward -- someone at the Washington Post (Robert Samuelson) actually acknowledged there is a problem with Social Security... He does not agree with Bush's plan, but simply acknowledging a problem is a "giant step forward"; wouldn't you say?

Our central budget problem, as I've noted in earlier columns, is the coming spending explosion in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, driven by aging baby boomers and rising health spending. In 2004 these programs cost $965 billion, or 8.4 percent of the economy (gross domestic product). The Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2030 their costs will rise to 14 percent of GDP, or more than $1.6 trillion in today's dollars. Avoiding a (nearly) $700 billion annual increase in taxes or deficits would require comparable spending cuts in other government programs. It won't happen. The projected increase in retirement spending nearly equals all federal "discretionary spending" -- a category that includes defense, homeland security, environmental programs, national parks, scientific research and much more. We're not going to eliminate all these programs.

Once you've done this math, you recognize that benefit cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are inevitable. They're the only other way to limit massive tax increases or immense budget deficits. Moreover, the benefit cuts have to affect baby boomers, because they will be the people on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The critical period occurs from 2011 to 2029, when all baby boomers (people born from 1946 to 1964) hit 65. That's when budgetary pressures intensify. So, does the Bush Social Security plan improve the budget outlook? From all indications, the answer is "no."

Terrorist Fear Freedom?

I have blogged numerous stories like this -- but I truly believe these type of attacks are not getting the attention they need nor or they being interpreted accurately. These are attacks against their own people -- why would they do that, what would be the reason? Because of the evil Americans, no I don't thinks so. These attacks are aimed directly at freedom, and why would they [terrorist or as I prefer animals] target freedom -- it scares them! If their ideology is so noble, so honorable, and so correct; what do they have to fear from freedom? People will easily choose goodness over evil, lawfulness over unlawfulness; so does this indicate that these animals know what they stand for -- what they want is evil? I think so and this is the reason they fear freedom for Iraq!

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- On the day a Shiite Muslim-led bloc picked its candidate for Iraq's prime minister, insurgents assassinated an official in Diyala province who was a member of that nominee's political movement.

Unknown gunmen shot dead Khalil Ali Shuker as he finished evening prayers Tuesday at a mosque in Muqdadiya, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Baghdad. A male bystander also was wounded.

Bobbit Has Company

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A woman upset about an impending breakup with her boyfriend cut off the man's penis and flushed it down a toilet, police said.

Utility workers recovered the severed member Sunday and surgeons reattached it.

Kim Tran, 35, was charged with first-degree assault, domestic violence and tampering with evidence. She was jailed at the Anchorage Jail with no bail set.

Where to these guys find these women?

Does This Mark the End

Unfortunately, one of the first things I thought after reading the below story was "I wonder how many families will bring up lawsuits"... I am ashamed to think that but this country ought to be ashamed that it could actually happen.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Saying it has exhausted all DNA technology, the New York City Medical Examiner has halted the process of identifying human remains from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center site.

Family members are to be notified by telephone calls and letters saying that further positive identifications are not expected, leaving more than four out of 10 families with no recovered remains for burial.

Iran not Iraq

MAINZ, Germany (Reuters) - President Bush said Wednesday that European diplomatic efforts were just beginning to try to rein in Iran's nuclear program and comparisons with Iraq were wrong.

"Iran is not Iraq. We just started the diplomatic efforts and I want to thank our friends for taking the lead. We will work with them to convince the mullahs that they need to give up their nuclear ambitions," Bush told a news conference after talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

Well at least someone remembers the years, more than a decade, we dealt with Iraq -- inspectors allowed in, inspectors refused access, documents requested, refusal to turn over documents, on and on and on... I really does not amaze me how those opposed to President Bush use shock to sway people -- Iraq is another Vietnam, Iran is another Iraq, etc.; what shocks me is how people "fall for it". Iran is just starting on their path of international deception and if diplomatic means are successful will anyone give credit to US action in Iraq -- I will! One hint, please don't let the UN, France, Germany, or Russia get in involved in dispense financial aid, ala "oil-for-food", or this maybe another 10 year diplomatic approach.

UN Sexcapades Continue

UNITED NATIONS - A letter sent to Secretary-General Annan by representatives of the United Nations staff union may set up the next firing of a top Turtle Bay figure, following a weekend that brought the housecleaning under the new chief of staff, Mark Malloch Brown, to new heights.

The confidential staff union letter, dated February 17, marked a new round in a battle to investigate allegations of abuse of power by Undersecretary-General Dileep Nair, who heads the U.N. internal investigative arm, the Office of Internal Oversight Services.

Ironically, it was a leak last week of a months-old classified report on sexual harassment by the OIOS that led to the high-profile departure this weekend of the U.N.'s high commissioner for refugees, Ruud Lubbers. Mr. Lubbers' s forced resignation was universally seen at the U.N. as an attempt by Mr. Malloch Brown to pre-empt criticism of the organization.

The letter regarding Mr. Nair, who has been accused by some staffers of sexual harassment in the past, consisted of five separate new allegations, according to two sources who have read parts of it to The New York Sun. The five allegations were described by one source as "merely technical." But another said they regarded serious "hiring, promotions, recruitment, and discipline" issues in Mr. Nair's office.

Florida Makes News Again

MIAMI, United States (AFP) - A state prosecutor in Florida's island city of Key West is under arrest after he allegedly ran naked and drunk across a parking lot and hopped into the wrong car.

Albert Tasker of the local state prosecutor's office told police he had been drinking with friends and thought it would be funny to take off his clothes and run to a friend's car in the parking lot, according to the Florida Keys Citizen.

This just hit me funny!

Saying Bad Thing about Us

Ever heard your boss or a teacher say "if they are saying or writing bad things about me I am not doing my job"? I guess this falls under that category:

(CNN) -- Osama bin Laden's No. 2 man in al Qaeda lashed out at U.S. efforts to extend democracy around the world in a videotape aired Sunday on Arabic-language TV station Al Jazeera, saying those efforts "will end with your defeat, the killing of your sons and the destruction of your economy."

First -- this will not change the minds of those that support the actions in Iraq and in fact strength the resolve of many... Second -- if the threat is carried out many of the fence sitters will become supporters of any actions against the animals -- as usual my opinion!

Thompson Suicide - Bush's Fault

It is amazing; President Bush is now the reason for suicides!

Outlaw, druggie, Dunhill-smoking, Chivas Regal-drinking, anti-establishment literary icon Hunter S. Thompson committed suicide after becoming depressed about the United States' shift toward conservatism, said one longtime friend who spent the weekend at the Aspen, Colo., home of the late "gonzo" journalist.
[...]
A vehement opponent of President Bush, Mr. Thompson, 67, "was feeling maudlin about the current conservatism sweeping the country," Mr. Jenkins said. [Read more here]

Let's see, President Bush is responsible for escalating hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, pretty much any national disaster, now suicides, with this kind of power why would anyone not vote for the man!

Amnesty International - Other Agendas

Can anyone read this -- even those opposed to President Bush -- and not believe Amnesty International has another agenda?

LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly two years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, women there are no better off than under the rule of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, the human rights group Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

Without listing a multitude of reasons this is a false claim I will look to one fact -- women voted, and there are many countries that is still not legal... Give me a break, as Matt Margolis states, "Anyone else want to trust an organization that supports convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu Jamal?"

Out There Justice

This is just strange to me - can anyone explain it to me?

MULTAN, Pakistan - A tribal council in Pakistan has ordered the betrothal of a 2-year-old girl to a man 40 years older to punish her uncle for an alleged affair with the man's wife, police said Monday.
The council decreed the girl must marry 42-year-old Mohammed Altaf, her uncle's cousin, when she turns 18, police said.
Altaf, a farmer, divorced his 32-year-old wife over her alleged love affair with his 20-year-old cousin, Mohammed Akmal. Akmal, a bachelor and also a farmer, has no children.
Altaf asked tribal elders in the village of Kacha Chohan, about 215 miles west of the city of Multan in Punjab province, to convene a panchayat, or council, on Feb. 15 to arbitrate and propose a punishment. As punishment, the elders ordered the girl's betrothal and ruled Akmal should also pay a $3,800 fine to the husband.

Stranger and scarier by the minute.

In 2002, another village council near Multan ordered a woman gang-raped as punishment for her brother's sexual relations with another woman. A court later convicted six men who perpetrated the rape and sentenced them to death. They are appealing the sentences.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

"These types of panchayats are illegal and nobody has the right to take a decision about a child's life," he said. "This country has its legal system and all decisions should be taken under it."
He said that the betrothal of a minor did not itself break the law, but forcing a woman to marry against her will carried a maximum 14-year jail sentence. Underage marriage is also illegal but is only punishable by a fine.

(Hat tip to Flying Yangban)

Senator Reid's SS Calculator Debunked

Senator Reid introduced an online Social Security calculator which you can access here… However, I would suggest you read this information from The Heritage Foundation…

Sen. Reid, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), and other foes of personal retirement accounts today posted an on-line calculator developed by the far-left Center for Budget Policy and Priorities. Those planning to use this calculator should keep in mind a few of the unsupportable assumptions built into it:

It assumes personal accounts will deliver CBO’s “risk-adjusted” rate of return of 3% not counting administrative costs—less than half of the average return of 7% on equities delivered over the past 75 years. For its “expected” analysis, however, CBO assumes a rate of return of 4.9%, even after accounting for administration costs.[1] This calculator assumes that the average investor will be able to equal, at best, no more than the return on U.S. Treasury Bonds.

It assumes all workers will start collecting full benefits at age 65—even though the age at which one qualifies for full Social Security benefits will reach 67 by 2022. This incorrect assumption allows the calculator to overstate projected Social Security benefits by as much as two years and underestimate personal account earnings by the same margin. [Read the rest here]

On Again - Off Again - Pyongyang Game

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said his country would return to six-party nuclear talks under the right conditions and called for the United States to show sincerity, the North's official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.
In a rare statement on the stalled talks, Kim told a visiting senior Chinese communist party official that the North had never opposed the six-party talks and was committed to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula

I know I am blogging a lot about the "wishy washy" actions of North Korea - but, I am trying to demonstrate the idiotic diplomacy all administrations have faced for half a century...

USA Today Story

Step Forward for Peace?

Am I the only one that sees this as a step toward for peace?

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel freed 500 Palestinian prisoners in a good-will gesture Monday, a day after the government gave final approval to a pullout from Gaza and a revised route of the West Bank separation barrier that would encompass at least 6 percent of land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.