imkittymyers at hotmail dot com
Saturday, January 08, 2005
HEARTBREAK HOTEL
As you enjoy your weekend just remember that
ELVIS Presley, who died in 1977, would be celebrating his 70th birthday today. In honor of The King, we'll share some little-known facts compiled by Webster Hall's omniscient Baird Jones.
And here’s Elvis in the Army.
Speaking of heartbreak (sniff sniff) …
ONE MORE THING …
Crush(ed)Kerry’s Pat Hynes, a murder mystery buff, wants to know: What's the best one out there? CSI? Law & Order? Cold Case?
Personally,
I think Columbo is the the best.
Friday, January 07, 2005
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KENNDY DIVES INTO GONZALES HEARING
Thanks to the Texas Techie, LoanCat, here are a combination of two clips she ripped from The Imus Show this morning. The first is his guest Ann Coulter talking about Ted Kennedy at the Gonzales hearings yesterday. The second part is the clip of Kennedy himself. You’ll hear Imus and the gang in the background laughing and commenting as Kennedy is talking.
8While we’re on the subject, Crush(ed)Kerry offers excellent commentary on the hearings with their Sane Democrats In Dire Need Of A ''Juicy Fruit'' Moment. A must read:
Yesterday was one of those times that I had to pinch myself and wonder when I was going to wake up from the dream. I realized while watching the dual spectacles taking place on my TV (OK, my computer screen) that I was witnessing the unraveling of a once proud political party. Believe it or not I did so with a mixture of glee and pity.
…
Next followed an almost surreal moment when Ted Kennedy expressed outrage that terrorists were subjected to water "torture" and the fear that they might drown. Certainly that's an area in which the Senator is well versed.
The blogosphere is laughing:
8 KerryHaters Well His Dog Is Named Splash....
8 BalloonJuice TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
I guess we can file this under "Great Moments in senate Hypocisy," because that sounds a helluva lot better than a category titled "Oh No He Didn't!" At any rate, yesterday, during the Gonzalez testimony yesterday, there was some serious questioning about interrogation, and in particular, a technique called 'water-boarding.'
8 AnkleBitingPundits Ann Coulter Eviscerates Teddy "Drowning Offends Me" Kennedy
8 Brainster Ted Kennedy's Continuing Parody—UPDATED
8 mASSbackwards See You Monday ... Here's a little something to start your weekend off right.
8 chattr+a-V-Mic KENNEDY TO GONZALES: YOU WENT OVER THE BORDER
Thursday, January 06, 2005
THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
AnkleBitingPundits is gearing up. Surf over and learn “Writing Partner’s” new nickname! And while you’re there, check out these articles:
Bush Re-Defeated!
What About The $21 billion From The Oil For Food Program
EXCLUSIVE: WE'VE LEARNED THE IDENTITY OF THE NEW DNC CHAIR!!
BREAKING NEWS!
Texas Mom's Murder Convictions Overturned
Andrea Yates' capital murder convictions for drowning her children were overturned Thursday by an appeals court, which ruled a prosecution expert witness gave false testimony at her trial.
BRAVE NEW MEDIA
Hollywood Discovers Radical Islam
Fox Channel’s 24 shows four episodes depicting an Muslim family as coming to the United States solely to implement attacks against Americans. To do so, they masquerade as just folk. Here is how Jim Finkle of Broadcasting & Cable describes them: “One of the villains is a Walkman-toting, bubble-gum-chewing teenager who fights with his conservative Dad about dating an American girl and talking on the phone.”
But this is a disguise.
The young man also helps his parents mastermind a plot to kill large numbers of Americans that begins with an attack on a train. Over the breakfast table, the father tells his son: “What we will accomplish today will change the world. We are fortunate that that our family has been chosen to do this.” “Yes, father,” his son replies.
The terrorists manage to take the secretary of defense as a hostage; and the movie climaxes with the secretary shown on a gruesome Internet video like those coming out of Iraq, then tried for “war crimes against humanity.”
…
Melanie McFarland, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s television critic, has no patience for such whining: “this is 24, OK? Anyone who watches it knows the show borrows aspects of real nightmares to drive its plots, paying little attention to political correctness.”
IT’S ABOUT TIME
Black college women take aim at rappers
Misogyny in pop music, especially hip-hop, has been around for years. What's new, students say, is an explosion of almost-X-rated videos passed around on the Internet or shown late at night on cable channels like Black Entertainment Television, also known as BET.
Never before, students say, have the portrayals of black women been so hypersexual and explicit.
HOWEVER, Playboy magazine is offering galleries of photographs that can be viewed on digital media players such as the Apple iPod.
The magazine said it will offer galleries of both non-nude and nude models, using the name "iBod."
STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES
I haven’t heard Hanks’ reaction to this idea, but as much as I like some of his performances, I’d never vote for him because he’s a liberal.
MOORE: DRAFT HANKS
MICHAEL Moore had a burning question for the left-leaning lot gathered at the Plaza Athenee yesterday to fete "Fahrenheit 9/11," which won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Non-Fiction film: "Who is our Arnold?," Moore mused. "When are we going to not be embarrassed of asking that question? When are we going to get sick of losing? The Democrats need to run to Hollywood, not away from it . . . The Republicans had Reagan, Arnold, Gopher from 'The Love Boat,' Fred Thompson and Sonny Bono. Americans love people who are in the movies or on TV." And who would Moore's Democratic dream candidate be? "I always ask this question: 'Who wouldn't vote for Tom Hanks?' There are competent people out there who agree with us politically that we should approach to run for office." Of John Kerry, Moore said it was "absolutely amazing that we did as well as we did with a candidate who could not communicate to the public and could not connect with the public." He'd like to see Caroline Kennedy and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama run in 2008, but gave the thumbs-down to moderate Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Sen. John Edwards ("He can't win.") And what about Sen. Hillary Clinton? "She has a story, but I'm not sure she could win."
THE LATEST
The impact of the Asian tsunami is seen in satellite images of the Indonesian village of Gleebruk.
The village is seen before the tsunami (left) on April 12, 2004 and after the tsunami (right) on January 2, 2005. Photo by Digitalglobe/Reuters
Cartographers Redrawing Maps After Tsunami
Water depths in parts of the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping channels off the coast of Sumatra, reached about 4,000 feet before last month's tsunami. Now, reports are coming in of just 100 feet — too dangerous for shipping, if proved true.
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It is expected to be followed by the newer USNS Mary Sears, which is awaiting final orders to head out from Japan. On board will be sonar, a dozen scientists and 34-foot vessels used to rechart the shipping channels.
The initial goal is not to study every square foot, but to understand what happened to the channels so the ports can be used to deliver relief supplies. Now, helicopters and airplanes are the primary means, said Capt. Jeffrey Best, commanding officer at the Naval Oceanographic Office at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
The Navy does not know what it will find. "We may have buildings or buses in the channels of the harbors," Best said.
Fascinating info and animated pic on the Indian Ocean earthquake.
Hat tip LoanCat!
WARNING!: As if the devastation wasn’t enough …
Law enforcement issue warnings of tsunami charity scams
The FBI said Wednesday one fraudulent relief Web site had a Trojan virus that could infect computers if people access it. The bureau has also received reports of unsolicited e-mails asking for a fee to help people find loved ones who were in Asia when the tsunami struck.
[Florida Department of Law Enforcement] officials alerted residents Tuesday after the agency learned of an e-mail purportedly sent by a British group called "The Foundation for Victims of Flood and Earthquake" and another requesting aid to the "Tsunamis Disaster Help Funds."
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In Connecticut, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday his office is investigating up to 10 potentially fraudulent schemes claiming to be tsunami relief efforts, including the sale of relief bracelets.
"We're warning people they should be wary about the bracelet sales," Blumenthal said. "The whole bracelet area is fraught with peril."
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Florida officials said the solicitations could be misrepresenting their intentions seeking donations and be "phishing scams." Under these schemes, e-mails are used to trick recipients into providing personal information such as credit card and Social Security numbers, addresses and other information that could put them at risk of identity fraud.
TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE
Just another reason to tune out O’Reilly.
O'Reilly: Tap Clinton to Head U.N.
"I'd like to see Bill Clinton take the job," Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly said Tuesday. "The world loves him. He'd do a good job. It would be good for the United States. Hillary would love it."
SECRET SIGN?
Wonkette has been having a bit of fun with George and Laura Bush flashing the same sign. Maybe they learned it from Slick. Y’think?
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
LIKE A BAD PENNY
Shopping for votes on her march to the White House, Her Royal C has become almost a fixture in this little Upstate community. Why Corning, NY? Because of Corning, Inc. The Houghton family, who once had controlling interest in what was once their company, and the Clintons have always been thisclose. RINO Amo Houghton, who finally retired from Congress, was one of only four Republicans who voted AGAINST impeaching Bill Clinton. A few years ago, the local economy began to tank. At least 3,500 local employees were cut from Corning’s payroll, which was considerable since the city of Corning’s population was a bit under 12,000 at the time. (The latest figure is about 10,800 for the city of Corning, maybe 25,000 including the surrounding areas.) An entire upscale housing project, known as Aurene, ground to a halt as many of its future residents were suddenly unemployed. Into this vacuum marched Her Royal C, who viewed our hard luck as her good fortune. She was back again yesterday, this time battling for Corning’s fiber optics business.
Single-handedly, Sen. Clinton fights off tariffs
CORNING Corning Inc.'s telecommunications exports to China will not be hindered by any extra tariffs, thanks to a recent reversal of a ruling made by the Chinese government in June.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce dropped claims against Corning Inc. Saturday and said the company did not sell optical fiber at too low a price.
Corning Chairman and CEO Jamie Houghton said Monday the company mounted a "vigorous defense" against the claims and was pleased to see the issue resolved. He said U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who visited company headquarters in Corning Monday, played a "key role" in that defense.
…
In June 2003, the ministry accused Corning and several other foreign companies of selling optical fiber at below market value, thereby injuring Chinese producers.
…
"It's a particularly important occasion for Corning because they could stand the scrutiny while their competitors could not," Clinton said.
Not wanting to be upstaged by that uppity JUNIOR senator:
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. had tough words Monday for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, calling the allegations against Corning Inc. "disgraceful."
Last year her “good deed” was lobbying for environmentally safe school buses. For the chill’ren y’know.
"We are thrilled with today's announcement that $60 million will be proposed to finance the Clean School Bus USA program," said Tom Hinman, vice president and general manager of Diesel Technologies for Corning Inc.
…
Corning Inc. continues to implement use of a new $200 million diesel emission controls plant on Addison Road. The plant manufactures cellular ceramic devices used to filter harmful elements from diesel fuel.
Over the next three years, the plant will employ 200-250 workers, said Stephen A. Mandell Sr., president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 1000.
RISING BILE
Check out Crus(ed)Kerry’s excellent piece on The Gonzales Fight
The confirmation hearings of Alberto Gonzales to President Bush’s cabinet post of Attorney General will be the game in town during the next several weeks. Democrats are indignant about Gonzales’ role in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. What role? Well, you see Alberto Gonzales wrote a memo. And if you read the memo in juuuuust the right light, you can see that Gonzales signed of on Lynndie England’s sadomasochistic jailhouse party.
Well, not really. But that’s what Democrats will say.
COMING TRENDS
Peter Newcomb On Media
In television, it's the beginning of the end for reality programming.
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Print is not dead.
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Hollywood shouldn't worry about the download threat: in the next couple of years the studios will be producing DVDs in high definition, which will make downloading unbelievably time consuming. It's one thing to spend a few minutes swiping a song off the Internet; quite another to spend six hours filching a movie you can get for $20.
Brett Pulley On Radio
Clear Channel … the industry's largest company, will lead the way in ridding radio of its "clutter," thus redefining the way that broadcast radio sounds. With its power in the marketplace, it will successfully decrease the number and length of ads that are aired, yet convince advertisers to pay a premium for the spots.
Mr. Magazine tells you What's New What's Hot in specialty magazines, like GX: Finally, a magazine that pays more than lip service to our troops. GX covers the Army National Guard like no other magazine has done before. All tolled, he lists and discusses eight new mags worth checking out.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
MEDIUM IS HUGE
MEDIUM, NBC’s latest, premiered last night and it was fantastic! It will air again on Thursday night before it settles into its regular Monday night slot. The only downside is that it’s opposite CBS’s mega-hit CSI: MIAMI. I prefer CSI: LAS VEGAS on Thursday nights, so I’ll have to catch the Miami shows in reruns. MEDIUM is that good. Did anyone else see it? What did you think?
HELP!
Alpha male dog fight!
Pat Hynes & Writing Partner at Crush(ed)Kerry have run into a snag getting their new site up and locked horns again (at eat other's throats?). They need your valuable, and very much appreciated, feedback.
SWEET!
On your knees! BEGGING FOR MERCY
CBS News President Andrew Heyward paid a visit to the White House last month for some fence-mending in the wake of the Memogate scandal. Heyward and D.C. bu reau chief Janet Leissner met with White House communications director Dan Bartlett "to repair chilly relations with the Bush administration," the Broad casting & Cable trade paper reports. A CBS News spokeswoman characterized it as a routine courtesy call. But the mission was damage control. A panel is due any day to issue a report on the mistakes that led Dan Rather to use bogus documents in a harsh story about George W. Bush's National Guard Service. A source told Broadcasting & Cable that Heyward was "working over time to convince Bartlett that neither CBS News nor Rather had a vendetta against the White House, and from here on out would do everything it could to be fair and balanced."
And Speaking of MSM …
BrainTerminal has posted A Laugh at the News Media’s Expense which begins:
Dan Rather and Peter Jennings, along with a U.S. Marine assigned to protect them, were hiking through the Iraqi desert one day when they were captured by terrorists. They were tied up, led to a village, and brought before the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al Qaeda leader in Iraq.
Zarqawi said, "I am familiar with your western custom of granting the condemned a last wish; so, before we kill and dismember you, do you have any last requests?"
Hat Tip AlphaPatriot!
ROUNDUP
8 TSUNAMI OF PROBLEMS
Not all of the disasters, nor all of the blessings, are found in Thailand and Indonesia. No joke, folks, MrsFalknersCabanaBoy is having a rough time. His tale starts here and continues here and he counts his blessings here. Surf over (pardon the pun) and wish CabanaBoy well.
8 Lorie has asked bloggers for their favorite moments of 2004 and she received some interesting replies from bloggers you read.
Monday, January 03, 2005
ROUNDUP
8 I suppose this is one way to keep tabs on Slick.
President Bush on Monday tapped two former presidents - his father, President George H.W. Bush, and his predecessor, President Clinton - to lead a nationwide, private fund-raising campaign to help victims of the Asian tsunamis.
8 $2MILLION should keep Sandra Bullock off Prof’s list.
"Bullock contacted the Red Cross last week to make this, her second million dollar gift, to the American Red Cross.”
8 Steve Antler asks: Will someone please explain to me why this doesn't say it all?
Hat tip Crush(ed)Kerry!
8 We're all gifted, says local psychic
"I knew she was dead and buried, and I went to this area right across from a refinery by myself. I was out digging. And the hair on the back of my neck started to lift, and my guardian angel started telling me, 'the killer is here, he keeps a watch over this area because there are several bodies buried here.' I thought, I'm here by myself, and nobody knows where I am. This is really intelligent."
Hat tip LoanCat!
8 Evil Drudge?
Sunday, January 02, 2005
ROUNDUP
8 Russell Roberts’ Adam Smith on the Tsunami is interesting reading, if for no other reason than Smith died in 1790:
Most of us are able to go about our business today enjoying life, getting ready for New Year's Eve parties, laughing and joyous while millions of our fellow human beings across the sea are sobbing for lost loved ones. Yes, we feel pangs of sadness while we read the paper and watch the news. Our hearts go out to them. But Smith's point is that the intensity of that feeling is nothing compared to how we would mope about if we were to face a small personal tragedy. So how is it then, that faced with the tepidness of our empathy, we give substantial sums to private charities to help the victims in Asia?
8 Attention Pulp Fiction Fans: If you're a fan of pulp fiction - and I'm talking about the literary genre here, not the over-rated film by Quentin "I Steal From Everyone So You Won't Notice I'm Actually Quite Talentless" Tarantino.
8 Just in case you missed this very embarrassing moment. Not to mention this trio of Detrol LA moments here, here and here.
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER BLOG
It must be written somewhere that bloggers are destined to write for more than just one blog. My blogging began here at KittyLitter on November 30, 2003. Late last year, I opened KittyLitterExtras, mainly to post my essays and fiction just to see them in print. I also co-blog on Pat’s KerryHaters. Pat’s other blog is Brainster. Aaron started blogging with his SomethingToCryAbout and was invited to co-blog on KerryHaters during the election. And now Aaron has started LifelikePundits and has invited both Pat and me to co-blog there. Except for Lifelike, our blogs use “blogger” as a host. Even with its frustrating moments, blogger is user friendly; it’s quick'n'easy to be up’n’running. Lifelike, however, uses “typepad” and is not as simple. I’m still learning. I haven’t figured out how to change the text font or even if that’s possible.
Aaron asked that Pat and I post our predictions for 2005. So here goes!
U MY PREDICTIONS FOR 2005
