The lovely wife started watching Celebrity Duets on Fox last week. I only caught part of it, but I agree the wrestler had to go. This week, I have some thoughts.

Judges:
Marie Osmond - Girl, who wound you up? There’s perky and there’s amphetamines. Is that a piercing on her lower lip?

Little Richard - Sad to see a guy have a series of strokes on camera. At least that’s what I think is happening.

David Foster - His other job is obviously gelding bulls and horses. He may kill Little Richard.

Constestants:
Lea Thompson - The wife voted for her. Great gams. She seems to be the most “one of us” celeb, with her kids cheering her on from the audiance. We watch her on the Hallmark series Jane Doe and love her and that show.

Carly Patterson - The wife asks me what sport. I say “gymnastics”. She says [and she coached gymnastics at the middle scholl level], “No way, those have to be at least a D cup!” Yup, that was my guess, too. Pretty girl, but not an entertainer. Needs to seriously loosen up to do well in this show. She’ll be tossed out this week or next.

Jai Rodriguez - Dude, stay the hell away from Little Richard. It won’t end well. The wife, a little out of touch with the modern world, asks “What is this Queer Eye show?” Good looking, a crooner by style, a finalist though by no means my fave.

Alfonso Ribeiro - Still has a stick up his ass. Stick to directing, Fonz, and don’t let Little Richard touch you.

Cheech Marin - Dude, you DA MAN! DA MAN! Stick to country and western and you’re a finalist. Makes me proud to be middle aged. I think we’re missing the same years in the 1970’s.

Lucy Lawless - Lucy Lawless is not just for lesbians any more. Yummy and with some talent. Lea Thompson is the better singer but Lucy does better on stage this week.

This is a must watch for the late summer.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

The reward for turning in cop-killer Bucky Phillips is now $450,000. The Troopers’ PBA is offering $350k and the FBI is offering $100k.

To his friends on the reservation - think how many junked cars you could put in your front yard with that kind of money.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Here’s the wanted poster for cop-killer Bucky Phillips.

SEX: 			Male
RACE: 			White
DATE OF BIRTH:		June 19, 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH:   	New York
HEIGHT:           	6'00\"
WEIGHT:           	200 LBS
EYES:             	Brown
HAIR:             	Dark Brown
SKINTONE:               Ruddy
SCARS/TATTOOS:          Scar left finger
WARRANT ISSUED:   	Buffalo, New York
DATE OF WARRANT:  	June 12, 2006
WARRANT NUMBER: 	NIC/W530619842
  

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

The Path to 9/11 Blog:

It seems that people keep referring to this movie as a “documentary”. A documentary is a journalistic format that gives facts and information through interviews and news footage. This is a movie or more specifically a docudrama. Meaning, it is a narrative movie based on facts and dramatized with actors.

The team of filmmakers, actors and executives responsible for this movie have a wide range of political perspectives. I would say that most of those perspectives (which is the vast majority in Hollywood) would be considered “liberal” or “left”. Some of the very people who are being villified by the left as having a ‘right wing agenda’ are the very people who are traditionally castigated by the right as being ‘liberal dupes’ in other projects they have presented. To make a movie of this size and budget requires many people to sign off on it. One person’s “agenda” (if anyone should have one) is not enough to influence a movie to one’s individual politics when a far broader creative and political consensus is an inherent part of the process. And the consensus that emerged over and over during development, production and post production is that we tried, as best we can, based on 9/11 Commission Report and numerous other sources and advisors, to present an accurate and honest account of the events leading to 9/11.

(more…)

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Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Kory talks about being a new aunt, and the sorrow and joy of being the aunt of a special child.

I have never before greeted the birth of a child with such a mix of joy and tears like I have right now. The thing is, all of us thought if any child were likely to be born with this condition, it would be our Joey, since I’m well into my thirties and at the age where doctors “strongly encourage” amnios. Alena’s mom is only 19, so the doctors pretty much decided that based on her age alone, there was only about a 1 in 5000 chance.

Looks like Alena is that 1 in 5000.

This was completely unexpected. Of all the different things any of us thought would happen, no way did we anticipate this. What her future will be is a mystery. The dreams and hopes we had for her will have to change.

There are a few things, however, very positive things, I do know right now.

My prayers go ouut to the family. As Kory points out, there will be joy in this family if they can see it.

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Does anyone else think your cell phone should be able to tell you what temperature it is? With all the other crap they’re adding, how about a digital thermometer?

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This is about old guys and coffee. I kinda sound like Andy [spitoon] Rooney when I ask “Didja ever notice?”

Old guys sitting every morning drinking coffee and eating donuts everywhere it’s possible to. So I go into Tim Hortons. Full of old guys. Now, I know for a fact that every diner, restaurant, McDonalds in town has a bunch of the same at that time of the morning. Tim Hortons has been open a year or so. Where did their old guys come from?

Is there like an old guy warehouse someplace? “OK, new Tim Hortons. Roll out a half dozen Mark IV’s.”

You just know the wife’s at home, screaming “Get the hell out of the house, Irv!” And they’re sitting there telling eachother “Jeez, I thought I was gonna get more when I retired.”

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The Mad Canuck is looking for an Iraqi Hamid Karzi.

What Iraq is sorely lacking is a true leader: someone who can garner the respect of the Sunni Arabs, Shia Arabs, and Kurds, and work to bring peace between these groups. Yes, each of these groups has their own leaders, but they are only interested in promoting the interests of their constituencies and not the country as a whole.

It’s a great post. I think he overestimates Mr. Karzi a bit. I also think conditions in Afghanistan were different enough from those in Iraq that a Karzi was not going to be formed. But leadership connot be predicted. It’s a sport as qualities go. Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Lorraine at American Lady is stuck in a poli sci class. One of those where all the questions are answered on the first day and the rest of the semester is spent justifying the answers.

Although our “democracy” and “Constitution” unmistakably has flaws, the logic and writings (such as the words of The Federalist) still manage to put shivers up my spine every time. It’s beautifully written, intricate logic, that I doubt ANY writer today could match. It’s much easier for the writers and professors of today to write and lecture against the logic, without really offering solid answers of their own.

I could get in trouble for encouraging an 18 year old coed. But, what the heck. You go, girl!

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

More secret holds on the Government Accountability bill. Per Glenn.

Bill Frist has promised to move the bill in September. Will he let these kinds of shenanigans cause him to dishonor his promise?

UPDATE: Frist responds: “My Democrat colleagues have not yet cleared this legislation … but I’m confident that they will do so promptly or pay the consequences of continued obstruction. Now is the time to act on S. 2590. And we will act this September to pass this bill and bring the bright light of public scrutiny to the federal budget.”

And an email from his staff reads: “Senator Frist will not dishonor his promise.”

MORE: I’m told that Senator Stevens has re-activated his hold on the bill.

Apparently, we’re back to having two holds on the bill.

I’m writing this Tuesday night for a Wednesday a.m. posting. Let’s see if the hold last overnight. Mark Tapscott thinks they might be trying to play us pork busters. Don’t mess with the Busters!

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reliapundit speculates on the latest round of fighting in Afghanistan.

The timing of the Paki/Waziri deal and the Paki-Afghani deal and the very high death rates for the Taliban (in the current NATO operation), and the understated quote from the NATO spokesman make me feel that Osama has finally been cornered. Stay tuned.

We’ll see. I still think there’s a reasonable chance the old bastard’s long dead.

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Evan Coyne Maloney posts a video tribute.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

More police have been dispatched to the hunt for cop-killer Bucky Phillips.

Democrat & Chronicle

SWAT teams from upstate New York cities have rallied to western New York, beefing up the manhunt for Ralph “Bucky” Phillips, state police said Monday.

Police forces from Rochester, Buffalo and Jamestown have joined troopers seeking the suspect.

Seven Rochester officers are among them, said city Sgt. Darlene Rogers. The officers brought an armored vehicle to assist with the manhunt, she said.

Accused cop-killer Bucky Phillips isn’t going to make it out of this one alive, I suspect.

Previous post: He’s a Murderer Now

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Liberian Warlord George Boley has had his immigration case continued until September 25.

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If you can have “alms for the poor”, can you have just one alm?

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

ALa at blonde sagacity talks about travelling with her young sons and points out a universal dilemma.

Here’s the dilemma: I often travel alone with the boys. Being that they are only 7 and 5 I take them into the Women’s Room with me when we make road trip pee stops. I also bring them into my stall so we don’t take up extra space.

I agree completely. Safety is more important than what the crowd thinks.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Rick Moran talks about human rights in the United States. And he uses the term “goosebrain”.

The bottom line of all this moralizing and America bashing is that the prescriptions that will be offered up by this rogues gallery of galoots will look a lot like efforts of every other utopian schemer – including Lenin – and that realize a top-down, authoritarian society to force people to adapt is the only way to achieve their goals.

I wonder who will be on top telling us what’s best for us to think, to believe? Better question: Who do you think that committed group of radicals thinks will be on top when the revolution is over?

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Yep, you got it. The Byrd for Senate campaign is advertising on my blog. That’s what happens when you write about the guy. I believe I used the word “loathesome”. Maybe not.

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Gina Cobb calls out the many, many folks who pushed the treason meme for the Wilson / Plame affair.

Of course, if you enjoy getting bad advice from who won’t even admit it when they’re wrong or apply principles consistently from one situation to the next, by all means, continue listening to the commentators who are suddenly silent or backpedaling furiously when it comes to Richard Armitage — or worse yet, still in the denial stage and trying to figure out how to keep blaming Rove.

Yep, all I hear are crickets chirping. It’s very quiet on the left.

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Bucky Phillips has apparently killed a state trooper. That makes 3 shot, one dead.

Flip has a good roundup of the news about Bucky.

He broke out of prison three days before his scheduled release???

He’s been hiding out in an area of Upsate New York that I know fairly well. Hills and woods and… wait for it… Indian reservations.

Yep, Bucky is Native American and he’s been hiding amongst his “people”. They’ve just begun arresting people for helping him, six so far.

Gotta say, yet another reason to fix the so-called “independent nation” status of the American Indian tribes.

The Indian governments can be so very proud of these reservations. Gas stations and smoke shops and a level of poverty approaching any you see in the inner city. Good thing all those gambling dollars are flowing in. To the pockets of the Indian chiefs.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

The August numbers are out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• 144,579,000 people were employed. A record number.

  

• The unemployment rate was 4.7%. For any month prior to October 1997, that would have been a record low.

• The black unemployment rate was 8.8%. For every month prior to June of 1998, that would have been a record low rate.

• The Hispanic unemployment rate was 5.3%. There have only been two months when the rate was lower, May 2006 and October 2000.

• The number of people unemployed for 27 weeks or more remained in the range it has been in for several months. The number remains well below any of the peaks since 1968 and within the trend for the period when compared to the population increase for that period.

Thanks to John with H&I Fires

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Interested Participant tracks child molesting women so we won’t have to. For August 2006, not the entire year. 37 women in the news for having sex with minors or for child abuse.

This is sad.

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The King of Pork, who has had the entire state of West Virginia named after him, Senator Richard [Sheets] Byrd, D-KKK, also had a secret hold on the openness in pork amendment I’ve been writing about.

Need I say what a disgusting piece of work he is. Nope?

And the Democrats are proud of him.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Rhode Island College poll

U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee may lose his seat to challenger Steve Laffey, according to a new statewide Republican primary voter poll released today by the Bureau of Government Research and Services at Rhode Island College.

The survey was conducted August 28-30, 2006, at Rhode Island College by Victor L. Profughi, director of the Bureau of Government Research and Services. It is based on a statewide random sample of 363 likely Republican primary voters in Rhode Island. The sample was proportioned among the state’s geographic regions to reflect the likely voter contribution from each portion of the state. Overall, the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.1 percentage points.

If the September 12 primary were held today, 51 percent say they will vote for Steve Laffey, 34 percent support Senator Chafee, and 15 percent are undecided. A BGRS survey of Republican voters conducted in June had Laffey at 39 percent and Chafee at 36 percent. Chafee’s base is virtually unchanged since the June survey, while the number of Laffey supporters has grown 12 percentage points.

Good news for those of us who want to bitch slap Lincoln Chaffee.

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Democrat & Chronicle

Sports stadiums and amphitheaters often sell naming rights, so why not radio stations?

So went the thinking of Matt Basile, marketing manager of Clear Channel Radio, which has seven stations in Rochester.

Clear Channel announced this week that it has sold the naming rights to its alternative rock station, WNVE-FM (107.3), to Fucillo Hyundai of Greece.

The station that has been known as the Nerve now becomes HUGE 107.3 FM — using the marketing catch-phrase “huge.” Billy Fucillo, who opened the Hyundai dealership in July, can often be seen on television ads touting his “huge” dealership.

Based in Adams, Jefferson County, Fucillo owns 20 car dealerships, mostly in New York state.

The revamped station plays a variety of music formats, including jazz and Motown, and will air only Fucillo car ads, Fucillo said. The format officially changed Wednesday, but the call letters remain WNVE-FM, Basile said.

Clear Channel and Fucillo declined to reveal the terms of the deal, with Fucillo saying only that it was a seven-digit transaction.

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I’ve been working on the just over 500 remaining posts still in the “Uncategorized” category since I made the move to WordPress last year. The import got screwed up, but I’ve gradually been correcting the problems and applying categories to old posts.

I’m erasing a lot of the posts that are just a couple of sentances or are just too obscure.

I have a year or so of posts on Live Journal but I’m not going to bother to import them.

Two goals: Eliminate the Uncategoried posts imported from Blogger. Fix the errors in the Google site map - links not found [200 plus].

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Navy Cross

ABC 7

Donna and Corky Axelson live with a mix of emotion. Their tears represent both pride and anguish.

Donna Axelson, mother: “He was just a wonderful young man.” Donna is talking about her 29-year-old son, Matthew Axelson. He was one of three Navy seals killed last June during a counter terrorism mission in Afghanistan.

Rebels also shot down a helicopter carrying 16 reinforcements making it the deadliest operation in Naval special forces history.

The Axelson’s have an impressive collection spanning their son’s five year military career — there’s a silver star, a purple heart and the Navy and Marine Corps commendation medal. Now this son, brother and husband will receive the Navy Cross, a recognition second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Corky Axelson, father: “We are proud of our son if he didn’t get any of these medals, but this is special.”

The military says Axelson showed extraordinary heroism, providing fire cover for one of his fellow seals even as he was under attack. That courage does not surprise his older brother Jeff.

Jeff Axelson, brother: “Yeah, I looked up to him even though he is a little brother.”

As the nation debates the high price of war, this Cupertino family stands by the president and his military mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. Donna Axelson, mother: “I don’t think there is anybody who favors war but sometimes I think it’s necessary and this war on terror is necessary.”

The Axelson’s say the Navy Cross they will receive next month in Washington D.C. recognizes Matthew but honors everyone in uniform. Corky Axelson, father: “There’s a lot of people that put their life on the line not to be a hero but just because of what they believe in.”

The Navy Cross will be presented to the Axelson family at a special ceremony on September 13, two days after the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

(more…)

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Kate O’Beirne at National Review Online has written a couple of pieces on the lack of news coverage of the heros from the War on Terror. In her first, from June of 2004, she describes the trouble she has had in obtaining award information from the services, especially the Army. In her August 30, 2006 piece, she echoes Don Rumsfeld’s recent remarks about the lack of reporting about our heroes in the media. She correctly points out that the Pentagon could do a much better job in promoting the heroism of our men and women in uniform.

In an e-mail to her this evening, I described my frustrations in this area. I did suggest that NRO could do something about it, say a blog [since they have so very many] on the subject. Between Blackfive and me, there are plenty of stories to post, all with citations and links.

It’s a small part of a bigger issue, giving the American people ALL the news from the battlefield, not just the bad news and the made-up news.

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John at Common Sense and Wonder posts part of an interview with a filmmaker who made a film about suicide bombers.

Q - Do all Muslims interpret jihad and martyrdom in the same way?

A - All Muslim believers believe that, ultimately, Islam will prevail on earth. They believe this is the only true religion and there is no room, in their mind, for interpretation. The main difference between moderate Muslims and extremists is that moderate Muslims don’t think they will see the absolute victory of Islam during their lifetime, therefore they respect other beliefs. The extremists believe that the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Islam and ruling the entire world as described in the Koran, is for today. Each victory of Bin Laden convinces 20 million moderate Muslims to become extremists.

This appears to be a very scary movie.

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Andi highlites the moving message the family of a dead Marine gave to the anti-war protestors in Salt Lake City yesterday.

Though many are debating the justification of this war, Adam’s belief in his country did not waver, even to the point of the ultimate sacrifice. It is our hope and prayer that people share the same conviction and dedication to our troops and fellow Americans. A country divided cannot stand for long. We all want our troops to come home as soon as possible alive and unharmed. However, while our men and women are putting their lives on the line every day in a courageous fight, we must present to the world a united front, strong and true. In light of all this, while our forefathers gave us the right and privilege to challenge our leaders, the manner and method that some people have chosen to use at this time, only emboldens the enemy with motivation and courage to confront our brave American troops. Each American and political official must carefully consider their words and actions for they can in fact increase the danger to our troops and adversely impact their efforts.

Well said, and my prayers go out to the family and friends of Marine Cpl. Adam Galvez.

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Ted Stevens is the secret hold. His staffer blames all the fuss on bloggers. Palm Beach Post

“Senator Stevens has always preferred to handle this at the staff level or member to member,” Saunders said. “He doesn’t like running to the blogosphere or the media.”

“Our reticence in getting out there is that Stevens doesn’t want to be in the media attacking Coburn,” Saunders said. “He has never addressed legislative concerns in the media. It is just not the way the senator has ever operated.”

Placing a hold is a normal part of doing business on Capitol Hill, Saunders said. He noted that Coburn has used the same parliamentary maneuver to block bills coming out of the Commerce Committee.

“Senator Stevens is not trying to show Senator Coburn or any other senator up publicly. Going to the blogs and the media with these concerns is not the way we have ever operated.”

The Senator failed to show for the vote in committee on S.2590 (the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act). So, basicly, he didn’t do his job, the one we pay him for, when he didn’t attend the committee vote, and then he puts a secret hold on a bill designed to make the operations of government far more transparent.

Tar and feathers. That would seem to be the order of the day.

Hat tip to Glenn Reynolds.

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UPDATE: [I forgot the link sigh]The Census Bureau has issued its annual report on poverty in the United States.

This is a statistic that the Bush Administration should be shouting from the roof tops. Record wage parity for women, .77:1, 77%. Wage parity between women and men is at record levels under the Bush administration. Bush’s worst year of the five is still over a percentage point higher than Clinton’s best year. How come NOW isn’t rejoicing in the Bush Presidency?

The nature of our social structure and our anatomy mean that the ratio will never be 1:1. Women will keep having babies and that will continue to produce a wage gap. Experts can probably tell you what the ratio ought to be in a perfect world. I can tell you with some confidence that it’s somewhere between 77% and 100%, and probably not at either end of that span.

It’s not just pregnancy. Look at sports. The number of highly paid male athletes is far higher than the number of highly paid women athletes. That is a gap produced by our society that will not be overcome in the near future.

The climb towards wage parity continues, and the record numbers under Bush are a sign that societal change is driving the issue. I would not be surprised to see the gap close to 80% by the end of Bush’s second term.

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skippy has put together a linkfest of left blogging about the anniversary of Katrina.

as usual, prime scout at first draft is the main go-to gal for what’s really happening in n’awlins, and today she gives us video of the unbreakable spirit of new orleans in the guise of the arabi wrecking krewe volunteers helping to gut the destroyed homes of nola musicians.

Not all his friends froth at the mouth, so it’s worth a look at his post and some of the links he provides.

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UPDATE: [I forgot the link sigh]The Census Bureau has issued its annual report on poverty in the United States.

The best that you can say about poverty levels and incomes for blacks and Hispanics under Bush is that they are not losing ground. Income levels are near historic highs. Poverty rates are near historic lows.

As I have pointed out in the past, the Clinton “boom” was an exception, not a rule when it comes to poverty in America. The 2005 overall poverty rate of 12.6% is lower [typo corrected] than the rates for all the years from 1980 through 1998. The poverty rate for blacks in 2005 of 24.7% is lower than the rates in the period from 1959 through 1998. The Hispanic poverty rate for 2005 of 21.8% is lower than the rates from 1980 through 1999.

Minorities did ok under Bill Clinton, but they have done better under George Bush when you compare the terms. Clinton only had great years in 1998 [for some statistics], 1999 and 2000. The rest of the time Bush’s economy has performed better.

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Suitably Flip lays out the remaining suspects. Remember, Bill Frist knows who it is, as does the committee chairman. And probably everyone but the people paying the Senators’ salaries.

The identity of the one or more Senators who placed a “secret hold” on S2590 (the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act), a pork transparency bill sponsored by Senators Obama and Coburn which would create an online, searchable pork database, is/are slowly being revealed in an exciting blog-driven game of musical chairs.

Leading the way in championing individual constituents’ efforts to get their Senators to deny on record being the secret holder, and documenting the successful efforts are Porkbusters and TPM Muckraker.

While the quality of the inbound information can’t always be guaranteed, it appears the vast majority of Senators have gone on record that they are not the secret holder.

So, what should we do when we discover the culprit? We will, you know. Tar and feathers seems appropriate.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

UPDATE: [I forgot the link sigh]The Census Bureau has issued its annual report on poverty in the United States.

Average Poverty Rate - First Five Years of an Administration:
Reagan: 14.5%
Clinton: 14.1%
Bush 43: 12.3%

The mean income for all Americans rose in 2005 for the first time since 2000. The median income for all Americans rose in 2005 for the first time since 1999.

In 1981, 29.8% of Americans earned under $25,000 per year. In 2005, that percentage was 24.8%. In 1981, 39.6% of Americans earned over $50,000 per year. In 2005, that increased to 49%.

Thanks to Outside the Beltway - Beltway Traffic Jam

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Howard reviews and analyzes a War College doc.

Here’s how terrorism is working today. This is why the FBI and CIA failed to grasp the situation at first, the much maligned Tenant did understand it but by the time he did Congress refused to listen to him. I guarantee everyone that we will all come to realize that he was right, that our government as then structured, and is still structured, cannot stop terrorism cells because we have not understood exactly what they are, and that we are dealing with a headless blob. The terrorist “network” is composed of virus like cells and, like a virus, they just “appear” or emerge (called “emergence”) with no seeming reason. They self organize, replicate themselves, get stronger each and every time they come in contact with another individual, split into more and more strains that cannot be slain the way the last cell was slain, and have no center. Bin Laden is no more than a figurehead, Zarkawi can be killed and it will make no difference. There is a way to deal with them but first we have to understand the actual nature of this beast. We have a virus.

I thought that itch was new! Howard’s done a great service posting this information and his analysis. He points to the Arab culture in particular for some answers.

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From the World Health Organization, case definitions for avian flu:

Prompt and accurate reporting of H5N1 influenza cases to WHO is the cornerstone for monitoring both the global evolution of this disease and the corresponding risk that a pandemic virus might emerge. In collaboration with several partners, WHO has developed standardized case definitions to facilitate:

1. Reporting and classification of human cases of H5N1 infection by national and international health authorities.

2. Standardization of language for communication purposes.

3. Comparability of data across time and geographical areas.

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Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

The Census Bureau has issued its annual report on poverty in the United States. I’ll be posting my analysis and findings tomorrow. For now, here’s the press release.

Real median household income in the United States rose by 1.1 percent between 2004 and 2005, reaching $46,326, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, the nation’s official poverty rate remained statistically unchanged at 12.6 percent. The percentage of people without health insurance coverage rose from 15.6 percent to 15.9 percent (46.6 million people).

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Bunny called before I got to bed with an update on the Ride to Rebuild. They’ve made it through the Rocky Mountains and are now in the “rolling hills” of Kansas. She called from Wellington, Kansas. They’ve ridden about 2,400 miles and she thinks they’re about half way.

The mountains were both very tiring and very exhilarating.

They’re at three riders for now, picking up a fourth in St. Louis. They hope to be in St. Louis on Labor Day. Today, for the anniversary, they are putting in an 80 mile ride.

They’ve been sleeping in city parks. Bunny says the people of Kansas are very friendly. They’re living on peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch and quick pasta meals for supper. If you see them biking by, I’m sure they could use a big meal and a soft bed.

Please consider going to the Ride to Rebuild link and donating. Habitat for Humanity is one of the best ways you can provide recovery support to the people of the Gulf Coast who have lost so much.

The three hurricanes last year, Katrina, Rita and Wilma did more than flood New Orleans. As you read story after story about the people of New Orleans today, please also remember the hundreds of thousands of people in rural Louisiana, Missippis, Texas, Alabama and Florida who are also struggling to rebuild and recover.

Bunny’s description of her work in the Gulf with AmeriCorps can be found here.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, was sent out of committee by unamious vote. And there it stalled. One Senator put a hold on its coming to the floor of the Senate for a vote. A secret hold. Very ironic.

The Act would mandate a public database where anyone could obtain information about government programs and their spending. Including “earmarks” No more hidden favors for donors, or empire building with named buildings. Open and available to all.

One Senator is holding it up, and Porkbusters are hunting for that Senator. Lots more folks than Porkbusters, actually. Remember that scene from Frankenstein when the villagers come with their pitchforks and torches?

Bill Frist denies he’s that Senator. As the leader of the Senate, he knows who it is but insists that the name remain secret. It’s a good thing he’s retiring from the Senate at the end of this year.

More at:

Captain’s Quarters

Dean’s World

Just One Minute

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Dr. Charles discusses a study that found that needles that are decorated create less fear in patients. My favorite of his suggestions:

The Big Mac Model

Sure to please the reward center of any child’s mind, the Big Mac is a potent distractor. Might also provide a cool segue into dietary counseling. The doctor might say, “I see you looking at that big mac stuck in your antecubital vein. When you eat too much fast food, it’s kinda like injecting beef fat straight into your arteries.”

This goes along with the trend to eliminate all-white uniforms. Nurses can be very colorful these days, and even the docs are finding a little color in their wardrobes.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Yoni discusses the leadership vacuum in Israel.

I asked him so who do you see leading us out of this mess.

He answered who do we have besides Bibi and Ya’alon.

It looks more and more as if the “wink, wink” “nod, nod” attitude of the Israelis about their government has born rotten fruit. Once the pioneers, that first generation, were gone, the body politic became very fractured and coalition and consensus became the norm rather than firm and visionary leadership.

Many Israelis feel betrayed.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Congressman Bobby Jindal: Waste in the Eye of the Storm

The ultimate cost is paid by us — the taxpayers. Every tax dollar being wasted and not spent on recovery is a dollar not reaching the people that need it. To date, nearly $100 billion has been approved in assistance, but we have yet to see that much in actual work on the ground due to the fraud and waste.

In contrast, the private sector and faith-based organizations have stepped up where government has failed and have begun the process of demolishing and clearing neighborhoods of homes and debris that remain almost a year later. A national faith-based construction group uses volunteers to offer free demolition of homes in areas affected by the hurricanes. This group, that claims to be able to clear more than 100 homes a day, even includes removing the concrete slab, a service not provided by FEMA.

Instead of common sense solutions to help displaced individuals begin the process of rebuilding, the state and federal governments instead often acted like the large bureaucracy that they are by hindering the recovery process with red tape, paperwork and policies that defy logic. I find it ironic that some of the people creating these burdensome policies are the same people who want the government to run our health care.

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Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!

Jeneane Sessum reveals the secret to success in business.

My stepfather once worked as a Managing Director at the same firm where I was Director of Corporate Communications. The CEO ran a brainstorming session (corporate dysfunction signal number one) one morning on rejiggering our mission statement. My stepfather came up with: “To make more money now and in the future.”

She has a lot of additional commentary about the Internet, and reality and knowing and not knowing.

Ride to Rebuild, 5 young people riding across America to raise money for Gulf Coast reconstruction - The primary in New York State is September 12. Remember to vote!