What's Wrong With The US

Recently the prosecutor from the Duke Lacrosse case has been disbarred for how he handled the case. The case was dropped (NC State AG's office declared the boys innocent). The players have what is presumably a big fat check cut to them from Duke University in an undisclosed financial settlement. I haven't seen any news regarding Duke's President Brodhead's status. (Duke's Lacrosse ex-coach, Mike Pressler, has also come to a financial settlement with the University).

On one hand, this seems like a nice tidy little wrap-up for all involved (well, except Nifong, obviously). However, back in the early days of all reporting regarding this case, there were two opportunists who were significant in pumping the media frenzy over this case:

1. Jesse Jackson
2. Al Sharpton

If you recall, Jackson was all over this (see Duke: Horror and Truth). He even announced that is "Rainbow/PUSH" Coalition would offer tuition to the accusing Woman. Yet, he's not the only one who was so keen to jump to speedy accusations. Al Sharpton seemed slightly more laid-back then Jackson in all this. Here's an interesting quote, after the case has been dismissed:

Not only would I said today I think clearly the prosecutor misled us, and that what happened to those young men were horrible, I said it on my show Friday. It said it immediately after it happened.

Source: Transcript: Al Sharpton on 'FOX News Sunday' with a link to the Al Sharpton on "The O'Reilly Factor", April 18 2006, transcript.

Yet, he didn't apologize. Did he accuse them? I couldn't find any links directly quoting that he had. However, both Sharpton and Jackson received vast amounts of media coverage from this. They both benefitted from themselves hopping into the bandwagon. So, because of this, I think both of them should apologize to the 3 young men.

And now that it's all over, where is The Rainwow/PUSH organization offering free tuition to the lacrosse players that were wronged? Or maybe PUSH could ante up funds to help pay for the player's attorney fees?

It's sad this all played out in the national media. Nifong seemingly conducted a trial that would enhance his coming election bid. It seems like he thought it was the trail of his lifetime (in hind-sight, it most definitely was and will always be). Instead, he destroyed the lives of three young men, helpless to combat the mechanics of our justice system and the media's frenzy.

And those who were so quick to condemn, they should apologize.

Interesting...

http://guardian.150m.com/wtc/wtc-demolition.htm

I guess I just don't get why people don't understand; The towers, structurally, did survive the initial impact. However, what they were not able to do, was handle the heat from the fires created.

Yep, it's that time of year, election time! So start cranking out those terror alerts again! Let's get the troops rallying.

Oh yea, bring up gay marriage too. That'll get 'em riled up too.

Michael Moore, the author of Fahrenheit 9/11, is being sued by veteran for allegedly using portions of a video snippet without the Veteran's permission.

The clip, from an interview Damon did with NBC's "Nightly News", is owned by NBC.

So NBC owns the copyright. One would think Moore obtained permission from them to use the clip.

What seems to be the issue is whether Sgt. Peter Damon's likeness was used in a deceitful or damaging way. If so, then I would think he would have ground to file a lawsuit.

From the sound of the article, it sounds like he does.

This frustrates me:

In December of 2000 my wife and I submitted paperwork to the INS to sponsor her brother as an immigrant to the United States. He is in the Philippines, has a degree in computer engineering and would be a great asset to this country. We have paid all of the fees, filed all the forms, promised to support the brother financially, medically and physically. Our wait for his visa has now exceeded five years, and a call to the INS indicated his file should be reviewed in 2007. In the meantime, millions of hispanics have poured across our borders. They have filed no forms, paid no fees nor even their respects to our country. Yet our useless elected officials, regardless of party, wish to “forgive” these people and offer them free entry. I say “ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Send them home and let them apply for entry like those in the rest of the world.

(found at bloggwinett.com).

The case of Kenny's Dungeon apparently has South Carolina in such an uproar someone's proposed the execution of repeat child rapists.

South Carolina's Senate voted 38-4 to allow the death penalty for sex offenders convicted a second time of raping children younger than 11. Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a similar bill.

In " Colbert style ", South Carolina I applaud thee.

Fry 'em, fry 'em all!

However, I do have to ask - why only after a second time?!? One's not enough?

I found this Map Gallery of Religion in the United States over at slashgeo.

I thought it was kinda neat to see how all the regigions spread out. Graphically, like that, is very easy to understand.

And how can you sure see that bible belt stretch across the US!

CNN has the story. A man teachng 20 to 25 students, has a 40mm shell which he uses for a paperweight.

Smart, I know.

A bug buzz's across his desk. Grab a fly swatter?

Hell no! Grab the shell. Smack!

Luckily, the article doesn't say any students were hurt because of this idiot's stupidity.

It was bound to happen. Someone had to test it. Government investigators smuggled radioactive materials into the U.S. Using fake documents, two teams of Government investigators smuggled enough radioactive materials in to make a 'dirty bomb'.

They brought it in through checkpoints on the northern and southern borders. Oh, but wait! Isn't that one of the borders they want to shore-up?

I don't know what's worse - our Government worrying about where we are purchasing mail-order drugs from, that it's seemingly more difficult to smuggle in cold medicine than radioactive materials, or that the news media is reporting this letting everyone in the world know it can be done.

It's articles like this:

illegal monopoly that make me wonder if I'm a closet republican.

I don't understand why everyone seems to jump up and down and clamor about the evil of "monopolies".

Ya see, the way I figure it, someone had to stick their neck out and start the company. Someone along the way had to invest considerable $$$ into the veture. Someone would've been screwed (maybe along with that someone's family) if the venture failed.

So if it's successful, why punish them?

If it's successfull, and they put down the competition, why punish them?

There's a reason they became successful. There is a reason they stay successful. You may not not like the reason. You may not agree with that reason. But either way, that reason still exits.

A lot of people think of "Microsoft" when they hear Monopoly. And it's true, MS buys out a lot of companies (ie competition) and they squash even more. But so do companies like Dell and Apple.

Where's the difference between them all? Each one of them, one, or a few, people gatherd as much money as they could and started the business off.

If they'd lost millions, where'd the public be clamoring for their reimbursement?

If they make millions (or billions) where's the public? Clamoring for disbursement? (AT&T and baby bells comes to mind, yet, oh yeah, AT&T just bought SBC recently so why'd they split up AT&T in the first place?)