Robin Roberts To Battle Breast Cancer

One of my heroes, Robin Roberts, announced this morning that she has breast cancer but is ready to take it on. She made her announcement on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer by her side. She says the cancer is in the early stages and that surgery has been scheduled for this Friday.

For the story in Robin’s own words, read here.

The AP’s story is here:

NEW YORK – ABC “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be undergoing surgery Friday.

Roberts, 46, told viewers about her cancer on Tuesday morning’s show.

“I am so blessed that I found this in the early stages and the prognosis is so promising that my doctor expects me to be flying planes and hanging on to submarines in the middle of the Atlantic and scaling the Mayan pyramids in no time,” she said.

Roberts, who is co-anchor of “Good Morning America” with Diane Sawyer, said she examined herself and found a lump on her breast the same day she had done a report on former “GMA” movie critic Joel Siegel, who died of colon cancer last month. The network wouldn’t say which breast was affected.

Roberts, who is single, said there is no history in her family of breast cancer.

She’s been a contributor to ABC’s morning program since 1995 and was the newsreader before being named in May 2005 as one of the show’s anchors.

Former ABC news anchor Peter Jennings announced on “World News Tonight” in April 2005 that he had lung cancer. He never appeared on the air again and died four months later.

 

 

Read Robin’s bio too. Do any of you remember her from her ESPN days???

Hey Robin – You can do this!

Feds Search Senator Ted Stevens’ Alaskan Home

Remember the whole “Bridge to Nowhere” ordeal and the pinhead behind it? That would be Republican Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska and in case you haven’t heard, he’s in the news again.

On Monday the F.B.I. and I.R.S. raided his home for evidence about his relationship with a businessman that overlooked the renovation of Stevens’ Alaska home. The agents took video and photos throughout the home and left with a large bag of unidentified items.

Today, the AP is reporting:

Barbara Flanders, who serves as a financial clerk for Stevens on the Commerce Committee, testified in the past several weeks and provided documents regarding the senator’s bills, according to an attorney in the case who spoke on condition of anonymity because grand jury matters are secret by law.

Investigators are scrutinizing Stevens’ relationship with oil field services contractor Bill Allen, who helped oversee a complicated renovation project that more than doubled the size of Stevens’ home in 2000. Allen’s company, VECO Inc., won tens of millions of dollars in federal contracts. Allen has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska lawmakers.

Stevens won’t comment on Flanders or her role in his finances but he has said that he has done nothing wrong and that the renovations on his home came directly from his own money.

No charges have been brought forth…yet.

For the full story about the raid on Stevens’ home, read here.

Is Fred Thompson Running Out Of Time For A Presidential Run?

If fund raising goes hand-in-hand with a candidate’s chance at a presidential ticket, then Fred Thompson’s opportunity may be slim.

From The Politico:

Fred Thompson plans to announce Tuesday that his committee to test the waters for a Republican presidential campaign raised slightly more than $3 million in June, substantially less than some backers had hoped, according to Republican sources.

Thompson plans to make the disclosure in a filing with the Internal Revenue Service, as he continues to operate his prospective campaign as a political organization that does not require disclosure to the Federal Election Commission.

With staffing and money problems, many Thompson supports are beginning to lose hope. Could it be because he has waited so long to announce his candidacy? Some speculate that he may not even announce his GOP run until September.

But going back to the whole “testing-the-waters” issue:

“There has been some criticism that the testing-the-waters committee is not such a testing-the-waters committee and that he’s running some sort of campaign,” said a Thompson adviser.

“He’s raising enough to test the waters, not run a full-fledged presidential campaign. He’s not a candidate.”

The adviser said the figure was enough for Thompson to hire some staff, do some travel and work on his policy initiatives.

“It’s not going to be a huge number for a presidential campaign. It’s a testing-the-waters-type number. The number will reflect that goal. He hasn’t been campaigning. He’s been talking to people about whether that figure is the direction he definitely wants to go.”

Come on Fred…run already! The other candidates are quite boring and are losing my attention fast. Besides, whoever is directing you to make these untimely decisions should be fired. You’ll never have a chance if you keep going this way.

For the full story click here.

Houston #1 in Total Acreage of Parkland

We already know Houston has some of the most beautiful and spacious parks. Someone else agrees!

Last week Houston was placed on the map among other top ten cities by the National Survey of City Parks.

From the City of Houston webiste:

HOUSTON RANKED NO. 1 IN TOTAL ACREAGE OF PARKLAND AMONG TOP TEN U.S. CITIES
Mayor Bill White Spotlights National Survey of City Parks

July 24, 2007 - Mayor Bill White today hailed The Trust for Public Land’s new survey that indicates Houston rates first among the nation’s top 10 cities in total acreage of parkland and second behind only San Diego in park acreage per capita.

The findings by the Trust for Public Land indicate that of the nation’s 10 most populous cities, none had more total park space than Houston with 56,405 acres. Houston’s 27.2 acres per 1,000 residents ranks second only to San Diego with 35.6 acres per 1,000 residents with nearly 45,000 total acres within its limits. Houston is well over the national average of 18.8 acres per 1,000 residents. The survey includes parks operated within the city by Harris County, the Houston Parks Board, Fort Bend County, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the City Parks and Recreation Department.

“Parks are where families, friends and neighbors spend time and create memories. This is an important story to tell about the quality of life in Houston,” said Mayor Bill White. “We are pleased to see our city rates very high in providing such an important asset to Houstonians. But we will do more to improve what we offer the public. We want to be No. 1.”

Houston and Harris County recently obtained approximately 5,000 acres of park space with the acquisition of Lake Houston Park in Northeast Houston. The 12-acre Discovery Green Park in Downtown Houston is scheduled to open in early 2008. Construction of a detention basin will connect various portions of Keith-Weiss Park adding to its usability, while providing capacity for managing flooding along Halls Bayou, on the city’s north side. Additional announcements on new park space will be made in coming weeks.

The City, in cooperation with Harris County, the Houston Parks Board, Fort Bend County and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department worked to account for all available parks and green space operated by the various agencies, within the city limits of Houston, for this survey.

“We thank the Trust for Public Lands. We have worked hard to make sure that Houston’s figures reflect a more accurate picture of our community and the TPL has been receptive to that,” added Mayor White.

Yea for us! I love the fact that although Houston is such a large city, we have numerous parks to choose from.

Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds: Politically Very Different

Kenneth Vogel’s article in The Politico today makes an interesting comparison between the two baseball legends.

…political junkies may find another, less-scrutinized difference interesting: the two men’s level of political engagement. Or, more precisely, Bonds’ relative lack of engagement and Aaron’s robust, though not particularly well-known, political involvement. And it’s not limited to the $40,000 he and his wife, Billye Aaron, have contributed, primarily to Democratic committees and candidates — including Hillary Rodham Clinton — since the 1990s, when such information first became electronically available.

As Bonds closes in on Aaron’s record of 755 career home runs amid allegations that his late-career power surge was fueled by steroids, he has participated in community outreach efforts organized by his team, the San Francisco Giants. And he has financed his own charitable organization. But, by all indications, he hasn’t used his name — or his cash — to advance political causes or candidates in his native California or elsewhere.

The article goes on to discuss Aaron’s participation in such movements as voting rights for black Americans and involvement with politicians seeking office.

Hank Aaron continues to be an active participant in politics today.

The article is rightly named Hank Aaron: Politico. Barry Bonds: Not.

I will admit that I have never been a Barry Bonds fan going as far back as when he played for the Pirates. I developed a dislike for him around 1988 mostly because of his pomp ass interviews and his ever growing ego. I’m sure I’ll get plenty of hate mail for this. Still, I hate watching him come up to bat against my beloved Astros not because of who he is but because he IS a spectacular player. But honestly…would he be in the same place today had it not been for the little artificial boost he got over the years? In any case, he is right behind Hank and I commend him for getting there – no matter how he has done it.

Begin your comments now…I know you want to…

Cyworld: South Korea’s Version of MySpace

Very cool story. Just as our American teens and 20-somethings are staying connected through social networks such as MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook young people in South Korea are doing the same. What really mirrors the two nations is the fact that they too are using this means to learn more about their presidential candidates.

Their version is called Cyworld and was created back in 1999. There are other networking sites in South Korea; however, Cyworld has recently become #1 with approximately 20 million users daily. And just how successful is Cyworld?

Newsweek.com states:

…an estimated $146 million in revenue. (MySpace, by contrast, brought in nearly $200 million in 2006; Facebook a little over $100 million.)

For just a blip about Cyworld’s creation:

Cyworld, says its creators at SK Communications—South Korea’s top Internet provider—was designed to appeal to Koreans with its two-dimensional bubbly cartoon characters and bold graphics. Users exchange real money for the Cyworld currency of dotori, which translates as “acorns.” With it they can accessorize their own pages or buy gifts for others. The virtual currency has become so popular that it spills over into real life, too. Jung-Eun Lee, a 33-year-old Seoul-based reporter, for example, says her birthday gifts included dotori from her husband and Cyworld gifts from friends.

And regarding the political aspect of the network:

Not surprisingly, the politicians’ Cyworld homepages—known as “minihompys”—blend right in with those of their young constituents. The candidates design their characters—complete with virtual wardrobe; fix up their Cyworld homes; they even have Cyworld buddies who generally consist of their supporters. The candidates reach out to their buddies via messages, articles or save-the-date memos for campaign-related events. Another key feature: in order to register, Cyworld users must have a Korean national ID number, so candidates can be sure they’re connecting with genuine voters.

Can you image how our candidates would choose their images? And I’m not ready to see the virtual homes of Ron Paul or John Edwards. Eck! We already have! It’s called Second Life!

Read the whole story about Cyworld at Newsweek.com.

Illegal Immigrants Issued ID Cards In Connecticut

New Haven, Connecticut has become the first to adopt a program that issues ID cards to illegal immigrants.

From Reuters:

New Haven will offer illegal immigrants municipal identification cards that allow access to city services such as libraries and a chance to open bank accounts.

Supporters say the cards will improve public safety and give undocumented workers protections now afforded legal residents. Critics contend it will unleash a flood of illegal immigration, straining services and wasting taxpayer money.

The program started today. Part of me thinks it’s a good idea but on the other side I’m frustrated that we aren’t doing enough to take care of our own legal citizens.

I need more time to ponder on this. What do you think?

Read the whole story here.

YouTube Democratic Debate A Success

This just in…The YouTube format for tonight’s presidential debate was a success!

Because we didn’t have journalists or audience members with “prepped” questions, the YouTube video questions ranged from slavery, gay marriage and the disabled to women and the draft. Although some of the older candidates looked quite uncomfortable during this type of forum, Clinton, and Obama stood tall in their comfort zone; however, Edwards seemed a little shaky.

In all, 39 questions made it into the debate.

Having the debate in this fashion made the questions more personable. We got to meet a woman named Kim fighting breast cancer asking questions about health care insurance and two women named Mary and Jen. They wanted to know why they could not be married. Tony asked the candidates if women should be allowed to registered for the draft.

There were serious questions and some with a splash of humor. Anderson Cooper did a great job keeping everyone in line and on time.

I think this event has just opened a new door for interest in the debates and politics, not to mention participation. I also think it will be very hard to go back to the “old way” of conducting debates in a stuffy format.

For a wrap-up of the debate, check out the article on CNN.com. And watch all of the video questions here.

If you would like to submit your own video question for the September 17th Republican Debate, go here.

By the way…Here is my favorite video of the evening:

An Arm, A Leg, and A Cup Of Starbucks Coffee

Ouch. As if I’m not spending enough at Starbucks. My Venti Decaf Non-Fat No Whip Raspberry Mocha is going to cost 3% more!!!

This from the AP today:

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. said today it was raising prices for its coffee and other freshly made drinks in most of its U.S. stores by 9 cents this month, citing rising costs, including dairy products, energy and fuel.

In a statement issued after markets closed, Starbucks said the price hike will take effect July 31, bumping the cost of most drinks by about 3 percent.

The increase will apply to coffees, lattes, frozen Frappuccinos and some tea-based drinks, including fruit and tea blends made behind the counters in all of its domestic company-operated stores, company spokesman Brandon Borrman said.

The increase will not apply to bottled drinks or food, Borrman said.

The company’s last price increase — 5 cents — took effect Oct. 3, 2006.

The world’s largest specialty coffee retailer has nearly than 6,300 company-operated stores in the United States, plus about 3,500 licensed stores. It has almost 14,000 stores worldwide.

Oh well. Just like the hike in gas prices, I need my coffee to get by so I will continue to be a slave to the espresso machine.

Democratic Presidental Debate Tonight Sponsored By CNN and YouTube

Tonight the Democrats take on one another in South Carolina. The event is sponsored by CNN and YouTube and will include video questions that YouTube users have uploaded. The campaigned called “YouChoose ‘08″ will return in September in St. Petersburg, Florida with the Republicans at the podium.

Tonight’s debate will air at 7p.m. EST.

To find out what questions will be chosen (and we all know that they will be carefully screened!) click here.

Bush, Cheney, and a Colonoscopy

Gosh…there are so many jokes and puns that I could add here!

On Saturday President Bush will temporarily hand over his duties as Commander in Chief to VP Cheney. Bush is scheduled to have a colonoscopy at Camp David.

Under the 25th Amendment President Bush will hand over his authority, doing so only for the second time since he has been president.

Read the full story from MSNBC.

Muggles For Darfur

Kind of an interesting read that I found on The Politico today. Someone is using the Harry Potter hype to fight the cause in the Sudan.

Read the story here.

If you are one of the rare Muggles that have not seen the latest Harry Potter movie yet, here’s a peak:

Mitt Romney: Not So Conservative When It Comes To Spending

For a successful businessman worth $250 million, one has to question Romney’s handling of campaign contributions.

From the AP:

BOSTON (AP) — Mitt Romney’s campaign found 9,732 ways to spend its money last quarter. From a $15 service fee for its travel agent to $300 for makeup work to $31,500 to rent the Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park for a celebratory barbecue, the Republican presidential contender was anything but fiscally conservative in spending money as fast as he raised it between April and June.

Based on the report Romney filed with the Federal Election Commission over the weekend, his spending was so prolific he had to lend his committee $6.5 million during the quarter, allowing him to cover the difference between $20.5 million he spent and the $14 million he raised.

That loan also means that, for all intents and purposes, Romney has personally paid for every second of the $4.9 million in television ads his campaign has aired since he formally declared his candidacy in February.

The article goes on to discuss Romney’s net worth:

Romney, 60, has a reputation as a cautious businessman, priding himself on ingesting volumes of data before continuing with a business deal. The approach has paid off: His net worth is estimated at up to $250 million.

As a politician, he’s also cast himself as a fiscal conservative, vowing to limit government spending and veto excesses.

How does this differ from John Edwards’ $300 haircut and Hillary’s spendy suits? It doesn’t. The media feeds off the spending habits of all of the presidential candidates and much like the media, the public falls into the same trap of reading this gossip.

So…check out the full article here.

Presidential Candidate Spending During The Campaign Process

From coffee to IKEA products, Presidential candidates are spending money in similar ways.

From Wednesday’s New York Times:

For the full image, click here.

What Are Our Priorities?

Surprisingly, the Environment comes in dead last…According to Gallup.com the top 10 priorities Americans have are:

1. Iraq

2. Terrorism and National Security

3. The Economy

4. Energy

5. Illegal Immigration

6. Healthcare

7. Education

8. Morality

9. Fixing Government Itself

10. The Environment

The ordering of some of these surprised me. Illegal immigration higher than morality? Sheesh.

For a more detailed analysis of each subject, click here.

Bush Says No Way To Troop Pay

Photo by Eric Draper

I guess having an all-time low approval rating isn’t enough for our President…He’s on his way to hitting rock bottom.

On July 10th the Bush Administration said it “strongly opposes” key military pay and benefit gains tossed into their fiscal 2008 defense bill.

“Strongly opposes…”

Initiatives the administration “strongly opposes” include:

• A military pay raise in January of 3.5 percent versus 3 percent endorsed by the White House.

• Lowering the age to 60 to start reserve retirement annuities for reserve component members by the length of their future mobilizations.

• Expanding eligibility for Combat-Related Special Compensation to service members forced by combat disabilities to retire short of 20 years.

• Directing pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide the Department of Defense with same price discounts for the Tricare retail pharmacy network that are provided already on medicines dispensed from base pharmacies.

For the full story, read here.

Anyone who knows a newly enlisted soldier is quite aware that they could be making more at the local grocery store stocking shelves; however, the women and men of our U.S. military are not enlisted for the money but for the cause. Did you know that many young enlisted men and women have their families on food stamps? Many people don’t realize this. When we were stationed in Hawaii in 1993, I was looking forward to paradise with sunny beaches and all-you-can eat pineapple. I had no idea that we were going to have to be on food stamps and WIC for 3 years. We could only afford one car and making the insurance and car payments monthly were a stretch. We knew of many lower ranking couples that were in worse shape than us.

Even now I have spoken to military service personnel and not much has changed.

What is Bush thinking? I could go on and on but I need to watch my blood pressure…

What do you think?

Betty Boop for President

Happy Friday~

From 1932:

Enjoy your weekend!

Conservapedia

Introducing… Conservapedia! Many feel that search engines such as google and online encyclopedias like wikipedia lean to the left when it comes to “facts.” So now the right side has introduced their solution of one-sided information: conservapedia. Their tagline is “A Trustyworthy Encyclopedia.”

First of all, do we really need this? And what makes them so trustworthy? Is it because they list a daily Bible verse on the main page? Maybe it’s because there is a daily historical quote right under the Bible verse. I know! It has to be the Masterpiece of the Week collection highlighting a great artist. I guess liberals don’t read the Bible, know anything about history, or have any inclination about the Arts. Do I sound bitter? No, just that I think this is all very silly.

I guess if you are trying to steer clear of anything profane or objectionable, then the site is perfect for you. HOWEVER…this site still enable people like you to upload files and information just like wikipedia. So although I’m sure anything objectionable will be removed rather quickly, you still have the opportunity to share nonconservative information. Funny, I don’t see this catching on or going global like its counterpart wikipedia…

Lady Bird Johnson-The “Daughter of Texas” Passes Away At Age 94

Lady Bird Johnson passed away Wednesday with family by her side at home in Austin. She had a stroke in 2002 and recently spent some time in the hospital for respiratory issues. It is said that she died of natural causes.

Born Claudia Alta Taylor, the daughter of a Texas rancher, she spent 34 years in Washington while her husband held the offices of congressional secretary, U.S. representative, senator, vice president and president. She has been commonly referred to as the Daughter of Texas.

President and Mrs. Johnson had two daughters, Lynda Bird, born in 1944, and Luci Baines, born in 1947. The couple returned to Texas after the presidency, and Mrs. Johnson lived for more than 30 years in and near Austin.

She will also be remembered for her never-ending charity work. Check out the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center.

She will lie in repose at the LBJ Library and Museum from 1:15 p.m. Friday until 11 a.m.

Her husband, President Lyndon Johnson passed away in 1973.

Cindy Sheehan Is At It Again

We all knew that we hadn’t heard the last of Cindy Sheehan when she sold her piece of Texas ditch by Bush’s Crawford Ranch.

The AP is reporting today:

Sheehan said she will run against the San Francisco Democrat in 2008 as an independent if Pelosi does not seek by July 23 to impeach Bush. That’s when Sheehan and her supporters are to arrive in Washington, D.C., after a 13-day caravan and walking tour starting next week from the group’s war protest site near Bush’s Crawford ranch.

“Democrats and Americans feel betrayed by the Democratic leadership,” Sheehan told The Associated Press. “We hired them to bring an end to the war. I’m not too far from San Francisco, so it wouldn’t be too big of a move for me. I would give her a run for her money.”

Messages left with Pelosi’s staff were not immediately returned.

***

Ugh! I am so fed up with Cindy Sheehan and her “peace cause.” I love how she states “Democrats and Americans” feel betrayed. So I guess Dems and Americans are two separate species like dogs and cats? Has Sheehan read the Constitution? I am by far not a Bush supporter but just what “high crime or misdemeanor” did he commit??? Remember how angry we were when lives were lost on 9/11 and the majority of our country supported Bush to go into war? Now, things obviously did not go in the direction that Americans expected it would and the problem is: OUR SOLDIERS ARE THERE NOW. Instead of giving Nancy a time line to impeach the President, why doesn’t Sheehan concentrate her time on ideas and recommendations of an agenda to get our soldiers home?

I grew up as a Navy brat traveling around the world with my parents and I have been proud to be an Army wife for 17 years. My husband and I knew EXACTLY what the possibilities were when he signed his name on the multiple copies and mounds of paperwork when he became government property. There is always that possibility of war, whether we like it or not. That’s what the military is for! Whether being sent to foreign lands like Bosnia or Iraq or at home on American soil, death is always a possibility. I wonder what her son would be thinking these days…

For the full story, read here. Her comments about the Democrats are a true joke.

Oh and just a comment…if you were meeting someone important in government, wouldn’t you dress up – just a tad? Nice jean shorts in the picture above.

 

 

Death Sentence For Bribery In China…Links to U.S. Toxic Products?

Everything from wheat gluten in pet food to lead paint on toys have been toxic to American consumers. Many point the finger at China saying their products are the source of these issues. Although China has repeatedly denied any fault in terms of their products that are exported to the U.S., one cannot wonder if today’s report from the AP is a “read between the lines” message to Americans. A former department director of the China’s drug regulation agency has been charged with bribery…and the sentence? Death…

From the AP:

Cao Wenzhuang, a departmental director at the State Food and Drug Administration, was given the death sentence with a two-year reprieve on charges of accepting bribes and neglecting official duties, said his lawyer, Gao Zicheng.

Although the sentence was unusually harsh given the charges, such suspended death sentences are usually commuted to life in prison if the convict is deemed to have reformed.

Cao, who oversaw the pharmaceutical registration department, had been secretary to Zheng Xiaoyu, the head of the agency, in the 1980s. Zheng was sentenced to death in May for taking bribes to approve substandard medicines, including an antibiotic cited in at least 10 deaths.

The article continues by addressing the issues of recalls(the most recent was this week) in the U.S. that have links to Chinese production. Read the entire article – it has made me think twice about the amount of products we consume and use from China.

China is no stranger to the death penalty. Many amnesty groups have reported that China has led the pack in executions in 2006.

…and I thought we had an express lane to the execution chamber in Texas.

George W. Turns 61 Today

Seems to be a quieter birthday this year…don’t you think?

From the AP:

Bush celebrated his 61st birthday a bit early — with dinner and a party that first lady Laura Bush threw for him Wednesday evening at the White House, where he watched the Fourth of July fireworks over the National Mall.

On Thursday night, the president took in his favorite pastime, venturing across town to see the Washington Nationals play the Chicago Cubs. With no fanfare, the former part-owner of the Texas Rangers entered RFK Stadium at the bottom of the first inning, sat in a team box with team executives and an owner, and left after the seventh-inning stretch. The Cubs won 4-2.

Spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bush “had a wonderful evening” on Wednesday. His parents, former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, were there — after the president just spent a long weekend with them at their summer home on the Maine coast.

Bush’s 25-year-old twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, also came to the White House to celebrate their father’s birthday. Barbara had joined her dad and grandparents in Kennebunkport, Maine, over the weekend.

Stanzel said that “a number of good friends” came as well. Guests included several professional golfers, including Phil Mickelson, Fred Funk, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Brad Faxon, Paul Azinger and Jeff Maggert, and their spouses, said Emily Lawrimore, a White House spokeswoman.

The big-name field of golfers are in the area for the inaugural AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in suburban Washington. The PGA event is commonly known as Tiger’s Tournament because it was created by Tiger Woods and benefits his Tiger Woods Foundation.

At the White House party, Funk gave Bush a TaylorMade golf bag with the presidential seal embroidered into it and his name on the bag, Lawrimore said.

Bush was scheduled to leave Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland. Last year, friends joined the first couple for the birthday weekend.

***

I wonder what kind of party he’ll have at Camp David…hmm…its gotta be hard to have a rockin’ birthday when you know your approval rating has been reported as low as 27%.

Happy Birthday #43!

If Scooter Gets A Full Pardon, Can He Get A Refund?

This is an interesting thought!

While cruising around Real Clear Politics this morning, I found an answer to the perplexing question, “If Scooter Libby gets pardoned, will he get a refund?” I have a feeling the current congress wouldn’t allow this but I can see Bush using his executive privilege rights again. Read for yourself.

Link Between Internet Fraud And Terrorist Plot

Today’s post is for anyone who has ever received one of those “confirm your e-Bay account” emails. Be sure to read the second part of this post. Very scary…
From the United Kingdom’s Guardian Unlimited:

Three jailed for engaging in ‘cyber jihad’ for al-Qaida

David Pallister
Friday July 6, 2007

Three men, including the top computer expert for al-Qaida in Iraq, were sent to prison yesterday for spreading extremist jihadi material through their websites. It was the first UK prosecution for inciting terrorist murder on the internet.At Woolwich crown court the ringleader, Moroccan-born Younis Tsouli, 23, from Shepherd’s Bush, west London, was given 10 years. Using the nickname Irhabi007 – Arabic for terrorist and the code name of James Bond – he facilitated the distribution of messages from the al-Qaida leadership and videos of beheadings and military attacks by Abu Musab al- Zarqawi’s group in Iraq.

Tariq Al-Daour, 21, a British citizen born in the United Arab Emirates, was jailed for six-and-a-half years. Waseem Mughal, a Leicester University biochemistry graduate, who was born in the UK, was given seven-and-a-half-years.

Earlier this week all three pleaded guilty to inciting another person to commit an act of terrorism wholly or partly outside the UK which would, if committed in England and Wales, constitute murder. They also admitted conspiring together and with others to defraud banks, credit card companies and charge card firms.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Openshaw said the men engaged in “cyber jihad”, with direct incitements to kill non-Muslims. But he said none of them had come anywhere close to carrying out acts of violence themselves. Referring to Tsouli, he said: “He came no closer to a bomb or a firearm than a computer keyboard.” The judge said Tsouli should be deported to Morocco after serving his time.

Investigators and vigilantes who monitor jihadi internet traffic dubbed Irhabi007 the “godfather of cyber-terrorism for al-Qaida” in Iraq while he was active from early 2004 until his arrest in October 2005.

In May 2004 he helped to distribute a video of the beheading by Zarqawi of an American contractor in Iraq, Nicholas Berg. It was downloaded half a million times in the first 24 hours. By hacking into unprotected web servers he was able to use a mechanism known as file transfer protocol to post large files and videos, including videos made by an al-Qaida affiliate group in Saudi Arabia responsible for attacking housing used by foreign staff.

He was caught when two terrorist suspects were arrested in Bosnia and their mobile phones and email records led to the detention of more than 30 people in North America and Europe.

The above picture are the three terrorist suspects. From left to right, Waseem Mughal, Younis Tsouli and Tariq al-Daour. The three men pleaded guilty this week to a terrorism charge in the United Kingdom. (Picture from Scotland Yard)

***

The previous story from the Guardian links up to this story in today’s Washington Post (free registration may be required) :

The global jihad landed in Linda Spence’s e-mail inbox during the summer of 2003, in the form of a message urging her to verify her eBay account information. The 35-year-old New Jersey resident clicked on the link included in the message, which took her to a counterfeit eBay site where she unwittingly entered in personal financial information.

Ultimately, Spence’s information wound up in the hands of a young man in the United Kingdom who investigators said was the brains behind a terrorist cell that sought to facilitate deadly bombing attacks against targets in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

Investigators say Spence’s stolen data made its way via the Internet black market for stolen identities to 21-year-old biochemistry student Tariq al-Daour, one of three U.K. residents who pleaded guilty this week to a terrorism charge of using the Internet to incite murder.Much has been written about radical Islamic groups’ use of the Internet to propagandize and recruit new members. The U.K. investigation, however, revealed a significant link between Islamic terrorist groups and cyber crime, and experts say security officials must do more to understand and confront cyber crime as part of any overall strategy for combatting terrorism.

Investigators in the United States and Britain say the trio used computer viruses and stolen credit card accounts to set up a network of communication forums and Web sites that hosted everything from tutorials on computer hacking and bomb-making to videos of beheadings and suicide bombing attacks in Iraq.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to not fall into the trap of internet hoaxes and email fraud. These emails seem very real and you should never and I mean NEVER click on a link that is included in your inbox to confirm any type of account or payment information. Always type the web address in your browser such as http://www.ebay.com and log into your account that way. Always report any suspicious email. You never know who may be on the other end of the computer screen.

e-Bay has a very helpful tip page about hoaxes and security for their site. Click here for more info.

Who Got Arrested In The Electric Car?

Al Gore’s son Al Gore III was arrested early Wednesday morning for drug possession.

From the AP:

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. – Al Gore’s son was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of possessing marijuana and prescription drugs after deputies pulled him over for speeding, authorities said.

Al Gore III, 24, was driving a blue Toyota Prius about 100 mph on the San Diego Freeway when he was pulled over at about 2:15 a.m., Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino said.

The deputies said they smelled marijuana and searched the car, Amormino said. They found less than an ounce of marijuana along with Xanax, Valium, Vicodin and Adderall, which is used for attention deficit disorder, he said.

“He does not have a prescription for any of those drugs,” Amormino said.

Gore was released from the men’s central jail in Santa Ana Wednesday afternoon after posting $20,000 bail. Amormino said Gore had yet to hire an attorney.

Kalee Kreider, a spokeswoman for his parents, did not immediately return phone messages to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The son of the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee also was pulled over and arrested for pot possession in December 2003, in Bethesda, Md., while he was a student at Harvard University.

He completed substance abuse counseling as part of a pretrial diversion program to settle those charges.

***

Hey! At least Gore III was staying green…you know, riding in his hybrid car smoking an all natural substance.

Ron Paul Jumps On The iPhone Bandwagon

According to the Associated Press presidential hopeful Ron Paul (D-TX) has joined in the Apple iPhone craze:

WASHINGTON — Long-shot presidential candidate Ron Paul is capitalizing on the latest in technology — Apple’s iPhones. Paul’s campaign said Monday that iPhone users would be able to call up his Web site and check out online videos and other material.

The Lake Jackson congressman has support through the Internet but barely registers in public polls.

***

If I paid six hundred bucks (which I won’t) for one of these phone, I guarantee you that I would find better things to look at than Ron Paul’s website. I’ll even save you the six hundred dollars and you can look —> here.

Clinton vs. Bush Pardons

So is there a difference between the pardons made by President Clinton and President Bush? Hillary Clinton seems to think so.

From the AP:

Clinton criticizes Libby prison commute

Draws distinction between husband’s 140 pardons as he left office

KEOKUK, Iowa – Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton drew a distinction between President Bush’s decision to commute the sentence of White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby – which she has harshly criticized – and her husband’s 140 pardons in his closing hours in office.

“I believe that presidential pardon authority is available to any president, and almost all president’s have exercised it,” Clinton said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “This (the Libby decision) was clearly an effort to protect the White House. … There isn’t any doubt now, what we know is that Libby was carrying out the implicit or explicit wishes of the vice president, or maybe the president as well, in the further effort to stifle dissent.”

***

This story has created outrage and disbelief around the world. Websites and media are plastering this story everywhere. Here is an article from The Australian. How do you feel?

Has anyone ever realized that the term “United” States is an oxymoron? Food for thought…

Bush Pardons Scooter

So the AP today reported that Bush felt that “Scooter” Libby’s sentencing was too extreme; therefore he ordered a partial-pardon.

What the ???

In a statement, Bush said: “Mr. Libby was sentenced to thirty months of prison, two years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. In making the sentencing decision, the district court rejected the advice of the probation office, which recommended a lesser sentence and the consideration of factors that could have led to a sentence of home confinement or probation.”

“I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.”

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Now, the Constitution gives the President the power of clemency to be used when he deems it to be warranted. The key here is “when he deems it to be warranted.” We may not agree with Bush’s decision; however, it is his right to make this…but thinking that the sentence was just too harsh? I guess he thought that leaving the fine and the probation part would be rough enough on Cheney’s ex-adviser.

 

If you ask me, I think he watched the whole Paris Hilton jail hoop-lah thing way too much.

I’m sure next we’lll hear how Scooter is reading the bible and learning a lot about himself. Guess his cute act isn’t working anymore for him either (another Paris Hilton poke there).

 

Mitt Romney: The Pooch Liked To Ride On Top Of The Car!

Remember the scene in National Lampoon’s Vacation where Chevy Chase gets pulled over by highway patrol because the dog was tied to the bumper…and…ewwwww…

Anyway, something Mitt Romney did over 20 years ago has animal activist groups ticked off…

Read for yourself –> click here.

Sheesh. Putting the dog on top of the car. Heck, back then the majority of kids weren’t strapping into their seat belts!

David: Teen Survivor of Pipe Attack Dies

This is truly a sad, sad ending to a very courageous young man.

From the Houston Chronicle:

July 1, 2007, 8:49PM
Spring teen who survived pipe attack dies after leap from cruise ship

By BILL MURPHYA Spring teen who survived a brutal beating with a pipe last year jumped to his death from a Cozumel-bound cruise ship today.

Carnival Cruise Lines officials would not confirm his identity, but Rick Dovalina, head of LULAC in Houston, said tonight that he confirmed through the family’s attorney, Carlos Leon, that 18-year-old David Ritcheson has died.

“Carlos said that the family confirmed it, that it was true,” Dovalina said. “The family heard from the captain of the ship. He went overboard.”

The incident happened at 7:35 a.m. aboard the cruise ship Ecstasy, according to a written statement from Carnival Cruise Lines. The ship’s crew pulled the 18-year-old’s body from the water about 45 minutes afterward, according to the statement.

Leon could not be reached for comment this evening.

About a dozen cars were parked outside the family’s home tonight. A woman who answered the door with tears in her eyes declined to comment when asked if Ritcheson had died.

“We’re not commenting on anything,” the woman said.

Albert Galvan, Ritcheson’s father, declined to comment when reached by phone.

Ritcheson’s relatives will fly to the Mexican resort town of Cozumel on Monday to identify the body, Dovalina said.

Ritcheson went on the cruise with a friend’s family and several other friends, Dovalina said.

Dovalina said he thought that Ritcheson was holding up fairly well — he testified about hate crimes before Congress in the spring.

“He just got back from Washington not that long ago. He went through a lot. He endured two trials,” Dovalina said.

In an April interview, Ritcheson said he still was struggling with being identified as the victim of an April 23, 2006, assault in which two teens repeatedly rammed a PVC pipe into his rectum. A skinhead named David Tuck was sentenced to life in prison for his part in the attack. Keith Turner received a 90-year sentence.

“I shouldn’t care what people think,” David Ritcheson said earlier this year. “But it’s like everyone knows I’m ‘the kid.’ I don’t want to be a standout because of what happened.”

Ritcheson had endured 30 surgeries as of April and still had a few more to go.

***

My thoughts and prayers are with this young man’s family. David had attended Klein Collins High School at one time, the same school my sons attend.

As for the two disgusting excuses for life that are rotting in jail, their time will come and hopefully it will be painful and drawn out. Call me cruel but hey…I’m not the one that ganged up on another kid and violated him with a pipe.

That could have been my son…

UPDATE:

It’s ironic that I found this story just minutes later…

From the AP:

WASHINGTON — A House committee approved a hate crimes bill supported by the victim of a vicious racial attack in a Houston suburb last year.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill allowing the U.S. attorney general to help local law enforcement investigate hate crimes. The vote late Wednesday was 20-14.

David Ritcheson, 18, testified last week on behalf of the bill sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, the committee’s chairman. Ritcheson was kicked, stripped, burned with cigarettes, beaten nearly lifeless and sodomized as his skinhead attackers yelled anti-Hispanic slurs at him.

His attackers were sentenced to 90 years and life in prison even though they were not prosecuted under state hate crimes laws. Ritcheson, of Spring, told the panel that he was fortunate because local police had the resources and interest in vigorously prosecuting his attackers. But he said other hate crime victims are not as fortunate and need the federal hate crimes law.

The bill defines such crimes as those motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim or is a violation of the state, local, or tribal hate crime laws.

Under current law, hate crimes can only be prosecuted at the federal level if the crime is committed while the victim is carrying out a federally protected act, such as voting, Conyers said.

“Hate crimes are a stain on our national heritage. We should accordingly do what we can to better equip our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with the tools to prosecute these crimes,” Conyers said.

Opponents of HR 1592 have said it would take jurisdiction from states and lessens the seriousness of crimes with other motives than prejudice. Others oppose the inclusion of sexual orientation in the definition.