An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Morning Coffee 08/30/08
Local university presidents rebuff a lower drinking age
Presidents at Nashville area universities have shown a lack of interest in, and in some cases contempt for, a national initiative by college presidents asking Congress to reconsider the legal drinking age.
“Surely we have some things we could be doing that are more important to higher education and our students than this discussion,” said Belmont University President Bob Fisher. “I couldn’t be more miffed at what they’re thinking.”
I’m of the matter, it doesn’t matter what the drinking age is, there will be kids who are just plain stupid! You know the kind, wanting so bad to get into a fraternity, or sorority, they’ll do just about anything. And that includes drinking themselves to death. Just cuz they are college kids does NOT make them smart. Intelligent, maybe. But not smart.
Zimbabwe Ruling Party Rejects Latest Opposition Demands
The Herald newspaper reports Saturday that the ruling ZANU-PF has dismissed the suggestion that the Cabinet be co-chaired by Mr. Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as “stunning ignorance on how government works.”
The harsh words come just a day after power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe’s ruling party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change resumed in South Africa.
I don’t know who thought this idea would work. You’ve got this guy who is obviously NOT going to give one inch when it comes to his control, so what on earth made anyone think he’d ’share’? The opposition might as well take it’s toys and go home.
Catholic lawmakers decry Pelosi ‘error’
“As fellow Catholics and legislators, we wish you would have made a more honest effort to lay out the authentic position of the Church on this core moral issue before attempting to address it with authority,” said the letter, delivered to the speaker on Tuesday.
“Your subsequent remarks mangle Catholic Church doctrine regarding the inherent sanctity and dignity of human life; therefore, we are compelled to refute your error,” it added.
Mrs. Pelosi had said the Catholic Church has been divided over abortion and only in the past 50 years has taught that life begins at conception. The remarks were quickly condemned by the bishops of New York, Washington, Denver and Pittsburgh as well as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
This woman isn’t qualified to be speaker of anything, much less the House of Representatives! Her arrogance in speaking for the Catholic church, and their doctrine on baby murder just points out how out of touch that woman really is!
Georgia says Russia troops blocking refugee return
Russian troops deep inside Georgian territory are stopping thousands of refugees from returning to their homes, a Georgian official said on Saturday.
Russian troops were still manning checkpoints in Georgia and patrolling a Black Sea port even after Moscow pulled back much of the force it deployed to crush Georgia’s attempt to take back two separatist provinces.
Uh….weren’t they suppose to be gone……last week? And where is NATO in all this? How ’bout the UN? Isn’t protecting sovereignty suppose to be one of they jobs?
Residents begin leaving Gulf Coast ahead of storm
Cars packed with clothes, boxes and pet carriers drove north among heavy traffic on Interstate 55, a major route out of the city. Gas stations around the city hummed. And nursing homes and hospitals began sending patients farther inland.
“I’m getting out of here. I can’t take another hurricane,” said Ramona Summers, 59, whose house flooded during Katrina. She hurried to help friends gather their belongings. Her car was already packed for Gonzales, nearly 60 miles away to the west of New Orleans.
Experience is a hard teacher! I’m really glad folks are getting out, just in case. Maybe it won’t hit? Praying hard for their safety. One note: If Gustav does hit NOLA, and destroys it, can we just leave it be this time? Use the money that would be poured into that black hole to help families relocate and start over? PLEASE?
Iraq election law must pass mid-Sept for 2008 vote
Further delays in the provincial vote, initially scheduled for October 1, are certain to frustrate Washington, which sees these elections as central to its efforts to help reconcile Iraq’s rival factions and strengthen its fledgling democracy.
The law has been held up by an impasse over how to treat the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which minority Kurds regard as part of their traditional homeland.
The city’s Turkmen and Arabs, many of whom moved to Kirkuk as part of Saddam Hussein’s policy to “Arabize” the city, reject the Kurds’ ambition to make it part of their autonomous northern region.
Simple solution: Saddam Hussein moved ‘em in? Move them back where they came from. Problem solved. Yer welcome. 
Queensland Health counts chairs as beds
In notes, it says the “Queensland Health Data Dictionary defines an ‘available bed’ as a bed which is immediately available to be used by an admitted patient if required and an ‘available bed alternative’ as an item of furniture, for example, trolley and cot, non-recognised beds occupied or not, which is immediately available for use by admitted patients”.
Further documents revealed that “available bed alternatives” included a “number of items of furniture (eg trolleys, chairs, cots, non-recognised beds, etc)”.
Further proof that governments should NOT be in the health care business!
Iranian general: Attack on Iran would cause another World War
“Any aggression against Iran will start a world war,” the Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted the top Iranian official as saying. “The unrestrained greed of the US leadership and global Zionism… is leading the world to the edge of a precipice.”
“It is evident that if such a challenge occurs, the fake and artificial regimes will be eliminated before anything,” he said.
What I find odd is that it’s been Iran talking about attacking Israel, ‘wiping it off the map’, yet now, after so long of their threats, they are acting like the innocent bystander. And too many are buying into that crap. Iran has been throwing the sticks at the pitbull, daring them to bite. I think Israel has shown great restraint!
Memphis-area emergency shelters to open today
The Memphis and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency has identified 10 shelters in the city that will be manned and run by the Red Cross. The shelters are for evacuees without transportation.
New Orleans officials estimated that 30,000 people will need evacuation assistance because they do not have access to a vehicle, cannot afford to evacuate or have special medical needs.
The first shelter, which is tentatively set to be at the Hickory Hill Community Center, will open today as evacuees arrive by train, while the other shelters will open in succession as needed. The shelter locations will be released upon opening.
If you need assistance, contact the Red Cross! Memphis seems to be on high alert, and quite ready and willing to help out. Hmm….. I wonder if we’ll be getting any folks this far east.
Mum Guilty of Microwaving Baby
Her cellmate told the court that Arnold had confessed to putting the baby in the microwave.
She said Arnold told her she turned it on because she was worried her boyfriend would leave her if he found out the child was not his.
Prosecutors said the baby’s DNA was found inside the microwave in Arnold’s apartment.
Arnold’s defence team had claimed an eight-year-old boy was responsible for the death.
Words fail. A boyfriend is more important that the life of a child? Putting her sorry ass in a microwave, and cooking her, would be a just and fitting punishment. And then to blame a little boy? 
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