An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Morning Coffee 01/31/09
Ice-storm survivors seek shelter in Ark., Tenn.; Bredesen seeking aid
During a week dominated by news of a failing economy and a fledgling president, a vast region north of Memphis has suffered under the national radar.
Northern Arkansas still had 284,000 homes and businesses without power Friday, down from a high of 350,000.
Nine people in Arkansas, including the 39-year-old Blagg, died.
Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in the “what is BHO going to screw up next”, we forget there is other news out there, other than about The ONE. Personally, I don’t think the Gov. should be ‘seeking aid’. I believe those of us who live in this are, and even those who don’t, should be donating to help our fellow citizens in their time of need. That’s what charity is all about, isn’t it? WE give, not the government taking our money and giving. Let’s just cut out the middle man, shall we?
Gaza Militants Fire Rocket Into Israel
An Israeli military spokesman says that Palestinian militants fired a rocket from Gaza toward Ashkelon.
The spokesman said the rocket was fired early Saturday. He cannot be named according to military regulations. It is the first rocket fired from Gaza since Thursday.
Let’s see…just who is that is breaching that cease fire? Is it Israel? Umm….no. That would be those folks who are praised by the lunatics of the world. And since when did Fox become so PC? Militants is too polite a word. Call them what they are….TERRORISTS. What else could they be, when their intent is to cause terror among the civilian population.
Feds allege plot to destroy Fannie Mae data
A fired Fannie Mae contract worker pleaded not guilty Friday to a federal charge he planted a virus designed to destroy all the data on the mortgage giant’s 4,000 computer servers nationwide.
Had the virus been released as planned on Saturday, the Justice Department said the disruption could have cost millions of dollars and shut down operations for a week at Fannie Mae, the largest U.S. mortgage finance company.
Rajendrasinh B. Makwana, 35, of Glen Allen, Virginia, pleaded not guilty in US District Court in Baltimore to one count of computer intrusion, the US attorney’s office said.
Well, this is interesting. I find it a little odd I hadn’t heard about it from our own news sources, yet read about it in the J-Post. The article further states “A search of public records found no address or telephone number for him there.” I’m of two minds. This guy is a scape goat for higher ups, or….. Without more detail, it’s kind of hard to make an assessment.
Life For Bungling Suicide Bomber
A Muslim convert who blew himself up in a restaurant in a failed suicide attack has been jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years.
Nicky Reilly accidentally set off a home-made nail bomb in a toilet cubicle as he prepared to target dozens of innocent customers.
The 22-year-old, described as the “least cunning” person ever to have been charged with terrorism”, injured only himself in the blast in May last year.
If only the rest of the garbage was this stupid. If they want to die so bad, let them….out in the middle of the desert….by themselves! Now, the British taxpayers will have to support him for a minimum of 18 years. Hogwash!
Teacher charged with statutory rape released on bond
A West Tennessee teacher accused of having oral sex and exchanging text messages with a 14-year-old boy is out on bond.
Melissa Dawn McCord, 35, was released from jail Thursday on $7,500 bond. She has been charged with statutory rape by an authority figure, providing obscene materials to a minor, solicitation of a minor to observe sexual conduct and solicitation of a minor, according to Milan police.
It seems obvious that something is seriously lacking in people like this….one might call it a ‘moral compass’. I’m becoming more and more suspicious of teachers coming into the education system. I know there are good teachers, but crap like this are doing them a great deal of harm.
Proposals would let licensed owners tote guns more easily
Michael Guzman, a 25-year-old Texas State University senior and Marine veteran, takes his Kimber Ultra Carry II handgun just about everywhere he goes. Except to school.
Texas lawmakers, however, are crafting ways to allow licensed handgun owners to tote their guns more easily. One proposal would let guns be carried on campuses, and another would allow licensed handgun owners to openly brandish their guns in public.
Together, the two issues are likely to be the most contentious gun-related laws of the session.
Either idea would be just fine with me! You have to go through some serious training to be able to carry, so I have NO problem with someone being able to carry openly, or concealed on campuses. Perhaps, if someone had been able to take down Cho Seung-Hui, 32 people wouldn’t have lost their lives. “An armed society is a polite society.” ~ Heinlein
Ohio dad who shock-collared kids gets 16 years
An Ohio man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for disciplining his children with a dog shock collar.
David Liskany of Jamestown had pleaded guilty to charges of felonious assault and attempted felonious assault.
In court Friday, Greene County Common Pleas Judge J. Timothy Campbell compared the punishments to torture.
The judge said Liskany punished the children in 2006 and 2007 by putting them in cold showers, holding them underwater and using the shock collar, which is commonly used to train dogs.
Perhaps this piece of work should be required to wear a shock collar for the remainder of his sorry life!
Skeptical judge grants bail to former BART cop
Former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle meant to fire his Taser stun gun, not his pistol, when he fatally shot an unarmed man on an Oakland station platform, his defense attorney said Friday in persuading a judge to set bail in the murder case.
Attorney Michael Rains said another BART officer reported hearing Mehserle say just before shooting Oscar Grant that he was going to “tase him.” Afterward, Mehserle told the other officer he thought Grant had been reaching for a gun, Rains said.
I’m no expert, but from what I’ve seen of tasers and guns, it’s kind of hard to mistake one for the other. Although, perhaps some are similar, I just have a hard time believing an experienced officer would make such a mistake. Anything can happen though. Although, from the video I’ve seen, even using a tasing the guy, already on the ground, doesn’t make much sense. Perhaps I need to watch it again?
S.S. D.D.
