My brother made the mistake of not worrying about the Texas/USC matchup. Trojans win at football, not basketball. Oops. There goes one of his final four picks. As for me, my entire bracket has been obliterated on that side with WSU losing yesterday (I had UNC downed to Marquette--brilliant selection, that was). On the other hand, Wisconsin's very predictable (after seeing … [Read more...] about Round Two Closes Out
Gonzales Furor Further Depletes Bush’s Depleted Political Capital
The Los Angeles Times underscores a fact that is becoming increasingly clear: with every new twist of the controversy(ies) involving Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, President George W. Bush's net political clout is being reducedAs more Republicans called last week on Alberto R. Gonzales to resign, President Bush's aides began to look beyond the attorney general and focus on … [Read more...] about Gonzales Furor Further Depletes Bush’s Depleted Political Capital
Iran Threatens to Kidnap Western Officers
The Jerusalem Post has an article up, referring to an article at the Sunday Times, claiming that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard threatens to kidnap Western officers in retaliation of the reported defection (/kidnapping?) of Asgari and, more, because, according to Subhi Sadek, Western intelligence services have kidnapped several Iranian officers over the past three … [Read more...] about Iran Threatens to Kidnap Western Officers
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. At The Gun Toting Liberal, Alexander Paul Melonas makes "a plea for animal rights." (Reasonable people should be concerned about animal welfare, although from personal experience, this editor warns readers to be skeptical of the claims of PETA, an extremist organization … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Guest Poet: Dan Schneider
Dan Schneider, of whom Joe publishes a review every now and then, agreed to let me publish one of his poems every couple of weeks. Today: YOU ARE ALL DESIRE My needs, they fall away from me. (Dull flesh- can it convince itself?) They are: oxygen- to flame each breath; sources of food and water- to quell the instinctual ravening brought by you; sources … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: Dan Schneider
Exploration Through The Ages
Firemen Against Rudy
The Sunday Times has a interesting article up about one Jim Riches. Who is Jim Riches? He's a fire battalion chief in New York City and he "has vowed to torpedo Giuliani’s prospects of winning the White House by attacking his greatest source of strength, his reputation as a hero". The source of Riches' anger? His son, Jim Riches Jr., was a firefighter as well. He died, … [Read more...] about Firemen Against Rudy
Iranian General Defects To U.S?
From the indispensible site Watching America comes this translation from the French newspaper Le Figaro:Iran's former deputy defense minister, General Ali Reza Asghari disappeared without a trace in Turkey on February 7. According intelligence service sources, it's likely that the general, who is privy to profound secrets on Iranian assistance to the Lebanese Hezbullah, has … [Read more...] about Iranian General Defects To U.S?
VIDEO: Valerie Plame’s Congressional Testimony
In case you missed it, here's a big chunk of Valerie Plame's testimony before Congress on Friday. Watch it, then draw your own conclusions (and feel free to leave them in comments): … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Valerie Plame’s Congressional Testimony
In Honor Of St. Patrick’s Day
Be sure to read THIS POST. … [Read more...] about In Honor Of St. Patrick’s Day
Abort-O-Gram
Are Bloggers Parasites?
That's the question of the day in the navel-gazing world of the blogosphere. But let me assure you that this question/allegation does not come from the White House/politicians/establishment!!! This question is posed by a fellow blogger, and he answers it himself. Nicholas Carr, who says he 'scavenges' at his blog named roughtype, writes: "It is worth remembering that, in a … [Read more...] about Are Bloggers Parasites?
Checks & Balances in US: Change in the Air?
During my college days when I studied political science (and even later in life), what fascinated me most while going through various constitutions in the world, was the US system of 'checks and balances' to ensure maximum freedom in all aspects of American life. There have been challenges in the past (and present) but somehow this provision helps the US triumph over … [Read more...] about Checks & Balances in US: Change in the Air?
Why Musharraf Sacked Pak’s Chief Justice?
This cartoon appeared in Le Monde. There is a lot of speculation as to why President Musharraf sacked Pakistan's Chief Justice. But it is becoming clear that by taking this harsh step, and brutally suppressing his detractors, his credibility as a somewhat tolerant military dictator has received a serious setback. The General seems to be losing fast his middle-class … [Read more...] about Why Musharraf Sacked Pak’s Chief Justice?
Chlorine Chemical Blasts Sicken Iraqis
And, now, a new and terrible twist in the Iraq war -- one that begs the question: "So what's coming next?"Three suicide bombers driving chlorine-laden trucks struck in the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Anbar province, killing two policemen and forcing about 350 Iraqi civilians and six U.S. troops to seek treatment for exposure to the gas, the military said Saturday. The … [Read more...] about Chlorine Chemical Blasts Sicken Iraqis
Mid-Day, Day One of Round Two
Ohio State, you can feel free to not give me any more heart attacks this tournament. Last second threes are low percentage. I recommend stomping on opponents for the entire 40 minutes instead (see Vanderbilt v. GW for a pointer). Easier on the ol' cardiac muscle. You have to feel bad for that poor Xavier kid who missed the icing free throw though. So, does Ohio State come out … [Read more...] about Mid-Day, Day One of Round Two
Halliburton Dubai
Center of Attention
Libby Spencer has more on the controversy surrounding Gonzales / the fired attorneys: only a matter of time "before Gonzales will be canned"? And she wonders whether US Attorney Paul Charlton of the District of Arizona was fired for a failed porn case... Amba links to a very interesting blog (that of her daughter). As Amba writes: "above all savor the wry, wistful, … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
‘Tom, What’s My Opinion?’
When asked about whether he favors using tax payers’ money to buy condoms for Africans to fight the spread of HIV, McCain answered that he didn’t know what his position on this matter was and that he would have to ask Tom Coburn. Read more. … [Read more...] about ‘Tom, What’s My Opinion?’
Getting Involved in Darfur
I'm not convinced that intervening militarily in Darfur is a good idea. As Nicholas Kristof pointed out recently, with the negative perception of the US assault on Iraq, any American-led military action could easily be discredited by the Sudanese government as another 'imperial' invasion to gain access to the country's vast oil resources. So, before we get involved in a … [Read more...] about Getting Involved in Darfur