Or so it seems. Researchers have mapped the chimpanzee genome and have discovered that we are 96% similar. Granted, there are key differences, but what will all those IDers and creationists say? … [Read more...] about Chimps and humans: One big happy genetic family

This may be a day or two late, but it deserves mentioning. For lost amid the coverage of Katrina, and perhaps understandably so, has been the one-year anniversary of the massacre at Beslan, Russia, a defining event in recent Russian history, when on September 1, 2004, militants at a school took 1,100 hostages. Two days later, 331 of those hostages, including 186 children, were … [Read more...] about Beslan remembered

Cross posted at The Smoking Room Jane Fonda, whose antics in the J-Lo comedy "Monster in Law" were enjoyed by tens, will join British parliamentarian and Saddam pal George Galloway on a fall antiwar tour in the States, hurriedly thrown together to capitalize on Hurricane Katrina. Galloway certainly has the gall (small pun) to make common cause with Baathist thugs and bask in … [Read more...] about Jane Fonda to hang with British MP Galloway on U.S. tour

Just as some have predicted, the New York Times reports that White House political guru Karl Rove is now taking over to orchestrate White House response to Hurricane Katrina, offset the political damage — and go on the offensive. This means Americans will start seeing and hearing the new line in images, comments from leading GOPers and, most prominently, in arguments … [Read more...] about New York Times: Karl Rove Taking Over To Contain Storm Political Damage

President George Bush has moved swiftly to name a replacement for the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist: John Roberts, his Supreme Court nominee who, it is clear, seemed virtually certain of confirmation. According to the Washington Post, Bush has asked Congress to approve Roberts before the court's first term begins Oct. 3:"I am honored and humbled by the confidence the … [Read more...] about Bush Names Roberts For Next Chief Justice

From a piece by Knight-Ridder's Steven Thomma: The president's style could hurt him as well. Bush kept his normal schedule during the first days of the hurricane and its aftermath. He traveled to San Diego, then back to his Texas ranch. He didn't return to Washington until Wednesday, viewing some of the storm damage from the window of Air Force One. He went to the Gulf Coast … [Read more...] about ….”sat on a wall….”

The government is chartering three Carnival Cruise Line ships to help house refugees. Does this mean they'll have to listen to Kathy Lee Gifford sing? Haven't these people been through enough? According to the AP report appearing in the Washington Post, the three ships can house as many as 7,000 refugees:The Ecstasy, the Sensation and the Holiday will be pulled from regular … [Read more...] about Refugees To Be Housed In 3 Carnival Cruise Line Ships

It's a somber Labor Day this year. But for all of us, we can take Labor Day to also labor to think about how we can help Hurricane Katrina's many victims — if not by money, then by giving some old clothing to a local charity that can get it to the storm's victims or doing something to help a charity out. … [Read more...] about Happy Labor Day

As troops moved into New Orleans with a firm mandate to restore order and help in rescues, a political battle was shaping up amid efforts by the administration to launch a massive public relations campaign. There seem to be two prongs here (1)step up efforts to alleviate the situation and show movement in terms of top officials physically out there and talking to the media, … [Read more...] about Troops In New Orleans As Political Battle Grows

A preface is needed, something that was said best at Obsidian Wings: Criticizing the administration's response to this or any other disaster is not 'politicizing' it. There are, I think, two ways of politicizing something. One is to drag politics into a discussion where it does not belong. Thus, if I decided to make a big issue out of Laura Bush's birthday party, that would be … [Read more...] about This cannot stand

Yes....this does seem to explain a lot.... UPDATE: And some strongly differ with the person who hired and praises him. … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day

Breaking news: Chief Justice William Rehnquist has died: Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died Saturday evening at his home in suburban Virginia, said Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg. A statement from the spokeswoman said he was surrounded by his three children when he died in Arlington. "The Chief Justice battled thyroid cancer since being diagnosed last October … [Read more...] about REHNQUIST IS DEAD

It has been a week since the monster storm and story called Hurricane Katrina has been pitchforked into the headlines in the news media — and on weblogs. Here's an extensive cross-section of blog reactions to the hurricane. Links are NOT restricted to big weblogs, famous weblogs, one ideology, one location or even one aspect of the storm. What follows are excerpts. We … [Read more...] about Blog Reaction To Hurricane Katrina

Robert Burns, the Associated Press' military reporter, brings up an interesting question with an article this afternoon: are there enough troops to go around? President Bush's decision to put thousands of active-duty soldiers and Marines on Hurricane Katrina relief duty adds a new dimension to the enormous strain on the military from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senior … [Read more...] about Are There Enough Troops to Go Around?

KPRC Local 2 TV http://www.click2houston.com/index.html Houston Chronicle Newspaper http://www.houstonchronicle.com Dome Blog (Houston Chronicle) http://blogs.chron.com/domeblog/ … [Read more...] about Information Sources from Houston

When you read this Boston Herald piece you have to think: "Gee, it's so nice to know that this administration looked for the 'best and the brightest' in filling a vital, life-and-death post such as FEMA chief....and perhaps that has something to do with the quality of job performance so far":The federal official in charge of the bungled New Orleans rescue was fired from his … [Read more...] about FEMA Head Forced Out Of Last Job

Without requiring any additional details, it is painfully apparent that there is a massive failure of planning and coordination at all levels of government in the response to Hurricane Katrina, both before and after the storm struck. Recently, at my primary weblog, Random Fate, I posted a link to a Scientific American article published in October of 2001 that predicted with … [Read more...] about Accountability

There has been a good deal of shock and shame in the wake of Katrina, but all this politicization and partisanship must stop. Is this not one of those times when we should all come together for the sake of a common cause? There may be plenty of blame to go around, and there will be plenty of time to assign that blame, but, for now, shouldn't our energies be directed at … [Read more...] about Stop the outrage!

Comedian Jerry Lewis has decided to also use the Labor Day weekend telethon he has held for so many years for "his kids" with muscular dystrophy into a fundraiser this year for Hurricane Katrina's victims. The AP reports:TV news report on lost youngsters in New Orleans, followed by footage of an elderly woman being pushed through flooded streets on a mattress, moved him to … [Read more...] about Jerry Lewis To Convert His Telethon Into Hurricane Relief Telethon As Well

Visit Katrina Help Winki. … [Read more...] about To Help The Victims Of Hurricane Katrina