State Sanctioned Rape

China’s military is operating. The People’s Liberation Army is harvesting unwilling patient’s organs and transplanting them into foreign receipients. According to a study, donors in thirty countries have received organs. More than one hundred patients have endursed suspicious transplant surgeries.

In 2008, China will host the Summer Olympics. Thursday’s revelation proves this choice incorrect. China is a nation with a horrific past. Their human rights abuses are extensive, prevalent, and documented. Apparently, they have not ceased. China should be subjected to a comprehensive international investigation. Their Olympic privileges should also be revoked.

China is an emerging economic power. However, the nation is also a dark and disgusting embarrassment. Thursday’s disclosure underscores the obvious. China is not a civilized nation. They should not be treated as a civilized nation.

Play Here

On Thursday, the NFL announced London will host a 2007 regular season contest. The clash will feature the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins. The match will be the NFL’s second non-American contest in three seasons.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell advocates regular season foreign city contests. Likely, his intention is fan base development. However, I believe he is misguided. Europeans enjoy soccer and tennis. They have not embraced football. The NFL should accept this.

Goodell’s model is the NBA. However, they have ceased foreign excursions. Additionally, basketball is an Olympic sport. Football is an American invention. Preseason encounters are one matter. Games which count should occur before fans who care.

Our River Reduces, Sue Them

Montana is suing Wyoming. Their dispute is the Tongue and Powder rivers.

Allegedly, Montana has acquired excessive water, thereby violating the 1950 Yellowstone River Compact. How will Wyoming prove this? Who is there star witness? The river’s current?

Air Tran Nan

This is ethics reform? Swapping lobbyist’s private planes for unlimited military flights?

100 Hours on Life Support

Senate passes minimum wage increase with tax cuts. The House opposes tax cuts. The President promises veto without tax cuts. This bill is dead on arrival.

Boston Pathetic

The “bombs” were marketing cartoons. The “criminals” are idiots. The “authorities” are ranting incessantly. Officially, there exists no guilty or innocent in this matter…

They are all jerks!

Stealing, Brett Myers

Since when is a 12-7 record, a spousal abuse allegation, and a month of tabloid headlines worth $25.75 million?

Democratic Deadlock Scenario?

2008 Presidential Primary Projection

Hillary Clinton: 1,390 delegates – 21 state victories
Barack Obama: 1,296 delegates – 13 state victories
John Edwards: 1,127 delegates – 16 state victories

Go Away Barry

Major League Baseball rejects Barry Bonds’ contract. The San Francisco Giants revise said contract. They fax the document to Bonds. Bonds refuses to sign. On Tuesday, he signed the pact. On Wednesday, he would not…

Barry, sign and exit the news!

Dictatorial Democracy?

On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was granted extensive presidential decree powers. Eleven legal areas are now at his discretion. Intended alterations include the economy, the oil industry, social matters, and the structure of his state.

How is Venezuela democratic?

Stupid in the Boardroom?

Smokable pain medication?

States are banning smoking. Restaurants, clubs, and employers are banning smoking. Smokers have become pariahs. Who believed this was a great idea?

School of Ridiculous

Missing a parent teacher conference criminal? Texas is mulling law which would convict “offenders” of a third degree misdemeanor and fine them $500. According to state legislator and bill sponsor Wayne Smith, "the concept is to get parents in the classroom."

Smith’s goal is laudable. However, this paper law is an abomination.

Right On Maliki

Nuri al-Maliki: "We have told the Iranians and the Americans, 'We know that you have a problem with each other, but we are asking you, please solve your problems outside Iraq. We will not accept Iran to use Iraq to attack the American forces. We don't want the American forces to take Iraq as a field to attack Iran or Syria."

Fan or critic, al-Maliki has a point. He has a political constituency. He is also straddling two angry neighbors, continuous violence, and us. Iraq is a sovereign nation. His request should be noted.

Worth A Read

Laguna Beach Hook Up

A Real Orange County website. Images, news, notes constitute a fan’s paradise.

Biden Speaks, Media Should Shut Up

“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."

I abhor defending Joe Biden. With that stated, his statement concerning Barack Obama was innocuous. He did not stereotype Obama’s race or ethnicity. He did not defame Obama’s character. If he was inferring that Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton are stupid, I have no objection.

Biden is dense. However, this “controversy” is ridiculous.

Spitzer 2010?

Today, I received an e-mail New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. The originating address: info@spitzer2010.org.

Spitzer 2010?

His administration is days old. Prior to seeking re-election, Spitzer should start governing.

Chattering Masochists

Bill O’Reilly screams at Congressman Charles Rangel. Rangel screeches his response. The national dialogue is not advanced. However, the conversation is entertaining television.

Second Verse

Ray Lewis: Faced murder charges before the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV (Tampa, Florida – 2001)

Tank Johnson: Facing multiple charges before the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI (Miami, Florida – 2007)

Ray Lewis: "Jesus couldn't please everybody. He was spit on, slashed at, talked about. Everything there was. But guess what? He hung his head and never said a mumbly word. That's my attitude."

Tank Johnson: "I felt like the world was coming on top of my head. At the same time, as a faithful Christian, you have to continue to stick to the power of prayer because when times is bad, you have to continue to do what's important and what got you there. It might not change right now. It might not change tomorrow. It might not change a month from now. If you continue to pray, continue to look forward to the better things in life, it'll come out."

Ray Lewis: "Yeah, I'm black. And yeah, I'm blessed. But at the same time, let's find out the real truth. The real truth is this was never about those two kids who were dead in the street. It's about Ray Lewis."

Tank Johnson: "It's easy to clump somebody. When you see me walking down the street, I don't look like you. I don't talk like you and I don't walk like you. It's easy to say, well, he's just like the other people, who we see all the time. I've given you guys the opportunity to stereotype me like that. It's unfortunate. It's just the way I am. I'm young. I'm black. I've got tattoos. I've got dreds. It is what it is."

Ray Lewis: "I'm the figure that everybody says, 'They're out of control.' Are we really? No. We're just like everybody else. I'm a man. I bleed. I cry. I moan. I do all of that. So you move on in life."

Tank Johnson: "A lot of people are demons. You got to really look at it like that. A lot of people are really out to get people, just to hurt people. In my whole life, I never thought about racism in my whole life. I've never had a person come to me and say anything racist in my whole entire life. Now I look at it, I'm like, wow. Is this because I'm certain things? I realize people buy into stereotypes."

Leper, Legal & Otherwise

Barry Bonds’ contract void upon indictment.

Another black mark for baseball’s supreme shame.

"Righteous Among the Nations"

Arab nominated for Holocaust honor.

This is how the situation improves.

America the Broadcast

Racist pictures emerge from Clemson and Tarleton State. Catfights become broadcast television. The phenomenon has engulfed our front pages, our televisions, and our conversations. This trend will not reverse.

Youtube, Myspace, and Facebook are now societal. Everyone has camera phones, digital cameras, and internet access. Ultimately, these stories will dominate cable news. Given the aforementioned, America has two choices… Become a shy, withdrawn society or begin extensive television hiring.

Florida Police Victimize Victim

After being raped, a twenty-one year old woman was jailed and denied emergency contraception. The aforesaid sentence is not fiction. The pre-med student was raped. She was then jailed on an unpaid restitution warrant. A jail worker then exercised religious convictions to deny her birth control.

Police are altering their policy. Their regulations were irrelevant. A woman was victimized. She suffered humiliation, torture, and shame. Police should have immediately escorted her to a hospital. Following treatment, they could have arrested her.

Law enforcement officials are human. Between the precious black and white of their rules, exists space for compassion and empathy. Instead of showcasing concern, they traumatized a fragile victim. They should be completely ashamed.

Vista Reaction

Newsweek:

So what do you get when you take the plunge? A whole grab bag of stuff, certainly too much to cover in one review. I've been using a beta version for several weeks (loading Vista on my recent Dell computer, which is just around the baseline for Areo graphics, took a couple of hours, with no hitches). With the exception of a few glitches—Vista hasn't warmed to the presence of the Google desktop on my machine—I'm generally pleased. It may not have rocked my world, but it certainly makes using Windows more enjoyable.

Science & Techology:

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft called Vista the most important release of its dominant operating system since Windows 95 more than a decade ago, when shoppers waited for hours to be among the first to run the new software. Consumer fanfare of that magnitude seems unlikely since Vista is not the dramatic leap in technology of past releases, but the new Windows could ultimately be just as successful.

Wired Blog:

At this point there isn’t much I can tell you about Windows Vista that you probably haven’t already heard, so consider this entirely subjective, but I really like Vista. I installed Vista through Apple’s Bootcamp in order to test Office 2007 and have since converted that installation to a Parallels-based virtual machine.

Despite Outreach, Politicians Still Blogging Blind

Nancy Pelosi believes in blogs. She discussed her speaker election with them. Prior to the State of the Union, she arranged a question and answer session for them. She even hired a blogger outreach specialist. "The speaker will be blogging," promised Karina Newton, Pelosi's director of new media. "She understands the power that the netroots have."

Bloggers are important. They possess organizing, discussion, and fundraising power. During the 2004 campaign of Howard Dean, their value was established. However, their worth has also been overstated. Democrats bloggers allegedly dismantled the President’s social security agenda and defeated Joe Lieberman. Their role in these results is inflated. Capitol Hill stalled the President. Grassroots organizing, not online bloviating ultimately defeated Lieberman.

While Pelosi’s aggression is laudable, her tactics remain flawed. Conference calls and blogging are imperative. However, individual interviews, endorsements, and continual information exchange will win campaigns. Bloggers are a unified phenomenom. Their blessing can have a community impact. "It's a mistake to think that these people just sit behind their machines and don't do anything other than talk to each other and send money," said Joe Trippi, who managed Dean's campaign. "These people are very active in their precincts, in their communities."

Bloggers are politics’ next generation. However, their effect and utilization has been consistently misread. Media does not understand. Politicians do not understand. The vast majority of operatives do not understand. Pelosi’s initial glance is impressive. The question is, will those reviewing and courting bloggers see the whole field?

Bracket Busters Announced

This annual series highlights potential Cinderellas. Parings below:

Friday, Feb. 16

Winthrop at Missouri State

The visiting Eagles get one more chance to bag a high-RPI catch and get back to the periphery of the bubble after missing out on their four chances vs. current Top 25 teams. They'll have to figure out how to stop one of the best pure shooters in the country, Blake Ahearn.

Albany at Boise State

The America East is first and foremost a guards league, and if the Great Danes can survive a title challenge by resurgent (yet Buster-idle) Vermont, this western test will toughen them up for the NCAAs, where Connecticut's size wore them down last year. The Broncos feature Matt Nelson and Reggie Larry, two double-double machines who average 17.5 rpg between them.

Saturday, Feb. 17

Southern Illinois at Butler

A dream matchup between two nationally ranked, giant-killing at-large candidates in the place where Hollywood shot the "Hoosiers" title game. Will Butler's best-in-the-nation ball control vs. SIU's sticky, sweaty pressure defense produce the best 35-33 game ever? Best to film this one in black and white.

Northern Iowa at Nevada

The Panthers have excelled with a floor-spreading frontcourt that's muscular and quick, yet undersized (topping out at 6-foot-8); how will they handle the dynamic all-around game of 6-11 Nick Fazekas? You'll also see two extremely skilled point guards who need more exposure: Valley assists leader Brooks McKowen and the Pack's heart and soul, Ramon Sessions.

Bradley at VCU

This game should have enough intensity with the floor burns alone to power the VCU campus for the weekend. Both squads are hard and scrappy with appetites for 3s and steals. With a place in the at-large conversation on the line, this one has the capability of sparking a long-distance rivalry.

Holy Cross at Hofstra

VCU currently is the hottest team in the CAA at 10-0, but the Pride has kept pace at 9-1 and has a home shot at the leaders later this week. If the 7-0 Crusaders continue to roll, this could be a real red-hot Colonial-Patriot Challenge. Hofstra appears to have the market cornered on backcourt play; Holy Cross' resurgent inside game should provide a good counterbalance.

Appalachian State at Wichita State

Definitely the day's mystery game. The SoCon's Mountaineers are the nation's most mysterious team: look at their boxscores, and you'll see that they rarely win the same way twice. They'll be paired against the Syracuse- and LSU-beating Shockers, whose six Valley L's have been investigations into new and interesting ways to lose. Not even Peter Falk could have this straight.

Old Dominion at Toledo

A real Robert Louis Stevenson matchup. Toledo snuck into the 2006 MAC title game as a No. 7 seed, but has plundered the weak West Division this season like the pirates from "Treasure Island." Old Dominion's season has been like "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde": The Monarchs upset Georgetown and thrashed Drexel, but lost badly at CAA laggard James Madison.

Utah State at Oral Roberts

NCAA perennial Utah State has had a tough time keeping up with the WAC race, but owns a mid-60s RPI; Mid-Con champ Oral Roberts currently is unblemished in their its defense at 7-0, and might get a better seed than last year's 16 with a home win here. The two schools aren't exactly strangers: The Golden Eagles and Aggies held an in-season home-and-home last season (swept by Utah State).

Drexel at Creighton

Promises to be a tough, gritty battle featuring two teams that stand out more on the standings table than the stat sheet -- already, a combined 29 wins between them. We're just looking forward to the chess match between CU's Dana Altman and DU's Bruiser Flint -- two masters at using their pieces in whatever way is necessary to win, regardless of aesthetics.

Austin Peay at Akron

Surprise OVC leader, powered by sophomore sensation and league POY candidate Drake Reed, would improve its RPI dramatically if it finds a way to beat the not-much-of-a-surprise MAC East leader and its inside-outside combination of LeBron's old pals, Romeo Travis and Dru Joyce.

Ohio at New Mexico State

Ohio is tied for third in the competitive MAC East, but it has five double-figure scorers and is the league's RPI leader. NMSU already has beaten WAC-leading Nevada once and showed signs that it may be able to do it again when it counts. Watch and take notes.

Cal State Fullerton at Wright State

This'll be an exciting battle between pint-sized seniors who can fill it up. Big West contender Fullerton brings Bobby Brown, a 6-0 guard who shoots 50 percent and averages around 20 a game. WSU (which has been hanging around with Butler at the top of the Horizon) has 5-11 Dashaun Wood, who pops in 19 a contest.

Kent State at George Mason

It's a game for the historians in the house: the mid-major Final Four squad from the CAA versus what had been the most recent Elite Eight mid out of the MAC. Though neither is setting their respective leagues on fire this season, both have 12 wins at this point, are dedicated to solid defense, and provide interesting case studies on building mid-major legacies.

Kill Thy Neighbor?

Hamas, Fatah agree to cease-fire.

You are on the same side!

Sensing Celebration?

I’m not a fan of his… But, a death party?

Ground For Heroes

Staff Sergeant Jon Arnold-Garcia: "It doesn't look like a hospital. It's a place I can see myself getting up and being motivated instead of walking hospital hallways with doctors."

Fantasy Patrol

Shaquille O'Neal wants to play cop. Despite immense wealth and notoriety, O’Neal became a reserve police officer. Upon retirement, his delusion is a law enforcement career. On Sunday evening, a car sideswiped O’Neal’s Cadillac. O’Neal and his bodyguard pursued the offender. O’Neal then accosted him at a gas station.

Should I recount how O’Neal’s actions were stupid? What if the offender would have had a gun? Not withstanding O’Neal’s size, he is not immune to bullets. If the driver had emerged from his car firing, O’Neal would have been dead. What if his car had crashed? What if the offender had chosen high speed? O’Neal could have died or been critically injured.

America has thousands of skilled police officers. O’Neal is not one of them. He is not a citizen engaged in his community. He is a dense adolescent with the means to indulge his fantasies. O’Neal’s actions were callous, reckless, and infantile. They endangered himself and his team. They are an illustration of his absolute incompetence.

A Champion Passes

Barbaro
(2003-2007)

Old School

Due to fighting, Wisconsin schools ban cell phones.

Now, they will have to summon reinforcements as I did… by screaming like a wimp.

Duel Victors Dominate SAG’s

Movies:

Actor: Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"

(Anyone not feel good for Whitaker?)

Actress: Helen Mirren, "The Queen"

(Two nominations, two victories. Oscars are next.)

Supporting actor: Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"

Supporting actress: Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"

(Murphy’s victory is surprising. Hudson’s is not. The critics loved her performance. The lone remaining question... Can she record an awards triple play?)

Cast: "Little Miss Sunshine"

(Sundance veteran sizzles for the right reason. Are you listening, Dakota?)

Television:

Actor in a movie or miniseries: Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"

Actress in a movie or miniseries: Helen Mirren, "Elizabeth I"

(Mirren rules. Elizabeth I should also win her an Emmy.)

Actor in a drama series: Hugh Laurie, "House"

(Another duel winner. Can he score a sweep?)

Actress in a drama series: Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy"

(Underrated performer triumphs. Wilson completely deserved this.)

Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Actress in a comedy series: America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"

(These wins showcase comedy’s plight. Ferrera will not win the Emmy.)

Drama series cast: "Grey's Anatomy"

(Simply the best show on television.)

Comedy series cast: "The Office"

(The show everyone’s watching finally wins.)

Lifetime Achievement: Julie Andrews

(The Hills are alive…)

Predictably Unavoidable Viewing

On Sunday, Tiger Woods won. Overall, the victory was his seventh consecutive and third straight Buick Invitational. He erased a two stroke victory for this triumph. Was this conquest a comeback? When Woods’ name resides on the leaderboard, there are no comebacks. There are only inevitable victories.

Woods is legend personified. He is grand, remarkable, and majestic. Those are merely the initial adjectives. Woods is also exciting. Everyone knew Sunday’s result. The trailing margin, course conditions, and leader’s names were irrelevant. Everyone knew Woods would win. Yet, we were watching. Woods is not boring. He is dominant. Dominance invites viewing.

Woods is untouchable. He has no equal. He has no rival. His competitors are only challenging for second. Yet, we watch. We have to watch. When someone is this spectacular, no one wants to hear his legend made.

The Big Five

For reasons good and bad… they were the news.

The Hot Five

A quintet of sizzling conversation starters.

Line of the Morning

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

"I am genuinely an independent. I agree more often than not with Democrats on domestic policy. I agree more often than not with Republicans on foreign and defense policy."

Sunday Peaceful Sunday

IRA votes cooperation with Northern Ireland police.

Will this last?

The End?

"He's got a lot of issues, and not any of them is bad enough to say goodbye. But put together it's not a good day for Barbaro."

Pray for Barbaro.

Yosemite Limits?

Judge considering tourist maximum.

Are they parks or museum pieces?

Making Lemonade

"A lot of people are really, really strongly connected to what celebrities are doing. So why not have a place where you could also find out what charities they care about, what causes are important to them, and be able to donate right there?"

From perceived insult to charitable enterprise.

Congratulations Kevin Bacon!

They’re Talking Sex?

Dr. Heba Kotb discusses sex with an Islamic perspective.

Islam and progressive conversation… A monumental coupling.

Hillary’s Decision?

Senator Hillary Clinton faced a dilemma. John Edwards apologized for his war vote. The liberal left has screamed she renounce hers. On Saturday, Clinton responded, “There are no do-overs in life,” she said. “I take responsibility for having voted to give him that authority. My focus is on what we do now. That is the proper debate. I do think we are engaged in a war against heartless, ruthless enemies. If they could come after us again tomorrow they would do so.”

This quandary and response illustrate Clinton’s tortured position. She is an Armed Services Committee member. She has spoken with generals and soldiers. She is imminently qualified in foreign policy. However, she refuses to renounce her war vote. She rejects cutting funding. She dismisses an immediate withdrawal. This has infuriated the liberal left. Clinton is also a woman. Properly or improperly, voters will ask… Can a woman, inside the Oval Office, lead America’s foreign policy?

Clinton also bears her husband’s international legacy. Following Black Hawk Down, President Clinton became gun shy. He nibbled in Bosnia and Haiti. He ignored the slaughter of thousands in Rwanda. Following the embassy bombings and USS Cole, his retaliation was minimal or nonexistent.

Presidents are judged on domestic policy and defined on foreign policy. Vietnam tarnished Lyndon Johnson. Iran haunted Jimmy Carter. Communism’s conclusion and Gulf War One illuminated Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush. Healthcare and Social Security may be pressing issues. However, terrorism and Islamic extremism are the 2008 Presidential election.

Senator Clinton is straddling the unimaginable. One cliff is the liberal left. They are activists. They are democratic organizers. They are tantamount to money. On the opposing cliff are males. Thousands who believe a woman cannot handle the office. Thousands who are leaders and believe men should lead. The Senator must choose. The decision is hers. The decision is impossible.

For What It’s Worth

The NFL Draft marginalizes football. While career is considered, on field performance is a minor factor. The two days are a parade of selections for stupid reasons. Thus, the Senior Bowl is virtually irrelevant. While one can improve their rank, their status is ultimately subjective.

On Saturday, college football’s superstars clashed. Quarterbacks Drew Stanton, Tyler Palko, and Jordan Palmer were all impressive. Meanwhile, Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and National Champion Chris Leak struggled. Most Valuable Player Tony Hunt, Brian Leonard and Rhema McKnight shined as skill players. Kenny Irons, Dallas Baker, and Dwayne Bowe were sub par.

Defensively, the North’s Adam Carriker, Jay Moore, Paul Posluszny, and Amobi Okoye, and the South’s Tim Crowder and Tank Tyler sparkled. NFL Draft Countdown has extensive player information.