US Supreme Court Rules Against Terri's Parents
Topic: Humor
In a rare unanimous ruling, the US Supreme Court ruled against the parents of Terri Schiavo and ruled that the parents must be allowed to die. The court unanimously consented that the disregard they have shown for their daughter is "reprehensible" and "truly disturbing." Scalia, who penned the opinion also wrote that:

"While it is heart suffering to take a loved one off of life support, it is further heart suffering for someone to want to keep their loved one on life support when it is clear her own motives have been determined to be otherwise. How parents could show such disregard for their own, expending large amounts of Terri's money on frivelous lawsuits in order so they can avoid seeking closure and can take advantage of a large television deal, is grossly disturbing to us. It is for this reason, we side with Michael Schiavo and allow for the parents of Terri Schiavo to die." - Antonin Scalia

The parents said they'd appeal the decision to some higher court... maybe the Hague.

This was originally posted elsewhere by me on 3/24/05, and I never tossed it here, but in light of the parents of Schiavo and their irrational desire for money, I thought I'd repost it here.

The Right Wing Media Spins the Economy
Topic: Politics
The National Review seems to think the economy is booming now.

"Last Friday’s Treasury budget tells us that, in addition to a dramatic increase in tax receipts across the board (Art Laffer, time to collect your Nobel Prize), individual income-tax receipts have been exploding."

Exploding? That seems to be a bit much. But look... they have a chart... a bar chart!

KABOOM!

But it gets better. Why is income exploding?

"The tax-payment turnaround began with the Bush tax cuts of 2003."

Wait a second! What happened to the tax cuts in 2001 and 2002? But even with such a close eye on it, it's hard to argue with a two bar , bar chart. I mean... it clearly shows income "exploding" in the first eight months this fiscal year than last fiscal year... and especially such great citing of where they got their info from... "Treasury Department." That's a cite you can build a house on!

So I headed on over to the Treasury Department's website and found a page that has the Monthly Treasury Statement You see, what's great about this page is that you can download oodles of info, like the income the US has received monthly. But what else is there? Is it only income you ask? Of course not silly. They also list the monthly costs of government as well. And that leads me to my chart because one must ask, if receipts are "exploding" does that mean the deficit spending is decreasing? Is our children learning?!

As you can tell, I resisted the urge of the bar chart and used a line graph because they are the best at determining linear trends... hence the term "line". ;^)

One line is for income, the other expense (each for the first eight months of each fiscal year). If you take notice, you'll understand why the NRO article doesn't mention the tax cuts of 2001 and 2002. They apparently had no effect on the economy. But oddly enough, the income is going up... though still below Clinton levels and we apparently are well in the red in spending. So, what was this about the economy rocking? Being in the red two hundred billion dollars in the first eight months... not a good thing.

M Night Shyamalan's new movie House
Topic: Humor
Sure, you probably didn't know that Shyamalan was releasing a new film, but to be able to use other movies as an excuse as to why this film didn't draw, he decided to release the film the same weekend as Star Wars Episode III - Finally It's Over. His plan worked... his film drew in about $340,859 dollars in its opening week.

The movie will rebound a bit but it was too corny for me. It's about this family that lives in a house. They are normal in everyway, but the one difference is they never leave the house. Sure, I guess this could make for some decent tension and perhaps an episode of BtVS but an entire movie? I think M Night Shyamalan is running out of ideas. So anyway, the kids get really angry about not being able to leave. So the father becomes a bit abusive, but this changes when the Rentseekers come. The family has to hide for when they hear the knocking at the door, they know it can only be bad...

[spoilers]well. To make a terribly long and boring story short, they live in an apartment complex and not a house. Honestly, I kinda saw it coming. The father talked way too much about the mortgage. [/spoilers]

New covenant with God established
Topic: Humor
Yesterday, God announced before an army of press corp agents his desire to redefine the covenant he had created with man. During his press conference he stated he was severely disappointed in most Christians. “I clearly spoke of doing great acts for mankind. Yet all some of these Christians want is ascension to heaven. What's even worse, Christians are killing other people merely because they think that those people are breaking my laws. I have clearly forbid killing, but now I can see I must change the rules in order to save mankind.”

According to the word of God, it is now an “All of nothing” proclamation. “Starting now,” began God, “its either no one goes to hell or everyone goes to hell. I'll no longer stand for acts that are forsaking the strangers.” However, this new covenant has been met with considerable resistance from all forms of Christians.

“Just how many covenants is this god going to make? I've been doing my part. If he doesn't like it, he can go sit on it,” said Jerry Falwell, a well-known jackass.

God, the supreme deity of the universe, who has been with mankind since their beginning, had first created a covenant with mankind in the beginning through Adam. However, after a controversial fruit eating that covenant was rewritten. Some time later, mankind became very evil and God regrettably flooded the world. In his “saving” grace he reestablished a covenant with Noah, only to break that covenant, for unspecified reasons, with the people when they tried to become a great civilization. This then saw a reestablished covenant with a man named Abram who lived in Nahor. That covenant included slavery and torture from the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. The Greeks and Romans later conquered them. Another covenant was established when his only begotten son came to Earth. It has been reported that his son was killed, however, no evidence can be found for that. Since that newly established covenant which reached to all people, the world has seen nothing but wars and killing, reaching an apex with the Holocaust, Manifest Destiny, and Christian broadcasting. So it would seem appropriate to question God who seems to be flip flopping on the covenant all the time. Falwell continued, “Hey, he's God, he should have known which covenant would have worked! Until he gets his act together, I'll continue doing his previous covenants' work by discriminated the Jews, fags, and minorities.”

Whether God will reconsider his decision is doubtful. Very few people have changed God's mind, so it seems that all of mankind is doomed to an eternity of hell.

History of the Covenant

Reported that Covenant was Established - With Whom - Results
4004 BCE - Mankind (through Adam) - Ended in the Flooding of the world (near total loss)

~3000 BCE - Mankind (through Noah) - Ended with confusing people so they couldn't become a great race

~ 2000 BCE - Abram's Descendents - Egyptian/Assyrian/Babylonian/Greek/Roman Slavery and Conquering. Had about 40 good years under David.

~30 AD - Mankind (through Jesus) - Holocaust/Inquisition/Christian Broadcasting/Endless Wars

2005 AD - Mankind - TBA

Of Turnpikes and Tolls
Topic: Humor
So I was wondering, what happens if on one day, you are on a turnpike, but then you can't pay to get off? I mean there are a couple different possibilities. Perhaps the most likely is that you are doomed to travel the turnpike for eternity, or until you run out of gas, because they won't let you get off. However, it may be possible this happens.

Driver: Ahhh... I don't have enough change.
Attendent (looks elated): YES!
(Attendent takes off the uniform jacket and runs out from the booth. Before you know it, you've been wrestled out of your car by a bunch of goons. Once your faculties are back with you, ya notice that you have a DOT uniform on, you are standing in the booth, and the previous attendent just drove away in your car.)
Now Former Driver: Ahh.... what happened?
Manager: Do you think anyone actually wants to be a toll attendent?
(Now former driver shakes his head no)
Manager: That's right. So what we do is take people that can't pay. You see, that guy that just left, he came in through here 4 months ago. He couldn't pay, so the attendent that was there then, drove off in his car, and then he was the new attendent. Now he has left in your car and you are following the cycle.
Now Former Driver: You mean I can't leave until someone comes in that can't pay?
(Manager nods)
Now Former Driver: Why? Why is it like this?
Manager: This has been the way for over a millenium.

What of Sun Hudson?
Topic: Politics
Hudson said her son just needed time to grow and to be weaned off of the ventilator he was on since birth. She described the final moments of her baby's life.

"He opened his eyes while he was in my arms, before they took him off the ventilator. He smiled. He moved his tongue, actually his whole body. And I feel like they took him off too soon," she told KPRC-TV in Houston.

Last week on Tuesday, three days before Bush headed for some R&R at Crawford to take some rest from his thundering tour to sell Social Security change to America, a mother held her dying child in her arms, a child who was taken off the respirator prematurely, a decision that doomed the five month infant to die, a choice that was nothing short of a post-birth abortion. But that choice wasn’t of the mother. Nor was it of the father. Nor was it of the family of the child. It was the decision of the hospital. You may ask, how in the world could the hospital possibly have the authority to give a five month old baby the death sentence without the approval of the parents? Who would allow a hospital such unfettered discretion of power, in the face of a baby’s loving parents?

"This is murder. I am not sugar coating. It's murder," Hudson said.

It would be the same man who would fly five days later from Crawford, Texas, in a show of mighty bravado, to Washington DC to sign legislation . In 1999, George Walker Bush, Governor of Texas signed into law:

If the patient or the person responsible for the health
care decisions of the patient is requesting life-sustaining
treatment that the attending physician has decided and the review
process has affirmed is inappropriate treatment, the patient shall
be given available life-sustaining treatment pending transfer
under Subsection (d). The patient is responsible for any costs
incurred in transferring the patient to another facility. The
physician and the health care facility are not obligated to provide
life-sustaining treatment after the 10th day after the written
decision required under Subsection (b) is provided to the patient
or the person responsible for the health care decisions of the
patient unless ordered to do so under Subsection (g).

(166.046e)
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/HS/content/htm/hs.002.00.000166.00.htm

This law, signed by George Walker Bush, the same man who said: “Today, I signed into law a bill that will allow federal courts to hear a claim by or on behalf of Terri Schiavo for violation of her rights relating to the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain her life.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3224354a12,00.html

What of that infant’s life? An infant who had the cherished love of a mother. An infant that had a home. Alas, there was no Exodus 2:24 for Wanda Hudson, nor her infant son Sun Hudson. The woman who was suffering from the law George Bush passed as Governor. The woman who suffered from the legislation George W Bush passed as Governor of Texas. A woman who suffered from the act of a post-birth abortion that was signed and, without his voice to oppose it, delivered by George W Bush.

In Texas, a judge okay’d the death of an infant son. Where was the outrage to save him?

http://www.nbc30.com/health/4286333/detail.html

Who will be liable for Social Security shortfall?
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: Politics
On March 9, President George W. Bush spoke in Franklin County. One issue he brought up was Social Security. [To quote Bush:] “I have put the issue on the table because I believe the president must confront problems and not pass them on to future presidents and future generations.”

Being 28 years old, the Social Security issue, especially any long-term changes to it, directly affects me and others my age. Bush attempts to sell private accounts as the solution to the problem of a Social Security shortfall. This “solution” does not address the problem; it only shifts the burden.

The generally accepted cost of initializing the private accounts typically ranges from $1 trillion to $2 trillion during the next 10 years. The Bush administration has admitted it would need to borrow this money.

I ask: Borrow from whom? Who gets to pay back this debt? It certainly couldn’t be the current generation because they need to borrow the money to pay for this plan. If it is not the current generation, then it must be the future generations that are liable for this debt — the same future generations that the plan is designed to help.

So even if the private plans work as well as the Bush administration proclaims, it won’t solve the financial issues. It only transfers the Social Security liability for future generations into more debt. So I would appreciate it if Bush would stop acting as if giving my generation an additional $1 trillion to $2 trillion loan liability was some sort of favor.

Published in the West Side Leader (3/17/05)

Bush and real fuzzy math
Topic: Politics
Of Bush's $2.57 trillion budget in 2006:

63% is mandatory spending
- 42% is Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
- 13% is other entitlements
- 8% Interest on the debt

The remaining 37% is the Discretionary spending
- 17% Defense (which Bush wants to increase spending by 5%)
- 19% Domestic which covers everything else (which Bush wants to decrease by just under 2%)

Now please, oh please, will someone explain to me how this equation can work. I'm an engineer, not an economist, so perhaps I'm being too rational with the numbers.

Defense Spending = D
Domestic Spending = DS
Mandatory Spending = M
Cash Inflow (tax income) = C

Bush is suggesting that this equation works:

C ('05) - D ('05) - DS ('05) - M < C ('06) - D('05)*105% - DS('05)*98% - M - Unspecified increase to M

The unspecificed increase to M is with regards to solely just the increase in interest payments as the debt increases. Now lets make this a little more simplified. Defense spending and Domesitc spending are about the same, so lets say that D = DS

C ('05) - 2*D ('05) - M < C ('06) - 2*D('05)*102% - M - Unspecified increase to M

Simplfy more

C ('05) - 2*D ('05) - M < C ('06) - 2.04*D('05) - M - Unspecified increase to M

Now some of you have noticed one thing. I haven't included the war cost which is atleast $1 billion a week or $54 billion a year for Iraq alone, or approximately 10% of the defense budget.

C ('05) - 2*D ('05) - M < C ('06) - 2.14*D('05) - M - Unspecified increase to M

So, ignoring any other fiascos, Bush wants us to believe that in order for the debt to drop from the level it was in 2005, income from taxation will increase over 2.5% this year. This increase in national revenue would just cover the changes Bush wants to make, ie increase spending in military, Iraq War, cut a few billion in Domestic Area. That would, of course, ignore any additional costs related to the increasing deficit, the Medicare bubble spending that was noticed, and any social security reform.

And finally, alot of the "pork" Bush wants to cut is going to be very very hard to sell to the Senate. They rely on that "pork" (known as economic development money if its local) to keep their own jobs.

A letter to the Ohio US Senators
Dear Senator Dewine:

I am writing in response about America's commitment to the victims of the Tsunami in Southern Asia and Eastern Africa. As of now, the death toll is spiraling out of control. Millions have lost everything, including the villages in which they lived. During our lifetimes, we probably will never witness again a natural disaster of this magnitude. Yet the Bush Administration has earmarked only $15 million for relief efforts. http://rds.yahoo.com/S=53720272/K=1...src=rss/topNews

I find this as a slap in the face of those who have suffered in this terrible event. The Congress okayed the spending of $7 billion to the approximately 5500 victims of the 9/11 attack. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...-2004Nov17.html Why such a small amount for those in Asia and Africa?

I find this terribly hypocritical. In a time when the President calls for America to do what's right for the world, by invading nations to free people from tyranny, and he calls for Americans to volunteer to help those within our own borders, I find it awfully hypocritical to pledge an insignificant $15 million to help those who have suffered from one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history. The US spends billions on the war in Iraq, yet, the US can't find it in its heart to openly give such amounts to those who no longer have a village or town to call home?

Perhaps its my cynicism, however, I can't help but notice that the areas struck lack in oil, Christians, or Caucasians. I certainly hope this isn't why America isn't giving as much as it possibly can to help restore whatever life we can to the areas destroyed by the tsunamis. If America is to ever gain the graces of the world again, we must lead in efforts to restore life where we have nothing to gain but the calming of the pain in our hearts that we should be feeling for those suffering in Asia and Africa.

Please do what is right and demand that America invest into the stricken areas as it did within its own borders when the lives of thousands were harmed on September 11th. Please help to prove to the world that we, as a nation, do care!

Richard Hessler

Consumers speak of horror of SE Asia while waiting in Return Lines
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Humor
"Its absolutely tragic," started Mary Sallon of Portisville, Alabama. "All those people lives just swiped away. It really puts things into perspective for me," she finished, while waiting in line for over an hour at Walmart to return a blouse she received for Christmas she didn't really care for.

"When I heard the death toll just spiral out of control, it made me be thankful for what I had," said John Watkins with nodding people in agreement. He was waiting in line to return the office chair for his den he received for Xmas from his wife citing that it wasn't a color he preferred.

Meanwhile at a Best Buy in Tacoma, Washington, people in line reflected. "I'm just thankful I have my health and my family is safe," said William Sumner.
"Thank God," followed Tina Winters who had come to Best Buy from the Broadview Baptist Church to return a few DVDs she received. She hadn't opened them and was hoping to get Seasons 1 and 2 of Seinfeld. "I just count my blessings that God has given me. All these material goods are unimportant, all that matters is God and family," she said while two 50 CD-R packs shifted in her arms. She said her son needed the CD-R's to store all the MP3s he got from the internet. "I know he shouldn't download music online illegally, but its better than him downloading pornagraphy, so I accept it."

"I know, CD prices are outrageous these days," answered back Tom Hollands. "DVDs too. You see the price of that Elton John set?!"

"Oh, that's why I had my son download the Elton John thing from online. We'll burn in to DVDs and have it that way. I love Elton John," said Tina Winters. "What were we talking about? Oh yeah, all those poor American tourists in Sri Lanka. Its just so terrible. They went on vacation and had this happen to them. I hope they are with God."

Soldiers make a victims pyramid in Sri Lanka
Topic: Politics
American soldier personnel sent from Diego Garcia went to Sri Lanka to record damage and offer help. In the process a number of soldiers formed a pyramid of dead tsunami victims and posed in front of it. One soldier stood atop the pile with a large smile while planting a US flag pole at the top.

The Secretary of Defense responded by saying, "Boys will be boys. I'm disappointed this happened. We will get to the bottom of this. No I won't resign!"

The President supported the Secretary of Defense by saying he was a "pretty nice" guy. "He is a qualified man and I want him in my administration. I apologize to the people those soldiers may have offended." The President pledged $15 million in aid to the victims of this "horrible" disaster. The President and Congress awarded more than $7 billion to the less than 5500 people killed and injured in the 9/11 attacks. The tsunami has taken the lives of well over 20,000 in a spiralling death toll, and has displaced nearly one million people from their homes. Priorities I guess.



NOTE: The soldier pyramid is satire, the money pledged and spent for the tsunami and 9/11 is true.

Consumers Flock to Malls after Xmas
Topic: Humor
Ungrateful people flocked to stores this Sunday to start the process in America known as returning gifts to get something better. "I don't like sweaters," said Cathy Wilson. "So I'm returning it to help pay for an Ipod." Millions of Americans go about returning gifts that were given to them in good will without second thoughts about it. "What irony?" asked Matt Semen.

Others are just hopelessly attempting to quell their desire for meaningness through material goods... something often spoken negatively of in Buddhism. "Ya, I was hoping to get a great deal on a LCD television at Best Buy. It really helps me forget how meaningless my life is," said Bob Watkins at a Buffalo Best Buy location. "I really wish I had children... but I chose a career over children. So I'm out and about trying to get a good deal on attempts for happiness," said Wendy Wendell. This Christmas year appears to equal up with many of the past ones.

More liberal tricks!
Topic: Humor
-Newsmax 10/30/04

This election is already fraught in controversy from having observors in the voting polls to falsified and destroyed voter registrations. But the Democrats have outdone themselves. In Akron, Ohio, Democrats were actually found bribing voters to vote for John Kerry in the election.

On October 29, the Kerry supporters were holding a dog and pony show to help "explain Kerry's stance on the issues" and to help encourage democracy. What they were also trying to do was to encourage people to vote for Kerry and not for Bush by bribing them. Their slogan for the show was blatently pro-kerry, "Candy for Kerry." As the supporters had the Firestone Elementary school children in the auditorium chanting "Candy for Kerry," you could clearly see the Democrats handing out small bags of candy with the Kerry election symbol on the bag. The children, ranging from the age of 6 to 10 all cheered. "Candy for Kerry... Candy for Kerry."

"I love John Kerry," said 8 year old Melissa Strongman. "He gives me candy. I want to vote for John Kerry."

"I love Mike and Ikes," said 7 year old Timmy O'Toole, as he looked to see what he got. When asked who he would vote for in the mock election, he said Kerry was the "bomb diggity."

Not all the students were happy. "I don't like Whoppers," proclaimed 10 year old Stan Hewitt. "I don't like any of this, Kerry sucks!" Children like him seemed to be the bare minority as all the children, in a sugar frenzy rushed to the voting booths to cast their votes. Kerry won in a landslide. Bush is appealing.

"This isn't a unique thing," said Bush's campaign manager. "The Kerry people are doing this in elementary schools all across America! This has got to stop. Its bribery and a federal offense! They should all be shot!"

Yes, they all should be killed!

More Liberal Tricks
Topic: Humor
-Newsmax 10/28/04

Much anticipation is leading up to the current 2004 Presidential elections, where a polarized nation awaits to voted on November 2nd. Lawyers are lining up to head to court to send the election into a long process of litigation. The liberals, however, couldn't wait, and have sued Mars Incorporated. The lawsuit, which can be read here, lists among many complaints that the company is broadcasting commercials on television and radio without even identifying that they are a political commericial. The lawsuit further states that the law requires political advertisements to announce who funded the said advertisements. The liberals claim that the Mars Corporation, who isn't even listed under the IRS as a "527" organization, does not do either of these tasks and that this has given George W. Bush an unfair advantage in political advertising.

The liberals wouldn't stop at attacking free speech though. In fact, the liberals have asked a federal court to prohibit sales of Mars Corporation candies which, according to the lawsuit, "Prominently acts as an advertisment" for the candidate seeking re-election. The candies in question can be bought at virtually any grocery or convenience store. Additional lawsuits have been threatened by these liberals towards the stores that sell what they call "irrefutible endorsements" towards George W. Bush. Walmart has already announced that they will pull the candies to avoid the lawsuit.

The liberals have shown what distaste they have for free speech and the free capitalistic market and should be killed at once! Calls to the liberals who have launched the lawsuit went unanswered. Attempts to throw rocks at their office went unsucessfully. Calls to the Mars Corporation are still lost somewhere in the automated answering system.

Another day, another race
Topic: Sports
Today I ran in a 5k race in Akron. The race was relatively local and started at 9:30, so I got to sleep in unlike last Sunday's triathlon wakeup time of 5 AM. It was a nice day to run, a bit chilly for mid-September, but I'm always prepared for such things, with my swooshy pants and windbreaker. It was a bit breezy, which didn't help the breathing early on in the race.

Warmed up running the course, a slightly uphilly first half to the turn around and then reverse the grades for the run back to the finish. I did notice something rather humorous before the race. I was looking at people's sneakers. I had never seen so many gleaming white running sneakers all huddled together before in my life... and this was my 49th race! I looked at my worn down, no longer gleaming white, sneakers. I pondered, this group would be easy to beat, a weak field if you may. The question remained, how many serious runners were going to be mixed in with this crowd of gleaming white sneaker owning every other weekend warriors?

I snuck in near the front right before the start. Then we were off. I manuevered up ahead, so that I wouldn't waste time getting around those that would ultimately finish behind me. By the first quarter mile, the race took shape. I was in the top 5, a place I would go no further below. The winner was already choosen. He was about 20 meters ahead early on. I figured, he was going to win without a doubt. He did. So me and three other runners were packed together, trading positions for a mile. I surged up the hill, momentarily taking 2nd spot, another would surge after the hill, I was in fifth right before the turnaround. I made a pass for fourth at the turnaround and then for some reason people were grabbing for water in a 5k in 60 degree weather? I took advantage and snagged 3rd as well. Me and a competitor would swap that position for the remainder of the race. I was tired though. I was stealing looks back to see if I could hold onto 4th... which I could, but I had to keep my pace up. So I made an attempt to kick at the end to make sure those in 5th and 6th didn't get any funny ideas about reaching me. I took 3rd for a few seconds, hoping the guy I just passed didn't have a kick either. He did have a kick and trounced me in the end. Happifully though, I kept my 4th place finish overall intact and crossed the line with a happy, though not astonishing 18:50 (6:04 mile pace). I was right, the field would be easy to beat.

I was first in my non-competitive age-group, but I'll take what I can get. Its nice to win a trophy every once in a while. I think my next race with be in mid-October, a local race next door, so that should be fun. It will be my 50th race. Then there is a Turkey Trot in November. I'll need to look some races up. Until then, its just nice being back in the racing.

Debunking GW Bush's Election Propaganda
Topic: Politics
A cute attempt to make Bush's first term look better than Clinton's first term

Claim 1: 97,000 manufacturing jobs were created between January and August in 2004, while only 25,000 manufacturing jobs were created between January and August 1996.

I'll tell you what is true! During that same time period in 1996, the "Employment level" increased by 2,047,000 new jobs compared to 1,115,000 in the same period in 2004. Of course, they want to suggest a sluggish job performance under Clinton. The numbers don't lie, but the Bush Campaign does. And of course, the whole, loss of millions of manufacturing jobs during the rest of the Bush presidency could be mentioned here as well.

Claim 2: Income Growth. They claim income has increased by $1444 during Bush... though don't say when the time period is. They claim in 1996 that Clinton is was only $1256 which relates to a 13% higher increase after inflation.

Well, in 1996, "average weekly earnings" of all private "production workers" increased by 5%. From August 2003 to August 2004, the increase was only 3%.

Claim 3: Unemployment rate of Hispanics is lower in 2004 than it was in 1996. Also, African American unemployment is lower now as well.

This is true, but it is very misleading. In January 1996, unemployment rate for Hispanics was 9.4%. At the end of the year it was lowered by 20% to 7.4%! Bush wants to brag that the rate is only 6.9% today. This is true, but when he took office, it was 5.8%! So I don't understand how Bush can claim to be the reason for lower Hispanic unemployment, when it is higher today than when he took office. In August 2003, the rate was 7.8%, so for the year, it did drop 14%, but not as much as it did under Clinton. Odd to be bragging about such a thing!

For African American unemployment? In August 1996, it was 10.6%. In August 2004, it was 10.4%. Oh wow! What an improvement. When Bush took office in 2001, it was 8.2%! That's an increase of 27% unemployment for Bush. While from the beginning of Clinton's first term to August 1996, Clinton saw a decline of 25% in the unemployment level for African Americans. This is supposed to be the Official Website of Bush's campaign. Why the hell are they misleading everyone there?


Claim 4: National debt was 48.5% of GDP in 1996, while its "only" 37.5 in 2004.

Interesting attempt at hiding a word there. National debt, someone will think annual deficit spending. Besides, the national debt only decreased during Clinton's presidency, so how can Bush take credit for that? Lets look at numbers that actually count for something.
In 1996, the deficit spending by the Clinton Administration was 1.2% of the GDP. In 2003, the deficit spending by the Bush Administration was 3.4%! It will be worse in 2004. For Bush to claim some sort of good economy because the debt with relation to the GDP is better seems completely screwy. He didn't lower the debt!

Claim 5: Same number of people with health insurance in 1996 and 2004.

Well, what is Bush saying? That he hasn't made it better?

Claim 6: Home Ownership is higher now that it was in 1996.

I can't disagree with that statistic. It is probably true. Problem is this. Bush wants people to think that the extra $300 to $500 a year us common folk got back from his tax cuts helped as a down payment for a home. Speak about a guy out of touch with reality.

Simply put, the rate of home ownership is up because the mortgage rates were the lowest they've been in many decades!

All employment statistics were taken from tables generated at The Bureau of Labor Statistics website, and all spending statistics were taken from The Congressional Budget Office.

"Liberal" Media Ignoring Casualties of War
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Politics
This is becoming very disturbing. According to CNN:

September 6 Attacks led to 12 American Soldier deaths
September 7 Attacks led to 4 American Soldier Deaths
September 8 Attacks led to 4 American Soldier Deaths
September 12 Attacks led to 5 American Soldier Deaths
September 13 Attacks led to 8 American Soldier Deaths

In a period of one week, that's 33 American soldiers killed in Iraq. Why the hell is this not in the news? Sure, the numerological 1000 was a little newsworthy, but its almost like American soldiers are barely dying. You hear about the bombing in Baghdad that killed 47 civilians, but no one is reporting, atleast not outloud, that 33 American soldiers died because of enemy attacks between 9/6 and 9/13.

This is so wrong!

First race in 37 months ends very well
Topic: Sports
My first race in 37 months finished very well, I'm glad to say. I raced in HFP's sprint triathlon (750 m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) at Portage Lakes this past Sunday. This being my 25th multi-sport event, I knew how to prepare, and going through my preperations (now as a vegetarian), all went as well as could be. My swim was a typical middle of the pack sort of swim. I managed only to get clobbered by an arm in the head once. The bike was a rather strong bike, though ranked only 60th in the race, timewise, I was able to hold a strong enough pace, and thanks to the hills, made some passes. My run, ranked 11th overall in the race, made up for my weaknesses in the swim and bike, as usual. I felt real strong, storming out of the transition into the run. With about 3/4 of a mile left, I actually ran out of age groupers or even guys in general to pass. I only had four racers within 200 meters of me! The rest was very open. So I passed those four racers and finished with a 29th overall position out of 182 finishers, and a 5th place age group (25-29) placement.

Not too bad for a person who hasn't done this in 37 months. I plan on racing atleast one 5k this up coming weekend.

Paul Hamm
Topic: Sports
Here is the question, would you give up the gold that was awarded to you by mistake? I know I would in a second... well I really already have done so in one case... though it is a bit different.

The New York City Biathlon was my best biathlon ever. I had excellent runs and a great bike. I finished well up in the competition, I think top 20 overall, as a senior in college. When the awards were handed out, I received first place in my age group. I was actually stunned, though I knew none of the competition, I was used to always having someone in my age group better than me in an event. My 1st place lasted about 120 seconds. It came to the attention that a person was improperly classified in the wrong age group.. that person came in first, I came in second. I had to go up and give the first place plaque back. I thought nothing of it. The person who came in first obviously did better than I. The technicality wasn't one of mere judgement, rather one of in your face logic. Who would I have been to keep that plaque that I didn't win, but merely was awarded?

If a day passed instead of just 120 seconds, I would have done the same in a split second. I deserved what my finish that day deserved, nothing more. Yet we have Paul Hamm who has seemed to of gotten away with one, though to no fault of his own. Paul Hamm has no shame in finishing second because someone bested him. The mistake by the judges wasn't one of personal judgment, but of obvious statistical error. Granted, the time had passed to make a protest, but we aren't talking a week or a month, but a day. Should an Olympian be so petty to take an arbitrary deadline over sportmanship?

I know my 1st place age group plaque is nothing compared to a gold medal. However, in my case, that is the closest I'll ever get to such an accolade, so I can only judge from my own experience. I find it shameful that Hamm hasn't already given the medal up. Hamm shouldn't have to give up the medal by rule or law, but Hamm should feel compelled to give it up because of proper sportmanship. He lost to another person that day. There is no shame in coming in second. There is shame in coming in second and pretending that it was first.

Man who saved Thurlow in Vietnam says there was gunfire
Topic: Politics
Vietnam Vet who pulled Lt. Thurlow out of the water says there was gunfire that day

Oddly enough, another person who was actually there during the actions in question has said that Kerry didn't lie. Though Robert E. Lambert isn't a supporter of John Kerry, being critical of Kerry's anti-war stance and having served only 4 months, Lambert spoke honestly and in detail about the events that happened where John Kerry won a Bronze Star.

"Lambert, now 64, was a crew member on swift boat PCF-51 that day. The boat was commanded by Navy Lt. Larry Thurlow, a now-retired officer who questions why Kerry was awarded a Bronze star for bravery and a third Purple Heart for the March 13 incident.

"He and another officer now say we weren't under fire at that time," Lambert said Wednesday afternoon. "Well, I sure was under the impression we were."

Lambert's Bronze Star medal citation for the incident praises his courage under fire in the aftermath of a mine explosion that rocked another swift boat on that day 35 years ago.

"Anytime you are blown out of the water like that, they always follow that up with small arms fire," he said."

Regarding who wrote the report:
Nor does he have much time for the debate over who wrote the medal citations. Thurlow says his citation for a Bronze Star, which states the boats were being fired upon, was based on an initial report written by Kerry.

Lambert doesn't know who wrote the documents.

"They took what everybody said after they got in, piled it altogether and shipped it off and somebody wrote that, either at the division level, squadron level or commander of naval forces, Vietnam level," Lambert said. "They decided what kind of medal was going to be put on it.

"Mine was for pulling Lt. Thurlow out of the river while we were under fire," he said.

The number of people coming out and saying Kerry is speaking the truth continues to climb. Equally, the connections between Bush's Campaign continue to increase, including the resignation of two members of his campaign and a detailed NY Times look at the Swiftboat Vets and Bush's Campaign.