Yes, my friends, I return again with the ugly cousin of "the binnall report", "News Watch". After a series of focus groups and various taste tests, we've changed the title a tad to "binnall's News Watch", if only to draw more people to reading this weekly rag. As always feedback is both requested and appreciated. We've got all the goods this week, including the critically acclaimed "Jackson Schmackson", complete with an all-new running gag. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and dive on in.
Hot 5 Stories of the Week
1>Sources: NASA chief investigated for 'waste' (AP via CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/02/18/nasa.o.keefeinvestiga.ap/index.html
A story that makes me giggle with glee. What ? NASA accused of 'waste' ? You don't say. Another nail in the coffin of the atrophied once great government agency. For those of you who follow my work, you know that I am no friend of NASA. A greater collection of rubes and useless miscreants I've yet to encounter in my life. Obviously the incompetance and arrogance and contempt for the American people goes all the way to the top of the space agency.
From the Article :
As a "basic principle," government employees are asked to use commercial flights, one of the officials said.
But O'Keefe "never, ever travels without going on a NASA airplane," another official said. And to justify the flights, O'Keefe often would fill the planes with other employees who might not have a need to travel.
2>Passenger detained, suitcase blown up after bomb comment (North County Times, CA via infowars.com)
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/02/18/news/sandiego/16_14_332_17_05.txt
I hasten to pile this on to the dung heap that is the government's overextending powers, as upon further inspection, this woman probably deserved to have her suitcase blown up. There is a certain common sense that needs to be used in public high security situations, joking about having a bomb in inappropriate and stupid, no matter how you slice it. The modern day equivalent to yelling "Fire" in a crowded theatre.
From the Article :
East Coast psychiatrist Esha Khoshnu, 46, apparently became frustrated with security screeners and allegedly said, "if i had a bomb you wouldn't find it," KGTV reported.
3>Scores at Large After Haiti Prison Attack (AP via myway.com)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050221/D88CKPB00.html
This has got to be some kind of record. Nearly 500 prisoners, almost half of the prison population managed to escape. There's no way they will find even half of that number of people.
From the Article :
Foreign Minister Herard Abraham said in a radio address that 481 of more than 1,250 prisoners at the prison had escaped. He said heavily armed men had attacked the prison, without elaboration, only adding that police were aggressively seeking fugitives.
4>CNN Headline News Undergoes Big Changes (AP via myway.com)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050220/D88CHQAO0.html
Yes, the worst news channel of them all has finally looked in the mirror to see that it is repulsive. CNN Headline News has to be one of the most infuriating channels of them all, running the same half hour newscast over and over again all day. While it may have been a good idea 23 years ago when the channel debuted, now it is antiquated and lame and a huge waste of space. I've no hope for it's primetime line-up, but I suspect that it is the beginning of something new.
From the Article :
For a network that has built its reputation on predictability, CNN Headline News is undergoing some dramatic changes on Monday.
The network will debut a new prime-time lineup that dispenses with its usual continuous "wheel" of news. Like all-news radio stations, Headline News has run half-hour newscasts throughout the day and evening for its entire 23-year history.
5> BTK letter turns to a cordial tone (AP via CNN.com)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/02/21/btk.messages.ap/index.html
There's nothing quite as creepy as the ongoing pen pal relationship between the media and the "Bind, Torture, Kill" (BTK) serial killer. BTK has been killing and writing to the newspapers in Kansas since 1974. Apparently, he's resumed writing, perhaps since he's been getting so many plugs from Ed Dames on C2C, thinking he's making a comeback. But there's a chilling twist with these new missives : BTK has softened. Yes, the mad murderer of Wichita has taken on a lighter tone with his terrified correspondants. Who says only bad news is reported ?
From the Article :
But the tenor has changed: In a postcard sent earlier this month, BTK thanked the station for its quick response to two other messages and expressed concern for two news anchors after a passing comment one made on the air about having the flu.
Future News Now
Avian Flu, On the Verge of an Epidemic (Drudge via stevequayle.com)
http://www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/05_Disease/050221.bird.flu2.html
We already heard about this last night on Art Bell's Sunday show, but I've a feeling we'll be hearing more about it throughout the year. This Avian Flu, dubbed "Quayle Flu" by News Watch, is the SARS of 2005. Mysterious, potentially potent, probably overhyped, and possibly deadly. The Quayle Flu has everything that Steve Quayle loves and I'm shocked he's not appeared on C2C to proclaim the sky officially falling by now.
From the Article :
"No such virus has ever spread so quickly over such a wide geographical area," Specter notes, and, unlike most viruses, "this one has already affected a more diverse group than any other type of flu, and it has killed many animals previously thought to be resistant."
Jackson Schmackson
Yes, it's another trip to Neverland with our newest segment ... Jackson Schmackson. Not much going on in Jackson world, as the King of Pop went to the hospital with the flu, thusly delaying the trial some. Meanwhile, Jackson's attorneys also say they may call up to 100 "celebrity" witnesses. One thing is for certain, erstwhile '80's teen hearthrob Corey Feldman will be there. He's already been subpeonaed by the State of California : http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/02/11/feldman.jackson.trial/index.html
When Corey Feldman is a character witness against you at your trial, you have problems.
I will now introduce a new running feature : the Jackson Scale. On a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being nearly certain, I will deduce the odds of Jackson being found guilty and going to jail. This is not an opinion of his guilt, just a barometer of the potential outcome of the trial.
Jackson Scale : 75
Noory Stories
Given the lengthy duration missed since the prior NW, it's rather hard for me to give proper credit to everyone who may have nailed a Noory Story of the past few weeks.
I know for certain that Dust Miner deserves credit for breaking the sad news of the death of Sister Lucia of Fatima fame. Kudos, Dust Miner. I'm sure The Noor must have mentioned that N.Korea announced they had nuclear weapons, a story broken here by Templar. Oscar de Tuly (over at the U.S. of E) also broke the story of the Dolly cloning Doctor who got the Human Cloning license.
Thanks to all who contribute. Think you know Noory ? Break the story that Noory will read on the show and you will be rewarded with fame and riches via a mention in next week's News Watch.
Editorial
Life on Mars ? Not so fast.
The level of foolishness revolving around the much hyped and long promised announcement of "life on Mars" is bordering on tedium. It seems the collective space agencies of the world cannot seem to decide if, when, or how to spill the beans on the big story.
The end result resembles a person telling his nephew that his dog had died. Gently, gingerly, and with much trepidation. One wonders what they are so worried about. Do they seriously think people will flip out over the news ? Hardly.
When the story broke mid-week that NASA scientists (there's an oxymoron) were on the verge of announcing life on Mars, it wasn't front page news. The slow pace of developments in the work on getting man to Mars is so tedious that it barely elicits a modicum of awe from your average Joe.
The only bright side of this stutter-step to disclosure is that it allows for endless predictions from Richard C. Hoagland of a big announcement "soon". First it was over the Summer, then over the Fall, now it is coming in the Spring. I'm beginning to think they are toying with poor Richard by promising to announce soon then pulling back when he rants about it on C2C.
The end result is a population bored with the news and distrusting of the organizations holding the data. While the news is huge and potentially paradigm shifting, NASA et. al need to get over themselves and realize that they are the ones not "in on it" anymore.
End Notes
Let's hope the remains of today do not resemble the last time we published a full edition of News Watch. Thanks once again for everyone's support the last few weeks. Things have settled back to normalcy, thank goodness.
Until next time ... be safe, be real, and be prepared.