Fresh off the two week long hype-fest that is the Super Bowl, it's time for another round of scoops and scraps from the world of the news. Congrats go out to the New England Patriots for solidifying the dominance of Boston sports and making the binnallofamerica.com team weep with joy as we debate who would win in a fight : Curt Schilling or Tom Brady. We take a break from these bloodsport theories to give you the news goods.
We've got all the usual goods, plus the debut of our Michael Jackson Trial Coverage with "Jackson Schmackson".
Hot 5 Stories of the Week
The future news now from last week dominated discussion and kudos go out to TxStarGazer, who began a nice little thread/poll on the matter. Thank you, sir.
1>Police: 4-year-old drives mom's car to video store (CNN via AP)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/07/young.driver.ap/index.html
The lengths some people will go to see "SpongeBob Square Pants : The Movie". I'm continually astounded by the amazing stuff little kids can do and I find they'll be the ones who accidentally discover something like "over-unity" energy. Until then, though, they're still trying to reach the pedals. Kudos go out to the cop who decided not to a>tazer the boy into oblivion or b>press charges.
From the Article :
Although unable to reach the accelerator, the boy managed to put the car in gear and make his way to the store, a quarter-mile from his home, about 1:30 a.m. Friday, Sand Lake Police Chief Doug Heugel said. Finding the store closed, the youngster began a slow trip home.
2>Czechs Making Cell Phones for Elderly (AP via Myway.com)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050207/D883QRJG0.html
Leave it to the Czechs to actually make something useful. Yes, ever notice how cell phones keep getting smaller by the day ? Ever wonder how someone who can barely turn on a computer and longs for the days of rotary phones must feel ? Obviously not, but the Czechs do and they've done something about it. It's like that "giant print" Reader's Digest, only digital.
From the Article :
The company, Jablotron, said it had noticed older people sometimes have difficulties when using cell phones, which tend to be smaller and smaller.
It said it had received more than 100,000 orders for the new device, which will be the size of a traditional desk phone used for fixed lines.
3>Taiwan: EU is seeking NEW WORLD ORDER by arming China (Taiwan News via infowars.com)
http://www.infowars.net/Pages/Feb05/040205_Taiwan.html
Since that fateful day in Tiananmen Square, the EU has banned weapons sales to China ... until now. The political wheels are turning in Europe to drop the weapons ban and many see that as more machinations of a high-ranking fight between factions of a New World Order. The U.S., of course, opposes such ban-lifting. Meanwhile, tiny Taiwan is very upset too, because they feel it is only a matter of time before China invades and obsorbs them and "disciplines" them for thinking freely. It's a powder-keg, people, and the fuse is awful small.
From the Article :
"Taiwan has become a victim of its own success," said [Professor Wu Chih-chung], "Europe sees that Taiwan still has some degree of exchange with China as there are charter flights, discussions on the 'three links' etc... and Europe seems to have the impression that China is the one that needs help rather than Taiwan. In fact, the behavior of the Taiwanese government is entirely defined by its enemy on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. No matter what Taiwan tries to do in terms of internal or foreign policy, Beijing perceives it as an attempt to move towards independence."
4>Girls sued for delivering cookies (AP via infowars.com)
http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/girls_sued_for_delivering_cookies.htm
Remember when helping an old lady cross the street was considered a valiant thing to do ? Think again, as it seems even the elderly know how to "lawyer up" now and no one is safe, even do-gooders. The insane trend of frivilous lawsuits continues and, what is even more surprising is that they are winning !
From the Article :
Two teenage girls who surprised their neighbors with homemade cookies late one night were ordered to pay nearly $900 in medical bills for a woman who says she was so startled that she had to go to the hospital.
5>Clowns Offer to Raise Ailing Pope's Spirits (Reuters via Myway.com)
Just what the ailing pontif needs, a visit from 2 sweaty men in grease-paint and awful, stitched-together rag-like costumes. Yes, two charitable clowns who entertain sick kids think they should stop by the Pope's room and pay him a visit. Perhaps create a "balloon cross" or pull an endless series of Psalms out of their mouths ala hankerchiefs. For those of you wondering, yes, I've got their number on speed dial for when Noory takes a sick day.
From the Article :
Soaking up the attention, Dr White Cabbage declared confidently that it was only a matter of time before they got a papal audience. "You can go everywhere with a red nose," he said, flipping up his joke tie for the cameras.
Future News Now
Handful of Congressmen Could Rule America in Event of Catastrophe (American Free Press via Infowars.com)
http://www.infowars.com/articles/us/congress_could_rule_american_in_catastrophe.htm
Hear that sound ? That's your rights and freedom slowly dying. It seems that, much like the Patriot Act, another "thoughtful" piece of legistlation has slipped through the cracks of Congress and become law. While this law passed last month, it seems it's only really being noticed now.
And while some may call it a fail-safe in the event of a disaster, the more paranoid among us see it for what it may be : a harbinger of things to come, a veritable "don't blame us, that's the law" response from a harsh ruling electorate marching lockstep towards a global government ... or maybe I'm listening to too much Alex Jones.
From the Article :
Normally, 218 lawmakers out of the 435 members are needed to declare war, pass laws and validly conduct the people’s business. But under the new rule a majority is no longer needed when circumstances arise, including natural disaster, attack, contagion or terrorist attacks rendering representatives incapable of attending House proceedings.
Jackson Schmackson
It's the trial of the ... new millenium, and only binnall is here to give you the truly awful coverage it deserves. Yes, it's the debut of "Jackson Schmackson". This week they tried to find jurors who will be impartial and apparently found enough of a pool to go to the next step (i.e. narrowing down that pool into a jury). Meanwhile, today, the trial was delayed because Jackson's defense attorney's sister died. Wow, how exciting.
For those interested in an ultra creepy discussion on the Jackson trial, listen to last Monday's C2C (1.31.5) with Howard Bloom's 1st Hour. Bizarre yet informative.
Noory Stories
It's time to shine up the golden Noory heads and hand out the awards for those of you who tagged and bagged a Noory Story this week. Not much to report, outside of Oscar De Tuly's story of the "Area 51 Hacker" that The Noor read about last week at some point (which is posted @ the U.S. of E. message board). Despite a large amount of News Stories posed by Templar, none seemed to get the attention of Noory. Kudos continue this week for TxStarGazer, whose Iraqi Elections thread @ Streamlink has created quite a debate, earning it a "wiggling" post icon for a large number of postings there. Also, if I recall correctly, my story on the company firing smokers was discussed by Noory at some point last week. If I missed anyone, shoot me a message and I'll give you proper kudos in due time.
Editorial
Weather Watchers are Nerds
There, I said it. With every blizzard and bizarre weather anomoly, we get some nutbag hooting and hollering that ... this is it ! This is the sign of the quickening. They rant and rave and demand a 1st hour appearance on C2C by some obscure weather expert.
Enough already. Yes, I agree that we are probably in the midst of some strange change in our weather pattern. Something that may shape the world for years to come. However, I find it simply impossible to really have any gauge on the state-of-affairs by being "in the moment". It is only when we can look back on things that we can get some perspective on the shape of things to come for weather. Having an expert on to discuss today's weather weirdness is akin to saying "how enough for ya ?"
Of course, when things like massive Tsunamis and insane Hurricane seasons happen we get the 2nd group of folks. I believe I discussed them in the original News Watch, but it bears repeating. The people who can find conspiracy in anything. Yes, like the silly Scott Stevens, a weatherman who was on C2C about a week ago, there are folks who insist that the government is controlling the weather.
Unlike what some may thought, I'm not going to rail on them for being paranoid. That's obvious at this point. What I am going to rail on them for is for attacking the last vestige of the world that hasn't been tagged with being "under the control" of a shadowy New World Order.
Is nothing sacred when the clouds are attacked as mere tools of a vast conspiracy ? What's next ? Are our household pets really working for Homeland Security ? (I should probably not give them ideas)
With the weather now being implicated as part of the conspiracy, I think it's safe to say that no shred of the human experience is free of the pollution of paranoia.
End Notes
Next week, possibly another new feature debuts. Until then, keep your eyes peeled for interesting news and try your hand at Noory Stories.
Parade ... in Boston ... Tuesday. binnall will not be there. He fears midgets and drunk sports enthusiasts.