My back ... my back ... oh, my aching back. Yes, folks, for some reason I've come down with a case of the Bell bad back. And, as is the case when a mysterious ailment strikes, armchair doctors come out of the woodwork. It's either a> a muscle pull, b>a kidney stone, c>I slept wrong, d>or all of the above. I'm hoping and expecting for it to disappear by the end of the week.
Nonetheless, I have somehow managed to get this week's News Watch wrapped up in record time. We've managed to grab some stories from around the globe, including Australia, India, Japan, Canada, and, of course, Neverland. So take off your shoes, because you've just stepped in News Watch.
Hot 5 Stories of the Week
1>Shark tears man in half (AP via CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/australia.shark.ap/index.html
Another one for the file "This is news ?". I suppose the sheer splitting of a human being in half is newsworthy, but it is something that happens once every few months it seems. Perhaps it is the media trying to get back at me for mocking them for reporting shark attacks ad naseum a few years ago.
Quote:
"The 26-year-old man was bitten in half by the six-meter animal and death seemed to be instantaneous," police Inspector George Putland said.
2>4 Astronauts Will Be on Emergency Standby (AP via myway.com)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050319/D88U68OG0.html
What would a weekly installment of News Watch be without gratuitous crapping on NASA ? A disappointment, that's what, so look here, NASA's gone and discovered its guts. After accidentally killing 7 people on the last shuttle launch, NASA has decided they need a rescue plan.
What makes me worried is that NASA even has to have an escape plan and we are hearing about it. Perhaps it is their usual nonsensical reassurances that they won't screw something up (despite the eventuality that they do). We all know how it ends.
I will say this once and eventually repeat it ad nauseum : NASA should have scrapped the shuttle style craft the day after the Columbia crash, if not sooner. We'd already be 2 years into a new style of craft and probably be ready to launch by the end of the decade. Instead we are anxiously waiting to see if our outdated craft will work without killing more people. For those of you wondering why I loathe NASA, it should be obvious by now.
Quote:
In real life, back in January 2003, no one knew that a chunk of foam had punched a sizable hole in Columbia's left wing. NASA knew the foam hit somewhere, but discounted the possibility of catastrophic damage and, after being proved wrong, contended there was nothing they could have done to save the crew even if they had known about the damage.
The Columbia accident investigators didn't buy that. An exhaustive study found that contrary to NASA's initial claims, the space agency could have launched another shuttle to rescue the seven astronauts who ended up perishing on their way back to Earth.
3>Land of the Rising Sun Wants More Daylight
(Reuters via myway.com)
http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050318/2005-03-18T130314Z_01_N18212777_RTRIDST_0_ODD-LIFE-JAPAN-DAYLIGHT-DC.html
A story sure to make Art Bell smash his computer in rage. The country of Japan does not participate in "Daylight Savings Time". Some Japanese folks want to. Hence, the ongoing debate in Japan. You know that angry little rant you always hear those two days of the year affected by "DST" ? Every day in Japan.
For those of you wondering ... of course I am in favor of "Daylight Savings Time". Any methodology to getting more sunlight for a night cretin like me is a good thing and also, maybe Noory will get a tan. In the grande scheme of things, though, I am wholly against the entire Gregorian Calendar, but that is a debate and discussion for another time.
Quote:
Japanese lawmakers held a rally and made a push for daylight savings time on Friday, saying that it was time the land of the rising sun had more daylight. ...
But despite all the advantages, summer time still faces many hurdles, from people's fears that the time change would result in something akin to jet lag, to union worries of longer hours at work given unspoken mores that frown on going home before dark.
4>Underground Extra-terrestrial UFO Bases All Around the World – A Mind Boggling Theory (indiadaily.com via stevequayle.com)
http://www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/05_Unexplained/050318.ET.bases.html
It has come to my attention that there's a vast amount of UFO news coming out of India. Strangely, a lot seems to come out of the India Daily know nothing of this newspaper, but they must have at least 4 UFO stories in there. Reminds me of Pravda in some ways, i.e. probably bogus but mixed with some real stuff. Pretty good for a nice lapse of time, but nothing to hang your hat on as fact, that's for certain.
India Daily asserts that there are many scientists looking into the UFO puzzle over in India. If true, that's a good sign and perhaps their brethren in the US will do so as well, once the Indian science community starts cracking open some of the UFO puzzles. Re : the underground bases, I expect this theory to gain ground with the recent Tsunami and fault activity in the oceans.
Quote:
According to this theory, the UFO bases need to be deep under the ground because the UFO crafts need to be close to the mantle of the earth. Servicing of these crafts can be done in that electromagnetic environment only. In addition according to this theory the crust must be as thick as possible in that area. That is only available where one tectonic plate moves on top of another tectonic plate.
5>'Brutal' Purge Of Popular Mechanics Senior Staff (Rense.com via American Free Press)
http://www.rense.com/general63/brutalpurgeofPMstaff.htm
I was a little disappointed with this article because it didn't have too much about the actual "purging" of Popular Mechanics until well at the end of the piece. That said, it's information about the woman who runs the company that owns PM was interesting. A tad rambling, but at times rather endearing, though I could've lived without the Nazi imagery.
From what I can gather from the actual "purging" of PM, the new lady in charge fired a bunch of bigwigs who ran the show there previously. Since then, the article has taken a pro-administration stance that has isolated some subscribers. The old left v. right, smoke and mirrors, divide and conquer.
Quote:
In the months leading up to the Chertoff article in PM, a brutal take-over occurred at the magazine. In September 2004, Joe Oldham, the magazines former editor-in-chief was replaced by James B. Meigs, who came to PM with a deputy, Jerry Beilinson, from National Geographic Adventure. In October, a new creative director replaced PMs 21-year veteran who was given ninety minutes to clear out of his office.
Future News Now
Man sentenced for crimes he may commit: judge (Infowars.com via Canadian Press)
http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/canada_man_sentenced_thought_crimes.htm
Yes, the most devious of all crimes ... the thought crime. Coming to a jurisdiction near you. Let's hope not. I find myself committing thought crime every time my mailman is late or some clown takes too long in front of me in the drive through.
Despite the hoopla and alarm bells, let's take note, and I'm sure this will creep just about everyone out, the dude they are sending to jail was on trial for decapitating not just one but two cats. This nut probably belongs in a mental hospital so I cannot disagree with the judge for locking him up instead of making him pay a "hefty fine" and go on his merry way.
When they come to get me for what I'd like to do to Shannon Tweed, then we'll have a problem.
Quote:
Judge Keith Libby ruled that protection of the public was the most important consideration in sentencing Dwight Barnes. And in a move that invited the defence to appeal, Libby said the prison term reflected what Barnes might do in the future, rather than what he had done.
"I am prepared to sentence him for the crimes he may commit," Libby said Wednesday.
Noory Stories
A quick glance at the various current events folders of my favorite reading holes denotes a few kudos worthy of giving out. Firstly, to crimsonadam for his hilariously titled "Hobgoblins plan to attack America" post which detailed the report of potential US targets that terrorists "may" hit. I'm sure Noory was all over that one.
I can't be certain, but I'm sure The Noor caught that the US caught China giving arms to Iran, as posted by mirage. And, with Art Bell being a weather lover, chances are he mentioned either Templar's Arctic Drilling story or FAZER's North Pole story. Kudos all around gentlemen.
Think you know Noory ? Find a story he'll read during "headlines", post it in the Current Events folder either at Streamlink or the US of E and receive kudos in next week's News Watch.
Jackson Schmackson
Those evil people over at E! decided to move the Jackson trial show to 9 pm instead of its usual cushy 7:30 pm slot. Meaning my Tivo skipped it all last week in favor of my precious reality shows and sports entertainment stories. I did manage to keep up with Mr.Jackson's trial via the Internet and an assortment of TV "news" programmes.
This week began with the accuser being cross-examined by the Jackson defense team. The JDT is a wiley bunch and manage to toss a lot of questions his way that will leave some red herrings in the jurors minds. They laid out several potential motives for the accuser to make up the story. Meanwhile, they also went to work disputing the timing of all the various offenses that Jackson is being charged with.
The prosecution fired back with ... a former housekeeper. She alleged that Jackson threw wild parties for kids and there was alcohol present. Later, a sergeant for the county that houses Neverland said he found a bunch of lurid pictures in MJ's bathroom. Gross. Surprisingly, I only heard a lot about the former housekeeper and not much about this sergeant, whose testimony is way more damning. The cross-examination of him was weak and the JDT did not seem to go after those pics at all.
For those of you worried about Michael Jackson's spiritual health, rest assured as the "pop star" announced he is praying every day before the trial with Rev. Jesse Jackson. That should make all those folks who donate to the Rainbow Coalition happy.
The Jackson Scale : 67 (Last Week : 50)
Editorial
Juicing : It's not just for rasslers anymore
What with all the heartache and strife going on in the world, from Terri Shaivo's plight to the war in Iraq, we must find something less woe worthy and hence we look towards Spring and the coming baseball season. As anyone with a connection to the "mainstream" knows, baseball is embroiled in a bitter PR flap over steroids.
In essence, I do not care, though. Because Boston won the World Series and all is essentially "right" with the baseball world in my mind and the minds of many others in Red Sox Nation. However, the rest of the country does care and, in some ways, so do I.
The steroid problem has sullied many a great baseball record. The infamous Home Run record will forever be tained by the smear of steroids, alleged or not. Meanwhile, some juiced up old timer is keeping his spot while an "up-and-comer" is rendered a "never was".
I'd bemoan the influence on kids that steroid abusing sports stars have but I have a hard time pitying someone so poorly raised. Anyone who looks up to sports stars, with rare exceptions, in this day and age, will not find role models. They are people paid enormous sums of money to play games. Yes, they have skill ... but at playing games. I am not impressed and neither should any children, who should be looking up to more realistic role models.
As the title of this editorial suggests, yes, I am a fan of professional wrestling or as my friend Xipher calls it, "the manly soap opera". Anyone with even a cursory knowledge of the grappling business knows that professional wrestling has been riddled with steroid abuse for over 20 years. They made national headlines when the godfather of professional wrestling, Vince McMahon, was put on trial for steroid distribution (and subsequently was acquitted), over 10 years ago !
Steroids is old news to the wrestling fan. However, the latest news is the increasing number of old time wrestlers that are dropping dead. Bout half a dozen big names every year. This has been going on for about 7 or 8 years, so I expect we'll be hearing about these roid monkeys in baseball kicking the bucket left and right in just after the turn of the decade.
End Notes
Because of my crippling back pain, I really did scant work on binnallofamerica.com, except for a little redesign that some of the more frequent visitors may enjoy and newcomers may find a tad more accessible. We are working on changing things up a bit as times goes by and expect to make a few more changes along the way. As always feedback is appreciated.
Meanwhile, we are also in the process of relaunching "the United States of Esoterica" as an ad-free message board. Our visitors and users were tired of dealing with the obnoxious ads placed on there by our host so we've taken it in-house now. Here's a sneak preview for those of you interested : www.theusofe.com. We expect to have the board up and running by the end of the week.
Until next week, when we comb the news again, be safe, be real, and be prepared.
