WTC widower told to leave US

BBC News has this story

The husband of a Russian woman who died in the 11 September attacks faces deportation from the US - despite the fact that the couple's two children can legally live in America.

Vasiliy Ryzhov, whose wife Tatyana worked on the 93rd floor of the south tower of New York's World Trade Center, has been told he must leave the country because of alleged visa irregularities, Russian TV reported.

His sons, aged 15 and nine, now face the prospect of being separated from their father only a year after losing their mother in such tragic circumstances, the TV said.

This is clearly a case where the punishment does not fit the crime. The real victims here are going to be the children.

Sadham Hussein Sodamn Insane

Sadham Challenging Bush to a duel?

Insane! But then again, what's more American than a duel - Clint Eastwood style.

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr were parties to the most well known political duel On July 11, 1804, where they met on the dueling grounds at Weehawken, New Jersey, to fight the final skirmish of a long-lived political and personal battle.

Of course, if there's going to be a duel Dubya will need to ride with a posse that should include Jesse Ventura (Gov. of Minnesota), Clint Eastwood (mayor of Carmel, CA), and Arnold Schwarzenegger positioning to run for governor of CA.

"Let's Roll"

WAR

Mark Fiore makes it crystal clear for me as to why we must go to war . It will be crystal clear for you too after you're done rolling on the floor laughing your ass off. Great animation Mark!

The Bushnev Doctrine

A thought provoking article by Joseph Stromberg.

"The statement given by the Bush administration to Congress and now available online, entitled 'The National Security Strategy of the United States,' must be read to be believed. Its historical points are dubious, its economics misleading, and its social theory a heap of dangerous half- or third-truths."

Mind Flush

Our minds are bombarded daily with a plethora of baked-beans-type information that just does not break down properly. As a result, we become bloated and backed up with stress and issues.

I'm in need at times of some mental x-lax or gas-x to relieve me from all this stuff that forms a blockage and serves no purpose but to wear me down. In addition, there's the occasional regurgitation of stuff stored away over the years that further affects my well-being.

What a mess, and even if we deny it, we're only fooling ourselves.

Some folks choose non-constructive vices in their attempt at a mind flush (alcohol, drugs, deviant behavior). That doesn't work, it's like using Drano®, things will seem fine for a while, but eventually the crap will collect again and things will be twice as bad.

Others choose religion, some seek support from their loved ones, friends, relatives, etc. Still, others will choose to see a therapist, while some simply will just not give a damn. Sadly, a small percentage will loose their minds.

Whatever works for you, go with it.

But no matter what, we must flush. Remove the blockage, clear the passage.

What works for me?

Reading, writing, loving.

And, In a small way, maintaining this journal also makes a difference. Here, my writing does not have to fit any literary guidelines, be politically correct or cater to an audience. I'm simply interpreting, expressing and having a great time.

Flushing my mind.

I highly recommend it.

NYC 'Sexcapade' Lasted 3 Hours

Couple went on three-hour sexcapade before doing it in church

The couple arrested in August for allegedly having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral for a raunchy radio show also did the deed at a half-dozen other public places that afternoon -- including the FAO Schwarz toy store and the sidewalk in front of the Carnegie Deli, said a source familiar with the case.

In court papers yesterday, prosecutors claimed Loretta Lynn Harper, 35, and Bryan Florence, 37, both of Virginia, engaged in sex acts "at several public Manhattan locations" for a total of three hours before ending up in the cathedral.

Although the papers do not list the locations, the source said the sites were a taxi, bank vestibule, a hotel, and the Cinderella section of a Disney store, in addition to FAO Schwarz and the Carnegie Deli.

Florence and Harper were arrested Aug. 15 on charges of public lewdness after allegedly having sex in the cathedral as part of the "Opie and Anthony" radio show, a stunt that offended Catholics and others and led to the discontinuation of the program.

CNN tries to get hip in search for younger viewers for headline news service

SFgate.com has this story

Is CNN Headline News down with it?

The cable network is trying, judging from an effort emanating from its executive suite to think young.

CNN Headline News general manager Rolando Santos told the San Francisco Chronicle this week that he's looking to mix "the lingo of our people" -- words like "whack" and "ill" -- into newscasts to attract young people.

And the New York Daily News on Wednesday quoted from an e-mail sent by a network manager to his headline writers, sending them a copy of a slang dictionary so they can be "as cutting edge" as possible.

"Please use this guide to help all you homeys and honeys add a new flava to your tickers and dekkos," the message said, referring to graphics on the Headline News screen.

The list of phrases included "fly," meaning sexually attractive.

Santos said Thursday that the e-mail was designed to point out resources that might help headline writers.

"The e-mail was informational, not a policy or directive from me," Santos said. "With that said, I should point out that I want the language used in our tickers and dekkos to be real, current and relevant to the people who watch us."

In Retrospect

If I could go back in time, there are many things that I would have done differently. I'm sure most people would agree with that assertion. As we grow older, we become wiser, we see things from a different perspective. When I look look at the man in the mirror, I see a very different person than the one I knew 10 or 20 years ago.

Speaking of the man in the mirror, I'm sure Jacko would agree with me. What would you have changed Mr. Jackson? or should I say not have changed ... I'm saying. Im not mad at you.

I would have taken a few more risks, I would have climbed a few more mountains, I would have invested money in that company a bunch of geeks started back in the late '70s early '80s... yes, Microsoft, you've done quite nicely for yourself Bill.

I would have traveled more, danced more, made love more, invented all kinds of neat devices so that the world could beat a path to my door.

I would have taught more, I would been kinder and gentler, I would not have opened as many cans of whoop ass as I did in years past.

'tis true that "hind sight is 20/20" ... Jacko knows, or should I say Jacko's nose knows.

But alas! it's not too late, I'm going to start today. I'm going to start doing some of these things so that I won't have sing the same song 20 years from now. What a revelation!

Listen up

Al Gore, please, take my advice, always wear your wedding band when attending a public event, you just never know when you might be put on the spot, but you handle the situation quite nicely, I like your style.

Yanks get it on

3-run HR in 8th caps 4-run rally for the NY Yankees

Bernie Williams' three-run homer in the eighth inning capped a night of long blasts, giving the Yankees an 8-5 win over Anaheim in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium. A crowd of 56,710 took in four homers by their team, as well as three blown leads by Roger Clemens, but they got the job done.

I'm not sure which of these two fans finally grabbed that foul ball. Personally, I would have preferred to vie for that bottle of Budweiser instead.

Baseball, beer, home runs, et cetera, in my back yard ... NY, more reasons why I love you so.

The Wrong Approach to National Security in a New World by Congressman Gregory W. Meeks

As Americans face the uncertainty of a war with Iraq, while demonstrating the resolve to wage a war on global terrorism, September 20, 2002 marked another day which could change human history. On that day, less then one week after taking the debate on Iraq to the international community, the Bush Administration declared a "New" National Security Strategy for the United States. A new doctrine outlining how the US government would use all of our foreign policy instruments, including reserving the right to unilaterally use our unmatched military power in preemptive and un-warned military 1st strikes against both "immanent threats" and "capabilities to potentially threaten", to make Americans at home and abroad safer from the global threats posed in the new post 9/11 world.

It is clear that the present Administration believes in an approach to national security that relies on reserving the right to exercise our dominant global military capabilities, while pledging global cooperation when it coincides with unilateral definitions of our national strategic and security interests. When our nation adopts an approach to national security that emphasizes the global reach of our armed forces, it may be more of an indication of fear and insecurity rather then the strength and capabilities of the world's only superpower. It is not surprising that such an approach could be re-cycled and flourish in the current climate of fear and uncertainty that exists in America after the tragedy of 9/11.

Two things came to mind as I read the document: The world we live in could become a much more dangerous place if the US were to implement the above doctrine; and I had "deja vu", because several of the military concepts contained in the new strategy were written ten years ago in the last Bush Administration.

Congressman Gregory Meeks represents New York's 6th congressional district (Southeast Queens). His website is here.

Catwalk-oops

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen said the collection was "so beautiful, so colourful".

Gisele stole the show by continuing to parade perfectly down the catwalk on tiptoe after one high-heeled shoe came off and was left flapping from its ankle strap.

Missoni's highly recognisable knits have managed to keep up with trends over the last five decades.

For spring/summer 2003, multi-coloured metallic yarns were knitted into pinafore dresses, trousers and fine bomber-jackets, all set off by less typical Missoni pieces -- block black or gold satin shirts or trousers or little black lace cardigans.

The stars of the show were evening dresses that looked like huge silk foulards printed with a kaleidoscopic patchwork of stripes and tied around neck with black chiffon scarves.

(Via Reuters)

Yes, kaleidoscopic is a very appropriate description, 1970ish is another good one. Gisele, it's the shoes honey, the shoes don't fit.

Valentine's Deeds & Words Go Punished
Disappointing season, off-field problems lead to firing of NY Mets manager

It was the move that Wilpon insisted he would not make, but said he ultimately came to that conclusion in the last few days after realizing the desperate state of the underachieving Mets. Surviving Valentine is general manager Steve Phillips, who was by Wilpon's side for yesterday's news conference at Shea Stadium. It was obvious that Valentine had been selected as the fall guy for his season's spectacular failures.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out bud.

Arachnophobia

The other day, I read something about a spider that supposedly was a threat to humans, the source said that these spiders could grow up to 2-3 feet in length, could outrun humans at 30 miles an hour, leap 6 feet, and paralyze a human with its venomous bite that was usually aimed at the head after it raced up the victim’s back.

I figured is was some sort of exaggeration mixed with truth. If such a creature existed I would have heard about them by now; something that dangerous to humans would be well known, and featured on TV Nature Specials. Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, would have messed with it on the Animal Channel too, I'm sure.

So I went to the trusty Google Search Engine and researched these dreaded Spiders and found at Biodiversity Explorer that these spiders are of the Solifugid family of arachnids and are not really spiders.

"The only similarity they share with spiders is the fact that they have eight legs. Solifugids have no venom glands and are not a threat to man although they are very aggressive and fast moving and can inflict a painful bite."

As you can see, my suspicion was confirmed, they "are not a threat." A far cry, from the 3 foot, Arachnophobic nightmare that could devour camels and humans. I can rest easy now. I don't like spiders, in fact if I were told I had to leap into a pit of snakes or a pit of spiders, I’d take my chances with the snakes.

The Magic of Chance

Newsday has this article by Dan Crier.

When Paul Auster was 14 years old, his parents sent him to a boys' camp in upstate New York. One day, while hiking in the woods, the campers found themselves caught in a sudden summer rainstorm.

The sky exploded with thunder and lightning. Although clearly frightened, the boys did not panic. They knew they had to get away from the trees and into the open. But to reach a nearby pasture, they had to crawl under a barbed wire fence.

One by one, the boys made it to safety. Except for a camper named Ralph. Just as he took his turn beneath the fence, lightning struck and killed him. Paul Auster was next in line, and, by the grace of a few seconds, miraculously safe.

"There," Auster says, "my whole philosophy of life is formed. I don't know how you recover from a thing like that - just the arbitrary nature of the world."

Auster, the author of "The Music of Chance," "Mr. Vertigo," "Timbuktu" and other respected novels, likes to cite this incident and others like it to illustrate the basic assumptions underlying his fiction: Life, however well planned or routinized, is always punctuated by random eruptions of chance and coincidence. Rather than gaudy elements of melodrama, they are the very stock- in-trade of daily existence.

"Life is just very weird and very much stranger than we like to think it is," he says. "So I wouldn't call it an obsession with chance, simply exploring what I would call the mechanics of reality."

And certainly, the events of 9/11 were a rude awakening in that regard. Life is indeed unpredictable. Enjoy the ride and be thankful for every moment. Books by Paul Auster can be seen here.

Jordan and Johnson

If you are one of the many woman who believes that man's shoe size equates to ... well you know ...

It seems that the myth has been

shattered

by a couple of British researchers. But not to worry, seems that the search will continue for other correlations of this sort.

Rudy: It's personal

Let me execute Bin Laden, says Giuliani in new book

If Osama Bin Laden is ever caught alive, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani has one wish: He wants to be the one to execute the terrorist.

In his new book, "Leadership," Giuliani revealed how he asked President Bush - three days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks - if he could be the executioner.

"What can I do for you?" Bush had asked.

"I told him, 'If you catch this guy, Bin Laden, I would like to be the one to execute him.'

"I am sure he thought I was just speaking rhetorically," Giuliani wrote. "But I was serious. Bin Laden had attacked my city, and as its mayor I had the strong feeling that I was the most appropriate person to do it."

With "Leadership," Giuliani has attempted to channel all the ups and downs of his storied life, including the horror of Sept. 11, and create a book that he said last week he hoped readers would find useful and informative.

Go Get 'em Al.

Al Gore came out swinging in a speech last Monday, denouncing the rush to topple Sadham. Later in the week, he blasted Bush on the economy, the intelligence failures that missed 9/11, and his administration's assault on civil liberties in the name of national security.

This type of fearlessness in addressing the issues is what's needed if he is to once again emerge as well qualified to lead the democrats into '04. Many democratic leaders have been timid in their approach, especially post 9/11 for fear of being labeled as being unpatriotic.

I hope that this latest speech will set the tone as we move forward.

Arm Wrestling Freud

See if you can beat one of the most influential minds of the 20th century in the brutal sport that is arm wrestling.

I did ok at first, but then he got me. I think he cheated.

Bush to Arab world: Drop dead

Driven by right-wing ideologues and his own zeal, President Bush has taken Ariel Sharon's side in the Middle East even while plotting a war with Iraq. Foreign policy experts say that's a dangerous combination.

(Via Salon News)

Poverty not an Agenda

Newsday has this article.

The poverty rate rose in America last year. It rose among all age groups: among married couples and unmarried couples and single people, according to a U.S. Census report issued last week and widely ignored due to the impending war against Saddam Hussein and his economically crippled people.

But the poverty rate rose in particular, the 2000-2001 Census report said, among America's elderly.

That is ironic, considering how much the candidates for president in 2000 spent promising to tend to the needs of the elderly. Social Security. Medicare. Prescription drugs. Remember all that?

Well, for now say good-bye to all that.

For now, the "positive issue environment" that presidential adviser Karl Rove wants to maintain is war: war on Iraq. War on terrorism. War. Anyone mentioning other matters at a time like this would be, in the words of President George W. Bush, showing himself "not interested in the security of the American people."

If it had been an election year, I'm sure the administration would have been singing a different tune.