To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Tidbits
Here's a few little things I found in the news today:
- Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela and Castro's best friend, discovered a US plan to invade his beloved country.
Chavez, interviewed on ABC's "Nightline," said the plan is called "Balboa" and involves aircraft carriers and planes. A transcript of the interview was made available by "Nightline."
uh... two things... #1- the Pentagon has plans to invade just about EVERY country- it's what they do in their free time. #2- IF the US ever decided to invade, within a relatively short amount of time, we'd have a direct link to all the oil we want. Freed people tend to be generous toward their liberators. (still not sure why we don't have all that Iraqi oil, though... I mean, it was all about the oil, right?)
... In the event of a U.S. invasion, Chavez said the United States can "just forget" about receiving any more oil from his country. - A judge blocked implementation of a new law in Missouri that would restrict some abortions and allow parents to sue if someone helps their underage child get an abortion.
A federal judge on Friday blocked enforcement of a new state law further restricting abortions, saying it would have forced an end to the procedure in part of Missouri.
What's wrong with requiring a doctor to have clinical privileges somewhere nearby? It makes sense that you'd want to have a back up plan, in case there are complications, right? Oh, wait. I'm sorry. I forgot. There aren't any complications from abortions, are there? No young woman ever bleeds out or has any other horrific complication from that perfectly safe procedure, right? (As for parents having the right to sue... I think it's pathetic that they had to add that into the law. I couldn't get my ears pierced without my mom's permission. How is this different???)
The new law requires doctors performing abortions to have clinical privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. It also lets parents sue people who "intentionally cause, aid or assist" their minor daughters in getting abortions without their consent.
U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughery said the civil liability language "threatens an immediate chilling effect on all abortion counseling within Missouri and nearby states," in part because the language is too vague to know what actions could be targeted. - Bloomberg objects to Judge Roberts becoming Chief Justice. And we care... why?
- Scientists have used computer models to show why humans walk and run instead of skip and hop. They claim it's because walking and running (as well as a run-walk) use the least amount of energy to move from Point A to Point B. Personally, I think it's because we'd look pretty darn goofy skipping everywhere. And, hopping? Thanks, no... I have enough problems with my back the way it is...
- Several Nobel Prize winners have stepped up to defend evolution. That would probably mean more if the leader of this little gang wasn't a writer who won a Nobel Peace Prize. They're not usually known for their scientific prowess, you know.
- Another Arkansas governor is contemplating a run for the White House. I hope Huckabee has just as much luck as the last one. (I like Mitt and all that... but... I'm afraid of people from Massachusetts who claim to be conservative.)
- A US veteran of the Korean War will finally receive his CMH on Sept. 23rd, after over 50 years. Many other vets' records are under review for a variety of medals. Very interesting...
- Congress might consider sending Posse Comitatus the way of the dodo. It needs to be reworked, that's for sure. Katrina showed us that. The military has the resources and the structure (and, yes, the plans) to pull off emergency relief. It's painfully obviously that many states are... not.
