All the news unfit to print for Sunday, March 30, 2008
JAPAN TIMES XX HORROR CAPTURED ON FILM XX
Brutal footage of annual Taiji dolphin slaughter has been captured by group .. feature length footage of brutal slaughter is slated to be released as documentary this summer..
The U.S. conservation group Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) captured the footage.. The story details the way the meat is gathered and sold, plus points out that the mercury content far exceeds legal limitations in Japan..
Captured dolphins were filmed writhing in pain as Taiji whalers speared them repeatedly or cracked their spines with spiked weapons. Stricken dolphins are also shown thrashing about wildly, blood pouring from their wounds until they finally succumbed. Meanwhile, a number of dolphin trainers and officials from the Taiji Whale Museum are shown cooperating in the slaughter — some even laughing — as the killing cove's bloodied, ruby-red water swept round into the adjacent capture cove.
But perhaps the most iconic scene is one in which a baby dolphin leaps to its death on the rocks after its mother is killed. This really was a surreal and incredibly sad sight to see.
OPS team leader Louie Psihoyos, a world-renowned photographer formerly with National Geographic Magazine, and members of his group, conducted the extraordinary covert operation with the daring elan and minute precision of a military-style, special-forces mission.
Never in my life did I think that Bill Clinton (or any major national figure) would boast eating a Pierogie.. But my heritage was humbled today: Bill Clinton ate the buttery treat.. and lived to talk about it.
A turning point in the world: Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano said Sunday..
Last week, columnist Joe Klein dropped the story in TIME magazine practically asking for Dems to nominate the former Vice President..
One Democrat told the Schmuckraker: "All they have to do is say, re-elect Gore," and "he wins." "It will be such a battle cry to Democrats everywhere. Like remember the Alamo, in this case, remember 2000."
While it may not be that simple, the Democratic race for the presidency hasn't been simple, either.
Al Gore all over again.. Hopefully it won't come down to Florida.
The TELEGRAPH reporting:
"Tim Mahoney, a Democrat congressman from Florida, said last week: "If it goes into the convention, don't be surprised if someone different is at the top of the ticket." This suggests the party would accept a Gore-Clinton or a Gore-Obama pairing."
THE EARTH GOES DARK ON THE SUNDAY MORNING SIDEWALK
People in my town are getting over their Clinton filled day yesterday.. I am sure by the time the 2nd Street Pub the Hibernian House let them loose at 2am, they quickly forgot that 30,000 people were in Girardville.. probably also forgot they saw a former president.. It was real.
But life goes on. Some random news links from the world around us..
I have the feeling that ancient politicians and rulers didn't want this truth known: The lives of ancient Egyptians were harsh, regardless of the images of wealth.. But those pyramids still stand. A triumph for humanity on the backs and bones of everyday humans..
Oh the gossip! Chris Brown denies relationship rumors with Rihanna, STAR magazine claims that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married in New Orleans..
All the news unfit to print for Saturday, March 29, 2008
THE DAY MY MOM FELL IN LOVE WITH BILL CLINTON
My mom probably would be embarrassed to be the subject of a Schmuckraker blog posting.. but luckily she has become pretty much Internet illiterate since she retired from her office job..
Today, a pretty fair minded woman named Sharon fell in love again. It wasn't with her husband, though I am sure she never lost her love for him, but instead, it was Bill Clinton, the former President..
Her excitement was building today, as she sat with family and friends waiting for the former Commander in Chief to arrive in Girardville. The parade was extremely late.. Word is that while we waited, Clinton eagerly ate Screamers, a staple of Girardville, PA and the entire Coal Region. Tony's makes history.
But as he strolled down the street, waving, and proudly smiling, she threw off her blanket, stood in the air, and clapped her hands .. it was almost like a religious experience! She was out of breath.. and tonight, at the 10pm hour, she is still talking about it.. "He was a beautiful specimen," she told me tonight. "I never expected him to look that good. I think he is truly happy, I think he really loves people."
It appeared, today at least, like my mom was right. The Girardville Saint Patrick's day parade was supposed to begin at 2pm.. but since Clinton was in town, everything was thrown off.
He finally was in front of us around 2pm.. Screaming adoring fans lined the streets.
Hillary was originally supposed to show up. I think everyone's pretty happy she didn't. Hillary signs adorned the streets of Guntown, but a lot of words were said proclaiming that she probably won't win.. There are also even some rumors she wants the New York Governor slot now, instead.. Bill encompassed something more.. He proudly walked the streets of a small town.. Though I really haven't figured out why just yet, Girardville seemed to be a perfect fit for Clinton. He ate up the attention.. he loved it.
But my mom loved it, too. She didn't have too many kind words for Hillary. But she sure got reminded of why she loved the 1990s so much. She never admitted her liking for Bill.. but I figured it out finally today: She was always a closet Clinton lover. ..
Now I am beginning to see how the 90's scandals happened. Thank God my mom didn't have a White House job...
PHOTO CREDIT: AP Photo/Bloomsburg Press Enterprise, Bill Hughes
Word is he had a famous Gville Screamer. .if so, like all of us, he'll feel the effects later tonight when the heart burn keeps him from sleeping. But they are good.
Clinton started off slowly making his way through the parade route but security started to move him quickly .. Obviously he lovesbtge attention.. Thousands of eyes are smiling in Girardville today
Rice said, "Black Americans were a founding population. Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together — Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That's not a very pretty reality of our founding."
She told the Washington TIMES that "descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that. That particular birth defect makes it hard for us to confront it, hard for us to talk about it, and hard for us to realize that it has continuing relevance for who we are today."
The TIMES reported that she continued: "America doesn't have an easy time dealing with race. What I would like understood as a black American is that black Americans loved and had faith in this country even when this country didn't love and have faith in them — and that's our legacy."
Madonna proclaims: Let's save Britney! Perhaps Madonna is just as sick of the national obsession with Britney Spears as I am..
A sensible suggestion from the material mother on Britney: "They need to step off. For real.. Let's go save her."
Madonna appeared on the "YO on E!" show.. she said her daughter, Lourdes, is also sick of the constant media and paparazzi feeding frenzy: "She knows Britney, she doesn't really watch TV or read gossip stuff. I think she sort of gets the drift of what's going on, and I think she feels very protective of Britney."
While Madonna's comments are getting major attention (and fun-making criticism online) stop a take a breath: She's right. Britney Spears is a star dimming.. and in trouble.. An entire LA society has built careers on photographing Britney wherever she goes.
Is this humanity's purpose? Would the paparazzi feel guilt if Britney goes wrong? or just continue their current approach: Snapping their fingers away and Spears goes adrift...
Get the green ready, Girardville, Cintons's coming
As Bill Clinton's incoming coming is quickly exciting the small town of Girardville, PA, predictions of busloads from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Crowds last year were about 10,000 people for the post Saint Patrick's day Saint Patrick's day parade. Tomorrow, the expectations are there of 20,000 people or more in the small coal town..
As G-ville preps, an offering of a few news worthy links from the Clinton stained globe:
All the news unfit to print for Thursday, March 27, 2008
Saint Hillary staying home but Bill is on his way
Official announcement of who will grace Girardville Pa with presence this weekend for the late St Pats parade: Bill Clinton .. Hillary will not attend.. Developing
Women of Girardville: Get out your blue dresses and show us your stains!
I have noticed one thing.. on major highways and thoroughfares of my daily travel in Pennsylvania, I see more Ron Paul signs than ever. It's clear that McCain will be the nominee, but it seems abundantly clear that the people who did support Ron Paul still do, and aren't turning their backs simply because his money bombs didn't result in primary victories..
There is something that can be said for Paul, as Gunwald points out in his TIME article. Ron Paul hasn't backed down.. he still opposes the Iraq war and any involvement in Iran, he opposes limits on guns, he supports privacy rights, doesn't like the Patriot Act, and really, really hates the Federal Reserve. And he always has, and most likely always will. Ron Paul even took the House floor to complain about the government's case against disgraced Governor Elliot Spitzer. He thought it went too far. Absolutely refreshing.
Gunwald writes correctly,
"Bush's approval ratings have been abysmal for years, but Paul was the only Republican who really campaigned for change"
Change .. major change. Revolutionary change.
So as I drive by the homemade "Google Ron Paul" sign tomorrow morning going to work, I will sit back in the car, sip my lukewarm coffee, and wonder aloud what could have been with President Paul..?
Just then, I will be passed by the guy who drives the station wagon with a blaring "WHO IS RON PAUL" bumper sticker on it.. He seems to be in such a hurry. Perhaps I am just late for the Revolution..?
Hunter Waite, a Cassini principal investigator at the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in San Antonio, said, "The astrobiological potential of the Saturn system just went up a notch or two"
For my Coal Region friends.. a pretty decent source explains tonight that he's making a 90% chance prediction that Hillary Clinton will be in Girardville, PA this weekend..
WILL SHE SHOW UP IN SMALL TOWN GIRARDVILLE, PA.. SATURDAY?
There's a "high probability," according to latest reports, that Hillary Rodham Clinton will be marching in Girardville's St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday
The Irish don't put timetables on their public drunkenness..
Gville's parade (Gville of course is what the Schmuck and Schmuckettes around the world of Schuylkill county name the town with no red lights) is a basket of good times.. it's always a little later .. it runs about three hours long, and brings back people from all parts of the nation. Back home. To the coal mining town of history .. And this year with Hillary? Rumors running around small town Schuylkill like the septic creek that flows through it.
All the news unfit to print for Monday, March 24, 2008
MONDAY MORNING POST EASTER BLUES
Random happenings, both good and bad, making headlines across the world..
Reaction continues with death toll in Iraq now at 4,000 .. It's infuriating to a point that major news media hasn't paid a damn's worth of difference to the Iraq war lately. Both bood and bad news has been taking place, and there's been deafening silence for our 24 hours a day news networks. Until now, the grave milestone. The other mindless thing about this 4,000 stat is that it does not at all take into consideration those coming home with mental issues or with other physical problems, such as loss of legs, arms, etc. It's a dreadful number, but there's more to the story. One that modern media doesn't like to deal with unless it's glitzy and flashy.
The Jed Report offering a pretty funny You Tube video .. playing of course on Candidate Clinton's words about her Bosnia adventure in 1996 when she claimed sniper fire led to her to duck and cover once the plane arrived on the tarmac. Video now disputes her claims..
The authenticity of the 4 minute, 44-second audiotape could not be independently confirmed. But the voice on it resembled that of al- Zawahri on previous audio and videotapes confirmed to be his. It was posted on an Islamic militant Web site where al-Qaida usually releases its statements, and a banner advertising the tape had the logo of al- Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab.
"Muslims, today is your day. Strike the interests of the Jews, the Americans, and all those who participated in the attack on Muslims," al-Zawahri said. "Monitor the targets, collect money, prepare the equipment, plan with precision, and then—while relying on God—assault, seeking martyrdom and paradise."
"Barry Obama decided that he didn't like his nickname. A few of his friends at Occidental College had already begun to call him Barack (his formal name), and he'd come to prefer that. The way his half sister, Maya, remembers it, Obama returned home at Christmas in 1980, and there he told his mother and grandparents: no more Barry. Obama recalls it slightly differently, but in the same basic time frame. He believes he told his mom he wanted to be called Barack when she visited him in New York the following summer. By both accounts, it seemed that the elder relatives were reluctant to embrace the change. Maya recalls that Obama's maternal grandparents, who had played a big role in raising him, continued long after that to call him by an affectionate nickname, "Bar." "Not just them, but my mom, too," says Obama.
The magazine's in depth cover piece goes on to describe the man who could very well become the first African American to win the presidency.
Memories of the smell of fresh flowers... Easter Sunday's warmth (this year cold) .. And the giant solid milk chocolate and white chocolate crosses. Ahh, yes.. the life of a young Catholic child..
Much like Christmas, Easter changes with time...
Some Easter Sunday related happenings from the globe:
War: Still isn't over.. Easter being celebrated by United States forces in harm's way across the globe. Just as the Pope's homily spoke about peace in Darfur, Tibet, and Iraq, a blast killed three more United States soldiers. This Easter Sunday, the tally of troops dead is nearing 4,000. In the Church of your choosing, say a prayer for our sons, daughters, dads, moms, cousins, friends, uncles, and aunts in war. Give more than a passing thought. Easter's about peace--same with Christmas. But in the modern world, violence and pestilence takes no time off..
Some other Easter news: The United States Midwest continues to have flooding problems .. and snow blankets parts of England on Easter. Easter Eggs being hunted through the world in water and white.
Frustration on the holiday: Lillies cost more and of course gas does, too.. Another Easter related story, this political: James Carville compares former Governor Bill Richardson to Judas! .. not sure if there were thirty pieces of silver involved *though silver has skyrocketed in price since the dollar began falling* but Richardson did endorse Barack Obama for President a few days back.
Candidate Clinton caught in a lie the other day. .now video surfaces showing Mrs. Clinton not ducking for cover in Bosnia.. instead, getting a nice welcome with a nice little girl on the tarmac by the plane.
The post examined specifically: "There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base. We used to say in the White House that if a place is too dangerous, too small or too poor, send the First Lady."
Send the First Lady, they surely did. And now, You Tube video has emerged from the occasion: Missing is the action, the gunfire, the danger. Existent are smiles and brightly colored outfits.
Hillary, you should be very thankful it's Easter weekend.. few are paying any attention..
Random rakings
My mom probably would be embarrassed to be the subject of a Schmuckraker blog posting.. but luckily she has become pretty much Internet illiterate since she retired from her office job..
She said a lot of it before, but Secretary of State Condi Rice causing quite a stir over her thoughts on race, America, and birth defects.
Perhaps Madonna is just as sick of the national obsession with Britney Spears as I am..
Timing is key: The Pope used his Easter Vigil mass to remind us of that happy time of the crusades. 
War: Still isn't over.. Easter being celebrated by United States forces in harm's way across the globe. Just as the 
Some other Easter news: The United States Midwest continues to have flooding problems .. and 
Another Easter related story, this political: 
