Arsenic and breast augmentation

From the Palm Beach Post-

A jury in San Diego on Tuesday convicted a former Wellington woman of poisoning her 23-year-old Marine husband with arsenic so that she could collect on his life insurance policy.

Cynthia Sommer used the $250,000 to finance a more luxurious lifestyle than her husband, Sgt. Todd Sommer, could afford on his $1,700 monthly salary, prosecutors argued.

The mother of four viewed the military life insurance policy - of which she was the sole beneficiary - as a way to "set herself free," prosecutors said.

She faces an automatic life sentence.

Sommer, who worked at a Subway, had been in debt when her husband died in San Diego on Feb. 18, 2002, at the couple's home on the Marine Corps' Miramar base in San Diego, after a bout of nausea and vomiting.

A coroner originally ruled it was a natural death, caused by heart problems. But follow-up tests showed an arsenic level 1,020 times above normal.

Sommer denied killing him.

But investigators depicted her as a disgruntled mom who poisoned her husband to escape his strict lifestyle.

Among the circumstantial evidence was the fact that she got breast implants - something he didn't want her to do - and showed them off shortly after his death.

Ten days before her husband's death, Sommer visited a medical center and had pre-surgery photos taken for the $5,400 augmentation procedure. At that time, investigators said, she had $127 in her bank account.

Sommer's friends and co-workers testified that, in addition to getting her breasts enlarged, she threw wild parties and had sex with multiple partners after her husband's collapse.

I wasn't present at trial, but I'm going to make some comments about people's behavior.

From my days on the Melanoma list, I've known many men and women who lost a spouse to that terrible disease. The grief they suffer afterwards is overwhelming particularly in the beginning. Eventually they do get their lives together. Some remarry a year later, some years later, some never. It is all up to the individual.

Grief is a personal experience. It takes how ever long an individual needs it to take. Days, months, years. I've always been bothered by people who tell you to 'get over it' or 'move on'. It is none of their business. Who are they to judge how I grieve my son Daniel or my friends who lost a husband or wife?

That makes this story above interesting to me. By all accounts the evidence was totally circumstantial. Did a jury sentence a woman to jail just because they didn't like the way she grieved? For an innocent woman could be jailed for life just because some people think they know how others should behave.

The biggest boobs in this story may not be the obvious one.

Linked to- Stuck on Stupid, Right Truth, Blue Star, Right Wing Nation,

From the Silly News Desk

Some news from China. Why didn't I think of this when I was in high school? Then I don't think any sum of money would have made a girl date me back then. I did alright in the end, Two friends of mine were sweethearts in school but their marriage ended in divorce. Dear Wife and I on the other hand will mark 18 years of marriage this May.

Linked to- Jo's Cafe, Right Pundits, Right Voices,

BEIJING - A desperate Chinese university student wants to "rent" a girlfriend for 10 days so he can show her off to his parents over the Lunar New Year holiday, state media reported Wednesday.

The physics student, who gave his name as Zhu Lijie, posted a notice on a bulletin board at Peking University offering 1,000 yuan ($130) to a woman who would pose as his girlfriend for the trip home for the holiday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The advertisement said the woman should be "an honest, kind and similar-aged girl with a diploma."

The Lunar New Year holiday, which starts Feb. 18 this year, is the most important family holiday in China.

Xinhua said Zhu had told his parents, who were pressuring him to get a girlfriend, that he had been studying too hard and had no time to meet a potential partner.

Peking University officials and the police have warned women to be wary of such advertisements.

Wang Jisheng, a professor with the Psychology Institution of the Chinese Academy Sciences, was quoted as saying Zhu was trying to show filial piety to his parents but was only cheating them.

No respect

The house that Ruth built will play host to the mid-summer classic one last time.

NEW YORK - Yankee Stadium is going out with an All-Star salute. The beloved old ballpark will host the All-Star game in 2008, the final season before the
New York Yankees move into a new stadium being built across the street in the Bronx.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg were on hand Wednesday at City Hall for the announcement, which had been expected.

It will be the fourth All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, which underwent an extensive renovation in the mid-1970s. The most recent summer showcase in The House That Ruth Built was in 1977, when the National League won 7-5 for the sixth of 11 consecutive victories over the AL.

*****

Yankee Stadium also was the site of All-Star games in 1939 and 1960.

I got a question. Why didn't Shea Stadium get the all-star game? Shea only played host to the game once, in 1964, and is also planned to be replaced by Citi Field in 2009. There have been parks that have hosted the game twice since 1964.

Shea Stadium, the Rodney Dangerfield of MLB.

Note- I grew up on Long Island and been a lifetime Met fan. The first time I attended a game at Shea was in 1967.

Linked to- Bright & Early, Bullwinkle, Cao's Blog,

Optical scan

Another overhaul of how Floridians vote could be underway.

Gov. Charlie Crist wants to scrap the controversial touch-screen voting machines used in Broward, Palm Beach and 13 other counties and replace them with optical scanners that would count paper ballots, a South Florida congressman said Tuesday.

The Republican governor will detail the change at a joint appearance Thursday with the state's leading critic of touch-screen voting machines, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, in the heart of Wexler's district west of Delray Beach.

Wexler said the governor would propose spending more than $20 million on optical scanners for the 15 counties with touch-screen machines when he presents his proposed budget to the Legislature on Friday.

He credited Crist with proposing a "bold and comprehensive" plan. "We are about to resolve, once and for all, the election integrity problem in Florida, and we are about to realize the dream of creating a paper trail for every voter in the state of Florida," Wexler said.

The change would affect millions of Florida voters, who would be allowed to cast their ballots on paper rather than using the electronic devices with screens similar to automated teller machines. Touch-screen voting has been controversial nationally. Arizona, California and Pennsylvania have considered getting rid of them and New Mexico passed a law last year ending their use.

I'm all for votes getting counted properly etc. We don't need another 2000 Presidential or Florida 13th debacle. However no system is perfect, for they are designed by man. Nothing is foolproof as long as there are fools. Sure change to Optical scanners, but it will only be a matter of time before flaws are found in this system also.

Linked to- Right Wing Nation, Third World County, Samantha Burns,

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand. He gets the award for the following.

PARIS - The French already enjoy a 35-hour work week and generous vacation. Now the health minister wants to look into whether workers should be allowed to sleep on the job.

France launched plans this week to spend $9 million this year to improve public awareness about sleeping troubles. About one in three French people suffer from them, the ministry says.

Fifty-six percent of French complain that a poor night's sleep has affected their job performance, according to the ministry.

"Why not a nap at work? It can't be a taboo subject," Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said Monday. He called for further studies and said he would promote on-the-job naps if they prove useful.

Sure Minister, make it a law that employers furnish pillows, beds etc to workers. Workers need rest, they must get more break time. They couldn't possibly do it on break time they are already being given.

For proving the nanny state is alive and well in France, Health Minister Xavier Bertrand is today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Linked to- Adam's Blog, Blue Star, Bright & Early, Cao's Blog, Jo's Cafe, Outside the Beltway, Right Pundits, Right Voices, Right Wing Nation, Samantha Burns, Third World County,

No brainer

The 17-year-old Hawaiian native has been invited to the first major championship of the 2007 LPGA season.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. - Michelle Wie was offered a sponsor invitation to the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Monday, among seven pros and six amateurs invited to the first LPGA Tour major of the year.

Tournament director Terry Wilcox said Wie will be making her fifth appearance at the Kraft Nabisco, although that was not immediately confirmed by her family.

The 17-year-old from Honolulu missed the cut at the Sony Open while playing with an injured left wrist that was tightly wrapped. She is not expected to play either of the two LPGA Tour events in Hawaii next month.

Wie had a chance to win the Kraft Nabisco last year until her eagle chip went 10 feet by the cup on the par-5 18th, and she missed a birdie putt that would have put her in a playoff with Karrie Webb and Lorena Ochoa. She has played every season since 2003, when she played in the final group at age 13 and tied for ninth.

Michelle also came close to winning the Kraft in 2004 before Grace Park edged out Aree Song.

I still feel Michelle's attempts to play with the men are playing havoc with her golf game and she should give up the attempts. Her golf swing is no longer smooth but ragged instead and they may be why her wrist is injured. Michelle is trying to overpower the ball in her PGA attempts.

Based on her recent play and the injury, I'll be surprised if Michelle contends at the Kraft in March.

Shh........

From the Sun-Sentinel-

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Not long after the first of many new condos opened downtown, it came ringing in: a complaint about noise.

Suddenly, the clangs, hoots, bass-thumps and guitar licks were invading the ears of people trying to sleep.

Trains and bridges and nightlife have rattled downtown with their sounds for years. But downtown is a residential neighborhood now.

The city is somewhat sympathetic to the residents, many of whom paid $500,000 or more to live in an urban setting. A noise consultant has been hired and soon city officials say they'll hold public hearings and vote on possible changes to existing noise laws.

But walking into a party and asking everyone to keep it quiet doesn't always go over well. And indeed, when downtown developers found out, they were rankled.

"When I lived in Avenue Lofts, I didn't call the hospital and say, `Do you mind not running those ambulances past my places three or four times a night?'" developer Alan Hooper said.

Having just spent two weeks in the hospital, I know all about hospital noise. Never go to a hospital expecting to get any rest.

Nor should people moving into a downtown or city area expect there not to be any noise. It comes with the area.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor(and former Knucklehead winner) Jim Naugle sums up the noise issue best.

"Let me get this straight, people moved into a place called Symphony House and are complaining about music?" he said. "You shouldn't expect to open your windows and hear birds chirping. This is a city."

Carolyn House and her husband bought at the Symphony House condo by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, but they can't stand the racket. House said she sometimes has to take a sleeping pill to escape the yelling and music coming from Second Street. The couple moved to the other side of the building, but there they can't cope with the industrial whining of the nearby swing bridge.

The whining appears to be going both ways. TFM has a simple solution. A warning to all potential downtown condo or home buyers. If you can't stand the noise- Don't move here.

Hat tip- Rick at SOTP
Linked to- Pirate's Cove, Bright & Early,

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Psychologist Bruce Beaton. He gets the award for the following.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian psychologist charged with indecently assaulting a patient told a court on Tuesday that forcing his female patient to wear a dog collar and call him master was within a psychologist's ethical guidelines.

Psychologist Bruce Beaton, 64, pleaded not guilty in the Western Australia District Court to four charges of indecently assaulting a 22-year-old woman in 2005, local media reported.

Beaton was arrested when police, who had been secretly video recording the session with the woman, heard whipping sounds, reported Australian Associated Press from the court.

Beaton told the court he resorted to master-servant treatment with his bulimic patient because other methods had failed. He said he thought forcing the woman to wear a dog collar and call him master would build a more trusting relationship.

He said such treatment was allowed by the Australian Psychological Society. "It is right within the ethical guidelines," Beaton told the court.

Somehow no one but Dr. Beaton sees mention of dog collars in Australia's ethical guidelines. For mistreating rather than treating his patient, Bruce Beaton is today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Blue Star, Bright & Early, Hill Chronicles, Jo's Cafe, Outside the Beltway, Pirate's Cove, Planck's Constant, Pursuing Holiness, Random Yak, Third World County,

Barbaro RIP

The 2006 Kentucky Derby winner was euthanized this morning.

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. - Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized Monday after complications from his gruesome breakdown at last year's Preakness, ending an eight-month ordeal that prompted an outpouring of support across the country.



"We just reached a point where it was going to be difficult for him to go on without pain," co-owner Roy Jackson said. "It was the right decision, it was the right thing to do. We said all along if there was a situation where it would become more difficult for him then it would be time."

A series of ailments, including laminitis in the left rear hoof and a recent abscess in the right rear hoof, proved too much for the gallant colt.

Barbaro battled in his ICU stall for eight months. The 4-year-old colt underwent several procedures and was fitted with fiberglass casts. He spent time in a sling to ease pressure on his legs, had pins inserted and was fitted at the end with an external brace. These were all extraordinary measures for a horse with such injuries.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson were with Barbaro on Monday morning, with the owners making the decision in consultation with chief surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson.

"I would say thank you for everything, and all your thoughts and prayers over the last eight months or so," Jackson said to Barbaro's fans.

On May 20, Barbaro was rushed to the New Bolton Center, about 30 miles from Philadelphia in Kennett Square, hours after shattering his right hind leg just a few strides into the Preakness Stakes. The bay colt underwent a five-hour operation that fused two joints, recovering from an injury most horses never survive. But Barbaro never regained his natural gait.

He suffered a significant setback over the weekend, and surgery was required to insert two steel pins in a bone — one of three shattered in the Preakness but now healthy — to eliminate all weight bearing on the ailing right rear foot.

The procedure Saturday was a risky one, because it transferred more weight to the leg while the foot rests on the ground bearing no weight.

The leg was on the mend until the abscess began causing discomfort last week. Until then, the major concern was Barbaro's left rear leg, which developed laminitis in July, and 80 percent of the hoof was removed.

Richardson said Monday morning that Barbaro did not have a good night.

I believe Barbaro is the first former Triple Crown race winner in modern history to be euthanized due to race related injuries.

Barbaro’s death is sad but not unexpected. I never thought the horse had much of a chance and was surprised to see him live as long as he did.

What I say next may sound harsh, but I bet the only sadness the horse’s owners feel are in not in regards to the tragic death Barbaro suffered but to the hit to their pocket books from the vet bills and lost of income from Barbaro’s future as a stud horse. I’ve been around the horse racing business for a good chunk of my life. These animals are considered PROPERTY not pets to almost all those involved in the sport.

Note- I corrected my Triple Crown reference.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Bullwinkle Blog, Cao's Blog,

Auto insurance and education

From the Daytona Beach News-Journal-

DAYTONA BEACH -- Is it fair to make a janitor pay $112 more than a lawyer to insure a car in Florida?

GEICO and a few other insurers say yes, because blue-collar workers are more likely than professionals to have accidents.

State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has begun looking into the issue, nearly a year after the Consumer Federation of America first urged regulators throughout the nation to scrutinize GEICO's billing methods.

J. Robert Hunter, insurance director for the Washington-based advocacy group, said his organization had documented that GEICO is using a driver's education level and occupation as factors in setting premiums for vehicle owners in nearly every state, including Florida. At least three other insurers -- Allstate, Progressive and Liberty Mutual -- have begun doing the same thing but to a lesser extent.

A GEICO underwriting guide distributed by the federation states GEICO will give its best rates to occupations requiring degrees, such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and editors. Conversely, the highest rates will be assigned to "minimally skilled clerks, assistants, postal clerks, stock clerks ... route men and long-haul drivers" as well as low-ranking members of the military.

The guide also calls for giving preference to drivers younger than 70 and refusing coverage to any newly licensed driver over 75.

Nationally, the federation found, a 25-year-old executive with a law degree would pay GEICO an average of $527 to insure a 1996 Ford Taurus. A janitor who's the same age and has the same driving record but has just a high school diploma would pay $741, or 40 percent more.

In Florida, the pricing gap is narrower but still significant, the group said. Looking at rates charged by GEICO in Miami, it said the executive would pay $729 while the janitor would be billed $841, a 15 percent difference.

McCarty said the rating method may be a back-door way to make minorities and poor people pay more for coverage. He has scheduled a public hearing for 9 a.m. Feb. 9 at the Larson Building in Tallahassee to hear comments about it.

I doubt insurance companies are using it as a form of discrimination. To me it just seems like another method insurers use to validate the rates they charge.

Just as when insurers use credit ratings, do education levels really make a person a safer driver? Dumb driving is done by all categories of drivers on a daily basis. Janitors may not be as smart as an executive, but TFM would think they would be less distracted by work matters when driving. After all who is more likely to be discussing a customer on a cell phone while speeding down I-95?

Linked to- Big Dog, Cao's Blog, Jo's Cafe, Third World County,

Pass the ketchup

Some news from China. DPRK Studies is most certainly right, North Korean women have been dying because of dirt eating diets for some time. So is Wuqibalaqiqige really going to set a record?

Linked to- Big Dog, Right Pundits, Right Wing Nation,

A girl from north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region plans to set a new Guiness World Record after eating nothing but soil for two months.

The girl, called Wuqibalaqiqige, became a minor celebrity after the media broadcast stories about her curious eating habits last year. TV stations as far flung as Hunan, Anhui, Beijing and Shanghai picked up her story, even Japan and South Korea.

The girl said she feels no need to eat normal food now that she has discovered how much she likes to eat soil.

She intends to stick to her diet and challenge the Guinness World Record for eating only soil, which currently stands at 2 months.

Her agent has contacted the Guinness Office in Shenyang and the challenge will kick off in April.

She will also launch a campaign for a charity that helps people suffering from unusual diseases. The girl has already helped a woman who suffered from insomnia for more than 10 years.

Seven in a row

After yesterday's win at the Buick Invitational, Tiger Woods only needs four more wins to tie Byron Nelson's seemingly unbreakable record.

SAN DIEGO — Tiger Woods is more interested in a fifth green jacket at the Masters than 11 straight victories on the PGA Tour.

At this rate, he might have a chance at both.

Woods resumed his improbable pursuit of Byron Nelson with a predictable result at the Buick Invitational on Sunday, winning for the third straight year to stretch his PGA Tour winning streak to seven. That's the second-longest streak in Tour history behind Nelson in 1945, and there is little evidence anyone can stop him.

*****

He won by two shots and finished with a six-under 66, the best score all week on the demanding South Course, site of the U.S. Open next year.

Nelson's record often has been thought to be untouchable, which now describes the world's No. 1 player.

*****

This is the second time Woods has made a run at Nelson, who died in September.

Woods won six straight in 2000, a streak that Phil Mickelson stopped at Torrey Pines. But against a cast of challengers short on experience or victories, Woods met little resistance in winning at Torrey Pines for the fifth time in 10 tries.

The only question is the veracity of the streak - Woods failed to win once in Europe and twice in Asia during his run - and when he will resume his chase of Nelson's mark.

Woods could be in position to tie Byron Nelson's record for consecutive PGA Tour wins in South Florida - or at the Masters.

It all depends upon whether Woods plays at Riviera in the Nissan Open, an event he's played in the last three years but has failed to win in nine tries as a pro.

Woods is expected to play in the World Match Play Championship at Tucson, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, and then the CA Championship at Doral on March 22-25. The CA Championship is a World Golf Championship event that replaced the Ford Championship at Doral.

If Woods adds the Nissan to his schedule, and he keeps winning, he would arrive at Doral - where he has won the past two years - in position to tie Nelson's 62-year-old record of 11 Tour victories in a row.

Some comments

*- While golf has become a global game, I don't see any reason not to consider Woods streak as valid. Just so long as it applies to PGA Tour records.

*- Tiger does face a major obstacle in regards to the Nissan Open.(or LA Open as in Los Angeles not Lake Arrowhead, Louisiana or West Patterson New Jersey) Open. His best ever finish in that tournament is a playoff loss to Billy Mayfair in 1998. That didn't even take place at Riviera.

If I was Tiger and wanted to keep the streak alive, I'd play at Pebble Beach. Tiger won both the US Open and the yearly tour stop there in 2000.

My bet is Tiger plays at Riviera and the streak comes to an end there.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Mark My Words,

Closed for corruption repairs

From CNN-

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Aviation authorities have refused to extend an international safety certificate for Bangkok's new international airport, a senior official said Saturday, dealing another blow to the problem-plagued facility.

With runway and tarmac repairs at Suvarnabhumi airport still under way, the Department of Civil Aviation decided Friday not to renew its interim safety certificate, which expired a day earlier. The airport can, however, continue to operate without the license.

Somchai Sawasdeepon, the airport's general manager, said the airport also has yet to set up a safety committee as required by the International Civil Aviation Organization because authorities are "busy resolving other problems."

The issue will be discussed at the next board meeting, Somchai said, adding that he was confident the certificate will be renewed after the safety committee has been established.

Local newspapers have reported that some foreign pilots raised concerns about safety issues at the Suvarnabhumi, but Somchai said such fears were not voiced at a meeting of airline representatives on Friday.

The International Civil Aviation Organization has made it a requirement for international airports to hold an Aerodrome Certificate -- aimed at standardizing global airport operations. Suvarnabhumi can nonetheless continue to operate without the certificate because it has yet to incorporate that requirement into law.

The airport was enmeshed in one corruption scandal after another during its construction, and since its opening last September problems have surfaced ranging from an inadequate number of toilets to cracks on taxiways leading to the runway. Probes are being carried out into a number of corrupt deals related to the facility.

Don't use this news to generalize that corruption in government projects is rampant. It does exist, as it does in the US also.

The wisest decision for the Thai government to me would be to re-open the old international airport in Bangkok till the new one is repaired. The chances of a crash due to the trouble at the new airport is remote, but why plan russian roulette with hundreds of passengers lifes?

Linked to- Bullwinkle Blog, Pirate's Cove,

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Japan's Health Minister, Hakuo Yanagisawa. He gets the award for the following.

Japan’s health minister provoked fury when he referred to women as “child-bearing machines” in a speech intended to address the country’s drastically declining birth rate.

Hakuo Yanagisawa, 71, embarrassed the Government of Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister, in a speech delivered on Saturday, which was immediately attacked by women and opposition politicians.

“The number of women aged between 15 and 50 is fixed,” he told the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the city of Matsue. “Because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, all we can ask is for them to do their best per head.”

Before his speech was over, Mr Yanagisawa seemed to realise that he caused offence. “I’m sorry to call them machines,” he said afterwards.

Eminent women reacted angrily. “His remarks were the worst possible and should not have been made,” said Mizuho Fukushima, the woman head of the opposition Social Democratic Party. “We cannot tolerate a Cabinet with such a minister.” The controversy goes to the heart of the debate about one of Japan’s most intractable social problems — the disinclination of its women to have children.

No question, Japan is facing a population crisis. One which at the country's present birthrate would cause the country's population to be cut in half by 2100. The Minister is right about there being a problem, but as Captain Ed said he made himself sound like an idiot with his choice of words. Women(or men) are not machines, but complex human beings. Maybe Hakuo Yanagisawa needs to brush up on his biology but first I make him today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Hat tip- Basil's Blog, Cao's Blog, Jo's Cafe, Mark My Words, Pirate's Cove, Right Wing Nation, Third World County,

Health Update

I'm still hanging in here. Last Friday I had a woundvac applied(or attached) to my right leg. This was done to facilitate healing, but means I have a small machine attached to me 24/7. This has taken some getting used to both mentally and physically. I will be glad to be back to normal(whenever that will happen).

Blogging at present will depend on my mental state of mind. I was a bit depressed last weekend and took a breather from blogging. Today I feel a little better. I guess there will be more swings in my blogging frequency over the weeks ahead.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Bullwinkle Blog, Jo's Cafe, Right Wing Nation, Third World County,

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Charlotte County(Florida) Circuit Judge Michael McHugh. He gets the award for the following.

PUNTA GORDA -- A man originally accused of raping two girls and facing a possible 12 to 30 years in prison got probation instead Wednesday.

Because 31/2 years have passed since the alleged attacks, prosecutors no longer had enough evidence to succeed with the original charges, Assistant State Attorney Stephen Schwarz said. For example, the girls no longer can remember the details.

"Time really turned out to be our enemy," Schwarz said.

Thomas Archie Watt, 28, pleaded no contest to delivery of a controlled substance to a minor. He was sentenced to one year of community control, or house arrest, to be followed by four years of drug offender probation.

Circuit Judge Michael McHugh warned Watt that if he violated his probation, he could face a much harsher sentence.

The mother of one of the girls said she hopes Watt winds up back in court and serves time in prison. "Our legal system is total bull," she said.

The girls have waited too long for closure, said Fredye Cochran, their guardian ad litem. "The perpetrator has the right to an early trial, but the victims don't. It seems unfair."

According to court documents, Watt met with three teenage girls, bought them alcohol and gave them marijuana and unknown pills in June 2003. Then he invited them to his home.

The girls, then 15 and 16 years old, told deputies they took off their shirts for Watt. Collectively, the girls remember Watt performing sex acts on two of them, documents state. All three passed out and only one was clothed when they woke up the next morning.

Watt's brother, then 27, said he saw the girls and Watt fooling around with each other naked, according to the documents. Watt denied giving the girls drugs or alcohol and said any acts were consensual.

"On paper, it's a really good case," Schwarz said. "But when you dig into what the witnesses remember now, it leaves something to be desired."

In addition to the girls' fading memories, prosecutors faced other challenges, Schwarz said. One witness, a nurse, died, and Watt's brother "made himself scarce."

Also, the investigative work was questionable, Schwarz said. Supposedly the girls had hickeys on their necks, but the prosecutor never received pictures of their necks. Only one girl's neck was swabbed, providing the only DNA evidence linking Watt to the girls, Schwarz said.

Schwarz, who only got the case about a year ago, said he doesn't know why it took so long to prosecute.

In the end, prosecutors reduced the charges.

Although Watt was accused of drugging all three girls, prosecutors decided to charge him with only one count. Additional counts would not have increased his sentence, Schwarz said.

Cases like Watt's are just more fodder for people who distrust the US justice system. A man rapes up to three girls and he gets probation. This is a sick joke, but the Knucklehead goes to Judge McHugh for he signed off on this travesty of justice.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Cao's Blog, Jo's Cafe, Outside the Beltway, Right Voices, Samantha Burns, Third World County,

Sitting Bull

From the Palm Beach Post-

A Brahma bull fell out of a trailer onto the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 approaching Lantana Road early this morning.

At 12:06 a.m., troopers responded to a call that a bull was sitting in the center lanes of the interstate.

When it fell from the trailer, the 1,600-pound animal injured its back leg, said Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Frith.

A veterinarian responded to the scene to determine whether the bull had to be euthanized as a result of its injuries. But the bull stood up on its own and the vet was able to get the bull back in the trailer at 1:44 a.m., Frith said.

Frith said he did not know where the bull went after that, and troopers had not cited the driver. While bulls and cows occasionally wander onto rural roads, it was the first time in memory that a bull was on I-95 in Palm Beach County, Frith said.

Damn South Florida MSM. They should get a followup interview with the Bull. Life in Florida is certainly not boring.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Jo's Cafe,

Citizen Thief of the year

From the Fort Myers News-Press-

A Fort Myers Beach business owner who last year was named Citizen of the Year has been charged with dealing in stolen property.

William “Bill” Semmer, 60, the owner of Semmer Electric, is accused of paying cash for equipment stolen from local stores.

According to sheriff's reports:

Semmer bought three stolen power saws and several stolen drill bits worth $800. He was arrested Tuesday after a six-week investigation and booked into the Lee County Jail on a charge of dealing in stolen property. He was released on $5,000 bail.

Detectives said they found the power saws and drill bits in his garage. They said they also found other power tools in the garage and more charges may be filed if it is determined the equipment was stolen.

Semmer could not be reached for comment.

Semmer is one of the most respected community leaders on Fort Myers Beach, said D.J. Petruccelli, president of The Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of
Commerce.

“I’m shocked ... there has to be some explanation,” Petruccelli said.

One possible explanation is that Mr. Semmer was leading a double life. If the charges hold up, Semmer wouldn't be the first con artist to bamboozle acquaintances into thinking they were a person of virtue rather than a thief.

Linked to- Right Voices, Dumb Ox, Big Dog,

The Knuckleheads of the Day award

Today's winner is Broward General Medical Center and one of its former nurses Dionne Cooper. They get the award for the following.

The Coral Springs mother went to the emergency room feeling sick after running out of medicine. But instead of just getting a refill, she died when a nurse gave her a massive overdose of a seizure drug, according to hospital officials and state records.

The nurse at Broward General Medical Center injected Michelene Plass, 44, with 10 times the dose the doctor ordered, officials said. To get that much, nurse Dionne Cooper had to round up 32 vials of the drug. Plass died in minutes.

Plass' death in April is getting fresh scrutiny, as an outgrowth of a lawsuit filed by her ER doctor, Paul Rohart, who contends he was unfairly dismissed. The nurse also was fired. After Rohart contacted them last week, Broward County prosecutors asked Fort Lauderdale police to begin a criminal review of the case and the nation's hospital accrediting group agreed to examine Broward General's response to the death.

*****

On April 23, Plass had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital, her mother said. She was discharged with a refill of her medicine, but before she could leave, she had another seizure in a bathroom, records show.

Rohart, an ER specialist for eight years and a doctor since 1989, said he ran tests and prescribed 800 milligrams of the anti-seizure drug Dilantin. "She and I were laughing when I left for the day," Rohart said.

But Cooper instead administered 8000 mg (eight grams), quickly stopping Plass' heart, hospital officials said. The fatal dosage is two to five grams.

"Her husband called me to say they were releasing her from the hospital," Peggy Plass said. "Then 10 minutes later he called to say she was dead."

The correct dose required 3.2 vials of the drug. Cooper gave Plass 32 vials, hospital administrator Joe Scott said. To get that many, she had to search the halls and take every vial from three computerized drug-dispensing machines, he said. "That would be a big red flag," Scott said.

All the Dilantin didn't fit in one intravenous bag, so Cooper hooked up two, one in each arm, Scott said. "That would be another big red flag," he said.

Cooper never double-checked or questioned the amount, Scott said. Nor did she explain her error to hospital officials, he said.

Total incompetence that a innocent woman paid her life for. Broward General Hospital and Nurse Dionne Cooper are very deserving Knucklehead of the Day award winners.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Cao's Blog, Hill Chronicles, Is it Just me?, Jo's Cafe, Stuck on Stupid, Third World County, Woman Honor Thyself, Outside the Beltway,

Florida the rules are different here Chapter LXXV

The City of Pensacola is going to settle for $35,000 with a girl three years after she was made to do topless jumping jacks by a police officer in lieu of being arrested. Why isn't former Officer Shields paying the victim instead of Pensacola? I guess that would be too simple a solution. Don't you just love Florida?

Linked to- Bullwinkle, Adam's Blog, Jo's Cafe,

The City of Pensacola likely will pay $35,000 to settle the claim of a girl forced to perform jumping jacks topless in front of a police officer to avoid arrest.

The City Council's finance committee on Monday forwarded the proposed settlement to a Thursday vote before the full council.

The victim's attorney, Robert Bleach, said after the meeting that his client will be "glad to put this ugly incident behind her" and will use the money for her college education.

"She certainly didn't want to go through a trial and relive the whole thing all over again," he said.

Officer Shawn Patrick Shields approached a car parked beside Bayou Boulevard and discovered two partially dressed teenagers on April 19, 2003, according to a police report.

Shields, then 31, put the girl, 16, and a 19-year-old man in the back of his cruiser, threatening them with arrest for lewd and lascivious behavior.

The girl told investigators that Shields suggested exercise as a punishment and shined his flashlight on her while she did five jumping jacks.

Shields pleaded no contest to a criminal charge of extortion. He was placed on probation for two years in December 2003 and ordered to write a letter of apology to the girl.

Police Chief John Mathis fired the officer, Assistant Chief Chip Simmons said Monday.

"Chief Mathis will not tolerate officers acting in a manner not consistent with professional standards," Simmons said.

Bleach said the city "wanted to do right" by the victim. He called Shields an "isolated rogue officer."

However, the victim was scarred by the incident, Bleach said.

"Anytime she gets pulled over by a cop, it's going to be something of an ordeal for her," he said.

More Golf World Zaniness

The editors at Golf World furnish more proof of their secret crush on Phil Mickelson. Little known Charley Hoffman wins the Bob Hope in improbable style and Mickelson finishes tied for 45th. Somehow Mickelson rates another feature on the Bristol CT magazine's cover. Again I'll ask, what is cause of Golf W orld's obsession with Lefty? Golfers win major championships, but Phil gets his picture on the magazine's cover. That happened not once but twice last year. Either GW's editors are totally out of touch or they have a secret homosexual crush on Lefty. I think its time for Ron Sirak, Tim Rostaforte, John Hawkins and the rest of the GW team to come clean.

Linked to- Bullwinkle, Woman Honor Thyself, Random Yak,

Longshot

The latest Trenton Duckett news.

Trenton Duckett was last seen in late August after his mother, Melinda, reported him missing from their apartment in Leesburg.

Melinda Duckett committed suicide days later.

Now, investigators are looking into the possibility that Duckett sent her son to Korea.

"We do have certain individuals who stated that Melinda had talked about her roots and possibly sending little Trenton back to his roots," Marion County Sheriff's Office Maj. Chris Blair said. "We are working with customs and issuing some subpoenas. They are aiding us in trying to obtain information on people who were located on certain flights."

Detectives have no solid proof that the boy was shipped to Asia, the report said.

Marion County investigators said they believe Duckett, who was born in Korea but was adopted by a New York family when she was a baby, may have handed off her son to someone near a Belleview restaurant last year.

Its good police are pursuing this avenue(but why now? Its almost five months since Trenton's disapearance, and you'd think this would have been checked out long ago.) but I doubt anything will come of it. Other than Melinda being born in South Korea, the mother had no known ties to or friends in the country. Besides what person is going to fly a child half way around the world that isn't their own?

Linked to- Pirate's Cove, Pursuing Holiness, Bright & Early,

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Bargain Suppliers, an Wisconsin based company. They get the award for the following email exchange with Sgt. Hess, a US soldier in Iraq.

On Tue Jan 16 3:25, contact@discount-mats.com sent:

To Whom it may concern:

Do you ship to APO addresses?
I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for who ships to APO first.

SGT Hess

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++

From: contact@discount-mats.com [mailto:mailto:contact@discount-mats.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 9:44 PM

Subject: Re: Feedback: from discount-mats.com

SGT Hess,

We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.

Bargain Suppliers
Discount-Mats.com

Another fine example of supporting the troops. Do companies like this ever learn how much bad publicity they earn from incidents like the above?

Now Bargain Suppliers is concerned for the safety of its employees.

What began as a brief e-mail exchange between a U.S. soldier in Iraq and a Wisconsin-based online retailer has erupted into an international incident that has pitted military supporters against free speech advocates and threatens to shut down the local company.

Bargain Suppliers of West Allis said its discount-mats.com Web site had to be taken down Monday to address the thousands of e-mails it's received since news of the exchange - in which an employee voiced opposition to the war in Iraq - began circulating on the Internet last week.

Vice president Sajid Nasir said the employee is being "held accountable." But he said the incendiary and threatening nature of some of the e-mails - and voicemails left at the West Allis home that co-owner Faisal Khetani shares with his parents - have shaken the family.

"It's really getting out of control," said Nasir, who described the messages as "angry and vulgar."

"Our main concern is for the safety of the family. That's more important than the business," he said.

Mr. Nasir people are free in this country to express(without violence) their anger and outrage at what your company did. Bargain Suppliers brought this upon themselves, you replied with contempt to a US GI and you are getting payback now. Welcome to America Bargain Suppliers, and here is today's Knucklehead of the Day Award.

Hat tip- Black Five and Kim at Wizbang
Linked to- Adam's Blog, Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Cao's Blog, Jo's Cafe, Third World County, Outside the Beltway,

I'm alive

That kind of sums me up right now. I'm still in the hospital ten days after my admission. Last Monday I was supposed to go home but abscesses were discovered in my right leg(which is infected with cellulitis). So I was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday. After two postponements(long story), my operation didn't take place till Thursday morning. Now I'm recovering and trying hard not to go insane from the boredom. Anyone want some salisbury steak?

Right now the plan is for me to go home on Monday and I'll receive home health care for my leg, cellulitis etc. Of course I was supposed to go home last Monday too. Blogging is going to be non-existent till I get home. I just can't get in the frame of mind to blog. In addition to that, I need my wife here to set up my computer and she still has her job to tend to in addition to caring for me.

Thank you to everyone who wrote wishing me well. Please continue to keep me in your prayers.

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Andrew Erickson. He gets the award for the following.

FALL RIVER - A college student who mistakenly submitted a compact disc loaded with child pornography images to his professor last week is now facing felony kiddie porn possession charges.

Andrew Erickson, 18, of 57 Lee's River Ave., Swansea, was arrested by Fall River and Swansea police late last week. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released after a family member posted his $500 cash bail.

The Bristol Community College student was to submit his computer information systems final examination on compact disc last week.

But instead of submitting the class work, Erickson allegedly handed in a disc that contained images of children as young as 7-years-old in sexually explicit situations. The disc, according to police reports, listed each youth by age, ranging from 7 to 14.

The professor opened the compact disc while at home last week, and upon realizing what was on the disc, turned it over to Wayne Wood, BCC's director of public safety.

Somehow I don't think Mr. Erickson got a passing grade in that class, but Andrew Erickson will get the next best thing. He is today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Hat tip- James Joyner at OTB

In the hospital

That's where TFM finds himself at present. The length of my incarceration, which began Wednesday night, is still unknowon. I doubt I'll be going home anytime before Sunday.

I may do some blogging from the hospital but it will be light. Mentally I'm not up to it, two I have the line for my IVs in my left hand.

What a way to spend my birthday, right?(Today I turn 46) I'm really a masochist.

The Knuckleheads of the Day award

Today's winners are six Palm Beach County Commissioners, Jess R. Santamaria, Burt Aaronson, Addie Greene, Warren Newell, Jeff Koons and Karen Marcus. They get the award for the following.

A no-bid property deal between Palm Beach County and a group of developers that at one time included embattled real estate attorney William Boose slid through the County Commission on Tuesday in a 6-1 vote, but only after debate.

The planned development includes a retail complex on the corner of Yamato Road and U.S. 441 west of Boca Raton, a complex of four group homes for the developmentally handicapped, a school and parkland.

"This is a win-win for all involved," Commissioner Burt Aaronson said. "Everybody benefits."

The agreement with Yamato Court LLC was originally approved by the County Commission in February 2005. But changes to the deal as well as information about the investors led commissioners to question it and Aaronson to defend it.

Yamato Court, whose three partners were Harvey Geller, Robert Levy and Boose, got the chance to buy the property for $4.75 million without bidding on it after the group facilitated a separate deal for the county to buy a needed drainage easement off Okeechobee Boulevard.

Commissioner Jess Santamaria said he was not comfortable with selling property without putting it up for bid.

"I just hope exchanges are not something we would prefer in the future," he said.

The Okeechobee property partnership was managed by George Elmore. Geller and Boose were and remain partners in that property as well.

Commissioners, led by Mary McCarty, focused on the role of Boose, who was brought up on federal charges relating to charges against former County Commissioner Tony Masilotti late last year. He subsequently sold his piece of Yamato Court to Elmore.

McCarty said this was the first she'd heard about Boose's investment. She also took issue with the involvement of Richard Crum, an accountant in Boose's law firm who was the trustee for the Masilotti family trust. Crum was in charge of the escrow money on the Yamato deal.

Just more business as usual from our county commissioners. All of whom I'm betting are hoping the public will forget the Tony Masilotti scandal. TFM isn't, this land deal is inexcusable and someone has to be benefiting from it. For blatant business as usual policy making, Palm Beach County Commissioners Jess R. Santamaria, Burt Aaronson, Addie Greene, Warren Newell, Jeff Koons and Karen Marcus are today's Knuckleheads of the day.

C in Chopsticks

Some news from Japan. It appears dumb educators are found world-wide not just in the United States. Do these skills have any practical use today?

Linked to- Bullwinkle Blog, Third World County,

TOKYO (Reuters) - As if reading, writing and arithmetic weren't enough, one Japanese high school now also plans to include chopstick skills on its entrance exams.

The Hisatagakuen Sasebo Girls' High School in western Japan will require a 10 minute test using chopsticks to transfer beads, marbles, dice and beans from one plate to another.

"We are a school that has always placed emphasis on the Japanese spirit, and we want our students to understand this," said Katsushi Hisata, the school's vice principal.

That philosophy echoes Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pledge to create a "beautiful country" by reviving respect for Japanese traditions and culture, but Hisata said the decision was in line with the school's long-standing emphasis on traditional arts such as tea-ceremony and flower arranging.

To give nervous test-takers a helping hand, students will use special six-sided chopsticks, believed to be easier to wield.

Surveys periodically show that Japanese worry a rising number of youngsters do not have proper chopstick skills.

Some parents even buy "training chopsticks" with loops to help children learn to hold the utensils properly.

Academically talented students who are chopstick-challenged, however, need not worry, Hisata said.

"If they do well on all other subjects, they won't fail the exam just because they have problems using chopsticks," he said.

"It's more a symbol, something we want students to know we pay attention to."

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Brown County(Wisconsin) Court Commissioner Lawrence Gazeley. He gets the award for the following.

A 25-year-old illegal immigrant jumped bail Friday when he failed to show up to face accusations he molested a 12-year-old girl on several occasions last year.

Paulo Sheispan-Landero remained at large late Friday, having been released from custody Tuesday after posting $5,000 bail. He was arrested and booked New Year's Eve after the girl's mother alerted authorities.

Brown County Court Commissioner Jane Sequin on Friday revoked Sheispan-Landero's bond and issued a warrant for his arrest. Sheispan-Landero faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted on the lone count of first-degree sexual assault of a child under age 13.

The case was the talk of the courthouse Friday after Fox News conservative talker Bill O'Reilly pounced on the case as part of his national broadcast Thursday.

O'Reilly blasted Brown County Court Commissioner Lawrence Gazeley's decision to set bail at $5,000, citing initial information from prosecutors that Sheispan-Landero had once been deported for other criminal acts and returned to the area within a week.

At the hearing Sheispan-Landero skipped Friday, Brown County Assistant District Attorney Tom Coaty said prosecutors had obtained ICE documents showing the defendant had never been deported, correcting erroneous information that originally came from the alleged victim's mother.

Brown County District Attorney John Zakowski on Friday said immigration officials confirmed that Sheispan-Landero was in the United States illegally.

O'Reilly had some of the facts wrong, but $5000 bail for child molestation is just flat out wrong. What was Gazeley thinking? I guess he is the just the latest example of our corrupt and broken judicial system. Child molestors let go while jurors and traffic violators get thrown in jail. Isn't the US legal system so wonderful?(NOT!) Tell me how is Gazeley's bail in any way defensible?

It isn't and for that, Brown County(Wisconsin) Court Commissioner Lawrence Gazeley is today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Linked to- Adam's Blog, Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Jo's Cafe, Right Wing Nation, Samantha Burns, Third World County,

OJ vs Paris

The Palm Beach Post is reporting that Dolphin owner Wayne Huizenga went to Costa Rica on Saturday. That's where the USC coach is on vacation.

The Dolphins have added Southern California coach Pete Carroll to their list of head-coaching candidates, a source said Sunday, and team officials might already have talked to Carroll.

Carroll, according to a Los Angeles Daily News report, is on vacation in Costa Rica, and a plane owned by Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga was in Costa Rica on Saturday.

Huizenga's plane, which has a Dolphins logo on its tail, was used to take the owner to interviews in Atlanta, San Diego, Chicago and Pittsburgh.

The Dolphins interviewed six candidates on Thursday and Friday: former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora, Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Chicago Bears coordinators Ron Rivera (defense) and Ron Turner (offense), and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.

Messages left for Carroll's representatives were not returned.

Carroll, 55, recently completed his sixth season as head coach of the Trojans. He has a 65-12 record and has led USC to two consecutive national championships.

Before heading to the college ranks, Carroll was an NFL head coach with the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-99), compiling a 33-31 regular-season record, 34-33 overall.

I've been sick for four days(and am still not 100%) and during that time I got to watch lots of television. One sports commentator dismissed the idea of Carroll returning to the pros. One reason being the coach would be dealing with prima donnas rather than college recruits. Plus Carroll could tell potential USC Trojans that an a former USC QB dated Paris Hilton. I guess Carroll doesn't use as a sales pitch the story of a former USC RB and Heisman trophy winner who one June 1994 night.....

Ok, I'm losing my mind and it has nothing to do with the antibiotics I'm taking. I wouldn't mind Carroll on the Dolphin sideline next fall but something tells me he likes the college ranks. Pete has had a taste of the Pros and Miami is in for a rebuilding project. For what possible reason would Carroll leave USC for Miami? Miami doesn't need so much a head coach with a winning record, as one who is good at evaluating talent. Look at the top Dolphin draft selections dating back to 1996. Miam's record is terrible and this has to be reversed.

Linked to- Bright and Early, Basil's Blog,

Need some ice?

From the Sun-Sentinel-

MIAMI -- Truckloads of ice cubes intended for hurricane relief use are giving Florida emergency managers a big chill.

The Florida State Emergency Response Team has $1.8 million worth of ice cubes, enough to fill 225 trucks, sitting in cold storage in Bartow and Jacksonville. The bill for monthly storage at minus 10 degrees -- approximately $90,000, according to state emergency management spokesman Mike Stone.

The ice was supposed to be for emergency use, but a mild hurricane season made that unnecessary, Stone said.

Mild? Hurricanes were non-existent this year for Florida. We instead had this overblown story.

225 trucks of ice? Are we discussing 18 wheelers? How much does it all that ice weigh? Hey I'm a Florida taxpayer wanting answers.(And expecting none)

Now, the agency is looking for organizations who want to take a load of the ice. But, the window of opportunity to use the ice is evaporating, and dispensing the ice is a slippery challenge.

Like most consumables, the ice has an expiration date. It will go bad if not used by around June 2007, the start of the next hurricane season, Stone said. Moreover, it is packaged in pallets containing about 360 bags each. To take the ice off the emergency managers' hands, organizations have to commit to at least that amount and be approved nonprofits or local governments, Stone said.

The surplus will not happen again next year. State emergency preparedness officials will no longer be in the ice storage business, Stone said. Instead, contracts with private suppliers across the state will allow Florida to have sufficient quantities available through hurricane season.

What happens if no one steps forward to take a chunk of the ice?

``Eventually if no one takes it we will have to recycle it back out,'' Stone said. ``Essentially, it is water.''He said he was not sure yet how the ice would be recycled.

I'd think melting would have something to do with it. As I always say, you got to love Florida.

Linked to- Bright and Early, Is it just me?

Hanging in here

I am still feeling far from 100%. Last night and right now I'm having terrible hot flashes from the infection I'm fighting. I'm going to call my family doctor today. This reminds me of an episode I had in 2001 and that ended with me spending part of five days in the hospital.

Blogging will continue to be light(if I'm not in the hospital.)

Linked to- Jo's Cafe, Right Wing Nation, Third World County,

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is former Miami Dolphin head football coach. He gets the award for the following statement in a December 21st press conference.

“I guess I have to say it, I’m not going to be the Alabama coach…”

Coaching in the NFL isn't for everyone. I don't blame Saban for leaving for somewhere he'd be happier. However I won't condone his lying to fans, the press and the Dolphin organization. Nick wanted to go, he should have resigned as soon as Alabama approached him. Its obvious now, Saban wanted out.

So in addition to losing his integrity, Nick Saban is today's Knucklehead of the Day award.

Linked to- Bright and Early, Cao's Blog, Jo's Cafe, Pirate's Cove, Right Wing Guy, Pursuing Holiness, Right Wing Nation, Third World County,

Under the weather

TFM hasn't been feeling well for the last 48 hours. That accounts for my lack of blogging. A recurring medical issue I have has lifted its head again and left me physically exhausted most of the time.

I hope to be back to regular blogging soon.

Next?

Nick Saban is Alabama bound.

Saban has agreed to become the new head coach at the University of Alabama, ending his two-year tenure with the Dolphins.

He informed Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga of his decision Wednesday. Huizenga made the announcement at a news conference, without Saban. Huizenga said he met with the coach at Saban's house this morning.

A source said Saban informed all of his coaches by speakerphone that he was leaving.

Guess who is getting a Knucklehead award tomorrow for his December 21st statement to the press?

So who will be the next Dolphin head coach? Lets throw out some name

Mike Mularkey- Current Offensive Coordinator of Miami
Don Capers- Current Defensive Coordinator
Jim Bates- Dolphins interim coach in 2004
Dennis Green- Recently fired Arizona Cardinal coach
Pete Carroll- USC Head coach and former Jets coach
Bill Cowher- Pittsburgh Steeler Head coach and rumored to be quitting
Jimmy Johnson- Former Dolphin coach and TV analyst
Some more

Steve Mariucci
Ron Rivera-NFL Asst Coach
Rex Ryan- Ditto
Mike Shula
Bobby Petrino

Lets sort out the list. I got all these names from either ESPN or The Sun-Sentinel.

Jimmy Johnson and Bill Cowher- LOL, only in some Star Trek alternate universe would they end up on the Dolphin sideline in 2007.

Mike Shula- Ditto. Shula has an obvious Miami connection and the trade of coaches would be ironic, but it just won't happen.

Sun-Sentinel readers think otherwise. Last time I looked Shula was polling first.

Ryan, Rivera and almost any NFL asst coach- The ones with playoff teams will be unavailable to interview till their team's elimination. Which leaves the guys who aren't coaching playoff teams. If the Dolphins want a present NFL asst not on their staff already, they should wait till after the Super Bowl.

Here's a longshot Asst possibility- Donnie Henderson formerly of the Jets and Lions, though getting fired by Detroit would look like a resume liability. To me it would be a blessing.

Petrino- Perennial rumor coach. Who knows if the NFL would interest him?

Carroll- See Petrino comment. If I were the Dolphins I'd put out feelers to Carroll.

Dennis Green- I'd like to see him considered for the Dolphin job and said so two days ago.

Mariucci- He's never impressed me but Miami may give them a look if they want an experienced NFL head coach.

Capers and Mularkey- Capers is a possibility, on the other hand Mularkey's choice would be about as popular with Dolphin fans as a David Duke speaking offer to the NAACP. Alot of Miami followers blame Mularkey for the team's offensive woes.

I played High school ball against Mularkey in Broward County in the 1970's. If we're going to interview former South Florida former HS gridiron players, we should add U of GA head coach Mark Richt to the list.

Richt as head coach, Mularkey as offensive coordinator. Can I coach special teams?

Jim Bates- An intriguing choice but probably unlikely. Bates was runnerup to Saban at the end of the 2004 season for the Dolphins head coaching job. Alot of Miami fans and players thought Bates should have been given a full-time shot at coaching Miami. He was 3-4 with a team that started 1-8. Another reason for his support, may have been Bates enthusiasm. His sideline manner was hardly dour in his short time as the Dolphins head coach.

Since leaving Miami, Bates was Green Bay defensive coordinator in 2005. I heard on ESPN that he took a sabbatical or leave from football in 2006.

If I were Miami, I'd consider Bates, Green and Carroll.

Update- The Sun-Sentinel is listing some more potential coaches. They include-

Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, former Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Indianapolis assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Pittsburgh Steelers assistants Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhut.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Bullwinkle Blog,

He should have a perfect record

That Knucklehead Pat Robertson is back in the news.

Robertson said God told him during a recent prayer retreat that major cities and possibly millions of people will be affected by the attack, which should take place sometime after September.

Robertson said God also told him that the U.S. only feigns friendship with Israel and that U.S. policies are pushing Israel toward "national suicide."

Robertson suggested in January 2006 that God punished then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with a stroke for ceding Israeli-controlled land to the Palestinians.

The broadcaster predicted in January 2004 that President Bush would easily win re-election. Bush won 51 percent of the vote that fall, beating Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

In 2005, Robertson predicted that Bush would have victory after victory in his second term. He said Social Security reform proposals would be approved and Bush would nominate conservative judges to federal courts.

Lawmakers confirmed Bush's 2005 nominations of John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. But the president's Social Security initiative was stalled.

"I have a relatively good track record," he said. "Sometimes I miss."

As James Joyner at OTB said.

You’d think he’d be batting 1.000 given the omniscience of his sources.

Absolutely and besides, why didn't the Reverend ask God where and when those attacks would happen so to warn the world or at least found whether Nick Saban is staying in Miami or not.

Linked to- Right Wing Nation, Right Wing Guy, Wakeup America,

A Good year to fly?

From AP-

GENEVA - The number of air crashes around the world in 2006 was the lowest in 53 years, making it one of the safest in aviation history, an independent watchdog said Tuesday.

Last year saw 156 crashes, compared with 178 in 2005, the Aircraft Crashes Record Office said in a statement.

The Geneva-based organization said 1,292 people died in plane crashes in 2006 — a drop of 11 percent on the previous year.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, air travel increased by 4 percent in 2006 to about 2.1 billion passengers.

Almost a third of all crashes last year occurred in North America, with 45 accidents in the United States alone, ACRO said.

The number of people killed in airline accidents in the U.S. rose from 75 in 2005 to 142 last year, according to a tally of incidents listed on the ACRO website.

The deadliest accident of 2006 was the downing of a Tupolev TU-154 in Ukraine in August, in which 170 people lost their lives.

While the largest number of fatalities usually occurs when a large, jet-powered plane crashes, three quarters of accidents last year involved smaller, propeller-powered planes.

Two European-made Airbus planes crashed in 2006 compared with five made by Seattle-based Boeing and 16 Ukrainian Antonov aircraft.

A couple of observations-

1. The only US air incident I remember was the Lexington crash. Were there other US airline fatalities?

2. The Boeing vs Antonov statistics should hardly surprise anyone. Just based on the parts of the world these two types of aircraft are used most in.

3- For the second year in a row, I'm predicting a major airline crash in the USA. It has been five years since the last. The law of averages says this country is overdue.

Linked to- Right Wing Nation, Third World County, Hill Chronicles,

Free Aung San Suu Kyi

Some news from Myanmar-

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's military government freed nearly 3,000 convicts on Wednesday, but key political prisoners were not among those released.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that the prisoners were freed ahead of the 59th anniversary of Myanmar's independence from Britain. Myanmar, also known as Burma, gained independence from Britain on Jan. 4, 1948 after more than 120 years of colonial rule.

The newspaper said the ruling military council granted amnesty to 2,831 prisoners "whose moral behavior and spiritual values have improved and changed for the better."

Prison department officials said prominent political prisoners such as detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her party deputy Tin Oo or prominent journalist Win Tin were not among those released. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from their seniors.

Myanmar's ruling junta only further proves their worthiness of the Knucklehead award I gave them last May. These military rulers are as cowardly as they are illegitimate as rulers. They fear one woman so much they have to keep her locked up. That says a great deal in itself.

Linked to- Right Wing Nation, Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Cao's Blog,

From the Silly news desk

Some news from Michigan. Do you think some cell phone company will use this for a future advertisement?

Linked to- Dumb Ox, Jo's Cafe, Random Yak,

OAK PARK, Mich. - A man who awoke inside a garbage truck that was about to compact its load was rescued after making a frantic cell phone call to police, authorities say.

The man, who is unemployed but not homeless, was scavenging for bottles Thursday when he fell asleep in a Dumpster, said police Lt. Mike Pousak. He awoke when the container was unloaded into a truck.

He told police he didn't know which truck he was in but gave a dispatcher the location of the Dumpster he fell asleep in, Pousak said.

He had tried yelling for help but no one heard him.

Police soon lost contact with the man when his cell phone battery became dislodged, Pousak said. Police checked several trucks, including one in a parking lot.

"An officer went and pounded on the side of the truck and somebody pounded back," Pousak said.

The man appeared to be unhurt except for a scratch, Pousak said.

Deja vu Miami Style

I'm betting that Nick Saban leaves Miami for Alabama. He wouldn't be the first Saban to pack up and leave town early.

If Dolphins coach Nick Saban announces today that he is leaving, longtime fans of football in South Florida might experience a sense of déjà vu.

Almost exactly 28 years ago, on Jan. 5, 1979, another coach named Saban - Lou Saban, Nick's cousin - met with the media to explain why he had bolted from the University of Miami.

Lou Saban also was an accomplished coach, having won two AFL titles with the Buffalo Bills in the 1960s. But he was a bit of a vagabond, too, at one point accepting nine jobs in less than three decades.

His decision to leave UM after the 1978 season was particularly baffling. He had a six-year contract and finished 3-8 and 6-5 in his first two rebuilding seasons.

Those were encouraging results for a struggling program, but Lou Saban nevertheless shocked his players and fans by opting to take over at Army.

"I thought I had done all I could do at Miami," he said at the time.

Saban had been an Army officer, and he said West Point inspired him in a special way.

But he coached at Army just one season, finishing 2-8-1.

Unlike now, there were no rumors swirling or gaggles of sportswriters(and bloggers) talking about whether Lou Saban would leave or stay. I was 18 at the time and in the last year of high school. A local sportswriter wrote about Saban's departure as if it meant death for the U of M program.

Less than five years later a Howard Schnellenberger led Hurricane squad would win the Orange Bowl and the national championship.

What the above Post article doesn't delve into much is both Saban's tendency to move on from job to job.

Take for instance Lou's travels

1960-1961 Boston Patriots
1962-1965 Buffalo Bills
1967-1971 Denver Broncos
1972-1976 Buffalo Bills

77-78 U of Miami
79- Army
83-84 Central Florida

Before coaching in the NFL, Saban did stints as a head football coach at Northwestern and Western Illinois beginning in 1955.

I used Wikipedia to bring up the above. The online encyclopedia has its limitations. There is no mention of either Saban's Army stint or his less than three week stay as Atheletic director at the U of Cinncinatti in 1977(Between Buffalo and Miami jobs).

Nick has worked at the following colleges or NFL teams before getting his first head coaching job- Syracuse University, West Virginia University, Ohio State, Navy, Houston Oilers and his alma mater of Kent State University.

Saban then spent one year at the University of Toledo as head football coach. 1990
Four years as a Cleveland Brown asst coach 1991-94, five years at Michigan State 95-99 and five years at LSU 2000-04.

That's alot of moving around. A Palm Beach Post article says Saban may be feeling insecure about his job in Miami and has had these problems in the past.

A source who has spoken to Saban in recent days said his flirtation with Alabama stems from his fear that Huizenga might not want him for long if the Dolphins, 15-17 in the past two seasons, remain mediocre.

"He really thinks he's going to get fired if he has another losing season," the source said. "This was also a problem at Michigan State."

Considering Alabama's recent coaching history, will Nick feel all that secure in Tuscaloosa?

I don't think Saban's present decision is being driven by money but his preference for college coaching and perhaps worries about his future in Miami. Today looks like the day we'll discover where Nick Saban will be coaching in 2007.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Bullwinkle Blog,

Dead for now

The debate over whether to allow women to succeed to Japanese throne has ended.

TOKYO - Japan will drop plans to allow women to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne following the birth last year of a long-awaited male heir, a news report said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to ditch recommendations by a government panel in 2005 that an emperor's first child — boy or girl — should accede the throne, according to a report by the daily Sankei Shimbun.

The reform was designed to defuse a looming succession crisis for the royal family, which had produced no male heir in four decades.

But the drive, championed by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koziumi, lost momentum after the Sept. 6 birth of Prince Hisahito to Princess Kiko, the wife of the emperor's second son.

Abe now plans to encourage debate on other ways to make the imperial succession more stable, the paper said, citing unidentified officials.

Abe — considered more conservative than Koizumi — has repeatedly shown reluctance to change Japan's 1947 Imperial Household Law, which says only males with emperors on their father's side can reign as monarch.

A law change allowing female monarchs would have put 5-year-old Princess Aiko — the only daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Masako — second in line to the throne.

But the plan provoked an uproar among many politicians and scholars, who argued it would end centuries of tradition. Opponents even suggested bringing back concubines to help provide male descendants to increase candidates for the throne.

I blogged about the concubine idea. My regret is that I didn't give Prince Tomohito a Knucklehead award for his idiotic idea. The Japanese people favor a female Empress. It will probably take another succession crisis before Japan's stubborn politicians change the law.

Linked to- Cao's Blog, Is it just me?, Planck's Constant,

The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Scott Swafford. He gets the award for the following.

ATHENS, Tenn. - When deputies knocked, Herman Scott Swafford told them what they already smelled. McMinn County Sheriff's Department records show deputies knocked on the door of an outbuilding, suspicious that someone might be making methamphetamine.

A report shows that Deputy Mike Patterson smelled a chemical odor and when he asked Swafford what was going on inside, Swafford said, "You know what's going on, I'm cooking meth."

A search that followed sent him to jail Sunday.

LOL. Scott Swafford is a classic Knucklehead of the Day.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Bright & Early, Cao's Blog, Dumb Ox, Hill Chronicles, Is it just me?, Jo's Cafe, Outside the Beltway, Pirate's Cove, Random Yak, Right Wing Guy, Third World County, Wakeup America,