06 Apr 2005
Suspect's Phone Tips Police to Burglary

Did you ever hear the saying "If it weren't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all."?

AP - Hawkins County authorities were waiting for two would-be burglars after a cell phone in a suspect's pocket accidentally dialed 911 and dispatchers overheard them plotting the crime.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

00:00 /Humor | 0 comments | permanent link

Connecticut to Sue U.S. Over Cost of Testing Law

It's the broader principal here that I object to: saddling the states with onerous regulations and requirements, that they are required to fund from their taxpayers pockets. It's the equivalent of a new Federal tax, disguised as new state taxes.

Just one more way that Congress plays the politics of pork.

The suit would open a new chapter in a struggle between states and the federal government over the law, known as No Child Left Behind.

(link) [NYT > Home Page]

00:00 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

Study: Drug-Resistant Staph Cases Rising

Of course the over use of these drugs by humans (and their medical professionals) has certainly played a huge role in this, but I've gotta wonder how much the continual administration of sub-theraputic doses of antibiotics to cattle, hogs and chickens in "modern" factory farms have contributed to this problem.

AP - Dangerous drug-resistant staph infections are showing up at an alarming rate outside hospitals and nursing homes in the United States. New research found that in one part of the country, as many as one in five infections were picked up out in the community.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

00:00 /Agriculture | 0 comments | permanent link

Political Groups Paid Two Relatives of House Leader

The "money quote" (pun intended) from the article:

"It's DeLay Inc. " said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a research group that has closely monitored Mr. DeLay and his campaign fund-raising and expenditures. "If it's not illegal, it certainly is inappropriate for members of Congress to use their positions to enrich their families."

Cream is not the only thing that rises to the top. Look at nearly any pond this time of year, and you'll notice that scum floats as well ...

Tom DeLay's wife and daughter have been paid more than $500,000 since 2001 by Mr. DeLay's political action and campaign committees.

(link) [NYT > Home Page]

00:00 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link