I don’t know exactly how I happened upon This Site, but it’s pretty dang awesome. It looks to be produced by the folks at Deseret Morning News. It’s definitely going to go into my rotation of sites that I visit daily. Finding it was certainly a highlight of my day.
The Master of the EIB Microphone is making some big cash on a letter sent to his boss chastising him from 41 members of the US Congress…The letter is up for auction on Ebay.
Bids will continue until Friday for the letter signed by 41 Democratic senators and sent on Oct. 2 to Mark P. Mays, president of Clear Channel, the parent company of the conservative talk show host’s radio broadcast. The winning bidder will get the letter, the “Halliburton briefcase in which this letter is secured 24 hours a day;” a letter of thanks from Limbaugh and a picture of the talkmeister announcing the auction at a speech in Philadelphia delivered last Thursday.
This is one of those “only in Michigan” things. While it’s definitely wrong, and theft you have to admit that it is a bit funny. For those of you not from Michigan or familiar, Michigan has a $0.10 bottle/can deposit on all their soda/beer bottles/cans. In the Seinfeld episode it showed the characters of Seinfeld taking all these NY cans to MI to get deposit money from them.
Here’s the story:
Authorities: Smuggling Rings Defrauded Mich. Bottle Deposit Fund
DETROIT – Authorities said they arrested 13 people and seized more than $500,000 in cash after breaking up a smuggling ring that collected millions of beverage containers in other states and cashed them in for 10 cents apiece in Michigan.
A total of 15 people were named in a 67-count warrant issued as part of Operation Can Scam, Attorney General Mike Cox said Wednesday. Some suspects were members of two smuggling rings based in Ohio and others were Michigan merchants who took part in the scheme, he said.
Investigators alleged that millions of non-redeemable out-of-state cans were collected, crushed, packaged in plastic bags and sold at a discount to merchants who then redeemed them. Bulk redemption payments from the state are based on weight.
The scheme defrauded the Michigan Bottle Deposit Fund, whose proceeds are used to pay for environmental cleanup efforts, Cox said in a statement.
“Each year, this type of activity defrauds the state approximately $13 million,” said Col. Peter Munoz, Michigan State Police director.
The charges include maintaining a continuing criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony, and fraud, a 5-year felony, the statement said.
The probe recalled a 1996 episode of “Seinfeld” in which two characters learn about Michigan’s 10-cent deposit law and head there with a truckload of 5-cent New York cans, hoping to cash in on the difference, before getting sidetracked.
“A half-million in cash is not ‘Seinfeld’ humor,” Cox spokesman Matt Frendewey said.
I’m a huge animal lover, so these types of stories always just warm my heart. In future posts I’ll show off my sweeties.
From: Smoky the cat found more than 3 months after Wisconsin tornado
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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AP) — More than three months after disappearing during a tornado, Smoky the cat has been reunited with his owner.
Smoky was last seen June 7, before a tornado destroyed Wanda Ploeger’s mobile home in rural Riverview, Wisconsin, scattering her belongings.
Ploeger was at work that evening and couldn’t find her kitty when she returned.
Ploeger, who has been staying with her ex-husband, said she knew Smoky was out there somewhere. She’d go out late at night to look for Smoky because that’s when he liked to go out, she said.
“I kept telling my sister I never got a feeling about him,” she said. “With other animals I’d always get a feeling. … I always thought he’d come back.”
And he did.
While driving about 21/2 miles from where her trailer used to be on September 15, Ploeger saw a white streak and asked the driver to stop the truck along the highway.
The cat had gone over the hill so she crouched on the hill and called until it came to her.
Smoky dropped about three pounds and is now seven pounds. He also is taking antibiotics for an abscess, which he might have suffered while fighting, Ploeger said.
Ploeger said she plans to buy another mobile home and put it in the same place.
“It wouldn’t be the same without him here,” she said.
Earlier this week I posted a story that MSNBC did on Teacher Crushes and their innocence and how they actually inspire students to do well. After the story was published they received letters from people describing their individual “crushes” and here are a few of them. I thought that they were all very good.
In biology class, we had a student teacher come in for a semester. My grade went from a D+ to a B+ in a matter of weeks. I didn’t want her to think I was dumb. I am pretty sure she had no idea. After all that time of my parents telling me if I applied myself I could do it, imagine that — they were right.
— Chip, Kalamazoo, Mich.
In the 7th grade, in Jacksonville, N.C. in 1966. He was, first of all, the first male teacher I had ever had, and he was gorgeous! Tall, dark and handsome. Prior to that year I was always getting into trouble for talking too much. In his class, I hung onto every word he said. My grades went up that year! I certainly didn’t want him to think I was stupid, as if it would matter! It was innocent, it was lovely, it is a very sweet memory. I’m sorry in today’s world we have to be so cautious of our children and they can’t enjoy the innocence of a teacher crush.
— Debi, Greensboro, N.C.
In high school I had Mr. V for AP history. So smart which I found sexy (and easy on the eyes). I did more work in his class than any other. Plus I loved the class and had to work twice as hard because everyone was so smart. He wrote very positive and encouraging words on my very lengthy assignments. I did well because I wanted too impress him. I still have some of those old assignments in my yearbooks. He inspired me as a teacher as well. Last year I taught a global studies class and loved it! He was a result of that.
— Pamela
Click on over to MSNBC for more letters.
I haven’t liked Dan Rather since he disrespected the first President Bush back in 1988 (will post video later of their encounter).
But when he did what he did in terms of smearing the current President Bush, made me lose all respect for the man.
Now comes his preposterous claim that he was the fall guy in the CBS News organization over those forged documents regarding President Bush’s military service. It’d be laughable if he was joking about this, but he’s far from it.
Read the story and give me your opinion.
[Update: Governor Romney’s Statement on Ahmadinejad’s possible visit to Ground Zero]
Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement regarding the possible visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Ground Zero in New York City:
“Ahmadinejad’s shockingly audacious request should be met with a vehement no. It’s inconceivable that any consideration would be given to the idea of entertaining the leader of a state sponsor of terror at Ground Zero. This would deeply offend the sensibilities of Americans from all corners of our nation. Instead of entertaining Ahmadinejad, we should be indicting him.”
First off, Ahmadinejad shouldn’t even be allowed inside this country and it’s absolutely absurd that he’s coming to this country.
First take a look at what Governor Mitt Romney has said about it…
Monday, Sep 17, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kevin Madden
(857) 288-6390Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney released a letter sent to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging “the United Nations to revoke any invitation to President Ahmadinejad to address the General Assembly.”
In his letter, Governor Romney wrote:
“The Iranian regime under President Ahmadinejad has spoken openly about wiping Israel off the map, has fueled Hezbollah’s terror campaign in the region and around the world, and defied the world community in its pursuit of nuclear weapons – capabilities that make these threats even more ominous. As General David Petraeus testified last week, Iran is also supporting Shia militia extremists and violence that is taking the lives of American soldiers and undermining the Iraqi government.”
Governor Romney believes that the Iranian regime’s record demands that the United Nations “take a strong stand against Iran’s President Ahmadinejad.” Failure to take such a stand would be a setback to efforts to address the dangerous and deadly actions taken by Iran’s leaders. If the United Nations fails to act, Governor Romney wrote that “the United States must reconsider its level of support and funding for the United Nations as we look to rebuild and revitalize effective international partnerships to meet 21st century threats.”
Today’s letter builds on the comprehensive strategy to prevent a nuclear Iran that Governor Romney laid out in January 2007 at the annual Herzliya Conference in Israel. As part of this strategy, Governor Romney called for the diplomatic isolation of Iran. He also encouraged public pension funds to strategically divest from any businesses associated with the Iranian regime’s dangerous activities. In September 2006, Governor Romney ordered state government agencies not to support the visit of former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to the Boston area because of the Iranian regime’s dangerous actions.
Read: Governor Romney’s letter to the U.N. Secretary-General. Also, read: Governor Romney’s strategy to prevent a nuclear Iran.
But, this one takes the cake…From Fox News, it’s titled Iranian President’s Visit to Ground Zero Denied. This man has nerve, and I don’t mean that in a positive way. I can not believe that this man who’s touted the complete and utter destruction of the state of Israel is going to be allowed inside the United States. Not to mention his nuclear program, and his threatening postures toward the world at large.
I don’t like the UN anyway, I’d like to see it’s doors closed forever and the the US to reclaim that land as it’s own. We are the United States of America, not the United States of the world.
In this linked story it tells of the tale of the grandma who didn’t water her lawn getting arrested and charged with resisting arrest (the poor woman didn’t want to give her name…that’s what they call resisting), and not watering her lawn (apparently a misdemeanor in the city of Orem).
From the story titled Bloodied 70-year-old woman cuffed for having a brown lawn found on CNN.
OREM, Utah (AP) — A 70-year-old woman arrested in a dispute over her brown lawn pleaded not guilty Tuesday, then stood by as a Los Angeles lawyer waved handcuffs for the cameras outside court.
Betty Perry is charged with resisting arrest and failing to maintain her landscaping, both misdemeanors.
She was arrested July 6 after failing to give her name to a police officer who visited her home.
During a struggle, Perry fell and injured her nose. She spent more than an hour in a holding cell before police released her.
“I ask the citizens of Orem: How many of you would like to have your great-grandmother taken from her home with bruises and blood and placed in handcuffs for failing to water her lawn?” attorney Gloria Allred said.
“Let’s bring sanity back to law enforcement,” she said.
The mayor and City Council apologized, and the police department said the situation could have been handled differently. But the city attorney still is pressing charges, and Perry is due back in court next month.
A state investigation found that Officer James Flygare acted properly in arresting Perry after trying to get her to cooperate.
Perry’s water had been turned off for about nine months, at her request, although she was living at the house at the time of the arrest. Orem has a shutoff policy for people who are away for extended periods.
It’s hard to explain how this story makes me feel. My senior year of High School I interviewed Dr. Kevorkian for my senior research paper. I didn’t find him cold or anything of the sort, and back then I was firmly on the pro-assisted suicide side. I felt that these people were suffering, so why not help them do what they wanted to anyway. Over time, I have changed that view. Now I believe that people who are in intense pain should have as much help alleviating that pain as possible but I don’t think that a doctor assisting them in their deaths is ethical. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have good feelings about Dr. Jack. I don’t think that he’s done what he has out of violence or any sort of publicity. I believe he’s doing what he’s doing (or done) because he cares about people. I just don’t approve of his methods. Anyway, I’m glad he’s not in prison anymore. And he’s agreed to try and change the laws now instead of assisting in anymore suicides.
Here’s the story of his release from The Freep:
By JIM SCHAEFER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
UPDATED AT 11:20 A.M.
COLDWATER – Dr. Death is a free man.
Jack Kevorkian walked out of state prison today for the first time in more than eight years, flanked by his attorneys, two family friends and “60 Minutes” correspondent Mike Wallace, who greeted Kevorkian with a hug.
“It’s wonderful,” said a smiling Kevorkian, who eschewed a business suit his attorneys had brought for him for a trademark blue cardigan. “It’s one of the high points of life.”
When asked how he felt, he told pool reporters, “good.”
Mayer Morganroth, one of Kevorkian long-time lawyers, said his client was grateful for supporters who wrote him over the years and said: “he just wants a little privacy for the next few days.”
Kevorkian, 79, got into a white conversion van, rented by Morganroth, and drove away from the Lakeland Correctinal Facility shortly after 10 a.m. They avoided a media horde gathered by the prison’s administrative building by taking another exit.
The assisted-suicide doctor, who claimed to have helped 130 people die during the 1990s, served about 8 ½ years of a 10-20 year sentence for second-degree murder.
Before resting today, Kevorkian will interview with “60 Minutes” for a segment scheduled to air Sunday night on CBS. Wallace, a correspondent for the news show, has stayed in contact with Kevorkian throughout his time in prison and has visited him.
Kevorkian also is expected to interview with Larry King for a show to air Monday on CNN. Morganroth has said Kevorkian will answer questions from other media at a news conference on Tuesday.
I just love this story. And what a woman he married to do all she did all those years.
From: CNN:
WARSAW, Poland (Reuters) — A 65-year-old railwayman who fell into a coma following an accident in communist Poland regained consciousness 19 years later to find democracy and a market economy, Polish media reported on Saturday.
Wheelchair-bound Jan Grzebski, whom doctors had given only two or three years to live following his 1988 accident, credited his caring wife Gertruda with his revival.
“It was Gertruda that saved me, and I’ll never forget it,” Grzebski told news channel TVN24.
“For 19 years Mrs Grzebska did the job of an experienced intensive care team, changing her comatose husband’s position every hour to prevent bed-sore infections,” Super Express reported Dr Boguslaw Poniatowski as saying.
“When I went into a coma there was only tea and vinegar in the shops, meat was rationed and huge petrol lines were everywhere,” Grzebski told TVN24, describing his recollections of the communist system’s economic collapse.
“Now I see people on the streets with cell phones and there are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin.”
Grzebski awoke to find his four children had all married and produced 11 grandchildren during his years in hospital.
He said he vaguely recalled the family gatherings he was taken to while in a coma and his wife and children trying to communicate with him.