Who's the real Turkey

So, the Turkish ambassador to the US was called back. And?

The US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs brought HR 106 to the floor last week, a resolution acknowledging the Armenian genocide of World War I in the US official record - I love that this is what our leaders are preoccupied with. The resolution was met with a great deal of hostility and concern from a military perspective. ( Read Rep. Skelton's Letter to Speaker Pelosi on the matter ) Some in Congress feared backlash from the Turkish government and the effects that it might have on the US ability to use air and land space in Turkey.

Presently the US has one military outpost within Turkey. Incirlik Air Force Base is a fully equipped base, complete with the coffee shops, movie theater, basketball court, public park, hotel and of course the golf course. Don't believe it? Check out the pics posted on the base website.

IN reaction, the US embassador to Turkey was called home. Turkish citizens protested. Government officials took supercilious stances on the issue.

"Yesterday some in Congress wanted to play hardball," said Egemen Bagis, foreign policy adviser to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "I can assure you Turkey knows how to play hardball." (CNN.com)

And, of course, the American media lapped it up.
Take a look through the glitz and glamour of the story though.

There was a holocaust in Turkey during WWI. The Turks know it, it must have been hard to miss. The Armenian's certianly know it. But why rub it in the face of the Turks right now? Is it really that essential that it goes down in the record books? Especially with the other issues we have facing this country right now... say, i don't know, the war. A rapidly slowing economy. Allocations, people. Let's talk allocations.

For once, I agree with the Bush Administration. The Associated Press reports that a White House deputy press secretary Scott Stanzel, meanwhile, reiterated that the vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee approving the resolution would be problematic for American efforts in the Middle East.

"While the House is debating the Ottoman Empire, they are not moving forward with appropriations bills," said Stanzel. "The House has not appointed conferees, they aren't coming to the table to discuss children's health care, and they haven't permanently closed the intelligence gap that will open up when the Protect America Act expires."

Iraqi Refugees Beginning to Get Their Due

BBC is beating me to it.

Check out this article on the refugee crisis. The writer makes the point that I have been stressing as loudly as humanly possible for quite some time: With 12 million Palestinians already dislocated within the region, the presence of nearly 2 million Iraqis displaced literally on top of them is only serving to further destablize the region. This situation is, by far, the largest humanitarian crisis in the world right now... have you heard about it?

Keep your eyes peeled on this blog for updates as I make my journey to Jordan and Syria for personal coverage on this issue.
Giving a voice to the voiceless...
Giving power to the powerless...
Giving a face to those who are suffering as a result of the war in Iraq...
And, above all, telling the story of the Iraqi people... finally.

On this Day: Pac-Man Love

It is my dream to someday own one of these machines!
Bryan Los quotes it at around $1700 on The Scripted Lizard ... so you better start saving if you want to buy it for my 30th birthday. Actually, nah, forget it. I am going to buy one for myself on my 30th simply so I can say : "I bought a Nerf dart board for $17 on my 26th birthday. I bought a Pac-Man video game for $1700 on my 30th."

Why the ode?

According to Wired.com, Pac-Man made it's world debut in Japan as Puck-Man in Japan on this day, 1979.

To this day, that little chomper still beats Mario Kart and the Sims on entertainment.

The American courts in turmoil

A gift in the form of email from my roommate... I never pass these along, but this one was too funny.

The following are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!

ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.

ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do.
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty.

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Uh.... I was gett'in laid!

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Are you shitt'in me? Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Now whose death do you suppose terminated it?

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Guess.

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Would you like to rephrase that?

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Huh....are you qualified to ask that question?

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

Six-packs are coming!

Fact: Pennsylvania has the mos backward liquor laws in the nation.

Fact: Pennsylvania is also the single largest purchaser of alcohol in the world... Why? Because the state buys it and then resells it at a higher rate for profit. Thus, the added expense and strange regulatory laws.

But, all of that is in motion to change.

A state Senate committee approved a bill designed to give beer drinkers more options today. The bill, which passed the Senate Law and Justice Committee on a 9-1 vote, must still receive approval from the full House and Senate.

Under the bill, beer distributors could sell quantities as small as a six-pack - currently, the state's approximately 1,300 distributors must sell quantities of a case or more, the only law of its kind in the nation, according to Senate officials - and individuals the ability to buy three six-packs per person for take-out at bars. Present law allows only two.

The bill still has to be approved by the full House and Senate, but this is a small step forward for beer drinkers, and a giant leap for PennsyPimp-kind.

Burning chilli sparks terror fear

Firefighters wearing protective breathing apparatus were called a London restaraunt after reports of noxious smoke filling the air.

Police closed off three roads, homes were evaquated and crews broke down the door to the Thai Cottage restaurant Monday where they discovered the source - a 9lb pot of chillies.

I think America's "War of Terror," as Borat calls it, has everyone sufficiently terrorized.

BBC reports the restaurant had been preparing Nam Prik Pao, a red-hot Thai dip which uses extra-hot chillies which are deliberately burnt.

But the smell prompted several members of the public to call the emergency services.

Iran: US too thin to invade

Iran’s Foreign Minister made a fervent statement that the United States’ military is spread too thin to attack Iran the Associated Press reports.

"Our analysis is clear: [the] US is not in a position to impose another war in our region, against their taxpayers," Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters.

He warned Washington against making such a "mad decision".

Despite its conviction that the US would find launching another military assault extremely taxing, Iran was making preparations for such an attack, Mottaki said.

In the meantime, Mottaki said Iran is working with the International Atomic Energy Agency to answer questions and calm speculations about its nuclear program. In return for its cooperation with the IAEA, Iran was granted a reprieve until November on sanctions placed on its nuclear program.

The Bush administration, which contends that the nuclear power program in Iran is merely a cover for a weapons program, ceded to demands from China and Russia to give Tehran more time to address questions from the IAEA about its nuclear program.

Winning the War on Drugs?

Illegal immigration is still out of control, but maybe the “Great Wall of Mexico” concept is accomplishing something.

According to BBC News, John Walters, head of the Department of National Drug Control Policy, reported that is achieving success in its efforts to disrupt the flow of drugs from Mexico.

US authorities are working with Mexico to combat cartels throughout the country. An estimated $1 billion will be spent on the cause this year. But, Walters said that there is evidence the investment is paying off.

"What's happened for the first time in two decades is we now see widespread reports of cocaine shortages in the United States," Walters said.

Thirty-seven cities in the US have shown a rise in the price of cocaine because dealers are having difficulty receiving supplies.

North Korea, Kim Jong-il back down on nuclear program in exchange for oil.

Talks that began Aug. 27 in Beijing appear to bear the fruit of progress as the North Korea has agreed to shut down its primary nuclear reactor and to give disclosure of information on its nuclear program by Dec.1.

Seeking to remove North Korean from the American list of terrorist nations, a blueprint has been drawn for the slow process of removing North Korea from the terror list.

A US-led team of technicians to oversee the dismantling of the major nuclear power plant which produced the weapons tested over the Indian Ocean last November.

As a concession, and despite suspicions that North Korea supplied Syria with nuclear weapons, members of the negotiation team agreed to fulfill a pact made in February to re-supply Korea with oil (The US, Japan and South Korea stopped the influx of fuel supplies Nov. 11, 2002, check out the CNN timeline ). Russia, South Korea and China have agreed to send nearly a million tons of oil to North Korea. President Bush added another 50,000 tons, worth approximately $25 million, to the tally.

North Korea joined the six-way negotiation talks seeking a “non-aggression” pact with the US, and has made some headway.

Japan stated Wednesday that it would cease providing aid of any kind to North Korea because Pyongyang has delayed response to a dispute over the return of several Japanese nationals kidnapped in North Korea.

South Korea has come to the table of negotiation with North Korea for the first time since the Korean War.

Prego? The flavor of the day.

Looks like questionable pregnancies are in high fashion.

Don’t know about Kid Rock’s assured sentiments about Pamela Anderson’s miscarriage… we probably never will. But it appears we will also forever be in judicious curiosity about Princess Di as well.

In today’s paper, we took a look at Kid Rock’s Rolling Stone interview, in which he claims that ex-wife Pam made up a story about a miscarriage to lure him home from a basketball game. Gasp! Scandalous.

The latest and greatest with the recently reopened Princess Diana investigation: She was killed to cover up a pregnancy and to protect the Royal family image.

According to BBC News Lord Justice Scott Baker, lead counsel, said in opening statements of the inquest that accusations of Diana’s pregnancy were relevant.

"First, her pregnancy or suspected pregnancy is said to have provided the motive or part of the motive for killing Diana," he said.

"Second, her body was embalmed by the French and it is said that the purpose of this was to conceal that she was pregnant."

In questioning, the coroner added that no pregnancy test was carried out on Diana at the Paris hospital where she was taken after the deadly accident, as there appeared to be no reason to do so.

Mohamed Al Fayed, the son of Dodi Al Fayed, who was killed in a car crash along side Princess Di in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997, called for the inquest to investigate the liability of paparazzi in the death of the princess, his father and their driver. But it doubtful he anticipated the hyper-focus the case has had on the intimate details of Diana’s life.

Did you really need to know she was on the pill?

Scooter's Speech at the UN

Here is the speech I was speaking of in the last post

Scooter's Trip to the Big Apple

Let us take a moment to review what the latest, winner of the Most-Demonized World Leader" Award, Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or, Scooter as we have dubbed him) had to say on his three day stint stirring the pot in New York.

On Human Rights:
(In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly)
"Unfortunately human rights are being extensively violated by certain powers, especially by those who pretend to be their exclusive advocates. Setting up secret prisons, abducting persons, trials and secret punishments without any regard to due process, extensive tapping of telephone conversations intercepting private mail... have become commonplace and prevalent."

On Nuclear Weapons:
(At Columbia in Q&A)
"Our nuclear program, first and foremost operates within the framework of law. ...[And] they are completely peaceful. We don't believe in nuclear weapons, period."

Ahmadinejad said Iran's nuclear program was for electricity generation.

On the nation of Israel:
(To Scott Pelley in a 60 Minutesinterview Sept. 23 in Tehran)
PELLEY: Mr. President, you say you love all nations. I have to assume that includes the Nation of Israel.

AHMADINEJAD: Israel is not a nation. Well, we like the people, yes, because they are victims as well. They used to live in their own countries, in their own cities. They were given empty promises, false promises. They said that we are going to give you jobs, we are going to give you security. And they pushed the local Palestinian people out and made them refugees and also made refugees of another community. In other words, from thousands of miles away, people have been emigrating to this country and they are living in fear every day. And we feel for them. Last year in my speech I said that the Zionist entity should open the borders and the gates. Let the people decide where they want to go and settle. They are good people as well. We have no bones to pick with them. We are against terrorism. We are against wrong policies. We are friends with all people, Jewish people, Christians, different people of different faiths. We are, well, we’re in contact with them. Here in Iran there are Jewish communities; there are Christian communities; we’re all friends. Also, non-Muslim countries, we help them when a natural, let’s say, calamity breaks. We love all people. We are opposed to Zionism, occupation, terrorism, dropping bombs on behalf of people when they are inside their own homes, killing men, women, and children. Very openly I have said time and again that I oppose these.

PELLEY: If the Palestinians reach an agreement with Israel for a two-state solution, will you then recognize Israel as well?

AHMADINEJAD: Well, the decision rests with the Palestinian people. This is exactly what I’m saying.
On the Holocaust:
(At a meeting with Quakers in NYC)
He backed off earlier comments which questioned the magnitude of the Holocaust, calling it "a reality of our time, a history that occurred." However, he still said the Nazi murder of 6 million Jews required more research.

On Global Domination:
(In an address to the United Nations Security Council)
AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): A scientific and careful analysis shows that the root of the present situation lies in two fundamental factors.

Without doubt, the first factor lies in the relations arising from the consequences of the Second World War. The victors of the war drew the road map for global domination and formulated their policies not on the basis of justice, but for ensuring the interests of the victors over the vanquished nations.

Therefore, mechanisms arising from this approach and related policies have not been capable of finding just solutions for global solutions since 60 years ago.

[Second,] some big powers still behave like the victors of the world war and regard other states and nations, even those that had nothing to do with the war, as the vanquished and humiliate other nations and demand extortion through condescending positions similar to that of the master-servant relationship of the Medieval ages.

They believe that they should have more rights than others and also are not accountable to any international organizations.
On the Occupation of Iraq:

On Iraqi refugees:

"Iran and Iraq are two countries with great nations. Insecurity in Iraq will inflict the most damage on Iran."

Ahmadinejad made left a clear impression that Iran is prepared to fill the void of leadership created by the occupation of Iraq. But he was mum on the issue of opening the borders to refugees.

He did say that Iran is receiving Afghans though. According to PressTV, Ahmadinejad said that more than 2.5 million Afghans live in Iran legally and enjoy all legal rights. "Certain Afghan groups have entered Iran illicitly. A legal position should be adopted towards them to preserve the rights of Afghan refugees."

On Homosexuality:
(At Columbia)
“In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country. We don't have that in our country. In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who's told you that we have it.” This statement was removed from the official transcripts printed in Farsi in Iran.

On Iran's plans in the global community:
(In address to the United Nations Security Council)
Today, the problems that people around the world face are mainly rooted in the disregard of human values and ethics, and also in the rule of the selfish and incompetent.

Friends, ladies, and gentlemen, the only sustainable way to the betterment of mankind is the return to the teachings of the divine prophets, monotheism, respect for the dignity of humans, and the flow of love and affection in all relationships, ties, and regulations, and to reform the present structures on this basis.

To fulfill this objective, I invite everyone -- everybody to form a front of fraternity, amity, and sustainable peace, based on monotheism and justice, under the name of "Coalition for Peace," (ph) to prevent incursions and arrogance and to promote the culture of affection and justice.

I hereby announce that, with the help of all independent, justice-seeking and peace-loving nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be heading down this path.

Monotheism, justice, and compassion for humans should dominate all the pillars of the U.N. And this organization should be a forum for justice, and every member should enjoy equal spiritual and legal support.
Read More...

On respect:
According to a USAToday report, at a dinner Tuesday night with 60 journalists and Iran scholars, Ahmadinejad listened in silence for more than an hour, taking notes as attendees commented and asked questions. He then responded to each statement, addressing his questioner by name.

For a man who's country has been dragged through the mud for the past five years in the Western media to come to the United States and address the United Nations with humility that is so entirely uncharacteristic is shocking. Everyone anticipated "Madman Iran" outbursts, but there were none. Everyone expected blatant anti-US rhetoric, but on the whole, there was none. Everyone expected words of violence and threatening speech, but instead there was a dissertation on the Islamic views on modern international events.

Was this calm, religious speech on respect and peace a rouse? Was it designed as a public relations stunt to improve the image of Iran? Probably. But if the people of the United States feel threatened by such a display, perhaps they are looking in the wrong places.

News Gone Wild: Media on E!

Elton John was found with nudey picks of underage {gasp!} girls! Read It!

Michael Vick was caught smoking weed. Read It!

Barry Bonds record-breaking ball will go to the Hall of Fame bearing an asterix, literally. Read It!

Halo 3 steals two records: most sales and most complaints on the first day. Read it! Here and here.

Cops' accusal in Biggie's murder turns out to be a lie, part of one inmates attempt to make some money by suing the city for wrongful death. Read It!

Idiocracy is a real thing. Congress is actually debating the "enhanced" value of Gatorade. Read It!

Super Troopers had its place today, too. But instead of insects, it's the super-germ kind of bugs. Read It!

And these were our leading headlines today... Oh, wait, I forgot, the US condemned Iran again.

Mow Your Lawn, Power Your Car

Admit it, you can't imagine living without your car.
Admit it, you really do think those hybrids are ugly.
Admit it, you too suffer from "Oil Addiction."

Wired Magazine reports There is a cure in sight if we are willing to bear the costs. Turns out your lawn clippings will do the job of powering you car.

Seems Forrest Gump was on to something.

Scientists have the technology to convert cellulose into fuel. It's pretty simple too, or at least it sounds simple. Take a plant, extract the cellulose, add some enzymes and convert the cellulose molecules into sugars. Then, like they do with wine and beer, ferment the sugar into alcohol and distill it to maximum potency. High enough proof= flammable. Flammable= combustible, which means, powering an engine with plants instead of Middle East oil.

Even God Gets Drunk Sometimes

Jack Bauer is a god. He has died and been reincarnated on three seperate occassions, and every time, he is back to chasing the bad guys within 20 minutes. If that's not god quality, then what is?

FoxNews reports that Kiefer Sutherland, the actor who plays Jack Bauer on Fox's hit show "24", was busted on a DUI in Los Angeles at 1:15 a.m. today. Though they would not divulge Sutherland's actual blood-alcohol level, the actor was taken to jail where he was booked, charged and then released at 4 a.m. on a $25,000 bond. LA County Sheriff's said he will appear OCt. 16 in court.

What can you say? It has to be tough being a god. But considering this is Sutherland's second DUI since 2004, perhaps he needs to stop thinking he's god and start thinking about not driving after a few brewskys.

Deja Moo

There is actually a law in California's Driver's Manual which prohibits honking or other means of frightening cows.

YouTube Television: Philly's Latest Creation

Public access television is taking on a new face, and it in the process, it may just redefine the way we think about journalism.

As my buddy Brian X. McCrone at Metro Philly pointed out, public television is synonamous with Wayne's World in the mind of the average American. The words conjure images of hippies with guitars giving the weekly review of medical marijuana initiatives, Korean dramas and, if you are lucky, a whack-job teaching you how to bake a pie the southern way.

If WYBE has it their way, that's about to change.

MiND TV, set to launch late this year, is the brain-child of WYBE's new CEO, Howard Blumenthal. It's a completely new format compling five-minute spots of member-created programming into one hour sets. Basically, its YouTube-style television.

The challenge: keep it education, yet make it entertaining. It should be interesting to see what they come up with. To learn more about MiND, click here.

WYBE recieved a boost this week as the City of Philadelphia and Comcast came to an agreement over a the city-based cable network's obligations to provide funding for public access within the city. Metro reported today that this dispute has been ongoing for the past three decades.

The public access television agreement requires approval of two ordinances that are expected to be introduced in the City Council within the next two weeks. Specifically, the ordinances outline the franchise agreement between the city and Comcast and for a long-term lease on a new public access television headquarters, according to The Bulletin.

If approved, Kathleen Sullivan, regional director of government and community relations for Comcast, said they pledged an initial one-time capital grant of $1.8 million and a second grant of $900,000 due in two years. The funding will go to five stations within Philadelphia, and include the construction of a new studio, set to open at the old site of South Philly's Free Library, and to purchase equipment for the newly established nonprofit organization, Philadelphia Access Corporation, which would oversee the programming.

Rather Sues CBS for "Old News"

Remember this story?

Pentagon Says Bush Records of Service Were Destroyed
HOUSTON, July 8 - Military records that could help establish President Bush's whereabouts during his disputed service in the Texas Air National Guard more than 30 years ago have been inadvertently destroyed, according to the Pentagon.

It said the payroll records of "numerous service members," including former First Lt. Bush, had been ruined in 1996 and 1997 by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service during a project to salvage deteriorating microfilm. No back-up paper copies could be found, it added in notices dated June 25.

The destroyed records cover three months of a period in 1972 and 1973 when Mr. Bush's claims of service in Alabama are in question.

Source: New York Times, July 2004

Dan Rather does.

In fact, Rather narrated a story on CBS's "60 Minutes II" back in Sept. 2004, and is suing the network for $70 million under the premise that the story caused him serious financial loss and damage to his reputation.

Rather and Mary Mapes, the producer of the piece, have since left CBS.

Network spokespeople scratching their heads about the lawsuit filed by the veteran newsanchor, and are calling the story "old news."

Read more!

Mercenary Security Forces Under Fire

Eleven Iraqi civilians were killed Sunday when guards from the Blackwater company, a "private security company", opened fire in a busy Baghdad.

Blackwater, which is basically a mercenary group, was founded in 1997 by a former Navy Seal and is presently handling security for US State Department employees in Iraq. In a statement today, the group said its guards acted in self-defense Sunday, protecting an envoy that came under attack in al-Nisur Square.

Iraqi eyewitnesses disagreed, accusing the security team of "firing randomly at civilians."

Nouri Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, has described the shooting as a "criminal act" and vowed not to tolerate killing of citizens "in cold blood," and stated that this was the seventh shooting of its kind involving Blackwater employees.

Read more!

Eggs Not Hot on Rice

Perhaps Pope Benedict XVI thought Condi Rice was a Thai dish. After all, it does sound like one. And, perhaps Thai isn't his favorite cuisine because the pope refused a request from the Secretary of Defense for an audience late last month.

BBC had a couple, slightly more intellectual thoughts on the matter. They suggested that the pope's refusal was the result of Bush administration policies which run contrary to the Vatican on Iraq's Christians and the immorality of launching an invasion in 2003.

Read more!