The U.S. is the Greatest Country in the World™ – except for babies

There can be no doubt that the U.S. the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world.  But a baby has a better chance of survival in Malaysia. From USA Today:

The study shows that newborn babies in countries including Malaysia, Cuba, and Poland now have a better chance of survival than those born in the United States. “It’s not that things are worse in the United States than before, it’s that the U.S. isn’t making progress like other countries,” Lawn said.

Because of improvements in infant care in some countries, newborns in Qatar, Croatia and the United Arab Emirates now die at about the same rate as those in the United States, the figures show.

The United States now trails 40 other countries when it comes to risk of newborn death with a newborn death rate of 4.3 per 1,000 live births. In 1990 the United States had the 28th lowest risk.

Zygotes matter in the U.S. Babies seems to be on their own.

–WKW

Leezza, Leezza, Leezza

Now that everyone seems horribly grossed out about Muammar Gaddafi’s puppy love for Condoleezza Rice, I think now may be the time to quietly dismantle my shrine to Madeleine Albright.

–WKW

Moamar Gaddafi – remembering the good times

It seems time is running out on Moamar Gaddafi’s reign of terror over Libya. While Gaddafi will forever be remembered as a ruthless dictator, I prefer to look back on the good times:

–WKW

Where he belongs

Justice. It happens.

SCRANTON, Pa. — A longtime northeastern Pennsylvania judge was ordered to spend nearly three decades in prison for his role in a massive juvenile justice bribery scandal that prompted the state’s high court to toss thousands of convictions.

Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella Jr. was sentenced Thursday to 28 years in federal prison for taking $1 million in bribes from the builder of a pair of juvenile detention centers in a case that became known as “kids for cash.”

–WKW

Brits don’t riot

“The British public don’t simply resort to violent unrest in the face of challenging economic circumstances. We must have a rational and reasonable debate about policing. Your association has a long and proud history of constructive and sensible contributions to policing policy-making – long may it continue.”

– British Home Secretary Theresa May, Sept. 15, 2010.

Meanwhile …

–WKW

Don’t worry, Madagascar, Neil Bush is here to help

When it comes to getting relations better with a country, no one can make it happen like Neil Bush.

Former US President George W. Bush’s brother Neil has been scouting for business opportunities in Madagascar even as the island nation remains largely ostracised by the international community.

Mr Bush also Monday met with acting President Andriy Rajoelina at the state palace in the capital Antananarivo.

“I am interested in the development of the private sector in Africa. I came for the first time into Madagascar to look for investment opportunities,” Mr Bush told journalists at the end of his meeting with the President.

President Barack Obama’s administration has not been keen on relations with the High Transitional Authority (HAT) which is considered illegitimate by the wider international community.

The Obama government stopped aid to Madagascar after the island’s 2009 coup that precipitated the frosty bilateral relationship.

Oh, yeah. This should work out well for the people of Madagascar. Everything the Bush’s touch turns to gold, after all.

–WKW

David Wu did not resign because of a “Sex Scandal” – he is accused of rape, or attempted rape

Oregon Rep. David Wu resigned from Congress today. Here is why:

Two people with knowledge of the recording and the later conversation with Wu said the alleged incident took place over Thanksgiving weekend. Sources said they were told that the woman went outside and Wu left after her. The sexual encounter followed, they said.

Two sources said the woman believed there was not enough evidence to press charges. There were no witnesses, and it would be her word against a seven-term member of the U.S. Congress.

David Wu resigned because an 18-year-old said he raped or attempted to rape her, but didn’t press charges. This is the norm. In the U.S., 60% of rape victims do not report the crime, with her reasoning being an important reason as to why. She was afraid of going against a powerful man in court. Because she knew how she would be treated.

Nonetheless, the U.S. media is reporting it as a “Sex Scandal,” such as Talking Points Memo: “David Wu Resigns From Congress Over Teen Sex Scandal.”

Calling it a “Sex Scandal,” or “unwanted sexual activity” or an “unwanted sexual encounter” just serves to soften why he resigned. An An “aggressive, unwanted sexual encounter” is rape or attempted rape. By definition. It most certainly not a “sex scandal.”

David Wu is being accused of raping or attempting to rape an 18-year-old girl. That is the fact of the matter. That is the correct word choice.

–WKW

Update: I added “Attempted Rape,” to this post, as it was not made clear in the story if sexual intercourse in fact took place. Wu has been previously accused of attempting to rape an ex-girlfriend. My reading of The Oregonian’s coverage of this, however, strongly suggests that this was rape. — WKW

Thinking of Norway after the attack

All my best wishes and most caring thoughts go out to the people of Norway after the Oslo bombings. News is still developing, but all Americans know how an attack like this shakes an entire nation’s soul.

Live updates are now available at The Guardian.

–WKW

Pakistan ignored intelligence briefing titled “U.S. Determined to Attack Bin Laden Inside Pakistan”

No one in Pakistan could have anticipated that Osama bin Laden was living there or that the U.S. was planning to whack him.

–WKW

Brazil Supreme Court Give Same-Sex Civil Unions Same Rights As Marriage

Update: Currently, the STF is requesting that the Brazilian Congress pass a bill to make this the Law of the land as rights to Gay & Lesbian couples can be denied without legal ramifications. With this decision, however, Gay & Lesbian couples can sue to receive any rights denied, and would win as precedent has been set.

—-

Brazil’s 11-member Supreme Court decided that those in same-sex civil unions will have the same rights as heterosexual married couples. From Brazil’s Veja Web site:

 

A maioria dos ministros do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) reconheceu a união civil entre homossexuais, assegurando a esses casais os mesmos direitos dos casais heterossexuais. Dos onze ministros do STF,  seis já tinham votado a favor da tese até o fim da tarde desta quinta-feira.

Translation:

The Majority of Supreme Court Judges recognized the civil unions of gays & lesbians, assuring that these couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples. Of the 11 judges six have already voted for this measure by late afternoon Thursday.

Judge José Antonio Dias Toffol – who holds strong religious views – recused himself from the vote. In the end, 10 of the 11 judges voted for yes to the new law.

Prior to the ruling, Brazilian law allowed supporters and those against the suit to speak to the court. Several Gay & Lesbian groups spoke in favor, while the only speaking against it was the Catholic Church, who claimed this was a step toward “polygamy and incestuousness.”

“Until there is a law regulating homosexual civil union and marriage, the high court’s recognition of a stable unions is the best thing that could happen so that gay couples rights are accepted once and for all,” said Judge Maria Berenice Dias before the vote.

The move is a landmark achievement for Brazil – a nation that has struggled with violence against the gay and lesbian community. That move also is a stellar achievement for new President Dilma Rousseff, who had her top prosecutor, Attorney General Roberto Gurgel fight for the verdict.

“Homosexuality is (the way people are), not a crime. So why can’t homosexuals have families? What has been preventing this is two things the Constitution finds abominable – intolerance and prejudice,” said Judge Luis Fux – who was President Dilma’s first Supreme Court selection.

Earlier this year, Representative Jean Wyllys – a one-time winner of the show “Big Brother Brasil” – introduced legislation to make Brazil the second South American nation after Argentina to allow Gay Marriage. That legislation is still pending.

Prior to today’s ruling, same-sex couples could only have common-law marriages, but same-sex couples received 112 less rights tha hereosexual married couples.

–WKW

Donald Trump takes credit for killing Osama bin Laden

NEW YORK – On his way to the latest meeting of his multi-level marketing business, Donald Trump stopped and told reporters today he accepts full credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden.

“Let me just say this, when I came on the scene, Obama didn’t have a birth certificate and Osama was alive,” said Trump, standing on the head of a poor guy named Jim. “This has been the greatest week of my life.

While most experts have denied that Trump played any part in the bin Laden killing, Trump has been booked on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, C-Span, BET, ESPN and all the major networks to talk about the bin Laden killing.

“It’s about time I finally had a chance to say my piece on this issue,” said Trump, who once went bankrupt on a casino. “The American people are seeing results. Now, it’s time to attack China.

“And be sure to watch the finale of Celebrity Apprentice, airing soon on NBC!” Trump added.

–WKW

Want a U.S. Passport? Not so fast, tell us about your Mom and work history

In the United States of America – where only 75 people have ever traveled abroad (note: possibly not a factual statement) – the State Department has decided to pepper new passport applicants with questions that are both increasingly private in nature and, well, just plain annoying.

From Consumer Traveler:

The U.S. Department of State is proposing a new Biographical Questionnaire for some passport applicants: The proposed new  Form DS-5513 asks for all addresses since birth; lifetime employment history including employers’ and supervisors names, addresses, and telephone numbers; personal details of all siblings; mother’s address one year prior to your birth; any “religious ceremony” around the time of birth; and a variety of other information.  According to the proposed form, “failure to provide the information requested may result in … the denial of your U.S. passport application.”

Here’s the punchline:

The State Department estimated that the average respondent would be able to compile all this information in just 45 minutes, which is obviously absurd given the amount of research that is likely to be required to even attempt to complete the form.

The comment period for the proposed new rule ended Monday. You can see the proposed questionairre here. Interestingly enough, the new plan doesn’t appear to ask the question the entire rule seems to infer: “Why do you want to leave the glorious United States of America, Comrade?”

–WKW

Elizabeth Taylor dead at age 79

Good Morning America has reported that actress Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. The Today Show has also reported the news, which is now being reported by all major news agencies.

Taylor’s death signals the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age, as well as the loss of one of the movie stars who ushered in the Gossip-laden coverage of Hollywood stars. Known as well for movies like “Cleopatra” and “National Velvet” as she was for her repeated marriages – nine in all, including three to actor Richard Burton – Taylor was the model movie star.

Last year, Vanity Fair published an article about Taylor and Burton’s love affair, titled “A Love Too Big To Last.”

Taylor was recently a patient at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment of congenital heart failure. She leaves behind four children, nine grandchildren, as well as a legacy of beauty and fame.

Taylor also leaves behind a legacy as a dogged fundraiser and advocate for AIDS awareness. Rocked by the death of her friend Rock Hudson from the disease, Taylor spent a great deal of time fighting for the well-being of HIV/AIDS patients around the globe. Taylor had a presence on Twitter, with one of her few tweets to her fans from July 22, 2010 reading:

No one is going to play Elizabeth Taylor, but Elizabeth Taylor herself.

Not at least until I’m dead, and at the moment I’m having too much fun being alive…and I plan on staying that way. Happiness to all.

Regardless of one’s opinions of Taylor’s personal life or acting ability, let there be no doubt she was one of the great cultural icons in American history.

According to GMA, a private family funeral for Taylor will be held later this week.

–WKW

Crossposted at Dagblog

God Smites the Living Hell Out of Fred Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church

HARRISBURG, Pa — After years of fielding complaints that he had not taken a hard enough stance against Westboro Baptist Church and its hate speech, Almighty God today unleashed what onlookers have described as a “shitload of smiting” against the controversial group that just won a Supreme Court case on free speech.

“Guess God don’t much care for Supreme Court cases,” said the onlooker, Jim Thompson of Dubuque, Iowa. “Because God just WENT OFF!”

Going in with a strategy of “Shock and Amen,” God woke up members of the Westboro Cult with a swarm of locusts, then rained frogs on them for an hour. A plague of gnats followed, and soon all members of Westboro had boils appear on their skin.

Then God showed why he was “God” and went modern Biblical on their asses as he turned their coffee into blood and made records of their fetish-video rentals public via Wikileaks. Then, God made it rain failed American Idol candidates and gay porn videos.

Finally, to finish a performance many have already called “inspired,” God went back to his old-school roots and lightning bolted Phelps, his family and all his followers into crispy embers of hate.

While many have looked to analyze why God finally went off on Westboro Baptist – which for years has peddled angry homophobia as some type of religious belief – experts were only left a few words from God as he left the scene of the carnage.

“Love everyone. I don’t make mistakes.”

–WKW

An Anonymous storm is gathering – Let it rain

 

“Anonymous is not the name of an organization. In fact, “organization” is the least appropriate word to describe the phenomenon that is Anonymous. It might be better to call Anonymous a movement, or a trend, or even a philosophy. However, the best ways to describe Anonymous is as a group action, a spontaneous and unified activity performed by like-minded people with no specific starting point. Fans of anime might call Anonymous a “stand-alone complex.” — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine.

“Without information, one cannot fight for any other cause. Children will remain abused if their plight remains unknown. Nations will rage wars against their own people if cloaked in secrecy. Crimes will go unpunished, victims will go uncomforted, and walls will remain undefended.” — Anonymous.

Following its involvement with Wikileaks and its complete devastation of HBGary Federal (It’s Web site is still down and CEO Aaron Barr resigned yesterday), the anonymity of the movement known as Anonymous has taken a hit. Anonymous is quickly becoming anarchy for the masses. And the masses are just getting started.

[Read more]

« Previous Page — Next Page »