Dews Thursday Round-up

I will get to the news of the day, but I thought I might lead off with a little run-down of the random goings on and wisdom I've had the chance to pickup along the way...

Things Dews has learned on his time away from the blog:
1. Some people do not know that you shouldn't flush paper towels.
2. If you are from New England make it very clear that you are not a Pats fan when talking sports in DC (if you really aren't), as your chances with women drop dramatically if you do not make that clear.
3. Non-Dairy creamer is EXTREMELY flammable/combustible.
4. Micheal Barret was the catcher the Cubs dealt to the Padres (thanks MoDews).
5. Be sure to collect all 10 Planned Parenthood "Protect yourself from John McCain" condoms as they make excellent conversation pieces at parties.
6. God hates the San Diego SUPER Chargers now (probably because they live/play in paradise) and has moved on from hating the Saints.
7. Air mattresses are surprisingly comfortable.

Now then, on with the news...

Morgan Stanley may sell a large stake of its holdings to China, thus continuing our rapid slide into "has-been" superpower:

Morgan Stanley, the second-biggest independent U.S. securities firm, may sell a
larger stake to China Investment Corp. and is in talks about a possible merger with Wachovia Corp., a person familiar with the matter said.

Morgan Stanley pared its loss on the New York Stock Exchange after the person said China's state-controlled fund may buy as much as 49 percent of the New York-based investment bank. The person declined to be identified because the talks aren't public and may end in no agreement.

This is going to get far far worse before it gets any better I'm afraid...

Josh Howard proves just how clean-cut and bright those wonderful folks in the NBA are while at a Charity function with this wonderful nugget of info from Josh Howard:

In a video posted on YouTube, the swingman is shown at Allen Iverson's charity
flag football game in July. When the national anthem is being sung, various participants are shown mugging for the camera. When the camera gets to Howard, he says: " 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is going on. I don't celebrate this [expletive]. I'm black."

I think we see the next player's labor leader here. Truly an outspoken and underutilized orator for the ages.

And finally an interesting proposal from the same guys that brought you "Freakonomics", a proposal to tax sexual activity:

I'll give them this, its a solid logical argument, but having said that, I sure as hell wouldn't be voting for any politician supporting any such thing. I have my reasons.

That is all.

From Russia, With Love...

So, I have to admit. The more I think about the Russian invasion of Georgia, the more I'm indifferent towards the whole thing.

I realize this is a whole "act of aggression" and "Putin trying to reunite the Motherland" and all, but the level of international hostility towards this action really has me a little surprised.

Case in point, isn't this essentially just another superpower enacting the "Bush Doctrine" of preemptive attack on a sovereign nation that goes against their national interests? Shouldn't we be encouraging this type of action, given our propensity towards solving problems via regime change (whether it be military or subtle "Mujaheddin" type actions)?

Am I being unreasonable here, or should I be viewing this as different since USA isn't doing it this time?

Either way you look at it, Russia doesn't really appear to be leaving anytime soon, despite any withdrawal promises:

"... forces are in the process of leaving Gori, a strategic city that sits on Georgia's only significant east-west road.

Also, Russian tanks moved even deeper into Georgia on Sunday, digging in at a checkpoint barely 30 kilometres west of the capital, Tbilisi, the CBC's Mike Hornbrook reported from
the city.

Under the European Union-brokered peace plan signed by both Russian Presient Dmitry Medvedev and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, both sides are to pull forces back to positions held before last week's outbreak of fierce fighting in the breakaway region of South Ossetia."

Yea, that doesn't sound all that promising to me as far as any "troop withdrawal", unless you redefine the Georgian-Russian border to annex current gains by Russian troops, THEN they'd be withdrawn technically right?

Gonzo dreams on...

Yes, our good Dr. Gonzo was able to get his hands on Madden 09 late last night (or early this morning, whichever you feel is more appropriate) and is just not getting the much needed sleep he sacrificed in order to be one of the first to play...

I gotta say I'm jealous, but moreso I'm jealous that he can be sleeping now instead of banging away at a keyboard and explaining why cell cards for laptops tend not to work in areas where cell service is unavailable (great morning so far), but I digress.

On to the news of the day...

Look out Canadia, we's goin to check out which rocks be ours!!!

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter will embark on an Arctic voyage this week to determine the extent of the continental shelf north of Alaska and map the ocean floor, data that could be used for oil and natural gas exploration.

Could be the makings of an extremely boring trip, or the Faulkland Islands part deux perhaps?

Speaking of war and "stuff", has anyone noticed that little tiff between Russia an Georgia over what is essentially Ossetia? I've personally found it a bit interesting, considering we're talking about the two old superpowers involved here (ie, Mother Russia and ), but also the parallels with this situation and that of the Kurds.

I mean we're not talking about an ethnic zone that is trying to form its own nation, but Northern Ossetia is essentially an autonomous zone that Russia allows to exist, so is this a superpower's way of helping out the little guy for a change by uniting Northern and Southern Ossetia (even though its kinda owned by Georgia, which is kind of a sovreign nation)?

And why haven't we done this for the Kurds, or at the very least stopped the Turks from crossing over into Iraq and punishing the people that are trying to do essentially the same thing in forming Kurdistan?

Not a sermon, just a thought...

Quick note about the Olympics though here... When did we become the whitest country on Earth?

Can we really only be competitive in events like Fencing and Swimming (with "Human-Dolphin" Phelps), that just smack of Uber whiteness?

Honestly, I feel like we've surpassed Canadia and their amazing Curling skills with this so far, but I hope to be proven wrong soon, as I certainly do not fit into the "Stuff White People Like" target audience...

That is all for now...

Thanks to Gonzo

Ok, now we've all had our share of women trouble...

The entire LSWTF staff can attest to my past, present and future women troubles at great length (including all the wonderful drama that goes along with all that), but through all the wonderful ups and downs of living the single life, nothing, and I stress NOTHING could possibly drive me to be as desperate as this poor soul...

Xing, a 41 year-old man, was calling from LanTian park in the middle of the night. The lonely and disturbed man had apparently thought it would be fun to have sex with one of the steel sit-up benches around the park.

The bench has numerous small holes in it, which Xing used to attempt to satisfy himself. However, once he became aroused he found that he was stuck and could not get his penis out of the small hole.

(Side note here) Seriously, wtf???

When police arrive they found Xian stuck face down where he had been stuck for some time.

When doctors arrived on the scene they tried to release some of the pressure by removing some of his blood, but the penis was so swollen that they ended up having to cut the entire bench free and take it, with Xian attached, to the hospital.

4 painful hours later, Doctors finally separated Xian from his bench.

Doctors stated that if he had been stuck for even an hour longer, they would have had to remove his penis.

Seriously man...

We all have needs, this much is pretty well understood (trust me I of all people know this one). But what in the WORLD would make you think that having sex with a metal bench would A) turn out to be pleasurable, B) be any "safer" then hiring a hooker, C) DUDE, ITS A FREAKIN BENCH!!!

Link to video Here

In other related news of the weird...

Spanish Shopkeeper has discovered a Homer Simpson Euro.

And I came across this comic from a good friend of the LSWTF crew and had to post it:

That is all...

Dews Monday round-down

Leading off immediately on a slightly serious tone, as "Tropical Storm Edouard" appears to be bearing down on the homes of Doctor Gonzo and CityCat... Thankfully both of them are somewhere on the west coast at the moment, so the storm will hopefully do its thing, then allow them to come home.

Not to pick on Texas, but damn guys, how do you live there???

The smog situation was apparently under control" (much like everything else they try to do in Freedom-Loving China), but it has since "returned"??? I guess I don't understand this. If you create smog, does it eventually leave? I guess I always assumed (seeing pictures of LA I think), that smog essentially hung out for a while unless conditions changed dramatically? (Someone please feel free to set me straight on this as my knowledge is NOT good on this one).

Here is a touching article about the plight of the wealthy members of our society. I'm truly weeping openly in my office hearing of how they have to cut back on private-jet trips and such. What kind of America do we live in now??? Its like I don't even recognize it anymore...

They found the Anthrax mailer!!! Well... Kinda... See, the funny thing was, the guy kinda killed himself before he was actually indicted, which is a very convenient way to wrap this all up nicely SEVEN years after the fact (way to go FBI!).

Finally, in a strange bit of "Debtor's Prison Redux" news, a Milwaukee man faces foreclosure because he didn't pay a parking ticket... Truly amazing...

And in a new feature for my postings, I want to include the "Strange thing Dews heard on the way to work this morning" (as its really not all that difficult to hear something that makes you just stop and hope your head didn't explode trying to comprehend what it was you just heard).

I bring you "Strange Interns and their Hair problems":

"Yea, on my head it was like a pear-shaped donut! I mean, how awesome is that?"

huh?

That is all....

Hall of Fame Game

Not sure if anyone caught the game tonight (which will forever be known as Colt Brennan of "Rainbow Warrior" fame's coming out party), but our "Skins" pulled out a victory over the much hated Indianapolis Colts and their bible thumping jackass coach Tony Dungy...

Just wanted to share a few inspirational words, that I'm sure SayHey will enjoy IMMENSELY, since he is now an official Skins fan and all :)

Ahem....

Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the Warpath!
Fight for old D.C.!

Run or pass and score -- we want a lot more!
Beat 'em, Swamp 'em,
Touchdown! -- Let the points soar!
Fight on, fight on 'Til you have won
Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah!, Rah!, Rah!
Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the Warpath!
Fight for old D.C.!

ahh, that is all

Pampered News

(The COOLEST dog ever...)
Ok, so I see the challenge, I'll come back and contribute since the good Doctor Gonzo and CityCat are enjoying the beach (Thank you again Jack for the pics by the way...).

I can't be too jealous of the good Doc, since I did spend the entire weekend getting pampered on the company dime afterall... Swanky Hotel at Times Square, complete with on-site masseuse (of course), and plenty of places to grab a vodka martini or four (I have good tastes). The "courtesy bar" bill did run kinda high with the 8 dollar cashews that I HAD to have, but I digress... It was all covered afterall :)

Anyway, the BIG news of the weekend is the announcement that they are currently in production for "Cowboy Bebop" as a live action movie. I'm really not sure how the rest of the LSWTF crowd will take this news, but I know both myself and MoDews are beyond excited for this movie to be released (afterall, it is the only reason why I absolutely have to get a Corgie once I move to the relative "country" surroundings of Virginia).

Anyway, far more to be coming this week as the gauntlet has officially been thrown and all, so I'll be more then willing to answer the calling :)

That is all...

Moving on to bigger better things...

Good things happen to good people...

Tony Snow Dead at 53...

Thank you, FCC?

I know, I'm just as confused about that title as you should be if you know how much I despise that waste of space FCC, but they've FINALLY done something right and listened to their own charter!

The head of the Federal Communications Commission said Thursday he will recommend that the nation's largest cable company be punished for violating agency principles that guarantee customers open access to the Internet.

The potentially precedent-setting move stems from a complaint against Comcast Corp. that the company had blocked Internet traffic among users of a certain type of "file sharing" software that allows them to exchange large amounts of data.

I am genuinely shocked that the FCC had the balls to do their job in this situation, but perhaps this is a sign of better things to come?

This has been a longstanding argument of mine against both the FCC and the RIAA regarding downloads, privacy and the corporate douchebaggery that has retarded the growth of some technology (unless it is under the control of the RIAA of course), but this is quite possibly one of the bigger decisions to go "my" way!

This shall be a good day, I am certain of it :)

Dews Hump-day roll-out

First off, we have had a brief, but definite Jack Gonzo sighting earlier today, so we know at least that he has not perished in the brutal Texan sun. Gonzo had apparently fell victim to an acute case of "Civilization 4 addiction", which he will pull through successfully with our thoughts and prayers (after this evening, when myself, MoDews, Corey and him may be getting a match in that is).

Anyway, with that message out there to Gonzo's fans, let us now look at the news events of the day!

In a happy bit of news, Iran has proven to the world that is now has the capability to hit Israel with at least a solid ton of payload via their Russian and Chinese enhanced "ShaHab-3" Missle.

The report showed footage of at least three missiles firing simultaneously, and said the barrage included a new version of the Shahab-3 missile, which officials have said has a range of 1,250 miles and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead.
That would put Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan within striking distance.

I'm sure this is bound to ease tensions in the area, especially given the extremely sensitive manner in which Ahmadinejad expresses his disdain for certain neighbors...

>>>
This sounds like a helluva day this guy had planned:

Step 1: Steal Beer from 7-Eleven.
Step 2: Hi-Jack local Bus.
Step 3: Spend night in Psych ward.
Step 4: Profit?

Oh yea, do all of the above while bare ass nekkid!

A naked man was arrested Tuesday morning after hijacking a Citizens Area Transit bus.

Las Vegas police said the man, 35-year-old Charles P. Sell, was first seen stealing a beer at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Lamb Boulevard and Washington Avenue about 8 a.m.

An officer arrived at the scene and the man fled, a police spokesman said.

Sell then climbed onto the back of a moving CAT bus traveling east on Washington, broke one of the back windows with his fists, and climbed in.

He threw the driver off the bus and drove it about 200 yards before jumping off, according to police. An officer climbed aboard and stopped it.

I really got no more to add to this story, as I feel it speaks for itself...

That is all for now, hopefully a bit more to come later on.

Dews Tuesday rundown

Things seem to get more and more sporadic around here as apparently our good Dr. Gonzo has passed away, SayHey is thrown into a new job that has him globe-trotting and Dewey is also on the job-hunt (or I should say, deciding upon the new possible direction?).

I don't necessarily have those excuses except that my job can be kind of all-consuming in some respects (when I'm not having shit stolen out of my office.... grrrr), so this site kinda goes to the wayside then.

Anyway, on to the news!

Iraq (Yes, THAT Iraq), is insisting that any security deal with the United States must now include a timeline for withdrawal.

The comments by Mouwaffak al-Rubaie were the strongest yet by an Iraqi official about the deal now under negotiation with U.S. officials. They came a day after Iraq's prime minister first said publicly that he expects the pending troop deal with the United States to have some type of timetable for withdrawal.

So, does that make Iraq a country full of Democrats then since any timeline for withdrawal has been shunned by any and all repubby's? Not a sermon, just a thought...

I am now officially excited to see "Bruno" by the illustrious Sacha Baron Cohen if this stunt in Arkansas was in fact staged by him:

Crowds in Arkansas came for the lure of cage fighting and $1 beer, but police say what they got instead was men ripping each others' clothes off and kissing — a stunt suspected of being orchestrated by Sacha Baron Cohen of "Borat" fame. "We had a contract for cage fighting. We were deceived," said Dwight Duncan, president and CEO of Four States Fair Grounds in Texarkana, where the first of two Arkansas fights raised suspicions last month.

Seriously, to stage a wrestling match, then have it turn into a less subtle homo-erotic display in the middle of Arkansas takes some serious cajones, so I for one am looking forward to whatever else he intends on doing for this movie...

In some more happy "News of the Sheep" (yes, our fine Americans everywhere), Congressional approval numbers are down yet again, only this time to historic lows:

The percentage of Democrats who give Congress positive ratings fell from 17% last month to 13% this month. The number of Democrats who give Congress a poor rating remained unchanged. Among Republicans, 8% give Congress good or excellent ratings, up just a point from last month. Sixty-five percent (65%) of GOP voters say Congress is doing a poor job, down a single point from last month.

Lost of course in the shuffle of all of this is just how blind we all for electing the same damn people to Congress every year, yet fail to see the connection between re-electing the same people and performance overall in Congress...

Ahh well, you get the Democracy you deserve America, live it up! :)

Dews Post-Vacation round-up

Ahh yes, finally getting back to the everyday grind after a MUCH needed vacation to the homeland of Vermont. Lots of booze, small amounts of drama and a high school reunion later, here I am back and ready to take my place back as a main contributor!

Anyway, on with the news...

Heath Ledger... Oscar bound???

I just returned from a screening and I wanted to commit this to a public forum as quickly as possible. Heath Ledger gives a blockbuster performance in the new Batman movie. His work, as The Joker, will absolutely be nominated for an Oscar...

Interesting in a way, though obviously a bit creepy. I wonder if there is any precedent for this happening? Anyone from the LSWTF crew care to research this one?

>>
Our website and any reference to it on license plates in NC are now apparently illegal!

Thanks to some text message-savvy grandchildren, North Carolina drivers whose license plates have the potentially offensive "WTF" letter combination can replace the tags for free.

Kind of funny in a way, but kind of a waste of government resources to replace said licenses as well... Just because you can make a funny acronym out of some letters doesn't mean its any of their business (in my oh so humble opinion that is).

>>
Finally, a hearty good-bye to Pioneer, boy-genius and cold-hearted demon of a business man Bill Gates, as today marks his last official day with Microsoft.

He (Gates) is credited by analysts and academics for the emergence of software as a moneymaking industry; previously it had been a pastime for hobbyists or a subset of the hardware sector. He is revered by many engineers, despite his propensity to fling expletives at underlings whose ideas he scorned. And he has built Microsoft into a hugely successful monopoly that has only grown stronger despite major losses in antitrust trials in the U.S. and Europe.

Speaking on a personal level, I have always had a love-hate relationship with Bill Gates. On the one hand, his heavy hand within the tech industry has been both brutal and mean-spirited at times, but on the other the man is/was a technical and business genius and thus should be respected as such.

Yes, some of his products have caused numerous issues from rush jobs and poor security, but at the same time, they have kept people like myself and Jack Gonzo in nice jobs to fix said problems, so again I can't hate him for that either.

Good luck to you Mr. Gates, and if you ever do get around to reading that letter I wrote you in middle school, I think you may still be able to legally adopt me, but Dewey may know better then I.

That is all...

Dews Wednesday wrap-it-up

Rumors of my death were again greatly exaggerated, but I enjoy falling off the grid for a day to raise questions :)

Busy things going on for me with work seemingly still crazy and looking for new apartments for myself and some others (as well as an overactive nightlife it seems) have contributed to a sub-par amount of postings from myself, but I shall do my best to fix that from time to time...

Anyway, on to the news of the day...

Leading off, some extremely disturbing news about the treatment of Vets suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Apparently Fort Benning has decided that the most appropriate location for people with said disorder (which can commonly be triggered by loud noises that could mimic, oh, gunfire maybe?), is next to a firing range.

Across the street from their assigned housing, about 200 yards away, are some of the Army infantry's main firing ranges, and day and night, several days each week, barrages from rifles and machine guns echo around Strickland's building. The noise makes the wounded cringe, startle in their formations, and stay awake and on edge, according to several soldiers interviewed at the barracks last month. The gunfire recently sent one soldier to the emergency room with an anxiety attack, they said.

Great decisions all around for the Army here, but what else is new?

In a sign of how much the poor Oil industry is obviously suffering, its rumored that the Abu Dhabi Investment Council is trying to purchase a 75% stake in the famous Chrysler building in Mid-town New York...

Sources say the super-rich Abu Dhabi Investment Council is negotiating an $800 million deal for a 75 percent stake in the Art Deco treasure that has defined the Midtown skyline since 1930.

Again, my heart goes out to these long-suffering oil barons that I am SURE are feeling the pinch from this whole Oil pricing problem we seem to be having....

Finally, my solemn sympathies for the City of Boston for having your hearts handed to you by a late comeback by my scrappy Baltimore Orioles (oh yea, and they lost some basketball game too I think).

Better luck next time you pink hat wearing popped collared douche bags! :)

That is all...

Dews Defrost Monday

Yes, I do mean defrost... Friday night I spent curled up in the fetal position underneath two blankets praying for some sort of warmth after (being the incredibly gifted genius that I am) dancing around in this monsoon drinking excessively with SayHey and some others at a campsite near the West Virginia border.

Saturday night I was promising folks that I would hunt down a damn bear and drag it into my tent to stay warm if I had to, but thankfully it was a bit warmer that night, so that wasn't necessary.

Sunday night I was treated to an amazing Radiohead show at Nissan Pavilion by a certain lady friend that happens to live pretty close to me. This was a lot of fun (and again a great show), but the monsoon like conditions combined with the bitter cold all around us caused me to lose feeling in my feet even before the opening act was finished, care to wager how bad it was after the first encore?

Needless to say, I'm still thawing out from this and will undoubtedly require some medication for the sickness I"ll be dealing with shortly.

Anyway, I'm basically looking for pity, but I realize there probably isn't much forthcoming :).

On to the News!

Ron Paul supporters are apparently planning a none to subtle revolt at the GOP Conventions in Minnesota (doncha know).

Ron Paul supporters have been relevant for about 5 minuts of this entire presidential race as it is, but with this story you can add another minute and a half or so I guess.

The situation in Burma (or Myanmar, whatever), continues to get worse with military forces within the ruling Junta continue to intercept international aid, while the possible death toll is not being estimated to reach well over a million deaths if aid (mostly in the form of medicine and medical equipment) does not reach the people soon.

In a kind of bizarre twist, near where most the LSWTF staff were camping this weekend rednecks are STILL buying the old crap that was being spread about Obama months ago:

“I heard that Obama is a Muslim and his wife’s an atheist,” said Mr
Simpson, drawing on a cigarette outside the fire station in Williamson, a
coalmining town of 3,400 people surrounded by lush wooded hillsides.

Normally I'd but in some snide comment about the rednecks there, but as we learned this weekend, they have automatic weapons, and enjoy shooting random trash they've collected, so I am not going to question their motives for this belief :)

Finally in all seriousness, yet another huge catastrophe courtesy of mother nature in Beijing today, when a massive 7.8 point earthquake rocked the city, causing massive damage and a constantly rising death toll.

Forty-four aftershocks have been reported since the quake, which was the
strongest to hit Sichuan province in more than 30 years, Xinhua reports.

Currently the toll is at 8600, but it has been climbing by easily 1k people every hour...

Wednesday Randomness

Lot of stuff to catch up on, as its been a while since I've been posting on a regular basis (my company is in the middle of a move to a new location, so thats keeping me extremely busy during the day).

First off, in a move that Yahoo's stock-holders will one day regret, Microsoft has decided to go "an independent route" then that of Yahoo and has withdrawn their bid to buy the second largest search engine company (behind of course the God-like Google).

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer had orally offered to pay $33 per share, or $47.5 billion, for Yahoo, up from an initial bid valued at $44.6 billion, or $31 per share. At the time the negotiations collapsed, the value of Microsoft's original offer had fallen to $42.3 billion, or $29.40 per share, because half the deal was supposed to be financed with Microsoft's declining stock.

Yahoo's board wanted $37 per share - a price that the company's stock hasn't reached in more than two years.

Look, I don't begrudge Yahoo for trying to avoid becoming part of the monster that is Microsoft, but lets be honest with ourselves here, the job of a company's board is to look out for their stockholder's best interests and in this situation they have clearly failed in that regard.

I've never been a fan of Microsoft, but I would challenge anyone to admit they don't run a pretty tight ship as far as profits and market share go. I can't imagine many of their stockholders being upset with the way they've run the ship so far...

Oil prices continue to skyrocket out of control, as the price of a barrel of crude has now gotten to $123 a barrel...

Just wanna read that one more time... $123 a barrel!

What happened to all those economists dire warnings that the entire American economy would cease to exist after it got over 100 dollars? Just unreal man, unreal...

Finally, still more horrible news out of Myanmar about the over 23,000 dead so far in the deadly cyclone that hit yesterday...

Hungry crowds of survivors stormed the few shops that opened in Myanmar's stricken Irrawaddy delta, where food and international aid has been scarce since a devastating cyclone killed more than 22,000 people, the U.N. said Wednesday.

Corpses floated in salty flood waters and witnesses said survivors tried desperately to reach dry ground on boats using blankets as sails. The U.N. said some 1 million people were homeless in the Southeast Asian country, also known as Burma.

Really feel like there should be more attention given this situation especially with the excessive loss of life here. We seem so insulated in this country when a few thousand people die it becomes a national day of reflection, but when 23,000 people die somewhere else from an "act of God", we just kinda yawn and go back to checking Facebook all day.

Next Presidential pardon setup...

Infamous "DC Madam" found dead in Florida today of an "apparent suicide"...

Now... I'm not always the conspiracy nut in a group, but the list of people that wanted this woman dead is enormous and includes the upper crust of the US Government, so this just smacks of some pretty bad possibilities here.

Police said the body was found in a shed near Palfrey's mother's home Thursday morning. There was a suicide note, but police did not disclose its contents or how she killed herself.

Police did not immediately have additional comment when reached by telephone. Palfrey's attorney, Preston Burton, did not return a telephone call and e-mail message.

Call me crazy, but I don't buy that this woman would have just randomly killed herself this far into the game...

Anybody out there buy this?

Note to self....

Stay the HELL away from the Congo (as if I needed any more reason right?)!!!

Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft.

Rumors of penis theft began circulating last week in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo's sprawling capital of some 8 million inhabitants. They quickly dominated radio call-in shows, with listeners advised to beware of fellow passengers in communal taxis wearing gold rings.

Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed that sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear, in what some residents said was an attempt to extort cash with the promise of a cure.

Seriously, there are some jealous jackasses out there that just need to chill the F*&^ out! It is NOT cool to be messing with a man's junk!!!

That is all...

Strangeness

It seems to occur everywhere at all times, but it almost seems like it happens in bunches on rare occasions...

These last few days are probably a great example of just that happening around here and within the national scope...

Take for example the supposed "Unbeatable Obama campaign" machine barreling through each primary taking control of big name endorsements, huge fundraising opportunities and basically making Hillary's (HRC) campaign look like a whiny "hanger-on" that just can't seem to admit when she's lost...

Well, going into Pennsylvania, this perception has the chance to be radically changed, as a source through Drudge has leaked numbers indicating an 11-point lead by the Hillary Campaign in Pennsylvania!

This all coming on the heels of yet another new round of negative campaign ads from both sides in the state, as well as rumors of a push by Democratic Party Chiefs to end this primary before things get too ridiculously destructive:

The party leaders' aim: To thwart the Clinton campaign's vow to fight all summer long to a final, nationally televised round at the Denver convention, so the party can get on with the battle against the likely Republican candidate, Arizona Sen. John McCain. Convention fights in past decades -- notably in 1968, 1972 and 1980 - left deep divisions that contributed to the nominees' losses and hurt lesser candidates on the ballots.

All of this of discourse happening within a party known for disorganization, poor planning and absolutely horrendous nominees of course...

While all of this is going on, McCain has been able to tour the country, speaking often of economic woes, the war, kissing babies, etc, but in addition to all this he now has a new attack vehicle. Connecting Obama to Radicalists:

William Ayers — a former member of the Weather Underground, which embraced bombing in its effort to end the Vietnam War — became an issue in the Democratic nominating race at last week’s debate. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said Obama’s past meetings with Ayers are part of a “larger set of concerns about how we are going to run against John McCain.” Republican sources said McCain plans to make a major issue of the connection in the months ahead.

Asked by host George Stephanopoulos whether he has any doubt that Obama shares his sense
of patriotism, McCain brought the subject up.

“I'm sure he's very patriotic. But his relationship with Mr. Ayers is open to question,” McCain
said.

“He became friends with him and spent time with him while the guy was unrepentant over his activities as a member of a terrorist organization, the Weathermen,” McCain said. “Does he condemn them? Would he condemn someone who says they're unrepentant and wished that they had bombed more?”

Look, the "Weathermen" were a radical organization in a time when there were thousands of desperate radicals trying to find a way to end what they viewed as an incredible waste of human life brought on by ideals they did not support. It was a different time period altogether...

That being said, we are going to have a lot of political leaders for the next 10-20 years that could have been connected to some radical idea or another. Obviously the Weathermen used bombs and terror as part of their "message", but are we going to automatically rule out future leaders because of a possible connection to a group that may have had some strange ideas while said leader was probably getting high in college?

C'mon people, we just elected someone that had a history of chemical abuse and now that leader's own party is using the past to sink another candidate? Its a tired line guys, you need new material...

Dews early mornin Friday!

Ahh, its good to have everyone back again...

I didn't have as good an excuse as Mr. Jack Gonzo, but I have been orchestrating a massive office move for the firm I work for (I am in charge of everything with a button, ie IT, so anything that entails me needing to be on top of...), so I feel like I have at least a decent excuse for ignoring my duties as one of the top writers...

All excuses aside though...

Gonzo's wedding was flat-out amazing...

Keep in mind I have been to some swanky, high priced, politico, house near Annapolis on the Chesapeake (yea, think "Wedding Crashers") type weddings. I can easily say that Gonzo and CityCat's wedding was EASILY the most fun I've ever had at a wedding ever, without any contest...

Thank you both again so much for including me (still love my outfit :) )!

Moving on to the important business at hand though, I must cover what it is I have the most experience with... The total incompetency/lack of "Balls" within the Democratic party!

I must admit, that this primary season had seemed like it would decide itself almost any week, but consistently Hillary (or HRC as she's more colorfully known) has continued to maintain her strong position with the party faithful, while running a consistently aggressive/negative and (quite honestly) similar type campaign to that of her good buddy Karl Rove (from me, that is a compliment).

Thus calling upon the wrath of the diminutive New Yorker that once fancied himself a Vermonter. Albeit he had some sort of transformation between being the Governor of a "Gun toting", conservatively socialist state and becoming the head of the DNC...

An increasingly firm Howard Dean told CNN again Thursday that he needs superdelegates to say who they’re for – and “I need them to say who they’re for starting now.”

(Before you ask, yes Dean was the governor of my home state of Vermont, but I think my Grandfather (who has always been deeply involved in VT politics and news), summed it up perfectly when a local reporter asked how he felt about Dean retiring from local office:

"Well, I'm just glad that now Vermont has a chance at getting a Democrat in the Governor's office".

The person running the DNC currently is NOT the Howard Dean that was our Governor...

That being said though, this is a primary which requires a united (Ball-less) Democratic Party in order to consolidate power and act upon the "threat" posed to them by someone that (bless his heart, I know he tries, but still...) quite honestly looks like he could be dead before November anyway.

Most importantly, the Dems need to step up and make sure they can balance out the courts before we have an even more serious issue on our hands... (Hint: McCain's record on anything non-abstinence, non-choice, and non-"common sense sex-ed" is worse then our current President).

In closing, I just want to remind everyone how much I do NOT want a little Dews running around in this world just yet (and if you knew what I was capable of as a child in my bad-ass big-wheels "General Lee", you would agree), so a McCain Presidency at this point, runs counter to what I feel this country needs at the moment...

That's all I have to offer on my soap box for the evening/morning, so "that is all"! :)

Dews Congratamatatin....

OK, lets be honest with ourselves here...

Mr. Gonzo has gone and gotten himself all hitched and shit, so we're all being dragged into this whole celebratory gesture for this next step in his life.

That being said (Notice I'm not saying "granted", since that has turned into a drinking game :) ), Mr. Gonzo has chosen an incredibly talented and balanced partner to combine with, so I (as well as all of LSWTF) strongly support and will do all in my power to assist the newly wedded couple.

My best wishes to both the bride and groom, but this couple is destined for greatness regardless of my wishing or doing :)

Congratulations Gonzo and CityCat... You all are made for each other and will have an amazing future together, I'm sure :)

Anyway, besides our wonderful CityCat and Gonzo gettin hitched, we still have news to deal with!

First off, all signs lead to bad shit happening to the American economy....

Disappointing first-quarter earnings from General Electric Co (GE.N: ProfileResearch and a drop in U.S. consumer confidence to its lowest in more than a quarter century in early April provided the latest signs the U.S. economy may be in a recession.

Again, just in case anyone is curious, China is still very much in charge of shit around here...

It was a brazen display of how confident China has become of its new place in the world, just as the British Government's failure to take a firm stand on Chinese abuses of human rights shows how craven we have become.

In closing, I want to apologize for the lack of posts from both yours truly, and the other members of this blog...

We do want to get the news out there, but real "life" seems to block us most times (at least recently anyway). Thankfully we shall all be getting extremely drunk this evening, so we could be inspired to post tomorrow, but other then MoDews (who will be posting tomorrow regardless), we'll all be at "The" wedding...

That is all...

PS: No I will not answer any questions about bridesmaids... What do you take me for?