Mayor of San Francisco disses the war on drugs  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

You got it, dude.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, the youngest mayor in San Francisco in 100 years, has a fresh pair of eyes about crime.  He's not afraid to speak out - we've got to respect that.  At City Hall yesterday, he told reporters that the national war on drugs in the U.S. is a total failure.  Thank you, the cat is out of the bag!

"If you want to get serious, if you want to reduce crime by 70% in this country overnight, end this war on drugs," he said.  "You want to get serious, seriously serious about crime and violence, end this war on drugs."  He says the local jails are overcrowded with drug offenses, whereas violent criminals are too often let go for lack of room.  San Francisco Sheriff, Mike Hennessey, agreed with him.  This isn't just a San Francisco problem, though:  it's nationwide.  We just don't have enough people trying to change it.  Or who are "serious, seriously serious" about it.

"The war on drugs is not working," Newsom continued.  "The war on drugs is not working because we are relying on law enforcement instead of on treatment...It's laughable that anyone could look at themselves with a straight face and say 'oh, we're really succeeding.'  I mean, it's comedy.  And as I say, shame on my party, the Democratic party, because they don't have the courage of their private thoughts, because we don't want to appear weak on this topic."  I agree with this 100%.  Except the part about looking at myself with a straight face and talking to myself.

South Carolina man gets his amputated leg back  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

Here's a story about how evil and greedy people can be, so take note:  if you accidentally buy someone else's amputated, embalmed leg at an auction, and they ask for it back...give it to them, huh? John Wood of Spartanburg, S.C. lost his leg after a 2004 plane crash, and stored it in a grill in his storage locker.  After Wood got behind on the rent for the storage unit, the belongings inside were auctioned off.  He'd planned to have the leg cremated with him.  The sale of the leg led to a three-year court battle:  first the buyer, Shannon Whisnant, called the authorities and asked them to take the leg away.  But when the leg story became the hot gossip of the town, Whisnant had a quick change of heart (aforementioned evil and greed), and wanted to show the leg at Halloween, charging money for people to view it. He told local media he was willing to go to court over it and wanted to charge $3 admission for adults, $1 for children.  Whisnant said, "It's a hell of a conversation piece.  I bought it.  It's mine." Police finally returned the leg to its rightful owner, and police Capt. Tracy Ledford "chuckled his way through" an interview with Reuters about it.  "The guy [Whisnant] don't have a leg to stand on.  He's not getting the leg back."

You never know what you'll find inside one of these babies.

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Months into retirement, Bob Barker gets sued  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

Nooo, I don't want to know the real Bob Barker!  I always thought he was this sweet grandfather type, I don't want to know the bitter truth, if there is one!  Deborah Curling, an employee of the Price of Right for 24 years, is suing Bob Barker, CBS, and The Price is Right peeps for constructive wrongful termination based on retaliation, a hostile working environment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.  In the lawsuit, she claims "Barker made it his life mission to destroy the livelihood of every person who contradicted him or did not do what Barker had ordered him/her to do, whether it was legal or not."

Nooo, nooo, I'm covering my ears!

The suit alleges CBS and Fremantle & Price were "fully aware" of the wrongdoings, "among them, racial discrimination, sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment."  It also lists mental harassment and abuse.  Most of the sexual harassment claims center on Wayne Rossi, a Producer, who the suit says would comment on and grab employee's butts, and whisper in their ears.

The racial discrimination alleged was black women always being selected "when a B.B.Q. was to be displayed;" arranging the models with a black model between two white models and calling it "the reverse Oreo;" and claims that Barker didn't want more than two black contestants on any show, which led to assistants marking African American contestants with a "B."

There are many more sordid allegations, in the suit papers TMZ.com has posted online.  The plaintiff alleges that Barker's "reign of terror" purposefully forced her to quit.

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Army National Guard specialist dies after warning family  
Thursday, October 4th, 2007

Ciara Durkin, a specialist with the Army National Guard, was killed in Afghanistan last Friday with a single gunshot wound to the head.  After she told her family, "If anything happens to me, you guys make sure it gets investigated."  The Pentagon will release no details except that it was a "non-combat related incident."

"We need answers...we want to know how our beloved Ciara spent the last moments of her life, and why was she taken from us," says Maura Durkin, Ciara's sister.  Ciara's mother, Fiona Canavan told CBS, "Biggest shock of my life.  I never, for one minute, thought she would die over there.  Never."  Here's a video clip of the interview with her family:

The Durkin family is requesting an independent investigation.  Death statistics for non-combat related fatalities are difficult to come by, since the cause of death encompasses accidents, suicide, homicide, illnesses, and even negligence of command.  The Durkins are pressing the Army for an official autopsy report.

Dancing with the Stars: Are you watching?  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

I hope you're watching Dancing with the Stars!  The ballroom dancing is so elegant.  We could really use more kids out there aspiring to do something graceful when they grow up instead of wanting to rap like Souja Boy.  The above video clip is a behind the scenes with Floyd Mayweather (a super welterweight boxing champ) and Karina Smirnoff.  On Tuesday night's show, Tom Bergeron joked about the closeness of Karina and Floyd, saying, "What's that?  Mario, line 2?"  I don't see the chemistry though.

Other stars dancing this season are Jennie Garth (best known as Kelly from Beverly Hills, 90210), Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman), Mel B. ("Scary" Spice Girl), Sabrina Bryan (apparently some sort of Cheetah girl), Helio Castroneves (IndyCar driver - I don't know where that came from), Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks owner, also don't know where that came from), model/actress Josie Maran, actor Cameron Mathison (All My Children), Las Vegas entertainer/singer Wayne Newton, Marie Osmond (of Donnie & Marie, and yes, Donnie was in the audience cheering, and yes, they both scare the hell out of me), and model Albert Reed.

It's back on again Monday night, so better peep it!

Rudy Giuliani calls his cell phone snafoo "frivolous"  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

"Gosh, you have to have perspective.  If that's the biggest issue of the campaign, we're going to win.  If I had chased all of these frivolous issues, I never would have turned around the deficit in New York City.  I never would have reduced crime...welfare...and I wouldn't have been able to handle September 11," Rudy Giuliani told the New York Post about his recent cell phone answering snafoo at an NRA conference. Been able to handle?  Been able to handle?  I've got to go lie down.

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PETA sends a fax to Kevin Federline about Britney's dogs  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

Britney with her Yorkshire terrier, London

I'm sorry, but PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is starting to tick me off.  I've signed many of their petitions and been involved with many of their campaigns, but they're starting to do some strange things for publicity.  First, they kiss and make up with Michael Vick, in an attempt to make animal empathy classes mandatory for everyone in the NFL.  Even though the NFL had nothing to do with the Vick dogfighting ring.

Now, Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA, has sent a fax to Kevin Federline, asking him to include Britney's dogs in their custody battle for their sons, Sean Preston and Jaydon James.  In a fax dated yesterday:

Dear Mr. Federline: We know that this is a particularly difficult time for you and your children.  We are writing to you today to urge you to amend your filing with the court to also seek consideration for your children's bond with the companion animals they have come to know and to request that the judge also grant you custody of these animals. It is no secret that Ms. Spears' impetuous 'pet' purchases and lack of caretaking skills have been a serious concern of ours, in addition to being a source of public criticism.  In 2006, Ms. Spears was 'the overwhelming choice' for worst celebrity dog owner in a poll conducted by The New York Dog and The Hollywood Dog magazines.  This past summer, Ms. Spears bought a Yorkshire terrier puppy from a pet store on impulse, only to casually tote the pup-London-around like an accessory.  In recent weeks, the Los Angeles SPCA has investigated reports of Ms. Spears' failure to provide adequate veterinary care for the tiny dog after he apparently suffered a fractured leg after being stepped on. As a father, your main concern is the comfort and stability of your children.  London and the other animals whom the boys consider to be part of the family have provided that comfort and stability.  The companionship of the beloved companion animals can make a world of difference for the boys during this difficult time, and being separated from the animal friends whom they share a bond with is undoubtedly traumatic for them. For the sake of your children and the animals who are at risk while in Ms. Spears' custody, we hope that you will do the right and best thing for all involved and pursue a custody order for the animals so that your sons can continue to have the company of the animals they've grown to adore.  If you have any other thoughts, we stand ready to assist you in placing the animals in a loving environment. Sincrely, Ingrid E. Newkirk"

First of all, I am sure Ingrid know that the SPCA investigation was dropped months ago.  London, the Yorkie puppy that Britney bought in July for $3,000, did suffer a minor leg fracture, but the dog was treated by a vet and the charges were cleared by the SPCA.  Back in August, Madeline Bernstein, President of the L.A. Branch of the SPCA, said the slight fracture was not serious and did not even require a cast.  She states that Britney's staff was interviewed regarding the incident, and it was revealed that Britney was not present when the dog was injured - London got "under someone's foot in the walk-in closet."   She also said that the veterinarian for Spears' dogs confirmed that London was treated.

Secondly, it doesn't seem like Federline even likes the dogs that Britney is constantly seen cuddling and smooching.  Britney has three other dogs:  two chihuahuas, Bit Bit and Lucky; and one maltese, Lacy Loo.  Sources that were close to Spears and Federline during the marriage insist that Kevin didn't get along with the dogs, and that he'd get growled at by her pooches.  The dogs that Spears was inseparable with even got sent away from their home at Federline's insistance.  In an interview with Teen People in September of 2006, K-Fed said, "We gave all the dogs to friends of ours.  It's just too much with the kids and all these dogs running around all over the place.  It just really wasn't working."  The pups didn't come back until after Spears filed for divorce.

Britney with her chihuahua Bit Bit at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards	Britney with her maltese, Lacy Loo

And lastly, if PETA's main concern was really for the animals, they likely wouldn't be approaching this at all.  Young children (Sean Preston is 2 and Jayden James is 1 year old) must be constantly supervised with pets.  Toddlers are at the highest risk for dog bites, and young children have difficulty differentiating "hitting" from "petting."  There has been no proof that the "animals are at risk," nor observable need for removal of the pets from the environment they are accustomed to, and placing them in care that will require double the supervision, from an individual that doesn't even want them around.

Now, I am going to officially going to go crawl under a rock for posting something this long about Britney Spears.   But it was for the puppies!

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Senator Larry Craig will stay in office, despite his announcement to resign  
Friday, October 5th, 2007

This just in:  you can't trust Senator Larry Craig.  Nah, really?  On September 1st, Craig told us he was resigning from the Senate because it is what's "best for Idaho," after the bathroom stall scandal.  But yesterday, he decided, hell, he changed his mind.  After a Minnesota judge denied his request to withdraw his guilty plea over the airport sex sting, Craig said in a statement:

"I am extremely disappointed with the ruling issued today.  I am innocent of the charges against me.  I continue to work with my legal team to explore my additional legal options.  I will continue to serve Idaho in the United States Senate."

But Larry, last month you told us that "to pursue my legal options, as I continue to serve Idaho, would be an unwanted and unfair distraction of my job and for my Senate colleagues.  The people of Idaho deserve a Senator who can devote 100% of his time and effort to the critical issues of our state and nation."  Apparently, they don't anymore?

You can read what the Minnesota judge had to say, which was pretty hot, here.

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