One more step to the heavens

The space shuttle Discovery was moved from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building (the massive building that can be seen in Apollo 11.

In the Vehicle Assembly Building, Discovery will be hoisted up in a cradle and mounted to the external fuel tank and booster rockets:

NASA plans to roll Discovery out to the launch pad next week.

This sort of thing just makes me sick...

"Ghoulish" is definitely the word I would use. From the New York Times:

The parents of Terri Schiavo have authorized a conservative direct-mailing firm to sell a list of their financial supporters, making it likely that thousands of strangers moved by her plight will receive a steady stream of solicitations from anti-abortion and conservative groups.

"These compassionate pro-lifers donated toward Bob Schindler's legal battle to keep Terri's estranged husband from removing the feeding tube from Terri," says a description of the list on the Web site of the firm, Response Unlimited, which is asking $150 a month for 6,000 names and $500 a month for 4,000 e-mail addresses of people who responded last month to an e-mail plea from Ms. Schiavo's father. "These individuals are passionate about the way they value human life, adamantly oppose euthanasia and are pro-life in every sense of the word!"

Privacy experts said the sale of the list was legal and even predictable, if ghoulish.

at least one branch of government still has sanity...

U.S. District Judge James Whittemore of Tampa, Florida today denied the request for a temporary restraining order to restore the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo. Whittemore wrote that Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, didn't have a "substantial likelihood of success" on the merits of their arguments.

Judge Whittemore is right. From his ruling:

Plaintiffs' [the parents] argument effectively ignores the role of the presiding judge as judicial fact-finder and decision-maker under the Florida statutory scheme. By fulfilling his statutory judicial responsibilities, the judge was not transformed into an advocate merely because his rulings are unfavorable to a litigant. Plaintiffs' contention that the statutory scheme followed by Judge Greer deprived Theresa Schiavo of an impartial trial is accordingly without merit. Defendant [the husband] is correct that no federal constitutional right is implicated when a judge merely grants relief to a litigant in accordance with the law he is sworn to uphold and follow.

Judge Whittemore concluded:

This court appreciates the gravity of the consequences of denying injunctive relief. Even under these difficult and time strained circumstances, however, and notwithstanding Congress' expressed interest in the welfare of Theresa Schiavo, this court is constrained to apply the law to 12 the issues before it.

The parents, who must now believe that Judge Whittemore has "turned into an advocate merely because his ruling was unfavorable to a litigant", themselves, appealed to a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia.

I may have little faith in the legislative and executive branches of our federal government but my faith in the judicial branch is growing [by a little bit, but it's growing].

Spring Fever is no excuse...

Yesterday may have been the first day of spring, but that's no excuse for the federal government's actions the last 24 hours. In case you've been pinned under a boulder or in a submarine that's been running silent, you know that Congress and President Bush decided to thumb their noses at the constitution and state rights.

...dear God, I sound like a Republican...a traditional Republican...not one of those neo-con fools like Delay, Bush, Hastert, Frist, Santorum, and Karl Rove, who actually thumbs his nose for a living...

The matter in which I'm speaking is the matter of Terri Schiavo, a woman who has been in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years, and it is a matter I cared little about until yesterday, when the neo-cons pulled a fast one.

For over 200 years, states and the next of kin (in this case, the husband) have had authority over medical care and end of life situations. This history of state jurisprudence stemmed from the 10th amendment to the Constitution, which states:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The neo-cons in the federal government, listening to the parents of Terri Schiavo (who have lost their case to keep their daughter alive again and again in Florida state courts) decided to pass a blatantly un-constitutional law: S.686 A bill to provide for the relief of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo.

The Senate passed this bill yesterday afternoon by a voice vote and the House passed it at 12:41 am this morning by a vote of 203-58 with 174 not voting.

Interestingly enough, Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter of the Idaho first voted Aye in keeping with his "state rights" belief.

President Bush signed the law shortly after 1 am this morning.

I have no doubt that the Supreme Court will eventually strike down this awful law...but in the mean time, it is doing irreparable damage to the separation of federal and state and private authority. The neo-cons claim this is an extraordinary instance...excuse me if I don't take them at their word. What is to stop them from passing more unconstitutional laws every time a state legal system disagrees with their warped sense of morality.

The neo-con's actions on this issue have made me so mad I could spit...seriously...like a dilophosaurus.

Two years...1520 American deaths

Today is the two year anniversary of the start of the Iraq war. So what has happened in the past two years?

1520: Americans killed

1696: total coalition killed

5473: American wounded in combat

15,000-20,000: total American wounded

17,000-19,000: Iraqi killed

100,000+: Iraqi wounded

$150,000,000,000: spent

Spain, Thailand, Hungary, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Portugal, New Zealand, Philippines, Norway: Nations who have left "Coalition of the Willing"

Netherlands, Ukraine, Poland: Nations leaving "Coalition of the Willing"

And there is little or no mention of the anniversary on Drudge or the Fox News Channel website...how patriotic.

The Good Work of Public Works

The Idaho State Senate passed Governor Kempthorne's ambitious $1.6 billion highway program in its entirety today by a vote of 30-4. Republican Senators Brent Hill, Stan Williams, Monty Pierce and Skip Brandt the four dissenting votes. It now goes to the House.

I like public works projects for the most part, and I fully support Kempthorne's "Connecting Idaho" program. If you remember, a group of civil engineers gave the national infrastructure a D rating a few weeks ago. Idaho's roads and highways are in need of serious safety and efficiency improvements, and the use of GARVEE bonds is a good, sound way to do it.

You can learn more about the proposed road plan here: Connecting Idaho.

Dem O'Crat's Unbiased "News"

For those of you who diligently read the 3rd cent, let me first say GET A LIFE! Secondly, please take the time (since you seem to have it) to check out Dem O'Crat's Unbiased "News".

Dem O'Crat joined the 3rd cent staff back in February...

The Honorable Justice Scalia

Justice Antonin Scalia reminded me today why he frightens me. While speaking at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, he explained his view that the Constitution must me viewed and interpreted as it was when it was written.

You can see the speak on C-SPAN.org: Justice Antonin Scalia Speech on Constitutional Interpretation

Here are some highlights:

"The Constitution is not a living organism, for Pete’s sake, it is legal document, and like all legal documents, it says some things and doesn’t say others."

"What was ‘cruel and unusual’ and unconstitutional in 1791 remains that today. Executing someone under 18 was not unconstitutional in 1791, so it is not unconstitutional today. Now, it may be very stupid, it may be a very bad idea, just as notching ears, which was a punishment in 1791, is a very bad idea. But the people can...eliminate those stupidities if and when they want. All you need is a legislature and the ballot box."

God help us if he becomes Chief Hatemonger...I mean Chief Justice...

Worst Fortune Ever

I just got home from Moscow's premiere Asian restaurant, Super China Buffet, and I feel it necessary to share my fortune cookie fortune:

You are smart,
for you do things smartly.

I don't know what more to add...except to say that when I told Liz my fortune, she said "No, what is it really?"

ouch...

England's Prince William fell from his horse today while playing against his brother Prince Harry during a tsunami charity polo match in western England.

William was unhurt by his graceful dismount and quickly remounted to carry on the game, which his team then lost 12-7.

Jolly Good Show!

A victory for O2 lovers..

President Bush's inappropriately (probably sarcastically) named "Clear skies" initiative was killed in committee yesterday. Hurray! If the President had his way, this would be the clear skies we would wake up to every morning:

From the Washington Post:

President Bush's bid to rewrite federal air pollution laws ground to a halt in Congress yesterday when Republicans were unable to overcome objections in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that the bill would weaken the central pillars of the nation's environmental protection framework.

The setback is a body blow to the White House's prized plan and a victory for environmentalists who have long said that the "Clear Skies" bill is a euphemism for rolling back safeguards at the behest of industry.

Senator Lincoln Chaffee (R-RI) joined Democrats and Independent Senator Jim Jeffords to deadlock the committee 7-7. The bill could come up again, but the two sides appear to be too far apart to bridge their differences.

A central disagreement was whether the bill -- originally aimed at reducing the emissions of acid-rain-causing sulfur dioxide, smog-forming nitrogen oxides, and toxic mercury from coal-fired power plants and other industries -- should also address carbon dioxide emissions linked to global warming. That issue cost the Republican majority Chafee's crucial vote, said Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio).

"Chafee thinks this is the biggest problem facing the world, and the chairman [Inhofe] has a sign in his office saying this is a hoax," Voinovich said as he threw up his hands.

You can check out my position on the "Clear Skies" Initiative in my December post take a deep breath... (it's a good read)

The Content of their Character

As you may recall, I had a couple of posts last month; God Damn F***ing Seniors and God Damn F***ing Seniors: Part II, about the neo-con organization USA Next and their smear campaign against the AARP. As you may remember, USA Next ran this ad on the American Spectator website:

Well, there has been a development...from a press release yesterday:

A $25 million lawsuit was filed today against right-wing front group USA Next and political consulting firm Mark Montini International for stealing an Oregon couple's wedding photo and using it without permission in a high-profile gay-bashing ad designed to drum up support for social security privatization.

Following an admission of photo theft by the creator, advertiser and publisher of the ad, the couple whose image was stolen - Rick Raymen and Steve Hansen of Portland, Oregon - today filed a four-count lawsuit in federal court in Washington, DC. The suit alleges that the use of the couple's image without permission constituted an invasion of privacy, was libelous, violated their right of publicity and constituted an intentional infliction of emotional distress [...]

"Our privacy and personal integrity were violated when our wedding photo was stolen and used to portray us as treasonous, unpatriotic, and a threat to American troops," Rick Raymen said. "We have been harassed and humiliated by this hateful ad campaign and by the bigotry and anger it has generated against us nationwide."

"Our lawsuit is intended to make USA Next and Mark Montini pay for the harm they have caused and to send a message to them that they cannot recklessly play with peoples' reputations and make them targets of hate, as they have done with us," Raymen said. "When we get our judgment, we intend to donate to those who fight the kind of hate and homophobia that USA Next and Montini have demonstrated."

Compassionate Conservatives (i.e. ruthless hate-mongers) Strike Again!

For more information about the lawsuit, check out this site: Lawsuit of Rick Raymen and Steve Hansen versus USA Next and Mark Montini International. Good luck to Mr. Raymen and Mr. Hansen...(and I hope the Oregon Supreme Court recognizes their wedding license).

Oil for What?

So President Bush finaly admitted today that fuel prices are a problem that is only going to get worse. But, unsuprisingly, he also said the best way to combat rising prices is to drill in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

I've got a better idea...mandate increased fuel-efficency requirements and release fuel from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves.

The flu...and lemons

Well, after seven days in quarantine with the flu, I'm back! (barely audible "yeah" heard from somewhere...) Boy, did I miss a lot when this bugger was doing back-strokes through my body:

Just as today is my first day back in the real world, it is also Martha Stewarts first day out of prison in five months. What did she miss most? Why it was:

(hand to God...)

What did I miss most? Why it was:

Looking at it through a window sucks...

Anyway, here's what I've been thinking this past week:

Supreme Court ruling youth executions unconstitutional: Very Good

Steve Fosset flying around the world solo without re-fuelling in 67 hours and consuming only diet milk shakes: Cool...a little constipating

The Bush plan for Social Security: Stupid and a long shot

Martha Stewart getting out of prison: Who gives a rat's ass?

BTK serial-killer arrest: Remember...innocent until proven guilty

Crude oil at $80 a barrel by 2006: Where can I trade in my pickup for a Prius?

Bush in Europe: How can Bush still think Putin is a man of character?

1500 U.S. military deaths in Iraq: A gruesome and unfortunate milestone, even more unfortunate is that it won't be the last

Michael Jackson trial: Make it stop..."Help Me Jevus" -- Homer Simpson

And that's all I have to say about that...