the bad news I haven't revealed yet

While I've been farting around with Walk graphics and accepting cash donations (thank you all; you know who you are), there's one thing I haven't wanted to reveal to my readership, largely because it's more than a tad embarrassing:I've decided to nix the Walk and stay in Korea. I'm in the process of refunding my plane ticket, and am mentally rehearsing what I'm going to say to my bosses, who are likely to be pissed off. This may seem sudden to you, but that's only because I've been... well, to be honest, I've been rather afraid of everyone's reaction. "Pulling a Boyle, are you?" I can hear someone saying. No, I'm not pulling a Boyle. To do that, I'd have to actually start the Walk. It's better this way, yes? I can refund the donations I've received, I can save the walk graphics for when they'll be useful, I can begin when I'm more physically fit.So I'm writing this at around 11:30PM because I'm hoping my Korea-bound readership will be away from their computers and hobnobbing with the Sandman. I don't know what my Stateside and European readers will do or think, but... be kind, OK? People sometimes pull a 180.Sorry, folks.And if you actually believe this post, I should tell you about my two-meter penis._

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Report

INSIDE PITCH The Pirates had Monday off and certainly weren't complaining about a break in the schedule. The Pirates finished an 0-5 road trip to St. Louis and New York on Sunday with an 8-4 loss to the Mets. The Pirates have lost eight games in a row and 12 of 13 as they get set to face the Cardinals in a three-game series beginning Tuesday that starts a six-game homestand. "We're struggling to score runs and we're giving up a lot of runs late," Pirates manager John Russell said. "Hopefully we can refocus at home." What makes the Pirates' tailspin so frustrating is that they opened the season 11-7. However, they now find themselves at 12-19 as they try to avoid a 17th straight losing season, which would break the tie with the 1933-48 Phillies for the longest sub-.500 streak in American professional sports history. Russell has been preaching a change of culture since taking over as manager before last season, and he believes his team has not quit during its brutal two-week stretch. "We started out well and there was a lot of energy," Russell said. "The players are still fighting, but each day you lose is not fun. It's a strong group, though. As a staff and players, we'll keep pushing."NOTES, QUOTESSS Jack Wilson took himself out of Class AAA Indianapolis' lineup on Sunday because of cold and wet weather in Syracuse in what was the last game of his injury rehabilitation assignment but is still on track to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday night when the Pirates open a three-game series against St. Louis. Wilson, who has been out since April 25 with a sprained left middle finger, went 2-for-6 with two doubles in two games with Indianapolis and was scheduled to work out Monday, an off day for the Pirates, at PNC Park.RHP Matt Capps, who has been sidelined by a sore elbow since last Tuesday, threw 35 pitches in the bullpen before Sunday's game without pain. He will be available to pitch Tuesday night. Capps felt pain in the elbow after giving up four runs in one inning against Milwaukee last Monday night to suffer a blown save and a loss.BY THE NUMBERS: 17 Consecutive games the Pirates have lost to the Milwaukee. That is the most games one major league team has won over another since Baltimore beat Kansas City 23 times in a row during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.QUOTE TO NOTE: "The record speaks for itself. Apparently, they've got our number. I don't think anyone knows why." 2B Freddy Sanchez, on the Pirates losing 17 straight games to Milwaukee.ROSTER REPORTC Jason Jaramillo and C Robinzon Diaz, both rookies, have combined to hit .313 (20-for-64) with nine doubles, one home run and nine RBI since C Ryan Doumit was placed on the disabled list April 20 with a broken right wrist. Jaramillo is batting .279 with seven doubles and five RBI in 43 at-bats and Diaz has a .381 average, two doubles, one homer and four RBI in 21 at-bats. Doumit is expected to be out until late June.LF Nyjer Morgan is having a fine season in the leadoff spot in the batting order. He has a .301 batting average and a .376 on-base percentage in 30 games but will look to increase his production at PNC Park when the Pirates begin a six-game homestand Tuesday night against St. Louis. Morgan has a .246 batting average and .292 on-base percentage in 14 home games compared to a .355 average and .447 OBP in 16 road games.CF Nate McLouth has shown no ill effects of the strained oblique muscle in his right side that caused him to miss six straight games from April 24-29. He is 14-for-42 (.333) in 10 games since returning to action and had a double and home run Sunday in an 8-4 loss to the Mets in New York3B Andy LaRoche's streak of reaching base in 22 consecutive games ended Sunday. He was 0-for-4 against the Mets at New York. LaRoche was 24-for-75 (.320) with nine doubles, one home run and 11 RBI during the streak, raising his batting average from .000 (he was hitless in his first 18 at bats of the season) to .264.LHP Zach Duke, who pitches Tuesday night against St. Louis, has lost his last two starts to drop to 3-3. Duke has faced the Cardinals twice this season, splitting his two decisions, and is 3-5 against them in his career. MEDICAL WATCH: RHP Matt Capps (sore right elbow) was unavailable May 5-10. He is day-to-day. SS Jack Wilson (sprained left middle finger) went on the 15-day disabled list April 25. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis on May 8 and could be activated on May 12. RHP Craig Hansen (neck spasms) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20. He played catch May 3 for the first time since getting hurt. C Ryan Doumit (broken bone in right wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20. He had surgery April 23, and he will be out eight to 10 weeks. LHP Phil Dumatrait (arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He was pitching in extended spring training in mid-April. ROTATION: LHP Paul Maholm RHP Ian Snell LHP Zach Duke RHP Ross Ohlendorf RHP Jeff Karstens BULLPEN: RHP Matt Capps (closer) LHP John Grabow RHP Tyler Yates LHP Sean Burnett RHP Evan Meek RHP Jesse Chavez LHP Donnie Veal CATCHERS: Jason Jaramillo Robinzon Diaz INFIELDERS: 1B Adam LaRoche 2B Freddy Sanchez SS Brian Bixler 3B Andy LaRoche INF/OF Eric Hinske INF Ramon Vasquez OUTFIELDERS: LF Nyjer Morgan CF Nate McLouth RF Brandon Moss OF Craig Monroe OF Delwyn Young

Electioneering for McPalin at the polls in Thousand Oaks

Electioneering for McPalin at the polls in Thousand Oaks
I was a poll inspector three elections running; this is the firstone I've missed. Here's what I saw when I pulled up to my pollingplace this morning: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My polling place, at approximately 9:00am, the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 3415 Erbes Road, Thousand Oaks, CA . Parked in the driveway was a Lexus van (California license number 5 TKS 345) plastered everywhere with McCain stickers, Yes on Prop 8 stickers, Christians for McCain stickers-- a campaign on 4 wheels. This was well within the 100 foot limit of the polling place-- 78 feet to the front door, to be precise. (Another voter and I measured it with a measuring tape she had.) I complained to the poll inspector in charge of the site, Tawne Newcome, and she said she knew about it-- because it was _her_ vehicle. I told her it was out of line, and illegal. She got huffy and said she'd already moved it three times, that it was more than 100 feet from the front door (That was nonsense; it was 52 feet from the closest wall of the building, 78 feet from the door), and anyway, it was registered to her husband, so it didn't count. (?!?!) I and several other voters demanded to talk to her supervisor; we registered a formal complaint. I demanded she be removed from her position, which is supposed to be apolitical. The poll inspector Tawne Newcome, a Thousand Oaks resident like the rest of us, threw what I'd call a hissy fit: arguing, red-faced, furious, yelling.Myself and another voter, Susan Schroer, complained to the VenturaCounty election supervisors (805 654-2784). I spoke to a DonMorris, who told me there was "nothing wrong" and that they were onthe situation, that the vehicle was parked further than 100 feetfrom the "Polling Place" sign on the front door (How he knew this,from the city of Ventura 30 miles away, is a mystery to me.) We also called the police to have the car removed as a traffic hazard (it took up about 30% of the driveway). Mrs. Newcome left the site, reportedly to call her lawyer. She was replaced by her supervisor. The other poll workers-- Democrat AND Republican -- all seemed relieved that the nutjob had been removed. Submitted by Ted Newsom 1669 Woodside Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805 300 6462 I hereby release all claims to copyright of the above image.This information may be circulated and reproduced.email from the other voter/witness:This picture and previous two were taken of car parked fifty feetfrom polling place in Thousand Oaks, California. When I went in tocomplain I was told that car belonged to precinct captain. Precinctcaptain stated it was her husband's car and he needed to be contactedto move it. Other volunteers had offered to follow her to park inother location and drive her back to polling place and stated thatshe was initially parked right next to building.Distance of car from polling place was measured by another voter andmyself and found to be 50 feet from polling place. Volunteers statedthat captain said it had to be 100 feet from "entrance to pollingplace" . This was measured and found to be 75 feet. Afterapproximately 30 minutes captain got in car and left, stating she wasgoing to speak with her "Republican representative attorney".-- Susan Schroer

April County Council Report

-Submitted by Kay H.Dear 4-H Members,At this past County Council meeting, officer elections were held. The final decisions were made as follows:President: Mary BVice President: Amber YSecretary/Community Service chairperson: Tori BTreasurer/Fundraising chairperson: Tiffany BReporter/Publicity chairpersons: Jeffrey K and Kay HHistorian: Sophie PRecreation: Laura MDistrict V Delegates: Tori B, Kay H, Jeffrey K, and Mary BFormal officer installations will be held at the 4-H Awards Program on May 3rd, 6:00 pm, at Living Faith Fellowship. 4-H has some other exciting events coming up! Quickly approaching is 4-H County Events Day this weekend, on April 19th, 8:30 am. It will be held at Creekside Community Church, and 4-H members from around the county will be giving speeches, demonstrations, and illustrated talks in their various project areas. There will also be a talent show and a fashion revue. A concession stand will be available, and he proceeds will go to the Heifer International project. Don’t forget to bring your spare change, as this is the last opportunity to donate to the cow banks and support this worthwhile service project. Hope to see you there!Also coming up is Jr. Congress, which will be held May 9-10 at Mid. Florida Baptist Assembly. Jr. Congress is an event where 4-H members aged 8-13 years old can attend workshops in various areas, and have fun learning new things. This will give you a taste of what overnight camping is like! The cost is $30.00, and the Registration Deadline is May 2nd. For a brochure, please email Mr. Terry at eterry@ufl.eduWe are looking for Youth Fair non-livestock committee members. If you would like to be involved in making Youth Fair decisions and planning for next year‘s fair, then feel free to join. Youth members and adults are welcome. Contact Mr. Terry for more information.Please be aware that the Standards of Excellence paperwork deadline is April 25th.Our next County Council meeting will be held on May 20th, immediately following the 4-H Volunteer Dinner. Please join us to learn more about County Council and how you can become involved!

Japan snack

What makes you smile...?

Some poeple never smile or laugh.Life is too short and sweet not to see the beauty and laugter around us..I love to smile and walk around with a huge smile for anyone who walks my way...Life is so wonderful even in bad times..I am glad to still be alive and have what blessings I have in this life.I always think positive and move forward...My kids makes me smile.When they laugh I laugh and feel so much hope towards another day.My husband makes me laugh when he acts silly...When my cat rushes around me wanting me to pick her up it makes me smile...The earth and her beauty makes me smile in wonder.Space and all the heavenly stars makes me smile in awe.....The abilty to write my stories and poetry makes me smile...Friends calling me makes me happy and of course makes me smile...I think if more people would look around and see what is given to them they would walk around with more smiles...A smile is free and one of the most beautiful things you can share with the world...So pass around a smile..Lets make the world a brighter place...

The shadow of the torturer

The U.S. Department of Justice has made public four classified memos, issued to the CIA between 2002 and 2005, that provided the legal basis for the CIAs enhanced interrogation techniques  torture  applied to terrorism suspects in their custody. The memos are available, in PDF format, on several Web sites (see, for example, the ACLU and the New York Times). Coverage: CBC, CNN, Marc Ambinder, New York Times. One technique, from the memorandum of August 1, 2002, relating to the interrogations of Abu Zubaydah, an Al Qaeda operative who had been captured in Pakistan earlier that year, immediately grabbed my attention. Abu Zubaydah had a fear of insects that interrogators wanted to exploit: In addition to using the confinement boxes alone, you would like to introduce an insect into one of the boxes with Zubaydah. As we understand it, you plan to inform Zubaydah that you are going to place a stinging insect into the box, but you will actually place a harmless insect in the box, such as a caterpillar. If you do so, to ensure that you are outside the predicate act requirement, you must inform him that the insects will not have a sting that would produce death or severe pain. If, however, you were to place the insect in the box without informing him that you are doing so, then, in order to not commit a predicate act, you should not affirmatively lead him to believe that any insect is present which has a sting that could produce severe pain or suffering or even cause his death. [redacted] so long as you take either of the approaches we have described, the insects placement in the box would not constitute a threat of severe physical pain or suffering to a reasonable person in his position. An individual placed in a box, even an individual with a fear of insects, would not reasonably feel threatened with severe physical pain or suffering if a caterpillar was placed in the box. Further, you have informed us that you are not aware that Zubaydah has any allergies to insects, and you have not informed us of any other factors that would cause a reasonable person in that same situation to believe that an unknown insect would cause him severe physical pain or death. Thus, we conclude that the placement of the insect in the confinement box with Zubaydah would not constitute a predicate act. The New York Times reports that this particular tactic was not, in the end, used. But as someone who has an irrational fear of insects myself, I still have a thing or two to say about this. A phobia of insects is an irrational fear. There is nothing irrational about being afraid of insects that can sting you to death, much as there is nothing irrational about being afraid of grizzly bears, great white sharks or crocodiles. Being afraid of deadly insects is reasonable. But if you have an irrational fear of insects, even harmless ones, then whether or not it stings, or whether or not its sting is deadly, does not matter one damn bit. Being in physical contact with a large insect, no matter how harmless or benevolent, is just about the worst kind of personal hell I can imagine  even if Im fully aware that the bug cant hurt me. Ive often said that if I had to choose between being locked in a room with a rattlesnake, or a room full of dragonflies buzzing about, Id pick the rattlesnake every time. (But then again, I would, wouldnt I.) People dont understand entomophobia as much as they understand, say, ophidiophobia. I would think that quite a few people would be horrified at the notion of being trapped in an enclosed space with several live snakes, no matter how harmless or tame those snakes were. This memo argued that this tactic didnt rise to the level of torture; then again, this same memo tried to argue the same thing about waterboarding. One gets the impression that theyre testing the letter of the law while violating its spirit. Lets not get hung up on the question of whether or not it was torture. Without cover of authority, Id be sent to prison for doing stuff like this. So would any police officers, if they interrogated suspects in this manner. This, and the other nine tactics mentioned in the memo, ranging from face slapping to waterboarding, is beyond the pale of acceptable behaviour  outside the interrogation rooms of Bush-era CIA secret prisons, that is. Previously: Verschärfte Vernehmung.