With the sad news of the death of Pink Floyd founder Richard Wright, it's time to dust off the old Pink Floyd album and reminisce about one of the iconic releases of the 1970's.
Although "Dark Side of the Moon" became one of those releases that takes on its own life, there's one fact to consider: there's no such thing as the dark side of the moon, scientifically speaking. Creatively speaking, of course, the darker essences, of many types, of our lunar satellite have long been catalysts for various forms of creation.
Click headline to view full story.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
DNC: Report Card, By George!
As you no doubt noticed, we lost out on predicting Barack Obama's vice-presidential running mate. Even worse than being wrong--we're now buying the booze (an entire bottle) for a friend rather than having the booze bought for us.
Oh, the perils of politics! We've decided, since we picked one of the final fab four (or so), that we didn't merit an "F", but maybe say, a C+/B-. Which is a bit better grade than some portions of the Democratic National Convention have earned , according to George Stephanopoulos.
Luckily for her, Michelle Obama got higher marks from George. But will her "warm and huggy" kiss-and-make-up with Hillary Clinton, coupled with her "stand by your man" fervent testimonials for hubby Barry make her really ready for prime time material? Look out Barry, more than one star is looking to be born at this convention!
Oh, the perils of politics! We've decided, since we picked one of the final fab four (or so), that we didn't merit an "F", but maybe say, a C+/B-. Which is a bit better grade than some portions of the Democratic National Convention have earned , according to George Stephanopoulos.
Luckily for her, Michelle Obama got higher marks from George. But will her "warm and huggy" kiss-and-make-up with Hillary Clinton, coupled with her "stand by your man" fervent testimonials for hubby Barry make her really ready for prime time material? Look out Barry, more than one star is looking to be born at this convention!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The O Report: Obama VP Search To Climax in Indiana With Evan Bayh
Someone swears Barack Obama will choose Kathleen Sebelius. Others swear it will be Kaine, or Bayh, or.....who? No matter who, the Obama camp is shrewd enough to get all the attention it can, for as long as it can, for this unique mating dance.
We predict: he'll flirt with Sebelius for the female vote. But who will he save the last dance for and take home? Evan Bayh. There's liberal glam and power in the Birch Bayh family name, and Obama knows it.
Bayh--Birch--saved Ted Kennedy's life. Caroline Kennedy is leading Obama's selection group.
Bayh--Birch--was the Senate's principal co-sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment, an act that can be spun up into coin of the realm with Hillary Clinton voters. Althugh Bayh--Evan--is labeled a "centrist", the old adage of "the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree" will come into play.
Bayh--Birch--lost his presidential nominee chances to later-President Jimmy Carter. In essence, the party owes him one.
And, Bayh is a liberal's liberal. The Bayh name linkage to old-school liberalism will create a solid bond with long-time liberals and Obama's far leftist supporters.
Big daddy Bayh has clout, name recognition, and long-time, deep pocket backers. Many of those have been passed on to son Evan, along with his newer generation supporters.
The Bayh wing of the Democratic Party is large and very well-furnished with oversized liberal, wealthy Democratic antiques. Obama won't risk his run on a woman, nor a lesser-known Democrat who's still basically putting his house together with goods from the political version of Target stores.
Obama will go for the gold, in terms of name, prestige, power, money, and overall recognition value. Just as the Kennedys crowned Obama the successor to JFK, a Bayh pick for VP will firmly bobby pin that crown in place.
We predict: he'll flirt with Sebelius for the female vote. But who will he save the last dance for and take home? Evan Bayh. There's liberal glam and power in the Birch Bayh family name, and Obama knows it.
Bayh--Birch--saved Ted Kennedy's life. Caroline Kennedy is leading Obama's selection group.
Bayh--Birch--was the Senate's principal co-sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment, an act that can be spun up into coin of the realm with Hillary Clinton voters. Althugh Bayh--Evan--is labeled a "centrist", the old adage of "the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree" will come into play.
Bayh--Birch--lost his presidential nominee chances to later-President Jimmy Carter. In essence, the party owes him one.
And, Bayh is a liberal's liberal. The Bayh name linkage to old-school liberalism will create a solid bond with long-time liberals and Obama's far leftist supporters.
Big daddy Bayh has clout, name recognition, and long-time, deep pocket backers. Many of those have been passed on to son Evan, along with his newer generation supporters.
The Bayh wing of the Democratic Party is large and very well-furnished with oversized liberal, wealthy Democratic antiques. Obama won't risk his run on a woman, nor a lesser-known Democrat who's still basically putting his house together with goods from the political version of Target stores.
Obama will go for the gold, in terms of name, prestige, power, money, and overall recognition value. Just as the Kennedys crowned Obama the successor to JFK, a Bayh pick for VP will firmly bobby pin that crown in place.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
The Edwards-Obama Question: Will John Edwards' Affair & Lies Taint Barack Obama & the Democratic Love Fest?
Admittedly, Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama is "Mr. Slick" His Teflon rating is of a factor that's pretty much impossible to calculate in normal, rational, political terms. Perhaps one joke making the rounds sums it up the best: "Why did Barack Obama really go to Jerusalem? He wanted to see the manger where he was born."
Political joking aside, the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair and Edwards' year of lies are serious. At one point, he was one of the most likely, if not the most likely, pick to run with Obama as vice-president. Edwards had already run before, on the failed John Kerry ticket. Clearly, he's a Democratic party leader.
The Edwards affair could be an albatross not only for the Democratic party, but for Obama as well. Edwards is high on Obama; Obama's been high on Edwards, too--once their primary competition was over.
Democratic strategist Jenny Backus has termed Edwards a "good populist voice who can.....help sell Barack Obama." Obama, citing Edwards' "creditablity," said "I have no doubt that John Edwards can be extremely helpful to us....in every demographic."
Political joking aside, the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair and Edwards' year of lies are serious. At one point, he was one of the most likely, if not the most likely, pick to run with Obama as vice-president. Edwards had already run before, on the failed John Kerry ticket. Clearly, he's a Democratic party leader.
The Edwards affair could be an albatross not only for the Democratic party, but for Obama as well. Edwards is high on Obama; Obama's been high on Edwards, too--once their primary competition was over.
Democratic strategist Jenny Backus has termed Edwards a "good populist voice who can.....help sell Barack Obama." Obama, citing Edwards' "creditablity," said "I have no doubt that John Edwards can be extremely helpful to us....in every demographic."
The John Edwards Video They Tried to Suppress
Now that Barack Obama favorite John Edwards, a Demcratic party stalwart, has finally 'fessed up to his affair with Rielle Hunter, the videos produced by Hunter must be seen. Those videos were originally yanked by the Edwards camp.
But someone had copies, and they re-surfaced. Watch and you'll see Edwards in full rut, eyes, body language, speech betraying the attraction and affair.
And, Edwards gives his opinon of the "tabloid trash that's full of lies." So, if Edwards lied repeatedly, then does that make him tabloid trash? Interesting question, isn't it?
But someone had copies, and they re-surfaced. Watch and you'll see Edwards in full rut, eyes, body language, speech betraying the attraction and affair.
And, Edwards gives his opinon of the "tabloid trash that's full of lies." So, if Edwards lied repeatedly, then does that make him tabloid trash? Interesting question, isn't it?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Summer Break from Federal Gas Taxes Part of New McCain "Jobs for America" Economy Bailout Program
Sen. John McCain will take a bold step forward today as he addresses the state of America's economy and promises to balance the budget. McCain's proposal, called "Jobs for America," includes these points:
--summer suspension of federal gas taxes at the pump
--action to stop families from losing their homes in current credit crisis; refusal of taxpayer dollars to bail out those who preyed on consumers
--dismantling the pork barrel stuffed via earmarks
--assisting small businesses, including energy costs
--tax credits for R&D (research and design) work
--exporting more American goods and strengthening U.S. markets abroad
--expand use of domestic gas and oil and punish oil market speculators
--$300 million prize for development of battery power for cars
--cheaper medications
--more attention paid to chronic diseases
--make health insurance more portable as Americans change jobs
--ban internet taxes and new cellphone usage taxes
--adding more training and job resources to unemployment provisions.
Mike Allen of Politico has a thorough analysis and the entire proposal. McCain has been speaking out on the crisis in home mortgages as well as reaching out on his Latin American tour.
--summer suspension of federal gas taxes at the pump
--action to stop families from losing their homes in current credit crisis; refusal of taxpayer dollars to bail out those who preyed on consumers
--dismantling the pork barrel stuffed via earmarks
--assisting small businesses, including energy costs
--tax credits for R&D (research and design) work
--exporting more American goods and strengthening U.S. markets abroad
--expand use of domestic gas and oil and punish oil market speculators
--$300 million prize for development of battery power for cars
--cheaper medications
--more attention paid to chronic diseases
--make health insurance more portable as Americans change jobs
--ban internet taxes and new cellphone usage taxes
--adding more training and job resources to unemployment provisions.
Mike Allen of Politico has a thorough analysis and the entire proposal. McCain has been speaking out on the crisis in home mortgages as well as reaching out on his Latin American tour.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Why Journalism Won't Die--No Matter What You Read on the Internet
This morning I awoke to learn that the "big city" newspaper that gave me some of my finest training and greatest challenges, one of the dearest memories of my career, is slashing a large portion of its staff. The first response was visceral and acutely personal--with vibrant, vivid recollections of the rickety old building we worked in, copy boys, manual typewriters (yes, manual typewriters), pneumatic tubes used to send copy from the editors' desk down to the printers, those marvelous magicians who set type manually, and the memories, always green, of hard-driving, over-stressed reporters and editors who cared, who believed in getting it right.
Who believed in journalism, up close, personal, real--the thing that many today would have you believe is a dinosaur, a laughable old creaking monstrosity replaced by the internet. But does copying and pasting others' work, or snarking around, actually replace say, a good investigative reporter with a huge reach in readership, or an excellent, real editor who edits objectively, for actual news value, rather than for personal or political agendas?
There are some who think that journalism is well dead, Banquo's ghost, fluttering about ineffectually. But, as one commentator points out in the discussion accompanying this article--"Newspapers are a vital source of literacy."
Yes, they are. Perhaps at some point, historians in a later era will point to a time when texting became conversation, and when anyone who could manage to type in woefully mis-spelled words and clattering non-grammatical phrases, without either substance or facts, could fancy themselves journalists, movers and shakers, makers of this brave new world.
It's a fad, you see, this poseur belief that real journalism is no longer needed, because (strike a pose, modeled, cyberly, after an Edwardian fop)you see, all the truly au courant simply chat on the internet. If you know what's up at Huff or any of many other websites, then, my dear, you are in among the latest of fashions.
Once upon a time, the fad for beaver hats for men and feathered hats for ladies led to the carnage of animals and birds, literally wiping out species. Is journalism the latest feather to pluck from a dying carcass, to wear proudly in a new age?
I think not. It will, no doubt, be a contrarian view, but long-term, I have this belief that one day, people will look up and discover two things. The first is that there's a huge population out there that doesn't live on the internet and simply doesn't care what en vogue chatty websites have to say.
The second is that when real crisis is at hand, as witnessed in the Iowa floods, nobody does it better than a real, committed, trained newspaper staff. You can fly in sleekly shining TV reporters for the stand-up. You can talk about it on the web.
But the real news comes from the dirty, tired reporter from that area, the one who knows how to interview, how to get the news and present it quickly and in a readable format. The real news comes from photographers who are trained to consistently, day after day, get good shots, and who know how to frame the shots to go with the story. The real news comes from editors, sometimes at odds with the reporters and photographers in the dynamic tension that builds a great newsroom, who carefully edit and select the stories and the photos.
Real journalism isn't yet dead, although there are many who would have you think so. There are business models out there for getting rich quick on the internet, without investing the time and money in building well, a solid journalistic package. And the existing newspapers that transition to the web are often scoffed at by the new gold rush kids.
As Timothy Egan points out in his poignant piece: "But on its best days, a newspaper is a marvel of style and wit, of small-type discoveries and large-type overstatements, a diary of our deeds.
We may still prove Jefferson’s preference wrong: perhaps a nation can function without newspapers. But it would be a confederacy of dunces."
Miss Egan's column at your peril. It should be required reading for classrooms, homes, and boardrooms of the media decision-makers causing newspapers to bleed bright red blood, the lifeblood of real journalism, the kind that helps keep you not only informed, but free.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Cedar Rapids Floods & Hometown Journalism: The Cedar Rapids Gazette Rises Above the Storm
Wire stories about the flooding in Cedar Rapids and elsewhere abound. As always, national media fly into afflicted areas to cover the latest, hottest news story.
But at home, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Cedar Rapids Gazette has shown how hometown journalism can, in the end, be the best journalism. Their extraordinary front-page layouts, with full-spread photos, and their frequent online updates have shown just how very good the combination of traditional, print journalism and online media can be.
For a look at an ordinary hometown paper rising to extraordinary achievement under extraordinary and dangerous circumstances, browse the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Not only does this work stand as a testament to how outstanding American journalism can be, it's also more instructive than a year's worth of college courses. Because, in the end, it's always about: can you present the story quickly, accurately, honestly, and well, no matter what the circumstances?
The Gazette said "yes," resoundingly so. Those who have proclaimed that traditional and hometown journalism are ancient dinosaurs of the past might have something old to learn anew.
For videos of the floods, check out The Pep Report.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
BIG BROWN: A Dirty Trainer's Dues Are Called
Rick Dutrow, drugging trainer, and Big Brown.
There's no surprise today in Big Brown's failure to perform. Although this is a spectacular horse, he's been entrusted to some of the dirtiest hands in thoroughbred racing today.
The only one to come out of this race with any luster is jockey Kent Desormeaux. Desormeaux, realizing that, as he said, he had "no horse" under him, took care of his horse.
He put the horse first--a message that trainer that's not gotten through to trainer Rick Dutrow in his entire, dirty-brown career. For the past eight years, Dutrow, himself a drug user, has been suspended or fined every single years for illegally doping his horses.
Yet someone funded him, and somehow, this dealer of dirty business made it to the Triple Crown. Dutrow not only dopes his horses, but he takes full advantage of different state's racing laws to legally dope his horses with steroids.
Look at that sentence. There should be no way to "legally dope" horses with steroids. Human athletes caught using anabolic steroid, AKA Winstrol in horse racing circles, have found themselves losing titles, records, and even facing jail. Consider Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, Ben Johnson, and most recently, Olympic track star Marion Jones.
Not only does Dutrow routinely dope his horses with dangerous drugs, he decided, no doubt to protect his own horse-appled image, to suddenly pull Big Brown off the steroids. With the longest race of Big Brown's career, in immense heat, and under incredible pressure coming up, Dutrow suddenly changes his medication.
Any human who is legally prescribed a steroid is cautioned: do not stop this drug suddenly. Side effects of stopping this type of drug suddenly can be enormous.
On top of all that, Dutrow ran his horse on a hoof with a quarter-crack at thoroughbred racing's longest challenge on a dirt track: the Belmont. Any good working horse person, or even good pleasure horse person, and definitely any Quarter Horse person, can tell you: a crack in the hoof is serious. Working and running a horse on a quarter crack is risky business.
It's long since time for thoroughbred racing's hierarchy to get itself together, remember that more stallions than geldings win the races. When it comes to adequately protecting horses, horse racing's overseers need to go on a scavenger hunt for their own long-unused, dried-up equipment. Dutrow should have been permanently banned long ago.
Racing should have banned steroids long ago, in every state. And, three track veterinarians should have to review and sign off on all medications given to horses--and any changes made, before races, with written rationale.
Thoroughbred racing has not yet recovered from the needless, cruel, and agonizing death of Eight Belles, literally run to death by a macho jockey and win-maddened trainer at the Kentucky Derby..Now they can add this to the tally of wins and losses: Big Brown, running after dangerous medications were suddenly stopped cold turkey, and running under the control of a trainer who's so dirty with drugs that he shouldn't be allowed in racing barns in America.
Big Brown, stalling out in full view of the world. Big Brown, a great horse, who's been jazzed with drugs, and run on an injured hoof, still calm, willing, and ready to go to work: far more than Dutrow or those who've supported him deserve.
No matter how much the media tries to pretty these stories up, no matter how they come up with cute little "underdog" vignettes about trainer Dutrow making a noble comeback, they can't bury absolute truth. Dutrow is back-of-the-track trash allowed to elevate himself due to greed, lust for publicity, and poorly-monitored racing regulations created and administered by a herd of aging geldings.
As for the race itself, Da' Tara won. Racing lost.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Britain: Fly-By To Help Celebrate World War I Veteran's Birthday
Was that a typo, the "World War I veteran" bit? Not at all: Henry Allingham 's 112th birthday celebreation will include a Royal Air Force (RAF) fly-by and parachute jump.
Britain's oldest man, thought to be one of three surviving UK World War I veterans, is celebrating reaching his 112th birthday.
Henry Allingham, who was born in London on 6 June 1896, is also the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force - formed 90 years ago.
Mr Allingham, from Ovingdean, near Brighton, will celebrate at Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Lincolnshire.
The event will include a fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Examining the Media: Has the Press Deliberately KO'd Hillary? (Opinion)
Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp is emphatically denying an AP story announcing her resignation from her campaign for the Democratic Party nomination for president.
Regardless of what the Clinton campaign says, AP has announced the anointing of Barack Obama as well as announced that Clinton is dropping out of the race. Isn't it Clinton's job to announce what she's doing?
And isn't it the Democratic Party's job to officially nominate Sen. Barack Obama? Apparently not.
Here's what the Clinton campaign has to say, via Fox News:
"“The AP story is incorrect. Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination this evening,” the campaign said in a statement.
Clinton aides told FOX News that the only concession she will make Tuesday night is that Obama “has a slight lead in the delegate count.”
They said Clinton plans to claim she has won the popular vote, and is working up a victory-type speech for her address in New York City.
“She is in this race until we have a nominee. We do not expect there to be one tonight,” Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said."
Still, media are following the AP's lead and accepting the AP announcement as though it came from Clinton herself. Apparently, there is no longer any reason to have a convention, because AP has just announced the nominee.
The intrusion of the media as propagandists and active PR agents for Sen. Barack Obama has been appalling, and something that I hope serious journalists take a long and hard look at. For weeks, indeed months, even before people voted, we've been told, by the media, that Clinton had already lost.
In the frantic rush to ordain Obama, the media seems to have forgotten that its job is to report factually, and not be part of the political system, but an objective lenses on the process. These days, I think that a definition of the term "objective" needs to be given to most media.
There's a place for opinion: in the editorial section of a newspaper, or in the commentary segments of TV shows. There's an endless stream of newly-appointed pundits who drone on for hours about the slightest thing.
Their shows should have a message on the screen at the start and all commercial breaks: editorial and commentary only; this is not breaking news. Too harsh? I think not.
The media has told Hillary to quit many times--in a way they wouldn't have done with a man. They've announced her defeat so often that were this a prize fight, there'd be more announced knock-outs than rounds.
They've consistently used the least attractive photos of Clinton they could find, while finding attractive photos of Obama. One day, a supposedly objective news story gushed on about the "glamorous" Mrs. Obama, when the supposed subject was Obama policy as presented in speeches.
Watching today as the sheep stampede to follow AP's lead, I'm left wondering: when did the media get the idea that reporting news isn't good enough, and that making news is their job?
Today, media outlets are rushing to carol the good news: AP has announced Clinton's quitting, tonight, and Obama is the nominee.
No, he's not the nominee. Even if Clinton concedes tonight, he's only the presumptive nominee.
Unless, of course, the media has now decided to take over democratic processes. In which case, everyone can save a lot of money by calling off the Democratic convention.
Personally, although Clinton hasn't been my candidate, I hope she stays in it as long as she chooses, not the media. I'd like to see her take her issues to the convention. I'd like to see Clinton supporters have the chance for some good, old-fashioned floor fights.
Above all else, I hope she doesn't accept the AP announcement as her own.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Quebec Will Repatriate 700 Acres to Kahnawà:ke Reserve (Breaking News)
Quebec has agreed to repatriate 700 acres to the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawà:ke. The land agreement is a small portion of long-term negotiations about the Seigneury of Sault St. Louis grievance.
“This has huge significance,” said
Grand Chief Michael Ahríhrhon Delisle, Jr. “While Canada and Kahnawà:ke have been in formal Seigneury negotiations since 2005 Quebec has, until now, been reluctant to participate. This has now changed.”
“We’ve been discussing the return of lands and enlarging Kahnawà:ke’s footprint for many years,” he added.
“We’re finally sitting down with both levels of government to get down
to the business of settling our grievances and addressing the issue of
return of land.”
Tags: Quebec | Culture | indigenous peoples | kahnawake | lands to be returned | Mohawks | Native Americans
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Rowing The World's Oceans: UK Team To Try Unassisted NY to Europe Atlantic Crossing
And the owl and the pussycat set to sea--that aside, four men from the United Kingdom are setting out to join others in challenging the Atlantic Ocean--by rowboat. Amazingly, there's an entire organization dedicated to Ocean Rowing: the Ocean Rowing Society.
Among the list of ocean rowers: Roz Savage of Great Britain, who's aiming to be the first woman to row across the Pacific Ocean solo, in three stages, from the USA to Australia. The UK team that was scheduled to shove off from the New York's Hudson River today include Chris Jenkins, Tim Garratt, Wayne Davey and Joby Newton.
The UK team is trying for the first "unassisted row" record, meaning they'll have no food, drinks, or other human contact until they reach land at Scilly. You can track their progress here.
Man drops $11,200 from plane near Jakarta
Now this is what you call "throwing money around."
AN INDONESIAN businessman sparked a scramble for cash when he dropped 100 million rupiah ($11,200) in banknotes from an aircraft today to promote a book he has written.
A 13-year-old girl lost consciousness running after the notes and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital, the Detikcom online news service said.
Tung Desem Waringin, who is promoting his second business motivation book, got the aircraft to fly four times over a soccer stadium in Serang city, some 60km west of Jakarta.
Source: news.com.au
Tags: aircraft | Banknotes | Businessman | consciousness | drops | INDONESIAN | notes | promote | runs | rupiah | rushed | scramble | sparked | Strange
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Space Shuttle Discovery Lifts Off; Headed for Space Station with
UPDATE: Blue skies and clear sailing marked the successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery and her seven-member crew from historic Launch Pad 39-A at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. A flawless countdown preceded liftoff, which marked the 35th flight of Discovery and the 123rd Space Shuttle mission. (The numbers don't always match in sequence because flight manifests often shuttle missions around.)
Original story follows.
The crew of Space Shuttle Discovery is strapped into their vehicle as the countdown toward a 5:02 p.m. EDT launch proceeds smoothly at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The STS-124 is the second of three flights that will ferry and install components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory on the International Space Station.
They're also taking components to help with fixes of the Russian-provided toilet. The crew's primary mission is to Kibo’s large Japanese Pressurized Module, or JPM, and its remote manipulator system, or RMS.
The RMS consists of two roboticarms that support operations outside of Kibo. The lab's logistics module, or JLM,which was installed in a temporary location during STS-123 in March, will be attachedto the new lab.
Discovery's 14-day flight carries the largest payload ever delivered to the station and will include three spacewalks. The shuttle also will deliver Astronaut Gregory E. Chamitoff , a Mission Specialist, to a duty tour aboard the station.
He will take Astronaut Garrett E.
Reisman's place as ; Expedition 17 flight engineer.; Reisman will come home with the STS-124 crew in two weeks. Chamitoff will fly home aboard Endeavour on the STS-126 mission in November.
The rest of the STS-124 crew includes Michael E. Fossum,; mission specialist; Kenneth T. Ham, pilot; Mark E. Kelly, commander; Karen L. Nyberg, Ronald J. Garan and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Akihiko Hoshide, all mission specialists.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day Tornadoes Devastate Towns
For more than three dozen tornado videos and storm photographs, please visit our new location at The Pep Report.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Where's the Peanut Gallery?
A reminder: we've been invited to join the friendly folks at Pep Report. Other writers will be joining in, too, so come visit!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Detroit to Scandal-Ridden Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick: Get out!
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is the guy who unleashed the "n-word" bomb on prime-time TV when caught lying to investigators about an alleged sex scandal and mis-use of government resources. Ever-belligerent, Kilpatrick continues to insist that his actions and the resulting felony perjury charges aren't his problems. Kilpatrick, who travels with his own tax-financed "posse", says that he's only in trouble because of racism. In so doing, he somehow overlooks the fact that the Detroit City Council is 99% black and a majority of citizens protesting against him are black.
McCain: Hagee Apology Praised, "Reconciliation" Stressed
On the other hand, compare Barack Obama mentor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's race-baiting, "God Damn America" posture. There's no reconciliation there, just unrepentant anger.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Missouri Storm Spotter Tyler Casey, Credited with Saving Lives, Dies of Injuries from May 10 Tornado
Sad news from Seneca, MO, where firefighter and storm spotter Tyler Casey died of injuries sustained tracking storms during the May 10 tornado outbreak.
The Neosho Daily News announced the 21-year-old's death Monday night. Casey is credited with saving at least three lives during Saturday's storms.
His death brings the number of fatalities in that area to fourteen. More information can be found at The PEP Report.
The Neosho Daily News announced the 21-year-old's death Monday night. Casey is credited with saving at least three lives during Saturday's storms.
His death brings the number of fatalities in that area to fourteen. More information can be found at The PEP Report.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
UPDATES: Tornado Outbreak, Eight Belles
For more on the May 10, 2008 tornadic outbreak, please visit our new website:
The PEP Report
We have exclusive photos of the storm, along with a discussion Forum.
There's also a new Eight Belles discussion topic set up.
Pardon our mess as we move. Want to help carry a cyber-suitcase? ; } (Just kidding!)
We appreciate each and every one of our readers and contributors. We'll update this blog now and then, but our major focus will now be on the website, where we have a greater opportunity to hear from you. And that's important to us.
The PEP Report
We have exclusive photos of the storm, along with a discussion Forum.
There's also a new Eight Belles discussion topic set up.
Pardon our mess as we move. Want to help carry a cyber-suitcase? ; } (Just kidding!)
We appreciate each and every one of our readers and contributors. We'll update this blog now and then, but our major focus will now be on the website, where we have a greater opportunity to hear from you. And that's important to us.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Tornadoes Kill at Least 19 in OK and MO; OK Town Almost Destroyed
Note: in chaotic situations, death tolls vary. KTUL is on the scene, and we're trusting them.
Ambulances literally raced back and forth between the tiny, struggling town of Picher and the nearest hospital in Miami, OK after a fourth day of severe weather ended in a tornado savaging the area.
At least six people are known to have died in the tornado, tentatively classifed as an F3. The twister was one of several that gouged across Eastern Oklahoma early Saturday evening.
Complete story, with photos and video, at The Pep Report.
We're in the process of moving into new digs, please bear with us! We'll be able to offer far more interaction with readers at the new place.
Tax Evader: Rev. Al Sharpton Owes $1.5 Million in Back Taxes
Apparently the Rev. Al Sharpton hasn't yet heard the part that says "..render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's." Earlier, Sharpton, a firm Barack Obama supporter, threatened lawsuits over the Democratic party's handling of Michigan and Florida delegates. The question now is; who'll pay for those court costs?
This isn't the first time Sharpton has been in trouble over his finances. His non-profit, National Action Network, has previously been under federal investigation for handling of funds, including donated monies.
One of Sharpton's staffers complained because federal agents came to her home and knocked on her door, asking to speak to her. In the tax evasion scandal, Sharpton is following his usual line: he's being picked on because he's an activist.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Beauty of a Routine, Maybe Boring Day
We'd like to have a routine day back. You know, the kind of day where maybe you think "Is this my LIFE? Is this boring?"
We were sailing along here, researching, analyzing and writing about Eight Belles--and at work on other things. Enjoying the dialogue here.
Then came news. One of the most beloved, most important women in the Peanut crew's world had a cyst removed from her breast.
The procedure went fine. All seemed well. Then the surgeon called.
She has cancer. She has to start immediate radiation treatment, even though the surgeon thinks she got it all.
She's been this route before. Decades ago, she had breast cancer. And survived. She's also survived a seeming never-ending series of health challenges and illnesses. But she always come up still in love with life, still determined.
She's 91. A remarkable woman.
We felt like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. Stunned. Maybe that's working into angry, we're not sure yet. Scared.
Somehow, we just didn't get back to the work on Eight Belles. Not yet.
Before the next wave of storms sweept through here, we went out and gathered an armful of irises that were battered down by the last wave of stormy weather. They're beautiful.
There are some stalks out there still on the ground. Some still standing, but looking battered.
We're betting that when this cycle blows over, they'll bloom again. They'll stand tall and dance in the wind again, opening white and purple and gold into the sun.
We're betting on our own Iris, too. Storms come, storms go. They're hard to go through when they're around. But they always go. And beauty endures.
Always. We're betting on it.
We were sailing along here, researching, analyzing and writing about Eight Belles--and at work on other things. Enjoying the dialogue here.
Then came news. One of the most beloved, most important women in the Peanut crew's world had a cyst removed from her breast.
The procedure went fine. All seemed well. Then the surgeon called.
She has cancer. She has to start immediate radiation treatment, even though the surgeon thinks she got it all.
She's been this route before. Decades ago, she had breast cancer. And survived. She's also survived a seeming never-ending series of health challenges and illnesses. But she always come up still in love with life, still determined.
She's 91. A remarkable woman.
We felt like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. Stunned. Maybe that's working into angry, we're not sure yet. Scared.
Somehow, we just didn't get back to the work on Eight Belles. Not yet.
Before the next wave of storms sweept through here, we went out and gathered an armful of irises that were battered down by the last wave of stormy weather. They're beautiful.
There are some stalks out there still on the ground. Some still standing, but looking battered.
We're betting that when this cycle blows over, they'll bloom again. They'll stand tall and dance in the wind again, opening white and purple and gold into the sun.
We're betting on our own Iris, too. Storms come, storms go. They're hard to go through when they're around. But they always go. And beauty endures.
Always. We're betting on it.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Larry Jones Filly Follies? Police Investigate Maren's Meadow Sponging Incident; Jones & Jockey Gabriel Saez Face Doubts Over Eight Belles Derby Death
As controversy erupts over the sudden, mysterious collapse of Kentucky Derby second-place winner Eight Belles, another mystery still haunts trainer Larry Jones' barn. Filly Maren's Meadow, who could have been a contender for the Kentucky Oaks, last fall was the victim of something called "sponging," which effectively sidelined her away from crucial training and conditioning time.
In sponging, a cruel and illegal form of hurting horses and tampering with racing outcomes, someone literally shoves a sponge up a horse's nose to interfere with the horse's breathing. This causes excruciating pain and lack of oxygen during workouts and races. Sponging usually takes two people, one to hold the horse, the other to shove the sponge up the nose, veterinarian Keith Soring said earlier this year.
Maren's Meadow was living in Jones' barn, under his care, at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del. The facility has 24-hour-a-day security guards.
Jones sent the horse to a vet after she ran poorly in one race and had mucus drain from her nose. Surgery revealed that someone had shoved a round section of sponge about two inches by three inches up Maren's Meadows' nose.
The Delaware Park incident is under investigation by the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Racing Commission, and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau. No arrests have yet been made, and police are regarding it as a race-fixing crime.
Maren's Meadow and her usual jockey Gabriel Saez --also Eight Belles' jockey--is back on the racetrack. On March 22, she won the Bourbonette Stakes at Kentucky's Turfway Park.
But she didn't get her shot at the Kentucky Oaks. Another Jones-Saez filly, Proud Spell, handily took that race the day before the Kentucky Derby. The next day, Eight Belles, with Saez aboard, shattered multiple bones after the race and was euthanized on the track in front of horrified race-goers and international television.
This year, Jones fielded three top fillies: Eight Belles, Proud Spell, and Maren's Meadow. In March, Jones was blunt about his plan for Maren's Meadow: "..stay away from our other two (Proud Spell and Eight Belles) who are on the Oaks path."
Jones said he made a last-minute decision before the Derby to move Eight Belles from the shorter, female-only Oaks to the Triple Crown opening race because Proud Spell had a good chance of winning the Oaks. "The only reason Eight Belles is running in the Derby was because we felt like we had a really good shot of winning the Oaks without her," Jones said.
Sponging, an old racetracks nasty bit of business,is known to have occurred in Kentucky and New Mexico in the 1990's.The New Mexico incident led to the five-year suspension of a trainer. In 2001, horses were reportedly sponged at California's Santa Anita racetrack.
Jones laughed off Maren's Meadows' dangerous trauma. As she returned to racing, he guffawed "I put in for a change of equipment -- sponge out."
Jones now is defending Saez, his favored jockey. He also defended the Churchill Downs staff who tended to Eight Belles and who euthanized her.
In his statements, Jones created some neat bundling and a master bit of spin to lump together Churchill Downs staff and Saez as though they were one entity, or as though the issues were related. They're not.
In fact, we didn't know that the Churchill Downs staff, who acted impeccably--especially in Jones' absence on the track--needed defending. Saez, however, is another matter. Word is that Jones may hold a press conference Tuesday to discuss the handling and death of Eight Belles.
In sponging, a cruel and illegal form of hurting horses and tampering with racing outcomes, someone literally shoves a sponge up a horse's nose to interfere with the horse's breathing. This causes excruciating pain and lack of oxygen during workouts and races. Sponging usually takes two people, one to hold the horse, the other to shove the sponge up the nose, veterinarian Keith Soring said earlier this year.
Maren's Meadow was living in Jones' barn, under his care, at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del. The facility has 24-hour-a-day security guards.
Jones sent the horse to a vet after she ran poorly in one race and had mucus drain from her nose. Surgery revealed that someone had shoved a round section of sponge about two inches by three inches up Maren's Meadows' nose.
The Delaware Park incident is under investigation by the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Racing Commission, and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau. No arrests have yet been made, and police are regarding it as a race-fixing crime.
Maren's Meadow and her usual jockey Gabriel Saez --also Eight Belles' jockey--is back on the racetrack. On March 22, she won the Bourbonette Stakes at Kentucky's Turfway Park.
But she didn't get her shot at the Kentucky Oaks. Another Jones-Saez filly, Proud Spell, handily took that race the day before the Kentucky Derby. The next day, Eight Belles, with Saez aboard, shattered multiple bones after the race and was euthanized on the track in front of horrified race-goers and international television.
This year, Jones fielded three top fillies: Eight Belles, Proud Spell, and Maren's Meadow. In March, Jones was blunt about his plan for Maren's Meadow: "..stay away from our other two (Proud Spell and Eight Belles) who are on the Oaks path."
Jones said he made a last-minute decision before the Derby to move Eight Belles from the shorter, female-only Oaks to the Triple Crown opening race because Proud Spell had a good chance of winning the Oaks. "The only reason Eight Belles is running in the Derby was because we felt like we had a really good shot of winning the Oaks without her," Jones said.
Sponging, an old racetracks nasty bit of business,is known to have occurred in Kentucky and New Mexico in the 1990's.The New Mexico incident led to the five-year suspension of a trainer. In 2001, horses were reportedly sponged at California's Santa Anita racetrack.
Jones laughed off Maren's Meadows' dangerous trauma. As she returned to racing, he guffawed "I put in for a change of equipment -- sponge out."
Jones now is defending Saez, his favored jockey. He also defended the Churchill Downs staff who tended to Eight Belles and who euthanized her.
In his statements, Jones created some neat bundling and a master bit of spin to lump together Churchill Downs staff and Saez as though they were one entity, or as though the issues were related. They're not.
In fact, we didn't know that the Churchill Downs staff, who acted impeccably--especially in Jones' absence on the track--needed defending. Saez, however, is another matter. Word is that Jones may hold a press conference Tuesday to discuss the handling and death of Eight Belles.
Eight Belles: Gabriel Saez, the Whip, & Questions about Larry Jones' Choices Leading to Kentucky Derby Death, Eight Belles Racing Video
When evaluating a mystery--like why Eight Belles, a supposedly healthy racehorse, suddenly breaks multiple bones and is put to death at the Kentucky Derby--it's useful to look for the common element that becomes a common denominator. Just as the old teaching poem says "for want of a nail, a horse was lost." What led that nail to be wanting? Poor choices.
We're bringing you videos of Eight Belles on the track. They all have important clues that show why former rodeo guy Larry Jones, the filly's trainer, and her jockey Gabriel Saez, need to be thoroughly investigated, with Saez immediately suspended.
In 2007, Eight Belles didn't just win this race, but galloped away with it, leaving the field about 14 lengths behind. Watch jockey Saez carefully.
The more Eight Belles pulls away from the others, and the bigger the lead she gains, the more Saez whips her. That's right--her reward for responding to what should have been a signal "tap" or two, is to get repeatedly hit with the stick the faster she runs and the better she does.
Rewind. There clearly is no way that the trailing horses are going to catch up with Eight Belles--unless, of course, she falls--but Saez just piles the whip blows on. That, friends, is just plain nuts as far as racing strategy--as well as cruel and indicative of a major problem.
Saez brutally whipped Eight Belles to a second-place finish in the Derby. Over-using the whip is a common denominator in Saez' riding style.
Eight Belles won the Martha Washington by 13 l/4 lengths, as shown in this retrospective. For most of the race, she's running sixth out of a field of eight. Suddenly, she explodes and runs past the field like they're taking a Sunday stroll.
Who's riding Eight Belles for the Martha Washington win? Gifted rider Terry Thompson. Thompson, who's come back from two major injuries, wins 14% of the time and is in the money 45% of the time.
Here's Eight Belles winning the Fantasy Sweepstakes earlier this year. She rears up a little bit at the start of the race. She runs behind most of the race. Then she wins, by 3/4 of a length, or: just barely.
The jockey finally goes to the whip at the very last. Notice that when she is ahead, even though her lead is very short, the jockey's hands are on the reins. He could see she had the race, and he finished up with a hand ride, albeit a short one.
The difference? The jockey who stayed seated and calm although Eight Belles reared in the gate--one of the most dangerous things that can happen-- and whoe trailed most of the way wasn't Saez.
Ramon Dominguez steered Eight Belles to this win. So why wasn't he on Eight Belles at the Derby? Was he not Derby-qualified?
Actually, Dominguez is not only Derby-qualified, but he was at the Derby. He was aboard Ronba. The colt won the Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland in April, but was a sluggard in the Derby. Notice that when Dominguez wins Keeneland he's not laying on the whip. Dominguez, who had won before on Eight Belles, would have been a good match for the talented filly in the Derby.
As of May 2, Dominquez is the fifth highest-winning money-maker among jockeys, with $4,690,994 to his credit. His stats show that he wins 28% of the time, and is in the money 65% of the time.
But Jones went to Saez, who appears to be his favorite rider. Why? It must be because of outstanding stats, right?
Wrong. Saez, who's just barely out of the apprentice class, isn't even cited by the Jockeys' Guild. He wins 10% of the times he rides, and is in the money 40% of the time.
Another question--why did Jones put Eight Belles in the Derby? Why this last-minute decision? Was it because he thought her checkered racing stats, her long, often-gawky legs, and her heavy body all signaled readiness for what is, even in a smaller field, a long shot for a filly and one of the more demanding races?
"The only reason Eight Belles is running in the Derby was because we felt like we had a really good shot of winning the Oaks without her," Jones said.
Jones figured he could win the big bucks in the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby with another horse. So he threw Eight Belles into the 20-horse Derby field. There's a difference between running the Oaks and the Derby, and running in the Derby shouldn't be an off-hand, pocketbook decision.
But Jones has made some other controversial decisions, too. Last year, he rewarded jockey Mario Pino for helping to develop Hard Spun, guiding him through his career starts, by dumping him just four days before the Belmont Stakes.
Pino had ridden Hard Spun to second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. Jones said that Pino had not followed his orders in rating Hard Spun. Pino, fearing the colt would get boxed in, had moved Hard Spun into a better track position.
Aw shucks'ing all over the place, Jones opined "“I feel badly for Mario, as he is truly a nice guy, but he made a mistake." He didn't, however, address why, if Pino had made the mistake in the Preakness he waited until just four days ahead of the Belmont rather earlier.
How did that work out? Hard Spun, who racing experts said clearly seemed too tired for the race, barely sputtered into fourth place. He battled new jockey Garrett Gomez, who tried to follow Jones' demands and rate the horse. Meanwhile, Gomez's former mount, the filly Rags to Riches, stumbled and went to her knees at the start of the race and then ran right by the boys to win.
And how is Pino doing? His stats show that wins 22% of the time and places in the money 54% of the time. Pino, Maryland’s all-time winningest jockey, has just been honored by by named The Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 133 Station.
If we here at the Peanut headquarters were into betting, we sure wouldn't bet on Jones' decisions. Except for one: he likes, really likes, a rough rider named Gabriel Saez.
We're bringing you videos of Eight Belles on the track. They all have important clues that show why former rodeo guy Larry Jones, the filly's trainer, and her jockey Gabriel Saez, need to be thoroughly investigated, with Saez immediately suspended.
In 2007, Eight Belles didn't just win this race, but galloped away with it, leaving the field about 14 lengths behind. Watch jockey Saez carefully.
The more Eight Belles pulls away from the others, and the bigger the lead she gains, the more Saez whips her. That's right--her reward for responding to what should have been a signal "tap" or two, is to get repeatedly hit with the stick the faster she runs and the better she does.
Rewind. There clearly is no way that the trailing horses are going to catch up with Eight Belles--unless, of course, she falls--but Saez just piles the whip blows on. That, friends, is just plain nuts as far as racing strategy--as well as cruel and indicative of a major problem.
Saez brutally whipped Eight Belles to a second-place finish in the Derby. Over-using the whip is a common denominator in Saez' riding style.
Eight Belles won the Martha Washington by 13 l/4 lengths, as shown in this retrospective. For most of the race, she's running sixth out of a field of eight. Suddenly, she explodes and runs past the field like they're taking a Sunday stroll.
Who's riding Eight Belles for the Martha Washington win? Gifted rider Terry Thompson. Thompson, who's come back from two major injuries, wins 14% of the time and is in the money 45% of the time.
Here's Eight Belles winning the Fantasy Sweepstakes earlier this year. She rears up a little bit at the start of the race. She runs behind most of the race. Then she wins, by 3/4 of a length, or: just barely.
The jockey finally goes to the whip at the very last. Notice that when she is ahead, even though her lead is very short, the jockey's hands are on the reins. He could see she had the race, and he finished up with a hand ride, albeit a short one.
The difference? The jockey who stayed seated and calm although Eight Belles reared in the gate--one of the most dangerous things that can happen-- and whoe trailed most of the way wasn't Saez.
Ramon Dominguez steered Eight Belles to this win. So why wasn't he on Eight Belles at the Derby? Was he not Derby-qualified?
Actually, Dominguez is not only Derby-qualified, but he was at the Derby. He was aboard Ronba. The colt won the Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland in April, but was a sluggard in the Derby. Notice that when Dominguez wins Keeneland he's not laying on the whip. Dominguez, who had won before on Eight Belles, would have been a good match for the talented filly in the Derby.
As of May 2, Dominquez is the fifth highest-winning money-maker among jockeys, with $4,690,994 to his credit. His stats show that he wins 28% of the time, and is in the money 65% of the time.
But Jones went to Saez, who appears to be his favorite rider. Why? It must be because of outstanding stats, right?
Wrong. Saez, who's just barely out of the apprentice class, isn't even cited by the Jockeys' Guild. He wins 10% of the times he rides, and is in the money 40% of the time.
Another question--why did Jones put Eight Belles in the Derby? Why this last-minute decision? Was it because he thought her checkered racing stats, her long, often-gawky legs, and her heavy body all signaled readiness for what is, even in a smaller field, a long shot for a filly and one of the more demanding races?
"The only reason Eight Belles is running in the Derby was because we felt like we had a really good shot of winning the Oaks without her," Jones said.
Jones figured he could win the big bucks in the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby with another horse. So he threw Eight Belles into the 20-horse Derby field. There's a difference between running the Oaks and the Derby, and running in the Derby shouldn't be an off-hand, pocketbook decision.
But Jones has made some other controversial decisions, too. Last year, he rewarded jockey Mario Pino for helping to develop Hard Spun, guiding him through his career starts, by dumping him just four days before the Belmont Stakes.
Pino had ridden Hard Spun to second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. Jones said that Pino had not followed his orders in rating Hard Spun. Pino, fearing the colt would get boxed in, had moved Hard Spun into a better track position.
Aw shucks'ing all over the place, Jones opined "“I feel badly for Mario, as he is truly a nice guy, but he made a mistake." He didn't, however, address why, if Pino had made the mistake in the Preakness he waited until just four days ahead of the Belmont rather earlier.
How did that work out? Hard Spun, who racing experts said clearly seemed too tired for the race, barely sputtered into fourth place. He battled new jockey Garrett Gomez, who tried to follow Jones' demands and rate the horse. Meanwhile, Gomez's former mount, the filly Rags to Riches, stumbled and went to her knees at the start of the race and then ran right by the boys to win.
And how is Pino doing? His stats show that wins 22% of the time and places in the money 54% of the time. Pino, Maryland’s all-time winningest jockey, has just been honored by by named The Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 133 Station.
If we here at the Peanut headquarters were into betting, we sure wouldn't bet on Jones' decisions. Except for one: he likes, really likes, a rough rider named Gabriel Saez.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Tragedy of Eight Belles: Kentucky Derby Death Sounds Warning Bell for Racing; Investigation of Gabriel Saez, Larry Jones & Racing Required
Did the world watch an over-challenged, under-prepared filly be literally run to death in this year's Kentucky Derby? The collapse of Eight Belles with an extremely rare, "sudden" case of not just one, but multiple, bone breaks cries out for investigations of jockey Gabriel Saez, trainer Larry Jones, and the money-lusting parody of equine achievement that horse racing and the once-proud Triple Crown have become.
Churchill Downs veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage, speaking honestly, said that he had "never seen" a dual break in all his years in racing. The question now is: why did Eight Belles, over-whipped to a second-place finish, die?
Some background here: the CEO of the Peanut enterprise is a long-time equestrian and Triple Crown fan. One of our best horses was one reclaimed from the track as being "too slow" for sprints. This horse was then retrained by a loving 16-year-old novice rider for pleasure and trail riding.
We love horses here in the Peanut office. What we don't love is the spectacle of greed, lust for quick fame, and change in racing traditions that we have seen develop over the last 10 or so years.
Here's one basic: no horse that is properly conditioned and ready for such an arduous race as the Derby is likely to spontaneously break both front ankles. A mis-step could cause a single bone breakage.
But two? It's time to take a look at trainer Larry Jones' records, and all vet records and history of this beautiful, gallant filly. It's also time for a criminal investigation, a thorough one, into the trainer's entire operation and also into jockey Gabriel Saez. Criminal? Yes--any cases of suspected animal abuse warrant criminal investigations.
Saez, a recent import from Panama, has had five starts in 2008, with two wins and three shows (third place). Yet he was aboard a Kentucky Derby horse, an achievement that in the past, seasoned riders worked hard to attain.
But when a money-maddened racing industry loads twenty horses in the starting gate, what else can they expect other than inadequate training, under-proven jockeys, and danger for all? It's long since past time to put higher qualifying standards on the Triple Crown races and to limit the field.
Let's take a look at the race. If you know horses, and know racing, you will understand the use of the riding crop. Even if you don't, it's pretty easy to see a jockey whipping rather than inspiring a horse.
Warning: this video, when you focus on Eight Belles, is not an easy one to watch. However, it's a must-see in order to understand what happened, and why racing has got to return to older, better standards and values.
Did you see the almost-endless, frantic whipping?The correct use of the light-weight crop is not one of whipping. The message that Saez' heavy hand sends is clear: his horse was faltering.
A well-conditioned Thoroughbred doesn't have to be whipped into a good finish. Thoroughbreds love to run. Usually, they have to be held back in carefully-planned race strategies. The use of the crop is a tap to signal "OK, now it's time to go!"
The best witness for the fallen Eight Belles? Winner Big Brown, who was frisky and wanted to keep going after the race. Right there, in front of the world, you can see the difference between a well-conditioned horse who was ready, willing, and able to go the distance, and one who was frothed, exhausted, and whipped to the finish line, running her heart out.
Compare also the difference between the jockeys when Barbaro and Eight Belles went down. No one could doubt that Barbaro jockey Edgar Prado did his best for Barbaro, and that he deeply cared.
There are many images of Prado's gallant work in doing his best for Barbaro. In the top one, this "little man," as these small, resilent athletes are called, is literally doing his best to support the full weight of a big, big horse while trying to soothe him and waiting for help. In the second photo, Prado is overcome by grief.
Compare Saez after Eight Belles fell. Here, he nonchalantly saunters away, leaving Eight Belles, hurt and afraid, in the hands of strangers. Saez, we here at the Peanut headquarters hope that waiting around, even briefly, for someone to hand you your saddle didn't seriously nconvenience you. Too bad, of course, that you weren't kneeling by your horse, soothing her.
And what of the trainer, Larry Jones,who came to high-end racing out of a rodeo background? Jones has very graciously said that he doesn't blame the "game" of racing for the death of the horse entrusted to him.
And well he should not. He conditioned and trained the horse, not the industry nor "the game." To his credit, owner Rick Porter has asked for an autopsy of his horse.
Jones had comments for the media. "Then Kent Desormeaux [the jockey aboard Derby winner Big Brown] come back looking too somber. Then I'm fighting through the crowd, and I heard a horse broke down. I figured it had been one of the ones that had been struggling to finish. Then I heard it was Eight Belles.'' He said he then ran over to the ambulance.
By then, track personnel were tending his horse. Memo to Jones: there are devices called walkie-talkies and cellphones. Many trainers use them for instant communications about their horses, especially when they are in need.
Given that his horse came in second, it's hard to imagine why Jones wasn't watching here and waiting for her to come off the track. Yea, there's all that ya-hoo'ing and partying to tend to. Listen up, trainers: your job is to take care of the horses. No matter what your level of talent--or ego--you are simply someone hired to do a job taking care of an animal who has no one else to rely on but you.
We think that Jones needs to be thoroughly investigated, and all horses under his care examined by outside vets. Not because one had an injury and died, for Thoroughbreds are athletes and accidents happen, but because this horse was whipped to a finish and then had two major bones shatter.
Has a dual-injury bone break happened before? Yes. In 1983, Eclipse winner Roving Boy went down at Santa Anita with two broken hind legs in a fall. However, the horse was just returning to the track after a prior front-leg fracture. The question, of course, that any reasonable horse person will ask, given the stress on Thoroughbred legs, is why the horse was being returned to racing. The answer most likely revolves around money, glory, and greed, the Holy Trifecta of modern-day racing.
Saez must be suspended during a full-scale investigation into what he knew about the horse, his prior rides, his prior history in Panama, and what happened that day. We are not, let it be said, joining the PETA demands for action for so-called humane reasons. PETA, who we regard as slightly lower than the rear end of a mangy sewer rat, has had its own scandals. Among them: lying to pet owners, taking animals for sanctuary, killing them in a van, often before the van leaves the owner's driveway, then tossing bodies in trash bins.
Frankly, we see no difference between PETA and those who mis-use animals: power, control, glory, attention, and money are the driving forces in both camps. But we also know there's a middle camp, the great majority, who understand the balance between humans and animals, and the roles we all play.
That majority, who know and love horses and racing, need to speak up now. For our part, after decades of marking Derby Day, and the Triple Crown as important days on the calendar, events we must not miss, the Peanut crew has decided to step aside from a racing world that clearly needs to clean out its stables.
Churchill Downs veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage, speaking honestly, said that he had "never seen" a dual break in all his years in racing. The question now is: why did Eight Belles, over-whipped to a second-place finish, die?
Some background here: the CEO of the Peanut enterprise is a long-time equestrian and Triple Crown fan. One of our best horses was one reclaimed from the track as being "too slow" for sprints. This horse was then retrained by a loving 16-year-old novice rider for pleasure and trail riding.
We love horses here in the Peanut office. What we don't love is the spectacle of greed, lust for quick fame, and change in racing traditions that we have seen develop over the last 10 or so years.
Here's one basic: no horse that is properly conditioned and ready for such an arduous race as the Derby is likely to spontaneously break both front ankles. A mis-step could cause a single bone breakage.
But two? It's time to take a look at trainer Larry Jones' records, and all vet records and history of this beautiful, gallant filly. It's also time for a criminal investigation, a thorough one, into the trainer's entire operation and also into jockey Gabriel Saez. Criminal? Yes--any cases of suspected animal abuse warrant criminal investigations.
Saez, a recent import from Panama, has had five starts in 2008, with two wins and three shows (third place). Yet he was aboard a Kentucky Derby horse, an achievement that in the past, seasoned riders worked hard to attain.
But when a money-maddened racing industry loads twenty horses in the starting gate, what else can they expect other than inadequate training, under-proven jockeys, and danger for all? It's long since past time to put higher qualifying standards on the Triple Crown races and to limit the field.
Let's take a look at the race. If you know horses, and know racing, you will understand the use of the riding crop. Even if you don't, it's pretty easy to see a jockey whipping rather than inspiring a horse.
Warning: this video, when you focus on Eight Belles, is not an easy one to watch. However, it's a must-see in order to understand what happened, and why racing has got to return to older, better standards and values.
Did you see the almost-endless, frantic whipping?The correct use of the light-weight crop is not one of whipping. The message that Saez' heavy hand sends is clear: his horse was faltering.
A well-conditioned Thoroughbred doesn't have to be whipped into a good finish. Thoroughbreds love to run. Usually, they have to be held back in carefully-planned race strategies. The use of the crop is a tap to signal "OK, now it's time to go!"
The best witness for the fallen Eight Belles? Winner Big Brown, who was frisky and wanted to keep going after the race. Right there, in front of the world, you can see the difference between a well-conditioned horse who was ready, willing, and able to go the distance, and one who was frothed, exhausted, and whipped to the finish line, running her heart out.
Compare also the difference between the jockeys when Barbaro and Eight Belles went down. No one could doubt that Barbaro jockey Edgar Prado did his best for Barbaro, and that he deeply cared.
There are many images of Prado's gallant work in doing his best for Barbaro. In the top one, this "little man," as these small, resilent athletes are called, is literally doing his best to support the full weight of a big, big horse while trying to soothe him and waiting for help. In the second photo, Prado is overcome by grief.
Compare Saez after Eight Belles fell. Here, he nonchalantly saunters away, leaving Eight Belles, hurt and afraid, in the hands of strangers. Saez, we here at the Peanut headquarters hope that waiting around, even briefly, for someone to hand you your saddle didn't seriously nconvenience you. Too bad, of course, that you weren't kneeling by your horse, soothing her.
And what of the trainer, Larry Jones,who came to high-end racing out of a rodeo background? Jones has very graciously said that he doesn't blame the "game" of racing for the death of the horse entrusted to him.
And well he should not. He conditioned and trained the horse, not the industry nor "the game." To his credit, owner Rick Porter has asked for an autopsy of his horse.
Jones had comments for the media. "Then Kent Desormeaux [the jockey aboard Derby winner Big Brown] come back looking too somber. Then I'm fighting through the crowd, and I heard a horse broke down. I figured it had been one of the ones that had been struggling to finish. Then I heard it was Eight Belles.'' He said he then ran over to the ambulance.
By then, track personnel were tending his horse. Memo to Jones: there are devices called walkie-talkies and cellphones. Many trainers use them for instant communications about their horses, especially when they are in need.
Given that his horse came in second, it's hard to imagine why Jones wasn't watching here and waiting for her to come off the track. Yea, there's all that ya-hoo'ing and partying to tend to. Listen up, trainers: your job is to take care of the horses. No matter what your level of talent--or ego--you are simply someone hired to do a job taking care of an animal who has no one else to rely on but you.
We think that Jones needs to be thoroughly investigated, and all horses under his care examined by outside vets. Not because one had an injury and died, for Thoroughbreds are athletes and accidents happen, but because this horse was whipped to a finish and then had two major bones shatter.
Has a dual-injury bone break happened before? Yes. In 1983, Eclipse winner Roving Boy went down at Santa Anita with two broken hind legs in a fall. However, the horse was just returning to the track after a prior front-leg fracture. The question, of course, that any reasonable horse person will ask, given the stress on Thoroughbred legs, is why the horse was being returned to racing. The answer most likely revolves around money, glory, and greed, the Holy Trifecta of modern-day racing.
Saez must be suspended during a full-scale investigation into what he knew about the horse, his prior rides, his prior history in Panama, and what happened that day. We are not, let it be said, joining the PETA demands for action for so-called humane reasons. PETA, who we regard as slightly lower than the rear end of a mangy sewer rat, has had its own scandals. Among them: lying to pet owners, taking animals for sanctuary, killing them in a van, often before the van leaves the owner's driveway, then tossing bodies in trash bins.
Frankly, we see no difference between PETA and those who mis-use animals: power, control, glory, attention, and money are the driving forces in both camps. But we also know there's a middle camp, the great majority, who understand the balance between humans and animals, and the roles we all play.
That majority, who know and love horses and racing, need to speak up now. For our part, after decades of marking Derby Day, and the Triple Crown as important days on the calendar, events we must not miss, the Peanut crew has decided to step aside from a racing world that clearly needs to clean out its stables.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Oklahoma: Ever Renewed
Spring is flowing, rippling, embracing Oklahoma, and sweet it is. Spring brings the heaviest tornado season, but springtime in Oklahoma is a memory-forever-green and promises ahead season.
There's an energy here, buoyant, unafraid, a simple sincerity and a great rush of good will. We survive here in Oklahoma, the Dust Bowl, the Oklahoma City bombings, the storms, the floods, and we rise up again, waving "good morning" to our neighbors and strangers.
Cruising through the sunshine, the wind weaving patterns in the sky and in the dancing trees, I click on the radio and hear the sweet, sweet sounds of "Miss Reba"--Reba McEntire-ribboning into the day.
There's a wealth of talent here in Oklahoma, Miss Reba, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, astronauts, business leaders, symphonies, artists, writers, and just plain folks. The CEO of the Peanut crew, once a NASA high-tech worker, routinely endures questions, and guffaws about living in "Okie-ville."
Oh, no, it's not "Okie-ville," it's Okie universe, a place that doesn't have much faux sophistication, just red dirt, get-down-to-it simple honesty and directness. Roots sink deep here, over decades, or, in just a few short years, if you've the heart for it.
We have exuberance. We have an unrepentant, deep-dish belief that no matter how bad today is, well, on some tomorrow, it'll get better. We believe in ourselves. We believe in each other.
The earth sprouts dangerous, daring, colors, a painter's palette that goes beyond simple primary colors. In the strangest places, suddenly the sun will glint across a leaning field stone in a field, diamond shards of light glittering, posed by nature and by God against a verdant green field, phlox of red, pink, violet, and white, and a horizon that sweeps to forever.
The music swirls, bringing laughter at the thought of all those who turn their noses up at country-western music, so above it all. What they're missing! Country songs tell a story, and story-telling is part of the deepest oral traditions for older European cultures and the still-vibrant Native American cultures.
Listen, listen to the tonalities of country-western, and you'll hear the infusions of generations of settlers and migrations: Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish, English, spilling down out of the eastern mountains and ranging over this land. Here and there you'll hear a rhythm, a beat, that sings of Native Americans. In late spring and summer, you can pow wow every weekend, if you've a mind to, swirls of color and the heartbeat of Mother Earth leading old, old songs in many languages.
There's music here, in the wind, the hills, the streams and rivers, and just about everywhere you go. Bluegrass, blues, rockabilly, swing, and oh yes, classical music. Here's just one program for one small town's symphony on one night: Holst: "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" from The Planets; Elgar: Salut d'Amour;Chopin: Fantasie Impromptu in C-sharp minor(piano solo);Chopin: Finale from Piano Concerto No. 2; Lehar: Gold and Silver Waltz;Sibelius: Finlandia;Wagner: Introduction to Act III of Lohengrin;;Elgar: "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations;Beethoven: Finale from Symphony No. 9>
There is an endless "gathering in" here, of peoples, traditions, and cultures, with the resulting song, dance, art, text, and performances bedazzling our everyday landscape. While others talk about inclusiveness of differing cultures, and upgrading artistic appreciation, we simply go about our daily business and live it.
To be an Okie is to fall in love, with the land, the people, the beauty of light and landscape, the bravery of cowboys and Indians, the steadfastness of pioneers and the true grit of entrepreneurs. Once upon a time, a barber who had courage and vision came to Oklahoma, almost went bust, and then became a historic icon: Frank Phillips, who founded Phillips 66.
Here in Oklahoma, those who succeed live among the rest of us, often cruising into town in well-used jeans and boots that don't smell real good--well, the ones who count, anyway. People who are into pretentious living and are true nouveau (semi) riche don't touch the real Oklahoma and therefore, can't wait to escape.
We are, as the saying goes, "real" in Oklahoma. We try to tolerate our neighbor with good will, as best we can. We wave and nod at strangers walking or driving by. We stop to help each other, and we come together to celebrate our richest treasure of all: freedom.
Oklahoma is, above all else, red, white, and blue. We are a patriotic state, one that honors their war veterans, honors the mothers and wives who make our homes flourish, the husbands and fathers who do their jobs, the growing kids in soccer fields and on farms. We're a state that respects people, and we're continuing to grow a healthy mixed crop of people who cherish America and the joys of freedom.
Those who are negative, who can't stand this glorious country, who can see only a few weeds when hundreds of acres of wildflowers and growing food roll out before us, simply don't do well here. We're down home and up town, all at once. We salute the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, love parades, and more than one of us gets goose bumps at the simple sounding of "America", the National Anthem.
Just as more than one of us gets teary-eyed at parades, seeing the bright young faces marching by making music in bands, singing from flatbed trucks, seeing the veterans go by, seeing our neighbors and friends just plain march down the street to celebrate whatever it is we're celebrating that day.
We're sentimental. We're nostalgic. We're progressive--Oklahoma has always had a history of progressive politics--and we're forward-looking. We're hard-core when it comes to business and telling the truth. We'll weep for you or with you when hard times come, and mean it, but do not, do not ever try to con, manipulate or lie to us.
We're granite and lace, hard-hewn mountains and blue satin rivers, old leather and new silk. We're hard times, and good times, and a smile in all times.
We're Oklahoma, ever renewed. Spring carries our spirit across the lands.
If you haven't yet experienced the real Oklahoma, better get cracking. You've missed one of the living wonders of the world. But pack a big suitcase, because Oklahoma just might surprise you, recognize the best in your spirit, reach out and magically grab you.
If you're lucky, you might wind up an Okie in Oklahoma. And that, friends, is to be very very lucky indeed.
There's an energy here, buoyant, unafraid, a simple sincerity and a great rush of good will. We survive here in Oklahoma, the Dust Bowl, the Oklahoma City bombings, the storms, the floods, and we rise up again, waving "good morning" to our neighbors and strangers.
Cruising through the sunshine, the wind weaving patterns in the sky and in the dancing trees, I click on the radio and hear the sweet, sweet sounds of "Miss Reba"--Reba McEntire-ribboning into the day.
There's a wealth of talent here in Oklahoma, Miss Reba, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, astronauts, business leaders, symphonies, artists, writers, and just plain folks. The CEO of the Peanut crew, once a NASA high-tech worker, routinely endures questions, and guffaws about living in "Okie-ville."
Oh, no, it's not "Okie-ville," it's Okie universe, a place that doesn't have much faux sophistication, just red dirt, get-down-to-it simple honesty and directness. Roots sink deep here, over decades, or, in just a few short years, if you've the heart for it.
We have exuberance. We have an unrepentant, deep-dish belief that no matter how bad today is, well, on some tomorrow, it'll get better. We believe in ourselves. We believe in each other.
The earth sprouts dangerous, daring, colors, a painter's palette that goes beyond simple primary colors. In the strangest places, suddenly the sun will glint across a leaning field stone in a field, diamond shards of light glittering, posed by nature and by God against a verdant green field, phlox of red, pink, violet, and white, and a horizon that sweeps to forever.
The music swirls, bringing laughter at the thought of all those who turn their noses up at country-western music, so above it all. What they're missing! Country songs tell a story, and story-telling is part of the deepest oral traditions for older European cultures and the still-vibrant Native American cultures.
Listen, listen to the tonalities of country-western, and you'll hear the infusions of generations of settlers and migrations: Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish, English, spilling down out of the eastern mountains and ranging over this land. Here and there you'll hear a rhythm, a beat, that sings of Native Americans. In late spring and summer, you can pow wow every weekend, if you've a mind to, swirls of color and the heartbeat of Mother Earth leading old, old songs in many languages.
There's music here, in the wind, the hills, the streams and rivers, and just about everywhere you go. Bluegrass, blues, rockabilly, swing, and oh yes, classical music. Here's just one program for one small town's symphony on one night: Holst: "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" from The Planets; Elgar: Salut d'Amour;Chopin: Fantasie Impromptu in C-sharp minor(piano solo);Chopin: Finale from Piano Concerto No. 2; Lehar: Gold and Silver Waltz;Sibelius: Finlandia;Wagner: Introduction to Act III of Lohengrin;;Elgar: "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations;Beethoven: Finale from Symphony No. 9>
There is an endless "gathering in" here, of peoples, traditions, and cultures, with the resulting song, dance, art, text, and performances bedazzling our everyday landscape. While others talk about inclusiveness of differing cultures, and upgrading artistic appreciation, we simply go about our daily business and live it.
To be an Okie is to fall in love, with the land, the people, the beauty of light and landscape, the bravery of cowboys and Indians, the steadfastness of pioneers and the true grit of entrepreneurs. Once upon a time, a barber who had courage and vision came to Oklahoma, almost went bust, and then became a historic icon: Frank Phillips, who founded Phillips 66.
Here in Oklahoma, those who succeed live among the rest of us, often cruising into town in well-used jeans and boots that don't smell real good--well, the ones who count, anyway. People who are into pretentious living and are true nouveau (semi) riche don't touch the real Oklahoma and therefore, can't wait to escape.
We are, as the saying goes, "real" in Oklahoma. We try to tolerate our neighbor with good will, as best we can. We wave and nod at strangers walking or driving by. We stop to help each other, and we come together to celebrate our richest treasure of all: freedom.
Oklahoma is, above all else, red, white, and blue. We are a patriotic state, one that honors their war veterans, honors the mothers and wives who make our homes flourish, the husbands and fathers who do their jobs, the growing kids in soccer fields and on farms. We're a state that respects people, and we're continuing to grow a healthy mixed crop of people who cherish America and the joys of freedom.
Those who are negative, who can't stand this glorious country, who can see only a few weeds when hundreds of acres of wildflowers and growing food roll out before us, simply don't do well here. We're down home and up town, all at once. We salute the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, love parades, and more than one of us gets goose bumps at the simple sounding of "America", the National Anthem.
Just as more than one of us gets teary-eyed at parades, seeing the bright young faces marching by making music in bands, singing from flatbed trucks, seeing the veterans go by, seeing our neighbors and friends just plain march down the street to celebrate whatever it is we're celebrating that day.
We're sentimental. We're nostalgic. We're progressive--Oklahoma has always had a history of progressive politics--and we're forward-looking. We're hard-core when it comes to business and telling the truth. We'll weep for you or with you when hard times come, and mean it, but do not, do not ever try to con, manipulate or lie to us.
We're granite and lace, hard-hewn mountains and blue satin rivers, old leather and new silk. We're hard times, and good times, and a smile in all times.
We're Oklahoma, ever renewed. Spring carries our spirit across the lands.
If you haven't yet experienced the real Oklahoma, better get cracking. You've missed one of the living wonders of the world. But pack a big suitcase, because Oklahoma just might surprise you, recognize the best in your spirit, reach out and magically grab you.
If you're lucky, you might wind up an Okie in Oklahoma. And that, friends, is to be very very lucky indeed.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Memphis, TN & Mississippi Areas: Take Cover, Tornadoes Rampaging Through the Southeast, Historic Floods in Maine
The massive storm system that savaged Arkansas and roared through Oklahoma,Texas, and Kansas is stalking the southeast. (See below for earlier coverage) Memphis, TN, which recently endured a historic tornadic outbreak. and surrounding areas,are under the gun now.
So far, at least twenty tornado warnings have been issued across Tennessee. Live tracking and warnings are available from WREG and WMC-TV. (Photo courtesy of WREG/George Brown)
In February, one of our best friends saved his family's life with a telephone warning when local tornado sirens failed to go off. The family raced out of their home and into a ditch. Their home was shoved off its' foundation. The family is still recuperating from their injuries.
Theirs wasn't the only incredible story. A baby tossed by the storm survived--and was found in debris, although his mother died.
Areas of Virginia are still trying to clean up from late April tornadoes.
Note: if you try to get through to your family and can't in storm areas, feel free to contact the Peanut blog. We have resources.
Tornado Video & On-Scene Photos: Deadly Storm Kills Seven in Arkansas; Spawns 6-Vortice Tornado in Oklahoma; Texas Picks Up After Twisters(Raw Video)
This is an extraordinary photo of a tornado over Oklahoma City, OK during the May 1 outbreak. The photographer,Linda, a gardening, and nature enthusiast, grabbed a huge twister on the right and the simultaneous development of other funnels on the left. (Photo copyright to photographer, one-time usage granted to I Found a Peanut blog.)
This outstanding photo of mammatus in straight-line wind development as the massive storm system moved across Kansas was taken by Frank Thompson of Overland Park. (Photo copyright to photographer, one-time usage granted to I Found a Peanut blog.)
This storm system, which ranged across more than 2,000 miles of the continental United States, is a textbook example of how snowstorms and extreme cold in the West, coupled with a "fetch" of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, can fire up supercells.. As this storm moves east, Chicago forecasters are keeping a wary eye on this system.
Seven deaths have been reported in Arkansas from this storm system, including a teenager who died when a tree fell on her house while she was sleeping. The National Weather Service has confirmed reports of at least a dozen tornadoes overnight Thursday. More storms are hitting today across the Mississippi Valley as the system roars east.
The Peanut crew lives in Oklahoma's Tornado Alley. We were up most of the night tracking the storms.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
"D.C. Madam"Deborah Palfrey, Linked to Sen. David Vitter, Commits Suicide in FL Trailer Park
Women in the escort or street corner biz, or girls who think it's "cool" and OK, take note: the only ones who ever come out on top in prostitution are the men using you. In very rare cases, like Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana and former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, the men pay, too. But 99% of the time, the women pay horrible life, disease, and emotional prices while their male customers only pay cash and walk away scot free..The equation is just that simple.
Too Little, Too Late: Drew Peterson Finally Offers Reward for Missing Wife Stacy Peterson
It's not often that you get to recycle a headline so quickly, but this week's wacky Chicago-based news environment offered a two-fer. First, Barack Obama suddenly catches on to what Jeremiah Wright, his pastor of twenty years, has been preaching and decides to say something about it: too little, too late.
Now former Bolingbrook, Ill cop Drew Peterson has decided to take time out from his media posturing to offer a reward for his missing wife, Stacy. You remember Stacy, mother of their two children, step-mother to two of Peterson's older children by his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Apparently Peterson has decided, in between dating and TV appearances, that he remembers his young fourth wife, too--although he says she ran off with another man.
Six months or so after Stacy's family, friends, volunteers, and just plain strangers have been constantly searching for her, Peterson is offering $25,000 for information about Stacy's disappearance: too little, too late.We're not sure where the money is coming from, as not too long ago, Peterson and his sidekick attorney Joel Brodsky were begging for monies for Drew on a website that quickly vanished.
Like the website, Stacy suddenly vanished, too. Just before she went missing, she told friends she wanted a divorce. She also told her pastor that Peterson had killed Savio, his third wife. Savio was found bruised and dead of what was first ruled an accidental drowning in a dry bathtub. Peterson controlled that crime scene.
Later, however, after Stacy's disappearance, Savio's body was exhumed for a second autopsy. That procedure, plus an outside autopsy by renowned pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, moved Savio's death into the "probable homicide" category. Savio, like Stacy, repeatedly told people that Peterson would kill her and get away with it.
Why was she so sure of that? He threatened her with that, many times, Savio told everyone who would listen. And then there was his stalking of Savio, control, and repeated physical abuse. Stacy, too, was monitored and tracked, and she was afraid she would be killed before she could get out.
Peterson's second wife, Viki Connolly, said the same thing, as did a former fiancee. Connolly says she's still afraid of Peterson.
Savio's family now, at last, has control of the seven-figure estate Peterson and the two minor Savio children inherited--which had been managed by Peterson, a boy who loves his toys (motorcycles, cars, guns,light aircraft). Lately, Peterson's been losing a lot: the Savio decision, the yanking of his weapons permit, and the court's refusal to give his guns back.
Apparently, Peterson and Brodsky have decided it's time for a little positive PR--or so the family and friends of both Savio and Stacy believe. We believe that too.
Peterson's recent media appearances have been more than a little bit frayed around the edges. His portrayal of the jovial college jock who is guffawing at a private joke about his self-professed "bad luck" with women is now several degrees beyond hackneyed.
Peterson, who we've written about ad nauseum (for some reason, the word "nausea" just comes up with the word "Peterson"), is most likely chumming for not only current PR, but to hook some sympathy with any potential jurors. Peterson, who says he expects to be arrested, alternates between fishing for sympathy and laughing it all off.
At this point, $25,000 isn't nearly enough to start cleaning up the ol' Drew dumpster enough to put even a dim shine on his public patina. However, it is enough to start speculation: did the offer hit the table as a ploy just before Peterson is arrested?
Stay tuned. Investigators still want answers about two timelines of extreme interests: Peterson's whereabouts before Savio died and before Stacy went missing.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Obama vs. Wright: The Delicious Irony of Racism Charges
As Barack Obama distances himself from his former mentor, guide, friend and pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the irony of the "racism" charges launched at those who didn't like Wright's "God Damn America" takes center stage. Those who had criticized Wright's fiery comments and attack on a country he claims created HIV to kill blacks were routinely called "racists" by Obama cultists.
Are these remarks racist? These are responses to Wright's speeches and sermons:
--"...ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS, when he suggests that Minister Farrakhan somehow represents one of the greatest voices of the 20th and 21st centuries, when he equates the United States wartime efforts with terrorism, then there are no excuses.
They offend me. The rightly offend all Americans."
--"the insensitivity and the outrageousness of his statements..."
--"I felt as if there was a complete disregard for what the American people are going through and the need for them to rally together to solve these problems."
--"when you start focusing so much on the plight of the historically oppressed that you lose sight of what we have in common, that it overrides everything else, that we’re not concerned about the struggles of others, because we’re looking at things only through a particular lens"
--"I didn’t see it as an attack on the black church"
--"His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate, and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church."
Are those comments racist. Or not?
The speaker is, of course, Barack Obama. He is saying what many others have been saying about Wright's views.
But when non-blacks expressed those views, they were savaged by leftists and Obama supporters, who declared them "racist." That kneejerk reaction clearly shows that leftists aren't looking at the message: they only are looking at the messenger and whether or not that messenger fits their "posterchild" needs.
If the messenger is black, he or she and what they do or say automatically is right, nay, even brilliant. If the messenger is not black, they're bound to be racist or stupid rednecks from Pennsylvania or otherwise who cling to their guns and religion because they don't know any better.(A nod to Obama's wine-and-cheese comments in California.)
How can leftists now defend their race-based assault on those who didn't like what Wright was saying? Logically,they can't. Of course, that doesn't mean they won't.
And what of Obama himself? His wishy-washy, run-and-hide from this issue, has cost him a great deal. On the one hand, he didn't distance himself from Wright soon enough. His pleas of ignorance about Wright's views simply were absurd. Not only that, compare Obama's comments, above, to his friend the Rev. Al Sharpton's rhetoric and actions.
But now, suddenly, Obama criticizes Wright and steps back. But does he step up? No. Obama, long ago, could have handled this issue with wisdom, honesty, compassion, grace, and political saavy.
If he thinks America needs continued work on racism,he could have used Wright's "God Damn America" and other comments as his springboard. Here's how it could have gone, way back in this sorry, sordid tale.
"I am very saddened by my former pastor's attacks on my country. I agree that as a people, we need to continue our work on improving race and cultural relations. We have done a great deal in less than three generations. There is work still ahead, but I have faith that we will continue on this path together.
Attacks like the Rev. Wright have launched must cease if we are to work together. The people of the United States did not cause 9-11, and to say "God damn America" is an insult to the country, its people, and, given the substitution of hate for love, an insult to Christian spiritual beliefs."
Rev. Wright is correct in saying that we still have work to do. But he is very wrong in his attack on our country, and his use of religon to foster hate and anger.
For this reason, Michelle and I have, with great sadness, removed our membership from Rev. Wright's church."
Did Obama say --or do-- any of the above? No, he did not. Why not?
Obama didn't tackle this issue head-on for many reasons. The first is that he wanted the image and support base of his membership in a very large, very well-known black church.
The second is his reliance, as stated in his books, on the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama did not choose Wright to baptize his children or conduct his marriage ceremony lightly. Nor did he, or could he, support the Trinity church for twenty years without supporting Wright.
The third is the dangerous one: does Obama secretly agree with Wright's views and presentation? Obama now says he doesn't. How much credence should we give Obama's sudden "wake-up" call and criticism of Wright?
Very little. Fact: Obama did not criticize nor distance himself from Wright until Wright did two things. The first was to keep grabbing the media spotlight for himself,while keeping a very sore issue for Obama in the public's eye.
The Obama campaign wishes that Wright's commentary could be swept under the carpet. Wright, however, has been using the controversy as his magic carpet ride to fame.
Obama speaks: "The fact that Reverend Wright would think that somehow it was appropriate to command the stage for three or four consecutive days in the midst of this major debate is something that not only makes me angry, but also saddens me." And there you have it--Wright is interfering with Obama and his campaign.
The second Wright action that led to Obama's sudden splitting from his former pastor: Wright's criticism of Obama. Until Wright attacked Obama, Obama was willing to play along in order to prove he's "black enough."
"And what I think particularly angered me was his suggestion somehow that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing," Obama told the media. How dare Wright say that Obama indulges in political posturing! (wink!)
When Wright attacked America, Obama said nothing except that he wasn't aware of Wright's views. When Wright attacks Obama, Obama ditches Wright.
That sounds like political posturing to me, along with a Hefty bag full of hypocrisy and deceit. Notice the language, too.
Obama to a questioner: "...I'll be honest with you." There are two important things to know about this phrase.
The first is that this phrase tacitly says "I'll be honest with you now because I haven't been before." People use this phrase only two ways: without understanding what they are telegraphing, or with understanding of what they are telegraphing. In the latter instances, the speakers usally think they can get away with it through charm and/or rhetoric. (Think: shopping for a car. "I'll be honest with you--my manager won't like that but I'm on your side and I'll go put it to him.")
The second important thing about the phrase "I'll be honest with you" is this: it immediately signals a prevarication of some type. If you say "I'm going to the grocery store now," do you say "I'll be honest with you, I'm going to the grocery store now."
If you say "I think the price on the grapes is outrageous, you don't say "I'll be honest with you, I think the price on the grapes is outrageous." You just plain say what you have to say.
"I'll be honest with you" signals discomfort, dancing around, some level of deception. As in: Obama's shifting stands on his former pastor and the message of his church.
As this issue continues, the layers of Obama are being peeled back. What we are seeing here is not change, but just another politician, trying to be everything to everybody.
Question: if Obama does this poorly dealing with a man who he has loved, and turned to for spiritual counseling, how well will he deal with real enemies and the stress of international politics? As Dr. Phil McGraw says, the best predictor of someone's future actions are their past actions.
One more note: Rev. Wright, stop hiding behind the church. Your accusations that "attacks" on you are not attacks on you but the "black religious tradition" are hypocritical. We are outright criticizing you. But we are not criticizing black churches. Stand up like a man and claim what is your problem. Don't spread it to all black churches and congregants.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Spitzer Hooker Ashley Dupre Sues "Girls Gone Wild" Soft Porn Video Sleaze King Joe Francis
And in this ring, we have: sleaze vs. sleaze. However, given the greater reach that Joe Francis has with his soft porn "Girls Gone Wild" and his unrepentent pimping of drunk teenagers and college girls, the Peanut crew hopes that Ashley Dupre takes Francis to the cleaners.
Hey, Ashley, get out of the whore business, OK? Your tryst with former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, which led to his resignation, is only a brief burst of publicity. You're not a star--just a curiosity.
Trying to build a solid, upright life on your back is a lost cause. As for Francis, this man is so below toilet mold in life forms, we frankly don't care what happens to him. Although we must admit we did enjoy hearing him whine about his stint in prison. Apparently no one put a mint on his pillow at night or something.
Hey, Ashley, get out of the whore business, OK? Your tryst with former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, which led to his resignation, is only a brief burst of publicity. You're not a star--just a curiosity.
Trying to build a solid, upright life on your back is a lost cause. As for Francis, this man is so below toilet mold in life forms, we frankly don't care what happens to him. Although we must admit we did enjoy hearing him whine about his stint in prison. Apparently no one put a mint on his pillow at night or something.
Too Little, Too Late: Obama 'Disses Wright After 20 Years of Following "God Damn America" Pastor
Sen. Barack Obama, fighting for his political life and creditability, finally decided to 'dis Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Well, sort of.
The problem is that Obama sat in this man's church for twenty years, called him his mentor, teacher, guide. Now Obama is supposedly outraged by Wright.
We've heard of it taking awhile to catch on, but no one is going to believe that Obama now suddenly is "outraged" twenty years in. What he's really outraged about: Wright keeps grabbing the media spotlight.
Not only that, he's keeping a very sore issue alive, one that has led to intense scrutiny of Obama's real views about his country. Given that wife Michelle has only recently found reasons to be proud of America (i.e. her husband's rise to power), the Obamas, rich leftist elitists, may find that America isn't too thrilled with them, either.
The problem is that Obama sat in this man's church for twenty years, called him his mentor, teacher, guide. Now Obama is supposedly outraged by Wright.
We've heard of it taking awhile to catch on, but no one is going to believe that Obama now suddenly is "outraged" twenty years in. What he's really outraged about: Wright keeps grabbing the media spotlight.
Not only that, he's keeping a very sore issue alive, one that has led to intense scrutiny of Obama's real views about his country. Given that wife Michelle has only recently found reasons to be proud of America (i.e. her husband's rise to power), the Obamas, rich leftist elitists, may find that America isn't too thrilled with them, either.
VOLCANO NEWS: Mystery on Mt. St. Helen's Webcam
News outlets are picking up on this breaking story, as first reported by Vinny's Blog.
Overseas, a dangerous Indonesian volcano is belching flaming rocks. Mount Anak Krakatau's new cycle of action is worrying officials and villagers.
Near Jakarta, a strange "mud volcano" has added another danger to residents' misery. Flammable methan gas is overwhelming residential areas.
In earlier news from Mt. St. Helen's a man narrowly escaped death after he fell into the volcano.
Overseas, a dangerous Indonesian volcano is belching flaming rocks. Mount Anak Krakatau's new cycle of action is worrying officials and villagers.
Near Jakarta, a strange "mud volcano" has added another danger to residents' misery. Flammable methan gas is overwhelming residential areas.
In earlier news from Mt. St. Helen's a man narrowly escaped death after he fell into the volcano.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
